TERRELL'S TUNE-UP: New Albums by Chipper Thompson & Paula Rhae McDonald

A version of this was published in The Santa Fe New Mexican 
May 8, 2015

You can’t accuse Taos troubadour Chipper Thompson of flooding the market with his music. His new album, O How I Wish My Bad Heart Was True, is his first solo album in about a dozen years. And while the wait was too long, it’s a doggone fine collection of songs. In fact, it might be his best since his 1997 debut, Strange Lullabies.

Lately I’m thinking it’s his best, period.

Even though this is only his second solo album this century, Thompson has kept busy with his creative projects. He just published a novel, The Substance of Things Hoped For. He’s shown his visual art at Gerald Peters Gallery in Santa Fe. And he’s played in a number of Taos bands in the past few years, including Bone Orchard, Stray Ravens, and Kim & the Caballeros. The latter two were with his wife, Kim Treiber-Thompson.

Thompson, who’s been in Taos for 20 years or so, is a native of Alabama — and his Southern roots are readily apparent in his music. Listen to the dobro/mandolin-driven stomp “I Can Talk to Crows.” The harmonies — by Chipper and Kim — sound like something recorded at some backwoods church, perhaps after an intense round of snake handling. It’s basically a mystical brag-song, kind of a hillbilly “Hoochie Coochie Man.” One verse goes, “I can climb up a mountain like a hailstorm/And my fiddle can call down the rain and snow/I can tangle in your hair just like a bee swarm/And I can talk to crows.”

Chipper & Kim at the 2006 Thirsty Ear Festival

Although “I Can Talk to Crows” is now my favorite song here, other tunes have held that honor since I first got the album. “The Union Dues Blues” is an acoustic country waltz with a catchy, singalong-ready melody dealing with economic hard times. “If he can’t afford friends, a poor man is damned,” Thompson sings — a point well illustrated by the end of the song.

“Follow Me Down” is a slow burner that starts off with a hypnotic drone, followed by a strange but alluring fiddle solo. The first verse continues at a slow pace, but starts to build up, with drums coming in nearly halfway through. It’s quite effective and beautiful. As Chipper and Kim sing, “Won’t you sail away with me,” listeners may be tempted to sign up.

Thompson shows his Irish roots on “Edge of the Earth,” a nifty little jig about sailing to a foreign land. I can imagine some Celtic-punk band like the Dropkick Murphys covering this one.

And speaking of rockers, while the basis of Thompson’s music is folk, the boy can thunder when he wants, as he proves with some of the songs here. “Falling Off the World” begins with a brief banjo solo before the drums and electric guitars kick in. It’s an angry little tune about a romantic breakup.

Later in the album, there’s “Reap the Whirlwind,” which isn’t metal, but it’s downright heavy. “The storm is coming down, we’re gonna reap the whirlwind.” It sure is good to listen to new Chipper Thompson songs. I just hope I don’t have to wait another decade to say the same.

Also recommended:

* Broke Down Blues by Paula Rhae McDonald. Four or five years ago I had the pleasure of hearing Paula Rhae McDonald sing for the first time. It was at a Frogfest Festival, produced by Santa Fe’s Frogville Records, and she was sitting in with Bill Hearne’s band.

Basically she nailed it, singing good old-fashioned honky-tonk music — covers and originals — with grace and righteousness. That led me to McDonald’s first album, Little Bird, a fine country album that includes “Crazy as a June Bug,” which she wrote when she was eleven.

McDonald is back with a new record, a six-song collection recorded at Frogville Studio. But don’t expect the same kind of country-honky swing we heard on Little Bird. Like the title indicates, this is blues — hard-edged, electric blues.

Whether it’s blues or country, this lady is a belter. She’s believable, too. When she’s directing her lyrics at some no-good man, I can’t help but think, “I’m glad I’m not the one she’s mad at.”

Paula with Bill Hearne, frogfest 2010

With the exception of “Little by Little,” written by B.B. King, all the songs are McDonald originals.

My favorite tune at the moment is “I Won’t Go and He Won’t Stay.” (She sings, “I won’t leave my happy home here in Fanta Se.”) Also notable is the title song, which musically is softer than the others. Though when McDonald sings, “He’s a low-down, broke-down fool,” it doesn’t seem soft at all.

While McDonald’s blues songs are a kick, I just hope she hasn’t completely turned her back on honky-tonk, because she’s such a fine country singer. But she’s from Texas, so I suspect that won’t happen,

There will be a CD release party for Broke Down Blues at 5 p.m. on June 12 at McDonald’s Little Bird Gallery at the Inn at Loretto. A portion of all CD sales will go to ARTsmart, which provides visual-arts education statewide.

