Archives for June 2019

Just some thoughts:

“And you best also know when to fold them.”

I immediately recognized him as he walked into my coffee place. As he passed by my table I said, “You gotta know when to hold them and know when to fold them.” He did a quick glance at me and said, “I’ll get my coffee and be right back.”

As he approached my table, I said, “You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille, with four hungry kids and crop in the field. I’ve had some good times, been through some bad times, but this time your hurtin’ won’t heal.” This was my meeting with the two time Grammy award winner, Country Hall of Fame songwriter, Don Schlitz.

We talked for some time, and he could not have been more humble and kinder with my questioning of his writing. In fact, he took out a song he said he had just written a week or so earlier and wanted me to look at the words and asked me what I thought. “What me, look at your writing?” “Well, anyone quoting my lyrics to me first thing over morning coffee, yes, I’d like them to take a look.”

When Kenny Rogers spoke at Schlitz’s induction into the Song Writers Hall of Fame said: “He is brilliant, unpredictable, compassionate and wise.” Schlitz told me that Rogers now asks for a first look at anything he writes.

Some years ago I had the good fortune to meet and spend some time backstage with Rogers before one of his performances. At that time he was riding the wave of success with the classic song Schlitz had penned, “The Gambler.”

Rogers was equally kind as Schlitz was on this morning. In fact, Rogers invited me to play his private golf course. Later on one of my trips back from the Master’s in Augusta to New Jersey, I stopped just outside of Albany, Georgia, where Rogers was living at the time. Along with the tournament director from the Georgia State Golf Association, I played his course. Rogers personally designed every hole; it was his private sanctuary, very private. We, along with Roger’s dog, were the only two playing on the course that day.

Don Schlitz often plays a songwriter’s venue, the Bluebird, here on the west side of Nashville. He does a nine p.m. show that he calls, “Dollar night with Don.” If you ever have the opportunity to go, do so. I can assure you, you will get more than your money’s worth.

Oh by the way, one of the greatest song lines ever written was penned by Schlitz and sung by Rogers. The line:

“The best you can hope for is to die in your sleep”

Pretty hard to argue with that line.

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January 15, 2018
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Posted June 29, 2019

Just some thoughts:

I think far too often we fail to acknowledge our appreciation. I know in my lifetime I have.

I grew up in the late 1950s’. A time of great radio and great radio personalities. Most every station of any size in any town had people on the radio that became popular with a faithful listening audience.

In my hometown station WBOW (On the Banks of the Wabash) was such. Certain disc jockeys as they were called were popular. Most  kids knew what time they came on the air, recognized their theme song. I could list various stations and radio personalities. Some where along the line radio changed. In my opinion today we have too much talk radio. I vote bring more music, less talk.

Two current day local exceptions here in the Nashville area are Eddie Stubbs and Jeff Pogue. Both of them have shows on the world famous WSM 650 on your dial here in Nashville. Not only do they play music but they provide stories about the music, history of the song, who wrote it, how it came about,etc.

Stubbs has one night in particular that I try not to miss. He calls it “Way Back Wednesday.” Where he goes back years into music and gives information regarding the song, maybe what was happening in country at the time. Sometimes maybe even an interview with someone about the history of that music. I like the show so much that even if I cannot listen live I tape his five hour show and listen to it in my car during the week. Pogue does something similar with a show called, “That Week in Music.”

Recently my wife and I were having dinner in downtown Nashville. After dinner we were going to a music show at the Ryman just a couple blocks from where we were eating. I look over at a  table not far from where we are sitting and there sits Eddie Subbs. He is having dinner by himself. We were finished eating and about to leave. The left part of my brain said, “No don’t say anything, he’s eating, don’t bother him. that might be thought rude of you. The right part of my brain said “Yea go tell him how much you appreciate his show.”

