We Interrupt This Series of Posts

Okay, I was checking out Baby Got Books this morning, and the current post, which concerned a book of photographs of country music stars at a variety of open concerts during the ’60s.  It’s called Pure Country, and it looks to be very interesting.  As part of the post, Tim, who runs BGB and very well at that, added some streaming audio of Hank williams, the Carter Family, Dolly Parton, and George Jones singing “He Stopped Loving Her Today” on Austin City Limits.

Well, it just so happens that I saw that Austin City Limits, or at least most of it.  And old George was sensational.  I hadn’t really paid him the mind that he deserved before that night, but I’ve done my best to not continue that mistake in its wake.  You can’t understand what country music is and ought to be without understanding George Jones and others of his generation, especially Johnny Cash (whose version of Soundgarden’s Rusty Cage I just heard last weekend and am still recovering from).

My favorite bit of George Jones on Austin City Limits was him singing a song called “The King Is Gone.”  Here it is for your enjoyment:

And what the hell, here’s Johnny’s video for “Rusty Cage”:

Enjoy.

Arrow

I like Cheryl Wheeler. Perhaps you’ve heard of her, perhaps not. She is a singer/songwriter who I first saw in a small venue called My Brother’s Pub in Pawtucket, RI, along about 1980 or ‘81. She is known for mixing comedy with her music, and so I am about to present two videos: one of the comic variety, the other of her in a more serious vein. If you have the chance to see her, do it. And take me. And my wife. And maybe the boy.

First we’ll start with the comedy. Here’s the video for her song “Estate Sale”:

And next, complete with introduction by the late, great Chet Atkins and sly comment from Cheryl before she starts the song is a performance of “Arrow.”

His Back Pages

Thanks to my cyber pal Kim at Mouse Medicine, I found out that today is Bob Dylan’s birthday. I wasn’t sure what to get him on such short notice, so I thought I’d just post some lyrics I started work on many years ago (maybe someday I’ll finish them) that were inspired by a song of his. The tune is that of “With God on His Side,” which might be Bob’s or might be traditional or might be Bob’s adaptation of a traditional tune. It doesn’t really matter. (And, as an aside, you might want to check out Bob’s XM radio show, Theme Time Radio Hour. You can get a three-day free trial. Just schedule it around Wednesday, when Theme Time Radio Hour is on around-the-clock on XM channel 2. It’s great show in which Bob plays songs from other artists, some well known and others not so much. His segues are funny and original. The whole thing’s a treat. Give it a try.)

Anyway, here’s my little bit of songwriting in Mr. Dylan’s honor:

Way back in the ’60s
I had my first thought.
And the guy who inspired it,
My God, he was hot.
His name was Bob Dylan,
And he never was wrong.
It just wasn’t a protest
Without Bob Dylan’s songs.

His voice was quite nasal,
This young voice of doom.
What I got for list’nin’
Was sent to my room.
No rumpus room priv’ledge,
I played no ping-pong.
Dad said only subversives
Played Bob Dylan songs.

Well, we had our Woodstock,
But also Kent State.
And, if that didn’t get you,
Then came Watergate.
I cut my hair short then,
And I sold off my bong.
I acquired a tie for
Some Bob Dylan songs.

Oh, Time, she’s a passin’.
She’s passin’ by me.
I woke up one day and
I was 43.
I had a big mortgage,
Two kids and a lawn.
It was hard to find time for
Those Bob Dylan songs.

Way back in the ’60s
My first thought I had.
But when I grew up I
Turned into my dad.
Yes, innocence fades, boy,
And it faded ere long.
And I don’t quite remember
Those Bob Dylan songs.