The Band Guestbook, September 2016

Entered at Fri Sep 30 19:36:12 CEST 2016 from (70.55.241.73)

Stan L.

Subject: Brown Derby

BEG, I forgot to answer your question. Yes I was at the Brown Derby and if I recall correctly, the amazing Amy Helm was the vocalist. This was during the time that Levon could not sing.

Entered at Fri Sep 30 18:58:24 CEST 2016 from (70.55.241.73)

Stan L.

Subject: Massey Hall

Hi BEG. I did see the Hawks at Massey Hall, except they were the Band when I saw them. See link and read all about it!

Entered at Fri Sep 30 15:53:27 CEST 2016 from (131.137.35.8)

sadavid

Subject: sharing The Beatles

This was in the _Globe and Mail_ yesterday . . . I was reminded of it reading Peter V's "I tried to explain their popularity to my grandkids . . . ."

Entered at Fri Sep 30 14:42:21 CEST 2016 from (24.44.153.18)

Bob F

Entered at Fri Sep 30 14:05:19 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

FANTASTIC

:-0)

So delighted you got to see it and especially Shea Stadium. As Jerry says your trip down that section of memory lane was wonderful. So evocative.

Thanks so much Pete lad for bringing it so vividly into focus once again.

Entered at Fri Sep 30 12:41:44 CEST 2016 from (86.25.242.77)

Ian W

I should have said that I got that information from one of Mark Lewisohn's books.

I should also add that I passed on the link about the Toronto Beatles exhibition to him and got a note back saying that he is about to set off on a research trip to North America, during which he would be visiting the exhibition and, on 22 October, giving a talk in what he describes as "the main Toronto library". If anyone reading this will be in Toronto around that time, it would be worth checking it out.

Entered at Fri Sep 30 12:33:58 CEST 2016 from (86.25.242.77)

Ian W

The Pathé News footage that formed "The Beatles Come To Town" newsreel film was later included in a 70-minute feature entitled "Pop Gear", released on 18 April 1965 in the UK and retitled "Go Go Mania" (yes, really !!!) in the United States.

The Beatles/Epstein gave permission for the film in exchange for a share of the proceeds.

The two songs were "She Loves You" and "Twist And Shout" and they come from the first "house" performance but the "From Me To You" playing under some of the other footage was the studio recording.The set list for the whole of "The Beatles'Autumn Tour" in 1963 was: I Saw Her Standing There, From Me To You, All My Loving, You Really Got A Hold On Me, Roll Over Beethoven, Boys, Till There Was You, She Loves You, Money and Twist And Shout

Granada TV was also filming backstage that night and got an exclusive interview with The Beatles talking about their forthcoming U.S. tour.

And .... the BBC was there, too, that night and got a 2-minute interview for a radio show called "Voice of the North", as well as a brief interview with George about their links with Hamburg for another radio programme. Both were broadcast on the Northern Home Service.

Entered at Fri Sep 30 10:01:21 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: The Beatles Come To Town

Tracked down that Manchester footage (linked). Pathe News for an 8 minute short The Beatles Come To Town (linked). Technicolour, widescreen). It's been massively remastered for Eight Days A Week.

Entered at Fri Sep 30 08:41:49 CEST 2016 from (219.89.24.110)

Rod

Entered at Fri Sep 30 08:28:16 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Thanks to you both. I added a couple of paragraphs this morning.

MANCHESTER FILM

… right at the start we were marvelling at the ABC Manchester footage from November 1963 with Twist & Shout and All My Loving. It’s as good as any colour footage in the film, so it has to be done on film. Two songs. Is there more of it? In those days TV was Black & White in the UK. Cinema newsreels were black & white. A Hard Day’s Night was even black & white. Life was black & white. So who filmed it in colour on film stock?

(After discussing Paul's violin bass):

The Beatles all had non-standard guitar choices: John’s Rickenbacker, George’s C&W Gretsch. Everyone I knew in garage bands went in and tried them out in the shop. Then came out with a Fender or a Gibson. The point was the Beatles’ on-stage image got locked early on. I guess their guitars had to match the merchandise.

Entered at Fri Sep 30 07:18:14 CEST 2016 from (219.89.24.110)

Rod

Entered at Fri Sep 30 07:00:36 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: Peter V. review 8days

Great review, Peter. What I enjoyed most were your recollections. Those are unique.

Reminded me of what if felt like to be in Massey Hall in 1965 when Bob Dylan with his guitar and his harmonica and holder came on stage and later when the explosion occurred of LATH and Dylan. It was one of the seminal times of my life and what came from that was a creative interaction that has sustained me throughout my time on this planet. That's what it sounds like when you write about this time in your life.

Entered at Fri Sep 30 04:39:57 CEST 2016 from (96.54.61.38)

BONK

I really enjoyed that Peter. Jeez. I'm starting to remember when I was 12-13 and seen them for the first time.

Entered at Fri Sep 30 01:00:38 CEST 2016 from (174.91.166.232)

brown eyed girl

A monument to Toronto’s musical ‘promised land’: Keenan

Mural picturing great artists of the city's musical history recalls the days when the seedy but vibrant Yonge strip drew music lovers of every genre.

Ronnie Hawkins will be included but will The Hawks?

Hi Stanley. You were at Massey Hall to see The Hawks! Were you at the Silver Dollar when Levon and The Barnburners were in town?

Entered at Thu Sep 29 23:53:11 CEST 2016 from (24.108.163.242)

JT

Subject: Respect and consideration

Glad to hear it, Stan L. (I'd have expected no less from what I knew). Its about the music and these 5 could make it. Mutual respect and consideration all these years after for that brilliant music which was created must overcome (I won't ever use the word -trump- in this circumstance again)any issues that might have existed after the fact.

Entered at Thu Sep 29 23:51:24 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter Viney

Subject: EIGHT DAYS A WEEK

My thoughts on Ron Howard's film and The Beatles in general are linked! Many thanks to Al for telling me I had to see it. Now we;re thinking how to see it again.

Entered at Thu Sep 29 22:18:20 CEST 2016 from (24.114.55.89)

Bill M

Entered at Thu Sep 29 22:10:56 CEST 2016 from (70.55.241.73)

Stan L

I was fortunate enough to obtain an advance copy of Testimony. In my opinion, it is very well written, incredibly detailed and I think every Band fan should read it. However, anyone who is expecting Robbie's side of the so called feud is going to be disappointed. This book could be subtitled “Love for Levon, Richard, Rick and Garth”.

Entered at Thu Sep 29 19:25:38 CEST 2016 from (24.108.163.242)

JT

Subject: Carl, Mike, and Victor

John D: We just spoke and I have e-mailed Carl. Things will begin to happen and we shall see how they evolve. Hope springs eternal. Thanks

Entered at Thu Sep 29 17:41:55 CEST 2016 from (99.229.224.79)

John D

Just spoke with Mike Filey and I left you a phone message; on your cell. Carl and I are on the same page; when it looks like this former City Archivist Victor, is your man.

Entered at Thu Sep 29 12:22:32 CEST 2016 from (36.78.164.29)

Anton

Subject: Toroto

It's comfortable to listen to your mom's music. Glad to meet her voice and special atmosphere through her song. BTW, the design of this website is comfortable too.

Entered at Thu Sep 29 07:57:39 CEST 2016 from (219.89.24.110)

Rod

For those who can't make it out to NZ - an rehearsal for TLW anniversary concerts to be held here. Looking good so far ..........obviously no Garth or John yet.

Entered at Thu Sep 29 03:38:17 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: Hope

Bonk: Thanks. On its way.

Entered at Thu Sep 29 03:31:09 CEST 2016 from (96.54.61.38)

BONK

Hey JT. I've been in contact with Mike Filey of 'Toronto Past' and he might have a friend who can help us with the Concord. If you email me at, lightningpress@shaw.ca I'll forward his message to me to you. Cheers, Carl

Entered at Thu Sep 29 03:04:16 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: Levon and the Hawks box set

All this 'box set' Dylan/Hawks talk reminds some to ask Jan Haust: "How is the Levon and The Hawks box set progressing?".

Entered at Wed Sep 28 19:10:46 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

The 4 CDs appear to be the same as the last remastered 4 CD box set.The 5.1 sound track is on the DVD Special Edition from years back. I have the 5.1 DVD-Audio.

So basically you replace your DVD with a blu-ray, and NOT the new Blu-ray 4k Ultra-HD either.

Worth waiting for the 4k Ultra HD version, I suspect.

Entered at Wed Sep 28 18:32:08 CEST 2016 from (70.121.40.130)

Glenn t

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-band-prep-expansive-the-last-waltz-box-set-w442405

Entered at Wed Sep 28 18:14:28 CEST 2016 from (24.114.59.217)

Bill M

Peter V: I agree. A half-decent autocorrect device should have noted the Led Zep reference and would have rendered your typo the much more fitting 'musk'.

Entered at Wed Sep 28 17:20:55 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Wed Sep 28 17:19:54 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Wed Sep 28 17:07:44 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: Cost

For sure, John, packaging costs but could not justify $500+ dollars. It was, I believe, to a significant degree, the 5000 'exclusivity' that allowed for the price. In my view, however, cd prices are going to continue to drop. To extract $100 from a buyer in 2016 is still possible. It may not be in a couple of years (if such a release even occurs in a cd format in 2-3 years)

Entered at Wed Sep 28 17:01:50 CEST 2016 from (99.229.224.79)

John D

Thanks; but I don't think I got my question answered; on why the price difference. I still think it has a lot to do with the very exceptional packaging of Cutting Edge that made it far more expensive. Never saw anything like that before. That's OK. I was just curious. No matter.

Entered at Wed Sep 28 16:51:28 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

36 CDs at £3 each is a bargain but mostly shows take 2 CDs, one for the acoustic set and one for the electric. While they can't get both sets on one CD, it's not by a great deal. In some ways it's more like "18 x double CD sets". That's still way cheaper than 1965 but the solo spots are likely to vary more than the electric ones, and it wasn't a jamming situation either. I'll be thrilled to explore it, but suspect the difference between (e.g.) the Belfast set and the Liverpool set will not be one you'll recall enough to spot which is which a day later.

Entered at Wed Sep 28 16:46:40 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Chapter & Verse

Very pissd off with the new Bruce CD. It has a "rip while you extract the CD" cardboard case, and no track information when played in a computer. More though, The Castiles version of "You Can't Judge A Book" which I was looking forward to most is not particularly good. Compare the British mod classic by The Wild Oats linked.

Entered at Wed Sep 28 15:47:52 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: Why and how much?

The discussion sites I have been reading refer to 'copyright' as a prime reason for release. At first glance, it seems that this material was handled very carefully and with a lot of thought (thank you Jeff Rosen and anyone else who had a hand in this). As to the cost, I think its getting harder and harder to sell tangible product today. I'm buying less cds and vinyl with streaming a club memberships (like Apple Tunes). I think that this reasonable price is an acknowledgment of that and is part of a competitive approach. Let me remind you that the first Texas instruments calculator was well over $500 if I recall and my first computer IBM XT with printer, screen and tower was over $10,000 in the 80s).

Entered at Wed Sep 28 15:35:43 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: Continuing education

For me, the release of the archives (in this case, the Dylan/Hawks 1966 36 cd Sony/Legacy release) is education. It is my hobby. I study the songs and in this case, the performances and sculpt impressions in my brain, marvelling at how the same song can be different. To those who say, how can anyone listen to the same set list over and over again, my answer is that I take my time and consider each performance separately. I may put them 'side by side' and evolve impressions. The different versions construct the whole that is Bob Dylan and the Hawks. Its continuing education.

Entered at Wed Sep 28 15:20:21 CEST 2016 from (99.229.224.79)

John D

Ordered the new Dylan box this morning. I believe JT did as well. With tax, it came to $170.00 Canadian; from Amazon.ca Just thinking out loud here. 36, I repeat, 36 CD's for that price. Cutting Edge 18 CD box; over $500.00 U.S. Any thoughts on why this new CD box is so much cheaper. Packaging perhaps? Or the Cutting Edge box gave us 18 legitimate CBS recordings? Again, just wondering.

Entered at Wed Sep 28 14:35:30 CEST 2016 from (172.12.248.174)

Paul

Wish the set lists had varied more. I'll pick out and listen to some performances from some of the recordings, but I'd love to have Dylan/Hawks live performances of things like Visions Of Johanna or If You Gotta Go, Go Now. I occasionally go into rhapsodies about the differences in performance of the same song between one night and the next. But as with Duane-era Allman Bros. recordings, I wish the set lists had varied more than they did.

Entered at Wed Sep 28 04:46:48 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: ..You could stand inside my shoes

Pittsburgh: Feb. 6, 1966: +ly 4th St again.

Entered at Wed Sep 28 04:21:28 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: ...To say you are my friend

Yes: Positively 4th St on disc 2 (Sydney).

Entered at Wed Sep 28 00:33:56 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter v

Entered at Wed Sep 28 00:00:02 CEST 2016 from (107.211.249.187)

Paul

I think I know the answer to this, but on the new 1966 box, what songs are there that are not on the Manchester concert that came out as Bootleg Series 4-5? The set lists were pretty constant throughout. I know there was at least one performance of Positively 4th St. in Australia; what else besides that?

Entered at Tue Sep 27 22:20:41 CEST 2016 from (99.229.224.79)

John D

Want just The Royal Albert Hall for 15.98?

Entered at Tue Sep 27 22:18:24 CEST 2016 from (99.229.224.79)

John D

Subject: Here's a good price.

$149.00

Entered at Tue Sep 27 22:15:49 CEST 2016 from (99.229.224.79)

John D

Entered at Tue Sep 27 22:13:38 CEST 2016 from (99.229.224.79)

John D

No mention on Amazon.com or .ca

Entered at Tue Sep 27 22:09:51 CEST 2016 from (70.68.113.53)

Lisa

Entered at Tue Sep 27 22:07:52 CEST 2016 from (99.229.224.79)

John D

A friend asked me today if Bob needed the money. Smile.

Entered at Tue Sep 27 22:06:06 CEST 2016 from (99.229.224.79)

John D

OK Al Edge here we go. You can see how this would happen and I know Peter will catch it. There are two very quick scenes of a white door with a sign on each of them. The door opens and cut to Beatles in studio. The first time you see the white door it reads ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS. The year is around 1964. It was EMI Studios at that time. Later around 1969 you see the same white door and it reads EMI STUDIOS. For the time frame it should have read ABBEY ROAD at that time. You see it's a small thing; but the two scenes got reversed in the movie. I told you it wasn't a big deal and I'm sure Ron Howard isn't going to recut those scenes. Haha. My thanks to Beatle interviewer Doug Thompson for catching it.

Entered at Tue Sep 27 19:50:50 CEST 2016 from (24.108.163.242)

JT

Subject: It's All there

Bill M: It will all be there (acoustic and Hawks) in all its glory. The tracks are listed in one of the 'Expecting Rain' entries.

Entered at Tue Sep 27 18:30:52 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Found it on amazon UK (£104). Then answered the phone, ordered and it comes up as currently unavailable … i.e. SOLD OUT

Entered at Tue Sep 27 17:50:01 CEST 2016 from (24.114.77.122)

Bill M

... in the "Uncut" - and perhaps the Legacy promo - is that there's no mention of backing musicians. Perhaps removed from the mix? Or maybe just the solo portion of the shows? Or maybe they just forgot?

Entered at Tue Sep 27 16:30:23 CEST 2016 from (78.65.121.219)

jh

Time to buy a new CD-rack...

Entered at Tue Sep 27 15:56:49 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: 1966 Dylan/Hawks ...all available concert material

Reread new input...Not every concert! All available concert material from 1966.

Entered at Tue Sep 27 15:49:47 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: 36 cd 1966 Dylan/Hawks

A 36 cd box coming out Nov. 11 covering every concert in 1966 by Bob Dylan and The Hawks. The last few are audience recordings while the majority are soundboard or company recordings. A number of incomplete cuts especially from the audience recordings. Hopefully there will be an upgrade in sound for many of those. Price will be under $300 from what I read. I got this information at 'Expecting Rain'.

Entered at Tue Sep 27 14:44:58 CEST 2016 from (131.137.35.8)

sadavid

Subject: blue cha-cha

A couple of The Last Waltz alumni in excellent voice on "St. James Infirmary" NYC 1996.

Entered at Tue Sep 27 03:55:32 CEST 2016 from (64.229.181.207)

Bill M

JT: Thanks for the post about Dylan and Lonnie Johnson. Bob discusses the guitar-playing approach he learned from Johnson at some length in "Chronicles" - pages 157-162. I mentioned David Rea because not only he teach Joni the open tuning that she adopted, but he was also a Lonnie discipline too, and spend much time with Lonnie in Yorkville in the mid '60s when he (Rea) was Gordon Lightfoot's (first LP) then Ian and Sylvia's accompanist (for several albums over several years, up to the formation of the Great Speckled Bird, when he was replaced by Amos Garrett).

Robbie co-wrote "Snow" with Jesse Winchester, and produced the song for the first Jesse LP, but it's Rea who was selected to play acoustic lead guitar on that song.

Entered at Tue Sep 27 02:16:53 CEST 2016 from (174.89.95.25)

brown eyed girl

Bill M...Here they are Michelle Finney and Danny Weis. It was included in a previous post which alerted me to the Beatles' Exhibit honouring 50th anniversary of the last time The Beatles performed in Toronto. Yikes! Michelle was actually 14 when she interviewed The Beatles. imagezulu of course wasn't into them but he did remember Razzle Dazzle. Sometimes I'm so bored with hearing.....I was into jazz, jazzzzz.
Sincere apologies as yes.....Richard Bell was on keyboards as well. Such a night.......

Entered at Tue Sep 27 01:59:55 CEST 2016 from (24.114.77.122)

Bill M

John D mentioned a couple weeks ago that Weis, Fonfara and Finney have a weekly gig at the Orbit Room. I wondered how Michelle Finney got in the picture, because she disappeared from my young world in the early '60s when she quit the "Razzle Dazzle" kids' TV show with Howard the Turtle! Now I know.

In speaking here of that Danny Brooks show in Port Credit, I think it's proper to mention that the group included not just Weis and Fonfara, but also Richard Bell. Jez I wish I had a tape of that spectacular show!

Entered at Tue Sep 27 01:29:02 CEST 2016 from (174.89.95.25)

brown eyed girl

Hi Lisa! Are you planning to see Robbie at the Writers Fest as well as Elvis Costello? This is the link that I found awhile ago stating that you save a whopping 10% if you see both. ;-D

Btw the photo of The Hawks in 1961 at the Concord Tavrn I posted the other day is on this site but no mention of location.

Entered at Tue Sep 27 01:19:36 CEST 2016 from (174.89.95.25)

brown eyed girl

Terry Danko submitted this photo this past year??
Debbie McDonald and The Hawks – Rebel Payne (bass); Will (Pop) Jones (piano); Robbie Robertson (guitar);The Starlighters(BG's)& Levon Helm on drums at the Concord Tavern Toronto

Bill MMMMM!!! I had no idea that the woman who was once 15 interviewed The Beatles and.....she's Danny Weis' partner....Michelle Finney????!! The night we ran into you in Port Credit and he was playing in Danny Brooks' band with Michael Fanfara....Ohhh la, la......so cute....It doesn't hurt that he played in Louuu's band either or Iron Butterfly or Rhinoceros.....for you. Btw, one of my favourite things at The Beatles exhibit was the Toronto Sound section where I saw a video featuring.....Jon and Lee and The Checkmates.....not just music but interviews.

