PUNMASTER MusicWire by David Gross
A trusted source of music news since 1873 ~ All the news that's fit to be tied
* THE HARDEST WORKING NEWSLETTER IN SHOW BUSINESS *
Made possible by your support
October 2, 2024
Whoa, Substack lightnin'
Shinin' just like gold
Why don't you hear me cryin'?
A-whoo-hoo, a-whoo-hoo, whoo
CARLENE CARTER COMMENTS ON THE PASSING OF
KRIS KRISTOFFERSON
Kris Kristofferson and Carlene Carter sing “Will The Circle Be Unbroken” together in 2020 at Cinnamon Hill, Jamaica, former home of June Carter Cash and Johnny Cash. Photo credit: Jayce Kartye.
“Kris Kristofferson meant more to me and my family than words can possibly express. That’s kind of ironic in light of the fact that he had a way with words unlike anybody I ever knew. To say he will be missed is an understatement. Even when we hadn’t been together for a while I took comfort in knowing that his beautiful spirit was with us. Now that he’s gone, I’m sure that’s still the case. Love you Kris. Always.” - Carlene
A Legend's Culinary Endorsement: Bob Dylan's Nod to Dooky Chase’s Restaurant
Bob Dylan, the iconic voice of a generation, recently took to Twitter to share a piece of his New Orleans experience, recommending Dooky Chase’s Restaurant with genuine enthusiasm: "Last time in New Orleans we ate at Dooky Chase’s Restaurant on the corner of North Miro and Orleans. If you’re ever there I highly recommend it."
Dylan's praise for Dooky Chase’s Restaurant is not just a casual endorsement but a nod to a place steeped in history and cultural significance. Located in the heart of New Orleans, this establishment is more than just a restaurant; it's a landmark that has played a pivotal role in the city's social and culinary landscape.
Founded in 1941 by Emily and Dooky Chase, Sr., the restaurant initially served po'boys and lottery tickets but evolved into one of the premier Creole restaurants in the city. Under the culinary mastery of Leah Chase, often referred to as the “Queen of Creole Cuisine,” Dooky Chase’s became renowned for its traditional dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, and fried chicken, prepared with a distinctive New Orleans flair.
But Dooky Chase’s is more than its menu. During the Civil Rights Movement, it served as a meeting place for activists, including Martin Luther King Jr. and the Freedom Riders, providing a safe space for discussions that shaped the future of the nation. Leah Chase herself was a fervent supporter of civil rights, using her culinary skills to foster community and change.
The restaurant’s walls are adorned with an impressive collection of African American art, further cementing its role as a cultural hub. Through hurricanes and floods, Dooky Chase’s has stood resilient, symbolizing the endurance and spirit of New Orleans.
Bob Dylan's recommendation brings this storied establishment into the spotlight, inviting fans and food lovers alike to experience a piece of living history. So, next time you find yourself in New Orleans, take a cue from Dylan and indulge in the rich flavors and profound legacy of Dooky Chase’s Restaurant.
Austin City Limits Celebrates 50th Birthday with Willie Nelson & Family on October 17, 2024
Austin, Texas – The iconic live music television series Austin City Limits (ACL) is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a grand outdoor concert featuring Willie Nelson & Family on October 17, 2024, at Austin's Long Center for the Performing Arts. This landmark event will also include a performance by Austin's own Asleep at the Wheel, making for a quintessentially Texan celebration.
A Legendary Beginning
Austin City Limits was born on October 17, 1974, when Willie Nelson taped the pilot episode. This legendary debut set the stage for five decades of groundbreaking music television. Willie Nelson's return to commemorate this milestone is a fitting tribute to the series' roots and enduring legacy.
The Party Details
The Austin City Limits 50th Birthday Bash, presented by Tito's Handmade Vodka, will be a free public event. Fans must register with Fair AXS between 8AM CT on September 20 and 10PM CT on September 23 for a chance to attend. Selected attendees will be notified by September 27 and must opt-in to secure their spots. The concert will be taped, with musical highlights airing as a special hour-long broadcast in early 2025 as part of the series' golden anniversary Season 50.
A Tribute to Willie Nelson
There's a reason a bronze statue of Willie Nelson stands at the entrance to ACL's studio home. In the show's 50-year history, no artist has embodied its eclectic, freewheeling spirit more than Willie Nelson. His pivotal 1974 performance was a declaration of Austin's place as a pioneering music city. "There would be no Austin City Limits without Willie Nelson - simple as that," says longtime ACL executive producer Terry Lickona. Willie Nelson, who has appeared on ACL 18 times, was the first inductee into the ACL Hall of Fame in 2014.
