Another great dies


Nick Tosches, as great a writer on the subject of musical artists as there has ever been, has died. If you haven’t read any of his books or columns, do yourself a huge favor and do so. He was brilliant. Rolling Stone called his biography of Jerry Lee Lewis (Hellfire) the best ever written on a Rock ’n’ Roll artist.

As I write this, I am listening to Lucinda’s re-recording of her Sweet Old World album (This Sweet Old World). The new version buries the original, which she was never happy with. The connection to JLL? Both are tortured artists, unable to find peace in this life. Very common amongst the best.

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I bought "TSOW" when it was released. Having never heard the original, I really liked it. I think it rocks.

I does, doesn’t it Steve? The contrast I would make between the two is that TSOW sounds like it was recorded in Memphis in the 1950’s, SOW in L.A. or New York in the 1980’s. TSOW is "smokier", deeper, "darker" (I like "dark"), much more soulful. SOW sounds rushed, somewhat superficial. I very much understand why she is unhappy with it.

It took Lucinda three tries to get the Car Wheels album right, loosing producers Steve Earle and Gurf Morlix (who later produced Mary Gauthier’s great Filth & Fire album) in the process. Plus, she has a better band on TSOW than she did at the time of the recording of SOW. She can afford them now. ;-)

Well, I've always thought of myself as a tortured person in many ways....maybe that has found it's home in my audio pursuits?

Eric, my brother...why has it taken you so long to get around to LW lps?