The Band Guestbook, February 2016

Entered at Mon Feb 29 18:51:10 CET 2016 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

Subject: Robbie's Strat

Link to details on Robbie's modified late '50s Stratocaster that he began using in the early '70s. In an interview with VINTAGE GUITAR in 2012 he revealed how he'd switched from a Strat to a Tele when he joined Ronnie Hawkins:

"After the Harmony [H44 Stratotone], I found probably a '57 Strat in a store, and I got a pretty good deal on it. But I had to pawn it about a year later to pay for my ticket to join up with Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks in Arkansas. He said, 'You don't need a guitar; just figure out how to get down here, and we'll get you a guitar.' So when I got down there, we got a Telecaster. I played Telecasters for years."

Entered at Mon Feb 29 18:31:21 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Mon Feb 29 17:58:45 CET 2016 from (131.137.34.219)

sadavid

Wallsend: thanks for that. I've been enjoying the Elvis Costello autobio _Unfaithful Music and Disappearing Ink_; Elvis calls The Band his favourite band, and mentions how he bought a Tele because JRR was always seen with one in photos. Then he was dismayed to see the Strat had taken over.

Entered at Mon Feb 29 17:23:09 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Mon Feb 29 07:25:36 CET 2016 from (58.104.8.56)

Wallsend

Short interview with Robbie from Australian Musician magazine. This is the only explanation I recall seeing as to why Robbie switched from the tele to the strat.

Entered at Mon Feb 29 03:34:11 CET 2016 from (65.93.117.232)

Mike Nomad

Entered at Mon Feb 29 01:09:36 CET 2016 from (208.181.205.134)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Best of Colin James

Does any body know who Colin's lead..slide player is? Real tastey.

Entered at Mon Feb 29 00:47:44 CET 2016 from (98.110.36.106)

Ben

Peter, I was looking through the 'Retroworld' records listings and it looks like they will be releasing a Danko/Butterfield concert from 1979 shortly.

I would love to see a Danko/Helm concert released. I have a copy of the concert that Dunc mentioned and it is a very good show. In many ways it's stronger than the '83 Band/Cates shows that it preceded.

I also really like Jules Shear/ Sony material that I've heard on the 'Tombstone' and 'Crossing the Great Divide' bootlegs. I haven't heard any of the Los Lobos session, but they sound intriguing. I have no idea about the condition of these tapes, hopefully Garth or Jim Weider have good copies.

Entered at Sun Feb 28 23:41:26 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

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Kevin J

Mike Nomad.......we're forgetting "Tunagate" for crying out loud ! Now that was world class scandal ! By the way, thank you for the shout-out while I was indeed off for a bit of a jaunt.....made me feel good actually as I was recovering from a pretty wild motorcycle accident at the time and wasn't doing much of anything except being entertained by 3rd rate hotel movies and watching Fox,CNN and BBC world feeds......similar formulas all....lead with a little death and destruction from somewhere and then straight to US politics..............a very under reported story and noticeable to me for the first time as it was the first time I have ever watched more than a few hours of Fox.....is the Fox policy on hiring women......there must be 25 different women hosts/reporters.comentaters and every one looks and dresses identically.......stunningly good looking, very short skirts, legs always on display and always an out there conspicuous panting hatred of Obama......an amazing thing that in this day and age a network could get away with a hiring policy and dress code rules like this.

Entered at Sun Feb 28 20:47:27 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Sun Feb 28 20:04:58 CET 2016 from (208.181.205.134)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Lucie Jones in Wales!

I forgot this. I'm not much for these talent shows, however from time to time something extra ordinary comes along. You notice how that guy Simon likes to tear people down.

This young lady, a student shows up with her whole little town to support her. Notice when she tells her song choice, Simon has to say, "are you sure you want to sing that song" she is not intimidated, tho' rightfully this choice is a song few people can sing.

Watch her, and her mum, this is worth ant price.

Entered at Sun Feb 28 19:55:33 CET 2016 from (98.110.36.106)

Ben

Peter, The live Danko CD's are on a label called 'Retroworld' which seems to be a sub label of 'Floating World Records'. I agree with you that the artwork of these discs leaves something to be desired, but these are definitely legitimate releases.

In terms of Levon, we have the 'RCO All Stars live', which is a fine release, but nothing else chronologically until 'Souvenir' which is a very abbreviated performance. So, there's a huge swath of Levon's solo career that hasn't been covered. The Ramble years have been well covered, I prefer the 'Merlefest Ramble' to 'Ramble at the Ryman', but I would like some Levon shows from the 80's and a complete Levon/Cromatix show would be really nice as well.

Regarding the Band, I agree that the initial tour with the Cates is well covered. I would really like some shows from the period after the Cates left and Jim Weider joined. The Band shows from 1985-87 is a very interesting period to me. 'The Last Moving Shadows' is one of my favorite boots. I would also like a CD of the sessions with Jules Shear that was bootlegged as'Tombstone'. There's some very good material on that disc. I would also love to hear John Simon's mix of 'Jericho' and of course some 90's live shows oh and finally the Champion Jack Dupree session that produced 'Ramble Jungle' from 'High On the Hog'.

Entered at Sun Feb 28 19:53:47 CET 2016 from (208.181.205.134)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Abuse of power & a FLY on the wall

I think it would be interesting to know what......say Bill Gates, and Warren Buffet, people like that would have to say about the shambles in Republican warfare at this time, the behaviour of Trump and his opposition. Considering Warren Buffet is a supporter of Hillary.

Sometimes you can laugh at what is going on, other times it's gawd damn scarey.

Kevin! on the home front here now, one of the political analists, (I'm sorry his name has slipped away for the moment). His views on the news yesterday. The Liberal government is even less transparent with their deals than the Conservative. Now there is the front page on the MP's giving themselves a 20% hike for their offices, supplies, travel and on and on. The excuse is these costs have been frozen since 2010 or is it 2012.

We now have 25,000 Serian refugees, "we kept our promise!" The news here is showing there is not enough places for them all to stay and they are being shuffled from one hotel to another. At the same time the homeless people tenting on the lawns in Victoria are trying to be housed by provincial government, some of them are turning this down and refusing to leave. Can you imagine what would happen if it was with Putin in Moscow? They would all mysteriously disappear.

Entered at Sun Feb 28 19:43:05 CET 2016 from (65.93.117.232)

Mike Nomad

Entered at Sun Feb 28 19:13:22 CET 2016 from (24.114.53.178)

Kevin J

Mike Nomad......I must object to Canadian politics being described as bush league or light on excitement.....Au contraire, I've always felt the UK and USA scenes staid in comparison. Consider:

- 2 major seoeration referendums in the last 30 years

- The wife of a sitting Prime Minister sleeping with the Rolling Stones......even yours truly spent some interesting times at a party with the lost and wild Maggie.

- John Lennon and Ronnie Hawkins smoking doobies with Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau at 24 Sussex.

- BEG' s favourite political party electing a stripper or two to the House of Commons in 2011.........That just a year after the Head of their party and the Leader of the Official Opposition Jack Layton had been caught with his pants down at a massage house in Chinatown !

- The most beautiful First Lady any country has ever had ( better than Bruni ) Michaelle Jean eating a RAW SEAL HEART on live television.

.........and finally, Canada had a functioning political party for close to 50 years called the Rhinoceros Party that had as part of its platform, policies such as:

- Tearing down the Rocky Mountains so that Albertans could see the pacific sunsets.

- making the Trans Canada Highway "one-way"

- Ending Crime by abolishing all laws.

- Promising one orgasm a month for all Canadians

Entered at Sun Feb 28 18:12:19 CET 2016 from (67.84.79.116)

Jeff A.

On my way to blues, booze,& Jews . And Polacks, Germans, Irishmen, Cubans, Maltese, Koreans, Japanese,....... we got all the bases covered today. Happily, we're all each others experts in NYC :-)

Entered at Sun Feb 28 17:12:16 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Every time I go to Johnson's fiefdom, London, I see that whereas notices on buses and bus stops used to read "GLC: Greater London Council" then after that were "London Transport" they all now read "Mayor of London." What sort of ego requires that on every bus timetable? I don't think of Boris Johnson owning all the buses in London, nor do I feel personal gratitude to him when I get on them. This is a man who could cheerfully admit on TV that he was prepared to pay to get a guy professionally beaten up for revealing a pal's drug problems.

I begin to fear that in spite of everyone saying it will screw the world economy, we will leave the EU. There are far too many people who believe it's 1946 and have a map of the British Empire at its greatest extent on their wall here.

Of course having a Luxembourg banker (they're people you'd trust!) doing the EU talking is no help at all.

Entered at Sun Feb 28 16:15:56 CET 2016 from (65.93.117.232)

Mike Nomad

Some outstanding (U.S.) political commentary this morning (EST) from the gang here, espy Ben, Jeff and bassmanlee. A lot of good thinking. Good to see Jeff here again, and Kevin, too. I suspect Kevin is a world traveler of sorts, judging from his absences here. American politics can often be entertaining to those of us who live beyond its borders, but so can politics anywhere. And maddening. (Peter's words re Tony Blair are still vivid in my mind.) Politics in Canada are still somewhat bush-league but that, too, is changing, if not the nature of the beast itself. The hijacking of political power by corporate interests, is a stark example. But this is what I truly enjoy about the site--the diversity of subjects among us, tied by that common thread of appreciation of Our Guys. [Note to Norm: Yes, saddened by news of Bathgate's death. I muchly admired him.]

Entered at Sun Feb 28 16:12:21 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

The Danko CDs may not be “grey area” releases but there is a definite tinge of “off-white” about the European labels they come from. I’m hazarding a guess that the Levon Helm estate would not put out such “warts ‘n’ all” live recordings as some of the Danko ones, much as I enjoy the Danko ones.

There were early Rambles / Crowmatix CDs for that era. I mentioned the RCO All Stars Live. We have the Vancouver and Japan DVDs for the 80s Band as well as the Then There Were Four CD (which I feel is better). The reunited Band have the New Orleans and Lorelei DVDs. I agree that there’s very good Reunited Band stuff on tape, but I’m not sure that I’d want individual shows so much as a compilation of the “uncompiled” and “less compiled” stuff … Driftin’ Away, Blue River, Deep Feeling, Many Rivers To Cross, Kingfish, One More Shot, Don’t Ya Tell Henry, Bo Diddley, Wille & The Hand Jive. Perhaps I’d skip Love You Too Much and Sweet Home Chicago though.

Entered at Sun Feb 28 14:51:04 CET 2016 from (98.110.36.106)

Ben

Peter, I'm a little confused by your choice of terminology. If the Danko estate has 'authorized' these live CD's, then they should be considered 'official' releases, shouldn't they? They are not grey area releases of radio broadcasts like 'Palladium Circles', 'Carter Baron Amphitheater', 'And then there were four' and 'The fire still burns'. I consider the UK live Danko show as part of the official cannon.

In addition to the 'authorized' live releases, their have been a number of other Danko discs released over the years on a smattering of labels. 'Times like these' and 'Cryin' Heart Blues' were the most significant of these, but there were also of course 'Rick Danko In Concert', 'Live on Breeze Hill' and 'One More Shot' which paired the first D/F/A album with an unreleased concert.

We now have quite a thorough history of Rick's non-Band work from 1977-1999. I feel that this is a wonderful development and would love to see the same type of comprehensive set of releases for the reunited Band and Levon's solo work in the future.

Entered at Sun Feb 28 13:55:38 CET 2016 from (86.128.250.27)

Dunc

Subject: Rick and Levon together

I really enjoy this concert of Rick and Levon together 'Live at the Starry Night Club 1983'.

Is there a CD of this available?

Entered at Sun Feb 28 13:23:09 CET 2016 from (83.249.161.239)

NorthWestCoaster

Subject: 1.) European Tour 2.) Rosalind

... but for the first on the serious side: I enjoy posts with insight to American history, culture and society. TODD and JEFF A. are some of those posters, CALVIN of course and BEN who has the insight to Jewish culture and the way of living which is unfamiliar to me.

1.) How about Auschwitz, Norbert? I had a colleague who took his students to Auschwitz. This only was an effort when Swedish young people usually want to travel to Denmark for the drug sex and alcohol debute. - And Norbert: how could you ever forget the pilgrimage to Ostfold University College?!

2.) Rosalind has a point (but not to accept her hatred and use of language). We are facing a new type of a leader - at least a new type for our generation. Mr. Putin has been a few years ahead his time but Mr. Trump and Mr. Johnson in the UK are now joining his success.

Entered at Sun Feb 28 11:02:40 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

I've started. The first chapter is very good, staring with Simone Felice and Simi Stone as the heirs to the Woodstock legacy / legend, and he compares Simone to Levon. When I spoke to Simone after a gig where he played I Shall Be Released on the anniversary of Levon's death, he said Levon was his mentor and his hero. That's very strong for a start. The next few pages told me much more than I ever wanted to know about the early days of the artists colony, but I'll plough on.

There is an aside about Rick's death in chapter one that will anger some.

Entered at Sun Feb 28 10:58:21 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

The reason Rick's solo live stuff is easily available is that the releases say they are "authorised" by the estate - I'd guess by one-off payments, and small ones at that. These small labels promise an advance and royalties, but artists say the advance is all they ever see.

Levon's stuff was released officially- those early shows with the Crowmatix - but in limited quantities. The live RCO All Stars is there too.

The "missing" stuff is a good official release of a live Danko / Helm duo show. A friend tells me it was the best live show he ever saw. There are so many radio shows appearing by a range of people that it gets past some laws in Europe (it used to be Italy and Luxembourg) and is therefore available throughout Europe. Given that, I'd assume anything that was broadcast will eventually appear. But were they ever broadcast?

Entered at Sun Feb 28 07:46:41 CET 2016 from (32.216.227.7)

Todd

Subject: Norbert's European Vacation

Sounds lovely Norbert. Sitting in Provence drinking wine.....nice. So much to see and do in this world. I'd also like to see the shipyards up in Liverpool if they still exist. And of course all of The Beatles old haunts.

If I ever get a chance, I'd also like to visit some day, the ancestral home of the branch of my family that I mentioned in my earlier post. It's somewhere in Essex county, apparently part of an estate purchased from Edward De vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford in the 1500's. From the research I've done, the home still exists. Peter V. might know a thing or two about Devere, as there is a conspiracy theory that Devere was the author of Shakespeare's works. I think the theory has been debunked, but it's interesting.

Northwestcoaster, never fear. You can host the Northern Expedition. The other side of my family mainly comes from Finland and Norway. My Great Grandfather on my Mother's side, was a stone cutter in the Granite quarries who was born in Finland. Just had a funeral last Fall for the last living son from that side of the family. Uncle Wally was 103 and died in the house that he was born in.

Entered at Sun Feb 28 06:07:09 CET 2016 from (98.110.36.106)

Ben

Subject: Danko/Queens

Peter, With the release of 'My Father's Place', we now have live recordings spanning Danko's entire solo career, with this one at the beginning and the Tin Angel set at the end. I'm certainly pleased with this development. But, at the same time I'm a little surprised that Rick's solo work has been more thoroughly documented than Levon's solo work or the reunited Band's.

Jeff, My comment about Queens bashing was typed with tongue planted firmly in cheek. I have no recollection of my time there, as my family moved to Joysey when I was 3.

Entered at Sun Feb 28 05:59:35 CET 2016 from (64.229.207.56)

Bill M

Joe J: Born plugging for the underdog, I decided I didn't like the Leafs because they were always winning. Can you imagine how long ago that was?

Norbert: Would you be willing to take Kev, Mike and I for a quick tour? It would be good to see if we're able to gel properly before we commit to setting up house together next to Norm. BTW, do either of you have a good stereo?

Entered at Sun Feb 28 04:01:31 CET 2016 from (208.181.205.134)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Andy Bathgate - Controversies

Not sure if you fellows recall the amount of time Andy spent out here for the "Western Hockey League" Canucks before they joined the NHL.

I won't bother re-writing all the history. It's all on wiki. Andy got a heavy fine, for singling out the dirtiest players in the NHL. This was mainly for spearing, and the damage that was done to some players. Top of the list, not surprising was Gordie Howe. In those days by far the dirtiest player in the league. Andy was fined $1000, but as he said, "Something has to be done".

Andy was a tough guy, but a gentleman. He was absolutely loved by fans out here. Probably the most popular player for Vancouver.

Entered at Sun Feb 28 03:13:39 CET 2016 from (178.175.128.50)

Rosalind

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Jeff A.

Entered at Sun Feb 28 02:41:29 CET 2016 from (184.66.251.127)

JT

Subject: Andy Bathgate

Andy Bathgate: gentleman and noted to be so: The heart and soul of the NY Rangers at a time when there were only 6 teams and you knew every player. A nice stint with my Leafs with some success in Toronto as well.

Entered at Sun Feb 28 01:49:23 CET 2016 from (24.224.128.101)

joe j

Bathgate and Don McKenny huge in 1964. Only 52 years ago. We do have '67.

Entered at Sun Feb 28 01:43:33 CET 2016 from (24.224.128.101)

joe j

Andy Bathgate and Don McKenny were huge additions to an already great team in ?1964.

Entered at Sat Feb 27 23:05:39 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Sat Feb 27 21:34:07 CET 2016 from (24.114.53.178)

Kevin J

US Politics 2016: the juxtaposition between watching/listening to the empty package of pettiness and nastiness of Trump/Rubio/Cruz ( they are now down to making fun of each other's ears, hair, make-up and height ! ) and the perhaps unreasonable but nevertheless gloriously optimistic dreams of Bernie Sanders for a society of freer education, better healthcare and less influence from Wall Street - is striking.

A decade or more of Fox News and "no compromise" politics has resulted in one party that grown-ups can be comfortable being associated with ( the Dems ) and one party ( the Republicans ) that truly seems to be bat shit crazy.

Entered at Sat Feb 27 19:51:35 CET 2016 from (83.249.161.239)

NorthWestCoaster (again)

Subject: Brands

"Boris" is a brand like "Bob Dylan".

Entered at Sat Feb 27 19:23:09 CET 2016 from (83.249.161.239)

NorthWestCoaster

Subject: God bless the ... eerrr... Boris Johnson

Norbert suggested that Peter V should arrange a meeting and greeting with the Queen. Forget it, my friend. It is _Boris Johnson_ we must meet! On the other hand: Norbert exluded me in his miserable Tour d'Europe. Who cares! - - Or like I use to say to Mrs. NorthWestCoaster when she comes with those fancy brochures: "Do you really mean that I must be without my afternoon nap and - for the second - must I wear trousers?"

Entered at Sat Feb 27 19:07:18 CET 2016 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

Hi Ben - I think you're right you're right about CM and Hillary - he's also a throwback to those shouting argumentative shows of a decade or more ago: The McGlaughlin Report, Hannitty and Colmbs, etc. I find his style really hard to take.

The problem, forever, with the US media is its commercial basis - a car chase or Justin Beiber will always preempt the news; MSNBC too. Not as much though with the BBC and PBS. Maybe Peter V could enlighten us on how the BBC does it so well (seemingly) without a strictly commercial basis?

Entered at Sat Feb 27 18:47:19 CET 2016 from (208.181.205.134)

Rockin Chair

Subject: This & That

JOE J!..look on your Face Book page I put something there for you.

Bill M, Kevin J, Mike Nomad, did you guys see that Andy Bathgate died? Sad he was a great guy and was on a Stanley Cup winner in your town.

Entered at Sat Feb 27 17:27:17 CET 2016 from (87.144.164.243)

Norbert

Entered at Sat Feb 27 16:15:59 CET 2016 from (68.171.246.15)

Bill M

Entered at Sat Feb 27 15:17:24 CET 2016 from (98.110.36.106)

Ben

Subject: And then there were Four/My Father's Place

I've been listening to 'And then there were four' and 'My Father's Place' over the past week. I've been enjoying them both, but if I had to pick one it would definitely be 'My Father's Place'. It's a real treat to hear Danko circa 1977 leading a rock band, mixing a good chunk of his solo album with a smattering of Band songs.

It is a real shame that Rick's album didn't sell. I guess in an era dominated by 'Saturday Night Fever' and 'Rumours' there wasn't much of a market for it. Anyway, this performance is a real treat and I can wholeheartedly recommend it.

Entered at Sat Feb 27 14:59:59 CET 2016 from (98.110.36.106)

Ben

Subject: King of Queens

Hey, let's not get into any Queens bashing here. I was born and lived for 3 years in Far Rockaway before heading down the NJ turnpike to look for America.

Chris Matthews is definitely in the tank for Hillary. I understand that his wife is running for Congress in Virginia and has received some big contributions from Hillary backers. So, there's a clear conflict of interest with Matthews covering the Democratic primary. I think this fact needs to be mentioned each time Matthews talks about the Democratic primary or if he's unwilling to do that he needs to recuse himself from the Democrats and only cover the Republican race.

