Look Ma, No Hard Drive

Just two days before the first birthday of Burning Wood, and rather than being caught up in the excitement of creating the ultimate, celebratory, week-long mix of music, I sit and mourn the (temporary?) loss of my beloved HD which held my beloved library of music...among other things. (Save the "I can't believe you didn't back it all up" comments for another time. Please.)

The ideas have been making brief appearances in my brain, before almost instantaneously being shot down by that voice that says, "Oh yeah...right. No HD"

I have a friend who attended the Peter Frampton concert last night at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, and coincidentally, I happened to sell two semi-rare Japanese Peter Frampton CDs yesterday morning, that I had been sitting on for months. If that wasn't enough, when I took a walk yesterday afternoon, the first song that came on my iPod shuffle was "I Wanna Go To The Sun." Really! I swear! I never got a chance to tell my friend these serendipitous occurrences before she headed out to the show. I thought it would have made for a good vibe, something desperately needed since she was already starting out two steps behind being in Jersey and all, so I thought, "Why not? Let's start the week-long celebration with a tribute to Peter Frampton. Some Humble Pie, a rare track or two by The Herd, blah blah...

....OH YEAH...right. No HD."

Then it occurred to me, "You never got to post that New Orleans mix commemorating the 4th anniversary of Katrina. Let's get THAT mix up there right away. OH yeah...right. No HD."

Like Michael McDonald says, "I keep fuhgett'n."


Then, I noticed a friend on Facebook had cited the Beach Boys' "Love You" as one of his favorite Beach Boys' albums. (I find that record hilarious; not a word you want to associate with a legendary music group.) I decided to give it a long-awaited revisit, while reading the Peter Buck liner notes. Okay, I give in. It is charming, I guess, and maybe unintentionally hilarious. Still not killing me, BUT...it killed me enough to at least share one of the few laughs I've had since the....you know....HD incident.

Here is what Peter Buck says about the song "Johnny Carson":

At once, the most chilling and ridiculous song on the album, Johnny Carson epitomize "Love You" to most people. With its arrangement alternating between glacial calm and a jolly sing-along, and its lyrics being so seemingly straightforward, one can only wonder why in the world would anybody spend that much time thinking about Johnny Carson.

Well Peter, I think about Johnny a lot. That seems less ridiculous than the song itself.






He sits behind his microphone
John-ny Car-son
He speaks in such a manly tone
John-ny Car-son

Ed McMahon comes on and says "Here's Johnny"
Every night at eleven thirty he's so fonny
It's (nice) to (have) you (on) the (show) tonight
I've seen (your) act (in) Vegas out of sight

When guests are boring he fills up the slack
John-ny Car-son
The network makes him break his back
John-ny Car-son

Ed McMahon comes on and says "Here's Johnny"
Every night at eleven thirty he's so fonny
Don't (you) think (he's) such (a) natural guy
The (way) he's (kept) it (up) could make you cry

Who's a man that we admire?
Johnny Carson is a real live wire.
Who's a man that we admire?
Johnny Carson is a real live wire.
Who's a man that we admire?
Johnny Carson is a real live wire.
Who's the man that we admire?
Johnny Carson is a real live wire

My Friend, Paul Sanchez

My intentions for today were simple. To commemorate the 4th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, I would create a "Weekend Mix" of some rare live music from the artists and clubs of New Orleans, I would share some thoughts about my favorite city, and with a little luck, singer-songwriter, author, poet, friend and mensch Paul Sanchez would honor my request with a short paragraph sharing his thoughts on the whole mess. At 8:48 A.M., yesterday morning, the music mix was created and while giving it a test run, Paul Sanchez e-mailed and agreed to write something up. At 9:13, the music stopped, my computer went blank and after 2 reboots had realized my entire hard drive had been wiped out. Every photo, every song (about 70,000 of them,) all my writing, GONE! (oh, the irony) We will save that story for another day.

There will be no "Weekend Mix" today. But thank God, there is Paul Sanchez.





It's the fourth anniversary of the flooding of New Orleans, Katrina to the rest of the country, but I remember that she missed us and think of it, as do most of my friends, as the flooding of New Orleans. Anniversary, such a happy sounding word for such a wretched time.

I was in Atlanta, what seems a lifetime ago, making a record with the band I was in at the time, a band I had spent fifteen years in but would quit within a year and a half of the flood. I remember watching the news and finally going to sleep late at night because Katrina had taken a northern turn and went inland before New Orleans. We had been spared the worst.

I remember the next morning, my wife waking me to say that is was bad and me saying no it missed us and her shoving me awake saying over and over, "no, it's bad, wake up, it's bad, it's really bad." Coming awake I saw a sight which, though I've seen it countless times since, shocked me to silence and tears. The memory of it still does. I saw New Orleans, the city I was born and raised in, only I didn't recognize it. I struggled to focus on this underwater nightmare of loss and desperation as my home town.

We lost our home, our possessions, our jobs, friends, sense of community, futures we'd planned and pasts we'd made ritual.

Ultimately what we lost is the same thing many around the world had lost before us and many more have lost since. We lost our illusions, the illusion that we had control over levees, politics, human nature, our careers, our futures, our past.

