Bloodshot Records Announces 20th Anniversary “While No One Was Looking” Compilation – November 18, 2014

Bloodshot Records Announces 20th Anniversary  "While No One Was Looking"

Chicago’s mighty Bloodshot Records has quietly been hoisting the roots rock and alt.country flag for, well as long as those words came into mainstream use.

Hard to believe that it’s been 20 years since the intrepid indy released it’s inaugural compilation ‘A Life of Sin: A Compilation of Insurgent Chicago Country.’

The music industry has gone through some pretty rough changes in the last two decades but Bloodshot has blasted along releasing some of the best the genre has to offer.

This November 18 you’ve got one more item to add to your Christmas wish-list. ‘While No One Was Looking: Toasting 20 Years of Bloodshot Records,’ a collection of 38 reinterpretations from the label’s catalog will be released.
Blitzen Trapper, Andrew Bird and Nora O’Connor, Ben Kweller, Mike Watt, Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers, Shakey Graves, Chuck Ragan, Superchunk, and many others cover current and former acts such as Justin Townes Earle, Ryan Adams, Neko Case, Scott H. Biram, Ha Ha Tonka, Lydia Loveless, Old 97’s, Murder By Death, Robbie Fulks, Cory Branan, and more.

Personally I’m looking forward to hearing Into It. Over It cover Neko Case’s “Deep Red Bells” and Kevin “Shinyribs” Russell covering Lydia Loveless’ “All the Time.” Yowzaa!

Pre-order (limited ed. blood-red vinyl is the way to go) and track listing are below.

Preorder “While No One Was Looking”

Full Album Track Listing:

Disc 1:

1. Blitzen Trapper – “To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to be High)”
Originally performed by Ryan Adams on BS071 Heartbreaker (2000)

2. Chris Shiflett & The Dead Peasants – “Look the Other Way”
Originally performed by Justin Townes Earle on BS193 Nothing’s Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now (2012)

3. Samantha Crain – “Cold Forgiver”
Originally performed by Ha Ha Tonka on BS207 Lessons (2013)

4. Chuck Prophet – “Dirt”
Originally performed by Andre Williams on BS185 Hoods & Shades (2012)

5. Hiss Golden Messenger – “Where I Fell”
Originally performed by Robbie Fulks on BS211 Gone Away Backward (2013)

6. Dave Davison (of Maps & Atlases) – “Things I Didn’t Say”
Previously performed by Bobby Bare, Jr.’s Young Criminals’ Starvation League on BS110 From the End of Your Leash (2004)

7. Ted Leo – “Dragging My Own Tombstone”
Originally performed by Waco Brothers on BS054 Electric Waco Chair (2000)

8. Into It. Over It. – “Deep Red Bells”
Originally performed by Neko Case on BS099 Blacklisted (2002)

9. Split Single – “My Backyard”
Originally performed by Nora O’Connor on BS116 Til the Dawn (2004)

10. Limbeck – “Sound of Running”
Originally performed by Old 97’s on BS066 Early Tracks (1995, 2000)

11. Tim Kasher – “Aspidistra”
Originally performed by The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir on BS148 The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir (2007)

12. Shakey Graves – “Happy Birthday Julie”
Originally performed by Wayne Hancock on BS080 A-Town Blues (2001)

13. Ivan & Alyosha – “My Winding Wheel”
Originally performed by Ryan Adams on BS071 Heartbreaker (2000)

14. Chuck Ragan – “Survivor Blues”
Originally performed by Cory Branan on BS195 MUTT (2012)

15. The Minus 5 – “Cherokee Grove”
Originally performed by Mark Pickerel and His Praying Hands on BS146 Cody’s Dream (2008)

16. Carolyn Mark – “Last to Know”
Previously performed by Alejandro Escovedo on BS027 More Miles Than Money (1998)

17. Daniel Romano – “Strange Birds”
Originally performed by Jon Langford & The Sadies on BS092 Mayors of the Moon (2003)

18. Charlie Parr – “Manifold”
Originally performed by Devil in a Woodpile on BS065 Division Street (2000)

19. The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band – “St. Nick on the Fourth in a Fervor”
Originally performed by Ha Ha Tonka on BS145 Buckle In The Bible Belt (2007)

