Bearly Rambling

Smith & Frank

2012-01-26T13:59:00.000-08:00

Where on earth have these pair come from? Smith & Frank is, Toby Meadows and Taija Marie Davis and their home-made ambient indie pop is a one of a kind sound flowing through Brisbane's ears at the moment.

After a night of rain and wine, with the help of a built-in MacBook microphone, they discovered their sound was something special with 'Sorry For Being Brief'. The better part of instruments are found in household items and oddities lying around, giving their sound a raw and powerful feel. The following weeks saw plenty of writing and studio time then the release of their debut single - 'Charlie'. And people are loving it! Losing their radio play virginity with The Sunday Washup with Dave and Kieren last week, they've been overwhelmed with the reponse and are frantically gathering more material and setting up what is sure to be a live show like none other.

I'v known Taija for quite a while now (via the internet) but didn't realize she was so talented.

Check out a couple of their tunes.
Charlie
<p>&amp;lt;a href="http://smithandfrank.bandcamp.com/track/charlie"&amp;gt;Charlie by Smith &amp;amp;amp; Frank&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;</p>

Sorry For Being Brief
<p>&amp;lt;a href="http://smithandfrank.bandcamp.com/track/sorry-for-being-brief"&amp;gt;Sorry For Being Brief by Smith And Frank&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;</p>

This could be the best solution

2012-01-24T12:58:00.000-08:00

I'm sure they could be no worse than the above. Especially the four that are still there.

The initial suggestion

The follow up

Stealth.....................

Graziella Schazad

2012-01-22T11:20:00.000-08:00

This young lady comes to us today because a friend recommended I take a listen to her. I'm really glad he did, Graziella Schazad is a talented musician. Note I said musician not just singer, she plays the guitar and violin as well as singing. She hails from Germany with a Polish mother and an Afghani father and she sings in English, a true multi-national. Give her a listen she will make your ears happy.

Safe

Offizielles Video zur Single "Safe" von Graziella Schazad. Der Song ist der aktuelle Titelsong zu der ZDF Serie "Herzflimmern".

Take On Me

Picture in A Puzzle

Finally today the cool live appearance in Hamburg
I want peace

Live bei der Autogrammstunde bei Saturn in Hamburg

The twenty five year old singer songwriter was born in Berlin to a Polish mother and an Afghani father. Graziella Schazad started playing the guitar at the age of 3 and the violin at the age of 4. When she was nine years old her mother finally bought her the longed-for piano and she started taking lessons…
In 1995 she became an external student at the Hanns Eisler Conservatory of Music and studied the classical violin as well as the classical piano. When she turned thirteen she started writing her first songs and, ever since has put every painful as well as joyous experience into one of her very personal but yet easily accessible songs. In 2001 she quit her classical studies to team up with a duo, touring and performing throughout Europe. After the duo-breakup in 2004 she decided to take her career into her own hands, moved to Hamburg and started composing her first solo album. [Last FM]

Misstress Barbara

2012-01-21T15:05:00.000-08:00

Barbara Bonfiglio, better known as Misstress Barbara (the misspelling is an intentional portmanteau [i.e. "miss" and "stress"]), is an Italian-born, Canadian electronica disc jockey. Born in 1975, she moved from Sicily to Montreal, Quebec at the age of eight, and has resided in the city ever since. She has also produced and DJ'd house music under the alias Barbara Brown, and has used the alias My Prada Heels.

So if you are in the mood for some house music, you are in some great hands with Misstress Barbara.

This has to be one of the hippest versions of this Leonard Cohen classic, of course the original is still the best.
Dance Me to the End of Love

K-10

@ Piknic Electronik (Montreal)a few years back.

I'm No Human

Here is DJ Misstress Barbara performing the title track off her artist album I'm No Human live at Toronto's Rivoli Club.

Wes Bryan

2012-01-19T14:45:00.000-08:00

I'm feeling in a bit of a nostalgic frame of mind today, so I've been listening to lots of old rock n roll and rockabilly tunes all day. Which for some reason took me to Wes Bryan's web page.
Which in turn got me to thinking maybe I should feature some more of his catalog as a companion piece to the earlier post.
As always we can rely on oldolds53 to provide us with some interesting visuals, if it's rock n roll he's got it..
And of course Wes will always provide us with some great tunes and vocals.

