Johnny Cash - Big River | O My Soul

 If you ever wonder about the writing of country music check this . . a perennial favourite always wort checking out what Kris Kristofferson thought about it! Pure poetry essentially

O My Soul

Johnny Cash: Big River

I think I first heard this on the Letterman show by Kris, and Lyle Lovett amongst others and have adored it as a story telling masterpiece of western music without equal!

Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry,

And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky.

And the tears that I cried for that woman are gonna flood you Big River.

Then I’m gonna sit right here until I die.

I met her accidentally in St. Paul (Minnesota).

And it tore me up every time I heard her drawl, Southern drawl.

Then I heard my dream was back Downstream cavortin’ in Davenport,

And I followed you, Big River, when you called.

Then you took me to St. Louis later on (down the river).

A freighter said she’s been here but she’s gone, boy, she’s gone.

I found her trail in Memphis, but she just walked up the block.

She raised a few eyebrows and then she went on down alone.

Now, won’t you batter down by Baton Rouge, River Queen, roll it on.

Take that woman on down to New Orleans, New Orleans.

Go on, I’ve had enough, dump my blues down in the gulf.

She loves you, Big River, more than me.

Now I taught the weeping willow how to cry, cry, cry

And I showed the clouds how to cover up a clear blue sky.

And the tears that I cried for that woman are gonna flood you Big River.

Then I’m gonna sit right here until I die.

As Sealyman dropped by to comment upon the lyrics and appreciating this masterpiece I also found this”

When Johnny Cash performed the song in 1985 with The Highwaymen (Cash, Kris Krisofferson, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson) a new verse was addded - not on the original Cash recording nor in Bob Weir's versions (thanks to Jon Krulish for pointing this out):

Well, I pulled into Natchez next day down river

But there wasn't much there to make the rounders stay very long

When I left it was raining so nobody saw me cry

Big river, why she doing me this way

The legendary and quite unique guitarist musician Leo Kottke - Live Houston 1979 FM Broadcast | FLOPPY BOOT STOMP + with Lyle Lovett ‘You Can’t Resist it!

Leo Kottke - Live Houston 1979

Leo Kottke - at Rockefeller's
Houston, TX.
November 8, 1979
FM Source @128

Its a Silent Way Special

Leo's interview at Guitar Player

plus the whole thing on YouTube too

You Can't Resist It  Leo Kottke w/ Lyle Lovett

John Prine - Live at the Point Depot 1989 - Full Concert (audio only) and no guest spot! but . . . . . .

 From the Lyle Lovett posting yesterday I tried to find the complete set of John Prine’s gig in Ireland back in 1989 but couldn't find the video but there is THIS!

AND!

Introducing Lyle Lovett 

ALBUMS THAT SHOULD EXIST :: LYLE LOVETT Canada 1997

Lyle Lovett - West End Cultural Center, Winnipeg, Canada, 10-23-1997

Oh, my! As Paul says it IS about time and I haven’t posted any new Lyle for a dog’s age!

 I love this man and bought his first album when it came out (who else can make you sit up and take note singing a song about riding your pony on your boat as you sail out to sea?!) and I have followed him ever since, discovering him via a guest spot on a John Prine gig televised and broadcast from the Point in Dublin, Ireland back in 1989 I think on the most extraordinary set where John let Lyle and cellist, John Hagen, play 4 songs I think in a mid-set spot of his own concert! If you can still find it, get it, download it and just enjoy both artists at their peak and Lyle at his outset! It still contains the best live version of Saddles in The Rain IMHO but they are both on FIRE!

Paul says 'It's high time I finally post some music by Lyle Lovett. I'm not a big of most typical country music, but Lovett's music is different. He mixes country, jazz, folk, gospel, blues, and more, and adds in a quirky sense of humor. So you might like his stuff even if you don't typically listen to country.

The sound quality of this concert is freaking amazing. Yes, it's a bootleg (and a soundboard), but it's hard to imagine a concert being recorded any better. During the quiet parts between songs, you could have heard a pin drop. The performance is excellent too, and the set list is strong. If you were to listen to just one live recording from him, I would suggest this one, even over his one official live album, "Live in Texas." That one came out in 1999, so not too distant in time from this one, but many of the songs performed are different anyway. Besides, this one is nearly twice as long!

