Willie Nelson - "Willie and Family Live" (1978)

Willie once said, “The biggest killer on this planet is stress" which might explain why he only really does two things, play music and golf. Well that and smoke a lot of pot. This laid back credo has kept the American Icon sharp witted and out there recording and touring for nearly half a century. His career has spanned numerous record labels, even more music genres, he's played with everyone from Johnny Cash to Snoop Dogg and on top of being a musician he's also a author, poet, outlaw, actor and activist. Here in 1978 Willie finds himself in beautiful Lake Tahoe with his extended touring family band bringing rowdy Texas barroom fun to the larger concert setting. Stream some of the highlights below and get out there on the road and see him live yourself! -- Chris Baginski

Disc 1

1. "Whiskey River" 3:39
2. "Stay All Night (Stay a Little Longer)" 3:25
3. "Funny How Time Slips Away" 2:44
4. "Crazy" 1:48
5. "Night Life" 4:07
6. "If You've Got the Money (I've Got the Time)" 1:31
7. "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to Be Cowboys" 3:34
8. "I Can Get Off on You" 2:09
9. "If You Could Touch Her at All" 2:59
10. "Good Hearted Woman" 2:59
11. "Redheaded Stranger Melody"
12. "Under the Double Eagle"

Disc 2

1. "Till I Gain Control Again" 5:58
2. "Bloody Mary Morning" 3:33
3. "I'm a Memory" 1:49
4. "Mr. Record Man" 2:02
5. "Hello Walls" 1:29
6. "One Day at a Time" 2:01
7. "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" 2:09
8. "Amazing Grace" 5:13
9. "Take This Job and Shove It" 3:09
10. "Uncloudy Day" 3:41
11. "The Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line" 1:28
12. "A Song for You" 2:42
13. "Roll in My Sweet Baby's Arms" 1:57
14. "Georgia on My Mind" 4:08
15. "I Gotta Get Drunk" 1:22

See Willie On Tour

Elvis Presley - "From Elvis in Memphis" (1969)

I like many in my generation never really got Elvismania. Somewhere amidst the rhinestone jumpsuits and the impersonators and the sightings, everything to do with Elvis just seemed silly and dated. A distant obsession from another era that would never resonate on the younger population the way a band like The Beatles still do. His huge place in Rock & Roll history is undeniable though so I was glad to finally come across From Elvis In Memphis. After a decade of making bad movies with equally bad soundtracks, Elvis returned to his southern home and his southern roots. You won't hear the overplayed hits, or the cliches you've come to associate with him. Just a soulful Elvis getting back to Rhythm & Blues with a fantastic backing band and fantastic results. -- Chris Baginski

1. Wearin' That Loved On Look
2. Only The Strong Survive
3. I'll Hold You In My Heart
4. Long Black Limousine
5. It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin'
6. I'm Movin' On
7. Power Of My Love
8. Gentle On My Mind
9. After Loving You
10. True Love Travels On A Gravel Road
11. Any Day Now
12. In The Ghetto

bonus tracks

13. The Fair's Moving On
14. Suspicious Minds
15. You'll Think Of Me
16. Don't Cry Daddy
17. Kentucky Rain
18. Mama Liked The Roses

John Prine - "The Missing Years" (1991)

John Prine has a way of calming you down. He pushes all else away for the simple stories he'd like to tell you. He's a guy you can't help but grin around. Never taking himself all too seriously, he always speaks his music with a son of a gun smile. And he gives all those qualities to you when you hear his songs. On the Grammy award winning The Missing Years, John does what he does best - sing unvarnished tales of life with a rolling ease that makes you feel like you're listening to him on his back porch with a couple cans of beer between you both. -- Chris Baginski

1. "Picture Show" (3:22)
2. "All the Best" (3:28)
3. "The Sins of Memphisto" (4:13)
4. "Everybody Wants to Feel Like You" (3:09)
5. "It's a Big Old Goofy World" (5:10)
6. "I Want to Be With You Always" (3:01)
7. "Daddy's Little Pumpkin" (2:41)
8. "Take a Look at My Heart" (3:38)
9. "Great Rain" (4:08)
10. "Way Back Then" (3:39)
11. "Unlonely" (4:35)
12. "You Got Gold" (4:38)
13. "Everything Is Cool" (2:46)
14. "Jesus the Missing Years" (5:55)

