"Papa Gene's Blues"

Day 4 of 31 Days of The Monkees:

Papa Gene's Blues, released on The Monkees first album in 1966 was written by Michael Nesmith, who also sings lead (with Mickey on harmony). It's a charming song that shows Nesmith's wit and songwriting talent. Mickey has the strongest voice, with that gravely quality I like, but I like Mike's Texas twang, and smooth, clear vocals. His voice is right for the songs he himself wrote.

On this particular recording from the first album the wonderful guitar solo is played by James Burton, lead guitarist for Ricky Nelson. You know, it has been said before, and I'll say it again -- this song shows just how much a pity it was the members of The Monkees weren't allowed to contribute more original songs to their albums.

Lyrics:

No heartaches felt, no longer lonely
Nights of waiting finally won me
Happiness that's all rolled up in you

And now with you as inspiration
I look toward a destination
Sunny bright that once before was blue

I have no more than I did before
But now I've got all that I need
For I love you and I know you love me

So take my hand I'll start my journey
Free from all the helpless worry
That besets a man when he's alone

For strength is mine when we're together
And with you I know I'll never
Have to pass the high road for the low

I have no more than I did before
But now I've got all that I need
'Cause I love you and I know you love me
Yes, I love you and I... know... you....love....me!!!!!!!!



"This Just Doesn't Seem to be my Day"

"I'm Gonna Buy Me A Dog"

"Early Morning Blues and Greens"

"This Just Doesn't Seem To Be My Day"

Day 3 of 31 Days of The Monkees

Actually, this was a pretty good day for me. Of course we woke up to reports of more deaths and lots of footage from yesterday's tornadoes. This was the weekend that we had planned to go to the Maple Syrup Festival which we attend every year near Salem, IN. To get there we had to take the exit that goes to Henryville, IN, which was wiped out, so we saw some of the devastation that was near the interstate. It really does look like a war zone when something like this happens, doesn't it?

The festival went on as planned, and today was a very sunny, very pretty day, although a brisk breeze was blowing. Some friends went with us, and we had a nice time. Thomas had to work this afternoon, so we didn't stay too late. Then later today Eler Beth and I went to Orange Leaf for some frozen yogurt -- Key Lime Pie with granola is my personal favorite!

Found out that the little town where Thomas has some hunting property was hit hard and had four deaths. Several communities in KY were hit hard as well, especially West Liberty, KY near Moorehead University where Andrew has some friends. So far no one we know has suffered more than some minor damage. I have a feeling this won't be the last of the bad storms this year.

Today's song is a simple little melody from The Monkees' first album, written by Boyce & Hart, with Davy on lead. It's a fun one to sing along with, and is a nice pick-me-up if you've had a rough day. Hope you enjoy.

Lyrics:

I guess I should have stayed in bed,
My pillow wrapped around my head.
Instead of waking up to find
A nightmare of a different kind.
She went away.
This just doesn't seem to be my day.

She didn't have to say a lot,
Her pretty eyes revealed the plot.
'Twas someone else she wanted more,
And so I walked her to the door.
What could I say?
This just doesn't seem to be my day.

My, oh my, how sad am I.
How I wish she would have stayed
This just doesn't seem to be my day.

My whole world is upside down,
She turned my smile into a frown.
It's such a pity the shape I'm in,
I must get on my feet again.
Can't stay this way
This just doesn't seem to be my day.



Day 1: Early Morning Blues and Greens

Day 2: I'm Gonna Buy Me A Dog

"I'm Gonna Buy Me A Dog"

Day 2 of 31 Days of The Monkees

We've had a terrible string of tornadoes in our area today that devastated one small town North of us, hit several other small towns nearby and killed at least 5 people so far. I'm sure the death toll will rise. Our area was spared, and all of our friends are safe. It has been quite an afternoon. I'm still going to post a Monkees video, though.

This song is from their eponymously named first album, which was released October 10, 1966. I was six months old at the time! lol My sisters P.J. and Lois used to sing this one a lot, one doing Mickey's part and the other doing Davy's heckling part.

A funny one to cheer us up on a sad afternoon: "I'm Gonna Buy Me A Dog", written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, with Mickey on Lead:

Lyrics:

You know my girl just called me up
And she woke me from my sleep
You should have heard the things she said
You know she hurt my feelings deep.
I'm gonna buy me a dog
'Cause I need a friend now.
I'm gonna buy me a dog,
My girl, my girl, don't love me nohow.

She used to bring me my newspaper
'Cause she knew where it was at.
She used to keep me so contented.
But I can teach a dog to do that.
I'm gonna buy me a dog,
'Cause I need a friend now
I'm gonna buy me a dog,
My girl, my girl, don't love me nohow.




