Faron Young : Hello Walls [ purchase ] Willie Nelson : Hello Walls [ purchase ] In 1960, Willie Nelson was struggling as a songwriter in Nashville. His name didn't even appear on best-known composition to date, "Family Bible." Nelson sold the songwriting credit for $50. Some of that "Family Bible" money was spent at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge, a Nashville watering hole around the corner from the Grand Ole Opry. Soon, Nelson made the acquaintance of another Tootsie's habitue, Faron Young. A [...]
"Has anyone ever written anything for you?" Stevie Nicks asked on a 1989 B-side. As far as I know, the answer would be no. Who even "writes" anymore? If not face to face, most communication these days is done by tapping a keypad with your fingers. And texts, instant messages and Facebook wall posts will never count. My ex-boyfriend said he bought me a card for my last birthday, and I presume that he wrote something in it, but he forgot it at home when he came [...]
Seeing as the History of Country series is proving so popular, let us put on a Santa-red Stetson and have a country Christmas. This lot is old-skool: Ernest Tubb riffs (badly) on his 1941 honky tonk classic, Loretta Lynn socks it to it disagreeable Santa, while Brenda Lee aims to lassoo him, yee ha. George Jones goes X-Mas twisting, and Buck Jones provides some serious pathos. And if you had to choose one man to sing Little Drummer Boy, it would have to be Johnny Cash, right? Hey, even horrid old Jingle bloody Bells sounds good here! [...]
The traditional country stars — Conway Twitty, George Jones, Tammy Wynette Charlie Rich, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride — were still selling many records in the 1970s, and periodically crossed over to the pop charts. Singers like Donna Fargo evoked the good old days with happy songs like The Happiest Girl In The Whole USA. These were still the Opry years — in fact, in 1972 the Grand Ole Opry opened a theme park called Opryland, and wo years later moved out of its long-time home, the Ryman Theatre, to Opryland. But the Nashville scene no longer monopolised country, [...]
In the slipstream of Johnny Cash came what would become known as the Outlaw Movement, an informal response to Nashville's easy listening, corporate and safe style, often recorded in Texas, reviving the honky tonk sounds of Hank Williams with strong lyrical content. Starting in the mid-'60s with singers like Bobby Bare, Tompall Glaser and Johnny Darrell, the sub-genre's standard bearers would include Waylon Jennings and his wife Jessi Colter, Willie Nelson (after he grew his hair), Kris Kristofferson, Leon Russell, Billy Joe Shaver, Hank Williams Jr, Jerry Jeff Walker and Gram Parsons. More traditionally-minded country stars, many mentored [...]
In the late 1950s and early '60s country was in a good shape. The likes of Johnny Cash, George Jones, Jim Reeves, Patsy Cline (who like Reeves would die in a plane crash), Don Gibson, Kitty Wells, Marty Robbins, Skeeter Davis, Ray Price, Faron Young, Ernest Tubb, ex-boxer Lefty Frizzell and Wanda Jackson were recording prodigious success, even in rivalry with its progeny, rock & roll.These were the comfort years before the social upheaval of the 1960s put into question old certainties, even in the world of country music. By now, country was no longer confined to the [...]
Sweet dreams of you Every night I go through Why can't I forget you and start my life anew Instead of having sweet dreams about you You don't love me, it's plain I should know I'll never wear your ring I should hate you the whole night through Instead of having sweet dreams about you Sweet dreams of you Things I know can't come true Why can't I forget the past, start loving someone new Instead of having sweet dreams about you Don Gibson [...]
Faron Young is one of the artists who probably deserves more recognition than he gets. Helping to correct the situation is WFMU's Beware of the Blog, which is currently featuring a nice little Faron Young Tribute (including this great video , three mp3s, and some cool Life Magazine photos). One of my faves: Faron Young - Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young ( buy album ) To hear a stream individual tracks, go here: Hype Machine-STWOF
Twelve years ago today the world of country music suffered a terrible loss when singer Faron Young, suffering from prostate problems and emphysema, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at age 64. Young's career got started in Shreveport, Louisiana where he rose to prominence on the famed Louisiana Hayride. By the time he was drafted into the army in 1952, Young had signed a contract with Capitol Records and relocated to Nashville. His debut effort for the label, Goin' Steady, went to #2 on the Billboard country charts, the first of almost 90 songs he eventually placed [...]
Here is a 1961 disc of radio spots, recorded by various country stars, hyping National Country Music Week. These 45 rpm discs were shipped to radio stations in the hopes that they'd hop on the bandwagon and help persuade listeners to get even more enthused about country music. Side A Roy Drusky (:23) George Hamilton (:24) Ferlin Husky (:27 Buck Owens (:29) Minnie Pearl (:29) [...]
Walls and bridges have a symbiotic relationship - one separates people, the other connects. Whether the Great Wall Of China or the walls of a cellblock, their use keeps humans divided from each other. Bridges span obstacles, sometimes they're as simple as a log fallen across a stream, other times as complex as the 12,828 foot Akashi Kaikyo Bridge suspension bridge in Japan. Between November 9, 1989 and August 13, 1961, the Berlin Wall separated West Berlin from East Berlin and East Germany. [...]
Michelsardou y fait rien qu'à dire que je mets que des cowboys alcoolos drogués sur ce blog... Et le pire, c'est qu'il a raison... Alors, comme je n'aime pas contredire mon virtual-copain, je vais m'enfoncer. J'ai connu Faron Young car il est l'idole de mon idole, Phil Ochs. Forcément, je lui ai donc prêté une oreille. Et, désormais, il ne veut pas me la rendre, mon oreille , ce voleur ! Il serait même coutumier du fait : Faron aurait piqué la femme de son rival [...]
Star Maker Machine
THEME FOR GREAT CITIES
Any Major Dude With Half A Heart
The Look Back
WFMU's Beware of the Blog
Setting The Woods On Fire
snuhthing/anything
Un violon, un jambon
Lazy Sundays: Penalune – Not All Clouds Are White
Catcall – ‘The Warmest Place’
This Is Not The End (Gui Boratto 2012 Mix)
Rihanna Gets Nude For Nude