What we have is the present, which is all any of us really have, and what I have learned to do is to find the richness in what is and to lend the best of myself to that richness. Music, friends, writing and, hopefully, listening.

I lost all that I had but have created so much since, and stripped of my illusions, my songs ring more true to me then ever before, one more step on the road to redemption.

I found out that being a "mid-level rock star struggling with the limitations of my own career", (like the guys in Almost Famous), was not what I had aspired to when I picked up the guitar. I wanted to play and write the best songs I could while I was still on the planet- rock, jazz, country, folk, theatrical, pop, whatever the muse delivers. I found out that I am New Orleans, I love New Orleans and even if I lived elsewhere they would allow for my eccentricities because you know, "he's from New Orleans."

I wish we could have an anniversary for the week before Katrina, to celebrate and remember what "normal" life was like. To remember that had the storm not hit I was about to come home from three weeks of recording. I would have bitched about how high my lawn was and then I would have cut it in the August heat, in the evening because the grass is too soaked with dew in the morning. Shelly and I would have been going to our friend's Rick and Rob's house for a swim, we'd be at the gym twice a day because it would have been late August, hot, the gym was air conditioned and better then being outdoors. I would have gone down to St. Bernard Parish to finish my record Between Friends at Mikey's studio, going through his files for phone numbers and calling whatever musicians were in town who would give us a smile and there were so many.

I would have been going home to our house. Shelly has just finished six months and thirty thousand dollars of renovations. she did the demolition by herself when I was in the studio, she dealt with the contractors, (manly men who didn't know what to make of being told what to do by a woman), she made the choices while I was in the studio making music. After the flood in an interview she was asked what she was most proud of in her life and she answered, "renovating my own home". What the interviewer didn't know but I did was that she finished the renovations the day we left for Atlanta and we never got to live in our finished house.

The stories of what I lost and found are many and are a part of my life for the rest of my life and I accept that now. Last night I watched a television show on the public station in New Orleans. It was a very old documentary on the worst hurricane to ever hit Louisiana, in 1893. I watched an old man being interviewed, perhaps eighty-five or ninety. He told of being a boy, seeing the waters rise, hearing the children crying out to their parents as they were swept away by the flood waters, hearing the cries of the parents as they held on to each other knowing they had lost a son or daughter, the cries of wives losing husbands and husbands losing everything they loved and worked to protect. This beautiful old cajun man wept and stopped a few times to compose himself. He apologized and said "you got to forgive me, talking about it's still hard". It had been seventy years and he still wept at the memory.

"Good morning America how are you. don't you know me? I'm your native son"

Red beans and ricely yours,

Sanchmo






Paul's book, "Pieces Of Me" can be bought HERE.

Please do it.

The music will return soon.

Remember New Orleans

Bits And Pieces

Bob Dylan Christmas Album Confirmed

The holiday season is coming a bit early for Bob Dylan fans, as the legendary singer-songwriter is set to release his first Christmas album entitled "Christmas in the Heart" on October 13. Dylan has teamed up with Feeding America (feedingamerica.org) for this release and will donate all present and future U.S. royalties from the sales of "Christmas in the Heart" to this organization. Feeding America provides meal assistance, serving more than four million meals during the holiday season.

Christmas staples "I'll Be Home For Christmas," O Little Town of Bethlehem," "Here Comes Santa Claus," and "Must Be Santa" will be on the album. While a final track list is still unconfirmed, "Winter Wonderland" and "Little Drummer Boy" will also be included. "Christmas in the Heart" is Dylan's second album this year, following the critically acclaimed, "Together Through Life," which reached #1 on the Billboard 20




The Who's Pete Townshend Plans New Musical 'Floss'





The Who guitarist Pete Townshend, behind rock operas "Tommy" and "Quadrophenia," is writing a new musical "Floss," about getting old. "As a 19-year-old, with 'My Generation,' I wrote the most explicitly ageist song in rock," Townshend wrote on his band's website (www.thewho.com). The 1965 hit song includes the line "I hope I die before I get old." "At 64, I now want to take on ageing and mortality, using the powerfully angry context of rock'n'roll."


"Floss" will be designed for outdoor performance and arenas and Townshend expects it to be ready for a concert premiere in 2011, probably in New York.



BEATLES MONO BOXES ALREADY SOLD OUT ON AMAZON



The limited and very strict 10,000 copy run of the forthcoming Beatles Mono Collection has already sold out as a pre-order on Amazon. I'm stunned, actually!


AND YES, THIS IS STEVEN TYLER




FINALLY..



Have a bit of rock and roll with your morning coffee. Here is Bruce Springsteen with an absolutely ripping version of "Boom Boom" from Stockholm, 1988. TURN IT UP!

BOOM BOOM ZIP FILE

Ellie Greenwich, R.I.P.

BE MY BABY
CHAPEL OF LOVE
I CAN HEAR MUSIC
RIVER DEEP, MOUNTAIN HIGH
WAIT TIL MY BOBBY GETS HOME
THEN HE KISSED ME
DA DO RON RON
HANKY PANKY


That would be enough.


Thank you.

