Delmar Gentry - My Four Legged Amigos

Delmar Gentry continues with his life story, and this is the first recording to come out of his own home re4cording studio.  He's still getting settled in, and sings about the new friends he's made, especially the four legged ones! Delmar was born and raised in southern Ohio near Cincinnatti, which has some southern culture influence as it's right on the Ohio River, just across the river from Kentucky. Delmar's Grandparents lived on a farm,and he would work on their farm every summer as well as when he was going to law school. He's always had a slight southern accent, but we can tell by his singing that it's getting more southern all the time, although Arizona and Flagstaff in particular is not considered a southern state, but is part of the Southwest area of the U.S., which is culturally different than the south. 

 

But there is a definite Hispanic influence in the state, mostly in the southern part, but somewhat in Flagstaff as well. We know Delmar's tickled to have his own horses now. He was raised around them as there were many horse people around his Grandparents farm. He learned how to ride while quite young, and always wanted horses. But after he graduated from law school and started working for a big firm in Cincinnatti, he didn't have any time for horses, or hardly anything else! 

It's not very often someone who is as good at his job as Delmar was, just decides to retire. He retired at the top of his game, getting huge retainers from his clients, and was really prudent with how he spent and invested his money. So now he can work at what he wants to work at; his ranch, his music, and anything else that takes his fancy! And with his own state of the art recording studio, he's invited Big And Tall Records to use his facility any time we want! So some associates are going out there later in the year to check it out! In the meantime, word has gotten out in the country music world, and he's got many top notch country musicians heading out there to record with him! 

 

Made some new friends out here in Flagstaff, 

Doyle and Blanche, his dear wife. 

Amos, a right good ranch hand, 

And Marie, who feeds me just right! 

Got some part time hands, 

that go to school during the day. 

They all work hard to keep this place goin', 

Wouldn't have it any other way. 

 

 Can’t forget my four legged amigos, 

I see them every day. Race the ranch dog, where I go, he goes, 

Usually runnin' all the way! 

 

Six horses came with the ranch. 

Two of them have Doyle's loyalty 

That leaves me four left over, 

but they sure ain't all for me! 

Two Morgan geldings, two sweethearts, 

That are a little too well fed, 

A chestnut Arabian, a beautiful guy, 

And a lone mare Saddlebred. 

 

Don't forget my four legged buddies, 

I see them every day without fail, 

Horses out in the paddock, prancin' 'round, 

Me sittin' and watchin' on the fence rail. 

 

The snow out here is heavy, 

not by the inches, by the feet.

 But it don't last long, the sun comes out, 

Melts it and cleans it up neat. 

The horses got their winter coats,

 covered in warm, thick fur. 

They don't seem to mind at all, 

Still run around outside in a blur. 

 

Doyle and his wife are throwin' me a party, 

invitin' all the neighbor's 'round, 

So I can talk and meet them all, 

And enjoy the happiness I've found.

 Asked Marie to do the cookin', 

Her good food's a perfect fit. 

Told her I'd pay her extra for her work, 

She said,"No you won't! Glad to do it!"

 

 

Tugboat Jackson - Whose Fault Is It Now, Mr Brown?

 We've heard that this recording is Tugboat Jackson's first one after he decided to turn over his hardware store to his son and retire, at least semi-retire. He's going to work a few days a week to help his son with the transition, plus he wants to still wait on customers. As he puts it:

Naw, I just can't up and quit, although money wise I could. Been doin' it for too long, got some customers that I've been giving service to for 30 years, and I'm gonna need to ease out of it. Quittin' cold turkey would probably kill me! So me and my boy have an agreement that I help out at the store in busy times and when he's labor short. Gives me way more time for music, and since I've laid down a few songs, seems like ideas are poppin' into my head left and right for new ones! So I'm lookin' forward to workin' with you at Big And Tall Records, and appreciate all you've done for me.

Tugboat Jackson

Some of our associates paid a visit to his hardware store, and they related that it's just like the old time hardware stores that have everything under the sun in them. All different sizes of screws, nails, nuts, bolts, right on down the line. And Tugboat knows where everything is at, right down to the smallest screw! 

Mr. Jenkins song gives us pause to wonder about the proverbial Mr. Brown he asks the question to, who is he? We think we get the message of the song, so give a listen and see if you can too. It's not a tough mystery at all...

Whose fault is it now, Mr. Brown? 

“It's the powers that be,” he growled. 

“But it sure in hell ain’t me!,” he howled, 

Just whose fault is it now, Mr. Brown? 

 

The Times newspaper story today, 

Pointed fingers all directions 

War, famine and insurrections 

Got what they deserve! they say. 

