James Keelaghan is a Canadian singer/songwriter. I love his melodies and the way his voice and guitar blend. Here is My Skies from the album of the same name (song starts at about a minute):
You can listen to the album version on his MySpace page. My other favorites on that album are I Would I Were, Big Picture, Orion, Abraham, and Tomorrow is Another Day.
More about James Keelaghan:
I've heard a few different versions of this song, but I hadn't heard Joan Baez's until I was wandering around YouTube this evening. I love her voice - it's so strong and clear.
It's often thought of as an older folk song, but it was written by Irishman William McPeake who first recorded it in 1957. It's a variation of an 18th century song, The Braes of Ballquhidder, written by Robert Tannahill.
This is a live version, recorded in Japan in 1967. It originally appears on her CD, Farewell Angelina:
Asheville-based Christine Kane is one of my favorite singer/songwriters. Her voice is lovely, her words are thoughtful, and she always gives a new perspective on life. "Made of Steel" is from her album, Right Outta Nowhere, which I can listen to over and over (although I try to control that when others are in the van with me).
When Kate Rusby was growing up, she would sing and harmonize with her siblings on long car rides as their parents, who played at folk festivals, brought the kids along.
Kate Rusby, at one point, was a member of the Celtic group, The Poozies, which I mentioned a few posts ago. Their harmonies are beautiful, but her voice alone, as in this traditional song, is lovely. "Annan Waters" is from her debut album, Hourglass.
I first knew this song as sung by the Poozies (a British, all-women, folk group) on their album Chantoozies (I can't post that version because I have it on tape).
I was surprised to find that it was originally written and performed by the British, all-male, New Wave band, XTC, on their album, Mummer (which is referred to as being an album from their "pastoral" period).
I've decided to do the NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) this month (posting every day for a month) with Musiclectic.
I'll start with a collaboration. Banjo player, Alison Brown, and the folk/rock duo, The Indigo Girls, singing a "neo-blugrass" version Paul Simon's "Homeward Bound." This song is from Brown's album, Stolen Moments, which blends bluegrass, Celtic, jazz, and folk. Brown is joined on other songs by Mary Chapin Carpenter, Beth Neilsen Chapman, Sam Bush, and Andrea Zonn.
I throw off sparks,
I tear from my tongue words as twisted as tree-roots.
I poke the fire of hatred with my words,
I hurl hate back at you.
My mood blackens,
blacker than the mind of any mortal.
My loathing drips blood,
my pain slashes, curses, drenches with pus.
The snakes also curse you, serpents of death –
oh, that hissing will enter your head…
The snakes also curse you, serpents of death –
even the snakes…
I throw off sparks,
I tear from my tongue words as twisted as tree-roots.
You crushed me underfoot, you evil betrayer.
You punish me with rage, you poisoned my mind.
So I heap blame on you, spit words from my mouth.
So I accuse you - pathetic worm that you are.
Unfortunately, country will be one of my smaller categories. I enjoyed country music in the 90's when it seemed to open up a bit and add some variety. Since then, it's changed, and now country often seems to be 70's pop with a twang and a hat.
In the 90's, though, I started listening to some good country singers such as Kathy Mattea, Mary-Chapin Carpenter, Suzy Bogguss, Wynonna, and The Tractors. I still keep up with their music, and I occasionally tune into a country station to see if I find something interesting.
In 1992, Suzy Bogguss had her first top 10 country hit with Nanci Griffith's "Outbound Plane" (from her CD, Aces).
Here's a video (rather long) with Nanci Griffith singing "Ford Econoline," then a discussion between the two of them, and then the two of them singing "Outbound Plane" (skip to 6 min 45 seconds to just hear "Outbound Plane").
Tish Hinojosa's music, as a whole, is difficult to categorize. Her songs vary between folk, country, Latin, pop, and western. Though I love numerous songs of hers, my favorite ones are the ones she sings in Spanish, such as "Derechos de el Corazon," from her 2005 album, A Heart Wide Open.
Here's a link to her website.
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