Reposted Eartunes:
Songs of Silence and Hearing & Songs from Artists With Tinnitus
Apologies for yet another repost tonight, folks; at the eleventh hour, I find myself unable to shake a new bout of high-pitched tinnitus and ear-blockage, this time in my left ear. Listening to music is once again like trying to hear the good stuff underwater, and surrounded by keening whales. Making claims about music right now would be plumb dishonest.
Spending the afternoon at the doctor’s office — a visit which involved snaking a very long tube all the way through my sinuses and up to the very end of my eustachian tubes — hurt like hell, and didn’t produce much in the way of results save a permanent case of the drippy sniffles. I take small consolation in the fact that I am among a very small number of people who have seen the inside of their eardrums.
Having shared an “extra” set of Springsteen coversongs on Monday helps me feel a wee bit less guilty for “missing” a regularly scheduled Wednesday post, but I still feel pretty disappointed not to be bringing you the best of a slightly older crowd of “new” and re-emerging folk artists as promised. Here’s hoping for a quick recovery.
In the meantime, rather than fall off-schedule, I offer two sets of songs originally posted last January: one on the topic of silence and hearing, the other featuring songs of and from musicians with tinnitus. As always, I’ve included a bonus track or two to keep my regular readers happy. Feel free to head back using the links above to see the tunes in their original context, and read more about my earlier struggle with hearing loss.
Songs of Silence & Hearing
- Pat MacDonald: Enjoy The Silence (orig. Depeche Mode)
(from Strange Love: PM does DM, 2003) - Crooked Still: Can’t You Hear Me Callin’ (orig. Bill Monroe)
(from Shaken by a Low Sound, 2006) - John Denver: What’s That I Hear? (orig. Phil Ochs)
(from John Denver Sings, 1964) - Karen Savoca: No More Songs (orig. Phil Ochs)
(from What’s That I Hear: The Songs of Phil Ochs, 1998) - Lisa Ekdahl: It’s Oh So Quiet (pop. Bjork; orig. Betty Hutton)
(from Heaven, Earth and Beyond, 2002) - Shelby Lynne: I Don’t Want To Hear It Anymore (orig. Dusty Springfield)
(from Just a Little Lovin’, 2007) - Odetta: Listening to Old Voices (orig. John Hiatt)
(from Rollin’ Into Memphis: The Songs of John Hiatt, 2000) - Pete Seeger: Beans in my Ears (orig. Len Chandler)
(from Dangerous Songs!?, 1966) - Elizabeth Mitchell: If You Listen (orig. Francoise Hardy)
(from You Are My Little Bird, 2006)
- REPOST BONUS TRACK: Todd Snyder: Maybe You Heard (orig. Kris Kristofferson)
(from the bootleg album/demo Todd Sings Kris, 2005) - REPOST BONUS TRACK: Daniel Martin Moore: I Hear Music (orig. Billie Holiday)
(from the 2009 Starbucks Sweetheart covers compilation)
Songs of and from Artists With Tinnitus
(Charlie Haden, Pete Townshend, Andy Partridge [XTC], Neil Young, and Steve Kilbey of The Church)
- Charlie Haden w/ The Haden Triplets: Single Girl, Married Girl (orig. A.P. Carter)
- Charlie Haden w/ Bruce Hornsby: 20/20 Vision (orig. Jimmy Martin)
(from Charlie Haden Family and Friends: Ramblin’ Boy)
- Sara McLachlan: Dear God (orig. XTC)
(from A Testimonial Dinner: The Songs of XTC)
- Dala: A Man Needs A Maid (orig. Neil Young)
(from Cinnamon Girl: A Tribute to Neil Young) - The Be Good Tanyas: For The Turnstiles (ibid.)
(from Hello Love) - Rose Polenzani and Jason Hatfield: For The Turnstiles (ibid)
(web exclusive from Rose Polenzani’s website) - Trappers Cabin: You and Me (ibid.)
(web exclusive from the Trappers Cabin website)
- The Loose Acoustic Trio: Pinball Wizard (orig. The Who)
(from Sorrow Be Gone) - Pete Townshend: Girl from the North Country (pop. Bob Dylan)
(from Pete Townshend Live: A Benefit For Maryville Academy)
- REPOST BONUS TRACK: The Brooke (a tiny ocean): Under the Milky Way (orig. The Church)
(from The Wayward Covers of 2007)
- REPOST BONUS TRACK: Lisa Loeb: Love Is a Rose (orig. Neil Young)
(from Camp Lisa, 2008)
- REPOST BONUS VIDEO: stellar solo artist Jill Andrews, previously 1/2 of the now-defunct everybodyfields, covers Neil Young’s Needle and the Damage Done:
Cover Lay Down posts coverfolk sets and discursive features Wednesdays, Sundays, and the occasional otherday without fail. Coming soon, I swear: new music from new musical acts with a few more years under their proverbial belts than the average whippersnapper.
Category: Uncategorized
September 24th, 2009 at 1:53 am
Sorry to hear about your tinnitus. I have permanent slight ringing in both ears. I only really notice it when it’s quiet around me, however, sometimes it occasionally gets louder for a few seconds in one ear or the other. I’m trying really hard now to keep sound levels at lower levels and use ear protection when I listen to most live music. Good luck, I hope you get some relief soon.
September 24th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Your poor ears! I hope it clears up soon.
September 24th, 2009 at 9:50 pm
I recently met someone who found relief from their tinnitus via acupuncture. It made me decide to try it, too. Nothing else has helped, why not? However, since it’s not covered by my insurance, I’m saving up. When I do it, I’ll let you know if it works.
September 25th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Sorry to hear you’re having problems again. I have it too - and mine recently escalated from the slight ringing to an almost unbearable level. I haven’t been to the doctor for a while, but it may be time to see if they’ve made any advancements. Good luck with yours - it’s so sad to happen to those of us that love music so much.
September 25th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Hope you’re hearing better soon.
October 14th, 2009 at 9:08 am
So sorry to hear about the return of your tinnitus. My husband suffered from it and was told that sometimes (more commonly than thought) it’s related to TMJ. So he was treated for that with an insertable retainer that repositioned his jaw somewhat, and he’s found it helped quite a bit. Maybe a trip to the dentist will help you as well.
I love your blog and want to help you keep listenin’.
October 30th, 2009 at 9:14 am
Thanks! Love the Church cover.