American Road Trip Vol. 2
In the first part of this series, we started our US tour in Albuquerque, moved east to Amarillo, and further east to Oklahoma City. Continuing our musical journey we now leave Oklahoma City and move north-west across the Arkansas river to Tulsa.
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Tulsa, Oklahoma
On our way to an appointment in Wichita we pick up a hitchhiker on his way to Tulsa. He tells us that he left his home in Tulsa a while ago to pursue a career in the movies (he even thought Arizona was glamourous, which tells you something about our destination). Well, our boy didn”t cut it in Hollywood (or Phoenix), so he is coming home, to go “livin” on Tulsa time”. We too live on Tulsa time “” for five minutes, and move on.
Eric Clapton ““ Tulsa Time (live, 1980).mp3
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Wichita, Kansas
Moving north along the Arkansas we go on to Wichita to ask one of the locals about the offside rule in football (or “soccer”, as the locals call it) which his colleagues can never get right. Well, our new friend don”t know nuthin” about that. Turns out, it was all a misunderstanding hinging on a missing letter. Instead our friend tells us about his adventures as a telephone technician who conducts his romantic liaison from the top of a telephone pole, and how the weather determines when he may take time off. To be honest, half the time we cannot make out what our pal is on about. Best be on our way.
Glen Campbell ““ Wichita Lineman (1968).mp3
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Kansas City, Missouri
American geography is a bastard. Apart from idiosyncrasies in the pronunciation of certain names (Arkinsaw?), you have Kansas City located not in the state of Kansas (not Kinsaw?), but just across the state border in Missouri. Stop confusing us, Americans! Kansas City has a mayor with a great name: Mark Funkhauser. Anyway, on the corner of 12th Street and Vine we see a strange dude and his girl drinking a bottle of Kansas Wine, the taste and effect of which we prefer to imagine than to experience. But the girl is not his wife, oh no. She”s one of the “crazy little women” the man came to the city for. Hmmm, maybe time to move on before Any Major Dudette gets suspicious.
Wilbert Harrison ““ Kansas City (1959).mp3
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We”ll go down south on the Missouri to reach our next destination. If you are going ahead, I”ll meet you there.
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I’m enjoying this series very much. I love the tidbits of info involved. I also enjoy the perspective from outside the u.s. as I’ve driven most of these roads and love americana music and songs that have places associated with them. My feelings toward a place are sometimes swayed by a song or vice versa. I like the little Michael Jackson singing Kansas City for some reason above others and I’ve always loved ‘Wichita Lineman’. Keep up the good work sir Dude.
Great feature. And great that you featured what is possibly my all time favourite song this time.
I’ll let you guess which, though it shouldn’t be too difficult. If it snows, that stretch down south won’t ever stand the strain…
Yeah, I guessed that right away. An incredible song by an incredible writer sung by an underappreciated singer. It’s a pity that my travels won’t go down to the Texas coast to cover Galveston. But by the time I get to Phoenix… who knows.
You could always take a side trip and fly to Galveston from K.C. After all, did you ever see Dallas from a DC-9 at night?
Thanks for “dropping by” my hometown of Tulsa! I was hoping you’d move up the highway from Oklahoma City.
Just to inflict further confusion into “Arkinsaw” — There’s a town in Kansas called Arkansas City, Kansas (pronounced AR-kansas City, Kansas).
I enjoy your blog (waiting for your next installment in the Songbird series).