Root Hog or Die (album)

Root Hog or Die is an album by the American musicians Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper, released in 1989.[1][2] It was the duo's final studio album.[3] Nixon originally wanted to call it Bush Idiot Slime; he took "root hog or die" from Davy Crockett's autobiography.[4][5] The duo supported the album with a North American tour.[6] Root Hog or Die sold more than 50,000 copies in its first six months of release.[7]

Root Hog or Die
Studio album by
Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper
Released1989
StudioSounds Unreel Studios, Memphis, Tennessee
GenreRock
LabelEngima
ProducerJim Dickinson
Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper chronology
Bo-Day-Shus!!!
(1987)		 Root Hog or Die
(1989)		 Unlimited Everything
(1990)

"Debbie Gibson Is Pregnant with My Two-Headed Love Child" was released as a single; MTV refused to air the accompanying video, which starred Winona Ryder as Gibson.[8][9] The song peaked at No. 16 on Billboard's Modern Rock Tracks chart.[10] The video for "(619) 239-KING" includes guest appearances from the Beat Farmers, Dead Milkmen, and Kris Kristofferson.[11]

Production

Recorded in Memphis, the album was produced by Jim Dickinson.[12][13] The producer helped Nixon create a much fuller band sound.[14] Ben Cauley, of the Bar-Kays, played trumpet on the album.[15]

"(619) 239-KING" provides a number for Elvis to call to confirm his aliveness, with the area code located in San Diego.[16] Nixon raps on the cover of Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land".[17] "Pirate Radio" criticizes the FCC.[18] Nixon considered "High School Football Friday Night" to be less satirical and closer to traditional singer-songwriter material.[19] "Chicken Drop" is about the game of chance.[20]

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[21]
Chicago Tribune[22]
Robert ChristgauA−[23]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[24]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[25]

Robert Christgau gave Root Hog or Die an A−, deeming it "Nixon's finest artistic achievement." However, he was unimpressed with Roper's cuts, calling them "the usual yawn" and commenting that "Mojo's loyalty to his partner, who has-his-own-album-out God-help-us, is one reason I think he's got a good heart."[23] The Los Angeles Times noted that, "though his lyrics are one continuous snicker, the musical settings betray a true fondness for rock 'n' blues roots," writing that Nixon "plays the part of the junior-high bad boy with enough zest to be endearing, at least to listeners who don't easily take offense at crazed, scatological mockery."[26] The Dallas Morning News stated that the songs "bend and buck with a raucous energy... The music is raw and catchy, filled with sharply picked guitars and smoothly sassy horns."[27]

The Toronto Star considered Nixon "rock's lewd, anarchistic answer to Foghorn Leghorn," writing that several songs are "are suitably goofy, lascivious rants."[28] The Calgary Herald labeled the music "some of the funkiest, stripped-down, rock 'n' country 'n' blues around."[29] The Gazette judged the album "drunken, belligerent novelty-store rock, in pursuit of the perfect gag."[30] The Chicago Tribune branded Nixon a "rockin' libertarian, a guy who extols free speech, free thought and free love with equal parts audacity and sincerity."[22]

Track listing

All songs written by Nixon and published by Tallywacker Tunes/La Rana Music except as indicated.

  1. "Debbie Gibson Is Pregnant with My Two-Headed Love Child"
  2. "(619) 239-KING"
  3. "This Land Is Your Land" (Woody Guthrie)
  4. "Pirate Radio"
  5. "Chicken Drop"
  6. "Tennesse Jive" (sic) (Skid Roper)
  7. "Louisiana Liplock"
  8. "I'm a Wreck"
  9. "Legalize It"
  10. "Burn Your Money"
  11. "Circus Mystery" (Skid Roper)
  12. "She's Vibrator Dependent"
  13. "High School Football Friday Night"

6 appears only on the cassette and CD releases of the album; 13 appears only on the CD release.

