Album cover for Red Headed StrangerĀ (1975) Introduction Taking up Willie Nelsonās iconic 1975 album Red Headed StrangerĀ is a prospect both daunting and straightforward. It is the landmark murder ballad concept album, and launched Nelson into superstardom. Despite thematic and stylistic … Continue reading →
WFDU-FMās TRADITIONS Playlist for October 20, 2013 HOST: Ron Olesko New and Noteworthy ā various artists āLive at Caffe Lenaā (Tompkins Square), Ruth Moody āThese Wilder Things (Red House), Guy Davis āJubba Danceā (self) , Daniel Boling āSleeing Dogsā (Berkalin … Continue reading →
A documentary about Tom Rush, the influential folk legend who helped propel Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, and Jackson Browne into the spotlight will premiere at the New Hampshire Film Festival in the town where he was born, Portsmouth, N.H., on … Continue reading →
Old West saloon Iām halfway tempted to try a few stiff shots of tequila before writing this post. OK, perhaps more than halfway tempted. I havenāt yet gotten to the point of the having the first, but perhaps youāll be … Continue reading →
Introduction We here at Murder Ballad Monday are soon fixing to close our second year of writing about our topic of choice! Ā Donāt worry; we have a few more weeks to go before we get to our holiday hiatus, and … Continue reading →
The 24th annual World of Bluegrass Week, this year in Raleigh, started on Tuesday, Sept. 24 through Saturday, Sept. 28. Over 16,000 bluegrass fans and musicians from across the country poured into Raleigh, North Carolina, where the IBMA Business Conference … Continue reading →
Bruce Springsteen performed a tribute to the late singer-songwriter Victor Jara on September 12 in Chile. The performance was part of the Wrecking Ball tour, and fell coincidentally on the 40th anniversary of the Chilean military coup which led to … Continue reading →
Donibristle House site of Donibristle Castle There is very little left of the original Donibristle Castle, the site of the brutal murder of James Stewart, the 2nd Earl of Moray. There was a major program of rebuilding, and Donibristle House … Continue reading →
Sing Out! Radio Magazine Hosted by Tom Druckenmiller SORM #13-40 ā Folk Fusion, Pt. 3 Artist / āTitleā / CD / Label Pete Seeger / āIf I Had A Hammerā / Songs Of Hope And Struggle / Smithsonian-Folkways Tony Ellis … Continue reading →
James Stewart, 2nd Earl of Moray Ā This week in Murder Ballad Monday we return to the murky, murderous past of Scotland, as we explore another one of Francis James Childās collected ballads from Scotland and England. The plot reads … Continue reading →
