More from Ohio or thereabouts-ish

Well, it has its roots in Ohio anyway.

More or less.

A Monster and the Devil (1989)

  It was recorded in NYC in 1989.

So what happens when you take author and founder of Cleveland's punk legends the Pagans, the late Mike Hudson and set him up to read his Bukowski-esque stories backed by the Styrenes?

You get this record.

Pour yourself a few fingers of your favorite hard liquor and close your eyes and absorb in a stifling hot room on a late Sunday afternoon while a fat green fly buzzes desperately in the window screen trying to get out. It's not going to get anywhere and gets stuck behind the window banging it's skull uselessly and endlessly between the panes. In a day or two you can find it's dried husk in the sill next to your empty glass.
That's what this record sounds like.

2

Yeah.

New post. Same 5lb bag.

2 (1982)

It apparently took 6 years and a whole lot of whatever before 15.60.75 released their sophomore effort imaginatively entitled "2". 

This one is a studio effort and follows along a progression from the previous Lp. 

I'm still kind of digesting this one. I haven't had it super long, but it's definitely one that's got some songs that stick. ("Summer Fever" and a dissection of Frankie Ford's "Sea Cruise" come to immediate mind)

And as the days flow into summer, I can see this record making its way onto my listening for long bike rides should I get off my lazy ass this season and start biking to work again.

I'll probably still listen to it anyway.

Well That Was Fun. Now Back to Business as Usual or Something.

You're back.

Or maybe you never actually left or maybe you've found yourself here for the  very first time.

Doesn't matter. You're here now.

Jimmy Bell's Still in Town (1976)

For a few years I was Facebook "friends" with the late Ralph Carney who among a lot of things was in the Akron band Tin Huey. One of the cool things I got from this online "friendship" was an exposure to a number of Ohio related things that I wasn't aware of. This was easily the best. An album by a band called 15.60.75 or more affectionately known as the Numbers Band.

I had no idea that this existed and even if you'd told me it did I would probably have dismissed it as something I wouldn't like without even bothering to give it a try. I would have been very very wrong. I fucking love this record and I can't even explain why. Hell, I kind of stumble around trying to explain what they sound like to people. They're kind of like an avant-garde version of a Bar Blues band like they'd spent just as much time listening to Captain Beefheart and Albert Ayler as T-Bone Walker. The songs hit a groove, there's some low key vocals and it just runs on relentlessly. It's a fucking monster Lp and so oddly compelling listening that I'm having a hard time typing because I'm listening to it again in the headphones.

Here's a video clip of them playing the title track live in 1976. (And that's Chrissy Hynde's brother Terry on the saxophone. I like his band better than hers.)

There's a great and informative post on this blog about the trials and tribulations that went into actually making the record. the tl:dr is that it took three tries 1) show cancelled 2) the recording engineer fucked it up (the bonus track "Drive" is from this tape)  and finally 3) they recorded live in front of an initially indifferent crown opening for Bob Marley. Bob Marley. 1975. In a club in the middle of Ohio long before generations of pot smoking frat boys and Trustifarians ruined his music for fucking everyone.

So there it was. The album existed and came and went and was all but forgotten until 2013 when Exit Stencil put out a "deluxe" reissue with three bonus tracks as a double lp experience that took me a little while to track down a copy before I knew about Discogs and with a few record store people looking at me blankly.

So I present it here. Your mileage is certainly going to vary. But I really dig the fuck out of this one.

The Homer & Jethro Project #66

Well, kids. We made it. We're just mopping up here and I'm throwing caution to the wind and combining the final pair of long players into one post as a special treat and a final nail in this journey.

January 1972 - lsp-4659 - NSB - The Bandit



These last two are without Homer Haynes, but they complete the recordings of the Nashville String Band and you know, in for a penny, in for a pound and my general fetish for discographical completion.

