Written by: Sorrells Pickard
Recorded: 26 June 1970
Producer: Pete Drake
Engineer: Scotty Moore
Released: 25 September 1970 (UK), 28 September 1970 (US)
Available on:
Beaucoups Of Blues
Personnel
Ringo Starr: vocals
Charlie Daniels, Chuck Howard, Jerry Kennedy, Dave Kirby, Sorrells Pickard, Jerry Reed, Jerry Shook: guitar
Jim Buchanan/George Richey/Grover Lavender: fiddle
Ben Keith/Pete Drake: pedal steel guitar
Charlie McCoy: harmonica
Roy Huskey Jr: upright bass
Buddy Harman/DJ Fontana: drums
Hoyt Hawkins, Neal Matthews Jr, Gordon Stoker, Ray Walker: vocals
‘$15 Draw’ is the seventh song on Beaucoups Of Blues, Ringo Starr’s second solo album.
It was written by Sorrells Pickard, who also composed ‘Without Her’, ‘Woman Of The Night’, and ‘Silent Homecoming’ on the album.
Guess who I talked to tonight – my buddy Sorrells! We talked for about 25 minutes. He has lots of fond memories of the sessions with Ringo. He referred to them as “hard work”, though, so it’s nice to know that cranking out 25 new songs in 3 days is at least a small strain on country musicians. Wish I were better at taking notes. Don’t know if I caught enough to put up a web page. One interesting little tidbit was that “Bolton City” in the song ‘$15 Draw’ was supposed to be Bossier City, which is across the Red River from Shreveport, La. It has a strip of juke joints and honky tonks and is “on the circuit”. Sorrells wasn’t aware or had forgotten that Ringo sang “Bolton”, which is also what the printed lyrics say. Keep in mind that Sorrells knows his lyrics.
In the studio
Beaucoups Of Blues was recorded at Music City Recorders in Nashville, TN, with a number of local musicians, some of whom had appeared on Bob Dylan’s albums Nashville Skyline and Self Portrait. The album was produced by Pete Drake, with Elvis Presley’s guitarist Scotty Moore engineering.
The sessions took place from 6pm-9pm and 10pm-1am over three nights, from 25-27 June 1970. ‘$15 Draw’ was recorded during the first session on the night of 26 June.
Lyrics
Oh, one, two
Mama, I guess you have stood and cursed
The day I found that old guitar
When uncle Harry died
The one we found in the boot of his old car
And remember how my little fingers blistered
When I tried to learn to play
I bet you never dreamed that old guitar
Would put me where I am today
Yes, it’s been a lot of years
I guess it’s been an interesting life
No mam, I never found another woman
That I wanted for a wife
I guess the first time showed us
That I wasn’t the domesticated kind
But I don’t blame her for getting tired
Of living from a suitcase all the time
Yes I know sometimes it looks
Like I’ve just simply thrown my life away
I’d just always figured that if I hung on
I’d make it big some day
I guess it takes a special breed
To live this way and think the way I think
But you’ll be glad to hear that anymore
I ain’t near as bad to drink
How is Tommy doing with the business
Now that daddy’s passed away?
I’m sure daddy always knew that Tom
Would be the one to take his place
And when he tried to lecture me
I’d sit and pick and sing and let him nag
But way down deep inside I think
He always knew that hardware ain’t my bag
We open Monday night in Bolton city
For another two week stand
I wish there was some way that you and Tom
Could come and hear my band
Wish I had the time to tell you ’bout the
Places that I’ve been, the things I saw
And I’ll send the fifteen dollars soon
As I get to the club and make a draw
When you’re hot, you’re hot there
Ah, I mean, ah, when, what is
When you’re hot, you’re hot, yeah, OK
Mm-mm
All right!
I’ve got my dog and he’s real mean!
