The new Converse commercial featuring Dr. J. Neil Young's Le Noise. Jame's Lee Burke's latest Dave Robicheaux novel (that I just finished this week). It's a great season for old lions.
Johnny Cash's American VI, due out February 26 was recorded just before Cash's death in September 2003. The album is produced by Rick Rubin, often credited with helping revive Cash's recording career during the last decade of his life. Tracks include Kris Kristofferson's "For the Good Times," Sheryl Crow's "Redemption Day," Tom Paxton's "Where I'm Bound," Bob Nolan's "Cool Water," the new Cash original "First Corinthians, 15:55," and closes with Queen Lili'uokalani's "Aloha Oe." Here's a round up of recent reviews and news coverage:
This may be my most listened to song since fall 2008. I was aware of the "official" version from Time Out of Mind when it was released in 1997, but the version that really caught my ear was the lead track from 2008's Official Bootleg Volume 8 Tell Tale Signs. And if that's not enough, another version of Mississippi begins the second disc of Tell Tale Signs.
I love the gritty Delta noir of this tune and the lyrics, well, they deliver a novel's worth of inspiration with each verse. Maybe that's why I've subjected myself to repeated listening. The lyrics ignite any number of daydreams and narrative possibilities -- the concept of what could happen or what may be missed if you stay a minute, an hour or a day too long.
Isn't that why we listen to certain songs and artists, for the possibilities they present and the inspiration they deliver. And as Dylan sings it in MIssissippi, "Stick with me baby. Stick with me anyhow. Things should start to get interesting right about now.
Have you listened to Mississippi? What's your favorite version?"
Even after a few hundred spins, MIssissippi remains interesting to me.
I'm not a fan of Christmas shopping, especially on December 19, when shoppers roam the stores in hordes like retail zombies. Their hunger for that last good bargain knows few limits. Dashing through the snow from store to store, I was bored, appalled and depressed by the blather of sports talk, bland FM music and political gasbags on the radio.
Thankfully, I was riding with the CD Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall. Popped it in and within minutes cut #1, "Monk's Mood," began to smooth the wrinkles in the wrapping paper of my mind. Jazz salvation and musical inspiration to finish my shopping journey.
