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Dancing in the KitchenDescribed by Hot Press journalist Dermott Hayes as “ the hottest honky tonk band east of the Pecos ”. Their new CD “Dancing in the Kitchen”, was produced by legendary Nashville producer, Jim Rooney. The line-up consists of Chris Meehan, piano/vocal, Bobby Kelly, acoustic guitar/vocal, Eamon Murray, tenor sax, Brian Harris and Francie Lenehan, electric guitars, Percy Robinson, pedal steel guitar, Matt Cranitch, fiddle, Gerry O’Connor, viola/mandola, Ronnie O’Flynn, bass and Mick O’Connor, drums. Click here to purchase the "Dancing in the Kitchen" CD...  Click here to find out about the tour... ( This is a tribute to such bands as the Light Crust Doughboys and the Texas Playboys and their leader, the charismatic Bob Wills, who from the 1930s to the 1950s blazed a trail and who, by fusing country music with swing jazz created a whole new musical genre known as Western Swing. Although Wills co-wrote this song along with his singer Tommy Duncan and lyricist Cindy Walker, his wasn’t the first version of the song I heard. That was by Mac Wiseman who, at the age of 84, recently recorded an album of duets with a good friend of this band and someone whom we have had the privilege of accompanying on many occasions, John Prine. (see photo)
Tonight in a Bar room I’m sitting, apart from the laughter and cheer, the scenes from the past rise before me while watching the bubbles in my beer A picture of someone who loved me Brings a lone silent tear to my eye I know that my life’s been a failure While watching the bubbles in my beer. I’m seeing the road that I travelled A road paved with heartaches and tears I’m seeing the past that I wasted while watching the bubbles in my beer. I picture the heart that I’ve broken and the golden chances that have passed me by, the dreams I once made are now empty as empty as the bubbles in my beer. 2. “Drivin’ my Life Away” (Rabbitt – Malloy – Stevens) Scene Gems EMI Music Bobby takes lead vocal on this trucker’s anthem which features Brian on an electric baritone guitar, Eamon on harmonica and Percy on pedal steel.
Steep grade up ahead slow me down Making no time, I gotta keep rollin’ Windshield wipers, slappin’ out a tempo makin’ perfect rhythm with the songs on my radio, I gotta keep rollin’ Ooh! I’m drivin’ my life away, lookin’ for a better way For me Ooh I’m drivin my life away, lookin’ a sunny day. Truck stop cutie comin’ on to me Trying to talk me into a ride said I wouldn’t be sorry, She was just a baby. Waitress, pour me another cup of coffee. Pop me down, jack me up, shoot me out, flyin’ down the highway, looking for the mornin’. Ooh, I’m drivin my life away, looking for a better way, for me. Ooh I’m drivin my life away, lookin’ a sunny day. (for me)
3. “I always knew that you were the one” (Instrumental) (David Lindley) I don’t know too much about this lovely instrumental piece, played here by Matt and Gerry, other than it features on the soundtrack of the film “The Long Riders”.
4. “The bottle let me down” (Merle Haggard) Sony/ATV Tree Publishing I started singing this Merle Haggard classic at gigs around 1975 and I’ve been singing it ever since. Francie ( electric guitar) and Percy (steel) play the solos. It’s dedicated to the woman who always requested us to play “Tonight the bottle didn’t work”. “Each night I leave the bar room when it’s over, not feeling any pain at closing time, but tonight your memory found much too sober, I couldn’t drink enough to keep you off my mind. Tonight the bottle let me down and let your memory come around, The one true friend I thought I’d found, Tonight the bottle let me down. I’ve always had a bottle I could turn to, But lately I’ve been turning everyday, But the wine don’t take affect the way it used to, And I’m hurtin’ in an old familiar way. 5. “Hot Dog” (Dedmon – Owens) Acuff/Rose, Sony/ATV Tree Publishing. “I first heard this song when I was in my early teens, and never forgot it. I didn’t know any thing about the song except the title and every time I thought I’d tracked it down it turned out to be the same title but a different song e.g. Bill Haley , Elvis Presley. Then out of the blue I heard Shakin’ Stevens singing it on “The Collection” and discovered it had been written and recorded by Buck Owens in 1956. He had released it under the name Corky Jones as he was afraid it might hurt his Country image. He released it again in 1961, but this time under his own name. “ Bobby My baby works at a hot dog stand Makin’ these hot dogs as fast as she can, Up steps a cat says ‘don’t be slow , give me two hot dogs ready to go.’ Hot dog, she’s my baby, Hot dog, drives me crazy, Hot dog, don’t mean maybe, You oughtta see my baby at a hot dog stand In the cool of the evening when the sun does down All the cats and chicks all gather round They order hot dogs and red soda pop and head down town to a hep cat hop. Hot dog, she’s my baby, Hot dog, drives me crazy, Hot dog, don’t mean maybe, You oughtta see my baby at a hot dog stand I’m waiting for my baby every night at 12, She closes up the shop and then we lose ourselves: At a hep-cat hop in a crazy way, We’re doing the bop till the break of day. Hot dog, she’s my baby, Hot dog, drives me crazy, Hot dog, don’t mean maybe, You oughtta see my baby at a hot dog stand
6. Diggy Liggy Lo (J.D. Miller) Sony/ATV, Acuff, Rose Music This song is about an improbably named Cajun couple from the French speaking part of