Award nominees: Both Chipper Thompson and Paula Rhae McDonald are finalists for 2015 New Mexico Music Awards. The winners will be announced on Saturday, May 30, at Sandia Casino & Resort.

Of course I’m still feeling stunned that the video for Gregg Turner’s “Satan’s Bride” was snubbed for the award last year. (I played the role of Satan’s bride’s groom.) But I’m learning to accept that loss — by blaming Turner.

Here's a couple of videos. 

Unfortunately I couldn't find any with their new songs. But here's some great oldies from these New Mexico favorites.

Here's one of my favorite Chipper songs from a long time ago. Unfortunately there's no visual here, but the sound is loud and clear. (And he even gives me a shout-out!)



And here's a classic Paula honky-tonk tune. (Hey, my old crony Chris Wright did this video!)

THROWBACK THURSDAY: Gobblin' Goober Peas

A few weeks ago I was catching up on last year's season of the HBO comedy Veep. (I'm still a little behind, but at least I'm in the current season now.) There was a scene that not only was hilarious, it reminded me of a great American song.

In that scene, Mike, the vice president's communications director, is trying to convince Jonah, a former White House staffer turned vindictive gossip blogger, not to publish an unflattering story. In an act of voluntary humiliation, Mike agrees to get down on his knees and sing Jonah a song.

That song, of course, is "Goober Peas,' which goes back to the American Civil War.

The fact that Jonah doesn't recognize the name of the song "Goober Peas" only makes you hate him more.

The writers of this song are not known. When it first appeared on sheet music --  in New Orleans after the Civil War -- publisher A.E. Blackmar, who must have been a real nutty guy, credited the words to A. Pinder, Esq. and the music to P. Nutt, Esq. (I didn't know this until right now, but some people call peanuts "pindar nuts.")

But this little joke on the publisher's part makes you wonder whether the song actually was written by a poor Confederate soldier, or a group of poor Confederate soldiers, trying to make light of their miserable conditions.

No, peanuts were not always considered a decent American snack, something you eat with Crackerjacks at the old ball game.

According to a 2012 article by Jesse Rhodes for Smithsonian.com:

Before the Civil War, peanuts were not a widely cultivated crop in the United States—Virginia and North Carolina were the principal producers—and were generally viewed as a foodstuff fit for the lowest social classes and for livestock.

But that would change thanks to food shortages during the Civil War. 'An excellent source of protein, peanuts were seen as a means of fighting malnutrition," Rhodes wrote. However, apparently they didn't help with the "rags and fleas" that plagued the soldiers, according to the song.

Here's former Galisteo resident Burl Ives and Johnny Cash singing the song. (I think whatever key  this is, it's a bad one for both singers.)




I never had heard of this guy, Kenneth Kramm, but I think I like this version better.



But despite my long affection for "Goober Peas," I think this Dizzy Gillespie classic is my favorite song about the pindar nut.



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

WACKY WEDNESDAY: Do Not Adjust Your Computer, It's the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band

Back in the late 1960s in England there was a TV comedy show called Do Not Adjust Your Set, whose cast included Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin -- all three becoming members of a little comedy team called Monty Python shortly after the show was cancelled in 1969.

Another thing about DNAYS: Its house band was none other than The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, a group that had one foot in the Roaring '20s and the other in surreal rock 'n' roll. They performed a song (and sometimes helped out in the comedy skits) every week.

Originally called The Bonzo Dog Dada Band (and later just The Bonzo Dog Band), the group drew from traditional jazz, English Music Hall, novelty songs doo-wop, psychedelia and more. Among the members were Vivian Stanshall, Neil Innes, Rodney Slater, Roger Ruskin Spear and "Legs" Larry Smith.

The bond between the Bonzos and Monty Python would remain strong. Innes would perform with and write songs for Python. he and Idle would become members of The Rutles, a Beatles send-up that resulted in a TV movie, All You Need is Cash, and a soundtrack album.

I just stumbled across a stash of Bonzo Dog songs on YouTube from Do Not Adjust Your Set, which featured members of Monty Python. Here are a few of them that make for a perfect Wacky Wednesday.

I first heard this on the Urban Spaceman album when I was in high school.



The Bonzos performed this song in the strip-joint scene in The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour. (And a certain alt-rock band from the '90s took its name from this song.)



And speaking of The Beatles, I always wondered whether John Lennon got his idea for "Bungalow Bill" from this next one.



And here's one I wasn't familiar with:




Big hat tip to John Smallwood, who is an even bigger Bonzo Dog fan than me.