"Early Morning Blues and Greens"

"Early Morning Bues and Greens"

ay 1 of 31 Days of The Monkees in honor of the late Davy Jones:

Yesterday, February 29, Davy Jones died of a heart attack at age 66 -- much too young. Although they were just a "bit" before my time, I was a Monkees fan. I was born in 1966, the year the quirky series premiered. Since I was only two years old when the show went off the air, I can't say that I remember watching it at that time, but I do remember seeing re-runs at some point in time. I know because I could remember certain scenes -- like the one where the boys were washing dishes and one of them would give a rinsed cup to Pete to put away and he would turn and put it right back on the counter to be picked up and washed again. Anyway, my sisters told me that was from a Monkees show when I asked one time, and later I did see that very episode.

My sisters had some of the albums and little 45 records, so I grew up with their music, and not just the "hits" that played on the radio. I learned some of their really very well written and performed songs that never got air time.

In the eighties attention was on The Monkees again when they celebrated the 25th anniversary of their creation as a pop group and came together, at least three of them did, to do a Reunion Tour. I even went, with my sisters Dee and Lois and my nephew Jamie, to see them in concert when they played Roberts Stadium in Evansville, IN in 1986. It was a great show!

That year a local television station showed reruns of the old show every afternoon, and I would keep a cassette tape recorder by the TV set so I could tape their songs as they sang them. Then I started finding their old albums and buying them up. I learned some of their songs I'd never learned before. My oldest sister Dennice's son Jamie was eight years old in 1986, and he fell in love with The Monkees. He learned ALL of their songs and could actually sound like Davy Jones, his favorite. How many thirty-somethings today could say that they went to their first pop concert at the age of eight and that it was a Monkees concert! lol Jamie is still a musician and songwriter, and remembers, I believe a bit fondly and with a bit of embarrassment, his captivation with The Monkees.

My musical tastes are wide ranging. I love the Beatles who had good opinions of The Monkees, and I like The Byrds who apparently hated The Monkees. I like music much harder than what The Monkees were instructed to sing, and I like music much softer as well. I know their stories, how they were put together, and what musical talents they did and did NOT have when they were first thrown together. And I know that many of the songs I like by them were written and performed BY them, and that I like their voices and the way they blended together -- although admittedly Pete really couldn't sing. Poor thing. ("Aunty Griselda" is a great song though.)

In my bedroom, near my little turntable/tape player/CD player is a small stack of 33 albums that I have not been able to part with, and among them are ALL of The Monkees' albums. Somewhere in the possession of one of my sisters is a little 45 record, scratched and much-played with "Daydream Believer" on one side and "Goin' Down" on the other. Of the two I always preferred "Goin' Down", by the way.

I never idolized The Monkees, group or individuals, but I did enjoy them. I liked the silly show they put on each week -- the humor was quirky and that's what I grew up with --, and I loved their music. It was a very nice part of my growing-up years. It's a shame Davy passed away so young.

Here's one of my favorite songs that they did with Davy singing lead (and a very good harmony done by Mickey, who was my personal favorite), written by Diane Hildebrand and Jack Keller, and recorded on their album HEADQUARTERS in 1967.

Lyrics:

A distant night bird mocks the sun,
I wake as I have always done,
To freshly-scented sycamore,
And cold, bare feet on hardwood floor.
My steaming coffee warms my face,
I'm disappointed in the taste,
But, there's a peace the early brings
The morning world of growing things.

SOLO

I feel the moments hurry on,
It was today, it's died away,
And now it is forever gone.
And I will drink my coffee slow,
And I will watch my shadow grow,
And disappear in firelight,
And sleep alone again tonight.

Preserving Strawberries and Memories

I know it isn't the usual time of year to be making strawberry preserves, but that's what I'm doing, nonetheless. There's a guy who runs a fruit market at the Seventh Street Flea Market in Louisville who calls Thomas when he has a good deal on strawberries. Thomas got a good deal a few years ago and made the BEST strawberry wine we've ever had. He usually has those deals in October, but not in 2011.

He called us with a great deal on pineapples a month ago, so Thomas has some pineapple wine in the works, along with his grape, pear, and crab apple. But two weeks ago he called with strawberries! He wasn't offering a price that we thought was good enough, so we declined. Then Sunday he called with a price of $5 a flat (about 8+ pounds of strawberries per flat). So we bought five flats. OH MY GOODNESS, those are the BEST strawberries. They are just at the right stage of ripeness, juicy, and sweet. We don't have the room to make any more wine right now, and besides, they are really too good for that, so I figured I'd make preserves -- enough to last us a few years. (Frozen a couple pounds and kept a couple pounds out just for eating as well.)

Anyway, my house smells like a strawberry patch today. And I'm not complaining.

When Mom made preserves she would usually make a pan of biscuits at the same time. Quite often you might have a few ounces of preserves left over; not quite enough for a jar. That's when a pan of home made biscuits and some willing participants came in handy. As I was cooking them today, when that pink foam started to form at the top of the pan, I was transported back to my Mom's kitchen, standing on a chair next to her at the stove, helping to stir or waiting to lick the wooden stir spoon, and then later, throughout the afternoon waiting to hear that first jar seal, telling you that you did it right.

Hope these turn out well!

Anxious Little Egg

This little fella was staring out at me when I checked my eggs at the grocery. Kinda cute, isn't he? Anxious? Sad? Sleepy? I'm not sure.

To Welcome in 2012