Henson Cargill, a very well traveled man

I heard Henson Cargill on some compilation (or it could have been another blog), featuring three songs from this collection of recordings on Monument Records. At any rate this guy is a treasure. He sang about political and social taboos directly and without fear. All within the framework of the popular country of the time, or Countrypolitan. I'll post on him several times I'm sure, but I just wanted to get this song out there. It's not really one of the more socially conscious songs, but it is a great take on the happy breakup/bad love song. He's okay with her being gone, yet he thinks he's still in love. Brilliant.
Great chicken-pickin' as well.

Henson Cargill - The Most Uncomplicated Goodbye I've Ever Heard

buy it here

This ain't Dallas

Dontcha know all of that is on TV!?

Hank Williams Jr. - This Ain't Dallas

buy it here

Hank Williams is a GHOST!!!!

Country music has always had a soft spot for southern gothic. Whether it be Porter Wagoner's downright strange recordings in the 60s/70s (more on those later) or just plain old murder ballads, the darker side of country is one that folks don't always immediately think about. I started thinking about this after Alan Jackson's "Midnight in Montgomery" came up on my shuffle. The song is about seeing the ghost of Hank Williams (as spoonfed to you at the end of the song, almost as if to say, 'did you get it?')...an experience that more than a few others have shared. At first listen this song appears just to be a mid nineties update of "The Ride," but if you listen closer, it's just a full on rip off of "The Ride." I mean that in the best possible way. With all the stereotyping country music endures, it's nice to have another topic to sing about other than drinking, women, and general blue-collarness.
What better subject than hard drinking, womanizing, blue-collar sangin' GHOSTS?

Alan Jackson - Midnight in Montgomery

David Allan Coe - The Ride

buy them here and here

Joe Ely and his Bonfire of Roadmaps

I don't know why I was so late getting on the boat for this one, but I just picked up a copy of Joe Ely's book Bonfire of Roadmaps. I read a bit of it when it came out, but I guess I figured that I'd wait for paperback...yeah...I couldn't hold out, obviously. It's a beautiful record of life on the road. It's written in free verse which doesn't limit the action to concrete ideas or straightforward narrative. The blend of abstract concepts and direct journaling make for a very engrossing and real read.
Here's a track from Live Shots, recorded in England in 1980 when he and his band were opening for The Clash.

Joe Ely - Long Snake Moan

buy it here

Cher by way of Devin, Just Like Jesse James

When you think of country, you think of several things. Cher may not be the first thing, but in this case it's worth it.
I was in Chicago over the weekend to play with a band that I love and helped to start called Devin and the Straights. It's always a pleasure to play with everyone and I can honestly say it's the best thing that I've been a part of, but it's an extremely special thing when I get some time to just play songs with Devin. Were were on his back porch in the Andersonville neighborhood when we recorded this Cher cover. He messes up the words in the middle but it doesn't really matter because he sounds great. I'm on harmonica.

Devin (of Devin and the Straights) - Just Like Jesse James