Is a particular type of music or any other soundscape (stories read aloud, plays on the radio, birdsong...) important to you, and if so what is it?

For me it is music, usually somewhere in the blues, country rock and/or folk spectrum, but not classical (despite the best efforts of my parents) or jazz. The steady favourites among many others and in no particular order are the likes of the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Tom Petty (RIP), John Fogerty, Cowboy Junkies, Dave Matthews, Eric Church, Eric Bibb, Amos Lee, Alison Krauss, Emily Barker, Gretchen Peters, Margo Price and Tift Merritt all forming part of about 70gb of music on my old iPod on random/shuffle (so that I can never be sure what will come next).

Not sure what they all have in common, but it may be great guitar work and strong vocals, harking back to early Cliff Richard backed by the Shadows!

I was always too lazy to make much progress on playing any musical instrument myself, but I got as far as acting as a DJ at private parties for a few years a lifetime ago...

My favourite feel good track is probably this from Eric Bibb https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds1faZB4QSc

During lockdown a number of artists performed items from home and I particularly liked this from John Fogerty backed by his children https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOisjEv9zYw

Recently I was steered towards Allison Russell who released her first solo album last month: that did not really do it for me, but her back catalogue as part of Birds of Chicago does impress me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RA1L_GvwiG4 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvEERoYYz50

One of their recordings led me to Mark Heard (previously unknown to me) and this album https://www.amazon.com/Treasure-Broken-Land-Songs-Heard/dp/B06Y5W9R87 which I was given as a Fathers Day present today https://www.nodepression.com/album-reviews/treasure-of-the-broken-land-the-songs-of-mark-heard/

My tastes in music vary greatly depending my mood. I enjoy 70's and 80's rock, (a whole slew of bands, slow, rock, hard rock) I like some country. I do not like classical or opera, it actually stresses me. I also listen to all the new artists, there is some good music still being made.

I agree with you about the importance of finding music to suit (and sometimes steer) one's mood.

I also keep my ears open for new artists, in particular checking new albums on iTunes and watching NPR Tiny Desk concerts, although I rarely listen to the radio.

However, in recent years it has often been new music by some of the older artists which has caught my attention, for instance Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan and Dion: I did not realise that Dion was a bluesman, only having previously known of him as a 60s artist with such (excellent) songs as Runaround Sue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ChiYhYPe-s

I can listen to good music of any kind with the exception, mostly, of country although there's good music there, too.

My parents listened to classical, and then of curse I discovered rock and then blues. Over the past few years I've found myself going back to the older big band type of singing (especially Ella Fitzgerald) and I'm even starting to like jazz, which I used to find incomprehensible.

I haven't found much in the way of new artists, but that's my prerogative as a grumpy old lady, isn't it? I can complain about how today's music isn't a patch on the music I used to listen to. Truthfully, though, most of the newer artists I hear all sound the same. They all sing exactly the same. I can't tell the voices apart.

I love the music from 1970s and am still a disco person at heart. Loved the line dancing craze when that first came out. Recently started watching the series Glee on Netflix, and enjoyed their renditions of songs from that era.

During my 20s found a 'coffee house' where I first started hearing more contemporary church music. One of the members was church choir director which I ultimately joined. Loved the lighter, kinder melodies vs the older, serious organ music. Shortly after the movie Titanic came out, the church I attended played the melody from 'My Heart Will Go On' during the meditation time just before the end of the service. A lady recognized it too and asked me why they would play a movie song in church. I told her the words could be considered a prayer.

Got into soft rock when Barry Manilow onto the scene, and went to many of his concerts. Actually paid over $200 for 15th row seat the last time he was at a local suburban arena. Not sure I'd do that again, but it was definitely worth it at the time.

When I was married, my ex was into the folk songs of Harry Chapin so I got to appreciate that music until the singer's death, after which my ex turned to country/western. I accepted/tolerated and got to appreciate some of the artists. We frequently went on road trips and took a variety of CDs with us. Since he was driving, we listened to his music in morning; by lunch I was more than ready for mine.

One singer I was enamored with when I first heard his voice is Josh Grobin. Stopped buying his CDs cause they include songs in other languages and 'sad' songs, which he once admitted he leans towards. Love his voice not what he chooses to record.

I had forgotten about Harry Chapin (who died far too young): I may add something of his to my collection.

My wife would approve of butterflybabe's preferences and identify with choice of music in the car!

I'm amused to see the general limited tolerance of country music: I enjoy country/rock but I am very choosy about the artists and there are many excellent country musicians whose work does nothing for me.

Oh, wow, Disco. Yeah.

