Me and Bobby McGee

"Me and Bobby McGee" penned by Fred Foster and Kris Kristofferson, closes this second concert of Allison Crowe "Live at Wood Hall". Allan Showalter, Buddha of the Broomcorn, blog-master @ http://1heckofaguy.com says, "Allison Crowe is the best thing to happen to 'Me And Bobby McGee' since Janis Joplin changed Kristofferson's lyrics."



(Applause/thanks)

Imagine

"Imagine", composed by John Lennon, performed live by Allison Crowe. Peace.



(Applause/banter)

I Dreamed a Dream

"I Dreamed a Dream" - Words & Music by Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg. Culture blog Muruch calls Allison Crowe's performance the definitive version of this song from Les Miserables. "Les Miz" fans have their faves, and that's the nature of music and musicals. The passion of Allison live, heard in all she performs, is here, as Fantine...



(Applause/banter)

Secrets (live)

"Secrets" live - this Good Friday, and Earth Day!!



(applause track and intro for the next song performance)

Finally

"Finally". A song co-written by Allison Crowe and Stephen Clevette. Loves past, loves present... and, true to the message of Counting Crow's Adam Duritz, one of Allison's primary songwriting inspirations, she believes to this day it is the “heart that matters more”.



(Applause/banter)

Playboy Mommy (live, solo)

"Playboy Mommy". Says Allison Crowe: "There's a freedom of artistry listening to and learning the songs of Tori Amos. A raw, emotional, sometimes confusing, wackiness. It’s okay to pound the notes out if you’re angry, so long as you remember to delicately fondle the notes later on. You can be strange and beautiful."



(Applause)

Pray for Rain

"Pray for Rain", one of Allison Crowe's songs, (and there's a fair number that are like this), that fits a full-tilt rock band, turning amps to 11, and, as well, Allison solo and acoustic - underscoring the power and the passion of her songwriting.



Here's the applause track

Running

"Running" - in concert from Allison Crowe. A lovely song requested each time Allison performs in Edinburgh :)



Here's the applause track

How Long (live)

"How Long", by Allison Crowe (along with "Immersed") is in the tradition of songs that show record execs can sometimes inspire great music! (Whether intentional or not.) Joni Mitchell's more explicit with her "Free Man in Paris", but, as we've noted before, Allison's lemonade is a good squeeze. Here's the applause track

Crayon and Ink (live)

Launching the second night/disc of "Live at Wood Hall" is "Crayon and Ink". As with all of Allison Crowe's songs and performances, its beauty doesn't need me to reflect anything. So, I'll just move to the back of the hall, and share the music. There is a banter/applause track - it's applause only, and we can clap along...

Welcome to the weekend!

A Murder of One

Epic.

That describes Allison Crowe's take on this Counting Crows' song. Allison revealed to UK blog, 'We Write Lists': "Along to ‘A Murder of One’, at the top of my lungs, I wailed out my cry for independence in the time of an oppressive relationship, driving and singing in an almost meditative screaming chant 'change change change'." Here's the Banter/intro track

In Love In Vain

"In Love In Vain", Words & Music by Leo Robin, Jerome Kern. Allison Crowe's intro to this jazzy, encore, song is here

Enjoy :)

Whether I'm Wrong (live)

Allison Crowe's "Live at Wood Hall" concerts followed her "secrets' CD. Naturally, songs from that album are prominent in her live sets that Spring. Here's "Whether I'm Wrong", featured, on its release the year before, by UNESCO-endorsed New Songs for Peace project. In the banter/intro - Allison makes a musical promise kept the next night... Now, imagine peace :)

Bill

"Bill", words by P.G. Wodehouse & music by Jerome Kern (w. Oscar Hammerstein II for "Show Boat"). Allison Crowe's intro reveals her love of musical theatre, and, particularly, Broadway. She's performed in The Laurie Beechman Theatre, a 42nd Street cabaret in New York City, and's been invited to join India.Arie, Matt Morris and other fine players in a production.

What About You (live)

"What About You" live, does not include the Uillean pipes heard on the "secrets" version of the song, but, of course, it DOES include the Allison pipes! In the banter track Allison Crowe gives a wee explanation of the song's origin. Such genesis often remains a secret encoded in the music.

Fire

Had Allison Crowe been born in a different era, she'd have set her piano alight at Monterey, or, maybe, added her colander to the Crazy World of Arthur Brown. Here's "Fire", which bridges Allison's rock/grunge band roots and her solo singer-songwriter mystic. A song for Heather and you :)

Sea of a Millon Faces (live)

"Sea of a Million Faces", live, comes with this song intro. Originally on Allison Crowe's "secrets" album, the song's an up-tempo concert favourite. The following track, after the song performance, is simply thanks/applause

Independence Day

Ani DiFranco is inspiring to Allison Crowe for so many reasons. Here's a musical one - "Independence Day". Allison has been performing this song in concert pretty much since she took to the stage as a teenager. The passion level is ever constant. Track banter/intro for this song

Immersed

"Immersed", live. The song is a visceral exemplar of the musical alchemy by which Allison transforms leaden experiences into golden rock and roll. In other words, she makes lemonade out of lemons. Here's banter for this track. From Chennai, home to some of India's top choirs, comes gambitsurya's very individual take.

By Your Side

"By Your Side" ~ this ballad from Allison Crowe is a soundtrack to lives and videos. "Live at Wood Hall" features songs as separate tracks to applause and stage banter. The idea, (mine), is to enable people to enjoy the concert/album's 23 songs on iPods+, with the banter/applause tracks optional. Turns out this is confusing in practice. Here's banter for this song.