Up early this morning and I hear something wonderful on the Radio. After a bit of searching I find out it’s Dan Auerbach’s (Black Keys) new single. There’s some Black keys and also Jessica Lee Mayfield on Tuesday’s show. Jessica sings back up on last year’s (rightly popular) Black keys album and Dan has produced her new album as well as finding time to bring out his own. if you want something done, ask a busy man.
In truth I’m travelling as I write this and experiencing the wide extremes of world weather. Last week – for those of you not in the UK – we experienced the kind of winter we’d nearly forgotten about. the snow lay in our garden for a week and even my children began to weary of the white landscape. I have to say that I have not yet reached an age – I fear I may never – when I mutter oaths about snow. To my parents it was always a problem – roads closed, pipes frozen and driveways blocked. They even moved house at one point because their hilly approach road became a down hill slope in the winter. Maybe it’s because I’ve never had a proper job or I’ve never accepted citizenship of some traditional kind but I can’t help but love the winter weather. In Glasgow, where I’ve lived for the last 25 years or more snow is so much nicer than traditional winter fair – wind and rain.
Whatever is outside your window this Tuesday at 8 you can cheerfully ignore knowing that we’ll be taking you to some great musical places. Allow yourself to come with us to Virginia
never been there myself – and experience the diversity of music in that most established of US states. We have a career-changing Unsung album to play you and some new material that won’t be available in the shops (record shops??) for a few weeks yet. Chiefly and most excitingly for me is the new album by Buddy and Julie Miller. If you feel intimidated because you know very little about country or Americana music let me assure you of this: two years ago, when I first went to Nashville, I worked with Phil Madeira who told me he played with a guy called Buddy Miller. This meant nothing to me until I did some research and realised that Buddy was at the epicenter of everything. Writer, producer and guitarist to the stars (recent Plant/Krauss tour) Buddy is central to all things truly country. His new album `(with wife Julie) is going to be one of this year’s key releases and I predict a nomination in the Americana awards come late summer. Another Country will be around when the awards are given out this year so stay tuned. Catch you on Tuesday at 8.
Ricky – you should check out the Black Keys album Attack and Release – very unusual and not one that easily fits in to a category. I had heard it came about when DangerMouse asked Black Keys to demo songs for of all people Ike Turner!
Really looking forward to hearing the Buddy and Julie Miller material. If it is anything like Universal United House Of Prayer we are in for a real treat.
Ha! Raed properly Norrie – I see you have checked out that album! Oops.
I’m a recent convert to Andrew Bird, so thanks for playing something from “Noble Beast” in tonight’s show. His albums “Weather Systems” and “The Swimming Hour” are particularly good, and I too was put in mind of Rufus Wainwright when I first heard his voice. I hadn’t realised the new album was out just yet, so thanks for talking me into another CD purchase! (Not that I take much convincing.)
The snow seems a distant memory here in London already, but it’s good to hear that someone with a few years on me (only a few, mind you!) has also never quite outgrown that romantcised attitude towards wintry weather. I walk to and from work whenever I can with a head full of music and audo dramas, so perhaps it was less disruptive of me than others too, but I love to experience the seasons as distinct from one another, and autumn and winter most of all. It’s occurred to me more than once that perhaps I should consider moving a few hundred miles north or, especially after having listened to Another Country, a few thousand miles west…
Brilliant program!!!!!!!!!!! Sadly, so much of America has forgotten what “Americana” is and was.
Linda Ronstadt, for some reason never has received the acclaim due her talent and skills and versatility here in the USA. She has received accolades from the Latino community for her music. And she is fabulous.
Funny I did not hear the “Burns Supper” track that she recorded with Ann Savoy.
She can does the “big band” music from the 40’s with style, too. I would love to put her, Queen Latifah and Rod Stewart together to do those songs from the 50’s and 60’s. How cool that would be.
H*** of a good program. Well done.
Really sad to hear that Buddy Miller has had a heart attack and wish him a speedy recovery after his bypass surgery.
Nice to see Buddy and Julie get a mention. I have Julie’s first album on cassette somewhere and Buddy played on that. No long afterwards Buddy played guitar and engineered a great blues / gospel album by the 80+ year old Rev. Dan Smith called “Just Keep Goin’ On” which is still one of my favourite albums and also featured the late Mark Heard on backing vocals. Always liked Phil Madeira’s contributions on some of Rich Mullins’ albums and on some tracks by Dunbarton’s Sammy Horner.
Ricky,
Great to come across your blog. I’ve been a huge fan of your work since “So Long Ago” days. Seeing your mention of Buddy & Julie Miller prompted me to put in a plug for a guy who Buddy & Julie Miller have worked very closely with and are big fans of. You probably know of him: Bill Mallonee (Vigilantes of Love) from Athens, GA. In my opinion he’s the very best of Americana music – better than Dylan! Check out his albums Audible Sigh, Blister Soul, To The Roof of The Sky. And there’s much more. You should have him warm-up for future Deacon Blue gigs – would compliment you great! Peace, Tim.