1. Favorite Ray Charles song: "What’d I Say"; it’s heresy to admit this, but overall his stuff leaves me cold.
2. Favorite Jasper Johns series: Lately I often call up the "Decoy" prints in my mind. But the "Targets" series is my pick, followed by the American flag and "Numbers."
3. Big band arranger: Fletcher Henderson — does he deserve as much credit as Benny Goodman?
4. James Brown song: "Bewildered," and have you ever seen the videos of JB dancing on the T.A.M.I. show?
5. Favorite Otis Redding song: "Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)."
6. Best Little Richard cover: "Long Tall Sally," Beatles.
7. Favorite Gladys Knight song: Tough choice.
8. Fiction: Flannery O’Connor, Carson McCullers, Erskine Caldwell, and James Dickey are all candidates but none of them do it for me.
9. Movie, set in: Duh. Remember "Dueling Banjos"?
10. Favorite REM song: "Shaking Through," from Murmur, is a good pick.
11. Favorite Leo Kottke album: Six and Twelve String Guitar; this one changed my life.
12. Musician I’m not supposed to like: Tommy Roe; "Sweet Pea" and "Dizzy" still sound pretty good to me.
The bottom line: Awe. It’s Jasper Johns plus music, music, and more music, and I didn’t even have to think hard about the music. I’m sure I left plenty out.
How’s the barbecue down there? Did you find any particular gems?
Does Gram Parsons count? I know he was born in Florida, but he spent all his formative years in Georgia, so that has to mean something, no?
Also, the Allman Brothers Band comes to mind..
My list of *great* music from GA (in no particular order). Keep in mind my list includes bands that came about after 1980. So in that way Tyler’s list and mine will diverge
Neutral Milk Hotel, Pylon, of Montreal, The Olivia Tremor Control, Cinemechanica
My list of really good music would be much much longer. Also some folks really dig the Drive By Truckers and Widespread Panic… but they are not my thing. Tyler you might dig the band Macha.
How did I miss Gram Parsons? The Georgia Peach. I revere Gram Parsons. This is possibly the worst mistake I have ever made.
If you think Georgia music is great, I can’t wait until you do a “My favorite things Michigan” post.
Care to elaborate on how Leo Kottke “changed your life”?
“I’m sure I left plenty out.”
REM, B52s, Outkast
I forgot, RuPaul started out in Atlanta.
When I think of the movie Deliverance, it sure isn’t the Dueling Banjos that first comes to mind.
Tyler
If you are a Kottke fan, trust you also know John Fahey whom I’m sure was a major influence. (Also curious how Kottke “changed your life.”)
As for Otis, where to begin … my own vote would be “Been Loving You Too Long” or “A Change is Gonna Come.”
When you get older, you will appreciate Ray. (Borrowed that from an old friend commenting to me about Mozart.)
Another movie set there was “Gone With the Wind”.
I have Ray Charles loaded on my Ipod and it gets regular play (more office appropriate then Schooly D and Pharcyde). I can understand neutrality, but to say it negatively affects you, leaves you cold, that’s just nutty cuckoo.
My cousin Vinny was set in Alabama:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Cousin_Vinny
GoodneesOfFit, “Sing, Sing, Sing” is indeed by Louis Prima, but Benny Goodman’s famous version of it incorporates the tune “Christopher Columbus”, which was a hit for Fletcher Henderson’s big band. Goodman bought the “CC” arrangement from Henderson and used a big chunk of it more or less verbatim. In the recording I have of Goodman’s version, it’s what I’d think of as the third melodic idea in the piece, starting at 1:25 in. If you’re familiar with Jon Hendricks’ vocalese version, it’s the melody line that starts “Mister Christopher Columbus / got into a wooden boat / and sailed the seas without a compass.” (Obviously Hendricks knew where it came from!)
Henderson’s version is available as an MP3 from Amazon.com — downloadable single tracks is very handy for investigating jazz history.
Ty Cobb and Joe Louis.
indigo girls, if you like that sort of thing. I did once — used to sneak into bars to see them.
Stone Mountain, Julia Roberts, James Dickey.
And, how, exactly, can Ray Charles leave anyone cold? A complete mystery to me.
I’ll second (third, fourth?) DBT…they are fantastic live, and nice guys to boot. (Though based in Athens, they are I, believe, mostly from Alabama and SC originally.)
You also forgot the Black Crowes.
And Harold’s is the best BBQ in metro ATL.
So you love Texas and hate Ray Charles. That is absolutely stunning. Even though you are an economist, I always thought you were a smart guy. Reconsidering.
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