As I mentioned in the post yesterday about the great 1979 Tom Waits interview, at the moment I am all about Rickie Lee Jones. Her music is the only music I want to listen to lately. To the exclusion of all else. I’ve been working my way up to a longer, more considered post on Rickie Lee Jones, but that’s not for today—and there is a timely nature to this—so I will keep this one brief.

This morning, clicking around Twitter, I happened upon the news that Jones was raising money to make a new album on Pledge Music. She’s currently 73% of the way towards her goal—with some extremely good premiums like original paintings, house concerts and she was even offering some of her signature berets—with nineteen days left.

Rickie Lee Jones is one of the most important living American musicians, even if the vast majority of the nation doesn’t actually seem to realize this. She’s always been a notoriously difficult talent to describe, fitting into no easy genre or label. Unfortunately in our karaoke culture, a true original like Jones is going to fall through the cracks of what the music industry can do for her. Although I’m sure she must make a decent living touring, at her age, the normal channels won’t be open to her to create and promote new work, so she’s taking it to her fanbase directly.

I thank you in advance for your support, for going with me down this new road.

I think sometimes of the times of Amadeus and the prince or cardinal whose wealth supported him and his work. I’m so much luckier. I have you.

One thing that a deep-pocketed fan/benefactor might be interested in: For the sum of $10,000, the multiple Grammy award-winning musician will write a song about your life. Would make an extravagant, but memorable, wedding anniversary gift, too, I’d think…

Rickie Lee Jones on Pledge Music

Listen to this one time and try—just try—to get it out of your head. From her 2007 masterpiece, The Sermon On Exposition Blvd., here’s “Falling Up”: