Saturday, May 05, 2018

Whoa! What Happened to April?

As many of you noticed, this blog came to no a screeching halt in early April.

That's because of a sudden medical crisis that kicked my ass and put me in the hospital for nearly a month.

But don't worry, nothing terminal ... and I finally got out of the hospital earlier this week. I won't be going back to work or doing my radio shows for a few weeks but I'm going to try to kickstart this stupid blog.

Let's start by posting belatedly the Terrell's Tune-Up column I wrote right before I went to der krankenhaus and was published at the outset of my stay.

Watch this space!


A version of this was published in The Santa Fe New Mexican 
April 6, 2018




Author, filmmaker, journalist, and Memphis native Robert Gordon first discovered the blues as a geeky-looking teenager at a July 4, 1975, Rolling Stones outdoor concert.

Mick Jagger wanted to delay the Stones’ set until after sundown, thinking, mistakenly, that the evening air would be cooler — “and his makeup wouldn’t run,” according to Gordon’s account of the show. So the Stones’ organization went across town to rustle up an eighty-year-old local country bluesman named Furry Lewis to play before the Stones went on.

Lewis started recording in the late 1920s — songs like “Judge Harsh Blues” (“They ’rest me for murder, I ain’t harmed a man/Women hollerin’ murderer, Lord I ain’t raised my hand”) and “Kassie Jones,” an alternative spelling for legendary railroad man Casey Jones.

In the preface to his latest book, Memphis Rent Party: The Blues, Rock & Soul in Music’s Hometown (Bloomsbury USA, 2018), Gordon writes that the ancient bluesman’s set was life-changing:

“Furry’s playing was unlike anything I could have anticipated; the still, small, voice after the raging storms. His rhythms were slow, his songs full of space, his notes floated in the air. … There was an immediacy to his art that the Stones’ big production could never match.”

Teenage Gordon not only started seeking out Furry Lewis records — he was determined to get to know the singer himself. Lewis actually performed a lunchtime show at Gordon’s high school. Talking to him after the show, Lewis actually invited the kid to visit — just told him to bring along a pint of bourbon and a raw Wendy’s hamburger.

Furry
Gordon writes, “it was harder for me to get a ride to that part of town than it was to buy Furry’s pint of Ten High bourbon.”

But his frequent visits to Lewis’ duplex grew into an obsession, not only with Lewis but the blues in general — and soon, with other types of music and other musicians as well. 

Memphis, as any more-than-casual fan of blues, soul, and rock ’n’ roll knows, is fertile ground for such passions. Just think Sun Records, Stax Records, and Willie Mitchell’s Hi Records, where Al Green released the greatest soul music of the early 1970s.

Gordon published his first book, It Came From Memphis, in 1995. Like Memphis Rent Party, Gordon’s debut was an overview of the city, focusing mostly on lesser-known Memphis characters who helped make the music unique — iconoclast musicians like Jim Dickinson, Alex Chilton, and Tav Falco.

Since then, Gordon has done a couple of books about Elvis Presley, others on Jerry Lee Lewis and Muddy Waters, and one about Stax Records. This one basically is a love letter to Memphis and some of the characters who inhabit Bluff City. The book consists of re-published magazine and newspaper articles, liner notes for albums, and previously unpublished writings.

There’s a chapter on Junior Kimbrough, a Hill Country bluesman, who was at the forefront of the Fat Possum Records explosion in the 1990s. “He was a big man, like a football player, with an air of quiet violence, simmering sexuality, and raucous good times,” Gordon writes. “His eyes were big, like they’d seen things we wouldn’t believe, and though he was welcoming, he also seemed to have a live 220 current running through him. He was Junior Kimbrough.”

Gordon writes about Jerry McGill, a real-life outlaw country singer. McGill, working under a bunch of fake names, was a fugitive of the law while working as Waylon Jennings’ road manager and rhythm guitarist. “Jerry McGill was Memphis’ homegrown Lash LaRue, our own personal outlaw,” Gordon writes. “McGill traded Lash’s black whip for a .44 Magnum but kept the black hat, kited checks, attempted murder, robbed a liquor store and some banks, and stayed on the lam.” Gordon writes that “while he was someone I may not have wanted in my house, by the end he was someone I was glad was in my life.

James Carr
One of the book’s most poignant chapters is the one about James Carr, a soul singer best known for his rendition of “The Dark End of the Street.” He also had a hit with the song “You Got My Mind Messed Up.” There’s more than a little irony there. Carr has a well-documented history of mental illness. Gordon includes part of a 1992 interview in which Carr expounds on his belief that someone had “switched” his body with someone else.

“I felt as helpless hearing this story then as I do reading the transcript now,” Gordon writes. “He needed more help than I could give him … He needed healthcare, dependable doctors, and reliable medications.” Carr died in 2001.

There is even a little investigative reporting here. In a chapter called “Hellhound on the Money Trail” — originally published as a 1991 article in LA Weekly — Gordon dives into why it took years for the heirs of bluesman Robert Johnson to see any royalties from a Johnson boxed set. Basically, it was a battle of two hucksters, each claiming to represent different Johnson descendants.

