Tag: Jason and the Scorchers

Jason and The Scorchers – White Lies

In the mid eighties I had a friend who were into Jason and the Scorchers so I gave them a listen. They were big on college radio and they had many ties with Nashville and played here quite often.

I first heard them do a live version of “The Race Is On”…the old George Jones song and it won me over. They were really a big deal in the southeast in the middle eighties and should have spread more. Their music seemed to have a kinship to the Georgia Satellites but they were a little more country. They did have some MTV play with this song and  Golden Ball and Chain.

The band was formed in 1981. They were together through the 80s till the drummer Perry Baggs was diagnosed with diabetes and could not finish a 1990 tour. They have regrouped since then off and on and altogether have released 15 albums with the last one being in 2010. In 2012 Perry Baggs passed away because of diabetes.

They played a mixture between country and rock and fell into the cracks. They seemed too rock for country and too country for rock. Live they were unbeatable.

This song was released in 1985 on the album Lost and Found.

AllMusic’s Mark Deming called Lost & Found “the best record this fine band would ever make.”

Below is the reunited band on the Conan show in 1998…promoting a live album.

White Lies

White lies
Every evening when I walk through the door
I hear the same old lies that I’ve heard before:
You’re going out for the evening, going out with a friend.
Do you really want me to believe that again?
You’re telling white lies, you’re telling white lies.
I can see right through that this disguise.
Can’t you tell I can tell when you’re telling white lies?
Take these chains and set me free,
Release me from this misery.
Now, don’t you waste my time with your alibis
’cause your heart can’t hide what I see in your eyes.
You’re telling white lies, you’re telling white lies.
I can see right through that thin disguise.
Can’t you tell I can tell when you’re telling white lies?
Every evening when I walk through that door
I get the same old lies that I’ve heard before:
You’re going out for the evening, going out with a friend.
Do you really want me to believe that again?
You’re telling white lies, you’re telling whire lies.
I can see right through that thin disguise.
Can’t you tell I can tell when you’re telling white lies?
You’re telling white lies, you’re telling white lies.
I can see right through that thin disguise.
Can’t you tell I can tell when you’re telling white lies?
White lies
White lies
White lies

…

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Jason & the Scorchers – Golden Ball and Chain

Jason & The Scorchers had a cult following in Nashville and around parts of the world in the 80s and got some airplay on MTV at the time…they were led by frontman Jason Ringenberg and they released a couple of EPs before releasing their debut album Lost & Found in 1985. They were classified at one time as alt-country but I would add rock/punk/rockabilly in there also.

One of the things that made the band different is Jason wanted to sound country but guitar player Warner Hodges wanted to sound like AC/DC…that interplay made them unique. This song was off of their 1986 album Still Standing. The album peaked at #91 on the Billboard album chart in 1987.

Golden Ball and Chain (written by Ringenberg) peaked at #16 in the Billboard Rock Mainstream songs.

Here is some information on Jason and the Scorchers http://www.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/Music/01/30/jason.scorchers/

 

Golden Ball and Chain

“Oh hello there” you coughed and smiled
Your hair messed up enough, a little wild
You said, “I’m sorry but it’s all a waste
Not a whole meal just a little taste”

Now you’ve nothing left to fight and gain
Another line another carved link of your name
On the golden ball and chain

L.A. it calls and London grooms the star
Get on the phone to find out who you are
But happiness was a dying trend
You say you saw that train around the bend

That was carrying its weight in pain
The engine straining on the full weight of your name
And the golden ball and chain

You saw it then, you saw the sign
A drowning sailor in a jug of wine
First it was her, but now it’s you
No psychoanalyst is there to tell you what to do

So now you whimper like a helpless child
You broke when they quit saying you were wild
But your tears they are like grass in sand
They speak to no one, they give no command

No there’s nothing left to cleanse the stain
Another line another carved link of your name
On the golden ball and chain