AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Cursive

Artist:Cursive
Song:Dorothy At Forty
Album:Happy Hollow





Cursive is an indie band that has been described as a mix of post hardcore and emo. They are mostly an album and touring band. They have never had a hit single. Cursive are from Omaha. Lead singer, guitarist and main songwriter Tim Kasher, bassist Matt Maginn and guitarist Steve Pedersen were high school classmates. Their first band The March Hares were mostly a cover band. When the lead singer left in 1993, Kasher took over and renamed the band Slowdown Virginia after his dog. The music was post hardcore. They split up after releasing one album. Kasher's plan at the time was to attend the University of Kansas. Instead they formed Cursive with drummer Clint Schnause who was in a band with Pedersen. They decided to give music one last shot. Cursive is a penmanship term that Kasher saw in a book. After releasing an EP and an album, Cursive decided to split up. Kasher had just married and was planning to move to Portland. Pedersen was headed to law school. After releasing one final album, Kasher again changed his mind and reformed Cursive with Ted Stevens replacing Pedersen. Kasher divorced his wife. The 2000 album Domestica which was mostly about Kasher's marriage generated buzz through critical acclaim. After the 2003 album The Ugly Organ, Kasher announced that Cursive was going on hiatus so he could concentrate on his other band The Good Life. After that band released an album, Kasher returned to Cursive for the 2006 album Happy Hollow. This has been their biggest selling album to date. Cursive started their own label in 2017 and their latest album Get Fixed was released Oct. 2019. Kasher has also released four solo albums and five with The Good Life though that band is secondary. They were supposed to be on tour now but I guess that has been cancelled. Here's the video for Dorothy At Forty by Cursive.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Jimmy Smith

Artist:Jimmy Smith
Song:On the Sunny Side of the Street
Album:Back at the Chicken Shack





Jimmy Smith was a jazz pioneer. He established the Hammond B3 organ as a jazz instrument. He's a guy I recommend to newcomers to jazz because his music is very accessible. Back at the Chicken Shack is recommended because it's great music and it's available as a budget CD. Smith recorded for Blue Note Records from 1956-62 and for Verve Records from 1963-72. I would say his Blue Note recordings are more acceptable to jazz purists because there are no strings or anything like that. Like many jazz musicians, Smith recorded  so much that Blue Note couldn't release it all. In this case, he recorded two albums at the same time with the same musicians. They were Stanley Turrentine on tenor sax, Kenny Burrell on guitar and Donald Bailey on drums recorded at Van Gelder Studios Apr. 25, 1960. The album Midnight Special was released in Nov. 1961. Back at the Chicken Shack was released in 1963. Smith had some recently released albums at the time and I don't think Blue Note wanted too much out there. Supposedly Fats Waller wrote On the Sunny Side of the Street but he sold the song and it first appeared on the 1930 show Lew Leslie's International Revue. The song has been recorded by many jazz musicians. On the Sunny Side of the Street was not on the original release of Back at the Chicken Shack. It was added as a bonus track on the 1987 CD release. The only other time Smith recorded that song was in 1957. And that sat in the Blue Note vault until it was on the 1996 CD Cherokee. I know it's a different recording because the musicians are different. All the jazz labels stockpiled recordings. In fact, Blue Note announced a new release of an Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers album that was recorded in 1959. It's been in the vault all these years. So stockpiling was and is normal for jazz labels. Here's a video for On the Sunny Side of the Street by Jimmy Smith.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-The Cadillacs

Artist:The Cadillacs
Song:Speedoo
Album:The Fabulous Cadillacs/The Crazy Cadillacs