The Promised Land- A Swamp Pop Journey

"The Promised Land is a film that takes you to the heart of Louisiana's musical phenomenon - Swamp Pop. Shot in South-west Louisiana we meet this super group of cult and underground heroes and observe their lives, their music, their culture. Tracing founder member CC Adcock's search through the swamps and flatlands of South Louisiana we are drawn into a world of beauty."




"Lil' Band O' Gold resurrected swamp pop tradition while putting its own stamp on the rock music coming out of Southwest Louisiana. The nine-piece supergroup, consisting of singer/guitarist C.C. Adcock, singer/accordionist Steve Riley, singer/pianist David Egan, saxists Dickie Landry, David Greely, and Pat Breaux, bassist Dave Ronson, pedal-steel guitarist Richard Comeaux, and legendary drummer Warren Storm, rarely performed outside its home base in Lafayette, LA, because of its members' commitments to other bands.

Lil' Band O' Gold recasted traditional Cajun rockers into roadhouse boogie with the help of a dynamite rhythm section and the St. Martin's Horns on its 2000 self-titled debut CD on Shanachie Records. The band revved up "Parlez Nous a Boire (Let's Talk About Drinkin')," written by Cajun pioneer Dewey Balfa, after revisiting "Shirley," originally done by John Fred & the Playboys. Its version of "7 Letters," which was a hit for Warren Storm in the '50s, showed a slow balladic side of the group. Rockabilly from the '40s and '50s got the call on the band's remake of Moon Mulligan's "7 Nights to Rock." "Allons Rock 'N Roll," a Cajun rocker made famous by Lawrence Walker, who pioneered the cross-pollination of rhythm & blues and swing with Cajun music, epitomized the band's efforts to embrace all kinds of music from its heritage."


This record was given to me my dear departed friend Chris Kelly with the simple command, "You should listen to this." Chris Kelly was a man of few words, but when he did speak you barely heard him. Still, I'm glad I managed to understand his instructions, rather than toss the CD into a "to be processed" pile at the old store. Lil Band Of Gold quickly became one of my favorite New Orleans/Louisiana records, and the band, along with its key members CC Adcock, Steve Riley, David Egan, & Warren Storm have been my go-to guys whenever I'm down Louisiana way.

I can't recommend this record enough. A few more essential recordings:

CC Adcock- Houserocker
CC Adcock- Lafayette Marquis
Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys- Bayou Ruler
David Egan- You Don't Know Your Mind


I still haven't seen "The Promised Land." The film screened the morning I left New Orleans back in April, and it was weeks after the fact when I found out there was a NYC screening.

Here is a track called "Teardrops." I believe it is featured in the film, but only available on a promotional E.P. given away at the film screenings. It is a killer, and will absolutely put you in a great mood.

You need that, don't you?

TEARDROPS ZIP

If It's Tuesday, It Must Be Street Date - 08/25/09

ARCTIC MONKEYS - HUMBUG

3rd release from Brit phenoms has Queens Of The Stone Ager, Josh Homme on board as co-producer. The guys have been pretty consistent so far. Even side projects like The Last Shadow Puppets offered some solid listening in between Monkey albums. But good reviews aside, nothing on "Humbug" has caught my ear the way their debut did. Bah, humb...ok, too cheap.








CHEAP TRICK- SGT. PEPPER LIVE

Rick, Robin, Tom, and Bun E. perform The Beatles' classic in its entirety as part of the 40th celebration of its release. Special guest vocalists include Joan Osborne, Ian Bell of Gomez, and singer-songwriter Rob Laufer, the genius behind the song "Reactionary Girl," one of my favorite pop tunes of all time (listen HERE), found on both Robin Zander's criminally underrated solo album and Laufer's own "Wonderwood."







KITTY, DAISY, & LEWIS- KITTY, DAISY, & LEWIS

Released months ago in the UK, this brilliant record by the teenage siblings finally sees a US release and it is as pure as the day is humid. Rockabilly, swing, and jive played as if these kids have been living the life for 40 years.









MATISYAHU- LIGHT

Hasidic, dancehall, reggae, rapper returns with a new record of reggae, dancehall, hip hop and a bit of ska and alternative pop.









WILLIE NELSON- AMERICAN CLASSIC

"Let's see, wake up, make coffee, read the newspaper, braid hair, comb beard, smoke a doob, release a new record, start all over again tomorrow."

"American Classic" is the unofficial (?) or maybe it's the official sequel to the Willie classic, "Stardust," and the 38th record he's released this year.







DOLORES O'RIORDAN- NO BAGGAGE

Lead Cranberry returns with her second solo LP, a record that is unmistakably O'Riordan's. If you like her voice, and I don't, you will no doubt get a kick out of her sweet, soft, folky style right before she launches into her nails-on-a-blackboard "ZOMBIE" screech. And I say that will all due respect.







RADIOHEAD REISSUES

The expanded campaign continues with 2 CD versions of the later, post- Ok Computer, tuneless, experimental Radiohead albums. "Amnesiac," "Kid A" and "Hail To The Thief" each now contain a bonus disc with b-sides and live tracks.








