FTM's Top 10 Murder Ballads

by Robert Dean

If there’s any tradition in American roots music that’s steeped in darkness and just utterly crushing thanks to it’s macabre tonality, it’s the murder ballad. The murder ballad is defined by Wikipedia as:

“Murder ballads are a subgenre of the traditional ballad form dealing with a crime. Their lyrics form a narrative describing the events of a murder, often including the lead-up and/or aftermath. The term refers to the content, and may be applied to traditional ballads, part of oral culture. Broadsheet printed ballads do not use the same formulas or structures, and are rooted in a literate society.”

Some grim shit, but oh so delicious when you’ve had a few drinks and are angry at humankind. If you’re a fan of country, the blues, or just dark rock and roll, there’s a long tradition of the murder ballad anchoring more than one classic record.

In an attempt to keep topics nice and spooky for Halloween, I wanted to rate my top 10 favorite murder ballads. If you’re looking to bum everyone out at your Halloween party, make a playlist. You’ll be in bed by 9:15. Enjoy. *now with an expanded accompanying Spotify Playlist*

10.  Two Sisters – Tom Waits

9.  I Just Can’t Let You Say Goodbye – Willie Nelson

8.  The Ballad of Hollis Brown – Bob Dylan

7. Delia’s Gone – Johnny Cash

6. Hey Joe – Jimi Hendrix/Bob Dylan

5. Kate McCannon – Colter Wall

4. Ohio – Neil Young

3. Stagger Lee – Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

2. Knoxville Girl – The Louvin Brothers

1. Where Did You Sleep Last Night – Leadbelly/Nirvana

Florida-Georgia Line to Release New Version of "Wagon Wheel"

Already on top of the world with their huge summer tour announcement and their smash hit "God, Your Mama, and Me" with the Backstreet Boys riding high on the charts, Florida-Georgia Line Friday announced the "FGLuxe Edition" of their album Dig Your Roots. The expanded album, due in early June, will include a live cut of "Cruise" featuring Nelly, 2 new songs, and most notably, a reworked version of the modern country standard "Wagon Wheel."

The song, written by Bob Dylan and Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show, and popularized on country radio by Darius Rucker, will get a bit of an update this time around.

"We love that song!" said Brian Kelley, "We've always wanted to do a version of it that expressed who we are though." "So we just did it!" laughed partner Tyler Hubbard.

The "rebooted" "Wagon Wheel" will incorporate Florida-Georgia Line's signature amped up country sound with the song's original format and melody. And… probably quite controversially, it will feature all new lyrics, more suited for the younger, more party-minded fans of the duo.

"We rewrote it entirely," said Hubbard. "I mean it's still the same song, but it's different!" "Bro, we don't relate to hitchhiking and playing banjos… but we do relate to having a good time!" explained Kelley.

Much to the chagrin of country purists, the new version will include references to pickup trucks, hot girls, and cold beer, the traditional touchstones of the supposed "bro country" genre. FGL says they know it will ruffle some feathers, but that if you don't have "haters," you're doing something wrong.

When asked what Dylan thought of the new version, Hubbard told us "He just won the Nobel Peace Prize, you know he's cool with it!"

A sampling of the new lyrics follows:

The dirty south, yeah that's where to find
Me chillin' on the Florida-Georgia Line
Down a gravel road in a circle of KC lights
The party don't stop till the morning hours
Baby got a booty and a crown of flowers
And I'm hopin' I get lucky, with my country girl tonight

Rock me baby like a wagon wheel
Drop it down low if that's what you feel
Hey baby rock me
Rock me baby like some single grain
Got me drunk on how you move that thang
Hey baby rock me

----------

Dig Your Roots: FGLuxe Edition will be released June 9th.


*fake news*

Get a Brain! Morans

Sunday Mornin' Music: The Band, Dylan, etc. - I Shall Be Released

Sunday Mornin' Music: Bob Dylan

Parody Album Covers: New Americana Albums

An Americana Christmas from New West

Another copy and paste email (and no, I don't get paid or even a free copy for this), but this looks great!

 ________________________________________________________________________________

 

NEW WEST RECORDS TO RELEASE AN AMERICANA CHRISTMAS OCTOBER 14; HOLIDAY COLLECTION FEATURES JOHNNY CASH, BOB DYLAN, THE BAND, EMMYLOU HARRIS, BEN KEITH W/  NEIL & PEGI YOUNG, VALERIE JUNE, ROBERT ELLIS, LUTHER DICKINSON, NIKKI LANE AND MANY OTHERS ROBERT ELLIS' WILLIE NELSON CLASSIC "PRETTY PAPER" PREMIERING AT ROLLING STONE COUNTRY

LOS ANGELES, CA, September 15, 2014 - An Americana Christmas, out on CD, vinyl and digital October 14 on New West Records, brings together some of the biggest icons and current stars in Americana music for a wide-ranging collection of classic Christmas songs and brand new holiday recordings. The 16-track album features legendary artists Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, The Band, John Prine, Dwight Yoakam and Ben Keith w/ Neil & Pegi Young alongside many of the genre's current younger talents like Valerie June, Nikki Lane, Robert Ellis, Luther Dickinson and the Old 97's. The album was announced today on Rolling Stone Country along with a premiere of New York-based Texas-bred troubadour Robert Ellis' stirring and modern rendition of Willie Nelson's classic, "Pretty Paper." 

