Just in case some of you may have forgotten, “Achy Breaky Heart” was a big hit. As a matter of fact, it was the number one song on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart on this day, June 27th, of 1992. It was so big that it became the first country single to be certified platinum since “Islands in the Stream” by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton in 1983. Whether you loved it or hated it, you could not avoid it.
Take a trip down memory lane with me, Billy Ray, and Achy Breaky Heart!
Today’s song of the day is a another song inspired by the Pine Tar Incident. I bet Billy Martin hated this song.
Well, the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times
Carried the story in big headlines
How Kansas City George was robbed that day
When Tar Baby Billy took his bat away
It was two men out in the top a’ the ninth
It was one a’ them classic settin’s
The Goose on the mound in that Big Apple town
And George is up there battin’
As the crowd chants “Goose!”
He turns it loose
With fire and smoke and ash
George sends it deep
In the right field seats
Another timely crash
As he rounded third and he headed on home
Was a gleam in Billy’s eye
Dick wondered “What’s he up to now?
“I know this guy’s real sly”
Billy grabbed the bat as both teams sat
In awe upon the benches
Says, “There ya are! That there’s pine tar!
“An’ it’s a whole lot more’n eighteen inches!”
Tar Baby Billy can you hear our song?
Did you cry about the game last night?
Cry Baby Billy tell us all what’s wrong?
All you wanna do is fight
You like a child, kickin’ dirt on the umpire’s shoes
That’s the way you’ve always been
So now we’re gonna take that pine tar rag
And rub it in your face again
So Tim thought it through, and he asked the crew
Then with bat in hand, he shouted
“You’re out! The home run just don’t count!
“I’m gonna have ta disallow it!”
Well, the sky was clear and the day was hot
But George was even hotter
Till Lee got wise, and said “Hey, you guys!
“This claim ain’t a-gonna hold water”
Tar Baby Billy can you hear our song?
Did you cry about the game last night?
Cry Baby Billy tell us all what’s wrong?
All you wanna do is fight
You like a child, kickin’ dirt on the umpire’s shoes
That’s the way you’ve always been
So now we’re gonna take that pine tar rag
And rub it in your face again
Well, the fans was riled and suits was filed
To create a long dee-lay
Then Billy’s team, apparently
Was just afraid to play
Now the stage was set and Billy bet
That he had the upper hand
But Billy was fooled when the big court ruled
“You gonna play this game, as planned!”
Well, Tar Baby Billy can you hear our song?
Did you cry about the game last night?
Cry Baby Billy tell us all what’s wrong?
All you wanna do is fight
You like a child, kickin’ dirt on the umpire’s shoes
That’s the way you’ve always been
So now we’re gonna take that pine tar rag
And rub it in your face again
With affidavits (notarized)
That George had touched ’em all
The umpire said, “We a step ahead
“Gonna put an end to Billy Ball”
“We done heard the call for Billy Ball
“We ain’t never gonna hear it again
“Just like the cheer for Billy’s Beer
“When the Democrats was in”
Now the game they played that summer day
Won’t be famous for the scores
But the incidents that have happened since
Will be remembered as Tar Wars
Tar Baby Billy can you hear our song?
Did you cry about the game last night?
Cry Baby Billy tell us all what’s wrong?
All you wanna do is fight
You like a child, kickin’ dirt on the umpire’s shoes
That’s the way you’ve always been
So now we’re gonna take that pine tar rag
And rub it in your face again
Today’s song of the day is based on an actual incident.
In 1983, The Royals and the Yankees were playing in Yankee Stadium. At the top of the Ninth Inning, the score was 4-3, Yankees. With two outs, the Royals’ George Brett hit a two-run home run to give his team the lead. However, Yankees manager Billy Martin protested that Brett had too much pine tar on his bat. When the umpires demanded to see the bat, Royals pitcher Gaylord Perry gave the bat to a batboy and told him to hide it. When they finally did manage to find the bat, the umpires agreed with Martin, nullifying the homerun and calling Brett out. Because Brett was the third out, this gave the Yankees the victory. An understandably angry Brett attempted to confront umpire Tim McClelland about the ruling but was physically restrained by his teammates.
The Royals protested the game and the American League President, Lee MacPhail, upheld their protest, saying that pine tar did not give a batter an unfair advantage. 25 days later, the Yankee and the Royals met and resumed the game in a nearly deserted stadium. The Royals won 5-4. As for the bat itself, it now resides in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The Pine Tar Incident inspired today’s song of the day, The Pine-Tarred Bat or The Ballad of George Brett, written and performed by “Red River” Dave McEnery.
I’m a big fan of Gerard Butler, mainly because of his macho performances in action films and thrillers. I also appreciate his ability to sing. I remember being surprised and impressed with his performance in Joel Schumacher’s version of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. I really enjoy the song “The Music of the Night,” and since I reviewed one of his thrillers today (SHATTERED), I thought I’d balance it out with a video of him belting out a tune. Enjoy!
It’s been 23 years since the world was introduced to Danny Boyle’s genre-defining horror film 28 Days Later. The film helped reinvigorate the zombie horror genre by introducing the so-called “fast zombies” to the horror lexicon.
