the time between sound check and show, Graeme and Tom wandered round the city in search of the grave of Charlie Parker, Tom send me a couple of the pics they took illustrating the city’s devotion to the legacy of that era. It must have been quite a scene back then. Mark wrote a song about it intended for the last album which remains an unreleased gem.
http://guyfletcher.co.uk/28th-august-2019-kansas-city-mo/
Could it be the "Back in the day" famous unreleased song?
I didn't analyzed the lyrics of it so I don't know...
Yes, must be BACK IN THE DAY, see the highlighted lyrics:
"Back In The Day"
You had to know what you were doing
Up on the band
Nobody lining up
To come give you a hand
No way could you fake itAt 18th and Vine
And we could really put the sauce on it
We'd do it all the time
We was hot as smokin' pistols
Chopping everybody downSwinging like dogs, man
Kings of the townThere'd be a cutting contest
You had to do your research
I'd pull out a lick or two
From Saturday night church
Yeah, you'd maybe get to try
A couple things you learned
But you had to do your homework
'Cause a gig was earned
When swing turned into bebopIt was all going on
Blowing all nightOn past the dawn
I might play all day
I might play all nightWhatever made you stronger, baby
That was alright
Yeah, you'd maybe get to try
A couple things you'd learned
But you had to know your business
'Cause everybody burned
Well a beer was a nickel
A whiskey was a dime
They'd come to Kansas CitySee the girls on Vine
Might get a hot shot
Wanna bring along his horn
We liked to clean 'em up
And head 'em back where they belong
So long
But it's just the old malarkey
That'll wear you down
Some people are the pits, man
There's always some around
Some will take advantage
If they can
It's the old baloney sandwich
You dig me, man?
I'm talking about a time
When every man could play
But that's the way it was
Back in the day
