Features nine new original Cash Box Kings songs hotwiring the classic juke-joint sound for the modern day. The band also breathes new life into Muddy Waters’ “Please Have Mercy” and Sonny Boy Williamson’s “Pontiac Blues.” Chicago blues diva Deitra Farr and Memphis blues great John Nemeth guest. “Oscar Wilson’s powerful and deep voice harkens back to the golden age of Chicago blues. Joe Nosek blows spirited, muscular harp. One of the top blues bands of this era.” —Blues Music Magazine
Oh, If you feel down and out, oh, come to Oscar’s Motel Oh, If you feel down and out, oh, come to Oscar’s Motel Oh, Oscar will treat you right After you told your man, “Farewell”
Oh, he’s got a juke joint bar, oh, where they’re playing some blues Oh, he’s got a juke joint bar, baby, yes, where they’re playing the blues He always got a man out back Cooking chicken and barbeque
Well, you can party ‘til you get tired, baby, oh, won’t be a word said Well, you can party ‘til you get tired, well, won’t be a word said ‘Cause when you get tired, baby, ‘cause when you get tired, baby Oh, Oscar’s got a great big bed
2.
Down On The South Side
3:41
(Oh, man, remember back in the day down on 43rd Street? We used to have us a good time Now, I’m talking about a real good time
Down at Dizzie’s tavern, Swingmaster is starting to grind Happy Landing dancing by himself, ain’t nobody gonna pay him no mind, Big Head Willie and Scooter Man in the corner they shooting craps Die-yao drinking white port wine in his suit and he looking dap Well, the joint is jumping everybody having a real good time I’m dancing with my girl, I ain’t paying them no mind Down on the South Side. Yeah, down on the South Side.
Head on over Virgil’s, walk on through the door, Menfolk packing razors ‘cause they call it the Killin’ Floor Range Driver strolls in totin’ his violin case, Pulls out a sawed-off shotgun and he clears the whole damn place, Well, the joint is jumping everybody having a real good time I’m dancing with girl, I ain’t paying them no mind Down on the South Side. Yeah, down on the South Side
Bop on over Babe’s Den, to have another drink, Dudes dressed up in cashmere coats, alligator shoes, and pinky rings Drinking from the top shelf, Piper-Heidsieck too They won’t touch those rail drinks that normal people do Well, the joint is jumping everybody’s having a real good time I’m dancing with girl, I ain’t paying them no mind Down on the South Side. Yeah, down on the South Side
3.
Please Have Mercy
4:00
Mercy, mercy, baby, I know I treated you wrong (Have mercy) Mercy, mercy, baby, I know I treated you wrong My heart is full of sorrow, Take me back where I belong (Lord, have mercy, baby)
I′m good for nothing baby; I lied and I cheated too I'm good for nothing baby I lied and I cheated too (Mercy!) Now begin to reap, and I don′t know what to do (Have mercy’ baby, have mercy)
Mercy, mercy, baby, I know I treated you wrong (Please have mercy) Mercy, mercy, baby, I know I know I treated you wrong Oh, have mercy honey My heart full of sorry, please bring your clothes back home (Oh’ bring your clothes back home, honey)
4.
I Can’t Stand You
4:20
I can't stand you You know, I can't stand you I can't stand you You know, I can't stand you I can't stand you Oscar/Deitra, and the way you do
(Oscar) You always posting nasty things about me And that's the very reason I can't stand you, you see. (Deitra) You make me so mad but I ain’t studding you, Everything that I say about you is absolutely true.
(Oscar) When I see you, before we even speak You get on my nerves from across the street (Deitra) You tell our friends on Facebook that I treat you really mean But you’re the one who's a pest and you make me want to scream
I can't stand you You know, I can't stand you I can't stand you You know, I can't stand you I can't stand you Oscar/Deitra and the way you do
Bridge (Oscar) Can’t stand you in the morning (Oscar) Can’t stand you at night (Deitra) Can’t stand you in the dark (Deitra) Can’t stand you in the light (Oscar) Can’t stand you on land, (Deitra) Can’t stand you in the sky (Both) Can’t stand you on days of the week that end in “y”
(Oscar) Deitra, you remind me of a sister of mine Always shouting and riding my behind (Deitra) Oh yeah you just like my big brother Always talking loud and saying nothin’
I can't stand you You know, I can't stand you I can't stand you You know, I can't stand you I can't stand you Oscar/Deitra, and the way you do
5.
