Brisa Caribeña (Caribbean Breeze) is a band relatively new to the Latin/American scene, but they're rapidly making their mark as a band that, although primarily a Salsa band, is well acquainted with the many modern forms of Latin/American music styles, and has the personnel with the skill to play them.
Although most of the band members take their turn as the lead singer, Minerva Peña usually handles the vocals. This song is in the Salsa style, a type of music with many influences and close enough to folk music that the origins are disputable.The Salsa dance style is known for the energy of the footwork with the intermittent close embrace of the partners, punctuated by spins and turns.
Recordings of 'The Barber Of Paducah' continues with the confrontation between Sammy, a patron that usually doesn't come to Luigi's shop except to cause trouble, and Luigi. This is one instance where the original manuscript written by Travis V. McGonigle is virtually complete. The only missing items are part of the orchestration. At a recent conference with the composer, he revealed that the opera is based on incidents that happened way back in the early 1950's in Paducah itself. He told us it was very liberally based. He was also asked by some reporters what else influenced the opera here is what he said:
What influenced the opera? You fellers tetched in the head? Why, Mozart's Don Giovanni, Rossini's The Barber Of Seville fer starters! You guys got any damn culture to ya at all? The whole damn Classical and early Romantic eras of opera are so obviously included in the writing! The story has been modernized, at least it was in 1950 when I wrote it. Why does an old, ugly, retired barber, and full time hayseed know all the connections, and you peckerwoods don't? Got any other goddam stupid questions?
Travis V. McGonigle, composer
Mr. McGonigle at his most cantankerous best! The composer worked closely with the singers to try and convey to them what he had in mind for this scene, and he is very pleased with results!
To set the scene: Luigi the Italian barber has not only taken business from the other shops, but he's been bedding anything in a skirt, especially married women and older widows. Resentment is starting to ride high in Paducah, as evidenced by Sammy entering the shop. He's not a regular customer, but drops by occasionally to get under Luigi's skin and cause trouble. He calls Luigi out on his philandering.
Luigi defends himself by saying he doesn't force himself on anyone, nor does he physically abuse them, and accuses the husbands of not being romantic, without ever saying he's NOT romancing the town wives. He get quite angry and throws Sammy out of the shop. After Sammy leaves, he laughs an tells his other patrons about the jokes' on Sammy, as he's already made love to her...four times!
Sammy -
Hey there Luigi! How's things a-goin'?
I heard lots of stories 'bout you.
While I'm waitin' for a shave,
Ya'll can tell me if’n they're true....
You been cattin' 'round town,
romancin' the women folk.
'Specially the wives an’ old maids.
What in hell are ya doin' that for
When ya got a whole herd of whores?
Figures ya'll can have any of 'em, whenever ya want.
Ain't like the older wives that ya gotta throw down and bang........
Ya'll can tell me buddy, it true?
Now don't jest smile and keep cuttin' that guys hair!
I got it from that feller over there!
That ya go in, rip off their clothes,
toss 'em on the floor and BANG 'EM!
LONG AND HARD BECAUSE THAT'S
THE WAY THEY WANT IT!
You been cattin' 'round town,
romancin' the women folk.
'Specially the wives an’ old maids.
What in hell are ya doin' that for
When ya got a whole herd of whores?
Menfolk gonna get on to you,
Tar and feather yer dago ass,
Put ya on a goddam rail,
Give ya a one way pass!
We don't cotton no abuse of our womenfolk,
'specially from a foreigner like you!
Take this as friendly warnin'
If yer smart you'll know what to do!
Luigi-
I have never pushed myself on any woman.
All they have to do is say no!
There are some I've met that said that,
But most of them say, “Please, let it be so!”
I know what to say. I know what to do,
To have them melt in my arms!
It's not that I force myself, out of the blue,
Luigi never do them any harm!
The married women don't get any romance,
Its for them wham, bam, thank a you, Ma'am!
Luigi kiss their hand, caress there face!
But most husbands, don't give a damn!
It makes me furious, to be accused of violence,
With any woman, never, NEVER!
I never raise a hand in anger to dem,
I not hurt them, never, NEVER!
Luigi love women! Old, fat, skinny or homely!
I have an urge to make love to them,
Because so many are so lonely!
I have never pushed myself on any woman.
All they have to do is say no!
There are some I've met that said that,
But most of them say, “Please, let it be so!”
GODDAMN YOU FOR THINKING OTHERWISE!
SAMMY!
GET A YOU ASS OUTA MY SHOP!
Sammy leaves, slamming the door.
Jokes on a him.......HAAAA HAAAA HAAAAA!
I tell a you! He’s so funny! I already had his wife!
