Mixed Tape Monday on Tuesday

Well readers, I know it has been a while and I have the same excuse as last time.  Home repairs! The lovely dwelling of mine had a leak  in the upstairs bathroom that has required two plumbers, a general contractor, and an insurance adjuster.  As a result, we have had to remove and replace of all of the upstairs plumbing.  In order to do so, they had to rip up floors, ceilings, walls, etc…Insert a litany of foul, four, six, seven, and eight  lettered words and various combinations of said words.  And, at this point, insurance is not covering the damage.  Again, insert more obscenities.

Of the folks mentioned, only two are currently in good standing with me.  Jason McCord of B&B Contracting you, my good man, are a life saver.  Chad and Kyle, from Flow Force Plumbing (www.flowforceplumbing.net ), you guys are the best. 

Welcome to another, late, installment of Mixed Tape Monday.

Topic: House, Home, Room, Repair, anything you might find in a house or that can go wrong with a house, etc…

Song:  She Came In Through the Bathroom Window

Artists: The Beatles

Album: Abbey Road

Song:  Light Up My Room

Artists: Bare Naked Ladies

Album: Stunt

Song:  Summer House

Artists: Better Than Ezra

Album: Deluxe

Song:  Black Door

Artists: The Black Keys

Album: Magic Potion

Song:  My Father’s House

Artists: Bruce Springsteen

Album: Nebraska

Song:  Walnut Street (Just listen to the song and you will get it)

Artists: Walt Wilkins

Album: Rivertown

Song:  Lost In the Backyard

Artists: James McMurtry

Album: Where’d You Hide the Body

Song:  Mudhouse

Artists: Bob Schneider

Album: The Californian

Song:  Back Against the Wall

Artists: Cage the Elephant

Album: Cage the Elephant

Song:  Burn That Broken Bed

Artists: Calexico & Iron & Wine

Album: In the Reins (EP)

Song:  Down the Drain

Artists: Chickenfoot

Album: Chickenfoot

Song:  Beautiful Homes

Artists: Chris Isaak

Album: San Francisco Days

Song:  Floorboards

Artists: Chris Mills

Album: The Silver Line

Song:  Living Room

Artists: David Gray

Album: A Century Ends

Song:  No Ceiling

Artists: Eddie Vedder

Album: Into the Wild

Song:  Climbing Up the Walls

Artists: Erin Ivey (cover of Radiohead)

Album: Sweet Little EP

Song:  Renovations

Artists: Helmet

Album: Aftertaste

Song:  Dusty

Artists: Kings of Leon

Album: Youth & Young Manhood

Song:  Another Brick in the Wall

Artists: Pink Floyd

Album: The Wall

Song:  Big Crash

Artists: Less Than Jake

Album: Hello Rockview

Song:  This Old Porch

Artists: Lyle Lovett

Album: Lyle Lovett

Song:  House Carpenter

Artists: Nickel Creek

Album: This Side

Great music awaits!

 

Mixed Tape Monday: Texas Artists

Welcome to another installment of Mixed Tape Monday.  As you may have noticed, I am on a bit of a Texas Music kick and today will continue down that path.  Yesterday, I had the opportunity to hear some great live music at a little barbeque joint just west of Fort Worth.  I am a huge Walt Wilkins fan and I saw that he had two shows in the Fort Worth area yesterday.  So, off we go for some beer and barbeque and some great music.  In addition to Walt, there were some up and coming musicians like Johnny Cooper, Bobby Duncan, and 6^th Market Boulevard that played as well.

So, my topic for today is, you guessed it, Texas Artists.

Song:              One of Those Moments

Artist:              Walt Wilkins

Album:            Rivertown

Song:              Texas On My Mind

Artist:              Django Walker

Album:            Down the Road

Song:              Beautiful Thing

Artist:              Slaid Cleaves       

Album:            Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away

Song:              Eden’sGate

Artist:              Pat Green

Album:            Wave On Wave

Song:              My Brother and Me

Artist:              Bruce Robison

Album:            Wrapped

Song:              Home

Artist:              Eli Young Band

Album:            Jet Black and Jealous

Song:              Shades of Gray

Artist:              Robert Earl Keen

Album:            Picnic

 Song:              Daddy and the Devil

Artist:              Wade Bowen & Chris Knight

Album:            If We ever Make It Home

Song:              Goodbye Sweet Dreams

Artist:              Roky Erikson & Okervil River

Album:            True Love Cast Out All Evil

Song:              Simple Song

Artist:              Lyle Lovett

Album:            Pontiac

Song:              Too Many Ways To Fall

Artist:              Arc Angels

Album:            Arc Angels

 Song:              Sunday Morning Coming Down

Artist:              Kris Kristofferson

Album:            Kristofferson

 Song:              We Can’t Make It Here

Artist:              James McMurtry

Album:            Childish Things

 Song:              Sunday Clothes

Artist:              Charlie Sexton

Album:            Under the Wising Tree

 Song:              Fool

Artist:              Jack Ingram

Album:            Electric

 Song:              Life Without You

Artist:              Stevie Ray Vaughan

Album:            Soul To Soul

Song:              Love Must Follow You Around

Artist:              Randy Rogers Band

Album:            Rollercoaster

 Song:              Indianola

Artist:              Charlie Robison

Album:            Life of the Party

Song:              I’m the One

Artist:              Doyle Bramhall II

Album:            Jellycream

Song:              Come with Me Tonight

Artist:              Bob Schneider

Album:            I’m Good Now

Tune In Tuesday: 6/1/10

Welcome to another addition of Tune in Tuesday!  Today’s musical choices are all from the great state of Texas.  And now, the obligatory cheesy state bravado, that’s right folks, it is Tune In Tuesday Texas style! I’m sure that was not as painful to read as it was to write. 

