The Band Guestbook, January 2013

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Mike C

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Tim

Jed, my condolences. I found a direct correlation between losing my dad and becoming obsessed with music. The hole is always there but music fills it nicely.

Entered at Thu Jan 31 23:17:15 CET 2013 from (71.184.199.161)

Tim

Subject: mississippi show

Pat, would you be willing to send me a scan of the tix? I have been collecting the posters, articles, tix of all the shows (have a few hundred from 68-86 which I'm trying to devise a way to post (wish we could upload to this site) I'll send you my email. Thanks Tim

Entered at Thu Jan 31 23:07:49 CET 2013 from (108.90.18.26)

Pat B

Adam, I talked to the Alabaman who took those pictures. He sent me a scan of the ticket stub--the date and location are correct. It certainly pokes a hole in the narrative that the Band did not play between the accident in Austin and the September 17 gig. In fact, it is kind of inexplicable.

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Bob F.

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Joan

My condolences on your loss. Losing both parents so closely is a hard thing. I'm glad the music is so comforting. I've been there and I think I know how you feel.

Entered at Thu Jan 31 18:44:23 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

I found that too, Tim. I haven't tried "Yes" but it must be worse. And every time I see an advert reading BOB DYLAN and his BAND, I get needlessly excited.

Entered at Thu Jan 31 18:37:57 CET 2013 from (71.184.199.161)

Tim

Subject: Asbury Park

Thanks for the addition. One of the hardest thing about finding information on The Band is there name: The Band. From a research perspective, couldn't be a worse name (maybe Yes) I always have to throw another more limiting search term in when hunting information (levon, or venue, or something else)

Entered at Thu Jan 31 17:47:57 CET 2013 from (72.78.41.13)

PSB

Subject: Another concert for the list

Last night I was talking with a friend, one I'd gone to several Band concerts with and he reminded me of a show that is not on the list. I just tried to track down the date on the net, but it's not easily coming up, so hopefully I have a ticket stub. The show was at Asbury Park Convention Hall and judging by the other shows, it would have been July '76, either at the end or the beginning of that little tour.

Entered at Thu Jan 31 16:28:01 CET 2013 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

Want to get your own Strat customized like Robbie's? See link above.

Entered at Thu Jan 31 14:08:48 CET 2013 from (108.231.200.220)

Todd

Jed, very sorry for your loss.

Interesting info in BEG's linked article about Robbie's Strat modifications. In the article it's mentioned that Robbie retrieved the bronzed TLW Strat from the R&R Hall of Fame. I may have the chronology wrong, but I thought I remembered reading once that the bronzed Strat was given to Marty Scorcese and he had it in his office. But I'm not sure if the museum had it first or Scorcese had it first. Or could they be referring to more than one guitar?

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Peter V

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apetrov

Subject: Re: Крепы Flow!

Do not use the guestbook for personal messages. Think before you post. Don't post anything you would not dare to say to someone face to face. Do not post serious insults, personal attacks or too many four-letter words. Respect that this is a web site in honour of The Band and their music.

Entered at Thu Jan 31 07:15:51 CET 2013 from (69.158.29.130)

brown eyed girl

Lessons From Levon
According to Maldives frontman Jason Dodson.

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brown eyed girl

SIX-STRING SURVIVORS
Robbie Robertson

From a rare 1976 interview:

"Robbie, on your Strat there’s a small grey object right in front of the bridge pickup… Robertson: That’s the one modification that I have on my guitars. I can pull the rear knob up so the guitar is in a straight Strat pickup line; if I push it down it kicks in that rear humbucking pickup.

So it would seem that, at some point, Robbie took the next logical step and re-wired that split pickup in the bridge position so that he could achieve both standard Strat tones, and an overdriven, humbucker sound. (See bottom inset picture, taken from ‘The Last Waltz.’) At this time, the stock Stratocaster knobs were also switched out for Telecaster knobs – a wise upgrade, as Tele knobs are knurled, and have a much improved gripping surface over the plastic Strat knobs.

After the Band’s dissolution, Robbie’s solo career took off, and again he reached for the ’58 Strat, further modifying it in the early ‘80’s with a lockable tremolo from the Washburn company (see main picture.) Eventually the Strat was retired, and spent many years in the Rock & Roll HOF in Cleveland (see main picture.)

A couple of years ago, however, as he was preparing to record ‘How to Become Clairvoyant,’ his first new record in over a decade, Robbie retrieved the bronze Strat from the Hall of Fame, and asked Fender’s Custom Shop to replicate some of the features in a new guitar. The Custom Shop happily obliged, and created two prototypes that Robbie has been using ever since, both based on his original ’58 (see middle inset pic.)

There is some recent video of a very rare concert appearance of Robbie, performing a Bo Diddley tune with Eric Clapton at the latter’s Crossroads benefit concert, and achieving a really great tone with one of his new Custom Shop Stratocasters. It would seem that instead of a push/pull knob as on his original ’58, the custom shop as re-wired a standard five-way switch to activate the overdriven humbucker circuitry.

Do I see a Robbie Robertson signature model in the near future? "

Entered at Thu Jan 31 06:51:18 CET 2013 from (69.158.29.130)

brown eyed girl

It's all a blur to me now.....Not sure if already posted.

"This music is for historical purposes only. It is intended to give the listener an insight, as to what it was like attending this concert at the legendary Second Chance club. It is not to be reproduced in any form."

"The group, minus Robbie Robertson, takes the stage of the legendary Second Chance club in Ann Arbor, Michigan for an unforgettable evening of music."

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Zzzz

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Pat B

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Billy C. (Friend0

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Adam

Subject: Addition to Band Concert List

I found an addition to the Band Concert List. The link shows 8 pictures of The Band, taken on September 12 1976 at the University of Southern Mississippi!

Entered at Thu Jan 31 00:43:12 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Condolences Jed

I went thru' it a little over a year ago Jed. Knowing what you are going thru, I share the feeling. Remember all the good things and keep 'em locked in your heart.

N/J

Entered at Wed Jan 30 23:38:04 CET 2013 from (174.44.139.55)

Jed

My mom died on 1/11/13,one year and 54 days after my Dad passed.Only The Band's music,particular songs,both soothe me and open up the stream of tears.Both parents were accomplished musicians and the 3 voices of the 3 departed singers seem to be singing them closer to the heavens.

Entered at Wed Jan 30 23:36:49 CET 2013 from (174.44.139.55)

Jed

My mom died on 1/11/13,one year and 54 days after my Dad passed.Only The Band's music,particular songs,both soothe me and open up the stream of tears.Both parents were accomplished musicians and the 3 voices of the 3 departed singers seem to be singing them closer to the heavens.

Entered at Wed Jan 30 21:30:20 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

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David P

The other day I mentioned Graham Parker & the Rumour's recent album, "Three Chords Good". It opens with the song "Snake Oil Capital of the World" and the closing cut is "Last Bookstore in Town", a satiric look at the vanishing breed of quirky, independent bookstores.

Years ago, former President Jimmy Carter's daughter Amy worked at an independent bookstore in Atlanta after leaving Brown university. It was one of small chain of less than half-dozen or so stores called Chapter 11. Sadly, it soon lived up to its name and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, like so many other bookstore chains.

Entered at Wed Jan 30 20:35:01 CET 2013 from (98.15.190.173)

Lars

Subject: new -fangled things

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Bill M

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JT

Subject: John Hammond again

Bill: I was at that Harborfront show! I was amazed that a performer of that caliber would play at that site. I saw Eric Truffaz (jazz trumpeter par excellence!) at the same venue a few years later.

Entered at Wed Jan 30 19:13:28 CET 2013 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

Another development in the way many are now listening to music is cloud music storage technology. In the last couple of years the major recording labels Warner, Sony, EMI and UMG have signed deals with companies like Apple to provide their respective music catalogs for these cloud storage services, thus involving more negotiated apportionment of royalties.

Entered at Wed Jan 30 19:05:19 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Turn the page

I agree with you Joan. I guess we're too damn old to change. Just turning the page in a book, and then turning back for a second to re-read the last sentence maybe, feels better than clicking a mouse or something.

The looks of that library will never be replaced by electronic stuff.

On her passing my mom left me her collection of Zane Grey. With the few that I had, my collection now is 34 of his books. Maybe my grandsons will learn to love him and enjoy the feel of those books.

Entered at Wed Jan 30 18:54:53 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

If every book lover in the USA determined to buy a new hardback at Barnes & Noble (a store I like very much) once a month, it might make a difference.

If you love books, forgo the $2 saving … it's not even a cup of coffee. Buy in the store!

Entered at Wed Jan 30 18:40:49 CET 2013 from (74.108.32.67)

Joan

Subject: Death of bookstores

Another hit to the book business Barnes & Noble is downsizing. i guess in a few years we will all being reading Kindles.For the record, I like actual books.Like the feel, the smell...

Entered at Wed Jan 30 18:04:19 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

JT: You're right about John Hammond. I saw him just once (at Harbourfront in the early '80s) and he was awesome solo. The hardest-working musician I've seen. One of those comforting instances when you're surrounded by a crowd of strangers so sensitive and in sych that they recognise en masse that a second encore would be asking too much.

Entered at Wed Jan 30 17:48:53 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

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David P

An important legal precedent involving royalties for downloads & ringtones was set in 2010 in a case relating to the recordings of Marshall B. Mathers III, p/k/a Eminem. The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (California) ruled that downloads under the recording contract provisions involved licensing the masters, rather than traditional sales as the record label contended. The standard royalty rate for licensings is 50%, as opposed to a range of around 5-20% for sales. The losing parties, Universal Music Group and its subsidiaries, Aftermath/Interscope Records, subsequently appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which declined to hear the appeal. The case had been remanded back to the lower court for trial, to resolve certain issues relating to damages, etc., but the parties settled for an undisclosed sum last year. Also in March 2012, Sony settled a class-action lawsuit, with the Allman Brothers and Cheap Trick as lead plaintiffs, in a similar case alleging that the record companies were underpaying the artists for downloads, by agreeing to pay around $8 million.

Entered at Wed Jan 30 16:39:59 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Just got Matthew E. White’s “Big Inner” CD after reading three ecstatic reviews. All three mentioned it was like The Band, two compared it to Marvin Gaye. While I’ve enjoyed the first listen, I can’t for the life of me imagine where either comparison came from … except they mention Big Pink as his favourite album. Vocally, he’s more like Robbie than Rick, Levon or Richard for starters. Maybe the piano and horns in Hot Toddies? Maybe the intro horns on Brazos? It’s definitely an album worth getting, but three comparisons to The Band? Would that be lazy reviewers feeding off each other?

Entered at Wed Jan 30 16:16:49 CET 2013 from (24.108.143.105)

JT

Subject: Performers and streaming

Peter: If this is what is happening to performers (as seems to be the case), then I would think that performers should set up their own streaming service, owned and run by them, with the help of experts in streaming (people who set up the well known functionally effective systems now in place) to vie with them and get the rewards they deserve. This would require that the performer remain independent and patiently await (if they are new in the business to the public) their growth. However, ultimately, if they have the talent, they will be recognized and they could get the financial reward that they deserve for the work and creativity that they show. I always wondered why performers haven't done this to date. With the opportunity now to be widely heard via this wonderful technology, taking advantage of the business end themselves would seem to be the way to go instead of continually linking themselves to big music conglomerates. It would have to be a 'union' (I use the word in the loose sense) of a large number of performers doing this. With that kind of competition, maybe some fairness would enter into the system.

Entered at Wed Jan 30 15:58:28 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

The model's totally f*cked, basically. Artists are still getting a share of the record companies' take, so a small percentage on a 99 cent sale. The appropriate model, given no manufacturing, no distribution, no sleeve printing etc, should be 50% to the artist. Anything less is theft. People support "services" (or licensed piracy, as I call it) like Spotify, then moan when the local HMV closes.

On books, if they can sustain it, both amazon and Apple offer a self-publishing deal of up to 70% to the creator. Good luck to Apple and Kindle.

The trouble with music is a tower built on shaky 1890s foundations, hence the better share for music publishers than performers, then "breakage in transit" deals continued into the digital age.

Entered at Wed Jan 30 15:46:16 CET 2013 from (131.137.247.6)

sadavid

Subject: 21st century music business model

_New York Times_ article on music-streaming confirms Billy C. (Friend0's reports about the vanishingly-small per-play royalties.

The doomsayers' prediction is that new product will disappear because creators can't earn their daily bread; those who discern a light at the end of the long plastic hallway say the money is busy right now building the subscriber base; there will be plenty for everyone bimeby . . . .

Entered at Wed Jan 30 15:31:40 CET 2013 from (50.101.56.100)

brown eyed girl

The Band, Musikhalle Hamburg, Mai 1971

Previous photo with Robbie was actually in 2007, not 2004.

The contest of The Band versus Steppenwolf forgot to mention Richard Manuel!!!!!!!! Unbelievable!!!!!!!

Entered at Wed Jan 30 15:16:38 CET 2013 from (50.101.56.100)

brown eyed girl

Two years too late?
The Best Toronto Band. Ever. Round 1: The Band vs. Steppenwolf

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brown eyed girl

Rodriguez - "Crucify Your Mind" 8/14/2012 Letterman

Hey Al Edge......I didn't do a thing. I just copied and pasted.
Btw, some of your beloved songs by Bruce were the soundtrack to my everyday life. When he sang about his father going to work in a factory.....My parents did the same. You could feeeeel in the song how difficult a life it was.....

Entered at Wed Jan 30 14:59:47 CET 2013 from (50.101.56.100)

brown eyed girl

He was known in Cape Town, South Africa......How did we not know about him?

Searching for Sugar Man Official Trailer #1 (2012) - Documentary HD

Entered at Wed Jan 30 14:49:01 CET 2013 from (50.101.56.100)

brown eyed girl

Ultimate Eurythmics 2004 - With Robbie Robertson

Entered at Wed Jan 30 10:44:27 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Sorry, this talk of hippies and music reminded me of something we were talking about in a record store yesterday (Find of the day: original Topic LP of "Talking Woody Guthrie" by Ramblin' Jack Elliot). You used to be able to find good old vinyl in charity shops, but mostly that’s gone. The charities filter them out, and have their own specialist “Books & Music” stores now, so what’s left is rubbish … K-Tel, Ronco, military bands, Val Doonican, James Last.

Anyway we were comparing finds of the past, and we realized that the best records and the best modern novels were to be found in the shops for mental health charities. I don’t know what that says about books or music.

Entered at Wed Jan 30 10:35:01 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

I posted about this in the summer. We took a taxi to Haight-Ashbury and the driver was my age, and said “Are you going to see the hippies? Cos’ you’re 45 years too late …” I explained that I was heading for Amoeba Records, and Mrs V would spend an equally happy hour or two browsing supplements in Whole Foods opposite. We got into conversation, and he’d worked security at Winterland and regaled us with tales of Janis Joplin & George Harrison … different tales, I hasten to add. After we paid, we stayed chatting for five minutes. So he was the original thing, though he looked much like me. Balding, normal clothes.

Then you get to Haight and on the corner are four kids, about twenty. If HBO had costumed them for a movie about 1967 hippies, they would have won an award for authenticity of costume and make up. They even had the authentic smell of patchouli mixed with stale urine. Patchwork flares cut into jeans, old beads, whispy beards, matted hair, signs drawn in makeup. A perfect recreation … but they’re all bout 19 or 20, and this is 2012.

Then a neighbour (a few years older) was here and we were talking about the late 60s up to around 1971, and she asked if we had any photos, and said, ‘Good Lord! You were hippies!’

So I don’t know. What is a hippie? In many ways it was a fashion choice in the UK. I went to university in 1966 (Does that make me Class of 69 or Class of 66? We don’t say that in Britain), and mostly the sartorial choice was Mod. Then the kids who arrived in 1967 all had flares and beads and were trying to grow beards.

Entered at Wed Jan 30 06:51:49 CET 2013 from (67.238.31.37)

rosalind

Entered at Wed Jan 30 05:29:47 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: It's almost funny.......but.stupid

Roz; Your phycological profiling of Hippies is just stupid. That's pretty nutty generalizing of people coming from some one who runs around in a nightgown with a shot gun shooting at dogs in the middle of the night. By the sounds of your red neck,you should be using your semi automatic with a 30 shot clip.

Shit....I'm gonna laugh all night about this.

Entered at Wed Jan 30 04:30:48 CET 2013 from (24.108.143.105)

JT and LvdB

Subject: John Hammond sings the blues in Toronto this spring

And if you want to see one of the premier practitioners of the blues, head for Toronto this spring to Hugh's Room to hear the great John Hammond. I've had the fortune of hearing him many times over the years and its always special.

Entered at Wed Jan 30 04:03:51 CET 2013 from (99.89.226.221)

Billy C. (Friend0

Entered at Wed Jan 30 01:52:45 CET 2013 from (67.238.31.37)

Rozlyn?

Subject: Hippy-Dippy-Lovely-Dovey Hippies

The only generation who embarrassed both their parents AND their own children are the hippie generation. A hippie possesses the mentality that "anything goes" but then they spend the rest of their lives sitting around in a circle, passing the joints and complaining that it went. Even tho they've have surely learned by now that you can't relive the past they insist on believing, like the Great Gatsby, that you can. They're constantly bearing down mentally (with what little is left of their minds) in a futile attempt to magically bring it back. They still blame everything and everybody else for the mistakes they've made in their lives and they still believe that music can save the world. We all know music cannot save the world and if your life is trying enough even music can become your enemy.

Entered at Wed Jan 30 01:04:20 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: OH!.....WOOOOOOOOOOOW! Monster

Like really.....y'know what I mean man......your just like not really "hip"....if you like don't understand......I mean like the far out concept of what being "hip" is really all about...............man.

Entered at Wed Jan 30 00:50:00 CET 2013 from (71.184.199.161)

Tim

Any posters to this Guestbook in the Stratford Ontario area?

Entered at Wed Jan 30 00:37:43 CET 2013 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Wow BEG - how d'you do those?

For someone limited to :-0) they're pretty damn impressive!

Entered at Tue Jan 29 22:21:20 CET 2013 from (76.14.18.133)

Tiny Monster

Subject: ... Rozlyn ? ...

... I check in here about once a week, usually when I can't sleep, it make a great sleeping aid but low and behold, now I see Roz is back ... Good to see you back up on the board Rozlyn Honey, now I got some chuckles and grins ...

... Tiny (ain't no Hippie) Monster ...

...By the way Jerry Garcia and a bunch of his renegade crew actually held a mock funeral in 1967 they dubbed "Death of Hippie" hoisting a coffin through The Haight and everything ...

... personally too never got just what exactly a "Hippie" is ...

Entered at Tue Jan 29 20:26:14 CET 2013 from (156.47.15.10)

David

Entered at Tue Jan 29 19:48:02 CET 2013 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

He provided the Telly twang (& production colaberation) on most of Dwight Yoakum's records. Until "Dwight Sings Buck" DY's superb tribute to Buck Owens. DY's new one "3 Pears" (co-produced by Beck!) doesn't include Mr Anderson either - anybody here know what happened.

Entered at Tue Jan 29 19:32:28 CET 2013 from (74.108.32.67)

Joan

Peter, that song "The Deal" was truly horrible.I'd hate to hear the winner.It reminded me of "Teen Angel". Now I have to check my blood sugar level. It was so saccarine.

BEG sorry to hear about your wrist. I hope you will share some of your Cuban adventures.

Entered at Tue Jan 29 19:24:13 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

Peter V: kd's Australian TV version at the follow-on link (repeated above) is very impressive too, especially if the but-but-buts are sincere (that word again).

Entered at Tue Jan 29 19:06:40 CET 2013 from (216.89.164.100)

bassmanlee

Subject: Black & White Night

RC, that certainly was an event. Other guests included Elvis Costello, J. D. Souther and Tom Waits. T-Bone Burnett produced and played, probably the first time many of us laid eyes on him. The band was Elvis' (the King) TCB Band - James Burton, Jerry Scheff, Glen D. Hardin and Ron Tutt on drums. Ron has the distinction of having played with Elvis and Jerry Garcia. Jerry Scheff I believe has played with Dylan, and James Burton and Glen D. Hardin have played and recorded with, well, everybody.

J.D. Souther has staged a comeback of sorts, releasing If the World Was You in '08 and excellent album reminiscent of old Tom Waits in vibe, although J.D. actually has a voice left. A rework of his songwriting catalog was given much the same treatment on a disc called A Natural History that came out in 2011. Both worth a listen.

Entered at Tue Jan 29 19:05:08 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Thru the thick smoke

Listening to your words David reminds me we visited this before. I knew you would be talking the Teley talk, as those guys brought it to the front in country.

I didn't bother to mention who all Buck played guitar for in those early years. It's a long list. Same as Willie Nelson playing bass for Ray Price all those years ago. We agree Buck was a very smart business man.

Entered at Tue Jan 29 18:56:19 CET 2013 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

Subject: The Buck Stops Here

Buck Ownes negotiated to retain control & ownership of his Capitol master recordings. This later earned him quite a bit of money when he licensed them for reissue on CD. He also owned his own publishing company, Blue Book Music, which also published Merle Haggard's early classics.

Leo Fender's Telecaster, made down the road in Fullerton, became an integral part of the Bakersfield sound in the hands of Buck, Jimmy Bryant and others. The Tele's clean, biting tone cut through the dim lights, thick smoke and loud, loud music. Mr. Owens first gained attention playing lead guitar for others and he was equally adept at playing rockabilly shuffle as well as chicken pickin' country. Although Don Rich, who was also a great fiddle player, would assume the role as lead guitarist after joining the Buckaroos, Buck never lost his touch on the Tele (see link). Mr. Rich was a fan of The Band and the Buckaroos covered "Up On Cripple Creek" and "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down".

Entered at Tue Jan 29 18:34:33 CET 2013 from (217.129.94.96)

Pedro Castelo Moreira

Entered at Tue Jan 29 18:13:11 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Roy Orbison. Country. A Canadian. I think the only place to go is this link to Roy Orbison and k.d. lang duetting on "Cryin'" … also when you get to YouTube check the 1989 Hall of Fame version by k.d. lang on her own (with intro speech).

Entered at Tue Jan 29 17:55:01 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Commercial Country

Yes Peter, they are country, but this expression "Commercial country" came a long, I beleive back in the sixties. It seemed the reference was to writers, producers who promoted artists and material that may seem borderline country simply for the money. When ones like Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynett, Patsy Cline and the like came along, then evry one wanted to do something to get a piece of the action.

We could go on and on at this time, of young artists who have done a cover, (and at times very well) to get their voice, face and name out there.

Example Dwight Yoakam's cover of Johnny Horton's "Honky-Tonk Man". It got him on the road. In his hey day, he had the "honour" of doing "Streets of Bakersfield" with Buck Owens. Bakersfield being Buck's town. I always wanted to get down there and join Buck's Saturday jam. Sadly Buck passed away before I got the chance.

It's only natural I guess, not only with country music, but every genre I suppose. The old expression people "jumping on the band wagon" applies.

One of the greatest concerts of "cross over music", and I think that people will agree with me, it will never be duplicated, was Roy Orbison's "Black & White" concert."

I will name only a few of the artists who participated for the love and admiration of Roy. Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Brown, Jennifer Warnes, Bonnie Raitt, KD Lang. Man I can watch that video of mine over & over.

Entered at Tue Jan 29 17:48:10 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

Answer records like Jo-Anne Campbell's tend to be send-ups by nature, but Claude King sounds truly sincere in his feelings for the Clowers girl - even if he was really a bank manager in Ames, Iowa. Inhabiting the vast terrain between clownishly insincere and seemingly heartfelt exists braggadocio like "Walked 47 miles of barbwire, got a cobra snake for a necktie, got a brand new house on the roadside, made from rattlesnake hide".

Entered at Tue Jan 29 17:29:39 CET 2013 from (131.137.247.6)

sadavid

Of course it's dangerous to generalize, but it seems to me that 'country' music has long been self-conscious and frequently self-deprecating (see Homer and Jethro). And you get songs like "He Stopped Loving Her Today" where the execution is so perfect that the result is sublime despite the fact that the thing is so awful on paper.

No different than other pop forms, I guess, there are successive 'movements' of artists (Willie, outlaws, cosmic cowboys, .alt acts) turning away from the mainstream in an effort to salvage the soul of the music, or merely to avoid the icky.

While mainstream artists continue to get wealthy pandering to those masses of worthy folk who lack the ick-sensitive gene . . . .

Entered at Tue Jan 29 17:19:25 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Thanks, Norm. Yes, Buck Owens is what I would think of as 100% country, and this sort of stuff was usually filtered to us via Ireland rather than direct.

I have “Pay The Devil” and I saw Van with Linda Gail Lewis too, the second being the worst show by him I ever saw, which the reviewers tend to agree with. Would you call Bobbie Gentry and Jeannie C. Riley country? They also sold well in Britain. I liked both. And obviously Glen Campbell was huge in Britain, but again that’s very different to the Buck Owens stuff (dare I say “much better” for me?)

Bill, I not only like Wolverton Mountain, I like “I’m The Girl From Wolverton Mountain” by Jo-Anne Campbell. But I assume both are send-ups.

The Ringo Starr “Beaucoups of Blues” album was one we played a lot for a year or so. I just loved the backing … and the songs.

Entered at Tue Jan 29 17:18:08 CET 2013 from (76.68.50.202)

brown eyed girl

Robbie and Bob hangin' at the dining room table.

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brown eyed girl

♥ Love For Levon ♥ – Izod Center, NJ Photos 10/3/12

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brown eyed girl

"Between Trains" playing.....right now on my iPod dock.

Levon Helm & Friends, Levon’s 70th Birthday Celebration, Mt Jam 06/06/10

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Get it Right!

Awright Bill!....your assesment is right .....altho' backwards. There are so many younger artists today, who, even admittedly try to sound like George Jones.

There is a video I have here somewhere I taped a few years back of a concert in his honour, (I forget what the occassion was). However, many of his guests were younger singers who were his greatest fans wanting to sound like him.

His song, "Rockin Chair" is a reversal:

I don't need your rockin chair, yer Jeritol or ya' medicare,

I still got neon in my veins, this grey hair don't mean a thing!

I do my rockin' on a stage, can't put this possum in no cage,

Might be a little old but I'll get there,

I don't need yo' rockin chair.......

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Country's Biggest

Here is an example of "The" country Peter if you want to take a little listen. Very obviously the Beatles were listening, as they took Buck's "Act Naturally", and Ringo did a creditable job of it.

Buck Owens, by those early sixties became so huge in this business. He had a sense for what people wanted and what would work. He owned radio stations. He would record, and then drive around listening to it in a car. He would adjust sound to be optimum in a car because in those days, (before cassettes, CD and all that) people listened to most their music on vinyl, or a car radio.

There is much information available about this from Buck Owens, one of most important inovators in the business. I'm sure David Powell will atest to more information on the subject.

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Bill M

As for George Jones, when I heard his voice on Rockin C's link, I though, jeez, he sounds like everyone else when I happen on country radio. But then it occurred to me that everyone else that I've heard on country radio may in fact have been George Jones, given his longevity and success. That doesn't meant it's the voice I'd choose to listen to, of course.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: The Real Thing

Peter; I wasn't singling you out as not liking the Possum. I just came into what seemed like a conversation of dismissing him. Don't know how I arrived at that.

It's quite interesting to listen to your description of what country you were exposed to. Most of what you have described is not even the real country music.

If you were to listen to Van's CD, "Pay the Devil" you pretty much have the country of the late 50's. Some of it he does well some of it not so much. He has mixed in some later material like Rodney Crowell,s "'Till I gain Control Again."

The country that was fore front like Ray Price, Webb Pearce, Bob Wills and the like is "Country & Western & Texas Swing". What you described that they tried on your side of the water was certainly not what anyone here would consider the "Cream" of country music.

Entered at Tue Jan 29 14:45:24 CET 2013 from (76.68.50.202)

brown eyed girl

Photos of The Band by Chester Simpson.

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brown eyed girl

Love For Levon Tribute Concert Photos

Ola back to my Canadian buddies and honourary Canadian like Levon.....Joan. I took a trip to winter wonderland New Brunswick and Quebec City and then two weeks later I was in hot, hot Habana, Cuba.
I've been volunteering in a community acupuncture clinic and going to the gym....really enjoying listening to my mixed music rowing away. Yes....I'm living a life of leisure this year. However, my year off began in an awful way....Some of you know that I wore a pink fiberglass cast in honour of The Band for almost six weeks. Unfortunately for me....Someone on the street charged into me like a football player and I lost my balance and broke my wrist....I received a phone call from the police when I returned last week and they can't locate the man and the case is now closed...Anyway, what doesn't kill you....will only make you stronger...true......true.....

If anyone sent an email to my cabbagetown account try my yahoo account. I still may not have received email....while in Habana, I got sick on my last day and couldn't get into my account.....Yikes! I was so lucky I wasn't one of the 51 people who had cholera!

Sorry if any links have already been posted. I've only skimmed previous posts over the past five months.

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Peter V

She also says the highlight of last year was performing The Weight at the Americana Awards with Amy Helm, John Hiatt, Emmylou Harris and Bonnie raitt.

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Peter V

Subject: Country

On Country … I don’t think anyone knocked George Jones. I just said I didn’t recognize his voice in a shop last week. Robbie Robertson chose him in a Top Ten somewhere once.

In Britain, we weren’t totally devoid of country. The stuff that made the charts was either on the interface with rock … Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins … or “Americana.” In the 80s I bought the Columbia 5 Cd set “Columbia Country Classics” and all the stuff I was most familiar with was on Volume IV, “Americana.” A lot was “cowboy” … El Paso and Big Iron from Marty Robbins, Ballad of Paladin, Ballad of Davy Crockett, Don’t Take Your Guns To Town, Then Johnny Horton with Battle of New Orleans (the big UK hit was by Lonnie Donegan) and of course Jimmy Dean on Big Bad John. Stuff was often near pastiche … I think Claude King’s Wolverton Mountain is pastiche rather than straight. I hope Old Shep by Elvis is pastiche. Long Black Veil by Lefty Frizell was also on that album, but I first met it by The Band.

Johnny Cash I hardly thought of as country. The stuff that put me off country was the lachrymose, sentimental stuff (Jim Reeves) and in the 60s that was usually filtered through Ireland and Irish performers, which is why Van’s knowledge is encylopedic, having played in show bands who would mix rock, R&B, country and traditional Irish in the same set. A lot of country we got exposed to via covers by Irish acts like The Bachelors or Val Doonican, which explains a distaste for it.