Hot Little Mess
3:29
She's a hot little mess She can't stay in her dress When she drinks to excess All her sins she’ll confess
She starts drinking at noon She starts drinking at noon Then she sings out of tune ‘Til she howls at the moon She's a hot little mess But I sure wish that mess was mine
She’s not the kind of girl you bring home to mama But I’m hoping someday That maybe my baby becomes a true lady And brings her herself back home to stay
She'll make you look like a fool She'll make you look like a fool When she's hustling at pool The way she treats me is cruel
Cause I try to pretend And I try to pretend She don’t sleep with strange men Her ways are hard to defend She's a hot little mess But I sure wish that mess was mine
She’s not the kind of girl you bring home to mama But I’m hoping someday That maybe my baby becomes a true lady And brings her herself back home to stay
She's a hot lIttle mess She's a hot little mess She's a hot little mess She's a hot little mess She's a hot little mess But I sure wish that mess was mine She's a hot little mess But I sure wish that mess was mine
6.
Nobody Called It The Blues
3:33
We called them “master” They called us “boy” Our dignity tried to destroy They took our freedom, And changed our names Broke up our families They had no shame
But the music that we’d sing Kept hope alive And when I woke this mornin’, Well, it still survives
Nobody called it the blues back then Just a song to sing Preach it! Teach it! Sing it again. Until ya hear that freedom ring.
You wear that iron You work that field They beat you down Tried to make you kneel And from that whip Lord, that hangin’ tree Arose the music That set us free
And the music that we’d sing Kept hope alive And when I woke this mornin’, It still survives
Nobody called it the blues back then Just a song to sing Preach it! Teach it! Sing it again ‘Til ya hear that freedom ring
I am a man! I’m a rollin’ stone Let that swagger be that dagger In the master’s bones
Unto this day, the blues is real It lets me voice the way I feel
And the music that we’d sing Kept hope alive And when I woke this mornin’, It still survives
Nobody called it the blues back then It didn’t have a name Nobody called it the blues back then It was the blues just the same Nobody called it the blues back then It kept our spirits high Nobody called it the blues back then It was a way to stay alive
7.
Pontiac Blues
1:57
These are words my baby told me, was the natural facts Yes, words my baby told me was the natural facts Said, “I love my big daddy But I’m crazy about his Pontiac”
We gonna drive out on the highway, turn the bright lights off Drive out on the highway, turn the bright lights off We’re gonna turn the radio on, get music from up to north
We’re gonna drive out on the highway, Highway 49 Yes, we’re gonna drive out on the highway, Highway 49 I want you to tell me, baby “Everything is fine”
I found out what my baby likes Yeah, I found out what my baby likes Yeah, she likes a whole lot of loving In that straight-eight Pontiac
8.
Trying So Hard
5:17
Trying so hard to do the things that pleases you Trying so hard to do the things that pleases you It ain’t nothin’ in this world That I wouldn’t do for you
I give you all of my money, and you ride all over town I give you all of my money, and you ride all over town Now you tellin’ everybody You’re gonna put your man down
I ain’t got no money, and I’m walking down that railroad track I ain’t got no money, and I’m walking down that railroad track And if things don’t get no better I ain’t never coming back
I ain’t got nothing, Lord, I ain’t got nothing but the blues I ain’t got nothing, I ain’t got nothing but the blues I’m going to leave Chi-town What is a poor man supposed to do?
9.
She Dropped The Axe On Me
3:43
My baby went and dropped the, she dropped the axe on me My baby went and dropped the, she dropped the axe on me She took me by surprise now That axe I didn't see (Didn’t see)
She hit me so hard, made my whole body sore She hit me so hard, made my whole body sore She took off my head Just like Thomas Moore (Thomas Moore)
If I knew back then, things I know today If I knew back then, things I know today First time I'd see that woman I’d run the other way Run the other way Run the other way Run the other way Run the other way
10.
I Want What Chaz Has
3:43
He drives around in a real cool ride. Two chicks in the back, one at his side I want what Chaz has I want what Chaz has People that ain't no jazz I really want what Chaz has
He's got a chick, fine and gelatinous What I wouldn't give to lay up in that fatness I want what Chaz has I want what Chaz has People that ain't no jazz I really want what Chaz has
He’s got another girl her name is Jeanie, She loves to play with his magic we…need what Chaz has We need what Chaz has We need what Chaz has People that ain't no jazz I really want what Chaz has
He’s got fine chicks and he’s always on the go But don’t you get it twisted he ain’t messing with no who…lotta women I want what Chaz has I want what Chaz has People that ain't no jazz I really want what Chaz has
He's always smoking the finest herb Make you fly as high as a bird I want what Chaz has I want what Chaz has People that ain't no jazz I really want what Chaz has
We want what Chaz has We want what Chaz has We want what Chaz has We want what Chaz has People that ain't no jazz I really want what Chaz has
11.
