Let's start the new year off right, at least for me. My favorite music tends to include women harmonizing, and after I was noticing that I had a Dylan cover of "Wallflower" by Uncle Earl I looked into them closer. I found that my inspiration to buying it was because the band included Kristin Andreassen. So a trip to Discogs.com and I found Kristin was on two of their cds. Well a few clicks later, I had them purchased, plus a Sarah Jarosz one that was on my wantlist. Then poof, they showed up on Monday.
An interesting thing is that Abigail Washburn also ties the three cd's together though she sings on only one cut on Sarah's "Song Up In Her Heart." It still has all star group on the album including Chris Thile, Jerry Douglas, Darrell Scott, and Tim O'Brien.
Well Monday is typically my laundry day where I stay in the basement and get it washed and then Lori folds it and puts it away upstairs; TAG Team at it's finest. Suffice to say I listened to all three, and then went to my "Vinyl to listen to" box and choose Rude Girls "Mixed Messages" It was a 1990's release that hadn't been imported yet and I remembered it was a great record.
No mixed messages here, I thought I should follow this with a "All the Ladies Now" playlist. Except for maybe the "The Twins of Franklin" and "The Calico Stray" I think they even all the instruments are played by women too. Ok you all know the expression "All the ladies now" when you are doing a group sing, but my favorite use of the line is in "The Bears Still Suck"
Ok I stopped at 16 songs leaving out The Whiskeybelles, Any Old Time String Band, The Four Bitchin Babes, and Blue Rose, so there will be a second volume; so drop me suggestions. I bought a few favorites today to fill in the collection. Now let's see what I can find in Bandcamp or YouTube:
1) Rag on Blues - Rude Girls
Boy these ladies had a few funny ones, hard to pick but I knew I wouldn't find many of these "Period" songs to do a separate playlist so it won.
2) How Long - Uncle Earl
Yes you can buy these ladies at Bandcamp! Now I feel bad that I bought it on the secondary market.
Fun we get a live recording for that's twenty years old.... boy can I take them home for a house concert.
3) The Rearview Mirror - Sometymes Why
Yes back in 2009 when I was posting in The Zemmy Show I had praised the wonders of Sometymes Why. What's not to like, Kristin's next band was with yes the Aoife O'Donovan and Ruth Ungar (daughter of the legend Jay Ungar). I only had the sassy "Too Repressed" from this album, so I finished it today in Bandcamp. I love this story song written by Kristin.
This video is a little rough and didn't end well but it's too good not to share. I love the expressions and interplay on stage. Ladies a reunion with a gig near LaCrosse WI please.
4) Be My Husband - I'm With Her
Ok now we'll tie Aoife between songs; her other lady trio offering with Sarah Jarosz and Sara Watkins. Some how I knew this song from videos but didn't have it in the library until today.
You knew there would be an awesome video, and when I saw it was a cover. Hmm.. Nina Simone? Yes you can follow that link to hear the original.
5) Me and My Uncle - The Calico Stray
I still pinch myself for discovering this group, way way back in Edition No. 40 I think the sister's have Carly's husband playing all the instruments but these sisters rock. Here's what Caitlin wrote about the song:
Originally composed by John Phillips of The Mamas and the Papas, and popularized in versions by Judy Collins and the Grateful Dead, "Me and My Uncle," was an irresistible track for this album.
As young girls, our father would play us tunes on the guitar and piano daily, we would all sing along - mom too! This tune was always a favorite of ours (as well as Darcy Farrow). The storytelling is top notch and the piano gives it a saloon feel - like you're actually there, as a player in the heated card game, or a bystander watching the brawl unfold.
It was fun to break up the verses and each embody a different "character" in the story. The "Oooo" harmonies on the second half of each solo verse, gives it that western cowboy/cowgirl punch, but also accompanies the eerie and mischievous ending to the Uncle, as it were.
6) Dixie Bride - The Vogts Sisters
Keeping it in the family mood, I love these two sisters. Met them when they played the Great River Folk Fest, and if we could ever line up a date we would host them for a house concert.
7) On My Way - SHEL
More Sisters... Sara, Hannah, Eva, and Liza and sadly I haven't seen them touring anymore.
8) Shifted - Harpeth Rising
Another band that I found ten years ago, and I kind of lost track of. I see they are out in Bandcamp with music I don't own yet. Hmm.
Boy I forgot how good they are (or were it appears they haven't posted anything since 2020)
9) Loves me Like a Rock - The Wailin Jennys
Oh yes, we've seen them do this live, and it's so good. Don't pass up a chance to see them, they are TOURING so this blog isn't all defunct groups.
10) Trouble About My Soul - The Trishas
When doing this playlist I knew I wanted to include this band, but I forgot their name and only could remember it was a woman's name; Sheilas? nope. So I searched my favorite YouTube Channel "Music Fog" to find the right woman's name. They too aren't touring anymore.
11) Low - The Twins of Franklin
Nope they aren't real twins, and there are some live videos out in YouTube of these two Twin Cities ladies but not of this song. They also have another released album but I haven't bought it in Bandcamp yet. Yes they are found playing different Twin City gigs.
12) Do You Know the Chorus - The Sweet Water Warblers
Oh anything Linsday Lou sings in I love; and yes I wish she, Miss Tess, and Rachael Price would do more singing in their robes. This trio is Lindsay with Rachael Davis and May Erlewine; and they play an occasional gig or two around their solo careers.
Many times I stop at twelve songs but like I said earlier I did leave off some favorites so I'm heading to 16 which fits the covers nicely in the playlist; though all 16 musicians fit into the labels. Sad.
13) Wild Women Don't Have The Blues - Shake 'Em Up Jazz Band
Oh this was a fun find back in 2023, and I should buy more of these wild women.
14) Are you tired of me my darling - Sally Rogers and Claudia Schmidt
I can never be tired of this playlist.
15) Clinch River Blues - Red Molly
Red Molly almost played the Great River Folk Fest, and then a baby got in the way... in the good way. Someday on a reunion tour.
16) Rose Bush - The Starlight Darlins
Right if you have read this blog before you would know this is an up and rising group of young ladies. They are planning more studio time and describe themselves as:
The Starlight Darlins are a four-piece band of acclaimed singer-songwriters Emily Johnson-Erday, Lauren Oxford, Gray Buchanan, and Sage Christie. The Darlins formed at Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield, Kansas, in September 2022. Their unique blend of four-part harmony, old-time instrumentation, and stunning original songs altogether creates what can only be described as magic.
- Stop over to the Review page to my other most spinned and loved albums.
- Browse the rest of the blogs by stopping at this "Theme Page."
- Enjoy Tune Tuesday which brings you one song from a past blog post.
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- Find out who in the world thinks he has the authority to write this blog in the About.
- Let me answer why you won't find the playlists on Spotify here.
- Finally, the Mission page explains why there is no advertising cluttering the page.
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