Dylan & the Nobel prize in Literature

Does Bob Dylan qualify for a Nobel prize in Literature?

Bill Wyman says yes.

Wyman employs Dylan's lyrics in making the case.

"Accidental Racist"

Brad Paisley is a name that doesn't comes up when folk music is being discussed but he generated some very interesting controversy in a recent interview with the genesis of the uproar being his defense/explanation regarding his song "Accidental Racist."

The Atlantic's Ta-Nehisi Coates, as usual, serves as educator.

Here's the song video:

The 'best' emigration songs

Irish Central serves up its Top 10 emigration songs.

#7  -- The Pogues  "Thousands Are Sailing" is my fave "(I've posted a different version which also provides the compelling Phil Chevron-written lyrics):

Live At Caffe Lena : Music From America’s Legendary Coffeehouse, 1967-2013

This sounds like it will certainly be of interest to many folk music fans: Live At Caffe Lena : Music From America’s Legendary Coffeehouse, 1967-2013

The music featured:

DISC ONE
01 Intro by Lena Spencer / Guy Carawan Cripple Creek 1970
02 Hedy West Shady Grove 1968
03 Intro by Lena Spencer / Sleepy John Estes Holy Spirit 1974
04 Frank Wakefield and Friends Will The Circle Be Unbroken 1971
05 Jean Ritchie West Virginia Mine Disaster 1969
06 Billy Faier Hunt The Wren 1967
07 Greenbriar Boys Hit Parade of Love 1968
08 Mike Seeger O Death 1971
09 Jacqui and Bridie Hello Friend 1974
10 Tom Paxton Morning Again 1968
11 David Amram Little Mama 1974
12 Patrick Sky Reality Is Bad Enough 1971
13 Rosalie Sorrels Travelin’ Lady 1974
14 Smoke Dawson Devil’s Dream 1968
15 Utah Phillips The Green Rolling Hills of West Virginia 1974
16 Michael Cooney Thyme It Is A Precious Thing 1974
17 Kate McGarrigle and Roma Baran Caffè Lena 1972

DISC TWO
01 Intro by Lena Spencer / Dave Van Ronk Gaslight Rag 1974
02 Jerry Jeff Walker Mr. Bojangles 1968
03 Barbara Dane Mama Yancey’s Advice / Love With a Feeling 1968
04 Roy Book Binder Ain’t Nobody Home But Me 1974
05 Intro by Lena Spencer / David Bromberg The Holdup 1972
06 Ramblin’ Jack Elliott Pretty Boy Floyd 1992
07 Arlo Guthrie City of New Orleans 2010
08 Aztec Two Step The Persecution and Restoration of Dean Moriarty 1989
09 Happy And Artie Traum Trials Of Jonathan 1974
10 Rick Danko It Makes No Difference 1988
11 Paul Geremia Something’s Gotta Be Arranged 1989
12 Robin and Linda Williams S-A-V-E-D 1987
13 John Herald Ramblin’ Jack Elliott 1991
14 Pete Seeger Somos El Barco (We Are the Boat) 1985

DISC THREE
01 Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion Folksong 2013
02 Anais Mitchell Wedding Song 2013
03 Bill Morrissey The Last Day Of The Furlough 1990
04 Patty Larkin Island Of Time 1992
05 Greg Brown Flat Stuff 1989
06 Mary Gauthier I Drink 2013
07 Sean Rowe Old Black Dodge 2013
08 Tom Chapin Cats In The Cradle 1987
09 Intro by Lena Spencer / Christine Lavin It’s A Good Thing He Can’t Read My Mind 1987
10 Bill Staines Sweet Wyoming Home 1990
11 Bucky and John Pizzarelli I Like Jersey Best 1989
12 Rory Block That’s No Way To Get Along 1989
13 Chris Smither Killing The Blues 1989
14 Tift Merritt Traveling Alone 2013
15 John Gorka Down In The Milltown 1990
16 Lena Spencer Dear Little Cafe 1972

Jeff Buckley: his life and music

Here's some background on the late Jeff Buckley plus news about a play involving his music and a tribute concert from back in August.

Justice for Victor Jara

In 1973, the U.S. government aided in the murdering of Chilean singer-songwriter Victor Jara as well as thousands of others. May individual accountability take place since Henry Kissinger, the late Richard Nixon and that ilk won't be charged despite blood coating their evil hands. Just another example of American exceptionalism and of God shedding his grace on thee. LINK

Deportee

John McCutcheon sings "Deportee - Plane Wreck at Los Gatos" at a recent ceremony honoring those who died and were buried in a mass grave back in 1948 after a plane crash in Coalinga, CA.

Here is more background.

A Slaid Cleaves update

Here's some background and an interesting interview with Slaid Cleaves.

Labor Day music

Kim Ruehl supplies her list of the 'Best of Labor' songs.

The background on "We Shall Overcome"

Peter Dreier writes about "The Little-Known Story of 'We Shall Overcome''"-- fascinating.