WACKY WEDNESDAY: It's National Tater Day!

Happy National Tater Day! Here's a holiday that deserves more attention -- as well as more butter and sour cream. 

National Tater Day has been celebrated since before the civil war according to holidayscalendar.com.

This holiday was first celebrated as simple Tater Day in Benton, Kentucky in 1843. It was originally a celebration of the spring season, and participants would come together to trade sweet potato “slips.” Potato slips at the time are what farmers called the slips that were used to grow potatoes. Eventually, this holiday morphed into one of the oldest continuous trade days in the entire U.S. On this day, participants would buy and sell livestock, tobacco, livestock, and yes, even potato slips. Over the years, this holiday also featured parades, floats, clowns, marching bands, and even vintage cars. 

Oh to be a clown in a Tater Day parade!

Important note: Don't get National Tater Day confused with National Potato Day, Aug. 19. Play it safe. Celebrate both!

But to honor this noble tradition on this music blog, let's celebrate National Tater Day in song. Here's Dede Sharp with a tuberous tune from my youth. (It also can be played on National Gravy Day, if there is one.)

Around the same time in the early 60s, Joey Dee & The Starliters shared their recipe for "Hot Pastrami and Mashed Potatoes."

Here's Fats Waller with "All That Meat and No Potatoes." This culinary crime had Fats singing, "I'm steamin'. I'm really screamin'.  ..."

Devo loved their taters.

Tater Day in Kentucky originally was in honor of the sweet potato, which Kevin "Shinyribs" Russell calls "my favorite root vegetable."

The late New Mexico state Senator John Pinto used to sing a Navajo Potato song on the Senate floor at least once a year.

And I've been know to sing my own potato song

So Happy National Tater Day. Hope your party will never be a dud!

BIG ENCHILADA 153: Kooky Kantina

 

Howdy friends and neighbors, welcome to the new hillbilly episode of The Big Enchilada. We're going to down a drink or six at the Kooky Kantina, where the liquor is cheap and Wicked Felina says things like, "Vamoose! José's on his way!"

 

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Here's the playlist:

(Background Music: Stony Island Stomp by Dan Whitaker & The Shinebenders)

Dead or Alive by Titty Bingo with Willie Nelson

When I Was a Cowboy by Peter Case

Cantina Carlotta by Terry Allen

The Lovells Stockade Blues by Rachel Brooke

All Night Cowboy by The Legendary Stardust Cowboy

Julie's Sixteenth Birthday by John Bult

(Background Music: Everybody Stomp by The Hoosier Hotshots)

Cantina by Piñata Protest

Jesus Malverde by Joe "King" Carrasco

All I Wants a Honky Tonk by Sarah Gayle Meech

Give That Love to Me by Ray Campi

Sure Fire Kisses by Goldie Hill & Justin Tubb

Kiss Me Baby by Laura Lee Perkins

Swingin' by Peter Stampfel

(Background Music: Blue Bonnet Rag by Don Helms & The Drifting Cowboys)

Johnston County by Eric Hisaw

This Morning at Nine by Bill Hearne

Through the Hole by The Dad Horse Experience

We Move on by Ramblin' Deano

Neath a Cold Gray Tomb of Stone by Knoxville Girls

(Background Music: Bob Wills Two-Step by Luke Wills' Rhythm Busters)

Play it below:

TERRELL'S SOUND WORLD PLAYLIST

Sunday, March 28, 2021
KSFR, Santa Fe, NM
Webcasting!
10 p.m. to midnight Sundays Mountain Time
Host: Steve Terrell 101.1 FM
Email me during the show! terrell(at)ksfr.org

Here's my playlist :

