Nashville Cats

236. “Nashville Cats” is a song by The Lovin’ Spoonful that was written by their frontman John Sabastian. The band grew out of a love of jug band and skiffle music traditions and rose to popularity in the mid-60s. Although the song touts the musicianship of Nashville guitar pickers “That been “Playin' since they's babies." Its reference is to Sun Records, “And the record man said every one is a Yellow Sun”. Sun Records is the studio from Memphis Tennessee that recorded, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Charlie Rich, and Elvis. The song humorously states, “Well, there's thirteen hundred and fifty-two / Guitar pickers in Nashville / And they can pick more notes than the number of ants / On a Tennessee anthill.” Although with the Nashville population growth since the 60s, the line today might read ““Well, there's thirty-one hundred and fifty-two / Guitar pickers in Nashville” and anyone who’s been to Nashville knows that this estimate is probably low. 

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