You should be listening to Lucinda Williams!

Lucinda William’s is everyone’s collaborating darling who released her first album Ramblin’ in 1978.  In her thirty plus years in the music business, she has released nine studio albums.  Some might consider her a bit methodical or even a perfectionist based on the span of years between album releases.  She started out in the country genre that was occasionally tinged with the blues. 

She is a genre shifting chanteuse who has been nominated for ten Grammys in the following musical categories: 

• Americana
• Rock
• Country
• Folk
• Pop

Williams received early critical recognition and the respect of her musical peers, but it took considerably longer for her to raise public awareness.  This was due, in large part, to her renowned fastidiousness and the sporadic release of her albums.  The pendulum swung with the release of her 1998 album Car Wheels on a Gravel Road.  She has received three Grammy’s.

Lucinda Williams Discography:

• Ramblin’
• Happy Woman Blues
• Lucinda Williams
• Sweet Old World
• Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
• Essence
• World Without Tears
• West
• Little Honey

Williams is a prolific songwriter whose music has been covered by Tom Petty, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Emmylou Harris. In addition to covering her songs, many artist have saught her out to record with them.  She has an unbelievable list of guest appearances.  Below are just a few of the over sixty artists that Williams has collaborated or guest appeared on their album. 

Willie Nelson	Steve Earle	Elvis Costello
North Mississippi All Stars	Flogging Molly	M. Ward
Graham Parker	John Prine	Ray Wylie Hubbard

Top five Lucinda Williams Songs:

1. Are You Alright (West)
2. Right In Time (Car Wheels on a Gravel Road)
3. Real Love (Little Honey)
4. Get Right with God (Essence)
5. Still I Long for Your Kiss (Car Wheels on a Gravel Road)

Check out Lucinda Williams at www.lucindawilliams.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oPgZoXZ1Z0

www.youtube.com/watch?v=10rdtk6Vixw&feature=related

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiKk9PCcTgY

Great music awaits!

You should be listening to James McMurtry!

James McMurtry is a Texas, born in Fort Worth, singer/songwriter who just happens to be the son of acclaimed novelist Larry McMurtry.  James is backed by his long time rhythm section “The Heartless Bastards”.  Through a serious of fortuitous events, James released his debut album “Too Long in the Wasteland” in 1989.  What might the fortuitous events have been, you ask?  Well, here they are:

1. John Mellencamp staring in a film based on a script by Larry McMurtry.
2. James was conveniently able to give Mellencamp a demo tape
3. Mellencamp served as co-producer on McMurtry’s debut album.
4. McMurtry appeared on the soundtrack of the film “Falling from Grace” as part of the group “Buzzin Cousins” which included John Mellencamp, John Prine, and Dwight Yoakam.  The song, “Sweet Suzanne” is a long time favorite of mine.

McMurty’s music has always been fairly well received critically and with the release of his 2005 album “Childish Things” he won song of the year (We Can’t Make It Here) and album of the year at the Americana Awards in Nashville Tennessee.  He has gained a loyal fan base through his touring and accessibility.  He currently resides in Austin, Texas and when home, he has a standing midnight set at the Continental Club each Wednesday. 

Not one to shy away from politics, he upped his game on his albums “Childish Things” and “Just Us Kids” with the direct and scathing attack of then President George W. Bush in the songs “We Can’t Make it Here” and “Cheney’s Toy” respectively. 

James McMurty Discography

• Too Long in the Wasteland
• Candyland
• Where’d  You Hide the Body
• It Had to Happen
• Walk Between the Raindrops
• Saint Mary of the Woods
• Live in Aught-Three
• Childish Things
• Best of the Sugar Hill Years
• Just Us Kids
• Live In Europe

Top Five James McMurtry Songs

1. We Can’t Make It Here (Childish Things)
2. Levelland (Where’d You Hide the Body)
3. Cheney’s Toy (Just Us Kids)
4. Where’d You Hide the Body (Where’d You Hide the Body)
5. Sweet Suzanne (Falling From Grace Soundtrack)

Check out James McMurtry and let me know what you think.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbWRfBZY-ng

James McMurtry’s music is available at iTunes, record stores, and www.jamesmcmurtry.com

Great music awaits!

You should be listening to Amos Lee!

Amos Lee is a Philadelphia born singer/songwriter with a soulfully smooth voice.  His self titled debut album was released in 2005 and since then, he has opened for such acts as Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, B.B. King, Paul Simon, Merle Haggard, John Prine, and an extended tour with Norah Jones.  Not a bad start for this relative new comer.

 His musical style is primarily acoustic, set to guitar, piano and a bit of percussions.  He tends to stick pretty close to the folksy soul style while occasionally bringing a little funk to the mix.  For you fans of the “ARC Angles”, Amos Lee’s latest album “Last Day at the Lodge” has Doyle Bramhall II playing guitar. 

If you watch much television, you might have heard Lee’s music on“Grey’s Anatomy”, “Studio 60”, “E.R.”, “Army Wives”, “Brothers and Sisters”, and “Six Degrees”.

Lee has a great musical DVD “Amos Lee Live from Austin TX” that has tracks from his first two albums and really showcases his talent. 