Blue Baby

This song is dedicated to Wes and his family. It was recorded 1959 in Norman Petty's studios,but first published 1999 by UK Ace Records.
The people backing Wes seem to be Sonny Curtis on guitar,Joe B. on bass,Jerry Allison on drums and finally The Roses on backing vocals.
Could you get a better backup than The Crickets! oldolds53

Honey Baby

I Just Want Your Love

This one also recorded at Norman Petty's studio with same backing as mentioned above.
Who could miss that Crickets sounding guitar?

Auto Defiance

2012-01-18T14:24:00.000-08:00

You can always rely on Auto Defiance to come up with interesting videos for their amazing tunes.
They have been here before, twice, and there have been some personnel changes. But bottom line they just keep getting better.
Still based in the heart of 5-points in East Nashville, the band consists of Bradley Boyer (vocals), Asheira (voice, synth), Kevin (Bass), Jonathan Bradford (Drums) and Jamey (Guitar), who perform along side experimental vintage film footage flickering larger than life on stage.

If you missed them before, don't miss them this time. Kick back and enjoy.

Locked to Your Own

Upbeat guitar driven art-rock song which tells the tale of overwhelming triumph during a dark time in ones life.
Acoustic guitar battles heavy guitar combined with ambient orchestral hits, groovy bass lines and a drummer who just gets down.
A story about true friendship, and saving the life of someone you love. Life, love, loss, and despair is very tough to deal with, but with learning to trust someone, and leaving your pride behind will generally turn a bitter friendship around and open your eyes to what is truly important in life. [Auto Defiance]

Check out their tour dates

Gasoline

Want more of their music? You know you do.

Stop SOPA!!!!

2012-01-18T12:42:00.000-08:00

I was sure sopa was Spanish for soup, but I can't double check that since Wikipedia is dark today protesting SOPA. This SOPA is in fact an insidious sneaky law that big business is trying to sneak through government so they can take control of and censor the web. The end of free speech as we know it on the web.

You can help, go here and sign the petition to stop SOPA.

I link to Wikipedia constantly, so some of my links today will hit the wall. Just think it could be like that every day if SOPA goes through.
Some good news, three of the co-sponsors have dropped out.

Check out the meaning of SOPA to you at C-Net.

David Ford

2012-01-17T12:17:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since David Ford came out with a new album, but this EP was worth the wait. I still remember when I first heard his song "Go to Hell", I know I wore that album out a couple of times over.
And of course we should never forget "State of the Union".
But anyhow, get a load of his new EP, as always from David Ford, nothing short of awesome.

Life Is Good

Song from the Austerity Measures EP. "Let the hard times roll".

A couple of live covers and another track from the new EP.
Rich Girl, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Its The Economy Stupid

The Empire - Leeds December 16, 2011
Rich Girl (Hall and Oates), Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (Elton John)
Its The Economy, Stupid (David Ford - Austerity Measures EP)

State Of The Union

The Empire - Leeds December 16 2011

Post created on my Google Chrome Netbook.

Kate Wax

2012-01-15T15:48:00.000-08:00

Kate Wax is the alter ego of Aisha Devi Enz, the Swiss-born, half-Tibetan, totally-driven, self-producing avant-garde singer-songwriter that gifted the world with her Reflections of the Dark Heat debut album via Switzerland's ambassadors of cool Mental Groove back in 2006. And now, after a natural break for baby-making and subsequent months spent holed up with her beloved machines in her cosy studio cave, Aisha finds herself ready to dust off her Kate Wax persona and return to the dancefloor fray to unveil a bold new collection of dark, unconventional electronic post-pop going by the name of 'Dust Collision'.

Kate Wax is the purveyor of totally amazing electronic sounds. Bet you can't keep your feet still. I'm thinking Kate Wax could be the next big thing, check her out and see if you don't agree.

