I had the opportunity to interview Jim Lauderdale about some records that keep him going. I covered a song from his last record, Patchwork River here. Five Records is an occasional feature of artists talking about the music that inspires them. Read more of these posts here.
“I saw The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show and I knew that music was what I wanted to do. My mom was a choir director, and my dad had a really good voice, so I grew up in a musical home. It was such an interesting time in radio. You heard great stuff like this record, as well as the other British Invasion stuff, country music, soul music, all together.”
“When I was 14, I got into bluegrass, and I wanted to be a banjo player. I heard “Rank Stranger” by Ralph Monroe, on a collection of Bill Monroe songs, and I would sing along, trying to tackle Ralph’s tenor parts. Such great music from a man whose career I respect.”
“I can’t really listen to music while I am writing — I get distracted, or worry that I am going to steal something subconsciously. Lately, I have been listening to this record a whole lot. Buddy and Julie have such a distinct sound, and such distinct voices, but they blend so well that it has that magic quality. I got to sing with them on a couple of tracks on Robert Plant’s new Band of Joy record, and it was great to be a part of that.”
“I hear songs all the time that I wish were mine, but one that stands out is Otis Redding’s “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long”. Its a simple, well written song, with great production that centers around his voice. Songs like these give me something to aspire to with my own music.”
“These guys are from Knoxville, Tennessee, and are doing the right things — writing good music and working hard. Cruz Contreras has a great voice, and I think they have a chance to see some real success if they keep this up.”
Jim Lauderdale – “Jawbone”
Posted: August 20th, 2010 | 2 Comments »
1. Elizabeth Cook reaches deep down into her roots in Wildwood, Florida to produce “El Camino”, from her latest Don Was-produced gem Welder. Have you ever been to Wildwood, Florida? Just south of Ocala, the small town might be the plastic lawn chair capital of the world. Cook embraces that, describing a man who might well be the hero of this small town, and her unashamed love for him.
2. The man that picks her up “everyday at the curb/ In his 1972 refurb” lives in a country that you don’t hear about on the radio. Cook’s country isn’t full of chest beating ex-military family farms, but rather folks who go parking after the “Saturday matinee roller derby”, after the dude “slipped a quaalude in my beer”. Confident enough to say that he is “creepy in a perv kinda way” and “right now my hands are in his mullet”, Cook’s character shows the two sides of the Southern woman: one who calls it like she sees it, and can’t help but like what she sees.
3. The same attitude gave her critical acclaim on the title track from 2007’s Balls, which was produced by Rodney Crowell. Buddy Miller and Dwight Yoakam also make appearances on this record, furthering the testament to Cook’s music. She stated in interviews that Don Was discovered her through her friendship with Todd Snider, and that might be an apt comparison: honest, smart, and completely irreverent. The combination of those traits is exactly what makes this song work.
Elizabeth Cook – “El Camino”
Posted: July 23rd, 2010 | 2 Comments »
Here is some of the music that struck me in 2009. In case you missed it, read the manifesto for this site. It might help you understand where I am coming from. If you didn’t see the Bird List, now might be a good time to check it out.
#20: Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women
S/T
Dave continues a great late-career run. Come to think of it, his “run” has never stopped, or really even slowed. Read a single review.
#19: Steve Earle
Townes
Reverent enough to know when to leave the song alone, but restless enough to know when to shake things up.
#18: Gary Floater
A Hero Never Learns
There is country music that is funny outside of “She Left Me For Jesus”. Most of it is here.
#17: Band of Heathens
One Foot In The Ether
Mining that Canadiana sound, BoH comes up with something fresh. Good songs and great voices. Read a single review.
#16: Guy Clark
Somedays the Song Writes You
This should probably be filed under “educational” rather than “country”. Read a single review.
#15: Corb Lund
Losin’ Lately Gambler
Wry humor and stripped down execution from the Great White North. Read a single review.
#14: Charlie Robison
Beautiful Day
A beautiful sounding record, with great songs to back it up. Possibly his most consistent. Read the original review.
#13: Buddy and Julie Miller
Written In Chalk
This sounds old, worn in, and gorgeous. I don’t think people are used to quality of this level anymore.
#12: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
S/T
His departure didn’t kill the Drive-By Truckers, but gave us double the output. DBT also put out a rarities record, and Isbell had the best song (“TVA”) on it. Read the original review.
#11: Robert Earl Keen
The Rose Hotel
One thing you can say about Robert Keen is that he always sounds like he is having fun. Read the original review.
Posted: December 30th, 2009 | 2 Comments »
