Tom Waits
Rosie Flores
Mary Chapin Carpenter
Steve Knightley
Odgers & Simmonds
Tom Russell
Townes van Zandt
Mekons
TV Smith
Justin Sullivan & Dave Blomberg
Nadine
Hitchin' Post
Chuck Prophet
The Good Sons
Black 47
Neko Case & The Sadies
Billy Bragg
Loudon Wainwright III
Freakwater
Hazeldine
Kelly Willis
Great Big Sea
78:03 min
Total runnig time
Tom Waits isn't excactly known to be an easy target when it comes
to compilation contributions, and we were extremely proud when he and
his wife Kathleen Brennan, who co-wrote 'Georgia Lee' with him, agreed
to offer this particularly beautiful song, featuring Dalton Dillingham
III on Bass and Linda Delucia-Gbidossi on Violin +++ The passing of the
great Townes van Zandt leaves a gap that cannot be filled by anyone,
and we were equally proud that Normal Records let us use 'If I Needed
You', this version was originally released as part of limited edition
single, of only 2000 copies, which sold out a long time ago +++ Tom
Russell says about his song 'Veteran's Day'; „I wrote it about a guy
who drank in the VFW Hall up the street from me when I lived in Brooklyn.
He thought his brother was still alive somewhere in the back country of
Vietnam. Johnny Cash recorded it, and I hope there's some universal gut-feeling
in there for veterans and survivors of all war and calamity" +++ If anyone
deserves to be called „Queen Of The Honky Tonks", it's Rosie Flores,
capture her on 'We'll Survive', one of her more quiet tunes +++ A slightly
different cup of tea is NEW MODEL ARMY's Justin Sullivan and
Dave Blomberg, tearing it up live on NMA's 'Bad Old World', complete
with audience sing-a-longs +++ Then there's Chuck Prophet on the
moody and laid back 'February Morning', a song he let us have exclusively
for this special occasion +++ Nadine's 'One Hand' was written during
the recording of their record, 'Downtown, Saturday', but a 'full band'
version was never fully realized. When they were asked to join this compilation,
they „thought that the song's theme of rebuilding trust seemed well suited
to SEKA's efforts. We cannot imagine the strength required to see through
the senseless violence and destruction in the former Yugoslavia" +++ Odgers
& Simmonds is a new project from Philip "Swill" Odgers and Paul Simmonds,
the Songwriting team of THE MEN THEY COULDN'T HANG. Unmistakingly the
guitars and voices of Phil and Paul, the song 'Khamaseem' shows the two
of them from a very different side, bringing new meaning and life into
the much used phrase „Low-Fi"! 'Khamaseem' was lifted from their forthcoming
debut album 'Baby Fishlips' (Twah!) and was mixed and engineered by Dub
Syndicate's Alon Adiri +++ Canada's Great Big Sea offers the wonderful
uplifting 'Ordinary Day', and the incredible Loudon Wainwright III with
'Pretty Good Day' a song he choose himself +++ England's Good Sons
„might not be trying to be a Country band, but they do crank out some
of the most catchy tunes you're likely to hear in the genre, as can be
heard on this exclusive version of their song 'Sad, Sad, Truth' +++ This
version of 'Track of Words' was recorded in spring 1999 and formed the
basis for the title track of Steve Knightley's (Show Of Hands)
first solo-album; „Songs may be written for a variety of personal, creative,
or financial motives. If they can subsequently be used, as in this Seka
project to directly help others, all of these inital factors fade into
insignificance. Maybe music can make a difference after all?" +++ While
Hazeldine are fully capable of firing your imagination with their
tales of darkness and transformation, spirit and prestidigination, we
chose their cover version of Hank Cochran's 'It's Only Love' +++ There
is a feeling that begins to take hold when listening to the songs of Mary
Chapin Carpenter. The words seem to capture perfectly something you
have always tried to say, like on 'Stones In The Road' +++ Dubbed „Britain's
finest rock poet" by the NME,
Billy Bragg's high quality songwriting shuns the glossy values traditionally
associated with pop music, here on 'Bad Penny' with Kirsty MacColl on
backing vocals +++ From 1977 to a post-punk, critically acclaimed solo
career is a good trick if you can do it +++ TV Smith can and does,
using a sophisticated conjuring of contemporary issues to compliment a
continuing musical evolution, and yes, it's 'Expensive Being Poor' +++
In 9 sweaty, boozy, uproarious, political & controversial years Black
47 (feat. founding Dexy's Midnight Runners-member/ex-Elvis Costello
Geoffrey Blythe a.o.), has played well over 1500 gigs. Despite shootings,
van crashes, blacklisting and an incredibly stupid and shortsighted music
industry, they never give less than 110%. The live version of their 'Green
Suede Shoes' captures one of those nights +++ With a voice described by
Rolling Stone as „throaty, lonesome and blue" and a style Spin called
„country music's answer to Winona (Ryder not Judd)", Kelly Willis
is a welcome original who keeps the focus where it belongs: on the music,
check out her selfpenned 'Talk Like That' for proof +++ Freakwater's
lyrics and harmonies have few equals, and the depth and grandeur of 'When
The Leaves Begin To Fall' goes beyond category +++ The Mekons have
always been suckers for a good cause. Over the years they've played benefit's
and cut tracks for Rock Against Racism, Striking Miners, Right To Work,
pro-Choice, Gay Rights, Anti-Death Penalty and more, always believing
their slick, popular brand of punk rock to be more than simply entertainment!"
said Jon Langford on behalf of the band, and handed in yet another classic
for us to use - 'Cowboy Boots' +++ Gary Floyd once said; „There
are just a few European bands, who really got the feeling for this kind
of music. Definately The Hitchin' Post are one of the best of them". To
be heard on their track 'She's The Only One' +++ Neko Case, one
hell of a newcomer talent on the scene, said of her contribution to V/A
'SEKA - Sister' Vol. 2; "It is a pleasure to contribute to this good cause.
I sincerely hope these efforts can benefit women and children in need.
Havin been a person in need who has benefited from the help of others,
I can say it feels great to be able to try and give back" Check out Neko
Case & The Sadies on this rare version of their song 'Make Your Bed'.