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Any Major Mexico

October 27th, 2016 Leave a comment Go to comments

Any Major Mexico

On Tuesday, November 8, US citizens will have the option to elect as their president a spittle-spewing sphincter-mouthed polemicist who peddles the delusion the USA can build a wall across the long Mexican border — and make Mexico pay for it.

At least a third of Americans think that the streams of excrement that is being pumped into the US political discourse (and not only by old sphincter-mouth) is reasonable, aside from all the other poisonous stench which that bluster-bully has emitted from the putrid cesspool inside his corroded cranial cavity.

I have no idea whether former Mexican President Vicente Fox has any other redeeming features, but I enjoyed that particular Bad Hombre’s response to the crazy clown’s idea: “We’re not paying for that fucking wall.” This angered the bankrupt billionaire so much that he demanded an apology!

So this seems like a good time to observe the US-Mexico relationship via the medium of song, through which no demagogic dickhead can build a barrier.

Mexico has always fascinated songwriters. In Germany’s schlager scene of the 1960s and ’70s, Mexico was the big thing. The biggest hit of them all was Rex Gildo“s rousing Fiesta Mexicana, which remains a cult hit in Germany, despite (or perhaps because) its cheesy arrangement. Still, Gildo’s exclamations of “Hossa!” rank among the most-inspired moments in ’70s pop, in any language. I include it as a bonus track.

In other songs the dreaded Heino sang about Tampico, Tony Marshall had Adios Amigos, Freddy Quinn chipped in with some Mexico song, Caterina Valente with another, and others with yet more songs about tequila and fiestas and senoritas. The Germany-based Les Humphries Singers sang their 1972 Schlager about Mexico in English (shamelessly ripping off Jimmy Driftwood”s The Battle Of New Orleans), and that is included here.

Old Sphincter mouth.

Old Sphincter mouth.

And Cuban singer Roberto Blanco made a German version of Tom Jones’ The Young New Mexican Puppeteer — and that takes us back to the US elections and the bigotry and fear-mongering and lack of kindness exhibited by the narcissistic nutter and the freak show that is doing his bidding. The song, by Jones or Blanco, isn’t set in Mexico but in a town near Albuquerque (which, of course, was annexed from Mexico), so it doesn’t qualify for inclusion in this mix. But listen to its lyrics HERE; they reference Lincoln, King and Twain. “The young New Mexican puppeteer, he saw the people all lived in fear. He thought that maybe they would listen to a puppet telling them what to do.” Hell, if the US doesn’t need a New Mexican puppeteer right now to bring peace and joy and civil rights, rather than Putin’s or Wall Street’s puppet.

One act German Schlager singers didn’t tend to cover was The Grateful Dead. They feature here in the guise of Bob Weir, from his 1972 Ace LP, which basically was a Dead album. Indeed, Mexicali Blues was a staple of the Deads’ live shows and was included on their 1974 greatest hits collection.

Frank Sinatra confuses matters a little. His 1956 cover of the 1930 hit It Happened In Monterrey takes the spelling of the California town, but the lyrics indicate that the song is still set in the city in Nuevo Leon state.

To be sure: This set is not intended to showcase Mexican music or Mexican acts, though the set closes with a tejano-fusion act, the Texas Tornados, whose members included Sir Douglas Quintet founders Doug Sahm and Augie Meyers, swamp rocker Freddy Fender, and accordionist Flaco Jimenez, one of those artists who have worked with some of the greatest acts in rock (such as like Bob Dylan, Ry Cooder and the Rolling Stones, who open this set) but whose name isn’t widely known.

Indeed, much of the mix is pretty relaxed, with few sounds of mariachi and no Speedy Gonzalez clichés abounding.

Above I disqualify Tom Jones’ song for being set in Albuquerque, not in Mexico. I also excluded Christopher Cross’ Ride Like The Wind for stopping at the border to Mexico. But at least two songs are not located in Mexico either: James Taylor is singing about his desire to go to Mexico, but he certainly is there already in his mind.

Dave Alvin‘s sublime Rio Grande takes various stops in places in Texas and New Mexico, but from there he observes the storm clouds above Juarez and stares at the lights of Mexico before walking to the border bridge where the eponymous river forms the border. The song is wonderful; it also featured on Any Major Country Vol. 20.

As always, the mix is timed to fit on a standard CD-R (so there were a few good songs I had to exclude) and includes home-fiestad covers. PW in comments.

