A few years ago I made a playlist consisting of four songs from each of the first five American Recordings albums by Johnny Cash which I stuck on a CD.
This may have been on or around my Covered by Cash series in 2017/18
I listened to the CD the other day and thought that long enough had passed for me to get away with sharing some of the covers again.
From the first of the five albums simply titled American Recordings I give you Johnny's version of the Tom Waits song Down There By the Train.
From Unchained, the second one, we have a cover of Tom Petty's Southern Accents..
American III - Solitary Man has, I think, more covers than any of the others. Solitary Man was originally written and recorded by Neil Diamond. This record also gives us Johnny's version of Nick Cave's The Mercy Set.
There are probably enough others to justify a further post in due course.
Johnny Cash - Down There By The Train
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It also gives you the opportunity to catch up with some music which is long overdue for an airing .
One such album that has found its way to my turntable is We Saw The View the second album on Last Night From Glasgow by Paisley's finest The Muldoons from 2024.
A bit of jingle jangle and the occasional trumpet. What's not to love?
As it's still the Season of Goodwill I'm throwing in their non- album version of Cath, the classic Bluebells song.
Consider it a belated Christmas pressie.
It was a bit of a lean year for Charity Shop purchases with 65 purchases compared to 72 in 2024 and 88 in 2023.Can you see a pattern emerging?
There are probably a number of reasons. There are less and less CDs in Charity Shops these days plus I am trying to be more discerning for financial reasons but primarily because of space.
Also this year I didn't really to venture too far. 39 of the 65 were in charity shops in East Renrewshire/South Glasgow (Battlefield Rd 15, Victoria Rd 12, Clarkston 11 and Newton Mearns 1) within a 3 mile radius from my house.
The remaining 26 were from a couple of trips to Galloway (Newton Stewart 12, Wigtown 7, Whithorn 2, Stranraer 2 and Ballantrae (1)
East Kilbride with 2 purchases at the beginning of the year was the only other location and the only new one.
There was one LP (Boz Scaggs), 7 CD singles and 57 CDs, Around 10 were to replace Burns and there was therefore no space implications. 3 were CDs of albums I already have on vinyl.
There were 8 Soul Compilations, 5 Bob Dylan albums and 3 by Karine Polwart
I haven't kept a record but at least 4 have gone back.
I can see 2026 being a bit of a struggle.
Put down those turkey sandwiches for a minute as it is time for Saturday Shuffle 126.
By my reckoning there are two acts who are making their Shuffle debuts today.
First up are today's cover stars San Francisco band The Beau Brummels with Lift Me yet another number from the compilation Jon Savage's 1968 The Year That The World Burned.
I was more than a little surprised to see that the great Southern Soul artist Johnny Taylor has never appeared on the Blog before let alone the Shuffle. Here he is with Who's Making Love taken from an Any Major Southern Soul compilation from the wonderful Any Major Dude With Half a Heart
Finally we have an act who are no strangers to the Blog and the Shuffle. Here are Whiskeytown with Drank Like a River from when Ryan Adams wasn't up himself.,
The next Shuffle will be along in 2026. 2026! Gosh, how did that happen?
It was sad to hear about the death of Chris Rea at the age of 74 although given the list of ailments he had its a miracle he lasted this long.
As you can imagine there were a few bad taste "jokes" on the Internet around Driving Home for Christmas. I would imagine Chris would have found them quite funny.
I'm posting the two you would all expect and my particular favourite Stainsby Girls.
I was also put in mind of a sketch by fellow Smoggie Bob Mortimer from Would I Lie To You.
Rest easy Chris.
Chris Rea - Driving Home For Christmas
Chris Rea - The Road to Hell (Part 1)
Chris Rea - The Road to Hell (Part 11)
St Etienne - Driving Home For Christmas
That's me until after Christmas.
See you on the other side.
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| M.John Henry |
Another end of year list.
Due to finance and a number of other reasons that I won't go into 2025 saw me attending only 6 concerts. A pawlty number when compared to 15 in 2024, 15 in 2023 and 9 in 2022.
On a more postive note I have 2 lined up for 2026 so far.
With the exception of the final one all this year's gigs have featured here before. Here they are with the links
1 - Dropkick - Glad Cafe, Glasgow 29/03/25 - 7/10 - here
I've seen Dropkick on a few occasions now and I would say that this was one of their more average shows.The highlight of the night for me were the Spanish support band from Valencia Star Trip
2 - Rose City Band - Stereo, Glasgow 14/05/25 - 9/10 -here
The second time that I have seen the Rose City Band (the first in 2022) and both times they have been my gig of the year. As I said at the time it was hard to envisage any better than this
3 - R.Dallas Gray/M John Henry 05/07/25 - Old Hairdressers, Glasgow - 8/10 - here
A small intimate gig at a small intimate venue with two artists promoting their new albums. R. Dallas Gray's music did nothing for me I'm afraid but M. John Henry was mesmerising.
4- Ward Thomas - Corran Halls, Oban 20/08/25- 7/10 - here
Mrs CC is the fan of the band but it was good to get away for a gig. They are good at what they do, but I'm afraid that they don't do much for me
5 - Broken Chanter - Glad Cafe, Glasgow - 8/10 - here
A concert recording songs for a live album which is scheduled for release late next year.
6 -Phil Cunningham's Christmas Concert- Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow 18/12
We traditionally attend this concert every year with Mrs CC's mum..It is a mixture of traditional and folk music featuring Phil Cunningham, John McCusker, Eddi Reader, Karen Mathieson, Kris Drever and others. Unfortunately Phil was ill but John led the line well. Another good show with some great musicianship.
M. John Henry - All Saints Day
Broken Chanter - Don't You Think That Something Needs To Be Done