SMOKEY ROBINSON- TIME FLIES WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN

Smokey is pushing 70 and his voice can still send shivers up your spine. The new record is mostly new and original Smokey-penned tunes, and while it may not have anything close to the magic of Robinson's heyday, it is indeed a record to be proud of, with some smooth soul and real heart. Carlos Santana, Joss Stone, and India.Arie, your go-to special guests, were gone-to for this, as well.







THE SUBDUDES- FLOWER PETALS

Making the sweet sounds of all things New Orleans for over 20 years, The Subdudes press on with "Flower Petals," a bit of a concept record with a collection of country and western-tinged songs sung from the POV of a dead soldier. Le Bon temps Roulez? Woo hoo?

Summer

I guess this really isn't a revelation so much as some self-indulgence. It's not as if my choices for "Songs That Feel The Most Like Summer" include side long epics by Amon Duul. It's a safe bet that what I've included here works for most of you, as well. There are so many songs that bring me back to so many places and remind me of so many people. As a kid, it was all about the radio and those great DJs of WABC-AM- Ron Lundy, Harry Harrison, Dan Ingram and Johnny Donovan.

Far Rockaway, Sheepshead Bay, Sip Avenue, Brighton Beach and Sullivan Street all pop up with specific snapshots every time I hear songs like "Our Day Will Come" by Ruby & The Romantics, "Band Of Gold" by Freda Payne, "The Worst That Could Happen" by The Brooklyn Bridge, "Along Comes Mary" by The Association, "Don't Worry Baby" by The Beach Boys," "Saturday In The Park" by Chicago... I could go on for another 50 or 60 songs easily.

This summer, for me at least, has been a bust. Crap weather, and the usual assortment of broken plans, financial misery, and missing friends are not what I remember from the summers of old. What I can never shake though, is the music. The music never fails to pick me up. The following five songs scream out summertime, and regardless of my mood, can drag me out of just about any mire

Maybe In Slidell I'll Find My Joy

Yes, I know. It's Sunday. But, Burning Wood looks out for his readers.

Happy Birthday Meanstreets!

Behave yourself and leave the gun at home.

"More Is Les"- THE WEEKEND MIX

This "WEEKEND'S MIX" (which should have been last weekend's mix) was conceived and compiled (with a little help from me) by my friend Charlie Carr over at The Tenderfeet Times. Over to you, Charles.



"From the top: thanks, kudos and mad props to Sal for the collaborative nudge!


We were kicking around a Les Paul tribute/homage and to the amusement of, so far, only each other came up with this list. Gonna walk you through it, not in a didactic kind of way but more in a Groucho “Walk this way” kind of way.

Gaillard is simply a fun guy to listen to. Jive before there was jive. You probably know him best from “Flat Foot Floogie”. DiMeola lands here by virtue of his virtuosity and his allegiance to Les Paul (the guitar). Do I have to tell you that "I Feel Fine" is maybe the first use of guitar distortion on a rock and roll record?



"Maybe I’m Amazed" - the solo is one of my favorites. (and whatta cool picture!) Rundgren owes a lot to Les Paul’s pioneering work in the realm of multitracking. FZ? Tough for me to make a guitar mix and leave him out, plus Sal insisted. Current Les Paul technician Warren Haynes meets guitar god Eric Clapton and they both weigh in on Brother Duane. Beck sends us back into the jazz groove and, who better to take the baton than the earliest master of the instrument that Les would go on to perfect – Charlie Christian. And finally – Les Paul in fine form with the piece that came to be associated with him as a player."





TRACKLIST

How High The Moon- Slim Gaillard
Race With Devil On Spanish Highway - Al Di Meola
I Feel Fine (US VERSION)- Beatles
Maybe I'm Amazed - Paul McCartney
Lost Horizon - Todd Rundgren
Po-Jama People - Frank Zappa
Layla - The Allman Brothers Band w/ Eric Clapton
Goodbye Pork Pie Hat (Live from B.B. King's) - Jeff Beck
Rose Room - Charlie Christian
How High The Moon - Les Paul And Mary Ford

ZIP FILE

Phil Lynott, A Birthday Tribute

It's always been hard trying to convince the non-believer that Phil Lynott was a poet on par with some of our greatest poets. So hard actually, that even now as I try to pay tribute to one of my favorite singer-songwriters and rock icons on what would have been his 60th birthday, I am struggling, fearing the flak from those who hear the name Thin Lizzy and can only recall "The Boys Are Back In Town." (a damn fine song, by the way)

Phil Lynott battled many demons on a day to day basis. Those demons, and the drugs and alcohol he used regularly to silence them, won the battle on January 4th, 1986, when Lynott's body finally gave up. But it was those very same demons that inspired some of the most heartbreaking cries for help in so many of Lynott's songs.

I wrote about one of those songs, "Dear Lord," HERE. In this song, Lynott is down on his knees, begging for mercy with one of my favorite lyrics:

Dear Lord take the time
I believe your story now you believe mine

5 years later, Lynott recognizes he is no longer the man he used to be in the song, "The Sun Goes Down." There is a quality to Lynott's voice that makes him sound as if he is constantly pleading, as if he could read something as simple as a grocery list out loud, and bring you to tears. His performance here, from 1983, is no different.

