Old Detroit Bars

[RickBeall]

Man! What a fine song! At first I thought the harmonies were a bit off key, but by the 3rd line I was transported to a place where it's just me and the guys in the car just shouting out the lyrics and it all seems so perfect. The sun was shining and I just watned to be shouting this song.

I love that part with the heavy vibrato in the back ground and that bit of lead in the foreground.

I love your vocal phrasing throughout the song. Unique and expressive.

Well, the "Fast Talking Cass Corridor Blues", built from material on this thread, is basically done. I just want to sit on it a day or two to listen with fresh ears. Usually there's a tweak or two to make.

But it will be good to go for the weekend! Another World Premier for DetroitYes! For anyone who's happens to be reading, I think this song is more listenable than most of my previous DetroitYes inspired songs. Most of my songs, I announce them with purple prose and great fan fare, but the general reception seems to be more like a plunk-splash, with a little water kiss on the ass. . Ha ha. So we'll see.

Man, that song "Vernor Highway" sure is a fine song. Do you have an entire album of Detroit-esque songs like that?

[dookie joe]

Hey Dookie, The Ducat had live bands, the only reason I remember this is that one of brothers was supposed to babysit me when I was about 5, and we ended up at the ducat after 9pm with him dancing with Whores as he told me. For whatever reason the Band stood out in my memory thru-out the years.Being my moms kid had a few kickbacks. She later came in and all hell broke loose for him having me out.

Yeah, I know all about being my mom's kid! Them Corridor women were tough by necessity!

[dookie joe]

Man! What a fine song! At first I thought the harmonies were a bit off key, but by the 3rd line I was transported to a place where it's just me and the guys in the car just shouting out the lyrics and it all seems so perfect. The sun was shining and I just watned to be shouting this song.

Thanks a lot. I was going for a "War" vibe. War = Lowrider = Mexicans = Southwest Detroit!

I love that part with the heavy vibrato in the back ground and that bit of lead in the foreground.

That's John Tully on the slide guitar lead and heavy vibrato guitar in the background. He's a bad boy!

Well, the "Fast Talking Cass Corridor Blues", built from material on this thread, is basically done. I just want to sit on it a day or two to listen with fresh ears. Usually there's a tweak or two to make.

I know the feeling. I hate to let anyone hear anything unless I've listened to it a million times. We will sell no wine before it's time! Whenever you're ready, post away. I look forward to it.

[RickBeall]

Defunct Hastings Street has the "Hastings Street Opera". The Cass Corridor now has
the "Fast Talking Cass Corridor Blues". The link below should allow you to listen to it, and the words are below that. Tell me what you think!!

All the material came from bodybagging and dookie joe, and some others in the thread above. Bodybagging sent me some additional memories in an email ... and after that I just made stuff up.

http://jamq.org/jamqueuemusic/StHiJ1...-Rick_KeyG.m3u

Here are the words:

Fast Talking Cass Corridor Blues

We're walking down the sidewalk, and who do we meet?
liars pimps and druggies and welfare cheats
drunken woman and athletes
and angels lost their way
politicians and policeman
and preachers who need to pray.
They've all come down to party
and some have come to stay
they've all come down to party,
Cass Corridor
USA!

Willis Show Bar.
Live show just like the flame without the fame
Comic and B-3 organist and strippers you'd pay for their clothes to remain [[cymbol crash)

Old Miami
waitresses serve drinks in the front and
turn tricks in the back.


Taxi Dancing dime-a-dance at Artison Studios on top of the Sassy Cat.
Practice your steps
For a larger tip you could practice anything you want.

the Sassy Cat!
There was a peep hole in alley, carved in the space where the two doors met,
a rite of passage for every boy in the corridor


Charlotte's Lounge!
The onliest bar in town you did not have to worry about your pants falling down
--Joe had a collection of belt buckles on the wall
He was a combat pilot in World War 2 but couldn't outshoot the ghetto.

Fortune Records!
They make the records in the back and sellem in the front.
Gave Motown a run for their money,
Your local record shop do that?


