For years, Central Park in New York has drawn a lot of attention by hosting huge concerts starring Barbra Streisand and others. But for over a century New Yorkers have enjoyed all kinds of music in the park, and other large cities have similar traditions, with many different varieties available for citizens. Folks in small-town … Continue reading Outdoor Concerts – From Early Americana To Streisand
Category: Country
REVIEW: Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Ray Price – Last Of The Breed
Last of the Breed, recently released on the Lost Highway label and featuring Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard and Ray Price (and some guest stars, but more later about that) is the kind of album I enjoy -- legends singing legendary songs. But I needed to get past a couple of things before I could review … Continue reading REVIEW: Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Ray Price – Last Of The Breed
From Bob Wills To Big Ray – Swingin’ Western Style
One of the best things about music is how it constantly changes and evolves, with different types often fusing into something new and different. It's a process that's always fueled by creative musicians, who are either consciously trying to be innovators or maybe just struggling to find a niche they can inhabit and make a … Continue reading From Bob Wills To Big Ray – Swingin’ Western Style
Ridin’ The Rails To Detroit City
If you could somehow look into a geezer's head and identify all the various segments and what they contain, you'd almost certainly find a train-buff section. It might be big, it might be small, but it would be there. Mine is pretty large and well-developed (my train-buff portion - not my brain) and I think … Continue reading Ridin’ The Rails To Detroit City
Teresa Brewer And Her B-Side Million-Seller
I'm not one to brag about the reliability of my memory. In fact, just the opposite -- I'll be the first to admit that my memory is so full of holes that you could use it to make a chain-link fence. That's why a lot of the songs I remember from my childhood are a … Continue reading Teresa Brewer And Her B-Side Million-Seller
REVIEW: Various Artists – Swamp Gold – Volume 8
If you were a teenager in the South in the 1950's or 1960's, you might think some of the music on this album is very familiar. If you grew up in South Louisiana, following the music and hitting the bayou dancehalls, it's almost a sure thing that you'll remember a lot of these songs. Swamp … Continue reading REVIEW: Various Artists – Swamp Gold – Volume 8
REVIEW: Don Rich – You Need Love
Even if you're into country music in a big way, it's entirely possible that the music of Don Rich isn't familiar to you, unless you're a fan of the earlier Don Rich, who in the early 1970's was the leader of the Buckaroos, the band that backed Buck Owens. But we're here to talk about … Continue reading REVIEW: Don Rich – You Need Love
Mouth-Harps — From Lincoln To Dylan And Beyond
Whenever I hear a mouth-harp (what most people call a harmonica) I think of my maternal grandfather, who grew up during the early part of the 20th century in an area filled with hard-scrabble farm folks. As was the norm at that time and in that place, he had only a grade-school education, and he … Continue reading Mouth-Harps — From Lincoln To Dylan And Beyond
A Music Contrarian Warms To The Beatles
Let me get the following statement out of the way first. Believe me, I completely understand that the Beatles don't need me to validate them, and I realize that they've already carved out their place in musical history without any help from me. I also understand that Paul McCartney has a lot of other things … Continue reading A Music Contrarian Warms To The Beatles
Saturday Nights At My Cousin’s Honky-Tonk Joint
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote an article about the beginnings of rockabilly. Yesterday I was surprised to see a PBS show that covered the same subject. I think the show was actually a few years old, and it's just a coincidence that I wrote about the same subject (unless I have suddenly acquired … Continue reading Saturday Nights At My Cousin’s Honky-Tonk Joint
Geezer Music Club 