The mighty Swamp Dogg astride Sparky the Funky Rat

Listen/Download – Swamp Dogg – Sal-A-Faster

Greetings all.

How’s by you?

I’m still not reconciled to the loss of summer, and while we still have a little taste of it to savor here at the shore, it has been an especially brisk week. It’s like Labor Day happened and someone threw a switch somewhere, sucking all the “hot” out of the air.

I don’t know about you guys, but I’m not done sweating yet, so how about something hot and sassy for the middle of the week?

Swamp Dogg is one of those cats who’s name I’ve known forever, but who’s music had evaded me almost completely.

The first time I heard one of his songs it was via a cover version of ‘Total Destruction To Your Mind’ by Eric Ambel of the Del-Lords, which got some airplay on our local alternative station about 20 years ago.

Dogg, who hailed from southern Virginia, recorded for years under his given name, Jerry Williams (and as Little Jerry Williams) for a wide variety of labels through the 60s, including Calla, Loma and Musicor before mutating into Swamp Dogg at the end of the decade.

As Swamp Dogg he recorded for the Canyon label, and wrote songs with another Virginia Tidewater native, Gary US Bonds, for artists like Doris Duke (and Swamp Dogg himself).

Today’s selection, the wild and somewhat incomprehensible ‘Sal-A-Faster’ has a serious New Orleans vibe (with no real connection to the region other than any of the Crescent City zeitgeist that might have taken root in Swamp Dogg’s fevered brain).

The magical substance of the title is recommended for the self, the disobedient wife and the dog that has fits, and the rabbit “that only sits”. Whether ‘sal-a-faster’ is a relation to the contents of a trick bag, or just something that Swamp Dogg pull out of, um, thin air, remains a mystery.

What is not mysterious is the groove of the record, which is, without question, heavy.

I hope you dig it, and I’ll be back on Wednesday.

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Don’t forget that I’ll be spinning some tunes during the annual Point Pleasant Lions Seafood 5K and 1 Mile FUN Run/Walk on Saturday, September 17th in Pt Pleasant Beach, NJ. The run benefits the JT Foundation for Autism Awareness and runs right before the Seafood Fest (which starts at 10AM). I’ll be spinning all of the funk soul and disco you’d expect, so if you’re in the area, come on down and run, sit and watch people run while listening to music, or get your groove on before hunting down some delicious seafood. It’s a great cause and there’ll be good music, good people and good food, so what else do you need to know?

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I hope you dig the tunes, and I’ll see you all on Wednesday

Peace

Larry

 

Also, make sure that you check out the POAC link below (click on the logo). It’s a fantastic organization that provides services to our local autism community, with education and recreational events, and any contribution you could make would be greatly appreciated.

 

If you want one of the new Funky16Corners stickers (free, of course) click here for info.

Check out the Funky16Corners Store at Cafe Press

PS Head over to Iron Leg too.

 

One Response to “Swamp Dogg – Sal-A-Faster”

1. JP says:

   September 15, 2011 at 11:14 pm

   Larry – One of Swamp Dogg’s songwriting partners was a guy named Charlie Whitehead who is also worth checking out (if you have not already). There’s an excellent anthology of his on KENT records. He’s got a song called “Between the Lines” that is one of my favorite songs. – JP