Author: jpbohannon

“Sittin’ on Top of the World”

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I don’t know why but lately I’ve been hearing the Flatlanders’ version of “Sittin’ on Top of the World” a lot. The Flatlanders–consisting of Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Joe Ely and Butch Hancock, childhood friends from Lubbock, Texas –are as their one album states “More of a Legend than a Band,” rarely tour or record, but have influenced as disparate artists as Uncle Tupelo and the Clash.

But I knew this song mostly from Doc Watson and then as a country-blues-bluegrass piece rather than the rollicking sound of the Flatlanders’ version. Originally recorded by the Memphis Sheiks, it has been recorded and performed by so many people, in so many styles. Enjoy it.

Another Sunday Morning Tune (No. 213)

“Fishin’ Blues”

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The Lovin’ Spoonful were a meteoric band that left the scene almost as quickly as they arrived. Within 14 months, from October 1965 to January 1967, their first seven singles reached the Top Ten. (Only the Beatles and the Rolling Stones outperformed them in 1966 according to Billboard magazine.)

“Fishin’ Blues” appeared on their debut album, one of the first albums I ever bought. I hope you enjoy it.

A “Shady Grove”/”Matty Groves” Mashup: Another Sunday Morning Tune (no. 211)

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“Shadygrove” is an old Appalachian song that has become a standard among bluegrass players. “Matty Groves” is from an 18th century English ballad that Richard Thompson set to the tune of “Shady Grove” for Fairport Convention’s Leif and Leige album. The two songs are otherwise not connected. Both songs have been recorded by many, many players.

“Too Many Dirty Dishes”

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I first heard this Albert Collins’ song from Tai Benoit, suggested to me by my friend Kathy Jenner. Both his and Albert Collins’ versions are superb performances with smoking guitar solos and full band contributions. (Far beyond my abilities). Anyway, it’s a fun song, so I hope you like it.

“Watching the Wheels”

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This is one of my favorite John Lennon song from his solo career. Hope you enjoy it.

“A Man Needs a Maid”

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Neil Young’s Harvest was an album filled with gentle acoustic numbers, some spirited rockers, and two songs backed by The London Symphony Orchestra. Young’s piano playing and the backing of the orchestral strings give “A Man Needs a Maid” its haunting and plaintive tone. For me it works stripped down to just an acoustic guitar. Enjoy.

“From Galway to Graceland”

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A guitar virtuoso and a wonderful story-teller in song, Richard Thompson humorously describes this as “an Elvis song…an Irish Elvis song.” I find it moving and sad. I hope you like it.

DAN HICKS AND ME

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Last week I played at a little club in New Hope, Pa. The club had opened in 1972 and it still had a really cool vibe from that era. On the walls they had posters of all the acts that had played there: Jonathan Edwards and Steve Forbert. Mary Chapin Carpenter and Norah Jones. John Gorka and Rhett Miller. Penn and Teller and Commander Cody. But the picture that caught my eye was of Dan Hicks. Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks were one of my favorite bands of that era. Incredible musicianship, intricate harmonies, and clever wordplay, their music was unlike anything else that was heard at the time. I used to call it “good-timey music.” And I hadn’t listened for a while. So when I got home from that gig, I spent the following week listening to the two Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks albums that I owned and watching them whatever YouTube videos that existed. So I thought that for this Sunday I would do a Hot Licks song. I don’t have all the instruments or the female harmonies, but I plowed on. I hope you like it.

Original song: “Headed Straight to Nowhere”

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Most of my Sunday Morning Tunes are covers of other people’s songs. This week, however, I’m putting up an original song. Hope you like it.

J. P. Bohannon at John and Peter’s in New Hope, PA

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This Saturday, March 23, J. P. Bohannon will be opening for the indie-rock band, Black Cat Habitat. His set will consist entirely of original songs. Music starts at 3:00 pm. Come out enjoy the music and the scenic town of New Hope.