A Truer Christmas

I believe Vaughn planted the bug for this one back during the Truer Halloween post. Let me just say this, this was no easy task my friend. I found out 2 important things will compiling this: 1. There are a shit ton of christmas albums, 2. Most of them suck (as a matter of fact the cover I made reflects what I felt like doing after about the 14th listen to some crappy over produced rendition of "insert christmas song here". But I think I came up with something workable. I tried to seperate them a little so the sadder songs (christmas tearjerkers my friends) are towards the back, but some of them (like the Dwight Yoakam "santa can't stay") I couldn't decide whether they were tragic or funny. You will also come to realize I have a special love for surf music in my heart (I had to try hard to keep from puttin a ventures song on here, and the next to final draft DID INDEED have a ventures song on it). A couple of the songs were mandatory (like the "Merry Christmas From The Family" & "Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy") but I tried to veer away from the traditional stuff. One thing on here that bugs me though is the censorship of the otherwise excellent "Oklahoma Christmas". I couldn't for the life of me find an uncensored version, doubt their even is one. I kept the song on the mix though cause hell it's still a funny song and since it's censored, you can play this mix in front of the little ones without getting on Santa's bad list....too much.

01-Dwight Yoakam-Run Run Rudolph
02-Reverend Horton Heat-Jingle Bells
03-Adam's House Cat-Santa's Out of Rehab by Christmas
04-Southern Culture On The Skids-Merry Christmas Baby
05-Robert Earl Keen-Merry Christmas From The Family (Live)
06-Asylum Street Spankers-Red Nosed Reindeer Blues
07-Los Straitjackets-God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
08-Buck Owens & Susan Raye-Santa Looked A Lot Like Daddy
09-Old 97's-Holly Jolly Christmas
10-Reverend Horton Heat-Santa On The Roof

11-Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison-Oklahoma Christmas
12-John Prine-Everything Is Cool
13-The Refreshments-My Christmas Baby
14-Ry Cooder-Christmas In Southgate
15-Robert Earl Keen-Happy Holiday Y'all
16-Dwight Yoakam-Santa Can't Stay
17-Buck Owens & Susan Raye-All I Want For Christmas is My Daddy
18-Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison-Please Daddy Don't Get Drunk
19-Clarence White-Silver Bells
20-Squirrel Nut Zippers-Gift Of The Magii

21-Roger Miller-Old Toy Trains
22-Steve Earle-Nothing But a Child (Demo)
23-The Band-Christmas Must Be Tonight
24-John Prine-Christmas In Prison
25-Red Star Belgrade-Xmas Day

MP3 @ VBRs

A Truer Christmas

Gillian Welch & David Rawlings - Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 10-6-07

Here's a nice little Gillian and David set to tide you over till the (finally) put a new album out. Word is have been working on it and on this very show here is a new song (Knuckleball Catcher). You even get to hear a little Emmylou & Gillian harmonizing on this set (God I love it when they do that). I also love the picture I used for the artwork of this. An actual picture from the show as they were preparing to take the stage. Just an awesome picture that evokes all those country rock promo shots from the late 60's and early 70's.

MP3

Gillian Welch & David Rawlings - Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2007

Sam Baker - Live at The Anchor Inn 12-4-07

In case the other one wasn't enough for you, here's more Sam Baker. With more songs, more stories, same low levels. What that means is that while there is no disputing the awesomeness of this show (and it is indeed awesome), just like the other one you will need to crank the volume to fully appreciate it. I love that this one has more songs and more banter though. You can tell he is a lot more comfortable in front of an english speaking audience. I bet he's even more comfortable in front of a texas speaking audience :P. Love the fact that Psychic is on here too. Probably my favorite song off his new one.

Also am I the only one who thinks he looks like a cross between a beardless Willie Nelson and a muscleless Triple H?

http://www.sambakermusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/sambakermusic
Buy his stuff here


MP3 @ 128
Sam Baker - Live At The Anchor Inn

Re-Post: Christ Knight - Ottersum Netherlands 2-4-07

Had a request to repost this. Sorry, no artwork as this was before I started making artworks for everything. It's still a pretty killer show though. Check out his "Trailer Tapes" album from this year (though it's old recordings) while your at it.

