The Music Never Stopped: Roots of the Grateful Dead

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The Music Never Stopped: Roots of the Grateful Dead is a 1995 compilation album of songs, performed by the original artists, that the American rock group the Grateful Dead covered and performed live throughout their career.

The cover was drawn by underground cartoonist Robert Crumb who was paid in rare 78 r.p.m. records that he avidly collects by the label’s president.

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The tracks and performers on the The Music Never Stopped: Roots of the Grateful Dead compilation are:

  • Rain And Snow – Obray Ramsey
  • Mama Tried – Merle Haggard
  • Iko Iko – Dixie Cups
  • Samson and Delilah – Rev. Gary Davis
  • Big Railroad Blues – Cannon’s Jug Stompers
  • El Paso – Marty Robbins
  • It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue – Bob Dylan
  • Spoonful – Charlie Patton
  • The Red Rooster – Howlin’ Wolf
  • The Promised Land – Chuck Berry
  • Don’t Ease Me In – Henry Thomas
  • Big Boss Man – Jimmy Reed
  • Turn On Your Love Light – Bobby Bland
  • Morning Dew – Bonnie Dobson
  • Not Fade Away – Buddy Holly
  • Goin’ Down This Road Feelin’ Bad – Woody Guthrie
  • I Bid You Good Night – The Pindar Family w/ Joseph Spence

Si Se Puede!: Los Lobos And Friends

Here we are at the halfway point of 2014. NPR Music  has published their list, “NPR Music’s 25 Favorite Albums Of 2014 (So Far)“. I like to see if I have covered or heard any of the 25 recordings listed. The only artist I have listened to and written about is St. Vincent. I’m rubbing my hands with glee as there are 24 albums to acquaint myself with next.

I uncovered a gem in the list with a Los Lobos album I was not familiar with at all. Si Se Puede!: Los Lobos And Friends was originally released in 1976. 38 years later, long after it had gone out print, the music was finally digitally re-released this spring to coincide with the release of a biopic about César Chávez.

Herb Albert donated his A&M Records studios to a group of young Chicano musicians who called themselves Los Lobos del Este de los Angeles and who gathered some of their friends to record some of the music that had become part of the farm worker movement.

Los Lobos is celebrating their 40th anniversary as a band this year. Congratulations gentlemen. Peace, Ese!

John Mayall – A Special Life

 

Legendary Godfather of the Blues, John Mayall will be releasing his first new studio album in five years, A Special Place on Forty Below Records on May 13, 2014. It is considered to be one of the finest and most personal records of his career.

John Mayall goes back to his roots on the new album with an eclectic mix of songs centered in the blues, but with diversions into rock and Americana.

Backing Mayall on the new album are Texas guitarist Rocky Athas and a Chicago-based rhythm
section of Greg Rzab on bass and Jay Davenport on drums.

Accordion legend C.J. Chenier makes a powerhouse guest appearance on a couple of tracks,
including the opener, “Why Did You Go Last Night,” written and previously recorded by his
father, Zydeco Icon Clifton Chenier.

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Donna The Buffalo – Tonight, Tomorrow and Yesterday

I love to witness musicians that dedicate themselves to their craft and their fans. Donna The Buffalo is a band that has performed music for close to 25 years. They will soon release their 10th studio album, Tonight, Tomorrow and Yesterday on June 18th via Sugar Hill Records.

Donna The Buffalo is founding members and songwriter-vocalists Jeb Puryear (vocals, guitar) and Tara Nevins (vocals, guitar, fiddle, accordion, scrubboard) in turn joined by band members David McCracken (Hammond organ, clavinet), Kyle Spark (bass) and Mark Raudabaugh (drums)

“We tried to do the record and keep in tact the things people love about us,” says Puryear. “We’re really excited to start sharing Tonight, Tomorrow and Yesterday,” adds Nevins, “because making this record was a very personal process that was also a lot of fun.

Their first video for the new album and The Herd is called, “I Love My Tribe“.

Donna The Buffalo is scheduled to appear at Infinity Music Hall in Norfolk, Ct on Sunday July 14, 2013. Its a lovely, intimate venue featuring great acoustics and quality line of sight viewing. I urge you to come out to see the band if you are in that neck of the woods that weekend. 🙂

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