The Cadillacs were probably the first black doo wop group to make a big splash on the pop charts with the 1955 hit Speedoo. It's one of the all time great hits of the era. They started out in the early 50s as The Carnations with leader Earl Carroll, LaVerne Drake, Robert Phillips and Cub Gaining. Though Carroll and Phillips were not brothers, they were raised as brothers as Carroll lived with the Phillips family after his mother died. They were spotted by Lover Patterson of The Five Crowns and he became their manager. He introduced them to songwriter Esther Navarro. Gaining was replaced by James "Poppa" Clark of The Five Crowns and Johnny "Gus" Willingham. The Carnations was already being used so the group name was changed to The Cadillacs. They signed with Jubilee Records owned by former bandleader and record distributor Jerry Blaine. After some regional success, Clark and Willingham were replaced by Earl Wade and Charles "Buddy" Brooks. Then they released Speedoo and that was one of the biggest hits of the doo wop era. Esther Navarro based Speedoo on Got The Water Boiling by The Regals. Apparently Speedy was Carroll's childhood nickname because of his slow moving demeanor. That's what the song is about. Carroll may be slow but he's fast with the ladies. The record was produced and arranged by Jubilee house producer Jesse Powell. He was a sax player in Howard McGhee's band. The guy who made Speedoo a hit was Cleveland DJ Alan Freed. He promoted live shows and The Cadillacs were on all his shows. Speedoo reached #17 on the pop charts. Remember in those days there were still radio stations that refused to play black groups. Unfortunately The Cadillacs didn't follow it up mostly due to personnel problems. They split into two groups. The one led by Carroll was the more successful of the two. The Cadillacs became a comedy act like The Coasters and they had a couple of minor hits. Carroll even joined The Coasters in the early 60s where he remained for 20 years. This CD is a twofer of albums released in the late 50s. Carroll and Phillips revived The Cadillacs in the 80s and they worked the oldies circuit until Phillips died in 2011 and Carroll died in 2012. Speedoo has appeared in several films, most notably Goodfellas. Here's The Cadillacs performing Speedoo on what looks to be Showtime at the Apollo in the late 80s. The host may be standup comic Rick Aviles.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Pat Suzuki and Larry Blyden

Artist:Pat Suzuki and Larry Blyden
Song:Sunday
Album:Flower Drum Song: Original Broadway Cast





Most fans are probably familiar with the film version of Flower Drum Song and Nancy Kwan as Linda Low singing I Enjoy Being A Girl and Sunday. But Nancy wasn't in the original Broadway show. Pat Suzuki played Linda Low. I don't think most fans are familiar with her. She was born Sept. 22, 1939 in Cressy, CA. Her family was in a WWII internment camp. In the early 50s, Pat graduated from San Jose State with a teaching degree. She was planning to travel to Europe but she ran out of money in New York. After appearing in a touring production of The Teahouse of the August Moon, she moved to Seattle and sang in the Colony Club for three years. Bing Crosby spotted her and got her a deal with RCA. Her 1958 album Pat Suzuki won a Downbeat Disc Jockey poll for best new singer of the year. So she was probably going to be a jazz singer. After an appearance on The Tonight Show starring Jack Paar, Rodgers and Hammerstein cast her as Linda Low in Flower Drum Song. Most fans saw Larry Blyden on game shows. He hosted What's My Line from 1972-75. But he started out on Broadway. The role of Sammy Fong in Flower Drum Song was probably his biggest role. He was nominated for a Tony. But Blyden left the show and Jack Soo was in the film. Pat Suzuki was pregnant when the film version of Flower Drum Song was being cast. Pat continued to appear on stage and in nightclubs. You may have seen her in the 70s sitcom Mr. T and Tina with Pat Morita. With a little luck Pat Suzuki could have been a big star. Here's Pat Suzuki and Larry Blyden performing Sunday on a 1958 episode of The Ed Sullivan Show.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Elisabeth Kontomanou

Artist:Elisabeth Kontomanou
Song:Back To My Groove
Album:Back To My Groove




Elisabeth Kontomanou is a French jazz singer. She has had success mostly at home but she sings and writes in English and she has recorded with well known musicians. She was born Nov. 30, 1961 in Lyon, France. Her father is Guinean sax player Jo Maka. She moved to Sweden in 1980 and was lead singer for the funk group Shine. She moved back to Paris in 1985 and was in the groups Conversation and Sit Ali's Girls. Though Conversation won the 1986 La Defense Jazz Festival competition, it doesn't look like they ever recorded. She also appeared in the 1991 film Masques de Lune starring Rudolf Nureyev and directed by legendary film composer Michel Legrand. Elisabeth moved to New York in 1995 and worked with guys like Leon Parker and Mike Stern. She also recorded two albums for the Danish label SteepleChase with pianist Jean-Michel Pilc. She returned to Paris in 2005 and signed with Nocturne Records. Back To My Groove was released in 2007. Elisabeth wrote all the songs and they were arranged by pianist Orrin Evans. She met him through sax player Sam Newsome. Other musicians include guys who normally work with Evans like guitarist Marvin Sewell. Her husband Daniel Kontomanou plays drums and special guests include percussionist Leon Parker and harmonica wizard Gregoire Maret. The problem was Nocturne closed and Elisabeth hasn't recorded much since then. She's pretty good so be sure to check her out. Here's a video for Back To My Groove by Elisabeth Kontomanou.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Jawbox

Artist:Jawbox
Song:Savory
Album:For Your Own Special Sweetheart





Jawbox was a post hardcore band that built a significant fanbase on the indie label Dischord. In an attempt to expand their fanbase they signed with Atlantic Records for the 1994 album For Your Own Special Sweetheart. But the move alienated their established fanbase to the point that they were forced to leave Atlantic after two albums. Jawbox are from Washington, DC. Lead singer and songwriter J. Robbins was bassist for the popular punk band Government Issue. After they split up in 1989, Robbins formed Jawbox with Kim Coletta on bass and Adam Wade on drums. After releasing a single, Jawbox signed with the local label Dischord. They were based in Washington and they specialized in punk music. After releasing an album and touring, Adam Wade was replaced by Zach Barocas and guitarist Bill Bardot was added. After the 1992 album Novelty was well received by fans and critics, Jawbox signed with Atlantic for the 1994 album For Your Own Special Sweetheart. This move alienated fans to the point that they refused to give the album a chance. The video for Savory was played on MTV. But that wasn't enough to help and the album was a commercial failure. Jawbox released a second album called Jawbox on Atlantic in 1996. Though they got college radio airplay with the single Mirrorful, it wasn't enough and Atlantic dropped Jawbox. They split up and Robbins and Bardot formed Burning Airlines. They split up after two albums. Bardot owns DeSoto Records and they bought the Jawbox albums from Atlantic. For Your Own Special Sweetheart is available on CD. A 2009 release with three bonus tracks is available as a digital download. Last year Jawbox did a reunion tour. Robbins currently leads the band Channels and he produces several artists. Here's the video for Savory by Jawbox.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Lulu

Artist:Lulu
Song:The Man With The Golden Gun
Album:The Best of Bond...James Bond





Of course Lulu is best known for appearing in the 1967 film To Sir With Love and singing the chart topping theme for the film. Though she never scored another big hit, Lulu continued to record and in England she appeared on TV. And she got to sing the theme for the 1974 James Bond film The Man With The Golden Gun. Though Lulu appeared on TV a lot in England after To Sir With Love, she had a tough time coming up with another hit single. She hosted several BBC shows. That visibility didn't seem to help her much. Her one big hit was Boom Bang-a-Bang from the 1969 Eurovision Song Contest. Lulu left Epic and producer Mickie Most for Atco. After two unsuccessful albums with producer Jerry Wexler including one recorded at Muscle Shoals, Lulu moved to Wes Farrell's Chelsea label. Farrell was best known as the producer of The Partridge Family. He started Chelsea in 1972. While working on the 1976 album Heaven and Earth and the Stars, Lulu got the call to record The Man With The Golden Gun. At the time she was still appearing regularly on the BBC. James Bond composer John Barry wrote the song with Don Black who also wrote Thunderball and Diamonds Are Forever. Barry said he didn't like the song. Supposedly the selling point of the song was raunchy lyrics. But that didn't help as the song didn't chart. It will be of interest mostly to James Bond fans and they can get it on this budget comp. You can also get it on the Lulu comp Her Greatest Hits. Soon after this, Farrell sold Chelsea to RCA. Though she did score a top 5 hit in England with her 1974 cover of David Bowie's The Man Who Sold The World which Bowie produced, Lulu wouldn't record again until 1979 on Elton John's Rocket label. She continues to record regularly and appear on TV and radio. Here's Lulu performing The Man With The Golden Gun 1975.

