The Band Guestbook, December 2018

Entered at Mon Dec 31 23:36:49 CET 2018 from (96.239.106.206)

Jed

Most grateful for your kindness.

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Norbert

They’re already starting to burn the annual $100 million of fireworks here in small Holland, although we still have a few hours left, anyway time to go downstairs and join the party, cheers.

Happy New Year all.

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Bill M

Norm: Sad to say, but Susan should expect to keep on yelling at the TV for another year. Poor her, poor you.

Entered at Mon Dec 31 17:34:28 CET 2018 from (96.239.106.206)

Jed

Entered at Mon Dec 31 16:58:06 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: Undescribable Pain

What you are describing Jed is like something I experienced. At age 22 I had a perforated ulcer. After many days of stomach pain I went to a doctor. He sent me for x-rays. I never heard any more from him. I went back to the medical center after a couple of weeks to check. The nurse couldn't find any thing about x-rays in my file. The doctor had gone to England for six months.

A couple of months later I suffered a perforation. Then with peritonitis you get to know what pain really is. When I ended up in the hospital the old doctor who repaired my stomach said, "you may have lasted another five hours. I figure the only reason you made it this far is because you are in such good shape."

I weighed 190, in eleven days I weighed 139. After a couple of weeks of my old mum looking after me I got back in shape and the pain finally left.

Entered at Mon Dec 31 15:49:57 CET 2018 from (96.239.106.206)

Jed

Most appreciative of your kind posts. Peter-knee surgery may be a day at the beach compared to the bacterial mess in my gut. The pain etc. is too ugly to detail but my docs never ignored my suffering. Strange things is I’m a doc and I chose a hospital I have little affiliation to or minimal relationship so I could carry on like anyone else in distress. It turned out to be a good move.

Entered at Mon Dec 31 15:18:04 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: What's in a name!

Jed, it's as good as anything else. Sorry to hear of your illness and glad you are on the mend. Don't sell yourself short. You are as important as anyone else in town. Your contributions never go un noticed( not by me for sure).

You seem to be in a place where you have had the opportunity to see some good shows and appreciate the music as we all do. I hope your new year is healthy and pain free.

As fer the rest-of-yuz! I hope every one enjoys a happy, healthy and pain free New Year. I hope the people in the USA get their politics sorted out (so it can at least calm my wife down). I'll be so happy not to have to hear about politics any more. Maybe be able to turn on my news and see some thing happy and positive. It is really draining on the mind and soul.

I'd like to be able to tell Kevin John what I think of his "prime minister" he bragged about so much :-)

Hope to see you all next year!!

Entered at Mon Dec 31 15:16:31 CET 2018 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

On being cool or a core group, I posted something on this a few years ago. It’s like moving to a village and walking into the local pub. The regulars sitting at their favourite tables look like a closed group. (Well, in Dorset, they might be … my grandad said the County Motto was “There be a stranger. Heave half a brick at he”). But mostly it’s only an impression that soon melts away. You’ve been a regular for ages, Jed! Glad to hear you’re out and pain free. I’m looking at knee surgery soon myself.

Today’s listening … well the first four words indicates it’s my Best of Elvis playlist.

Entered at Mon Dec 31 14:17:30 CET 2018 from (174.203.14.25)

Jed

Just want to close 2018 with a warm happy new year to all here. I learn so much reading here,particularly about music and musicians that are not in my usual rotations. For that I am grateful. Finallly I just had my first experience (being in my 60’s not so bad) spending a few very wretched and painful days treating an ailment in the hospital. I was deeply moved by the competence,care,kindness,encouragement and love I was given.I am so grateful my loving family was there in every way for me. And I’m glad I can express this!-albeit ironically in a place where no one knows me or cares about some typing troll who uses a ridiculous moniker like Jed.. So while I’m certainly not part of the core group(the cool kids as we called em in high school) here and most posters rarely notice or acknowledge my existence I’m very content just learning stuff and only wish goood things raining down on all of you in 2019 and beyond. I’m just glad to be pain free and out of hospital.

Entered at Mon Dec 31 12:35:53 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

Let's turn over a new leaf... Let's make promises we can keep.

Entered at Mon Dec 31 12:25:51 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

Raise a glass to the comrades we've lost.

Healthy Happy New Year to the Guest Book Community.

Entered at Mon Dec 31 07:43:36 CET 2018 from (96.49.94.173)

Lisa

Happy New Year everybody!

Entered at Mon Dec 31 04:29:44 CET 2018 from (99.227.168.67)

John D

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Doug

Subject: Carckers 68

Dag B thank you very much for your efforts. It has provided some unexpected and pleasurable holiday reading. Interesting how many critics rightly acclaimed MFBP a work of genius, but also how little effect that had on sales at the time.

Entered at Sun Dec 30 19:42:45 CET 2018 from (62.251.71.189)

Norbert

Sometimes we have to look back to see forward. The Long Telegraph 2019:

'………… the story is a small one. But as China challenges America’s predominance, misunderstandings about each other’s actions and intentions could lead them into a deadly trap first identified by the ancient Greek historian Thucydides. As he explained, “It was the rise of Athens and the fear that this instilled in Sparta that made war inevitable.” The past 500 years have seen 16 cases in which a rising power threatened to displace a ruling one. Twelve of these ended in war ……….'

Anyway, if there is going to be a conflict (God forbid) with either China or Kim Jung-un please tape off the camera and the mic. of your laptop BEFORE entering this free GB. Or as Churchill once said: “What cannot be seen, what cannot be heard, cannot be given”.

Entered at Sun Dec 30 19:12:32 CET 2018 from (2001:980:e13a:1:d080:5fc7:24eb:d919)

Norbert

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Peter V

Beautiful Afternoon - Forever More

Garden Party - Rick Nelson

When The Night Was Young - Robbie Robertson

Walk Like A Man - Bruce Springsteen

Precious Time - Van Morrison.

Entered at Sat Dec 29 17:24:49 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: Vince Gill

Dunc! Vince Gill has one particular video. The song to search on youtube is "Don't let our love start slippin' away". See if you can name all the musicians and singers who are in his video, (on stage and dancing).

Even if you don't much like him, (every one is entitled to their taste) you'll see how popular he is.

Entered at Sat Dec 29 12:13:51 CET 2018 from (2a00:23c5:3a10:fa00:c55e:1534:7af1:1c3c)

Dunc

Thanks Bassman Lee. Glad to see you're keeping fighting. As most of us get older, it seems that everybody has to battle at some time in their lives, whether it be with their health, family bereavements, their work or family breakup. It's the same all over the world. I'm observing from a distance through the internet so may be wrong but I felt Vince Gill was not a good fit for the Eagles. I also got the impression through reading on the internet, perhaps wrongly, that he didn't fully value the experience. I may have a wrong impression, and never knew of his involvement in blue grass, but I was given a gift of a Vince Gill album and thought it was formulaic. Maybe it's just the mucking about with a band I've returned to and value. Really enjoying the first Eagles' album again.

Blue grass I like, but some I like more than others. About fifteen years ago I saw a group of bluegrass players from the Appalachian Mountains as part of our festival. Absolutely brilliant. Playing in different groupings and down to earth musicians. One of those concerts when you didn't want the evening to end.

I saw Alison Krause twice and had one of her albums. However I much prefer the Del McCourie band, thought about it and can't explain why.

Oh for Christmas I got John Prine 'For Better, Or Worse'. Brilliant and effortless. Beautiful music.

Hi Fred. Nice to hear from you, again. Rangers v Celtic at 12.30 today - shortens the drinking time before kick off. Pubs starting to fill up - a divided city.

Entered at Sat Dec 29 07:24:24 CET 2018 from (96.49.94.173)

Lisa

beg, thanks for your kind words. I really enjoy your accounts of your connections with all the posters from the past in the GB. So many special people here, past and present.

When I first got a laptop (many years after everybody else), The Band was the very first thing I looked up, and this was the very first site I came to. I'm sorry I don't have very much to contribute musically, but I guess we all have our place. It's a funny thing, this odd connection you get with people you've never met but feel that you know, at least a bit. A few weeks ago Bill wrote about trying to find Jerry T at a concert they were both attending, never having met before, and how they had so much trouble finding each other because they both looked entirely different from the mental picture they had of one another. Somewhere among the photos on Jan's archive there is what you'd call a caricature someone did of you, and I know it's silly, but that's how I always picture you. Crazy, huh?

Entered at Sat Dec 29 04:55:45 CET 2018 from (64.229.181.77)

Bill M

And then there's Dag's fabulous work, which deserves a book of its own.

Entered at Sat Dec 29 01:25:05 CET 2018 from (64.229.181.77)

Bill M

Entered at Fri Dec 28 20:55:53 CET 2018 from (2001:464d:e65d:0:18f8:83cc:73f6:8365)

Dag B.

A mishmash of stuff relating to the boys in 1968. Link: goo.gl/kW6dLR5

Entered at Fri Dec 28 18:30:36 CET 2018 from (71.175.88.22)

b.lee

Subject: Vince Gill

Dunc, maybe what's confusing you is that Vince Gill was in a later configuration of Pure Prairie League. He appears on Firin' Up (1980) and Something In The Night (1981). Then, while he was not a MEMBER of (the) Eagles, which is a subject in its own right, "Gill joined the Eagles on tour in 2017 and 2018, singing the lead vocals once sung by Glenn Frey" according to Wikipedia. Caught a Dan Rather Big Interview with him recently. A very humble and likeable guy who maybe does not get enough credit for bringing bluegrass sounds back into Country music when it was largely rural rock. (Like it is now, come to think of it.)

Entered at Fri Dec 28 17:33:09 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: The Story of The Band

I got the book a short time before Christmas Bill. I made a couple of comments a ways back there. In particular I got a laugh out of John D's comment they looked like "Quakers".

I was commenting on their suits. It came back again the other day when I was listening to some of the "Animals". Particularly a video of "House of the rising sun". Those guys too had the suits, (the early 60's fad). Brown suits with black piping, bright yellow shirts and black ties. Gawd awful, looks like bell hops to me. I liked the 50's when we wore shit kickin' strides. A quarter inch wide belt, 20 inches at the knee and the cuffs (you had to wash your feet to get 'em off!)

I bet years later those guys got a heck of a laugh about those suits. Probably Hawkins made them wear those suits.

But I'm enjoying that book and if you look back the quote I made of Robbie's words on page 160 confirm his thoughts of being on the road.

Entered at Fri Dec 28 17:07:27 CET 2018 from (64.229.181.77)

Bill M

I got a decent amount of music stuff for Christmas. The Kubernik Band book, which is, as BEG says, more pictures than text, but that's a good thing, as Harvey's not much of a writer, judging from this book alone. But he does know how to assemble visuals. And he's got lots of sidebars with entries by (mostly) knowledgeable people such as John D. Some of these offer up tremendous insights - most especially drummer John Ware, but also John Simon and others. I also received Kubernik's earlier book on Neil Young, which I haven't looked at yet, a 1985 magazine with an interesting interview with Rick Danko, and a book of profiles of rootsy songwriters, including Willie P Bennett. And some CDs, about which more later.

Entered at Fri Dec 28 16:35:41 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: Bill M "Into the Mystic"

Hey Bill! When I got home yesterday I saw your post and replied... ..I guess it went into the mystic... it's not here.

First of all, those songs I mentioned were burning in my head. I knew they were back there somewhere so I had to look them up. Steve Winwood wrote "I can't find my way back home" about 1968 when he was with Spencer Davis I believe.

The other song was tormenting me. It was Peggy Lee in 1951 who sang "I love the way you're breaking my heart". This young lady Rachael Price, (born in Australia and raised in Huntsville Tennessee). You guys need to listen to her sing this song. You too Dunc! Best of the season to you old kid.

The piano takes a solo just great, then what this young guy does with his stand up bass is out standing. This young lady leans to jazz but this song sounds more bluesy to me. How do you tell the difference?

Bill I don't know if you heard what happened to us last week. We had a record storm. I don't know how come we didn't loose our power. There was over 700,000 people without power. It took 9 days to get most of them back. About 4000 in the gulf islands won't have it back 'till new years eve.

The little dock where I keep my smaller boat here in Port Alice got broken all apart. It was hurricane force in here, (just about 70 knots). I took my boat over to Coal Harbour yesterday where there is better protection and they have power so I can plug my boat in and keep it warm.

There was a helicopter photo put on face book. On the mountain behind Parksville the timber was laid flat by the wind. An unreal sight.

Entered at Fri Dec 28 16:18:55 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

Ugh! JOHN DONABIE wrote three articles not two. Ugh! Previous song not by Eagles. This one hopefully is... Learn To Be Still. And on that note I'm outta here... finally! Soon off to hometown to visit with relatives. As kids we'd listen to Tommy James and The Shondelles and The Mamas and Papas and a lot of Motown and of course The Beatles. We knew The Stones were the bad boyzzzz... .Any more mistakes... I don't care ok? ;-D

Entered at Fri Dec 28 16:05:43 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

Apologies to JOHN DONABIE... not John Donnie. Sorry. Anyway, I wasn't going to buy latest Band book as more photos than info. However, when I saw in person the two articles you wrote... I changed my mind.

For those of you who are hosting New Year's Eve parties; I'd start with Pink's Let's Get This Party Started.

Very huuuuge shout out to LISA who was still standing here when no other women were here. :-D

New Year's Resolution... Learn To Be Still

Entered at Fri Dec 28 15:14:06 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

Since you're gone my empty arms
Have nothing left to hold
And your memory cannot keep me warm
But it never leaves me cold

And the world keeps turning round and round
It leaves me hanging in the air
My heart keeps turning upside down
And you're still standin' there

Steve Earle... with Lucinda Williams... You're Still Standing There

Jon L... Did you catch Steve and Lucinda last year in NYC?
Jon is one of the youngest Band fans I met in NYC who has seen tons of shows! Jon along with Crab met my friend Louuuuise who I stayed with in the big apple many times since 1991. She taught at NYU at one time and was a therapist before she gave it up to work in a law firm. She passed in her early seventies. A real loss as she was like an older sister to me. She even came with me to one of Garland Jeffreys' parties. So many memories... ... ... so many. :-D

Entered at Fri Dec 28 14:54:42 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

1985 Canada's Wilburys?: From left, Bryan Adams, Ronnie Hawkins, Gordon Lightfoot, Robbie Robertson and Burton Cummings? How come I don't see all of them?

