Uh Huh Her - "Dreamer" (iTunes link)
From "Common Reaction" (2008)

I hesitate to go with two songs in a row from the same album, especially one that has only been out for such a short time, but this song was a toss-up with the last entry. This album is pretty much the only one I have continued to go back to over the past couple of weeks. Given my not so upbeat mood during that time, this song has been a perfect fit. I often find myself putting it on repeat.

Beyond the tone and feel of the song musically, the lyrics certainly hit home. I particularly like the bridge.

What's the matter with our ways
I'm missing something, not to blame
But don't you worry, this will pass
It's only cause my mind's been spinning
No control, I've lost my head
All of this is just beginning
Not enough, it's never enough
I'll only want to keep on dreaming

Here is a link to a video of Leisha Hailey and Camila Grey talking about the song and then the song itself following.
http://stream.qtv.apple.com/qtv/pix/uhh/dreamer_ref.mov

Similar clips for all the songs on the album can be found on the Uh Huh Her website.

Uh Huh Her - "Wait Another Day" (iTunes link)
From "Common Reaction" (2008)

This album has been on repeat in the car and on my iPod since it was released a couple of weeks ago. I loved the sound of last year's "I See Red" EP from Uh Huh Her and this full-length set only gets better. Given the amount of country, folk, and bluegrass I have been listening to over the past several months the pop sounds found here with the great synth and electronic textures, mix of ethereal vocals, layered keyboards and guitars, and the occasional grit provide a nice change of pace. I was already a fan of Leisha Hailey from The Murmurs (and her acting work), but this pairing with Camila Grey is some of her best work. I have a few favorite songs that stand out, but I don't find myself skipping over any of the tracks (excluding the final track, a remix of the first cut).

I found myself thinking this past week that I should include one of these songs on the list. Then I checked and realized July and August had flown right by. I'm not quite ready to get back into the swing of daily updates, but the main reason I had dropped out of doing things like this was to devote more time to someone who had unexpectedly come into my life back in January. Now she is no longer there. Let me simply say that breaking up is not fun.

This Fall I will most likely have more time to get back into the things I had set aside for most of this year, like actually recording some music myself. However, for now I am still a bit out of it. I guess some of the lyrics in this song are applicable to a degree. It's hard to let go of some things even knowing its over.

I will wait to love you
I will wait another day
For you I'd leave all this behind
I will wait for you tonight
I will waste another dream of you
Always run to you

I guess I should include a link that has this song...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHELW6t5Axc

Dan Seals - "Everything That Glitters (Is Not Gold)" (iTunes link)
From "Won't Be Blue Anymore" (1985)

Here is another song that has been on my mind lately. Like the last selection, this one also has a rodeo theme. Back in the 80s, Dan Seals was one of my favorite country singers. One of his songs with Marie Osmond is already on the list (see entry #393), so it is about time I included one of his solo songs.

This is such a wonderful sad song. Here is the first verse which pretty much sets up the basic premise of the song.

Saw your picture on a poster in a cafe out in Phoenix
Guess you're still the sweetheart of the rodeo
As for me and little Casey, we still make the circuit
In a one horse trailer and a mobile home
And she still asks about you all the time
And I guess we never even cross your mind

Here is a link to the music video (which I cannot recall having seen before).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUXCaXSTmns

George Strait - "Amarillo by Morning" (iTunes link)
From "Strait from the Heart" (1982)

I guess it has been awhile, but I had this song popping into my head now and then over the past couple of days. So I figured I'd stop by and include it on the list.

"Amarillo by Morning" was originally recorded by Terry Stafford in 1973, and had some success peaking at #31 on the country charts. Stafford had cowritten the song with Paul Fraser after his band played at a rodeo in San Antonio and then headed back home to Amarillo.

