Boogie with Yipes

Sad news. In case you missed it, Fruit Stripe Gum is being discontinued after a 50 year run. I suppose the name tells it all…it was a super sweet, multi-colored feast for not only the taste buds, but the eyes, too. The packaging and look was kind of fun . Apparently, the zebra mascot’s official name was Yipes, which will be a great trivia question.

I’ve already used Little Richard’s “Tutti Frutti” in a previous blog so I’m including Led Zeppelin’s “Boogie with Stu” which features the lyric, “I don’t want no Tutti Frutti , no lollipop.” It seems appropriate.

The “Stu” is boogie woogie piano player Ian Stewart who is more closely associated with The Rolling Stones than Led Zep, but you get the idea. I believe Zeppelin used the Stones’ mobile recording studio and that’s when the jam and recording happened. The 4 LZ members shared writing credits with Stewart and Ritchie Valens. If this is making your head hurt, just listen to Valens’ “Ooh, My Head.”

It’s weird how the Valens’ tune morphed into a song on LZ’s “Physical Graffiti” album, but I guess this blog morphed from a zebra striped gum thing into this. Fruit Stripe Gum customers used to get a Yipes tattoo with the multi-colored, striped gum. I hope that didn’t drive them out of business.

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

Fish Head Soup

I’d consider myself a fan of The Rolling Stones, but not an expert. One song I came across today got me thinking about their different periods or eras with musicians Brian Jones, Mick Taylor, and Ronnie Wood. The song “Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)” was from the 1973 album “Goat’s Head Soup”, which was recorded in places including Jamaica. (Apparently there’s an actual Jamaican dish with the name. It’s also known as Mannish Water and is supposedly some kind of aphrodisiac. If you’re squeamish, please don’t bother looking up the ingredients.) 1973 was the Mick Taylor era for those of you keeping score at home.

As for the song itself, the lyrics are a sort of headline news themed thing. There are only two verses: the first is the male case of mistaken identity and the second is the female overdose one. Musically, I really like the lush sound of the wah pedal and the keyboard on this one. Horns are another feature of this song along with the whole “Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo” thing. I haven’t found too many covers of this one, but I found a live one of Kansas City native Samantha Fish which I enjoyed. 

It’s not always about the wah pedal, but it can produce some cool sounds. I’d be curious to hear what other Stones fans think about this song and the album “Goat’s Head Soup.” I don’t think the album is regarded as one of their best, but I enjoy this one. 

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

Two Hit Wonders x 2

I was driving home from work today when I heard a song I’ve always liked, but couldn’t have told you the name of it for a million bucks. That’s rare for me, but that’s the case with the Suzanne Vega composition called “Tom’s Diner.” It’s a pretty unique song. Does the hypnotic song intro qualify as “scat”?

I would describe this song as “airy.” The melody is memorable, the lyrics really aren’t to me, but it still works. It’s like an everyday stream of consciousness. I think whoever arranged the instruments on this one deserves some credit, too. Vega is an example of an artist who has had a couple of hits. Interestingly enough, I was never a fan of her hit song “Luka”, which I have always affectionately called “Puke-A.” Do you think Vega wrote the song as a tribute to The Godfather character Luca Brasi? It’s the only other person with that name I can recall. 

Although the songs are nothing alike, I would put “20th Century Boy” by T. Rex into the same sort of category as “Tom’s Diner.” Catchy riff, but airy enough that I really have to focus to remember the name of it. T. Rex frontman Marc Bolan wrote this one. 

I think I could listen to this one repeatedly, but still not remember many of the lyrics. Maybe someone can write a song about Vega, Luca, Luka, and Bolan. It would be a long the lines of Neil Young’s “…Marlon Brando, Pochahontas, and Me.”

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

Tobacco Teens

If you search “Tobacco Road” on Wikipedia, you get lots of results. It mentions a football rivalry, a football play, a film, a novel, and (drum roll please) a song. I’m going to focus on the song for this blog entry. The song was written by John D. Loudermilk and was a hit for a group called “The Nashville Teens.”

I’ve never owned this version, but it’s pretty catchy. I guess The Teens were a power sextet? I’d hate to be in charge of band practice for that outfit. Getting back to the song, it’s kind of like a blues 2-for-1. You have the sort of “Hoochie Coochie Man” main riff and then the middle section takes on a different but still bluesy feel. The version I owned was by David Lee Roth and featured guitarist Steve Vai, bassist Billy Sheehan, and drummer Gregg Bissonnette.

