Playlist for 5/25

Joe Ely - Love In The Midst of Mayhem
X - Alphabetland
Whitney Rose - We Still Go To Rodeos
Liz Anderson - Husband Hunting
Billboard Magazine's Top 50 Minivan Rock Songs (Spotify Playlist)

Playlist for 5/19

Bobby Bare - Great American Saturday Night
Stone Crush: Memphis Modern Soul 77-87 - Various
Robert Cray - That's What I Heard
Logan Ledger - s/t
Shelby Lynne - s/t
Lucinda Williams - Good Souls Better Angels
Dolly Parton:A&E Biography (Documentary)

Playlist for 5/13

Thundercat - It Is What It Is
Glenn Danzig - Danzig Sings Elvis
John Anderson - Years
Laura Marling - Song For Our Daughter
Fiona Apple - Fetch the Bolt Cutters
Coachella: 20 Years In The Desert (YouTube Documentary)

RIP LIttle Richard

From 1955-57, Little Richard helped create "Rock and Roll" while recording for Specialty Records.  The records he made there were a mix of frenetic, Rock, R&B with a tinge of his Gospel background.  Then there were his vocals.  Always on the edge of the beat, but not screaming.  He was singing, but it was unlike anything I'd heard before. "Lucille" is my favorite, but anything from his peak is prime.

"Tutti Frutti" remains the template. 2 1/2 minutes of everything Little Richard had to give.

Then, it was over.  Richard left Rock and Roll behind and recorded Gospel records (pretty good ones, too).  And didn't return to secular music until 1962.  Five years was a long time back then.  When he came back a newer generation of artists (namely British Invasion bands) had come along, influenced by his Specialty hits. Richard's own records at the time were competent but couldn't quite match the spirit of his earlier sides.  While he never found the right recordings for a spectacular comeback he was still a force on stage.  And that's where he flourished the last decades of his life.

But his legend is with the sides he cut at Specialty for two incredible years in the mid-50's.  That's where he became the Architect of Rock 'n' Roll.

Best Mother's Day Songs

When most people think of Mother's Day songs, sentimentality usually wins out.  I've got a few of those listed below, but also some that avoid the teardrops.
                                                                                                                                             
Anthony Hamilton - Mama Knew Love
Beatles - Julia
Bill Anderson - Mama Sang A Song
Boyz II Men - Song For Mama
Bruce Springsteen - Wish
Carrie Underwood - Mama's Song
Dolly Parton - Coat Of Many Colors
Electric Light Orchestra - Mama
Elvis Presley - Mama Liked The Roses
Gerry Rafferty - Mary Skeffington
Gregory Porter - Mother's Song
Intruders - I'll Always Love My Mama
Jamie O'Neal - Somebody's Hero
Judds - Mama He's Crazy
John Lennon - Mother
Junior - Mama Used To Say
Lefty Frizzell - Mom and Dad's Waltz
Lenny Kravitz - Thinking Of You
Linda Ronstadt - Sweetest Gift
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Simple Man
Merle Haggard - Mama Tried
Miracles - Shop Around
Miranda Lambert - Mama's Broken Heart
Outkast - She's Alive
Paul Simon - Loves Me Like A Rock
Pink Floyd - Mother
Randy Travis - Angels
Ruth Brown - Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean
Shirelles - Mama Said
Sizzla - Thank You Mama
2Pac - Dear Mama
Spinners - Sadie
Sufjan Stevens - Fourth Of July
Taylor Swift - Best Day

Playlist for 5/7

Best John Prine Covers Playlist Ever (Spotify Playlist)
John Prine Deeper Cuts (Spotify Playlist)
John Prine's 16 Funniest, Quirkiest, Prine-iest Songs (YouTube)
10 Overlooked Gems From Bill Withers (Stereogum Spotify Playlist)
Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia
Mojo Magazine: This Is A Call - Various (May 2020 Issue)
Bruce Springsteen: From His Home to Yours (SiriusXM E Street Radio Special)
Grammy Salute to Prince (TV Special)