mashup, sqeeeeeeeeze and tossarroooo

Had a relaxing day wandering in a shopping mall down at Ocean Terminal in Leith here in Edinburgh. Any shopping mall that has Debenhams as it's flagshop is ok with me. Love the Rocca range by the way...got a fuzzy bedrug. Then a wander up to Baxters, of the soup fame and got a couple of cappuccino cups and then on to Whittards for a metal container to heat up the froth...yes..the machine has been assembled and working so well I have to set an alarm clock to tell me when its time to go to bed.
Been surfing around various blogs and congratulations to Pimps of Gore for the check on mash ups. I discovered a few crackers myself and in honour will move away from the hard wood floor and the sound of cowgrrl boots twosteppin and grapevine twistin to Rednex. Here's one of my favourites go home productions wrapped detective
it has bits of elvis costello and i wont tell you the rest, see if you can guess!
i am trying to find out how to add fave blogs but for now i will just list them here.
enchilada's blog
big rock candy mountain
songsillinois
just three for starters...here is another fab track
Mojo Nixon Debbie Nixon is pregnant with my Two Headed Love Child
It's live and a bit of fun...from the Casbah in 2003. It comes up as Punk in the file name, but I would put it under Universal.
Listening to some countrry music in the background...Willie and Georgia on my mind.. Allison Moorer It's easier to forget and last but not least..Toby Keith If you kiss me like that fantastic. Saw Willie N here in Edinburgh a few years ago, forget your Franz Ferdinand and Bloc Party, this guy knew how to P.A.R.T.Y. See him if you get a chance, no wasted cash or wishing you were at home watching Ali McBeale or as Peter Sellers said when he got invited to the Palace...he 'was watching TV that night and couldn't come'.or something like that.
Talking of TV does anybody remember Pete Duel and The Virginian? It was the most popular show of the day and now of course you can buy scripts on line so you can join in the dialogue if not the shoot outs..

gagga with a Gaggia

Today, a brand new sparkling coffee machine arrived for those expresso's late at night, in the morning and of course in the early evening. However, the instructions must have been put together by NASA as I am having a bit of a carry on putting it all together and sorting out the programming. I will persevere though as no pain no gain.

Having a HUGE clear out and putting a lot of stuff up on ebay...partly to pay for the coffee machine..amazing what people buy. You probably read about the pretzel , see the slide show right here, shaped supposedly like Mary with the baby Jesus...it looked more like a road map of Manchester..but it sold for megabucks to some Casino that saw an advertising opportunity...so I ain't going to mention them by name as they have had loads of plugs already.

Parted with lots of vinyl...time to pack them off to the Charity Shop. No regrets as I saw Led Zeppelin 1-4, Rod Stewart's Atlantic Crossing (did I actually purchase this??? Oh My!! taste in music was a bit out of sorts in those days). disappear out the door. I have harboured piles of the stuff for years, but now being mainly a CD and MP3 grrl , can't see myself lugging out Spandau Ballet's Through the Barricades from the loft to play at afternoon soirees.
Spending the day chilling out and chilling a bottle of Cote du Rhone....raining ...so won't get into the garden.
I've been checking out a lot of traditional music , first up from Torphins in Aberdeenshire is a fine fiddler Paul Anderson. Here he plays the work of famous player Hector MacAndrew.

The Shakkin' Briggie/Mr. J.H. Alexander/The Shakkin o' the Pockie mp3

You can hear the North East style on these tunes. It's fairly ornamental with use of classical bowings, stacatto, unisons, double stops, in fact pretty difficult all round. One of the earliest exponents of the style, William Marshall, said he 'did not write music for bunglers'. There was a huge expectation then that your playing was at virtuoso level. See what you make of Paul's efforts.

I have a soft spot for Neil Young. I couldn't part with his vinyl copy of 'After the Gold Rush' after the HUGE clear out. It was the first album I bought with money from a Sat. job. I used to inspect the cover for hours on end , wondering about his eyesight , and how it must be weird to see the world as he portrays it on the album sleeve. Aah, what you loose with Mp3..and no album covers that you can use as a frisbee on a weekend.
Here's a funky reworking with Buffalo Springfield from a favourite CD FSUK VOL 3.