I like Roth’s version, but it might be a little too 80’s sounding for some. While researching this song, I found there are over 100 out there, including a nine minute plus version by Edgar and Johnny Winter. Edgar gets his scat on big time.

I love the wailing vocal note he hits around the 7 or 7:30 mark. It sounds like Janis Joplin to my ears. I could revisit this song with another volume. Eric Burdon has some versions with The Animals and a 14 minute version with War. There are plenty of epic versions and stripped down ones as well.

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

31 Flavors…of Vanilla?

2024 is fast approaching and ice cream is on my mind. Sometime in my twenties I started having that whole lactose intolerance issue and I said goodbye to the creamy treat for many years. Now, we have a lot more lactose-free options than we did in the past. However, it can be slightly overwhelming. (More in a moment.)

Given the choice, I usually opt for vanilla over chocolate. I like the creamy taste and always put mine in the microwave for a few seconds to soften it and give it that melty sensation I love.  Just in case you’re wondering, the song “Ice Cream Man” made famous by Van Halen was originally written and recorded by a guy named John Brim.

During the past few years, Breyer’s Lactose-Free Vanilla has become my personal favorite; however, you have to be careful in the ice cream aisle and REALLY pay close attention. My pseudo-extensive research has revealed not quite one billion variations on Breyer’s Vanilla. Here are just a few of them:

  1. Breyer’s Extra Creamy Vanilla — Hmmm….sounds like my style, but it has lactose?
  2. Breyer’s Carb Smart Vanilla — Carb reduction is good. Okay, I get it.
  3. Breyer’s Homemade Vanilla — Ummm..does this mean the others are industrial made?
  4. Breyer’s Natural Vanilla – I’m not sure how this different from homemade. Is a churn used in one of these? If so, are we talking billions of individual churns or one the size of Shea Stadium? Maybe there’s a Greek myth about it. Didn’t someone have to churn something into something else for some reason or another?
  5. Breyer’s Non-Dairy Vanilla — Wait a damn minute….what’s the difference between non-dairy and lactose-free? Will eating this put me on a watch list?
  6. Breyer’s French Vanilla – Do I have to wear a beret when I eat it or do they only use French cows? Maybe when French cows are in short supply, they make American cows wear berets.
  7. Breyer’s Gluten Free Vanilla – What’s good for the gluten is good for the gander?

Whew….that’s exhausting. I’m pretty sure I saw “oat milk” mentioned on one of the numerous choices, but I have absolutely no idea what oat milk is. By the way, I checked out the company website. The dude’s name was Breyer, but I don’t see an apostrophe on the box. I hope this doesn’t ruin my B average for punctuation. Also, Baskin Robbins used to be known for 31 flavors, but now they have over one thousand. I wonder why I’d like to drop a few pounds.

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

Big Harry Wah Wah

I don’t know why, but I woke up with the George Harrison song “Wah Wah” in my head today. Appropriately, the song features the Wah or Wah Wah guitar pedal on it, but it’s really only one aspect of the song. The first time I heard this was watching The Concert for Bangladesh film. The actual concert was in 1971 and the film was released in ’72.

Harrison wrote the song during the Let It Be/Get Back sessions when The Beatles band was crumbling. I’ve read a few different things about the song’s inspiration…Yoko Ono screaming while no one but Harrison objected…Harrison’s feelings of suffocation and disrespect from Lennon and McCartney…or his throbbing headache as a result of all of those things. (“You’ve given me a Wah Wah.”)

The first time I heard this song, I loved the rocking feel to it and the guitar riff. Harrison’s pal Eric Clapton also played on the track. The song has a certain funk to it.

The other elements of the song are pretty fantastic, too: the vocals, horns, slide guitar solo.

“Wah Wah” was originally released on Harrison’s “All Things Must Pass” TRIPLE album. Boy, I guess he did amass a few songs while Lennon and McCartney were passing on them.

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

Politically Incorrect Xmas

I started to include the abbreviation “Xmas” in the title of my last blog entry, but I came up with a better idea and changed it. Have you ever had anyone get pissed off about using said abbreviation? I have. Here’s the way it usually plays out. Said person will say, “I believe in keeping the CHRIST in Christmas” as if they have the moral high ground. Then you have to explain the whole thing that the Chi Rho (the letter P with X through it) is actually an abbreviation for Jesus Christ. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chi_Rho

Now that I’ve got that out of the way, it’s time to play my favorite politically incorrect holiday song. It’s just my opinion, but “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer” doesn’t compare to Robert Earl Keen’s “Merry Christmas from the Family.”

