Ok yesterday I was browsing on Spotify when spotted a recommendation for me. The recommendation was for “Rager” a single release from Robert Jon & the Wreck. The single also included “Hate to See You Go” . After listening to the songs and liking them a lot I checked out their Spotify home page and saw they released a full album Red Moon Rising back in June of this year. So I decided to check it out! I liked it also and this morning it became the soundtrack for my granddaughter Emma’s walk! Here’s what I discovered about the band.
About Robert Jon & the Wreck
Robert Jon & The Wreck are a Southern California band which has taken the Southern Rock sound and made it their own. The band was formed in 2011 and the members include: Robert Jon Burrison (lead vocals, guitar), Andrew Espantman (drums, background vocals), HenryJames Schneekluth (lead guitar, background vocals), Warren Murrel (bass) and Jake Abernathie (keyboards).
They have played all over the world and have shared the stage with the likes of bills with talent the likes of Joe Bonamassa, Blackberry Smoke, Peter Frampton, Joanne Shaw Taylor, The Mavericks, Buddy Guy and Rival Sons.
Red Moon Rising is the band’s eleventh release and appears to have a little harder edge than their previous releases. At there website I read that their release Shine A Light On Me Brother’ lead to a collaboration with Blues Rock icon Joe Bonamassa’s Journeyman Records. That collaboration has lead to new and exciting music. Their 2023 release ‘Ride Into The Light’ is a dynamic, multi-faceted album. It features material produced by GRAMMY-Award winners Don Was (Bonnie Raitt, The Stones, John Mayer) and Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile, Blackberry Smoke, Rival Sons), Kevin Shirley (Iron Maiden, The Black Crowes), along with guitar virtuosos Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith. Wow! I’ll be listening to that soon!
About Red Moon Rising
Red Moon Rising is a hard driving blues Rock album with lots of great vocals and soaring guitars. It also has some quieter moments, like the closing track “Give Love” . I slightly prefer the hard driving tracks. Bur I’m sure the slower tracks will grow on me the more I listen to the album.
So Check it Out! (Actually, with 67.2K listeners per month a lot of people already have checked them out!) So check out Red Moon Rising! As for me, I’ve got a lot of back catalog to check out! Anyone want to recommend where to start?
Links for the Further Exploration of the Music of Robert Jon & the Wreck
So, I had a 35 minute drive Monday morning to get to a dental appointment, to have a wisdom tooth extracted. It was a good time to listen to one of the three blues albums that have been in my music rotation. I chose I Hear Thunder from Tab Benoit. And I’m glad I did! The more I listen to the album the more I like it
About Tab Benoit
If you are unfamiliar with Tab Benoit he is a Louisiana-based singer, guitarist, and environmental preservationist. His music has a Cajun-inflected blues-rock sound. While he first burst onto the blues music scene with his 1992 release Nice & Warm on the Vanguard label. I think I first found Tab Benoit’s music around 2010, when I started blogging.
The first album I picked up was Night Train to Nashville. I can remember listening to that album on my way to many a job site for my job. Since part of my job was delineating wetlands his music and actions to protect wetlands struck a chord with me.
Anyway, since then many of Tab’s album have found their way into my music library. The last one was Medicine released 13 years ago! Today, as I was researching for this post, I discovered the reason for the gap was tha Tab had to free himself from a horrible record deal with Justice Records.
Justice Records issued his first five albums. However, the label folded in the late ’90s. Tab’s contract and catalog transferred first to Vanguard, then Telarc, and finally Concord. All without his consent. Finally after releasing Medicine in 2011, he simply refused to issue another album without adequate compensation.
During the time span between Medicine and I Hear Thunderhe founded Voice of the Wetlands, an organization promoting awareness of the receding coastal region of Louisiana. In addition, created Tab Benoit’s Lagniappe Music Cafe, situated in downtown Houma.
For the duration of this period, Benoit still performed at local and regional gigs. The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival issued two of his live recordings from the event in 2016 and 20.
In 2017 he founded Whiskey Bayou Records. The label currently is home to a variety of artist including: Jeff McCarty, Alastair Greene, Eric Johanson, Dash Rip Rock, Eric McFadden, Damon Fowler, and JP Soars.