I doubt I have convinced anyone with this simple post to take the time and listen to something other than Thin Lizzy's hits. But I sure wish you'd try.

I miss Phil Lynott.

In Their Own Words

There are many things I miss about The Bottom Line, the legendary NYC nightclub where history was ostensibly made every night. Those things do not include the damp and undersized English muffin upon which the hamburger was served or the boatload of undercooked French fries for $6.75, the floor-to-ceiling beams that I somehow managed to always sit behind, or the as legendary "shut up and wait" service. They do include the musical magic that was the "In Their Own Words" series, where 5 songwriters would take the stage, share stories, and basically recreate a campfire sing-a-long, assuming you went camping with James McMurtry, Marshall Crenshaw, Jules Shear, David Halley and Don Dixon. (That was my favorite evening, by the way.) There were other great evenings, as well. How about this one:

FEB 19,1993
"In Their Own Words"
A Bunch of Songwriters Sittin' Around Singing
Featuring:
LUKA BLOOM, DAVID BYRNE,
ROSEANNE CASH, LOU REED
All Seats $15.00


Or this gem

SEPT 23,1993
"In Their Own Words"
A Bunch of Songwriters Sittin'
around Singing"
Featuring:
FELIX CAVALIERE, AIMEE MANN,
MOJO NIXON, "SIR" MACK RICE
Hosted by VIN SCELSA
All Seats $15.00

You can search the entire Bottom Line archive HERE and see what you've missed, while missing what you've seen.

Another one of my favorites was this one:


FEB 21,1997
Writers In The Round
"Bluebird Style"
With:
RICHARD BARONE, JULES SHEAR, TERRI ROCHE
PETER HOLSAPPLE, SUSAN COWSILL
All Seats $15.00

The name had changed slightly by then, but the vibe remained the same. I offer you the encore from this night, wonderful takes on the Randy California classic "Nature's Way" and a killer "Louie, Louie."

Anyone out there have the McMurtry/Crenshaw/Shear/Dixon/Halley night? I'll gladly swap it for this night.

NATURE'S WAY, LOUIE LOUIE ZIPFILE

If It's Tuesday, It Must Be Street Date - 08/18/09

BRENDAN BENSON- MY OLD, FAMILIAR FRIEND

4th release from pop-rocking, Raconteur Benson. See yesterday's post for details please.





THE CULT- LOVE (EXPANDED)

I don't think it's a stretch to call this record a classic. Not much prior or since feels as convincing as The Cult's hard-rocking goth on this 1985 release, now expanded to 2 CDs to include all b-sides, as well as every remix of the hit "She Sells Sanctuary." "YAA-YUH!" (That's my Ian Astbury impersonation.)





COLIN HAY- AMERICAN SUNSHINE

The man is still at work. (sorry) Colin Hay releases his 10th solo LP since Men At Work disbanded and its lazy, third rate, singer-songwriter, James Taylor outtakes vibe left me cold.






JOE HENRY- BLOOD FROM STARS

Hot on the heels of producing two fantastic records for Allen Toussaint & Ramblin' Jack Elliott respectively, singer-songwriter and class act, Joe Henry drops his best solo record to date.





DELBERT MCLINTON- ACQUIRED TASTE

First record of new material in 4 years, from the legendary Texas roots and R&B singer.






MUTEMATH- ARMISTICE

"Anointed by Alternative Press as ''the #1 band you need to see live before you die,'' eclectic and inspired electro-alt MUTEMATH scored in late 2008 with ''Spotlight'' (#1 Billboard Hot Singles Sales for two weeks) on the soundtrack album to Twilight. The track now also appears on the group's second album, Armistice. Produced by Dennis Herring (Modest Mouse, Elvis Costello, The Hives). " I couldn't have said it better myself..or at all actually. The band sounds like Coldplay after a week off the medication.




JAY REATARD- WATCH ME FALL

"Highly anticipated new album from this indie artist. 'Snarky, snarling, and soaring, this kind of derangement rarely sounds so sweet." Kinda like The Undertones meets The Buzzcocks. Good stuff!





RICHARD THOMPSON- WALKING ON A WIRE (1968-2009) 4 CD BOX

Shout Factory releases the "definitive" Richard Thompson collection. You decide.

TRACK LIST:
Walking On A Wire: Richard Thompson (1968-2009)
Distributed by Sony BMG
Release Date: June 30
Selection No.: 826663-11087
Suggested List Price: $59.98

Disc One:
1. Time Will Show The Wiser - Fairport Convention Fairport Convention
2. Meet On The Ledge - Fairport Convention What We Did On Our Holidays (U.K.), Fairport Convention (U.S.)
3. Genesis Hall - Fairport Convention Unhalfbricking
4. Crazy Man Michael - Fairport Convention Liege & Lief
5. Sloth - Fairport Convention Full House
6. Roll Over Vaughn Williams Starring As Henry The Human Fly
7. The Poor Ditching Boy Starring As Henry The Human Fly
8. The Angels Took My Racehorse Away Starring As Henry The Human Fly
9. The Great Valerio - Richard & Linda Thompson I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
10. When I Get To The Border - Richard & Linda Thompson I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
11. Withered And Died - Richard & Linda Thompson I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
12. I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight - Richard & Linda Thompson I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
13. Down Where The Drunkards Roll - Richard & Linda Thompson I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
14. The Calvary Cross - Richard & Linda Thompson I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
15. I'll Regret It All In The Morning - Richard & Linda Thompson Hokey Pokey
16. Old Man Inside A Young Man - Richard & Linda Thompson Hokey Pokey
17. For Shame Of Doing Wrong - Richard & Linda Thompson Pour Down Like Silver
18. Night Comes In - Richard & Linda Thompson Pour Down Like Silver

