The songs stuck in my head

It seems that all the parts f a puzzle came together this weekend. I have always avoided Jazz...not wanting to mire through all there is to it, but I got a special request.
"Mr. L? Can you put together some music for our Mardi Gras parade?"
How do you deny the request of a sixth grader? You don't.
SOOOO- away we go into the jazz world. Having been a lifelong casual fan of Louis Prima and Dixieland, having seen Preservation Hall Jazz Band this summer, I knew what I was after...but who are the names? SUrely Louis Armstrong was not the only person to play this stuff?
Found a box set- River Walk, for a song used, and it is worth it's weight in gold. I have had so much fun listening to it I figured I ought to post some tunes.
After all- it is Mardi Gras.
Fat Tuesday is right around the corner- gotta get it out of your system before the Lenten season begins right?
Then sure enough, the underdogs (at least that was my perception going in- like I know anything abut football) gave the Colts a sound beating...
Surely a sign- time to post it.
All right- so enjoy yourselves these next few days- throw a HUGE party, those are always fun. Just be sure to invite old Cloverdale Dave

1.Bill Bailey- Preservation Hall Jazz Band
2.Tres Moutarde- Wilbur De Paris and New Orleans Band
3.Wabash Blues- Red Nichols
4.Bugle Call Rag- The Rhythmmakers
5.Dippermouth Blues- Muggsy Spanier
6.In A little Gypsy Tea Room- Louis Prima
7.It Should Be You- J.C. Higginbotham
8.Panama- New Orleans Rhythm Kings
9.Royal Garden Blues- Edmond Hall
10.Fidgety Feet- Eddie Condon
11.Ostrich Walk- Original Dixieland Jazz Band
12.As You Like It- Celestin’s Original Tuxedo Jazz Orchestra
13.Just a Little While To Stay Here- Bunk Johnson Brass Band
14.Just a Little While- George Lewis
15.Muskrat Ramble- Wild Bill Davidson
16.At A Georgia Camp Meeting- Sidney Bechet
17.White Ghost Shivers- New Orleans Owls
18.Mahogany Hall Stomp- Louis Armstrong
19.Original Dixieland One-Step- Preservation Hall Jazz Band
20.None Of My Jelly Roll- Pee Wee Russell
As always- ENJOY!

Circa 1954. This is installment 2 of my tribute to the late great guitar player Jimmy Wyble. Wishing I had known he was a friends uncle, but reveling in the fact that I have learned more about one of my favorite things, Western Swing, in the last few weeks than I learned in the last 2 years.
Jimmy was of course, the guitarist behind Roly Poly, and thus we opened with the Bob Wills set. However, some time around 1953 or so, Bob moved the guys out to Fresno and Jimmy stayed in the LA area with Noel Boggs. Seems that Cameron Hill joined the duo for a few tunes with Spade Cooley, but that Jimmy and Noel stayed on for the duration of the Syndicated Spade Cooley Show from the Santa Monica Ballroom (yeah- the one right on the pier).
Most Spade Cooley fans this later work as a more commercial version of his genius, but I think these tunes still stand up, and the guitar and accordion are AMAZING on them. Remember, Tex Williams had left Spade (Shame On You Spade- should have paid him more) so the vocals are not as sure-fire as they are with Tex, but I think you all will like them...shoot, how many of you even know who Tex Williams is anyway? What am I babbling on and on about?
Of course, Spade's genius is lost to time as what he is remembered most for is getting pie-eyed and kicking his wifes head in...sadly enough his career achievements are often buried by the fact that he was a murderer, and he goes down in history as musics biggest a-hole, followed closely by Ike Turner.
In any event- enjoy the tunes- I will shut up and play them now.

1.Charmaine
2.Spadesque
3.Souix City Sue
4.Hornpipe Swing
5.Diggin’ With Spade
6.Sparkling Silver Bells
7.Y’ready
8.Tennessee Saturday Night
9.Bogg’s Boogie
10.Spadella
11.Anytime
12.Fireball Mail (Live)
13.Crazy Cuz I Love You
14.Snowdeer Stomp
15.Hillbilly Bill
16.Yearning
17.South
18.Dear Okie
19.Gitar Swing
20.Big Chief Boogie