MSNBC is kind of a schizo network. For years they kept Pat Buchanan on as a commentator, which I couldn't understand as he's a long time anti-semite and extremist. However, they do have some very good hosts on after Matthews, Chris Hays and Rachel Maddow. Maddow was one of the first National journalists talking about the Flint water crisis.

Entered at Sat Feb 27 14:27:15 CET 2016 from (87.144.163.143)

Norbert

Entered at Sat Feb 27 14:03:12 CET 2016 from (87.144.163.143)

Norbert

I’ve got my new Band keychain yesterday (it simply says The Band).
Besides my two Band socks that’s all merchandise I’ll have.
Not much maybe for you, for me it’s a lot, thanks.

Entered at Sat Feb 27 12:44:51 CET 2016 from (87.144.163.143)

Norbert

Todd, loved that NYC story thanks.

Think Peter, Al and I have to show you, Norm, Bill and Jeff Europe someday. Underneath a list of 30 of the best places to visit over here:

The Provence in France; Gaudí's Barcelona; Sistine Chapel, Italy (Michelangelo's masterpiece among masterpieces); Acropolis, Greece ; Pamukkale, Turkey ; Semana Santa, Spain ; Aya Sofya, Istanbul , Turkey ; Matterhorn, Switzerland Chateau de Chenonceau, Loire Valley, France; The Atlantic Road, Norway (spectacular route); Blue Mosque, Istanbul , Turkey; Northern Lights, Scandinavia or Iceland; Sainte Chapelle, Paris; Red Square, Moscow, Russia; Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy; Charles Bridge, Czech Republic; Brandenberg Gate, Germany; Tuscany, Italy Renaissance art; Lake Bled, Slovenia; Colosseum, Italy; Ephesus, Turkey; Eiffel Tower, France; Alhambra, Spain The vast fortress and palace complex; Venice La Serenissima; The black beaches of Iceland; Pantheon, Italy; Mezquita de Cordoba, Spain; Versailles, France; The Hermitage, St Petersburg; Pompeii and Herculaneum, Italy.

But we’ll skip that (If you want to see that book a trip on the www). We’ll show you another Europe, a Europe trip you can never book nowhere, a Europe only friends can show you.

Al would take you up a Liverpool soccer match. You’ll sit between working-class heroes and don’t worry no one will harm you. And as they all start to sing, the whole stadium, shivers will run down your spine. Maybe afterwards you’ll have to fight a little and run for your life but you would never have missed that. It will stay with you as long as you live.

I would show you Amsterdam by night, we would sing along with the locals in a café and get drunk, eat raw fish and watch the sun go up in the harbour.

We would arrange a Porsche and, ad dawn, on the German Autobahn, we would legally try to pass the 200 miles limit, just for moment. Maybe a little scary but you will never forget it.

Under the Brandenberg Gate we u-turn and end up in France, The Provence. The land God choose to live if he could. See us all sitting on a terrace in the shadow of an old tree next to an old church in an ancient little city drinking wine and watch children play and an old man throw the jack.

But then our time is almost over and I have to bring you to the ferry back to England where Peter will show you the beautiful back streets of London, where no tourist ever comes and I’m sure he’ll arrange meet and greet with the Queen just before your flight home.

Entered at Sat Feb 27 06:56:05 CET 2016 from (97.33.71.16)

Todd

Subject: Brooklyn in my Bones

Hey Jeff. Yes I probably should have considered that the world-wide group here might not all be familiar with the Kings County reference, or that Trump is from Queens. After I looked at my post again, it could have looked like I was calling one of the candidates a “Queen”, which was not my intention.

I suppose that the name Brooklyn dates back to the original Dutch settlement, and the Kings and Queens names came later, once the English moved in.

I may never have mentioned this here before, but I’ve got some Brooklyn history in my family.
One branch of my family lived in Brooklyn up near Prospect Park. I guess these days they refer to it as Park Slope, but I’m not sure if it was called that in those days. It was a brownstone on Polhemus Place, which was one of the ½ block streets about a block over from 7th avenue. I think it intersected with Garfield on one end and Carroll street on the other. My Great Great Grandfather had worked in the lock manufacturing industry in Connecticut in the late 1800’s, earned a few patents for lock mechanisms, and then moved to NY around 1890 as the company was expanding and had opened a showroom/sales office on Chambers street in NYC. In 1901 he moved his young family into the newly built house on Polhemus place. My Great, Great Grandfather planted the trees on that street, as a lot of the area was newly constructed, at that time, so it’s kind of cool to go back if I’m in the area and see the trees, and although I haven’t been back in a while, I like to think about those Brooklyn roots.

I never “lived” there myself, but when I was in kid in the 1970’s we would sometimes go for weekend visits, for an overnight, usually in the summer. By then it was just my Great Great Aunt Alice living there and although she was getting up there in years, she had a great spirit and energy, and would take us around to various places in the city. My earliest memory of spending time there was in 1972 when I was six years old. For some reason my sister and I were free to roam around the neighborhood, play on the front stoop etc. and it was really an adventure for a kid from suburban Connecticut. That area is pretty posh now, but I remember it being somewhat run down in the 1970’s and early 1980’s. There was definitely an edge and energy to it.

Aunt Alice, who was the oldest surviving member of that part of the family, died in 1983 at the age of 93. I still remember pretty vividly, her funeral at the nearby Old First Reformed Church on 7th, also known as “The Reformed Dutch Church of the Town of Breukelen”, and then the burial at Greenwood Cemetery, and having the distinct feeling of the end of an era. That’s the side of my family, which I was able to trace back to my earliest ancestors in these lands, who came from Essex County, England in the Puritan migration in 1634. So a lot of personal history there. Kind of interesting that the family migration went from England, to New England, and then ended up in a place called Kings County. I may have exceeded my word limit for the day.

Real estate values in the mid 1980’s in Brooklyn were nowhere near what they are today, and the property ended up getting sold, as the rest of the extended family by that point had jobs and lives elsewhere, and it would have been too expensive to keep up with the property taxes and maintenance. What sold for a few hundred thousand dollars in the mid 1980’s is probably worth a few million now that that part of Brooklyn is very desirable these days.

A few years ago I was visiting a friend nearby, on Flatbush Avenue, and drove by the Brooklyn house to take a look, and the current owner was clearing some snow from the front steps. I stopped to talk to him briefly, and it turns out that he was the person who bought it after my aunt died in 1983, and he has lived there with his family ever since. I don’t know how frequently NYC real estate changes hands, but I think it’s pretty cool that the house where I have some very fond childhood memories, has only had two owners in the past 115 years…..and the trees that my Great Great Grandfather planted are still there.

Entered at Sat Feb 27 06:27:11 CET 2016 from (173.3.49.87)

Jeff A.

Could you imagine? The first Bernie / Donald debate. Donald walks over, hugs the man, says Bernie, I'm voting for you.

On that note, i'll type at you folks in a couple of days.

Entered at Sat Feb 27 05:38:47 CET 2016 from (173.3.49.87)

Jeff A.

Subject: Chris Matthews tries to screw with & over talk Bernie.

See the link.

Face to face , the courage of his convictions. And logic, intelligence, truth, & right on his side.
Matthews has an agenda, speaks with forked tongue, tries, but can't make Bernie look bad....Bernie sparkles, Matthews comes off poorly, as he should...
Face to face, when some one knows they are right, & stands their ground big mouthed bullies have a real hard time against em.
If it is Trump & Bernie, face to face, & in responsive interviews, Bernie will outclass the guy, & in general, chew him up into little pieces..

But again, I'm not certain that Trump wants to do more than have enormous power in the outcome of this election. Demonstrate his influence, & demonstrate how dumb & racist the GOP population is......Something's up...

Entered at Sat Feb 27 03:04:57 CET 2016 from (173.3.49.87)

Jeff A.

I got a feeling that most or many of the GBers do not know your Kings & Queens reference. Brooklyn is Kings County - also frequently known as The County of Kings. Me, being a working class schmuckalovich, I like Kings County.

Now what Trump sounds like, I just ain't sure. But the fucker sure ain't typical of any good kind of NYer. We got our miserable pricks like anyplace.

Entered at Sat Feb 27 02:38:31 CET 2016 from (173.3.49.87)

Jeff A.

Entered at Sat Feb 27 01:56:58 CET 2016 from (173.3.49.87)

Jeff A.

Five Jews change the way we see the world.
Moses: The law is everything.
Jesus: Love is everything.
Marx: Money is everything.
Freud: Sex is everything.
Einstein: Everything is relative.

Bernie could be next.

Entered at Sat Feb 27 00:39:37 CET 2016 from (24.108.163.242)

JT

Subject: ...perchance to dream

So Chris Christie (of NJ) has taken sides and has played his hand in the this fracas. ("Can I please be your VP?")

Entered at Fri Feb 26 22:44:33 CET 2016 from (97.33.71.16)

Todd

Subject: Kings and Queens

Jeff's comments on accents got me thinking that it would be mildly entertaining if Trump and Sanders ended up running against each other in the general election. Can you inagine their debate?
You'd have Trump shouting "HUUUGE!" and then Bernie shouting "YUUUGE!".
Could be the greatest thing since the old subway series.

Entered at Fri Feb 26 19:59:43 CET 2016 from (87.144.163.143)

Norbert

Subject: Phil Collins’ comeback

Some say it’s time to draw a line in the sand and stop the madness.

I’ll say go.

Entered at Fri Feb 26 18:02:49 CET 2016 from (87.144.163.143)

Norb

Entered at Fri Feb 26 17:07:30 CET 2016 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

I remember buying the Philadelphia group's debut LP when it was first released. Bassist Nick Jameson went on to have an interesting career on his own. He engineered & produced Paul Butterfield's Better Days "It All Comes Back" album, which featured Geoff Muldaur's cover of "Small Town Talk." He later produced and played bass with Foghat. In later years he became an established actor and has done a lot of voice-over work.

Entered at Fri Feb 26 15:39:59 CET 2016 from (131.137.34.219)

sadavid

Subject: explaining the inexplicable

[My link] takes you to the Matt Taibbi piece that the Far East Man rightly praised. Excellent analysis.

Don't miss the sidebar on the DJ from Capt Breton who is attempting to leverage Trumpophobia to encourage U.S.-ers to emigrate to that under-populated neck of the woods.

Entered at Fri Feb 26 15:24:02 CET 2016 from (67.84.77.11)

Jeff A.

Entered at Fri Feb 26 15:18:46 CET 2016 from (87.144.163.143)

Norbert

“Politics is about winning, a concept meaningless to art. The very notion that art should have nothing to do with politics is itself a political position.”

Music has to speak for, or come from the oppressed, from the underprivileged. It’s their weapon, their oneness.

Never trust music from the right, from the ones holding you down, it’s a knife in the back.

Entered at Fri Feb 26 15:10:12 CET 2016 from (87.144.163.143)

Norbert

Recent computer analyses of Harvard University show The Band reached about 15.000.000 people in total.

Each of those 15 million people was enriched\happier for about 7 hours.

That makes 105.000.000 hours of Band spread happiness (which again saved us; 3 murders, 65 cases of domestic violence and 5 animals).

Not bad for 5 boys.

Entered at Fri Feb 26 15:05:31 CET 2016 from (96.245.114.250)

bassmanlee

Subject: Socialism vs. Capitalism

Wow. I can't even quote myself correctly so early in the morning! I should have said:

The problem with Socialism is that there are too may greedy bastards to make it work. The problem with Capitalism is that there are not enough altruistic bastards to make it bearable.

My bad!

Entered at Fri Feb 26 14:36:50 CET 2016 from (98.110.36.106)

Ben

Subject: Bernie

Jeff, I'm a big Bernie fan. I agree with most of your comments about him. I certainly understand taking pride in the fact that he's from your neighborhood.

My dad has a somewhat similar background to Bernie. His parents immigrated from Poland, he was born and raised in Brooklyn, went to Stuyvesant High School and Brooklyn College and became an accountant. Go figure, Jewish accountant.

My dad is about 10 years older than Bernie and is a lifetime Democrat. So, I was pretty confident that he would be a Bernie supporter, however he recently told me that he appreciates the issues that Bernie is talking about but doesn't think that they are realistic so he's supporting Hillary.

Entered at Fri Feb 26 14:27:54 CET 2016 from (96.245.114.250)

bassmanlee

Subject: Reluctantly, politics

Jeff A., well-considered and well-said. While I have been avoiding the political brew-ha-ha (I have enough to raise my blood pressure, thank you) and have not heard much of Bernie's rap, I would probably agree with it, having leaned to the 'socialist' side my whole life.

The problem with Socialism is that there are too may greedy bastards to make it work. The problem with Capitalism is that there are not enough altruistic bastards to make IT work. (Quoting Mr. Dylan, "I said that.")

Bernie's mistake, like Obama embracing "Obamacare", is that he has let the media label his position. He is not a Socialist. He is a Democratic Socialist. Of course, this subtlety is lost on the media, let alone the American electorate, who can't tell totalitarianism from enlightened self-interest. He hasn't a snowball's chance in the general, only feeding the frothing fanboys lining up behind his Donaldship. Talk about rule by fiat, he's your boy. "But at least he's not a Communist!" No, just a narcissist who has perfected the art of spending other people's money and then putting his name on it.

Bernie'd make a nice, VP, tho...

Entered at Fri Feb 26 09:41:21 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Fri Feb 26 05:06:27 CET 2016 from (76.66.114.242)

Bill M

What I've been listening to today is Harrison Kennedy's Juno-nominated "This Is From Here" album. Harrison's a 70-year-old Hamiltonian with a 50-year career behind him. Four LPs as a member of the Chairmen of the Board in the early '70, plus another of his own for the same Holland-Dozier-Holland's Invictus label. Then a handful of 45s before turning from R&B to blues and releasing eight or ten CDs. This one's really something, though it seems you'll pretty much have to take my word for it. If you follow the link, scroll down to about the fifth album, click on it and then you'll be offered a 20-second sample. Note that Colin Linden's on several tracks, and his drummer is on all tracks (and his bassist on five). Note also that the album was produced by Stan Szelest's protege, Jesse O'Brien, who also plays keyboards on the album. More info (but no more samples, it seems) can be found at harrisonkennedy.ca

Entered at Fri Feb 26 04:44:06 CET 2016 from (67.84.77.11)

Jeff A.

Entered at Fri Feb 26 04:39:12 CET 2016 from (69.50.52.26)

Far East Man

Subject: Rolling Stone

There's a great article in the latest issue of RS by Matt Tiabbi that is a great read. We created Trump, so get ready to deal with him. Lots of very funny insightful stuff from the campaign trail. One thing it makes clear is that The Donald is not a robot like the other GOP candidates, nor is Bernie. I'm not much for being angry anymore, but can anybody really stand another 4 years of gridlock, brought by two sides bought and paid for by corporate America?

Entered at Fri Feb 26 04:29:42 CET 2016 from (67.84.77.11)

Jeff A.

Bernie's accent. There's many Brooklyn accents within the Brooklyn accent. His is one version of the Brooklyn Jewish accent of that time, & a little before & after. It's one of em in our neighborhood from then, but surprisingly, I've heard it more from other neighborhoods.... They're all connected, but, there's a lot of differences. A few miles, can make a difference, a couple decades too. The whole accent thing is fascinating (everywhere you go....).

Entered at Fri Feb 26 03:40:07 CET 2016 from (67.84.77.11)

Jeff A.

Subject: Billl Moyers .

The world needs more journalists like Bill Moyers. Watch his three minute essay

Entered at Fri Feb 26 02:07:59 CET 2016 from (24.224.128.101)

joe j

Bassmanlee, it's a grower.

Entered at Fri Feb 26 01:13:03 CET 2016 from (67.84.77.11)

Jeff A

For my money, and many of my friends' money,Bernie Sanders is the best person running in U.S. primaries since RFK did. Gore was pretty good, why he didn't raise more hell when that election got stolen from him, well, we don't know. I'm thinking there was a lot more to the story than is public knowledge. Back to Bernie. What he really is , is a hard core New Deal Democrat. Bernie is no Socialist, though he likes to present himself as one.

I doubt that any country is not owned by business or special interests. Religious interests can be one. And sometimes business & religious interests overlap or are the same.. If I'm wrong, maybe a few countries aren't owned by special interests. But i doubt it, and I suspect that appearances are always that- it is a matter of presentation, of how the businesses or business people, or special interests, that run the show want to allow any country to perceive what is going on.

The U.S. has been more or less controlled by corporations at least since JFK was killed (Followed by RFK, MLK). Even before JFK, Eisenhower was alluding to it in his speeches... The right wing has been fed by business interests that feed their racist hatred, and ignorant hatred, and evangelical extremism. The mindset that the businessmen like the Kochs feed if the way they control the Republican party.And influence the country. OF course, without buying some elected Democratic politicians, all that work would be wasted....

Now Trump is a huckster. Most of what he says, he doesn't believe. He knows that people will follow that crap though. When it comes down to it, he probably is not really far right at all.. I don't even know for sure he wants to be President. He may just be doing all this to prevent Cruz or Rubio from being the Republican candidate,,, it's really hard to say. Don;t forget, the man is not spending much of his own money, and he can afford to do what ever the hell he wants.

What Bernie is doing, is leading a charge to take the country back from corporate ownership. He is trying to restore the U. S. to the path it was put on by the founding fathers. Bernie wants this country to live up to the promise it started out with. Which was real democracy. It's probably an impossible task, but the United States of America has really been an experiment in trying to achieve what it has started out to do.

Scientists know that experiments really can't be controlled. That is part of the meaning of the word experiment. Safeguards can be put in place. Research can attempt to be within confines. The Founding Fathers put a hell of a lot of work, thought, and effort into giving their successor citizens and politicians, and leaders the best possible outline, laws, and road map to follow. So far this country, the U.S. has done a pretty damn good job of navigating through history. Has everything been right. Hell no. Could we have been a better country sooner? Can the U.S. be a better country now? OF course. There is always room for improvement.

The rise of the military industrial complex and all the connected businesses put a lot at stake for businessmen. The secret powers. And that is where the problem lies. Money has bought the government, and whether they call themselves Democrats, Republicans, Dickheads, or Purple Ants, businessmen and politicians are manipulating the electorate, breaking laws, doing what needs to be done for their own gain.

And with all that,show me a country that has more people clamoring to get in. There must be a reason. For that matter show me a country that has been home and host to more great Canadian musicians. There must be a reason they come here.

Right now, the U.S. is on the edge. I will say that. We have a real chance to move forward with Bernie as President. Whether or not that can happen, well, the Democratic Party really doesn't want it to. How this plays out will be interesting. Can Trump beat Hillary, i doubt it. Can Trump beat Bernie- no way. I do know that whomever gets the Democratic nomination will be worked over hard by The Republicans.

Far as Trump goes- is he a pitiful man, a man worth despising? Sure. Am i embarassed that he is in the running on the Republican end?

Look at this world! Look at the state of the music industry. Look at the state of entertainment- the movies that are made, the bands people support, the celebrities that are worshiped, the success of reality TV shows. Trump being a choice, a popular choice for Republicans is no surprise in this world we live in.

I'm no more offended by that, no more concerned by that, than I am by the state of the whole world. But, yes, the thought of Trump as President is terrifying. I doubt it can happen.If he gets the nod, i expect the Democratic candidate to wipe the floor with him. All that said, i do think that Ted Cruz is a scarier politician and scarier person than Trump.

Entered at Thu Feb 25 20:10:38 CET 2016 from (98.110.36.106)

Ben

Subject: Politics

Todd, I think that Trump is a dangerous character whether he (god forbid) is elected or flames out. He has said so many outrageous, fascistic things over the past 6 months that you would really think that he was a fringe wacko David Duke or Lyndon Larouche extremist, rather than the leading candidate of the Republican party.

I absolutely agree with you that religion should stay out of politics. This is definitely one of the things I like about Bernie, he is very secular. I don't know the last time there's been a secular candidate for President and I think it's a very good thing.

Kevin J, I gotta tell you I'm having second thoughts about Kasich since he defunded Planned Parenthood. He definitely comes across as reasonable in the debates, but I'm starting to think that's just his shtick and that he's really pretty extreme. And being from Joysey, I gotta say I'm no fan of Christie, although I did enjoy that way he tormented Rubio a few weeks ago before the NH primary. I am looking forward to the debate tonight. I have the feeling that Trump and Rubio are gonna both go after Cruz in a big way. It should be interesting.

Entered at Thu Feb 25 20:08:03 CET 2016 from (97.47.0.162)

Todd

JQ. I'm fairly independent. Fiscally conservative, socially progressive. I know some people don't believe it, but that's my assessment of myself.

For what it's worth, I voted for Al Gore, (although I'm not crazy about him either), so I can't be blamed for Bush.

