During the last 30 days it looked like this..........sadly Argentina didn't make it. Must be busy doing other things down there? Attention Sweden and Brazil..........send pictures.
1. United States
2. Singapore
3. Canada
4. Netherlands
5. Germany
6. China, People's Republic of
7. Sweden
8. Poland
9. Japan
10. Brazil
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Top 20 Tracks From Last Week
And here they are (or were) from last week based on listener purchases, wishlists & track ratings.
1. Russell Featherstone - Take Me Home
2. Adam Hood - 22 Days Too Long - Different Groove
3. John Doe & The Sadies - John Doe & The Sadies / I Still Miss Someone - Country Club
4. The Del McCoury Band - / Blackjack County Chains - By Request
5. Flying Burrito Bros. - Wild Horses
6. Holly Williams - A Love I Think Will Last - Here With Me
7. ZZ Top - Heard It On The X - The Best Of ZZ Top
8. Old 97s - Bloomington - Drag It Up
9. Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - No Choice In The Matter - Self titled
10. The Gougers - Sleeping Pills - A Long Day For The Weathervane
11. The Byrds - Melodies From A Bird In Flyght (For Clarence) - Gene Parsons - Byrd Parts
12. The Allman Brothers Band - Don't Keep Me Wonderin' - Live At The Atlanta International Pop Festival 7.3.70
13. ZZ Top - Francine - The Best Of ZZ Top
14. ZZ Top - Backdoor Love Affair - The Best Of ZZ Top
15. Willie Nelson - Sunday Morning Coming Down - Naked Willie
16. Willie Nelson - Worry B Gone - Moment of Forever
17. Willie Nelson - Over You Again - Moment of Forever
18. Willie Nelson - Louisiana - Moment of Forever
19. Willie Nelson - Keep Me From Blowing Away - Moment of Forever
20. Willie Nelson - Gotta Serve Somebody - Moment of Forever
1. Russell Featherstone - Take Me Home
2. Adam Hood - 22 Days Too Long - Different Groove
3. John Doe & The Sadies - John Doe & The Sadies / I Still Miss Someone - Country Club
4. The Del McCoury Band - / Blackjack County Chains - By Request
5. Flying Burrito Bros. - Wild Horses
6. Holly Williams - A Love I Think Will Last - Here With Me
7. ZZ Top - Heard It On The X - The Best Of ZZ Top
8. Old 97s - Bloomington - Drag It Up
9. Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit - No Choice In The Matter - Self titled
10. The Gougers - Sleeping Pills - A Long Day For The Weathervane
11. The Byrds - Melodies From A Bird In Flyght (For Clarence) - Gene Parsons - Byrd Parts
12. The Allman Brothers Band - Don't Keep Me Wonderin' - Live At The Atlanta International Pop Festival 7.3.70
13. ZZ Top - Francine - The Best Of ZZ Top
14. ZZ Top - Backdoor Love Affair - The Best Of ZZ Top
15. Willie Nelson - Sunday Morning Coming Down - Naked Willie
16. Willie Nelson - Worry B Gone - Moment of Forever
17. Willie Nelson - Over You Again - Moment of Forever
18. Willie Nelson - Louisiana - Moment of Forever
19. Willie Nelson - Keep Me From Blowing Away - Moment of Forever
20. Willie Nelson - Gotta Serve Somebody - Moment of Forever
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Levon Helm - Electric Dirt Adds
I recently received a review copy of Levon's latest - Electric Dirt. It comes on the heels of Dirt Farmer which I loved as did Cosmic American Radio regular listeners. I added every track because I love some Levon and loved the record. I especially like the homage to Muddy's Electric Mud. About the record from Levon's site:
The 11 tracks feature the same core crew of Midnight Ramble regulars that played on Dirt Farmer and subsequently hit the road: Helm behind the drum kit, Ollabelle’s Byron Isaacs on bass, Brian Mitchell on keyboards, Campbell on various guitars, fiddle, mandolin, dulcimer and harmony vocals. Backing vocalists Amy Helm of Ollabelle, Levon’s daughter, and Teresa Williams, Campbell’s wife, deepen the album’s “next of kin” vibe.
