Trust me, you’ll thank me for this little present. You can feel free to open it now. Okay, go ahead. Read on.

Well, history and music go hand in hand as you know, even here at The Peanut Gallery, and since Christmas is just a month away, I thought I’d give you an early Christmas gift by letting you know about some great, free music from the 1920′-1950’s that are in the public domain at archive.org

Whether you like blues, pop, swing, folk, or any other type of music from that era, have a look at archive.org and listen to some real gems.

There are too many great ones to highlight, so here are a few you’ll find,

I’m In The Mood For Love - Vera Lynn with the Casini Club Orchestra, from 1935 and her first commercial recording. By the way, she also appeared on the cover of Jack Owens’ first music sheet for “How Soon” in 1944, published in England. She also started her career the same year as Jack.

I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate - Virginians, from 1923. I like the Wingy Malone version better because it has vocals, and especially because it reminds me of Louis Jordan.

The Wreck of the Southern Old 97 - Ernest Thompson, from 1924. You might remember Johnny Cash’s classic version of this song, but have a listen to this early version, complete with an extra first verse not found in other covers.

Jingle Jangle Jingle - Gene Autry, from 1942. As you might have already read on this blog, Jack Owens co-wrote a song with Gene Autry in 1937, along with Jack Lawrence who first put some of the initial words together.

Marie - Mills Brothers and Louis Armstrong, from 1940. This is a beautiful rendition, just a great sound.

So how are you liking your Christmas gift so far?? Not bad for free, huh?? Better than that gift card you’re going to re-gift, don’t ya think?? Okay back to the goodies.

One you’ll be sure to play over and over for your friends is none other than one of Edison’s recordings from 1922, that great little talking number, Santa Claus Hides In Your Phonograph. Ahh yes, what’s better than Old Saint Nick explaining that he can’t come out of the phonograph to greet all you kiddies because he needs a bath first. But of course, silly Santa, what were we thinking. Perhaps that sinister laugh you belly out every few minutes would even make the Burger King run for cover.

So there you go folks. Oh, and as a stocking stuffer, since we know how popular those can be, more of these great songs can be found on internet radio at KBRDradio.com.

Nothing like old songs for the holidays.

First, americannonfiction.com has an article by Charles Spencer, who gives a tribute to the month of October. Of course baseball has the World Series in October, and with the Dodgers doing so well this year, he focuses on who else, but Roger Owens, the Famous Peanut Man . In fact, Spencer writes,

“But do you know who’s happier than the Dodgers or the Phillies as they gear up for the NLCS series? No, not Torre…not Charlie…it’s “The Peanut Man”, Roger Owens! He’s guaranteed to be in sold-out business for at least a few more games, and as both the ultimate Dodger fan and a bonafide Indy tycoon, he is surely loving every minute of it. You don’t know the Peanut Man? Jeez, you might as well also be unacquainted with the Great Pumpkin or the Green Monster…you obviously are not an October person.”

For the entire article, read here.

Second, consider a handy site named wiseguidesonline.com that has a wealth of helpful information and reviews for stadium after stadium, from college to pro sports. Under one section of the Dodger Stadium wise guide, Experience The Park, the article points out that even Juan Pierre is no match for the peanut-launching canon of the Loge Level, even at twice his age.

And last, is a business blog entry by Joel Block, who details how someone like Roger has accomplished so much by concentrating on a specific audience.

For his official page at MySpace, click here, and for his official page at Facebook, click here.

And thanks to Jon Weisman, of Dodger Thoughts, you can watch part of Roger’s career-making appearance on “The Tonight Show” in 1976.

Enjoy

As Roger has said, only with pitching peanuts could he have a career this long.

Perhaps I’ll make a few more and put them in a seperate gallery. So far we have a 1983 Fleer, 1958 Topps, 1959 Topps, and 1976 Topps.

And speaking of YouTube, I created a book trailer for “The Perfect Pitch.”
Enjoy.

The glamour gals have stopped glamourizing.
They working in defense plants and wearing slacks
and some of the fine chicks is cuttin’ out everyday
joining the WAVES,and the SPARS, and the WACKS.
Now fellas, you can’t get that no more, no no
you can’t get it no mo.’
Fellas you can’t jive these girls like you use to do,
’cause some of ’em is makin’ more money than you,
so, you can’t do that no more.
No, you can’t do that no more.

The girls use to wake up every morning and say,
“Lord, send me a handsome man, one that’s physically fit.”
But Uncle Sam has got all of them now,
and the gals has got to take just what they can get.

uh uh girls, you can’t get that no mo.’
naw naw, you can’t get that no more.
Girls, you can’t be particular, you got to take what’s left,
either them worn out 3A’s or them beat up 4F’s.
You just can’t get it no mo.’
No you can’t get that no more.

