#a melody played in a penny arcade [verse.]

[quantumleapt]

It's been a long time since he's woken up this early-- since at least his days on the farm, anyways.

But it’s all worth it when @guttersniper​ comes into the kitchen of their (for the moment) small Paris apartment, lit up by the early rays of morning light streaming through the window. Sam's there, standing next to a table now dotted with French patisserie, fruit, and hot chocolate. There’s two presents, painstakingly wrapped, on either side of an empty plate, and in the center of the plate there are two envelopes addressed to him.

Eyes crinkle with a bright smile as Sam sweeps the boy into a hug, pressing a kiss to the top of his head

“Happy birthday, sweetheart,” he murmurs, pulling back to hold Mutt at arm’s length. “Go on and open ‘em. I-I know it’s not much, but... well, it’s from both of us.”

[guttersniper]

@moonshadowed​ said: oh, that’s swell. just swell.

singin’ in the rain.

“ hey. “ for someone as clever as sam is, he can be quite singularly stupid, sometimes. the genius lacking in street smarts sort of stupid, mostly, and mutt can fix that. the level stare he fixes him with is a trade-off in place of rolling his eyes. “ d’you ever say fuck? or do you always go for the cheesy shit like calling stuff ‘swell’? “

[robotpussy]

♪ :)

unfortunately I wrote this really messily 💔 idk why I was rushing to write these lyrics out. also I cheated it's more like 2 favourite verses of this song:

it's only a paper moon - ella fitzgerald

"without your love, it's a honky tonk parade. without your love, it's a melody played in a penny arcade"

+

"say, it's only a paper moon, sailing over a cardboard sea, but it wouldn't be make-believe if you believed in me"

Send me "♪" and I will shuffle mp3/ipod/music player and write my favourite line with my handwriting

[hillbillyhippiemusicreview]

Post #64, Charlie Argo--”Tennessee Will”

Reviewed by Lyssa Culbertson

With his enigmatic smile, genuine disposition, powerhouse vocals, and a swagger as confident, bluesy and unique as the music he creates, Selma, Alabama bred and Nashville, Tennessee based singer-songwriter Charlie Argo is a force to be reckoned with has upon his return to the scene with the release of “Tennessee Will,” the first single off of his upcoming EP. The EP, In the Name of Love, is due to be released in early 2021, and if this single is any indication of what is to come—it’s going to be one of the best releases of the year. If you dig the sounds of soulful crooners such as John Mayer, Anderson East, Ray Lamontange, Otis Redding, and Sam Cooke while also valuing the craft behind talented songwriters and artists like Jason Isbell and Adam Hood, you will certainly enjoy what the Charlie is cookin’ up in his musical melting pot with a plethora of influences blended together to add a inimitable flavor and spice to his style. Born a natural performer, his earliest roots in singing began on slow Sunday mornings spent in church, akin to the beginnings of many other Southern vocalists from who he finds his inspiration. Those experiences surely shaped his passionate performance style, as he shares the gospel of good music every time he opens his mouth to sing. Whatever “it” is, he has it. Mark my words—Charlie Argo will be a star.

Though the song is a cover of fellow Alabamian Adam Hood’s song off his fabulous record, The Shape of Things, Charlie has revamped the tune whilst making it his own, showcasing his musical prowess. Due to a meeting by happenstance, or perhaps universal design, the single was produced by Jay Tooke at his studio, Penny Arcade Sounds, located at Pentavarit Studios, as well as recorded on location with both Jay and Bobby Holland. Jay brings a wealth of knowledge to the table and creates magic with anything he touches, as evidenced by the impeccable production quality on “Tennessee Will.” In addition to producing and mixing the single, Jay also played drums alongside some other heavy hitters in town: Johnny Stanton on bass, Joey Landreth on guitar, Billy Justineau on keys, and angelic background vocals lent by Jennifer Friend and Shannon Beck Lawson. The tune was mastered by Nathan Dantzler at The Hit Lab, tying it all together. Alongside Charlie’s smooth, smoky vocals, the music is certainly one of the standouts here—somehow it’s effortlessly evocative of the emotions conveyed by the lyrics.

The first verse of “Tennessee Will” paints quite a vivid lyrical portrait of the setting of the song, allowing one to immerse themselves into the storyline:

“Blind man on an old upright piano Lady in red on a banjolin Playing songs like ‘Oh! Susanna’ Getting slower with each gin”

I envision the character in the song sitting in some hazy, dimly lit club on Beale Street, listening to the blind man moan the blues amidst the ramblings of his mind and the gin disappearing from his glass. Lost in thought, he starts longing for the comforts of home, as the allure of the city lights and fast pace leave something to be desired, because “[he] never did believe that Memphis really was the end of the line, so, [he’s] going back to Alabama, where [his] heart's been all the time.” So, he hops aboard a steamboat bound for sweet home, knowing that “if the Mississippi River don't carry me to her . . . the Tennessee will.” Both geographically and lyrically, that is a stellar line because while the Mississippi can help him reach his destination, ultimately it’s upon the Tennessee that he will drift home. Unlike the steamboat floating on the surface, “Tennessee Will” is one of those songs where one must dive a little deeper to fully understand the intent behind the words. On first listen, it may appear Charlie is singing about a lover he’s struggling to leave behind in efforts to return home to Alabama when he croons “and I know it should be easy but, it's hard to say goodbye.” However, upon further consideration it seems to me that the character is fond of where he is, but Alabama is his one true love. When the background singers join in, reminiscent of a church choir, with Charlie’s heavenly vocal runs towards the end of the tune, it truly drives home the feelings of desire and longing for what—or who—he’s missing. Whatever the listener’s interpretation, one thing is for sure: Charlie’s artistic take on the song is superb and promising of the extent of his melodious talents to be showcased on In the Name of Love.

