I've recently gone through a similar Jerry Jeff reassessment....When I was a very little kid, I'd hear these first hand dispatches from Austin and Luckenbach from Guy and Susanna and Townes about this Jerry Jeff Walker character -- either chuckling over his antics or genuine expressions of gratitude for cutting their songs. This was up in Nashville -- the more cerebral, not as fun other half of a scene that should have all gone down in one town but didn't.....The years go passing by and I wound up at UT. By that time, Guy, Steve and Rodney were all more or less established....Townes was still struggling at the upper end of cult artist...It would take the Cowby Junkies and Sonic Youth to make him the multigenerational legend he is today. Anyway so in the Austin of 1988 I was astonished to find that Jeru Jeff, the outlaw's outlaw of my childhood. was beloved not just by the frat crowd but also their parents. I was simultaneously mortified and a little gratified that he'd made it.....And that was where he stayed in my mind until quite recently when I was given good reason to take a deep dive into some of his songs, and I agree. There's an innocence and vulnerability to some like "Little Bird" and a dark profundity to others like "The Wheel," as you mentioned. And the good timin' songs are just so infectious -- a friend of mine said that when he was a kid, he'd put on Terlingua or another early Jerry Jeff record, and it felt like he'd crashed some amazing party in the Hill Country that was nowhere near over when the needle spooled onto the label of side 2. He'd created a world of his own.
Otis Gibbs mentioned you today on his Youtube channel, so I thought I'd let you know, if interested, Otis will be doing a concert at my house in Wimberley Friday evening, January 13th, and you are invited. I continue to love your missives, thanks
Brings back a lot of memories...Seeing Janice at the id, Siegel Frye at the 11th Door, Fromholtz at the Flag. Even the Cocina del Sur restaurant. My folks, who were straight-laced Southern Baptists and took the family for Mexican dinners at Jimmy Joe Lung's place, would be shocked to hear that it was the origin of Margaritaville. Ha!
My mother and step-father owned the Rubiyat. I have searched for stories about it. My mom has told me about Michael Martin Murphey, Jerry Jeff Walker and Ray Wiley Hubbard playing there once she found out I was a huge fan of JJW.
Yes, and the Rubiyat was in DALLAS. A city that gets absolutely no respect in Texas music history. (It's also the epi-center of crazy, right wing nut jobs.)
Beautiful story. Jerry Jeff was first live act I saw in Austin in 1972, at The Texas Union on campus. He was mesmerizing. Just him with acoustic guitar and a sideman.
Michael..Jerry Jeff recorded a couple of my tunes as title tracks for 2 albums..."Contrary To Ordinary & Too Old To Change". I truly enjoyed your words and sentiments. I was in Austin in the mid70's, on my way to everywhere, and I almost stayed. It was a magical time. Wish I could go back.
I witnessed the shit-faced, falling down drunk Jerry Jeff on far too many occasions to ever believe he was anything other than an asshole who happened to write great songs. Never saw him after he got sober, so my opinion is tainted. I was a student at Baylor when Viva Terlingua came out and everyone had a copy of that LP. I brought mine with me when I moved to Colorado in 74, where EVERYONE hated Texans. But when I pulled that record out and placed it on the turntable, they cut me some slack.
The song that has grown on me is his version of Guy Clark's "Desperadoes Waiting for a Train." I used to think it was about an old man and a boy pretending to be cowboys, but it's about waiting too die.
Love JJW to bits - travelled from Toronto to Austin for many of his birthday parties (for a while they were the same time as SxSW but he adjusted his birthday party date after a few years of competing for venues/hotels with that crowd LOL). Saw him a couple of times at the Lone Star in NY. And I loved that "Hey Buckaroos" shit. Scamp Walker time again, and all that... And the yodelling 🤣
Has everyone seen the last song he recorded, just before he died? Friends and Memories. Touching, heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqHymlhxzJw
When Viva Terlingua came out, I was a student at Baylor University. EVERYONE had that LP, and we all played it incessantly. I still have my copy. I never disliked it, and never grew tired of it. I remember being crushed when I learned that Jerry Jeff was actually from New York. All this time I was a fan of a damned Yankee!!!
Viva Terlingua and Too Old to Change may be my favourite Jerry Jeff lps but the song of his that first rally got my attention was My Od Man when he played it in St. Peter, Mn in late 70 or early 71.
