It has been over two months since I last changed my radio blog. I’ve upgraded to version 2.0 (or is it 2.1 — who cares?). This “edition” is an homage to the voices of men. I usually post links to Amazon so you can purchase the CD’s if you like. I am too tired to do that right now. If you want to find out more about the songs, it shouldn’t be too hard. I can help you if you get really stuck. I point out that Jeff Buckley was so good I put him on there twice. Ray LaMontagne is, I think, new on the scene. He’s kind of Otis Redding, kind of Mick Hucknall. If you question Billy Joel’s presence, I can only say he sang every part of the harmony on this recording, which I think is pretty impressive. Plus the kids at school sang it the other day with two of the Judaics teachers, and it was just so much fun.
Category: Music
A Celtic Tale: The Legend of Deirdre
I have finally changed my radio blog. Despite Cranky Dragon’s recent insistence otherwise, I’ve been slack about changing my Radio Blog. It said the current files had been up about 45 days, but actually it has been longer, since I reuploaded them when we had to deal with our host’s new server fiasco around the beginning of August. So it’s been about two months. It was a good lineup, but I really needed to change it.
I uploaded an entire CD, which isn’t something I’ve ever done before. It is Mychael and Jeff Danna’s A Celtic Tale: The Legend of Deirdre, which is my favorite CD. I was going to put up an homage to U2 in commemoration of their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and I still may later on, but this afternoon, as fall seems to be arriving in Georgia, I played this CD while I graded papers, and I decided I must share it with you all — the whole thing.
I encourage you to read the story of Deirdre, the inspiration for the music. It’s one of my favorite Irish myths. You can also purchase Deidre: A Celtic Legend by David Guard, but hurry. It looks like it might be going out of print soon.
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Loretta Lynn
I was watching the Travel Channel’s ghost-fest the other night, and I learned that Loretta Lynn’s Hurricane Mills plantation is haunted.
That woman can’t catch a break, can she?
For those of you not in the know, she grew up poor in the backwoods of Kentucky (just listen to “Coal Miner’s Daughter”), married at the inconceivably young age of 13 and immediately started having children (4 by the time she was 17). If you’ve ever watched the story of her life, then you also know her husband was a jerk for a lot of their marriage, and I learned on the show I watched that her son died in the creek by her house. No, she might have lots of money now, but I’d never say she had an easy life.
And now her house is haunted. Well, presumably it’s been haunted for some time.
You know, I’ve watched Coal Miner’s Daughter I don’t know how many times. My grandmother was a fan, so I grew up listening to Loretta Lynn. She’s not a bad songwriter. I think what I like about her is that she keeps going, no matter what life throws at her. She’s a very strong woman.
I was watching the Grammys one time when I was a little girl. I suppose it could have been the Academy Awards. I was young — it’s hard to remember for certain. It must have been after Coal Miner’s Daughter came out, but not too much after. I don’t know why Loretta (and don’t you just feel like you can call her that when you don’t even know her?) was there. As a kid, I thought she was getting a special award, but I see no record of it in her biography or at the Grammy website. Perhaps she was just presenting. But I do remember the reaction of the audience, which was almost completely one of admiration. I think there was a standing ovation. Why do I say almost? The camera panned to Madonna, who was looking supremely bored and unimpressed with Loretta’s presence on the stage. I didn’t like Madonna before, but I have always pretty much despised her after that. The look on her face told me a lot about Madonna, and none of it was good.
So I chose a few of my favorite Loretta Lynn tunes for my radio blog:
- “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man” (a duet with Conway Twitty) is a song I grew up hearing. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t know this song.
- “You’re Looking At Country”
- “You Ain’t Woman Enough” always makes me think of the scene in the movie after she wrote it, and Doo asks where she got the idea for the song. She gives him a withering look and says, “Where you think?” Classic.
- “Story of My Life” is on her newest album, Van Lear Rose, which has received a lot of critical acclaim. I like the pedal steel guitar.