The George Strait cover turned out to be even more successful and is the version that most people know these days. I have no recollection of ever hearing the original myself. I am generally not that big of a George Strait fan, but he does have the occasional song like this one that I love.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZlN9ZMgiR8

Dolly Parton - "Jolene" (iTunes link)
From "Jolene" (1974)

I thought I would bring things back around to where I started...Dolly Parton. This is still one of my favorite songs that she wrote. I love the mix of vulnerability and strength in this one.

As may have become apparent over the past couple of months, I have not been able to keep up with the daily updates. At this point, I need to focus on other priorities and activities and will be indefinitely suspending the attempt to make daily entries. I should be able to add songs here and there (maybe once a week). Over the next year or so I will be looking to make some career related changes and also move back down to southern California. That will entail scaling back most of my music endeavors in addition to this list. I will still be practicing bluegrass instruments and taking a bit of time to enjoy the local scene while I am still here, but probably not much more than that.

At any rate, these entries will start popping up even less frequently for a while. Until next time, here is an old clip of Dolly performing Jolene.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=QLmGabSz9vc

Garbage - "Stupid Girl" (iTunes link)
From "Garbage" (1995)

I thought I'd go with a little Garbage before I fall asleep. Most of their work sits well with me, but that first album is the one that really got stuck in my head. Here is another single from that one (also see entry #139).

I spent a good chunk of the day dealing with the car and weighing out my options. In the end, I figured I would get a fresh start and bought a new car. That all left me a bit tired (and I don't know why I'm still up at this hour), so I'll wrap this up with a link to the music video.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0teHYgS0yPQ

Little Big Town - "Fine Line" (iTunes link)
From "A Place to Land" (2007)

I was down in LA over the weekend and that was where I caught the concert on Friday evening. Things have been a bit busy since then, so I missed a few days. Basically, I ended up blowing my engine last Thursday and got the verdict on Monday. The car will be in the shop for at least another week while they put in a new engine.

Other than that, the weekend was great. Little Big Town came on the radio at one point while I was out driving around town. I was familiar with the name, but had never put them with the music. I liked the sound and had to look them up after getting back to San Jose.

This song is one of my favorites. Throughout the album their vocal harmonies are one of the high points. This song opens the album and has a nice energy to it. I particularly love the chorus with all the voices kicking in and the little instrumental touches like the banjo adding extra drive to the rhythm.

Here is a link to a clip of a live performance of this song (not all that bad for footage shot from the audience).
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0CLE8kC71fE

Chris Hillman - "Eight Miles High"
From "The Other Side" (2005)

The concert this evening was a lot of fun. I was glad to see that Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen had a guitarist and bass player join in to round out their band. As soon as I saw the four mics set up, this was the song I wanted to hear. They pulled it out as the last song for the encore.

Even though I already have the original version of this song by the Byrds on the list (see entry #80), I love the way it sounds with the bluegrass instrumentation. And those great, familiar harmonies are still there.

It was a great way to cap off a wonderful show. It reminded me how little bluegrass I actually get out to catch these days. It was great finally seeing Chris Hillman in person and getting to see Herb and Bill Bryson (on bass) again after the last time I caught them with the Laurel Canyon Ramblers back in 1999.

I wish there was a clip of this version out there, but I have not yet found anything so I will at least include a clip of the Byrds video for this song (with Chris Hillman on bass).

Laurel Canyon Ramblers - "When I Stop Dreaming"
From "Back on the Street Again" (1998)

Today I will go over to the Herb side of the 'Chris & Herb' theme. The Laurel Canyon Ramblers were mentioned yesterday and I had previously hit the Herb Pedersen penned tune "Hold On" back in 2006 (see entry #25).

This song from the Louvin Brothers was a great fit for the group. As far as I am concerned, this album is about as good as West Coast bluegrass music gets. There is a fair bit of traditional sound to be found, but the album has a smoother, more laid-back California feel that permeates throughout. As with most Louvin Brothers' songs, this one has that great two part harmony.

