Auld Lang Syne

From New Year's past, Aretha Franklin sings "Auld Lang Syne".

I'm Not Gonna Miss You

A video for "I'm Not Gonna Miss You", Glen Campbell's final recording before retiring because of memory problems.

Summer of Roses/December Day

A nice song for the end of December, Willie Nelson and his sister, Bobbie, performing "Summer of Roses/December Day".

O Holy Night

One last Christmas song to close out the season. Patti Smith performing "O Holy Night".

River

Joni Mitchell performs "River" with Herbie Hancock on piano.

Exactly Like You

Despite the fact that I was unsuccessful in finding a live performance of "Man with the Bag" by Kay Starr, I did find this little gem. Here is "Exactly Like You" from 2005, performed by Starr at 83, accompanied by a 92 year old Les Paul on guitar.

Christmas Must Be Tonight

The Band's recording of "Christmas Must Be Tonight".

Christmas Across the Years

A compilation video combining some of Darlene Love's 28 performances of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" on the David Letterman Show.

The Man with the Bag

Since there is no video of Kay Starr performing "The Man with the Bag", here is the best version I can find on YouTube. It's performed by Olivia Hernandez.

Joe Cocker (1944-2014)

To mark the passing of Joe Cocker, here are two versions of "The Letter". One from one of my all time favorite live recordings, the 1970 Mad Dogs & Englishmen, and a second performance from a recent concert.

Merry Christmas, Thanks For The Roses

Antje Duvekot performs "Merry Christmas, Thanks For The Roses".

Mummers Song

A video to mark the winter solstice, Simani's "The Mummer's Song".

Sweet Little Jesus Boy

Mahalia Jackson singing "Sweet Little Jesus Boy".

The End of an Era

Last night was the end of my favorite Christmas tradition, Darlene Love's annual performance of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" on The David Letterman Show. I wonder if Phil Spector gets to watch this in jail?

Shadow Puppet Wonderland

A shadow puppet wonderland with music from SHEL.

Christmas in Prison

For my 1,000th post on this blog, John Prine singing "Christmas in Prison".

Hard To Be An Outlaw

I have been waiting several months for a live performance of this song. So here a performance by Billy Joe Shaver, Willie Nelson and Trigger of "Hard To Be An Outlaw".

Don't Think Twice, It's All Right

Susan Tedeschi and Indigo Girl Amy Ray cover Dylan's song "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right".

Vera Ward Hall

Vera Hall sings and tells the Christmas story of "No Room at the Inn," followed by the singing of "The Last Month of the Year." Recorded by Alan Lomax at Vera's home in Livingston, Alabama, in October 1959.

I Stepped In the Water One Day

"I Stepped In the Water One Day" performed by the Heavenly Gospel Singers.

The Wexford Carol

Alison Krauss and Yo-Yo Ma perform "The Wexford Carol".

Across The Great Divide

Nanci Griffith with Emmylou Harris performing Kate Wolf's song "Across The Great Divide".

You Send Me

Sam Cooke performing "You Send Me". Today is the 50th anniversary of his death.

2000 Miles

Over 30 years after the Pretenders' original recording, here is Chrissie Hynde performing "2000 Miles" earlier this month.

Atlantic City

Natalie Maines, Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite cover one of my favorite Springsteen songs,"Atlantic City".

Vocalise (Rachmaninoff)

Luka Sulic—1/2 of the 2CELLOS— performing "Vocalise (Rachmaninoff)" arranged for Cello.

Celtic Christmas

Members of the Celtic band "Cherish the Ladies" perform a medley of Celtic Christmas tunes live in the witf Performance Studio, with Irish dancing by Michael Holland, 2-time All-Ireland National Champion Irish Dancer.

Stop Take A Little Time To Pray

A new video of Dorothy Love Coates and the Gospel Harmonettes—"Stop Take A Little Time To Pray"

There's a Whole Lotta Heaven

Iris Dement performing "There's a Whole Lotta Heaven" on the Prairie Home Companion 40th Anniversary broadcast.

Sweet Dreams

Raul Malo performing "Sweet Dreams".

Up Above My Head

From 1965, Sister Rosetta Tharpe performs a rather restrained version of "Up Above My Head".

Let's Stay Together

From 2009, AL Green performing "Let's Stay Together", backed up by David Gilmour and Jools Holland.

Midnight Special

Jesse Norman performing "Midnight Special" on Letterman. If I close my eyes I might think it was Odetta.



Here is the interview portion of her Letterman appearance.