Al Huskey in Tennessee

Here is an absolutely exquisite home-made country LP from Illinois. I have been dumpster diving through stuff like this for years and can honestly think of but a handful that I like this much. It's tough to say why so many private country records are weak, but it may have something to do with the singles oriented format for the genre. It also just seems to be a grouping where you get a lot of cover material filling out a record with one or two songs aimed as a hit, making LPs full of original material just plain rare. Al Huskey’s “In Tennessee” is one of these, and somehow he wrote 12 songs that capture a depth of moods and expression that are personal, beautiful, and just wonderfully quirky - soulful, occasionally bizarre. In the best tradition of self-released music the LP presents a cross-section of genuine talent and slightly unconventional production. The whole thing glows, foremost with Al’s unmistakably original voice, as he moves from tales of blind men making it to heaven, to debunking the color lines, to bemoaning lost loves and discussing the peculiar otherworldly nature of an echoing voice. It’s a 70s record, but the production is warm, earthy, almost hit’s a “rock” stride on a few trax, and ultimately it's all about the songs - several of these I would love to hear dusted off for cover. “Whipping Boy” for example has that perfect moment of soaring honky-tonk denouement every country-hit yearns for - the point where the minor-key verse changes gears into a massive open chorus - and the narrator gets to finally stand on stage and deliver judgment for the abuses he has suffered. For me the highlights are the moody almost country-rock flavored late night tumblers… “I Won’t Cry” and “Echoes” both just completely wreck me. Al is still active in music today, and can be reached via his MySpace page. This is a pretty easy LP to find if you’re looking for the vinyl, and is usually pretty cheap. Really a great record, and recommended even if you’re not usually keen on this kind of thing. Talk soon, JDF

Suzanne on Birchmount

I was alerted to this groovy Quebecois femme-pop LP recently by an old Paul Major radio broadcast that was circulating amongst some friends. The set closed out with two magical tracks from this obscure LP released on the Birchmount label with about half the songs penned by Greg Hambleton of A Passing Fancy. These two songs have been on constant rotation the past few weeks, and I hope will captivate your imagination as well. "Shendah" is a love song written to a horse, and is just totally heartbreaking - in only the way that it could be! "Island" is a ballad of teenage alienation couched in gushy organ fills and a subtle marching drum-beat. You could make a killer 7" out of these two! Check 'em out... and I'll see you next week.


Shendah


Island

Suzanne

Austin Sirch - Self-Titled

This is a little bit of a shameless plug for a friend, but I don't want anyone to be confused - I'm a big fan of the guy's work. Austin and I go back years and years of kicking around in green grass pastures, the mis-adventures of mouse-infested cabin life, the ever-present hourglass passed in puffs of smoke, and the nite-time as John Lennon would speak of it in that song with lots of saxophone and sunglasses. Austin's music is a joyous cacophony of strings laid bare to effervescent harmonies and shimmering lush psychedelic pop atmosphere. There's an effortlessness to his whole jag, a push back to summer dawns bathed in the Beatles and strong dope. I'm biased I suppose, as I associate the songs with really fond memories, but rarely does one find such a warm repose, an envelope sonically arranged for you to crawl inside and find the things you love about home-made music all over again. The distinction for me is that he's a writer, and the songs stand out as fully crafted paths through a forest of days lost to the grind of getting older and heartaches that seem heavier as the years go on. Really personal beautiful stuff that is super close to my heart. This is a CD EP from 4 or 5 years ago. If you like it, let him know. With that I bid you warm summer feelings, breathe deeply - eat something you enjoy. Warmly, JDF

I. Wishing Bell
II. No(is)e
III. When the Ships Come In
IV. Something Else
V. The Missile Blues
VI. Sophie's Song

Dog Ear on Planet Chant

Easily one of my favorite 45s from the spring... gorgeous home-made cosmic country that sounds like Bobby's Blues Band + a slide guitar and desert sand under their feet. Absolutely killer mellow vibe that I would die to have an LP of. Called around on this and got absolutely nowhere... I was hunching that it was from Texas... 1973, on Planet Chant Productions. Enjoy!


Just Children


The Man Who Left Her

Mix-tape Re-run: Bummer in the Summer

It's been two years since I made this garbled mix-tape of woozy lounge cacophony, psychedelic rock, and stardust crooning... and I'm just rounding out a similar mix for later in the summer but figured I'd return to this one for a little inspiration. The track-list is long gone, but I could probably identify most of the artists, at least, if you press me. It's literally a tape turned to a CD so apologies for lack of track splits. Hope you enjoy, and sorry for occasionally miserable fidelity issues (2nd to last track on side B is embarrassingly in the red and all but ruins it, yikes!). Some familiar faces await, some less familiar ones too. Talk Soon, JDF

Peach and Pockets

I realize stuff like this 45 appeals to about 5 people out there besides myself, but ever since first hearing Peach and Pockets several months ago, I have had "Top of the Morning" running through my head, encouraging all of my bad habits and drenching my dreams in cheap champagne... For fans of Michael Farneti, this is about as close as I've come to finding someone else who occupies that delirious space of 70s swinger lore made manifest in absolutely unchecked musical indulgence. Issued on "Duckbilled Platters," a small label from Mercer Island, WA, I implore you to have at least a "One Time Thing" with Peach and Pockets ... this marvelous duo I have literally no further information about. If anyone has any other 45s on this label, please drop me a line... I'm totally curious now!


Top of the Morning


One Time Thing

Tim Cain - For You

Traded a friend for a copy of this over the winter and was really pleased with some of the songs on here. Tim was a multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter, formerly of the Sons of Champlin, who retreated to Eureka, CA in the late-70s, and released this project in 1981. An intriguing mix of kids songs, rural rock, story-telling, and folk - I can't say I love it all but the best tracks exhibit an exquisite post-hippie come-down vibe that feels perfect as things get green outside and you can osmose a little sunshine and dew, yet again. Tasteful woodwinds are to be noted, as well! One thing for the skeptics out there is a truly jaw-dropping acid-folk cut entitled "Whispers and Screams" by a lady named Linda Mortensen who does back-up vocals on a few of the other songs here, and snuck this one solo cut on as well. What I would give for a long-player from her! "Whispers" is a haunting track that lyrically ponders failed love affairs in a rather psychedelic manner. Simply amazing, and a gorgeous voice. I asked Tim if Linda had recorded further, and he wasn't sure. I never heard back from Linda herself... Enjoy the tracks and you can check out Tim's website here for more info on his other projects.


Paloma


Whispers and Screams


Song of the Wind


Old Moon