“Excuse me Mr. Stubbs I’m sorry to bother you especially as you are having dinner but my wife and I are just leaving and I wanted to come over and tell you how much I enjoy you on the radio. I especially enjoy your “Way Back Wednesday” show.” With that Mr. Stubbs stood up extended his hand and said, “Why thank you, you really don’t know how much I appreciate that. You sit at that mike night in and night out, you know or you think folks are listening but when someone makes the effort to tell you that really makes me feel good.” With that I again thanked him and we left. I’m glad I ignored  the left and listen to the right side of my brain.

Suggestion. If you see something  good and you like it, if possible, make your feelings known to the source. That’s true with whatever it might be, if its good and you like it say so. It may help that good and what you appreciate to continue.

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April 24, 2019
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Posted June 29, 2019

Just some thoughts:

Often my wife will send me to the store. Grocery type place, from the local Publix’s, Kroger, Walmart or Sam’s Club. I am not the most adept shopper and  noted for a lack of patience. Someone once said of me that when patience was passed out I had already left the room.

I look at my list and I’m still lacking one thing. Well actually two things, A jug of sweet tea and a jug of un-sweet tea. Now the hunt begins. I make more laps around the place than a rookie taking his driver’s test at Indianapolis. Can’t find it. Nope not there. All the time the words of my wife keep rolling thru my head, “slow down, now look.”

Finally I give up and ask a fella working there. He looks at me like I have asked some question that would appear on Jeopardy. He doesn’t know. Now I see a young lady behind a counter and so I go and, “Mama can you tell me where the tea is?” “Sure, well let me just take you it might be easier if I show you than tell you, it’s kinda confusing.” Hearing that word confusing made me feel a bit better. (Would you tell my wife that?)

She walks to a larger freezer, pulls two jugs from the freezer and places them in my cart. “Young lady, what’s your name,” I ask.  “Dee Ann,” she replies. “Well Dee Ann thank you for taking your time to show me.” “Oh no problem, no problem at all.”

You know  its really  nice when you don’t know something and someone will take the time to help you, to “teach” you, show you rather than look at you like you are stupid. By the way that is true for a lot of things in life that we do not know.

Not knowing does not make one stupid, Sometimes we all just don’t know where the “tea” is. It’s nice to be shown rather than shouted at.

Again Dee Ann thank you.
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May 26, 2019
Keep on,
Larry Adamson

Just some thoughts:

(Now stay with me)

MIGHTY CASEY

The outlook wasn’t brilliant for the Mudville nine that day
The score stood four to two with but one inning more to play.
And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrow’s did the same
A sickly silence fell upon patrons of the game.

A straggling few got up to go in deep despair.
The rest clung to hope which springs eternal in the human breast
They thought if only Casey could but get a whack at that
We’d put up even money now with Casey at the bat

But Flynn preceded Casey as did also Jimmy Blake,
and the former was a lulu and the later was a cake;
So upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy sat.
For there seemed but little chance of Casey’s getting to the bat

But Flynn let drive a single to the wonderment of all,
And Blake, the much despised tore the cover off the ball:
And when the dust had lifted, and the men saw what had occurred,
There was Jimmy safe at second and Flynn a-hugging third.

Then from 5,000 throats and more there rose a lusty yell;
It rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell’
It knocked upon the flat, for Casey, might Casey was advancing to the bat

There was ease in Casey’s manner as he stepped into his place’
There was pride in Casey’s bearing and a smile on Casey’s face
And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat
No stranger in the crowd could doubt ’twas Casey at the bat

Well I’ll just cut to the chase…you get the picture…Ole Casey is gonna save the day for the Mudville nine…right….well

Somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright
The band is playing somewhere and somewhere hearts are light
And somewhere men are laughing and somewhere children shout:

Folks: Got bad news…..Mighty Casey stuck out……

What no trophy. No trophy? Aw come on how can you do that to Casey. Not even a Certificate of Participation?

Poor Casey. No trophy for the mighty Casey.  Casey going home without a trophy……can’t be.

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June 23, 2019

Keep on,

Larry Adamson

Posted June 26, 2019