1. The Rolling Stones – I’m Going Down (1975)
2. John Prine – Mexican Home (1973)
3. Delbert McClinton – Down Into Mexico (2005)
4. Carbon Leaf – Mexico (2009)
5. Blake Shelton – Playboys Of The Southwestern World (2003)
6. Dave Alvin – Rio Grande (2004)
7. Chris Isaak – South Of The Border (1996)
8. Merle Haggard – Mexican Bands (2010)
9. Steve Earle – Goodbye (1995)
10. Warren Zevon – Veracruz (1978)
11. Hoyt Axton – Evangelina (1975)
12. Emmylou Harris – Spanish Is A Loving Tongue (1981)
13. James Taylor – Mexico (1975)
14. Townes Van Zandt – Pancho And Lefty (1993)
15. Donovan – Sand And Foam (1967)
16. Bob Weir – Mexicali Blues (1972)
17. The Kingston Trio – Tijuana Jail (1959)
18. Long John Baldry – Mexico (1968)
19. Frank Sinatra – It Happened In Monterey (1956)
20. Stan Kenton and His Orchestra feat. June Christy – Tampico (1945)
21. Herb Alpert – Tijuana Taxi (1966)
22. Les Humphries Singers – Mexico (1972)
23. Texas Tornados – Adios Mexico (1990)
Bonus: Rex Gildo – Fiesta Mexicana (1972)

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  1. halfhearteddude
    October 27th, 2016 at 07:20 | #1

    PW – amdwhah

  2. Reimer
    October 27th, 2016 at 08:19 | #2

    Looks good. Thanks. And Hillary for jail 2017.

  3. JohnnyDiego
    October 27th, 2016 at 13:04 | #3

    I was going to comment on an interesting idea for a compilation and perhaps add an addendum on the political situation as it degrades further and further world wide into nationalistic populism. But then Reimer showed me again the ignorance of half the world’s population and in particular the deplorable basket of ignorance we have festering in the United States.

  4. Mpush
    October 27th, 2016 at 14:10 | #4

    Very informative. Shamefully I know only James Taylor’s song here

  5. Jonesyq
    October 27th, 2016 at 16:16 | #5

    Steve Miller Band – Goin’ to Mexico – The best song he ever did!

    If that bigot Trump gets elected, I’ll be following the advice and packing my bags to split for Mexico.

  6. October 27th, 2016 at 18:28 | #6

    Dude, Always enjoy the mixes. This one looks great as always. (I don’t understand ANY of the appeal of Drumpf and I’m on the conservative end of the spectrum). This mix made me think of one of my very favorite mid 90’s bands the Refreshments – out of Tempe, Arizona. They have a track titled Mexico that would fit nicely here, but most of their music is infused with Mariachi horns and a very southwestern vibe. I just got their first album [Fizzy, Fuzzy, Big and Buzzy] on vinyl re-issue and I can’t recommend it highly enough, their second and only other album is also very good. Keep up the good work here.

  7. mike walker
    October 27th, 2016 at 22:06 | #7

    Not only is your taste in music pretty banal, you also have that nasty habit of not knowing what you are talking about.

    If your favorite cunt, Mrs.Clinton is victorious, I hope you take the victory with grace and don’t pounce on the other side.

    Hopefully, if Trump (nice picture…nice tag!) wins, someone will find you and kick your ass.

    Best,

    Mike walker

  8. JohnnyDiego
    October 28th, 2016 at 12:18 | #8

    @mike walker
    Nuff said, case closed. This guy is from the bottom of the basket. I think Michael Jackson once sang, “One bad apple don’t spoil the whole bunch.” It took just one narcissist to bring those rotten apples to the top.

  9. halfhearteddude
    October 29th, 2016 at 10:47 | #9

    Trouble is, Mike Walker, the type of Trump supporters who might wish to kick my ass are too dumb to find their way out of a paperback, never mind to find people with whom they disagree.

  10. PL44
    October 31st, 2016 at 10:31 | #10

    Allein die ersten drei Absätze waren es wert mal wieder vorbeizuschauen. Als Englishlehrer kann man nie genug Wortkombinationen kennen, die Abscheu und Verachtung deutlich zum Ausdruck bringen. Danke! Es spricht mir aus der Seele.

  11. halfhearteddude
    October 31st, 2016 at 13:50 | #11

    Gerne geschehen. Nun, über Sachsen…

  12. PL44
    October 31st, 2016 at 17:39 | #12

    @halfhearteddude
    Mach’ ruhig, ich komme aus Dortmund. ;-)
    Arschl… gibt’s leider überall, das hat der große Toupetträger auf der anderen Seite des Teichs ja nicht für sich alleine gepachtet.

  13. halfhearteddude
    October 31st, 2016 at 23:45 | #13

    Klar. Nichts persönliches. Nur der Frust, dass dieser böse Wind auch in Teilen Deutschlands weht.

  14. Jeff
    November 4th, 2016 at 17:09 | #14

    Thought I posted this, but guess not –

    Love your stuff and appreciate the effort. One problem on the Mexico Mix – Song #5 is not Blake Shelton. It is actually a song by Scotty Emerick entitled “I Can’t Take You Anywhere.” Unfortunately, the Blake song will screw up the timing. Otherwise, another terrific job.

    If you do another Mexico mix, please consider the Bacon Brothers “Ten Years In Mexico.” Also a little Dwight Yoakam.

    PLEASE repost your Hanukkah mixes next month.

    Keep up the great work!!!

  15. Ken
    February 28th, 2017 at 20:34 | #15

    A little Canadiana to add to the mix. “You me & Mexico”. ……Edward Bear

  16. SUNSTORM
    April 16th, 2020 at 23:11 | #16

    Can you please re-up this post thanks

  17. halfhearteddude
    April 17th, 2020 at 10:28 | #17

    It’s up again.

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