In which Ginger Baldy fears the two-pronged crown, drinks a little gin and doesn’t trust your friends.

1. Song For You - Monica Martin

2. Back To The Island - Leon Russell

3. Your Friends - Doug Sahm & Band

4. Break My Heart Again - Peter Rowan

5. The Green Manalishi - Fleetwood Mac

6. Without Love - Mother Earth

7. Drunk Again - The Butterfield Blues Band

8. Gloria in Excelsis Deo/ Gloria - Patti Smith

Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles

Your friends, your friends say that I'm evil

I hunt the women like the dog hunt a bone

I can't be doing too much wrong baby

Everyday I bring my paycheck home

Your Friends - Doug Sahm & Band 1973

Urgent - short notice:Geraint Watkins will be at the Ivy House in Nunhead on January 23rd

So will Small Town Talk and friends. See You there.

As of this moment - just a few tickets left:

https://wegottickets.com/event/642017

If you didn’t already, then check out JD McPherson’s new album, Nite Owls at:

https://www.jdmcpherson.com/

The above site also provides The 2025 Tour dates.

Small Town Talk will be JD’s gig at London’s Garage on June 20th

Check out Monica Martin here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijbU0KdoGQM

Don’t forget to tune into our sister podcast, Bright Lights Big City. It’s over there in:

https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/

The brilliant Ace records: Small Town Talk plays a track from an Ace album every month. Their site is much more than just an online record shop. Go and see:

https://www.acerecords.co.uk/

Episode 57b illustration: The old Revox keeps on churning

In which Ginger Baldy remembers sunshine and hair and digs out some old singles

1. This Little Girl Of Mine - Ray Charles

2. This Little Girl Of Mine - Dion

3. How's The World Treating You? - The Louvin Brothers

4. Leave My Woman Alone - The Everly Brothers

5. She’s Mine - Joe Tex

6. Leave My Kitten Alone - The Beatles

7. I Can’t Go Anywhere With You - J D McPherson

8. Fine, Fine, Fine - The Balham Alligators

9. Empty Trainload Of Sky - Gillian Welch & David Rawlings

10. She’s About A Mover - Sir Douglas Quintet

11. Endless Sleep - Jody Reynolds

12. Ophelia - The Band

13. Do-Wah-Diddy - Manfred Mann

14. The World Keep On Turning - Fleetwood Mac

15. LeAnne - Colby T. Helms

Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles

Well, I know you got your money

And you've got a new fifty-seven too

But if I ever see my little girl in your new car

I'm gonna do some work on you.

The Everly Brothers.

Released in 1957, Don & Phil updated the car to a ‘57 from Ray Charles original, a ‘56, most likely a 1956 Cadillac (but possibly a Chevrolet or a Buick. The Blues Band’s version claims it‘s a Chevy!)

That giant of Welsh rock, Geraint Watkins will be at the Ivy House in Nunhead on January 23rd -

And so will Small Town Talk and friends. See you there:

https://wegottickets.com/event/642017

If you didn’t already, then check out JD McPherson’s new album, Nite Owls at:

https://www.jdmcpherson.com/

The above site also provides The 2025 Tour dates.

Small Town Talk will be JD’s gig at London’s Garage on June 20th.

I’m sorry about the release date for Episode 57 being delayed, but check out the third Long-Song bonus episode later this month, and still get over to Johnny Corsair’s’ podcast. His prize this month another great Ace CD, the third in the series, "Black America Sings Lennon, McCartney & Harrison."

Listen in to Bright Lights Big City and win that album.

https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/

The brilliant Ace records: Small Town Talk plays a track from an Ace album every month. Their site is so much more than just an online record shop. Go and see:

https://www.acerecords.co.uk/

Please note I only play records from my own record collection except in those cases where such tracks only exist in digital form, in which case I ask permission from the artists or their management team.

