Sunset Over the Sepulveda Reservoir in the San Fernando Valley
“It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood”
Pleasant Valley Recreation Center – Chico, California
Pleasant Valley Sunday Songwriters: Carole King / Gerry Goffin as sung by The Monkees Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, Peter Tork, and Davy Jones
The local rock group down the street Is trying hard to learn their song They serenade the weekend squire Who just came out to mow his lawn Another pleasant valley Sunday Charcoal burning everywhere Rows of houses that are all the same And no one seems to care
See Mrs. Gray, she’s proud today Because her roses are in bloom And Mr. Green, he’s so serene He’s got a TV in every room Another pleasant valley Sunday Here in Status Symbol Land Mothers complain about how hard life is And the kids just don’t understand
Creature comfort goals, they only numb my soul And make it hard for me to see Ah, thoughts all seem to stray to places far away I need a change of scenery
The San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles, California
Good Morning from the San Fernando Valley! You’ve got a green light for a great day!
–
Pleasant Valley is an unincorporated community in El Dorado County, California.
It is located 3.5 miles south of Camino, southwest of South Lake Tahoe, on Route 50.
–
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)
operates the Pleasant Valley State Prison (PVSP) in Coalinga, CA. NOTE: Coalinga is over 200 miles away from Pleasant Valley in El Dorado County!
Pleasant Valley, Arizona
Pleasant Valley, Arizona
Pleasant Valley, Pennsylvania
Pleasant Valley, Pennsylvania
And there are a lot of communities, cities, towns, streets, roads, schools, districts,
campgrounds, and other locations named Pleasant Valley throughout the USA!
Rancho Los Encinos in the San Fernando Valley in California
Update 01-22-20: There was 3.6 magnitude EARTHQUAKE in the SFV last night!(Just a thump)
Time (Local): 01/21/2020 11:41 pm PST – Depth (km): 7.0
4km NNE of Granada Hills, CA (same location as the Sylmar Quake!)
ARE YOU READY FOR THE NEXT BIG ONE?
PLAN AHEAD! BE PREPARED!
See our previous Blog Post for Earthquake Preparedness Information.
Robert B. Sherman RIP December 19, 1925 – March 6, 2012
Richard M. Sherman Born June 12, 1928 –
The Sherman Brothers were responsible for more motion picture musical song scores than any other songwriting team in film history!
The Sherman Brothers began writing songs together on a challenge from their songwriter father, Al Sherman. In 1958, Al Sherman founded the music publishing company, Music World Corporation, and later worked with Disney’s BMI publishing arm, Wonderland Music Company. Also in 1958, the Sherman Brothers had their first Top Ten hit with “Tall Paul”, sung by Annette Funicello. And then Walt Disney hired the Sherman Brothers as Staff Songwriters for Walt Disney Studios. They worked directly for Walt Disney until his death in 1966.
Disneyland USA
In the 60’s, while working for Walt Disney, the Sherman Brothers wrote two songs for the Disney Pavilions at the 1964 New York World’s Fair: “Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” for the GE’s “Carousel of Progress” and “It’s a Small World” for Bank of America.
“It’s A Small World” at Disneyland USA
NOTE: The Sherman Brothers also wrote songs for Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, The Aristocats, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Slipper and the Rose, The Parent Trap, Snoopy Come Home, Charlotte’s Web, and many others. In 1965, they won two Academy Awards for Mary Poppins – the Best Original Score, which included “Feed The Birds”, “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and the Best Original Song, “Chim Chim Cher-ee”
“It’s A Small World” Original Concept Art by Mary Blair
Walt Disney’s Private Office in Burbank, California (thanks for the great pics Craig!):
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FROM A POST BY JEFFREY SHERMAN (Robert Sherman’s son):
As I’ve posted before, Dad and Dick wrote Small World while the Cuban Missile Crisis was going on. If you listen to the lyrics, it’s the Sherman Brothers reminding us all that…
It’s a world of laughter, a world of tears, It’s a world of hopes and a world of fears, There’s so much that we share that it’s time we’re aware It’s a small world after all. There is just one moon and one golden sun and a smile means friendship to everyone… You know the rest.
