Posts tagged ‘Buddy Holly’

Audio

We Like American Music: Podcast #118

American Music

 

What is American Music to you? I think one of the greatest things about American Music is that it can mean something different to everyone. This weeks podcast is a little taste of what it means to me. I sat down and really pondered where the music came from. From it’s Folk, Blues and Jazz roots to its country beginnings, R&B and Soul, through to Rock n Roll and back again. American music has a long, diverse, and storied history; rich in tradition but also heavy on exploration and improvisation. It’s also important to mention that there are many more that I would have loved to add to this list; and even as I write this now several more have popped in my head (Doc Watson, Velvet Underground, Link Wray, The Temptations, and Stevie Wonder just to name a few). So, nevertheless I invite you to listen to my interpretation; soak it in, but also I encourage you to make your own playlist and think of what american music means to you. As always, enjoy, and listen loud.

These are the truly american tracks that were played:

Robert Johnson – Cross Road Blues ++ Chuck Berry – Roll Over Beethoven ++ Otis Redding – I Can’t Turn You Loose – Sam Cooke – Another Saturday Night ++ Leon Bridges – Coming Home ++ Aretha Franklin – I Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You) ++ Billie Holiday and her Orchestra – Summertime ++ Preservation Hall Jazz Band & The Del McCoury Band – I’ll Fly Away ++ Lead Belly – Midnight Special ++ The Allman Brothers Band – Revival ++ Bruce Springsteen –  4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) ++ Dawes – From a Window Seat ++ The Band – The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down (live) ++ Woody Guthrie – Going Down The Road Feeling Bad ++ Bob Dylan – You’re No Good ++ The Byrds – You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere ++ Joe Pug – Hymn #101 ++ Johnny Cash – Folsom Prison Blues ++ Buddy Holly – Not Fade Away ++ Grateful Dead – Ripple ++ Alabama Shakes – Gimme All Your Love ++ Father John Misty – Bored In the USA ++ The Gourds – All The Labor

 

Audio

Messages of Love: Valentines Day 2014 Podcast #103

Love Guitar

Another Valentines Day Podcast for you Shady Groove lovin’ folks out there. This one’s got some gifted musicians giving you all they’ve got in the name of Love. Remember to spread it around. We can change the world with crazy love songs. I believe it.

So love the one your with and spin this podcast. It’s sure to make you feel good.

These are the loving spoonful of beautiful tracks on this years Vday podcast:

Al Green – Old Time Lovin’ ++ Michael Kiwanuka – Bones ++ Buddy Holly – Words Of Love ++ The California Honeydrops – Here Comes Love ++ Jackie Wilson – (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher ++ The Rolling Stones – Loving Cup ++ Ray Charles – Hallelujah I Love Her So ++ Marvin Gaye – Let’s Get It On ++ Bob Marley & The Wailers – Lovelight ++ Grateful Dead – They Love Each Other (live) ++ G. Love – Give It To You (w Jack Johnson) ++ Paul McCartney – Maybe I’m Amazed ++ John Lennon – Be My Baby ++ Dawes – Hey Lover ++ Mayer Hawthorne – Make Her Mine ++ Wilco – Whole Love ++ The Gourds – Makes Me Roll

Download Shady Groove Podcast #103

 

rock-love-peace-

Post

Shady Groove’s Top 11 Albums of 2011

Jim James of My Morning Jacket

Well, well. We’ve come to the end of another year. There were so many great albums to choose from this year. It was not easy narrowing it down to only 11. These are the ones that stood out; that are playable all the way through. These 11 albums were consistently on the playlist, turntable, and cd player. They were played over and over again, in their entirety.

Shady Groove’s Top 11 Albums this year:

 

11. Tedeschi Trucks Band – Revelator

Revelator

Derek and Susan have been playing together for years. Now they have a proper name and a sick backing band for the best Husband/Wife duo in the biz. Rock on.

 

10. Various Artists – Rave On Buddy Holly

Rave On Buddy Holly

I would normally shy away from putting a compilation album, let alone a tribute compilation, on this list of best albums. This one is just too good NOT to put it on the list.

 

9. Dawes – Nothing Is Wrong

Nothing Is Wrong

The harmonies and song writing are awesome on this, the 2nd album from Dawes. These guys really embody the Laurel Canyon sound. Neil would be proud. Plays well front to back.

 

8. David Wax Museum – Everything Is Saved

Everything Is Saved

The mexi-folk wonders are the real deal. This album is a welcome change from the everyday folk album.

 

7. Wilco – The Whole Love

The Whole Love

Hats off to Jeff Tweedy and the boys for coming back with a stellar follow up to 2009’s self-titled album. Great album.

 

6. The Wood Brothers – Smoke Ring Halo

Smoke Ring Halo

Gotta love the Brothers down home bluesy sound. It hits home again with Smoke Ring Halo. You’re sure to stumble on some gems as you sit and listen through this one.

 

5. Blitzen Trapper – American Goldwing

American Goldwing

The Portland rockers are back with another killer set of tunes that will make you think you’ve taken a trip back to 1973. But we’re not talking a total throwback here. These guys are doing things Neil Young and Crazy Horse never did.

 

4. Gregg Allman – Low Country Blues

Low Country Blues

Man, T. Bone Burnett has an amazing ear for a good tune. When he sent Gregg a playlist of over 200 old blues songs to pick from for their new project, Gregg could tell it was going to be something special. Fresh off a brand new liver, Allman sings his heart out on this solo project. Great tracks from a great blues singer.

