Twisted Mix-Tape Tuesday: Man, Have I Got A Story For You

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After the general "Free-For-All" that took place last week, Queen of the Hop, Jen (as well as the other great co-hosts) has come up with a theme for this week's Twisted Mix-Tape Tuesday Hop.  

This is good because I'm currently unable to think for myself.  Yep, it's cold season again and good old bronchitis has made itself present in my cigarette smoke ravaged lungs.  I almost stayed away this week to keep from possibly infecting all of you with this wonderful challenge to daily activity, but what the hell, it is better to give than to receive.  Right?

Anyway, this week's theme is "... songs that tell a story ... a real story, not that love la la crap."  

You know, stuff like, "I love you so much and want you to be mine forever until I meet someone else that I want to be with forever unless you meet someone else that you want to be with forever first, unless you happen to have a horse and a dog in love and you're deciding between taking a train or a pick-up truck to the rodeo after you stop by the bar and get drunk while listening to the jukebox."

Kind of like a country love song, I guess!

So, let us get started before I succumb to the sleep signals that keeps saying, "Forget about this writing crap and go to bed and get well!"  I never was one to pay attention to good advice.

First one up will take us back into the early 60's.  The Sunday Comic strips used to be filled with nonsensical funnies about different phases of life.  One such strip, entitled "Alley Oop", took us all the way back to the days of the cavemen.  I don't really remember much about it, as it wasn't one of my favorites back then.  (Dagwood & Blondie and Dick Tracy held those spots.)  However, this comedy / novelty song did fairly well on the charts, so someone must have like it!

Hollywood Argyles  "Alley Oop"

Since we're on the caveman theme, here's a song from the early 70's done by the Jimmy Castor Bunch.  I can't tell you how many teenage boys would repeat the lyrics, "Gotta Get A Woman, Gotta Get A Woman" endlessly after hearing it.  Yep, even though the band was mostly known as a jazz band, they released this comedy / novelty hit.  Enjoy!

Jimmy Castor Bunch  

"Troglodyte (Cave Man)"

Ray Stevens was the master of the comedy / novelty song back then.  He wrote songs about streaking, crazy squirrels in a Mississippi church, and even a stalker whisperer who called a lady named Margaret endlessly.  Yet, among all his comedy songs, "Gitazan" and this one seemed to be the favorites of the masses.  Forget about being politically correct here.  That concept wasn't known in the late 60's.

Ray Stevens  "Ahab The Arab"

We've all heard stories of cave miners being trapped after a cave-in.  This wasn't only a fear of one who was claustrophobic, but of anyone who thought of a death that they would not want to suffer.  No one told the tale of a cave in better than Jimmy Dean with his classic, "Big Bad John."  (And "yes", this is the same Jimmy Dean that was later known for his breakfast sausage.)

Jimmy Dean  "Big Bad John"

Are you ready for a good cry?  I think we all need one every now and then.  Right?  Well, if you're ready, here's a classic that's guaranteed to get the water flowing.  Losing a spouse due to an early death is a heartbreaking topic on it's own, but Bobby Goldsboro had every household in America crying with this one back in the 60's.  Need a Kleenex?

Bobby Goldsboro  "Honey"

Phantom hitchhikers and strangers have always accompanied the lonely as they traveled dark and empty highways late at night.  Just imagine, there you are, traveling in the dark, in unknown territory, and your car has engine problems.  You're alone in the dark, without a cell phone, and you have no idea what awaits you.  Suddenly, a trucker comes by and volunteers to give you a lift.  Should you go?

Red Sovine  "Phantom 309"

I guess one way to keep that from occurring would be to make your own car.  That's what Johnny Cash sang about when he decided to do just that in our next song.  Imagine, working at an automobile factory and accumulating a whole car over a period of decades.  Putting it all together might just be somewhat problematic, wouldn't you say?

Johnny Cash  "One Piece At A Time"

Arlo Guthrie is best know for his 17 minute story song "Alice's Restaurant."  I almost put that one in, but I figured others would do it, along with Gordon Lightfoot's classic boat wreck, Bobbie Gentry's bridge secret, and David Bowie's classic space tragedy.  However, "Alice's..." wasn't the only story song Arlo wrote and performed.  How would you like to be traveling on a motorcycle at breakneck speed on a mountain and suddenly find yourself airborne?  Give Arlo a chance to tell you all about it.

Arlo Guthrie  

"Motorcycle (The Significance Of A Pickle) Song"

Bob Dylan wrote so many songs that would classify as story songs that it is almost difficult to choose.  However, his story of a boxer wrongly set-up, accused, and imprisoned has to be one of his most detailed.  A rising boxer sent to jail became a story that set the nation on fire in efforts to free him.  Sit back and listen to his tale of "this couldn't happen in America" with this selection.

Bob Dylan  "Hurricane"

Our last entry is a tail of forecasting the future.  As America was in debate over civil rights and Vietnam, two songwriters sat down and composed a song depicting what the future could become.  If you've heard this before, listen deeply to the words.  It's much more than just a duo with a catchy tune.  In fact, some of it may already be taking place a few centuries early.

Zager & Evans  

"In The Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)"

And that's it ... over for another week!  Once again, do your best to get around to the other blogs in the hop and see what others have to offer.  I may be a little slow doing that this week, until I can shake this bronchitis junk and do a better job of keeping my eyes open.  

Hope you enjoyed!

Ciao!