A good year for some classic blues and rock ‘n’ roll songs, and another Aussie (Johnny O’Keefe) makes the list with his song “The Wild One (Real Wild One)”. Now, before yáll go, wasn’t that an Iggy Pop song? The answer is yes, but it was a cover. Also staying with Johnny O’Keefe, I saw him at the Sunbury Music Festival (1973). I thought his style of rock music would be out of place. He wandered out on stage in a white suit, and I waited for the boos. I was blowin’away with his performance. After only one song, he had the pot heads and the piss heads in the palm of his hands.
It is interesting to note that several songs on the ’58 list were first heard by me on records by other bands as I began exploring music in the ’60s. I first heard “Dizzy Miss Lizzy” and “Money” sung by the Beatles; the Rolling Stones also did a cover of “Dizzy Miss Lizzie”. I first heard “Summertime Blues” sung by the Who at Woodstock. Also listed are some groundbreaking instrumentals by artists such as Duane Eddy, Link Wray, the Shadows, and Little Walter.
The song “I’m Battie Over Hattie”, sung by the out there Esquerita, who often wore heavy makeup, sunglasses, and two wigs, piling his pompadour high on his head. Little Richard ( also on this list) was greatly influenced by Esquerita (photo below).
The Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly and pilot Roger Peterson all died in a plane crash on February 3rd 1959. The event is infamously known as “The Day the Music Died,” a name popularised by Don McLean’s song “American Pie”.
A couple of interesting notes: The Beach Boys song “Surfin’ U.S.A. (1962). Listen to the song and you will hear Chuck Berry’s ‘Sweet Little Sixteen”, so much so that Chuck eventually collected a writer’s credit and royalties! How politically incorrect in today’s world is The Pips singing “Ching Chong”? Jimi Hendrix recorded Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B.Goode in 1972. The Zanies Novelty Hit “The Blob” was from the movie of the same name
“Stagger Lee” by Lloyd Price dates back a long way. Variously known as “Stack O’Lee”, “Stack O’Lee Blues” and sung by so many old-time Blues singers. The earliest recorded version of the song I have is “Stack O’Lee Blues” by Ma Rainey (1926). The “Twist” by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters was, of course, made famous by Chubby Checker in 1961.
Ninteen and fifty – eight
All American Boy – Bill Parsons All I Have to Do Is Dream – The Everly Brothers Big Man – The Four Preps Bluebirds Over the Mountain – Ershel Hickey Candles – The Crests Cha Dooky-Doo -Art Neville * Chantilly Lace – The Big Bopper Chisholm Trail – Cisco Houston Cigarettes and Coffee Blues – Lefty Frizzell Come On, Let’s Go – Ritchie Valens Didn’t It Rain – Evelyn Freeman Dizzy Miss Lizzy – Larry Williams Do You Wanna Dance? – Bobby Freeman Donna – Ritchie Valens Don’t You Just Know It – Huey ‘Piano’ Smith Don’t Your House Look Lonesome – Cat-Iron Down by the Riverside – Sister Rosetta Tharpe Drip Drop – The Drifters Early in the Morning – The Ding Dongs Endless Sleep – Jody Reynolds Everything’s Gonna Be All Right – Magic Sam Evil – Howlin’ Wolf Fever – Peggy Lee For Your Love – Ed Townsend For Your Precious Love – The Impressions Forty Days – Ronnie Hawkins Gee Whiz – Bob & Earl Good Golly Miss Molly – Little Richard Got A Job – The Miracles Heartbreak Hotel – Elvis Presley He’s Gone – The Chantels High Blood Pressure – Huey ‘Piano’ Smith Hollywood Party – Dick Bush Honky Tonk – Dinah Washington How Many More Years – Howlin’ Wolf I Cried A Tear – LaVern Baker I Wonder Why – Dion & The Belmonts I’m A Mojo Man – Lonesome Sundown I’m Battie Over Hattie – Esquerita Itchy Twitchy Feeling – Bobby Hendricks Johnny B. Goode – Chuck Berry Juke – Little Walter Jungle Rock – Jim Bobo Junker Blues – Champion Jack Dupree Just a Dream – Jimmy Clanton Just Walkin’ In The Rain – The Prisonaires Justine – Don & Dewey Koko Joe – Don & Dewey La Bamba – Ritchie Valens Little Star – The Elegants Lonely Teardrops – Jackie Wilson Lovers Never Say Goodbye – The Flamingos Matilda – Cookie And The Cupcakes Memphis Boogie – Jesse Fuller Moanin’ At Midnight – Howlin’ Wolf Money – The Miracles Moonlight Bay – Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters My Starter Won’t Start – Lightnin’ Slim Nee Nee Na Na Na Na Nu Nu – Dicky Doo And The Don’Ts Need You – Donnie Owens One Night – Elvis Presley One Summer Night – The Danleers Ooh! My Soul – Little Richard Over And Over – Bobby Day Peggy Sue – Buddy Holly Poor Boy – The Royaltones Pretty Girls Everywhere -Eugene Church Rama Lama Ding Dong – The Edsels Ramrod – Duane Eddy Rave On – Buddy Holly Rebel Rouser – Duane Eddy Reelin’ And Rockin’ – Chuck Berry Rock And Roll Is Here To Stay – Danny & the Juniors Rockhouse – Big Maybelle Rockin’ Robin – Bobby Day Rumble – Link Wray & The RayMen Short Fat Fannie – Larry Williams Since I Don’t Have You – The Skyliners Sit and Cry (The Blues) – Buddy Guy* Smokestack Lightnin’ – Howlin’ Wolf So Blue – The Jades Splish Splash – Bobby Darin Summertime Blues – Eddie Cochran Sweet Little Sixteen – Chuck Berry Symbol of Heaven – Little Julian Herrera & Johnny Otis Tears On My Pillow – Little Anthony & The Imperials Tequila – The Champs The Blob – The Zanies The Twist – Hank Ballard & The Midnighters The Walk – Jimmy McCracklin The Wild One – Johnny O’Keefe* To Know Him Is to Love Him – The Teddy Bears Train To Nowhere – The Champs True, Fine Mama – Little Richard Try Me – James Brown Two People In the World – Little Anthony & The Imperials Under the Stars of Love – The Shadows Walkin’ With Mr Lee – Lee Allen We Belong Together – Robert & Johnny Western Movies – The Olympics What Am I Living For – Chuck Willis What’d I Say, Pt . 1 & 2 – Ray Charles Willie and the Hand Jive – Johnny Otis Yakety Yak – The Coasters You Cheated – The Shields You’re So Fine – Little Walter