On sentimental Irish stuff, if you feel like a tear in the eye (or a laugh) the link is to The Deal by Pat Campbell. When Kenny Everett did a phone-in radio show on The Worst Records Ever Made, The Deal was narrowly beaten to first place by I Want My Baby Back by Jimmy Cross. Many listeners thought this is a travesty, because Jimmy Cross is obviously a send-up of the teen death disc, rather than the genuine article. The Deal is the genuine article.

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Peter M.

BTW Roz, we're all mammals and I'm glad to see you are rejecting the bullshit that Schick and Gillette have been foisting on us for more than half a century.

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Peter M.

Subject: WARREN

The brief video of "The Shape I'm In" was too cool! Seeing Brother Warren (a Levonistra Supreme) bring Marty into the fold was quite gratifying.

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Peter M.

Subject: Hey Norm

Thanks so much for George's "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes?", which led me to "If the Drinkin' Don't Kill Me". Who the hell out here put George down? I don't hardly remember, as I'm pushing 60. But, what fun! I saw Jerry Lee opening for the Allman Brothers Band 12/31/71 in Phila. Upcoming real estate agent Myra belted out "Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog" but I think this was pre-marriage to The Killer. Allmans were playing their asses off in the wake of the Fillmore Live album. To be redundant, or threedundant, "What fun!". Heady days.

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JT and LvdB

Subject: Stephen Fearing

If you are in the Toronto area on April 25, 2013, make sure you get to Hugh's Room to hear Stephen Fearing (a superb artist in his own rite and BARK member) at his new CD release. Stephen's body of work puts him into the upper echelon of singer-songwriters. He is a jewel in Canada's crown. Don't you miss it if you can get there.

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Lars

Subject: TLW

I was just going through the channels, amazed that out of over 200 stations there wasn't a freaking thing on. And I bumped into Levon singing "Dixie" in TLW. And as many times as I've seen it, I still got a kick out of it. I know that Levon hated it, but with all of its flaws, I still smile when I hear "Mystery Train" and I have to laugh at Van the Man kicking his way off the stage.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: The Saddest country song

It was a coincidence, that we got into Hank Williams to day Via: That Brown Eyed Girl. (Great to have you back). Because just yesterday, I was sitting here playing that youtube copy of Bim's cover, which is great you need to listen to it.

I noticed a sidebar copy of Elvis doing it in Hawaii. It was excellent, and Elvis opened by saying, "This is the saddest country song I know". I'm so lonesome I could cry. Now with all respect I have to differ.

By the way, all this discussion for today, is shown in pictures on the George Jones video link I provided, "Who's gonna fill their shoes". and this shows all the people we discussed. Hank, Jerry Lee, Waylon, many others, and the "BAND LINK" Conway Twitty.

However, if you all remember back when Levon won his award, he was pitted against one of my all time favourites, who I would bow to, "Charlie Louvin". When I was just a kid, I learned this song from a "Louvin Brothers" album I had. Charlie & Ira did this song so long ago, I can't remember. So please listen to old Charlie do this song. A county master if there ever was one. I think, the saddest country song, "Here's a toast to momma."

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Diane Hooper

Subject: music

Watching the Last Waltz and revisiting times in my life. My big brother introduced me to The Band when he bought Music from Big Pink, brought it home and played the record until it wouldn't play anymore. Thank you for making my heart and ears so very happy

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Bill M

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David P

Norm: Sometimes these fingers don't cooperate. Too many years of playing bar chords. Or is it too many years of playing chords in bars?

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Peter V

The question about the GB use of Fanny last week. I picked up a very good copy of "Ain't That Peculiar" by Fanny, and was impressed with the guitar and bass. I'm ashamed to admit to being sexist enough to look up "who played on it" assuming it was so good it was session people, but it was Fanny themselves. Anyway, while looking I saw that George Harrison named the group, and it says they were mortified to discover the British meaning only later (I don't believe that, but it's another internet "truth" I guess.)

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Joan

Nice to see you here. You have been missed/

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Rockin Chair

Subject: There's gotta be a reason

David!, when did you change your name to Davis??? was it inspired by talk of Sammy Davis?? .....or maybe just because that d is beside that confounded s......I do that all the time with these clumsy arthritic fingers.

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David P

While it was interesting to hear Jerry Lee cover "Twilight" with Robbie, I'd rather have heard him tear into something like "The Shape I'm In".

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Peter V

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Rockin Chair

Subject: The Possum & The Killer

George Jones voice is different than most, the same as Roy Orbison's voice was very different. Goerge Jones, like Merle Haggard in their own way rarely sing a bad note, their phrasing is so perfect to their music. George Jones has the ability to drop his voice an octave in the middle of a word. Not every one can do that. This video is a good example. As well this song is one of the "ultimate" country songs for the lyrics and the pictures here. Even if you don't like George Jones, he does this very well.

This is a paragraph copy from Nick Tosches book, (on Jeery Lee).

Believe it:Jerry Lee Lewis is a creature of mythic essence, a Set,a Baptist Dionysos. He is the heart of redneck rock-and-roll and , maybe,the greatest country singer alive. Talk about rock-and-roll depravados:Jerry Lee makes them all look like Wayne Newton. Talk about honky-tonk heroes: Next to Jerry Lee, they're a bunch of frat-party pukers. "I was born feet first, been rockin' ever since" he'll tell you if he's in a good mood. His vassals and kin will tell you more: Jerry Lee can out-drink, out-dope, out-fight, out-cuss, out-shoot and out-fuck any man in the south. He is the last American wild man, homo agrestis, americanus ultimus, and his every day deeds are the stuff of Don Siegel movies. "Just don't get to close to him and you won't get hurt," said Waylon Jennings. In all ways he is a lord of excess. "I've seen him eat four steaks and then eat again in a couple of hours," said his sister Linda Gail.

About his shooting David. In a part, (I can't find right now). He came up to his office and had forgotten his key. He pulled out his gun and (they say) shot 25 holes, and then walked thru' the door.

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JQ

I think if you really listen to George Jones' multi octave singing voice you couldn't help but to be impressed. His choice of material is another matter. I've always thought that if he'd been born elsewhere (say Hoboken) his taste would be different and he'd likely be held in higher esteem as a jazz/pop vocalist - not unlike that other guy from Hoboken

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Davis P

I remember reading Nick Tosches' excellent biography of Jerry Lee Lewis, "Hellfire", in the early '80s. Several years later, at a party in Clarkston, Ga., I was introduced to a real estate agent named Myra Williams. A few minutes later a friend filled me in -- she was the former Myra Gale Lewis, the third wife and first cousin once removed of Jerry Lee. Not long after, her own book was adapted for the film "Great Balls of Fire", starring Dennis Quaid as the Killer and Winona Ryder as Myra.

A few years ago, at a used record store in that same small nearby town, I also met Jerry Lee's former bass player, Butch Owens, who is from Clarkston. As recounted by Mr. Tosches in his book, and more colorfully in his own words, he survived being shot by the Killer with a .357 magnum pistol, as he took aim in his altered state at a nearby bottle. Shortly after that Jerry Lee showed up at Graceland with a pistol trying to see Elvis and was turned away at the gate, as retold in the opening chapter of "Hellfire".

Late last year there was the news story that another one of Jerry Lee's former bass players had been shot & killed while working as a security guard in Memphis. I'm reminded that there are three jobs in music that one should have avoided, bassist for the Killer, piano player in the Grateful Dead, and drummer for Spinal Tap.

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Bill M

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Peter V

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David P

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Bill M

Rockin' C: Throwing stones to free all men seems justifiable, especially if you're careful.

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Peter V

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JT

Subject: welcome return

I am also glad to see you back, BEG. This site was poorer without you. ( I too sent an e-mail a few weeks ago asking for an old photo.) Your contributions enrich our experience.

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David P

Martin Scorsese's planned biopic adaptation of Nick Tosches' Dean Martin biography, "Dino: Living High in the Dirty Business of Dreams", never reached fruition. As Tom Hanks was rumored to be cast as Dino, and John Travolta as Frank Sinatra, perhaps we're lucky the film never got made. One wonders, however, if Mr. Scorsese would have filmed a Rat Pack scene in Sammy Davis Jr.'s poolhouse.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Country

Getting old with our feeble minds, some things are easily forgotten. That 1977 book really couldn't be. Not only the stories, and documentation of the musical history, but the many wonderful pictures. There are pictures of the first records ever made, (the cylinder).

A complete chapter on Jerry Lee Louis. I have copied out here before just a little of his (and his fathers) escapades.

Because it's called (country), don't be fooled. The roots of blues, folk, bluegrass & rock & roll are all woven together, and in my mind Mr Tosches is quite masterful in displaying how many things came to be.

On the subject of Hank Williams, and Levon. To understand Hank Williams, one really needs to have the Album I have sitting on my desk at the moment. I have had this album so many years, I can't begin to remember where or when I got it. From the liner notes by Paul Ackerman (music editor, Billboard).

Many of these recordings may be likened to sermons,for they are essentially appeals for greater understanding of oneself, and one's fellow man. Examples are, "Be careful of stones that you throw". Hepl me understand,Men with broken hearts, and pictures from lifes otherside.

This is Luke the Drifter, the wandering poet who has been termed, "Hank Williams other self." Although Hank's voice generally is some what deeper than Levon's, the expression of the two, in accent, and phrasing are so similar, it is easy to see they are both from that deep south where the expression of feelings and hardship run deep.

Another boy, from Kentucky, whose soul came right out thru' his songs was Keith Whitley. Some how like Hank Williams, Keith's torment of a woman, and alcohol ended his life far too early. I believe Keith was 33 when he drank himself to death. A huge talent of guitar, writing and singing.

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Bill M

Re the the Tosches book, I think I must have read it; about 15 years ago I read an interesting enough book by somebody that spent a fair bit of time pointing out how earthy / salacious country music was before it found religion and 'class'. Reminded me of Groucho Marx's line that he knew Doris Day before she became a virgin.

Peter V: I'm with you re the non-specialness of George Jones, though I'm happy to accept that the fault is me and my ears. By the way, apropos your mention of "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" the other day, I recently picked up a Gram Parsons two-fer - "Grievous Angel" + "GP" + some bonus tracks - not because I've ever liked GP's music in the past but because it was cheap and I was feeling like I should give him another try. While I found the two proper albums underwhelming when not tedious, the bonus tracks are terrific, especially the magnificent version of "Hickory Wind".

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David P

Subject: Emmett Miller Minstrel Show

Nick Tosches also wrote the fascinating book "Where Dead Voices Gather" about the elusive minstrel singer Emmett Miller from Macon, Georgia, a mysterious figure who was one of the subjects of his earlier book on country music. As Mr. Tosches recounts, Emmett Miller's "...startling and mesmerizing music seemed to be a Rosetta Stone to the understanding of the mixed and mongrel bloodlines of country and blues, of jazz and pop, of all that we know as American music." Mr. Miller's influence can be heard in the music of Hank Williams, Jimmie Rogers, Bob Wills, Merle Haggard, Ry Cooder and countless others who followed.

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brown eyed girl

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brown eyed girl

Levon Helm - You'll Never Again Be Mine (Hank Williams Cover)

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brown eyed girl

I saw a Hank Williams musical in NYC which I thoroughly enjoyed....also saw one on Patsy Cline. I guess both of these artists had that IT factor and continue to do so......I don't have their music in my collection now but I sure know some of their classic songs.

Review: The Lost Notebooks of Hank Williams

Hank Williams pens sixty-sixty songs, scattered throughout four notebooks. He dies in the back of his Cadillac at the age of 29, leaving behind the unfinished work. The notebooks are stuck in a vault in Nashville. Fifty years later, Bob Dylan has them.

"Dylan, like Williams, is that kind of songwriter. One who can evoke deep imagery and mood with little more than simple chord progression.

Vocally, Levon Helm is a master of just that. “You’ll Never Be Mine Again” sounds like Helm’s about to roll up to his barn on a tractor to drink sweet tea, pull up a hay bale and jam with some hillbillies.

There’s something about the former (The) Band drummer’s tone that just sounds like the South and with this cool breeze of a tune, he’s managed to nicely marry his signature style with that of his Alabama born predecessor."

Video of some of the musicians talking about Hank's music is is also included.

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Peter V

Just got an amazon note. Steve Miller's "Recall The Beginning … A Journey From Eden" is due for release o February 18th. I made my own CDR off vinyl, but that was one I listed back in 1982 as one of the ten records I most wanted to see on CD. Ah, well. Thirty-one years on … they've finally issued it. To me, it's the best Steve Miller album, but allegedly he hated it himself, which is why it's never been issued on CD, and out of print for decades. The first five albums sold well on reissue, so they've decided to carry on.

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Dlew919

One of he standard texts. So you're doing well...

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John D

This is the quote; from a review on Amazon.com

"A great read for folks who want to re-visit the great originators of this lively American music. BUT, be aware this same book has been re-issued often under 3 different titles!"

I couldn't find it; under other titles.

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Peter V

Subject: Country

There are thee Nick Tosches books with similar themes:

Country: The Twisted Roots of Rock & Roll (1996)

Country: Living Legends & Dying Metaphors (1989)

Country: The Biggest Music in America. (1977)

Do you think they're (basically) the same book?

Someone explain this. I checked it on my iPad on amazon.co.uk. Cover image. Several of the 1977 available at £12.77 to £30. I came downstairs to my IMac, and it comes up as "no image. Currently unavailable."

Did they sell a dozen copies while I was having a shower? I'll go for the 1996 I think, as it's still in print new, and I know to my cost that authors don't get paid on secondhand copies.

My country books only run to "Are You ready For the Country?" by Peter Doggett and "Country Music USA" by (somebody) Malone. My shelf of soul books is extensive. I always find trouble with books / articles on country because I didn't come in to the party until after "Sweetheart of The Rodeo". "Beaucoups of Blues" was the most country album I bought before about 1990 (I don't see Ringo's album as "country-rock" like the Flying Burrito Bros, Byrds or Eagles). When I read a book on soul, I know the artists and I know nearly all the songs. I can read through a long chapter on Waylon Jennings or Tammy Wynette and 99% of the songs mentioned don't come to mind.

I'll tell you how ignorant I am. Last week a superb version of "Worried Man" was playing in my favourite secondhand vinyl shop. I asked who the singer was. The two guys there couldn't believe I didn't recognize George Jones.

Anyway, my favourite FarSide cartoon is linked. Time for me to get tutored.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Check!

Thank you John. Right you are. We were just out getting a load of firewood, and I was thinking about that. My sister gave it to me for that Christmas of '77.

I think I mentioned a station now in Parksville called "The Lounge". Man they play a lot of great music. Driving in just now, I got to listening to Bozz Skaggs. After I unload this wood, I'm going to pull out some of my old vinyl of Bozz, sit by the fire and enjoy.

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rosalind

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John D

November 1977. Apparently it has been re-issued twice; under two different titles; according to Amazon.

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Peter V

Subject: Bellowhead: Broadside

I've added a review of Bellowhead's "Broadside" album to my blog with some notes on folk and prog in English music. Do feel free to comment on the page etc.

Entered at Sun Jan 27 17:42:17 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Ethnically & Chauvanistically

Many years ago on this site, I used an example. The book "Country The Biggest Music in America". A compilation of Nick Tosches.

I wouldn't even begin to quote the lyrics displayed in that book. I've had the book, for probably 30 years. I guess I could go and look and see when it was published.

However, any one who feels delicate about song lyrics now should look at back then. Some of it is just unimaginable. Chapters such as "Stained panties & Coarse Mteaphors".

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Billy C. (Friend0

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Peter V

I tried to point out that while I am indeed tall, and broad across the chest, this is not exclusively a German characteristic, and before it went, my hair was near black. He shut up, but when we arrived said, ‘Auf Wiedersehen,’ and I automatically repeated it. He said ‘So! I knew you were German!’ in great glee.

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Peter V

Subject: Shootout in Chinatown

In San Francisco this summer, staying near the edge of Chinatown, the song was going through my head almost incessantly. But I’m annoying like that. Once driving through Arizona, Mrs V nearly throttled me because signs like Route 66 and Phoenix kept me bursting into the appropriate song. And Link Wray’s ‘Walking In The Arizona Sun’ filled in all the gaps where I couldn’t see road signs. Does anyone else do that?

It’s a little harsh to say Robbie Robertson was equating the Japanese and Chinese cultures because he used “yen”. I thought about that when I did the original article (linked), and went into stereotyping, and the Fu Manchu musical bit could be negative stereotyping, but then so is the music in Madame Butterfly or the Siamese Cat Song in Lady & The Tramp. Both yen (Japanese) and yuan (Chinese) have the same currency sign (¥), both derive from “round” and originally both had the same Chinese character. I agree that it’s not a great line in “Shoot Out in Chinatown” but I’d say it was merely careless, they sound alike to a casual listener, and he had lacked someone to drive him to the library to check. As poor lines go, it’s eclipsed by:

Julie came running through the pasture--she was screaming at the sky

She fell down to her knees and the tears did fly

Little John was stung by a snake over by the lake

And it looked like he s really, really hurt--he was lying in the dirt

As these things do, I remembered the first time I went to Japan, in 1979 or 1980. At the international conference, a Japanese colleague was pointing someone out to me, and said, ‘He’s the Chinese-looking guy talking to the Korean-looking woman’ which as a first-time visitor was perplexing, though two days later I could follow what he meant. I’m sure first-time Asian visitors to Europe would be perplexed by someone saying ‘He’s the German-looking guy talking to the Italian-looking woman.’ Which goes to show that you should never use ethnicity for physical description, I guess, but it is a shortcut that is easy to fall into.

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Sam

The part of shootout that's offense is "For about five dollars or one thousand yen" The Yen is Japanese currency. Chinese and Japanese cultures are significanly different. the implication is all Asians look alike. In my opinion worst line Robbie ever wrote- extremely superficial.The subject of the song is rich w/ possibility,worthy of more than superficial cliche.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: The warning signs!

The signs are there Roz......not enough sex! That's what it is girl. In yer nightgown.....with a shotgun. This sort of strikes of Ma Kettle.......

Entered at Sun Jan 27 03:56:32 CET 2013 from (67.238.31.37)

roz

No, I'll never make the Houswives But I made a big hole in the side of my porch while shooting at the neighbors dog the other night. It was snowing and I was standing out in the sleet in a nightgown with a shotgun. Made me feel like the Mary Steenburgen in Cross Creek when she got drunk and shot that hawg.. It seems the older I get the shorter my temper becomes these days. I'll go along real nice for a long and then.. then.. I'll just SNAP for some reason.

Entered at Sun Jan 27 03:22:05 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: The Nerve!

We don't need no Dr Ogungbe!.......we gots the right Reverend Billie.....Sol...........Hargis!!!

Entered at Sun Jan 27 00:52:08 CET 2013 from (63.141.199.188)

Anastacia

Subject: Dr.Ogungbe helped me out and i saw his testimonies

i am basically happy for what has happen in my life through a man that God really sent to bring joy to someones life,i saw a man that post about this Dr.Ogungbe a spell caster last week and ignore seeing the post and another lady again post about him as well so i contact Dr.Ogungbe for help to bring my Ex love that has gone for 3 years back,i thought it can't be possible but my mind said i should give Dr.Ogungbe a Trial because i have meet many fake spell caster over here and nothing happen,i am using this opportunity to tell everybody or any one that read my post to please contact this man because he is different among them and the way he emailed and talk to me i really like it because he always tell what next to make your lover come back to you and it happen to me that i listen to everything he told me to do and i thank God that my lover emailed me 3 night ago and now we are in contact and he is planning to come and meet me in USA this weekend!!! am so so so happy and thank you so much Dr.Ogungbe here is the Man details to reach him (ifaogungbetempleofsolution@gmail.com) his personal email : (dr.ifaogungbe@live.com) +2348131210107 my name is Anastacia from USA

Entered at Sat Jan 26 17:29:26 CET 2013 from (68.171.231.83)

Bill M

Entered at Sat Jan 26 16:44:42 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Facing Realty....

So Roz....I guess.........what yer sayin' is your not going to make the real house wives of Noo Joisey er anything like that then?

Entered at Sat Jan 26 14:49:30 CET 2013 from (208.120.36.230)

Jon Lyness

Subject: Charlie Christian: The Genius of the Electric Guitar

"Of course, one of the reasons that Christian’s stock has stayed so high for so long is that his development of the vocabulary of the electric guitar always leaned into the future, and not just within the jazz idiom. Take 'Poor Butterfly': Christian’s solo lasts just over fifteen seconds but it shows a masterful approach to spacing and timing as he hides out behind the beat in one measure and rushes out ahead of it in the next. It’s a brief, shining wonder, and in it, fans of the Band might hear a prediction of Robbie Robertson’s choked, economic solo from 'King Harvest (Has Surely Come)' — it makes use of the same blend of patient intensity and economy."

Entered at Sat Jan 26 08:18:13 CET 2013 from (174.44.139.55)

Jed

Roz,I may be an old hippie but,I am not liberal,nor do I have or have ever had any interest or involvement in politics.Also,while I never went to or go to rallies,and have never formally protested anything,I do respect your protest against butt hole waxing.And,despite the vitriol,I still love you,knowing that you must have goodness in your heart.

Entered at Sat Jan 26 07:54:04 CET 2013 from (67.238.31.37)

roz

Entered at Sat Jan 26 06:23:07 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Shock & Awwwwwwww!

Gawd damn Roz....now you've really turned me on. If you look like Annett Bening with 40" double D, no shaved legs, and swearing alot like the old bartender that you are??? I was just going to bed.......now I'll never sleep tonight, just dreaming about you all night.

Hey !..........what's yer phone number Baby???? Come to think of it, yer showing all the signs of a hippie chick.......oouuuuuuu!

Entered at Sat Jan 26 04:54:35 CET 2013 from (24.108.143.105)

JT and LvdB

Subject: Butchart Gardens

Let us get it right! That's one of our homes you are talking about. The Butchart Gardens is a group of floral display gardens in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canada, located near Victoria on Vancouver Island. The gardens receive more than a million visitors each year.

Entered at Sat Jan 26 04:18:13 CET 2013 from (99.237.0.147)

Serenity

Subject: Duane Allman

Hi, you all!! Wonderful posts and links...

ROZ: Are you our old friend from many moons ago? It's so nice to see your postings...Hope you are well?

NORM: It's Buschert Gardens..I've been there. Victoria and Prince Edward Island are my fave places I've visited in my day...

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Keep up the good posts and links, you guys. They can't be beat!!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Until next time LOVE AND PEACE xoxoxoxo

Entered at Sat Jan 26 04:12:47 CET 2013 from (67.238.31.37)

roz

Entered at Fri Jan 25 21:48:22 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

I notice that Sony 4X TV screens are said to be coming with a tablet pre-loaded with movies next year. Maybe this is the future.

Entered at Fri Jan 25 20:41:10 CET 2013 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

John: I remember first hearing that version by Martha Reeves on the soundtrack to "Thelma and Louise".

Entered at Fri Jan 25 20:22:46 CET 2013 from (131.137.247.6)

sadavid

Subject: an alternative to car boot sales

If you ever tire of schlepping around town in search of those vintage tunes, consider the 2013 Chrysler 300 Motown -- the entertainment system comes pre-loaded with 90 classic Motown tracks, plus 10 remixes . . . .

Entered at Fri Jan 25 16:48:30 CET 2013 from (99.244.253.166)

John D

That would of course read "solo."

Entered at Fri Jan 25 16:47:10 CET 2013 from (99.244.253.166)

John D

And let's not forget Martha Reeve's first sold album produced by Perry. An amazing cover of Van Morrison's Wild Night; on this album.

Entered at Fri Jan 25 15:45:20 CET 2013 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

As Jane Fonda won an Oscar for her role as a prostitute in "Klute", one could say she remained in character with the shag hair style. Ms. Fonda's current significant other is the music producer Richard Perry. Among his credits are several albums for Carly Simon, including "Hotcakes", which featured Robbie's guitar on Ms. Simon's duet with her then-husband James Taylor on "Mockingbird". Of course Mr. Perry also produced Ms. Simon's most famous song, "You're So Vain", included on her "No Secrets" album.

Entered at Fri Jan 25 14:56:58 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Old Hippie

OK! .....This video is dedicated to the memory of Steve. I e-mailed Steve this song years ago. For all our disagreements, Steve was a man of the earth. He liked to cultivate a little weed on his farm for his own enjoyment.

Even tho' it wasn't to his believing, I'll say it anyway, "God rest his soul"

You fellas really need to watch this. There are pictures here that will make you smile with memoryies, and some that will make you cry.

Roz!....you gorgeous old rig! You just hate hippies 'cause yer tits are too big to burn your bra. Now tell Jed thank you 'cause he loves you.

That long hair reminds me of my friend Jake from Cincinatti, a real standup guy who wouldn't hurt a soul.....(until some bar rats tried to show us how tough they were).....yuh play with the bull, yuh get the horn.

Entered at Fri Jan 25 13:55:28 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Jed, in my hirsute days, there was a hairdresser in Notting Hill, London (late 60s, to mid 70s) which only dealt with long hair. They wouldn't touch anything shorter than shoulder length, but they made long hair look great without that lank curtain effect, and you could never actually see it was shorter afterwards, just falling well with a good shape. it cost an arm and a leg, but you could be reasonably sure of seeing a famous musician.

Entered at Fri Jan 25 11:45:11 CET 2013 from (174.44.139.55)

Jed

As a long time hippie,who still keeps his hair long,who still sees love,compassion and human decency as primary values,and music as the spiritual guide for the soul,I feel it's important I respond to Rosalind's hate for us.We love you.As for the movie,we saw it at the tinker street cinema in woodstock(I know--how cliche) and it was a ridiculous movie.The funniest part was that our local friends were actually taking it seriously.I watched the audience most of the time realizing how all of us old folks were a bit dazed and confused seeing a movie so utterly silly.i still shudder around barbers-- uh,I mean hairstyle folk.Hope you don't hate me for that hippie indulgence.Peace to all--another silly hippie sentiment!

Entered at Fri Jan 25 10:30:24 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

On hippies … yesterday the afternoon radio show had its feature where people phone in their choice of “Tracks of My Years” (sic), and it was an exceptional selection … Hey Jude, For What It’s Worth, He Ain’t Heavy, Heart of Gold. The DJ (Steve Wright), intoned “How’s this for a fade out?’ repeatedly during Hey Jude, then spoke over For what It’s Worth in what he thought was an American hippie accent “Far Out Man … you can smell the patchouli … or is it oil? … Ha ha … Far Out Man” several times … I could have throttled him.

But … it makes you think, in the exceptionally fruitful careers of Stills and Young, they have equalled For What It’s Worth, but have they ever bettered it? The Weight is a similar … er … weight around The Band’s collective necks.

Entered at Fri Jan 25 10:20:35 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Jeff, here a #1 or #0 is between £5 and £8, but a £1 tip would be generous. 50p is OK on the £5 one. I think, anyway as it takes approximately five minutes to do. When I was in California this summer, we couldn't find a barbers at all in Solvang, a town with three dog grooming parlours (that I saw … there may be more). A ladies hairdresser said they didn't cut men's hair, and we looked at the dog grooming parlour, but decided not to ask. Within 200 yards of my local supermarket in Poole there are five traditional barbers. I'd say 80% of the hairdressers are women.

The best #0 I ever had was in Japan with a cut-throat razor, though I'm told it's illegal to cut with one now in the UK (Some will do it for football fans who want a Union Flag carved in their hair).

In Britain, when I was kid, barbers shops always had curtains or barriers in the window and a small neon sign with "Durex" in the window (i.e. Trojans). The barber's traditional goodbye was "Anything for the weekend?" A friend who moved to Bournemouth from Yorkshire said the defining moment of being in the South happened in the barber's (upstairs in Westover Road, for Roger). It was a Friday, and the barber said "Anything for the weekend?" as usual, and my friend said, yes, he would have a packet of three. The barber slipped a pack into a plain brown paper bag and enquired unctuously, "Ah … but has Sir remembered that Monday is a Bank Holiday?"

Entered at Fri Jan 25 02:05:01 CET 2013 from (99.89.226.221)

Billy C. (Friend0

Pete, the old man type barber shops generally get 9 to 13 bucks for a # type cut, or any type cut depending where you are here and the day of the week. . Plus a tip of course. 3 to 5 bucks depending. George will give me a scissor cut that is the same length as a #2, or #3. He charges 13 bucks, i'll give him 20.00 For anyone with a modiucum of hair to deal with, and a old man's cut as effective as a styling, it's just a royal shagging to go to a "hairdresser." "Hairdressers" here get 35 to 50 bucks, and in these cut and dry cases don't do really do anything different, cept shampoo your hair. Of course, when you find the divorcee whom for whatever reason takes a liking to you, and decides to massage your elbows, back, skull, and shoulder with her concave and convex body parts as a bonus while she is styling your hair, it could end up being an inexpensive shagging in the long run. ....when I had great hair, this used to happen. The best "styling" i ever got , i entered the shop as a spectator. I didn't need a haircut, but this hairdresser had an empty chair and it seemed like a good idea to get in that chair at that time........ My great hair began relocating when i was 24.. It has now settled in new territory as far as the inside and outside of my ears, and the side of my neck.

Apparently, the hairstyle you have is "The Cleanhead." Named for Eddie Vinson.

Entered at Thu Jan 24 23:17:40 CET 2013 from (67.238.31.37)

Rosalind

Entered at Thu Jan 24 20:30:33 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Rags to Riches??

I would say, the inventor of sanitary napkins. You guys know......yer getting really bad here. I think I'll get over to my other bad habit, discussing heavy equipment, and forestry on "heavy equipment forum.com".

Bill concerning "heavy equipment, I can already see what is going on in your demented, warped mind:)

Entered at Thu Jan 24 19:56:54 CET 2013 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

Entered at Thu Jan 24 19:49:56 CET 2013 from (74.176.220.19)

Mike C

That should be JS, not JM. D'oh!

Entered at Thu Jan 24 19:48:51 CET 2013 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

Pat B: And one of the stars of "Shag" the movie was Bridget Fonda, niece of Jane Fonda, who won an Academy Award for her role in the film "Klute", in which she also popularized the shag haircut style. More recently Jane Fonda filmed "Peace, Love and Misunderstanding" around Woodstock and visited a Midnight Ramble. That film's soundtrack also included Levon's "False Hearted Lover Blues" (from Dirt Farmer) and a performance of "The Weight" by the actors Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Catherine Keener.

