Bettye LaVette: Love Reign
Bettye LaVette is publishing her new album ‘Interpretations: The British Rock Songbook’ on 25 May (itunes). It includes her wonderful performance of the Who’s “Love Reign” in 2008 – just watch Pete Townshend with tears in his eyes: Only love Can make it rain The way the beach is kissed by the sea Only love […]
Melissa Laveaux: Scissors + Evil
This mesmerizing singer-songwriter from Canada is just travelling through Europe. Here’s the first song on her wonderful 2009 album, Camphor and Copper. I’ve included the lyrics from the booklet and added the additional third verse she sings here. If you hear different words than I did, please correct them. She’s easier to understand on the […]
Jimmie Cliff: Sitting here in limbo
My big brother Larry first played me Jimmy Cliff in 1974 after watching The Harder They Come, the movie whose soundtrack introduced so many people to reggae. His taste in music has certainly educated mine. I’m thinking of him and the situation of being in limbo in between life phases, even as we go about […]
Natalie Merchant/ Leave Your Sleep: The Man In The Wilderness
Absolutely beautiful: The title of Natalie Merchant‘s new album Leave Your Sleep is taken from a Mother Goose rhyme: “Girls and boys, come out to play, The moon doth shine as bright as day; Leave your supper, and leave your sleep, and come with your playfellows into the street.” In the booklet that introduces the […]
She & Him: You really got a hold on me
What a pretty interpretation of the Beatles’ classic, by She & Him. I don’t like you But I love you Seems that I’m always Thinkin’ of you Oh, ho, ho, you treat me badly I love you madly You’ve really got a hold on me (You really got a hold on me) You really got […]
Grammar Guru: Oops!
What do you say instead of “oops!” ? * There appears to have been some sort of mistake. * There appears to have been made some sort of mistake. * There appears some sort of mistake has been made. This is the silliest song Ella and Louis ever sang together, but it’s great singing on […]
All the news of home just gives you the blues
WTF? “Senate Republicans succeeded early Thursday in forcing a change in a measure altering President Barack Obama’s newly enacted health care overhaul, meaning the bill will have to return to the House for final congressional approval.” How is that possible? It’s enacted. Something that is signed into law IS law. I just don’t get it. […]