 

3. The Gourds – Old Mad Joy

Old Mad Joy

Not to be confused with Old Man Smell. Austin’s finest alt/county/blues/folk/rock/cajun/gospel/bluegrass band has really got something special with this album, thier 11th. And they’ve done it in fine fashion, recording with longtime dylan bandmate/now fixture in Levon Helm’s band, Larry Campbell up in Woodstock NY at the legendary Barn, Levon Helm’s Studios. Larry pushed the boys to their limits, wringing out some of their best material in 15 yrs. The album rolls from front to back seamlessly. While listening, its hard not to hear sounds of The Band, The Rolling Stones, even the The Who. So crank it up and let it play, you’re sure to enjoy.

 

2. Hayes Carll – KMAG YOYO (& Other American Stories)

KMAG YOYO

I was hooked when I first heard the Hank Williams style, Hard Out Here. The Texas country rock man Hayes Carll is part of a growing genre of texas troubadour, country/folk outlaws that is alive and well. Some of the songs on this album are so familiar, you’d think you were listening to a cover. But that’s not a bad thing. He has no interest in doing anything different. Carll and his band take the honky tonk, rock n roll to a new level. They have never sounded so good and will even make the biggest Townes Van Zant follower a fan. Have fun with this one.

 

1. My Morning Jacket – Circuital

Circuital

Not a conventional rock album by any means, My Morning Jacket follow up 2009’s Evil Urges with a superb set of new songs. Circuital itself means coming full circle, everything starts and ends in the same place. In a way this album does just that. Yim Yames talks about how even the songs have a more circular form, as opposed to the more triangular wave forms on the last album. This album moves you through the songs in a very systematic way. It is very well put together. A listen to it from front to back will reveal endless hooks, ambient jams and great triumphant endings. Well done folks, well done.

 

Honorable Mention:

The Black Keys – El Camino

The Decemberists – The King is Dead

Cheers Elephant – Time Well Wasted

Those Darlins – Screws Get Loose

G. Love – Fixin To Die

Wanda Jackson – The Party Ain’t Over

Video

Shady Groove’s Top 11 Songs of 2011

The time has come to reveal Shady Groove’s best of 2011. It has been a great year for music and as I look back I am reminded just how amazing a year it was. I was fortunate to be able to enjoy and comment on some amazing tune-age and I am super psyched to bring you my favorite songs.

Top 11 Songs of 2011:

11. Middle Brother – Blue Eyes

 

10. The Wood Brothers – Stumbled In

 

9. Florence and the Machine – Not Fade Away

 

8. Gregg Allman – Floating Bridge

 

7. The Black Keys – Lonely Boy

 

6. My Morning Jacket – Circuital

 

5. Blitzen Trapper – American Goldwing

 

4. Cake – Bound Away

 

3. The Gourds – I Want It So Bad

 

2. Alabama Shakes – Hold On

 

1. Hayes Carll – KMAG YOYO

 

Honorable Mention:

Wilco – Dawned On Me

G. Love – Just Right

Dawes – A Little Bit of Everything

David Wax Museum – Born With A Broken Heart

Tedeschi Trucks Band – Come See About Me

 

Aside

Happy Birthday Buddy!

 

Waylon Jennings and Buddy Holly, 1959

If you haven’t already heard it on the radio, Buddy Holly would’ve been 75 years old today.  Its fascinating that an artist such as Mr Holly, who died at 22, can have such a lasting impact on rock and roll.  He had only been recording for 2 years and still had written and performed some of the most progressive music of its time, laying the foundation for years to come.

He has long been loved in the music industry.  There have been countless covers of his songs over the years but perhaps the most exciting has to be the latest release, Rave On Buddy Holly.  Released on June 28 this year, the album is a compilation in which various artists put their take on Buddy’s songs.  What’s most exciting is the list of artists on the album.  Artists like My Morning Jacket, Black Keys, Lou Reed, Modest Mouse, Cee Lo, Paul McCartney, Florence and the Machine, She and Him, Julian Casablancas, etc..  This album is amazing and I’m super glad that it happened. The great part is that all of the artists on the record were most definitely inspired one way or another by Buddy’s music. Check it out if you get a chance.  Listen to Shady Groove’s upcoming podcasts for a taste.

Buddy Holly is most known for dying in a plane crash on “The Day The Music Died”.  Also in the crash were fellow musicians Richie Valens and JP “the Big Bopper” Richardson.  What is not known is the conditions that led to the crash.  Here’s a quick history lesson. They were on a grueling tour of midwestern states in the dead of winter on a crappy bus that was breaking down left and right.  Bandmates were getting the flu and hands and feet ere frostbitten from having to walk through the snow when the bus broke down.  Buddy Holly was pissed about the conditions and told his bandmates that they should charter a plane.  The way it worked out, “Big Bopper” had the flu so Holly’s bass player at the time gave up his seat.

Lucky for Holly’s bass player.  Guess who his bass player was that was saved by giving up his seat?  Most people don’t know that it was country music legend Waylon Jennings who was Buddy Holly’s bass player and bandmate.  When Buddy heard that Waylon had swapped seats he said, “Well, I hope your ol’ bus freezes up.” Waylon responded with “Well, I hope your ol’ plane crashes.”  It haunted him the rest of his life.

Anyway, enough of the random trivia.  Happy Birthday Buddy, wherever you are.