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.

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 ...

It's the March episode of 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

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TERRELL'S SOUND WORLD PLAYLIST

Sunday, March 25, 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
Back from the Shadows Again by Firesign Theatre
Dead in a Motel Room by Hickoids
Whettin' My Knife by The Ghost Wolves
Because of You by The Goon Mat & Lord Bernardo
Stop it Baby by Roy Loney & The A-Bones
Fiesta Nuclear by Hollywood Sinners
The Traveler by Archie & The Bunkers
The Good Bastards by The Bonnevilles
End of My Rope by The Sloths

Anything That Moves by The Dwarves
Mike D's Coke by Ty Segall
Lizard Man by Mean Motor Scooter
Pablo Picasso by The Rockin' Guys
Human Obscene by Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Signal by Boss Hog
In Glass by Nots
You Can't Hide by The Electric Mess
Future Gods of Rock by Pocket FishRMen
El Toro de Goro by Sam the Sham & The Pharoahs

Town of Horseheads by Count Vaseline
Sister Midnight by Iggy Pop
Love Ain't Strange (Everything Else Is) by The Nightbeats
Comet by Baronen & Satan
Sunshine Don't Make the Sun by Barrence Whitfield & The Savages
I've Really Got the Blues by Jackie Shane
She Put a Seed in My Ear by Holy Wave
The Devil in the Dancehall by Harvey McLaughlin

The Sights and Sounds of De Los Muertos/ Get Up by De Los Muertos
Something Don't Up by Sir Bald Diddley & His Wig-Outs
A Clown Gave You a Baby by John Wesley Coleman III
Cold Studded Stunner by Trouble Boys
Falling Star by The Velquins
Metanoia by Churchwood
I Thought He Was Dead by Jon Langford's Four Lost Soul
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

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THE SANTA FE OPRY PLAYLIST

Friday, March 23, 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
Back in the Saddle Again by Gene Autry
See Willy Fly By by The Waco Brothers
Driftwood 40-23 by The Hickoids
Crazy Date by T-Tex Edwards
Be Real by Freda & The Firedogs
Little White Trash Boy by The Starkweathers
Parting Words by Sarah Shook & The Disarmers
Like a Rolling Stone by Flatt & Scruggs
(Background Music: Dirt Road #24  by Clothesline Revival)

I Don't Give a Shit by Shinyribs
Harbor Lights by Jerry Lee Lewis
Take Me Back to Tulsa by Merle Haggard
Old Man from the Mountain by Bryan & The Haggards with Eugener Chadbourne
I Heard You Been Layin' My Old Lady by New Riders of the Purple Sage
Liquored Up by Southern Culture on the Skids
Austin Pickers by Gary P. Nunn
They'll Never Play My Songs in Nashville by Jonathan Parker
Country My Ass by Dale Watson
(Background Music: Downtown Wagon by Clothesline Revival)

Billy the Kid & Geronimo by Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore
That's All it Took by Gram Parsons
Riverboat Dishwashing Song by The Tillers
Cheap Mike by Del McCoury
Cool and Dark Inside by Kell Robertson
You'll Lose a Good Thing by Dad Horse Experience
Corrina Corrina by Tex Rubinowitz & Bob Newscaster
(Background Music: Snakebite Magicians by Clothesline Revival)

Marie Mouri by The Dead Brothers
Another Night to Cry by Eilen Jewell
Defrost Your Heart by Charlie Feathers
I Threw Away the Key by Zane Campbell
Yup by David Rawlings
Crossing Muddy Waters by John Hiatt
Sam Stone by Swamp Dogg
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.

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