This week's musical miscellany

Remember a while back when I mused aloud my desire to see a DVD release of Renaldo and Clara? Looks like that dream just may become a reality . . .

Bob Dylan's Renaldo and Clara To Be Finally Released (Levi Asher/Literary Kicks)

Report - Bob Dylan's 'Renaldo & Clara' to be released on DVD (Harold Lepidus/Bob Dylan Examiner)

Here's a short snippet of one of my favorite Rolling Thunder-era songs.  "Never Let Me Go" was officially released on a rare DJ promo EP, 4 Songs From "Renaldo And Clara," and you can occasionally find it for sale on eBay.  I look forward to (hopefully!) seeing and hearing this in much better quality.



The Banjo Project: The Story of America's Instrument is a documentary/multi-media presentation by producer Marc Fields and banjoist Tony Trischka that aims to "chronicle the journey of America's quintessential instrument - the banjo - from its African roots to the 21st century."  It's narrated by Steve Martin and features a staggering array of interviews and performances from musicians such as Pete Seeger, Ralph Stanley, Béla Fleck, and Rhiannon Giddens.  To generate much-needed funding to complete the project, Fields and Trischka turned to Kickstarter.  The pledge period ended yesterday; the total amount raised was nearly double the goal figure of $25,000 ($46,098).  Check out the trailer below, and keep an eye out for the finished film in the near future.

The Banjo Project Trailer from The Banjo Project on Vimeo.

See also Dustin Ogdin's excellent article and interview with Marc Fields at ear•tyme music show.

My friend Scott Barretta and photographer Ken Murphy have recently released the stunningly beautiful book Mississippi: State of Blues.  Both chronicle and love letter, it is the fruit of three years of traveling and photographing the rich, living blues heritage of my beloved home state.  Yesterday they were 

interviewed on Mississippi Public Broadcasting's Mississippi Arts Hour; the program is now available for download via podcast.  For a list of retailers offering copies of Mississippi: State of Blues for sale, click here.

Shooter Jennings is spearheading a new musical genre/movement that aims to represent those artists whose music falls "between the cracks of country and rock," and who have been largely overlooked by the mainstream musical press and radio.  He's dubbed it XXX, after the markings found on old-fashioned moonshine jugs (why, what else did you think he meant?).  If this idea runs right up your melodic alley, read more about it and sign the petition at www.givememyxxx.com.

The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation has just released the list of this year's performers, and it's quite the smorgasbord, as always.  Check out the lineup and order your tickets here.

Wanda Jackson and Jack White's performance on the Late Show with David Letterman last Thursday night took the roof off of the Ed Sullivan Theater.  

As previously reported, The Party Ain't Over is out tomorrow; they will perform again on Conan tomorrow night. 

The Queen of Rockabilly Returns (John Jurgenson/WSJ.com)

Wanda Jackson, Rockabilly Queen, Prolongs Her Party (Melena Ryzik/NYTimes.com)

Live review: Wanda Jackson at the El Rey Theatre (Evelyn McDonnell/Pop & Hiss)

Must read: Adam Sheets' review of The Party Ain't Over at No Depression.  He loves her new album as much as I do!

Other random items I've enjoyed recently:

Patti Smith: Warrior Poet (Paul Zollo/American Songwriter)

Mick Without Moss (Zoe Heller/NYTimes)

Interview: Merideth Sisco Discusses The "Winter's Bone" Soundtrack & The Music Of The Ozarks (Chris Mateer/No Depression)

John Cohen's Passionate Pursuit, From Kentucky To Peru (Karen Michel/NPR)

And last, but certainly not least, there's this . . . 

Tom Waits - Potter's Field from Phil Bebbington on Vimeo.

For Wanda Jackson, The Party's Just Beginning

All right, I admit it - I love Jack White.  How could I not, when it's obvious what a righteously chivalrous dude he is?  First, he worked his special brand of magic on Loretta Lynn's excellent Van Lear Rose, and it was some of her best work in years. Now he's done it again with Wanda Jackson's The Party Ain't Over, and from the sound of it that's the literal truth.  Jackson sounds every bit the rockabilly firecracker she did in the late '50s, and the music sounds like Jetsons-era Sun Records and the Dap Kings got married and had a baby.  It's the sexiest, most raucously delightful album I've heard in a long time.  

Among the highlights is a cover of Bob Dylan's "Thunder on the Mountain," originally released on 2006's Modern Times.  It was apparently suggested by the man himself, who once aptly dubbed her "an atomic bomb in lipstick."  A video of the song was released yesterday on Spinner's website.  Filmed at United Record Pressing in Nashville, it shows Jackson, White, and the band kicking it old-school in a room somewhere on the premises and looking like they're having the time of their lives doing it.  White jumps around like a hyperactive 8-year-old while frenetically soloing, and Jackson frequently swats at him playfully.  According to Jackson, White did that for every single take; she told Spinner that he was "in rare form . . . Every time that we taped it, he had the energy, jumping around and playing the guitar like that."  

Other faves include a version of "You Know I'm No Good" that manages to out-Winehouse Amy Winehouse (girl, I love you, but it's time to step up your game, for real), and a soulfully funky yet entirely reverent update of "Dust On The Bible," a nod to Jackson's days as a Christian evangelist.  But don't take my word for it - give it a listen, and discover for yourself why they (rightfully) call her the Queen of Rock.  NPR is previewing the album in its entirety until its January 25th release date.  

First Listen: Wanda Jackson, "The Party Ain't Over" (NPR)

You can pre-order The Party Ain't Over from both Third Man Records and Nonesuch.  Third Man has also produced two 45s featuring Wanda's versions of "Thunder On The Mountain" and "You Know I'm No Good."

She is currently on tour (click here for dates), and will appear on CBS's Late Show With David Letterman tonight and TBS's Conan on January 25.

Wanda Jackson to perform on 'Letterman,' 'Conan' shows (NewsOK)

And just for perspective's sake (and because it kicks absolute ass) . . .

Further reading:

Wanda Jackson + Jack White Cover Dylan's 'Thunder on the Mountain' - Video Premiere (Spinner)

Catching Up With . . . Wanda Jackson (Paste)

Wanda Jackson at Third Man Records, 1/18/11 (Nashville Cream)

Jack White's Third Man Records tells the world: Your Music City's not dead (Nashville Scene)

Jack White: The Cream Interview (Nashville Cream)