Small Town Talk

SMALL TOWN TALK: Episode 55

In which Ginger Baldy’s mates, Keith and Matt rescue Small Town Talk’s studio after the storm.
 
1.   Cavern Stomp - The Big Three
2.   Some Other Guy - Richie Barrett
3.   Don’t Turn Around - The Merseybeats
4.   Blue Girl - The Bruisers   (This month’s death song)
5.   Sorrow - The Merseys
6.   Everything’s Alright - The Mojos
7.   Maybe - The Chantels
8.   Come Softly To Me - Richard Barrett with The Chantels
9.   Dancing In The Street - Martha & The Vandellas  (This month’s earworm)
10. Slow Down (You’ve Got A Friend) - Hal
11. Poor Boy - The Fabulous Thunderbirds
12. Poor Boy - The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
13. Sleeping Pills - Nick Waterhouse
14. Take Your Love And Run - Barbara Lynn
15. She’s A Heartbreaker - Gene Pitney
16. Dixie Women -The Newports
 
Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles
 
This month, just two lines from Hal’s ‘Slow Down (You’ve Got A Friend)’
You're not alone
We're right by your side
Hal (2004)
 
Point of interest:
The Chantels were the third US girl group to achieve nationwide success following the Teen Queens and the Bobbettes. Into the charts
 
If you haven’t already, then check out JD McPherson’s  new album, Nite Owls at:
https://www.jdmcpherson.com/
 
Johnny Corsair is giving away a great prize this month, a brand new Ace CD., ‘Come Together: Black America Sings Lennon & McCartney’.  Listen in to Bright Lights Big City and win that album.
https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/
 
This month, ten of the sixteen tracks on Small Town Talk can be found on our favourite record label, ACE Records.
I don’t have it, simply because most of the tracks exist as singles in our vaults, but check out Ace's “Bowie Heard Them Here First”  It’s a great piece of research and feat of licensing to get all these tracks compiled:
https://www.acerecords.co.uk/bowie-heard-them-here-first
- and then check out the rest of Ace's catalogue.
 
Any comments, queries about Small Town Talk's podcast can be fired off to:
smalltowntalktalk@gmail.com
 
Episode 55 Illustration:  What friends are for - Jim Dandy (and Matt) to the Rescue.

SMALL TOWN TALK: Episode 54

In which Ginger Baldy suffers the weather in Small Town Talk’s collapsing studio and keeps his big mouth firmly shut.
 
1.  Rockin’ Bones - Ronnie Dawson (The Blond Bomber)  1959
2.   Somebody Told You - Irma Thomas  1962
3.   Desdemona - John’s Children  1967 (Marc Bolan second vocalist - obviously!)
4.   Just A Little Bit - Tiny Topsy  1959
5.   Daddy Daddy - Richard Berry  1954
6.   Daddy Daddy - Ruth Brown  1952
7.   Pneumonia - Joe Tex  1956
8.   Come In the Morning - Moby Grape  1967
9.   It’s Gonna Work Out Fine - Ike & Tina Turner  1961
10. You’re Losing Me - Barbara Lynn  1968
11. His Last Summer - The Barracudas  1980   (This month’s death song)
12. Suspended Animation - Rachel Sweet  1978
13. It’s Raining - J. D. McPherson  2023  (The Warm Covers vinyl album compiled for Record Store Day)
14. Home Home Home - Pokey LaFarge  2024
15. Devil In His Heart - The Donays  1962
16. I’m Calling You - The Cactus Blossoms  2019
17. Only The Lonely - Roy Orbison  1960  (This month’s earworm)
18. You’ve Got Your Good Thing Down - Sir Douglas Quintet  (mid sixties)
19. Choo Choo Ch’Boogie - Louis Jordan  1946
 
Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles 
 
You reach your destination, but alas and alack
You need some compensation to get back in the black
You take a morning paper from the top of the stack
And read the situations from the front to the back
The only job that's open needs a man with a knack
So put it right back in the rack, Jack
 
From ‘Choo Choo Ch’Boogie’ - Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five - 1946
Written by Denver Darling, Milton Gabler and Vaughn Horton.
Every line of every verse in this clever song ends in a word that rhymes with Jack.
 
