# It's Billie Joe McAllister Day 2018 **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 3, 2018, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-billie-joe-mcallister-day-2018/815344 "2018-06-03T05:22:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-billie-joe-mcallister-day-2018/815344/1 "2018-06-03T05:22:11Z")
I’ve got 5 more acres in the lower 40 to plow… [That sultry Bobbie Gentry video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZt5Q-u4crc) ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-billie-joe-mcallister-day-2018/815344/2 "2018-06-03T05:27:57Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I’ve got 5 more acres in the lower 40 to plow… > > [That sultry Bobbie Gentry video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZt5Q-u4crc) It’s a shame about Billy Joe anyhow. How should we celebrate the day? ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-billie-joe-mcallister-day-2018/815344/3 "2018-06-03T06:41:20Z")
Holy shit. This song is fucking amazing. (I’ve always known about it, I just have always thought it was fucking amazing.) SUCH tension created by those breezy dominant-seventh chords and the building strings. It’s like whoever created the instrumental arrangement had been influenced by a combination of Harry Nilsson and the _Godfather_ soundtrack. Ingenious use of a story-song…actually, it might be among the only instances of such in all of pop music. (Not prog, not folk, but pop.) ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-billie-joe-mcallister-day-2018/815344/4 "2018-06-03T07:27:15Z")
> [@ioioio](#): > > It’s a shame about Billy Joe anyhow. > > How should we celebrate the day? Spend a lot of time pickin’ flowers up on Choctaw Ridge, and drop them into the muddy water off the Tallahatchie Bridge? (or into the nearest quarry, whatever) ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-billie-joe-mcallister-day-2018/815344/5 "2018-06-03T07:56:23Z")
> [@Jacquernagy](#): > > Holy shit. This song is fucking amazing. (I’ve always known about it, I just have always thought it was fucking amazing.) SUCH tension created by those breezy dominant-seventh chords and the building strings. It’s like whoever created the instrumental arrangement had been influenced by a combination of Harry Nilsson and the _Godfather_ soundtrack. Ingenious use of a story-song…actually, it might be among the only instances of such in all of pop music. (Not prog, not folk, but pop.) I have no way to describe it in musical terms, to me it’s just a hauntingly somber yet beautiful melody. ---
**Author:** ![Lamoral](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lamoral/32/16078_2.png) [@Lamoral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamoral)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-billie-joe-mcallister-day-2018/815344/6 "2018-06-03T08:01:59Z")
If we were sitting at a piano, in about 20 minutes I could explain to you EXACTLY the harmonic concepts that go into creating that melody you describe as “haunting” and “somber” but beautiful. Anyone I’m teaching about music theory for the first time, I always make sure to emphasize: if you can describe a song in emotional terms (like “haunting”), then you already HAVE the intuitive knowledge of music theory concepts, all you need is the _vocabulary_ to talk about them. And most of the important stuff (simple: the intervals of the major scale, the difference between major and minor; the sound of a major seventh versus a dominant seventh; the idea of a chord resolving or not resolving) could be explained in about an hour’s worth of musical training. If you are wanting to play rock or pop music, you are seriously 90% of the way there if you just understand the above. Jazz and classical is a very different story. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-billie-joe-mcallister-day-2018/815344/7 "2018-06-03T13:40:37Z")
There isn’t a bridge close to me, so I can’t easily mark the day by throwing something off one. There is, however, a levee nearby, so I could throw something off that . . . but maybe that’s more appropriate for American Pie Day, which I believe is March 14. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-billie-joe-mcallister-day-2018/815344/8 "2018-06-03T16:00:49Z")
Anyone know what’s up with brother? Is he still with that Becky Thompson girl? mmm ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-billie-joe-mcallister-day-2018/815344/9 "2018-06-03T16:10:01Z")
Store went bankrupt when Walmart moved in. They’re on welfare now. ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-billie-joe-mcallister-day-2018/815344/10 "2018-06-03T16:26:19Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > Store went bankrupt when Walmart moved in. They’re on welfare now. Social Security by now, I suspect. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-billie-joe-mcallister-day-2018/815344/11 "2018-06-03T16:47:53Z")