In the case of Colby T. Helms, he wants me to play any and all of his music! Please check him out and chase down his 9 UK dates between the 2nd and 12th of February. Find everything at:

https://www.colbyhelms.com/

And feel free to contact and chat with Small Town Talk at:

smalltowntalkrecords@gmail.com

Episode 57 illustration: Small Town Talk steps back in time and digs Doug. - Doug Sahm & The Sir Douglas Quintet that is.

In which Ginger Baldy revisits Roy Orbison and Friends at the Black & White Night.

1. I Got A Rocket In My Pocket - Jimmy Lloyd

2. Riding In My Car - NRBQ

3. Thieves - She & Him

4. Train Train - The Count Bishops

5. He Will Break Your Heart - Kane & Abel

6. He Will Break Your Heart - Jerry Butler

7. Too Hurt To Cry, Too Much In Love To Say Goodbye - The Darnells

8. Laughing Boy - Mary Wells

9. Death Letter - The Alexis Korner Skiffle Group (This month’s death song)

10. Jim Dandy - LaVern Baker

11. Oh Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison (This month’s earworm)

12. Miss Chatelaine - k d lang

13. Third Rate Romance - The Amazing Rhythm Aces

14. Go Back - Crabby Appleton

Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles

And I know, and you know too That a love like ours is terrible news

Thieves - She & Him (written by Zooey Deschanel from the album "Volume 2" 2010)

This next link is to the terrific TV performance of Son House performing Death Letter Blues on his National Resonator guitar in 1968:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4QamCLNnmE

This half hour program is worth watching in its entirety, but just for Son House’s Death letter Blues, scroll forwards 3 mins 50 seconds.

Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black & White Night

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3C8JueuPAfPhlH1Q2v9DSuUzRPiVS2vJ

This page features videos of individual songs from this not to be missed concert and a 4 minute behind-the-scenes chat with guests. Oh Pretty Woman is included. Check out James Burton’s astonishing guitar solo.

Just Released! It’s the second CD in Ace Records’ series Black America Sings the Beatles - Black America sings Lennon, McCartney & Harrison, and Johnny Corsair is giving it away in his Bright Lights Big City podcast. Go, listen in and win that album. Somebody will win it. It should be you!

https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/

This month eight of the twelve tracks on Small Town Talk can be found on our favourite record label, ACE Records:

https://www.acerecords.co.uk/

Any comments, queries about Small Town Talk's podcast can be fired off to:

smalltowntalktalk@gmail.com

Episode 55 Illustration: The magnificent Roy Orbison, inspired by The Black & White Night (see above)

In which Ginger Baldy’s mates, Keith and Matt rescue Small Town Talk’s studio after the storm.

1. Cavern Stomp - The Big Three

2. Some Other Guy - Richie Barrett

3. Don’t Turn Around - The Merseybeats

4. Blue Girl - The Bruisers (This month’s death song)

5. Sorrow - The Merseys

6. Everything’s Alright - The Mojos

7. Maybe - The Chantels

8. Come Softly To Me - Richard Barrett with The Chantels

9. Dancing In The Street - Martha & The Vandellas (This month’s earworm)

10. Slow Down (You’ve Got A Friend) - Hal

11. Poor Boy - The Fabulous Thunderbirds

12. Poor Boy - The Paul Butterfield Blues Band

13. Sleeping Pills - Nick Waterhouse

14. Take Your Love And Run - Barbara Lynn

15. She’s A Heartbreaker - Gene Pitney

16. Dixie Women -The Newports

Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles

This month, just two lines from Hal’s ‘Slow Down (You’ve Got A Friend)’

You're not alone

We're right by your side

Hal (2004)

Point of interest:

The Chantels were the third US girl group to achieve nationwide success following the Teen Queens and the Bobbettes. Into the charts

If you haven’t already, then check out JD McPherson’s new album, Nite Owls at:

https://www.jdmcpherson.com/

Johnny Corsair is giving away a great prize this month, a brand new Ace CD., ‘Come Together: Black America Sings Lennon & McCartney’. Listen in to Bright Lights Big City and win that album.

https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/

This month, ten of the sixteen tracks on Small Town Talk can be found on our favourite record label, ACE Records.

