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!

Stream of Strings

If I had a nickel every time I thought about a certain make/model of guitar, I’d be a rich man. It’s amazing how these thoughts come and go multiple times on a regular basis. It’s very of stream of consciousness. (I think “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” is the first time I was made aware of that concept. The random thoughts that come about following electroshock therapy are the ones which pop to mind.)

Once in a while, it comes from actually picking up a guitar at a music store and playing it. I can’t say I have seen my favorite guitarists playing offset guitars like Fender Jazzmasters. However, I played a couple of Modern Player Jaguars some years ago and really enjoyed the sound and feel of them. They have a shorter 24″ scale neck which is shorter than most.

Naturally, Fender and other guitar manufacturers keep coming out with new series to keep us all drooling and it seems to work. Then again, hearing Stevie Ray Vaughan on a Fender Strat doesn’t hurt business either.

Another electric guitar series which grabbed my attention recently is the Ibanez Jet King. It has a very retro or pawn shop vibe to it. The Bluestone finish is pretty tasty as is the sunburst. I saw one on Facebook Marketplace recently, but haven’t had the chance to play one. It’s sort of a two-tone look.

Another offset guitar which has me thinking is the Squier Paranormal Toronado. (Yes, these are all spelled correctly.) It’s another beautiful sunburst finish and has a Gibson style 24.75″ scale neck. I feel like it looks a little subtler than the full on offset Jazzmasters and Jaguars, but I could be wrong.

While I’m not dead set on purchasing an offset guitar, there seems to be no shortage of interesting ones out there.

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

Chicken, Egg, or Archie?

Have you ever heard the expression, “It’s the singer, not the song”? I associate the line with The Who song “Join Together” (1972). (The full line is actually, “It’s the singer not the song that makes the music move along.”) There’s actually an early Rolling Stones song entitled “The Singer Not the Song”, but I have already digressed. In other words, is that true? Can a fantastic singer turn a less than fantastic song into something good or does enjoying the song thereby make the song “good” in and of itself?

Philosophically, it’s a chicken or egg situation. Here is an example to ponder. I was going through my running list of blog ideas and found a note for Wilson Pickett “Sugar, Sugar”. I have no idea where/when I came cross this version. However, it seems like the singer and the song are at opposite ends of the musical spectrum, don’t they?

Give Mr. Pickett some credit. He definitely sounds like himself regardless of the song’s format, which is most definitely bubble gum pop. Apparently, his version charted in both the R & B and pop charts in 1970. The Archies’ orginal version was released in 1969 and was written by Jeff Barry and Andy Kim. Apparently Don Kirshner (The Rock Concert guy) arranged the studio musicians for the recording.

I don’t know if that settles the whole singer vs. song, chicken vs. egg thing, but it’s worth a listen. I thought about delving into “Do the Funky Chicken” by Rufus Thomas, but will save it for later.

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

Frehley Fest

Extremely sad day in the world of rock n roll. The original Spaceman from KISS, lead guitarist Ace Frehley, has gone to that great galaxy in the sky. His legacy, however, looms large. When I was a kid, one of my cousins turned me on to KISS and, subsequently, Ace Frehley. There are a couple of parallels I think you can draw between Frehley and George Harrison. They were both lead guitarists in enormous bands, but weren’t the primary songwriters and both had their own unique musical voices. That brings me to Frehley’s song “Genghis Khan” off his appropriately titled solo album “Anomaly” (2009).

Another Frehley composition “Parasite” from the KISS “Hotter Than Hell” LP (1974) featured Gene Simmons on lead vocals and one of Ace’s unique guitar solos around the two minute mark.

To my ears, this song always reminded me of the “Immigrant Song” by Led Zeppelin, which was released a few years prior.

There are many things that can be said about Ace Frehley’s fun-loving personality and creative mind, but it’s hard to gauge his enormous INFLUENCE on future guitarists both as a player and a showman. This was the guy who put smoke bombs into his Les Pauls and, later, had them launch rockets, too. I remember Frehley once said something like “theatrical rock was the way to go” for him.

In closing, I’ll say that while everyone in KISS was wearing black… Frehley was wearing silver. That says a lot and it definitely appealed to me.

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

Geddy’s Baseball Adventure

I wasn’t too inspired to blog last week, but have an interesting story which I heard on a local Kansas City talk radio station (KMBZ-FM) and I think it bears repeating. Canadian band RUSH has been in the headlines recently because they announced they will tour again with a new drummer to fill the enormous shoes left by the death of Neil Peart. (Her name is Anika Nilles.)

That said, the story isn’t really about that at all. Instead, it’s something new I learned about RUSH bassist Geddy Lee. Apparently, he’s an avid baseball fan and collector. Recently, he donated a collection of 400 autographed baseballs to The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, which is located in Kansas City, Missouri. https://www.nlbm.com/exhibit/the-geddy-lee-collection/ He wants to keep things “Closer to the Heart.”

I never knew Lee was into baseball or even collected for that matter, but that must be old news to fans of the Toronto Blue Jays. I saw at least one pic of him sitting behind home plate at a home game.

There is no shortage of division, differences, and animosity in the world today, but I think this story shows human beings CAN still find common ground regardless of race and nationality for starters.

Play Ball!

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!

Hairless Truman?

Well it’s a sad day in Independence, Missouri. Leila’s Hair Museum has officially closed its doors. In case you’re wondering, yes…I said HAIR museum. I’m pretty sure the first time I heard about the unique place was on a radio commercial for the Missouri Division of Tourism. I know I have driven past the nondescript looking building quite a few times. Apparently, hair art was all the rage in the Victorian era. I thought about including a song from the Hair soundtrack, but have instead opted for The Walter Trout Power Trio’s version of “Give Me Back My Wig.”

The original song was released by Lightnin’ Hopkins and covered by Hound Dog Taylor, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and others.

Getting back to the museum, Leila Cohoon was a cosmetologist who started collecting hair in the 50s and her collection grew too large for its own good. (I don’t think was in 1950s sci-fi movie kind of way, but you get the idea.) If you’re the slightest bit curious, please check out the following link: https://leilashairmuseum.net/history.html . Apparently, the museum boasted hair from a wide variety of historical figures including George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Elvis Presley, and Michael Jackson. Ozzy Osbourne even visited the museum!

If I could choose my all-time famous hair list for my own museum it would have to include Rapunzel, President Trump, Don King, Ron Wood, Rod Stewart, Conan O’Brien, Farrah Fawcett, Stevie Wonder, and any number of Viking conquerors…possibly Thor, too.

Oh, and the title of this blog entry is in reference to America’s 33rd President, Harry S. Truman. I don’t think he had any affiliation with the museum, but he is associated with Independence, Missouri.

Here are some alternate titles:

  1. Hair ‘Em Scare ‘Em
  2. A Night at the Hair Museum
  3. Hairless-Kiri
  4. Follicle Frenzy
  5. Harry, Harry…Lend Me Your Comb

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!