05-24-10... Antagonize an undesirable situation and you give it the very power it needs to work against you. Deny it your power of thought and it crumbles away from you.
More Bob Wills soloists are featured for an instrumental. Oklahoma Rag
05-25-10... Don't know about you, but seeing footage of all that oil gushing into the Atlantic every day depresses the hell out of me. It represents heavy doses of greed, arrogance and irresponsibility wrapped in one, gigantic, all-consuming package. My only hope is that as every coastline along the Gulf of Mexico turns to disgusting muck, it will anger us to the point we're finally ready to get with the program, kick our silly asses into the 21st Century and convert to more sensible methods of heating our homes and fueling our autos.
On a related topic, I see climate change, or global warming as they call it, in the same light. Of course there is climate change. Has been since the Earth came into existence -- before humans, after humans. Do I believe we have an effect on climate change? Little. I liken it to one of George Carlin's lines in a bit he did regarding man versus environment. He suggested (I paraphrase) we ask the people buried under the rubble of Mexico City (after an earthquake, if you recall) if they feel they're a threat to mother nature. He said when the Earth has had enough of the human race, it will shake us off like we're fleas on a dog.
I agree with Mr. Carlin, but again, if our worrying over whether or not we're harming the Earth leads us to more logical forms of energy, then I say let's go ahead and believe we're the cause of climate change. Whatever prompts us to elevate our civilization is okay by me.
Another round of Texas Playboy solos today -- Tiny Moore's mandolin; Herb Remington's steel guitar; Louis Tierney's fiddle -- along with comical lyrics. Devlish Mary. Millard Kelso played piano for these Tiffany Transcription sessions, and while he's undoubtedly talented, his solos tend to sound similar from one song to the next. Bob Wills' pre-WWII pianist, Al Stricklin, was a much stronger musician, in my opinion, and when I get around to featuring the original Playboy band (next month, maybe?) you can formulate your own opinion regarding the two men.
05-28-10... You can only possess two emotions regarding any subject, any person or groups of people, and they are love or hate. Hate is an emotion we attach to things we don't understand. Love is the goal, but if you find you cannot remove hate from a thing, let go of it. Remove your thought from it. When it rears its head to again tempt you, don't give it that pleasure. Think of something else, anything that keeps your spirits high. One of my effective tricks is to think of a song, a melody, any melody, because any tune that can be conjered from memory undoubtedly will be a favorite. Music, to me, is a gift coming directly from the universal power (God, if you wish), and so is love.
I hope you can appreciate the highly-skilled guitar picking of Junior Barnard in this final Tiffany Transcriptions offering. Lazy Day. I will do a post for Memorial Day. Don't know what, yet... probably something flag related.
Links for these mp3 audio samples are HERE
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Fiddle Makes you Dance For Reel
05-17-10... Another good reason for tackling a problem head on and immediately is that running away from it only allows it to present itself again, usually in the guise of another problem worse than before.
The lyrics in today's Bob Wills selection contain many problems, and the suggested solution for each is for the good Lord to set you free. This is a simple way of saying a contact with the universal power (Lord, God, or whatever label you wish) will change your consciousness concerning the problem, and it is the change that will lead you to solving it. Oh, Mona
05-19-10... Before radio, people held dances in their homes. They formed clubs and the location rotated week to week, same as we still do for our bridge or poker groups. Keeping things simple, one room was cleared and rock salt or sand scattered about the wood floor. As for music, all they needed at bare minimum was a fiddle player who could play reels while a caller gave couples their direction for the square dance. What are reels? Well, here's one with Tommy Duncan calling and Bob Wills handling the fiddle part himself, same as he did while growing up in the vicinity of Turkey, Texas. Smith's Reel
05-21-10... Late, am I? Sorry, modem went dead and I had to run out and exchange for new one. Honest!
Bob Wills. Country music. Western Swing, but as for his post-WWII instrumentalists, they could play jazz licks with the best of the big band musicians. Not theory. Fact. Proof? Listen to Junior Barnard's guitar and Joe Holley's fiddle talk to one another in I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket.
MP3 samples for these songs are found HERE
The lyrics in today's Bob Wills selection contain many problems, and the suggested solution for each is for the good Lord to set you free. This is a simple way of saying a contact with the universal power (Lord, God, or whatever label you wish) will change your consciousness concerning the problem, and it is the change that will lead you to solving it. Oh, Mona
05-19-10... Before radio, people held dances in their homes. They formed clubs and the location rotated week to week, same as we still do for our bridge or poker groups. Keeping things simple, one room was cleared and rock salt or sand scattered about the wood floor. As for music, all they needed at bare minimum was a fiddle player who could play reels while a caller gave couples their direction for the square dance. What are reels? Well, here's one with Tommy Duncan calling and Bob Wills handling the fiddle part himself, same as he did while growing up in the vicinity of Turkey, Texas. Smith's Reel
05-21-10... Late, am I? Sorry, modem went dead and I had to run out and exchange for new one. Honest!
Bob Wills. Country music. Western Swing, but as for his post-WWII instrumentalists, they could play jazz licks with the best of the big band musicians. Not theory. Fact. Proof? Listen to Junior Barnard's guitar and Joe Holley's fiddle talk to one another in I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket.
MP3 samples for these songs are found HERE
Friday, September 3, 2010
Playboy Chimes
05-10-10... An edited instrumental features Herb Remington's steel guitar lead with breaks by players Bob Wills will announce for you. Playboy Chimes
05-12-10... It's usually best to tackle a difficulty as soon as it presents itself. Allowing it to fester, to dig itself into your mentality will only make resolution more challenging with each passing day.
Today's Bob Wills song is about working hard while keeping faith that rewards will come in their due time. I'll Get Mine
05-14-10... The idea behind the Tiffany Transcriptions was to give radio stations a wide range of music, so they could attract advertisers targeting various markets. I don't know exactly which products in 1945-47 might be of interest to people into polkas, but Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys provided the option with this tune. This selection also provides a good chuckle for me when Bob calls Louis Tierney and Joe Holley "you old fiddle pluckers". Jesse Polka
Links to the mp3 samplings of these songs are HERE
05-12-10... It's usually best to tackle a difficulty as soon as it presents itself. Allowing it to fester, to dig itself into your mentality will only make resolution more challenging with each passing day.
Today's Bob Wills song is about working hard while keeping faith that rewards will come in their due time. I'll Get Mine
05-14-10... The idea behind the Tiffany Transcriptions was to give radio stations a wide range of music, so they could attract advertisers targeting various markets. I don't know exactly which products in 1945-47 might be of interest to people into polkas, but Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys provided the option with this tune. This selection also provides a good chuckle for me when Bob calls Louis Tierney and Joe Holley "you old fiddle pluckers". Jesse Polka
Links to the mp3 samplings of these songs are HERE
Friday, August 27, 2010
Oklahoma Hills
05-3-10... Didn't stay away too long, did I? Guess you could say I kind of missed posting old twangy music, and the pone parts are therapy for me. Helps me to keep in check my temptations to feel resentment, anger, indignation and other self-damaging emotions when things don't go my way... or at least the way I think they should go. With my own explanation of my own reasons for resuming the Corn Pone, I just gave a daily dose of it.
A few months ago I played Jack Guthrie's recording of his own song, Oklahoma Hills, and mentioned that somewhere I had stowed away a rather rare version of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys doing the song western swing-style. This was done as one of the Tiffany Transcriptions recordings from 1945-47. I'll talk more about all of this later, because this entire month will be more of the same. Highlight of this one, other than Bob and lead vocalist Tommy Duncan cracking jokes, is the electric guitar break of Junior Barnard. Oklahoma Hills
05-5-10... This month (and probably next) I'll be featuring the music of Bob Wills, the man known as the King of Western Swing. My posts are not history lessons (you can read about him for days on end if you Google his name), but exposure for both those who have never heard his music and those who have heard his music but perhaps not these particular songs.
