Turkey In the Straw is the tune that you’re thinking of. Or, if you’re into children’s music, Do Your Ears Hang Low? Hoedown was my introduction to ELP and Rodeo from Aaron Copeland was one of the first classical pieces of music that I became familiar with. I was taught to pronounce the ballet as “row DAY oh” (Spanish pronunciation) although Copeland himself used the American pronunciation of the word.
AND there's another salute to an American folk song that Keith threw into Hoedown...I don't know the name of it, but I know the lyric, "Mama's little baby loves short'nin, short'nin, Mama's little baby loves short'nin bread"
Hah, I recognize the "Turkey In the Straw" melody from a LOONEY TUNES cartoon...someone singing "oh, the farmer in the valley, and the valley in the farm...didn't do her any good, didn't do her any harm..." Never knew of "Turkey in the Straw" before now.
Two fun facts: 1. The melody for Hoedown was also used for "Beef..it's what's for dinner" commercials. 2. The "Turkey In The Straw" snippet was also part of the Aaron Copeland original if I'm not mistaken.
At the ending of "Hoedown", "Turkey in the Straw" got a bit thrown in. This and "Fanfare for the Common Man" got me interested in the music of Aaron Copland - wish I got to see him conduct an orchestra at my college, but I was away at internship. But I did get to see ELP live at my college, in the 7th row -- and their opening song was, you guessed it -- "Hoedown"!
Justin, they're just having fun. If they did more of this then yes, that would be too much, but they peppered in just enough of the FUN, because why not? Put this on when you're having a party. That's why it's here 🙂
Sometimes context is everything😃ELP does a classical cover on most of their albums. When I was sixteen Hoedown was the song that got me completely interested in prog and classical at the same time so I have a soft spot for it. Hoedown live is amazing!
Abandon(sic)Bolero is also on this album which is another classical cover. It's another tune that Greg Lake use to play the Mellotron on live shows. I seen it a rare video of the performance. It's very rare but it's on RU-vid if you search. I found it, here is the link: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-XJdCxAnOMmk.html
Emerson and Rick Wakeman were good friends and wanted to work together. Only the managers got in the way. They planned to open a concert in darkness with the lights coming up to reveal Rick playing Fanfare for the Common Man , followed by Keith playing King Arthur. Rick played a beautiful piano solo at the Emerson memorial concert in Birmingham a couple of years ago. Trilogy is a great album that has really stood the test of time. Emerson was doing classical mash ups back in the 60s with The Nice, including America from West Side Story.
I heard Hoedown the 1st time I was ever stoned. A friend invited me over his house, and we smoked blonde hash out of a pipe made of brass fittings in VW Bug parked beside his house. 10 minutes later ? I was walking with Hoedown on my boombox, blaring. I came to listening to Hoedown. See, I blacked out & walked about 2 blocks from his place. When I came to ? I was AMAZED that I just walked 2 blocks but had NO recollection of it.... It truly was a stunning moment in my life, and this was the soundtrack to it. As long as I live, I will never forget that scenario !! 🚬😎
“Turkey In The Straw” is what you sang. “Eliza Jane” and “Shortnin’ Bread” are two well known African American folk melodies Keith Emerson threw in (around 6:53 to a little after 7:00). My school used to play Aaron Copland records in the 60s and I remember seeing him and his orchestra on TV. “Hoedown” and “Fanfare For the Common Man” were part of the American landscape/consciousness. ELP certainly worked their magic on them! I can’t remember when the last time I had an encounter with a cop was. A memorable encounter was when I got arrested for stealing my own car 29 years ago! My then crazy boyfriend took it when I threw him out and I reported it stolen. He brought it back 5 days later, but I forgot to call police to say it had been returned. A cop behind me at a light ran my license plate for no good reason, and my car came up stolen. I had my license and registration, but they still cuffed me and took me to the station and searched my car. After a few hours and the cops making a few calls, they let me go! Crazy!
