We at Big And Tall Records admit that while we've heard Mariachi bands before, we had no idea of the versatility and artistry associated with them. They sing at every event imaginable, with appropriately sad, romantic, lively, happy, and myriad other moods of music. Their latest recording is a love song. We're proud to have Un Grupo de Mexicali as one of our recording artist groups. They sent this recording to us recently as they are back in Mexico after their very successful tour of the U.S. We hope they send us more recordings, as we enjoy them very much. And more important, our customers and their listeners do as well!
Tugboat Jackson's latest has him singing about The Good Ol' Days, a phrase that is used by many and in reference to many things. But Tugboat can explain it better than we can:
I wrote this song to express my feeling that reminiscing about the past to excess is not necessarily a good thing, at least for me. There is much in modern life that can remind us of the past. Look at all the old television shows that play on a ton of different stations. The cable TV and streaming advances have provided ample chances to watch TV shows from the 1960's and even earlier. A good example how modern technology allows people to live in the past! I confess to watching some of these, as well as old movies. And I admit a certain amount of disconnect with the modern world. Too much is happening too fast for me. I try to keep up with current events and issues, but it can be overwhelming at times.
To make my point further, take the 1950's as an example. I remember the late 1950's, and I remember the terrors I felt with nuclear bomb frills we did in school. Roll under your desk into a ball, etc. Knowing what I know now, Rolling under a school test offered no protection in case of nuclear attack. About the most it could do was concentrate your ashes in one spot, if there were any ashes. I remember walking to school and worrying about Khrushchev 'burying me' as I saw him say the USSR would bury the USA on TV as he pounded his shoe on the table. I remember some kids at school that had to wear a brace after their bout with polio, and a few that never came back to school because of it. And taking the polio vaccine on a sugar cube.
There's something inside of me that always brings the negative to mind when nostalgia comes to the fore. I try to keep it to myself. If folks want to miss the way things were, the positive things of the way things were, they've got the right.
Tugboat is a very thoughtful musician, and he still has the moves on the guitar to be able to support a song with just his voice and guitar, something that not every musician can do. He is our leading artist, and shows no sign of slowing down. By the way, the picture on the video and in this post is Tugboat himself as a child, with his mother and father.
It can be funny how things turn out. How one thing leads to another. We recently talked to Shanda Lee about getting permission for another artist to cover a song of hers. After we got that squared away, we asked her if she had anything on the back burner. She told us she hadn't sung for a while, she's ben writing a new song, but she's kind of stuck on the music. We suggested getting together with one of our associate performers/producers that might help. We decided that the leader of The Noir Players, Thomas Fauren would be the best bet for the type of song she was writing. It ended up being a good collaboration.
Shanda's new song is remarkable different than her first song, Gimme A Pocket Rocket. That song was an adults only pop song. This new one What's Wrong? shows a songwriter going through some growing pains not only in her music, but her life. She sings with a group of musicians that give her an accompaniment that has an underlying current of tension. We just got the file of the music, and we like it!
I was sitting all by myself, listening to the band When a man I didn't know tried to take my hand All he wanted to do was dance, I pulled my hand away And my mind started to drift, and my mind began to stray
Is this it? Is this really it? Work all the week then try to seek Someone special for me What else is there? What else? To set my heart free
Time was, this was enough, plenty for me and all Liked what I did for a living,walked straight, long and tall But now, why do I feel different? Thought my life already had begun Go to work, do my job, go home, go out Saturday and have fun
Am I missing something? What's missing? It's not that I'm sad, not mad or glad I guess I'm bored with it all Am I just in a rut? I'm sure feeling small
Some are telling me that I act too much aloof That I'll never find a love, what do I want to prove But it isn't that, I've had lovers. It's only a physical thing Sooner or later, they leave me, alone to sigh and sing
What's wrong? What am I doing wrong? What's coming next? Feels like I'm hexed It isn't just the sex Am I just naive Who's in my life next?
I've thought it over a lot, decided I don't really know Who I am, what I want, what I need, no wonder I feel so low So it's time to work on myself, and discover what makes me tick I have to know about myself, before love for me will stick
I'll find some answers, real answers Take it real slow, go with the flow Hopefully get command So when someone wants to dance I'll let them take my hand
A while back, we here at Big And Tall Records got a phone call. It turned out to be a woman that wanted to know if shew could get permission from one of our artists to cover one of their songs. Her name about floored us; Gummer Beaudine! We told her we would talk to the artist and get back with them. When we asked what the song was and artist, the woman said Gimme A Pocket Rocket by Shanda Lee. This record didn't do very well, and we haven't heard from Shanda since the record was released. We called Shanda, luckily it was her day off. She's a nurse and works hellacious hours. She was amazed about the request, and after we talked a while (she initially was going to refuse), she agreed.
