This song somehow has associations for me with the Grand Old South, with Gone With The Wind. But it also has a carnival-like atmosphere that parts of Feats Of Snakes also have. Van Dyke Parks was born in Hattiesburg, MS, but has worked in California almost all his life. He cooperated with Brian Wilson from the 60’s up to Brian Wilso’s most recent releases. More information
Uncle Tupelo - Moonshiner
Uncle Tupelo worked out off Belleville, Ill. and were at the very start of the Americana-movement. Uncle Tupelo split into two new bands: Wilco and Son Volt, both of which are still very successful. Moonshiner is a traditional that the band recorded for their legendary album March 16-20, 1992. This is what The Allmusic Guide has to say about the song: ‘One of the very few non-original songs in the Uncle Tupelo songbook, "Moonshiner" is one of the classic bootleggers' anthems. The downward spiral of alcoholism is illustrated in a tempered, Western style here, with sadness and pathos taking center stage. The sparse, minor-key melody is framed by an equally barren arrangement, featuring some touching and lyrical harmonica lines from Jay Farrar that neatly echo his brilliant vocals. All in all, the performance is in perfect keeping with the band's rustic thrust, and it remains a brilliant reworking of a song that well deserved such perfect revisionism.’ More information
Porter Wagoner - The Snakes Crawl at Night
I’ve listened to several versions of this song, like Charlie Pride’s interpretation, but somehow I thought Porter Wagoner’s version fitted the mood best. More information
Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs - Getting High for Jesus
Holly GoLightly was born in the UK, but she is now based in ‘the Georgia backwoods’. I read an interview with her in which she said that this song and the music to this song was inspired by recording made at religious congregations during which snakes were handled. You can find this song on her 2008 album Dirt Don’t Hurt. More information
Lambchop - The Man Who Loved Beer
Reading the novel I just couldn’t get this song out of my head. Maybe it has to do with the lyrics, maybe it has to with the atmosphere of the song. Lambchop are from Nashville, Tn The song is off their 1996 album How I Quit Smoking. More information
BirdDog - Rattlesnakes
Bill Santen is a painter and an artist from Lexington, Kentucky who recorded a number of albums in the late 90’s and early 00’s. This song is off an album he record he released in 2001.