About I Hear Thunder
Now let’s get back to the aforementioned,I Hear Thunder. Currently the album is number 8? On the roots music Report’s Blues Chart. I don’t think it will be long before it will be number 1! It’s a winner all round great songs, great vocals and great guitars. All ten of the tracks are Tab Benoit originals. Four songs were written by Tab alone and the remainder were cowritten with either Anders Osborne or George Porter Jr or both.
While I’m starting to like all of the tracks on the album. After the first couple of listens my favorites were “ I Hear Thunder”, “Still Gray” and “Watching the Gators Roll In”
The bottom line is check it out now! As for me I’m going back and listen to some of the earlier albums I have from Tab Benoit!
So more and more I am going to make this more a true Weblog! And by that I mean I’m going to make it more about what’s happening in my life, I will still be writing about books, music and turning back my biological clock. However, I usually struggle with analyzing why I like a book or even an album, so I have a hard time writing a review type post. I don’t like to write a complete analysis of each song on an album or a deep analysis of each book i read. I like to write a little about what the book is about, along with a little about the author. Hopefully, the posts I write may lead the reader to a new author or musician! With all that being said let’s see what happened today!
A Morning Walk/Run
My last full run was about two weeks ago. When I started the run the plan was to run the 2,5 mile course I ran on that last run. However, soon after I started even though I was doing okt mi, I just didn’t have it. So I chose to walk about mid-way through the first half mile. From that point on I ran a little then walked a little. I ran/walked the first mile in 14:24 and the second in 14:59, Then I walked most of the last .55 mile in 16:19. The overall pace for the run was 15:02. If I had been paying attention I would have picked up the pace a little to get under 15 min/mile pace.
The Soundtrack – Floreada’s Boy By Zac Harmon
Floreada’s Boy has been in my music rotation for a few weeks now and I like it more each time I listen to the album. Currently, the album made a big jump on the Roots Music Report this week. It rose from number 44 to No 3!Ir wouldn’t surprise me if it was No 1 next week. Zac sums up Floreada’s Boy as follows…
Floreada’s Boy is a reflection of my 50 years of musical performance. From the juke joints of Mississippi to stages all over the world. Not bad for an old countryests on Floreada;s Bo boy.
The Zac Harmon Band includes: Nate Robinson guitar, Gino Inglehart drums, and Corey Lacey on keyboards. Guests on Floreada’s Boy include: Texas Horns, Caleb Quaye, Sue Ann Carwell and Munyungo Jackson.
From Frank Matheis’s Review at Living Blues
Every song on Floreada’s Boyis a keeper. On the blues side, Harman kicks it into overdrive with slashing guitar and the horns to bring you firecrackers like Big Dog Blues, a deep blues that could take its place right next to the best classics of the genre. There is plenty of funk, as in Let It Slide and Stress.
On the soul side there are five beautiful songs, most notably the languid and slow That’s the Way I Feel about Cha, with a distinct 1970s vibe featuring the great SueAnn Carwell. Never Forget is a gut-wrenching, broken-heart love song that could have fit perfectly on a Marvin Gaye or Ray Charles record. The blues has always had something important to say, and Zac Harmon is saying it as clearly as ever. He closes the album with the stunningly heavy, powerful, socio-critical, anti-gun violence song Stop the Killing. If he had recorded nothing but that poignant and impactful song, so imperative in our time, that alone would stand as a masterpiece, his magnum opus. If only people took it to heart. Stop the Killing should win every songwriting award on the planet if there is any justice. Sing it from the rooftops. Read More at Living Be albumlues
The Bottom Line
Floreada’s Boy is a triple treat for me. First great songs,, Second great vocals and finally great guitar work! So check it out!
Links for the Further Exploration of the Blues of Zac Harmon
The Nerdy Details as I Try to Start Running Again!
Ok so over the last two weeks I have semii-started to run again. I say semi because I have only run three times since July 26th. Oh, and I had a stress test on August 5th. The first two runs were actually run/walks. On both of those runs I basically ran a little and then walked a little.
On the July 26th run I covered 2.1 miles in 32:27. That calculates to a 15:30 min/mile pace. However, during the run I ran for 14:45 minutes and walked for 17:41 minutes.
Likewise on my July 28th run I walked and ran but did a little better. I covered 2.68 miles in 39:36 for a 14:46 min/mile pace. However, during this run I actually ran more than I walked. I ran for 21:29 minutes and walked for 18:04 minutes.
