Carl Perkins' Cadillac

On this date in rock history, in 1955, Carl Perkins records "Blue Suede Shoes" and "Honey Don't," which Sun releases together as a single on January 1, 1956. During May 1964, Perkins toured England along with Chuck Berry. The Animals backed the two performers. On the last night of the tour, Perkins attended a party that turned out to be for him, and ended up sitting on the floor sharing stories, playing guitar, and singing songs while surrounded by The Beatles. Ringo Starr asked if he could record "Honey Don't." "Man," answered Perkins, "go ahead, have at it." The Beatles would cover "Matchbox," "Honey Don't" and "Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby". My connection to Mr. Perkins (besides rootin’ for Ringo every time I hear him sing Perkins’ song) is my band’s cover of the Drive By Truckers song “Carl Perkins’ Cadillac,” a sympathetic account of the early Sun Records days of Perkins, Johnny Cash, Elvis and Jerry Lee. My favorite line? “Dammit Elvis, I swear son I think it's time you came around. Making money you can't spend ain't what being dead's about.” ‘Nuff said… Enjoy the vid, keep on rockin’, and thanks to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Perkins for the info.

Your'e a bitch...

... but I love you anyway...while choosing some CD's at random at the library the other day, the CD cover for this band "The Fabulous Bowling for Soup" caught my eye so I gave it a try. Turned out to be a lucky find - think Fountains of Wayne crossed with Weird Al - intelligent, witty lyrics mixed with clever pop culture references. So give a listen, and pick it up at your local library if you get a chance. Happy turkey day, and keep on rockin'! Remember, Whiskey and Rebellion at the Ugly Mug in Farmington,MN this Saturday, 8 to 11 - hope to see you there!

Goodness gracious...

great balls of fire! Today in rock history, in 1949, a 14-year-old Jerry Lee Lewis makes his debut at the opening of a Ford dealership in Ferriday, Lousiana. He plays "Drinking Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee." Man, I wish we had some video of that performance! Well, “The Killer” is still out there knockin’ ‘em dead at the age of 74. 2010 will see a new CD album and DVD release as Jerry continues his career. 2009 also marks the sixtieth year since Jerry Lee's first public performance. In August 2009, in advance of his new album, a single entitled "Mean Old Man" was released for download. It was written by Kris Kristofferson. An EP featuring this song and four more was also released on amazon.com on November 11. On October 29, 2009, Lewis opened the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden in New York. Here is some audio of that performance. Thanks to www.rockhall.com and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Lee_Lewis for the info, and keep on rockin’!

When I'm 64...

Today in rock history, Neil Young was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1945. Picking a song and video to celebrate Neil’s life is truly a challenge – his recorded history is vast and difficult to categorize. Well, let’s pick 1980's “Hawks and Doves” then, in honor of finding a copy of the LP in a thrift store yesterday. AKA “Neil goes country and turns right-wing redneck,” this LP puzzled fans and critics alike with its seemingly patriotic and right wing views. This, from the guy who wrote “Ohio.” Ah, well, it's good music, however you slice it. Let’s enjoy Neil and the International Harvesters' version of "Hawks and Doves" live in 1984. Thank God Neil is still around making new music, and keep on rockin’!
P. S. One of the high points of my life in the recent past is learning the bass part to “Cinnamon Girl.”

Cleveland Rocks!

I’m writing this post about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum mainly due to a large case of envy… Chris, our lead guitarist, (AKA “Whiskey and Rebellion” on his blog “Over the Green Hills”) is at this very moment spending some quality time winding his way through the museum. So, in his honor, a little history: the museum was conceived by leaders in the music industry in 1983, the first inductees were honored in 1986, but the concept didn’t have a home until the present museum was built in Cleveland in 1993. The list of first inductees reads like a who’s who of 1950’s rock, R&B, and soul: Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, James Brown ,Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke and The Everly Brothers. As well it should: inductees become eligible 25 years after the release of their first record, and all of these fine performers would certainly be up for induction by 1986. Speaking of Cleveland rockin' - here's inducteee Chuck Berry with the E Street Band playing "Johnny B. Goode" in Cleveland in a 1995 benefit for the Museum. Thanks to http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/induction-process/ for the info, and keep on rockin’!

Got me a complication...

... and it's an only child... Mr. Whomamus (or was it me?) got me to thinking about other groups of that time period who lipsynced with varying degrees of competence. Here's the Music Machine, with "Talk Talk," the heaviest 1:58 ever committed to vinyl. Now the drummer sure seems to bangin' the skins (notice the movement and vibration), but there's a suspicious absence of cords, mics and amps. And what's with the gloves on the right hands of the guitarists - I'm the one who smashed up his hand a couple of weeks ago (don't ask), so I would be entitled to wear a glove while performing, but these guys...sheesh. At any rate, it's a good tune, enjoy, and keep on rockin'!

When my dime-dancing is through…

…I run to you. On today’s date in 1977 'Aja,' Steely Dan's most accomplished and popular album to date, is released. It is the group's first to be certified platinum (one million copies sold), and it reaches #3 on the album chart. It also wins Steely Dan a Grammy for "Best Engineered Non-Classical Recording." Back in the day, my roommate had this huge stereo – about a thousand watts per channel and these room-divider sized speakers – and used to play this album at house-shaking volume. “Just listen to the quality of this recording!” he’d shout – ok, I get it, I get it!! While he was crankin’ it up upstairs, I was down in the basement on the drums, trying to learn Steve Gadd’s solo at the end of the song. So check out this 1978 vintage promo commercial, and keep on rockin’!