I don’t have it, simply because most of the tracks exist as singles in our vaults, but check out Ace's “Bowie Heard Them Here First” It’s a great piece of research and feat of licensing to get all these tracks compiled:

https://www.acerecords.co.uk/bowie-heard-them-here-first

- and then check out the rest of Ace's catalogue.

Any comments, queries about Small Town Talk's podcast can be fired off to:

smalltowntalktalk@gmail.com

Episode 55 Illustration: What friends are for - Jim Dandy (and Matt) to the Rescue.

In which Ginger Baldy suffers the weather in Small Town Talk’s collapsing studio and keeps his big mouth firmly shut.

1. Rockin’ Bones - Ronnie Dawson (The Blond Bomber) 1959

2. Somebody Told You - Irma Thomas 1962

3. Desdemona - John’s Children 1967 (Marc Bolan second vocalist - obviously!)

4. Just A Little Bit - Tiny Topsy 1959

5. Daddy Daddy - Richard Berry 1954

6. Daddy Daddy - Ruth Brown 1952

7. Pneumonia - Joe Tex 1956

8. Come In the Morning - Moby Grape 1967

9. It’s Gonna Work Out Fine - Ike & Tina Turner 1961

10. You’re Losing Me - Barbara Lynn 1968

11. His Last Summer - The Barracudas 1980 (This month’s death song)

12. Suspended Animation - Rachel Sweet 1978

13. It’s Raining - J. D. McPherson 2023 (The Warm Covers vinyl album compiled for Record Store Day)

14. Home Home Home - Pokey LaFarge 2024

15. Devil In His Heart - The Donays 1962

16. I’m Calling You - The Cactus Blossoms 2019

17. Only The Lonely - Roy Orbison 1960 (This month’s earworm)

18. You’ve Got Your Good Thing Down - Sir Douglas Quintet (mid sixties)

19. Choo Choo Ch’Boogie - Louis Jordan 1946

Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles

You reach your destination, but alas and alack

You need some compensation to get back in the black

You take a morning paper from the top of the stack

And read the situations from the front to the back

The only job that's open needs a man with a knack

So put it right back in the rack, Jack

From ‘Choo Choo Ch’Boogie’ - Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five - 1946

Written by Denver Darling, Milton Gabler and Vaughn Horton.

Every line of every verse in this clever song ends in a word that rhymes with Jack.

A few notes this episode to compensate for the lack of song introductions.

Track 7: Pneumonia - Joe Tex. On the label the writing credits go to Joe Tex, but this song is clearly a facsimile of Little Willie John’s ‘Fever’, written by Eddie Cooley and Otis Blackwell under his songwriting alias of John Davenport.

Track 8: Come In The Morning - written by Bob Mosley and the terrific B side of Hey Grandma (see episode 29) It was one of 5 Moby Grape singles released simultaneously, a move that backfired and contributed to the band’s downfall.

Track 14: Home Home Home - Pokey LaFarge - written and originally recorded by Ken Boothe in 1967 and produced by Clement "Coxone" Dodd. Pokey's version is from his new album "Rhumba Country"

Track 15: Famously recorded by the Beatles on their second album ‘With The Beatles’ and sung by George Harrison. The Donays’ original was the flipside of their only single ‘Bad Boy’ and was never a hit either in the States or the UK. Small Town Talk played Bad Boy in our Two Songs, One Title feature in episode 18, Oct 2021.

Track 16: I’m Calling You - The Cactus Blossoms - for Andrea who cemented the idea of Two Songs, One Title and since she loves the Everlys she will probably like this!

Track 18: You’ve Got Your Good Thing Down - Sir Douglas Quintet. Only released later on several compilation albums, but recorded by producer Huey Meaux, The Crazy Cajun, for Tribe records sometime in the mid sixties. In my book Doug Sahm can do no wrong.

