Various Artists “Tribute to Steve Goodman”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#944 in the Series) is Tribute To Steve Goodman. 30years. It’s hard for me to believe that Steve Goodman has been gone for almost 30 years. It’s seems like yesterday that I was seeing him at Harry Hopes or Braden Auditorium in Bloomington, Illinois. Steve passed away in September of 1984. Shortly after his passing, many of his friends gathered at the Arie Crown Theater in Chicago. They told stories, played some of his music and some of theirs as well. I was lucky enough to be there. For those who weren’t, we’re treated to this recording. One of Steve’s closest friends was John Prine. We get lots of John here! He opens...
Nanci Griffith ‘Other Voices, Other Rooms’
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#922 in the sSeries) is Nanci Griffith, Other Voices, Other Rooms Nanci Griffith, much like John Prine, is one of those artists that flies just under our musical radar much of the time. Even though she sounds very much like her, she does not have the name recognition of Emmylou Harris. She can stand quill for quill on the songwriting medal stand with Joni Mitchell yet you probably can’t name a song she has written, and she even has a bit of that sultry,girl next door vibe going on that we saw with Linda Ronstadt back in the day. Appearing on the scene in 1978 with her debut album There’s a Light...
Rosanne Cash ‘The River & the Thread’
Today’s Cool album of the Day (#901 in the Series) is Rosanne Cash,The River & The Thread. Many people will to want to know – is this a country album, a folk album, an Americana / Alt-country album? Well – yes to all three but primarily I think it’s a Southern album. Each of the songs are finely crafted short stories in the great Southern tradition. They each work all by themselves telling a story that’s either from the Cash family history or a work of fiction. They also work together to paint a portrait of the South that is equal to the best Southern fiction writing. There are songs of family, a feeling of community or the...
John Prine Has Operable Form of Lung Cancer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Singer-songwriter John Prine says he’s been diagnosed with an operable form of lung cancer. A note on the 67-year-old Prine’s website says he will undergo surgery next month, forcing the postponement of two dates in Louisville, Ky. Prine says in the note that doctors found the cancer early and “see no reason why I won’t fully recover.” The cancer is not related to the squamous cell cancer on his neck for which he was treated in the mid-1990s. Prine’s management confirmed the details of the post. The “Angel from Montgomery” singer postponed dates in Wisconsin earlier this month due to illness. Those concerts and two scheduled for next month in Louisville will be pushed to 2014....
Earl ‘The Earl of Old Town’ Pionke…Club Owner and a True Legend of the Chicago Music Scene Has Died
Earl Pionke, known even more around the Chicago music scene as “The Earl of Old Town” has died. He passed away this afternoon April 26th at 2:30 PM. For years Mr. Pionke owned the popular “Earl of Old Town” pub in Chicago that spawned the careers of many future household names such as John Prine, Steve Goodman, Bonnie Koloc and many many more. The news of Mr. Pionke’s passing was announced by his close friend Marina Jason: “It is with deep sadness that I must report that Earl J.J. Pionke died this afternoon at 2:30 p.m. There will be no funeral services as Earl requested that his body be donated to the Anatomical Gift Association of Illinois. The family...
Billy Prine ‘Billy Prine’
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#824 in the Series) is Billy Prine, Billy Prine “You can’t make a living on a song and a prayer. The men in those taverns are too drunk to care.” from “Goodbye Virginia” by Robbie Fulks It was 1987 or maybe early 1988 the first time I saw it happened at Earl Pionke’s Pub on Chicago’s Lincoln Avenue. It was once the majestic (according to some reports) Somebody Else’s Trouble’s, the now named Earl’s Pub was more tattered and worn through like an old shirt. Earl’s more famous club on Wells at North, THE Earl of Old Town, had recently closed for good. Holstein’s, a club a door or two north of...
Live Streaming of Sunday’s “Earl of Old Town” Reunion Concert from FitzGeralds Night Club.
Live Streaming of Sunday’s Earl of Old Town Reunion Concert from FitzGeralds. This should be a real treat! This weekend, Saturday actually, is Earl Pionke’s 80th birthday. Earl is a legend of the Chicago scene. He founded and ran The Earl of Old Town for many years. The Earle of Old Town was more than just a folk club decades ago. It was a club that launched the careers of many of the greats of the folk / singer –songwriter genre. Names like John Prine, Steve Goodman, Bonnie Koloc, Ed and Fred Holstein, Harry Waller, Michael Johnson, Jim Post, Bryan Bowers and John Burns all kicked off lengthy careers at the club. Many of those names are going...
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band “Will The Circle Be Unbroken-Vol. II”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#588in the Series) is The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Will The Circle Be Unbroken, Volume II. Will The Circle Be Unbroken Vol II is, obviously, the follow up to the 1971 album. If you’re not familiar with the two, they were a pair of albums released by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band that featured a roomful of guest stars. The original album gave us names like Roy Acuff, Merle Travis, Vassar Clements etc. Volume II continued the tradition. Some wonderful names are on this release. Here we find, Johnny Cash, Sam Bush, Bruce Hornsby, EmmyLou Harris, Levon Helm, John Denver (Before he made a big splash), John Hiatt, John Prine, Rosanne Cash, Randy Scruggs, Roger...
John Prine “John Prine”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#508 in the Series) is the debut from John Prine It’s hard to believe it’s now been over 40 years since we first met Donald, Lydia, Sam Stone, the Angel and the Quite Man and all the great characters and interesting people that John told us about on his wonderful debut album. Yet again, the stories are so fresh that when we hear them again it’s almost like hearing them for the first time. Thirteen songs can be found here. I challenge you to find a debut album that has as strong a track listing as this album. It still amazes me that a songwriter could have this many pure and powerful numbers...
Jimmy Buffett “A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean”
Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#438 in the Series) is Jimmy Buffett, A White Sport Coat and a Pink Crustacean Well it took us well over 400 albums but we have our first Jimmy Buffett entry. Not only that, but we’re going way back, all the way back to 1973. This was before he broke out. He was just getting out of playing folk clubs. Here in Chicago he was still hanging out with all the folkies like John Prine, Steve Goodman, Fred + Ed Holstein etc. In fact, Steve Goodman was a ‘Coral Reefer’ for this album. He played some really nice lead acoustic on it. Also, this album was the first time that Jimmy used the...