Jo-Jo's records
Baby I can put you in records but first you gotta do this for me
Competition for Fleet and Florida Bobby.

Mormando's Pizza!

Motown Coney Island
Wolfman

Curley the wino
Used to wear shirts for pants, I seen him thrown out of Sabbs on a 100 times.
Froze to death in a old car behinds Freds keyshop

Bicycle Slim,
A huge dude, rode around the neighborhood on a 10 speed tricked out with a toilet seat He'd
help all the little old ladies carry their groceries and lusted after little boys and you can't rhyme nothing with that

Continuing on down the street!

Sabbs!
DRUNKEN car lot, drive in, WALK out
Twice guys sold me their cars,
for the change IN MY POCKET

Sweetheart Lounge!

Had those old high-backed stools that you could slink down and hide from your life.
Never know who you're sitting next to. Crazy scene.
Hi Captain Boblo!


Jumbo's Bar!
More hookers than patrons.
Cops would chit chat with the hookers. Never saw an arrest made.


Mitzi, Dolly, Caren, Teeney, Bevy, Big Louise, Little Louise, Esther, Tina, Vi
Fiercest hookers on the streets
but once you got past their street personas
they were very child-like, liked ice cream.

It was just like baseball, scoring in the street.
but the farther along the bases more trouble you meet.
The best hookers were on woodward,
the drinks a little cheaper on cass,
by 2nd they were flashing.
by Third they would show their ass.

Fixed my best friend up with Twinkee,
the most beautiful girl I have ever seen, who happend to be a man
who performed at the Gold Dollar,

Beaver Boutique
The onliest topless shoeshine in the city .
Don't know anyone who ever admitted going there, but there sure were
a lot of shiny shoes in the Corridor.

Continuing on down the street.

Old garage owned by Jim Burwell
the KKK member who drove the colored kids to church every Sunday


Honest Johns,
Greatest guy in the world, owns the old bar his ...
well, a lot of kids like that.

Yes and working all those bars and restaurants was BJ.
BJ was the Queen and Dallas was her King
When he died she kept his fifth of vodka in the fridge for years.
There would be no other man.

BJ give you a little tough love, inject a little sanity
into lives that had none.

She worked everywhere. Sabbs, Ducat Lounge, Sweethearts, Jumbos, the Envoy, The Horshoe,
the Temple, the Park Henry, Gold Dollar, inject a little business, people follow her around,
Bob and Betty's, Charlottes Lounge

Well, BJ is the Queen and Dakato is her king
her black eyes were darker than anything I ever seen
She could stare down a gun or a knife
and she was a tiny little thing.

So they called her Mom, but if you weren't behaving she would tell you where you came from.


3rd near Mrytle?
All those flats
with the hookers upstairs and a bar downstairs. Lots of places like that
and small apartments for $6 a room, and you could buy weed or crack from the guy in the
living room
he wouldn't bother to look up from his TV.

Andy Coon's blind pig.
Andy has been 80 years old for the past 80 years
Smoke weed at the bar. Pay off the 13th precinct and everthing as smooth as glass
girls upstairs if you want some ....

The Girls favored slinky clothes, the kind they could put in their purses and walk
out with

Formaldahye Fred
He dips his cigaretttes in formaldahye he stole from the funeral home. Damn funeral home,
they need to put a bar on that window.
Make him as high as a kite and so crazy they would kick 'em out of Elouise.

Old School, Sterno Sam
He taught me to play this record,
though he don't even remember it no more
He made up all the lines except the line about himself You see,
someday I guess they'll make up a line about me.

Emmy
You could buy her for a tube of glue.

Yes, People were poor there,
try to sell you their underwear
but they were polite, old world manners, son,
if you didn't want it, they just put it back on.

We're walking down the sidewalk, and who do we meet?
liars pimps and druggies and welfare cheats
drunken woman and athletes
and angels lost their way
politicians and policeman
and preachers that need to pray
they've all come down to party
and some have come to stay
they've all come down to party,
Cass Corridor
USA

Service industry..
Its just a service industry ....