There are so many great lines in this song, but “I can’t remember how I’m kin to them” is a safe bet. It covers a lot of the family gathering bases like chain smoking, new spouses, A.A., and runs to the quick shop.

In keeping with the politically incorrect theme AND the quick shop theme, I have to recommend “El Camino Christmas” for holiday viewing.

I’d go into more detail, but I cancelled my Netflix subscription awhile ago so I can spend more money on things like alcohol and extension cords.

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

Gimme Three Ships?

I’ve been listening to a local radio station which switches to an all Christmas music format from let’s say Thanksgiving to New Year’s. I have no idea what they normally play. I’ve heard a lot of classic Christmas songs and it’s got me thinking about how relatable some of those songs may or may not be.

You have the familiar cast of characters like Santa Claus, Rudolph, Frosty and the like. Then there’s Baby Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Then there are these other pieces which seem like they’re out of left field. Recently, I overheard someone ask the question, “Have you ever actually HAD roasted chestnuts, let alone roasted any on an open fire?” Fair point. It seems like you grow up listening to a bunch of these songs over and over….and then you hear one about three ships? WTF? 

I think I flashed back to high school world history class when I heard this song. “Wait a minute…I got it now…see the three wise men had their own vessels. Now I remember. They were sailing on ships called Gold, Frankincense, and Myrhh. I’m pretty sure these three wise dudes were named Goldfinger, Frankenstein, and Merman, but I could be wrong. Also, ZZ Top was working an album near the harbor called ‘Nina, Pinta, Santa Maria’ which has never been released.”

Anyway, “I Saw Three Ships (Come Sailng In”) is a traditional English Christmas carol. The version posted here is The Chieftains with Marianne Faithfull on vocals. It’s not a bad version, but I just don’t GET this song. Maybe it’s not ‘Murican enough for me. Here are my lyrical suggestions with musical references:

The Jackson 5: ”A-B-C….the ships are 1-2-3.”

Bob Marley: “Three little ships by my doorstep.”

Lionel Richie: ”Because you’re once, twice, three times a ship-lady.”

Meat Loaf: “Because I want you. I need you. Two out of three ships ain’t bad.”

Lynyrd Skynyrd: “Gimme three ships, gimme three ships, Mister, gimme three ships towards the shore.”

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

Getting Loaded with a Tab

It’s funny how we get turned on to different things…songs, movies, TV shows, etc.  A couple of blues loving acquaintances turned me on to a catchy tune called “I Got Loaded” over ten years ago and it’s a good one. The version I heard first was by Louisiana guitarist Tab Benoit. 

Lyrically, it reminds me of drinking songs like “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer” except in this song its gin, whiskey, and wine.  Benoit didn’t write the original, but fellow Louisianan Camille Bob (aka Lil Bob of Lil Bob & The Lollipops) did.

It sounds like the big difference between Benoit’s version and the others is his doesn’t feature any horns, but it still moves and grooves without them. I had a hard time deciding which other version to post, but think Los Lobos is a safe bet.

I also heard a solid cover by the Robert Cray Band. Other versions include Rockin’ Dopsie and the Zydeco Twisters and The Wood Brothers.

I don’t think I’ve ever done any of the three different drinks thing myself, but to each their own.

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

 

Bluesy Steps with SRV

I was driving around this morning when I popped Stevie Ray Vaughan’s 1989 effort “In Step” into the CD player. The album opens with “The House is Rockin'”, which is a great feel good piece of barroom rock. However, the second track on the album “Tightrope” has been in my head all day. Vaughn co-wrote the song with Austin blues musician Doyle Bramhall. While I’ve listened to this song many times, I feel like I really HEARD it today.

I’m including this guitar backing track because you can hear SRV’s vocals and lyrics much more clearly.

If you’d rather hear just the guitar parts, this is the one for you. The solo starts around 1:19.

And of course, there is the finished product with guitar, vocals, and full band.

I was really just starting to get into blues guitar when “In Step” was released. The “step” part is a reference to SRV’s recovery (12 steps) from years of drug and alcohol addiction. The album also features some covers of songs by Howlin’ Wolf and Buddy Guy if I remember correctly. It’s a shame Stevie Ray Vaughan died in a 1990 helicopter crash, but his music is infinite.

I stumbled across an article about Doyle Bramhall while writing his blog entry: https://oakcliff.advocatemag.com/2019/09/doyle-bramhall-wrote-songs-you-love-by-stevie-ray-vaughan/ . Bramhall died in 2011 at age 62, but Bramhall’s son Doyle II is a legit blues guitarist and musician in his own right.

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!