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Rock Rose - only just caught your mention of 'Alone Again Or' on the previous page - there was indeed a recent cover, by one of my favourite bands, Calexico, who are from Tucson, AZ.

A connection between them and Leonard is that Joey Burns, the singer and half of the song-writing partnership, is originally from Montreal...

Hi Makera - have you heard Mary Black another Irish singer/songwriter. I think she has a really amazing voice.

I have heard 'A Scottish Soldier' - a wee bit traditional for me - I was thinking more about Scottsih bands like Capercaillie or Runrig - Celtic rock. I think that their music really captures the mood of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Even the songs they sing in Gaelic - although I don't understand the words they are still very emotive.

Peter Tosh was one of the Wailers wasn't he? I seem to remember a song of his 'Don't Look Back' from years back. I think he also brought something out with Mick Jagger. What is he doing now?

Hi Tim - Calexico - yes that rings a bell. The cover sounded quite like the original didn't it? (although obviously with their unique stamp on it!!!) I haven't heard anything else by them I'm sorry to say.

I like your link to LC albeit a bit tenuous !!!

Cheers to you both

Rock Rose

Referring to some of the earlier correspondence re' Jacques Brel - unfortunately due to the language barrier I was never fully able to appreciate his music, although I do love listening to the double CD (some 30+ songs) that I have. On the other hand Brel led me to Scott Walker who really blew me away. Initially, I was looking for english language covers of Brel and Walker was reputedly the best. He lived upto that expectation. Then I bought the compilation of his own stuff "Boy Child - 1967-70" taken from his brilliantly eccentric series Scott 1 - Scott 4. This was really weird stuff and for a long time i didnt know what to think of it but once I "got it" it affected me as only a handful of other artists. Someone described him as Sartre meets Sinatra and that is probably a good description. Certainly I know of no other 60s or post singer/songwriter who can sing like that (this side of Joan Baez) with an incredibly rich baritone and vocal range. His melodies are really intricate and takes time to tune into. Mostly full orchestral arrangements. Certainly not easy listening. His writing is more theatre than poetry. It is impossible to separate the words from the musical arrangements.
I plan to get the entire series Scott 1 - Scott 4 sometime soon. I believe he's made only a couple of more albums after that which have apparently gotten weirder and weirder.
The following is his song The Seventh Seal inspired by the Ingmar Bergman film of the same name (i'm sure Jurica will recognize) but he really has to be heard with bloated music and all. But if you hear him the first time you will probably do what I did.....hit the eject button.

The Seventh Seal

Anybody see a knight pass this way?
I saw him playing chess with Death yesterday
His crusade was a search for God and they say
It's been a long way to carry on

Anybody hear of plague in this town?
The town I've left behind was burned to the ground
A young girl on a stake, her face framed in flames
Cried "I'm not a witch - God knows my name"

The knight he watched with fear - he needed to know
He ran where he might feel God's breath
And in the misty church, he knelt to confess
The face within the booth was Mr. Death

"My life's a vain pursuit - of meaningless miles
Why can't God touch me with a sign?"
"Perhaps there's no-one there" answered the booth
And Death hid within his cloak and smiled.

"This morning I played chess with Death" said the Knight
"We played that he might grant me time
My bishop and my knights will shatter his flanks
And still I might feel God's heart in mine."

And through confessions grill - Death's laughter was heard
The Knight cried "No, you've cheated me"
"But still I'll find a way - we'll meet once again
And once again continue to play."

They met within the woods - the knight, his squire and friends
And Death said "Now the game shall end";
The final move was made - the knight hung his head
And said "You've won - I have nothing left to play"

The minstrel filled with visions - sang to his love
To look against the stormy sky
The knight, his squire and friends - their hands held as one
Silently danced towards the dawn.

His hourglass in his hand, his scythe by his side
The Master Death, he leads them on
The rain will wash away the tears from their faces
And as the thunder cracked, they were gone

I know [well, believe] you're going to get a lot of feedback on this song, Kush. All I'm going to say [it's late] is that this is really incredible stuff! I'm speaking to the choir, I know, but WoW! I can see why you've gotten into him. Funny, about hitting the Eject button ~ good for you that you finally got past the music and presentation, cuz there sure is a lot of meat there! I'd be interested in hearing him sing Brel.

