The cover image for the Booze Monkey album, Good Luck Mr. Gorsky
The cover image for the Booze Monkey album, Good Luck Mr. Gorsky
Good Luck Mr. Gorsky is a sixteen-song studio album featuring acoustic-duo arrangements of songs from Blue’s existing catalog alongside new songs written during the recording sessions for the album.
It was recorded mostly-live in the Naked Acre Compound Studio with few overdubs.
It’s a blend of blues, rockabilly, bluegrass and jazz while maintaining its rock & roll essence and attitude.
The Booze Monkey duo is Blue Ajay and Joel Ludwig.
The band's name derived from Blue's online signature, which read:
"I am the Booze Monkey often drunk & always funky."
Having published seven solo albums before Good Luck Mr. Gorsky, Blue said he wanted to replace his name on the t-shirts with the image of a cartoon monkey he'd taken to doodling.
Listen to meatball Surgery. online:
Instrumental
Music by Blue Ajay
© ℗ 2003 Sanity Check Musec, Inc. ASCAP
Aces and Eights, Hearts and Spades
I was born with a dead man’s hand
Aces and Eights, Hearts and Spades
I was born with a dead man’s hand
Since I was born, first day on earth
I’ve lived the life of a dying man
The moon was full, the clouds were sparse
There seemed to be too many stars
The moon was full, the clouds were sparse
Seemed like there were too many stars
A coyote howled, somewhere in the dark
As the midwife witch she dealt the cards
Chorus:
I was born without karma
Well no, none to speak of
And so I spit in the Reaper’s eye
The cards that were dealt me
They weren’t worth a damn
I’ll load my sleeve until I die
The thunder was rolling, though the night it was clear
The ground all around it seemed to shake
The thunder was rolling though the night it was clear
The ground all around it did seem to shake
The midwife sighed, my mother cried
The night itself seemed to seal my fate
Ashes to ashes and sand to sand
I’ll see your bid and raise you ten
Ashes to ashes and sand to sand
I’ll see your bid and I’ll raise you ten
I’ve nothing to lose, and I love to play
I’ll take your cash and we’ll play again
Words and music by Blue Ajay
© ℗ 2003 Sanity Check Musec, Inc. ASCAP
Lyrics reprinted with permission
The cats are rockin’ right tonight
I say, A-OK and outta sight
The volume’s up, the drums are tight
I say the Cats are Rockin’ Right Tonight
The guitars are up and there’s a slammin’ beat
that Memphis lag is oh so sweet
The party’s movin’ into the street
the Slick Cat’s drivin’ up the heat
The cats are rockin’ right tonight
I say, A-OK and outta sight
The volume’s up, the drums are tight
I say the Cats are Rockin’ Right Tonight
We’ve got Billy Lee Riley on the guitar leads
when he plays you know that hunk a wood it sings to me
The bass is thumpin and the drums are there
and everybody’s screamin’ just a fills the air
The cats are rockin’ right to night
I say, A-OK and outta sight
The volume’s up, the drums are tight
I say the Cats are Rockin’ Right Tonight
Go Billy!
The cats are rockin’ right tonight
I say, A-OK and outta sight
The volume’s up, the drums are tight
I say the Cats are Rockin’ Right Tonight
I say the Cats are Rockin’ Right Tonight
I say the Cats are Rockin’ Right Tonight
Words and music by Blue Ajay
© ℗ 1994/2003 Sanity Check Musec, Inc. ASCAP
Lyrics reprinted with permission
Chorus
You’re my jawbreaker baby
& I’m your everlasting sucker - 2x
You’ve done me wrong all along
And though wrong I still long
I long to be your lover
You’re like a candy cane
Long and lean
With a spin to your sweetness
You’re like bubble gum
Sugar fun
A taffy pull toss on two feet mess
You’re my apple pie
Apple in eye
Peppermint confection
You’re my soda pop
Lemon drop
Double dip obsession
Chorus
I’ve been chewing on this for a while
I need to get off of your sweets
I seem to be failing the trial
I’m consumed with consuming your treats
You’ve broken down my enamel
You’re working down into the bone
I’m sore to the core
And I feel completely alone
Chorus -> out
Words & Music by Blue Ajay
Written 5 September 2002 @ 4:11pm
© ℗ 2003 Sanity Check Musec, Inc. ASCAP
Lyrics reprinted with permission
Its not the year of my make,
that drops my blue book down
No its not the year of my make,
droppin’ my blue book down
It’s the wear and the tear and the mileage baby
more than the years I been around
I feel like my treads are worn
and my bands are showin’ through
I feel like my treads are worn and my
bands are showin’ through
But I’m pushing my needle right up to the red
as I make my way back home to you
Chorus
‘Cuz I know that you’ll polish my fenders
And fill my tank right to the top
You’ll run your hands right around my wheel
And I’ll hope that you never stop
Because you treat me just like a late model
though I feel like I’m previously owned
Yeah, you treat me just like a late model
though I feel like I’m previously owned
And you rub me to shine and kiss me goodnight
and it always feels good to be home
I know that you’ll check the air in my tires
and make sure my balance is right
Yeah I know that you’ll check the air
in my tires and make sure my balance is right
You’ll pull me in out of the weather
and keep me snug and warm all night
Chorus
Solo
Life’s road has been plenty bumpy
there’s construction around every bend
Yeah, life’s road has been plenty bumpy
there’s construction around every bend
My doors are startin’ to rattle
and there’s a bit of sway to my back end
Its not the year of my make
it’s the mileage that’s doin’ me in
No its not the year of my make
it’s the mileage that is doin’ me in.
