Small Town Talk

It’s 1958 and the Ginger Kid is transported to Ramsgate and Barnett’s emporium to purchase some magical black discs.

1.   As Long As I’m Moving - Ruth Brown

2.   Your Cash Ain’t Nothing But Trash - The Clovers

3.   Smack Dab In The Middle - Amos Garrett, Doug Sahm, Gene Taylor Band

4.   Back In The Night - Dr Feelgood    (This month’s earworm)

5.   Cruisin’ - Gene Vincent & The Blue Caps

6.   Lonesome Train (On A Lonesome Track) - Johnny Burnette And The Rock ‘N’ Roll Trio

7.   Poor Jenny - The Everly Brothers

8.   Take A Message To Mary - Bob Dylan   (This month’s death song)

9.   Keep A Knockin' - Bobby Fuller Four

10. Keep A Knockin' - Chuck Willis

11. Working For The Man - Roy Orbison

12. Nighthawkin’ - Tim Buckley

13. Dreamboy - Theo Lawrence & The Hearts

14. Not In Nottingham - Theo Lawrence & The Hearts

16. Shama Langa Ding Dong - Lloyd G. Williams

16. He’s So Fine - The Chiffons

17  Zenizenabo - Miriam Makeba

Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles (1972)

WELL JENNY HAD HER PICTURE IN THE PAPER THIS MORNING,

SHE MADE IT WITH A BANG.

ACCORDING TO THE PAPER THIS MORNING,

JENNY IS THE LEADER OF A TEENAGE GANG.

Poor Jenny - The Everly Brothers  /  written by Felice & Boudleaux Bryant

Some thoughts on Nighthawkin’ by Tim Buckley:

I don’t often publish the full lyrics to a song, but in this case, because it’s so unusual I felt it worthwhile.

On the original gatefold sleeve of Greetings from LA, the lyrics as presented by Tim Buckley were sparse and incomplete.  In live performances,Tim Buckley changed and added extra lyrics, enlarged performances with extra verses, and it is suggested that he published only what he had at that given moment.  More likely, to avoid censorship, Tim avoided writing down anything that might frighten off record executives, after all Greetings From LA is an album full of steamy sex -  except that is, for it’s shortest song, Nighthawkin’.

As I hint at in the podcast, Nighthawkin’ does seem autobiographical, an interchange between a cab driver and an unhinged, dangerous customer.  The last part of the song is a crazed account by the drunken passenger, a Vietnam war veteran of his boast to murder a “Gook” (a derogatory term for a S.E. Asian)

Buckley’s final riposte is tongue in cheek - basically, the things I do to earn a dime!

I was a-nighthawkin' in my taxi

On a cruise below the deadline.

My fare was a shaky ol' lush,

So I kicked it over and took off.

Then he whipped out this switch blade

Straight outta nowhere, level to my throat.

He said, "You ever been over to the war boy"

I said "Man I was a combat paratrooper daddy."

Well then he slumped back cool and he pocket that steel.

He said "Take me down to Fourth and Main."

Ah that paratroop bluff always cools those red-eyed geezers down.

Man - that last block - that cat was singing,

Oh - Man he was sittin' in the backseat singing to me this song'

“I got my B.A.R boy,

I got my M1 on my hip, right.

You better listen, Mr. President,

Oh boy, don't you mess with my war.

I wanna do, I wanna do,

Lord, I wanna do the Blood Boogaloo.

I'm just a Redneck son of a gun,

I wanna kill me a gook before dawn."

Ah, nighthawkin'  - Ah for my change.

Notes:

On the album sleeve, the published lyrics for Nighthawkin’ finished at “Fourth and Main” and thereafter the song’s lyrics (see above) would invite censorship, and are not printed.

B.A.R is the older Browning Automatic Rifle, and the M1, the Garand M1 carbine, a semi-automatic, extensively used in the Korean and Vietnam wars.

I love Buckley’s ability to “feel” a song, his vocal asides, whoops and cries, adding to the absolute funk and melody that would never be apparent in reading the lyrics - lyrics that do not rhyme, but sound simply like a conversational verbal account, perhaps to a friend in a bar.

Don’t forget to check in with our sister show, Johnny Corsair’s Bright Lights Big City for R&B, old and new, Gospel, Soul and Blues over at:

https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/

And to get further information and musings on this podcast or my music collection, email me at:

[email protected]

Episode 48 Illustration:  It's 1958 and Small Town Talk’s younger self, the Ginger Kid drops in at his favourite haunt, Barnett's at 15 Queen Street, Ramsgate to pick up some late 50’s Rock ‘n’ Roll.

