A compendium of musical delights by Alan and Margaret Ashworth
From RR’s debut solo album in 1987. The shimmering sound comes courtesy of Daniel Lanois, then the producer du jour, and the high backing vocals are by Sam Llanas of … Continue readingRobbie Robertson: Somewhere Down The Crazy River
This lovely song comes from Ackles’s eponymous 1968 debut album and is acclaimed as his masterpiece. Phil Collins selected it as one of his Desert Island Discs, saying of Ackles: … Continue readingDavid Ackles: Down River
One of my favourite tracks from his only solo album, Thanks, I’ll Eat It Here. What a loss he was to music.
If you’ve nearly half an hour to spare, enjoy this 2002 version of the classic from his late-60s LP Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere. And here’s a fonkeh version by … Continue readingNeil Young: Down By The River
One of Drake’s most haunting songs, from his debut LP Five Leaves Left. And here’s a fairly pretentious live cover version by the Unthanks.
‘Just bury me down beside the railroad, so I can hear the trains go by.’ And so the title track of Ry’s classic 1972 LP concludes our season of train … Continue readingRy Cooder: Boomer’s Story
Excellent cover of the Terry Allen song, highlight of the 1977 Time Loves a Hero album. And here’s the man himself on the album Lubbock (on everything) which didn’t appear … Continue readingLittle Feat: New Delhi Freight Train
A bit of gospel never did anyone any harm. Written by Turner, this was the title track of his 2003 debut album.
From the 1983 album Hearts and Bones. And here’s a live version from 2008.
A real period piece, this. A 1982 live version of the song from 1971’s Aqualung. Ian Anderson sweats for England.