I'm not a gun guy, but I believe that people have the right to defend themselves. I'm pro-immigration, but believe that the rule of law needs to be respected. In other words it need to be done legally.

I'm not impressed with Obama or Bush. I feel our debt was too high at the end of W Bush's, second term, and the 19 trillion that we're at now is extremely irresponsible.

So I don't really have a party that meets my needs. However, as a taxpayer and someone who has voted in every election since I was 18 years old (both National and Local), I feel I have the right to criticize any politician, regardless of party. I'm also a believer in a balanced government, and have frequently split my ticket over the years. What I'm looking for is honesty, competency, and responsibility. I'm generally against the constant demonizing of "the other side" whether it's Democrat or Republican. I think that each party has some good people.

Entered at Thu Feb 25 19:47:53 CET 2016 from (68.171.246.157)

bill M

Entered at Thu Feb 25 19:22:28 CET 2016 from (96.245.114.250)

bassmanlee

Subject: Leon Bridges

joe j, just finished my first spin of the Leon Bridges album you brought up a while back. (Coming Home) The Sam Cooke reference is apt, although I felt at first listen that while the sound and style are tastily retro, there are not a lot of catchy tunes. On tune is basically one chord, with the most unchanging bassline since Everyday People. But definitely worth a listen.

Entered at Thu Feb 25 19:16:49 CET 2016 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

Todd - I don't know if you were a Bush guy but many of my GOP friends hold your same POV. The furthest they can get is to say all politicians are terrible. They've, typically, only now kopped-on to the idea that Iraq was a blunder; although they find what Trump said about Bush lying us into Iraq to be far-fetched. They typically like guns and Scalia and still despise Obama (go figure) and are clueless as to what remedial Socialism is.

Like I said I don't know if that's you, but there are loads of GOPers out there that hold your views now and are sooo very angry and confused and fantastically ignorant -

Entered at Thu Feb 25 18:43:57 CET 2016 from (24.114.53.178)

Kevin J

I think Ben has been completely on the mark with all his political observations of late.....right down to the fact that John Kasich seems the only candidate in he field that is evenly remotely qualified......If push came to shove, I also would have been able to sleep at night if Chris Christie had been running the world as he, at least, struck me as someone who would not have been strong-armed into starting another war by the certifiablely nutty new-cons.......Rubio most definitely will do whatever they want and that is truly frightening.......Since Trump is absolutely unelectable, maybe it is best that he wins this nomination and then gets slaughtered in the general election........

On a lighter note, I did get a smile out of the thought of Mike Nomad, Bill M and I moving into that vacant house next to Norm's place !

Entered at Thu Feb 25 18:13:02 CET 2016 from (32.216.227.7)

Todd

Subject: Don't follow leaders, watch the parking meters

I've been trying to stay out of politics since 2012, but I would say that the only dangerous politicians are the ones who are actually electable (from either party by the way). The ones who win elections are the ones ones who can do the real damage....as evidenced by the past 16 years.

Furthermore, I feel that politicians should stay out of religious matters, and religious leaders should stay out of politics. That would go a long way towards improving things.

Peter V. if you're looking for a leader who has the qualities that you describe: "a steady, prudent, reliable and honest nature", you could very well be describing Dr. Ben Carson (without getting into his policies...those are usually besides the point, and not factored into the decision making process of a large majority of the voting public). But he lacks the charisma and energy that the general electorate is usually wowed by, and has no chance of becoming the nominee.

Entered at Thu Feb 25 17:41:34 CET 2016 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

Subject: from (the great) Robert Reich

It's a short clip and worth your time -

Entered at Thu Feb 25 17:12:23 CET 2016 from (184.66.251.127)

JT

Subject: How plain talk and hateful rhetoric can bite you (you know where)

1. Giving the citizens hope that the country will rise again from its current situation to prominence

2. Fostering that hope with hate

3. Using plain talk to convince that a radical change is coming

4. Repeating half-truths until they become the norm

5. Using fear as a motivator

Sound familiar.

Entered at Thu Feb 25 14:32:57 CET 2016 from (98.110.36.106)

Ben

Subject: Trump

The idea of a Trump presidency is very disturbing. But, honestly, I don't think that Cruz or Rubio are much better alternatives. The Republican Party has become an extremist party fueled by fanatics of Fox News and talk radio.

Trump has a good shot at being the Republican nominee, but I think he will be eviscerated in a general election by whomever the Democratic nominee is. For some reason, the Republicans have been playing patty cake with Trump so far, but in a general election, it will be an entirely different story. Look at what Obama did to Romney and multiply that by 100.

Entered at Thu Feb 25 12:27:06 CET 2016 from (87.144.163.143)

Norbert

Subject: If you’re angry at least twice a day, this is your post. \n

Dr. Walter: “Hey Norb! What’s bothering you this time? Peter, Bill, Al? ……or did your crowd surfing dream about The Last Waltz where they dropped you just before the music stopped returned?

“No Walter, let’s talk about the world, I saw an older musician walking with two guitar cases yesterday, one in each hand …… golden earring….wonderful...fresh hope!”

“The world is a mesh at the moment, Norb …… Clinton & Sanders, refugees, affirmative actions ……. they’re messing with the pope now ….. and an attack could come any moment, from any direction. ….the tension never lets up ……..don’t you feel that too?”

“Dr. Walter ……..”

“Hey, get off my lane …and fuck you very much little Mr. N! You know what they did to the Kennedys …... the Euro is melting faster ..... fucking bankers ……my wife …. there’s no willpower anymore … a cigarette please….. "

“On the balcony please”

….. before I knew it Dr. Walter jumps down over the balcony. ....his last fall…

I then knew it was all about hope …. he fell before he jumped……his last, ultimate, session. ....Hope the real answer to all the shit in this world?

Michael Douglas after his car broke down in the LA traffic jam?: hope ….Cap driver De Niro, ditto.

……waking, sweating, shouting: “Fuck you GB!" …. then in the morning a beautiful GB post ….“Know we're always just one fucking post away”……it saved me, it gave me hope. There we are little man.

Entered at Thu Feb 25 11:19:45 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

God save us from charismatic leaders. I thought that yesterday speaking to my pensions advisor. That’s not a job that calls for charisma, but a steady, prudent, reliable and honest nature. These are abilities that are good for running a country. Then (reading “Cowboys and Indies”) I thought, “charismatic accountants” had a major role in 70s and 80s record labels

The sign on the Statue reads:

Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.

That defines many decades of US immigration, with vast new lands to fill and make productive. In contrast our policy in the UK appears to be, “Give me your well-educated, highly-skilled young people who can contribute to our economy. The rest can fuck off.” This has worked well for us, with lots of Polish plumbers, electricians, dentists, nurses, who are very welcome here.

I’m not sure which is the better policy. I do know when my son was applying for his green card, having attended a US university and having a skilled job and paying US taxes on it, he found it galling that the skilled had great difficulty and expense immigrating, whereas as every cab driver who could barely speak English, had a card. The thing about the poor huddled masses is they come cheap in the labour market. If Mr Trump shuts the borders with Mexico and starts sending illegal immigrants back, the USA will have a lot of unpicked fruit, unwashed dishes, un-mown lawns and un-cleaned houses.

The “Anti-EU” brigade here foam at the mouth about importing terrorists, but we still have border controls, and the main danger here is “home-grown” and certainly not of EU origin. As a friend said yesterday, if we’re worried about Moslem immigration, we’d be better off staying in the EU, and leaving the Commonwealth! (He didn't mean the "Old Commonwealth" as we euphemistically call it, meaning Canada, Australia and New Zealand).

Entered at Thu Feb 25 05:12:04 CET 2016 from (71.234.142.242)

haso

Subject: trump, etc.

Norm (and others): yes those comments are "of a child". So, will there be space in Canada for southern immigrants? We threatened when W got a 2nd shot at destroying our standing on planet Earth, the same might be in order should we end up w/ any of the 3 leading contenders on that side as our chief executive.

And then he couldn't resist insulting the Pontiff. Are you kidding me? By the way, I say that as a pretty basic WASP. Well, he still has a few Hindus and Buddhists to go, then he'll have covered most of the human race. I find it puzzling that exit polls show him doing well w/ evangelicals; we are talking about a man married to an immigrant w/ how many successful/failed casinos to his name. Last I checked those were "dens" of gambling; anybody want to hazard a guess on how many folks there employed (especially in the back/washing dishes and the like) are "undocumented aliens". Or those building his resorts/hotels.

Kevin J: I, too thought Hoskyn's original biography pretty definitive and balanced. I guess we'll see. I have his tome on the doings of Laurel Canyon, Hotel CA, etc. on my stack, but yet to touch it. Plowing through Guralnick's biog of Sam Phillips at the moment.

Entered at Thu Feb 25 03:50:02 CET 2016 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

The thing is, and it's hard to say, is that Trump is the best guy when compared to Cruz and Rubio; those 2 are virtually identical on issues, one smiles more, but both are repellent. I guess all 3 are, but Trump is the best of the worst -

Entered at Thu Feb 25 02:09:59 CET 2016 from (208.181.205.134)

Rockin Chair

Subject: For Donald Trump - (A little wisdom)

I just had to share this, it brought me a g-fawww! Susan is a great fan of Dr. Phil. I never watch those reality shows but once in a while I walk past and hear a worth while line.

This just happened. A school teacher, 20 year old is banging a student. He records it on his phone, goes viral all hell brakes loose. They are sueing each other, lawyers and all. Just stupid. I guess old Doc Phil gets them sorted out and convinces them how ridiculous they are all acting.

As I walk by he comes out with this line.......for Donald Trump from me, "NEVER PASS UP A GOOD CHANCE TO SHUT YOUR MOUTH"..........y'all gotta love it :-)

Entered at Thu Feb 25 00:24:07 CET 2016 from (208.181.205.134)

Rockin Chair

Subject: The Outcome

My emotions and reaction, (and mine alone), through a life time of our political leaders, and we have all had our share of shameful, and some times hair raising experiences.

I just really feel for the many upstanding and wonderful people in the USA. I feel they are being treated with mockery. I am personally in the middle of business deals with friends in Alaska. They are having a hard time dealing with their up coming elections.

The last time there was a US election that was a little (off the wall) was Ross Preaultte, don't know if I spelt that right. That was nothing compared to this.

Entered at Wed Feb 24 22:26:36 CET 2016 from (71.43.124.98)

Dan

Though Trump does not drink, he harkens to Lonesome Rhodes in the movie "A Face in the Crowd"(Andy Griffith, Kazan 1957) whose political and tv career was destroyed by being caught with the microphone still going: Millions of viewers watch (in what initially is silence) their hero Rhodes smiling and seeming to chat amiably with the rest of the cast. In truth, he is mocking Fuller, then going off on a vitriolic rant about the stupidity of his TV audience. In the broadcast booth, Jeffries reactivates his microphone, sending his words and laughter over the air live. A sequence of television viewers is shown to react to Rhodes' description of them all as "idiots, morons, and guinea pigs".

Entered at Wed Feb 24 20:27:30 CET 2016 from (174.1.58.122)

Lisa

Ian, what an incredible find! I haven't had time to read it yet, but it's a real kick just looking it over, and I love all the old ads.

Rod and Nux, I really enjoyed both your versions of Unfaithful Servant - very heartfelt, each in its own way, just like the song. Thanks!

Entered at Wed Feb 24 20:10:26 CET 2016 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

Subject: 2016 Presidential Campaign Song

"We live in a political world
Love don't have any place
We're living in times
When men commit crimes
And crime don't have a face."

--Bob Dylan "Political World" from "OH MERCY" (1989)

Twenty seven years later and the times they haven't changed.

Entered at Wed Feb 24 19:04:50 CET 2016 from (208.181.205.134)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Trump Hospitality

Did you fellows see his comment on the news yesterday in Las Vegas? In dealing with a heckler, "I just wanted to punch him in the face".

These are the comments of a child are they not? That is the best he can do to deal with any opposition to his thinking? How would he ever deal with leaders of other countries that disagree with him? Pretty scarey.

Entered at Wed Feb 24 18:01:28 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Wed Feb 24 17:57:30 CET 2016 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

Getting tougher to be a proud American these days - being "great" again isn't likely in our future -

Entered at Wed Feb 24 16:14:29 CET 2016 from (184.66.251.127)

JT

Subject: North American 'Small Town Talk"

'Small Town Talk' shows a release date of March 8, 2016 at the Canadian and American on-line purchase sites of Amazon.

It seems that it has been released in the UK (from what I read here.

Has anyone successfully received a hard copy (not Kindle) from a US or Canada on-line outlet or purchased it in a US or Canada book store (a few still exist)?

Entered at Wed Feb 24 15:23:32 CET 2016 from (131.137.34.219)

sadavid

Subject: Hoskyns's _Talk_ summarized

A longish, positive review from Chris Charlesworth, onetime _Melody Maker_ writer and Omnibus Press (rock books) editor.

Entered at Wed Feb 24 04:47:59 CET 2016 from (184.66.251.127)

JT

Subject: Mariposa 1972 again

And of course Ian and everyone else who cares, Bob Dylan was famously photographed as a visitor to that 1972 festival, photographed with Gordon Lightfoot. Joni Mitchell and Neil Young were there as well as visitors. Who knew? This is well documented by, among others, Peter Goddard in The Toronto Star.

Entered at Wed Feb 24 04:39:40 CET 2016 from (184.66.251.127)

JT

Subject: Mariposa program Thank you Ian W

What a wonderful document. I recall these documents but never saw this one. Thank you, Ian W. Many memories. I was not there but had been to Centre (now Toronto) Island many times since, including more recent events with Metric and Broken Social Scene about 10 years ago.

Entered at Wed Feb 24 02:00:47 CET 2016 from (64.229.204.23)

Bill M

Entered at Wed Feb 24 01:05:54 CET 2016 from (82.18.230.252)

Ian W

Subject: 1972 Mariposa Folk Festival programme booklet

The linked brochure (80+ pages of it) may be of as much interest to others here as it has been to me.

http://archives.library.yorku.ca/files/original/httppilibraryyorkucadspacebitstreamhandle103153632program1972_280d090e4b.pdfsequence=1

Entered at Tue Feb 23 23:29:07 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

In its defence, it does mention Simone Felice & Simi Stone. i.e, NOW. Judgements will follow …

Entered at Tue Feb 23 21:10:02 CET 2016 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

Having read only the lengthy "Look Inside" excepts from Hoskyn's book at Amazon, my reaction is "I ain't buying his shit."

Entered at Tue Feb 23 21:05:40 CET 2016 from (98.110.36.106)

Ben

Subject: Hoskyns

Kevin, I didn't realize that the Hoskyn's book was out. For some reason I though it was being released next month. Anyways, I will withhold judgement until I read it.

Entered at Tue Feb 23 19:51:30 CET 2016 from (24.114.53.178)

Kevin J

Not sure where he went off the rails but his having his liner notes for a Band anthology rejected seems to have turned into a hatred for Robbie Robertson that mars just about everything he writes. Out of the blue in Small Town Talk, we get Robbie's 1987 solo album being lambasted even down to the point where he claims Rick and Garth were "roped" into participating in it. Really? Nothing to support this but I guess it felt good for him to write it.

Entered at Tue Feb 23 19:37:18 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Small Town Talk is sitting at my bedside but I've only flicked at the pictures, being lost in "Cowboys and Indies" on record labels at present. Will look up the bit.

Entered at Tue Feb 23 19:19:44 CET 2016 from (24.114.53.178)

Kevin J

"Small Town Talk": I've been surprised to not see any comment here on parts of the book that I found quite disturbing.......in the case of the last meeting between Robbie and Levon - extremely disturbing. I've always been of the belief that death-bed discussions are sacred. Robbie's only comments following that meeting were appropriately graceful and never betrayed whether a spoken conversation had taken place or not.....For those that have been through these types of bedside final meetings - you well know that much meaning and beauty can happen with and even without words........No such grace or dignity from Mr. Hoskins, who manages to find someone to breathlessly report that Levon stated following his meeting with Robbie that they hadn't settled "shit"......as if any of that nonsense would have been on the agenda anyway !

Oh well, I guess Hoskyns can feel comfortable walking around Woodstock secure that he has straightened out any confusion that might'have lingered. Pathetic and very small.

Bernie Sanders: I did like the Chris Rock line about wanting to see Bernie elected President because it would be the first time a Jewish family would get to move into a house vacated by a black family.

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Peter V

Subject: Blowing in the Window 2

Another Hollies YouTube link, this is live with orchestra and "post Graham Nash".

Entered at Tue Feb 23 15:39:58 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Blowing In The Wind

I picked up one of those 5 CD boxes (5 CD s in card sleeve for the price of one) … The Hollies Volume 2, basically post Graham Nash. I put on the "Hollies sing Dylan" CD today. I've had the vinyl LP for years. It was a reminder of the huge Mike Vicker's orchestration on Blowing In The Wind … give it a try, LINKED. Oddly, the CD doesn't credit Graham Nash, but he is present on the YouTube video and singing second vocal. Apparently there are two versions, single B-side then album, and Nash hated singing it "Las Vegas" style. But Vickers orchestration is gloriously over the top.

There are three Basement songs on there … Wheel's On Fire, I Shall Be Released and Mighty Quinn. I'm trying hard to work out whether it's good or bad. Wheel's On Fire owes far more to the Julie Driscoll version, though the guy playing his heart out is drummer Bobby Elliot. I'm definitely dubious about the banjo on Mighty Quinn and When The Ship Comes In. The horns are an interesting addition to the "big" Mighty Quinn … I still think Manfred Mann defined that one. It's years since I played "Hollies play Dylan", and there are some interesting ideas and touches, like churchy organ introducing Just Like A Woman, and the bass and vibraphone (presumably Mike Vickers guesting uncredited) on All I Really Want To Do. There is something pleasing about their characteristic vocal blend. Overall, I think Graham Nash was over-harsh on knocking it.

Around 1970 I stopped for petrol at first light (after driving all through the night) and found myself standing next to Allan Clarke, filling a car, who was as pleasant as you can expect when someone praises you at a petrol pump at 6 a.m. I do remember the painted boots with all the paint chipping off. I was also amazed they were driving themselves.

Entered at Tue Feb 23 04:54:10 CET 2016 from (76.66.114.164)

Bill M

Subject: Robbie et al talking about the Zanzibar Tavern on Yonge Street

If you go to the link (which is the result of a search of Google Images) you'll see, close to the top, a thumbnail image of Robbie that will lead you to an outtake from the "Yonge Street Rock & Roll Stories" documentary, in which he talks about a couple of Yonge St clubs. (There are also links to outtakes of Bobby Dean Blackburn and CJ Feeny talking about one particular club, the Zanzibar.)

I got to them in a roundabout way. I was at CJ's funeral yesterday. There were a few photos of some of his old bands, notably the proto-Steppenwolf of 1964 - Jerry Edmonton, Mars Bonfire, Jack London, CJ Feeny and Bert something (who was replaced by Bruce Palmer by the time they started to record as Jack London and the Sparrows). So I came home and checked Google Images to see what might be online.

Entered at Tue Feb 23 04:17:47 CET 2016 from (76.66.114.164)

Bill M

Subject: note the big pink bowties

The link shows the "Basement Tapes" Grammy winners Peter Moore, Steve Berkowitz and Jan Haust. I bet Robbie woulda lent Steve a pinker scarf if he'd been asked.

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Joan

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David P

Here in the U.S. Tivoli Audio, based in Boston, makes an excellent small table top radio with a retro design, encased in a wood cabinet.

Entered at Mon Feb 22 15:55:07 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

The Tivoli is a community theatre / cinema. It seats 500, but gets way better audiences than the larger theatres in Poole or Bournemouth. For example, Sam Lee & Friends got about 30 in Poole, but Judy Collins, Steve Cropper, Steeleye Span, Chris Farlowe, Joe Brown all filled the Tivoli to capacity with ease. I think they have a loyal audience who trust it will be good whoever it is. e-mail me if you go, Roger. Sound is much better downstairs than up.

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Dunc

Subject: Thanks Rod and Nux

Enjoyed both versions. Many thanks, Guys.

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Roger Woods

Subject: Tivoli Wimborne

Tivoli Wimborne sounds like a character out of a soft porn novel (so I'm led to believe). I was last there in 1967 to watch Lonely Are The Brave. Might see you there Peter, thanks for the notice.

Entered at Mon Feb 22 12:42:34 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Mon Feb 22 08:57:04 CET 2016 from (219.89.17.109)

Rod

Yes Peter I remember the talk of a virtual band. May actually be possible now with modern technology.

Entered at Mon Feb 22 07:59:03 CET 2016 from (41.162.7.114)

Nux Schwartz

Subject: Rod-Unfaithful Servant

Hey Rod,brilliant version! I did it to but my piano playing sucks and the chords are dodgy.Nice guitar solo though,have a listen!

