Baty was at University of California Berkeley studying mathematics when he formed the band with Rick Estrin (born 1949). The band's music relies chiefy on electric urban blues of the Chicago variety, but mixed in with other compatible styles, including early rock and roll, soul, surf music, swing, jump blues, and western swing. The band issued their debut album, All the Way Crazy, in 1987, including the songs "Poor Tarzan", "Suicide Blues" and "When Girls Do It". The following album Disturbing the Peace (1988), included "That's My Girl", "My Money's Green", "She's Talking" and "Nervous". The records help established them on the blues festival and club circuits, and they began touring the country extensively, playing a number of international venues. They have played at the San Francisco Blues Festival in 1980 and 1982, the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the San Diego, California Street Scene and Seattle's Bumbershoot Festival plus the Juneau Jazz & Classics Festival in 2002.
Their 1993 album, Night Vision was produced and played on by Joe Louis Walker. It featured "My Next Ex-Wife," a witty blues-rocker that won Estrin a W.C. Handy Award for 'Song of the Year', highlighting his steadily growing reputation for songwriting prowess. Original drummer Dobie Strange left in 1996, after 20 years with the group, and his spot was taken by June Core.
In early 2008, Baty announced he was entering "soft" retirement, no longer tours with the band, except for possible reunion tours/shows in Europe and select North American festivals. Baty performed with JW-Jones at Mont Tremblant Blues Festival, Ottawa Bluesfest, and Piazza Blues in Bellinzona, Switzerland in July 2009. Estrin continued with the band re-billed as Rick Estrin & the Nightcats. Baty was replaced on guitar by Chris 'Kid' Andersen (born 1980), originally from Telemark, Norway. Andersen had played backing Charlie Musselwhite as well as fronting his own band.
Baty's most recent blues recording was as a guest on JW-Jones, Bluelisted (2008), an album which marked the first time in his career that he documented his harmonica playing on a recording, and the first time he and another West Coast blues musician, Junior Watson, had recorded together on the same tracks.
The band dissolved in 2008, with three members going on to form Rick Estrin & the Nightcats.
V-8 Ford
Little Charlie & The Nightcats Lyrics
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Little Charlie & Nightcats
Album: Disturbing The Peace
1988 - ALCD4761
I'm gonna go get big boy, Hogan
To come 'round here an' dig your grave
'An I'll be standin' by with a pick and a shovel
Honey, I been down at your bury
Be ridin' around in my V8-Ford
Honey, you think you so smart?
Girl, but I swear you, you just don't know
So when you renew your insurance
You better get a little bit a-that, 'sick and accident', too
'Cause if you keep messin' up, baby girl
You know somethin'-a bad's, gonna happen to you
Honey, I'll be down at your bury
Be ridin' around-round, in my V-8 Ford
Do you think you so smart?
Honey, you just don't know
But you think you so fine, baby
Of form and face
I'll be down at the cemetery
With another woman by my side, you know to
To take your place
Honey, I'll be down at your bury
Be ridin' around in my V8-Ford
Honey, you think you so smart
Ooo-ooo-umm
Girl, you don't know.
The song V-8 Ford by Little Charlie and the Nightcats is a classic blues song that narrates the story of a man who is scorned by his woman. The man, who is tired of his woman's constant belittlement and lies, is ready to dig her grave with the help of a man called Hogan. He further expresses his anger towards her by warning her to renew her insurance with "sick and accident" to prepare for the worst if she keeps messing up. The man also expresses his intentions to replace her with another woman while riding around in his V-8 Ford.
The lyrics are an excellent example of the traditional blues style of storytelling, where the artists sing about their hardships, anguish, and emotional distress. The lyrics reveal the man's feelings of anger and frustration towards his woman and his desire to move on. The V-8 Ford symbolizes freedom and escape for the man who wants to escape the pain and disappointment of his current relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna go get big boy, Hogan
I'm going to get someone to help me teach you a lesson.
To come 'round here an' dig your grave
To come to where you are and prepare a place for your burial.
'An I'll be standin' by with a pick and a shovel
I'll be there with the tools needed to bury you.
To chuck some-a-that, cold dirt in your face
To throw some of the dirt from your grave in your face as a final insult.
Honey, I been down at your bury
I've been planning your burial.
Be ridin' around in my V8-Ford
Driving my powerful car to do what needs to be done.
Honey, you think you so smart?
You think you're clever or wise.
Girl, but I swear you, you just don't know
But I assure you, you have no real understanding or insight.
So when you renew your insurance
When you renew your insurance policy.
You better get a little bit a-that, 'sick and accident', too
You should consider getting additional coverage because you're likely to get hurt soon.
'Cause if you keep messin' up, baby girl
Because if you keep making mistakes, young lady,
You know somethin'-a bad's, gonna happen to you
Something bad is bound to happen to you.
But you think you so fine, baby
But you think you are beautiful, dear.
Of form and face
Your beauty is both physical and internal.
I'll be down at the cemetery
I'll be waiting for you in the graveyard.
With another woman by my side, you know to
I'll have moved on with another woman.
To take your place
Who will replace you in my life.
Ooo-ooo-umm
A non-lyrical vocalization.
Girl, you don't know.
Girl, you really have no idea what you're up against.
Contributed by Cooper A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.