Last Music Company

Last Music Company is a small old-school haven for fine music in this mad world. Drop in and cool out--you'll be better for it. Dist. by Proper Music.

[Last Music Company @LastMusicCo]

WEEKEND LISTEN: DAN PENN INTERVIEW ON THE STRANGE BREW PODCAST

"He wrote some of the greatest songs in American music, Dark End of the Street, Do Right Woman, I’m Your Puppet, and now, at 84, Dan Penn is back with an excellent new album, Smoke Filled Room. Penn got his first chart record while still a junior in high school, went on to produce The Box Tops, was in the room when Otis Redding recorded You Left the Water Running, and co-wrote Do Right Woman over a guitar in Chips Moman’s front room, only to watch Aretha Franklin walk out of the Muscle Shoals session, before Jerry Wexler finished it in New York. And that falsetto at the end of the James Carr recording of Dark End of the Street? That was him too. He still performs, occasionally writes, and picks up the phone to Jason Barnard..."

Hear Jason Barnard's interview here: https://t.co/fTRYIP2uEl

Or stream it on Spotify here: https://t.co/bA53Nl4UuF

[Last Music Company @LastMusicCo]

SATURDAY SUBSTACK: BILL KIRCHEN

Read Malcolm’s notes on the new Bill Kirchen album, Cat Out Of The Bag— and subscribe to our free Substack newsletter while you’re there….

https://t.co/LmCF4ot4Pk

[Last Music Company @LastMusicCo]

THE CAT IS NOW WELL AND TRULY OUT OF THE BAG--BILL KIRCHEN'S NEW ALBUM LANDS TODAY!

Today we're feting the release of Bill's kicker of a brand new album CAT OUT OF THE BAG, and Bill is celebrating with a slew of album release party dates all over the country. He kicks off the new album tour officially at the Hopmonk Tavern in Novato California tomorrow night.

Bill is also set to appear on NPR's MOUNTAIN STAGE in Charleston, West Virginia June 7th, for an episode that will likely air later that month (we'll keep you posted).

Here's an excerpt from the first review out of the box by Hal Horowitz for Rock and Blues Muse:

"...For the long-awaited ‘Cat Out of the Bag,’ Bill Kirchen returns with an impressive collection that will please old fans, and might create new ones. He’s in terrific form vocally and instrumentally, expanding his reach while retaining the earthy, often retro qualities he has promoted and lived by. It’s great to have him back after too long of an absence to the roots Americana scene he helped to create." ~ Hal Horowitz, Rock and Blues Muse

Read the full review here: https://t.co/au3pGN6Mlp

You can now BUY, DOWNLOAD, STREAM and/or FIND A FULL LIST OF TOURDATES HERE: https://t.co/D1KXr7RrCc

Hope to see you down the road...

[Bill Kirchen @BillKirchen]

CAT OUT OF THE BAG BUNDLE OFFER AND NEW WEBSITE

Just thought we would mention that this is the final week to pre-order the T-shirt bundle for Cat Out of The Bag, out May 22nd. Orders close April 30th.

And, while you're there, check out our new website:

https://t.co/noLJj1fgcM

[Last Music Company @LastMusicCo]

Americana Highways Review: Dan Penn ~ Smoke Filled Room# https://t.co/tor6z8Eowl

[Last Music Company @LastMusicCo]

LAST MUSIC COMPANY SUBSTACK: DIRK POWELL
"...It’s indeed a charmed life that I lead which has now been enriched by the addition of Dirk Powell’s fabulous new album - WAKE...." ~ Malcolm Mills
Read the rest and subscribe to our free Substack here:

https://t.co/2fLYiY11Du

#DirkPowell #wake #lastmusiccompany #bluegrass #Americana

[Tony Burke @TonyBurke2010]

Saturday morning music: preview of another set of demo's and unissued songs by the legend that is Dan Penn who wrote some of the best soul songs coming out of Muscle Shoals in the 60s and 70s, with Chips Moman and Spooner Oldham. @LastMusicCo

[Last Music Company @LastMusicCo]

NEW MUSIC FRIDAY: DIRK POWELL ~ WAKE ~ OUT NOW!

"...On Wake, his first solo album since 2020, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and singer Dirk Powell paints a masterpiece. With support from Rhiannon Giddens, Darrell Scott, and Powell's daughter and musical collaborator, Amelia, Powell draws from a colorful palette of sound, to capture in broad flourishes the many scenes of joy, sadness, celebration, and love evoked in the wake of a full life...." ~ Henry Carrigan, No Depression

Read the full review: https://t.co/xF1kFIZ469

Order/Stream here: https://t.co/oYx4EnLWAj
#dirkpowell #wake #newmusic #americana #bluegrass

[Last Music Company @LastMusicCo]

NEW MUSIC FRIDAY: DAN PENN ~ SMOKE FILLED ROOM

Rooted in the red clay of Alabama and shaped by the studios of Memphis and Muscle Shoals, Penn’s work has long been central to the beating heart of Southern soul. Dubbed the “secret hero” of author Peter Guralnick’s landmark book Sweet Soul Music, Penn’s credits include co-writing Do Right Woman, Do Right Man, The Dark End of the Street, I’m Your Puppet, A Woman Left Lonely and Cry Like A Baby. When Penn sings his own material, these songs take on an added depth: intimate, lived-in, and unmistakably his. An understated, yet powerful late-career offering, Smoke Filled Room adds to his legacy. The album gathers rare and previously unreleased material from across Penn’s catalog, which he has reworked and refined from the perspective of a lifetime in music.