Four times! She love it! Now she hate her no good a husband Sammy! HAA HAA HAA!
A comic Christmas song about Santa getting into the stash-and they're not singing about a stash of toys! First time being recorded, the Hokie Carmichael Orchestra is a group of young men with a passion for big band music. We hope to hear more original compositions from this group soon!
One Christmas Eve it was snowin'
Decided to go out for a walk.
Wind was pretty calm, wasn't blowin'
Heard a noise, looked up
Santa his sleigh and reindeer,
I couldn't believe my eyes,
They were doing loop de loops,
Believe me I'm tellin' no lies!
Santa Claus got in the stash,
Funny things on top the cookies.
Maybe brownies full of hash!
Reindeer flyin' like rookies!
I kept on watchin' them fly,
Couldn't believe all the stint!
Goin' upside down and to the side,
Why, maybe I got a hint!
Santa Claus got in the stash,
Think all the reindeer did too.
Cuz Santa looks real bashed,
Hangin' off the side like a fool!
Santa hollers, slurrin' his words,
"You all have a Merry Chrishmush!"
Got his head stuck down in his sack,
Exposin' his bare flabby tush!
Santa Claus got in the trash,
Maybe some cookies with a gummie!
Reindeer are headed for a crash,
'Less Santa quits actin' like a dummy!
I see in his mouth is his pipe
He lights it and takes a big puff!
Doesn't blow out no smoke for awhile,
Then his drivin' gets really rough!
Santa Claus got in the shit,
Don't think it's alcohol!
Cat looks like he's havin' a fit!
Look out! He's headin' for a fall!
Santa fell out the sleigh,
Reindeer don't see it at first,
But they won't let him fall long, no way!
They catch him with a sudden burst!
Santa Claus just had a close one!
Now he's sittin' there pretty calm.
Reindeer have straightened out,
And Santa's sittin', cozy and warm!
He starts calling them by name,
but he doesn't get any of them right:
On Basher, Duncer, Prankster, and Vicks!
on Grommet, Stupid, Dandruff and Blitzed"
"Randolph with your nose so bright!
Where in hell are ya tonight?"
Randolph is belly up down there,
Sound asleep on a roof.
Looks like he's happy and square,
With his tongue hangin' out like a goof...........
Well, they've done it again! Another quirky song, this time concerning Santa and his reindeer, especially about what kind of 'presents' the reindeer leave! Christmas time has it's share of old favorites, carols that deal with the religiousness of the season, lay songs that address the good feelings people can have, humorous songs, and a few rather dreary ones. This one happens to be funny, if slightly profane. We don't know if it is bound to become a classic, but it sure is a hoot now!
Un Grupo de Mexicali is a very popular Mariachi band from Mexicali, Mexico, a very large city right on the border of the United States. It has a rich history of Mexico/U.S relations due to the proximity and the many industrial firms founded there.
The group is very popular in Mexicali and the surrounding metropolitan are of over a million people. There is a thriving tourist trade in Mexicali as well, so the group's reputation is growing over the border as well.
One of our traveling associates heard the group while he was in Mexicali on vacation, and he suggested we use this recording of Jalapeño, Serrano, Habanero. Mariachi music mirrors the passion of the Mexican people. This is a rather tongue in cheek song about the joy, and the ultimate risk, of eating hot peppers. Un Grupo de Mexicali performs almost exclusively in Spanish, but agreed to try English for this recording. They lapsed back into Spanish, especially at the end, but we appreciate their efforts and it by no means takes anything away from the splendid musicality of this fine Mariachi band that stays true to the tradition of the art form. We provide a loose translation of the Spanish in the lyric below:
Jalapeño, Serrano, Habanero, AYYYYE!
You listen to what I say!
It’s good to eat chili peppers
Until they come out! Ay, ay, eh
I’m going to eat chili peppers.
They’re going to be very good!
I hope they are not too spicy,
On my little bottom!
Jalapeño, Serrano, Habanero, AYYYYE!
You listen to what I say!
It’s good to eat chili peppers
Until they come out! Ay, ay, eh!
I put them on tortillas, nopales and frijoles!
Burritos and tamales, guacamole,
With tacos, enchiladas, flautas,
chorizo, and mole!
Jalapeño, Serrano, Habanero, AYYYYE!
You listen to what I say!
It’s good to eat chili peppers
Until they come out! Ay, ay, eh
I join chili pepper eating contest,
I beat all the white men, got a big trophy!
I ate them all up, put the fire in my belly!
I’m not looking forward to when they later come out!
Jalapeño, Serrano, Habanero, AYYYYE!
You listen to what I say!
It’s good to eat chili peppers
Until they come out! Ay, ay, eh
They make you nose run,
They make your eyes water too!
