drumdad's mix, twangaramafest Options

[drumdad]

500 Miles To Memphis - Tired & Weak (from 500 Miles to Memphis)

This is one of those bands I read about on Miles of Music and took a huge ($12.99 + Shipping) gamble on. It was well worth it, as this is a great album. I can't help singing along with this, which for those of you who have heard me sing, is not a good thing.

Cash Monies & Jetsetter - 15 Years (from Thinkin' Out Loud)

The late, great Cash Monies. They brought in Dan Baird from The Georgia Satellites to produce this album, and he helped them morph from a honky tonk band into a rocking twangfest. Their first album was great, but this one was something else all together.

Dollar Store – Believe (from Dollar Store)

This band from Chicago is a spin-off from the Waco Brothers/John Langford mafia. Their bass player (Alan Doughty) is one of those players who make you sit up and pay attention. And yes, this is a cover of the really cheesy Cher song from a few years ago…

The Hollisters - East Texas Pines (from The Land of Rhythm & Pleasure)

I was introduced to this band by a former band mate – we used to cover this song. They're a classic Texas honky-tonk band, with a great vocalist (Mike Barfield) who always reminds me of Johnny Cash.

The Beat Farmers - Gun Sale At The Church (from Van Go)

I never saw them, but they have a history of being the greatest bar band ever (sorry GWML). I think this song is an appropriate one for our current political climate.

Kasey Chambers - Changed The Locks (from Austin City Limits)

I first heard of her when I saw her on this show, where she gave an incredible performance including this Lucinda Williams cover, which she continues to do in pretty much all her shows. She puts on a great live show, and it's too bad she's a huge star in her native Australia but not so much here. She also has her Dad in her band, which I think is awesome.

Lucero – Sixteen (from Dreaming In America)

This is from a bonus CD put out with a DVD Documentary that came out last year. It's a really interesting movie, which you should try to see if you like this kind of music at all. I love the guy's voice, but it does sound like he's in pain all the time. The drummer is extremely strange - he's got a notebook with what he claims are notations for every drum pattern possible. (It's a big book)

Diesel Doug & The Long Haul Truckers - I'd Like To Quit Drinking (But I Live Over A Bar) (from Mistakes Were Made)

Another great honky tonk band, but this time from Portland, Maine. This is from a collection they put out last year with such other classics as If I'd Shot Her When I Met Her (I'd Be Out Of Jail By Now) and Daddy's Drinking Up Our Christmas. Fun stuff.

Rank & File - Conductor Wore Black (from Rank & File)

This is one of my favorite songs, ever. These guys helped create the alt-country genre, which when they came out people usually referred to as "cow-punk". Besides the Kinman brothers, the band also included Alejandro Escovedo for this album. He left after this album, but their second record is almost as good.

Eric Stevenson - Never Meant To Be (from Dead Horse Town)

From a 1999 album that should have become wildly successful. It's one of those records that does an outstanding job of creating a mood, and a sense of place. Even more impressive is that he plays everything on the album – not bad for a guy who started out as a drummer in thrash and punk bands. He's active with the band Hank Crane locally, which I have yet to see but hope to in March.

Grant Lee Phillips - Calamity Jane (from Virginia Creeper)

I kinda liked Grant Lee Buffalo, and I'd heard his earlier solo stuff, but was unprepared for how good this album is. He's one of the best singers out there, and the songwriting on this record is spectacular. The album also has a cover of Hickory Wind, and it does complete justice to the original.

Drive By Truckers - Goddamn Lonely Love (from The Dirty South)

We cover this in Bean Pickers Union. (Show plug – March 2nd at O'Brien's) They do it better. This band is the complete package – awesome all around.

frog holler - Hole In The Ground (from Railings)

This is a band from Pennsylvania that I was turned on to by Eric Hurlock, who I played with for a number of months in a band that never got out of the basement. He moved away, and that band kind of faded away soon thereafter. Eric was friends with some of the guys in frog holler, and he wrote this song which ended up on this, their 3rd (4th ?) album.

Lori McKenna - Lone Star (from Bittertown)

Girl grows up in Stoughton and marries high school sweetheart. He is a plumber, they have a whole bunch of kids. She writes songs on the side, and performs on the local folk circuit. Puts out a couple of records that are well received but not big sellers. Country star hears her latest album and decides to record 3 of her songs. Girl appears with country star on Oprah. Roll credits.

The Quakes - I Don't Come From Nowhere (from Billy Vol. 1)

I know next to nothing about this band. I know they're considered a psycho-billy band, and I believe they're from NY state. I have never been much for the psycho billy stuff, but I love this song. It comes from a compilation I picked up a few years ago. Any one else have anything by them? Any good?

