Monday Morning Musings

Posted on March 25, 2019 under Monday Morning Musings with one comment

Free books all this week at People’s Place Library

 

 

“I’ve seen the grand old opry, and I’ve met Johnny Cash,

If that ain’t country, I’ll kiss your ass.”

David Allan Coe – If That Ain’t Country

Country and western music is making a big comeback.

Whoa!

According to C&W fans it never went away. Country and Western music wasn’t at the top of my playlist back in the 60s. Actually, there was no such thing as a playlist or Spotify back then. You bought the latest 45 and wore out Side 1. More often than not it was the latest release from The Beatles.

Our local radio station, CJFX, played contemporary music (the “Hit Parade” with John a Go Go mostly in the evenings) and also had a show for classical music lovers. But it was at the suppertime hour that “The Old Timer” played mostly country tunes. Hard core fans could get a daily dose of Patsy Kline, Loretta Lynn, George Jones, Jim Reeves, Tammy Wynette and Charlie Pride and many more. And of course, they played a lot of Cape Breton fiddle music. (Scottish Strings)

It wasn’t that I didn’t like country music back then. There were just too many great bands and artists playing at that time.

My personal renaissance with country and western music has come from the most unlikely source: a nursing home. I play music there on a regular basis. Most of the music I perform is comprised of war era tunes and spiritual songs. At least it was at the beginning until I began getting repeated requests for Hank Snow and Hank Williams and a host of other C&W legends. My song book (playlist!)  now includes classics like “Crystal Chandeliers”, “Wings of a Dove” and “Ring of Fire”. I’m also learning a ton of more recent hits like “Daddy’s Hands” and “Lord I’m Waiting, I’m Ready to go Home”.

It took me a very long time (almost 68 years) to see the appeal for this style of music. The lyrics are generally stated simply. Nobody is going to take “Stand by Your Man”, play it backwards on their tape deck (while inhaling legal weed) and get some bizarre meaning. Most of the songs involve “hurtin” or “cheatin’”. The music is not overly complex. There are rarely more than four chords. The harmonies are straight ahead.

I guess you can say that I’m a late convert to the genre.

Speaking of getting one’s ass kicked, do you find that Facebook just becomes weirder and more aggravating with every passing day? Like many others, I’m on the cusp of declaring perpetual lent and giving up on this particular social media site. Initially, it was a great tool to keep in touch with friends but now it has become one giant trash can. Any mention of anything causes an ad to appear within 24 hours trying to get you to buy something.

The other day, an ad for a Brazilian Butt Lift appeared on my feed. You don’t know what that is? Apparently if your buns are not just the right shape, you can get them altered. The BBL (is this like BFF?) is a specialized fat transfer that augments the size and shape of your buttocks without implants. (I didn’t know that a person could get a buttock implant. Might this give a person a shitty outlook on life?) Excess fat is removed from the hips, abdomen, lower back or thighs with liposuction and a portion of this fat is then strategically injected into the buttocks. But hey, if you’re not happy with your current butt, you can make this transformational change for as little as $10,000. A sure fire cure for plumber’s butt? I think not.

“If that ain’t country, I’ll kiss your surgically altered, Brazilian Butt Lift”ass. Maybe I’ll write my own C&W song about this.

Free books.

All this week (Mar.25-30), I will be giving away copies of my first three books at People’s Place Library. It’s a fundraiser for Friends of Antigonish Library (FOAL). FOAL is a fundraising organization that provides funds to our local library for many of the essentials. Chronic underfunding of libraries is a serious issue in this province. So please feel free to come by and grab a book or two. If you are able and would like to, you can make a donation to FOAL.

At the end of the week on Saturday March 30th, I will be at People’s Place from 12:00 -2:00 to read a few stories, sing a tune or two, talk about writing and book publishing and signing books.

Have a great week.