5 Songs I Love w/ Charley Ramsay

Following the release of his album Bottle Rocket Sunsets, Flex caught up with Americana singer-songwriter Charley Ramsay to find out more about what influences his distinctive sound. If you enjoy Charley's picks, be sure to check out Bottle Rocket Sunsets at the end of the article.

1. Chris Whitley - Phone Call from Leavenworth

Planning to spend a week at a friend’s New Mexico cabin, I stopped by Sundance Records in San Marcos, Texas to gather music for writing inspiration. The now famous owner, Bobby Barnard, gave me 2 albums. One was Chris Whitley’s “Living With The Law”. This is my only-one-album-on-a-island pick. And this track captures his raw, emotional vocals with incredible blues-style guitar arrangements. 

2. Big Star's Third - Thirteen

I was first introduced to “Thirteen” when a longtime friend asked me to play it live at his wedding. It’s simple. It’s beautiful. It takes you right back to first loves and teenage crushes. I’ll always remember that teenage kind of innocence fondly.

3. Alexi Murdoch - All My Days

This song always puts me in a good mood. It gathers the small, ordinary observations of a day and somehow turns them into something bigger.  An ode to life.

4. Sinéad O'Connor - The Last Day of Our Acquaintance

You can physically feel Sinéad O’Connor’s pain in these haunting vocals. I’ve always admired the boldness of starting with a lone acoustic guitar and then letting the rhythm section rise up at the end. It swells. It crashes. It gives me goosebumps every time.

5. The Reivers - Secretariat

I was honored to spend time with this mighty Austin band at the height of their run. Frontman John Croslin even produced some of our work and became a lifelong friend. Local songwriters, myself included, consider John the local GOAT. This track reminds me why.

Listen to Bottle Rocket Sunsets: