Your Daily Song Fix

Aloha, this is Taylor here. Angel From Montgomery has been in my head for the past week or so, although the song maybe well known it is honest and touches the soul. It feels somewhere in the middle of the spectrum set by the recent amazing posts from Marcus and Danny, expressive female vocals with lots of range and strong roots in folk and country music.

Covered by many artist including Bonnie Raitt, Ben Harper, Carly Simon and Dave Mathews Band, the song was originally written by John Prine a key artist in the Chicago Folk Revival of the late 60’s and early 70’s. The song first appeared on Prine’s self titled debut album that was released in 1971. The version here is a duet with Bonnie Raitt from John Prine Live, also released on a Tribute to Steve Goodman.

Serving in the Army and working for the United States Postal Service for five years, Prine developed a fan base and gained positive reviews once he began playing open mic nights in the Chicago area. At one of his early appearances in New York City, Bob Dylan showed up unannounced and anonymously provided backing harmonica. Prine has released 19 albums over his career; the latest Standard Songs for Average People was released in 2007. He is touring in 2010.

South Memphis String Band are an acoustic blues-folk-country supergroup comprised of Alvin “Youngblood” Hart, Luther Dickinson of The North Mississippi Allstars, and Jimbo Mathus of the Squirrel Nut Zippers (yes, those Squirrel Nut Zippers). Their debut album, Home Sweet Home, is an old-fashioned, foot-stompin’, moonshinin’ good time that feels like it was recorded on a hot July night on someone’s front porch well below the Mason-Dixon line. Check out “The Carrier Line,” their rendition of a railroad ballad by old-time Mississippi multi-instrumentalist Sid Hemphill.

Matthew Ward is a singer-songwriter from Portland, Oregon. His music is mostly mellow with folk and country influences. “Chinese Translation” is the sixth song off his 2006 album, Post-War. The album has some cool songs if you are into the mellow folk sound. Besides great songs, great appearances are made by Jim James, Neko Case, and Mike Mogis.

The Felice Brothers are a relatively new folk rock band. They have done quite a bit of touring since their formation in 2006. “Frankie’s Gun” is off of the album Adventures of The Felice Brothers Vol. 1 which has 12 other great tracks to check out. I really like the lyrics so I am posting them below the player.

My car goes
Chicago
Every weekend to pick up some cargo
I think I know the bloody way by now, Frankie
And turn the god damn radio down, thank you
Pull over
Count the money
But don’t count the thirty in the glove box buddy
That’s for to buy Lucille some clothes

Bang bang bang went Frankie’s gun
He shot me down Lucille (x2)
He shot me down (x3)

Work zones double fines
Don’t pass the double lines
Trailer McDonald’s rest stop trailer double wide
I saw a man hit my mom one time, really
I hurt him so damn bad I had to hide in Jersey
Called my mama told her
In the dresser
There’s ten or twenty dollars but there ain’t no lesser
That’s for to take my sister to the picture show

Bang bang bang went Frankie’s gun
He shot me down Lucille (x2)
He shot me down (x3)

Sha nay na sha nay na na na …

(Mumbling)

Slip make a fender shine
Frankie you’re a friend of mine
Got me off a bender after long legged Brenda died
I thought we might be on a roll this time Frankie
I could have swore the box said Hollywood blanks but
You see my mama
Please tell her
I left a little rock in a box in the cellar
That’s for to wear till kingdom come

Bang bang bang went Frankie’s gun
He shot me down Lucille (x2)
He shot me down (x3)

Sha nay na sha nay na na na …

Holding is a great John Hartford song off his epic album Aereo-Plain.

Headin’ out to the country for the weekend. Here is a sweet song written by Bob Dylan and Old Crow Medicine Show. They didn’t write the song together but Old Crow wrote the song based on an unfinished version by Bob Dylan and performed it at Bob Dylan’s 60th birthday in 2001. Apparently Bob Dylan wrote the chorus which was then altered a little bit by Old Crow, and Old Crow wrote the verses.

Uncle Tupelo officially formed in 1987 and broke up in 1994 when Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy’s musical relationship had decayed. Jeff Tweedy retained the remaining members of Uncle Tupelo and started the successful Wilco.

Here is my favorite Country song from my favorite Country album – Sweetheart of the Rodeo by The Byrds. It was released on July 29, 1968.