Asleep at the Wheel's Role
Joining the celebration, Asleep at the Wheel, led by founder Ray Benson, will open the show. The western swing legends, who appeared in the first official episode of ACL's inaugural season, have performed on the series 11 times over five decades. Their deep connection to ACL includes a pair of appearances with Willie Nelson. Asleep at the Wheel was inducted into the ACL Hall of Fame in 2015.
Austin's Contribution
The anniversary concert not only celebrates ACL but also the city and community that play a starring role in the series. The Austin skyline is the backdrop for the weekly show, and Austin's music fans are an integral part of each episode's crowd shots. The Long Center concert lawn, located on the banks of Lady Bird Lake with stunning views of the Austin skyline, will be the perfect setting for this special event.
Extending the Legacy
As ACL turns 50, the series continues to provide viewers with front-row seats to the best in live performance. The landmark Season 50 premieres on September 28, 2024, on PBS, featuring an hour with Kacey Musgraves. The upcoming season promises an all-star lineup of returning favorites and highly-anticipated debuts, cementing ACL's place in music history.
About Austin City Limits
Austin City Limits has showcased iconic performances from legends and innovators across all genres of popular music for five decades. The series, which is the flagship of the popular Austin City Limits Music Festival, has earned countless accolades, including a Peabody Award, a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame designation, and the National Medal of Arts. In May 2024, longtime executive producer Terry Lickona received public television's highest honor, The Beacon Award, presented by Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl.
For more information and to register for the 50th Birthday Bash, visit the Austin City Limits website. Join us in celebrating 50 years of unforgettable music and the enduring legacy of Austin City Limits.
The Cowsills Announce Global To Be Released on November 8 via Omnivore Recordings
The Elusive 1998 Release Restored and Remastered on LP For 1st Time and on CD/Digital with Three Bonus Tracks Featuring guest appearances from Vicki Peterson (The Bangles, Continental Drifters), Berton Averre (The Knack), Peter Holsapple (The dB’s, Continental Drifters), John Stamos, and more
The Cowsills have announced the release of Global, a recovered album from the chart-topping family band whose story was the inspiration for television’s The Partridge Family. A piece on Global for NBC’s Dateline would not be out of place. The story includes not only the musical siblings, but also Dick Clark, Daryl Dragon (“The Captain” of Captain & Tennille), the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a world-famous TV actor, power-pop superstars, and renowned industry figures. Global first appeared in 1998, but was difficult to find; for the few who did, it was a revelation of pure pop greatness. For the many who missed it, it will be a new revelation now. Globalwill come out on November 8 via Omnivore Recordings on vinyl for the first time ever, and on CD/Digital with three previously unreleased bonus tracks. Along with the announcement, The Cowsills have also shared the album’s lead single “What I Believe.”
A missing pen… That’s the secret reason why this wonderful album exists, and why The Cowsills are still going strong three decades later. In 1990, more than a decade since The Cowsills had worked together, singer/guitarist Bob Cowsill was working on new demos when they were offered a spot on one of Dick Clark’s package tours to strictly play their “oldies” hits. They agreed to forgo their new music for the tour but when they went to sign the contract, no writing implement could be found.
“The contract was in front of us, and we were ready to do it,” Bob Cowsill recalls. “Nutty as this sounds, they couldn’t locate a pen, then Dick had to go do something. It was decided we’d take a break and sign it after lunch. That’s when we started talking–Did we really want to do this? Should we take the oldies moniker on now? We felt young for an oldies tour, Susan [the youngest] was only 36. That’s when I said ‘Well, I got these songs.’ So, we walked out of that lunch, said no to Dick Clark and said ‘Okay, let’s do this.’”
The Cowsills quit their day jobs and were a full-time band again. Those new demos they were working on would ultimately become Global – a batch of 14 tracks written primarily by Bob and his wife Mary Jo, with contributions from Barry and Paul Cowsill. The album was recorded at Rumbo Recorders, owned by Daryl Dragon (“The Captain” of Captain & Tennille). The Cowsills began booking live shows, and anyone who came for nostalgia was in for a surprise.
Unfortunately the record didn’t get a major-label release, although it did come close. Atlantic Records A&R Marc Nathan fell in love with the Global track “Is It Any Wonder” and was sure he could get the band signed. Nathan’s boss Doug Morris loved what he was hearing but once Nathan revealed it was The Cowsills, he was immediately fired. The funding for the album also disappeared overnight when the band’s financier was arrested by the FBI for insurance fraud. The Cowsills were questioned by Federal authorities and identified as victims of this scam artist. The family scattered once again and since they couldn’t ransom the tapes, the tracks they had recorded sat at Rumbo for years.