Back in Toronto, when Disco was in full swing and the Bee Gees were on every radio station, I worked as a waitress in a disco bar to help support myself through University. Now that was a hoot. It was a massively popular bar with a huge dance floor that had a a giant turning disco ball and all the flashing coloured lights. Hilarious. Except I had to wear high heels and I kept getting the darned things caught between the slats on the outdoor deck. Very loud, very chaotic and very, very good for the tips.

Lex, I get what you're saying about the work of obviously talented artists that nonetheless doesn't appeal. For years I tried to listen to and understand groups like Peal Jam. I can recognize the artistry, and I like his voice a lot, but most of the music makes me want to tear out my eyes. A lot of modern country/pop does that to me, too, because of its high sugar content, though it must be said that I love Willie Nelson, and some of the very old classical country is quite lovely. My dad used to sing a lot of those old songs (he had a fine voice). Crossover artists like Stevie Nicks did a lot to bring me around to tolerating and even liking some country.

One thing I love about Youtube and Spotify is that they are quite good at predicting music I might like, so if Spotify takes me down an unfamiliar path I often like what I hear.

My mother and I saw Willie Nelson in concert back in the 1980s when I was living in the Napa Valley in California. Willie was there in support of some charity event that was only about three miles away from our house. He was just great in person. It was outside and we had seats almost in the front row. My mother was a fan and had the time of her life. I like some country music such as Clint Black and George Strait. I do enjoy the sense of humor that I often see in the lyrics.

I have always been a big fan of Gordon Lightfoot and have seen him in concert about four or five times. He was absolutely magnificent in person.

Ha, Gordon Lightfoot! Haven't listened to him in a very long time. Long time ago, I had a couple of his albums. I like very little country music, but I do love Willie Nelson, Clint Black and Waylon Jennings. I wish Brooks & Dunn would get back together. I heard they were going to, but never heard much after that.

I'm more of a Blues fan having seen B.B. King several times in concert, Delbert McClinton, Stevie Ray Vaughn and some of the good old blues folks like Howling Wolf and Big Mama Thornton. Then I'll slip into some Jimi Hendrix and just float away to heaven!

Wow, Drac, you got to see Stevie Ray Vaughn in concert! That must have really been something. I watch this video every so often and it just blows me away every time.

Mainly stuff from the 70s - Eagles, Dire Straits, the late great Townes van Zandt, early Emmylou Harris with the Hot Band, Chapin, Bonnie Rait, Dr Hook, Joni Mitchell, early Leonard Cohen

Blues, especially early Chicago blues.

Lots and lots of individual tracks according to my mood. Sometimes when we Touch (Dan Hill), The First Time Ever I saw your Face (Roberta Flack), Ripple (Grateful Dead) , Take it Out Back (Chuck Brodsky - the only song I know about fly-tipping!), Sand and Water (Beth Nielsen Chapman - so so so sad), Keep me in Your Heart (Warren Zevon)

OK with "pop" classical, but no jazz

Nothing after the mid-80s, I'm afraid (how sad is that?)

Strangely enough, a lot of my "likes" came from "House MD" - almost invariably they would play a great track over the closing credits and I would then have to scurry around to find out who it was

I like most music with the exception of heavy medal and rap. I like music as far back as the 40's up to the present.

I saw Stevie Ray Vaughan, Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon quite often in the Chicago Blues Bars growing up as well as at the Chicago Blues Festival. We had so many artists that would play the small Chicago bars without notice. It was always a treat.

I often wonder what Stevie Ray Vaughan and his muse, Jimi Hendrix, would be doing now, musically speaking, if they had lived And Janis, too. But Janis and Jimmy were never going to make old bones.

It was only a few years ago that I realized that a few songs on Led Zeppelin's first album are actually Willie Dixon songs, and they didn't credit him (they are known for this; they seem to treat the lawsuits as the cost of doing business). Anyway, I have a "best of" album of Willie Dixon music and it is wonderful blues.

I envy anyone who saw Willie Dixon and SRV live. Muddy Waters played in Toronto sometimes back in the early 70's so I saw him a couple of times at the blues bars on Yonge Street.

Growing up, though, my absolute favourite band was The Rolling Stones. Those 70's albums are still among the very best rock albums of all time.

It's funny because I am not really a blues fan but seeing them play live and especially in tiny venues was always a very enjoyable evening.

I saw Led Zeppelin twice in concert in Chicago and then saw Robert Plant in concert a couple years ago. He was still outstanding. He was my heartthrob! I had 3rd row seats the first time I saw him which I believe was his first tour. I was in heaven!

