L-R: Ralph Mooney and Wynn Stewart, West Coast Playboys, late 1950s Ralph Mooney died last Sunday and calling him a pedal steel pioneer seems woefully inadequate. He was the crucial link between Bakersfield country and Texas outlaw country, the two most significant reactions to the Nashville Sound between 1955-80. Think about this. Moon played for Wynn Stewart at Wynn's peak (1950s-'60s), played for Waylon Jennings at Waylon's peak (1970-80s), and in between helped Buck Owens and Merle Haggard reinvent country [...]
Today is January 8th, which means two things around here. It's the fourth anniversary of the Boogie Woogie Flu, and , of course, Elvis's birthday. So, in celebration of these two miraculous events, I, T-Bone Carruthers, Mayor of Fluville, offer you four groups of four songs, four square and for today. They are: four versions of Bob Dylan's answer song to "Norwegian Wood," four songs covered by Elvis on his Memphis Record , the same four songs performed by the King, and four songs about him. Think of them as little EPs. Not too [...]
(Elvis's own Long Black Limousine, a 1960 Lincoln Mark V) One of the once common but now largely forgotten motifs of early 20th century American music is the journey to the graveyard, accompanying a family member/loved one on their "final" journey. The most famous of these songs is the Carter Family's "Can the Circle Be Unbroken," which Mark Zwonitzer (in his excellent Carter Family bio Will You Miss Me When I'm Gone ) te [...]
For Clarence White ( second from left ), 1969 began with the release of his first album as a member of The Byrds, Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde , and ended with the release of that album's follow-up, Ballad Of Easy Rider . In between, the band played over 70 dates throughout the U.S., many of those gigs featuring multiple sets (early and late shows, e.g.). Despite the heavy workload, there were enough gaps in The Byrds' tour schedule that White was able to contribute [...]
It's been a few weeks since the last installment of the Clarence White Chronicles, so here's a capsule review of events from the summer of 1968: The Byrds played South Africa in July without Gram Parsons , who decided that shooting smack with Keith Richards was better than playing segregated Johannesburg, so he essentially fired himself. While GP's political motives were undoubtedly more expedient than heartfelt, to his credit he flew the coop on a tour that was, by all accounts, "Custer-esque." Back on home turf ... and without the [...]
"To have been a Renaissance Hillbilly in Hollywood in the 1960s would have been great for me. I could have hung out with Leo Fender, Buck Owens and Don Rich, Moon (Ralph Mooney), Merle and Roy Nichols. Gone to check out Wynn Stewart recording at Capitol or witnessed Johnny Cash, Joe Maphis, and Merle Travis terrorizing Tex Ritter. Cruised up Lankershim Boulevard to the Palomino with Nudie (Cohn) to catch James Burton burning it up with Ricky Nelson while anticipating the Stanley Brothers, Bill Monroe, or Lester (Flatt) and Earl (Scruggs) bringing some bluegrass to the West. [...]
Remember my post from a month ago about Who Invented Country Rock? (If you missed it, here's a mix of some of the highlights .) Well, it turned out to be the most popular post I've ever done, generating lots of comments and e-mails. So now its time to tie up some loose ends based on all the great feedback generated by the first one. EARLY PIONEERS: (1) Jimmie Rodgers Some readers voiced the opinion that elements of [...]
In the very first post here on the Boogie Woogie Flu, we listened to some records that more than likely Elvis had in his record collection. Today we'll do the same, with a few of the tracks Elvis recorded on The Memphis Record in 1969 - the greatest recordings and best batch of songs he made outside of his Sun sessions. Elvis, fearing he'd lost his vitality with the younger portion of the record buying public, returned to Memphis to make this record with the very hot American Studios house band, produced by "Chips" Moman. Neil Diamond [...]
The Adios Lounge
Boogie Woogie Flu
She's Making Whoopee in Hell Tonight...
Setting The Woods On Fire
Neutral Milk Hotel- Aeroplane Over the Sea
Bison - Quill
American Idol Finalists: where are they now?
