After reading a profile on him in The New Yorker, I’m interested in listening to some of Will Oldham’s music, however, he has such an enormous body of work, it’s difficult to know where to start. If you were to put together a 10 to 15 song “greatest hits” compilation of his essential recordings, what would they be?
I See a Darkness under his Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy moniker
Viva Last Blues under Palace Music
I don’t think I’ve ever felt let down by any Will Oldham record, but if pressed, I’d concur in citing I See A Darkness as my favourite; however, you might just as well pick up the latest release (Lie Down in the Light) and work yourself backwards, though another highlight of the relatively recent past I just thought of would be 2005’s Superwolf, with Matt Sweeney.
I’m a big fan of the Bonnie Prince, he’s probably my favourite musician when all’s said and done. ‘I see a darkness’, as mentioned, is probably the one album that most fans would say was his masterpiece. Other than that, you’ll get 10 different recommendations from 10 different fans - he’s a fabulously prolific and diverse artist. I’ll think about a best 10 or 15 and post later, but will say now that I really liked his last one ‘lie down in the light’, after not being keen at all on the previous ‘the letting go’.
He’s also a magnificent live performer, if you ever get the chance to see him definitely go. I saw him play one time in Edinburgh in a church and he finished the gig with West Palm Beach followed by I see a darkness, absolutely laid the room out. Never seen anything like it at a gig.
The only ‘bad’ thing with him is the aforementioned fabulously prolific output. He’s a hard-working man, puts out an album a year. Great for his fans, but it means that his albums tend to be very good, rather than real dynamite. A guy with his talent should have more obvious masterpieces than I see a darkness - I sometimes wonder if he slowed down a bit whether the quality would get to be really outstanding.
That’s why I was hoping someone might provide a list of what are considered his essential songs. For example, I’m a huge Led Zeppelin fan and wouldn’t recommend their album “Presence” to a neophyte, but certainly the song “Achilles Last Stand” from that album would earn its place on an introductory sampler of their work.
“I Send My Love to You” and “Horses” from Sings Greatest Palace Music
“Cursed Sleep” and “Loves Comes to Me” from The Letting Go
“Another Day Full of Dread” and “I See a Darkness” from I See a Darkness
I’m sorry I can’t name ten or fifteen. There are too many songs in competition with eachother. If I was introducing a friend to his music though, the above are probably the songs I would do it with.
“New Partner” for sure.
My picks, off the top of my head:
[ul]
[li]“Viva Ultra,” “The Brute Choir,” and “New Partner” (from the album Viva Last Blues)[/li][li]"I See a Darkness, “Death to Everyone,” and “Madeleine-Mary” (from I See a Darkness)[/li][li]“Ain’t You Wealthy, Ain’t You Wise” (from Master and Everyone)[/li][/ul]
I’m probably forgetting some jewel or other. Something to keep in mind is that his voice improves dramatically over his career.
Reet then, a Bonnie Prince Billy starter disc (in rough chronological order). I realised this is a completely impossible task as there is just so much quality to choose from, but anyhow these 15 tracks would be an awesome start.
- Riding (There is no one what will take care of you)
- I am a cinematographer (Days in the wake)
- More brother rides (Viva last blues)
- Cat’s Blues (Viva last blues)
- A sucker’s evening (Arise therefore)
- Horses (An arrow through the bitch)
- I see a darkness (I see a darkness)
- Death to everyone (I see a darkness)
- Another day full of dread (I see a darkness)
- You will miss me when I burn (Greatest Palace Music)
- The Brute Choir (Greatest Palace Music)
- West Palm Beach (Greatest Palace Music)
- My home is the sea (Superwolf)
- O Let it be (Summer in the southeast, live album)
- What is the puzzle? (Lie down in the light)
One thing to note is that he already has a pseudo-best of album in BPB sings greatest palace music. He put this together in 2004 when he had the recognition and money to go down to Nashville and round up some serious session musicians to re-record some of his best songs. I believe that the track listing was decided upon by some sort of fan vote. Going from (in some cases) just him strumming a guitar on his porch to a full on, highly skilled band obviously has a huge effect on the songs. I generally love this album, but still prefer the earlier recordings in some cases.
If this playlist (especially #3, 4 and 10) doesn’t make you feel sad and hopeful all at once, you haven’t got a heart.
- Careless
- Strange Form of Life
- Love Comes to Me
- Only Someone Running
- South Side of the World
- Bed is for Sleeping
- Death to Everyone
- My Home is the Sea
- Then the Letting Go
- Hard Life
Bonus Track: The Sun Shines Down on Me
My only advice (other than ‘enjoy’) would be to avoid his work with Tortoise at first, for the most part, as it’s a bit more experimental and electronic.
Thanks for the playlists. I’m listening to them now.
I saw him live in this little coffee shop/teen hangout place in my home town (pop. 9000). I had sort of heard of him from my cool indie friends (to use entirely mislabel them but still give you some idea of them). He did a free concert there in this tiny little place and the place was packed.
I really enjoyed the show and made some of my friends from Seattle super-jealous. I’ve been meaning to actually spend some time with his music (this was more than a year ago), thanks for the list as well.
As far as albums go (and I have most of his work), my favorites are Ease down the Road and The Letting Go - both of which are better than I see a Darkness. I really like sings Greatest Palace Music too, and the outtakes album Vai Notes is just beautiful.
ETA: I forgot to mention a more obscure favorite of mine: I find get on jolly (by “The Marquis de Tren and Bonny Billy”) strangely fascinating. It is very slow-paced renderings of various poems from Rabindranath Tagore’s Gitanjali.
I actually walked out on an Oldham show in the mid nineties. It was horrible, screechy, out of time and out of tune.
This has never prevented me from a strange and magical enjoyment of his albums. The version of Elton John’s Daniel with Tortoise may be one of the coolest songs I heard last year.