Books bought or given to me as gifts or found in our laundry room down the hall this 2018

Reckless Daughter A Portrait Of Joni Mitchell... David Yaffe
Maria Callas... An Intimate Biography... Anne Edwards
White Trash Photo Book... Christopher Makos... I bought softcover many years ago and sold to very happy owner at Pandamonium Records but when I saw it again in hardcover with some updates... My time in music was punk and new wave... partner bought it for me.
Dylan Photo book... Schatzberg
The Story Of The Band From Big Pink To The Last Waltz... Harvey Kubernik and Kenneth Kubernik... Santa included some moula with gifts so I bought it on sale for 27.00 with added bonus John Donnie's articles.

I didn't buy any music but I did enjoy new artist for myself... Jason Isbell who I caught on Austin City Limits thanks to The Band community... especially Kevin J. :-D

Last 5
Set Adrift On Memory Bliss... PM Dawn with Spandau Ballet
The Galway Girl... Steve Earle with Lucinda Williams
You're Beautiful... Blunt... Thank you NORBERT
Keep Getting' It On... Marvin Gaye
You're Still Standing There... Steve Earle

I appreciated the contributions of all the Dankettes over the years. They were like Rick easy going and non-confrontational. I also especially liked the contributions of Jersey Girl and Claire (Robbiesonians? Well JG for sure). Thoughtful writers. The Levonistas were as feisty as I am so sometimes we clashed and sometimes we were friendly. They stood for something as I did. All the female posters were quite unique to post in a very male dominated forum where we had to deal with sexism and not taken seriously at times. Other times I learned a lot from the male posters... such as when they were in conflict with others they got over it for the most part quickly.

Entered at Fri Dec 28 14:08:13 CET 2018 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Dunc, that's a great round-up. The January Uncut has an article on the making of John Martyn's "Solid Air". Just read it and about to put the album on.

Entered at Fri Dec 28 12:10:20 CET 2018 from (2a00:23c5:3a10:fa00:d86b:aea1:d109:9a98)

Dunc

Subject: What I Bought and Enjoyed

Not as innovative as Peter, but still quite active in the market.This is what I bought.

Davy Graham - Hat - refers to his friend, Paul Simon, in the sleeve notes and covers Homeward Bound and I Am A Rock. He's the reason I got into acoustic guitar playing. Absolutely brilliant. I think of Peter's story The Folk Singer, and he wasn't a folk singer, but seemed to go from club to club trying to crash some place to sleep.

Tony McManus - Ceol More acoustic guitar and three other of his albums. Have only seen him play once and only had one of his albums. I love this stuff.

Richard Thompson - Acoustic Classics. Peter got me interested in him again last year. I remember losing interest in him after he left Fairport. A coincidence I discovered is that he teaches with Tony McManus.

Nic Jones - Penguin Eggs - Love this album. Had never heard of Nic Jones before Peter's enthusiasm.

Neil Young - Hitchhiker - My period of interest is from Neil Young to circa 1980 - absolutely brilliant.

Michael McDermott - Willow Springs - great songs and musicianship. I owe Bob F for getting me into this.

Roseann Fino - Take You With Me - talented girl. I think the song A Crow's Song' is special.

Paul Simon - In The Blue Light - really enjoy this album, which has led me to revisit the Paul Simon albums I don't play so often, which may have been Paul's intention.

Alasdair Frase and Tony McManus - Return to Kintail. Alasdair Fraser is a brilliant fiddler and has been a guest Waterboy.

JJ Cale - Shades - concentrating on these first eight albums. Interestingly, Reggie Young plays lead on a track.

Steely Dan - Two Against Nature - I didn't know about this album, but Peter championed it on Toppermost... and although a later release, it is great.

The Bunch - Rock On. This was a must for me - Sandy Denny and the Dundee Horns on the same album. Young guys and gals saluting their heroes.

Eagles - Eagles. Bought this remastered CD. Looking at the first six albums closely. Vince Gill is never an Eagle.

Shout - The Essential Alex Harvey. I didn't realise he was twenty years older than everybody else when I saw him. I bought this album for The Alex Harvey Soul Band songs, but I like all the tracks. I always remember him talking about there being only three bass guitars in the UK!

Karine Polwart - Traces. Really good songwriting, but some serious subjects. A Scot, who is having an impact in the whole of the UK.

Sutherland Brothers - Lifeboat - good Scottish songwriting. Needed it to accompany its partner.

Sweet Danny Wilson - from Dundee. Popular up here and Mary's Prayer is a Scottish classic.

Alice Marra - Chain Up The Swings. Michael Marra's daughter, lead singer of The Hazy Janes, paying tribute to her father.

Zombies - Odessey and Oracle, Singles AS and Bs. Many 60s group members' favourite group... and it is easty to see why.

Gene Clark and Carla Olson - So Rebellious A Lover - rereleased across here in 2018. I had only heard two of the songs before on a Gene Clark compilation, but I think it is a really good album.

Many thanks to GB contributors and a special shout for Peter's reviews. I don't folow blindly, but always check out. Playing Nic Jones just now. The Drowned Lovers is an exceptional track.

Entered at Thu Dec 27 22:49:42 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

So far Film Faves for 2018 in no particular order.

The Hate U Give (Thug)
A Star Is Born
Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Widows
Green Book
Beautiful Boy

New Year's Eve we'll see Welcome To Marwen and dinner thanks to a cousin's holiday gift. I would also like to see The Favourite.

Last Five
Out Of The Blue... The Band featuring Robbie on vocals!
I Wonder... Robert Cray
The Right Mistake... Robbie Robertson
Sexual Healing... Shaggy
Garden Party... Rick Nelson

Sometimes I don't know you
You're like someone else
But that's all right
I'm a stranger here myself

She don't shed a tear
When I walk out that door
She knows, She knows
I'll be coming back for more

The very first person I met in the Chatroom left the room with those lyrics. It turned out he's an Aussie musician. I realized that The Band site became the only site I contributed my thoughts and music because there is immediate reaction to various posts. When I had checked out other sites of my fave musical artists; not available. Also, met many posters by email, phone, in person. We shared a lot of recordings amongst ourselves and many good times. For instance, I cannot tell you how funny Rollie was via of hotmail headphones for instance. Only one time he said something that really annoyed me. He was such a gentleman that all I had to do was tell him once and our misunderstanding was immediately resolved. I really miss him. Hope his Sweet Jane is doing well. She was lucky to have been with him for a long time.

So... Thank you jan h... If it wasn't for all the email addresses that were available at one time and the Chatroom; I would never have met some really beautiful people. Bumbles was another one who was a real gentleman via email. He had a lot of musical knowledge to share with us as. He had also been to many concerts that were of interest to myself. Also miss others who rarely post now such as Ray Pence, Fred, Tenn now Cali, Ed V as well as many others. They were all really good buddies for many years. In praise of The Band buddies!! :-D

Entered at Thu Dec 27 22:39:54 CET 2018 from (74.203.77.122)

Jon Lyness

LOL, well played Peter. Well, I'd be first in line to see The Band circa 1983 so no issues there. ;)

Entered at Thu Dec 27 21:52:38 CET 2018 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Thu Dec 27 21:47:58 CET 2018 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Thu Dec 27 20:57:39 CET 2018 from (2605:8d80:6c0:9e7e:f0a6:8831:28e5:9c03)

Bill M

Another good version was by Ellen McIllwain (sp?) on one of her early albums.

Entered at Thu Dec 27 19:44:06 CET 2018 from (74.203.77.122)

Jon Lyness

Great stuff Peter. A tangent, but I'll be seeing The Felice Brothers in Brooklyn a few nights from now... first time for me. Were you ever a fan of them without Simone?

Entered at Thu Dec 27 18:37:02 CET 2018 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Best of 2018 in MUSIC

My best of 2018 in music is linked. Albums, songs, reissues, book, concerts, archive … the lot. Let's see a few more lists!

Entered at Thu Dec 27 15:44:26 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: Rachael Price again

"I love the Way Your Breakin' My Heart. Extremely fine blues and the piano player and bass player... ... ..superb."

Entered at Thu Dec 27 15:37:13 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: Rachael Price & Lake Street Drive

There is this old song "Can't Find Mt Way Home". I've watched Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton & Derek Trucks do.

Has anyone seen this girl Rachael Price with the band Lake Street Drive do the song?? This girl can wail! I'm impressed.

Entered at Thu Dec 27 02:14:09 CET 2018 from (64.229.181.77)

Bill M

Entered at Thu Dec 27 00:15:34 CET 2018 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Wed Dec 26 21:24:29 CET 2018 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

So much for my great attentiveness!

Entered at Wed Dec 26 20:14:07 CET 2018 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

Coen Brothers. I just watched this again and although the more obvious surprises are used up, the more subtle perfections are easier to see. There’s magic, authenticity with very well written & delivered dialog. It’s 5 vignettes from the same era. Those 2 guys and Wes Anderson must have producers that just throw them all the money they need. Brilliant! Wes Anderson's latest, Isle of Dogs, has just hit HBO.

Entered at Wed Dec 26 16:22:26 CET 2018 from (2605:6000:8b0b:6a00:8868:22e0:7ce:2127)

Glenn

A belated Merry Christmas to all!

Rolling Stone has a "guide to their best and most overlooked LPs — from roots-rock triumphs to star-studded live team-ups"

Entered at Wed Dec 26 04:45:51 CET 2018 from (71.175.88.22)

b.lee

Subject: Happy Merry

A late happy or merry Christmas to all y'all GB posters and lurkers. Low key here, no Santa stops and we are thankful for what health is left and making through a difficult year. Got the nativity set up Christmas Eve, so it feels a little bit like the holidays. Joined in the Jewish tradition of Chinese on Christmas Day although we did not go to the movies.

Christmas Must Be Tonight appears on Hall & Oates' surprisingly good 2006 Christmas release Home for Christmas. We can forgive them Jingle Bell Rock as it is more than balanced by a couple of originals, and a righteous rollicking rendition of Children Go Where I Send Thee.

Without a working CD in my living room (where I live these days) no Amahl this year, sad to say. Have not seen any broadcast listing nor any live performances scheduled. A sad day if such a classic is falling by the wayside.

Entered at Tue Dec 25 21:21:56 CET 2018 from (24.222.133.112)

joe j

I don't allow anyone to gift me music. My youngest pays no attention of course and he filled my stocking with Nina Simone, Buddy Guy/Junior Wells, Tom Waits and Neil Young (Hitchhiker).

He got his first turntable.

Take care and be safe.

Entered at Tue Dec 25 20:48:44 CET 2018 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

I like coming here too, normally everyday. It’s 40 degrees and sunny here today. I got 2 books that I’m already diving in on: The Howard Zinn history (I’ve been putting that off for a long time) and one called On Hitler’s Mountain - a memoir of a girl’s Nazi childhood. All the best y’all!

Entered at Tue Dec 25 11:49:12 CET 2018 from (77.103.81.34)

Roger

Subject: Christmas tonight

Happy Xmas all. Brits - Amy Helm is touring ... Did I miss this earlier? Borderline on Jan 23rd and just for Dunc she’s playing Celtic Connections in Glasgee on Jan 26th... .

Entered at Tue Dec 25 10:24:48 CET 2018 from (2a00:23c5:3a10:fa00:a481:932:94bd:3a81)

Dunc

Merry Xmas to all my GB friends.

Entered at Tue Dec 25 00:11:48 CET 2018 from (65.92.193.187)

Bill M

Entered at Mon Dec 24 21:12:20 CET 2018 from (2001:980:e13a:1:35ce:86fe:88e7:1f1c)

Norbert

--------------------------------------------

I drove to work at the office in the city very early, a long drive but it was a beautiful sunrise, saw two gracious deer crossing the road fast at dawn, a good omen.

Merry Christmas all.

Entered at Mon Dec 24 19:59:43 CET 2018 from (96.49.94.173)

Lisa

Doing home renos before Christmas = Bad Idea! Gave up on the renos in favor of Christmas. A merry one to everybody! Wishing all of you and your families the very best.

Entered at Mon Dec 24 12:49:05 CET 2018 from (203.160.29.183)

Fred

Entered at Mon Dec 24 07:56:57 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

"Ultimately, the Band’s initial version — an obvious highlight on the uneven Islands — remains definitive. Danko’s lead there, as forthright as it is folksy, imbues the song with this humble honesty, while Levon Helm’s second vocal underscores the every-day nature of the narrator’s role as history unfolds.

Along the way, “Christmas Must Be Tonight” — just as earlier triumphs from the Band like “Drove Old Dixie” had — tends to bring out personal, rather than general, revelations. The latter, after all, isn’t simply a Civil War song, but also a meditation on lost causes and the sense of duty rooted in home and hearth. Same with “Christmas Must Be Tonight” which, if approached secularly, can also speak larger truths about the promise of birth, that moment when a new world begins inside a child’s eyes.

Perhaps, in the end, it was sunk by that very complexity, by aspiring to more than the tinny simplicity of most holiday radio playlists could comfortably accommodate. Whatever the reasons for its fate, the Band’s “Christmas Must Be Tonight” is more than the sum of its seasonal parts. Instead, it belongs in the conversation with some of the Band’s very best work."

Merry Healthy Happy Holidays to the GB Community.

Entered at Mon Dec 24 06:08:23 CET 2018 from (101.98.94.99)

Kerrin

Dag B., thanks so much for your compilations. Very interesting to read some of those reviews, some of them are horribly mis-informed, but others harbour little pieces of trivia that haven't been circulated to my knowledge. Much appreciated, and hope there is more to come.

Entered at Mon Dec 24 00:48:10 CET 2018 from (69.203.125.109)

Jon Lyness

Subject: Garth shows...