That song in the middle of hoedown is the ice cream truck song, right? The actual title is "turkey in the straw", but I always just call it the ice cream truck song lol
The genius of Emerson, Lake and Palmer - thanks for reviewing these rarely featured tracks - watching Keith play versions of this live was very special.
I love a bit of Aaron Copland (Rodeo), one of my favourite radio shows started with Hoedown. All hail Keith and Aaron! The actual music from the ballet is great, as are his other western themed works. Great stuff JP.
Please respond to ELP's Pictures at an Exhibition. Original by Russian compose Modest (yes, that is his real name) Mussorgsky. It kicks megatons of butt. Also you will groove on the 20-minuute Tarkus title track. There is a movie called Pictures at an Exhibition in which ELP plays the whole of Exhibition and some killer cuts from the debut such as The Barbarian and The Knife Edge. Watch emerson's abuse of his battery of keyboards (in the Nice he used to stab them with daggers) as he plays two keyboards at the same time etc.
@@ScottDeBerg Mussorgsky composed it as a program of standalone pieces, themselves inspired by paintings of an artist friend of his, hence the title. I feel like it has more of an impact when listened to together, but doing it one track at a time does not completely ruin the effect.
Always appreciated how Keith Emerson made classical music sound cool to kids who, unless they happened to be fans of Rick Wakeman of Yes, might not ever hear these types of songs. I'm pretty sure my first exposure to Holst was the ELP version of Mars, Bringer of War.
Never got into classical ..as a kid we were forced to periodically attend performances of the local symphony orchestra which was torture for me. Then i followed Greg from King Crimson to ELP and at 17 in 1970 my sonic eyes were opened. They were directly responsible for my completely reassessing classical music thanks to their incredible and pretty faithful interpretations. I went back and listened to the originals with a mind pried open by ELP's musical magic. While I never became as full-on an aficionado of it, they did give me a smattering of appreciation for jazz as well. But without a doubt my love for the complexities (and sometimes bombast) of classical works, interpretations and prog in general is without question their fault. 😁😂
@@JustJP Thanks for the reply. 😊 i hope you continue to wend your way through their discography and make it to their 1992 BLACK MOON "reunion" album. Lots of good stuff on it, a couple of less so but in context here is their 'Romeo & Juliet', an adaptation of Sergei Prokofiev's 'Montagues and Capulets' from his Romeo and Juliet ballet. IMHO, it's up there with the best of ELP's classical interpretations. I'd recommend listening to a part of the original to see how faithful the adaptation was. I got to see them do it live in a great intimate venue and the boys were nothing short of magnificent. Looking forward to your next foray down the ELP rabbithole.
It’s kind of funny how the part that I replay over and over again on Hoedown, the low climbing notes that lead into a solo towards the end of the song, is the part that Justin just doesn’t like! That cracks me up. Like at the end of Karn Evil 9 when Justin says,”What in god’s name...”. Keep doing your thing. It’s entertaining to say the least!!
New to your site. Great that you appreciate the music from my youth and today. Brit who first saw ELP in early 70s. Still into elp, Genesis, Jethro Tull, Black Sabbath, Purple, Groundhogs, Hawkwind, Rory Gallagher, John Mayall etc, etc.👍
The Sheriff is, and always will be a great, fun song by ELP.. Love Greg's vocals on this, superb. Oh and that drum intro by Carl perfect butty. 😊 Very cowboy, Western vibe in a cool way.. 😊 Now, Hoedown is and was a superb opening song on the Brain Salad... Tour.. 😊 And, live, it sounded superb butty. Its from an Aaron Copeland composition Justin. 👍 Has usual, ELP. take it to snow level.. Gold imho. ❤️ Great twosome butty 😊 Once again, you bring the class Justin. 👍 👍 👍 Great review butty. So glad you've decided to do Trilogy.. Imho..its a bona fide Masterpiece.. ELP were on fire during the early seventies Justin. 🔥❤️❤️
"Hoedown" really showcases the brilliance of Carl Palmer's drumming!! As in so many ELP works, Carl moves the piece right along! Glad you are working your way through this great album, by this great band! My mother and I could relate on certain groups and their material, and ELP was one of them. She was very familiar with Mussorgsky's "Pictures At An Exhibition" so I naturally played the album for her, and she loved it! She was also a major Beatles fan, but that's beside the point........Sorry you will never get to experience a live ELP show! It was quite something!!
