Happy 101 Hound Dog Taylor

Hound Dog Taylor would be 101 years old today. Here's a tune guaranteed to light at least that many candles #LetsGetFunky

Song of the Day for Susan: I Only Have Eyes for You -- The Flamingos

One of the songs that started it all for us. After 25 years, I still, and will always, only have eyes for you.

The Flamingos - I Only Have Eyes for You

The original will always be my favorite, but I love Art Garfunkel's rendition, too.

And Old Blue Eyes, too.

Song(s) of the Day for Susan: 3 by Jon Dee Graham

I can't get enough Jon Dee Graham on an anniversary playlist for you.

"Why don't you come outside. Get a look at that sky..." Big Sweet Life by Jon Dee Graham

Majesty of Love by Jon Dee Graham

And of course, Best by Jon Dee Graham. Perhaps my favorite love song. Always makes me think of us.

Song of the Day for Susan: Groove is in the Heart -- Deee Lite

Do you remember 1990? That's when this song was released and it carried us into 1991. In fact, it may have been the lead track on the soundtrack of the first year of our marriage. Still makes me smile (and chair dance). "We're going to dance and have some fun."

Groove is in the Heart - Deee-Lite 

"I couldn't ask for another"

Lyrics.

Song of the Day for Susan: Be My Wife - David Bowie

"Sometimes you get so lonely. Sometimes you get nowhere."
Thank you for coming into my life 25 years ago and changing all of that.

David Bowie - Be My Wife (Lyrics)

Song of the day for Susan: Lucinda Williams - Passionate Kisses

Lucinda Williams - Passionate Kisses

Lyrics.

Mary Chapin Carpenter - Passionate Kisses

Song of the Day for Susan: Otis Redding - Hard to Handle

Otis Redding - Hard to Handle

Love the incredible Otis Redding and love this song. Interestingly enough, it was the Toots in Memphis version that brought me back to the original.

• Hard to Handle lyrics. 
• But Hard to Handle on Amazon. 

Hard to Handle from Toots and the Maytals

Song of the Day for Susan: You're the Best Lover that I Ever Had - Steve Earle

Sneaking in on Tuesday with your Monday song.

From Steve Earle's bluesy Terraplane album. Makes me smile and think of you every time I hear it. You may not recall, but this song was in heavy rotation on our road trip to Franklin, Tennessee last year for Pilgrimage Festival.

"You're the Best Lover that I Ever Had."

Buy on Amazon.

Song of the Day for Susan: Whole Wide Word - The Bahamas

Glad we found each other. And we didn't have to go all the way to Tahiti.
Love The Bahamas chill version of this Wreckless Eric tune.

Wreckless Eric's original, with lyrics:

Buy The Whole Wide World by The Bahamas on Amazon.

Buy Wreckless Eric's The Whole Wide World on Amazon. 

Song of the Day for Susan: Tugboat - Galaxie 500

That song for when you really don't want to go out. You don't want to hang with a bunch of friends. No crowds, please. You just want to be alone with that one person. Baby, I just want to be your tugboat captain. 

I came late to Galaxie 500's music. Glad it finally found me. 

Buy "Tugboat" on Amazon. 

(One Day Late) Song of the Day for Susan: Patty Griffin - One Big Love

This song come out in 1998, but the lyrics and freewheeling energy reminds of autumn 1990 when we met, dated for four months, lived in "sin" or a couple of weeks and then got married on February 8, 1991. And it reminds me of all the wild adventures we've had since (and those to come):

"I guess I'm taking my chancesGiving up the ring throwing in my glovesI guess I'm taking my chancesTrading in my thingsFor a couple wings a little white doveAnd one big love..."

Patty Griffin - One Big Love (Buy on Amazon) 

Song of the Day for Susan - Delicate by Damien Rice

Sometimes the ache itself is a beautiful thing.  Damien Rice - Delicate.

Lyrics.

