Mary Huff, calling up the ghost of my mother (right down to the hair and the bass), sings "Nitty Gritty"--yeah!
Nitty Gritty - Southern Culture on the Skids
~*~
Mary's bouffant hairdo made me think of Kate Pierson's.
In case you didn't know, there is also a pretty good movie named after this song, titled My Own Private Idaho, starring Keanu Reeves. It's based on Shakespeare's Henry IV and Henry V. Really.
I love Fred's canary-yellow pants.
Private Idaho - B-52s
(Did you catch the Twilight Zone theme?)
The lyrics also contain some excellent advice, as well as an important historic workers-reference (see link):
You're living in your own Private Idaho
Living in your own Private Idaho
Underground like a wild potato
Don't go on the patio
Beware of the pool
Blue bottomless pool
It leads you straight
Right through the gate
That opens on the pool
You're living in your own Private Idaho
You're living in your own Private Idaho
Keep off the path, beware the gate
Watch out for signs that say "Hidden Driveways"
Don't let the chlorine in your eyes
Blind you to the awful surprise
That's a-waitin' for you at the bottom
Of the bottomless blue, blue, blue pool
You're livin in your own Private Idaho
Idaho
You're out of control, the rivers that roll
You fell into the water and down to Idaho
Get out of that state
Get out of that state you're in
You better beware
You're living in your own Private Idaho.
You're living in your own Private Idaho.
Keep off the patio
Keep off the path
The lawn may be green
But you better not be seen
Walkin' through the gate that leads you down
Down to a pool fraught with danger
It's a pool full of strangers
You're living in your own Private Idaho
Where do I go from here to a better state than this?
Well, don't be blind to the big surprise
Swimming 'round and 'round like the deadly hands
Of a radium clock at the bottom of the pool
I-I-I-daho
I-I-I-daho
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah
Get out of that state
Get out of that state
You're living in your own Private Idaho
Livin' in your own Private Idaho
Who could argue?
~*~
I know I've played this one before. This is my favorite song by Pylon, the best Athens band you never heard of... the band who didn't get famous, while all their friends did.
And they should have. :(
Danger - Pylon
Silent film footage is from The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920).
As promised on this morning's radio show, here are my 2011 obituaries:
Swami Bhaktipada
Kate Schulte
Betty Ford
Joe Bageant
Ben Masel
Jessica Nathanson (Plains Feminist)
Elizabeth Taylor
Owsley Stanley (Bear)
Anne Francis
Anthony Dellaventura (from 2010)
Requiescat in pace.
~*~
Blogging notice for the New Year:
Apparently, there is some sort of weird software that pops up on my comment page, but it doesn't manifest on all computers and phones. I am trying to figure this out, and sincerely hope to have it properly taken care of soon. (Blogger Help Forum is famously slack; the expression "you get what you pay for" comes to mind.) If you have any clue as to what this is and how I might get rid of the damnable thing (the pesky 'download manager' that pops up is called Ilivid, and yes, it certainly does make I livid), please help! I have already executed the recommended steps to uninstall on MY end, but here's the confusing thing: It isn't on MY computer. (?) I keep thinking it must be embedded in the Blogger html code itself, but I have no idea how it got there. And I can't figure out why this pop-up doesn't show up for me too?
(sobs)
I have been fiddling and futzing with this crap for hours now, whilst keeping one eye on my LAW AND ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT New Year's Eve marathon. Otherwise, the whole afternoon would have been an entire waste.
~*~
I now present DEAD AIR'S OFFICIAL VIDEO OF THE YEAR! (appropriate hoots and hollers)
As always, my criteria is: which video did I listen to the most, after I initially posted it?
No contest.
Southern Culture on the Skids - White Trash/Greenback Fly
Have a Happy New Year, everybody!
Lots of people prefer the original by John Prine, who wrote it... but I am partial to the version by the Man in Black.
Paradise - Johnny Cash
~*~
A great song about a drug dealer, although some have posited that it's actually about capitalism and bosses (Joe Strummer was red to the end). How fascinating that they are interchangeable!
Quite simply, some of the tightest rock music ever recorded.
Hateful - The Clash
~*~
Mimi Farina wrote this song about Janis Joplin, upon hearing of her passing in 1970... it was recorded by her sister, Joan Baez, in 1972.
Great photos of Janis in the video.
In the Quiet Morning - Joan Baez
~*~
You knew it was time for Steely Dan again, right? I tried to stay on topic about the economy and the budget and everything. ;)
Great graphics!
Black Friday - Steely Dan
~*~
As Charlie Daniels used to say, Time to Get Loud, Children. Starting at about 2:25, this boogies so hard, it will knock the mud right off your boots.
And check out Mary Huff's outfit, I MUST get one. (My late mama had that exact hairdo, exact color.)
Southern Culture on the Skids - White Trash/Greenback Fly
~*~
James McMurtry played Asheville recently, and I am told the entire audience knew all the words. (Well, of course they did.) I was fortunate enough to hear this performed live a few years ago, in a venue fulla rednecks jumping up and down. At the time, I realized, this was a quintessential southern moment, so it isn't surprising that "Choctaw Bingo" has turned into a southern anthem, of sorts.
Ann and Lynn come down from Baxter Springs
That's one hell raisin town way up in Southeastern Kansas
Got a biker bar next to the lingerie store
That's got them Rolling Stones lips up there in bright pink neon
And they're right downtown where everyone can see em
And they burn all night
you know they burn all night
you know they burn all night
And yes, you really should listen to all 8+ minutes, if you want the whole Choctaw Bingo experience. It's actually far better live, with raucous yelling and jumping-redneck accompaniment, but I could not locate a good live version, so going with the studio rendition for now.
Choctaw Bingo - James McMurtry
Have a great weekend everyone.
Del McCoury, bluegrass legend, is 72 years old today! Happy Birthday Uncle Delano!
Del McCoury Band - All Aboard
~*~
If you aren't hard-core enough for bluegrass, try some SCOTS:
Southern Culture on the Skids - My neighbor burns trash
My neighbor burns trash
In a barrel out back
On a mighty fine day
there's a toxic haze
around my house and my house and my house
A mighty fine way
to mess up a mighty nice day
My neighbor burns trash
in a barrel out back
I know exactly what they mean.
