The Craic and the Porter Black

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

You didn't think we'd let the day pass without comment did you?

We've got a busy day ahead of us, the pub(s) await our presence, so let's get right to the point.

Below please be pleased to find a keen and green Barstool Mountain St. Patrick's Day mix for your celebratory enjoyment. We've got Top 100 Drinking Song tunes, more than a little Shane MacGowan(with no apologies), American punks who want to be Shane (slight apologies), traditional pub fare, songs of the Nation, whiskey songs, drinking songs, drinking songs, and more drinking songs. We've even got a couple of shout-outs to our Celtic brothers and sisters in Scotland.

Raise a glass, then, to the non-Irish gentleman who chased the Pagans from the Isle.

This post is dedicated to the memory of Brendan Behan. Raconteur, rebel, author, and consumer of many a fine beverage.

Link to Mp3 follows the track listing.

Slainte!

The Craic and the Porter Black Mix (83:42)

1. Amhran Na Bhfiann (Band of An Garda Siochana)
2. All For Me Grog (Dublin City Ramblers)
3. Streams of Whiskey (The Pogues)
4. Whiskey You're The Devil (The Clancy Brothers)
5. The Humours of Whiskey (Andy M. Stewart)
6. Nancy Whiskey (Irish Rovers)
7. Drink It Up Men (The Dubliners)
8. A Nation Once Again (Paddy Reilly)
9. The Wild Rover (Dropkick Murphys w/Shane)
10. Rocky Road To Dublin (The Young Dubliners)
11. Finnigan's Wake (The Clancy Brothers)
12. Sally MacLannane (The Pogues)
13. The Pub With No Beer (The Dubliners)
14. Scotland The Brave (The Pipes and Drums of the Royal Tank Regiment)
15. The Rare Oul' Times (Flogging Molly)
16. Good Rats (Dropkick Murphys w/Shane)
17. The Real Old Mountain Dew (Patrick Clancy)
18. Carrickfergus (Van Morrison w/The Chieftans)
19. Seven Drunken Nights (The Tossers)
20. Alternative Ulster (Stiff Little Fingers)
21. The Craic and the Porter Black (Dublin City Ramblers)
22. Whiskey In the Jar (The Dubliners)
23. The Leaving of Liverpool (The Clancy Brothers)
24. St. John of Gods (Shane MacGowan and the Popes)
25. The Holy Ground (The Dubliners)
26. The Parting Glass (Liam Clancy)
27. Danny Boy (Shane MacGowan and the Popes)

The Craic and the Porter Black Mix (mp3)

Does anyone actually use the word "blarney" un-ironically? Didn't think so. Have a good day.

Bad Livers

Well, golly. Apologies to those who ended up here looking for the band The Bad Livers. They were a mighty fine band. But, no, this is not a post on them. It's the name of a brand spankin' new Barstool Mountain mix made especially for...you. Yes, you, with your can of of Hamm's Beer sittin' by the computer screen.

There's a vague theme running through the following mix, but it's not really important. What's important is that this is but a very small portion of some of our fave rave drinking songs, not found in any Top 100 list (you know which one we're talking about).

So click on the link following the track listing, download the mix, and pop a top again and again. And again. Who needs a liver anyway?

Shucram!


The Barstool Mountain Bad Livers Mix (66:07)
(mp3 file follows track listing)

