As we ring in the New Year, I can’t think of a better band to feature for our last mixtape of 2008 than Los Angeles’ very own alt country masters, I See Hawks In LA. The Hawks have given us their “Top 10 Songs For Inducing An Ecstatic State”. This brilliant mix contains tunes by George Harrison, Los Lobos, Byrds, Cream and of course, Peter Shilling’s 1983 synth pop masterpiece, “Major Tom” (what ecstatic mix would be complete without it?). Check out the mixtape after the jump.

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The Beach Boys- Auld Lang Syne (Alternate Take)

This has been an amazing year for us at When You Awake and I really want to thank you for supporting our little blog and showing us that we are not alone in our love of good, old fashioned, down home music.  We hope that you have a safe, wonderful, and very happy New Year’s! See you in ’09.

Paul over at Setting The Woods On Fire has just released his 20 Essential “Alt” Country Albums of the 1970s list. It’s rare to find another site where we agree 100% with their choices–but Setting The Woods On Fire is always spot on. Included with the list is a two part podcast. Check out Part One here and Part Two here.

The great Delaney Bramlett passed away yesterday at the age of 69 in a hospital in Los Angeles following gallbladder surgery. Delaney was an amazing guitarist and songwriter, having started off his career in the group Delaney and Bonnie with then wife Bonnie, and then going on to produce Eric Clapton’s first solo record in 1970 on which he co-write a number of the tunes, including the hit “Let It Rain.” As my daddy said,  “Delaney was an incredible force of nature and a major influence on Eric Clapton and many others.” So sad. RIP Delaney! I have included more videos and pics after the jump.

Delaney and Bonnie with Eric Clapton- Poor Elijah

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Amoeba Records just released Dr Dog’s full in-store performance from August (aka the show where their beloved Mr. Moose was unlawfully taken from them). Check out the video above to see why this little band from Philly appeared on not one, but all three of our Best of 2008 lists.

Tracklisting for the show:
The Old Days (Fate)
The Beach (Fate)
The Girl (We All Belong)
Ain’t It Strange (We All Belong)
I Hope There’s Love (We All Belong)
The World May Never Know (Easy Beat)
The Rabbit, The Bat & The Reindeer (Fate)

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The Cave Singers just posted a new song on their Myspace page called “Television Tunes.” It sounds like a mix of the songs off of their 2007 Matador Records release, Invitation Songs with a little Bruce Springsteen thrown in. I’m guessing that this tune is from their recent recording sessions up in Vancouver where they have been working on their latest album (release date unknown). We will keep you updated on details of said release as we get them. Upcoming tour dates in Seattle and England are after the jump.
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Margot Guryan- Sunday Morning

Margo Guryan released only one record, Take a Picture, back in 1968 before quitting the commercial music scene and becoming a music teacher. That one record, however, has proven highly influential. Harry Nilsson, Dion, Jackie DeShannon, and Astrud Gilberto all released cover versions of her tune “Think of Rain”, while Glen Campbell, Bobbie Gentry and Oliver among others recorded the song featured above,  “Sunday Morning”.

Tony Palmer’s film captures the Fairport Convention and Matthews Southern Comfort live at Maidstone in 1970. It features the Full House lineup of Fairport Convention, including Richard Thompson (Vocals, Guitar), Dave Swarbrick (Vocals,Fiddle, Mandolin), Dave Pegg (Vocals, Bass Guitar, Mandolin), Dave Mattacks (Drums, Percussion), and Simon Nicol (Vocals,Guitar,Electric Dulcimer). Matthews Southern Comfort, the band led by former Fairport Convention member Ian Matthews, also appeared to perform two songs. Select cuts from the film are after the jump.

Songs Performed:
Fairport Convention ‘Various Jigs & Reels’
Fairport Convention ‘Sir Patrick Spens’
Fairport Convention ‘Now Be Thankful’
Matthews Southern Comfort ‘My Front Pages’
Matthews Southern Comfort ‘Southern Comfort’
Fairport Convention ‘Flatback Caper’
Fairport Convention ‘Jenny’s Chickens & The Mason’s Apron’
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On the eve of their Northwestern tour, The Blank Tapes (aka Matt Adams) have given us their “Top 10 Songs To Listen To While In West Oakland”, though I would suggest that these songs hold up well just about anywhere. With tunes by Otis Redding, Little Wings, The Kinks and The Byrds, how could they not? The Blank Tapes begin a week long tour tomorrow that will take them to Oregon and Washington state. Tour Dates and the mixtape are after the jump.

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