1. Becky's Bible
2. Rural Route
3. Enough Rope
4. Intro/Pretty Good Guy
5. The River's Own
6. John Wilkes Booth
7. Crooked Road
8. Devil Behind The Wheel
9. The Summer of '75
10. House and 90 Acres
11. Down The River
12. To Get Back Home
13. It Ain't Easy Being Me
14. A Train Not Running
15. Framed
16. Hard Ages

Here is the original post
And video post of the same show

MP3
Chris Knight - Ottersum

Eliza Gilkyson - St. David's Episcopal Church 12-4-07

Time to get in that christmas mood people, and I'm not talking about going shopping. This is a nice little set from Eliza that is almost gospel sounding. Don't worry, it's not preachy though. I guess playing in a church, it's bound to happen though......sounding gospel-like....not being preachy. Anyway, the sound on this is great, and she runs through some good original material and some good christmas material. Her backing band (Will Taylor & Strings Attached) run through some good christmas....ahem...HOLIDAY songs as well. Including Dreidel, Dreidel which strikes me as odd since they are play in a church. But hey, maybe that song's from the old testament :P


MP3
Eliza Gilkyson - St. Davids Episcopal Church

Steve Earle - Radio Sessions 2002-2007 (Is There Anybody Out There)

I put this together from 4 different radio shows I had. The outcome is a pretty damned good listen if say so myself. Starting in 2002 in support of Jerusalem, going into 2005 in support of Revolution, and ending with two shows from this year one in preperation, and one in support of Washington Square Serenade. Some nice older tunes on here too. All in all it's a pretty nice set of tunes, mostly acoustic and laid back with the occasional record scratching on the last show....still don't know how I feel about that, but it's not near as bad as it seems like it should be. There are some very interesting interview segments throughout as well.

Also look for Steve in an upcoming play based on Howard Zinn's "People's History of The United States" (a great read if you haven't read it).

MP3

Download Steve Earle - Radio Sessions 2002-2007 here

Sam Baker - Paradiso Amsterdam 12-1-07

Hot off the presses here, and just had to share cause I know alot of you folks out there are digging this guy as much as I am. This is a pretty good boot, HOWEVER the mix is a little low, so you will probably need to crank it up a little bit. Beggars can't be choosers though and this delivers from one of the most gifted songwriters I have heard since Todd Snider. If you haven't already, check out his new album "Pretty World" (he plays most of those songs on this show) especially if you are a fan of "texas-centric" troubadour songwriters in the vein of Townes Van Zandt & Guy Clark. Sam is not an imitation of those guys, and he's not trying to be....but what he does is add another flavor to that style of songwriting that is unique to him and there is no denying that. He has a way with phrasing that makes every word that floats out of his mouth bury itself deep into your grey matter and take up residence. A wonderful addition to pantheon of texas troubadours if there ever was one.

Check out his debut album from 2004 "Mercy" while your at it.

MP3

Sam Baker - Paradiso Amsterdam

Truesounds - Nov. '07

Barely under the buzzer for another month.

1. A Train Robbery - Levon Helm
"open up your damned express car". Another reason Dirt Farmer is the album of the year
2. Icewater - Jackie Greene
Off the Peter Case tribute album "a case for case"
3. Orphan - Sam Baker
off "Pretty World" another contender for album of the year
4. Worry Too Much - Buddy Miller
Off his 2004 album "United House Of Prayer"
5. The Other Side - Ryan Bingham
Off his new album "mescolito"
6. Drunk All Around This Town - Scott Miller & the Commonwealth
Off the 2007 live album "Reconstruction"
7. Horse Soldier, Horse Soldier - Corb Lund
Off his just released album of the same name
8. Missing You - Todd Snider
Off his "B-sides and Rarities" album from this year "Peace, Love and Anarchy"
9. Am I Demon - Bonnie "Prince" Billy
Killer cover off his new EP "Ask Forgiveness"
10. Methamphetamine - Son Volt
Best song off Jay and Co.s latest "The Search"
11. Always On The Ride - Richmond Fontaine
Off their 2004 album "Post To Wire"
12. Come On - Lucinda Williams
One of the better songs off her '07 album "West"
13. Oxycontin Blues - Steve Earle
Off Steve Earle's latest "Washington Square Serenade"
14. Floyd Allen - Black Twig Pickers
Local string band singing a song about a local legend (and one of my kinfolks). From their 2004 album Soon One Morning
15. In The Early Morning - David Childers and The Modern
"If your telephone rings and noone's there, it's probably him so don't be scared". Off this years "Burning In Hell"
16. No One Told Me - Kane, Welch, Kaplin
Off their just released album "Kane Welch Kaplin"
17. Underneath The Stars - Peter Case
We've heard the tribute songs, now how about the real thing. Off his new album "Let Us Praise Sleepy John"
18. Hey Run - Pieta Brown
Off her latest "Remember The Sun"
19. Without A Kiss - The Pines
Off their latest "Sparrows in the Bell"
20. Simple Twist Of Fate - Jeff Tweedy
Off the Bob Dylan biopic concept soundtrack I'm Not There
21. Last Letter - The Gourds
From their latest killer album "Noble Creatures"