Buffalo Springfield check site for records to buy
Buffalo Springfield I am a Child mp3

"keep it country, son"

Seemingly Ernest Tubb was really concerned about country music getting watered down, and used to hand out this piece of advice, "keep it country, son". I have to absolutely agree one hundred and one percent. Thankfully, the twang is still there along with the harmonies, humour ,tears and snotters in a lot of the new music, The Arlenes are a good example. They are playing in Edinburgh at the Bongo Club and I will be there. Their music is a mix of haybales and cocktails...originally from England but now relocated to California.
Just found out about a bit of fun called flashmobbing. Seemingly, you get together with a bunch of people who have signed up to get a set of instructions. They then meet in public to carry them out. Edinburgh had one recently and involved dancing about to your iPod on the railway station forecourt in the middle of the rush hour. Anyone for linedancing in Marks and Spencers or Mexican Waves in the cinema?
Here is a couple of tunes to enjoy over the Easter break.
Johnson Mountain Boys Tomorrow I'll be Gone from their fab album Working Close.
John Hartford Hell Up Coal Holler from the fast and furious The Speed of the Long Bow.
As a fiddler myself I really appreciate the 'hornet in a jam jar' feel on both these tracks. I met a friend who is also a fiddler and she was saying that her favourite player on the planet has to be Alsdair Fraser. I reckon I am with her there. He was born within gobbing distance of me and has one of the most vibrant styles you'll find. I am however actually listening to Joey Ramone's 'I got knocked down'...great stuff from a great guy.

Spanglish, Engrish and countrry

Language is a funny thing, and spelling even more so. Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer inwaht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? Yaeh and I awlyas thought slpeling was ipmorantt. I guess spelling is changing, maybe my version of c'est la vie will take off, what with texting lingo, Spanglish and of course my favourite engrish I have a good chance of being understood. Check out this fab site www.engrish.com.
Here are a couple of tracks that you don't hear very often...
First up is Mr Teardrop himself, Marty Robbins. The writer of hits such as 'You gave me a mountain' and 'My Woman, My Woman, My Wife', which won him his second Grammy. This is from the first album I bought of his, Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs originally released in 1959.
Enjoy Marty Robbins San Angelo!
Next, it's Dick Curless, also known as 'The Tumbleweed Kid', like Maine native Dave Dudley had a hot catalogue of truck driving and highway songs. Dick's voice seems to come from a drain deep in the ground with the manhole cover firmly closed. I love his stuff, particularly this one:
Dick Curless Crazy Heart. He unfortunately died in 1995 just months before his last disc 'Traveling Through' was released on Rounder.
Living here in Bonnie Scotland, we don't have room for a rig to turn on a dime...and a lorry with more than 8 wheels seems exotic..so I enjoy listening to trucker sounds, hope you too enjoy the ride.

keep it country

Hey been a few days since any blogging activity..been busy busy busy..but am in tonight and ready to delight with some fab music and sites . For starters check out rathergood.co.uk.this has some crazy stuff that will keep you amused for aeons. this is a short blog tonight as i have had lots of problems getting logged on but seems the problems have just disappeared but now it's bed time cela vie and all that. tomorrow more music as i will need a bit of time to search for something apt. have a good weekend keep it country.

too lazy to walk

It seems our local MSP's can't be bothered to walk the short distance between buildings at the new Parliament..yet they were dead keen for all us lot to walk for the good of our health...hypocrisy in motion...this is one sorry tale this citadel of cutting edge architecture...seemingly it is so dark inside that lights have to be on during the day meaning that heating and lighting bills for 6 months for only 129 MSP's plus all the gofers and bureaucrats is costing a whopping £165,953. When you add the fantastic beyond all reason cost in the first place, a monster £431m, Robbie Williams £80m contract seems like an air bubble on the ocean.Now I have that off my chest here is a couple of tracks to cheer you and me up.First up is local band
The Felsons Shine like the road after the rain I used to see them play in a local pub way back in 1996. Since then of course they have gone onto greater things playing and supporting The Mavericks amongst others.
The Flatlanders I think I'm gonna go downtown completes the playlist. Love the voice of Jimmie Dale Gilmour and the way it winds around the tune like tumbleweed blowing across the desert.
As always enjoy and then buy the albums...and if you want any of these MP3s removed get in touch with me before you sue. Off now to have a cup of tea and have a read of the new Uncut.

what music in heaven???

Last night I spent a good half hour writing and posting tracks only to have the whole thing crash...so I was not best pleased...and decided to go check out some other stuff instead..so tonight I will save as I go!!
Seemingly if you are a Brit and you pop your clogs you are likely to want Robbies 'Angels or Franks I Did it My Way to send you to the record deck in the sky...if youre German it will be Highway to Hell and all that heavy metal angst...if you are Swedish it ain't Abba but Elvis and Viva Las Vegas. Weird or what????Seemingly the Spanish like opera and the French like...well something French...I don't know about the other side of the pond..any ideas????I don't know what I would choose but it may be this
Uncle Tupelo No Depression
Here is another great track..not for heaven but just for putting on the portable player. Saw this guy support Allison Moorer at the Queens Hall Edinburgh. He did a solo set and frankly it didn't work..I was ready to write him off, but then won his CD on the Brand New Opry on BBC Scotland and listened again. This track is pretty damn good and hope you will check him out...he is best with a band . Off to cook some food and chill have a faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaab weekend and buy these guy's albums.

