Like many of you, I love celebrating the esoteric, obscure, and unheralded, and I’ve got a perfect example of that on this Saturday’s installment of SWING ON THIS.
A little backstory: Last weekend, I went to Norman to attend OAFCon, the annual comic-book and nostalgia convention started many years ago by a group called the Oklahoma Alliance of Fandom. I’m a proud founding member of that bunch, along with my old college roommate Steve Fears. Like me, Steve is a huge fan of vinyl albums, and every time I see him, he gifts me with a few he’s found in his travels.
At OAFCon, one of the LPs he had for me was simply called HOMEGROWN V, released in 1977 by San Diego radio station KGB as a project benefiting the local United Way. (This full-length compilation album was the fifth in five years, all of them selling for $1.01 each. Not surprisingly, KGB’s FM frequency was 101.5.)
As the title suggests, all of the songs are from local acts — and one of them, a number called “Encinitas Ain’t Cheap No More,” turned out to be a fine little Western-swing tune, cut by singer-songwriter Ash Underwood with the band Myrtle Diesel.
It’s a rueful little number about a San Diego County town that apparently was the home of a honky-tonk or two. I can’t imagine too many swing fans have ever heard the number; I’m delighted to feature it on Saturday’s playlist.
In addition, Tulsa’s own homegrown talent shows up big this week, with Leon Russell doing his big-band version of a much-recorded ‘60s movie theme, Billy Parker with one of his late-60s Decca releases, and Becky Hobbs with her new ode to the Rogers County home of the Blue Whale.
All that. Lots more, too. So join me Saturday at 7 p.m. Tulsa time, by tuning into KWGS, 89.5 FM, or catching the live stream at publicradiotulsa.org
1. “(Me and My Baby) Doin’ the Bunny Hop,” Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys
(for KENNY JACKSON)
2. “Destination Catoosa,” Becky Hobbs
3. “You’re Just Another Beer Drinkin’ Song,” Gene Watson
(for JOHN HAMILL and the GLASS LIFTERS)
4. “Wonderful One,” Roy Newman and His Boys
5. “If Tommy Duncan’s Voice Was Booze,” Brennen Leigh
(for TOM RADCLIFFE)
6. “Baby (You’re As Sweet As Honey to Me),” Dave Edwards and His Alabama Boys
7. “All of Me,” Tom Morrell and the Time-Warp Tophands
(for JACK & CAROLE BENDER)
8. “She’s Just Getting Back at Me,” Billy Parker
(for MERVYN RELOY)
9. “Encinitas Ain’t Cheap No More,” Ash Underwood and Myrtle Diesel
(for LEE NAIL and STEVE FEARS)
10. “San Antonio Rose,” Blue Boys
(for AP MCQUIDDY)
11. “The Shadow of Your Smile,” Leon Russell
(for DONNA MATHEWS, ROBERT BLANCK, and the LEON LIFERS)
12. “Love, Love, Love,” Webb Pierce
(for SHELLACKED)
13. “Summer Samba,” Rose Sinclair
(for ANDREA CHANCELLOR)
14. “It’s All Your Fault,” High, Wide & Handsome
(for CLARKE & BETH WRIGHT)