In which the Ginger Kid’s Time Machine crashes in on probably the greatest Rock & Roll song ever.

1.   She’s Got It - Little Richard

2.   Be-Bop-A-Lula - Gene Vincent & The Blue Caps

3.   Love My Baby - Little Junior’s Blue Flames

4.   Mystery Train - The Paul Butterfield Blues Band

5.   Important Words - Gene Vincent

6.   Reet Petite (The Sweetest Girl In Town) - Jackie Wilson    (This month’s earworm)

7.   Reet Petite And Gone - Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five

8.   Losin’ Boy - Eddy Giles

9.   Born To Lose - Ray Charles

10. Born To Cry - Dion

11. What’s The Matter With You Baby - Christine Ohlman & Rebel Lopez with Marshall Crenshaw

12. I’m Just A Fool For You - Bettye Lavette

13. I’m Just A Fool For You - Gene Chandler

14. Johnny Remember Me - John Leyton   (This month’s death song)

15. Your Ma Said You Cried In Your Sleep Last Night - Doug Sheldon

16. Bits & Pieces - Dave Clark Five

17. Welcome To The Working Week - Elvis Costello

Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles (1972)

WELL, OH NOW SHE’ MY CUTIE, MY TUTTI-FRUTTI,

MY HEART, MY LOVE, MY BATHING BEAUTY,

SHE’S ALRIGHT,

SHE’S GOT JUST WHAT IT TAKES,

SHE’S GOT WHAT IT TAKES,

AND WITH ME, SHE REALLY RATES.

Reet Petite (The Finest Girl You Ever Want To Meet) - Jackie Wilson (1957)

Written by Tyran Carlo & Berry Gordy.

Gene Vincent - from the film Girl Can’t Help It:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN3VLv3ZSF0

Dion’s new album “Girlfriends” available on March 8th everywhere, but check it out here:

https://www.noblepr.co.uk/press-releases/dion/girl-friends.htm

Well, have you ever heard a guy for whom your soul you'd give?

For whom you'd fight for, cry for, pray to God you'd die for.

Well he’s Johnny Corsair with the hippest show in town - listen in at:

https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/

And to get further information and musings on this podcast or my music collection, email me at:

[email protected]

Episode 47 Illustration:  Small Town Talk’s younger self, the Ginger Kid cuts in on Gene Vincent & The Blue Caps for a publicity photo.

In which Small Town Talk realises there's no peace in the barnyard since the Little Red Rooster's been gone.

1.   Baby Workout - Jackie Wilson

2.   Jackie Wilson Said (I’m In Heaven When You Smile) - Van Morrison

3.   Stay - Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs    (This month’s earworm)

4.   Learning The Game - Buddy Holly    (Original undubbed master recording)

5.   Not Fade Away - The Rolling Stones

6.   Little Red Rooster - Howlin’ Wolf

7.   King Bee - Slim Harpo

8.   I Don’t Know - J. B. Lenoir

9.   I Don’t Know - Ruth Brown

10. Strange Fruit - Billie Holiday   (This month’s death song)

11. Talkin’ Bout A Revolution - Tracy Chapman

12. Destination Anywhere - The Marvelettes

13. I’m Sorry - Brenda Lee

14. A Railroad Trestle In California - Eddie Hinton

15. B. Santa Ana 1986 - Nick Waterhouse

16. Apache - The Shadows

Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles (1972)

I'VE BEEN STANDING IN THE WELFARE LINES,

CRYING AT THE DOORSTEPS OF THOSE ARMIES OF SALVATION,

WASTING TIME IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT LINES,

SITTING AROUND, WAITING FOR A PROMOTION.

Talkin’ Bout A Revolution - Tracy Chapman (1988)

J. B. Lenoir:

The letters J & B are not initials, J. B. was his given name!

Two clips  of J. B. Lenoir with Steve & Ronnog Seaburg:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbI-NpYFJEg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVzp7IkGUA8

The Seaburgs recollecting their interview with J. B. Lenoir, filmed by Wim Wenders  for his excellent documentary “Soul Of A Man”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQTjhg5LK6A

Alan Parker’s film of Roddy Doyle’s “The Commitments”

https://ww8.soap2dayhd.co/film/the-commitments-11168/

Want more R&B, Soul, Funk, Ska, Reggae, Gospel - old and new?  Then visit Johnny Corsair over at Bright Lights Big City on the Breaking Records label:

https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/

And to get further information and musings on this podcast or my music collection, email me at:

[email protected]

Episode 46 Illustration: Little Red Rooster’s on the prowl!