“In 1998, seven years after this piece was published, Mississippi courts determined that Robert Johnson’s heir was Claud Johnson, a son not born of Johnson’s wives. Claud was in his seventies and working as a gravel-truck driver in Crystal Springs, Mississippi. His wife ran a BBQ stand. ... When he moved to a nicer house, he kept his gravel truck, a reminder of his life’s hard work.”


In addition to the book, there also is a “soundtrack” album with songs by Furry Lewis, Junior Kimbrough, Charlie Feathers, Jerry McGill, Jim Dickinson, Alex Chilton, and others. It’s worth it if only for Dickinson’s crazy “I’d Love to Be a Hippie” and Jerry Lee Lewis’ wild, rocking “Harbor Lights.”  



Wednesday, April 04, 2018

WACKY WEDNESDAY: Just a quick message from The Shaggs




It's been kind of a stressful week, so this'll just be an abbreviated Wacky Wednesday. You might say The Shaggs are wackiness concentrate. I dunno, I just like this song.


Sunday, April 01, 2018

TERRELL'S SOUND WORLD PLAYLIST




Sunday, April 1, 2018
KSFR, Santa Fe, NM
Webcasting!
10 p.m. to midnight Sundays Mountain Time
Host: Steve Terrell 101.1 FM
Email me during the show! terrel(at)ksfr.org

Here's my playlist :

OPENING THEME: Let It Out (Let it All Hang Out) by The Hombres
Peter Rabbit by Dee Jay & The Runaways
Do the Squat by The Great Gaylor & The -A-Bones
Pyscho Babe by Bee Bee Sea
Yes Future by The Electric Mess
Papa Satan Sang Louie by The Cramps
Storm Before the Calm by Sir Bald Diddley & His Wig Outs
I'm Going to Tell You by Reverend Beat-Man & The New Wave
Baby Doll by The Del Moroccos
Frankenstein's Den by Mighty El Dukes

Big is Our Sin by The Devils
Chevrolet by Luther Dickinson & Sharde Thomas
I'd Love to be a Hippie by Jim Dickinson
Dance with Me by The Goon Mat & Lord Bernardo
Betty vs the NYPD by Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
The Temple by Afghan Whigs

You Make Your own Heaven and Hell by The Temptations
If There's a Hell Below, We're all going to Go by Curtis Mayfield
Burnin' Hell by The Fleshtones
Discrete Disquise by King Khan
You Got My Mind Messed Up by James Carr
Out of Time by Yamantka/Sonic Titan
Town Without Pity by Gene Pitney
Pretty Jane LaBeaux by Jack Clift
Cat Drug in by The Gibson Brothers
One Night of Sin by Simon Stokes
He's Unhappy by Freak Genes
Sex Cow by Teen Generate
Falling Star by The Velquins
Marie's the Name by 68 Comback
Another She by Arvidson & Butterflies
Step Aside b y Sleater Kinney


LOSING THEME: Over the Rainbow by Jerry Lee Lewis

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Want to keep the party going after I sign off at midnight?
Go to The Big Enchilada Podcast which has hours and hours of music like this.

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Friday, March 30, 2018

THE SANTA FE OPRY PLAYLIST



Friday, March 30, 2018
KSFR, Santa Fe, NM
Webcasting!
10 p.m. to midnight Fridays Mountain Time
Host: Steve Terrell 101.1 FM
Email me during the show! terrel(at)ksfr.org

Here's my playlist :

OPENING THEME: Buckaroo by Buck Owens
Building Our Own Prison by Waco Brothers
Dim Light, Thick Smoke and Loud Loud Music by Conway Twitty
Forbidden Angel by Mel Street
The Race Is On by George Jones
Truth or Dare by Salty Pajamas
Mean Spirit Blues by The Dead Brothers
The Old General Store is Burning Down by The Tillers
Who's Going to Take the Garbage Out by John Prine & Iris Dement
Bunny Round-up by Gene Autry
(Background Music: Salty Dog by Shot Jackson

I'm Leavin' by Trixie & The Trainwrecks
The Devil's Movin' In by Hank 3
Honey Bee by Lucinda Williams
I Remember You by Eilen Jewell
Far from Any Road by The Handsome Family
Still Drunk, Still Crazy, Still Blue by Scott H. Biram
Ice Water by Peter Case
Look at that Moon by Carl Mann
Diane by R. Crumb & His Cheap Suit Serenaders
(Background Music: Devil's Dream by Fiddlin' Red Herron & Joe Maphis)

Polk Salad Annie by Tony Joe White
Groove's Too Shallow by Jessica Lee Wilkes
The Wreck of the Number 9 by Jim Kweskin
Ain't No God in Mexico by Waylon Jennings
Ain't Got a Clue by Josie Kreuzer
I'll Be Gone Tonight by Miss Leslie
Lucifer and the Fallen Angels by Ray Wylie Hubbard
Parting Words by Sarah Shook & The Disarmers
(Background Music: My Life as a Cactus by Clothesline Revival)

More Pretty Girls Than One by Doc & Merle Watson
Let an Old Racehorse Run by Del McCoury
Salt Truck by Eleni Mandell
I Believe in You by Don Williams
Banded Clovis by Tyler Childers
Whole Lotta Highway (With a Million Miles to Go) by Marty Stuart
Were You There When They Crucified My Lord by Johnny Cash
CLOSING THEME: Comin' Down by The Meat Puppets



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Want to keep this hoedown going after I sign off at midnight?
Check out The Big Enchilada Podcast Hillbilly Episode Archive where there are hours of shows where I play music like you hear on the SF Opry.

