Retrospective: Burning Hell

R.E.M.: Burning Hell

[purchase]

Patterson Hood: Burning Hell

[purchase]

Although I visited Star Maker Machine from day one... my first post here didn't come until July 9th of 2008.

I was a little scared when I was told that my first week was something called "Hell Week." I had a brief flashback to my college days and wondered what sort of horrors would be foisted upon the newbie in his first week on the team. Then it was explained to me that "Hell Week" was merely the theme for the music that week and not some hazing ritual designed to make me "worthy." I felt a lot better.

That week, I chose to submit the song "Burning Hell" from the R.E.M. b-sides compilation Dead Letter Office. That post was the first thing I ever wrote for a blog (although I think it was actually posted after my first post at my site). I had no idea what I was doing, so I just followed the templates provided for me. I couldn't believe how simple it was.

That post gave me the courage I needed to finally get up off my butt and start my own site. I don't know that I ever would have started A Fifty Cent Lighter & A Whiskey Buzz if it wasn't for Star Maker Machine. That's why my initial post here was also my favorite moment*.

Today, I'm re-sharing that original R.E.M. song along with a cover by Patterson Hood from an R.E.M. tribute album.

*A close second to my favorite moment was this post by bowhowdy. That was the moment that really let me know that I might actually be doing something right with this whole blogging thing. The fact that another contributer here had such nice things to say really stopped me in my tracks. To boyhowdy, I want to say thank you again.

Hell Week: Devil Got My Woman

Skip James: Devil Got My Woman

[purchase]


I have a handful of minutes before this week's theme changes, so I'm under the gun - read all about Skip James at Wikipedia.

Hell Week: Dance With The Devil

Cozy Powell: Dance With The Devil

[purchase]


Here's a novelty record put out in 1974 by Cozy Powell, who seemingly played drums for half the British rock acts of the 70s.

Mickie Most, the well-known manager/producer, talked Cozy into releasing Dance With the Devil - it hit #3 in the UK charts. It inspired a generation of would-be percussionists, much to the chagrin of their parents and neighbors.

Hell Week: Covers from Hell

Primus: The Devil Went Down To Georgia

[purchase]

Danny Barnes: Sympathy For the Devil

[purchase]

Dick Dale and his Del-Tones: Ring of Fire

[purchase]

Hayseed Dixie: Hells Bells

Hayseed Dixie: Highway to Hell

[purchase]

We try to avoid the obvious choices here at Star Maker Machinery, though we'll make an exception for a truly great song no matter how popular it might be. Still, somewhere around the beginning of each theme, a few song names pop up in the comments, and once named, these "obvious songs" never get posted.

This is a problem for me, because I'm one of those audiophiles who gets earworms, and bad. Which means whenever someone says "oh, yeah, I was thinking about this song", I start thinking about it, too. And though usually I just nod my head textually and pretend to move on, way back here behind the screen I'm damned to suffer the song on infinite repeat in my head for the remainder of the week.

Which is to say: I've had Sympathy for the Devil, The Devil Went Down to Georgia, and Ring of Fire stuck in there since they were first mentioned in the comments way back on Sunday. Plus a couple of AC/DC songs I bet you were thinkin' of, too.

Since I'm still feeling a bit devilish, here's an eleventh hour set of the songs we were all thinking of this week. But I'd never be so trite as to post the originals -- that would, indeed, be too obvious, and not nearly evil enough. No, I've tried to find hillbilly and bluegrass covers for the rock stuff, and surf and jam/funk covers for the country songs. And you're going to listen to them anyway, aren't you? Because, in the end, the temptation we fear most is in ourselves.

Hell Week: Satan's Paradise

Kieran Kane, Kevin Welch & Fats Kaplin: Satan's Paradise

[purchase]

Yes, we have been to a very dark place, and now we see the error of our ways, and seek redemption. But friends, the path to redemption is not smooth! Now, brothers and sisters, NOW is the time when the devil is strongest! He will lay traps and snares for us in the form of wicked temptations! Will you be strong enough?