The horn section of the Levon Helm Band appears on four tracks. Two of the tracks were arranged by the legendary Allen Toussaint with the LHB horns and the other two tracks by trumpet-playing band member Steven Bernstein. Best known for his work with Marianne Faithfull, Lou Reed and Rufus Wainwright, Bernstein is also leader of New York avant-jazz band Sex Mob. So this is a diverse group of skilled musicians united by their feel for and devotion to Helm’s singular vision.
Electric Dirt again finds Levon steeped in tradition in his connection to the land and those who live by it, but this record goes deeper and wider, incorporating gospel, blues and soul elements in a bracing collection of originals and carefully chosen outside songs. “We knew we couldn’t just remake Dirt Farmer; it had to be something different,” Campbell explains. “Because as great as that record was, as convincing as Levon was and as pure as his impulse was to make it, that’s just one aspect of what he’s about. I knew that we had to keep that vibe but build on it—get more expansive. We wanted to get closer to what we do in the live shows, but not depart too far from that organic thing.
Given all that, it was difficult coming up with an actual concept, but as the tunes were collected, it started to present itself. We wanted to get a few tracks with the horns on them, but we didn’t want to hit everybody over the head with that aspect, so it took a lot of thought to come up with tunes and arrangements that wouldn’t alienate the audience that embraced Dirt Farmer. Which meant keeping away from overproduced, slick sounds—not that Levon could ever get close to that—but the idea was to keep it honest.”
A pair of Muddy Waters tunes, “Stuff You Gotta Watch” and “You Can’t Lose What You Ain’t Never Had,” was actually cut during the Dirt Farmer sessions, although they perfectly fit the vibe of Electric Dirt. “Initially, there was some discussion about doing a straight-ahead blues record, but that ain’t right because that’s changing what the last record was, not expanding on it. There is a blues feel to some of the performances, and the blues is a part of what Levon is as well. But the objective was to just present more of his depth as an artist.” Electric Dirt’s numerous high points start right at the top, with a rousing rendition of the Grateful Dead’s “Tennessee Jed.” Campbell and Williams spent a good part of 2008 on the road with Dead bassist Phil Lesh, including some shows on which Helm and Lesh appeared together. “There was some real comradeship going on,” Campbell points out, “so we thought, wouldn’t it be great if we could find a Grateful Dead tune that Levon could do? ‘Tennessee Jed’ was always one of my favorite Dead songs, and I thought Levon could actually be Tennessee Jed. And it fit like a glove.”
Following a fervent take on the Staples Singers’ “Move Along Train,” which finds Levon breaking out his gospel roots, comes Helm and Campbell’s “Growing Trade,” which takes an empathetic look at the plight of a Southern small-farm owner. “My wife is from west Tennessee,” says Campbell, “and there are cotton farmers down there about to lose their places. Most of them are just church-going farmers with deep, moral convictions, but they’ve realized that the most important thing for them is to save the land which has been in their families for generations. And Levon has a deep understanding of what all that means, so he brought a wonderful perspective to the song and performance.” The ancient-sounding mountain ballad “Golden Bird,” on which Campbell’s mournful fiddling deepens the melancholy of Helm’s vocal, was actually written by seminal Woodstock folk artist Happy Traum. Along with Carter Stanley’s “White Dove,” the song forms a bridge between the rustic intimacy of Dirt Farmer and the amped-up urgency of Electric Dirt. “
Heaven’s Pearls,” penned by Byron Isaacs for Ollabelle, originally appeared on the group’s Campbell-produced 2006 album Riverside Battle Songs. “Amy had the idea that it would be a really good duet with Levon,” says Campbell. “So we started messin’ with that, and sure enough, it worked great.” “I Wish I Knew How It Feels to Be Free,” whom Helm had been itching to tackle since hearing Nina Simone’s 1967 version, is at once rousing and deeply poignant in his horn-fueled interpretation. It ends the album on a fittingly life-embracing note. Levon, says Campbell, “is in great spirits as he gets more and more comfortable with his resurgence. And the next one will be even bigger.” He’s laughing, but that doesn’t mean he or his legendary collaborator would settle for anything less. Campbell is speaking for himself and everyone involved when he adds, “This is very much a labor of love.”
