Tune of the Day

"I’m Gonna Be Strong" by Buddy Miller, on his Cruel Moon album. "IGBS" was written by Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil (fantastic Brill Building writers, with hundreds of recorded songs), originally recorded by Gene Pitney (Cyndi Lauper has also recorded the song). Superb harmony vocal by Joy Lynn White (listen to Buddy & Joy’s harmony on the final refrain---better than anything John & Paul ever sang. Absolutely thrilling!).

Two tracks later is the album’s title track, "Cruel Moon", written by Julie Miller. Cool twangy guitar playing by Buddy, pedal steel by Steve Fishell, mandolin by Tammy Rogers, and drums by a guy I palled around with in L.A., John Gardner (rat bastard ;-). Last but not least, the incomparable Emmylou Harris on harmony vocals.

The whole album is very strong, I'm just pointing out a coupla songs. In a better world, "I'm Too Used To Lovin' You" would have been a big fat giant hit. Buddy also sings Steve Earle's fantastic song "I'm not Getting Any Better At Goodbye". He's one of the best singers in the world, and I'll bet few of you even know about him. Buddy serves as his own recording engineer, having turned the living room of his Nashville home into a studio. When Julie isn't feeling well, he runs a long mic cord up the stairs into their bedroom, recording her vocal in bed. ;-)

I could nominate any number of songs on the album to which I am currently listening, Buddy Miller’s Your Love And Other Lies. At the moment "Watching Amy Dance" is playing, so I’ll go with it. Fanf*ckingtastic! A great song, superior musicianship and singing, good recorded sound quality.

A few tracks later is a duet between Buddy and his wife/collaborator Julie, "You’re Running Wild". Buddy and Gurf Morlix on guitars, Al Perkins on steel, Tammy Rogers on mandolin, Don Heffington (Lone Justice) drumming.

Music this good (and dogs ;-) makes living in this miserable world tolerable. To me this is not, as I have here read some say, a hobby, but rather a life raft.