"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...." Yes, once again it is that always fun and welcome time of the year
when you get to buy your 14 beloved family members, favorite co-workers and domestic associates (like your butler) and sundry
others things they want or that you can afford. Ah, shopping. Oh, Christmas (or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa,
Granville) tree or Menorah or Stick. This is being written in Chapel Hill and I am omitting several other
favorites to save space and time, but thinking of all you little....people.
Tough economic times have befallen many of you, or us, I guess. It is even true that my wife and I had a holiday
party to cancel that we have done for 11 years. I will miss the shrimp and scallops at that one.
We have been lucky enough to get a few new ones this time and are busy, busy, so we are very thankful, as
are our grandchildren.
But amidst all the necessary belt tightening, economizing, cutting back and loudly declaring that you are
doing so, a few simple, attractive options remain for lovers of OLD SCHOOL SHAG. Without stating the obvious to you, it is
a fine time of the year and in your miserable life in general to take up bona fide research and study of this music we love.
For many of you this can devolve into a review and examination of your lives, your American history, a true American art form,
and a touching on the vast, uptapped well of knowledge that does need to be explored within it: research and study.
Your personal work in this so often neglected area of serious study can unlock so many doors...A second benefit
is the raising of the level of your own professionalism in that vocation or avocation we love, deejaying. Your in depth study
of the music and accompanying dance form can be the key to all around improvement in what you have set out to do. In other
words, self improvement through research, training, trial and error, etc.
Technically, all the time and effort and expense you put into this self improvement, this upgrading of your
deejaying skills, or your learning of them if you are a beginner or novice, are directly tied to your income and potential
income in this endeavor. Our new President is pushing such self enrichment, professional and self-started and structured training,
etc. as a bona fide (that's twice this month) tool to direct your own steps upward, your own enrichment, your own "move on
up" in life.
Be a patriot. Improve your personal income potential. Mail me a CD.
Together we will closely examine all that you need to develop the improved knowledge base to insure (at least
begin) your ascent into the upper strata of professional development and improvement. All perfectly legal.
The expense is minimal to make your Mother-in-Law that "Stick McGhee's Greatest Hits" disc we OLD SCHOOL SHAG
folks use to carefully review Stick's forays into turn-of-the-half-century socio-economic themes such as "Whiskey, Woman and
Loaded Dice." An integral part of the ties that bind American history and its popular music so closely together.
Just think, you and Uncle Louie spending every Saturday, "6 to 8" knee deep in libacious thought, listening
to and discussing this aural savant's work. Turkey dinner at Grandpa's house? Combine this family tradition with serious study
and research time and widen your own family's circle of knowledge with a CD full of different versions of "The Last Meal,"
right there in Gr amps' ranch. Listen, eat and learn.
Include that butler.
Change has come, my friends, Remember what our new guy says: "Tain't what you say, it's what you do" so far
as self-improvement, sharing your knowledge base, etc. He was quoting his own then and you can, too.
For my part, for you, my friends, who rejected the maverick tendencies of saving money, keeping a job, and
not marrying your cousin, I offer some markers to begin your delvation into OLD SCHOOL SHAG, to your journey to the center
of the Earth and all that is meaningful in it:
(A list, okay)
THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT THE JARMELS (GO ON, HOWL WITH ME)
ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE WHICH VERSION IS BEST?
I'M GONNA SIT RIGHT DOWN... NAT KING COLE
SO SHY THE FLANNELS
I WANT HER BACK THE FIVE ???? (SPELL IT)
TONIGHT AND FOREVER THE WHIRLERS
TWISIN' PNEUMONIA ??????
SPLISH SPLASH (NOT THAT OLD) DR. WHO (NOT WU)
BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND GOOGIE RENE
BEER BARREL BOOGIE THE PLATTERS
IT HAPPENED IN MONTERREY FRANK SINATRA
BO-DO ROCK BOSTIC AND DOGGETT
THREE SHEETS PEPPERMINT HARRIS
ABOUT THAT GAL NAMED LOU THE CADILLACS
The cost, I continue to tell you, is minimal; the satisfaction immense; the sharing of knowledge acquired
most important to all who are touched by it.
