Despite reports of a few awkward moments regarding the show’s collaborative format, Ryan Adams, Neil Finn, and Janis Ian all turned in inspired solo performances for BBC 4’s Songwriters’ Circle last week. For his part, Adams dusted off 5 older fan favorites along with a pair of Ashes & Fire songs. His full set is online here, but singled out above is an excellent take on a personal favorite: “Carolina Rain,” 29’s road-weary centerpiece.
Given that the lyrics mention “Rose” twice, this recently revealed tidbit from Adams is worth noting here: “I’ve never told anyone this,” he told The Sun, “and it’s great to tell someone finally — but [former Cardinals bassist] Catherine [Popper]’s character in a loving way was the inspiration for the character Rose in all my tunes.”