Sing Out! Radio Magazine

There was a time when the occupation of songwriter did not automatically include singer in the description. Usually a songwriter wrote the song and then it was performed by a singer. This began to change in the 1950s and became the norm in the 1960s. Songwriters began to perform their own compositions, and the era of the Brill Building was coming to a close. This week we present classic performances of songs not written by the performer. We'll hear covers by Bob Dylan, The Flatlanders, Los Lobos, Dawn McCarthy & Bonnie “Prince” Billy and lots more. Under the covers … this week on the Sing Out! Radio Magazine.

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways 

Christopher O'Riley / “Pink Moon” / Second Grace: The Music of Nick Drake / World Village

Art of Time Ensemble / “The Boy in the Bubble” / Ain't Got Long / Art of Time Recordings

Solo Razafindrakoto / “Crosstown Traffic” / Solodeguitare / Rough Trade

Fraser & DeBolt / “Don't Let Me Down” / Fraser & Debolt w/ Ian Guenther / Columbia

Dori Freeman / “I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight” / Letters Never Read / Blue Hens

Liz Simmons / “Night in the City” / Poets / Self-produced

Dawn McCarthy & Bonnie “Prince” Billy / “Devoted to You” / What the Brothers Sang / Palace

Tim O'Brien / “The Same Boat, Brother” / He Walked On / Howdy Skies

Loudon Wainwright III / “How I Love You (I'm Tellin' the Birds, Tellin' the Bees) / I'd Rather Lead A Band / Thirty Tigers

Christopher O'Riley / “Northern Sky” / Second Grace: The Music of Nick Drake / World Village

Los Lobos / “Sail On, Sailor” / Native Sons / New West

The Flatlanders / “She Belongs to Me” / Treasure of Luck / Thirty Tigers

Bill Frisell / “I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry” / Ghost Town / Nonesuch

Bob Dylan / “Can't Help Falling in Love” / 1970 / Columbia

Special Consensus / “Sweet Home Chicago” / Chicago Barn Dance / Compass

Pete Seeger / “If I Had A Hammer”(excerpt) / Songs of Hope and Struggle / Smithsonian Folkways