A few months ago, around September, I met Arthur when he was commenting on my blog. He is better known as purplegoatee2684b071ed. We have had some wonderful conversations, and I told him if you ever want to post a music post…I would be honored to do it. He took me up on my offer, and he wrote up a post about The Desert Rose Band. I do appreciate Arthur writing this up. Here is Arthur!
I am Purplesomething or other. My name is Art Schaak. I have no idea where WordPress got the name for me. When I found this incredible blog I signed up for WordPress and they told me my e-mail, which is fairly unique, was already assigned to this Purple guy. purplegoatee2684b071ed, that’s what they call me. For years I had a full beard, now I am clean shaven (when I shave) and I’ve never sported a goatee. I have been called an old goat, and old other things, and I honestly find it hard to deny.
I have been reading and commenting on this blog since September of 2025, a relative newcomer. I am much more impressed with the community and its individual members than you should be of me.
I am 72 years old. I have been a big music fan as long as I can remember. I skirted the peripheries of the music industry in the mid 70s until I realized I was not a follower of fashion, dedicated or not. I know a little about this stuff, am horribly opinionated, and have very eclectic tastes.
The Desert Rose Band was Chris Hillman, Herb Pedersen, John Jorgenson, Bill Bryson, Jay Dee Maness, and Steve Duncan. This song, written by John Hiatt, reached #3 on Billboard’s US Hot Country Songs and was awarded the 1989 Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group Grammy. It wasn’t their biggest hit, but it is my favorite.
The magic lies in the music. Give it a listen. It is the energy. The harmonies are tight. The performance is together. It might be too perfect, considering some of the opinions offered elsewhere on this blog, but I can’t call that a problem. This tune just delightfully pops along.
Hiatt’s lyrics are a lot of fun. Yes, I am a fan and have been since his Hanging Around The Observatory debut on Epic way back in the 70’s. By the way, Hiatt did two songs on the second White Duck album on Uni that I was amazed I found at a 25-cent parking lot sale at Rhino Records; I played it once, and that was more than it deserved.
Jorgeson continues to play, but his recent performances in the Los Angeles area have been with his bluegrass ensemble and his hot jazz ensemble. A long way from the Desert Rose Band or his tenure with the Elton John band. He is a great guitar player with an even greater sense of the overall music he is producing, kind of like Ry Cooder, where one can groove on his expertise or just be amazed at the incredible music he is putting out.
By the way, the web says the last performance of the Desert Rose Band, Live at the Country Music Hall of Fame CMA Theater, October 2, 2022, is due to be released in March of 2026.
And Chris Hillman seems extremely active (considering his age and such), according to his website, chrishillman.com.
Like I said, give it a listen.
She Don’t Love Nobody
From my humble point of view
She don’t love nobody
Nothin’ borrowed, nothin’ blue
She don’t love nobody
Behind the green eyes I detect
She don’t love nobody
Her heart no kiss could resurrect
She don’t love nobody
All of her life
She’s been told to hang on tight
There’s a man who’d make her his wife
But she’s not interested in anything mama said
She throws passion to the wind
She don’t love nobody
She don’t give out but she don’t give in
She don’t love nobody
And if I could I’d make her mine
But she don’t love nobody
And she would never walk that line
She don’t love nobody
All of my life
I’ve been told to hang on tight
There’s a girl who’d be my wife
But I’m not interested in anything mama said
I want the girl who does not need
She don’t love nobody
She’s the one my heart receives
She don’t love nobody
She don’t love nobody
She don’t love nobody
She don’t love nobody
She don’t love nobody
She don’t love nobody
She don’t love nobody
PowerPop... An Eclectic Collection of Pop Culture 
Very cool! 😎
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Well being a bit of a Nick Lowe fan I am familiar with his original version. That said your assessment of this version is right on the money. I think it’s the only song I have heard by the Desert Rose Band. Great post and welcome.
