I make rock 'n' roll records
I sell 'em for a dime
I make my living and feed my children
All in good time
The blues they go for a quarter
Guaranteed to satisfy
It's a real funky deal
Don't let it pass you by
If your evening sun don't shine, my friend
Tell you what I'm gonna do I'm gonna hammer out this rhythm
Till I get right next to you
J.J. Cale is best known for his song Cocaine, which was covered by Eric Clapton and is probably one of the best love songs to a class A drug ever written. Sadly much of the rest of J.J. Cale's catalog is rather ignored. I happen to believe that Okie, the album Rock and Roll records was taken from is his finest. This song just about sums up how I feel about Rock and Roll music and it's place in my life. I have a terrible singing voice, if I could have the voice of anyone, I'd choose J.J. Cale. His voice just sums up rock and roll. It's not smooth, it's a lived in voice which conveys the feel of a rock and roll lifestyle. Unlike most of songs we are subjected to these days, Cale's songs are honest and raw. They are not written to shock, just to convey how he feels about life. Songs like "The old man and me" are about sitting on the river bank, talking to an old guy fishing. You can shut your eyes and almost be on the banks of the Missisipi river, beer in hand, waiting for the fish to bite. If you want to know how us rock and rollers feel about life, click the play button on the youtube video below. Enjoy your Sunday
I wanted to write a bit about my favourite Rock and Roll records, but I thought before you start reading it, I'd give you a wicked tune to listen to whilst you read. It's saturday night so chill and enjoy - I specifically selected a no vid clip so you'd not get too distracted.
JJ Cale - Rock and Roll Records
I love vinyl records. I love everything about them. The Smell, the shape, the covers, the engravings in the vinyl by the cutters. This little post is about some of the records I love, for reasons other than the ace music they contain.
This is my favourite album cover of all time. I used to just stare at it for ever. I like the perspective that makes the guitars look big. I love the way Steve Miller is leaning on Tim Davis shoulder, whilst Tim Davis is looking mean and sharp. I love the stormy sea and the shipwreck and the earth transposed as the sun. It sort of says to me "Things can be bad but music can get you through the bad times" The earth in the background has promise of unattainable beauty. It sums up the mystical majesty that music can weave in our imagination.
By the way, the music on the album is great as well, I love Dime a Dance Romance. One of the all time greatest forgotten classics.
Next up we have those little messages that the people who actually cut the records used to scratch into the vinyl between the last track and the label. Many punk records had the message "A Porky Prime Cut". Often there would be other little messages. For example "Music For Pleasure" by "The Damned" has "Tweeter Twister" etched onto side A and "Woofer Warper" on side B.
These little throwaway messages have always fascinated me. Rather like ancient graffiti on the inside of Pyramids and notes left in the attics of public buildings. This album is a strange one. Not acclaimed at the time, but I think the single "Don't Cry Wolf" was a classic.
Then there's coloured vinyl. My favourite use of this is Sound of the Suburbs by "The Members". There was a period when everything came out on coloured vinyl. I think this was the most imaginative use. This was actually on clear vinyl.
Next up. The 12" single. Usually associated with dance music, the first time I came across this was when my Sister Caroline bought "Sheena is a Punk Rocker" on numbered, limited edition, 12" vinyl. There is no more glorious record on the planet.
There are many things I could say about the Ramones. Best Live band, Best gig (Roundhouse, June 1977), coolest guitars. Best single title (Bonzo goes to Bitburg), best lyrics - Rockaway Beach, funniest song - Pinhead.
I owe them everything. If I'd not seen the Ramones, I'd not have got Punk Rock.
Then there's Electric Ladyland by Jimi Hendrix. When I was 14 years old, there was no such thing as a video, so there was no such thing as pornorgraphy in Mill Hill. Then I bought this record. I put it on and just stared at this picture for ever. Ever since, whenever I listen to crosstown traffic, I am just transported away to somewhere very nice that I really like to be. I was in a secondhand record store in New York a couple of years ago and a young rocker came in. He picked up the record, looked at this picture for about 1/2 a second and put it down again, without even noticing. I sometimes think we've been so bombarded with everything that we've lost appreciation of the finer things in life. I had a discussion with my Dad about this picture. He said he preffered to see women in revealing cloths and felt it was crass and vulgar. I told him I thought it was very beautiful. He just sniggered at me and said "I suppose I would have when I was your age" I think I still will when I'm his age. Have a great weekend.
