Songs have anniversaries too! “YOU NEVER EVEN CALLED ME BY NAME” [Goodman & Prine]

50 years ago today, David Allan Coe recorded “You Never Even Call Me By My Name” in Nashville’s Columbia studio A. 

Though it was written by both Steve Goodman and Prine, John passed up the publishing rights. “I wouldn’t put my name on it ’cause I thought it sucked, then it went to number one! That’s how I found out what a number one song is” (though, it never went #1 but rather #8 on the country charts.) Despite not receiving credit, Goodman instead bought Prine a Wurlitzer jukebox, which basically made them even.

The Maestro! John Prine : You Never Even Called me By My Name

Larger Than Life a Celebration of Steve Goodman

The genius co-writer (who got all the royalty!)

Steve Goodman - You Never Even Called Me By My Name Live on Austin City Limits

For John and Steve

Sorely Missed!

More John (Prine that is!) for Steve Goodman at his tribute concert . . . .

Always renowned for his brilliant intros and chat between songs, this one is especially warm for the obvious reasons and it always makes  me smile . . . . . . note: I couldn’t post Please Don’t Bury Me for the longest time . . . . . again for obvious reasons but again it does make me laugh so and let’s face it John more than most would appreciate how much we need more laughter right now!

John Prine - You Never Even Called Me By Name (live)

 Lovely set from Big O this morning all the way from Singapore . . . . . .  a John Prine and Steve Goodman set from back in 1982 when both men were in their prime. If you can avoid the plethora of filth and tired old racist sexist claptrap that is the comments section (time for it to go guys really) that's stopping people from visiting more regularly (well me for one) and I know there have been loads of objections from the old school bloggers and visitors but heck it's DREADFUL. Still avoid that and just download this . . . . . . 

JOHN PRINE

& Steve Goodman

Two much missed American treasures. When we lost the auther of one of the seminal songs about America (’City of New Orleans’ by Goodman) I was deeply saddened but amongst the Covid-19 victims to lose John too was almost too much to bear. Still can’t play too much Prine its too upsetting. . . . . this is nice

here . . .

'CITY OF NEW ORLEANS'

Steve Goodman

One of my early 'country' heroes was Arlo Guthrie and after Alice's Restaurant the movie I adored everything he did and bought several albums. It wasn't until much later I found that one of my favourite songs on the album I first bought was written by someone else and found again through my later Americana hero John Prine, and that man was the author of 'The City of New Orleans', Steve Goodman.



I loved Arlo version of this song and it wasn't until recently I recalled that it was his version I had first heard when but a mere teenager. Arlo says that one night about 1970 after he played at the Quiet Knight bar in Chicago, Steve Goodman approached and asked if he could play a song for him. Guthrie was tired and it was late but he grudgingly agreed, telling Goodman to buy him a beer and he would listen to Goodman play for as long as it took to drink the beer. Goodman played City of New Orleans. 
Arlo now says "That was the best beer of my life."

I had reason to pause to post some 'Highwaymen' and especially some Waylon Jennings who my brother loved and he introduced me to,  the Highwaymen consisted of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson. 

A Waylon song will always make me think of him and especially in the thirtieth year since his passing . . . . . . . . . .miss my brother every day

• Luckenbach, Texas (Back To The Basics Of Love)
• Waylon Jennings

then Goodhearted Woman

• Good Hearted Woman feat. Willie Nelson
• Waylon Jennings
• Greatest Hits

my favourite song by the Highwaymen of course is Cash's 'Big River' which taught me that Country n Western music could be poetry . . . . . . 




TURN IT UP!





and a personal favourite written by Steve Goodman who I discovered through fellow Country star and one of Bob Dylan's favourites songwriters, John Prime . . . . .here's the Highwaymen doing 'City of New Orleans' 

GOOD MORNING AMERICA, How are ya?!



here s some nice stuff over at the BB Chronicles

if you fancy some more Steve Goodman 

BB Chronicles blogspot - Steve Goodman




Also it's Johnny's birthday!

Born on this day: February 26, 1932 - Country music icon Johnny Cash (born J.R. Cash in Kingsland, AR). Happy Birthday to “The Man In Black” on what would have been his 86th Birthday.

My brother bought this album 'Live at Folsom Prison' which was my first introduction to him and I assumed every word was true, of course Johnny never did any prison time and the song about Folsom and him shooting someone 'just to watch him die' is a song and apocryphal not to say complete hooey! Still a great song tho'!