Entered at Tue Sep 27 01:08:18 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

I've seen it twice John and can't think what you mean about a door. Was it something to do with The club The Iron Door? The only thing that seemed to jar with me was the inference that Ringo was in the group when Eppy signed them. Pete Best was of course still in the group at that point and was clearly airbrushed out for the documentary.

???

:-0)

Entered at Mon Sep 26 23:07:59 CEST 2016 from (92.20.229.151)

Ragtime

Jan, the author Peter Aaron is or was the singer-guitarist of The Chrome Cranks. He has a Facebook account. I don't think he investigated The Band's history himself.

Entered at Mon Sep 26 21:49:35 CEST 2016 from (99.229.224.79)

John D

You'll catch it Peter. It involves the time frame and what is written on the door. It happens twice in the film.

Entered at Mon Sep 26 21:36:42 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Looks like a series.I'll be surprised if the site isn't quoted, Jan!

Entered at Mon Sep 26 21:27:46 CEST 2016 from (78.65.121.219)

jh

Subject: The Band FAQ?

What is this? And who is the author? Anyone?

Entered at Mon Sep 26 21:26:11 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Mon Sep 26 21:25:24 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Mon Sep 26 21:00:02 CEST 2016 from (99.229.224.79)

JOHN D

So I can't take credit for this; but there are two minor editing mistakes in the film. Can you find them? My friend who caught the errors said it must have been an editor; who made the minor mix up. Not a big deal. Give you a few hours to see if you can come up with it. Thought Peter would have caught this. I certainly didn't. It happens too fast. When I tell you, you'll say...."oh really? Give me a break John." OK one hint. It involves a door.

Entered at Mon Sep 26 20:56:52 CEST 2016 from (24.108.163.242)

JT

Subject: Concord Tavern photo

Peter: Thanks. Does it ever get onto the GB page under 'Pictures'.?

Entered at Mon Sep 26 17:03:03 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Concord Tavern

I've put JT's Concord Tavern picture on my "pictures holding page" (Linked). It is tiny and blurry, but so far it's all we've got.

Entered at Mon Sep 26 05:55:44 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: Lonnie Johnson

Bill M: "In the liner notes for the album Biograph, Bob Dylan described his encounters with Johnson in New York City. "I was lucky to meet Lonnie Johnson at the same club I was working and I must say he greatly influenced me. You can hear it in that first record. I mean Corrina, Corrina...that's pretty much Lonnie Johnson. I used to watch him every chance I got and sometimes he'd let me play with him. I think he and Tampa Red and of course Scrapper Blackwell, that's my favorite style of guitar playing." (from wikipedia)

Entered at Sun Sep 25 15:12:16 CEST 2016 from (24.114.66.115)

Bill M

Entered at Sun Sep 25 13:57:32 CEST 2016 from (79.75.191.158)

Solomon

I think Ron Howard should watch the three-part documentary Yonge Street Rock and Roll Stories and really learn how to make an exciting period in music come alive through rare archival footage. I just didn't feel the same energy and excitement as I did with the Yonge Street documentary.

Entered at Sun Sep 25 09:40:39 CEST 2016 from (92.54.175.179)

Peter V

They had the whole Woodstock movie opening sequence playing on a wide screen over Keith Moon's drum set (Hendrix and Townsend guitars were in a case at the side). Anyway, at the end they had "R.I.P. It Up" scrolling screen, a role call of the departed greats of the era. RICHARD MANUEL right in the middle.

Entered at Sun Sep 25 04:44:44 CEST 2016 from (67.87.216.236)

Jeff A.

Subject: Going Once! Going Twice!

Now songwriters can auction off future royalties & keep their copyright. The company behind this is also into farming, solar power......

Entered at Sun Sep 25 04:02:02 CEST 2016 from (64.229.181.207)

Bill M

Subject: A Change Is Gonna Come

Here's a link to Zeke Sheppard singing "A Change Is Gonna Come" from the 1972 Blackstone LP. Very nice.

Entered at Sun Sep 25 03:32:07 CEST 2016 from (64.229.181.207)

Bill M

Subject: Tronto

Roger: When I said that Truro (Nova Scotia) was a hotbed of R&R & R&B I was thinking of two acts, the regionally successful Lincolns (nee the Novatones and later the Central Nervous System and Soma) and the itinerant Zeke Sheppard.

To tie together a couple of recent threads, I'll say that Zeke moved to Ontario with another Truro guy, the important Canadian bluesman Dutch Mason in the late '50s. They, or at least Zeke, was settled in John D's hometown, Oshawa, by '59, when he, or at least his bass strap, was caught on camera in a rare video of Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm and Ronnie Hawkins jamming. (Bits of this turned up a couple years ago in a documentary, "Yonge Street Rock and Roll Stories".)

Zeke thereafter was part of Ronnie's circle, turning up as guest vocalist with the Hawks from time to time and serving as bassist with the significant Hawkins/Hawks farm team, Jerry Warren and the Tremblers, in which Scott Cushnie and Peter Traynor replaced Stan Szelest and Rebel Paine when Stan and Rebel joined Hawkins.

BEG: Thanks for the interesting link to Stan and the Ravens, with future Hawk Sandy Konikoff. Sandy's told me that he went up to Brantford with Stan to catch the Tremblers a year at one of their charity marathons, and Zeke Sheppard was the bassist at that time. Around this time he managed to fit in a minor hit with "Snow Surfin'" (see link).

JT: After that, Zeke put together Franklyn Shepherd and the Good Shepherds, who were another of those great R&B bands cycling through your father's tavern. The first version had an exceptional guitar-organ core in Ed Patterson and Robbie King; when that lineup jumped ship in Vancouver (and merged with Little Daddy and the Bachelors with Tommy Chong to form Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers), Sheppard returned to Toronto to put together a second version with future Crowbar drummer Sonny Bernardi (who'd grown up with Levon as his mentor, as his parents ran a concession at the Concord). Zeke's big song, which is something he would have sung when guesting with Hawkins, was "A Change Is Gonna Come".

A few years later, after a couple LPs with local superstars Mainline, he appeared as the second singer in Blackstone - a reformed Rhinoceros, which was really an evolved Jon and Lee and the Checkmates, who JT mentioned as another of the great bands at the Concord.

Entered at Sat Sep 24 23:54:28 CEST 2016 from (92.54.175.179)

Peter V

Entered at Sat Sep 24 21:47:27 CEST 2016 from (174.88.219.248)

Mike Nomad

Jerry, I imagine you likely have already tried contacting the editorial files departments at both the Globe and Star to determine if either has photos. Their photo files would be extensive, although by now I suspect both would have converted theirs to digital. Still, nothing ventured . . . . Public libraries also would archival sections, as might U of T in its historical archives sections.

Entered at Sat Sep 24 15:00:00 CEST 2016 from (174.89.95.25)

browne eyed girl

My mistake as the Beatles' exhibit at St. Lawrence Market will be on until November 12.

Entered at Sat Sep 24 14:53:34 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: Concord Tavern 3

Carl: Jack Fisher owned the Concord Tavern before my dad became involved. He had more than one establishment but this was the one downtown. When my dad became involved with his group of owners, they brought in some highly respected talent: aside from our boys, there was David Clayton Thomas and the Shays, Jon and Lee and the Checkmates, Jackie Shane and others. As the late 60s and 70s came, being on Bloor St. was not as attractive as being on Yonge St. south and the establishment gradually waned. It was highly successful from what I understood (as a teen) in the early to mid 60s and before.

Entered at Sat Sep 24 14:51:26 CEST 2016 from (174.89.95.25)

brown eyed girl

Ahhhh....I missed this exhibit in June.
When The Beatles rocked Toronto: New exhibit is a sobering reminder of just how bold the city once was

Entered at Sat Sep 24 09:51:57 CEST 2016 from (173.3.48.146)

Jeff A.

Subject: Way Back Home

Pete, Steve Gadd brings his Way Back Home tour to Ronnie Scott's in London, Oct 3- 8.

Entered at Sat Sep 24 09:35:27 CEST 2016 from (86.167.179.136)

Roger

Subject: Truro too

Bill, I think we'd have to say it's you guys who have a Truro too! Ours came first. It's the administrative capital of the county of Cornwall. In the mid 19th century the mining industry in Cornwall declined and Cornish miners moved to North and South America and Australia for work - particularly to Mexico and the US. Could your Truro have been a result of Cornish immigration?

Entered at Sat Sep 24 09:01:58 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

I thought you wanted the exterior? My first recourse for a building would be the City Planning dept. It’s licensed premises. They should have records of change of use, applications for signage, buying and selling. They might only go back so far … you might even find it’s on microfiche, though that’s printable in ultra-lo quality. You should find photos, though even more likely architects drawings asking for permission for a new sign, or fire escape or doorway. The issue is how far the records go back. My own local search for my house ran into a brick wall because of various boundary changes meaning our house was under Hampshire planning, then Bournemouth, then Dorset, then Poole. Not all records were handed over between authorities as boundaries and government changed, but even so I could get back to 1955 when our street moved from Bournemouth to Poole, not literally, but in terms of who took the local taxes and collected the rubbish. But Toronto must have had one authority for much longer. As a bar, licensing authorities might have separate records.

I don't know if Canada had the strict rules about signs on commercial premises that the UK has. The USA obviously doesn't.

Second one is to check out any band that ever played there. Even the shortest-lived non-recording band seems to have a web mention or a blog, and they may have a live photo somewhere. "Us standing outside the club" was surprisingly popular for young bands if it was a hip place to play.

Entered at Sat Sep 24 06:43:28 CEST 2016 from (174.89.95.25)

brown eyed girl

We know the photo but now we know the club.
Stan Szelest, Rebel Payne, Ronnie Hawkins, Robbie Robertson and Levon Helm at the Concord Tavern on Bloor Street in Toronto ~ 1961

Quickly checking more previous posts....Really shocked to hear about David P. We did email from time to time as we were going to exchange music. His passion for vinyl and music in general was appreciated.
I also really appreciated Serge's photos of The Hawks!!!!! Paul Godfrey would talk to me about him sometimes as they lived in the same city. I especially love the photo of Levon smiling lovingly at Robbie with Ronnie Hawkins surrounded by female fans.

Entered at Sat Sep 24 05:57:54 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: 'Eight Days A Week'

I searched and found 'Eight Days A Week' as a movie presentation this Sunday Sept 25 in the afternoon. I've set up the PVR.

Entered at Sat Sep 24 04:37:50 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: Concord Tavern 2

Bonk: My dad owned the Concord (with partners) from ~1961-62 until the mid 1970s. I'll look into your suggestion with Henry's. Who knows?

Entered at Sat Sep 24 04:11:18 CEST 2016 from (96.54.61.38)

BONK

Subject: JT

Hey JT. I too have gone crazy looking for any photos of the Concord. I've talked to many old time rounders who are still alive and drank there but nada. But they basically say the same thing. 'who the fuck had a camera back then?' The way that they remember it was the only camera's that were around at the time were owned by females. My late Dad and his brother Blake worked there on and off as waiters from about '58 to '64 and all that my uncle Blake could add was that having a camera inside a bar was a big no-no for a lot of reasons. One old gal that I talked to named Kim said the same thing. Having a camera in a bar could get you a shit kicking like you wouldn't believe! Also, my uncle only remembers a guy named Jack Fisher, I think, who owned the joint. What years did your dad own it? You have to remember we're talking 56 years ago. I also asked Kim if she was one of the girls who had a camera and she said sure, but I threw all those negs away years ago. Who cares. One thing she has said to me that might help you is she remembers all her friends taking their film to a place on Church St. which I believe was called Henry's to have them developed because no matter how racey or intimate they were they would just develope them and give them to you. I remember as a kid seeing some of this stuff and just saying, WOW! Maybe they keep an archive or something. It's always struck me as funny but people like Kim and my uncle Blake are always so secretive or closed mouth about this stuff. I guess it was just the time. Good luck buddy. Carl

Entered at Sat Sep 24 04:06:54 CEST 2016 from (24.114.65.21)

Bill M

I wandered into a record store yesterday and spotted an album cover with the word "Bandish" on the cover. Unfortunately it turned out to be a Bollywood soundtrack rather than a Woodstock comp. I had to satisfy myself with a gatefold Jesse Winchester.

Entered at Fri Sep 23 23:42:53 CEST 2016 from (24.108.163.242)

JT

Subject: Concord Tavern photo

For the past 2 years or more, I have been trying to find a photo of the Concord Tavern on Bloor St. in Toronto. Now housing Long & McQuade music store, I asked them if they had an old photo and they did not. I have approached many sites and individuals including the York University archives and there is no such photo. As you all know, this was one of the downtown venues where Levon and the Hawks played prior to their evolution to The Band. If anyone has a photo of that building when it was the Concord Tavern, please let me know. I do have a long shot of the tavern sign which shows a small portion of the building from its side. I do not have a face-on photo nor can I find one anywhere on the internet or elsewhere. It is quite astonishing to me that such a photo has not survived.

Entered at Fri Sep 23 22:00:50 CEST 2016 from (24.114.65.21)

Bill M

Entered at Fri Sep 23 21:00:25 CEST 2016 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

I found (and promptly lost) a YouTube clip of the Beatles performing in Sweeden in 1963 - not a sound and seemingly not even a toe-tap or head-bob; then polite applause at the finish. What gives? Aren't they big speed-metal and early blues fans? Maybe the lads came across as just a garden variety cover or bar band?

Entered at Fri Sep 23 20:44:25 CEST 2016 from (173.3.48.146)

Jeff A.

Subject: Excerpts from Springsteen's upcoming rolling Stone interview

I can't buy what he's saying about not having had more to say on the upcoming election yet.. I don't know if he ever waited to be approached to do something before he ever became very verbal before... I don't know why he's mostly held back, other than thinking he just had other things on his mind, other priorities.

In any event, I'm glad he's weighing in.

Entered at Fri Sep 23 19:54:16 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Nick Churchill's book reckons the screaming peaked at the November 1963, and there wasn't such a wall of screams in 64 here. Having worked at the Winter Gardens (now demolished), you could literally hear a pin drop on stage from the back row. It had a recording studio below the stage for the BBC, because the acoustics were so highly rated. The Gaumont was a big old gilt and plush cinema, and my bet is that the Winter Gardens WAS louder for screams, but because of the acoustic was so much better not because the girls gave it less power.

Entered at Fri Sep 23 19:16:34 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

e-mail or text me Roger … Two Gentlemen of Verona Saturday night, Imogen on Sunday afternoon.

Entered at Fri Sep 23 19:09:35 CEST 2016 from (86.167.179.136)

Roger

Subject: See it big screen and loud...

Al - we saw it at the local independent cinema in Truro - fairly big screen, fail rely loud but if I see it on at a large screen with surround sound I'll have to go.\Go and see it Dunc. It really took me back to those fantastic years. Thanks for the set list for The Winter Gardens Peter. There was some crossover. I don't recall hearing much of the group - there were teenage girls screaming all around me. I'm surprised to hear there may have been empty seats - my memory is that the gig sold out immediately as usual. We're in London tomorrow too - but at The Globe on Sunday.

Dunc - I don't know the folksinger you mentioned - Lesley xxxx - but she looks like someone worth hearing more of.

Entered at Fri Sep 23 19:04:26 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

I'd forgotten there were two Gaumont shows in 1964 - August 2nd and 30th October. I saw the second. Oddly, I was talking about Eight Days A Week in my local record store and he had the August programme on the wall at £120 (in fact a normal to cheap price if you look at auction lists)… it had been there for ages. Anyway, that show had The Kinks and Adrienne Poster and Mike Berry & The Innocents.

Entered at Fri Sep 23 18:34:10 CEST 2016 from (86.128.177.6)

Dunc

Thanks, John D. I can't get HBO in this part of the world. I'll have to be patient.

I really enjoyed your last show. A great illustration of your catholic taste - Sissy Spacek, the Beatles, the Monkeys, Tom Waits, Buddy Holly, Tom Waits, CSNY,KD Laing, Levon and jazz. Great story about the Coal Miner's Daughter and your own daughter. Coincidentally I was speaking to a young lady from Scarborough this week when I was picking up my grandson at the nursery. She had never heard of The Band!!!! Great show. Thanks.

Entered at Fri Sep 23 16:49:42 CEST 2016 from (96.245.114.250)

bassmanlee

Subject: NOT the Beatles, actually

Somehow from the Leonard Cohen link (thanks, joe j!) through the serendipity of YouTube we reached the above linked performance of Creedence Clearwater Revival at the Royal Albert Hall circa 1970, which I would think requires at least six degrees of separation, but no. About 34 minutes in is a stunning rendition of Good Golly Miss Molly during which Mr. Fogerty apparently channels Jimi. Yikes!

Haven't found a convenient outlet showing the Lads yet. Apparently the silly movie about talking sausages takes precedence.

Entered at Fri Sep 23 16:12:16 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Subject: Yet more reflections on 8 days a Week

Are you referring to the likes of this linked article Solomon?

From the gist of the article it seems the response to the film has taken everyone by surprise which perhaps accounts for the mixed messages regarding what's happening regarding the Shea Stadium concert. As I see it one thing that hasn't been spellt out in the media - or at least I haven't read it - is that the quality of the Shea Stadium performance is a significant upgrade on that of the Hollywood Bowl. To the extent that many of the Hollywood Bowl tracks do suffer by comparison.

Entered at Fri Sep 23 15:23:54 CEST 2016 from (79.75.160.127)

Solomon

Entered at Fri Sep 23 15:05:35 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

John - on the various reviews it said it was being released on Hulu. Is HBO tied in with Hulu? Also, did it have the Shea Stadium 30 minute concert at the end John?

I know Bob Fino watched it on Hulu and he said the Shea Stadium concert wasn't shown.

It's all getting a tad confusing as I read another piece yesterday which said that the forthcoming DVD would consist of two grades and seemed to state that the Shea Stadium concert would actually be on the higher grade release - which is completely at odds with what was previously being stated about the legal action preventing any such release.

Entered at Fri Sep 23 14:34:31 CEST 2016 from (99.229.224.79)

John D

Dunc here in the Toronto area the movie opened to only one theater initially. Then in a matter of just a few days, it is not only in local theaters; but.........get ready for it.........it's available on HBO. That's right. You can watch the Beatle flick; from the comfort of your own home. I taped it the other night and will show my son when he visits; if he's interested.

Entered at Fri Sep 23 14:25:51 CEST 2016 from (86.128.177.6)

Dunc

Subject: Various

I'll have to wait until October to see 8 days a week, then make a journey if I can be bothered. And only 1 showing. I don't really know why local cinema hasn't got it.

Enjoyed your latest rant, Peter. Couldn't agree more.

Playing the Best of the Chieftains just now. Absolutely beautiful.

Entered at Fri Sep 23 13:59:01 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Absolutely made up Pete. You might have to borrow a fake white beard to qualify but it'll be worth it. I think I'm actually more excited than you that you'll actually get to see Shea!!

Bob's just informed me that RoseAnn saw it in NYC and cannot get over it!

And Rog - I've been trying to figure out where exactly you watched it. Was it in a pub or a local arts cinema next to the pub? Whatever it's just great to hear how much you enjoyed it. Mag and I treated my cousin Pam and her daughter and grandson to a local showing - she's the sister of my cousin Steve and has borne the bulk of the burden of caring for him - and watching it gave her such a welcome break. She was thrilled.

Entered at Fri Sep 23 12:11:56 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Twist & Shout

Money

Can’t Buy Me Love

Things We Said Today

I’m Happy Just To Dance With You

I Should Have Known Better

If I Fell,

I Wanna Be Your Man

A Hard Day’s Night

Long Tall Sally

Very different to the USA. That as the one with Sounds Incorporated. And Mary Wells. Apparently there were a few empty seats and less screaming.