Then the internet came along, and the band had a new way of distribution. Bob rescued the album and brought in mastering legend Doug Sax to work on the DAT rough mixes. The Cowsills created a label, Robin Records, and a website to sell the CD-only album, of which only very few were made. While preparing the release, Bob made the eleventh-hour decision to leave out three of the 14 songs. The missing three are finally reinstated on the new CD and streaming editions of Global.
With full cooperation from the band and Executive Producers Rock Positano and James Ferr, Global has been restored and remastered by multiple Grammy-winner Michael Graves and is definitively back. Bob, John, Paul, and Susan Cowsill, as well as veteran bassist Robby Scharf are joined by guests Vicki Peterson (The Bangles, Continental Drifters), Berton Averre (The Knack), Peter Holsapple (The dB’s, Continental Drifters), members of the extended Cowsills family, and even John Stamos, who was one of the biggest names in Hollywood at the time of recording. It’s a joyous noise spanning decades of pure pop and songcraft.
Featuring updated artwork, the packaging contains new liner notes from Brett Milano and Bob Cowsill outlining, explaining, and bringing this “lost” album’s story to life.
Iconic California Rock Band, The Mother Hips, Announce New Album, California Current on Blue Rose
The Mother Hips, a staple of the Bay Area rock scene, released their new album, California Current, via Blue Rose. This 11-track collection, including a fan-favorite cover of The Kinks' "This Is Where I Belong," epitomizes the band's distinctive "California Soul" sound that has garnered them acclaim over their 30-year career.
Formed in 1991 by Tim Bluhm and Greg Loiacono at California State University, Chico, The Mother Hips quickly gained a dedicated following with their unique blend of West Coast rock and lyrical charm. Over the years, they have been praised by Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and The New Yorker for their harmonious melodies and vibrant live performances.
Recorded earlier this year with contributions from Jason Crosby on electric piano, California Current is The Mother Hips' 13th studio album. The record reflects their deep connection to California, featuring radiant harmonies and lyrical enchantment that capture the essence of the Golden State.
"California Current, as the title suggests, is a fine representation of the state of our art," says Loiacono. "It's a distinctly Mother Hips record that bursts with the love, energy, and beauty that California brings to us all."
For more information and to purchase the album, visit motherhips.com
KING CRIMSON “Red 50th Anniversary Edition” 2CD / 2Blu-ray & 2LP 200-gram Audiophile Vinyl Available October 25, 2024
KING CRIMSON "Red 50th Anniversary Edition"
Available October 25, 2024
Formats: 2CD / 2Blu-ray & 2LP 200-gram Audiophile Vinyl
Highlights:
4-disc Boxed Set: 2 Blu-rays & 2 CDs
Blu-rays: New Dolby Atmos, 5.1 DTS-HD MA Surround & Hi-Res Stereo mixes by Steven Wilson. Additional mixes and live recordings by David Singleton.
CDs: New Stereo and instrumental mixes by Steven Wilson and David Singleton, including a detailed sequence of studio recordings.
Packaging: Vinyl replica sleeves in a rigid slipcase with a booklet featuring photos and new sleeve notes by King Crimson biographer Sid Smith.
Tracklisting:
Red
Fallen Angel
One More Red Nightmare
Providence
Starless
Additional Material & Instrumental Mixes
Special Features:
Elemental Mixes: Unique audio perspectives with greater instrument separation.
Live Recordings: Hi-Res Stereo mixes of the live album USA and five restored bootleg concerts from the 1974 US tour.
Comprehensive Session Material: Including new to disc tracks and studio takes.
A blast from the past…
Arlen Roth with Danny Gatton - Tequila
FOR BIG FUN, LISTEN TO "THE ROCKABILLY ROADHOUSE WITH BIG DAVE".... EVERY SATURDAY MORNING from 9am-11am (pacific time) for TWO BIG HOURS of amped-up, high-octane roots music....and catch the rebroadcast Saturday nights at 7pm.
Guaranteed to kick start your weekend!
STREAM IT LIVE at KRSH.com
Download the Free KRUSH Mobile App!
or listen to The KRUSH 95.9 in Sonoma County, CA
Tell 40 or 50 of your closest friends!
Check out the web site at rockabillyroadhouse.com
It's time to get down to the Main Gazane with Big Dave!
Big Dave Presents:
The Saturday Night Album Trax
Saturdays 9-10 pm on the KRUSH 95.9 FM
BREAK OUT THE HEADPHONES!
Hosted by Big Dave, the Saturday Night Album Trax features some of the greatest albums ever recorded. Deep cuts, live albums, extended tracks, rarities and themes. Plus get the background and inside stories on these classic albums.
