Feb 25, 2010

Crazy Heart

Okay, so Maggie and Kate got me super excited for this film and it's soundtrack, but I took my sweet time finally getting to see it. Finally did on Tuesday night (dollar popcorn night, naturally). This ban on running and/or exercise due to the heinous shin splints is giving me lots of free time.


I loved it- one of those movies you want to live and breathe for a little bit. I noticed the book (which I didn't realize it was based on, did you, Maggie or Kate?), at Target the other day. Has anyone read it?

Anyway, I love old country. Waylon Live is one of my desert island albums, and when I lived in NYC I listened to Hank Junior everyday on the subway ride home from my internship (yeah, I did not have the happiest experience living there for a summer). Oh, then there's Billy Joe Shaver, and Jerry Reed, and David Allen Coe (on who's tour bus I wet my pants once due to fear, but that's another story), and all the real old stuff, goodness. So the whole movie, I was keeping an ear open for who Bad Blake, the protagonist resembled in sound. To me, the soundtrack reminded me most of J.J. Cale- one of my favorite artists to see live.  I got home last night and compiled my own Bad Blake-esque album of some of my faves-

1.  T is For Texas- Waylon Jennings (from Waylon Live),  I challenge you to not sing this song at the top of your lungs

2.  Cajun Moon- J.J. Cale- like many of his songs, it's quiet, a little spooky, and addictive

3.  Georgia on a Fast Train- Billy Joe Shaver- an autobiographical tune of his, this is another one I prefer to sing at the top of my lungs

4.  Long Haired Country Boy- Charlie Daniels Band- It's the lake, it's a cold beer, it's windows down in the car.

5.  Please Come to Boston- David Allen Coe- one of his tamer tunes, I really think it's a beautiful song.

6.  Lukenbach, Texas- Waylon Jennings- no explanation needed.

7.  Knoxville Courthouse Blues- Hank Williams, Jr.-  For obvious reasons, I like this song by title alone, but I also love speculating whether it's a true story.  I  know James Brown has been to jail here, not sure on Hank.

8.  Highwayman- The Highwaymen- Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson, does it get any better?

9.  Ride Me High- J.J. Cale- one of the sexiest songs ever.

10.  Amos Moses- Jerry Reed- Me and brother love this one (especially after a few beers).

11.  Mama Tried- Merle Haggard- I love the guitar in this song- first heard the Grateful Dead's version which got me into Merle in early high school.

12.  Sensitive Kind- J.J. Cale- I remember in college falling asleep to this song in college, wondering where the guy was who would appreciate that I am a sensitive kind.

13.  Magnolia- J.J. Cale- I like this with Sensitive Kind- feel like two parts of the same song.

14.  Me and Paul- Waylon Jennings- I think Bad Blake would definitely identify with this one.  Outlaw country life on the road.

15. Guitar Town- Steve Earle- see above.

16.  Live Forever- Billy Joe Shaver- I was so excited when they discuss this song in the movie, because I just adore it.

17.  Call Me the Breeze- J.J. Cale- he wrote this, Cocaine, After Midnight, Traveling Light, Crazy Mama- I mean the man is an incredible songwriter.  Eric Clapton once said that Lay Down Sally was his attempt to write a J.J. Cale song.  I love me some Slow Hand, but he doesn't even come close.

What would you add to my "Inspired by" soundtrack?  Have you seen Crazy Heart?  Or any other Oscar contenders?

13 comments:

  1. Love that you loved it too. I can't get the movie (much less the amazing songs) out of my head! I had no idea it was an adaptation, either.

    So um... will you make me a cd? :-)

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  2. YAY! I knew you'd love it! The fact that it is not nominated for Best Picture (especially with TEN nods this year) is enough to ALMOST make me boycott the Oscars.

    You should check out Monte Montgomery. His sound isn't old country but his guitar influences are... He's a bit of Merle, a bit of Stevie Ray Vaughan, and a bit of pop-folk all wrapped up into the best guitar player I've ever had the pleasure to see live. His version of Little Wing is epic.

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  3. Also. I'm going to need to hear that pee-your-pants story. As a woman with a weak bladder and a tendency to laugh really hard a whole whole lot, I have more than these stories than I care to admit.

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  4. Fabulous choices. As a down home country girl at heart (for real, small town, cows in the parking lot at high school) there's nothing I love more than old country.

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  5. There's been so much buzz surrounding this film - I really want to see it. Love your old-school country picks.

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  6. I'm dying to see this one!! I plan to see it during my movies double feature this weekend.

    And, I'm thoroughly loving the country legends playlist. My secret shame is that one of my all-time favorite country songs is "Pancho and Lefty" by Merle and Willie. It's so awesomely folksy and cheesy. My dad used to listen to that song all the time when I was kid -- Memories!

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  7. I haven't seen it... yet.

    Now, I'm dying to hear about your David Allen Coe tour bus adventure!

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  8. Charlie Daniels just gets me every, every time!

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  9. I haven't seen it but Ive heard a lot of people talking about how great it is!

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  10. Saw it on Sunday and loved it. Bad Blake, despite everything *bad* he had done in his life, was still such a likeable and sympathetic character. Jeff Bridges rocked that role. Sorry to hear that you had a tough summer in NYC years ago- I live here and while amazing in so many ways, it will wear you down.

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  11. Hey, sorry I haven't been by in a zillion years . . .

    OK, you've convinced me - next on my Oscars homework list will be "Crazy Heart".

    And here's another vote / plea for the tinkle-in-your-pants tour bus story!

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  12. Love love love this list! I swear I would pay you to somehow burn me a cd with all of these songs. I know you don't know me, but I love your blog. :) kelly

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  13. I haven't seen crazy heart! I so want to now - even though i'm not a huge maggie fan! great list!

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