Part of Dad’s great inspiration for this song was Martin Luther King. Dad thought he was magnificent and was surely influenced by MLK’s speeches and wisdom. Because of his closeness with the Sherman Brothers and to thank them for writing these iconic songs, Walt flew my mom and dad and Dick and his wife out to New York on his private plane. While they were there, Dad and Mom were driven on a golf cart through the yet-to-be opened fairgrounds. Dad spotted Martin Luther walking through the park and tapped his driver to abruptly stop. To mom’s horror, Dad leapt out of the golf cart, limped with his cane (he was shot in the knee while a US GI in Germany WWII) as fast as he could to go over and shake the hand of the great man he so admired. Dad was like that. As he approached Dr. King, out of nowhere, according to my mom, a team of huge bodyguards merged on this apparently crazy man with a stick who looked to be assaulting the great civil rights leader. Mom jumped off the golf cart and shouted, “It’s okay! He’s a songwriter!” Dad was restrained a moment, till the truth came out. Shaking Dr. King’s hand was one of Dad’s most cherished memories. At 19, my father, you see, had been the first US GI in to liberate Dachau prison camp. He was also the only Jew in this squad. Dad saw firsthand what prejudice and bigotry wielded and for the rest of his life devoted himself to righting that wrong, and other darkness through his uplifting creativity. “To bring happiness to people.” This weekend, as we honor and remember the great Dr. Martin Luther King, I feel his message, and the Sherman Brothers words are more pertinent than ever before in this country.
“I have a dream…”
“There is just one moon and one golden sun And a smile means friendship to everyone…” We should build bridges, not walls. We should welcome not repel. We are all humans who can help each other and coexist on this planet. There’s no reason for hate. Smile at a stranger this weekend. Lend a hand where you can. Be kind. Forgive. And then we will heal. Then we find peace. Have a lovely weekend. Happy Birthday, Dr. King.
Jeffrey Sherman
The “It’s A Small World” original vinyl LP album with cover art by Mary Blair, was recorded near the site of the Watts riots. The Disneyland Boys Choir was actually the St Charles Borromeo Church Boy’s Choir from North Hollywood, California, conducted by Grammy-nominated Paul Salamunovich KCSG (RIP June 7, 1927 – April 3, 2014). They also performed on television in the Dinah Shore Chevy Special, The Lucy Show, and in films and on the soundtrack of The Godfather.
“It’s A Small World” Inside at Disneyland USA
More Art by Mary Blair
The Sherman Brothers received a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame (located at 6914 Hollywood Blvd) on November 17, 1976.
They also wrote “You’re Sixteen” for Ringo Starr
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The Iron Butterfly’s “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” was released 50 years ago today.
First album to be certified Platinum!
Gold Record for “Inna-Gadda-Da-Vida” by the Iron Butterfly
Dad was the Iron Butterfly’s manager and attorney.
I played at the band’s ranch in Topanga Canyon when I was little.
I also played piano at the age of five with Herbie Hancock when he stayed at our house.
I was backstage and under the bleachers when Black Oak Arkansas played Circus Circus in Las Vegas in the early 70’s.
Dad managed all of them and other famous artists while we were growing up in Los Angeles. It was not your ordinary childhood.
“IN-A-GADDA-DA-VIDA” by the Iron Butterfly 1968
The band’s seminal 1968 album In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is among the world’s 40 best-selling albums, with more than 30 million copies sold. Iron Butterfly is also notable for being the first group to receive an RIAA Platinum Award. It went to #4 on the U.S. charts.
The Iron Butterfly in 1968
Doug Ingle (organ, lead vocals), Ron Bushy (drums, percussion), Lee Dorman (bass, backing vocals), Erik Braunn (guitars, backing and occasional lead vocals)
In-a-gadda-da-vida honey, Don’tcha know that I love you? In-a-gadda-da-vida baby, Don’tcha know that I’ll always be true?