I would have been in heaven in Chicago! I think I wore out my Led Zeppelin albums! I didn't know that about some of their music being Willie DIxon songs. I am also a huge fan of him. Then jump ahead to today and I'm really digging Jon Batiste! Leading up to Juneteenth, this one was being played a lot.

Freedom by Jon Batiste

Marian, thanks for reminding me about Gordon Lightfoot.

I've put about five of his songs on my main Spotify playlist. Still love Early Morning Rain.


Willie Dixon's "You Shook Me" and "I Can't Quit You" were actually credited on Led Zep's first album, so I was wrong about that controversy, but there have been quite a few with LZ. I like to listen to Willie's version first, and then Led Zeppelin's version next. Zeppelin was very true to the music, and even with a different sound they do the songs justice.

Willie Dixon also wrote "Spoonful," which has been covered by many bands, including Howlin' Wolf and Cream. Jack Bruce's rough howl sounds particularly good on that song. All three versions pop up on my list.

Me too! He has so many good ones.

Some music I once loved has fallen off my list, though.

Ii was a huge Genesis fan back in the day, the Prog Rock version with Peter Gabriel. Now a lot of it sounds sounds like silly pretentious nonsense, though I still love Selling England by the Pound. The later Genesis produced some great pop tunes, though.

Early Pink Floyd, the Syd Barret years, I find equally irritating now. Every now and again John tries to listen to one of the albums and we never seem to get past the first couple of tunes.

That Jon Batiste is quite something, especially when he seems to have been more of a serious pianist! I couldn't open the Facebook link posted by Draclvr, but I found this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YHVC1DcHmo

Going back to the live blues artists theme I have fond memories from my late teens of a small venue in Salisbury where we used to see the original Fleetwood Mac with Peter Green (a very hard act to beat) and John Mayall with various different lead guitarists including Eric Clapton. I love some of the Chicago Blues and have some of the recorded output from Alligator Records.

My wife was a great Genesis and especially Phil Collins fan: we were planning on going to see their Last Domino tour in Dublin but were derailed by covid-19...

I echo the praise for Gordon Lightfoot, but my favourite more recent folk performer is Emily Barker especially with the Red Clay Halo, probably closely followed by Gretchen Peters.

Thank you, Lex! That will make sure everyone who wants can check that one out.

I have many old cassette tapes of Steve Winwood and Traffic. The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys still gives me goosebumps and plays in my head sometimes!

Another great memory for my playlist.


And hey, that Jon Batiste song is a real get-up-and-dance number, isn't it?

The other interesting artist involved in Traffic was Dave Mason, but probably not all that well known as a solo artist although he wrote some great songs including this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4mcRpWAyRM which reminded me of this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aazChqk4U-c and this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L82II1lNjo

On a slightly different note, I am amused to see that Urban Worrier sees himself as having switched off after the mid 80s as I think I recall him as being keen on the Trans-Atlantic sessions which only started in 1995...as well as mentioning this sublime 1997 song from Beth Nielsen Chapman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHf7DtRa5TY

And for something more current, how about Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izZG8jHssXA

That's a beautiful song, Lex. Thanks for the link.

You are more than welcome hagatha - I hope that some of my other links and artist suggestions may also find favour (youtube is such a fantastic resource)

My problem is that I usually recognize songs but not always the artists. Excepts to that would be Elton John, BeeGees, Barry Manilow and a few others.

Barry was the grand opening act when the Chicago suburb of Rosement first opened its theatre. Went with several friends the next day. Needed binoculars but still enjoyed the 'live' aspect. One thing I like about Barry is how he interacts with his audience. That night, the mentioned the 'elites' from the previous night; then added his pleasure with being with the 'real' people. Got a standing ovation for that one!

On one of our trips to Branson, my ex and I went to hear 'Alabama' (I think that's the right one), which was more his favorite than mine. But I did appreciate the one singer with a very low voice, especially when doing their rendition of the song 'Elvira'. Only other 'country' song I really liked, don't remember singer's name, but he was singing about his relationship with his young son. Talking about a car trip where his son spilled his chicken nuggets and drink in the car. The song continues with him saying that he went into the barn to ask God to 'help me help my stupid self'. Say that line to myself sometimes.

Strangest concert I ever went to was to see John Denver who died shortly after it. The day before a close friend of his, George Burns, passed away and that seemed to shadow him. But it was weird because, while we were waiting for things to start, I noticed 3 or 4 guitars waiting and available for him. Never saw that before. Then he simply walked on stage with no previous announcement to the audience. We realized it was him and started clapping. Very little to no interaction or acknowlegement of the audience, except when we started clapping to 'Rocky Mountain High'.

