Hallelujah, I Love Her So - The CharterKats

THE CHARTERKATS
A once a year band born from a drunken sailor's fever dream in 2001, the H.M.S. CharterKat launched into the seas of Lake Superior music as an excuse for a bunch of salty seasoned musicians to be in a band that didn't play too often, didn't rehearse too much, but more importantly allowed for time to hoist a sail, sip a brew, and play only music that they loved - some original, some obscure covers - music that brought a smile (and hopefully another round of beers to the band).
From a long time ago, this orphaned track that was intended for one of our salty Lake Superior sailor CharterKats CDs but never really saw the light of day apart from a very limited (that means like...20) edition EP at the very first gig. Always makes me smile because you can't avoid all the giggling in the background. I'm singing lead and playing guitar on this Ray Charles/Eddie Cochran gem, Tommy and Jeff Vee on bass and drums, Jeff Olson on piano and the great Bobby Vee on background vocals. Yep, that's Bob shouting "Yeah, take it slappy ! Kick it in the ass ! Do the pony - the mashed potato" The memory of recording this one take wonder is just one big smile for me. Silly and fun. BV was there for our first real CKats gig on Madeline Island on the shores of Gitchee Gummee in the campfire glow at Tommy's Burned Down Cafe, for those who don't know, a sort of funky one-of-a-kind-everyone's-welcome-bohemian-north-woods-rusty-sculpture-garden-revolutionary-agitator-tiki-bar... the MUST STOP destination on the island. Everyone in the band thought it would be hilarious to put the least musically accomplished guys name at the top of the poster hence "Bj Whittet and the CharterKats" - and you know, lets not mention the guy in the band tonight who just happened to have sold MILLIONS OF RECORDS around the globe ! Bobby sang tunes from NOTHIN LIKE A SUNNY DAY, Dylans ON A NIGHT LIKE THIS, The Bands' UP ON CRIPPLE CREEK, Johnny Horton's HONKYTONK HARDWOOD FLOOR etc. I can remember it like it was yesterday - what a night ! And he was there a few months later with us in the studio when we banged this one out. Bobby's the best !

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Love this.