Entered at Sun Feb 21 17:08:55 CET 2016 from (184.66.251.127)

JT

Subject: Old Adam: Fay Hield

I second the motion: Fay Hield: Old Adam: Excellent!

Entered at Sun Feb 21 17:06:09 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: More …

Link to the official video for "Green Gravel" by Fay Hield. You get the whole song, plus the feel of the percussion.

Entered at Sun Feb 21 17:01:40 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Fat Hield Album Sampler

There's a ten minute "Album Sampler" on YouTube with short extracts from the songs.

Entered at Sun Feb 21 16:59:47 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: On music … Fay Hield …

I got Fay Hield's new album "Old Adam" on Friday. If you like English folk music (mostly it's "English" rather than more widely "British") you will love this album. I've only heard it three times through and I'm already transfixed. There's a strong Bellowhead connection with Sam Sweeney as part of her band, The Hurricane Party, and with Jon Boden guesting on guitar and fiddle. Great percussion work, marvellous traditional songs. You can't go wrong!

Entered at Sun Feb 21 16:54:47 CET 2016 from (184.66.251.127)

JT

Subject: Opinion and sensitivity

I am wary of politicians and have difficulty with politics because I am so wary of public image and what it can and can't tell you about a person. All of us have good ideas and approaches to problems. Does that make us potential worthy leaders on the world stage? Clearly not! I listen with interest despite my wariness to those who espouse and prognosticate about how they are going to change the outcome with their potential service. Sometimes the ideas fall into a positive area that conforms to my view; sometimes they don't. That's true if someone is in a debate or being interviewed or talking to me personally. However, there are certain lines which I cannot abide and human vulgarity and hate towards others and attacks with words used like 'liar and fool and stupid' to advance one's cause tell me more about a person than any ideas. I admire those who don't join the smears and respond in kind because such responses are unworthy of an caring person. Maybe, such attacks advance one's possibilities. There were many dictators in the 30s who lied and espoused hate and condemned others who had a modicum of success and got elected and accomplished hell on earth. To you who vote, is it worth the risk? Be careful what you ask for.. you just might get it!

Entered at Sun Feb 21 16:46:47 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Well, Blair barefaced lied to the British parliament and to his cabinet colleagues over weapons of mass destruction. Since leaving office he has amassed a fortune while posing as "Middle East peace Envoy." The world as we know it in 2016 is a testament to his "success." I dislike Cherie Blair even more than Tony. She's made a fortune out of her human rights legal practice, defending the indefensible.

When I saw Jude Law in "Henry V" in 2013 (review linked), he did the famous speech on contemplating whether to go to war:

Therefore take heed how you impawn our person,

How you awake our sleeping sword of war:

We charge you, in the name of God, take heed;

For never two such kingdoms did contend

Without much fall of blood; whose guiltless drops

Are every one a woe, a sore complaint

‘Gainst him whose wrong gives edge unto the swords

He paused slightly and got mid-speech applause! We were all thinking "Blair and Bush." The Iraq invasion fed so much of what is going on now. Yes, like so many others I was fooled at the time. It has to be one of the greatest Fuck-ups of the last fifty years or more.

BTW, on radio yesterday they mentioned Trump's call to boycott Apple, and that he'd tweeted it from … yes, his iPhone.

Entered at Sun Feb 21 16:18:30 CET 2016 from (65.93.117.232)

Mike Nomad

PV, as someone with an occasional and general interest in politicians and politics, where I happen to live and elsewhere, I have to admit I'm somewhat curious about the "why" in your obviously strong distaste for Mr. Blair and spouse. I'm sure you touched on this matter before, on this very site no doubt, and possibly during the Iraq episode. But I'd be very interested if you could briefly recount the reasons for your bile toward him/them. My interest is based only on curiosity. Blair, as you know, had a certain celebrity status and popular appeal in North America.

Entered at Sun Feb 21 14:07:12 CET 2016 from (184.66.251.127)

JT

Subject: Musicians for the Victoria tribute to The Band: Herman's Jazz Club

Members of tribute band for The Band for the Victoria March 18, 2016 show are: Band members are : Aidan Miller - Piano, Chris Van Sickle - Organ, Sean Thompson - Drums, Gord Light - Bass, Dylan Stone - Guitar

Entered at Sun Feb 21 14:02:40 CET 2016 from (184.66.251.127)

JT

Subject: A Tribute to The Band

Mar 18, 2016:

Herman's Jazz Club, Victoria BC

Across the Great Divide - A Tribute to The Band

8:00pm Doors At 6:00pm

$15/$20 This is a small venue with tables, a bar and dinner. Intimate with great sound.

Entered at Sun Feb 21 13:44:02 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

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Norbert

Entered at Sun Feb 21 08:51:14 CET 2016 from (97.127.9.191)

Rhythm Jimmy

Entered at Sun Feb 21 08:30:32 CET 2016 from (219.89.17.109)

Rod

Subject: The Unfaithful Servant

my version .....

Entered at Sat Feb 20 23:54:58 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Listening to all this EU news today (driving to and from London), we applied a simple test. Who espouses what opinion. Imagine. You arrive at a friend's house (I wouldn't let ANY politician in my house). Your friend says "Come and meet (X) who is having tea here …'. If it was Tony or Cherie Blair, I'd spit in their faces. But politeness means I would decline to sit down with Nigel Farage, Michael Gove, or George Galloway from the "LEAVE" campaign. However, much as I dislike politicians, I could sit and chat to Messrs Cameron, Clegg, or Labour's Hilary Benn. In other words, judge the issue by those who support it. The "LEAVE" lot are not people I'd sit and have tea with. A good way to decide.

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Norbert

Subject: GDR Beat

After the riots by a concert of the Rolling Stones in the West Berlin Waldbühne in September 1965 the GDR leadership changed their attitude towards the beat movement, which had been tolerated till then, fundamentally.

Walter Ulbricht, complained that same year: "I think, comrades, with the monotony of the Yeah Yeah Yeah or how that shit is called, we should definitely break. Is it is really so, that we need to copy every shit coming from the West? ".

In Leipzig, the local party and culture officials went dramatically forward against the beat movement, it came to the Leipzig beat demo.

Entered at Sat Feb 20 14:56:30 CET 2016 from (98.110.36.106)

Ben

Subject: Trump

Measured and polite are words I find very hard to associate with Trump. I find pathological liar to be a much better fit.

Trump is a fraud. He inherited a vast fortune and real estate empire from his father and the genius deal maker has run it into the ground multiple times.

It's mind boggling to me that anyone would support him for President. If people feel the need to support an insulting, mean spirited political neophyte, than Don Rickles would have been a much better option.

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Simon

Entered at Fri Feb 19 23:34:11 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

As I said, in British English, a trump is a fart. Imagine it, Trump in the USA, with the profoundly anti-American Corbyn in 10 Downing Street. Awful.

Entered at Fri Feb 19 21:55:13 CET 2016 from (208.181.205.134)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Trumped

Joan & Ben, thank you both for your comments. This may sound odd but I can't think of any other way to express it. I feel embarrassed for my friends in the states watching that guy. Many people must feel, look at the way this guy is portraying our country, but surely people in other countries got to know, that's not the way of very many American people.

Gawd what would happen if he did get to be President. Every time some one pisses him off he's going to stand up and say "Yer Fired!"

Entered at Fri Feb 19 20:50:25 CET 2016 from (98.110.36.106)

Ben

Subject: American Politics

I think Trump is horrible. But so are Cruz and Rubio. The only republican that I can stomach is Kasich.

I'm not a big fan of Hillary either. So, I am definitely supporting Bernie.

Entered at Fri Feb 19 20:40:44 CET 2016 from (100.2.21.114)

Joan

Entered at Fri Feb 19 18:30:09 CET 2016 from (208.181.205.134)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Politics?? Not Quite

It's quiet....so ....a question that has been peeking my curiosity for quite a while.

Donald Trump, the front runner.....my question is for Americans, of which I have a lot of friends over that border. I watched Donald Trump make this comment on TV the other day and I still can't get my mind wrapped around it.

He said, "I could go out in the street and kill some body and I still wouldn't loose any votes!" Would you want some one who speaks that way to be your President?

Entered at Fri Feb 19 14:46:35 CET 2016 from (99.75.5.66)

HalTiger

Subject: The Band

I remember buying The Band by The Band because I thought the album cover was cool. It is one of two record albums I literally wore out ( you could hold it up to the light and see light through the surface ). When I lived in Atlanta and we were starting the '96 Olympics I loaded the 10 disc changer in the car with The Band because I believed the hype that we would be gridlocked 24/7. It's a shame that no one today comes close to their sound - they are timeless...

Entered at Fri Feb 19 13:25:24 CET 2016 from (83.249.161.239)

NorthWestCoaster

Subject: The link

INFO TO WEBMASTER and WARNING TO GBERS: The link contains nudity.

I should have added this link to a video by the band I mentioned in previous post. It is about missing people who might have been drowned... a warning, once again.

Norbert, if the sea level will rise as they say we all will need Dutchmen to solve the poblem :-)

Entered at Fri Feb 19 13:09:25 CET 2016 from (87.144.163.143)

Norbert

Subject: Garth

It's just the cold Garth, thanks (link).

“My favorite part was when he zoomed in on the bug.”

“Yeah, the stupid bastard decided to grow old. I'm putting together a petition to prevent him from deciding to die. Sign it.”

“Life is very cruel like that when you get old. Sadly, Time is a one-way street”

“The polar opposite to everything about today's music industry. Look & learn kids, look & learn “

Illka, I love Helsinki, but you’d better stay in France (too wet there).

Entered at Fri Feb 19 12:50:00 CET 2016 from (83.249.161.239)

NorthWestCoaster

Subject: Memories of an old teacher / Awards

This happened in the eighties. I still remember it because vodka keeps my brains clean. (No, you don't need to fill up your glasses. This will not take too long!)

We had a funny competition in the end of the class: the shortest name of a rock band. My entry was - of course - "Band". "No, no," said the clever girl in the first row, "You must say the name of a rock band, "Band" is not a name of a rock band!" WELL, WELL, WELL!!! Now I had the opportunity to tell about Woodstock festival, protest movement, Civil war, Republicans and Democrats - now when my students were totally VULNERABLE against the knowledge ;-)

I lost. The winners said "U2" as the shortest name. Ha-ha-ha... Now I could tell them what "U2" really was, a spy aircraft during the cold war... and what the cold war means!

In the end of the classes a girl asked: "What did you really wanted to be as young?" I answered: "A race driver or a rock megastar." She said: "But you ended to be JUST a teacher!" I said: "... errr... I can enjoy the company of young people who CAN be rock megastars." There were a few lazy guys leaning against the wall. I noticed a lightning in their eyes. I didn't know they played music... not then!

A few days ago these guys became a part of SWEDISH MUSIC HALL OF FAME. I don't know if they remember this episode but they played one of their albums in Woodstock anyway.

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Bill M

I see that Terry Danko has his own 'channel' at YouTube - see link. Maybe some gems will turn up there. I stumbled upon it because JQ mentioned Dylan's "St Augustine", which reminded me of Bearfoot's "St Augustine", which I went looking for at YouTube. Not there, but there was Rick and Terry etc doing "Java Blues" on TV - and a mention of Terry's channel. I saw him perform - impressively - this past summer at a TLW tribute.

Entered at Fri Feb 19 05:11:35 CET 2016 from (173.68.71.190)

Jed

New EC album,this time produced by Glyn Johns,is due May 20.Check out EC's website-the songs look interesting including I Dream I Saw St. Augustine.

Entered at Thu Feb 18 21:05:14 CET 2016 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

Boz Scaggs was a member of the Steve Miller Band when they released their debut Capitol LP in 1968, "Children of the Future" (Capitol SKAO 2920), which was produced by Glyn Johns at Olympic Studios in London. I remember buying the LP when it was released and still listen to it all these years later, as it is still in good shape. It was released around the same time as "Music From Big Pink" (Capitol SKAO 2955), which I also bought upon its release.

Entered at Thu Feb 18 18:59:36 CET 2016 from (208.181.205.134)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Boz - Small Town Talk & Other Master Pieces

Don't know whether you noticed David, there is another video there of Boz by himself with a Gibson acoustic playing Small Town Talk.

His work with Lucinda on Whispering Pines, and the music laid down is worth the price of the album. It is exceptional. I don't think he has ever sung a bad note.

Many years ago in Sechelt where I grew up, one Saturday afternoon we were having a beer in the local Royal Canadian Legion, (a place I played music for many years). Suddenly a few guys were running out the door. I said where in hell are you guys going. Some one says, "Boz Scaggs is out at Wakefield". The "Wakefield Inn" was a little old ancient hotel built out of logs, (now long gone). We ripped off out there and there he is sitting at the piano with a guitar just messing around playing a few tunes. He says any one want to jam? My guitar was a little too far to go after. I sat and chatted with him for a while. I said are you going some where up here. He smiles and says, "I'm on a mission."

I was in Vancouver for a show and I decided to rent a car and get on one of those ferries and see where it took me. So I stopped here for lunch. It was funny, Gary the guy who owned the inn didn't even know who he was. I think this was about 1972.

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David P

Subject: William R. Scaggs

Link to Boz's version of "Small Town Talk."

Entered at Thu Feb 18 17:17:22 CET 2016 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

I like his 2013 Memphis a lot too; it's along the same line as the new one - and has nice takes on Corrina Corrina and Rainy Night in GA.

Entered at Thu Feb 18 11:50:55 CET 2016 from (70.193.132.69)

David P

Boz Scaggs' excellent album "A Fool To Care" was released last year. It was produced by Steve Jordan, who also played drums, assisted by Willie Weeks on bass and Ray Parker, Jr. on guitar, along with some talented Nashville sidemen, including Paul Franklin on pedal steel. Bonnie Raitt makes a guest appearance on slide guitar. In addition to his fine duet with Lucinda Williams on "Whispering Pines," Boz also covers "Small Town Talk" in his smooth, laid back style. Along with some new original material, there are also covers of Curtis Mayfield's "I'm So Proud," Al Green's "Full Of Fire," and Huey Smith's classic "High Blood Pressure." I picked up the LP version when it was first released, which was pressed on blue vinyl. I highly recommend this album.

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Solomon

Subject: "New York Is My Home" by Dion and Paul Simon

I think this is the best song on his latest album.

Entered at Thu Feb 18 04:06:06 CET 2016 from (208.181.205.134)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Hey Joe!- Where you goin' with that vinyl in your hand

I was in London Drugs on Monday after my surgery. I saw a new Bozz Scaggs vinyl. Forget the name, but it had Richard's Whispering Pine on it. Is that the one?

I was a little dopey so I wasn't up to getting anything right then............but.......Bozz Scaggs, I got to get it.

Entered at Thu Feb 18 02:27:10 CET 2016 from (24.224.128.101)

joe j

Album that might have been overlooked in 2015 reviews: 'Coming Home' by Leon Bridges.

Youngest son gave it to me at Xmas. Old school R & B. Think Sam Cooke. Keeper.

Anyone listen to new Boz Scaggs?

Entered at Wed Feb 17 20:29:03 CET 2016 from (99.178.252.119)

Ben Pike

Subject: Thanks for sharing!!!

A Sign of two times:/n The Band's "Thinking Out Loud" is a million times better than the Grammy Winning wimpy sinker! That's right Peter, time to take Cahoots out again.......

Entered at Wed Feb 17 18:11:53 CET 2016 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

Subject: Evolution of a Riff

Following the recent passing of both Paul Kantner and Signe Anderson I've been listening to the Jefferson Airplane Takes Off LP. One of Ms. Anderson's finest efforts is displayed on "Chauffeur's Blues" (linked), a cover of Memphis Minnie's "Me and My Chauffeur's Blues" recorded in 1941. Chuck Berry later recorded his own takeoff on the song "I Wanna Be Your Driver." This motiff was later adapted by Bob Dylan for "Obviously 5 Believers," which featured Robbie Robertson's fiery leads on this riff.

Entered at Wed Feb 17 17:37:41 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: The Seventh Son

While exploring YouTube, I came across this 1969 TV mimed "The Seventh Son." For our UK readers, this might be one of the better preserved performances of the "Pan's People" dance troupe. For other countries, this is why son, dad and grandad all watched Top of The Pops and why Pan's People are a major part of British rock history.

However, why Georgie Fame is dressed as a Moroccan street vendor is another question.

Entered at Wed Feb 17 17:29:21 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Tom Hark Goes Blue Beat

It's on YouTube (linked) from the Rhythm & Blue Beat EP.

Entered at Wed Feb 17 17:10:42 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

My current power play is the Georgie Fame box set, 1963-1966. The bonus tracks … singles, B-sides and EP tracks are great, but it reminds me in the remastered version, that the second LP, Fame At Last, was SO good … the versions of Point of No Return, Pink Champagne, The Monkey Time, Pride and Joy, I Love The Life I Live and All About My Girl are superb. The EP bonus stuff provides "Tom Hark Goes Blue Beat" - worth trying on iTunes.

Entered at Wed Feb 17 17:06:00 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

… is one of the tracks on "My Father's Place" by Rick Danko. It's a great performance, though the band manifestly can't do a reggae rhythm. But it works as a straight rock song anyway.

Entered at Wed Feb 17 17:01:19 CET 2016 from (208.181.205.134)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Abuses & Rants

Y'all see the way I get abused here?........Y'see that!.....shameful.

Jesus settle down Jerry. It was just an innocent comment by some one eyed old geezer. :-)

Entered at Wed Feb 17 16:44:31 CET 2016 from (184.66.251.127)

JT

Subject: Awards: A rant

1. Awards are generally a good thing. They shine a light on excellence.

2. Awards should take into consideration ALL of that is available in a given time period

3. Awards should carefully define categories

4. Awards should NOT be given because of financial interests, sales, biases etc.

5. Awards should be chosen by appropriate raters and judges for the category being assessed.

IMO small seemingly insignificant albums are not considered for their merit even though they are in the public domain. Sales and hype in media bring them to attention. There are many albums easily accessible to the judges. If I can get them, so can the judges. The work is great but the responsibility to do this IMO is equally great. I am disappointed that this approach is not the case so far. For this reason, I think that to some degree the comments regarding relevance of awards have some merit.

I don't want to necessarily see such awards abandoned...only improved by following ALL the principles listed above

Entered at Wed Feb 17 16:12:43 CET 2016 from (131.137.34.219)

sadavid

I'm glad RC pilots a boat and not, say, a 747.

Entered at Wed Feb 17 14:13:29 CET 2016 from (208.181.205.134)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Grammy's ......and

I can see clearly now the rain is gone........

Bill you are of course right the amount of work some people, (many people) in the entertainment industry do. I just think that it is not always the case as to who is chosen as winners and how the decisions are made. I guess I just got fed up with award shows some where back there.

Entered at Wed Feb 17 13:49:47 CET 2016 from (184.66.251.127)

JT

Subject: Jason Isbell wins

I failed to mention the success of Jason Isbell at the Grammy Awards. This is an acknowledgement of relevance to us here.

Entered at Wed Feb 17 12:43:10 CET 2016 from (83.249.161.239)

NorthWestCoaster

Subject: Old thread: Sad songs

"A guy grows up in this street. A lot of criminality, depression, violence, alcoholism. As a grown up man - powerful and rich - the big guy comes back and pays his debts with violence and money. He should be satisfied but he realize that his youth has gone and never will return." Sad - huh?

This fifty years old video is from the same street in Helsinki Finland where my Grandma lived. I used to hang around there as a kid when we visited her. - Nowadays this neighborhood is full of hipsters and the prizes are the highest in town.

Entered at Wed Feb 17 10:39:56 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

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Bill M

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Waylon - "The Weight"

Damn! I can see out of my right eye. Catarachs gone, new lens.......but.....I can't tell a red head from a brunette???:-)

I just found this youtube vid I hadn't seen before. Made me cry. All the good ones are gone. On this same concert Waylon and the Waymore band also do, Doby Grey's "Driftaway" amazing.

Anyway, listen this is one of the best jogs I've ever heard of "The Weight". Horn section and all.

By the way Jerry, the "Grammys" are all just bull shit.

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David P

While Bloomfield's blues riffs propelled the song, the group wavered a bit keeping the beat and bassist Jerome Arnold forgot a chord change.

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Peter V

I was listening to the boot this morning. The "Live Newport 65" doesn't have the distortion of an early one I had, and Mike Bloomfield's fluid guitar on Maggie's Farm is very good indeed. All you hear at the end is a few desultory claps, which suggests it was soundboard and not picking up the audience, positive or negative. But in common with the 66 tour tapes, they lose piano and organ way too much in the mix.

