Tag: Fun

Gene Vincent – Red Blue Jeans And A Pony Tail

She can make cold chills run up ‘n’ down my spine
Make me feel warm in the wintertime

This song is for Song Lyric Sunday for Jim Adams’s blog. This week, the theme is to find a song that mentions Cold.

I could listen to that 50s reverb all day long. Vincent gets overlooked by many who only know Be Bob A-Lula. His voice goes with that slapback echo better than any other singer. The more I listen to him, the bigger a fan I become. He could go from ballad to rocker in a split second.

This is one of those cuts that lives in that sweet spot between early rockabilly and straight-up teen rock ’n’ roll. After Be-Bop-A-Lula hit big in 1956, Gene’s life sped up fast, touring, TV spots, label pressure, and the constant push to follow up on that song. By the time he was recording this, he wasn’t just an up-and-coming artist anymore; he was a well-known performer.

In the bigger picture, this song shows Gene doing what he did best in the studio, grabbing a basic idea and turning it into something that feels alive for two minutes. The song was on the album Gene Vincent and the Blue Capsreleased in 1957. The song was written by Jack Rhodes and Bill “Tex” Davis.

If you’re building a Gene Vincent playlist beyond the big hits, this one earns its spot. It’s not a history-changing single; it’s a solid piece of teenage rock ’n’ roll that shows how good Gene could be

Red Blue Jeans and a Pony Tail

Got a crazy little cat that works down town
Cuts an awful lot of capers when I come around
She’s got the westbound Diesel with the evening mail
And a ooh-wee, red blue jeans and a pony tail

She can do more tricks to this heart of mine
Than ten little monkeys on a long grapevine
I know when she holds me, why I get so weak and pale
Ooh-wee, red blue jeans and a pony tail
(Rock!)

Yeah, she’s got more rhythm than a ten piece band
She can rock ‘n’ roll to the clapping of your hand
I know why they watch her like a train does a rail
It’s a ooh-wee, red blue jeans and a pony tail

She can make cold chills run up ‘n’ down my spine
Make me feel warm in the wintertime
She packs a lot of wallop, can be so small and frail
It’s ooh-wee, red blue jeans and a pony tail
(Rock again now!)

Skipping School

Skipping School…I was known to do this dastardly deed a few times in my high school life. I have a scar to remind me of one time hiding in some barn where I shouldn’t have been and sliding down and cutting my hand on something trying to get out. That is not the one I want to talk about this time though.

My friend Kenny had a black 1969 Chevelle Super Sport and it was fast. We decided one morning, that we were not going to attend school that day. Kenny had just put new wheels on his car and we were going to Nashville. I’m not sure what we were planning to do that particular day but it did not include listening to teachers.

We were on the interstate and Kenny was flooring it like he always did and suddenly we heard a loud POP. We didn’t think anything about it and kept rolling…again another POP. We looked at each other but were having too much fun and then POP POP…after that fourth POP…he started to slow from 90 and the car didn’t feel right…he finally pulled to the side of the road. 4 of the 5 wheel studs that held the wheel on was gone…hence the four POPs we heard.

One lug nut was the only thing between us and losing our wheel and ending in a crumpled mess. We ended up calling Kenny’s dad who owned a car shop in Nashville. We got the car fixed and were on our way again…but I think back on how that could have ended differently.

The next day Kenny was called to the principal’s office. He was punished for skipping school and spent a week or so in the “rubber room.” That is what we called detention. It was a room beside the cafeteria where you would sit and do homework or read in silence. When you went to lunch… all of the delinquents in the room would get up and walk together to eat lunch…but not talk.

As for your humble writer…I heard nothing at all about the escape from school until…two weeks later. That is when yours truly was called to the office. “Max do you want a paddling or rubber room?” To this day I don’t know how they found out or had the goods on me. I know Kenny didn’t tell…he didn’t want me to get caught. I have my suspicions but I enjoyed myself anyway.

I took the rubber room choice because I liked it. I could catch up with my homework or read a good book…I would claim it was for a book report and I enjoyed peace and quiet for a week.

This should have taught me a valuable lesson…but alas it didn’t quite do the trick. My mom was a single mom and she kept up with me the best she could…but I did make good grades so I took advantage of the situation. There would be more skipping days to come. Any interesting stories out there?