Woke up this morning and knew a few things. One, it was really early. Two, I had no where near enough sleep last night and Three...I had to wait for the internet service guy to come and change some things over.
SOOOO- I figured I would busy myself with making a show for you all while I waited- turned out to be an exercise in simply staying awake. The coffee didn't work. My brain didn't work, and I quickly reverted to the old standards...THE HEPTONES.
These are all amazing tunes, which I do not sound very enthusiastic about playing. You all probably have all of them, but it is really all my brain could come up with. In any event, an hour of Heptones is good for anyone, so I am posting this anyway- hoping that maybe some of you out there are not familiar, and find something new and wonderful in this music. This really is, in my estimation, one of the greatest vocal groups ever.
For the rest of you, those who know and love the Heptones...if this is the first time you have asked yourself "what the heck is he doing", I figure I am ahead of the game.- Now on with the session:
1. We Are In The Mood
2. Love Has Many Faces
3. Sweet Talking
4. You’ve Turned Away
5. Be The One
6. Gee Wee
7. Crying Over You
8. Tripe Girl
9. Show Us The Way
10. Meaning Of Life
11. Baby
12. Pack Your Things
13. Mama Say
14. Whoa Whoa- Jackie Mittoo
15. My Guiding Star- Delroy “Crutches” Jones
16. Guiding Star
17. Only Sixteen
18. Daddy’s Home
19. My World Is Empty Without You
20. Express Yourself
As always- enjoy!
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SO I am talking to a friend I have not seen in years about music...a pattern should be emerging. I spend HOURS a day listening to music or adding music to my hard drive AND talking to folks on Facebook, which turns out to have been a good idea this time.
She says that her husbands uncle was a musician, but that I would probably not know him.
"Who was he?"
Jimmy Wyble.
Most people know Jimmy from his later years. He plaid with Benny Goodman, Red Norvo and Frank Sinatra and is kind of a jazz legend, but I wouldn't know him from any of that.
Nope- I knew him from a 2 year stint with Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, and now come to find out he played with Spade Cooley for ten years. I am a Western Swing NUT and quickly knew which song he played on that had rung the biggest bell- Roly Poly. Turns out he was on a lot of my favorites, though I never really payed that much attention. See, Western Swing is like Reggae- for the lazy, we follow the producer, not the band, and there were 600 or so Playboys...all of whom's names I have read at some point and will recognize if called to the task.
It is a sickness, but it turns out I could turn a friend on to her uncle's music from his very early career, as he just passed away recently. Of course, the impression he left on me is different than most others, but I figured it was a shame to leave a pretty good chunk of his legacy sitting in my den doing nothing.
Jimmy- thank you for all the tunes that make me smile.
Alison- thanks for putting up with my musical venting this week...it is what I do and I am told it is annoying.
For the rest of y'all, here's the set- Bob Will & His Texas Playboys, 1943-1945
AAAAHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAA!
1. Bob Wills Special
2. Roly Poly
3. I Can’t Go On This Way
4. You Should Have Thought Of That Before
5. Bluer than Blue
6. Smoke On The Water
7. New Spanish Two-Step
8. Drum Test
9. Hang Your Head In Shame
10. Stay A Little Longer
11. Texas Playboy Rag
12. I’m Thru Wastin’ Time On You
13. Right Or Wrong- Armed Forces Melody Radio Transcription
14. I Betcha My Heart (With Laura Lee Owens)- Armed Forces Melody Radio Transcription
15. Sunbonnet Sue
16. The Kind Of Love I can’t Forget
17. There’s A Big Rock In The Road
18. You Don’t Care What Happens To Me
19. Stars and Stripes On Iwo Jima
20. Silver Dew On The Blue Grass Tonight
Please understand that this music is more important to me than any other type, as I have loved it the longest. It is not for all, but if you like it, let me know- sure would love an excuse to play more.
As always- Enjoy
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One of you fine folks was telling me you liked the R&B and well, sometimes that is all it takes for the show to start taking shape in my head. Know what? I like R&B too..kind of a requisite for a SKA fan, but this is no passing interest, these are the tunes I grew up on. While my mom is assuredly too young to remember this music from anything more than a six or seven year-olds perspective, I guess I inherited her love of old music...as most of what I listen too was made well before I was born.
Big Joe Turner is certainly no exception there. He past away when I was just 13, and not yet into anything really cool (OK- I had the Minor Threat records) leaving in his wake a recording history that stretched from the twenties until the eighties. He spent many a night as a fourteen year old drop-out singing in night clubs, and honed his craft there...as, can I say this? The greatest Blues Shouter that ever lived.
There is no Rock and Roll without Big Joe- here is a collection of tunes he made in the fifties for your listening pleasure:
1.Morning, Noon and Night
2.Teenage Letter
3.Love Roller Coaster
4.Ti-Re-Lee
5.Shake Rattle and Roll
6.Boogie Woogie Country Girl
7.Married Woman
8.My Little Honey Dripper
9.The Chicken and the Hawk (Up Up and Away)
10. Bump Miss Susie
11.Honey Hush
12.The Chill Is On
13.Midnight Special Train
14.Stormy Monday Blue
15.Lipstick, Powder and Paint
16.Trouble In Mind
17.Rock A While
18. Jump For Joy
19.I Need a Girl
20.Corrine Corrina
As Always- Enjoy
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OK- so this is my very first foray into Dancehall- at least I think that is what this is...
Here is what I do know:
Some of it is on the Stalag Riddim
It does not sound new- probably eighties
I like it.
In any event- I figured it was what I was digging currently- why not share? Hopefully you enjoy it, as this time, I have really no idea what I am doing:
1.Jah Made Them All- Yami Bolo
2.Mine Yuh Mouth/Late Night Movie- Barrington Levy
3.Sugar Daddy- Michigan & Smiley
4.Love Bump- Lone Ranger
5.Three Piece Suit and ‘Ting- Trinity
6.Bam Bam- Sister Nancy
7.Dust a Sound Boy- Super Beagle
8.Ring The Alarm- Tenor Saw
9.Dances Are Changing- Barrington Levy
10.Budy Bye- Johnny Osbourne
11.Up The Big Hill- Ranking Joe
12.One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer- Admiral Bailey & Chaka Demus
13.Niney All-Stars- Skankey
As Always- Enjoy
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Another Saturday finds me with permission to do what I want to do- though don't get me wrong, my wife is an awfully forgiving lady. She got up at 6 AM to administer drugs to an old cat- then ran him off to the vet, while I sat here and messed around with my music...funny how I got that lucky- he is my cat anyway.
In any event, the dogs and I went a different route- pour the coffee, turn the heater on, and lets see if we can't find some SKA to play around here- turned out well, though I have to say I was picking soem "not so cheerful" tunes- no real reason, just started off that way and I kept going with it.
Hope you all enjoy them, and remember- it is OK to leave comments and suggestions (especially suggestions- I only have so many ideas folks) right here on the home page.
1. Shame and Scandal- King Bravo & The Baba Brooks Orchestra
2. Scandalizing- the Upsetters
3. Say What You Want To Say- Ossie & the Mockingbirds
4. Tear us Apart- Delroy Wilson
5. The Teaser- Herman Marquis
6. Heartaches- The Techniques
7. Last Time- The Sensations
8. Botheration (Ska Version)– Justin Hinds and The Dominoes
9. Tear Up- Keith and Ken with the Jamaican Steel Band
10. Love me or Leave Me- Lloyd Clark
11. We Ain’t Got Nothing- Billy & Bobby
12. You Can’t Keep A Good Man Down- Clarendonians
13. Garden On Love- Skatalites
14. Wonder No More- Andy & Joey
15. Oh Oh I Need You- Stranger Cole
16. Tears Are Falling- Dotty & Bonny with Baba Brooks
17. You’re Too Bad- Jackie Opel
18. No More- Roy & Yvonne
19. Something Is On My Mind- Shenley & Lunan
20. Don’t You Worry- Derrick and Patsy