It was a divisive change of pace, so to speak, within the zombie genre fandom. Some welcomed the change since it brought a new type of energy to what had become a stale, oft-ridiculed zombie film trope of the slow, shambling undead. The purists saw it as separate from the rules introduced by the zombie subgenre’s godfather, George A. Romero, with his Living Dead films. Yet, it doesn’t matter which side of the debate someone was on (something even I have fallen into spending way too much time with) there was no denying the fact that Boyle made a great horror film…no, let me correct that. He made a great film.
This was followed 5 years later by 28 Weeks Later (minus the involvement of the first film’s director and screenwriter, Danny Boyle and Alex Garland) with Spanish filmmaker Juan Carlos Fresnadillo. While not on the same level as the first film, it did add something new to the world created with the first film. It even had a mid-credit sequence that gave a hint as to how the series could move forward.
The latest “Song of the Day” comes courtesy of the series film composer John Murphy. He did the soundtrack for the the first film and the sequel. The song I picked was used in the first film, but took center stage in the sequel. The piece of music is the track titled “In the House – In a Heartbeat” that becomes the main theme for 28 Weeks Later.
Continuing our celebration of Bruce Campbell’s birthday, today’s song of the day comes from 1992’s Army of Darkness. Here is Danny Elfman’s March of the Dead!
The Rangers won yesterday and I feel like celebrating with today’s song of the day! Talkin’ Baseball was recorded in 1981 and it’s gone on to become one of the great baseball songs.
The Whiz Kids had won it,
Bobby Thomson had done it,
And Yogi read the comics all the while.
Rock ‘n roll was being born,
Marijuana, we would scorn,
So down on the corner,
The national past-time went on trial.
We’re talkin’ baseball!
Kluszewski, Campanella.
Talkin’ baseball!
The Man and Bobby Feller.
The Scooter, the Barber, and the Newc,
They knew ’em all from Boston to Dubuque.
Especially Willie, Mickey, and the Duke.
Well, Casey was winning,
Hank Aaron was beginning,
One Robbie going out, one coming in.
Kiner and Midget Gaedel,
The Thumper and Mel Parnell,
And Ike was the only one winning down in Washington.
We’re talkin’ baseball!
Kluszewski, Campanella.
Talkin’ baseball!
The Man and Bobby Feller.
The Scooter, the Barber, and the Newc,
They knew ’em all from Boston to Dubuque.
Especially Willie, Mickey, and the Duke.
Now my old friend, The Bachelor,
Well, he swore he was the Oklahoma Kid.
And Cookie played hooky,
To go and see the Duke.
And me, I always loved Willie Mays,
Those were the days!
Well, now it’s the 80s,
And Brett is the greatest,
And Bobby Bonds can play for everyone.
Rose is at the Vet,
And Rusty again is a Met,
And the great Alexander is pitchin’ again in Washington.
I’m talkin’ baseball!
Like Reggie, Quisenberry.
Talkin’ baseball!
Carew and Gaylord Perry,
Seaver, Garvey, Schmidt and Vida Blue,
If Cooperstown is calling, it’s no fluke.
They’ll be with Willie, Mickey, and the Duke.
Willie, Mickey, and the Duke. (Say hey, say hey, say hey)
It was Willie, Mickey and the Duke (Say hey, say hey, say hey)
I’m talkin’ Willie, Mickey and the Duke (Say hey, say hey, say hey)
Willie, Mickey, and the Duke. (Say hey, say hey, say hey)
Say Willie, Mickey, and the Duke. (Say hey, say hey, say hey)
Jaws was first released 50 years ago today. Whenever anyone mentions Jaws, I hear today’s song of the day in my head.
I’ve often mentioned on here that I grew up in Central Arkansas in the unincorporated community of Toad Suck. In other words, I’m a country boy. I grew up working with my dad to cut, stack and haul firewood for our family, as well as others in our community. I grew up cutting the grass at our house and our neighbors. I grew up working in my dad’s garden, a garden that fed our family and was shared with people all over Perry County. Dad still produces a big garden every year. As a matter of fact, I’ll be eating cabbage and squash from my dad’s garden tonight! Almost every Saturday, dad would take me and my brother fishing on the Arkansas River, which runs right through Toad Suck. I can filet a fish like nobody’s business. I’ve never cared much for hunting, but I’ve been around guns my whole life, and I know how to use them. I have them in my home for the sole purpose of protection.
I’ve also always loved Hank Williams, Jr. His songs “Family Tradition” and “All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight” are classics, but my personal favorite has always been “A Country Boy Can Survive.” And even though this song is somewhat dated here in 2025, it still takes me back to the early 80’s when my dad was teaching me how to work and fish. Today, it’s my song of the day. Enjoy!
Actor Richard Boone was born on this day, June 18th, in 1917. While he was in some great movies in his day, he’ll probably always be remembered for the iconic role of Paladin in HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL. The first time I ever heard this song was when the boys were walking down that train track and singing it in the movie STAND BY ME (1984). Since then I’ve seen many episodes, and I can certainly understand how Paladin became an icon.
Happy Birthday in cinema heaven, Richard Boone! Enjoy the “Ballad of Paladin!”
Through the Shattered Lens 