==== Bonus Lyrics that did not make it into the song ============

The city created the Cass Corridor, moved the bums
from mich ave,
That's no rumor, it's true
moved China town too,
Mr Don Dapper told me,
he read it in the Free Press when they were
doing it.
elegant old dude and his wife
Dapper Don was a member of the Purple Gang
that's not something you ask someone, all I know
is that someone tried to mug him in the alley
behind my house, and he iced em. Killed em cold.
Cass Corridor!

Mancinos pizza, delived pizzas to hell, Baptist hell anyway.

[Bodybagging]

Thats great! Facts, and humor all rolled into song..... There is alot of Talent on this forum for all walks of life........... On a sidenote, Love the They will just put them back on... lyric

[RickBeall]

Hi Bodybagging,

I'm glad you liked it!

I just woke up and I was about to email you, but no need to now.

As you saw, I wrote it from the point of view of a street musician, one who "mysteriously" had a lot of your memories, like the "drunken car lot" and someone who knew BJ well, but the fictional song writer was not her son. I hope the part about BJ represented her fairly and hinted at her importance to the scene. I hope you liked that part, and hope it would have elicited a quick flash of a smile and a cuff to the ear had she been able to hear it.

Where my knowledge ended I just made stuff up. I made up "Formaldahye Fred" and "Old School Sterno Sam", and Emmy to illustrate and tie some stuff together. I left in Bicycle Slim's twisted desire for little boys because cleaning it up would have "Disneyland-ified" the memories.

In the song I used as a model, "Hastings Street Opera", I noticed that every verse or clump of words had a humorous twist, although with that song a lot of the jokes are "inside" jokes that due to the distance of time are not readily apparent, so I tried to use the same structure. I even borrowed a few turns of phrase from that song.

I don't know how many people nowadays would like an old fashioned "talking blues", but depending on where you are coming from, you could consider it an early form of rap, or consider it a monologue in a play. As I sang/spoke I was thinking monologue, like I was on stage with only a table and a chair as a prop, with a lamp burning a circle on the top of my head. That, or I was thinking of myself as a wino with a guitar on a ghetto sidewalk hoping to hear a few clink clink clinks in my cup...

For people who really read this thread closely, you will see I lifted whole phrases and used odd turns of phrases as colloquialisms, trying to make the thing more authentic and further draw people in. The awesome thing about DetroitYes is that the people talking about the subject are the ones who lived through it, so your phrasing is golden. I'm just the fool with the guitar.

I had a huge amount of fun writing this song. Of course, you could say that I did not really write it, I just lived through the words of others. But I do have a dirty secret. As a teenager, I occasionally snuck down to the corridor in its heyday to see it in all its mayhem and glory. So, there were a few first person details I could provide.

Musically, the song is a little shakey in spots, but it's the sterno man, the sterno!

[Bodybagging]

*[[I was on stage with only a table and a chair as a prop, with a lamp burning a circle on the top of my head.)

This was seriously how I envisioned the enviroment of the singer.... Great Song,Great Job,Great memories... My mom would have enjoyed it......

[Enduro]

I'm loving all these old stories and songs. I'd like to get a bit more color on these characters appearance and personalities to get a better mental picture [[or real pictures would be great). Clothing, age, weatheredness [[is that a word?), etc... Were the pimps the comically dressed versions seen in 70's exploitation films or was this a more discreet operation?

Also, if someone could explain [[I was born in '75) how long the corridor bars were freewheelin' like this and how it came to be, I'd appreciate it. I always thought the rise of heroin in the 70's and later crack in the 80's were what fueled this behavior and the resulting strain on the police force was what allowed it to go on [[a lesser of two evils kind of attitude) but it sounds like these places were pretty well established and catering to people of all backgrounds and vice for many moons.

[softailrider]

I'm loving all these old stories and songs. I'd like to get a bit more color on these characters appearance and personalities to get a better mental picture [[or real pictures would be great). Clothing, age, weatheredness [[is that a word?), etc... Were the pimps the comically dressed versions seen in 70's exploitation films or was this a more discreet operation?

