Music

9 songs that got stuck in Tim Buchanan's head in 2024

KOSU | By Tim Buchanan

Published December 11, 2024 at 4:00 AM CST

Tim Buchanan, host of Far From Home, shares nine songs that have been stuck in his head in 2024.

1. In The Garden

This hymn really took hold on me this year. I've known it all my life, I think, but never latched on before. It's funny how that can be, background shifts to foreground just before your eyes. Among the versions that stick with me, here are a couple:

Dwight Yoakam at Buck Owens' funeral. He's clearly emotional here, and happens to have a flub or two in his playing — for me, this doesn't detract for a moment from the depth of it. That voice, man.

Willie Nelson's recording from The Troublemaker. That whole LP could be on this list, I don't think there's been a single month it's not made it on the turntable. Jimmy Day (steel) sure sounds good on this.

2. Haven't You Heard

This one was on the end of year list a couple of years back, and has been making the rounds between my ears since even before then. The melody never gets old, the sway, the feeling that you could well be dancing to this despite it being a story told from the split perspective of both a child who lost his parents and the man who essentially claims responsibility for it. Haven't you heard? Daddy's gone crazy.

Wayne Kemp wrote the song, and his version wins out for me. The warm feel of the era's recording, especially heightened by this YouTube rip, helps to sweeten the pill even further.

George Strait's is so crisp in comparison that I can smell the starched Wranglers, and I love him for it.

3. Take Me

Leon Payne and George Jones co-wrote this one, and it's really beautiful. This one with George and Tammy is great.

Just George on this from '65, killer.

But this... this clip from Leon Russell's A Poem Is A Naked Person of George Jones casually strumming and singing the song feels so grounded and present, it really can't be beat.

Digging into some other versions is fruitful, but George definitely takes the cake on this one. Conway Twitty and Bill Phillips have great takes, both not straying too far from the path, but it's a damn fine path so who could blame them - they both sound amazing. The Jerry Garcia / David Grisman recording is very nice. However, one that's truly worth your time is Karen Dalton's on her In My Own Time LP.

4. A Change Is Gonna Come

We all know this one. It's been a buoyant prayer as much as anything else for 60 years. A prayer that'll continue both its relevance and relief as we keep pushing into the unknown. We're all winners to be lucky enough to have this one around.

Sam Cooke:

Otis Redding:

5. River In The Rain

Roger Miller left us with one here that flows like an ocean liner here, smooth and heavy as all hell. It was written for a Broadway play called Big River that I just can't find the energy to care about, there are cast recordings and a Mel Tillis belting on a stage barge take to be found that can also miss me. Should I look further? Leave me a voicemail and let me know if you feel different.

Anyway, it sure sounds good on a mostly-pretty-much-in-tune-it's-fine Trigger at Farm Aid '85 here.

But it's this album take that gets put on repeat for me

6. Time Marches On

Like the first on this list, it feels like it's been here my whole life. It sure was on the radio a lot when I was seven years old, as far as I remember. Like the one before on the list, I also think it's best served on repeat. It really doesn't get old, and it seems to feel even better every year. You can also let it remind you to put on some Hank or Dylan afterward, if you'd like.

It's all Tracy Lawrence for this one, and this is the album/single take:

For what it's worth, this live video is one I've pulled out as a guitar teacher plenty of times. It helps clarify the consistent, functionally required up-down strum that a strictly necessary five (5) acoustic guitarists here demonstrate with the precision of a Rolex, a few genuinely badass cowboy hats and the requisite 90s country Takamine's, most likely, with big ol cut-outs, definitely.

7. I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)

Speaking of both Hank Williams and songs that might be on this particular list every year, if I were to make it.

8. Deacon Blues

A later entry in the year, but no less worthy for entry. See also: Donald Fagen's recent inclusion in a yacht rock doc as chronicled by Rolling Stone.

9. À la Mode

Among several other players of the highest-caliber here, Lee Morgan and Wayne Shorter lay down one hell of an earworm melody that can be hard for me to shake along with some blistering solos. Someone above my pay grade may need to write a book on Art's playing here too. Let's pair that with a statue of his stick meeting that perfect-sounding ride cymbal. I'll attend the unveiling. This one has started just about every morning for me for most of the year.

Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers:

Here's a few more songs for good measure, presented without comment.

Listen to Far From Home, every Sunday night at 7 p.m. on The Spy on KOSU.