Paolo Nutini is a young Scottish musician I've been following off and off. This is the song that got me interested in him.

New Shoes by Paolo Nutini

His voice has matured and has become quite amazing. Dig up Iron Sky on Youtube - you won't be disappointed!

I think it was a Gameboomer member called GEO who would post "Music Break" posts. I was able to add some great musicians and songs to the catalogue in my brain! One of the best was a live session of Jeff Beck performing at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London's Soho. I bought the DVD and discovered Imogen Heap and the young bass player, Tal Wilkenfeld.

Imogen Heap Blanket Jeff Beck Live Session

Tal Wilkenfeld Cause We've Ended as Lovers Jeff Beck Live

Tal Wilkenfeld is quite the talented bass player, isn't she? I hadn't head of her.

I think she was only 23 or 24 when she played with Beck on this tour.

That's cute.

Okay, Scream is now on my playlist. Grand funk!

You're getting some cool stuff on your playlist!

Yes. It's about 130 songs long now, which is great for drives to Comox and back.

The trip down memory lane on Spotify is wonderful. I recently remembered the Pretender's Don't Get me Wrong and the Hollies' Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress. Also, Simply Red's versions of If You Don't Know Me By Now[/i] and Holding Back the Years. What a voice Mick Hucknall had back then.:

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...49A76BD00B&view=detail&FORM=VIRE

OK, now I have to go dig up my Simply Red CDs!

I have a soft spot for folk music and show tunes because I performed a lot of both once upon a time when I had a voice, but I like a lot more. Everything depends on my mood, and I usually listen to whole albums rather than a mixed playlist. This past week I enjoyed Loreena McKennitt's The Visit, Ladysmith Black Mambazo's African Sun, Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell, Santana's Abraxis, a collection of Pavoroti's arias, the soundtrack from Riven, The Limelighters' Sing Out, Alessia Cara's The Pains of Growing, The Planets by Holst, Pyramid by The Alan Parson's Project, In Gabriel's Garden with Wynton Marsalis & the English Chamber Orchestra, Sandra Boynton's silly Philadelphia Chickens, and Paul McCartney's Ram.

I already had Paolo Nutini in my collection, and I was aware of Jeff Beck playing with a number of talented performers but Imogen Heap and Tal Wilkenfield are new to me: thanks Drac! ...and as a bonus the same youtube page gave me these nuggets from J J Cale with EC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WUeOEkl270 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEtGZyfms7E

Also intrigued by LadyK's selection and pedigree as a performer



I have to confess to not having yet succumbed to spotify (or any other subscription service): I still want to own the recording if it is music that I like, even to the extent of still mainly buying CDs which I then upload for digital listening...

I spent several weeks a couple of years ago, ripping all our old and new CDs to digital files and then uploading to my Western DIgital home server. Now we can listen to our own music anywhere. I even connect the server to Plex Media Server on the TV, so hubby can listen to his country under his headphones while he's reading. I also have a nice portable speaker with very impressive sound and when I connect my server to that speaker can play my music outside on the pool deck!

LadyeKestrel, we used to listen to Loreena McKennitt back in the day. We saw her in concert in Vancouver back in, I guess, the early 90's. Fabulous music.

Lex, I have an album of JJ Cale and Clapton playing together. It's pretty good! The only drawback is that it's copy-protected, so of all my albums, I've never been able to rip a copy for the car. Of course now we don't need to.

Hagatha,
McKennitt has an ethereal voice. I especially love her "Lady of Chalot."

I just spent a nice chunk of time listening to all the music links posted here. Batiste's "Freedom" and Nutini's "New Shoes" made me want to move, and Imogen Heap, who I didn't know at all, is amazing. I also really loved the fun Cale and Clapton had together in those videos.

One type of music I haven't listened to in quite a while is bluegrass. In my late 20s, my ex-husband and I would go to the Englishtown Music Hall out in central NJ to have dinner and listen to some of the liveliest bluegrass bands ever. There is even a NJ public television special about the music hall (circa late 1970s) which is in the Am. Archive of Public Broadcasting and the Library of Congress. I also went to a bluegrass concert in at Lincoln Center, which was spectacular. (I tried to find my program for it because I don't remember the groups or individual names, but I don't have it anymore.)

My Dave loves Bluegrass too. He has several CDs. In digging for my Simply Red CDs, I found all my Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton and ZZ Top CDs!

I am impressed by Drac's range and organisation, but the great thing about the iPod on shuffled songs setting is that it ranges through the entire collection so that all sorts of half-forgotten items will suddenly surface!