Song of the Day for Susan: Shake Sugaree by Rhiannon Giddens

Rhiannon Giddens wonderful cover of the Elizabeth Cotten song. "Shake Sugaree."

And the fabulous original by the truly original Elizabeth Cotten.

Buy Rhiannon Giddens' version of "Shake Sugaree" on Amazon.

Buy Elizabeth Cotton's music on Amazon.

Song of the Day for Susan: Kris Kristofferson -- Loving Her was Easier than Anything I'll Ever Do Again

I enjoyed yesterday's post so much, I thought I'd come back for seconds on Kris Kristofferson with his elegant love song, "Loving Her was Easier than Anything I'll Ever Do Again."

Two Songs of the Day for Susan: Joe Henry -- Sparrow and Sunday Mornin' Coming Down.

Joe Henry, an artist I admire, but don't listen too often enough. Fixin' to remedy this starting today.

Joe Henry - Sparrow from the album Invisible Hour. 

Buy on Amazon.

And that was so good, how about one more from Joe Henry, his solid cover of Kris Kristofferson's Sunday Mornin' Coming Down from Americana Fest 2014.

Joe Henry joins an amazing list of artists who've performed this powerful song, including Ray Stevens, Johnny Cash and, of course, Kris Kristofferson. "Sunday Mornin' Coming Down" will also be performed by Kristofferson and Buddy Miller in a cut from the January 29 release Cayamo Sessions at Sea.

Song of the Day for Susan: Brushy One String -- Chicken in the Corn

The best one-string guitar player you'll hear today, or ever, for that matter. Love the energy. Brushy One String - Chicken in the Corn.

Buy on Amazon.

Song(s) of the Day for Susan: Fred Eaglesmith Playlist

Seems like it was about 1997 when I started listening to Fred Eaglesmith. I remember first hearing Fred on public radio, maybe it was Morning Edition, reporting on what it was like to be a traveling musician, living out of a bus. Not long after that, I started hearing his music on WNKU. One listen to "105" from Lipstick, Lies and Gasoline and I was a Fredhead for life. Here's a short playlist of Fred song's for Susan's Saturday.

"Wilder than Her" -- one of the first Fred Eaglesmith songs that hooked me and still one of my favorites.

"Johnny Cash" -- Love the big, crunchy Neil Young and Crazy Horse style guitar work.

"Water in the Fuel" -- Along with rural life, so many of Fred's songs are about the necessity and isolation of being on the road. In one place and wishing desperately you were in another.

I also love Kasey Chambers version of "Water in the Fuel."

"18 Wheels" This may be the same driver as the one in "Water in the Fuel," thousands of miles and dozens of years further down the road, running out of pavement. 

Fred Eaglesmith (always) on tour. 

Three of my favorite Fred Eaglesmith releases available on Amazon:

             

Song of the Day for Susan: Jason Isbell -- 24 Frames

My favorite song from 2015 from my current favorite songwriter. At least 100 listens and it's fresh each time. And each time I listen, I get chills. The fragile, temporary beauty of life. Reminds me I need to be present in each moment, or each frame.

Jason Isbell -- 24 Frames

Susan's song of the day for me: Garland Jeffreys - Love is not a Cliche

Great pick, Susan. I've been all in on Garland Jeffreys and his music since first hearing "Escape Artist" from first cut to last on a road trip from Dayton to Athens, Ohio when it debuted in 1981. Fortunate to see Garland perform at SXSW in 2006 and 2012. Amazing artist and live performer.

Garland Jeffreys - "Love is Not a Cliche"

Garland Jeffreys performs Saturday, January 23, 2016 at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago.

Garland Jeffreys on tour. 

Song of the Day for Susan: Bon Iver - Blood Bank

Small moments and stolen intimacies. Scarce winter sunlight retreating into the frozen dusk. Thank you for always keeping my hands warm.

Bon Iver - Blood Bank, lyrics.

Buy on Amazon.