Echoes and the light

ARTIST: Kate Wax
TITLE: Dust Collision (33BCD)
LABEL: Border Community
YEAR: 2011
Kate Wax's 'Dust Collision' is a bold collection of dark, unconventional vocally-exhilarating electronic post-pop underpinned by a minimal synth production aesthetic. swiss-born, half-tibetan autocrat kate wax's second studio album (the follow up to 2006′s 'reflections of a dark heat' on mental groove) is a self-produced affair, the idiosyncratic product of a love affair between her synthesizers and the raw unadulterated feminine power of her soprano trained voice, expanding to reveal her own rich lyrical universe. mixed by kate wax and electronic production legend James Holden.

Green Machine

Here's a great live trailer for the new album/tour.
Dust Collision

I Knit You

Brings new meaning to the old joke, punchline being "If I get her the wool will she knit me one".

First Aid Kit

2012-01-14T16:27:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's been over two years since I last featured First Aid Kit. They are still providing us with their sublime harmonies, and still sounding very American.

Their new album The Lion’s Roar, made with some of Bright Eyes in tow, is more lush than its predecessor and sees the girls heading for smoother country territory than their earlier ragged folk, but their truly sublime sibling harmonies are still the shining beacon they always were. It’s far from cheery – there’s a deep melancholy to the likes of ‘Emmylou’ and ‘To a Poet’ – but it’s heartfelt and compelling stuff.

Great stuff, check out the title song here. And of course when I checked out the credits it is another great video from my old friend Mats Udd.
The Lions Roar

The official video for "The Lion's Roar", directed by Mats Udd.
"The Lion's Roar" is the title track and first single from our sophomore LP, which is out January 24th, 2012 on Wichita Recordings.
Director: Mats Udd
Cinematography: Johannes Helje
Produced by: Ralph Chesterson & Martin Öberg
Editing: Anton Skott
Set Decorator: Diana Ionescu
Styling: Sara Larocca Ramm - Sisters of the Black Moon
Assistant Cameraman: Olle Kirchmeier
Steadicam Operator: Néstor Salazar
Grading and Online: Ida Svenonius
SPFX: Pelle Åkerström, Fia Reisek, Niklas Hermansson
Makeup Artist: Izabel Colleen
Hair Stylist: Camilla Nordin
Production Manager: Ralph Chesterson
Underwater camera: Johannes Helje & Maja Dennhag
Production Assistant: Jenny Malm & Björn Andersson
Extras: Fanny Ekberg Böhme, Magda Ray, Matilda Sundell, Ida Brodhal Fors, Violéta Grape, Sofia Börjesson

Here are the sisters at the Fox Theatre in Oakland late last year.
New Year's

This is the second single taken from the new First Aid Kit album, The Lion's Roar.
Emmylou

Cate Le Bon

2012-01-14T15:36:00.000-08:00

A new force in song craft, Cate Le Bon currently resides in Cardiffs infamous French quarter and befitting a songwriter who only writes in the dark, her music is a heady and highly personal Gallic stew of equal parts Nico, Malkmus and the chroniclers own emotional observations on the impossibility of existence.

Disheartened by the constant stream of dead animals she found herself burying in her parents farm in Penboyr, West Wales, and inspired by her fathers impeccable record collection (The Velvets, Neil Young, Pavement et all) Cate packed her things and begrudgingly set sail for the neon lights and ample rehearsal space available in her countrys capital.

Following a string of club night shows in the city, Cate caught the attention of SFA front man Gruff Rhys who over a cigarette and a glass of brandy offered her some support slots with his band. Cate continued to gig extensively in the U.K releasing singles and a Welsh language E.P (Edrych Yn Llygaid Ceffyl Benthyg) on the Indie Record label Peski.

Not sure who to credit that piece to, since it appears in a gazillion on-line posts.
But hopefully there is a satirical undertone here. Because everybody knows the French Quarter is in New Orleans, maybe they meant Tiger Bay. And definitely no relation to anyone in Duran Duran. Anyway enough of that stuff, we're here for the music. And Cate can certainly provide it.