Entered at Thu Jan 24 19:47:21 CET 2013 from (74.176.220.19)

Mike C

That's a good call on the state of shagging in Jemima Surrender, Bill. But it was so imminent that it was likely in full flower before the last note of JM faded and the first note of Rockin' Chair emerged. And there is at least one more definition for "shag" as a verb, which is to chase down fly balls during baseball practice.

Entered at Thu Jan 24 19:42:59 CET 2013 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

Was the "rag" in Rag Mama Rag the origin of using that word to mean a female complaint? Or did it exist in that way previously?

Entered at Thu Jan 24 19:37:00 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

The Tams had a UK #21 hit with "There Ain't Nothin' Like Shaggin'" which was more popular here due to our reading of the lyrics having nothing to do with dance crazes.

Entered at Thu Jan 24 19:25:05 CET 2013 from (74.108.32.67)

Joan

There was a haircut called "The Shag" It probably relates to the unevenness of it, a la shagged tobacco.My brother had a white long haired dog he named "Shaggy Dog" or Shags for short. This is of no help I'm sure but I thought I would throw it in the pot.

Entered at Thu Jan 24 19:16:13 CET 2013 from (108.90.18.26)

Pat B

This movie covered the dance and the act.

Entered at Thu Jan 24 19:00:45 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Thu Jan 24 18:52:22 CET 2013 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

Subject: Shag Mama Shag

Down here in the South the shag is a popular dance style that originated around Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Favorite beach music tunes to shag to include such classics as "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy" by The Tams from Atlanta and "Carolina Girls" by General Johnson and the Chairmen of the Board.

Entered at Thu Jan 24 18:44:50 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

Entered at Thu Jan 24 17:54:14 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Thu Jan 24 17:49:34 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Mr Edge will be delighted to find that the frigging in the rigging discussion is an example of erudition. Was Thomas Jefferson the inventer of "shag" in the sense of copulate? Well, I can say that the OED is not the source of that story. It says "Origin unknown, and its first appearance in print was The Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue in 1788. It believes that the copulate meaning derives from the older meaning of "toss about, shake, waggle" which was first used by Wyclif in 1380.

The trail of the urban myth is fascinating, as whoever laid the trail has looked up the OED, claiming Jefferson used it in 1770 in a footnote (see link). InkyFool com repeats it (Mark Forsyth is a known author of books on etymology) but i couldn't find that line in 20 minutes with the OED.

Entered at Thu Jan 24 17:03:46 CET 2013 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

"The old weird America
(Never went anywhere)"
--"Snake Oil Capital of the World"

Finally got around to listening to another fine new release from last year, the 180g vinyl version of "Three Chords Good" (Primary Wave Records), the reunion album by Graham Parker & the Rumour. Mr. Parker moved to Woodstock back in the '90s and Garth appeared on his 1991 release, "Struck By Lightning". This new album, with his old bandmates Brinsley Schwartz, Bob Andrews, Martin Belmont, Andrew Bodnar and Steve Goulding, was recorded at Dreamland Studios in West Hurley, NY and mixed at Area 52 in Saugerties.

Entered at Thu Jan 24 16:20:22 CET 2013 from (131.137.247.6)

sadavid

Subject: your Radio guide

Peter V: Amy Helm on BBC Radio 2: see: [My link].

Nux: thanks much for that YouTube link . . . .

Entered at Thu Jan 24 16:19:26 CET 2013 from (74.203.77.122)

Jon Lyness

Speaking of Amy Helm, the Dirt Farmer Band is playing a show tonight at NYC's City Winery (wonderful music venue, just saw Iris Dement play there). Wish I could go! The show is sold out.

Entered at Thu Jan 24 14:56:51 CET 2013 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

I come on here to have a quick scan of the usual erudite musical insight and wisdom only to find it's been transformed into a sex forum for dirty old men.

More please matron!! Ooh er.

:-0)

Entered at Thu Jan 24 14:16:56 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

On Radio Two, just after Rickie Sambora was waxing eloquent on Bob Dylan & The Clash this morning (very interesting on both), I half-caught an announcement that "Amy Helm would be paying tribute to her father" on a programme on BBC Radio 2 on Monday and Tuesday, so presumably next week. They'd just been talking about Celtic Connections, which is a folk programme, so maybe it's that.

Entered at Thu Jan 24 14:07:23 CET 2013 from (74.176.220.19)

Mike C

Let me know how you make out with your research, Peter. I got the Jefferson info from Paul Dickson, who has published a book about presidential word invention. Haven't read it, but caught him on CSPAN recently giving a talk on the subject, and he cited the OED as his primary source.

Entered at Thu Jan 24 11:08:14 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Thu Jan 24 09:20:38 CET 2013 from (41.162.7.114)

NUX

Subject: African Guitar

Love this!

Entered at Thu Jan 24 02:54:08 CET 2013 from (74.176.220.19)

Mike C

Subject: TJ & the Shag

Not sure if his locks qualify as a shag cut, but the 3rd President of these United Snakes is credited by the Oxford English Dictionary with the first written use of the word "shag" as a verb. As in to know someone in the biblical sense. It's one of 114 words coined by Mr. Jefferson according to the fine folks at OED, including "belittle", "pedicure" & "neologize". I can't find a way to tie this in with The Band, except that I think there's a whole lot of shaggin' goin' on in Jemima Surrender.

Entered at Thu Jan 24 01:40:31 CET 2013 from (68.171.231.84)

Bill M

Entered at Wed Jan 23 23:11:06 CET 2013 from (98.15.190.173)

Lars

Subject: Sunlight

DAVID- I don't know if this was ever released as a 45, but it's another Youngblood song I always liked.

Entered at Wed Jan 23 22:52:21 CET 2013 from (99.89.226.221)

Billy C. ( Friend0

Entered at Wed Jan 23 21:53:19 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

I've said before that only Graham Nash's solo set impressed at Wembley, 74. I had never seen that live footage before. I reckon their rhythm section was dull, plodding stuff. They were following The Band and Tom Scott & The LA Express (backing Joni). The CSNY rhythm section come off very poor and boring in comparison, then you have Stills & Young showing off, and Crosby's appalling moustache. The showing off is forgivable. Forming a huddle of four is dreadful stagecraft. The moustache really isn't forgivable.

Entered at Wed Jan 23 21:36:27 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Let my freak flag …

CSNY from Wembley 1974, so I was in the audience. Were the Band? Or did they go off back to the hotel? Anyway, here you go.

Entered at Wed Jan 23 20:08:29 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: The Haircut Song...Ray Stevens

Now y'all got to know......there is a song for every thing. Especially where Ray Stevens is concerned....so....LISTEN UP!

Entered at Wed Jan 23 19:57:50 CET 2013 from (76.124.39.182)

Peter M.

Entered at Wed Jan 23 19:55:18 CET 2013 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

Peter V: In addition to Elvis, the Airplane, Chet Atkins, Eddie Arnold, Bobby Bare, Waylon Jennings and the usual suspects, I'm always on the look out for RCA singles by The Youngloods. So far I've collected Grizzly Bear / Tears Are Falling, Euphoria / The Wine Song and the orange label reissue of Get Together / Beautiful.

Entered at Wed Jan 23 19:42:42 CET 2013 from (74.108.32.67)

Joan

Nowadays we call them "Unisex salons". Gal who cuts my hair also dos guy's hair. Its the age of the "Metrosexual" men.:-)

Entered at Wed Jan 23 19:29:26 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

On getting engaged in fisticuffs, I’ll post a short story soon!

A short shag from a hairdresser? Yes, I can see it. They’d be too busy asking you where you went on holiday last year to pay sufficient attention.

Entered at Wed Jan 23 19:15:20 CET 2013 from (76.124.39.182)

Peter M.

Subject: a shag?

Come to think of it, I was about 20 years old, and my mother's friend was a few years older than me and, as Letterman says, "easy on the eyes". It was delightful having a beautiful woman standing so close, running her hands through my hair and delivering such a personal service. Thoughts of the other kind of shag indeed crossed my mind, right up until the moment I realized I'd been betrayed by this lovely creature.

Entered at Wed Jan 23 19:12:28 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Interpretation

Yer just gawd damn bad Bill.....pretty much like a politician, or a journalist. Don't matter what yuh say, they twist it some how.

David, I'm sure you have experienced this in your years of playing. Top 40's stuff, don't matter whether it's a rock bar, country bar or whatever. The drunks expect to hear what they want to hear. I guess like what Peter V was saying.

I recall different songs from time to time, don't matter how many times a night you play them. Some drunk will come staggering in, "Play Night Moves, Play Old Time Rock & Roll!" Piss off I just played it......"I don't give a shit, I wasn't here play it agin!" Fuck you.....you want to hear it get here earlier. Some times in a good mood it could be funny, other times....just a boring pain in the ass.

Like a lot of young women who used to frequent those bars. Divorced, split up, seperated, husbands run off or what ever. Got a couple of kids at home and they are there night after night. You think to yourself, don't you people have a gawd damn home. Those places become very depressing. What is it "A gawd damn impossible way of life?"....no shit. I couldn't count the times some young girl who came alone, and is leaving alone at closing time. Come up to us guys, or one of the bouncers, "Will you walk me out to my car?" Scared shitless of dark parking lots. I don't know how many times I walked a young lady out there, thinking of my own daughters. Tell her get in yer car and drive away I'll be standing here. I hate being a gawd damn baby sitter!

Entered at Wed Jan 23 18:00:50 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

Al E, Peter V, Dunc: When Peter M talks about his mother arranging for her hair-dresser to give him a short shag, he doesn't mean THAT. (Or maybe he did?)

Entered at Wed Jan 23 17:10:56 CET 2013 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

"A cowboy is cussin' the pinball machine
A drunk at the bar is gettin' noisy and mean
And some guy on the phone says he'll be home soon dear
Rednecks, white socks and blue ribbon beer"
(written by Bob McDill, Wayland Holyfield and Chuck Neese -- recorded by Johnny Russell)

Growing up & living in Georgia, I've seen my share of good ole boys over the years; learning to live with them & trying to find some middle ground. Several years ago my buddy & I were playing a regular gig at a restaurant / microbrew bar in Alpharetta, north of Atlanta. This area, once what you'd call "country", has become an upscale, gentrified suburb. It was summertime and we were performing on the stage outside on the patio. Someone requested that we play some Neil Young and we spontaneously did "Southern Man" without much thought. While most of the audience appreciated the performance, one particular guy took offense, approaching my friend in a threatening manner until his buddy intervened & calmed him down. They ended up apologizing; it seems that they'd spent the afternoon playing golf at a nearby country club and, I kid you not, their necks were bright red from sunburn, apparently further flaming their inebriated mood.

Entered at Wed Jan 23 13:51:23 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Sign - Sign - Evereywhere a SIGN!

I love those stories Peter M. We saw so many here in BC, because we had so many "Consceintious Objectors" from the states come here in the late 60's early seventies. I still have quite a few friends that stayed here. Some damn fine musicians that I've played music with who stayed.

But some of things I've watche are hilarious. One friend I had, (haven't seen him for years.) Jake, from Cincinnati. Had the most beautiful long straw berrie blonde hair. Quiet guy met him when he worked for my Da in the bush for a while. We were the same age. One time when we went for a beer in a bar in Sechelt, Wakefield Inn. (I met Bozz Skaggs there one time when he was vacationing.) Anyway a couple of the locals started ragging Jake about his hair. I listened for a while and I said, "That's enough just F-O.

This developed into a skirmish....now Jake could really do some damage....man I was suprised. When we got out in my truck I said Jake, you surprised the hell out of me. Well he says, I took training in the Marines. I said well holy shit, were you drafted. He said naw I just joined up, did my time so they'd leave me alone. So you got to know you can't tell what your going to run into.

I remeber as a young guy, you got to realize WW2 vets were guys in their late 40's some of 'em still in damn good shape, just Like I still am. Some of those guys had to kill people to survive in their life time. I saw young punkers try and pick fights with guys like that. That's what always reminds me of this song "The Winner". You going to pick a fight with a man like that...are you completely crazy.

But the long hair thing. I think 1965. First time the Rolling Stones came to Vancouver. Bunch of us from our Band took off to Van for this big concert at the Agradome. Our band manager Bob Wilson had grown this beautiful long hair. He,s dressed withese nice grey bell bottoms. Silver buttons on the sides at the knee with leather laces haning from them. A purple corderoy shirt and a fur vest. We parked my car a long way from the Agradome, you couldn't get near it. So we got in a cab, which dropped us right in front of the main doors. Bob is the first one getting out of the cab. Now there is all these girls milling around, and for some reason some of them decide Bob is Mick Jagger. They start swarming him, he's scared shitless and he's trying to get back in the cab, and we're shoving him out. It was pretty funny. So all day we';re telling him, "Better cut your hair Bob."

Entered at Wed Jan 23 08:15:12 CET 2013 from (76.124.39.182)

Peter M.

Subject: spellcasting special on the internet

Do you think Dr Ogungbe or kalakuta spells could reunite me with my long lost, thick wavy dark hair? Maybe Dr AKBAKBA could do it? Help me, Dr Billy Sol Hargis, so many solutions, who do I send my life savings to??

Entered at Wed Jan 23 08:06:25 CET 2013 from (76.124.39.182)

Peter M.

Subject: hair, bars and bait shops

Hey Norm, After I graduated 13 years of Catholic school, I moved from the Philadelphia suburbs to Tulsa Oklahoma. Because we had a "no hair touching the ears, collar or eyebrows" rule in high school, I only got one haircut in the following 5 1/2 years, and that's when my mother talked me into getting "a trim" after 2 years, and she had some gawddamned co-conspirator hairdresser give me a short shag. After a few months it passed through the Jane Fonda helmet hair look, and actually grew out rather nicely again. In 1973, my buddy and I were driving to a lake cabin near Fort Gibson, Oklahoma, and stopped for some snacks we suddenly needed, in Porter, Oklahoma. The general-store-bait-shop was the only game in town, and they weren't used to seeing many longhaired customers in those days. As we loaded up with chocolate bars, grape soda, and salty "high-calorie-zero-nutrition foods", a couple of good old boys walked into each other whilst staring at us aliens, in the middle of their cold snacks and live bait aisle. Convulsive laughter followed, from both sides of this cultural divide. We paid and hightailed it outta there, half expecting some kind of "Easy Rider" hospitality. Good times...

Entered at Wed Jan 23 03:14:32 CET 2013 from (41.206.11.3)

Miss Georgina peckett

Subject: I AM SINCERELY GREATFUL

Hello, my name is Miss Georgina peckett, I'm from USA.I want to inform you all that there is a spell caster that is genuine and real.I never really believed in any of these things but when I was losing Gilbert I needed help and somewhere to turn badly. I found consultant.kalakuta spells and i ordered a LOVE SPELL. Several days later, my phone rang. Gilbert was his old self again and wanted to come back to me! Not only come back, the spell caster opened him up to how much I loved and needed him. Spell Casting isn't brain washing, but they opened his eyes to how much we have to share together. I recommend anyone who is in my old situation to try it. It will bring you a wonderful surprises as well as your lover back to you. The way things were meant to be." you can contact the spell caster on-- kalakutaspells@gmail.com he's very nice and great.

Entered at Wed Jan 23 01:55:02 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Now Y'all pay attention and learn here!

I got to thinking about this, and I thought hell.....there's probably a video of this. Sure enough, here is Bobby Bare singing "The Winner". Who ever put this together has some kind of sense of humour. Some of these pictures are priceless.

Entered at Tue Jan 22 21:44:42 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Gawd Damn Monkeys!

You buncha city slickers can't even read. I never said a gawd damn thing about steam cleaning carpets. Are you labouring under some misconception that you think that's all you use stean cleaners for?

Gawd damn dumb heads. This is a huge steam cleaning unit mounted on a truck for steam cleaning heavy equipment. Bunch a office boy pencil pushin' bean counters. Of course, I had carpets in all my boom boats. I can't believe you guys. awwwwwwhawhawhaw!

Entered at Tue Jan 22 21:35:46 CET 2013 from (216.114.128.38)

mike h

Levon / Joe Walsh '89 practical joke on video (language warning).

Entered at Tue Jan 22 21:18:37 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

You know we love you and your stories, Norm, but asking us to believe that some six-six three-hundred-pound viking guy in your tough ol' loggin' and fishin' town of thirty-odd years ago is going to run a steam-cleaning business?

"Good morning ma'am. We're doing some work in the neighbourhood and were wondering if you too would like to avail yourself of our friendly services."

Entered at Tue Jan 22 21:10:48 CET 2013 from (67.238.31.37)

Rosalind Richardson

Entered at Tue Jan 22 21:00:39 CET 2013 from (174.252.61.184)

Todd

Subject: Norm's Knuckle Sandwich

Well, I hope the Viking at least gave you a good price on the steam cleaning. I shudder to think what you might have done to him otherwise!

Entered at Tue Jan 22 20:53:30 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Those peaceful woods of New York

Hey Lars! you old rascal. You know to this day I don't understand it. I think I hit so hard my hand folded right up. Fear can make you do anything.....being attacked by a 300 pound Viking is scarey.

Entered at Tue Jan 22 20:33:09 CET 2013 from (98.15.190.173)

Lars

Subject: Breaking body parts

Norm- (Avast.) You oughta be ashamed of yourself, breaking your knuckle on your thumb by hitting some guy who probably only wanted to give you a hug. What the hell kind of punch involves the thumb....was this really a slap?

Poor guy probably had to eat by use of a straw....probably sitting in the old carpet steamer's home right now, talking out of the good side of his mouth, ".....and then this crazy organ music comes from outta nowhere, I see an empty can of spinach flying over my head, and this little sailor with big forearms trying to stick me in the eye with his thumb. I broke his hand...nuff said."

Entered at Tue Jan 22 20:19:24 CET 2013 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

The Lovin' Spoonful released their hit single "Summer in the City" on July 4, 1966. It reached #1 in the charts here the following month. The Northeast U.S. was in the grip of a heat wave that July.

Entered at Tue Jan 22 17:43:18 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: The Bar scene

Yeah......but he could still be on the jukebox David:):) Well Peter that bar scene in our day was a lot the same in some places. Drunks & bullies it became a stigma with me.

I started wearing glasses at 7 years, so thru school I was bullied a lot. When I got out of school and started working I shot up to almost 6'1" and 190. Doing the hard labour work I've always done kept me in good physical conditon. I have never freguented bars much but to play music. However one day about age 32 I stopped in one of the local hang outs. I saw a guy's truck there who owned a steam cleaner. I owned a log booming ground and I had 5 boats. I wanted him to give me a price to clean the little engine rooms. This guy is about 6'6" and close to 300 hundred pounds. He was getting drunk very quickly so I left his table stopped and said hello to a couple of friends. This guy comes over and takes a big swing at me. Bear in my this guy is huge with a big beard, looks like a Viking. I side stepped him and hit him so hard I brkoe a knuckle on my right thumb which is about twice the size it should be ever since and his jaw. As he 's going down I hit him twice more and broke his nose. He left me alone there after. fear can make you work wonders sometimes.

Through the years I've watched some real crazy things. A bullie making a little guy kiss the floor, and as I can't abide that sort of shit I had to intervene and he has something to remind him of his bullying ways. So they write songs about that. As I once put on here Schell Silversteens, "The Winner"

I've always sooner played music and make people happy, but as we see in resent tragedies there are some pretty screwy minds on this planet.

Entered at Tue Jan 22 16:48:51 CET 2013 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

Jim Reeves' piano player, who was also his road manager, was Dean Manuel. He died along with Mr. Reeves in the 1964 crash of the plane that the singer piloted.

Entered at Tue Jan 22 09:00:24 CET 2013 from (83.244.221.40)

Peter v

Entered at Tue Jan 22 03:27:02 CET 2013 from (99.89.226.221)

Billy C. (Friend0

Emotional day here in the U. S. MLK Day is enough reason, but with Obama getting inaugarated today there was a little more of a twist to it.When Obama was sworn in (today, the cermonial version, the official version was in private, i believe yesterday ) he had his hand on Abe Lincoln's bible & MLK's bible. The bibles of the man whose actions led to the end of slavery, and the man who led the fight for equal rights for minorities, specifically blacks. Both men also the victims of assassins.

The blues guy that is on here on Mondays, Tom "Papa" Ray, The Soul Selector, played two different interesting combinations of a speech of King's, with music. The first was a combo of his speech in Memphis, overlaid on music by John Lee Hooker and Miles Davis. The second was portions of the speech King gave where he talked about how he'd like to be remembered after his death, overlaid against a blistering SRV rendition of Little Wing. Both were amazingly powerful and left me a little ferklempt.

Entered at Mon Jan 21 23:33:59 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Serious Concern

Has any one checked to see if Peter is ok today? I think he had a serious melt down yesterday, remembering the days when he actually had hair, and it was long enough to blow in the breeze. Until some large sweaty foot baller held him down by that hair.....and threatened to kick him...in that hair. Can you imagine how traumatized he was........

Entered at Mon Jan 21 21:11:09 CET 2013 from (131.137.247.6)

sadavid

Subject: Roy Buchanan documentary

90 minutes across 3 YouTube videos (#2 & #3 badly off-sync) - a PBS doc from 1971. Intercuts a Bill Graham-emceed studio concert with jam session tunes (appearances by Merle Haggard, Johnny Otis, a teenaged Shuggie Otis, others) and footage of Roy bringing his family home to meet his folks in Pixley, CA.

Roy talks a lot - for Roy. Almost smiles, once. Brings the Telecaster down to the Pentecostal Church of God and helps out on "Power in the Blood."

Mentions Canada once, but that's the closest we get to anything Band-related . . . .

Entered at Mon Jan 21 16:53:55 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

Nice to see that Alexander and his ex are back together. Enough love to melt the snow.

Entered at Mon Jan 21 16:48:46 CET 2013 from (68.198.167.170)

Bob F.

I think when it comes to snow, Jesse Winchester said it best.

"Now you know what they say about snow flakes

How there ain't no two the same

Well, all them flakes look alike to me

Every one is a dirty shame

My ears are cold

My feet are cold

Bermuda stays on my mind

And I'm here to say that if winter comes

Then spring is a ways behind"

Entered at Mon Jan 21 11:10:50 CET 2013 from (69.31.103.10)

Alexander

Subject: Dr.Ogungbe the spell caster is really a God sent.

Hello everyone, my name is Alexander from Sweden,i am so happy i met a great man online and i saw many people writing about him so i decide to write him as well for help to make me have my ex love back,it was like a dream to me when i contact Dr.Ogungbe the well known spell caster last week,he replied me that he will help me out but i have doubt at first because me and my ex have been apart for 3 years and am wondering if this is gonna work,to cut the story short,Dr.Ogungbe have brought back my ex love to me and my daughter,am so happy now and now am back to my life as a family man,he is a great man i have promise him that i will tell people all around the world about him..i will like you people in need of his help to please contact Dr.Ogungbe Dr.Ogungbe contact details: # ifaogungbetempleofsolution@gmail.com mobile:#+2348131210107 Alexander from Sweden

Entered at Mon Jan 21 08:31:21 CET 2013 from (41.162.7.114)

Nux

Subject: John Martyn and Levon

This is amazing,Jim Mcnight sent me this link.

Entered at Mon Jan 21 04:16:29 CET 2013 from (68.171.231.87)

Bill M

Peter V: I can imagine Alex (?) and his Clockwork Orange mates hummming snatches of, say, ""Moonlight And Roses" as they put the boot to one of your lot.

Entered at Mon Jan 21 01:58:27 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: An my long hair just cain't cover up my redneck

Peter! you are giving me belly laughs!

It reminds me of Steve.......aw what's his name my mind is going.\ Anyway the line in the song is

Where bikers stare at cowboys, who are laughing at the hippies, who are prayin' they'l get out of here alive.

Far as I'm concerned, IT SERVES YUH RIGHT FOR WAERIN' LONG HAIR!...........oh.....my heart agin.....

David! L are you ok down there son......fryin eggs on the side walk.

Entered at Sun Jan 20 23:55:49 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Was the summer of 66 hot? It was the World Cup. I remember it as overcast. Early summer 67 and 68 were glorious.

Entered at Sun Jan 20 23:31:19 CET 2013 from (101.164.6.125)

dlew919

The number of 'summer songs' in 1966/67 attests to the extremely hot British summer of 1966 - 'Here comes the Sun'; 'Lazing on a Summer Afternoon'; etc... (We just had 45.8 degrees here (115 F), so I'm attuned to weather at the moment)

Entered at Sun Jan 20 22:52:16 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Panic!!!!!!!

Good lord Peter! The fear has made you incoherent. I've sent Lars a note to find the Right Reverend Billie Right Away!

Calm down boy, drunk, fighting?? Jim Reeves is about as mellow as you can get.......I don't understand?????

Entered at Sun Jan 20 22:09:49 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Argh! Norm, I should have read that! I saw "Blizzard … good pictures" and clicked, not having noticed the name Jim Reeves. Twenty seconds in, I realized "Shit! This is Jim Reeves ". Now for me, Pete Seeger and Jim Morrison are to Jim Reeves what The Band is to Pete Seeger and Jim Morrison. I'd rather be on a desert island with Pete and Morrison than Jim Reeves. You wouldn't know the English (maybe not British, dunno) associations, but if a pub had Jim Reeves on the jukebox, it was extremely violent, Irish and the drinkers attacked people with long hair on sight. I must have said this many times before, but to the late 60s semi-hippy, the sound of "Distant drums" meant "I'll have to go." Immediately. Start running!

This may not be Jim Reeves fault, but I get fear as soon as I hear his voice!

Entered at Sun Jan 20 21:58:10 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: The Blizzard

Well here y'all are. Listen to mr smooth Jim Reeves. When I was a young punker learning my guitar, I loved playing this song.

Who ever put this together found some very beautiful winter scenes for this song. Take a look.

Entered at Sun Jan 20 21:33:34 CET 2013 from (24.108.143.105)

JT

Subject: 'On A Night Like This'

Another Band link to the topic:

"On a night like this

I can’t get any sleep

The air is so cold outside

And the snow’s so deep

Build a fire, throw on logs

And listen to it hiss

And let it burn, burn, burn, burn

On a night like this"

Entered at Sun Jan 20 21:18:34 CET 2013 from (68.171.231.88)

Bill

Entered at Sun Jan 20 21:18:47 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Sun Jan 20 20:40:06 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: There's a blizzard comin on

1965...was the biggest year I recall. I was working at Port McNeill. My folks lived in Roberts Creek. I came home for Christmas, and there I was stuck.

Needing the money, I was worried about getting back to work. Then I end up with a job at Port Mellon, running wheel loader clearing snow. There ended up being 9 feet. When they cleared the highway the snow was right up along the hydro & telephone lines.

When I finally got back to Port McNeill to work, up on the mountain I worked at building logging roads. We were still working in snow in June, and it even snowed one time then. It has changed.

Entered at Sun Jan 20 20:22:11 CET 2013 from (24.108.143.105)

JT

Subject: Snow in TO!

(If this shows up twice, I apologize). Snow in the 50s and 60s to the top of our 56 Pontiac, to the top of our 59 LeSabre and to the top of our 64 LeSabre. We dug out so my dad could go to work. I haven't seen anything like that, except sort of in '99, since those early years. Things have changed.

Entered at Sun Jan 20 19:30:24 CET 2013 from (74.108.32.67)

Joan

Usually in the NYC area they handle snow quite well, but every once in a while there is a doozy. Most amazing in my mind was February 1969. It was about 2 feet of snow and it paralyzed NY. I was living on York Avenue and 82nd street The subway was at Lexington and 86th. I worked at 23rd and Madison. My roommate and I were paranoid about getting to work.We waited and waited for a cross town bus but none were running. We manged to slog over to the subway only to find that no trains were coming. Eventually a downtown bus showed up. It was crowded and slow. We finally got to the office only to find that hardly anyone else had made it in. I worked for a huge company and almost no one came in. The company later made a decision not to dock all the people who hadn't made it and give those who did and extra day off. The streets were not clear for days, They called it the "Lindsay" snow storm as they reviled the Mayor at the time.

Entered at Sun Jan 20 18:54:38 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Sun Jan 20 17:09:43 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Cahir

Subject: How Green is my Valley

Al Edge, you must know this movie, with Roddie McDowell in thos evalleys in Wales. My fathers grand father came from those valleys. My mothers father came from Scotland. What gawd damn chance did I have. My fathers mother was indian and Mexican...........I'm a mutt!

Entered at Sun Jan 20 12:41:35 CET 2013 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

My missus hails from the South Wales valleys. They'd always told me of getting snowed in with 10 foor drifts but I never really believed them. Always thought they were exaggerating.

Anyroad one Easter late April I think it was '77 we awoke to six foot drifts in the street. We were due to travel back to Liverpool that morning but there'd been an overnight blizzard that had caught everyone unawares. An amazing sight met us from the bedroom window.

The terraced streets of the valleys are long thin snakey things always running down the valley and Bryn Seion Street was blanketed from top to bottom. The cars at our section of the street were actually covered entirely. So from the bedroom window it looked as if they weren't there.

As you opened the front door the top of the snow was at eye level. It was unreal. As Mag's family were seasoned campaigners in this sort of stuff the orders were quickly implemented. First job was to go in the cockaloft with a bucket to clear out the snow that had drifted into the roof space before it melted and leaked. Next it was to dig out a pathway from the front door and front window down the street. It was a real community effort as all hands mucked in. A few hours later there was a narrow 3 foot wide canyon-like route running the down entire length of the pavement.

Two days later the snow ploughs came and we were re-united with our cars and made our way home.

Needless to say back in Liverpool nobody believed a word of it.

:-0)

Entered at Sun Jan 20 07:04:03 CET 2013 from (99.115.145.68)

Pat B

Entered at Sun Jan 20 04:15:12 CET 2013 from (99.244.253.166)

John D

In my entire career there was only one Sunday I could not get into work. I believe it was January 3, 1999. Over 40 centimeters of snow fell over night. I live in the middle of a sub-division in the east end of the city and I couldn't even get my car down to the end of the driveway. I started trying to dig out at 3:30 in the morning. I was to on air by six. This was the same storm that JT talked about; when the Mayor called in the army to help clear the white stuff. By Monday morning everything was pretty much back to normal.

Entered at Sun Jan 20 02:19:32 CET 2013 from (68.171.231.83)

Bill M

Entered at Sun Jan 20 01:56:38 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Lettin' it slip away

Too bad Peter. Victoria is very beautiful. The golf course along the beach, Bushart Gardens, (I probably didn't spell that right). Oak Bay, the homes and gardens are gorgeous.

