ON REPEAT in JANUARY: Classics, Country-Funk and Keith Whitley
Norwich. January. Sunset.
This month has gone on for longer than I thought possible. I barely remember New Year’s Eve, the only things I can recall are some whiskey gingers, some prosecco, being in the new year before my American friends but after my French friends, and the stars being out when I left my sister’s house. Still, for better or for worse we’ve made it to the end of 2025’s first month. These are the things I’ve had on repeat throughout January.
The Band, and just everything they did
My love for The Band is relatively steady, with a deeper fall into their discography happening every once in a while, but with the passing of Garth Hudson I’ve found myself completely immersed in their incomparable catalogue over the last month. They truly are Americana, however you define it, this largely Canadian group will fit your definition. Their sound was so deeply rooted in American tradition yet was entirely unique. It was inherently unpredictable, yet made perfect sense when you heard it. I also wrote Americana UK’s obituary for Hudson, and throughout that writing process – one that I’m honoured to have done – I had The Band keeping me company. The “Brown Album”, of course, my favourite ‘Northern Lights – Southern Cross’, and I’ve listened to their flawless cover of Springsteen’s Atlantic City countless times (‘Jericho’ isn’t on UK Spotify for some reason, so you’ll find a remastered version on ‘Read em and weep’ – a great live album).
Townes Van Zandt, ‘Our Mother the Mountain’
I think my Townes kick started back in November or December, but he’s been on repeat throughout January too. It’s mostly been ‘Our Mother the Mountain’ which is arguably his best album, (I do love ‘Delta Momma Blues’ too though), the final song Why She’s Acting This Way in particular has been with me this month – ‘pack up your sunflower smile and your bandana blues’ is just beautiful. I was walking to the cinema the other day and told my sister that Townes might have been a better songwriter than Dylan ever has been – I’m determined to get good music into people’s lives, and I’m not afraid of giving a controversial opinion to start that conversation. Whichever way you lean on that, Townes had something special about him, for sure.
Bob Dylan, ‘Bringing It All Back Home’
Speaking of Dylan, after seeing A Complete Unknown this month (BIG recommend – those shots of New York in the 60s and being a part of that on-screen musical community made me painfully nostalgic for a time I’ve never known. Also, the fashion, costuming and styling has been done impeccably.) I’m back on my Dylan game, not that I ever really left. More than any other of his albums this month, I’ve had ‘Bringing It All Back Home’ on repeat. My favourite Dylan albums are typically ‘Nashville Skyline’, ‘John Wesley Harding’ and ‘Freewheelin’ (for sentimental reasons), but I’ve been turning to this one more this month. The first half is the New Electric Dylan, the B side is just classic Bob, his acoustic and his harmonica – it’s Dylan’s transformation captured on one album and is home to one of my favourite Dylan songs: It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue. It came just before the monumental ‘Highway 61 Revisited’ so could be overlooked if you’re new to his discography, but it’s a very worthwhile stop along the highway.
Ben Chapman, ‘Downbeat’
I’ve been loving this album so much. ‘Downbeat’ was released mid-December ‘24, and I guess with all the essay writing and things I had going on at that time, I missed this one. I’d heard the title track and thought it was very cool, but this whole album is genuinely exceptional. Chapman’s got his country-funk sound figured out perfectly, he’s riding the same wave as Brent Cobb, and the two Georgia boys are regularly channelling their inner Allman Brothers. There are a couple of lyrics on this album that I just think are genius, one of them being on the effortlessly breezy chorus of Star of Monterey: ‘got Jesus on her necklace, smokes cigarettes for breakfast’. That slight slant rhyme, paired with Chapman’s easy-going vocals dragging out a couple vowels is honestly just perfect. Incredibly simple language that paints an immediate picture. Perhaps more than anything else this month, this album has been on repeat in my kitchen, and my housemates could attest to that.
Keith Whitley – just on shuffle
Whitley’s been my go-to neotraditional country man this month. Like so many of the country legends Whitley got his start in bluegrass but made a move to Nashville where he aspired to make traditional country – and so he did! With a very distinct vocal style that bends his stories alongside his voice, Whitley made some pretty classic country ballads. I’ve just had everything he did on shuffle this month, but some of my absolute favourites from him, and some of his biggest hits, are Kentucky Bluebird, Somebody’s Doin Me Right, Nobody In His Right Mind Would’ve Left Her, Tell Lorrie I Love Her, and I’m Gonna Hurt Her On The Radio (although I’ve heard some covers of that one that almost beat the original), I Get The Picture and That Stuff are underappreciated. Thanks for the music, Keith, we’ve still got your records spinning.
Willow Avalon, ‘Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell’
I’m not going to say too much on this one because I’ve got a full album review here. But sometimes you just feel like raisin’ a little hell, and Willow Avalon did that on her debut. On repeat.
I also want to keep track of the records I find each month, I really love collecting vinyl - physical media is a blessing in a world of immediacy. I’m not sure what will happen if (when!) I make a Big Move (USA I’m omw) in the future, but for now my records really keep me company.
This month’s vinyl finds have been Merle Haggard ‘Ramblin’ Fever’ and ‘A Portrait of Merle’, Charley Pride ‘Just Plain Charley’ and ‘There’s A Little Bit of Hank in Me’ (Hank Williams cover album!) and Poco ‘The Songs of Richie Furay’ - some pretty good ones, keep shopping second-hand!
