Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Into the West We Go

Coca-Cola Cowboy - Volume 11, A T-Clog Mix

Eventually there would be a country-tinged compilation brought forth by T-Clog, and it has been brought forth in the month of the trek to Escalante, July.

It is nothing new to say that I am not a fan of country music, nor is it new to say that Cory has been and is a fan of country music. For the most part, this equation has remained intact.

As we all have grown, in our own ways, as fans of music there has been a fair share of subtle swerves in each of our views towards different types of music. This could be from our experiences with CMC to our own personal musical explorations. Certainly Dan has explored a great deal of classic country or classic country western and its spawn, alt-country and is probably much more informed and familiar with the artists and songs from Volume 11. Myself, and possibly Mixdorf, have undoubtedly been exposed to such music on account of discussions and shared listens with Cory and Dan, and have come to know some of the songs and/or artists through such correspondence, but have perhaps remained more on the perimeter of this genre.

Genre is used rather loosely here and I am sure Dan will be able to make many specific distinctions between where each of the artists fall, and I understand, to an extent that there are indeed great differences in what is called ‘Country Music,’ as there are in ‘Pop’ or ‘Rock’n’Roll’ music. Aaron seems to also have an appreciation for some styles of country music and it will be interesting to read what he likes and dislikes from this collection. It appears to be a varied collection from this loosely based genre known as country music.

Music is so inter-connected and country influences can be found through-out my collection. Country has influenced Rock, Rap, Pop - everything, and in turn it has been influenced by the blues, Rock, Pop, and even Jazz. You could say that all music is the same, but you would be wrong.

So, I do not deny the existence or influence of country music, I like and love some songs that fall into the country music category, and, I recognize Volume 11 as a compilation of country songs. That said, I remain on the perimeter of country music, occasionally intrigued by a song or an artist, but simply not a fan of this genre.

My low point in terms of country music include mopping the floors at the Oak-Elm Cafeteria at Iowa State University with the very bad early nineties wildly fancy colored supposedly cowboy shirted so-called heroes of country toughies singing extremely crappy songs with way too much fucking treble.

My recent high point includes a love of Cash’s song ‘I Walk the Line.’



The Cover

I loved the cover. I though it was hilarious and well constructed, it looked professionally done.


The Songs

1-The Good Ole Boys

Yes, the story of Cory and the Bar Scene of Terre Haute. We were watching ND and I was starting to lose him to sleep. He was stretched out comfortably on the couch and I was probably crouched on the floor rubbing his feet, anyway, I was suddenly struck by the idea to wind this guy up and take him to a bar. What could be more wild than that? I did literally slap his ass awake and we poured ourselves into the Rescort and off we went. Our ‘partying’ was delayed after good ole Cory pointed out I had an anti-freeze problem, which was corrected in the parking lot of a famous grocery store.

And yes I first took him to a place called ‘The Verve,’ where your more alternative college bands would play, the band was actually pretty good, but turning, I saw a somber and slightly disoriented friend in a stupor caused not by alcohol and hard drugs, but by loud noise, heat from his coat (although I‘d swear he was wearing a vest) , and ciggy smoke. So off we went to the Bally Hoo where we fetched a few beers and settled against a wall listening to a cover band and scoping for hot chics. The creature, known as T-Clog, was stiff, quiet, turning his head like Batman. But then…it started to happen.

Yes…Pink Houses got his blood going a bit. His cheeks turned a healthy red, his balls dropped a quarter of an inch, and a smile started to creep across his face that would have kept a family of Eskimos warm for an entire season. And yes, when The Good Ole Boys began, not only was he instantly transformed into a party animal to rival the greatest Greeks this University had to offer, he performed a move that may be difficult to describe with words, at least in terms of how amazing it was. With his beer and his vest he went down. This is what I mean, this creature, once stiff as a Cory Mundane in a nudist colony, bent his knees and went down to the floor slowly, he never lost his footing, he never spilled his beer, he never lost his smile, and he went down SO LOW! A crowd gathered to see if he would be able to rise again. He stayed down for what seemed like 20 seconds and then shot up triumphantly to cheers and applause. A beaming smile topped a loose and limber body moving smoothly and confidently to the music. He belted out the words like a prayer and his eyes spilled their thanks down his cheeks. That night would ever be known as ‘The Time of Greatest Downness.’ Never before has anybody gotten so well down.

The song itself is pretty clever and well written. Short and slick. Interesting alternate take on the meaning: one could take it to refer to corporate America, or Senators, or the White House, or any other unit where power resides in the rich or in the male, or both. The Law never will…They are above the law, or they are the law.

I do not know anything about Waylon Jennings except that he is/was a member of The Highwayman, and I only know that from information provided by Volume 11. I have heard of him and I think his voice would be somewhat alarming if I wasn’t so familiar with this song.


2-Poncho and Lefty

I have heard Dan and Cory refer to this song many times. I was surprised to find that I actually have never heard it, except once from a compilation given to me from Aaron. A compilation that I need to give more attention. I am not sure I know or understand the story completely. There are some rather beautiful melodic moments in the song. I liked it OK, I guess.

At three minutes you get your classic Willie guitar type solo(I’m not sure if that was Willie, but Dan will know what I’m talking about) and then oddly enough Merle Haggard, who has been sitting in the corner drinking gin, gets the last minute and a half to sing his bit. Not a fan of Merle’s voice, so the whole ending of the song starts to shake for me. Does this type of singing arrangement occur often in country music?

Willie is larger than life with a very unique voice and an ancient and storied career. Cory and Dan and maybe Aaron probably know a whole lot more about him, but I do love Dan’s story about Willie causing an outbreak of ear bloods at a Cattle Congress. Willie is a fixture in popular music, no doubt.


