Monthly Archives: March 2024

“Garbage Man Blues” – Pokey LaFarge (2013)

Posted on March 5, 2024 by Richard Barry

I have been enjoying Pokey LaFarge‘s music the past several years, once I discovered him, probably surfing the net late one night. It’s right in the sweet spot for me: old time blues, string band stuff, with a clarinet and … Continue reading →

Posted in American Roots | Comments Off on “Garbage Man Blues” – Pokey LaFarge (2013)

“Black Mountain Rag” – Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys (2015)

Posted on March 5, 2024 by Richard Barry

The Mariposa Folk Festival announced their line-up recently for this summer’s event, which will as usual take place at Tudhope Park in Orillia, Ontario in early July – this year the 5th to the 7th. I’ll be there covering things … Continue reading →

Posted in Folk Festival | Tagged | Comments Off on “Black Mountain Rag” – Gordie MacKeeman and His Rhythm Boys (2015)

“Lookin’ Out My Back Door” – Creedence Clearwater Revival (1970)

Posted on March 5, 2024 by Richard Barry

This is another song that sure sounds like it’s about drugs but that the author, John Fogerty, swears is not. With lyrics like “giants doing cartwheels, “statues wearing high heels,” and a reference to flying spoons, the speculation is understandable. … Continue reading →

Posted in Blues, Rock | Tagged , | Comments Off on “Lookin’ Out My Back Door” – Creedence Clearwater Revival (1970)

“On the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe” – Johnny Mercer and the Pied Pipers (1945)

Posted on March 5, 2024 by Richard Barry

As a thought exercise, I was wondering what song topped the American charts on August 15, 1945, also known as Victory over Japan Day (VJ-Day), or the day hostilities ended for WWII (with hostilities having already ended in Europe on … Continue reading →

Posted in Jazz, Jazz at the Movies | Tagged | Comments Off on “On the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe” – Johnny Mercer and the Pied Pipers (1945)

“Have You Met Miss Jones?” – Lucky Thompson (1959)

Posted on March 4, 2024 by Richard Barry

Eli “Lucky” Thompson (1924-2005)  played tenor and soprano saxophone. He was one of the earlier musicians, along with Coltrane and Steve Lacy, to reintroduce the soprano sax as a jazz instrument. His career arc saw him starting out playing swing with the orchestras of … Continue reading →

Posted in Jazz | Tagged | Comments Off on “Have You Met Miss Jones?” – Lucky Thompson (1959)

“My Reverie” – Larry Clinton and His Orchestra with Bea Wain (1938)

Posted on March 4, 2024 by Richard Barry

Larry Clinton (1909-1985) was a trumpet player (among other things) and a well-known bandleader. Early in his career he was also an arranger for a number of dance orchestras including for bands led by Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey, Glen Gray, … Continue reading →

Posted in Big Band Jazz | Tagged , | Comments Off on “My Reverie” – Larry Clinton and His Orchestra with Bea Wain (1938)

“Western Suite” – Jimmy Giuffre (1960)

Posted on March 4, 2024 by Richard Barry

Jimmy Giuffre’s album Western Suite was recorded on December 3, 1958 in NYC and Connecticut, produced by Nesuhi Ertegun, and released on the Atlantic label (LP1330) in 1960. Giuffre plays clarinet, tenor saxophone, and baritone saxophone with Jim Hall on … Continue reading →

Posted in Jazz | Tagged , , | Comments Off on “Western Suite” – Jimmy Giuffre (1960)

“All of Me” – Billie Holiday (1941)

Posted on March 4, 2024 by Richard Barry

Gerald Marks (1900-1997) and Seymour Simons (1896-1946) wrote the lyrics and music for “All of Me” in 1931. It has been recorded somewhere around 2000 times and is the song for which Marks and Simons are best known, and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Jazz standards, Vocal jazz | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on “All of Me” – Billie Holiday (1941)

“The Theme from Mannix” – The WDR Big Band (2013)

Posted on March 4, 2024 by Richard Barry

Mannix was a television detective series that had a substantial run, from 1967 to 1975. It aired on CBS at a time when you only had a few choices each night. I recall watching it faithfully. The plot revolved around … Continue reading →

Posted in Jazz on TV | Tagged , , | Comments Off on “The Theme from Mannix” – The WDR Big Band (2013)

“Green Dolphin Street” – Miles Davis (1958)

Posted on March 4, 2024 by Richard Barry

“On Green Dolphin Street” was the main theme of the 1947 MGM film Green Dolphin Street. The movie was based on a book by British novelist Elizabeth Goudge called Green Dolphin Country (1944), published in the United States as Green Dolphin Street. … Continue reading →

Posted in Jazz at the Movies | Tagged | Comments Off on “Green Dolphin Street” – Miles Davis (1958)