Songs I'm Hooked On

'Dean' - Terry Reid, pictured above (from the album River)
'Clifton Bridge' - Mark Olson (from the album Salvation Blues)
'Pour le monde' - Crowded House (from the album Time On Earth)
'On The Road To Find Out' - Cat Stevens (from the album Tea For The Tillerman)
'Autopsy' - Fairport Convention (from the album Unhalfbricking)
'Circumstances' - Rush (from the album Hemispheres)
'I'd Rather Be The Devil' - John Martyn (from the album Solid Air)
'Don't Do It' - The Band (from the album Rock Of Ages)

Currently grooving to:

Little Feat - Waiting for Columbus
(pictured above)
The Black Crowes - Warpaint
Fairport Convention - Unhalfbricking
Gram Parsons - Gram Parsons & The Fallen Angels Live 1973
Gary Louris - Vagabonds
Sweet Pickle Salad - SPS Sessions (Bootleg)
Mason Profitt - Wanted
Crowded House - Time On Earth

Things are looking up...

With the release of Gary Louris' excellent Vagabonds and the Black Crowes' new album Warpaint, things are looking good for 2008. I have have yet to purchase Warpaint, but from the few tracks that I have heard, it sounds like their best offering since 1996's Three Snakes and One Charm. This is a relief as their last two albums By Your Side and Lions were terrible.
Other good news includes the re release of Whiskeytown's Stranger's Almanac. This time it's the expanded two disc version with unreleased material and acoustic versions of tracks from the original CD. I can't wait to hear this as to my ears, this is the best thing Ryan Adams has ever done. Praise indeed.

50th Anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster. February 6th 2008

The Munich air disaster took place on 6 February 1958, when British European Airways Flight 609 crashed on its third attempt to take off from a slush-covered runway at the Munich-Riem airport in Munich, West Germany. On board the plane was the Manchester United football team, nicknamed the Busby Babes, along with a number of supporters and journalists. Twenty-three of the 44 passengers on board the aircraft died in the disaster.
Seven of Manchester United's players died immediately, and Duncan Edwards, one of the greatest footballers in the history of the game, died from his injuries on 21 February. Johnny Berry and Jackie Blanchflower were both injured to such an extent that they never played again.
The Manchester United players involved in the fatalities:
Geoff Bent
Roger Byrne
Eddie Colman
Duncan Edwards (survived the crash but died in hospital 15 days later)
Mark Jones
David Pegg
Tommy Taylor
Liam 'Billy' Whelan

What a tragedy.
You will never be forgotten by the millions of Manchester United fans throughout the world.

Best Songs of 2007

I must be honest. I thought 2007 was a pretty shit year for music. Saturated by a proliferation of Pro-Tooled, juvenile electronic crap and overrated 'rock' acts. As usual however, there are always diamonds to be found in the rough and without further ado, these are my favorite songs of 2007.
(In order).

1. 'Dress Blues' - Jason Isbell
From his first solo album, Sirens of the Ditch, the former Drive-By Truckers singer/songwriter/guitarist wrote, in my humble opinion, the song of the year. Inspired by a friend of his who died whilst on duty in Iraq, this is a subtle anti-war song that never once gets sappy or overtly sentimental. The hook, the voice and the chorus are simple but beautiful.

2. 'Two' - Ryan Adams and the Cardinals
The second track from the excellent Easy Tiger album is good old fashioned country rock with a wonderful, subtle harmony vocal from Sheryl Crow. In fact it is so subtle that you cannot tell that it's her.

3. 'Driving Wheel'- Chris & Rich Robinson (Brothers of a Feather)
A cover version of the old Tom Rush tune from the acoustic Live at the Roxy album. Showcases the Black Crowes duo's fine appreciation of 1970's folk tunes. Chris Robinson's always excellent voice seems to best suit an acoustic environment these days.

4. 'White Light' - Wilco
Jeff Tweedy & co going back to mellower days with this track of their Sky Blue Sky album. Twelve string guitars, sweet harmonies and a perfect summer feel.

Led Zeppelin: London O2 Arena (December 10th, '07)

By all accounts, Led Zeppelin were magnificent during their two hour set in London last night. Reuniting as part of a benefit for the late Atlantic records founder Ahmet Ertegun, this was their first full show since drummer John Bonham's 1980 death. Check out rollingstone.com for David Fricke's excellent review.

Set List:
'Good Times Bad Times'
'Ramble On'
'Black Dog'
'In My Time Of Dying'
'For Your Life' (First time played live)
'Trampled Under Foot'
'Nobody's Fault But Mine'
'No Quarter'
'Since I've Been Loving You'
'Dazed And Confused'
'Stairway To Heaven'
'The Song Remains The Same'
'Misty Mountain Hop'
'Kashmir'

Encore:
'Whole Lotta Love'
'Rock And Roll'

The Black Crowes: David Letterman Show 1994

Between 1993 and 1997, The Black Crowes were simply unstoppable. In Chris Robinson and Marc Ford, they had, at that time, the best lead singer and lead guitarist in rock n' roll. They released classic albums such as Southern Harmony and the Musical Companion, Amorica, Three Snakes and One Charm and eventually from that period, Tall and The Band. All these recordings mixed rock n' roll, blues, country, and soul and remain some of the best records of the 1990's.
Take a look at this clip from the Letterman show in 1994. They are playing a cover of Traffic's 'Feelin' Alright.'
Afterwards, you will be...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NohMVqECIc4&feature=related