Disc Two:
1. Dimming Of The Day/Dargai - Richard & Linda Thompson Pour Down Like Silver
2. A Heart Needs A Home - Richard & Linda Thompson (guitar, vocal) (U.K.), Live! (More Or Less) (U.S.)
3. Don't Let A Thief Steal Into Your Heart - Richard & Linda Thompson First Light
4. Strange Affair -Richard & Linda Thompson First Light
5. Sunnyvista - Richard & Linda Thompson Sunnyvista
6. Sisters - Richard & Linda Thompson Sunnyvista
7. Rockin' In Rhythm Strict Tempo!
8. Did She Jump Or Was She Pushed - Richard & Linda Thompson Shoot Out The Lights
9. Man In Need - Richard & Linda Thompson Shoot Out The Lights
10. Shoot Out The Lights - Richard & Linda Thompson Shoot Out The Lights
11. Wall Of Death - Richard & Linda Thompson Shoot Out The Lights
12. Walking On A Wire - Richard & Linda Thompson Shoot Out The Lights
13. Tear Stained Letter Hand Of Kindness
14. How I Wanted To Hand Of Kindness
15. Hand Of Kindness Hand Of Kindness
16. Beat The Retreat (Live) Small Town Romance (Live/Solo In New York, 1982)
17. I Ain't Going To Drag My Feet No More Across A Crowded Room

Disc Three:
1. Little Blue Number Across A Crowded Room
2. She Twists The Knife Again Across A Crowded Room
3. Valerie Daring Adventures
4. Turning Of The Tide Amnesia
5. I Still Dream Amnesia
6. Waltzing's For Dreamers Amnesia
7. Read About Love Rumor And Sigh
8. I Feel So Good Rumor And Sigh
9. I Misunderstood Rumor And Sigh
10. 1952 Vincent Black Lightning Rumor And Sigh
11. Put Your Trust In Me Sweet Talker (Original Soundtrack)
12. From Galway To Graceland (Live) Watching The Dark
13. I Can't Wake Up To Save My Life Mirror Blue
14. MGB-GT Mirror Blue
15. Mingus Eyes Mirror Blue
16. Beeswing Mirror Blue
17. Taking My Business Elsewhere Mirror Blue
18. King Of Bohemia Mirror Blue
19. Don't Roll Those Bloodshot Eyes At Me (Live) - Richard Thompson with Danny Thompson Live At Crawley 1993 - Richard Thompson with Danny Thompson
20. Razor Dance (Voltage Enhanced) you? me? us?

Disc Four:
1. Hide It Away (Voltage Enhanced) you? me? us?
2. Last Shift - Richard Thompson & Danny Thompson Industry Richard Thompson & Danny Thompson
3. Big Chimney - Richard Thompson & Danny Thompson Industry - Richard Thompson & Danny Thompson
4. Lotteryland - Richard Thompson & Danny Thompson Industry - Richard Thompson & Danny Thompson
5. Persuasion (Live) - Richard Thompson Celtschmerz (Live UK '98)
6. Cooksferry Queen Mock Tudor
7. Bathsheba Smiles Mock Tudor
8. Hard On Me (Live) Semi-Detached Mock Tudor
9. Gethsemane The Old Kit Bag
10. A Love You Can't Survive The Old Kit Bag
11. A Legal Matter (Live) 1000 Years Of Popular Music
12. Main Title From Grizzly Man Grizzly Man (Original Soundtrack)
13. Al Bowlly's In Heaven (Live) Live From Austin TX
14. I'll Never Give It Up Sweet Warrior
15. Dad's Gonna Kill Me Sweet Warrior
16. She Sang Angels To Rest Sweet Warrior





LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III- HIGH WIDE & HANDSOME

"Loudon Wainwright III, together with producer Dick Connette, has created one of the most ambitious projects of his career with the 2 CD set High Wide & Handsome - a grand gathering of songs, both old and original, revisiting the life, times and recorded legacy of legendary singer and banjo picker Charlie Poole (1892-1931). "

Brendan Benson- My Old, Familiar Friend

I first heard Brendan Benson while tracking down some Jason Falkner demos someone told me about. This was back in 1995, and as it turned out, the songs I got hold of were actually Brendan Benson demos that featured Jason Falkner. Since then, both Benson and Falkner have released some of my favorite records of the last 10 years. The demos I mentioned ended up on Benson's 1996 release "One Mississippi," an album that can slap you like an early Who record and then sweeten you up like a Colin Blunstone ballad.

Benson has quietly released 2 more brilliant records, 2002's "Lapalco," and 2005's "The Alternative To Love," as well as loudly been part of Jack White's middle side project "The Raconteurs." All fine stuff, these records here. But it is what hits the street tomorrow, where Brendan Benson may take over the world.

