Saturday 9: If You've Got the Money

 

Saturday 9: If You've Got the Money (1950)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this week's song, Lefty Frizzell is eager to go out on the town and hit all the night spots. What are your plans for the weekend?  rest, watch some tv, clean house and maybe read some.

2) He tells his girl he'd rather ride in her Cadillac than his old car. Back in the 1950s, Caddys were quite the status symbol. Lefty bought a white one with the profits from this record. Elvis also had a fondness for Cadillacs and preferred pink. Have you ever owned a Cadillac?  no

3) Lefty was a big deal in Big Spring, TX. He was a popular attraction at local bars, a favorite among oil workers who liked to unwind by listening to live music. How do you relax after a tough day?  I watch tv and play some games on my phone.  If I am reading a book, I will read some.  I am reading The Teacher by Freida McFadden right now.  Holy moly!

4) This was Lefty's first hit. He wrote "If You've Got the Money" and recorded a demo for producer Jim Beck to play for established singers. When no one else wanted to record it, Beck decided to give Lefty a shot. The result was a million seller that spent 22 weeks on the country charts. Tell us about someone who took a chance on you.  I am going to say Sharon Jones.  She is the reason I became a teacher.  She was the director of Special Education and I was working as a para in a special education preschool.  She called me during the summer and asked if I would like to teach.  I was offered a state job as a social worker, which is what my degree was.  I turned down the offer from the state and I went back to college and became a teacher.  Josh was little and I wanted similar hours to him and even though it turned out to be a toxic job in the end after Sharon retired. I am thankful she believed in me.  I didn't believe in myself to become a teacher.  I love teaching.  It is a hard job, but I absolutely love it.  It was a great decision, and I was able to spend all of that time with Josh.

5) After this record became a hit, success came quickly to Lefty, perhaps too fast. He signed conflicting contracts with promoters and managers which resulted in lawsuits. Have you recently consulted a lawyer or had a document notarized?  no

6) This song hit number one on the country charts twice: first this version and then in 1976 by Willie Nelson. Do you have a favorite Willie Nelson song?  I LOVE Willie Nelson.  Some of my favorites are Always on my Mind and Okie From Muskogee (my family is from Muskogee).

7) In 1950, when this song was popular, Americans began using credit cards. Do you pay with a credit card to get rewards? If yes, what rewards are you accumulating (cash back, airline miles, etc.)?  I do not do this.

8) Also in 1950, Sears Roebuck and Co. acknowledged a major spike in catalog sales and took the unusual move of devoting the cover of their Spring/Summer catalog to their "satisfaction guarantee." This was meant to allay the fear of customers uncomfortable with ordering by mail instead of buying in person. 74 years later, Amazon delivers more than 3 million packages every day. Would you rather check out a product yourself in a store, or do you prefer the convenience of ordering from home?  I like shopping online, but I like to buy shoes and other things I need to try on in person.

9) Random question -- You're singing along with the car radio to your favorite song when you reach your destination. Do you wait until your song is over to get out of the car?  If the song is getting close to the end I may finish it, much of the time I just go inside.