Yesterday’s Wavelength, like the previous couple, ended up being an eclectic show where I simply grabbed a bagful of albums on my way out the door to the station and played two songs from each record.  Like the others, this show turned out pretty well because they are such great records.  I hope to put together some thematic shows before long (several are in the works), but they do take more time.  Here’s the playlist.

Let me recommend five of the records I featured on the show.

(1) Blaze Foley, Cold Cold World

Blaze Foley was a true Texas character, a hard-drinking, hard-living, itinerant songwriter who died violently about twenty years ago, but whose music lives on.  Here’s a long, fascinating article—the account that alerted me to Blaze’s life and music: No Depression

This record, “Cold Cold World,” was released after Blaze’s death. It was produced with a great deal of added instrumentation by the great Gurf Morlix.  It is hard to find, but it can be heard on Napster: Blaze Foley and the Beaver Valley Boys, “Cold, Cold World” (Napster)

(2) Gillian Welch, Revival

Gillian Welch is indeed one of our favorites, post-modern old time Appalachian music.  She has not recorded a great deal, but all of her records are quite good.  Perhaps her best is this first one.  Here’s the All-Music Guide review.

The record may be heard here: Gillian Welch, “Revival” (Lala)

(3) Richard and Linda Thompson, Shoot Out the Lights

Maybe 15 years ago or so I was reading one of those lists of the greatest rock and roll records of all time.  It was populated with the usual suspects except near the top was a record by artists I had never heard of—Richard and Linda Thompson’s Shoot Out the Lights.  My curiosity piqued, I did what I could to learn more about it.  I tracked down the record on vinyl and discovered that it deserved its accolades.  It’s still not widely known, but it should be.  Here’s the All-Music Guide review.

The record may be heard here: Richard and Linda Thompson, “Shoot Out the Lights” (Rhapsody)

(4) Slim Cessna’s Auto Club, Always Say Please & Thank You

Not long after I first started to produce this radio show, I was stopped on the sidewalk by my friend Steve Cessna who said he liked the show and that I might enjoy his brother’s band.  Steve kindly loaned me a couple of CDs, and he was certainly right.  Slim’s second record, “Always Say Please and Thank You,” remains my favorite.  Here’s the All-Music Guide review.

The record may be heard here: Slim Cessna’s Auto Club, “Always Say Please and Thank You” (Lala)

(5) The Walkabouts. Satisfied Mind

The Walkabouts are a fascinating band.  They’ve been around since the early 1980s, operating out of Seattle as part of the fertile contemporary rock scene of that great city.  They have been hugely popular in Europe and record for the fine German label, Glitterhouse.  But they have never been that well known in the states.  Too bad.  Their many records are all good, and have quite a bit of variety.  My favorite is “Satisfied Mind,” which is kind of alt-county (in that sense quite a bit different from their others). Here’s the All-Music Guide review.

Unfortunately, “Satisfied Mind” is not currently listenable on-line as near as I can tell (except for 30-second samples at Amazon—follow the “Satisfied Mind” link above). Here is the Walkabouts page on Lala that provides access to many of their other records.