See John Prine on Tour

Nouvelle Vague - "Bande à Part" (2006)

French band Nouvelle Vague might not write their own material, but their unique take on songs puts them above the simple label of cover band. Digging through New Wave and Post Punk songs from the 80's, they reinterpret them as swanky 60's-style bossa nova numbers that drop you into a café sipping coffee in their native land. One trick in making the songs they select uniquely theirs is to only cover numbers the two female leads have not heard before, further distancing the cover from the original. Here on their second album Bande à Part, they put a fun spin on some gems from acts like Blondie, Billy Idol, U2, and The Smiths. -- Chris Baginski

1. "The Killing Moon" (Echo & The Bunnymen)
2. "Ever Fallen In Love?"(Buzzcocks)
3. "Dance With Me" (Lords of the New Church)
4. "Don't Go" (Yahzo)
5. "Dancing With Myself" (Billy Idol)
6. "Pride (In the Name of Love)" (U2)
7. "O Pamela" (The Wake)
8. "Heart of Glass" (Blondie)
9. "Confusion" (New Order)
10. "Human Fly" (The Cramps)
11. "Bela Lugosi's Dead" (Bauhaus)
12. "Shack Up" (A Certain Ratio)
13. "Let Me Go" (Heaven 17)
14. "Fade To Grey" (Visage)

Justin Townes Earle - "Yuma" EP (2007)

Justin Townes Earle carries the names of two big figures in country-folk music. His middle name comes from Townes Van Zandt who never found mainstream success but influenced the likes of Neil Young, Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, and Justin's father, Steve Earle. Here on Justin's debut he shows those names run deep and that he too can craft a powerful story in his own songs. Recorded by himself so he'd have something to sell on the road, the Yuma EP bottles up Justin on guitar, a sprinkling of mandolin and harmonica, a go with the wind grin, and a great sign of things to come. -- Chris Baginski

1. "The Ghost of Virginia" (3:39)
2. "You Can't Leave" (3:34)
3. "Yuma" (3:05)
4. "I Don't Care" (1:54)
5. "Let The Waters Rise" (2:43)
6. "A Desolate Angels Blues" (4:03)

see Justin live on Tour

Grooveshark Stream

Seu Jorge - "The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions" (2005)

Wes Anderson has a knack for picking charmingly appropriate music for his films and for The Life Aquatic, a stand out is Seu Jorge's David Bowie covers. Preformed solo acoustic and in Portuguese through out the movie, several were included on the official soundtrack but this album collects many more from a Rome recording session put together after the film's release with Anderson producing. Some of the best song selections for Anderson's film soundtracks always have a worldly joy to them while remaining warmly familiar. Here that idea is expanded upon with fantastic results. -- Chris Baginski

1. "Rebel Rebel" 2:46
2. "Life on Mars?" 3:29
3. "Starman" 3:16
4. "Ziggy Stardust" 3:41
5. "Lady Stardust" 3:31
6. "Changes" 3:40
7. "Oh! You Pretty Things" 3:32
8. "Rock N' Roll Suicide" 3:10
9. "Suffragette City" 3:10
10. "Five Years" 3:59
11. "Queen Bitch" 3:42
12. "When I Live My Dream" 2:55
13. "Quicksand" 4:35
14. "Team Zissou" 2:32

Life On Mars? Studio Video

Whiskeytown - "Pneumonia" (2001)

Before his solo debut in 2000, Ryan Adams fronted the North Carolina born band Whiskeytown. Pneumonia, the band's 3rd and final album, sat shelved for nearly two years after its recording due to Outpost Records folding during a label merger. It eventually saw the light of day and bridges Ryan's alt-country defining days in Whiskeytown with his bountiful songwriting output that spanned the last decade. Beneath both periods his band members changed as much as his perceived persona, but his drive to write honest, American music only increased. Here you can listen to him on the cusp of greatness on an album that's for sure a desert island necessity for me. Such artists gracefully command your attention with no more than a constant drive to express their soul, and once they have it, there's no mistaking such genuine endeavor from all else. -- Chris Baginski

