As of late, but not exclusively, Neko Case's The Tigers Have Spoken. If for no other reason I love her audacious cover of Boston's Nervous Eaters Loretta. The rest of the disc is damn fine also.
I echo the above sentiment. As such, I can offer that I am strongly inclined to mention something from the late great Billie Holiday. I am drawn to her 195Os releases in particular. Billie Holiday Sings (1953, Clef) An Evening with Billie Holiday (1953, Clef) Billie Holiday (1954, Clef) Music for Torching (1955, Clef) Solitude (1956, Clef) Velvet Mood (1956, Clef) Lady Sings the Blues (1956, Clef) Body and Soul (1957, Verve) Songs for Distingué Lovers (1958, Verve) Stay with Me (1958, Verve) All or Nothing at All (1958, Verve) Lady in Satin (1958, Columbia)
With artists like Patsy Cline, Emmylou Harris and Sandy Denny in my collection, this was a tough one. Then I realized it had to be the album ‘Listen’ by Rachel Flowers. Very difficult to top a girl in her early 20s who plays guitar like Al Di Miola, bass like Jaco Pastorius and (in particular) keyboards like Keith Emerson. Oh yes, and she is blind, virtually from birth.
Catherine Howe - What a Beautiful Place (1971) EVERY song is very good or great. I have never met anyone outside of the UK who even knows her. She's such a great singer, great music. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8a8cutYP7fqkOEyXA0xgzS_hVshL7iQJ
She's great but even within the UK she's a well kept secret, which is a shame because her music is lovely. She's been releasing new albums every five years or thereabouts since 2005 so perhaps we're due a new one!
Over the past 25 years, I've probably listened to this album all the way through more often than any other... Wrecking Ball, by Emmylou Harris
People Like Us (Vicki Bennett)- Thermos Explorer Thermos Explorer by People Like Us Thermos Explorer, by People Like Us
chelsea girl-nico followed by car wheels on a gravel road-lucinda williams i also like nearly everything the likes of mica levi and tujiko noriko have put out.
First thought... Mr Heartbreak: Second thoughts: k.d lang Ingenue Bebel Gilberto Tante Tempo Enya Shepherd Moons Joni Mitchell Hejira
My pick(s): 01. Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares - Vol. 1 (1975) 02. Kate Bush - Hounds Of Love (1985) 03. Yma Sumac - Mambo! (1954) 04. Lana Del Rey - Born To Die (2012) 05. Millie Jackson - Caught Up (1974) 06. PJ Harvey - To Bring You My Love (1995) 07. Laura Nyro - New York Tendaberry (1969) 08. Joanna Newsom - Ys (2006) 09. Bjork - Homogenic (1997) 10. Joni Mitchell - Hejira (1976) 11. Laura Marling - Once I Was An Eagle (2013) 12. Celia Cruz - Sabor Y Ritmo De Pueblos (1965) 13. Laurie Anderson - Big Science (1982) 14. Fiona Apple - Fetch The Bolt Cutters (2020) 15. Buffy Sainte-Marie - It's My Way! (1964) 16. Sleater-Kinney - The Woods (2005) 17. Yma Sumac - Voice Of The Xtabay (1950) 18. Nico - Desertshore (1970) 19. Janelle Monae - The Archandroid (2010) 20. Aretha Franklin - I Never Loved A Man The Way I Love You (1967)
Kate Bush - Hounds Of Love Suzanne Vega - 99.9F Degrees Dot Allison - Afterglow Kirsty MacColl - Electric Landlady Kim Wilde - Select Carina Round - The Disconnection Nancy Sinatra - Boots
Dusty in Memphis might be IT. Then again possibly The Dreaming or Hounds of Love by Kate Bush. Or Court and Spark by Joni Mitchell. Or Blue. Or Hissing of Summer Lawns. I was also considering Tapestry. Possibly also Ray of Light by Madonna, which might be a left field choice from the mainstream if that makes any sense at all! Impossible to pick one but if you held me at gunpoint for ONE answer I will say Hounds of Love. Now don't shoot me!
