Un Grupo de Mexicali - Our Home Mexicali

The Mariachi group Un Grupo de Mexicali are back in Mexico at the release of their latest song,  Our Home Mexicali.  They ended a very successful tour of mainly the Southwest with a few one night engagements up north. We had them stay over from their last show so we could record them before they left.  We thought this was a large group, but Mariachis come in all sizes. This group that went on tour has 3 violins, 2 trumpets, 2 acoustic guitars, 1 Guitarrón, 1 Vihuela, and 3 vocalists that also play assorted instruments and percussion. Back at their home base in Mexicali they also have other musicians that fill in to enlarge the group for bigger occasions. 

Mariachi playing Guitarrón

Guitarrón

The two instruments that may not be familiar to you are unique to Mariachi bands.  The Guitarrón is the big, deep guitar that supplies the bass. It's name translates to large guitar in English. It has a very deep body with a relatively short neck with no frets. The strings are pulled, and the resultant sound is deep and rich, as well as being loud enough to carry the bass with the other instruments. It has 6 strings, 3 of them steel strings wound with either bronze, copper, or steel. The other 3 strings are nylon that are wound with nylon. String tension is very high, so there is a certain amount of effort to pull the strings with the right hand. The instrument provides the backbone of the Mariachi band as it supplies a steady bass beat pulse.

Vihuela

The Vihuela is similar to the Guitarrón in structure, only on a much smaller scale. The two instruments, along with the guitar, are thought of as being the rhythm section of the band. It is smaller than the guitar, and has 5 strings. The neck has frets made of nylon string tied tightly around it at the correct intervals. Its back is also convex, and as with the Guitarrón, the convex back helps the sound project throughout the band.The Vihuela seldom plays the melody, as it plays chords to support the rhythm and key of the music. The strings can be of different gauges and tensions to get the desired effect of the instrument in the music being played. 

 

 Mariachi playing Vihuela

If there's one thing we've learned here at Big And Tall Records,  is that a good musician is a good musician, regardless of what kind of music they play. Music is a discipline, and most of our recordings have been a group effort with members in a band. We've come to appreciate them all! 

Un Grupo Mexicali aren't due for another tour until late this year, so we'll look forward to having them record more songs for us then, maybe even talk them into coming to the States before then!

We miss our home Mexicali 

Back in the Baja state 

We love to play for you here

 Back home we can't hardly wait 

 

 We love play for good people but 

Our women folks miss us 

We miss them very much too 

But it's time we say adios 

 

Mexicali se llama 

La ciudad que capturó el sol 

Conocemos a toda la gente, lugares 

Mexicali es la única 

 

Mexicali is called 

The city that captured the sun 

We miss all the people, places 

Mexicali is the only one 

 

 Our tour has taken us far and wide 

We see much your country we never see 

All the audience have been muy bueno 

We play for them happily 

 

We greeted with honor wherever we go 

Our cachanilla corazón*  feel warm

We have felt welcome and safety 

And never we get any harm 

 

Mexicali is called 

The city that captured the sun 

We invite you all to come there 

Mexicali is so mucho fun 

 

You all come to Mexicali 

We show you muy bueno time 

We have a big fiesta! 

We laugh, and sing, all the time 

 

We shout 

We laugh 

We show you hospitality 

Come! Come to Mexicali! 

 

Mexicali is called 

The city that captured the sun 

We invite you all to come there 

Mexicali is so mucho fun

 

*Cachanillas is a nickname for the residents of Mexicali. The term comes from the cachanilla shrub, which is also known as arrowweed. Corazón means 'heart'

 

 

Marie Flores - Mi Hermosa Mamá

Delmar Gentry has a lot to say about this special song he wrote for Marie Flores and her Mother Rosa:

One morning Marie was working in the kitchen cleaning up the breakfast dishes, and I noticed she was quietly crying. Marie is shy, so it took me a while for her to tell me. She hasn't seen her mother for a while, and she really misses her. We sat and talked, found out her Mother lived in Kingston, AZ, about 100 miles from Flagstaff. She hated to ask me for time off to go see her, so I suggested she would come here instead. There was plenty of room for her, there's 3 bedrooms in the house that aren't being used. She protested, said that I had done enough for her, she didn't want to impose. Amos came in the kitchen, and joined the conversation. 