In which Small Town Talk presents the first of the long-song bonus episodes.

1.   Porch Light - Robert Cray Band

2.   Don’t Answer The Door - Love Sculpture

3.   Get On Top - Tim Buckley

4.   Land Of The Navajo - Peter Rowan

Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles. 1972

WELL, LIKE A BITCH DOG IN HEAT,

MAMA, WE HAD THOSE BED SPRINGS A-SQUEAKING

ALL NIGHT LONG,

AND DIDN’T YOU HEAR THOSE WALLS A TALKIN’, VOODOO MAMA,

I FEEL YOU RIGHT, FEEL YOU RIGHT, FEEL YOU RIGHT WITH ME

OHH -

Get On Top - Tim Buckley

The thing about Buckley, was that he never sang the same song twice.  His songs always evolved  each time he performed them, often adding lyrics, more verses, and in particular, he augmented them with all sorts of vocal nuances - whoops, moans and cries. Get On Top is a perfect example of this, where indeed, as he states in the lyrics, he really does talk in tongues!

Although this beautiful gatefold album, “Greetings From LA” came with Buckley’s submitted lyrics, all the songs are considerably longer; the published lyrics only represent a small fraction of each song, and many of the suggestive verses are not included. Perhaps he was hoping to sneak them past the  legal staff at Straight Records.

Greetings From LA is still available on CD and 180 gram vinyl. Treat yourself!

I expect these occasional bonus episodes to average out at about 30 minutes each, but at this moment, I am not committing myself to a regular timetable for publishing.

Feel free to let me have your views on the “Longer Songs” show.

The regular Small Town Talk  episodes will continue to find their way on to the world wide webby thing at the end of each month and will have, as you may have guessed, no more  lengthy tracks.

For more short,snappy slices of gratification, continue to tune in to that incomparable disc-spinner, Johnny Corsair over at his Bright Lights Big City podcast:

https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/

And to get further information and musings on this podcast or my music collection, or anything Rock & Roll,email me at:

[email protected]

Episode 45 B Illustration: My old Revox Reel to Reel, reeling out the really long songs. It’s real gone, man.

In which Small Town Talk celebrates the birth of new grandchild, Leon with some Rock & Roll Lullabies

1.   Come Along - Jimmy Donley

2.   Think It Over - Bill Kirchen & Austin De Lone

3.   Think It Over - Buddy Holly

4.   Blue Bayou - Roy Orbison

5.   Rock And Roll Lullaby - B. J. Thomas

6.   Rock 'n' Roll Lullaby - 10 CC

7.   Pull Away - Leon Bridges

8.   You Left The Water Running - Otis Redding

9.   Pushin' Too Hard - The Seeds

10. The Prom - Del Shannon   (This month's death song)

11. Half Heaven, Half Heartache - Ral Donner

12. Outside Woman Blues - Jim McCarty Band

13. Saved - LaVern Baker

14. Daydream Believer - The Monkees   (This month's earworm)

15. Travellin' Light - Cliff Richard

16. Outro - What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? - The Orioles

Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles

I USED TO SMOKE

I USED TO DRINK

I USED TO SMOKE, DRINK AND DANCE THE HOOCHIE-COO

Saved - Lavern Baker (Written by Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller - 1960)

In which Small Town Talk goes a-walkin' hand in hand all along the sand.

1.   Funnel Of Love - Wanda Jackson

2.   Chesil Beach - Age Of Reason

3.   Alley Oop - Hollywood Argyles      (This month's earworm)

4.   I Got The Blues - Dion & The Belmonts

5.   I Got the Blues - Geraint Watkins

6.   Nadine - Dion

7.   You Never Can Tell - Chuck Berry

8.   Sweet Nuthin's - Brenda Lee

9.   Ay La Bah - Dolly Cooper & Maxwell Davis & His Orchestra

10. Big Hunk Of Love - Elvis Presley

11. Terry - Twinkle      (This month's death song)

12. I'm Into Something Good - Earl-Jean

13. Chains - The Beatles

14. Buzzin' Fly - Tim Buckley

Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles

In which Small Town Talk,  catches the midnight train, sees a bad moon rising and gets his head stuck in a pumpkin.