Oh won’tcha come with me, And take my hand? Oh won’tcha come with me, And walk this land?
Please take my hand… Let me tell ya now. In-a-gadda-da-vida honey, Don’tcha know that I love you?
In-a-gadda-da-vida baby, Don’tcha know that I’ll always be true? Oh won’tcha come with me, And take my hand?
Oh won’tcha come with me, And walk this land? Please take my hand… Let me tell ya.
Two, three, four! In-a-gadda-da-vida honey, Don’tcha know that I love you? In-a-gadda-da-vida baby, Don’tcha know that I’ll always be true?
In early 1968, the band’s debut album Heavy was released after signing a deal with ATCO, an Atlantic Records subsidiary. All but Ingle and Bushy left the band after recording the album in late 1967. Faced with the possibility of the record not being released, they quickly found replacements in bassist Lee Dorman and guitarist Erik Brann (also known as “Erik Braunn” and “Erik Braun”) and resumed touring.
I almost went to Woodstock! This was a smash hit record in the Summer of Love 1968. Here’s the story from Wikipedia that I heard when I was growing up:
The band had been booked to play at Woodstock, the manager demanded that the Butterfly be flown in by helicopter, whereupon they would “immediately” take the stage. After their set, they would be paid and flown back to the airport. The manager was told that this would be taken into consideration and he would be called back. In truth, the demands were never given a second thought. Dorman later expressed regret at this turn of events, feeling the band’s career may have gone further had they played the festival. According to drummer Bushy, “We went down to the Port Authority three times and waited for the helicopter, but it never showed up”.
But I always heard that Dad had refused to let the band get on the helicopters unless they were paid first and that’s why we never got to Woodstock….
Here’s the truth. The band’s equipment and lightshow got stuck in the famous New York Throughway traffic jam and never made it to the location. The band was stuck in NYC (and needed a helicopter to get to the festival) and the staff at Woodstock had too many problems to deal with and said “f*ck you”, the helicopter never came and the band did not go to Woodstock.
Iron Butterfly “Ball” 1969
The gold record for this album is on the wall too. It went to #3 on the U.S. charts.
Gold Record for “Ball” by the Iron Butterfly
The next album, Ball, reached number three on the charts and went gold, but more lineup changes followed. In 1970, with Erik Brann gone, Iron Butterfly released their fourth studio album, Metamorphosis with two new members, guitarist/vocalist Mike Pinera (whose Blues Image had opened for the Butterfly’s Vida tour) and guitarist Larry “Rhino” Reinhardt.
“Metamorphosis” – the fourth studio album by Iron Butterfly, released August 13 , 1970.
The album managed to get into the top 20, but Doug Ingle quit the group shortly after its release. Without an organist for the first time in their history, the remaining four members cut a single, “Silly Sally”. It failed to chart and proved to be their last recording. The band broke up after playing a final show on May 23, 1971. Dorman and Reinhardt subsequently founded Captain Beyond.
Captain Beyond was a rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1971. The original line-up was singer Rod Evans, guitarist Larry “Rhino” Reinhardt, bassist Lee Dorman, and drummer Bobby Caldwell. Evans was the original lead singer for Deep Purple best known for his vocals on their 1968 debut chart-breaker “Hush”. Reinhardt and Dorman had played in Iron Butterfly; Dorman, in particular, played on most of Butterfly’s early albums, including their 1968 breakthrough In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida. Caldwell had come to prominence playing with Johnny Winter.
A recent “Jeopardy” Answer!
A fine Pizza Tribute in Las Vegas
NOTE: We own a small MUSIC CATALOG and the MASTER TAPES of some fine vintage recordings (some previously released on the ATCO/Calliope/Festival Records labels) and they are FOR SALE! Please message me if you are a interested in more information (serious buyers only of course).