So when I read a comment from Tom Hoffarth’s article on Roger, it made me think of this song.
Hoffarth points out how Roger, as a teenager, used to sell parking space on the lawn to those needing one for a Rams game at the Coliseum down the street. It brought in a little extra income, but as the reader commented, it was definitely part of the “good old days.” He continued, “I met my brother once at the Coliseum, and I said ‘where did you park,’ and he replied, ‘I left my car with this guy and $5.00 to park on his lawn.’”

No, you can’t do that no mo.’

(…But if you did, it’d sound something like this…)

Now if you think the Rams are playin’ today, with Van Brocklin and “Crazy Legs” Hirsch,
driving ’round ’cause the parking spots are all taken,
and you hand over your SUV and $15 to some teen who says he’s got a place for you,
don’t do it if you know what’s good, it’s 2008, not ’56, if I’m not mistaken.
No you can’t do that no mo’.
So get with the program,
’cause you can’t do that no more.

You see, you might want to bring back those good old days,
but some of these cats weren’t brought up that way,
so skip it, find a valet,
No you can’t do that no mo’.
No you can’t do that no more.

In a previous entry, It’s A Numbers Game, I pointed out some of Roger’s accomplishments in the last 50 years with the Dodgers, both at the Coliseum and at Dodger Stadium.

But even though Dodger fans might know these things, there is a good chance many aren’t aware of some anniversaries in his personal life, unless they’ve read “The Perfect Pitch” by now.

It was 60 years ago that Roger’s uncle, Jack Owens, wrote and recorded, for independent label Tower Records, the most famous pop hit of his colorful singing and songwriting career, The Hukilau Song.
Popular with Hawaiians, kids, hula dancers, and just about everybody, The Hukilau Song will pull you in with its catchy arrangement and memorable lyrics.

Jack Owens was also a big part of the success, as a regularly featured vocalist, of The Breakfast Club With Don McNeill, the longest running network radio show of all time. It aired from 1933 to 1968. While Jack Owens left the show around 1950 to start his own television program, The Jack Owens Show, there was an unforgettable connection between him and the Golden Age of radio and the show itself, even by the time Paul Harvey recalled in Aug., 1968 on KABC radio the memories and importance of The Breakfast Club With Don McNeill.

In addition to the 40th anniversary of the end of The Breakfast Club, there is the 40th anniversary of the “miracle in Compton” also covered by Paul Harvey on air in Nov., 1968. Roger’s father was an ordained Baptist minister and was caught in a holdup in Compton, CA and was shot at point blank range in 1968. He survived with nothing more than a large bruise since a large wad of Gospel tracts had been stuffed previously in his front coat pocket. For more detail, read the “The Perfect Pitch.”

And next year, it will be the 40th anniversary of Roger’s near-fatal military jeep accident while serving in the California Army National Guard. While he lost his sense of smell ever since then, he amazed the attending surgeons and physicians and went on to be the most acclaimed vendor ever, now celebrating his 50th anniversary with the Dodgers.

And he just turned 65 on Valentine’s Day.

What does he think of that??

Find out here.

There are plenty of classic, professional photos not to be missed, including one of Roger tossing out the first pitch of a 2005 game, when he tossed out behind-the-back peanuts to the two batboys at either side of home plate.

While many baseball fans are used to hearing the national anthem at a baseball game and music in between innings, and of course, having the chance to sing along to Take Me Out To The Ball Game, here at “The Peanut Gallery,” we are fortunate enough to provide you with a musical experience of our own and one sure to give you “your money’s worth.”

If you haven’t visited “The Peanut Gallery” before, or perhaps even if you have and didn’t realize it, you might be surprised to know that Roger’s uncle was Jack Owens, the famous singer and songwriter, radio star, and host of his own show on radio and television.

Jack Owens was a gifted pianist, singer, songwriter and dynamic live performer whose charisma and playfulness in the audience, yes the audience, earned him the nickname “The Cruising Crooner.”

Take some time and read more about him, right here at the gallery. There are plenty of songs to listen to, song samples, and even a video clip of him singing to his large female audience from a 1948 television special, sitting on their laps serenading them, and cruising through the aisles to sing to someone else.

So when you’ve heard and learned more of Jack Owens’ music, including his three most popular songs, The Hukilau Song, How Soon (Will I Be Seeing You), and The Hut Sut Song, have a listen to another gifted pianist.

Roger’s younger brother is Paul Immanuel Owens, a talented, self-taught piano man and poet who resides in Oregon and has recorded five CD’s over a span of more than 20 years.

His style embraces pure and original piano arrangements as well as synthesizers and sounds from nature, a style he developed years before it was common to find such soothing and relaxing music at your local stores and malls. But his range is not limited to piano and ocean wave sounds. Paul Immanuel Owens adds depth to his sound with melodic slow tempo and fast paced instrumentals that are even perfect for movie soundtracks, and Paul Immanuel Owens is truly a blessed poet. To read some of his poems and to buy his music or to listen to samples of his songs from CD’s like Reflections Of The Heart, Ivory Wings, River Of Peace, Space Ripples, and Tangible Dream, visit his official site at www.paulimmanuelowens.com.

So come for the peanuts, but stay for the music.