Hoedown has always been one of my favorite ELP tunes. It really showcases all of their individual talents very very well. When you said that you got a little bit bored by it, I can understand. You like space and there wasn’t much of it in that piece but I feel the talent makes up for it. 👍
I love both songs. A great album. Keith’s keyboards work is awesome. Heard this in 72, my brother got it for £1.50. Love the way you enjoy this music Justin.
The Sheriff conjures sprawling vast Western skyscapes over mountains and canyons, just by the organ tone. Amazing that we get all of that vista grande from a timbre. As for the Western saloon piano, uh, I keep asking you to react to a song called Country And Eastern Music that features Indian music (as in India) played by a saloon piano in it's intro. It's amazing, which is why I keep pestering you relentlessly.
I, for one, just loved the Honky Tonk sections of both Benny and The Sheriff. In fact, he recorded a solo album titled Honky... but I can't remember a thing off of it (!). Guess I was in college and distracted. Another fun reaction, JB... Keep 'em coming!
My last encounter with the police was been interviewed by Constable Fudge (real name) after nearly being run down by a perp in a stolen car during a police chase. She was very professional and polite. This must be at least a decade ago. "Do your ears hang low? Do they wobble to and fro? Can you tie them in a knot, can you tie them in a bow? Can you throw them over your shoulder like a continental soldier? Do your ears hang low?" I learned that tune as a kid and it fits the tune on the song. Carnival meets hoedown (an oldfashioned country dance with a caller telling people the moves iirc). So we have a prog rock song referencing a ballet score that references now archaic country music. Interesting. Great review. Thanks.
Emerson, much like Aaron Copland and John Coltrane, likes open intervals, particularly 4th's as featured in 'Tarkus'. That communicates well with Lake's arpeggiated bass parts. You might notice a similar harmonic feel to Billy Joel's "Ballad Of Billy The Kid".
They did two Aaron Copeland songs and asked his permission to record them even though they didn't need to. The other is " Fanfare for the common man". They played their version and Copeland gave them his blessing.
another Copeland great performed by ELP Fanfare for the Common Man off of Works Volume 1 but even better is Pirates! 13+ mins of close your eyes and watch the story unfold like a movie in your head. Saw them at the Garden State Art Center with Jethro Tull. Lots of bad hair loss jokes but an awesome night of ENTERTAINMENT!
Hey Justin My Man!! Sorry I'm so late to the party lately! Been alittle busy over the holidays and whatnot! So before I get into this reaction: I have to start from the very beginning!! LOL- You must reread my post from your Joni reaction from WED! I mention- BTW nice shirt!!! It matches your background almost! Then I said- Clever did your wife pick that out for you?!! That's pretty cool!! So TRILOGY IMO IS THEIR BEST ALBUM! But I do think you were pretty SPOT ON HERE TODAY! Hoedown does get quite Repetetive! That was quite alright for us back then like you said in 1972!! Thats our decade!! I graduated in 1976!! The best music ever made IMHO was in the 70s!!BIG PROPS To the guy who saw them 7th row in college!! Wow!! A huge regret for me NOT SEEING THEM LIVE!!😢😢 We used to play tbis on 8- track in my buddies Chevy luv truck on our road trips and camping trips!! Really fun music!! EMERSON IS JUST SPECTACULAR!!!!
That tune in "Hoedown" is "Turkey in the Straw", a real American classic. I think it was actually in the Copeland ballet. Emerson was a student of early 20th Century American composers. "Bennie the Bouncer" was sung in the character of a rough Cockney bar patron, telling the story. If you like "The Sheriff", you will love...wait for it, "Ballad of Big" by, you fussed it, GENESIS!
I think Copland's Rodeo ballet is all original music (ELP added that folk song). Copland does use folk songs occasionally, like "Gift to be Simple" in Appalachian Spring.
