Monday, March 08, 2004

Hey! There's a Terrell's Sound World List After All.

Sean Conlon, who substituted on my show last night, just sent me his play list.

You night owls be sure to catch Sean's Graveyard Shift midnight to 2 a.m. Thursdays.

Slim Gaillard – Sukiyaki Cha Cha
Shoukichi Kina – Haisai Oji San
David Moss – My Favorite Things
Radley Gourzang & Group – The Devil’s Dream
Raincoats – Fairytale in the Supermarket
Robert Cage – Instrumental #5
Louis & Bebe Barron – Theme from Forbidden Planet
Ayalew Mesfin – Hasabe
Bob Dylan – Tombstone Blues

Modern Lovers – Roadrunner (Beserkly Chartbusters version)
Kleenex – Split
Janis Martin – Cracker Jack
The Continental Cousins – Kana Kapila
Ramones – Let’s Dance
Holy Modal Rounders – Sail Away Ladies (Too Much Fun version)
Jerry Lee Lewis – Wild One
Elmo Williams & Hezekiah Early – Blue Jumped the Rabbit

Mekons – The Building (original version)
Bascom Lamar Lunsford – I Wish I was a Mole in the Ground
Fugs – Carpe Diem
Blind Willie Johnson – God Don’t Ever Change
Sonny Sharrock – Black Bottom
Pere Ubu – Blow Daddy O
Jimmy Reed – Odds & Ends
James Blood Ulmer – Are You Glad to be in America?
Michael Hurley – Hog of the Forsaken (Wolfways version)

101 Strings – Flame Out
Dorothy Ashby – Soul Vibrations
Sound of Silverstones – Tabu
Du-Tels – Teletubbies Say Eh-Oh
Sister Irma Mae Littlejohn – Go Devil Go
Waco Brothers – Them Bones
Blind Bogus Ben Covington – You Rascal You
NY Dolls – Don’t Mess With Cupid
Toots & the Maytals - Alidina

Bill & Bonnie Fest

It was a great time and a HUGE turnout at the Paramount last night for the Bill & Bonnie Fest. Bonnie looked so cool when she took the stage wearing a queen's crown.

Thanks to Margaret Burke for organizing everything. Getting that many crazy musicians involve has to be like herding cats, but everything went smoothly. My buddy George Adello had something to do with managing the stage too. But his greatest contribution was playing a high energy "Rancho Grande."

I was going to debut a new song last night, but I chickened out. I was still stumbling over the lyrics right before the show. Plus there was no time to teach it to the backup musicians. So for my tune I chose Johnny Horton's "North to Alaska."

I don't know how much money ended up getting raised, but I would imagine a lot.

I hadn't heard Bill & Bonnie in several months, so that was a treat. It was also a treat seeing all those pickers in one place. We should do it more often, guys and gals!

No Sound World play list this week. Sean Conlon of KSFR's GRAVEYARD SHIFT (early Thursday mornings, midnight to 2 a.m.) filled in for me so I could go to the Bill & Bonnie show. I heard most of the last hour or so, and Sean was properly weird and diverse. He'll be filling in for me on both Sound World and Santa Fe Opry when I'm at South by Southwest in a couple of weeks.

Saturday, March 06, 2004

Goodbye Max!

Anyone with even the slightest interest in New Mexico politics should chcek out my stories about Rep. Max Coll's decision to not seek re-election to the state Legislature.

Here's one story

Here's the other.

Personal note: I first met Max Coll when I was in high school school (circa 1970) when we were both Republicans and he spoke at the state convention of Teen Age Republicans. (I'm registered "declined to state" these days, and of course Max is a Democrat.)

