I've loved this song from the minute I heard it on Treme. For a guy not from here (N.O.) he seems to have gotten it.
A friend and I played this last night at a small birthday party. He can't really sing to well but he did a good imitation of Steve.
I've loved this song from the minute I heard it on Treme. For a guy not from here (N.O.) he seems to have gotten it.
A friend and I played this last night at a small birthday party. He can't really sing to well but he did a good imitation of Steve.
On several of the live versions available on YouTube he talks a little about the origin of the song. During the first season David Simon asked him if he could write a song that would be a song his character would have written in 2005 after Katrina. He's also said that he and Simon viewed the character of Harley as someone Steve Earle would have been had he never gotten a record deal. The result was an amazing song.
Also, the studio version on I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive features a beautiful horn section arranged by Allen Toussiant which helps lend it that much more New Orleans authenticity. I learned the chords a few weeks ago and I've more or less figured out the melody line for the horn part. I can do a pretty fair Steve Earle as far as singing but to me singing and playing simultaneously is like a magic trick that I can't do.
"I happen to have perfect situational awareness, Lana. Which cannot be taught, by the way. Like a poet's ... mind for ... to make the perfect words." - Sterling Archer
That's exactly what I've heard and read as well.
I've got just about every version of this song I could find on the net....live and original. He definitely as soul.
He uses drop D on many of his songs. This song is a bit hard to sing and play to at the same time. My friend also does a nice harmonica on this one that works out well.
Thanks for sharing this. Perfect timing!
Up next in my playlist...
"I happen to have perfect situational awareness, Lana. Which cannot be taught, by the way. Like a poet's ... mind for ... to make the perfect words." - Sterling Archer
Fell behind on posting... after the Dirty Dozen was this...
Now we're on to this one...
"I happen to have perfect situational awareness, Lana. Which cannot be taught, by the way. Like a poet's ... mind for ... to make the perfect words." - Sterling Archer
Reminds me of the early roots of so much music, Professor Longhair - Tipitina.
I can listen to this collection all night:
"I happen to have perfect situational awareness, Lana. Which cannot be taught, by the way. Like a poet's ... mind for ... to make the perfect words." - Sterling Archer
"I happen to have perfect situational awareness, Lana. Which cannot be taught, by the way. Like a poet's ... mind for ... to make the perfect words." - Sterling Archer
Now you're going back about 20 or so years. Iko Iko and Big Chief still are my favorites. He's an ugly looking specimen and sometimes I have to be in the mood for extra doses but he does hit on some of the local classics on that album.
I particularly like his version of "Little Liza Jane" and the Huey Smith medley.
"I happen to have perfect situational awareness, Lana. Which cannot be taught, by the way. Like a poet's ... mind for ... to make the perfect words." - Sterling Archer
I am in love with this EP.
Their first full release is out this week.
Hope it's as good as this.
"I happen to have perfect situational awareness, Lana. Which cannot be taught, by the way. Like a poet's ... mind for ... to make the perfect words." - Sterling Archer
Tom Waits - Swordfishtrombones
This is a fun one to listen to!
The one that marked the big change in his sound.
It's also the first in what's looked at by many Waits fans as a trilogy along with hist next two Rain Dogs and Franks Wild Years.
I'm a fan of his much of his work prior to this point as well, but for me this is the heart of the "classic" Waits sound.
"I happen to have perfect situational awareness, Lana. Which cannot be taught, by the way. Like a poet's ... mind for ... to make the perfect words." - Sterling Archer
Swordfishtrombones has plenty of the style of his I like the most.
I'll get Franks Wild Years later this week. I like to get as many listens as possible with each album before going to the next.
Drive-By Truckers - Live from Austin TX
The Dreamers
O'o
2009, Tzadik
"I happen to have perfect situational awareness, Lana. Which cannot be taught, by the way. Like a poet's ... mind for ... to make the perfect words." - Sterling Archer
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"I wish Imagine Dragons would be stuck in an Arcade Fire for an entire Vampire Weekend."--Brian Posehn
"I happen to have perfect situational awareness, Lana. Which cannot be taught, by the way. Like a poet's ... mind for ... to make the perfect words." - Sterling Archer
"I happen to have perfect situational awareness, Lana. Which cannot be taught, by the way. Like a poet's ... mind for ... to make the perfect words." - Sterling Archer