1. "The Bandit"
2. "Estrellita"
3. "Cielito Lindo"
4. "Gay Ranchero" (J. J. Espinosa, Francia Luban)
5. "Marcheta"
6. "The Great El Tigre (The Tiger)"
7. "Spanish Eyes"
8. "You Belong to My Heart"
9. "Cumbanchero"
10. "Bandera"
11. "Vaya Con Dios"

 August 1972 - lsp-4771 -  The World's Greatest Melodies 



The only thing I have to say about this is that I'm willing to contest just about every song on this one as a "World's Greatest Melody"

"Battle Hymn of the Republic"?, "Dixie"?  The "Beer Barrel fucking Polka"?

Surely they were high when they came up with that title...

1. Battle Hymn of the Republic
2. Steel Guitar Rag
3. Fascination
4. Third Man Theme
5. Medley: I'm Thinking Tonight of my Blue Eyes/Wabash Cannonball/Hawaiian Wedding Song
6. Lara's Theme
7. La Paloma
8. St Louis Blues
9. Beer Barrel Polka
10. Dixie

The Homer & Jethro Project #65

#65

The Penultimate post and the last new record released by Homer and Jethro and one as a posthumous tribute to Homer Haynes collecting the remaining studio bits fleshed out with recent singles to make a long player.

February 1972 - lsp-4648 - The Far-Out World of 

I can't think of anything to say here so I'll just copy out the liner notes:

"Wild, wooly, wacky, weird, but never wicked, that was the world of Homer and Jethro. We were the Jet Set Hillbillies; our world extended from the posh gambling casinos of Nevada to Blake's Tavern, one of the greatest saloons of Indianapolis. There were no sacred cows in our world; our targets were beautiful ballads by composers who wanted their songs recorded badly. We were called song butchers, music manglers and more. Our lyrics were laundered for records, radio and T.V.; in person we let it all hang out and liked it much better - so  did our fans. We were lazy. Many agents criticized us for not working hard actually we just never allowed bookings to interfere with a ball game or fishing trip or just doing nothing when we felt like it.

Many acts copied up with little or no success, probably because we weren't acting. We enjoyed making people laugh or pickin' our guitar and mandolin, singing crazy songs and never taking ourselves too seriously. Many comedians made more money, but nobody had the fun we did. We didn't make the scandal sheets, maybe that's where we went wrong. We never used our families in our publicity we figured they were entitled to their privacy and it worked out fine. When Homer passed away on August 7, 1971 our world ended - from that time on it would be half a world.

It will never be the same, but half a world is better than none. To try and replace Homer would be impossible, and I'm not even gonna try. One thing I do know, on the nights I'm on stage working as a single, sometimes I'll miss my lines or play bad notes and way back in my mind I'll hear a little voice say, "Come on dumb ass, do it right."

Sincerely

Jethro Burns"

The Homer & Jethro Project #64

#64

It goes on and forward.

May 1971 - lsp-4553 - NSB - Strung Up

Another pop instrumental contribution.

Of note are a really pretty hot version of the Monkees tune and original contributions by Chet Atkins & Jethro Burns ("Alhambra" & ""Flaky", respectively)

I mean, I feel like I should really have more to say about these Nashville String Band records than I do. But I don't. They'll have to speak for themselves. Though it is kind of a shame to  a certain extent that these kind of light pop instrumental records don't really get made much any more.
It's a niche market, but someone needs to make that niche viable again.
 

Last Train To Clarksville	2:25
Nola	2:24
Geneviève (Shawn-vee-ev)	2:12
Opryland	2:40
Happy Ending	1:56
Alhambra	2:42
El Condor Pasa	2:10
Tennessee Waltz	2:36
The Birth Of The Blues	2:10
Flaky	2:03

The Homer & Jethro Project #63

Here we are again a couple days later and in the final push.

There's less than a week of Spring 2018 to be had and only four more posts to go before this is all over.

I don't know if I should be sad or relieved. I'm neither actually. I'm more interested in moving onto other stuff, but I started this, so I'll damn well finish it.

