Playlist 04.01.10
Vic Chestnutt took his own life on Christmas Day. There had been several attempts in the past. He left behind a series of recordings that were quiet, angry, pithy and mysterious. There was also a beautiful benefit album, Sweet Relief II which featured tributes from the likes of REM, Madonna, Sparklehorse and The Smashing Pumpkins. A car crash in 1983 had left him severely disabled, but he could sing and play some guitar. I saw him live at the Garage in Highbury and it was intense. I also interviewed him around ten years ago, finding him gracious and funny. He mourned the loss of his 8 track copy of Sandinista during that awful car crash. But more recently, he had been dismayed by health care bills and other personal issues. It was a privilege to play his music again.
STUART BAILIE
BBC Radio Ulster, 92-95 FM
Online: www.bbc.co.uk/radioulster
Mondays, ten midnight
Playlist 04.01.10
Aztec Camera - Walk Out To Winter (Warner)
Scott Walker - We Made It Through (Fontana)
Karen O - All Is Love (Polydor)
Kowalski - Get Back (white)
Japan - All Tomorrows Parties (Virgin)
Mumford And Sons - Roll Away Your Stone (Island)
Vic Chestnutt - Swelters (PLR)
Joe Henry, Madonna - Guilty By Association (Columbia)
Vic Chestnutt, Victoria Williams - God Is Good (Columbia)
Steely Dan - Change Of The Guard (MCA)
Laura Viers - Summer Is The Champion (Bella Union)
The Triffids - Stolen Property (Mushroom)
Elvis - If I Can Dream (RCA)
Pugwash - It's Nice To Be Nice (Ape House)
Erland And The Carnival - Tramps And Hawkers (Full Time Hobby)
Carolina Chocolate Drops - Hit Em Up Style (Nonesuch)
The Carter Family - Keep On The Sunny Side (Proper)
Cold War Kids - Audience Of One (V2)
XTC - Making Plans For Nigel (Virgin)
Two Door Cinema Club - Costume Party (Kitsune)
Jimmy Cliff - Many Rivers To Cross (Island)
Andrew Weatherall - Privately Electrified (Rotters Club)
Elspeth - Moonlight Burns (white)
Sparks - Get In The Swing (Island)
Editors - You Dont Know Love (Kitchenware)
St Etienne - Bedfordshire (Sanctuary)

Comment number 1.
At 18:42 8th Jan 2010, Reggie Chamberlain-King wrote:I have only got round to listening to this. What a lovely tribute to Mr. Chesnutt. Quite moving for someone who remembers him fondly from a teenaged R.E.M. fixation.
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