Todd Snider - East Nashville Skyline

It is stunning, though. More so with repeated listening. Snider used to specialize in cute songs — some would say ''novelty'' songs — that were good for a chuckle but not always good for the long haul. Now, ''cute'' carries a switchblade, and there are songs on East Nashville Skyline that are on the level with John Prine doing Souvenirs or That's the Way the World Goes 'Round; or Dylan doing Boots of Spanish Leather; or Kris Kristofferson doing To Beat the Devil; or Tom T. Hall doing Turn It On, Turn It On, Turn It On; or Guy Clark doing Instant Coffee Blues; or David Olney doing 1917; or Eric Taylor doing All the Way to Heaven.

Emmylou Harris and the ‘Sweet Harmony Traveling Revue’

Kahibah girl makes good: Girl, you'll be a superstar soon

Sitting inside Caesar's Palace Colosseum in Las Vegas two Fridays ago,Catherine Britt was mesmerised by the onstage performance from Elton John and still pinching herself because the legendary singer had personally invited her and her mum Anne to the show.

During the performance, Sir Elton began playing the introduction to his song Tiny Dancer, dedicating it to a new-found friend from Australia and telling the audience she would one day be a "superstar".

Rosanne Cash article

The past year, of course, saw the singer-songwriter bury her father, the legendary Johnny Cash, who passed away in September.

It was a loss the entire world mourned, considering the effect the Man in Black had on music over the course of his career.

The fact that her grieving was done in such a public manner — from appearing on Larry King Live to performing at a star-studded November tribute concert — and with such a great deal of support is something that, in some aspects, made and still makes the entire process somewhat easier for Rosanne to deal with. “In one way, yes, because people’s sympathies and grief in losing my dad is incredibly touching and appreciated,” she says.

But in another way I’m sometimes confronted with it in a painful way because people I guess expect me to be in the same place they are and (I’m not). I don’t miss Johnny Cash, I miss my dad — it’s very different.”

Robert Earl Keen reissues.

Last two links courtesy of Ram Radio news.