 

 “Things are better,” politicians said.

 “See anyone starvin’?” they bark, 

“You must have missed the mark,

 “The streets ain't piled with the dead!!" 

 

Law and ethics be dryin’ up. 

They tell me, “Always the same palaver! 

This country’s like a cadaver!”

 It’s your puny brain dryin’ up!” 

 

 I’m old, won’t have to struggle much more. 

The generations to come 

Be the ones to succumb, 

They’re the ones we should worry for. 

 

Be like it was in the old West. 

Anybody gives us lip, 

Use six guns on our hip, 

See which one of us is best. 

 

Have colonies in outer space, some day. 

Still won't bother to think,

 make outer space stink! 

Just like we did to earth in our day.

Percy McCoy - Jerkin' My Gherkin

Percy McCoy

Well, what can we say? We at Big And Tall Records had it on good authority what to expect from Percy McCoy, and he's true to form with this new song. Strictly adult music (like all of his songs!) this relates how his evenings are being spent all alone, now that he's four times divorced. He spent some time with his friends getting into mischief, but it seems that he's reflecting on his life, and why his relationships all turn sour for one reason or the other. One of our associates that knows him well says that Percy is going through a lot of soul searching, and in the process is growing more lonely by the day. 

Chin up, Percy! Keep writing and performing your music! 

All by myself, lived 40 years, 

Truth be told, led many lives, 

Just gettin’ finances out of arrears, 

Cuz I’ve had myself 4 lovin’ wives! 

 

They’s all exes now, a damn good thing,

 One cheated on me, another a bitch, 

One of them was crazy, wanted to swing,

 One thought she married a man was rich! 

 

So I sit alone every single night, 

Watch TV, play music and read, 

Listen to the next door neighbors fight, 

And glad to know that it ain’t me!.... 

 

So I’m Jerkin’ my gherkin, pullin’ the pud, 

Dinkin’ the dolphin, shootin’ the crud. 

Only trouble is I’m formin’ blisters, 

On Rosie palm and her five sisters! 

Whuppin' the weasel, smackin' the stick, 

Pumpin' the puma, spankin' the monkey, 

Poundin' it 'til it throws up gets sick, 

With no woman, sure saves money! 

 

That's all well and good, as far as it goes. 

But I must admit, gets a little borin'. 

Ain't that much to take off yer clothes 

When there ain't a woman with ya lookin'. 

 

But I ain't ready for 'nother woman yet, 

Tryin' to do what I want with my life. 

Afraid to get even a girlfriend yet, 

She might turn into wife number 5! 

 

 So I sit alone with the shades drawn down, 

Let my imagination run free, 

Make it all romantic with the lights turned down, 

And then proceed to lovin' on me!... 

 

So I’m Chokin' the chicken, doin' myself,

 Git my dirty books all off the shelf, 

Turn on the TV, play me some porn, 

Try to not look so sad and forlorn.... 

 

Dance it around, makin' it stout, 

Waggin, and smackin' and bobbin' about, 

Try to get that feelin' that's good and funny, 

But down deep I miss havin' a honey! 

 

So I think to myself I need to find a partner, 

Then I scratch that idea right out of my head! 

Just back on my feet money wise for a starter, 

I'll just stay alone in my bed instead. 

 

I heard some guys can suck their own tally whacker! 

Goddam, I wouldn't do that if'n I could. I know where that things been!

 

Sonny Hotchkins - A Little Drink Is Good, Another's Even Better

Sonny Hotchkins

At Big And Tall Records, we're always interested in the history and lives of all our artists, so when we got this new song by Sonny Hotchkins and saw the title, A Little Drink Is Good, Another's Even Better, we initially thought it might be a song that was positive about alcohol consumption...then we played it. 

There seems to be a disproportionate number of musicians, specifically blues artists, that have problems with alcohol. Mr. Hotchkins tell his story of the negative affects drinking had on him, and some of the problems it created. It's a hard-driving blues song, a testament to the resilience and courage of one man to defeat his addiction, and a warning to any that overly indulge.

Seen a lot of lives wrecked from booze, 

Drugs as well, but a lot of booze, 

You can't control it, yer gonna lose! 

 

 A little drink is good, another's even better, 

Watch out, it's gonna git ya sooner or later! 

 

 I used to drink it all up like a fish! 

Yeah, my mouth wide open like a fish, 

To get all I could was my only wish! 

 

I'd play in the juke joints every night, 

You know, I played a juke joint every night, 

I'd start out sober, end up tight!

 

 A little drink is good, another's even better, 

Watch out, it's gonna git ya sooner or later! 