He's met Rosa, said she's a sweet lady, an older version of Marie, taught her how to cook and all kinds of other things. I could see Marie's eyes light up as he talked about her Mama, so I insisted she come here for a visit, as long as she wants. I offered to drive the big car, I don't remember what kind it is, a left over from my law days. I kept it because it's a real gun boat, holds a lot of people.  Marie got excited, and I told her to go call her Mama and give us a day and time to pick her up. 

Doyle and Blanche, the couple that used to own the ranch and that now have a house on some of  the land, also have met Rosa, and told me that I'd like her, said the same thing Amos did, that she was an older version of Marie. 

The day and time was set, and Marie got into the big car with me and we left. Marie had not been in the big car before, and she said it was like riding in a carriage of a queen! She was really out of her shell, and talked my ear off all the way to Kingston. We picked up Rosa, and they both sat in the back seat. They talked mostly in English, sometimes slipped into Spanish, but they'd always excuse themselves for doing so, as it was very rude! 

Ended up Rosa stayed for two weeks, and she could have stayed longer as far as I was concerned. She was no trouble at all, and Marie like having her near. Marie had told me a lot of things about her life with her Mama on the trip to Kingston, so I started to work on a song about her. When I had a good start, I told Marie and asked her to help with some of the details. When she'd tell me some things, her eyes would tear up, especially when she talked about her Papa, who had died when she was 10 years old. The song went quickly, and I asked Marie if she would record it for her Mama. She wasn't sure she could get through it without crying, but that she would try. 

I went all out for the recording session. Got some Mariachi musicians, plus a small string section. We rehearsed it quite a bit before we got it like we wanted it, and Marie did break down the first few times she tried to sing it. But eventually we got a track laid that was very good. The next day before supper, I invited everyone into my living room where I've got a nice stereo setup. I played the recording, and before it was over there wasn't a dry eye in the house! Rosa was very moved, hugged me and kissed me, as did Marie. 

We had a nice little party afterwards, invited the musicians that played on the recording as well. I was very glad to be able to do it for her Mama, and for Marie as well!

It's no wonder Delmar's songs have been few and far between; he's writing songs for his extended family! Two songs for Marie and Amos Carter, another for Doyle! But he seems to be enjoying himself doing it, and we enjoy hearing the results!

The first thing I can remember 

Was in bed, blanket up to my chin 

A pretty young face looking at me 

Smiling with a big grin. 

 

We moved to this country, I was a little girl 

Things were so different, I was afraid 

But that pretty face made me better 

Looking back now, glad we stayed. 

 

Mi Hermosa Mamá, made things good for me 

For Papá, and all of the family 

Whatever happened, good or bad 

I'm glad we had Mi Hermosa Mamá, 

 

We all had much to learn 

It was a struggle every day 

Papá insisted to learn all we could 

And told Mamá at home you must stay 

 

 I will make the money for us 

Mamá you learn bein Inglés 

How to read it and write it 

 Then help teach niños y niñas 

 

Mi Hermosa Mamá, helped us in school 

With the new culture and rules 

Whatever happened, good or bad 

I'm glad we had Mi Hermosa Mamá, 

 

Papá knew English already 

Been to this country before 

He worked as a migrant worker 

And he knew what was the score 

 

 He helped us through troubles 

That many migrants share 

He was a good man, a good Papá 

And taught us to be aware 

 

Mi Hermosa Mamá, tender one 

With her daughters and with her sons 

Whatever happened, good or bad 

I'm glad we had Mi Hermosa Mamá 

 

 We lost dear Papá after three years

 Mamá took work became a cook and house cleaner 

We were not citizens, but still worked hard to be 

Papá said it was the way to be a winner 

 

Mi Hermosa Mamá, worked all day 

To give us what we needed in every way 

She is my hero... 

I love her so... 

Mi Hermosa Mamá

Tugboat Jackson - You Still Give Me The Hots!

 Tugboat Jackson has made a name for himself here at Big And Tall Records with his songs that make you think. Songs of advice, and songs lamenting some parts of modern society. But he's not always a blues philosopher or social commentary songwriter. Tugboat had this to say about his latest:

My wife and I recently celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary! I told her we should celebrate, so we met our three kids and their families at a steakhouse we like to go to. Nothin' fancy, neither one of us are fancy people. Don't like expensive clothes and that kind of stuff. We do get a little offbeat with what we like to eat once in a while, but this night we both just wanted to spend time with our family and have a good steak. 

