The Rolling Stones - Some Girls (Deluxe Edition)

Allow me to wax poetic again over the world’s greatest rock and roll band, The Rolling Stones.  I'm not trying to start THAT argument again, of course this is my opinion, and only my opinion.  I grew along with them, as well as the Beatles, but the Stones were closer to the bone, they were mining American roots music the whole time, and the re-release of a deluxe edition of Some Girls today just reinforces that belief.  I used to joke that programming Americana radio lived somewhere between The Rolling Stones and George Jones.  Upon listening to the reissue of Exile On Main Street last year, I realized all the flavors were there that augured what Americana was to be.

Some Girls is being released with a second disc, and yeah buddy, that is cause to rejoice.  I love that there is more music from that era to tuck into.  For Stones fans, what a gift! And to listen to these songs, again, they range from the raw and gritty to some mighty sweet country.  If I was programming a radio station now, these are the tunes I would be playing form the bonus second CD: “Claudine,” “So Young,” “When You’re Gone,” “I Love You Too Much,” “Keep Up Blues,” “You Win Again,” and “Petrol Blues.”  You can check them all out on iTunes or Amazon.  This would be a way cool Christmas present...hint, hint!  I did some cruising, and found a video of a young and tender Mick Jagger, well I guess they were ALL young and tender then...The Rolling Stones doing the satiric, “Far Away Eyes.”

- Jessie Scott

Patrick Sweany "Pecan Trees"

My brother Mitch has a connection for Turkish pistachio nuts, and he gave me a bag of them when I was in New York last week.  We grew up on those red ones, Zenobia, I think, was the brand name.  Their telltale dye turned everything red; your fingers, your tongue, your lips.  The stain stayed with you the next day at school, too. Somewhere along the way, California pistachios became the rage.  They are in every store these days, but I can’t eat them anymore.  Compared to the Turkish nuts, they have no taste, though they are cosmetically beautiful. As a substitute over these last few years, I have taken a shine to pecans. Sweet one, salty ones, on yogurt, ice cream, cereal, salad, they bring an earthy addition. Pecan Pie for Thanksgiving? Now we're talking.

Patrick Sweany brings today's musical entry, and it is a song that takes you back to the rural.  Leave it to songs to transport you, even to a place you have never been.  The slide, the pacing, the voice, Patrick delivers the languid stillness of a summer day in a small town in the south.  This was filmed last month in Nashville at Marathon Recorders during Americana Fest.  His latest record, That Old Southern Drag, came out in February of this year. It was recorded to two inch tape, old school analog style, in Nashville, TN, which is Patrick's new home. He plays dates next week, and then heads back to Ohio, his native home for a few dates after that. Here is the Music Fog version of “Pecan Trees,” featuring Pat’s signature Deep Blues sound. You can find the original on his latest record.

--Jessie Scott

Robert Ellis "Photographs"

A couple of nights ago, during the Bastrop Wildfire Benefit at Hill Country Barbecue Market in New York, there were many special moments. Chip Taylor sang his immortal song “The Real Thing” to start his set. Shooter Jennings joined him on stage for a duet on a song that Chip had written for his dad, Waylon, called “Sweet Dream Woman.” And they had never met before! Also on the bill were The Defibulators, Grayson Hugh, Laura Cantrell (she joined Chip for "Angel Of The Morning,") and Dallas Wayne, who was the evening’s emcee and auctioneer. His hosting was especially poignant, as he lost his house in the wildfires that blew through Texas in the evil wind of Tropical Storm Lee’s outer wind bands. Thanks to all the sponsors who donated cool stuff for us to auction: 377 Management, Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau, 36D Management, New West Records, The Gram Parsons Foundation, and Luckenbach, Texas. It was a very special night for a really important cause; raising money to help the folks that lost everything in the fires. Dallas Wayne capped off the evening with a set delivered in his superb baritone.

I have a soft spot in my heat for the strains of traditional country, especially delivered by a rich, evocative voice. Robert Ellis is a relative newcomer to the scene, at the tender age of 22, with his debut album The Great Rearranger having come out in 2009. We did some video with Robert this past March, during SXSW® music week, before his latest album Photographs hit the street in July. Music Fog had the opportunity to film him again last month, during the Americana Music Festival, so we jumped on it. He has been wiring up some really interesting tours; the latest being with Dawes and John Doe. Just a little while ago, he did some dates with George Jones and Jamey Johnson. The company you keep, indeed. I love this video, it is pure and true, as is the song, albeit a bit wicked. “Photographs,” from his album of the same name. Robert Ellis solo, from his Music Fog session in Nashville at Marathon Recorders.

- Jessie Scott