1. "The Ballad of Carol Lynn" (3:04)
2. "Don't Wanna Know Why" (3:59)
3. "Jacksonville Skyline" (3:01)
4. "Reasons to Lie" (3:30)
5. "Don't Be Sad" (3:21)
6. "Sit & Listen to the Rain" (4:05)
7. "Under Your Breath" (3:28)
8. "Mirror, Mirror" (3:15)
9. "Paper Moon" (4:42)
10. "What the Devil Wanted" (3:38)
11. "Crazy About You" (2:46)
12. "My Hometown" (2:46)
13. "Easy Hearts" (5:08)
14. "Bar Lights" (3:56)

Phish - "Rift" (1993)

On 1993's Rift, Phish created a dreamworld concept album that brought together their complex music stylings with well crafted songs and lyrics. As usual, the tracks run the gambit of genres from rock and classical composition to bluegrass and ballads. But this doesn't take away from the cohesion that runs through the album of a forlorn man battling his emotions while he sleeps. The band is in tip-top form showing clear mastering of their instruments, the results of heavy touring and practicing during this time. It's the first Phish album that grabbed me and I was immediately drawn into a phishy world of ignited souls, icy doppelgangers, limestone blocks, and bitter blues. -- Chris Baginski

1. "Rift" (6:13)
2. "Fast Enough for You" (4:51)
3. "Lengthwise" (1:19)
4. "Maze" (8:13)
5. "Sparkle" (3:54)
6. "Horn" (3:37)
7. "The Wedge" (4:07)
8. "My Friend, My Friend" (6:09)
9. "Weigh" (5:08)
10. "All Things Reconsidered" (2:32)
11. "Mound" (6:02)
12. "It's Ice" (8:14)
13. "Lengthwise" (0:34)
14. "The Horse" (1:23)
15. "Silent in the Morning" (5:28)

Rift Cover Art Puzzle $10

Dave Brubeck - "Instant Brubeck" (1954)

If you ever find yourself around the Quartier Latin in Montreal be sure to check out Beatnick Music. This cavern like record store offers a great selection of music that's spaciously organized for easy browsing. The owners are always aquiring new records and will point you in the right direction if you're up for a conversation. I came across this Dave Brubeck album, took a chance based on the cover art and discovered it works perfectly for the music inside. Too bad the re-release of this record uses a different cover and changes the title to Brubeck Time. But the music remains the same offering the sunnyside up jazz that Brubeck's Quartet is known for. This is the first studio outing for the band and it showcases Brubeck's unique compositional style and his equally important saxophonist, Paul Desmond. -- Chris Baginski

1. "Audrey" 3:33
2. "Jeepers Creepers" 4:56
3. "Pennies From Heaven" 6:27
4. "Why Do I Love You" 5:41
5. "Stompin' For Mili" 5:26
6. "Keppin' Out Of Mischief Now" 5:05
7. "A Fine Romance" 3:48
8. "Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?" 5:17

Vince Guaraldi Trio - "A Charlie Brown Christmas" (1965)

One of the greatest Christmas albums of all time. I don't know how Charles Schulz came up with the idea to pair his Peanuts Gang with a piano jazz score but it was a brilliant move. The music of Vince Guaraldi perfectly represents the humor, innocents, and charm of the comic strip, and on this album, immediately puts you in the Winter season and the holiday spirit. -- Chris Baginski

1. "O Tannenbaum" 5:08
2. "What Child Is This?" 2:25
3. "My Little Drum" 3:12
4. "Linus and Lucy" 3:06
5. "Christmas Time Is Here" (Instrumental) 6:05
6. "Christmas Time Is Here" (Vocal Version) 2:47
7. "Skating" 2:27
8. "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" 1:55
9. "Christmas Is Coming" 3:25
10. "Für Elise" 1:06
11. "The Christmas Song" 3:17
12. "Greensleeves" 5:26