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JT

Subject: Industrial disease

I'll say it again. Where are the multitude of excellent albums released by indie artists and other lesser known performers? I reviewed all the nominees and there were few. It is clear to me that the Grammy awards have lost touch with reality and pander to the high earner productions while missing many works that are worthy of this kind of attention. Exceptions were Father John Misty, Tame Impala, Death Cab For Cutie and Alabama Shakes (who got what they deserved). From a personal viewpoint, what I heard in that show left me cold in almost all cases. Nice to see Buddy Guy acknowledged.

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Ian W

Yes, I'd forgotten about the old "bootleg" recording. I don't have many bootleg LPs but one I do have is PASSED OVER AND ROLLING THUNDER, which has Dylan's Newport performance on Side One of the four sides. Yup, "Baby Blue" first, "Tambourine Man" last.

As it happens, I was at Newport in 1965 but had hitch-hiked there on the Saturday afternoon, too late to get tickets for either of the remaining evening concerts, so only getting to the two daytime concerts the next day - leaving before the Sunday evening concert to hitch-hike back. After the event, I do not recall much talk of booing amongst those who did attend - but that's hardly conclusive, I admit.

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Peter V

Memories do fail- while waiting in a bookshop, I read Carly Simon’s chapter on The Hawks “Baby let Me Follow You Down” session a week after the motorcycle crash. I think she mentions Levon three times (that might be my memory), though he can’t have been present (unless all the other accounts are wrong).

The CD boots have Baby Blue first, Tambourine Man second too. While Joe Boyd might be shaky on running order, as the actual sound engineer running between the opposing camps,. I’d trust him on the booing mixture, plus with the participants on the festival board (Lomax, Bikel, Seeger v Rothchild, Grossman, Yarrow), he was the closest in on the sound argument. The other thing against his account is that if everything was so carefully pre-set, why do they try organ and piano before the start and say “Louder …” However the spat out “It’s All Over Now Baby Blue” with a twist to the lyric intention is directed at “the board” is the most interesting observation. He ends with, “This was the birth of rock.”

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Ian W

I based what I said on the contemporary press reports, which I regarded as more reliable than anyone's memory. For example, David Hart, staff reporter for the WORCESTER DAILY TELEGRAM (27 July 1965) wrote:-

"They wanted more and reluctantly he came back for 'Baby Blue'.... (Hart's briefly discusses the "reluctantly" part and continues ) .... But then quickly returned for a second encore, 'Tambourine Man', perhaps one of his best ...".

He couldn't be clearer. I once wrote an article about Dylan's Newport appearances, using this information. Since then, there has been the "Dylan Goes Electric" book by Elijah Wald, who, I recall, has heard the original tapes held in the Library of Congress. Wald is equally clear - "Baby Blue" first and "Tambourine Man" second. Indeed, he says that, in respect of the latter, Dylan was responding to requests shouted by the audience.

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Peter V

Joe Boyd has Mr Tambourine Man before It's All Over Now Baby Blue, adding that he was "contemptuously spitting the lyrics out in the direction of the old guard." in the latter. I just read the whole section … he keeps referring to the mix of applause and booing. As he reminds everyone Butterfield had played for half an hour while everyone was arriving. He also points out that he had to mic the guitar amps into the PA, and that every volume control had a pink mark, arrived at in rehearsal, and double-checked by Boyd directly before they started. He says "By today's standard the volume wasn't particularly high, but in 1965 it was probably the loudest thing anyone in the audience had ever heard."

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Peter V

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JT

Subject: Grammy winners

Congratulations to Jan Haust, Peter Moore and all the others connected to this Grammy winner. Also to Joni Mitchell for her award.

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jh

After a lot of 'Kanyesque' back and forth and last-minute changes of album title and track list, the new album from Kanye West, now titled "The Life of Pablo", was finally released yesterday on Rick Rubin's Def Jam Records. A big day for our own former house DJ at this web site, who is credited as producer and composer on the track 'Wolves'!

And there are *several* The Band connections here. Malibu is a keyword for one of them. One or two others should surface before the end of the year...

The new KW album is available from the Tidal streaming service.

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bob w.

Best American Roots Performance

Winner

See That My Grave Is Kept Clean

Mavis Staples

Track from: Your Good Fortune

Label: Anti

*****************************

Best Historical Album

Winner

The Basement Tapes Complete: The Bootleg Series Vol. 11

Steve Berkowitz, Jan Haust & Jeff Rosen, compilation producers; Peter J. Moore & Mark Wilder, mastering engineers (Bob Dylan And The Band)

Entered at Mon Feb 15 21:33:36 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

As Joe Boyd was doing sound we can assume he had the closest view of the argument. He puts Lomax, Bikel and Seeger in one camp versus Yarrow, Grossman & Rothchild in the other, and describes Yarrow giving Lomax the finger.

He says some certainly were booing, others shouting for more. "Some loved it, some hated it, most were amazed."

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Peter V

However, on the Newport myth (or not) you do have the accounts of Joe Boyd, Al Kooper. There's another I've read recently too.

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Ben

Subject: Van boot

Peter, is the Van boot a silver pressed CD or a CDR?

I just received an amazon gift card and ordered two Band radio broadcast CD's 'Paladium Circles' and ' And then there were Four' and Rick Danko's 'My Father's Place'. Hopefully these discs will arrive this week.

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JT

Subject: Myth

At least in the movie we know what's going on and the myth is clear. Entertaining though both films discussed here (No Direction, Mirror) are, they are still presented as 'documentary' in that they mean to portray events as they happened. The notion that Bob Dylan was booed at Newport and that an axe was used and all that continue to be perpetuated and the romance of a rejected Dylan who rises like the phoenix is fodder for legend, but legend it is. For me, the myth 'mythes' the mark.

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PSB

Subject: Newport and all that

"The Other Side of the Mirror" was released obviously after "No Direction Home" so they had to be consistent. Back when "No Direction Home" came out, I was contacted by one of the former presidents of the Newport Folk Festival in fact the person who ran it in '65, and we had extended correspondence for a couple of weeks during which time the film was released and show in the US on PBS. At the end, he said, "You ever see 'The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance'?" Print the myth.

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JT

Subject: Its not (all) over 'til its over, baby boo

$$$. or indifference. Who knows. Sad commentary on veracity.

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David P

A DVD of Murray Lerner's film footage of Dylan's performances at Newport 1963-1965, entitled "The Other Side Of The Mirror," was released in 2007. Booing is audible from the 1965 segment. The DVD was released by Sony through involvement by Dylan's management team, so if the booing was dubbed in, it was no doubt done with their approval.

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Peter V

Before you start looking, the Van (31 August 2015) is a boot, albeit a beautifully packaged boot.

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Bill M

RC: Good luck with the eye - and good healing.

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Ian W

Yes, there was definitely an attempt to twist history. Another example is that, on the Newport "THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MIRROR", the acoustic songs that follow the electric set are presented as "Mr Tambourine Man" followed by "It's All Over Now Baby Blue", as if Dylan gave the audience a "kiss-off". In fact, "Baby Blue" was first acoustic song and Dylan ended the set with "Tambourine Man"

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JT

Subject: Truth be told

Peter Stone Brown: Thank you. I hate all the misinformation and its perpetuation. What was, was ,and no dubbing of boos or retelling of untruths is going to change what was no matte what the salespeople would like.

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PSB

Subject: re: Texas

That article/interview on Angus Wynne has been making the rounds at various web sites. Wynne may think he saw Albert Grossman's name on the back of a Dylan album but there's one problem. Albert Grossman's name was never on any Bob Dylan album, and neither was his address or phone number.

The booing at Forest Hills was a million times worse than the booing at Newport. The booing at Newport in the film "No Direction Home" was dubbed in. It is not audible on the "Festival" footage where the clip came from. It is not audible on any of the Newport recordings that circulated for years before "No Direction Home" came out and it is clear that the recordings that circulated were either leaked from the Vanguard Records vaults or from various people who worked for the festival who had copies of the tapes. Also Helm didn't temporarily quit the line-up which suggests he returned to backing up Dylan.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: To a Higher Knowledge

On my way to the hospital to get my right eye lazered tomorrow..........I'll be "seeing" you.....haw,haw,haw!

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Peter V

Best buy was a 2 CD/ DVD set of Van Morrison's Cyprus Avenue concert (31 August 2015) which I played on the way back. The bulk is the afternoon show from FM broadcast - the evening show is much poorer. But the afternoon is wonderful and includes Van's first ever on stage joke:

"The Dalai Lama went up to a hot-dog stall in New York City and said "Make me one with everything.""

It introduces "Enlightenment."

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bassmanlee

Subject: Bruce & Nils

Carmen, thanks. Nils gave me chills! Huge fan of his since the '70s. Cry Tough, I Came to Dance, Crooked Line...and beyond.

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Carmen

Subject: Prove It All Night

Nils kills this guitar solo

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Carmen

Subject: Jungleland

Had to share this with the Boss fans out there. Jake nails the sax solo. The show may have been one of the best I have ever seen from the Boss

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Norbert

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Norbert

Subject: Texas

Peter, yes genever was the best part of the Dylan interview.

“I looked at the back of a Dylan album and it said he was managed by Albert Grossman, so I called information in New York and got the number,” said Wynne. “When I called and made my pitch, someone yelled to the other room, ‘Hey, do you want to go play in Texas?’ and someone yelled back ‘Yeah, sure.’”

With Robertson and Helm already in the fold, Dylan knew where to turn when Kooper refused to make the trek to Texas, citing concerns over the cultural climate in the South. “I mean, look what they just done to JFK down there,” he wrote in his book Backstage Passes & Backstabbing Bastards. “So what was going to happen to Bob Dylan? … I wasn’t sure I wanted to find out.”

Kooper’s departure paved the way for Dylan’s full-on union with the Hawks, who met with him in Toronto for several days of rehearsal. They all met back in Austin on Sept. 23, the day before the show, in time for a press conference during which Dylan famously listed his favorite performers as Rasputin, Charles de Gaulle and the Staple Singers while shrugging off a barrage of questions he clearly found a waste of time…….."

Norm, but first we sail around the world together.

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Wallsend

This may be of interesting to anyone visiting Australia in April.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Randy Meisner - Hearts on Fire

This is good stuff!

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Mike? Right? Yeah sure!

Tarranamatic?...right! Funny you should mention halibut. Just last week my older brother, Howie gave me a couple of nice pieces of halibut. I had some big shrimp. I got some clams and bought a package of those little scallops and made a seafood chowder. Susan and I chowed down on that, man that is the best eatin!

Simon, what you have copied is so true and sad. The Tibetan peo-ple are a wonderful people and what the Chinese have done is shameful. An example of "the melting pot". The same is happening to the indigenous people of our country.

In my work I have visited so many villages on this coast. It is always exciting to be invited into their long houses and see their beautiful art work and culture. Some day it may all be gone.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Makes your head spin!

You see the length of those stories of Al's? Does he talk really fast? I got this feeling he talks really fast.

Gawd damn it! I'm comin' over there pretty soon. I'm gonna find him and get my hands wrapped around his throat and shake the hell outta him and tell him, quit talking so fast :-)..........gawd, gawd, gawd!

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Mike Nomad

So, . . . does anyone know where Kevin J went? The last I heard from him, he said he was going to see some nondescript tugboat captain about some Pacific halibut.

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Simon

"These new measures in the field of culture, religion and education, coupled with the unabated influx of Chinese immigrants to Tibet, which has the effect of overwhelming Tibet's distinct cultural and religious identity and reducing the Tibetans to an insignificant minority in their own country, amount to a policy of cultural genocide. Today, in most of the major towns and cities Tibetans are already marginalised. If this population transfer is allowed to continue, Tibetan civilization will cease to exist in a few decades." - The Dalai Lama

Did someone (link) spray shit mist near Angela Merkel?

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Peter V

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Norb

Bill see us talking, isn’t everything said about The Band a hundred times and more now? Isn’t that the problem?

Last year I visited Big Pink with Peter ….. there wasn’t a stone left unturned. Later we talked to Dylan and there wasn’t a word spoken that wasn’t said before about The Band, it was sad.

At the last Band gathering we all sat round the camp fire and got drunk in silence, everything had been said before, no one knew what to say anymore about a Band. Someone started an Abba song and we all joint in, that saved the gathering somehow I’m ashamed to write here. Otherwise it would have been a sad lot that whole 2015 Band gathering.

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Peter V

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Rockin Chair

Subject: The Rollicking Subject of the Guest Book

Mike! you were absolutely right. Bill! I've decided......when I get to the part for entering an old folks home, I'm picking the one where Norbert will be. We can all sit around in our slippers sipping tea and some schnapps and listening to Norbert tell these stories.

I've just been reading that a remake of "The Magnificent Seven" will be released in September. This makes no sense to me. The plot will be different, (about a mining town) and I can't really appreciate the cast they have chosen. How do they get to call it a remake when it isn't even about the same place or time....that's just.....stupid.

Well no one would have wanted to be with me on Thursday. We travelled over to Rivers Inlet and hooked up the "Bentinck Tide" Interfor's logging camp. A 150 foot barge with a hotel built on it. Has 50 rooms, huge cafeteria, 2 living rooms, dry room, weight room and shop in the hull. We towed it to Cousins Inlet, where old Ocean Falls town is.

The weather forecast kept calling for South East 35 to 45 knots. We were wary, but it never came. However Thursday while running light, (no tow) coming home, (coming by Rivers Inlet, flat calm). We are just getting by Cape Caution into the open Queen Charlotte Sound and it showed up!!!! By the time I got over to Pine Island, it was at least 50.....SON OF A BITCH! I had to slide into Bates Pass and get over into Bull Harbour for shelter. Coming into Bates Pass it gets pretty shallow there and that swell made up and started curling so it was trying to roll me upside down........I'm too old for this shit!

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Norbert

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Norbert

Long ago, when I was still a member of the shrinking middle class, I was looking for myself in Tibet. One day me and the Dalai Lama where climbing the Nanga Parbat (Pakistan). After our seventh failed attempt in base camp 4, in the middle of an intense cold and stormy night, in a tiny green shelter I was crying over my cold frozen feet. That’s where and when the Dalai Lama handed me an worn cassette tape of The Band, after that we continued singing our prayers. Somehow he knew that I needed The Band.

The next day the Dalai Lama made that emotional picture of me pointing The Band cassette towards Tibet on the top of the Nanga Parbat. It’s safe to say that The Band music has never been on a higher level before or after that.

So I wasn’t looking for The Band and I didn’t find The Band but in fact The Band found me. Not much later they became famous and the rest is history. The Lord works in mysterious ways.

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Bill M

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Norbert

Sometimes when I drink too much I think back of those cozy early GB years. The Band was still playing and our bold heads full of long red hair.. We would discuss sex and our Band tattoos with Bill A and Peter I, Ian wasn’t even bourn yet. Our cars big and filthy. Life was clear. We used to send Jan letters to post here, Germans were bad, Mao our friend. Ahh.

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Ian W

Sorry, Bill, but I just can't remember the year. It wasn't an exhibition of Karsh's work as such and I can't even recall what motivated me to attend in the first place, as Brick Lane wasn't on any of my normal "routes" when visiting London then. There were paintings and photographs by different people and, as I recall, all were portraits. I had seen the Karsh photo of Churchill reproduced in different publications and in different sizes over the years but these had nothing of the impact of (what I might call) the real thing.

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Bill M

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Bill M

Subject: Tronto

Ian W: Was the Karsh photo you saw part of a exhibit in early '83? I ask because I was living in London at that time, working at the offices of a Lebanese engineering / planning company. I didn't attend the Karsh show, but one of my colleagues did. The Churchill portrait is likely his best-known. The story behind Winston's surprised / annoyed / amused look was the result of Karsh plucking a cigar out of Churchill's mouth without notice. Snap!

Anyway, what I stopped by to do is point to Ronnie Hawkins 'page' at an oldies music blog. Lots of music and film clips. Nothing that we haven't seen before, but sometimes you notice or realise things you missed the first 10 times through. Looking (once again) at just the clip of "Who Do You Love" at TLW, it hit me for the first time that by pivoting off-script (i.e., from the agreed-upon "Bo Diddley" to WDYL), Ronnie prodded Robbie into some pretty fiery guitar work. Good for him.

Entered at Fri Feb 12 19:37:44 CET 2016 from (87.144.163.143)

Norbert

Don’t be too hard on Death. He isn’t that bad. Death has never forgotten or forsake someone.

He’s a sensitive guy that loves to dance and likes art. He’s your final lover that shares your last bed with you.

Sometimes his love game is somewhat helpless and thereby unintentionally cruel. Special when someone is so beautiful that death can’t command himself and comes too early. But he didn’t want that too and suffers also.

But if you just dance loose with him, every single day will turn into art. (H.Finkers)

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Ian W

I found somewhere called the Old Truman Brewery but it is in Brick Lane, East London.

By the location (rather than the name), I can recall going to a portraiture exhibition there and the most striking was a photo of Winston Churchill taken by Karsh of Ottawa. It was huge, black and white and, from a little way away, looked like an oil painting. I'd seen it in a magazine before but full-size, rather than smaller-than-a-page size, it really was something.

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Ian W

I have not been able to check this but I have been told that there will some kind of "bash" for Barney Hoskyms' book in London on 3 March 2016.

The location I have been told is Trumans' Brewery, near the Barbican, with which I am not familiar.

It will be an evening event.

More than that, I know not - and, as I say, I haven't checked out any of the above.

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Bill M

Joe J: Thanks for the link to the Vancouver Sun story on Jan Haust and Peter Moore's (and two others') Grammy nomination for the Basement Tapes. That nomination was mentioned again in the same paper today, though in passing, in an article about Kevin Howes and his nomination for the same Grammy award (historical reissue project) for the excellent "Native North America, Vol 1". Two great projects that I wish weren't up against each other.

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nOrbert

Subject: trivia: ET didn't get Richard's eyes?

"The halo of white hair helped. In 1919, when the world first made Einstein’s acquaintance, his 40-year-old, slightly cocky visage only hinted at the caricature to come. But in time his hair flew, like a mind untethered, while the bags under his eyes deepened, as if from the burden of looking too hard and seeing too much. And as for those eyes—well, when Steven Spielberg was designing the title character of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and he wanted his alien ambassador of good will to have eyes that were moist like a wise old man’s yet twinkling with childlike wonder, he knew whose to use."

I still think they’re Richard’s (and wasn't Spielberg a Band fan too?).

My advice is not to react here and now, let’s all keep this yard clean please, thank you.

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JT

Subject: LATH

I also read that work is now continuing on the LATH retrospective. This is great news. Any updates would be welcomed.

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joe j

Subject: Levon Hawks release

Jan Haust, having finished with, and been nominated for a Grammy for, the Basement Tapes, is apparently back working on a Levon & the Hawks box set.

Entered at Thu Feb 11 19:18:02 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

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Peter V

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sadavid

Subject: Jimi James in Mayfair

Hendrix's London flat recreated as a museum.

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Dunc

Subject: Various

Television money in football is everything. Certain leagues are benefitting greatly - England, Spain, Germany. German clubs have reduced ticket prices because as you say Al, ticket money is a small percentage of revenue.

However, big clubs in smaller leagues are losing out greatly - Rangers, Celtic, Ajax, Feyenoord, Sporting, Benfica are losing out unless they have a previous good season in the champions league, which is now unlikely. It is unfair. Celtic have for example the third highest number of season tickets in the UK. THe average age of a player leaving Ajax is now 22.

Wall to wall TV will impact on football attendances in England.

In my lifetime, I can remember Hearts, Dundee, Dundee United and Aberdeen(3 times), but because of money and Bosman only Celtic will win the league. Attendances are now not great, although Hearts have sold out every game this season. (As a percentage of the population who attend, attendances are still reasonable.)

But to get back to the music, I think Ticketmaster's practices are disgraceful.

Thanks Peter and Al.

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Peter V

Grandage and Branagh say it's vital to build a young audience who can't afford the £65 seats, or the theatre will … well, go the way of Chelsea FC. A lot of theatres do the same.

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Peter V

I see this in West End commercial Theatres all the time. Take the Cumberbatch "Hamlet." Allegedly seats were changing hands for £1000 or more, but we (who bought on line at normal price after two hours pressing "refresh") had two empty ones next to us. Then in the Branagh "The Winter's Tale" another hot, impossible to get ticket early in the run, we had two people near us, Russian I think. The guy spent most of the first part looking at his Smartphone, shining the light in everyone's peripheral vision. They left at half time. I was speaking to one of the people working there, and he said it happens every show. Very very rich foreign visitors who just say to Ticketmaster, "get me a hot ticket for tonight, any price, must have a famous person in it" but who get bored due to failure to follow Shakespearean English and leave.

That's the joy of the "arts council" theatres like the National, The Globe, the Royal Shakespeare. They put no tickets through agencies at all. You can only buy direct from them, and it states that "touted" tickets are invalid. Everyone fills the seats and stays to the end.

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Norbert

Simon, that didn’t happen.

