Song ID: Kendell Kardt – “Buzzy and Jimmy” (1976)
From a live demo recorded by Kendell in Chicago in 1976 comes this beautiful track, “Buzzy and Jimmy.” There’s no telling how many albums’ worth of quality material the man has socked away.
Thanks, by the way, to BYM visitor Chris who points out that some of Kendell’s songs can be heard on albums by Jim Post (formerly of Friend and Lover), Redhead, and folk duo Reilly and Maloney.
Kendell Kardt – “Buzzy and Jimmy” (demo, 1976)
posted by Kim Simpson
March 19th, 2008 at 10:29 am
What a great song – Jimmy Post has a great version. But why are they sea cucumber?? Isn’t that what he says?? Anyhow, Mike Dunbar in Nashville might let you have some of Redhead’s Kardt material — see My Space and CD Baby for Mike – another great ’70’s Chicago scene singer/writer. Thanks for putting this out. I heard about you on WNUR on the net. Chris
March 19th, 2008 at 10:52 am
I actually heard it as “see cucumbers” but I guess I’d be perfectly content with a disarming water baby “sea cucumber” reference. WNUR – that’s a great station up yonder. Thanks for the heads up about all this, Kim
March 19th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
If you are corresponding with Kendell, maybe you could ask him – I can’t understand Jimmy Post’s version either. “Cucumber” must be a mondegreen, but it’s cool if that’s what it is. I went back and saw Kathy Kelly’s comment – she’s one of the hosts on the WNUR folk show where I heard about this. I agree Silver Engine is a great song too – could you get Kendell’s version? Or maybe Kathy can get somebody in Chicago to finally record The Man. Keep truckin,’ Chris
March 20th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
“Sea cucumbers” it is – it turns out Kendell wrote this in San Anselmo where he’d written so much of the Buddy Bolden material and where he could see sea cucumbers on the beach at Point Reys. Stay tuned – there’s likely more material on the way. (And yeah, I’m with you there – a new recording of KK is long overdue…) Kim
March 20th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Thanks for the reply on this. That’s what I love about the net — keep up the great work. I chorded the song and will try it out at the ol’ pizza parlor, but I think I’ll have to change the words, rather than trying to explain the lyrics. Sorry, Kendall. Anyhow, really great now to have all 3 verses – Jimmy left out the second. Hope you also might be able to follow up on the old Redhead material. They were one hot folk band. Chris
November 18th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
I was looking some lyrics and found this blog site. I was in a band in the middle 70’s & we did Silver Engine & Dance Gypsy Dance. Always wanted to do Buzzy and Jimmy but never got around to it. I’m a Chicago area boy, always went to see Jim Post, Ed and Fred, John Prine, Steve (God bless him) Goodman, the Redheads, et al. Always wanted recorded material from Kendall Kardt. Still haven’t found it. It was good to listen to his music here. Great stuff.
January 12th, 2009 at 4:49 am
Thanks for swinging by, Bill. k
April 24th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Thank you so much for posting this music, Kim. I used to do this song (Post’s version) in the 70’s, and this is funny– I swear I always thought “Sea Cucumber” was a dog, lol! I love the (somewhat messy) visual of two lovers dancing the Old Time Lindy Hop, dodging sea creatures. Thanks for clearing this up. 🙂
July 17th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
I have 10 or more great tracks that were recorded at Hedden west recording studio outside of chicago about 1976. Some are full orchestrated and others
not so produced. Bicycle wheel, dance gypsy dance, tutu, city of lost angles,
street racer and others. some of the tracks have some famous side men.
Does anyone know what happened to my dear friend Kendall?
July 17th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Hi Tom, Great hearing from you. Check out Kendell’s new website/archive at http://www.kendellkardt.com (see #6 “contact Kendell Kardt” – I’m sure he’d love hearing from you) and especially the Hedden West section at http://www.kendellkardt.com/hedden%20west%20%2777.html so you can see if you’ve got anything that’s not there. Thanks for dropping by,
Kim