Kelly Hogan made a cameo appearance a few weeks back in this series alongside Rex Hobart & the Misery Boys.
She is joined by another band The Pine Valley Cosmonauts on this week's offering Beneath the Country Underdog from 2000 and on the ever mighty Bloodshot label who describe the album as 39:49 minutes of sobbing, throbbing, balls-out, country soul
For me Kelly Hogan has one of the greatest voices in Country, or indeed in any other genre. Her version of the Magnetic Fields song Papa Was a Rodeo would definitely be one of my choices in the unlikely event that I ever featured on Desert Island Discs. I heard it before the original and for me it remains the definitive version.
The album is mostly covers with three tunes that Kelly wrote with guitarist Andy Hopkins. I've gone for her versions of Wild Mountain Berries and Johnny Paycheck's (It's a Mighty Thin Line) Between Love and Hate to show her versatilty.
Kelly has never had the career she deserves and has had a variety of jobs over the years to help pay the bills.
Prior to this album she was a member of The Jody Grind and also the Rock*A*Teens.
She was part of Neko Case's band and has also collaborated with many artists including The Decemberists, Mavis Staples, the Mekons,Giant Sand, Alejandro Escovedo and the Drive- By Truckers. She is a member of The Flat Five who are currently on the Bloodshot roster
A true talent
Kelly Hogan & the Pine Valley Cosmonauts -Papa Was a Rodeo
Kelly Hogan &the Pine Valley Cosmonauts - Wild Mountain Berries
Kelly Hogan & the Pine Valley Cosmonauts - (It's a Mighty Thin Line (Between Love and Hate)
Excellent choice, CC
ReplyDeleteToptastic album. Garces these shelves. I might pull it out........
ReplyDeletenot that I know what garces means
DeletePrepare yourself for a blatant name-drop: Flat Five member Scott Ligon (also in NRBQ) is a pal from way back when we were kids. Even then you could hand him an instrument and he would have it down in no time. Some of their songs are written by Scott's older brother Chris. You should check out some of his work too. A mad genius if ever there was one.
ReplyDeleteBrian - friend of the stars!
DeleteDoes that that make you a friend of the friend of the stars?
DeleteAs you say, Kelly's version of Papa Was A Rodeo is just tremendous. Seen her several times down the years, though only as supporting/backing vocals to Neko, The Decemberists and once with Laura Cantrell - she had a heavy cold that night, kept dabbing her nose with a big hanky!
ReplyDelete