Pickin' and a Grinnin'
If you like silly songs and banjo pickin', you have arrived at the right
webpage! "Pickin' and a Grinnin'" is my latest recording project. There are 26
cuts on this CD, so at the low, low price of 12 dollars, you will certainly get
your money's worth. That 12 dollars even includes shipping and handling!
Here are the songs on the CD:
1) The Very Unfortunate Man is an old song about a lawyer that couldn't make enough money to live, so he decided to marry a wealthy old maid. After the wedding ceremony, the couple leave for their honeymoon. The lawyer soon discovers that his bride is not exactly what he was looking for in a wife. Things get so bad that he finally screams and runs out of the door.
2) B-A-C-O-N and E-G-G's is a parody of Tammy Wynette's old country classic, "D-I-V-O-R-C-E." The song tells the story of a very smart pig that can understand English. The people in the house have to go around spelling words so that the little hog can't figure out what is being said. Read the title again, and you'll get a hint of what the song is all about.
3) Murphy's Bricks is about a man named Murphy who has to get a load of bricks down from the 14th floor of a building. He decides to rig up a pulley and a barrel to avoid having to carry them all down by hand. The problem is, the barrel weighs more than poor old Murphy, and when he unties the rope, he quickly begins to ascend. You'll laugh out loud when you hear about all the things that happen.
4) Cripple Creek...The Hee-Haw tune that was used as the
background for "I'm pickin' and I'm grinnin'," by Buck Owens and Roy Clark.
There aren't any corny jokes here though, just good old banjo pickin'. If jokes
are your thing, you need Banjophil's Really Good Joke Book.
5) She Ain't Rose... I don't know where this song came from, but it is simply a light-hearted tune that says that "She ain't Rose, but she ain't bad, and Rose ain't here." Although not as uproarishly funny as some others, it's my personal favorite on this CD.
6) Short Juan There's not much to say about this one. You just have to experience it.
7) Foggy Mountain Breakdown...When you buy a banjo, you
get a banjo, a case, three picks, and a tune. This is the tune you get, the one
that was used as the theme song for the Bonnie and Clyde movie.
8) Pine Tree is a sing-a-long song that I often perform at local hootenanies and bluegrass festivals. You'll be singing along before the song ends.
9) There's a Hole in My Bucket tells the story of Liza, who wants Henry to fetch her some water. Henry makes the excuse that there's a hole in his bucket. Liza (my daughter, Molly) and Henry exchange verses on this popular camp song. You're sure to smile when you hear Henry's final verse.
10) Pig In A Pen...This fast-paced bluegrass classic is
about as hillbillyish as a song can get. The chorus says it all: "I got a pig
home in a pen, and corn to feed him on. All need is a pretty little girl to feed
him when I'm gone."
11) Pfffft!! You Was Gone is the well-known song from the old Hee-Haw TV series. There's a million verses,
of which I sing three.
12) I'm My Own Grandpa, a popular song from yesteryear, goes through a complicated explanation of how a man becomes his own grandpa. If you listen to the words enough, you'll see that it really does work out that he is his own grandpa!
13) Gold Rush...A
fast-paced Bill Monroe tune that is often played in jam sessions.
14) 2nd Short Juan is just a little surprise for you.
15) Please Pass the Biscuits is a clever song about a little boy that is sitting between his mom and dad at Sunday dinner. He really wants to eat, but he can't eat without a biscuit. You'll laugh at the little boy's frustration at trying to be polite and still get a biscuit. I employed the services of one of the Helium brothers for this selection.
16) Stogey Creek...A very fast banjo tune, named after
the creek that flows through Silver Dollar City, into which all the smokers toss
their cigarette butts.
17) Dead Skunk...Yep,
you read it right. This song, popular in the early 70's, describes what happens
when a skunk gets all runned over.
18) Ticklish Reuben...A
silly little laughing song
19) The Pig Song...A little song about how two
growing pigs are trying to avoid the inevitable.
20) Mountain
Dew...No
music collection is complete without at least one copy of this hillbilly
classic. Fortunately for you, Banjophil has included his version on the CD
21) Tiptoe Through The
Tulips...No, not Tiny Tim's version, Banjophil's version. First
you tiptoe through the tulips, then you walk, then you skip. Pretty soon, the
tulips are all gone!
22) Duelin' Banjo...No,
it's not Duelin' Banjos, because there is only one banjo. Besides, I don't know
if the plural is banjos or banjoes. You will recognize this tune as the one used
as the theme song for the movie, Deliverance.
23) We're Here...An
excellent sing-a-long tune.
24) Black Mountain Rag...This
is many people's favorite fiddle tune. Emily does the fiddle work on this one,
as well as several others on this CD.
25) Who's On First...That's
right, Abbot and Costello's all-time favorite classic, performed for you by
Banjophil and his daughter, Amy.
26) Home Sweet Home...No banjo album is complete
without at least one song that uses the D-tuners. Bluegrass twang at its best!
27) I Just Don't Look Good Naked Anymore...The title
pretty much says it all. You can get a Pickin and Grinnin CD with or without
this song. Your choice.
Order your copy today! Simply email me at banjophil@gmail.com
. The price is $12.00, which includes postage and handling.