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thinking of you (“We missed you hissed the love cats”)
LOVECATS
We move like cagey tigers We couldn’t get closer than this The way we walk The way we talk The way we stalk The way we kiss We slip through the streets While everyone sleeps Getting bigger and sleeker And wider and brighter We bite and scratch and scream all night Let’s go and throw All the songs we know
Into the sea You and me All these years and no one heard I’ll show you in spring It’s a treacherous thing We missed you hissed the lovecats We missed you hissed the lovecats
We’re so wonderfully wonderfully wonderfully Wonderfully pretty! Oh you know that I’d do anything for you We should have each other to tea huh? We should have each other with cream Then curl up by the fire And sleep for awhile It’s the grooviest thing It’s the perfect dream
Into the sea You and me All these years and no one heard I’ll show you in spring It’s a treacherous thing We missed you hissed the lovecats We missed you hissed the lovecats We missed you hissed the lovecats We missed you hissed the lovecats
We’re so wonderfully wonderfully wonderfully Wonderfully pretty! You know that I’d do anything for you We should have each other to dinner We should have each other with cream Then curl up in the fire Get up for awhile It’s the grooviest thing It’s the perfect dream
Hand in hand Is the only way to land And always the right way round Not broken in pieces Like hated little meeces How could we miss Someone as dumb as this?
I love you, let’s go Oh, solid gone How could we miss Someone as dumb as this?
Ann O’Reilly (nee Collins) RIP
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The Canadian country music star who brought you great hits like “I’ve Been Everywhere!”, “The City of New Orleans” and the “Rhumba Boogie”!
(see our previous Blog post I’ve Been Everywhere, Man!)
Hank Snow, the Singing Ranger
Hank Snow on the Perry Como Show in 1952:
Music Makin’ Mama from Memphis!
by Hank Snow
Listen to a story about a gal I know She’s my music makin’ mama, I’m her hillbilly beau She’s sweeter than the music when she tickles the strings Sweeter than the flowers down in New Orleans She’s my Music Makin’ Mama from Memphis, Tennessee.
She’ll play a little rhythm, do the boogie up right A Tennessee polka, maybe blues in the night Ever’body travels from near and far To hear her when she picks it on that old guitar My Music Makin’ Mama from Memphis, Tennessee.
You can hear her in the ev’nin’, when the sun sinks low A-singin’ and a-pickin on that old banjo You wanta jive when the words roll out of her mouth Ever’body’s callin’ her the Queen of the South She’s my fiddle playin’ mama from Memphis, Tennessee.
You gotta start dancin’ when she gets in the groove Picks a big bass fiddle or yodels the blues Plays a downbeat, offbeat, any old beat A breakdown, a hoedown and does it up neat She’s my bass pickin’ baby from Memphis, Tennessee.
You can tell when my baby is a-comin’ to town All the jive-jumpin’ jitterbugs, they gather around They keep a-yellin’ to my sweetie, now, honey, let’s go My baby starts pickin’ and a pickin’ down low My Music Makin’ Mama from Memphis, Tennessee.
She’ll play a little rhythm, do the boogie up right A Tennessee polka, maybe blues in the night Ever’body travels from near and far To hear her when she picks it on that old guitar My Music Makin’ Mama from Memphis, Tennessee.
The Hank Snow Hometown Museum P.O. Box 1419 (148 Bristol Ave), Liverpool, Nova Scotia, Canada B0T 1K0
(902) 354-4675 or Toll-Free at 1-888-450-5525 info@hanksnow.com
Located on Nova Scotia’s beautiful South Shore Lighthouse Route,
1 minute off Hwy. 103 at Exit 19 in Liverpool, between Yarmouth & Halifax
(Hank was actually born in Brooklyn in Queens County, just outside Liverpool)
Summer: Open Daily Mid May to Mid October
Monday to Saturday 9:00am to 5:00pm, Sunday: Noon to 5:00pm
Off Season: Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm, Closed holidays and weekends
Tickets for the 27th Annual Hank Snow Tribute (August 17-20, 2017) on sale now!
