Kitchens of Distinction

 

You won't necessarily always find me in the kitchen at parties or otherwise, although I  do like to sit on my wicker chair with a coffee and admire the view from the window.

It may not be a kitchen of distinction but I like it.

All of which is a preamble and an excuse to feature some kitchen related songs.

Let's start with a song which inspired a much sadly missed blog. Yes I'm talking about Drew and his blog Across the Kitchen Table which was also a song by the Pale Fountains

Stump are happy with  the abbreviated Kitchen Table  whereas Kevin McDermott and his Orchestra are more concerned with Mother Nature's Kitchen.

Finally Michael Marra beguiles us with the story of the Guernsey Kitchen Porter.

Jona Lewie - You Will Always Find Me in the Kitchen at Parties

Pale Fountains - From Across the Kitchen Table

Stump - Kitchen Table

Kevin McDermott Orchestra - Mother Nature's Kitchen

Michael Marra - The Guernsey Kitchen Porter

Harlem

 

Yesterday's post featuring the late Justin Townes Earle with Harlem River Blues had me searching for more related songs  from the Manhattan neighbourhood (or neighborhood given it is in the US) of Harlem.

The tenements are not that dissimilar to those in Glasgow except we don't have fire escapes which have featured in many a film or TV programme .

Ben E King  sings of Spanish Harlem given the large number of Puerto Rican immigrants settling in the area.

Edwyn Starr plumps for plain and simple Harlem whereas The Drifters feature more on the Streets of Harlem.

Swamp Dogg is more adventurous given that he is partial to a bit of Surfin' in Harlem whereas Bob & Earl enjoy a  Harlem Shuffle. 

Ben E King - Spanish Harlem

Edwyn Starr - Harlem

The Drifters - Streets Of Harlem

Swamp Dogg - Surfin' In Harlem

Bob & Earl - Harlem Shuffle

J.T.

 

I was stuck for something to play today.

I used to be a huge fan of Steve Earle but have gradually reached the point where I don't play his music very often and/or seek out his new records. That's just the way it goes, sometimes you just move on.

I though about featuring him today and so I had a quick look in the music folder to see what was there 

One that popped up was JT a studio album from Steve Earle & the Dukes released on 4th January 2021 and a tribute to his son Justin Townes Earle who died from an accidental drug overdose on 20th August 2020.

I've absolutely no recollection of having played it before but I suspect that I must have.

I saw him as a youngster playing as part of his dad's band. Too young, too soon here

Steve Earle & the Dukes - They Killed John Henry

Steve Earle & the Dukes - Harlem River Blues

Steve Earle & the Dukes - Last Words

Justin Townes Earle - Harlem River Blues

James McMurtry at St Lukes

 

Those of you of a certain age will recognise what the above picture is. Yes it's an actual printed concert ticket and not a bloody QR code! It has found a new home in my Ticket Tin

On Wednesday we went to see James McMurtry play at St Lukes. It was thoughtful for him to play to acknowledge our 18th wedding anniversary.

Put on by Kevin Morris' legendary Fallen Angels Club, who have been putting on Americana concerts in Edinburgh and more often Glasgow for about 20 years, it was pretty much a sell out .

It was a mature audience. I don't think I've ever seen so many bald men in the same place!

He was accompanied by Betty Soo. She opened the show with a set of song. Then James came on and played a couple. After the interval they primarily played as a duo.

They rattled of a number of his classic songs and yes they did include Choctaw Bingo. Unfortunately I only have the Ray Wylie Hubbard cover. They also performed a jaw dropping cover of Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos) It became clear fairly quickly that they were no fans of the Orange Idiot something which met with the approval of the Glasgow audience.

For a variety of reasons I've hardly been at any gigs this year, indeed this was just my third. Fortunately they have all been terrific

It was a privilege to see him live although I was a bit surprised to find out that he is younger than me!

James McMurtry -Painting By Numbers

James McMurtry - Canola Fields

James McMurtry -South Dakota

James McMurtry - I'm Not From Here

Saturday Shuffle 164

 

Welcome to Saturday Shuffle 164 with three songs from three different genres

Let's start with some fuzzy Blues and who better to provide something along these lines than The Black Keys. Mellow Peaches is a song taken from their 2021 album Delta Kream.

The next one is for Brian. From their 1983 debut studio album The Crossing here are Big Country, led by the late great Stuart Adamson, with the the classic anthem In A Big Country.

On the subject of classics Sanctified Soul from 2000 on the legendary Kent label remains one of the great Soul compilation albums. Here are Ben & Spence with Get It Over.

Hope you get over this one before the next Shuffle next Saturday

The Black Keys - Mellow Peaches

Big Country -In A Big Country

Ben & Spence -Get It Over

Ayrshire Real Ale Festival

 Today I off to the Ayrshire Beer Festival in Troon Town Hall to sample some Real Ale and Killie Pies. It's a tough job but somebody's got to do it.

I'll try to remember to take home my souvenir glass. Last time I got as far as the train station before realising that I'd left it behind. I texted my pals and my mate Pete said he would get it for me. I'm still waiting.

It doesn't take a genius to work out that today's tunes will all be Beer related although Beer for Breakfast is perhaps a bit ambitious.

Cheers

The Replacements -Beer For Breakfast

Todd Snider - Beer Run

Stray Cats - Lookin' Better Every Beer

The Handsome Family - Beer On The Roof

The Dubliners - A Pub With No Beer

Autumn

 

The first song that came on my MP3 player at the gym yesterday was Autumn  by The Umbrellas. That's tomorrow's post sorted I thought as I plodded away on the bike.

It also coincided with the latest theme from John Medd's photo challenge posted yesterday.

As per usual there were some superb submissions capturing the turn of the seasons. Regrettably I didn't get my act together  in time.

I should probably clarify that the above image is from Google Images rather than my phone but I'm sure that comes as no surprise to you.

An Autumnal Quartet I think.

The Umbrellas - Autumn

The Kinks -Autumn Almanac

Francoise Hardy - Autumn Rendez-Vous

Paolo Nutini - Autumn