3-TillThe Rivers All Run Dry

Not a bad song. I can appreciate the musical arrangement much more than some of the more recent country song recordings on this CD. Nice singing voice. Some of the guitar reminds me of George Harrison.



4-Me & My Uncle

I did not like this song. The words, music, and the sound of the guitar - no. It seemed very odd and regular all at the same time. It didn’t strike me as very John Denver like.



5-El Paso City

I like the horns and kept wanting to hear more of them. Not a bad voice. I’ve heard of Marty Robbins, but do not know much about him. I like the melody and can hear him singing Christmas songs very well. Much El Paso, Santa Fe, and Mexico. Unless…could this possibly be about El Paso Illinois, it is close to the Rio Grande when compared to Siberia.


6-Rhinestone Cowboy

I winced when I saw this among the song titles. Could it be that song? Yes, and I winced when I heard it. Sorry man. That chorus, I actually receive the anti sprinkles, like watching Vanilla Ice perform. I wince.

“riding out on a horse in a star spangled rodeo” ouch.

There is a weird Neil Diamond quality to the song, I love Neil, but nonetheless I sense his presence.

Like many of the songs, I really appreciate the connection that you have between these songs and memories.

That said, I can place the feelings I have for this song aside and crack up imagining you riding the bull and flirting with forestry girls!


7-Highwayman


Synths and pan flutes and distant electric guitars and bad lyrics. I think each singer should have been introduced with a “ladies and gentleman….”


8-Streets of Bakersfield

I do not like this one either, sorry dude.




9-Folsom Prison Blues


This is the one song that I have, as part of a Superhits collection. I really like this song. Did you know this was sampled in a Beastie Boys song? I love the simplistic guitar solo. So simple and it is played twice!

I like the words, they remind me of what the tree trimmers used to say - in their own way they were in a prison, or at least that is the way they felt down deep underneath it all. It would come to the surface when the rich homeowner would return, they would bow down - do anything for him, hoping for a piece of his nickel, but hating him all the same, pure, simple, deeply rooted jealousy concerning the class unto which they were born.

10-That’s The Way Love Goes

Your memory and connection to this song is special and I think that is truly wonderful, however, I just cannot get into this one.

11-Ghost Riders (live)

Live? How can Ghost Riders be live?

OK, what is this melody? A variation of something on the tip of my tongue…

Very familiar. And of course the Willie guitar bit just under two minutes, and then again later. I can’t really get into this one. Is it really just a cowboy fantasy inspired by an incoming storm front, if so that’s pretty cool.


BS: Folsom Prison Blues

SIWHI: My Sweet Annette by Drive By Truckers


Even though I am not a fan of country music, I appreciate your willingness to put yourself out there. A group of songs that affect you deeply and emotionally. Thank you for the CD and comments.

10 Comments:

Blogger Dan said...

Without trying to give much away from my own comments, a couple of remarks on yours:
Pancho & Lefty: Song actually by Townes Van Zandt, if that makes anything make more sense for you. I do think it's a little odd that Haggard comes in way late in the song. It's like, if you're going to do a duet, or share the song, split the thing 50/50. Seems like he should come in at the "Lefty he can't sing the blues part," but of course he doesn't. Not this "two guys sharing the song" pheomenon is not all that common in most country, though Willie & Cash sure don't shy away from pairing up with other superstars of music from time to time in the attempt to rake in some extra dough.

- Rhinesone Cowboy: Neil Diamond quality: YES!!!

- Highwayman: I think your "ladies and gentlemen" comment was hilarious. But bad lyrics? Really? You think so? I think they're pretty neat-and certainly the topic of reincarnation is a bit off the beaten path when sung in front of the God & Country masses at your local county fairs. Anyway, I have a further take on that that I'll get to in my remarks that you may find interesting, but no guarantees.

I will add that I don't think this is a very representative sample of Willie.

8:34 AM  
Blogger Pat said...

Excellent comments. I laughed, I cried, I kissed 10 minutes goodbye.

8:52 AM  
Blogger C.F. Bear said...

Sorry that it didn't all flip your switch. But, I knew that most if not all of you might not like it that much. My balls are on the line and this CD could get me kicked out of the group.

I hope not, but it's apart of me and who I am. All I can say is Summa Quad Summa (We are what we are).

3:36 PM  
Blogger Pat said...

Sutra kama sutra?

Nice.

The only way you get kicked out of this group is NOT RESPONDING TO OTHER PEOPLE's COMMENTS or falling off the face of the earth ala Miles.

3:39 PM  
Blogger Mighty Tom said...

I am afraid you are a part of this group for the long run.

As far as flippin' any switches...oh yes buddy, you flipped a switch, just not in the direction that you were hoping.

No biggie.

8:08 PM  
Blogger Mighty Tom said...

Thanks for all the comments and kind words for the comments boys.

8:10 PM  
Blogger C.F. Bear said...

Sumus Quid Summus, sorry.

Wow, Gibbs could have stopped at the cover and left it at that. I am glad that you were there for the DoH song experience. I know that you are not a country bumpkin, but I felt that showing you a good look at what you already knew. Thanks for listening to it brother. Download Good Ole Boys into the i-pod and get ready for Mixdorf's latest in September.

5:06 PM  
Blogger Dan said...

Gibbs-did you really literally slap his ass awake? That's what I want to hear more about.

1:08 PM  
Blogger Pat said...

Yeah, 'cause if it involved a hit to the face, then we have a double standard.

1:11 PM  
Blogger Mighty Tom said...

mostly ass and shoulders and back


really ass was to refer to he as a person

8:57 PM  

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