HALTADANS: EP
HALTADANS EP Haltadans www.haltadans.com Discussions of Shetland Islands fiddling often begin with Aly Bain and proceed to Fiddlers’ Bid, the latter so famed that locals simply call it Da’ Bid. Both Bain and Da’ … Continue reading →
Interlude: The Murder Ballad (1938)
Today’s post is an “Interlude” post, because we take a break from our normal cycle of exploring individual songs or song themes, and take a look at related works of art in other performance media. Although today’s post involves a … Continue reading →
Guy Carawan Passes
Folksinger, civil rights activist, folklorist and organizer Guy Carawan passed away this past Saturday evening, May 2nd, at age 87. A dear, gentle and thoughtful man, Guy was a powerful and key figure in championing southern music and culture, and … Continue reading →
SORM Playlist #15-19: Tell Me A Story
(airing the week starting 5-06-15)
The Classics of literature have frequently been inspiration for songwriters. Sometimes they put a tune to established verse and sometimes the literary piece only serves as inspiration for a new piece of music. This week on the Sing Out! Radio … Continue reading →
CHARLIE PARR: Stumpjumper
CHARLIE PARR Stumpjumper Red House 283 www.redhouserecords.com Long a part of the spirited Duluth, Minnesota, music scene (Trampled By Turtles, Low), prolific folk blues singer, gripping songwriter and 12-string National resonator steel guitar, Dobro … Continue reading →
Where A White Man He Does Like He Pleases
The title for today’s post comes from a line in Eric Taylor’s “Deadwood,” the third song we’ll explore. New songs about old stories I have been helped before by poet Meena Alexander‘s notion that poetry reconciles us to the world. It does not make … Continue reading →
Steph Sweet’s “The Grail”
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/196345178″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” /] Englishwoman Steph Sweet would have fit right in on the recent Sing Out! podcast focusing on British psych-folk. Like the classic artists Tom featured, Steph walks the line between trad-influenced singer-songwriter material and … Continue reading →
Time Well Spent with Elaine Romanelli
Elaine Romanelli was a guest on my most recent radio show. Elaine visited the WFDU-FM studios to promote her new CD The Hour Before. It is a beautiful recording from a gifted voice that more people need to hear. Her … Continue reading →
SORM Playlist #15-18: Nashville Cats
(airing the week starting 4-29-15)
In 1966 Bob Dylan was struggling with the recording of his next album. He was having little success recording in New York City. His producer Bob Johnston suggested they move the sessions to the CBS studios in Nashville. Bob took … Continue reading →
ERYNN MARSHALL and CARL JONES: Sweet Memories … Never Leave
ERYNN MARSHALL and CARL JONES Sweet Memories … Never Leave Dittyville 006 www.dittyville.com Georgia-born singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Carl Jones has been a well-known figure in old time music circles for decades through his … Continue reading →