 

It went that a way for many years, 

Yep, that's what I did for many years.

 Kept on playin', drinkin' too many beers. 

 

Then it got so, I couldn't remember, 

Goddammit all, I couldn't remember, 

The years I had left was pretty slender!

 

 A little drink is good, another's even better, 

Watch out, it's gonna git ya sooner or later! 

 

Then it all finally come to a head, 

Like a big ol' boil, come to a head, 

Woke up in a ditch, thought I was dead! 

 

 Don't remember how I got there, 

Don't remember what I done, 

But I slowly came aware, 

It sure wasn't any fun! 

 

A little drink is good, another's even better, 

Watch out, it's gonna git ya sooner or later!

 

 A passerby helped me out, called an ambulance, 

A good Samaritan helped and called an ambulance, 

I couldn't say nothin', like I was in a trance. 

 

 In the hospital, they dried me out, 

Yes, the hospital would dry me out, 

It was then what I saw what booze was all about.

 

 Haven't had a drink in over ten years 

No booze at all, for over ten years, 

Drink sody pop and water, not even a near beer! 

 

 So 'member what alcohol will do if you let it. 

Once it gets a hold of you, can't hardly prevent it! 

It takes over, turns yer life upside down, 

Makes you lie, ya don't care, turns ya low down! 

 

A little drink is good, another's even better, 

Watch out, it's gonna git ya sooner or later!

Melvin Peckerwood and The Mama's Boys - New Year's Eve

 We at Big And Tall Records don't know the history or traditions of the role alcohol plays in New Year's
Eve celebrations, but there are many people who keep the tradition alive. Melvin Peckerwood and The Mama's Boys latest is a song about how one person celebrated. 

We've notice that while the group is primarily a classic rock and roll group, there are elements of rock a billy, a country/western offshoot, that is creeping into their work. And equally, Percy McCoy, our resident self-confessed rock a billy artist, has many elements of classic rock and roll in their work. In modern music, sometimes the lines between genres become blurred, and a hybrid forms. That is a good thing, in our opinion. It means that music is expanding and changing! 

I was doin’ all right on New Year's Eve, 

Had only one lousy drink. 

Havin’ a good time nonetheless, 

Soon my willpower started to sink. 

Soon the bar shut down at 1:O’clock 

So we went over to a buddies house. 

He had a full bar, plenty of folks 

And some real great food that rocked 

 

Made a fool out of myself, 

Like I most always do, 

My head’s all swelled up and nasty, 

My guts got the bottle flu! 

 

Got way too drunk to drive back home, 

My buddy told me to stay and bed down. 

So we all drank and ate, and danced all night, 

Tell ya we sure went to town! 

It was one of them times when the more ya drank, 

The better the shit began to taste! 

So with a plate full of food, and a bottle to boot,

 I started gettin’ red in the face. 

 

 Made a fool out of myself, 

At my buddies house, 

Woke up the next day, 

Felt like a dirty louse! 

 

My buddy tol’ me to slow down, go to bed, 

I insisted on doin’ really dumb stuff. 

Even put a lamp shade on my head, 

My buddy said Enough was enough! 

Him and some others picked me off the floor, 

Tossed me onto an empty couch, 

I don’t remember nothin’ until the next day, 

When I woke up a terrible grouch! 

 

Made a fool out of myself, 

My mouth felt like it was full of sludge. 

I sat up on the couch, puked on the rug,

Started to walk home in a trudge! 

 

Everyone else sleepin’ it off, 

So no one even missed me. 

I felt so ashamed for what I did, 

Was so embarrassed ya see! 

Walked all the way home, my head was poundin’,

I puked a few times on the way, 

I had forgot that I drove there,

 But I just had to get away. 

 

 I got home, passed out in my bed, 

I slept for I don’t know how long,

 My cell phone was ringing’, my head was stingin’

 I answered and heard this song: 

 

 Made a fool out of yourself,

 Like you most always do, 

Bet yer head’s all swelled up and nasty, 

Bet your guts got the bottle flu! 

Be advised, yer gonna get a bill, 

For actin’ like a dumb ass kid! 

For the broken lamp, the rug full of swill,

 And any other damage you did! 

Happy New Year!