Amos Lee Discography

• Amos Lee
• Supply and Demand
• Last Day at the Lodge

Top 5 Amos Lee Songs according to Butler (Albums listed to right of song):

1. Keep It Loose, Keep It Tight (Amos Lee)
2. Street Corner Preacher (Last Day at the Lodge)
3. Shout Out Loud (Supply and Demand)
4. Seen It All Before (Amos Lee)
5. Baby I Want You (Last Day at the Lodge)

Check out Amos Lee and let me know what you think.

Amos Lee’s music is available on iTunes, some record stores and www.amoslee.com.

Also, if you have a facebook page, you can become a fan of the blog.

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Great music awaits!

Under the Covers: Cover songs you should be listening to

Some songs are so great that everyone wants to sing them and add their own unique style.  Some do it to pay homage to an artist, others feel a certain connection to the song and/or artist, and yet others are just looking to be the next American Idol.

The cover tune is the metaphorical equivalent of making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  Anyone can do it but not everyone does it right.   To make it right, PB&J requires lightly toasted bread, an abundance of peanut butter on both slices of the bread, and a generous slathering of jelly.  I’m a grape or raspberry fan myself. 

So, let’s get under the covers:

• “Masters of War”                       Pearl Jam
  • Original Artist                   Bob Dylan
• “War Pigs”                                  Faith No More
  • Original Artist                   Black Sabbath
• “Hurt”                                          Johnny Cash
  • Original Artist                   Nine Inch Nails
• “Hard to Handle”                        The Black Crowes
  • Original Artist                   Ottis Redding
• “Chimes of Freedom”                 Bruce Springsteen
  • Original Artist                   Bob Dylan
• “Cortez the Killer”                      The Dave Matthews Band
  • Original Artist                   Neil Young
• “Billie Jean”                                 Chris Cornell
  • Original Artist                   Michael Jackson
• “Paradise”                                   Pat Green
  • Original Artist                   John Prine
• “Hard Sun”                                 Eddie Vedder
  • Original Artist                   Indio
• “Play it All Night Long”             Drive-By Truckers
  • Original Artist                   Warren Zevon
• “Climbing up the Walls”            Erin Ivey
  • Original Artist                   Radiohead
• “Rocket Man”                             My Morning Jacket
  • Original Artist                   Elton John
• “Such Great Heights”                 Iron & Wine
  • Original Artist                   The Postal Service
• “Hallelujah”                                 Jeff Buckley
  • Original Artist                   Leonard Cohe
• “Little Wing”                               Stevie Ray Vaughan
  • Original Artist                   Jimi Hendrix
• “Lungs”                                       Lyle Lovett
  • Original Artist                   Townes Van Zandt
• “Breadfan”                                  Metallica
  • Original Artist                   Budgie
• “Badfish”                                     Jack Johnson
  • Original Artist                   Sublime
• “Hey Ya”                                     Obadiah Parker
  • Original Artist                   Outkast
• Love Reign O’er Me                   Pearl Jam
  • Original Artist                   The Who
• “The Ghost of Tom Joad”          Rage Against the Machine
  • Original Artist                   Bruce Springsteen
• “Levelland”                                 Robert Earl Keen
  • Original Artist                   James McMurtry
• I’ve Got to Know                         Son Volt
  • Original Artist                   Woody Guthrie
• “Signs”                                         Tesla
  • Original Artist                   “Five Man Electrical Band
• “Ruby’s Two Sad Daughters”   Pat Green
  • Original Artist                   Walt Wilkins

So, now that I have lit the candle of thought of great cover songs; let me know some of your favorites.

Great music awaits!

You should be listening to Jeffrey Foucault

Jeffrey Foucault is a singer/songwriter who creates reflective roots music that wraps you up with a striking intimacy that reveals layers of wisdom and wonder.  A Wisconsin native who seems to be cut from the folk troubadour cloth, Foucault has built an independent career touring extensively in the United States, Canada, and the UK.

 He explores and explains complex emotions through his music which is raw and intimate. 

 Jeffrey Foucault Discography

• Miles from Lightening
• Stripping Cane
• Ghost Repeater
• Shoot the Moon Right Between the Eyes (A collection of John Prine)

 Of all his releases, “Stripping Cane” is by far my favorite.  This is by no means a slight of the other three, but rather exquisite praise for the greatness of the album.  What holds the album together so well is the way Foucault paints such a vivid picture with his words and phrases.  The title track “Stripping Cane”, “Cross of Flowers”, and “the Bluest Blade” will draw you in and compel you to play them again. He does a great cover of Credence Clearwater Revival’s “Lodi”.

 In addition to his solo career, Foucault also recorded an album with Kris Delmhorst and Peter Mulvey.  The band and the album are called Redbird.  The album is a smattering of cover songs that radically range from Tom Waits to Willie Nelson.  Seventeen total songs on the album and not a bad one in the bunch.  Uncle Tupelo’s “Moonshiner” and R.E.M’s “You are the Everything” are the high points for me. 

 Top 5 Jeffrey Foucault Songs according to Butler (Albums listed to right of song):

1.  Cross of Flowers (Stripping Cane)
2. The Bluest Blade (Stripping Cane)
3. Stripping Cane (Stripping Cane)
4. Miles from Lightening (Miles from Lightening)
5. Dove and the Waterline (Miles from Lightening)

 Enjoy the greatness of Jeffrey Foucault and let me know what you think.  Songs are available to stream for free from his website www.jeffreyfoucault.com

 Jeffrey Foucault’s music is available on iTunes, CD Baby, and www.jeffreyfoucault.com

  Great music awaits!