Joan,

During a flood a man sits in front of his house. A woman comes along with her boat and asks the guy if he needs help. ' No, thank you ', says the man, ' I trust in the Lord '. The water starts to rise and the man goes one floor higher. A second boat with people sails along. ' get in, there's room enough ', they say. ' No thanks, ' says the man, ' I trust in the Lord '.

The water keeps going up and the man seeks refuge on the roof. Now a helicopter flies above the house and lowers a ladder. ' No thanks, ' says the man again, ' I trust in the Lord '. Eventually, the water rises so high that the man drowns.

At the gate of heaven the man asks God: ' Why didn’t you save me? ' To which God replied: ' What do you mean? I have send two boats and a helicopter to you!'

Entered at Thu Feb 11 12:17:30 CET 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Pete, I'm not sure of the precise sums but I believe an exercise has been done which shows that if just 0.5% of the upcoming television deal was taken out it would pay for the season tickets of every fan for next season.

Where this all goes from here on in is anyone's guess.

The action of the LFC American owners could simply be a sop to calm things down for the forseeable future or it could be they're running scared with the realisation that they might be playing with fire.

We simply do not know.

A lot depends on whether the FSF [Football Supporters Federation] pick up the cudgels and try to broaden the action across all premier league clubs.

As it is, my instincts tell me we shouldn't be paying any more than 25 quid to watch each game. That equates to a season ticket of £475. I'm currently forking out double that amount. So in order to support LFC I have to earn around £1200 - 1300 before tax.

Twenty years ago we were probably paying £47.50 or thereabouts for the entire season.

Somebody worked out that if clothing had attracted corresponding inflation as footy then a pair of socks would cost 50 quid or so.

It's scandalous.

People try to pass it off as simply supply and demand. Which is probably the case but by walking out we can perhaps form part of the supply/demand equation as we have now shown that we have the power and wherewithall to directly affect the quality of the "product" and thus the potential monetary attraction of televising and sponsoring it.

Future developments willl be intriguing to say the least.

Entered at Thu Feb 11 12:04:36 CET 2016 from (86.130.197.95)

Dunc

Subject: Tickets

Glad the Liverpool supporters walked out. Maybe the young music fans should boycott the concerts of some of our music stars.

In the past, I always hated the involvement of ticket touts for big football matches or leading music stars' concerts. Or greedy individuals trying to make money out of their fellow Scots. I never ever bought tickets at inflated prices.

It still happens - my granddaughter asked me to get tickets for one of the Justin Bieber's three concerts in Glasgow. I was on line right away and got nowhere. Now individuals are selling tickets at about 300 per cent mark ups on advertising sites. Horrible, greedy people.

But when trying to buy tickets, I experienced something I had never seen before. When I was trying to buy the tickets, Ticketmaster said they were sold out and highlighted their related companies through hyperlinks, where you could buy tickets at inflated prices. For example £70 tickets selling for over £200.

So do we now have the obscene practice of Ticketmaster selling the tickets to themselves, then selling them at grossly inflated prices to the public? So when trying to buy tickets, young fans don't really have a chance of getting them.

Good for Liverpool fans.

Entered at Thu Feb 11 10:29:40 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Time to switch allegiance Al and move to the sunny south. Bournemouth are £32 to £45. (£55 “executive”). I just checked. Using the Away Subsidy, they’re offering Newcastle away at £18, £8 for seniors and wheelchairs, £1 for under 18s. Plus the coach trip, which must be the longest Premier League journey in the country, is £25 return. Mind you, most of us would want to be paid to watch Newcastle.

The mega teams hoover up the money, and Lancashire have four. Rod Liddle was writing about this and said in 10 years time, could the other Lancashire teams: Wigan, Burnley, Preston, Blackburn, Bolton, Rochdale, Bury, Blackpool, Oldham, Accrington, Morecambe all survive in such a small geographical area with the lure of four mega-teams within a reasonable journey? That must be a factor pushing up prices as the huge teams draw in from wider and wider areas. Liddle champions watching smaller teams and staying local. I know a lad who travels from Bournemouth to watch (spit on the ground) Manchester United four or five times a year. I used to know two guys who made lots of Liverpool games, leaving Friday night from Bournemouth- though they picked up a lot of aways in London.

If I was daft enough to invest in a football team, you’d have to say Brighton, Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Cardiff, Bournemouth are likely to get better and bigger, in large population areas without a mega team drawing fans away. Swansea was a good bet. Mind you, that should be true of Portsmouth which shows how owners and the money men can totally screw up a football club. The North-East, the other hotbed of early football like Lancashire, has managed to sustain three big teams, albeit all eternally on the edge of bouncing between Premier League and Championship.

Entered at Thu Feb 11 01:38:45 CET 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Another Liverpudlian inspired victory for the little man. A hugely significant step in righting yet another wrong.

The owners of Liverpool Football Club proposed to raise ticket prices for next season at a time when unprecedented TV monies will deluge the English Premier [Soccer] league.

At last Saturday's home game in the 77th minute in a demonstration against the proposed price hike around 15,000 Liverpool fans staged a symbolic walkout accompanied by raucous chanting of "YOU GREEDY BASTARDS ENOUGH IS ENOUGH" and "WE ARE THE FAMOUS, THE FAMOUS KOPITES".

It was a staggering and immensely uplifting moment as entire stands full of people just got up as one and walked out. As a lifelong matchgoing supporter I have rarely felt such pride as I walked out to register my deep contempt for the money men within the so called game of the people.

An unprecedented event.

Five days later following apparently feverish activity both in Liverpool's boardroom and the boardroom of the owners FSG in Boston, Massachusetts, the owners issued a statement apologising to the fans and reversing their decision to raise prices.

The significance of it all. My take.

"For the first time ever in Premier league history bog standard regular matchgoers revealed they can wield considerable power by acting as a collective.

Clearly, nobody within any rank of football’s reigning sovereignty ever entertained such an eventuality.

Yet it happened. Before their disbelieving eyes. Suddenly the prospect of potential mortal damage to their sacred cash cow Premier league “product” had become so very real and tangible.

And thus, one of the primary objectives of the protest, that of muscling supporters into the game's economics, was achieved more spectacularly than could ever have been envisaged.

The game's economic arena which prior to that 77th minute hiatus had been a place where the ordinary supporter existed merely as a compliant host for the game’s parasites to prey and feed upon was, courtesy of a single mass walkout, opened up to the ordinary supporter to thereafter finally command the respect and begrudged acknowledgement so richly merited and so long overdue.

What Saturday announced was that football’s existing sovereignty had to start recognising the economic significance of the supporter in the same way that it recognises that of the investor, player, TV company, sponsor and agent. Either that or risk the Premier League succumbing to gradual Armageddon via belligerent action from the game's grass root support.

The unpalatable fact for the game's sovereignty is that match going fans represent a vital element of the equation that comes together to create the "product" that procures the inestimable wealth via the huge TV monies. By definition it follows that, just like all the other financial beneficiaries of that product, the match going fans warrant a share of the revenue that ensues. And the way of realising that is reduced admission prices.

Such reductions will not be the token gestures but cold hard economic reality reflecting the supporter's vital role in the overall Premier league equation.

Whether we view FSG's current revision to it's original ticketing proposals as a climbdown gesture or otherwise is moot at this juncture but the fact remains that only once a downward trend in admission is achieved, will justice have begun to be done and a status quo commensurate with common decency and fairness begun to reign.

Entered at Wed Feb 10 20:36:16 CET 2016 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

Entered at Wed Feb 10 19:52:59 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Wed Feb 10 19:41:56 CET 2016 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

I'm curious as to whether Mr. Hoskyns provides any information about the severing of The Band's management ties with Albert Grossman. As far as I know, little detail has been written previously about this.

Entered at Wed Feb 10 16:01:29 CET 2016 from (68.171.246.138)

Bill M

Entered at Wed Feb 10 15:16:44 CET 2016 from (82.18.230.252)

Ian W

There will be some kind of event (book signing or similar, I guess, at the Strand Book Store in NYC at 7pm on 4 April 2016. Anyone out there likely to attend?

Entered at Wed Feb 10 08:37:27 CET 2016 from (46.171.166.46)

Matt

Hi! I'm from Poland and I must tell that your website is very cool. Nice to met you

Entered at Tue Feb 9 21:34:04 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Tue Feb 9 21:24:39 CET 2016 from (100.2.21.114)

Joan

That little story confronts two very important issues. One is the terrible refugee problem now and how we react to it. The other is the anti-vaccine lobby that mistakenly feels that vaccines cause autism and children are getting illnesses that we felt were eradicated. The autism studies have been debunked but people still in insist on not vaccinating

Entered at Tue Feb 9 21:02:06 CET 2016 from (86.161.3.240)

Simon

Entered at Tue Feb 9 19:55:10 CET 2016 from (87.144.163.143)

Norbert

Once there was a small boy living on a small farm in a small country till a terrible war brought hell …. with about 100,000 people he had to run to another country far away.

The little boy was a smart and stubborn guy, he studied hard in his new homeland and he became a doctor. The young doctor had seen enough people killed by now, he was obsessed to make something that saved lives instead ….he worked day and night .... finally his hard labor payed off; before he reached the age of forty he found a vaccine. This vaccine saved approximately 100 million lives.

He could have been a rich man but he choose to keep the vaccine cheap, thus available for all people in the world.
So in the end the people that had saved the 100.000 refugees got in return, for every single person they had saved, a thousand lives or more.

Maybe he saved your life and mine too, this little refugee.

Entered at Tue Feb 9 18:50:16 CET 2016 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

Ampeg made a big splash in the rock world when the Rolling Stones used Ampeg amps on their 1969 U.S. tour. Keith Richards also had a Dan Armstrong Ampeg guitar with a clear plexiglass body in his arsenal. I believe Bill Wyman also had a similar bass model that he used occasionally on that tour.

When I saw them play that November in Auburn, Alabama I got a close-up view of their gear from a vantage point at the edge of the stage. Clearly a memorable concert!

Entered at Tue Feb 9 17:41:37 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

The Wyman desire for a fretless bass but with fret markings struck me as odd. Instruments divide into two – those with keys or buttons or frets, and those where you have to find the note like violin or trombone. Rick, being a fiddle player too, is a natural for the fretless bass. I would have thought those of us who need frets or keys or buttons would avoid fretless bass, but Bill Wyman’s idea makes sense – you can still get the sound even if you need to look.

Got “My Father’s Place 1977” CD yesterday. Definitely worth it. It does bring up the question of why Rick didn’t do better in his solo career. It’s a high-energy performance. He radically rearranges The Weight and Christmas Must Be Tonight. They never sound like The Band, partly because everyone is playing all the time … none of the gaps and spaces. It’s very good. I guess commercially, three Band songs in a set of sixteen was too few for most audiences.

The liner notes quote PSB’s interview and reference his website.

Entered at Tue Feb 9 16:21:27 CET 2016 from (65.93.117.232)

Mike Nomad

Just sayin'.

Entered at Tue Feb 9 15:13:00 CET 2016 from (184.66.251.127)

JT

Subject: Back Door

Nux: Good to have you back.

Entered at Tue Feb 9 08:21:49 CET 2016 from (41.162.7.114)

Nux Schwartz

Subject: Testing Backdoor

Testing backdoor entry!

Entered at Tue Feb 9 03:11:37 CET 2016 from (76.66.113.51)

Bill M

Rockin C: What are you afraid of - that your new neighbours from Tronno will leave their Christmas lights up all winter?

Re Rick and his fretless bass, the fact that he had one caused others here to buy them in the mid-'60s. Peter Hodgson of the Checkmates told be he bought one because Rick had one, but found it hard to keep in tune so sold it on to Don Elliot of the Mandala.

Entered at Tue Feb 9 00:24:57 CET 2016 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

I met somebody recently that was trying to stay off alcohol, post his rehab. And one tactic he used was to always have a big glass of water or some non-alcoholic liquid at hand, in his hand. I hadn't heard of that before but I wonder if that method is one Levon used during that period when he got off the stuff? It seems he was depicted that way in a lot of pictures around that time -

Entered at Mon Feb 8 23:17:15 CET 2016 from (74.203.77.122)

Jon Lyness

Subject: Re: Levon/Got Me A Woman '89

Wow, what a find. I needed that! Thanks Jan!

Entered at Mon Feb 8 23:11:41 CET 2016 from (87.144.163.143)

Norb

Subject: Return of the Nux

Klasse! Welcone home

Entered at Mon Feb 8 23:10:02 CET 2016 from (84.215.171.237)

jh

This YouTube video just popped up over in Hufflepuff :-) Levon on his home turf in the late '80s(?) with the great Stan Szelest, Jim Weider and Randy Ciarlante in the line-up. And the song surfaced again as a studio recording with Levon 20 years later...

Entered at Mon Feb 8 22:46:24 CET 2016 from (84.215.171.237)

jh

Entered at Mon Feb 8 22:35:35 CET 2016 from (87.144.163.143)

Norbert

"Death is always on the way, but the fact that you don't know when it will arrive seems to take away from the finiteness of life. It's that terrible precision that we hate so much. But because we don't know, we get to think of life as an inexhaustible well. Yet everything happens a certain number of times, and a very small number, really. How many more times will you remember a certain afternoon of your childhood, some afternoon that's so deeply a part of your being that you can't even conceive of your life without it? Perhaps four or five times more. Perhaps not even. How many more times will you watch The Complete Last Waltz? Perhaps five. And yet it all seems limitless." -- Paul Bowles

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

“Garth & The Sun never say to Us,
"You owe me."
Look
What happens
With a love like that,
It lights the whole sky.” -Hafez

Entered at Mon Feb 8 21:58:24 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Bill Wyman might lack eyesight - couldn't he see the dots above instead of the frets. I have to say, the twice I've seen him recently he had a horrible soft farty bass sound and no variation of tone.

Entered at Mon Feb 8 21:07:58 CET 2016 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

Entered at Mon Feb 8 20:38:36 CET 2016 from (96.245.114.250)

bassmanlee

Subject: DIY Fretless Bass

Peter, in his book Stone Alone, Bill Wyman tells of pulling the frets out of his bass early on to make a fretless, but never got the hang of blindly finding the right spots to stay in pitch and so not only left the fret markings there, but had to be able to look at the neck while playing. This is why in most on-stage pictures he is looking down. Later when he had custom basses made, they had to inlay fret markers on the neck as can be seen in the link above.

Entered at Mon Feb 8 18:25:06 CET 2016 from (208.181.205.134)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Traumatic!

Well the house next door that has stood empty for most of a year has just been sold! To a couple who is retiring here, where from you say?........Gawd damn Toranna. It better not be Bill or Kevin or Mike or one of those other culprits. Lord the world is goin' to hell...:-)

Entered at Mon Feb 8 17:25:04 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Mon Feb 8 16:57:19 CET 2016 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

I recall reading that Rick at some point had Fender bass pickups installed on his Ampeg fretless.

Entered at Mon Feb 8 14:05:55 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

I heard that Ampeg were "electrically unreliable" guitars (from someone who had one) which is why the fretless innovation was Jaco Pastorius taking the frets out of a Precision Bass and filling the holes. I'm interested in more on this.

Entered at Mon Feb 8 10:22:55 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Review of Barney Hoskyns' "Small Town Talk" on Woodstock, Grossman, Dylan, The Band, Van Morrison & Hendrix in yesterday's Sunday Times. Grossman is the centre of he story it says, though the paper repeats an anecdote about Richard driving Van home, totally drunk, and roaring off in his Corvette forgetting Van's house had a circular driveway and narrowly missing running him down.

Entered at Mon Feb 8 09:50:25 CET 2016 from (210.86.100.208)

Rod

I'd say he had he resprayed specifically for the filming of The Weight in TLW. I have seen a picture of him playing a fretted one - probably during the Brown album sessions.

Entered at Mon Feb 8 04:26:15 CET 2016 from (74.12.51.193)

Bill M

And here are some words from a wonderful newish history of an important coffeehouse in Ottawa, Le Hibou, specifically a chapter on poet/songwriter William Hawkins, whose first book of poetry, with a Ronnie-Hawkins-related title had just been published:

"'Shoot Low Sheriff, They're Riding Shetland Ponies' came out in March 1964. For the two months before, the two poets were in Toronto.... On cold evenings the two men [i.e., Hawkins and fellow poet Roy MacSkimming] would walk down Yonge Street ... to listen to another Hawkins, Ronnie, play with his backup group, The Hawks (later to become The Band). Recalls MacSkimming, 'Even then, Robbie Robertson's solos were devastating'. ... Bill also had a brush with another up-and-coming singer. Bob Dylan was in Toronto shooting his now-legendary half-hour program for CBC's 'Quest' titled 'The Times They Are A-Changin''. 'Harvey Glatt and Albert Grossman [their respective managers] got us all together, and Dylan came in, doing some major twitching, and I said, 'What's happening man?', and he leaned forward to me and said, 'I just did this show where I was supposed to be a lumberjack and all the goddamn lumberjacks were gay!' I said, 'Welcome to Toronto.''"

It goes on to say that Dylan played before an audience of 3000 in Ottawa on February 19, 1966. There are a couple photos of Dylan, but not of our guys.

Lotsa other stuff about people we care about, so it might be worth considering - see link.

Entered at Mon Feb 8 03:57:01 CET 2016 from (74.12.51.193)

Bill M

Subject: Ruby Tuesday

Here's a link to my favourite cover (and perhaps version) of "Ruby Tuesday", even if the group didn't take the song to new places - like they did with "Lady Jane" and especially "Like A Rolling Stone" on the same first album.

Entered at Mon Feb 8 02:51:31 CET 2016 from (208.181.205.134)

Rockin Chair

Subject: The Patriot

To all you "Mericans. The singing of your National Anthem is a very important event and a big deal. Patriots stand with their hands on their hearts honoring their flag.

Always at sporting events, hockey games etc, this event is done. In our international hockey NHL games of course both our Anthems are sung. In the USA some very, very bad jobs done of both Anthems. Some times the US anthem done so badly, you need to mute your tv, turn it off, change channels.....Good Lord.

Today at the opening of the Super Bowl, Lady Gaga sang the "Star Spangled Banner" She did it more beautifully than anyone. She didn't mess with it she sang it straight and true with some hand gestures for emphasis. Probably the best I have ever heard. The lady has such a wonderful voice, and there is no mistaking the Lady she is. I was impressed.

Entered at Sun Feb 7 23:41:59 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Dad's Army

Film review of Dad's Army added to my blog, for the film buffs - though it might be too British!

Entered at Sun Feb 7 20:32:07 CET 2016 from (87.144.163.143)

Norbert

Subject: The Rep-Rap (2Pac beat)

Rubio:
Barack Obama ....
Barack Obama .. doesn’t know ....ding dong, ding dong

Trump: So, you’re a tough guy....

Rubio: Barack Obama doesn’t know .... ding dong, ding dong
Christie: There it is! .. There it is again!....

Rubio:
Barack Obama ....
Barack Obama .. doesn’t know ....

Trump: So, you’re a tough guy ....

Rubio: Barack Obama doesn’t know .... ding dong, ding dong
Christie: There it is! .. There it is again!....

Entered at Sun Feb 7 18:34:01 CET 2016 from (173.68.71.190)

Jed

John D-Thanks for piece on Rick's bass. Found this-never saw it before-great Rick,Paul,Blondie,not sure who else. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll7PIZPRFz0

Entered at Sun Feb 7 17:37:36 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Sun Feb 7 17:26:36 CET 2016 from (84.215.171.237)

jh

Hm. I should've let Nux back in here ages ago... forgot about that. Nux, if you're still around, can you send me the IP you normally post from, and I'll open the back door.

Entered at Sun Feb 7 17:19:40 CET 2016 from (208.181.205.134)

Rockin Chair

Subject: West to East - and some ripple on the water :-)

You are very welcome Joe, and thank you. I can't express how much I want to get over to your rock. Would love to play some tunes there. I thought I had at least my barge sold here a short while ago, but it didn't quite work out.

I've got to get over too Noo Yawk to and see my old friend Lars.

This video I have linked I put on Lars Face Book page, so he got sea sick just watching it :-)

Entered at Sun Feb 7 17:01:09 CET 2016 from (184.66.251.127)

JT

Subject: Question re posting here

Re Nux in SA: Just curious since I don't know how sites like this actually work. How is it decided (who decides?) that because there is spam and garbage input from a region in the world that that region then becomes excluded from the opportunity to post? It would be good to have Nux and others who have input that is relevant to be able to post.

Entered at Sun Feb 7 14:51:10 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

A perennial, and of course we keep having to find new and younger actors. Watched Owen Wilson in "laid back" mode on TV on Friday night. He was asked about Ben Stiller's supposed dictatorial direction style (Stiller was there) and he drawled "I just say the actor's prayer. Grant me the grace to let the direction go in one ear and out the other …' I know it's an act, but I thought, "Band movie. Rick Danko."