Entered at Fri Sep 23 09:56:19 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Phew! Got it, Southampton next Thursday lunchtime. It's a "Silver Screen Presentation" for "The Over 60s". I'll have to take proof of age, I guess, what with still looking 25. It says "Remain in your seats for the 30 minutes Shea Stadium footage." I spent ages trying to sort out London for tomorrow afternoon, though with The Globe in the evening on wooden benches, you don't really want to spend the afternoon sitting in a cinema. But it was all late afternoon, leaving it too tight to eat before the play.

Entered at Fri Sep 23 08:21:45 CEST 2016 from (173.3.48.146)

Jeff A.

Linked- Garth appearing in London Ontario, Nov 12.

At the Jack Richardson London Music Hall Of Fame.
The London Music Hall is owned by Mike Manuel.. I've no idea if he's related to Richard.

Entered at Fri Sep 23 00:23:53 CEST 2016 from (109.152.59.222)

Roger

Subject: I Want To Tell You...

Just back from seeing 8 Days A Week. FABTASTIC! A truly great documentary which really captures the spirit of both early Beatlemania and the strength of the Beatles as a team. I agree with everything you say so well about the film Al. I imagine anyone who didn't know about the Fab Four would have a great education watching this and I can't wait to show it to our (preferably - and go and see it on the biggest and loudest screen you can) grandson aged 8.

We went to our local village museum this morning and I talked with the curator about Paul, Ringo and Neil Aspinall pitching up at the local ale house - the Tywarnhayle - and playing through a lock-in till the early hours. She was a knowledgeable person on the area but didn't know this. Winston Graham, author of the Poldark books, was the hon president of the museum until a few years ago and I'd have thought he'd have known about the event.

I saw them the year after Peter in Bournemouth (well, I'm so much younger than that now) and the film captures the anarchistic excitement of Beatlemania.

Entered at Thu Sep 22 22:19:28 CEST 2016 from (24.224.128.101)

joe j

Subject: Cohen

Link to Leonard's latest.

Entered at Thu Sep 22 16:40:27 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Thu Sep 22 16:21:16 CEST 2016 from (174.89.95.25)

brown eyed girl

I don't think I've posted a folk rock video. I don't have their music but this one song always resonated with me. Here's Canada's Spirit of the West...."Political".

Entered at Thu Sep 22 16:10:47 CEST 2016 from (174.89.95.25)

brown eyed girl

Thanks to all who said hello! Very kind and sweet but not necessary at all as I always take breaks so I can get to other things. LOL

Here is the trailer Bill M to "Before We Arrive The Story of The Weber Brothers". I've only seen Eugene Smith once at Hotel Cali. I most likely won't be able to see him at Hugh's Room as that's when my brother usually hosts Thanksgiving dinner.

Thanks so much JT for alerting me to gigs in town with the Weber Brothers as some of us used to follow them around town a decade ago. The last time we saw them was at Hugh's Room for a tribute to Levon Helm.

It's always great to see you here Joan! In general The Band always seemed to attract more male fans......hmmmmm.

I was very young when "A Hard Day's Night" and "Help" came out and yet I was still there at the movie Theatre. In our hood the boyzzz would pretend to be in a band as The Beatles and we'd pretend to be a girl group from Motown. So music was in my blood at a very early age.....and......sports too.

Entered at Thu Sep 22 16:10:21 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

SET LIST August 1963:

Roll Over Beethoven

Thank You Girl

Chains

From Me To You

A Taste of Honey

I Saw Her Standing There

Baby It's You

Boys

She Love You

Twist 'n' Shout

Nick Churchill's book has the poster. Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas were the main support. I recall The Dakotas as brilliant (The Cruel Sea) and Billy J. Kramer as dire. We also got Tommy Quickly, The Lanas, The Sons of The Piltdown Men, Tommy Wallis and Beryl, Gary & Lee and a compere, Billy Baxter.

The two feeble male singers were probably there because Brian Epstein fancied them. Neither were any good. In the November show, they had Sounds Incorporated, who were good.

Entered at Thu Sep 22 16:00:13 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

To Nick Churchill's trusty book. The Bournemouth show was major pressure for The Beatles because of the American film crews trying to capture Beatlemania that night. The set was :

I saw Her Standing There

From Me To You

All My Loving

You Really Got A Hold On Me

Roll Over Beethoven

Boys

Till There Was You

She Loves You

Money

Twist 'n' Shout

Entered at Thu Sep 22 15:57:01 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: "You Want It Darker"

Another brilliant song from Leonard Cohen on his 82nd birthday, "You Want It Darker" is haunting and foreboding.

Entered at Thu Sep 22 15:52:10 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Looking at the shots of the girls in both the 8 days a week documentary and the various You Tube it seems pretty evident that they simply have no control over their screaming. It's just a rush of adrenaline fed emotion that charges through them and simply has to be discharged. Also I'm pretty sure the charge convinces each of them that they have a special individual connection with their favourite Beatle. It really is incredible to see.

Entered at Thu Sep 22 15:48:07 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: Intimacy

I haven't seen the film. I have watched on tape and dvd the available concert films of the Beatles. What I like most is the sheer starkness of the stage and the 4 working together with voice and instrument in a (usually) tight area to make that music. It is naked and real with no embellishments. Its what I love about the small stage at Herman's in Victoria or Hugh's Room in Toronto. You can call me crazy but when I watch them on stage, despite the craziness all around them in the audience, it feels almost intimate.

Entered at Thu Sep 22 15:46:33 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

They did 'You Really Got a Hold on Me' ?

:-0)

Entered at Thu Sep 22 15:38:01 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Thu Sep 22 15:35:57 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Doubly frustrating.

I'm never sure whether it's simply getting old[er] but it's like the term 'receptivity' or what it represents is fast disappearing. Years ago I could tell my kids and their mates anything and they'd listen intently and absorb what I was telling them. today I literally cannot tell my grandkids anything. they already know [as in think they know] every fucking thing there is to know.

It wouldn't surprise me if the folks in charge of the Bournemouth cinema have had your little tale relayed to them Pete yet have elected to ignore it because HellfuckingRaiser 24 has just been released.

The place we watched it last night - the Waterloo Plaza- is what's termed a Community Cinema. All the staff work as volunteers. It was full and the atmosphere was fantastic. The male usher was a hoot - briefly explaining aspects to all there and stressing about the need to stay at the end because of the Shea Stadium footage.

it's the first time we've been there but it was such a pleasurable evening we'll definitely go there again next time we want to see a film. It beats the corporate shite by a country mile and clearly from the evidence of the huge crowd attending knows what's what.

Entered at Thu Sep 22 15:30:51 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Beatles in Bournemouth Two

Just found this footage. There were a lot of film crews there for News programmes and it has been cut together. This is November 1963 at the Winter Gardens (where I worked on lights in the late 60s). This was a few months after The Gaumont, when they had played twice a night for six days. I queued all night for tickets for the November show. It's a great memory. Mainly girls in front of us … we were about as far forward as any boys. Not anything untoward, as the police were standing there all night too, but it was just great to be sitting chatting to girls at 3 a.m.. We got in to buy tickets at about 9 the next morning. I still have mine. 12 shillings and sixpence, or 62.5 pence. November 16th. 8.30 pm. I was in seat F 12 so on the stage left side, sixth row back … only girls in front of us. I'v been examining the footage and I think around 1.12 or 1.13 I might even be the boy further back. There are a lot of song fragments clipped together.

This is allegedly the Beatles concert where the screams were put onto So You Wanna Be A Rock & Roll Star by The Byrds. McGuinn claims it was from The Byrds at Bournemouth Winter Gardens, but friends assure me that they only had 20% full, and they went down like a lead balloon rather than a Led Zeppelin.

Entered at Thu Sep 22 15:12:28 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

The Odeon, Bournemouth is an example of how no one knows enough to run anything nowadays. As The Gaumont, it hosted The Beatles for a full week in 1963. They stayed next door at The Palace Court, which is where With The Beatles cover photo was done. It's documented which songs they wrote while virtual prisoners in The Palace Court. There's a whole book on "The Beatles and Bournemouth" by Nick Churchill, and I have a copy.

The Hotel was later a Stakis, a Hilton and is now a Premier Inn. I only ate there once when we were filming in Bournemouth and put the cast there circa 1987. We all got food poisoning.

But anyway, if the Odeon knew half of how to run a cinema, they'd have the film on all week and get the local TV and radio on The Beatles connection. I saw the show. I could be engaged to introduce it for very little … a free ice cream would do it.

Entered at Thu Sep 22 14:57:41 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Yet maybe next week might offer something up. I know there's a few places up here which are featuring the film next week. I think I'll have to find a pretext to go again. Fingers crossed for you mate.

:-0)

Entered at Thu Sep 22 14:32:56 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Nearest is Southampton, which we can't do because we're at the theatre already on Saturday and Sunday. Still hoping one of the "Arts cinemas" will pick it up here. Cineworld and ABC/Odeon are ignoring it.

Entered at Thu Sep 22 14:01:28 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Hopefully you can find somewhere pretty local to see it as i know you more than anyone would melt at seeing the Shea Stadium footage in particular.

Failing that I read this morning that it is out on DVD in November but at this juncture not including Shea Stadium.

Not certain but I think the Babys in Black bonus track on the Hollywood Bowl is the the one from Shea Stadium.

Talking of the 'greatest', one thing that struck my daughter was how well the documentary conveyed the ridiculous intensity of the group's output. I think in those initial touring years it was 6 albums in 2.5 years plus twelve separate singles in the same period. All were amazing quality and each was a musical progression on the previous and each tended to extend popular music boundaries. All bar the Love me Do single charted at number one.

It really was preposterous. Yet it happened. Somehow.

Entered at Thu Sep 22 13:33:46 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

I only have the CD of Eight Days A Week, but the bonus tracks of You Can't Do That and Baby's in Black are especially enjoyable.

There is no competition. The Beatles were the greatest band of all.

Entered at Thu Sep 22 13:22:52 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Absolutely thrilled you saw it Lisa.

Everyone I know who's seen it has been equally blown away. I just pray the Shea Stadium dispute is resolved quickly so everyone can witness their finest half hour on film - though I won't hold my breath.

Yet the fact is everyone who holds pop music dear and close to their hearts surely has to see the footage of this concert to know what the fuss is about.

"Essential" is a term that carries a huge and impossibly weighty message but in the context of popular music the footage of this concert surely does rank in such a category.

To see John and Paul sharing the mike for 'Baby's in Black' - a song which ironically for whatever weird reason I've personally confined to the cutting room floor these past 50 years - suddenly now ranks as my favourite piece of music footage.

As Paul does his upper octave counter harmony to John's lower melody in that bastardized middle eight I swear my heart comes right up into my throat. I could cheerfully pass over into the next life at that moment. In terms of representing the unique beauty popular music can bring to life's table it has to be a defining moment. For the moment at least I can't imagine anything else coming close to it?

Al Edge - simply in awe.

:-0)

Entered at Thu Sep 22 03:44:39 CEST 2016 from (74.75.157.7)

Far East Man

Subject: All Things Must Pass

Woke up this morning feeling like a genius as usual. I'm really into that whole Delaney & Bonnie, Derek & The Dominoes, All Things Must Pass saga. I was shocked, dumbfounded at the least to discover that it was Eric Clapton playing the lead on I'd Have You Anytime on ATMP. It's the opening track, credited to Dylan/Harrison, written during George's Thanksgiving visit with Dylan 1968, Woodstock, NY. I've never heard Clapton play like that before, although I know he can play just about anything. I thought I would share that with you folks. It's an ever changing world in which we live in.

Entered at Wed Sep 21 22:13:43 CEST 2016 from (70.68.113.53)

Lisa

Dolly Parton played here a couple nights ago, a terrific concert according to the review, including The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down as part of a "protest" set commenting on the current state of politics (!)

Al, I saw 8 Days A Week (shown on local specialty channels here, so no Shea Stadium concert unfortunately) and was just blown away at how fresh and dynamic and powerful they sounded together - God, they were just so good! The whole doc was just such a trip down Memory Lane. At one point about half an hour in there was a close-up of John's face, and he looked up into the camera with that "John" expression, and I swear my heart lurched the same way it did when I was 14.

Entered at Wed Sep 21 19:33:29 CEST 2016 from (96.239.25.33)

J o an

It is really nice to hear from you.

Entered at Wed Sep 21 13:56:00 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Wed Sep 21 13:50:37 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

:-0)

Cheers for that Jeff. Loved the end bit 'hey dad that fella's got your name tattooed on his arm"" Ha ha.

:-0)

Entered at Wed Sep 21 04:02:38 CEST 2016 from (173.3.48.114)

Jeff A

NY Times review of Springsteen's memoir.

Entered at Tue Sep 20 23:13:05 CEST 2016 from (174.88.219.248)

Mike Nomad

Entered at Tue Sep 20 21:44:21 CEST 2016 from (24.114.55.100)

Bill M

BEG: Nice to see you here again. I didn't even hear about a Weber doc. I saw them in Aug '15 at the Ex where they were part of a TLW tribute (as were Terry Danko and Paul James). As for shows in October, don't forget the. Eugene Smith and the Warm-Up Band reunion at Hugh's on the 9th.

Entered at Tue Sep 20 16:51:22 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: Weber Brothers

The Weber Brothers will be playing at 3 locales in Toronto in October and November. Check out their website for locations and dates.

Entered at Tue Sep 20 16:39:33 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: BEG

Glad you have returned. Can you please send me 'the photos' from Indigo if you still have them? Thank you. I assume RR may turn up in Toronto again for 'Testimony' support. If I'm in TO, I'll try to turn up again.

Entered at Tue Sep 20 16:25:11 CEST 2016 from (174.89.95.25)

brown eyed girl

Hello everyone. Just passing by from time to time.

Hi Edgy. I saw the Beatles doc yesterday and really enjoyed myself. When I saw people leaving before the Shea Stadium concert I wanted to yell out..."Baby please don't go".....but.....I did remember seeing the rooftop performance back in.....? At the time their performance inside performing "Let It Be" was also memorable. My only disappointment was not seeing them perform "Hey Jude" and "Revolution" as it was my first 45.

Thanks to those who alerted us to Springsteen's interview as I missed it but found it here on youtube.

Hi Lisa. Glad that you're still posting. I did find info awhile ago about Robbie's talk in Vancouver but forgot to post, so glad that you did anyway. Hope you'll see him finally.

Jan H...Sure glad that you're son is ok as I did think about him as I remembered he lives in Chelsea. Just before September 9/11 I was on top of World Trade Centre in July. I still have the photo. Two months later it could have been fatal for me....Sometimes you just want to be in the right place at the right time.

Did anyone see doc on the Weber Brothers at the Carlton Cinema? I was so disappointed that I missed that one as I've seen many films this year....also helped dealing with the oppressive heat and humidity this summer.

Entered at Tue Sep 20 15:50:56 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Cheers for that mate!

Entered at Tue Sep 20 15:05:01 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

… and you have "No idling" signs too. Still, it'll just have to cruise slowly round the block.

Entered at Tue Sep 20 14:01:48 CEST 2016 from (173.3.48.114)

Jeff A.

Entered at Tue Sep 20 09:13:58 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Tue Sep 20 05:28:18 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: Chelsea Hotel #2

We've walked by and gone in once or twice over the past 10 years. Saw the hotel as it was being renovated and went inside when there was nothing but sheets on the wall and scraped paint. Haven't been back since. Its time.

Entered at Tue Sep 20 04:43:52 CEST 2016 from (173.3.48.114)

Jeff A.

In general, I'm just thinking that as Bruce is aging & coming to terms with & exposes his life , he really wants to be loved and really, in his mind, understood by his fans too. An illustration of how he seems to have this huge need, or maybe some people might be see it just the opposite way, some might see it as a huge commitment to his fans, is the bodysurfing thing. I don't get it. Springsteen bodysurfing over his audience at his shows, well, it's downright dangerous, and i also just don't see the point. Theres' gotta be alot of ways to look at it, but it sure seems as though he is seeking some deep connection, some deep relationship. It's certainly a symbol of him putting himself totally in the crowds hands, giving up all control.(There must be other ways to interpret it too)..Of course, if he was to fall, or anything at all happen, security would be right there. It's possible he has security planted in the audience in the closest seats. If he doesn't, he's cretainly off his rocker to be doing that bodysurfing thing. In general, security or not, it's just not a bright idea.

Entered at Tue Sep 20 04:19:33 CEST 2016 from (173.3.48.114)

Jeff A.

The hotel is just 1 block down 23rd street.

Entered at Tue Sep 20 04:08:24 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: Chelsea Hotel

How close was this to the Chelsea Hotel? Its not mentioned in any news story?

Entered at Tue Sep 20 00:46:58 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Bob - thrilled you got to see it. I'm sure the Shea Stadium concert will eventually be available. As you rightly say on the rooftop on 'Don't let me Down' especially the group unleash a brand of raw rock majesty that I have to say I've never fully appreciated before. Yet it comes across so powerfully and so potently in the film I don't understand why I've never tapped into it before. It's delivered in such a deliberate and effortless slow release manner, almost venomous. That good it really does take the breath away.

:-0)

Entered at Tue Sep 20 00:29:07 CEST 2016 from (24.44.153.18)

Bob F

A nice escape from this crazy world we live in is Miley Cyrus doing Dylan's 'Baby I'm In The Mood For You' on Fallon. This isn't the first time she's done a great job on a Dylan song.

Entered at Mon Sep 19 23:16:53 CEST 2016 from (24.108.163.242)

JT

Subject: Too close but thank goodness

Thanks, Jan, for letting us know and confirming his safety. Strange times we live in.

Entered at Mon Sep 19 21:58:58 CEST 2016 from (84.215.177.75)

jh

Entered at Mon Sep 19 20:17:59 CEST 2016 from (24.44.153.18)

Bob F

Jeff, I think Bruce recognizes his father probably suffered from the same type of depression he deals with. However back then you suffered without the right medicine and with no one to discuss depression with. It probably would explain a lot of his father's behavior. Just finished the new Brian Wilson memoir. His father was horrible mentally and physically to all of his children, Yet, Brian finds some good points about his father to write about and grieved for him just the same when he died.

Entered at Mon Sep 19 18:51:07 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Subject: 8 Days a Week [again]

Not wishing to trivialise the events in NYC which as Pete and Jeff have relayed are extremely troubling in so many ways, but I am compelled again to wax on about The Beatles.

Jed - everything you say - absolutely mate.

Anyroad, the link is to a piece from a guy who clearly 'gets' it. As it is, there has been virtually universal acclaim for this documentary. And fair dinkum to all those journos who've been so fulsome in their praise of it. However, this guy seems to grasp more intuitively than any I've read the full significance of what compelled Ron Howard to make his film.

As Greil Marcus once said The Beatles were the chair that everyone else sat on and this guy clearly seems to endorse that perception.

:-0)

Entered at Mon Sep 19 17:53:13 CEST 2016 from (173.3.48.114)

Jeff A.

Subject: "First American Fried Chicken" Bomber

"First American Fried Chicken" is the name of the restaurant the bomber's parents have owned for ten years...
Some people have been quoted as saying the fucker is very friendly & very Americanized.

In any event, it seems the guy was comparatively ineffective. 29 injuries is no joke, but it's just a matter of fate. A few of the bombs were detected only because people rummaging through suitcases & knapsacks left on the street found the bombs & called the cops.

Entered at Mon Sep 19 17:50:23 CEST 2016 from (86.128.178.67)

Dunc

Subject: Lesley Duncan

I've been looking at British backing singers for a couple of weeks and came across Lesley Duncan who I didn't know about. She also was a singer/songwriter in her own right. She wrote Love Song which Elton John and many others recorded. See link. I didn't know about her, but many of her recordings are good.