Unfortunately I have not found any clips of this version of the song. But here is a link to the next best thing—a Jim & Jesse performance.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=EtD1nltX5_s

Desert Rose Band - "She Don't Love Nobody" (iTunes link)
From "Running" (1988)

From the concert last night I will shift gears over to the next one. On Friday evening I will be seeing Chris Hillman and Herb Pedersen, so I will run with a little 'Chris & Herb' theme over the next few days.

First up is the Desert Rose Band. Both of them were in this country band that release albums from 1987 through 1993. Due to the varied backgrounds of the group members, their sound and songs were a well-rounded mix from the pop rock side of country over to bluegrass.

This song was one I liked back when it was doing well on the country charts, before I knew anything about the band. My official introduction to the group came a few years later via Alison Krauss when I went back to get a copy of her duet with Chris Hillman, "Undying Love", that appeared on the album following this one. It was towards the end of the decade when I finally started listening to the Byrds (with Chris Hillman on bass) and then found the Laurel Canyon Ramblers (LA bluegrass group with Herb Pedersen and Desert Rose Band bassist Bill Bryson) that I gave this group a better listen and picked up a couple more of their albums.

I have not found any good footage yet for this song, but a quick YouTube search does currently list one live cover and one homemade video set to this song.

Bon Jovi - "Wanted Dead or Alive" (iTunes link)
From "Slippery When Wet" (1986)

So much for trying to get into a routine. I just returned home a few minutes ago, so here is a quick one before midnight hits. The reason I was out late was because a friend had some free tickets for the Bon Jovi show this evening in San Jose.

It was a fun show with lots of energy. I rarely make it out to those bigger shows that are a little more rock oriented. My only exposure to the group over the years was their radio singles, so I was kind of suprised at how many songs I recognized. Overall it was a good show and I enjoyed watching the band.

This is one of their songs I knew best from the eighties. It was also the closing number from tonight's show. Here is a link to a video clip of the song.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=k99h5aikc4g

The Wrights - "Rewind" (iTunes link)
From "The Wrights" (2008)

Now that I have returned from vacation, I am starting to settle back into a normal routine. Hopefully that will not include waiting until the last hour (or minute) of the day to post entries.

I tracked down a copy of this album after hearing about it a few weeks ago. Since that first listen, this song has been stuck in my head. The Wrights are a husband and wife duo with a nice blended sound and a good bit of traditional country influence. This new album takes that up another notch from their debut effort. There is plenty of good harmonizing and a straightforward country sound that is a welcome break from the newer country found on the radio these days.

It is those elements that most shine through for me on this song. Here is a link to a live performance (even if a little distorted).

http://youtube.com/watch?v=s3etGTmGl_M

Vikki Carr - "It Must Be Him"
From "It Must Be Him" (1967)

I am still on vacation for a few more days, but I have some free time this evening and access to a computer so here is an entry.

My dad had a few Vikki Carr albums from this era that I heard while growing up. I finally got around to picking up a best of collection a month or so ago. Then my dad had this album on his iPod when my sister and I met up with my parents this past week, so I have heard the song again a few times over the last few days.

Here is a link to a video clip of a televised 1967 performance.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=uzG4ewJ9_kk

Vienna Teng - "The Tower" (iTunes link)
From "Waking Hour" (2002)

I had been meaning to pick up this album for a while and final did so. This was her debut and this is my favorite song from the album. I like her sound, but had never really known much about her outside the music. As it turns out, she grew up here in the bay area and went to Stanford where she recorded much of this album while a student.

Otherwise, things are still quite busy for me so I will keep this short. Here is a link to video of a live performance and another link to a clip with the album version of the song set to some Firefly footage.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=mAdD6DT0_kg

Glen Campbell - "Galveston" (iTunes link)
From "Galveston" (1969)

It has been way too long since I last heard some of those early Glen Campbell classics like this song. So, today when I saw a used copy of this album I could not pass it up. This song and some others like "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" and "Rhinestone Cowboy" were familiar songs from the radio that I loved growing up in the seventies.