Blues, Doo-Wop, Soul, Pop, R ‘n’ B, Country, Surf Music, Gospel, Be-Bop and for the first time in my lists we get some skiffle. The first Aussie performer is noted (Slim Dusty). The first time I heard a version of C .C. Rider was by Aussie band Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs (1972ish), little did I know it went back To Ma Rainey (1925) when she recorded “See See Rider”. Bo Diddley’s “Mona” first came to my attention with the Rolling Stones 1964 cover. These “first heard” recollections will be a recurring theme i.e. a 6o’s bands recording old Blues, Soul and R’n’B numbers and in later years I would go on to research the origins of songs. In most cases I would say that the originals are better than the covers. As Big Mama Thornton (or was it Sonny Boy Williamson) once said “those white boys want to play the blues so bad and they do”. “Suzie Q” came to my attention when recorded by Creedence in 1968. I absolutely love “I’m a King Bee” by Slim Harpo which is another song recorded by the Stones. Elvis has many listings through the years, my first purchased Elvis recording was an E.P. that included “Cant Help Falling in Love” (1961). “At the Hop” came to my attention when I went to see “Woodstock” which was released here in Australia in Sept. 1970. The band Sha Na Na rocked that song. At Forest Hills High School in Queens, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel used the stage names Tom and Jerry and recorded the hit “Hey Schoolgirl”. I’d like a dollar for every time school girl is used in a song!
Ninteen and Fifty – Seven
26 Miles (Santa Catalina) – The Four Preps A Pub with No Beer – Slim Dusty All of Your Love – Magic Sam All Shook Up – Elvis Presley ( see notes below 1) At The Hop – Danny & the Juniors Be-Bop Baby – Ricky Nelson Bertha Lou- Johnny Faire Black Slacks – Joe Bennett & The Sparkletones Bony Moronie – Larry Williams Book Of Love – The Monotones Buzz-Buzz-Buzz – The Hollywood Flames Bye Bye Love – The Everly Brothers CC Rider – Chuck Willis Chickee Wah Wah – Bobby Marchan (see notes below 2) Click-Clack – Dicky Doo and the Don’ts Dedicated To The One I Love – The “5” Royales Deserie – The Charts Diana – Paul Anka Don’t Let Go – Roy Hamilton Down in the Alley – The Clovers (Every Time I Hear) That Mellow Saxophone – Roy Montrell Fabulous – Charlie Gracie Farther Up The Road – Bobby “Blue” Bland * Fattening Frogs For Snakes – Sonny Boy Williamson Florence – The Paragons Flyin’ Saucers Rockin’ Roll – Billy Lee Riley Frog Hop – Earl Hooker Gangster of Love – Johnny “Guitar” Watson Get A Job -The Silhouettes Got My Mojo Working – Muddy Waters He’s Gone – The Chantels Hey School Girl – Tom & Jerry (Simon & Garfunkel) Honest I Do – Jimmy Reed Honky Tonk (Part 1) – Bill Doggett Hoodoo Blues – Lightnin’ Slim I’m A King Bee -Slim Harpo I’m Gonna Be a Wheel Someday – Bobby Mitchell And The Toppers I’m Walking – Fats Domino (3. See notes below) Is Your Love for Real? – Hank Ballard & The Midnighters It Hurts Me Too -Elmore James It’s You, Baby – Sunnyland Slim Jailhouse Rock – Elvis Presley Jim Dandy – LaVern Baker Jungle Hop – Don & Dewey Keep A Knockin’ – Little Richard Leavin’ It All Up To You – Don & Dewey Let’s Have a Party – Wanda Jackson Let’s Make It – James Brown Little Bitty Pretty One – Thurston Harris Little Darlin’ – The Gladiolas Louie Louie – Richard Berry Love Bandit (Gangster of Love) – Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson Love Me With A Feeling – Magic Sam The Maybe – The Chantels Mess Around – Ray Charles * Messed Up – Harold Burrage Mona – Bo Diddley Mr. Lee – The Bobbettes New Orleans Blues – Chris Barber’s Jazz Band New Orleans Hop Scop Blues – Dave Van Ronk No Seas Cruel – Baldemar Huerta & Los Romanceros Not Fade Away – Buddy Holly and The Crickets
Over The Mountain, Across The Sea – Johnnie & Joe Party Doll – Buddy Knox Peanuts – Little Joe & the Thrillers Peggy Sue – Buddy Holly and The Crickets Raunchy – Ernie Freeman Red Hot – Billy Lee Riley Reet Petite – Jackie Wilson Rip It Up – Little Richard Rock And Roll Music – Chuck Berry Rock Island Line -Lonnie Donegan’s Skiffle Group Rockin’ Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu – Huey “Piano” Smith ‘Round Midnight – Miles Davis School Day – Chuck Berry Searchin’ -The Coasters Sick and Tired – Chris Kenner Sitting in The Balcony – Eddie Cochran Susie-Q – Dale Hawkins Take My Hand, Precious Lord – Mahalia Jackson Talking Columbia Blues – Jack Elliott That’ll Be Day – Buddy Holly and The Crickets The Monkey – Dave Bartholomew The Stroll – The Diamonds The Sun Is Shining – Jimmy Reed Think – The “5” Royales This Is the Nite – The Valiants Too Much – Elvis Presley Wake up Little Susie – The Everly Brothers Walkin’ After Midnight – Patsy Cline Walkin’ With Mr. Lee – Lee Allen Walking to New Orleans – Fats Domino Whispering Bells – The Dell Vikings Whole Lotta Shakin Goin On – Big Maybelle Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On – Jerry Lee Lewis Words Of Love – Buddy Holly and the Crickets You Know You Don’t Want Me – Mojo Watson You Send Me – Sam Cooke Young Blood – The Coasters
I never got to see Elvis perform but I have been to Graceland
Chickee Wah Wah is also a great music club in New Orleans
Never got to see the Fat Man but I have been to his house in New Orleans
Here we are for the year 1956. We have Blues, R’n’B, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Pop and Doo Wop. I am sure you will know many of the artists listed but I am also pretty sure that some of the artists will be new to you. Why not check them out. Also, you will see a few “novelty” songs creeping in. I’m a sucker for a novelty song. I have an asterisk next to artists I have seen play live. Little Richard should have been noted as we had tickets in the 70’s to see him play at Festival Hall. Unfortunately, he rediscovered religion in Sydney and cancelled all subsequent shows! I’d still love to see your comments on who you think I should have added.
