This compilation is not accompanied by an instalment in the country history, because the next chapter goes with the next mix. And, in some ways, it makes sense that this mix has no history (of course, the timeframe is covered by past articles in the series) because the late 1970s was a time of hiatus. Many of the stalwarts of just a few years earlier ceased having strings of hits, and those artists who had grown out of the Outlaw movement now had their day. In this mix, the likes of Guy Clark, John Anderson, Larry Jon Wilson [...]
December's headline death probably is that of the great Cesária Évora , who emerged from the tiny West African island of Cape Verde, a former Portuguese colony. But as a soul fan, percussion maestro Ralph MacDonald is my headline departure of the month. He wrote some stone-cold classics and appeared on an impressive catalogue of soul and fusion albums, including those released in their heyday by Bill Withers, George Benson, Donny Hathaway, Ashford & Simpson, Brothers Johnson, Margie Joseph, Patti Austin, Grover Washington, Maynard Ferguson, The Crusaders, Michael Franks, Eric Gale, Bob James, Herbie Mann, [...]
Charlie Louvin It's an annual tradition to look back at year's end to those who've passed on in the previous twelve months. Whether it's just filler for the year's final broadcast of Entertainme
I was sorry to read that Billie Jo Spears died earlier this week at her home in Texas. She was a country music star for many years and was featured here in a piece two years ago. I've reposted it below, along with a different song. --------- Country Songbird Billie Jo Spears (Reposted from Jan 2010) A country songbird I've always enjoyed listening to is Billie Jo Spears, who has [...]
I'm doubly sad to hear of the death of Billie Jo Spears. It's sad news in its own right, of course, but also there's a personal note of sadness. My Mum didn't show much interest in popular music when I was a kid - she'd tap along to a James Last album, and would always have Radio 2 on, but there wasn't very much of the excited connection with music that I was starting to feel back then. Billie Jo Spears was one of the exceptions to this, though: I think it's the only [...]
Thanks in large part to country-influenced acts like The Byrds, The Grateful Dead and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, rock fans were starting to dig the country scene — not Nashville's crooners or John Denver, of course, but the Outlaws, Gram Parsons and some of the old pioneers. Some of California rock's great names had their roots in playing bluegrass; people like Eagles co-founder and Flying Burrito Brother Bernie Leadon, the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia and the singer-songwriter J.D. Souther, who wrote for the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt, the Texan "Queen of Rock" who made her start as a country [...]
A country songbird I've always enjoyed listening to is Billie Jo Spears, who has had a long career specializing in a blend of honky-tonk and pure country blues. Although she's probably best known for her 1975 chart-topping hit "Blanket on the Ground," she's had several decades of solid success - albeit with a few snags along the way. The Texas native was a precocious talent, appearing at regional events while still in her early teens. She even cut a record in those days, the descriptively-named "Too Old for Toys, Too Young for Boys." By her late teens she'd [...]
Video: It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (full version) One thing for sure - 2009 has been the scariest year in recent memory. Halloween just might be the sort of cathartic therapy needed, maybe a horror movie or three to chase away some of those Great Depression II willies. Perhaps these thirteen scary songs will do the trick as well - throw caution to the wind and be all ears, with these songs full of frightful fears. [...]
Any Major Dude With Half A Heart
City Pages - Gimme Noise
Geezer Music Club
No Rock And Roll Fun
snuhthing/anything
Friday Remixes
Princeton – Grand Rapids (RAC Remix)
summer camp//always
The National - The Rains Of Castamere [Game of Thrones Soundtrack]