I had never really thought about the lyrics before, but now realize the song is about a soldier longing to return home.

Galveston, oh Galveston, I am so afraid of dying
Before I dry the tears she's crying

Here is a link to a video clip of this song.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Zzo8rdi3Qi8

John Anderson - "Seminole Wind" (iTunes link)
From "Seminole Wind" (1992)

This afternoon I was listening to Deana Carter's latest release, The Chain, on which she recorded duets of classic songs with some of the original artists. The album includes John Anderson's big 1983 hit "Swinging". As much as I enjoyed that song when it hit the radio, "Seminole Wind" released ten years later is my favorite.

This song has a such a lovely melody and a great mournful quality. The song is lamenting the destruction of the old natural habitats in the name of progress.

Progress came and took its toll
And in the name of flood control
They made their plans and they drained the land
Now the glades are going dry

The fiddle echoing the chorus is what puts this song over the top for me. That sound completely captures the mood.

So blow, blow Seminole wind
Blow like you're never gonna blow again
I'm calling to you like a long lost friend
But I know who you are

Here is a link to the music video.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KGoBQIhyFFM

Marty Robbins - "A White Sport Coat (and a Pink Carnation)" (iTunes link)
From "A White Sport Coat" (1957)

March is shaping up to be a rather sporadic month. I have been busy with work and other projects and will be heading off on vacation in another week. It doesn't seem like a week has passed since my last entry.

I caught a reference to this song earlier this morning and figured I might as well put it here since it is one of my favorites from Marty Robbins. It is basically one of those all dressed up with no place to go type of songs. This was a great country pop song that went well with Marty's smooth vocals.

Here is a link to a shortened live performance version.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=n3rD69L_QTQ

Pink Floyd - "Comfortably Numb" (iTunes link)
From "The Wall" (1979)

It has been quite a while since my first entry from Pink Floyd (see #79). After a little reminder today about this song, I had to go with it. Somehow I did not knowingly hear this song until about fifteen to twenty years after its release. To this day I still have not listened to The Wall. I really need to get back to picking up more than the two Pink Floyd albums and a compilation I have.

This is such a great song that I do not really have much to add here. But I will second (or third or fourth) how wonderful those guitar solos are. It is the ones like this that you can feel (especially as a guitar player) that have a soulfulness and restrained beauty that easily trumps busy fancy fretwork.

Here is a link to the music video.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=tkJNyQfAprY

The Cure - "Just Like Heaven" (iTunes link)
From "Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me" (1987)

While it is one my mind, here is another one from The Cure (see entry #124). This one came out when I had no clue who The Cure was. It was a couple of years later when I started college that I was finally introduced to the group. Although, I most certainly would have heard this song before then.

At any rate, this is another favorite. I still have not gone back to listen to any of their non-singles. I will have to do that some day. But for now, it's another popular one. Here is a link to the music video (love the hair).

http://youtube.com/watch?v=z-nkSGg0lk4

Paula Cole - "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" (iTunes link)
From "This Fire" (1996)

Before I fall asleep, here is a song from Paula Cole. This one certainly got plenty of airplay, but there was always something about the song that caught my ear. I still like listening to it more than a decade later.

This is one of those songs that tends to leave me thinking I like the artist more than I actually do. It is not that I particularly dislike Paula Cole's music, but there is little of it that sits as well as this song does with me and only a couple of others that I really like. That said, I really do enjoy this song.

Here is a link to the music video.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=u6K7iJ0ahqU

Julie Miller - "Broken Things" (iTunes link)
From "Broken Things" (1999)

Here is a quick entry this evening with one from Julie Miller. I already have a couple of songs from Julie and her husband Buddy (#21 and #370), so it is about time for one from her solo albums.

This song is a bit mellower than some of the work she does with Buddy. That does not mean, however, that it is short on emotion. Her vocals with that almost girlish sound (not quite sure how to best describe her tone) add a lovely fragility to a song like this. This is one her most beautiful songs and has a nice balance of sadness and hope.

