Sounds like: A great night somewhere under the stars. Like Townes, i'm totally confused as to why Hurley(or "Snock", as he's nicknamed) isn't on the cover of Uncut every other week. Let's put it this way, my Michael Hurley compilations i've made for people have been the most-loved. Snock is still out there, so if you EVER get the chance to see him - do not miss it!
For more, get this: Virtually all of Hurley's albums have their fair share of delights. Armchair Boogie, Long Journey, Hifi Snock Uptown, First Songs, are all great. The b*tch is they are pretty hard to get hold of - you can get LPs and some Cd-rs from Honest Johns and Hurley's website respectively. Somebody please sort this out! There's also a new Hurley album out, with the band Ida, which sounds lovely. PS - Hurley's artwork for his albums is always great.
THE WEREWOLF
Probably Snock's most famous song. It should be a standard. From his second LP, Armchair Boogie.
BE KIND TO ME
Again, from Armchair Boogie. Puts me in a good place.
TROUBLED WATERS
I can't get off Armchair Boogie! It's too good! This song was covered by Cat Power, i believe...
SLURF SONG
From Snock's collaboration with some of the Holy Modal Rounders in 1976, "Have Moicy". My favourite song about food, ever.
HOG OF THE FORSAKEN
From the album "Long Journey".
Monday 24 May 2010
10 Unsung Songwriters In No Particular Order #3 Townes Van Zandt
Sounds like : The best thing you never heard. Townes is, without doubt, one of the greatest songwriters to have ever graced this old rock, but, relatively unknown. I scratch my head in confusion. I hate all notions of authenticity being applied to music, but this is, in my head at least, true country music. Don't let that put you off.
For More, Get this: Townes left a lot of music behind, but frankly his discography is a bit of a mess. A lot of songs were rerecorded on consecutive albums, drowned in strings, cheesy country music and even choirs. The best introduction to his work is the 2-cd Live At The Old Quarter, Houston, Texas. Recorded in 1973, this contains solo versions of many of his greatest songs. Very wonderful. In terms of studio recordings, i'd possibly start with Our Mother The Mountain, as some of the arrangements (The title track, Kathleen) work well. For the adventurous, and the bargain hunters of you, you might want to pick up the 4-cd Texas Troubadour from Play.Com - which compiles a lot of his key studio recordings from the late sixties & early seventies - for a bargain £9.99!
WAITING ROUND TO DIE
Incredible footage from the film Heartworn Highways
TECUMSEH VALLEY
How much i wish i could write a song quite as good as this. Truly heartbreaking.
OUR MOTHER THE MOUNTAIN (NO VIDEO)
....and this one. One of the first townes songs i heard. I must've fell over.
IF I NEEDED YOU
I covered this song once. Beautiful.
For More, Get this: Townes left a lot of music behind, but frankly his discography is a bit of a mess. A lot of songs were rerecorded on consecutive albums, drowned in strings, cheesy country music and even choirs. The best introduction to his work is the 2-cd Live At The Old Quarter, Houston, Texas. Recorded in 1973, this contains solo versions of many of his greatest songs. Very wonderful. In terms of studio recordings, i'd possibly start with Our Mother The Mountain, as some of the arrangements (The title track, Kathleen) work well. For the adventurous, and the bargain hunters of you, you might want to pick up the 4-cd Texas Troubadour from Play.Com - which compiles a lot of his key studio recordings from the late sixties & early seventies - for a bargain £9.99!
WAITING ROUND TO DIE
Incredible footage from the film Heartworn Highways
TECUMSEH VALLEY
How much i wish i could write a song quite as good as this. Truly heartbreaking.
OUR MOTHER THE MOUNTAIN (NO VIDEO)
....and this one. One of the first townes songs i heard. I must've fell over.
IF I NEEDED YOU
I covered this song once. Beautiful.
Ten Unsung Songwriters in no particular order #2 Judee Sill
Sounds like: Female Symphonies To God. Joni Mitchell meets Brian Wilson in Catholic church, perhaps.
For More, Get this: There's three albums (one posthumous) - but the arrangements and productions on the first two are a very acquired taste. Perhaps the best place to start, i think, is the BBC Recordings/Live In Concert CD, which has Sill playing songs from both her albums,accompanying herself on piano and guitar.
JESUS WAS A CROSSMAKER
(no video unfortunately, just a live recording of the song)
THE KISS
(Live from the Old Grey Whistle Test)
THE LAMB RAN AWAY WITH THE CROWN
(Rare live footage from 1973)
For More, Get this: There's three albums (one posthumous) - but the arrangements and productions on the first two are a very acquired taste. Perhaps the best place to start, i think, is the BBC Recordings/Live In Concert CD, which has Sill playing songs from both her albums,accompanying herself on piano and guitar.
JESUS WAS A CROSSMAKER
(no video unfortunately, just a live recording of the song)
THE KISS
(Live from the Old Grey Whistle Test)
THE LAMB RAN AWAY WITH THE CROWN
(Rare live footage from 1973)
Ten Unsung Songwriters In No Particular Order - #1 JAKE THACKRAY
Sounds like: George Brassens if he was born in Otley.
Listen More, Get This: Jake In A Box (4CD Box Set, pretty much complete recordings). You can download the mp3s of the box dead cheap(£7.49), but there's also lots of very cheap compilations which serve as decent introductions.
ON AGAIN, ON AGAIN
THE LAST WILL & TESTAMENT OF JAKE THACKRAY
BROTHER GORILLA
Not strictly his song(written by George Brassens), but i love it.
Listen More, Get This: Jake In A Box (4CD Box Set, pretty much complete recordings). You can download the mp3s of the box dead cheap(£7.49), but there's also lots of very cheap compilations which serve as decent introductions.
ON AGAIN, ON AGAIN
THE LAST WILL & TESTAMENT OF JAKE THACKRAY
BROTHER GORILLA
Not strictly his song(written by George Brassens), but i love it.
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