Subscribe to The Big Enchilada Podcast! CLICK HERE

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

Thursday, March 29, 2018

THROWBACK THURSDAY: Gene Autry's Bizarre Bunny Fixation

"Forget that bunny, kid! Run! Now!"
Gene Autry is best known as one of the original singing cowboys. But in 1949 he also had become known as one of the country's top purveyors of Christmas novelty songs for kiddies. He wrote and recorded "Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer" as well as "Here Comes Santa Claus." Later, he's become the first to record "Frosty the Snowmen."

So it didn't seem like such a crazy idea to try to bring some of Autry's Christmas magic to another holiday. Songwriters Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins -- the guys who wrote "Frosty," convinced Autry to record another one of their compositions in 1950: "Peter Cottontail." And damned if that rascally rabbit didn't grab a lot of carrots.

(Actually Autry wasn't the first to record "Cottontail." That honor went to a singer named Mervin Shiner, who recorded it earlier in 1950.)

Here's Autry performing "Peter Cottontail" in a 1951 western called Hills of Utah. I've never seen it, so I'm not sure what's going on in the scene. (And I'm really not sure about the pervy-looking dude who gives the little girl a stuffed rabbit.)



"The Funny Little Bunny" was the flip side of Autry's "Cottontail" single



Autry tried to repeat his "Cottontail" success Easter in 1951 with this double-sided rabbit record. It didn't quite work.



At least on the flip side, "Bunny Round-up Time," Autry returned to his cowboy roots.




Wednesday, March 28, 2018

WACKY WEDNESDAY: A Stormy Tribute


America has Stormy Fever.

At least for the next 13 minutes or so.

Here are some songs that some of the most important musicians in America have sung about Ms. Stephanie Clifford.

(OK this is dumb, I know. But if we can't have some good cheap laffs about a president porking a porn star, what kind of nation have we become?!?)

Here is the best song about Stormy, though it's not the best-known version. But we ll know Carlos is far cooler than the late Dennis Yost. (By the way, the singer here is Greg Walker.)



Here's a classic tune called "Stormy Weather" best known for the Judy Garland version. It's performed by The Reigning Sound. I don't think Dorothy done it this a way ...



Every blues act -- from T. Bone Walker to the Allman Brothers to the shitty cover band that's always playing at your local bar -- have sone "Stormy Monday." But I'm pretty fond of this one by Hawaiian bluesman Uncle Willie K., wielding a mean blues ukulele.



Finally, anyone who knows Santa Fe's Jim Terr knew he was going to write a Stormy Daniels spoof. He's probably written several, but this one will touch you ...






Tuesday, March 27, 2018

It's the March episode of The Big Enchilada!

THE BIG ENCHILADA



Strike up the band -- strike up lots of bands! -- it's another pulverizing episode of The Big Enchilada Podcast on Radio Mutation. This month you'll hear new songs by the likes of Reverend Beat-Man, Archie & The Bunkers, The Hollywood Sinners; some the acts I saw recently at South by Southwest, including The Hickoids, The Ghost Wolves, Nobunny and Count Vaseline -- plus plenty more.

And, for the first time in years, The Big Enchilada is officially listed in the iTunes store. So go subscribe, if you haven't already (and gimme a good rating and review if you're so inclined.) Thanks. 

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Here's the playlist:

(Background Music: He Never Came Back by The Ventures)
Laura by Archie & The Bunkers
Jump Into the River by Roy Loney & The A-Bones
Drive Like an Italian by Sir Bald Diddley & His Wig-Outs
In Glass by Nots
Get Messy by The Darts 
Voodoo Woman by The Shades

(Background Music: Dirty Britches by The Leap Frogs)
Cool Arrow by Hickoids
Church Mouse by Nobunny
Heavy is the Head That Wears the Crown by Count Vaseline 
Crybabies Go Home by The Ghost Wolves
The White Wolf is Back in Town by Reverend Beat-Man & The New Wave
Fiesta Nuclear by Hollywood Sinners
Next Door Neighbor by Jerry McCain

(Background Music: Really Big Time by The Fireballs)
A Clown Gave You a Baby by John Wesley Coleman III
Sombras by The Ugly Beats
Mother's Tin Mustache by Nobody's Children
Anala by The King Khan & BBQ Show
Out of Control by Wayne County & The Electric Chairs
(Background Music: Strike Up the Band by Count Basie)

Play it below




TERRELL'S SOUND WORLD PLAYLIST

  Sunday, March 24, 2024 KSFR, Santa Fe, NM, 101.1 FM  Webcasting! 10 p.m. to midnight Sundays Mountain Time Host: Steve Terrell E...