The Santa Fe Opry Play List

The Santa Fe Opry
Friday, March 5, 2004
KSFR, Santa Fe, NM
Host: Steve Terrell


OPENING THEME: Buckaroo by Buck Owens & The Buckaroos
Crazy Old World by Ukulele Man
Diamond Joe by Bob Dylan
Don't Get Above Your Raisin' by Flatt & Scruggs
Squeeze Box by Poodle Lynn
Ropin' the Goat by Jon Rauhouse's Steel Guitar Radio
Opportunity to Cry by The Holmes Brothers
My Last Match by Paul Burch
I Knew Jesus (Before He Was a Superstar) by Tammy Faye Starlite
One More Time by Bill Hearne

American Farmer by Charlie Daniels
Nashville Radio by Jon Langford
Orleans Parish Prison by Johnny Cash
Waiting by Pedal Steel Transmission
More Than You'll Ever Know by Joe West
Poor Ellen Smith by Acie Cargill
The Bible's True by Uncle Dave Macon

Lubbock Mafia Set
Go to Sleep Alone by The Flatlanders
The Wind's Dominion by Butch Hancock
Braver Newer World by Jimmie Dale Gilmore
Ranches and Rivers by Joe Ely
Four Corners by Terry Allen
Every Tear by Colin Gilmore
Once Followed by The Wind by The Flatlanders

Naked Light of Day by Jesse Taylor with The Flatlanders
Jesus Silverstein by Cary Swinney
Boomtown Boggie by Butch Hancock, Terry Allen, Jo Carol Pierce & Joe Ely
Firewater Seeks Its Own Level by Butch Hancock & Jimmie Dale Gilmore
One Road More by The Flatlanders
What of Alicia by Terry Allen
See the Way by The Flatlanders
CLOSING THEME: Comin' Down by The Meat Puppets

Steve Terrell is proud to report to the monthly Freeform American Roots Radio list

Friday, March 05, 2004

Terrell's Tuneup: Lubbock On Just About Everything

As published in The Santa Fe New Mexican, March 5, 2004

Two years ago Texas singers Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock reunited and produced the first album in 30 years by their more-a-legend-than-a-band, The Flatlanders. Now Again was the first official Flatlanders album since 1972's much revered debut (originally released on 8-track tape only), but it wasn't really a reunion. All three of these Lubbock guys had been hanging out with each other and singing each other's songs all those years in between. Still, Now Again was a sweet triumph, a testament to friendship and musical camaraderie -- not to mention a great sounding record full of finely crafted songs by three pros.

I said at the time I hoped the trio wouldn't wait another 30 years for a new Flatlanders record. Now, lo and behold, comes Wheels of Fortune, which is another good album, even though, as a sequel to a "reunion," it hasn't been greeted with the same enthusiasm as Now Again.

Although there are obvious similarities between the new album and its predecessor, there also are important differences. For one thing, on Now Again it seemed that there was more verse-swapping and sharing of vocal duties within the individual songs. But on Wheels, most the songs are solo efforts by the individual singers -- except on the last number, the gorgeous "See the Way." I'd like to have more of this on the new album.

On Now Again all but a couple of the songs were three-way collaborations between Hancock, Gilmore and Ely. On Wheels, however, except for one Hancock and Gilmore collaboration (that lovely creature, See the Way), the songwriting was done by the individual members, (and one, a rocker called "Whistle Blues," by longtime Flatlander crony Al Stehli.)

Good news for Hancock partisans -- and I know you're out there: Butch wrote five of the 14 songs on his own. These include two of the best ones, the wistful "Baby Do You Love Me Still," (which asks that age-old musical question, "Is it androids or elephants that never forget?") and "Eggs of Your Chickens," an upbeat, catchy, if slightly goofy tune with the magic dobro of Lloyd Maines, an appearance of original Flatlanders musical-saw player Steve Wesson and classic Hancock agri-imagery: "I've stayed on your farm as long as I'm going to stay/I've seen the eggs of your chickens roll away."

Although Gilmore's solo career has been built around a sweet, ethereal country style, on this record his most striking moments are on tough rockers, "Whistle Blues," and the Ely-penned "Back to My Old Molehole."

Meanwhile, Ely's best tunes here are story songs. There's an original Nashville Babylon song called "Neon of Nashville." And then there's the more humorous "I'm Gonna Strangle You, Shorty," a song that Ely first sang on All the Kings Men, an obscure 1997 album by Elvis' sidemen Scotty Moore and D.J. Fontana.

