Pophistory: music, movies, history, and life.
Engelbert Humperdinck recently released a new album of duets, Engelbert Calling
Other artists that appear on Engelbert Calling include Elton John, Cliff Richards, Shelby Lynne, Dionne Warwick, and Il Divo.
What do you think of the combination of Nelson and Humperdinck on a Dylan song? Leave your two cents in the comments.
(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)
On September 22, 1985, the first “Farm Aid” was held in Champaign, Illinois. Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Mellencamp organized the benefit concert for struggling American farmers. Performers at that concert included a broad range of performers, including Bob Dylan, B.B. King, Hoyt Axton, Don Henley, Johnny Cash, Tom Petty, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Billy Joel, Waylon Jennings, John Denver, Loretta Lynn, Joni Mitchell, Charley Pride, Sammy Hagar, George Jones, and Lou Reed.
Reportedly, the idea for Farm Aid began when Bob Dylan played at Live Aid earlier in the year in July and suggested some of the money from that concert should go to American farmers. While some — including Live Aid organizer Bob Geldof — were upset that Dylan exploited the stage of a worldwide televised concert in support of African famine relief to focus on Americans, other artists used the comment as inspiration for the Farm Aid concert. And Farm Aid benefit concerts continue to this day.
That September 22 in 1985, the performers did not know that the work would continue for decades. But they joyously sang and played to try to give something back. Below is one of the performances that day in Illinois, featuring Willie Nelson, Arlo Guthrie, and Dottie West singing “City of New Orleans.”
What is your favorite Farm Aid performance? Leave your two cents in the comments.
(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)
Bismeaux Records earlier this year released a second solo album from Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel. The new album, A Little Piece
TwangNation explains that Benson and Nelson have been friends for more than forty years, going back to when Nelson advised Benson to move to Austin in 1973. Benson explains that he could not believe that nobody had yet covered the song written by Waylon Jennings and Gary Nicholson. He asked Nelson to record it with him because, “The song is about growing old and yet feeling and acting young…it felt so appropriate for us to do.”
The video of the beautiful song captures images of Nelson and Benson through the years. Check it out.
Leave your two cents in the comments.
(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)
We already knew that Willie Nelson is full of magic, but this week he released a video of himself doing a card trick. It is a long trick, but it is fun to see Nelson at work.
In the video, Willie Nelson, who recently appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, shows his sister Bobbie Nelson his latest trick while telling a story about a porter. Check it out.
The name of the card trick is “Sam the Bellhop,” although Willie turns it into a story about a porter. Reportedly, the basis for the card trick was created by Rufus Steele, and then around 1994 Bill Malone built on the trick, adding cuts. You may watch Malone do the trick in this video. But if you prefer to see how “Sam the Bellhop” is done, check this video, or you can read about it at ehow.
Hopefully, you will not need those links explaining “Sam the Bellhop” and, like me, will just go on believing in the magic of Willie Nelson.
Leave your two cents in the comments.
(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)
Billy Joe Shaver will release his first studio album in six years on August 5, Long in the Tooth. The album, to be released on Lightning Rod Records, features the 74-year-old Shaver performing a duet with Willie Nelson on “Hard to Be an Outlaw.” Other folks appearing on what Shaver claims is his best album ever includes Leon Russell, Tony Joe White, Joel Guzman, Shawn Camp, and Jedd Hughes. Shaver promises the new album will also include a rap song.
Regarding the duet with Nelson, Shaver explained to Rolling Stone that he and Nelson bounced ideas back and forth over the telephone. Nelson included his solo effort on “Hard to Be an Outlaw” on his own new album Band of Brothers
Album cover photo via Shaver’s Facebook page. What do you think of “Hard to Be an Outlaw”? Leave your two cents in the comments.
(Some related Chimesfreedom posts.)