Finally, on my August 11 run I did better still. On that run I covered 2.16 miles in 32′:53 for a pace somewhat slower than the preceding runs. The final pace was !5:13 min/mile. The good thing though about this run was that I ran (ok,jogged) for 28:43 minutes while only walking for 4:07 minutes. I ran he whole first mile. Then I walked a quarter mile and almost ran the second mi le. Unfortunately I calculated how far I needed to run to get that last mile and came up a little short!
I’m planning on running again tomorrow morning and I’ll bore you with the details after the run! My goal may be to run for 30 minutes with no walking! Wish me luck!
The Soundtrack August 11 Run – The B Christopher Band
The soundtrack for the majority of the run was the latest release from The B Christopher Band – 106 Miles to Chicago. The last time an album from the B Christopher Band was used as a soundtrack for a run was back in 2019. when I was a soon to be 68-year -old. The run was a 4.16 mile run at an average pace of 10:28 min/mile. You can read about it here. Oh, how I long for those days!
About 106 Miles to Chicago
Anyway back to these days. Well I knew that there were a lot of old songs on this album like n”Hey,Bartender “{, “She caught the Katy”, Sweet Home Chicago” and “Gimme Some Lovin’.” But the reference to the Blues Brothers in the album’s title flew right over my head! Anyway here’s the quote that provided the title to this album that is a tribute to the Blues Brothers!
Elwood: It’s a hundred and six miles to Chicago, we’ve got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it’s dark, and we’re wearing sunglasses. Jake: Hit it.
B Christopher is a fantastic guitarist and his band in this album is pretty dam good. It includes: Eddie Testa on lead vocals, Anton Fig on drums, Nick Douglas on bass and backing vocals. Bruce Katz on keys Andy Snizter on tenor and baritone sax, Ryan Keberle on trombone, Tony Kadleck on trumpet,Sharlotte Gibson provides backing vocals, and Studebaker John adds harmonica.
Additionally, Original Blues Brothers member Tom “Bones” Malone plays baritone sax on ‘Gimme Some Lovin’”,
The only bad thing about the album is it only contains seven songs. And it is only 26 minutes and change long! Anyway it is definitely and album that should be checked out!
Links for the Further Exploration of the Music of The B Christopher Band
So, as I’ve written previously over the last year, particularly from September to June I only ran sporadically. And I’ll tell you that the summer is not an easy time for this 73 year old to start over! Anyway the way that I am trying to restart my running is by both running and walking, Basically, I’ll run about a half mile and then walk a quarter mile and keep that switching going for about 30 minutes or more. It also turns out to be running until my heart rate gets up to about 140 bpm and then walking until it drops back to 110 bpm or lower. Anyway, here are the runs and the soundtrack Shut Up &Playfrom Toronzo Cannon
The Runs
Anyway I ran last Friday 7/26 I covered 2.09 miles in 32:27 for a 15:30 /mi pace. Overall, I ran for 14:45 and walked for 17:41. On Sunday I did a little better. I covered 2.68 miles in 39:36 for an average pace of 14:46/mi. The good thing was that my time running was 21:29 and walking time only 18:04. In addition on Friday my average heart rate was 117 BPM and my max heart rate was 1369 bpm, While on Sunday my average heart rate was 125 bpm with a maximum of 151 (‘ during my old man sprint at the end – lol. So I know it will take some time to get back running fairly well, but at least if I improve on each run I’ll be happy!
The Soundtracks – Shut Up & Play – Toronzo Cannon
The soundtrack for Friday’s run was Shut Up & Play the latest release from Chicago blues artist Toronzo Cannon. From his website……
“I want my songs to be heard and experienced, not just listened to,” says cliché-defying, internationally beloved Chicago bluesman Toronzo Cannon. With his richly detailed, truth-telling original songs, blistering, inventive guitar work and impassioned vocals, Cannon is on the cutting edge of today’s contemporary blues scene and is known as one of the genre’s most creative artists. His sound is inspired by his heroes, including Hound Dog Taylor, Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Albert King, Son Seals and Jimi Hendrix. On his third Alligator Records album, Shut Up And Play!, Cannon blazes his own path with 11 emotionally-charged originals. From serious to humorous, his imaginative songs are fueled by his powerful, cathartic guitar solos and his soulfully authoritative voice.