The first thing you should know is that Mr. Wills usually spouted spoken comments during the music, most often his falsetto "Ah, Ha!" and musician-named cues for one of them to take a solo break. It might take you awhile to get used to hearing him do this, but the reason he did it should be clear. The talented musicians popping their dance-hall beats excited him. His band members were always top-notch musicians, and his goal was to put together ensembles that were every bit as hot as the swinging jazz bands of the 1930's and 40's, but with the inclusion of fiddles, steel guitars, acoustic and electric guitars.
Today's selection is one of his biggest hits, thanks to Patsy Cline who recorded it in 1963, several years after this recording performed by Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys in 1947. The melody is a fiddle tune conceived by his father, John Wills, back when Bob was a child and he and his family played for dances held in individuals' homes. Took him over 30 years before he finally decided to write lyrics for the melody and create a full-blown song. As for who actually wrote the lyrics, the matter of royalties created a rift between Bob and some of his band members, most notably his long-time lead singer, Tommy Duncan. More history if you care to investigate further.
Regardless, end result is a beautiful melody with classically-memorable lyrics. And, this is one of the rare occasions when Mr. Wills didn't interject his shout-outs into the recording. He lets the musicians, melody, lyrics and mesmerizing harmonies do his talking for him. Faded Love
05-7-10... The Judgment" is not some great trial that takes place at the end of our lives. It is a process that goes on in our minds all the time. Judgment is deciding upon the truth or falsity of any thought. What we accept as truth and what we reject as false determines our character.
From 1945 to 1947, Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys recorded what were known as transcriptions for Tiffany Music, Inc. These 16-inch discs were sold in packages to radio stations across the nation, a system similar to today's syndicated programs, where each radio station could sell their own advertising for the program's broadcast. In all, around 220 (known) songs were recorded, and no collection better exemplifies the versatility of the post-World War II Playboy bands, the variety of music they could play whether traditional or original, and the talented songwriting of Bob and his various band members.
As usual, I won't play the whole song, and for this one I cut out the piano break. Still, there's a steel guitar solo, electric guitar, and lastly, one of the most talented fiddle players ever put to record will take his turn. His name is Joe Holley. Bob Wills called him Jody. He played left handed. He was a jazz man who could play any style Bob asked him to play, and in the 1940's no country music fans had ever heard a fiddle treated this way. If you're not impressed, just wait. There will be even hotter licks in days ahead. I Had a Little Mule
The mp3 audio samples are HERE
A few months ago I played Jack Guthrie's recording of his own song, Oklahoma Hills, and mentioned that somewhere I had stowed away a rather rare version of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys doing the song western swing-style. This was done as one of the Tiffany Transcriptions recordings from 1945-47. I'll talk more about all of this later, because this entire month will be more of the same. Highlight of this one, other than Bob and lead vocalist Tommy Duncan cracking jokes, is the electric guitar break of Junior Barnard. Oklahoma Hills
05-5-10... This month (and probably next) I'll be featuring the music of Bob Wills, the man known as the King of Western Swing. My posts are not history lessons (you can read about him for days on end if you Google his name), but exposure for both those who have never heard his music and those who have heard his music but perhaps not these particular songs.
The first thing you should know is that Mr. Wills usually spouted spoken comments during the music, most often his falsetto "Ah, Ha!" and musician-named cues for one of them to take a solo break. It might take you awhile to get used to hearing him do this, but the reason he did it should be clear. The talented musicians popping their dance-hall beats excited him. His band members were always top-notch musicians, and his goal was to put together ensembles that were every bit as hot as the swinging jazz bands of the 1930's and 40's, but with the inclusion of fiddles, steel guitars, acoustic and electric guitars.
Today's selection is one of his biggest hits, thanks to Patsy Cline who recorded it in 1963, several years after this recording performed by Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys in 1947. The melody is a fiddle tune conceived by his father, John Wills, back when Bob was a child and he and his family played for dances held in individuals' homes. Took him over 30 years before he finally decided to write lyrics for the melody and create a full-blown song. As for who actually wrote the lyrics, the matter of royalties created a rift between Bob and some of his band members, most notably his long-time lead singer, Tommy Duncan. More history if you care to investigate further.
Regardless, end result is a beautiful melody with classically-memorable lyrics. And, this is one of the rare occasions when Mr. Wills didn't interject his shout-outs into the recording. He lets the musicians, melody, lyrics and mesmerizing harmonies do his talking for him. Faded Love
05-7-10... The Judgment" is not some great trial that takes place at the end of our lives. It is a process that goes on in our minds all the time. Judgment is deciding upon the truth or falsity of any thought. What we accept as truth and what we reject as false determines our character.
From 1945 to 1947, Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys recorded what were known as transcriptions for Tiffany Music, Inc. These 16-inch discs were sold in packages to radio stations across the nation, a system similar to today's syndicated programs, where each radio station could sell their own advertising for the program's broadcast. In all, around 220 (known) songs were recorded, and no collection better exemplifies the versatility of the post-World War II Playboy bands, the variety of music they could play whether traditional or original, and the talented songwriting of Bob and his various band members.
As usual, I won't play the whole song, and for this one I cut out the piano break. Still, there's a steel guitar solo, electric guitar, and lastly, one of the most talented fiddle players ever put to record will take his turn. His name is Joe Holley. Bob Wills called him Jody. He played left handed. He was a jazz man who could play any style Bob asked him to play, and in the 1940's no country music fans had ever heard a fiddle treated this way. If you're not impressed, just wait. There will be even hotter licks in days ahead. I Had a Little Mule
The mp3 audio samples are HERE
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Hank's a Long Gone Daddy
03-29-10... It seems rather absurd to say any one Hank Williams song could be my favorite. After all, how many bad ones are there? I'll just say that, for its rhythm, its melody, Hank's soulful voice and his true-to-life lyrics, this might be a top-ten for me. Long Gone Daddy Blues
03-31-10... Cast the burden doesn't mean to toss your responsibilities over to someone else. It's useful, purposeful meaning is to insist upon your own peace of mind... to not give in to worry and anxiety over any issue. That's what Charlie Rich is trying to do with his particular issue. There Won't Be Any More
04-02-10... As I sign off Jasper's Corn Pone for a hiatus either temporary or permanent, I will do my best to leave behind something of use. This suggestion is by far the most difficult to accept and implement into daily living. Believe me, I struggle with it constantly, what with the things heard and seen in all media of actions and words perplexing and vexing. But, if we can remember as individuals that our thoughts control our universe, we can plow through all the negative information which bombards us every day. We can remember that all of us are tiny threads of one garment, tiny sparks from one great fire, and then we can hope and pray that those who seem so hell-bent on creating chaos will snap out of it and understand their road is leading them to their own mental destruction. All we can do is help ourselves. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
The Statler Brothers - Elizabeth
MP3 samples of these songs can be found HERE
03-31-10... Cast the burden doesn't mean to toss your responsibilities over to someone else. It's useful, purposeful meaning is to insist upon your own peace of mind... to not give in to worry and anxiety over any issue. That's what Charlie Rich is trying to do with his particular issue. There Won't Be Any More
04-02-10... As I sign off Jasper's Corn Pone for a hiatus either temporary or permanent, I will do my best to leave behind something of use. This suggestion is by far the most difficult to accept and implement into daily living. Believe me, I struggle with it constantly, what with the things heard and seen in all media of actions and words perplexing and vexing. But, if we can remember as individuals that our thoughts control our universe, we can plow through all the negative information which bombards us every day. We can remember that all of us are tiny threads of one garment, tiny sparks from one great fire, and then we can hope and pray that those who seem so hell-bent on creating chaos will snap out of it and understand their road is leading them to their own mental destruction. All we can do is help ourselves. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
The Statler Brothers - Elizabeth
MP3 samples of these songs can be found HERE
Friday, August 13, 2010
Tommy Collins is Not a Drink
03-22-10... Born to Run ... No, not the Springsteen variety, but the Emmylou Harris. A song in no way related to the other, but nonetheless a fine one.