Check out JD McPherson’s new album, Nite Owls at:

https://www.jdmcpherson.com/

He and I play similar old soul and R&B, but Johnny Corsair dares to play contemporary R&B so if you wanna be down with the kids get over to Bright Lights Big City where the lights get brighter every time you click the switch:

https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/

Our favourite record label, ACE Records: - and they are British; go check them out, you can find all the above tracks from Richard Berry, Ike & Tina Turner, Barbara Lynn, and The Donays on Ace CD’s

https://www.acerecords.co.uk/

Any comments, queries, complaints, or anything relating to Small Town Talk's podcast can be fired off to:

smalltowntalkrecords@gmail.com

Episode 54 Illustration: Ginger Baldy flits back to the 40's to hear the sound of the Clickety Clack.

In which Ginger Baldy enjoys some Tex-Mex, gets excited about a new release, and looks back at John Mayall.

1. You Mostest Girl - Bobby Lee Trammell

2. Shirley Lee - Ricky Nelson

3. Who Will The Next Fool Be - Charlie Rich

4. Laredo Rose - Texas Tornados

5. Looking Back - Clarence “Frogman” Henry

6. Looking Back - John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers

7. Gangster Of Love - Johnny Guitar Watson

8. Mary Lou - Young Jessie & The Cadets

9. I Wish You Would - J. D. McPherson

10. I Was Fooled - Billy Boy Arnold

11. O Death - Ralph Stanley (This month’s death song)

12. Hard Time Killing Floor - Chris Thomas King

13. Judy In Disguise (With Glasses) - John Fred & His Playboy Band (This month’s earworm)

14. Forty Days - Ronnie Hawkins

Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles

A MILLION DOLLAR REWARD FOR ME

IN EACH AND EVERY STATE

SHERIFF SAY “IS YOUR NAME JOHNNY GUITAR WATSON?”

IN A VERY DEEP VOICE,

AND I SAY “YES, BROTHER SHERIFF

AND THAT’S YOUR WIFE ON THE BACK OF MY HORSE”

Gangster Of love - Johnny “Guitar” Watson: 1957

The Doug Sahm article can be found at: https://www.mojo4music.com/magazine/latest-issues/mojo-370-september-2024-nick-cave/

Check out JD McPherson’s Nite Owls at:

https://www.jdmcpherson.com/

It’s always there, so go get it; it’s our sister show, Johnny Corsair’s Bright Lights Big City - and this month there’s a super Ace CD “This is Goldwax 1964-1968” to be won, 28 tracks including James Carr with the best deep soul song ever made.

https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/

And on the subject of ACE Records: go check them out, you can find all the above tracks from Young Jessie, Johnny Guitar Watson, Clarence Frogman Henry, John Fred and Ronnie Hawkins on Ace CD’s

https://www.acerecords.co.uk/

Any comments, queries about Small town talk's podcast can be fired off to:

smalltowntalktalk@gmail.com

Episode 53 Illustration: Flaco Jimenez, one of the nicest guys you can ever meet.

In which Ginger Baldy gets Real Real Gone and remembers a man who never ever did what he should.

1. Ride Jockey Ride - The Lamplighters

2. My Gal’s A Jockey - Big Joe Turner

3. Real Real Gone - Van Morrison

4. Good Golly Miss Molly - Little Richard

5. Chain Gang - Bobby Scott

6. Chain Gang - Sam Cooke

7. Ella Speed - Leadbelly (This month’s death song)

8. He’s A Rebel - The Crystals (The Blossoms)

9. Then He Kissed Me - The Crystals

10. Chicken Payback - The Bees (This month’s earworm)

11. Magazine Lady - “Spider” John Koerner & Willie Murphy

12. You Can’t Stop Love - Popa Chubby

13. Black Magic Woman - Fleetwood Mac

14. All Your Love ( I Was Missing) - Otis Rush

15. Time After Time - Miles Davis

Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles

"HE’S A REBEL AND HE’LL NEVER BE ANY GOOD HE’S A REBEL BECAUSE HE NEVER EVER DOES WHAT HE SHOULD BUT JUST BECAUSE HE DOESN’T DO WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE DOES THAT’S NO REASON WHY WE CAN’T SHARE OUR LOVE

Written by Gene Pitney, produced by Phil Spector & credited to The Crystals but recorded by The Blossoms with Darlene Love on lead vocals.

The true story of the murder of Ella Speed (track 7) can be found at:

https://weeniecampbell.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=3584.0

Small Town Talk’s sister show, Johnny Corsair’s Bright Lights Big City, can be found burning ever so brightly over at:

https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/

The Lamplighters compilation "Loving Rocking Thrilling" (track 1) can be found at the finest record company there is:

https://www.acerecords.co.uk/

Any comments, queries about Small Town Talk's podcast can be fired off to:

smalltowntalktalk@gmail.com

Episode 52 Illustration: Tom Absolom’s excellent “Real Real Gone”

In which Ginger Baldy goes to the cinema to catch a slice of America.

1. Much Later - Jackie Brenston with Ike Turner’s Kings Of Rhythm

2. Rocket “88” - Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats (Ike Turner’s Kings Of Rhythm)

3. Cadillac Boogie - Jimmy Liggins & His Drops Of Joy

4. Going Back To New Orleans - Joe Liggins & The Honeydrippers

5. New Orleans - Elvis Presley

6. New Orleans - The Staple Singers

7. New Orleans - Gwen Johnson

8. I Got A Woman - Ray Charles

9. Down In The Willow Garden - The Everly Brothers (This month’s death song)

10. Omaha - Moby Grape

11. Sister Andre - Pokey LaFarge

12. (It’s A) Wonderful World - Sam Cooke (This month’s earworm)

13. America - Simon & Garfunkel

14. Big Mamou Daddy - Carmen Taylor

15. Big Mamou - The Amos Garrett, Doug Sahm, Gene Taylor Band

Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles

WHY’D YOU GO AWAY AND LEAVE ME IN BIG MAMOU

WHY’D YOU GO AWAY AND LEAVE ME SO SAD AND BLUE

OH AH AH CHERIE-O

COME ON LIVE WITH ME IN BIG MAMOU

Big Mamou - Doug Sahm, Amos Garrett & Gene Taylor with Queen Ida. (1987)

One of my all-time musical heroes, Texan Doug Sahm spent two years living in Canada, starting in 1985, where he met roots guitarist Amos Garrett and keyboard player Gene Taylor. Together they released the award winning 1987 “roots” album, “Return of The Formerly Brothers”, the title jokingly referring to the fact that they were often billed as formerly of one band or another. Track 15, “Big Mamou” is taken from that album.

Last chance to get James Hunter tickets! He’s at Margate’s Funk N Soul weekender on Friday 12th July and Birmingham’s Mostly Jazz Funk & Festival on 14th.

Small Town Talk will be at The Jazz Cafe to see James on July the 16th. and there are still a few tickets left, see you there.

A week later he’s back in the US, continuing his American tour. If you are anywhere near Norwich, NY you can see him FREE in Norwich’s NBT Bank Summer Concert on July 25th. Check his whole US tour, and all the above at:

https://www.jameshuntermusic.com/

And released yesterday, episode 39 of Johnny Corsair’s Bright Lights Big City podcast. I had a listen this morning, some great soul and R&B - just love the Big Walter and his Thunderbirds original of “Pack Fair And Square."

Johnny’s giving away a great prize this month - A brand new Ace CD, "This is Fame 1964 -1968." Check it out at:

https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/

And on STT, five tracks this month from five different ACE Records - Not just the best reissue record label, but I think, the very best record company in the world. Check out their excellent website:

https://www.acerecords.co.uk/

And to win the vinyl of Nick Waterhouse’s “The Fooler” (It's brand new, unopened but not sealed because it's a SIGNED copy) email me with your answer to:

smalltowntalkrecords@gmail.com

Episode 51 Illustration: Ginger Baldy paints a clip from a favourite film; “Who is this & which movie?” It's a further clue to winning the above LP.