- “One’s On the Way” is pretty much also the story of her life. Did you know that Shel Silverstein wrote it?
- “Miss Being Mrs.” is another cut from Van Lear Rose.
- “Don’t Come Home A-Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind)”
- “Coal Miner’s Daughter” — What set list with Loretta Lynn tunes would be complete without it?
You know who you’ll never see on my radio blog? Madonna.
Visit LorettaLynn.com.
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It’s Good to Be the King
First of all, we finally finished moving after two twelve-hour days. Steve has to be exhausted. I don’t think we can do this again on our own. Steve’s strong, but he’s one man, and one man with MS at that. Next time we have to move, whatever the cost, we’ll have to hire movers. But we are in our new domicile, and life is good. All of my muscles ache and I have a giant migraine, but life is good.
Cranky Dragon is having codeine-induced dreams about Elvis. Inspired by the nocturnal ramblings of the Cranky One, I have an all-Elvis set list for my radio blog. Please check out this really cool Elvis site, where you can listen to 30 number-one hits, learn about their recordings, read Elvis quotes, and learn all about Elvis. Maybe you can even find out if he ever owned a green mustang.
The Lost Boys
My radio blog offering this time is, well, different. For many of you, this music might be an acquired taste. It’s Renaissance Rock. Well, what rock music would have sounded like had it existed in the Renaissance. Let me introduce The Lost Boys, who perform at the Georgia Renaissance Festival and also do lots of other things around Atlanta in various other incarnations. I happen to think they’re awesome and very clever at filking. Their lyrics are witty and intelligent. I wouldn’t hesitate to share them with students.
The Lost Boys are “Clarence” (Kelley Yearout), guitars and vocals; Johnny Ozbourne (Charles Holmes), bass, guitar, and vocals; Michael Starr (Michael Guss), drums, guitar, percussion, and vocals; and String (Matthew Trautwein), guitar, lute, violin, vocals, banjo, fretless bass, keyboards, mandolin, mouth harp, pennywhistle, percussion, viola, broadsword, machete, and wine bottle.
Before The Lost Boys formed a “group,” I had seen Matthew Trautwein perform several times at the Ren Fest. When I wrote my book, I based my character Dafydd on him. Dafydd was solemn and brown-eyed (in his original incarnation). He was the most serious musician in my group of minstrels. If anyone is interested in my book, I just wanted to say I’m trying to figure out how to share it with my readers. What would work better for you? Subscription to it via e-mail? Reading it over the web? Downloading it as an e-book? I can do any of those. I’m thinking I would probably want to charge about $5.00 for it. Let me know what you think…
Anyway, back to the set list. These tracks come from both Lost Boys albums, Rogues in a Nation and Bedlam, which can be purchased from CD Baby (a company that sells indepedent CDs). I was really happy with their service, so if you like The Lost Boys, I encourage you to order the CDs. They were $12 each. But I have to say that if you can come to the Georgia Renaissance Festival (and let me know, so I can go with you!), you need to check them out live. Their shows have a lot of energy and enthusiasm that doesn’t translate to the recordings.
- Art Thou Ready? (Bedlam) — I begin with this one, because it seems like a great opener. They opened the most recent show I saw with this one.
- Rogues in a Nation (Rogues in a Nation)
- Desdemona (Rogues in a Nation) — If I ever get to teach Othello, I will be sorely tempted to play this excellent plot synopsis for my students. Click here for lyrics.
- Hamlet Blues (Bedlam) — Listen for filks of “Hey, Joe” and “I Used to Love Her (But I Had to Kill Her)”
- The Horn (Bedlam) — from William Shakespeare’s As You Like It
- The Sheriff’s Revels (Dance in Shadow) (Rogues in a Nation) — Rousing instrumental.
- She Moved Through the Fair (Bedlam)
- Henry and Anne (Bedlam) — Little ditty ’bout Henry and Anne…
- Serf Music (Bedlam) — Do you love me, little serf-er girl? Couldn’t resist. Sorry.
