Thursday, December 28, 2006
Using the iTunes Gift Cards: Champagne Charlie
For those who are interested (and there are precisely two of you (plus one mythical being), this is how I made my first purchase using the $80 in iTunes dough that was bestowed upon me by my friend Jerry, the darling future wife, and some cat named Santa. This is also, of course, a musical suggestion of sorts.
Leon Redbone’s wonderful Champagne Charlie is a good dose of energetic Americana. Redbone’s slurring, deep voice sounds almost as old as the music that he sings. It’s blues, jazz, and ragtime that never fails to get me smiling (with the exception, of course, of its few melancholy moments, like the downbeat blues of “I Hate a Man Like You” and the pose of “If Someone Would Only Love Me"). Mostly, though, it’s plucked guitars, brassy sounds, a little bit of whistling, and even a yodel or two. Really, it’s a classic feel that inspires warm thoughts.
Particularly good to download if you aren’t ready to commit to the album are “Champagne Charlie”, “Alabama Jubilee”, “I Hate a Man Like You”, and “Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now”.
Comments & Trackbacks
Well, of course you’re a Redbone fan—who isn’t?
So, this is like, #6 thing we didn’t know about you?
I’ve seen Leon in concert three times. The first time, in 1986 IIRC, was a great show. The other two not so great, but still good.
Oddly enough, I have only ‘On the Track’ and ‘Up a Lazy River’ in my collection. I really need to fix that. Somewhere, I did manage to acquire rips of Diddy-Wa Diddy and a few others.
Really hard to name a fave Redbone tune. ‘Lazy Bones’ and ‘Walking Stick’ are right up there.
Remind me--fergodsakeremindme--and I’ll make a copy of this for you and bring it to the next RMBB. You’ll love it.
“So, this is like, #6 thing we didn’t know about you?”
Actually, I just assumed you’d know deep in your bones (since I have such exceptionally good taste).
Well, of course.
I’ve actually given Champagne Charlie a listen or two. It’s possible it’s in the LP collection ... somewhere. I know I have ‘Red to Blue’ and ‘Double Time’ around here on vinyl, and I think ‘From Branch to Branch’—I was thinking, earlier, only about CDs.
But yeah, I’d be happy to get a copy of CC.