Whiskey Pete Band has been going for years with no change in personnel, quite an achievement for the kind of music they play. Blues musicians are notorious for pulling up stakes and moving, so some credit must go to Pete Thornson, the group's founder, lead singer, and lead guitarist. The band members have told us that Pete runs a tight ship, but he's fair and not hoggish about the spotlight. They wouldn't say about his paying practices, but they must be good to keep them together this long.
This recording shows how good of a musician Pete is. A straight-forward blues number with a steady beat, excellent lead guitar work by Pete and a top notch vocal from him as well. We always try to keep up with the band, and we would really love it if they could find the time to record for Big And Tall Records on a regular basis. (Hint, hint...)
By the way, the cat in the video's name is Blue Spot, Blue for short. He belongs to Pete (or rather as Pete says, hangs out at his house) and is named after Pete's favorite brand of Irish Whiskey, Blue Spot. Pete is a whiskey connoisseur, hence his nickname. He's participated in many whiskey tasting demonstrations and tastings. Whiskey tasting is taken quite seriously by the aficionado, with much of the procedure and ritual of classic wine tasting. Pete has a wide reputation in the whiskey tasting community. Whenever the group has a gig, Pete always has a small glass of whiskey that her nurses throughout the night. He very rarely drinks to the point of inebriation, a sign of his passion and restraint in his interests.
She knows how to get what she wants
She gets it by giving men what they need
She's quite curvaceous, and also flirtatious
Once she gets you, you'll never get freed
She's been called a home wrecker
But she ain't nothin' but a whore
And she ain't never wrecked a home
That wasn't wrecked before
She makes the rounds of the bars
To show off all her wares
She'll bait the hook and set it
In men seldom unawares
She's quite a fancy looker
Dresses nice and clean
Always ready with the small talk
And suggestions of things obscene
But don't let her fool ya
Though she appears mighty fine
If she had as many stickin' out as in,
She'd look like a porcupine!
She always attracts the simple man
Ones that say they're down on their luck
But the truth be told on them
They're just lookin' for someone to fuck!
As long as she gets what she wants
She'll give away her intimacy
A loser thinks he's got a hot one
But it sure as hell ain't gonna be free
It'll cost him lots of money, maybe his home
Maybe his family, maybe his job too
And if that happens stay away from me.....
Cuz I don't feel sorry for you!
You been hangin' in bars, lookin' for strange stuff
We here at Big And Tall Records were happy to see this latest from Whisky Pete Band, as they had a recording early on and this is their second. They've been on the road, and are taking some time off to recuperate. Being on the road's a rough life for musicians and artists, so we're glad they took time from their break to record this song.
It's a cover of Sonny Hotchkin'sThe Runny Nose Blues. While Sonny recorded the song under the circumstance of really being ill, Whisky Pete gives it a full rendition with his full band with a searing solo harmonica by J.J. 'Harp' Linser, one of the premiere harp players in the blues world today.
Sonny was honored that the band wanted to cover his song, and he offered them the lead sheet. The band wanted him to play along with them on the recording, but Sonny declined, and told us, "Nah, I wanted to hear what they come up with on their own. Man, I tell ya, these guys are a tight band and gave their own interpretation. I like it!"
I got a pain in my head, a scratchy throat,
I said a pain in my head, an a scratchy throat
I should a never come here, stayed home in bed
Got da runny nose blues,
I be out a tissues,
The snot is running down by lip and chin.
The runny nose blues,
Gotta
remember to use
My nose spray or I won't win!
It started a few days ago
Yes, a few days ago
Pardon me my nose needs blowed
Why'd I have to come here, so miserable,
My manager told me I had a song to record,
They don't seem to know, that I ain't able,
I can't sing very much, oh lord!
I feel real hot, then I get a chill
Dammit, feel real hot , then I get a shiverin' chill.
The Whiskey Pete Band is a local community blues band that plays a small circuit in Ohio. This is the first recording for the band. They've been together for about ten years, and just recently began performing their original compositions. The name Whiskey Pete originated with the founder of the group, Pete Thornson, who is also the lead singer, lead slide guitarist, and connoisseur of American whiskeys. The song Arthritis Blues was a written as a group effort in tribute to their rhythm guitar player, Art Mason, who suffers from the disease at the still young age of 46. He occasionally does vocals when he can't play, and he is the vocalist in this recording.
Whiskey Pete
Woke up this mornin’, I could’ve stayed in bed.
I said woke up this mornin’, wanted to stay in bed.
But my back ached so bad, had to get up instead.
Damned arthritis will not set me free,
Damned arthritis, it sure won't set me free,
Don't know if I got it , but it sure has got me!
Hurts when I move, hurts when I don't,
You know it hurts when I move, or if I don't.
Sometimes pills calm it down, some times they won't.