20. Possessed By Paul James – “I Came Around”
Originally performed by Murder By Death on BS200 Bitter Drink, Bitter Moon (2012)

Disc 2:

1. Andrew Bird and Nora O’Connor – “I’ll Trade You Money for Wine”
Originally performed by Robbie Fulks on BS211 Gone Away Backward (2013)

2. Ben Kweller – “2:00 AM”
Originally performed by The Meat Purveyors on BS091 All Relationships Are Doomed to Fail (2002)

3. Frank Turner – “The Corner”
Originally performed by Cory Branan on BS195 MUTT (2012)

4. Superchunk – “Come Pick Me Up”
Originally performed by Ryan Adams on BS071 Heartbreaker (2000)

5. KOJI – “East Jefferson”
Originally performed by Ben Weaver on BS173 Mirepoix & Smoke (2010)

6. The Great Crusades – “Fake Out Jesus” (Live)
Originally performed by The Blacks on BS 063 Just Like Home (2000)

7. Mike Watt & The Missingmen – “Up to My Neck In This”
Originally performed by Jon Langford & The Sadies on BS092 Mayors of the Moon (2003)

8. Nicki Bluhm & the Gramblers – “Oh My Sweet Carolina”
Originally performed by Ryan Adams on BS071 Heartbreaker (2000)

9. Jerry David DeCicca – “Broken Bottle”
Previously performed by Alejandro Escovedo on BS027 More Miles Than Money (1998)

10. The Handsome Family – “1000 Dollar Car”
Originally performed by The Bottle Rockets on BS212 The Brooklyn Side (1994, 2013)

11. Warm Soda – “All Grown Up”
Previously performed by Gore Gore Girls on BS142 Get the Gore (2007)

12. James Leg (of Black Diamond Heavies) – “Is That You in the Blue?”
Originally performed by Dex Romweber Duo on BS186 Is That You in the Blue? (2011)

13. Two Gallants – “Truck Driver”
Originally performed by Scott H. Biram on BS122 The Dirty Old One Man Band (2005)

14. Diarrhea Planet – “Dry Land”
Originally performed by Waco Brothers on BS015 Cowboy in Flames (1997)

15. Kevin “Shinyribs” Russell – “All the Time”
Originally performed by Lydia Loveless on BS214 Boy Crazy (2013)

16. The North Carolina Music Love Army (featuring Caitlin Cary, Chip Robinson, and Kenny Roby) – “Stick to the Plan”
Originally performed by Graham Parker on BS140 Don’t Tell Columbus (2007)

17. William Elliott Whitmore – “I Wish I Was the Moon”
Originally performed by Neko Case on BS099 Blacklisted (2002)

18. Samuel Fogarino (of Interpol) – “Liked It a Lot”
Originally performed by Charlie Pickett on BS 154 Bar Band Americanus (1984, 2008)

Twang Nation Podcast Episode 11 – Steve Earle, Brett Detar, Caitlin Rose

podcast

Two themes emerged unintentionally from this episode, Californian cities and the highway. Both are classic themes in country and Americana music and both are telling on his we got here and where we’re going as a community.

On Californian cities , the Son Volt song, “Bakersfield,” included tells the story of dust bowl immigrants to that Southern California town that resulted in a thriving Southern/plains working class culture there. After work visits to honky-tonk bars like The Blackboard gave performers like Wynn Stewart and Buck Owen’s a stage to shape the Bakersfield Sound. This sound contrasted against the Nashville Sound that was thriving in Music City and borrowed elements to rock music sweeping the nation.

Fusion and evolution is what created this music we love. But we wear our roots proudly. Blake Shelton might be right about Music Rows’
jettisoning it’s legacy to craft a business plan for sustained growth. But great culture never comes from a corporate marketing department and strip mine approach to culture is not what Americana is about. It’s about sustained growth for long-term benefits for everyone involved.

