Por Vida - A Tribute to the Songs of Alejandro Escovedo

 

From 2004 Por Vida is a 20 track 2x CD on Or Music and is a tribute to the songs of Alejandro Escovedo.

It is essentially a fundraiser following his collapse from Hepatitis C complications in 2003 with health insurance not affordable to the majority of ordinary people in the US.

Alejandro is a universally respected Americana singer song writer as the stellar tracklist highlights with the great and the good lining up pay their respects.

Here is the blurb from the Americana bible No Depression.

I've gone for three of my particular favourites - Lucinda Williams, The Jayhawks and Son Volt

I'm pleased to say that the great man is still going strong as his discography demonstrates.

Lucinda Williams - Pyramid of Tears

The Jayhawks - Last to Know

Son Volt - Sometimes

Saturday Shuffle 143

 

Firstly apologies for my no show yesterday. Real life got in the way followed by a dose of the dreaded lurgy.

We start this week's Shuffle with Thorns the final track on Weirdo the third album by Carla J Easton from 2020. We parted company around then as her music was getting too poppy for my liking.

A band you could never get tired of are The Cramps. They have graced the Shuffle a few times previously but never with Can Your Pussy Do the Dog.

Likewise XTC are no strangers to this place who produced consistently good songs such as Generals and Majors

They will only be happy if the Saturday Shuffle retuns next week

Carla J Easton - Thorns

The Cramps - Can Your Pussy Do The Dog

XTC - Generals and Majors

Dwight

 

Every couple of years or so I feel that I have a moral obligation to point you in the right direction when it comes to the music of Dwight Yoakam.

As you can see from his discography he has released 17 studio albums from 1986 to 2024. That's a lot to get your teeth into.

I'll make it more easy for you. You only really need the first five albums all of which are absolutely essential. You do not require to go beyond 1993 There may be the occasional semi decent ones here and there thereafter which are worth a listen, but not many .

For further proof I refer you to my ICA from JC's place back in April 2018.

I think a track from each of the five is in order.

I will return in a couple of years to repeat this message. Think of it as a public service.

Thank you.

Dwight Yoakam - South of Cincinnati

Dwight Yoakam - Readin', Rightin' Rt.23

Dwight Yoakam -Buenas Noches From a Lonely Room (She Wore Red Dresses)

Dwight Yoakam - Sad,Sad Music

Dwight Yoakam - Two Doors Down

All you'll ever need here

The Von Bondies

 

The  Von Bondies were a four piece Garage Band from Detroit who were active from 1997 - 2001 with the obligatory reunion from 2020 to date. Lead singer and guitarist Jason Stollsteimer has been the only constant member followed closely by drummer Don Blum.

They released three albums - Lack of Communication (2001, Sympathy for the Record Industry), Pawn Shoppe Heart (2004, Sire) and Love, Hate and Then There's You (2009, Majorodomo)

I have burns of the first two (via the much missed Record library perhaps).I've not listened to them in an age so I have decided to downgrade from a Burn to a Download to free up space on the shelves

I have just had a listen to the title tracks of the first two albums and feel vindicated with this decision. See what you think

The Von Bondies - Lack of Communication

The Von Bondies - Pawn Shoppe Heart

I-Pod Playlist - Lucky Numbers

 

I was shocked and quite frankly appalled to find out that I don't have a copy of the song by Lene Lovich which inspired the title of this the penultimate I-Pod Playlist post. The only consolation is that there are many more great songs to choose from the 104 on the list. Oh, and I'm giving you 5 songs instead of four. 

I'll try to give you them in numerical order even though there is a sticky start given there are two starting with the number 2 namely Song 2 by Blur and 2-4-6-8 by the Tom Robinson Band.

We then jump to number 9 with Dave Alvin and Nine Volt Heart..

Next we have Strawberry Letter 23 by Shuggie Otis and finally 54-46  the prison number of Toots Hibbert of Toots and the Maytals fame.

We conclude this series next time round with Mind Yer Language.

Blur - Song 2

Tom Robinson Band - 2-4-6-8 Motorway

Dave Alvin - Nie Volt Heart

Shuggy Otis - Strawberry Letter 23

Toots & the Maytals - 54-46 That's My Number

Down On The Farm

 

It's amazing where inspiration for Post themes come from.

Often they are fairly random. For instance, I was in the shower yesterday and I thought I should post some farm related songs. And no, I wasn't covered in slurry.

It makes sense to start with The Farm and Groovy Train. Alternately I could have started with The Farmer's Boys and In the Country.

Not to be outdone here are The Housemartins with Me and the Farmer or perhaps XTC and Love On a Farmer's Wages .

Bob Dylan's Maggie's Farm took on a whole new meaning in the 80's courtesy of the Evil Witch 

There may be a subsequent  farmyard visit in due course.

Feel free to  don your wellies and pitch in with any thoughts.

The Farm -Groovy Train

The Farmer's Boys - In The Country

The Housemartins - Me and The Farmer

Bob Dylan - Maggies Farm

XTC - Love on a Farm Boy's Wages

Birthday Boy

 

My baby brother turns 60 today. Hopefully he has recovered from his surprise party last night.

As some of the readers of  this Blog will be aware his music of choice is Rockabilly and Psychobilly. He's just about hanging onto that quiff but not for much longer I suspect!

Here are a few tunes he will hopefully like to help blow away the cobwebs.

Happy birthday Dave!

Stray Cats - Rumble in Brighton

The Shakin' Pyramids - Take A Trip

The Meteors - Out Of Time

King Kurt - Destination Zululand