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Small Town Talk

By: Peter Jones
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  • Summary

  • Coming to you from a small town in Wales, one man’s record collection, a journey through both kinds of music - Rhythm - and Blues! And everything else in between.
    Copyright 2023 Peter Jones
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Episodes
  • SMALL TOWN TALK: Episode 48

    SMALL TOWN TALK: Episode 48
    Mar 31 2024
    It’s 1958 and the Ginger Kid is transported to Ramsgate and Barnett’s emporium to purchase some magical black discs. 1. As Long As I’m Moving - Ruth Brown 2. Your Cash Ain’t Nothing But Trash - The Clovers 3. Smack Dab In The Middle - Amos Garrett, Doug Sahm, Gene Taylor Band 4. Back In The Night - Dr Feelgood (This month’s earworm) 5. Cruisin’ - Gene Vincent & The Blue Caps 6. Lonesome Train (On A Lonesome Track) - Johnny Burnette And The Rock ‘N’ Roll Trio 7. Poor Jenny - The Everly Brothers 8. Take A Message To Mary - Bob Dylan (This month’s death song) 9. Keep A Knockin' - Bobby Fuller Four 10. Keep A Knockin' - Chuck Willis 11. Working For The Man - Roy Orbison 12. Nighthawkin’ - Tim Buckley 13. Dreamboy - Theo Lawrence & The Hearts 14. Not In Nottingham - Theo Lawrence & The Hearts 16. Shama Langa Ding Dong - Lloyd G. Williams 16. He’s So Fine - The Chiffons 17 Zenizenabo - Miriam Makeba Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles (1972) WELL JENNY HAD HER PICTURE IN THE PAPER THIS MORNING, SHE MADE IT WITH A BANG. ACCORDING TO THE PAPER THIS MORNING, JENNY IS THE LEADER OF A TEENAGE GANG. Poor Jenny - The Everly Brothers / written by Felice & Boudleaux Bryant Some thoughts on Nighthawkin’ by Tim Buckley: I don’t often publish the full lyrics to a song, but in this case, because it’s so unusual I felt it worthwhile. On the original gatefold sleeve of Greetings from LA, the lyrics as presented by Tim Buckley were sparse and incomplete. In live performances,Tim Buckley changed and added extra lyrics, enlarged performances with extra verses, and it is suggested that he published only what he had at that given moment. More likely, to avoid censorship, Tim avoided writing down anything that might frighten off record executives, after all Greetings From LA is an album full of steamy sex - except that is, for it’s shortest song, Nighthawkin’. As I hint at in the podcast, Nighthawkin’ does seem autobiographical, an interchange between a cab driver and an unhinged, dangerous customer. The last part of the song is a crazed account by the drunken passenger, a Vietnam war veteran of his boast to murder a “Gook” (a derogatory term for a S.E. Asian) Buckley’s final riposte is tongue in cheek - basically, the things I do to earn a dime! I was a-nighthawkin' in my taxi On a cruise below the deadline. My fare was a shaky ol' lush, So I kicked it over and took off. Then he whipped out this switch blade Straight outta nowhere, level to my throat. He said, "You ever been over to the war boy" I said "Man I was a combat paratrooper daddy." Well then he slumped back cool and he pocket that steel. He said "Take me down to Fourth and Main." Ah that paratroop bluff always cools those red-eyed geezers down. Man - that last block - that cat was singing, Oh - Man he was sittin' in the backseat singing to me this song' “I got my B.A.R boy, I got my M1 on my hip, right. You better listen, Mr. President, Oh boy, don't you mess with my war. I wanna do, I wanna do, Lord, I wanna do the Blood Boogaloo. I'm just a Redneck son of a gun, I wanna kill me a gook before dawn." Ah, nighthawkin' - Ah for my change. Notes: On the album sleeve, the published lyrics for Nighthawkin’ finished at “Fourth and Main” and thereafter the song’s lyrics (see above) would invite censorship, and are not printed. B.A.R is the older Browning Automatic Rifle, and the M1, the Garand M1 carbine, a semi-automatic, extensively used in the Korean and Vietnam wars. I love Buckley’s ability to “feel” a song, his vocal asides, whoops and cries, adding to the absolute funk and melody that would never be apparent in reading the lyrics - lyrics that do not rhyme, but sound simply like a conversational verbal account, perhaps to a friend in a bar. Don’t forget to check in with our sister show, Johnny Corsair’s Bright Lights Big City for R&B, old and new, Gospel, Soul and Blues over at: https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/ And to get further information and musings on this podcast or my music collection, email me at: smalltowntalkrecords@gmail.com Episode 48 Illustration: It's 1958 and Small Town Talk’s younger self, the Ginger Kid drops in at his favourite haunt, Barnett's at 15 Queen Street, Ramsgate to pick up some late 50’s Rock ‘n’ Roll.
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    50 mins
  • SMALL TOWN TALK: Episode 47

    SMALL TOWN TALK: Episode 47
    Feb 22 2024

    In which the Ginger Kid’s Time Machine crashes in on probably the greatest Rock & Roll song ever.

