Malcolm Gauld
Although written five centuries ago, the following phrase has been especially timely in my life as of late: “… to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.”
As you may know, the last couple of months have been a veritable medical gauntlet for me. Don’t know where I’d be without Laura embodying this vow, one we pledged to each other nearly a half-century ago, with such patience, love, and understanding. (And Mahalia and Scout have doubled-down, as well!)
As I think about it, there’s at least one other entity to which this timeless vow applies. That would be music.
So, I figured I’d stay true to my annual custom of selecting an annual “best of” list of the songs that grabbed me during the year just passed. This year’s entry is called “Little Malcolm’s 24 More” and is open to anyone as a playlist on Spotify. (And true to form, I did not see any of these songs on any of the mainstream media’s “best of” lists.) The full playlist includes 65+ songs released during 2024.
Song of the Year:
“I’m In” by Dan Bern (w/Jane’s Great Dane). Off Starting Over. This one’s been a bit of a personal theme song this year. “I have been as low as any man could get, only but by accident still here. I will not forget the pain and sadness, but right now I’ll kick it up another gear. I’m in. I’m in. Throw my hat in the ring. My chips are stacked: brown, yellow, white, black. I’m in.”
Here are 24 faves — all 2024 releases — listed in alphabetical (by artist) order:
1. “These Blues” by Terry Adams. Off Terrible. Mr. Adams steps away from his lifelong gig with NRBQ to experiment with some solo work. “These blues are a radio, loud and always on. You can call the request line, but they ain’t never gonna play your song.”
2. “Bye Bye Baby” by The California Honeydrops. Off Live from Strange Manor. These guys always seem to place a song on my annual “best of” list. “Bye, bye baby, baby, baby bye-bye.”
3. “Wanting and Waiting” by The Black Crowes. Off Happiness Bastards. Heard these guys play and discuss this number on Howard Stern. Hey, Rock & Roll lives! “Been a month of Sundays since I could fake a smile.”
4. “Bigger Boat” by Brandy Clark (w/ Randy Newman). Off Clark’s Your Life is a Record. “There’s floods down south, fires out west. Turn on the news it scares you to death. Gimme that hammer, somebody hold my coat. Yeah, we’re gonna need a bigger boat.”
5. “Jailbird Annie” by Dangereens. Off Chic. Upbeat and infectious. Close contender for Song of the Year. “Jailbound train draggin’ Annie’s name cross-country through the mud and snow. When a dynamite blast set the train off-track, somebody had to steal the show.”
6. “Maybe Baby” by Dead Root Revival. Off The Controller’s Exam. This one has grown on me. “Maybe baby, I don’t need the facts. When wrapped in fiction it softens the impact.”
7. “(study for a portrait of) Napoleon in Rags” by Deadsy. Elijah Blue played this for me the week it was released when we got together last spring. Minimalist. Stripped down to its essentials. Love the Dylan reference in the title.
8. “Let’s Pretend” by Diesel Park West. Like these guys! “Here we are, across the Great Divide. And we’ve come to hear the voice of reason, must be tied up in a meeting.”
9. “Creole Belle” by Justin Golden. Off Golden Country: Volume 1. “My Creole Belle. I love her well.” ‘Nuff said.
10. “Brand New Love” by Myk Gordon. Off born to be. “I’m lookin’ for a brand new love. The kind that I’ve been dreamin’ of.”
11. “Mental Revenge by Taylor Grace. Off Hello Stranger. “Well, I hope that the train from Caribou, Maine runs over your new love affair.” Always love it when a Muscle Shoals gal gives a shout-out to Caribou, Maine!
12. “Home to You” by Sonny Gullage. Off Go Be Free. Pay attention to this guy. Some church. Some blues. Excellent musicianship. “Please be patient. I know I’ve been wrong. Been selfish all along. This is true, but I’m trying to get home to you.”
13. “Top Shelf, Rock Bottom” by The High Hawks. Off Mother Nature’s Show. Country swing. “Well, I met me a honey down on Bourbon Street. About the prettiest thing you’d ever want to meet. Her daddy came home and he grabbed me by the seat. Threw me out the window but I landed on my feet.”
14. “High Maintenance Girlfriend” by The Immediate Family. Off Skin In the Game. “She got me chopping down the credit cards at a blinding pace. I think that her and her mother are in a spending race. But she’s my high maintenance girlfriend, now.”
15. “Never Too Late” by Elton John (w/Brandi Carlile). From the film Elton John: Never Too Late. “It was never too late or a moment too soon.”
16. “Why I’m Here” by Samara Joy. From the Netflix Film Shirley. (A tribute to Shirley Chisholm – 1924-2005). I’d listen to Samara Joy sing the phone book. (Remember phone books?!?)
17. “Run Free” by Willie Nile. Off Live at Daryl’s House Club. Straight ahead rocker. “I gotta run free.”
18. “Excuses” by Katarina Pejak. Off Pearls On a String “What was I thinking, there at your door? So disappointed, but coming for more… That kind of love has no happy ending. What good is a friendship, if we’re pretending?”
19. “Instead” by Jobi Riccio. Love me some Jobi! “I spilled my emotions and a full glass of wine. Straight on to your pants then I ditched you to dance. I’d thought it’d go better this time.”
20. “I’m Waiting for the Man” by Keith Richards. Off The Power of the Heart – A Tribute to Lou Reed. “I’m waiting for my man; twenty-six dollars in my hand. Up to Lexington, 1-2-5. Feel sick and dirty,
more dead than alive.”
21. “If You Closed Your Eyes” by Kimmie Rhodes (w/Alejandro Escovedo). Off Hypnotized. Although drawn initially to this song because I am huge fan of Mr. Escovedo, I have come to love their interplay on this beautiful duet. “I could stay here in the dark with you forever; Sing the words that I could never say.”
22. “Wish I Knew” by Sons Of The East. Off Wish I Knew. “Wish I knew, wish I knew when a change is gonna come. Come on baby won’t you see me through? I wish I knew.”
23. “Desperate” by Brittney Spencer. Off My Stupid Life. New discovery. (For me, anyway.) “You can show emotion, but not too much. You either care too deep or not enough.”
24. “Keep on the Sunny Side” by Dwight Yoakam. Off Brighter Days. Mr. Yoakam offers a spirited upbeat version of the Carter Family’s classic song first released 60 years ago. “Keep on the sunny side. Always on the sunny side. Keep on the sunny side of life.”
Thanks, Dwight for sending us into 2025 with the right message!
Onward, Malcolm Gauld