Entered at Sun Feb 7 02:33:18 CET 2016 from (24.224.128.101)

joe j

Entered at Sun Feb 7 01:17:15 CET 2016 from (199.102.181.161)

Richard Bliss

Subject: Love of The Band 2 four letter words

I've loved The Band's music since hearing them on a juke box in Detroit on my lunch hour. Saw them a couple of times, once at Beggars Banquet in Toronto and a couple of times in the Motor. I was never let down. The world without Richard, Rick, and Levon is just a bit colder. Long live The Band .

Entered at Sun Feb 7 01:12:32 CET 2016 from (58.104.15.189)

Wallsend

Always loved Melanie's version of Ruby Tuesday. This is the Stones doing Wild Horses. Ron seems to be channelling Hendrix in his solo towards the end.

Entered at Sat Feb 6 21:24:14 CET 2016 from (208.181.205.134)

Rockin Chair

Subject: To & Fro

Joe! did you get my return mail??

Entered at Sat Feb 6 21:01:45 CET 2016 from (24.224.128.101)

joe j

Subject: Ruby Tuesday

Link is to one of my favourite Stones songs as sung by Melanie Safka.

Entered at Sat Feb 6 18:37:04 CET 2016 from (208.181.205.134)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Norbert & Steve Tyler - (What a combination!)

Gawd damn it Norbert! You gotta leave that schnapps alone, it's messin' up yer mind.

Has any one seen the Super Bowl "Skittles" commercial with Steven Tyler? ..........crazy.

Entered at Sat Feb 6 17:49:49 CET 2016 from (87.144.163.143)

Norbert

Subject: The Band Promo & Nux

Ok, here is our 3-way battle plan:

1) I posted this on other band GB’s (cross posting):

------ “A lesser known fact about The Band is that Garth Hudson actually fought in the civil war." This and other interesting facts can be found on The Band’s website.------
(The sites I covered already: Barry Manilow, Michael McDonald, Neil Diamond, Bryan Adams, Bon Jovi and Phil Collins)

2) Ten (10) The Band tribute bands will invade all those countries The Band never toured.

3) Can’t talk about this yet.

p.s. not good that Viagra killed Nux, there must be another solution. Let’s bring him back.

Have a nice weekend all, cheers.

Entered at Sat Feb 6 16:18:40 CET 2016 from (99.244.8.134)

John D

Subject: Rick's Fretless Bass

Interesting article on Rick's Fretless.

Entered at Sat Feb 6 15:12:23 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Sat Feb 6 15:10:29 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

I know Nux S, can't post because Southern Africa as a whole is cut off, due to excessive spam. We used to have someone from India at one time. But you know, unlike some bands the Band never toured Brazil, Spain, Greece, Italy, Argentina, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and only Japan once in the 80s. I suspect that's the underlying basis. A lot of artists are very big in Brazil, Japan or Argentina or Spain. But not our guys.

Entered at Sat Feb 6 14:59:50 CET 2016 from (84.215.171.237)

jh

Subject: Photo credit

Problem solved. The photographer is the legendary Henry Diltz.

Entered at Sat Feb 6 14:47:31 CET 2016 from (68.171.246.26)

Bill M

Entered at Sat Feb 6 12:53:12 CET 2016 from (87.144.163.143)

Norbert

Ragtime, just saw Jinek thanks.

This Band, our Band, probably the best Band ever on this very planet, inspired many great artists.

Yet we’re the only two posters from Holland and I also do Germany ;-). No one from France, Belgium (a great country too dear Band fans). Spain, Russia, Poland?
Austria?
Prague ?
Berlin?
Hong Kong?
The whole of Asia?

Brother where are thou? Where are the sinners, the losers, the beggars, the poets, the naggers and whiners, the hopeless, the oppressed, de drinkers, the weirdos, ……

We need you! (be part of …. the best band ever, of the best GB!)

Come on lurkers, post here please, share your love for The Band, share your stories, thoughts, numbers, jokes…..

I’ll promise you I will read them all,
I will encourage you,
I will never let you down,
I will hug you,
I will love you like I love myself my brother and my sister (and we don’t need nobody else).

Entered at Sat Feb 6 09:23:22 CET 2016 from (83.160.180.22)

Ragtime

IMND, of course.

Entered at Sat Feb 6 09:21:37 CET 2016 from (83.160.180.22)

Ragtime

Subject: Boudewijn de Groot's son

This one is for Norbert, on a far less spooky note:

Yesterday night Dutch iconic singer Boudewijn de Groot and his son were on a talkshow on national tv. When De Groot Junior was asked what had inspired him to be a singer, well, he replied "my dad" (of course he had to, since the guy was sitting next to him). But then he added: look at this. They showed a (too short) minute from The Last Waltz with Rick singing IMNO. When I saw that, he said, everything felt in its place, I knew what I had to do the rest of my life.

For me it was the first time in many many years to see The Band appearing on Dutch national television.

Entered at Sat Feb 6 09:10:36 CET 2016 from (84.215.171.237)

jh

Subject: Photo credit

Link above is to a (wonderful) photo of the first line-up of Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band, taken from a booklet/concert program sold during their1989 tour.

We need to know who the photographer is. Anyone?

A live album with this line-up of Ringo's band was released in 1990. There are three rather famous rock photographers credited on the album: Henry Diltz, Bob Gruen and Vinnie Zuffante. Could it be one of them that also took this photo?

Entered at Sat Feb 6 02:36:08 CET 2016 from (208.181.205.134)

Rockin Chair

Subject: shiverin' & shakin'

Quit it Norbert!..........that's too spooky!

Entered at Sat Feb 6 00:20:08 CET 2016 from (87.144.163.143)

Norbert

Last night a limped, tattooed man was seen in the Dylan section here.

What Jan knows so far;

The word "ceBep" (north) on the back of this left hand indicates he has done time in the Gulag (Siberia or Magadan).
The two eight point stars on his shoulders say that he was a respected man among thieves (a vor v zakone).

The bread on his chest says he was a baker ones. The cross on his forehead points toward religion and the Buddy Holly head in his neck indicates that he loves music.

In his calm and friendly eyes you can see soft snow but also bloodshed, misery and dark cold.

A pistol shot right under his skull has killed him once (NKVD), but that doesn’t seem to bother him anymore.

So if you happen to see him reading somewhere in our basement, please leave him alone to find his peace,

Maybe Rick has send him here to find salvation and he's looking for it with all his might.

Hope he will succeed and walk home from here a free man, thanks.

Entered at Fri Feb 5 18:48:20 CET 2016 from (24.85.174.91)

Giles

Subject: Rick's 90s Bass

Just found this archived article from "Musician Magazine", linked above. It details Rick's set ups, including the Norwegian.

Entered at Fri Feb 5 18:44:28 CET 2016 from (24.85.174.91)

Giles

Subject: Rick's 90s Bass

Thanks David! I shoulda thunk to check Carole's blog. I saw The Band a couple times in the 90s, and i thought it was a pretty versatile bass, he played it straight through the whole show both times. Everybody fetishizes the Ampeg fretless 'cause it was in Last Waltz I guess, but I thought it was telling he toured the red one for years. Loved the Gibson Grabber he was playing before TLW too, loved how he got that mix of percussive sound but with the full round bass tone intact. Nobody played an electric bass like Rick!

Entered at Fri Feb 5 17:13:30 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Fri Feb 5 16:48:25 CET 2016 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

In answer to your question Giles, here is a post from Carol Caffin's SiptheWine blog on Rick's basses:

"Another favorite of Rick's -- and perhaps most familiar to fans in the 90s -- was his Norwegian Guitar Workshop red bass, which was made by a friend of Jonas Fjeld and given to Rick when he went to Norway in 1991.

Entered at Fri Feb 5 13:33:21 CET 2016 from (74.14.7.222)

JT

Subject: NC library

I got an immediate response from the library in NC, Ian, and they indicated that it may take up to 3-4 weeks to even tell me what's up and what they can or might be able to do in this regard. I'll update when I know anything.

Entered at Fri Feb 5 08:51:08 CET 2016 from (210.86.100.208)

Rod

that part 2 interview was one of the most interesting interviews I've heard from Robbie (plus sitting outside listening to it on a warm summer evening was nice).

It almost sounds like TLW back fired in that it propelled them more into the rock'n'roll vices and they missed the chance to re-group. Will be interesting to see if he expands on that in his book.

Entered at Fri Feb 5 07:13:21 CET 2016 from (199.175.219.1)

Giles

Subject: Rick's 90s bass

Hello! Wondering if anyone knows what kind of a bass it was Rick was playing live in the 90s? It was a red solidbody, as in this picture here: http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/rick-danko-during-rick-danko-performs-at-arrowhead-1991-at-arrowhead-picture-id115315932 I can't quite find a pic with the name visible on the headstock.

Entered at Fri Feb 5 01:53:43 CET 2016 from (68.171.246.18)

Boney M

That's the way of the world - this year it seems.

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Wallsend

An interesting interview with Robbie.

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sadavid

Subject: vinylphiles rejoice!

A Canuckistanian start-up is engineering an all-new, high-tech pressing machine and expects to start production soon. At capacity, Viryl expects to ship two a week (!) at a low, low price.

Entered at Thu Feb 4 21:45:12 CET 2016 from (82.18.230.252)

Ian W

Thanks, JT. I hope it goes well.

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Peter V

Ah, I don't have Crazy Mama on the concert. And they don;t have Driftin' Away. Are we sure it's exactly the same show? The Manta Eastern Sound is labelled 7 December 1993. According to the new CD, the Convocation Hall was "broadcast on 4th December." There's a different listing on the tape archive (LINKED). "Manta Eastern Sound" is FM, "EX" quality and 75 minutes. The Convocation Hall three days earlier is in a 75 minute version, and also in a 45 minute version. I'd guess they had two different programmes with different timing. A lot of these FM shows were circulated around various stations and they probably offered alternative lengths to fit radio programming.

Anyway, the CD will reveal the truth!

Entered at Thu Feb 4 19:06:16 CET 2016 from (74.14.7.222)

JT

Subject: Running order of songs

The entire thing with these songs from Convocation Hall Toronto 1993 is curious. Why not just offer the concert as it was with songs in a running order similar to what the show presented? Comparing the 2 lists shown above, certainly something is amiss.

Entered at Thu Feb 4 18:05:56 CET 2016 from (74.14.7.222)

JT

Subject: 14 songs

and at the Band listings here at this GB are the 14 (not 15) songs suggested to have been played at Convocation Hall:

WS Walcott Med Show Crazy Mama Blind Willie McTell Rag Mama Rag Atlantic City It Makes No Difference Stuff Ya Gotta Watch Stagefright Life Is a Carnival Shape I'm In Ophelia The Weight Remedy (broken up) Blues Stay Away From Me

Entered at Thu Feb 4 18:01:11 CET 2016 from (74.14.7.222)

JT

Subject: Listing 1993 CD convocation hall

Sorry Peter. Remedy is indeed there. Here is the listing

1 The Shape I'm In 4:42 2 Blind Willie McTell 6:32 3 Atlantic City 4:35 4 It Makes No Difference 6:30 5 Stuff You Gotta Watch 3:13 6 Life Is A Carnival 4:24 7 Ophelia 3:42 8 The Weight 5:49 9 Remedy 4:32 10 Blues Stay Away From Me 2:54

Entered at Thu Feb 4 17:55:42 CET 2016 from (74.14.7.222)

JT

Subject: 2/3 of the set list only

Peter : I ordered the cd as well... and as far as I can tell from the listing of the songs on it, it only has 10 of the 15 songs played on it. (i.e. No Remedy) That is why I was asking if you had all 15. Did you find one with all 15 songs on it?

Entered at Thu Feb 4 17:29:58 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Sorry my typo - the Toronto show is 1993. With the different songs. I suspect that like the Washington DC 1976 Broadcast, they broadcast it a different times with different track lists. I don't have the full 15, but when I get the new CD release, I will have.

Entered at Thu Feb 4 16:27:59 CET 2016 from (74.14.7.222)

JT

Subject: 1993 not 1983

Sorry Peter V:My mistake. I missed that it was 1983 to which yo were referring.

My interest is whether you have 15 songs on a 1993 Toronto Convocation Hall tape or cd?

Entered at Thu Feb 4 16:07:29 CET 2016 from (74.14.7.222)

JT

Subject: Peter V and Ian W: issues

Thanks for that information, Peter, regarding your CDR and tape.

Ian W: I just sent an e-mail to the appropriate section of the UNC library asking for them to explore the possibility of giving me any help possible (including maybe sending me an attachment of any other photos of the Knoxville Tenn concert of 8 Oct 1965) and asking what the cost might be to that. I will let you know if they answer.

Entered at Thu Feb 4 16:02:14 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

I can't find the CDR I made (if I did) but I have found the cassette. It's "The Band 7.12.1983 Radio Show, Manta Eastern Sound, Toronto, Command Performances Radio,"

It has 11 tracks, but several different ones.

W.s. Walcott / Stage Fright / Blind Willie McTell / Rag Mama Rag / Atlantic City / Makes No Difference / Driftin' Away / Stuff You Gotta Watch / Shape I'm In / Remedy / Blues Stay Away From Me.

i.e. my cassette misses Life Is A Carnival, Ophelia, The Weight, but adds W.S. Walcott, Stage Fright, Rag Mama Rag. and Driftin' Away.

To me, Driftin' Away is the key track, as The Band never went on to do it - as I always say, great Rick songs never got performed, while Levon ploughed through the same old, same old.

I have this Toronto 1993 Driftin' Away on my iTunes playlist of The Band (which is why I'm sure there's a CDR hiding somewhere), and they are all playing all through, with great Jim Weider guitar. I assume the backing voice is mainly Randy Ciarlante - though Colin Linden was at the show and marked as playing on Remedy.

In contrast to Driftin' Away with full backing, when Rick does Blue River on the Tokyo Club Quattro set (same iTunes Playlist), they leave him to do it solo for the first minute and gradually come in. Mind you, that works well too.

Entered at Thu Feb 4 15:50:41 CET 2016 from (82.18.230.252)

Ian W

The Robert Bolton photograph collection is held in the Louis Round Wilson Special Collections Library at the University of North Carolina, part of its Southern Folklife Collection. His photographs can only be viewed at the library and, sadly, I'm unlikely to be able to visit.

Entered at Thu Feb 4 15:13:03 CET 2016 from (74.14.7.222)

JT

Subject: 15 or 10 songs for Toronto 1993

Peter: Are all 15 songs on the cdr or are there 10 only?

Entered at Thu Feb 4 15:12:08 CET 2016 from (98.110.49.157)

Ben

Subject: The Fire Still Burns

JT, I didn't know that Colin Linden played with The Band at this concert. It must have been quite a show. Linden had pretty strong connections with the Band at that time, with co-writing 'Remedy' and with Rick and Garth (I believe) appearing on a couple of his albums.

I think the Cates were fine. Some of the the 8 man shows from '83 and '84 were quite spirited and remain enjoyable. But, overall, The 6 man line up in the 90's was far stronger. I haven't heard the Toronto show yet, but I have several other shows from that period and they were generally excellent.

Entered at Thu Feb 4 14:28:19 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

I just checked and "And Then There Were Four" is also available as "The Weight Live in Chicago 1983" with the same misapplied date. There are so many FM broadcasts out on CD now that there must be some legal loophole - you can buy them on open sale in HMV. As it'll be a copyright loophole, those circumventing copyright are ripping off each other's productions.

Toronto is tempting - extremely good show.

Entered at Thu Feb 4 14:24:10 CET 2016 from (74.14.7.222)

JT

Subject: Convocation Hall University of Toronto 1993- Richard Bell et al

Richard Bell, Randy Ciarlante and Jim Weider played at Convocation Hall that night as well as Colin Linden and what a band they were. I just ordered the cd (recorded apparently by CBC for a radio broadcast). The cd is missing a few of the 15 songs. If anyone has a recording of all 15, I'd love to hear the entire show again.

Entered at Thu Feb 4 14:17:34 CET 2016 from (74.14.7.222)

JT

Subject: Convocation Hall University of Toronto 1993 The Band

Ben: Thank you! I was at the Toronto Convocation Hall concert in 1993. It was one of the best concerts I have ever been to. The musicians and the sound were top notch and my sons were with me and we all walked out of there with a big smile. My sons had heard The Band at home but were not really into them at that time, but my impression was that they really appreciated the tightness and playing. It was one that I will never forget. It was the first time I had heard Colin Linden live and he sure added to the exceptional dynamic presentation.

Entered at Thu Feb 4 13:58:06 CET 2016 from (98.110.49.157)

Ben

Subject: And then there were Four

Peter, I haven't picked up 'And then there were four' yet, but I've had a CDR of this concert for many years and have listened to it quite bit. It's a good concert.

The number of oldies doesn't bother me. I wouldn't expect them to play an identical set to the '76 tour. I think they did a good job of incorporating some solo tracks and covers along with the bulk of their well known songs that the audience would expect to hear.

I've recently seen listings for UK releases of a 1993 radio broadcast from Toronto called 'The Fire Still burns' and Rick Danko's 1977 performance at 'My Father's Place'.

Entered at Thu Feb 4 12:12:51 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

They don't mention the Cates anywhere either. Date wrong too? I was wrong that they sounded better because it was early, but I think it sounds better than Vancouver or Japan. Possibly the recording. What is noticeable is how strong the voices sound, and you can hear they're younger and stronger than on the 90s sets (obviously). But also they sound more vigorous than on 1976 sets too.

Richard is in great form. The only criticism is that just one of Milk Cow Blues, Mystery Train and Rock & Roll Shoes would have made the point that they could do classic rock. Three are a pity, when you consider the Band songs that didn't get played. Fantastic Java Blues though.

Entered at Thu Feb 4 07:29:06 CET 2016 from (108.88.110.210)

Pat B

The reformed Band didn't play in Chicago at Mandel Hall on July 1, 1983 as the "And Then There Were Four" release and the concert list on site here state. They played Mandel Hall on November 6 1983, two days after the Auditorium Show (see link). Richard referenced both shows in the Ruth Spencer interview: "One night we played the old Auditorium Theater and all our die-hard fans showed up. Chicago's always been real good to us. Two nights later, we played at the University of Chicago, in a 900 seat hall. It's real cozy, like a small Carnegie Hall, and it was all their kids ... our old fans' kids."

"And Then There Were Four" was recorded by the great Tim Powell for WXRT's Sunday concert series and rebroadcast many times.

Entered at Thu Feb 4 06:36:16 CET 2016 from (76.66.109.55)

Bill M

Subject: Juno Award nominations

The nominees for the various Juno Awards (Canada's Grammys) were announced today - see list at link. Offhand, I'd say that the most closely related to our guys are Lee Harvey Osmond (really Tom Wilson from BARK) and Buffy Ste Marie (who I saw win an award at a Canadian Aboriginal Awards show in the late '90s, at which Robbie Robertson appeared with his band to showcase a song or two from Redboy).

Nice to see another veteran Hamiltonian, Tom Wilson's buddy Harrison Kennedy, also up for an award - for blues. The oldsters here will recall his early '70s group, Detroit-based Chairmen of the Board. Most of their hits were sung by leader Norman Johnson, but Harrison sang their second hit, "I'm The Chairman Of The Board". This time, Harrison's up against, among others, the group Blackburn, four sons of Yonge Street fixture Bobby Dean Blackburn; those of you who saw the "Yonge Street Rock and Roll Stories" documentary a few years ago will have seen Bobby Dean talking about the old days and then Robbie Robertson talking about Bobby Dean.

Nice to see Bob Ezrin up for producer of the year, something that I suspect means a lot to him as the award is named after his mentor, Jack Richardson (Guess Who, Bob Seger, Alice Cooper, Poco ...) - who way back when played bass on Robbie's earliest appearance as a session man (on a Dianne Brooks record). Al E: As a Bob Seger fan, you may appreciate that the last-listed award, for 'special achievement' goes to Rosalie Tromblay, the program director of the mighty radio station CKLW, which apparently ruled Detroit rock and roll, despite being located across the river in Windsor, Ontario. Bob even named one of his minor hits, "Rosalie", after Ms Tromblay.

Entered at Thu Feb 4 06:31:37 CET 2016 from (210.86.100.208)

Rod

I saw wilco a few years ago. They changed guitars every song which I found quite distracting.

Robbie seems to be a real tinkerer when it comes to solid body guitars. THinking mainly of the red/bronze strat and the ROA tele. That latter really got the treatment over the years.

Entered at Thu Feb 4 06:19:35 CET 2016 from (208.181.205.134)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Devil's Waitin

For Bob Fino if he is around........sure you'll remember Bob.

By the way David, if you get by this. If you look up those Epiphone "Wiltshire Pro" guitars, says some are worth $10,000 now. You will see (and probably already know), after Gibson bought out Epiphone, they were all made in Kallamazzo along side all the Gibsons. They are a hell of a guitar.