03-24-10... Here's some tips for sure-fire methods of making yours a rotten day: Get excited over every trifling occurrence. Never relax... you don't want your body to recuperate. Never exercise... all it does is promote circulation. Read up on all the latest ailments and diseases. Be sure to discuss yours at length. Wear them with pride. Pay no mind to what you eat. After all, your stomach's just a garbage dump.
On the flip side, get up in time to watch the sunrise. Think about how vast the universe is and marvel at the wonders of nature all around you. Listen to a good song with a catchy melody, foot-tapping beat, clever lyrics, and a kick-ass steel guitar break. Here's one by Conway Twitty. That Kind of Girl
03-26-10... Now, folks, I'm telling you up front that this month will be the last for Jasper's Corn Pone... at least for quite some time. Might bring it back months down the road, but for now, there's stuff going on that requires more of my time and sacrifices have to be made. I figure there's 14 months times an average of 13 song samples per month, plus at least half that many entries of advice pone, so more than enough in the archives to keep a visitor occupied. Besides, little of it is anchored to time, so what's posted in 2009 and this year should be valid forever. I will finish this month and the first Friday of April to end the week.
Awhile back I posted a song by Tommy Collins and probably mentioned some of the famous names who cut their chops in Tommy's bands: Buck Owens, Ferlin Husky, Glenn Campbell, Merle Haggard, Floyd Cramer, and many more.
Tommy was born in Oklahoma, 1930, his real name Leonard Sipes. He was a guitarist, vocalist and prolific songwriter, many of his songs cut by the aforementioned and others, once their own careers were off and running. Tommy made his name in and around Bakersfield, California. His first signing with a major label was with Capitol records in 1953, and his first recording session produced the song I'll sample for you, along with the other one I played earlier, You Better Not Do That.
At the height of his career in 1957, he inexplicably decided to join a theologicial seminary in Oakland, CA and studied to become an ordained minister. After six years as a pastor, he decided returning to music was his true calling, and he again signed with Capitol Records to record songs he'd written those in-between years. Not religious music, still country, and he again hit the charts. A couple years later, he signed with Columbia and continued writing music at an astounding pace, all the way up until his death in 2000. Although Tommy Collins is not necessarily a household name, his music has been and still is recorded by megastars. Buck Owens recorded an entire album of nothing but Tommy Collins songs. Merle Haggard recorded a collection of them, and he wrote a tribute to his good friend Leonard Sipes, called simply, Leonard.
Here's today's selection from the Tommy Collins library. I Always Get a Souvenir
Links to mp3 samples of these songs are HERE
03-24-10... Here's some tips for sure-fire methods of making yours a rotten day: Get excited over every trifling occurrence. Never relax... you don't want your body to recuperate. Never exercise... all it does is promote circulation. Read up on all the latest ailments and diseases. Be sure to discuss yours at length. Wear them with pride. Pay no mind to what you eat. After all, your stomach's just a garbage dump.
On the flip side, get up in time to watch the sunrise. Think about how vast the universe is and marvel at the wonders of nature all around you. Listen to a good song with a catchy melody, foot-tapping beat, clever lyrics, and a kick-ass steel guitar break. Here's one by Conway Twitty. That Kind of Girl
03-26-10... Now, folks, I'm telling you up front that this month will be the last for Jasper's Corn Pone... at least for quite some time. Might bring it back months down the road, but for now, there's stuff going on that requires more of my time and sacrifices have to be made. I figure there's 14 months times an average of 13 song samples per month, plus at least half that many entries of advice pone, so more than enough in the archives to keep a visitor occupied. Besides, little of it is anchored to time, so what's posted in 2009 and this year should be valid forever. I will finish this month and the first Friday of April to end the week.
Awhile back I posted a song by Tommy Collins and probably mentioned some of the famous names who cut their chops in Tommy's bands: Buck Owens, Ferlin Husky, Glenn Campbell, Merle Haggard, Floyd Cramer, and many more.
Tommy was born in Oklahoma, 1930, his real name Leonard Sipes. He was a guitarist, vocalist and prolific songwriter, many of his songs cut by the aforementioned and others, once their own careers were off and running. Tommy made his name in and around Bakersfield, California. His first signing with a major label was with Capitol records in 1953, and his first recording session produced the song I'll sample for you, along with the other one I played earlier, You Better Not Do That.
At the height of his career in 1957, he inexplicably decided to join a theologicial seminary in Oakland, CA and studied to become an ordained minister. After six years as a pastor, he decided returning to music was his true calling, and he again signed with Capitol Records to record songs he'd written those in-between years. Not religious music, still country, and he again hit the charts. A couple years later, he signed with Columbia and continued writing music at an astounding pace, all the way up until his death in 2000. Although Tommy Collins is not necessarily a household name, his music has been and still is recorded by megastars. Buck Owens recorded an entire album of nothing but Tommy Collins songs. Merle Haggard recorded a collection of them, and he wrote a tribute to his good friend Leonard Sipes, called simply, Leonard.
Here's today's selection from the Tommy Collins library. I Always Get a Souvenir
Links to mp3 samples of these songs are HERE
Friday, August 6, 2010
Honky Tonk Man
03-15-10... Let's keep it simple on a Monday, shall we? It's all about the music, which is far from simple, because it's old-time bluegrass from Sonny and Bobby, the Osborne Brothers. Roll Muddy River
03-17-10... Does this guy think he's God or something? Hmm... well, oddly enough, perhaps he is. From 1960, Stuart Hamblen sings Remember Me.
03-19-10... Oops! Well, this is late, but still officially Friday, depending on where you live. I mentioned awhile back how Johnny Horton was so much more than The Battle of New Orleans, and of how he was a major star on the Louisiana Hayride and was long ago inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. In other words, the man could sing rock, country and honky tonk styles long before he hit it SUPER big with his themed songs. His personal life was fascinating as well, including some creepy parallels and connections with Hank Williams. Rather than me filling several pages with his bio, I'll direct you to the Johnny Horton page at the Rockabilly Hall of Fame site, and highly suggest you find out all there is to know about this talented and interesting man. Meanwhile, you should have no trouble figuring out why Dwight Yoakam covered this 1956 Johnny Horton classic. Honky Tonk Man
Sample audio links for these songs are HERE
03-17-10... Does this guy think he's God or something? Hmm... well, oddly enough, perhaps he is. From 1960, Stuart Hamblen sings Remember Me.
03-19-10... Oops! Well, this is late, but still officially Friday, depending on where you live. I mentioned awhile back how Johnny Horton was so much more than The Battle of New Orleans, and of how he was a major star on the Louisiana Hayride and was long ago inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. In other words, the man could sing rock, country and honky tonk styles long before he hit it SUPER big with his themed songs. His personal life was fascinating as well, including some creepy parallels and connections with Hank Williams. Rather than me filling several pages with his bio, I'll direct you to the Johnny Horton page at the Rockabilly Hall of Fame site, and highly suggest you find out all there is to know about this talented and interesting man. Meanwhile, you should have no trouble figuring out why Dwight Yoakam covered this 1956 Johnny Horton classic. Honky Tonk Man
Sample audio links for these songs are HERE
Friday, July 30, 2010
Mel Tillis is Homesick
03-8-10... Aren't Mondays a drag? Seems to be the most difficult day to get the brain kick-started, and the
attitude that starts the week trends throughout the week. So, since I know my brain has a desire to set me up for a sour mood, I rely on music to detour myself around a bad week. No radio. Something in between songs will piss me off... news, undoubtedly. Music alone will keep me happy, even if it's not necessarily uplifting music. Once I get past Monday with my spirits up, the rest the week follows suit.
Did I say something about a detour? Spade Cooley sings about one, and hopefully it will put you on the right track for your Monday. Detour
03-10-10... True faith is something not to be taken for granted. Right, Waylon Jennings? Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line
03-12-10... I wonder how many men and women who are far away from home can relate to this song. Far too many, and some are where they are for mistaken purpose, now freely admitted by one whose book is #1 seller on Amazon. Anyhow, this song by Mel Tillis is from a different war and different time, but the message is timeless for any soldier away from homeland. Stateside
Links to free, two-minute samples of these three songs are HERE
attitude that starts the week trends throughout the week. So, since I know my brain has a desire to set me up for a sour mood, I rely on music to detour myself around a bad week. No radio. Something in between songs will piss me off... news, undoubtedly. Music alone will keep me happy, even if it's not necessarily uplifting music. Once I get past Monday with my spirits up, the rest the week follows suit.