I have never heard a better description of these temptations than in this song. I imagine a dirt track under a gray sky. A breeze is just strong enough to blow the dust about, seemingly forming pictures. I'll let Kane Kaplan & Welch describe those pictures.

These fine gentlemen have known temptation of another sort. I'll use Kieran Kane's story by way of explanation. Kane first recorded as part of the duo the O'Kanes. If you recognize the name, you know that the O'Kanes had a string of hits on the country charts. Nevertheless, their label wanted them to change their sound to be more commercial. The pressure to do so led to the breakup of the group, and the end of their recording contract. Kieran Kane then signed with another major label as a solo artist. He recorded one album for them, which tanked after receiving minimal promotional support from said label, and he was soon without a contract once again. Up to this point, classic tale of life in the music industry.

But at this point, the story changed. Kieran Kane found, or rather made, his redemption. He got together with a group of musical friends, including Kaplan and Welch, who were at similar places in their careers, and founded the Dead Reckoning label. Now they make the music want to make, and find ways to sell enough to stay afloat. If this post helps, and if it means they will be able to make more music like this, then I am a happy man.

Submitted by Darius

Hell Week: The Fleshtones!

The Fleshtones: Burning Hell

[purchase]

Ain’t no Heaven. Ain’t no burnin’ Hell.

Now these guys could rock it out!

Hell Week: Mr. Devil

The Great Divide: Mr. Devil

[purchase]

Following in boyhowdy’s path to redemption, here is another uplifting, gospel-tinged song referencing the devil. Mike McClure has always had a strong gospel influence to his music – in fact, i did an entire McClure gospel post here. Mr. Devil was recorded back in Mike’s Great Divide days on the album Revolutions. Mike attempts to ward off Satan by letting him know that he has recently found Jesus and “laid [his] burdens down.”

“You have tried my faith, and you’ve one a time or two.
Mr. Devil, I’m growing tired of you.
Won’t you leave me alone, ‘cause I got work to follow through.
Don’t you tell me what I can and cannot do.”

i left the hidden track on the end of the song, because 1) it follows in the same vein – with a slightly jaded outlook on religion, and 2) There’s a cameo from Ray Wylie.

Get some learnin’ on Mike McClure...

Submitted by Payton.

Hell Week: Please Take The Devil Out Of Me

Caitlin Cary: Please Take the Devil Out of Me

[purchase]

Oh Jesus, please please take the devil outta me.
I've traveled far down this lonely road
The devil he's got me bent down so low
I've just found out where I want to be
Oh Jesus, please please take the devil outta me.
I'm getting tired of living in sin,
I'm tired of keeping the devil for my friend
I want so badly to be set free
Oh Jesus, please please take the devil outta me...

As we get towards the end of yet another fruitful theme week, it seemed fitting to start looking for transition songs. And though there are certainly a few out there, and just as certainly plenty more truly dark last-gasp greats to make the case for Satan himself, I can think of no better way to start working our way out of the Devil's dark arena than this great sinner's prayer for -- and subsequent celebration of -- redemption.

You might find this one familiar: it's a George Jones tune, originally. But there's something especially redemptive, I think, about all this Jesus talk coming out of the borrowed mouth of a sweetheart of a female vocalist with a twang and a grin and a great set of pipes, not to mention a killer hand on the rosined bow. So here's lesser-known Whiskeytown co-founder and powerful alt-country fiddler and singer Caitlin Cary with her short, sweet take on this old tune, originally released on Down To The Promised Land, the incredible 40-song compilation released way back at the turn of the millennium by alt-country label Bloodshot Records to commemorate their fifth year in the business.

Now I'm so happy, I'm free from sin,
because I let my dear Savior in
My Jesus told me that I was free
Oh Jesus, thank you, you took the devil outta me.

Hell Week: Scott H. Biram

Scott H. Biram: Raisin' Hell Again

[purchase]

Scott H. Biram: Long Fingernail

[purchase]


Over on ninebullets.net we never ever ever pass on an opportunity to preach the gospel of Scott Hiram Biram and Hell Week on Star Maker Machine seems as good a place as any to set up a pulpit and preach to you dirty bastards. So here goes:

Rock 'n' Roll ain't pretty and neither is Scott H. Biram. The self proclaimed "Dirty Old One Man Band" successfully, and sometimes violently, lashes together blues, hillbilly and country precariously to raucous punk and godless metal.