The 11 tracks feature the same core crew of Midnight Ramble regulars that played on Dirt Farmer and subsequently hit the road: Helm behind the drum kit, Ollabelle’s Byron Isaacs on bass, Brian Mitchell on keyboards, Campbell on various guitars, fiddle, mandolin, dulcimer and harmony vocals. Backing vocalists Amy Helm of Ollabelle, Levon’s daughter, and Teresa Williams, Campbell’s wife, deepen the album’s “next of kin” vibe.
The horn section of the Levon Helm Band appears on four tracks. Two of the tracks were arranged by the legendary Allen Toussaint with the LHB horns and the other two tracks by trumpet-playing band member Steven Bernstein. Best known for his work with Marianne Faithfull, Lou Reed and Rufus Wainwright, Bernstein is also leader of New York avant-jazz band Sex Mob. So this is a diverse group of skilled musicians united by their feel for and devotion to Helm’s singular vision.
Electric Dirt again finds Levon steeped in tradition in his connection to the land and those who live by it, but this record goes deeper and wider, incorporating gospel, blues and soul elements in a bracing collection of originals and carefully chosen outside songs. “We knew we couldn’t just remake Dirt Farmer; it had to be something different,” Campbell explains. “Because as great as that record was, as convincing as Levon was and as pure as his impulse was to make it, that’s just one aspect of what he’s about. I knew that we had to keep that vibe but build on it—get more expansive. We wanted to get closer to what we do in the live shows, but not depart too far from that organic thing.
Given all that, it was difficult coming up with an actual concept, but as the tunes were collected, it started to present itself. We wanted to get a few tracks with the horns on them, but we didn’t want to hit everybody over the head with that aspect, so it took a lot of thought to come up with tunes and arrangements that wouldn’t alienate the audience that embraced Dirt Farmer. Which meant keeping away from overproduced, slick sounds—not that Levon could ever get close to that—but the idea was to keep it honest.”
A pair of Muddy Waters tunes, “Stuff You Gotta Watch” and “You Can’t Lose What You Ain’t Never Had,” was actually cut during the Dirt Farmer sessions, although they perfectly fit the vibe of Electric Dirt. “Initially, there was some discussion about doing a straight-ahead blues record, but that ain’t right because that’s changing what the last record was, not expanding on it. There is a blues feel to some of the performances, and the blues is a part of what Levon is as well. But the objective was to just present more of his depth as an artist.” Electric Dirt’s numerous high points start right at the top, with a rousing rendition of the Grateful Dead’s “Tennessee Jed.” Campbell and Williams spent a good part of 2008 on the road with Dead bassist Phil Lesh, including some shows on which Helm and Lesh appeared together. “There was some real comradeship going on,” Campbell points out, “so we thought, wouldn’t it be great if we could find a Grateful Dead tune that Levon could do? ‘Tennessee Jed’ was always one of my favorite Dead songs, and I thought Levon could actually be Tennessee Jed. And it fit like a glove.”
Following a fervent take on the Staples Singers’ “Move Along Train,” which finds Levon breaking out his gospel roots, comes Helm and Campbell’s “Growing Trade,” which takes an empathetic look at the plight of a Southern small-farm owner. “My wife is from west Tennessee,” says Campbell, “and there are cotton farmers down there about to lose their places. Most of them are just church-going farmers with deep, moral convictions, but they’ve realized that the most important thing for them is to save the land which has been in their families for generations. And Levon has a deep understanding of what all that means, so he brought a wonderful perspective to the song and performance.” The ancient-sounding mountain ballad “Golden Bird,” on which Campbell’s mournful fiddling deepens the melancholy of Helm’s vocal, was actually written by seminal Woodstock folk artist Happy Traum. Along with Carter Stanley’s “White Dove,” the song forms a bridge between the rustic intimacy of Dirt Farmer and the amped-up urgency of Electric Dirt. “
Heaven’s Pearls,” penned by Byron Isaacs for Ollabelle, originally appeared on the group’s Campbell-produced 2006 album Riverside Battle Songs. “Amy had the idea that it would be a really good duet with Levon,” says Campbell. “So we started messin’ with that, and sure enough, it worked great.” “I Wish I Knew How It Feels to Be Free,” whom Helm had been itching to tackle since hearing Nina Simone’s 1967 version, is at once rousing and deeply poignant in his horn-fueled interpretation. It ends the album on a fittingly life-embracing note. Levon, says Campbell, “is in great spirits as he gets more and more comfortable with his resurgence. And the next one will be even bigger.” He’s laughing, but that doesn’t mean he or his legendary collaborator would settle for anything less. Campbell is speaking for himself and everyone involved when he adds, “This is very much a labor of love.”
