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CD Review: Various Artists - Rave On Buddy Holly

Posted at 11:59 PM on July 10, 2011 by The Current
Filed under: CD Reviews, CD of the Week


Contribute and get Rave On Buddy Holly as a thank you gift.

Rave On Buddy Holly is this week's CD Of The Week. It is a collection of songs made famous by Buddy Holly which is being released just in time for what would have been his 75th birthday. In the liner notes, Randall Poster tells us that they contacted the 19 artists/bands that they wanted to take part in the recording of the project and then watched in wonder as each went through Buddy Holly's catalog choosing their perfect song.


From the up-and-coming Jenny O to a Beatle, the A-list of musicians collected is astounding! You've already heard us playing a handful of the tracks on air, including The Black Keys performing "Dearest"; "Not Fade Away" from Florence and The Machine; Cee Lo Green's take on "(You're So Square) Baby, I Don't Care" and Fiona Apple and Jon Brion teaming up for "Everyday." Those tunes are all very strong and let's face it, who wasn't a little excited just to hear Fiona's voice again? But with all of these tracks, we're still just skimming the surface of the goodness of this compilation.


I stuck this CD in my player and tried NOT to pay attention to who was singing each song; to just let it flow and avoid the temptation to hit pause and dig around to find and listen to the corresponding original to see how each artist had changed things up. This is where I found myself surprised. As I listened to "It's So Easy" I thought I must surely be listening to Jon Spencer or Boss Hog because of the "growl" in the singer's voice. Nope, that over-the-top growl belongs to Sir Paul McCartney! Later, I found myself bobbing my head to "Well All Right." I can honestly say that I have NEVER in my life enjoyed the work of Mr. Rock or "Kid" or whatever he goes by, but here I was, bopping along to him!


Modest Mouse's dry interpretation of "That'll Be The Day" almost makes it seem like Isaac Brock wrote the song himself. Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas delivers a rockin' take on "Rave On" and Supermodel Karen Elson reminds us she's not just another pretty face with the lovely, layered harmonies on "Crying, Waiting, Hoping."


Patti Smith's version of "Words Of Love" is both spooky and beautiful. Lou Reed's distortion-heavy "Peggy Sue" sounds like it was a forgotten Velvet Underground classic and She and Him delivered a sugar-coated pop gem with "Oh Boy!"


This amazing collection of songs really highlights the musical legacy of an artist who was taken from us much too young. Buddy Holly was in his early 20s when he died. Can you even imagine what his catalog would have looked like if he was with us to celebrate his 75th birthday? The release of Rave On Buddy Holly is a grand way to celebrate this occasion.




— Barb Abney, host



Contribute today and get Rave On Buddy Holly as a thank you gift

IN THE STUDIO FOR SUNDAY, JULY 10, 2011

Posted at 12:52 PM on July 10, 2011 by Jade
Filed under: In the Studio

This whole week has been about (belated) Spring cleaning and (unnessesary) nostalga. Looking through old letters, photos and records. It got me curious about the music library at the station.

So, I sat down and started looking through a lot of music that we rarely play from our in-studio stack. I'm aware that my job is wonderful and one of the rare treats is to just sit and listen to music for hours on end. So tonight I'm going to toss in a bunch of things I found that were fun suprises or just enjoyable sets that I haven't seen for a really long time. There's a full in-studio from Feist taken from our first year as a station and a full session from Sonic Youth (the only visit from them so far).

Hour One:

Girl in the War
Josh Ritter

Wild Young Hearts
Noisettes

I'll Be Your Bird
M. Ward

Pull My Heart Away
Jack Penate

Full In-studio Session with Feist

Werewolf Island
Pink Mink

Lazy Eye
Silversun Pickups

Champagne Downtown
Halloween, Alaska

You Are The Best Thing
Ray LaMontagne

Ain't No Friend Of Mine
Mason Jennings

Marrow
St. Vincent

Hour Two:

Beach Girls
Howler

Caldo
School of Seven Bells

Knocking On Heaven's Door
Roger McGuinn

Street Walkin'
Dan Auerbach

Full In-studio Session with Sonic Youth

Little Lovin'
Lissie

Sleepyhead
Passion Pit

Photobooth
Death Cab for Cutie

United States of Americana: salutes Woody Guthrie

Posted at 11:15 AM on July 10, 2011 by Bill DeVille
Filed under: United States of Americana

woody.jpg

Thanks to Mac for so capably filling in, while I took a little respite!