However, localy, Victoria is know as the home of the newly weds and the nearly deads. I don't think J/T is a newly wed:)

Entered at Sun Jan 20 00:42:44 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Sun Jan 20 00:13:44 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: You just bet!

It may have been before your time out here Jerry, but that is a funny subject. I don't recall how many yaers ago, quite some time. However, for the very reason you have said, the city of Victoria had a big battle amoung politians, in locaol government, concerning the cost of snow removal equipment they had as well as the cost to maintain it.

It ended up they sold a lot of it off. Then of course wouldn't you know it, they had a big snow fall and the shit really hit the fan, by the "I told you so" people. Kind of the same thing happened in Courtenay which is crazy because Courtenay very often gets heavy snow. There was a year, I don't know quite a while back but the cops and every service like ambulances etc had to get 4x4 equipment 'cause no one could get around........so there:)

Entered at Sat Jan 19 23:23:22 CET 2013 from (24.108.143.105)

JT

Subject: Not a uniform response in Canada

When it snows it Victoria (it rarely does but I've seen in with depth 3 times), the city stops. We have not been able to get up our driveway and roads to our home are not passable for a couple of days. In Toronto, even though the army was called in once, I NEVER was kept at home, either when I went to school (many years ago) or during my 35 years on the job. The difference is the response equipment and people ready to respond. Clearly, because snow is uncommon in Victoria, there is minimal equipment while in Toronto , the men and equipment are ready whenever needed. The 'army incident' was ridiculous and probably unnecessary but Toronto sure has gotten a lot of flack for it and it will never be forgotten. (Have a good time with this one, RC)

Entered at Sat Jan 19 18:09:16 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

I'm getting crotchety, but when it comes to receiving salaries at the end of the month, I'd be inclined to leave payment for a week on the grounds that "the accounts staff couldn't get to work because we had a centimetre of snow, and it lasted on the ground nearly five hours, so unfortunately we can't pay you till next week."

It is a British disease. In the late 70s, I drove 15 miles to work through an unusually heavy lot of snow. Two of my colleagues had driven further. One guy phoned in to say he couldn't come to work because of the snow. He lived half a mile away. His boss had walked to work, and the route on foot went past the guy's house.

Entered at Sat Jan 19 18:00:58 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

fanny is the female "front bottom" (the description is Dawn French) in British English. The reason The Weight didn't cause hilarity was that 50% of listeners thought it was Annie. Let's note that The Hawks travelled the length and breadth of Britain in 1966. I've connected to my article … written 17 years ago, revised 8 years ago which mentions it.

Entered at Sat Jan 19 17:37:03 CET 2013 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

Peter V - this is likely an old question,, but do to the meaning of fanny in Ireland, (England too?) did The Weight cause any chuckles when it came out?

Entered at Sat Jan 19 16:59:56 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Confusion Absoleet

North...West......Coaster...you better let the dog do the talking. I didn't understand a gawd damn thing you just said.

Wanderin' Jerry.....you should be bocotting hockey. The Tranna.leafs....when pigs fly. The Vancouver Canucks....all a fake. When it comes to a cup they all get buck fever and....faaaaaaaade.

Yer wandering back and forth so much....ever wake up and ferget which bed your in? Happens to me. I wake up at home in bed one morning still dark looking at a light which I figure is some kind of ship coming at me....then realize....I'm at home in bed...what a relief.

Entered at Sat Jan 19 16:47:56 CET 2013 from (24.108.143.105)

JT

Subject: Truly funny, Bill M!

Ooh, that Smell. That is truly funny, Bill.

Entered at Sat Jan 19 16:38:36 CET 2013 from (68.171.231.85)

Bill M

Entered at Sat Jan 19 16:26:38 CET 2013 from (75.118.127.184)

JW

Does anybody know if the original band lineup with Robbie,Garth,Levon,Richard,& Rick ever played anything or did any songs unplugged with all acoustic instruments? An acoustic version some of their songs on Music From Big Pink or the ST 2nd album would be sweet.

Entered at Sat Jan 19 16:17:59 CET 2013 from (24.108.143.105)

JT

Subject: Saturday

Why is Saturday Jan. 19 2013 a great day 1) We got L.Cohen tickets for Victoria's show 2) Our beloved Leafs (hope springs eternal; some say tomfoolery) open against the Montreal Canadiens 3) the sun is supposed to shine today 4) when the sun stops shining I think the Vancouver Canucks play 5) We got Leonard tickets 6) We got Fieldmaster Cohen tickets!

Entered at Sat Jan 19 12:24:24 CET 2013 from (83.249.143.62)

NortWestCoaster (again)

Subject: The same

... and Rockin' Chair: When I took my computer to internet Police they found a "backdoor" in my _Norman_ Security software and there were a Norman related scam mail, too. Tugs have been torpedoed for less. But no hard feelings ol' razorbill :-)

Entered at Sat Jan 19 12:11:18 CET 2013 from (83.249.143.62)

NorthWestCoaster

Subject: Would you give JOHN WESLEY HARDING your bank account details?

I sympathized ROCKIN'' CHAIR on his internet scam issue earlier. Now I'd like to share this with you: - Russian mafia sends bluff mails to an email account which I exposed in this forum for years ago. Senders are taken from my posts in this gb. For awhile ago I responded to DAVID P's post on JOHN WESLEY HARDING. After that I received a phishing mail from this very Mr. Harding. Didn't increase my confidence which seems to be the purpose.

T hey seem to send mails in my good name so if you'll receive something from forname.first letter in surname (a) spray dot se it is not from me.

Entered at Sat Jan 19 10:36:36 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter v

Joe J, we had nearly one centimetre of snow in Poole yesterday. No refuse collection, schools closed, airports closed. After all it went all the way down to minus two Celsius. Still, most of it melted in the afternoon. I'm not joking!

Entered at Sat Jan 19 06:12:44 CET 2013 from (208.120.36.230)

Jon Lyness

Joe, you will love seeing Leonard live. My expectations were sky-high and I still loved every minute. 3.5 hours and nary a dull patch.

Brian Wilson, Al Jardine and David Marks... great fun and I'd be right there too. Here's hoping they make it to the Big Apple. This summer, guys? :)

Entered at Sat Jan 19 01:36:06 CET 2013 from (96.30.173.135)

joe j

Well I got me tickets for Leonard in April. Last time he came to the Newfoundland Dylan was playing in town the same night. The chances of that whatsay? I already had Dylan tickets but Robert added a second show and there was a brief window where I thought I might be able to finesse both their shows but it was not to be.

Told my oldest and he asked if that was the guy who sang 'Sweet Home Alabama'. Other son identified him as the old dude who wrote 'Hallelujah' for Jeff Buckley.

It's minus thirty with wind chill tonight. I cut my evening stroll to the bare minimum. You know Santa Claus gave me a bottle of Robert Burns single malt from the Isle of Arran. I was going to keep it for, you know, next week. I'll be on the road on the 25th so might as well break it out tonight, toast my coup, and cue up 'Old Ideas'. Life is good.

Entered at Sat Jan 19 00:57:32 CET 2013 from (71.184.199.161)

Tim

Subject: Beach Boys

JTull Im excited to catch that show if it comes my way. The 50th tour was amazing for the song selection and Al voice was a highlight, probably the most preserved of all of the group. Now if they would give Blondie Chaplin a call.....

Entered at Fri Jan 18 22:26:11 CET 2013 from (217.5.150.254)

JTull Fan

Subject: Beach Boys

Essentially Addition by Subtraction. This lineup has more true Beach Boys than the Mike Love-Bruce Johnston 'official' edition. I was hoping this would happen after the fabulous 50th Anniversary Tour of last year.

Entered at Fri Jan 18 19:50:31 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Warren Haynes & Joe Bonammasa

Well if yer gonna listen to blues, I think I'll take this with these Les Pauls over Clapton almost any time.

Entered at Fri Jan 18 19:30:56 CET 2013 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

Subject: Everything That Glitters (Is Not A Gold Record)

Also on the bill at the Steiner Ranch concert was the Steve Miller Band, who at the time were also getting a lot of radio airplay with the release of the "Fly Like An Eagle" album. England Dan was Dan Seals, the younger brother of Jim Seals of Seals & Croft. After his break with John Ford Coley, he went on to have a very successful solo career in the country music charts. See link to his recording of "Everything That Glitters (Is Not Gold)". R.I.P. Dan Seals.

Entered at Fri Jan 18 18:42:43 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

Peter V: For the missus with regards - the b-side of the Canuckistani release. (On accordion is Denis Keldie, who on "2B3: The Toronto Sessions" is paired up with Bill Payne on "Life Is A Carnival" and with Richard Bell on "King Harvest".)

Rockin C: The only time I remember being in Rohans was in the very early '80s to catch No Fun, a clever post-punk band.

Entered at Fri Jan 18 17:42:33 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Full tilt in the 80's

Gawd damn it Bill you just had to do it.......get my mind to wandering around back there. On 4th avenue just south of False Creek was a club called Rohan's. That is where Al Foreman and those bluesy guys played a lot it was more of a blues club. Some of your peers and cohorts used to come there a lot. The "Down Child Blues Band", and many who tried to be like them.

I was looking on here just now, many of the pubs in Gas Town have different names now. There was the "Town Pump", The "Blarney Stone", The "Brass Rail", The "Harp & Heather". Shit, I can't even remember them all.

After the showing of that movie Turban Cowboy....with John Revolting, for a few years there, every body wanted to be a cowboy. There sprang up 2 more clubs, "Cowboys", and "Cowboys 2".

After our government decided when Expo came along to open bars on Sundays, many of us were then playing 7 nights a week. You could barely get time to move your equipment from one place to the next. The Vancouver and surrounding towns music scene became crazy. Although the business in Washington state slowed a little on Sundays after that, we still had the clubs in Blaine and Sumas to play at. It was a busy time for a few years.

Still the Commodore Ball room and some of those mid size venues were extremely busy. Now and then some of us would try and get a night off to get together. One such night, this promoter guy, Jim something, I can't remember his last name. Well George Jones was supposed to be coming to the "Cave" down town. This was in his drinking days where he earned his title "No show Jones" because he rarely showed up. So Jim gave a bunch of us free tickets. He was worried there would be no crowd. About 20 of us made our arrangements to get the night off and we all met up and went down there......he didn't show up...lol.

His band was great. We were all having a good time, and one of the guys, I think the guitar player on a break, came over and thanked us for showing up and sticking around. One of my gang says, "Well Norm Jones showed up get him to play." So I got to go and do a couple of George tunes in his place. So I figure that little shit owes me one. My great claim to fame.....

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Pat B

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David P

One would imagine that I knew how to spell imaginary :-)

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David P

Subject: Song of the Day

News reporters & late-night commedians this week have been all in a twitter over the story of the star Notre Dame football player, Manti Te'o, who had an imaginery girlfriend. In honor of this scenario here's a link to the Atlanta Rhythm Section's "Imaginery Lover". For a follow-up, click on link to the right for ARS' "So Into You".

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Bill M

GregD: No direct link between Scrubbaloe and Crowbar that I can think of, but an indirect one thanks to Paul Armstrong. I'm having trouble sorting out the years, but at some point ca '77, Kelly Jay reassembled the guys from Crowbar to back him on a solo 45, with Ray Harrison filling in for the uninterested Joe Chirowski. It worked and they toured fairly successfully as Crowbar until their uninsured van full of uninsured equipment rolled off a mountain road. Ray replaced former Hawk Scott Cushnie at the helm of the Cameo Blues Band, and Paul Armstrong eventually took over for Bill Bryans on drums. Kelly and Ray remained close, and I do have a clear memory of being at the Izzy when Kelly got up to sing while adding an extra right hand on Ray's piano - with Dave Bingham from the Ugly Duckling guesting on harmonica too.

Bingham was a big Robbie Robertson fan, and an early purchaser of John Hammond's "I Can Tell" 45 on Red Bird - which is why the Ducks did their best to recreate the Hammond arrangement as the b-side of their classic proto-punk "Nothin'". If you look a the link, you'll see that the 45 is a Tommy Graham Production; years before, Tommy had been the leader of the Regents, who Robbie Robertson played with briefly in the late '50s and who in their role as houseband at the Blue Note backed various Hawks when they got up to jam.

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Peter V

Subject: Eton Rifles

Indeed it was, Bill. I was playing Soviet Jewelery just now, and Mrs V was very taken with it! So here's a link to The Jam on Top of the Pops. It's always good to hear a three piece with a really loud bass player (like Bruce Foxton).

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JT

Subject: B.B. Gabor

Nice to remember 'Nyet Nyet Soviet' (Soviet Jewelry) and Metropolitan Life - 2 excellent songs by B.B. Gabor. He was another tragedy of the music industry undoubtedly with too many life stresses (Hungarian revolution 1956 into UK London and then onto bigger things. Very talented and worth a listen.

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GregD

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Bill M

GregD: Aging memory. Pat Riley was the bassist who took over for Kale. Armstrong replaced McBeth directly, when Small was still in the band but Foreman was gone. Armstrong went on to the original BB Gabor and Instaband, and is on their wonderful "Soviet Jewellery" 45 (at link). He was also in the original lineup of the Extras, essentially an Instaband spinoff. Later Extra albums included guitarist Michael St Clair, who went to highschool with Northern Boy and I.

Peter V: This 45 was initially released only in Britain, in a stiff cardboard sleeve along the lines of the Jam singles you picked up recently (except it was red instead of the Jam's customary black). Well worth watching out for, in my estimation. Was "Eton Rifles" one of your finds, by the way?

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JT

Subject: Steiner Ranch near Austin

There is actually a fair amount of information regarding this Sept 5 1976 date near Austin Tx at Steiner Ranch if you look for it, including a Super 8 film of the date with some bands playing (couldn't see The Band). This date attracted 45,000 but expected many more and was apparently a financial failure. The site was a regular site for outdoor events like this one.

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Pat B

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Bill M

GregD: You're right that Scrubbaloe Caine was based out of Toronto towards the end in the mid '70s. Henry Small left and played bars here with Small Wonder. Bill McBeth left too and was replaced by Pat Riley then Paul Armstrong then Pat Riley again. Small Wonder did an album here, then moved to LA, where they did another. After a stint with Burton Cummings, Small moved up to Vancouver to head up Prism

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GregD

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JOY OLGA

Subject: I AM HAPPY MY LOVER IS BACK

Hello am JOY from Russia i wanna thank Dr AKPAKPA for what he has done for me at first i taught he was scam until i just decided to follow my mind.i told him that my ex lover which i loved with all my heart left me for another. All Dr AKPAKPA did was to laugh and said he will be back to me in 3days time i taught he was lying on the 3rd day my ex called me and said he wanna see me,i was shocked then he came over to my place and started begging that he was bewitched,immediately i forgive him and now we are back and he his really madly in love with me.All thanks to Dr AKPAKPA he indeed wonderful in-case you wanna contact him here his is private mail afiamensolutionshrine@gmail.com Name JOY OLGA country Russia

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Rockin Chair

Subject: The Venues

Bill; You never would have found Al around there, or any of us for that matter.

You may not have known this, but that summer was the first time bars were open Sundays in BC. As a matter of fact the first Sunday was May Day weekend of 86. I was playing with my band at Gabby's Cabaret in Langley, which is also Rodeo weekend in Cloverdale.

In Gabby's there was a lineup for two blocks that Sunday to get in the place. Usually after our first set people would start warming up to dance. That Sunday after our first set, it was so packed we had to fight our way off the stage. That club was lisenced for 196 seets. I got to one of the bouncers at one of the "out doors". I said what in hell are you guys doing Mark? He had one of those little clicker counters. He said there is over 400 people in here right now.

It was that way every where. Al Foreman, and a lot of the other guys were in Gas Town at the bars down there packin' them in solid.

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JT

Subject: Austin Tx

Tim: Just for accuracy.... The venue was Austin, Tx on Sept 5 1976 (not Houston) - see poster near top of presented photos - The site where these photos are presented is for concerts in or NEAR Houston. The concert is there in our listing (on this Band site) for Band concerts already.

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Bill M

Rockin C: I was at your expo. No sign of Al Foreman, but I did see the blues duo of Amos Garrett and Bill Stevenson one afternoon. Stevenson's a guy that Amos would have known from the Ottawa secene of the '60s. He then moved south to Earth Opera (first album) and later Tom Rush (with ex-Hawk Sandky Konikoff before Sandy passed his sticks along to Gary Mallaber). Both were based in San Francisco at the time, but Garrett is now in Calgary and Stevenson in Halifax. I remember I got dragged away early so we could catch the very end of Bob Bossin's set across the park; my wife was hoping, successfully, that Bossin's bassist would be her old family friend Denny N, who Bonk knew back in the day as well.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Al Foreman - "Everybody wants more money"

Little Al Foreman, in 1986 for our Expo wrote a song, "Vancouver's My Hometown". Can't find it on here, but here he is with some real kickass.

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Dunc

Subject: Al

I really LOVED St John. Great player.

I remember my dad being so sad when we lost Ron Yeats.

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Bill M

Joe J: You work in a salon, like Warren Beatty in "Shampoo"? If that's the case, it was very sporting of you to take time out from your duties to post the Gentry links.

GregD: I'm sure you're right, and that it was really Scrubbaloe Caine, an utterly fantastic group that only released one LP and three other songs (see link for a taste). At the time of the CNE appearance, I suspect that Kale hadn't yet left the Guess Who and that the bassist was still the original guy, Bob Kidd. Upon leaving the GW, Kale first signed on as manager of Scrubbaloe, and then moved to bass after Kidd left. Aside from Kale (from Winnipeg) and Henry Small (an American who'd moved north to some success as vocalist with Calgary's Gainsborough Gallery), the musicians (Paul Dean, Al Foreman, Bill McBeth, Jim Harmata, Bob Kidd) were the creme de la creme of the impressive Vancouver R&B scene of the late '60s / early '70s (fabulous bands like Jayson Hoover and the Epics, Trials of Jayson Hoover, Nocturnals, Canada, Anvil Chorus - all of whose 45s are well worth tracking down).

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joe j

Subject: Bobbie Gentry

Slow day at the salon so I followed a couple Bobbie Gentry links on the Expecting Rain site. I found Bobbie & John Cash dueting on "Lake Ponchartrain", Bobbie singing and dancing "Niki Hooey" on The Smothers Brothers and this strange one about a family reunion. You know them.

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Tim

Subject: The Band Houston September 1976

A great find, I have to say. Pictures of The Band, on stage, back stage. mixed in with Fleetwood Mac and others who were on the bill. Enjoy.

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Bob F.

Subject: Link to Top of the World

Anyone who hasn't heard Professor Louie and The Crowmatix fantastic song 'Top of The World', please check out my link to this My Space site where you can hear it.

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David P

Subject: Ga. Historical Markers II: May the Tenth

Confederate President Davis was later captured in Georgia, near Irwinville, on May 10, 1865 (see link to historical marker).

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David P

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Billy C. ( Friend0

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sadavid

Subject: snowing Stoneman

David P: thanks for the link to the Stoneman marker. Impressive negotiating on the part of Brig Gen Iverson to convince Stoneman that he was overmatched.

I checked Iverson's bio on w'pedia, and wasn't surprised to see he'd been a lawyer prior to the Northern Aggression . . . .

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mike h

John Simon's new website, including pics of Rick Danko in a Porsche (w/ Simon's & Danko's children) in CA headed to "TLW" rehearsals.

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David P

Subject: Historical Markers

Many of the historical markers here in Georgia note events from the Civil War. I had to go by a court in Decatur this morning and afterwards, while walking across the courthouse square, I noticed a marker noting "Stoneman's Raid" (see link). I was on my way to a coffee shop where I took a minute to look at the guestbook while having a cup & drying off from the rain.

During the Battle of Atlanta in 1864 Gen. Stoneman's cavalry regiment bivouaced on a farm near Decatur, before heading south to tear up the tracks of the Central of Georgia railroad supply route between Atlanta & Macon. It was during this ill-fated raid that Stoneman was captured at Sunshine Church.

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GregD

Sadavid-Thanks for the link to the listing of all the CNE Grandstand shows. I can't believe it was August of 1969 when I peaked through the fence at Glen Campbell performing on stage. That would have been around when his "Goodtime Hour" was on t.v. and our boys turned down a chance to be on it, because, according to Levon, they didn't want to sit in the back of a pickup truck on bales of hay lipsynching to Up on Cripple Creek.

Bill M-I note the Aug.26 1973 show on said CNE Grandstand shows listing featured The Guess Who with "The Scublecane" who I can't recall hearing of. I wonder if in fact this could be a typo of sorts, and was actually Scrubbaloe Caine, the relatively short-lived band featuring former Guess Who bassist Jim Kale, future Lover Boy guitarist Paul Dean,and Henry Small?

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Billy C. (Friend0

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Billy C. (Friend0

I don't think it was Ireland Corners garage, but it was a body shop near there, before the corners. . that is the Corners i was trying to recall.

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Peter v

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Rockin Chair

Subject: The old saying

Al! Here are two of my all time favourite sayings.

An old friend in Port Hardy had an auto body shop. A chain link fence contained many cars for repair parts etc. Of course people are always trying to steal that stuff. Well Joe had a HUGE dog in there. A big sign on the fence read.

ANY ONE FOUND HERE AT NIGHT WILL BE FOUND HERE IN THE MORNING!

My other favourite, was in the movie "City Slickers". When Curly died and they buried him, cookie gave his eulogy.

LORD we give you Curly....try not to piss him off.

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Al Edge

One of our early '60's great players at LFC was Ian St John. He was one of Dunc's lot - a fervent Scot, diminutive, as fiery as William Wallace but a far superior centre forward and a terrific footballer to boot.

His passion and verve fitted into that football mad 60's Liverpool scene like a duck to water.

Anyroad, there was a church outside Anfield football ground. It had a prominent billboard outside the front porch entrance which used to prominently feature the usual type of dramatic religious slogans and proclamations.

One such slogan read "AND WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF CHRIST CAME DOWN TO EARTH TOMORROW?"

Underneath someone had scrawled "Move St. John to inside left"

:-0)

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Bill M

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Dunc

Subject: Bill M, Indigo

Bill M:I liked the Indigo shop. Do they still have the wall where the names of Canadian famous people are written on it, including Robbie's name?

Do you remember my post telling how I phoned Indigo from Scotland and got higher and higher up the management chain to complain about Garth's name not being on the wall. Greatest keyboardist in the history of Rock, Canadian too and it was a disgrace his name was not on the wall.

They said they would consider putting his name on the wall. Did they?

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Bill M

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Characters

Just having brunch with my Susan, two girls and two grand children....my Amanda is just moving here. They are asking me, what are doing down on that computer Dad? I said I'm talking to a bunch of crazies all over the planet. Amanda says.....oh just like you?

Well they want to know what we are talking about and where every body is. As I'm explaining this, a thought strikes me that I had to really laugh at. In our breakfast nook above the table and around are windows are all these gawd damn hanging plants. One in particular that is getting right around my head, I just realized reminds me of J/T. It has very long slender beautiful purple and green leaves and hangs in long strings from the pot, right on to my head. I bet you can't guess what it's called.

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David P

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Bill M

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David P

I got to see Mr. St. John play in Atlanta back in the '60s. He had a great group called St. John and the Cardinals, which he had formed with some of his fraternity brothers while attending Emory University in Atlanta. Sadly, he passed away last June.

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Lars

Subject: Harken back to old New Paltz again

NORM- A few years back I tried to have Billy committed to a safer environment. He wound up getting thrown out for being too obnoxious. He's working as a bartender now in nearby Newburgh, where he's saving souls from behind the bar. Google "Billy's Holy Water helped me find my way out of the wilderness;" an article in a 2012 Boy's Life.

BOB F.- Just to finish the New Paltz business, Offerman's (rock n' roll) was located across the street from New Paltz High School. It was a tiny record store located in a perfect place for student traffic. Not that far from Zupp's Pharmacy (drugs)....the bleachers (sex) were in the new gym.

JEFF- You must have gotten towed by Ireland Corners Garage. We talked about this before, but I can't remember: was it North Mt Rd or South Mt Road? That area was my bailiwick, kinda like New Paltz.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: The 50's

I remember Motly Crew's contributions as you have mentioned Bill. I expect you know that a few years back, they renamed the bridge, now called "Iron Workers Memorial" bridge, quite fittingly, as it still remains the worst construction disaster of that kind. The images on line are still sickening to look at.

Some where back in my mind, I had a conversation with one of the survivors telling me how he was trying to swim away there, and was rescued. It is hazy. The tide runs like a gawd damn river under that bridge. I will e mail you a cool picture.

A couple of years ago I had occasion to tow a barge camp of Interfor's, That is International Forest Products, (the biggest american logging company here that rapes and pillages our forests) I do a lot of work for them.

Anyway this camp, it's a steel barge with like a hotel built on it. The picture, it is right under that bridge. I guess you know, the rail bridge is lower, and is a lift bridge. When you are going to come thru, if you tow is too high, you call the bridge, (on VHF radio) for a lift. Well I was coming in, I called the bridge, and where the tide was at the time, I said, "How much room do I have?" Fella says....awww 'bout 35 feet. I said maybe you better give me a lift. Well, I was about 4 or 5 feet too high...wheeeeou! Thank god he lifted.

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Bill M

Amazingly enough, I came within whisker of mentioning Patsy Cline in my post, but dropped the thought on the grounds that the route was too circuitous. But now as you've mentioned her .... In the early '50s, Jimmy Dean worked with Washington DC label owner / publisher Lillian Claiborne, who employed another of her charges, Frank Motley and his Motley Crew, to back him in the studio. Another of her charges was Patsy Cline, who may also have been backed by the Motley band and who most certainly recorded a song by the group's pianist and singer, Jimmy Crawford, "Don't Ever Leave Me Again". In a move that would be repeated years later by Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks, Harold Kudlets booked the Motley band into the Brass Rail in Hamilton, Ontario, in '53; a subsequent tour north in '55 brought them into Montreal and Toronto, where they set down roots and stayed, presiding over the Yonge Street scene along with Hawkins and the Hawks and a lounge group called Joe King and the Zaniacs (whose front man, Johnny Rhythm, was also part of Robbie's early career).

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Steel men , Don Messer's Jubilee & Sundry Junk

Good Morning! One too many a morning. Yes Bill I do remember that horrible day when the bridge fell. I have encountered many people, invloved and touched by that.

Bill I know what you mean about Don Messer's show, I could just never get into that stuff. As a kid in our house then, was only 1 black & white TV. On the night that show came on, our old mum dearly loved it. You shut up, sit down and watch it or get out of Dodge.......we would scatter.

There were others, like Country Howdown with Gordie Tapps & Tommy Hunter before he started his own show. One I didn't mind later on was Ronnie Prophet. I played music with him a few times in the early 80's when he came out here. Ronnie's a prettty good guy.

After playing my vinyl a little, of Coal Miner's daughter, of course I like to hear Levon and Sissy Spacek, but that dish Beverly D'Angelo singing as Patsy Cline.......yeah! She's got great nipples too....just like Roz....where in hell is Roz.

While my mind was wandering around in my back pages, some how got into the frey an old show, that didn't last too long. Other day we were discussing sit coms, Archie Bunker etc. Well do any of you guys remember. "When Things were Rotten". A mel Brooks thing on the ongoing conflict between Robin Hood & the Sherrif of Nottingham. Now that was crazy.

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JT and LvdB

Subject: Leonard Cohen Canadian tour

Leonard Cohen tickets go on sale shortly for 'Old Ideas' Canadian tour. Some packages now available. 'This could be the last time, may be the last time, I don't know.'

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Bill M

Rockin Chair: This one's for you, mainly, as you're likely the only person here who'll recall the collapse of the Second Narrows Bridge. You may not have heard this original calypso version of "Steel Men" (by a Toronto group in '62), but you'll surely be familiar with Jimmy Dean's C&W cover, which can be found online at www.youtube.com/watch?v=gipzQr0k9zA

The Raleigh label, by the way, touches the story of our guys insofar as it had issued the first record by Paul London and the Capers (with Garth) the year before. That one, though on the US label, is at www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfOdrygsjtk

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Peter V

"Retromania" has a lot to say about collecting. Anatole France said that no serious book collector had read more than 10%. Another point is that a collector confronted with a shop which had every item he was looking for (say those five Dylan obscurities he's never found) would not want to buy them. A bookshop owner I know mentioned George MacDonald Fraser's "Flashman" novels, and said that given (say) £1200, and eight weeks, he could find anyone a pristine complete set of original first edition hardbacks on the net, but no collector would ever want to do it this way (BTW, most of the money would go on the first two). That's not the point. The fun is looking and finding, then reading the one you just found.

On listening to all the stuff you've got, I try hard with CDs, but vinyl defeats me. I'm trying to do this book on 45s in the UK, and so pick up stuff for the label, or artwork, or just because I know that it's a major bargain at the price. Or because in a section on a label, I need a representative sample of their stuff, so I want (say) a heavy metal example. I have a turntable with a D/A converter (NOT USB) on my desk linked to my computer speakers, but it's still very hard to keep up.

But there are "collector" bits that cut in. Yesterday I saw an American Deja Vu, first copy with the dimpled sleeve, stuck on picture and gold lettering in near mint condition at a mere £1.50. Because Record Collector just did a piece on CSNY I know that rates at £25. I have a later pressing, I have a CD, but at £1.50, I had to buy it. I can't leave a Band LP languishing in a 50p or £1 section … if it's in good condition I "rescue" it, then give it away.

Another find yesterday was a box the shop had just bought in. It had a stack of The Jam's singles, each is a card "DJ" sleeve with plastic inner liner. The picture sleeves were all stored separately in paper bags, so that they didn't even have the impression of the record on them. You just never find 1977 to 1978 New wave stuff in that kind of virtually new condition. £1.50 each. So a day listening to early The Jam beckons.

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JT

Subject: Time is on my side

Yes sir, spoiled by life in the west

-" Ah, get born, keep warm, short pants, romance, learn to dance Get dressed, get blessed, try to be a success Please her, please him, buy gifts, don't steal, don't lift Twenty years of schooling and they put you on the day shift"

I'm enjoying this one

don't need to do it again.

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Ari

DB: Well, you wrote a bunch of them. (Songs from The Band.)

Levon Helm: Well, no, I’ve not written a lot. I’m mainly a player. I wish I were a writer. I’ve been there when Robby and when Richard and Garth and people have done some good writing, and I’ve got to be a part of it, but I’m just your basic member of the rhythm section.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Shakin his head!