Hagatha, is the car no longer part of the equation (hence no need to copy CDs for use in it)? I was reading your other posts about your husband's hip and I saw the video of your lovely previous home - a sad reflection on the ravages of time. I particularly like the tribute album by Clapton and many others notables which followed J J Cale's death - They Call Me The Breeze.

Although Loreena McKennit would not be my normal fare, I am tempted towards what I think may have been her final album Live from the Royal Albert Hall in 2019: as has been said, ethereal. Update: eventually opted for her 2014 album The Journey So Far, with Nights at the Alhambra DVD/CD probably on my wish list...

As for bluegrass, I always think of the soundtrack from O Brother Where Art Thou which introduced me to several wonderful artists.

Lex, my new Accord has a Bluetooth connection so I can just cast music from Spotify on my phone.

I have gotten so many new music suggestions from this thread!

The fact that Loreena McKennit hails from Canada prompts me to comment on how many outstanding musicians that country produces, including one who has not yet had a mention here Bruce Cockburn: I remember reading The Shack some years ago and there was a lot of reference to his music in that which resulted in me buying several of his albums https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02TUsZzF6es&list=PLuDCBN4mO8msiErWtTFnI7phtX1f3C-2P&index=32 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2bW30NJIxw

More recently and still not very well known came The Bros Landreth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e4867byBJc

We used to see Bruce Cockburn play in high school gyms all around North York. He never really made it big, but he's had a steady following. These days he's heavily into environmental issues, but he's always been that way, really.

But yeah, Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Sarah Mclaughlin., etc.

Speaking of Sarah, remember this gorgeous song? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLIHnh9dNHQ

Still gives me chills when I hear it.


And now, for something completely different, but apropos of the temperature today and one of my favourite artists of all time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlMWW4R1ZBM

Wonderful! Ella Fitzgerald is one of my favorites. Had such a good time listening to my Simply Red CDs today. Somehow they weren't included in ripping and uploading to my home server. That has now been remedied!

It's impossible to hear Ella sing that song and not feel good.


I have a couple of albums that Joe Bonamassa recorded with Beth Hart. I don;t normally like her music -- she's a little too rough around the edges for me -- but the songs they chose to perform together really bring something out in her voice. These two are amazing:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFH9rkJ3FRU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FUgmPYrzpQ

Your Heart is as Black as Night is a song by Melody Gardot, an absolute gem of an artist. If you haven't heard of her, now's the time. Her music is pretty wide-ranging, but she's almost a throwback:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kmc1XN3iVVc


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qphknagXqA

I listened to Your Heart is Black as Night and loved it. Definitely need to go find more of this! I've always liked Joe Bonamassa, but had never heard of Beth Hart. I'd also never heard of Melody Gardot. Tasty!

The words to Baby I'm a Fool are so very clever. "Look me in the eye and tell me love is never based upon insanity."

Indeed.

Oh, hey, Lex, I notice you're from the Isle of Man. My husband's mother was Manx. Her surname was Watterson. They used to holiday there visiting relatives when they were growing up. .

Perfect.

So, I have to ask all the music lovers in this thread... are there other weirdos out there like me who constantly have music in their heads? I mean I'll get up in the middle of the night to pee and there is music... sometimes it'll be something I hate! Sometimes it'll be an old Christmas Carol... sometimes it'll be something stupid like, "One-eyed Flying Purple People Eater. Sometimes it'll be a little song from Sunday School when I was like 10. I don't know where it comes from and it is always something totally out of left field. I find it totally weird.

Hi all

Like many, my listening is eclectic and mood dependent day to day but there are some generalisations:

- 80s and 90s are the background to my life and so tend to be the easy go to
- country and classical don't really feature, but I have bits of both on playlists
- jazz does not compute
- I discover many tracks through TV shows
- newer bands still feature, but not to the extent that they used to
- melancholic moody tracks are probably my current high rotation genre
- I am still discovering an enhanced appreciation for older bands (Velvet Underground is a recent example)
- I will go see almost anyone live

What else?

I like melancholy. The Cinematic Orchestra track To Build a Home is a good example.

Cover versions can be enticing. Bands like Postmodern Jukebox and Nouvelle Vague brings a completely different vibe to so many tracks, and I also make playlists of different versions of a single song where the interpretation can make it almost seem like a different song completely (if you go away is probably the best example; I also like while my guitar gently weeps and pale blue eyes).