> [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](#): > > Social Security by now, I suspect. Yeah, that too. GaryM ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-billie-joe-mcallister-day-2018/815344/12 "2018-06-03T16:59:59Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Anyone know what’s up with brother? Is he still with that Becky Thompson girl? > mmm Brother is now sister. And yeah, she’s still with Becky. They got married right at the court decision. The reception was held up on Choctaw Ridge. ETA: Pass the biscuits, please. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-billie-joe-mcallister-day-2018/815344/13 "2018-06-03T18:08:28Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Brother is now sister. And yeah, she’s still with Becky. They got married right at the court decision. The reception was held up on Choctaw Ridge. > > ETA: Pass the biscuits, please. They already GOT married, back in the fifth verse. What was this, some kind of reaffirmation of their original vows? ---
**Author:** ![Tapiotar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-billie-joe-mcallister-day-2018/815344/14 "2018-06-03T19:13:27Z")
> [@ioioio](#): > > There isn’t a bridge close to me, so I can’t easily mark the day by throwing something off one. There is, however, a levee nearby, so I could throw something off that . . . but maybe that’s more appropriate for American Pie Day, which I believe is March 14. No, no, for that one, you drink whiskey and rye with some good ol’ boys. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-billie-joe-mcallister-day-2018/815344/15 "2018-06-03T21:13:35Z")
> [@Tapiotar](#): > > No, no, for that one, you drink whiskey and rye with some good ol’ boys. Singin’ this will be the day I get thrown off the Talahatchie Bridge. mmm ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-billie-joe-mcallister-day-2018/815344/16 "2018-06-03T21:25:35Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > They already GOT married, back in the fifth verse. What was this, some kind of reaffirmation of their original vows? Well, uhm, yeah, uhm, the original marriage was annulled after the change. Yeah, that’s the ticket! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-billie-joe-mcallister-day-2018/815344/17 "2018-06-03T22:05:06Z")
A year has come and gone since we… did a similar thread. I would give my eyeteeth to hear the 7 minute version with the three (4?) extra verses. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-billie-joe-mcallister-day-2018/815344/18 "2018-06-03T22:06:46Z")
> [@ioioio](#): > > There isn’t a bridge close to me, so I can’t easily mark the day by throwing something off one. There is, however, a levee nearby, so I could throw something off that . . . but maybe that’s more appropriate for American Pie Day, which I believe is March 14. But when the levee breaks, I have no place to stay. Mean old levee. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-billie-joe-mcallister-day-2018/815344/19 "2018-06-03T22:28:11Z")
IIRC, [Jimmie Haskel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmie_Haskell) wrote the string sweetening tracks and Sid Sharp’s strings recorded it. I don’t know what studio did it, but I’ll bet it was somewhere in Los Angeles. From [here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ode_to_Billie_Joe): > [@](#): > > The song is noted for its long descending scale by the strings at the conclusion, suggesting the flowers falling after being dropped off the Tallahatchie Bridge and ending up in the river water below That’s somewhat of a Haskel signature lick. I was lucky to work for Haskel in the 1970’s for at least one album (Cashman & West), although I wasn’t his regular copyist. I remember calling him up in the middle of the night (the session was planned for 9AM and I got the charts to copy sometime after midnight), and asking him about some musical shorthand he had written for the violins. I realized that if I had to write out every note of a chromatic sweep, it would take a lot of time, but Haskel told me to copy his shorthand and “the players will figure it out.” Damned if they did, the next morning. I also asked him why he wrote such complete harmony for a string section, since everyone knows that the final outcome will be on a tinny transistor radio, where you won’t hear the cellos or violas. He said he did that because the recording musicians liked to sound good together even if they weren’t ever heard by the public. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-billie-joe-mcallister-day-2018/815344/20 "2018-06-03T22:34:25Z")
> [@Tapiotar](#): > > No, no, for that one, you drink whiskey and rye with some good ol’ boys. Not to derail the thread, but why does he say whiskey AND rye? Rye IS whiskey!! As evidenced [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9ir-rZ2HDY): [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-billie-joe-mcallister-day-2018/815344.md?page=2)