Biram ain't no dour ass singer/songwriter either, sweetly strumming songs about girls with big eyes and dusty highways. HELL NO!!! His singing, yodeling, growling, leering and brash preachin' and hollerin' is accompanied by sloppy riffs and a pounding backbeat brought forth by his amplified left foot. The remainder of this one-man band consists of an unwieldy combination of beat-up amplifiers and old microphones strung together by a tangled mess of guitar cables.

All this flirtin' w/hell and the devil...we might need some Preachin' and Hollerin'...After all, Jesus Loves Scott H. Biram:




Submitted by Autopsy IV

Hell Week: The Devil & Me

BR5-49: The Devil & Me

[purchase]


Sometimes the best definition of alt-country is music that sounds so much like classic country that "country radio" won't go near it. Exhibit A: BR5-49. (Is it me, or does this track sound like it was left over from the sessions that produced the Elvis classic "Don't Be Cruel"?)

They got their start at Robert's Western Wear in Nashville, playing for tips. Here they remind us that the reason people risk damnation is that the devil can always find the best parties.


Submitted by Darius

Hell Week: Christmas in July Edition

James White: Christmas With Satan

[purchase]

Probably, everyone has heard the Waitresses song "Christmas Wrapping". But did you know that, in its original release, it could only be found on an album called "No Wave Christmas"? I knew, because, (guilty pleasure confession), I loved the song and had to have it. This almost proved to be a classic case of "bought a lousy album for one great song" syndrome. There was, however, one other song I fell in love with, (because I am hopelessly warped), and that was "Christmas With Satan".

This week, we have already had one example of an artist who used different names to maintain multiple recording contracts. Here is another. James White and the Blacks, James Chance, and the Contortions are all the same group. If you've never heard them, try to imagine a collaboration between KC and the Sunshine Band and free jazz master Anthony Braxton. If you haven't played the song yet, remember, you were warned.

Submitted by Darius

Hell Week: Hellhound On My Trail

Cassandra Wilson: Hellhound On My Trail

[purchase]

Rory Block: Hellhound On My Trail

[purchase]

Two of my favorite still-living blueswomen from opposite ends of the blues spectrum -- one a sultry jazz-pop chanteuse, the other a 5 time WC Handy award-winning acoustic folkblues guitar player of the Mississippi Delta Country Blues style -- deliver vastly different but equally powerful interpretations of this old country blues tune usually attributed to Robert Johnson.

"Hellhounds on my trail" may be merely a metaphoric mannerism, but each in her own way manages to bring the weariness of a sinner's life to what is otherwise a pretty standard sneakin' 'round song. As an added bonus, given the subject matter, the gender-bender approach is reasonably empowering, all things considered. Especially nice to hear powerful musicianship coupled with such powerful, sparse narrative.

Hell Week: Devil Doll

X: Devil Doll

[purchase]


Devil Doll is from More Fun in the New World, the fourth album by the band X. Many of the songs from the 1983 production later found themselves performed acoustic in the X side project, The Knitters. Here's an interesting 1986 video with the band, it has interviews and a live performance featuring The Blaster's Dave Alvin, who at that point in time had joined the band for a spell.

Hell Week: Devil With The Blue Dress On

Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels: Devil With The Blue Dress On/Good Golly Miss Molly

[purchase]

Shorty Long: Devil With The Blue Dress On

[purchase]


Before Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger and John Mellencamp, there was Mitch Ryder. Known for his blistering stage shows, seventeen year-old Ryder's first band got their break playing Detroit's soul music club, The Village. His next band was Billy Lee & The Rivieras, which led him to record producer, Bob Crewe, who renamed the group (chosen at random from a telephone directory) Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels and signed them to his fledging DynoVoice/NewVoice labels. Crewe was a one man wrecking crew, handling songwriting, producing and A&R. The band had a good run of hits, most notably Devil With A Blue Dress On, which in 1966 rose to #4 on the US record charts. The song was originally recorded by Shorty Long in 1964 as Devil With The Blue Dress, Ryder's version was at a faster tempo and turned into a medley with Good Golly Miss Molly.

