Looking to discover some new tunes while you’re stuck at home? The Bluebird staff has you covered! Each weekend, we’ll be putting out a new quarantunes playlist curated by one of our staff members. In honor of our 38th birthday week, today’s playlist is a bit different, as it is brought to you by The Bluebird Cafe’s founder, Amy Kurland! Find out what she’s listening to in her car, while she’s baking treats, and more!
Marshall Chapman
Marshall’s new cover album Songs I Can’t Live Without is great. I especially like her version of Bob Seger’s “Turn The Page.”
Guy Clark
I would never put together a playlist without a Guy Clark song on it. I especially love “Out In The Parking Lot,” because it reminds me of so many nights in the back parking lot of the Bluebird after shows, though we never had any fights out there. Everything else in the song happened.
Cheryl Wheeler
I love so many of her songs, but “Northern Girl” from her Circles and Arrows album is one that always brings a tear. This version is from the American Music Shop television show with the best band in the world.
Trisha Yearwood
Trisha’s record of Hugh Prestwood’s “The Song Remembers When” is just perfect.
Pam Tillis
“Maybe It Was Memphis.” It’s a great love song, made even better by having the other three Women In The Round (Ashley Cleveland, Karen Staley and Tricia Walker) sing on it.
Randy Travis
“On The Other Hand” – of course I love all of Don Schlitz’s songs. This is one I especially like to sing along with.
Bonnie Raitt
No Bluebird playlist would be complete without Mike Reid and Allen Shamblin’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me” on it. One of the greatest Bluebird moments was when Bonnie sang and Mike played, and no one else breathed for 4 minutes. Listen to Mike’s version direct from The Bluebird here.
Michael Johnson
“The Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder“
Oh how we miss Michael. The man picked the best songs and sang and played them just perfectly. Hugh Prestwood’s “Moon Is Still Over Her Shoulder” is a favorite.
Gary Burr and Georgia Middleman
This is one of the great quarantine treats. Gary and Georgia perform a live pajama party every Wednesday evening, and some free Facebook live shows on Sunday at 2pm CT. They write and perform a new song every week. If I was going to request a song, I’d request a dozen. “Can’t Be Really Gone” might be my choice today. Here’s the link to their website and you can get to the shows from it.
David Olney
David Olney & the XRays ACL 1982 Part 1
David Olney & the XRays ACL 1982 Part 2
We lost David in February. Everyone should get to know his music. Here is his performance from Austin City Limits of the suite that includes Love and Money and Wait Here For The Cops. It’s in two parts. Watch it all, or just start part one at about 18:14 and then watch the first section of part two.
Kathy Mattea
She’s had a ton of awards and hits. I especially like this stripped down version of Ode To Billie Joe. Just Kathy and Bill Cooley.
Amy Speace
“Me and the Ghost of Charlemagne“
Amy’s song “Me and the Ghost of Charlemagne” is, like “Turn The Page,” a deep look into the life of a traveling musician. I love it.
Lift Every Voice
This is a good time to listen to some prayerful and uplifting music, and this song, from 1900, written by James Weldon Johnson, is known as the black national anthem. I have listened to a lot of different versions recently, and even sung it on #musiccitysingsat6. I was excited to find this version from the students of Nashville’s Pearl-Cohn High School.
– Amy Kurland