2. And it Stoned me - Van Morrison
3. Sonny's Dream - John McDermott
4. Carefree Highway - Gordon Lightfoot
6. Clock's and Spoons - John Prine
7. Mr. Bojangles - Jerry Jeff Walker
8. After the Goldrush - Neil Young
11. Sweet Virginia - Rolling Stones
12. Friend of the Devil - Greatfull Dead
14. King of the Road - Roger Miller
15. Take the Star out of the Window - John Prine
This compilation doesn’t necessarily represent my favorite songs, although Neil Young is my favorite artist. It does represent those songs that are still around because they suit my playing style better than others.
As my memory is kind of hokey at best I’d like to write down a few thoughts on each song here where they won’t get lost.
There’s probably only 6 or 7 of these songs that I actually know front to back, and I can only play half of them in order before my voice tires out. Most of them I have forgotten even knowing until I rediscover them years later. Maybe having them all together in one place will encourage me to polish a few more off.
Pocohontos - Neil Young
This song is all about beating out the rhythm. If you can get a pounding, but restrained rhythm down on the strumming pattern you’ll have it. I don’t even think I was listening to the song when it grabbed me. I was humming it one night and started thinking ‘that’s pretty neat!’, then got the guitar and beat it out.
And it Stoned Me - Van Morrison
Glen Campbell always played this song and it just works well.
Sonny’s Dream - John McDermott
It must have been on NPR or CBC I heard them highlighting this song and they said it was the most widely played song by buskers across the WORLD ! So I figured there must be something to it, and there is.
Carefree Highway - Gordon Lightfoot
I’ve gone through so many of his songs, but he’s such a powerfull singer and songplayer that it’s pretty hard to pull one off. This one is so much fun to play.
Lotta Love - Neil Young
Neil is such a versatile songwriter. I was in TJ Maxx looking at discount high priced socks when a cover of this tune came on. The cover tune really did a great job of catching the essence of the song, and exemplifying what a great song it is. I knew I had ehard the song, but I couldn’t think at all who it was. I sang it half the day before I realized it was Neil Young off the Rust Never Sleeps tape I found that belonged to Jeff Wilson. Tony subsequently bought the DVD, which is a good glimpse into the 70’s.
I still have a hard time catching the swing of this song in the strumming.
Clock’s and Spoons - John Prine
Such a simple song but it still has kept me coming back. Mr. Bojangles - Jerry Jeff Walker
I was visiting Glen Campbell in Vernon, BC and his room mate was playing this on the porch one evening. That was 10 years ago and I still haven't learned all the words.
After the Goldrush - Neil Young
This is one of those songs where the tune just comes to you and you don't even know who it is. I was at the supper table playing guitar when I was living with Tony the first time. I started strumming something that was reminiscent of how this song played but I couldn't for the life of me figure out what the song was. I passed it by Tony and he was at al loss as well. Since then it has come to be one of my favorite songs to play.
Promises - Eric Clapton
This is such a fun song to sing. Easy all around, it would be a great beginners song.
Powderfinger - Neil Young
What a blast this is to play. Shane Guitar's band played it one night and I thought it would be a good acoustic song as wel.
Sweet Virginia - Rolling Stones
I think I was listening to this tune out in the wood shop one night and had to run inside to get the guitar and sit down and learn it. One of these days I'll write out the tab to the picking.
Friend of the devil - Greatfull Dead
No idea where I ever picked this up but it is well adapted to guitar. Slow it down and it works well. The original is very fast. Someday I'll write out the tab to the intro picking and post that as well.
Brandy - Looking Glass
I think I was at work at True Engineering when I heard this one day and thought it would be a great song to play. It's hard to copy as the vocals in the original are very strong, but it's a lot of fun!
King of the Road - Roger Miller
I picked this up one day here at the house in Gilsum, and on a St. Croix Canoe run that spring I heard Campbell play it. Still haven't learned the words, but great song to play as the lyrics are a lotta fun.
Take the Star out of the Window - John Prine
Steve Goodman and John Prine have a great thing going on here. I liked it so much that I adpated the picking to a one guitar thing. I have to post the tab to the picking here as well someday.
Last updated April 5, 2006
#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#These files are the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#songs. You may only use these files for private study, scholarship, or research. #
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