UPDATED Nov. 15, 2015. Most of the original videos I posted were yanked by the YouTube police. I've replaced them with versions that hopefully will be around for awhile.

TERRELL'S SOUND WORLD PLAYLIST

Sunday, May 2, 2015 
KSFR, Santa Fe, N.M. 
10 p.m. to midnight Sundays Mountain Time 
Host: Steve Terrell
Webcasting!
101.1 FM
email me during the show! terrell(at)ksfr.org

Here's the playlist below

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

Volare by The Drifting Mines

Buzz the Jerk by The Pretty Things

Shortnin' Bread by The Cramps

Daddy You Lied to Me by The Del Moroccos

I'm Cryin' by The Animals

A New Wave by Sleater-Kinney

Look at Little Sister by The Sonics

Berlin by Dickie B. Hardy

Out of This World by The Rezillos

Reconsider Baby by Elvis Presley

Hot Corner by B-52s

Spittin' Fire by The Sons of Hercules

Midnight Hour by Question Mark & The Mysterians

White Jesus by Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

The Six Rat Rovers by Paddy & The Rats

Til the End of the Day by The Kinks

Shotgun John by Hundered Year Flood

Greasy Meal by Lawn Chair Kings

Hawkeye the Gnu by Bonzo Dog Doo-Da Band

Ruby Lee / See That My Grave is Kept Clean by B.B.  King

Little by Little by Paula Rhae McDonald

She Caught the Katie by Taj Mahal

I'm the Wolf by Howlin' Wolf

Goin' Down South by Markus James

Don't Pretend You Don't Know by Dinosaur Jr. 

Moonlight Motel by The Gun Club

Throw it Back by Jody Porter

Telepathic by The Gories

Bastards of Young by The Replacements

Harry Hippie by Bobby Womack

That's Life by Van Morrison

CLOSING THEME: Over the Rainbow by Jerry Lee Lewis

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THE SANTA FE OPRY PLAYLIST

Friday, May 1, 2015 
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 below:

OPENING THEME: Buckaroo by Buck Owens

May Day by Jack Hardy

Red Red Robin by Rosie Flores

Cry Baby Cry by The Banditos

Long Way From Home by Texas Martha & The House of Twang

Tennessee Stomp by Hillbilly Casino

Cracklings by The Gourds

The Ride by David Allen Coe

Cousin Cupcake's Got the Blues by Rev. Billy C. Wirtz

It Wasn't You by Slackeye Slim

Gee, Oogle It Baby by Reno Jack

Down Among the Dead Men by Steve Train & His Bad Habits

Money For Drugs by The Beaumonts

Killed a Chicken Last Night by Scott H. Biram

Hallelujah Band by Eilen Jewell

Two Dollar Bill by Paula Rhae McDonald

Pass the Booze by Ernest Tubb

Beans and Make Believe by Mose McCormack

The Crawdad Song by The Meat Purveyors

Bright Lights and Country a Music by Rhonda Vincent

Breathing Room by Jim White vs. The Packway Handle Band

Let's Invite Them Over by Southern Culture on the Skids

I Push Right Over by Robbie Fulks

A Little Wind Could Blow Me Away by Peter Case

Pretty Peggy-O by The Grateful Dead

State Street Rag by Louie Bluie

I Can Talk to Crows by Chipper Thompson

Far From Any Road by The Handsome Family

Busted by Two Tons of Steel

My Morphine by David Johansen & The Harry Smiths

Funny How Time Slips Away by Willie Nelson

Lulu's Back in Town by Leon Redbone

CLOSING THEME: Comin' Down by The Meat Puppets


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THROWBACK THURSDAY: Come Running Down The Stairs

I've got nothing against Simon & Garfunkel. I like a lot of their tunes.

But it's inconceivable to me how they managed to take a perfectly rough and tumble folk song that ends with a line saying, "If ever I return, all your cities I will burn ..." and make it sound wimpy.

But that's what they did with "Peggy O," which appeared on Paul & Artie's first album, Wednesday Morning 3 A.M.

I'm not even going to post the video of this useless version. In fact, I probably shouldn't have even mentioned it. The only reason I do is because it just so happens that Simon & Garfunkel's was the first "Peggy O" I ever heard.

I never liked that track, but I have to admit, that line with the arson threat always did intrigue me. Basically it's the story of a soldier, "our captain," who falls for "a lady like a dove" and promises to take her "in a carriage" to " places far and strange."

But something goes wrong. Apparently Peggy rejects him and his troops are threatening to burn all the cities and destroy "all the ladies in the ar-e-o."

Breaking up is hard to do.