Are you admitting how gawd damn spoiled you are Jerry? God boy! you get to buy all the music imaginable, run back and forth across the country, charge people about $600 an hour and then complain because there isn't enough hours in a day for you to do everything you want to do! Lawd, Lawd, Lawd..........Yer just going to have to come back again and do it all over.

Have a chat with the Rev Billie Sol hargis, he should be able to help, (he does a little mental counciling a swell you see).

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JT

Subject: Here's the problem...

In a nutshell, the problem is that I cannot listen to all the music I buy. I just can't keep up. I say, I'll listen to it when I can. It seems that the only time I really have (what with work, watching movies, sports and even reading) at times is while I am doing the 5 hour flight from the centre of the universe to the left coast. I try. I buy. I will continue because I have eternal hope that I will someday 'hear it all'.

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Peter v

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Pat B

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Pat B

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David P

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Bill M

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David P

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Pat B

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Bill M

Entered at Tue Jan 15 21:28:28 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

Sorry about the apostrophe, Norm. It was the latte-drinker in me that made me do it.

Entered at Tue Jan 15 21:25:51 CET 2013 from (108.90.18.26)

Pat B

Linda Ronstadt - Vocals Waddy Wachtel - Guitar, Background Vocals Andrew Gold - Guitar, Keyboards, Background Vocals Brock Walsh - Keyboards, Bass Kenny Edwards - Bass, Banjo, Harmonica, Mandolin, Guitar, Background Vocals Dan Dugmore - Guitar, Pedal Steel Guitar Mike Botts - Drums

Entered at Tue Jan 15 21:23:18 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: The Price

I forgot to say, at the thrift store for the records, we were able to settle out of court for two bits a record. Wonder if Peter V and those boys over there know what two bits is.....

Entered at Tue Jan 15 21:21:06 CET 2013 from (108.90.18.26)

Pat B

Entered at Tue Jan 15 21:17:48 CET 2013 from (108.90.18.26)

Pat B

Entered at Tue Jan 15 21:01:11 CET 2013 from (99.244.253.166)

John D

Bring on Marg Osburne and Charlie Chamberlain. Lets step dance everybody.

Entered at Tue Jan 15 20:58:35 CET 2013 from (131.137.247.6)

sadavid

Subject: mystery drummer

If it's any help, the Band / Ronstadt CNE bill was 31 Aug 76 - AKA the Farewell Tour, but only retrospectively.

I can't see where Don Messer ever made it to the CNE Grandstand - can that be right?

Entered at Tue Jan 15 20:49:03 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

David P: Good suggestion, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't Botts because the Bread connection would have registered. For a while I thought it might have been Gary Mallaber, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't him either. (It would have been nice if it had been Mallaber, as he's a former Buffalonian, a friend of Sandy Konikoff, and someone who'd grown up watching the Hawks.) The right guy may well have drummed on Andrew Gold's "Lonely Boy" LP, if anyone has a copy lying around ...

Entered at Tue Jan 15 20:24:32 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: WHAT AM I BID?

To start with....we're selling this big house and scaling down, from 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms to a little one storey 2 bed 2 bath, smaller maintenance free yard, and spend more time on the Rockin Chair. (Lars told me to).

So I been prying all this stuff out of Susan's sticky little hand....lord the stuff women collect. So I had 2 big boxes of paperback books I just took up to the thrift store. As I'm walking out I glance beside me is a shelf of "Vinyl Siding" as David calls it. I figure well I better flip thru this......lo and behold.

The sound track for Coal Miner's Daughter, the vinyl has never even been out of the jacket. Old Levon singing "Blue Moon of Kentucky". Also a like new Wilf Carter album.

There was even one I was gonna buy for John Donabe or Bill Munson or one of those crazies, Don Messer!

Entered at Tue Jan 15 20:21:20 CET 2013 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

Bill: Ms. Ronstadt's drummer at the time might have been Michael Botts, who was also a member of the group Bread and worked with Dan Fogelberg & many others.

Entered at Tue Jan 15 19:43:27 CET 2013 from (68.198.167.170)

Bob F

Lars, I don't remember that place but I was knee high to a grasshopper in the 50's. Was it an actual record shop or an appliance store that sold records on the side? I think it's a Key Bank now.

Jeff, I actually live outside of New Paltz. I'm closer to Gardner and Plattekill but it's all the same.

Entered at Tue Jan 15 19:16:33 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

John D is right - Ronstadt and the Band shared the bill at the Ex. She opened for them here, although I have the sense that it was the other way around on the rest of the tour. And they didn't play together (here). I remember that her band included Waddy Wachtel, Andrew Gold and Kenny Edwards; I don't remember the drummer, but I know I recognised the guy's name from the credits on other people's albums.

Lars: That was a sneaky thing to suggest. Imagine how you'll feel if somebody takes your advice? Reminds me of my record-collecting forays across the prairies in the late '70s and early '80s. In Toronto you looked for used records in used record stores and in junk/thrift stores; in Winnipeg and Calgary and Edmonton your best bet was pawnshops. You learned really quickly that if you asked a pawnshop owner (in Canada) if he had any 45s, he'd think guns, get twitchy, say 'No' and want you gone. If you'd asked about records, especially 45 records, he'd think you meant paperwork and start edging you out the door. So you'd ask about "45-rpm phonograph records", feeling like a total dickhead.

Entered at Tue Jan 15 18:50:51 CET 2013 from (99.244.253.166)

John D

The Band and Linda Ronstadt did in fact share a double bill at the C.N.E. Don't remember The Band backing her up.

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Billy C. (Friend0

Entered at Tue Jan 15 18:35:10 CET 2013 from (98.15.190.173)

Lars

Subject: Record shops in New Paltz

BOB F.- Back in the '50s there was a record shop at the light, where route 32 hooks south to go to Modena, or you could say the intersection of North Manheim Blvd and South Manheim Blvd. It was called Offerman's. There's a bank there now, but if you go in and ask the teller to see the latest 45s, you'll get taken care of.

Entered at Tue Jan 15 18:26:18 CET 2013 from (131.137.247.6)

sadavid

Subject: a new lead singer for The Band

I think this scan (from _Vintage Toronto_) is from 1970.
And I'm pretty sure it's not quite . . . accurate . . . .

Entered at Tue Jan 15 18:17:03 CET 2013 from (68.198.167.170)

Bob F

We have two independent record shops in New Paltz one of which is Rhino Records. This store was originally owned by the folks who started the record label of the same name. I buy a lot of used stuff from these two stores. However, due to no fault of their own, what they have to charge for new releases ($14-$16) is just to high for me. I can't justify spending that kind of money for the same release I can get from Amazon for $9-$11.

Entered at Tue Jan 15 17:31:04 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: A sailor's song

Hal Ketchum is a guy who surfaced a lot in the late 80's with a string of pretty good hits. Here he is, alone with his guitar singing this hit I really like.

The tatoo rests right on the guitar body.....give it a listen.

Entered at Tue Jan 15 16:56:12 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Can yuh smell it?? Is it just me?

Ordering on line......Isn't there something you miss about the different familiar smells of certain things you shop for? Whether it be the bakery, the smell of good clean furniture or whatever it may be. I miss that from some of our stores now gone that we are discussing here.

And yeah Al. it was not "unwittingly". That is just what is happening to us. You guys are such a fun lot to get up to. Now I'll be depressed all gawd damn day:):):)

Entered at Tue Jan 15 16:27:40 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

Entered at Tue Jan 15 16:05:51 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

Interesting that Dylan's best American song (written by somebody else) was not written by Dylan's best American songwriter. I wonder if Gene and Smokey ever had a chance to compare notes? Come to think of it, "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better When You're Gone" does have a Motown happy-music-about-sad-stuff flavour.

Entered at Tue Jan 15 16:03:50 CET 2013 from (131.137.247.6)

sadavid

Subject: the memories will linger on, but the good old days - they're all gone

The demise of Joe's Diner at the hands of McDonald's - it's what happens when you teach a million MBAs to relentlessly squeeze costs to increase profits . . . .

See [My link] for another species endangered by modern mass behaviour.

Entered at Tue Jan 15 16:01:46 CET 2013 from (24.108.143.105)

JT

Subject: Local stores

in Victoria we have Ditch and Lyle's. These are excellent stores with a very good selection of vinyl and cds and knowledgeable staff. In Toronto I frequent Vortex and Sonic Boom as well as (in the past) She Said Boom, a smaller store on College St. Kops is still a very good store. As much as I enjoy the ease of ordering on line, the joy of visiting and 'leafing through' the new arrivals( resales of stuff brought in by previous purchasers) and of seeing what has been put out on vinyl cannot be overestimated. I haven't gone to HMV in a long time (used to go in the past all the time), having replaced that experience by the visits to the small independent stores. Nevertheless, I can see the trend. I'm going to the independents less (too easy to order on line). I hope the independents survive. It seems that my visits to these stores now is based on considering vinyl and for a few selected cds when I know they have been released. An interesting change of viewpoint. The internet has provided us with access to music so easily. But something vital has been lost in all of this... the hunt.

Entered at Tue Jan 15 15:44:05 CET 2013 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

The video clip of "Don't Do It", presumedly filmed at rehearsal for the Rock of Ages concert, was included on the DVD disc from the box set "A Musical History". The booklet liner credits list "(live 12/28-12/31/71 the Academy of Music NYC) c2005 Robbie Robertson courtesy of Robbie Robertson." Robbie is also credited for providing "Jam/King Harvest (Has Surely Come)" recorded at Robbie's Woodstock studio in 1970 and the two clips recorded at Wembley Stadium, London in 1974, "Hard Times (The Slop)/Just Another Whistle Stop" and "The Genetic Method/Chest Fever". This leads one to wonder how much other footage from RoA and Wembley that Robbie has and if any of it will ever be released on DVD in the future.

Al: Yes, I've read where Dylan has praised Gene Clark's "For A Spanish Guitar" in that manner.

I remain a loyal supporter of my local, independent brick & mortar CD/record stores. While the big chains are fast fading, and those that remain drastically reducing their stock, I try to buy as much as I can from the local guys, who are struggling to survive.

Entered at Tue Jan 15 15:29:21 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

Oddly, WH Smith played a different role. It was bought 15 or 20 years ago (it seems) by the bigger and more down-market Coles chain. Coles sorta turned itself into Chapters, which absorbed a deep-pocketed failure, Indigo, here in the 21st century. Together they are the category killer of bookstores, but they run wonderful stores stocked with good books and knowledgeable staffers - but are at great risk of being run over by the train called the internet.

The Coles store at Yonge and Wellesley is famous as where Neil Young first worked when he moved back to Toronto in '65 - when he lived on 'sad Isabella' Street - and the still-existing Indigo store at Bay and Bloor is where BEG (yeah, where is she?) lined up for Robbie to autograph "A Musical History". It's also where I bought Fred Eaglesmith's "Tinderbox"; did I ever mention that album?

Entered at Tue Jan 15 14:58:21 CET 2013 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

...but you've unwittingly hit the nail on the head! And at the same time given your local supermarket another line it can rape and pillage.

That very same anchor will soon be on sale in a supermarket near you and the little guy who used to sell it will be floating face down in Vancouver harbour.

Anchors are the next books don't you know.

:-0)

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Peter V

Entered at Tue Jan 15 14:29:16 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Reeling in Agony!

Well thanks Al now I'm near a breakdown.......seriously considering commiting "sideways". What do you throw a drowning man????? an anchor! fer fuck's sake!

Entered at Tue Jan 15 13:00:58 CET 2013 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

We get what we deserve. We reap what we sow. All of us.

Supermarkets have killed the life [or are still in the gory process of squeezing out the last remnants of lifeblood] that so many of us crave.

Yet the bitter and unpalatable irrevocable truism is that we are all participants in the slaughter at which we reel in shock horror.

For HMV read far more unmercifully local butchers, bakers, candlestick makers, greengrocers, uncle tom cobblers and all.

Life is a twat. And so are we. Every last one of us. Like it or not.

Thank fuck we can still smile.

:-0)

Entered at Tue Jan 15 11:41:56 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

I added more on my blog, so will add it here.

Stores are only interesting if they have a wide range of stock, and that is only possible if suppliers have a generous sale or return policy. Book store reps told me that the superb range at Borders (before they crashed) was only possible because of generous sale or return arrangements, which reps said they thought Borders abused appallingly by allowing customers to take the books into the coffee shop to browse. I remember an incident at Borders in Chicago. The guy at the next table had bought a coffee, and placed the cup on the volume of the Encylopedia Britannica he was reading. He then took a large cold meat and onion roll out of his bag (not bought at the coffee shop) and ate it dropping bits all over the page. As they used to say about the Oxford English Dictionary, in a large sign in the printing works, "one page spoiled is fourteen volumes ruined". No one wants to do sale or return when the stock is treated like that.

For big stores, CDs and DVDs are way easier than books. They're normally sold shrink-wrapped in large stores, so don't get shop soiled in the same way … unless someone wants to hear them. Or as I found last month, a CD is produced with a sleeve without a track list. I had to ask the store to break the shrink wrap, and then I didn't buy it. For the independent, shrink wrapping to guarantee sale or return can't work. In Britain, most small stores keep the actual CD or DVD behind the counter and display empty cases because they can't afford the scanners and door security guards as used at HMV, and CDs are a major shoplifting problem, Again stores say they always end up with some CDs with no cases because people steal the cases to put round downloaded or copied CDRs.

Entered at Tue Jan 15 11:08:58 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Is the unimaginable true? That our last record store is going (for HMV own the specialist FOPP chain too, and that’s limited to a handful of stores in big cities). The BBC News blog suggests that the record labels and DVD producers can’t let it go, or they are in thrall to amazon, and to Apple iTunes. Hopefully some stores will survive. But Jessops, the last big camera store, has just died totally in the face of amazon.

There is a spiral effect. I was speaking to the manager at Zavvi before it crashed, about his experiences at Virgin, FOPP, MVC and Tower before they crashed. He pointed out that 10% of the floor area generated 90% of the sales, so conversely 90% of the floor area generated just 10%. Accountants look at profits per square foot. The book and record retailing business can’t work like that, because the mark of quality is the depth of back catalogue. I would check a large store by seeing how many CDs they had by The Band and by Van Morrison, for example. The spiral was that as margins fell, they cut back catalogue (in favour of space given over to two or three for £10 offers). Six or seven sections (classical, country, folk, jazz, easy listening, blues) all got squeezed into a section labelled “Specialist music”. But specialist music is why people go to stores. The top twenty is available at your local supermarket.

Everyone blames the internet, but the rot really started when the labels started supplying the Top Twenty to supermarkets, fifteen or twenty years ago. That was the really dumb move, because specialist stores were either losing the top twenty sales to supermarkets, or having to discount so deeply there was no margin left. The same is happening with books. When supermarkets started selling the Top 20 CDs and (then) videos, “semi-specialists” like Boots the Chemists and W.H. Smith dropped or abandoned their reasonably good music sections, narrowing the market.

No chain record stores let? It happened in America, so why not in Britain? Conditions are markedly worse here for stores because shops are much smaller in area to start with, partly due to high rents and high business rates (local taxes) in town centres. Two friends had a small bookshop and when a large new mall opened, enquired about a shop there. When they saw the weekly turnover required just to pay rents and taxes, they realized it was not viable for two adults trying to earn a living. Only national chains could afford the rentals, by doing all their buying centrally and employing twenty-somethings on minimum wages as “trainee managers” to work in the shops. Which is why such shops are crap. In Britain, the large floor area of stores in American strip malls is simply unknown.

The surviving independents are in smaller market towns often, and benefit because they’re in premises they own, or have on very long rentals. They survive by knowing what to buy. An example (one repeated weekly). A couple of years ago a Lambchop album got full page reviews in three music magazines, and “Album of the week” in the Sunday Times Culture magazine. Neither HMV had it in stock … “we can order it for you.” Yeah, or I can buy it on amazon. The independent store owner has read the mags, and has it in stock. Our local indie in Wimborne has had all the Levon Helm releases on Vanguard in stock on release. Neither local HMV has ever had them.

The way forward has to be a relaxation of industry rules on secondhand trading. We don’t have stores like Amoeba in California here, because labels will not supply new stock to stores selling secondhand. This is ironic, as HMV started selling secondhand video games themselves last year (or “pre-owned” as they like to say). A few shops with superb new CD stock are allowed to get away with secondhand vinyl. But they don’t sell secondhand CDs. Whether they should or not is a moot question.

I'll repeat this on my blog and may add to it.

Entered at Tue Jan 15 10:04:26 CET 2013 from (76.124.39.182)

Peter M.

Subject: Los Lobos and Steve Berlin chime in on Paul Simon

Hey Dave, first of all, my wife, Mary thinks Los Lobos are the coolest cats on the planet. She saw Cesar play a show at The Equator, an African Club that flourished briefly in Phila during the '80s. I should hold my tongue, but the Steve Berlin story, resplendent in its "F-bombs" struck a chord. I'm a long term fan of the zulus, like Bhatiki Kumalu, Ray Phiri, the guys in Ladysmith Black Mombazo, and Hugh Masakela (him since I was still in grade school). Was listening to them long before Paul Simon "discovered" them. Since the late '70's I've been a fan of Louisiana creole zydeco. Among my dear friends I count Clifton's son, CJ Chenier and Terrance Simien. They, along with Rockin' Dopsie Sr., played in the studio for Paul while he was working on his Graceland album. None of them will say a negative word publicly, BUT they were all ripped off by him. They came to New York at his behest, and laid down the deepest part of their heritage for him. Terrance was starstruck by both Paul Simon ("Big Time, Bill, big time")and New York City itself. CJ knew of the lyrics in "That Was Your Mother", lauding his dad, "Clifton Chenier, the King of the Zydeco". And Alton "Rockin'Dopsie" Rubin played his rendition of the zydeco classic "Joe Pitre a deux Femmes" ("Joe Pete Has Two Women"), for which he had his lyrics removed and replaced by Paul's "That Was Your Mother" words. An admirable composition, honoring the legacy of The King of Zydeco, but ALL the music on that tune was Dopsie's and his band. An interesting sidebar is that Paul tried to get Dopsie and his band to play (for his NBC buddies) on SNL, but Dopsie had a prior agreement to play a dance at the local Catholic church in rural Louisiana, and had to RSVP to honor his commitment. Whoa! Was the Lobos' version of Lovelight/Not Fade Away/Bertha not the best anybody has ever done? Goosebumps the whole 15 f*cking minutes! As for Steve's remarks about Levon, everybody who has worked with him would agree (except one guy, and I'll never tell) !

Entered at Tue Jan 15 05:27:54 CET 2013 from (99.89.226.221)

Billy C. (Friend0

Entered at Tue Jan 15 03:58:37 CET 2013 from (24.218.16.94)

Dave H

Peter M: Your Paul Simon Graceland story rang a bell, and I found an interview with Steve Berlin of Los Lobos (linked here) in which he makes the claim that Simon basically stole one of their unfinished songs for "Myth of Fingerprints" and similarly didn't give them any credit. They didn't even get paid for the session, and Berlin has plenty of nasty things to say about Simon. The interviewer then asks, "In contrast, can you name an artist you truly admire?" and Berlin's answer is "Levon Helm," going on to talk about Los Lobos's participation in Levon's last Ramble.

Entered at Tue Jan 15 03:23:39 CET 2013 from (101.164.6.125)

dlew91`9

Rock and Roll? I'm there! Sports? I try, oh, lord do I try, but ... I'm just dumb. I don't think anyone else is though for liking them...

PS, is your daughter fully mandolined now?

Entered at Tue Jan 15 02:51:24 CET 2013 from (124.150.47.62)

Roger

Subject: HMV

RIP

HMV

OMG

TTFN

Entered at Tue Jan 15 00:01:12 CET 2013 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

DP, am I right in saying that it's the only song Bob Dylan is quoted as saying he wishes he'd written?

I think I am.

If so it's not difficult to see why he felt compelled to say such a thing. As in so many of his songs Gene's lyrics are exquisite and his vocals and melody invariably serve up that same simple chilling beauty. Sadly I fear there'll never be another like Gene.

Entered at Mon Jan 14 20:16:05 CET 2013 from (70.28.32.74)

Landmark

And for the information of most all who frequent this GB, Brian Burke, whom JT mentioned, was a teammate of the GB's much missed farmer, Steve. They were teammates on the Providnce Friars teams of the mid 70's. As I recall the name Steve used for Brian Burke was Brian Jerk.

R.I.P Steve. Too soon gone.

Entered at Mon Jan 14 19:42:11 CET 2013 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

It was 44 years ago this month that The Band began recording tracks which would appear on MUSIC FROM BIG PINK at A&R Studios in New York City with John Simon. According to the liner booklet notes from A MUSICAL HISTORY, on January 10, 1968 TEARS OF RAGE, WE CAN TALK, CHEST FEVER, THIS WHEEL'S ON FIRE and the outtake YAZOO STREET SCANDAL were recorded. THE WEIGHT followed on January 12 and LONESOME SUZIE was recorded at A&R on an unspecified day that month. On January 20, The Band backed up Dylan at the Woody Guthrie Memorial Concert at Carnegie Hall. The following month they crossed the Great Divide to resume recording at Capitol Studios and Gold Star in L.A.

Entered at Mon Jan 14 19:16:10 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Latte????????

What in hell is latte anyway Bill? You sound like Kelsey Grammar fer chrissake. Out here we drink gawd damn coffee! You got to be able to float horse shoes in it non of this gawd damn sissy stuff....jesus....jesus...Jesus!

Entered at Mon Jan 14 18:39:03 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

Peter V: I liked that new story very much. The only comment is that I'd thought that it was only the American League that had the Designated Hitter rule (or Hittee in this case, I suppose).

Yesterday I left the secondhand record store with two lattes in my belly, two excellent sets of ex-Hawk Eugene Smith ringing in my ears and mind, and a Japanese Robbie Robertson Retrospective laser disc under my arm.

Entered at Mon Jan 14 18:12:19 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Hockey

Jerry; Because hockey is purportedly our sport, to say it is not as big an issue south of the border is pretty wrong.

Tell that to the people in LA, Dallas, Philly, Pittsburg, New York, Washingtown, Bean town, even in Tampa Bay where they won that gawd damn cup.

I think you were being polite, but those people take this hockey awfully serious. Two years ago, on the day that the final game between Bostan & Vancouver was about to be played, I was in a little village in Alaska, called, Hoona. I was looking at a boat. When I was done, I walked along and came to a little bar stuck on pilings. I was hungery and went in and had a sandwich and a beer.

There was only one other guy at the bar, about 30's I guess, a crab fisherman talking to the little bar tender. He was going on about those f--k-- Canadians, to the point he was starting to piss me off. He is saying to the bartender he was in an arguement with one of them assholes. He says, "Why don't you f--o-- to your own country."

I started to laugh. He looks at me and menacingly says, "You think that's funny?" I said, I think your an idiot. The only guy on the team from Boston is the goaly, just about all the rest are from Canada, and Europe and Russia you fool. The bartender laughs at him and says, "I'm from Scotland, I guess I better go too."

Hockey used to take a back seat globaly to football (soccer). I'm not so sure anymore, other than Mexico and South America.

Entered at Mon Jan 14 16:44:18 CET 2013 from (24.108.143.105)

JT

Subject: Speaking of sports...

Not a huge issue south of the border on this side of the Atlantic or in Europe perhaps, but we are finally getting our sport back from the billionaires and the millionaires. They have (grudgingly) consented to an agreement that will allow everyone to a) continue to make $$$ b) enjoy the sport at its best (it does occur now more often than it used to, with less fights and a trend in the right direction for those of us who love it for what it can be).

My children don't believe me when I say that I can confirm that my beloved Leafs actually won the Stanley Cup in the 60s and before. Of course, there were only 6 teams then. Now there are 30, though some may disappear as the business of hockey is tied up with location and sports competition (ie other sports) and TV and other necessities. In short, I love the game and have 2 teams for which to cheer. The shortened season, though an aberration of the usual 82 game schedule, will provide an intense different experience which should be interesting. My Leafs are far from competitive for an 82 game season but maybe this unusual season (hope springs eternal) may bring some surprises. But I won't bet or count on it. There have been many changes in the organization and more are coming as goal tending and other matters take centre stage. The Leafs have new management, a new coach (late last year = Randy Carlyle (?spelling), a new GM, new owners, and a team in flux. Not a recipe for playoff success. We have been rebuilding for 45 years. The drought probably won't end until 2016 or so if the experts are correct. But those of us who have 'blue' hockey in our blood will keep watching (like you watch football in the UK or Europe and baseball/football/basketball in the USA. The Canucks (my other team - a consequence of where I live some of the time) have better prospects and may be on the verge. There are Canadians reading this. For the rest of you, it may have no relevance and certainly is far from the music of our usual discussions. But there are tie-ins. Tragically Hip - 50 Mission Cap springs to mind. And if I recall, there are photos of Band members wearing hockey jerseys? (maybe?) For the record, I am a Brian Burke fan, despite his bravado and seeming arrogance. We haven't seen the last of him. I hope he doesn't come back to bite us.

Entered at Mon Jan 14 16:32:18 CET 2013 from (68.198.167.170)

Bob F.

Jeff, I coundn't disagree with you more on this subject.

Entered at Mon Jan 14 16:23:22 CET 2013 from (99.89.226.221)

Billy C. (Friend0

Entered at Mon Jan 14 16:01:18 CET 2013 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

"The dissonant bells of the sea
Who are ringing the rhymes of the deep
As they sing of the ages asleep
Not so near or so far

And the old masters wind of the waves
Sped forth for the free men and slaves
Whispers of secrets it saves
And about whom they are

And the workings of sunshine and rain
And the visions they paint that remain
Pulsate from my soul through my brain
In a spanish guitar

The beggar whom sits in the street
On his miserable throne of deafeat
Envisions no wealth there to meet
Thinking nowhere is far

And the laughter of children employed
By the fantasies not yet destroyed
By the dogmas of those they avoid
Knowing not what they are

And the right and the wrong and insane
And the answers they cannot explain
Pulsate from my soul through my brain
In a spanish guitar

To play on a spanish guitar
With the sun shinning down where you are
Skipping and singing a bar
From the music around

Just to laugh through the columns of trees
To soar like a seagull in breeze
To stand in the rain if you please
Or to never be found"

Entered at Mon Jan 14 15:14:48 CET 2013 from (24.108.143.105)

JT

Subject: Basketball and MJ

I agree about the athleticism and beauty of watching the way the ball gets through that hoop. My problem is only that it happens too many times and so to me (and I understand not to all) it defeats what I think about when I think about getting points. It should be difficult and occur less often. Maybe the net has to be raised (but that would take away from the beauty..a real dilemma).

As for MJ in Toronto... he was going to open his second restaurant in Toronto in the mid-90s, following on the success of the first. This was well on its way. He had spent some time in Toronto as I understood it then planning with locals. It never occurred. You might have seen him during that period.

Entered at Mon Jan 14 13:43:45 CET 2013 from (68.198.167.170)

Bob F.

David, thanks again for the information on mandolins you gave me before the holidays.

Entered at Mon Jan 14 12:08:45 CET 2013 from (83.249.143.62)

NorthWestCoaster

Subject: A clarification, for the records

My recent post was of the 90s tour, not 1984.

Entered at Mon Jan 14 10:21:04 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

I must have recounted this one. Years ago in the early 90s, I think,we were in Toronto and there was a basketball championship on. We were waiting for the elevator with our three kids, and the door opened and this obnoxious guy said “No kids! We don’t do autographs!” I mildly said, ‘We’ve been waiting five minutes …” and one of the three massive African-American guys behind him in the elevator said, ‘Let the kids in!’ We went in, and he smiled and said, ‘You can have an autograph if you like.’ My youngest said politely, ‘Thank you, but I don’t know who you are.’

At this, two of the African American guys started laughing fit to burst.

It seems the kind one offering the autograph was Michael Jordan.

Entered at Mon Jan 14 10:16:54 CET 2013 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Wow. Scanning quickly down there's so much I'd have liked to contribute to but no time.

Pity that.

Some might say otherwise of course. Hi Bill!

:-0)

I will pipe in for Bob though - Bob for your information basketball does not exist in UK on a national level. It receives zero national media attention. Within local media it receives token reporting if there is a local team interest and many cities/towns do have a local team or two. So it doesn't mean there is no interest in the sport and for those who are afficianados of the game it must be massively frustrating. It's just that it exists so far down the sporting food chain as to not cause even the merest ripple on any national level.

Entered at Mon Jan 14 10:10:33 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Reading back … being on Sky Sports 1 rather than BBC or ITV channels is no shame, in that (unfortunately) Sky also is the only medium for several major soccer games, and TV sports fans usually have it.

I think TV basketball in the UK was probably harmed by our love of the Harlem Globetrotters in the 60s which branded it as entertainment rather than sport, and also it is not a major spectator sport here, nor even a minor one. That's odd as it's played quite a bit in schools, though as girls play the similar netball, that takes out half the constituency.

As a spectator sport, I think it suffers from the advantage to particular physical types, a fault also of American football. In soccer, little blokes can run rings around big blokes. You can get the tall and short in one team. With basketball, height is an overwhelming advantage which is maybe why I liked it at school … I was tall for my age right through.

Entered at Mon Jan 14 04:54:40 CET 2013 from (68.198.167.170)

Bob F.

DLEW919, there is a magic and a beauty watching those two basketball teams get to 100 points. However, if you don't get it, trying to explain it to you would be "like trying to tell a stranger about rock and roll".

Entered at Mon Jan 14 04:34:54 CET 2013 from (101.164.6.125)

Dlew919

Bill... Should I have a funeral, skating away will be one of the songs played.

Re basketball I always agreed with the australian sports commentator who said they should give each team 100 points each and set the clock to 45 seconds to go and start from there.

Entered at Mon Jan 14 01:12:09 CET 2013 from (68.171.231.85)

Bill M

"Skating away on the thin ice of a new day."

"In the shuffling madness of locomotive breath, stood the part-time loser, rushing headlong to his death."

Entered at Sun Jan 13 23:24:08 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Sun Jan 13 22:38:46 CET 2013 from (68.198.167.170)

Bob F.

Peter V, the New York Knicks basketball team are playing against the Detroit Pistons in London this Thursday. I'm going to be able to see the game on my MSG channel live at 3pm Eastern Standard Time. Is this something that get's some attention over there? Will it be carried on one of your major television channels during prime time or is it a strictly minor sports event in London?