Did I say something about a detour? Spade Cooley sings about one, and hopefully it will put you on the right track for your Monday. Detour
03-10-10... True faith is something not to be taken for granted. Right, Waylon Jennings? Only Daddy That'll Walk the Line
03-12-10... I wonder how many men and women who are far away from home can relate to this song. Far too many, and some are where they are for mistaken purpose, now freely admitted by one whose book is #1 seller on Amazon. Anyhow, this song by Mel Tillis is from a different war and different time, but the message is timeless for any soldier away from homeland. Stateside
Links to free, two-minute samples of these three songs are HERE
Friday, July 23, 2010
Del Reeves Looking at Billboards
We've arrived to our month of March 2010 for recycling my blog posts.
03-1-10... Johnnie Lee Wills joined his brother Bob in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1934, playing tenor banjo on KVOO radio, thus becoming one of the six original Texas Playboys... as in... Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. For the next eight years the band grew in number, and exploded in popularity nationwide, but the onset of WWII saw many members joining the armed forces.
Bob took off for California and started a new band in 1942, while Johnnie Lee Wills stayed in Tulsa, switched instruments to fiddle and changed the band's name to Johnnie Lee Wills and All the Boys. What didn't change was the style and quality of music. Swing, western-style, and for the next 25 years they played dances at the Cain's Ballroom and broadcast six days a week on KVOO, making theirs the longest-running live broadcast in the nation at the time. Here's a prime example of the western swing sound, driven by some very talented musicians. Coyote Blues
03-3-10... This song here's been a chart-topper many times over. First recorded by George Jones in 1955, it rose to #4 on Billboard and became his first top-ten single. Later that year came this version, a duet by Red Sovine and Webb Pierce. Released end of December, it reached #1 first part of 1956, but don't feel bad for George. He co-wrote it along with Darrel Edwards, and assuming they set themselves up for many years of collecting royalties, they've done quite well with it. In years since it's hit the charts for big names like Hank Locklin and Charlie Pride, and is considered one of country music's classics, a lament of the spurned lover who simply cannot let go. Why Baby Why
03-5-10... Here comes a bona-fide, truck driver classic, and it's no mystery as to why. Those guys are always horny. Sadly, though, most of them today sport guts so huge and hanging over their crotches, I'm not sure how they find their hose so it can be finagled into relieving their pressure. That's what happens when conglomerates take over all the truck stops. Once a guaranteed stopping place for travelers of any ilk to get a healthy meal in a good, sit-down restaurant, now the conglomerate truck stops offer walk-up fast-food counters of the same variety to be found on any street in any town big or small. No wonder truck-driver bellies look like beach balls.
What does this have to do with a truck driving song? Not much. Just listen to the lyrics and reminisce over the good old days. From 1965, it's Del Reeves singing about Girl on a Billboard.
Two-minute samples of these three songs can be found HERE.
03-1-10... Johnnie Lee Wills joined his brother Bob in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1934, playing tenor banjo on KVOO radio, thus becoming one of the six original Texas Playboys... as in... Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. For the next eight years the band grew in number, and exploded in popularity nationwide, but the onset of WWII saw many members joining the armed forces.
Bob took off for California and started a new band in 1942, while Johnnie Lee Wills stayed in Tulsa, switched instruments to fiddle and changed the band's name to Johnnie Lee Wills and All the Boys. What didn't change was the style and quality of music. Swing, western-style, and for the next 25 years they played dances at the Cain's Ballroom and broadcast six days a week on KVOO, making theirs the longest-running live broadcast in the nation at the time. Here's a prime example of the western swing sound, driven by some very talented musicians. Coyote Blues
03-3-10... This song here's been a chart-topper many times over. First recorded by George Jones in 1955, it rose to #4 on Billboard and became his first top-ten single. Later that year came this version, a duet by Red Sovine and Webb Pierce. Released end of December, it reached #1 first part of 1956, but don't feel bad for George. He co-wrote it along with Darrel Edwards, and assuming they set themselves up for many years of collecting royalties, they've done quite well with it. In years since it's hit the charts for big names like Hank Locklin and Charlie Pride, and is considered one of country music's classics, a lament of the spurned lover who simply cannot let go. Why Baby Why
03-5-10... Here comes a bona-fide, truck driver classic, and it's no mystery as to why. Those guys are always horny. Sadly, though, most of them today sport guts so huge and hanging over their crotches, I'm not sure how they find their hose so it can be finagled into relieving their pressure. That's what happens when conglomerates take over all the truck stops. Once a guaranteed stopping place for travelers of any ilk to get a healthy meal in a good, sit-down restaurant, now the conglomerate truck stops offer walk-up fast-food counters of the same variety to be found on any street in any town big or small. No wonder truck-driver bellies look like beach balls.
What does this have to do with a truck driving song? Not much. Just listen to the lyrics and reminisce over the good old days. From 1965, it's Del Reeves singing about Girl on a Billboard.
Two-minute samples of these three songs can be found HERE.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Johnny Horton Rocks
02-22-10... One of the many fascinating aspects of music is interpretation of lyrics. Sure, Waylon Jennings claims he's a free spirit and is feeling the need to move on, but I wonder if what really happened is that the woman, knowing the weekend is over and she has things to do, told him to get his free-loading ass out of her house.
Waylon says it's Time to Bum Again.
02-24-10... You cannot change your environment without first changing your mind. This Gene Autrey penned song, done soulfully by Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys, is a fine example of what not to do. "I've lost her, oh, what can I do? I'll bet you're not happy if she's there with you." He's resentful. He's hurt, and as long as he thinks this way, he's never going to get over a woman who'll never again be what he wants her to be. He truly does have 20-20 Vision, and he's walking around blind.
02-26-10... It's no secret as to why Johnny Horton is in the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. His pre-, "Battle of New Orleans" style rocked with the best of them, and his voice had range coupled with masterful control. This song from 1956 showcases what he could do. I'm a One Woman Man
You'll find two-minute audio samples of these three songs HERE
Waylon says it's Time to Bum Again.
02-24-10... You cannot change your environment without first changing your mind. This Gene Autrey penned song, done soulfully by Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys, is a fine example of what not to do. "I've lost her, oh, what can I do? I'll bet you're not happy if she's there with you." He's resentful. He's hurt, and as long as he thinks this way, he's never going to get over a woman who'll never again be what he wants her to be. He truly does have 20-20 Vision, and he's walking around blind.
02-26-10... It's no secret as to why Johnny Horton is in the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. His pre-, "Battle of New Orleans" style rocked with the best of them, and his voice had range coupled with masterful control. This song from 1956 showcases what he could do. I'm a One Woman Man
You'll find two-minute audio samples of these three songs HERE
Friday, July 9, 2010
Rockabilly Haley
02-16-10... Yes, the Pone took a President's Day holiday, so I'll slip in a post-Valentine's Day love song on a Tuesday, courtesy of the Louvin Brothers. When I Stop Dreaming
02-17-10... Carl Smith has the perfect recipe for wooing females. Do you suppose that's how he persuaded June Carter into marrying him before she met and became June Carter (Johnny Cash) Cash?
Could be, but Carl Smith was one of the hottest country stars of the 1950's, charting more than 30 Top Ten hits. He wrote and sang ballads and honky tonk, and was damned good at it. Rather suggestive lyrics, too, considering the morals of the time. For example, Trademark
02-19-10... Resentment is a form of attachment, and because resentment always stems from another person or persons, resentment binds you to the very person or persons who caused your resentment. We're talking mental states here. Is that really what you want? Does it make sense to occupy your thoughts with the very thing you hate, the very person(s) who created it for you?
