Woops! I've just found last week's episode still in draft and unpublished. Sorry. As a result you can all strap yourselves in for a longer missive this time around.
The Proclaimers - Streets of Edinburgh - https://youtu.be/7qTbLoyQ23g
"When the lights go down in the California town,
People are in for the evening.
I jump into my car and I throw in my guitar,
My heartbeat in time with my breathing.." - Gold, John Stewart, 1979
Part 1:
My Dad visited recently. He likes a good tune as much as the next person, perhaps more. We were talking about songs and he remarked that what speaks the most to him is folk music. One of the main reasons for this is that it generally tells a story. The instrumentation is important but the lyrics and meaning are paramount. That seems fair to me. So, here we go with a few of my favourite artists who are excellent at storytelling though their music. This is just scratching the surface...
Nick Barker continues to write, record and play great music with his band The Heartache State. This song, from 1994, is from an album that I regard as essential listening. It's called, "Happy Man". Here's one of the few songs I've sung live to an audience as the main vocalist. Great story in the lyrics.
Nick Barker - Time Bomb - https://youtu.be/troz3IhG-3k
Archie Roach must be a national treasure. He's an amazing singer and lyricist. I could've chosen any number of his songs but this one resonates as much today as it did on release in '93.
Archie Roach - Walking Into Doors - https://youtu.be/b-OwOfUFamI
There should be no-one out there surprised that I have included Jason Isbell. Some of his tunes are deceptively simple but cutting lyrics like these make his work very meaningful. Being able to express such raw emotion in a song is pure art.
Jason Isbell - Elephant (live/acoustic) - https://youtu.be/ClugMhMbrRg
Hearing the next song when I was at school, it was as if it was written for young people from where I grew up. The reality is that Bruce Springsteen is able to connect with so many people as a result of his deep understanding of the human experience. The delivery of this live version shows why he is so successful; he connects with his audience in a way that few others can.
Bruce Springsteen - The River (live, 1980) - https://youtu.be/lc6F47Z6PI4
The next track actually is about where I grew up in country Victoria. Yallourn was a town that was simply taken away on the back of trucks to allow for open cut coal mining. Mick Thomas from Weddings, Parties, Anything has the knack of writing songs about everyday places and making them sound fantastic. Any attempts I've made at writing similar songs just sound naff. Why is that Mick can write a great track about Taylor Square but I can't write about Garema Place? Talent is the answer!
Weddings, Parties, Anything - Industrial Town - https://youtu.be/nfBkR8a9gPE
I've left a ton of good artists out of this list but I'll finish with Mia Dyson. She's an Australian guitarist, singer and writer. Mia's music is fairly much in the blues and roots genre but she puts her own stamp on things. The story about this song is that a woman approached Mia to ask her to write about having her child taken from her when it was born. Powerful stuff.
Mia Dyson - Jesse - https://youtu.be/cLHOp_ts2uQ
Part 2:
A couple of weeks I played two tracks from the new Proclaimers album. The long player has now been released and I really like it. The influence of soul music is very clear and Craig and Charlie Reid's voices are as strong as ever. This video wasn't available last time so give it a whirl. Great views of Edinburgh.
The Proclaimers - Streets of Edinburgh - https://youtu.be/7qTbLoyQ23g
I love a good cover....and even better, a good medley. Check out these guys; I think they are fantastic! All the way from India paying tribute to Malcolm Young of AC/DC. If you've got some time then have a listen to some of their other tracks. They are great musicians and the singer....man, he can wail!
GATC - Malcolm Young-AC/DC tribute - https://youtu.be/mgG3jiZg7e4
This is one that I left out of Part 1. Paul Kelly could have a whole list of tracks all to himself when it comes to storytelling. It's hard to choose just one for you so here's two!
Paul Kelly - If I Could Start Today Again - https://youtu.be/tb9nrAvGPaI
Paul Kelly - When I First Met Your Ma (live) - https://youtu.be/FxfLCqV3wes
Today I stumbled across a whole heap of fantastic live footage shot in Melbourne for a big concert in 1988. "Laneway Music" have put it up on their YouTube channel and it includes artists such as Jimmy Barnes, Shane Howard and Men At Work. Classic Aussie stuff. Here'a taster...some of you will spend quite a while following this one down a YouTube rabbit hole no doubt!
Shirley Strachan - Living in the 70's (live 1988 soundcheck) - https://youtu.be/smqfBecoi6Y
Remember the band Weezer covering Toto's song "Africa"? Well, Toto have returned the favour with their version of a song that Rivers Cuomo says is about an "insane, homosexual, transvestite prostitute". Right then....here we go!
Toto - Hash Pipe - https://youtu.be/NNnESfsyYG0
Finally, AC/DC rumours abound! Phil Rudd (drums) and Brian Johnson (vocals) have been sighted in Vancouver at a studio reportedly in the company of Stevie and Angus Young. Could this mean a new album? Who knows. If there is then I bet Chris Slade (also drums) will be a bit disappointed.
Jim Breuer and the Loud & Rowdy - Old School - https://youtu.be/dx_e8YaQpS0
Happy Birthday Brownie!
Have a great weekend folks,
Rob
People are in for the evening.
I jump into my car and I throw in my guitar,
My heartbeat in time with my breathing.." - Gold, John Stewart, 1979
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