It's So Easy

… to steal a riff… Today in rock history, in 1956, Buddy Holly heads to Nashville for his first official recording session for Decca Records. Overseen by veteran country producer Owen Bradley, the session yields four tracks, including Holly's debut single ("Blue Days, Black Nights") and a classic cover ("Midnight Shift"). I wanted to take this opportunity to pay homage to Buddy, since I have been known to steal his chord progressions for the majority of my songs. Oh well, if you’re going to steal, steal from the best. Enjoy these recordings of "Blue Days" (a rockabilly classic), and "It's So Easy." Thanks to http://www.rockhall.com/notes/today-in-rock/ for the info and keep on rockin’!

You Didn't Try to Call Me...

… why didn't you try, I was so lonely…On this day in rock history in 1954, Hank Ballard & the Midnighters hits #1 on the R&B chart and #22 on the pop chart with "Work With Me Annie", #2 on the R&B chart with "Sexy Ways and #1 on the R&B chart and #23 on the pop chart with "Annie Had A Baby". All were banned by the FCC from radio air play for being “too risque’” for the time. Hank Ballard, the poster boy for doo-wop music, was always a convenient target for Frank Zappa’s parodies of that genre, as seen here in “You Didn’t Try to Call Me,” a track on the Mothers’ 1967 album “Freak Out!," done here very nicely by Flo and Eddie and featuring the truly amazing Anysley Dunbar on drums. Where am I going with all this? Well, I’m not sure, but it just goes to show how things are related in rock music, and how one thing leads to another…plus, I'm always looking for an excuse to post about Frank and the Mothers’ music!

Thanks to www.rockhall.com and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Ballard for the info, and keep on rockin’!

You In a Heap A Trouble, Boy!

Police brutality, Cool Hand Luke version...check out this vid of my new song "Sandpit," which, while telling a tale of some high school kids about to be in serious trouble with The Law, really has nothing to do with me! Come see Whiskey and Rebellion at the Ugly Mug on 1-15, and keep on rockin'!

Baby, It's a Cold, Hard World Out There...

... broken-hearted people everywhere...I would also submit that it's just freakin' cold pretty much anywhere in the US right now! If you're willing to brave the cold, though, come out tonight and see my band's cover of this great Steve Earle song - Whiskey and Rebellion, Arizona's, Shakopee, MN, 9 to midnight - you won't be sorry. Keep on rockin'!