HIRAM AND HUDDIE: SONGS OF HANK WILLIAMS AND LEADBELLY
Hiram is Hiram King Williams, better known as Hank Williams, and Huddie is Huddie William Ledbetter, better known as Leadbelly. Hiram & Huddie, a winner at the 9th annual Independent Music Awards, is an impressive two-disc tribute album to these legendary American music greats. While they were raised in different times and circumstances and lead very different lives, each man was an innovator and master of his own sound. It is fitting that the musicians who play on this compilation are some of the best contemporary artists in their genre – not everyday names, but what is considered to be the who’s who of alt-country, blues, roots rock, Americana, and folk, each taking a turn and either a Hank Williams song or a Leadbelly one, or both. Contributors include Scott H Biram, Flathead, Wayne Hancock, Jawbone, Bob Log III, John McKelvy, Possessed By Paul James, Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, Soda, C.W. Stoneking, Truckstop Honeymoon, Tom VandenAvond, and William Elliott Whitmore. Notable tracks on the “Hiram” disc (Vol. 1,) are “Lost Highway” “I’ll Never Get Out of This World Alive”, “On the Banks of the Old Pontchartrain”, “Ramblin’ Man”, and “Settin’ the Woods on Fire”. Likewise, standout covers on the “Huddie” disc (Vol. 2) are “Bourgeois Blues”, “Rock Island Line” “Ha, Ha, This Way” and “Bottle Up and Go”. – Written by JFelton
posted by JFelton, January 13, 2011
MORE TOWNES VAN ZANDT | THE GREAT UNKNOWN
In October 2009, a UK based indie music project revolving around the work of American country-folk music singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt was released, Introducing Townes Van Zandt via The Great Unknown. Almost exactly a year later listeners are treated to another round of covers on More Townes Van Zandt by The Great Unknown with another exceptional host of musicians including: Amy Annelle; alt country pop rockers Band of Annuals; California guitarist Neal Casal (Ryan Adams and the Cardinals); Canadian alt-country band The Deep Dark Woods; psych folk singer/songwriter Alela Diane; Vikta Fåglar; Hero Horns – the solo project of Dane Johannes Nidam; The Highway Kind; L.A. folk-country Leslie and the Badgers; Luluc; New Found Land; The New Man; Brooklyn based indie folk/alt country Phosphorescent; one man band Phillip Roebuck; Gourds spin-off Shinyribs; Vancouver, B.C. quartet The Sumner Brothers; unsigned Londoners Treetop Flyers; and New Zealand’s The Unfaithful Ways. More Townes Van Zandt continues the tribute to the profoundly talented musician, making a great case for the relevance of his work today. – Written by JFelton
posted by JFelton, November 29, 2010
FOLK MUSIC FOR WHAT LIES AHEAD
Yer Bird Records released another phenomenal collection of folk music on the 18 track Folk Music for What Lies Ahead. As the title implies, the compilation profiles new, unreleased and rare recordings by emerging indie folk artists both on and off label. Musicians like Matthew Ryan, Hezekiah Jones, Ivana XL, The Gunshy, Their Bated Breath, Ghosts I’ve Met, Oweihops, and Sharon Van Etten reflect the wide range of folk throughout the album, from traditional folk to southern gothic, to blues and bluegrass influences, to folk pop. Not only is this an intuitive glance at today’s and tomorrow’s folksters, Yer Bird will donate a portion of each CD sold to the music oriented charity for children Music 4 Hunger. – Written by JFelton
posted by JFelton, October 15, 2010
PHILLY COMP ONE: HOW TO MAKE AN ARROW
Philly Comp One: How To Make An Arrow is a compilation of 10 songs, each by a different Philadelphia-area folk artist. Each musician or band provides their own take on how to send their own arrow, or message. They perform group shows around the city with the aim to foster a creative community. The music is as varied as each artist. Hezekiah Jones leads off with “Iowa Alligator,” a quirky, low-key tune. Other standout tracks include Your Midway Host’s “Sevilla” and “Vineland” by Christopher Bohn. How To Make An Arrow is a convenient compilation for both Philly natives and anyone looking to explore this area’s folk scene. – Written by DBosket
posted by JFelton, August 30, 2010
GOLD & SILVER | COMPILATION #1
The German label Gold & Silver Recordings released a superb compilation of spare acoustic folk that features artists from North America, the UK and Germany. Bound together by their spare beauty, the songs range from the ethereal, lulling sounds of German acoustic folk artist Haruko to the dark, melancholy sounds of fellow Bavarian Hlynur Gudjonsson, and the fuller, warmer guitar of London based composer Robh Hokum. Other standouts include the lo-fi folk of SoCal by way of NYC pianist/violinist/guitarist Itai Faierman, the slightly experimental sounds of Ontario’s Olenka & the Autumn Lovers, and the finger-picked acoustic guitar of Brooklyn, NY based Christopher Paul Stelling (a.k.a. Flawless Executioner). The Gold & Silver Compilation #1 is an excellent sampling of international acoustic folk. – Written by JFelton
posted by JFelton, June 10, 2010
ECCENTRIC SOUL | SMART’S PLACE
This is a collection of performances from little known soul artists at Smart’s Palace in Wichita, Kansas between ‘63-‘75. The heart of Smart’s Palace and this compilation was Dick Smart: bassist, club owner, DJ, record store owner, promoter, and proprietor of the record label Solo. Eccentric Soul: Smart’s Palace collects the story and songs that came out of this thriving but unknown scene. The 19 track disc features Theron and Darrell, Baby Neal, Chocolate Snow, L.T. and the Soulful Dynamics, Fred Williams and the Jewels Band, The Hard Road, Kanwic, Vantage, and Lee-Mac. – Written by JFelton
posted by JFelton, December 7, 2009
INTRODUCING TOWNES VAN ZANDT VIA THE GREAT UNKNOWN
Introducing Townes Van Zandt via the Great Unknown is a tribute to the music of the late Townes Van Zandt from 19 international artists. Van Zandt’s introspective country-folk and driving blues were filled with honesty and beauty that swells from his soul and inspired many; some of his best known songs include “If I Needed You,” “To Live Is To Fly,” and “Pancho and Lefty.” This is a great compilation and clearly highlights Van Zandt’s influence on contemporary music with tracks by some of today’s tender-hearted troubadours like Thomas Denver Jonsson, J. Tillman (Fleet Foxes), Jad Fair, Anders Parker, Great Lake Swimmers, and the Be Good Tanyas. Releases on October 26th. – Written by JFelton
posted by JFelton, October 19, 2009
THINGS ABOUT COMIN’ MY WAY – A TRIBUTE TO THE MISSISSIPPI SHEIKS
The Mississippi Sheiks recorded country and Delta blues throughout the 30’s and were one of the top selling groups of its time. Juno award winning musician Steve Dawson and longtime fan of the Sheiks gathered together an amazing set of musicians to record their renditions of Sheiks’ songs; contributors include The North Mississippi All-Stars, Jim Byrnes, The Sojourners, Ndidi Onukwulu, Bill Frisell, Madeleine Peyroux, The Carolina Chocolate Drops, Bruce Cockburn, and Kelly Joe Phelps. Things About Comin’ My Way – A Tribute to The Mississippi Sheiks is a stellar homage steeped in the blues yet drawing upon musicians from many different veins of Americana and other genres.
posted by JFelton, October 12, 2009
RECORD LABLES