Your face gets red, your mouth on fire,
Beads of sweat on your brow too!
Jalapeño, Serrano, Habanero, AYYYYE!
You listen to what I say!
It’s good to eat chili peppers
Until they come out! Ay, ay, eh
OOOOH! NOT GOOD!!! IT BURNS A LOT!!!
NOT GOOD!!! IT BURNS A LOT!!!
OH MY GOODNESS!!!
I have to take ice cubes with me to put out the fire
When we got this recording from one of our associates, we didn't know what to think of it. My Hero's Name Is Elmer? None of us could think of any Elmer he could be talking about. It's not a name you see very often. As soon as we started to play it, we all smiled when we heard how the word 'hero' was pronounced. Hewo! It's Elmer...Elmer Fudd!
There's been a lot of strange songs over the centuries that mankind has been writing them, but we know for sure we've never heard a tribute song to Elmer Fudd before! The lead singer sings it like Elmer would pronounce it, and without so
much as an audible snicker or giggle. There is a term for Elmer's speech
impediment: rhotacism, which with modern speech therapy can be treated, but not in poor Elmer's day evidently!
We got the impression with the first two songs from Melvin Peckerwood and The Mama's Boys that they were for the most part a 50's/60's rock and roll style band. But with My Hero's Name Is Elmer they've shown a quirkiness that we like, and we hope there's more to come!
My hero's name is Elmer,
He always got the shaft!
From the dirty low down rabbit,
Whenever he crossed his path!
Elmer Fudd, got the shaft!
Melvin Peckerwood and The Mama's Boys
He wasn't a crazy guy!
He just talked a little funny,
That’s the reason why,
The trickster rabbit, always made his life miserable!
LeRoy Jackson, better known as Tugboat Jackson, is a slide guitar and blues singer. He brings many years of playing and singing to the genre, and the quality of his talent is such that he could, and maybe should, be a professional musician. But he chose to be an owner/manager of a hardware store! How he got the name Tugboat, he says he doesn't know or remember when or why he got it, just that it was picked up during the small time years ago when he was on the road. As Tugboat, who is quite articulate, tells it:
Naw, don't recollect much 'bout the name, except some guys I met hung it on me when I was on the road playin' the blues. As a blues man, had to have a nickname I guess. Tugboat's good as any, and a lot better than some! My Daddy was a born blues man, had it in his blood. Only home enough to make six kids with our Momma, otherwise he was out on the road. Never made much money, never made much of a name for himself, and he got in a whole lot of trouble! All finally caught up to him, and he ended up in prison for sellin' dope. He died in prison years ago of what they said was cancer of the stomach. I found out I had the blues within me too from when I was a little kid, and I went out on the road for a short time. But I come to see that I was gonna end up just like my Daddy, so I settled down, got a job, finally got in the hardware business and bought my boss's store when he retired. Been makin' a good livin' at it, got two sons workin' there now. When I retire, I want them to have the store. I wanna leave them more than my Daddy left me. I play the blues all the time, sometimes play for get togethers and such. I'm excited to get this opportunity to record one of my original songs.
I wrote 'Money Tree' a few years back. One of my most somber songs, I'll grant ya, but it has a lot of what I've learned in my life. Man, I've seen fellahs that got all the drive and hard work in the world, that once they made some big money, ain't satisfied. Don't make 'em happy, like they're still missin' somethin', which they are. But I'll quit preachin'. It's in the song!
Indeed it is, Tugboat! With his deep, even somewhat soothing voice, and fine slide guitar playing, we present Tugboat Jenkins!
You get wisdom with age, unless ya’ll just stay dumb.
Indeed, get wiser with age, or ya’ll just stay dumb.
The dummies stay stupid, like this guitar that I strum.
You think life’s all about green stuff, grows on the money tree.
If that’s what life is to you, green stuff growin’ on the money tree.
You’ll miss most of life, you’re too ignorant to see.
Blame that guy over there, for all the evil that starts.
Some blame that guy over there, for all the evil that starts.
Evil come from just one place, the coldness of human hearts.
Lived most my life in the 20th century.
Lived a lot of my life, in the 20th century.
Most wicked century, in all history!
Millions dead in all the wars, famine and disease,
And we did it all over, as quick as you please!
And it’s still goin’ on, ain’t learned a damn thing.
So much still goin’ on, ain’t learned a damn thing.
Death still marches the world, still poised to sting.
Ain’t sayin’ we didn’t make no gains,
But for every step forward, seem to take two back again.
Hate to be a cynic, hate to throw up my hands.
Wasn’t born a cynic, sure hate to throw up my hands.
There’s so much bad in the world, as things stand.