"Peggy O" is the American descendant of an old Scottish song, going back at least to the late 18th Century, called "The Bonnie Lass O' Fyvie." Fyvie is a small town with a castle in the Aberdeenshire region of Scotland,

Some versions of the song appear under the titles of "Bonnie Barbara-O," "Pretty Peggy of Derby," and "Peggy Sue." O.K., just kidding about that last one,

The first known recording of the song was by an Aberdeenshire farmer named John Strachan.  Alan Lomax got him on tape in 1951. A few years later, Tommy Makem & The Clancy Brothers recorded it and called the song "The Maid of Fife-E-O."

Other folkies on both sides of the Atlantic began playing it. I like this one recorded by The Dubiners in the early 1960s.



Bob Dylan included the song, which he called "Pretty Peggy-O," on his debut album in 1962. His version was influenced by The Clancys'. But he made it crazier.

Unlike Simon & Garfunkel's pristine version, Dylan burst out of the gate joking on this one. "I've been around this whole country, but I never yet found Fenneario," he says at the beginning of the track.

He's changed the setting from ancient Scotland to contemporary America. He sings of the love-lorn captain (who has been demoted to lieutenant here) "The lieutenant he has gone, long gone
He's a-riding down in Texas with the rodeo."

And this live version is even funnier. (I'm fallin' down the stairs, pretty Peggy-O ...")



But after all these years, my favorite version is that of The Grateful Dead. Throwing in some well-placed minor chords, they create a heartbreaking and haunting melody. The local seems ambiguous, though when singing "Sweet William he is dead," he reveals, "He's buried in the Louisiana country-o."

I first heard the Dead do this song at a 1977 concert in Albuquerque. Seventeen years later I saw them play it again in Las Vegas -- which would turn out to be the last time I'd see the Grateful Dead play.

Here's a video of the song from that concert.



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

WACKY WEDNESDAY: Louie-Louiepalooza

UPDATE 4--30-15: My friend Billy pointed out that the photo to the left is not the original Kingsmen. It's "Jack Ely & The Kingsmen," which Ely formed after he split from the original band. He was forced to change the name to "The Courtmen."

This Wacky Wednesday we pay tribute to Jack Ely, who, backed by his band at the time, The Kingsmen, recorded a strange little hit called "Louie Louie."

Ely died Monday at his home in Redmond, Oregon, He was 71. Here's a story in The Seattle Times.

The Kingsmen weren't the first to record "Louie  Louie. That honor goes to the songwriter and L.A. R&B titan, Richard Berry. And The Kingsmen wasn't even the firt pacific Northwest Band to record it. Was it The Wailers or was it Little Bill & The Bluenotes who first put it to wax? And Paul Revere & The Raiders weren't far behind. (Here's a brief early history of the song from a website devoted to "Louie Louie." )

But The Kingsmen  did the definite "Louie Louie." They had the first real hit with the song (even though Ely left the band not long after they recorded it.) They're the ones who inspired the FBI to investigate the song. (Skip to the bottom of this post for more on this shining highlight in FBI history.)

In honor of Jack Ely here's a whole stinkin' mess of "Louie," starting with Richard Berry's original.

Come on, let's give it to him RIGHT NOW!



Any excuse to post a Sonics song. They recorded it in the '60s. This is a more recent live version.



Ike & Tina Turner took a stab at it.



Iggy & The Stooges did a completely filthy version (captured on the Metallic K.O. album.) But by the early '90s, Iggy had rewritten the lyrics to make the song about the fall of the Soviet Union. Or something.



Frank Zappa teamed up with Howard Stern in the late '80s to screw around with it,



Motorhead did it:



So did The Clash.

Brave Combo turned it into a cha cha cha.



Here's an easy listening rendition by The Sandpipers IF YOU DARE!



And of course, The Kingsmen!



And to make Wacky Wednesday even wackier, here are documents from the FBI's 1964 investigation into The Kingsmen's "Louie Louie." They wanted to make certain that Ely's unique vocals weren't hiding secret obscene lyics that might harm the children. J. Edgar's boys eventually determined "Louie Louie" was "unintelligible at any speed."