These are the good old days!
STREAM IT LIVE at KRSH.com
TODAY'S EASY BAKE TRIVIA QUESTION
What’s the connection?
The J. Geils Band
Dave Clark Five
The Jeff Beck Group
Spencer Davis Group
The answer will appear in the next MusicWire...
The trivia question from the last MusicWire was:
Name the musician that made a guest appearance on all of these artist’s albums?
David Bromberg
Cream
Leon Russell
Derek and the Dominos
Gary Wright
Cheech & Chong
Dave Mason
Ronnie Wood
Hall & Oats
Duane Eddy
Jim Capaldi
Tom Petty
Electric Light Orchestra
Bill Wyman
Bob Dylan
ANSWER: GEORGE HARRISON
THIS DAY IN MUSIC
You Can Quote Me On That…
"I think it is just terrible and disgusting how everyone has treated Lance Armstrong, especially after what he achieved, winning seven Tour de France races while on drugs. When I was on drugs, I couldn't even find my bike."
- Willie Nelson
“You start out playing rock ‘n’ roll so you can have sex and do drugs. But you end up doing drugs so you can still play rock ‘n’ roll and have sex.” - Mick Jagger
I've been through more cold turkeys than there are freezers." - Keith Richards
"Mick needs to know what he's going to do tomorrow. Me, I'm just happy to wake up and see who's hanging around. Mick's rock, I'm roll." -Keith Richards
"I don't know anything about music, In my line you don't have to." - Elvis Presley
"I opened the door for a lot of people, and they just ran through and left me holding the knob." - Bo Diddley
"The only Maybelline I knew was the name of a cow." - Chuck Berry
"A lot of fellows nowadays have a B.A., M.D., or Ph.D. Unfortunately, they don't have a J.O.B." - Fats Domino
"It's not the size of the ship; it's the size of the waves." - Little Richard
"Hippies? Why, I'm the original." - Jerry Lee Lewis
"The older I get, the harder to get around....gravity's got me down." - Barry Goldberg
“I'm one of those regular weird people.” - Janis Joplin
"There are more love songs than anything else. If songs could make you do something we'd all love one another." - Frank Zappa
"I've always felt that blues, rock 'n' roll and country are just about a beat apart." - Waylon Jennings
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace." - Jimi Hendrix
"Rock is so much fun. That's what it's all about -- filling up the chest cavities and empty kneecaps and elbows." - Jimi Hendrix
"I taught them everything they know, but not everything I know." - James Brown
"David Gross (Punmaster's MusicWire) is the Arianna Huffington of music news!" - Barry "The Fish" Melton
"The older you get, the better you were!" - Leslie West
"It's much too late to do anything about rock & roll now ..." - Jerry Garcia
"Albert King wasn't my brother in blood, but he sure was my brother in Blues" - B.B. King
"More bass." - Jerry Wexler
"I'm as country as a dozen eggs." - Elvin Bishop
"I liked the first sixties better...." - Al Kooper
"I still have all my vinyl. You can’t roll a joint on an iPod.” - Shelby Lynne
"I think I just killed somebody." - Phil Spector
"The problem with history is, the folks who were there ain't talking. And the ones who weren't there, you can't shut 'em up." - Tom Waits
"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." - Hunter S. Thompson
"I want my more money & I want my more fame" - Chubby Checker
"When you don't know where you're going, you have to stick together just in case someone gets there." - Ken Kesey
"I smash guitars because I like them." - Pete Townshend
"It's a good thing I had a bag of marijuana instead of a bag of spinach. I'd be dead by now." - Willie Nelson
"Rock journalism is people who can't write interviewing people who can't talk in order to provide articles for people who can't read." - Frank Zappa
"You can learn something, both good or bad, watching any guitar player. You learn what to do or what not to do. Over the years I've learned things from Carlos, Mike Bloomfield, Clapton, George, Garcia, Knopfler and let's not forget Robbie Robertson." - Bob Dylan, 2002
"There 'is' a difference between rock and rock and roll; beware of inferior imitations (avoid contact with any musician who doesn't know how to play Chuck Berry music)." - Cub Koda
"This heah is Rufus Thomas....I'm young and loose and full of juice. I got the goose, so what's the use." - Rufus Thomas
"Mike Love, not war." - Scott Mathews
"I have outlived my dick" - Willie Nelson (2008)
"Anybody with a trade can work as long as they want. A welder, a carpenter, an electrician. They don't necessarily need to retire...Every man should learn a trade. It's different than a job. My music wasn't made to take me from one place to another so I can retire early." - Bob Dylan