I think he's a stones fan, love his country-rock style, and the lyrics are often funny. What do you think?
He wrote a song called "Slow Turning" with a reference to Charlie in it, and "not fade away". Also a reference to YCAGWYW:

When I was a boy,
I thought it just came to you
But I never could tell what's mine
So it didn't matter anyway

My only pride and joy
Was this racket down here
Banging on an old guitar
And singin' what I had to say

I always thought our house was haunted
Cuz nobody said boo to me
I never did get what I wanted
But now I get what I need

It's been a slow turning
From the inside out
A slow turning
But you come about

A slow learning
But you learn to sway-ah-hay-hay-hay
A slow turning, baby
Not fade away, not fade away, not fade away

Now I'm in my car
Ooh, I got the radio on
Now I'm yellin' at the kids in the back
Cuz they're banging like Charlie Watts

You think you've come so far
In this one horse town
Then she's laughing that crazy laugh
Cuz you haven't left the parkin' lot

Time is short and here's the damn thing about it
You're gonna die, gonna die for sure
And you can learn to life with love or without it
But there ain't no cure

It's just a slow turning
From the inside out
A slow turning
But you come about, ya

A slow turning, baby
But you learn to sway-ah-hay-hay-hay
A slow turning
Not fade away, not fade away, not fade away
Not fade away, not fade away

A slow turning, a slow turning,
a slow turning, a slow turning






Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2006-03-05 00:53 by Miss U..

I have 3 of his CD's I would love to see him live.

The title song of his new album, "Master of Disaster" always makes me think that it could be written about Keith.

Bring the Family is a classic - as is Little Village (same foursome oas BTF)

John Hiatt, Steve Earle, and Delbert McClinton

Miss U. Wrote:

> Now I'm yellin' at the kids in the back
> Cuz they're banging like Charlie Watts

Great how the drummer (Keltner?) after this line plays a typical Charlie fill.

Good one Miss U...have y'all also talked about the reference to Bill Wyman in a Smithereens song? This goes way back to the 80's or early 90's, and I think the name of the song is "Wall of Sleep," or something like that, but Patrick Donanzio (or whatever the singer's name is) sings, "she stands like Bill Wyman," referring to Tina Weymuth, bass player of the Talking Heads. Whew, that was lots of names and misspellings, but maybe you can appreciate the reference to Wyman.

As for John Hiatt, I love him. In my opinion he's one of those songwriter's who's heavily covered by other singers. He's sort of a songwriter's songwriter.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2006-03-05 05:39 by Lukester.

Lukester Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> He's sort of a songwriter's
> songwriter.
>



Yeah, he's an excellent songwriter! Good taste Lukester...I find my taste in music changing as I get older...the stones don't have the same effect on me. John Hiatt's slow ballads can move me to tears, and the fast ones are very catchy and danceable. I like especially "Memphis in the Meantime", "Drive South", "Feels Like Rain", "Icy Blue Heart" and "Paper Thin". I like the way he sings too.

The lyrics to Paper Thin actually remind me abit of Ronnie:

I was gonna get up off that bar stool
Just as soon as I could figure it out
Why I was overlooked at the car pool
Stood up at the dance with no twist and shout

When you're burnin' with your last desire
And every memory haunts you
You write it down in alcohol fire
'Cause that's the only flame that wants you

CHORUS:
When you're paper thin
Yeah, read all about it
When you were out of luck, well, luck was doin' alright
Now you're paper thin
Yeah, they can see right through ya
You just cut you're little finger on the edge of the night

Now do I really have to be responsible
For what I did between those tavern walls
I was just mixing up some chemicals
You could've heard a pin drop, could have heard time crawl

And every once in a while
You could hear you're own heart pound
Maybe some paper doll with a pasted on smile
Would let you write her number down

x



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2006-12-08 01:41 by Beelyboy.

Hmmm, I never heard that song. I have 2 of his cds..."Slow Turning" and "Crossing Muddy Waters". Never saw him play live.

x



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2006-12-08 01:40 by Beelyboy.

He's the most consistantly good songwriter around these days. His last 4 or 5 albums have all been topnotch. Highly recommended. He blends all the styles together. Very American with soul, blues, rock, acoustic folk. I only discovered him a few years back and I'm so glad I did.