@@myishaprincess8515 My Granpar played harmonica, and every time he picked it up, he started with Turkey in the Straw. He was French Canadian, and his mother was a Mic-Mac.
My Brother used to play these and many ELP songs, But in the sheet music book for this album, "the Sherriff", the time signature would change and state "play as fast as possible" in parts! lol.
The mysteriously familiar quote toward the end of Hoedown is Turkey In The Straw. Keith was notorious for dropping quotes from other songs/composers into his solos or improvisations. On their 1974 live album Tarkus is extended by about eight minutes. The Aquatarkus section is drawn out considerably, and there is a lengthy solo by Emerson which I always thought was genius. Decades later I heard The Minotaur by Dick Hyman (what a name!) and realized that Keith had hijacked it wholesale without giving credit. He stole from the best. By the way-if you listen closely during the intro to The Sheriff, there is a brief pause in Palmer's solo and you can hear someone mutter the word "shit". It helped me feel so edgy when I was twelve.
I always smile at the honky-tonk piano at the end of "The Sheriff" - feels very playful. Have always loved both the original Copland 'Hoedown' from his 'Rodeo' AND ELPs take. And as others have noted. ELP did TWO Copland songs. I read in an interview, way back when, that Copland didn't quite get the jazzier portion of "Fanfare . . . " ( 'Works, Vol I'), but was generally pleased. - - - Speaking of 'Works v1' - - 'Pirates', please - it has a narrative similar to 'The Sheriff' - in that there IS a narrative to the song - a story set to music. Sometimes, it seems like Sinfield went through Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean" ride and used that as the framing device for his lyrics. - - - Also: We all know 'Hoedown' from popular culture and equate it with the Old West. How about a review of ( gasp ) a classical piece: Dvořák's Symphony #9 aka the "New World Symphony" - so many 'western movie themes are lifted from this that is is fun to listen to just for the memories that spring up throughout the piece. Edit: Yeah, the Wikipedia article on ELPs 'Fanfare' has the Copland quote.
Hoedown is the standout here... Emerson's keyboard work is, as usual, stellar. Copeland could really write a tune, and I think ELP did it justice here.
RE: Aaron Copland's "Rodeo", "Hoedown", and Keith Emerson: Some critics say that the Copeland influence "softened" the edge of ELP. Emerson was influenced both by Copland and by the angular compositions of Ginestera and the like, but as he got deeper into Copland, who is more conventional, he blunted his "knife's edge..."
Toccata - the Ginestera piece, came after Hoedown but admittedly before they recorded Fanfare for the Common Man. I honestly don't see that criticism. Brain Salad Surgery was after Trilogy and it definitely had that edge to it. No question that Trilogy was a more symphonic record than Tarkus before it and BSS after it, though.
@@stpnwlf9 Yes, good point. I should have said that the Copland influence became more prominent as they progressed. (Only so much I can elaborate on in a short youtube comment.) And BRAIN SALAD SURGERY is certainly edgy; it's after that when things became more "conventional". (Also in part because Emerson started to lose intereste in the "bloops and blips" of experimental synths, because the attack/delay didn't allow for the melodic development he wanted, and started to favor more orchestral sounding synths.) Anyone interested in the full argument about this, check out Edward Macan's exhaustive biography ENDLESS ENIGMA: A MUSICAL BIOGRAPHY OF EMERSON, LAKE, AND PALMER.
@@joemaurone7923 Yes, I've wondered about the Works era and always felt they were a less cohesive group at that point. Emerson's concerto was fine but definitely not as experimental or edgy as earlier work. So there is something to what you say.
@@jimhardiman3836 I edited my original comment to make it clearer what I meant. (Geez, crucify a guy, will ya! ;) ) But you are correct, of course, that "Hoedown" came before "Toccata."
Emerson clearly loved Aaron Copeland (the composer of Rodeo) because he also did his own version of Copeland's "Fanfare for the Common Man" on their Works: Volume One album.