Early Bird weekend passes are $60.50, taxes and fees included.
Buy them at ticketpro.ca or call 1-888-311-9090.
Dry RV Camping book through the Hank Snow Home Town Museum
call 1-902-354-4675. The price remains $40/wknd
The song tells a folk tale of a cowboy who has a vision of red-eyed, steel-hooved cattle thundering across the sky, being chased by the spirits of damned cowboys. One of the riders warns him that if he doesn’t change his ways, he’ll be doomed to join them.
The song presents an image of cowboy hell with doomed riders destined to chase the Devil’s cattle for all eternity. Known by the different titles “Riders in the Sky“, “Ghost Riders“, “Ghost Riders in the Sky” and “A Cowboy Legend“, the song has become a Country & Western Classic!
“(Ghost) Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend” was written by Stan Jones in 1948.
Stan Jones said he heard the story when he was 12 years old from an old cowboy.
More than 50 performers have recorded their own cover versions of the song.
Burl Ives recorded the original version of the song in February, 1949:
Vaughn Monroe recorded the song in March, 1949 and it went to Number One on the Billboard charts. Here’s a live performance from 1965:
Ghost Riders in the Sky!
“(Ghost) Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend“
An old cowboy went ridin’ out one dark and windy day upon a ridge he rested as he went along his way when all at once a mighty herd of red-eyed cows he saw plowin’ through the ragged skies and up a cloudy draw
Their brands were still on fire and their hooves were made of steel their horns were black and shiny and their hot breath he could feel a bolt of fear went through him as they thundered through the sky for he saw the riders comin’ hard and he heard their mournful cries
chorus: yippie i ohhh ohh ohh, yippie i aye ye ye ghost riders in the sky
Their faces gaunt, their eyes were blurred their shirts all soaked with sweat he’s ridin’ hard to catch that herd but he ain’t caught em yet ’cause they got to ride forever in that range up in the sky on horses snortin’ fire as they ride on, hear their cries
As the riders loped on by him he heard one call his name if you want to save your soul from hell a-ridin’ on our range then cowboy change your ways today or with us you will ride tryin’ to catch the devil’s herd across these endless skies
yippie i ohhh oh oh, yippie i aye ye ye ghost riders in the sky, ghost riders in the sky, ghost riders in the sky…….
Ghost Rider in the Sky!
The Ventures made a surf rock cover of the song in 1961 and Dick Dale recorded a rockin’ version for his second album “King of the Surf Guitar” which was released in 1963.
The song inspired the 1949 Gene Autry film “Riders in the Sky”
and the film’s tag lines: “Gene and Champion Ride To Glory!…
as the range echoes to the stirring strains of the great cowboy ballad!”
and “A GREAT COWBOY BALLAD launches Gene on his most stirring adventure!”
Of course Gene Autry sings “Ghost Riders in the Sky”. A chance meeting with Stan Jones led Autry to buy the rights to the song, and he gave Jones a part in the film. Jones appears as a cowboy riding and singing along with Autry in the opening and closing scenes of the film. The song also inspired the 1953 film “Goldtown Ghost Riders” starring Gene Autry.
Gene Autry, World’s Greatest Cowboy!
Gene Autry RIP (September 29, 1907 – October 2, 1998):
He made 640 recordings, including more than 300 songs written or co-written by him.
His records sold more than 100 million copies. He has been awarded more than a dozen gold and platinum records, including the first ever certified gold record.
He was awarded 5 stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame On February 8, 1960:
for Motion Pictures, Radio, Recording, Television and Live Performance.
He is the only person with 5 stars on the Walk of Fame.
Elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1969
Inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1972.
Inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1979 as a stock contractor.
He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, The National Cowboy Hall of Fame and the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
He received The Songwriters Guild Life Achievement Award and was given a lifetime achievement award from ASCAP.
