Tree Toppers & Chart Toppers

My local classic hits station has been on the “All Christmas All the Time” format since Thanksgiving. I always look forward to the change every season. I can’t say I’ve been too blown away by the songs in their playlist, but I have heard at least one song which is quite catchy. I cheated and used the Shazam app to identify the singer-song combo, and it turned out to be “Christmas Tree Farm” by Taylor Swift.

I know very little about Taylor Swift, but this is the second time I’ve used the Shazam app to identify a Christmas song which turned out to be her. While I’m not one to keep up on pop music, I’ll say this… It actually sounds like a real person without a bunch of digital beats and digitization. Kudos, Taylor!

Another song which I heard recently is a little more of what I consider my style. I’m talking about “Santa Claus Is Back In Town” by Elvis Presley.

This one was written by Leiber & Stoller and was released on the appropriately entitled “Elvis’ Christmas Album” (1957). There are a couple of other interesting versions of this one. Dwight Yoakam has one out there and Robert Plant did a version with The Honeydrippers on Saturday Night Live during the mid 80s.

So what do Elvis and Taylor have in common besides their success in the music industry? Apparently, they both make great Christmas tree toppers. I never take the time to put up a tree myself, but it’s food for thought. I suppose if you’re super fans of both you could split the tallest middle branch and do a whole twin towers thing.

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

White Chocolate Christmas

I haven’t blogged about food in a while, but I feel compelled to share my favorite Christmastime snack. The beauty of it is, there’s no recipe involved. It’s “store bought.” (GASP!) This treat is for those of us whose taste buds favor both the creamy and the extremely sweet. The official name of the tasty treat is OREO White Fudge Covered Chocolate Sandwich Cookies. If you haven’t seen them in the grocery store, they are just what it sounds like. The beauty of these treats is they are thicker and sweeter than your regular Oreo cookies. Think of it as more sweet bang for your buck. I’m sharing this rocking version of “White Christmas” by Bad Religion in this treat’s honor.

I wonder what Irving Berlin would think. Here’s another take on “White Christmas” by The Drifters.

Anyway, I looked up a little information on white chocolate because I’m a big fan. According to Wikipedia, it’s one of the big three traditional types of chocolate. The other two are milk and dark. Fans of white chocolate enjoy its tangy and creamy taste. Haters think it’s bland. (Wikipedia also used the word “cloying” which means excessively sweet.)

As for the history of white chocolate, it was developed in Switzerland and has a history with the Swiss Army. (In terms of inventions, this trumps the Swiss Army Knife in my book.) Nestle makes a confection called Milkybar (or Galak in other parts of the world) which has been around since the 1930s.

What else can I say about OREO White Fudge Covered Chocolate Sandwich Cookies? Perhaps they are used as hockey pucks in an alternate universe. That’s based solely on the shape, not the sweet, creamy taste.

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

Play It, Steve!

It’s a sad day for the music world. Guitarist Steve “The Colonel” Cropper has gone to that “great gig in the sky.” Many people may not know him by name, but he played on some fantastic records, co-wrote some great tunes, and definitely left his unique stamp on them. While Cropper was born in Missouri, he’s most associated with Memphis, Tennessee. More specifically, he was the guitarist in Stax Records’ house band Booker T. & the MGs.

How many great songs did he play on? For starters, there’s Green Onions, Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay, Knock on Wood, and 634-5789. He received co-writing credits on all of those songs along with Wilson Pickett’s “In the Midnight Hour.”

Cropper also appeared in a few films including “The Blues Brothers” with Dan Akroyd and John Belushi. Cropper is the guy who Belushi encouraged to “Play it, Steve” on “Soul Man.”

From a guitar playing perspective, Cropper is known as a Fender Telecaster player and for his use of “sixths” on the instrument. (You can Google it.)

I always associate Steve Cropper as the guitarist for soulful singers like Wilson Pickett and Otis Redding, but he is also in the Songwriters Hall of Fame. I always admired the way Cropper carried himself as a professional. He also played at the Monterey Pop Festival and his influence was enormous.

Viva, Steve!