- Loch Lomond (Bedlam) — A tune what brings a tear to the eye of any Scotsman. This one included.
- Ode to an Unfetter’d Fowl (Rogues in a Nation) — I have to end with this tune, which is quite literally and figuratively The Lost Boys’ “Freebird.” There’s a definite spark missing from the recording in comparison to the live version. The harmonizing vocals are more pronounced live, and I think there is less of a “lead” vocal. Still, the violin (or fiddle, if you like) solo is great.
The lyrics to “Desdemona” follow. If you want lyrics to the other tunes, let me know.
Oo my little pretty one, my pretty one,
When you gonna give me some,
Desdemona
From your daddy we did run,
Yeah, we did run, but now you’re under
Suspicion, Desdemona
O you dirty ho, Iago, he done told me
You doin’ Cassio, but not no mo,
O why did you have to lie,
Desdemona
I gave you a little gift, a handkerchief,
But now you got me seeing red,
Desdemona
Got it runnin’ through my head,
Got you in bed, ’cause of somethin’
Iago said, Desdemona
O you dirty ho, Iago, he done told me
You doin’ Cassio, but not no mo,
O come on, won’t you tell me why,
Desdemona
Oo I got a pillow here,
Gonna put the pillow on your
Head-demona!
Oo I’m gonna smother you, smother you,
Gonna smother you ’til you’re
Dead-demona,
O you dirty ho, Iago, he done told me
You doin’ Cassio, but not no mo,
‘Cause now you’re gonna die
Desdemona
© 2001 Absolute Music and © 1979 Capitol Records. Wise Brothers Music LLC O/B/O Small Hill Music, ASCAP.
Back to set list.
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Seventies Super Set
Woot! We got more server space. I have been working on this set list for some time in anticipation of this momentous occasion. I am a big fan of 70s rock, and I have put together for your listening enjoyment, a mix tape’s worth of my favorite songs from the 70s. I hope you enjoy them. I’ll have to leave them up for a while, since there are so many favorites here.
Here is the set list, complete with album details and my editorial comments:
- “Here Comes My Girl” — Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. This song originally appeared on my favorite Tom Petty album, Damn the Torpedoes. Originally released in 1979, Tom Petty’s third album is rightfully an Amazon.com Essential Recording.
- “Behind Blue Eyes” — The Who. I heard Limp Bizkit’s cover of this song the other day, and it simply can’t hold a candle to the original. The drummer doesn’t have near the chops that Keith Moon had (but few do, I suppose). This one comes from Who’s Next, another Amazon.com Essential Recording, which, according to Genevieve Williams (of Amazon) is “one of the defining albums of 70s hard rock.” It was released about a month before I was born, in August 1971.
- “Lola” — The Kinks. Released in November 1970, this one comes from Lola versus Powerman and the Money-Go-Round, Part One. It’s another Amazon.com Essential Recording. Steven Stolder at Amazon refers to “Lola” as the album’s “linchpin,” and I can’t disagree at all.
- “Jeepster” — T. Rex. Before Marc Bolan died, T. Rex was actually a serious competitor of David Bowie’s (and probably the reason for Bowie’s many ch-ch-changes in the 1970s — T. Rex was glam). I think their music is infectious. I disocovered in high school after reading a book about classic rock history. I was intrigued enough by what I read there to purchase a cassette tape of an album that must not be in print anymore, because I can’t find it on Amazon. It was a best of compilation. This song originally appeared on Electric Warrior, which came out the very month I was born — September 1971.
- “Maggie May” — Rod Stewart. From 1971’s Every Picture Tells a Story. Michael Ruby at Amazon calls it his “desert island disc,” adding “Rod Stewart made such a perfect record with this 1971 classic that he never really recovered.” I agree totally. Yet another Amazon.com Essential Recording. There seems to be a pattern here.