MP3

Truesounds - Nov. '07

Johnny Cash - The Beast In Me (Austin 12-8-94)

If you know your Johnny Cash, you know that 1994 was the year of Johnny Cash's 3rd rebirth. Hot on the heels of now classic "American Recordings" this was the hottest gig in town at the University of Texas on this cool December night. Apparently this is a pretty famous gig too....maybe the first gig he did after "American Recordings"....I could be wrong on that one. Some guy remastered this and did a killer job. Made the artwork too, as cliched as it is, it's still pretty killer artwork. Good sound on this one, Cash had gotten hungry again and it shows....there may not be as much electricity in the air as was at folsom or san quentin, but there is definitely something in the air.

MP3

Johnny Cash - The Beast In Me

Re-Post: A Truer Sampler 01 - Southern Culture On The Skids

Had a request to repost this, so here she be. Here's a link to the original post for more info: http://atruersound.blogspot.com/2007/06/truer-sampler-01-southern-culture-on.html

Dowload in the Original Post

Pieta Brown - Live on KCRW 11-13-07

Allright, so I'm really digging her new album "Remember The Sun". It's perfect "cold weather" music. Here she is on the radio in support of that album and running through some of the killer songs off it. Pieta Brown is singer Greg Brown's daughter and man does she have a voice. A really smooth, soulful, beautiful, voice with just a touch of twang that just blows me away. This is just her, a guitar and a microphone......man is it good.

MP3

Pieta Brown - Live on KCRW 11-13-07

Loudon Wainwright III - Live on KCRW June 29th 2007

This is pretty killer. On the radio in support of album and soundtrack Strange Weirdos Loudon is as good as ever. Strange Weirdos is the soundtrack to Knocked Up (which Loudon plays a gynecologist) and features the killer song "Daughter".....which you also get to hear here. This song will stick in your head for days. He's teamed up with Joe Henry here (whom he also teamed up with for the album) and the band is so damned good.....I mean there is some great instrumentation going on here. If you're not too familiar with Loudon, this is a great chance to check him out....you will dig him if you dig quirky folk music similar to John Prine or Todd Snider.

MP3

Loudon Wainwright III - KCRW

Eliza Gilkyson - Live on KUT February 15, 2006

Here's a nice relaxing folky set from Eliza Gilkyson. This was in support of last years excellent album Paradise Hotel. She has a new live album just out this year. If you dig this, you should seek it out....it's called Your Town Tonight.



MP3
http://sharebee.com/a7b0c2b3

A Truer Sampler 13 - Tom T. Hall

This one's very near and dear to my heart. I am a huge Tom T. Hall fan and when I found out a friend from work had NEVER heard of him I just had to make this. Lucky for you guys I decided to post it on here too. Tom T. is a master songwriter in the storyteller vein. Listening to one of his songs is like reading a good short story, I would go so far as to call Tom T. Hall the Mark Twain of country music.....he's that good. He's able to take you from laughter to teardrops with just one verse, for example just listen to "Mamma Bake A Pie (Daddy Kill A Chicken)"....about a soldier coming home from vietnam sans legs but at least "he'll save some money buying shoes". If this is your intro to Ol' T, well your in for a treat my friend. If your already familiar, well I tried to put in some of my favorite lesser known songs too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_T._Hall
http://tomthall.net/
http://www.tthproject.com/
http://countrymusic.about.com/od/news/a/bltthll_cma.htm
http://www.morethings.com/music/tomt/
http://www.furious.com/Perfect/tomthall.html
http://oneweb.utc.edu/~tnwriter/authors/hall.t.html
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/t/tom_t_hall.html

