Saturday Lucky Dip

painting by Jon Langford

When Uncut came up with the title Outlaw Blues, Murder Ballads & Prison Songs for their February 2009 compilation it was hardly surprising that Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash was the lead song.
After all he shot a man in Reno just to watch him die.
There are plenty of songs about these subjects to choose from.Indeed Jon Langford's Pine Valley Cosmonauts have released three volumes of The Executioner's Last Songs which have featured here before and will no doubt feature again.
The Uncut compilation focuses mainly on Country and Blues numbers so in addition to Johnny I am throwing in Mississippi John Hurt and Charlie Louvin for good measure.

More random nonsense next Saturday

Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues

Mississippi John Hurt - Frankie

Charlie Louvin - The Little Grave in Georgia

SOD It, It's Friday

As it's Friday I have a couple of sing-a-long shouty numbers for you courtesy of Spear of Destiny fronted by Kirk Brandon a one time love interest of Boy George. I was going to say allegedly but he lost the court case.

Taken from One Eyed Jacks their second album recorded in 1984. Whilst looking this out I discovered I also have the 1985 follow up World Service something that I was totally oblivious to until now. Must give it a listen sometime.

Apparently this is punk-influenced power pop with an anthemic feel.
The second song in particular has found its way onto many a mix tape.
Enjoy and sing along loudly!

Spear of Destiny - Rainmaker

Spear of Destiny - Liberator

Right Said Fred

I think I'll describe Fred Eaglesmith's music as Alt Country as Americana would be is misnomer given that he is Canadian and Canadiana is just plain silly.
Born Frederick John Elgersma in Caistor Centre, Ontario in 1957 he has been producing records since 1980.
These two songs are taken from his 2002 album Falling Stars and Broken Hearts the 11th of his 20 albums to date.
Despite the fact that it has been the warmest start to November in living memory Cumberland County gives us a salutory warning as to what's just around the corner.
Got to go now as there is a man at the door who wants to buy my truck

Fred Eaglesmith - Cumberland County

Fred Eaglesmith - I Wanna Buy Your Truck

Jesus, This is Iggy

A generation were introduced to Lust for Life by Iggy Pop courtesy of it featuring in the chase scene at the start of the film Trainspotting.
The older among us however were familiar with the song as the title track of the album of the same name from 1977.
Good though it is it pales into insignificance when compared  with The Passenger a song that takes me right back to my teenage years
From the time that Iggy's career was enjoying something of a renaissance due to his association and collaborations with David Bowie.
Turn Blue is one such collaboration. Whilst no Passenger it is worthy of inclusion for the title line of this post alone

Iggy Pop - The Passenger

Iggy Pop - Turn Blue

Lady Sings The Blues

I acquired Lady Sings The Blues the most recent record from former X Factor contestant Rebecca Ferguson in a charity shop the other day. As the title suggests it is a tribute to the great Billie Holiday. It is actually pretty good and no doubt will feature in due course.
It did however have me reaching for  Lady Day  herself on the basis that you can't improve upon perfection.
Sublime and a reminder that I  really need to get round to featuring the rest of The Blues Collection.

Billie Holiday - Lover Man (Where Can You Be?)

Billie Holiday - That Ole Devil Called Love

This Week's Earworm

This week's earworm is What's The Frequency, Kenneth? by R.E.M complete with some fine and appropriate punctuation and a song which has been rattling round my head for the last few days.
The first single and indeed first track from their 1994 album Monster reaching number 9 in  the UK singles chart and number 21 in the Billboard Hot 100.
Like most folk I have a few R.E.M. albums but would not really count myself as a massive fan.
Monster was probably the last one I bought at the time.Automatic For The People was always going to be a hard act to follow but it is a valiant attempt.
As part of my research I gave it a listen for the first time in ages and rather enjoyed the experience.

R.E.M. - What's The Frequency, Kenneth?

R.E.M. - Crush With Eyeliner

Some Sunday Soul

In 1987 along with a  few million or so other people I bought Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby an album he modestly proclaimed as the most important album since Sgt Pepper.
Like a  few million or so others I never got round  to buying anything else by him and indeed had not heard anything until Scott on Spools Paradise thankfully back with us featured a couple of songs from the Neither Fish nor Flesh follow up album which I had mistakenly thought was called Neither Fish nor Foul.
These tracks were rather good but I have still to carry out my comment about following it up.

Terence is now known as Sananda Maitreya a name that came to him in a series of dreams and he is now produced around a dozen albums under these two names.

More Soul next Sunday

Terence Trent D'Arby -Sign Your Name

Terence Trent D'Arby -As Yet Untitled