But when you pull me into your garage
I feel like a new car again
Chorus – Out
Words & Music by Blue Ajay
© ℗ 2003 Sanity Check Musec, Inc. ASCAP
Lyrics reprinted with permission
I got a call from the preacher man
he said Blue how come you never clasp your hands
I said sir I appreciate your sense of contentment
but nothin’ ever happened for me with outside Involvement
especially from somethin’ that I cannot see
he said son the source of your torment
will never let you be
Chorus:
he said son you’re always runnin’ oh yeah
runnin’ against the wind
I said thank you sir for your concern
but please don’t call me son again
police man he pulled me over and started frownin’ at me
I said sIr your disapproval It does not bother me
he said son you’ve got a bad a bad attitude
I said just because we disagree that does not make me rude
chorus
solo
teacher started tellin’ me the books I should not read
I said teacher when I’m done I’ll decide If I agree
she said son you gotta think this way If you are to succeed
I said teacher thinkin’ Is the only thing left that is free
chorus
Words and music by Blue Ajay
© ℗ 1995/2003 Sanity Check Musec, Inc. ASCAP
Lyrics reprinted with permission
I’d have taken you out by now
you uber stupid sow
You oughta know that you sicken me
You owe your life to Hennesy
I’ve always been a happy drunk
I smile when my thoughts have sunk
Congeniality in the glass
the bottle gnomes have saved your ass
My drinkin’ has saved your life
Johnny Walker went to bat for you
Jim Beam and Dewars too
They fought a battle that you can’t fight
They’ll do it all again tonight
My drinkin’ has saved your life
Your one in many that owes your thanks
to the spirits in the bottle banks
the kickin’ chicken and the Saphire too
and Crown reserve has done a lot for you
My drinkin’ has saved your life
Words and music by Blue Ajay
© ℗ 2002/2003 Sanity Check Musec, Inc. ASCAP
Lyrics reprinted with permission
I’ve got a brand new sin, and its’ got your name
I’ve got a brand new sin and baby its’ got your name
I’ve done another sin, in your name, again
You keep on pushin’ and pullin’ me
& you just won’t stop
You keep a pushin’ and pullin’ me, & baby
you just won’t stop
Any moment now I just might pop
I have a 3 crown limit, and I’m 4 drinks in
I have a 3 crown limit, and I’m 4 drinks in
I fear I’m ‘bout to do something stupid again
I’ve got a brand new sin, and its’ got your name
I’ve got a brand new sin and baby its’ got your name
You’ve got me all riled up, here I go again
solo
Cop he pulled me over, caged me up again
Cop he pulled me over put me in this cage again
He gave me one phone call, I called my favorite sin
solo
I’ve got a favorite sin, and its’ got your name
I’ve got a favorite sin and baby its’ got your name
But what’s one more sin this late in the game.
Words by Joel Ludwig & Blue Ajay
Music by Blue Ajay
© ℗ 2002 Sanity Check Musec, Inc. ASCAP
Lyrics reprinted with permission
You know my woman’s evil baby
she’s the evilest around –2x
She’s the queen of the evil ones
yeah, my baby’s even got the crown
When I came home the other night
there were two lumps in the sheets –2x
It was my woman and another man
I’m telling you my baby cheats
You know I’m pretty considerate darlin’
but my baby’s always screamin’ for more –2x
Before my woman will step out of bed
you know she makes me warm the floor
When I carry in my guitars
she won’t even hold the door –2x
I’m telling you my woman’s rotten yeah
rotten right down to the core.
36 bar solo 12 – male 12- female 12 – argument
I ask for a little dinner
She says go fix it yourself
She takes all my money and
tells me I have no need for wealth
She’s really evil I’m telling you
this to say the least
She’s really evil I’m telling you
that my woman is a beast
I should try bachelorhood
but I just can’t seem to make the switch
She’s eviler than you can know
I’m telling you my woman’s a
Words and music by Blue Ajay
© ℗ 2002/2003 Sanity Check Musec, Inc. ASCAP
Lyrics reprinted with permission
I’m an old soul baby, I have been since day one
I’m an old soul baby, I have been since day one
I seem to age in dog years, My day starts with a setting sun
I’m an old soul baby, I been old since I was young
I’m an old soul baby, I been old since I was young
Been tired since I woke up, my song’s already been sung
I’m an old soul baby with truth behind the eyes
I’m an old soul baby, there’s truth behind these eyes
Experience and wisdom, they mile-mark these cries
solo
I’m an old soul baby with a fresh new set of toys
I’m an old soul baby with a fresh new set of toys
The questions are familiar, the answer’s in the noise.
I’m an old soul baby, I have been since day one
I’m an old soul baby, I’ve been old since I was young
I seem to age in dog years, my song’s already been sung
Words and music by Blue Ajay
© ℗ 2002/2003 Sanity Check Musec, Inc. ASCAP
Lyrics reprinted with permission
Wake up in the morning
Start the countdown clock
Trying to remain responsible
For a lush like me that’s a lot
Suffer my way through breakfast
Try not to kill anyone
My temper needs dulling for the
Good of the species
& my beloved booze gets it done
Chorus:
I’m Surviving the countdown to cocktails
Making my way through the day
Surviving the countdown to cocktails
Cocktail hour is on the way
You know that I’m planning my drink arc
To night-cap from aperitif
Bourbon or vodka or maybe some gin
From that glorious juniper leaf
Depends on what’s for dinner
The drink should enhance what you eat
The time to stop drinking conveniently
coincides with time to go to sleep
Chorus – Solo - Chorus
Its always five o’clock somewhere
At least that’s what they say
But you know I got out of bed
A bit early so noon is probably ok
And I think I can blow some minutes
Just choosing my drink for the night
A garnish, no garnish, a shaken a stirred
And the glass style must be just right
Chorus - out
Words and music by Blue Ajay
© ℗ 2003 Sanity Check Musec, Inc. ASCAP
Lyrics reprinted with permission
Woah woman, what you doin’ to me?
Woah woman, what you doin’ to me?
You’ve vandalized my temple.
Why can’t you just let me be?
Everyday I wake up
I feel worse than the last
Everyday I wake up
I feel worse than the last
I suspect while I’m sleepin’
You are beatin’ my ass.
Last night was four martinis
you know I can handle five
Last night was four martinis
woman you know I can handle five
I think you’ve poisoned my olives
I doubt I’ve long to be alive
I can’t get rid of this cough now
been hackin’ all year long
I can’t get rid of this cough now
been hackin’ all year long
I think you been spikin’ my cigars
Something is certainly wrong.
Woah woman, what you doin’ to me?
Woah woman, what you doin’ to me?
I’m achin’ and tired and sluggish
Why can’t you just let me be?
Words & music by Blue Ajay
Written 20 November, 2002
© ℗ 2002 Sanity Check Musec, Inc. ASCAP
Lyrics reprinted with permission
Well I ride with the devil and my baby don’t care
Bad mouth Moses headed straight to Hell
Old Enough to Know Better Still too young to care
Well I went to the crossroads to meet the man
but I came home early cuz there wasn’t no band
Old Enough to Know Better Still too young to care
Well I bought a drink from Dante, and then another one
Shot dice all night ‘til I finally won
Old Enough to know Better Still too young to care
Well I can play guitar but ring no bell
Johnny may be good we’ll cut heads in Hell
Old Enough to Know Better Still too young to care
I hit the gates of Hell and pet myself a hound
Broke a guitar string and turned back around
Old Enough to Know Better Still too young to care
Well my life’s been wasted on rock and roll
The Devil got bored and sold back my soul
Old Enough to Know Better Still too young to care
Words and music by Erik Mielzarek and Blue Ajay
© 1994/2002 Sanity Check Musec, Inc. ASCAP / Erik Mielzarek, BMI
Recording: ℗ 2003 Sanity Check Musec, Inc.
Lyrics reprinted with permission
Gimme my pistol baby
& gimme my bullets too
Gimme my pistol baby
& gimme my bullets too
Rest in peace knowing that
I’ll surely hang for
What I’m about to do
I’ve been weighing options baby
action versus cost
I’ve been weighing options baby
my actions versus cost
The things I am about to lose
don’t hold a candle to
The things I’ve lost
You can get down on your knees
and grovel all you like
You can get down on your knees
and grovel all you like
Your motives they are clearly selfish
this last ditch effort will not suffice.
I’ve had it with all of your cheatin’
I’ve had it with all of your lies
I’ve had it with your deceiving
You’ve laughed while I’ve cried
I’m through makin’ up with you
No need to apologize
This sucker’s through being suckered
I’m gonna watch you die
I see you looking up at me
with pleadin’ big brown eyes
I see you looking up at me
with pleadin’ big brown eyes
They look just like the ones I
fell in love with but now
I see only lies.
Repeat 1st Verse with altered last line:
Rest in peace knowing that
I’ll surely hang
for what I’m about to do to you
Words and music by Blue Ajay
Written June 2002.
© ℗ 2003 Sanity Check Musec, Inc. ASCAP
Lyrics reprinted with permission
I’ve been thinkin’ about
thinkin’ over
all the things you said
you’ve been thinkin’ ‘bout me
these things they just
roll on and over
these things they will not
let me be
Maybe I’ll go to Texas
maybe I’ll run in circles
Or I might stay here
stay here and watch
the plants turn brown
Maybe I’ll go to Texas
maybe I’ll turn myself around
The footprints in the sand
in my mind they
run down my back
I don’t have the
tide in my mind to
wash away the tracks
I’m smarter than my heart but there’s
not much of me, you don’t own
Nothing left to share with someone else
this I know
Let’s go for a walk tonight
past the point of no return
Let’s go for a walk through the cornfields
past the point of no return
I wanna lay you down
and burn
I’ve been thinkin about
thinking over
all the things you said
that you’ve been thinking
about me
I’ve been thinking about
thinking over all the things you said
that you were thinking about me.
these things they just roll on and over
these things they will not let me be.
Words by Joel Ludwig & Blue Ajay
Music by Blue Ajay
© ℗ 2002 Sanity Check Musec, Inc. ASCAP
Lyrics reprinted with permission
I was working my way through the bar
Climbing right up the shelf
I’d drank just about every kinda drink
I was looking for something else
So I took myself on safari
Looking for a brand new booze
I took along a flask and some munchies and
My guitar so I could play me some blues
I was dancing down a path in the jungle
Whistling some Albert King
When up in the trees there was
a terrible commotion
& I saw myself the darnedest thing
a monkey with a shaker & some glassware
Swung down to me on a vine
He stirred some martinis
with two olives each
And hit me with the coolest line
Chorus:
He said I’m Boozey the monkey
Often drunk and always funky
You can call me Boozey for short
He handed me a cocktail glass with a grin
And said Buddy lets hold us a court
Well now the first thing that
I’ve got to tell you
Is that monkey mixed a damn fine drink
I said Boozey little buddy
we are certainly soul mates
Well at least you know
that’s what I think
He readily concurred and
then did something absurd
you know He wasn’t
overflowing with couth
He pointed to my guitar case
there beside me and
insisted that I play some tunes
So I whipped out a little bit of
Howlin’ Wolf and then
I played him one of mine
He mixed us both another soup & salad
And hit me with the coolest line
CHORUS
So here we are singing his gospel &
Believe me this ain’t no myth
The jungle is home to a Dean Martin monkey
That swings around saying this:
CHORUS
Words and music by Blue Ajay
Written 16 August 2002 3:50PM
© ℗ 2003 Sanity Check Musec, Inc. ASCAP
Lyrics reprinted with permission
The following cocktail recipes appeared in the Good Luck Mr. Gorsky CD packaging.
Surely Hang
1 oz Crown Royal
1 oz Disaronno
1.5 tsp. Grand Marnier
1 tsp. Lemon Juice
1 Marashino Cherry
Place ingredients into a shaker, half-filled iwth ice. Shake well. Strain into an old-fashioned glass, on the rocks and garnish with the cherry.
Drink by Christina M. Orr & Blue Ajay
Naked Acre Compound House Martini
2.5 oz Bombay Sapphire
1 tsp. Martini & Rossi Extra Dry Vermouth
2 Cocktail Olives
Combine the gin and vermouth in a mixing glass half-filled with ice. Stir gently but well. Strain into a Cocktail glass and garnish with the olives. Jalapeno stuffed olives are a Compound favorite.
Substitute Tanqueray Malacca gin for a floral alternative.
Naked Acre Compound House Old-Fashioned
3 oz Crown Royal
1 tsp. Water
3 dashes Angostura Bitters
1 Sugar Cube
1 Orange Slice
1 Maraschino Cherry
Place water, sugar and bitters into an old fashioned glass and mix. Add ice cubes, Crown Royal and fruit. Do not muddle the fruit as is traditional. A bit of extra juice from the cherry jar and the orange is a tasty addition.
Cha Cha
In a shaker half-filled with ice combine equal parts:
Rum
Cherry Brandy
Grenadine
Sweet & Sour mix
Orange Juice
Shake well and strain into a high-ball glass over ice. Top off iwth Sprite and garnish with a cherry.
Warning: May result in nudity.
Drink by Mickey Perry
Nakeda Gimlet
2 oz Bombay Sapphire
.5 oz Roses Sweetened Lime Juice
1 tsp Lime Juice
1 Lime Wedge
Mix ingredients in an old fashioned glass two-thirds filled with crushed ice. Add another splash of Rose’s to taste. Garnish with the lime wedge.
Recipe perfected by Shawn Carnell after extensive research in the name of science.
Naked Acre Compound House White Russian
1.5 oz Stolichnaya Vodka
1.5 oz Kahlua
1.5 oz 1% low fat milk
Place ingredients into an old fashioned glass on the rocks. Stir well.
Traditionally a White Russian is made with a heavier cream, ligntened as indicated this recipe may be consumed en masse.
Black Tartan
1 oz Johnnie Walker Black Label
1 oz Jameson Irish Whiskey
1 oz Drambuie
1.5 oz Kahlua
Place ingredients into a shaker half-filled with ice. Shake well and strain into an old fashioned glass on the rocks.
Naked Acre Compound House Cosmopolitan
1 oz Stolichnaya Vodka
1 oz Cointreau
1 oz Cranberry Juice
.5 oz Rose’s Sweetened Lime Juice
Orange Twist
Though a new Cocktail, the cosmopolitan has quickly become a classic. However there are too many divergent recipes. After extensive testing we’ve determined this to be the NAC house recipe, all for the greater good.
Place ingredients into a shaker half-filled with ice. Shake well and strain into a Cocktail glass. Garnish with the orange twist.
Reprinted from the original CD packaging:
Good Luck Mr. Gorsky
Cover and traycard photos by Blue Ajay. Cover concept by Christina M. Orr. Band photos by Christina M. Orr. Graphic Design and Vodka bottle design by Blue Ajay.
All songs performed by Booze Monkey.
All songs written and arranged by Blue Ajay © 2003 Sanity Check Musec, Inc. ASCAP except as noted.
This album was produced, engineered and mastered by Blue Ajay at the Naked Acre Compound Studio.
"Old Enough to Know Better" written by Erik Mielzarek & Blue Ajay © 2003 Sanity Check Musec, Inc. ASCAP / Erik Mielzarek, BMI.
"Favorite Sin" and "Burn" written by Joel Ludwig and Blue Ajay. © 2003 Sanity Check Musec, Inc. ASCAP.
Lyrics reprinted with permission All rights reserved
What you now hold is the debut album from Booze Monkey. Booze Monkey is a two-piece acoustic band comprised of Joel "Spyder" Ludwig and Blue Ajay. Spyder performs his parts on a fret-less acoustic bass guitar. Blue performs the vocals, guitar, and stomps his foot on a homemade "StompBox". The stompbox is a wooden briefcase in which the band installed a microphone and a pre-amp, this unit provides the bass-drum-like percussion you hear on the songs. this album features some songs that have appeared previously in Blue's solo catalog, though they have been arranged specifically for this band, as well as some brand new songs. Every effort was made to make this record sound precisely as this band sounds when performing live.
Booze Monkey would like to thank Terry, Lori, Kay, Jeff, Todd, Dean and everyone at Sweet Caroline's and Allan Brill at the Winchester Guitar Studio, and The Booze Monkeys softball team. Major applause to everyone who has come out to see and hear our show!
We would like to say thanks to everyone who has supported us. To the family and friends that populate our lives. Thanks to the entire Sanity Check Musec, Inc. and Naked Acre Compound Films crews; artists, actors, supporters and friends, especially all of the "Babble-heads"! Special thanks to Terry Miller and Erik Mielzarek.
Joel would like to say "thanks to everyone who believed in us and those who didn't."
Blue: "I would like to thank Christina, without whom, that which did happen, wouldn't matter. And to Joel, when I play with you I smile."
** All credits changed from BLUE to Blue Ajay