A few notes this episode to compensate for the lack of song introductions.
Track 7: Pneumonia - Joe Tex. On the label the writing credits go to Joe Tex, but this song is clearly a facsimile of Little Willie John’s ‘Fever’, written by Eddie Cooley and Otis Blackwell under his songwriting alias of John Davenport.
Track 8: Come In The Morning - written by Bob Mosley and the terrific B side of Hey Grandma (see episode 29)  It was one of 5 Moby Grape singles released simultaneously, a move that backfired and contributed to the band’s downfall.
Track 14: Home Home Home - Pokey LaFarge - written and originally recorded by Ken Boothe in 1967 and produced by Clement "Coxone" Dodd. Pokey's version is from his new album "Rhumba Country"
Track 15: Famously recorded by the Beatles on their second album ‘With The Beatles’ and sung by George Harrison. The Donays’ original was the flipside of their only single ‘Bad Boy’ and was never a hit either in the States or the UK. Small Town Talk played Bad Boy in our Two Songs, One Title feature in episode 18, Oct 2021.
Track 16: I’m Calling You - The Cactus Blossoms - for Andrea who cemented the idea of Two Songs, One Title and since she loves the Everlys she will probably like this!
Track 18: You’ve Got Your Good Thing Down - Sir Douglas Quintet. Only released later on several compilation albums, but recorded by producer Huey Meaux, The Crazy Cajun, for Tribe records sometime in the mid sixties. In my book Doug Sahm can do no wrong.
Check out JD McPherson’s  new album, Nite Owls at:
https://www.jdmcpherson.com/
 
He and I play similar old soul and R&B, but Johnny Corsair dares to play contemporary R&B so if you wanna be down with the kids get over to Bright Lights Big City where the lights get brighter every time you click the switch:
https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/
 
Our favourite record label, ACE Records: - and they are British; go check them out, you can find all the above tracks from Richard Berry, Ike & Tina Turner, Barbara Lynn, and The Donays on Ace CD’s
https://www.acerecords.co.uk/ 
 
Any comments, queries, complaints, or anything relating to Small Town Talk's podcast can be fired off to:
smalltowntalkrecords@gmail.com 
Episode 54 Illustration:  Ginger Baldy flits back to the 40's to hear the sound of the Clickety Clack.

SMALL TOWN TALK: Episode 53

In which Ginger Baldy enjoys some Tex-Mex, gets excited about a new release, and looks back at John Mayall.
 
1.  You Mostest Girl - Bobby Lee Trammell
2.   Shirley Lee - Ricky Nelson
3.   Who Will The Next Fool Be - Charlie Rich
4.   Laredo Rose - Texas Tornados
5.   Looking Back - Clarence “Frogman” Henry
6.   Looking Back - John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
7.   Gangster Of Love - Johnny Guitar Watson
8.   Mary Lou - Young Jessie & The Cadets
9.   I Wish You Would - J. D. McPherson
10. I Was Fooled - Billy Boy Arnold
11. O Death - Ralph Stanley   (This month’s death song)
12. Hard Time Killing Floor - Chris Thomas King
13. Judy In Disguise (With Glasses) - John Fred & His Playboy Band   (This month’s earworm)
14. Forty Days - Ronnie Hawkins
 
Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles
 
A MILLION DOLLAR REWARD FOR ME
IN EACH AND EVERY STATE
SHERIFF SAY “IS YOUR NAME JOHNNY GUITAR WATSON?”
IN A VERY DEEP VOICE,
AND I SAY “YES, BROTHER SHERIFF
AND THAT’S YOUR WIFE ON THE BACK OF MY HORSE”
Gangster Of love - Johnny “Guitar” Watson: 1957
 
The Doug Sahm article can be found at:https://www.mojo4music.com/magazine/latest-issues/mojo-370-september-2024-nick-cave/
 
Check out JD McPherson’s Nite Owls at:
https://www.jdmcpherson.com/
 
It’s always there, so go get it; it’s our sister show, Johnny Corsair’s Bright Lights Big City - and this month there’s a super Ace CD “This is Goldwax 1964-1968” to be won, 28 tracks including James Carr with the best deep soul song ever made.
https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/
And on the subject of ACE Records: go check them out, you can find all the above tracks from Young Jessie, Johnny Guitar Watson, Clarence Frogman Henry, John Fred and Ronnie Hawkins on Ace CD’s
https://www.acerecords.co.uk/
 
Any comments, queries about Small town talk's podcast can be fired off to:
smalltowntalktalk@gmail.com
 
Episode 53 Illustration:  Flaco Jimenez, one of the nicest guys you can ever meet.