Feel in love at the fais do do The pot was cold but the coffee chaud For Diggy Liggy Li and Diggy Liggy Lo Chorus: Diggy Liggy Li Lo Diggy Liggy Lo Everybody knew he was her beau Nobody else could ever show, so much love for Diggy Liggy Lo It’s the place they make romance Where they do the Cajun dance Steal a kiss at half a chance Show your love with every glance Repeat chorus Now he’s gone to see her pa Now he’s got himself a poppa-in-law Moved out where the bayou flow Now they got a little Diggy Liggy Lo Repeat chorus 7. To make love sweeter for you (Kennedy – Sutton) EMI Al Gallico Music Corp. “This song featured on an early Jerry Lee Lewis country album and I’ve always loved it. When I decided to record it for the album, my intention was to ask my dear friend Ronnie Drew to sing the bass harmony like only he could do, but sadly he passed away before we had the opportunity to realise this ambition. I finished up singing it myself as a small tribute to a great man and a special friend.” Bobby. Well, I’d like to send an orchid at the start of every day For flowers show more beauty than words could ever say You’ve done so much for my world till all I want to do Is try my best in every way to make love sweeter for you A thousand special compliments I’d pay to you each day Your ears would never tire of all the sweet things I would say You never would be lonely, honey you never would be blue ‘Cos my one aim in life would be, to make love sweeter for you. You’ve given me the faith it took to make my dreams come true That’s why I want to live and breathe my every breath for you You’ve cleared the windows of my mind and now that I see through I’ll do my best in every way to make love sweeter for you.
8. Steel Guitar Rag (McAuliffe – Stone – Travis) Webb Pierce ,who is credited with introducing the pedal steel guitar into country music ,said he did so in order to “ make a man’s pitiful song sound more pitiful”. It can , however, also be an instrument of joy especially when it’s played, as it is here , by “ the Peerless” Percy Robinson I’ve wandered around, seen many a town, Mac, You’ll find I’m the kind likes to brag But listen and see if you don’t agree No melody rolls like that ol’ steel guitar rag When Percy slides that thing along the strings It sounds so doggone heavenly you hear the angels sing And when you start your feet your heart will beat A rhythm to that old steel guitar rag You may be kinda choosey about the songs you like to hear You make some that bluesy make cry right in your beer But if you want a melody that drives away your cares Make happy your soul with that ol’ steel guitar rag. 9. Body and Soul (Green – Heyman – Sour) Druropetal Music This is, in fact, an old jazz standard, popularised in the thirties by Coleman Hawkins. I first heard it sung by that fine
For you I sigh, for you dear only Why haven’t you seen it I’m all for you body and soul I spend my days in longing And wondering why it’s me you’re wronging I tell you I mean it I’m all for you body and soul I can’t believe it, it’s hard to conceive it That you would throw away romance Are you pretending, it looks like the ending Unless I could have one more chance to prove dear My life a wreck you’re making You know I’m yours just for the taking I’d gladly surrender myself to you body and soul What lies before me A future that’s stormy A winter that’s grey and cold Unless there’s magic The end will be tragic And echo a tale that’s been told So often My life revolves about you What earthly good am I without you? I tell you I mean it I’m all for you body and soul
10. The Claw (Jerry Reed) Publisher – Hal Leonard Brian, (ably assisted by Francie ,flatpicking on a Grennan acoustic,) tackles ( and nails) this virtuoso piece for electric guitar written by the late great Jerry Reed. Not a task for the fainthearted.
11. Please send me someone to love (Percy Mayfield) Sony/ATV Sings BMI I’m grateful to our producer Jim Rooney, himself a Grammy Award Winner, for choosing this song for us. It also affords an opportunity to introduce to you the stunning vocal talents of Michele Rayfus. 50 years or so before This track is dedicated to legendary blues guitarist Jimmy Faulkner, who I played with in the Red Peters Blues Band and who played a couple of times with this band, who is, sadly, no longer with us and Red himself who ,thankfully, is.
Understanding and peace of mind And if it’s not asking too much Please send me someone to love Show the world how to get along Peace will enter when hate is gone And it it’s not asking too much please send me someone to love I lie awake nights and ponder world trouble And the answer is always the same That unless man put an end to this damnable sin Hate will put the world in a flame, what a shame Just because I’m in misery, I don’t beg no sympathy And it it’s not asking too much please send me someone to love Guest Musicians on this track Dave Fleming (Double Bass) Kelan Walsh ( Baritone Sax) Solo on tenor sax: Eamon 12. Ain’t Livin Long Like this (Rodney Crowell) Bobby takes lead vocals on this Rodney Crowell song . Eamon and Kelan feature on horns while solos on the electric guitar are played firstly by Francie, then Brian and finally ,Percy on the steel as the band disappears down the highway in a cloud of dust.
Straight down the barrel of a lawman’s gun I tried to run but I don’t think I can “You make one move and you’re a dead man, friend” Ain’t livin long like this Can’t live at all like this Slip the handcuffs off behind my back Don’t leave me freezing on a steel rail rack They’ve got them all at the jailhouse ain’t they baby Ain’t livin’ long like this |