Fold The Cloth

From the album "Cyrk" out 17 January 2012 on The Control Group.
Featuring Cate Le Bon, Greta & Tegan

Director: Ryan Owen
Director of Photography: Luke Jacobs
Producer: Delmi Thomas
Art Director: Huw Evans
2nd Camera: Ryan Owen
Crane Shots: Chris Jacobi
Editor: Ryan Owen
Colorist: Jon Rennie
Thanks to Bronwen and Sara
Shot in Merthyr Mawr

Hollow Trees House Hounds

A live appearance at the Rock Shop in Brooklyn, NY. November 7 2011.

Slow Moving Millie

2012-01-14T12:27:00.000-08:00

Previously best known for her roles in the BBC adaptation of Lorna Doone and horror flicks Gone and The Echo, Liverpool born actress Amelia Warner’s fledgling music career received an early boost when her stripped-back interpretation of the Smiths’ “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want” was chosen as the soundtrack to the much talked-about John Lewis Christmas TV ad campaign. Recorded under the guise of Slow Moving Millie, her debut album, Renditions, builds further on this formula, with eight covers of her favorite ’80s songs (alongside two original compositions), largely performed in an intimate style akin to a more Radio 2-friendly version of Nouvelle Vague.

That's fine for the folks in the UK who know what John Lewis is, but for the rest of the world maybe this is a first intro to a great new talent. Amelia has a wonderful voice and I for one certainly hope she continues to provide us with musical excursions. Give her a listen.

Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want

Head Over Heels

Beasts

lob4star supplied the slo-mo video

Not much of a video, fades to black a bit early. But a beautiful song.
The Power Of Love

Who knew The Sun had embed able videos?
Check out this great performance
Hold Me Now

Lucy Rose

2012-01-11T13:39:00.000-08:00

Lucy Rose is a Warwickshire-born singer/songwriter. She contributed vocals on the Bombay Bicycle Club albums Flaws and A Different Kind of Fix.
This year she is recording her debut album, with producer Charlie Hugall at her parents house in Warwickshire, and will be touring North America and Canada with Bombay Bicycle Club in February and March 2012.
Such a beautiful voice, and a very talented songwriter should not go by un-noticed.
Check out some of her recent songs.

Along with a great song a terrific collection of sweaters.
Middle of the Bed

Video by Starbound Pictures LTD.
Directed by Orestes Mitas

Scar

Video by Starbound Pictures/Racked Films
Directed by Orestes Mitas

All I've Got

Beatnik Sessions is a series of films from Beatnik Online - exploring independent artists from a diverse set of genres.  Filmed live at various locations our intention is to support great music in a beautiful way.  
The lovely folk singer Lucy Rose passes through for this episode of Beatnik Sessions and performs her heart warming single 'All I've Got'  .

L

2012-01-11T12:54:00.000-08:00

Sexy, Sultry and beautiful singing - although I still do not understand to much French it sounds so great when it is sung. Think of Edith Piaf, Charles Aznavour, Jacques Brel.
L is Raphaële Lannadère, born in France in 1981. She has studied polyphony Gypsy, Corsican, Bulgarian, gospel and Fado music, all of which have an influence on her style.
In 2002, she chose her stage name, L, and gave her first concert in the basement of a Parisian rotisserie, accompanied by Babx.
She has also sung with the Brazilian Ricardo Tete and Teofilo Chantre.
Her first EP was released in 2008 and her first full LP was released last year.
The album is called Initiale and I recommend you to look out for it.
For a sampling here are three songs that appear on that album.

Initiale

La chanteuse L (Raphaële Lannadère) chante la chanson Initiale.

Jalouse

Je fume

L, interprète "Je fume" dans Acoustic ! TV5Monde

Hayward, California

2012-01-11T10:57:00.000-08:00

For many years now I've worked in Hayward, California - but I guess I just don't get out of the office enough to appreciate the local surroundings. So I was glad to see this travelogue of the fair city. Though to be honest I have been to Buffalo Bills a few times.

Kudos to Skinnyfatbboy for the upload and filming even?

