Today: Chris Hillman is 68

Christopher “Chris” Hillman (born December 4, 1944 in Los Angeles, California) was one of the original members of The Byrds, which in 1965 included Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, David Crosby and Michael Clarke. With frequent collaborator Gram Parsons, Hillman was a key figure in the development of country rock, defining the genre through his work with The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers and the country-rock group Desert Rose Band.

The Byrds (Hillman second from the left):

Before the Flying Burrito Brothers disbanded, Hillman joined Stephen Stills‘ band Manassas; he remained with Manasses until 1973, when he briefly rejoined the original lineup of the Byrds for a reunion album on Asylum Records. In 1974, Hillman teamed with singer-songwriter Richie Furay (who co-founded Buffalo Springfield and Poco) and songwriter J. D. Souther (who co-wrote much of the Eagles’ early repertoire) in the Souther-Hillman-Furay Band.

Flying Burrito Brothers – Christine’s Tune:

I’ve chosen the often overlooked solo album Slippin’ Away as todays album, it surely is an often forgotten gem from Chris Hillman:

 

Other 4th December:

Continue reading Today: Chris Hillman is 68

Free Christmas music 4: Indie Folker – Monster in the Christmas album

In spirit of the Holidays and in support of the re-release of “Monsters In The Christmas Album”, here’s a music video starring a puppet for the original Christmas song “The Eyes, The Beard, The Nose, The Stomach, The Lungs” by unsigned Transylvanian singer-songwriter, Indie Folker.

“The Eyes, The Beard, The Nose, The Stomach, The Lungs” is part of the “Monsters In The Christmas Album” by Indie Folker. A collection of original, genuine indie Christmas songs for the fans of alt-folk and indie!

From their bandcamp web page:
Continue reading Free Christmas music 4: Indie Folker – Monster in the Christmas album

Free Christmas music 3: Over The Rhine – Snow Angels

Today we’ve found a real treat for you! One of my favourite Christmas albums , now completely free via Noisetrade. The southern Ohio-based husband-and-wife team of multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Linford Detweiler and vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Karin Bergquist, otherwise known as Over the Rhine, released this collection of wistful holiday music back in 2006.

Some info from Wikipedia:

Snow Angels is the ninth studio album, and second Christmas album, by Over the Rhine, released independently in 2006. The album was released by Great Speckled Dog on October 2, 2007.

Snow Angels was released ten years after the group’s first Christmas disc, 1996’s The Darkest Night of the Year. While Darkest Night was largely composed of interpretations of traditional Christmas songs, Snow Angels was almost entirely original material. The only non-original track in the album is a lounge-inspired take on “Jingle Bells” that debuted during the 2004 Christmas tour.

Over The Rhine – Snow Angels:

Here’s a nice  jazzy live version of North Pole Man:

Or you can stream it on Spotify:

– Hallgeir

Today: Albert Ammons passed away in 1949 – 63 years ago

Chicago in mind:

From Wikipedia:

Birth name Albert C. Ammons
Born September 23, 1907
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died December 2, 1949 (aged 42)
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genres Jazz, blues, boogie-woogie
Occupations Pianist
Years active 1920s–1949
Labels Vocalion, Blue Note, Delmark,Mercury

Albert Ammons (September 23, 1907 – December 2, 1949) was an American pianist. Ammons was a player of boogie-woogie, abluesy jazz style popular from the late 1930s into the mid 1940s.

 

In 1938 Ammons appeared at Carnegie Hall with Johnson and Lewis, an event that helped launch the boogie-woogie craze. Record producer Alfred Lion who had attended John H. Hammond’s From Spirituals to Swing concert on December 23, 1938, which had introduced Ammons and Lewis, two weeks later started Blue Note Records, recording nine Ammons solos including “The Blues” and “Boogie Woogie Stomp”, eight by Lewis and a pair of duets in a one-day session in a rented studio.

Shout of Joy (1938):

Ammons’s played at President Harry S. Truman’s inauguration in 1949. He died on December 2, 1949 in Chicago  and was interred at the Lincoln Cemetery, at Kedzie Avenue in Blue Island, Worth Township, Cook County, Illinois.

Album of the day:

The First Day (1992):

Other December 02:

Odetta Holmes (December 31, 1930 – December 2, 2008), known as Odetta, was an American singer, actress, guitarist, songwriter, and a civil and human rights activist, often referred to[who?] as “The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement”. Her musical repertoire consisted largely of American folk music, blues, jazz, and spirituals. An important figure in the American folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s, she was influential to many of the key figures of the folk-revival of that time, including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Mavis Staples, and Janis Joplin. Time included her song “Take This Hammer” on its list of the All-Time 100 Songs, stating that “Rosa Parks was her No. 1 fan, and Martin Luther King Jr. called her the queen of American folk music.”

-Egil & Hallgeir

Look out for: Lily and Madeleine

Lily and Madeleine are two songwriting sisters  from Indianapolis. Lily is 15 and Madeleine is 18. I’ve only heard one song, the beautiful “In The Middle”, but it is enough to get us exited about their new EP “The Weight of the globe”. It will be released early next year.

The Web site “My Old Kentucky Blog”(MOKB ) compares them to First Aid Kit, and it’s an understandeable comparison. Young sisters singing wonderful harmony infused americana. So thanks to MOKB for this find, check out the site, it’s one of the best.

We are really looking forward to hear their new EP and following them in the future.

Lily & Madeleine – In The Middle:

Written by Lily & Madeleine with Kenny Childers
The Weight of the Globe EP coming in January
Recorded at White Arc Studio with Paul Mahern
Video by Stuart Hotwagner and Nicole Lehrman

(the pictures are from their Facebook page)

– Hallgeir

Focusing on Bob Dylan & related music