🎧 Two Old Cats Like Us • When Something is Good Why Does it Change
So I’ve written several times about how I started playing guitar in 1988, but officially, it started a little bit before that. It was around ’83, probably. I was like 9 years old.
My friend DJ had a drum set and an electric guitar, and that summer we thought we were rockstars. He brought the beats, and I came up with the riffs and lyrics. We wrote our own songs back then. 😄
Those days are long gone. DJ is a pilot today for Delta Airlines, and me? I’m flying high too. 🎸 🥁 🛬
Here’s a great duet with Ray Charles and Hank from around that same time and When Something Is Good, Why Does It Change?
Hope yall have a great weekend, and thanks for listening.
I once knew an old man… he was a total jerk… so mean and hateful and bitter. His words were like vomit.
The first time I was alone with him, I tried to reach out with a kind conversation. To break the silence, I said, “It sure is a beautiful day.”
Then, for about ten seconds… you could hear paint drying.
As he slowly turned and looked at me in utter disgust, he said, “You’re Captain F#ckin’ Obvious, aren’t ya?”
Honestly, I wasn’t offended. Instead, I let go of the biggest smile.
Over time, he and I became friends. We wore each other down… haha.
The more I was around him, the more he slowly got better. I did things for him like running errands, doing his shopping, and helping him with different things. And whenever he was a dick to me… which was often… I just fired off smile after smile like bullets at him.
As things got lighter, I began to witness another side of him. The walls started to come down. He opened up some. He would sometimes share words of wisdom with me.
Turns out he was well-read, had been to college, had earned degrees, and loved great literature and writing.
He once told me, “If you have a foot in yesterday and a foot in tomorrow, then you’re pissing all over today.”
He died alone… no wife… no family and very few friends… I’m determined to get better the older I get… not stay the same or get worse… the thought of ending like that scares the hell out of me.
And what are great words really? If not applicable.
…
…
I have two great songs for you today… I’m Just a Man and The Blues Medley featuring John Lee Hooker and Ray Charles along with Hank. The three of them together on this Delta blues number is something special.
And I’m Just a Man is kind of the mood I’m in today… because some things make me feel sad. I feel like I could cry… but feeling you next to me? Ahh… that makes me feel alright.
🎧 The Girl On The Front Row At Fort Worth • Come And Go Blues
Hey yall…
So I was thinking… the coldest place on the planet is the inside of a pimp’s heart. And these days, you’ve got about a 50/50 chance of running into one… so keep your head on a swivel and your heart toasty. 👀 Oh, and a polar bear’s toenails are a close second.
Alright, enough of that. Back to the music.
🎧 The Girl On The Front Row At Fort Worth 1983
🎧 Come And Go Blues 1979 Originally written and recorded by Gregg Allman and The Allman Brothers Band. It first hit the shelves in August of 1973… a month before I was born.
I’m not sure how much longer I’ll keep this Hank series going. I may be getting close to the end, even though there are still plenty of great songs left to share. I’ll think about it.
Today I’ve got two cool ones.
🎧 Ain’t Nobody’s Business — Lone Wolf (199O) / The Bocephus Box (1992, reissued 2oO0)
🎧 Man to Man — Lone Wolf (199O) / The Bocephus Box (1992, reissued 2oO0)
Most people don’t realize “Ain’t Nobody’s Business” goes all the way back to 1922. Originally titled “‘Tain’t Nobody’s Biz-ness if I Do,” it was written by Porter Grainger and Everett Robbins, then first recorded that same year by Anna Meyers with the Original Memphis Five. Over the years it was covered by legends like Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, and Jimmy Witherspoon. Hank Jr.’s version gives the old blues classic a gritty outlaw-country feel all its own.
I’ve Been Down & I’d Love to Knock the Hell Out of You ♩♪♫
I’ve been kind of bummed out for a few days now… not a whole lot to say. Life will straight show up on you. These next two songs have a 17 year gap between them… and take you to different places. The second song really cracks me up, and I need some laughs tonight.
Hey yall… hope life’s treating ya good. The weekend is upon us and I’m so ready.
As I’m putting this Hank post together, I’m listening to my Lorde and Adele playlist on Amazon Music… and it just occurred to me how crazy that is. drastic difference. 😂 I’m a huge fan of both ladies. Especially Lorde. In fact, I’m planning on covering a few of their songs soon from the Bathroom Studio. 😎
But I don’t wanna get off track here…
Let’s get back to Bocephus.
Here’s two great ones you may not have heard before.
🎶 I Just Ain’t Been Able — from Family Tradition 1979
🎶 Woman on the Run — from Man of Steel 1983
I also added a really cool video of Hank on Letterman from the early ’80s… check it out.
Heart of Loia `'.,°~ 