She left the music business and lived a full life on Mull after a long illness, but sadly died in 2010.

Did Roger, Peter or Al see Lesley Duncan or collect any of her albums? Interested. Thanks

Entered at Mon Sep 19 14:49:04 CEST 2016 from (173.3.48.114)

Jeff A.

Helluva feeling, & like you, we're surrounded. The amount of Muslims here isa staggering, & honestly, wrong. Immigration used to be strict here.. It hasn't been strict for about thirty years.. No real vetting, which was once real strong... for everyone from everywhere..Obviously, one of the fears the administrations have is people taking to the streets & beating the fuck out of Muslims.. The degree of which that would happen here anymore is kind of questionable, but you never know. It's not the NYC of even 20 years ago, but, flashbacks can be powerful.

Entered at Mon Sep 19 14:01:39 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Mon Sep 19 13:34:38 CEST 2016 from (173.3.48.114)

Jeff A.

It appears that we are in the beginning stage of a low level but reasonably concerted terrorist effort right now. Nothing sophisticated, but a lot of home made pressure cooker bombs have either detonated or been found before they could detonate. One on w23rd st, 6 & 7th ave, blew up, another was discovered & reported by a woman in time, disabled by a robot. 5 were found in Elizabeth, new Jersey, one was discovered by two guys going through garbage cans, then the others found. All near a major train hub for commuters. Another homemade pressure cooker bomb was found this morning at the Union Sq train station in NYC..Last night, 10ish, 5 foreign born men were stopped in a car on the Belt Parkway, in Brooklyn. Pulled over by FBI & NYPD. A friend of mine drove by the scene on his way home, saw the scene, stuck in traffic..
In Minnesota, a Somali born Muslim asked people in a mall if they were Muslim. He stabbed nine people before being killed by a off duty cop.
The people & main person ( already named) of interest, are Muslim.

Entered at Mon Sep 19 13:28:38 CEST 2016 from (114.75.205.122)

Wallsend

Entered at Mon Sep 19 13:15:13 CEST 2016 from (108.30.208.242)

Jed

Lots of new footage,great storytelling,the clarity of the sound,the brilliance of the music,the superb playing(Ringo is a true star),the incredible songs,the massive talent,the warm and beautiful memories-all make for a great great movie.

Entered at Mon Sep 19 12:08:41 CEST 2016 from (41.162.7.114)

NUX

Wallsend: Thank you,took you're advice and have had my hand operated on!

Entered at Mon Sep 19 11:30:53 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Mon Sep 19 10:03:11 CEST 2016 from (86.128.178.67)

Dunc

Subject: Thanks

Back from the island. Beautiful. Some gentle coastal walking today

Thanks, Jeff. There are streets in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and the Glasgow suburbs where house prices have increased greatly, but nothing like what you describe. I think Brooklyn is similar to parts of London. I feel sorry for people who can't afford to live in the area where their roots are.

Thanks Lisa.

Entered at Mon Sep 19 01:40:20 CEST 2016 from (100.14.113.51)

bob w

Al, I hope the link works for you. Enjoy.

Entered at Mon Sep 19 00:41:28 CEST 2016 from (99.229.224.79)

John D

Great interview with Bruce this morning; on "Sunday Morning"; on CBS. He talked about his depression through his sixties. He also said it never affected his work or performance.

Entered at Sun Sep 18 21:55:30 CEST 2016 from (173.3.50.115)

Jeff A.

Of course, there's editing..... Yet... One thing that stood out was that at the beginning of the interview he discussed that all great artists have had at least one person in their life to tell them they are worthless ( which he always said was his old man), and at least one to tell them how great they are. Then towards the end he was saying that he didn't think he did right the way he portrayed his father...That;s still in a way , very conflicted.
There's things that for some are hard to live with, it seems the Boss is just another guy trying to keep on living. And he's reaching an age where time is talking to him...differently than before. Springsteen don't stare Father Time in the eye and tell him a tale or have a conversation with him like Dylan does. I'm not sure what Bruce is doing, but these days he wants to be understood.

No matter what -
You can't help but like the guy..

Entered at Sun Sep 18 18:31:42 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Bruce's CD is out next week. It apparently tracks the autobiography chapter by chapter. The first three tracks are two by The Castiles, one by Steel Mill (his early bands). Otherwise it's pretty much Greatest Hits, but I think there are alternate versions of some.

Entered at Sun Sep 18 18:21:03 CEST 2016 from (173.3.50.115)

Jeff A.

And he talked some abut depression, which i get the feeling he goes into deeply in the book,and feels it is important to discuss it.

And to your delight, he states he'll be doing 4 hour shows as long as he can. This last whole tour, 4 hour shows.

Entered at Sun Sep 18 18:07:27 CEST 2016 from (173.3.50.115)

Jeff A.

Entered at Sun Sep 18 16:37:56 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Don't suppose you know of any internet link Jeff? Sounds right up my street. Was Bruce reflecting on his own memories of it all back then in Asbury?

Entered at Sun Sep 18 16:22:54 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

I don't have it, but I'm generally looking for Moby Grape LPs. They don't turn up much here.

Entered at Sun Sep 18 16:16:11 CEST 2016 from (173.3.50.115)

Jeff A.

Entered at Sun Sep 18 13:45:43 CEST 2016 from (24.114.50.45)

Bill M

Entered at Sun Sep 18 13:19:49 CEST 2016 from (173.3.50.115)

Jeff A.

Last night a bomb blew up in or next to a dumpster on W23 in Manhattan, between 6 & 7th ave, round 8:30. 29 people were injured by shrapnel or glass. And a few hours later robots found a pressure cooker bomb on w23rd street & the robots & cops removed it..

Entered at Sun Sep 18 13:08:12 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Nice one J! - Fughedaboudit brought to vivid life in half a dozen paras!!!

:-0)

Pete - just followed your link and purchased. Cheers for that mate.

:-0)

Entered at Sun Sep 18 13:03:43 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Moby Grape on Toppermost

Article by Dave Stephens linked … very comprehensive. Only last month so you can still comment.

Entered at Sun Sep 18 13:02:28 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Moby Grape

This is the one, Al. It's £8.34 on amazon today (as I said I paid £9.99). It's got everything you'll need!

Entered at Sun Sep 18 12:58:24 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

At last I have Moby Grape's "Wow" framed and on the wall, along with Happy Trails, It's A Beautiful Day, Cheap Thrills and After Bathing At Baxters. All in a row. There's a long story to it.

The original American sleeve has a picture only front cover with text on the back. The UK one moved the text to the front, taking out half the painting. In the 2000s, Sundazed reissued the LP on vinyl and CD, but reverted to the American cover, Apparently they did not have permission to do this, and the artist sued them. They couldn't fight it (these reissues are very short run) so they withdrew it altogether, LP and CD, which is why copies go for high prices. I saw a 1968 UK one (with the undesirable 50% text) for £50 in London two weeks ago. I've been looking for one to frame for years and tracked down an excellent original USA 60s vinyl copy in gatefold sleeve at £27. I held my breath and bought it last week. (I already had a CD).

The CD to get is The Best Of … compilation. It's 2 CDs, has virtually all of the 1st and 2nd albums and more. £9.99.

Entered at Sun Sep 18 12:52:55 CEST 2016 from (173.3.50.115)

Jeff A.

It's "No way" , "Forget about it" spoken quickly & slurred, as we do here.
You're bringing Mary? Cmon, Mary, the one that works at the diner? That Mary? Fughedaboudit.. not for nuthin, Joey's grandmother ain't doing nothing Friday night. She might go with ya.

You're also likely to hear "No fucking way" often here as well..

Yet, "fughedaboubit " has many other uses as well... ..Did you see Billy slug that moron?
Fughedaboudit, I saw summa da fucking guy's teeth fly in different directions.
Did you have a piece of that cake?
Fughedaboudit, I thought i died & went to heaven.
There's more uses, Fughedaboudit is like a Swiss Army knife or one of those screwdrivers that has 4 kinds of heads ( two removable reversible heads in each end of the removable shaft).

Entered at Sun Sep 18 11:34:28 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Lisa - I'm quite sure yours will be the best list of all kiddo!!!

Jeff - to quote Boz - 'What can I say?'

Incidentally I read the Moby Grape article with interest and did a bit of exploring as I remembered the name well from all the hype many years back. In those 'live' links they sound great. Problem is the much heralded debut album costs £66 so it's a no-goer at the moment as promising as it sounds and as much it seems I'll be missing out on some pretty essential music. Also if I buy it I wouldn't be able to keep up the rentals on my Brooklyn pad!!

:-0)

Entered at Sun Sep 18 06:22:50 CEST 2016 from (173.3.50.115)

Jeff A.

Entered at Sun Sep 18 06:20:12 CEST 2016 from (173.3.50.115)

Jeff A.

Subject: Recording Studio Schlepper to Psychologist: Never Say No To A Rock Star

Something tells me this is a good book. See the link. Starting at 17, Glen Berger was Phil Ramones schlepper, became a respected recording engineer, & is now a prominent psychologist. How's that for a career trajectory?

Entered at Sun Sep 18 03:56:56 CEST 2016 from (70.68.113.53)

Lisa

Dunc, I'm really looking forward to Robbie's book, too. And I'm thinking about the Desert Island discs ... I'm not a list maker by nature, and I don't have anywhere near the musical knowledge that most of the regulars here have, which is why I don't comment much. My list would probably be pretty weird.

Entered at Sat Sep 17 21:11:33 CEST 2016 from (173.3.50.115)

Jeff A.

Subject: Moby Grape History... Bad Management & Madness

I'm no authority.

Entered at Sat Sep 17 20:02:36 CEST 2016 from (173.3.50.115)

Jeff A.

The problems are smaller scale but similar everywhere, I have friends in rural Indiana tell me about 250k houses in their area. What the fuck are people supposed to do?

Entered at Sat Sep 17 19:57:03 CEST 2016 from (173.3.50.115)

Jeff A.

It started in the 90s, but the financial assault on the average person here is very real. It might even have started in the 80s, i remember the cost of commercial real estate jumping pretty wildly suddenly in the late 80s..And rents weren't cheap, I paid a grand or more for a one bedroom apartment in a high end building o Ocean & S in the early 90s..

My grandparents sold their first &bought their second home in 42 or 43. They paid 15 or 18k for it. I grew up in it. the neighborhood was called Marine Park, but newer lines have been drawn, & now Marine Park stops at Nostrand Ave. We were west of that, & that neighborhood is now called Madison, or Madison Heights. A friend's family bought 4 doors over in 1969 or 70, paid 38k for a similar sized not as well laid out house on smaller property. My mom sold the house in 96 for 395. It's been sold twice since, the last a few years ago for 1.2 million i believe. Today i think it would be closer to 2 million, maybe more... Now, that's lower inflation than most.. In Sheepshead bay, where i live now, very blah, nondescript 3 story fully attached brick homes with small 1 bedroom walk in apartments on ground level, & two to three small bedroom homes on the second & top floors, might have gone for 20k in the 60s, maybe even the 70s. Today, some go close to 800k

Pacific Park is a devised neighborhood. It is part of the long embattled finally lost Atlantic Yards Public Domain land grab that flattened a large swath of old houses, small old industrial & commercial buildings in downtown Brooklyn. I wouldn't have called it a no man's land by any means, i would have called it a rough neighborhood that had a lot of good & interesting people in it, but it was not a neighborhood a pilgrim should have walked through. The general area, which includes some enormous shopping malls is just south of Fort Greene where Pete's son lives, & north of Prospect heights. West of Park Slope ( which is now 2 or 3 times larger a neighborhood than it once was- real estate agents kept extending the range of the name of the neighborhood). So go to Fort greene. A girl I went ti school with with from kindergarten or first grade, dated briefly in 7th grade, & later, then dated at 52... her mom sold their home in Midwood when we were 16. Bought one of the biggest brownstones in Fort Greene for 30k. Which was pure insanity. A widow with 5 kids, the oldest 16, & no money problems moved her family from the best neighborhood in Brooklyn to one of the absolute deadliest ( at the time). Anyway, though in the past i mentioned here that in 2010 their brownstone was worth about 3 - 4 million, it's now more likely in the 7-8 million range. The neighborhood is one of the most desirable, the house is cavernous, they're opposite the park, & while they have no garage, they have a huge backyard.

Back to Pacific Park - There'a 8 acre park built by the developer that the public will be allowed to use. But the high rises- well, The Vanderbilt has studios or one bedrooms starting at purchase for $885k. Plus maintenance, gawd knows how much.... The building has up to 3 bedroom "homes". Units with terraces & / or private gardening units are available, & there are also levels or areas in the building that have private "farm" plots. Obviously this building is only for the mega rich, & their kids.... But this is how all of Brooklyn has become, the buildings without farm plots on the 22nd floor ( just a # i picked out of the air) are unaffordable.. Rents for two bedroom apartments in Brooklyn might be anywhere from 2k to 10k. In Sheepshead Bay, where i live, now one of the less expensive areas in Brooklyn, you can find walk in shotgun one bedroom apartments in private attached homes for 1300 if you're lucky. 1500 is more like it.You're apartment is wedged between your landlords boiler room & garage. No joke...

In general, you have many young peple paying 1k to 2k for bedrooms in two to four bedroom apartments in many parts of Brooklyn, Greenpoint, Bushwick, Brownsville, Park Slope. Young families, come, many are wealthy, many young families are forced to leave... In general, you also have tons of immigrants from overseas with a lot of money buying homes for big bucks, & in some cases really packing a lot of people into 3 family houses. And then you have a lot of overseas investors ...

And alot of low income immigrants- at 10 an hour jobs... and of course more. How they survive- well, they do gt all kinds of assistance. Every ethnicity does have organizations that help them get everything they can from the governments ( city , state, & fed) , & yes, a lot of these people work as much as they cam

. They actually have a better shot at making it than average working class people born here.

How young people who grew up here make it, i don't know. The real young people that move here,18 - 26, 27, honestly most of em move here with a lot of their parents money. Then there are young people who move here with good degrees, or good jobs, and their own money. Not all are spoiled brats or morons. I'm certain Peter's son falls in that category of an earner with a good job moving here..., ... I've gotten into conversations with young families, young couples with a kid or two, that seemed perfectly normal, , one was a guy from jersey with a wifr from minnesota & a baby boy named Rocco. The guy was a engineer with a small business designing prototypes- they owned a car, more unusual in that northern end of brooklyn, & were worried about how they were going to be able to stay in Brooklyn. And here you had a guy with a good income.

But the amount of moneyed morons moving in, as the average people who grew up here are pushed out by escalating rents while their income stagnates or their jobs leave & can't be replaced is staggering. the situation of esacalation is so bad that people who were the gentrifiers, paid higher residential & busineess rents & pushed people out in the 90s & 2000s, are crying like little girls & leaving. It's become an issue for everyone except the ultra wealthy.

People always moved to NYC from other places. And were welcome, cause mostly they were in the same boat as us, and if they could adapt to NYC they deserved a medal, they earned the right to live here.. What has happened in the last few decades is very different.

Brooklyn ain't Brooklyn no more. All that's really left of Brooklyn are the Brooklynites between 45 & up, & the businesses thy may own. That's not an exaggeration. It's a fact. Other than that, Brooklyn is just a memory.

Entered at Sat Sep 17 16:59:12 CEST 2016 from (86.31.229.95)

Roger

Subject: Eight Days A Week

Al - we're going to see the film in Cornwall next week. We've got a place in Perranporth. One of the pubs - the Tywharnhayle, in the middle of the village, has a fantastic Beatles connection. When they were touring the country filming Magical Mystery Tour in 1967 they ended up at The Atlantic Hotel in Newquay for three days. Spencer Davis was holidaying with his family in Perranporth just to the south of Newquay and Paul, Ringo and Neil Aspinall drove over for a drink one evening with Spencer D. They walked in to the Tywarnhayle pub and Paul instantly sat down at the piano and began a pub session of old favourites beginning with I do Like To Be Beside The Seaside. They stayed till the early hours. I was in the pub last year which had recently had a facelift and I mentioned the story to the woman who served me - she had no idea about the event! There should be a blue plaque.

See you at Stratford tonight Peter...

Entered at Sat Sep 17 15:02:39 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: 'Here In The Western World'

While I lived in Miami (1977-79); and did research during a fellowship, I drove my son to school there every morning on my way to work.. And what was the tape in the car every day? Best of Steely Dan including the then not yet on any album 'Here In The Western World'. What a memory!

Entered at Sat Sep 17 11:33:43 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Dunc - it's on in only two cinemas in our area. I can't believe that.

We've all booked again for Monday. All the family is going. It's THAT amazing. Really. But I can't believe you fellas might not get to see the Shea Stadium concert. I know bob Fino was desperate to see it. Shocking.

Entered at Sat Sep 17 11:23:13 CEST 2016 from (86.128.178.67)

Dunc

Subject: Thanks

Great stuff, Jeff. What came out in the documentary is how can ordinary Joes and Janes attain a home in Brooklyn?

I can't find a showing of the film in my area either, Al.

Enjoyed the Frankie Vaughan clip. I must have been very young, but I could sing along with it...engrained in my subconscious.

Thanks Bassmanlee. Must have taken a while.

Thanks Lisa. I'm looking forward to the book. Where's your desert island discs? It's a British institution.

And believe it or not, I'm away to spend the day on a small island. No rain!!! Steely Dan live is playing in the background.

Entered at Sat Sep 17 10:41:21 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Hey Jeff - I'm glad I clicked the link. I always thought it meant "fucked about it" in the sense of "I couldn't give a rat's arse about it". I get it now!!!

:-0)

On the Brooklyn thing, coming from a place which like a few other places has always punched well above its weight creatively I've always paid attention to the origins of talented folks in every aspect of the arts/music/writing/culture etc.

It's always staggered me the proportion of world renowned creative talent that comes from New York and clearly Brooklyn is the real creative driving force behind that.

There was a programme on a few years back concerning musical theatre and basically nearly all the frigging musicals that we all know so well have their origins in one little corner of the planet. And mainly from Jewish origins!

Unbelievable. Or maybe not when you reflect a bit deeper.

:-0)

Entered at Sat Sep 17 03:01:47 CEST 2016 from (67.84.78.11)

Jeff A.

Subject: More Lee

Alone Again Naturally

Entered at Sat Sep 17 02:30:20 CEST 2016 from (67.84.78.11)

Jeff A.

Subject: Lee's approach

Lee - here's one for you. Solitary Man.

Entered at Sat Sep 17 02:18:57 CEST 2016 from (67.84.78.11)

Jeff A.

Entered at Sat Sep 17 02:17:39 CEST 2016 from (67.84.78.11)

Jeff A.

Pete, Dunc, you may find this interesting. Fuhgedaboudit has been added to the Oxford-English dictionary.

Personally, I'd prefer it wasn't, & Brooklyn was never invaded by too many morons, but, it is what it is.

Entered at Sat Sep 17 02:15:59 CEST 2016 from (100.34.225.137)

bassmanlee

Subject: Desert Island List

With tongue firmly in cheek...wouldn't this really be the mental radio?

1. Rescue Me (Ms. Franklin!)

2. Sending Out An SOS (The Police) "Just a castaway..."

3. One Is The Loneliest Number (Harry Nilson, 3 Dog Night if you prefer)

4. All By Myself (Eric Carmen)A definite earworm.

5. Help! (The Beatles)

6. Hold On I'm Coming (Sam and Dave)

7. Last Man On Earth (Loudon Wainwright III) (Great song, see link.)

8. When the World Is Running Down...(The Police, again)

Sorry, took a while to get eight. I'm sure there are more!