Entered at Sun Jan 13 21:01:49 CET 2013 from (74.108.32.67)

Joan

I'm too lazy to go get the book, but Levon discusses the shooting in Wheels on Fire.

Entered at Sun Jan 13 18:56:45 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Claude Ely

Interesting, having this music constantly in the front of your mind. Not long ago, I was listneing to some of my old Johnny Cash favourites on youtube, also some from his "post humous" album, "Ain't no Grave".

Well I was just walking by the tv, I'd been listening to some sports. On a commercial, advertising this new movie "Django Unchained", I'm listening to the back ground music, of Johnny Cash singing, Aint no Grave.

Isn't it something else. Claude Ely wrote that song in 1934. Wouldn't he be proud to know Johnny Cash is singing it in a movie in 2013.

Entered at Sun Jan 13 17:48:58 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Back to the ball field

Awright......LARS!....where are yuh? You're into me for a Snickers bar, on accounta yer gawd damn Noo Yawk Yankees took a nose dive last year.

Now as much as I don't like that east coast, (I basicaly hate everyone over there), I figure that Brady Bunch will take this super bowl agin. Even tho' the Sea hawks are hotter n' hell right now and I'd like to see them stomp all over Bradie's head. So what are we betting??????

Entered at Sun Jan 13 17:48:15 CET 2013 from (24.108.143.105)

JT

Subject: ...Memphis Blues Again

Timely and topical...

"Now the senator came down here

Showing ev’ryone his gun"

Entered at Sun Jan 13 14:58:34 CET 2013 from (71.184.199.161)

tim

Subject: levon

Do we know what movie Levon was practicing for when he shot himself. 1984 seems off as I saw him 3 or 4 times that year and he never seemed to be injured. Also randy came about 6 years later and for a few years he was the lone drummer. I haven't found any articles on that incident. Seems it was kept out of the papers.

Entered at Sun Jan 13 10:24:06 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Peter M … "Desert Island Discs" today on BBC Radio 4 will be with Martin Carthy (you can probably stream it). I wonder of he has anything to say on Scarborough Fair?

Entered at Sun Jan 13 10:09:13 CET 2013 from (99.141.51.4)

Adam

Entered at Sun Jan 13 10:08:21 CET 2013 from (99.141.51.4)

Adam

The was talk awhile back about "Rock Of Ages" and what may have been filmed. Take a look at the linked picture... a clear shot of camermen filming during Garth's solo on W.S. Walcott.

Entered at Sun Jan 13 09:29:40 CET 2013 from (76.124.39.182)

Peter M.

Subject: Random thoughts (inspired)

Hey Lars, a friend of mine I consider a Band insider told me a couple of decades ago that Levon needed to be carried to his place onstage in a "sedan chair" kind of arrangement. At the time neither of us knew he was sporting a bullet near his knee acquired via a "method acting" sort of accident. Makes a bit of sense in retrospect, eh? Another subject addressed here was the Graceland effort of Paul Simon's. I was initially thrilled at the thought of his uniting all these diverse musics in one album. Prior to its release, I was already a fan of Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba. Loved the sounds of Ray Phiri, Bathiki Kumalo, Ladysmith Black Mombazo and many other African stars who worked with him on this project. He also brought together several Louisiana zydeco artists for one of the songs. He wanted to get Clifton Chenier, who unfortunately was suffering from advanced diabetes and could not make it to record with him. He did a tribute song about Cliff, called "That was your Mother". He recorded Clifton's son CJ Chenier, Terrance Simien and Rockin' Dopsie Sr. for this tune. All these Louisiana creole guys are personal friends of mine, and told a similar story. They all recorded in NY for him, and he eventually chose Rockin Dopsie's tune to include on the album. He took Dopsie's "Joe Pitre a Deux Femmes" ("Joe Pitre has Two Women") and erased the vocals, adding his lyrics to make it a song in tribute to Clifton Chenier. All the rest was Dopsie's band's instrumentation to a traditional zydeco tune about "a sneaky man who had an outside woman as well as his wife". All would be well if he acknowledged the original source, but he just stamped his name on it as if it were ALL his work. This I heard from Terrance, CJ, and Dopsie's son firsthand. Yet all the guys were simply glad to see their life's work put out there by a superstar. Kinda sad, I think.

Entered at Sun Jan 13 07:35:28 CET 2013 from (98.15.190.173)

Lars

Subject: Levon's .22 slug

Ezra Titus told me that Levon had an operation in Kingston City Hospital after he accidently shot himself with a .22 pistol that he was drawing from his holster. But, according to Ezra, they decided to leave the small slug in place, lodged somewhere around the knee. I guess they figured it would cause more harm to the blood vessels if they cut it out. So, if he was correct, Levon's bullet was buried with him. That's what I heard, I don't know how true it is.

Randy told me that Levon's leg was never real strong after it healed up from the accident. He said that there were certain functions he had to perform when he played with the boss, and one of them was to take care of the bass drum. It was one of the reasons why the Reformed Band had two drummers. It also got Randy out on stage to play bass once in a while. I think he went out front for "Caledonia Mission" and I always found it interesting how Randy would bend down and straighten up with his torso, keeping time. I never saw a bass player move so much. "Long Black Veil" was another "Rando on bass" song.

Entered at Sun Jan 13 05:24:42 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Neil Young

I expect some of you have seen this interview. Neil Young, Daniel Langoui, (shit that isn't right), with Jiam Gomeshi.

Neil mentions, "The Band" several times thru this interview. The whole flow of what they discuss, is interesting, in the way that Neil is so down home. We just want to hear, what we are. I love the way it is so honest, and laid back.

Entered at Sun Jan 13 04:57:38 CET 2013 from (101.164.6.125)

Dlew919

From thus day forth, I own, my fathers gun

Or

To instigate the structure of another line or two...

Or Ian andersonvfrom jethro Tull.

Entered at Sun Jan 13 04:28:04 CET 2013 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

Jeff's mention of Crystal Gayle reminded me of the 1982 movie: One from The Heart. The soundtrack was done by Tom Waits with most of the songs in duet with Crystal Gayle.

While we're talking about good songwriting I believe Tom Waits particularly, Richard Thompson & Nick Lowe deserve a nod. Gillian Welch too, her Elvis Presley Blues is top-notch writing.

This one, Broken Bicycles, is from that movie:

Broken bicycles, old busted chains

With rusted handle bars, out in the rain

Somebody must have an orphanage for

All these things that nobody wants any more

September's reminding July

It's time to be saying goodbye

Summer is gone, but our love will remain

Like old broken bicycles out in the rain

.

Broken bicycles, don't tell my folks

There's all those playing cards pinned to the spokes

Laid down like skeletons out on the lawn

The wheels won't turn when the other has gone

The seasons can turn on a dime

Somehow I forget every time

For all the things that you've given me will always stay

Broken, but I'll never throw them away

Entered at Sat Jan 12 21:52:11 CET 2013 from (99.89.226.221)

Billy C. (Friend0

Subject: More "Stuff That Works"

Some of you will recall that back in 04 i was touting a release by the Jamie Hartford Band, the title track of which was "Stuff That Works." Jamie is John's son. I was in Nashville in feb or March 04, ran into Rick Lonow at a Crystal Gayle show. Rick is her drummer, and was the drummer in Burrito Deluxe. He told me about the Jamie Hartford BAnd, and they were one kickass band.

I linked to a very badly transferred you tube presentation of their version of Stuff That works. The cd version is fine, though limited by it;s digital recording. Whomever transferred this to yout tube, it is definitely a hair out of time. The performances were masterful, but because of the speed issue, it doesn't sound like that here. Hwoever, if this induces anyone to go buy the reocrd, they will be glad.The entire cd is phenomenal, Hartford is a wonderful songwriter, and the performances are great.

********************* John Hartford was born in NY, raised in StLouis, and is a much loved figure here. A few weeks back they had their annual tribute to John h in one of the clubs here, all night long thing, local bands playing his tunes.

Entered at Sat Jan 12 21:39:24 CET 2013 from (71.184.199.161)

Tim

That should read Levon was shooting movies ,or had shot himself.

Entered at Sat Jan 12 21:38:10 CET 2013 from (71.184.199.161)

Tim

Subject: European concerts

Thanks Jan I know they cancelled gigs either because was shooting movies or shot him self in leg

Entered at Sat Jan 12 21:16:53 CET 2013 from (72.154.32.211)

BWNWITenn

Nice thread. I don't think there should ever be a discussion of songwriting without mention of Greg Brown, but sadly that's rarely the case. He's got about 10,000 great lines, but:

He's bitter coffee, she's sweet cream/She pulls on her shirt, outside it rains/And later in the rumbling dark, he'll unwrap her broken heart/and smile the weary smile of the crook.

My heart ain't mine, my heart is yours/or else I left it out of doors/like a baseball glove out on the lawn.

Oh Lord, I have made you a place in my heart among the rags and the bones and the dirt/There's piles of lies, the love gone from her eyes, and old moving boxes full of hurt/Pull up a chair by the trouble and care, I got whiskey, you're welcome to some/Oh Lord, I have made you a place in my heart, but I don't reckon you're gonna come.

Entered at Sat Jan 12 20:11:21 CET 2013 from (74.108.32.67)

Joan

I loved you in the morning your kisses deep and warming You hair upon the pillow a sleepy golden storm

Small things like wishese are kept in a jar I saw you coming back to me

There is a road, no simple highway

Entered at Sat Jan 12 19:24:37 CET 2013 from (68.198.167.170)

Bob F.

Subject: Guy Clark's 'Stuff That Works' Lyric

One of my all time favorite lyrics is Guy Clark's 'Stuff That Works'. Every word in this song rings true for me. My link is to Jack Ingram's version.

Entered at Sat Jan 12 18:42:27 CET 2013 from (83.249.143.62)

NorthWestCoaster

Subject: The Band in Scandinavia

They were drunk. Or something. Sorry.

Entered at Sat Jan 12 17:28:50 CET 2013 from (85.255.44.134)

jh

Our boys cancelled their gigs in Denmark and Norway in June/July 1984. I remember the disappointment quite well -- I had tickets and was truly psyched about seeing them at the Isle of Calf festival outside Oslo, Norway, in early July. So, I never got to see them with Richard. Actually, I´ve only been to one Band concert, when they played in Oslo in 1994. I remember Levon being under the weather and Rick working hard to keep it all together, and how Weider impressed us with his Telecaster playing.

Entered at Sat Jan 12 17:16:08 CET 2013 from (24.108.143.105)

JT

Subject: Every Grain of Sand

"I hear the ancient footsteps like the motion of the sea

Sometimes I turn, there’s someone there, other times it’s only me

I am hanging in the balance of the reality of man

Like every sparrow falling, like every grain of sand"

Entered at Sat Jan 12 17:12:36 CET 2013 from (24.108.143.105)

JT

Subject: 4th Time Around

"But she said, "Don't forget

Everybody must give something back

For something they get""

Entered at Sat Jan 12 16:46:35 CET 2013 from (71.184.199.161)

Tim

Subject: The Band in Denmark

I found an ad for the Band playing in Denmark end of June 1984. I suspect they never did play this gig but can anyone confirm or elaborate? Thanks Tim

Entered at Sat Jan 12 06:36:28 CET 2013 from (99.89.226.221)

Billy C. (Friend0

" In she somes a riding on a morning sunrise. I am left to believing all that is standing before my eyes. And i wonder. Now i wonder. Would the sun have shone, ever so brightly alone? " Ride the Countryside - Paul Cotton.

"When I need good lovin, I always come home to you. You free my lifetime of the blues" Simple, but beautiful. Of ocurse, Richie Furay.

In My Life. Needs no credits

Entered at Sat Jan 12 03:40:18 CET 2013 from (68.171.231.86)

Bill M

Bonk: Thanks - good to hear from you. First, the Kensington Market I was referring to is the Yorkviile group of the late '60s, not the area of Toronto. Keith McKie was their chief singer and songwriter. One of his songs, "Please Think", found its way onto one of Ian and Sylvia's MGM albums thanks to his friendship with the Tysons' guitarist, David Rea, who was later employed by Robbie Robertson to play lead on Jesse Winchester's first album.

The Doug Bush who is with Ian Tyson in the photo you mention is almost certainly the bassist, whose acoustic work was a big part of Beverly Glenn-Copeland's stunning first album - with Lenny Breau on guitar. The 'big' song, "The Colour Of Anyhow", is well worth a listen - see link.

If I'm not mistaken, Doug Bush was the son of noted painter Jack Bush and brother of guitarist Terry Bush, who played with Ronnie Hawkins in '65 and '66 as a member of Robbie Lane and the Disciples. There was also Ross Bush, possibly related, who wrote one side of Johnny Rhythm's only record, done in '61 after Robbie Robertson and Scott Cushnie had left the Suedes to join Hawkins.

Entered at Sat Jan 12 00:09:42 CET 2013 from (24.108.1.255)

BONK

Subject: Bill M

Hey Bill. Came across some pictures on Vintage Toronto that show a place called the Viilage Corner Club at Avenue Road and Pears. Never heard of it before but some of the people in the photos are Ian Tyson, Moya McNulty, (any relation to Freddie?) Max Wickens and Doug Bush. As for Kensington Market, I hung around there in the late sixties and always dropped by the Baldwin Street Gallery.

Entered at Fri Jan 11 23:16:36 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Boys....you're doin' well

This ol' highway is hotter than, nine kinds of hell,

And the rides they're as scarce as the rain.

When yer down to your last shuck with nothin' to sell,

And yer too far away from the train.

Been a good month of Sundays, and a guitar ago,

I had a long drink of yesterday's wine........

I left a long string of friends, and some sheets in the wind,

a lot of satisfied women behind.

Oh won't you ride me down easy, lord ride me on down.

Leave word in the dust where I lay,

Say I'm easy come, and I'm easy go,

And I'm easy to love when I stay.........

Entered at Fri Jan 11 22:34:05 CET 2013 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

There's been so many great lines in country songs, and the master country songwriter Harlan Howard once described the craft as "three chords and the truth."

Billy Joe Shaver has always been a favorite of mine, as he can nail the truth on the head with a few well chosen, yet uncomplicated, images. Here's just a couple:

"The devil made me do it the first time
The second time I did it on my own" -- from Black Rose

"I'm just an old chunk of coal
But I'm gonna be a diamond some day."
--Such an apt description of spiritual growth arising out of the pressures of life.

Entered at Fri Jan 11 22:18:04 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

Rockin Chair: Closer to your home, there's Bill Henderson:

Rain-o rain, o fall upon the earth again
Fill the river, fill the pool
Quench the thirst of every fool
And every sage, and every sour soul
Who's lost so much he doesn't know his needs

In vain, in vain I tell you
We're all the same, but there you stand
Saying, Man, it's not for real
'Cause you're the ones who get to steal the show
But I don't know
I guess guess you're right, but even so
If there's no audience, there just ain't no show

Entered at Fri Jan 11 22:08:13 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Battle of The Bands

I've just added a kind of sequel, taking place 1965, to the short story on my small press fiction website. Link above.

If anyone managed to read "New Year Rag" they might be interested. Feel free to "comment" and comments will be gratefully received. Doesn't matter if they're negative … they won't go "public" as on Wordpress they have to be Approved. so you can post a comment in privacy, and I can read it but not necessarily "approve" it. But I'd value negative comments also, or specific technical comments on music.

Entered at Fri Jan 11 21:52:20 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Lyrics

Still.......some of those country writers from Nashville crank out some of the profound lyrics.

And then one night in some empty room where no curtains ever hung,

Like a miracle some golden words roll off of some one's tongue.

And after years of being nothin' they're all lookin' right at you,

Then for a while you go in style, on 16th avenue.

Ain't no easy horses,

First time that I left home, to try and make it in this world alone,

Figured I would be a star, once they heard me sing.

Folks said I was one of the best, I found out I was one of the rest,

I spent all my Sunday nights waitin' for the phone to ring........

Entered at Fri Jan 11 21:18:52 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

There are bits of lyrics that come to me almost on a daily basis. I can’t get near a museum without …

Inside the museum, infinity goes up on trial …

hitting me in the head,

When the pipes makes noises in the night, I wake with

In this room the heat pipes just cough …

I“Visions of Johanna” accompanies me on a near daily basis. You may not have to go much further. Is there a better “lyric mine.”?

Just off to listen to Desolation Row before deciding.

Entered at Fri Jan 11 20:16:03 CET 2013 from (99.89.226.221)

Billy C. (Friend0

there's no success like failure, and failure is no success at all

the sky is crying, look at the tears roll down the street

roll over beethoven, and give tchaikovsky the news

god told abraham, kill me a son, abe said man, you must be putting me on.......

like a bird without a nest, like a stranger in the night, and my soul cries out for rest, and the end is not in sight... H.Russell Smith

the crazy chester verse- nonsense, but, pure genius nonsense, always out at me.

we could all probably spend a week doing this y'know

Entered at Fri Jan 11 20:15:26 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Flippin' thru' 45's

Some that jumped out at me...........

Bo Diddly

Zomies....She's not there -- Albert Lee, a smokin' job of Dire Straits ....Your Settin' Me up

One of my all time favourites, Jennifer Warns....I know a heartache when I see one.

One for you David.......Loudon Wainwright....Dead Skunk

Louie Armstrong...Hello Dolly

It occurrs to me by looking at the weather back there you Tranna guys are not being good to the natives. They are so pissed off they are going to "shut the country down and bring the economy of Canada to it's knees". (I thought we were already there??)

Meanwhile, out here on the western front, the sun is shining, the straw berries are growing, and we're living the "American Dream".

Entered at Fri Jan 11 20:07:31 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

Anyway, I was thinking of you the other day because we seem to be the only big Kensington Market fans here. I got Cockburn's "Waiting for a Miracle" comp for Christmas and was struck by how much the earliest songs, "Going To The Country", "Musical Friends" and "One Day I Walk", all could have been both written and sung by Keith McKie. Coincidentally, Keith had told me just the day before that Bernie Finkelstein had liked the 'airy-fairy' songs that he was doing with the Vendettas (Band link: on the Hawkins roster and with Scott Cushnie on piano) and had put him together with guitarist Gene Martynec to see what they'd come up with. So now I realise that Bernie was simply repeating history by putting Bruce's airy-fairy material together with the same Gene Martynec. So maybe that's why Bernie didn't really do anything more with Keith - he felt he didn't need to in order to get the sound he was after.

To end with my favourite of all of Keith McKie's great lines, "Touch the hand of laughter and be blessed".

Entered at Fri Jan 11 19:18:32 CET 2013 from (184.66.137.72)

JT

Subject: Nailing lyrics Bill M

You sure know how to 'nail the great lyrics' Bill M. I couldn't agree more. This is why I love Dylan lyrics but there are so many other lines from excellent songwriters. Individuals should compile 'the best of' from their own perspectives. That would be interesting.

Entered at Fri Jan 11 19:14:08 CET 2013 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

Subject: Red House

Here'e a clip with Robbie introducing Boz Scaggs & Slash performing Jimi Hendrix's "Red House" with a band featuring Booker T, Steve Cropper, Duck Dunn, Jim Keltner and G.E. Smith.

Entered at Fri Jan 11 17:45:21 CET 2013 from (131.137.247.6)

sadavid

Subject: rootstock

Bill M: thanks for reminding me to look this one up . . . .

Entered at Fri Jan 11 16:22:32 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

Entered at Fri Jan 11 05:19:16 CET 2013 from (101.164.6.125)

Dlew919

And a trans Atlantic helper too...

Entered at Fri Jan 11 03:23:48 CET 2013 from (99.237.0.147)

Serenity

Subject: LEONARD COHEN

I hope some of his fans will see his concert. Will certainly boost his album sales!! I hope he does well..

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

NORM: I saw that interview with Piers Morgan and Alex Jones' ranting, and it was scarey. Piers was good, that other guy was over-the-top. He sounded like a crazy person. He could cause a lot of trouble no matter where he was..He should be locked up or sent to an island alone surrounded by sharks..

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace". [Jimi Henrix]

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Until next time LOVE AND PEACE xoxoxoxo

Entered at Fri Jan 11 02:43:25 CET 2013 from (68.171.231.82)

Bill M

Entered at Fri Jan 11 00:06:29 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Laying on of Hands

Looks like that old Reverend Billie Sol Hargis has been at work again. Hallelullia.....Can I have an AMEN! brothers.

Entered at Thu Jan 10 23:40:43 CET 2013 from (91.228.3.68)

Zack

Subject: He brought back my lover within 48 hours

I want to thank this very powerful special spell caster for bringing back my wife to me within 72hours. A friend told me to contact him that you have work for her and her friends too. I believed him and never doubted him and he has done it for me. My wife is home and very are even more than happy. You can email him your problems and he will treat it for you. His email address is shrineforsolution@gmail.com His mobile number is +2348052236135. I am Zack,USA.

Entered at Thu Jan 10 23:18:42 CET 2013 from (108.90.18.26)

Pat B

Entered at Thu Jan 10 23:01:35 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

Entered at Thu Jan 10 22:45:50 CET 2013 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

Entered at Thu Jan 10 22:05:35 CET 2013 from (108.90.18.26)

Pat B

Zappa's orchestral work was published by Munchkin Music.

Entered at Thu Jan 10 22:04:08 CET 2013 from (86.171.130.66)

Dunc

Subject: Collecting

David:Couldn't agree more about 'She Don't Care About Time'. Absolutely brilliant. Have just finished a few weeks of playing Gene Clark.

Enjoyed the posts on collecting. This year I've been collecting (CDs) to try to become complete, but I've reached that point where to give examples the one Byrds CD, the one Stones CD and the three John Martyn CDs I need are very expensive.

Entered at Thu Jan 10 22:04:23 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

OK … (deep breath) … P.P. Arnold was an Ikette. P.P. Arnold was backed by The Nice. Keith Emerson played organ in The Nice. Keith Emerson produced and played the OST to "The Best Revenge" which featured Levon Helm on lead vocal.

Entered at Thu Jan 10 21:54:40 CET 2013 from (108.90.18.26)

Pat B

Entered at Thu Jan 10 21:48:28 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

Pat B: No problem. I've been touting that particular thought since I first heard "Montana" when it came out - and have yet to encounter anyone who agrees. At the risk of alienating YOU by sending you back to the turntable for yet another listen, do you hear, at 3:48, a wee reference to "We're Off To See The Wizard"? (This suits its place there in what sounds an awful lot like Munchkin Land.)

Entered at Thu Jan 10 20:31:30 CET 2013 from (108.90.18.26)

Pat B

Entered at Thu Jan 10 20:30:15 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

David P: Related both to your mention of special "Record Day" releases and to my mention of early Neil Young recordings, shortly after Record Store Day 2011, I unexpectely received a package from a friend in NH - the special release of the Mynah Birds 45 that had been slated to, but didn't, come out on Tamla in '66. It was the same friend who first sent me here back in the 20th century, so I have much to be grateful for.

Entered at Thu Jan 10 20:15:05 CET 2013 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

Bill: One downside for new vinyl releases nowadays is that the label will press only a limited number of copies. As a result, if you don't grab one before it goes out of print, it will soon command a significantly higher price in the secondary market.

Entered at Thu Jan 10 20:05:44 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

Subject: the one that got away

David P: Right you are. But we do like to talk about the one that got away - in my case a mint copy of (Neil Young and) the Squires 45 on V records. I skipped past it in the fall of '75 in the 10-cent bin at Don's Discs in Toronto - there were no writing credits, I was aware of no reason to think that those Squires were THE Squires. Within minutes a much more knowledgeable friend came in scooped it up. Fortunately he was and is a huge Springfield / Young fan so it went to a good home. Did I mention it was mint and just one thin dime?

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Endless Sleep

Jody Reynols. An example of the 45's I have. I have the 45 & LP of Bobby Darin......Hush.

As you have said David, iy is time consuming to play with this stuff. On an eveing when one has some time to sit by the fire and work with the old turn table it sure is fun tho'. We sometimes have a graffitti party and play the old times.

I'll have to get back into my stash and give some examples of what I have. I don't even remember them all. How about Conway Twitty, "Millions of Teardrops".

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David P

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Bill M

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Peter V

Where are you getting this stuff, David? Phew. You wouldn't find them at those prices here, unless by chance in a charity shop, but you'd have to be lucky. I have most … but not a 45 of Baby Don't Do It or Hush. Is that the same Hush that Bobby Darin recorded?

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David P

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David P

"The present's not that pleasant
Just a lot of things to do."
--Leonard Cohen "Darkness" from "Old Ideas"

For the last month or so, expecially over the holidays, I've found it hard to spend any "quality" time listening to vinyl records. As it requires more hands-on involvement from the listener, you just can't put a record on the turntable, particularly when playing a 45-single, and walk away to listen to the music in the background nearby as one can do when playing CDs, MP3s & other digital options. Finally, for the past couple of evenings, I've taken the time to catch-up and listen to a stack of mono 45-singles that I've picked up in the last month or so at used record stores.

BABY DON'T YOU DO IT b/w WALK ON THE WILD SIDE -- Marvin Gaye (TAMLA) 50 cents. Great version with Motown's Funk Brothers. The b-side is not the Lou Reed song, but the title soundtrack song from a '60s film, written by Mack David & Elmer Bernstein. An instumental version by Jimmy Smith, with Oliver Nelson, was used in the soundtrack to Martin Scorsese's "Casino".

GREEN ONIONS b/w BEHAVE YOURSELF -- Booker T and the MG's (STAX grey label) $1.00. On this classic single version Steve Cropper's Tele leads cut like a knife through Booker T's butter and Al Jackson's shuffle.

CHARLIE BROWN b/w THREE COOL CATS -- The Coasters (ATCO) $1.00. The b-side of this double Leiber-Stoller single, often overlooked, is just as good as the hit side. In recent years it was covered by Ry Cooder.

HUSH b/w WATCHING FROM THE BANDSTAND -- Billy Joe Royal (COLUMBIA) $1.00. The hit side was written & produced by the late-great Joe South, while the flip side was co-written with fellow Atlantan Freddy Weller. Mr. Weller was a guitarist in Mr. Royal's band before joining Paul Revere & the Raiders and later having a successful solo career in the country charts on Columbia.

SOMEBODY TO LOVE b/w SHE HAS FUNNY CARS -- Jefferson Airplane (RCA VICTOR) $1.00. These mono single mixes are slightly dryer, with a little more punch, epsecially with Jack Cassidy's bass, than the more reverb-drenched stereo LP mixes.

TURN! TURN! TURN! (To Everything There Is A Season) b/w SHE DON'T CARE ABOUT TIME -- Byrds (COLUMBIA) $1.00. The b-side to Pete Seeger's adaptation from the Book of Ecclesiastes is a masterpiece from the wisdom of the Byrds' Solomon, Gene Clark.

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Pat B

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Peter V

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Bob F.

David P, good point about the songwriting. 'Last Goodbye' is such a great song and in a world that makes sense it should have been a big hit.

Entered at Thu Jan 10 16:34:04 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

This morning I listened to two more CDs that arrived at Christmas. Both golden oldies - Jimmy Cliff's "The Harder They Come" soundtrack and Zappa's "Overnight Sensation". Although Toots and the Maytals' "Pressure Drop" was on my to 30 of all time, I believe, I'd never before noticed that Toots almost breaks into a laugh at one point about 2/3 of the way through. Presumably one of the Maytals dropped something during the recording. As for the Zappa, I was once again reminded that his "Montana" just has to be some sort of nod to David Ackles' brilliant "Montana Song" from "American Gothic" (see link). Which is Big-Brownish in a windy and orchestral sort of way.

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David P

The four singles that Bob mentioned, which didn't include the "Lilac Wine" cover, were songs that Jeff Buckley either wrote or co-wrote. That seems to indicate at the time that Columbia and likely his management were interested in promoting Mr. Buckley as a songwriter, as well as talented singer. From a financial standpoint, Mr. Buckley would have also benefited more in royalties from the sales. I can understand why "Lilac Wine" received airplay in the U.K., as it had previously been covered successfully by the English singer Elkie Brooks.

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Peter V

(If my memory serves me well) they went all-out on Lilac Wine as the lead airplay track, at least in the UK. And that is a pretty great rendition. But agreed, ignoring Hallelujah was dumb.

Entered at Thu Jan 10 15:46:08 CET 2013 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

Subject: Rock of Ages Time Machine

The February 2013 edition of STEREOPHILE includes the magazine's annual Records To Die For recommendations chosen by its contributing writers. Analog maven Michael Fremer's pick is The Band's "Rock of Ages", specifically the original Capitol 2-LP set and the recent Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab vinyl reissue. Mr. Fremer wrote the following:

"Allen Toussaint's sympathetic horn arrangements, performed by top jazz musicians, propel this 'greatest hits live' recital taken at breathtakingly deliberate tempos before an adoring, raucus crowd at the Academy of Music, in New York City, on New Year's Eve 1971. Whatever tensions were driving the group dissipated as the Band immediately acheived lift-off and remained in orbit throughout the evening, with the definitive 'Chest Fever,' a haunting 'The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down', and some of the best vocalizing this or any rock group has ever achieved on stage. MoFi's mastering beats Bob Ludwig's original, and that's saying a lot; plus, the vinyl is dead quiet. Get in the analog time machine, but you'll need the seedee reissue for Dylan's surprise encore walk-on."

I highly recommend STEREOPHILE's annual music edition with its eclectic selection of recordings from its staff of writers. In addition to his contributions to the magazine, Mr. Fremer also has an informative & entertaining website focusing on analog (link above). Click on MusicAngle Album Reviews at the bottom of the page to read Mr. Fremer's takes on recent vinyl releases, including the new stereo LP reissues from the Beatles catalog.

As I previously mentioned last week, I do have MoFi's excellent hybrid-SACD version of "Rock of Ages", but have yet to hear their recent vinyl reissue set. Of late I have been listening to the original Capitol 2-LP set, mastered by Bob Ludwig. To identify that version, look for the Capitol red label, with "STERLING" (mastering facility) and the initials "RL" etched in the run-out area of the records.

Entered at Thu Jan 10 15:18:53 CET 2013 from (68.198.167.170)

Bob F.

Peter V, another Columbia move that seems really odd in retrospect, they released four singles from the 1994 Jeff Buckley record 'Grace' none of which were Hallelujah.

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Peter V

"If a man is not a socialist at twenty, he has no heart. If he's is still a socialist at forty, he has no head."