Nineteen and Fifty – Six
A Casual Look – The Six Teens
A Thousand Miles Away – The Heartbeats
Ain’t Got No Home – Clarence “Frogman” Henry*
Bacon Fat – Andre Williams
Bad Boy – The Jive Bombers
Be-Bop-A-Lula – Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps
Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots – The Cheers
Blast Off to Love – Douglas “Jocko” Henderson
Blue Monday – Fats Domino
Blue Suede Shoes – Carl Perkins
Blue Suede Shoes – Elvis
Blueberry Hill – Fats Domino
Brown Eyed Handsome Man – Chuck Berry
Can This Be Mine – Freddie Hall
Casey Jones – Pete Seeger
Chonnie-On-Chon – James Brown
Confidential – Sonny Knight
Cops And Robbers – Bo Diddley
Corrine Corrina – Big Joe Turner
Dixie Fried – Carl Perkins
Don’t Be Cruel – Elvis
Down in Mexico – The Coasters
Dust My Blues – Elnore James
Eddie My Love – The Teen Queens
Elvis Perez – Lalo Guerrero & El Mariachi De Meno Villa
Every Time I Hear That Mellow Saxophone – Roy Montrell
Fever – Little Willie John
Flying Saucer (Part 1) – Buchanan & Goodman
Give it up – Poka Dot Slim
Goodnight My Love – Jesse Belvin
Havana Moon – Chuck Berry
Have a Good Time – Shakey Horton
Heartbreak Hotel – Elvis
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! – Johnny Otis
Honey Love – The Drifters
Honky Tonk (Part 1) – Billy Doggett
I Asked for Water – Howlin’ Wolf
I Can’t Quit You Baby – Otis Rush
I Put a Spell on You – Screamin ’Jay Hawkins
I Walk the Line – Johnny Cash
I’m Bad – Bo Diddley
I’m Leaving You – Otis Rush
In the Still of the Night – The Five Satins
Jivin’ Around – Ernie Freeman
Let The Good Times Roll – Shirley & Lee
Lonely Avenue – Ray Charles*
Lonely Lonely Nights – The Hearts
Long Tall Sally – Little Richard
Love Is Strange – Mickey & Sylvia
Love Me Tender – Elvis
Mardi Gras Mambo – The Hawketts
Meet Me Halfway – Arbee Stidham
Milk Cow Blues Boogie – Elvis
Miss O’Malley’s Rally – George “Harmonica” Smith
Nite Owl – Tony Allen & the Champs
No Money Down – Chuck Berry
O Solow – Dizzy Gillespie
Oh, Baby Babe – Johnny Burnette
Oh, What A Night – The Dells
Ooby Dooby – Roy Orbinson
Party Doll – Buddy Knox
Pink Cadillac – Sammy Masters
Please, Please, Please – James Brown
Pledging My Love – Johnny Ace
Purty Little Dollie – Clarence Garlow
Rip It Up – Little Richard
Rockin’ At Cosimo’s – Lee Allen
Roll Over Beethoven – Chuck Berry
Rubber Biscuit – The Chips
Sh-Boom -The Chords
She’s Fine, She’s Mine – Bo Diddley
Skinny Jim – Eddie Cochran
Slippin’ and Slidin’ -Little Richard
Smokestack Lightnin’ – Howlin’ Wolf
Smokey Joe’s Café – The Robins
Speedoo – The Cadillacs
Spiritual Trilogy: Oh Freedom / Come and Go – Odetta
Stranded In the Jungle – The Cadets
Summertime – Billy Stewart
Tear It Up – Johnny Burnette
The Closer You Are – Channels
The Fool – Sanford Clark
The Girl Can’t Help It – Little Richard
The Train Kept a Rollin’ – Johnny Burnette
The Wind – The Diablos
Three Hours Past Midnight – Johnny “Guitar” Watson
In this post I list the songs of 1955 that have taken my fancy. I should note that all the songs I list are owned in either Vinyl, C.D. or Digital format .
Last October, I turned 70. So, I decided to compile a list of songs I liked for each of the years I have been on this planet, i.e. 1954 – 2024. For shits and giggles, I will post each year’s list on my WordPress blog. I’d love y’all to check out what songs I have selected and then let me know in the comments what songs I should have added. We can have some fun and get a music nerd’s appreciation group going. I will post a new list every week.