Also, if someone could explain [[I was born in '75) how long the corridor bars were freewheelin' like this and how it came to be, I'd appreciate it. I always thought the rise of heroin in the 70's and later crack in the 80's were what fueled this behavior and the resulting strain on the police force was what allowed it to go on [[a lesser of two evils kind of attitude) but it sounds like these places were pretty well established and catering to people of all backgrounds and vice for many moons.

After they opened Motor City Casino they cleaned the area up. It wa never the ame after that.

[CorridorChild]

I could reply to almost all of the stuff on here. I remember Curly when I was very little, my mother used to visit a store called the Goodwill located on Second street next to a beauty shop that was next to the Selden bar which wasn't on Selden st. that was Elmers connected to the BBQ restaurant. Curly would put clothes on over his clothes and run out of the store and into the middle of the street stopping traffic and yelling all kind of crap in his scratchy voice. I was never very shocked much after that by what my eyes would see there in the Corridor.

[CorridorChild]

Another second hand store was on the corner of third and Willis across from the Willis show bar,the owner was named Walt and the store was called Walt's. I think that his funeral was the first for me and I have a picture of him in his coffin from 1977.

[caldogven]

Does anyone remenber the Houston Inn on Houston between Dickerson and Gratiot?

[dookie joe]

Great job, Rick! Nice slide! My favorite lyric:

Andy Coon's blind pig.
Andy has been 80 years old for the past 80 years
Smoke weed at the bar. Pay off the 13th precinct and everthing as smooth as glass
girls upstairs if you want some ....


Your song made me smile -- and I needed a smile tonight. Thanks.

[RickBeall]

I'm glad it gave you a smile Dookie. Thanks for the kind words. You gave me a smile. ;-)

[dookie joe]

Another story which occurred to me that was legendary in my corner of the Corridor.

There was a family that lived in an apartment off Second, where my friend lived. Everyone in this building hung out on their back porches, and during the summer dozens of people would be sitting on kitchen chairs and lawn chairs chewing the fat.

Well, the parents of this family in question would argue all the time, loud as hell, and they didn't care who heard. They'd insult each other and reveal the most intimate things during their arguments.

One day they were bickering, and as usual the back porches were packed. So everyone heard this.

The husband says, "You stinkin', nasty bitch, you ain't took a bath in six months."

The wife answers, "Well, at least I warshed off in the sink!"

We died laughing. This lady admitted that she hadn't taken a bath in six months, but that she'd "warshed off" in the sink! Whenever I get together with old friends and family, we still chuckle about that one.

[dookie joe]

I could reply to almost all of the stuff on here. I remember Curly when I was very little, my mother used to visit a store called the Goodwill located on Second street next to a beauty shop that was next to the Selden bar which wasn't on Selden st. that was Elmers connected to the BBQ restaurant. Curly would put clothes on over his clothes and run out of the store and into the middle of the street stopping traffic and yelling all kind of crap in his scratchy voice. I was never very shocked much after that by what my eyes would see there in the Corridor.

We used to get Curly to chase us. He carried around a golf club without a head, and would swish it back and forth like a riding crop. My brothers and I, 11-12 years old, would flip him the bird until he chased us with that golf club. We'd run slow so he wouldn't lose interest.

We were never cruel or anything...we'd just agitate him so he'd chase us. It was fun to get people to chase us. As I said, we used to have a ball throwing things at the pimps' fancy cars and then running like hell.

[Bodybagging]

You know this may sound stupid, or make no sense at all, but it lightens my heart to know that someone so down on their luck, that they became a homeless, drunken,fixture in the corridor 30 plus years ago, can still be remembered by so many, so long after the fact. I guess it goes to show that regardless how insignificant you are in life you will make a impact somewhere, somehow, to somebody. Curly was Scary, Funny, Pathetic, and I remember being sad the day I heard the news, that he had passed away in that old car.