We called Gummer(!) back and informed her. She said she was going to perform the song with a band at a 'gin mill' (as she put it). By her voice, she was judged her to be in her 30's, maybe early 40's. On the phone her voice was rather nice. So we sent a small crew to make a recording of her performing the song. She wasn't too hot on that idea, but when she found out it was part of the deal, she agreed. What we got in return was something we didn't expect!
She said she mostly played Country/Western, but sprinkled some blues and Honky Tonk. When our crew got back and played the file, we were amazed! Really rough and tumble music, and the woman with the nice speaking voice showed us what she could do with it singing. She's a short woman, the band towered over her. She strummed the guitar, our crew said sometimes she'd thump hell out of it. The band's good, lays down a steady beat that she weaves her vocals in and out of, sometimes breathlessly. The piano player beats on the keys as well, with clusters of notes. And if that's not enough, we were proved wrong on her age. Our crew are gentlemen, so no one asked her age, but she has to be in her sixties, and a rough sixties at that!
We were bowled over, and won over! We offered her a recording contract, and she was somewhat leery at first. She's never been recorded before, and the crew said she was really nervous when they recorded her. She's not a songwriter, does covers of other people's songs mostly. So I sent her a link to our site so she could listen to the songs we've got.
After a few days, Gummer called back and we could hear the excitement in her voice. She found a lot of songs she'd like to do, and readily agreed to the contract! She's making a list so we can get permission from the composer to cover it. So welcome a new recording artist for Big And Tall Records,Gummer Beaudine! Once we get to know her better, we're dying to know how she got the name Gummer!
When women get together, sometimes they say things ‘bout their old mans junk.
How big they are, which way they sway,
some, OH LORD!, big as an elephant’s trunk!
But I’m here to tell ya sisters, Hear what I say!
Gimme a pocket rocket any day!
Gimme a pocket rocket,
I’ll take a pocket rocket!
Don’t matter what ya’ll say,
Gimme a rocket any day!
I'll tell ya'll somethin'. I've had a few men.
Some nice and loving, some nasty and crude.
Some of those had a big one, but keep 'em away!
They're so nasty, so selfish and rude.
Gimme a pocket rocket,
I’ll take a pocket rocket!
Don’t matter what ya’ll say,
Gimme a rocket any day!
Now mind ya, not all big dicks that way!
But the one I had pulled down his pants,
waved it in front of me, and stood there showing it off!
Like a baseball bat, hard as a rock,
should have been on a leash with a choke chain!
Ain’t no way I was takin’ that cock!
Gimme a pocket rocket,
I’ll take a pocket rocket!
Don’t matter what ya’ll say,
Gimme a rocket any day!
Got a good man now, and he’s so sweet.
Treats me so good, and gets me off first!
I love him! I love complete!!
You hear what I say? HE GETS ME OFF FIRST!!!
After that I’ll take care of him, whatever he wants,
I’ll tell ya the truth, I love whatever I do,
To please him over and over again,
On top of that, his rocket won’t choke you!
Gimme a pocket rocket,
I’ll take a pocket rocket!
Don’t matter what ya’ll say,
Gimme a rocket any day!
I love him like no other, we’re close as close as can be.
Two peas in a pod, match up so well, I’m happy it’s true.
I’ve learned about fuckin’,a revelation for me,
I’d rather scoot up close to a short one,
han skin my ass gettin’ away from a big one! OH YEAH!
Towards the end of last year, Big And Tall Records published a strange song by an even stranger singer. A polka number called Polka Polka!The song itself wasn't so strange, although part of it was in Polish. Bu the singer was decidedly strange, an owner of a Polka Dance Hall, a Polish immigrant by the name of Ziegniew 'Zbig' Szafrański. This guy is really old, has a voice you can't believe. Rough isn't the word. We don't have an adjective that describes the grating, downright scary quality of it. Some of our on the road associates went to this guy's dance hall to record some polka music for us. They didn't get too far, as Zbig came out in the middle of the recording and ordered everyone off the stage but a few musicians. He then announced that he was going to record him singing one of his own songs instead of the band. Evidently the man is as intimidating size wise as his voice, so they did. This is the single most crazy song we've recorded. Well, at least up 'til now.
