This week, I feature Dearest Magdalene (Big Burn) by my friend and talented guitarist Bill Stutzman. Inspired by the Great Fire of 1910, this ballad from the album Cardinals and Fireflies unfolds like a final letter from a husband and father facing death as he sends his family to safety. With poetic storytelling, ghostly harmonies from his wife Cherise, and a warm vocal delivery reminiscent of James Taylor, this is a hauntingly beautiful song worth a careful listen.
Here’s a link to listen to “Dearest Magdalene (Big Burn)” on YouTube:
The Friday FIVE is a weekly five-minute podcast series from Musically Speaking that features five minutes of music commentary, examples, and recommendations from Jarrod Richey.
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