IN THE CORNER OF MY MIND THERE’S A JUKEBOX
“Pray For Me Mama (I'm A Gypsy Now)”
This is a sad little ditty from Nashville cowpunk outfit Jason & The Scorchers off their major-label debut Fervor (1983). The band, then known as Jason & The Nashville Scorchers, had already released a DIY EP that was a bit more punk in 1982, Reckless Country Soul, but this was supposed to be the one that made them stars.
Coming in the days before country music Neo-Traditionalist movement (which included everyone from Steve Earle and k.d. land to George Strait and Randy Travis), J&TS represented something new and, indeed, dangerous in Nashville, with their blend of lonesome country twang from lead singer Jason Ringenberg and the high-energy metallic guitar from Warner Hodges. Drummer Perry Baggs and bassist Jeff Johnson laid down a driving punk beat, and a collection of nifty originals and an awesome cover of Bob Dylan’s “Absolutely Sweet Marie”, big things seemed to be in store for Jason & The Scorchers.
Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way. Critical darlings and cult favorites, sure, but like most cowpunk bands, they were too country for rock radio and too rock for country radio. You children might not be able to appreciate it this scenario, but those were the options back in them days. Hell, this was before college radio, much less the plethora of options we enjoy today.
The Scorchers produced two more excellent full-lengths - 1985′s Lost & Found and 1986′s Still Standing - and one more decent record before breaking up (Thunder & Fire, 1989) in 1990. Most of the problem, beyond just that basic lack of success, was Baggs being diagnosed with diabetes, limiting his ability to tour.
After Some compilations and Rigneberg’s solo effort (1992′s One Foot In The Honky Tonk) that was a better title than album, the Scorchers got back together on the strength of the compilations’ sales, releasing A Blazing Grace in 1995, notable for a scorching version of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads”. The band put together one more superlative record in 1996 with Clear Impetuous Morning before Johnson retired from the music business a year later. Kenny Ames filled in his spot for the killer live double album Midnight Roads And Stages Seen in 1998.
Sadly, Baggs died due to complications from diabetes in 2012. I met him briefly once, back during the Midnight Roads tour and he was a really sweet cat. Ringenberg and Hodges are still kicking around with solo stuff and the occasional Scorchers reunion, living well off music into middle age and you can’t fault that. So it all ended with a whiff more than a bang, but that’s rock & roll.
Still, this first EP was an atomic bomb of a record and is highly recommended. If nothing else, you’ll play “Absolutely Sweet Marie” over and over and over.