Toronzo wrote all of the twelve tracks on the album and he says this about his songs……
“I write what I know, what I feel,” Cannon says, “I like to put myself in the shoes of the subjects of my songs. This record is about the things going on in my life since 2019–it’s a document of what I’ve seen and been through, but the stories are universal. And it’s my way to get past negative things and keep my own sanity. Listen to the lyrics. I am a Black man in America. These are NOT protest songs. I try to create honest, common sense understanding with my songs.”
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that Shut Up & Playis a terrific album and one that should be in every blues lovers collection, My favorite tracks on the album include: “Had to Go Through it to Get to It”, “Can’t Fix the World”, “Got Me by the Short Hairs” and the title track. So check it Out!
Links for the Further Exploration of the Music of Toronzo Cannon
Ok so the last year has been a blur. I had a couple of health problems that upset my life. First, there was a problem with my left eye. When I closed my right eye and only used my left eye, every thing had a gray cast to it, rather than the true colors. That problem sent me to an ophthalmologist who didn’t;t know what the problem was.
So she sent me to a retina specialist who also wasn’t sure what caused the problem. Fearing I had some kind of mini-stroke he sent me to my family doctor for blood work and a cardiologist,The cardiologist was asked to perform an echo cardiogram and the ultrasounds for my carotid arteries. Both were fine no blockages anywhere.
The cardiologist also had me wear a heart monitor for several weeks. At that time I was still running and everything again was good. So it was back to the retina specialist.
From the Retina Specialist to Other Specialists
He was still puzzled and said he’d like me to go see a neuro-ophthalmologist. I did that in December of 2023. His evaluation led to an MRI to make sure the were no masses in my head pressing on the optic nerve. The MRI revealed no mass and according to them an atrophied optic nerve that looked “funky”
His recommendation was to remove my not too bad cataracts. Their thinking was that the removal of the cataracts would improve my vision.
So it was back to the retina specialist. He in turn sent me to a cataract specialist to be evaluated. It didn’t take long for the cataract specialist to long to determine that, yes she could remove the cataracts, but not before I was evaluated for glaucoma!
Finally, an Answer!
I visited the glaucoma specialist this past April and he quickly determined that yes I had glaucoma in that eye. So now I am using eye drops that have lowered my eye pressure greatly.
Now in addition to worry about my eye, I also had problem was my carpal tunnel, which went from a minor annoyance to a major annoyance! /My hands were so bad that I woke up two or more times a night with both hands on fire. I had to shake them and hope they woke up! Anyway that sent me a a hand specialist and cortisone shots and surgery looming.
However.since January my hours are Target have been cut drastically and my hands are pretty good at least I don’t wake up at night and my dexterity has improved!
Don’t Forget Babysitting!
So as if the above was not enough to upset my blogging life,my daughter had a baby in February of 2023. In September my wife and I became full time babysitters for her. We babysat almost everyday from September to June from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm. Needless to say it has been hard to find time to blog and/or run during those months.
But how can you not enjoy every day you’re with this little one!
Bottom Line – Let’s Get Writing
So the bottom line is I have four or five weeks to get back in the groove of blogging. And that means I need to keep reading, listening to great music and running and doing stuff to turn back my biological clock. So I have something to write avout!
So I started off Saturday morning by deciding I would listen to some music from each of the music genres I listen to most often. Sometimes it would be new music and sometimes music that,s been in my music library for a long time.
Discovering Jack Williams
I actually picked an album that’s been in my library since the late 90s early 00s. Jack Williams’ 1997 release Across the Winterline. I bought the CD in the bargain bin at Tunes in Mount Laurel, NJ. I bought it at a time when my sons and I would go to Tunes almost every week. They were in their teens and I was getting back into buying music for me!
Anyway I fell in love with Jack’s guitar playing and his songs about life in the south i’ve been a fan since then .
The Music of Jack Williams
From Jack’s website
Jack Williams’ music has its , roots in his native South Carolina. Additionally, it has been shaped by his 65-year career. Along the way Jack has played folk, rock, jazz, R&B, classical and the popular music of the 30s, 40s and 50s.