He was a 33rd Degree Mason, an Honorary Inspector General and was awarded the Grand Cross of the Court of Honor.
He created a code of conduct for his young fans called “The Cowboy Code”:
1. The Cowboy must never shoot first, hit a smaller man, or take unfair advantage.
2. He must never go back on his word, or a trust confided in him.
3. He must always tell the truth.
4. He must be gentle with children, the elderly, and animals.
5. He must not advocate or possess racially or religiously intolerant ideas.
6. He must help people in distress.
7. He must be a good worker.
8. He must keep himself clean in thought, speech, action, and personal habits.
9. He must respect women, parents, and his nation’s laws.
10. The Cowboy is a patriot.
“The Lawrence Welk Show” with Neil LeVang on guitar (1961):
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Johnny Cash:
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Elvis Presley in 1970 (in Culver City, California):
The song also inspired the horror-Western comic-book character the Ghost Rider. After Magazine Enterprises’ trademark ran out, Marvel Comics debuted its own version of the character in “Ghost Rider” #1 in February, 1967. The character was later renamed the Phantom Rider when Marvel debuted the demonic motorcyclist Ghost Rider.
CLICK ON ANY SMALL PIC TO SEE A LARGER PIC AND VIEW THE GALLERY AND THEN CLICK AGAIN TO VIEW THE PIC AT FULL SIZE!
COMIC BOOK / MARVEL COMICS: Ghost Rider was introduced in 1972’s “Marvel Spotlight” No. 5
Nicolas Cage starred in the 2007 film “Ghost Rider”
and the 2012 sequel “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance.”
CLICK ON ANY SMALL PIC TO SEE A LARGER PIC AND VIEW THE GALLERY AND THEN CLICK AGAIN TO VIEW THE PIC AT FULL SIZE!
The Blues Brothers performed the song in the 1998 film “Blues Brothers 2000.” Their version appears on both the soundtrack and on the album “The Blues Brothers’ Greatest Hits of All Time.” In the film, the band is booked at a bluegrass festival and announced as “The Bluegrass Brothers”. Buster Blues’ harmonica parts were recorded by John Popper of Blues Traveler.
Ghost Riders in the Sky!
The Tubes! Fee Waybill as Lonesome Roger Steen sings “Ghost Riders In The Sky”
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According to The Doors’ Robby Krieger, it inspired the classic song “Riders on the Storm”
It evolved out of a jam session when the band was messing around with “Ghost Riders In the Sky” and it was Jim Morrison’s idea to alter the title to “Riders On The Storm.” It was also the last song Jim recorded. He went to France and died a few weeks later. If you listen closely, you can hear Jim whispering the lyrics over his singing. Ray Manzarek told Uncut magazine in September 2011: “There’s a whisper voice on ‘Riders on the Storm,’ if you listen closely, a whispered overdub that Jim adds beneath his vocal. That’s the last thing he ever did. An ephemeral, whispered overdub.” The single was released in June 1971, shortly before Morrison’s death.
Doors drummer John Densmore wrote an auto-biographical book called
“Riders On The Storm” about his life with Jim Morrison and The Doors.
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WineWednesday Again! Dancin Vineyards in Jacksonville, Oregon
“The Wabash Cannonball” is an American folk song about a fictional train, thought to have originated in the late nineteenth century. Its first documented appearance was on sheet music published in 1882, titled “The Great Rock Island Route” and credited to J. A. Roff. All subsequent versions contain a variation of the chorus:
Now listen to the jingle, and the rumble, and the roar, As she dashes thro’ the woodland, and speeds along the shore, See the mighty rushing engine, hear her merry bell ring out, As they speed along in safety, on the “Great Rock-Island Route.”
A rewritten version by William Kindt appeared in 1904 under the title “Wabash Cannon Ball”. The Carter Family made one of the first recordings of the song in 1929, though it was not released until 1932. Another popular version was recorded by Roy Acuff in 1936. The song has been covered many times by many artists over the years.