Regarding the highway, we are all on it. The internet is part of that analogy and the past, present and future of the genre is another. then there’s the literal hundreds of miles of highway that these performers travel every year. It’s a tough life they choose to bring us this great music and we owe it to them to see them live, buy their music and pick up a t-shirt. We owe it to ourselves because this financial investment in them allows them to bring us more great music.

As always. I hope you like this episode of the Twang Nation Podcast and thank you all for listening. If you do tell a friend and let me know here at this site, Google+ , Twitter or my Facebook.

Opening Song – “Mr. D.J” – by Dale Watson

1.Caitlin Rose – “I Was Cruel””- Album: “‘The Stand-In” (ATO Records)
2. Holly Williams – Song: “Let You Go”- Album: her third album “‘The Highway” (Georgiana Records)
3. Wayne “The Train” Hancock – Song: “Ride”- Album: “Ride” (Bloodshot Records)
4. The Law – Song: “Crazy and Lonesome”- Debut Album: “Dust And Aether” (TLB Records)
5. Brett Detar – Song: “A Soldier Burden” – available for the low price of an email address at brettdetar.com
6. Escondido – Song: “Bad Without You” – Album: debut The Ghost of Escondido
7. New American Farmers – Song: “Everywhere” – Album: Brand New Day
8. Son Volt – Song: “Bakersfield” – Album: Honky Tonk (Rounder Records)
9. Charlie Parr – Song: “Groundhog Day Blues” Album: Barnswallow
10. Dale Watson – Song: “Smokey Old Bar” Album: El Rancho Azul (Red House Records)
11. Steve Earle – Song: “Calico County” Album: The Low Highway (New West records)
12. Carrie Rodriguez – Song: “Devil in Mind” Album: Give Me All You Got (Ninth Street Opus records)

New Compilation Unheard Hank Williams Songs To Be To Be Released

Rollingstione.com posts that a compilation of unheard Hank Williams songs will be released on October 4th. The songs come from a rescued from notebooks of  lyrics and song ideas  left behind in a leather briefcase by Williams after he died in 1953 at the age of 29. These notes and fragments were then finished by the 13 artists who contributed to the disc. These artists include Americana music and rock music greats – Bob Dylan (who’s  imprint Egyptian Records is putting out the album)  Levon Helm, Alan Jackson, Lucinda Williams, Merle Haggard and, and this is where my concern arises, Jack White . Norah Jones and Sheryl Crow. What? Was Kid Rock busy?

And though William’s granddaughter Holly Williams is included where is her brother Hank Williams III? For that matter where is Bocephus?  I would have scratched the last three, who are here for sales purposes only, and added new traditionalists like Wayne Hancock and Joey Allcorn that truly reflect the spirit of ol’ Hank.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKPHJslYNkk[/youtube]

 

 

Hank Williams – 15 Covers in Tribute [VIDEO]


“I ain’t gonna worry wrinkles in my brow, cuz nothin’s never gonna be alright nohow. No matter how I struggle and strive, I’ll never get out of this world alive.”
— Hank Williams

Sometime in the early morning hours of January 1st 1953, somewhere on the roads of Kentucky on-route to a News Years Eve show in Canton, Ohio, The King of Country Music,  Hank Williams succumbed to a life of drugs, booze and sorrow in the back seat of his powder blue Cadillac. He was 29.

In his brief professional life Williams forged a sound and lasting legacy that runs throughout country and rock music , and really most all American music, to this day. On this New Years Eve I want to celebrate his life and demonstrate the broadness of his influence with some of the best covers of Hank Williams that I could uncover. Leave your own in the comments and at the stroke of midnight take a moment to remember the greatness of Hank Williams.

