Monday 27 February 2012

David Allan Coe - Willie, Waylon and Me




This is David Allan Coe's 1976 song Willie, Waylon and Me. The song tells part of the story of the rise of "Outlaw" country music in the mid 1970's. Coe makes numerous references in the song to country rock, rock and folk singers and bands in the 60's and 70's.
Willie Waylon and Me was from the 1976 album “Rides Again”, which reached No 26 in the US Country Chart, while the single also charted in the US country chart reaching No 25 and the No  33 in the Canadian Country charts.
A couple of years ago when I rediscovered DAC, I found that all my Dad’s brainwashing from back in the 70’s had really worked, I still knew all the words to the song and I hadn’t heard it for nearly 30 years!!! Cheers Dad!

Sunday 19 February 2012

The Doves - Black and White Town





I did try and upload in the official video but for some reason Blogger wouldn't let me!!! So this will have to do! I just love the drums on this track!!


Black and White Town was the lead single on Doves' third album, Some Cities. The single was released as a promo CD on December 13, 2004, and as a full single on February 7, 2005. The song scored the band their second Top 10 hit, charting at #6 on the UK Singles Chart. The atmospheric single is noted for its heavy piano and guitars played in unison, with Andy Williams' percussion maintaining a driving beat.

The song was used prominently by the BBC during their coverage of the 2005 Six Nations rugby tournament. Not only was it used in the 2005 Six Nations championships, but it is still used in the BBC's coverage of all international rugby. It is also used for Sky's coverage of the UEFA Champions League, as well as being used in the video game FIFA 06, where it was mis-credited as Stars of CCTV by Hard-Fi, however this is not true on the psp version of the game. It was also used in some trailers for the BBC sitcom Gavin and Stacey.





Monday 13 February 2012

Tennessee Ernie Ford - Shotgun Boogie



On this day 13th February in 1919 Ernest Jennings Ford, better known as Tennessee Ernie Ford was born. Shotgun Boogie reached US Country No 1 and US Chart No 14 in early 1951. Its a great piece of Western Bop.
From Wikipedia
"He released almost 50 country singles through the early 1950s, several of which made the charts. Many of his early records, including "The Shotgun Boogie", "Blackberry Boogie," and so on were exciting, driving boogie-woogie records featuring accompaniment by the Hometown Jamboree band which included Jimmy Bryant on lead guitar and pioneer pedal steel guitarist Speedy West"

Sunday 12 February 2012

Del Shannon - Mary Jane



A sad anniversary passed recently, 22 years ago on the 8th February 1990, Del Shannon, sadly took his own life. This is one of my favourite Shannon tracks, from 1964. Mary Jane failed to chart in his native US and  just scrapped into the UK chart at No 35.

Wednesday 8 February 2012

Johnny Cash - Hurt





Johnny Cash's cover of Nine Inch Nails, 'Hurt' was released on his 2002 album, American IV: The Man Comes Around. The cover was released on a single with the B-side 'Personal Jesus', a cover of the Depeche Mode single.
The music video was directed by former NIN-collaborator Mark Romanek who sought to capture the essence of Cash, both in his youth and in his older years. In a montage of shots of Cash's early years, twisted imagery of fruit and flowers in various states of decay, seem to capture both his past and the stark reality of the present.
71 years of age at the time of filming (in February 2003), Cash had serious health problems and his frailty is starkly evident in the video. He died seven months later (September 12); his wife, June Carter Cash, who participated in the video, died three months after filming (May 15), closely preceding him in death. 'Hurt' is considered by many to be Cash's epitaph.

Hurt made it into the UK top 40, reaching No 39, in the US it reached No 33 in the Alternative chart and No 56 in the Country Chart.

Monday 6 February 2012

The Black Keys - Lonley Boy




Another track from the excellent Black Keys, this one's from their latest album El Camino. Lonely boy had a little more chart interest than "Howlin' for you", reaching No 80 in the UK chart, No 64 in the US chart, but topped the Rock and Alternative charts in both the US and Canada.

Saturday 4 February 2012

The Black Keys - Howlin' for you


Howlin’ for You is from The Black Keys, 8th album Brothers which was released on 2010. Although Howlin’ for You was released as a single in 2011. It reached No 116?? in the US chart, but made it to No3 and 5 on the Alternative and Rock charts.
Once again thanks to XFM for pointing me in the direction of another excellent band.

The Black Keys are an American rock band formed in Akron, Ohio in 2001. The group consists of Dan Auerbach (guitar, vocals) and Patrick Carney (drums). The group began as an independent act founded after the duo dropped out of college, and they eventually emerged among a second wave of popular garage rock revival artists from the 2000s. Through October 2011, The Black Keys had sold over 2 million albums in the United States.
Their debut album, The Big Come Up (2002), was recorded in Carney's basement and forged their raw blues rock sound. Over the next decade, The Black Keys built an underground fanbase through near-constant touring of small venues, frequent album releases, and extensive licensing of their songs. In 2006, the band signed with Nonesuch Records and began to receive bookings for large music festivals. The duo released Attack & Release in 2008, their first album produced by Danger Mouse, a frequent collaborator of the band. Their commercial breakthrough came in 2010 with Brothers, which along with its popular single "Tighten Up", won three Grammy Awards. Their 2011 follow-up El Camino has received the strongest reviews of the band's career and peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 chart.



This is the official video for the song. Its a great video, but there's too much talking over the song, but I thought I'd include it, just because the Battlestar Galactica babe's in it!!

Friday 3 February 2012

Buddy Holly - Rock Around with Ollie Vee


Today 53 years ago, Buddy Holly was killed in a plane crash along with Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper and pilot Roger Peterson.
So as a tribute to one of my favourites here's his 1959 UK No 26 hit, Rock Around with Ollie Vee, originally recorded in 1956 and written by Cricket Sonny Curtis.