No, it does not make sense. You can have your resentment and make yourself prisoner to its source, or you can stop thinking about it, sever yourself from it and kiss it goodbye forever. Apply this concept to these lyrics and get a fresh perspective on a classic tune by Bill Haley and the Comets. See You Later Alligator
Links to these mp3 samples are HERE
02-17-10... Carl Smith has the perfect recipe for wooing females. Do you suppose that's how he persuaded June Carter into marrying him before she met and became June Carter (Johnny Cash) Cash?
Could be, but Carl Smith was one of the hottest country stars of the 1950's, charting more than 30 Top Ten hits. He wrote and sang ballads and honky tonk, and was damned good at it. Rather suggestive lyrics, too, considering the morals of the time. For example, Trademark
02-19-10... Resentment is a form of attachment, and because resentment always stems from another person or persons, resentment binds you to the very person or persons who caused your resentment. We're talking mental states here. Is that really what you want? Does it make sense to occupy your thoughts with the very thing you hate, the very person(s) who created it for you?
No, it does not make sense. You can have your resentment and make yourself prisoner to its source, or you can stop thinking about it, sever yourself from it and kiss it goodbye forever. Apply this concept to these lyrics and get a fresh perspective on a classic tune by Bill Haley and the Comets. See You Later Alligator
Links to these mp3 samples are HERE
Friday, July 2, 2010
Moon Mullican Boogies
02-8-10... So, I thought my know-it-all friend might have learned his lesson when he asked if I'd take the Jets over San Diego for five bucks. He learned nothing, asking me two weeks ago if I'd let him win back his five by taking New Orleans in the Super Bowl. Honestly, I had no preferences in either game. I just wanted to see high-quality, competitive football. I did, and now, he owes me ten. Just goes to show that nothing's for certain in this life, and nothing's ever for certain when it comes to sports. They are the "Aints" no more. Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints on their first-ever Super Bowl win.
One thing is for certain: do the crime and you'll do the time, either in prison or elsewhere. Stonewall Jackson learned it. He's still got Life To Go.
02-10-10... Look, I ain't sayin' I'm for or against her, but Sarah Palin's no dummy. Does anyone really think she needed those messages written on her hand to jog her memory? No. She knew it would keep her in the forefront of the news cycle for days on end. Four and counting... mission accomplished.
Johnny Cash has the best ingredients for what makes a music icon -- he writes memorable, sing-along melodies, and lesson-learning, story-telling lyrics. Here's one of hundreds from his library that fits the bill. Home of the Blues
02-12-10... The next several posts will be from records purchased at a yard sale upon which somebody'd spilled something on them. Soda, beer, piss, who knows and who cares? I'm into the music, and I'm not overly concerned with quality of the sound. (just in case you hadn't already figured that out!) Some of these titles are kinda hard to find, and I'm glad to have them in any format or condition.
First up is Moon Mullican, one of those nearly forgotten pioneers. By the time rock and roll had made the scene, Aubrey Mullican was in his 50's, but his piano and vocal stylings mixing black (Negro) blues of the South, western swing and honky tonk paved the way for soon-to-be megastars like Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis, and Bill Haley. I suggest you Google his name and learn more, but I will share one little-known fact with you. He co-wrote Jambalaya with Hank Williams, but because of his contract with King Records he couldn't publicly take the credit, even though he did collect royalties on it.
I'll let his music speak for him. This here was his biggest chart hit, recorded in 1951, and if your toe doesn't tap there's something wrong with you. Some group did this song a few years ago. Don't remember who, but do remember it paled in comparison to Moon Mullican's version of Cherokee Boogie.
Links to these 2-minute mp3 audio samples are HERE
One thing is for certain: do the crime and you'll do the time, either in prison or elsewhere. Stonewall Jackson learned it. He's still got Life To Go.
02-10-10... Look, I ain't sayin' I'm for or against her, but Sarah Palin's no dummy. Does anyone really think she needed those messages written on her hand to jog her memory? No. She knew it would keep her in the forefront of the news cycle for days on end. Four and counting... mission accomplished.
Johnny Cash has the best ingredients for what makes a music icon -- he writes memorable, sing-along melodies, and lesson-learning, story-telling lyrics. Here's one of hundreds from his library that fits the bill. Home of the Blues
02-12-10... The next several posts will be from records purchased at a yard sale upon which somebody'd spilled something on them. Soda, beer, piss, who knows and who cares? I'm into the music, and I'm not overly concerned with quality of the sound. (just in case you hadn't already figured that out!) Some of these titles are kinda hard to find, and I'm glad to have them in any format or condition.
First up is Moon Mullican, one of those nearly forgotten pioneers. By the time rock and roll had made the scene, Aubrey Mullican was in his 50's, but his piano and vocal stylings mixing black (Negro) blues of the South, western swing and honky tonk paved the way for soon-to-be megastars like Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis, and Bill Haley. I suggest you Google his name and learn more, but I will share one little-known fact with you. He co-wrote Jambalaya with Hank Williams, but because of his contract with King Records he couldn't publicly take the credit, even though he did collect royalties on it.
I'll let his music speak for him. This here was his biggest chart hit, recorded in 1951, and if your toe doesn't tap there's something wrong with you. Some group did this song a few years ago. Don't remember who, but do remember it paled in comparison to Moon Mullican's version of Cherokee Boogie.
Links to these 2-minute mp3 audio samples are HERE
Friday, June 25, 2010
Lefty's Lilt
My posts here trailing my original posts have brought me to February 2010
02-1-10... A report about something might be incorrect, but if you believe it to be true, then it will have the same effect on you as if it were true.
To kick off February, I'll kick out a sh#t-kicker bluegrass version of a cowboy song, courtesy of the talented musicians of Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys. Red River Valley
02-3-10... What you think about grows. Whatever you allow to occupy your mind becomes more and more a part of your own life. Obviously, the thinking can be on the positive or negative side of the ledger, and so training your mind to dismiss the negatives by immediately switching subjects is key to making your day what it is.
Worry is one of those negatives -- a useless, time and energy-consuming exercise. This guy refuses to entertain it. T. Texas Tyler sings Bummin' Around
02-5-10... This piece certainly shows off Lefty Frizzell's fine voice, and although the lyrics might seem sappily sentimental, I suppose it all depends upon how you feel about yours. From 1959, Mom and Dad's Waltz
Links to mp3 music samples (2 minutes per) for these songs are HERE.
02-1-10... A report about something might be incorrect, but if you believe it to be true, then it will have the same effect on you as if it were true.
To kick off February, I'll kick out a sh#t-kicker bluegrass version of a cowboy song, courtesy of the talented musicians of Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys. Red River Valley
02-3-10... What you think about grows. Whatever you allow to occupy your mind becomes more and more a part of your own life. Obviously, the thinking can be on the positive or negative side of the ledger, and so training your mind to dismiss the negatives by immediately switching subjects is key to making your day what it is.
Worry is one of those negatives -- a useless, time and energy-consuming exercise. This guy refuses to entertain it. T. Texas Tyler sings Bummin' Around
02-5-10... This piece certainly shows off Lefty Frizzell's fine voice, and although the lyrics might seem sappily sentimental, I suppose it all depends upon how you feel about yours. From 1959, Mom and Dad's Waltz
Links to mp3 music samples (2 minutes per) for these songs are HERE.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Lester and Earl's Cabin on the Hill
01-25-10... Thought control is key to individual destiny, and one sure-fire way to keep negatives like anger or jealousy from taking over and ruining your mood is to substitute. For example, if you hear about something stupid that Rush Limbaugh said, think instead of something sweet, like donuts, or of how Homer Simpson so dearly loves donuts... or, you could think of this melody which was first put to record in 1928 by the Carter Family. Wildwood Flower
01-27-10... Practice makes perfect. Simplicity itself, and applicable to both thought and action.
Here's another song about a train. Steam engine, of course, as the rhythmic chugging of steam-powered drive train powers the tempo, motion and emotion of Jimmy Dickens and his version of Fireball Mail.