Lovett has typically performed his concerts with three backing bands: his Large Band, his Small Band, and in an even smaller acoustic format. This concert was performed with his Large Band. 

I wish all bootlegs were this easy to deal with. Not only is the sound quality fantastic, there were no problems to fix. The only change I made was that I cut out some dead air between songs, mostly guitar tuning.'

This concert is an hour and 55 minutes long. 

01 Which Way Does That Old Pony Run 
02 talk
03 Good Intentions
04 talk 
05 God Will 
06 Give Back My Heart
07 talk
08 Sleepwalking
09 talk 
10 Fiona
11 talk
12 Fat Babies
13 talk
14 Fat Babies [Reprise
15 If I Were the Man You Wanted
16 talk 
17 Her First Mistake
18 talk
19 This Old Porch
20 talk 
21 Nobody Knows Me
22 L.A. County
23 If I Had a Boat 
24 talk 
25 Walk through the Bottomland 
26 She's No Lady
27 talk 
28 Family Reserve
29 Church
30 talk
31 Closing Time 
32 talk
33 You Can't Resist It
34 Road to Ensenada

35 Simple Song

ROGER MILLER REMEMBERED:: Grand Ole Opry Nashville TN1997 - Big O

 

I loved Roger Miller and before I realised he was a country singer and writer we had loved King of The Road and Oodalally from the Robin Hood Cartoon but look at this tribute at the Grand Ole Opry with the glitterati of country (many favourites here!) from Lyle Lovett to Willie Nelson, The Mavericks to Clint Black, Dwight Yoakam to Reba MacEntire 

+ + + + +

This is a tribute show to Roger Miller and his music. Roger Dean Miller Sr (January 2, 1936 - October 25, 1992) was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and actor, widely known for his honky-tonk-influenced novelty songs and his chart-topping country and pop hits “King of the Road”, “Dang Me”, and “England Swings”, all from the mid-1960s Nashville sound era.

+ + + + +

here

Disc 1

Track 101. Intro/Roger Miller & The Cast - King Of The Road 5:29

Track 102. Intro 0:52

Track 103. The Mavericks - Invitation To The Blues/Ray Price - Invitation To The Blues 4:55

Track 104. Reba McEntire - Husbands and Wives 4:06

Track 105. Intro 1:41

Track 106. Lyle Lovett - My Uncle Used To Love Me, But She Died 1:02

Track 107. Lyle Lovett - England Swings 1:58

Track 108. Intro 1:34

Track 109. Dwight Yoakam with Dean Miller - It Only Hurts Me When I Cry 2:25

Track 110. Intro 0:58

Track 111. Willie Nelson - When Two Worlds Collide 3;21

Track 112. The Mavericks, Cast and Family - Muddy Water 3:45

Track 113. KT Oslin - River In The Rain 3:21

Track 114. Intro 2:07

Track 115. John Goodman - Guv’ment/John Goodman & Cast - Muddy Water reprise 6:16

Track 116. Clint Black and Roger Miller - Dang Me 1:45

46 mins

Disc 2

Track 201. Roger Miller - Oo-De-Lally 2:31

Track 202. Kathy Mattea - Worlds Apart 2:25

Track 203. Intro 2:09

Track 204. Kenny Rogers - Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town 0:53

Track 205. Kenny Rogers - Don’t We All Have The Right 1:54

Track 206. Intro 1:13

Track 207. Kenny Rogers, Kris Kristofferson & Roger Miller- Me & Bobby McGee 2:08

Track 208. Intro 2:46

Track 209. Dean Miller - Old Toy Trains 2:32

Track 210. Intro 1:56

Track 211. KT Oslin - I’ll Pick Up My Heart & Go Home 1:48

Track 212. Intro 1:52

Track 213. Jessi Colter - Walkin’ In The Sunshine 1:21

Track 214. Intro 2:53

Track 215. Willie Nelson - Sorry, Willie 1:37

Track 216. Intro 1:23

Track 217. Marty Stuart, Mary & Dean Miller - Don’t Tear The Honky Tonk Down 1:00

Track 218. Intro 1:06

Track 219. Willie Nelson, Ray Price, Waylon Jennings & Roger Miller - Old Friends 2:21

Track 220. Intro 2:53

Track 221. Trisha Yearwood & The Fisk Jubilee Singers - The Crossing 4:27

From a TV broadcast rip

Great fun!