Big Bad Blog Video Theater-Nia Jax vs Asuka vs Shayna Baszler

Here's the match video of Nia Jax vs Asuka vs Shayna Baszler from last night's episode of RAW. This is supposed to set up the Money In The Bank match that will happen in a couple of weeks. The match never gets started. Shayna never enters the ring. Instead she drags Asuka to the floor and the three brawl outside the ring and start messing around with the ladders. The segment ends when Nia bowls both of them over with the ladder. Obviously the WWE is trying to sell Nia as a monster. But Asuka and Shayna have the ability to handle Nia and it would help the MITB match if that was shown. It's stupid one dimensional booking that helps no one. And as I said last week, it convinces me that Nia won't win MITB despite her supposed dominance. Check out the video for yourself.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Terry Cashman

Artist:Terry Cashman
Song:Talkin' Baseball
Album:Passin' It On: America's Baseball Heritage in Song




Terry Cashman has had a long career as a songwriter and producer usually working with partner Tommy West. But he is best known for his 1981 single Talkin' Baseball which saw him honored at the 2011 Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. He was born Dennis Minogue July 5, 1941 in New York City. He was lead singer of The Chevrons who had a hit with Lullabye in 1960. After they split up, Cashman played baseball in the Detroit Tigers minor league system. In 1967 he formed Cashman, Pistilli and West with Gene Pistilli and Tommy West. They released an album but their song Sunday Will Never Be The Same was a top ten hit for Spanky & Our Gang. After Pistilli left to join The Manhattan Transfer, Cashman and West continued to record as a duo. They also produced Jim Croce who was very successful until his 1973 death. They also wrote and produced the Henry Gross hit Shannon. They started the label Lifesong in 1976 and Cashman and West released solo albums. Cashman released Talkin' Baseball as a single in 1981. As he says in the video, he recorded twenty different versions of Talkin' Baseball and he released American League and National League albums. The original recording of Talkin' Baseball has the "Willie, Mickey and The Duke" hook. And at the time there was a baseball strike. So the nostalgia of Talkin' Baseball really struck a chord with fans. Cashman has turned it into a cottage industry. He recorded a Talkin' Baseball parody for The Simpsons in 1992. And he was honored at the 2011 Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony. This 1995 CD is all baseball songs written by Cashman. It's available as a budget CD. Looking at his credits, Talkin' Baseball has been Cashman's life since 1981. I'm not sure if that was his intention but those royalty cheques keep rolling in. Here's a 1982 CBS Evening News report by Bernard Goldberg about the success of Talkin' Baseball. It's not the sort of thing I normally post but Cashman has never performed live or done a Talkin' Baseball video.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Boubacar Traore

Artist:Boubacar Traore w/Ali Farka Toure
Song:Duna Ma Yelema
Album:Je Chanterai Pour Toi





Boubacar Traore is a very popular singer songwriter from Mali. Like many African musicians, he lives in Europe. He was born in 1942 in Kates, Mali. His nickname Kar Kar is because he dribbles a lot when he plays soccer. In the 60s he had success as a live performer. But he didn't record so he made a living doing odd jobs. He and his wife had six kids. After his wife died in 1987, Traore moved to France and continued to work construction until a producer from the British label Stern's Africa saw one of Traore's live performances and signed him for the 1990 album Mariama. Since then he has recorded fairly regularly. Duna Ma Yelema is from Traore's 1999 album Macire. It was his first album for the French label Indigo. Traore also performed this song on the 2003 documentary Je Chanterai Pour Toi (I Sing For You) with Ali Farka Toure. The soundtrack is available as a digital download. The documentary can be streamed for free on Archive.org. It is not available on DVD. Traore currently records for the French label Lusafrica with Sony distribution. His latest CD Dounia Tabolo was released in 2017. Fans of African music should check him out. Here's Boubacar Traore with Ali Farka Toure performing Duna Ma Yelema from the 2003 documentary Je Chanterai Pour Toi.

AcciRadio Song Of The Day-Nancy McCallion

Artist:Nancy McCallion
Song:On We Go
Album:Opossum and Praties





Nancy McCallion has been a fixture of the Tuscon music scene since the 90s first as leader of the folk group The Mollys and then as a solo act. On We Go is her best known song because it appeared in the popular Netflix show Living With Yourself. Nancy and Catherine Zavala went to high school together in Tuscon. They started the band The MoPhonics. While attending the University of Arizona, they started a new band The Mollys. They liked the name because it sounded Irish. So that was the whole concept of the band; to sound like an Irish folk group. They released their first album in 1992. Other members were Kevin Schramm on accordion, Dan Sorenson on bass and Gary Mackender on drums. Nancy wrote most of the songs including On We Go on the 1995 album This Is My Round. The song appeared on a Putomayo comp CD of Celtic women. I can only assume that listeners thought The Mollys were Irish though of course they aren't. The Mollys split up in 2004. Since then Nancy has released several albums. She re-recorded On We Go on the 2016 album Opossum and Praties. I recommend that album because This Is My Round is out of print. The Mollys play a reunion concert each year. And the members still perform in other bands. There has been renewed interest in The Mollys since On We Go appeared on the Netflix sitcom Living with Yourself starring Paul Rudd. That's how songs are discovered these days. Here's The Mollys performing On We Go on the PBS series Texas Music Cafe 1998.

Frank Pozen's Big Bad Podcast Apr. 25, 2020

Kairi Sane, Asuka and UFC update.

Big Bad Blog Video Theater-Asuka vs Catalina

Here's the match video of Asuka vs Catalina from this week's episode of Main Event. Catalina has been in the WWE since the 2018 Mae Young Classic. She has not appeared on NXT TV but she did make a couple of RAW appearances last year doing an angle with Zelina Vega. Her real name is Catalina Garcia from Santiago, Chile. Back home she wrestled as Jessy. She's pretty green and watching this match you might think she looks pretty good. Keep in mind that Asuka could squash her. But she doesn't like squashes. She prefers to make her opponent look good. And she probably makes Catalina look much better than she actually is. It's very similar to Asuka's other recent enhancement talent matches. I would describe it as a semi competitive squash. I always think Asuka is a little too generous and maybe she should just beat the crap out of her. But she won't do that. Enjoy the video!

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Les Brown and his Orchestra

Artist:Les Brown and his Orchestra f/Betty Bonney
Song:Joltin' Joe DiMaggio
Album:Baseball: Original Soundtrack Recording





Here's a great novelty song that was a 1941 hit for bandleader Les Brown. Most baseball fans have probably heard Joltin' Joe DiMaggio but don't know the song's history. This was very early in Les Brown's recording career. The band would become a much bigger deal a few years later when Doris Day was the lead singer. Of course the inspiration for this song was when New York Yankees outfielder Joe DiMaggio went on a 56 game hitting streak. New York disc jockey Alan Courtney wanted to write a song about DiMaggio and he asked Brown to help him. It was Courtney's first attempt at songwriting though he subsequently wrote a few other songs. Courtney wrote the lyrics and the music was written by Ben Homer who also wrote Brown's biggest hit Sentimental Journey. The singer is Betty Bonney. She appeared on several other songs for Brown until she left to go solo and was replaced by Doris Day. She ended up doing a lot of regional stage work. Joltin' Joe DiMaggio reached #16 on the hit parade. But the song is still popular today with baseball fans. You can get it on the soundtrack of the Ken Burns documentary series Baseball. Like I said, this was at the start of a long string of hits for Brown. After much success as a songwriter, Ben Homer quit the music business in the 50s and became a Jehovah's Witness minister. Here's a video for Joltin' Joe DiMaggio by Les Brown and his Orchestra featuring Betty Bonney.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Johnny Darrell

Artist:Johnny Darrell
Song:Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town
Album:The Complete Gusto/Starday/King Recordings





