Pophistory: music, movies, history, and life.
Singer-songwriter Steve Earle has been singing the blues as of late to promote his latest album Terraplane. Recently, he appeared on KEXP and played several songs from the album, including “Ain’t Nobody’s Daddy Now,” “You’re the Best Lover That I Ever Had,” and “King of the Blues.”
In the video of his performance, in between songs he also talks about his blues influences. Check it out.
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(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)
Percy Sledge, best known for his performance of the great song “When a Man Loves a Woman,” has passed away at the age of 74. Although there is some difference of opinion about who deserves the most credit for writing the song, Sledge’s performance is what made the song one of the greatest recordings of all time. RIP.
Not surprisingly, the song often appeared in films, including The Big Chill (1983), The Crying Game (1992), When a Man Loves a Woman (1994), and Platoon (1987). But Percy Sledge also recorded other outstanding songs. One of my favorites is “Take Time to Know Her.”
RIP Mr. Sledge.
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(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)
When I first heard Brandi Carlile‘s 2007 song “The Story,” it was a rare moment where a song immediately blew me away and I had to stop whatever I was doing to listen. “The Eye” from her album The Firewatcher’s Daughter, released last month, has a different effect where the harmonies slowly grow on me every time I hear it.
“The Eye” seems to be about heartbreak and trying to help someone you love: “You can dance in a hurricane / But only if you’re standing in the eye.” It’s a beautiful poem, made more powerful by Carlile’s voice and the voices of collaborators and band members Tim and Phil Hanseroth. It is hard to believe the song started out as two songs that were joined into one. And it is a calmer moment in an album of songs that rock, just like the eye in a hurricane. Check it out.
The Firewatcher’s Daughter
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(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)
In the new video for “Call Ya Momma” from Justin Townes Earle, the storyline pays homage to Ambrose Bierce’s short story “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge.” Chimesfreedom has already recounted how that story also inspired Alfred Hitchock and Rod Serling (including a classic Twilight Zone episode).
Earle uses the story to illustrate his kiss-off song, where “Goodbye is all we’ve left to say.” “Call Ya Momma” is the advice Earle gives to a former lover, someone who has disappointed the singer. The main character in the video, however, gets even worse treatment. Check out the video.
“Call Ya Momma” is from Justin Townes Earle’s new album Absent Fathers
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(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)
On April 7, 1915, Eleanora Fagan was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The little girl would have a difficult childhood and later a tragic life, but she would grow up to brighten the world as Billie Holiday, or as jazz saxophonist Lester Young nicknamed her, “Lady Day.”
In honor of Holiday’s 100th birthday, several articles reflect on her life, such as CBS Sunday Morning, a Daily Telegraph listing of her top 10 songs, and a MacLean‘s article about “the voice that launched a thousand voices.” But of course the best celebration is to listen to her music.
In this video, Holiday performs “Fine and Mellow” on CBS in 1957. [Update: the video and a BBC documentary about her life are no longer available.]
Happy birthday Lady Day.
What is your favorite Billie Holiday song? Leave your two cents in the comments.
(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)