Damn it.

January 1971 - lsp-4472 - NSB - Identified!

It was probably not really much of a surprise to anybody, but at least it was out in the open.
More Pop instrumental stuff for light entertaining & cocktails or maybe as the soundtrack to one of those swinging 70's key parties that were the stuff of Penthouse Forum letters and which I probably wouldn't have gotten an invite to anyway.

Colonel Bogey	2:12
White Silver Sands	2:30
Red Wings	2:24
The Three Bells	2:37
Oklahoma Hills	2:26
Strollin'	2:09
Sweet Dreams	2:17
Rocky Top	2:35
Release Me (And Let Me Love Again)	2:54
Green, Green Grass Of Home	2:37

The Homer & Jethro Project #62

#62

Mopping up the last couple of 45 rpm records.

June 1970 - RCA 47-9866 - Daddy Played First Base/You Smell Like Turtles

The  a-side is their version of the Johnny Cash song " Daddy Played Bass" that the no doubt had loads of fun with between appearances on his popular summer replacement variety show.

The other side is just kind of odd. I like it.

November 1970 - RCA 47-9922 - Hello Darlin' #2/Punny Farm


Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Conway Twitty.

 The other side of this record is a lot of what might be referred to as "Dad Jokes" in these razzle dazzle modern times. If you're a parent or plan on being one here's an opportunity to stock up a bit. You never know when you'll need to make a child embarrassed to be around you.

The Homer & Jethro Project #61

I'm actually listening to the Holy Modal Rounders while I type this. There were a few stray Lps that I didn't have digital copies or cds of, so I'm making my own. These are just for me anyway. I'm pretty sure I've already pissed off most of the people who had formerly been keeping this thing on their radar. No need to dig that hole deeper.

I'm also planning on killing the last couple of inches of whisky in that bottle while I do all of it.

It's six months ago and while it looks to warm up considerably for the next couple of days it's been nothing but negative numbers for the last couple of weeks and sitting here with a space heater, records and whisky seems like a perfectly sensible thing to be doing right now.
It's still plenty cold out there.

May 1970 - lsp-4363 - NSB - Down Home

Here we are again with the next installment of sweet pop instrumental jamming from the Boys & Chester. This time we're hitting on some classic country tunes that they already knew. The back of the jacket makes a point to let you, the listener, know that all the instruments on it are acoustic. No electrics.

It works for me.

Under The Double Eagle	2:24
Just A Closer Walk With Thee	2:36
The Arkansas Traveler	1:55
Cold, Cold Heart	2:34
Fraulein	1:59
Wildwood Flower	2:01
Tennessee Rag	2:17
Maiden's Prayer	2:23
South	2:52
Mockingbird Hill	3:00

The Homer & Jethro Project #60

Fucking Hell.

Sixty fucking Homer and fucking Jethro fucking posts.

Will this well never run dry?

November 1969 - lsp-4274 - Nashville String Band

So another couple of years after the last time they released an Lp of straight pop instrumental tunes Homer & Jethro with probably very little arm twisting on their part teamed up with Chet Atkins under the name of the Nashville String Band and recorded this record.

They, in fact, recorded another five after this one. (Well, three more with Homer, anyway). It's a bit of a Spanish/Mexican influenced record no doubt to try and catch on the latter end of the coattails of Herb Albert and his Tijuana Brass. I don't think it really worked, but sales were apparently sufficient to let them continue. So there is that.

I know at other various points in my life I'd have totally shit on this one. It would infuriate me as pure inconsequential nothingness. Virtual fucking Muzak . But now that I'm old enough to laugh at what a pretentious little prick I used to be I can appreciate it for what it is.




I made a meatloaf while I recorded this. It was very good music for making meatloaf to.

