I finally had a chance to see Tift in concert about a week ago, at the Anthology 'jazz dinner club' here in San Diego.  She played my wife's favorite song but not mine, "Late Night Pilgrim."  Now, I realize that it was from her previous album so I was disappointed but not surprised.  Then I bought her concert DVD from the previous album and "Late Night Pilgrim" isn't there either. 

I really like "Late Night Pilgrim", but then again, there isn't a song on Tambourine that I don't like. The only song off Tambourine that I'm not crazy about, and I hope this isn't blashphemy, is "Laid A Highway". I still like it, it's just probably the one I'm least crazy about. The song that made me an instant Tift fan was "Good Hearted Man". Another great, great song off Tambourine is "Easy to Change". I think, although I'm not sure, that "Easy to Change" was a bonus track. Some who bought the CD in stores may not have it.

I think Forrest may have brought up in another thread how rare it is to hear "Trouble Over Me". Now that I would definitely like to hear live. It's kind of ironic because at my first Tift show, Schuba's in Chicago May 2005, I didn't know many of the songs off Bramble Rose. Someone in the audience asked Tift during the show if she was going to play some of those songs, and I think she did. I just don't remember if "Trouble Over Me" was played.

Isn't it great to like a singer who after only 3 albums would require a double disc set for her greatest hits?

Hell, no, sdsalsero, this song is not not popular!  In fact, I was listening to a live version from Tractor Tavern, Seattle 2005 on the Tambourine tour and I was impressed how much it rocked, I had kind of forgotten.

There is a live version in the downloads section, but I can't remember if its acoustic or full band.  Phillip, if the version we already have in the downloads section is acoustic, would you do a nice thing for sdsalsero and post the full band version from Seattle 2005?

And how about putting up Easy To Change as well.  I've never heard that song.  I think David Kennedy mentioned it awhile back, but I never did track it down.  Chris, more details please!

rock on, y'all.

Understood.  Once I get iTunes capable, I will get that track, happy to pay for it, just wish it were more easily accessible for those of us stuck in the dark ages!

Mitch, re possible unfavored-songs, I would vote for "Your Love Made A U-Turn" ... I've never liked that song. It's too 'cute'.

Thanks for the hint about the Downloads section.  I listened to the acoustic version of LNP and Tift really struggled with the vocals.  Maybe there's no copy of it the DVD because she didn't get a good recording/performance, and maybe it's the same reason it's missing from her current set?

Shug,

Thank you for your comments. I agree with you completely in your assessment of why TM and band are playing five or six Tambourine tracks each night and an even smaller number of tunes from Bramble Rose. There are time (and voice strength) limitations on playing too many songs at each gig.

It's entirely probable that I was unclear in my earlier comments. Instead of focusing on the number of Tambourine tracks performed, I was trying to focus on the basis TM used to choose the Tambourine tracks that would make the cut. Are there any songs from that album that are unlikely to make it into a concert at all? If so, does that say anything about what TM thinks of those songs?

You offer a very plausible explanation for the omissions. She might believe certain Tambourine tracks just don't fit as well with the current material. It's entirely possible that she loves all the songs, still enjoys playing them, but doesn't think they fit with this tour.

The alternative I was throwing at the dart board was that one or more tracks from the second album might be ones that she doesn't "dig" that much. I have no evidence for that assessment, and if someone in the know tells me it's not true, I won't protest.

But many of her AC interviews have suggested that the process of producing this album was free from the undue influence of a record company honcho (like the Tom Petty A&R man who can't hear a single) demanding certain types of songs for a make-or-break sophomore set. I infer from those statements that she did face that pressure in the past. If this inference is correct, then it's safe to ask whether any tunes ended up on Tamborurine to placate the Lost Highway machine.

As I said before, I'm not planning to ask her whether she's recorded any songs in the past that she believes just don't cut it. I just wondered if anyone else had ever asked that same question.

I saw LNP performed live the first time I saw Tift. The only problem I have with the song is I can't relate to it. I didn't know it had anything to do with oil speculation, I thought it was about a girl obsessed with a boyfriend who stayed out all night partying.

Tift did perform U-Turn in Atlanta. I was surprised cause I personally don't care for it. The only thing that keps me from hating U-Turn is that Tift sings it.

Apparently the song is inspired by her grandfather who was an oil digger?  But I don't think that's the point of the song.  Instead I think it's about that feeling one gets late at night, that your whole life is a stuggle and you don't know where it's going.  It's the same feeling I used to get when I'd be driving around in the middle of the night with no purpose. Fortunately I don't feel like that anymore but I sure used to.

As for it's paucity of recording and/or performance, if the two bootlegs on this site are any indication it's a tough song for her to sing.  She struggles to hit the high notes on both these recordings including the acoustic version (where she doesn't have to sing above the other instruments).  So maybe she's given-up on singing it?