Randy Newman’s 1977 song “Baltimore” conveyed a downbeat but realistic image of the city to me. The most famous cover is by Nina Simone.
Month: May 2021
Covers: Positively 4th Street
“Positively 4th Street” weas Bob Dylan’s 1965 follow up single to “Like a Rolling Stone”. It was never on one of his regular albums, only on compilations starting with Greatest Hits. It’s very similar to “Like a Rolling Stone” where Dylan continues to spew anger and criticism. The song doesn’t have a chorus or instrumental break but does have a fade out with an organ solo. It’s one of his greatest songs. It’s certainly in my top five best Dylan songs. None of the covers capture Dylan’s vitriol.
Covers: It Ain’t Me Babe
“It Ain’t Me Babe” is a Bob Dylan song from 1964 He is accompanied by his acoustic guitar. A rock version by the Turtles was a hit in 1965. Dylan has performed electric versions of it live, most notably on Before the Flood which documents his 1974 tour with the Band.
Covers: I Got You Babe
“I Got You Babe” was a hit for Sonny and Cher in 1965. A really weird cover was performed by David Bowie and Marianne Faithfull.
Republicans may not accept the 2024 election results
If the Democrats win the 2024 presidential election, I have serious doubts that Republicans will accept the results. They will never accept the results of the 2020 election. They are trying to pass laws to let legislatures bypass election results and pick electors. This has the potential to be a disaster.
Vaccine Polls 5/12/21
Ron Johnson keeps getting worse
More on the disgraceful Arizona audit
Revisions to the blog
I still need a new title for the blog. I replaced the subheading and the picture. The new photo is one I took in the 1970s of 10 Market Place in Baltimore. The building has been renovated and is now part of Rams Head Live.
See the About page to search old posts on the blog.
I listened to a lot of country music in the 1980s
Start with Rosanne Cash. “Seven Year Ache” was the title song of a great album and is my favorite country song from that era. A large part of what I liked was a return to more traditional country music with some rock elements thrown in.
The O’Kanes were Kieran Kane and Jamie O’Hara. They both made records after the O’Kanes split up following the release of three albums.
The Sweethearts of the Rodeo are sisters Janis Oliver and Kristine Arnold. Their first album was only about 24 minutes long and only had eight songs but it was excellent. “Since I Found You” was written by Radney Foster and Bill Lloyd.
Foster and Lloyd recorded three albums of their own. They each have had solo careers. Foster is more country and Lloyd is more power pop. You can hear both in their records they recorded together. They did a fourth album in 2011 and toured after that. It sounded like they picked up right where they left off. I saw them and they were excellent.
Dwight Yoakam is the most traditional of these artists and is heavily influenced by the Buck Owens style Bakersfield sound. I saw him a few years ago in a concert that also included Lucinda Williams and Steve Earle.
Steve Earle started out as a country singer but has branched out into rock, bluegrass and folk.
Lyle Lovett has acted in films in addition to writing and performing music. I saw him perform and he did a whole range of styles from country and bluegrass to jazz.
Compilations of primarily LA-based country music called A Town South of Bakersfield were released in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
I like “Hank Drank” by Bobby Lee Springfield which is clearly about Hank Williams.
Sad! 