Small Town Talk is late again. Please forgive the caterwauling but we are sure our black cat bone will put us back on track.

1. Alley Cat - The Champs

2. Cat Scratching - Louis Jordan

3. Boss Eyed Cat - Marcel Bontempi

4. Cat Man - Gene Vincent

5. Black Cat Bone - Jimmy Johnson & Band (vocal Hank Alexander)

6. Cat’s Eyes - Godley & Creme

7. Rosewood Casket - Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris & Linda Ronstadt (This month’s death song)

8. Believe It Or Not - Donny Elbert

9. Believe It Or Not - Don Covay

10. She Caught The Katy (And Left Me A Mule To Ride) - Taj Mahal

11. The Midnight Special - Odetta (This month’s earworm)

12. A-Train Lady - Mink DeVille

13. Doot Dootsie Wah - Little Isidore & The Inquisitors

14. Slappin’ On My Black Cat Bone - Koerner, Ray & Glover (vocal Dave “Snaker” Ray)

Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles (1973)

Johnny's shedding tears,

Wet behind the ears,

Johnny is as green as the grass that's growing,

Johnny's getting bruised,

Johnny's being used,

Johnny's having fun without her husband knowing.

Track 6: Johnny’s following “Cats Eyes” - Godley & Creme (1983)

Sorry - another delay, but we’re back (fingers crossed) with the usual mixture of the usual and the unusual.

While Small Town talk has stuttered, good ol’ Johnny Corsair has kept the airwaves alive with his Bright Lights Big City podcast over at:

https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/

Get over there and see what he’s up to.

Small Town Talk is here:

https://smalltowntalkrecords4.podbean.com/

The massive resurgence of vinyl after it’s reported death is also happening with the humble CD, so don’t be tempted to dump your old silver discs - and remember that if you rely on streamed media, convenient as it is, you don’t actually own it.

I’ve noticed that CDs, even some released in the last few years, once sold out, have gained in value in the second-hand market.

Checking out four of the above tracks on Ace Records, I discovered Hop Wilson's original of Black Cat Bone on his album, Steel Guitar Flash is sold out! Luckily I already have it! So folks, be warned.

I recommend Ace’s website, not just because of the excellent selection of music on vinyl and compact disc, but for all the other information available. More than just an online shop, they are enthusiasts who take their love of music seriously and share it with us. Check them out here:

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

All queries and comments to STT. Don’t be shy, contact me at:

smalltowntalkrecords@gmail.com

Episode 73 illustration: She caught the Katy (and left me a mule to ride). That hard-headed woman has left Ginger Baldy to wait for the slow train. Will he ever catch up?

Small Town Talk is back.

We’d like to thank all of our beautiful friends all over the country

For all the beautiful vibrations. We love you.

1. I’m Tore Up - Ronnie Dawson

2. Got Love If You Want It - Andy Fairweather Low

3. Baillando - Texas Tornados (vocal Augie Meyers)

4. Mendocino - Sir Douglas Quintet (This month’s earworm)

5. You’re Gonna Miss Me - Sir Douglas Quintet

6. You’re Gonna Miss Me - Muddy Waters

7. Spasms - Little Willie John

8. Sweet Cocaine - Fred Neil

9. Down To The River To Pray - Alison Krauss

10. What Do You Want the Girl To Do - Boz Scaggs

11. Big Iron - Marty Robbins (This month’s death song)

12. Sugaree - Hank Ballard & The Midnighters

13. Shake For Me - John Hammond

14. No Money Down - Chuck Berry

Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles (1973)

Mendocino, Mendocino,

Where life's such a groove.

You'll blow your mind in the mornin'

We used to walk through the park,

Make love along the way in Mendocino.

Track 4 “Mendocino” - Sir Douglas Quintet (1969)

We have a bit of catching up to do at Small Town Talk, - four month’s worth. Hopefully we can get back into the swing of things over the next few episodes. At the top of this page, the written intro to this episode, appropriate as it is, was appropriated from Doug Sahm’s spoken introduction to the gloriously cheerful “Mendocino”, track 4.

While we’ve been away I sincerely hope you’ve all been listening in to Johnny Corsair’s “Bright Lights Big City” podcast.at:

https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/

Even if you haven’t, as with Small Town Talk, the great news is that all episodes, from day one, are still available to listen to again and again, and for free!

Small town Talk is here:

https://smalltowntalkrecords4.podbean.com/

Also visit my favourite record company, the brilliant Ace Records:

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

All queries and comments to STT. Don’t be shy, contact me at:

smalltowntalkrecords@gmail.com

Episode 72 illustration: My favourite band, The Sir Douglas Quintet. (Drawn mostly from the cover of the 1969 album Mendocino - from left to right, Doug Sahm, Johnny Perez, Augie Meyers, Frank Morin and Harvey Kagan. Note: the image of Augie Meyers is drawn from a different source, since Augie’s features are mostly hidden in the shade or bleached by the sun on the original album cover photo.

In which it seems Ginger Baldy’s been transported back to 1967 and He-Feels-He’s-Fixing-To-Die all over again.

1. I Got My Mojo Working - Joyce Harris & The Daylighters

2. My Good Pott - Doc Pomus

3. Lonely Avenue - Taj Mahal

4. Because The Night - Patti Smith Group

5. I’m On Fire - Soccer Mommy

6. Gonna Make It Alone - The Bellfuries

7. Tell Her No - The Zombies

8. Night Life - Roy Orbison

9. Night Life - B.B. King & His Orchestra

10. Me And Paul - Doug Sahm & Band

11. I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixing-To-Die Rag - Country Joe & The Fish (This month’s combined earworm & death song)

12. Kiss My Ass - Country Joe & The Fish

13. Something's Got A Hold On Me - Etta James

14. The Wallflower (Roll With Me Henry) - Richard Berry with Etta James & The Peaches.

15. Sixty Minute Man - Billy Ward & The Dominoes

Theme song: Small Town Talk - Bobby Charles (1973)

At the airport at Milwaukee

They wouldn’t let us board the plane at all

Well they said we looked suspicious

But I think they like to pick on me and Paul

Track 10 “Me And Paul” - Doug Sahm & Band (1973) Written by Willie Nelson

Listen in to Johnny Corsair’s fifth birthday edition of “Bright Lights Big City” podcast.at:

https://johnnycorsair9.podbean.com/

Also visit the brilliant Ace records:

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

Find Alec Paleo’s Country Joe McDonald obituary here:

https://www.acerecords.co.uk/news/2026/country-joe-mcdonald

And details of the excellent album, “Ladies Sing The Boss” here:

https://www.acerecords.co.uk/ladies-sing-the-boss

All queries and comments to STT. Don’t be shy, contact me at:

smalltowntalkrecords@gmail.com

Episode 70 illustration: Small Town Talk plays a track from his treasured “Good Rockin’ Mama” LP on pink vinyl.

Right click on the illustration to get a full size image.