songs:illinois

Songs:Illinois fave Jeffrey Foucault has prepared a covers album featuring works by John Prine. How perfect is that? One of the best of the new generation of “folk” singers covering songs by one of the best of the older generation.

Here’s an un-mastered version of the Prine classic “Storm Windows” that will appear on Shoot The Moon Right Behind The Eyes when it is released this fall. Jeffrey Foucault and Kris Delmhorst play Schubas on Oct. 30.

Storm Windows

Bonus tracks from Ghost Repeater’s European release

Shadows Tumble
Money Blues

I consider Songs:Illinois to be a folk music blog. It may lean a bit indie or americana at times. Or it may encompass some of the new world music that’s been cropping up (particularly any of the modern gypsy music that I’ve posted over the years) but by and large it deals with folk music – lucky for me that is a very broad term that can contain genres like blues, country, gospel, roots, etc etc.

So it should come as no surprise that I’m enamored with the folk label Signature sounds and its small stable of artists. Mark Erelli is one such artist. He’s one of a handful of singer songwriters poised to join the upper pantheon of folk artists like Greg Brown, John Prine, John Hiatt and Steve Earle. I’ve written about his music in the past. His guitar playing is simple but great sounding and his songs are consistently captivating, usually with a phrase here or there that is unforgettable.

Mark Erelli’s got a new record out on Signature Sounds called Delivered. “Five Beer Moon” leans a little more pop than folk. On it he uses his voice to great effect sounding like a combination of Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello. If you’re more of a fan of folk based finger-picked guitar check out his cover of the Greg Brown song “If I Had Known” that I just had to include even if it’s not on the new record. Pre-order Delivered here.

Five Beer Moon

Bonus cover song recorded August `08

If I Had Known

Songs:Illinois is really only possible because of all the great folk music that came before. It’s too easy to recite names like Bob Dylan, Steve Forbert and Dave Van Ronk the big influences since it’s really all the lost artists that came before that is its basis. Sammy Walker is one such artist. Although he recorded for Folkways and then Warner his name is not known to me. It’s been twelve years since his last record and now the great Carolina label Ramseur Records will release his new record Misfit Scarecrow on July 22.

“Mississippi Delta Cried” is the story of Emmet Till put to music and folk lyrics. There’s also two demo recordings of songs from the new record.

Mississippi Delta Cried

Demo’s:

Crazy Billy
When You Miss Me When I’m Gone

Usually you can trust that these daily recommendations are coming directly from me. Whether you like them or not the referral is coming straight from this horses mouth with little influence from the wider marketplace, pr machines or record labels. But today’s post on Joe Crookston comes courtesy of Falcon Ridge Folk Festival and their emerging artist showcase. The festival handpicks a couple of artists to be both their representatives and goodwill ambassadors. They tour together in advance of the fest and then play that weekend.

Joe Crookston combines startlingly nimble guitar playing with original but old school type folk songs. The song “Mostly” highlights his playing, singing and lyrical mastery. It’s taken from his new 2008 release Able Baker Charlie and Dog. Buy it here.

Mostly

Bonus song

Little Pink

On the new song “Adrian” Rachel Ries proves that her goofing off in her Chicago apartment is better than most artists overdubbed studio B.S. This song is called “Adrian” and according to Rachel’s MySpace is just her singing in her living room.

Somehow Rachel has managed to imprint her voice in some unused corner of my brain. Now every time I hear her I have to stop dead in my tracks and listen, really listen, as her voice dips, soars and then dives like a rollercoaster nearly coming unhinged. Despite this being a home recording from Dec. 2007 you can still clearly hear into every nook and cranny of the song and also hear every nuance of Rachel’s phrasing and delivery.

Rachel Ries and her full band are part of a great lineup at The Hideout on April 3. She’ll be appearing with Vandaveer and These United States.

Adrian

P.S. I was supposed to write a preview and maybe hook up with Langhorne Slim tonight at The Hideout. Put unfortunately the show was canceled. The good news is that the reason for the cancellation was a sudden invite by David Letterman for Langhorne to play this Wednesday on Late Night With Letterman.

While we wait for that let’s hear another from his upcoming Kemado debut. Here’s the rave-up “Rebel Side Of Heaven”:

Rebel Side Of Heaven