“Ol’ 55″ became one of my favorite Tom Waits songs once I found that The Eagles only did a cover.
“Diddy Wah Diddy” is one of my favorite Leon Redbone songs, even though it was a cover of Blind Blake’s original, not to be confused with Bo Diddley’s DWD. that was covered by Captain Beefheart as well as The Fabulous Thunderbirds (All four versions linked are worth a listen because Bunk knows what Diddy Wah Diddy means.)
The Remains‘ version of Bo Diddley’s song is, um, a version, but the retroness kinda makes up for the lameness of the Boston band’s cover.
Willy “Mink” DeVille was a punk rocker before the Sex Pistols screwed it all up. Moon Martin’s “Cadillac Walk” was a classic, and DeVille did a great cover.
The Black Keys just blow me away, and not just because of the retro rock sound. A 3-man group has to be good to crank, but for two guys to load and pull the trigger is pure awesome.
Have a great weekend folks. Be back here tomorrow.
Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks were mildly successful in the 70s with their 1930s hot club jazz/bluegrass style. “Crazy ‘Cause He Is” was my favorite Hicks ditty. (NSFK: flip off in the vid image, mild language warning. Fun song otherwise.)
Leon Redbone’s version of “Polly Wolly Doodle.” According to Wiki, there’s no secret meaning to the song, but here’s a verse I’d never heard:
“Behind the barn, down on my knees,
Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all the day;
I thought I heard a chicken sneeze,
Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all the day.
Oh he sneezed so hard with the whooping cough,
Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all the day;
He sneezed his head and his tail right off,
Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all the day.”
I suspect that the song predates The War Between The States even though the popular tune is played in ragtime. So let’s play some ragtime!
Yep. 1980s hits played in ragtime. There’s something wrong with piano players who can pull off stuff like this (actually, I think there’s something wrong with piano players in general). Must be a subconscious and deep-rooted jealousy thing just because I can’t do what they do.
And with that, we’re done. Have a great weekend, folks. Be back here tomorrow for more fun.
Before you get all humpy like this is just a last minute hodge-podge throw-it-together post for the Saturday Matinee, chill. It’s all good, and it’s all connected in an odd sort of way…
Interview with ice sculptor at Orange County Fair 2010.
Haven’t had any Leon in a while. When he was on the Tonight show, he didn’t know what Diddy Wah Diddy meant… or so he claimed.
Ry Cooder covered Diddy Wah Diddy, too.
Here’s Captain Beefheart’s version of a different Diddy Wah Diddy, and with that we’re out until tomorrow. Have a great weekend folks.
[Update 7 August 2010 - Forgot to add that The Fabulous Thunderbirds did a great cover of Bo Diddley's "Diddy Wah Diddy." Couldn't find a video for either versions.]
Cows & Cows & Cows. (Tip o’ the tarboosh to Bunkarina.)
If that wasn’t odd enough, try Cycles. (Thanx, Possum.)
Whoa. Whatta lineup. Kim Wilson, backed by Jimmy Vaughan and W.C.Clark with Angela Strehli. Might have posted the vid before, but so what.
Little Walter was an excellent harp player. Here he is with Coco Taylor in 1967, playing Howlin’ Wolf’s “Wang Dang Doodle.”
What was truly pitiful in the 60s was that the Brits were the ones to reintroduce American blues to Americans. (Look who introduces the great Howlin’ Wolf on this clip.)
Let’s wrap up with a healthy dose of Leon Redbone. Poor video, but a nice version of this song from 1916.
Have a great weekend, but be back here tomorrow for more fun.
After yesterday’s abhorrent fiscal atrocity that saddled our children and grandchildren with an unwarranted debt that they are going to be paying for for the rest of their lives, I can’t think of a better post than this to take my mind off of it for a day.
Here’s the car they’ll be able to afford. It runs on crap, 5 lbs. per mile. The majority of the U.S. Congress is already a public crap mine, so the fuel should be plentiful for decades to come.
I’d forgotten all about Ella Mae Morse until I restumbled upon her here. Freddy “Daddy” Slack, along with Ray McKinley and Will Bradley provided the backup. The Will Bradley Trio was a small big band that never quite found their niche, but left a big mark.
Never heard of ‘em? Try this.
Here’s Maurice Rocco, a poundin’ on the whites and a slappin’ on the blacks in this version of McKinley & Bradley’s classic “Beat Me, Daddy, Eight To The Bar.” (See any influence on Little Richard or Jerry Lee Lewis there?)
Meanwhile, here’s Commander Cody, Jerry Garcia, Elvis Costello and Sammy Hagar, all in one pile of stuff that you’re probably glad you didn’t pay to see. Good god that’s embarassing. I’ll tell you the truth, I didn’t listen to the whole trainwreck either. My heroes are gone… except for one.