MP3
ATS13 - Tom T. Hall

George Jones & The Jones Boys - Radio Jamboree 1963

BY POPULAR DEMAND!!!! Allright, let me just say it.....THIS IS KILLER! This is honky tonk George in full stride.....better yet, this is honky tonk benzedrine flat-top George in full stride. This is not your momma's George Jones people, this is your on'ry grandaddy's George Jones. Live in the studio on the radio sometime in 1963. The sound is about the best you could ask for. I mean it's killer. If you crave sweet honky tonk sounds well friend this is for you, I'm tellin' ya....it's killer.

MP3

George Jones - Radio Jamboree 1963

George Jones - Radio Jamboree 1963 Alt Link

a tiding....

Sorry for the slow pace this month, just been real busy. I have a ton I could post, a new Gary Louris show, an ooollllldddd George Jones show, some Bob Dylan and Guy Clark outtakes.....I just ain't had time to get 'em ready. So to tide you over (and I know this is shitty) is what I consider the paramount rendition of one of the greatest songs ever thought up

Drive By Truckers - The Dirt Underneath Iowa 10-18-07

Killer little DBT boot here from there just wrapped up (I think) Dirt Underneath tour. Now if you don't know, the Dirt Underneath tour was a laid back tour (hence the sit down performances) and featured Soul Session legend Spooner Oldham. There are a few new songs on here worth checking out too, not to mention some seldom heard oldies.....like my favorites "panties in your purse" and "tails facing up". Can't wait for the new album to come out. It's called "Brighter Than Creation's Dark" and it's due to be released January 22nd of '08.

MP3
Downlaod DBT - The Dirt Underneath I O W A here

Buddy Miller - Merlefest 5-1-05

Got this one with the artwork and all (love it when that happens). This is a nice little set, although the drums are a little heavy in the mix at the beginning. Really it's hard to go wrong with Buddy Miller though, and on this set he's got a full band behind him so some of it gets a little more rockin' than usual. Buddy is a highly underrated artist in a sea of underrated artists. Cool version of "That's How I Got To Memphis" on here too.

MP3
Buddy Miller - Merlefest 5/1/05

Kieran Kane & Kevin Welch - 11/12/13: Live In Melbourne (Out Of Print)

Great little out of print live album here from 2000. I'm a big fan of Kieren Kane and Kevin Welch be it together or solo. I'm especially fond of their Kane, Welch, Kaplin albums (with Fats Kaplin). I've put a few of their songs on some of my Truesounds samplers so I'm sure you guys have heard 'em. They have a new album that just came out that is simply titled "Kane Welch Kaplin" and it's excellent.....got some killer artwork by Kieren too. This set right here though, apparently was only released in limited numbers in Australia.....not sure the story, but just know it's now out of print and killer.

1. Intro
2. Something 'Bout You
3. Eight More Miles
4. While I Was Loving You
5. Four Questions
6. Train to Birmingham
7. Table Top Dancer
8. Life Down Here on Earth
9. If I Could Be There
10. Some Kind of Paradise
11. Ramblin' Man
12. Sam's Town
13. Town This Size
14. Wilson's Tracks
15. When We're Gone, Long Gone


MP3

Kieren Kane & Kevin Welch - Live In Melbourne

Been diggin' on this lately...

Makes the perfect background music for my re-read of "No Country for Old Men"


It's Tamacun by Rodrigo Y Gabriela BTW

The Bottle Rockets - Springfield, IL 7-7-07

Heres a decent Bottle Rockets boot. Starts out with a lot of echo on the vocals, but it smooths out (or you get used to it) after a bit. Cool version of Radar Gun on here too.