While Wheels of Fortune doesn't quite measure up to Now Again, if you like the music of Ely, Gilmore and/or Hancock, or if you just like good old Texas-fried country-rock in general, you'll like this one too.

Also Recommended:
*Juarez by Terry Allen.
This is a reissue of Terry's first album, originally released back in 1975. Juarez was never as acclaimed as his second album, the lighter-hearted Lubbock on Everything (which was his first team-up with Lloyd Maines and The Panhandle Mystery Band). But Allen, a Lubbock native though a Santa Fe resident for 15 years or so, is fond of these Juarez songs. Some of them -- "There Ought to Be A Law Against Sunny California," "Cortez Sail," "What of Alicia" -- have been re-recorded for subsequent albums.

Recorded with sparse accompaniment -- Terry's piano, sometimes backed with a mandolin or guitar -- Juarez tells a wild, violent, desperate, tragic story. It's a breathtaking tour of the underbelly of the Southwest, the barrooms, the whore houses, the trailer parks lovablehighways by hard-bitten and not entirely loveable characters.

The term "outlaw country: was bandied about a lot during the '70s. But with all due respect to Waylon and Willie and the boys, no country music was as "outlaw" as Juarez.
"Sunny California" may be the best example of Juarez's manic spirit: "Then I stopped off at the liquor store/Made everyone lie down on then floor/Then I took their whiskey and I took their bread/Shot out their lights before I fled/Yeah I leave a few people dead/But I got an open road ahead."

This reissue has a couple of new songs -- an instrumental and one called "El Camino" -- tacked on the end. These don't distract from the original body of songs, but they really weren't necessary. Their main strength is the Mexican-style accordion by Allen's son Bukka on "El Camino."

We should all thank Sugar Hill Records for reissuing Terry's old albums like this one and the obscure masterpiece Amerasia last year. That being said, I hope Terry's working on an album of new songs.

*The Day the World Stopped and Spun the Other Way by Colin Gilmore. This album could almost be subtitled "The Lubbock Mafia: The Next Generation." Colin is Jimmie Dale Gilmore's boy and his band includes Bukka Allen on accordion and organ. And one of the two cover songs here is Terry Allen's "The Beautiful Waitress." (The other being "White Man in Hammersmith Palais" by The Clash.)

You can hear Jimmie Dale's distinctive nasal vocal style in Colin's voice. But the son's music is punchier and less spacey, and less country, though you can still hear the Texas plains in the music.

Those who love Jimmie Dale's music consider it a revelation, and that's not the case with Colin's tunes. But it's a good listen and promising start for the young singer.

Hey Santa Fe listeners: You didn't think I'd NOT play a decent, long Flatlanders/Lubbock Mafia set on The Santa Fe Opry tonight did you? The show starts at 10 p.m. MST on KSFR, 90.7 FM and I'll probably start the Lubbock set right after 11.

And this is as good an opportunity as ever to repost my favorite Butch Hancock rafting photo. This is from my 1995 trip down the Rio Grande with Butch and some other cool folks. I'm the one that looks like a walrus.

Thursday, March 04, 2004

ROUNDHOUSE ROUND-UP: BLOW UP THE TV

As published in The Santa Fe New Mexican

New Mexicans who hate political advertising on TV should consider buying a TiVo or taking John Prine's advice and "blow up the TV." Otherwise, it's going to be a long, long eight months.

Television commercials by the George W. Bush campaign as well as the anti-Bush Moveon.org Voter Fund are expected to start today in New Mexico.

Bush regional spokesman Danny Diaz said Wednesday that the president's re-election campaign has purchased ad time on national cable networks and in local markets. He wouldn't confirm whether New Mexico is one of those.

However, national political columnist Charlie Cook, in his "Off to the Races" column this week, reported that the local stations where Bush will advertise are in nine states that Al Gore narrowly carried in 2000 -- including New Mexico -- and eight close states that Bush won.

The Moveon.org ads will air in 17 states, including ours.

Campaign strategists and pundits from all over the political map have identified this Enchanted Land as one of 17 "battleground" states in the presidential race, based on the 2000 election results.

Cook, in a recent column, narrowed it down further, referring to the "Big 10" states in the "toss-up category." These are New Mexico, Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon and Wisconsin.