And I reflect on holiday "shag" music, since we're there. I realize some of you absolutely love it. Know it.
Collect it. Even play it (where?). There are wonderful Christmas and holiday tunes, new and adaptations of popular songs out
there. Get some. Call Ken Emerson....
It's a beautiful day in Chapel Hill...Instead of studying OLD SCHOOL SHAG, rather than making me Cd's to mail
to augment my research base, you, too, could be listening to the Endless Summer Network on your computer, writing a column,
enjoying "The Wild Crowd" and all that. ESN now even includes title / artist information for many of its tunes.
Like going to the Library yourself, almost.
THIS MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE TO ME....
It's my medicine talking. For some really good OLD SCHOOL SHAG facts and writings, without the nonsense and
mullifications, see Dennis Brumble's excellent biographical work on OLD SCHOOL artists, done for The Association of Beach
and Shag Club Deejays excellent periodic newsletter, or write Dennis at : dennisbrumble@sc.rr.com and ask him to e-mail you
his columns.
CADILLAC RECORDS....
Go see this movie. No matter how much you like Etta James and all the other old artists we cherish, Beyonce
is something else. And the soundtrack quality is unbelievable. Alan Hilbert can clue you in as to how to listen, free.
OLD SCHOOL SHAG CONTINUES TO KICK IT FOR RIPETE....
And it is a 2-CD set. If you like the idea, tell them. More, please.
HERE"S HACK BARTLEY DOING THE CLASSIC "CRABS" SONG....LOVE IT. WHERE ELSE, FOLKS, WHERE ELSE?
THE RUSTY, DUSTY BUT NEVER MUSTY MAIL BAG....
Q. RETRO QUESTION. Name the song with the OLD SCHOOL SHAG term "musty," as it applies to women.
A. I knew that one, Mike.
Q. If I follow your suggestion to personal enrichment and professional upgrading, won't I get into trouble?
A. If you follow the set-forth guidelines for this type activity, NO.
If you don't, NO. A change has come, my friends....it is now time to take your own fate and future into your
own hands (and mind). And there's always Particle Physics. My own weakness from childhood.
Q. What is the correct speed to play "Hoy, Hoy, Hoy" for shaggers?
A. On my Nakamichi turntable, 112.735. But then it was just calibrated.
Q. Is that a BMI / ASCAP agent at my front door?
A. Yes. Call your attorney immediately. Santa comes on the 25th.
Q. How can Alan Hilbert (That's twice for Alan, too) and Mike Little spend so much time listening to new music,
writing about it, and still like most of the stuff they review?
A. Listen quickly, write fast and have a broad and circumspect appreciation of the music and a real desire
to encourage artists via usually positive (yet honest) reviews. Hell, I don't know. Because they get paid a thousand dollars
for a column inch, like I do? You guess.
Q. Did you see the OLD SCHOOL show at LOAFERS (Raleigh, N.C.) this past month?
A. No. My loss. No club owners anywhere know and support OLD SCHOOL SHAG quite like Deborah and Gary Gibson.
a truly person labor of love.
Others hire and support newer artists, established beach acts, etc.
Make the drive to Raleigh for this whenever you can.
Q. The OLD SCHOOL trend continues stronger than ever, doesn't it?
A. It appears so. Anytime you can turn on your 2008-9 radio and hear and enjoy "Dippin' In My Business," the
old Rose Marie McCoy gem from CAT Records, count your OLD SCHOOL blessings, my friends. SUBWAY?
They did it and it is fine, fine, fine.
What stands out about CAT RECORDS? Come on now, you OLD SCHOOL lizards....
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND ALL THAT OHER MOTHER JAZZ.
MIKE LEWIS
CHAPEL HILL
