Knowing that our readers are well versed in the artistries and felicities of oil patch music, having followed Joe Specht’s 6-part series, “Oil Patch Songs of the Permian Basin” that ran in the past year, we just couldn’t resist sharing a message Joe himself shared with his followers and readers. He is currently at work on Smell That Sweet Perfume, which is sure to be the authoritative word on this under-appreciated theme. Says Joe:
Joe Specht
Over the past several years, it is you, dear reader, who have often thoughtfully touched base to ask, “Have you heard of this oil field song?” Sometimes the song is already on the list and the recording is in our possession… other times not.
Well, back in March, Andy Wilkinson—the Hub City tipster—sent us just such a query: “Do you have ‘Sweet Light Crude’ by Gene Neptune?” We were not familiar with either Gene Neptune or the song so Mr. Wilkinson sent a link. And… oh, happy day… “Sweet Light Crude” turned out to be a keeper. Even better it’s set in New Mexico. If you remember, New Mexico is one of the states we plan to cover. Only one problem. To date, we’ve only run across one song that fits: Orville Crouch’s “Farmington, New Mexico.”
Okay, so how did “Sweet Light Crude” come to Mr. Wilkinson’s attention? By way of his cousin’s daughter. Or as the Hub City Tipster put it: “Lydia Wright is the daughter of my first cousin Bill Dickson—who is the older brother of my cousin Noel Lee Dickson, who traveled many a mile with Wilburn Roach as his drummer—and Lydia is a friend of Gene Neptune’s daughter. At least, that’s how I remember it!” Ah, Mr. Wilkinson’s affinity for genealogy plus the memory of Wilburn Roach … further reasons why we love him so much.
I was able to track down Mr. Neptune in Katy, Texas, three weeks ago. We’ve exchanged email and talked on the phone, and he has graciously shared background info on the song and his personal life. We have a few things in common, too: basic training at Ft. Polk, AIT at Ft. Sill in artillery, posting to Germany; graduates of North Texas State University.
Your humble reporter is preparing to embark on another installment of Smell That Sweet Perfume—“A Little West of Wichita Falls: Oil Patch Songs from North Central Texas, Panhandle-South Plains, and New Mexico.” Yes, a bit of catch-all chapter. And “Sweet Light Crude”—a mix of gritty oil rig realism and peyote vision—will conclude the installment on a high note.
Please check out the wonderful video that accompanies Mr. Neptune’s “Sweet Light Crude” on YouTube. That’s Kelly Lancaster on the ‘coustic guitar. And how ’bout Mr. Neptune’s earthy, evocative vocals. Highly recommended, too, is the album, Sweet Light Crude: American Narratives. As the liner notes state, “SWEET LIGHT CRUDE is a diverse collection of narrative songs invoking imagery of red dirt and roughnecks, nightmarish political landscapes, lovesick sailors, railroad bums, dance cowgirls ….” Available for purchase at www.mytexasmusic.com.
And while visiting mytexasmusic.com, grab a copy of Mr. Neptune’s Prairie Dog Town. The title tune is a perfect fit for the prairie dog in song project. Long on the backburner, but not forgotten. Our anthem for this project is Alger Texas Alexander’s 1934 “Prairie Dog Hole Blues” with memorable opening verse: “I’m going out to West Texas, jump in a prairie dog’s hole/I’m going out to West Texas, jump in a prairie dog’s hole/If I don’t find my baby, I ain’t comin’ here no more.” !!
–Joe W. Specht