Stagger Lee Saturdays - The Wayside Trio

I can find next to no information about The Wayside Trio online. They only released one album, as far as I can see, and that was apparently a result of their winning a contest at the 1964 California State Fair Exposition. (The album was, appropriately, titled "Winners: The California State Exposition.")

If I had unlimited time and resources for this blog, I'd visit the California State Archives and see if I could find a picture or poster or something in the Fair's extensive files. Alas, I do not.

Anyway, this is a friendly, upbeat acoustic folk take on Stag, with a nice opening whistle. I tend not to like this early 60's well-scrubbed, inoffensive "folk" style, but this is peppy and I don't mind it at all.

The Wayside Trio - Stagger Lee
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Buy from Amazon

Silly Sundays - Bowser and Blue - Polka Dot Undies

Boswer and Blue (official wiki AMG) are a Canadian comedy duo, and a real favorite of Dr. Demento, the king of novelty records. I should warn you that, despite that art to the right there, Bowser and Blue aren't really Lou Reed and Jim Belushi playing incognito. This song does, however, include contributions from a sizeable percentage of 80's stalwarts Katrina and the Waves.

This is one of the best of the many many parodies of Bob Dylan out there, with a twist. This one belongs to what I like to call the "Hello Operator, Give Me Number Nine" school of comedy. (You'll hear more of these songs on Silly Sundays to come, I'll bet.)

This song makes me uncontrollably happy, and it can still make me giggle like an eight-year old. Thanks, Bowser and Blue.

Bowser and Blue - Polka Dot Undies
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Stagger Lee Saturdays - Bert Garvin, JP Fraley and Danielle Fraley

Here's a nice old-timey version from Bert Garvin, J. P. Fraley (AMG bio), and JP's daughter, Danielle (no links for her, as she seems to only appear backing her father).

This has a nice ringing banjo, and some lovely fiddle work that sounds at least 100 years older than the actual recording date of 1999.

As with so many of the Stagger Lees I present here, this album is currently out of print, and the used copies start at about 25 bucks, so the buy link is wishful thinking.

Bert Garvin, J. P. Fraley and Danielle Fraley - Stackolee
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Silly Sundays - Free At Last!

My legal and tax-filing status has been changed. And that's all I'm gonna say here, except that (despite what you may think if you don't listen to The Beatles all the way to the end) I'm a happy, happy boy.

Gabriel Mann and Maxayn Lewis - Free At Last
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The Beatles - Oh! Darling (early take)
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Stagger Lee Saturdays - Tom Rush

Tom Rush (official Wiki AMG) is a folk singer who's been a professional musician for 48 years. This is from an early album, recorded in 1963.

This version of Stag has a verse I've never heard anywhere else, wherein Stag's woman, Roberta, guesses that he's killed someone, and Stag replies that the sky does look foreboding, doesn't it. I know it looks silly typed up like that, but I swear the first time I heard this I shivered.

Remember last week when I was so down on Terry Melcher, and noted his version of "These Days" suffered from his delivery as much as his "Stag"? Well, Tom Rush recorded a version of "These Days" in 1970, and I'm happy to report that it is indeed excellent.

Tom Rush - Stackerlee
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Buy from Tom Rush hisownself