As always- ENJOY

Not sure how Brook missed this one, but it is so darn good I can comfortably post it again.
Ladies and Gents- Gillian Welch
1.One More Dollar
2.Pancho and Lefty (Live)
3.I Want To Sing That Rock and Roll (Live)
4.Orphan Girl
5.No One Knows My Name
6.Red Clay Halo (Live)
7.Caleb Meyer
8.The Devil Had A Hold Of Me
9.Revalator (Live)
10.Wrecking Ball (Live- with Old Crow Medicine Show)
11.Acony Bell
12.By The Mark
13.I’ll Fly Away (Live)
14.Look At Miss Ohio
15.Annabelle
16.Everything Is Free
17.Dance Little Lulu (Live)
18.Tear My Stillhouse Down (Live)
19.Rock Of Ages
20.Return Of The Grievous Angel (live with Ryan Adams)
21.Hickory Wind
As always- ENJOY

another show of Christmas goodies- remember the title of the show here? I was not kidding.
In any event- here goes round two of Christmas tunes- I promise this is it from me until the New Year.
1.Christmas Time’s a Comin’- Bill Monroe
2.God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen- Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
3.White Christmas- Stiff Little Fingers
4.White Christmas- Esquivel
5.White Christmas- The Drifters
6.Ding Dong Bell- Ethiopians
7.Santa Claus, Santa Claus- James Brown
8.Wintertime- The Belmonts
9. I Believe In St. Nick- The Cashmeres
10.Mr. Santa Boogie- The Marshall Brothers
11.Christmas- Buck Owens
12.Little Drummer Boy- The Jackson Five
13.Merry Christmas Darling- The Uniques
14.Merry Christmas Baby- Dodie Stevens
15.Snow Flakes- Cliff Bruner & His Texas Wanderers
16. Merry Christmas- The Ramones
17.Christmas- Chuck Berry
18.Merry Christmas, Baby- Otis Redding
19.Christmas Time is Here- The Heptones
20. Awe crap- I forgot what #20 was…something by the Stanley Brothers

As Always- enjoy!