In 1967, Ryder went solo without much success. During the 70s, he continued recording and touring. His last major label release was 1983's Never Kick a Sleeping Dog, produced by John Mellencamp. Nowadays, Ryder writes songs, paints and continues to tour.

Hell Week: Devil Inside

INXS: Devil Inside

[purchase]


INXS were a nifty pop tune machine that cranked out easy-on-the-ears hits to a welcoming US radio market that had tired of drawn-out AOR tunes from Rock's dinosaurs. Vocalist Michael Hutchence was a New Wave Jim Morrison and unfortunately, came to a similar end - in 1997, he was found dead in a Sydney hotel room, most likely the result of autoerotic asphyxiation.

Since then, the band has continued on, rotating the vocal spot with Terence Trent D'Arby, Russell Hitchcock and Jimmy Barnes.

In an odd twist, INXS threw their hat into the reality teevee ring with a contest to find a new lead singer. The winner was J.D. Fortune, who recorded and toured with the band in 2006.

Hell Week: Lucifer Sam

Sadies: Lucifer Sam [purchase]

I love this picture of The Sadies because it looks like they're playing Hell's waiting room. Then again, who knows with these guys. They play 200 dates a year. I can totally see them scheduling a gig in Satan's foyer, in between dates at The Knitting Factory and Maxwell's Hoboken.

As everyone and their lysergically-inclined brother knows, "Lucifer Sam" is an old Pink Floyd number, done when Syd Barrett was running the show. But hey, why run interference for the Floyd when you can talk about the hardest working, ass-kickingest roots-rock band in the bidness. Other bands may give you pomp, circumstance, and shameless spectacle, but The Sadies bring encyclopedic versatility and old-school showmanship to the stage. Their sets credibly and seamlessly switchback through Byrds-inflected country-rock, surf instrumentals, rockabilly, gospel, old-school country, and spaghetti western. If that's not enough, guitarist and vocalist, Dallas Good, once played an entire show headless. Let's see your favorite band do that.

In 2006, The Sadies released not only the best record of the year, but one of the defining records of this decade ... In Concert Volume 1 ... from which "Lucifer" is drawn. Culled from a pair of shows at Lee's Palace in their hometown of Toronto, I do not lie to you, my brothers and sisters, when I say that it's this generation's Last Waltz.

I'll let that lofty statement settle in.

OK, I make this mildly hyperbolic claim for three reasons: 1) Like The Last Waltz, In Concert Volume 1 features a rotating cast of special guests, including Neko Case, Jon Langford, Kelly Hogan, Jon Spencer, Gary Louris, the Blue Rodeo guys, and in a roots d'etat, actual Last Waltzer and fellow Canuck, Garth Hudson. 2) Like The Band, The Sadies are perfectly comfortable serving as a backing band or taking the lead on their own songs. And 3) Like TLW, In Concert is a brilliant survey of the host band's career that also serves to highlight their immense musical vocabulary. And hey, if nothing else, there's no Neil Diamond. Advantage Sadies.

Here's a short video Bloodshot Records produced for their song, "Flash," which has kind of a "Tombstone Blues" feel to it.

The Sadies - Flash

Here's a cool clip featuring animated Sadies and a tune from their soundtrack to the Ed "Big Daddy" Roth documentary, Tales Of The Rat Fink.

The Sadies - The Horseshoe

Hell Week: Hell's Half Acre

The Blood Oranges: Hell’s Half Acre

[purchase]

The Blood Oranges are one of those talented bands that came around just a bit too early or didn’t catch the kind of breaks that might have propelled them to the top of the 1990’s alt-country bubble. Whatever the reason, they disbanded after two albums and an EP, never making much of a splash.

Here’s a catchy one from their 1994 album The Crying Tree about Hell’s Half Acre.

Cross promotion alert! You can listen to my favorite Blood Oranges track over at my other blog.

