I did something similar to this last Winter . The difference then was that we had some ice and snow around but I was just thankful that conditions were nowhere near that shown in the pictures. This time around, I'm happy to report that here in the Central Midwest we're having the mildest Winter I can remember ever experiencing, and I'm holding my breath that it continues. But I am again including some European snow and ice pictures, just to remind us of what we're missing. [...]
Randy Thompson returns with his best of the best.
Although there have always been performers who defied the odds and became overnight successes, most have had to spend years working their way up the ladder of fame. Still, not many have had the perseverance of Freddie Hart, who didn't really hit it big until he was in his mid-forties and "Easy Loving" topped the 1971 country charts. Born as one of fifteen kids in an Alabama sharecropper's family, young Frederick Segrest grew up during the Great Depression, surrounded by poverty but also immersed in the musi c of rural America. He picked up his first guitar when [...]
Old style country artist, Moot Davis, returns with his third album, Man About Town.
Regular readers will recall that I've been a Kindler since late 2010 and also just received a Kindle Fire tablet as a Christmas gift. Mrs. BigGeez has a Kindle of her own too, so we're a three-Kindle household. In light of all that it would be a natural subject to write about, but I've resisted the temptation because this is supposed to be a nostalgia-themed music blog. However, I also write about what's currently attracting my interest, and I am certainly spending a lot of time with my new tablet. I'm also discovering that there's one aspect of it that [...]
Norah Jones and friends deliver some good old country comfort.
Release Me reaffirms that Lyle Lovett is an amazingly talented musician who can cross genres with ease.
American Idol season 10 winner Scotty McCreery talks about his latest tour with Brad Paisley.
Not every country music performer hails from the rural heartland. Joe Val spent many years as one of the most respected country artists around, and he was an Italian/American (real name: Joseph Valiante) who was born and raised in the Boston area. But New England has always had a strong tradition in country music, including the kind Joe loved - bluegrass - so maybe it's not that surprising. Growing up during the Great Depression in the blue-collar Boston suburb of Everett, young Joe Valiante thrived on the music of radio stars like Bill Monroe. He began [...]
Jody Miller's country hits are finally reissued on this new album from Real Gone Music.
So I was parked in a supermarket lot today waiting for Mrs. Big Geez to do her grocery shopping thing, an activity for which - imagine this - she doesn't want my assistance, when I spotted a geezer in a big car, sporting whitewall tires. (The car, not the geezer.) They were the narrow kind, and - heaven help me - I instantly remembered a time when those were considered really cool when compared to the older-style wide whitewalls. It also occurred to me how rare it is to see any kind of whitewall tires these days, [...]
I quit smoking over thirty years ago, and even though the urge hung around for a surprisingly long time I eventually got to the point where I didn't miss it. And I can confidently say that I still don't, but I realized something the other day - I kind of miss the gadgety aspect of the cigarette lighters I used to carry. Regular visitors to the GMC will remember that I'm all about gadgets and gizmos (even referring to myself as Inspector Gadget in a recent piece ) so it probably [...]
Although I believe that a person's spiritual beliefs are a private thing, I will confess that I'm not a regular church-goer - in fact, the last time I attempted to sing a hymn my voice probably hadn't yet changed. But I've found that there are certain kinds of gospel music that really appeal to me, mostly because it just sounds good. Gospel music is defined by wikipedia as 'music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life. . .' which covers a lot of territory. By that definition you [...]
The new Hank Williams album is a trip back in time to the early period of his career.
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 [...]
By Kristen Bialik Movie - Nashville (Robert Altman, 1975) Watch more on Network Awesome Nashville Tennessee has earned a star on the map for many things: state capital, "Music City," "Athens of the South," and for Robert Altman fans, the site of the 1975 classic Nashville. Befitting a place known for twangy tunes and an imitation Parthenon, Altman's two and half hour long [...]
Known as the bellowing frontman for alternative metal band Staind, Aaron Lewis shocked many when he released the Town Line EP earlier this year. Not only did it feature Lewis singing a collecti... Continue reading "Staind's Aaron Lewis Talks Country Music, Ron Paul and the Constitution" >
Although he died in 2003, Johnny Cash is still a favorite for those of us who always enjoyed his music and also found his erratic path through life a little fascinating. But even though Cash was known to have gone through a few rough patches along the way, his fans might be surprised to hear that one of his most embarrassing moments came in connection with one of his biggest songs. Although Cash's concert at Folsom Prison in 1968 was a pivotal point in his career, he'd actually cobbled together his "Folsom Prison Blues" more than [...]
Now in his eighties and still entertaining fans, Marvin Rainwater can look back on a long career that has included everything from rockabilly to pop music, and a persona that often took 100% advantage of the fact that he is 25% Cherokee. Although he is probably most remembered now for his 1957 country-pop hit, "Gonna Find Me a Bluebird" (clip below), that song reflects only one facet of his history in music. Marvin Percy Rainwater grew up in Depression-era Kansas, but was able to [...]
No big names here . . . move along. I could include other obscure artists like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, The Grateful Dead, Uncle Tupelo, Ryan Adams yadda yadda yadda but that would just be trolling wouldn't it? My fav-o-rite punk band of the early 802s, X, recorded an album as The Knitters that included the great "Silver Wings" by Merle Haggard
Geezer Music Club
Music @ Blogcritics.org
WFMU's Beware of the Blog
DC9 At Night![Staind - Not Again [New Music] [Official Lyric Video]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/youtube/WnQJLU8tnsk_130.jpg)
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
![Niki & The Dove - The Fox [OFFICIAL VIDEO]](http://cdn.elbo.ws/youtube/l2f6UbMnlq4_130.jpg)
Music Singles Chart #95
Whitney! ♥
FREENESS: Robot Orchestra – Beat The Odds (Germany)
The Twilight Sad cover The Smiths
