Watch Me Cry

Just got the sad news that Nick Tosches passed away yesterday. The New York author, one of the so-called Noise Boys together with Richard Meltzer and Lester Bangs, was 69. He was the writer of many inspired novels, music books, and biographies, all in a distinctive gonzo style. Hellfire, his vivid portrait of wild man of rock & roll Jerry Lee Lewis, remains required reading for every self-respecting music lover. Miss him.

Jerry Lee Lewis - Wine Me Up

Hellfire A-Callin'

"From Tupelo to Natchez they all answer to my name, their belief in God above is driving them insane, and if I die before I wake, there'll be no soul left to take..."

The Long Ryders - Final Wild Son

And while we're on the subject of Jerry Lee, for it's him the Ryders are referring to of course, here goes.

Jerry Lee Lewis - Deep Elem Blues

Summer Wine

Some Japanese wiseguy named Hokekyo Sho once proclaimed that ´at the third cup, wine drinks the man´. He got pretty famous with that one, and he just may have been right, too. Which hardly ever stops me from pouring said cup, but that´s another story... Here´s a grand cru, slightly country-flavoured tenpack with a velvety aftertaste about a mighty fine drink. "Strawberries, cherries and an angel´s kiss in spring, my summer wine is really made from all these things..." Salud!

Charlie Walker - Who Will Buy The Wine MP3

The Stanley Brothers - The Little Glass Of Wine MP3

James Luther Dickinson - Wine MP3

Gene Simmons - Drinkin´ Wine MP3

Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood - Summer Wine MP3

George Jones - Yesterday´s Wine MP3

Michael Hurley - I Like My Wine MP3

Merle Haggard - Little Ole Wine Drinker Me MP3

The Band - Strawberry Wine MP3

Jerry Lee Lewis - Wine Me Up MP3

Hellfire!

I recently learned that Hellfire, Nick Tosches´ amazing biography of Jerry Lee Lewis, has been reissued. And as my first edition copy is more or less worn out (yes, it´s that good), I guess I´ll have to buy it again. And if you haven´t read it, I strongly suggest you pick one up too. Nick Tosches has long been one of my favorite writers (his Cut Numbers, Trinities and Night Train are also warmly recommended). He´s got a style that´s distinctly his own, and has a whole lot of attitude to boot. Hellfire is the man´s main claim to fame though. It´s a biography that reads like a rollercoaster of a novel. It also helps that his subjects life is - to put it mildly - rather unusual. Fire and brimstone anyone?

I guess everybody is familiar with the early rock ´n´roll classics Jerry Lee recorded for Sun, but his forays into country territory are not that well known. The Killer is a natural country singer though. Check out the CD Another Time Another Place / She Even Woke Me Up To Say Goodbye (Raven Records) to see what I mean.

Jerry Lee Lewis - She Even Woke Me Up To Say Goodbye MP3

Jerry Lee Lewis - What Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made A Loser Out Of Me) MP3