My mum was a staunch Labour party supporter and my dad a determined Conservative, so political division was always part of my life. Churchill was a prime cause, in fact. My dad regarded him as the greatest ever English-speaking person (as Churchill was half-American, we'll use his own "English Speaking Peoples" description). My mum would describe how Churchill turned the army (mounted cavalry with swords drawn) onto striking Welsh miners in the General Strike of 1926, and how Churchill's scheme for a landing at Gallipoli involved her dad, and killed two of her uncles. So there was some debate on that one. And as so often, these divides are bred into people by region … my mum was from South Wales (where no one has ever seen a Conservative) and my Dad from Dorset, a county famous for transporting the first Trade Unionists, the Tolpuddle Martyrs, to Australia, since when the Labour party has never been terribly prominent.

Then my brother-in-law (later a Conservative local politician) and I would have ding-dong arguments, often over Christmas dinner. My mum could never understand that we both thoroughly enjoyed the debate and still do.

As I despise politicians as a matter of principle, I always regard two of the best decisions ever made in Britain were to appoint Churchill as Prime Minister in 1940, then to get rid of him in 1945. Horses for courses. There's not a "right way" but there is a "right way for right now."

What's wrong with the world is when people don't recognize that the other side can be people too.

However, I'm not sure I'd extend that to gun-toting NRA members :-)

Entered at Thu Jan 10 04:37:12 CET 2013 from (99.89.226.221)

Billy C. (Friend0

Levon's Mercedes RV, ,9,700 miles, Top Of The Line, is for sale. Potential buyers can read about it at levonhelm.com

Levon was impeccable about these kind of things, so I'd imagine it is in pristine condition. And that it has been thoroughly tended to inside and all varieties of hay removed prior to ownership changing.

Entered at Thu Jan 10 03:13:47 CET 2013 from (99.89.226.221)

Billy C. (Friend0

Guy i know here, retired military.His son was a cop. Spoke to this guy for the first time in months the other day. Asked him how his son was doing. He said great, he is only part time as a cop now, opened a gun shop last fall, did a $100,000 in business in december. Eventually, we had our gun discussion. Of course we are on different sides of the fence, we are on most political things. What is interesting is the thought this led me to. Now this first thought is nothing new...

1) I have several really good friends with whom I have extremely different political views.One guy and his wife, we go back to 1979 together. We are like family.It's kind of odd, considering how close we have always been, and how much time we spent together over the years, but R and I probably never had a political conversation till 10 or so years ago. He and his wife are very Republican. But, even with that, in 33 years of close friendship, even working together at different times, we've never had a real argument.We have differences of opinion....

same goes for other friends, and my 2 car mechanics in The Bronx. i love these guys, We're friends, and their garage is a hangout. When i'm home, i 'm there at least once every two weeks, even if i don't need work on the car, i'll drive to the Bronx just to get food and hang. When i'm not back home, we'll call each other evry few weeks or a month just to see ho w we all are. They are both as Republican as can be, but we don't have arguments.we'll bust each other's balls, just a little that's all. they are Republicans, but i still love em.

I do have 4 family memebrs that are Republican, and i refuse to discuss politics with those few people , cause mostly they can't discuss, they get insane. And i won't fight with em. One gets abusive.

2) This is the second thought, and this is the one that is relative to this GB..My Republican friends, that i don't fight about politics with... we were friends before we found out we had severely different political views...so each of our good qualities were very significant in each other's lives before the political differences arose. And we all innately instinctively, and out of friendship, took that into consideration in how we discussed. Which made me wonder - what if the people here who have had really sour arguments and dusagreements over The Band songwriting issue were personal friends before they had the disagreement. Would the arguments have become so horrible? Maybe, maybe not. maybe the personalities are different enough that in real life the friendships would not have developed and things would have progressed the same way as they did on the internet. Or not progressed at all. Maybe there are peopel here interacting that would not interact in real life. But then again, maybe not. I'd like to think that in some cases real life dealings woudl have trumped the internet dealings, but who knows.. Going into this further could lead into a who said what first. of course, conversation is open, that's a granted. But the point i am making is something to think about and maybe a good thing for uas all to consider when the songwriting discussions pop up again.

Now, all that said, i believe Winston Churchill said "You have enemies Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life." I could be wrong on the quote.. But, even if old Winston did say that,my point is still my point. And of course, y'know i agree with his point too.

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Peter V

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David P

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Pat B

Entered at Wed Jan 9 21:37:09 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Unmentionable

I don't like to mention this, because we got things quite settled down again from resent disasters. However, I'm curious. Have any of you guys seen the vid, (now on youtube), of "Alex Jones meltdown on Piers Morgan" ??

The amount of people just like this guy, in the USA, is what makes this so scarey. Sort of like trying to bring "gun control" to Afganistan as well.

Entered at Wed Jan 9 20:36:46 CET 2013 from (131.137.247.6)

sadavid

Subject: Mary, Leonard . . . and Garth

. . . I think this was posted before, but it's a nice anecdote . . . M. Martin speaks briefly about how she came to represent L. Cohen . . . .

Entered at Wed Jan 9 19:55:40 CET 2013 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

In addition to producer John Simon, another link between The Band and Leonard Cohen is Mary Martin. After helping hook up The Hawks with Dylan, it was Ms. Martin who introduced Judy Collins to Leonard Cohen in 1966. Ms. Collins went on that year to include covers of "Suzanne" and "Dress Rehearsal Rag" on her successful gold album "In My Life" (see link for Ms. Collins' account).

Entered at Wed Jan 9 19:36:32 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Various positions

It's hard to work out how dumb CBS were in the USA. Look at the link to Leonard Cohen's LP discography.

Various Positions was #2 in Finland, #3 in Norway, #12 in Sweden, #60 in Canada, #52 in the UK, #43 in Germany, #18 in Austria. But nothing in the USA. OK, it's not a major success (though it went Gold in Finland) but it's respectable for a back catalogue artist (as he was then). BTW, looking at the table linked, it would seem Old ideas is his most successful album overall. Good going.

While we're on the doings of record labels, I found a book called Great record Labels, by Al Cimino. Under Capitol it says it was a very rare label … it accounted honestly and even overpaid. That indicates The Band were fortunate.

Entered at Wed Jan 9 18:11:58 CET 2013 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

I don't believe the Record Industry Association of America (RIAA) has released their stats from last year yet. The numbers from 2011 showed that vinyl LP shipments had increased 31.5% over the previous year with a 34.2% dollar value increase. The figures for 45 singles increased 19.7% with a 99.6% dollar value increase. So, despite the increase in cost, vinyl sales, still a small percentage of the overall market, continue to show an increase. I've noticed that the advertising industry has taken notice, as turntables are often pictured in ads. Then there was that Sopranos tv episode several years ago that featured a high-end turntable in one of the subplots.

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Bob F.

David P, your right. I don't know why in this new book the author say's it came out on PVC Records. I looked it up and PVC Records was a sublabel of Passport Records. What I loved about the biography that your reading is the end is as interesting as the beginning. That is usually not the case with music biographies.

Entered at Wed Jan 9 16:54:27 CET 2013 from (156.47.15.10)

David P

L. Cohen's "Various Positions" was released by Passport Records here in the U.S. I remember being puzzled at the time that it wasn't on the Columbia label when I purchased both the Passport LP and cassette versions. Jennifer Warnes, whose collaborations with Mr. Cohen include "Various Positions", did much to revive interest in his work with the release of her 1987 tribute album "Famous Blue Raincoat". This was further cemented by Mr. Cohen's excellent Columbia release the following year, "I'm Your Man." I've just started reading Sylvie Simmons' Leonard Cohen biography "I'm Your Man".

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Peter V

Entered at Wed Jan 9 16:02:36 CET 2013 from (68.198.167.170)

Bob F.

There is another interesting book out tracing the Leonard Cohen song Hallelujah. The book is called 'The Holy or the Broken'. The author is Alan Light who recently cowrote the Greg Allman book. Something I'd forgotton is that the Cohen record that Hallelujah appreared on Various Positions was not orginally released in America on Columbia Records. They didn't thing the record was good enough. The album came out in America on the independent label PVC records. The orginal review in Rolling Stone of the album never mentioned the song Hallelujah. The album received so little attention that the producer of the record John Lissauer has never received a penny from the record. On page 36 Leonard Cohen is quoted saying "The only person who seemed to recognize the song was Dylan".

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mike h

Subject: Recently uploaded recording studio video of Levon.

Levon laying down the track "Stoned Kid" w/ Bow Thayer.

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Peter V

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Carmen

Subject: Bowie

New Bowie Video. I like it

Entered at Wed Jan 9 10:29:22 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

It's started. In Europe, stuff up to 31 December 1962 is now out of copyright. I was looking at amazon co uk (to get the release date of Marc Carroll's album,which is produced by Larry Campbell). Recommendations came up, including "Bob Dylan & The folk Song revival" which is the whole of the first "Bob Dylan" album padded out with Dave Van Ronk and Joan Baez odds and ends. Then (for £3) "The Early Years" by The Beatles with the Polydor crap, I mean stuff, with the addition of both sides of the Love Me Do single … now out of copyright. They have just a year left on "Please Please Me" then it'll go the same way.

It applies across Europe and to me is a very bad thing. There are piles of crap Elvis compilations of 1962 and earlier stuff on a myriad of labels. You have no idea where they got the recording from, and anyone can compile this stuff. And they do, and will.

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John W.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: Thou anointest.......

Blessed are the Greeks....er.......Geeks!

Entered at Wed Jan 9 02:05:55 CET 2013 from (99.237.0.147)

Serenity

Hi, all.

++++++++++++++++++++++

MIKE: I have no idea where BEG, [Angie] is!! I will send her an e-mail and will post if she answers it, or get her to do it. I'm sure we all miss her here.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

When will this girl RIP.

Inquest Into Death of Amy Winehouse to Be Reheard...

Coroner who ran original inquiry lacked proper qualifications

January 8, 2013 10:25 AM ET

A new inquest into the death of Amy Winehouse concluded that the singer died of alcohol poisoning, The Associated Press reports. The finding was idential to the original inquest in 2011, though the first was annulled last year after it emerged that the coroner who conducted it wasn't properly qualified.

This time, coroner Shirley Radcliffe ruled Winehouse "died as a result of alcohol toxicity." Radcliffe recorded a verdict of death by misadventure and confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances.

A postmortem indicated Winehouse had a blood alcohol level of 0.4, and a pathologist told the inquest the singer likely suffered respiratory arrest from the high levels of alcohol. Another doctor said Winehouse had successfully given up drugs but still struggled with drinking, going through periods of abstinence and binging. Winehouse had quit drinking for almost two weeks, but broke her dry spell a few days before her death.

Amy Winehouse was found dead at her London home on July 23, 2011. She was 27.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Until next time LOVE AND PEACE xoxoxoxo

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B*SH (humble servant)

Subject: As ye reap....

A blessing on you, Peter.

Down goes your shanty, Norm.

Entered at Wed Jan 9 00:38:05 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Then there was "We will make you cleverer" if you send £150. I did, and got back a note saying "Be cleverer. Stop falling for stuff like this."

But i live in hope. The latest cash will be in the mail.

Entered at Tue Jan 8 23:50:49 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Ya...........BUT!

Peter, what about the people that .....just........have no balls????

Entered at Tue Jan 8 22:55:05 CET 2013 from (98.15.190.173)

Rev Billy Sol Hargis

Subject: miracles aren't free, but they're on special this month

You're welcome, Sister Linda. Just send two or three hundred dollars (cash) to the Church of Discount Worship, PO Box 1, Del Rio, TX

Entered at Tue Jan 8 21:10:16 CET 2013 from (41.220.69.48)

linda fred

Subject: thank you for helping me

what a lovely time to share my testimony after all i have been through trying to get back my family together now i know that spell really work for does that have faith because i have work with many spell caster and i was not having faith on them that they will be able to help me and after everything i did not see the result. But when i find Dr.Antogai he told me that the problem that i am having that is making me not to have a good result is that i do not have faith that i can get the result so he advice me to faith and which i did and after two day after the casting of the spell i started seeing result my husband that was away from home for almost one year came back home and my son who has been arrested was release i just still see everything as if i am still dreaming. Thank you so much Antogai i will continue to recommend you to everyone on earth for what you have done for me and my family his Email: antogaispelltempl@yahoo.com

Entered at Tue Jan 8 19:40:25 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

In the dentist this morning. They get free mags from the previous month so have nice crisp new ones. A Golfing magazine headline caught my eye. "The problem of cold balls." Had no one thought about it?

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Mike Nomad

Hey, Vi. Any idea where Angie? Miss her posts.

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Peter V

I'd love to hear that by the LHB … I have the Jeannie C. Riley single and LP (as everyone should).

Today's record shop find was a great one. "Long John's Blues" (EP) by Long John Baldry & The Hoochie Coochie Men, 1964. Then the shop directed me to the LP that came in with it … Long John Baldry "Good To Be Alive". This is a 1975 American pressing, on Casablanca, a far cry from their normal Kiss or Disco fare. On the back sleeve is a photo of Long John kissing a goat (on the cheek) reminding me inevitably of the 1969 Ronnie Hawkins interview in Rolling Stone which offendedThe Band so much. Haven't even played it yet but songs include Gasoline Alley and Al Kooper's Brand New Day, plus a song written by Zoot Money.

TIME ZONES … I usually have a cup of tea, then check the GB in the morning here, so often post around 8 am UK time.

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joe j

Check out the 'What's New' page for a little essay by Ali Houston.

Entered at Tue Jan 8 11:43:57 CET 2013 from (76.124.39.182)

Peter M.

Subject: Levon's crew

Just came back from a stellar gig Saturday night at The Town Crier, in Pawling, NY. Almost missed it. Stayed up till sunrise Sat morning, then checked my calendar before turning in. Thought I had no engagements for the weekend, only to find that Jim Weider's "Blue Chicken" band was playing Sat night. After 5 hours' sleep, I hit the road for a 180 mile drive. Brian Mitchell (keys), Randy Ciarlante, Byron Isaacs, Clark Gayton and Letterman's own Sid McGinness played a great couple of sets. Would have made their Boss proud. I sat with the LHS staff and had a great time. "Look Out Cleveland" was spectacular, Brian's "Buddy Bolden" number was a standout. And Clark teased us with a bit of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire", segueing into Redbone's "Come and Get Your Love". And to hear "Remedy" by several of the principals who put it out, was, divine. A Crusaders cover to open, a knockout "Many Rivers to Cross" and an incredible tempo changing version of Van's "Washing Windows" were among other highlights. Missed a few, but it's bedtime. One more question for the GB regulars" Has anyone heard the extra greasy version of "Harper Valley PTA" that the LHB played in a few of the early Rambles? Bone tingling.

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Peter M.

Subject: to Peter V.

As we say in zydeco, "Yeah you right"... We kinda keep the same hours, don't we? I finish work at 12:45-1 AM Eastern Standard Time.

Entered at Tue Jan 8 11:01:32 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

"Signifying beauty shop operator" … do you mean "Don't Start Me To Talking" by Sonny Boy Williamson?

Entered at Tue Jan 8 10:04:13 CET 2013 from (76.124.39.182)

Peter M.

Subject: Danko/Helm at Phillys

Peter, there was no ticket stub for this stellar show. Can't pinpoint the date. Never seen anything like it, before or since... till the Rambles. It was magnificently "seat of the pants" informal, making me feel like "THIS is REAL MUSIC". Closest thing to this I'd ever witnessed before was the "signifying beauty shop operator" Levon/Garth tune in either TLW or on SCTV. Used it on my answering machine greeting in the early '80s. Put the audio clip on my "road mix" cassette. Also caught a Danko/Manuel/Hudson show at the 23 East Cabaret. At the last Richard Manuel with The Band show at The Chestnut Cabaret I had a bad experience. Some street trash gangster I'd encountered on the Septa El public transportation was selling handguns out of a duffel bag. I stopped at a pay phone to call 911 on him, only to see him watch me go into the Chestnut afterwards. I freaked out, and left, totally paranoid after 30 minutes, missing most of Richard's last appearance in Phila. I did catch the next appearance by The Band at the Chestnut Cabaret a few mere weeks after Richard left us. They played with a fiery intensity, as someone else remarked. At some point in the show, a couple of women wearing black funeral attire walked up front in somber/grandiose fashion and handed a note to Lee. He reached out with his sticks, chopstick style and took the paper without reading it, and put it into his mouth and ate it.

Entered at Tue Jan 8 09:25:00 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Tue Jan 8 02:20:57 CET 2013 from (99.237.0.147)

Serenity

Subject: BOB DYLAN

My link on Bob Dylan is worth the reading..

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hi guys, I see you all have had a good holiday and the posts are great,luv them all and those links? Enjoyed looking into them too.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

NORM: Glad to see the storm didn't hit your neck of the woods!! Looked very close..

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

DAVID: I have a large collection of cassettes that I taped from my old vinyls. Play them a lot. Sound quality isn't as good as a CD format, but it is nice to listen to the oldies...

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Keep-up the great posts and links. I never tire of reading them..

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Until next time LOVE AND PEACE xoxoxoxo

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Billy C. (Friend0

Entered at Mon Jan 7 23:17:44 CET 2013 from (99.255.116.43)

GregD

Mr.'s Young and Stills have certainly had an on again/off again relationship over the years. In addition to CSNY, there was the 1976 Stills/Young Band tour in which Young inexplicably quit after a few days, leaving behind a cryptic note for Stills. Then there was the recent Buffalo Springfield reunion which had the plug pulled on it, with Young apparently preferring to record and play with his old cohorts, Crazy Horse, as well as finish his autobiography.

Entered at Mon Jan 7 21:53:15 CET 2013 from (68.198.167.170)

Bob F.

Jeff, I got to see Robert Gordon in the mid 70's a couple of times with Rob Stoner, Howie Wyeth and Chris Spedding on guitar. My wife said we saw him once with Linc Wray but I'm not sure. Gordon was a lot of fun. Jimmy V is always great and so is Anton Fig. However, I think 75 dollars a ticket is a little on the expensive side for these shows.

Entered at Mon Jan 7 21:42:25 CET 2013 from (68.198.167.170)

Bob F.

Peter V, I never had a teacher look even as good as Liz Taylor did in 'Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf'!

Entered at Mon Jan 7 21:33:45 CET 2013 from (68.198.167.170)

Bob F.

Neil really goes over the top in praising Stephen Stills in his book. What a great player he is and how much he enjoys playing with Stills. This got me thinking and I may be wrong but hasn't Neil quit every band he ever played in with Stephen Stills? I think most of the bands he quit multiple times! It's a really great book and a fun read.

Entered at Mon Jan 7 19:55:52 CET 2013 from (130.64.254.42)

Tim

Subject: Rick Richard

Thanks PSB. They did two swings through the east coast in January and then again in March so it probably happened during one of those time frames.

Entered at Mon Jan 7 18:10:31 CET 2013 from (108.195.1.45)

Todd

Subject: Young Neil

Cool connections Bill M.

What Bill fails to mention, however, is that this tale of young Neil lust at the Pickering Gas station, had been eerily foreshadowed the Pomus and Shuman penned Elvis hit, “Little Sister (don’t you do what your big sister done)”.

Peter V. While the Robin does appear on Christmas cards in the US, the Northern Cardinal seems to figure more prominently, and occasionally doves. I’ve not seen the more plump European version of the Robin that you describe.

Apparently Pete Seeger also never rode in an automobile that may have had a radio that played any recorded music either. Maybe that’s why he went so batshit crazy at the Newport Folk Festival, not realizing that Dylan has already “gone electric” on many of his studio recordings, which predated the Newport kerfuffle. On the other hand, given his age, it’s possible that he meant that recorded music didn’t even exist until he was 19 years of age. ;-)

Entered at Mon Jan 7 17:27:01 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

Entered at Mon Jan 7 17:20:59 CET 2013 from (72.78.34.10)

PSB

Subject: Danko and Helm at Phillys

I also attended the Danko/Helm show at Phillys, which sort of was Philadelphia's short-lived answer to NYC's Lone Star Cafe. I don't even know if there were ticket stubs for that show, but I remember it well. It was a lot of fun. I remember a friend remarking afterwards, "You know they worked out the harmonies in the car on the way down." Unfortunately, I can't find a date for it either - I don't think I wrote about it, or if I did, it wasn't for the main paper I wrote for at the time. And it's quite possible there weren't ticket stubs and that you bought your tickets at the door and had your hand stamped or something. While Phillys had a real stage, it was more a bar than a club.

One thing Peter M doesn't mention is they brought out a special guest, one-time music journalist Al Aronowitz to read his "poetry." I'll just say at that point in time, Aronowitz was in another zone entirely.

On another Philadelphia note, I just noticed something in the recently compiled main concert list here. The venue for The Band show in May 1986 should be changed from "Chestnut Cafe" to Chestnut Cabaret. This was The Band's only appearance at that club, and was actually one of the best shows I saw from the reformed Band. Coming two months after Manuel's passing, the group was Helm, Danko, Hudson and Weider. It was obviously an emotional experience for the musicians and emotional for any long-time Band fans in attendance and there were many lengthy solos from Garth. I never saw them play as well again.

Entered at Mon Jan 7 17:03:18 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Sunday Times yesterday had a Neil Young piece by Rod Liddle, in the”Driving” supplement (so easy to miss). It was on Neil’s “LincVolt” huge 1959 Lincoln converted to run on battery power. He wants to bring electric power to traditional American cars so as to cruise the highways. They’ve got a 50 mile range out of it so far, but it has caught fire (I think twice?) and had to be re-upholstered. That probably outweighed a fair bit of carbon fuel saving, let alone burning ancient upholstery’s negative impact.

Entered at Mon Jan 7 15:48:39 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

The Moonstruck Ones

Entered at Mon Jan 7 15:19:53 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Puttin' words in some one else's mouth??

Speak for yourself Billie Badass:):):)

Entered at Mon Jan 7 15:01:37 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

Pete the Vee: The obvious question is, how did the the Moonstruck Ones deal with this attitude? If Ess wouldn't listen to a recording of, say, "Moonlight Drive", a classic that must've been on your setlist, I guess the rest of you had to do a run-through so he could get the hang of it?

Entered at Mon Jan 7 14:55:42 CET 2013 from (101.164.6.125)

Dlew919

I heard a report on the radio, in which you g performers were releasing albums on cassette, for gods sake. It's apparently cheaper. As far as I know, none of the young bands I know do this.

Entered at Mon Jan 7 14:23:44 CET 2013 from (198.179.198.1)

Calvin

Entered at Mon Jan 7 11:03:14 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Sales of new vinyl LPs went up 15.3% in the UK last year, the only music or film carrier with increased sales. While the total is still modest, it's doing this sort of rise year by year. The day will come when record players adorn high street stores again!

Entered at Mon Jan 7 01:46:07 CET 2013 from (99.89.226.221)

Billy C. (Friend0

Subject: New Barn Concert Date

For anyone who might go, that has not yet seen this:
http://www.levonhelm.com/rockabilly.htm
It's a Jimmy Vivino Presents.

Entered at Sun Jan 6 21:32:40 CET 2013 from (71.184.199.161)

Tim

Subject: Levon and Rick

Peter M. if you have a ticket stub, or know the date can you let me know. I documenting their shows. I have Rick/Richard/Butterfield and Blondie Chaplin at Philly's in May 83 but nothing on the show you mentioned. Thanks Tim

Entered at Sun Jan 6 11:59:19 CET 2013 from (83.249.143.62)

NorthWestCoaster

Lately I have wondered why I always eat Christmas ham at the birthday party of a Jewish boy and celebrate the end of Ramadan with a bottle of Irish dew.

Pete Seeger's cryptic words belong to same cathegory as Bill Wyman's in Swedish radio: "I have never been in Rolling Stones concert." - And Peter, there is a Christmas shop open all year round in Solvang a few miles South of Los Olivos in case you'll see the light.

Entered at Sat Jan 5 21:29:45 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Sat Jan 5 21:28:27 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Sat Jan 5 20:35:47 CET 2013 from (68.198.167.170)

Bob F

Subject: Award winning article on Levon and The Band

For everyone who does not go on Expecting Rain, there was a link today to a Village Voice award winning article on growing up in New York State loving Levon and The Band. I found it very enjoyable. I sent the link to my kids because I know they could relate.

Entered at Sat Jan 5 20:24:42 CET 2013 from (74.108.32.67)

Joan

I first learned of Largo here (I think it was Lars who introduced it. I really like it. I had trouble finding a copy. Finally found a used copy on Amazon. It has really brought me a lot of pleasure.

Entered at Sat Jan 5 15:44:21 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Cyndi Lauper's track on "Largo", White Man's Melody, is my favourite track, beating even Gimmee A Stone. As i said, Garth's Largo is part of a playlist I use for relaxing so different to the tracks I listen to more awake.

Entered at Sat Jan 5 12:21:58 CET 2013 from (76.124.39.182)

Peter M.

Subject: recent mentions of The Rascals, and Largo

In the late '90's my wife and I used to run up to NYC from Phila to see David Forman's band, Little Isidore & The Inquisitors. He later co produced Largo, with Rob Hyman and Rick Chertoff, of The Hooters. It featured Cyndy Lauper, Taj Majal, The Chieftans, Willie Nile and others on various tracks. Levon sang "Gimme a Stone" and Garth played on a few numbers Peter V. is familiar with. We were fortunate to get last minute standing room tickets to see most of them perform it at The Bottom Line. Garth was there that night, but Levon was not. One night in 2000, The Inquisitors were playing and Gene Cornish was sitting in with them on guitar. He was being ragged by the other members of the band because he'd missed his appearance on "The Sopranos". In the episode, there was a flashback to young Tony in his parents' apartment watching The Ed Sullivan Show. On screen was a shot of The Rascals, circa 1967 with Gene playing a big Gibson, wagging his head, Beatles style. I had taped the show. Couple of weeks later I brought the VHS to him so he'd at least have a souvenir.

Entered at Sat Jan 5 11:54:41 CET 2013 from (76.124.39.182)

Peter M.

Subject: Levon interview, thanks, Tim!

At this risk of this being an "old guy oft told tale", I just wanted to mention that one of the '83 Levon & Rick shows I had the privilege of attending was one of the best nights of my life. In those pre-internet days I used to scan the City Paper or the Weekend Section of the Philadelphia Inquirer for music events. After too many false leads seeing listings for the Cleo Dankforth Band, I saw that Rick Danko & Levon Helm were playing some outdated club called Philly's. It was an "Urban Cowboy" flavored place, long after that phenomenon peaked and should have faded. It is now the site of Stephen Starr's Buddakan restaurant, but at that time, it looked like a Busch Gardens version of the place in the John Travolta/Debra Winger movie. Rick and Levon came out and sat on the edge of the stage with guitars, harmonicas and mandolin. Levon said that they were just starting out in this duo form, and were just gonna wing it. They transcended the atmosphere and played like they were on the back porch out in the country somewhere. Their set was similar to the one described in the Musix Newsletter article, Band stuff, deep blues, old country tunes, Long Black Veil. Stuff like Hand Jive was fun and Levon even demonstrated the hambone. They laughed and carried on and debated what they were gonna play. Rick's plea of "What are we gonna do next, Lee?" was poignant. The stripped down, two instrument form was rich and deeply creative. They sure seemed to enjoy doing it, and the good time they were having was infectious. When they finished, Rick said, "We sure had a good time, thanks for letting us get away with it". The whole time they were on, my wife and I laughed and bounced and rocked along, knowing we were witnessing something precious. As they walked through the side aisle to head back to the dressing room, Levon clapped me on the back saying, "Sure glad you had a good time". That was an understatement for the warmest, most laid back night of pure musical joy I'd experienced ever. Probably would never happen again, or so I thought... Twenty one years later I got to experience something like that again, and again... at The Rambles.

Entered at Sat Jan 5 11:50:50 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Pete Seeger interviewed in the latest 'Uncut" (Gram Parsons issue), with two albums due out in 2013 at 92. Pete was asked about Springsteen's Seeger sessions and has not heard it, because "I haven't heard any recorded music since I was nineteen. I prefer music live."

I can see that listening back to his recordings might be painful for him (as well as me), but does that mean that he never checked out playbacks of any of his recordings? Ever? That he's never heard recordings of Woody Guthrie or Bob Dylan?

Entered at Sat Jan 5 10:48:15 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Talking about the mallard story over breakfast. We're guessing it was an area where kids feed ducks, so they were used to people and saw them as "good."

Because we were just taking down Xmas cards, we were talking about how many had robins on. 20%? The European robin is a different species to the American robin, smaller, much rounder, and a type of chat, not a type of thrush. A gardener on TV who did a series in the USA said the thing he missed most about the USA were (European) robins. If you break earth anywhere in a domestic garden in Britain, a robin will turn up, and even perch on the spade. They're very tame, some will feed from the hand, and their use in Christmas iconography here is huge. I looked it up, and Britain and France are the "robin obsessed countries." Is it in as popular the USA? And do the pictures show fat round European robins? Also, traditionally, Robin was the equivalent of Holly for girls: a name reserved for babies born near Christmas.

Entered at Sat Jan 5 07:23:00 CET 2013 from (99.89.226.221)

Billy C.(Friend0

Pat, i know that although you probably will not admit it , the debate team captain in you deeply admires the reply Levon gave. And i know you are smiling now. You might type smug, but I'm betting you smiled. If i lost the bet, fuck it,. i ain't paying up. Call me pisher,Sue me....i ain't paying....

Didn't realize it was Felix's rascals, yes, very different. Usually felix and a bunch of guys...i did catch a Felix show at the South Street Seaport, i'm thinking it was aug or sept, 86. Maybe 85. Felix,Cornish, Danelli, a bassist, Jimmy vivino, and a Brigati. . One mutha of a show. But, not likely those guys follow him to Alton, Illinois. Whomever he has, they won't be slouches, but, not likely worth a 5 hour drive for you.

Entered at Sat Jan 5 06:14:22 CET 2013 from (99.115.145.68)

Pat B

Hard to argue with Levon when he says he's not a writer. I certainly can't.

Entered at Sat Jan 5 02:57:19 CET 2013 from (108.212.221.37)

Deborah Rose

Subject: Saw ya'll at Uncle Bo's and I want to make sure I get to see you guys again when ur in KC area.

Hey ya'll please keep me up to date on your 2013 schedule. I want to make sure I get to see ya'll again. I am hooked. Loved it at Uncle Bo's in Topeka.

Entered at Sat Jan 5 02:54:39 CET 2013 from (99.89.226.221)

Billy C. (Friendo

***************************************************** Don't mention "bird brains" to Ray Petersen, because after what happened this week, he won't hear a word of it.