Monday, June 15, 2009
Top 20 Tracks From Last Week
Here they are based on listener purchases, wishlists & track ratings. Thanks for listening and for the feedback. An eclectic mix this past week!
1. Parsons, Gram; & The Fallen Angels - Love Hurts - Live 1973
2. New Riders of The Purple Sage - Portland Woman - New Riders Of The Purple Sage
3. Chris Stills - 100 Year Thing - 100 Year Thing
4. Adam Hood - 22 Days Too Long - Different Groove
5. The Smithereens - Shakin' All Over (B-side) - Rarities - Attack of the Smithereens
6. Old 97's - Doreen - Hitchhike to Rhome
7. Flying Burrito Bros. - Christine's Tune - Hot Burritos Anthology #1
8. Flying Burrito Bros. - Farther Along
9. Muddy Waters - Mannish Boy - Electric Mud
10. ZZ Top - Heard It On The X - The Best Of ZZ Top
11. ZZ Top - Francine - The Best Of ZZ Top
12. ZZ Top - Backdoor Love Affair - The Best Of ZZ Top
13. Willie Nelson - Worry B Gone - Moment of Forever
14. Willie Nelson - Keep Me From Blowing Away - Moment of Forever
15. Willie Nelson - Gotta Serve Somebody - Moment of Forever
16. Wilco - Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway(again) - Summerteeth
17. Wilco - ELT - Summerteeth
18. Wilco - Can't Stand It - Summerteeth
19. The Who - Pick Up The Peace - Endless Wire
20. Waylon Jennings - Luckenbach, Texas (Back To The Basics Of Love) - The Essential - Disc Two
1. Parsons, Gram; & The Fallen Angels - Love Hurts - Live 1973
2. New Riders of The Purple Sage - Portland Woman - New Riders Of The Purple Sage
3. Chris Stills - 100 Year Thing - 100 Year Thing
4. Adam Hood - 22 Days Too Long - Different Groove
5. The Smithereens - Shakin' All Over (B-side) - Rarities - Attack of the Smithereens
6. Old 97's - Doreen - Hitchhike to Rhome
7. Flying Burrito Bros. - Christine's Tune - Hot Burritos Anthology #1
8. Flying Burrito Bros. - Farther Along
9. Muddy Waters - Mannish Boy - Electric Mud
10. ZZ Top - Heard It On The X - The Best Of ZZ Top
11. ZZ Top - Francine - The Best Of ZZ Top
12. ZZ Top - Backdoor Love Affair - The Best Of ZZ Top
13. Willie Nelson - Worry B Gone - Moment of Forever
14. Willie Nelson - Keep Me From Blowing Away - Moment of Forever
15. Willie Nelson - Gotta Serve Somebody - Moment of Forever
16. Wilco - Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway(again) - Summerteeth
17. Wilco - ELT - Summerteeth
18. Wilco - Can't Stand It - Summerteeth
19. The Who - Pick Up The Peace - Endless Wire
20. Waylon Jennings - Luckenbach, Texas (Back To The Basics Of Love) - The Essential - Disc Two
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Holly Williams Adds
I have to confess that I was not familiar with Holly Williams prior to yesterday. I received a copy of her Here With Me record on Mercury and just like every other disc I receive I gave it a listen. Immediately I noticed a version of Neil Young's Birds as the last track so I started there.
