Tag Archives: Steve Earle

Music Calendar, Steve Earle

Today: Steve Earle is 58

steve-earle-58

“I don’t really think in terms of obstacles. My biggest obstacle is always myself.” – Steve Earle

One of JV’s Greatest heroes

Steve Earle (born January 17, 1955) is  known for his rock, folk and Texas Country as well as his political views. He is also a producer, author, a political activist, and an actor, and has written and directed a play.

Birth name Stephen Fain Earle
Born January 17, 1955 (age 58)
Hampton, Virginia United States
Origin San Antonio, Texas, United States
Genres Country-rock, Texas country, folk,Americana, heartland rock, alt-country,roots rock
Occupations Musician, singer-songwriter, writer, actor
Instruments Guitar, mandolin, harmonica, banjo,bouzouki, bass guitar
Labels Uni. MCA Nashville, New West, E² Records, Warner Bros.
Associated acts Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, Del McCoury Band
Website www.steveearle.com

Me and Egil have seen Steve Earle in concert several times and have followed him since his magnificent debut. We love the man.

He is always exciting to follow, as a musician, as a writer or as an actor. He has integrity. We’re always looking forward to his new albums and hope he will return to our shores as soon as possible.

Happy birthday Steve Earle!

Allmusic:

by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

In the strictest sense, Steve Earle isn’t a country artist; he’s a roots rocker. Earle emerged in the mid-’80s, after Bruce Springsteen had popularized populist rock & roll and Dwight Yoakam had kick-started the neo-traditionalist movement in country music. At first, Earle appeared to be more indebted to the rock side than country, as he played a stripped-down, neo-rockabilly style that occasionally verged on outlaw country. However, his unwillingness to conform to the rules of Nashville or rock & roll meant that he never broke through into either genre’s mainstream. Instead, he cultivated a dedicated cult following, drawing from both the country and rock audiences. Toward the early ’90s, his career was thrown off track by personal problems and substance abuse, but he re-emerged stronger and healthier several years later…(READ MORE)

One of his best – Goodbye:

steve earle - 58 two

 Photo: Senor McGuire

Last year for his birthday we picked our favourite songs by Steve Earle.

Here is Egil’s list (follow link to read post)

Egil picked 20 songs:

  1. Fort Worth Blues (El Corazón)
  2. Goodbye  (Train a Comin’)
  3. The Mountain (The Mountain)
  4. My Old Friend the Blues (Guitar Town)
  5. Feel Alright (I Feel Alright)
  6. Guitar Town (Guitar Town)
  7. When I Fall (Transcendental Blues)
  8. Hard-Core Troubadour (I Feel Alright)
  9. Johnny Come Lately (Copperhead Road)
  10. Taneytown (El Corazón)
  11. Valentine’s Day (I Feel Alright)
  12. Billy Austin (The Hard Way)
  13. More Than I Can Do (I Feel Alright)
  14. The Galway Girl (Transcendental Blues)
  15. The Unrepentant (I Feel Alright)
  16. Over Yonder (Jonathan’s Song) (Transcendental Blues)
  17. Harlan Man (The Mountain)
  18. The Boy Who Never Cried (Transcendental Blues)
  19. Nowhere Road (Exit 0)
  20. Ellis Unit One (Sidetracks)

 

Here is Hallgeir’s list (follow the link to see videos)

 

I picked 10 songs:

  1. Fort Worth Blues
  2. The Mountain
  3. Guitar Town
  4. Copperhead Road
  5. Galway Girl
  6. Ellis Unit One
  7. My old friend The Blues
  8. Goodbye
  9. Devil’s right hand
  10. Telephone Road

For the album of today I have picked I Feel Allright from 1996:

Other January 17:

Continue reading Today: Steve Earle is 58 →

Country, Rock, Steve Earle

Christmas music: Nothing but a child by Steve Earle

nothing

Steve Earle is next out in our series of christmas videos. It’s an incredible song from the album “Copperhead Road”, released in 1988. The background voice was provided by the wonderful Maria McKee on the album version.

In this version it’s just Steve and his guitar:

It shows that our hero Mr. Steve Earle is not always political, he seems to have a little religion in him as well. Maybe it was just the holiday season approaching that inspired him, who knows? A very nice song it is.

Here is the version from the album (with Maria McKee on background vocals):

Nothing But A Child
(Steve Earle)

Once upon a time in a far off land
Wise men saw a sign and set out aross the sand
Songs of praise to sing, they travelled day and night
Precious gifts to bring, guided by the light
They chased a brand new star, ever towards the west
Across the mountains far, but when it came to rest
They scarce believed their eyes, they’d come so many miles
And the miracle they prized was nothing but a child

Nothing but a child could wash these tears away
Or guide a weary world into the light of day
And nothing but a child could help erase these miles
So once again we all can be children for awhile

Now all around the world, in every Iittle town
Everyday is heard a precious little sound
And every mother kind and every father proud
Looks down in awe to find another chance allowed

Another fine live version from 1988 (MTV):

– Hallgeir

Country, Great albums, Rock, Steve Earle, Video

Steve Earle’s album Copperhead Road was released in 1988 – 24 years ago

“I volunteered for the Army on my birthday
They draft the white trash , ´round here anyway
I done two tours of duty in Vietnam
And I came home with a brand new plan…”

