Hongkie Town

I love all of Ry Cooder's work, Buena Vista Social Club, his albums of duets with African and Indian musicians, his concept albums, his soundtracks, but I especially love his solo work from the 70s, albums like Into the Purple Valley or Paradise & Lunch, albums in which he delved into the roots of American music. It's been years since he's done what I would consider a relatively straightforward album of that nature, but now we have a new one. Okay, it has a concept, but a loose one, and the music is relatively straightforward for Ry. It's called "I, Flathead" and subtitled "The Songs of Kash Buk and the Klowns." Wikipedia says it's the third in his California trilogy and unfortunately, I got a "regular" copy, not knowing there was a deluxe edition that includes an accompanying 100+ page novella written by Cooder. Which I want, so if someone wants to buy this "regular" edition from me, let me know.

I never met Mr. Cooder, and yet it seems that on this album he wrote a song for me. It's called "Filipino Dance Hall Girl."

When the evening shadows fall I'm dreaming
Of a certain smile a secret rendezvous
When the day is past and gone I'll come creeping
Down the dark end of the street to you
In a dimly lit cafe as we go dancing
I try to smile and hide a love that's true
Then they play a lovely tune as we're romancing
And I can't pretend no matter what I do

Dark and different so they tell me
It's forbidden so they say
But I just tell them we're so happy
She's my Filipino dance hall girl

Good friends have all withdrawn their salutations
Good neighbors pause when I come down the street
Preacher has a look of scorn on Sunday morning
And there's a frown on every face I see

Que sera sera the Bible tells me
Novus Ordo Seclorum so they say
I just tell them adios muchachos
She's my Filipino dance hall girl

Then she whispers while we're dancing
In a language soft and low
I just tell her darling I love you
She's my Filipino dance hall girl

Also newly released is a 2 disc edition of Dennis Wilson's one completed solo album, Pacific Ocean Blue, originally released in 1977. Bonus tracks include the sessions for the album Bambu, which was in progress when Wilson died. Wilson of course was one of the Beach Boys, the "odd" one, the one who hung out with Charles Manson, the only Beach Boy who actually surfed. Many critics think of this album as a neglected masterpiece of sorts. I've only listened to it once so far and I'm not quite ready to rate it that highly, but it's clear that Dennis possessed ambitions every bit as lofty as that of brother Brian. Some of it is pretty quirky stuff. But it's definitely worth hearing.