Sweatin’ to the oldies
After a couple days of editing video and burning it to discs, Marv’s music is playing more or less non-stop in my head, especially when I run or ride. It’s perfect exercise music. “Nobody Knows You (When You’re Down and Out” is a little bluesy, good for fat-burning or recovery, and “Going to Chicago (Sorry But I Can’t Take You)” and “Some of These Days” make a good soundtrack for an interval session.
A casual Googling unearths about a jillion different flavors of these tunes performed by a wide range of artists over the years. Marv seems to have taken his “Some of These Days” lyrics from an Ella Fitzgerald version. Count Basie could be the source for “Going to Chicago,” but Marv’s version has a whole lot more lyrical meat on its bones, some of which may have come from “Chicago Monkey Man Blues” by Ida Cox.
But that’s folklore for you — every story changes in the telling.
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November 10th, 2009 at 11:18 am
I love musical anthropology!
November 10th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Patrick,
What an amazing man you are: lives and breathes bicycles, cooks interesting things, Turns me onto good tequila, and also knows blues music! WOW! By the way your friend Merv has (had) a nice voice and relaxed musical style. Definitely a great neighbor to have. Sorry about your loss.