SMALL TOWN TALK: Episode 52

In which Ginger Baldy gets Real Real Gone and remembers a man who never ever did what he should.
 
1.   Ride Jockey Ride - The Lamplighters
2.   My Gal’s A Jockey - Big Joe Turner
3.   Real Real Gone - Van Morrison
4.   Good Golly Miss Molly - Little Richard
5.   Chain Gang - Bobby Scott
6.   Chain Gang - Sam Cooke
7.   Ella Speed - Leadbelly   (This month’s death song)
8.   He’s A Rebel - The Crystals (The Blossoms)
9.   Then He Kissed Me - The Crystals
10. Chicken Payback - The Bees   (This month’s earworm)
11. Magazine Lady - “Spider” John Koerner & Willie Murphy
12. You Can’t Stop Love - Popa Chubby
13. Black Magic Woman - Fleetwood Mac
14. All Your Love ( I Was Missing) - Otis Rush
15. Time After Time - Miles Davis
 
Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles 
 
"HE’S A REBEL AND HE’LL NEVER BE ANY GOODHE’S A REBEL BECAUSE HE NEVER EVER DOES WHAT HE SHOULDBUT JUST BECAUSE HE DOESN’T DO WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE DOESTHAT’S NO REASON WHY WE CAN’T SHARE OUR LOVE
Written by Gene Pitney, produced by Phil Spector & credited to The Crystals but recorded by The Blossoms with Darlene Love on lead vocals.
 
The true story of the murder of Ella Speed  (track 7) can be found at:
https://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=3584.0
 
Small Town Talk’s sister show, Johnny Corsair’s Bright Lights Big City, can be found burning ever so brightly over at:
https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/
 
The Lamplighters compilation "Loving Rocking Thrilling" (track 1) can be found at the finest record company there is:
https://www.acerecords.co.uk/
 
Any comments, queries about Small Town Talk's podcast can be fired off to:
smalltowntalktalk@gmail.com
 
Episode 52 Illustration:  Tom Absolom’s excellent “Real Real Gone” 

SMALL TOWN TALK: Episode 51

In which Ginger Baldy goes to the cinema to catch a slice of America.
 
1.   Much Later - Jackie Brenston with Ike Turner’s Kings Of Rhythm
2.   Rocket “88” - Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats (Ike Turner’s Kings Of Rhythm)
3.   Cadillac Boogie - Jimmy Liggins & His Drops Of Joy
4.   Going Back To New Orleans - Joe Liggins & The Honeydrippers
5.   New Orleans - Elvis Presley
6.   New Orleans - The Staple Singers
7.   New Orleans - Gwen Johnson
8.   I Got A Woman - Ray Charles
9.   Down In The Willow Garden - The Everly Brothers   (This month’s death song)
10. Omaha  - Moby Grape
11. Sister Andre - Pokey LaFarge
12. (It’s A) Wonderful World - Sam Cooke   (This month’s earworm)
13. America - Simon & Garfunkel
14. Big Mamou Daddy - Carmen Taylor
15. Big Mamou - The Amos Garrett, Doug Sahm, Gene Taylor Band
 
Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles
 
WHY’D YOU GO AWAY AND LEAVE ME IN BIG MAMOU
WHY’D YOU GO AWAY AND LEAVE ME SO SAD AND BLUE
OH AH AH CHERIE-O
COME ON LIVE WITH ME IN BIG MAMOU
 
Big Mamou - Doug Sahm, Amos Garrett & Gene Taylor with Queen Ida. (1987)
One of my all-time musical heroes, Texan Doug Sahm spent two years living in Canada, starting in 1985, where he met roots guitarist Amos Garrett and keyboard player Gene Taylor.  Together they released the award winning 1987 “roots” album, “Return of The Formerly Brothers”, the title jokingly referring to the fact that they were often billed as formerly of one band or another.  Track 15, “Big Mamou” is taken from that album.
 