1. Loser's Cocktail (Dick Curless)
2. I'm Gonna Tie One Tonight (The Wilburn Brothers)
3. Hey Bartender, Give That Man A Drink (Jumpin' Joe Williams)
4. Soft Lips and Hard Liquor (Charlie Walker)
5. Wine Women and Whiskey (Papa Lightfoot)
6. My Baby Got Drunk (Paul "Wine" Jones)
7. Sorrow On The Rocks (Porter Wagoner)
8. Bar Exam (The Derailers)
9. Drinkin' Buddies (The Railbenders)
10. I Can't Go Home Like This (Ray Price)
11. Eight Weeks In A Barroom (Ramblin' Red Bailey)
12. Sittin' Here Drinking (Blind James Campbell)
13. Hey Brother, Pour The Wine (Dean Martin)
14. Drinkin' Thing (Gary Stewart)
15. Sangria Wine (Jerry Jeff Walker)
16. Head Happy With Wine (Stick McGhee)
17. Whiskey River (Johnny Bush)
18. Rye Whiskey (Blue Mountain)
19. Big Rock Candy Mountain (Harry McClintock)
20. One More Beer (Big Bill Lister)
21. Night Life (Willie Nelson)
22. Drink Up and Go Home (Jimmy Martin)
23. Cemetery Row (The Minus 5)
24. More Pricks Than Kicks (Shane Macgowan and the Popes)

Bad Livers (mp3)



Yes, we've got some Saint Patrick's celebration on the horizon. Keep your tab open.

Too Drunk To Dream

Another fine drinking song for y'all today.

I've long maintained that Stephen Merritt of Magnetic Fields is a Country musician. If Hank Williams had teamed up with Cole Porter, that is. The Cole Porter comparison has been used ad nauseum when describing Merritt, and it's an apt comparison, but too often is overlooked the Country and Western underpinnings of his songs, both in lyrical content and construction, and in the tone and arrangement of the music, whether done on a shitty keyboard in his bedroom or with a full backing band, as in recent years. Look no further than the album "The Charm Of The Highway Strip"
for the best proof of Merritt's Country cred.

On their new album, "Distortion", The Magnetic Fields has produced one of the finest drinking songs in years, and, while it's still quite early, maybe the best single of the year. "Too Drunk To Dream" will sit easily on your playlist next to "There's A Tear In My Beer" and "Misery and Gin". If this had been released a year ago, it would easily have made our Top 100 Drinking Songs list. It's that good. Check out the lyrics:

Sober, life is a prison
Shit face, it is a blessing
Sober, nobody wants you
Shitfaced, they're all undressed
Sober, it's ever darker
Shitfaced, the moon is nearer
Sober, you're old and ugly
Shitfaced, who needs a mirror?
Sober, you're a cromagnum
Shitfaced, you're very clever
Sober, you never should be
Shitfaced, now and forever!

I gotta get too drunk to dream
'cause dreaming only makes me blue
i gotta get too drunk to dream
because i only dream of you

i gotta get too pissed to miss you
or i'll never get to sleep
i gotta drink wine not to pine for you
and god knows that ain't cheap

i know you think i'm insane
i know it's not appealing
but til i'm feeling no pain
guess what i'll be feeling?


I gotta get too fried to cry,
or i'll be crying all night long
i gotta get too high to sigh
oh my god where did i go wrong?

So why do i get plastered?
and why am i so lonely?
it's you, you heartless bastard
you're my one and only!

i gotta get too pissed to miss you
or i'll never get to sleep
i gotta drink wine not to pine for you
and god knows that ain't cheap
and god knows that ain't cheap!

Yep. Makes me wanna crack one open.

Cheers!

The Magnetic Fields: Too Drunk To Dream (mp3)

The Magnetic Fields: Love Is Like A Bottle Of Gin (mp3)

Please support your local liquor store and/or grizzled moonshiner.

Crooning In Yer Beer

Well, never let it be said we ain't fair here at the Barstool Mountain. Sure, we're gonna have us plenty of that there Country and Blues, more than a fair share one might argue. But we're concerned with the entire breadth of great drinking songs, and it seems to us that pretty much any genre can stake a claim to having a decent amount of classic boozers. So we're gonna step away from the Country and Blues for the next couple of posts. Don't fret, though, all will be well (or top shelf, if you prefer, and your budget can accommodate). We're here for you, and your sudsy needs.

So, a little something for the garage punks.