Be sure to follow Charlie on his socials at Charlie Argo Music on Facebook and @charlieargomusic on Instagram. Don’t forget to check out his website at www.charlieargo.com for some rad merch and updates—such as the music video for “Tennessee Will” releasing on October 7th. And as always, remember that if the radio don’t carry you to the best music, the Hillbilly Hippie Music Review will!

Peace, love, & music—

Lyssa

----------------------------

*This is an independent review. The Hillbilly Hippie Music Review was not compensated for this review.

*The opinions expressed are solely that of the author(s).

*These images are not ours, nor do we claim them in any way. They are copyrighted by Charlie Argo.

[quantumleapt]

@guttersniper​​ dreams: 🏠 (domestic) cuz i love throwing mutt in situations he’s not equipped with. but also because he deserves it.

STARTER CALL. always accepting.

The radio’s playing something peppy and upbeat that brightens up the yellow kitchen. The sweet scent of sugar and maple permeates the whole house, mixed with the fresh, spring air that lazily rustles the curtains through the open window.

Sam’s moving around the kitchen as if they’ve lived there for years instead of just a few days, swaying lightly to the music as they hum and sing snatches of the song under their breath. Al, clad in one of his several bathrobes, is perched on the counter and doing something similar. The only clue that he’s not actually physically present there is that, when he swings his legs in time with the rhythm, they swing clear through a set of cabinets. 

The dress Sam’s wearing, blue and white checkered, brushes the floor, as they kneel down and rummage through one of the cabinets Al is not currently phasing through. They sing to themself in time with the bridge.

“Friends ask me, am I in love, I always answer yes--” They pull out a pan, only for their attention to be drawn by Mutt’s appearance in the room. Their face immediately lights up. 

“Mornin’, sweetheart,” they greet, moving over to Mutt and pressing a kiss to his forehead. “You’re right on time,” they continue, “because, it also happens to be morning, uh... back... back home. So, I sent along my mom’s pancake recipe, and Gooshie and Tina and Verbena and everyone’re cookin’ ‘em up right now. We’re havin’ a--” Family meal, is the unspoken but plainly obvious meaning, one that they feel and mean with everything they have, but one they’re still wary about expressing, “--we’re gonna get to eat together. Y’know, I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before!” 

They smile, soft and warm, as fingertips tuck a lock of hair behind the boy’s ear, smoothing it down with an easy stroke.

“Your stomach okay? You feel up to pancakes?” they ask. “And do you wanna have sausage or bacon with ‘em? Al likes bacon better and I like sausage better,” because I’m right, is similarly unspoken, a certain something in their tone conveying a long-standing, but no less playful, feud, “but you’re the deciding vote.”

[quantumleapt]

@guttersniper​​ inquires:  ℧: a damp towel against flushed, feverish skin, but it’s mutt doing it for sam….cuz they take care of each other no matter what

SICK WHUMP SCENARIOS. always accepting. 

Sam knows it was bound to happen eventually, no matter what Al said. It’s almost a comfort-- knowing that, in between fleeting moments of sleep and waking, nightmares and actuality, sense and nonsense, there would be Al, pacing the length of the hotel room ranting and raving. Even if he’d been blowing this whole thing way out of proportion-- people died from this, Sam!-- he could count on Al hating being helpless and cooped up, especially when they were all stuck somewhere in California in 1968. He doesn’t blame Al for being antsy and wanting to get out fast. Too many memories. Too many ghosts. 

But there’s someone else he could always count on, too. A shadow at the edge of his periphery, little, too-big boots scuffing the carpet, the slow and deliberate scratch of pencil against paper.

Now, it’s a cool, gentle touch to quell the flames dancing across his skin, lapping at his face, as he wakes up from a muddled jumble of something that he can’t remember.

He chases the relief as he comes back to himself, lands back in this body, and opens his eyes halfway to see a familiar face, with a much-too-serious expression so firmly set on his features that it may as well have been carved out of stone. 

Sam finds Mutt’s hand-- it’s always cold, but now it feels frigid-- and encloses it in his own, giving what he hopes is a comforting squeeze. He doesn’t know how long they’ve been there, how long he’s been like this, and he doesn’t know why the simple gesture hurts so much, ache radiating out of every sinew, but he doesn’t care. He’ll stay like this, fighting with everything he has against the fatigue wanting to pull him back under, for as long as he needs.

“It’s gonna be okay, Mutt,” he murmurs, voice strange from underuse. He reaches up with his free hand, tucking an errant strand of hair behind his ear. “I’m gonna be alright. Al’s just bein’...” He tries to find the right word, before settling on, “...Al. Not gonna leave you. I promise.”

[quantumleapt]

@guttersniper​​ inquires:  ❛ you’re not a very convincing liar. ❜

200 RANDOM DIALOGUE PROMPTS. always accepting.

“That bad, huh?” 

A teasing, mischievous smile appears on his features as he looks down with twinkling eyes at Mutt, keeping an arm around the boy’s shoulders both for the sake of keeping up appearances and just because he likes having him close. It’s a comfort for him, anyway, and he hopes that Mutt doesn’t mind it too much.

“You wonder why Al calls me boy scout and choir boy all the time,” Sam continues, “I don’t think it’s something I’ve ever really been good at. Y’know what they say, old habits die hard, and I guess some even last through Swiss cheesing.”

After a moment, he asks,

“What do you think we should tell the next guy?”