We didn't buy each other anything, decided to take a little trip later when the weather's better. Our kids got us some nice things, a nice plaque with our picture and wedding date on it, some jewelry for my wife, and a new hat for me! After we finished with the meal, the place had a band playing after the meal service ended. My wife kind of wanted to leave after the meal, go back home. She's a real homebody, but I told her the kids are still here, we can't just run off! So we listened to the band, danced a little, then the lead singer told the audience I was in the house, and the crowd urged me to get up and sing. Now my wife loves my singin', but she knows once I get goin' it can take me a spell to stop! But I told her I promise that I'd sing only one song. She gave me that look, and I joined the band.

Well, it was all a set-up! I'd run through this song a few times with the band through the week, so we had it down well enough to let it rip! She was really surprised! I wanted to give her some sort of tribute for puttin' up with my ass for 35 years!

So Tugger gives us a short history of their life together. We congratulate the Jackson's on their longevity in a loving and successful marriage! He told us he kept his promise and sang only that song. They had a reception afterwards, and seems like a lot of people in town showed up for it! 

Got somethin' to tell, I've been lucky as hell 

In my life and all that I've done 

The woman in my life, made her my wife 

Best woman under the sun 

 

Any trouble I got in, was there through thick and thin 

Helped to prop me up 

She's really a wiz, raised our three kids 

Always kept filling my cup 

 

 But I don't wanna give you a line 

Always hasn't been a great time 

She's sometimes a witch, I'm a son of a bitch 

But mostly we've pulled the same line. 

 

 Damn, I love ya baby 

Dig ya really lots and lots 

We got a good life, and I'm crazy 

Cuz you still give me the hots! 

 

 She helped me run the store, helped me walk the floor 

When I was just gettin' it started 

She knew about the lumber, a wiz with all the numbers 

Stuck with me never departed 

 

Runnin' a hardware store, can sure be a bore 

Sometimes I was a grouch 

I'd come home frumpy, be really grumpy 

And just collapse on the couch 

 

We had three babies, two sons and a lady 

She stayed home raisin' and cookin' 

Kept all of us well fed, put the kids to bed 

Then wiggled her ass for my lookin' 

 

But man, sometimes it wasn't breezy 

Wasn't a snap, wasn't easy 

Wondered if it'd float, at each other's throat 

Worked so hard we'd get queasy 

 

Damn, I love ya baby 

Dig ya really lots and lots 

We got a good life, and I'm crazy 

Cuz you still give me the hots!

 

 We got older got tired, then we both retired

 Sold the store, the kids all grown

 I help out at the store, trackin' parts galore 

The wife still cookin' and sewin’ 

 

But I'm the lucky one, sold the store to my son 

My wife gets out to the garden hoein' (HAH) 

We didn't know if whether, we could stand bein' together 

So much after so many years 

But it's been a blast, relivin' all our past 

And all our gone careers 

 

See our kids all the time 

Got 4 Grandbabies mighty fine 

We're lucky kids turned out well, we're thankful as hell 

They really seem to toe the line 

 

 Damn, I really love ya baby 

Dig ya really lots and lots 

We got a good life, and I'm plum crazy.... 

Cuz you give me the hots!

Melvin Peckerwood and The Mama's Boys - Move it!

 Melvin and The Boys offer up their latest, that sees them move away from their usual Classic Rock 'n Roll style to a more modern pop style. There's enough talent in this group that they can take up an opportunity to mix their style, despite the fact that there's been some personnel changes, some temporary, some maybe not so much.

Their regular keyboard player is still out with an illness, so Big Marv our resident piano wizard has been filling in. Now he's out with a bad infection in 2 fingers in his left hand. His doctor suggested he lay off the piano until they both heal with the help of antibiotics. He kept trying to play when he first noticed the pain and redness in the fingers. His doctor said that he should have came in for an appointment right off, as the infection may or may not have healed on its own. And worse case scenario, he could have lost the fingers, possibly his hand! So he's taking the doctors advice, (and we at Big And Tall Records read him the riot act to take care of his fingers!) keeping the hand in a sling, and taking IV antibiotics to hopefully get it cleared up faster. So perhaps the different sound with this recording is a result of not having a solid keyboard in the mix. 

My girl and I go to the hall 

We like the music, and groove it 

But the thing we like best of all 

To get out on the floor and move it! 

 

MOVE IT, give us a chance 

We love to get in the groove! 

