I’d Rather Go Blind

“I’d Rather Go Blind” is a Blues song written by Ellington Jordan and co-credited to Billy Foster.

It was first recorded by Etta James in 1968, and has subsequently become regarded as a blues and soul classic.

Mr BB King said it all…………duet perfection

“I’d Rather Go Blind” – Christine Perfect

To buy the music of Christine Perfect click HERE

Stuart Adamson – In A Big Country

I have just finished reading Allan Glen’s good biography of Stuart Adamson.  With no new interviews with band members granted to the author, official biographies of The Skids and Big Country are due though no one knows when, he has relied on a series of interviews with people close to Stuart and extracts from past band interviews.

In such circumstances it is a credit that the book provides enough to allow the reader to gain some insight into the man himself who thrived on his music, his family and his love for Dunfermline Athletic FC.

From his initial success with The Skids through Big Country to his relocation to Nashville and subsequent projects it is obvious that he always retained a passion for his music, however, he was less comfortable of  being “famous” yet craved recognition as a good songwriter and performer.

Whilst it is never easy to determine what may drive any individual towards total alcohol dependency and thereafter a tragic suicide it is certain that the above conflict and an increasing remoteness from his family played a part.

Adamson was married twice. He also had two children, born to his first wife Sandra in 1982 and 1985. In 1996, Adamson split with Sandra and moved to Nashville.

There he remarried, and founded his final band, the alternative country band The Raphaels, a duo of Adamson and Nashville songwriter Marcus Hummon.

On 16 December 2001 he was found dead, after committing suicide by hanging in a room at the Best Western Plaza Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii. At the time of death he had a blood-alcohol content of 0.279%.

Musically for me he peaked early via two great debut albums via The Skids “Scared To Dance” and Big Country’s “The Crossing”.

Their second album was a disappointment for me, however, as a band they hit a commercial high with their third album “The Seer” which sold well all around the world making them a headline attraction in the US where I saw them live in San Diego in 1986.

There were two big hits from this album “One Great Thing” which was used in a television advertising campaign for Tennents Lager and the world wide hit “Look Away”

My favourite Big Country music is their soundtrack for the film “Restless Natives” which was the ideal medium for their sound.

As the 80′s merged into the 90′s record sales for Big Country diminished, however, they remained a sought after live attraction both as headliners and support acts for many including on two ocassions The Rolling Stones.

If you only want to own one Big Country album then make it the 2005 expanded 2 disc version of ”Without The Aid Of A Safety Net” which is a part acoustic part electric live recording from their 1993 Barrowland concerts.

The last chapter of Big Country’s recording career was spent across a series of record labels with limited success, however, these two songs alone were good enough proof that inspiration was never far away.

“The One I Love” – Big Country  (!993)

“Fragile Thing” – Big Country  (1999 featuring Eddi Reader)

To buy the music of The Skids click HERE

To buy the music of Big Country click HERE

New News – Big Audio Dynamite

Big Audio Dynamite are set to re-unite for their first shows in over twenty five years.

Kicked out of The Clash, Mick Jones dusted himself down and began making plans. Calling up a few friends, the loose knit collective began making music which sat somewhere between rock, dub and hip hop.

Big Audio Dynamite stuck out on their own, making pioneering music which blasted apart the walls between genres. A mixed race group at a time of great tension in the UK, the band remain hugely influential.

Now they are set to return led once more by Mick Jones, the legendary group have confirmed details of their first full live shows in over twenty five years.

The news first broke after the line up for Coachella was unveiled, featured the band’s name. Big Audio Dynamite are the latest in a long line of groups to reform for the desert festival, and the show looks set to spark a full re-union.

The original line up of the band is back together, featuring punk face and ace reggae compiler Don Letts. Big Audio Dynamite are due to open their new British tour with a show in Liverpool on March 29th.

Travelling to Glasgow, other dates include Nottingham, Leeds and Manchester. Londoners by birth, the capital was always a stronghold for Big Audio Dynamite who reflected the moods of the city.