BEG, Garth was quite the road warrior in the early 2000s. Looking back I can hardly believe how many times I saw him in NY clubs and theaters around that time... with the Crowmatix, with Levon, duo shows with Maud and shows backing up other random musicians. Garth, come on back anytime. :)

Entered at Mon Dec 24 00:09:00 CET 2018 from (65.92.193.187)

Bill M

Entered at Sun Dec 23 20:40:53 CET 2018 from (99.227.168.67)

John D

Since we can't Edit or Delete on this site I have to take back my last email Peter. Just checked my original White Album and Revolution was not on it. Revolution 1 & 9 were there; but not the rocker. Sorry.

Jan any chance we can add an Edit or Delete feature? We have it on a major Radio Guestbook here in Toronto and it sure comes in handy.

Entered at Sun Dec 23 20:23:17 CET 2018 from (99.227.168.67)

John D

Peter I noticed that other than the Esher Demos and an instrumental backing track. The rocking Revolution not 1 or 9 is NOT included in this box set. Any thoughts please.? Hey Jude Take 1 is on there. Without looking for it I believe Hey Jude and Revolution were the A-B sides on 45.

Thanks Peter.

Entered at Sun Dec 23 20:02:17 CET 2018 from (2605:8d80:6c1:2a39:603c:37fc:967d:2e70)

Bill M

Entered at Sun Dec 23 18:05:15 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

BILL M!!!! I am laughing soo hard here! My memory of our meeting at Jeff Healey's is different. First of all I forgot I met Jan Haust. How could I forget him?! He put out Richard Manuel's CD. When I didn't receive it he put in some extra CDS for me... .I think. He probably thought better keep brown eyed girl happy or she'll tell the whole GB community. ;-D As far as green eyed girl... .I was sitting at the table beside her. I'm kind of a wall flower in that if I'm at a Club/Bar/Party... .I don't mingle much. I am there for the music. Now the only time I left the table was when Witt wanted to buy me a drink. At the time I was totally turned off to alcohol... He bought me a juice... probably same cost unfortunately. I don't remember at all anyone calling my name. The only time I heard my name at a show was when Mr. Maximus came with me to Barrie, Ontario to see Garth. I think Maud wished me a happy birthday? That's how I remember it and I'm sticking with that one! lol Another time was at our Jazz Club The Centaur when Garth was performing. He saw me and said I know you. I have no idea why I never even asked for a photo! At another venue I told him that Rollie sent his best as his sister had dated Garth at one time.

Link Garth Hudson at Jeff Healey's. Bill M was right again. At this show no Levon. I made a mistake. One of the times I saw Levon in TO was at Jeff Healey's. A lot of women at this show. Richard Bell was a surprise that night! Btw, now I know why my photos are usually terrible as shown in link. My telephoto lens is kind of heavy... so not steady. Crab is the great photographer on this site and Todd. :-D My partner too but he doesn't post here.

As for Tara Hazleton... .When I first met my partner he would take me to the ROM for shows... .free of course... .lol... ... We saw together Tara and Jeff Healey at the Museum where we had our blind date thanks to my former Naturopath. And her partner is the photographer who put out a photo book with Robbie's lyrics. Even Bowman didn't know about that book!

As for Jazz Clubs in TO... .Partner is so picky he won't come with me to the Pilot or the Rex. I just yell at him and say, "Miles is dead! Get over it. There will never be a generational player like him. Check out others who are good but not brilliant!" He is just as passionate and stubborn as I am about music or anything for that matter so he just tunes me out. So I go on my own or with one friend who really likes jazz when I feel like it. For anyone who has seen me with someone at a music venue it was probably Mr. Maximus not imagezulu... .but in NYC or once in New Jersey it would have been Crabby.

Entered at Sun Dec 23 17:04:00 CET 2018 from (65.92.193.187)

Bill M

BEG: The first Jackie Shane CD you mentioned - the one with the live album and all the singles - is terrific, though the new boxed set has better sound and some extra live songs. However, the latter, and I believe the former, doesn't include two brilliant tracks that only appeared on a '63 budget comp - "Chickadee" and "I'm A Slave For You Baby". There must have been some late-arriving rights mess-up with those songs, as Rob Bowman's notes in the boxed set talks about them as if they were part of the package, but they weren't included.

As for us meeting when Garth played at Jeff Healey's club, my friend Jan had heard from Maud that you were there, and as neither of us knew what you looked like, he just called out "Brown-Eyed Girl". Everyone at one of the tables looked up, so it was clear that you were among them. I wandered over and said "Angelina?" to one of the women; she wasn't you but called you over once I'd convinced her my intentions were honourable. Maybe that was Green-Eyed Girl? When was that - last millennium, I imagine. Do you recall who all played with Garth? All I recall now is Healey and Pat Rush on guitars, and singer Terra Hazelton (who sings with the Hogtown Syncopators every Friday evening at the Rex, and who sings on Julian Fauth's brilliant "Everybody Ought To Treat A Stranger Right" album).

Entered at Sun Dec 23 15:06:21 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

Complete song with even a little bit of rap... I told ya rap is not crap... .some yes as in any genre but here Little Richard shows he's aware that great musicians open themselves to all genres of music if the spirit moves them. You'll also see the CD as well with all the other musicians like Dylan who perform favourite children classics their way. The year I taught kindergarten was so much fun with music as the kidzzz were about up for anything. They kept me young and energetic.

“You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist.”
― Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche

Entered at Sun Dec 23 14:44:04 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

Not your average Itsy Bitsy Spider by Little Richard for everyone's very young children and very young grandchildren.

Bill M... I cannot remember why I asked Bumbles to get me a copy of Jackie Shane's music at the time. It must have been very hard to find at the time? Or was I too lazy to find it myself? I think I had to order it from somewhere. The one I found... somewhere is called Jackie Shane All The Singles And The Concert. My partner bought for me as a surprise for sure... I think he likes Jackie himself... is called Jackie Shane Any Other Way two CD box set with booklet. This is the recording that is up for a Grammy 2019.

The one single I found not far from your hood... Ozark Rock'n'Roll Ronnie Hawkins and The Hawks. I lived in the Junction for the first year in teaching when the Hood was absolutely dead. Now... ..well you know. I also bought a condo but withdrew when rumours were flying around that changes were going to be made and I didn't like it one bit. One of my student's parents was a real estate lawyer so she offered to read all the info for free... Her X partner gave me his CD as a gift as well. Anyway, now can't afford anything... . :-(((((

I was catching up on the GB and I read that you said all three of us were sitting at different tables when we met at Garth and Levon's show at Jeff Healy's Bar... Myself, you and Wittgenstein. Maybe for a quick second... As Wittgenstein knew I'd be there and he somehow came right over to our table and I guessed quickly as we had communicated by email that we'd both be there. I saw Maud Hudson sitting beside Joni' Mitchell's daughter and then I saw you looking over so she must have told you it was me as I had met her before... I don't think she has forgiven me for buying boots... .and yet everyone here has... or almost everyone... Anyway, not knowing it was you... .you came over to our table. Witt even saw The Band in 1969! He even knew who Garland Jeffreys was so he was cool in my books. The friend you met at my table with the green eyes... .Her X was a TO musician who once performed at Ontario Place. Would you believe one of UofT's colleges is named after his grandfather? My claim to fame is that if you ever visit the town I'm from you just have to say my last name and everyone will know one of my relatives as so many of my father's cousins or even my grandfather owned a restaurant and a store are well known. That's about it!

Entered at Sun Dec 23 05:34:36 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: Pat B

Hello Pat, a bit of trivia. Playing around with youtube I came across something I expect you would know of. Back around 1966 in this same little town where I live I had an occasion that turned into a lot of fun. Behind our town are two very beautiful lakes about 10 miles long each. There are summer cabins all around the lakes. The closest one Victoria Lake, which thru' a short river drains into the second, (Alice Lake). Any way a girl I was going with at the time, her father had a nice cabin on the lake, nice beach where we would party and water ski.

I had my guitar and amp up there. We had an extension cord down the beach and I was playing my guitar and we were all singing. I started playing "House of the Rising Sun", Suddenly from across the lake comes this organ music. We are right in tune. Blew my mind. I end up meeting up with this guy shortly there after. Pete Smith... .Smith & Jones haw, haw. Any way what I'm coming to, he had an instrument I had never seen before or since. I just saw one on youtube.

A Farfisa Transivox Accordian organ. What a beautiful instrument it was. This fellow as I remember, (after that summer I never saw him again) was only about 17 but... boy could he play. He actually taught me quite a bit. Loved the sound of that accordion / organ.

Entered at Sun Dec 23 02:53:58 CET 2018 from (65.92.193.187)

Bill M

A few years ago, as you may know, Other People's Music did a legal reissues of an interesting pair of LPs - the Jackie Shane "Live" album on big red vinyl and "The Basement Tape" by our guys with Dylan on big pink vinyl. ('Tape' was singular, just like the original publisher's demo.) Copies of both are still available, I believe.

The boxed set that hesagezulu got for you is the 1967 live album plus some additional live songs that weren't used in '67 plus both sides of all the half-dozen non-album 45s. I ordered a copy from the Dead Dog store too, but found it a day or two later, misfiled in a store on College (not Soundscapes).

Entered at Sat Dec 22 23:30:35 CET 2018 from (2600:1702:4580:5e80:11bd:56f2:6ad9:d0ad)

Pat B

Entered at Sat Dec 22 20:31:00 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: The Band

Dag! Thanks for the 1970 material. It down loaded very easily for me.

After all the years of argument and speculation over Robbie's retiring from the Band, this is a quote from Robbie on page 160 of "The Story of The Band".

RR: - It just came natural and we did it. It was done very nicely, very professionally, with nice ads. The way we did the shows was the way we wanted to do the shows. When we played Bob, had a little rest, and when he did his acoustic thing, we had a rest.

"At first we were going to do a few cities, but as we went along, we got stronger and more courage and it ended up pretty large. The whole tour was a high, but I don't enjoy touring that much. With all the time we've done on the road, there's maybe three times I actually enjoyed it, and (the 74 tour) was one of the times. It was smooth and tasty and a lot of fun to do, and we got through it alive!"

There is two more paragraphs, but not relative to the point.

Entered at Sat Dec 22 18:30:28 CET 2018 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

A few weeks ago at King Crimson, the interval queue for the Men’s toilet snaked right round the lobby, but women could walk straight in and straight out. A reversal of the normal theatre long lines for the women’s toilets.

The Band got more men when I saw them.

Entered at Sat Dec 22 18:13:27 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

I made a mistake JOHN. Here is the photo that you are in. In anywise, I hope you have that one framed!

Entered at Sat Dec 22 18:09:25 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: Kind of Resemble Quakers

A great laugh John! I recall when I remarked a long time back, (not only the Band) but others as well in those early 60's with their cute little suits they looked like "bell hops" in a hotel. Same as Glenn Campbell's "Rinestone cowboy". Some of those Nashville suits those guys used to wear were gawd awful! Like Porter Wagner the King of rine stones.

Your memories of the rehearsals of the Last Waltz make me very envious.

Entered at Sat Dec 22 18:06:50 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

Check this photo JD. Sometimes you are in this photo as well are you not? At one time someone thought the woman was Sara Dylan but I have seen so many photos of her that I knew it was not her. Anyway, since no one believed me I emailed Carol Caffin and she confirmed that it wasn't her. Why do the posters here assume that only the male posters have some knowledge and experience related to music or anything for that matter, huh, huh? ;-D Like Van said, "Why Must I Always Explain?" Anyway, I am hesitant about purchasing the book you are in as I was so disappointed in the book by Harris. Anyway, I will check out the latest book the next time I am in a book store. I rarely go into those regular stores. Most of my books are bought in mint condition from the three BMV stores in town.

Entered at Sat Dec 22 17:48:37 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: Barnes & Noble

G'Day John! I am surprised at the Amazon price I paid actually $14.95 from Barnes & Noble and with tax and shipping the total was $22.50.

Entered at Sat Dec 22 17:45:08 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: Ear Worms

After listening to this young Irish singer (Derek Ryan) for some time, "Whiskey In The Jar" got stuck in my head. I recall a time many years ago when in the song the term "Stand and Deliver" is used that term of the Highwayman or robber. I thought that a good name for a band (Stand and Deliver.)

This brought me back to the mid 80's. When I was playing a lot of music with my band. We played several times in a couple of joints down in "Gas Town". Any one who knows Vancouver some, would know the Gas Town area where Vancouver began when Gassy Jack built the first saloon.

In the mid 80's Gas Town rocked there were many bars with a lot of different music. We rubbed shoulders with the "Irish Rovers" who played the Blarney Stone and the "Molly Maguires" who played the Harp and Heather. It was a great learning experience and a lot of fun. I've always loved the Irish and Celtic music.

Entered at Sat Dec 22 17:40:54 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

For NORBERT... :-D

Entered at Sat Dec 22 17:36:35 CET 2018 from (99.227.168.67)

John D

Subject: Beg and the book.

BEG I am not in a Dylan Book, I am in the new book on The Band. I have posted a link for you. It's a good price for so much information. Rob Bowman & Larry LeBlanc were also interviewed to give a Canadian perspective.

Entered at Sat Dec 22 17:22:03 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

BILL M... I don't remember who first posted about Jackie Shane. I do remember that Bumbles did however as I ... ..shhh... .asked him for a copy? lol I ended up buying my own. Last holidays imagezulu surprised me by giving me the 2 CD box set of Jackie Shane live and studio recordings. Any Other Way 067. He said he found it at Dead Dog Records Bloor/Dufferin.