Darden Smith Train to London

love in a tanning bed

Here is someone I really rate...Jim Lauderdale along with the Clinch Mountain Boys..the real yeeehaw sound that I love..can't stop your feet tapping along..here is info about him at CMT I see that you can stream the whole album of him and others doing a tribute to Johnny Paycheck.
I Should Have Listened to Good Advice MP3

I'm off tomorrow to Dundee, traditionally the city of jam, jute and journalism. These days you can add tourism. Check out Scott's polar exploration ship The Discovery that went to the Antartic..just parked at the side of the harbour and then search out a cheesy pasty washed down with Irn-Bru the national drink.
Here's a track you will love or hate Donna Kay Honey and the Cowpokers Love in a Tanning Bed. I came across this loved it instantly...trailer trasharama country at its lowdown best. Check out the site for more info

blown off the sofa

Have been listening again to Iris DeMent's 1992's Infamous Angel. I didn't like it when I first heard it way back then, I wanted something more Ricky Skaggs or Gram Parsons. However, I heard her on a Nitty Gritty Dirt Band DVD and was blown right off the sofa.
So here she is with Mama's Opry If you want to check out her other stuff and get the bio she has a site that's worth a look.
My Bible at the moment is the latest issue of Uncut with a great free CD that has Southern Rockers Drive By Truckers doing Danko/Manuel and The Gourds Dying of the Pines to name but two of the 16 tracks in total.
Here's a little nugget from the Drive By Truckers -Never Gonna Change Enjoy!!! and remember to buy the albums and spread the word.
Now off to catch up on some sleep as had a stramasher of a weekend .

dance the pleats right oot o' yer kilt

Been out taking photos of Leith Links the home of the game of golf. Seemingly it all started here, however, you would have to watch your ball didn't get covered in dogs doodoo...it is getting better with folk bagging the evidence and others shopping them to the special wardens - the poo police - who will arrest you if you don't clean up after your little pooch has pooed on the grass....
Here is a bit of a deviation..instead of a country track from the other side of the pond here is one from my side. In fact, this is a fab band that I first heard at a folk festival years ago and thought the name was ...well ...silly...but the playing is unbelievable...I always wished I could dirl as good as the Cunningham Brothers. Johnny on fiddle and Phil on the box ,keyboards and whistle...so here is a ceilidh track that should have you dancing the pleats right oot o' yer kilt...give it laldy... enjoy and buy the album
Silly Wizard-Pipe Major Donald Campbell/The Orphan/The Kestral/Come Up Alang (Jigs) MP3 this to me is a fantastic number and makes me wish my parents had sent me to Jimmy Shand Jnr for lessons on the accordion.This track makes it sound like a drum rather than Liberace on a waltz up the Rhine.

End of the world as we know it?

Just heard on the radio on the way home from work that some folk have been taken to court for sharing music over the net and been fined a heap of dosh. Check out the for details on the BBC website

Of course the BPI say that the money will go to compensate artists...but who are we talking about???Robbie Williams who got an £80 million contract???
If music was cheaper to purchase in the first place I reckon this whole 'problem' of sharing music wouldn't be so massive. We have been ripped off as fans enough in the past...what do you think??? I have actually bought more music and become more eclectic in my taste since listening to stuff that is put up by artists on their websites. Check out .trailer-records. who have lots of bits and pieces from a bank of fab artists.
Tonight I will be listening to Bryan Burnett on RadioScotland and his programme the brand new opry....as I have said previously you can check this out online.
Have been down at North Berwick today and the snow was still on the hills across the Firth of Forth...wish I had taken a camera...however here is compensation indeed with a track from a great artist that I have recently discovered and reckon should be much better known.Mack Starks -Dead Man's House
have a fabbydabbydozzzzy weekend and as always buy the albums if you like the artists...

why does the rich man dance?

Here's a fabulous slice of real life..why does the rich man dance whilst the poor man pays the band? It was a toss up between Townes or Travis...but tonight Travis it is. I got into him because I always liked Southern Rock and The Allman Bros, I like this track and hope you enjoy it, but buy his albums he has a fair collection and his DVD is AOK too.
Travis Tritt-Working Man Blues MP3

get a shovel full of Hazel and Alice

have some folk round for a glass or two so will be a speedy posting yet again...and here's me thinking I was a bit of a sofa surfer..but social life is pretty busy.
Today's MP3 comes from Hazel and Alice-Coal Mining Woman. I first heard this again on vinyl when country music wasn't hip...this was the 70's remember when the Nashville string sound rang the cash registers of the genre. Even poor Dolly, a Bluegrass grrl at heart had to swing along to the violins and glooped up pedal steel. Anyway here is the raw sound of pure political country...when I played in a ceilidh band I used to sing this song and got a lot of reaction from folk wanting to know who did the original and where could they get it. I love the whole album Hazel and Alice and reckon it is a desert island disc.

what would willie do?????????

here is a bit of fun..even the most dour tumshie that hates country music will twitch their lips at Bruce Robison's What would Willie do? What indeed, and I reckon it would involve a fair bit of relaxing. Short blog tonight as I have been out and about. Enjoy this from the man who is one of the best songwriters on the planet.