Here is a clip of at least part of the song.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=1ThMAtYb3_s

Vicky - "L'amour Est Bleu (Love Is Blue)"
From "L'amour Est Bleu" (1967)

This is one of the few songs my mom would play on the piano when I was younger. Eventually I got around to learning it as well. In all those years, I never bothered looking up who had performed the song. Listening to some Claudine Longet music—she also recorded the song—reminded me to final do so today.

Originally released as an easy listening instrumental by Paul Mauriat, Vicky Leandros performed the song at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1967 for Luxembourg. She was about fifteen at the time and finished in fourth place that year. She went on to win the competition in 1972 with "Après Toi". After recording "Love Is Blue" in six different languages, Vicky went on to release successful albums in multiple languages all over the world.

Here are a couple of video clips of Vicky performing the song.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=s5tPUljBnXM
http://youtube.com/watch?v=tIH7mjqhkiw

Audrey Auld Mezera - "Down In a Hole" (iTunes link)
From "Lost Men and Angry Girls" (2007)

This was an album I picked up a few months ago. Audrey is originally from Australia, but has lived in Northern California for the past few years. That should make it much easier to catch her in concert some time. There are only a couple of individual songs that have caught my attention thus far, but the album as a whole makes for a great listen.

Fellow Australian Bill Chambers, the father of Kasey Chambers, had a hand in crafting the album contributing on guitars and mandolin in addition to acting as producer. Being a big Kasey Chambers fan and having seen her dad a couple times playing with her, his mark on the album jumps out at places. This song fits right in with that Chambers sound, especially when the electric guitar kicks in.

Lyrically, "Down In a Hole" parallels mining with exploring the depths of one's soul. I have not found any clips of this song, so here is a sample of the lyrics from the first verse.

I never grew up in a mining town
But I’ve been down in a hole
I never cried while my lungs turned black
But I cry for the black of my soul

I stood in fear as the walls caved in
Trapped in the darkness alone
I cried for help, no one heard
So I cried for the black of my soul

More details and some song clips can be found on her website and MySpace page.

I'm Gonna Hire a Wino to Decorate Our Home - "David Frizzell"
From "Family's Fine, But This One's All Mine" (1982)

After an unintended five day break with various other projects and falling asleep while trying to find a song, a new entry is finally here. This song randomly popped into my head today and it is one of my favorite country songs from the early eighties. I could never remember who did the song, so it is nice to at long last put the name with the music.

David Frizzell is the younger brother of country legend Lefty Frizzell. He got his start back in the fifties appearing with Lefty, but it was not until the eighties that he broke through in his own right. A 1981 duet with Shelly West, "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma" (another favorite), went to the top of the country charts. They had several more successful singles over the next couple of years. This song from a solo album once again put him at the top of the charts.

Given the subject matter, I am not quite sure why I liked this song as much as I did when I was young. I think it was the music initially and I came to appreciate the lyrics more over time. It is a great twist on the country drinking song theme, with the intelligent, understanding wife looking to make the most of her husband's carousing ways. Here is a sample of the chorus.

She said I'm gonna hire a wino to decorate our home
So you'll feel more at ease here, and you won't have to roam
We'll take out the dining room table, and put a bar along that wall
And a neon sign, to point the way, to our bathroom down the hall

Here is a link to the song on YouTube.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=NKIyfdpt2V8

Neko Case - "Things That Scare Me" (iTunes link)
From "Blacklisted" (2002)

Checking back on some early entries I noticed I only have one song from Neko Case (see entry #6). I will keep this short and go with another one of my favorites from her, "Things That Scare Me".

I like the acoustic guitar and banjo on this song. I am not quite sure how to describe it, but it has a repetitive quality that keeps things on edge. As usual, Neko's big voice cuts through everything nicely and gives it a lovely, haunting quality.

Here is a link to a live clip of most of the song.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=HKQa-UoEOfA