OPENING THEME: Let It Out (Let it All Hang Out) by The Hombres

Lula Baby by The A-Bones

Dirty Robber by The Wailers

Hot Coffee by Andre Williams & The Goldstars

Black Mold by Nots

Why Can't We Be Like the Satelliters by Wild Evel & The Trashbones

Buc-Ee's Got a Problem by Quintron & Miss Pussycat

Put Me Dowen Like A Dog by Mean Motor Scooter

Bumble Bee by Peter Case

The Hurdy Gurdy Gurdy Man by Butthole Surfers

The Devil Lives in My Husband's Body by Pulsallama

Hey Gyp (Dig the Slowness) by The Raconteurs

Sex Bomb by Flipper 

Don't Look Now by The Sires

Midnight Blues by The Detroit Cobras

Teaching You the Fear by The Bellrays

You Better Pray by Hamell on Trial

Look Me in the Eye by Rick Holstrom

What I Like About Miami by Charlie Pickett

Swingin' by Peter Stampfel

Memories of El Monte by The Mothers of Invention

My True Story by The Jive Five

I'll Go Crazy by James Brown

Yankin' My Chain by Joe "King" Carrasco

White Glove Service by The Grannies

In the Garden by Homer Henderson

This Wondrous Day by The William Loveday Intention

White Dress by Honshu Wolves

Ghosts on Mars by Harvey McLaughlin

Old Kentucky Home by Loretta Lynn

Undecided Love by Rachel Brooke

Passin' Through by Gary Heffern

CLOSING 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. CLICK HERE

Subscribe to The Big Enchilada Podcast CLICK HERE

THROWBACK THURSDAY: Pardon My French, It's Chanson D'Amour

 

Just a couple of weeks ago in a Throwback Thursday post about Lawrence Welk, I included a video of Sandi Griffith and a bevy of Welk beauties singing an old pop hit "Chanson D'Amour," cracking wise that "My sources in the Drug Culture community warn that it's NOT SAFE to view when you're stoned!"

I'm such a card!

But in all seriousness, this is about a song that's haunted me since I was a little kid. It seemed so foreign, alluring, with an undercurrent of danger hiding behind false wholesomeness. And the recurring "ra da da da da" is just this side of sinister.

I have a very distant and very vague memory of seeing the song performed on my mom's old black and white tv. I don't know who was singing it. Maybe it was the unforgettable, but largely forgotten Art & Dotty Todd, the first to record "Chanson" in 1958. Their video below did seem to jog some memories. However, for most of my life I assumed the singers were French. 

But that's incorrect. Art & Dotty were American lounge singers. And while the title is French, the song is not from France. Songwriter Wayne Shanklin was born in Joplin, Missouri. "Chanson D'Amour" is as American as French toast.

Here's Art & Dotty's version, introduced by Dick Clark on horseback!

Though the Todds were the first to record "Chanson," a group called The Fontane Sisters, a New Jersey group,  recorded it almost immediately after Art & Dotty. Both were released in March 1958. Here's the Fontanes' version:

By the mid 1960s, the song had been passed around and recorded by many of that era's major monsters of schmaltz: The Lettermen, Sadler & Young, Ray Coniff ... Even The Mills Brothers took a stab at the "Song of Love":

Apparently "Chanson" even made it to ... France. Here's Edith Piaff:

In the mid-'70s, "Chanson" was revived by the retro popsters Manhattan Transfer. The single was big in Europe, though didn't make much of a splash in the U.S., where cynics scoffed, "They're no Art & Dotty!"

I was hoping to uncover some obscure R&B or bluegrass or polka or zydeco or speed metal versions of "Chanson D'Amour" but came up empty-handed. However I did find  this gem by The Muppets!

But hey, R&B, bluegrass, polka, zydeco and speed metal musicians, the song is still there ... hint hint!

For more deep dives into songs, check out The Stephen W. Terrell Web Log Songbook

TERRELL'S SOUND WORLD PLAYLIST

Sunday, March 21, 2021
KSFR, Santa Fe, NM
Webcasting!
10 p.m. to midnight Sundays Mountain Time
Host: Steve Terrell 101.1 FM
Email me during the show! terrell(at)ksfr.org

Here's my playlist :