Returning for a two night stint, the band will play Shepherds Bush Empire on April 2nd and 3rd. Ending with a show in Bristol on April 9th, the tour is the first live outing by Big Audio Dynamite in over two decades.

Tickets for the shows went on sale on Friday (January 28th).

Big Audio Dynamite are set to play the following shows:

March
29 Liverpool O2 Academy
30 Glasgow O2 ABC
31 Newcastle O2 Academy

April
2 London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
3 London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire
6 Nottingham Rock City
7 Leeds O2 Academy
8 Manchester Academy
9 Bristol O2 Academy

Original Source www.clashmusic.com

Friday Fun – Howling Football Performance

“Night Bird Flying” – Jimi Hendrix

To buy the music of Jimi Hendrix click HERE

Old 97′s

The Old 97′s are an alternative country band from Dallas, Texas.

Formed in 1993, they have since released eight studio albums, two EP’s and have also released one live album.

They are recognized as pioneers of the alt-country movement during the mid to late 1990s along with bands such as Uncle Tupelo, Drive-By Truckers, Whiskeytown, The Jayhawks, and The Bottle Rockets.

Their most recent album is The Grand Theatre, Volume One. from which I bring you my favourite song of the current year…..so far.

“Please Hold On While The Train Is Moving” – Old 97′s

To buy the music of Old 97′s click HERE

New Music – Anna Calvi

 Now and then an artist comes along who is hard to pigeon hole….step forward the wonderful Anna Calvi.

The NME have described her self titled debut album, released last week, as “the first great album of 2011″

The story however really began to kick in last year when her cover of the Edith Piaf  song “Jezebel” became a worldwide web hit with bloggers.

Whilst some people reference her to PJ Harvey I prefer as a source influence Nina Simone meets Siouxsie Soux, her own website covers it nicely.

“Anna Calvi’s debut is an honest distillation of her talents as a songwriter, singer and guitar player. Haunted by the timeless sounds of Nina Simone and Maria Callas, as well as the classical romanticism of Ravel and Debussy, and the rock innovations of Jimi Hendrix and Captain Beefheart, the record is both mysterious and decadent, nostalgic and forward looking.”

“Suzanne and I” – Anna Calvi

To buy the music of Anna Calvi click HERE

Wanda Jackson – The Party Ain’t Over

It was November 2009 when I first brought you news of a revival album from Wanda jackson the first Queen of Rockabilly which was being produced by Jack White.

Early 2010 saw a couple of tracks released see HERE but the album is finally out this week and for your pleasure here is her version of one of Bob Dylan’s modern classics.

“Thunder On The Mountain” – Wanda Jackson

To promote the album Wanda made an ideal guest on the 2010/2011 Jools Holland Hootenanny which included her version of Amy Winehouse’s  “You Know I’m No Good”

To buy the music of Wanda Jackson click HERE

Bonus, here is his Bobness video of “Thunder On The Mountain” from the album “Modern Times”

Jonny

The band “Jonny” release their self titled debut album soon, however, members of the new group are certainly not new to the music scene.

In fact there is once again a real Scottish vibe running through the album which was recorded at Chem 19 Studios, Hamilton.

This Lanarkshire connection links back to band member Norman Blake, best known for his work with Teenage Fanclub who has teamed up with the Welsh Gorky’s Euros Childs supplemented by Fanclub’s Dave McGowan and BMX Bandit Stuart Kidd.

Even with Blake now residing in Ontario, Canada it is hoped that the quality melodies therein will reach an appreciative audience.

“I Want To Be Around You” – Jonny

The album artwork (above) is also revealed to be the inspiration behind their unusual name. Blake came across the image on a friend’s website “and thought it would make a great record sleeve… and name for a band”. “Sleeve first, band-name after”, confirms Childs, “that’s always the best way”.

“Jonny” album track listing:

1. Wich is Wich

2. Candyfloss

3. Waiting Around For You

4. Goldmine

5. You Was Me

6. Circling The Sun

7. English Lady

8. The Goodnight

9. Bread

10. Cave Dance

11. I Want To Be Around You

12. I’ll Make Her My Best Friend

13. Never Alone

To buy the album click HERE

Gregg Allman – Low Country Blues

Copyright 2011 David Oppenheirner

“Concert Photography By Performance  Impressions

Gregg Allman returns this month with a new album of mostly blues cover versions titled “Low Country Blues”.

