Running Jumping Standing Still

Spider John Koerner, Willie Murphy | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 22, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Red House
• ASIN: B000001BA1
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #52,516 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Red Palace

2. I Ain't Blue

3. Bill & Annie

4. Old Brown Dog

5. Running, Jumping, Standing Still

6. Sidestep

7. Magazine Lady

8. Friends and Lovers

9. Sometimes I Can't Help Myself

10. Good Night

11. Some Sweet Nancy [#]

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Spider John Koerner made his name in the '60s by picking out acoustic urban blues with the Minneapolis trio of Koerner, Ray, & Glover. He romps a little harder than usual on Running, Jumping, Standing Still, obviously grooving on the extra energy of pianist Willie Murphy. Koerner's folk roots get liberally sprinkled with ragtime, rock & roll, and barrelhouse boogie-woogie courtesy of Murphy's magic fingers. Murphy also sings lead on two tracks, including the long, jazzy piano workout "Old Brown Dog." Koerner and his booming guitar shine on the strutting "Red Palace," the low-key "I Ain't Blue," and the title track. -- Michael Ruby

Product Description

CD-R, Digitally remastered edition of this 1969 album. Koerner, Ray & Glover's Spider John Koerner teamed with Willie Murphy for this unlikely combination of Piedmont blues and ragtime piano; this is "old timey" music in the purest and most satisfying sense of the term (you can almost see those saloon doors a-swingin' to some of these songs). --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A magic recording session, November 16, 2000

By 

Jon M. Lepine "jaycatt" (Springfield, OR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Running Jumping Standing Still (Audio CD)

I was also introduced to Spider John Koerner through Spider Robinson. I expected quite a lot from this album, since Robinson describes it in very glowing and almost mythical terms. Well, the first time I listened to it, I wasn't, on the whole, impressed. However, from the second time to the upteenth time I fell in love with it. It's one of the top 10 albums I would have on a deserted island, just for the happy feeling it leaves me with. I really enjoy playing it while doing other activities with friends, like drinking, or cleaning, or building.

The amount of diversity in music here is incredible. At first listen, it sounds like a folk album, but with repeated playings you begin to notice that a lot of jazz, blues influence also go into it. It's surprising how well these performers work together.

The lyrics are clever turns of phrase that make you ponder, without being depressing, just thoughtful. (ie, Magazine Lady: "If you and I were to go for a moonlight swim, would you look the same when you left the water, as you did before you went in?")

Since purchasing this album, I've gone on to buy other Spider John Koerner albums, and just haven't seen the magic that this one had... There's something special here, and I get the feeling that these musicians were in the right frame of mind at the right time, and it's a gift to us all that they managed to capture it...

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent, thoughtful, and dead-on rocking music, February 10, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (North Carolina, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Running Jumping Standing Still (Audio CD)

My first exposure to this music was a rave review by Spider Robinson, the author of the science fiction "Callahan's" books. He was absolutely right! The lyrics will make you think, the beat will make you jump, and the musical quality will make you stand up and shout and then go out and buy copies for your best friends (I've done 4 now with more on the way. Highly recommended!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars oh yeah! it's a winner, January 2, 2001

By 

ge "helio-cd-books" (NY, NY United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Running Jumping Standing Still (Audio CD)

Every since high school, & that's over 30 years, I've enjoyed this record. Producer Mohawk & the boys capture one of the coolest recorded ambiences of the century (Dr. John's 'GrisGris' also comes to mind; also another inspired Mohawk production, 'the Moray Eels Eat the Holy Modal Rounders') with Koerner's beat/farmboy/outdoorsy romantic writing & delivery plus perfect cheap electric guitar thrashing setting the mood...not forgetting great cigar puffin' rinkytink piano of Willie.

This album is richly redolently suggestive of beer bars basements backwoods riverbanks romance broken hearts & clicking heels, hounddogs rainbows holidays & silk hose! About the only time I did a 'Mecca' pilgrimage to a club was to pay homage to Spider John (appearing solo) for the joy this album gave, that was about 15 years ago. Another guy had come for the same reason. Spider offered to buy me a beer, but I wasn't drinking (pretty ungracious/dumb huh?)... intent on telling him the G-R-R-R-R-R-E-A-ATness of this alvin...its 'non-effeteness' making one proud to be a redblooded American shaking the hand of the man...

& if you dont agree/ then you aint me/ but we can all see/
how it seems to have such an effect!