On the serious side, thanks Peter for the Ronnie Drew and Eleanor Shanley link. Stunning, and totally under my radar at the time. Further investigation required. If I could find a voice like hers I could drop an octave and maybe quit the day job!

Entered at Sat Sep 17 01:51:30 CEST 2016 from (70.68.113.53)

Lisa

Entered at Sat Sep 17 01:30:57 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Actually Pete this one I've linked from The Big Issue, albeit widening the analysis beyond the theme of the early touring to take in the global impact, is as intuitive as any of hundreds of articles on Howard's project and probably comes as close as anything to nailing what the entire thing is all about.

:-0)

Entered at Sat Sep 17 00:50:11 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Subject: More on the unprecedented global cultural phenomenon of 50 years or so ago

:-0)

Pete, for your info here’s the Rotten Tomatoes brief review which goes on to list a plethora of other reviews https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_beatles_eight_days_a_week_the_touring_years/

I’ve also linked in the box above what I think is as concise and informative piece on the documentary as any I’ve read. What is clear from all the pre and post reviews is the fact that Ron Howard and Giles Martin had kept the Shea Stadium remastering/film a complete secret throughout all the pre-premiere promotions.

As for the Southampton showing - it will have been the same one as we attended at the Liverpool Odeon.

It was networked to coincide with the London Leicester Square Premiere - 6-45 pm UK start time approx - attended by Paul and Ringo and all the other stars. It provided there was a worldwide 'live' link to Leicester Square so that all the interviews with Paul and Ringo and each of the other star attendees including Ron Howard could be seen simultaneously across the globe. Including all the pre-match interviews it all lasted about 4 hours. I loved it - though the bladder was completely pissed off with it all so I did miss a few bits!!

I'm not sure about screenings to come and whether they'll do an edited version of the better interviews - including a great one with Dr Kitty Oliver an American historian who had evidently attended the concert in Jacksonville Gator Bowl which on the Beatles insistence was it seems the first non-segregated concert of its type in the Deep South.

It seems a few hours prior to the main event in London and worldwide, Ron Howard had insisted upon an earlier special showing to be screened at the FACT cinema in Liverpool which evidently included an additional segment of filmed interviews with loads of the Beatles early local contempories.

Got to admit because I hadn’t read much about it beforehand I didn't quite know what was going on. I thought all the interviews at the start were recorded but then when I asked one of the staff they confirmed it was a live feed going worldwide which really did make it seem special. Also when they made the announcement just prior to the start of the documentary that the Shea stadium concert would follow after the credits I was convinced they'd got it mixed up and it was the Hollywood Bowl concert remaster like the CD issue last week. When it sank in that it was Shea Stadium it completely blew me away. Unbelievable that something so monumental in Western popular culture could be retrieved from the ashes of time and presented in such a wonderful manner, so pristine and perfect.

I'll definitely be going again when it comes on whatever the outcome but pray to god they manage to fend off the court action so I can watch that concert again without my mouth quite so agape.

Entered at Sat Sep 17 00:05:22 CEST 2016 from (24.224.128.101)

joe j

Not fair Peter. Dylan was so very young.

Entered at Fri Sep 16 23:48:20 CEST 2016 from (24.108.163.242)

JT

Subject: Testimony in the cathedral

Christ Church Cathedral is a beautiful church on Burrard St in the heart of Vancouver BC. I wonder if RR is doing a tour of his book across Canada. Last time I saw him, he was in Toronto at an Indigo with The Band box set as the centre of interest.

Entered at Fri Sep 16 22:24:02 CEST 2016 from (70.68.113.53)

Lisa

This notice appeared in this morning's Vancouver Sun:

The Band's Robbie Robertson will recount his life with the legendary group and the artists he has worked with on Dec. 6, the 40th anniversary of The Last Waltz.

Robertson will be at Christ Church Cathedral, with each ticket including a signed copy of Robertson's book Testimony. Tickets are available at $45 through tickets.theatrewire.com.

Entered at Fri Sep 16 20:11:10 CEST 2016 from (67.84.78.11)

Jeff A.

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Peter V

Entered at Fri Sep 16 16:41:24 CEST 2016 from (96.245.114.250)

bassmanlee

Subject: Newport Folk on NPR - with Band connection!

Happened across this page, maybe from an earlier post here, and have been enjoying some of the performances, entire sets from the Newport Folk Festival from 2014-2016. (The name "Folk Festival" might be debated. Pete Seger, while referenced, would not be amused.) Full sets include Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, who are quite good, and segue into The Shape I'm In around 55:50, Elvis Costello, The Violent Femmes, Mavis Staples, Jeff Tweedy, Conner Oberst, Dawes, and a bunch of other people I was not familiar with. Worth checking out. Hope the link above works as this collection is hard to get to from the Alls Songs Considered website. Enjoy.

Entered at Fri Sep 16 16:40:05 CEST 2016 from (67.84.78.11)

Jeff A.

There's the writers, and that could take ages, then there's the players.

Pick your favorite Vanilla Fudge song- Carmine Appice is a Brooklyn boy. By the way, he's touring with Cactus again right now- the American Led Zeppelin.

Only The Good Die Young- Drummer Liberty Devito, a Brooklyn boy, came back too, changed it from a reggae song to what it is. Billy Joel presented it as a reggae song.

Entered at Fri Sep 16 13:47:49 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Bugger! It's not coming up on the Poole or Bournemouth listings at all. It was on in Southampton last night, but apparently as a single showing. It says "Now finished." We're in Stratford tomorrow, so no chance till Sunday anyway … we're imminently expecting a 3 year old and a 5 year old for the afternoon.

Entered at Fri Sep 16 13:42:06 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Restless Farewell & The Parting Glass

When we were talking about his post on The Dubliners, Andrew sent me this fabulous link to Ronnie Drew and Eleanor Shanley's combined version of Restless Farewell and The Parting Glass. It removes forever the argument of which you prefer, the traditional song or Dylan's new lyrics.

If you like this one, check out their take on Boots of Spanish Leather.

Entered at Fri Sep 16 13:42:18 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

The Shea stadium gig is a surprise bonus Ron Howard has thrown in for cinema goers only. It seems it was kept under wraps until just prior to the documentary starting when they advised everyone that at the end there'd be this gig shown only to cinema goers. It's superior to the Hollywood Bowl remaster which we got last week

The reason why I'm advocating going to see it asap is it seems the estate of the guy who organised the Shea Stadium concert [forget his name] has sued Ron Howard and the film makers and is seeking an injunction to stop the film of the concert - remastered by George Martin's son just like the Hollywood Bowl live album only considerably improved on that one - from being screened. The advice seems to be it could be stopped any time soon. Hence the giddyup.

:-0)

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Peter V

He starred in "Let's Make love" in 1960 with Marilyn Monroe, and legend has it that as a faithful husband, he declined her advances.

Entered at Fri Sep 16 11:26:13 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Frankie Prawn!

Remember that one P?

Just had a listen to Tower of Strength for first time in 50 years. Actually very impressive singing as you say Pete. As it happens I was listening to Tom Jones on the radio the other day and thinking exactly the same thing. The effortless power and raw beauty of their vocals resonates with me now in a way it never used to do.

Dunc - I loved Chic Murray's humour. "I was walking down Sauchiehall Street the other day. I knew I was walking as I was putting one foot in front of the other" Still cracks me up.

:-0)

Entered at Fri Sep 16 11:12:31 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

I'll get round to mine Dunc. Promise. I don't think I can do a 'specifically grouped' 8 with much conviction though - at least not until I've really thought through my all time 'definitive' 8 - if there can be such a thing.

I know as Rags has said it's a bit of fun - which it is - but with this type of thing just like with a critique of The Band or Brucie, my default will always channel me away from the frivolous approach I normally adopt to so many internet stuff.

Maybe I can supplement my proper 8 with a Liverpool 8 thing with Frankie Vaughn's Tower of Strength to house them [joke btw - I used to hate that song!!!]!

Yourself Dunc - and for that matter Pete and Bob F - and definitely John D and maybe a few other fab four fans on here - have just got to go to the cinema to see 8 Days a week on the big screen.

It is simply the finest few hours you'll ever spend but the 'must see' compulsion is all about when the thing finishes because it's followed by the entire Shea Stadium gig being shown following the end credits which is only for cinema viewing and won't be on the official DVD.

It is utterly stupendous. It kicks of with Twist and Shout and then it's I Feel Fine, Dizzy Miss Lizzy, Ticket To Ride, Act Naturally, Hard Days Night, Can't Buy Me Love, Help, Baby's in Black, I'm Down.

It was mesmerising. Every song was perfection. Not one tiny morsel of disappointment with any note, any vocal and harmony. It was unbelievable. And the most beautiful thing of all was the 'four musketeer togetherness' which had been a huge feature of the documentary itself and which finally revealed itself in all its harmonic glory in that Shea Stadium gig.

Don't delay. Just fucking go and see it this weekend before a current legal action forces them to remove it from the cinema showing.

And thanks for reminding me of Pete's books again Dunc. I'm a dead loss when it comes to reading books these days but I've simply got to get my 'reading' act together.

Mister Bugler - ha ha - Bugler's Babes - I'd forgotten about that - the failed SantaMaria re-creation of the Madrid -Eintracht manouevre is 100% accurate. I still wince as I recall it now!!!

:-0)

Entered at Fri Sep 16 11:00:22 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

One you missed, Jeff. She was in my mind because I found two LPs by her just yesterday. "Composes, Produces & Sings" from 1968, plus "Let It Be Written, Let It Be Sung" from 1973. The earlier is the more expensive one, but the latter has her hits … And Then He Kissed Me, Be My Baby, Chapel of Love, I Can Hear Music, River deep Mountain High, Wait Till My Bobby Gets Home, Today I Met The Boy I'm Gonna Marry.

Looks like Brooklyn girls were pretty good at writing songs for Harlem girls.

Entered at Fri Sep 16 10:53:48 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Fri Sep 16 10:48:19 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Tower of Strength

Link to Frankie Vaughan singing Tower of Strength. He covered the Gene McDaniels US recording of this early Bacharach & David song, and got a #1 UK hit. Frankie was something of a covers specialist , who invariably outsold the original. There's a reason for that. Listen to the Gene McDaniels version side by side, and Frankie tops it.

In our last major English Teaching series, we used popular songs for some lessons. They were re-recorded, usually as faithful covers … though with "Stay" we mashed up the Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs with the Four Seasons and Jackson Browne approaches. Anyway, the studio used the Bootleg Beatles and Elvis impersonators etc. The producer said covering Frankie on "Tower of Strength" was the hardest one he'd ever done, because none of his usual singers had the pipes and range for it.

Dunc, this might just be the song that inspired the fictional "Pillar of Salt" in the novel!

Entered at Fri Sep 16 10:20:12 CEST 2016 from (86.128.178.67)

Dunc

Subject: Various

Thanks. Peter. Look how music in Britain changed over the years. I've said it before - Peter's novels are a good read from the last years of variety, to families having someone going to university for the first time to the explosion of bands. I've linked the graet Chic Murray telling 'The Long Nose' story, one of the great Variety sketches. I also remember Frankie Vaughn, a huge star, coming to Glasgow to get the teenage gangs to give up their weapons.

Jeff. Thanks. Know the popuar bands' songs, but there's quite a few songs that I'll have to check out.

Al, glad you enjoyed it. Mr Bugler must be one of the great Evertonians. Enjoying your book. I bought my three year old grandson his first St Mirren strip and said. 'Welcome to a lifetime of misery, son.'

Entered at Fri Sep 16 05:50:33 CEST 2016 from (67.84.78.143)

Jeff A.

Dunc, because you're such a sweet guy, here's eight songs with strong Brooklyn connections of some sort that immediately come to mind..

Barbara Streisamd ( Brooklyn goil) I gotta think of barbara if i'm thinking about Broolyn music... Evergreen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7AIBlzCluc
The Way We Were https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNEcQS4tXgQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUBh0CRfj9E
People https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPlQ6EtArSc
Neil Diamond. Cracklin Rosie ( if you ask me, his song Brooklyn Roads is pure dreck. For oen thing, while a treet si a road, we call everything a street or ave. There are some avenues lnames Road, like Beverly Road, but no one says road in Brooklyn unless they are goign to Beverly Rd, or some other rare street or avenue named Road.

The Bee Gees. Saturday Night Fever. the song & movie are inseparable from Brooklyn. I grew up in a different neighborhood, we had some cuigines, and some people liked disco, but people my age were just a few years too young to be real hippies. But we were the patched dungaree, long hair, flannel shirt acid taking crowd. Still, Saturday Night Fever was just a few neighborhoods over. We could walk there. By the time the flick came out, i was in college.

Donna Summer & Brooklyn Dreams: Heaven Knows.
Duet with Joe Bean Esposito from Brooklyn Dreams . Esposito had two hits he wrote in the Karate Kid, and also a hit he wrote with Laura Branigan. These days he is the lead singer in the Brooklyn bridge but lives in vegas for decades now.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTaydm8wGR0
live, with Brooklyn Dreams, the guy playing rhythm guitar was her husband, Bruce Sudano https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OMvWWPX25c&list=RD-OMvWWPX25c

This Magic Moment- written by Brooklyn boys Doc Pomus & Mort schuman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ul041CSNJto

Teenager In Love. By Dion, but it was written by Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman, from Brooklyn.

Tighter & Tighter: Alive & Kickin. Here's a version i caught last fall. Bruce Sudano, who left Alive & Kickin to form Brooklyn Dreams, did this at a show i was at, brought up Pepe Cardonas, who still has Alive & Lickin goin. This was written by tommy James, he produced it for the, huge hit....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDm7s1WLveI

Jive Five: My True Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glOMdK8gfbo

The Lion Sleeps Tonight: The Tokens https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQlByoPdG6c

Carole King, from my neighborhood : You've Got A Friend
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlDI4g5ab1g

Shannon , Henry Gross , also from my neighborhood
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kSrV_CubiQ
One More Tomorrow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXttayZX60Y
The album was Plug Me In, he had a few, i got em somewhere still

Brother Louie , Stories. A few members were from Brooklyn, including Kenny Aaronson, from my neighborhood. Kenny is all over the place still, just finshed a tour with the Yardbirds. The band had cut the song, then Kenny replaced the bassist, & they recut it. that was their hit version. This is Kenny on this live version too of course. I see him play occasionally these days..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-5Y5PX2qHQ

Jay & The Americans.. Cara Mia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sFy5_kmEi4

Dunc, of course this is the tip if the iceberg. I haven't gotten started on songs i think of tied to Brooklyn..

Entered at Fri Sep 16 01:22:11 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

FUCKINELL.

There simply ain't the words.

So just Fuckinell

:-0)

Entered at Thu Sep 15 23:15:31 CEST 2016 from (83.68.10.60)

Ragtime

High on the top of Hickory Hill, walk that high-way till you die. Ev'rything comes like tomorrow, you know that's the rule. But if I had to make a choice I wouldn't change my mind, sooner or later everybody gets beat.

Standing by my window in pain, temptation stands just behind the door. Before I realized, I was hypnotized. You know we're only livin' in a dream, a drunkard's dream if I ever did see one. This must be where dreams explode before your very eyes. It's time for you to dream away. I think his magic might be real, must not be mistaken for just another dream. Just one more nightmare you can stand.

I'm a stranger here myself, I spent my whole life guessing who’s got the joker. We were always afraid of what tomorrow might bring. That's not half as bad as losin' what you never had. A man who swears he's not to blame. Like a scar the hurt will always show. To be someone is to be someone alone, this living alone will drive me crazy.

You got the picture but missed the drift, your old neighborhood ain't even there no more. Now there's only one place that was meant for me. What would anybody leave so quickly for?

We're all in the same boat ready to float off the edge of the world. No man alive will come to you. Come to me now, you know we're so low, and it's plain to see, I've nothing to show. Open up your arms and feel the good, that we're still one and the same, just you and me. There ain't nothing we need, we could be relaxing in my sleeping bag. Ya take what ya need and ya leave the rest, I'm not the judgin' kind.

Meet me in front and we'll fly away, waitin' for the end to come along. I'll whisper it to you. I can't wait for that sinking sun, I feel the freeze down in my knees. Rye whiskey to the grave, could this be the big reward?

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Jeff A.

Subject: T Bone Walker, live at Steve Miller's parents house party.

Dig it.

Entered at Thu Sep 15 15:47:28 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: 1967 eights for Dunc

1967 novel … (LINKED)

There are over twenty chapters. Eight songs to define it? It’s quite hard. When I was writing it, I had 2 CDS. One had the approximate parallel content to the fictional variety show they’re working on. The other the songs from the main storyline outside. One song was a cheat, Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde gets in a few months ahead of its time, because they see a preview of the movie in the book. Quite often the chapter title is a line … like “Misunderstanding All You See” (Strawberry Fields Forever) “As The Miller Told His Tale” (Whiter Shade of Pale” or “A Long Time since The Party” (Alternate Title by The Monkees)

THE SHOW CD:

Music To Watch Girls By- Bob Crewe Generation (SHOW opening with instrumental)

Up Up And Away – Fifth Dimension

Give Me The Moonlight – Frankie Vaughan

Spanish Flea – Herb Alpert

He’s In Town – The Rockin’ Berries

Lucky Ladybug – The Four Seasons

The Party’s Over- Lonnie Donegan

Music To Watch Girls By- Andy Williams (SHOW closes with vocal version)

OUTSIDE THE SHOW:

A Whiter Shade of Pale – Procul Harum

A Day In The life – The Beatles

Groovin’ – The Young Rascals

We Love You- The Rolling Stones

Death Of A Clown – Dave Davies

Waterloo Sunset – The Kinks

Itchycoo Park- The Small Faces

The First Cut Is The Deepest – P.P. Arnold ‘

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Wallsend

I thought this was quite a good advertisement.

Entered at Thu Sep 15 13:23:22 CEST 2016 from (114.75.92.147)

Wallsend

Seemingly there is no real Virgil Kaine.

Entered at Thu Sep 15 12:18:53 CEST 2016 from (86.128.178.67)

Duncan

Subject: Various

Thanks Bill M. That's a must for me.

Kevin I only know the Blue Ridge Rangers song, I don't have that album, but have the 'Rides Again' album. I'm going to pick up that album. I was lucky to see John Fogerty when I was on holiday in Zurich in the Museum grounds - a great night. Drinking white wine and listening to a guitar band playing great songs. But the rest of the selection is another retirement project for me.

That's what gave me the idea, Peter, so eight songs related to each of the books would be interesting..

There's a series on the BBC on New York, just now, Jeff. I always perk up when Brooklyn comes on. It must be difficult to live in NY if you don't have a lot of money.

Entered at Thu Sep 15 10:25:09 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Thu Sep 15 10:23:41 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

The website says:

Legendary 19th century Southern folk hero and train conductor, Virgil Kaine, helped usher in the New South, a time of enlightened thinking and craftsmanship.

But it looks as if their talk of chefs and blending means that this is a new product … like the vast range of new gins that are appearing. Was there a real Virgil Kaine then?

Entered at Thu Sep 15 05:47:19 CEST 2016 from (67.70.148.198)

Bill M

Subject: BaRK

Dunc: I learned from CBC radio today that Blackie and the Rodeo Kings will soon be releasing a follow-up to "Kings and Queens", called "Kings and Kings", featuring duets with guy singers like Bruce Cockburn, Nick Lowe, Buddy Miller, Raul Malo, Jason Isbell, Rodney Crowell ...