1.  Honey Bee Bop - Slink Moss Explosion

2.  She Likes To Boogie Real Low - Jimmy Sutton's Five Charms

3.  Caldonia - Louis Jordan

4.  They Raided The Joint - Helen Humes

5.  31st Street Blues - Dan Burley & His Skiffle Boys

6.  Wine - The Electric Flag

7.  You Don't Realize - The Electric Flag

8.  Midnight Train - The Spencer Davis Group

9.  Midnight Train - The Johnny Burnette Trio  (This month's death song)

10. Aphrodite - Edd Donovan

11. In Brooklyn - Al Stewart

12. Hit The Road Jack - Ray Charles  (This month's earworm)

13. Bye Bye Love - Madeleine Peyroux

14. Love Hurts - The Everly Brothers

15. Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival

Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles (1972)

WALKIN’ WITH MY BABY, SHE’S GOT GREAT BIG FEET

Caldonia - Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five.

I guess most of you listen in on mobile devices, and certainly if you are using our podcast host, PODBEAN, you get a pretty decent looking app. However the display on PC’s and tablets is far superior, with extra graphics and an easily navigated layout. And we are still available on a whole load of other platforms.

Yes, He's made it to Podbean too! Published earlier today, Episode 31 of Bright Lights Big City on the Breaking Records label; the majestic Johnny Corsair's podcast can be found here:

https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/

If the cool jazz of Madeleine Peyroux is your thing:

https://madeleinepeyroux.com/

Check out Edd Donovan here:

https://www.edddonovan.co.uk/

Don't forget to book up for the Tenby Blues Festival, if you live in Pembrokeshire or nearby. Small Town Talk will be there on Friday 10th November to see the great Geraint Watkins. Come and say Hello:

https://tenbyblues.co.uk

Also check out Daphne's Flight. Use the link below to access each of the members solo and group projects & see if they are playing near you:

https://www.daphnesflight.co.uk/

If you aren't using Podbean and want to check it out:

https://smalltowntalkrecords4.podbean.com/

And finally contact Small Town Talk for info and musings on our podcast:

[email protected]

Episode 43 Illustration: I carved a pumpkin and wore it to the Halloween Hoedown

In which Small Town Talk encounters Whales, Bullfrogs, Chickens, Three Little Pigs and a deadly Water Moccasin snake.

1.   Big Blon’ Baby - Ronnie Self

Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles

IRA LEE TURNED TO ROOSEVELT,

WHEN HE QUIT HIS SCREAMIN' AND KICKIN',

AND HE SAID,

"LET'S FORGET ABOUT THOSE BULLFROGS,

AND GO OUT AND STEAL SOME CHICKENS.

Roosevelt & Ira Lee - Tony Joe White (1969)

For Nirvana's unplugged version of "In the Pines" go to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEMm7gxBYSc

(Kurt Cobain, of course is wrong. Leadbelly did not write "In The Pines"/"Where Did You Sleep Last Night" - but he must take credit for the most imitated adaptation of this song.

This link for the Charlie Dore tour dates, (There are four in October) her latest album “Like Animals” and everything else:

Continuing from last month’s Podomatic podpage - The best link for Max ZT and Dan Whitehouse October tour dates:

And for the excellent Billie Maree videos:

For the very best in Blues, Soul, Gospel, R&B - old and new, listen in to the great Johnny Corsair at:

OK Pembrokeshire, Small Town Talk will be at the Tenby Blues Festival on Friday 10th November to see the great Geraint Watkins.

Check out Daphne’s Flight here:

And to get further information and musings on this podcast or my music collection, email me at:

Episode 42 Illustration: Roosevelt and Ira Lee are about to discover the night will be a bummer.

(Polyvinyl Pete (young and old) is Roosevelt & Ira Lee; apologies to Norman Rockwell, on whose paintings I based the poses)

In which Small Town Talk catches the last train and from thirty thousand feet above El Paso City has a past-life experience.

1.   Last Train To San Fernando - Johnny Duncan & The Bluegrass Boys   ( New regular feature the earworm)

2.   Kill My Baby - Nick Curran & The Lowlifes   (This month's death song)

3.   El Paso City - Marty Robbins

4.   It’s Over - Boz Scaggs

5.   It’s Over - George Soulé

6.   Catch Me, I’m Falling - Esther Phillips

7.   Dead Man (Still Walking Around) - The Olympics

8.   Maybe The People Would Be The Times Or Between Clark And Hilldale - Love

9.   White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane

10.  Statesboro Blues - Taj Mahal

11.   Purple Haze - The Jimi Hendrix Experience

12.  The Perfect Circle - Max ZT & Dan Whitehouse

13.  Blowing Leaves - Charlie Dore

Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles.