Recorded shortly before he underwent a liver transplant last summer, the T-Bone Burnett produced album is his first in 14 years, and it is perhaps the best work he’s done since the Allman Brothers’ Seventies heyday.  

Horns smoulder atmospherically, Gregg’s Hammond organ broods darkly, Doyle Bramhall II’s bottleneck guitar lines snake menacingly, and the whole affair is rooted in the brilliantly illustrative undercarriage of premier rhythm section Jay Bellerose and Dennis Crouch.

Allman himself has rarely sung better, his bearded baritone resembling Bobby Bland on the fuller arrangements, but hauntingly desolate on country-blues material like Skip James’s “Devil Got My Woman”. An unexpected triumph. (source The Independent)

“Devil Got My Woman” – Gregg Allman

To buy the music of Gregg Allman click HERE

Harvest Revisited

The January issue of my favourite monthly music magazine MOJO has as its centrepiece an article on Neil Young’s classic album “Harvest” plus the Top 50 Neil Young songs as chosen by a variety of musicians plus interviews with the man himself and Nils Lofgrin.

To add cream to the cake this months free CD is “Harvest Revisited”

1	Out On The Weekend – Doug Paisley		UK Album	US Album
2	Harvest – Kelley Stoltz		UK Album	US Album
3	A Man Needs A Maid – Danny And The Champions Of The World		UK Album	US Album
4	Heart Of Gold – Jane Weaver		UK Album	US Album
5	Are You Ready For The Country – Phosphorescent		UK Album	US Album
6	Old Man – Villages		UK Album	US Album
7	There’s A World – Neville Skelly		UK Album	US Album
8	Alabama – Smoke Fairies		UK Album	US Album
9	The Needle And The Damage Done – Sam Amidon		UK Album	US Album
10	Words (Between The Lines Of Age) – Chip Taylor		UK Album	US Album

“Words (Between The Lines Of Age) – Chip Taylor

Someone and someone
were down by the pond
Looking for something
to plant in the lawn.
Out in the fields they
were turning the soil
I’m sitting here hoping
this water will boil
When I look through the windows
and out on the road
They’re bringing me presents
and saying hello.

Singing words, words
between the lines of age.
Words, words
between the lines of age.

If I was a junkman
selling you cars,
Washing your windows
and shining your stars,
Thinking your mind
was my own in a dream
What would you wonder
and how would it seem?
Living in castles
a bit at a time
The King started laughing
and talking in rhyme.

Singing words, words
between the lines of age.
Words, words
between the lines of age.

[ NEIL YOUNG LYRICS at www.AZLyrics.com ]

“Old Man” – Villagers

Old man look at my life,
I’m a lot like you were.
Old man look at my life,
I’m a lot like you were.

Old man look at my life,
Twenty four
and there’s so much more
Live alone in a paradise
That makes me think of two.

Love lost, such a cost,
Give me things
that don’t get lost.
Like a coin that won’t get tossed
Rolling home to you.

Old man take a look at my life
I’m a lot like you
I need someone to love me
the whole day through
Ah, one look in my eyes
and you can tell that’s true.

Lullabies, look in your eyes,
Run around the same old town.
Doesn’t mean that much to me
To mean that much to you.

I’ve been first and last
Look at how the time goes past.
But I’m all alone at last.
Rolling home to you.

Old man take a look at my life
I’m a lot like you
I need someone to love me
the whole day through
Ah, one look in my eyes
and you can tell that’s true.

Old man look at my life,
I’m a lot like you were.
Old man look at my life,
I’m a lot like you were.

[ NEIL YOUNG LYRICS at www.AZLyrics.com ]

To buy the music of Neil Young click HERE

To buy the music of Chip Taylor click HERE

To buy the music of Villagers click HERE

“My life is changing in so many ways, I don’t know who to trust anymore, there’s a shadow running thru my days…………………”