Zero to 180 – Three Minute Magic
On my one and only visit to Northampton, Massachusetts (NRBQ‘s 35th anniversary show in 2004), I ducked into a second-hand vinyl shop and came away with a K-Tel country collection from 1976 — Country Superstars – 20 Greatest Hits This collection of early-to-mid 70s hits includes 1976 dieselbilly hit “Roll
Recorded by Merle Kilgore in early November, 1963 at Columbia Recording Studio in Nashville and released January 1964 as a single by MGM: “Johnny Zero“ Merle Kilgore (1963) Does Merle Kilgore sound like Johnny Cash because they were such good friends, or were Merle and Johnny good friends because their
Merle Kilgore, we learn from the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame website, signed more than a few recording contracts in his life: 1953: signed his first recording contract with Imperial Records 1959: recorded albums for Starday (contract presumably signed) 1961: signed recording contract with Mercury Records 1963: signed with MGM
Teresa Brewer — whose duet with Mickey Mantle, “I Love Mickey,” reached #87 in 1956 — would later record ever so briefly for Shelby Singleton. June 1968’s “A Woman’s World” was the first of but two singles Brewer recorded for SSS International: “A Woman’s World” Teresa Brewer (1968) The song initially
I like how the beleaguered singer of this song ironically subverts the mythic rockabilly refrain “Go Cat Go” into a cry of liberation from her no-good, double-crossing partner: “Go Cat Go“ Norma Jean (1964) Norma Jean’s demand for independence (penned by Harlan Howard) peaked at #8 on Billboard‘s Country chart
According to the authoritative Rockin’ Country Style website, Johnny and Jonie are Johnny & Jonie Mosby — he, born in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, and she, born Janice Irene Shields in Van Nuys, California. Married in 1958, released two 45s that same year. “Some of Them Bones are Mine” — whose
Guitarist “Little” Jimmy Dempsey uses twin guitars to transform Johnny Cash‘s “Understand Your Man” into a tuneful instrumental that bears little resemblance to the original – in a good way: “Understand Your Man“ Little Jimmy Dempsey (c. 1970) This track can be found on 1970’s Little Jimmy Dempsey Picks on Johnny
“Hicktown” appears to be the B-side of an updated “Sixteen Tons” single released on Capitol in 1965. Tennessee Ernie Ford sings of a down-on-its-luck place that holds its destitute and demoralized residents captive, unable to leave. Sounds terrifying, actually: “Hicktown“ Tennessee Ernie Ford (1965) Written by Charlie Williams & Scott
Tonight I was supposed to have seen George Jones play in Lancaster, PA as part of his Farewell Tour, but unfortunately, “The Possum” departed this earthly plane on April 26th. Somehow I will have to make do with his recordings — such as this one: “I’ve Got Five Dollars And
I remember fondly the 1970s soap opera spoof, Mary Hartman Mary Hartman — so named because show creator, Norman Lear, and his writers believed that “everything that was said on a soap opera was said twice.” Mary Kay Place recorded a Grammy-nominated album, Tonite! At the Capri Lounge, Loretta Haggers,
COPYRIGHT © 2012-2022 ZERO TO 180. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Recent Comments