Piece of My Heart

Jeff Buckley was an acclaimed singer songwriter from the 1990’s. The son of folk singer Tim Buckley, Jeff grew up with his mother and hardly knew his father. Buckley had an incredibly expressive four octave vocal range by some accounts. His version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, from the album Grace, is his most famous song. Jeff Buckley died tragically in a swimming accident in Memphis in 1997.

(guest blogged by Bill Johnson)

Grace -Buckley

Steve Audio has more...

Bertis Downs is an old friend of mine; he's also R.E.M.'s manager and a Crooks and Liars LNMC fan. He sent me a cool, FUN video last week. The backstory is here. And the contest is for an autographed copy of Peter Clothier's fantastic new book, The Real Bush Diaries. I'll give 3 books away for the best list of R.E.M. covers-- in other words, your favorite R.E.M. songs performed by other artists. Entries to downwithtyranny@aol.com

(guest blogged by Howie)

Supporting the great Jazz Masters as best as I can.

Many people know Evans from his time with Miles Davis, but I believe Herbie Hancock cited him as a big influence on his playing. Eddie Gomez is pretty damn good too.

This band doesn't get much better. Joe Henderson(ts) Freddie Hubbard(tp) Herbie Hancock(p) Ron Carter(b) Tony Williams(ds)

I saw Joe in concert in a small club in Los Angeles a bunch of years ago (The Catalina) and he was masterful. He's the type of player that you drop everything you're doing and run to see when they come to your town. I used to play to his perfect solo on Horace Silver's "Song for My Father," over and over again...He died in 2001. Wikipedia on Henderson

Inner Urge was the first record I bought of his.

Sympathy for the Devil

Hot Rocks 1964-1971

So tired of being alone

One Love:

"America"

West Side Story was an innovative musical for its time, ushering in a period of darker themes for the musical theatre. It’s classic Romeo and Juliet story of two ethnic gangs is an all time classic. The innovative music was by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Arthur Laurents.

West Side Story (1961 Film Soundtrack)

(guest blogged by Bill Johnson)

Last week we had a little favorite country song contest and I was shocked by the number of people who mentioned Lefty Frizzell, not because Lefty isn't great-- he is-- but because he's about as far from the over-produced Nashville sound that has completely, and tragically, taken over country music. So here's "She's Gone Gone Gone" from an old, old, old TV show.

And tonight's contest winners get THE HITS by Left Frizzell (his 16 best loved songs, including "Gone, Gone, Gone," of course. I have 5 of these babies. Tell me your favorite rock song influenced by country and your favorite country song influenced by rock and email me at downwithtyranny@aol.com (blogged by Howie Klein)