[Bodybagging]

Dookie, heres a Pimp story for you, although not much to tell, Its one of those stuck in my head memories.....
Easter Sunday, my Grandfather and I were headed out, and came to the intersection of Mrytle and Cass, There was a pimp in all of his 70's glory Peacock strutting away from his Ho, back to his mellow Yellow few year old eldorado convertable, What made this memory stick so hard was his super Fly Bright Purple Zoot suit, with his super green butterfly collar shirt and wide brim hat with a yellow feather and matching yellow shoes...... My grandfather was a good ole boy from TN and man did that make his day, I must have Reheard that story a 1000 times that easter sunday, and many more times every easter sunday that followed....... on a side note, Always wanted me one of those damn Zoot suits.....LOL

[dookie joe]

Yeah, BB, those pimps in the 70s dressed like an Australian's nightmare. It would be the middle of July, hot as hell, and they'd come diddy-bopping down the street sporting a crushed-velvet purple jumpsuit and a huge Three Muskateers hat! I always wondered, "ain't these guys hot?"

[dookie joe]

You know this may sound stupid, or make no sense at all, but it lightens my heart to know that someone so down on their luck, that they became a homeless, drunken,fixture in the corridor 30 plus years ago, can still be remembered by so many, so long after the fact. I guess it goes to show that regardless how insignificant you are in life you will make a impact somewhere, somehow, to somebody. Curly was Scary, Funny, Pathetic, and I remember being sad the day I heard the news, that he had passed away in that old car.

One of the papers did a lengthy story about Curly after he died. I'll try to find it and post it here.

[Bodybagging]

I remember that story, and scoured the internet looking for it..... would be great to see it again.

[JTistle1]

Anyone remember Tistle Bar? My Grandfather's brother owned it. I understand a lot of police hung out there because my Grandfather was Inspector Paul Tistle. Just looking for family history and stories. Thanks guys!

[dookie joe]

The other day I was reading the stuff about Curly the bum dying, and was inspired to write the following song. I changed the lyrics to "Junior the Bum," because it was easier to sing than "Curly," plus there was a bum named Junior who used to hang around the lower end of the Corridor, south of Myrtle. Legend had it that Junior had once been a boxer...anyway, I hope you guys like it.

http://lordza.zftp.com/Junior_the_Bum.mp3


Junior the Bum died yesterday
Nobody cared about him anyway
Found in a cold, dark doorway
Next to an empty bottle of whiskey

And the last thing he did
was shake his fist at the sky

Junior the Bum died yesterday
Nobody cared about him anyway
Another part of the scenery
Another Third Street tragedy

And the last thing he did
was shake his fist at the sky

Junior the Bum died yesterday
Nobody cared about him anyway
Found in a cold, dark doorway
Next to an empty bottle of whiskey

And the last thing he did
was shake his fist at the sky

[RickBeall]

Wow! Is that awesome.

"And the last thing he did
was shake his fist at the sky "

Wow, that kind of universalizes Junior the Bum's experience. It turns it into an anthem, for everyone who feels spit out by the status quo! It also kind of salutes the spirit of Junior, Curley, Greek Town Stella. What can I say, that is great art.

That is the kind of song you like to walk down the street screaming at the top of your lungs.

And hey, what a great voice you have Dookie Joe! Cool playing on all the instruments. Your synthesizer sounds like a strutting pimp. It sounds like crushed velvet.

If I was a musical genius, I would love to convert "Fast Talking Cass Corridor Blues" into about 10 songs like this one. God knows, there is enough material.

The other song about the brick in the pocket was very good, but a little obscure, but this one needs no liner notes.

This song is good enough to be in a movie song track.

Junior the Bum died yesterday
Nobody cared about him anyway.

[[sorry, caught me singing it)

[dookie joe]

Wow, thanks, Rick. I appreciate your kindness.

All of us Corridor rats will have to get together for a few pops at Jumbo's or Honest John's someday. I don't drink a whole lot, but I'm sure we can find something we can all agree to get buzzed with!