Nineteen and Fifty-Four
Ain’t Gonna Do It – The Pelicans
Bad Luck – Lightnin’ Slim
Blue Monday – Fats Domino
Bugger Bugger Boy – Lightnin’ Slim
City of New Orleans – Sunnyland Slim
Cotton Crop Blues – James Cotton
Crawfishin’ – Clarence Garlow
Crescent City Blues – Little Brother Montgomery
Dr Ross Boogie – Dr Ross
Eisenhower Blues – J B Lenoir
Evil – Howlin’ Wolf
Ethel Mae – Lightnin’ Slim
Everyday I Have the Blues – B.B. King
Gee – The Crows
Going Back to Memphis – Sunnyland Slim
Honey Hush – Big Joe Turner
Honey Love – The Drifters
Hurts Me To My Heart – Faye Adams
I Didn’t Want to Do It – The Spiders
I’m Just Your Fool – Ella and Buddy Johnson
I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man – Muddy Waters
I’m Ready – Muddy Waters
I’m Slipping In – The Spiders
I’m Your Hoochie Man – Muddy Waters
In the Night – Professor Longhair
I’ve Got a Woman – Ray Charles
Jump Children – Dave Bartholomew
Last Night – Little Walter
Little Mama – The Clovers
Louisiana Stomp – Clifton Chenier
Lover Dovey – The Clovers
Mama Talk to Your Daughters – J B Lenoir
Mambo Baby – Ruth Brown
Mardi Gras Mambo – The Hawketts
Midnight Special – Alexis Korner
Money Honey – Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters
Must Have Been the Devil – Otis Spann
My Time Is Expensive – Guitar Slim
Mystery Train – Little Junior Parker
Oh What A Dream – Ruth Brown
Pledging My Love – Johnny Ace
Poison Ivy – Willie Mabon
Reconsider Baby – Lowell Fulson
Rock Around the Clock – Bill Haley and his Comets
Route 90 – Clarence Garlow
Shake, Rattle and Roll – Big Joe Turner
Sh-Boom The Chords
She’s Gone – Schoolboy Cleve
Sneakin’ Around – B.B.King
Standin’ At The Station – Guitar Slim
Such A Night – The Drifters
That’s Alright – Elvis
The Things I Used To Do – Guitar Slim
The Wind – Nolan Strong and The Diablos
Three Thirty Three – Clyde McPatter and the Drifters
Tipitina – Professor Longhair
Tweedle Dee – Lavern Baker
Vicksburg Blues – Little Brother Montgomery
When The Lights Go Out – Jimmy Witherspoon
Wine O Wine – Jerry McCain
Wine, Whiskey & Women – Papa Lightfoot
Work With Me Annie – Hank Ballard & the Midnighters
The farmer went to the merchant, says: “I want meat an’ meal,” Lordie mama! The merchant screamed: “Lord no, the bo weevil’s in your field.” —Sam Butler, “Devil And My Brown Blues,” 1926
Thursday, April 27th
New Orleans Day 1
Another early start to drop off the rental car …. Touch wood no issues, great job Bernie, he is well relieved to be done with driving. Time for coffee…… This is Rob’s town, he has appointed himself captain, which makes it all the more interesting when he starts us off completely n the wrong direction on Canal St in pouring rain!!!! This is the third strike, Rob.
A long time later, Crescent Counter serves up a good coffee – I have a macchiato and a cortado to be on the safe side, pastries look good too.
There is a decision to book Dooky Chase for lunch. A good choice too, good enough for Obama, good enough for us. At the bar, it’s a rum cocktail for the boys, tasty and dangerous. A variety of meals centred on fried chicken and Cajun seafood, all excellent. Yes please, another one of those rum cocktails. Bernie pushes through for the Praline Pudding, Rob the Peach Cobbler. Rob, getting friendly with the staff again!
Leah Chase, known as the Queen of Creole cooking, established this place and worked here well into old age, still greeting guests and helping out as was her way. She passed in 2019 at age 96. Her spirit lives on, from the greeting on entry to the dining room to the friendliness of the staff, this feels like a warm place.
Friday, April 28th
New Orleans Day 2
Well, it’s day one of Jazz Fest, lining up with the punters for the mass crush to get in …… we have WWOZ Brass Passes, it gets us a little leeway. WWOZ is the local radio station…..” the guardians of the groove”, if you’re a music fan, you can pick it up on the internet – they broadcast live from the festival. The Brass Pass allows us entry to a hospitality tent with as much fresh fruit as you can eat and as much iced coffee as you can drink. It also has seating where you can take a well-earned rest, misting fans to cool you down and clean portaloos…… do not underestimate this last point, as the day wears on, the public punters loo’s have large queues and are just a tad ‘festival’ in cleanliness.
It’s taken 1 and ¾ hours to get home, but what the heck, bands play in’ in the streets, the punters in good spirits and it’s not raining! We are hungry and thankfully we are just a stone’s throw from Freret St., bars and food stops a plenty. We walk straight to the nearest burger place and order takeout….Company Burger, it is good!
Saturday, April 29th
New Orleans Day 3
What a great day at Jazz Fest today, I managed to get to all types of music …… before the rains came. It poured for several hours, I had a good seat in the Jazz tent and stayed put. Later it calmed enough to shift to the BluesTent ……some gospel blues and the believers were up on their feet … a bit full on for my liking. Still ‘ Kingfish’ is everything you want from a blues guitar gun …. But even at 24, health concerns may impact his career and life expectancy.
Pizza tonight on Freret, after a speedy transit home via Uber, thanks to last night’s Uber driver advice on a good pick-up point. Freret is an urban, trendy spot – good pizza’s on offer at Midway, Bernie orders for us and the starving millions of New Orleans and seems mighty impressed with his chalice of porter.
Sunday, April 30th
New Orleans Day 4
A big day at Jazz Fest, everybody buggered ……we finish off last night’s pizza, with some accompanying beers and some of Rob’s guacamole dip … it has a kick! It’s going to be wine and cheese to finish the night – well that was the plan before we all skulk off to bed.
Remember this guy with the hat ….. he has his own wine label!
Monday, May 1st
New Orleans Day 5
Thank God it’s the first of 3 lay days …… we need a break. A first-up coffee at Rook, but the apprentice is on and the supervision lacking, unsatisfactory. After a bit of shopping and pow-wow and we try Mojo Coffee and it delivers. A lot of youngin’s just hang in’ with their computers – not a good business model.
Straight off to Dat Dog for lunch…… full of promise but underwhelming.
