Well its Day 5 of the Song Challenge I was asked to do by Jaxon Haldane. This has been really interesting. Thanks Jaxon...its been tough actually. There are so many pivotal songs out there that influenced my taste in music so much that they seeped into my own music. Therefore for the last day, I think I am going to make this a 4 song selection cause I just cant choose between all of these. This is pretty long actually, read as much or as little as you like and thanks for being here! #1 (in no particular order) JJ Cale While perhaps not my fave JJ Cale song, I do love this one from his Okie album and is one that pretty much has stayed on my virtual turntable ever since hearing it. Amazing I never get tired of it. I remember staying a my friend Nearly Normal Norm and Shaye Patricias cabin on Mayne Island a few years back and when this song came on I cranked the stereo and played it over and over again for hours while dancing around the cabin. It was so fun and I love the way his music is so understated but has such an pulsating undercurrent under that voice and guitar work. The horns are so awesome too. Kinda singing my life really too I suppose...although these days Im not really making Rock and Roll records...maybe its time for a change? https://youtube/watch?v=HMqgzhnK01M #2 Man of Constant Sorrow...everyone knows this song and it got way overplayed unfortunately to the point of not wanting to hear it anymore but that and the movie itself changed my life. I had never heard music like this before and it was hair raising to me. This album also introduced me to Hard Time Killin Floor BluesFolk Roots, which was originally done by the great Skip James...oh man what a song that is!!! Check this version out if you havent heard it before oh my goodness thats the shit! https://youtube/watch?v=UNftrsCMiQs After seeking out some of the music from the O Brother soundtrack and its predecessors and influences, etc. I came across my #3 and 4 choices #3 Jean Ritchies The L & N Dont Stop Here Anymore. https://youtube/watch?v=j6nARSpM-0s Once again it was a whole new ballgame when I discovered Jeans music. She has written so many wonderful songs and has been covered by so many of the greats and this definitely has to be one of my favourites. I love it when artists cover more obscure artists songs. Not that Jean is obscure and if youre into folk music you definitely know who she is. Anyway I discovered this song through my friend David P. Smith when we did a 3-way...wait for it...accordion tour with our friend Ana Bon-Bon. We were playing at the Canmore Hotel and had heard that June Carter Cash was ill. We were all really upset by it and learned later that she had passed away. When we got back to Victoria where David lives he played us Junes album Press On. I was blown away. This album is pure gold folks. If you can get your hands on it I highly recommend it. She did a great version of the L & N which is how I discovered the song. Thanks David for introducing this album to me and to June for introducing me to wealth of new music as well as your own great stuff too! Heres Junes version. It rocks! https://youtube/watch?v=LRZuRhz5fBQ #4 Hazel and Alice ( Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard). Wowy wow wow wow. These two are amazing in their own right and were incredible as a duo. Check this Hazel and Alice song out https://youtube/watch?v=RfcDXUKtkZc&index=4&list=PLHkF7Ik5xOyTFwXSKqY3vtuvGfNqlGpcq and heres one by Hazel on her own https://youtube/watch?v=CiGPbHnpQks and Alice on her own https://youtube/watch?v=klDmMUTS9_c . This was from a South East Regional Folk Alliance last year. I was so happy to see she was part of a workshop called Wisdom of The Elders that the great Sonny Ochs facilitates at many of the folk alliance conferences. I love this song. Its been such an amazing journey and there is so much more to see and hear. Im about to embark on a month long writing retreat in Seaside, Fl through an organization called escape2create.org . Im so grateful to have been accepted for this great honour. After the residency I go right into the studio to record my next record. Ill be working at The Woodshed studio in Toronto with Steve Dawson producing and playing and one of the greatest rhythm sections ever, John Dymond and Gary Craig . We have some other folks lined up too but I have to keep some secrets dont I. Stay tuned and Happy New Year Folks. May 2015 lead to new musical discoveries that pop and sparkle and shine for you. May it also bring health, wealth, happiness and some freakin peace in this crazy world were living in! As my 6 year old grandaughter would say...Peace Out!
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 16:08:17 +0000
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