Another backstory: In January, Big Marv And The Hodads recorded a song called Swamp Ass Joe, that had a beginning section played by The Noir Players, then Big Marv and his band came in for the song. The 1st version of the song. Ends up that Big Marv and one of the producers for The Noir Players got together and did an experimental version of the song, with Big Marv doing the singing. It's an odd thing coming from Big Marv and the boys, as they're known for Cajun, Dixieland, and other styles of music. So when Marv brought it to us a while back, we played it through a few times and told him we'd think about it.
Wasn't unanimous by a long shot, but by a majority vote we've decided to release it. A short intro that sounds like it came from the bowels of hell that is run through so many filters there's can be no identification of what instruments played it. Big Marv's voice isn't the most tuneful either, and that is filtered with added distortion as well. One of the band plays an acoustic slide guitar heavily amplified, and pounding drums are added. The entire mish mash winds down with some howling, thumping, and yelps before it fades out. Big Marv's really proud of the result, must be for the sheer novelty of it!
Sonny Hotchkin's latest Break Up Blues has the possibility of becoming a blues standard. Has the subject of ending a romance, and how it' so difficult to get over it. Match the subject matter with some fine guitar playing and singing, it amounts to a classic of blues.
Sonny is still on the road playing blues clubs, mostly on the East Coast, so we don't see him much in the studio. He's doing more song writing, so maybe he'll be recording more often. We're glad to report that his efforts to remain alcohol free have been successful. He tells us that he only drinks water most of the time, but allows himself to drink Diet Pepsi when he's playing a gig!
We welcome to Big And Tall Records a new group - The Burgoo Boys! They are all Kentuckians, and for the most part play Bluegrass music, but they do branch out in other forms on occasion. Now you're probably wondering (unless you're from their part of the country) what burgoo is! We've got a feeling the boys probably got a song with all the details, but the short of it is that burgoo is a meat and vegetable stew that originated in the Louisville KY area. It usually has 3 kinds of meat in it, beans, and vegetables, and served with corn bread or corn muffins. There's many recipes, and a lot of times what's in it is what ya got! It's a dish that is always served at The Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, Louisville, Kentucky every year.
It's related to Irish stew, and perhaps came about from all the Irish and Welsh immigrants that ended up in Kentucky. It's supposed to be along cooked dish that starts out with meat cooked first, then vegetables like corn, okra, lima beans, potatoes, tomatoes, etc. They say that it really isn't burgoo unless you can stick a spoon straight up in it and it stays when you let go! Be that as it may, it's not just a dish in Kentucky. Many places in southern Illinois and other areas enjoy it, and there are many burgoo festivals in the area.
Burgoo is probably on the menu at the Road Kill Café, the boys' break out song with us. A song with a definite story, as the imaginary café originated with a group of men who lost their jobs with the shutdown of local businesses. Of course there's no way a restaurant could serve up roadkill, despite the song! But it's a fun song, and we get to hear some good pickin' from the boys!
All of us workin’ this café
Used to work in shops in town
But it turned into a rust belt
When all the shops shut down
One of us owned this land
Couple others knew how to grow
We dug up a patch by hand
And a big garden we sowed
The road kill café
We’re right off the high way
Pull in when it's time to eat
Sit yourself down and stay
This land was off a highway
Sorted sellin’ stuff we growed
Soon we was makin’ good money
Not a single person we owed
One of our cronies is a cook
We started out sellin’ food to go
We kept gittin’ more customers
It was time that we grow!
The road kill café,
Huntin’ the highway for kills
Check ‘em out scoop ‘em up
And then slap ‘em on the grills
We cook up road kill
Check to see if it’s good
‘
Specially like it in the winter
Cuz the cold air keeps it good
We had a lot of money
Built us a small café
Customers kept rollin’ in
Makin' mighty good pay!
Authorities tried to close us
Many times we do declare!
We showed ‘em all we done to be safe
Shuttin’ us down wasn’t fair!
We went afore a food commissioner
He looked over all the facts
Tol’ us we was a-ok
And patted us on the backs!
Tol’ us we were doin’ a service
Removin’ dead off the road
Said he’d visit us sometime
Have some pie ala mode
We do ever thing ourself
Grow food, cook up the kill
Make our own pies and ice cream
So good it’ll make ya squeal!
Menu’s always different
Accordin’ to what we got
Possum stew, raccoon tacos
An' squirrel chili in the pot!
Police call us when a deer’s been hit
We sell it right off,
Roast venison on the spit
Taters, green beans, corn bread and pie alamode,
And I know too cheap it seems
But ya git it all for