We know every kind of dance 

We're really gonna shake it and move 

 

We like all kinds of styles 

Anything that has a good beat 

That we can show off all our wiles

 And move all four of our feet! 

 

MOVE IT, give us a chance 

We love to get in the groove! 

We know every kind of dance 

We're really gonna shake it and move 

 

When my girl really gets into it 

Her body moves like it's a sin 

Everything just seems to fit 

HELL NO! YOU AIN'T CUTTIN' IN! 

 

 MOVE IT, give us a chance 

We love to get in the groove! 

We know every kind of dance 

We're really gonna shake it and move 

 

It's always my girlfriend and me 

Since she gave me the chance

 She says "You make me feel free and

 I love that you love to dance!" 

 

MOVE IT, give us a chance 

We love to get in the groove! 

We know every kind of dance 

We're really gonna shake it and move 

 

When my girl really gets into it 

Her body moves like it's a sin 

Everything just seems to fit 

HELL NO! YOU AIN'T CUTTIN' IN! 

 

MOVE IT, give us a chance 

We love to get in the groove! 

We know every kind of dance 

We're really gonna shake it and move 

 

We'll dance 'til the music's all done 

Then we'll go get a bite to eat 

Then we'll have more personal fun

 As we put...up...our feet!

 

 

Doyle Harseth - Told Ya That My Name Is Doyle

Doyle Harseth

 This recording was sent along to us here at Big And Tall Records by Delmar Gentry. Lately Delmar has been working with some of his employees on the horse ranch he bought that have talent. His housekeeper/cook Marie Flores has recorded a song that Delmar wrote and produced, and his head ranch hand Amos Carter has recorded two songs, co written by Amos and Delmar that Delmar plays piano on as well as producing them. He also wrote this song Told Ya That My Name Is Doyle, played the piano and produced it. We'll let him tell the rest of the story:

 The recording session for the latest song we recorded of Amos Carter, Ain't Never Gonna Be Famous,  was attended by a few folks from the ranch, as well as Doyle and Blanche Harseth, the couple I bought the horse ranch from not so long ago. Now originally, Doyle and Blanche were going to have a house built in town and move in there, but I offered to sell them back some land to build their house on so they could stay out here. They're both horse people, and we're boarding their horses at the ranch. They're country folk anyway, and they jumped at the chance to stay. Their house is all done, they're moved in and happy, and I'm happy to have 'em! 

I've been practicing my honky tonk piano style on the upright piano in the studio, and Doyle's been bringing around a six pack every night to share. He likes to hear me play, and one night after we finished the six pack off, he told me he used to sing in the church choir for years since he was a kid. I checked his voice out, and considering he's in his 70's and used to be a heavy smoker, he's still got a semblance of a voice. We came up with the idea to change the lyrics of Amos' Ain't Never Gonna Be Famous song, and after a few nights of dinking around with it, we came up with Doyle's version. He had a lot of input with the words, while I pretty much improvised the music. We recorded it one night, just us two, about 2 in the morning. Everybody was surprised when we played it for them! Figured I'd send it a long for ya'll there to have a chuckle over!

Well, we got more than a chuckle out of it! Doyle's got a way with a song, so we decided to publish it! Doyle's got a voice deep as a foghorn in spots, and it's a good parody of Amos' song. 

If I had to choose what I like, 

A horse would be first of course 

The second thing I like after that 

Would still be a goddam horse! 

 

Relate to 'em better than humans 

They sure can be a lot of work 

Ranch hands are paid to shovel shit

 Somethin' that they try to shirk 

 

Told ya that my name is Doyle 

I love this Arizona soil 

A retired life, with my sweet wife

 Live with damn little strife 

 

 I were the Boss, and treated everyone well 

Raised horses from little babies 

Trained them, fed them, kept them healthy 

No ifs, ands, or maybes! 

 

Always dressed in blue jeans 

Never wore no damn bandana 

Yessir, I’m a horse man 

And I never could play the piana! 

 

Told ya that my name is Doyle 

I love this Arizona soil 

A retired life, with my sweet wife 

Live with damn little strife 

 

The skies over Flagstaff, 

Are a wonderful sight 

But don't take no horse ride 

In the Arizona night

 It's dark as hell! 

 

 Mountains and trees

Trails through the scene 

Horses like it for sure

 So peaceful and serene 

 

Told ya that my name is Doyle 

Whippin’ a horse makes me boil! 

Ya ain’t gotta do it, put yer mind to it 

It’ll make me throw a real fit! 