Never heard "The Sheriff" before. Sounds very much like something Keith would have done in the late 60s with THE NICE. Only Lake's vocals are far superior. And "Hoedown" is such a fun adaptation.
Like both these tracks. The sheriff is fun. Hoedown takes me back to Laser Prog at the planetarium. The song was done so well. Last encounter was a brief stop at a R.I.D.E. check. They were quite courteous and, as I hadn't been drinking, I was on my way. Hoedown is a cover of Hoedown by Aaron Copeland, a classic piece that parts of have been used in a lot of movies and cartoons, usually to denote "hillbilly" or "country."
Only just now realised my old, abused vinyl copy always jumped artistically in the middle of one of Carl's fills, so this version of The Sheriff sounded wrong to me!
That reminds me, when somebody introduces somebody to ELP, they should always start with an analog copy of Knife Edge. One must emphasize the rarity of the recording and the expense of the equipment, before introducing the listener to the song.
Two brilliant tracks here. The Sheriff, that's just got to be the jazziest song I've heard about a lynching, and murder. And that ending, switching to the saloon piano. Josie celebrating perhaps... And Hoedown. Classic Copeland, with a few other oldies woven in. Turkey in the straw, and I'm sure I heard a line from Short'nin' Bread too. Fantastic stuff, they always leave me in awe at their musicianship. * never a run in with the police, i'm a saint...
Hoedown was a composition written by contemporary composer Aaron Copeland the song was in his ballet Rodeo. you may have heard that somewhere before it was very popular on Broadway. Finally, the "Hoe-Down" opens by vamping the first bar of William Hamilton Stepp's interpretation of the folk tune "Bonaparte's Retreat", which will become a major theme of the section
I think Copeland was alive and got to hear Emerson's adaptation, and supposedly he liked it a lot. I might be wrong but I think that's correct. You will love Trilogy, then Abbadon's Bolero. A Bolero is a specific compositional form, but you probably know that JP.
You are right. I read in a couple of interviews that he did clear songs with a composer if they were alive, Copeland and Ginastera included. Ginastera called his interpretation of Toccata "diabolical" and then added "just as I intended." Quite a compliment.
Here's an excerpt from Edward Macan's ENDLESS ENIGMA bio of ELP discussing that. Seems the truth of that might be somewhere in the middle: (Emerson): “His agency told me that he was really a very open-minded man, and to send the whole tape for him to hear, which I did. It turned out that he loved it, and we became good friends after that. I love his music, and he seems to have taken quite an interest in mine.” "Copland’s own remarks suggest his enthusiasm may perhaps have been more apparent than real: (Copland): “'Of course, I always prefer my own version, but what they do is really around the piece…They’re really a gifted group. In that particular case I allowed it to go by because when they play the ‘Fanfare,’ they play it fairly straight, and when they end the piece, they play it fairly straight. What they do in the middle-I’m not sure how they connect that to my music, but they do it somehow, I suppose.'”
'L'il Liza Jane' is in there briefly. So you've closed out the first side of the album, well I still have my original vinyl copy from 48 years ago. Now you've got the title track coming up which is BRILLIANT, AMAZING, FANTASTIC!!!!!!. Last encounter I had with the police was on my way to work which started at 2.a.m. They wanted to know why I was out at that time. No biggie. I have to ask what a 'Tag' is for your car? We don't have them in the UK. Oh, you really need to check out Rachel Flowers. She is a young blind multi-instrumentalist who is an amazing keyboard player and was a good friend of Keith Emerson's, he was like a mentor to her and when he had the original Moog reconditioned he got her to play it to check it out. Really do have a look at her videos.
Elwood Blues: What kind of music do you usually have here? Claire: Oh, we got both kinds. We got country and western. That familiar tune is 'Turkey in the Straw' of course. I agree "Two Mules for Sister Sara" is good, it has Shirley MacLaine as well as Clint Eastwood. I read several of her books until she started writing about psychic surgery, she was conned. A fine actress though, love her in "The Children's Hour" which was way ahead of its time.