OPENING THEME: Let It Out (Let it All Hang Out) by The Hombres

Justine by The Blasters

Lil Lobo by Joe "King" Carrasco with Patricia Vonne

Baby Doll by The Del Moroccos

Ain't Your Choir by Churchwood

Before the World Blows Up by The Electric Mess

Frog Went a Courtin' by Flat Duo Jets

The Model by Big Black

It's Trash by The Cavemen

My Way by The Darts

All I'm Saying by Alien Space Kitchen

Bowdlerize by Danger Cutterhead

Travelin' Riverside Blues by Hindu Love Gods

Cape by Jon Spencer

Talent Show by The Replacements

Say Goodbye to a Dream by The Woggles

I Am Gonna Unmask the Batman by Lacy Gibson with Sun Ra

Coming to Take Me Away by Tiny Tim

Sophisticated Boom Boom by The Knoxville Girls

Parts Unknown by Kid Congo Powers with Lydia Lunch & Die Haut

Down the Road by Dead Moon

Snickersnee by Thee Oh Sees

Scumbag by Frank Zappa with John Lennon & Yoko Ono

Crazy Train / Monkey Town by Degurutieni

Hot Pastrami with Mashed Potatoes by Joey Dee & The Starliters

It's a Jungle Out There by Randy Newman

Geeshie by The Mekons

I'm a Suspect by Lonnie Holley

How Great Thou Art by Homer Henderson

CLOSING 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. CLICK HERE

Subscribe to The Big Enchilada Podcast CLICK HERE

Wacky Wednesday: Some Wacky Irish Tunes

It's St. Patrick's Day, or as The Onion calls it "The Reinforcin' O' The Stereotypes."

Here are a few appropriately wacky Irish tunes for you. 

Let's start with "The Night That Pat Murphy Died." Erin go brawl! (Believe it or not, these guys are German!)

Here's "Brian O'Linn," courtesy of Seamus Ennis. (Folks who used to see me perform back in the '80s might realize I performed my own weird adaptation of this song. I changed it to "Barney O'Linn" just so I could add the chorus "Listen here Barney and spare me your blarney / You bought the first round but I bought the last 10 ..."

Here's "Captain Kelly's Kitchen" by The Dropkick Murphys

And it wouldn't be St. Patrick's Day in the Terrell household with some Pogues!

For more Irish songs check out this old post

And don't forget to check out the story of "Brennan on the Moor".

And if this ain't enough, check out my Celt Rock Spotify playlist The Paddy Wagon.

TERRELL'S SOUND WORLD PLAYLIST

Sunday, March 14, 2021
KSFR, Santa Fe, NM
Webcasting!
10 p.m. to midnight Sundays Mountain Time
Host: Steve Terrell 101.1 FM
Email me during the show! terrell(at)ksfr.org

Here's my playlist :

OPENING THEME: Let It Out (Let it All Hang Out) by The Hombres

Stop the Train by Mother Earth

Third Time’s the Charm by The Fuzztones

I’m Hurting by The Dustaphonics

Casino Reale by The Goldstars

Insect Eyes by Nots

Pine Box Ritual by The Guilty Hearts

Butcher by ET Explore Me

A Little More Time by The Reigning Sound

(Background Music: Marvel Ann on the Prowl by Ben Vaughn)

Howlin’ for My Woman by King Salami & The Cumberland 3

Free Range Man by MFC Chicken

What’s It All About by The Goon Mat & Lord Bernardo

Ego Arcade by Herzegovina

Goddess by Honshu Wolves

Lady Hawke Blues by Kid Congo & The Pink Monkeybirds

Too Long in the Wasteland by James McMurtry

(Background Music: Sand Storm by Impala)

Raised Right Men by Tom Waits

Dreaming Party by Degurutieni

Obeah Man by Meet Your Death

Ain’t That a Bitch by Johnny “Guitar” Watson

I’m Alive, You’re Dead by Kathy Freeman

I Don’t Feel at Home Anymore by Loretta Lynn

I Pray for You by Little Isadore & The Inquisitors 

(Background Music: Waltz by The DJ Bonebreak Trio)

Dub the Frequencies of Love by Gogol Bordello

Crazy Kacharsee by Shoukichi Kina

I Thought He Was Dead by Jon Langford & Four Lost Souls

She Ain’t a Child Anymore by Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings

Know You Better by Black Pumas

Another Lonely Heart by Eleni Mandell

CLOSING THEME: Over the Rainbow by Jerry Lee Lewis

Like the Terrell's Sound World Facebook page


     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. CLICK HERE

Subscribe to The Big Enchilada Podcast CLICK HERE

THROWBACK THURSDAY: Happy Birthday, Champagne Music Man

Lawrence Welk, the bandleader, television star, Geritol purveyor and bubble-machine enthusiast, was born March 11, 1903, 118 years ago this day.

Happy birthday, Lawrence. Hope your day is wunnerful, wunnerful, wunnerful!