And that ain’t no shit!

The Nude Polka Kings - The Fat Ass Polka

 The Nude Polka Kings latest submission concerns subject matter that some may find offensive. Folks that happen to possess a prodigious derrière may take offense with the lyrics, despite some lyrics that assure they mean no offense. But this group doesn't seem to be worried about offending people. Any group that gets their name from their reputation of playing polka dances in the nude has got to be thick skinned, so maybe they think everyone else should be.We've got some ample-assed people working here at Big And Tall Records, and when we played the recording those folks laughed especially loud. So take it for what it's worth.

Let me say it right away, 

I’ve got nothing against a fat ass 

Doesn’t matter if it’s a boy or man 

An older woman or a young lass 

 

But from our vantage point 

Watching over dancers loose 

We just can’t help but notice 

A BIG FAT CABOOSE! 

 

The fat ass polka, bouncing to and fro 

The fat ass polka, look at that thing go!

 Wiggles like its made of something as a rubber ball 

And makes a real soft cushion, if you take a fall! 

 

Some folks got one naturally 

Part of who they are 

They even get some flattery 

From lookers near and far 

 

But some people work to get them 

By eating lots of food 

Drinking beer and eating noodles 

And getting rather crude 

 

The fat ass polka, shimmy and they shake 

The fat ass polka, some cause an earthquake 

Jiggly and blubbery, saggier than hell 

Imagine when their pants drop, it stinks like hell! 

 

 If you’ve got a fat ass, 

I mean you no offense 

Do not mean to upset you

 Or put you on defense 

 

 It must be very burdensome 

Makes your life more hard 

To carry what amounts to 

A BIG CHUNK OF LARD! 

 

The fat ass polka, gives off lots of heat 

The fat ass polka, there's not much meat 

Not like prime steak marbled, it’s not at all like that 

There’s muscle there but deeply covered by thicknesses of FAT! 

 

Be careful there! 

Don’t bump butts! 

The reverberations 

Will bring the house down! 

 

If you’ve got a fat sweaty ass, 

I mean you no offense 

Do not mean to upset you

 Or put you on defense 

 

 It must be very burdensome 

If you don't have a big belly 

To counterbalance all that weight 

With a huge ass made of jelly! 

 

The fat ass polka, largest we've ever met 

The fat ass polka, gives off lots of sweat 

It trickles down their leg and then before its through 

Collects in their shoes and makes a smelly brew!

 

 The fat ass polka!

Amos Carter - Ain't Never Gonna Be Famous

 Another song from Amos Carter, ranch hand and leader of a band after hours. He works for Delmar Gentry on the horse ranch, and Delmar has been helping him write some songs as Amos' band is rehearsing, getting ready to play some gigs. They want some original material to play as well as the cover songs they do. We don't know for sure who does the writing of what with the songs. All Delmar tells us is that they work together. But if we'd have to guess, we'd say Delmar mostly does the music at least. He's got the formal training in it. Not that Amos is a slouch. He's been playing bass fiddle for many years, and grew up playing the cello. 

Amos plunks out a steady bass, and Delmar plays some really good Honky Tonk piano. He told us he had to practice a lot to get the style down pat, as he never played much of it before. He got an old upright piano for the studio, as it just didn't sound right on a Steinway Grand.

If I had to choose what I like, 

Music would be first of course 

The second thing I like after that 

Would havin' my ass sittin' on a horse! 

 

Critters I can sure relate to 

They sure can be a lot of work 

They're a part of my life 

Somethin' that I never shirk 

 

Told ya that my name is Amos

 Ain't never gonna be famous 

The band, and a ranch hand 

A good life in this great land

 

 My Boss is a horse man as well 

He's a horse man that's true blue

 He even helps to muck out the barn 

Don't quit 'til it's all through 

He dresses in blue jeans 

 

Round his neck is a bandana 

But he ain't just a horse man, no 

He can shore stomp the piana! 

 

Told ya that my name is Amos 

Ain't never gonna be famous 

The band, and a ranch hand 

A good life in this great land 

 

 The skies over Flagstaff, 

Are a wonderful back drop 

Takin' a long horse ride 

Makes ya wanna never stop 

 

Mountains and trees, 

Trails goin' through the scene 

Horses like it too it seems 

Keeps us all healthy and lean 

 

Told ya that my name is Amos 

Ain't never gonna be famous 

The band, and a ranch hand 

A good life in this great land