I'm sure most music fans are familiar with the 1969 Kenny Rogers and the First Edition top ten hit Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town. But two years earlier Johnny Darrell scored a top ten country hit with the same song. This seemed to happen a lot to him. Darrell would record a song and someone else would have a bigger hit with the same song later. Darrell had most of his success in the late 60s. He was born Eddie Ray White July 23, 1940 in Hopewell, AL and he grew up in Marietta, GA. Darrell moved to Nashville to manage a Holiday Inn while trying to get into the music business. He met legendary singer songwriter Bobby Bare who got him a deal with United Artists Records and veteran producer and former Cricket Bob Montgomery. His first single Green, Green Grass of Home had already been a country hit for Porter Wagoner. And then in 1966 Tom Jones topped the charts with his version. Then Darrell released Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town. The song was written by Mel Tillis and first recorded by Waylon Jennings in 1965. Darrell's 1967 recording reached #9 on the Country Singles chart. The 1969 Kenny Rogers and the First Edition version reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. This happened a third time when his 1967 country hit The Son of Hickory Hollar's Tramp was covered by O.C. Smith and it was a top 40 pop hit in 1968. And it happened a fourth time when Darrell's recording of the Bobby Goldsboro song With Pen in Hand reached #3 on the Country Singles chart and covers by Billy Vera and Vikki Carr were top 40 pop hits. I sense a pattern here. Through his friendship with Bobby Bare, Darrell got involved in Willie Nelson's fledgling outlaw country movement. So he toured with Nelson. The problem was Darrell lost his record deal. He recorded a couple of singles for Cartwheel Records. But they were swallowed by ABC and then closed. And he recorded a couple of singles for Monument. He finally recorded the 1975 album Water Glass Fill of Whiskey for Capricorn Records. But it had been too long since he had a hit so it went nowhere. Darrell's UA recordings were acquired by Gusto which explains the title of this comp. It's available as a digital download. Darrell continued to perform in the 80s. But diabetes led to failing health and he died on Oct. 7, 1997 at age 57. Here's a video for Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town by Johnny Darrell.

The Big Topic in WMMA-episode 7

How did Ronda Rousey change WMMA?

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Green River Ordinance

Artist:Green River Ordinance
Song:Come On
Album:Out of My Hands





Green River Ordinance have had modest success but they haven't had that big hit single to launch them to stardom. They will probably remind you of successful bands like The Fray. They are from Fort Worth, TX. The band name is a local law prohibiting door to door sales unless the homeowner agrees to it. The lead singer and main songwriter is Josh Jenkins. Other members are Jamey Ice on lead guitar and his brother Geoff Ice on bass, Joshua Wilkerson on guitar and Denton Hunter on drums. They toured with Collective Soul and they released a 2005 album and a 2007 EP. They signed with Virgin Records for the 2009 album Out of My Hands produced by Mark Endert who also produced The Fray. So Virgin knew what they wanted from this band. Come On was the second single. It reached the Billboard Bubbling Under chart but didn't get any farther. There is nothing wrong with their music. With the frequent comparisons to The Fray and other similar but more successful bands, they aren't distinctive enough. After releasing some EPs and the 2012 album Under Fire on their own label, they signed with Universal for the 2016 album Fifteen. That's their latest album. They are still around but Jenkins moved to Nashville and he released a couple of 2018 singles. I assume there is an album but it hasn't been released. He is also trying to launch a career as a songwriter. It also wouldn't surprise me if Green River Ordinance switched to Contemporary Christian Music as they started out playing in church back home in Texas. So the future seems uncertain for Green River Ordinance. Here's the video for Come On by Green River Ordinance.

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Burl Ives

Artist:Burl Ives
Song:Big Rock Candy Mountain
Album:Lavender Blue: Songs of Charm, Humor and Sincerity




