Sadly, Steve is known for two things, if at all, the Go cubs, Go jingle for WGN and City of New Orleans. But check out his discs (he died Sept 20, 1984.) and his awesome sense of the ridiculous. a fave: VEGEMATIC by Steve Goodman Fell asleep last night with the T-V on. Oh, what a dream I had. And Boxcar Willie with a Ginzu knife, A bamboo steamer, and a Garden Weasel too, And a tie-dyed, dayglow souvenir shirt from Six Flags Over Burbank. The doorbell rang all morning and into the afternoon. I shook with fright as it rang all night to the light of the Master Card moon. There was Parcel Post in the pantry, and UPS in the hall, C O D's to the ceiling, and I just couldn't pay for it all. I got the egg scrambler, with a Seal-a-Meal carrying case, A set of presidential commemorative plates So I could eat my eggs off the President's face, A Minute Mender, and a needle that'll knit or crochet, And an autographed photograph of Rin Tin Tin at Six Flags Over Burbank. I remembered I was dreaming, so I gave a mighty cheer. When I awoke, it was no joke, 'cause all that shit was here. So if you fall asleep with the TV on, let me tell you what to do: Tear the telephone out of the wall unless you want it to happen to you. You'll get the Vegematic, and the Pocket Fisherman too, Illuminated illustrated history of life, And Boxcar Willie with a Ginzu knife, A bamboo steamer, and a smokeless ashtray too And an all expenses paid weekend for three at Six Flags Over Burbank.
Chicago Shorty Steve Goodman!!! Yeah so I'm a HUGE Chicago Cubs fan, but you are right the guy wrote so many fantastic songs. A lot of people consider 'City of New Orleans' to be the greatest train song ever. Others consider his 'You Never Even Call Me By My Name' (as made famous by David Allen Coe) to be the greatest country song ever. And many baseball fans like myself consider his, 'A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request' to be the greatest song about baseball ever. Never saw him but I heard that he put on amazingly energetic live shows. His songs can really bring out the emotions. And as you show with 'Vegematic' he was very funny too.
necrothreading- I got a new copy of Anthology (I have a tendency to lend them out and forget where they get off to). I'm looking at some jobs, some outside the US, and I just had to hear Banana Republics.
When I first went to the Univ of Georgian in 1970, Steve Goodman played at a club called the Last Resort. We thought he was good, but did not realize how much. Another featured performer was Gamble Rogers. Google Him. He also died much too young. The other main artists in 1970 were Jeff Espina and Elizabeth Coogin. I do not know if these latter two pursued their careers.
