Here I go, playing star again

The Subdude is soon to depart for Sanibel in what I consider a very un-Lenten annual retreat. It would be good to hear that the weather was less than stellar or the cable went out or something to help the rest of us feel like all pretense of ritual discipline has not been abandoned.  Given his recent travel to Omaha and what is coming to be known as the T5 incident, I can’t say I hold this year’s trip against him.  Everybody needs a break now and again.

One time he and Cuz went out of town to have a little break and traveled to  Memphis.  On learning their destination I said, “Oh, you’re going to Memphis in the meantime.”  The Subdude did not catch my obvious reference to the John Hiatt song, so I had to explain.  The resulting conversation landed me with the task of compiling a CD of songs about Memphis.  The trip to Omaha and a recent homily on letters put me in mind of “Omaha” by Counting Crows and “Please Read the Letter” by Robert Plant and Allison Krauss.  Hence a new CD about letters and Omaha was born.

Here’s the rundown:

Please Read The Letter – R. Plant and A. Krauss
Omaha – Counting Crows
Anchorage – Michelle Shocked
Those Days Are Gone, and My Heart Is Beaking – Barton Carroll
Boots Of Spanish Leather – Nancu Griffith
Hello In There – John Prine
The Letter – Joe Cocker
Tennessee Plates – John Hiatt
William Brown – Randy Newman
I’m Gonna Sit Right Down (And Write Myself a Letter) – Madeleine Peyroux
The Letter That Johnny Walker Read – Asleep At The Wheel
Night Rider’s Lament – Nanci Griffith
Steel Rail Blues – Gordon Lightfoot
Turn The Page – Bob Seger

Now, you may notice that songs about letters run better than 2:1 versus songs about Omaha.  Seriously though, with songs like “Hello In There” and “Turn the Page” going for the city, a straight up Omaha mix would have to come with some serious pharmaceuticals.  I know that the Box Tops version of “The Letter” is the original and would make a snappy connection to the setting of “Tennessee Plates” but there is nothing like Joe Cocker to pick up a mix right at the point where the songs are starting to make bridge abutments look soft and inviting.

Maybe such selections are what kept me from landing that job with Rhino Records, but I do have to say that I love the songs on the first half of this disc.  I really appreciate a spare, slightly sad song.  There is a space in them that allows the listener to enter into the music.  Plus you have to admit that “Turn The Page” is a master stroke.