As for John Lennon's sculpture being in Habana, Cuba... It is absolutely stunning!!!! John is lying across a bench. Our mystery man took a photo of me with John and I took one with him. He's more photogenic anyway. And one of the sweetest guys you'd ever want to meet. So either he or his partner or both are therapists. On our last night... We were in Varadero for the last two nights... He was in our group who went to a club to check out the local music. None of us danced. lol... ..My first time to Cuba I visited Santiago De Cuba. We stayed at a Nature Reserve. The very first waiter we met made it very clear that if there was ANYTHING we wanted that all we had to do was ask. ;-D On our last night my friend... Mr. Maximus' partner and I checked out the local disco... .As soon as we walked in we were whisked to the dance floor. I was having fun but my partner at one point sat down and was ready to leave. I still was dancing the night away. She came to the dance floor and said we had to leave. As I finally agreed my dance partner right away asked me for something... .anything. I didn't have anything to give him, ha, ha... .I only had my key on me. He was persistent as he gave his time for my fun time I guess so finally my friend said that we were gay and that I wouldn't be interested in him coming back to our room. Ha! Ha! Ha! So many stories from the four times I have been to different parts of Cuba.

Yesterday I found the Dylan by Schatzberg 2018 for 30.00 instead of 70.00 US... huge coffee table book. I used to have three shelves of books on Dylan including various photo books. I sold a lot of them and now down to maybe one and a half shelves. Anyway, I of course looked right away to see if JOHN DONABIE was in the book!! Ahhh, the photo with Rick and Dylan did not include JD. Some publications do include JD. This book does include a few photos with Robbie and the centre fold... .The Hawks with Dylan!!

DAG B... THE BAND IN CONCERT 1970... Thank you for our collective holiday gift!!!!! :-D

NORBERT... Many thanks for all the music we have exchanged over the years and all the trials and tribulations of being part of a music community. Also, I will never forget when you were one of the ones in charge of our temporary site and you put up a special birthday tribute to myself!! I guess I wasn't posting much at the time 'cause Peter V emailed and told me to check in... ..Sometimes I'm a lucky gal I guess. :-D

Entered at Sat Dec 22 17:01:35 CET 2018 from (2001:980:e13a:1:6d19:a66c:10ec:10e1)

Norbert

2 April1840 ... Émile Édouard Charles Antoine Zola was born, he became a well-known French writer (2x Nobel Prize).

13 January 1998 … Zola wrote his J’accuse..! an open letter to the president in the Dreyfus affair, this became a turning point in history, people discovered their power.

3 September 1959 … Jean Léon Jaurès was born, a brilliant student, frontman of the French working class and also a defender of Dreyfus. He wrote books about the revolution and helped miners. He was against a war with Germany in 1914.

31 July 1914 … Jaurès was shot dead in Paris by Raoul Villain, a French nationalist and supporter of war against Germany.

Jean Jaurès, lost all his power when nationalism got the upper hand and French workers rather choose to fight German workers then to unite and see their common ground. The day Jean Jaurès died, WWI began, the deadliest conflict in human history ever, 20 million men lost their lives in the mud and another 20 million crippled till death redeemed them from their misery.

It happened then and we see it unfolding now again.

Robby and Levon could have written a song about this all and we would discuss it here, if it wasn’t for Jacques Brel to beat us:

JAURÈS

At 15, they were already tired as old men
Their lives were over from the very start
Each month was like december
What a life our grandparents had
Drinking absinthe and attending high masses.
They were old before being borne
When your body's leashed 15 hours a day
It leaves your face grey as ash
Yes our Sir, yes our good Master
Why did they kill Jaurès?
Why did they kill Jaurès?

They were not exactly slaves
But I wouldn't venture to say they were free
Because they were so weak when dying
It's hard to go out of such a prison
Yet hope was blooming
In the dreams that were growing in the eyes
Of the some who refused
To be servants until being old
Yes our Sir, yes our good Master
Why did they kill Jaurès?
Why did they kill Jaurès?

If unfortunately they survived to their job
They had to go to war
They had to die during the war
Under the orders of some swordsman
Who would relunctantly demand
They open a bloody battlefield
Before being over 20 years old
And they would die all scared
All wretched, yes, our good Master
Covered with horsetails, yes our Sir
Ask yourselves, you nice youth Within the shadow of a memory
Within the heaving of a sigh
Why did they kill Jaurès?
Why did they kill Jaurès?

Entered at Sat Dec 22 16:25:02 CET 2018 from (69.203.125.109)

Jon Lyness

Subject: Jackie Shane

Bill M, a few years back I got hooked on Jackie Shane's music & backstory. It must have been your posts!

Entered at Sat Dec 22 16:22:17 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: Fairy Tale of New York

Yes Peter those damn songs that get stuck in your head. Does any one know the bet about this song? I hadn't thought of the Pogues in a long time. I never listened to them much but for a few songs like "The Band Played Waltzing Mathida".

The video of "Fairy Tale of New York" featured Kristy MacColl which lead me to find what ever happened to her. It was very sad. She was scuba diving with her two sons in Mexico and was run over by a speed boat was in a zone where no boats were allowed. She was only 41 I believe.

Entered at Sat Dec 22 16:05:05 CET 2018 from (2001:464d:e65d:0:dcb9:f02d:a226:5e22)

Dag B.

The Band's concerts and other activities in 1970. Link: goo.gl/kZyoc2

Entered at Sat Dec 22 14:27:04 CET 2018 from (99.227.168.67)

John D

Peter I loved that theme from the first time I heard it. Years later I was surprised to hear it was Dick James. I can still sing along with it. It's like my oldest Granddaughter; who wants me to play Eric Clapton's video of Motherless Child over and over again. "Papa, play Eric again."

Entered at Sat Dec 22 10:54:53 CET 2018 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Blackbird – The Beatles

Piggies – The Beatles (current earworm). This was because Mrs V kept replaying Blackbird in the car, and Piggies comes next and I kept hearing it and now it’s on constant replay in my head.

Robin Hood – Dick James. Theme to the 1950s TV series. This is because my English grandson, who will be 2 on Xmas Day, just keeps saying “Again!” every time it finishes. We had it for a full 40 minutes driving to Winchester. Dick James went on to become The Beatles music publisher.

Sun Arise – Rolf Harris. We were playing our Kids playlist in the car and my American grandson, 18 months (here for Christmas) was much taken with Sun Arise’s rhythm. So we played it four times in a row. We’ve been skipping Rolf for years due to his convictions, but this really is a good recording. In the end, you’d have to ban Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry too. So Rolf got played.

I Believe in Father Christmas- Greg Lake. Best track on the Christmas Hits CD playing.

Having the 18 month and 2 year old cousins playing together, I suspect Rolf's "Two Little Boys" might get played next!

Entered at Sat Dec 22 03:43:25 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: IT'S FRIDAY!! gawd damn it

Pointer Sisters ~ Slow Hand

Marmalade ~ Reflections of my Life

Rod Stewart ~ Have You Ever Seen The Rain

Eagles ~ Take it to the Limit

Don Gibson ~ Sea of Heart Break

Entered at Fri Dec 21 22:03:18 CET 2018 from (2605:8d80:6c0:4920:8845:7134:9464:ea28)

Bill M

Entered at Fri Dec 21 21:24:34 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: Run - Run Rudolph... ...

Just listening to some youtube... ... ..to put it bluntly, now-a-days you just don't know what you'll come up with.

From 2014 a maybe unlikely pair. Brad Paisley one of the premium c&w telecaster pickers and Steven Tyler... . that old Chuck Berry Christmas rocker, "Run Run Rudolph"... ... ... SMOKIN! give it a listen if you can.

Entered at Fri Dec 21 15:11:25 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

BILL M!!!!!! I have some Band related news right from downtown TO. I was walking down Yonge Street yesterday as I usually do after checking out Winners at College Park. Everytime I walk down the street I always look up to see the huge mural on the wall across the street. Also, I am always reminded that the hotel also across the street was where I was with Robbie's schoolmate and family before we checked out Robbie's high school in Scarberia... not far from JD's home. The day before we checked out all the Band memorabilia at the Hard Rock and The Hockey Hall of Fame. I was a huge fan of the sport until the Gilmour years. Of course now, they are worth checking out but basketball is my real sport that gives me the most joy... .since Kareem Abdul Jabar and Nate Tiny Archibald... .Getting back to current news... lol... .When I would look up at the musical mural reflecting musical artists from the time Yonge Street ruled... .I see Muddy, Jackie Shane for Bumbles, and everytime I would cringe... ... Where are the Hawks????!!!!! Bill M!!!!!!! For some reason, yesterday I walked just a bit more and on the other side of the other building... ... ... THE HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just thought I'd share. :-D

The photo of the mystery man who was on the same Arts Tour as myself... ..He's the one who knew Rob Bowman in high school!!!! Thanks to that Tour I was able to visit places that tourists don't know about or can't easily access themselves. He is a person who tries to build friendships between the two countries. The organizer of the yearly tour just happened to be available during March break for the first time as his partner is also an educator so she could join the tour. Otherwise everyone else besides myself were therapists as the organizer's business organized workshops for them. Every time I talk about The Band there's usually someone who starts talking... ..Even my brother who wears my The Band t-shirt as it was too large anyway... .Everytime he wears it someone comments on The Band or they just notice the great drawing by Bob Dylan.

Thanks to Paul Young who is in link as well as many British musicians... Was he a cutie back in the day or what? Thanks for showing me that I needed glasses for distance. My friend and I were at an outdoor concert featuring Paul Young and Robert Palmer and Power Station and a blimp was in the sky. She could see the words clearly and I could not.

Entered at Fri Dec 21 14:30:05 CET 2018 from (83.250.64.43)

NorthWestCoaster

Subject: Merry Christmas

Norm wrote: "It seems in some circles it is no longer "correct", how ever I grew up with it and in respect of my Mum and Dad, I wish you all a "Merry Christmas". - Thanks Norm for these words. I know that sometimes you have been on the red sector of a lighthouse while I have been on the green sector of the lighthouse - and fast forward, yes sir!

Nowadays I am a daily poster on another (Nordic!) site which has NOTHING to do with the music, sadly enough. However, this particular site is T-H-E internet site for me. I use to take a look if my friend NORBERT has been fooling around here lately...

Entered at Fri Dec 21 14:06:27 CET 2018 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Having said that, I know I saw him several times in Davy Jones and The Lower Third when they were second on the bill in Bournemouth Pavilion Ballroom, and my friends’ band was third on the bill. I have zero recall of him back then.

Entered at Fri Dec 21 05:24:25 CET 2018 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

Hi Bill M - I saw them too and was very impressed and, as I can barely recall, I was pretty worn out physically at the end of it. I’m not too big on non musician front men; I suspect there’s some snobbery in that POV. M Jagger and R Plant live didn’t impress me as much as their bands. I never saw Areosmith, Van Halen or Queen, but the videos, etc that I watched repelled me. But.. Peter Wolfe stands out as a favorite of mine, live, he showed truly astonishing energy and enthusiasm; just killed me. J Geils always was struck me as a jumped-up and bluesy bar band; for a more theatrical front man it would have to be Bowie.

Entered at Fri Dec 21 05:22:21 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: Important Aquaintances & Friends

John you are sincerely welcome. I am very proud to know fellows like you, Bill M, Pat Brennan, Peter Stone Brown, David Powell and many more. This Guest Book has been a great experience for me. Remember I'm just a kid from the bush and spent most my life at sea. I have so much enjoyed sharing the knowledge and experiences of a lot of you fellows.

The folks in the UK like Peter V, Al Edge, Roger and Dunc have always been a strong bond that has to be appreciated. You don't find it every day.

The very best of this Holiday season to every one of you however you choose to enjoy it. It seems in some circles it is no longer "correct", how ever I grew up with it and in respect of my Mum and Dad, I wish you all a "Merry Christmas".

I especially at this time, (and just about every day) think of all the folks we have lost here like Paul Godfrey, Steve Heggison, Jeff Newsome, David Powell, Knockin Lost John, J Tull Fan, and all the names I can't remember. Peter Stone Brown I hope life is being gentle with you and God Bless.

Entered at Fri Dec 21 04:31:33 CET 2018 from (65.92.192.238)

Bill M

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John D

Thanks BEG. Don’t know how I missed it.

Entered at Thu Dec 20 17:20:17 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

BILL M... You saw J Geils Band!!! I would have loved to have seen them. I had on repeat Sanctuary when it came out. Yes, Pat B... You of all people know how obsessive I can be. Lol.

Sorry, PETER V... I keep forgetting to applaud you for all the time and energy you take to post about theatre and music and films. You are such a great writer and I wish I had a partner like yours who has similar tastes and attends so many venues with you. I have to go to many on my own as partner and friends are not always into what I'm into. When I was in NYC by myself to be at Eric Clapton's Guitar Festival for two days, especially to see Robbie of course... .and then every night I went to theatre or more music like seeing The Rascals... .I made sure six days in NYC was going to be filled with visual and performing arts... ..and it was... .When I was in line waiting to get into the Venue I'd chat with the women and most were astonished that I even came by myself. How come no one is surprised when men do the same? Anyway, most women didn't even know the groups they were going to see with their partners. They only came to appease them. So glad that I am fearlessly independent or I'd miss so much of the bands that meant a lot to me.

Entered at Thu Dec 20 17:04:21 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise... The Ultimate Sacrifice

And I can't even spell BOB MARLEY'S NAME PROPERLY... .Sheesh!

My partner is the opposite of myself... very private. We've been together for almost 15 years and I only found out what his middle name is! We don't have middle names in my ethnic group. It's Band related! Can anyone guess? No, not Chester. Although one of my friend's brother's name is Chester. It's Virgil!!!!! Imagine that... .Virgil!!!! Laughing here. It is so good just to laugh, isn't it? In praise of my Naturopath who saved my life!!!

Entered at Thu Dec 20 16:52:34 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

Entered at Wed Nov 28 16:12:36 CET 2018 from (174.89.105.106)
Posted by:
brown eyed girl

Web: My link Hi Bill M... I found the photo of possibly someone we've both met. He is indeed sitting beside sculpture of John Lennon In Habana, Cuba. He has long hair and wears glasses. Anyway, the next time we know we'll both be at at same music venue I will bring it. I still don't know about December 10.

