Topanga Canyon resident and longtime When You Awake fave and friend Susan James has a brand new video for the lead-off track from her new album, “Driving Toward The Sun,” which includes a special appearance by her longtime friend, actor Peter Stormare. The track features Susan on lead vocals, acoustic guitar and mandolin, Jason Chesney (of Old California and lots of other bands) on bass, Walfredo Reyes, Jr. on drums, Neal Casal on acoustic guitar and John McDuffie on acoustic guitar, acoustic 12-string, dobro, mando and electric guitar. More exclusive photos from the Topanga location shoot after the jump.
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Richie Havens- Fire And Rain
The late, great Richie Havens performing James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain” live in Germany in 1971. Such powerful stuff. You will be missed! Listen to another track, which might just be one of the most beautiful songs ever, after the jump.
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The Avett Brothers Sing, Pretty Girl from Annapolis
The Avett Brothers performing a backstage acoustic version of their tune “Pretty Girl From Annapolis” from 2003’s A Carolina Jubilee. Around the 3:20 mark, Seth breaks into a bit of Bob Marley’s “Is This Love” before returning to the original tune.
To Kill A King – Funeral
To Kill A King performing their tune “Funeral” with the help of 50+ musician friends at the Old Queens Head in Islington, London. The musicians include members of Patch & the Giant, Richard Judge, Imperial Youth, Professor Penguin, Sophie Jameson, The Edmondsons, Fitz, Lazy Heart Parade, Alice James & We Were Evergreen. Impressive!
Langhorne Slim & Wesley Schultz- Tonight Will Be Fine
Wesley Schultz of the The Lumineers and Langhorne Slim perform Leonard Cohen’s “Tonight Will Be Fine” live in March 2013.
Mountain Man – Play It Right
Mountain Man performing their tune “Play It Right” live for Laundro Matinee in October 2011.
CSNY- Pushed It Over The End
Neil Young performing his unreleased song “Pushed It Over The End” with Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young at Wembley Stadium in 1974. Hopefully this one turns up on the CSNY live box set that Graham Nash is currently working on, or maybe it’ll be on Volume 2 of Neil’s Archives series.
Scott Avett- The Coo Coo Song
Scott Avett of The Avett Brothers singing the traditional tune “The Coo Coo Song” live in February 2013.
Larry Jon Wilson- Ohoopee River Bottomland
Have a look and a listen to Larry Jon Wilson recording “Ohoopee River Bottomland,” from the 1981 documentary Heartworn Highways, one of When You Awake‘s favorites! The track, recording in 1975 for Larry Jon’s album New Beginnings, is also one of sixteen featured on an awesome compilation that came out last summer on Light In The Attic, called Country Funk: 1969-1975, which also features tracks by Dale Hawkins, Jim Ford, Link Wray, Bobby Charles Tony Joe White, Bobbie Gentry and more. It’s pretty unusual these days when a new collection of archival tracks are released — tunes that weren’t hits to begin with! – on a lavish CD packaging like this LITA release. And what the hell is “Country Funk” you ask? Jessica Hundley offers up an explanation in the liner notes: “The style encompasses the elation of gospel with the sexual thrust of the blues, country hoedown harmony with inner city grit. It is alternately playful and melancholic, slow jammin’ and booty shakin’. It is both studio slick and barroom raw. And while these all may seem unlikely combinations at first glance, upon close listen, it all makes sweet sense.” Amen!
Bobbie Gentry- Morning Glory
Here’s a lovely song to wake up to! Bing Crosby introduces Bobbie Gentry on “The Hollywood Palace,” from January 1969, and she performs this song, “Morning Glory,” from her second album, The Delta Sweete, which was released in 1968. By this time she had also recorded the song as a duet with Glen Campbell. Later on the same show Bobbie and Bing sing one of Ms. Gentry’s hits about the Delta, “Okolona River Bottom Band.”