Last chance to get James Hunter tickets!  He’s at Margate’s Funk N Soul weekender on Friday 12th July and Birmingham’s Mostly Jazz Funk & Festival on 14th.
Small Town Talk will be at The Jazz Cafe to see James on July the 16th. and there are still a few tickets left, see you there.
A week later he’s back in the US, continuing his American tour. If you are anywhere near Norwich, NY you can see him FREE in Norwich’s NBT Bank Summer Concert on July 25th. Check his whole US tour, and all the above at:
https://www.jameshuntermusic.com/
 
And released yesterday, episode 39 of Johnny Corsair’s Bright Lights Big City podcast.  I had a listen this morning, some great soul and R&B - just love the Big Walter and his Thunderbirds original of “Pack Fair And Square."
Johnny’s giving away a great prize this month - A brand new Ace CD, "This is Fame 1964 -1968."  Check it out at:
https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/
 
And on STT, five tracks this month from five different ACE Records - Not just the best reissue record label, but I think, the very best record company in the world.  Check out their excellent website:
https://www.acerecords.co.uk/
 
And to win the vinyl of Nick Waterhouse’s “The Fooler” (It's brand new, unopened but not sealed because it's a SIGNED copy) email me with your answer to:
smalltowntalkrecords@gmail.com
 
Episode 51 Illustration:  Ginger Baldy paints a clip from a favourite film; “Who is this & which movie?” It's a further clue to winning the above LP.

SMALL TOWN TALK: Episode 50 B - The Long Song show.

In which, by the glow of the turntable light on Stanyan Street, Ginger Baldy and Nick Waterhouse play TB Sheets on heavy repeat.
 
1.   Drivin’ Wheel - The Butterfield Blues Band  (From “The Resurrection of Pigboy Crabshaw” - 1967)
2.   Stanyan Street - Nick Waterhouse  (From “Never Twice” - 2016)
3.   TB Sheets - Van Morrison  (From “Blowin’ Your Mind” - 1967 & “TB Sheets” - 1973)
4.   Born To Be With You - Dion  (From “Born To Be With You” - 1975)
5.   Evil, Mean And Nasty - Swamp Mama Johnson  (From “Wetlands” - 1995)
6.   Backwoods Girl - Sir Douglas Quintet  (From “Together After 5” -1975)
 
Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles (1972)
 
PLAYING TB SHEETS ON HEAVY REPEATAND THE MEDICINE KEEPS ME VOIDRUNNIN’ HOME IN THE RAIN, HALF OUTTA MY MIND,WITH MY FRIEND GEORGIE BOY
Stanyan Street - Nick Waterhouse  (From “Never Twice” - 2016)
 
TB Sheets:
It’s not clear whether Van Morrison’s song, TB Sheets is in any way autobiographical. Morrison has always been incredibly private and has never revealed the song’s origins.The liner notes to the Bang label’s later compilation “TB Sheets” which included TB Sheets, infers that the song was personal, stating that Morrison broke down in tears after the take and the session was abruptly finished.
However, it is worth noting that while recording “Blowin’ Your Mind”, Morrison fell out big time with Bang records owner Bert Berns over his contract, and as a result, the record was compiled and released without Morrison's consent, and that includes the liner notes.
Later that same year, Berns, whose heart had been damaged from rheumatic fever contracted as a child, died from heart failure at the age of 38, and his wife Ilene Berns, who took over Bang, initially blamed his death on stress cause by the arguments with Morrison.  Van Morrison claimed he never received any royalties for Brown Eyed Girl.
As a result, when Morrison moved to Warner Brothers he was left with extremely unpalatable contractual commitments to Bang, which he honoured by a whole series of recordings that were intended to be of absolutely no financial use to the Bang label.
 
Swamp Mama Johnson were:
Drums / Backing Vocals - Kim Carson
Tenor Sax - Tracy Ferrara
Bass  - Patty Mey  / then from 1999, Leah Hinchcliff
Guitar - Laurie Miller
Lisa Mills - Lead Vocals & Harmonica
The Excellent Tracy Ferrara is a private music instructor, currently gigging with three bands and owns her own company Saxbombs Productions, out of Seattle.
Leah Hinchcliffe, plays in a number of bands around the Northwest US and teaches Bass:
https://www.leahhinchcliff.com/ 
Vocalist Lisa Mills died in a motorcycle accident in 2012.
You can find other Swamp Mama Johnson tracks in episodes 6, 23 & 34 of Small Town Talk.
 
