Category Archives: Singer Songwriter

Country, folk, Great albums, Lucinda Williams, Singer Songwriter

June 5: Lucinda Williams released Essence in 2001

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Essence,

I envy the wind
That whispers in your ear
That howls through the winter
That freezes your fingers
That moves through your hair
And cracks your lips
And chills you to the bone
I envy the wind

June 5: Lucinda Williams released Essence in 2001

Essence is Lucinda Williams’ sixth album. It was released in 2001. It is a wonderful album, one of the best albums that year, hell, one of the best albums that decade!

Essence was highly anticipated coming after a three-year gap from her lauded Car Wheels on a Gravel Road and the critical reviews reflect that. Although positive, none rate the album as highly as her breakthrough. Robert Christgau, who raved about Car Wheels, called the album “imperfect” but still praised her artistry saying “[she] is too damn good to deny.” Reviewers noted the difference in tone between the two albums with Rolling Stone citing the “willful intimacy” of the music while Spin contrasted its “halting, spare” presentation with Car Wheels “giddy, verbose” one. In a review posted by Salon the album was called “an emotional mess of a masterpiece”.

Q listed Essence as one of the best 50 albums of 2001. 

Personnel on the album include Tony Garnier and Charlie Sexton, best known as part of Bob Dylan’s live backing band then and now. The album also features session drummer Jim Keltner, another Dylan collaborator.

Fantastic album!

Lucinda Williams – Essence (Live):

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Country, Emmylou Harris, Singer Songwriter

April 2: Emmylou Harris was born in 1947

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All For The Hall New York Benefiting The Country Music Hall Of Fame - Inside

April 2: Emmylou Harris was born in 1947, Happy Birthday!

Emmylou Harris (born April 2, 1947) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She has released many chart-topping albums and singles over the course of her career, and has won 12 Grammys and numerous other awards.

Her work and recordings include work as a solo artist, bandleader, an interpreter of other composers’ works and as a singer-songwriter, and a backing vocalist and duet partner. She has worked with numerous leading artists including Gram Parsons, John Denver, Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton, Roy Orbison, The Band, Mark Knopfler, Delbert McClinton, Guy Clark, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Bright Eyes, Rodney Crowell, John Prine, Neil Young, and Steve Earle.

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Bob Dylan, Cover versions, Singer Songwriter, Steve Earle

Steve Earle plays Bob Dylan

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steve earle-2
Bergenfest 2013 photo: Hallgeir Olsen

Steve Earle: “Was Townes Van Zandt Better Than Bob Dylan?
…I’m kinda famous for something I said…I was asked for a sticker for a Townes record that came out in the 80s, I said, Townes Van Zandt is the best songwriter in the world and I’ll stand on Bob Dylan’s coffee table in my cowboy-boots and say that. 
…
It wasn’t that I thought that Townes was better than Bob Dylan. I just knew that Townes really needed the help.”

Well, I love both Van Zandt and Dylan, and so does Steve Earle. He has done songs by both on several occasions, and he did an entire album with Townes Van Zandt songs.

In this post we pick the best interpretations we can find of Steve Earle singing Bob Dylan’s songs.

Steve Earle – Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright  at Johnny Brenda’s Philadelphia,27 Feb 2011:

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Singer Songwriter, Soul

Bobby Womack sings All Along the Watchtower by Bob Dylan

Facts of Life 1973

Bobby Womack sings All Along the Watchtower by Bob Dylan

Facts Of Life is a 1973 R&B album recorded by Bobby Womack. for United Artists Records.

Released in June 8, 1973, it raced to No. 6 on the Billboard R&B Charts. It also charted at No. 37 on the Billboard U.S. Pop Charts. The album included the hit single “Nobody Wants You When You’re Down and Out” (which charted No. 2 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart).

It also included a very good cover version of Bob Dylan’s All Along The Watchtower:

It’s a great album, seek it out!

Personell:

  • Bobby Womack – guitar, vocals
  • Dave Turner, Jimmy Johnson, Pete Carr – guitar
  • David Hood – bass
  • Barry Beckett, Clayton Ivey – keyboards
  • Roger Hawkins – drums

– Hallgeir

Country, Lucinda Williams, Music Calendar, Singer Songwriter

Jan 26: Lucinda Williams was born in 1953

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lucinda3 Like so many, I discovered Lucinda Williams when she released the fantastic album, Car Wheels On A Gravel Road. I went to the record store (yes, we actually did that in the old days) and bought as many of her albums as I could find. There were four albums before Car Wheels.., great albums, I love them all. Since then I’ve awaited all Lucinda Williams albums with great excitement. She’s always good, most of the time she’s great.
Half an hour of the wonderful Lucinda Williams live at Paradiso Amsterdam (2013):

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