- “Ten Years Gone” — Led Zeppelin. A “deep cut” from 1975’s Physical Graffiti, which many Zeppelin fans (myself among them) count as their favorite album by the group. Led Zeppelin is my favorite band, and they have so many excellent songs, but this one has always resonated with me. I think it’s because Jimmy Page makes his guitar weep right along with Robert Plant’s plaintive voice. And yes, it’s an Essential Recording. How’d you guess?
- “Sara” — Fleetwood Mac. Before we go on, yes, 1979’s Tusk is an Essential Recording. I named my daughter for this song, though I like the spelling of “Sarah” with the “h” better, so I used that one. If that isn’t a recommendation, I’m not sure what is.
- “Bell Bottom Blues” — Eric Clapton (Derek and the Dominoes). Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. Obviously an Essential Recording (probably Clapton’s most essential, in my opinion). This song is often overshadowed by the epic “Layla,” but it’s just as good, with bluesy guitar and sung with great emotion.
- “Tiny Dancer” — Elton John. From 1971’s Madman Across the Water (yet another Essential Recording). Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) loves this song. He has performed this show on television, introducing it with the following: “Tiny Dancer…..two words that strike a chord in the heart of every sensitive 32 year old man in the country.” That is something else, isn’t it? Anyway, it was featured in Almost Famous. I’ve noticed a lot of these songs were released in the year of my birth. Hmm.
- “American Pie” — Don McLean. From 1971’s American Pie. Poor Don McLean. Did he do any other songs? Seriously, a classic like this overshadows everything else he’s done. I cannot listen to this song without singing it at the top of my lungs. It’s a pity Madonna butchered in with a cover and it became (however nebulously) associated with that film of the same name.
- “Captain Jack” — Billy Joel. If you are my age or younger, you grew up with a Billy Joel who was basically just a pop hit factory. In the 1973, when Piano Man was released, Billy Joel was as poetic as Simon and Garfunkel, in my opinion. A damned fine song writer. I can listen to this song over and over. Who doesn’t remember being in high school and wishing they could get out that one-horse town? This is another song that gets overshadowed by a bigger hit on the same album — “Piano Man.” And yes, an Essential Recording.
- “Blue Sky” — The Allman Brothers Band. It’s a crime what the Allman Brothers did to Dickey Betts a few years ago. Setting that aside, this tune is performed by Betts on 1972’s Eat a Peach (an Essential Recording). You know, I heard a story that the title of the album came from the circumstances that surrounded Duane Allman’s death. He died in a motorcycle accident while they were recording this album. I heard he hit a peach truck — hence the title, Eat a Peach.
We went to see Shrek 2. It was wonderful. Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots (one of my all-time favorite fairy tale characters). We must get the DVD as soon as it comes out. Lots of laughs. Very cute movie.
Loreena McKennitt Sampler
I haven’t written in something like a week. I need to make more time for getting my thoughts down.
I have changed the radio blog. Unfortunately, until the end of the month when I hope to buy more server space, I only had room for these four songs. I like to have at least five.
Loreena McKennitt is an artist I associate with Renaissance Faires, new age Celtic music, nature religions, and fantasy literature. She was a strong influence on my own book.
The first track, “Mystic’s Dream,” comes from McKennitt’s 1994 album The Mask and Mirror. It also appeared on the soundtrack to the TNT production of Marion Zimmer Bradley’s The Mists of Avalon.
“The Mummer’s Dance” is from 1997’s The Book of Secrets.
The traditional song “Greensleeves” and “All Soul’s Night” are from 1992’s The Visit.
I hope you enjoy them.
Oh, and those of you visiting me from my Upsaid diary need to change your bookmarks/blogrolls soon. On May 28, my Upsaid premium membership will expire, and I plan to update only my planethuff.com blog from that point on.
Norah Jones Sampler
I bring you this week’s music from Grammy-winner Norah Jones. I think she’s got a great voice. I don’t know why, but listening to her makes me think of my childhood a bit. And also living in Athens when I was in college.
The first song on the playlist is “Turn Me On,” from Come Away With Me. It’s a song written by Nashville legend J. D. Loudermilk.
