Bootleg Rye # 1

Over the past two weeks, I've been sharing some thoughts about songwriting during the workshop portion of the Corktown Ukulele Jam.

The very first thing any songwriter needs is a pair of unquenchably thirsty ears.

To emphasize that point, I made a playlist of great tunes that always perk up my ears, and shared them with the group.

Here, in alphabetical order, is the first bunch, which I called Bootleg Rye # 1.

TITLE, ARTIST, ALBUM, WRITER

1. Aeroplane - Melwood Cutlery, Campfire (Melwood Cutlery)
2. Baby I'm a Fool - Melody Gardot, My One and Only Thrill (Melody Gardot)
3. Coconut - Harry Nilsson, Nilsson Schmilsson (Harry Nilsson)
4. Fields of Gold - Eva Cassidy, Songbird (Sting)
5. Heartless, Heartless, Heartless - Joel Plaskett, Three (Joel & Bill Plaskett)
6. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry - Johnny Cash & Nick Cave, American IV: The Man Comes Around (Hank Williams)
7. Jolene - Dolly Parton, The Very Best of Dolly Parton (Dolly Parton)
8. Let the Darkness Go - Brian MacMillan, Let the Darkness Go (Brian MacMillan)
9. Miss Otis Regrets - Ella Fitzgerald, The Best of the Songbooks (Cole Porter)
10. not myself - Michael Brennan, Anywhere But Here (Michael Brennan)
11. Queen of the Silver Dollar - Dr. Hook, Greatest Hits (Shel Silverstein)
12. Sweet Jane - Cowboy Junkies, The Trinity Sessions (Lou Reed)
13. Torn Screen Door - David Francey, Torn Screen Door (David Francey)
14. Walk Away Rene - Billy Bragg, Must I Paint You a Picture: The Essential Billy Bragg (Bob Calli, Tony Brown, Michael Sansone with spoken word by Billy Bragg)
15. When the Deal Goes Down - Bob Dylan, Modern Times (Bob Dylan)
16. Wonderful World - Sam Cooke, 16 Most Requested Songs (Herb Alpert, Lou Adler, Sam Cooke)

As time allows I'll be annotating these selections, giving my reasons for choosing them and hinting, if possible, at the deep cool mysteries that lurk within each.

And look for Bootleg Rye #2 soon!