01-29-10... At age 18, Bolivar Lee Shook jumped a freight train, but in jumping off he broke his leg, crippling him for life. Unable to do manual labor of worth, he turned to music, learned piano and taught it. He also composed songs of his own. You can see where this is headed... had he not injured himself, he probably would never have written this classic, first published in 1943 and made famous by Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys when they recorded it in 1959.
Turns out it was their first chart-topper, and despite all the great songs we know by Flatt & Scruggs, this one remained on the charts longer than any of them. Another milestone, it is the first song in which they used five-part harmonies, and did so quite admirably, I might add. See... or hear... what you think. Cabin on the Hill
Hear two-minute mp3 audio samples of these three songs HERE
01-27-10... Practice makes perfect. Simplicity itself, and applicable to both thought and action.
Here's another song about a train. Steam engine, of course, as the rhythmic chugging of steam-powered drive train powers the tempo, motion and emotion of Jimmy Dickens and his version of Fireball Mail.
01-29-10... At age 18, Bolivar Lee Shook jumped a freight train, but in jumping off he broke his leg, crippling him for life. Unable to do manual labor of worth, he turned to music, learned piano and taught it. He also composed songs of his own. You can see where this is headed... had he not injured himself, he probably would never have written this classic, first published in 1943 and made famous by Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys when they recorded it in 1959.
Turns out it was their first chart-topper, and despite all the great songs we know by Flatt & Scruggs, this one remained on the charts longer than any of them. Another milestone, it is the first song in which they used five-part harmonies, and did so quite admirably, I might add. See... or hear... what you think. Cabin on the Hill
Hear two-minute mp3 audio samples of these three songs HERE
Friday, June 11, 2010
Merle's Big Family
Time for the third week of January, 2010.
01-18-10... I hope you're coming off a weekend where you found some intimate time alone with your significant other. If you're a man, and you got some of that time, I'll bet you're still thinking about her. Uh-huh, I know, Monday morning and you're still remembering... still wanting more... can't wait for the work shift to end so you can get home to touch, to kiss, and like JOHN CONLEY, to tell her what she means to you. He says it in song. In My Eyes
01-20-10... Spirit cannot be destroyed. It is the opposite of matter. Matter wears out, but spirit does not because spirit is substance. Ask John Lennon. He said it this way, and this is just a couple of the phrases from his extremely introspecitve song: There's nothing you can do that can't be done. Nothing you can know that can't be known. Nothing you can see that can't be shown.
Fitting for the times, I think, that Mr. Lennon's song is currently featured in a television advertisement. We should listen carefully when it runs. Same could be said for Bob Nolan's song from 1934. In some parts of the U.S., it seemed the earth was destroying itself, and this cowboy tune performed by Mr. Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers metaphorically tells of lives displaced by the Dust Bowl and Great Depression. Tumbling Tumbleweeds
01-22-10... Now that it's all a done deal, I'll tell you what I find saddest of all regarding NBC's big screw-up with Conan O'Brien. He tried to take the Tonight Show back to the Johnny Carson style, a true talk show. Conan conversed with his guests. Knew when to shut up and listen. Knew when to interject and keep it lively. Did you notice how his guests were staying after their segment? Sitting on the couch until the show ended, rather than just coming on to plug their whatevers and then leaving? Celebrities interacting and enjoying themselves makes for great television. That's how Johnny did it. He created an atmosphere where his guests wanted to stay for the entire party. And it was a party. That's why we watched. It's too bad the network heads couldn't give Conan and company time to re-establish that tradition as he was trying to do.
All right, there's a dozen other reasons why NBC's decision is such a head-scratcher, but I'll get on with the music pone.
Nine kids and a wife? Man, this guy sure knows how to boink it, and Merle Haggard sure knows how to sing it. Working Man Blues
These two-minute song samples are posted as mp3's at this web site HERE.
01-18-10... I hope you're coming off a weekend where you found some intimate time alone with your significant other. If you're a man, and you got some of that time, I'll bet you're still thinking about her. Uh-huh, I know, Monday morning and you're still remembering... still wanting more... can't wait for the work shift to end so you can get home to touch, to kiss, and like JOHN CONLEY, to tell her what she means to you. He says it in song. In My Eyes
01-20-10... Spirit cannot be destroyed. It is the opposite of matter. Matter wears out, but spirit does not because spirit is substance. Ask John Lennon. He said it this way, and this is just a couple of the phrases from his extremely introspecitve song: There's nothing you can do that can't be done. Nothing you can know that can't be known. Nothing you can see that can't be shown.
Fitting for the times, I think, that Mr. Lennon's song is currently featured in a television advertisement. We should listen carefully when it runs. Same could be said for Bob Nolan's song from 1934. In some parts of the U.S., it seemed the earth was destroying itself, and this cowboy tune performed by Mr. Nolan and the Sons of the Pioneers metaphorically tells of lives displaced by the Dust Bowl and Great Depression. Tumbling Tumbleweeds
01-22-10... Now that it's all a done deal, I'll tell you what I find saddest of all regarding NBC's big screw-up with Conan O'Brien. He tried to take the Tonight Show back to the Johnny Carson style, a true talk show. Conan conversed with his guests. Knew when to shut up and listen. Knew when to interject and keep it lively. Did you notice how his guests were staying after their segment? Sitting on the couch until the show ended, rather than just coming on to plug their whatevers and then leaving? Celebrities interacting and enjoying themselves makes for great television. That's how Johnny did it. He created an atmosphere where his guests wanted to stay for the entire party. And it was a party. That's why we watched. It's too bad the network heads couldn't give Conan and company time to re-establish that tradition as he was trying to do.
All right, there's a dozen other reasons why NBC's decision is such a head-scratcher, but I'll get on with the music pone.
Nine kids and a wife? Man, this guy sure knows how to boink it, and Merle Haggard sure knows how to sing it. Working Man Blues
These two-minute song samples are posted as mp3's at this web site HERE.
Friday, June 4, 2010
The Treasure of George Jones
01-11-10... Hank Williams wants to get away from a hurtful woman and start fresh, but his mind isn't ready. So, he concedes defeat with his uniquely pained vocaling in You Win Again.
01-13-10... Thinking "I can" brings expansion and forward movement. Thinking "I can't" brings retraction.
Carson Robison's the rube come to the big city. Rather than saying "I can" fend for myself to find good times, he puts his trust (and his money) to a complete stranger, with bad result the obvious outcome, in I'm Going Back.
01-15-10... Sometimes events occur on levels anywhere from personal to global which make us wonder what in the hell we're doing here. Sometimes we're made to feel so small and insignificant that our spirits are sapped, our energy and optimism drained, and we teeter on the edge of a depression from which we're not sure we can recover.
Fortunately, there is one universal element always available to support us -- love -- love of a mate, love of family, love of humankind in all possible expressions. Music is one of those expressions, and every now and then we are gifted with a near-perfect coming together of melody, lyrics, voice and instruments. For me, this song is one that never fails to lift my spirits regardless of whatever's dragging me down. It's the voice of George Jones circa 1957, and not surprisingly, the title includes the word love. The Treasure of Love
MP3 links for these song samples can be found right HERE.
01-13-10... Thinking "I can" brings expansion and forward movement. Thinking "I can't" brings retraction.
Carson Robison's the rube come to the big city. Rather than saying "I can" fend for myself to find good times, he puts his trust (and his money) to a complete stranger, with bad result the obvious outcome, in I'm Going Back.
01-15-10... Sometimes events occur on levels anywhere from personal to global which make us wonder what in the hell we're doing here. Sometimes we're made to feel so small and insignificant that our spirits are sapped, our energy and optimism drained, and we teeter on the edge of a depression from which we're not sure we can recover.
Fortunately, there is one universal element always available to support us -- love -- love of a mate, love of family, love of humankind in all possible expressions. Music is one of those expressions, and every now and then we are gifted with a near-perfect coming together of melody, lyrics, voice and instruments. For me, this song is one that never fails to lift my spirits regardless of whatever's dragging me down. It's the voice of George Jones circa 1957, and not surprisingly, the title includes the word love. The Treasure of Love
MP3 links for these song samples can be found right HERE.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Louvin Brothers Duets
Arriving on track 10, posts from January of 2010:
01-4-10... We give the order, the subconscious does the work.