Hell Week: Burning Hell

R.E.M.: Burning Hell

[purchase]

This is my first ever attempt at blogging in any of its forms… so I thought I’d start with a song from my favorite band, R.E.M.

“Burning Hell” is taken from the B-sides and rarities album, Dead Letter Office. This isn’t one of R.E.M.’s stronger efforts. Nor is it truly a good representation of the typical R.E.M. sound (Michael Stipe’s falsetto screams seem especially out of place). This is what happens when a jangle pop group takes a tongue-in-cheek attempt at recording a metal-fueled, riff-filled rocker.

Reader submission from Nelson

Hell Week: Conversation With The Devil

Ray Wylie Hubbard: Conversation With The Devil

[purchase]

The "Dark Knight" of the Texas Music scene is never more in his element than when he’s singin’ about the afterlife. Known for his prophetic, mysterious stories, Ray Wylie Hubbard creates some of the most image-inducing music around. Songs like Purgatory Road, Bones, The Way of the Fallen, Resurrection, and – of course – This Mornin’ I Am Born Again, often filled with slides and dobros, are just a few of his fatalistic pieces.

Conversation with the Devil is a vivid retelling of a dream. A rolling, talkin’ blues type song, it shows Ray Wylie trying to convince the Devil that he doesn’t belong down below.

“I didn’t use the cocaine to get high, I just liked the way it smelled.”

With over 6 verses, the song takes a turn as Ray Wylie and Satan seem to sort of hit-it-off, and Satan gives him some insight into how things work in Hell.

“All the murderers and the rapists, they go in this fiery lake. As well as most of the politicians and the cops on the take. And all the mothers who wait till they get to K-Mart to spank their kids.”

“What you won’t find up in Heaven are Christian-Coalition Right-Wing Conservatives, Country program directors, and Nashville record executives.”

In the end, Ray Wylie takes the message as a sign to change his ways.

“Some get spiritual ‘cause they see the light. Some ‘cause they feel the heat.”

Submitted by Payton.

Hell Week: Friend of the Devil

Grateful Dead: Friend of the Devil

[purchase]

Lyle Lovett: Friend of the Devil

[purchase]

Bob Dylan: Friend of the Devil (live '99)

[unpurchase-able]

Counting Crows: Friend of the Devil

[purchase]

Last Fair Deal: Friend of the Devil

[purchase]

Rice, Rice, Hillman, Pederson: Friend of the Devil

[purchase]

Most of the best-known Grateful Dead originals sprung from the collaborative songwriting of Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter, which dominated 1970 studio masterpiece American Beauty; this is one of my favorites, and -- judging from the number of great covers out there -- I'm not the only one. Something about the way the song manages to capture the trope and narrative structure of the best old appalachian blues songs from half a century earlier, I think. I wouldn't have posted so many, but I had a special request for this one, both the original and covers -- and I should point out that these are just a few of the many versions of this song I have, though many of the rest are mostly live recordings with dubious quality.

The slow, mournful Lyle Lovett is a particular favorite; so is Chris Smither's live version, which is posted elsewhere, lest the week's theme become overwhelmed by the amazing folkblues guitarist's wail. I don't usually like Counting Crows, but this song fits their fratrock anthem style pretty well, I think. The "new American roots" sound of Last Fair Deal and classic blue/newgrass from supergroup Rice, Rice, Hillman and Pedersen at the end of the list are pretty sweet, too. And you can't knock the live Dylan, straight from the soundboard, ragged and torn, with full band behind him -- I got it from friend Ray when he did his own set of devilsongs, way back in December.

The lyrics of this song always struck me as kind of garbled, though the fragments of narrative we do get work well when you take them as the frantic ramblings of a haunted narrator on the run, his mind tumbling over the deadly sins (lust, greed), bad decisions and poorly managed urges that got him there in the first place. Near as I can tell, our particular devil here is a fickle friend with exquisite timing: he might loan you twenty in your time of need, but he's just as apt to track you down, pluck the twenty out of your desperate hands, and leave you stranded in a levee, laughing as the sheriff's hounds close in on your trail.