Today we have a relatively random playlist consisting of some of the most interesting cover songs in the past year or so. The only truly new record this time is Under The Covers Vol 3 by Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs. This time they covered the 80s and we hear their version of the XTC song Towers of London. We also check out Replacements and Arbouretum, each with a Gordon Lightfoot tune, Dan Sarka covers The Records and Steve Wynn covers Townes Van Zandt. We recorded Dax Riggs in Kent with a cover of a Billie Holiday tune and we also check out Carla Olson and Juice Newton belt out a Foster and Lloyd tune and The Walkabouts in Boss’ shoes.
Gordon Lightfoot – I’m Not Sayin’;
The Replacements – I’m Not Sayin’;
Arbouretum – Carefree Highway;
Chris Stamey – If Memory Serves;
Matthew Sweet And Susanna Hoffs – Towers of London;
XTC – Towers of London;
The Records – Starry Eyes;
Dan Sarka and the Sometimes Why – Starry Eyes;
Steve Earle – Lungs;
Townes Van Zandt – Lungs;
Steve Wynn – Lungs;
Dax Riggs – Gloomy Sunday (Live in Kent);
Carla Olson – You Can Come Crying to Me (With Juice Newton);
Walkabouts – Grand Theft Auto/State Trooper.
We start of today with and awesome hit single Discotheque by the new band here at the Little Lighthouse called The Cry! from Portland OR. It’s a part of a split single with The Connection who we know well by now. Then we check out The Len Price 3, who finally put out a follow up on their great LP called Pictures back in 2010. The new record is called Nobody Knows and they come from traditionally active Medway scene in England. Arbouretum from Baltimore, MD are back with the new ep, which entirely consists of the Gordon Lightfoot tunes and it represents the peak of the renewed interest about him on the modern scene. Ty Segall is putting out records so frequently, I can’t even count them anymore. But the new one is with his new band called Fuzz and it’s a heavy record done in the manner of the 70s hard rock, where he joined forces with the guitarist Charlie Moothart. Finally we have Dead Milkmen today. They put out four 7″ singles, totaling 12 new songs (almost like an LP!) recently. We check out one of the tunes which they performed together with Philadelphia singer Audrey Crash and we also check out a part of their recent show in Cleveland. They were supposed to play at the Cleveland Public Theater, but the power went down. So they took the show over to WCSB.
Today we have a special dedicated to one LP album. In fact, I will try to make this somewhat of a series whenever I stumble on an LP that sounds great and that I found sitting somewhere completely forgotten in a bargain bin of a record store. This is precisely what we have now. Peter Isaacson Sings is a completely strange folk album that gathers songs by Dylan, Donovan, Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchel and others covered by some mysterious singer. On the record that I have, the mysterious singer is Peter Isaacson. On a different release that people mention here and there on the Internet, his name is Greg Lee. In any case, we have no clue who that person is and what is his real name, but he has a very beautiful voice and guitar style, all recorded what appears to be a single microphone. His voice is somewhere between Gordon Lightfoot at its weakest places and Sid Selvidge at its best parts. I am completely fascinated by this beautiful and mysterious record, and in this show we will hear nearly all cuts from it, along with the originals not just for comparison sake, but also because it makes one really rich playlist!