"The amount of money, candidate time and media attention that these 10 states will get knows no bounds," Cook warns.

The vast right-wing conspiracy: Local radio station KTRC-1260 AM took a sharp turn to the right this week. Left-wing talk-show host Mike Malloy was replaced with conservative Michael Reagan at night, while New Age-y Maryanne Williamson has been replaced with Clinton/Kerry-bashing, Bush-loving "Worldnet Daily Radio Active." Other liberal programs once heard on KTRC have been replaced by right-wing shows.

The station has received dozens of calls -- some of them downright nasty and some of them claiming the station is the victim of some kind of Republican coup.

Truth is, employees say, the I.E. America network -- the home for Malloy, Thom Hartmann and other liberal talkers -- went belly up and stopped broadcasting last week. Hartmann, who is on the air weekday afternoons, hopped onto another network, so he's still on KTRC. Malloy and others, however, are in limbo. It's possible that they could return to KTRC in a month or so if they join a network the station can get.

But KTRC remains the refuge for former judges. Former Municipal Judge Tom Fiorina still does his late-afternoon talk show on the weekends. And now retired District Judge Art Encinias does an oldies-music show Sunday afternoons.

Speaking of left-wing radio, former I.E. America host Peter Werbe, who got canned last year when the network's financial problems started snowballing, is scheduled to be interviewed on the Camp Lovewave show, 9 a.m. Saturday on KSFR-90.7 FM.

More veep chatter: The Bulletin, a Washington, D.C., political publication, recently polled 100 members of the Democratic National Committee about who would make the best running mate for John Kerry. The first choice was North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, with 36 percent. In second place was New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson,
who got 22 percent. In a distant third-place tie with 1 percent each were Sens. Hillary Clinton of New York, Bob Graham of Florida and Evan Bayh of Indiana.

However, this week, political pundit Larry Sabato of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia said, "Bayh is one of only two or three Democrats in the country with the political strength to turn a Bush red state into a Democratic blue state (though, granted, it won't be easy)."

According to Sabato, Richardson is now the third-best choice for veep, behind Bayh and former Georgia Sen. Max Cleland. Just a few weeks ago, when Howard Dean was the front-runner, Sabato rated our governor the No. 1 contender.

Monday, March 01, 2004

Terrell's Sound World Play List

Terrell's Sound World
Sunday, Feb. 29, 2004
KSFR, Santa Fe, N.M.
Host: Steve Terrell


OPENING THEME: Let it Out (Let it All Hang Out) by The Hombres
Poor Dog (Who Can't Wag Its Own Tail) by Little Richard
Them Bones by Alice in Chains
Sookie Sookie by Steppenwolf
Mojo Men From Mars by The Cramps
Trouble by Danzig
Spook Show Baby by Rob Zombie
Headlock on my Heart by The Fleshtones
A Million Miles Away by The Flamin' Groovies


Here Comes the Judge by Pigmeat Markham
Send Me to the Electric Chair by David Bromberg
Good Morning Judge by Wynonie Harris
Murder in My Heart For the Judge by Moby Grape
Odor in the Court by Doodoo Wah
Judge Dread by Prince Buster
Judge, I'm Not Sorry by Jorma Kaukonen
Funky Judge by J. Geils Band


PIGMEAT MARKHAM

Women in Cages by Julien Aklei
Jet Lady by Tangela Tricoli
The Moon Men by John Muir
Sodom and Gomorah by New Creation
Painful Memories by The Shaggs
Zoo Man by Harry Perry
Like a Monkey in the Zoo by Daniel Johnston
True Love by Tiny Tim & Miss Sue

Mater Korean Musicians of Canada by Mylab
It's a Wonderful Life by Sparklehorse
Brown by Stuurbaard Bakkebaard
Snow and Light by Ai Phoenix
One More Cup of Coffee by Sertab Erener
Undertow by Mark Lannegan
I'll be Seeing You by Mark Eitzel
CLOSING THEME: Over the Rainbow by Jerry Lee Lewis


TERRELL'S SOUND WORLD PLAYLIST

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