Step Inside This House

Lyle Lovett

Lyle Lovett is a great songwriter and has had a tremendous impact on the Texas music scene.  Step Inside This House is an album of covers written by fellow Texans.  It is one of my favorite albums that Lyle has released.  He covers songs from artist such as Robert Earl Keen, Townes Van Zandt, Steven Fromholz, and Guy Clark.  This release is a two disc album and is great from start to finish.  Lovett’s vocals add new life to the lyrics of others while staying true to their music and most importantly, himself.

Key Tracks:

Lungs, Rollin’ By, Texas Trilogy (All three songs, thus the word trilogy),

Rivertown

Walt Wilkins

Walt Wilkins is one of the greatest songwriters that you have never heard of.  His music has been covered by the likes of Pat Green and Ricky Skaggs.  Rivertown is one of his earlier solo albums and is filled with musical gems.  He has a really comforting vocal presentation and brings you into each of his songs. 

Key Tracks:

Poetry, One of those Moments, Seven Hillsides, Some Men Fall

Lost Hotel

Wade Bowen

Waco born Bowen is a Texas singer/songwriter who happens to be the brother in law of Cody Canada (Cross Canadian Ragweed).  He co-wrote Pat Green’s hit “Don’t Break My Heart Again” and has released four albums.  Lost Hotel was my introduction to Wade and is one of my favorite albums of his.  His whiskey soaked vocals add an emotional depth to his lyrics.

Key Tracks:

Resurrection, Perfect Silence, Lost Hotel, Broken Reflection (Troubadour’s Prayer)

Soul To Soul

Stevie Ray Vaughan

Not sure what I can say about this album other than it is pure greatness.  Stevie was a genius and this was just one of many ways he displayed his musical prowess.  Life Without You and Change it are in my Top 5 Greatest songs by Stevie.

Key Tracks:

Life Without You, Change It, Lookin’ Out the Window, Look At Little Sister

Carry On

Pat Green

Carry On was Green’s third self released album and one of his finest.  His cover of Walt Wilkin’s “Ruby’s Two Sad Daughters” is amazing and the rest of the tracks are just as good.  I am a huge Pat Green fan but find myself listening to more of his earlier recordings.  This album, in particular, just seems to be more authentic than some of his new releases. 

Key Tracks:

Whiskey, Carry On, Ruby’s Two Sad Daughters, Crazy, Holdin’ On

I’m Good Now

Bob Schneider

A paragon of the Austin music scene, Bob Schneider has got the musical goods.  This is his third solo album.  His funky word play, feel good vibe, and his musical fearlessness make him fun to listen to and even more entertaining to see live.  This album is one of my favorite as well as a favorite of my kids.  And really, there is nothing better than hearing the following words sung from your children when they are all under the age of 5.

I can see god on a cloud in the sky
On top of the world watching the world roll by
With a great big grin and some good cocaine
Jesus by his side in the pouring rain

And then there is another great verse that every kindergarten child should know

 I can see god In Italian shoes
With a beard and a gun and a case of the blues
Smoking a cigarette drinking coors light
With teeth so white they light up the night

It was shortly after this car ride sing along that I received my first of many Father of the Year nominations and subsequent awards.

Key Tracks:

Come With Me Tonight, God Is My Friend, Captain Kirk,

Great music awaits!

You should be listening to Walt Wilkins

Walt Wilkins is one of the finest singer/songwriters that you have never heard.  You may have heard his songs on the radio sung by the likes of Pat Green, but chances are, you haven’t heard Walt.  He is currently working with a group of singer/songwriters dubbed “The Mystiqueros”

 His credits include “Songs About Texas,” the single that launched Pat Green’s career, Ricky Skaggs’ “Seven Hillsides” from the GRAMMY Award-winning SOLDIER OF THE CROSS and Ty Herndon’s “Big Hopes,” which was the title track for that record. Most recently, GRAMMY Award-winning artist Pam Tillis recorded his “Someone, Somewhere Tonight” from Mustang Island on her new CD.

 Walt’s music has a timeless feel to it with poignant lyrics about love, loss, and the varying stages of life.  His voice is comfortable and familiar with a hint of wisdom.  I saw him play a show about a year ago in a little barbeque joint in North Richland Hills.  There might have been 15 people in the place.  Walt played for about 2 hours, took requests, came to the table, sat down and talked and thanked us for coming out.

 Walt Wilkins Discography

• Fire, Honey, & Angels
• Rivertown
• Hopewell
• Mustang Island
• Diamonds in the Sun

 Top 5 Walt Wilkins Songs according to Butler (Albums listed to right of song):

1.  Ruby’s Two Sad Daughters (Fire, Honey, & Angels)
2. One of Those Moments (Rivertown)
3. The Angel’s Share (Hopewell)
4. Wrapped (Mustang Island)
5. Seven Hillsides (Rivertown)

  Walt Wilkins’ music is available on iTunes and in some record stores.

  Great music awaits!