The summer of our discontent continues with Hurricane Ida in the Gulf of Mexico. Dr. A and I are planning to ride it out. I’m not eager to evacuate with Claire Trevor. She hates riding in the car and she’s a biter. She’s not as sweet as she looks but we love her anyway.

The weather is one reason I’m keeping this week’s entry short and focused. The second act is a tribute to the late, great Stones drummer Charlie Watts. Hence the Ron Wood featured image.

This week’s theme song was written in 1966 by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. It’s as good an example of Charlie’s drumming as I can think of. Bim-bam-boom.

Since this is a tribute to Charlie Watts, I’m skipping the covers of Paint It Black and sticking to the Stones. A solid plan in my estimation. We have three versions: the studio original and live in 1990 and 2006.

I almost forgot this version by Charlie Watts with the Danish Radio Big Band:

Now that we’ve faded away and not faced the facts, let’s jump to the break.

Since Woody’s featured image is titled You Got Me Rocking here’s the song itself Hey, hey hey.

I posted the studio version because I think Voodoo Lounge is one of the band’s best albums. I’m in the minority on that, but that’s okay. I don’t mind being an outlier.

Our second act is an exercise in monomania or some such shit.

Charlie Watts, R.I.P. Charlie Watts was a jazz drummer who spent his life playing in a band that styled itself the greatest rock and roll band in the world. They used that as a tagline as early as 1970:

That’s Charlie Watts in an uncharacteristically frolicsome pose. It’s unclear if he actually got his ya-yas out. Charlie was the most stable Stone. He was married to Shirley Ann Shepard for 57-years. That must be a record for any drummer of either the rock or jazz variety.

As my friend Kyle can attest, I’m addicted to drummer jokes. I never made any about Charlie Watts. He was too dignified, a rare quality in any drummer.

I had a brief encounter with Charlie Watts when I had my shop on Jackson Square. When he entered, I said, “Charlie Watts. Nice to meet you, sir.”

He raised an eyebrow and said softly, “That was a rock star greeting. Save it for Mick or Keith. They’re the rock stars. I’m a musician, not a rock star.”

What a musician.

That story may or may not have been embellished. You decide.

It’s a pity I was too cool to take a picture. Oh well, what the hell.

The first time I paid any attention to the estimable Mr. Watts’ drumming was the first time I heard this song:

I’m not a fan of drum solos. Charlie rarely soloed. This clip includes Charlie talking about his drum kit:

Most drummers are obsessed with their equipment. <insert your own dick joke here> Charlie Watts never was. His kit was mighty but modest much like the man.

Here are some tributes to Charlie:

New York Times Obituary

Guardian Obituary

Vulture: A compendium of online tributes

Vulture: The Best Charlie Watts Stories

I won’t recapitulate the ubiquitous “Charlie punching Mick” story, but it’s included in the last link.

Charlie Watts died at the age of 80. I’ve been listening to the Rolling Stones for most of my life. I saw them in concert ten times. His passing saddens me but also makes me feel old, old, old. He will be missed.

The last word of our second act is dedicated to those who may need shelter this weekend.

Our third act consists of items I’d prepared before things went haywire in the Gulf. We begin with our favorite stolen feature.

Separated At Birth Casting Edition: I haven’t forgotten Forget The Alamo. I loved the book and enjoyed reviewing it. Here’s the Jim Bowie movie collection featuring the man himself, James Arness, Alan Ladd, Richard Widmark, Sterling Hayden, and Jason Patric.

A young singer named David Jones needed to change his name because of the Monkee. He was familiar with the Alamo myth, so he became David Bowie. Here’s his cover of a Rolling Stones song:

While we’re on the subject of Rolling Stones covers, I’ve always liked this one from Bowie’s friend Peter Frampton:

Ready for more name dropping?

The Movie List: I was lucky enough to meet Tony Quinn in Athens many years ago. He was a friend of a friend of the family. He was not Greek but was adopted as such by the Greek nation and people. I don’t recall the details of the meeting because alcohol was involved but I liked him.

My Top Ten Favorite Anthony Quinn Movies

1.    Lawrence Of Arabia
2.    Lust For Life
3.    Zorba The Greek
4.    La Strada
5.    Viva Zapata
6.    The Guns Of Navarone
7.    The Oxbow Incident
8.    The Brave Bulls
9.    Barabas
10.    The Greek Tycoon

I’m probably a bad Greek for listing Zorba third but I call them as I see them. It was a great movie but not as great as the top two. It was, however, Quinn’s signature role.

Saturday GIF Horse: Speaking of Zorba The Greek, here are Anthony Quinn and Alan Bates dancing on the beach.

Let’s close down this virtual honky tonk with some more music.

Saturday Classic: The Sunday Morning Video will be on hiatus this week because of the Katrinaversary. So, here’s some live Stones from the 2006 Bigger Bang tour:

That video brought us full circle as they opened with You Got Me Rocking. Hey, hey, hey.

That’s all for this week. The last word goes to the Rolling Stones: Bill Wyman, Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, Brian Jones, and Keith Richards.