Magic in its simplicity this is probably my favorite version of Van Zandt’s classic Pancho & Lefty
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The Byrds : Ballad Of Easy Rider
Perhaps not one of the songs springing to mind when thinking about The Byrds (although it is somewhat iconic of course), Ballad Of Easy Rider is as short (at just over 2 minutes) as it is brilliant and lovely.
Samantha Crain : Elk City
Wonderful, intimate performance of a lovely song, taken from her new-ish album Under Branch & Thorn & Tree.
Eilen Jewell : Rain Roll In
Yet another artist I am just getting to know, her new album Sundown Over Ghost Town should find its way into my home and CD-player real soon. This song is quite old though, but excellent.
Gillian Welch : Hard Times
Most everybody knows Hard Times, and in case you don’t, here’s the skinny. It was written by Stephen (Collins) Foster and published in 1854. The first audio recording of it was released in 1905 (if Wikipedia is right). There have been dozens (probably more like hundreds) of recordings done since by the likes of Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Emmylou Harris and Nanci Griffith ( I would love to hear Iron & Wine’s, undoubtedly fine, version too, but couldn’t find it anywhere). Of course I don’t know all of them, but I simply cannot imagine there’s one better and more beautiful one than Gillian Welch’s. And Dave Rawlings’, I should add. I always thought it a shame they are referred to simply as Gillian Welch, as his contributions, mainly on the guitar, are crucial to what is making most of their songs so wonderful and good. Hard Times is no exception to this. The typically reduced simple banjo and acoustic guitar arrangement is absolutely befitting a song like Hard Times, not to mention Welch’s unmistakable voice. It’s taken from 2011’s The Harrow & The Harvest. Dave Rawlings Machine’s new album Nashville Obsolete is out on September 18th and most probably one of 2015’s outstanding releases. Rejoice (I certainly am).
Jackie Greene : A Face Among The Crowd
Typically for me, I hadn’t heard about Jackie Greene before I watched his Acoustic Guitar Magazine session. Apparently he’s been around since the early 2000’s. Haven’t had the chance to get to know more of his work, but this certainly is a fine starting point.
Country Joe : I-feel-like-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die-Rag
Although this probably ruins my credibility with some of you people reading this, I have to admit that I watched Woodstock (the film) for the first time deliberately last night. I had seen it before in pieces of course, but hadn’t really payed that much of notice as that whole scene and time period wasn’t really my cup of tea (or so I thought in the past).
Having watched it now I have to say that in my opinion, Country Joe’s performance must have been one of the most memorable and best moments of the festival, but there are probably many people who would disagree with that statement. What is yours? Crosby, Still & Nash’s performance was pretty amazing as well.
Incidentally I believe that this song might have had a big influence on Todd Snider – had to think about a lot of Snider’s songs and overall attitude and style seeing this.
Anyway, here it is, enjoy. A worthy addition to my blog.
Martin Sexton : Virginia
Once again I discovered this artist through (and with thanks to) Mr. Tex Art Hobart from Ashland, Virginia. Ha.
Caitlin Canty
I had never heard of Caitlin Canty before until discovering her Acoustic Guitar Magazine session earlier today. This is fabulous stuff.
The Byrds : My Back Pages
I am usually trying to post songs and/or write about music on here that aren’t as well-known as Dylan’s My Back Pages, but I have loved this song as long as I can remember. Another Side Of Bob Dylan is equally an album of which the same can be said. Dylan’s version is (of course) excellent as well, and with its simple acoustic guitar accompaniment (and that voice) pretty much unbeatable to me ear. At the same time I think that McGuinn’s vocals and the typical Rickenbacker Byrds sound add considerably to it and make it one of the best songs they have ever recorded (which is saying something about a group with an output as good as theirs)
Back Road Bound 