La Fiesta	2:30
Yellow Bird	3:18
El Paso	2:47
Granada	2:49
Adios Amigos	2:29
La Golondrina = The Swallow	1:51
Caribbean	2:24
Tomorrow's Tears (Morir Un Poco)	2:07
Maria Elena	3:17
Drina	2:35
In A Little Spanish Town	2:13

The Homer & Jethro Project #59

#59

Well, it's getting down to the wire.

Let us dispense with the preliminary typing and proceed directly to the next album

March 1969 - lsp-4148 - Next Album

Sadly this would be the last long playing album that Homer Haynes would complete under the name of Homer and Jethro. There would be some records that the duo would go on to record with Chet Atkins under the name the Nashville String Band (which will follow in the coming week), a few stray singles and a posthumous compilation , but this is the final record as a whole for our heroes as Homer and Jethro.

But the good news is that it's one of their best efforts. It's good pretty much all the way through with some highlights along the way.
As always mileage will vary, but the "Gal From Possum Holler" is always a winner around here.



1. There Ain’t a Chicken Safe in Tennessee
2. The Gal from Possum Holler
3. I Ain’t Got a Worry in the World
4. Little Arrows

5. D-i-v-o-r-c-e (B-a-c-o-n And E-g-g-s)

6. What Have You Done For Me Lately
7. I Upped My Income (Up Yours)
8. Cab Driver
9. I Haven’t The Foggiest
10. Pennsylvania Turnpike
11. Like Mother Used to Make
12. You Know a Thousand Ways

The Homer & Jethro Project #58

#58

Another day has dawned and time marches on and you are the oldest you've ever been in your entire life up until this moment and on into the next when you get even older.

Here's more live action Homer and Jethro

October 1968 - lsp-4024 - Live at Vanderbilt U

Another live Lp.

You know the drill.
Comedy bits separated from most of the tunes for convenience sake.
It's funny and good natured and nobody cusses.
Sit back and listen.

The Homer & Jethro Project #57

#57

I'm going one over my post queue quota for tonight.
Mostly because this is the record I want to listen to to end with this go round.

(Much to the consternation of  the cat who has taken to sitting directly on the mouspad to stare me into putting food into her dish while she impedes my progress in finishing this post. She's only hurting herself...)

This Lp is pretty quality though.
Starting with the cover.

February 1968 - lsp- 3973 - There's Nothing Like an Old Hippie


I mean, just look at that cover. That's fucking hilarious. The album itself is good too.
You can pick your own favorites, but I'm partial to the two openers.

A1	Hill Billy Hippie	2:15
A2	I Crept Into The Crypt And Cried	2:50
A3	Owed To Don Bowman	1:59
A4	Four Rooms And Path	2:21
A5	World's Oldest Teenager	1:46
A6	The Hootin' Holler Hilton Bar And Grill	1:55
B1	Indian Trader	2:25
B2	That Little Boy Of Mine	2:01
B3	I Taught Her Everything She Knows	2:14
B4	I Couldn't Spell "Pffft"	2:03
B5	It Ain't No Fun To Be A Pigeon	2:07
B6	The Second Hundred Years	2:10

The Homer & Jethro Project #56

#56

It's the last day of May and full on Summer is fast approaching.
Hopefully you're getting swimsuit ready.
Fortunately for the world, I don't swim, so I'm already ready for not being in a swimsuit.
It's better for everyone that way.

September 1967 - lsp-3877 - Somethin' Stupid

I have nothing to add about this one except that it makes me really miss having a decent Jewish bakery around where I could get an actual bagel.

*sigh*

A1	The Ballad Of Roger Miller	2:32
A2	Somethin' Stupid	1:58
A3	Upside Down	2:20
A4	The Bagel Song	2:20
A5	I Can Spell Banana	2:20
A6	Kosher Chitlins	1:57
B1	Laugh And Scratch	2:52
B2	Smellin' Like A Rose	2:27
B3	Human Cannon Ball	2:13
B4	Pearl Handled Pocket Knife	2:50
B5	Old Grand Dad	2:30
B6	Sow, Sow, Sow Your Oats	1:37