Anyone remember PJ Proby?

Dave W · February 18, 2008, 06:35:47 PM

Looks like he's in a bit of trouble: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/2008/02/18/pj-proby-in-50k-fraud-inquiry-86908-20323137/

He only made the Top 40 once in the US (Niki Hoeky) but he did have some, ermmm, exposure in the UK in the 60s. Here he is being introduced by some guys: http://youtube.com/watch?v=w2mIgL51qkg

OldManC · February 18, 2008, 07:42:28 PM

Help a (slightly) younger brutha out. Is that the original "Walking the Dog"? I always liked Ratt's version...

OldManC · February 18, 2008, 07:43:59 PM

Ok, I looked it up on Allmusic. Damn, that song's been around! Rufus Thomas huh?

Dave W · February 18, 2008, 11:17:22 PM

Don't know if he wrote it, but Rufus Thomas did do the original hit version.

uwe · February 19, 2008, 04:19:00 AM

Quote from: OldManC on February 18, 2008, 07:42:28 PM
Help a (slightly) younger brutha out. Is that the original "Walking the Dog"? I always liked Ratt's version...

I can't believe these youngsters (shaking head) ... Ratt!!! Couldn't it have been at least these guys?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzWMKp8LS5M&feature=related

I'm slightly lower on the embarrassometer (beaming with pride): I first heard that song on the debut LP of the Rolling Stones

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk0NvHnUkUE&feature=related

and a couple of years later by Dr Feelgood.

(that's not "Walking the dog", but you get the idea how it sounded with them, very much stripped bare and with that slightly aggressive nervous twitch)

Proby's version has a lot of that young Elvis charm to it.

Uwe

PS: "Walk the dog"? Now what hidden, probably adult-content meaning lies behind that?

OldManC · February 19, 2008, 05:02:39 AM

That first Ratt ep was awesome. I'll check the link but I'm figuring it's the Aerosmith version? Ratt's is better. That ep and the first two albums still get airplay at Casa Carlston to this day, though I never got into anything much past them (a song or two, but that's it). I saw Ratt about as many times as I saw Motley back in the day, as they came up at exactly the same time. I never saw them with Jake E. Lee, but I did see them with Marc Torien on guitar (singer from the Bulletboys). He was a great guitar player in the EVH mold. They always put on a great show and the bassist was pretty good too, though I liked his brother better who was in the band for a while (not too sure where Juan went but eventually he came back).

I like how dirty PJ's voice makes that version sound. Musta been pretty scandalous at the time!

PhilT · February 19, 2008, 06:23:59 AM

Proby had a damn good voice, but lost credibility through the trouser-splitting stunt.

He joins Tom Jones and Rod Stewart in the bin of good British blues/R&B voices that got blown off the rails, one way or another, by the pop business. Only they made more money out of it.

Dave W · February 19, 2008, 08:24:20 AM

PJ may have lived in the UK for decades but he's still a native Houstonian.

PhilT · February 19, 2008, 11:26:53 AM

Oh, I should have seen that in the article you linked. I'd always assumed he was one of us.

Actually Evesham is about 10 miles away from where I live.

uwe · February 19, 2008, 01:10:20 PM

Why does not a single of you native speakers explain to me what "walking the dog" means? What lies hidden behind it? Herr Fertig has an usual explanation for sure

, but can I trust him?

Uwe

Dave W · February 19, 2008, 01:47:58 PM

It was a novelty dance song, no hidden meaning.

Walking the dog is also an old yo-yo trick, but that had nothing to do with the song. It was just the first of several dance songs he (Rufus Thomas, not PJ Proby) recorded.

PhilT · February 20, 2008, 06:29:36 AM

Quote from: uwe on February 19, 2008, 01:10:20 PM
Why does not a single of you native speakers explain to me what "walking the dog" means? What lies hidden behind it? Herr Fertig has an usual explanation for sure , but can I trust him?

Uwe

You'll be looking for hidden meanings in "Do the Funky Chicken" next.

For many downtrodden English husbands, "taking the dog for a walk" means going to the pub for a pint or three to get away from the wife. Whether this ever made its way over to Memphis I have no idea.

Dave W · February 20, 2008, 10:19:55 AM

Quote from: PhilT on February 20, 2008, 06:29:36 AM
You'll be looking for hidden meanings in "Do the Funky Chicken" next.

For many downtrodden English husbands, "taking the dog for a walk" means going to the pub for a pint or three to get away from the wife. Whether this ever made its way over to Memphis I have no idea.

No, it was just referring to a dance. Like the shag, twist, slauson, etc.

My very favorite dance song is right here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=pXq8rELhUkw

PhilT · February 20, 2008, 11:00:26 AM

Quote from: Dave W on February 20, 2008, 10:19:55 AM
No, it was just referring to a dance. Like the shag, twist, slauson, etc.

My very favorite dance song is right here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=pXq8rELhUkw

Yes, but we need to feed Uwe's belief that "native speakers" are keeping the dark depths of the language hidden from him. Remember that thread we had on DP 2 or 3 about "Can the can"? He won't be happy till we find something.

uwe · February 20, 2008, 11:38:31 AM

That's darn right, I still think you're holding something back on Can the Can.

But I have meanwhile found an explanation:

All of life's grand questions are answered by Krautrock bands like Can.