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A bit of a Nick Lowe fan? I dunno about that. I have found one is either a raving Nick Lowe fan, heard of him and maybe Cruel To Be Kind or never heard of him. I am very much a raving Nick Lowe fan. Don’t be surprised if I work in some Brinsley as well as other delights from the Pure Pop guy.
THANKS for the post.
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Yes well one need only read my blog to find out which category I fall under. I have seen him play four times, and I wish it was more. Nothing wrong with a little Brinsley! Great stuff.
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This is a reply to your second message, which somehow WordPress doesn’t have a reply button attached. I’m learning…
I have looked at your blog a couple of times. First thought was to remember a podcast, I don’t know if he is still doing it, called CoverVille. I went there a few times based on a capella covers of songs. Today’s post on Leo and Lyle got my full attention. I have loved Leo since the geese farts comment on what I am told is his second album, before his association with Capitol. Lyle, well, he is a no brainer. Of course I love his work. But then you reached even farther, to Cyrus Clarke. He was, once upon a time, in a California acoustic band called the Cache Valley Drifters. I have played out both the lp and the cd of that first record.
I love the way your entry for today meanders. A wonderful feel. I gotta find the comment button on it!!! 🙂
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Thanks for visiting my blog and I have noticed your comments. Yes Leo was not exactly enamoured with his singing voice but it hasn’t stopped him. Very cool you know of Clarke, totally new to me. That same issue with WP has happened to me and others have mentioned it also. Don’t know of Coverville, sounds interesting! Seems we intersect on a few things. And thanks to Max. Before you know it I’ll be dying my beard purple!
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Nice little straight-ahead country song. I’ve never heard of them but know of Hillman of course. I know the name Bill Bryson , but I’m guessing it’s not the Bill Bryson who writes all those funny travelogue books (even though some writers like Stephen King and Dave Barry dabble in music)!
Anyway, thanks for the intro to band and bizarrely inexplicable way you got your name…without a magenta-shaded beard!
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Thanks.
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I like that arrangement! One of my uncles turned me on to John Hiatt’s songwriting. He makes it seem easy.
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Hiatt makes it seem easy? He is such a great songwriter, but easy? I’m thinking of “What Do We Do Now?” Such a beautiful song that scours the soul in his reveal.
I expect to post about Hiatt. Been a fan since the Hanging Around The Observatory album, his first. Made me realize that my appreciation of Three Dog Night had as much to do with their choice in material (Sure As I’m Sitting Here was from Hiatt) more than anything else. And when Suzy Boguss mined the Hiatt goldmine, I came to respect both her and her producer, Mr. Chet Atkins. Still, Hiatt doing Hiatt is the best.
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Yes, I think he’s written some great songs.
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Welcome, Art. I always loved this band. This song is a great one. I also love their harmonies. One Step Forward and Hello Trouble are also among my favorites.
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I can’t remember if the first song by the Desert Rose Band was He’s Back and I’m Blue or One Step Forward but it was this one that made me a fan. Dave calls it a straight ahead country song, but I hear echoes of so much of the Byrds (without the Rickenbacker) in this.
Thanks.
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Welcome Art! I love what I’ve heard from John Hiatt, and I also instantly dig “She Don’t Love Nobody” – my style of country rock! I love the sound of the guitar and pedal steel, and I’m also a huge fan of neat harmony singing. With all that said, I’m entirely new to Desert Rose Band, so thanks for the intro. Undoubtedly, you must also love The Flying Burrito Brothers!
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When Max invited me to write stuff up I sent him a handful of stuff. My idea is to be a backup player, when Max wants something to fill the blog up a little. My guess is he saw how well this write up fit in the Devil in Disguise write up yesterday and decided to let synchronicity play its hand. 🙂
I am honored.
You will see more country rock musings from me. I have already provided Max with all sorts of stuff.
My favorite from the Burritos is the third album, the blue one which introduced Rick Roberts. Nothing against the first two with Gram.
Thanks
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Cool, looking forward to more of your musings! 🙂
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Always been interested in hearing them since I like Hillman’s songs in the Byrds, Manassas, and FBB. I like this one – sounds really good, lots of grit.
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