Tom Waits – Ramblin’ Man

Wayne Hancock – Lost Highway

Hunter Hayes / Hank Williams Jr. – Jambalaya
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57sfRo26fAc

Townes Van Zandt – Alone & Forsaken

Jerry Lee Lewis – Cold Cold Heart

Patsy Cline – Lovesick Blues
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rBtNVmUvPw

Chris Scruggs – I’m A Long Gone Daddy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W6dA67kTJc

Ray Charles – Your Cheatin’ Heart

The The – I Saw The Light
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYVXuauvZLA&feature=related

Neko Case – Alone and Forsaken

Jimmy Page and Robert Plant  -  My Bucket’s Got A Hole In It

Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan – Ramblin Man

Johnny Cash and Nick Cave – I Am So Lonesome I Could Cry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovaGrcOEI-M

Hank Williams III – I’ll Never Get Out Of This World Alive

Hank Williams Jr and Tammy Wynette – Hank Sr Medley

Thankful For The Music

Okay, I got a lot of hits and responses to my post on the dismal glitter parade that was the Country Music Awards. I’m encouraged that it was almost universally positive, though some was not (when will people get that just because I don’t like Taylor Swift’s songs or music I am not opining on her as a person? How many of these people know Taylor Swift personally? Maybe she’s a horrible diva that likes bathing in champagne and looking at her charting position and cackling “Suckers!!”), But I don’t just enjoy cursing the darkness (hilariously), I like to light a candle now and again.

The relationship of country music and Music City has been fraught with tension since Judge Hay started MCing the The Grand Ole Opry on the WSM Barn Dance from the fifth-floor radio studio of the National Life & Accident Insurance Company in downtown Nashville on November 1925. Music City is in the business of business.  The product they have historically offered is, at its best, a reflection n tradition and heritage of the Amerivcan human soul, the good bad and the ugly. Trouble results when the bean counters weigh in on song creation, studio production and trends are chased, not because they are interesting branches or simpatico with the music, but just to cash in. This output is mediocre if monetarily profitable. As a fan, and not a shareholder, I find this unacceptable and a damn shame and am noy t shy to say as much.

I am currently reading the Ralph Stanley’s biography Man of Constant Sorrow and am struck by how resolute the man and his brother, Carter, was about keeping their “simple, mountain music sound” and how Ralph threatened to quite the band when the introduction of the new-fangled instrument ,the dobro, was considered as an addition to a Stanley Brothers song. Stanley was about 23 at the time. Can you imagine anyone that age starting out in music having that clear and focused of a vision of their music and not just will to allow outsiders to shape them to make as music as possible? Br. Stanley had a clear idea of their brand of “hillbilly music” and what the fans wanted it that he was willing to chuck the whole thing to save it.

I believe there are a few creators still out there today creating a brand of hillbilly music, maybe a more distant cousin of Stanly’s, but it’s no less bracing in it’s allegiance to tradition even as it breaks genre grounds in other directions.  Covering the miles, often in a car or a van instead of a bus or charted plane, they bring grateful fans a sound that just can’t be found largely on commercial country radio, and willing to hang around the place afterward toseel a CD or shirt,  press some flash, sign an autograph and take a picture or two.

Off the top of my head I offer from my home state of  Texas Dale Watson, Wayne Hancock, James Hand, Jake Penrod, Junior Brown, Hayes Carll and legends like Ray Willie Hubbard and Tommy Alverson.  In other regions there is Joey Allcorn, Elizabeth Cook, Robbie Fulks, Chuck Mead and the new school with Those Darlins, Justin Townes Earle and William Elliott Whitmore, Grant Langston, Angela Easterling, the Felice Brothers , Lindsay Fuller, Amanda Shires, and many many more are out there many night of the year doing what they love telling their stories and leaving it all out on the stage.

Like i said in the original CMA post, I criticize because i come from this music. Its part of my Texas heritage and part of my family business. I love it and , like family, am not shy to pipe up when I think it’s done wrong.

News Round Up: Johnny Cash Graphic Novel & Do You Look Like Tanya Tucker?

  • PopMatters.cam has 20 questions for Austin’s neo-trad honky-tonker Wayne “The Train” Hancock.