Head Hands & Feet - Safety In Numbers (from Tracks)

HH&F were supposed to be huge, and come from England to take America by storm in the early 1970s. They didn't, and broke up soon thereafter. I first heard them in college in 1977 (yes I'm an old bastid), and what immediately jumped out, as you'll hear on this song, is Albert Lee's guitar. He's easily the greatest country guitar player ever.

Neko Case - Honky Tonk Hiccups (from The Virginian)

Neko Case has become fairly well known for her work with The New Pornographers, as well as her solo stuff. The recent solo records have been kind of moody, torchy affairs, but this is song is from her first solo record when she seemed to be more into just having fun. She can do whatever she wants, as far as I'm concerned. It's all good.

Los Straitjackts w/ Exene - I'll Go Down Swinging (from Sing Along With Los Straitjackets!)

The Knitters do a version of this on their most recent album, but this preceded that by a number of years and, to my ears, is much better. This is a great album, by the way, with vocal guests Big Sandy, Dave Alvin, Raul Malo, and Mark Lindsey (Paul Revere & The Raiders). There's also an instrumental track with Nick Lowe on "Lead Bass". A really fun album.

The Blasters - No Other Girl (from The Blasters)

This is from their first "major label" album on Slash. The Blasters, along with Rank & File, did more to turn me on to this twangy type of music than any band. It's too bad the Alvin brothers hate each other so much, because it would be awesome if they'd put out some new music.

Wayne Hancock - Miller, Jack & Mad Dog (from A-Town Blues)

This is from the only album I have of Wayne Hancock. He's another guy that I need to get more from – just about everything I've heard from him is great. This song is kind of the flip side to the Diesel Doug song, and I probably should have put them next to each other on the mix…

Big Sandy & The Fly Rite Boys - Greatest Story Ever Told (from Feelin' Kind Of Lucky)

This band can do it all – rock & roll, western swing, rockabilly, country, doo-wop, etc. Sandy is also one of my favorite songwriters, and this song is a classic example of that. Clever lyrics, and it swings. One of my all time favorite bands.

The Hi-Risers - Wild Romance (from Lost Weekend)

I'd never heard of these guys until I saw them a number of months ago, opening for Los Straitjackets w/ Big Sandy (great, great show). Their drummer has taken over as the drummer for Los Straitjackets, which is a big chair to fill and he does a pretty good job. The Hi-Risers mix rockabilly, surf and British Invasion into a great mix. This album also contains the soon to be classic "You Made Me Look Like Keith". Hopefully the Stones will cover it someday….

Secret Bonus Track

[FrankD]

ah, you must have liked my country/western/folkie section of my disc : )

I'm looking forward to singing along to yours.

My sort of future step brother in law played in the cash monies.

PS - Big Sandy and the Fly Rite Trio are on my last mix (doing DONE DREAMING)....I'm glad to learn more about him/them. I matched them up with SOUTHERN CULTURE ON THE SKIDS, do you like them too?

This post has been edited by FrankD: Feb 24 2006, 12:43 AM

[drumdad]

ah, you must have liked my country/western/folkie section of my disc : )

I'm looking forward to singing along to yours.

My sort of future step brother in law played in the cash monies.

PS - Big Sandy and the Fly Rite Trio are on my last mix (doing DONE DREAMING)....I'm glad to learn more about him/them. I matched them up with SOUTHERN CULTURE ON THE SKIDS, do you like them too?

I gotta say, that GWAR song was perfect, and a complete surprise.
I don't have any SCOTS - they've always been on my list of things to pick up, but I never have. I do have a few of their tunes off of various compilations I've got (great tune - "Too Much Pork For Just One Fork"), and I've always liked what I've heard,

[The Undude]

I just finished listening to drumdad's winter 2006 Noise Board mix. It focuses on stuff I generally don't listen to much. And so it's a great resource to get aquainted with new stuff for me. Cool!

Favs on first listen:

- Kasey Chambers / Changed the Locks
- Head Hands & Feet / Safety In Numbers
- Neko Case / Honky Tonk Hiccups
- Wayne Hancock / Miller, Jack & Mad Dog
- Big Sandy & The Fly Rite Boys / Greatests Story Ever Told

[FrankD]

I gotta say, that GWAR song was perfect, and a complete surprise.
I don't have any SCOTS - they've always been on my list of things to pick up, but I never have. I do have a few of their tunes off of various compilations I've got (great tune - "Too Much Pork For Just One Fork"), and I've always liked what I've heard,

I posted my track listings from my last mix under my current thread if you are interested.

[drumdad]

I just finished listening to drumdad's winter 2006 Noise Board mix. It focuses on stuff I generally don't listen to much. And so it's a great resource to get aquainted with new stuff for me. Cool!