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TERRELL'S SOUND WORLD PLAYLIST

Sunday, April 26, 2015 
KSFR, Santa Fe, N.M. 
10 p.m. to midnight Sundays Mountain Time 
Host: Steve Terrell
Webcasting!
101.1 FM
email me during the show! terrell(at)ksfr.org

Here's the playlist below:

Livin' in Chaos by The Sonics

In the Alleyway by J.J. & The Real Jerks

The Breeze by The Banditos

Gonna Rock Tonight by Flamin' Groovies

Hazel Holly (Please Come Back) by the Boss Mustangs

Puppet Man by Jay Reatard

Rebel Stomp by Pow Wows

Sick Boys by Social Distortion 

JuJu Hand by Handsome Dick Manitoba

Cheap Thrills by Ruben & The Jets

Price Tag/ All Hands on the Bad One by Sleater-Kinney

Hard-Lovin' Man by The Fleshtones

Sing This Song of Joy by Mudhoney

Emerald City by The Tossers

Dark as a Dungeon by The Tombstones

Android Robot by Acid Baby Jesus

Give Her a Great Big Kiss by New York Dolls

Funeral by Jon Spencer Blues Explosion

The Criminal Inside Me by R.L. Burnside with Jon Spencer Blues Explosion 

Killing Floor by Albert King

Hide 'nor Hair by Ray Charles

Let's Get Funky by Hound Dog Taylor

Sit Down if You Can by Elwood Haywood with The Campbell Brothers

Biting Game by Sinn Sisamouth

No Sudden Moves by Dengue Fever

Broken Hearted Woman by Ros Sereysothea

Catch a Fire by Mojo JuJu & The Snake Oil Merchants

First There Was a Funeral by Johnny Dowd

The Nameless One by Jack Hardy

CLOSING THEME: Over the Rainbow by Jerry Lee Lewis


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Clown Around with The Latest Big Enchilada Episode

Alright you circus clowns, welcome to the Big Top of Rock 'n' Roll, a carnival of crazy garage/punk primitive sounds to amuse and delight. Get on board. The slap sticks are crackin' and the bus is crawling with bozos, so go ahead, squeeze the old wheeze! It's a holiday for clowns.

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Here's the playlist:

(Background Music: Circus by Babylon Circus)
The Clown of the Town by Reverend Beat-Man
Livin' in Chaos by The Sonics
That Man is Bad News by Big Foot Chester
Spitfire Boogie by Drifting Mines
Smokin' by Graceland
Kinko the Clown by The Ogden Edsl Wahalia Blues Ensemble Mondo Bizzario Band

(Background Music: from Felini's Clowns soundtrack)
Born Bad by The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Motorcycle Madness by Daddy Longlegs
Boy on Fire by Harmonica Lewinski
Gonna See You Tonight by The Alleygators
Now's Your Chance by Fleckt Pets 
I Was On The  Bozo Show by Nobunny

(Background Music: Bozo the World's Most Famous Clown theme)
Killer Clowns from Outer Space by The Dickies
Dan Dare by The Mekons
Get Sick by Scratch Buffalo
Rebel Stop by Pow Wows
Sleeping in Blood City by The Gun Club
Death of a Clown by T. Tex Edwards
(Background Music: The Bozo Buck Stops Here by Stephen W. Terrell)

Play it Below:

Big Enchilada 83: Just Clownin' Around by Steve Terrell on Mixcloud

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THE SANTA FE OPRY PLAYLIST

Friday, April 24, 2015 
KSFR, Santa Fe, NM 
Webcasting! 
10 p.m. to midnight Fridays Mountain Time 
Host: Steve Terrell 
101.1 FM
email me during the show! terrell(at)ksfr.org

Here's my playlist below:
OPENING THEME: Buckaroo by Buck Owens
Hillbilly Jitters by Dallas Wayne
The Whole Thing Stinks by Rico Bell
Still Sober After All These Beers by The Banditos
Self Sabotage by Jason & The Scorchers
The Horse by DM Bob & The Deficits
Wild and Blue by Hazeldine
Rear View Mirror by Paula Rhea McDonald
Do as You Are Told by Texas Martha & The House of Twang
Lightning Fried by Reno Jack

Six Days on the Road by Taj Mahal
San Juan Song by Slackeye Slim
Loup-garou by Tetu
The Devil Gets His Due by The Dirt Daubers
Blue Collar Dollar by Kevin Gordon
All American Girl by Angry Johnny & The Killbillies
Worried Mind by Eilen Jewell
Movie Magg by Carl Perkins
Honey Don't by Eugene Chadborne

Butter Face by The Beaumonts
Truck Driving Man by The Bottle Rockets
Hot Rod Lincoln by Bill Kirchen
Speedway by Alan Vega
I Seen What I Saw by 16 Horsepower
Reap the Whirlwind by Chipper Thompson
How Can I Miss You When You Won't Go Away by Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks

Rider on an Orphan Train by Tom Russell
Orphan Train by Julie Miller
Eddie Rode the Orphan Train by Jim Roll
Dover to Dunkirk by Jack Hardy
John Walker Blues by Steve Earle
CLOSING THEME: Comin' Down by The Meat Puppets


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