An outing to catch up with Skye, Wendy’s niece, and her crew, also travelling the Americana. We meet at Bacchanal – a trendy wine dive in the Bywater. Their group is well entrenched on the Rose, but we try the Chenin blend from South Africa and a much better White Grenache from Espania. Pat, Wendy’s New Orleans friend, is chauffeuring us and we opt for a speakeasy bar for dinner, at Buffa’s. A local young jazz foursome, with Mum doing a wind-up song and a funky duo see us get some local vibe. The dinner is another bratwurst, this one betterer.
Tuesday, May 2nd
New Orleans Day 6
Lay day number 2; Rob & Wendy are touristing with Pat to Avery Island, the home of Tabasco. Been & I opt for a quiet day – a walk along the Mississippi waterfront, a little music at the Music Factory record store, and a great coffee and cake at Envie.
Lunch will be at Clesi, a southern seafood restaurant on recommendation from a local barista. Well, perhaps it won’t! Whilst we arrive on time for the booking, we are ushered to an outside table next to a noisy boiler fan ……and left waiting for service. We check inside and there are other tables, but everyone is eating crawfish. ……. I check with the staff to find their listed menu is only available on weekends and that is available is ….. yes you guessed it crawfish. Bernie is less than impressed with the prospect of a lot of work for little return. Bernie knows the area from his 2018 visit with Al and we are soon diverting to the Blue Oak BBQ …… apparently one of the reasons why Al would return here. In fairness, it’s a casual but solid option, the brisket and beans are great ….. Bernie’s bbq Brussels is good but repeat. Now it’s off to Chickie Wah Wahs for Johnny Sansone, John Fohl, and Anders Osbourne.
Wednesday, May 3rd
New Orleans Day 7
Our last lay day, a coffee and relaxation, then head in for a little browse at the music factory and a casual lunch at Envie. We return to the Music Factory for the John Lisi and Delta Funk gig ….. they are all in spacesuits and either John has aged and weathered or has a hairstyle to match the way-out costume – probably both are true.
Time to get to our cooking class whilst Rob and Wendy prepare for a fancy dinner with their daughter and niece and their entourage.
The cooking class is at Casa Pelican with chef Karen, a Canadian chef, classically trained and developed an interest in Cajun and Creole cooking. The interest turned to fascination and technical training with renowned experts. There are another 4 people on the course, a couple from the UK and a young couple from Perth, of all places. The preamble is all about the history of Louisiana food – the Cajun, coming from the Arcadians, immigrants from Canada having to make huge adjustments coming from a shot to a cold climate. These were poor people that would pretty much eat whatever they could get their hands on …… animal or vegetable, still try today if you get yourself into real Cajun backwaters. On the other hand, the Creoles were Louisiana’s free people of colour – these people needed to underscore their importance in society and in a way show off their wealth and good fortune. Their take on food is literally more French-based, rich, creamy, and making a statement. So you mustn’t confuse the two, they are completely different foods.
We do all the preparation and the cooking, this is truly hands-on, in pairs making the roux and gumbo, the jambalaya, the roux, and shrimp etouffee – we all muck in for the dessert, bread pudding.
Karen is precise, a stickler for patience, and slowly adds spices to make sure the flavours are rich and full. She understands the physics of food, how molecules of moisture need to be expelled, and how the molecules of the vegetables will and need to interact to quiet down the cooking processor to bind the other ingredients. We really needed to videotape her knowledgeable input.
Her insurance agent has paved the way for wine to flow once the knives are no longer needed, we prep, The it’s into the Italian Grigio or American Merlot. As the food we cook will have big and bold flavours, the wine has to blend in and not compete.
Thursday, May 4th
New Orleans Day 7
Back to Jazz Fest today, a relatively good lineup finishing with Santana. We are also booked into Tipitina’s to see the North Mississippi Allstars tonight. In between we just plan to shower, have a beer, and some bikkies and cheese. There is one surprise though, we brought back some of the leftovers from cooking class last night. I think the team was quite impressed!
Friday, May 5th
New Orleans Day 8
Back to the future ….. after another long, humid day, it’s straight back to Midway Pizza on Freret for a couple of pitchers of porter, spicy wings, pigs in blankets, and pizza. Our favourite waitress is on – she is delightful and plays the game with our banter. We have a glass of aged Pinot when we get home – had worse, had better, but at the A$45 price point expect more, the colour is on the turn…
Saturday, May 6th
New Orleans Day 9
Thunder and rain delay the start but do not dampen the spirits. We get out as soon as the grounds are cleared for opening ….. of course, the place has turned to mud. Being a race course ….. the mud is a little pongy. Having said that, the Blues, Jazz, and Gospel Tents are in full swing ….. I do Jazz today.
Bernie is a bit rough in the throat but still in, Wendy is a bit sore in the leg after a new tattoo. Wendy taps out and has a lay day with her friend Pat. The upside is that they have put together some great salads and bought in fried chicken from Pat’s favourite place for an easy tea at home…… and it’s good. We wash it down with some Oregon Pinot Gris that’s quite passable.
Sunday, May 7th
New Orleans Day 10
Last day of the marathon, the rain departs and the humidity sets in ….. 95% today. Our Uber man points out that all these cars parked on the median strip, are highly illegal, however, they are part of the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club They are untouchable by the law. They have their own little Jazz Fest shopping centre of food, drinks, and merch all setup.
Still, it’s festival time for the locals and in the surrounding streets, from impromptu ‘bars’set up in homes, to the lemonade kids, to the THC (cannabis active ingredient) selzers, to the street bands and the $2 pee offer – cause you never know when you’ll get the next opportunity. The police are there for traffic control only, there is no attempt to shut down any of these illegal activities – perhaps it’s a bond they have with the locale, allowing them to ‘ make hay whilst the sun shines’.
The fairgrounds are quite muddy and much less pleasant for the punters who set up their chairs at one stage for the entire day. The constant smell of cooked shrimp abounds regardless, the food queues are still long as the whole festival is cashless.
