DC Larson's JUKEBOX JURY: Jasmine

Sunday, May 3, 2026

Back in the Day, 2002

The Ink Spots

The Golden Age of the Ink Spots - The Best of Everything

(Jasmine)

Sweetly majestic and conducive to lights-low romance, Ink Spots oeuvre was also possessed of demanding urgency. Members' crucial output, compiled on these four discs, predated Rock'n'Roll. But much of that subsequent, cross-stitched form's earthiness, titillated impulse, and optimism stepped lively in these impeccably tasteful grooves.

Personnel changed over the historic combo's duration. One account explained why many Ink Spots' songs open with the same guitar figure: Because early DJs infrequently identified bands aired, that device so advised listeners. Clever.

(A commenter on this disc's Youtube page wrote: "I'm 16, soon to be 17 years old and born in 2006. I can assure you this music will never die!")

Recommended, disc one: "Someone's Rocking My Dreamboat," "Christopher Columbus," "I'm Beginning to See the Light" (with Ella Fitzgerald), "Shout, Brother, Shout," "Swing High, Swing Low," "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire," "Slap that Bass," "Who Wouldn't Love You?," "Keep Away From My Doorstep," "Information Please"

Recommended, disc two: "I'll Never Smile Again (Until I Smile at You," "'Taint Nobody's Bizness if I Do," "This is Worth Fighting For," "What Can I Do," "It's a Sin to Tell a Lie," "Stompin' at the Savoy," "Old Joe's Hittin' the Jug," "Java Jive," "Your Feet's Too Big," "Brown Gal"

Recommended, disc three: "Foo-Gee," "With Plenty of Money and You," "I Still Feel the Same About You" (with Ella Fitzgerald), "Don't Get Around Much Any More," "Whoa Babe!," "Oh! Red," "You Were Only Fooling (While I Was Falling in Love)," "Cow-Cow Boogie" (with Ella Fitzgerald)," "If I Didn't Care," "Alabama Barbecue"

Recommended, disc four: "Mine, All Mine, My Way," "That's the Way It Is," "Nothin'," "Knock-Kneed Sal (on the Mourner's Bench)," "My Prayer," "That Cat is High," "Yes Suh!," "Pork Chops 'n Gravy," "That's Where I Came In," "I've Got a Bone to Pick with You"

Video: "I've Got a Bone to Pick with You"

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

Skeets McDonald

Rock It, But Don't Wreck It: Singles As and Bs 1956 - 1962

(Jasmine)

It's to be expected that a 'best of' collection of works forged by a man whose career loped through decades would number many tracks. And that such would attest to his prowess.

Those who termed Skeets a "bridge between Country and Rock'n'Roll" were solidly in the money. While the rustic gut-box great generally ambled down Honky Tonk backroads, his open face and unpretentious bearing marking him as just plain home-folks, he sporadically busted out with het-up foot-stampers easily the equals of feral tunes being thrown out by incoming cats.

Some tracks were put to tape at Owen Bradley's historic 'Quonset Hut.' Among those accompanying Skeets in imbuing common-man life-spark into songs of unpolished excellence were Buddy Harmon, the Jordanaires, Grady Martin, and Floyd Cramer. (Two Rockabilly ravers - "Heartbreakin' Mama" and "You Oughtta See Grandma Rock" were lent the distinction of Eddie Cochran's fret-rushings.)

When Skeets sang of heart-soreness enflamed by bouffanted, good-time angels, it was with a drawled profundity that communicated he'd worn those brogans, and had weathered the torture mascaraed jezebels wreak.

(It may be so, that answers to life's abuses aren't found at the bottom of a bottle. But a legion of songs so real they damn near tear you all to hell reside exactly there.)

Bill Anderson later sang that "Honky tonks were made for men with women on their minds." It's certain that jukes in those much-prized dives were stocked with Skeets.

Recommended: "Gotta Get You From That Crowd," "Everglades," "Cheek to Cheek with the Blues," "You're Not Wicked, You're Just Weak," "You Warned Me," "What a Lonesome Life It's Been," "Baby Wait," "What I Know About Her," "Welcome Home," "Keep Her Off Your Mind," "Don't Push Me Too Far," "You Gotta Be My Baby," Heartbreakin' Mama," "You Oughtta See Grandma Rock"

Videos: "Gotta Get You From That Crowd" "Cheek to Cheek with the Blues" "Baby Wait" "Keep Her Off Your Mind" "Heartbreakin' Mama" "You Oughtta See Grandma Rock"

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