David "Honeyboy" Edwards (1915-2011)

A post to mark the passing yesterday of David "Honeyboy" Edwards, the last of the original Delta bluesmen. Here is NPR's appreciation. He died at 96, and continued playing guitar right up to the end.

The trailer for a film about Honeyboy.



"Country Man"



"Standing on the Corner" - I think this was his last public performance.

Billie Jean

Today would have been Michael Jackson's 53rd birthday, so here is one of those covers that you never would expect to see, but it actually works.

The Civil Wars performing "Billie Jean".

The Storm Is Passing Over

Even though I posted a version of this song a couple weeks ago when Delois Barrett Campbell died (8/4/11), this seems to me to be the only appropriate song to post today. I am not at all familiar with this group, The Gospel Challengers, but they do a great job on "The Storm Is Passing Over".

Goodnight, Irene

One more post for the hurricane, before I go to bed.

"Goodnight, Irene" - Jerry Lee Lewis & Van Morrison

Storm Comin'

The rain has started here, so here is another video for the storm.

"Storm Comin'" - The Wailin' Jennys

Hurricane

I missed my chance to do an earthquake post earlier in the week, so I am doing a hurricane post now in case we lose power, and I can't do one later.

"Love Like a Hurricane" - Kasey Chambers & Kevin Bennett



"Eye of the Hurricane" - David Wilcox



"Hurricane Winslow" - The Revivalists. No decent live version of this song, so just audio.

Jerry Leiber (1933-2011)

A post to mark the passing Monday of lyricist Jerry Leiber. With music composer Mike Stoller, he was half of one of the most successful songwriting duos in the middle part of the 20th Century.

My 10/1/10 post contained what was their first big hits, Big Mama Thornton's original recording of "Hound Dog". Below are a couple more songs by Leiber and Stoller.

Elvis Presley later had a big hit with "Hound Dog", so, to give Elvis his due, here is his version of "Jailhouse Rock"



"Stand By Me" performed by Ben E. King




"Is That All There Is" performed by Peggy Lee

Graceland

Inspired by this article, from The Independent, recognizing 25 years since Paul Simon released his album Graceland, below are videos of a couple songs off that album.

The album won the 1986 Grammy Award for Album of the Year, and the title song won the 1987 Grammy for Record of the Year.

"Graceland"



"Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" with Ladysmith Black Mambazo



"Homeless" another performance with Ladysmith Black Mambazo

The Sacred Harp

Not the normal video of a gospel song this Sunday, but a two part documentary on Sacred Harp singing in Hoboken, Georgia.

Crazy

A couple Crazy songs.

"Crazy" performed by Patsy Cline. I have posted a version of this video before, but it is worth a second look. Another song written by Willie Nelson.



"Crazy Arms". This song was also performed by Patsy Cline, but here is Patty Loveless' version.



"Mama He's Crazy" - The Judds

Raul Malo

A couple videos from one of my favorite singers, Raul Malo, who was also the lead singer for The Mavericks.

"Every Little Thing About You"



"Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground", a song written by Willie Nelson



The Mavericks perform "Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down", a song written by Merle Haggard

A Diamond in My Crown

Emmylou Harris performs "A Diamond in My Crown", a song she co-wrote.

Brand New Key

In 1971/72 Melanie Safka had a huge hit with her song "Brand New Key", despite the fact that she hated the way the song was produced. Here is a recent performance where she discusses what happened.



At the time, she was so upset with what was done with this song, that she then wrote "Look What They've Done to My Song". Here is a video that includes some footage of her performing the song back in the 70's, and part of a current performance.

Marshall Grant (1928-2011)

Marshall Grant, Johnny Cash's bassist from 1954 to 1980, has died. His bass playing was an integral part of the sound that Cash created.

Here Grant tells how it all started.



Here are a couple videos of Grant playing with Cash.

"Ring of Fire"



"I Was There When It Happened" - In this video Grant and Luther Perkins, the Tennessee Two, also sing with Johnny.

Crooked Still

Crooked Still performing Claude Ely's signature song, "Ain't No Grave Gonna Hold My Body Down". You can hear versions of this song by both Ely and Johnny Cash in my May 8, 2011 post.

Delois Barrett Campbell (1926-2011)

A post to mark the passing, earlier this week, of gospel singer Delois Barrett Campbell. She performed with here sisters, Rodessa and Billie, for over 50 years as the Barrett Sisters. Roger Ebert has a post with more information about them.

The Barrett Sisters appeared in the film Say Amen, Somebody. I recently posted Roger Ebert's review of that film on my other blog.

"Pass Me Not Gentle Savior" - This video is from some years back.



"The Storm is Passing Over" - No video with this, but I am including it because this is my favorite Barrett Sisters Song.



Delois was confined to a wheel chair for the last years of her life, but, as these next two videos prove, that did not stop her from singing.

"New Home Over In Glory"



"Till We Meet Again"

Gillian Welch - Older Songs

I say Gillian Welch performing with David Rawlings last night at Strathmore. I have recently posted video with some of the songs off her new album. Here are videos of a couple of her older songs that she performed last night.

"Caleb Meyer" - a mighty good killin' song



"Elvis Presley Blues"



"Red Clay Halo" showing off some of Rawlings' great guitar work

The Civil Wars

I have only listened to The Civil Wars' album Barton Hollow once, so I can't really say what songs I like best, but here are are some videos of songs off the album. The have been opening for Adele, so you know they have to be good.

The title track "Barton Hollow"



"Poison & Wine"



An erotic performance of the Leonard Cohen song "Dance me to the End of Love"