~ Elizabeth

Peter Tosh was murdered. He was a great artist and did an amazing amount of good solo work.

Rock Rose,
I know and like the Irish singer Mary Black and have seen her in concert twice in recent years

I didn't realise Mary Black was still active. I have a CD of hers. She has a lovely voice and picks some unusual songs to sing.

The Moldy Peaches - if you don't like listening to processed music like Madonna and all that crap then on your way home from wherever today buy The Moldy Peaches.
PS I don't like Mary Black type stuff tho' I can appreciate her voice, but did you know that she's sold more cds in Ireland than U2!

Right now I am listening to:

The Pogues
Sinead O'Connor
David Byrne
R.E.M.
KMFDM

And of course:
Lou Reed

Leonard Cohen
Chicago
Elton John
Bernie Taupin
Peter Cetera
Michael Jackson
Janet Jackson
Prince
Madonna
Weird Al Yankovic

I wouldn't normally be really familiar with Richard Thompson, but NPR is doing a segment right now on him and his new CD and Live tour. His new cd is "The Old Kick Back"[?]/"The Old Kit Bag"[?] ~ I'll need to check ~ and is his selection of music from over the past 1,000 years. He just sang "Shenandoah," and you'd think he was born and raised next to it, and was wrenched from it against his will. The sorrow, angst, and longing in his voice are such a credit to the song. The cd sounds like a worthwhile purchase.

This year's CD is "The Old Kit Bag" and very good it is too (see my post to this thread some pages ago...)

he's also released (but I haven't heard yet) "1000 years of popular music" which Lizzytysh mentions - more info on both CDs, as well as tourdates, lyrics etc at his official website: richardthompson-music.com

Hi Tim ~

Oh, so they're not the same? I really couldn't tell. It seemed one was the cd and the other maybe the Live tour. I would love to see him Live. Sorry to pass over him in your post, but those unfamiliar names don't stick with me unless I hear a segment or an actual recording. Thanks for the link. I'll check it out.

~ Lizzytysh

Been listening to James Yorkston and the Athletes, he is very very good listen to him at http://www.jamesyorkston.co.uk

Great day.....what to do, what to do . Same day......today.....I picked up "The Boatman's Call" that came in at the end of last week. Picked up "Let Love In," which came in then, as well. Arrived home to find a Tom Waits compilation from "Alice" and "Blood Money," and "Master Poems ~ Readings 1956-1996" from Margaret. Enroute home, picked up an English-Polish, Polish-English dictionary.

How much can I listen to and absorb in one night? Listened to a little of Boatman's just before I left work and love "into my arms" and "lime-tree arbour" ~ which sound so familiar because I first read them here? Love "people ain't no good," which seems not a song of bitterness, but a lament borne of disappointment and pain.

So, feeling I've Nick Cave'd the beginning of the evening, I've just started listening to Tom Waits. Love "Alice" and, oh my , what a difference "Everything you can think of" brings. "Flowers grave"......mmmmmm . "Komminieneezuspadt" ~ now, I gotta tell ya ~ this guy is awesome ! Somehow seems a blend of 30s art songs, blues, Jacques Brel, Germanic influence, [or simply Parisian and German smokey cafes], and the quite incomparable Tom Waits . Guttural, deep, intense, extremely interesting !!! Heartwrenching. Sensual.

I'm soooo looking forward to listening to all that has come into my hands within the course of a single afternoon. This is very exciting! I'll, of course, save the best 'till last......Leonard.

Thank you, TC and Rock Rose, for "bringing" by suggestion, Nick Cave into my world. Thank you, all who have spoken of Tom Waits, and Margaret, for delivering him to me. Phenomenal lyrics, both. Didn't Biraj mention "carnival," too, regarding Tom? Fits . Thank you, of course, for Leonard's spoken voice, which I will always, dearly love.

A "Tom Waits mood" speaks for itself ~ now I understand, and it speaks volumes .

~ Elizabeth