Well, if you read the title, you’ve got a pretty good idea of what’s coming next, so let’s just jump right in.
The first performance is from a band that, despite having some commercial success, and despite having a song in the hit movie Almost Famous, isn’t very well known these days. And that’s too bad, because these guys are great!
While being heavily rooted in country and western music, Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show drew from and performed all kinds of soul and R&B songs and also forayed, like many others, into disco, which they all well.
One of the unique things about this band is that quite a few of their songs were written by Shel Silverstein. If you don’t know who he was, well, you must be living at the end of the sidewalk or something. Go look him up and read his poems to your kids.
So, here you go, song number one, a great acoustic performance, so full of energy and whatever else these guys were on at the time.
How do you know a great storyteller when you hear one? Well, you just do. And John Prine was one of the best, something like Kurt Vonnegut, a great observer with a very unique eye.
Have a look at some of the lyrics from song number two and see for yourself.
Why, we used to laugh together
and we'd dance to any old song.
Well, you know, she still laughs with me,
but she waits just a second too long.
Who doesn’t know that awkward timing and the meaning behind it? But who else has put it in a song and captured it so well?
And then this:
Well, we hadn't gone far in my beat-up old car
and I was prepared for the worst,
"Will you still see me tomorrow?"
"No, I got too much to do.”
Well, a question ain't really a question
if you know the answer, too.
Wow! What a way to capture that odd shift in a relationship.
And finally this:
Ain't it funny how an old broken bottle
looks just like a diamond ring?
Man, was he good.
But don’t take my word for it, give him a listen. And if country isn’t your thing, just put the music behind you and listen to his words.
When people think of the GREAT artists and athletes, they often tend to think of people from their generation, or the generation before theirs. It’s like time stops.
I think with music, it’s even harder to keep up with current talents. Your tastes change. Your views on life change. Your daily habits go from going and meeting people to staying in. Etc.
This next artist is a great storyteller and songwriter, too. The only reason I know about him is because I used to play frisbee football and talk with his brother from time to time in Japan. One day, during the heavy lockdowns of 2020, his brother shared a link on Facebook to a live session Hayes Carll was doing. I tuned in, and I’ve been a fan ever since.
This song is all about wit. Anybody could have had the idea for this song. In fact, a lot of people probably did have it. It’s not really that clever. But the way that Hayes rolls with the idea and turns so many ordinary situations into smooth jokes is just fantastic.
I’ll give you a peak at the lyrics so that you can see what I’m talking about.
Song Title: She Left Me For Jesus
She's given up whiskey and taken up wine.
While she prays for His troubles, she's forgot about mine.
I'm a gonna get even, I can't handle the shame.
Why last time we made love she even called out his name.
