everly brothers - illinois (mp3)

if, like me, you happen to be going through a happily prolonged country-rock/laurel canyon /60's/70's left-coast singer-songwritery phase at the minute, then the first track on side 2 of don and phil everly's sublime 1968 lp, 'roots', is for you. yes, the same rollicking 1950's two-part harmony peddling pin-ups who sang indisputably fine pop songs such as 'wake up little susie' and 'bye bye love', went on (unlike most of their initial contemporaries) to release one of the best country-rock lps ever.

written by enigmatic laurel canyon outcast randy newman, the beautifully melodic cover of 'illinois' represents the brothers' ambitious and successful attempt to synthesize their established rock & roll spirit with the emerging sonic aesthetic of mellow, contemplative sounds gathering pace within california. a structurally simple, laid-back breath of country-piano air, this record sounds as innocent, summery and fresh as i bet it did 40 years ago. take a listen because, if you ask me, teenage fanclub, sufjan stevens and fred deakin - not to mention countless pop-folky others - have been listening contentedly over the intervening years.

track the lp down at whatever cost. i'm glad i did.