Wednesday 10 April 2013

WEDNESDAY CLUB - Byrds/Woody Guthrie - Pretty Boy Floyd

HOSPITAL STORIES PT 2 of 3
Every crime in Oklahoma was added to his name

 
THE BYRDS - Pretty Boy Floyd (1968)

I went to A&E,  I was in pain with my foot. They immediately took me to a ward. Luckily I was given an end bed and it backed on to a grassy area. I had an emergency number to call as I had medical Insurance with my company. They arranged a private room for me the next day.

The on duty consultant said he would arrange a friend of his who was one of the leading foot surgeons in the country to deal with my case. He came in especially, I was treated like royalty. I was later discharged and had to come back for an operation a week later.

When I came back for the operation the first specialist just happened to pass my door and popped his head in to wish me good luck. What a nice guy I thought.

The operation was a success but it took a little while for me to walk properly. My wife was in Spain at the time so I took full advantage of the time off and getting a certificate when its an Insurance claim was not a big problem.

When I got the copy of the statement for the treatment, I was shocked to see that the original specialist had claimed for first seeing me. Fair enough.  Then he claimed again when he brought in the foot specialist, although, he did not stay more than a minute. He then made a further claim for consultation when he popped his head in to say good luck. His claims were about £500 and he did not actually do anything other than arrange his friend to come.

I also saw a  further consultant after the operation and was in his room twice for  not more than a couple of minutes each time. He was more interested in my home town of Inverness (as he was going to Scotland on holiday) than looking at my foot. Two more claims at a £150 a time. (four minutes 300 quid).

Our poor footballing heros are being short changed.

Some will rob you with a six gun, some with a fountain pen      

The words of Wood Guthrie, screamed.

What a classic by the Byrds from their album Sweet Heart of the Rodeo. It does not get too much better than this When this came out in 1968, I was blown, blown away.  Gram Parsons had joined the Byrds for a short time and his Country influence shined through. If ever there was an album that you could describe as Country Rock, then look no further than Sweet Heart of the Rodeo. It is, and still is, a breath of fresh air


Here is the the original by Woody himself.

 
WOODY GUTHRIE - Pretty Boy Floyd

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WEDNESDAY CLUB - Byrds/Woody Guthrie - Pretty Boy Floyd
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Oleh

2 comments

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10 April 2013 at 19:30

Those consultants certainly saw you coming Old Pa, or rather, saw their fees coming! Crazy money, how long ago was this? I feel guilty enjoying the results of your misfortune, but this was another great story topped off with two brilliant versions of PBF.

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11 April 2013 at 09:16

Hi TS this was about 6 years ago...visiting UK for a couple of weeks so may be a bit quiet...message from Old Pa

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