LYLE LOVETT - NEW ALBUM :: '12th June'

Lyle Lovett :: The Aquarium Drunkard Interview

Posted on May 10, 2022

It’s been a decade since the last time Lyle Lovett released a new album, and 12th of June works as both an introduction as much as it does to catch up on the ten years passed. “I wanted this to be a proper introduction to me and the Large Band if people haven’t heard us, or just something that feels familiar to people that do,”

To the past and to the future, all gathered around, 12th of Junepulls up a chair for you to join in the laughter, the love, and the celebration. 

Check it out by the excellent j neas

MUSIC NEWS - Emily Barker, Lyle Lovett, Kate Rusby, Richard Thompson, Kathryn Williams NEW ALBUMS and LIVE performances

 FORTHCOMING RELEASES

“Music From Grizzly Man,” coming May 6! RT will be reissuing his soundtrack from the Werner Herzog film “Grizzly Man,” which contains all of the out of print material he recorded for the acclaimed documentary about life and death in the Alaskan wilderness. From intimate solo recordings, to tender detailed melodies and quietly visceral improvisations, “Music From Grizzly Man” is one of RT’s best kept secrets in his catalog.

Listen to “Streamwalk” and “Treadwell No More” today: smarturl.it/GrizzlyMansingles

Pre-save or pre-order the album: smarturl.it/c1sjld

KATE RUSBY - 30 

https://purerecords.net/collections/kate-rusby-cds

The albums out . . . .well Kate has hers!

KATHRYN WILLIAMS

Coming April 23rd 'Introduction' the

Best Of by Kathryn Williams featuring twelve tracks, a track chosen from each of his albums

covering 23 years of career

One Little Independent Records

LYLE LOVETT

Verve Records announced yesterday Lyle's new album, 12th of June, will be released May 13. The title song is available now. To hear it, see a video clip, and preorder the album, click https://lylelovett.lnk.to/12thOfJune or go to LyleLovett.com. 

"Thanks to everyone at Verve for having me on the label."

 

Michael Wilson took the cover photo; Tim Stedman designed the LP and CD packages.

ADVERT

Emily and her partner in crime Lukas Drinwater, are back home and they are playing the phenomenal Union Chapel in London 8th April 2022

Whilst they is no new album her visit to her homeland of Australia and her enforced quarantine meant the produced and recorded a covers album '822' in their hotel room [hence the room number] during the 2 week lockdown!

It is breathtaking!

Buy it here . . . . . Emily and Lukas Room 822 - Bandcamp

Her own latest solo album shows and new more mature songwriting for me and it is a crowning piece of work

Emily Barker - A Dark Murmuration of Words - Bandcamp

Enjoy!

Let's start the week with some Lyle . . . . . . . . 
always a favourite and a favourite song . . . . . . . . . here  . . . . .  Hey!

LYLE LOVETT

To make my weekend the wondrous Midnight Cafe has posted an early Lyle Lovett set from the intimate setting of Anderson Fair out in Houston Texas back in 1986. Now I LOVE Lyle Lovett and think his extraordinary story telling has a kind of magic realism that you don't expect from Country music. Who else could write a song about riding a pony on a yacht? Wearing a Cowboy hat so big a couple might dance around the brim and fall in!? No, me neither . . . . . . I bought his debut album when it came out in 1986 and he has been a joy to follow ever since. I first came across him on a recording (VHS - ask your grandparents) of a concert set of the equally wonderful John Prine and his electric full band who took a break to introduce a 'new singer' songwriter and let him have some nine songs mid set. Who does THAT? It was Lyle and his cellist who he has used, or collaborated with rather, for years, John Hagen, the both of whom took my breath away!  This is some months after his first album release 

There is some dispute over song titles and I have done my best to correct the queries thought to be honest they are p[retty clear by now (maybe they weren't so much at the time?)

