16 Horsepower

For once I didn't come across too much Americana during our trip up North. It has been a fertile hunting ground in the past but not this time.
I did manage to bag a couple though.
The name 16 Horsepower rang a bell in the deeper recesses of my mind when I picked up 2000's Secret South in Pitlochry but it was only later that I discovered that it was on the legendary (to me at least) German Glitterhouse label.
Sure enough back home I checked and I have a couple of their tracks on Glitterhouse compilations including one from this album.
They are out of Denver. David Eugene Edwards is the head honcho ably supported by Steve Taylor on guitar, Pascal Humbert on bass and Jean-Yves Tola on drums.
The album was recorded  and self produced in a cabin n the mountains around Denver and then mixed in Bath.

16 Horsepower - Clogger

16 Horsepower - Straw Foot

Ophelia

We are busy battening down the hatches (or hatchets as Mrs CC would have it) in preparation for Storm Ophelia which will hopefully have passed by the time you get round to reading this.
Downgraded from a hurricane it has unfortunately already reeked havoc in Ireland.
As you can imagine the media is in a total frenzy.
When we we in Giarloch it got a bit blowy and the power went out. People just got on with it.
Nothing I'm sure compared to what the Caribbean has recently had to endure

All of the above is really just an opportunity to post these two songs and to mention that there used to be a woman at my work called Ophelia.

The Band - Ophelia

Natalie Merchant - Ophelia

Love Over Rage

Picked up Love Over Rage a 1994 album by Tom Robinson on the great Cooking Vinyl label in Ullapool.
The first CD I have by him although I have a fair bit of vinyl both solo and as part of the Tom Robinson Band all of which was at least 10 years previous to this release.
The lyrics are as always excellent but the music is a bit like the curate's egg - good in parts.
For me these are probably the pick of the bunch.
The personnel on the album include Chris Rea on slide guitar and TV Smith of Adverts fame on backing vocals.
His middle name is Giles.

Tom Robinson - Roaring Days

Tom Robinson - Days (That Changed The World)

Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves

The more observant among you may have noticed that my recent Brothers,Sisters series has disappeared.
The reason? Momentum has disappeared following my holiday break. As those who do this stuff know it is all about momentum.It may or may not reappear at some stage
The Pointer Sisters were one of  few acts to feature.
I have since doubled my Pointer Sisters collection by acquiring a Greatest Hits CD in Ullapool.
Had I had it then one of these songs may have featured.
Indeed Fire could also perhaps have featured in the Springsteen covers series.
Worry not , all things come to those that wait.

Pointer Sisters -I'm So Excited

Pointer Sisters - Fire

Covered By Cash - Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down

A new Saturday Covers series for you today - but with a twist.
Instead of comparing an artists songs with covers by others we are comparing songs covered by Johnny Cash with the originals.
Usual rules apply and I have more than enough material for the first to ten being the winner

I think that I probably heard Johnny's version of Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down before I heard the Kris Kristofferson original. Good though it is it doesn't hold a candle to the original.Also Kris looses the G's while Johnny keeps his.
A thought . When Glen Campbell died Rhinestone Cowboy was regularly trotted out as opposed to his greatest song Wichita Lineman.
When Kris finally shuffles off this mortal coil we shall probably get Me and Bobby McGee played more than this. Wrongly in my opinion.

So it is Kris for me this week. Others, of course may choose to disagree.
Another compare and contrast next Saturday

Johnny Cash - Sunday Morning Coming Down

Kris Kristofferson - Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down

Island Folk

The Red Cross charity shop in Dingwall had a pretty meagre collection of CD's on display mainly Uncut and Mojo compilations
Given that I am trying to be more discerning primarily for space reasons (finance comes into it as well but not in this case as they were only 50p) I decided to ration myself to one.
And I think I got a cracker.From May 2009 as part of Island Records 50th Anniversary celebrations they gave us Island Folk - an acoustic-led celebration.
It includes such luminaries as Sandy Denny, The Incredible String Band, Fairport Convention and Nirvana (no, not THAT one).
There is even some Jethro Tull thrown in to keep George happy.
However I have gone for two of Folk's most famous husband and wife combinations for your listening pleasure today.

John and Beverley Martyn - Primrose Hill

Richard and Linda Thompson - The End of the Rainbow

Oh Susanna

A couple of cover versions of classic songs today from Susannah Hoffs - settle down at the back Swiss Adam
One is reasonably good and the other utterly appalling.
Let's start with the reasonably good. Another one from the Austin Powers soundtrack with Susannah covering the Burt Bacharach classic The Look of Love. There are obviously better ones out there but it passes muster.
She has connections with Austin Powers in that she is married to it's director Jay Roach and the band Ming Tea  consisting of her, Matthew Sweet and Mike Myres also features.

Brace yourselves now. The title of her 1991 debut solo album When You're a Boy gives a clue. A dreadful album and one which is going back.Allmusic gives it 1.5/5 which is overly generous
The final track the cover of Bowie's Boys Keep Swinging is truly awful
Bought in Dingwall.

Something better tomorrow

Susannah Hoffs - The Look of Love

Susanna Hoffs - Boys Keep Swinging