When I think back to the pivotal artists that cemented my lifelong love of music, Sam & Dave rank high on the list. I stumbled across the Atlantic Records R&B Anthology and was immediately drawn to Sam and Dave’s magic. The energy, the songs, the voices – they were all something special. Sam Moore passed […]
Monday Morning Video – Buddy Holly “Not Fade Away”
I fell down a Buddy Holly rabbit hole this weekend. It had been a while, but it was great to remind myself of how impressive a talent Holly was. And how inspirational. Below is a playlist that features a jaw-dropping collection of artists performing just a single song from the Holly catalog – “Not Fade […]
Monday Morning Video – Roy Orbison
Hat tip to NPR and their current fundraising drive for reminding me of Roy Orbison’s greatness. Just take a look at the artists who came together to honor Orbison back in 1988. The background vocalists included Bonnie Raitt, kd lang, and J.D. Souther. The band included Tom Waits, Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, and T Bone […]
“Brilliant Disguise” – a Premiere from Ward Hayden & the Outliers
Now this is a great way to start the year. Ward Hayden, a talented songwriter in his own right, is a true student of the craft. We’ve long known Hayden as a well-studied disciple of Hank Williams, but it turns out there is at least one other musical poet about whom he has a considered […]
Greg Hall’s Hungry Heart – A Twangville Premiere
The cover song is a musical tradition. And sure, it’s fun to hear one artist cover a favorite song from another artist. The challenge, however, is that they generally tend to mirror the original. It’s immensely more interesting when an artist reimagines a song. The results can be transformational, bringing new emotion and impact to […]
Monday Morning Video – Sam and Dave
I fell down the YouTube rabbit hole this weekend and stumbled across this gem. Does music get more electrifying than this? Me thinks not. As a bonus, here’s a rock legend paying honoring two godfathers of R&B, with a special guest in tow. And if you watched the end of the video above, you might […]
Monday Morning Video – Costello and Springsteen Take on Radio
This clip comes from the late, lamented show “Spectacle” that paired Elvis Costello with an impressive array of artists for conversation and song. Bruce Springsteen joined for an episode and the pair offered up this great mash-up of Springsteen’s “Radio Nowhere” and Costello’s “Radio Radio”.
Monday Morning Video – Dobie Gray’s “Drift Away”
I’ve been revisiting some soul classics of late. High on my list is favorites is Dobie Gray’s uplifting “Drift Away”. Here’s Gray performing the song back in the 1970’s and a bonus video of Bruce Springsteen dusting it off in 2013.
Monday Morning Video – Jimmy Cliff and Friends
How about we start off the week with a classic. Jimmy Cliff is a towering voice, both as a singer and a songwriter, and “Many Rivers to Cross” is among his finest creations. Don’t believe me? Look at this list of artists who have covered the song: Bruce Springsteen, Annie Lennox, Jimmy Barnes & Crowded […]
Monday Morning Video – A Lesson for the Week
This video, from a 2013 performance in Germany, is making the rounds again. For the young bands out there, this is how it’s done. For everyone else, ain’t this the joy of music? And a bit more from the Bruce Springsteen glory of rock and roll file. ’cause once you get started, it’s hard to […]