So I took a trip back musically this afternoon and listened to some Jerry Jeff Walker. I listened to his 2012 album Live from Dixie‘s Bar & Bus Stop. The live set is composed of most my favorite JJW songs. Among those songs is Guy Clark’s “Desperados Waiting for a Train“. first heard this song way back in 1973, when it appeared on JJW’S 1973 album Viva Terlingua! When it played today I shook my head and said oh my!
So I have this habit that when I hear certain names a special songs pop into my head. For example, when I am introduced to someone named Jennifer, my mind zooms to Tom Paxton’s song written for his first daughter Jennifer – “Jennifer’s Rabbit” Oh and if I am introduced to a Kate or Katy my mind goes to the song Tom wrote for his other daughter Katy!
Through the years Jerry Jeff Walker has introduced me to many great songwriters like Guy Clark,and Townes Van Zandt. Two other songwriters songs appear on the Jerry Jeff’s album Live at Gruene Hall.. First, three Chris Wall songs appear on the album “I Feel Like Hank Williams Tonight”..”Trashy Women” and this one “Rodeo Wind” Can’t you just see that cowboy out in the barn saddling his horse, with his woman leaning against the frame of the barn door, as he gets ready to ride off into the sunset!
Ok so when I started this blog, my idea for morning music was to play something that made me happy! Kinda’ a morning pick me up that we all need! So here we go – after reading and listening to both John Sebastian and Jerry Jeff the other day, I started to think about songs that they sing that put me in a good mood! Here’s three of then, two from Jerry Jeff and one from John Sebastian – with Jerry Jeff we’ll dance in the Hill Country Rain and then ride down that road with Curly and Lil because you know – “It’s good times when they get here….” and the John Sebastian is gonna’ painted rainbows all over your blues!! Have a good day y’all!!
So on this day in 1942 in Oneonta, NY, one Ronald Clyde Crosby, aka Jacky Jack, and more well-known as Jerry Jeff Walker was born!! Jerry Jeff’s music has been a part of the musical soundtrack of my life since the late 1960s. And his music has been with me as I walked across the campus of the University of Florida singing “High Hill Country Rain”, to rocking my children to sleep to “Mr Bojangles”, to sending my son’s best friend into hysterics over “Pissin’ in the Wind” and of course “Redneck Mother” is always just a moment away in that jukebox in my head! The first few songs on his album Navajo Rug can for some reason always pull me out of a bad mood. His music introduced me to songwriters like Guy Clark, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Bill Staines and the great Chris Wall as well as a myriad of other Texas musicians!! Ok so I could go on and on about Jerry Jeff but Jerry Jeff over the years has spread the celebration of his birthday over three days, performing concerts in Luckenbach and in Austin, so I think that it’s only fitting that I at least spread it over at least ONE day. So with that thought in mind, I will post Jerry Jeff songs throughout the day today. I can hear my wife now, oh joy! NOT!
