An lullaby by the one and only James Taylor 🕊🕊 “You Can Close Your Eyes” was released in 1971 formerly the b-side to his cover of Carole King’s 'You’ve Got a Friend’
We had a version of this by James himself and with his wife and son t’other day so I will close the night with this beautiful version from Larkin Poe - the girls do him proud here I thought
RUNNING ON EMPTY - LATEST ORIGINAL - BY JAMES RIGBY
SONGS FROM THE WATCH - A Compilation of 25 Original Guitar Fingerpicking Pieces in Open Tunings, Taken from 7 Albums, Written over the last 6 years by James Rigby
The extraordinary scientist Professor Liz Morris, glaciologistchose as her one track from the eight allowed if she had to chose selected this Tom Waits Ol ’55! I liked her! She chose obviously the version for his ‘Closing Time’ album which struck me as it nearly sounded like tom now but here’s a live version as well . . . . .
Tom Waits - Ol' 55 (Live on VH1 Story Tellers, 1999)
Farm Aid ’87 - This Land Is Your Land take it away Arlo!
Arlo Guthrie, Willie Nelson, Neil Young & More - This Land Is Your Land (Live at Farm Aid 1987)
she’s only young but heck what a long strange trip it’s been!
I always thought that this was America!
when first I heard Arlo sing this fine fine song it sent shivers as it seemed to summarise for me albeit in a romantic way, all that was good about America and here’s it's author
the sorely missed friend of John Prine, Mr Steve Goodman
"City of New Orleans" is a folk song written by Steve Goodman (and first recorded for Goodman's self-titled 1971 album), describing a train ride from Chicago to New Orleans via the Illinois Central Railroad in bittersweet and nostalgic terms. Goodman got the idea while traveling on the eponymous train for a visit to his wife's family. He performed the song for Arlo Guthrie in the Quiet Knight, a bar in Chicago, and Guthrie agreed to add it to his repertoire. The song was a hit for Guthrie on his 1972 album Hobo's Lullaby, and is now more closely associated with him, although Goodman performed it until his death in 1984. The song has also been covered by Willie Nelson, John Denver, Johnny Cash, The Country Gentlemen, Judy Collins, Jerry Reed, Chet Atkins, Sammi Smith, Hank Snow, Gerard Cox, Rudi Carell, Joe Dassin, Richard Clayderman and others.
Steve Goodman won a posthumous Grammy Award for Best Country Song at the 27th Grammy Awards in 1985 for Willie Nelson's version, which was included on his 1984 album of the same name. It reached #1 on both the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart in the United States and the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada
The Old Grey Whistle Test (usually abbreviated to Whistle Test or OGWT) was an influential BBC2 television music show that ran from 1971 to 1987. It took over the BBC2 late night slot from "Disco Two", which had been running since January 1970, while continuing to feature non-chart music. It was devised by BBC producer Rowan Ayers. According to presenter Bob Harris, the programme derived its name from a Tin Pan Alley phrase from years before. When they got the first pressing of a record they would play it to people they called the old greys—doormen in grey suits. The songs they could remember and whistle, having heard it just once or twice, had passed the old grey whistle test. I believe this video to be from Steve's appearance on the show which aired on July 31, 1973.
Somehow missed this . . . . . .big fan of Alan Cumming a fine fine Scottish actor and writer (I have signed copies and everything!)
He has just appeared in a TV drama here that tore me to bits and was for Pride Month (week?) playing opposite the wonderful David Morrisey ‘Tip-Toe’ about innate homophobia in cisgender folk which I found thoroughly depressing but then maybe I should have!
Laurens WalkingAngelo BadalamentiThe Straight Story (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) might sign off the day with this from a favourite film (well it’s a Lynch!)
