February 1985.

For no discernible reason Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, Marty Stuart, and Christopher Reeve show up in the audience of a Season 10 episode of Saturday Night Live.

John Prine and Marty Stuart performing "Souvenirs". ______________ Souvenirs Songwriter: John Prine

All the snow has turned to water Christmas days have come and gone Broken toys and faded colors Are all that's left to linger on I hate graveyards and old pawn shops For they always bring me tears I can't forgive the way they robbed me Of my childhood souvenirs

Memories, they can't be boughten They can't be won at carnivals for free Well, it took me years to get those souvenirs And I don't know how they slipped away from me

Broken hearts and dirty windows Make life difficult to see That's why last night and this morning Always look the same to me And I hate reading old love letters For they always bring me tears I can't forgive the way they robbed me Of my sweetheart's souvenirs

Memories, they can't be boughten They can't be won at carnivals for free Well, it took me years to get those souvenirs And I don't know how they slipped away from me

Marty Stuart

Song Review: Johnny Cash - “Well Alright”

Johnny Cash wrote and recorded an LP’s worth of songs in 1993 and then shelved the thing. Now, it’s set to be released as Songwriter and if “Well Alright” is any indication, it’s about damn time.

Featuring Cash’s trademark boom-chuck guitar and baritone voice, it’s a whimsical number about turning laundry time into get-naked time.

I met her at the laundromat, she was washing extra hot/I said, ‘don’t you need a little help with that big load you got?’/she said ‘no,’ but did a double take and then she smiled and said, ‘I might’/as I rolled up my sleeves, I said to myself, ‘well alright, well alright,’ he sings.

Cash chuckles as he recounts the story and sings some do-do-dos in an uncharacteristically carefree manner. The song announces Songwriter’s June 28 arrival; it’ll feature appearances from Marty Stuart, who plays on “Well Alright,” Vince Gill, Dan Auerbach and Waylon Jennings.

Grade card: Johnny Cash - “Well Alright” - A

4/23/24

Johnny Cash born January 26, 1932 in Kingsland, Arkansas.

Marty is a friend of mine.

Superlative

Marty Stuart

‘Clarence’ – the famous Telecaster once owned by Clarence White

The Del McCoury Band with Marty Stuart performing "Foggy Mountain Breakdown". __________________________ Foggy Mountain Breakdown Songwriter: Earl Scruggs

Marty Stuart

Song Review: Lester Flatt & The Nashville Grass - “Great Big Woman”

Playing with the Nashville Grass, Lester Flatt made art of the novelty.

“Great Big Woman” is out to preview the March 15 reissue of Flatt & the Grass’ 1976 LP, Heaven’s Bluegrass Band. And though it’s entirely cheeky and full of innuendo and talking among the band members, there’s nothing unserious about Flatt and Marty Stuart’s vocalizing and the septet’s ensemble playing. This, despite such lyrics as:

Great big woman had a little bitty bottle of wine/I don’t care to lose the woman but I sure wanna keep my wine

“Great Big Woman” is a musical joke. Performance wise, however, it’s deathly serious.

Grade card: Lester Flatt & The Nashville Grass - “Great Big Woman” - A

3/6/24

Emmylou Harris performing with Marty Stuart at the Ryman, June 2022

Marty Stuart and the Fabulous Superlatives (2022)

I almost lost this video, so I’m uploading it as 1). triumph I refound it, and 2). extra security. Marty Stuart and the Fabulous Superlatives can put on a powerful concert seeped in musicality and virtuosity... and impressive variation. They know how to switch from acoustic to electric, or mix-and-match instruments, leaning into everything from bluegrass to Western swing to honky-tonk to country rock. And everything they do is to the highest quality, expressivity, and taste.

To me, one of the most profound and startling performances on the night I saw them was Chris Scruggs performing an old Bob Wills song, Brain Cloudy Blues. I hadn’t heard the song before, but after the concert, I was obsessed relistening to it. Chris’s vocal performance is compelling and better than the original. A highlight of a night that was a highlight unto itself.