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Wednesday 13 November 2019

State of the Union - Mississippi


George writes
Yes that is indeed the state flag.


R. L. Burnside was born in Mississippi. If you do nothing else today just watch this from 1978, it is absolutely fantastic.




And here’s another  song.




This song really should not still be relevant 55 years after it was recorded. So that’s two songs I’ve given you that will not be surpassed by anything else you hear today.


Next is a track by late 60s hairy hippy rockers  Mountain (and for crying out loud don’t show any children a photograph of this lot, they’ll be scarred for life)




Obligatory country track is provided by Charley Pride, a lovely velvety voice he has here:




Charley Pride was born in Sledge, Mississippi.


I’ll spare you the dreadful Merle Haggard song, and instead give you this majestic song from Peace To The Neighborhood, which comes pretty damned close to being as good as the first two tracks above:




Mr Staples was born in Winona, Mississippi. 


Nina Simone’s track is simply not nearly good enough for me to post. And the one I know you wanted, by Pussycat is not about the state as far as I can make out from the lyrics.


Instead, here’s Chester Arthur Burnett, who was born in White Station, Mississippi:




Alexander O’Neal and “Hound Dog” Taylor were born in Natchez. 


The song Jackson, made famous by Mr and Mrs Cash, is not about Jackson, Mississippi, I checked. But, looka yonder, here’s a song that references Elvis Presley’s birthplace:



From when Nick Cave was good…..


And here’s another  blues song:




Mr Hooker was born in Tutwiler, Mississippi.


I can’t work out what Jackson Lucinda Williams is referring to so I can’t include it here.


Not quite an ICA, as there are 7 tracks, not the ten as required by JC, but when put together  still album length. A short album of ca. 30 mins, but Pet Sounds is shorter, as is Last Dance Before Highway.


Another one next week.


CC writes
Here are three to complete the ICA.
Surprised George missed the first one

Jim White - Handcuffed to a Fence in Mississippi

Little Milton - Tupelo Honey

Bobbie Gentry - Mississipi Delta

11 comments:

  1. That Phil Ochs track is majestic.
    I doubt he did many shows in Mississippi after that.

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  2. Hadn't heard that Little Milton version of Tupelo Honey - thanks.

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  3. A clutch of really tremendous tunes here, a superb clip and a contentious point or two (when has Nick Cave been anything less than good?), but I'm reeling from the absence of any version of Jimmie Rodgers' 'Miss The Mississippi And You' (Emmylou, Roseanne, Jerry Lee) as well as 'Mississippi', a song out of Bob Dylan's top drawer.

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  4. A lot of brilliant tunes to enjoy here and much to spend some time with. The R.L. Burnside clip is glorious and life-affirming. Good see hairy old Mountain get a mention. Know what you mean about Nick Cave as I preferred him in his Birthday Party incarnation though that first Bad Seeds album was very fine. What do you mean about Nina Simone? 'Mississippi Goddam' is great, surely? Shame about you skipping Pussycat.

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  5. A great clip indeed. So much music to choose from once you get to these southern states - New England, not so much and of course a reason for that.

    Love Bobby Gentry and we will probably never know what was thrown over the Tallahatchie Bridge.

    I'm curious how many states you have left - It can't be many so well done for having kept up the momentum where others (me) have failed.

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  6. I first heard Mountain back in 1973 when my late brother brought back "The Road Goes Ever On" Mountain Live lp down from his digs in Glasgow. Mountain were also the very first band I ever heard use the word "Sperm" in a song. They also devoted that same spermy song to 18 year old Owen Coffin who died of being cannibalised. Please everyone, show children photographs of the band Mountain, they have nothing to fear but fear itself.

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  7. I never would have guessed the best songs in this series so far would be Mississippi themed. Well done, George and CC.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Brian. With some states it is quite easy to find a lot of material.

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  8. "Nina Simone’s track is simply not nearly good enough for me to post."

    I give up.

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  9. So many tremendous songs here and not wanting to sound too much like Monty Python's David Niven's Fridge sketch but this is why 'we' follow music blogs. Reminders of tracks we know but more often to hear stuff that wouldn't normally enter our orbits. Pipettes at the ready. Hats off to CC and George

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