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

Concrete Delinquent

Have you ever seen a film that just blew your mind? I have a few of those and I’ve been patiently waiting for one to arrive on the free streaming channels….and it’s finally here! The film I’m talking about is called “This Boy’s Life” (1993). It stars Ellen Barkin as a 1950s, nomadic, free-spirited, divorced mother. Her young son Tobias is played by Leonardo DiCaprio and her main love interest Dwight is played by none other than Robert DeNiro. Some of the best scenes in the film involve the arguments between DiCaprio and DeNiro’s characters. There’s also a healthy dose of 50’s and 60’s rock n roll including The Ventures’ instrumental “Perfidia.”

You’ll also hear songs by the likes of Eddie Cochran, Frankie Lymon, and Fats Domino in the film. Getting back to the film’s story line, it’s actually based on a memoir by writer Tobias Wolff. Without giving away too much, let’s say juvenile delinquency is a theme along with dysfunctional relationships and abusive stepfathers.

It’s a different role for DeNiro who is not only really funny as a local yokel from Concrete, Washington, but also scary as a domineering force in the boy’s life. I rented this movie years ago at a video store and it really left a lasting impression on me. It was directed by Michael Caton-Jones. You’ll also see appearances by Chris Cooper and Tobey Maguire.

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

Blanksgiving

Thanksgiving. I’ve heard more than one person say it’s their least favorite holiday. One of my buddies has echoed that thought from the original Rocky movie “Yeah, to you it’s Thanksgiving; to me it’s Thursday.” Personally, I’ve been looking forward to it this year. Here are some options and observances:

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade – it’s on NBC. We didn’t have Macy’s where I grew up, but the Stix Baer & Fuller Thanksgiving Day Parade doesn’t have the same ring to it, does it?
Christmas Music – I look forward to our local classic hits station going 24/7 with it on Thanksgiving. I’ve never actually determined exactly when it starts, but I’ve already heard two different versions of “Santa Baby” on the first day.
Blanksgiving – Per this blog entry title, you can create your own one syllable event of your own like “Friendsgiving”. I’ve also seen Drinksgiving more than once this year. I can’t until we officially have Spanxgiving.
NFL Football – The Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys always play on Thanksgiving. I’d love to say more, but it’s not my thang.
Protesting – I can’t say I’ve seen any protests of the holiday in person, but it seems like pilgrim popularity has been waning. I wonder when buckled shoes and hats will be all the rage again? Also, should the name Myles Standish be part of it?
New Traditions – I did a quick search for songs with “turkey” in the title and found this gem. It’s the Johnny Otis Orchestra with “Turkey Hop”.

I’d love to say more, but I should probably see which stores are open today. More specifically, where can I buy some antacid?

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

Born in Blues

Blues music. Some people don’t like it because it’s “too sad”, “too simple”, or “too repetitive.” That, or maybe they just can’t relate to the lyrics. While opinions vary, I’d say those folks don’t get what the blues is all about. Somewhere I read or saw an interview that singing the blues (about whatever troubles you) make you feel better. Basically, it’s therapeutic.

Recently, I came across a blues song I hadn’t previously heard. The song title “Born in Missouri” jumped out at me because that’s where I was born and where I live. Blues harmonica player James Cotton put his stamp on this live version.

Cotton also has studio versions out there if that’s your preference. After doing a little digging, I found other versions called “Cummins Prison” or “Cummins Prison Farm”, which is a real correctional facility in Arkansas. The original version was recorded by blues guitarist Calvin Leavy.

There’s some interesting guitar tone on this song and Bill Cole is listed as the songwriter on this one. There’s also some fantastic guitar tone on the version by Magic Slim.

Getting back to the real prison, there’s a professor named Bruce Jackson at the University of Buffalo in New York who has taken thousands of photos at Cummins Prison Farm. Apparently he’s filmed documentaries and written books along those lines, too.

https://buffaloakg.org/artworks/p20176242-cummins-prison-farm-arkansas-series-inside-wire

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

Blues for Who?

When you hear the musical term “blues”, what is the first name you think of? It could be Robert Johnson…Etta James…Albert King…but Cyndi Lauper?? A friend of mine recently turned me on to her take on “Shattered Dreams”, which was released on her 2010 album “Memphis Blues.”

The prominent piano part features New Orleans musical staple Allen Toussaint. Toussaint plays on a second cut on the album. I was going to share more songs from the album, but enjoyed hearing what I believe is the original recording by Lowell Fulsom.

