Mungo Jerry Jugband "In the Summertime" Fun

I don't know about you, but hearing "In the Summertime"  by Mungo Jerry, just makes my day. That song, with Ray Dorset on lead vocals, topped the charts 40 summers ago.  "Lady Rose" and "Baby Jump" were hits, too. But nothing touched 'In the Summertime' for zesty rhythm and child-like rhymes. I love how when Mungo Jerry can't think of any words, they grunt or hum or make up nonsensical words.

I love everything about Mungo Jerry: long, bushy hair, big mutton chops, jug band, cheesy lyrics, leather fringed boots. My husband and I had a disagreement about Dorset whether he was Puerto Rican or Jamaican. Finally we decided he must be Cuban. Imagine our chagrin when we discovered the band was British.

And the name, Mungo Jerry. I had somehow connected it with mung beans. After all, hippies lived on seeds and beans and wore strange pod-like jewelry, right? As a kid, I could only listen to classical, so overlook my ignorance. In point of fact, Mungo Jerry is a literary reference to Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, by Mr. T.S. Eliot. One portion references Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer. The broadway musical "Cats" sources Eliot's work.

Mungo Jerry 's meteoric rise to fame was an unexpected surprise, starting with band members themselves, I'll bet. The Jugband sound has elements of Cajun, creole accordion, Zydeco. Mungo Jerry has roots rock, ska, reggae and afro-caribbean undertones also. The closest band connection is Creedence Clearwater Revival as Willie and the Poorboys. It hints at Sailcat (Motorcycle Mama) and T-Bone Burnett.

Free Printable Guitar Sheet Music, Chord Charts, Licks, Riffs and Tablature

Guitars, electric and acoustic, are oft-requested teen gifts. Men used to dominate guitar-playing, particularly electric, but girls are playing in increasing numbers. Children are beginning to play at younger ages. Guitars cross all music genres. My personal favorites are 12-string, resonator, classical and Spanish guitar. And who can resist the deep drone of an electric bass guitar? Gets you right in the solar plexus. Suffice it to say, guitars are popular instruments! With that in mind, here are Free Printable Guitar Lessons, Sheet Music, Chords, Licks, Riffs and Tablature

Mar and Big Al Playlist World Songs That Cross Time and Space

Sometimes, with a little serendipity, my third shift husband gets a night off work once a week. If the stars are in alignment, and he's an extra specially lucky boy,  he might get TWO nights off. As he did last weekend. So when he does, we like to enjoy music. We stay up all  night and sing (and sip a wine and IPA or three!) I call our selections the Mar-and-Big-Al-Playlist and it's wild. It's pan-genre, pan-world. It is hectic, electric and frenetic. Here's a sampling from last Saturday.  Mar and Big Al Playlist. Eclectic, Hectic, Frenetic (picture is us at Jazz Legends Park, Bourbon St., New Orleans--enjoying Steamboat Willie)

Five Best Barbra Streisand Movies, Scores and Soundtracks

I was five years old when my mom took me to see Funny Girl. We fell in love with Fanny Brice (and Barbra Streisand--"Don't tell me not to live just sit and puttah. Life's candy and the sun's a ball of buttah!" GLEE would reprise that some 40 years later. But NOBODY does it like Babs. Later, in 1971, my dad took me to see What's Up, Doc?. It's still one of our favorite movies. Here are Barbra Streisand's best movies and soundtracks. Because of her amazing voice. Barbra has been cast in parts that didn't always sufficiently showcase her acting and dancing talents--Like "A Star is Born." Meh. But the song Evergreen was gorgeous. These movies represent some of the best of Barbra's acting skills also. Yentl is my favorite. I love how she embraces and celebrates her Jewish background. And the best of her music doesn't come from a movie--it's her "Classical Barbra" album. I still have mine from high school. Five Best Barbra Streisand Movies and Soundtracks

Memorial Day Pageant and Parade, with Patriotic Musical Selections

Memorial Day, the last Monday in May has several names: Remembrance Day and Decoration Day. We honor fallen military and our loved ones who have passed. Looking for a fun interactive Memorial Day activity the whole community will enjoy? How about an educational Memorial Day pageant planner with U.S. history tie-ins, American patriotic musical selections and a vintage flavor.  Educational, Vintage Memorial Day Student Pageant and Party

Music Playlist of War and Government Protest Songs for Memorial Day

I always feel the need to play war protest songs around Memorial Day--all the misguided RWB fever, I guess.  Don't get me wrong--I get choked up at the Stars and Stripes. I just can't wrap my mind around the concept of "just war." It's all killing. So here's my government protest playlist. Please forgive my bombastic writing. I was at a different place in my journey and tended to get a little strange. Music Playlist: 25 War and Government Protest Songs

Cinco de Mayo Fiesta, with Latino Music, Dance

Cinco de Mayo--"fifth of May" in Spanish--celebrates the Mexican victory at the Battle of Pueblo. It's not the Mexican independence day though it sounds like the U.S. 4th of July. My Latino friends tell me Cinco de Mayo isn't as big in Mexico as in the U.S. And what do we Americans do with holidays? Party! Or in this case, fiesta. Here's are Latino music selections, including mariachi and Tejano (Tex-Mex style), plus dancing, games, crafts, homemade maracas and food for a kid-friendly Cinco de Mayo party! Kid-Friendly Cinco de Mayo Fiesta With Latino-Inspired Games, Crafts, Food