OK, it’s down to the wire—NORAD is already tracking Santa Claus and his sleigh on his journey around the world, so we’ve just a few more precious hours to enjoy Christmas music until it’s all packed away for another year. I have a couple of new favorites to share with you this year. (If you’re […]
Black Friday, Record-Store-Day Style
Black Friday is the name that has been assigned to the day after the American Thanksgiving holiday—it’s traditionally the biggest shopping day in the US, the start to the big holiday shopping season. Over the years, large retailers turned Black Friday into a circus of sorts, opening their stars earlier and earlier (somes even at […]
Bob Dylan Receives French Honor
Bob Dylan was presented with the Legion of Honor Wednesday in Paris. No cameras were allowed into the ceremony, so there’s no video to share, but it’s been reported that Aurelie Filippetti, France’s Culture Minister presented the award to the 72-year-old singer-songwriter. In her speech, the Minister talked about Dylan being an inspiration to the […]
Was it really so bad the first time around?!
By Katherine Cole When Bob Dylan released “Self Portrait” back in 1970, Rolling Stone magazine’s Greil Marcus gave it one of the most savage reviews ever written. I’m not even going to paraphrase it–you’ve got to read this one for yourself. Many of Dylan’s’ fans agreed with the famed critic, but there has also always […]
Hello from the Philadelphia Folk Festival!
By Katherine Cole Greetings from the Old Pool Farm in Upper Salford Township, PA (near the town of Schwenksville, if you want to find us on the map), where I am attending the 52nd Philadelphia Folk Festival. This is one of the oldest continuously operating music festivals in the United States and, unlike some years, […]
A few tunes to honor Dad
By Katherine Cole June 17th is Father’s day in the US. Last month, we celebrated Mother’s Day in song, now it’s equal time for dear old Dad. When I set out to document Father’s Day in song, I was thinking that songwriters didn’t have the same enthusiasm for “dad songs” that they do for the […]
That’s Dr. Hootie to you…
By Katherine Cole Put down the keyboard, no need to send the outraged missive. I know that Darius Rucker was the lead singer of the group and there really was no one named “Hootie” in Hootie and the Blowfish. But there is a Dr. Darius Rucker and his latest hit is “Wagon Wheel.” The rocker […]
Four Songs for Mother’s Day!
By Katherine Cole In the US, we celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May—a bit later than our friends in the UK and several European and Middle Eastern countries, but earlier than some. But no matter which day you’re honoring Mom, there are plenty of songs for the occasion. In fact, there are […]