Corky`s Debt To His Father by Mayo Thompson

[Lisnaholic]

Here`s a chance to comment on or ask about this recent FAIR album club winner:-

Originally Posted by Frownland

I'll nominate Mayo Thompson's "Corky's Debt to His Father". It's a fantastic album by one of the Red Krayola's founding members and is essentially folk rock that blends together several different genres and is a fantastic listen, even for those who aren't fans of his later post punk work.

Any opinions on this album, with its strange title and strange cover ?

[Lisnaholic]

Trawling the internet, I found this review of the Corky album, which has stimulated my interest. Unfortunately, I haven`t been able to find the album itself yet. If anyone has a suggestion, it would be much appreciated.

Mayo Thompson, who you may or may not know as the leader of The Red Krayola(nee Crayola) has a certain je ne sais quoi about him that really draws me toward his work. I think it's the Texas thing. His Texas roots shine strong here, on an album of music that's certainly country, but also very western, as well as postmodern and a kissing cousin of the Velvet Underground's weird new take on rock music.

First of all, this is one of those albums that could be from any era and still be fresh. It's too much of a stew of various genres and techniques to really become irrelevant, and enough of a tongue-in-cheek poke at the same styles it utilizes. Full of odd and jerky, yet organic and hummable melodies and rhythms and memorable, if sometimes goofy, lyrics, Corky's Debt To His Father is a highly unique singer-songwriter album from the highly unique leader of one of the most violently avant-garde rock bands in America during the 1960s.

"Dear Betty Baby" is what I consider a beautiful song- the lyrics and the simply chopped off chords are very heartfelt and affecting.

All the tracks here are unique, clever, and catchy. There are a lot of well-planned moments and arrangements, and you'd have a hard time ever pigeonholing this album into a single style.

[Frownland]

Originally Posted by Lisnaholic

Trawling the internet, I found this review of the Corky album, which has stimulated my interest. Unfortunately, I haven`t been able to find the album itself yet. If anyone has a suggestion, it would be much appreciated.

I gotchya, and anyone else who wants the album (I also have a few Red Krayola albums if you're interested in something entirely different from this album.)

I voted excellent for this album. I just love Mayo's voice and the simple yet extraordinarily catchy melodies that carry throughout the whole album. My favourite song on the album is Horses, with its Latin influences and Tex-Mex moments. That's an interesting review that you posted, Lisnaholic, I agree with it, especially where it talks of the tongue-in-cheek moments that poke fun at the music itself while still maintaining a respectful stance on the genre(s).

When I first heard this album (around a year or so ago) I went straight from The Red Krayola's Parable of Arable Land to Corky's Debt. I couldn't stand the album. But then I gave the album a listen for what it was, not as what I can expect from Mayo Thompson as a whole or by expecting a proto-Red Krayola, and it really grew on me. I'd say that it's right up there with The RK's works and this album will always have its place in my library.

[Stephen]

I'm sorry to say I didn't click with this one. While I liked the music I'm afraid the vocals were a bit of a barrier to me really embracing the album.

[Lisnaholic]

It`s taking me ages to make my mind up about this album; sometimes I play it and I`m fascinated; other times I listen to about one verse and think, "Not now, thank you, Mayo".

The songs are full of surprises, so they demand your attention, even though sometimes that attention isn`t really rewarded. The song Fortune is a good example, I think. It has a great, simple start:-
The bride sits down to breakfast in the dining room.
She thought she saw a ghost but it was really just the groom.
But somehow by the end of the song, I`ve lost interest in what Mayo wants to say. It`s like listening to a friend who talks too much. He does have some great lyrics, though; in the middle of another song he throws in a line about "... if your blouse becomes my towel ..." and so my interest picks up again.

Like stp, I didn`t particularly like Mayo`s voice; he doesn`t seem to have many nuances - like warmth for instance - at his disposal. On the other hand, I admired the way the arrangements were kept simple, so that the songs, and the singing, stand out in all their flawed glory. On balance, I have the feeling that this album might, slowly, reveal more of its virtues and grow on me a lot, so for now I`m voting "Good" - in six months I might be changing that to "Excellent".

PS. Yes, Horses is a good track, Frownland. I also liked Around The Home - another song in which the lyrics lure you into expecting one thing, before they head off in some different direction. And thanks again for the link, BTW !

[Howard the Duck]

that reminds me - i have had this for ages but haven't heard it yet

will letcha know once I do

[Holerbot6000]

Corky's Debt is really interesting. I also just heard 'Hurricane Fighter Plane' by the Red Crayola on the first Pebbles comp. What a unique and cool song. Mayo was way out there very early on.