Friday Random 10

This weeks list includes a song "Mulberry Row," from a record that I'm very happy to have found. It's Vu Du Menz, a collaboration between the youngish folk/blues guitarist, Corey Harris, and a New Orleans style blues pianist, Henry Butler. It's a great record, mostly interpretations of older blues, with a few very nice originals. I just happened to hear some of it played on Nick Spitzer's American Routes radio program which airs locally. Having long forgotten the encounter, I checked out Martin Scorcese's documentary The Blues, and came across Harris again -- he narrates a segment of the film. Taking it as a sign sent by Professor Longhair, or someone, I struck out for the local music store where I was overjoyed to see they had it in stock. It's darn good if you like your music down home.

1) Mulberry Row -- Corey Harris/Henry Butler (Vu Du Menz)
2) Owensboro -- Natalie Merchant (The House Carpenter's Daughter)
3) Star of Bethlehem -- Neil Young (Decade)
4) Down At the Mill -- Greg Brown (Slant 6 Mind)
5) Cypress Avenue -- Van Morrison (Astral Weeks)
6) Sleeper -- Eliza Gilkyson (Going Driftless: Artist's Tribute to Greg Brown)
7) Jesse James -- Woody Guthrie (Asch Recordings, Vol. 1)
8) Moira -- Poets of Rhythm (Discern/Define)
9) I Can't Dance -- Gram Parsons (Greivous Angel)
10 Rosemary Lane -- Bert Jansch (Dazzling Stranger)

Well, I lived in a town/ way down South/by the Name of Owensboro.
And I worked in a mill/with the rest of the "trash"/As we're often called, you know.

Well, we rise up early/in the morning/and we work all day real hard
To buy our little meat and bread/buy sugar, tea, and lard.

Well, our children/grow up unlearned/with no time to go to school.
Almost before they learn to walk/they learn to spin and spoon.

Well, the folks in town/they dress so fine/and spend their money free.
But they would hardly look/at a factory hand/who dresses like you or me.

Would you let them wear/their watches fine/let them wear their gems/and pearly strings?
But when that day/of judgement comes/they'll have to share/their pretty things.

Traditional Lyrics from Natalie Merchant's "Owensboro."