So on the way to Target last night I was going to listen to Rod Picott’s new album. However, when I went to search for the album I passed Steve Goodman’s album Jessie’s Jig and Other Favorites and since the album is one of my favorites I thought I’d check in for a visit. I was glad I did soon I was singing along to Steve and Jimmy Buffett’s “Door Number Three” and John Prine’s “Blue Umbrella” and then listening in awe to Michael Smith’s “Spoon River” (Hope he got paid for the use of this one). Well, those songs got me to work. The rest of the CD brought me home. The instrumental title track “Jessie’s Jig” started the trip and was followed by Steve’s great cover of an oft covered song “It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie” from Wikipedia:
“It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie” is a 1936 popular song by Billy Mayhew. Originally introduced by Fats Waller on the 78 rpm record Victor 20-1595,[1] it was revived in 1955 by Somethin’ Smith and the Redheads, reaching #7 on the Billboard charts in that year. John Denver tells a story about the song and does a cover in his 1978 album, Live at the Sydney Opera House (RCA Victor VPL1-7167).[2] Other artists who have recorded versions include Billie Holiday, The Ink Spots, Tony Bennett, Bobbi Martin, Gerry Monroe, Brent Spiner, Lenny Breau, Buddy Greco, Steve Goodman, Ann Breen, Slim Whitman, Jerry Murad and the Harmonicats, Bobby Vinton, Patti Page, and Vera Lynn.
“Jessie’s Jig” a fine instrumental kicked off the trip home. Following “Jessie’s Jig” were three ballads two Goodman originals “I Can’t Sleep” and and “Looking for Touble” with a song co-written with David Amran “Moby Book”. About you guessed it Moby Dick. Not many songs started with “Call Me Ismael. Ismael is my name”. The last track on the album is Goodman’s wonderful cover of “Mama Don’t Allow”. Unfortunately, I was home before it came on. But all ways not lost! When I went out to run errands this morning I was not in the best of moods, but there was “Mama Don’t Allow” on the iPod and soon Edward was in a much better mood! Thanks Steve, sure do wish you were still around! Goodman died from leukemia in 1984 at the age of 36.
Here’s Steve performing “It’s a Sin To Tell a Lie”