Tag Archives: folk

Listen, Rewritten Song

Get Up & Shout (Version 2)

Audio

I’ve gone and rewritten another of my old songs. This time Get Up & Shout form all the way back in 2012. After you’ve had a chance to listen to the new tune, go ahead and click on over to revisit the original.

Pretty big difference, huh?

It’s that Carter Family again

Just like the tune from a couple week’s ago, Trump is Working on a Building, for the updated version of Get Up & Shout I used an old Carter Family melody. This time I went for an old favorite of mine The Cannonball (or Cannonball Blues).

Didn’t really have any reason for using it other than I thought it would be easy for the words from my original tune to be squashed into that melody. Of course that didn’t work out as smoothly as I figured it would.

Made me get up and shout

Lyric work for Get Up & Shout (Version 2)For whatever reason I really got bogged down in what the new version of the song was about. What the meaning behind it would become. With these rewrites I really try not to do that because then as I force old words I’ve rewritten, that were about something completely different (usually that I’ve forgotten), into some kind of new meaning the song gets harder and harder to write. And I get frustrated. So this version had many multiples of rewrites. But I think I finally got it where I want it this morning.

From revival to protest

It’s now a little bit Cannonball Blues and a little bit Woody Guthrie’s Baltimore to Washington and a little bit protest song against Donald Trump. Now, he’s not specifically named, but I think I threw in some key words and phrases that alert you to the Orange One’s presence. So the tune went from being a tent-revival-church-happening-type song in the original recording to something that’s a little more contemporary in subject.

Not sure Get Up & Shout is completely done. Might even need a new title now too. Something like the Donaldbald Blues or the Orange Express Blues or the Trump Hump. But at some point you just have to shrug your shoulders and move on to the next thing. Not sure if this version is an improvement or not on the original, but it’s at least some kind of movement on the original and that’s really all I was going for.

Listen, New Song

New Song: Sitting down to say a tune

Audio

It’s been a whole lot of time since I posted a new song.

It’s been a whole lot of time since I wrote a new song.

But, I figured today was a good day to do both.

It’s my daughter’s first birthday. This song is for her. Only she would be able to understand it, I think.

To everyone else it makes no sense. It hardly makes sense to me.

So that’s that.

Happy Birthday, Della. Shake that pineapple can.

Listen, Rewritten Song

Rewritten Song: Cause, Mama (version 2)

Audio

Well, here’s the re-recorded tune that I released this week, last year. Was actually on this date, last year. Go check out the original version and then compare and contrast.

You’ll see I didn’t change any of the words. Just how the song sounds. The cadence, the style, the meter. It’s a waltz now. I particularly enjoyed the mouth harp on this new one.

So this song is a year old. There you have it.

Now, Poor Elvis has a show tonight at the Orbit Room. Why not come check it out. You’ll probably hear my new tune “Mother Mary” (although, a little different than the version I recorded it for Monday).

It’s gonna be a good show. It’s outside on the back deck. Doesn’t get any better than that.

Here’s some more info. Starts at 8pm. See ya there.

Listen

Song Post: The Sinking of the Deepwater Horizon

Audio

In honor of the 2nd anniversary of the Great BP Oil Slick of 2010, here’s a version of my song “The Sinking of the Deepwater Horizon.”

This one is a rewrite that I posted last year. You can read the description of it here. Or go listen to the original version and read about it here.

Also, did you catch me doing a special Talkin’ Headline Blues on WBEZ this morning? No? Well, you can listen and read about the radio spot here. There’s also a video of the entire song.

I’ll record and post the live radio version on Monday next week. It’s number 77, for those keeping count.

And, please don’t forget to go check out the Poor Elvis Kickstarter project. We could really use your support getting our new 7-inch vinyl record pressed and taken out on tour in June. You get some fantastic rewards for donating.

Thanks for listening and helping us make some music!

Listen, Talkin' Headline Blues

The Talkin’ Headline Blues #76

Audio

I can’t believe I actually got this done for today. But I did.

In other news…I’ll be playing a special live version of the Talkin’ Headline Blues on WBEZ 91.5 fm this Friday (4/20). It’ll be during the Eight Forty-Eight program running from 9-10am. You can also listen in on the internet, here.

I’ll be writing the radio version either Thursday night or Friday morning, or both…to get the most up-to-date headlines. Wish me luck…

Also, remember that the Poor Elvis kickstarter project is still moving along. We’ve got 15 backers, so far, after just 5 days, and are almost a fourth of the way to the goal. It’s really easy to donate, and you can get some great rewards.