swing & country

 

It's My Lazy Day by Hot Club of Cowtown and it was because Moggy was doin' all the work today - & a credible job she did too.

 

Stack-O-Lee had Joe "fingers' Carr & the Carr Hops backing Tennessee Ernie. Carr was a popular honky tonk piano player as well as an arranger & band leader.

 

Seeds & Stems Again by Commander Cody & the Lost Planet Airmen. I'm a fan of the West Virginia Creeper, their original steel player. Bobby Black took    his chair in the band before their 2nd album was recorded - Commando says the creeper was fired for being too creepy. All agree Bobby was a fantastic musician but I always liked the Creeper's rough edges. He didn't sound like he was encumbered by what he knew.

 

My Wife Thinks You're Dead - there's someone like this lurking in our past.

 

Hello Trouble by Portland's own Shorty & the Mustangs. Any excuse to listen to Shorty sing & the Mustangs play is allowed.

 

Don Walser with the Pure Texas Band, his original recording group. He's from Brownfield Texas; just down the road from Lubbock. The Flatlanders are from Lubbock. That's gotta mean somethin' profound.

 

Dance Hall Girls by Tom Russell was originally by a Canadian folk duo  Fraser & DeBolt. My copy of their 1st album has long since gone so in their honor we play Tom's version.

 

I Hit the Road & the Road Hit Back was co-written by Robbie Fulks and that's reason enough.

 

Riot In Cell Block # 9: Leiber & Stoller songs have been running through my head the last few weeks and when Wanda does it, it's country.

 

It's right about here that we got word that Mike Seeger had died. He'd gone into hospice about a week ago, which is never a good sign. He was a huge influence in our music; whether we're talking about country or old-time, blues or bluegrass. He was a student, investigator, collector, performer, promoter & appreciator of what has come to be called American.

You'll notice that in a lot of the songs we played he was an accompanist as often as he was the leader:

Wind and Rain - Mike Seeger

No Never No - Strange Creek Singers

Crapshooters Hop - New Lost City Ramblers

Bill Morgan and His Gal - New Lost City Ramblers

There Ain't No Bugs on Me New Lost City Ramblers

Frog Heaven - Mike Seeger with Vivian and Phil Williams and Sandy Bradley

Shakin' Off the Acorns - the L 7's - Dave Grant and Mike Seeger

And Dave Elliot who was the host of this morning's Music From the True Vine KBOO's bluegrass show played even more Mike Seeger. All we can say is "Goodbye Mike."

 

16th Avenue - Lacy J Dalton: I think of Roger Miller when this song comes on.

 

I Get the Blues When It Rains - Dick Curless: The Baron with a voice that makes your blood run backwards in your veins.

 

When Sleep Won't Come (Blues For Spade) - Big Sandy and His Fly Rite Boys: it sounds to me like this song is for & about Spade Cooley.

 

The Lilies Grow High - Keeter Stuart; thanks for the request. Keeter is a favorite of ours too. We've even gotten him to play live on the show a couple of times.

 

Bill Bailey - Patsy Cline; but everybody knows what 'Walkin' After Midnight' sounds like.

 

Deep in the Heart Boogie - Retta and the Smart Fellows; KBOO & Portland's own Retta Christie & they swing like mad.

 

Bird in a House - Railroad Earth; this song always brings me up short. Listen carefully, it's gospel.

 

Across the Alley From the Alamo - Time Jumpers; a garage band that got out of hand. One of it's members is Ranger Doug of Riders In the Sky but he's just a guy in the band playing in & around Nashville.

 

The Buck Stops Here - Robbie Fulks; I am in awe of this song because it's got not one but two hooks and he is capable of even more than that.

 

Who'll Buy My Memories - Willie Nelson; a musical question asked originally by the IRS.

 

Fuzzy Wuzzy Teddy Bear - Hal Lone Pine and Betty Cody; one of the forgotten  Korean War vets called & thanked us for remembering. You're welcome - to all vets.

 

Saguaro - Hacienda Brothers; a great Duane Eddy style guitar.

 

Henry & Moggy