EVERY TIME I FLY UP THROUGH THE HEAVENS

AND I SEE YOU THERE BELOW

I GET THE FEELING SOMETIME,

IN ANOTHER WORLD I LIVED IN EL PASO

El Paso City - Marty Robbins (1976)

This link for the Charlie Dore tour dates, her latest album “Like Animals” and everything else: https://www.charliedore.com

Blowing Leaves  - Charlie Dore "I recorded a leaf blower in next door's garden and found it was in a comfortable key for me (B flat), so just for the fun of it I recorded the drone on my phone and sang a melody over the top. When it started up the birds disappeared, but after a very short while they returned and just carried on singing above the drone. Looking at the leaves and the birds I felt there was a kind of parallel with the regeneration aspect of both birds and leaves.

The links for Max ZT and Dan Whitehouse tour dates:

https://www.dan-whitehouse.com/live

https://www.maxzt.com

And to see what you can expect from the tour and Ten Steps album: TEN STEPS video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2I4NYoGHVY

MAX & DAN interview video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS6_kg3ckqM

There are still tickets available for the wonderful Daphne’s Flight‘s September Tour:

https://www.daphnesflight.co.uk/tour-dates

I’ll be at Pound Arts in Corsham on Friday 15th - come and say hello.

For Blues, Soul, Gospel, R&B - old and new, listen in to the great Johnny Corsair at:

https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/

The first email for the prize Ace CD, donated by Johnny, compiling the work of producer and engineer, Martin Rushent graced my inbox within 35 minutes of episode 40 exploding onto the airwaves! So congratulations go to Keith of Chippenham.

To get further information and musings on my music collection, email me at:

[email protected]

Illustration:  With some regret, Small Town Talk puts Sweet Dorothy on the Last Train To San Fernando.

In which Small Town Talk reveals Daphne’s Flight latest single, Mysterious Day.

1.   C’mon Everybody - Eddie Cochran

2.   Barefootin’ - Bobby Parker

3.   But It’s Alright - J. J. Jackson

4.   It’s Alright - Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs

5.   It’s Alright - The Zombies

6.   Caroline Goodbye - Colin Blunstone

7.   Hard To Be The Way - Daphne’s Flight

8.   Mysterious Day - Daphne’s Flight

9.   Street People - Bobby Charles

10. Tennessee Blues - Texas Tornados

11.  Little Bit Is Better Than Nada -  Texas Tornados

12.  El Paso - Marty Robbins   (This month's death song)

13.  Western Movies - The Olympics

14.  Reminiscing - Buddy Holly

Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles

SHOULDA BLOWN OVER

BUT YOU DECLARED A WAR

THOUGH YOU CAME IN THROUGH THE RUBBLE DARLING

COULDA USED THE DOOR

Hard To Be The Way - Daphne’s Flight.  Lead  vocal  and author - Chris While. Taken from the 2020 album “On Arrival”

Daphne’s Flight and the individual members are all over Small Town Talk. Check out our back episodes. Look out for DF at the Shrewsbury Festival and at various venues throughout the land. Find info and tour dates here:

https://www.daphnesflight.co.uk/

Small Town Talk will be seeing them at Pound Arts, Corsham. Come and say hello. I am the idiot portrayed on the title page.

For Blues, Soul, Gospel, R&B - old and new, listen in to the great Johnny Corsair at:

https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/

Johnny has donated a prize to listeners of Small Town Talk - An Ace CD compiling the work of producer and engineer, Martin Rushent, - mostly punk, post punk and some new wave - check it out here:

https://acerecords.co.uk/autonomy-the-productions-of-martin-rushent

Up your street?  Then email me at Small Town Talk (see below). First one in my inbox wins!

To win that terrific Ace giveaway, give feedback and/or get further information and musings on my music collection, email me at

[email protected]

Illustration:  The anticipation builds as Small Town Talk awaits the start of the Daphne’s Flight Tour and the release of their new album, “Love Is The Weapon Of Choice” (Many apologies to the wonderful Julie Matthews of DF, for lifting her lovely illustration of the band for this cover pic.)