00 H&J Miserable Notes.txt
HOMER & JETHRO
"Life Can Be Miserable"
RCA Victor LPM-1880 (issued in mono only), 1959
LP rip (96 kbps mono) by Dick Baker, January 2009
SIDE 1
1. Oh Lonesome Me
2. Life Can Be Miserable
3. There's an Empty Hanger in My Closet Tonight
4. The Drafted Volunteer
5. Don't Monkey Around My Widder
6. She's Went and Gone Away
SIDE 2
1. Love Is the Craziest Thing
2. Have I Told You Lately That I Love You
3. Oh That's Terrible
4. I Don't Think My Gal Loves Me Anymore
5. I'll Go on a Diet Tomorrow
6. The Monkey and the Baboon
Here is a smooth blending of miserable songs, mediocre musicians and the varicose voices of Homer and Jethro. Here also is a sound that high-fidelity reproduction enhances not the slightest. Several of these alleged songs were composed by an unemployed pole vaulter by the name of Cy Coben. We mention this so that the blame for this album will be more evenly distributed.
The entire studio was spellbound during this session, the only disturbance coming when the "A & R" man threatened to slash his wrists unless we left his name off the album.
With this thought we more or less proudly present Life Can Be Miserable.
Miserably yours,
Homer & Jethro
"Oh Lonesome Me" (Don Gibson). On this tune we had the finest musicians in the country. Unfortunately this was recorded in the city. Sack dresses add to the misery here. Homer is worried because he bought his wife a new sack dress and it fits her! And that's a terrible shape to be in.
"Life Can Be Miserable" (Cy Coben). A truly miserable masterpiece. Death, taxes, traffic, television, in-laws; all this and Homer and Jethro blended into a sad sonata guaranteed to help the sale of sleeping pills, arsenic and razor blades.
"The Drafted Volunteer" (Homer and Jethro). A song for ex-servicemen. The authors were decorated for extreme heroism during a coffee shortage at the USO, Fort Thomas, Kentucky, during the hectic years of World War II.
"She's Went and Gone Away." This was written by Donald "Red" Blanchard, one of the greatest song writers in Pittsville, Wisconsin. Red has done some of the funniest material in show business today, none of which is included in this song. Put down that lawyer, Red, we're only kidding!
"Love Is the Craziest Thing." Cy Coben's responsible for this vaudeville-type tune complete with banjo (Jethro, you genius!). Love is crazy. As proof we offer this: a guy whose wife allowed him one night a week out with the boys refused to grant her the same privilege.
"Have I Told You Lately That I Love You." Our thanks to Lulu Belle and Scotty Wiseman for this beautiful song. They have retired from show business. However, our arrangement of their song will probably bring them back--with shotguns!
"Oh That's Terrible" (Cy Coben). The title of this witty ditty was inspired by the ovenvhelming public response to the two earlier Homer and Jethro albums.
"I Don't Think My Gal Loves Me Anymore" (Cy Coben). True love here. She does everything but wrap his lunch in a road map. It's good clean fun, though. She even sterilized the gun she shot him with.
"I'll Go On a Diet Tomorrow" (Cy Coben). Strictly for the calorie counters. Our wives eat any and all kinds of food and always look the same--FAT.
"The Monkey and the Baboon." Composed by the great Jimmie Driftwood, this tells the story of an alcoholic who forgot to remain anonymous.
Recorded in Nashville, Tennessee, August 25 and 26, 1958.
Recording engineer: Bob Farris.
The producer, Chet Atkins, is recovering nicely.
Other Homer and Jethro albums available at your dealer:
BAREFOOT BALLADS LPM-1412
THE WORST OF HOMER AND JETHRO LPM-1560
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