He is counted among the most dynamic performers of his day– Dave Humphreys of Two-Way Street Coffeehouse in Downer’s Grove, IL.says Jack is“…one of the most enlightened and entertaining performers I’ve ever encountered“
Jack is considered a “musician’s musician”, an uncommonly unique guitarist, a writer of vivid songs with a strong sense of place, and a storyteller in an old Southern tradition who further illustrates each tale with his guitar
Buzz from his website
“…. his artistry… is nothing short of amazing. Dazzling picking, expressive voice, unique and interesting songs. He is a showman in the best sense of the word and just wowed our audience. I think they would have followed him anywhere.” Rich Warren, WFMT “Midnight Special”, Chicago IL
I posted the above stuff from his website because they can tell you about Jack better than I can! All I can say he’s great and listen to his wonderful music! As for me, I need to check out and get a couple of his recent CDs
Links for the Further Exploration of the Music of Jack Williams
So the other day I wrote a out one of the two songs that have been in my music rotation this month, Albert Cummings‘ latest album Strong. The other album is Mike Zito‘s new album Life is Hard. Like Cummings Zito has been a favorite of mine for many years a now. I started listening to his music back around 2010 in when I heard his album Pearl. I think that his last two albums, 2021 Blues for the Southside Live and Life is Hard have been the best of his career.
About Life is Hard
Life is Hard was recorded in September 0f 2023 at Sunset Sound Studios in Hollywood, California. Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith produced the album, Both Bonamassa and Smith worked on the production of Blood Brothers, the critically-acclaimed album Zito recorded with fellow label guitarist Albert Castiglia,. (another favorite) Blood Brothers topped both the Billboard and iTunes blues charts after its release in March, 2023.
Life Is Hard is composed of several Mike Zito originals. In addition Mike makes a variety of blues songs written by more of my favorite artists including: Tinsley Ellis, Walter Trout, Tab Benoit and Fred James.
But that’s not all a diverse assortment of blues/roots music icons music is covered including Little Milton (“Lonely Man”), Stevie Wonder (“Have a Talk with God”) and Reverend Gary Davis (“Death Don’t Have No Mercy”), plus a terrific cover of the Guess Who classic, “These Eyes.”
Mike has this to say about the album…..
“Life Is Hard is a complete work of art for me,” says Mike Zito about the new disc. “I believe this is the best album I’ve ever made in my life. My wife Laura and I planned this idea of pouring my heart out in music after her death from cancer. Joe, Josh and the incredible musicians were fully aware of the task at hand. They brought a lot of emotion to the music. I am so proud of this album and I know Laura would be proud as well.”
From Mike Zito’s website.
The Bottom Line
The Bottom line is Life is Hard, like Strong is a fantastic album. In my opinion it is the best album Zito has recorded and it will be quickly climbing the blues charts. Currently it is number 11 on the Roots Music Report Blues Chart.
Mike’s guitar work and vocals are both great throughout Life is Hard. On several of the tracks on the album the keyboard work also shines. When I went to Mike’s website I discovered Reese Wynans was the keyboardist! Here’s the complete musician line-up on the album…..
Mike Zito – Guitar and Vocals Joe Bonamassa – Additional Guitar Josh Smith – Additional Guitar Reese Wynans – Keyboards Calvin Turner – Bass Lemar Carter – Drums Paulie Cerra – Saxophone on “Lonely Man” Jennifer Kumma and Anna Spina – French Horn on “Forever My Love” and “These Eyes” Jade Macrae – Background Vocals Dannielle Deandrea – Background Vocals Steve Ray Ladson – Background Vocals on “Death Don’t Have No Mercy” French Horn Arrangements by Calvin Turner
When I was gathering info to write this post I discovered Mike’s wife Laura pasted away in August of 2023. She died after a long battle against cancer.Here’s what Mike writes about the song “Forever My Love”
About the Song “Forever My Love”
“In January of last year, I was considering the idea of making an album about the tragedy of my wife Laura having cancer. I wasn’t quite sure how to go about it, but she was very encouraging of the process. I knew I could not write an entire album about this experience and my feelings, but I wanted to write at least one meaningful song that encapsulated my emotions.
One morning I was sitting with guitar in hand at the dining room table with a coffee by my side. I played a chord and sang “Forever My Love” at the top of my lungs. Laura came into the room and said “What was that? Is that a song you’re going to write?” I said, “I think so, do you like it?”
