It’s a holiday weekend in the US, so I’ll keep it short so all of us can get on with our barbecues, pool parties and languid lounging. The sounds this week are all about the feeling of Americana, both here in the states and the influence abroad. Barbara Lynn is a Texas-born R&B singer and guitarist who wrote and played nearly all of her own songs. Her sound takes blues, jazz and southern funk and puts a feminist turn on it, especially with her biggest hit, “You’ll Loose a Good Thing.” Sharhabil Ahmed’s album is a compilation by Habibi Funk, one of my favorite record labels, that is full of jazz and funk by the so-called “Sudanese King of Jazz.” We move into the softer, smoother sounds of the 70s with Salty Miller’s Album #1, which is like a more California Steely Dan album (in the best way). With Lucinda Williams, we come back around to the singer-songwriter and guitarist combination, only with a bit more bucolic twang. Then there’s the Fruit Bats newest album, in which we end up in a place that feels damn good. It’s windows rolled down, highway driving kind of music.
Enjoy.
Listen to the playlist here.
Monday
You’ll Lose a Good Thing - Barbara Lynn (1963)
Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube / Other streaming services
Tuesday
The King of Sudanese Jazz (Habibi Funk 013) - Sharhabil Ahmed (1960s/1970s)
Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube / Other streaming services
Wednesday
Album #1 - Salty Miller (1980)
Spotify / Apple Music / Other streaming services
Thursday
Ramblin’ On My Mind - Lucinda Williams (1979)
Spotify / Other streaming services
Friday
A River Running To Your Heart - Fruit Bats (2023)
Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube / Other streaming services
Pair with:
Watermelon Summer Salad. I love summer, because the meals get better and more simple. This one is fresh and easily adjustable. Add chicken, steak, chickpeas, whatever. It’s yours.
Box of Orange Wine. This Field Recordings box of wine is not the best wine you’ll ever drink. But, it’s a box of pretty good orange wine that is easy to share and easily transportable.
Origin Rosé. This wine is good, but I’m mostly plugging it because the artwork is done by Austin-based artist R.F. Alvarez, whose art is so beautiful you’ll tear up looking at it every time.
YouSwim suit. I hope you already have one of these, but if you don’t, do yourself a favor and get one. They’re kind of expensive, but it’ll always fit you and you’ll probably have it forever. That’s priceless.
All these damn MDW sales. Here’s one at Yucca, a great boutique in Denver. Another at Nonna. Micaela Greg, especially these shorts. My favorite too cool, pretty affordable boutique in Brooklyn, Peche. Another very cool boutique, this time in Portland, Boswell. Mohawk General Store. The best men’s boutique in America, Stag (their women’s sister store, Daughters, is also good. Dilo Candles, because I love their Cactus Flower one.
The most beautiful paintings:
All artwork is by R.F. Alvarez. If you’re in New York, RUN to go see his show at Alanna Miller.
Thank you, thank you.
Have a great week.