Bummer Summer Playlist

Message from Suz: These are notes I wrote about my favorite playlist from the bummer summer of ‘19, which actually turned out pretty rad. The notes were meant to inform my buddies of where my ears were going into the studio. My poor ears where, in fact, full of beach sand and sunburned. But much of the sand shook out in the shower.

Karen Dalton - Something On Your Mind
Welcoming and sweet. Sad. It feels like we are in the room with them all. Held tight with plenty of air to breathe. I want to drive this song home from a rained-out parade.

Clarence Carter - Slip Away
It’s more than likely I’ll never have the authority of Clarence Carter in my voice. But I like to imagine myself with the hold-down of this band.

Dillard & Clark - Out on the Side
Gene Clark is sad in a informal way. There’s snow on his tracks. It’s the band who keep this song on the rails. The bass is kinda slippery. The drums are like a tomcat. That little piano has its say. The organ gets pushy, but sometimes it’s nice to get bossed around.

Bob Dylan - Tell Me That It Isn’t True
Nashville Skyline is one of my favorite records. It’s nice to cook to. And is always easy on the ears. I want all my songs to be like that.

Vashti Bunyan - Train Song
Where are we in this song? We’ve borrowed a ghost’s winter coat. Yet it is too warm because it’s only September. And there’s no where to hang it up. Because we are standing in a field of barley, and shame will arrive if anyone sees the flask we hid in the pocket. We’re not the kind of people to go drinking by the tracks. Are we? Best just catch the train.

Neil Young - Ambulance Blues
When I first heard this song, I knew I’d been waiting for it. It sounds like a long beach walk. It’s unbound. It’s not radio ready, going on and on. The harmonica and fiddle are secretly in love. The tambourine can’t catch up to anybody, so hangs back. The tide is on its way out. There’s no reason not to keep going. And get the truth out. “There ain’t nothing like a friend who can tell you you’re just pissing in the wind.”

Moby Grape - Love Song
So loose, it’s near lazy. A dog that greets you from on it’s belly. But those lovable eyes.

Little Ann - Deep Shadows
These singers, they know the shadows. They’re pinning them to poor Little Ann. The piano tells us the sun is around the corner. The bass is making eyes. The drums aren’t in a hurry, even though the beer is getting warm. You gotta make time for the shadows.

Townes Van Zandt - If I Needed You
Sometimes, I think my heartbeat is a mosey. I’m slow, often off the mark by a ways. This song is my mosey. I’m hat high on a little mule. And I like much in the middle, soft slide guitar. Above, and almost lost.

Neil Young - Everybody Knows This is Nowhere
This song gets a little rough. It’s somehow swampy while dry. The singers make due with what they got, brave up-range knights. The drums are open. The guitar is dirty. It all rolls along. Straight road or pitched to turn.

Poco - A Good Feeling to Know
I like how serious this song takes getting home to your lady. “Colorado mountains…” There’s a lot of eager, 1972 pre-Eagles energy in this. What it means to me, I can’t say. But where I am in my life, it is a true remedy, along with chocolate, tequila, and green tea, for my narcolepsy.

Emmylou Harris - Tulsa Queen (Live on TV)
Rodney Crowell singing by Emmylou. Everything going along as it should. No hurry. Why hurry to heartache. You’ll get there.

Bonnie “Prince” Billy - The Way
Isn’t this so simple and right. Will Oldham is why I ever thought I could take my odd voice, and heart thoughts, in front of people. I love him for it.

James Carr - At the Dark End of the Street
God damn it. It starts cool and simple, like vanilla icecream. Then it melts over hot pie. A masterwork.

Joe Cocker - Mad Dogs & Englishmen, With A Little Help From My Friends
Live, 1970, Joe Cocker is joined on stage by Leon Russell and a strong two dozen other people. Two saxophones, a trumpet. A line of singers all so groovy an angel could make a nest of their hair. A lot of deep, grunty channeling in this. The singer’s voices seem divided but row together. They say, this ship is not going down. Leon Russell makes odd little chirps with his guitar in the down parts. The organ lets us know we are coming back around. Never giving up. All together.

Ted Lucus - Baby, Where You Are
Kitchen light left on for you. A hug. An evening coffee. Some to say. But not a lot.

Leonard Cohen - Lover Lover Lover
Something to call in the spirits.

Lee Moses - My Adorable One
The kick drum flutters at “My, my baby…” It gets my heart up off the floor.

The Byrds - You Ain’t Going Nowhere
California country hits on something tender. It’s newer country. It’s for outsiders. Trying to be somebody. It’s two thousand miles from Grandma and doing it’s best.

Arthur Russell - Close My Eyes
Arthur grew up in Iowa. I’m from west of there, just over the river. This is how it is. Especially when you’re only halfway to six feet and lost in the corn.

The Velvet Underground - Here She Comes Now
Art drums. Dirtiness that shares with pretty turns. A star landed softly.

Yo La Tengo - Green Arrow
…crickets…

The Kinks - Strangers
The beat is nearly on its face. The piano is waving it’s arms. The organ is underdressed and nipping out. Still, love binds them all.

Leonard Cohen - Take This Longing
The bass is a strong, comfortable chair. The sax walks through in a robe. The singers are always there for Leonard, whether from the clouds or in the kitchen.

Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
When I felt I had nothing, barely even air in my lungs, I could dance to Born to Run. I’m deep in study of its medicine.