Entered at Thu Sep 15 05:34:27 CEST 2016 from (67.70.148.198)

Bill M

54-40's two best known songs - often thanks to Hootie and the Blowfish - are "Baby Ran" (see link) and "I Go Blind", which can be found at youtube.com/watch?v=4r1J0JY0bOo&list=PL7epfunGutqniNtKN6DuSlX1GArEF155P

Entered at Thu Sep 15 05:11:21 CEST 2016 from (67.84.77.196)

Jeff A.

Subject: Virgil Kaine Whiskey

I can't recall if this has ever been mentioned in here, but I just learned of it. I linked an image, here's the website...
http://www.virgilkaine.com/

Entered at Thu Sep 15 03:37:58 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: Blame Your Parents

And 54-40 have dates in Ontario and in Vancouver late this month and next month. That is good news. i

Entered at Thu Sep 15 03:19:26 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: 54-40

Kevin; We don't agree on everything (that's probably a good thing) but I absolutely agree that 54-40 is a Canadian treasure. One of the band still plays here in Victoria as a solo in a local higher end pub on Government St (a main drag). I listen to their albums a lot. Sloan -another great band from the other end of the country.

Entered at Wed Sep 14 23:13:14 CEST 2016 from (76.69.119.112)

Kevin J

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joe j

Hey, another Marjo fan. Not sure if it's desert island fare but I'm good with that.

Entered at Wed Sep 14 22:20:52 CEST 2016 from (67.70.148.198)

Bill M

Kevin J: Did you know that Michel Pagliaro will soon be playing at the Pheonix? I think I saw it listed in Now a few days ago.

As for "Lindberg", I've posted links to it here a couple times over the years but received no feedback that I remember. Though maybe from you?

Entered at Wed Sep 14 20:39:55 CEST 2016 from (83.68.10.60)

Ragtime

Tomorrow our choices would be different, obviously.

Entered at Wed Sep 14 20:23:43 CEST 2016 from (76.69.119.112)

Kevin J

Desert Island 8:

1.) “Le Blues Du Businessman” – Claude Dubois ( distant memories on a desert island. A truly great song )

2.) “Ailleurs” - Marjolène Morin ( one of many great songs by the lovely and raunchy Marjo. I once witnessed her walking on stage to a crowd dominated by Hells Angels who had just booed a preceding performer off the stage and she had them eating out of her hand immediately. Great rocker with several quieter songs as well. Nevermind that this is in french…….if there is one song I would urge all to download on this list - it would be this one…)

3.) “Lindberg” - Robert Charlebois ( one of the great Canadian songwriters. This is one from late 60’s that was dominant on Canadian airways for decades.)

4.) “Lovin’ You Ain’t Easy” – Michel Pagliaro ( Could easily have picked one of 20 Pag songs I like )

5.) “One Day in Your Life” – 54-40 ( Not even close – 54-40 were my favourite Canadian band of the 80’s. )

6.) “Oowatanite” – April Wine ( A song to wake up to would be needed. Check out the opening ! )

7.) “Jambalaya (On the Bayou )” – The Blue Ridge Rangers ( From a great album and my fav version of this song )

8.) “B.B.Q. & Foam” – Joe Ely from the ‘Live at Liberty Lunch” album (“Remember the night the soul band blasted? / Nothing in the world that one could say / There I first felt your touch, as your eyes cut right through me / And I knew that I would know you someday”……….an all-time favourite song of mine that cuts to the bone every time I play it. )

Entered at Wed Sep 14 20:10:59 CEST 2016 from (67.84.77.196)

Jeff A.

I will come up with a list of some superior Brooklyn related songs or performances, but it might go over 8 real quick.

Entered at Wed Sep 14 17:12:31 CEST 2016 from (86.128.178.67)

Dunc

Subject: Desert Island Discs

I could live happily with your eight, Ragtime. Waterloo Sunset is special.

Good choices, JT of the ones I know, but I'll need to do quite a bit of checking out.

I played Salty Dog on YouTube, Nux. Used to have the first two Procul Harum albums on vinyl back in the day, but have nothing now. Just seem to have forgotten about them.

Entered at Wed Sep 14 17:01:21 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: Ice Ice Baby

I'm on a small ice-covered island north of Baffin Island. Someone drops a tape labelled 'Canada sounds' and a Walkman. On it are the following songs: 1. The Weight (The Band); 2. You Oughta Know (Alanis Morissette); 3. Everybody Knows (Leonard Cohen); 4. Safety Dance (Men Without Hats); 5. Lovers In A Dangerous Time (Bruce Cockburn); 6. I'm An Adult Now (Pursuit of Happiness); 7. Subdivisions (Rush); 8. New Orleans is Sinking and Courage ( a tie) (The Tragically Hip).

Entered at Wed Sep 14 16:20:53 CEST 2016 from (83.68.10.60)

Ragtime

#4: of course the original miraculous Miracles version.

Entered at Wed Sep 14 16:17:10 CEST 2016 from (83.68.10.60)

Ragtime

Subject: Ragtime's Desert Island 8

My Desert Island 8...

if I'm allowed to take 8 classical discs with me as well... I can't live without Bach's Mass in B minor, Schubert's Winterreise, Brahms' First Violin Sonata, Debussy's La Mer, Suk's Asrael, Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde, Stravinsky's Le Sacre du Printemps, Berg's Violin Concerto...

Eight already? It's a shame...

Anyway, here we go... here's my certificate of Good Taste (albeit not needed on a desert island):

1. King Harvest (Has Surely Come) by The Band (what band?)

2. Waterloo Sunset by The Kinks (it can make me cry)

3. Ballad of a Thin Man by Bob Dylan (do you agree, mr. Jones?)

4. You've Really Got A Hold On Me (I will need this if this island really is deserted)

5. While My Guitar Gently Wheeps by The Beatles/George Harrison (there will be a lot of wheeping there)

6. Dancing In The Streets by Martha & The Vandellas (by absence of streets let alone dancing Vandellas)

7. Paper Sun by Traffic (I am a child of the 60s you know)

8. For What It's Worth by Buffalo Springfield (this applies to the entire list)

What? Eight already? It's a shame.

Entered at Wed Sep 14 16:17:07 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: The sun, the beach and other things...

Another 8: I'm going to be on that island a long time: 1. Walk Idiot Walk (Hives); 2. The Last Time (Rolling Stones); 3. Dirty Water (Standells); 4. Leaving This Town (Beachboys) 5. Every Grain of Sand (Bob Dylan); 6. It Makes No Difference (The Band); 7. Number With No Name (Ben Harper and the Relentless 7); 8. Dead Disco (Metric).

Entered at Wed Sep 14 15:58:08 CEST 2016 from (74.203.77.122)

Jon Lyness

Subject: Re: Shoorah-Shoorah

Peter, this one's new to me and I love it. Sounds like peak Mavis/Staples Singers from the same era. One more Band connection is the line "You and the devil walking side by side" -- if penned by Allen T in the 70s, surely not a coincidence.

Entered at Wed Sep 14 13:32:48 CEST 2016 from (83.68.10.60)

Ragtime

Maybe the good dr. Odudu is willing to take Danilla & Husband with him, away from The Band Guestbook?

Entered at Wed Sep 14 11:17:19 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

That started me thinking, Dunc. All the chapter titles in the 60s Trilogy are either lines from songs, or song titles. Without checking, I think only "Angel of The Morning" was a song title in the trilogy. Each song title/ line is from the appropriate year.

Entered at Wed Sep 14 11:10:06 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Wed Sep 14 11:08:12 CEST 2016 from (86.128.178.67)

Dunc

Subject: Desert Island Discs

Really enjoyed the lists. All interesting points. Kevin's point is good. (I left off the Stones, Leonard, John Martyn, Tamla, Beatles, Dylan and the Band)

I looked at a category (60s British pop) and an era (boyhood to youth), but these songs have stayed with me and are still played. Over the years on the GB I've noticed how the UK contingent - Roger, Peter, Al (and I'm hoping I'm not speaking out of turn) are still loyal to pop.

What would be interesting, Peter, is if you did an eight related to each of your 60s novels I think it would document how music in the UK changed greatly over that era.

Thanks Bob F. Looking forward to your list.

Jeff A. I would be interested in eight related to Brooklyn, in addition to your big eight.

And to all my Canadian friends, I would like to see a Canadian only eight, in addition to any other big eight.

I intend to play all music listed.

Entered at Wed Sep 14 10:45:44 CEST 2016 from (41.162.7.114)

NUX

Here goes mmm,it's honest indeed:1.Into The Mystic(Van M)2.Good Vibrations(Beach Boys)3.Jawbone(The Band)4.Salty Dog(Procol Harum)5.Days(The Kinks)6.Hudson Line(Mercury Rev)7.Golden Slumbers(The Beatles)8.Ocean Rain(Echo And The Bunnymen)

Entered at Wed Sep 14 09:47:45 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Shoo-Rah-Rah-Rah

I've linked Betty Wright's song here as the least well-known on the list. Written and produced by Allen Toussaint for a Band link.

Entered at Wed Sep 14 09:41:56 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

DESERT ISLAND DISCS

Here they go with justifications (and the ones they beat to get there).

Walk Like A Man – The Four Seasons

You need an early pop record that you just couldn’t stop playing. It might have been Here Comes Summer by Jerry Keller or Cathy’s Clown, but I remember standing by my record player, autochange arm to the side so Walk Like A Man replayed for hours and my dad saying he was going to pull his head off if he heard it again. So “being teenage”

Visions of Johanna – Bob Dylan

The poetry. Robbie’s guitar. Never got tired of it.

Strawberry Fields Forever – The Beatles

Which Beatles was a hard choice, with this beating off Rain and Baby You’re A Rich Man. A frequent choice of a single Desert Island luxury on the show is a distillery, a wine press or a cannabis sativa plant. This would be the track to accompany such a luxury item.

King Harvest (Will Surely Come) – The Band

Not much thought here. It always tops my lists.

Diamonds on The Soles Of Her Shoes – Paul Simon

It’s a tropical island. You need either a bit of African or Caribbean rhythm, so this pushed its way past Stir It Up by The Wailers after much thought. It’s also Mrs V’s favourite track. Not that she’d be there.

Shoo- Rah-Rah-Rah – Betty Wright

You’re going to need exercise. I’m not sure how big the island is, but dance might be all you can do, so an instant floor filler. Three years ago it would have been classic Motown or Atlantic, either Private Number or Ain’t Too Proud To Beg, but this has wormed its way in as my most played “get up and dance” track of recent years.

Piano Concerto in G Major – Ravel, 2nd Movement, by Leonard Bernstein on piano

You need to lie back and meditate, and get off to sleep too when the monkeys are screeching. There are meditation records, even modern classical ones like Max Richter’s “Sleep” but actually Ravel, as played by Bernstein on piano, can’t be beaten.

Angel of The Morning – P.P. Arnold

I think you’ll feel the need for the voice of a singer of the opposite sex who appeals to you. It might have been Gypsy by Fleetwood Mac, Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper or Sexual Healing by Kate Bush, but P.P. Arnold gets it today.

Entered at Wed Sep 14 09:25:17 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

No, they have to be the eight you really want. OK, if it's Mull of Kyntyre, Heartbreak Hotel, Maggie May and The Weight, so be it. The fun is why. We already have some interesting ideas … first record I bought is a major choice on the actual radio show.

Entered at Wed Sep 14 06:45:03 CEST 2016 from (24.114.64.133)

Kevin J

Before we go much further and even though I love much of what has been presented already.......I really do think it would be great if we could agree to post not completely and honestly what would be a real "Desert Island 8" but rather a list omitting the truly major recording artists.........For example, if I really did know that I was going to a desert island for life with electricity but no other company, I most definitely would pick Rod Stewart's "Maggie May" just because I know how happy it would make me feel every time I listenned over the years and reflected back to all those memories......BUT in this context every single poster here knows the song and most likely owns it already.......so if we agree to at least eliminate the truly major stars - Beatles, Rolling Stones, Who, Joni, Leonard, Kinks, Led Zep, Eagles, Dylan, Rod Stewart, Elton, Queen, etc, - it would be especially helpful to the ITunes automatic additions element which I would think we all like to do, THAT IS, add songs others here recommend ........If in doubt with this "dropping of the superstars" rule - a basic rule of thumb would be - John Prine ok, Bob Dylan not ok..........no need to go ridiculously obscure but just avoid what at least 30%-50% of us would absolutely no doubt already own.

Entered at Wed Sep 14 05:39:44 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: Desert Island 8 (this week)

OK. This is an impossible task. I could pick 8 Band songs but I decided to pick songs that reverberate in my brain. There are many more but here are some. 1. Seven & Seven Is (Love) 2. Idiot Wind (Bob Dylan) 3. Loser (Beck) 4. Nineteenth Nervous Breakdown (Rolling Stones) 5. Sold Rock (Dire Straits) 6. Alison (Elvis Costello) 7. I Would Be The One (Kensington Market) 8. Bohemian Like You (Dandy Warhols).

Entered at Wed Sep 14 05:03:21 CEST 2016 from (70.121.40.130)

Glenn T

Only 8! And each by a different artist. And I assume I could be on this island for a while, so variety is important. And they've got to be songs I can listen to over and over. Had to leave the 3 Bs off: Bob (Dylan), The Band, Beatles (too hard to pick just one; could easily have picked 8 from each of those). So here goes nothing (listed in no particular order).

Van Morrison: Caravan – love the performance at The Last Waltz, but I'll go with the studio version. Great singing; wonderful instrumentation...Turn it up!

Otis Redding: Try A Little Tenderness (live, Monterey) – studio version is great too, but I love his vocal and the way the MGs kick it up at the end.

Jackson Five: Don't Know Why I Love You – Michael's amazing vocal (and he was only 12). ABC was the very first album I ever bought (1970). I was 12 years old then, too.

Stevie Wonder: Signed, Sealed, Delivered – always makes me want to get up and dance (and I don't like to dance). Love its placement in the movie You've Got Mail.

Youngbloods: Sunlight (live, Ride the Wind) – This song just seems to float on the breeze, and I love where it takes me. Really enjoy Jerry Corbitt's guitar work on this. Nice vocal by Jesse Colin Young. Beautiful.

Eva Cassidy: Over the Rainbow – When I first got this disc, I put it on and started reading the newspaper. When this track started to play I just had to put the paper down; like a force beyond me just compelled me to drop the paper and listen with my whole being. A little bit of guitar and light keyboard, and that vocal...always takes me over the rainbow.

Bruce Springsteen: Thunder Road (live, Hammersmith Odeon) – studio version is solid, but this barebones version featuring Roy Bittan's piano playing and Bruce's vocal...what a bold, gutsy way to start this concert (hello England).

U2: One Tree Hill – have always loved this gem from The Joshua Tree. I've been to One Tree Hill (Auckland, New Zealand) and Bono's vocal is a great tribute to his friend, Greg Carroll, who died in a motorcycle accident.

Whew, that's it! A week from now it might be different. Okay everybody; let's see your choices!

Entered at Wed Sep 14 00:41:10 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter v

Entered at Tue Sep 13 21:34:01 CEST 2016 from (69.112.112.38)

Bob F

JT, Peter, it was all in fun. Of course they're all great.

Kevin, right back at you.

Entered at Tue Sep 13 20:17:18 CEST 2016 from (86.128.178.67)

Dunc

Subject: Desert Island Discs

My desert island discs all come from the era of the single, the sixties, and are all by British bands. I’ve noticed us Brits on the GB are still loyal to our pop. Here are my 8 discs from that era in no particular order. I’ve left out the Stones and the Beatles who I think are great.

Reflections Of My Life by Marmalade - Reminds me of that time of life when going to dances was the most important thing in my life. You would go to a dance and hope the band could play the hits well. Marmalade was such a band, but they grew to a residency at the Marquee and produced this gem of a song, over 2 million radio plays in USA alone.

Rainbow Valley by Love Affair – I love the singing in this song, including the female backing singer, who I think is Sue Glover and with her sister backed many bands and singers. The song stayed with me and went through my head when I returned to my own area of Dundee sometimes after walking miles after seeing a girl home after a dance. I have noticed that a few people have studied the song for their GCSE exam.

Happy Jack by The Who – I really like the lyrics, but I think this was the first record where I used to listen to the drumming and the bass playing as well as the song. There would have to be a Who song on this list and I was lucky enough to see them in 1971 and the concert has stayed with me all my life. It was so exciting. The Who are at the pinnacle of British pop.

All Or Nothing by The Small Faces – I saw the Small Faces as hip. As well as great music, great dressers. I used to think of Steve Marriot when buying clothes. In the sixties the clothes were part of the music scene. A cool dude in a cool band.

Come Tomorrow by Manfred Mann. The first four records I owned were Do Wah Diddy Diddy by Manfred Mann, Twist and Shout EP by the Beatles, Mr Tambourine Man by The Byrds and It’s All Over Now by The Stones. Paul Jones is a really good singer and seems to get younger every day. I still enjoy all the Manfred Mann hits, including the Mike D’Abo era.

Tired of Waiting by The Kinks. I think the Kinks are great, never saw them, but have been lucky to see Ray Davies a couple of times. But why this song. Well BBC news came to my housing scheme to interview two sisters about this ‘new music’. They lived up the back from me. Nothing happened in our area apart from playing football for 16 hours a day. We all were glued to the news when it came on. They did well in the interview and ended up singing the selected song.

It’s My Life by The Animals. I liked the Animals and Eric Burdon’s singing. But this song takes me back to the era of the youth club. I enjoyed Peter’s excerpt from his singles book and could relate to how a Christian ran his youth club. It was the same for me, but once a month on a Sunday evening we were allowed to go to the church cellar, where the Christian youth leader had set up a cavern club with posters on the wall etc. It was a great effort and I appreciate what he did for us because some of the kids who went were tough. The poor guy would have to deal with trouble. There was nothing to do on a Sunday. One band that came covered the Animals tracks and this is an abiding memory.

Wild Thing by the Troggs. I thought the Troggs were great and have already told the story of how four of us travelled a few years later to Sheffield to see them. Reg was a nice guy. What was important to me at the time was listening to Top of the Pops, an absolute must for me, and I think many of the groups mimed.

So that’s my desert island discs of the sixties, but no Searchers, Gerry and Hollies, who I still play. My selected book is Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy by John Le Carre, the only book I have read four times.

Entered at Tue Sep 13 18:40:12 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Tue Sep 13 16:34:24 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: Bizarro JT

I must have been deranged to compare. I've been the one ranting in the past that one should not compare artists. That was the 'Bizarro' JT writing yesterday about who would be number one as a singer/songwriter. It was a moment (or two) of cerebral instability. I retract that post and any related to it (except this one). Suffice it to say, the aforementioned singer/songwriters all have unique skills that stand them well among the pantheon of the singer/songwriter elite. That's it. I'm done with comparisons. Call me out anytime you sense that I have strayed.

Entered at Tue Sep 13 14:51:45 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Tue Sep 13 10:39:48 CEST 2016 from (86.128.178.67)

Dunc

Subject: Desert Island Discs

Enjoyed your recent posts, Peter. What about a rule on the desert island discs selection that the eight songs have to come from eight different bands/artists so we don't get Band songs dominated lists. We know and love them.

I like checking out what other people listen to.

Enjoyed the Canadian related posts too. Whoever thought I would own a collection of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings. (Thanks Bil M and the late Steve).

The only Canadian artist I never got into was Bruce Cockburn. I bought an album and just thought it was ok. I think Bill M (Hi Bill) thought I had made an unlucky choice. I gave it away.