Her version was great so I listened to the rest of it. I am adding 4 from the disc later today. Those tracks are Mama, Keep The Change, A Love That Will Last and the aforementioned version of Birds. The Ann Coulter-ish picture on the front and replicated on this post put me off a little bit because Coulter is a nut. Once I started reading up on Holly Williams I find out she is the offspring of Hank Jr. Obviously she takes after her mother - which is lucky for her. She is also a half-sister to Hank III who appears on Cosmic American Radio frequently.
Now it all makes sense that a Hank Williams offspring can play, write and record some great tracks. As an unexpected bonus she is very cute! If you enjoy the tracks go check out the links above.
Top 10 US Metro Areas Listening To Cosmic American Radio
1. Atlanta GA
2. Wichita - Hutchinson KS
3. Minneapolis - Saint Paul MN
4. Houston TX
5. Dallas - Fort Worth TX
6. Washington DC (Hagerstown) MD
7. Nashville TN
8. Los Angeles CA
9. San Francisco - Oakland - San Jose CA
10. Honolulu, HI
2. Wichita - Hutchinson KS
3. Minneapolis - Saint Paul MN
4. Houston TX
5. Dallas - Fort Worth TX
6. Washington DC (Hagerstown) MD
7. Nashville TN
8. Los Angeles CA
9. San Francisco - Oakland - San Jose CA
10. Honolulu, HI
Top 20 Tracks From Last Week
Here they are based on listener purchases, wishlists & track ratings.
1. Kasey Chambers / The Dead Ringer Band - Changed The Locks
2. Guy Clark - L.A. Freeway - Heartworn Highways
3. Parsons, Gram; & The Fallen Angels - We'll Sweep out the Ashes - Live 1973
4. John Doe & The Sadies - John Doe & The Sadies / Til I Get It Right - Country Club
5. The Flying Burrito Brothers - Close Up The Honky Tonks - Live At The Avalon Ballroom 1969
6. ZZ Top - Heard It On The X - The Best Of ZZ Top
7. ZZ Top - Francine - The Best Of ZZ Top
8. ZZ Top - Backdoor Love Affair - The Best Of ZZ Top
9. Wilco - Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway(again) - Summerteeth
10. Wilco - I'm Always in Love - Summerteeth
11. Wilco - Can't Stand It - Summerteeth
12. The Who - Pick Up The Peace - Endless Wire
13. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band With Kris Kristofferson / Gold Watch And Chain - The Unbroken Circle - The Musical Heritage Of The Carter Family
14. George Jones / Worried Man Blues - The Unbroken Circle - The Musical Heritage Of The Carter Family
15. Six Nights A Week - Peter Case - Man of Somebody's Dreams - A Tribute to Chris Gaffney
16. Quiet Desperation - John Doe - Man of Somebody's Dreams - A Tribute to Chris Gaffney
17. Midnight Dream - Boz Scaggs - Man of Somebody's Dreams - A Tribute to Chris Gaffney
18. Lift Your Leg - Joe Ely - Man of Somebody's Dreams - A Tribute to Chris Gaffney
19. Glass House - Jim Lauderdale & Ollabelle - Man of Somebody's Dreams - A Tribute to Chris Gaffney
20. Fight (Tonight's The Night) - James McMurtry - Man of Somebody's Dreams - A Tribute to Chris Gaffney
1. Kasey Chambers / The Dead Ringer Band - Changed The Locks
2. Guy Clark - L.A. Freeway - Heartworn Highways
3. Parsons, Gram; & The Fallen Angels - We'll Sweep out the Ashes - Live 1973
4. John Doe & The Sadies - John Doe & The Sadies / Til I Get It Right - Country Club
5. The Flying Burrito Brothers - Close Up The Honky Tonks - Live At The Avalon Ballroom 1969
6. ZZ Top - Heard It On The X - The Best Of ZZ Top
7. ZZ Top - Francine - The Best Of ZZ Top
8. ZZ Top - Backdoor Love Affair - The Best Of ZZ Top