Luigi's Visit With Dr. Schill - The Barber Of Paducah

Dr. Schill

 Another scene from the opera The Barber Of Paducah by Travis V. McGonigle. The composer has changed the original plot of the opera somewhat, and continues to change it as he goes. He's been  taking recommendations from the leader of the orchestra as well as Mr. Trasudante. Not surprisingly, McGonigle has been spotlighting Mr. Trasudante in his role of Luigi. As the composer related recently:

Ain't never had a world-class singer take any kind of interest in my work before, and it's too damned bad I had ta wait 'til I'm in my goddam 90's for it to happen! But what the hell, better late than never! Trasudante really pours his heart into the role, and my music never sounded this good even in my own head! We work on it most every day, and gettin' closer to endin' the revised version, which is a damn sight better than the original I'll tell ya! He thinks once it's finished and he pedals it around, a publisher will be interested. If that happens, I'm givin' Trasudante exclusive performance rights for the premiere, and I'm plannin' on livin' long enough to make some money off the damned thing! 

To set the scene: Luigi has noticed symptoms he's having of an STD he is quite familiar with; gonorrhea. Being a serial philanderer, he's had the disease before, but not for years, and he did not have it when he moved to Paducah. So he knows he's picked it up while in town. He's on his way to the Doctor for test results and the injection he needs, but he's also bribed the doctor in advance for the names of any other townspeople that's been treated for it. Luigi knows that sooner or later he and his brother Antonio will be blamed for bringing it into town, and possibly used as a pretext to kick them out of the community. He's already been confronted by Sammy, a husband of one of the women he's had an affair with that will probably come down with the disease himself, as well as his wife. 

LUIGI 

I go to the doctor, 

but I all  ready know what it is I got.

So much for the pure women of Paducah! 

When I come to town, I no have got, 

So I get the treatment, before my crotch rot! 

 

 

All the whores, they got the disease too! 

They get treatment as well! 

They go out of commission for a while a too! 

That's a lousy for business like hell! 

 

Every ones will take the penalty, 

Some god a dam hilly billy has spread it! 

Whether the saintly wives of the city, 

Or their two faces husbands spread it! 

 

Me and a my brother, we get the blame! 

We the two strangers come here. 

Not good  citizen take  the blame, 

They'll try to use it to get us a out of here! 

 

 But some of a them best be careful, 

For I know all the dirty linen. 

They try to pin this on us will be awful,

 And I'll make sure for them too! 

Gonorrhea! Is a contagion........ 

Is a problem for all involved...... 

I make  sure the high and a mighty...... 

Pay the price if they try to absolve! 

 

The doctor will give  the cure, 

I know I'm not the only one! 

I already pay him to know who he treats, 

To make a sure we not the only one!

 

 Same thing every where we go! 

People wanna the services we got! 

But when some a thing happens it's no go! 

To say they involved...always not! 

 

 But Luigi, he not stupido! He cunning, like the fox! 

He learn over time to be so, They no trap  me in a box! 

 

But some of  them best be careful, 

For I know all the dirty linen. 

they try to pin this on us will be awful, 

And I'll make a sure for them too! 

 Gonorrhea! Is a contagion........ 

Is a problem for all involved...... 

I make  sure the high and mighty...... 

Pay the price if they try to absolve!

 

 But Luigi, he not stupido! He cunning, like the fox! 

He learn over time to be so! They no trap a me in a box! 

 

Luigi enters the Doctors office with the doctor waiting for him, and tries to sell him some of his patent medicine before he gives Luigi the information.

DR. SCHILL

  So remember, If you feel not well, 

take 2 tablets of DOCTOR SCHILL'S PILLS! ....

They'll help you feel better! ......

.Only twenty for a dollar! 

 

Now, Luigi, mine freund! I have your test results! 

With the bad news first. 

You have a case of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, 

 or in cruder terms, DER CLAP! 

The good news, we have a reliable cure, 

 a spritz of antibiotic..........ya? 

 

There’s an epidemic in the area, 

 it’s important we reach 

out to everyone. REACH OUT! 

There’s an epidemic in the area, 

 it’s important we reach 

out to everyone. REACH OUT! 

 

 I have a list who have the infection as well. 

I cannot show it to you, but you have paid me to know, so..... well, 

I'll tell you only the first names. 

The women first..... 

 

Karen, Leslie Paula,Jackie, Bonnie Sue. 

Barbara, Terri ,Marsha, Connie,Rhonda, too! 

Yolanda, Miranda, Mabel, Christina, Belinda, 

and the rich woman that lives on top of the hill! 

The men... 

David, Arnie, Willie, Jimmy, Tommy, Lou. 

Estes, Martin, Honus, Herman, Ernie, Stu. 

Kevin, Riley, George,Beauregard and .......YOU! 

 

 Gonorrhea can start a rapid progression of the clap! 

If the person is promiscuous, other’s could be caught in a trap! 

If it isn’t treated, it can cause infertility, 

Chronic pelvic illness, awful pain when you go pee, 

Infection in the joints, and problems in gestations, 

And what’s worse with kleine babies ……complications! 

