Down From Dover

 

A few days ago I watched a documentary about Dolly Parton's life and music and I forgot how many great songs she wrote. I am not a fan of country music but I will always find some great songs in this genre. It came that one song of this documentary never got out of my mind and after a little search in the internet I realized that there were released some fantastic cover versions.

Dolly Parton - Down From Dover

Not only because I really like the songs of Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra their version of this song is outstanding.

Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra - Down From Dover

Finally the best version comes from Jon Langford and Sally Timms. The way they arranged this song and Sally sings have convinced me that this could be the definitive version.

Jon Langford and Sally Timms - Down From Dover

Chestnut Blight

 

From time to time I return to The Mekons a band that accompanied me from their first punk inspired songs to their country/Americana days. For me they were with their songs a rock in times where many things around me slipped away. Now I got the news that an album by Freakons will appear in the next weeks. Freakons is a collaboration by Mekons Jon Langford and Sally Timms with Freakwater a superb little band from the Americana scene. I only heard this song and it is very traditional country but Sally Timms stamps this song with her unique voice. I can't imagine a better start for me into this Sunday.

Four Lost Souls

Since the first time I heard Where Were You I was a fan of The Mekons and Jon Langford. I saw them a lot of times live and had a wonderful conversation before and after a concert with Sally Timms and Jon Langford. I don't want to lose many words about The Mekons right now and focus to the solo escapades by Jon Langford. His side project The Three Johns made fun long times ago and he was the first one that made a tribute to Johnny Cash when no one around had him on the list. Since the Welsh musician moved to the USA he combined his punk roots with contemporary American (folk) music. Of course his output during the last years were new or groundbreaking but always fresh and individual. Now he released a new record Four Lost Souls. He was invited to make his record in the famous Muscle Shoals studios. The result was a perfect combination of British influenced country music on a Southern soul base. It is true that he can't make any worse record and so I like his songs and the way that make me smile. I will offer you this songs until DMCA will contact me to delete. Until then enjoy these tunes.

Jon Langford - Snake Behind Glass
Jon Langford - Natchez Trace
Jon Langford - In Oxford Mississppi

What Happened To Pub Rock # 20

All things must come to an end - and this little series as well. I featured throughout the last weeks bands that are typical for me to represent pub rock at it's best times or which pub rock had a lot of influence to their kind of music. What will be the best finish of this series? Another band to feature (maybe someone will think this is the best one)? Or should I finish with some last good words to a scene/genre that was almost famous nearly 40 years ago? Should I feature some songs that was close to his genre or songs that often was covered by the bands I featured?

Finally I decided to feature a band that is very close to me. I follow The Mekons since almost 30 years. From their first single Where Were You until their latest records. It is a band that made a lot of great recordings - but at least they are a live band. They played maybe hundreds of gigs all over the world and I am glad that I saw a lot of concerts they played at my place for almost 30 year. A few years ago I had the honor to have a conversation with Jon Langford and the band after their gig and to sit at the bar with Sally Timms for a drink.

I think it's a good compromise to finish this series with a band that had it's roots in the pub rock scene but was always far ahead to the mainstream. If you've read my words about The Mekons you'll see that I am a huge fan of this band. And it's true - they made me feel easy when I watched them playing. There's one more reason why they should have their place in musical history: They used to play classic R 'n' R with a lot of influence of modern country music and added the best things from the upcoming 'new' music (you can call it punk, new wave or whatever). And they were always a band they have her heart in the right spot.

Enjoy and remember: the working week is almost over!

The Mekons - Beaten And Broken
The Mekons - Big Zombie
The Mekons - Cockermouth
The Mekons - Hole In The Ground
The Mekons -  Tempted To Believe

Rescue Mission

I love the Mekons for long, long years. The first time when I have taken notice from them was as they published their first single Where where you'. A short however intensive treatise about unfulfilled love. I felt so much with the words Jon Langford sung in this song. 

Formed in the late 1970s, they are one of the longest-running and most prolific of the first-wave British punk rock bands. Through the years, the band's musical style has evolved, incorporating aspects of country music, folk music, alternative rock and even occasional experiments with dub. These days, The Mekons are often described as a post-punk, cowpunk and/or alt country band.

Although most of them live in the United States they join for some concerts in Europe. When they visit Germany on their tour they will alway play in a small club close to the place where I stay. It was a few month ago that they showed up again and it was still great to see them live again. I was there with Ed trying to introduce The Mekons to him - and he was surprised about the great gig they played. Before the concert started I had a longer conversation with Sally Timms at the bar and after the concert we talked a long time to all the members of the band. All in all - we had a real good time together and we will watch out for the next concert they will play close to our place.

This song is more an adoption of a letter that a woman read out to her mate about what happened to close members of her family. Put under with a straight sound of an accordion sound Tally Simms reads the letter and tell us more about life in Britain in the 1980s than most stories in the newspaper.

The Mekons - Rescue Mission