Tugboat's back after a brief illness that required surgery, but he doesn't sound worse for wear with this new song Lollygaggin'. We pretty much know what the word means, but just for the hell of it we googled it and got this result:
"Lollygagging" is a colloquial term that means to dawdle, waste time, or fool around. It's essentially a playful or informal way of saying someone is not being serious or productive.
That sure seems to be what Tugboat's singing about. An old guy, retired, doin' old retired guy stuff of no consequence. Good one, Tugger!
The third recording from the storyteller Boxcar Bertha. After thirty years riding the rails, she's no doubt has a lot of stories to tell, and when she wants to tell them in song, we'll record them! She now lives in a small efficiency apartment, and is trying to get used to it. We talked to her recently:
I'm lucky to be able to get off the road. Ridin' the rails isn't for old folks, and it's gettin' harder and harder to do. I did work off an on, one time at a two year stretch. Got pretty good pay, socked most of it away for my old age. Got a nice apartment, but I'm feeling hemmed in .When you're used to sleeping wherever you can lay your head, usually under the stars, having a comfortable bed should be a comfort. But there's most night I make a bedroll and go sleep outside. Put some of the other tenants in a dither when I started doing that. They thought I'd died out in the front yard! But they don't bother me any more. But I'm slowly gettin' used to a bed, spoiled, actually. Lots easier to get some rest for my old weary bones on a nice mattress than the hard ground!
The word has gotten out to many of her hobo friends, as there's a constant stream of them coming to her apartment, most looking for a handout. She told us she had to finally cut off giving them anything, as she went through too much money. But there are some true friends that just want to visit.
Many years ago, there was a young man
He had a talent he used to survive
A Bo on the rails since he was full growed
He had the fastest hands, ever alive
Light fingered Moses was his hobo name
His touch was so soft, his hands so nimble
He lived by takin’ things out of folk’s pockets
He wore a tattered hat, was his symbol
Moses was a veteran, of the rails
He sure didn’t look it, with his young face
He kept a small book of where he had been
Many an obscure, and familiar place
Light fingered Moses was his hobo name
His touch was so soft, his hands so nimble
He lived by takin’ things out of folk’s pockets
He wore a tattered hat, was his symbol
He’s go in a store, or gas station
Looked innocent casin’ out the store
He’d swipe stuff out of pockets, off the shelves
Cigarettes and candy, and so much more
Light fingered Moses was his hobo name
His touch was so soft, his hands so nimble
He lived by takin’ things out of folk’s pockets
He wore a tattered hat, was his symbol
Don’t know how he did it, but he sure could
Beat the alarm systems in the big stores
He’d look all around, and find some cool stuff
He’d stuff his pockets, and go out the doors
Light fingered Moses, no one ever caught
Didn’t matter if from a pocket or shelf
Always had something, in his coat to share
Thought about others just not ‘bout himself
He was a thief, but not from a Bo
Had some thought about things, and he took a stand
There's definitely been a change in Percy McCoy. He's recorded some pretty raunchy songs for us in the past, but slowly they've been changing, until we come to this latest one from his pen. With no vulgarity in the lyrics, it marks a first for Percy,and the reason for the change is the little person he met and has fallen in love with. We wondered what kind of a turn this would take, knowing his past, but this must be very special. Evidently they've worked through some of the problems of the heigth differences (she's a little peson) between them, as well as some of the other differences.
Percy still works as a master machinist craftsman making tools and dies, and his lady is a trained para-legal that has just returned to work after moving to a different area after a contentious divorce. Percy has got a good-ol'-boy upbringing, but that doesn't mean he's not a smart guy. He's a voracious reader, and there's a lot of education and training that goes into being a tool and die maker. And his recordings show his talent in music and lyric writing.
One of our associates travels to Great Britain across the pond once a year on vacation, and one night he had a chance to see a local band in the town he was in. He went, he liked them, the band had a file of one of their songs so he sent it along to us. This associate is a big fan of Hard Rock music, and we'll have to take his word for it, as we don't really know the exacty genre it is. But it's pretty loud and has a pounding beat. This is the first recording of this type of band for us here at Big And Tall Records, so we decided what the hell, let's give it a shot! The band's name is The Widow Makers, and our associate sent along pictures of them, but he assured us they're decent lads, just like to listen to and play 'kick ass music' (no doubt a technical term!) It's early yet, but there's been some definate interest in the recording. So we may be adding more artists to our catalog!
The Burgoo Boys give some more home-spun profound (and profane) wisdom about dealing with the complexities of life accompanied by some really fine bluegrass pickin'. We think we've got them slowed down enough for most people to follow them. They're such virtuosos on their instruments that playing fast (warp speed fast) is not only possible, but preferable for them. These guys can burn up guitar strings and banjo skins when they really let loose!
When beset by troubles and worries
What helps get you get back straight and through it
We here at Big And Tall Records have an attachment to all of our recording artists. We came about with the help of Delmar Gentry and other investors to promote and record talent that would ordinarily not get much attention. Granted, we're a small company, and our artists don't make a fortune on royalties, but they do get an opportunity to get their names out there and get a chance. One of our favorites among favorites is Toothless Mabel, an RN that worked in a major hospital until a bad round of cancer sidelined her and led to a permanent disability. It has taken her much physical troubles dealing with the powerful chemotherapy she needed, and just as much mental and emotional troubles dealing with the loss of here teeth and her decreased usage of her legs. She has been writing and performing songs telling about her struggles, and with this new song she appears to have turned the corner! We have recently signed her to a year-long recording contract that has given her a boost, as well as a job offer to be a nurse phone consultant for patients. Last time we talked to her she sounded much better, and she's staying busy writing songs, and she took the phone nursing job which keeps her busy 4 days a week.
She's having an issue with an infection in her left hand, so she couldn't play her usual blues guitar, so we sent out the word and Goggle Eyes Brown brought along two of his Oglers on drums and bass while he played the piano. So this is a little bit different sound for her this time around.
The latest from Melvin Peckerwood And The Mama's Boys gives a glimpse back in time when a date for a young couple was going out for a burger and a drive-in movie double feature. And like the song lyrics say, sometimes the best show wasn't on the screen!
There are very few drive-in movie theaters left now, but at one time they were quite prevalent. The first drive-in movie theater was in Comanche, Texas in 1921, which of course showed silent movies. They slowly increased in number. In 1947 there was around 155 outdoor theaters in The United States, and by the time of the start of the baby boom era in 1951 there were over 4,000 of them nation wide. With the end of WW II, couples were having families, and the drive in movies offered the ma cheaper alternative than going to indoor theaters. The kids were brought along, no baby sitter was needed, and many of the theaters offered dollar a carload nights, where a car full of adults and kids could get in for a dollar.
Melvin's song deals with a young man thinking he can have his own 'private showing', but the girl thwarts his plans.