A Bicycle Built for Two

2012-01-10T17:17:00.000-08:00

If you ever thought the Tour de France was slightly crazy, then how about cycling around a mountain at breakneck speeds on a bicycle made for two?

This is just too wild. This is the Roc d'Azur and you don't have to be crazy to enter, but it may help.

A far cry from the old days, they even wrote a song about A Bicycle Built for Two.
Daisy

Carlos Funk

2012-01-10T13:42:00.000-08:00

OK, so I'm browsing around You Tube and checking my daily recommendations and came across this wonderful guitar picker. I nice tone and a great turner of a tune. It helps that it's the blues, cause I like me some blues. Carlos has his own very interesting blog where you can read more about his take on the blues. Anybody who likes Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Willie McTell and Robert Johnson has to be one of the good guys. So check out Carlos and enjoy his sounds.

Dust My Broom (with dancing kid)

This Robert Johnson tune played on my '38 Gibson LOO, "The Lady". I always loved this song and finally figured out a way that I could play it. Thanks to Ludwin for the dramatic accents.
Carlos

Statesboro Blues

My version of Blind Willie McTell's song, made famous by the Allman Bros. I've been playing this for years and it's just evolved. This for Eric and Kass. This, my first recording with the Rode NT1A going into my laptop from a tubepre. I'd like some feedback on what you think about the sound. Blind Willie, of course, played a big old 12 string guitar. This is a 6 string Recording King 12 fret. Carlos

Liberty

Steve James showed me his version of this tune, after seeing my take and telling me that I had too many fingers on the guitar. So I took a few off, added some of my own riffs, and practiced like gangbusters. This song is very meaningful to me because I think it'd be a different country with an anthem like this. Imagine the people boogieing to this at the ball parks. Maybe we can still change it. For me, "Jose, can you see?" just doesn't make it. Carlos

Darkside

2012-01-10T13:12:00.000-08:00

Darkside (aka Nicolas Jaar & Dave Harrington) have this amazing EP currently on release.
You just have to listen to it to appreciate how good music can be.
After you have heard it I'm sure you will have to own it.

A1

A2

This also from their new EP.

A3

Here's a live appearance

Darkside (Nicolas Jaar + Dave Harrington) live at Music Hall of Williamsburg

Walk off the Earth

2012-01-09T13:57:00.000-08:00

Walk off the Earth, is one of the only "Truly" Independent bands in the music Industry today. They have had no help from record labels, managers, booking agents or publicists. They've gain much of their success through word of mouth from their dedicated and loyal fans. Their passion to create Great Music, Entertaining Original Videos and Innovative Live Performances is all they will need to be recognized as the new face of Music!

Walk off the Earth are:
Marshall - Guitar, Vocals +
Gianni Luminati - Bass, Vocals +
Taylor - Keys, Vocals
Joel Cassady - Drums

Just one question, how can a band as talented as Walk off the Earth not be mega stars?

I just love this, a brilliant brilliant cover of the wonderful Gotye song.
Somebody That I Used to Know

Love The Way You Lie

Walk off the Earth's Gianni Luminati, Does his rendition of Eminem's hit "love the way you lie" with a little help from his LOOP Pedals!

If you've ever been here before you may have an inkling as to how big a fan of the Theremin I am, so I was doubly pleased to see this one.
a tribute to early 90's West Side Hip Hop

And just in case you think they are all covers check out this original track from their forthcoming new album.
Corner of Queen

Gonna end the way we started with the Goyte cover. But this time someone put the two videos together to see how close they were. Very interesting. Walk off the Earth in the left stereo channel and Gotye in the right.

Thanks to Buzz Bazooka for pointing me in the right direction.

Emily West

2012-01-08T16:00:00.000-08:00

Emily West originally from Waterloo, Iowa but now located in Nashville, Tn.
One question, why is this lady not a huge star?
You only have to listen to one of her songs, any one, and the talent just oozes out.
C'mon people, here's your new star for 2012. Check her out, and check out her new EP I Hate You I Love You.

Anthem

Loser

My Story

Thanks to MichelleBell16 for the three fine videos above here.