Anybody listening to Small town Talk in the USA, check out James Hunter, Britain’s finest Soul singer.
He’s touring the States all year.  For those in Blighty however, there are four UK gigs in the first half of July. Tickets still available:
https://www.jameshuntermusic.com/
 
Not just the best reissue record label, but the very best record company in the world:
https://www.acerecords.co.uk/
 
And the man who knows where it’s at - and where it’s been!  The incomparable Johnny Corsair with our sister show Bright Lights Big City:
https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/
 
And to get further information and musings on this podcast or my music collection, email me at:
smalltowntalkrecords@gmail.com
 
Episode 50 Illustration:  The long songs show symbol. It’s my old Revox showing it’s age

SMALL TOWN TALK: Episode 50

In which Ginger Baldy remembers the magnificent Moby Grape and observes the fall of The Great Joe Bob - He was the pride of the backfield, ah, the hero of his day.
1.   Travelin’ Band - Creedence Clearwater Revival
2.   Watch Your Step - Bobby Parker
3.   Watch Your Step - Ted Hawkins
4.   I Can’t Stand It - Spencer Davis Group
5.   Howlin’ For My Baby - Howlin’ Wolf
6.   Can’t Be So Bad - Moby Grape
7.   Someday - Moby Grape
8.   Buzz Buzz Buzz - Doug Sahm
9.   The Great Joe Bob - Terry Allen
10. Mama Didn’t Raise No Fools - Sugar Pie DeSanto
11. Mama - Roy Orbison
12. Over You - Aaron Neville   (This month’s death song)
13. Rock The Bop - Brenda Lee
14. I’m Sorry (But So Is Brenda Lee) - Marshall Crenshaw
15. Wooly Bully - Sam the Sham & The Pharaohs    (This month’s earworm)
16. Brown Skin Girl - Leon Bridges
 
Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles (1972)
 
AND THEN HE GOT SUSPENDEDAH, FOR ACTING OBSCENEROUND THE CUM LAUDE, CUM LAUDEDAUGHTER OF THE DEAN
The Great Joe Bob  (A Regional Tragedy) - Terry Allen 1979
 
Go see Rich Hall, the man’s a genius. The UK tour can be found all over the web, including here:
https://www.uktw.co.uk/Tour/Comedy/Rich-Hall-Shot-From-Cannons/T64672227/
 
Any body listening to Small Town Talk in the USA, check out James Hunter, Britain’s finest Soul singer. He’s touring the States all year.
For those in the UK, find those four gigs in the first half of July. Tickets still available:
https://www.jameshuntermusic.com/
 
Not just the best reissue record label, but the very best record company in the world:
https://www.acerecords.co.uk/
 
After warming your ears here at Small Town Talk, get yourself over to our sister show, Johnny Corsair’s podcast, Bright Lights Big City. I’ve published early this month, so I don’t know what fab prizes he’s giving away. Go and find out at:
https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/
 
And to get further information and musings on this podcast or my music collection, email me at:
smalltowntalkrecords@gmail.com
 
Episode 50 Illustration:  Ginger Baldy reflects on Moby Grape, the band that blew it all away.

SMALL TOWN TALK: Episode 49

In which Ginger Baldy loses his beans, learns the Bacon Fat and loses out to a Red Cadillac.
 
1.   Rock Granny Roll - Hank Ballard
2.   Slow Twistin’ - Chubby Checker & Dee Dee Sharp
3.   Bacon Fat - Andre Williams
4.   Diddybop - The Valaquans
5.   Cops & Robbers - Bo Diddley
6.   Leader Of The Pack - The Shangri-Las   (This month’s death song)
7.   Song To The Siren - Tim Buckley
8.   Carry On You Fishermen - Harbottle & Jonas
9.   Alabama Blues - Elmore Nixon with Henry Hayes & His 4 Kings
10. Alabama Blues - J. B. Lenoir
11. Women And Cadillacs - Doc Starkes & The Nite Riders
12. Red Cadillac And A Black Moustache - Warren Smith
13. I Should’ve Spoke Up - The James Hunter Six
14. Yeh Yeh - Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames    (This month’s earworm)
15. Naked If I Want To - (The band who blew it big time. All will be revealed in episode 50)
 
 
Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles (1972)
 