It’s still a busy day to get around the acts but nothing prepares you for the closing act ….. it’s a crush whichever act you wish to see – I’m up for Herbie Hancock and I just manage to get standing room in the Jazz Tent – it is unpleasant, the crowd edgy and just a hint of frustration from the ushers trying to keep emergency exit aisles clear ….. enough agro to attract more burly security.
The hoards are on the move, it’s done for 2023. We have prearranged to get back to the Blue Oak BBQ. We snag a table and have a quick beer before joining the food queue, it’s long and out the door, we wait patiently for 30+ minutes to order but have a nice chat with a couple from California.
We attack ‘ death by meat’ again but can see we are meat weary. It’s a “Last Hurrah” feast.
The large plate of BBQ is what Cara ordered for the four of us!
Monday, May 8th
New Orleans Day 11
A lay day, although my comrades all head into town to meet up for brunch with one of Rob’s local contacts. I take the opportunity to relax at home, away from the heat and the smoke. The amount of people who smoke ciggies and cigars is staggering, making for constant passive smoking in outdoor areas.
It’s a good day to rest up, a sore throat and some heat rash can do with a break. Surprise, surprise it will be leftovers again for dinner – brisket, fried chicken, pizza, cheeses, dips. After a day, The Pinot Noir is shot, In fact on the second tasting it may have been corked.
Tuesday, May 9th
New Orleans Day 12
The last free day has come around, time to ride the St Charles line Trolley Car through the garden district to admire the grander homes of this area, it’s a very leafy and well-to-do area, lined by magnificent old oak trees. It is a great way to ride out the rainstorms that have come through.
We are heading toward the Cabildo Museum near Jackson Square when some very loud and near thunder sounds a warning, we seek refuge as this storm is close and do not want to be out with lightning around. Whilst the café Pontalba is a bit touristy, it has a table for 2, so it will have to do. Bernie is with the Gumbo and Caesar, I the Crab Cakes. Bernie describes it as hot & salty, mine is oily. Still, it is a respite from the storm ……. We get pretty direct warning messages on our phones. We use a lot of mints to strip the taste of lunch from our palates.
Bernie and Hoff are scardy cats!
As a finish point for the trip, Bernie and I select a more serious wine bar, Pluck, just a hop and a step out of the CBD. We try a Chardonnay and a Verdicciho, the former good and the latter interesting. We decide on a red and give the Somm a brief and price range ……. It is difficult as the range is Grenache to Pinot Noir. We try a couple by the glass, a Grenache and a Beaujolais and still can’t decide. The staff confer and brings a Cab Franc with punch and a higher altitude Italian Nebbiolo – a Nebb is decided and we thoroughly enjoy the wine over charcuterie. It is a fitting bookend of the trip.
Wednesday, May 10th
New Orleans Day 13
All aboard we are going home today ……. We will lose a day and get home Friday. But no wait, there’s more. …. We are having a farewell lunch with Pat – Wendy’s friend. She has been a very busy person with shunting us around town, she also picked up our bags from the Airbnb as she and her husband, Bob, will ferry us to the airport. We are heading to Algiers, on the West Bank, to a place called ‘Da Wabbit’. I’m ordering the meatloaf, peas and mash as a means to end on a high, it is pretty good. Pat drives us to Charlie’s garage, it was his house, where on the first night in New Orleans, we had the crawfish boil. Somehow, unsurprisingly, Ronny, the guy who did the boil was also there and others – including Crazy Cliff….. it seems that the boys meet for lunch each day.
Then off to the airport, Bon Voyage to New Orleans, “The Big Easy”.
Bernie decides to eat healthy on the last day with a salad!
Show me the way to go home, I’m tired and I want to go to bed, I had a little drink about an hour ago, And it’s gone right to my head,
So today we begin the long trek home. Some good news is that we don’t need to be out of our Airbnb until 11 o’clock. Our first flight, from New Orleans to L.A. is not until after 5 this afternoon. Of course, we have the dilemma of what to do with our luggage until we can get to the airport. And to the rescue again comes our dear Pat. Pat arrives at 10 AM to take all our luggage back to her home in Riverside. Pat and my great-mate Gentiily Jnr. will use both of their cars to ferry us to Louis Armstrong Airport later today.
Once Pat heads home we go to our regular caffeine shop on Freret St., Rook. The owner seems sad to see us for the last time. We are going to hang out here until Pat comes back around 11:30 to take us all for a final meal over on the West Bank (Algiers). Da Wabbit is a well-known soul food restaurant that the locals have been hanging out here since 1949. We had to wait about ten minutes for a table and we all ordered our last authentic New Orleans meal. Bernie received some lagniappe, he ordered a cup of gumbo as an appetizer and got the entree size instead. Don’t be fooled you Aussies, an entree in the States is what we call a main. The food was fantastic and as with all food in this part of the world, the portions were more than generous. We had our last photo taken and got photobombed by some workers on the next table over.
After our meal, we are heading back to Pat and Bob ‘Gentilly Jnr’ home. First off though we take a route back so we can cross the Huey P Long Bridge. Huey Long was one of the most corrupt Governors of the state of Louisiana and that is saying something. He was known as the Kingfisher. I read a book about his ‘colorful’ life a few years back. He was assassinated back in 1935.
We then called in at Charlie’s Auto Repair in Harahan. Why you may ask? It was at Charlie’s home on our first night in New Orleans that we enjoyed a neighborhood crawfish boil. Charlie’s Auto Repair is an old-fashioned hands-on repair shop. We caught up with a lot of Charlie’s mates all characters in their own way. Check out this new report from a few years back to see what I mean.
