Shaz and I are having computer problems (means we $#%$ed up a bit) so I'm going to use something I originally posted at Wimpy Badger in 2007. I'll update some of it!

No, but seriously, I'm still having that problem with adding photos so there won't be any. Oh, I'll try alright, but I don't expect success. That banner up there? Copied from an old essay and pasted in. I should probably do that, pepper this one with photos of Graham Nash and Franz Liszt.

Anyway, so here we are, 5 days away from the end of the world. Shaz and I saw a bumper sticker today that said "We're so Screwed - 2016!" I think I've seen a couple of Hillary stickers, no Trumps. I can't even recall any Jill bumper stickers. The enthusiasm level is so low. We read about how early voting is showing a low turnout for Hillary's constituencies, African-Americans and Latinos. Maybe she'll lose after all. I got scolded (!!) by a friend for suggesting that she might lose and if she does it'll be because the Democratic Party made the mistake of getting her nominated. But I believe I'm right about that. I don't want Trump to win but I hope Hillary loses. But not to Trump. Yes, "We're so Screwed - 2016!"

Now for the oldie....I wrote a bunch of music things for Wimpy Badger and here's one of them...(and after you enjoy the tunes...or after you skip them, feel free to discuss anything you like)
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Before we leave the 1950s, here are some songs that you might or might know, that are a little unusual in one way or another.

The Jive Bombers were a New York group that started recording in the '40s so it's no surprise that their recording from the '50s have a throwback sound. I love this song and was floored the first time I heard it, thanks to the "trumpet" that's not a trumpet at all.

Richard Berry will be forever remembered as the writer of "Louie Louie". I think my favorite of his is "Next Time", a funny talking song where the protagonist gets in all kinds of scrapes and flees each one, saying "next time....", like the landlord wanting the rent, or the man with a warrant for child support. Verses start with things like "well, after the commotion had settled down..." It's a great tune but I can't find it on youtube. Instead I'm including Berry's own version of "Louie Louie". Also great!

Duane Eddy was my first guitar hero. His biggest hit was "Rebel Rouser". I think every guitarist of my generation must have learned how to play that one. It's so simple yet so cool. What kept his records fresh was how one verse would be Eddy and the next, the saxaphone of Steve Douglas. On this tune it's Douglas who really stars in this wild record. It's slow yet almost out of control, thank to Douglas' sax.

Dave Bartholomew is from New Orleans and is famous mostly as a songwriter and producer. Now 97 (!), his big successes came in the '50s. He wrote "I Hear You Knocking", co-wrote lots of Fats Domino songs like "Ain't that a Shame" and "Blue Monday". He produced "Lawdy Miss Clawdy", recorded by Lloyd Price. This next one is Bartholomew as a recording artist, a piece of philosophy that we all can relate to.

Some parents shuddered at Elvis, disliked Jerry Lee, but most of them were terrified of Gene Vincent, who looked the part of the juvenile delinquent. He was only 36 when he died but he'd been beaten up a lot by life. A motorcycle accident busted up his leg, then a car crash in England, the one that killed Eddie Cochran, broke his ribs and collarbone. He was in constant pain after that and took to carrying a gun that he liked to point at people. Here's one that's entertaining. Would you want these guys over for dinner?

I'd first heard Ric Cartey on a rockabilly compilation, doing great songs like "Born to Love One Woman" and "Oo-eee". What a great idea to have three "e"s in the title! When he recently died and I read his obit I was surprised to learn that he'd written "Young Love", the great Sonny James hit which also did well for Tab Hunter. I like the idea that I was a fan of his without knowing that, though. Here's one of his howling hillbilly hits.

"For dessert there was batwing confetti and the veins of a mummy named Betty. I first frowned upon it, but with ketchup on it, it tasted very much like spaghetti". There's another version of this, a little tamer and not as funny. Sometimes I wonder what it is in society that makes a song like this necessary! John Zacherle is from Philadelphia and just passed away the other day at the age of 98.

The '50s came to a close with that plane crash thing, with Elvis going into the Army and coming out as a freak, with Little Richard retiring. There was still room for cool stuff in the next few years but there was an awful lot of Bobby this and Bobby that.
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So that's what I wrote awhile back...still lots of fun.