... in which we return to those thrilling days o' yesteryear...
That would be Ella Mae Morse, a chirp the Ol' Man introduced me to in the way-wayback. Ella Mae could kick out the jams, most definitely. There's one thing that never ceases to gnaw at my memory, however, and that's this: the woman predates rock 'n' roll by a number o' years, but you can sense... especially in THIS tune... where she was goin'. But that one thing? The Ol' Man HATED rock 'n' roll, to the point where he refused to listen to it in any way, shape, or form up to and including his dying day. He loved Ella Mae, owning all of her albums, so how could that BE? Enquiring Minds© wanna know.
That would be Ella Mae Morse, a chirp the Ol' Man introduced me to in the way-wayback. Ella Mae could kick out the jams, most definitely. There's one thing that never ceases to gnaw at my memory, however, and that's this: the woman predates rock 'n' roll by a number o' years, but you can sense... especially in THIS tune... where she was goin'. But that one thing? The Ol' Man HATED rock 'n' roll, to the point where he refused to listen to it in any way, shape, or form up to and including his dying day. He loved Ella Mae, owning all of her albums, so how could that BE? Enquiring Minds© wanna know.
Great find, Buck! I remember (vaguely) hearing the song on the radio as a child, but never knew the artist, as she wasn't in Dad's collection, tho he had lots of like-styled singles AND albums from the Mills, Bros, Theresa Brewer, Helen O'Connell, etc. Did your Dad like the Mills Bros? There's a connection with Ella to my ear with some of their early, up-tempo, 50s numbers, e.g., like their 1955 song "Snap Dab in the Middle." (It's on 78s on you tube--go listen, the lyrics I'll knock you out! (I had the 45 version for my collection)
ReplyDeleteIn truth, Virgil, I don't know if the Ol' Man was into the Mills Brothers. I can't help but think he WAS, given the Bros popularity in that time frame. My mother prolly was, most definitely, but Mom was a lot more open-minded than my father where music was concerned.
Delete**Sorry..."SMACK Dab..."
ReplyDeleteI don't even know what to say. So I said that. For all that we had Heathkit stereo and speakers and stuff, my old man never ever listened to anything. These days he only listens to Diane Rehm on a snarly popping little $5 dollar radio. The only music one ever hears at home is the music of Christmas. I can live with that. They still play the same 7 or 8 albums every year for the month of December.
ReplyDeleteYour parents outlook on music is almost incomprehensible to someone like me, which is to say a guy who hardly spends a minute of his day without some sort of music on. I've known folks like that, of course (they're definitely out there and there's more than a few of 'em), and never quite understood them. They, OTOH, didn't understand me, either. To each his own, eh?
DeleteThanks, Buck.
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of Ella Mae Morse before -- was surprised to find a lot of her stuff on YouTube and Amazon.
Think I may do some listening this afternoon.
Was also interested in your "Classic Rock/538" post earlier this week. I am a drive time listener of one of the surveyed stations, WZLX in Boston. I am surprised that the survey listed U2 as the most played group. My subjective experience would suggest that Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Stones, and Aerosmith comprise a larger part of the play-list than Bono and associates.
Speaking of Aerosmith, I have never been able to understand their appeal. IMO, they made one decent release (Honkin' on Bobo, a set of blues covers) about 10 years ago; the rest of their catalog leaves me cold. Aerosmith leads me to Boston (the band), who I absolutely detest. I have made it my life's work to avoid "More Than A Feeling".
The J. Geils Band is a Boston (the city) band I like. In the late '60s and early '70s, it was quite easy to catch them for next to nothing in Boston or Cambridge bars/clubs. According to 538, they are big in Detroit. One of their best efforts is Full House which was recorded live in Detroit.
J. R. Burns
Ah... thank you, J.R. Your comment warms my hard lil heart, in that I'm glad I can do some small thing to help folks enjoy music. I agree... in spades... with your take on Boston area bands. I never "got" the appeal of Aerosmith or Boston, either... even though I bought the first Boston album, but nothing after that. I own a lot of J. Geils stuff, however, coz I think they're a damned good, if not great, band. Once again: thank you.
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