2.08.2014

Song Saturday #154


Willis Alan Ramsey - 'The Ballad of Spider John' (1972)

Willis Alan Ramsey is the sole studio release by the Texas songwriter Willis Alan Ramsey. The album's genre is hard to categorize with touches of country, country rock, folk, and folk rock. The tunes range from the reflection and regret of "The Ballad of Spider John" to a heartfelt tribute to Woody Guthrie on "Boy from Oklahoma". It was recorded on Leon Russell's Shelter label in 1972, and Leon sat in on piano, keyboards, vibraphone. Other guest musicians include: Carl Radle, Jim Keltner, Red Rhodes and Russ Kunkel. The song "Muskrat Candlelight" was later covered by the band America in 1973 and then by Captain & Tennille in 1976, both using the title "Muskrat Love." "Ballad of Spider John" was covered by Jimmy Buffett on his 1974 album Living & Dying in 3/4 Time.  (from wikipedia)

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing this. It's great to see original artists doing their songs. Your love of music and your blog is refreshing to me. Glad I found you. It helps me celebrate life.

American Wind said...

Doalldnk - this is one of those once in a lifetime songs that a songwriter may be fortunate enough to write. strangely, that was his one and only album...thanks so much for the kind comment!