Time for more SKA!!! Just a collection of stuff I was listening to today- figured I ought to see if you wanted to listen to it too. Still patiently waiting a response from Costa Rico
1.Man To Man- Lord Creator
2.Little Flea Dog- The Maytals
3.I Met A Little Girl- The Zodiacs
4. I Want To Know- the Silvertones
5. Look Away SKA- Roland Alphonso
6.Spiritual Mambo- Lord Briscoe
7. Love Will Be Mine- Lyn Carby & The Originals
8. Georgia- Ska Busters
9. Anytime- Joe White and Chuck
10. Forresters Hall- Prince Buster’s All-Stars
11. Christmas Feeling SKA- Maytals
12. Over The River- Jiving Juniors
13. My Whole Life Depends On You- Techniques
14. Just One Little Girl- Four Aces
15. Bells Of Saint Mary’s – Carribeats
16. Another Dance- Bob Marley & The Wailers
17. How Many Times- Owen & Leon
18. Hello Love- Kent & Jeannie with the City Slickers
19. African Blood- Raymond Harper
20. National Dance- Derrick Morgan
As always- Enjoy

But I am. I figure it is sooo much fun to torture my wife with all my Christmas Albums, it may be equally fun to torture all of you!
I used to hate this stuff, then it occurred to me one day that at the very least, it was amusing. Then their is the fact that any group worth it's slat has released at least one (and that one is usually a low-point for sure). Then there is this darn Toots and the Maytals song that lingers in my head all year because the vocal on it it is that good (included within)- Had to be done- can't be stopped, won't apologize.
Merry Christmas from Cloverdale
1. Rootin’ Tootin’ Santa Claus- Pee Wee King
2. Santa’s On His Way- Bob Will and the Texas Playboys
3. Papa Ain’t No Santa Claus- Butterbeans & Susie
4. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer- The Temptations
5. May Every Day Be Christmas- Louis Jordan
6. White Christmas- Otis Redding
7. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree- Brenda Lee
8. Rock N’ Roll Santa- Joey Farr
9. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow- Dean Martin
10. Holy Christmas- The Cimarons
11. Hang Your Balls On The Christmas Tree- Kay Martin & Her Bodygaurds
12. Merry Christmas From The Family- Robert Earl Keen Jr.
13. Blue Christmas- Earnest Tubb
14. Mrs. Santa Claus- The Justinas
15. Christmas In Jail, Ain’t That a Shame- Leroy Carr
16. Happy Christmas- Toots and the Maytals
17. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town- the Jackson Five
18. Home On Christmas Day- Captain Elmo McKenzie and the Roosters
19. Rockin’ Santa Claus- The Moods
20. Mele Kalekemaka- Bing Crosby

As always- enjoy
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Another show featuring the great Louis Jordan. I have said it all before so let's get going with the tunes!
1. Baby It’s Cold Outside
2. I Want A Roof Over My Head
3. Penthouse in the Basement
4. All Of Me
5. I’ll Never Be Free
6. I Like ‘Em Fat Like That
7. After School Swing Session
8. Pompton Turnpike
9. Caldonia
10. No Sale
11. Three Handed Woman
12. Why’d You Do It Baby
13. Hungry Man
14. Boogie Woogie Blue Plate
15. Look Out
16. A Chicken Ain’t Nothing But A Bird
17. Don’t Come Crying On My Shoulder
18. Oil Well Texas
19. Sam Jones Done Snagged His Britches
20. Chartreuse

As always- Enjoy
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Been a long time since I posted any SKA, gets hard to remember what you posted when you have done 300 shows...then it occurred to me.
I only know one person who has all those shows and she isn't going to remember if I posted something twice, so away we go.
An hour of SKA tunes from the library- lots on Bluebeat label, all good in my estimation. Most of these I can safely say I have never played, but if I had, you get to enjoy them again right?
Any way- enjoy the music
1. Open The Door- Clive and Naomi
2. Him Say You Say- the Steer Towners
3. Watermelon Man- Byron Lee and the Dragonaires
4. Walk the Town- Buster’s All-Stars with Don Drummond
5. Maggie Don’t Leave Me- The Vikings
6. Crown Me- Stranger Cole
7. Yeah Yeah- The Riots
8. Live Up To Justice- The School Girls
9. Please Stop Your Lying- Errol Dunkley
10. Butterfly- Horrell Dawkins
11. Candy Ska- Ewan McDermott & Primo Davidson
12. Lady With The Red Dress- Gaylads
13. Little Schoolgirl- Trevor
14. Sugar Bag- Lee “Scratch” Perry
15. Hello Honey- Toots and the Maytals
16. Nanny’s Corner- Don Drummond
17. Turn Down Date- Cornell Campbell
18. Rude Boy- The Wailers
19. Tender Loving Care- Lynn Taitt & The Comets
20. Going Back To JA- Basil Gabbidon
As always- enjoy
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