Nick Gravenites 1938 -- 2024

Gravenites, who was a classic hipster, had all sorts of cool credits -- oh, like writing "Born in Chicago," producing "One Toke Over the Line," helping found The Electric Flag, with Mike Bloomfield and Buddy Miles, and writing the score for Roger Corman's The Trip, i.e. the niftiest counterculture movie ever -- but this 1970 hilarity, which he did with the post-Joplin Big Brother, is my all time favorite.

As I drove down on 65, I was cruisin' down that old Grapevine
Well, I must have been doin' at least about 95
Well out there on the side of the road all broke down
And who do you think was standin' around
But the greatest country singer alive!

I'll fix your flat tire Merle
Don't ya get your sweet country pickin' fingers all Covered with erl
Cause you're a honky, I know, but Merle you got soul
And I'll fix your flat tire Merle

Hey -- as attentive readers are aware, I'm not a big fan of the whole hippie thing my generation was involved in, but let's just say yeah -- I would definitely have fixed Nick's flat tire.

RIP, bro.