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Monday Double Shot: More Cowbell!

June 2, 2014
Music

by KATIE TAYLOR

Many have died (or developed serious cramps) compiling comprehensive lists of cowbell songs since SNL drew attention to the pervasive cowbell presence in Blue Oyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear the Reaper.”
I’m pretty sure the steady-handed cowbellers in both of today’s featured shots still languish in obscurity, however. Admire their contributions and get your week off to an excessively groovy start.

Specimen #1: “Les La-Bas” (1977) from French jazz double bass virtuoso Henri Texier. Texier plays all the instruments on this track, including double bass, oud, flute, bombard, Fender bass, drums, and probably that killer cowbell that turns up in the B section. Super chouette!

Specimen #2: Cowbell go boom! Henry Mancini’s opening theme from Orson Welles’s A Touch of Evil features cowbell as ticking time bomb:

Previous Double Shot: Queen For A Day

Your barista is Katie Taylor, a Portland-based writer, opera singer, director and librettist. Contact Katie at mondaydoubleshot@gmail.com.

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