The Clarkston Americana Haul - Josh Ritter

 

2026 Charity Shop Purchases #8 - Josh Ritter - The Historical Consequences of Josh Ritter

A major incident occured a few days ago when I couldn't find Golden Age of Radio by Josh Ritter in its rightful place on the Americana shelves, After much searching I eventually found where it had been misfiled and it is now back where it should be.

It, Hello Starling and The Animal Years are now joined by The Historical Consequences of Josh Ritter his 5th album from 2007 which is now the most recent of his 13 studio albums to date that I have. As an added bonus it also has a 4 track Bonus Disc. Not bad for 50p.I wasn't too sure about it the first time I gave it a listen but a further listen suggests that it is going to be a grower.I've jotted down the numbers of 5 of the 14 tracks to consider which ones should feature today and that is surely a good sign.

I've gone for track 1 - To the Dogs or Whoever and track 10 Next to the Last Romantic

The final album from the C.A.H .will appear here shortly

Josh Ritter - To The Dogs Or Whoever

Josh Ritter - Next To The Last Romantic

I - Pod Playlist - Namechecked

 

This week's songs from the I-Pod playlist is songs that namecheck other musicians. I did a series on the same theme back in 2016 but given that a decade has since passed hopefully I can get away with a spot of repetition.

I thought that Joey Ramone might have not made that series but he did twice. There was I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone by Sleator-Kinney and Dancing With Joey Ramone by Amy Rigby. Amy was the one on the I-pod list so she get's the nod.

Bob Dylan's song Blind Willie McTell has been covered by both Lucinda Williams and The Dream Syndicate. It's His Bobness who is on the I-pod

Today's final selection it seems did not make my 2016 series. Here are the Drive-By Truckers with Carl Perkins' Cadillac.

Three fine men who are sadly no longer with us.

The next Playlist is Rivers so plenty to choose from there.

Amy Rigby - Dancing With Joey Ramone

Bob Dylan - Blind Willie McTell

Drive- By Truckers - Carl Perkins' Cadillac

Bloodshot Records Sampler 2002

 

Back in 2002 I was pretty much obsessed by all things  Americana and by Chicago's Bloodshot Records in particular.. They were my equivalent of Postcard or Factory.

It was therefore a no brainer that I ordered their 2002 Sampler. Postage from the US was affordable back then

I've got 11 of the 21 albums featured and  have tracks by most if not all of the others artists. I even bought the compilation The Bottle Let Me Down which is a collection of childrens songs!

A good few of the acts featured in one of my first series' Bloodshot Tuesday way back in 2013

I could have chosen any of the tracks but I've gone for those by  Rex Hobart & The Misery Boys, Trailer Bride  and Kelly Hogan.

I have further Samplers from 2015 to 2018 which may well feature in this series in due course

Rex Hobart & the Misery Boys - Gotta Get Back to Forgetting You

Trailerbride - Jesco

Kelly Hogan - Strayed

Saturday Shuffle 133

 

Get your walking boots on as we are going to do some rambling this week and who better to kick us off than non other than The Allman Brothers with Ramblin' Man.

It may well be a long ramble if they manage to get South of Cincinnati where they may well touch base with Dwight Yoakam.

Thereafter things may go slightly askew if they bump into The The who sadly  have to report that Armageddon Days are Here (Again).

If we survive the Armageddon we willl brush off our boots and reassemble here next Saturday for SS134.

The Allman Brothers - Ramblin' Man

Dwight Yoakam - South of Cincinatti

The The -Armageddon Days Are Here (Again)

Blog Country 134 - Mozambique

 

Last time round we visited Ghana in the north west of Africa. This time we are in the south east and the country of Mozambique which looks out to the Indian Ocean

The flag was adopted in 1983 and the yellow star and the emblem of a book,hoe and an AK-47 rifle symbolizes the country's struggle for independence, natural wealth  and dedication to education and defense.

As we are still in Africa I am contractually obliged to Ernie's place where you will find many excellent posts referencing the music of Mozambique.

First up this time are the band Djaaka who were founded in the city of Beira in the early 2000's with the song Tchemerani

Next up is Fany Mpfumo who was considered to be one of the founders of the marrabenta music scene which combines traditional Mozambican dance rhythms with Portuguese folk music. Fany sadly died in 1987 aged 59. Here he is with Awupelanga.

Fany is followed by Luísa Zélia Sebastiana da Graça Madade.Fortunately she goes by the stage name  Liloca and her song today is Mabetele.

For some reason I appear to have downloaded two songs by Lisbo Matavel, the Grand Old man  of marrabenta. I've gone for the one with the shortest title namely Sati Wamina.

We conclude with the band Mabulu. Mabulu, as I'm sure you know,  means looking for a dialogue  in the Shangana language  - a reference to the fact that the group comprises members from different generations. Today's offering is Maldeyeni

We will remain on the African continent for our next Blog Country

Djaaka - Tchemerani

Fany Mpfumo -Awupelanga

Liloca - Mabetele

Lisbo Matavel - Sate Wamina

Mabulu - Maldeyeni

News of the World - 4

 

The Times is one of the oldest and most famous Uk newspapers. It began in 1775 as The Daily Universal before changing it's name in 1788. It is generally considered as a centre right and conservative paper but not as far right as the likes of the Telegraph, Mail or Express

Having said that it is owned by Rupert Murdoch's News UK so definitely not left leaning. I'm not sure whether Bob Dylan would be a fan although he has acknowledged that The Times They Are A' Changing

The New York Times is perceived as a liberal paper. It  endorsed Kamila Harris in 2024.  It is disliked by Trump who calls it the Failing New York Times. Simone Felice reads it all baby in the New York Times.

For the news but not newspaper related songs David Francey is still digesting Yesterday's News. Aimee Mann sadly is experiencing some Real Bad News

Will next week's news be good or bad?

Bob Dylan - The Times They Are A'Changing

Simone Felice - The New York Times

David Francey - Yesterday's News

Aimee Mann - Real Bad News

Winter Olympics Songs

 

I believe that the Winter Olympics are upon us once again.

Apparently it is in Italy which is somewhere you don't automatically think of for winter sports until you remember the Alps.

I must admit it is something that I take very little interest with the exception of the curling .

It got me thinking as to songs or artists who could however loosely be linked to the events on off .

Let's start with skiing and I have found two ski related songs.First up are Memphis with Apre ski . Laura Pallas on the other hand prefers Skiing in the Snow. 

Skating also proved to be pretty tricky. No Skater Boy be Avril Lavigne but rather Skater of the Surface by Karine Polwart.

Cinerama are fond of a Sly Curl

Ice Hockey is one of the more popular Winter Olympic Sports so here are Super Furry Animals with Ice Hockey Hair.

I was a bit surprised/disappointed that I couldn't come up with a Sledge related song. By way of compensation I give you Percy Sledge with the appropriately named Sudden Stop.

Over to you. I'm sure you will come up with some that I have missed.

Memphis -Apres Ski

Laura Pallas - Skiing in the Snow

Karine Polwart - Skater of the Surface

Cinerama - Sly Curl

Super Furry Animals -Ice Hockey Hair

Percy Sledge -Sudden Stop