     

    1.   She’s Got It - Little Richard

    2.   Be-Bop-A-Lula - Gene Vincent & The Blue Caps

    3.   Love My Baby - Little Junior’s Blue Flames

    4.   Mystery Train - The Paul Butterfield Blues Band

    5.   Important Words - Gene Vincent

    6.   Reet Petite (The Sweetest Girl In Town) - Jackie Wilson    (This month’s earworm)

    7.   Reet Petite And Gone - Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five

    8.   Losin’ Boy - Eddy Giles

    9.   Born To Lose - Ray Charles

    10. Born To Cry - Dion

    11. What’s The Matter With You Baby - Christine Ohlman & Rebel Lopez with Marshall Crenshaw

    12. I’m Just A Fool For You - Bettye Lavette

    13. I’m Just A Fool For You - Gene Chandler

    14. Johnny Remember Me - John Leyton   (This month’s death song)

    15. Your Ma Said You Cried In Your Sleep Last Night - Doug Sheldon

    16. Bits & Pieces - Dave Clark Five

    17. Welcome To The Working Week - Elvis Costello

     

    Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles (1972)

     

    WELL, OH NOW SHE’ MY CUTIE, MY TUTTI-FRUTTI,

    MY HEART, MY LOVE, MY BATHING BEAUTY,

    SHE’S ALRIGHT,

    SHE’S GOT JUST WHAT IT TAKES,

    SHE’S GOT WHAT IT TAKES,

    AND WITH ME, SHE REALLY RATES.

     

    Reet Petite (The Finest Girl You Ever Want To Meet) - Jackie Wilson (1957)

    Written by Tyran Carlo & Berry Gordy.

     

    Gene Vincent - from the film Girl Can’t Help It:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN3VLv3ZSF0

     

    Dion’s new album “Girlfriends” available on March 8th everywhere, but check it out here:

    https://www.noblepr.co.uk/press-releases/dion/girl-friends.htm

     

    Well, have you ever heard a guy for whom your soul you'd give?

    For whom you'd fight for, cry for, pray to God you'd die for.

    Well he’s Johnny Corsair with the hippest show in town - listen in at:

    https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/

     

    And to get further information and musings on this podcast or my music collection, email me at:

    smalltowntalkrecords@gmail.com

     

    Episode 47 Illustration:  Small Town Talk’s younger self, the Ginger Kid cuts in on Gene Vincent & The Blue Caps for a publicity photo.

     
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    50 mins
  • SMALL TOWN TALK: Episode 46

    SMALL TOWN TALK: Episode 46
    Jan 30 2024

    In which Small Town Talk realises there's no peace in the barnyard since the Little Red Rooster's been gone.

     

    1.   Baby Workout - Jackie Wilson

    2.   Jackie Wilson Said (I’m In Heaven When You Smile) - Van Morrison

    3.   Stay - Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs    (This month’s earworm)

    4.   Learning The Game - Buddy Holly    (Original undubbed master recording)

    5.   Not Fade Away - The Rolling Stones

    6.   Little Red Rooster - Howlin’ Wolf

    7.   King Bee - Slim Harpo

    8.   I Don’t Know - J. B. Lenoir

    9.   I Don’t Know - Ruth Brown

    10. Strange Fruit - Billie Holiday   (This month’s death song)

    11. Talkin’ Bout A Revolution - Tracy Chapman

    12. Destination Anywhere - The Marvelettes

    13. I’m Sorry - Brenda Lee

    14. A Railroad Trestle In California - Eddie Hinton

    15. B. Santa Ana 1986 - Nick Waterhouse

    16. Apache - The Shadows

     

    Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles (1972)

     

    I'VE BEEN STANDING IN THE WELFARE LINES,

    CRYING AT THE DOORSTEPS OF THOSE ARMIES OF SALVATION,

    WASTING TIME IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT LINES,

    SITTING AROUND, WAITING FOR A PROMOTION.

     

    Talkin’ Bout A Revolution - Tracy Chapman (1988)

     

     

    J. B. Lenoir:

    The letters J & B are not initials, J. B. was his given name!

    Two clips  of J. B. Lenoir with Steve & Ronnog Seaburg:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbI-NpYFJEg

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVzp7IkGUA8

     

    The Seaburgs recollecting their interview with J. B. Lenoir, filmed by Wim Wenders  for his excellent documentary “Soul Of A Man”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQTjhg5LK6A

     

     

    Alan Parker’s film of Roddy Doyle’s “The Commitments”

    https://ww8.soap2dayhd.co/film/the-commitments-11168/

     

     

    Want more R&B, Soul, Funk, Ska, Reggae, Gospel - old and new?  Then visit Johnny Corsair over at Bright Lights Big City on the Breaking Records label:

    https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/

     

     

    And to get further information and musings on this podcast or my music collection, email me at:

    smalltowntalkrecords@gmail.com

     

     

    Episode 46 Illustration: Little Red Rooster’s on the prowl!

     

     
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    50 mins
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