MP3
Dead Link

The Gourds - Lower 48 (Video from Pickathon 2007)

Just found this. Damn it looks like everyone is having a good time. What a killer show.

The Gourds/Shiny Ribs - Pickathon 2007

This is really fuckin' good. The Gourds & Gourds' side project Shiny Ribs from this past August at Pickathon 2007. Man, I'd never heard of Shiny Ribs, but apparently it's just what they are calling themselves when they do acoustic shows.....seems like it's mostly acoustic, might as well be the Gourds. Maybe it's Kevin Russell's solo project, I couldn't ever find any clear info. All I know is there is a song on here that is Kevin Russell solo called War that is so damn good. Also the Gourds have a new album out this year that is also damn good. Download this, if you like it....go buy their new album. It's called Noble Creatures.

MP3 @ 192
Dead Link

Truesounds - Oct. '07

Here's this month's selection. I noticed as I was typing this up, there are a lot of songs on here about death & devils.....hmmm must be the halloween spirit in the air.

1. Last Thin Line-Kasey Anderson
Off his newest album "The Reckoning", just a killer lead off track
2. Madalyn's Bones-Gurf Morlix
off Gurf's latest, 07's "Diamonds To Dust"
3. Rollin' Blues-Deadstring Brothers
off thier latest, "Silver Mountain"
4. Juarez-Sam Baker
Love this song here. Off his latest "Pretty World" . Sam Baker is quickly becoming one of my new favorites
5. Waitin' Round To Die-Townes Van Zandt
How could I play that last song and not play this. Off the "Heartworn Highways" soundtrack. Heartworn Highways is a killer Doc, if you like TVZ and his contemporaries check it out
6. Satan's Paradise-Kieran Kane, Kevin Welch & Fats Kaplin
off last years "Lost John Dean". I just love these guys
7. The Way of the Fallen-Ray Wylie Hubbard
off his album from last year "Snake Farm". The Devil's got a billy goat & he feeds him marmalade :P
8. Die Die Die-The Avett Brothers
Infectious song off their latest "Emotionalism"
9. Stray Paper-Tift Merritt
off her 2004 album "Tambourine"
10. Poor Old Dirt Farmer-Levon Helm
Off his just released album "Dirt Farmer". This album is fantastic, one of the best things I've heard all year. Good to have ol' Levon back singing again.
11. 17 Years More-Wrinkle Neck Mules
Another killer track off their latest "The Wicks Have Met"
12. Devil's Lullaby-Slaid Cleaves
off his covers album from last year "Unsung"
13. Blue House-Blue Rodeo
off their latest "Small Miricles". Love the "byrdsian" feel to this one
14. Talk To Me Devil, Again-Magnolia Electric Co
off last years "Fading Trails". I'm starting to become a big Molina fan
15. The Trial-The Sadies

off their killer new album "New Seasons"

16. Freight Train-The Dexateens
off last years "Hardwire Healing". That album is really growing on me this year
17. Apocalyptic Modifed Blues-Corb Lund
off 2002's "Five Dollar Bill"
18. Red Ball Express-Scott Miller & The Commonwealth
Watching Ken Burn's "The War" really made me want to listen to this song. Off 2003's "Upside Downside"
19. The Devil Is My Running Mate-Jason Isbell
Here's something you don't hear everyday, a song from the perspective of George W. Bush....kinda like a modern day Sympathy for the Devil. This song is really growing on me, off his latest "Sirens of the Ditch"
20. Dead Dog Song-Okkervil River
Love me some mandolin. Off 2002's "Don't Fall In Love With Everyone You See"
21. Window-Richard Buckner
Off Buckner's album from last year "Meadow"
22. Hex-Neko Case
off her Sadies backed live album "The Tigers Have Spoken"
23. Pearls On A String-Ryan Adams
off his latest "Easy Tiger"

MP3

Truesounds - Oct. '07

Old 97's & Chris Whitley - KCRW Sessions

This is an interesting pairing, but I got it like this, so I left it like this. One thing they both had in common at the time was that they were both just starting to reach the top of their games. The Old 97's set is amazing. I mean they are doing promotion for "Wreck Your Life", the songs are still fresh, and the band is hungry. What's particularly intersting are the interview segments....really took me back. I mean they didn't even know what to call their music cause the word "Alt Country" hadn't been popularised yet. And they talk about getting ready to do a show with "a great new band out of chapel hill called whiskeytown"........"they say that kid Ryan isn't gonna make it to 28". This really took me back, cause this was around the time I was really starting to dig into what we now call Alt Country. A great set. The Whitley set ain't too bad either.....searing blues rock as expected.

