As I was walking this morning, nothing particularly blogworthy popped into my cruller, perhaps because the “Dixie Flyer” (What a great name) kept banging around inside my head. When I returned home, I was happy as a clam to find it on YouTube, and even happier to see that Mark Knopfler made one of his unannounced appearances in the clip. (I saw Mark Knopfler stand in the background with the band and play for an hour with Eric Clapton in concert before he was announced to the audience.)
I’ve been a Randy Newman fan for years. His tunes quite often are not toe-tappers; hell, some of them are downright dark, or dripping with sarcasm. They are most definitely not background music, rather they require active listening.
My favorite part of the song describes the greeting by his family that Randy Newman (apparently as a small boy) and his mama received upon their arrival in New Orleans aboard the Dixie Flyer in 1943.
One of his best. On top of the great storytelling, there’s that melody, which takes you riding on the train with po’ little Mama.
But you also need to visit “New Orleans Wins the War,” the next song on the album, to see what happened next. Blue, blue mornin’, macaroon and octaroon, baby baby baby baby… That one’s rolled around in my cruller more than once.
Sweet…I once saw Mark Knopfler and Chet Atkins do a couple of tunes in a dive ass bar in Nashville. Of course I’ve also seen Chet Atkins and Boots Randolph do “Yakety Axe / Sax” in my backyard.
I’ve been a Randy Newman fan since the early 1970’s. Hard to beat some of his vintage stuff – “Sail Away,” Davy the Fat Boy,” and the entire Good Old Boys album just for starters.
I think “Dixie Cruller” would be a great name for a blog.
Meanwhile, Randy Newman kicks musical ass.
Nice.
Comment by Joan of Argghh! — October 6, 2007 @ 2:43 pm
As someone who is 5’10”, I particularly enjoy, “Short People.” HA!
Sorry. It is the only area of superior anything I have.
Comment by RT — October 6, 2007 @ 4:50 pm
One of his best. On top of the great storytelling, there’s that melody, which takes you riding on the train with po’ little Mama.
But you also need to visit “New Orleans Wins the War,” the next song on the album, to see what happened next. Blue, blue mornin’, macaroon and octaroon, baby baby baby baby… That one’s rolled around in my cruller more than once.
Comment by Cousin Jack — October 6, 2007 @ 8:34 pm
Sweet…I once saw Mark Knopfler and Chet Atkins do a couple of tunes in a dive ass bar in Nashville. Of course I’ve also seen Chet Atkins and Boots Randolph do “Yakety Axe / Sax” in my backyard.
Does that make me cool, or just lucky?
Comment by Sam — October 6, 2007 @ 10:19 pm
I’ve been a Randy Newman fan since the early 1970’s. Hard to beat some of his vintage stuff – “Sail Away,” Davy the Fat Boy,” and the entire Good Old Boys album just for starters.
Great clip!
Comment by Elisson — October 6, 2007 @ 11:41 pm
If I don’t have all of he CDs, I’l bet I have most of them. Great stuff.
Jimbo
Comment by Jim — October 6, 2007 @ 11:43 pm
Sam,
That makes you both.
Jimbo
Comment by Jim — October 7, 2007 @ 11:07 am
… what a beautiful song…. never heard it before…. cheers, Jimbo…
Comment by Eric — October 8, 2007 @ 1:22 pm