Listen here: http://rol.st/1uAbaLp 

The compilation compiles previously released material with six brand new recordings exclusive to the album. In addition to Ellis' offering, Memphis songstress Valerie June puts her rollicking spin on season staple, "Winter Wonderland," Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars injects "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" with some southern boogie and groove, rising Nashville chanteuse Nikki Lane offers an upbeat, retro-tinged original, Canadian roots music star Corb Lund turns in the sweeping and weeping new tune, "Just Me And These Ponies (For Christmas This Year)" and Dutch duo The Common Linnets contributes the new song, "At Christmas Time." The lone European act, The Common Linnets are one of Europe's biggest Americana bands and have sold more than 150,000 copies of their debut release and took second place in the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest.

An Americana Christmas is for anyone who appreciates great songwriting and timeless music delivered from the heart and will appeal to several generations making it a perfect addition to your holidays.

AN AMERICAN CHRISTMAS TRACK LISTING

1 Luther Dickinson - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

2 John Prine - Everything Is Cool *

3 Robert Ellis - Pretty Paper

4 Emmylou Harris - The First Noel

5 Johnny Cash - The Gifts They Gave

6 Corb Lund - Just Me And These Ponies (For Christmas This Year)

7 Dwight Yoakam - Run Run Rudolph *

8 Bob Dylan - Must Be Santa

9 Valerie June - Winter Wonderland

10 Ronnie Fauss - Everybody Deserves A Merry Christmas *

11 Max Gomez - Season Of My Memory

12 Ben Keith w/ Neil & Pegi Young - Les Trois Cloches

13 The Common Linnets - At Christmas Time

14 Nikki Lane - Falalaalove Ya

15 Old 97's - Here It Is Christmas Time

16 The Band - Christmas Must Be Tonight

*Not on vinyl release

Old Crow Medicine Show - Sweet Amarillo (Live)

Here's OCMS performing (the Bob Dylan cowrite of sorts - much like "Wagon Wheel") "Sweet Amarillo," from their upcoming album, Remedy.

Famous Album Covers - Bleeding Cowboys III: Sinatra, Dylan, NWA, etc.

Even though usage of the font which should hardly ever be used has tailed off a bit this year, I still see a couple of new albums a month that use Bleeding Cowboys. Since it's still unfortunately relevant, FTM ponders (again) what some famous album covers would look like if they'd used that trashiest of type-faces.

Seriously, Who Thinks This is a Good Lyric?

Lyrics Illustrated: Wagon Wheel

OMG Reviews: Hunter Hayes - I Want Crazy

by Brittany Fant, 15-year-old reviewer

Listen Here!

Hunter Hunter HUNTER!!!! I am soooo glad this is finally out. True fans like me have been hearing this song on YouTube and at concerts for longer than you have so it makes me so happy that everyone gets to hear it now!!! Oh Hunter, I'll be crazy for you. I hope that girl in the video is just an actress or whatever. Okay, I'm going to contain myself for a minute and try to really review this AWESOME FRIGGIN song.

"I Want Crazy" is a catchy REAL COUNTRY song that reminds me of some Keith Urban songs back when he was hot (he's old now). It's about Hunter coming home off the road to see his long distance love. Then the rest of the song is totally about something else, but who cares? It's Hunter!!! Most of the song is about having a love that isn't boring. I so understand that. The last guy I hung around with and went to the movies with and kissed (Dad still won't let me call it dating) only wanted to watch Lord of the Rings movies over and over. That's boring. I want crazy!!!! So does HUNTER! 3 years Hunter and I'll be able to date you! Anyway, the song is so well written and just great! I wish boys in real life were like HH songs. They all want to have their own life and not worship me like the princess I am, but Hunter knows what women want.

Now that you know how good he is, all you haterz need to step off. Hunter is fine. Hunter can sing like an angel. Hunter can play EVERY INSTRUMENT IN THE WORLD. Even a hurdy gurdy! (Yeah, I Googled that) Hunter can write songs better than Bob Dillon. He even has the stamp of approval from your old, wrinkled hero, MERLE HAGRID! So stop talking junk about my boy. He's the future of real country music and this song proves it!!!

5 Heart Hands!

10 Second Single Review: Darius Rucker - "Wagon Wheel"

This won't be a popular opinion, but I'm gonna say this Darius Rucker "Wagon Wheel" single is a good thing. It could whet appetites for rootsier music and it'll pay Bob Dylan and Ketch Secor. It's pretty bloodless and slick (what do you expect from a Nashville single?), but overall not a bad cover and Lady A doesn't ruin it as backup singers. Also, he didn't change "toke" to "smoke," which is a surprise, given radio's aversion to Eric Church's pot references.

B+

4 Classic Covers - Parodied