Clancy’s Tavern
24/10/11 21:04 Filed in: Toby Keith
I first saw and heard Toby Keith on CMT TV eighteen years ago. (We had Country music on UK TV in those days). The following year I visited the US and purchased his debut albums “Toby Keith” and “Boom Town” both on cassette tapes (we did not own a CD player in 1994). Since that time I have collected 16 of his albums. His single “Should Have Been A Cowboy” was the most played Country song of the 1990’s. He writes many of his own songs, twenty have reached No1. in the Country Charts earning him an amazing 75 million radio spins. He has appeared in two films and makes frequent visits to Afghanistan to entertain US servicemen.
“Clancy’s Tavern”, the title track of this album is a true story. It was the nickname of his Grandmother’s tavern in Arkansas. He even mentions the real names of the waitress, Lily, and the cook, Elmo. The chorus: The welders and the drivers / And the old nine to fivers, and the regular Joe’s of the world / Are singing ‘here’s to you Clancy and your neigbourhood tavern / Pour me another, my girl”. Toby, at the age of 12 helped in the kitchen and one night joined the house band on stage, and that is how his career started. It is similar to his hit “I Love This Bar”.
“I Need To Hear A Country Song” is a traditional ballad, nicely sung. He is sad, he has loved and lost and not in a party mood. “I need to hear a loser cryin’ / Songs about a love that’s dyin’ / Lyin’, cheatin’ to the bone / A three chord stone cold country song”. He needs to hear a sad song to echo his feelings and cry in his beer.
“Made In America” is a fiercely patriotic song about his father’s belief that if at all possible you should buy goods (cars, clothes, etc) which are made in your own country, even if it means paying a little more for them, thereby keeping his fellow countrymen employed. It is a great song, a message that could also apply in the UK. Incidentally, have there been any patriotic UK songs written since “Rule Britannia” and “Land Of Hope And Glory”?
“Red Solo Cup” Is not about a golden goblet, or a pewter tankard, but a red disposable drinking cup. It is possibly the silliest song ever written, but ‘oh boy’ is it catchy. You will be muttering “Red solo cup, red solo cup, let’s have a party” for days and days to come. If you are having a party, red solo cups can be purchased on line, £8 for 50. This song is currently at No. 22 in the Country Charts.
“Beers Ago” is a song where he reminisces about the days of his youth; The bars, the cars and the women, the good and the bad times. “It all seems like yesterday even though / That was sixteen hundred and fifty two beers ago” but is he really older and wiser now? An up tempo fun song.
“I Won’t Let You Down”. This is Toby in a romantic mood. A sensitive ballad that will appeal to the ladies. It has an “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” theme.
“Tryin’ To Fall In Love” is a love and lost song about his bad luck with the ladies he has known. Linda… Chrissy… Maria… Donna… Carla, etc. “ If women come a dime a dozen / I ain’t got a penny / Some guys are getting way too much, some guys don’t get any / But if I had a nickel for every time I’d had enough / I’d still be busted and heartbroken, trying to fall in love” A lively tongue twister.
“Club Zydeco Moon”. This song reminds me of an old Western movie theme. Imagine the scene, he is a young innocent cowboy; he is drinking at the Zydeco Moon saloon. He is captivated by one of the dancing girls… she is a lady of the night. He is seduced by her feminine charms, but she is a devil woman, she steals his heart and his money and leaves him a broken man. Alas, he will never see her again, but she will dance in his dreams till his dying day.....
This deluxe edition of the album has 15 tracks. The final four tracks are live from his New York city show “Incognito Bandito”. The songs are “High Time”, “Truck Drivin’ Man”, “Shambala” and “Memphis” Toby sings them with gusto, and the musicianship is very impressive. These are some of the songs he listened to in his younger days and were instrumental in his choice of career.
Toby has the ability to sing beat, ballad or comedy songs with equal ease. Another great album from the man who has just been voted “Artist of the Decade” in Las Vegas at the American Country Awards 2011.
Rita
“Clancy’s Tavern”, the title track of this album is a true story. It was the nickname of his Grandmother’s tavern in Arkansas. He even mentions the real names of the waitress, Lily, and the cook, Elmo. The chorus: The welders and the drivers / And the old nine to fivers, and the regular Joe’s of the world / Are singing ‘here’s to you Clancy and your neigbourhood tavern / Pour me another, my girl”. Toby, at the age of 12 helped in the kitchen and one night joined the house band on stage, and that is how his career started. It is similar to his hit “I Love This Bar”.
“I Need To Hear A Country Song” is a traditional ballad, nicely sung. He is sad, he has loved and lost and not in a party mood. “I need to hear a loser cryin’ / Songs about a love that’s dyin’ / Lyin’, cheatin’ to the bone / A three chord stone cold country song”. He needs to hear a sad song to echo his feelings and cry in his beer.
“Made In America” is a fiercely patriotic song about his father’s belief that if at all possible you should buy goods (cars, clothes, etc) which are made in your own country, even if it means paying a little more for them, thereby keeping his fellow countrymen employed. It is a great song, a message that could also apply in the UK. Incidentally, have there been any patriotic UK songs written since “Rule Britannia” and “Land Of Hope And Glory”?
“Red Solo Cup” Is not about a golden goblet, or a pewter tankard, but a red disposable drinking cup. It is possibly the silliest song ever written, but ‘oh boy’ is it catchy. You will be muttering “Red solo cup, red solo cup, let’s have a party” for days and days to come. If you are having a party, red solo cups can be purchased on line, £8 for 50. This song is currently at No. 22 in the Country Charts.
“Beers Ago” is a song where he reminisces about the days of his youth; The bars, the cars and the women, the good and the bad times. “It all seems like yesterday even though / That was sixteen hundred and fifty two beers ago” but is he really older and wiser now? An up tempo fun song.
“I Won’t Let You Down”. This is Toby in a romantic mood. A sensitive ballad that will appeal to the ladies. It has an “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” theme.
“Tryin’ To Fall In Love” is a love and lost song about his bad luck with the ladies he has known. Linda… Chrissy… Maria… Donna… Carla, etc. “ If women come a dime a dozen / I ain’t got a penny / Some guys are getting way too much, some guys don’t get any / But if I had a nickel for every time I’d had enough / I’d still be busted and heartbroken, trying to fall in love” A lively tongue twister.
“Club Zydeco Moon”. This song reminds me of an old Western movie theme. Imagine the scene, he is a young innocent cowboy; he is drinking at the Zydeco Moon saloon. He is captivated by one of the dancing girls… she is a lady of the night. He is seduced by her feminine charms, but she is a devil woman, she steals his heart and his money and leaves him a broken man. Alas, he will never see her again, but she will dance in his dreams till his dying day.....
This deluxe edition of the album has 15 tracks. The final four tracks are live from his New York city show “Incognito Bandito”. The songs are “High Time”, “Truck Drivin’ Man”, “Shambala” and “Memphis” Toby sings them with gusto, and the musicianship is very impressive. These are some of the songs he listened to in his younger days and were instrumental in his choice of career.
Toby has the ability to sing beat, ballad or comedy songs with equal ease. Another great album from the man who has just been voted “Artist of the Decade” in Las Vegas at the American Country Awards 2011.
Rita