You’ll also see his surname listed as “Fulson” here and there.

Getting back to Cyndi Lauper, I really enjoyed hearing her take on this song. It’s a big contrast to “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” — a song that was basically a teenage boy’s nightmare when it came out during the 1980s MTV era. One of my cousins praised her song “Time after Time” year ago, which made me see her in a different light. And this was the guy who turned me on to KISS.

“Memphis Blues” has a bunch of other classic blues covers and some great musicians so I may revisit it in the near future. When I saw it was released in 2010, I wondered how I missed this and what I was doing? Then I remembered… the economy was in the dumper and we all had the blues. How appropriate.

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

No-No-No-November

How is the month of November treating you? Where I live it’s cold and gray. We now have that extra hour of sleep a la Daylight Savings Time, but I feel like there’s a bit of a void in between the holidays. It’s too early to panic for Thanksgiving and Christmas. In the spirit of motivation, I’m going to share the one hit of Ohio band The Human Beinz called “Nobody But Me.” The video appears to be a swingin’ shindig.

I incorrectly assumed the song was written by someone in the band, but it was originally written and recorded by The Isley Brothers. The Isley version definitely has a more R & B feel and arrangement. However, the version I’m most familiar with is by George Thorogood & The Destroyers.

As someone who grew up in the 70s and 80s, I always enjoyed hearing the long list of different dances mentioned in the song: Shing a Ling, Skate, Boogaloo, Philly, etc. Was someone inventing one dance per week back then? I think Thorogood might mention some different ones in his version: Hustle, Bump, Pogo, and maybe one more? I think Austin Powers could groove to this song.

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

Falling Back

Well it’s Daylight Saving Time for most of us. Last year I mentioned how different states embrace or deny the whole concept. I guess it depends on where you are or where you live. Personally, I always feel like my internal clock is ready to “fall back” a week or two prior to the actual change. The one song that recently popped into my head (which I think applies here) is “Fall on Me” by R.E.M.

I guess it would be too much to ask the lyric to be “Fall back on me”, but whatever. I was never really into R.E.M. during their heyday, but their music was definitely around. They were very “alternative” — whatever that means. So what does “Fall on Me” mean? What is the song all about?

Apparently, it was inspired by the environmental idea of “acid rain.” I’m not saying it doesn’t exist, but I probably haven’t heard the term since this song was released in 1986. Lead singer Michael Stipe has said the song is basically about oppression, but the “don’t fall on me” lyric was inspired by acid rain.

When I hear certain R.E.M. songs, bassist Mike Mills‘ vocals usually catch my ear. This is a good example of that. I suppose it’s a nice contrast to lead singer Michael Stipe’s vocals.

The real question is, how come nobody ever invented an umbrella to keep acid rain from falling on all of us? It seems like someone would have jumped on the bandwagon at some point. I think $19.95 would be a fair price.

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

Half-assed-oween

I’ve been thinking about what to post for Halloween this year and I’m not feeling completely inspired. However, the blog must go on! A couple of years ago, I created a blog entry entitled “The Hunt for Half-Ass October”, which was a short list of scary-ish movies. Part of the issue is I don’t really watch a lot of true horror films or series a la “Halloween”, “Friday the 13th”, or “Nightmare on Elm Street” so that’s why I have this half-assed attitude towards scary movies. I will say the Hammer horror films are on my list to watch.

One suspenseful, offbeat film I will recommend for this year is 2003’s “Identity”, which stars John Cusack and an ensemble cast of folks like Amanda Peet, Ray Liotta, Rebecca De Mornay, Alfred Molina, and many more! An actor named Pruitt Taylor Vince (whose name sounds backwards) also appears in the film which is, appropriately, in reverse chronological order. The short version of the plot involves a flood, a motel, and a bunch of ongoing murders.

There’s also an eerie poem associated with the film which is entitled “Antigonish” by William Hughes Mearns.

If nothing else, you can always enjoy this random video which features the theme song from the “The Munsters” as interpreted by The Surf Dawgs.

For the record, I actually enjoy Halloween. It’s kind of the “alternative” holiday….you know, lots of candy, costumes, skeletons, and more.

Please imagine this closing line announced by Ed McMahon:

“So…. here’s wishing you and yours a Happy Half-assed-oween!!”

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!