Ride Santa Ride
2:15
Cruisin’ Christmas eve through a snowswept winter’s night I rolled up on a tragic, sad and disturbing sight Pulled over my Caddy, turned on the hazard lights
The semi’d crashed, the deed was done Ancient sleigh was totaled, reindeer on the run A bearded man in red clothes all tattered Gatherin’ toys that had all been scattered He looked at me and began to shake He said, “Help me son! I got deliveries to make”
Ride! Ride, big Santa! Ride! Chicago to Atlanta! Ride! L.A. to Montana! Ride! D.C. to Texarkana! He jumped in my Caddy, and said’ “let’s fly! Don't want the little boys and girls to cry!”
I said, “hop in,” what else could I have done? His twinkling eyes said, “Thank you son!” Tossed the toys in the back in the trunk, Smelled like peppermint when he jumped in the front Ain’t no time to curse, ain’t no time to frown He jumped in the Caddy, put the hammer down!
Ride! Ride big Santa! Ride! Chicago to Atlanta! Ride! L.A. to Montana! Ride! D.C. to Texarkana! He jumped in the Caddy, and said “let’s fly!” Don't want the little boys and girls to cry!
Cadillac ran true. Cadillac flew fast Santa had the magic, we didn’t need no gas As I think back, I can’t quite remember What went down that evening in December Time stood still, as we cruised through the snow A billion houses down, a billion more to go
Ride! Ride big Santa! Ride! Chicago to Atlanta! Ride! L.A. to Montana! Ride! D.C. to Texarkana! He jumped in my Caddy, and said “let’s fly!” Don't want the little boys and girls to cry!
The Cash Box Kings are: Joe Nosek: Harmonica, Vocals (5,9), Acoustic Guitar (9) Oscar Wilson: Vocals Billy Flynn: Lead Guitar, Baritone Guitar (5) Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith: Drums (1,4,7,8) John W. Lauler: Upright and Electric Bass Lee Kanehira: Piano, Organ
With Special Guests: Deitra Farr: Vocals (4) John Nemeth: Vocals (10) Shoji Naito: Rhythm Guitar (1,4,7,8), Kick Drum (3) Andrew Diehl: Rhythm Guitar (5,6,9,10,11) Derek Hendrickson: Drums (5,9,10,11) Alex Hall: Drums (2,6) Cameron Webb: Vocals (6) Xavier Lynn: Rhythm Guitar (2) Jon McDonald: Guitar (3)
The C-Note Horns: Al Falaschi: Tenor and Baritone Saxophones (2,5) Jim Doherty: Trumpet (2)
Produced by Joe Nosek Recorded by Alex Hall at Reliable Recorders/Hi-Style Studio, Chicago, IL Mixed by Alex Hall and Bruce Iglauer Mastered by Collin Jordan and Bruce Iglauer at The Boiler Room, Chicago, IL Design by Kevin Niemiec Band Photos by Janet Mami Takayama Other Photos by SBT4NOW (cover), Dylan Fout (back cover) and Jo Naylor (door)
This album is dedicated to all the frontline workers who worked selflessly throughout the pandemic to care for others. Those workers include our wives Kristina Espinoza, Felicia Wilson, Mary Flynn, and Holly Smith.
The CBKs tip their crowns to the following: Danny Person, Sarah Lauler, Kaitlyn Hendrickson, Donna McNeil, Juan and Lydia Espinoza, Deitra Farr, Dr. Eugene Kwon & Dr. Stanley Stish and the Mayo Clinic Oncology Staff, John Hahn, Dave Sawtelle, Sue Moore, Eric Simpson, Koki Kanehira, Jon Penner, Steve Jones and the Crossroads Blues Society, Mike McCann, Al Rasho, Tom McCarty, Dave Specter, Marc Maddox and the crew at Buddy Guy’s Legends, Greg Guy, Dave Specter and SPACE, FitzGerald’s, Doug and Cheryl Lewis, Tony, Jennifer & the crew at Rosa’s Lounge, Jimmy Voegeli, Linda Cain, Merideth Colby, and Karen Murphy. The CBKs also want to express their royal gratitude to Bruce Iglauer and the entire Alligator staff for all their support. You guys are the BEST.
Oscar Wilson would like to give thanks to his parents Harvey & Maxine Wilson. RIHP!
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