I've recently gone through a similar Jerry Jeff reassessment....When I was a very little kid, I'd hear these first hand dispatches from Austin and Luckenbach from Guy and Susanna and Townes about this Jerry Jeff Walker character -- either chuckling over his antics or genuine expressions of gratitude for cutting their songs. This was up in Nashville -- the more cerebral, not as fun other half of a scene that should have all gone down in one town but didn't.....The years go passing by and I wound up at UT. By that time, Guy, Steve and Rodney were all more or less established....Townes was still struggling at the upper end of cult artist...It would take the Cowby Junkies and Sonic Youth to make him the multigenerational legend he is today. Anyway so in the Austin of 1988 I was astonished to find that Jeru Jeff, the outlaw's outlaw of my childhood. was beloved not just by the frat crowd but also their parents. I was simultaneously mortified and a little gratified that he'd made it.....And that was where he stayed in my mind until quite recently when I was given good reason to take a deep dive into some of his songs, and I agree. There's an innocence and vulnerability to some like "Little Bird" and a dark profundity to others like "The Wheel," as you mentioned. And the good timin' songs are just so infectious -- a friend of mine said that when he was a kid, he'd put on Terlingua or another early Jerry Jeff record, and it felt like he'd crashed some amazing party in the Hill Country that was nowhere near over when the needle spooled onto the label of side 2. He'd created a world of his own.
Jerry Jeff's book Gypsy Songman is out of date for some reason, but it's really great if you can find it. I got it from the library.
Michael
Otis Gibbs mentioned you today on his Youtube channel, so I thought I'd let you know, if interested, Otis will be doing a concert at my house in Wimberley Friday evening, January 13th, and you are invited. I continue to love your missives, thanks
-john moore
I'll try to make it. Thanks.
Is this an “invitation only” concert John or is there a way for us average folk to see Otis?
Brings back a lot of memories...Seeing Janice at the id, Siegel Frye at the 11th Door, Fromholtz at the Flag. Even the Cocina del Sur restaurant. My folks, who were straight-laced Southern Baptists and took the family for Mexican dinners at Jimmy Joe Lung's place, would be shocked to hear that it was the origin of Margaritaville. Ha!
My mother and step-father owned the Rubiyat. I have searched for stories about it. My mom has told me about Michael Martin Murphey, Jerry Jeff Walker and Ray Wiley Hubbard playing there once she found out I was a huge fan of JJW.
Yes, and the Rubiyat was in DALLAS. A city that gets absolutely no respect in Texas music history. (It's also the epi-center of crazy, right wing nut jobs.)
Great article! Learned a few things I didn't already know.
Beautiful story. Jerry Jeff was first live act I saw in Austin in 1972, at The Texas Union on campus. He was mesmerizing. Just him with acoustic guitar and a sideman.
isn't that Susanna Clark next to Hondo in the picture?
Nope, not Mary (see pic here, with Mary on the left): https://gato-docs.its.txstate.edu/jcr:d087c108-d10e-40d0-9fad-1f5ba10f7ec8/Volume_8_Viva%20Terlingua.pdf
I believe that's Mary Hattersley. I see a fiddle, I think.
that photo is in Tamara Saviano's book on Guy Clark; Guy and Susanna were there that day and the lady is identified as Susanna.
Thanks, I'll change that caption
btw, i should have said, great article!
Michael..Jerry Jeff recorded a couple of my tunes as title tracks for 2 albums..."Contrary To Ordinary & Too Old To Change". I truly enjoyed your words and sentiments. I was in Austin in the mid70's, on my way to everywhere, and I almost stayed. It was a magical time. Wish I could go back.
I witnessed the shit-faced, falling down drunk Jerry Jeff on far too many occasions to ever believe he was anything other than an asshole who happened to write great songs. Never saw him after he got sober, so my opinion is tainted. I was a student at Baylor when Viva Terlingua came out and everyone had a copy of that LP. I brought mine with me when I moved to Colorado in 74, where EVERYONE hated Texans. But when I pulled that record out and placed it on the turntable, they cut me some slack.
The song that has grown on me is his version of Guy Clark's "Desperadoes Waiting for a Train." I used to think it was about an old man and a boy pretending to be cowboys, but it's about waiting too die.
Love JJW to bits - travelled from Toronto to Austin for many of his birthday parties (for a while they were the same time as SxSW but he adjusted his birthday party date after a few years of competing for venues/hotels with that crowd LOL). Saw him a couple of times at the Lone Star in NY. And I loved that "Hey Buckaroos" shit. Scamp Walker time again, and all that... And the yodelling 🤣
Has everyone seen the last song he recorded, just before he died? Friends and Memories. Touching, heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqHymlhxzJw
Wow, that was pretty great.
Great story, thanks. I particularly love this line: "was a frequent flier by the seat of his pants"
.
Have been a Jerry Jeff follower for years. Love playing his music.
Otis sent me !
Billy
Its a private event in a small room, and capacity is at its limits, sorry.. Hopefully Otis will come back soon and do some shows in venues..
When Viva Terlingua came out, I was a student at Baylor University. EVERYONE had that LP, and we all played it incessantly. I still have my copy. I never disliked it, and never grew tired of it. I remember being crushed when I learned that Jerry Jeff was actually from New York. All this time I was a fan of a damned Yankee!!!
Viva Terlingua and Too Old to Change may be my favourite Jerry Jeff lps but the song of his that first rally got my attention was My Od Man when he played it in St. Peter, Mn in late 70 or early 71.