By George Boyland
So here’s the deal …
The Cuban Brothers - Ace Of Spades
All I can say is .…
"Whaddya think, Lemmy?"
"I kinda like the flute. Need another dancer?"
Ronnie Lane And Slim Chance - How Come
Don't draw cards against a witch, Ronnie. Show some sense, lad. You can't win.
Paddy Mac gets some perspicacious advice in Prefab Sprout's Wild Card In The Pack. Let's hope he made the right choice.
I was 20 years old when I learned the lessons Ray Charles should have picked up before he played Blackjack. There is nothing sadder than screwing up the last betting slip of the day and dropping it into the bin. From that day on I've assiduously played within my limits, knowing that I'm buying fun, but over the year . . . you lose.
On the other hand . . . life sometimes produces winners. Some people have 365 good days a year. Without even trying. Max Romeo's Norman is one such golden balls.
I once had the misfortune to hear Max Bygraves recite the 'Deck Of Cards'. Man, that was tough. But, fortunately, now I've come across a rebuttal Stacked Deck by Etta James. She knows how unholy playing cards are, no matter what fibs desperate popular singers tell you.
Would you go to a party thrown by the royal family? Nah, me neither. I'd rather stay home with a bottle of Stella, or three. But hang on a minute, this is the royal family from the deck of cards as imagined by Captain Beefheart. Well deal me in sunshine. It's The White Stripes with Party Of Special Things To Do.
Little Feat's High Roller is just a fantasy, as are most pop songs. On the other hand, high rollers do exist, even if most of them are serious losers, though very rarely some are actual winners. So rarely that sometimes the bookies can't even see them coming. At Chester races one time I saw a man place three grand on a 2/1 favourite. I was standing behind him with my fiver. When I went to collect, there was the high roller collecting nine grand. The bookie remembered me and ruefully said, "He was a pro, and I didn't see him coming."
Still, I picked up my fifteen quid.
Stephen Stills' Black Queen is a load of gibberish supplemented by the fact that Stephen can really play that dropped D on the guitar and sing like an angelic bluesman. And it's actually about playing cards, though it wouldn't win me a hand of brag.
Bob Dylan - All Along The Watchtower; a tarot reading. Jimi's magnifico cover is zedded, but it's about time Bob's brilliant original hit the Marconium.
The Ace A-List Playlist:
The Cuban Brothers - Ace Of Spades
Ronnie Lane And Slim Chance - How Come
Prefab Sprout - Wild Card In The Pack
Ray Charles - Blackjack
Max Romeo - Norman
Etta James - Stacked Deck
The White Stripes - Party Of Special Things To Do
Little Feat - High Roller
Stephen Stills - Black Queen
Bob Dylan - All Along The Watchtower
Blackjack B-List Playlist:
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Bad Card
Joni Mitchell - Song For Sharon
Offa Rex - The Queen Of Hearts
Peter Hammill - (In The) Black Room
Spirit - Silky Sam
Boogie Down Productions - Jack Of Spades
Anti-Nowhere League - Kings And Queens
Fairport Convention - Jack O' Diamonds
And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Flower Card Games
Sippie Wallace - Jack Of Diamond Blues
Holly Golightly - Card Table
Blind Willie McTell - Dying Crapshooter's Blues
XTC - Happy Families
Guru’s Wildcard Pick:
Streetwalkers - Ace of Spades (final track on the album at 39m08sec)
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations from last week's topic: What's the deal? Songs about playing cards. The next topic will launch on Thursday at 1pm UK time.
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