Personnel
  • Mojo Nixon - guitar, vocals, wah-wah guitar
  • Skid Roper - bongos, choir/chorus, guitar, bass guitar, tambourine, vocals, washboard

with:

  • East Memphis Slim - piano
  • Phony Joe - organ
  • Jim Spake - saxophone
  • Ben Cauley - trumpet
  • Bertram Brown, Jimmy Crosthwait, William C. Brown III - backing vocals
  • Donna Hauth, Susanne Jerome Taylor - jingle singing
Technical
  • Carol Tabor - assistant producer

References
  1. "Disc Drive". Calgary Herald. 16 Feb 1989. p. D3.
  2. Monahan, Casey (25 Mar 1989). "Mojo Nixon, Kinky Friedman forge strange partnership". Austin American-Statesman. p. D11.
  3. Okamoto, David (31 Aug 1990). "Otis". Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph. p. D10.
  4. Faris, Mark (March 24, 1989). "Mojo Nixon Is Sure to Keep His Music Raunchy". Akron Beacon Journal. p. C1.
  5. St. John, Michael (April 27, 1989). "Time Has Come for Mojo Nixon". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 3D.
  6. Beck, Marilyn (4 Apr 1989). "The Inside Track". Living. The Province. p. 35.
  7. DeVault, Russ (May 20, 1989). "Mojo Nixon Pokes Pop's Sacred Cows". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. L30.
  8. Moon, Tom (19 May 1989). "A Visit from Mojo and Skid". Features Weekend. The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. 24.
  9. The Rough Guide to Rock (2nd ed.). Rough Guides Ltd. 1999. p. 694.
  10. Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Rock Tracks 1981-2008. Record Research. p. 178.
  11. Scott, Jane (May 6, 1989). "The search for Elvis: Mojo Nixon's imaginary world is all his own". News. The Plain Dealer.
  12. Gettelman, Parry (28 July 1989). "Mojo Nixon's Music Is a Natural Outrage". Orlando Sentinel. p. E1.
  13. Dafoe, Chris (6 Apr 1989). "Root Hog or Die Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper". The Globe and Mail. p. C6.
  14. Racine, Marty (June 1, 1989). "It's rude rock – just ask Debbie". Houston Chronicle. Houston. p. 3.
  15. Hawkins, Robert J. (February 1, 1989). "Something to offend everyone". The San Diego Union-Tribune. p. C1.
  16. Popson, Tom (17 Feb 1989). "MTV eyes Medusa's for '120 Minutes'". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. 64.
  17. Arnold, Thomas K. (1 Mar 1989). "Liner Notes". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 2.
  18. Rasmussen, Eric (April 8, 1989). "Mojo Nixon Album As Irreverent As Ever". PM. The Capital Times. p. 42.
  19. Corcoran, Michael (April 23, 1989). "Mojo Nixon gets whimsy working on his audiences". Show. Chicago Sun-Times. p. 3.
  20. Rioux, Rob (May 26, 1989). "Prophets of Insanity". The Times-Picayune. p. L7.
  21. Allan, Mark. Root Hog or Die at AllMusic
  22. Kot, Greg (13 Apr 1989). "Recordings". Chicago Tribune. p. 15B.
  23. Robertchristgau.com
  24. MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 820.
  25. The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 510–511.
  26. Boehm, Mike (4 Mar 1989). "Mojo Nixon Is Sitting Ugly with Tour and New Album". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 12.
  27. Maurstad, Tom (June 3, 1989). "A Conversation with Citizen Mojo". The Dallas Morning News. p. 5C.
  28. Potter, Mitch (31 Mar 1989). "Mojo Nixon & Skid Roper Root Hog or Die". Toronto Star. p. D15.
  29. Muretich, James (6 Apr 1989). "Disc". Calgary Herald. p. E3.
  30. "Mojo Nixon & Skid Roper Root Hog or Die". The Gazette. 6 Apr 1989. p. F6.
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