The New Bomb Turks were Columbus, Ohio's greatest band (we love our broad pronouncements) for a period of years in the 90's(with apologies to Gaunt, Scrawl, The Thomas Jeffeson Slave Apartments). Buzzsaw trash guitar, two minutes and done songs, and the snottiest Midwest vocals this side of Great Plains. The kind of band Crypt and Sympathy for The Record Industry wet themselves over. They even recorded a couple of songs with Thee Billy Childish. Live, they were a sweaty mess of boozed-up rock'n'roll.

Here's one of our favorite "night in the gutter" drinking songs. And for us older folks, we've got an "alternate" version where the lyrics are a tad more decipherable.

Yeghes da!

New Bomb Turks: Crying In The Beer Of A Drunk Man (mp3)

New Bomb Turks: Croonin' In The Beer Of A Drunk Man (mp3)

Thanks.

Yesterday's Wine

George Jones. Do I really need to say more? This is the man who drove his lawn mower to the liquor store because his wife hid the keys to his car so he wouldn't, well, drive to the liquor store. That's dedication, my friends.

'Course, old George is a Country legend whose range runs far and wide topically. And we give all due respect to The Possum. But this is Barstool Mountain, so we're interested in his more consumptive nature.

Jones placed 3 songs on the Top 100 Drinking Songs list ("White Lightning", "If Drinking Don't Kill Me..", and "The King Is Gone"). Since this round is, as always, on the house, we're gonna pour you a few more shots of George Jones inebriation to go along with your chasers. Or call it a Little Kings 8-pack.

Cheers!

George Jones: White Lightning (mp3)

George Jones: If Drinking Don't Kill Me (Her Memory Will) (mp3)

George Jones: The King Is Gone (mp3)

George Jones: Tennessee Whiskey (mp3)

George Jones: Yesterday's Wine (mp3)

George Jones: Bartender's Blues (mp3)

George Jones: Drive Me To Drink (mp3)

George Jones w/Merle Haggard: Must've Been Drunk (mp3)

Please support your local John Deere retailer. You never know when that tractor may come in handy.

Quiet Whiskey

Back to the Big Rock Candy Mountain Top 100 Drinking Songs, and we've got a special one for you today.

Wynonie Harris.

If they had a hall of fame for artists who've perfected the drinking song, Harris would be one of the first inductees, placing 4 songs in the Top 100 ("Don't Take My Whiskey Away From Me", "Quiet Whiskey", "Bloodshot Eyes", and "Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well"), with several more just missing the cut.

Harris was a master Rhythm and Blues shouter, swinging through a litany of vices-sex, gambling, boozing, and general all-around partying, with crack bands wailing behind him. We think he's one of the great artists of the 20th Century.

Below you can find all four of his Top 100 songs, plus a few more besotted numbers for your enjoyment.


Iechyd da!

Wynonie Harris: Don't Take My Whiskey Away From Me (mp3)

Wynonie Harris: Quiet Whiskey (mp3)

Wynonie Harris: Bloodshot Eyes (mp3)

Wynonie Harris: Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well (mp3)

Wynonie Harris: Wine Sweet Wine (mp3)

Wynonie Harris: Drinkin' Sherry Wine (mp3)

Wynonie Harris: Whiskey and Jelly-Roll Blues (mp3)

Wynonie Harris: Drinkin' By Myself (mp3)

Please support your local, independent gin mill.

Boone's Farm Christmas

It's the Holiday weekend! And what could be better after a long hard day going broke, than to settle back with a fine libation?

We're going local today, with a fine little tune by Illinois' own The Driveway Drinkers.

Here's what singer and guitarist Tom Compton had to say about this little Holiday nugget:

""Christmas on Boone's Farm" started out as a rural tribute to Pat Boone, but due to excessive drinking of cheap wine it took a turn for the better."

Pat Boone and wine in a twist-cap bottle? Sign us up! More on the band here.

We're taking the weekend off, but we'll be back on Monday for a special beer-goggled celebration of Shane Macgowan Eve.

L'chaim!

Driveway Drinkers: Christmas On Boone's Farm (mp3)

The Salvation Army bell ringers are still out there. Instead of having that "one more for the road" at closing time, please consider dropping that money into one of those famous red buckets.