 

 So prepare yourself! HAH! Bend over the table, 

expose your buttocks, and I will give to you an 

injection of antibiotics HA HA! 

It will be rather painful, OUCH!! 

But you should see some improvement , 

and it may take up to two weeks to cure it! 

CURE IT! HERE IT COMES! YAAAAAAH! 

 

Karen, Leslie Paula, Jackie, Bonnie Sue. 

Barbara, Terri ,Marsha, Connie,Rhonda, too! 

Yolanda, Miranda, Mabel, Christina, Belinda,

and the rich woman that lives on top the hill! 

David, Arnie, Willie,Jimmy, Tommy, Lou. 

Estes, Martin, Honus, Herman, Ernie, Stu. 

Kevin, Riley, George, Beauregard and .......YOU! 

 

 And don't forget! ....

Take 2 tablets of DOCTOR SCHILL'S MIRACULOUS PILLS! .... 

They'll help you feel better! ....... Only twenty for a dollar!

Milford Boil - Paper Cuts

 Yep. Paper cuts. Milford Boil continues to get creative over every day happenstances. Granted, paper cuts are a real annoyance, and for no bigger than they tend to be, surely get sore. Big And Tall Records likes to keep our fans informed, so if you ever wondered about paper cuts, a quick googling gives these results:

• Nerve endings: The fingertips have many pain receptors, making them more sensitive to touch and pain.  
• Serrated edges: Paper edges are jagged, similar to a saw, and can rip and tear skin. 
• Chemical irritation: Paper is treated with chemicals that can irritate the skin. 
• Exposed nerves: Paper cuts are usually shallow and don't bleed much, leaving nerves exposed. 
• Damaged tissues: Paper cuts can leave damaged tissues and neurons exposed. 
• Wound flexes: Using your hands can flex the wound open, disturbing the neurons.  

 While the subjects stay offbeat, the music is flowing more and more into heavy rock. But Milford can be just as unpredictable in his music style as in his subject matter. The song does reveal something we never knew; that Milford enjoys a good sense of job security because his father is his boss's boss. We knew Milford did some sort of research and that he's very good at what he does, but it sure doesn't hurt to have your Dad as the head man! 

We've got an office pool going as to what Milford's next subject will be. Nobody won the last pool, so the money rolls over into the new one. I'd share what subjects are in the pool, but we'd rather keep it a surprise.

I was sorting through some paperwork 

As I most always do. 

When I noticed a pain on the pad 

of my index finger! 

A stabbing, burning pain! 

What did I do? Snag a paperclip? 

Get hung up on a staple? Now what? 

That’s my main sorting finger! I’m disabled! 

I can’t finish what I was doing!…….. 

 

Cooler heads prevailed. 

I calmed down a little, examined my finger, 

Expected to see a bloody, mess….but NOTHING! 

Not a sign of blood! No sign of redness! What the hell? 

I inspected more closely…and found a…. PAPER CUT! 

 

Some might say it’s superficial 

Because there’s no blood. 

But the pain is not artificial! 

 

PAPER CUTS! a hazard of my job! 

They hurt and they burn, and then begin to throb! 

 

There’s a box of finger rubbers 

Off to the side, on top my table. 

Like the things used by lovers 

To make love without fear they're able. 

 Only these little condoms 

Give the fingers much protection

 From the irritating symptoms

 Of the skin /paper confrontation! 

 

 PAPER CUTS! a hazard of my job! 

They hurt and they burn, and then begin to throb! 

 

They come in many colors, 

To help prevent the stings, 

But I’ve got my druthers, 

About using the ugly things. 

They come smooth or rippled, 

Like the bigger ones do, 

Wavy, crazy dimples. 

Fluorescent colors too! 

 

PAPER CUTS! a hazard of my job! 

They hurt and they burn, and then begin to throb! 

 

 My boss here’s me crying, 

And comes running in my door. 

“Why do I keep buying 'em? 

Use them what they’re for!” 

“You’re doing this all the time,

 You’re not that big of a dumb ass! 

Or do I have to spend the dime 

And send you back to class!” 

But I hate to use them! 

I tell him to his face. 

“So you can just shove ‘em

 In your rear end place!”

 He gets mad, his face turns red, 

I know he wants to fire me. 

He turns around and leaves instead.

 My father’s his boss, you see! 

 

PAPER CUTS! a hazard of my profession! 

But to wear the finger things make me sick!

 For when I wear them in profusion,

 MY FINGERS LOOK LIKE LITTLE DICKS!

 HURT!!......BURN!! ................PAIN!!