HE SAID, “DIG DADDY, THIS IS A NATURAL FACT
IT’S A-SWEEPING THE SOUTH, THAT THING, THE BACON FAT”
YOU GO,
DIDDLEY, DIDDLEY, DIDDLEY, DIDDLEY, DIDDLEY, DIDDLEY, DIDDLEY, DIDDLEY,  BOP, BOP  - BOP, BOP
AND THEN YOU GO
DIDDLEY, DIDDLEY, DIDDLEY, DIDDLEY, DIDDLEY, DIDDLEY, DIDDLEY, DIDDLEY,  BOP, BOP  - BOP, BOP
 
Bacon Fat - Andre Williams  1956
 
 
For Tim Buckley’s performance of Song To The Siren on the last ever Monkees’ show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaa22Ulitds
 
 
"The legendary Harbottle and Jonas... incredible" –  Tom Robinson, BBC 6 Music.
Check out the Wild Goose launch gigs - they may be near you!Find the amazing Harbottle and Jonas at:
https://www.harbottleandjonas.com/
 
 
Any body listening to Small town Talk in the USA, check out James Hunter, Britains finest Soul singer.He’s touring the States all year.  For those in the UK, find those four gigs in the first half of July:
 https://www.jameshuntermusic.com/
 
 
Not just the best reissue record label, but the very best record company in the world: 
https://www.acerecords.co.uk/
 
 
After warming your ears here at Small Town Talk, get yourself over to our sister show, Johnny Corsair’s podcast, Bright Lights Big City. He’s giving away the brand new Ace release, Candi Staton’s Fame album. Choose either Vinyl or CD!
https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/
 
 
And to get further information and musings on this podcast or my music collection, email me atsmalltowntalkrecords@gmail.com
 
 
Episode 49 Illustration:  Ginger Baldy gets bacon fat all over this month’s playlist.

SMALL TOWN TALK: Episode 48

It’s 1958 and the Ginger Kid is transported to Ramsgate and Barnett’s emporium to purchase some magical black discs.
1.   As Long As I’m Moving - Ruth Brown
2.   Your Cash Ain’t Nothing But Trash - The Clovers
3.   Smack Dab In The Middle - Amos Garrett, Doug Sahm, Gene Taylor Band
4.   Back In The Night - Dr Feelgood    (This month’s earworm)
5.   Cruisin’ - Gene Vincent & The Blue Caps
6.   Lonesome Train (On A Lonesome Track) - Johnny Burnette And The Rock ‘N’ Roll Trio
7.   Poor Jenny - The Everly Brothers
8.   Take A Message To Mary - Bob Dylan   (This month’s death song)
9.   Keep A Knockin' - Bobby Fuller Four
10. Keep A Knockin' - Chuck Willis
11. Working For The Man - Roy Orbison
12. Nighthawkin’ - Tim Buckley
13. Dreamboy - Theo Lawrence & The Hearts
14. Not In Nottingham - Theo Lawrence & The Hearts
16. Shama Langa Ding Dong - Lloyd G. Williams
16. He’s So Fine - The Chiffons
17  Zenizenabo - Miriam Makeba
 
Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles (1972)
 
WELL JENNY HAD HER PICTURE IN THE PAPER THIS MORNING,
SHE MADE IT WITH A BANG.
ACCORDING TO THE PAPER THIS MORNING,
JENNY IS THE LEADER OF A TEENAGE GANG.
 
Poor Jenny - The Everly Brothers  /  written by Felice & Boudleaux Bryant
 
 
Some thoughts on Nighthawkin’ by Tim Buckley:
I don’t often publish the full lyrics to a song, but in this case, because it’s so unusual I felt it worthwhile.
On the original gatefold sleeve of Greetings from LA, the lyrics as presented by Tim Buckley were sparse and incomplete.  In live performances,Tim Buckley changed and added extra lyrics, enlarged performances with extra verses, and it is suggested that he published only what he had at that given moment.  More likely, to avoid censorship, Tim avoided writing down anything that might frighten off record executives, after all Greetings From LA is an album full of steamy sex -  except that is, for it’s shortest song, Nighthawkin’.
As I hint at in the podcast, Nighthawkin’ does seem autobiographical, an interchange between a cab driver and an unhinged, dangerous customer.  The last part of the song is a crazed account by the drunken passenger, a Vietnam war veteran of his boast to murder a “Gook” (a derogatory term for a S.E. Asian)
Buckley’s final riposte is tongue in cheek - basically, the things I do to earn a dime!
 