This time on the USofA...I gave a salute to Woody Guthrie, who would have turned 99 this week. I played a track from that Mermaid Avenue album that Billy Bragg and the guys from Wilco made back in the 90's with some leftover Woody lyrics. We heard Pop Wagner, Tony Glover and Charlie Maguire from there new tribute to Guthrie. I also gave a spin to his son, Arlo, as he turns 64 today.

We also heard new americana from Sally Ford, John Hiatt, Amy Levere and Nick 13.

Below is the audio and playlist for 7-10-11...


United States of Americana
July 10, 2011
8:00 a.m.

George Jones - The Race Is On
Matraca Berg - Silver and Glass [The Dreaming Fields]
Mark Brown - Bucket Truck [Uncle Buckle]
Dave Dudley - Truck Drivin' Son of A Gun [VINYL - Truck Drivin' Son of A Gun]
Handsome Family - June Bugs [Honey Moon]
Bethany Larson and the Bee's Knees - Still [When We Reach the City]
Pop Wagner, Tony Glover and Charlie Maguire - Take A Whiff On Me [Woody Reflected]
Woody Guthrie - Do-Re-Mi
Billy Bragg and Wilco - California Stars [Mermaid Avenue]
Tedeschi Trucks Band - Simple Things [Revelator]
Charlie Parr - Where You Gonna Be (When the Good Lord Call You Down) [Live Current Volume 1]
Greg Allman - Floating Bridge [Low Country Blues]
John Hiatt - Damn This Town [Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns]
Drive-By Truckers - Aftermath USA [A Blessing and A Curse]
Jim Reeves - I Guess I'm Crazy

United States of Americana
July 10, 2011
9:00 a.m

Arlo Guthrie - City of New Orleans
Amy Levere - You Can't Keep Me [Stranger Me]
Leon Russell - Out In The Woods [Carney]
Steve Earle - I Am a Wanderer [I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive]
Jolie Holland and the Grand Chandeliers - Gold and Yellow [Pint Of Blood]
Ryan Adams and the Cardinals - Easy Plateau [Cold Roses]
Sally Ford and the Sound Outside - Danger [Dirty Radio]
Nick 13 - Carry My Body Down [Nick 13]
Romantica - National Side [America]
Josh T. Pearson - Country Dumb [Last of the Country Gentlemen]
Mount Moriah - Lament [Mount Moriah]
Dolly Parton - The Seeker
Lucinda Williams - Blessed [Blessed]
Old 97's - I'm A Trainwreck [Grand Theatre Vol. 2]

Americana gig list:

Lucinda Williams and Freedy Johnston - Vetter Stone Ampitheatre, Mankato 6pm doors
Mount Moriah MN Zoo (opening for Indigo Girls) Wednesday
Pop Wagner, Tony Glover & Charlie Maguire - Gingko Coffehouse, Thursday in St Paul
Jolie Holland/Sallie Ford - Thursday Cedar
Bethany Larson - Friday July 15, Kitty Cat Club
Fleet Foxes - Sunday, 7/17 State
Carrie Rodriguez - Dakota July 17th
Romantica - 6pm Peavey Plaza, downtown Mpls, July 17th
Old 97's/Robert Ellis - 1st avenue 7/20
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings - 7/20 Fitzgerald
Marissa Nadler - Friday, July 22nd at Turf Club.
Steve Earle and the Dukes and Alison Moorer - Pantages Theatre, 7/23
Trampled By Turtles - 7/23 Cabooze Plaza
Dolly Parton - 7/27 Mystic Lake
Sherwin Linton - CD Release show 7/28 Fine Line
Wayne Hancock - 7/29 Lee's
Richard Buckner - 7/31 Triple Rock
Marty Stewart - Dakota, Aug. 3
Wanda Jackson and Justin Townes Earle - MN Zoo 8/6/11
Los Lobos - Zoo 8/9
Chris Isaak - August 13th, State Theatre
Commander Cody - 8/13, Dakota
Elephant Revival - Cabooze 8/26
Junior Brown - 9/2 & 9/3 MN State Fair
The Blind Boys of Alabama/Sara Watkins - Cedar Nov. 3

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