Mary - Day 17 on Musical Advent Calendar

The Musical Advent Calendar’s Day 17 opens on this combination of a song from a writer of rare gifts, Patty Griffin, and an interpreter of rare grace, Allison Crowe – “Mary”. (After recently highlighting a live performance – here, now, is a downhome version.)

Each day through Christmas delivers a new song on Allison’s Musical Advent Calendar @ http://allisoncrowe.com/MusicalAdventCalendar2016.html

Hail "Mary"

On a "Tidings" concert tour, Canadian musician Allison Crowe began performing "Mary" - this song composed by Patty Griffin, the sublime singer-songwriter from Old Town, Maine, USA.

(Allison fell in love with the song when US cable television program "Sons of Anarchy" featured it in its Season two episode "Balm".)

The New Year kicking in, Crowe pulled her piano stool over to the kitchen table, sat down and recorded a version simple and true. We have this live recording, too - unadorned, as well, save for by honesty:


Mary (Patty Griffin) - Allison Crowe live from Allison Crowe on Vimeo.

Photos: Edward McCrea - Ladysmith Photography @ http://www.ladysmithphotography.com

Mary ~ "Tidings Concert" (song 6)

Here's "Mary", a song Allison Crowe first heard on an episode of the "Sons of Anarchy" television drama - and which got her into Patty Griffin, the song's brilliant creator. Allison's friend, driver, and European tour manager, the legendary Axel Dollheiser, was Patty's driver in the 1990s and has been raving about her ever since - particularly the "Living With Ghosts" album. Things happen when and how they do - and, it's a confessional scene involving Gemma Teller (played by Katey Sagal) on SoA that brought this music into Allison's repertoire and "Tidings Concert".

Up to the Mountain ~ "Tidings Concert" (song 10)

Continuing as best we can, (counting, that is,), in reverse chronology - presenting the songs of "Tidings Concert" - here's a tune written by Patty Grffin, an artist Allison Crowe discovered while watching a favourite television show, "Sons of Anarchy". This particular song, not in the SoA soundtrack, was recommended to Allison by Canadian acoustic soul-singer Bob Benvenuti (seek him out!): "Up to the Mountain".

Mary 2011

This week, Allison Crowe has recorded three new originals: "Arthur" (not a Kinks kover); "By Any Terms"; and "Chasing the Rain". She's also recorded a cover.

"Cover Me" blog's Vincent Scarpa says: "Canadian singer-songwriter Allison Crowe drops great covers every time we turn around." Scarpa brands this newest interpretation "a lovely acoustic tribute to one of America's most underrated songwriters. Patty Griffin would surely approve of this bare-bones delivery that exposes what are some of Griffin's finest lyrics."

You can hear the song @: Allison Crowe Records Patty Griffin's "Mary" (Cover Me Premiere)

And, here it is on YouTube with photos by Edward McCrea - Ladysmith Photography:



On her most recent Tidings concert tour, Allison Crowe performing "Mary", a song written by the sublime American singer-songwriter Patty Griffin. (She'd fallen in love with the song when US cable television program "Sons of Anarchy" featured it in its Season two episode "Balm".)

The New Year kicking in, Crowe pulled her piano stool over to the kitchen table, sat down and recorded this version simple and true.

M&M's Wedding Day

Mark & Mary, dear friends, wed today in Glasgow.

Their first dance was to Sea of a Million Faces.

To celebrate this loving, joyous, occasion, here's a song/video, penned primarily by John Lennon - who loved Scotland as much as does Allison ( :

"There are places I'll remember, in my life though some have changed..."



Sláinte mhaith!!