Hi Lisa. I loved your post on Robbie! Post more as you are a really good writer as Dunc has also noticed. :-D

Hi John D... Previously posted in case you missed it. Dylan and The Band at Massey Hall... John Donabie!! :-D Check out What's New The Story of The Band. I still really like the photo of you and Levon and your partner A on the water. Ultra cool! Posted November 21/18.

I think I was actually the first one to congratulate you JD. I even reposted it as you only thanked one person. Here is the post for the third time. Of course it's a big deal that you are featured in a book. Absolutely!! CONGRATULATIONS TO JOHN DONABIE!!!!!!! :-D

Bill M... I wanted to check out Tribute to Cushnie but... I fell asleep... .Too many nights out. I told ya that it was a busy week for me. So glad you had a great time as I knew you would. I would have liked to have met a couple of musicians from McKenna's band?

Back to Maple Leaf Gardens Bill. I on purpose listed the bands I witnessed at the Gardens because lately I am going blank on the names of various musicians when posting but not on the names of songs. I hope it's just because I always have too much on my little mind... .So after carefully thinking harder; I also saw David Bowie during his Diamond Dogs Tour. Not one of his better albums but the lighting was superb! Not surprised I forgot I saw Eric Clapton in the mid-seventies as his disease was in full force. After we left the concert there were rumours that the show wasn't even live. LOL And... ..Bill!!! How could I forget the... .BOB MARELY AND THE WAILERS AT MAPLE LEAF GARDENS!!!????... but I did... . :-(((

Entered at Thu Dec 20 16:23:43 CET 2018 from (99.227.168.67)

John D

The other day Norm I received an electronic item from Amazon that was faulty. I got on the phone with them and they gave me a choice of sending out a new one or refunding my money. I took the latter; but you can get in touch with the people you got the book from and I would think they would send you a new book. I believe it was Barnes and Noble. Since no one has asked, the reason that Harvey used myself, Rob Bowman and Larry LeBlanc was that he wanted a Canadian perspective; with stories to tell. Usually it's from an American or British perspective . BTW thank you Norm for congratulating me; when Jan posted I added articles to the book. You were the only one and I really appreciated it sir. Meant a lot to me.

Entered at Thu Dec 20 05:20:37 CET 2018 from (65.92.192.238)

Bill M

My listening for the past week has been very piano-heavy, as I came home from the Scott Cushnie tribute event with a couple dozen albums and 45s from his own collection, which the family made available to anyone who wanted them. Some were his own recordings, but mostly not. Anyone who knew the music he played onstage, Aerosmith aside, wouldn't be surprised that I was able to take home "Fats Waller Piano Solos, 1929-1941", "Porgy & Bess" by Oscar Peterson and Joe Pass (a gorgeous album with Oscar playing clavichord thanks to - you'll like this Peter V - former British PM Edward Heath), Glenn Gould's "Goldberg Variations" (which has a sticker on it indicating it was originally the property of Scott's mother), Dr John's "Babylon", Alan Price's "Oh Lucky Man!" and a pair of Folkways albums: "Jazz Boogie Woogie" and "The Barrel-House Blues of Speckled Red".

I also got a couple of Aerosmith albums - "Draw the Line" (which Scott's on) and "Aerosmith", which he's not of but which I suspect he picked up so he knew the songs he might be called to play when he toured with them for a year after "Toys in the Attic" (which he's also on).

Oh yes, there was also another Fats Waller. He was really big on Waller, and when I first met him in the late '70s he was planning to record a direct-to-disc LP of Fats with producer Jack Richardson (and likely Richardson's protégé, Jack Douglas). However, that was cancelled as redundant when the Broadway show "Ain't Misbehavin'" appeared. Too bad, as Jack Richardson had recorded with Scott's old pal Robbie Robertson in the early '60s. I also

Entered at Thu Dec 20 01:18:18 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: The Book

Received in the mail this afternoon my copy of "The Story of the Band". Just had time to thumb thru' it so far. A very attractive binder and a wealth of beautiful pictures, scrap notes, mementos and stories. A very good buy for 24 bucks I figure.

Only complaint, it was packaged in folded cardboard and looked fine. However when I opened it the top corner of the spine (a little) and the bottom corner crushed quite a bit. Seems odd as the card board package looked fine. A small annoyance any way.

Entered at Wed Dec 19 16:41:31 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

Toronto's Evergreen Brick Works

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brown eyed girl

And there is our Evergreen (Roy Orbison)... saw him at Ontario Place for 7.00 Brick Works.

BILL M... Yeah, I didn't see that many bands at Maple Leaf Gardens compared to other venues in our city due to terrible acoustics. Also, not too many groups could fill up our Gardens. I can think of about seven (David Bowie) off hand. I always connect names with songs.

Yes
Jethro Tull
Dylan's Rolling Thunder Review
Rod Stewart
Dylan and Joni Mitchell
Van Morrison
Santana... but not the show you saw. Europa was divine. Not sure if he performed Samba Pati but it's my other all time favourite where I go... Spiritual Carlos... Thank you! Whenever I see him on Awards Shows he always says, "Long Live Coltrane".

Wishing everyone this holiday season a Loving-kindness meditation.

May I be safe from harm
May I find peace and ease
May I feel strength in my body as it is
May I take care of myself with joy

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Peter V

My thoughts on NY brickwork are based in five or six visits to Brooklyn in recent times wirh much time in coffee shops and air b&b with exposed brick and at my son’s. The brickwork is orobably 1860s or a bit later and is very uneven. In London exposed brickwork is equally popular on the South Bank and is noticeably more evenly laid. And our bricks look thicker. Hence thick as. Brick,

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Bill M

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Norm

Subject: The Hot Deal!

You want to sell that house yer talkin' about JQ??? :=)

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JQ

I like that song and album too. A criticism I have is the song’s guitar solo. It feels too bluesy or 60’s compared with the rest of the song and it’s guitar aspect, which is lovely and emotive. Or maybe, as JRR would have it, the solo part is all he could manage given they had just got their instruments at Christmas??

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JQ

C’mon Peter, it’s normally not good thinking to conflate anecdotes into firm & broad opinions. That’s the formula for right wing talk radio here: dig up a single incident and then project it as evidence that proves their point of view on a national or global issue.

We recently picked up a 1910 house. And you can see the various home fashion trends its endured through the years: painted wood floors in 1 room, cheap carpet in another, lino remnants, a 1980’s Italianate bathroom, a 2000’s kitchen (marble counter tops - of course!) and then some refinished wood floors too. Now that we’re back to liking wood floors here, I wonder what’s next? It’s a house-fashion history book. But it’s got a great river and ocean view!

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brown eyed girl

Just one more!

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brown eyed girl

Another great show! I had the binocs as we had seats waaaay up in the grays as we were struggling students. Earlier my Ry High friend... most of my arts courses were with Radio and Television Arts students... .They were so much fun... made sure we caught some fire before show so we were all set! ;-D I think I missed Bill M by maybe a couple of years if you are the same age as N Boy.

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brown eyed girl

Whenever we are in Rochester, NY we enjoy very much the roots band who has played at Levon's Barn... Donna The Buffalo.

Partner knows Rochester as an X still lives there. I have memories as a young child visiting relatives. I still remember at the border... .They had a hard time believing that the clothing in my suitcases were from my cousins. My first memory of racism... .maybe really unwarranted fear or ignorance... was here at the train station as well. My mother refused to take a taxi to our relatives unless the driver was white.

Yes Bill M... exposed brick was what I meant to say! Lol.

Brick House... The Commodores
Every Brick In The Wall... Pink Floyd

Last 5
Pictures Of You... The Cure
Temporary Beauty... Graham Parker... One of the best shows I've ever seen... Masonic Temple TO
Have You Ever... Prince of Reggae... Dennis Brown
Reggae Got Soul... Toots and The Maytals... Still cannot believe partner has seen them and not me!
Next To Me... Emeli Sande... Brit Awards Critics Choice 2012... She quit Medical School to pursue her musical talents... Award presented by Bryan Ferry!!!

Entered at Tue Dec 18 10:06:49 CET 2018 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

I had the impression in New York that exposed brick was obligatory by statute in restaurants, coffee shops and other small shops. Also that brick makers and bricklayers in 19th century New York did such irregular shoddy work, that none would have been employed in London where the exposed brick from the same era is far more even and regular.

Entered at Mon Dec 17 21:04:45 CET 2018 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Best of 2018 Theatre

Theatre first … music and film to follow. If nothing else this is a photo essay (LINKED) on British Theatre 2018.

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Bill M

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brown eyed girl

Great song Bill! I hope you also have Violent Femmes 1983. Every song is great on that one. I was with a graphic artist friend who I didn't know while living in my small town by the Grand River, was also from same town when we met in TO. Probably because he was a few years younger and went to Catholic school? Anyway, he turned me onto that recording in his loft on Queen East. It was the very first time I was in someone's home who had brick walls inside their home in 1983.

Entered at Mon Dec 17 17:29:18 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

Lou and Bowie together. Lou however is under the weather but he pushes through for his friend on Bowie's 50th birthday. Btw, apparently Angie by the Stones is really about Bowie not about Bowie's first partner Angie.

Entered at Mon Dec 17 17:29:55 CET 2018 from (65.92.192.238)

Bill M

Peter V: Thanks for the correction - the third LP. Was the first the banana one? The only one I even wanted was "White Heat, White Light", which I heard in a university listening room in '74. But I never bothered following through, and remain VU-free to this day (not counting "Rock and Roll Animal").

BEG: My favourite Violent Femmes song is "I Held Her In My Arms" (at link).

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brown eyed girl

I sure have Hunky Dory by Bowie and The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and Space Oddity in my collection. I had TRAFOZS on repeat on my brother's 8-track when it first came out. I wasn't one of the cool girls in high school but I was privately re music... . ;-D. There was only one other friend who was into all kinds of music. As it turned out we were one of the few who chose University to marriage like most of our classmates. Here is a Bowie track about Louuuu. Yeah Louuu sure wasn't your average kind of guy as he could go both ways like James Dean. Lou also had Rachel in his life who was a Trans. Check out Coney Island Baby. If it's love it's all good in my books!

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brown eyed girl

Hey Bill M. When I was a student at the Institute for Child Study; I was working on a paper. My housemate from Aberdeen, Scotland was out for the night so I knew I could raise the volume as he didn't dig music much for some reason. Anyway, I was listening to late night CFNY FM and wow... I thought Louuu has a new song out! Nope. It was this group who I think sounds the most Louuu like. Btw, I read that Louuu gave 3/4 of his wealth to his partner Laurie Anderson and almost a a 1/4 to his sister Elizabeth as well as some to his mother.

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Peter V

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Bill M

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Dunc

Subject: Five for Friday

Playing lots of female artists just now. (Thanks Peter) Five great ones.

The Weight Jackie De Shannon

Acadian Driftwood Shawn Colvin

Powderfinger Cowboy Junkies

Will You Love me Tomorrow Francois Hardy

In the Ghetto Bobbie Gentry

I think the Velvers are great too, BEG et al. Played Paris 1919. I always thought it was great that the guy was wondering when he would get to Dundee.

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Peter V

Subject: Pale Blue Eyes

Just in case you don't know Pale Blue Eyes … 17 million hits too.

Entered at Mon Dec 17 10:07:26 CET 2018 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Thanks Norm. I did research on slavery (long, long story) but don’t recall more than John Newton’s name. There’s a new TV fictional miniseries starting tomorrow about slavery in Jamaica. The research was on differences between North American slavery and Latin American slavery. A lot was religion – if a slave became Catholic in Latin America, then he/ she had certain human rights. Not so in Protestant North America or the Caribbean. I was researching origin – most North American / British Caribbean slaves were from West Africa. Most South American slaves from Portuguese territories further South, so ethnically and culturally different.

BILL M – everyone should own the third Velvet Underground album with “Pale Blue Eyes.” It’s like Sergeant Pepper, Big Pink, Let it Bleed, Hunky Dory, Sweetheart of The Rodeo – just one you have to have. Title is simply “The Velvet Underground” with a black sleeve.

My five:

Sensational Alex Harvey Band (thanks, Dunc)

Glen Campbell Sings The King (demo pitches to Elvis 1963-5)

Preservation Act One – The Kinks

Magical Mystery Tour – The Beatles (LP)

The White Album – The Beatles

Entered at Mon Dec 17 01:47:15 CET 2018 from (65.92.192.238)

Bill M

Subject: PBE

BEG: Was having lunch yesterday in a Starving Artist restaurant. They almost always play great music of various types. On comes the most beautiful piece I'd heard in a long, long time. In places it sounded a bit like a much younger Lou Reed, but the sound was too spooky, sophisticated and modern. So I asked, and the server looked it up on the house iPhone. "Pale Blue Eyes" by Lou Reed, she said. Awesome music anyway, as you of course know.

Entered at Mon Dec 17 01:25:36 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: Amazing Grace

Peter V... ..and all others here-to-fore. I arrived at, (to me) interesting history. Enjoying a lot of youtube music today I came upon a young Indian lady (from India) known as the "Snake Charmer". She is playing "Amazing Grace" on bag pipes. So beautiful it is chilling. I called Susan in to listen. Susan said wasn't the song written for bag pipes. I said I don't know, I thought it was an Englishman. Of course you would know, John Newton.

I didn't realize Mr. Newton's history of being a slave trader for so many years and then changing and becoming an Anglican priest and helping to abolish the slave trade.

Interestingly (the article I was reading was from 2015) there was a Broadway Musical made of John Newton's life. I expect that would really be worth seeing. Showing a lot of the recordings of Amazing Grace it is supposedly played over 10,000,000 times a year!

Entered at Mon Dec 17 00:13:00 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: The 5 .. doin' it our way

Juice Newton ..Angel of the Morning

Sammy John .. Chevvy Van

Buckwheat Stevenson .. My Maria

mavericks .. Gentle on my Mind

Dr Hook .. Sylvia's Mother

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Bill M

Entered at Sun Dec 16 14:52:05 CET 2018 from (2001:980:e13a:1:fdce:9450:56b5:1673)

Norbert

During the French revolution in Quartier Latin, Paris 1968 there was a young pregnant student to be found on the barricades. During the day she fought to change the world, at night she would listen to Music From Big Pink and talk to her unborn child. At the end of 1968 a little girl was born; Emmanuelle Marie Charpentier.