Here is the title track from the new EP.

I Hate You, I Love You, Again from stephen shepherd on Vimeo.

The Maccabees

2012-01-08T15:25:00.000-08:00

The Maccabees hail from London, and they are made up of:
Orlando Weeks - Vocals
Hugo White - Guitar
Felix White - Guitar/Vocals
Rupert Jarvis - Bass
Sam Doyle - Drums

The band came up with the name by flicking through the Bible and picking out a random word and not from taking the name of the already established Thanet band. Despite adopting a name with religious connotations, lead singer Orlando Weeks has more recently affirmed, in an interview on Steve Lamacq's BBC Radio 1 show, that none of the band is religious. Their lyrics often include an atheistic theme, in particular their second album's title track, "Wall of Arms" and "All in Your Rows" from their debut album.

Their third album is to be released tomorrow. Looks like 2012 is going to be a good year for music.

Here's a few tracks from the new album Given To The Wild.
Pelican

From their new album Given To The Wild released January 9th 2012

Feel To Follow (Alternate Version)

also on the new album.

Forever I've known

live @ Manchester Sound Control last week

Mi And L’Au

2012-01-08T14:58:00.000-08:00

Mira and Laurent - a fashion model from Finland and soundtrack musician from France. Austere, minimal music made with voice and acoustic guitars and other very sparse orchestrations.

Mi and L’au met in Paris a few years back. Mi is Finnish and was working as a model to make ends meet and L’au (who’s French) was working in the music industry (soundtracks). They fell deeply and immediately in love, and after a short period of moving from apartment to apartment in Paris, they gave everything up and decided to move in a small cabin in woods in Finland, so they could be alone together in peace and spend their time discovering each other and their music.

Their new album is called If Beauty Is a Crime, and if it was Mi And L’Au would be found guilty. This is some beautiful music.

If Beauty Is A Crime

Video created by Mathieu Linotte

Warrior

Not on the new album, but cannot miss out on a live performance.
Dance on my skin

Live at The Cube Bristol, England some years ago.

Again from a few years back, a video to mess with your conception.
La Piscine

Elvis Presley

2012-01-07T17:04:00.000-08:00

It's the 8th January in the majority of the world, so to make sure it's around for most people I'm putting this up a few hours early.

We can't let Elvis's birthday pass without some of his music, and I would like to introduce to anyone who has spent their life under a rock the absolute best Elvis LP (in my humble opinion) and that is undoubtably "Elvis is Back" the first album he recorded after his return from the army. The regular fans will recognize it, and if they give it some thought they may even agree with me.

A Mess of Blues

This is from the 2011 Legacy version release

I Will Be Home Again

Make Me Know It

Thrill Of Your Love

My thanks go out to Jackiej61t00 for their extreme good taste in uploading these videos and to Wes and Christine for their inspiration.

The first album by Elvis Presley after his military discharge from the army, the first day of its sessions were attended by the Colonel, his assistant Tom Diskin, and representatives from RCA in a show of interest regarding whether or not Elvis still "had it" after two years in uniform. His long-serving guitarist Scotty Moore, pianist Floyd Cramer, and drummer D. J. Fontana had returned, along with his back-up vocal quartet The Jordanaires, but the other musicians had only played on one previous session with Elvis. One new face at the sessions whom Presley had befriended while in the service, Charlie Hodge, would become a Presley regular, member of the Memphis Mafia and a mainstay in his return to live performance at the end of the decade. Pressure aside, the sessions were successful, the album a highlight of the entire decade and a declared favorite by Presley regarding his own work. He moved beyond his standard rock and roll sound of the 1950s, combining doo-wop, gospel, blues, and even jazzy tones from his version of "Fever" following so close to that of Peggy Lee from 1958. The results yielded a new sound for Presley, with a varied song selection, moving him further toward the pop music he would undertake as the decade progressed. Prior to this, only his second album fully derived from a specific set of sessions undertaken expressly to make a particular album. [Wikipedia]

If you want more Elvis, and who doesn't, here's some earlier posts featuring the King.