Favs on first listen:

- Kasey Chambers / Changed the Locks
- Head Hands & Feet / Safety In Numbers
- Neko Case / Honky Tonk Hiccups
- Wayne Hancock / Miller, Jack & Mad Dog
- Big Sandy & The Fly Rite Boys / Greatests Story Ever Told

Glad you liked it. My whole idea was to do exactly what you said - put stuff on that most people on the board probably never listen to. I thought of mixing it up with other stuff, then I just decided the twangy theme was the way to go for the whole disc. There's enough variation in the different styles, but that may be just to my ears.

[Defbil]

My whole idea was to do exactly what you said - put stuff on that most people on the board probably never listen to.

I fall into this category- the only country I really know are the usual suspects- Cash, Hank Williams, etc. This mix is cool. I got to check out all sorts of stuff that's new to me and found that I like quite a bit of it.

[M.Henry]

One listen in so don't take this too seriously...

Yes, yes, I liked your mix. I like some country as my mix will reveal so that was not a problem. For me it was pretty darn solid throughout, nothing painful to take in. The enjoyment level varied but when doesn't it? If I had to pick a couple favorites #1 would definitely be the Head Hands and Feet tune. Love that one -- gettin' funky wit it, yeah. #2 I think is the Kasey Chambers song. I'd wondered about her, what a voice, eh? Strong like Neko.
This mix served the useful function of letting me hear bands I was curious about like Chambers, Lucero, The Blasters, Cash Monies. A lot of the others I'd never even heard of.
The Cher cover...ok...but I actually prefer Cher's version.
I also know I liked the Hi-Risers, The Blasters, Wayne Hancock, and Lori Mckenna, whom I have seen before solo acoustic but this sounded better. The 500 Miles to Memphis tune kicked ass. I will return when and if I develop more coherent reactions. I think we need someone in the twang slot so this is good.

[drumdad]

Lori Mckenna, whom I have seen before solo acoustic but this sounded better.

I've seen her three times, but always either by herself or with just her drummer/guitarist/mando/etc. player. She evidently now has enough money to put a band together (thank you Faith Hill and Oprah) so her web site lists her doing shows with a band.

[M.Henry]

(thank you Faith Hill and Oprah)

I missed those occurrences in the world --- what did Oprah and Faith Hill do for her?

[drumdad]

I missed those occurrences in the world --- what did Oprah and Faith Hill do for her?

You didn't read my notes to the mix. For shame!

Seriously though.....evidently Faith Hill heard Lori McKenna's album Bittertown that I took this song from, and decided to record a bunch of her songs for the last album she put out. Then she went on Oprah, and brought McKenna on the show with her to show the world how great she is.

Now, I've never heard Faith Hill except for that song that was so overplayed a bunch of years ago, and I definitely haven't heard her versions of these songs, so who knows how bad (or good) they are - but its kinda cool.

[M.Henry]

You didn't read my notes to the mix. For shame!

Seriously though.....evidently Faith Hill heard Lori McKenna's album Bittertown that I took this song from, and decided to record a bunch of her songs for the last album she put out. Then she went on Oprah, and brought McKenna on the show with her to show the world how great she is.

Now, I've never heard Faith Hill except for that song that was so overplayed a bunch of years ago, and I definitely haven't heard her versions of these songs, so who knows how bad (or good) they are - but its kinda cool.

Guilty as charged on the notes and I am ashamed, AND I will go back and read them. I always like to read them after I hear the cd and sometimes it takes me a while to get back.

That Faith Hill/Oprah/Lori McKenna story is really interesting as it brings together the struggling, indie artist making "pure art" or so we like to think with the Big Machine, which we like to despise. An interesting intersection of elements and symbols. I'm happy for her as it's clear you are too. Doubtful it'll skyrocket her to headlining the Fleet Pavilion but it looks like she can at least now tour with a full band and maybe quit a day job if she had one, but maybe not even that, who knows? It would be cool to hear Faith Hill's versions. I saw her once on an Awards show -- pretty, big voice, seemingly melodramatic material for the most part from what I could tell. Maybe with Lori's stuff she's trying to be more authentic.

[RI chick]

Awesome mix - yeehaw! Makes me want to put on my cowboy hat and go do shots of coondoggies in a dive.
The Dollar Store doing Believe is soooo much better than Cher's version. I also loved the Kasey Chambers song and the Rank and File song smokes!

[tenebr8]

Drumdad was kind enough to send me a copy of this, and I listen to it almost every day. Great mix. The Rank and File song, all by itself, makes this a classic. Neko Case and The Blasters make it essential.

[FrankD]

I'm in love with Kasey Chambers.

I really like the covers, they bring the best of those songs to light.

What line up was the Cash Monies?

This mix FLOWS very well.

[lisa's fanzine]

I've been in a real country pop mood and this cd fit the bill. Surprising to me I really loved the female cuts as I don't really like female vocals as much.
Loved the cuts of Drive by Truckers, the Blaster, and Kasey Chambers. I have a really soft spot for Rank and File's first album and enjoyed this cut, glad to know I'm not alone.