Ray Wylie Hubbard "Count My Blessings"

The weather is nice with sunshine reigning supreme here in Texas. It looks like the trees are even budding early. I am savoring these temperatures, because I know what comes next, the swelter of triple digits. But I digress. It’s always about today. Savor this moment, yesterday’s gone, and tomorrow will bring what it may. It takes a long time to feel good in one’s skin, to get the outside stimuli to stop bombarding you, to hear the voice deep inside and follow that. It is about getting centered. It is a process, and well worth the journey. I think when you get to that place, it can be very fruitful and creative.

Ray Wylie Hubbard has been in that space for a while. Lately, there have been so many cool things happening with him, like touring with Joe Walsh, and collaborating with Ringo Starr who contributes to Ray’s next album, The Grifter’s Hymnal. George Reiff, Rick Richards, Lucas Hubbard, and Ian McLagan also make contributions. You can catch up with the ever-entertaining Mr. Hubbard here. Of course, we haven’t seen a track listing yet for the new album, but this as yet unreleased tune might just be on it. Ray and Rick Richards were filmed during last year’s Spring Music Fog Marathon at Threadgill’s WHQ, for this, our second recording of "Count My Blessings." Compare with the first one here.

- Jessie Scott

Abandon Jalopy "All The Way"

Here's to the weekend. I hope you're done with your work for a couple of days, and can catch your breath and relax. Do something fun: a carnival, the beach, some music, a drive to the country, a walk with your family, your friends, your love.

So crazy, the lives we live. It has been very busy in Fogland this week, as you know, and I am happy to close the laptop for a little while. The schedule for the Music Fog Marathon is just about done, and preparations are underway for our travels and webcast. But it is time to chill and remember something really important. Family.

Today we feature a bit of whimsy from Brad Smith of Blind Melon fame. He has just released the follow up album to 2002’s Abandon Jalopy debut. The new one is called Death and Joy,  and it is the result of several years work at Brad's own recording facility,  Studio Wishbone. The song, “All The Way,” is a sweet sentiment for a Sunday, celebrating togetherness.

- Jessie Scott

Joan Osborne - Bring It On Home

Someone asked me that onerous question last week, "If you were deserted on an island what three albums would you take with you?" Ack! That is hard anyway, but even harder when one is put on the spot to answer. I will spare you the mind's gnashing of gears to try to whittle it down to three, but on the way home that night, I just happened to have the entire 1995 Joan Osborne album Relish on my iPod, and after digging into it, I wished I had included that on my list of three. That was the album that introduced Joan to most of us initially, and I am eternally grateful for her depth, range, and choices in music then and now.

Joan Osborne is set to release a new album, Bring It On Home, on March 27th. It is a collection of blues, soul, and R&B tunes, the flavors of which have informed Joan's palette since her early 20's when she was running around New York City. Me, I am loving the reemergence of the Mojo Triangle's rhymes and rhythms coming from so many artists I admire. On the forthcoming album, there are nods to legends like Sonny Boy Williamson, Muddy Waters, Otis Redding, Ray Charles, and Slim Harpo. There has been one song released from it already, Slim's classic "Shake Your Hips." We found a video for you, below, for the album’s emergence. And here is the Slim Harpo recording, though it is audio only from YouTube.

- Jessie Scott