I for one am glade that Terri Clark is back in action on the country music landscape and releasing a new album, The Long Way Home, this Tuesday. If the new single Gypsy Boots is any indication it’s going to be a great one!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7ay-mXP-UU[/youtube]

Drive By Truckers’ The Fine Print Cover

  • Sony Music Entertainment Photo Archives, ICON Collectibles has just released some new Johnny Cash prints for the summer, ICON is offering Cash fans a 20% discount on all Johnny Cash framed and unframed fine art prints (including limited editions) when fans use promo code ICON6PAK at checkout. Offer ends July 31st. Check out the new prints now at the ICON website.
  • Wayne Hancock has  Summer tour dates posted. Hancock will be taking his Texas honky-tonk around the West Coast, back down to Texas and then back up the East Coast. Opening the show will be Joe Buck.
  • 83 year-old country-pop singer Ferlin Husky is in Tennessee hospital in critical condition with an accelerated heart rate and possible pneumonia. Husky topped the charts from the 50’s to the 70’s under various names, including Terry Preston and Simon Crum, a comic alter ego. (via the 9513.com)
  • Chet  Nashville Chet Flippo draws comparisons to the death last week of Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley and Hank Williams. Flippo posits that Williams’ death at the age of 29 in the back seat of his Cadillac on New Years Eve 1953 might have been preferable to the drawn-out publicized deterioration of Elvis and Jackson.
  • A while back I posted that New West records would be releasing The Fine Print, “a 12-track album of previously unreleased and rare songs”by the Drive By Truckers on September 1st. The album will feature  “four covers including “Rebels” by Tom Petty and “Like A Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan which provided Shonna Tucker with her first ever lead vocal performance on a DBT recording.” Many of the original recordings are from the Dirty South era. The Look for a review of The Fine Print soon, but in the mean time check out the cover below painted by their long time cover artist Wes Freed.

Benefit Album for Evan Phillips to Be Released

  • NineBullets.net has some good things to say about the new Scott H Biram’s Blooshot Records release Something’s Wrong / Lost Forever.
  • Kelly Dearmore at Twangville.com (no relation) praises the new The Dexateens release Singlewide.
  • A new Magnolia Electric co. album josephine will be released by secretly canadian on july 21st, 2009. Get a free mp3 of the title track over in the Magnolia Electric co.web site. In support the record they’ll head out july 10th on a month long tour crossing the U.S followed by a few weeks of full-band touring in Europe.
  • An benefit album to help Evan Phillips, – the principle songwriter for acclaimed Alaskan alt.country rock band The Whipsaws – pay medical costs associated with a debilitating chronic injury he sustained 7 years ago climbing is tentatively scheduled to release in Alaska and online on June 15. The album features acclaimed roots and alt.country artists like T, Nile, Matt Hopper, Aaron Lee Tasjan, The Devil Whales, Marty Jones and more all covering Phillips songs. Check the official MySpace site for more information and to listen to cuts from featured artists.

Poodies Locke Tributes, Jeff Tweedy Sued

  • Jay Bennett, a former Wilco member, is suing band leader Jeff Tweedy in Cook County Circuit Court, claiming Tweedy owes him money from the band’s 2002 documentary and royalties on songs written during Bennett’s seven years with the group.

William Elliott Whitmore made a stop on the Jools Holland Show in England to perform Old Devils.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVJXa19w3W4[/youtube]

Wayne Hancock and Scott H. Biram Ready 2009 Releases

  • Wayne “The Train” Hancock announces on his web site that his new release for Bloodshot records “Viper of Melody” is tentatively set to be released in April.  Wayne’s current tour line up of Izzy Zaidman on lead guitar, Huck Johnson on Standup Bass, and Tony Locke on steel guitar will be featured on the release.
  • Scott H. Biram‘s new release, also for Bloodshot records, “Something’s Wrong/Lost Forever” is tentatively set to be released in June. Biram’s past art professor and accomplished artist and graphic designer, Mark Todd, is creating the cover art. Some tracks to be included are “Sinkin’ Down”, “Still Drunk, Still Crazy, Still Blue” and “Judgement Day”. The Black Diamond Heavies will appear on a cover of Muddy Waters’ “I Feel So Good” written by Big Bill Broonzy, and John Meyers of The Black Diamond Heavies appears on Biram’s original “Hard Time”. Biram will be touring  Europe  starting on Jan 24th in London and then heading back home to Austin, Texas to play the SXSW festival