I may have to admit to having a 'man crush'...
Not that there is any thing wrong with that...
I have admitted to being a frustrated musician...
Odds are that I have been a frustrated professor...
a frustrated Father...
a frustrated husband...
but I belabor that.
I think there has been a sense of frustration to Hiatt's career...
He has been a most successful song writer, yet he has never achieved great notoriety for his own performances. He has only received moderate acclaim for his recordings. Where he has excelled has been in writing songs. He is a word smith, and I think a great treasure. Many of his songs have been covered/recorded by artists who are more known for their performance work.
I got to see John Hiatt perform up close this past recently... what a fabulous show... just him, a guitar, and a small crowd... no backing band. It seemed to take him a while to kick in, but when he did, he really took off.
I have a new favorite John Hiatt song...
'Train To Birmingham'
This is a new song on a recent release, I believe... I read where he said it was his wife's favorite song... and she wanted him to record it for her. The thing is... he said it was one of the first songs he ever wrote. It seems that song writing has a long long incubation/reward system.
What a great song...
He is renown for making these great faces when he performs.
He leaves nothing... he puts it all out there...
He mentioned a song that he wrote back in the early 80s... and how 30-something years later, two fellows recorded it.
'Riding With The King'
This song was recorded by Eric Clapton and B.B. King... so much for the idea of being an 'over-night success'...
There are many songs of his that battle for the position of my 'favorite' John Hiatt song. I mentioned 'Train To Birmingham' above... but here's another one...
'Tennessee Plates'
'Well this ain't no hotel I'm writing you from...
It's the Tennessee prison up at Brushy Mountain...
Where yours sincerely is doin' five-to-eight...
Stampin' out my time makin' Tennessee plates...'
At least I have the incentive now to learn some new songs... I figure I can't go wrong learning some of his... Hell, I might be able to sing his stuff...
If he comes to a place near you... go see him... and tell him that ~shoes~ sent you...
~shoes~
Hey Red, yep, I lived in the Amazon region for 9 years... I never wrote about it before, I don't think so. I did post some photos I took there. I am actually going back to visit in February after many many years. Super excited!!!!
ReplyDeleteHi there, Ms Ana... I hope you will write about your return trip to the Amazon... maybe post some great photos... maybe some great drawings...
DeleteI would like that.
Have you had a nice Holiday season? Did Santa come to see you??
I hope so...
~shoes~
Always glad to listen to music I've never heard before. Thanks for the insight. I really like Train to Birmingham. He should come to Houston, I'd go see him. :)
ReplyDeleteHey you... I'm glad you like music... 'Train To Birnmingham' is a neat song, I think... I wish I could figure out how to get that slide guitar tone.
DeleteIf he comes to Houston, you should go and see him...
~shoes~
John Hiatt is fantastic. He played the main stage at the Phila Folk Fest in 2013 (with full band) and rocked the place. He joked about what a big debt of gratitude he owed to Bonnie Raitt for making "Thing Called Love" a big hit.
ReplyDeleteI'll check out the songs you mention. My favorite Hiatt song is "Before I Go."
Hi there, Max.... did you have a nice Christmas?I Love the holidays so...
DeleteJohn is fantastic... I am not quite sure how I came to know of him... but I like his writing style... and I LOVE his voice.
He did play "Before I Go" that night...
How are you coming along with the mandolin? I am still Jonesing for one...
~shoes~
You remind me that over the years I've not allotted enough time for music. I don't know how this happened. I enjoy music and must make more time for it.
ReplyDeleteHi there, Stephen.. I trust you had a great Christmas and are expecting a fantastic New Year!
DeleteI agree with you... I find that when music slips out of my Life, things tend to get 'stale'... whatever I mean by that...
~shoes~
"Red Shoe's Chronicles" has been included in our A Sunday Drive for this week. Be assured that we hope this helps to point even more new visitors in your direction.
ReplyDeletehttp://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2014/12/a-sunday-drive_14.html
I love that truck in his pic. Want one one day. Park it right outside my shack in the country with my garden.
ReplyDeleteMusic soothes our soul especially when we are hurting. It doesn't take the pain away but somehow it does help.
Oh, my. To have one's song recorded by Eric Clapton and BB King...pretty good recognition! I'll keep an ear out for John Hiatt.
ReplyDeleteHey you... kinda got caught up in a bunch of mess... blah...
DeleteI hope that this year is going well for you...
How are you enjoying retirement? I am heading that way very soon, it appears...
Belated Happy New Year to you...
~shoes~