Saturday, June 6, 2015

Of Time and Rivers Flowing - Porch Sittin'

A mix from 2003 that was a collection of cover songs as part of my porch sittin' series. A covers mix will also keep the conversation going on the porch while sippin' some brews.

This was also originally made right after Joe Strummer died.












  1. Richie Havens - Of Time And Rivers Flowing (Where Have All the Flowers Gone: The Songs of Pete Seeger, 1998)  
  2. Son Volt - Open All Night (Badlands: A Tribute To Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska, 2000)  
  3. Peter Case & Dave Alvin - Monday Morning Blues (Avalon Blues: A Tribute to the Music of Mississippi John Hurt, 2001)  
  4. The Band - Atlantic City (Jericho, 1993)
  5. Mary Black - I Misunderstood (The Best of Mary Black, Vol. 2, 2001) 
  6. Alejandro Escovedo - Lock, Stock And Teardrops (Lonesome, On'ry and Mean: A Tribute to Waylon Jennings, 2003)  
  7. Jonathan Richman - Stop Your Sobbing (This Is Where I Belong: The Songs of Ray Davies, 2002)  
  8. Cornershop - Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) (When I Was Born for the 7th Time, 1997) 
  9. Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Over The Rainbow (Alone in Iz World, 2001) 
  10. Steve Earle & Emmy Lou Harris - Rivers Of Babylon (Train a Comin', 1995) 
  11. Emmylou Harris - The Boxer (Roses In The Snow, 1980)
  12. Nanci Griffith & John Prine - The Streets Of Baltimore (Other Voices, Too (A Trip Back to Bountiful), 1998) 
  13. Lucinda Williams & David Crosby - Return Of The Grievous Angel (Return of the Grievous Angel: A Tribute to Gram Parsons, 1999)  
  14. Graham Parker - The Rose Of England (Labour of Love: The Music of Nick Lowe, 2001)  
  15. Dusty Springfield - Tupelo Honey (Cameo, 1973)
  16. The Beatles - Word Of Love (Beatles For Sale, 1964) 
  17. Chris Isaak - Only The Lonely (Baja Sessions, 1996) 
  18. Johnny Cash - Heart Of Gold (Unearthed, 2003) 
  19. Joe Strummer - Redemption Song (Streetcore, 2003) 

Thursday, June 4, 2015

Timestretched - Songs 2001

A third selection of songs from albums from my collection released in 2001. This set is more on the folky, country, Americana side along with some indie rock.

Pic is The Walkabouts.






All albums released in 2001.


  1. The Divine Comedy - Timestretched (Regeneration)
  2. Gillian Welch - Revelator (Time: The Revelator)
  3. Bjork - Pagan Poetry (Vespertine)
  4. R.E.M. - She Just Wants To Be (Reveal)
  5. John Hiatt - I'll Never Get Over You (The Tiki Bar Is Open)
  6. Ryan Adams - Nobody Girl (Gold)
  7. Lucinda Williams - Blue (Essence)
  8. Travis - Sing (The Invisible Band)
  9. The Del McCoury Band - 1952 Vincent Black Lightning (Del And The Boys)
  10. Bonnie Prince Billy - Ease On Down The Road (Ease On Down The Road)
  11. Hem - When I Was Drinking (Rabbit Songs)
  12. Low - Kind Of Girl (Things We Lost In The Fire)
  13. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - As I Sat Sadly By Her Side (No More Shall We Part)
  14. The Walkabouts - Fallen Down Moon (Ended Up A Stranger)

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

The Day of Battle - Rick Atkinson

Rick Atkinson's The Day of Battle was one of the best military histories I've ever read and I've read quite a few. This is the second volume in his Liberation Trilogy. I read the book in the series, The Army at Dawn, last year.

The thing I liked about both books is that they were exciting to read and felt like novels. Of course I knew how they ended but the story was fascinating and I was constantly learning new things about how America fought World War II against the Germans. I had also previously read and throughly enjoyed Crusade: The Untold Story of the Persian Gulf War that he wrote in 1994.

Atkinson does some amazing research and you can tell he has read many histories, letters, diaries, memoirs, and battle reports. His descriptions become very personal from the point of view of the participants as he skillfully weaves the story of the Allied invasion of Sicely and Italy. He spends a considerable amount of time describing the indicisions, the confusion and the miscalculations. You really get a sense that the generals are learning as they go along and you also get a feeling for the hearts and minds of the common soldiers, their hardships, joys, sorrows, defeats, and victories, . His attention to detail becomes daunting at times.

The first book of the series was also one of my favorite war history book. It read like a novel and was a real page turner. I really had not known much about the US Army invasion and campaign in North Africa. I was probably more aware of the British fighting the Germans in that area at that time. I hadn't thought about how green and untested the American soldiers were at the beginning of World War II. They really had to learn as they went along and they had to have some terrible losses and bitter defeats as they learned how to fight.  It was horrible on-the-training but they eventually fought on to victory. They also had to learn how to supply themsleves. Atkinson pays considerable attention to the logistical details of the campaigns in both North Africa and Italy and provides insight into that particular nightmare.

I am looking foward to reading the third and final volume later this summer while on vacation.






Monday, June 1, 2015

I'll Come Running - Eno Cycle

Here is the 6th mix of all things Eno. The Eno Cycle continues to show Brian Eno as an artist, producer, writer, collaborator, etc.






pic - Eno with Roxy Music



  1. Brian Eno - I'll Come Running (Another Green World, 1975)
  2. 801 - T.N.K. (801 Live, 1976)
  3. Talking Heads - Memories Can't Wait (Fear Of Music, 1979)
  4. David Bowie - Always Crashing The Same Car (Low, 1977)
  5. Spacehog - One Of These Days (The Chinese Album, 1998)
  6. John Cale - Gun (Fear, 1974)
  7. Teenage Jesus & The Jerks - I Woke Up Dreaming (No New York, 1978)
  8. Roxy Music - Re-Make/Re-Model (Roxy Music, 1972)
  9. U2 - The Fly (Achtung Baby, 1991)
  10. Eno & Hyde - Lilac (High Life, 2014)
  11. Paul Simon - Outrageous (Surprise, 2006)
  12. James - Say Something (Laid, 1993)
  13. Anna Calvi - Suzanne and I (Anna Calvi, 2011)
  14. Coldplay - Hurst Like Heaven (Mylo Xyloto, 2011)
  15. Dido - Grafton Street (Safe Trip Home, 2008)