De dentro a fuera

Ayer, gracias al programa de radio de mi amigo Adolfo (al que además de lavarle la boca con jabón voy a tener que pagarle un loquero y unas cuantas clases de inglés), supe que bastantes de mis artistas favoritos (y no es coña) de lo que en la actualidad se denomina Música Americana de Raíces (country, rockabilly, western swing, blues, gospel), como John Prine, Dave Alvin, Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Katy Moffatt, Rosie Flores, Buddy y Julie Miller, Dale Watson, Billy Joe Shaver, Po Girl, Heather Myles, Tom Russell, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Chuck Prophet o Laurie Lewis, tienen algo más en común que gustarme, y es haber grabado para el sello Hightone Records.

Hightone es, por tanto, desde mi punto de vista, una casa discográfica muy a tener en cuenta, en la que abunda la calidad.

Para quien no conozca ninguno de estos nombres y desee explorar nuevos mundos, aparte de ver los vídeos que he seleccionado y de escuchar el podcast de Música Cósmica, le recomiendo que adquiera la caja de 4 CDs + DVD + libro de 124 páginas que acaba de publicarse, The Hightone Records Story, en la que se repasa la historia de este sello creado en 1983 en California.

Chuck Prophet - Age of Miracles


John Prine - It's A Big Old Goofy World


The Blasters- So long baby goodbye- Zaragoza 2006


Buddy Miller - Worry Too Much


Laurie Lewis - I'm Gonna Be The Wind


Dale Watson - Help Me Joe


Billy Joe Shaver - Freedom's Child


Tom Russell - Gallo del Cielo


Heather Myles - Big Cars

Joan Baez Diamonds and Rust - Live, 1975
[Ojo a la dedicatoria del comienzo, "By far the most talented and crazy person I ever worked with", clara alusión a la que había llegado a ser su pareja]

Well I'll be damned
Here comes your ghost again
But that's not unusual
It's just that the moon is full
And you happened to call
And here I sit
Hand on the telephone
Hearing a voice I'd known
A couple of light years ago
Heading straight for a fall

As I remember your eyes
Were bluer than robin's eggs
My poetry was lousy you said
Where are you calling from?
A booth in the midwest
Ten years ago
I bought you some cufflinks
You brought me something
We both know what memories can bring
They bring diamonds and rust

Well you burst on the scene
Already a legend
The unwashed phenomenon
The original vagabond
You strayed into my arms
And there you stayed
Temporarily lost at sea
The Madonna was yours for free
Yes the girl on the half-shell
Would keep you unharmed

Now I see you standing
With brown leaves falling around
And snow in your hair
Now you're smiling out the window
Of that crummy hotel
Over Washington Square
Our breath comes out white clouds
Mingles and hangs in the air
Speaking strictly for me
We both could have died then and there

Now you're telling me
You're not nostalgic
Then give me another word for it
You who are so good with words
And at keeping things vague
Because I need some of that vagueness now
It's all come back too clearly
Yes I loved you dearly
And if you're offering me diamonds and rust
I've already paid