The vivid little girl was smart and studied at the Sorbonne, the Curie University and the Pasteur Institute and she inherited her mothers love for The Band. Although she was always studying, she never forgot to make room The Band. She even posted here in the early days of the GB a few times under the pseudonym Marie Curie.

In 2012 she discovered the mechanism of some bacteria to make cuts in the immune system and she could repurpose this into a tool to make cuts in any DNA sequence desired. She made a genetic cutting knife if you like. The night she saw that her discovery worked she danced alone through the hallway of the University (to the beat of Helm’s DIXIE) and called her American college and co-inventor Jennifer Doudna out of bed, It works! It works!

Emmanuelle Marie Charpentier had just made one of the most important discoveries of the last hundred years, it was a breakthrough in science. From that moment she transcends above us all, nevertheless she always stayed loyal to The Band. Not bad for a little French Band fan.

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Bill M

It's a break between sets and what should be playing (as I type) but "Acadian Driftwood". Always good to hear, even when it's almost drowned out by the hubbub.

Entered at Sat Dec 15 02:41:03 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

Dag B.: The Band in Concert, 1969... Wow again!! The time and energy to compile all the info for the Band freaks here. Labour of love that we all appreciate. In praise of DAG B!!

Arrgh! Previous post was in honour not only of John Lennon but Yoko Ono!!!

Before I posted in the GB a group of us would blah, blah, blah in the Chat Room. One day I was talking about Edgar Winter's Dying To Live with Rollie? Anyway, who comes into the room but one member of Professor Louie's group and he sings for me the lyrics I can't remember. How cool is that?! :-D

Entered at Sat Dec 15 02:25:44 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

Jhené Aiko - Bed Peace in honour of John Lennon (Explicit) ft. Childish Gambino (Danny Glover)

Entered at Sat Dec 15 02:12:37 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

Thank you so much NORBERT for the birthday wishes!! :-D
You are the still the best storyteller in the GB.

As educators we are too. Two teachers in grade 8 helped direct me to a five year high school program instead of four. I had very low expectations for my life. It is because of those two educators that changed my life. Btw, the autistic student functioning at the higher end with Asperger's Syndrome... one year changed in my classroom when I played the Backstreet Boys. I gave each student their lyrics to As Long As You Love Me and daily we'd all sing together When his eyes lit up; I knew something was happening here. The other autistic student was totally different. Whenever we had music; he covered his ears. Whenever a student moved to another school the very first thing he'd do is walk up to my desk and cross off the student's name in my day book. As far as he was concerned that student was gone for good. What I learned in general was that these students preferred the company of adults as we were more predictable. Their own peers were challenging for them because they were not predictable. Even at recess time they'd hang with me not with their peers. I was able to have one of the best years of my teaching career because in those days we had an assistant who had some training. I have special education qualifications but not in this field. Those students taught me so much. Every student does just as everyone in this GB does too.

Thank you again Norbert for all the memories. You have a big heart.

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joe j

Dylan: I'll Be Home For Christmas

RoseAnn Fino: Night Rolls In

The Once: Song For Memory

Rosemary Lawton: Kitchner's Army/Bodachan A'Mhirean

Amelia Curran: Love's Last Regard

Ryan's Fancy: Spancil Hill

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Pat B

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Pat B

Dylan & The Band 1974. The crowd goes tribal. The same comp has The Band doing Share Your Love with Dylan playing harmonica.

Entered at Fri Dec 14 17:15:09 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: The Jackal

Where is Bruce Willis when you need him!:-)

Entered at Fri Dec 14 16:06:22 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: Just to be clear

Man oh Man! That boy Dag is one dedicated Band historian. That is a lot of reading and what a pleasure. Thank you for sharing your hard work Dag.

Just to be clear Bill, out here in the civilized country we think of youze as "That real stinkin' big village on the edge of those polluted puddles back there!"

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Bill M

Pat B: We think of Toronto as southeast or maybe south-central. Other Canadians may think we see ourselves as the Centre of the Universe, but that's their problem.

Entered at Fri Dec 14 13:48:22 CET 2018 from (2001:980:e13a:1:3832:4190:239d:cc1e)

Norbert

You can buy fast cars and big houses, but inside you always stay that little boy, formed by parents and teachers.

A great teacher grows great people they say: “Teaching is a gift, a talent and it can not be taught-sure, people can be taught at universities about the particulars of teaching but the guts of teaching is something that imbues an adult with the warmth of dealing with young people”.

I know a girl in Toronto who has that talent. She turns children, of all races, from a disadvantaged neighbourhood into lucky ones.

Yesterday I passed a primary school, I heard the children and the teacher through the open window, I stopped for a moment. I imagined, and if it was only for one day, I was that little boy at the back of her classroom in Toronto. A little boy, counting till he ran out of numbers, full of possibilities, no telling where he’d go.

I had stopped for only a second, was already way passed the school and further up the road, as I started my fancy car, I knew I would have grown a better man.

Angelina, angel with the brown eyes, happy birthday.

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Ari

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Pat B

Entered at Thu Dec 13 19:48:56 CET 2018 from (84.209.143.91)

jh

Hey, check out another great body of work from Dag B.

Entered at Wed Dec 12 01:35:43 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

NOMADIC MIKE... Many thanks for the birthday wishes! :-D

I woke up to our lovely calm kitty from across our courtyard that comes to visit us for treats. The boy and girl cardinal were next for their white seeds. Then... .wow... a woodpecker who rarely shows up... was doing it's thing and then the squirrels came by for any carbs we no longer want. Earlier in the week a bluejay... maybe only twice has shown it's beautiful colours. The only one who didn't show up was Rocky a raccoon who usually visits around 5:45 pm daily. I know..they are nocturnal... .not sure what the story is there. It is the things in life that you can't buy that sustain us. Anyway, about four days of family and friends taking me out or having me over for dinner. I am a foodie... guilty as charged.

Smart people learn from their mistakes.
Wise people learn from the mistakes of others.

With age I am getting better.

Last 5
Stand Tall... Burton Cummings
Holiday In Spain... Counting Crows and Blof... Thank you NORBERT
Still Learning How To Crawl... Daniel Lanois
Sailing... Donna The Buffalo
Dying To Live... Edgar Winter and White Trash

Entered at Tue Dec 11 19:50:09 CET 2018 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Just found the Wembley 1974 programme while sorting through theatre programmes … there it was with Marvin Gaye, and, er, Tommy Steele.

Entered at Tue Dec 11 15:32:23 CET 2018 from (75.98.19.134)

Bill M

BEG: After reading your post about Rick's song about home cooking, it occurred to me that our guys, as a unit, weren't much on songs about Buildings or Food. They did have rattleable walls at one point, but nothing else pops to mind.

The Scott Cushnie Tribute was exceptional. Aside from great music, there was producer Jack Douglas (best known for all of Aerosmithks records and John Lennon' "Double Fantasy") getting up to talk about the several groups he'd been in with Scott, and noting the presence of the other two surviving members of the earliest of those groups, the Night Shift, who did two 45 for the Bell label in '66-'67. I was sitting with the three of them at one point when Jack mentioned one of their songs and they all say it quietly together. Silly and moving at the same time.

Entered at Tue Dec 11 14:49:12 CET 2018 from (70.30.45.165)

Mike Nomad

Happy birthday, CTG.

Entered at Tue Dec 11 08:33:39 CET 2018 from (2001:464d:e65d:0:7870:335f:25e5:a5c)

Dag B

Another collection of information about the Band's activities, the pdf is searchable. Link: goo.gl/2eB74

Entered at Mon Dec 10 23:55:33 CET 2018 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter v

I like it more every time I hear it. It is very consistent in tone, no surprises, but that makes an album very playable. Zero into the mystic, no Madame George, but solid professional R&B with accomplished players.

Entered at Mon Dec 10 23:02:59 CET 2018 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

PV - I’m liking this quite a bit. It recalls Too Long in Exile to me; that’s one I go back to occasionally. Critics didn’t care for it though, not sure why.

Entered at Mon Dec 10 18:09:01 CET 2018 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

I'd say it's the best of the last batch of three. It IS one-dimensional, samy R&B led by Hammond but it's also very well done. The uncertainties for me are "Dimples" which sent me back to the John Lee Hooker, and then "Rolling & tumbling." Whilst I could believe Muddy Waters in 1950 had spent all night Rollin' and Tumblin' only to wake and find she's done gone (and Eric Clapton, and Canned Heat, though maybe not Bob Hite), Van is a bit like Bob doing it 12 years ago- you do think "No! You didn't really."

Favourite track: Ain't Gonna Moan No More.

Entered at Mon Dec 10 17:22:52 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

Hi JQ... I am not on Facebook either. I forgot most of the former posters are there communicating with each other. I only have Carol's aol address.

CAROL CAFFIN is absolutely THE BEST to communicate with about anything. A real angel from the GB. I do not have any current info as it's been a long time since we last communicated. I was so hoping she'd be at the first Rick Danko tribute in Simcoe, Ontario... .. :-(... .and Kevin J's fave..Julie..:-(

Entered at Mon Dec 10 17:11:43 CET 2018 from (2600:387:6:806::38)

JQ

Hi BEG - Do you know if Carol is back to writing? I had an address for her at one point that I can’t locate now. Do you have an active one? I’m not on Facebook though. Thanks.

Entered at Mon Dec 10 16:30:34 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

Home Cookin'... Songwriter and vocalist... RICK DANKO
Robbie's Ma's home at 193 First Avenue In Riverdale, Toronto not Cabbagetown where homecookin' took place many times.
Many thanks for the correction goes to our Musicologist BILL MUNSON.

I lost my way down the line,
Ain't be back for some time.
And all the memories left behind and I sure do miss.

Home cookin'
Home cookin'
Home cookin'
Sure sounds good to a country boy like me.

Entered at Mon Dec 10 16:17:44 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

Thinking of Rick Danko and Carol Caffin

7 Songs every Rick Danko fan needs to know.

Last 5 Songs
Bryan Adams... Inside Out
Crystal Gayle... Make My Brown Eyes Blue
David Bowie... Thursday's Child
Drake... featuring Jhene Aiko... From Time
RICK DANKO... Home Cookin'

In praise of all the storytellers!

Entered at Mon Dec 10 11:23:45 CET 2018 from (31.54.179.222)

Dunc

Sorry to hear of your loss, Norbert. Always enjoyed when you ran the Guestbook.

Enjoyed the posts on session musicians. I don't know a lot about them,but I love Reggie Young's guitar playing. One of my favourite 'Scottish' albums, Norm, is Frankie Miller's 'Easy Money' where Frankie is backed by Larry Londin on drums, Reggie Young on electric guitar, Bobby Thompson on acoustic guitar and Joe Osborne on bass. Played it four times in a row last week. Absolutely brilliant. You can find it on Youtube. I have no doubt that Frankie Miller would have grown and grown as a performer and songwriter, if he had not had such bad luck with his health.

And, Norm, I came across John Prine and Iris Dement on Youtube and am getting his duets album for my Christmas. I think 'Fair and Square' is a giant of an album.

Absolutely love Mad Dogs and Englishman. Saw Joe Cocker only once about twenty years ago in Glasgow. Brilliant concert.

Thanks, Robert. Love the Last Waltz.

I really miss John Lennon, Brown Eyed Girl. Thanks for mentioning him.

Last six albums played

Please Please Me

With The Beatles

A Hard Day's Night

Beatles For Sale

Rubber Soul

Help

Up to Glasgow for Christmas shopping after Mad Dogs and Englishmen finishes.

Entered at Mon Dec 10 09:36:00 CET 2018 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

When I was at university in Hull, Joe Cocker was the local (cheap) support act from Sheffield, third on the bill. Over the three years he worked himself up to second, and finally top. Even then he had a great band. Few bands liked having Joe as support, as he was extremely hard to follow.

Entered at Mon Dec 10 09:32:29 CET 2018 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Mon Dec 10 02:49:15 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: Ted Hawkins

Thanks JQ I got that. He does a good job as well. I hadn't heard of him before. Had a pretty rough life, but they loved him in Australia.

Have you heard Van sing it? I love the Pay the Devil CD although I'm not crazy about his voice in that song but his band sounds terrific.

If you listen to the young Irish fella I refer to tho', I think he does it great.

Entered at Mon Dec 10 01:04:33 CET 2018 from (64.229.14.56)

Bill M

Subject: Richard Thompson interview

Interesting to see how Richard Thompson handles interviews. The 'host' comes out with some standard interviewee-friendly questions (the studio, the process, etc.) but the interviewee in this case doesn't play along.

Entered at Mon Dec 10 00:57:45 CET 2018 from (2600:387:6:806::38)

JQ

Norm - I don’t know if your search led you to Ted Hawkins’ version but I’d bet you’ll dig it too.

Entered at Mon Dec 10 00:10:40 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: Derek Ryan

I have found this young Irish singer. I was comparing many covers of Webb Piece's old song, "There Stands the Glass". (Van has done it on Pay the Devil).

Well this young man Derek Ryan has done a very good job of singing this old country classic I sang since I was about 10. He has a very smooth country voice. There is a vid of his medley of Irish tunes. He has a 9 piece band that are real pros with a wonderful sound. He does, (for me) the best cover of "Whiskey In the Jar" I've ever heard. A real great up tempo.

Entered at Sun Dec 9 16:08:02 CET 2018 from (193.250.163.232)

Robert Davenport

Subject: The Complete Last Waltz

Really enjoying the raw footage of The Complete Last Waltz with many surprises. Oh to have a second DVD of outtakes.

Entered at Sun Dec 9 12:23:21 CET 2018 from (83.250.64.43)

NorthWestCoaster

Subject: Mad Dogs etc

Thanks JED, WALLSEND and NORM for mentioning this great piece of music. It brings tears in my eyes. Our organ player did a humorous imitation of Joe Cocker with open mouth and all. Now he is dead. Dead just like our road manager with his Polaroid lenses and Carnaby Street overcoat in the middle of the Polar night. The guy who build my amplifier is also dead. We borrowed really hard guys from the local Voluntary Firemen's Brass Ensemble to do the numbers. Many of them are dead now. Sometimes I have to hold my driving license in front of the bath room mirror (while shaving) to see if I am still alive.

