It’s feeling a little autumnal. As I write this the skies are darkening a little overhead and the possibility of lighting the fire tonight and staying in gets more and more attractive. The soundtrack is Dorothy Love Coates and assorted Gospel gems and I’m inclined not to move too far from this sofa for a few hours.
I’m never sure what my father would have made of great African American or Country Gospel music, but I have a feeling he would have enjoyed it for bringing together his love of music and his desire to spread the word whenever he could. Fathers and sons eh? Even years of separation don’t seem to break the bonds of growing up. I got a call from my own son this afternoon and immediately we fell back into familiar themes of conversation that have marked our life together. Though we are hundreds of miles apart it felt as if we were still riding in the car together, going up to the game or up to the hills above the city for a long walk.
We have a bit of a father/son theme going on in this week’s Another Country. Our very special guest is The Wallflowers’ very own Jakob Dylan, whose the son of Bob. I really enjoyed talking to Jakob a few weeks back, but felt acutely aware that there was an elephant in the virtual room and I wasn’t going to be the one who’d mention it first. It’s hard enough making a name for yourself in this musical world without worrying that every time you release a song it gets compared to the ultimate pop/rock catalogue. I’m therefore delighted to tell you that with or without the knowledge of Jakob’s lineage The Wallflowers new record, Exit Wounds is a fine piece of work. There’s much to enjoy in the interplay of the current lineup whose album is the first under that name for eight years. It’s interesting too to understand Jakob’s rules of what defines a band project against the records he’s brought out in his own name.
While we’re on this theme we will remind you of the talent that was Justin Townes Earle who, sadly, died far too young last year with a reminder of the potency of his father’s songwriting thrown in for good measure. There’s a new record too from the third generation of Williams as we introduce you to new Nashville star, Sam Williams, grandson of Hank. Will you hear a Hank classic? I suspect you know the answer to that one.
Elsewhere in two hours of country we will bring you some great new collaborations from Adia Victoria and Matt Berninger, David Ferguson and Margo Price as well as Carly Pearce and Ashley McBryde. It will be a packed two hours which all kicks off at five past eight on BBC Radio Scotland FM this Tuesday evening, or BBC Sounds wherever, whenever you fancy. Join me if you can.