From the great Atlantic ocean to the wide Pacific shore From the queen of flowing mountain to the south bell by the shore She mighty tall and handsome and know quite well by all She’s a combination on the Wabash Cannonball
She came down from Birmingham one cold December day As she rolled in the station you could hear all the people say There is a girl form Tennessee she long and she tall She came down from Birmingham on the Wabash Cannonball
Our the western states are dandies so the people all ways say From New York to St. Louis and Chicago by the way From the hills of Minnesota where the rippling waters fall No changes to be taken on the Wabash Cannonball
Here’s to daddy Claxton may his name forever stand And always be remembered in the courts of Alabam His earthly race is over and as the curtain around him fall We’ll carry him Home in victory on the Wabash Cannonball
Listen to the jingle the rumble and the roar As she glides along the woodland through the hills and by the shore hear the rush of the mighty engine hear the lonesome hobos call You’re traveling through the jungle on the Wabash Cannonball
–
The Wabash Cannonball 698
The song “The Wabash Cannonball” is part of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll list!
There was a “Wabash Cannonball” Rollercoaster at the Opryland USA Theme Park 1975-1997:
It is a signature song of the Stephen F. Austin State University Lumberjack Marching Band, the Kansas State University Marching Band, the University of Texas Longhorn Band, and of the Indiana State University Marching Sycamores, as ISU is close to the Wabash River. It was also used as the theme song by the USS Wabash (AOR5). There was a B-17 Bomber that flew in World War II named The Wabash Cannonball and Lionel Toys produced a signature named train set.
Lionel Wabash Cannonball Train Set
NOTE: The train was named after the song, not the other way around!
In the wake of the song’s popularity, the Wabash Railroad named its express run between Detroit and St. Louis as the Wabash Cannonball 1949 – 1971.
Wabash ‘Cannonball’ Steam Locomotive 2800 at Pine Junction 26 October 1947 Harry Zilmer/ Strombeck Collection.
Wabash Cannonball GP7 475 two tone grey & blue with the flag herald Springfield, Illinois 15 August 1965
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The cookbook was a thrift store find! Cool “All- American” recipes from “The Gambler”
(sorry, they’re not in order and just camera pics of some of the recipes):
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AND THEN CLICK AGAIN TO VIEW THE PIC AT FULL SIZE!
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“You’ve got to know when to hold ’em Know when to fold ’em Know when to walk away And know when to run You never count your money When you’re sittin’ at the table There’ll be time enough for counting When the dealin’s done.”
Kenny Rogers’ Roasters Cornbread Muffins Recipe:
KENNY ROGERS ROASTERS FIRE-AND-ICE CHILI
1 20-ounce can pineapple chunks in syrup
2 pounds lean boneless pork roast cut into 1-inch cubes
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion chopped (1/2 cup)
1 clove garlic minced
1 28-ounce can tomatoes cut up
1 6-ounce can tomato paste
1 4-ounce can diced green chili peppers drained
1 green pepper chopped 3/4 cup)
1 medium yellow onion chopped (1/2 cup)
2 cloves garlic minced
1/4 cup chili powder
4 teaspoons ground cumin
1 to 3 tablespoons seeded and finely chopped jalapeno pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
Chili toppers: sliced onions, sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese.
Directions:
1. Drain pineapple, reserving juice.
2. In a Dutch oven, cook pork, half at a time, in hot olive oil till brown. Return all the meat to the pot. Add the first chopped onion and 1 clove garlic. Cook over medium heat till onion is tender, stirring occasionally.
3. Add the reserved pineapple syrup, undrained tomatoes, tomato paste, green chili peppers, the green pepper, 1 onion, 2 cloves garlic, chili powder, cumin, jalapeno pepper and salt.
4. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer the chili for 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Add the pineapple chunks. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes more.
5. Let diners add their own toppers. Makes 8 to 10 servings. Note: To increase the spiciness of the chili, add 2 more tablespoons of the jalapeno pepper.