P...etersen, a community police officer for Granville Downtown South, was walking in the 1500-block Granville Street (directly under the Granville Bridge) Wednesday morning when a duck came up and grabbed him by the pant leg. Then it started waddling around him and quacking.

"I thought it was a bit goofy, so I shoved it away," Petersen said in an interview.

But the duck, a female (he thinks it was a mallard), wasn't about to give up that easily. Making sure she still had Petersen's eye, she waddled up the road about 20 metres and lay on a storm sewer grate.

Petersen watched and thought nothing of it.

"But when I started walking again, she did the same thing. She ran around and grabbed me again."

It became obvious to him then that something was up.

So when she waddled off to the sewer grate a second time, Petersen decided to follow.

"I went up to where the duck was lying and saw eight little babies in the water below. They had fallen down between the grates."

So Petersen took action. He phoned police Sergeant Randy Kellens, who arrived at the scene and, in turn, got in touch with two more constables.

"When they came down, the duck ran around them as well, quacking. Then she lay down on the grate," Petersen said.

While Kellens looked over into the grate, the duck sat on the curb and watched.

Then the two constables, John Schilling and Allison Hill, marshalled a tow truck that lifted the grate out of position, allowing the eight ducklings to be rescued one by one with a vegetable strainer.

"While we were doing this, the mother duck just lay there and watched," Petersen says.

Once the ducklings were safe, however, she set about marching them down to False Creek, where they jumped into the water.

Kellens followed them to make sure they were all right, but elected to remain on shore.

The experience has changed Petersen's mind about ducks. He thinks they're a lot smarter than he used to. And while he never ate duck before, he says he wouldn't dream of it now. " Source: Vancouver Sun Photo: Ray Peterson, Special to the Sun / Mother duck shows police officer where her ducklings fell through a grate into a sewer underneath the Granville Street Bridge. *************************************************

Obviously the duck has the intelligence to know that people have the ability to do the things that needed to be done to save her ducklings. You have to wonder if she also knew that a constable's job is to help- if she chose the constable because he was the closest human, or if she knew that it was his job.... if her mother and father her taught her to look for a cop is she was ever in trouble....

Entered at Sat Jan 5 02:40:35 CET 2013 from (99.89.226.221)

Billy C. (Friend0

2)Without an argument starting, I'd like to point out that Levon did not say he did not participate in songwriting.Infact, he said he did participate in songwriting. Read carefully: "LH: Well, no, I’ve not written a lot. I’m mainly a player. I wish I were a writer. I’ve been there when Robby and when Richard and Garth and people have done some good writing, and I’ve got to be a part of it, but I’m just your basic member of the rhythm section."....."Well, no i've not written a lot" and "I’ve been there when Robby and when Richard and Garth and people have done some good writing, and I’ve got to be a part of it" , "'ve got to be a part of it" - he includes himself...."no, i've not written a lot", says he has written... Yes, he did say "I wish i were a writer."

Honestly people,. it's not worth arguing about...Levon would never say he was a songwriter, but he also did not disclude himself from having participated to some degree sometimes. ....i think we can all agree that there are many levels to songwriting and many ways songs get written.

Pat,i was driving in in Illinois today, saw a sign for Felix Cavaliere and the Young Rascals at the Argosy Casino Jan 18 and 19th. I think that is the old Casino Queen in alton.anyway, if you haven't yet, it might be worthwhile for you to check if they are coming your way......i don't know if i'll be here when they get here, but if i am, I'm there.

Entered at Fri Jan 4 21:38:05 CET 2013 from (122.59.251.42)

Rod

thanks for posting that Tim.

not meaning to restart any arguments but this part was interesting:

DB: Well, you wrote a bunch of them. (Songs from The Band.)

LH: Well, no, I’ve not written a lot. I’m mainly a player. I wish I were a writer. I’ve been there when Robby and when Richard and Garth and people have done some good writing, and I’ve got to be a part of it, but I’m just your basic member of the rhythm section.

DB: Oh, you’re too modest.

LH: No, this is the way it is. And I like it just like that.

Entered at Fri Jan 4 21:25:28 CET 2013 from (108.90.18.26)

Pat B

Entered at Fri Jan 4 21:15:54 CET 2013 from (65.93.116.190)

Mike Nomad

Entered at Fri Jan 4 21:04:53 CET 2013 from (130.64.254.42)

Tim

Subject: Levon article and photo's

Some pic's and article I believe not posted here previously.

Entered at Fri Jan 4 19:31:54 CET 2013 from (74.108.32.67)

Joan

Subject: Geography

I guess that would make me Mid Atlantic Coaster.

I never had a Christmas tree growing up, so when they put a tree up in my College dorm, I was super excited to decorate it. Most everyone else were blase, but I thought it was very cool.

Entered at Fri Jan 4 18:23:42 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

It always used to be three or four days before when I was a kid too. We usually put ours up about ten days into December, but this year we put it up by the 1st, because my son was visiting from the USA and he wanted to decorate it with his nieces and nephew. They in turn were off to Spain on the 19th, so we wanted them to enjoy it before they went.

Also, we always buy it last week in November, which is when they arrive. Whenever you buy it, the trees are usually cut and ready last week November … UK ones come largely from Denmark. That's when you get the best choice of size and shape. We live right by the New Forest with Forestry Commission plantations, but we don't do the trek, saw one down, and fill the car with pine needles. The local garden centre delivers free, meaning you're not picking sharp pine needles out of the car upholstery and your buttocks in July.

Entered at Fri Jan 4 17:28:25 CET 2013 from (99.89.226.221)

Billy C.(Friend0

Interesting beatles show tonight at BBKings in NYC.Pastign below fior any one there that may see this.

The Music of THE BEATLES with THE INCREDIBLE SIMULATORS ft. Marshall Crenshaw, Glen Burtnik & Liberty DeVitto with SPECIAL OPENER HILTON VALENTINE & SKIFFLEDOG (Original Guitarist of THE ANIMALS)

Entered at Fri Jan 4 16:46:38 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

Rockin Chair: We are judged by the company we keep - you do know that, don't you? As Traffic said, Welcome to the canteen. Or, as ELP said, Welcome back my friend, to the show that never ends ...

Entered at Fri Jan 4 16:32:22 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Just Coastin........

Bunch - a - crazies

Entered at Fri Jan 4 16:07:49 CET 2013 from (108.231.201.24)

Todd

Subject: 12th Night

Peter, A 12th night feast sounds good. Will definitely have to stave off the resolutions until after that. Friends of ours used to have a 12th night party every year when I was a youth, but the custom seems to have dropped off.

When I was younger, the custom with Christmas trees used to be to put them up shortly before Christmas Eve, and then trim and decorate on Christmas Eve. So leaving the tree up until Jan 6th was not very long.

These days people seem to start putting up trees the day after American Thanksgiving at the end of November. So I suppose it's understandable that many people have had enough of it by the time New Year's rolls around. We usually put ours up about a week before Christmas, but every year I feel the pressure to put it up sooner and take it down sooner. My feeling is that the Halloween decorations should be cleaned up before any trees go up, but many shops here start putting Christmas wares out even before Halloween.

I'm sure the shops are chomping at the bit to get the Valentine's Day merchandise on display, and Easter can't be far behind that. Sometimes I wish we as a society could slow down just a bit.

Entered at Fri Jan 4 14:53:27 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

Peter V: Even if it was a few days early, I'd say you had your epiphany, sitting there in the drizzle beside the mouldering compost heap, puncturing your cold and gluey fingers on dry pine needles as you tried sticking the tree back together. Right then and there you realised that the Gospel of NWC is a crock. But that's why he sent you.

Entered at Fri Jan 4 10:52:13 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Fri Jan 4 09:55:32 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Maybe I'll watch "Twelfth Night" on DVD instead, not that the plot has any connection to Christmas. It was just a traditional day to perform comedy plays.

I'm still thinking of Joe's list of "dusted off gems" from the collection during 2012.

Entered at Fri Jan 4 04:02:12 CET 2013 from (108.231.201.24)

Todd

Subject: Geography

Would it be too confusing if I started posting as Northeastcoaster?

And the tree comes down at Epiphany, January 6th. That gives an extra week before having to start any New Year's resolutions. And you gotta start em before you can break em!.....Pass the egg grog.

Entered at Fri Jan 4 02:26:17 CET 2013 from (99.89.226.221)

Billy C.(Friend0

Though we have almost a whole year to go, I'm betting that NorthWestcoaster's post , the subject of which was "Christmas (Peter V)" will easily be one of the two or three funniest posts of the year.

Entered at Thu Jan 3 23:36:47 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Reality??????

Is it hard to take Bill? Shake it off son! you got to learn to deal with it!

Entered at Thu Jan 3 22:02:33 CET 2013 from (174.116.242.232)

JT

Subject: My Eyes Have Seen You

Yes, Bill M, it has been "Strange Days". It feels like the "Horse Latitudes" around here. "Five To One", though, there will be more entries as the day progresses. The "Riders On The Storm" will take shelter in the warmth herein. Clearly, this is not "The End", my beautiful friend. Keep those cards and letters coming in, friends.

Entered at Thu Jan 3 21:54:01 CET 2013 from (204.138.59.92)

Bill M

Entered at Thu Jan 3 14:50:38 CET 2013 from (99.244.253.166)

John D

Patti Page is believed to be the first artist to overdub her voice in the studio, long before it became a standard part of the recording process.

Entered at Thu Jan 3 12:04:15 CET 2013 from (83.249.143.62)

NorthWestCoaster

Subject: Christmas (Peter V)

Peter, Christmas ends at Presentation of Christ in the Temple 2 february. Go and get back the tree!

Entered at Thu Jan 3 04:26:53 CET 2013 from (99.237.0.147)

Serenity

One of my fave singers has passed away.

U.S. pop singer Patti Page dies at age 85

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - American pop singer Patti Page, whose 1950 hit "Tennessee Waltz" topped the charts for months, has died in Southern California, her manager said on Wednesday. She was 85.

Nicknamed "The Singing' Rage," Page sold more than 100 million albums in her 67-year career, which included 1950s chart toppers "(How Much Is That) Doggie in the Window," "I Went to Your Wedding" and "All My Love (Bolero)."

She died on Tuesday in a nursing home in Encinitas, north of San Diego, after suffering congestive heart failure, her manager, Michael Glynn, told Reuters.

"She'd been having some health issues for the past couple of years," Glynn said. "She was actually doing better yesterday. I spoke to her and she sounded well."

Page won a Grammy for her 1998 album "Live at Carnegie Hall: The 50th Anniversary Concert" and will be honored with a lifetime achievement Grammy in February. She had expected to attend the ceremony, Glynn said.

Page was born in Oklahoma as Clara Ann Fowler in 1927 and was known for her light, every-girl voice. Her first big hit was "With My Eyes Wide Open, I'm Dreaming," which peaked at No. 11 on the charts in 1950.

Eight years later, Page scored her penultimate top-10 song, "Left Right Out of Your Heart," as rock 'n' roll was emerging as the dominant trend in popular music.

Her final big hit was "Hush ... Hush Sweet Charlotte" in 1965. The song served as the theme of a film of the same name starring Bette Davis.

Her reputation was burnished in recent years when rock group The White Stripes covered her 1952 song "Conquest" on their Grammy-winning 2007 album "Icky Thump." She was married three times, most recently in 1990. Page is survived by her two children, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Martha Wainwright on Jimmy Fallon tonight..

CYA soon xoxoxox

Entered at Thu Jan 3 02:19:02 CET 2013 from (24.108.242.146)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Dailey Motion

Has any one seen this 'dailey Motion"? It's like youtube. I just stumbled on it, and was able to play again some of Dylan's 30th anniversary party. I just taped on a casette, My Back Pages, my favourite version of it from that show.

See I got an old casette player on my tug with a pretty good sound system. This Dailey Motion, is showing me again the concerts of Willie & the Poor Boys again, but it won't let me play those. There is a lot of good stuff on here tho'. I didn't even know it existed.

Entered at Thu Jan 3 02:00:26 CET 2013 from (76.69.138.69)

JT

Subject: Humans

This is NOT an original thought. Stars (musicians, authors, artists on stage and screen, painters and sculptors, athletes) are human with all the frailties that are part of that existence. I have had occasion to meet a few of the best in various situations. Long ago, I decided that if I couldn't accept their deficiencies, then I missed the boat. I read biographies with that thought in mind. We have preconceived notions of what these individuals should be like and in the main they fail to meet expectations. They are just like you and I and all of us are sometimes less than we would hope to be in certain situations. We disappoint ourselves at certain times and in certain situations in our lives and so we should not be surprised when the bio exposes those issues in these 'stars'. In fact, the successful biography gives us those insights. (assuming the truth/not always an appropriate assumption) We must read them with a thick skin or not read them at all. I always said I never wanted to meet my real 'heroes'.

Entered at Thu Jan 3 00:59:10 CET 2013 from (99.237.0.147)

Serenity

Subject: Tribute to Bruce....

It's so wonderful to have a tribute to the great Bruce Springsteen..Should be a great concert to see!!

CYA soon xoxoxo

Entered at Thu Jan 3 00:05:44 CET 2013 from (99.115.145.68)

Pat B

Entered at Thu Jan 3 00:01:32 CET 2013 from (99.115.145.68)

Pat B

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Peter V

Will look it up, Bob. Haven't looked at it, just going by the reviewers who said (in some surprise) that Rod Stewart's autobiography was the most readable, and it is indeed good. As I must have said, I was amazed at Wembley 74 that Graham Nash's solo set was outstandingly the best of the four. To be honest, I would have thought it the least likely. But on the night, he was way ahead of Crosby, Stills & Young. Perhaps being on home ground helped. My abiding memory is that Tom Scott & the LA Express were way better than expected, as was Graham Nash. Seeing The Band was so magic I can't judge. Joni was fine, but it was Tom Scott's backing that stood out. CSNY were poor, going on piss poor, except for Graham Nash;s solo spot.

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Jon Lyness

Amy Helm with Connor Kennedy and band, tearing it up on a cover of Bob Dylan's "Meet Me In The Morning".

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Bob F.

Peter, something you might find interesting, in the Neil Young book he mentions how poorly he felt they performed at Wembley in 1974.

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David P

Speaking of the late great Eddie Hinton, filmmaker Stephen Badger's documentary on the Muscle Shoals recording sound will be shown at the Sundance Film Festival. Mr. Badger just happens to be the great-grandson of Forrest Mars, founder of the candy company that bears his name.

I got the "Rock of Ages" SACD when it was first released and don't recall that it sounded "muddy". Will have to give it another listen to refresh my memory. Haven't heard Mobile Fidelity's new 2-LP version, but agree with John D about the original Capitol vinyl set, especially the "RL" cut mastered by Bob Ludwig.

Speaking of Rock of Ages -- that youtube video version of "Don't Do It" was indeed filmed at the 1971 Academy of Music RoA performances and included on the DVD disc included with The Band's "A Musical History" box set. Can't imagine a film crew only filmed one song at the time, so the question is why hasn't additionl footage been be released?

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Peter V

Though he sat down (understandably) Bobby Womack was phenomenal in Jools Holland's New Year's Eve TV show, just two days ago.

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Bill M

Peter V: I don't find "Waging Heavy Peace" to be at all paranoid, and only somewhat defensive if you go in looking for defensiveness. The book includes a fair bit of detail about the early (pre-Springfield) days, but Young's fortunate in that his career has been well-served by a number of earlier books - "Don't Be Denied", "Neil Young Nation", "Shakey", the recent life-in-pictures .... But I don't believe that any of the earlier ones has his family heading from Omemee over to Peterborough (Ontario) to play charades with Robertson Davies and HIS exciting daughters. (One of them was the college roommate of a good friend in Victoria, who I must call to pass along the news.)

I got a bunch of CDs over the holidays - some at Christmas, and some while I was shopping for others or killing time while others shopped for others. Among the latter was "Skedaddle" by Kevin Breit and Folkalarm, which I bought principally because cut #1 is titled "Mr Levon Helm". A banjo-driven instrumental from 2003. I think that was not long before Breit played with Levon in his capacity as Norah Jones's lead guitarist.

The stuff I'm most looking forward to hearing, so will likely listen to last, is a boxed set of various kinds of blues released on the Mercury label. I haven't read the booklet, so can't say for sure, but I suspect that Henry Glover must be in there somewhere; it's nice to see a Band link in these things.

Entered at Wed Jan 2 19:31:24 CET 2013 from (99.237.0.147)

Serenity

Sad news to report. I'm sure we all wish him the best and pray for him.

Famed singer Bobby Womack says he's been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in interview

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Bobby Womack has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member told the BBC in a recent interview the diagnosis comes after he began having difficulty remembering his songs and the names of people he's worked with.

A spokeswoman did not immediately reply to a message left by the Associated Press.

The soul singer has cut a wide path through the music business as a performer and songwriter in his 50-year career and recently launched another act with "The Bravest Man in the Universe," the Damon Albarn-produced comeback album that recently made several best-of lists.

Alzheimer's is a degenerative brain disease characterized by memory loss. It's the latest health problem for the 68-year-old singer, who's also been fighting cancer and other maladies.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

PAWN STARS: On this show recently had a Les Paul guitar and papers with his autograph, wife Mary Ford [with pic], Eric Clapton and Keith Richards. Worth $90,000.

Speaking of "MARS" I like the singer, Bruno, but candy will do too. I prefer Lindt candy over any candy.

Hope your New Year began with a "high note"?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Until next time LOVE AND PEACE xoxoxoxo ___

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Joan

Calvin, you are absolutely right. I came away from the book with a little less admiration for Bruce. Same thing happened with Clapton's autobiography. Love his music but he's not a very nice person. I guess we are all human. Feet of clay etc.

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Calvin

But over they years Ive found knowing a lot more about people I enjoy as artists tends to have the risk of detracting from my enjoyment rather then enhancing. But Ive probably read a couple Bios the last few months anyway (George Bellows and George Sanders for sure).

Fact is when I listen to Gram Parsons I cant help but think about what an Ass he seemed to be-and while its faded Wheels of Fire soured by enjoyment of the Band for awhile.

So More often than Not Id rather stay away from Well researched behind the scenes and still with critical analysis.

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Mike Nomad

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Todd

Subject: Replacements

Happy New Year all!

Hey Zzzz, thanks for the update on the Mats doc. Kinda interesting that there will be no actual Replacements music in the documentary, so I'm interested to see how the format plays out.

Any news on Slim Dunlap's condition after his stroke earlier last year? I see that there have been some benefit efforts for him, but I'm wondering if he's had any sort of real recovery, or is expected to. Strokes can be devastating, and I wish him the best.

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Billy C. (Friend0

Entered at Wed Jan 2 02:55:04 CET 2013 from (68.198.167.170)

Bob F

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Billy C. (Friend0

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Bill M

Al E: Thanks for the true facts behind ASM. No wonder Bob was beyond bitter - positively fourth street in fact. Losing half a cream on a tour of Cheam wouldn't be my dream, either.

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dlew919

Subject: Roger Moore...

Not music related, but if anyone is interested, Roger Moore on James Bond...

Entered at Tue Jan 1 22:20:58 CET 2013 from (68.198.167.170)

Bob F.

Joan, I recently read the biography Bruce which I really enjoyed. I wasn't familiar with Boss but I just looked it up at Amazon. It does seem interesting with the dvd's. I'm going to see if my library system offers it. Thanks.

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Rockin Chair

Subject: What's in a Name??

Awright Mike Nomad....maybe you'd like some kind of explanation. Westcoaster is the name of my tug. When it's gone....the name is gone.

Rockin Chair is the name we gave our yacht we bought in 2011. You know the song, about two old sailors, Lars & I. When you git old yer supposed to spend a lot of time on yer Rockin Chair.......which I intend to do

Besides all that, there's that gawd damn old Scandinavian codger who had to start using the name North Westcoaster and that caused some confusion now and then....just to piss me off..........so....get over it son!

Entered at Tue Jan 1 21:48:24 CET 2013 from (74.108.32.67)

Joan

Has anyone read the Springsteen biography "Boss". I now know more about Bruce than I think I needed to know. It is very dense reading. Thee author is a bit Obsessive Compulsive about details (going back 3 generations in Bruce's family)but it is very well researched. If you love Bruce i think this would be required reading. Anyone else?

Entered at Tue Jan 1 21:06:12 CET 2013 from (68.198.167.170)

Bob F.

Al, when I was a youngster I was lucky enough to see Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs and Englishmen at New Paltz State University. Forty plus years later that is still one of my favorite shows. That band played a certain kind of rock and roll, soul and blues that I've always really loved. Professor Louie, Miss Marie and the Cromatix play that style of music and they play it better then anyone else out there.

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Peter V

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Bob F.

The Greg Allman is a good read especially when he talks about Duane and their relationship growing up. I guess it's an honest portrait but he really comes off as a lousy person. I felt the same way about Keith Richard and Eric Clapton when I read their autobiographies. Now the Neil Young is completely different. He comes off as a guy you would love to take a long car trip with.

Entered at Tue Jan 1 19:42:35 CET 2013 from (82.42.122.89)

Al Edge

I'm a bit like you Bob. I like quite a lot but have found little to match the heavyweights.

PV did me a great 2012 selection [cheers P] - a few of which I'd already chanced upon - and i've explored snatches on AMG and you Tube but other than possibly Simon felice and First aid kit I'm not drawn with any real conviction to any.

Somebody whose opinion I respect recommends the Chromatics but again I'm unsure. I'll give it a go though.

The two obscure ones I did take a chance on - Oh Be Joyful and Tramp - again they're both okay but i wouldn't go recommending them. Again The Alabama shakes hasn't grown on me as I felt certain it would.

Struggling here.

:-0)

Entered at Tue Jan 1 19:42:31 CET 2013 from (96.20.158.81)

Landmark

Happy new year all! Forget about Mars Bars, we have a stock of Hudson's Bay chocolate bars, the 1 kilo size, that come in tins with the Hudson Bay colours to keep us amused for quite a while.

I also received the Neil Young autobiography as well as the Gregg Allman one under our tree as well as a shitload of Itunes certificates to keep me busy.

Has anyone bought the Beach Boys "Smile" album? I am tempted but have the Brian Wilson version as well as the released tracks from the "Good Vibrations" boxed set. Is it worth it?

Entered at Tue Jan 1 19:30:36 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Al, don't forget Life on Mars – David Bowie’s song about addiction to the bar known as Milky Way in the USA but Mars everywhere else (our Milky Ways are made by Mars, but are different, similar to 3 Musketeers).

Entered at Tue Jan 1 19:26:50 CET 2013 from (68.198.167.170)

Bob F.

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Al Edge

Absolutely Sweet Marie - which Bob felt compelled to write after losing half a marie biscuit in a cup of rosy lea during a tour of East Cheam.

Hob Knob jungle - the original title for hobo jungle which robbie changed due to his lyrics not matching the original title

Beguin the Penguin - most think Cole porter was writing a smoochie dance number but it was originally a eulogy to his favourite chocolate biscuit - he couldn't stop eating the feckers.

Yeah, you guessed , still under the influence Bill.

:-0)

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Peter V

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Bill M

Troiano is mentioned in passing, along with Robbie Robertson, in Neil Young's autobiog, which I found under the tree. Neil tells of moving from his apartment on Isabella ("sad Isabella" in "For The Turnstiles") and into somebody's cramped apartment in Yorkville where he shared the floor with John Kay. While he notes that Kay went on to sing "Born To Be Wild" and was in the Sparrow with Dennis Edmonton, he seems to have missed the fact that it was Dennis who wrote "Born To Be Wild". Anyway, Edmonton is cited with Robertson and Troiano as great examples of the prevailing R&B guitar style in Toronto at the time. Good book, as of half-way through.

Entered at Tue Jan 1 16:20:32 CET 2013 from (76.69.138.69)

JT

Subject: Top 5 : Independent.ie

1. Tedham Porterhouse/ Bob Dylan 2. Sincerely, L. Cohen 3. No longer striped Jack White 4. unCommitted Glen Hansard 5. not a computer Fiona Apple

Entered at Tue Jan 1 16:15:59 CET 2013 from (76.69.138.69)

JT

Subject: The Independent

The Independent reminded me of Glen Hansard. #4 on their 2012 best of list.

Entered at Tue Jan 1 15:55:18 CET 2013 from (76.69.138.69)

JT

Subject: Glen Hansard reappears

Starting off the New Year right. Rediscovered Oscar winner Glen Hansard of the Commitments and The Frames. The new material is excellent. Another artist who continues to invent.

Entered at Tue Jan 1 14:57:08 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: New Year short story

Something to while away a few minutes on New Year's Day, a short story on my small publisher's new fiction website … the first thing on there, and free. As it's about a band playing a New year Dance in 1964 it might amuse. Do comment on the site!

I'd forgotten the intention of putting this up on January 1st until Al mentioned "pissed paralytic" which words appear in the story.

Entered at Tue Jan 1 14:26:56 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Quality Street … another of Van's little jokes perhaps. He did "Milky Way" with Bap Kennedy, so he has a predeliction for song titles based on popular confectionery. I'm sure there are others!

I’d virtually forgotten about it, and it’s not on my far too short 140 song “essential Van” playlist. Stuff from Hymns to The Silence doesn’t get done that much live. There was an era when he used to do Tupelo Honey segueing into Why Must I Always Explain? On every show. And See Me Through is often part of a medley. He does I Can’t Stop Loving You often enough, but that’s a cover. I recall hearing It Must Be You being done … Wavelength magazine used to do every setlist. Anyway, that’s the dusted off album for today decided.

Entered at Tue Jan 1 14:12:56 CET 2013 from (82.42.122.89)

Al Edge

To all my cyber buddies on the GB. And also Bill M.

:-0)

Pete - so these days it's the cookers that get pyrolytic at new year. I remember the days when it was just us.

:-0)

Entered at Tue Jan 1 13:18:19 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Another year over, a new one just begun …

Our New year's Day ritual is eliminating all signs of Christmas. The tree goes down, the decorations get put away, the cards taken down. I know people say you should leave them until Twelfth Night, but we always want to usher in the new: so we remove all the trappings of 2012. It helps that I'm never hungover, as getting pissed on New Year's Eve is not a tradition for us, and we don't even pour a drink at midnight, though we had a celebratory bottle of Moet (a Christmas gift) with dinner. In Britain, everything is closed and you notice that the background hum of traffic has gone.

A new tradition, well this is year two, is to switch on the pyrolitic cleaning on the cooker and eliminate every last trace of Christmas.

Entered at Tue Jan 1 11:32:03 CET 2013 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Eddie Hinton was a comparatively recent discovery for me - maybe two or three years ago. I assume the idea has to be "lost records", the ignored parts of your collection. That elimates Largo and Catch-A-Fire. Catch-A-Fire gets regular airing, and while I don't play through Largo as a whole often, Garth's "Largo" is on a playlist I play a lot. I pulled out the Marshll Crenshaw a few months ago, and it was right on my desk for a couple of week … but has gone back in the rack.

I wouldn't have thought "Quality Street" especially high-profile Van (that's NOT a musical criticism, just a point about public perception). It's not one he does live in my memory. In fact I'll listen later.

This will take some thought … NOT old favourites on regular rotation, but stuff that's gathered a little dust before being pulled back out in 2012.

Entered at Tue Jan 1 05:32:00 CET 2013 from (99.237.0.147)

Serenity

Subject: HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Happy New Year to you all. Nice to see a lot of great links and posts from "longtime' members here too.

JEFF HEALY: I know I've mentioned this before...Jeff bought all my brothers 78's and LP's after my brother passed away. It was said that he had "wall-to-wall records" in his house. With all my brothers' I can believe that. My bro was a great jazz fan. I like it too, but not as much. I've met a few good musicians in my day. Duke Ellington was one of the best.

Until Next time LOVE AND PEACE and again HAPPY NEW YEAR. CYA in 2013 xoxoxoxoxoxo

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John D

I haven't heard the SACD version yet; but I wasn't even that happy with the reissue of R of A; when it came out with the bonus tracks. I still prefer the original CD release; but (here I go sounding retro) I still love the vinyl version the best!

Happy New Year.

Entered at Tue Jan 1 02:29:04 CET 2013 from (72.224.51.211)

Joe Frey

Subject: 2012 rediscovered records

First of all, happy New Year to all. I don't post very often, but I do read and enjoy your posts. I lot of folks post their "best of" each year. For me, this had been a rather lean year,but I have no desire to impose my taste on anyone else. Since I have been listneing to music for close to 50 years, I have acquired a rather extensive collection of music. the downside of that, is that records often go "unlistened" for an extended period. I thought that it would be interestingto post what I have rediscovered this year from my collection.

1. Van Morrison - Best of , vol 2. Not sure if there is a 1 or 3, but this is an era where I don't typically put his cds on my playlist. Not sure why Qulaity Srteet is not inlcuded here. Peter V may have an opinion.

2. Largo - Various artists

3. The Rascals - Collection. I saw all four original memebers in Port Chester, Ny and they were unbelievable.

4. The Eagles - first album

5. Hungry Chuck - Hungry Chuck - a great cult woodstock band

6. Marshall Crenshaw's first album - great SACD

7. Dire Straits first album - Japanese SACD

8. Graham Parker - Ultmaie Collection

9. Rick Danko - Rick Danko - I know, I know, but when you have a book shelf full of Band Cds, individual member cds, boots, etc, sometimes a great cd gets lost.

10. Bob Marley - Catch a Fire - Deluxe Edition (High tide low tide - great tune)

11. Eddie Hinton - all his Cds - David P may have an opinion here.

What are your lost records that you re-discovered in 2012.

Joe

Entered at Tue Jan 1 01:40:22 CET 2013 from (96.30.173.135)

joe j

A little bit of Amelia.

Entered at Tue Jan 1 01:38:05 CET 2013 from (96.30.173.135)

JOE J

Late addition to the best of lists, Amelia Curran's 'Spectators'. Strings and horns this time around though very subtle. It's still all about her voice and her songs.

Entered at Tue Jan 1 01:32:09 CET 2013 from (65.93.116.190)

Mike Nomad

Entered at Tue Jan 1 00:46:26 CET 2013 from (98.15.190.173)

Lars Pedersen

Subject: 2013

I still remember going to a show to see Rick in the '90s (probably around 1997) and it was near the end of the year. He wished us in the audience "a happy and prosperous New Year." I'd like to pass that along.

Norm, you're probably right about the importance of positive thinking. Without it we'd probably be roadkill. I'd just like to see our elected leaders do one freaking thing right before I submit to excessive optimism. Good luck in the coming year to all of The Band faithful.

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