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I have just bought "'Switchblades Of Love' by Steve Young. All the songs on it are good but I particularly enjoyed 'Midnight Rail' and 'If MyEyes Were Blind.' The latter song has one of Leonard Cohen's backing musicians on it. It would be interesting to see if anyone can identify him on first listening to the track.

'Midnight Rail'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhalDekiVis

'If My Eyes Were Blind'

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5rP2egeBeQ

It is sad to see that Steve Young died recently. Another great singer/ songwriter who has been overlooked.

I did not know Steve Young had died. He was in the almost mythical and then unknown group of Texas singer-songwriters from the 70s immortalized in the 1974 documentary 'Heartworn Highways'. I have his compilation album 'Lonesone, O'nry and Mean' - his title song made famous by Waylon Jennings. He also wrote Seven Bridges Road made famous by The Eagles. RIP.

Alabama Highway
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEQp1xDamaE

That Old Time Feeling (accompanying Guy Clark)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X_nl1v9x8Y

another who should be better known but is not - Richard Dobson

Hard by the Highway
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-O0UOPPzycg

For Ever, For Always, For Certain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZILqtZlfb7I

Hi Tony,

I dug out my Steve Young album and have been listening to his music. Will get the Switchblades of Love album. Some of his older songs from the compilation album:

Dreamer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kH5UGRqQeo

Montgomery in the Rain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5vFXFjqeBg

the original Seven Bridges Road (1969)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpV83ovYAyY

there is also a link with various cover versions ....

still don't know the answer to the question !

Hello Kush,

Thanks very much for the Richard Dobson links. I have not heard his songs before and I found them very enjoyable. I was looking at his webpage and that is very interesting too.

As for the answer to my question, the individual concerned is John Bilezikjian on the oud.

I just checked out Richard Dobson's website and yeah it is interesting. In fact Hard by the Highway and Forever, For Always, For Certain were the only songs I had heard of his. The book Gulf Coast Boys also looks interesting...especially road travel anecdotes about "the looniest, most gifted of the bunch, Townes Van Zandt."

I have been listening to some of Richard Dobson's music on youtube and on itunes. He has some really great songs...

Rockin to the Rhythm of the world
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N9E0Qs4gV0

From a Distant Shore
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68ayLyx7OlE

Sant'Anna
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CVvvHdaZGI

I Hear Singing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvwe1N2quwA

Going to the Roundhouse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ-kTa-P7sE

There is a memorable "interview" of "Uncle" Seymour Washington by Townes Van Zandt in the Heartworn Highways documentary which I have posted before - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K84dAXpgmHA.

Going to the Roundhouse is a tribute to "Uncle" Seymour Washington.

Sant'Anna reminds me a little of The Partisan

A song sung by Steve Young and written by his son...

Love Will Find Another Way
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L7USUCsw8Y

..and his own

The White Trash Song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Yz15yhwgFw

Two great songs covered by Steve Young - until the news of his death on this thread I had been somewhat less familiar with his music than that of Guy Clark and Merle Haggard...

Rock Salt and Nails (Utah Phillips)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSWFsyaRaEM

He sings outdoors in Montana with the beautiful Yellowstone country in the backdrop ...there is also an interesting short biography on him on the youtube link...

Young is in many ways a cultural dynamic in himself. Part Cherokee (from his father) by birth, steeped in Baptist fundamentalism as a child, yet attracted to a Zen spirituality, the young man from the South with a nomadic spirit went on to create a unique form of American roots music with a truly global perspective.Steve Young has literally toured the world. He has performed in many countries of Europe, in Australia and New Zealand, in Micronesia, China and Mongolia, in Egypt and East Africa and beyond. Wherever he has gone, he has filled the dual role of ambassador for American music and student of the cultures of others.Young's live performances express the depth and power of his vision.


The Ballad of William Sycamore (poem by Stephen Vincent Benet, 1922)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhpI0LL9Byk

A woman as straight as a hunting knife
With eyes as big as The Dipper

http://www.poetry-archive.com/b/the_bal ... amore.html


Tom Russell also has a great version of this song

I am not very familiar with Utah Phillips music but I like another song of his covered by Jimmie Dale Gilmore

Going Away
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hlpS97 ... C1Esu7g5aP