Lyrics like these must come from the cosmos, the conduit Johnny Cash, the song Big River.
01-6-10... To know the truth about any condition heals it.
Evolving from the brother duos of the 1930's like the Blue Sky Boys and Charlie and Bill Monroe, the Louvin Brothers revived the style in the 1940's and '50's. With Ira on mandolin and Charlie on guitar, the Louvin Brothers elevated the vocal stylings to new levels by use of clever interplay of their voices, each of them alternating between lead and backup several times within one song.
Today's post is a perfect example. After singing the first line, Ira fades back in holding the vowel while letting Charlie take the lead, and then Ira pops the high tenor with ear-piercing accuracy as the brothers sing melody and harmony together. I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby
01-8-10... The real name of Grandpa Jones was Louis Marshall. He began his career on radio in the 1930's and developed the Grandpa character long before aging into the role. The bit was comedy, but none of it would've worked had he not been a talented singer and musician with guitar, banjo, and hammer dulcimer. He was a standard on the Grand Ole Opry for 50 years, and was greatly loved for continuing to perform the old-time styles of country and gospel throughout, despite the coming and going popularity of other sounds like honky tonk and countrypolitan.
This song from 1958 is all about message, and although his backup singers on occasion do a poor job of synchronizing with him, Louis "Grandpa Jones" Marshall rings out loud and clear these important lyrics while adding some good guitar work to enhance the catchy melody. Falling Leaves
Links to the mp3 samples of these songs are HERE
01-4-10... We give the order, the subconscious does the work.
Lyrics like these must come from the cosmos, the conduit Johnny Cash, the song Big River.
01-6-10... To know the truth about any condition heals it.
Evolving from the brother duos of the 1930's like the Blue Sky Boys and Charlie and Bill Monroe, the Louvin Brothers revived the style in the 1940's and '50's. With Ira on mandolin and Charlie on guitar, the Louvin Brothers elevated the vocal stylings to new levels by use of clever interplay of their voices, each of them alternating between lead and backup several times within one song.
Today's post is a perfect example. After singing the first line, Ira fades back in holding the vowel while letting Charlie take the lead, and then Ira pops the high tenor with ear-piercing accuracy as the brothers sing melody and harmony together. I Don't Believe You've Met My Baby
01-8-10... The real name of Grandpa Jones was Louis Marshall. He began his career on radio in the 1930's and developed the Grandpa character long before aging into the role. The bit was comedy, but none of it would've worked had he not been a talented singer and musician with guitar, banjo, and hammer dulcimer. He was a standard on the Grand Ole Opry for 50 years, and was greatly loved for continuing to perform the old-time styles of country and gospel throughout, despite the coming and going popularity of other sounds like honky tonk and countrypolitan.
This song from 1958 is all about message, and although his backup singers on occasion do a poor job of synchronizing with him, Louis "Grandpa Jones" Marshall rings out loud and clear these important lyrics while adding some good guitar work to enhance the catchy melody. Falling Leaves
Links to the mp3 samples of these songs are HERE
Friday, May 21, 2010
Loretta Lynn and Sheldon Silverstein
12-21-09... This here is a great song -- unless you live in Topeka. Recorded and made a hit by Loretta Lynn, "One's On the Way" is just one of Sheldon Silverstein's compositions that combines uniquely clever lyrics and storytelling with catchy melody. Arguably, his best known is Johnny Cash's "A Boy Named Sue", but Silverstein's also penned classics such as "Sylvia's Mother," "The Cover of the Rolling Stone" by Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, plus Bobby Bare's evil anthem, "Marie Laveau."
12-23-09... Having problems? Welcome to the club. The only solution is to contact the divine Power within your soul and set it to work on those problems. It's a daily process, and obviously the worst should be focused on first.
George Jones has a problem. His baby has roving eyes, but this was recorded by a youthful George Jones. Surely by now he knows that looking's for free. If You Wanna Be My Baby
Now, for a special Christmas treat, take a journey through twelve days of a bad mixture, with funny lady Fay McKay's The Twelve Daze of Christmas.
12-25-09... Get a definite method of working, of tapping into your inner wisdom to guide you toward your goal. Maybe upon first awakening when your mind is receptive. Maybe after work when your mind is reflective. Whatever you choose, stick with it long enough to see if it works. Adjustments of schedule can be made if you feel you're on a treadmill going nowhere.
Here's a rare Hank Williams song in that it has a mandolin solo break. As for the tempo-driving music and mournful voice, it's pure Hank. May You Never Be Alone Like Me
Links for these mp3 audios are HERE
.
12-23-09... Having problems? Welcome to the club. The only solution is to contact the divine Power within your soul and set it to work on those problems. It's a daily process, and obviously the worst should be focused on first.
George Jones has a problem. His baby has roving eyes, but this was recorded by a youthful George Jones. Surely by now he knows that looking's for free. If You Wanna Be My Baby
Now, for a special Christmas treat, take a journey through twelve days of a bad mixture, with funny lady Fay McKay's The Twelve Daze of Christmas.
12-25-09... Get a definite method of working, of tapping into your inner wisdom to guide you toward your goal. Maybe upon first awakening when your mind is receptive. Maybe after work when your mind is reflective. Whatever you choose, stick with it long enough to see if it works. Adjustments of schedule can be made if you feel you're on a treadmill going nowhere.
Here's a rare Hank Williams song in that it has a mandolin solo break. As for the tempo-driving music and mournful voice, it's pure Hank. May You Never Be Alone Like Me
Links for these mp3 audios are HERE
.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Bill Monroe b4 Bluegrass
12-14-09... I'm not sure why I'm posting this. Really, darlin', do you have to grovel? Me and some of my buddies used to call it I Swallow Feces when we'd hear it -- jokingly, of course, or maybe not, depending on how many mugs we'd downed. So, here's why: if the melody sticks to your brain like a magnet, and the vocals, orchestral arrangements and performances are world class, and you can dance to it, then the lyrics don't really matter. Do they?
No, they don't. That's why Patsy Cline and I both do what it say... I Fall to Pieces
12-16-09... An engine that has been intelligently designed has no essential parts missing. Nor are any unnecessary parts attached. The universe is intelligently designed. There cannot be disharmony because all parts must work together for the common good. There can be no lack. With this in mind, remember that you are part of the universe, a little piece of one big whole, identical.
Jimmie Davis bought the copyright to this song before recording it in 1940. Stories of the price vary from $15 to $500, either way a bargain because the next year it was recorded twice more -- one by Gene Autry, the other by Bing Crosby -- and became one of the most popular songs ever. Still is one of the most familiar melodies ever. This is Jimmie Davis's version. You Are My Sunshine
12-18-09... Once you have contacted the Power within, it will direct and govern all your affairs from the greatest to the smallest, and it will do so without mistakes.
Here's what Bill Monroe did before developing what became bluegrass. He and his brother Charlie were one of many brother acts during the 1930's. Charlie sings this one. I'm Leaving You
Link to the mp3's is HERE
Album at Amazon
No, they don't. That's why Patsy Cline and I both do what it say... I Fall to Pieces
12-16-09... An engine that has been intelligently designed has no essential parts missing. Nor are any unnecessary parts attached. The universe is intelligently designed. There cannot be disharmony because all parts must work together for the common good. There can be no lack. With this in mind, remember that you are part of the universe, a little piece of one big whole, identical.
Jimmie Davis bought the copyright to this song before recording it in 1940. Stories of the price vary from $15 to $500, either way a bargain because the next year it was recorded twice more -- one by Gene Autry, the other by Bing Crosby -- and became one of the most popular songs ever. Still is one of the most familiar melodies ever. This is Jimmie Davis's version. You Are My Sunshine
12-18-09... Once you have contacted the Power within, it will direct and govern all your affairs from the greatest to the smallest, and it will do so without mistakes.