MP3
Download Old 97's and Chris Whitley here

Re-Post: A Truer Sampler 03 - Ray Wylie Hubbard

This is in honor of our 100,000 visitor. This is my favorite sampler plus my favorite artwork I have made to date, so I'm gonna re-post it.



Download in the original post

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have reached a milestone...

Sometime today I received my 100,000th visitor.

Todd Snider - Colorado Demos

Couldn't find much info on this one here. Near as I can tell, it was recorded sometime between "Step Right Up" and "Viva Satelite". That would put it in the 1997 time frame. Makes a nice little linker between the two albums. If you dig old Todd, this is right up your alley.

MP3
Todd Snider - Colorado Demos

The Sadies - Live in Brighton 10-26-04

This is the promised Sadies show with the steel guitar. It's fair sound quality, definitely listenable, though not the greatest. What makes it special though is the oh so sweet steel guitar mixed in with the Good brothers guitar workouts. Love this set-up for them.



MP3
Dead Link

A quick heads up - Magnolia Electric Co.

There are some great, great live Magnolia Electric Co. shows on their website here. One of you fine commenters turned me on to this fact, and recommends the Dec. 6th show. I'm just now diggin' through this myself, some fantastic stuff on there. If you don't know whether you would like MECo or not, here's a taster...



ahh hell, this is a 5 part set, so here's the rest. The songs are (in order):
What Comes After The Blues
Talk To Me Devil, Again
Memphis Moon
Down The Wrong Road Both Ways
Leave The City

Recorded June 16, 2007 in Lleida (where ever that is)

Richard Buckner -Buckner Box: Live in 1996

This was quite a find right here, and someone clearly put a lot of effort into this. Not sure who, as they never name themselves, but they compiled this and did all the artwork and everything.....so thanks Mr. Richard Buckner fan. This is my favorite Buckner era, as I don't care much for his newer work. But this "box set" is good and a damn good starter for someone unfamiliar with Mr. Buckner. I would describe him as....well imagine if Dwight Yoakam were a folk singer....well that's not a very good description....he has a similar timber to his voice as Dwight is about the only commonality. He is a mighty fine songwriter though, and put out some killer albums back in the mid 90's (specifically "Bloomed) which is the era this box set focuses on. One more time though, I would like to thank the original compiler of this fantastic set. It's obvious they put alot of love into it.

MP3
Download Buckner Box Disc 1 Here
Download Buckner Box Disc 2 Here
Download Buckner Box Disc 3 Here

A Truer Halloween

This just in, a special halloween edition sampler for your hearin' ears. Spooky spooky!!

01-The Sadies-The Creepy Butler
02-CCR-Sinister Purpose
03-Frank Carlier-Hellbound
04-Supersuckers-Sleepy Vampire
05-Blanche-Superstition
06-David Childers and The Modern Don Juans-Burning In Hell
07-David Alan Coe-The Ride
08-Drive-By Truckers-Demonic Possession
09-Freakwater-Cloak of Frogs
10-The Meat Purveyors-I Have A Devil In Me
11-The Sadies-Lucifer Sam (with Gary Louris)
12-Southern Culture on the Skids-Tombstone Shadow
13-Wil Ridge-Devil's Toenail
14-Trailer Bride-Ghost on the Highway
15-Hank III-Satan Is Real/Straight To Hell (Medley)
16-The Sadies-Locust Eater
17-Tony Joe White-Conjure Woman
18-Blue Mountain-My Wicked, Wicked Ways
19-Bobby Bare-Marie Laveau
20-William Elliott Whitmore-Diggin' My Grave
21-Split Lip Rayfield-Devil
22-Songs Ohia-I've Been Riding With The Ghost
23-Christa Meyer & Jon Langford-The Hangman's Song

MP3
A Truer Halloween