Tír Na HiFi

Is the new one any good? I'll be there meself of course... and another lesson in quaity music for the son.

The new one is very much a curate’s egg, good in spots, some tracks absolutely brilliant and some that should never have been tackled. “Nights in White Satin” is a real stinker, while “The Word” & “Isn’t it a Pity” are on the money, she has made them her own.
I don’t think it’s a matter of Mrs LaVette being misguided because I’ve seen footage of her going through the very painstaking process of choosing songs to interpret.
Not as good as “Scene of the Crime” but mediocre Bettye LaVette is still better than most of the rest.

This is a great listen:

You Are Not Alone (on the ANTI- label)



The latest offering from the very great Mavis Staples, produced by Jeff Tweedy he of Wilco on which he contributes a couple of songs written for Mavis.

She can do no wrong, and at 71 years young she nails some traditional, “Wonderful Savior”, “Creep Along Moses”, some covers, Allen Toussaint’s - “Last Train”, Little Milton’s - “We’re Gonna Make It” and some from her own family tree, ‘Pops’ Roebuck Staples – “Don’t Knock”, “Downward Road”, and a lot more.

But what raises this a wee bit above the norm is the band.
The same group that appeared on her 2008 “Live: Hope at the Hideout” and features the beautifully understated less is more country/soul guitar playing of the wonderful Rick Holmstrom, (anyone not familiar with his work could do worse than checking his back catalogue).

Also in the frame;
Stephen Hodges - Drums and Percussion,
Jeff Turmes – Bass and Guitar,
Donny Gerard – Vocals.
With additional guests including Jeff Tweedy
Vocalists Nora O’Connor, Kelly Hogan…

A nice piece on the project here

I certainly aint no blues expert but this is pretty darn good IMHO. Just finished playing the first disc of this double LP.

DaveF wrote:I certainly aint no blues expert but this is pretty darn good IMHO. Just finished playing the first disc of this double LP.

Well you seem to have a good eye (ear?) for what to buy!

Not quite blues but...

(on vinyl)

Ivor wrote:Not quite blues but...

(on vinyl)

Yowza :-)

R&B in the traditional sense, a super follow up to My World