We made it back to Riverside at about 2:30 and caught up with Bob. Bernie and Hoff were very interested in Bob’s music room. Bob spends up to 9 hours preparing for his radio show on WWOZ. You can hear Bob’s show via WWOZ’s website. It plays here mid-morning on a Tuesday. I can tell you it is the most knowledgeable and researched music show you will ever listen to. Check it out here:
And just like that we are heading to the airport. I will not bore you with the flight details. In wrapping up I just want to thank Bernie and Hoff for making the “Last Hurrah’ the most awesome of trips. Wendy for helping me make it through each day. Cara and Taylah for joining us for the second week of Jazz Fest. Our beautiful New Orleans friends, Pat, Bob, and Jeff. Your friendships are something that Wendy and I value so much. Pat, you were amazing, driving us to and fro, and taking us to places we could never have imagined. We want to see y’all in Australia ASAP. I may never see New Orleans again but be assured I will never forget my ten visits to the best city in the world. Bon Ton Roulet!
So that is all for me, but wait there is more. I am just about to post Hoff’s food blog, it is a great read. I can’t believe we ate so much food and lost weight! Can you believe that? I also had some observations from Bernie to post as well but I can’t find them at the moment.
I believe, I believe, I’m on my last go-round Lord all-a my money gone, I feel myself sinkin’ down. —Roosevelt Sykes, “All My Money Gone Blues,” 1929
I think I can safely say that all of us are feeling tired after the last 4 days of Jazz Fest. It is a happy tired not a sad one. This morning we are meeting up with a truly great friend of mine. David ‘Jeff’ Jefferson. I first met Jeff when I lived in New Orleans for three months. Jeff is the Stage Manager for the main stage at the French Quarter festival. He has always looked after me and allowed me to go into the artist’s area. I have met so many great people because of Jeff’s kindness. His wife Pat is also a lovely person but is unable to meet us for a late breakfast due to work commitments. Jeff would dearly love to come to Australia and go ‘outback’. I picked out a cafe in the Quarter, Jimmy J’s on Chartres Street. Wendy, Bernie, Cara, and Taylah are all coming and Hoff is going to explore more of the city. It was so good to see Jeff again. He is a most giving person. He had a bag of goodies for me. In the bag was a 40th anniversary FQF t-shirt, some music, and a few odds and ends. Bernie and I presented Jeff with a signed 20th-anniversary WOW book. He told us, ‘I will treasure the book forever’. We had a delightful brunch and caught up on all the news. As we said our goodbyes Wendy and I made a point of telling Jeff that if he ever does get down under he and Pat will have a bed at our place. Before we parted Jeff rang his wife and we had a good chat on the phone.
David “Jeff” Jefferson
Cara went to the police station on Royal Street and after showing her badge is now the proud owner of a New Orleans Police cloth badge.
Bernie has let me know of the best t-shirt slogan he has seen to date. ‘I didn’t crawl up the food chain to eat vegetables’.
Bernie has gone off to buy some new sneakers. We then did a few tourist things and I took the girls to the St Louis Cathedral, Pirates Alley, Ursuline Convent, and the infamous LaLaurie mansion. Taylah wanted to see the mansion as she had watched a T.V. show about its tragic history.
The girls got an Uber home and we then caught up with Bernie at the French Market for some last-minute gift buying. Tonight we dined once again at Midway Pizza on Freret St. We had learned our lesson and only ordered two large pizzas. Oh and Buffalo wings and pigs in a blanket!
Our final full day in New Orleans was Tuesday. Cara and Taylah are flying out late this afternoon for Los Vegas. Pat has gone way above anything that could be expected by saying she will take the girls to the airport. Before they leave we are going to have a final meal with Pat at Mandina’s Italian restaurant on Canal St. I have eaten there on previous trips and I know the food is very good. There is however a sad recent story about the restaurant. There was a gang-related murder there on April 28th. Unfortunately, a German tourist in town for Jazz Fest was also wounded in this senseless act of violence. The good news is that the shooter has now been arrested. When we arrived at Mandina’s there was a floral tribute out front. Also, two armed security guards were at the entrance. The atmosphere inside was a little subdued as could be expected. However, I am glad we came as the restaurant needs continued support.
My rider’s got a mojo, she’s tryin’ to keep it hid But papa’s got somethin’ for to find that mojo with. —Blind Lemon Jefferson, “Low Down Mojo Blues,” 1928
What a change in the weather. Partly cloudy, with NO RAIN but 90% humidity. Pat picked us up and we made our way to the festival site. I have mixed emotions today, as well as being extremely tired. This will probably be my last time at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. No use being sad: just enjoy the day.
As I ate a very delicious serving of Vietnamese egg rolls, I listened to the UNO Jazz Allstars. We have organized to meet up with the ‘Boss Man Krewe’ for a team photo. Photos were taken and we say goodbye to Skye, Scott, Jamie, Simon, and Rachel. They are all flying out tomorrow. Skye and Scott are heading to the Bahamas for a week.
I stayed in the Blues Tent for Ernie Vincent and the Top Notes. Ernie had a regional hit some years back with ‘Dap Walk’. I have always enjoyed Ernie’s playing. Pat has provided me and the girls with a pass to the Millers Beer hospitality tent, which also allows for three free drinks. We head over to take advantage of the ‘hospitality’. It is a great space with plenty of seating and couches available under shade. Large screens are broadcasting the music from the main stage. It would be very easy to settle in for the afternoon. We chatted with a couple of guys. They are both locals and we spent a lot of time laughing at what each of us said. As they left they said in typical Southern vernacular, ‘It was great visiting with y’all, y’all have a great time.’
With all the rain we had yesterday the grounds are nowhere near as muddy as I had imagined.
Back to the Blues Tent for Martha Redbone. Martha is a blues and soul singer. She is part Choctaw, European, and African American. Her music is a mix of RnB and soul fused with elements of Native American music. I had only just discovered her music a few months back and was greatly impressed. She sang a killer version of the Beatles’ Blackbird. I also was impressed with the Johnny Cash song, Drums, which was originally recorded in 1964. If you don’t know what the ‘Trail of Tears’ is then you really do need to find out. ‘In your winning you found shame.’
