I've always been fond of the idiom, "The Real McCoy", to describe something genuine and of superior quality; not a fake or imitation.
Some claim the origin of "The Real McCoy" is linked to inventor Elijah McCoy, whose steam engine lubricants were so good that train engineers wanted his genuine product.
Others claim it comes from Prohibition bootlegger, Bill McCoy who smuggled in Canadian whiskey which was better than so-called "Bathtub Gin", so in speakeasies people asked for "the real McCoy",
Another theory is that American boxer Norman Selby, known as "Kid McCoy," had a bar fight when someone questioned his identity, leading him to prove he was (you guessed it) the "real McCoy".
As an aside, and conversely Denise "The Grease" uses "Fugazi" (pronounced foo-GAH-zee, in Brooklynese) for something fake or knock off goods, as in "See that Rolex, Babs? It's a friggin' Fugazi. Foggetaboutit…".
Be that as it may.
McCoy Tyner's 'The Real McCoy' was recorded on April 21, 1967, at The Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, and produced by Alfred Lion. This was also McCoy's first release (of eleven) on the Blue Note Records label.Others claim it comes from Prohibition bootlegger, Bill McCoy who smuggled in Canadian whiskey which was better than so-called "Bathtub Gin", so in speakeasies people asked for "the real McCoy",
Another theory is that American boxer Norman Selby, known as "Kid McCoy," had a bar fight when someone questioned his identity, leading him to prove he was (you guessed it) the "real McCoy".
As an aside, and conversely Denise "The Grease" uses "Fugazi" (pronounced foo-GAH-zee, in Brooklynese) for something fake or knock off goods, as in "See that Rolex, Babs? It's a friggin' Fugazi. Foggetaboutit…".
Be that as it may.
Along with McCoy's sublime piano are, tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson, bassist Ron Carter, and former Coltrane Quartet drummer Elvin Jones. These are masters at work, and deliver intense interplay on this universally acclaimed jazz masterpiece.
Producer Alfred Lion
recalls the recording session as a:
"Pure jazz session. There is absolutely no concession to commercialism, and there's a deep, passionate love for the music embedded in each of the selections."
McCoy Tyner's 'The Real McCoy', is the real McCoy.
The freeload is a 24bit/192kHz vinyl rip, done by my eldest grandson here at the button factory over the holidays.
For the freeload, what are some of your favorite idioms?
Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth.
ReplyDeleteGlad to have you back, and I sincerely hope that your holidays were fantastic.
Hi Babs, I hope that you had a great holiday break!
ReplyDeleteI like all three theories (I realize that that wasn't your question) but I like the boxer theory the least because it was a specific incident that was unlikely to influence a large number of people. I vote for the bootlegger story.
I've liked this Tyner LP for a long time. He's one of the greatest pianists in my view.
I used to have a girlfriend who criticized me for my overuse of idioms (or cliches, as she called them) but I'm a little short of them at the moment. I'll get back to you.
I like "It is what it is". You can argue that it's just an update of "That's how it goes" or "That's life" but I think that it has an air of existential fatalism all it's own.
ReplyDeleteBTW, how DO you pronounce Fugazi? I must be from Brooklyn because I see that band name and think foo-GAH-zee. Please advise.
I pronounce it "Fa-gay-zee"...
DeleteHmmm........
DeleteHappy new year, Babs. It's very cool that you've impressed your love of jazz on another generation; my kids and grandkids love a variety of genres, but somehow jazz has never taken with them. As to your freeload question, I've always loved the expression "a piece of cake". In my experience, it has nearly always means that unforeseen difficulties lie ahead.
ReplyDeleteHope you had a great time with friends & fam, guessing you must have, if grandsons are ripping albums at h-res. Welcome back & happy new year.
ReplyDeleteThe Fugazi reference got me thinking about words. (And a hi to Denise "The Grease"!) I recently finished watching Reservation Dogs & they use a few words in kinda unexpected ways.
Skoden
Stoodis
Organtic
But I digress. Here are a few favorites in no particular order:
Barkin' up the wrong tree
Sink or swim
Free for all
The hour is near
Grin & bear it
Cheese it...the heat
It's in the bag
School of hard knocks
Hogwash
The Hell, you say
Looking forward to hearing this one. As always Thanks Babs
hi babs! great to have you back. all the best for 2026
ReplyDeletehuey
So glad you're back! Lots of favs from growing up in South Louisiana and living in Texas, though Minnesota gets a shout out too ("get any hail down at your place" is a surefire conversation starter/redirecter). Ima go with:
ReplyDelete"even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile"
"like white on rice."
"that's just too much fun...who ever heard of too much fun."
"all hat no cattle"
And for pmac, "making groceries."
yeah ya rite - meet me on da neutral ground.
DeleteWelcome back, Babs! O As many within or without the US are currently scratching their heads (that's as political as I'll get in this space...maybe!) I would submit: "pulled up by their bootstraps". Of course, bootstraps haven't been made in the US since the corporate types outsourced the manufacture of same to SE Asia, only to find that the global demand was nonexistent.
ReplyDeleteAnd a belated new Year's greetings to you Babs welcome back
ReplyDeleteThe first one that comes to mind is one applicable to the political elites of the western world:
"Up Shit Creek" (with or without a paddle)
In fact now I think of the political classes the idioms are coming 'fast and furious':
'"Scraping the bottom of the barrel"
"Living in Cloud Cuckoo Land" (or indeed lala-land or neverneverland)
' putting lipstick on a pig'
'polishing a turd'
'Having their cake and eat it'
'Flogging a dead horse'
'On to a hiding to nothing'
'Speaking out of both sides of their mouth at once' or
'Facing both ways at once' or 'speaking with a forked tongue'.
As you can tell I'm in somewhat of a feisty mood (its a January thing). its cold ('brass monkey weather'), I'm skint and back on my diet after a Christmas holiday from it. Harumph!
Toodles....
I read this one first, rather than hearing it from a sage elder. But it resonates:
ReplyDelete"I find the old proverb true that he who washeth an asse's head doth lose both time and sope."
https://tilleyproverbs.com/proverbs/A370
Glad you had a good break, and that a younger generation is enjoying this music, too.
D in California
Link
ReplyDeletehttps://workupload.com/file/H5hAT9Jfv89
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ReplyDeleteNice to see you back. Wasn't it originally The Real MacKay before McCoy became the idiom? Idioms can be very local, to the point where only in a family one understands the depth. We had a saying "little monkey can't yet count" for people who talk before they know stuff, or are eager to try, fail and ruin it for the next
DeleteHappy New Year!
ReplyDeleteSome idioms that come to mind:
"Don't take any wooden nickels"
"Beats a poke in the eye with a sharp stick"
"Pissing up a rope"
"Que sera sera"
"Moxie"