Entered at Tue Sep 13 10:11:54 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

It's a few years since we did our Desert Island Discs. It's a weekly British radio programme. People select 8 tracks to take to a desert island where they will be stranded alone, plus a book, excluding The Bible or Shakespeare. It's eight so the show fits a 45 minute slot with chatter, but it's normally ten tracks outside the show. I believe we have done this several times, but why not a re-run? It's more cheerful than the "five songs to be played at my funeral" for starters.

Entered at Tue Sep 13 09:48:28 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

I mentioned William Shatner. On the early 90s, a survey was done to find the most recognisable faces in the world … number of votes and spread of countries put William Shatner up there with The Beatles and Mao.So he was certainly “best known Canadian.” On sheer number of votes, one of the highly placed was English actor Francis Matthews, who presented a BBC English Teaching video series, Follow Me, which was shown daily in China. Sadly, it wasn’t one of mine, but also I strongly doubt that it earned a royalty.

Entered at Tue Sep 13 09:34:39 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Over the last ten years, I’ve spent much more time listening to Leonard Cohen than post-1978 Dylan. In concert, Leonard wins hands down, no competition whatsoever. I would say his body of work since around 1979 is of higher quality and originality, musically and lyrically, as well as better performed. Interestingly, most of my Dylan listening is Street Legal and earlier. Most of my Leonard was recorded after 1979, though some were written earlier and redone live.

As to Canadians … it’s down to Leonard Cohen v Neil Young for first place. I prefer Leonard, but could argue for Neil. On life time achievement and my own taste, it would be Robbie first, but (a) he has written less post-1978 and (b) he hasn’t gone out and refined and explored his catalogue in performance, and crucially, nor does he have the profile of Cohen and Young on the international stage. Joni’s writing dried up a fair time ago, which keeps her out as a contender for top spot.

Another point is that none of these people have resided in Canada in decades. On themes, I’d say all are more related to their adopted country than their mother country. In Robbie’s case, 15 years a Canadian, 58 years mainly outside. I haven’t listened to enough Bruce Cockburn or Gordon Lightfoot to judge them in relation. But they certainly have not had the international impact of Cohen, Young, Robertson & Mitchell.

Well, I think I’ll give an outsider a spin today. Now, where is my William Shatner CD?

Entered at Tue Sep 13 09:22:16 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

I miss David P this week. My local second-hand record store has had a succession of 70s Americana come in, all in near mint condition. They keep arriving. Yesterday I picked up Geoff Muldaur & Amos Garrett, The David Bromberg Band, Papa John Creach “Filthy”, P.F. Sloan, James Montgomery Band (produced Allen Toussaint) and Claudia Lennear (also Alan Toussaint production). It’s going to take weeks to get to play it all properly. The David Bromberg has a cover of What A Town. I’m sure David would probably have had them, as well as something to say about each.

Entered at Tue Sep 13 09:15:24 CEST 2016 from (67.84.77.196)

Jeff A.

Subject: Cashy on Billboard yet again

Cashy/Magnus is credited as producer and writer on the track "Way Back"..

Those royalty checks get bigger & bigger! Jan is even better at making kids than he is at making websites. And this site is a hard act to follow.

Entered at Tue Sep 13 06:40:17 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: IMO

Kevin: OK You confirmed it. Glad to get a rise out of you to confirm what I have always believed. Dylan it is. But never write off Leonard. Maybe not 70 but he is the king of the word. Robbie should have been there. He's a given.

Entered at Tue Sep 13 06:19:54 CEST 2016 from (24.114.71.105)

Kevin J

Entered at Tue Sep 13 06:16:28 CEST 2016 from (24.114.71.105)

Kevin J

Entered at Tue Sep 13 05:00:10 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: Writing a song

Bob F: Leonard Cohen wins as greatest Canadian songwriter and is a contender for overall winner. Bob, I am a huge Dylan fan from the beginning and there is a period in the 60s when he cannot be touched + a few select songs from the following decades. If one examines an entire body of work over a lifetime, Leonard can give Bob a run for his money. Neil Young and many others (Bruce Cockburn ,Stephen Fearing, Joni Mitchell, Murray McLauchlan, Gordon Lightfoot) are not far behind.

Entered at Tue Sep 13 01:56:17 CEST 2016 from (24.114.71.105)

Kevin J

Bob F........You have great taste....such a special song that you think is not really going anywhere ends up going everywhere....that part about the policeman and the twitchy finger in Rome is out of this world good for a pop song.

Entered at Tue Sep 13 00:18:37 CEST 2016 from (69.112.112.38)

Bob F

Subject: Canadian Songwriters

Recently checked out the Toppermost for Bruce Cockburn. A really good job but I noticed my favorite Cockburn song How I Spent My Fall Vacation isn't even mentioned. I guess that is a testament to how great a songwriter Bruce Cockburn is.

Thinking about the greatest Canadian songwriters. You can have a lengthily discussion and arm wrestle to determine if Robbie or Neil is at the top. In the 3rd spot you can have another discussion between Leonard Cohen or Joni Mitchell. In the 5th spot the case for Gordon Lightfoot or Bruce Cockburn can be made. Of course this is just my opinion. I'm sure many folks on the Guestbook would have either Drake or Tegan and Sara in that top spot.

Entered at Mon Sep 12 23:52:15 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter v

Norah Jones version is on her Live in New Orleans DVD. A great DVD.

Entered at Mon Sep 12 17:46:00 CEST 2016 from (86.128.178.67)

Dunc

Subject: Al

Thanks, Al. In one of my other interest areas, Al, I've noticed that there's a group of lads playing John Martyn songs at Liverpool gigs. Seemingly they are playing for the love of the music and it's a very good night out. See links. If they were up here I would definitely be going.

The next gig is at the Blackburne House Cafe Bar on 16th Sept.

Entered at Mon Sep 12 17:33:14 CEST 2016 from (108.30.208.242)

Jed

Thanks for that link.That is a stunning rendition of 'Bessie Smith'.Brilliant.Wonder who was in the band-wonderful!

Entered at Mon Sep 12 16:18:38 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: Nick Cave

Nick Cave has been flying just 'under the radar' for many. This Australian, now living in Brighton for a number of years, has released some of the best music in the past 10 years for me (and for some, for longer - see older releases prior to 'Abattoir Blues') as well a releasing superb soundtracks with W. Ellis and writing novels. A creative force that should be examined.

Entered at Mon Sep 12 15:05:45 CEST 2016 from (131.137.35.8)

sadavid

Subject: the way that she could sing

Norah Jones with a very tasty "Bessie Smith" from a 2002 set at House of Blues in Chicago.

Entered at Sun Sep 11 19:01:09 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: 'Skeleton Tree' -Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

On a memorial 9.11 Sunday, paying tribute to a tragedy, I want to direct your attention to the album 'Skeleton Tree' by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Conceived in the wake of the tragic loss of one of his sons (fell from a cliff near Brighton), this dark but beautiful art is required listening. Nick Cave continues his mastery of the word and with Mr. Ellis and others in support, what emerges is haunting and sticks in the brain. With his recent soundtrack, Mr. Cave remains at the top of his craft.

Entered at Sun Sep 11 17:07:03 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

I dunno, Al. I actually prefer You Can't Do That to Can't Buy Me Love, and Rain to Paperback Writer BUT all four are essential. Maybe the double A-side was the way to do it (though there were a few album tracks that could have been B-sides to separate singles). I've mentioned this before, but I've seen two bands instantly fill the dance floor with You Can't Do That. Rain would be in my Top Ten Beatles tracks IF it were possible to get below a Top Thirty of equal quality, which it isn't.

The Guardian review said "Roll Over Beethoven" was "almost pro to punk" on the new album. I'm not sure what that means, but it competes for hardest-rocking live Chuck Berry song.

Entered at Sun Sep 11 16:22:49 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Pete - are you actually saying those two tracks should have taken the A-side in place of Can't Buy Me Love and Paperback Writer?

Or dual A-sides like say We Can Work it Out/Day Tripper?

Or simply released separately?

:-0)

Entered at Sun Sep 11 16:16:07 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Subject: The Fabs

Fantastico Pete lad. Fantastico.

I posted the above link a few weeks back but no fucker seemed to pick up on it.

:-0)

The link features a two minute snippet of the forthcoming DVD - which looks not simply essential but absolutely mesmerising.

It also has a link [the vivid blue Eight Days a Week box] to one of The Hollywood Bowl versions of 'Hard Days Night' in which you can not only hear the majesty of that opening chord performed live but also marvel at the ridiculous musical tightness and accomplishment of what will forever be the world's most groundbreaking popular music act ever and the world's second best band ever.

:-0)

Entered at Sun Sep 11 15:38:56 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Anyone else picked up Giles Martin radical remaster? It was the only Beatles record I didn't buy because back in 1977 it sounded awful. New technology has done things. That Hofner violin bass (a bass guitar I loathed for the soft farty sound) often sounds like bass pedals which I guess was what Paul intended. It's the opposite of James Jamerson. Paul said it enabled him to jump around.

But what's amazing is they sound tight and muscular amid all that screaming and inability to hear themselves. No monitors. Ringo said he had to guess where they were by the front line's twitching shoulder blades because he couldn't hear a thing, and gave up using tom toms because even he couldn't hear them either.

One of the support band guys (who were allowed to use the Beatles new Vox 100 watt Beatles amps) said you could walk across the stage and hear only keyboard, then only bass then only guitar. Given that it's amazing how good they sound (and how Giles Martin squeezed them out of the three track tapes).

For me at last we get You Can't Do That as a bonus track. You could write a book on Beatles B-sides, but like "Rain" this should have been an A-side.

Entered at Sun Sep 11 04:51:42 CEST 2016 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

I've starting listening to, enjoying and respecting this group for the first time in my life. And I remain gobsmacked at how good they are. Given their prime era, most of their stuff is in the style original Rock and Roll and Do-Wap. And their gospel background is pretty obvious. But they're not entirely stuck in those genres and they regularly bust out within a song with an original and accomplished guitar bit or a jazzy, New Orleans sax solo.

I think a comparison can be drawn to The Band: great, great singers that share leads, harmony and background singing, a red hot guitar player and they composed their own material - shame on me for mostly missing them until now. If you go there, play it loud.

Entered at Sat Sep 10 18:41:29 CEST 2016 from (24.114.69.248)

bill m

Entered at Sat Sep 10 16:31:25 CEST 2016 from (208.181.205.134)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Nux

Nux, I forgot to say. If you can decifer my e mail the way I writ it, just e mail me you snail mail address. I'll send you one and my info just (in case) some down your way might want to buy one.

I have another friend down in Table Bay, Cape Town. He is a tow boat guy and works on the big old tug "John Ross", (now called Smit Amandala) my uncle used to be Captain of. She was built up your way in Durban.

Entered at Sat Sep 10 02:33:39 CEST 2016 from (96.54.61.38)

BONK

Hey Bill. Is there any kind of bio or video or pictures of Zarathustra?

Entered at Fri Sep 9 22:40:53 CEST 2016 from (92.20.239.92)

Ragtime

Subject: Breakfast at 10

It just means that Theresa's ambition hasn't reached the Last Supper yet.

Entered at Fri Sep 9 20:43:13 CEST 2016 from (24.114.58.82)

Bill M

Peter V: Sounds more like Viv Stanshall than a computer at work. In the breakfast of her soul / In the shaker labelled 'salt'".

Entered at Fri Sep 9 20:18:46 CEST 2016 from (24.108.163.242)

JT

Subject: If music be the food of love, play on...

We saw Jewels and Binoculars on Pender Island and Stephen Fearing in Duncan over the past few years in small venues (like the ones you describe, Norm). There are many fine venues and equally many great musicians locally as well.

Entered at Fri Sep 9 17:43:45 CEST 2016 from (131.137.35.8)

sadavid

Subject: ska royalty passes

RIP Prince Buster

Entered at Fri Sep 9 17:22:14 CEST 2016 from (92.54.175.179)

Peter v

Just watching the BBC news in a hotel lobby, sound off, text running. The text must be sound based predictive to text, so auto dictation. Someone was praising Theresa May for 'the breakfast of her ambition.' I assume the soundtrack had been 'breadth of her ambition.'

Entered at Fri Sep 9 17:20:19 CEST 2016 from (208.181.205.134)

Rockin Chair

Subject: Meet Me at the Creek

One comment on this song, "Bluegrass, the Grateful Dead and Mettalica had a baby and they named it Billie Strings. In this video he plays with a group a song he wrote, "Meet me at the Creek. His guitar, banjo, mandolin, fiddle and standup bass. All young guys and I'm sure! Flatt and Scruggs would approve. For a bit of bluegrass, (if anyone is inclined0, it doesn't get any better.

Jerry! it was long ago and I don't recall if you were around, at a time we were discussing the "Texas Tornados", Doug Salm spent a few years on the Island, living at Shaunigan Lake. He used to play in the Cobble Hill pub at times.

All the way up this Island there is amazing sites and music with musicians hidden in the woods every where. The Island Music Festival at Courtenay is huge. John Prine head lined this past July.

In Courtenay is a girl who I have been friends with for about 25 years. She used to bartend in one of the lounges years ago when I played there years ago. Her name is Kelly Everill she is a Mi'kmaq native from New Brunswick. She now has the hottest band on the north island called "Machine Gun Kelly". She is also a very successful commercial artist her work is beautiful. google kelly'sart it is worth the look.

Entered at Fri Sep 9 16:32:31 CEST 2016 from (184.66.251.127)

JT

Subject: Secret

Bill M: I You provoked me into thinking about the 'secret'. Victoria is Canada's hidden gem. Not many Canadians get to Victoria throughout their existence. The first time I came here was 1986 and I could not believe how lovely it was for a small city. It is somewhat unique for Canada. There is half as much rain as there is in Vancouver (also beautiful by any account). The island itself is splendid (Tofino and its beaches are something special). As a place to live, it offers all the opportunities that a larger city offers if one is alert. From a music point of view, what I appreciate are the small venues (from small theatres to clubs) and the oft opportunity to meet with performers after they perform. Victoria has easy access to many other western cities. It is relatively safe and 'laid back' as cities go. It is growing with condos rising up (to about 20 stories max) everywhere. Its character is not changing even with this development. For travellers who want to see part of the best of what Canada can offer, visit Victoria and the island and then go to Seattle and down the coast. You won't be sorry.

Entered at Fri Sep 9 14:58:22 CEST 2016 from (114.75.75.253)

Wallsend

Entered at Fri Sep 9 14:40:23 CEST 2016 from (41.162.7.114)

Nux Schwartz

Subject: The Weight(my version)

Rocking Chair:Would love to hear your cd! Been trying so hard to find time to do my own album of original stuff but just can't find the time.Also have developed a nasty thing called"Trigger Finger" that kinda freezes up my joints on my guitar bending finger.Have not seen a doctor and am pretty worried about it.Cant play guitar!!!

Dunc:Hope you are well and nice to hear from you

Bonk:I will make a point of putting in those claps LOL!

Entered at Fri Sep 9 14:08:07 CEST 2016 from (99.229.224.79)

John D

Subject: Harold Kudlats

Mr. Kudlats has now officially passed away. R.I.P.

Entered at Fri Sep 9 10:18:50 CEST 2016 from (114.75.75.253)

Wallsend

This may be of interest to anyone who does not already have the SNL performance.

Entered at Fri Sep 9 06:05:54 CEST 2016 from (184.66.251.127)

JT

Subject: SET UP MAN

Good to be a set up man for the headliner, Bill M.

Entered at Fri Sep 9 04:07:05 CEST 2016 from (173.3.51.213)

Jeff A.

Subject: Springsteen Auto bio

Apparently Springsteen has had an over 30 year experience with depression. And discusses this pretty candidly in his about to be released auto biography. His analogy in this article is amazing...“One of the points I’m making in the book is that, whoever you’ve been and wherever you’ve been, it never leaves you,” he says in Vanity Fair's October cover story. “I always picture it as a car. All your selves are in it. And a new self can get in, but the old selves can’t ever get out. The important thing is, who’s got their hands on the wheel at any given moment?”

Entered at Fri Sep 9 04:02:55 CEST 2016 from (24.114.51.6)

Bill M

JT: It should come as no surprise that autocorrect doesn't know the capital of BC - Victoria' secret.

Bonk: Les is not Fuds. I recounted your biker story, d Les said that they were chased into the subway by bikers after a gig along the Danforth, which may have accounted for Fuds hyperventilating later on. I think John bought out Edward's interest in the mother's house, so may well be still living in it.

Entered at Fri Sep 9 03:45:56 CEST 2016 from (96.54.61.38)

BONK

Thanks Bill. Lost contact with John about 8-9 years ago when he was living in Barrie. Funny coincidence, but his brother Edward lived here on Salt Spring when I first got here in '96. He wasn't here long so I never got to meet him. I don't think him and John were very close so I never met him as a kid either. Would Les also be known as Fudsie back in the band days? Cheers, Carl

Entered at Fri Sep 9 03:44:38 CEST 2016 from (184.66.251.127)

JT

Subject: Car

And by the way, does ' autocorrect t' know how to spell BMW?

Entered at Fri Sep 9 03:38:26 CEST 2016 from (184.66.251.127)

JT

Subject: VicTor

Thank goodness 'spell correct' doesn't know how to spel intremitentlee and has never heard of the capital of BC.

Entered at Fri Sep 9 02:10:21 CEST 2016 from (24.114.51.6)

Bill M

Entered at Fri Sep 9 01:18:48 CEST 2016 from (24.114.51.6)

Bill M

Entered at Thu Sep 8 23:41:17 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Echoes of An era

On the vinyl thing, I found two of the major vinyl argument LPs together today in the same shop – Echoes of An Era on Elektra from 1982, plus a vinyl copy of A Walk Across The Rooftops by Blue Nile, which I already had on CD. It's produced by Linn, the turntable manufacturer. Both pristine. "Echoes of An Era" was Chaka Khan with Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Freddie Hubbard, Joe Henderson and Lenny White, and boasts no overdubbing, no effects, just a clean recording. See link to Them There Eyes.

The analogue / digital debate will never end. Horrors and sublime beauty have been created in both, and I guess the Medium is NOT the Massage, but it can be blamed, and often is.

We worked extensively with a BBC producer who had spent years of daily live sessions, and he was adamant that digital was exactly what it sounds like in the studio or club. Which is not the same as "sounds better in your living room".

Entered at Thu Sep 8 23:28:38 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Thu Sep 8 22:50:31 CEST 2016 from (108.88.109.12)

Pat B

btw, I assume everyone has read about Rudy Van Gelder's passing. His comments on the horrors of vinyl delivery of music are hilarious.

Entered at Thu Sep 8 22:10:36 CEST 2016 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

PV - Are those the same things in the internet context?

Entered at Thu Sep 8 22:02:33 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Jan H? Any enlightenment?

Entered at Thu Sep 8 20:42:24 CEST 2016 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

Sorry for the spelling, coincidental to some earlier fun here with proscriptive text, it kept changing it for me. Coincidental became Corinne dental and Cooder became Cointreau, a product I had texted about nearly a month ago. Is there a consensus here to just shut down that feature?

Entered at Thu Sep 8 20:35:42 CEST 2016 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

Basemanlee - That was great, thanks. Ry Cooder's take on Get Rhythm has always been a favorite - one of the happiest songs ever written and its advice really works! - I've see him do it a couple times, once in the early 80's with the big outfit he used to perform with, that one was highly memorable.

Entered at Thu Sep 8 20:29:41 CEST 2016 from (68.172.221.180)

Tom

I see the source of the Colonel's passing has now posted they were wrong and apologized. It still links to the death on this website's "what's new"..that link is now dead. Can Anyone confirm what's true?