The next track is “One Flight Down,” also from Come Away With Me. This one really sticks in my head when I hear it. I like the old-time gospel/blues/country blend in the song.
The third song is “Humble Me” from Jones’s second album, Feels Like Home. I thought the lyrics were sad.
The fourth song is “Don’t Know Why,” which was a big hit from her first album. I like the guitar. In fact, I find that I often like the guitar in her music. She’s got a good band.
The last song is “Carnival Town” from Feels Like Home. I like the way it reminds me of being a child, riding the amusement park rides. But there’s this sadness of being unfulfilled, of being stuck going nowhere.
I really like the spare quality in her music. I know some people think it’s boring, but I think it’s beautiful in its simplicity.
The music reflects my mood. I’m feeling down about work. I dread going to my job every day. I still don’t have a job for next year, and I grow more nervous about it every day. I feel stuck, like I’m spinning my wheels. I wish something would happen. What I mean, is I wish I would get a job. The prospect of being out of work again scares me.
In my heart, given the situation I’m working in, I know I’m doing the best I can do. Discipline at my school is insane. It’s almost at the point where the inmates are running the asylum. Almost. It’s spring, and the kids are getting crazier and crazier. I have to get back into high school. This is making me nuts. So given that I know I’m doing the best I can, I’m still feeling like an utter failure at work. Sigh.
Sing Along
I have updated my radio blog. I love this toy. I don’t know if you all even bother to listen. I hope you do. But I think it’s just cool to share some of my favorite music with you.
So this week, we start off with “The Sweetest Thing” by U2. This isn’t the single that came out a few years ago — I don’t have that (wish I did). This is the B-side that appeared in the The Best Of 1980-1990 [Limited Edition] collection of B sides on Disc 2. Still pretty good.
Next up is something I bet you all haven’t heard unless you have Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ box set Playback: a version of “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” sung by Tom Petty. Yes, they donated that one to Steve Nicks and performed it on Bella Donna (an amazing album, too). Different, but good.
“Blue” is on Tomorrow the Green Grass by the Jayhawks, and it’s so darned catchy. It’s been stuck in my head in some fashion for years.
“When You’re Gone” is on To the Faithful Departed by the Cranberries. I cannot listen to this song without belting out along with Dolores at top volume.
Finally, the Black Crowes deliver up “Bad Luck Blue Eyes Goodbye” from The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion. This is easily the best Black Crowes album, and this song is one of my favorite tracks on that album. Great blues.
So enjoy. I will.
Celtic Radio
I have long been a fan of Celtic music. I love to listen to the Thistle and Shamrock on NPR when I can catch it. DJ Dana is spinning some Celtic music for you this week.
On the turntable this week:
- Molly Ban — The Chieftains. This is from a Country/Bluegrass/Celtic excursion entitled Down the Old Plank Road: The Nashville Sessions. I love this album. Alison Krauss sings.
- Maggie — De Danann. This is from The Best of De Danann. I chose this one for the plaintive singing. That, and my daughter’s name is Maggie.
- The Iron Man — The Chieftains. This is from their album The Chieftains: A Collection of Favorites. I ordered it off the Internet, but it was one of those TV only offers.
- The Child Deirdre — Mychael and Jeff Danna. This is my favorite song off one of my all-time favorite albums, A Celtic Tale: The Legend of Deirdre. You can learn more about Deirdre here. The Danna brothers wrote this album with the idea that it would be like a soundtrack to the story. Mychael Danna has composed film music before.
- Ode to My Family — The Cranberries. I love Dolores O’Riordan. Our voices are in the exact same register, so I can sing along with her. This is one of my favorite Cranberries songs, and I think it sounds particularly Celtic. It’s from No Need to Argue.
- Katie Dear — The Chieftains. Another selection from Down the Old Plank Road. Okay, so this one isn’t as strictly Celtic as the others. More folk song-ish. But I love it. And it has the same theme as “Molly Ban” and “Maggie.” Gillian Welch and David Rawlings sing.
Enjoy!