This is one of the most interesting recordings I have. It's a slice of life from 1968 which was a crazy year, even if you weren't in the army in Alabama. The original is on a 7" reel-to-reel tape and it is amazing how that medium has remained intact and usable for those 44 years. In fact, all of my old reel-to-reel tapes sound just as good as they did 40 years ago. Will our CDs and DVDs? Will a thumb drive work 40 years from now IF you can find something that looks like a USB port to stick it into?
Did you know that there are several stories about Knees Calhoon's stint in the army (March 1967 - January 1970) in the book, THE COMPLEAT CALHOON? The day at the EM club was but one of the exciting and dangerous events of his military career and they're all chronicled in the 450+ pages of short stories, reminiscences, true-crime thrillers, and, best of all, the lyrics to all his songs as well as a CD with all the new mixes on it. Now that you've been introduced to the musical side of Knees, perhaps you'd like to try some of his literary fabulations?
Summer 1968, Redstone Arsenal AL
This is what happens when you throw an unpopular war. You get soldiers at an army base in Alabama who, after sampling some of Uncle Ho's finest chronic, get together at an Enlisted Men's Club's piano room and make some music. Rick on the piano is joined by Knees on the guitar, Peter on the comb and paper and vocals, Chris on the tape recorder, John Lennon on the background chatter and two women named Joyce, one of whom married Peter and the other married Knees.
Yes, John Lennon, a ski instructor from Colorado, was there. The gang tried it again the next weekend but nothing as coherent as LATE AGAIN FOR THE HIGH PLATEAU resulted. Oh well.
This is Late Again.
Sweet Mama
Why don't you go to town?
You know the men on South Street
They all track you down
Oh gal
One two three step out of your door
One two three oh little girl
Y'know everybody looking mama
See you going down the street
Hey everybody looking, watch
You going walking down the street
Your little feet just kickin down the street
Step step step
Look at my little gal walk down
Aw walkin yeah
Rock that thing now mama
Awwww yeah
Awwwww
Well you can rock and you can roll it
Do the bop and you can stroll it
Everybody walking round
Looking at the ground
You know everybody walking round
Got them need-a-dimes blues
Got them need-a-dimes blues
You know if I had a dime
Put em together to get two.
You know two thin dimes
Buys a might fine time
And a bottle of wine oh yeah
Out in the alley
What you gonna do
What you gonna do, boy
Out in the alley
With your cheap ol bottle of
Good ol California wine
Knock it on your can
Knock it on your head
It can grab you and can shake you
Till you every way but dead
So Mama, tell me what you gonna do Mama
Oh yeah you know
Everybody wanna know
Just what you gonna do do do do do
All all right right
It's getting faster now
It's getting faster
We are approaching the high plateau
All right ladies and gentlemen
Please fasten your seat belts.
Sphinx
No comments:
Post a Comment