I feel compelled to mention Muse. Arguably (maybe, perhaps) the best live band in the world, in terms of all those things that a make a live show memorable. Most videos don't do their stage presence justice, but watch the opening 5 minutes or so of their concert at Rome Olympic Stadium to get a reasonable idea.

I will go back over the posts to see what else I can discover

Flotsam,

Melancholy, huh? Covers of songs? TV sound tracks?

How about this one, from Mr. Robot?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ5RBY0AVEk

I never really got into Muse, though a friend of mine has me listening to them now. He's a huge fan.



Oh, and Draclvr, I always have music in my head. Always.

I will check it out hagatha - thanks for the link.

This track from the Rome show might be one of their more accessible songs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w5KCf8hXvo
Plus my wife wants a pair of the red jeans!!

ps. here is a link to the Cinematic Orchestra track
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUFJJNQGwhk

pps. watery tarts rule

I have dipped into Muse albums without becoming hooked, but that live track from Rome is impressive: thanks for the link flotsam.

I note hagatha's IOM heritage: Watterson is a well established name here, some members of the tribe being quite influential. Thanks for your links, although some seem not to be available from here!

Joe Bonamassa only really does it for me on a couple of live albums which I think are glorious, Live from the Beacon Theatre in New York 2012 (which has Beth Hart and Paul Rodgers as guest vocalists) and Live at Carnegie Hall (an acoustic evening) in 2017

Another perhaps less well-known female vocalist I admire is Ruthie Foster, particularly on her album Let It Burn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxP4o-fLkFY and shown here more recently with a big band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vnYgvBexJw

It's good to know I'm not the only weird one then, hagatha!

In my experience all the best people are at least a bit weird...

Speaking of female vocalists and ticking my covers box, I discovered Ane Brun whilst looking for cover versions. This is Halo, but most anything she does is worth a listen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FWG4hIzQTo

One of my daughters gave me an album by Ane Brun several years ago Songs 2003-2013, and whilst I admired the voice the material did not grab me: this is much more accessible, and I will have to revisit the album. I suspect that in general terms your musical tastes are rather more subtle and refined than my own, but it is good to be prodded towards trying something different: thank you!

The quieter end of my own tastes would normally be no subtler than someone like Amos Lee https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xiTvJaSm3I

...or for something a bit different (reflecting my upbringing in Africa perhaps) Vieux Farka Touré https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDDBIrQZURU or Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQCKm8lBTI4 although only a step beyond some of what the likes of Paul Simon, Robert Plant and others have sometimes incorporated into their own material

My favorite singer that I buy all her albums unheard as soon as they get released is LP. I've met her in person 3 times, she even autographed my arm once. She writes songs for famous artists and has many originals.
flotsam posting the Halo song reminded me of her rendition here.
She had one famous song used in a commercial that is called Into the Wild. I can listen to her all day!

Ana

Wow, what a voice! I had never heard of her but will now explore the back catalogue: thanks for the links Ana.

(I note that you are a hopelessly addicted fan... )

Upbringing in Africa, huh? I spent my pre-teen years in Kenya. We used to go out at night and go to the local bars to listen to local music. I can't imagine why my parents were okay with that, but anyway, the next time I heard music like that was on Paul Simon's Graceland.

I'd better catch up on the links here.

My early years were in Malawi (then called Nyasaland) but my only musical memories from that time are a few records on my parents' wind-up gramophone in particular the Kingston Trio and Cliff Richard with the Shadows: native African music came my way a few years later on the road from London to Capetown, with bands in a bar in Zaire making a strong impression, but after that it would have been Paul Simon as with you hagatha

And another pebble in the musical pond: Lincoln Durham https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU6sZAeMKZE

...and yes Drac, in response to an earlier post, there is usually music buzzing around in my head, and thanks to you the other day it included Purple People Eater...!

Yes, I have a huge girl crush on her, Lex! I have lots of photos of her and I. She always plays small, personal venues in Chicago, as well as festivals and comes and greets the crowd and is so down to earth. I think it makes her shine even brighter than her voice.

I too had never come across her Ana, so thanks for the links.
Ditto the Toure links Lex; the others aren't really me but I look forward to listening to the latter linked album in full.

I've been playing Fallout 4 and the song that got stuck in my head from that game is Louis Armstrong and Danny Kaye singing "When the Saints go Marching In" where they start playing around with the names of classical composers. It's lots of fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t17cq8w5ewc&t=82s

"D'You dig Rachmaninoff? On and off"

"Liszt has grist that you can't resist. Yeah, yeah, put Liszt on that list"



It's actually from a mod that added some wonderful old music to the game, including this gem:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wcze7EGorOk

I see the Four Lads was a Canadian band. Figures.