Available in CD, Digital and Vinyl formats, you can find it here: https://t.co/dsiLmoqmPg

See Dan and Spooner at Chickie Wah Wah in New Orleans May 1st!

Tickets: https://t.co/E8ZLwa91Kh via @TicketWeb

[Last Music Company @LastMusicCo]

LAST MUSIC SUBSTACK: Another Trailer from The Dan Penn Epic

Read and subscribe here: https://t.co/K0KqVK5HvA

[Last Music Company @LastMusicCo]

NEW MUSIC: DIRK POWELL “WAKE” OUT APRIL 17th

We’re excited to bring you Dirk’s magnificent new album this Spring. Many thanks to The Bluegrass Situation for premiering his lyric video for the first taster track “Down The Line.”

Stream or download the single DOWN THE LINE, out today, click here: https://t.co/dGMQ8Vm0w3

To pre-order the album, out April 17th click here: https://t.co/oYx4EnMupR

Watch the video at The Bluegrass Situation below….and happy Friday!!

[Last Music Company @LastMusicCo]

TIME TO LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG! BILL KIRCHEN'S NEW ALBUM OUT 22nd MAY

We so excited to share this news. Bill's new album--his first new studio recording in about a decade, will be out 22nd May.

Bill says, "This album has the broadest scope yet of any of the dozen or so I’ve done in my own name....A bigger palette of genres, songwriting, guitar work."

And we can't wait for you to hear the title track which is the first single--out TODAY.

Download or Stream the "Cat Out of The Bag" Single HERE: https://t.co/26v03gVDUM

Pre-order the album and special merchandise bundles HERE. https://t.co/D1KXr7RrCc

Visit us at https://t.co/fCRIIDOs2W or at https://t.co/IUwrnhd8Yq for further details.

[Last Music Company @LastMusicCo]

INTERVIEW FEATURE: The Mighty Resumés of Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham

Dan and Spooner sat down with Ron Wynn ahead of their City Winery appearance in Nashville this Sunday.

[Last Music Company @LastMusicCo]

HAPPY NEW YEAR: ANDY FAIRWEATHER LOW ~ JOOLS HOLLAND’S NEW YEAR’s EVE ANNUAL HOOTENANNY 2023

Here’s Andy ringing the new year in a few years back.

WATCH: https://t.co/HiGLT7dMHx

Best wishes for a healhy, happy and prosperous 2026!

[Last Music Company @LastMusicCo]

REMEMBERING RON KAVANA ON HIS BIRTHDAY

Ron was born on Christmas day in 1952. We lost him just last year. These are the lyrics to his lesser-known but equally beautiful song of reconciliation. Peace on earth, goodwill to men.

Truth and Understanding, (lyrics). ~ Ron Kavana

"You Irishmen so true and brave who would auld Ireland save
For those of cruel persuasion out to destroy this nation
Let us all united stand, stop the bold oppressor’s band
Not with bomb or gun in hand, but by truth and understanding

Who fears to speak of ’98 on the road to Stormont’s gate
From Vinegar Hill a lesson learned, all good men joined together
Seize the chance before it’s gone, sing aloud this joyous song
This land is ours all and one by truth and understanding

Let reconciliation be our watchword for the future
Let’s build a bridge of peace to stand for coming generations
Don’t go back to how it was, to killing men for freedoms cause
Observe our common Christian laws of the truth and understanding

So Irishmen be true and brave, if you would auld Ireland save
From those of cruel persuasion out to destroy this nation
Let us all united stand, stop the bold oppressor’s band
Not with bomb or gun in hand but by truth and understanding."

LISTEN: https://t.co/mA2t4olBy1

READ more about Ron here: https://t.co/OIa5Bh0fT8

[Last Music Company @LastMusicCo]

PAUL BRADY: ARTHUR MCBRIDE

Another annual favorite here at Last Music.

For it Being a Christmas Morning ....
"Oh, me and my cousin one Arthur McBride
As we went a-walking down by the seaside
Now mark what followed and what did betide
For it being on Christmas morning ..."

From "Arthur McBride," a traditional song later arranged and adapted by Paul Brady,

Here's Paul performing it in 1977...

WATCH: https://t.co/vlBOgissMU

#Christmas2025

[Last Music Company @LastMusicCo]

HAPPY CHRISTMAS: GERAINT WATKINS ~ CHRISTMAS DAY ALL OVER THE WORLD

Another beautiful song from Geraint for the season. As for the snow machine? Don't try this at home, folks.

Happy merry.

WATCH: https://t.co/0ZDmCgzDPa

[Last Music Company @LastMusicCo]

GERAINT WATKINS: A CHRISTMAS LULLABY

Christmas Eve favourite from Geraint Watkins.

For those who celebrate, have a very Happy Christmas...

#GeraintWatkins #Christmas #christmasmusic

[Last Music Company @LastMusicCo]

DAN PENN: ONE BLUE LIGHT ~ LYRIC VIDEO

ICYMI: Dan Penn's message of remembrance and hope this holiday season in the run up to his 2026 release, "Smoke Filled Room."

“....This marks the spot where I endorse a holiday song for what will probably be the only time this year, or possibly ever. It's been ten years since Mellowmas ended, and I still bear the scars — but new music from Dan Penn is always to be celebrated. He's 83 and he's long since stopped needing to prove himself to any damn body, so I keep waiting for him to retire, and I'm always pleasantly surprised when he tells us he's decided not to....” ~ Jeff Giles, https://t.co/qgZd04TYhG

Listen/Download here: https://t.co/vu4Das2BhD