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Sometimes the Doctor likes to hang out on a lazy Saturday afternoon sippin’ on a cold one, and watching smoke rings curl into the air. It’s a tough gig lookin’ after the musical health and well being of all the Rhino fans out there. So, a certain amount of lounge time every week is absolutely essential. The most important component of these precious moments is the music that flows from the stereo speakers and fills my modest abode, while spilling out into the neighborhood. I love to add to the general hubbub on my block. The sights, sounds, and smells that mingle under the rays of the setting sun make Heaven seem like a dress rehearsal. You can walk down the street and hear strains of mariachi mixing with the laughter of children and the melodic horn bleats of the produce truck, which cruises through several times a day. If you come within earshot of Chez Doc’, you’d probably hear any number sounds emanating from inside (Kiss, Arlo, Chick Boyd, Weezer, Allen Ginsberg, Little Willie John, Ben Folds, John Coltrane, etc., etc.). Recently, though, the smart money would be on Randy Newman and the new Rhino deluxe reissue of his classic album, Good Old Boys.
We all know Randy Newman from his excellent (and Academy Award winning!) soundtrack work over the last decade, and some of you, with better memories, may remember his pop hits "I Love L.A." and "Short People." Nestled in the early portion of a career that began in the late ‘60’s is an album that is regarded by many as the high water mark of his pop career. When the album Good Old Boys was released in 1974, it didn’t exactly set the charts on fire. Nevertheless, the critics loved it and the truly "dialed-in" members of the music community joined them in their rejoicing.
"So what’s the big deal with this album, Doc’?" Don’t worry; I’m getting there. Good Old Boys is comprised of an alternately venomous and compassionate song cycle about the American South. Newman hails from New Orleans and the history of this and surrounding regions always fascinated him. From the biting satire of "Rednecks" to the beauty of "Marie," the swagger of "Kingfish," and the despair of "Louisiana 1927," the album paints a vivid picture of a complex people. Newman plays many characters and infuses the songs with country touches and orchestral flourishes that flesh out the personality and emotion of each. Included in Rhino’s reissue is a second CD that comprises an early blueprint for Good Old Boys called John Cutler’s Birthday. Not only is this disc an amazing look into Newman’s creative process, but it also contains 8 unreleased tracks. So, I recommend that you pick up Good Old Boys and set aside a little lounging time and allow this album to soak into your soul. It’s the first step in helping to make your neighborhood a more interesting place.
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