Here's what Bill Monroe did before developing what became bluegrass. He and his brother Charlie were one of many brother acts during the 1930's. Charlie sings this one. I'm Leaving You
Link to the mp3's is HERE
Album at Amazon
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Dusty Springfield Suggestive
Thought I might throw in an extra week at midweek. From second week of December 2009:
12-9-09... First time I heard this song was on Hank Williams III's album, Risin' Outlaw, or so I thought. My brain seemed to remind me I had another version on a compilation album, and it was right.
It's Bobby Edwards and his #11 hit from 1961. You're the Reason
12-11-09... Dusty Springfield had a maddeningly sexy voice and hair -- very, very big hair. Adding to such temptation, this particular selection includes a saxophone that speaks orally -- breathy and wet, if you catch my drift. To seal the deal, suggestive lyrics and the always-innovative, always unpredictable chord progressions and memorable melody of Burt Bacharach should take us all to dreamyland. The Look of Love
Link page to the mp3's HERE
12-9-09... First time I heard this song was on Hank Williams III's album, Risin' Outlaw, or so I thought. My brain seemed to remind me I had another version on a compilation album, and it was right.
It's Bobby Edwards and his #11 hit from 1961. You're the Reason
12-11-09... Dusty Springfield had a maddeningly sexy voice and hair -- very, very big hair. Adding to such temptation, this particular selection includes a saxophone that speaks orally -- breathy and wet, if you catch my drift. To seal the deal, suggestive lyrics and the always-innovative, always unpredictable chord progressions and memorable melody of Burt Bacharach should take us all to dreamyland. The Look of Love
Link page to the mp3's HERE
Friday, May 7, 2010
Ray Price is Lonesome
I'm trailing six months behind, which means we're ready for December 2009.
12-2-09... For starters, I trot out my old reworking of a Christmas song, O Holy Night.
Next, sometimes a song leaves me speechless. It's the Louvin Brothers, and even though I cut it up I'm sure you'll still be able to hear why I have nothing to add. Cash on the Barrel Head
12-4-09... You know whatever you put in the mixing bowl is going to be in the cake, and whatever you leave out will be missing. Choose well the ingredients you mix in your bowl.
How about a weekend of laying back and doing nothing? The cut of this vinyl spin might get you in the right mood, a little Donny Hathaway song soulfully sung by Roberta Flack. These are Tryin' Times.
12-7-09... Countrypolitan: Ray Price has had two careers, the first in the 1950's, when he popularized the honky-shuffle style with big 1956 hit, Crazy Arms. He was a roommate and protege of Hank Williams before Williams's death, and even used the Drifting Cowboys as his backup band. By mid-1960's he started moving to a more pop sound, helping many future songwriters and musicians by recording their songs while they were members of his band the Cherokee Cowboys. Names include Willie Nelson, Roger Miller, Johnny Paycheck and Harlan Howard. Ray Price's recording of Kris Kristofferson's "For the Good Times" brought Price fully into the lush style of country-pop in 1970, along with full orchestrations of strings and brass.
Today's song is from that genre. Lonesomest Lonesome
Links to the mp3's are HERE
12-2-09... For starters, I trot out my old reworking of a Christmas song, O Holy Night.
Next, sometimes a song leaves me speechless. It's the Louvin Brothers, and even though I cut it up I'm sure you'll still be able to hear why I have nothing to add. Cash on the Barrel Head
12-4-09... You know whatever you put in the mixing bowl is going to be in the cake, and whatever you leave out will be missing. Choose well the ingredients you mix in your bowl.
How about a weekend of laying back and doing nothing? The cut of this vinyl spin might get you in the right mood, a little Donny Hathaway song soulfully sung by Roberta Flack. These are Tryin' Times.
12-7-09... Countrypolitan: Ray Price has had two careers, the first in the 1950's, when he popularized the honky-shuffle style with big 1956 hit, Crazy Arms. He was a roommate and protege of Hank Williams before Williams's death, and even used the Drifting Cowboys as his backup band. By mid-1960's he started moving to a more pop sound, helping many future songwriters and musicians by recording their songs while they were members of his band the Cherokee Cowboys. Names include Willie Nelson, Roger Miller, Johnny Paycheck and Harlan Howard. Ray Price's recording of Kris Kristofferson's "For the Good Times" brought Price fully into the lush style of country-pop in 1970, along with full orchestrations of strings and brass.
Today's song is from that genre. Lonesomest Lonesome
Links to the mp3's are HERE
Monday, May 3, 2010
Carl Perkins Re-kicks It
Yes, I'm resurrecting the Corn Pone at my web site, so will pick up where I left off here. Last week of November, 2009, with link to page at bottom of text.
11-23-09... The thoughts and beliefs that fill our minds ultimately make their way into our life experience. I suppose you can see how important it is to choose wisely which thoughts you care to entertain, and which ones you should quickly cast out.
Here's a good song with lyrics for a quick history lesson in country music. Add to this the skilled vocals of Hank Locklin, and you've got a tune worth a couple minutes of your time. Country Hall of Fame
11-25-09... Do you wisely choose the foods you eat? Do you ingest information intelligently, or accept whatever you hear without critical thinking? Do you choose intelligently the words used while raising your children, or performing your function at work? The world needs more intelligence. There is plenty of will power, but without an intelligent plan, actions can take us to places we don't want to go, which creates a need for much more effort to get where we need to go.
Carl Perkins is smart. He wants to take his woman to a picture show so he can get her out of her house. That way, he avoids the man living there he doesn't like. Avoids conflicts. Lessens stress. Gives him a better chance of getting lucky with Mag. Movie Mag
11-27-09... I don't know, Patsy, seems to me you'd be better off with his records. If she's got him, then he wants her and not you, Patsy Cline. I suspect the records will be worth more to you after a few months have passed. Maybe you'll find some man who loves the other guy's taste in music, and your new guy will peform for you like a Trojan warrior. Patsy Cline will swoon, but for now, her brilliant voice is emotionally shook up. She's Got You
11-30-09... Knowledge that you do not actually use is only intellectual knowledge, which is barren and will fade away from lack of use.
Today's song features a melody which is far from barren. It has been used in many different songs through several decades, a fact made clear by Johnny Bond and Cowboy Copas when they sing Thinkin' Tonight.
Links to mp3 audio samples (free to hear) for these songs is here:
11-23-09... The thoughts and beliefs that fill our minds ultimately make their way into our life experience. I suppose you can see how important it is to choose wisely which thoughts you care to entertain, and which ones you should quickly cast out.
Here's a good song with lyrics for a quick history lesson in country music. Add to this the skilled vocals of Hank Locklin, and you've got a tune worth a couple minutes of your time. Country Hall of Fame
11-25-09... Do you wisely choose the foods you eat? Do you ingest information intelligently, or accept whatever you hear without critical thinking? Do you choose intelligently the words used while raising your children, or performing your function at work? The world needs more intelligence. There is plenty of will power, but without an intelligent plan, actions can take us to places we don't want to go, which creates a need for much more effort to get where we need to go.
Carl Perkins is smart. He wants to take his woman to a picture show so he can get her out of her house. That way, he avoids the man living there he doesn't like. Avoids conflicts. Lessens stress. Gives him a better chance of getting lucky with Mag. Movie Mag
11-27-09... I don't know, Patsy, seems to me you'd be better off with his records. If she's got him, then he wants her and not you, Patsy Cline. I suspect the records will be worth more to you after a few months have passed. Maybe you'll find some man who loves the other guy's taste in music, and your new guy will peform for you like a Trojan warrior. Patsy Cline will swoon, but for now, her brilliant voice is emotionally shook up. She's Got You
11-30-09... Knowledge that you do not actually use is only intellectual knowledge, which is barren and will fade away from lack of use.
Today's song features a melody which is far from barren. It has been used in many different songs through several decades, a fact made clear by Johnny Bond and Cowboy Copas when they sing Thinkin' Tonight.
Links to mp3 audio samples (free to hear) for these songs is here:
HERE
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