Poor Boy
Lonesome Cowboy
Jailhouse Rock
Trouble

Suspicious Minds
Crawfish
King Creole

That's all right mama, the droopy mike version.

Blue Suede Shoes

Fever

Mystery Train

Don't be Cruel
Dixieland Rock
Stuck on You
Teddy Bear

Reconsider Baby
Such a Night
One Night With You
I Got A Woman

Long Tall Sally
Tutti Frutti
Shake Rattle and Roll
Rip it up

Covers

2012-01-06T14:26:00.000-08:00

Apropos of nothing I give you some covers today. Maybe there is a consistency about it.
Whatever, just some great music to enjoy.

You're So Square (Baby I Don't Care) - Buddy Holly

Written in 1957 by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
Covered by (among others) Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Cliff Richard, Led Zeppelin (During live medleys), Joni Mitchell, Bobby Fuller, Don McLean, Scotty Moore, The Professionals, Queen, Brian Setzer, Rodney Scott, Bobby Vee, Bryan Ferry

Blue Suede Shoes - Carl Perkins

Written and first recorded by Carl Perkins in 1955
Covered by (among others) Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Johnny Rivers, Cat Mother & the All Night Newsboys, Black Sabbath, Plastic Ono Band, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Springsteen, The Grateful Dead, Jerry Lee Lewis, Pat Boone, Merle Haggard, Conway Twitty, Bill Haley and His Comets, The Beatles

That's All Right - Arthur Crudup

Written and originally performed by Arthur Crudup
Covered by (among others) Elvis Presley, Marty Robbins

Mystery Train - Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

Written by Junior Parker and Sam Phillips.
Covered by (among others) Elvis Presley, Chet Atkins & Jerry Reed, The Band, Jeff Beck and Chrissie Hynde, Boxcar Willie, Bulldog, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Terry Dene, Junior Wells, The Dirtbombs, Long John Baldry, The Doors, Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash, Jose Feliciano

I Got A Woman - Ray Charles

co-written and recorded by Ray Charles
Covered by (among others) Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Bill Cosby, The Barbarians, Anneke van Giersbergen, Baby Face Willette, Fred McDowell, Jo Stafford, Bobby Darin, Adam Faith, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, Roy Orbison, Al Kooper, The Honeydrippers, The Monkees, Stevie Wonder, Snooks Eaglin, Johnny Cash and June Carter, John Mayer Trio, Jerry Lee Lewis, Them

Shake, Rattle & Roll - Big Joe Turner

Written in 1954 by Jesse Stone under his assumed songwriting name Charles E. Calhoun. It was originally recorded by Big Joe Turner
Covered by (among others) Elvis Presley, Arthur Conley, The Beatles, Sam Cooke, Willy DeVille, Johnny Horton, The Swinging Blue Jeans, Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, NRBQ, Huey Lewis and the News, Doc Watson, Bill Haley and his Comets, Little Richard

Gretchen Peters

2012-01-05T12:52:00.000-08:00

Gretchen Peters performs music for grownups. Folk who like singer songwriters like Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Tori Amos. You know the smart stuff.
Plus she has a great "lived in" voice. Gretchen hails from Nashville, TN. Although originally from Bronxville, New York.

Listen to these three songs, and then tell me why you aren't out there looking for her wonderful album, Hello Cruel World. I know it's real early days yet, but I foresee this among my favorite albums of 2012.

Hello Cruel World

The Matador

Saint Francis

The title of Gretchen Peters’ new Hello Cruel World is a pun on the famed exit line — a joke that, like the lovely melodies and deliciously textured arrangements framing these 11 songs — sweetens this captivating music spun from a year of turmoil. The Grammy nominated singer-songwriter from Nashville calls Hello Cruel World her “most close-to-the-bone work, written at a time when I felt absolutely fearless about telling the truth.” Peters and her guest Rodney Crowell sing, “life is still a beautiful disaster,” on “Dark Angel.” But Peters keeps the accent on the “beautiful” throughout her ninth disc, with both her poetic language and the spare, evocative sounds she created in the studio to support her organic story-telling.