Thursday, May 31, 2012

R.I.P. Doc Watson


Listen to Doc Watson and Clarence Ashley playing Tough Luck

Several years ago I caught Doc Watson's performance on the main stage of the Hardly Strictly Blue Grass Festival and became an immediate convert (ashamed to admit I had never listened to him before.) I went out and got a collection of earlier recordings of him and Clarence Ashley and just loved this Song of the Week, Tough Luck. It features Doc Watson on guitar and Clarence Ashley on banjo and vocals. I hope you enjoy.

If you ever saw Doc play I'd love to hear about it in the comments.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Song of the Week: The Shins - New Slang




We love us a good song whose melody can rattle around the brain like an old dog trying to find a comfortable spot to sleep on a sun drenched hardwood floor. Portland, Oregon's (by way of Albuquerque, NM) The Shins accomplish that with their song, New Slang

Friday, May 18, 2012

RIP Doug Dillard



Doug Dillard, who performed with the Dillards and with Gene Clark as part of The Dillard and Clark Expedition, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 75. Here he is playing on the Andy Griffith Show. 


We've featured his work with Gene Clark on this site, not once, but two times. Here are the Dillard and Clark Expedition performing Polly. Polly, by the way, was covered by Allison Krauss and Robert Plant. And here they are performing one of my all time favorite songs, Out On The Side.

Friday, May 11, 2012

Song of the Week: The Jam - That's Entertainment (alt. version)



From August, 1980, a 22-year old Paul Weller, working on his 5th album, wrote his best album ever. That album is, of course, Sound Affects. And the best song on that album -- and arguably Weller's best song ever -- was That's Entertainment. Here, for you, today, is an alternate version of the well worn That's Entertainment