AMG says start with This collection. I think that as with the Mills Brothers, you want as much early stuff as you can get. Anything they did in the early 30s is pretty spiff.
More AMG:
Definitely the most talented and arguably the all-around best jazz vocal group of all time, the Boswell Sisters parlayed their New Orleans upbringing into a swinging delivery that featured not only impossibly close harmonies, but countless maneuvers of vocal gymnastics rarely equalled on record. Connee (sometimes Connie ), Helvetia (Vet ), and Martha Boswell grew up singing together, soaking up Southern gospel and blues through close contact with the black community.
If it's not clear from that - the Boswell sisters were white girls, who sang with a lot of early jazz/gospel stylings. In this wise, they are as revolutionary as the early Bing Crosby.
Today's Nominee For Cheerfulest Song:
"Down My Block" - Trip Shakespeare.
Run for Your Life - Cowboy Junkies
This is probably the one band that could actually make me listen to this song all the way through. Impressive.
That Beatles tribute is a really odd mix of bands (you've got your indie pop superkids like Stevens and the Fiery Furnaces and then newgrassfrat jammy bands like Yonder Mountain and Ben Harper ...strange.)
I am going to see the Knitters on Thur. and don't know a damn thing about them besides John Doe, "electric" folk and they just released a new album. I'd like to hear something from them before I see them - so listening recommendations, personal anecdotes? All submissions appreciated.
Run for Your Life - Cowboy Junkies
Of course, with the CJ's lassitude, you wouldn't have to run for your life so much as stroll away quickly, and you'd be fine.
I'd like to hear something from them before I see them - so listening recommendations, personal anecdotes? All submissions appreciated.
It's not electric folk. It's more post-punk country. So think Bloodshot, but not too raucous. They only have two records - the original one which helped foment a lot of things like Bloodshot and gave Tammy Wynette punk cred, and the new one which is some twenty years later. I don't know anything about the new one, so if you get anything get Poor Little Critter In The Road. It's Dave Alvin sitting in with John Doe and Exene and pretending they're the Carter Family.
Of course, with the CJ's lassitude, you wouldn't have to run for your life so much as stroll away quickly, and you'd be fine.
"Amble For Your Life" would be such a good song title. I think Fountains of Wayne should do it.
It's Dave Alvin sitting in with John Doe and Exene and pretending they're the Carter Family.
Man on the bus screamin' about Maybelle
There's a man on the bus screamin' about Maybelle
Maybelle... [nah, not gon' say it]
Gotta get me back to the sunny side