“”This record is definitely going to keep me off the Grand Ole Opry. I think we’ve made a real rock ‘n roll album. People that only know me from Guitar Town  might be freaked out a bit, although anyone who also followed Exit O  and the live thing won’t be taken aback at all. Sonically, the rhythm section’s a lot tougher.” – Steve Earle (to Spectator)

Copperhead Road is an American alternative country/country rock album released in 1988 by Steve Earle. Often referred to as Earle’s first “rock record”, Earle himself calls it the world’s first blend ofheavy metal and bluegrass, while in their January 26, 1989 review of the album Rolling Stone suggested the style be known as “power twang”. (read more at Wikipedia)

Released October 17, 1988
April 29, 2008 (Deluxe)
Genre Heartland rock, Alt-Country, Country rock, Americana
Length 43:36
Label Uni Records (USA/Canada)
MCA
Producer Steve Earle, Tony Brown

Official video for the song Copperhead Road

The songs on  the album are a mix of personal/love songs and political/story-songs. The title track is about a road used for drug/alcohol traffic through generations,  the song “Snake Oil” compares then president Ronald Reagan to a traveling con man.  The title track and “Johnny Come Lately” ( with The Pogues) both describe the experiences of returning veterans.

Steve Earle and Pogues recording Johnny Come Lately:

“Johnny Come Lately” compares the experience of US servicemen fighting in World War II with those in the Vietnam War, and tells about the completely different welcomes  they received on returning home.
Continue reading Steve Earle’s album Copperhead Road was released in 1988 – 24 years ago →

Music Calendar

Today: John Mellencamp is 61

What is there to be afraid of? The worst thing that can happen is you fail. So what? I failed at a lot of things. My first record was horrible.
~John Mellencamp

I’m your average Joe guy. I don’t really care for politicians.
~John Mellencamp

Induction of John Mellencamp @ Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:

From Wikipedia:

Also known as Johnny Cougar
John Cougar
John Cougar Mellencamp
Born October 7, 1951 (age 61)
Seymour, Indiana, United States
Genres Rock, heartland rock, roots rock, folk rock,hard rock, folk
Occupations Musician, singer-songwriter
Instruments Vocals, guitar, harmonica

John Mellencamp (born October 7, 1951) is an American rock singer-songwriter, musician, painter and occasional actor known for his catchy, populist brand of heartland rock which emphasizes traditional instrumentation. He has sold over 40 million albums worldwide and has amassed 22 Top 40 hits in the United States. In addition, he holds the record for the most tracks by a solo artist to hit number-one on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, with seven, and has been nominated for 13 Grammy Awards, winning one. His latest album, No Better Than This, was released on August 17, 2010 to widespread critical acclaim.

Mellencamp is also one of the founding members of Farm Aid, an organization that began in 1985 with a concert in Champaign, Illinois to raise awareness about the loss of family farms and to raise funds to keep farm families on their land. The Farm Aid concerts have remained an annual event over the past 27 years, and as of 2012 the organization has raised over $40 million to promote a strong and resilient family farm system of agriculture.

Mellencamp was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 10, 2008 by Billy Joel. His biggest musical influences are Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, James Brown and The Rolling Stones. Said longtime Rolling Stone contributor Anthony DeCurtis: “Mellencamp has created an important body of work that has earned him both critical regard and an enormous audience. His songs document the joys and struggles of ordinary people seeking to make their way, and he has consistently brought the fresh air of common experience to the typically glamour-addled world of popular music.”

My fav Mellencamp song – Rain On The Scarecrow (Live 2008):

Jack & Diana:

Album of the day – Scarecrow (1985):

Other October 07:

Continue reading Today: John Mellencamp is 61 →

Country, Singer Songwriter, Sound, Townes Van Zandt

If I needed you by Townes Van Zandt

3 Comments

I have nearly 30 albums by Townes Van Zandt, most of them live and released after he passed away. Most of them better than 99% of everything  released today.

My mother and father are heavy smokers. When we went camping when I was a child we drove in our Opel Record. No safety belts, no windows open, just  lot of smoke and country music.

It is glued into me, I still love those voices, Waylon Jennings, Burl Ives, Kenny Rogers, Johnny Cash, Townes Van Zandt and a whole bunch of other fantastic singers and songwriters.

I don’t mind the smoke as long a s I get the music!

One of my favourite songs from back then is If I Needed You, so sparse and so vulnerable.

My father had a good friend, Reidar, who collected all these great country artists. He was very passionate about the music and he was a very kind man. He died of cancer much too young.

He gave me casettes of fantastic country and western music, I didn’t really appreciate it at the time, but he played a big part in shaping my musical taste.

Townes Van Zandt was his doing. Thank you , Reidar!

If I needed you:

Version 2 by Townes (the song starts about two minutes into the video):

It is a popular song that is covered by a lot of artists. Here are a few of the best known ones:

Emmylou Harris and Steve Earle:

Emmylou in 1982, maybe the best cover version!

Don Williams had a hit with Emmylou Harris:

Very understandable, it’s a fantastic interpretation.

If I needed you, would you come to me?
Would you come to me for to ease my pain?
If you needed me, I would come to you.
I would swim the sea for to ease your pain.
Well the night’s forlorn and the morning’s born
And the morning’s born with the lights of love.
And you’ll miss sunrise if you close your eyes,
And that would break my heart in two.

last but not least, Townes Van Zandt again with the masterpiece if I Needed You:

– Hallgeir