DELANEY BRAMLETT: Where The Soul Never Dies

1939-2008

It seems that no matter what we get for Christmas, or what friends and family we haven’t seen for ages drop by for the holidays the year always seems to end with a sad passing. Unfortunately this year is no exception. Just a few days after Christmas came the news that Delaney Bramlett had passed.

He may not have been the household name that most of the people he worked with were, but he was more often than not the glue that held the session together. Whether he was sharing the stage with Eric Clapton, Leon Russell, Jimi Hendrix, George Harrison, wife Bonnie or any number of others he brought something to the party that made the event special. I urge you to poke around on the Internet and see what you can find out about him and his life. I think you’ll be more than a little surprised at what you discover. I’d also be willing to bet that just about everyone who’s serious about their music has something in their collection that he was involved with.

It was hard to come up with a single clip from all of the great footage available featuring him. Instead of seeing how many iconic guests I could find him on stage with I decided to use this one that shows him doing what he probably did best. Sharing the stage with his then wife Bonnie covering Dr. John’s “When The Battle Is Over.” There is perhaps no better example of what people are talking about when they mention “blue eyed Southern soul” than a performance like this one.

Playing For Change

From the award-winning documentary, "Playing For Change: Peace Through Music", comes the first of many "songs around the world" being released independently. Featured is a cover of the Ben E. King classic by musicians around the world adding their part to the song as it travelled the globe. This and other songs such as "One Love" will be released as digital downloads soon; followed by the film soundtrack and DVD early next year.

Sign up at www.playingforchange.com for updates and exclusive content.

Join the Movement to help build schools, connect students, and inspire communities in need through music.

A Deep And Dark December...

Laying Out My Winter Clothes

The grip of Winter brings to mind countless images that take us to different times in our lives. Whether it be a special Christmas, a snowstorm that freed us from school for consecutive days or maybe that unique song that plays in our head as the flakes pile up.

For me nothing sets the mood better than some well chosen Simon & Garfunkel tunes. They mine melancholy as well, if not better, than just about anyone. Everyone has their favorite. The one that “cuts me ’til I cried out” every time though is “The Boxer.” Having once been in New York during Christmas season I’ve come to understand the song in ways I never could have as a thirteen year old buying the single.

The single peaked at #7 in the Spring of 1969 oddly enough. However, some songs take a while to establish their spot in history. In the ensuing years the song has almost become mythic. It’s saga of a restless soul became a metaphoric tale for an all too familiar way of life and a tough as nails city. Depending on their mood on any given night they even throw us an extra verse. Today’s visual aid includes it.

What Will The New Year Bring?

We are not taking orders on any of these yet but we thought you might enjoy seeing some things that are coming down the road in 2009.

Justin Townes Earle finishes /Midnight at the Movies/
Justin finished up his follow-up to /The Good Life/ for us and it has all of us in the compound walking around all bug-eyed. How a guy that did such an amazing job on his first record could take an even GREATER leap forward is pretty exciting. The album is called /Midnight at the Movies/ and it will hit the street in March 09 on CD and LP. Justin continues to tour his ass off, both domestically and internationally. Between US shows, he hits Australia soon and revisits the UK in January. Here's the video for "The Good Life" http://www.vimeo.com/1485978

Ha Ha Tonka Hitting Studio for 2nd Bloodshot album
Ha Ha Tonka are starting work on their 2nd Bloodshot album very shortly in St. Louis at Sawhorse Studios. Jason McIntire is at the helm; his most recent success was producing the St. Louis buzz band, Ludo. Ha Ha Tonka's incredible animated video for Caney Mountain is here: http://www.vimeo.com/1429884

Scotland Yard Gospel Choir Recording Now
Scotland Yard Gospel Choir are in the studio currently working on their new album, titled "And The Horse You Rode in On". Expect the follow up to their critically acclaimed self titled album in stores in mid-2009. Elia wrote the majority of the album in Wales, and calls it "An angry, comically heart wrenching record, alternately venting spleen and touching on the poignancy of betrayal and loss."

Bottle Rockets Record with Eric "Roscoe" Ambel
The Bottle Rockets celebrated their 15^th anniversary by recording a spanking new album with producer Eric "Roscoe" Ambel, producer of their renowned album, /The Brooklyn Side/. The new album will be released in spring 2009.

Scott Biram zeros in on completion of new album
The one band destruction machine, Scott Biram, is closing in on the completion of his next album. Highlights include a cover of "I Feel So Good" by Muddy Waters with The Black Diamond Heavies guesting. John Meyers from the Heavies also contributed some keyboards on one of Scott's tunes, titled "Why You Give Me Such a Hard Time?" Album art is slated to be by Mark Todd, known for his work for Scratch Acid and Jesus Lizard.

Bobby Bare Jr & Sr Producing Tribute to Shel Silverstein
Bobby and his dad are executive-producing a tribute to Shel Silverstein that will be released on Sugar Hill/Vanguard in mid 2009. The two of them have the following bands slated to contribute (and quite a few are already recorded):
Emmylou Harris
Black Keys
George Jones & Ray Price
Allison Krauss
Band of Horses
Dr. Dog
Andrew Bird
Kris Kristofferson (backed by members of the Silver Jews)
My Morning Jacket

And last but certainly not least, available March 3, 2009
Buddy & Julie Miller's Written In Chalk
Album Features Robert Plant, Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin and more
Track List:
1 Ellis County/(Julie Miller)
2 Gasoline and Matches/(Julie and Buddy Miller)
3 Don't Say Goodbye/(Julie Miller)
4 What You Gonna Do, Leroy/(Mel Tillis)
5 A Long, Long Time/(Julie Miller)
6 One Part, Two Part/(Dee Ervin)
7 Chalk/(Julie Miller)
8 Everytime We Say Goodbye/(Julie Miller)
9 Hush, Sorrow/(Julie Miller)
10 Smooth/(Julie Miller)
11 June /(Julie Miller)
12 The Selfishness In Man/(Leon Payne)