Episode 104 - A hint of hope in every cry of desperation

Some standards and popular tunes in this mix.  I got into blues music through Stevie Ray Vaughan first, as I am a guitarist and was trying to learn some of his songs.  Then through Led Zeppelin, when I found out many of their songs were covers or loose interpretations of classics.  I also recall reading an interview of David Tibet (Current 93) where he expressed appreciation of Blind Willie Johnson, Charlie Patton, and a focus on Delta Blues.  Can't fail to mention the PBS Ken Burns documentary on the Blues. The more I opened myself up to the blues, the more I enjoyed the classics.  I never really found enjoyment in the more modern styles that seemed to be appearing in bars and small concert halls I came across, but those did draw a good crowd.  As expected, these are very old recordings and the sound quality is rough in some places.  That is part of the charm for me.

00:00 Stevie Ray Vaughan - Empty Arms

03:24 Jimi Hendrix - Red House

07:04 Elmore James - The Sky is Crying

09:45 Muddy Waters - Baby, Please Don't Go

12:30 Howlin Wolf - Killing Floor

15:13 Ray Charles - I'm Wonderin and Wonderin

18:26 Muddy Waters - You Need Love

21:02 Woody Guthrie - House of the Rising Sun

23:57 Sleepy John Estes - Drop Down Mama

27:04 Bukka White - Fixin to Die Blues

29:50 Mississippi John Hurt - Stack O'Lee Blues

32:44 Blind Willie Johnson - It's Nobody's Fault But Mine

35:51 Robert Johnson - Travelling Riverside Blues

38:27 Willie Brown - Future Blues

41:20 Josh White - Jesus Gonna Make Up My Dying Bed

44:18 Charlie Patton - Prayer of Death: Part 1

47:18 Kansas Joe McCoy & Memphis Minnie - When The Levee Breaks

50:26 Blind Boy Fuller - Corrine What Makes You Treat Me So

53:21 Snooky Pryor - Someone To Love Me (Lost Woman)

55:48 Willie Dixon - I Can't Quit You Baby

photo credit: Charlie Patton photo (wikipedia)

Episode 35 - Sequela of my Youth

A selection of very personal songs that had significant impact on my life.  The Spiritualized cover is pretty spot on for my college years.  The Vic Chesnutt cover hit home during the months leading up to my mother's death.  The early years of My Morning Jacket resonated with me and I was fortunate enough to see them live on the Tennessee Fire tour.  I adore this Elizabeth Cotten track, which I came across via His Name Is Alive.  

00:00  Rosalie Sorrels – I’ll give you my story

01:03  Iron & Wine and Ben Bridwell – The Straight and Narrow (Spiritualized)

06:13  Emma Ruth Rundle – Run Forever

09:57  Low – Sunflower

14:21  Tara Jane O’Neil – Don’t Slip

17:51  Lotte Kestner – Flirted With You All My Life (Vic Chesnutt)

21:58  Antony & The Johnsons – I was young when I left home (Dylan)

27:27  Jessica Pratt – Night Faces

31:30  Broadcast – Tears in the typing pool

33:37  Eels – The look you give that guy

37:41  My Morning Jacket – By my car

41:39  Chelsea Wolfe – Crazy love

45:05  Angel Olsen – Enemy

50:38  Grouper – Living Room

52:57  Elizabeth Cotten – Oh babe it ain’t no lie

57:35  Hank Williams – Lost highway

60:33  Blind Willie Johnson – Dark was the night, cold was the ground

63:52  Odetta – Pretty horses

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Photo credit: Hiking the Lost Creek Wilderness