The Japanese release of Jeff Lang’s 2017 album, Alone in Bad Company, includes a bonus track: Jeff’s cover of Chris Whitley’s “As Flat as the Earth” (Terra Incognita). Because this recording is unavailable in the US and with Jeff’s generous permission, I am sharing it here so that ATCW group members can listen to … Continue reading
I never liked Solid Iron Heart on the Rocket House album. Well, I should qualify that statement: I was drawn in by Chris’s haunting voice and entranced by the lyrics, but my ears rebelled against all the extraneous sound production in the album version. I mean, really, why such noise should obscure such intense … Continue reading
I was pleasantly surprised when, viewing files Hiroshi Suda had sent me of 1999-02-05 (Quasimodo’s, Berlin), I came across a video of Chris and Pat MacDonald singing Dylan’s “Billy” – still brings a smile! Today I ran across some additional audio files of that duet plus of Pat’s solo performance. I’m sharing them … Continue reading
In Cleveland last fall, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame held a tribute to blues guitarist Robert Johnson. Of the renowned blues, pop, folk and jazz performers at two concerts that weekend, Chris Whitley was the only discernible musical and spiritual link to the fabled bluesman. The powers that be could have scrapped … Continue reading
This is the second set only: Taped by Joel Keller.
“Since Hendrix, there’s not a lot that blows me away,” Whitley said.* We’re all familiar with Chris’s cover of Hendrix’s “Drifting” on the Perfect Day CD. But did you know that he covered other Hendrix songs? That one of the first albums he bought (with money his grandmother had given him for his … Continue reading
FWIW: Just made the connection re this photo and the rare bootleg of Chris and Trixie singing “Alien” at Brownie’s, NYC, 1996-07-16. Thanks to Hiroshi Suda for sharing the bootleg.
An early performance of New Machine: Recording (rehearsing?) New Machine at Sony Studios (NYC, NY)
Articles People Magazine review Chris Whitley bounces from genre to genre Chris Whitley covers a lot of territory (Double Door May 1997) Chris Whitley flies high again CW: Convalescence and Guitari-tecture CW mixes blues, complex personality CW readily journeying into Terra Incognita Songs blue at heart, but not quite the blues Rockin’ to the last … Continue reading
Just because a great song is worth listening to in its many versions! Save