Re-post Lyle Lovett - Houston Texas 1986 (Midnight Cafe)

If I Had a Boat

Cowboy Man

If I Were the Man You Wanted

She's No Lady

God Will

This Old Porch

Why I Don't Know

Farther Down the Line

What Do You Do / The Glory of Love

An Acceptable Level of Ecstasy (The Wedding Song)

Once Is Enough

Give Back My Heart

Black and Blue

White Boy Lost in the Blues

I've Been to Memphis

Memphis Midnight/Memphis Morning

Brown Eyed Handsome Man (Chuck Berry cover)

Cryin' Shame

Dress of Laces

Walk Through the Bottomland

Isn't That So (Jesse Winchester cover)

Encore:

Closing Time

Fantastic set from Lyle Lovett and ROIO posted by the wonderful Midnight Cafe

Lyle Lovett - Saratoga CA 2000

[hideous cover mind!]

30 tracks of audience recording from the sound of it and it is a prove period containing some of my favourite Lovett songs ('Private Conversation', 'Give Me Back My Heart*', 'Closing Time')

That's right I'm not from Texas but Texas wants me anyway!

* not "hat" as listed here but hey, give him back his 'hat' as well!

A couple of beauties today from The Midnight Cafe from one of my favourites, Lyle Lovett from 2011 and 2009  . . . . . . 

Lyle Lovett - Canadaigua, NY 2011

Good to not bad audience recording mic on a stand in central position seventh row back but by choice I would take the earlier recording which sounds like a matrix or soundboard to me but was broadcast on BBC Radio so is a FM recording and is uniformly excellent and includes a couple of live tracks from a set in Woburn Abbey, England June 20th 1992

Lyle Lovett - Hammersmith Odeon 1992

More LYLE

we always love some Lyle Lovett boots and this is no exception from Big O again this morning

Lyle Lovett - Des Moines 1999

Now I LIKE the Big Band stuff he does and I like the Small Band stuff he does but here with the wondrous John Hagan on cello (a true favourite) and on bass with Viktor Krauss this is simply lovely.

This being '99 it is a set supporting the release of that year's album 'Step Inside This House' Lyle's double album of Texan cover songs and none the worse for that.


and the other day (did I mention?) Midnight Cafe posted the most staggering quality set from earlier in the nineties so for this too so we have been spoiled somewhat these past weeks

Lyle Lovett - Minneapolis 1992

review of Midnight Cafe's here Blog critics Bootleg Country - LL

and covers here geetarz - LL covers

either way if you are a Lovett fan you need both these awesome boots

UPDATE: and still more Lyle - astounding quality from draftervoi over at the Voodoo Wagon

Lyle Lovett - Westwood One - Hollywood 1989

A Radio Broadcast in FLAC format and breathtaking quality

Lyle Lovett
Westwood One Presents Show #89-26
For broadcast the week of June 19, 1989
The Roxy, West Hollywood, CA

01. Westwood One Presents #89-26 Intro - Jim Duncan
02. God Will
03. This Old Porch
04. Give Back My Heart
05. Commercial - Phillips 66 Gasoline
06. Dominoes Pizza
07. Commercial - Dramamine
08. If I Had a Boat
09. If I Were The Man You Wanted
10. L.A. County
11. Commercial - Nestea
12. Commercial - Dramamine
13. Commercial - American Express - Karl Malden
14. Here I Am
15. She's No Lady
16. Commercial - One A Day Vitamins
17. Commercial - American Express - Karl Malden
18. Commercial - Dramamine
19. Cowboy Man
20. She's Hot To Go
21. Commercial - American Express - Karl Malden
22. Commercial - Dominoes Pizza
23. Commercial - Sears
24. M-O-N-E-Y
25. Stand By Your Man
26. Westwood One Presents #89-26 Outro - Jim Duncan

This was likely recorded in March of 1989.

"And this old porch is like a steaming, greasy plate of enchiladas

With lots of cheese and onions

And a guacamole salad

And you can get'em down at the LaSalle Hotel

In old downtown

With iced tea and a waitress

And she will smile every time..."

and I always wondered . . . . . . from one of my favourite LL songs where the LaSalle Hotel was . . . . . This Old Porch

Click here to order Lyle Lovett releases.