Times Have Changed And So Have We

Just got word that Johnnie Wright, one half of classic brother-in-law country duo Johnnie & Jack, died two days ago at 97 at his home in Madison, Tennessee. Wright, husband of country star Kitty Wells, lost his singing partner Jack Anglin, who was on his way to Patsy Cline's funeral, in a car accident in 1963. They had been on the Grand Ole Opry for fifteen years straight. "This world can't stand long, be ready don't wait too late..."

Johnnie & Jack - This World Can't Stand Long MP3

Johnnie & Jack - For Old Times Sake MP3

Wild Weekend Vol. 48

Sit back, relax, and tune in to Wild Weekend, edition 48. Lotsa old stuff this week, as usual in lotsa different genres. Afro-funk, fifties country, live flamenco... Plus: a Robert Wyatt beauty sung in Spanish. Have a wild one, amigos.

Let´s make a funky start with the Mebusas and their infectuous afro ode to one Mr. Bull Dog. Which means juicy saxes, brother James vocals, and wild wah wah guitars in overdrive from the psychedelic seventies in Nigeria. You can find it on an exemplary double disc set called The World Ends on the mighty Soundway label. Taking the tempo down a notch now with a fine fine brother-in-law country duo from days long gone: Johnnie Wright and Jack Anglin. Their Poison Love stems from 1951, and managed to reach 4th place in the country charts that year. "Your poison love has stained the life blood in my heart and soul, dear..."

The Mebusas - Mr. Bull Dog MP3

Johnnie & Jack - Poison Love MP3

Last November saw a long expected flamenco release: a crystal clear registration of El Camarón De La Isla´s last ever concert of January ´92 in the auditorium of San Juan Evangelista College in Madrid. The legendary gypsy vocalist was already in bad health at the time, but his performances, accompanied by Tomatito on guitar, could still be breathtaking. Camarón would die the following June, his funeral attracting more than 100.000 people. More musica in the Spanish language up now, in the form of Robert Wyatt´s majestic rendition of Víctor Jara´s bittersweet ode to Amanda and her Manuel. "La vida es eterna en cinco minutos..."

El Camarón De La Isla - Nunca Llueve Como Truena (live San Juan Evangelista ´92) MP3

Robert Wyatt - Te Recuerdo Amanda MP3

Got an interesting take on ye olde House Of The Rising Sun for you now, featuring one Gil Bateman on vocals and tons of fuzz for free. From ´65, so way ahead of its time I guess. Turn it up and see if you agree. And we´ll call it quits with sister Wynona Carr, who´s not a big fan of the American penal system apparently. "That night in October, nineteen fifty three, how could he be in Frisco, he was home with me..." Yeah, right. Stay free and have a wild one.

Gil Bateman – My Daddy Walked in Darkness MP3

Wynona Carr - Please Mr. Jailer MP3

Keep hummin´

I had never heard of Johnnie & Jack until Bob Dylan suddenly opened quite a lot of his concerts with a song called Humming Bird back in 2001. I fell in love with it right away. This was when His Bobness employed what I think was his last truly great live band, featuring guitarists Charlie Sexton and Larry Campbell, who also provided some stunning vocal harmonies. Soon I found out that Humming Bird was originally recorded by a duo called Johnnie & Jack.

Johnnie Wright and Jack Anglin were stars on the Louisiana Hayride in the fifties and scored many a hit until Jack´s untimely death in 1963. He met his fate - can you believe it - in a car accident on the way to the funeral of Patsy Cline. Johnnie & Jack may sound like a true brother team, but they were just brothers in law. Wright is long married to country singer Kitty Wells by the way, and managed her career next to his own. As far as I know both are still alive and must be well in to their nineties now.

Humming Bird is an ode to a named train that ran from Cincinatti to New Orleans since 1946. "I love to hear your lonesome whistle whine..." Where this song is pure country in the tradition of the Louvin Brothers and Bill Monroe, Uncle John´s Bongos is more of a novelty song, poking fun at the then flourishing beat generation. It became famous in Dylan circles when the former spokesman for a generation based his own Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum (from "Love & Theft") on it.

Johnnie & Jack - Humming Bird MP3

Bob Dylan - Humming Bird (Live Paris 29-4-´02) MP3

Johnnie & Jack - Uncle John´s Bongos MP3

Bob Dylan - Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum (Live Paris 29-4-´02) MP3