Root Hog or Die
Studio album by
Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper
Released1989
StudioSounds Unreel Studios, Memphis, Tennessee
GenreRock
LabelEngima
ProducerJim Dickinson
Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper chronology
Bo-Day-Shus!!!
(1987)		 Root Hog or Die
(1989)		 Unlimited Everything
(1990)

Root Hog or Die is an album by the American musicians Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper, released in 1989.[1][2] It was the duo's final studio album.[3] Nixon originally wanted to call it Bush Idiot Slime; he took "root hog or die" from Davy Crockett's autobiography.[4][5] The duo supported the album with a North American tour.[6] Root Hog or Die sold more than 50,000 copies in its first six months of release.[7]

"Debbie Gibson Is Pregnant with My Two-Headed Love Child" was released as a single; MTV refused to air the accompanying video, which starred Winona Ryder as Gibson.[8][9] The song peaked at No. 16 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart.[10] The video for "(619) 239-KING" includes guest appearances from the Beat Farmers, Dead Milkmen, and Kris Kristofferson.[11]

Production

Recorded in Memphis, the album was produced by Jim Dickinson.[12][13] The producer helped Nixon create a much fuller band sound.[14] Ben Cauley, of the Bar-Kays, played trumpet on the album.[15]

"(619) 239-KING" provides a number for Elvis to call to confirm his aliveness, with the area code located in San Diego.[16] Nixon raps on the cover of Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land".[17] "Pirate Radio" criticizes the FCC.[18] Nixon considered "High School Football Friday Night" to be less satirical and closer to traditional singer-songwriter material.[19] "Chicken Drop" is about the game of chance.[20]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[21]
Chicago Tribune[22]
Robert ChristgauA−[23]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[24]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[25]

Robert Christgau gave Root Hog or Die an A−, deeming it "Nixon's finest artistic achievement." However, he was unimpressed with Roper's cuts, calling them "the usual yawn" and commenting that "Mojo's loyalty to his partner, who has-his-own-album-out God-help-us, is one reason I think he's got a good heart."[23] The Los Angeles Times noted that, "though his lyrics are one continuous snicker, the musical settings betray a true fondness for rock 'n' blues roots," writing that Nixon "plays the part of the junior-high bad boy with enough zest to be endearing, at least to listeners who don't easily take offense at crazed, scatological mockery."[26] The Dallas Morning News stated that the songs "bend and buck with a raucous energy... The music is raw and catchy, filled with sharply picked guitars and smoothly sassy horns."[27]

The Toronto Star considered Nixon "rock's lewd, anarchistic answer to Foghorn Leghorn," writing that several songs are "are suitably goofy, lascivious rants."[28] The Calgary Herald labeled the music "some of the funkiest, stripped-down, rock 'n' country 'n' blues around."[29] The Gazette judged the album "drunken, belligerent novelty-store rock, in pursuit of the perfect gag."[30] The Chicago Tribune branded Nixon a "rockin' libertarian, a guy who extols free speech, free thought and free love with equal parts audacity and sincerity."[22]

Track listing

All songs written by Nixon and published by Tallywacker Tunes/La Rana Music except as indicated.

  1. "Debbie Gibson Is Pregnant with My Two-Headed Love Child"
  2. "(619) 239-KING"
  3. "This Land Is Your Land" (Woody Guthrie)
  4. "Pirate Radio"
  5. "Chicken Drop"
  6. "Tennesse Jive" (sic) (Skid Roper)
  7. "Louisiana Liplock"
  8. "I'm a Wreck"
  9. "Legalize It"
  10. "Burn Your Money"
  11. "Circus Mystery" (Skid Roper)
  12. "She's Vibrator Dependent"
  13. "High School Football Friday Night"

6 appears only on the cassette and CD releases of the album; 13 appears only on the CD release.