Wooah, this is so weird, this is my first time actually hearing the last 45 seconds or so of this song lol. I used to have it on vinyl actually, but the needle always ended at the place on the record where it repeated 7:35-7:37 over and over until I took the needle off. I always just assumed it kind of trailed off there and I was really only missing like 10 second. Well cool! I've heard it all now.
Interesting fact: the music in "Two Mules..." was used in the second Robert Downey, Jr. Sherlock Holmes movie, in the scene where he is riding either a mule or pony (I forget which). Both Sherlock Holmes movies are great fun, as is "Two Mules...". It it worth hearing Copland's "Hoedown" to really appreciate ELP's version. Their "covers" of classical composers are clearly labors of love on their part, and their choice of who to cover is always interesting.
I like those Old West storytelling songs ! If you want to try another, there’s “The Ballad of Weaverville” by the great folksinger, Kate Wolf, a classic saloon/ gambling story.
I absolutely share your opinion comparing The Sheriff and Benny the Bouncer. Even the instrumental part in the middle is different enough to the main melody to give an extra twist to the song. Hoedown is mainly a fun finger excercise and ends side A of the album to give a great contrast to the title track which opens side B. Trilogy is one of the best prog rock songs and compositions. So nice you'll finally get to hear it.
Justin - I agree, this is my favorite ELP album (Pictures at an Exhibition being my 2nd favorite). I always think I’m in the minority, because so much love is given to Brain Salad Surgery. But IMO, BSS ends on such a sour note because Karen Evil Imp 3 is such a weak song. I love your prog reactions- keep ‘me coming!!
Hey everyone, on an off topic, after 50 years a Canadian band that helped shape rock in the late 60s and 70s is STILL not in the RRHoF. It seems they have something against Canadian bands. I'm talking about The Guess Who. There is a petition on-line that you can sign to help them out. www.guesswho4thehall.com I honestly cannot see why The Guess Who or, for that matter, Bachman Turner Overdrive (BTO) are not in the hall.
Truth! Back in the day, I got the 1992 edition of Rolling Stone's "Encyclopedia Of Rock 'n' Roll". It had entries for all kinds of crappy and one-off acts, but no mention of The Guess Who. As a big fan, I noticed. Somebody at that rag and/or the RRHOF (Jann Wenner?) must have a grudge against them. And Jethro Tull.
In 1983 I was driving from NY to Cali to report for duty in San Diego for the US Navy. I was driving a 1962 Chevy Belair painted flat black with a brush I had bought the week before. Apparently someone robbed a bank in New Mexico with a black 62 Chevy. I was pulled over by 10 New Mexico state cops all with guns drawn. I was handcuffed and sat in the back of a police car for 30 minutes till they figured out I wasn't their guy. When they searched my car (which I gave them permission to do) they found a knife in a sheath strapped under the dash where the driver could easily access it. I didn't know it was there. They told me to leave New Mexico and never cone back. I haven't!
I had never heard of Turkey In The Straw but I knew the tune as Old Zip Coon. From Wikipedia: Another contrafactum, "Zip Coon", sung to the same tune as "Turkey in the Straw", was popularized by Dixon and flourished during 1830s.
The only time I’ve ever had an encounter, I was picked up for a DUI, and had the “privilege” of spending the night in a holding cell, with 24 others. I was in court by 8am the next morning, got fined, paid the fine, and left the courthouse. I never drove after drinking again (even after one drink). This happened when I was 32 - I’m 63 now. My only encounter with law enforcement.
These two song makes a good companion piece to "The Ballad of Billy the Kid" by Billy Joel. The verse section is reminiscent of that saloon-sound of "The Sheriff", and the middle instrumental section is especially reminiscent of Aaron Copland. Similar lyrics, thematically, as well.
If you want to check out some of Emerson’s earlier work, including more adaptations of classical works, put ‘Ars Longa Vita Brevis’ and ‘Five Bridges’, both by The Nice on your list. Interesting, even though more rough edges and no Greg or Carl.
I love 'Five Bridges'. As far as I know, most critics hated it when it was released, but to me it's definitely one of the best blendings of orchestra plus rock group.