From the Indian reservation to the governmental school Well they’re goin’ to educate me to the white men’s Golden Rule And I’m learning very quickly for I’ve learned to be ashamed And I come when they call Billy though I’ve got an Indian name And there are drums beyond the mountain Indian drums that you can’t hear There are drums beyond the mountain and they’re getting mighty near And when they think that they’d changed me cut my hair to meet their needs Will they think I’m white or Indian quarter blood or just half breed Let me tell you Mr teacher when you say you’ll make me right In five hundred years of fighting not one Indian turned white And there are drums… Well you thought that I knew nothing when you brought me here to school Just another empty Indian just America’s first fool But now I can tell you stories that are burnt and dried and old But in the shadow of their telling walks the thunder proud and bold And there are drums… Long Pine and Sequoia Handsome Lake and Sitting Bull There’s Magnus Colorado with his sleeves so red and full Crazy Horse the legend those who bit off Custer’s soul They are dead yet they are living with the great Geronimo And there are drums… Well you may teach me this land’s hist’ry but we taught it to you first We broke your hearts and bent your journeys broken treaties left us cursed Even now you have to cheat us even though you this us tame In our losing we found proudness in your winning you found shame And there are drums…
I said thanks to one of the ushers as I left the tent and told him this was my tenth and last visit. He looked at me with a smile and said, ‘We will be here next year’. In fact, he said it twice. I felt like Sinbad the Sailor being serenaded by the mythical sirens with their hypnotic singing.
Back to the Lagniappe Stage for another favorite band, the Deslondes. I spotted Bernie and we listened to the set.
I wanted to meet up with Wendy and Pat in the Blues Tent for Tab Benoit but I could not get in as the crowd was so big.
Tab Benoit
I grabbed a Peach Beer and sat outside to listen to the music and watch the world go by. Here are my observations on the passing crowd:
Tattoos, compression socks, hats of all types, baseball caps, slow walking, fast walking, scooters, wheelchairs, white, high yellow, brown, black, sunburn, smiles, Europeans, Aussies, Kiwis, locals, drinks in hand, prams, kids, band t-shirts, NOLA colors, plates of food, musos with instruments, flag carriers, gum boots, shrimp boots, Doc Martins, flip-flops, beer, frozen daiquiris, tie-dyes, old and young, cut off jeans, very unfit police officers, pith helmets, walking sticks, white legs, tanned bodies, backpacks, fat bellies, WWOZ tags, a continual passing parade of people heading to different stages. All with one thing in common – a love of music.
I caught the end of Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas at the Fais Do Do. I am setting up early for the Flatlanders. Bernie found me and we waited for the band to commence. The Flatlanders are Joe Ely, Butch Hancock, and Jimmie Dale Gilmore. Each of the three singers/songwriters is legendary in the Alt-Country genre. Fantastic songs and playing. I am torn now as I have to leave the Flatlanders to catch a little of Tom Jones.
At 83 years of age, Tom sure can still sing well. I can now say I have heard ‘Delilah’ sung live and, as a bonus, he also sang Leonard Cohen’s ‘Tower of Song’.
Tom Jones
Pat dropped us off at the nearby Blue Oak BBQ where we met up with Hoff and Bernie. It took about half an hour to line up to order the food as the restaurant is packed with hungry festival people. The food did not take long to be delivered to our table. Cara ordered a family meal for the four of us to share (Wendy, Cara, Taylah, and me). We have no way of eating the amount of food that was delivered to our table! I hear the distinctive Aussie accent on the table next to us. Very interesting guy who is from Freemantle but has lived in Santiago for the last 20 years where he owns and operates an Airbnb
She’s hot as mustard, sly as a fox And she likes plenty of meat, in her ice box. —Pigmeat Pete and Catjuice Charlie, “She Shakes A Mean Ash Can,” 1931
We wake to torrential rain. If you have ever been to New Orleans then you know what I mean. Today’s opening has been delayed by an hour and a quarter. Pat arrived to take us, diehards, to the fest. The official photographer for the Last Hurrah tour has pulled the pin.
We head out to the fest with Cara in “The Way Back” of the car. We lined up in the rain, only serious music fans are out today. The rain is forecast to continue until late afternoon. As this will be my last Jazz Fest I am determined to savor every moment.
What Rain?
As soon as I get in I head for the Lagniappe Stage for the shelter. Oh no, I have left my writing journal back at the apartment. This blog is all from memory! I got a crawfish salad Po’ Boy and sat at a table, I was shortly joined by a couple of ladies who introduced themselves. Bettina is a Native New Orleanien and her friend is from up north. I learned that Bettina’s husband is a Bass player with the New Orleans Jazz Ensemble. He had the honor of playing with Stevie Wonder a few years back. Somehow the conversation turned to politics. Both women detest Trump. Sadly, the lady whose name I forget told me that her brother has not spoken to her for years because he is a MAGA nutter butter.
I headed to the Blues Tent and managed to snare a seat for Deacon John’s big band. A great set of music from some of New Orleans’ finest. Born in 1941, the singer-songwriter has a long history in music including leading bands at debutante balls. performing at the Dew Drop Inn and playing on such classics as Aaron Neville’s ‘Tell It Like It Is’ and, Ernie K Doe’s ‘Mother-In-Law.’
I went and got a drink and then found that I was unable to get back into the Blues Tent. The crowd is overflowing for the Robert Randolph band. I found a spot just outside the tent and listened to the set. Luckily the rain is letting up. Another fine set of music from this pedal steel genius.
The last act for me will be John Hiatt and the Goners. I had earmarked this show as a ‘must see’ while back in Melbourne. Bernie found where I was sitting and we enjoyed the show immensely. Bernie’s favorite guitarist, Sonny Landreth, is a member of the Goners. What a bonus.
Pat has gone way above what anyone could expect and will pick us up from the Fest. I walked past a street vendor hawking her wares. “Pre-rolled joints, magic mushrooms, and edibles”!
When we got back to the apartment a feast awaited us. Fried chicken, Mac and Cheese, and fresh salads.
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