Personnel

  • Mojo Nixon - guitar, vocals, wah-wah guitar
  • Skid Roper - bongos, choir/chorus, guitar, bass guitar, tambourine, vocals, washboard

with:

  • East Memphis Slim - piano
  • Phony Joe - organ
  • Jim Spake - saxophone
  • Ben Cauley - trumpet
  • Bertram Brown, Jimmy Crosthwait, William C. Brown III - backing vocals
  • Donna Hauth, Susanne Jerome Taylor - jingle singing
Technical
  • Carol Tabor - assistant producer

References

  1. ↑ "Disc Drive". Calgary Herald. 16 Feb 1989. p. D3.
  2. ↑ Monahan, Casey (25 Mar 1989). "Mojo Nixon, Kinky Friedman forge strange partnership". Austin American-Statesman. p. D11.
  3. ↑ Okamoto, David (31 Aug 1990). "Otis". Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. p. D10.
  4. ↑ Faris, Mark (March 24, 1989). "Mojo Nixon Is Sure to Keep His Music Raunchy". Akron Beacon Journal. p. C1.
  5. ↑ St. John, Michael (April 27, 1989). "Time Has Come for Mojo Nixon". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 3D.
  6. ↑ Beck, Marilyn (4 Apr 1989). "The Inside Track". Living. The Province. p. 35.
  7. ↑ DeVault, Russ (May 20, 1989). "Mojo Nixon Pokes Pop's Sacred Cows". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. L30.
  8. ↑ Moon, Tom (19 May 1989). "A Visit from Mojo and Skid". Features Weekend. The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 24.
  9. ↑ The Rough Guide to Rock (2nd ed.). Rough Guides Ltd. 1999. p. 694.
  10. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981-2008. Record Research. p. 178.
  11. ↑ Scott, Jane (May 6, 1989). "The search for Elvis: Mojo Nixon's imaginary world is all his own". News. The Plain Dealer.
  12. ↑ Gettelman, Parry (28 July 1989). "Mojo Nixon's Music Is a Natural Outrage". Orlando Sentinel. p. E1.
  13. ↑ Dafoe, Chris (6 Apr 1989). "Root Hog or Die Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper". The Globe and Mail. p. C6.
  14. ↑ Racine, Marty (June 1, 1989). "It's rude rock – just ask Debbie". Houston Chronicle. Houston. p. 3.
  15. ↑ Hawkins, Robert J. (February 1, 1989). "Something to offend everyone". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. C1.
  16. ↑ Popson, Tom (17 Feb 1989). "MTV eyes Medusa's for '120 Minutes'". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 64.
  17. ↑ Arnold, Thomas K. (1 Mar 1989). "Liner Notes". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 2.
  18. ↑ Rasmussen, Eric (April 8, 1989). "Mojo Nixon Album As Irreverent As Ever". PM. The Capital Times. p. 42.
  19. ↑ Corcoran, Michael (April 23, 1989). "Mojo Nixon gets whimsy working on his audiences". Show. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 3.
  20. ↑ Rioux, Rob (May 26, 1989). "Prophets of Insanity". The Times-Picayune. p. L7.
  21. ↑ Allan, Mark. Root Hog or Die at AllMusic
  22. 1 2 Kot, Greg (13 Apr 1989). "Recordings". Chicago Tribune. p. 15B.
  23. 1 2 Robertchristgau.com
  24. ↑ MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 820.
  25. ↑ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 510–511.
  26. ↑ Boehm, Mike (4 Mar 1989). "Mojo Nixon Is Sitting Ugly with Tour and New Album". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 12.
  27. ↑ Maurstad, Tom (June 3, 1989). "A Conversation with Citizen Mojo". The Dallas Morning News. p. 5C.
  28. ↑ Potter, Mitch (31 Mar 1989). "Mojo Nixon & Skid Roper Root Hog or Die". Toronto Star. p. D15.
  29. ↑ Muretich, James (6 Apr 1989). "Disc". Calgary Herald. p. E3.
  30. ↑ "Mojo Nixon & Skid Roper Root Hog or Die". The Gazette. 6 Apr 1989. p. F6.
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