April 19: Alan Price was born in 1942

Alan Price, from The Animals (top left) was born in 1942.

Wikipedia:

Alan Price (born 19 April 1942, Fatfield, Washington, County Durham) is an English musician, best known as the original keyboardist for the English band The Animals and for his subsequent solo work.

Price is a self-taught musician and was educated at Jarrow Grammar School, South Tyneside and was a founding member of the Tyneside group The Alan Price Rhythm and Blues Combo, which was later renamed The Animals. His organ-playing on songs by The Animals, such as “House of the Rising Sun”, “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” and “Bring It On Home To Me” was a key element in the success of the group.

After leaving the Animals, Price went on to have success on his own and with Georgie Fame. He introduced the songs of Randy Newman to a wider audience. Later he appeared on his own television show , as well as achieving success with film scores winning including critical acclaim for his musical contribution to the 1973 fim O Lucky Man! and wrote the score to the stage musical Andy Capp. In addition he has appeared in the acting credits for films and television productions.

Animals, Please don’t let me be misunderstood:

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Sam Outlaw, Molly Jensen and Darling West – Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down

Sam Outlaw started his concert in Oslo last night with Silver Wings. It was a lovely hymn-like rendition in honor of Merle Haggard.

As an encore he asked the supporting act, Darling West , back on stage for another Merle Haggard song. This time a more of a celebration of Haggards contribution to music.

Sam Outlaw, Molly jensen and Darling West -Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down: Continue reading “Sam Outlaw, Molly Jensen and Darling West – Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down”

R.I.P. Merle Haggard

Merle Haggard passed away today.

Merle Haggard, who over six decades composed and performed one of the greatest repertoires in country music, capturing the American condition with his stories of the poor, the lost, the working class, heartbroken and hard-living, died at his home in California, his spokeswoman Tresa Redburn confirmed. He died today, his 79th birthday.
~rollingstone.com

“By the time you get close to the answers, it’s nearly all over.”
– Merle Haggard

Yesterday’s wine, yesterday’s wine
We’re Aging with time, like yesterday’s wine
– Merle Haggard

Memories and drinks don’t mix too well.
– Merle Haggard

Sing me back home – live in 2009:

Sing me back home with a song I used to hear
Make my old memories come alive
Take me away and turn back the years
Sing Me Back Home before I die

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April 2: Emmylou Harris was born in 1947

Emmylou Harris (born April 2, 1947) is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She has released many chart-topping albums and singles over the course of her career, and has won 12 Grammys and numerous other awards.

Her work and recordings include work as a solo artist, bandleader, an interpreter of other composers’ works and as a singer-songwriter, and a backing vocalist and duet partner. She has worked with numerous leading artists including Gram Parsons, John Denver, Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton, Roy Orbison, The Band, Mark Knopfler, Delbert McClinton, Guy Clark, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Bright Eyes, Rodney Crowell, John Prine, Neil Young, and Steve Earle.

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11 hidden gems from Neil Young

Playlist: 11 hidden gems from Neil Young

What is a “buried treasure”, “a hidden gem” or “an underrated gem” ? Well, to me, it’s a great song that seldom (or never) is on the “best-of” lists of the artist, and it could have/should have been.

I am talking about great songs that are often overlooked. We are talking about personal favorites that you wouldn’t rate among the artists top 20 (maybe), but deserve some more praise and recognition than they get.

Neil Young has a lot of those, here are my 11 chosen ones (the Spotify playlist is at the end of the post):

Words – Between the lines of age, Glastonbury 2009 (Harvest):

Bandit:

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April 1: The late great Ronnie Lane was born in 1946

As the former bassist for the Small Faces, and later the Faces, Ronnie Lane left both bands when he felt the spirit of the group had died, gaining him the reputation of an uncompromising artist, and allowing him the opportunity to release some fine solo material in the ’70s.
~Steve Kurutz (allmusic.com)

Ronnie Wood and Kenney Jones Talk The Faces on Hall of Fame Induction:

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