Entered at Sun Dec 9 03:41:28 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: This isn't Friday is it??

I was trying to think up my excuse but... ... .it isn't working... ..anyway.

Black Crowes ~ Willin (they do a great job of this)

Mandolin Orange ~ Boots of Spanish Leather (This young couple do this old Dylan song justice.. it's great)

Rick Danko's singing of Christmas must be tonight... .A tough time of year for those who cared for him so much.

Mel Tillis ~ White Christmas (Bing Crosby has owned this song forever) Listen to Mel Tillis sing this song. For me, no one compares to his recording of this song.

John Lennon and also "Playing for Change" ~ Imagine

Entered at Sat Dec 8 22:54:24 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

WORKING CLASS HERO... JOHN LENNON

Entered at Sat Dec 8 22:44:03 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

(9 October 1940 – 8 December 1980)

Remembering John Lennon via remembering Louuu at Radio City Music Hall, NYC.

Entered at Sat Dec 8 21:58:32 CET 2018 from (96.49.94.173)

Lisa

Entered at Sat Dec 8 21:44:47 CET 2018 from (68.116.44.170)

JQ

* Tony Furtado - Cider House Sessions. Ry Cooder and David Lindley have both weighed in on his brilliance.

* Divided and United, the songs of the civil war. It seems the written word in that era is a high point for English language.

* Michael Hurley - Ida Con Snock. He’s been here in Astoria for some time now.

* Nashville Skyline

* James Carr - A Man Needs A Woman

Entered at Sat Dec 8 21:12:58 CET 2018 from (24.222.133.112)

joe j

As usual I participated in our town's annual Santa Claus parade today. I walked behind our float and handed out (individually wrapped) candies. Every parade reminds me of another one some years go. My wife had me dressed and painted as a clown with time to spare so I logged into my favourite music site and learned Rick Danko had died. Put a damper on the parade for sure. I don't know why Rick's death was so gut wrenching. Certainly no death outside my circle of family and friends has affected me as much. Wasn't he just the bass player in the band?

Last 5:

Dylan - "Here Comes Santa Claus"

Marley - "Jamming"

Maytals - "Take Me Home"

Los Lobos - "Corrido #1"

Los Lobos - "Evangeline"

Entered at Fri Dec 7 09:11:01 CET 2018 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

In terms of packaging it has to be Village Green Preservation Society - LPs, 45s, CDs, great book, pack of realia.

Entered at Fri Dec 7 06:41:21 CET 2018 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

Season 2 finds Mike Judge moving from country to funk: George Clinton, Rick James (2 parts, of course!), Bootsy Collins and James Brown, so far. Just as positively brilliant as season 1!

Entered at Fri Dec 7 04:32:20 CET 2018 from (2600:387:6:806::22)

JQ

PV - I just got the January MOJO and her boxed set received best reissue of 2018 - so you were there first, right?

Entered at Fri Dec 7 03:20:14 CET 2018 from (1.43.129.8)

Wallsend

Entered at Fri Dec 7 01:02:05 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: Mad Dogs & Englishmen

Jed I first had that album on 8 track cassett. Do you remember those things? It's still one of my favourite albums. Leon Russell singing "Hard Rain"

Entered at Thu Dec 6 22:09:32 CET 2018 from (96.239.106.206)

Jed

This album continues to blow my mind. Great lineup. Was motivated to listen to it by watching a bio of Bobby Keys. The horn work on this album is precious.

Entered at Thu Dec 6 18:23:05 CET 2018 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Put me down as a fan. Great album. Beautiful Thing (at last), All Our Past Times from Richard and Rick, Love Sign Language, but maybe Hello Old Friend is my most played track.

Entered at Thu Dec 6 16:36:43 CET 2018 from (99.227.168.67)

John D

No Reason To Cry. One of my favourite albums. Sign Language is one of my fav duets.

Entered at Thu Dec 6 16:12:48 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

When I started to listen to music again... Here is one of the songs that pushed me forward. The last time I dealt with severe loss it was Steve Forbert's music. This time it was Damien from The Voice. The weird thing is that whenever I listen to this song I imagine I am performing it for the beautiful Toronto Raptors. They always brought me great joy but thanks to the huge development of Siakam and the beautiful personality of Danny Green and his three point shots and the superstar skill set of Kawahi Leonard... and the total focus... ..Read his story... .and you'll understand what drives him to excel and bring joy to others. :-D

Entered at Thu Dec 6 16:06:48 CET 2018 from (96.239.106.206)

Jed

Entered at Thu Dec 6 15:57:52 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

"Clapton’s 1976 album No Reason to Cry included “Sign Language,” an otherwise unreleased Bob Dylan composition.

The recorded version featured Dylan and Clapton duetting on vocals, with the added bonus of the Band’s Robbie Robertson on lead guitar. (The album was recorded at the Band’s Shangri-La studio in Malibu, and Robertson’s Band-mates participated in various other songs.)

One might think that a combination of Dylan, Clapton and Robertson would be rock n’ roll dynamite. Dylan and Clapton had released two of their strongest albums in the preceding year or two (Blood on the Tracks and 461 Ocean Boulevard, respectively), while Robertson was still a respected songwriter and guitar stylist.

But the end result is pretty unimpressive. The song itself doesn’t say a whole lot; Dylan and Clapton both sound kind of detached; and Robertson plays the same damn solo he played on every single song he touched back then. (Just ’cause you can play those chirpy harmonics all the time doesn’t mean you should, Robbie. Let. The. Notes. Ring.)

Maybe the end results of “Sign Language” (and the entire No Reason to Cry album) are a testament to the effects of alcoholism. Clapton and many of his celeb sidemen had alcohol problems at around this point in time; and when you spend a lot of time getting really, really loose, stuff like this starts to sound good.

Or maybe “Sign Language” shows what happens when you get too comfortable and insular. The record was made in a swank locale, at a studio owned by rock stars, with numerous rock stars in evidence. Maybe they needed a little bit more grit and conflict and pressure in their lives to come out with music that mattered."

Entered at Thu Dec 6 15:46:14 CET 2018 from (174.89.92.121)

brown eyed girl

"Clapton’s old friends have let him down, and his new ones don’t serve him much better. Ron Wood, Robbie Robertson and Georgie Fame are here but in roles so anonymous, or interchangeable, that it’s hard to be certain where. Bob Dylan, Rick Danko and Richard Manuel leave their mark, but it’s gloomy. Dylan’s contribution, “Sign Language,” is goofy — it invokes the name of Link Wray and not much else. If anything, the song, with Dylan’s voice overwhelming Clapton’s and a sound that’s mostly polished and professionalized rolling thunder, is further evidence of Clapton’s backsliding.

Danko ought to be embarrassed: he is either inept or saving his decent songs for his solo album. “Beautiful Thing,” coauthored by Manuel, is the most banal song on an album full of them. The Clapton-Danko collaboration, “All Our Past Times,” is salvaged by their vocal trade-offs and what might be a guitar interchange between Robertson and Clapton. Otherwise, it is maudlinly sexist and pedestrian Eagles fare. Finally, we have found an Englishman even more incapable of singing country rock than the Rolling Stones." (Dave Marsh Rolling Stone)

Last 5
Roxy Music... Avalon
Natalie Merchant... Where I Go
Isley Brothers... This Old Heart Of Mine
World Party... Take It Up
Eric Clapton, Dylan, Danko, Manuel... Sign Language

Entered at Thu Dec 6 15:20:58 CET 2018 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Wed Dec 5 19:30:23 CET 2018 from (99.227.168.67)

John D

Peter, picked up the December UNCUT with the Dylan CD this morning. Will check it out this afternoon our time.

Entered at Wed Dec 5 16:07:46 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: Carol Kaye - Sessions

In one interview I've watched, Carol remarks she was asked to do a session because a player didn't show up. She was well received. When she got to doing enough work she quit her job playing in a jazz club. She made much more money in session work and enjoyed it much more.

Those Muscle Shoals boys were very happy with their lot is seems. I suppose like any other job session players were not treated the same in every studio.

Entered at Wed Dec 5 10:42:09 CET 2018 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

In the 70s, the top session musicians made more than guys in medium rank bands. A friend was doing sessions between tours of the USA and Europe and thrilled to do them. There was union scale, but for the regular major session guys, double scale and triple scale was their fee. The major session players declined many offers to join bands, including major bands.

Producers were especially fond of session drummers – a department they most wanted to control. If you take Bobby Graham, Clem Cattini and Alan White you’re talking abouyt the drumming on a huge percentage of UK hit records.

Bobby Graham played on 13 number one singles in a discography of at least 15,000 tracks. He played on Kinks, Them, Animals, Dave Clark hits, plus Downtown by Petula Clark and Green Green Grass of Home by Tom Jones.

It may have been different in the UK, but Clem Cattini and Alan Caddy had already had a number one US and UK hit with Telstar before becoming session men. Alan Caddy had had hits with Johnny Kidd and the Pirates before that, but went on to produce hundreds of cover versions for budget labels.

Session guys will say “That went to #1 and I only got £40” but in that week, they got lots of £40s for stuff on albums and by bands you’ve never heard of.

Even at the bottom budget label end, money was excellent. For example, Embassy (Woolworths cover versions) paid session lead vocalists £10 a track in 1963, and recorded a track in 30 minutes. They did at least two a week (in one hour). So £20 when the national average weekly wage was £14.

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Pat B

Entered at Wed Dec 5 02:13:28 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: The Greenback

Well Pat I'm sure no expert on this subject I only know what I read and watch. Probably is true they got more in the Wrecking Crew.

Watching the video of the guys at American Studio in Memphis discussing this. (I don't remember all the names off the top of my head). I know Reggie Young very well. He did a ton of work with Waylon. Reggie's words in this discussion, for example the licks that he put into the intro for Doby Grey's "Driftaway" are well known. That is just one example. He was saying I feel I should have got a couple of points for this. There was many examples like that those fellows discussed. They did a lot of work for Elvis and a long line of stars for very little pay (according to them).

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Pat B

Entered at Tue Dec 4 23:33:50 CET 2018 from (2601:243:1100:428d:c458:6c9:dee3:aab3)

Tom G

You're right, Norm, a lot of those players created the songs and got little money or recognition. But, Palmer says that in the mid-60s he was bringing in $100,000, which is ~$780k in today's USD! He was doing as many as three sessions a day - 9:00 am to noon, 2:00 to 5:00, and 8:00 to 11:00, plus weekend gigs.

He says that bands being able to play their own instruments starting in the late '60s and then electronics, e.g., drum machines, in the early '70s, killed the goose. He also was active in the musician's union and talks about how that worked.

I recommend the book highly if you're interested in what it looked like behind the scenes, from a major player. I'd insert a link to his Wikipedia page for a partial list of his credits, but Johnny Cash gets upset and won't let me.

Entered at Tue Dec 4 23:11:57 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: Session men

Tom I have been watching more and more of the sessions. As well as Hal & Earl and that crew. Reggie Young and the guys in Memphis including the Memphis Horns.

The real sad part is how so many of those players came up with all the music and signature licks. Guys like Reggie Young and Glenn Campbell who could never read music and were the most outstanding players. For their wonderous talent and hours of work they got paid pittance. It is shameful. For a long time back where you are talking about they worked for less than a hundred bucks a day. Many very longs days and got paid nothing more.

Entered at Tue Dec 4 22:14:01 CET 2018 from (2601:243:1100:428d:c458:6c9:dee3:aab3)

Tom G

After I got to thinking about Earl Palmer, spurred by the best drummers conversation, I did some searching and came across and bought his annotated, oral autobiography, "Backbeat: Earl Palmer's Story." There's great recollections of the New Orleans jazz and R&B scene and characters/musicians from the '30's forward and some amazing stories about his time as a VERY busy session player in LA from the late '50s to the early '70s, when the producers "starting letting the bands play their own instruments".

There's also this quote talking about when he was in a travelling show in the '30s with his mom & aunt, as a featured child tap dancer: "We did three or four shows a day, at least. On Saturdays, depending on the laws, we did what you called the Midnight Ramble, where kids wasn't allowed. The jokes had double meanings and the chorus did a little more shaking and shimmying. It was risque', but nowhere as risque' as today. Nobody took their clothes off - no, indeed, that was against the law then!"

Sounds familiar, huh? Interesting how two of my favorite drummers had that in common.

Entered at Tue Dec 4 19:34:13 CET 2018 from (2600:387:6:806::3f)

JQ

Sorry for your loss mate; we had to do that in July to my pal of 16 years. When I was young my religion told me that only humans have a soul. I think anybody that’s had a dog, or any animal for that matter, knows that if we have a soul then so do they.

Entered at Tue Dec 4 15:30:08 CET 2018 from (2001:980:e13a:1:3931:f2b0:8fa:eb72)

Norbert

Norm, much thanks too, sweet story. Dogs, you grow on them.

Entered at Tue Dec 4 13:24:28 CET 2018 from (207.236.37.163)

Bill M

Subject: Scott and Garth - including a recording session ...

I wouldn't have posted this mailing-list note from the most excellent or organised Lance Anderson, except that it talks about, among other thing, him having brought Garth in to add his magic to a Scott Cushnie session. Note that it was Lance who did Garth's "Live at the Wolf" album. Anyway, the rest is Scott's post:

Scott Cushnie Celebration

Scott’s many friends, bandmates and fans are getting together next Monday Dec. 10th, 3Pm - 10pm at the Great Hall 1087 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1H3 (at Dovercourt)

This is an opportunity to celebrate the life of one of Toronto’s most unique, gifted, interesting and beloved pianists and band leaders.

Scott, known as Prof. Piano started playing in bands in the late 50’s. You can find his many achievements in other posts. I’d like to tell you about some personal thoughts I have about Scott.

