Chuck E’s In Love
In 1979, I was 27 years old. I listened to a lot of music, and I was revelling in the delights of Blondie, Kate Bush, Earth, Wind and Fire, and many others. Around the time of my birthday, I heard a song on the radio, and it immediately captured my attention. Hard to categorise, it felt jazzy, but was also definitely in the style of the singer-songwriter, with the feel of Joni Mitchell or Judy Collins about it. But better.
I had never heard of the singer before. Her name was Rickie Lee Jones, and she was from California, (though born in Chicago) and about two years younger than me. I read a little about her in a music journal, and discovered that she was the partner of Tom Waits, the actor and singer, and her eponymous debut album featured artists I liked a lot, including Dr John, and Michael McDonald. The article suggested that she was about to become the ‘next big thing.’ I didn’t know about that, but I knew that I just loved this song. It was very cool, almost unique in a global music scene that at the time was all about brash, punk, and electronic excess.
Thirty-six years later, I still love it just as much as I did back then, if not more. I only have to hear the few notes of the guitar introduction to anticipate the pleasure to come. Here she is, live.
beetleypete 
What a pleasant surprise to find this song among your favorites. It is about a good friend of mine, Chuck E. Weiss, who I transformed into a significant character in my Hollywood novel, The Goners. I used to tease him about the song when it was on the radio, because he also was trying to make it in the music industry, and i would say”you finally made the charts, but in the wrong column.” Rickie Lee was an unusual success story, because she got signed soon after d her arrival in Los Angeles, and had very little professional performing experience. since her song was such a big hit, she was headline tours long before she was ready for it, but she made it through all right.
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One of the pleasures of blogging, is the chance that you might one day happen across tales just like this one. For all those years, I thought she had cleverly invented the name, just to fit the construction of the song, and now here is the background story that I could never have known at the time. Thanks for that, Bill, it is much appreciated.
(Is that book available from Amazon? I will have to check)
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Pete, you can read it for free here: Chuck’s character is named Willy Wahoo and Tom Waits is Wayne Wahzee.
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whoops. i forgot thelink to the book. here it is: https://www.jukepop.com/home/read/1208/?chapter=1&sl=131
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Thanks for that, Bill. I have bookmarked the site, and will look forward to reading it.
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I have read chapter one today. Damon Runyon in the 70s? Great stuff, Bill. Looking forward to the next chapter(s).
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Thanks for reading Pete. Hope you continue to enjoy it.
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I’ve never heard of Rickie Lee Jones, and “Chuck E’s in Love” does not ring a bell. But it’s a very nice song beautifully performed.
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Glad you liked it, David. I am surprised you didn’t know her, she was very popular in the US at one time, and still performs there today.
Regards, Pete.
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This is such a cute song. I remember it from when I was little.
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It is cute indeed, but also very clever in construction and style. Perhaps her finest hour?
Best wishes, Pete.
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This song has a nice feel to it. My wife remembers it and said it was a bit of a hit…Not what I’d pay to see/hear but if they were playing at my whisky club I certainly wouldn’t complain to the manager.
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She had a hit and miss career at the time, but she’s still working. I would say that she was a one-off, and though I never saw her back then, I would have liked to.
Cheers, Pete.
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When I get a little spare time I shall have a look to see what else she has done. For now its time to watch the welsh get a thrashing 😉
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I’ve heard this song before but never knew what it was called. Thanks for telling me.
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My pleasure mate!
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And also thanks for the comment on my bum post last night, although it was too furry for you.
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