As you say hagatha, games can have some good music both original and borrowed - however, it is the Manic Miner theme which always sticks in my mind (interestingly blended here) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9p5dH7v224

...and this is quite fun from Amanita Design's Samorost 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUTHqP3ap9Y

I can usually be relied upon to lower the tone!

I have caught NPR playing the theme from Amanita's Machinarium a few times!

Various people have mentioned Chicago blues, so you may like this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SRrGz08SyU

...and who could fail to get up and dance to the music of this fine figure of a man? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7ZaFdpTG8g

wow, great tune Ana ... will have to explore this artist more

I think I beat you to it.

Me too!

I just checked out that LP link. Quite the voice, she has. I'll have to have more of a look.

Speaking of the blues, this is pretty tough to beat:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrF_nM9pknU

Janis Joplin was really my first experience with the Blues. I would have been 14 when she died, but Pearl was one of my favourite albums.

Oh, be still my heart! I dearly loved Janis Joplin. It just never got better than Ball and Chain - I have goosebumps just listening to it again. One of the best album covers ever too... I remember being 20 when she died!

That recording of Ball and Chain made my speakers smoke, it's so good. I just remembered it this morning and I've been listening to it all day. I remember that album from when I was just a teeny bopper. Fabulous cover art. Fabulous guitar, stratospheric singing.

I too love the album cover.
I actually preferred Piece of My heart on that album. I will spend some time now though listening to Ball and Chain

I also preferred Piece Of My Heart, and an excellent cover version of it by Erma Franklin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0QAxIKf8G4

but from that era, for me it had to be Grace Slick, especially White Rabbit and Somebody to Love https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnS0GaiIewM

I can't start listening to these links, I'll never head out the door to go to work.

Janis Joplin and Grace Slick are two that I'd drop everything and crank it up! Such good memories!

A couple of more current big voices to distract you, Grace Potter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov8uT8DTvlw and Jennifer Nettles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhfPhnxvah0

I was certainly a fan of Grace and all things Airplane
Speaking of female voices, anyone like Heart? I listended to a lot of their early stuff, and they are a band I still need to see live.
More recently, their Kennedy Center performance of Stairway To Heaven in front of Led Zeppelin and the Obamas is awesome https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u-PjvRyr0I

ps- great cover too Lex, ta

Man, this thread just gets better and better!

Gracie and her White Rabbit practically defined a generation for a while. It's a frequent flyer on my playlist.



So the band that got me into jazz, without my really knowing it, was the wonderful Steely Dan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iac-vLq6tnY&t=3s



I still can't comprehend a lot of jazz, but I do like me some John Coltrane and other music of its ilk:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5m24Q78QeHA&t=46s

Heart haven't previously been on my radar, but that is a fantastic rendering of the song so I will have to delve into their oeuvre: thank you flotsam (for another former lawyer, you seem quite discerning... )!

Stairway to Heaven has never been one of my favourite Led Zepp songs: the ones that really do it for me are Ramble On, Going to California and Moby Dick (too choosy, aren't I?)

Hagatha, the charms of jazz still elude me (different strokes for different folks), but I do like some of Steely Dan's music, and I am heavily into the Dave Matthews Band who sometimes stray down that road a little.


PS Found this which looks like an interesting collaboration featuring the ladies from Heart https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzeckWog7Wk

Ann Wilson of Heart has an amazing voice.

They offered a unit as part of my degree to help address those sorts of things Lex
Heart (or one or the other Wilson sister) have performed quite a few Led Zeppelin tracks. Rock and Roll is probably their best known, but Immigrant Song and Battle for Evermore are both worth a listen.
Going back to their own catalogue, here is a live (and far more recent) version of one of their signature tracks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hqn0Kv4HBdM. The guitar intro is the ringtone for when my wife calls!
Thanks for the Foo FIghters link.

Thanks for that one flotsam.

Was that a law degree??

Trawling through my alphabetical list of musical artists, the letter B seems to throw up a few slightly out of the mainstream who may be new but hopefully of interest to some of you, including Babajack https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI7OMs9iQBQ the Barr Brothers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mp74DriyiOs and the BoDeans https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q815-ZBkL_M and a good 34 track compilation album Blue Rose Nuggets Special Edition Vol 1 (which I think was very cheap on iTunes) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEd_2HPJ6a8&list=OLAK5uy_m5vXpLfB_dKd6mAED8iZyPho6yMacJBWc

Arts and Law Lex. The University strongly discouraged a straight Law degree (and actively encouraged extras), on the basis that doing a double degree made you a more well rounded perosn (and they were free when I did them so it wasn't about fees). I probably agree with them.
I look forward to checlking out the links. I don't believe I know any of them. Much appreciated

Blues music from when I was a teeny bopper and blues was all brand new, and SO much better than the Beatles:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a6H-o3m7Og


And this live recording of another song brother Johnny recorded:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUXhoIf1eQU


And I'm adding this just because it's Pink Floyd and needs no further explanation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtJgNvwmsRA

Hagatha I cannot open your Johnny Winter link, but this is the one of his which did it for me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MY18yn4CFM

Your other links were great tripos down memory lane, for which thanks!