KENNY ROGERS BARBECUE SAUCE:
Ingredients: 1 cup water
1/3 cup white vinegar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
6 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons onion powder
1 1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons bottled red hot sauce
Directions:
Add all ingredients in order as listed into a blender.
Blend with on/off speed on high until very smooth.
Cook on stove over medium high heat until thickened.
Remove from heat and cool until lukewarm.
Refrigerate in covered container to use within a few weeks
or freeze to use within a few months.
(If desired you can add a few drops of red food coloring).
KENNY ROGERS ROASTERS BBQ SAUCE:
Ingredients:
1 cup Applesauce
1/2 cup Heinz ketchup
1-1/4 cups Light brown sugar, packed
6 tablespoons Lemon juice
Salt and pepper
1/2 teaspoon Paprika
1/2 teaspoon Garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon.
Directions:
In heavy saucepan add all ingredients. Bring mixture to a boil.
Stir constantly about 4 to 5 minutes.
Turn heat to low and continue to stir (3 to 5 minutes) so sugar is completely dissolved.
Allow to cook without stirring for 15 minutes on lowest possible heat, uncovered.
Transfer to top of double boiler over simmering water if using as a basting sauce for ribs or chicken during baking; or cool sauce and refrigerate covered to use in 30 days.
This BBQ Sauce freezes well.
NOTE: The first Kenny Rogers Roasters Restaurant opened in Coral Spring, Florida in August of 1991. The last Kenny Rogers Roasters Restaurant in North America was located in the Ontario Mills Mall in Ontario, California. It closed December 31, 2011.
In April of 2008, Berjaya Corp Berhad (BCorp), a Malaysia-based corporation, wholly owned subsidiary of ROASTERS Asia Pacific and master franchise for Kenny Rogers ROASTERS fully acquired the chain’s parent company, US-based Nathan’s Famous Inc.
Berjaya Food Berhad (“BFood”) incorporated in Malaysia in October, 2009 and was converted into a public limited company in December, 2009. In May of 2010, the Berjaya Group Berhad was added to the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Malaysia Index. BFood was listed on The Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad in March, 2011.
Everyone knows his song “The Gambler”
so please enjoy an earlier hit from way-wayback:
Kenny Rogers and The First Edition “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)”
Lip-synced performance from the “Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” television show:
Live Vocal (with canned music) performance for television 1968:
Live Performance from the “Kenny Rogers Rollin’ On The River” television show and the “Remember the 70’s” DVD:
“Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)” written by Mickey Newbury and first recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis in 1967
(Yeah, yeah, oh, yeah) / (What condition my condition was in)
I woke up this mornin’ with the sundown shinin’ in. I found my mind in a brown paper bag within. I tripped on a cloud and fell-a eight miles high I tore my mind on a jagged sky. I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in.
(Yeah, yeah, oh, yeah) / (What condition my condition was in)
I pushed my soul in a deep dark hole and then I followed it in. I watched myself crawlin’ out as I was a-crawlin’ in. I got up so tight I couldn’t unwind, I saw so much I broke my mind. I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in.
(Yeah, yeah, oh, yeah) / (What condition my condition was in)
Someone painted “April Fool” in big black letters on a “Dead End” sign. I had my foot on the gas as I left the road and blew out my mind. Eight miles outta Memphis and I got no spare, Eight miles straight up downtown somewhere. I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in.
(Yeah, yeah, oh, yeah…)
Produced by Mike Post. Some top studio musicians including Glen Campbell and Hal Blaine played the backing music and Post used effects, like phasing and backward mastering innovated by The Beatles, to give the song the psychedelic sound of the 60’s. It was released in 1968 to lukewarm reception until it was performed (lip-synced in a psychedelic video) on the “Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” television show.
The song hit #5 on the “Billboard Hot 100”.
“Gutterballs” dream from the film “The Big Lebowski” with the song as the soundtrack:
