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DEAR JERRY:Halleluiah! In January, you answered all but one of my eternal questions about “Frim Fram Sauce.”
The one you did not answer is whether or not frim fram, ossenfay, and chifafa really exist.
Even the Indiana lady who sent the question (Donna Dorfman) asked this, but you seemed to side-step that topic. Do you know?
Also, are ossenfay and chifafa really spelled that way?
I am looking to forward to your answers.
—Frank J. Mente, Milwaukee
DEAR FRANK: Had I received more than just one letter (yours) asking why I didn't answer this question, I would suspect the wording of my reply failed to do its job.
Nevertheless, on the chance someone else out there, who didn't write, also misunderstood the implication, here is Frim Fram, Take 2.
Right there in my first paragraph is the answer you seek, which states:
“Unfortunately, not a one of her preferred choices [frim fram sauce, ossenfay, chifafa] are likely to be found on anyone's menu — unless concocted specifically to tie-in with “The Frim Fram Sauce” [song].”
Simply put, I cannot categorically state there isn't a diner somewhere that, inspired by the song, didn't add these items to their menu. To do so would be nothing more than a gimmick to connect with the amusing lyrics.
When written in 1945, by Redd (Louis) Evans and Joseph Ricardel, none of these items existed, and, apart from the possible exception noted above, they still do not exist.
As for the spelling of ossenfay and chifafa, my source is Diana Krall's wonderful “Frim Fram Sauce” video. In it both words appear several times, first on the diner's menu and then on the customer's check.
DEAR JERRY:As you surely know, the last track on Side One of the Beatles “Let It Be” album is “Maggie Mae.” It's a very cute song, and I have grown quite fond of it over the past 40 years.
Much to my dismay, however, it runs only 39 seconds! Since the Beatles wrote it, I doubt they would have created a :39 second song and then called it a wrap.
I've never seen an official explanation, but it stands to reason that if more of “Maggie Mae” existed it would be on “Let It Be.”
Where is the rest of Maggie?
—Margaret Fielding, New York
DEAR MARGARET: Or should I call you Maggie?
“Maggie May,” the usual title of this traditional Liverpoolian folk song, has been around longer than any of the Beatles, or any of their parents. Since the early 1800s, according to most sources.
Need I point out this is a completely different “Maggie May” than the one made famous by Rod Stewart in 1971?
Because this Maggie was in the public domain — not owned or claimed by anyone — the Beatles helped themselves to some writing credit, a wise and ultimately profitable ploy.
Most 20th century, pre-Beatles, versions originated in England circa-1957. The best known of these, and the only one issued in America (Capitol 3711), is by the Viper Skiffle Group.
At that time in Liverpool, John Lennon's first band, the Quarrymen, jumped on the skiffle (folk-rock) craze, and “Maggie May” became one of their staples.
As an homage to those formative Quarrymen days, the Beatles did an impromptu :56 of “Maggie Mae” (now their title) during their Jan. 24, 1969 Abbey Road session.
So what happened to the other 17 seconds?
Who knows? Regardless, the full-length “Maggie Mae,” all:56 worth, eventually came out on the bootleg CD “Artifacts 5: Get Back to Abbey Road, 1969-1970.” On it, after “Maggie Mae,” Paul says “take it, Maggie,” then segues right into “Fancy Me Chances,” a 30-second ditty from their early '60s catalog.
For more on John Lennon, the Quarrymen, and their “Maggie Mae” days, I recommend the 2010 film, “Nowhere Boy.” It's entertaining, informative, and, more importantly, factual.
Jerry Osborne answers as many questions as possible through this column. Write Jerry at: Box 255, Port Townsend, WA 98368 E-mail: jpo@olympus.net Visit his Web site: www.jerryosborne.com
All values quoted in this column are for near-mint condition.
Copyright 2011 Osborne Enterprises - Reprinted By Exclusive Permission
Alice in Chains' Founding Bassist, Mike Starr, Found Dead in Salt Lake City
The founding and former bassist of Alice in Chains -- Mike Starr -- has been found dead in a home in Salt Lake City, according to a report first filed by TMZ.com. Police were called to the house at 1:42PM on Tuesday and found controlled substances including Xanax and the painkiller Opana, along with the dead body.
In 1987, Starr was friends with guitarist Jerry Cantrell. Starr agreed to join Cantrell's new project with vocalist Layne Staley and drummer Sean Kinney under the name Alice in Chains.
On May 10, Anti- will release Life Fantastic, the new album from Philly spaz kings Man Man. It's the band's first album since 2008's Rabbit Habits. Bright Eyes/Monsters of Folk member Mike Mogis serves as producer, and fellow Bright Eyes member Nate Walcott contributes string arrangements. That image of a homemade critter up above is the cover art. Also above, you can stream album opener "Knuckle Down", and we've got the album's tracklist below.
Erudite rockers Okkervil River will release their new album I Am Very Far on May 10, via Jagjaguwar. Frontman Will Sheff talked to us about the LP here. On their website, the band has posted the album version of "Wake and Be Fine", the song they played on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" a couple of months ago......
Roadrunner Records is pleased to announce the third Black Stone Cherry Album, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, is due out May 31st, 2011.
Kentucky’s Black Stone Cherry, comprised of vocalist Chris Robertson, guitarist Ben Wells, bassist Jon Lawhon and Drummer John Fred Young, is a band adept at creating both timeless rock ‘n roll and new, innovative sounds. While the band’s last record, Folklore and Superstition, was a compelling tribute to brotherhood and history, the new album is the summation of a year in the life of the band—every emotion, triumph, loss, romance and everything in between—it’s all here on Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.
This is the first time Black Stone Cherry has not recorded in the South, this time taking up residence in Los Angeles to work with famed producer Howard Benson (Theory of a Deadman, Daughtry, Three Days Grace). The new surroundings allowed them to strengthen their relationships as both band members and friends, ultimately a detail that sets Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea above previous recordings. The raw intensity that pervades the music on this album harkens back to the early days of Black Stone Cherry, when they were a bunch of blue-collar guys just making music together for the hell of it. The band admits “When we first began writing music, we hadn’t traveled very far out of our home state of Kentucky. Now, ten years later, we’ve traveled the world and experienced things we never imagined we would.”
First single “White Trash Millionaire,” set to hit airwaves in April, pairs Robertson’s soulful delivery with the urgent and infectious rhythms of his fellow players. Sure, this is Southern rock at heart; but the concept is universal: just take what the world gives you and make that work. “This album is the culmination of all of the everyday ups and downs life throws at you,” says the band. “Sonically, you’ll hear some of the meanest sounding guitar riffs we’ve ever laid down, and at the same time, you’ll find ballads that will tug on your heartstrings. We wanted the album’s intensity to match that of our live show. We’re very proud of this album and excited for our fans to hear it!”
To celebrate the release of Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, Black Stone Cherry is participating in an ongoing partnership with Evan Williams Kentucky Bourbon. The promotion brings 450,000 Black Stone Cherry branded bottles to shelves nationwide through June, including special mp3 offers and a chance to win a trip to meet the band at one of their shows.
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Bob Dylan "Revealed" To Be Released On DVD On May 1
Highway 61 Entertainment and MVD Visual announce the release of Bob Dylan "Revealed" for worldwide DVD distribution (and VOD) on May 1, 2011, in conjunction with Bob Dylan's 70th birthday. When Bob Dylan turns 70 in May, his iconic career will have spanned five decades. Yet, a true portrait of the reclusive "voice of the generation" has eluded Dylan fans. Through exclusive insider interviews, and never-before-seen photos and footage spanning Dylan's 50-year career, Bob Dylan Revealed offers an intimate biography of who Bob Dylan was, and who he is today.
REM are tip-toeing cautiously into music's social networking era, writes Cameron Adams.
It's an interesting time for REM.
Their 15th album, Collapse Into Now, has just been released.
Bassist Mike Mills is happy, but realistic.
"It's impossible to sell albums these days," Mills says.
"It's too bad. I wish all the people who download music for free would do their work for free. Whatever work they do for a living, I wish they'd stop being paid for it. It'd be great, but that's not going to happen.
ANGELI DI PIETRA: 'Anthems Of Conquest' Cover Artwork Unveiled
Belgian "powerfolk" metallers ANGELI DI PIETRA will release their second album, "Anthems Of Conquest", on May 13 via CCP Records. The CD was recorded and mixed at Excess Studios in Rotterdam, Holland and mastered at Hansen studios in Ribe, Denmark.
On June 7, the reissue label High Moon Records are set to release 'Black Beauty,' a lost 1973 album from psych-rock legends Love that was never officially released. High Moon will release the 10-song LP on vinyl, CD, and digital download, with bonus tracks, unreleased photos, and liner notes from writer Ben Edmonds.
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Welcome HVC Records!
A hearty welcome from the CVR Blog to HVC records to our links and buddies list. Went to the site and found all sorts of dance music on vinyl....better yet, I'll let them explain:
We specialise mainly in new and used vinyl across many genres of the dance spectrum. we provide our service worldwide as to the UK. We have been providing our service since 2003, we were formally know as Hardcore Vinyl Community.
A sample of the music they have:
Deep House
Disco
Jungle
Reggae
Techno
Drum N Bass
Electro
Experimental
Stop by and check them out and tell them you saw them on the CVR Blog!
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and in music history for today:
In 1957, Fats Domino had the number 1 record on the Billboard R&B singles chart with "I'm Walkin'", which had just replaced his own, "Blue Monday". Domino would keep the Top 40 hits coming for the next 5 years before fading to the oldies tours.
In 1961, The Beatles make their first of over 300 appearance at Liverpool's Cavern Club. The group had played the venue in the past as The Quarry Men.
Also in 1961 - The Supremes released their first single, "I Want A Guy."
In 1964, Capitol Records releases a song called "Letter To The Beatles" by The Four Preps. The lyrics describe a boy lamenting the fact that he's lost his girlfriend to The Fab Four. On its first day, the record shot to #85 on the Billboard Hot 100 and it looked like The Preps were going to have another hit on their hands. Unfortunately they had included a few bars from "I Want To Hold Your Hand" without permission and Capitol was forced to withdraw the single to avoid a lawsuit.
The Beach Boys started recording “God Only Knows” (off Pet Sounds) in 1966, which became a U.K. #2 when released as a single with “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.”
In 1970, having recently changed their name from Earth to Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward make their concert debut at The Roundhouse in the North London district of Camden Town.
In 1976, Keith Moon collapsed onstage at the start of a Who concert in the Boston Garden.
In 1985, REO Speedwagon returned to Billboard's top spot with "Can't Fight This Feeling". The song made #16 in the UK. It had been a little over five years since the band's first number one hit, "Keep On Loving You".
U2 released the album "The Joshua Tree" in 1987.
In 1997, Notorious B.I.G. was gunned down and killed as he left a party at the Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles. Born Christopher Wallace, the 24-year-old rapper was pronounced dead on arrival at Cedars Sinai Hospital.
In 2007, Brad Delp, lead singer of Boston, committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning at his home in the New Hampshire town of Atkinson. Boston had a 1976 U.S. #5 single with “More Than a Feeling” and the U.S. #1 single, “Amanda,” 10 years later.
and finally, birthday wishes to Robin Trower (1945), Frank Rodriguez, ? & The Mysterians (1951) and Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere & the Raiders (1942)
