I have to believe the addition of “Book of Rules” to the Ratdog songbook may have something to do with a conversation that Bob, Mark and I had off the air during their KPFA appearance 5/31. The inevitable requests for “Monkey and the Engineer” and “My Brother Esau” came in on the phone, and while some music was playing I put in my own vote in favor of “Esau.” I recalled a long night at Phil’s house long ago when Bob explained the song to us, and I also noted that it really took off after Phil cribbed the bass line from “Book of Rules.” That didn’t get us an “Esau,” but it seems to have gotten Mark and Bobby interest in “Book of Rules.”
For those who aren’t familiar with it, “Book of Rules” is a reggae song made popular by the Heptones. It appears on the first Bobby and the Midnites album, released in 1981 and reissued on CD a while back.
Gans, i just wrote a reply about the Vince situation and all of the bastards chastisers of the band, but i was listening to this webcast the night after it happened, sadly, because this was my second chance at calling in to talk to you and Bobby that i missed, and you also mentioned Big Iron, which i had heard for the first time only days before, and was talking about how cool it would be to hear Ratdog playing it. Well they busted it out at the Harmony festival according to Ratdog.org, as well as Book of Rules, and let us not forget Way to Go Home. This was a special night, and I am hoping to see a show with the Dog, but my first chance may not be until the vibes. Can you tell me why the dog is not coming to OHIO, when String cheese is, and hil and Friends is as well. String cheese and the Dog are touring all summer, and their one show without Dog is in Columbus which furiates me. I won’t blame the remaining members of the Dead, because that is not who i am, and they don’t really say much about Ratdog, but Weir should be rolling through that night, when he is playing with string cheese the night before and after. you should be here also by the way, just to let you know. See you at The Vibes though, i think i’am getting VIP tickets, so im hoping i’ll get a shot to meet you, and Bobby as well.
Oh, and I also wrote this review about you for my schools newspaper, about your life and albums and such, and helped boost your fanbase in Columbus. The Dead Hour may not be huge, but I try to support it at every chance i get. I donated thirty dollars last time, because some lady talked over your recording, and it wasn’t right. YOu deserve more respect than that, and I will always be here supporting you, in Columbus, and in Boulder where i am heading for college this coming year.
Thank you for your kind words, moobyman (what’s yer real name?).
In Ratdog’s defense, the economics of touring are complex and difficult. I don’t know the specifcs of this tour w/ SCI, but I know it was booked rather late, so it’s possible String Cheese had already locked their gig in for the date you’re concerned with.
And of course, I’d be interested in seeing that article you wrote. Email me a copy?
Terrific insight, David. It helps reveal how the song sounded familiar, yet we had likely not seen it since Bobby and the Midnites toured in August of 1984. While both this tune and Big Iron are perfect for Ratdog, here is one HUGE vote to keep Way to Go Home in regular rotation. Bobby did a terrific job of making it his own vocally, while staying true to Vince’s nuances. Last Friday’s Ratdog show ranks right up there with the Terrapin Station show when the band busted out Terrapin Flyer at Alpine Valley in August 2002.