I'll Fly Away - Nickel Creek

No story with this song. No anecdotes. No reason for it, other than it's in my head today. So, I'm sharing. Enjoy!

Often called the most recorded gospel song, I'll Fly Away was written in 1929 by Oklahoma native Albert E. Brumley.

I'll Fly Away by Nickel Creek from their 2007 Farewell (for now) concert tour.



Nickel Creek website

Nickel Creek MySpace page

What effect will this have on my blog?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7933565.stm

Guess we'll find out soon.

Dance While the Sky Crashes Down - Jason Webley

The weather is overcast and cold and threatening to snow. Looking at the headlines lately, it seems it's not just the weather that's behaving this way. Pass my dancing shoes, please.

Jason Webley began his musical career in the late 1990s as an accordion playing busker on the streets of Seattle. He has recorded 5 albums and 5 collaborative EPs since 1998. While his albums include such instruments as accordian, viola, piano, and xylophone, his live shows often find him playing only an accordian, guitar and vodka bottle filled with coins from around the world.

Dance While the Sky Crashes Down by Jason Webley from the 1999 album "Against the Night"



Jason Webley website

Jason Webley MySpace page

Clap Hands - Tom Waits / Beck

Two brilliant songs by two brilliant artists separated by twenty years and sharing a single title. Both give me happy little goosebumps of pleasure.

Clap Hands by Tom Waits from the 1985 album "Rain Dogs"




Clap Hands by Beck from the 2005 album "Guerro"



Tom Waits website

Beck website

Like Days - The Start

The very first time I heard the song "Gorgeous" back in 2001, I fell in love with The Start, particularly with Aimee Echo's voice which is very reminiscent of Dale Bozzio (Missing Persons) and Christina Amphlett (DiVinyls). Their debut album "Shakedown!" is still one of my favorites, filled with songs I never get tired of hearing. They now have 3 albums and 2 EPs to their credit and a very busy touring schedule.

Like Days by The Start from the 2004 album "Initiation"



The Start website

The Start MySpace page

Midnight Special - Odetta

There are some songs that occupy the deepest parts of my brain - that linger there, haunting the edges of my days and teasing the quiet of my nights. This is one of those songs. I don't remember the first time I heard it. It's as if I've just always known it. The chorus slips out of nowhere and I find myself singing along to my inner jukebox, belting it out with all the energy in my soul. "Let the Midnight Special shine it's ever-lovin' light on me!"

The Midnight Special is a traditional folk song believed to have originated among prisoners in the American South. The most commonly accepted story about the song is that it refers to a train that would run past Sugarland Prison in Texas at midnight and should its light fall on a prisoner, that would be an omen that his release was near. The first publication of the song's lyrics were in 1905 when they were printed by Howard Odum. The first commercial recording of it was by Dave "Pistol Pete" Cutrell in 1926. Since then, many different versions of the song have been recorded by many different artists including Creedence Clearwater Revival, Paul McCartney, ABBA, Van Morrison, Big Joe Turner, Eric Clapton, and Buckwheat Zydeco.

Amazing Grace - The Blind Boys of Alabama

Good Sunday! Perfect day for a little gospel, doncha think? And what better song than Amazing Grace? This version by The Blind Boys of Alabama sung to the tune of "House of the Rising Sun" is probably my favorite.

The Blind Boys of Alabama were formed in 1939 at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind. They have been recording since 1948 and have released over 60 albums since then and have been awarded 5 Grammy Awards.

Amazing Grace by The Blind Boys of Alabama from the 2001 album "Spirit of the Century"



The Blind Boys of Alabama website