I was a-nighthawkin' in my taxi
On a cruise below the deadline.
My fare was a shaky ol' lush,
So I kicked it over and took off.
Then he whipped out this switch blade
Straight outta nowhere, level to my throat.
He said, "You ever been over to the war boy"
I said "Man I was a combat paratrooper daddy."
Well then he slumped back cool and he pocket that steel.
He said "Take me down to Fourth and Main."
Ah that paratroop bluff always cools those red-eyed geezers down.
Man - that last block - that cat was singing,
Oh - Man he was sittin' in the backseat singing to me this song'
“I got my B.A.R boy,
I got my M1 on my hip, right.
You better listen, Mr. President,
Oh boy, don't you mess with my war.
I wanna do, I wanna do,
Lord, I wanna do the Blood Boogaloo.
I'm just a Redneck son of a gun,
I wanna kill me a gook before dawn."
Ah, nighthawkin'  - Ah for my change.
 
Notes:
On the album sleeve, the published lyrics for Nighthawkin’ finished at “Fourth and Main” and thereafter the song’s lyrics (see above) would invite censorship, and are not printed.
B.A.R is the older Browning Automatic Rifle, and the M1, the Garand M1 carbine, a semi-automatic, extensively used in the Korean and Vietnam wars.
I love Buckley’s ability to “feel” a song, his vocal asides, whoops and cries, adding to the absolute funk and melody that would never be apparent in reading the lyrics - lyrics that do not rhyme, but sound simply like a conversational verbal account, perhaps to a friend in a bar.
 
Don’t forget to check in with our sister show, Johnny Corsair’s Bright Lights Big City for R&B, old and new, Gospel, Soul and Blues over at:
https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/
 
And to get further information and musings on this podcast or my music collection, email me at:
smalltowntalkrecords@gmail.com
 
Episode 48 Illustration:  It's 1958 and Small Town Talk’s younger self, the Ginger Kid drops in at his favourite haunt, Barnett's at 15 Queen Street, Ramsgate to pick up some late 50’s Rock ‘n’ Roll.

SMALL TOWN TALK: Episode 47

In which the Ginger Kid’s Time Machine crashes in on probably the greatest Rock & Roll song ever.
 
1.   She’s Got It - Little Richard
2.   Be-Bop-A-Lula - Gene Vincent & The Blue Caps
3.   Love My Baby - Little Junior’s Blue Flames
4.   Mystery Train - The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
5.   Important Words - Gene Vincent
6.   Reet Petite (The Sweetest Girl In Town) - Jackie Wilson    (This month’s earworm)
7.   Reet Petite And Gone - Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five
8.   Losin’ Boy - Eddy Giles
9.   Born To Lose - Ray Charles
10. Born To Cry - Dion
11. What’s The Matter With You Baby - Christine Ohlman & Rebel Lopez with Marshall Crenshaw
12. I’m Just A Fool For You - Bettye Lavette
13. I’m Just A Fool For You - Gene Chandler
14. Johnny Remember Me - John Leyton   (This month’s death song)
15. Your Ma Said You Cried In Your Sleep Last Night - Doug Sheldon
16. Bits & Pieces - Dave Clark Five
17. Welcome To The Working Week - Elvis Costello
 
Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles (1972)
 
WELL, OH NOW SHE’ MY CUTIE, MY TUTTI-FRUTTI,
MY HEART, MY LOVE, MY BATHING BEAUTY,
SHE’S ALRIGHT,
SHE’S GOT JUST WHAT IT TAKES,
SHE’S GOT WHAT IT TAKES,
AND WITH ME, SHE REALLY RATES.
 
Reet Petite (The Finest Girl You Ever Want To Meet) - Jackie Wilson (1957)
Written by Tyran Carlo & Berry Gordy.
 
Gene Vincent - from the film Girl Can’t Help It:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN3VLv3ZSF0
 
Dion’s new album “Girlfriends” available on March 8th everywhere, but check it out here:
https://www.noblepr.co.uk/press-releases/dion/girl-friends.htm
 
Well, have you ever heard a guy for whom your soul you'd give?
For whom you'd fight for, cry for, pray to God you'd die for.
Well he’s Johnny Corsair with the hippest show in town - listen in at:
https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/
 
And to get further information and musings on this podcast or my music collection, email me at:
smalltowntalkrecords@gmail.com
 
Episode 47 Illustration:  Small Town Talk’s younger self, the Ginger Kid cuts in on Gene Vincent & The Blue Caps for a publicity photo.