"My Old Familiar Friend," Benson's 4th solo record is not only the best of his career, but a sure fire candidate for the one of the best records of the year.



You can listen to the whole thing HERE, but be forewarned, once you start, you may not stop.


The formula hasn't changed; great riffs, killer hooks, big choruses and smart lyrics. Benson's transition from New Wave rocker on one song to Motown crooner on another is as smooth as silk. "My Old, Familiar Friend" plays like a greatest hits CD, with every song better than the next. I've had this CD for a month and each time I play it, I am truly sorry when it is over.

OK, enough gushing for a Monday morning.

Jim Dickinson, R.I.P.

"Original Pin Ups"- THE WEEKEND MIX

When "Pinups," Bowie's 1973 homage to the British bands that influenced his career was released, finding the original versions of the songs he covered was not quite as easy as it is today. An original single by The Mojos was not just a few mouse clicks away.

As Bruce Eder writes on All Music:

..apart from the Easybeats' "Friday on My Mind" and the Yardbirds' "Shapes of Things," little here was among the biggest hits of their respective artists' careers, and the Who's "I Can't Explain" and "Anyway Anyhow Anywhere" were the only ones whose original versions were easily available or played very often on the radio; everything else was as much a history lesson, for Pink Floyd fans whose knowledge of that band went back no further than Atom Heart Mother, or into Liverpool rock (the Merseys' "Sorrow"), as it was a tour through Bowie's taste in '60s music.

So when I compiled the "Original Pin Ups" mix for cassette many years ago and played it on a crowded Friday night at Smash Compact Discs on St. Marks' Place where I worked for 3 years, it was quite the novelty. It also prompted my friend Dan Levy, who had been shopping for 20 minutes while listening, to say one of my favorite things ever:

Dan:
WHAT IS THIS?

ME:
It is the original versions of the songs on Bowi...

DAN:
I KNOW WHAT IT IS!! BUT WHAT IS IT?

18 years later and that still makes me laugh.


Well, here it is, for those who may not have used those mouse clicks to track everything down themselves.


Rosalyn- The Pretty Things
Here Comes The Night - Them
I Wish You Would- The Yardbirds
See Emily Play- Pink Floyd
Everything's All Right- The Mojos
I Can't Explain- The Who
Friday On My Mind- The Easybeats
Sorrow- The Merseys
Don't Bring Me Down- The Pretty Things
Shapes Of Things- The Yardbirds
Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere- The Who
Where Have All The Good Times Gone- The Kinks

ZIP FILE

Les Paul, R.I.P.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32403755/ns/entertainment-music/

Meet The Beatles' Boxes

In one month's time, one of the most celebrated catalogues in the history of music will finally get a proper sonic upgrade and spectacular release. No, not the 60's Robert Goulet LPs, but...you got it...The Beatles. Fans have been waiting since 1987 for Capitol/EMI to do the right thing.

Take a look at what you can expect.





Stereo Box Info:
Hard black glossy lift top with magnet clasp
CD's packaged in three panel digi-pak with digital mini documentaries
Remastered by Guy Massey, Steve Rooke, Sam Okell with Paul Hicks and Sean Magee

Contains:

All 13 Studio remasters plus Past Masters (digi packaging with digital mini documentaries). DVD of all 13 mini-documentaries (Running time: 40 minutes)

Please Please Me
With The Beatles
A Hard Day's Night
Beatles For Sale
Help!
Rubber Soul
Revolver
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Magical Mystery Tour
The Beatles (White Album)
Yellow Submarine
Abbey Road
Let It Be
Past Masters






Mono Box Info:

Hard white glossy slip box
Limited edition (10,000 in the U.S. market)
CDs packaged as mini LP replicas (replica artwork, sleeves and gatefolds)
Remastered by Paul Hicks, Sean Magee with Guy Massey and Steve Rooke

Contains:

Original Mono version - 11 albums (12 discs)

Please Please Me
With The Beatles
A Hard Day's Night
Beatles For Sale
Help! (CD also includes original 1965 stereo mix)+
Rubber Soul (CD also include original 1965 stereo mix)+
Revolver +
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band +
Magical Mystery Tour +
The Beatles (White Album) +
Mono Masters (features all of the mono tracks that appeared on singles, EPs. or that never made it onto the 13 albums)

+ denotes mono mix CD debut

(Yellow Submarine, Abbey Road and Let It Be are not included, as they were originally recorded in stereo)


"Aside from remastering the catalog, EMI and Apple Corps are including several value-added features to sweeten the pot for fans wondering if they need more versions of the songs they’ve already been listening to over the years.

For starters, each of the CDs is packaged with replicated original United Kingdom cover art. Included are expanded booklets containing original and new liner notes and rare photos. Furthermore, for a limited time only, each CD will include a short documentary about the album.

All 12 Beatles albums are in the digitally remastered collection, including track listings and artwork as originally released in the U.K. The set also includes Magical Mystery Tour, which was originally released in the U.K. as the soundtrack to the TV film of the same name, and wasn’t fleshed out to album size until it was released in the States. Plus, the group’s Past Masters Vol. I and II are being combined into one title, resulting in 14 titles in all – the original 12 albums, Magical Mystery Tour and Past Masters."