Burl Ives had a long career as a folksinger and actor. But I guess he is mostly remembered today for children's music. And I guess that comes from those Rankin-Bass TV specials he did in the 60s. But he recorded children's music since the 40s. Big Rock Candy Mountain was recorded in 1945. He was born June 14, 1909 in Hunt City, IL. He sang as a child and played football in college. After dropping out of college, he traveled the US as an itinerant singer. After appearing on a Terre Haute radio station, Ives returned to school including Juilliard in New York. He made his Broadway debut in the 1938 show The Boys From Syracuse. Eddie Albert was also in that show and when it closed, they moved to Los Angeles. Ives started his radio show The Wayfaring Stranger in 1940. And it was through that show he would popularize his signature songs like Blue Tail Fly and Big Rock Candy Mountain. Big Rock Candy Mountain was written by real life hobo Harry McClintock. Ives cleaned up the lyrics so it would be appropriate for children. He first recorded that and Blue Tail Fly for Decca Records in 1945. Ives scored a hit when he later recorded Blue Tail Fly with The Andrews Sisters. Both songs would later appear on the 1949 album A Collection of Ballads, Folk and Country Songs Vol. 3. The producer and arranger was Elie Siegmeister who usually worked with symphony orchestras on the radio. Big Rock Candy Mountain never charted but it was popular in the children's music market. And today it is considered to be one of Ives' signature songs. This comp from Jasmine covers Ives' Decca recordings. After his HUAC testimony, Ives moved to Hollywood and won an Oscar for the 1958 film Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. He scored a country hit in 1961 with A Little Bitty Tear. Then he did those Rankin-Bass TV specials. And those are what most remember Ives for today. Ives continued to appear on TV until his 1989 retirement. He died of cancer on Apr. 14, 1995 at age 85. Ives was a heavy smoker. Here's a video of Big Rock Candy Mountain by Burl Ives.

Big Bad Blog Video Theater-Nia Jax vs Kairi Sane

Here's the match video of Nia Jax vs Kairi Sane from last night's episode of RAW. Supposedly Kairi asked for a rematch though I don't think that was mentioned on air. I sure didn't ask for it. We saw an example of how bad Nia is in the ring when she was supposed to give Kairi a buckle bomb and missed the mark when she dropped Kairi on the bottom turnbuckle. Kairi did get some offense in by attacking Nia's knee followed by a spinning back fist. I'm surprised they had her sell that. Kairi went for her Insane Elbow a little too soon. After missing, Nia won with her Samoan Drop finisher. The WWE is trying to sell Nia as the favorite in MITB. But they showed in this match there are ways to get to her. So I doubt that Nia will win. Enjoy the video!

AccuRadio Song Of The Day-The Arthur Smith Trio

Artist:The Arthur Smith Trio
Song:Paris Waltz
Album:Fiddlin' Arthur Smith & His Dixieliners





There are two major country music figures named Arthur Smith. The better known of the two was Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith. "Fiddlin'" Arthur Smith was a pioneer in bluegrass fiddle. He recorded for RCA's Bluebird label in the 30s. He had a couple of bands. Paris Waltz was recorded in 1938 with The Delmore Brothers as The Arthur Smith Trio. He was born Apr. 10, 1898 on a farm in Bold Springs, TN. He married at age 16 and he played locally with his wife Nettie, his cousin Homer Smith and fiddler Floyd Ethredge. Smith entered fiddle contests across Tennessee and won most of them. At the same time, he worked as a logger and lineman for the railroad. He made his Grand Ole Opry debut in 1927. He formed The Dixieliners with The McGee Brothers (Sam on guitar, Kirk on banjo) with his daughter Lavonne Smith on piano. They went on tour with Uncle Dave Macon. One of the acts on those tours was The Delmore Brothers, Rabon and Alton. Smith recorded several singles for Bluebird with The Delmore Brothers as The Arthur Smith Trio. Paris Waltz was recorded in 1938. Though this is an instrumental, Smith and The Delmore Brothers sang on some songs. Smith returned to using the Dixieliners name in 1938 with Billy Byrd on guitar and Joe Forrester on bass. In the early 40s, he played with The Shelton Brothers and The Bailes Brothers. And he formed The Band of Arthurs where all the members were named Arthur. He even went to Hollywood in 1944 and appeared in several Jimmy Wakely westerns though he did appear in the 1945 Abbott and Costello film The Naughty Nineties. Smith signed with Capitol in 1948. And to avoid confusion with Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith, he recorded as The Original Arthur Smith and his Dixieliners. Smith retired in the early 50s. But he returned in 1957. And probably the highlight of his career was when he appeared with The McGee Brothers at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. This comp covers Smith's 30s recordings and is available as a digital download. Smith continued to perform until he died on Feb. 28, 1971 at age 72. Here's a video for Paris Waltz by The Arthur Smith Trio.