When I first moved to Toronto after I had finished my studies in London ON, I searched out Scott because I had heard him on record. It didn’t take 1/2 a set at the Chick n Deli, to know that Scott was a special artist. His ‘act’ was him. He was a personality, and I could tell by the ease at which he switched from Boogie Woogie, to Fats Waller Stride, Rock n Roll to jump Blues, that here was an artist that had spent his life honing his craft. I saw him many times over the next few months before I had the nerve to go up to him to say Hi.

i needn’t have been so cautious. As soon as Scott heard that I was a piano player too, he launched into a long list of players and stories that was captivating. He made you feel like you were part of the ‘brother/sisterhood’. When Scott talked to you, you had his full attention. He told me stories of James P. Johnson, Fats Waller, Meade Lux Lewis etc. Scott collected interesting stories of the ‘characters’ in music. I’m not sure if he realized that he himself, was one of those characters as well.

When he said he wanted to hear you play. He meant it. I remember looking up from a gig at least a year later and there was Scott. He had come specifically to hear me play. It had to be downtown, and on a night that he wasn’t working. But he came, because as he would say “That’s what you did.”

I’ll tell one quick story from when I produced a recording of Prof. Piano and the Rockin’ Deltoids. I can’t remember exactly why we thought it would be a good idea to have Garth Hudson on the sessions. But it was an inspired idea. He must have been in Toronto working on some edits for his ‘Live at the Wolf’ recording. Scott and Garth had known each other. They had played together in the heyday of the Yonge St. strip. Scott had preceded Garth in the Hawks. But, they had never recorded together.

The Deltoids were recording much of their live repertoire, and it included a lot of late 50’s early 60’s songs. Garth played organ to Scott’s piano in Bill Doggett’s Honky Tonk, and stayed to overdub a sax solo at the end. There is a certain way that pianists from the 50’s play rock n roll and blues. It still has a lot of swing in the feel. You could tell that Garth appreciated Scott’s playing and was enjoying playing on Great Balls of Fire and other tunes. When we went in the studio to hear one of the playbacks, I remember that Garth and Scott stopped and were talking together on the floor. Very close, almost nose to nose.They had a similar spirit. Gentle but inquiring. Both were obviously extremely intelligent and eccentric in their own ways. Eccentric is not quite the correct word, as they weren’t being different, they just didn’t think the same as other people. What other people thought as important didn’t really interest either of them. But music did. And I think they recognized a kindred spirit. I remember thinking it was like watching two three-year-olds in a sandbox talking. Completely at ease with each other, and enjoying the moment. For that moment, none of us existed.

There is a memorial for Scott (Prof. Piano) Cushnie in Toronto. Starts at 3PM with some friends and performances with his ex-bandmates start at 6:30PM.

Scott played with the Hawks, The Rockin’ Deltoids, Canadian Aces, Diamondback, and so many more.

Anyways, if you can come, you will witness a piece of Toronto’s Blues, Roots and Rock n Roll history. Along with Deltoid members Mitch Lewis, Terry Wilkins, Bucky Berger, Bob Yeomans, Wayne Mills, and Jody Gollick, and members of Diamondback, Mike McKenna and Peter McGraw, there will be Donnie Walsh, Alex Pangman, Chuck Jackson, John Dickie, Joan Besen, Danny Marks, Tyler Yarema, Maureen Brown and many more that will play in his honour.

Scott’s friend Andrea Reid and his family are organizing the event. Please pass this on to anyone who might be interested. The Prof. deserves a proper send-off.

[see link above]

- Doors open at 3pm for an afternoon of casual musical tributes and the headline performances will begin at 6:30pm
- It is really appreciated if you can contribute to the cost of this event by purchasing a $20 ticket..
- If you have any photos that you can share for the slideshow please send to: scottcushniephotos@gmail.com

- Light fare will be provided throughout
- Cash Bar
- Please note - This event will be filmed - by attending you are consenting that your image and presence at this event may be included in a film on Scott Cushnie

Lance Anderson

Entered at Mon Dec 3 19:13:08 CET 2018 from (96.49.94.173)

Lisa

Entered at Mon Dec 3 13:03:56 CET 2018 from (99.227.168.67)

John Donabie

Peter V was talking about getting his Kinks Village Green box set awhile back. That got me thinking. I decided I wanted to buy The Kinks MONO collection. According to some reviewers, I waited a little too long. When the box first came out, I believe about 2 years ago it was reasonably priced I am told. It's now $184.00 Canadian. The good news is that the Beatles 6 CD White album has dropped 20 bucks. Getting tempted. iTunes has the set on for $69.00; but of course you don't get the book and the most important thing, you don't get the 5.1 disc.

Terrible; when your a completist :-)

Entered at Mon Dec 3 02:54:57 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: Lisa & Collies

Lisa, a very warm feeling when you mention Albert Paysun Terune. My mum and I collected all his books, and in fact the first collie we had my mum named him Jinks after "Jinks of Jason Valley". As well I have 42 Zane Grey books in my library mum left me when she passed.

So I must tell you my one dog story. When I was 10 I had a paper route out in Cloverdale. The last customer on my route were a young couple and very nice people. They had acerage and two small children and they had this big collie. His name was "Chief", Snow Chief actually. He was about 10 months old then but very big. He loved me and would always follow me when I left.

One day on a beautiful sunny day I was going to play a baseball game after I finished my route so I was hurrying along.I delivered this paper and was peddaling my bike up the road full tilt. All of a sudden I could hear click, click ,click behind me. I turned around and there was Chief. DAMN! I turned around and took him back. The man was home and he said Norman that isn't our dog. The folks that own him had to move into an apartment and I know they don't want him any more. I don't want him here he keeps knocking the kids down the stairs off the porch. I want you to take him, he wants to go with you. So I said well I'll have to ask my mum. Shall I take him home and show her, but I might have to bring him back. He said sure.

Well when I got home it was no contest. I was 24 and away working in a logging camp when my Dad wrote me a letter and said we had to put Chief down. He had rhumatismn so bad in his back legs he couldn't stand any more. It's pretty hard for a guy 24 to lay in a bunk house full of guys and cry all night. Chief was 14.

I remember when mum said Craig my younger brother told her. Y'know mum Chief still goes to meet the school bus every day to see if Norm is there. That was quite some time after I went away to work. They cannot be replaced he slept on my feet all those years I was a kid.

Entered at Mon Dec 3 01:59:41 CET 2018 from (70.81.153.108)

Landmark

Norbert, I truly sympathize with you and offer my sincerest condolences over the loss of your dog. 3-1/2 years ago my wife and I adopted a rescue dog who was found abandoned and wandering near a busy highway. At the time we got him, he was about 10 pounds underweight and was nervous if we would leave him home alone.

It took a while for me to warm up to him but he is without a doubt, a close and beloved family member. We have no idea how old he is but we celebrated his birthday on April 1, which was the day we brought him home. One last comment, on the day we were introduced to Ralphie, he was brought to our house by the lady who was fostering him. At one point, he got up and took a tour of the house. I guess he liked the place as when we picked him up, he never looked back. Adopting him was one of the most satisfying things we have ever done. We are blessed.

Entered at Mon Dec 3 01:54:48 CET 2018 from (96.49.94.173)

Lisa

"Soon or late, every dog owner's memory becomes a graveyard, peopled by wistful little furry ghosts that creep back unbidden at times to a semblance of their olden lives ... "

Wistful furry little ghosts - I love that, it expresses something so true.

Entered at Sun Dec 2 20:12:12 CET 2018 from (2001:980:e13a:1:719d:5962:1713:bdd2)

Norbert

Some day, far away, I will say: Wood I want you to meet some friends of mine; That is Mike and here is Bill from Canada and that is Norm the sailor, and that fine woman is Lisa with her dog.

Lisa, sorry to hear, I know it is hard, wish you all the strength.

Entered at Sun Dec 2 18:19:56 CET 2018 from (96.49.94.173)

Lisa

Entered at Sun Dec 2 18:01:26 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: Kate Wolf

Yesterday I was putting outside Christmas lights around the place. I was humming this old song of John Prine, "Speed of the Sound of Loneliness". It started to rain on me so I said that's enough.

I came in and put on my head phones and found this great video of John and his x wife Rachel Peel singing this song together. It must have been about the time they were ending, John looked really sad.

Dunc if you haven't done it, you will love watching John and Iris Dement sing together as well as Nanci Griffith. It was while listening to these songs and I'm always looking at my side bar for new videos that I found Kate Wolf. I can't understand how I haven't seen her or maybe don't remember her.

Kate Wolf was two years older than me and died of leukemia in 1986. What a beautiful lady and singer. Thing is I had heard Emmylou Harris and Nanci Griffith sing this song before but didn't know the history.

Kate wrote "Across the Great Divide" when she knew she was dying of this disease. One line in the song, "I heard the owl calling" is I'm sure some people know a sign that some one is going to die, (this is a native message).

Kate sings this song beautifully and Emmylou and Nanci's cover is amazing. Some folks may remember from the book by Margaret Craven, (I think about 1967 and it made the number 1 spot in New York). The made for TV movie "I heard the Owl Call My Name".

The movie is about an Anglican Vicar who is sent to the native village in Kingcome Inlet here on our coast. (A place I went to many times with my tug and barge moving logging equipment in and out from the logging operation near the village.) Anyway this young Vicar named Mark Brian has a rare diasease he is dying from and his Bishop doesn't tell him. He sends him there with the idea of learning about life. It's a really good movie.

If you haven't you'll want to listen to these ladies sing, "Across the Great Divide."

Entered at Sun Dec 2 16:40:03 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: Norbert with Wood

Norbert what you did was the kindest thing you could do. That is the truth. In today's world some countries are finally understanding assisted suicide. Instead of telling people they must suffer. Dogs don't get to voice their pain and suffering. We just need to see it and understand it.

In your grief you are feeling guilty. That is natural, just as it is natural for us to be understanding. Enjoy all your memories for comfort. It is the only thing you can do old friend... ..we're with you.

Entered at Sun Dec 2 16:09:12 CET 2018 from (64.229.14.56)

Bill M

Entered at Sun Dec 2 14:10:56 CET 2018 from (70.30.45.165)

Mike Nomad

Entered at Sun Dec 2 13:59:29 CET 2018 from (2001:980:e13a:1:719d:5962:1713:bdd2)

Norbert

Yesterday the veterinarian gave our dog Wood a lethal infusion. A few moments before I had carried him into the room and put him, with basket and all, onto the operating table.

Lying in his basked, his favourite teddy bear close, I held him steady, but he didn’t move while the vet shaved his right foreleg. As he punctured the needle into the leg Wood looked up to see what was happening, I stopped him and spoke some reassuring words. In confidence the dog laid his head down again believing me that everything was okay, but it wasn’t.

Right, he was old and blind and almost deaf and had a wound by his teeth, but I just betrayed him, in the worst way.

In turn the dog has never ever let me down once, in spite that I would deserve it. It was a cheerful dog with character but without any kind of vengeance. He would wait till I arrived home from work, we would fool around, walk into the forest, I still see him running ahead of me up the dirt road.

It was a good dog, yesterday he died in silence, trusting me, without protest, without vengeance, without a word.

Entered at Sat Dec 1 21:23:18 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: Hal Blaine

Hello again Tom. Good post. Such heavy weight drummers we are discussing. Mentioning Hal Blaine, I'm not sure if you saw back a bit when I got them to discussing Carol Kaye who was part of that crew with Hal.

I found a youtube vid where Carol is playing with Les Paul and a bunch, (I forget who all now I'd have to look again). Anyway Les is so taken with the bass lines Carol is doing he stops playing just to watch her. So then it's like she's playing lead on her bass. It's wonderful.

Entered at Sat Dec 1 20:33:38 CET 2018 from (2601:243:1100:428d:c458:6c9:dee3:aab3)

Tom G

You're right, Norm, there are so many great and prolific musicians who we all listened to for years and just associated with whoever's name was in large type on the record cover: The Funk Brothers, the Wrecking Crew, etc. Here's are a couple of quotes from Earl Palmer:

Late in his career, Palmer appeared in a music video with the band Cracker on the song "I Hate My Generation." As Addicted to Noise tells the story, "According to Cracker leader David Lowery, when Palmer was asked if he would be able to play along with the songs, he gave Lowery a look and said, 'I invented this shit.'"

When asked by Max Weinberg what more of the recording sessions he'd played on Palmer replied, "Don't ask me which ones I played on. I should have done like Hal [Blaine]. Hal used to get gold records for all the things he played on. I never did that, you know. I would like to have a room with all those things in them. It would have been nice—show my grandchildren when they grow up so they don't say, 'Oh shut up old man and sit down.' I could just say, 'Look. I don't have to tell you nothing. There it is.'"

I came to The Band first through the Brown album in 1969, and one of the things that drew me in was Levon's drumming, because it sounded so close to what I'd been hearing all my life from Professor Longhair (strong candidate for inventor of rock and roll - listen to his late '40s sides), Lee Dorsey, Fats Domino, Lloyd Price, etc. Love that funky backbeat.

Entered at Sat Dec 1 18:15:47 CET 2018 from (208.181.205.134)

Norm

Subject: Drummers

That is interesting. That New Orleans sound is so distinctive that they do stand out and need to be included.

I was just this morning thinking the same thing of those drummers for the Funk Brothers who really created that Mo Town sound. Richard "Pistol" Allen and Benny Benjamin.

Entered at Sat Dec 1 16:47:40 CET 2018 from (2601:243:1100:428d:c458:6c9:dee3:aab3)

Tom G

No list of great drummers would be complete without Earl Palmer and Joseph "Zigaboo" Modelsite, both in the pantheon of great New Orleans drummers. Earl Palmer is one of the most recorded drummers ever, running the gamut from Little Richard's and Fats Domino's seminal late '50s records to the theme songs from "Green Acres" and "I Dream of Jeannie." Zigaboo was in The Meters and played on tons of Allen Toussaint records.

That New Orleans backbeat is all over music of the last 60 years. Both true greats!

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