Amos Carter - Slew Foot Stu Boogie

  Amos Carter's latest tells the tale about one of his band members; Stu Milligan, rhythm guitar player.

At least a certain part of Stu's anatomy, mainly his slew feet. Now being slew footed means your toes point out towards the side, the opposite of pigeon toes where the toes point inwards. Stu's had the nickname Slew Foot for a long time, since he was in the Army. He takes it with good humor, and even contributed to the writing of this song, Slew Foot Stu's Boogie. Amos told us Stu came up with the chorus for  the song. Amos and his band keep adding to their original songs they can play at their gigs, as well as doing numerous covers. Amos handles the double bass and lays down a solid bass to the song as usual. 

We've got a member of the band 

Who walks in his own special style 

Toes stickin' out past his ankles 

His feet flomp and stomp down the aisle 

 

His toes always catching on things 

We all call him bunches of names 

Feet like two extended wings 

He was born that way, not to blame 

 

Slew foot Stu, struttin' down the hall 

Like a duck, with turned out feet 

Like Chaplin in a silent flick 

All with a boogie woogie beat 

 

He plays the rhythm guitar well 

Keeps a real steady boogie beat 

Nothin' throws him off you can bet 

Just glad he don't play with his feet! 

 

 Imagine his hands stickin' out 

Like a couple two by four boards 

He'd have hell of a time strummin' 

And couldn't finger no dang chords! 

 

Slew foot Stu, struttin' down the hall 

Like a duck, with turned out feet 

Like Chaplin in a silent flick 

All with a boogie woogie beat 

 

When Stu went into the army 

He was issued boots normal size 

He made his platoon sargent mad 

Kept wearin' out the boot sole sides! 

 

Sargent hollered at him always 

He'd yell at him when marchin' "HALT! 

Point your damn feet straight!" he'd tell him 

Stu would mutter 'It ain't my fault!" 

 

Slew foot Stu, struttin' down the hall 

Like a duck, with turned out feet 

Like Chaplin in a silent flick 

All with a boogie woogie beat 

 

All the ribbin' is in good fun 

Great that Stu's got a real thick hide 

Glad that he laughs, doesn't get mad 

He takes it all well in his stride 

 

But he gets even with some us

Givin' his own kind of abuse 

Those got pigeon toes he tells 'em 

 "Best put some bird food in them shoes!" 

 

Slew foot Stu, struttin' down the hall 

Like a duck, with turned out feet 

Like Chaplin in a silent flick 

All with a boogie woogie beat

Amos Carter-Bass Fiddle Boogie

 

The latest by Amos Carter Bass Fiddle Boogie was written by his band member Stu Milligan and his mother Mams Carter. The song is about Amos' younger days, and was prompted by Amos' mother to give the band another original song to sing at gigs. 

As Amos proclaims at the beginning of the recording, his mother plays the piano and adds her consid- erable boogie- woogie playing talents to the rest of the band.  This is the first song she has co-written for the band, as she's been concentrating on her solo career, Amos' instrument is indeed the double bass, or bass fiddle. He anchors the bass in most of the group's songs and is a formidable player. He usually doesn't spotlight his playing very often, but it can be heard throughout the song and he has two places where  the spotlight is on him and his slap-bass technique. He's played countless hours over the years, and has the calluses on both hands to prove it. Double bass strings are thick and under heavy tension, so the left hand develops calluses to protect the finger from blistering. The right hand also develops blisters, in Amos' case even thicker ones from playing slap bass so often. The instrument requires arm and finger strength to play, and it is for good reason that many double bass players are large, strong people. But there are exceptions. Symphony orchestras can have rather physically unimposing people in the double bass section, but for sure, all have strong hands and fingers that are callused.

Amos has mentioned when he was in High School and learning to play. He said the hardest part was restricting the time he practiced so his fingers would slowly develop calluses instead of blisters. He said it was a lesson learned the hard way. As it goes in youth, he thought he was immune to injury, and practiced way longer than he should have. When the inevitable blisters formed, along with very sore hands that cramped painfully, he had to quit practicing until everything healed. He was so intent on learning the instrument that his mother told us that one night after Amos was in bed she took the instrument next door to a neighbor to keep it out of his sight! 

Back in school on the very first day,
Picking out an instrument to play.
The girls took flutes, the boys took brass,
 Amos Carter gave them both a pass.
Looked in the corner at the big wood,
Said, "I’ll take the big one, if I could!"
 
He plays that boogie all night long!
A thumping rhythm big and strong!
Slapping strings till the floorboards shake,
A monster racket Amos makes!
 
Bus driver started to frown and cuss,
Said, “You hog up my whole dang bus!"
Bought two tickets, got red in the face,
One seat for him, one for the bass!
Big bass fiddle stood in the aisle,
The boys and girls would always smile.
 
He plays that boogie all night long!
A thumping rhythm big and strong!
Slapping strings till the floorboards shake,
A monster racket Amos makes!
 
Friday night at the halftime show,
Wind came up and began to blow.
Brass section stepped so clean and fine,
Amos dragged his bass on the line!
Carrying twenty-five pounds of wood,
Keeping that beat like a big man should.
Marched in the mud with his big frame,
Star attraction at the football game!
 
He grew up big, he grew up tall,
He’s the king of the rhythm hall.
Playing tunes on Big and Tall tracks,
With driving piano, jumping sax!
No more marching the football floor,
Just Amos knocking down the door!
 
He plays that boogie all night long!
A thumping rhythm big and strong!
Slapping strings till the floorboards shake,
A monster racket Amos makes!
Yeah, two seats on the bus!
Big Amos and his bass fiddle!