DROOOOOOLLLL

You Heard It Here First....Or 12th.

This is Kristina Train. Her debut record comes out on October 20th. I've listened to it a dozen times already. You can too, right HERE. She will be huge.

This video isn't perfect, but Kristina Train may be.

Special thanks to Al Kooper.

If It's Tuesday, It Must Be Street Date - 08/11/09

ROBERT CRAY- THIS TIME

The Energizer Bunny of blues artists, Cray releases his 62nd (or maybe 18th) record since his 1980 debut. I know many people who love him, but as soulful as his voice may be, I just don't buy his blues. This record works on the same level as a Keb' Mo' record- easy on the ears, easier on the heart. That ain't the blues.





FABULOUS POODLES- MIRROR STARS/THINK PINK

New wave, pub-rockers see their first two LPs get reissued on one CD, thanks to the "no frills, no remastering, but damn happy to have around"label American Beat.





PHIL MANZANERA/801 REISSUES

Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera, surprised everyone in 1976 with the best of his side projects, "801 Live." Here's a bit from AMG:

801 provided Roxy Music guitarist Phil Manzanera with one of his most intriguing side projects. Although the band only played three gigs in August and September 1976, this album captures a night when everything fell right into place musically. That should only be expected with names like Eno and Simon Phillips in the lineup.

This performance is legendary, with Eno taking over lead vocals on two blistering covers, The Kinks'"You Really Got Me" and to quote AMG one more time, "a spacy but smoldering version of "Tomorrow Never Knows"; it's definitely among the cleverest of Beatles covers.

I wore this record out the week I found it sitting in the window of Golden Disc on Bleecker Street! This new edition includes a bonus CD of a recently discovered rehearsal/soundcheck, that I wish I had more info on, but even Manzanera's own website offers little.

Also out today are three additional, Eno-less 801 titles, "Listen, Now," "Live In Manchester," and "Live In Hull," none of which come close to the brilliance and spontaneity of the first.





REIGNING SOUND- LOVE AND CURSES

Memphis garage rockers, who recently backed up legendary Shangri-La Mary Weiss on her wonderful comeback LP "Dangerous Game," which incidentally was mostly co-written with Reigning Sound leader Greg Cartwright, release their first full length in 5 years.





VARIOUS- WOODSTOCK: 40 YEARS ON, BACK TO YASGUR'S FARM

6 CDS, 77 SONGS, 38 UNRELEASED from a little festival about to turn 40. This box does include The Grateful Dead, but the rumored Melanie Safka/Keith Moon duet of "What Now My Love," is nowhere to be found. (Ok, I just started that rumor.) Take a look HERE all the goodies included in this box.




ALSO OUT THIS WEEK

THE BOTTLEROCKETS- LEAN FORWARD

TOMMY CASTRO- HARD BELIEVER

BUFFY SAINT-MARIE- RUNNING FOR THE DRUM

MINDY SMITH- STUPID LOVE

MIKE STERN- BIG NEIGHBORHOOD

Burning Wood Is Asking For Help

In just a few weeks, Burning Wood will celebrate its one year anniversary.

When I decided to start this blog, my hope was to get the intense music lover excited again. Now that the Mom and Pop record store has gone the way of the hula hoop, where can a person go to express his passion about Neil Young, new music, New Orleans, and New Wave? The comments section, of course!

I wanted Burning Wood to be informative, occasionally controversial, and always entertaining; a place where people who live for the moments they can debate over their musical loves and hates could do so freely. I wanted Burning Wood to be for everyone, not just me. Recently, I was told to do something I didn't want to do to a body part I cherish. I could have just deleted the whole conversation, but I didn't. As I said, Burning Wood is for everyone, even those who don't like me, my musical tastes and my opinions.

I have seen readership go from the tens to the hundreds and that is wonderful. But this year, I want to see readership go from the hundreds to the thousands. I thank all of you for your continued support and hope you spread the word. (just keep the "body part" story to yourself)

There is one more obstacle, though.

Also celebrating, or more accurately, closing out its one year anniversary, is my membership to the website that hosts all the music files that I upload for your listening pleasure. Now there are plenty of sites who offer their hosting and storage services for free, but along with that free service comes more complications: time consuming downloads with passwords, less space for me (and you), and more annoying pop-ups for massage therapy and Zoloft. I have listened to many of you who are still afraid to download music, or who simply can't be bothered with the inconveniences of the free sites. By paying for space, your tunes, including the CD length "Weekend Mixes" are one click away.

So it is with great humility that I ask this, if you'd like all the music that is posted- the rare live concerts, unreleased tracks by your favorite artists, old rare vinyl, etc.--to continue, free of charge with no loop holes (except this one), and you feel like showing your appreciation, click on the Burning Wood Fund Donation button and show your support. No money is made from Burning Wood. It is a labor of love that I hope to continue. I just need some help. No amount is too small. And anyone who donates will receive a special CD from me, as long as you include your address.

Thank for you reading an thank you for coming back, day after day.