Oh, yeah That one!

The Johnny Winter link was for Highway 61 Revisited. I actually thought I'd linked to a live concert version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I06kTGxg82M

Hagatha, that link wouldn't open for me: possibly a geographical restriction. However I found some other links for him doing that song.

Meanwhile, I stumbled across this young blues artist (who was new to me) a day or so ago: one to watch I think, Kingfish https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-nTAgOMK7w

The voice makes me think a little of Robert Cray who I don't think has had a mention here yet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra2Qndv_xeE

Wow. Kingfish is an amazing guitarist. I'm hearing some Hendrix and some David Gilmour in that opening solo, mixed in with the blues. Kid should go far, if the world is just.

Hagatha, your mention of Discworld in the reading thread reminds me about the excellent Sturgill Simpson one of whose songs touches on it, and who is someone I would love to see live on the strength of what I have seen on youtube - a very broad and energetic musical palate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sW80ynKTmrs and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNV16tz1NK0 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO73im4J2sU
...oh and the song in question https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWx6csgGkg4

Huh. Psychedelic Country. Now I've seen everything!

Sturgill has a fine voice. I can listen to country on a limited basis, especially if it's a decent song like that one.

For a slight shift in direction, I am not sure whether you are all familiar with the wonderful Playing For Change/ Music For Change series which in some ways is a sort of pandemic preview with artists in different countries collaborating from afar: uplifting stuff and here are a few of the links https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us-TVg40ExM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHo1fNnXFVU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJtq6OmD-_Y https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/robbie-robertson-the-weight-ringo-starr-video-885980/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyoFFiUiOUw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHzNQuWaUzg&list=PL-x8Ol1-UMGu7v1CZoUJu0FHoJet2Yfok

The website is also worth a visit to buy some of the music https://playingforchange.com

(Many/most of you are are probably already way ahead of me on some of this...!)

Happy Birthday wishes are here for you in another thread in the Mixed Bag forum, Lex! I hope it's a good one.

Thanks Marian: it's been pretty lazy - no vigorous gardening despite good weather, and probably too much home-made coffee cake courtesy of my wife Linda!

Lex, I checked out that website. There's some good stuff on there!

Glad you like it: I bought a couple of the albums, PFC Band live in Brazil and Listen To The Music both of which I recommend

I was looking for Tim Rose singing Morning Dew on iTunes and Youtube, believing it to be one of his original songs, but discovered that it was actually written by Bonnie Dobson (another one from Canada) and was surprised that I had never previously heard of her https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZXuuKwhVvI

As part of the search I also arrived at an album Ah Feel Like Ahcid: American Psychedelic Artefacts from the EMI Vaults (24 tracks on a CD or 30 on an iTunes download) - not something I was tempted to buy, but I did think that it might strike a nostalgic chord with some of you

...but today's main event for me is this one from Playing For Change https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oL_pCjPgUg - check out Chris Pierce: quite a voice!

Now that is wonderful blues. Never gets old.

That particular track is available to buy as a digital download single from Amazon and iTunes (cheaper).

If any of you enjoy long guitar solos you might like this version of Cortez The Killer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYrD2SthaMU and another shorter and more melodic one from the same guitarist, Warren Haynes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTuRwNZrA58

Have a good day everyone, and stay safe in these increasingly troubling times!

This one I like a lot (who doesn't like Eric!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8S7Nn6si0E

Here are three I listen to quite a bit:

#1

#2

#3

Cool stuff!

I like this Steve Winwood performance of the same song but with Tom Petty https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8nWtXp7ns4

Eric Clapton playing the blues can do no wrong as far as I am concerned: my favourite album of his is Just One Night - live with a really tight band, Albert Lee as support guitarist and a great selection of songs on a double CD https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz6cAheObZcjM29Q9xiomdz-blOIAes1B - Blues Power really rocks!

I came upon this busking video earlier: good guitar but it was the irreverent comments on the performance which made me laugh out loud
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgvhOHF3Pa0