Entered at Thu Feb 4 00:42:45 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter v

I'm thinking back to The Shadows in 1961. All Fenders, but Bruce had a Telecaster and Hank had a Strat. This, we were told, was because rhythm guitarists only needed two pick ups and lead guitarist needed three. We read that in the pop press and assumed it was true. Then sponsorship came in and they switched to very ugly Burns guitars instead, though were never seen without Vox Ac30s.

Entered at Thu Feb 4 00:27:18 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter v

Then in the early 60s guitar instrumental groups always aspired to matching guitars. There are obsessive guitar changers. At the simplest level, Joan Baez had two identical Acoustics, I think Martins, and a guitar tech who dutifully swapped them after each song. The first guy I saw use around a dozen different guitars in a show was in k.d. Lang's second band, and that isn't just tunings, or sound. Lindsay Buckingham was another ten guitars guy. Judy Collins used just the one, kept retuning and kept saying she couldn't afford someone to tune guitars for her all night, in contrast to David, Stephen, Graham and Neil, she added darkly. I think I know who she meant.

Entered at Wed Feb 3 21:29:57 CET 2016 from (208.181.205.134)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Guitars like leggo

I'm sure many of you know some of Steven Vie's story. I believe every guitar he plays are hybrid. He takes them apart and puts them together to suit himself. I remember a long while back reading in one of those guitar mags, one night in an auditorium where they were to gig. Some one broke in and stole all his guitars.

David you must have seen that multi-coloured strat Clapton played a lot, like on an outdoor concert with JJ Cale.

my electric solid body guitar is a hybrid I found in Powell River. I had to search the net to find that body model. It is a 1976 Epiphone "Wiltshire Pro" it has the original Humbucker pickups in it and has a 1976 Aria Telecaster neck. I wish I could play it better. My younger brother just makes that guitar roar....he has to insult me tho'. He says, "You shouldn't even own this guitar it plays so good."

Entered at Wed Feb 3 21:15:18 CET 2016 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

The Strat that Eric Clapton used at The Last Waltz and his mainstay for many years was known as "Blackie." It was actually a composite of three different Strats he bought in a Nashville guitar store. It had a '56 body, a '57 neck and the pickups from a third '50s Strat. Earlier he had used a 1956 model, known as "Brownie," he'd bought second hand when he recorded Layla.

Entered at Wed Feb 3 20:43:24 CET 2016 from (74.14.7.222)

JT

Subject: Photo/photographer?

Ian: The Robert Bolton collection of photos cannot be accessed unless you are a member of something or other. He took the Knoxville Bob/Robbie photo of 8.Oct65. Maybe you can find a way to access that collection to answer your question or indeed to communicate with Robert Bolton (if that is possible?). That might provide an answer.

Entered at Wed Feb 3 20:41:20 CET 2016 from (96.245.114.250)

bassmanlee

Subject: Guitar trivia

The 5-position switch on Strats was not always so. Originally Strats had a three-position switch and only one pickup could be active at a time. Jimi Hendrix was one who discovered that if you got the switch to stay in the mid position between the detents, you could blend two pickups together. The popularity of this sound made Fender start supplying the five position switches. Tele switches select bridge, neck, and the two combined.

Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick reportedly had thousands of different guitars, many custom made Hamers with one neck to a ludicrous five neck model. I recall an interview in which he was asked if he selected a particular guitar for a particular song to get a specific sound. Ever the wag, he replied, "No, I can make one guitar sound just as bad as any other!". (Check the interview above for his deadpan comment about choice of slides.)

Entered at Wed Feb 3 20:25:27 CET 2016 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

Fender designed adjustable bridge saddles for each string to make string height adjustments as Norm described.

Another advantage to the solid body Tele with its simple design is that it is almost indestructable, which is great for the guitarist who plays gigs night after night. After over 25 years of use, the only problem I've had with my Tele is a loose output jack, which was an easy fix.

Entered at Wed Feb 3 20:05:22 CET 2016 from (208.181.205.134)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Randy Meisner & The Guest Book Detectives

What a bunch of detectives youze guys are. I remember my lead guitarist Rick Leather played two strats, a black one and a white one. Colour had nothing to do with it. He set the strings at different heights for different string tension for very different songs and styles of play from rock to country. The difference playing beside him for a long time was very noticeable.

The link is to one of Eagles very best performances in Washington, 1977. Their first million seller. Having co-wrote the song, "Take it to the Limit" belongs to Randy Meisner. Although many people have covered it, in my mind the only singer who ever did it justice is Suzy Boggus.

Entered at Wed Feb 3 19:57:19 CET 2016 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

For those not versed in guitar trivia, the major difference between the Telecaster and the Stratocaster is based on the number of pickups. The standard Tele has two pickups with a selector switch to choose between three tones. The standard Strat has three pickups with a selector switch producing five tone differences. Of course, the standard models can also be customized to the player's choosing, like Robbie's Strats, with different pickups, placement and switching configurations. Other modifications include replacing the standard Fender single coil pickups with Humbuckers.

Entered at Wed Feb 3 19:52:28 CET 2016 from (74.14.7.222)

JT

Subject: The photo in question

Ian: I looked again at the photo of Bob and Robbie from the Knoxville concert, with Robbie on the left. The jacket Dylan is wearing looks a lot like the jacket in the photo in question. There are other similarities as well. Of course, this proves nothing but Knoxville is a prime contender, I think.

Entered at Wed Feb 3 19:44:03 CET 2016 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

Entered at Wed Feb 3 19:21:15 CET 2016 from (86.147.82.31)

Simon

Subject: The making of David Bowie's "Heroes" with Tony Visconti

Lisa, thanks for the link to those pictures. Quite a few I hadn't seen before.

The above link is pretty cool. Tony Visconti analyses the multitrack to David Bowie's "Heroes", going through all the instrumental parts one by one. I believe some of the multis to his classic 70s albums are missing. Also, I found out that the guitar part to "Rebel Rebel" was played by Bowie himself and not Mick Ronson as I had assumed. That's a classic riff that doubtless spurred on many kids to pick up the guitar.

Entered at Wed Feb 3 19:00:32 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Wed Feb 3 18:59:24 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

But … I was thinking. 1965 was not an era when guitars were changed between songs, was it? I think the guitar technician in the wings with a tuner was a later invention.

Entered at Wed Feb 3 18:25:55 CET 2016 from (100.11.74.162)

PSB

Subject: that pic

Jerry, I was saying I was wrong about the Memphis show because I forgot about Levon. The Memphis show was in 1966. The guitar Dylan played at Newark was a Stratocaster, and a Sunburst one. The guitar in Ian's pic is a Telecaster.

Entered at Wed Feb 3 17:02:13 CET 2016 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

Subject: Fenders

In the hotel room scene from Eat the Document Dylan is seen playing a Fender acoustic (with its distinctive peg head) as he works on some new songs with Robbie.

Entered at Wed Feb 3 15:11:35 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: I'll bring over my Fender

I often want to show pictures, and have just opened a page on my blog for doing so (LINKED). The "Bob Dylan with Fender bass and amp" photo is referred to by David. We have a limited edition print of a drawing based on it in our TV room. Follow the link.

See also the wonderful Little Richard drawing below it, and the two framed LP covers facing my desk … no, not The Band!

Entered at Wed Feb 3 13:30:53 CET 2016 from (70.193.167.122)

David P

At the time Dylan began touring with the Hawks CBS had recently purchased Fender Instruments. As CBS was also the parent of Columbia Records, Dylan enjoyed the benefits of cross=branding with a supply of Fender products. Dylan even posed with a Fender bass in an ad back then. So Dylan and the guys had their pick of Fender guitars and amps. While Robbie stuck with his preferred Telecaster, Dylan used both Telecaster and Stratocasters.

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Bonk

Thank You.

Entered at Tue Feb 2 21:59:53 CET 2016 from (74.14.7.222)

JT

Subject: Electric Dylan-Oh no!

Ian or PSB: If you have photos from a number of these concerts, can you make any comments regarding the guitars played by Dylan during these shows? (type, colour etc)

Entered at Tue Feb 2 21:56:33 CET 2016 from (74.14.7.222)

JT

Subject: Toronto likely no/Mea Culpa

As I said, Ian, probably count Toronto out as well.

Bill M: Thanks: I should have been a little more careful in this crowd. I knew about the 2 drummers you mention after Levon, but failed to do my homework to remind myself when they arrived and left. Mea culpa.

Entered at Tue Feb 2 21:40:08 CET 2016 from (82.18.230.252)

Ian W

OK. I think we're all settled on Levon as being the drummer in that photo. As someone pointed out, on that basis, we're talking shows from September to November 1965. The list of shows posted before is a good starting point (I don't agree with everything on that list but that's for another day).

From what I can see, it's not Newark NJ, Burlington VT, Syracuse NY or Providence RI but that leaves a lot of shows.

Entered at Tue Feb 2 20:48:40 CET 2016 from (68.171.246.1)

Bill M

Entered at Tue Feb 2 21:07:36 CET 2016 from (74.14.7.222)

JT

Subject: Attention to detail

PSB: Attention to detail is what we need. It looks like the guitar he played in Newark (the show you were at) was black and a some white/blond in the centre. The guitar in the question photo (Ian's) looks mostly blond. I'm no expert so are they the same type of guitar or different? Yes: I think there were 2 mins also.

Entered at Tue Feb 2 19:01:48 CET 2016 from (74.14.7.222)

JT

Subject: Long distance information

PSB: To what Memphis show are you referring? I did not see a show in Memphis in those months of 1965. Did I miss something or is there a show that is not listed and should be?

Entered at Tue Feb 2 18:59:54 CET 2016 from (74.14.7.222)

JT

Subject: Parted

Bonk: I checked out the hair-parted issue by finding other photos of Levon at the time and yes, it is so.

Entered at Tue Feb 2 18:34:39 CET 2016 from (100.11.74.162)

PSB

I forgot about the Levon factor with the Memphis show and I'm very sure that's Levon. It is not Sandy Konikoff, and Bobby Gregg had a beard. The other thing to go by is which electric Dylan is using and the length of hair particularly of Rick and Robbie. It appears Dylan is using a blonde Tele as opposed to a Sunburst or a black Tele or a Strat for that matter. If you look closely at the photo, he does have two mic stands.

Entered at Tue Feb 2 18:20:50 CET 2016 from (184.66.107.71)

Bonk

That sure is his kit from that time. Check out the pic from Newark with Dylan.

Entered at Tue Feb 2 18:15:43 CET 2016 from (184.66.107.71)

Bonk

Same beaten to shit ride cymbal. Extra sticks jammed in the bass drum like he did. The only thing that throws me is it looks like his hair is parted?

Entered at Tue Feb 2 15:44:50 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Tue Feb 2 15:34:06 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

The drummer stance and profile look like Levon to me - it's that characteristic semi-crouching over the kit.

BTW, playing "And Then There Were Four" a lot. The two drummers are great on Cripple Creek, and Richard is very powerful on King Harvest. The first time through, Earl Cate's guitar irritated. Full marks for not trying to imitate Robbie though and doing his own solos. He's not "as good as" Robbie" and does more conventional stuff. But Jim Weider fit the guitar parts better. "And Then There Were Four" may benefit from coming early in the 1983 tour when the extras were sitting back more.

Entered at Tue Feb 2 15:31:11 CET 2016 from (74.14.7.222)

JT

Subject: Contenders

Ian: Here are the likeliest contenders: It is likely not Newark, NJ (unless Levon took his glasses off and the backdrop changed). And from what I remember from the Massey Hall show of Nov. 15 (set up was different), I don't think it was Toronto

. So if any of our readers were at these shows, maybe they can give input

September October 24 Austin, Texas 25 Dallas, Texas 1 New York City, New York 2 Newark, New Jersey Baltimore, Maryland 8 Knoxville, Tennessee 9 Atlanta, Georgia 16 Worcester, Massachusetts Princeton, New Jersey 22 Providence, Rhode Island 23 Burlington, Vermont 24 Detroit, Michigan 29 Boston, Massachusetts 30 Hartfort, Connecticut 31 Boston, Massachusetts early Oct. Madison, Wisconsin 5 Minneapolis, Minnesota ?Yellow Springs, Ohio 6 Ithaca, New Y ork 12 Cleveland, Ohio 14 Toronto, Ontario, Canada 15 Toronto, Ontario, Canada 18 Cincinnati, Ohio 19 Columbus, Ohio 20 Buffalo, New Y ork 21 Syracuse, New Y ork 26 Chicago, Illinois 27 Chicago, Illinois 28 Washington, DC 1 Seattle, W ashington 3 Berkeley, California 4 Berkeley, California 5 San Francisco, California 7 Long Beach, California 8 Santa Monica, California

Entered at Tue Feb 2 14:46:45 CET 2016 from (83.249.161.239)

A town and union council of Gujrat District, in the Punjab province of Pakistan. a part of Kharian Tehsil ...Magneto-optical drive (magneto-optical storage), a data storage medium or stands for modus operandi which translates as method of operation.

Subject: Jefferson Airplane

This might interest Jewish posters in gb. Although Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna) can trace his Finnish ancestry back to the 1300's he has recently found his Jewish roots and rely to them. As a patriotic Finn I found it odd but - of course - respect it.

Footnote: My new handle is my Finnish family name according to the stupid Goooooogle. Get used to it.

Entered at Tue Feb 2 14:20:59 CET 2016 from (74.14.7.222)

JT

Subject: Drummer

I'll go first: Pretty sure that is Levon Helm. I am committed to that being a 1965 photo and as we know, Levon played all shows from August through November in North America. He left I think when they went overseas. Despite the lack of shades, it sure looks like him.

Entered at Tue Feb 2 12:50:50 CET 2016 from (83.249.161.239)

NorthWestCoaster

Subject: Disco forever

What Bob Dylan forgot to say about gbers: Bill M is realated to Boney M and Peter V is the man behind the wind machine in this disco video.

On a serious side: it is amazing how old hymns survive in moremodern songs. It can be hymns in J. S. Bachs Christmas Oratorium (Ragtime!) or Appalachian Mountain hymns (Calvin!). I believe my Swedish link is more of Calvin's cup of tea because it clearly is an "American" Mountain hymn, even if faster.

Entered at Tue Feb 2 12:43:31 CET 2016 from (82.18.230.252)

Ian W

Subject: That Dylan/LATH photo again

One of the questions to consider is whether or not you think the drummer in that photo is Levon.

Unfortunately, the drummer's face and features are not too clear. The "whiteout" (not that uncommon in concert photos) makes it difficult to make out the features, so we're left with the profile.

The only other comment I might make is that the few photos from the "Levon period" that include The Hawks (as opposed to being just of Dylan) mainly show Levon wearing sunglasses on stage.

What do you think? Is it Levon or not? I would appreciate it if you could have a look again and lob in your own view.

Here's the link, to save you time finding it:

http://dylanquents.tumblr.com/post/116357968654/thefoolonthehill67-bob-dylan-and-the-band

Entered at Tue Feb 2 07:35:53 CET 2016 from (210.86.100.208)

Rod

there were some good performances on those early 80s shows. I just wish it could have been The Band doing it by themselves.

Entered at Tue Feb 2 01:49:47 CET 2016 from (80.111.13.10)

Seán

Subject: Terry Wogan

So what if Terry wore a rug

It's enough to know that he dug

Relaxing in a sleeping bag

Time enough for a crying jag.

.

Joyce was an emigrant two.

.

(sic)

Entered at Mon Feb 1 23:17:22 CET 2016 from (174.1.58.122)

Lisa

Hope this comes out. I don't know if anybody has looked through the photo site Ian W posted, but here is a picture of Rick, age 14 or 15. There are a lot of really interesting pics to browse through, if you've got the time.

Entered at Mon Feb 1 21:01:33 CET 2016 from (174.1.58.122)

Lisa

Subject: Jaap Van Zweden

Here's a good article from yesterday's New York Times about your friend, Norbert. And Sarah, it might give you a better idea of what conductors actually do.

Entered at Mon Feb 1 20:36:20 CET 2016 from (74.14.7.222)

JT

Subject: photo

Ian: I'm pretty sure, as you imply, that this concert is 1965, not 1966. By 1966, the appearance of all concerned was different. If one looks at that Robert Bolton photo of Dylan and Robertson of 1965, they look very similar. I wouldn't be surprised if this photo was from Knoxville in Oct 65 or from a concert from around that time. Exactly which one, I can't find evidence so impossible to know.

Entered at Mon Feb 1 20:31:35 CET 2016 from (82.18.230.252)

Ian W

There was a Memphis concert but it was on Thursday, 10 February 1966. I have a number of files items about that concert (mostly photocopies of less than perfect quality)but they seem to show Dylan had two mouth-height microphones/microphone stands. This makes me think that the photo I posted is not from Memphis.

I can only recall one photo from the Knoxville concert and it was a head-&-shoulders shot of Dylan and Robbie, which means it is not possible to check the other on-stage people and equipment to see if it all fits.

Very often, it is a question of matching "new" photos with other concert photos from the Dylan/LATH tour. Which suit is Dylan wearing? Which shirt? Is Robbie in a suit or a leather jacket? What kind of stool does Dylan use (three legs or four / square legs or round / wood or metal)? That sort of thing. It's all very "nerdy" on occasions, I'm afraid.

Entered at Mon Feb 1 20:06:10 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Phone rings.

Pick up. Sound of many many voices in a call centre. Fifth call in three days.

Hello?

(Indian Asian accent) Is this being the gentleman of the house?

Uh-huh.

May I check your name, sir?

Smith. John Smith.

So Mr Smith. How is the weather in Boor-knee-mowt? It is fine, isn’t it? Yes?

Uh-huh.

Good. Here in Why-gan it is raining dogs and cats.

Why-gan?

It is suburb of Main-chester. You know? It is from Lank-aye-shy-ah.

Uh-huh.

May I ask you about …?

You’re working in a call-centre in India, aren’t you?

No, no. Sir. I call from Great Bry-tain.

Well, I don’t want to buy anything. But can I help you in your job? W-I-G-A-N is pronounced Why- gain, and it’s in Lank-ar-shy-are-eeee.

Thank you, sir.

And it isn’t raining in Why-gain. It is the hottest February day on record. Thirty degrees Celsius and the sun is shining. You can say that on your next call.

Thank you!

Entered at Mon Feb 1 18:44:33 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

"And Then There Were Four" is the 1983 Too Many Cooks line-up with the Cates. The Chicago 2 July 1983 show was around on tape trees before this CD. What is a standout is Rick's version of Long Black Veil - worth the price of admittance on ts own.

Entered at Mon Feb 1 17:21:45 CET 2016 from (74.14.7.222)

JT

Subject: The photo question

Bob is noted to have been in Knoxville with LATH for a concert in 1965. I couldn't find a Memphis entry in the annals of 1965. The looks like a performance on stage. Perhaps Memphis happened and it is not listed? Not sure.i

Entered at Mon Feb 1 16:48:42 CET 2016 from (100.11.74.162)

PSB

Subject: Bob Hawks pic

Ian, I am pretty sure that is Memphis. However, send the link to our mutual friend in Tennessee, he will know!

Entered at Mon Feb 1 15:18:53 CET 2016 from (131.137.34.219)

sadavid

Subject: Bob Dylan and The Hawks, Sydney 1966

_Live 1966_, only different. I've only spot-checked the electric set. 99% Bob, 1% Band (but a reasonable amount of Garth on "Thin Man").

Entered at Mon Feb 1 14:25:10 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Musicals

After a theatrical weekend, two musical reviews that might be of interest. Link to my home page as there are three new reviews. The ones of interest are FUNNY GIRL with Sheridan Smith (first time it's been done in fifty years here, since Streisand - and this is better!), and Damon Albarn (of Blur)'s "wonder.land" now at the National Theatre.

Entered at Mon Feb 1 13:29:45 CET 2016 from (99.244.8.134)

John D

Entered at Mon Feb 1 13:28:47 CET 2016 from (82.18.230.252)

Ian W

Subject: Dylan/Hawks concert photo

Any thoughts as to when and/or where this photo might have been taken?

http://dylanquents.tumblr.com/post/116357968654/thefoolonthehill67-bob-dylan-and-the-band

Entered at Mon Feb 1 10:43:35 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Mon Feb 1 08:52:15 CET 2016 from (83.160.180.22)

Ragtime

Subject: Conductors

Esa-Pekka Salonen tells everybody he refused. Jaap was the unanimous choice of the musicians, no matter what Ilkka's dog barks. In the low countries JvZ was (also) famous for his advocacy of contemporary music (many premieres). In Dallas the oil barons are more conservative. I am looking forward to the NYPhil playing Get Up Jake.

I'll miss good old Terry. The word "nice" was written all over him.

Entered at Mon Feb 1 00:26:43 CET 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

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