Song Of The Day: Nov. 14, 2017
Glad to see a couple of other Tom Russell fans on the board. Here is my fave song of his, this time performed by one of my favorite singer-songwriters, Dave Alvin. Dave wrote all the songs for the Blasters, and he has written dozens of songs I love. But he’s also a great interpreter, and here he gets to the heart of Tom Russell’s ‘Blue Wing’:
I wasn’t expecting I–V–vi–IV.
El Somnambulo, I like your taste in music. Anyone who likes Fairport and Tom Russell is okay by me.
For anyone who’s looking for a good version of “Blue Wing,” on CD, it’s on Dave Alvin’s “King of California,” which contains many other great songs. Dave and Tom Russell do a live version on Tom’s album “The Long Way Around,” which is a desert island disc.
“Blue Wing” is also the only song I know of to mention Little Willie John, a great soul singer from the late 1950s. Willie died in the prison at Walla Walla.
Dave Alvin’s “King Of California” is one of my all-time favorite roots albums. I once booked Dave here at the Arden Gild Hall. I’ve been trying to get him back–with brother Phil. Never say never.