Widespread Panic (with Derek Trucks) - “Climb to Safety”
…In case you’re wondering what type of music I like.
“Make That Connection” - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
I’ve said it before, and I will say it again.
Tom Petty is fucking underrated.
Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man - Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band (Key Largo, MD, 1980)
This is what stage presence looks like.
Tom Snyder interviews Carl Perkins on the Late Late Show in 1997.
Both of these guys are real-deal as it gets.
Killer track. I love finding obscure/badass covers by well known artists of otherwise widely known songs you’d never have guessed they covered.
This other one doesn’t fall under that category (not much of a stretch for Ray Charles to cover Solomon Burke), but it’s still one of my favorite Ray Charles tracks of all time. Sorry for being un-hip and making you click through to the video, but it’s worth it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITG7eEjJn4k (None Of Us Are Free)
“Bye Bye Love” - Ray Charles from his album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, whose release was one of the coolest things to happen to humans.
My brother made a mix for me whose goal was NOT to introduce me to new songs, but to gather together an “all winners” batch of really fun pop songs that he and I (and everyone, probably, maybe?) loves. Wouldn’t It Be Nice by The Beach Boys and Here Comes Your Man by Pixies and This Old Heart Of Mine by The Isley Brothers and stuff.
This one is a more rare track. I would bet you have not heard this version of Bye Bye Love. It’s a weird combination of super super happy and also longing and sad.
I used to be crazily obsessed with Ray Charles. This was around 1997. I found some CD “Best of Ray Charles Atlantic Years” and crapped my pants with how good it was. When the Jamie Foxx movie came out I lost interest because I felt like the secret was out. Hah: the “secret” of Ray Charles being good.
I saw Ray Charles in concert around that time (1997), at Alice Tully Hall. Guess what? He was good. Way good. Like one of the best voices ever good.
In honor of Widespread Panic founding member and lead guitar player (and North Carolina native) Michael Houser, who passed away 10 years ago today. This is from one of his final shows just a few weeks prior.
Johnny Cash - Get Rhythm
“As a matter of fact, three young fellows have kindly consented to drop in and sing us a song.”
What a courtly introduction!
Poetry. This one might choke you up a little bit.
Johnny Cash - The Man In Black
Well, you wonder why I always dress in black,
Why you never see bright colors on my back,
And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone.
Well, there’s a reason for the things that I have on.
I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,
Livin’ in the hopeless, hungry side of town,
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,
But is there because he’s a victim of the times.
I wear the black for those who never read,
Or listened to the words that Jesus said,
About the road to happiness through love and charity,
Why, you’d think He’s talking straight to you and me.
Well, we’re doin’ mighty fine, I do suppose,
In our streak of lightnin’ cars and fancy clothes,
But just so we’re reminded of the ones who are held back,
Up front there ought ‘a be a Man In Black.
I wear it for the sick and lonely old,
For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold,
I wear the black in mournin’ for the lives that could have been,
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men.
And, I wear it for the thousands who have died,
Believen’ that the Lord was on their side,
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
Believen’ that we all were on their side.
Well, there’s things that never will be right I know,
And things need changin’ everywhere you go,
But ‘til we start to make a move to make a few things right,
You’ll never see me wear a suit of white.
Ah, I’d love to wear a rainbow every day,
And tell the world that everything’s OK,
But I’ll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,
‘Till things are brighter, I’m the Man In Black.
