Levon, you will be missed.

• Simone Felice performs “Radio Song”
• Lisa Hannigan, “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”
• Drive-By Truckers with Megafaun, “The Weight”
• The Black Keys with John Fogerty, “The Weight”
• The Punch Brothers, Jesca Hoop, Aoife O’Donovan, “The Weight”
• Frank Turner, “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”
• Warren Haynes Band, “It Makes No Difference”/”The Weight”
• Bon Iver, “Ophelia”
• Megafaun, “I Shall Be Released”
• The Band of Heathens, “One More Song”
• Mavis Staples with Glen Hansard, “The Weight”
• Bruce Springsteen, “The Weight”

Although he was best known for the Monkee’s hit “Daydream Believer,” I’m partial to the Neil Diamond penned “Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow).”

The first, a duet with Patty Griffin on her moving — and fitting — song “Up On the Mountain.” The second, a surprise appearance by Burke to join the Rolling Stones on Burke’s classic “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love.”

The Call were one of those impressive bands that married intelligent and thought-provoking lyrics with fervent rock anthems. It was a potent combination, reflective of Been’s passion as the band’s singer and primary songwriter.

Although the Call hadn’t released an album since 2000′s live Live Under the Red Moon, Been remained close to the music. His son Robert is the lead singer of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and, at the time of his passing, Been was supporting the band as their touring sound engineer.

Audio Download: Jay Bennett, “The Engines Are Idle”

[Source: Rock Proper]

The recently released Keep Your Soul: A Tribute to Doug Sahm (Vanguard Records) pays tribute to San Antonio native Doug Sahm. Sahm established himself in 1965 as leader of the Sir Douglas Quintet, a band whose name was a play on the British invasion groups of the 1960’s. Sahm later formed the Grammy-winning Tex-Mex supergroup Texas Tornados with Augie Meyers, Freddy Fender and Flaco Jimenez. Sahm died of a heart attack in 1999.

There is so much to like on Keep Your Soul, from Dave Alvin’s rollicking “Dynamite Woman” to Terry Allen & Joe Ely’s Texas-style boogie on “I’m Not That Kat Anymore” to Ry Cooder’s steaming electric guitar driving “She’s About a Mover.” I’m particularly partial to the roadhouse stomp of Charlie Sexton’s take on “You’re Doin’ It Too Hard” and Greg Dulli’s swaggering “You Was for Real.” And if you had any questions about Alejandro Escovedo’s tremendous talent, he puts it all to rest with his passionate version of Sahm’s “Too Little Too Late.”

Audio Download: Shawn Sahm with Augie Meyers, “Mendocino”
[Source: Vanguard Records]

There are so many Steve Earle stories about Townes Van Zandt, the celebrated Fort Worth troubadour. My favorite revolves around how Van Zandt hid Earle’s truck keys and wouldn’t return them until Earle read “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee” and “War and Peace.” Earle finally figured out Van Zandt’s motive after he had completed both volumes. Van Zandt hadn’t read either book and wanted Earle to explain the stories to him.

Far from holding a grudge, Earle was so touched by his relationship with Van Zandt that he named his son after the late musician. Said son, Justin Townes Earle, joins his father on the forthcoming Townes, to be released May 12th on New West Records. The album also features Earle’s wife Allison Moorer and Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine/The Nightwatchman).

In celebration of these new releases, here are some videos of the masters in action. You’ll see both artists performing one of their classics as well as covers of their own (Van Zandt covering Springsteen’s “Racing in the Street” and Sahm covering the Kinks’ “Who’ll Be The Next In Line”).

We’ll never fully know what they would have accomplished had they lived. Yet there is little doubt of the impact that they’ve had on rock and roll. Artists ranging from Paul McCartney to Bruce Springsteen cite Holly as a key influence while Los Lobos credit Valens as an inspiration.

More telling is the breadth of their creative output during their shortened careers. Valens blend of rock and roll with the Latino musical heritage introduced a new musical language, while Holly’s distinctive singing style captivated audiences and his take on the Bo Diddley beat got them dancing.

One can’t listen to their music and not imagine the greatness that was yet to come.