Strange Babes

Karen Dalton





What a voice. K.D was out there-- tall, part Cherokee, played a 12 string Gibson guitar, afraid of the studio (recorded only two studio albums), and a substance abuser. Even though she hated it, people called her voice "the answer to Billie Holiday." While her albums found mild success, and her singing was revered (Dylan's favorite in the Greenwich village scene), it seems she was often misunderstood. True to her Cherokee roots, Dalton was said to be very connected with the Earth. Music for her was not meant to be commerical but rather personal. There is a certain amount of suffering that resonates in her music whether it speaks for herself or the ill-treated world she saw around her. Green Rocky Road (2008) is a recent release of 9 tracks recorded by Dalton herself on reel-to-reel tapes and perhaps it's the way she would have wanted her music to be heard.

Timi Yuro

This Italian little schnup had pipes that made up for her size. The little girl with the big voice was barely five feet fall, but the depth of her voice blew people away. What I find fascinating about Yuro is that she had throat surgery in 1980 and then recorded two more albums in the following four years. However, she never fully beat the cancer and was unable to sing past 1984.

"Timi's voice doesn't come from the throat, but from the heart. She doesn't just sing the song, she lives it." -Dinah Washington

Jason Molina

Molina is one of the few special heartland rockers out there therese days. He's blue collar, he's behind his music, and he's not afraid to make a shitload of it under lots of different names. He's always been the brain behind all his projects though. Songs: Ohia found the most recognition particularly with their release Magnolia Electric Co.(2003) which was the final Songs: Ohia album and later became the name of Molina's next affair. Currently Molina might be dead. He's been in and out of hospitals for the past two years, but nobody knows why. What we do know is that he has no health insurance. I think he's working on a farm in West Virginia now where he's raising chickens and the like or maybe he works in a museum in London. His life and health have been shrouded in mystery for too long. We all hope he leaves soon and starts channelling Neil Young and Springsteen in lyric driven rockers like this one.

And another one off of Fading Trails (2006) by Magnolia Electric Co.

Bonnie and Clyde

Flatt & Scruggs, an important power duo to the "original" high & lonesome sound of Appalachia. This record is with the Foggy Mountain Boys and shows a good range of songs. Fast bluegrass breakdowns and slow soothers. Don't get it mixed up with "Theme from the film Bonnie and Clyde" which I found to be disappointing. Most of the songs written by Thomas T. Hall.

Since we're on the topic...Other artists have taken a stab at the Bonnie and Clyde business, and Serge Gainsbourg kind of kills it here. French seduction..Bonnniiieeeee