"Just a Closer Walk with Thee" - Patsy Cline (Live)

For a Jewish kid I sure love gospel. There is nothing like careening down the road; or up one for that matter; on a blind curve singing about Jesus and just feeling good. Like I said, for a Jewish kid this is probably not quite kosher; or normal.

My love for the music comes from 2 places; the transistor radio I constantly had at my side; especially at night; and the history I read about slavery and the Negro Spirituals. Those 2 things are the most to blame for my passion for gospel music. Plus it just makes you feel really good.

Hank Williams took gospel to a whole different level; as did James Brown and Jerry Lee Lewis. It morphed into rhythm and blues and then rock and roll. But it all began with the gospel music. And gospel music came from the African-American Diaspora; which began in Africa when the first slave was either abducted or sold into slavery.

The ancient rhythms and chants of the slaves became the field hollers and spirituals of the Caribbean plantations, and later the pre-Civil War Era. During Reconstruction the music spread up the Mississippi River; with each port adding its own flavor.

But all that has little to do with this song and Patsy Cline. Not sure what year this is from, but it is obviously the audio from a radio show in the late 1950’S. Patsy Cline performed this song a score of times on the radio; and even on television. There was just one hitch; she did it differently each time. Sometimes slow; sometimes fast. Blues; or up tempo. This was her true artistry as an interpreter of songs. And this version is one of my favorite gospel songs.

Just a Closer Walk with Thee

I am weak but Thou art strong

Jesus keep me from all wrong

I'll be satisfied as long

As I walk, let me walk close to Thee

Just a closer walk with Thee

Grant it Jesus, is my plea

Daily walking close to Thee

Let it be dear Lord, let it be

When my feeble life is over

Time for me will be no more

Guide me gently, safely over

To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore

Just a closer walk with Thee

Grant it Jesus, is my plea

Daily walking close to Thee

Let it be dear Lord, let it be

Patty Griffin - Tiny Desk Concert

Not much to say today, except enjoy this NPR Mini Desk Concert. Patty Griffin sings about things other performers don’t. With her fluid style of guitar playing she brings life to each song which she performs. If I had to compare her to anyone it would be Grace Potter or The Trishas. Both vocally and musically she is in that same category of folk-rock artists.

I like the independent artists featured on NPR’s Tiny Desk series because I almost always come away with a new song to play. Acoustic music is my favorite, mainly because I can play the stuff I hear later on. Most of the songs I enjoy can be easily played by even an amateur guitarist like me. That’s easy. The real talent lies in creating the songs themselves.

The songs which Ms. Griffin performs here are; "Faithful Son", "That Kind Of Lonely" and "Get Ready Marie",

Accompanying Ms. Griffin are John Deaderick on accordion; Dave Pulkingham on guitar; and Craig Ross on the baritone guitar.

"Telephone Road" by Rodney Crowell (2001)

This video is from Rodney Crowell's 2001 release of the "Houston Kid" album, which would turn out to be the beginning of a trilogy for Mr. Crowell. "Houston Kid" was followed with "Fate's Right Hand" in 2003, and then with the sensational album "The Outsiders", in 2005. This video starts off with a very young Dan Rather doing the weather report out of Houston during a hurricane in the late 50's, or early 60's.

The whole video is a veritable snapshot of life from when Mr. Crowell was a kid. Interspersed, as it is, with footage of his band recording, and performing, lends an urgency to the song, almost as if the artist wants you to step inside his head and share with you all of the things he has seen while growing up.

All three of the aforementioned albums were eventually distilled into Rodney Crowell's landmark autobiography, "Chinaberry Sidewalks", which was released in 2010. If you haven't read it, you are missing out on a real treat. And, if you have never been to one of Mr. Crowell's concerts, you are doubly deprived.