She had an excited look on her face as she said “Yes, I like it a lot.” It just came to me so I went with it and the rest came so fast and easy. The best songs usually come out of nowhere and are very easy to write, like I am not really writing the song I am just the interpreter. The song was written, but I played it and sang it over and over throughout the year. Every morning I would sit at the table and sing it loud and she would listen.
She would tell me how much she loved the song, she was really proud. We had hoped she would live long enough to hear the finished version, but that didn’t happen. But, she heard me sing this song 100 times to her at our house last year, and she knew you were going to love it.” — Mike Zito
Here’s the video for “Forever My Love”
I also discovered there is a Go-Fund Me site Laura Zito Cancer Support. if you would like to help Mike and his family.
Ok so since September of last year my wife and I have spent most of our days babysitting our 4th grandchild, Emma. We’re at my daughter’s house from 7 am until roughly 5 pm. The result is I don;t have a lot of time to blog and/or listen to music. But I’ve been trying to listen when I am out and about on the weekends and at night. Lately, the two blues albums that have been in my music rotation are the latest releases from two of my favorites. First came Albert Cummings latest releases Strong. Then came Mike Zito’s Life is Hard .
Both Albert Cummings and Mike Zito’s 2023 releases were among my favorites for the year. Albert’s album Ten was just flat out great. Well,in all fairness, Mike’sBlues for the Southside (Live) was also great! In this post I’ll cover Strong and post about Life is Hard later.
Strong – Albert Cummings
Strong is Cumming’s eleventh release and was produced by Grammy-winning virtuoso Tom Hambridge The album was recorded at Ocean Way Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee.
Cumming’s got his first big break In his musical journey, when after hearing hearinglay live, Tommy Shannon and Chris Layton (Vaughan’s Double Trouble) produced and played on 2001’s From the Heart. Since then many of his releases have made their way into the top ten of the blues charts. Several have been produced by the legendary blues guru Jim Gaines. Currently, Strong is number 11 on the Roots Music Report Blues Chart, number 2 on the Billboard Blues Chart and number 9 on the Living Blues Chart
Steve Leggett wrote this about Albert Cummings in his biography at AllMusic…
His playing style weds the chunky, rave-up R&B stylings of Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan to the boundary-less blues-rock improvisation of Jimi Hendrix and Freddie King’s resonant phrasing. Further, he is a powerful vocalist possessed of a rich, expressive baritone
Every time I Iisten to Strong I like each song just a little better. I’m consistently impressed by Cumming’s guitar work and vocals throughout the album. Rock & Blues Muse says this about the album..
Strong is a sonic exploration of life’s highs and lows, love and heartbreak, delivered with a raw and unapologetic intensity that defines Albert Cummings’ signature style. From scorching guitar solos to soulful vocals, every note on the album is a testament to the passion and dedication Cummings and his band poured into the recording process.
The Bottom Line is Strong will be in my music rotation for a good long while in 2024. I’m sorry about this but Strong is a very strong album from a great bluesman, Albert Cummings. So check it out!
Links for the Further Exploration of the Music of Albert Cummings
I was born in 1951 right smack dab in the middle of the American Folk Revival. This revival started in the 1940s and ran through the 1960s. It brought rural white and African-African American musicians to audiences everywhere. \
White artists include: Pete Seeger, Doc Watson, Jean Redpath. While African American artist included Leadbelly, as well as Mississppi John Hurt, Odetta, Elizabeth Cotton and Josh White. I wasn’t around for the 1940s and not listening too much music in the 50s.
In the early 1960s I was listening to The Beatles, Stones and the other British invasion bands. Then for several years I was listening to a lot of Motown until the late 1960s. As my world became more political, as a result of the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War, the music I listened to became more folkie. I listened to more and more Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs and Tom Paxton.
But I’m sure in the years between 1962 and 1967 I was aware of the folk groups that were making it big. One of the ways America was discovering Folk Music was through TV where shows like Hootenanny were on the air….
Hootennnay Showcases Folksingers…..
Hootenanny was a musical variety show that aired on ABC from April 1963 to September 1964.I only have vague memories of the show hey in 1963 I was 12 and in 1964 the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan show and the “British Invasion started.
But until the British Invasion started Hootenanny had help create a new craze. It had created a “the big demand for the folk performers in virtually all areas of show biz (records, concerts, college dates, TV, pix) and creatd a new folk form that appealed to a mass audience.
