One Tin Soldier - The Original Caste

This song (actually, it was more likely the 1971 - re-recorded in 1973 - Coven cover of this song) can probably be at least partly to blame for my pacifistic attitudes. I don't remember the first time I heard it - I was, after all, very young when it came out - but I do remember singing it at the top of my lungs and sometimes even crying at its message. Sometimes I still do.

One Tin Soldier by The Original Caste from the self-titled 1969 album "The Original Caste"



The Original Caste website

Coven MySpace page

Bottle of Lie - Akphaezya

This one is strangely intriguing. The way this French band combines jazz with heavy metal (think Sergio Mendez Goes to Hell) is ... well ... interesting. I'm still not quite sure what I think about it, but I absolutely recommend checking out vocalist Nehl Aëlin's solo work. I'll be looking into more of her stuff, that's for sure.

Bottle of Lie by Akphaezya from the 2008 album "Anthology II: Links from the Dead Trinity"



Akphaezya website

Akphaezya MySpace page

Nehl Aëlin MySpace page

Nehl Aëlin website

Kalifenzorn - Schelmish

My, what a big drum you have!

Yes, this is the mood I am in today. I absolutely love this. Nothing polite about these bagpipes. No, sirree. Makes me want to spit a wild boar over a bonfire and leave it to cook while I'm off pillaging a neighboring village.

Schelmish is from Bonn, Germany and was originally formed to perform mediaeval music for founding member DesDemonia's mother's birthday celebration in 1999. While the band still embraces it's roots in Celtic music, it leans more towards Mittelalter (Mediaeval Metal) Rock in style these days, blending mediaeval folk music with hard rock or heavy metal.

Kalifenzorn by Schelmish



Schelmish website

Schelmish MySpace page

Schelmish Facebook page

If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out - Amanda Palmer

If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out was written and recorded by Cat Stevens for the 1971 movie, "Harold and Maude" but was never released as a single nor included on any album at the time. It wasn't until 1984 that it was released on his album, "Footsteps in the Dark: Greatest Hits, Vol. 2."

Last month Amanda Palmer learned this song and performed it as a sort of gift for her fans at a "flash gig" on an LA beach. You can read about how that all came to be by clicking HERE. (It's a great story!)

If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out performed live by Amanda Palmer on beach just a few weeks ago.



Amanda Palmer on Twitter

Amanda Palmer website

Cat Stevens (now Yusuf Islam) website



P.S. I am coming to the conclusion that in an alternate reality - one in which different choices were made and different results realized - that Amanda Palmer is my "alternate me." I'm just sayin'.

Big Fish - Jesca Hoop

From growing up in Northern California in a strict Mormon family to homesteading in the Wyoming wilderness to working with a rehab center for kids in the Arizona mountains to being nanny for Tom Waits' and Kathleen Brennan's three children, American singer-songwriter Jesca Hoop is nothing short of eclectic. And it shows in her music which wraps itself around headiness of jazz, Celtic, gypsy, cabaret and sweetens things with just a taste of pop.

Her new album, "Hunting My Dress", is due out this fall.

Big Fish by Jesca Hoop from the 2004 EP "Silverscreen Demos" (no longer in print, but available for mp3 download on Amazon)



Jesca Hoop website

Jesca Hoop MySpace page

Danny Says - Joey Ramone and Tom Waits (but not together)

Joey Ramone wrote Danny Says (Danny being the band's manager at the time) while staying at the Tropicana Hotel in Los Angeles, California where The Ramones were staying while they recorded their 5th studio album, "End of the Century." It is believed that Joey wrote this song for his then girlfriend, Linda Danielle, who later married his bandmate, Johnny Ramone. Although Joey and Johnny both remained in the band until 1996, they didn't exactly speak to each other much after that.

Danny Says by The Ramones from the 1980 album "End of the Century"



And, well, Tom Waits' cover just makes me cry. Such a beautiful interpretation!

Danny Says by Tom Waits from the 2006 triple album "Orphans"



The Ramones website

Tom Waits website