Saturday

Billie Holiday: Strange Fruit

[purchase]

Southern trees bear a strange fruit,
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root,
Black bodies swinging in the Southern breeze,
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees.

Pastoral scene of the gallant South,
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,
Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh,
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh!

Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck,
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck,
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop,
Here is a strange and bitter crop.

Read about it.

Discuss...

Friday

The Carter Family: John Hardy Was A Desperate Little Man

[purchase]

This song about a West Virginia coal miner comes from Harry Smith's legendary box set called Anthology of American Folk Music. Not only is the Anthology a treasure trove of early folk, blues, and string band music, but it served as an important influence on Bob Dylan and many artists to follow.

John Hardy was a desperate little man
He carried two guns every day
He shot down a man on the West Virginia line
You ought to seen old John Hardy getting away

Discuss...

Thursday

Leadbelly: It's Tight Like That

[purchase]

Plug this thing in, add some drums, and you've got rock and roll! As the title of the album suggests, this song comes from one of Leadbelly's last sessions, which were recorded in 1948.

Some folks say that a preacher won't steal. I caught two in my corn field. It's tight like that...

Discuss...

Wednesday

Louis Armstrong: St. James' Infirmary

[purchase]

Louis was simply one of the greats. This one was recorded in Chicago in 1928.

Discuss...

Tuesday

Jimmie Rodgers: Blue Yodel No. 9

[purchase]

Here's an amazing track featuring an early pioneer of country music, Jimmie Rodgers, singing the blues with early jazz great Louis Armstrong blowing behind him.

This song was recorded in 1930. Jimmie Rodgers died three years later, in 1933. Years later, Louie Armstrong told the story of the recording session during an appearance on the Johnny Cash show.



Discuss...

Monday

Robert Johnson: 32-20 Blues

[purchase]

This week's theme is "the old days," which we have arbitrarily defined as before 1950. Was there any good music made way back then? There had to be, right? Let's find out...

First up is Robert Johnson, the bluesman who sold his soul to Satan to learn how to play. This song was recorded 72 years ago in 1936.

If I send for my baby, and she don't come,
All the doctors in Hot Springs sure can't help her none...

Discuss...

Saturday

The Cowboy Junkies: To Live Is To Fly (Townes Van Zandt Cover)

[purchase]

We're playing requests now on the bandstand. This one comes from a half-Canadian anonymous commenter who chimed in on Monday's post. Thanks to all!

Six Songs isn't the only blog to love The Cowboy Junkies or Townes, but we've got them both covered in one great song.

I'll miss the system here
The bottom's low and the treble's clear
But it don't pay to think too much
On the things you leave behind...

Discuss...

(Any ideas for next week's theme?)

Friday

Nomeansno: Rags And Bones

[out of print]

Because we love our commenters and a good jazzcore tune. This one comes from the classic album Wrong by Nomeansno. This songs really rocks. Really.

"I am married to a cigarette butt lying in the gutter."

Discuss...

Thursday

The Band: Across The Great Divide

[purchase]

Rock music does not get better.

Now Molly dear, don't ya shed a tear, your time will surely come,
You'll feed your man chicken ev'ry sunday,
Now tell me, hon, what-cha done with the gun...

Discuss...

Wednesday

Joni Mitchell: Coyote

[purchase]

Here is the lead track from Joni's underrated Hejira album. It's got a great laid-back feel. And Joni is a giant in our eyes.

He had those same eyes - just like yours
Under your dark glasses
Privately probing the public rooms
And peeking thru keyholes in numbered doors
Where the players lick their wounds
And take their temporary lovers
And their pills and powders to get them thru this passion play

Discuss...

Tuesday

Leonard Cohen: The Future (Single Version)

[purchase]

Here's one from another great Canadian songwriter.

I've seen the future brother, it is murder.

Discuss...

Monday

Neil Young: Crime In The City (Sixty To Zero Part 1)

[purchase]

In an effort to add a bit more continuity to the presentation, Six Songs is going to start having theme weeks. This week's theme: CANADA! We love Canada. Nice people. Trees. Clean cities. Moose. And good music, eh?

All songs this week will be from artists associated with the "Great White North."

The artist looked at the producer
The producer sat back
He said, "What we have got here
Is a perfect track
But we don't have a vocal
And we don't have a song
If we could get these things accomplished
Nothin' else could go wrong."
So he balanced the ashtray
As he picked up the phone
And said, "Send me a songwriter
Who's drifted far from home
And make sure that he's hungry
Make sure he's alone
Send me a cheeseburger
And a new Rolling Stone."
Yeah.

Discuss...

Saturday

The Pretty Things: Get The Picture?

[purchase]

According to All Music Guide, The Pretty Things are the most under-appreciated British Invasion band. Do you agree?

Discuss...

Friday

Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble: Texas Flood

[purchase]

Thanks to Matt for the nice comment yesterday. The "ribbon of continuity" (nice phrase) is the goal, but we hit a dead end yesterday. So today we are starting a new ribbon with some hard-ass 1980s blues. Dig it.

Well there's floodin' down in Texas, all of the telephone lines are down
And I've been tryin' to call my baby, Lord and I can't get a single sound

Discuss...

Thursday

The Kinks: Mr. Churchill Says

[purchase]

Here is a great song about some great speeches.

All the garden gates and empty cans are gonna make us win...

Discuss...

Wednesday

The Jam: In The Crowd

[purchase]

The Jam are one of the great rock bands of the 1970s/1980s, but you don't hear much about them anymore. Too bad. Maybe they'll have a resurgence like The Kinks?

Speaking of The Kinks, the section of this song from 0:45 to 0:55 (and repeated later) really reminds me of a Kinks song, but I can't place which one it is. Am I making this up? Or do you know what song I'm thinking of? Help me out Kinks fans...

Discuss...

Tuesday

Lucinda Williams: Crescent City

[out of print]

Lucinda Williams has one album that I really love, her self-titled album from 1988. The songwriting is sharp and the delivery is heartfelt without going over the top. The only "problem" is the 1980's-style production in spots, but it's definitely worth tracking down.

This town has said what it has to say. Now I'm after that back highway, and the longest bridge I've ever crossed, over Ponchartrain...

Discuss...

Monday

Elvis Presley: If You Talk In Your Sleep

[purchase]

We don't need much of an excuse to play the Fat Elvis card here at Six Songs. Culture Bully's comment last week in favor of the 1970's version did the trick. So kick back in your jungle room and enjoy Elvis at his peak.

Love is so much sweeter when it's borrowed...

Discuss...

Saturday

Elvis Presley: Mystery Train

[purchase]

Does his music still matter today? Why or why not?

Discuss...

Friday

Wilco: When The Roses Bloom Again

[purchase]

Speaking of Billy Bragg and Wilco's Mermaid Avenue, which is a truly excellent album, brings to mind this song. Originally recorded for Mermaid Avenue, it was pulled at the last minute when it was discovered not to be a Woody Guthrie composition. If anybody has a copy of the Carter Family version, feel free to post it in the comments...

Discuss...