Here's a bit of the North Dakota-born Welk's bio from History.com:

Welk’s parents were immigrants from Alsace-Lorraine who spoke only German to the nine children they raised on their farm outside Strasburg, North Dakota. In fact, Lawrence Welk did not learn English until his early 20s, which explains the accent that became his trademark. A dutiful son, Welk dropped out of school in the fourth grade to work full time on the family farm, but he decided early on that he wished to pursue a career in music. He learned to play the accordion from his father, who carried his own antique instrument with him when he immigrated to America. Lawrence wore out the inexpensive, mail-order accordion bought for him as a boy, so he made a deal with his parents: In exchange for a $400 loan to purchase a professional accordion, he would stay and work on the family farm through the age of 21. Playing small professional gigs in the surrounding area, Welk honed his musical skills and earned enough money to pay his parents back when he left home for good in 1924. 

By the early 1930s, Lawrence Welk had earned a degree in music and made a name for himself as the leader of a traveling orchestra. He had also failed in a restaurant venture selling “squeezeburgers” cooked on an accordion-shaped grill, but he had succeeded in developing a unique brand as the proponent of a pleasing pop style dubbed “Champagne Music” for its light and bubbly quality.

Ummm! Squeezeburgers!

Welk moved to Los Angeles in the early 1950s. He got his own local tv show, which was picked up by ABC in 1955. After being cruelly dropped in 1971, Welk got a syndication deal, which last until 1982.

I've heard lots of folks from My Generation say their grandparents made them watch the Welk show. I guess I lucked out. My grandfather, born the same year as Welk, didn't seem to have any interest in the bubble-laden show. And my grandmother, born a few years later, thought Welk was an old cornball.

But to celebrate his birthday, here are some special memories courtesy of YouTube:

Here's one from Welk's brief hippie period. (Rumors that the bandleader had contacts among the Manson Family are completely false and should not be repeated.)

In addition to his musical skills, Lawrence was quite the polka dancer:

Here's a clip featuring several of Welk's female singer regulars. Caution: My sources in the Drug Culture community warn that it's NOT SAFE to view when you're stoned!

Speaking of stoned, this clip of a "modern spiritual" seems to pop up on social media every few weeks for the past several years. I actually blogged about it myself back in 2008. While then Vice President Spiro T. Agnew was blasting this song as subversive propaganda for illegal and dangerous marijuana, Welk singers Gail Farrell and Dick Dale (no, not THAT Dick Dale) performed this Brewer & Shipley the tune on Lawrence's show. 

Some 45 years later, Brewer & Shipley met and had dinner with Farrell and her husband and apparently had a wunnerful time.

TERRELL'S SOUND WORLD PLAYLIST

Sunday, March 7, 2021
KSFR, Santa Fe, NM
Webcasting!
10 p.m. to midnight Sundays Mountain Time
Host: Steve Terrell 101.1 FM
Email me during the show! terrell(at)ksfr.org

Here's my playlist :

OPENING THEME: Let It Out (Let it All Hang Out) by The Hombres

The Wasp by Pussycat & The Dirty Johnsons

No Panic, No Stress by The Scaners

Jet Black Hair by The Goldstars

Own It Bone It by The Barbaraellatones

Takin’ Over by The Mal Thursday Quintet

Watch Out for Me Ronnie by Yo La Tengo

Black Plague Blues by Figures of Light

Horses by Pere Ubu

This Guy’s in Love With You by Faith No More

(Background Music: Shoot to Kill by Quincy Jones)

Bumble Bee Zombie by Roky Erikson

He Looks Like a Psycho by The Electric Mess

Floor is Not Wall by Danger Cutterhead

Contagious by Sleeve Cannon

Sweet Jane by Lou Reed

Blur Blur Blur by Degurutieni

Sign of Judgment by The Luxurious Faux Furs

Coffee Monkey by The Bottle Rockets

No Swallerin’ Place by June Carter

(Background Music: Cyclone by The Fabulous Cyclones )

Talking Main Event Magazine Blues by Mike Edison

Fairytale in the Supermarket by The Raincoats

Last Night by Honshu Wolves

I’m the Ocean by Neil Young & Pearl Jam 

Reprimand by Joe West

(Background Music: Jalousie by Esquivel)

Last Train from Poor Valley by The Seldom Scene

Stepchild by Solomon Burke

Opening of the Box by Tony Joe White

On the Nickel by Tom Waits

CLOSING THEME: Over the Rainbow by Jerry Lee Lewis

Like the Terrell's Sound World Facebook page


     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. CLICK HERE

Subscribe to The Big Enchilada Podcast CLICK HERE