folk
Jimmie Dale Gilmore – Darcy Farrow
Jimmie Dale turns a quaint old Western folk number into a bombastic, larger-than-life rock song of the sort that’s turns even the most boring stretch of US50 into an epic moment. The catalyst is the drum track by Don Heffington (formerly of Lone Justice and Emmylou Harris’ Hot Band): the sound of distant, rolling artillery throughout.
“But her pony did stumble and she did fall.
Her dying touched the heart of us one and all.
Young Vandy in his pain put a bullet to his brain
and we buried them together as the snows began to fall.”
Old Blind Dogs – The Lancashire Lads
Just try not to sing along.
For the Lancashire lads have gone abroad
Whatever shall we do?
They’re leaving many’s a pretty fair maid
To cry “What shall I do?!”
Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band – Ragged But Right
Jerry (whose smiling mien and sound appear on these pages far too infrequently) turns the old George Jones tune into a rollicking showcase for all the high-tone pickers he used to travel with. On this track those three-buckle pickers are David Nelson and Sandy Rothman on banjo & mandolin, with Kenny Kosek on fiddle and longtime partner John Kahn building out the rhythm section with David Kemper on the snare.
This was recorded at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, New York, NY on 10/21/87. Quoting the whole thing ’cause you’re gonna’ want to sing along about two bars in.
Folks, I’m here to tell you that I’m ragged but I’m right
I’m a thief and a gambler, and I stay up late at night
Gonna have a steak three times a day for my board
More than any loafer in this big town can affordA big electric fan to keep me cool while I sleep
A little baby boy plays around daddy’s feet
I’m a ramblin’ gambler and I leave every night
People, I tell you I’m ragged but I’m rightPeople, I’m here to tell you that I’m ragged but I’m right
I’m a thief and a gambler, and I stay up late at night
Gonna have a steak three times a day for my board
More than any loafer in this big town can affordA big electric fan to keep me cool while I sleep
A little baby girl plays around daddy’s feet
I’m a ramblin’ gambler and I leave every night
People I tell you I’m ragged but I’m right
Grandpa Jones – The Banjo Am The Instrument For Me
God how my daughter used to dance to this song when she was a toddler. There’s just something so infectiously happy and accomplished about his playing & singing in this track –the audible little laugh he gives in the last verse, the charming expressions on his face as he sings– it really struck a chord with Addie.
Now I’m old and feeble, grand children by the score,
Every night they set upon my knee,
That’s when I scoot ’em over just to make a little room,
Cause the banjo am the instrument for me.
Jimmy Rogers – Sloppy Drunk
Ruleville, MS‘ Jimmy Rogers with a funny if handsomely-played tune of a sort that’s rooted in the authentic ‘real folk blues’ of early America.
And I love that moonshine whiskey
and I’ll tell you what I do
And I love that moonshine whiskey
and I’ll tell you what I do
The reason is why I drink,
I’m just trying to get along with you
Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings – The Dreadful Wind and Rain
As often as not when I catch myself singing something rambling around the neighborhood, it’s this song. Something about it matches the timbre of my voice and my pace, becoming something of a mournful cadence.
It’s something special when two musicians best known for their instrumentation can deliver so perfectly harmonized a track, utterly devoid of instrumentation altogether.
There were two sisters of County Clare
Oh, the wind and rain.
One was dark and the other was fair
Oh, the dreadful wind and rain.And they both had a love of the miller’s son
Oh, the wind and rain.
But he was fond of the fairer one
Oh, the dreadful wind and rain.
Arlo Guthrie – Chilling of the Evening
A sweet, introspective tune from a singer best known for a raucous, goofy ode to a gal named Alice.
Though you know my love that I must go away
A-following the winds that blow inside me
I’ve nowhere left to run or hide
Except if you will come and run beside me
Punch Brothers – Rye Whiskey
Damn hot! Brooklyn’s Punch Brothers, y’all! That’s string genius Chris Thile on the mandolin.
Rye Whiskey makes the band sound better,
makes your baby cuter, makes itself taste sweeter. Oh, boy!Rye whiskey makes your heart beat louder,
makes your voice seem softer, makes the back room hotter, oh, butrye thoughts aren’t good thoughts, Boys,
have I ever told you about the time I…
Dougie MacLean – Mr. & Mrs. MacLean of Snaigow
A sweet, gentle instrumental from Dunblane, Scotland’s Dougie MacLean: perfect for this sunrise: