Mahjong

It should not surprise you that the game of mahjong originates in China. In Chinese, the game was originally called 麻雀 (pinyin: máquè)—meaning sparrow—which is still used in some languages in southern China. The assumed etymology is that the sound of the tiles during shuffling resembles the chattering of sparrows. 

A second origin possibility is that it is an evolution of an earlier card game called Madiao from which mahjong tiles were adopted. Most Mandarin-speaking Chinese now call the game 麻將 (májiàng).

Old Hong Kong mahjong is played with a standard set of 144 tiles. Alternatively, cards may be used - though there will be no chattering sparrow sounds.

Sets often include counters (to keep score), dice (to decide how to deal), and a marker to show who the dealer is and which round is being played. Some sets include racks to hold the tiles, especially if they are larger or smaller than standard tiles or have an odd shape. Mahjong sets originating from the United States, Japan or Southeast Asia will likely have extra tiles or specialized markings. The tiles are split into three categories: suited, honors, and bonus tiles.

standard mahjong tile set
link to larger image

gin, gin rummy, meld

My mom used to play gin rummy with me when I was a kid. I never questioned the name of the card game. Is it from the liquors gin and rum?

Gin rummy, or simply gin, is a two-player card game variant of rummy. It has been popular as both a social and a gambling game, especially during the mid-twentieth century which is about when I was playing it.

CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

Even the simplified explanation on Wikipedia is pretty complicated. The objective in gin rummy is to be the first to reach an agreed-upon score, usually 100 points.

Rummy is a group of matching-card games based on matching cards of the same rank or sequence and the same suit. The basic goal in any form of rummy is to build melds which can be either sets (three or four of a kind of the same rank) or runs (three or more sequential cards of the same suit) and either be first to go out or to amass more points than the opposition.

Several theories about the origin of the name "rummy" exist. One is that it refers to the British slang word rum, meaning odd, strange, or queer. That seem odd as an origin. Others say the origin lies in the game Rum Poker which makes more sense than it coming from the liquor of the same name.

"Gin" as a liquor is an abbreviation of geneva, an alteration of Dutch genever (“juniper”) from Old French genevre (modern French genièvre), and back to Vulgar Latin ieniperus, from Latin iūniperus (“juniper”). Gin gets its distinctive taste from juniper berries.

Gin rummy was first attested in 1941 and is more likely at least partly from Middle English gin, ginne (“cleverness, scheme, talent, device, machine”), from Old French gin, an aphetism of Old French engin (“engine”); and partly from Middle English grin, grine (“snare, trick, stratagem, deceit, temptation, noose, halter, instrument”), from Old English grin, gryn, giren, geren (“snare, gin, noose”). In all of those earlier words, the idea of game strategies and tricks are present.

In card games, a meld is a set of matching cards, typically three or more, that earn a player points and/or allow them to deplete their hand. The word meld is a blend of melt +‎ weld; alternatively, from English melled (“mingled; blended”). It was probably borrowed from Dutch or German melden (“to report, announce”).

Spooky Tooth

Spooky Tooth was a hard, bluesy and at times psychedelic English rock band whose main run was from 1967 to 1974, though they re-formed several times in later years.

Their name is very unusual but - spoiler alert - I have no origin story for it. Unless there is some hidden meaning, the most I could find was that it can refer to a literal tooth - one that is visibly dead or discolored, particularly when seen on an otherwise attractive woman or man.

Why a band would want to use that meaning as their name is inexplicable.

The band prior to this name had been called Art. They had one album, "Supernatural Fairy Tales." It was produced by Guy Stevens and released in 1967. Their final line-up was guitarist Luther Grosvenor, vocalist Mike Harrison, drummer Mike Kellie, and bassist Greg Ridley. When American Gary Wright joined the band on keyboards, Art became Spooky Tooth.

The Rolling Stone Record Guide in 1979, describes the band this way: "If ever there was a heavy band, Spooky Tooth had to be it. Featuring two vocalists prone to blues-wrenching extremes, and an instrumental attack comprising awesomely loud keyboards and guitars, Spooky Tooth came on like an overwhelming vat of premedicated goo." 

But the band never achieved real commercial success.

1969 photo by Magnussen CC BY-SA 3.0 de, Link

Their debut album, It's All About, was released in June 1968 on Island Records. It was produced by Jimmy Miller, who had worked with Spencer Davis Group, Traffic, the Rolling Stones and Blind Faith. Their sound was somewhat unique as it utilized both an organ and a piano player.

Despite talented musicians and a good production team, the album did not sell well. That was also true of their follow-up, Spooky Two (1969). The albums and band performances were generally favorably reviewed but without good sales two would be the final release by the original lineup.

Two songs from that second LP received significant airplay -  "Evil Woman" and "Better by You, Better than Me."

Ridley left to join Humble Pie replaced by Andy Leigh for the experimental electronic music album Ceremony. It was a disaster and Wright left the band following the release of the album. Harrison, Grosvenor and Kellie remained and recorded The Last Puff in 1970 aided by members of Joe Cocker's Grease Band (guitarist Henry McCullough, keyboardist Chris Stainton and bassist Alan Spenner).

After this, the band goes through a number of lineup changes and disbanded in 1971 only to reform in 1972 with Harrison and Wright and released You Broke My Heart So I Busted Your Jaw in 1973. 

More band member changes and several albums happened but still without any major success. 

Grosvenor joined Mott the Hoople (using the name Ariel Bender) replacing Mick Ralphs who left to form Bad Company. Mick Jones went on to form Foreigner in 1976.

Wright began to develop an international solo career in the 1970s and had a big hit with "Dream Weaver."

Harrison, Grosvenor, Ridley and Kellie reunited as Spooky Tooth at points in 1997 and 1998, which resulted in an album, Cross Purpose.  Spooky Tooth with original members Mike Harrison and Gary Wright and new musicians reformed and toured in 2009.

Kellie died in 2017 and Harrison died in 2018.