9. Wilco - Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway(again) - Summerteeth
10. Wilco - I'm Always in Love - Summerteeth
11. Wilco - Can't Stand It - Summerteeth
12. The Who - Pick Up The Peace - Endless Wire
13. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band With Kris Kristofferson / Gold Watch And Chain - The Unbroken Circle - The Musical Heritage Of The Carter Family
14. George Jones / Worried Man Blues - The Unbroken Circle - The Musical Heritage Of The Carter Family
15. Six Nights A Week - Peter Case - Man of Somebody's Dreams - A Tribute to Chris Gaffney
16. Quiet Desperation - John Doe - Man of Somebody's Dreams - A Tribute to Chris Gaffney
17. Midnight Dream - Boz Scaggs - Man of Somebody's Dreams - A Tribute to Chris Gaffney
18. Lift Your Leg - Joe Ely - Man of Somebody's Dreams - A Tribute to Chris Gaffney
19. Glass House - Jim Lauderdale & Ollabelle - Man of Somebody's Dreams - A Tribute to Chris Gaffney
20. Fight (Tonight's The Night) - James McMurtry - Man of Somebody's Dreams - A Tribute to Chris Gaffney
Monday, June 01, 2009
AMA Top 20 This Week
Bold/Red Records Currently In the Cosmic American Radio Playlist
1. FLATLANDERS (551) Hills And Valleys New West
2. STEVE EARLE (565) Townes New West
3. SLAID CLEAVES (491) Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away Music Road
4. BOB DYLAN (401) Together Through Life Columbia
5. SCOTT MILLER AND THE COMMONWEALTH (420) For Crying Out Loud F.A.Y.
6. VARIOUS ARTISTS (440) Keep Your Soul: A Tribute To Doug Sahm Vanguard
7. EILEN JEWELL (450) Sea Of Tears Signature Sounds
8. SETH WALKER (360) Leap of Faith Hyena
9. BUDDY & JULIE MILLER (430) Written In Chalk New West
10. GREENCARDS (451) Fascination Sugar Hill
11. DAVE ALVIN AND THE GUILTY WOMEN (4012) Dave Alvin And The Guilty
12. JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE (430) Midnight At The Movies Bloodshot
13. SARA WATKINS (430) Sara Watkins Nonesuch
14. WAYNE HANCOCK (390) Viper Of Melody Bloodshot
15. J.J.CALE (320) Roll On Rounder
16. ELVIS COSTELLO (3213) Secret, Profane & Sugarcane Hear
17. RYAN BINGHAM (3012) Roadhouse Sun Lost Highway
18. JOHN DOE AND THE SADIES (381) Country Club Yep Roc
19. MYSTIX (272) Down To The Shore Mystix Eyes
20. DALLAS WAYNE (290) I'll Take The Fifth Smith
1. FLATLANDERS (551) Hills And Valleys New West
2. STEVE EARLE (565) Townes New West
3. SLAID CLEAVES (491) Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away Music Road
4. BOB DYLAN (401) Together Through Life Columbia
5. SCOTT MILLER AND THE COMMONWEALTH (420) For Crying Out Loud F.A.Y.
6. VARIOUS ARTISTS (440) Keep Your Soul: A Tribute To Doug Sahm Vanguard
7. EILEN JEWELL (450) Sea Of Tears Signature Sounds
8. SETH WALKER (360) Leap of Faith Hyena
9. BUDDY & JULIE MILLER (430) Written In Chalk New West
10. GREENCARDS (451) Fascination Sugar Hill
11. DAVE ALVIN AND THE GUILTY WOMEN (4012) Dave Alvin And The Guilty
12. JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE (430) Midnight At The Movies Bloodshot
13. SARA WATKINS (430) Sara Watkins Nonesuch
14. WAYNE HANCOCK (390) Viper Of Melody Bloodshot
15. J.J.CALE (320) Roll On Rounder
16. ELVIS COSTELLO (3213) Secret, Profane & Sugarcane Hear
17. RYAN BINGHAM (3012) Roadhouse Sun Lost Highway
18. JOHN DOE AND THE SADIES (381) Country Club Yep Roc
19. MYSTIX (272) Down To The Shore Mystix Eyes
20. DALLAS WAYNE (290) I'll Take The Fifth Smith
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