Artists whose career i have followed through the years like:.Bob Dylan, Tom Paxton, Pete Seeger and Johnny Cash appearede on the show. Other artosts whose names I knew like : BobGibson, Malvina Reynolds, Oscar Brand and WoodyGuthrie also made appearances!
A dramatic drop in ratings lead to the creation of both Hullabaloo and Shindig which focused on the British Invasion and the new generation of rock musicians, Yet, somehow the memories of those early folkies stayed with me and lead me a few years later to Tom Rush, Tom Paxton, Eric Andersen and others!,
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A Sixties-Seventies Man Adds to His Vinyl Record Collection
During 2023, as I started looking through old albums at Goodwills throughout Southern New Jersey, I decided I would add albums from the folksingers from the Folk Revival period. So far I’ve added albums from the likes Bob Gibson and Hamilton Camp, Flatt & Scruggs, and even Pete Drake and his talking guitar Additionally, I’ve added several Ian & Sylvia and Joan Baez albums
Here are several from Oscar Brand and The Weavers that I’ve found…….
Oscar Brand takes a Humorous Walk on the Folk Song Wild Side
From Wikipedia>>>>
Oscar Brand (February 7, 1920 – September 30, 2016) was a Canadian-born American folk singer-songwriter, radio host, and author. In his career, spanning 70 years, he composed at least 300 songs and released nearly 100 albums, among them Canadian and American patriotic songs. Brand’s music ran the gamut from novelty songs to serious social commentary and spanned a number of genres.e hosted the radio show
Oscar Brand’s Folksong Festival on Saturdays at 10:00 p.m. on WNYC-AM 820 in New York City, which ran into its 70th year. The show ran more or less continuously from its debut on December 10, 1945[8] to September 2016,[9] making it the longest-running radio show with the same host, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Over its run it introduced such talents to the world as Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Woody Guthrie, Arlo Guthrie, Huddie Ledbetter, Joni Mitchell, Peter, Paul & Mary, Judy Collins, The Kingston Trio, Pete Seeger and the Weavers. In order to make sure that his radio program could not be censored he refused to be paid by WNYC for the next 70 years.
Bawdy Songs and Backroom Ballads was released in 1950. It contains folk songs Brand had been collecting for years. Here’s a description of the songs on Side one of the album!
The Kingston Trio and Chad Mitchell Trio are Added to My Vinyl Collection
Finally, I’ve added a handful of Kingston Trio and Chad Mitchell Trio albums. When I buy Kingston Trio albums I always look for the ones released when John Stewart was a member of the trio (1961-1967). John had a fine solo career after leaving the group. His album Willardis one of my favorites
Kingston Trio albums I’ve added to my vinyl collection….
A Chad Mitchell Trio
Basically, when I look for Chad Mitchell Trio albums, I look for ones, when John Denver was a member of the trio! Actually, the group was called The Mitchell Trio then because Chad had left the Trio. Oh, I also have one Chad Mitchell Trio album with Jim McGuinn was in the Trio. Before he became Roger McGuinn of The Byrds! You can listen to The Chad Mitchell Trio here
The Chad Mitchell Trio was more political than The Kingston Trio. Here is one of their albums I picked up in 2023.
The title The Slightly Irreverent Mitchell Trio may have given the game away! The album includes two songs that are among my all time favorites. Tom Paxton’s “I Can’t Help But Wonder Where I’m Bound” and Phil Och’s “Draft Dodger Rag”. Both were recorded before Paxton and Ochs recorded them! It was daring stuff! Here’s
…..The version of “Draft Dodger Rag,” which appeared almost a year before composer Phil Ochs’ first release, is fantastic and sung with gusto. This was daring stuff indeed for 1964, and it shows that the Mitchell Trio were keeping tabs on new songwriters at the same time as they mined the traditional folk songbooks. Their beautiful cover of Tom Paxton’s “I Can’t Help But Wonder” also came out before the songwriter’s own debut album, and it’s one of the best cuts here. More at AllMusic
Final Note to Self……
Keep looking for Folk music released during the 1960s Folk Revival. Maybe you’ll find some Dave Van Ronk, Fred Neil, Eric Von Schmidt or some Pete Seeger! Until then you can always listen on Spotify.
And for you folks, here’s a Spotify playlist from the above mentioned folkies I’ll be searching for!
