ELDER MUSIC: Fish Heads
Sunday, 18 April 2010
You never know who you're going to meet on the internet and I came to know Peter Tibbles (bio here) via email over the past couple of years. His extensive knowledge of most genres of music and his excellent taste became apparent only gradually (Peter's not one to toot his horn) but once I understood, I knew he needed his own column at Time Goes By - or, better, that TGB needed his column - which appears here each Sunday. You can find previous Elder Music columns here.
Today’s column may seem a bit silly to some. It’s a little bit sensible too. It started out as a joke.
We were wondering how to get the song Fish Heads into a column. This was just after finishing a meal (of fish, surprise). “How about one on food,” posited Norma, the Assistant Musicologist. That sounded good to me. Naturally, we had to come up with some other food songs.
The songs came fast and furious, some of which are included, many got the flick. So here they are, our post-prandial (and post-wine) songs – some sensible and one or two silly.
The first song we came up with after Fish Heads is Home Grown Tomatoes. That is certainly food. It’s also a great song by Guy Clark. Well, that goes without saying.
Guy Clark is one of the finest songwriters of our time so he could certainly do a decent food song. I could have used Texas Cooking but the tomatoes it is.
♫ Guy Clark - Homegrown Tomatoes
“How about the okra song?” suggested the A.M. That’s not what it’s actually called, but that’s what we know it as. Chris Smither performs this and we saw and heard him play it about a week ago.
The song is actually called No Love Today which doesn’t sound very foodie but trust me, it is. It’s a good song too and not very silly at all.
♫ Chris Smither - No Love Today
It was at this point, after a couple of sensible suggestions, that the A.M. Said, “We have to include Hot Bananas. Couldn’t do this without Hot Bananas.”
“Of course, Hot Bananas it is. Ah, but will the readers know Hot Bananas?”
“Sure they will. It’s one of the most famous songs of the Fifties.”
So, Hot Bananas is next.
“And then there’s strawberries, cherries and whatever all those other things were in the song. Lee and Nancy.” That was my suggestion. I think the A.M. came up with better ones.
Those fruits were good enough for us anyway. Anything was good enough for us at this stage. The song is Summer Wine. It’s autumn here as I write this, but Summer Wine seems apt. This is one you’ll remember, perhaps - Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra.
♫ Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood - Summer Wine
“How about Cherry Pie?” asked the A.M.
“Cherry Pie?” was my reply.
“The Beatles, Cherry Pie.”
“Oh, you mean Honey Pie. From the 'White Album'.”
“Yeah, probably. I’m not expected to know about The Beatles,” she said, “They’re just fey pretenders as far as I’m concerned.”
Raised eyebrows. That should get the comments going, I thought. Fey or not, it’s in and the song doesn’t sound very modern, so that should be enough for the A.M. and that’s a good enough reason to include it. Another reason is that I actually haven’t had anything by The Beatles in any column to date, so here’s a first.
Polk Salad Annie came into the conversation as well, whatever the hell polk salad is. Tony Joe White does explain it in the song but I must admit that I have never actually eaten a mess of polk salad. It doesn’t matter though, this is a music column not a food one.
Tony Joe must be about the coolest dude on the planet. If you’ve ever been to one of his concerts I’m sure you’d agree.
♫ Tony Joe White - Polk Salad Annie
Okay, the song that prompted this column, Fish Heads. This was recorded by Barnes & Barnes.
Barnes & Barnes are twin brothers, Art Et Barnes and Artie Et Bet Barnes. Well, actually, they are Bill Mumy and Robert Haimer. If the name Bill Mumy seems familiar, think Lost in Space.
You may not remember this song but we do. It’s one of those tunes that lodges in the brain and refuses to move out of there. We figured why should we be the only ones who know this one? Let’s inflict it on the world. Here it comes, world.
Interesting selection of songs...however, "Hot Bananas" sounds more like his hit, "Teddy Bear"....
Posted by: Nana Royer | Sunday, 18 April 2010 at 06:28 AM
Everything you ever need to know about Polk Salad is here:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/196945/tradition_or_insanity_why_do_we_eat.html?cat=22
Is Chris Smither Australian?
The Band of Heathens sing about cornbread (supposedly):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOdBhhGY0zU
Posted by: Citizen K. | Sunday, 18 April 2010 at 07:32 AM
Well that WAS interesting! How did I make it to this point in my life without ever hearing the tune "Fish Heads"? How long will I have to live until the tune wends it's way out of my cranium! ;-) Thanks, Peter and Norma!
Posted by: Cile | Sunday, 18 April 2010 at 11:44 AM
I'm sending my other half here today. Frankly I'm tired of the bumble bee song, and one of these familiar tunes might alter is playlist. :)
Posted by: Mage B | Sunday, 18 April 2010 at 12:05 PM
K, Chris Smither is American. He was in town on (a rather extensive) tour. He must like it here as he returns often. Thanks for the heads up on polk salad. I think I’ll give it a miss (easy as it doesn’t grow here).
That was "Teddy Bear", Nana, but if the Jordanaires aren’t chanting "Hot Bananas" in the background, whatever it is is pretty close.
Posted by: Peter Tibbles | Sunday, 18 April 2010 at 03:12 PM
I, too, had difficulties at first with the "hot bananas" reference...
BEATLES RULE.
Never ate poke salad, but I love me some fresh turnip and collard greens...
Okay, now I am starving for a nice fresh summer 'mater, some greens with bacon, and a hunk o' cornbread....Oh, you gotta add a fresh garden green onion with that...
Which brings to mind the instrumental:
Booker T and the MG's "Green Onions"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ar-Z_l907DY
Posted by: Cowtown Pattie | Monday, 19 April 2010 at 09:19 AM
Better Banana song:
Harry Belafonte's Banana Boat:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMTNT_BzkdA
Elvis Presley Shrimp Song(Townes Van Zandt has his own version, too)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW4z4Vu_6J0
Jay and the Techniques "Apple Peaches Pumpkin Pie"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x07oQVsFVDs
Harry Nilsson "Lime in the Coconut"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LxC3M-Yngs
Jerry Lee Lewis "Drinkin' Wine"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNbOI39fCM0
Fats Waller "All That Meat and No Potatoes"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KM_f7PzRURw
Tom Waits "Eggs and Sausage"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8rsq6lYrwU&feature=related
Posted by: Cowtown Pattie | Monday, 19 April 2010 at 10:07 AM
"We have no bananas...."
Posted by: joared | Wednesday, 21 April 2010 at 10:34 PM
There was a "Cherry Pie," Marvin & Johnny, '54...a doowop hit. "Cherry, duh-doo-duh, Cherry pie, duh-doo-duh-doo-duh..."
Posted by: Margie | Saturday, 21 August 2010 at 10:42 AM