Entered at Thu Sep 8 20:21:40 CEST 2016 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

JT - Sorry that was me -

Entered at Thu Sep 8 20:20:20 CEST 2016 from (63.142.158.9)

JT

JT - Me too; it arrived today -

Entered at Thu Sep 8 19:09:43 CEST 2016 from (96.245.114.250)

bassmanlee

Subject: Ry Cooder and friends

Happened across this interesting performance, the Americana Music Festival performance in Nashville, circa. 2014. Ry Cooder plays throughout, joined by house band including Don Was, Buddy Miller and Jim Lauderdale. Guests include Roseann Cash, Jackson Browne, Taj Mahal, Rodney Crowell, Jason Isbell, Flaco Jimenez, Loretta Lynn and more. Very nice.

Entered at Thu Sep 8 17:56:12 CEST 2016 from (131.137.35.8)

sadavid

RC/WC: thanks for that -- very cool how Billy timed things to duet with the 4:19 . . . .

Entered at Thu Sep 8 17:33:37 CEST 2016 from (208.181.205.134)

Rockin Chair

Subject: 1935 - D-18 Martin

If you want to hear what a 1935 D 18 Martin sounds like, (played well), listen to "Billie Strings" here.

Nux! if you have any thing on CD, I'd love to have it, (I'll trade you for mine.) You did a fine job of "Lay Down Sally".

tsolum666atgeemaildotcom

Entered at Thu Sep 8 15:25:45 CEST 2016 from (184.66.251.127)

JT

Subject: Peter Stone Brown review of' Bloomfield'

Once again, Peter Stone Brown provides a review with the insight of a musician. Thank you. I've ordered the book and look forward to reading it.

Entered at Thu Sep 8 11:12:39 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

There's a line between these independent venues, and the much nicer modern small halls owned by the towns in smaller places. I don't know how those get booked. I have a friend who has played these "studio theatres" and he says they're clean, the dressing rooms are pristine, you get paid a fixed sum however many turn up, and the cheque doesn't bounce and they usually take you for a meal too. It must be some kind of Arts Council supported circuit. The Unthanks and Fay Hield are typical of the artists playing these venues … i.e. usually folky.

Entered at Thu Sep 8 10:32:49 CEST 2016 from (31.53.16.146)

Dunc

Subject: Nux, RoseAnn

Nice to hear from you, Nux. Enjoyed your version of the Weight very much.

Roger, I'm trying to get RoseAnn's work played on Ricky Ross's show up here. Just waiting for him to get back into the broadcasting studio.

Entered at Thu Sep 8 03:53:17 CEST 2016 from (184.145.65.232)

Mike Nomad

My thanks to Bob W for posting Serge's obit, which I had failed to notice because I had been away for a few days. I never met Serge even though we lived in the same city, although our paths did cross once or twice. Actually, recalling some of his feistiness in posts on this page from years past, I likely would have kept my distance in any event. I remember seeing Serge around the year 2000 or so introduce one or two of his grandchildren (I'm assuming) to Levon when the Barn Burners were in town to play an outdoor gig on a very warm Sunday afternoon. But as the newspage obit said, from the excerpt that Bob W provided, Serge was well-known on the music scene here. Still, it was the local bar scene photos that Serge took of Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks in the late '50s and early '60s that I'm grateful for because they reminded me of those wonderful times I spent at the Brass Rail Tavern listening to these wonderful musicians who would become the Band. So thanks, Serge. Those pictures still make me smile.

Entered at Thu Sep 8 02:49:07 CEST 2016 from (96.54.61.38)

BONK

Subject: NUX

Pretty damm good Nux. I would just add the Mavis hand claps.

Entered at Wed Sep 7 23:35:01 CEST 2016 from (86.31.229.95)

Roger

Subject: 500 miles

Mustn't forget staying with Dunc in Scotland!

Entered at Wed Sep 7 23:33:16 CEST 2016 from (86.31.229.95)

Roger

Subject: Don't book the jobs too far apart...

Bob, RoseAnn could stay at Al's then come down and stay at our place in the Midlands then head down to Bournemouth to stay with Peter..

Entered at Wed Sep 7 22:14:42 CEST 2016 from (131.137.35.8)

sadavid

Mr. George indeed steps off on the wrong little foot.
And the SS version is too chipper (insufficiently drunk and dirty).

Entered at Wed Sep 7 22:02:52 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

The Waiting For Columbus version and the Lowell George & Little Feat 1977 YouTube both got dumped in favour of The Sailing Shoes version. Sometimes you just hit perfection. And in 1977, is it me. or does Lowell miss the note on "weeds."

Entered at Wed Sep 7 21:59:49 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Wed Sep 7 21:50:07 CEST 2016 from (131.137.35.8)

sadavid

Subject: Tucumcari on regardless

Partial to this rendition, moi.
Bill Payne's work is so sweet your teeth will hurt.
Mrs V is sadly in error -- slower the better with this one, AND "Alice . . . Alice, Alice" blows the whole gag.

Entered at Wed Sep 7 21:21:01 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Willin'

That was "not available in your region." I spent many happy quarter of an hours over the years on Willin'. Mrs V maintains that the Seatrain version (LINKED) is unbeatable. I'm for the Sailing Shoes version, no question. The version on their first album "Little Feat" always got played too, but was never a contender.

Entered at Wed Sep 7 20:37:02 CEST 2016 from (131.137.35.8)

sadavid

Subject: better than "Roxy"

The future and past of a notable Toronto landmark.

Entered at Wed Sep 7 18:14:48 CEST 2016 from (69.112.112.38)

Bob F

Jeff, the Ray Donovan cast is great with John Voight leading the way. I'm sure everyone knows John Voight's brother is Chip Taylor who wrote Wild Thing. They have another brother who is a famous scientist. Very talented family from Yonkers, New York.

Entered at Wed Sep 7 09:55:37 CEST 2016 from (41.162.7.114)

Nux Schwartz

Subject: The Weight(my version)

Thought you guys might enjoy this.This one is for you Serge! Thinking of putting my Band top ten together,will post as soon as I have.

Entered at Wed Sep 7 04:51:15 CEST 2016 from (67.84.79.88)

Jeff A.

This was a great , short, Sunday night season.
9PM, Ray Donovan on showtime.
1oPM Roadies on showtime,
Then 11 or 12 midnight I'd catch the second showing of The Last Ship on TNT. The first was at 9, against Ray Donovan.

Roadies is over, Ray Donovan & The Last ship have season finales coming.

Entered at Wed Sep 7 02:54:57 CEST 2016 from (24.114.53.221)

Bill M

I don't care what Elves P thinks, I'm down on the Bapto-Methodist autorrect that bowdlerised my "Hell" into "He'll".

Entered at Wed Sep 7 00:58:11 CEST 2016 from (69.112.112.38)

Bob F

Subject: Jackson Browne Willin'

Check out this version of Jackson Browne, Lucius and Greg Leisz doing Willin'. It's so good. He performed this, Mohammed's Radio and Load Out on the season finale of the Showtime series Roadies. I'm not comparing it to Lowell George's version or Linda's or the Byrds but this is something special.

Entered at Wed Sep 7 00:26:12 CEST 2016 from (58.179.14.129)

Andrew Shields

Kevin & Bill Thanks for your cmments on the Gord toppermost. Agree that 'The Way That I feel' is a very fine song,indeed. Just missed cut but could easily have done a Top 20 in this case. It is on the Spotify playlist along with a few other classics which did not make list...

Entered at Tue Sep 6 21:58:30 CEST 2016 from (24.114.51.49)

Bill M

Entered at Tue Sep 6 21:53:43 CEST 2016 from (67.84.79.88)

Jeff A.

Entered at Tue Sep 6 21:19:51 CEST 2016 from (67.84.79.88)

Jeff A.

Joe. What do you have the corner on being dry? Sometimes posters are all washed up, sometimes posters are dry. I kid you not.

Entered at Tue Sep 6 20:29:52 CEST 2016 from (24.224.128.101)

joe j

Jeff, I know you're kidding me. I mean, you know, Wikipedia. Eh?

Entered at Tue Sep 6 15:25:46 CEST 2016 from (100.34.253.103)

PSB

Subject: My Review of the Bloomfield Bio

Bill, It's one of the takes of "Sitting On A Barbed Wire Fence," and the verse goes:

I got this woman in L.A., she really makes the sweat run down my brow

I got this woman out in L.A., she makes the sweat run down my brow

Well, she's good alright but she ain't as good as this guitar player I got right now

Entered at Tue Sep 6 14:19:06 CEST 2016 from (99.244.8.134)

John D

When Serge was healthy we talked a lot on the phone and would get together for a meal when he was in town. I hadn't talked to him for quite sometime and one day decided to call. His wife Maggie answered. She informed he about his condition and told me he wouldn't know who I was. It was very sad to hear. R.I.P. Serge. Thank you for your historical photographs and your love of the Band. Serge and Garth were friends for decades.

Entered at Tue Sep 6 14:12:11 CEST 2016 from (24.114.67.107)

Bill M

Entered at Tue Sep 6 03:28:53 CEST 2016 from (184.66.251.127)

JT

Subject: GB and site builder

Serge was a builder and his input was one of the foundations of this site. His contribution was major. Thank you letting us know, Bob.

Entered at Tue Sep 6 00:01:05 CEST 2016 from (100.14.113.51)

bob w.

More sad news. Posted on Facebook...

Rest in peace......

DANILOFF, Serge Andre - After living with Alzheimer’s disease for many years, Serge Daniloff passed away with family by his side at University Hospital on Sunday, September 4, 2016. Born in Caen, France in 1937, he moved with family to London age 16 years. Enrolled in Beal Art Program, where he enjoyed drawing, painting and sculpting. Serge graduated from the University of Western Ontario. Known on the local music scene with several bands and as a supporter of the music he enjoyed. He leaves his beloved wife Margaret (Maggie) McConnell, son David Daniloff and daughter Natasha Daniloff. Special Papa to Ivan, Kora, Jake and Chloe (deceased 1999). Fondly remembered by his sister Eugenia and many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by sisters Olga, Helen and brother Nicolas. Visitation on Wednesday from 2-4 pm at Harris Funeral Home, 220 St. James St. at Richmond. Panikhida Service on Wednesday at 6:30 pm at the Russian Orthodox Church of Christ the Saviour, 140 Fairview Avenue, where the Funeral Service will take place on Thursday, September 8 at 11 am. Interment Woodland Cemetery. Memorial contributions to the Russian Orthodox Church of Christ the Saviour would be gratefully acknowledged.

Entered at Mon Sep 5 22:38:20 CEST 2016 from (92.20.238.177)

Ragtime

Entered at Mon Sep 5 22:34:32 CEST 2016 from (92.20.238.177)

Ragtime

Subject: Mason Hoffenberg

I read the Wiki entries about KH(HSC) and about Mason Offenberg, but no sign of a connection whatsoever. And I struggled through the Mason Offenberg interview on this site, which in its hilarious albeit erratic ways mentions Levon and Libby Titus (and briefly Garth as "the Van Gogh of music" which makes no sense at all), as well as his (Offenberg's) drinking sessions with Richard. I read Peter Viney's article on KH(HSC), looking for Offenberg's name, but in vain. Is it really true that this one-hit-co-author of an outdated cult book had some influence on their Faulknerish songwriting...?

Entered at Mon Sep 5 22:15:33 CEST 2016 from (24.114.74.29)

Kevin J

Entered at Mon Sep 5 21:09:29 CEST 2016 from (67.84.79.88)

Jeff A.

Joe. Take all wiki with a grain of salt. Anyone, including you, can edit Wiki. and then some one can edit your edit. There is an interview of Mason Hoffenberg by Sam Merrill, on this website.

Entered at Mon Sep 5 20:02:38 CEST 2016 from (24.224.128.101)

joe j

On this Labour Day I reacquainted myself with the lyrics to 'King Harvest' and also checked the Wikipedia entry for the song. Live and learn. The writer, Mason Hoffenberg, is noted as being a member of the group. No doubt he was a huge influence on their songwriting though he seems to have gotten little credit (I hear you Levon). If you're familiar with 'Candy', the book he co-authored with Terry Southern, the inspiration for 'the great triangle' becomes obvious. It might be a worthwhile, and long overdue, academic exercise to further explore Hoffenberg's influence on his bandmates songwriting. Was he still around for 'stampeding cattle'? Absent for 'Islands' (no lyrics for the song)? Was his departure so bitter that he wasn't invited to The Last Waltz?

Entered at Mon Sep 5 17:49:32 CEST 2016 from (100.34.253.103)

PSB

Subject: My Review of the Bloomfield Bio

The link is to my review of Ed Ward's revised and mostly new book on Mike Bloomfield.

Entered at Mon Sep 5 16:28:56 CEST 2016 from (86.128.176.174)

Dunc

Subject: Sandy Denny

Thanks, Roger. Reread the novel and thought it was very good. Didn't know that about Songs of a Taylor.

Liege and Lief is a great album. It was popular up here - I think it helped give folk a cool image again. May be wrong in that. I bought it maybe a couple of years after its release. I bought the two earlier Fairport albums with Sandy Denny on them. I heve most of the Sandy Denny solo albums. 'Who Knows Where The Time Goes' is a masterpiece, which I love.

However, I have nothing of Fotheringay. Seemingly she was dominated by Trevor Lucas...and I have read there is filler on the albums.

She must have had considerable influence because she won the Melody Maker best female singer award two years running.

Last five albums played - The Best of Marmalade, Searchers, Troggs, Love Affair and Kinks. Stuck in the sixties. Great stuff.

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Wallsend

Entered at Mon Sep 5 10:08:02 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

It has recently emerged that the song Chest Fever’s lyrics were part of an experiment in early auto correction. Capitol Records linked an IBM Selectric typewriter to its main frame computer (which occupied three floors of the Capitol Tower) and invited a young Robbie Robertson to type out the words to his latest composition. It was called “Chess Fever” and described the thrill of buying new releases on the Chess label by Howlin’ Wolf, Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry. They got somewhat mangled.

Capitol’s scheme was abandoned in the late 1970s when the tracklist for a Band compilation (or Banned compilation, as they had it) came up as:

The Wait

A Canadian drifter would

Misery Rain

Loathsome Floosie

The Knight They Drove Old Dicky Down

Thing Hardest (Has Shirley come?)

This Weal’s On Fire

Daniel & The Scarred Part

Wee Can Talk

WC Walnut Medicine’s Slow

Eye, shell, bee released

The track list was released to the press, and received a glowing preview from Robert Christgau who welcomed their new thematic album which seemed to be on the theme of STDs.

Entered at Mon Sep 5 09:24:27 CEST 2016 from (210.86.96.221)

Rod

Entered at Mon Sep 5 05:22:31 CEST 2016 from (24.114.71.17)

Elves P

Entered at Mon Sep 5 03:21:47 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

Robby Jamy Robinson

Subject: There is no peace

Its only castles burning....

Entered at Mon Sep 5 02:54:14 CEST 2016 from (24.114.71.17)

Elves Parsley

Entered at Mon Sep 5 02:47:08 CEST 2016 from (67.84.79.88)

Jeff A.

http://www.thelastwaltztour.com/

Entered at Mon Sep 5 02:46:04 CEST 2016 from (67.84.79.88)

Jeff A.

Subject: Rod's scoop! Last Waltz Tour

three days, billed with a lastwaltztour.com address linked

Entered at Mon Sep 5 00:21:36 CEST 2016 from (146.171.247.44)

Rod

OMG - Garth Hudson and John Simon are coming to NZ! TLW anniversary concert! 24th Nov!

Entered at Sun Sep 4 23:52:17 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter v

Entered at Sun Sep 4 21:43:10 CEST 2016 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

PV - I've done that! 60's VW van I believe -

Entered at Sun Sep 4 21:28:51 CEST 2016 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

Hi Pat B - Thanks for that; is it much different to the1983 book? Coincidentally I was just playing Junior Parker's Mystery Train vs The Butterfield BB's to the wife to demonstrate some diff versions. And Elvis' too. I like Ed Ward's commentaries in NPR too -

Entered at Sun Sep 4 21:22:30 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Sun Sep 4 21:18:46 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Roger was well ahead of me on getting into Fairport. I never knew they toured with Traffic before, but that must be what led to John Barleycorn Must Die.

I liked Unhalfbricking, for Si tu dois partir, Percy’s Song, A Million Dollar Bash, and who could not love Who Knows Where The Time Goes? After the crash, Dave Swarbrick and Dave Mattacks were the radical change, leading to Liege and Lief. It must be THE most influential British folk album ever, but at the time I actively disliked it … I knew several people with it … and I never owned the LP. I saw one yesterday secondhand at £90 with a sticker saying “pink label Island with “I” design”. The list mint price is £150, but if you’re not a stickler for that first pressing, it was pressed many times over many subsequent years. It was the CD era before I bought a copy.

I never knew they toured with Traffic before, but that must be what led to John Barleycorn Must Die.

Their Ford Transit crash was a lesson to bands. According to roadie folklore (which may well be unreliable), they had a piece of wood under the clutch and brake pedals and over the gas pedal, which roadies did in those days to rest the foot on long motorway runs. Those old long wheelbase Transits required a heavy foot on the gas pedal. I have heard of bands using wood in this way BEFORE the Fairport crash, and it always struck me as incredibly stupid. I heard the story many times in 1970, whispered by roadies in M1 service stations.

Entered at Sun Sep 4 19:15:34 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: Automatic for the people

Bob Dillon and the Beetles will take comfort in knowing that both the marshall and the insects are not suing for disturbing the piece.

Entered at Sun Sep 4 18:33:38 CEST 2016 from (86.31.229.95)

Roger

Subject: Various threads... discussing

Ben - I'll discuss. Fairport Convention were performing in smallish clubs and the university circuit in 1968 - 69. They were a favourite of John Peel on whose radio programme I first heard them. They were gaining a significant reputation in 1969. I saw them them several times around that time at university gigs in London. They recorded three albums in that year; 'What We Did On Our Holidays', 'Unhalfbricking' and 'Liege and Lief'. They even made the charts in August 1969 with 'Si Tu Droit Partir' from 'Unhalfbricking', appearing on the boss TV chart programme, Top of the Pops. By then however, tragedy had struck. In May 1969, driving back to London from a gig in Birmingham, their driver fell asleep at the wheel as they approached London and their Ford Transit van bounced across the M1 motorway, down an embankment and turned upside down. Two people died and it was with amazing luck that the other four in the vehicle survived with comparatively light injuries. Drummer Martin Lamble was killed, as was Richard Thompson's girlfriend, Jeannie Franklin, cousin of Phil Ochs. She was a celebrated tailor based in LA (who, it has been suggested, features as the inspiration for Elton John's 'Tiny Dancer' - "Blue Jean Baby, L. A. lady/Seamstress for the band"). Jack Bruce's first solo album - 'Songs for a Tailor' was named for her.

The group reformed some three months after the accident, and rented a large house in southern England in a deliberate attempt to achieve the atmosphere in which Big Pink had been created. The result was 'Liege and Leaf' - a gem of an album which was remarkably fresh and lives on. So in answer to your question for discussion - no they were never 'The' brit band but they reached far and wide. They've continued to occupy a prominent niche in the folk world and it's arguable that without them, and particularly I believe, their founder, Ashley Hutchings, we'd not have had Steeleye Span or, ultimately, Bellowhead.

As Bill suggests there are significant connections to The Band through Richard Thompson. Ashley Hutchings, who went on to found Steeleye Span and the Albion Band, has spoken of the powerful influence of The Band on their music.

Bill M - Fairport supported Traffic in the UK and north America and the bands clearly influenced each other.

Dunc - yesterday's Guardian had a big feature on John Le Carré. He has an autobiography out this week. I've read all his books. If you've just been rereading them again, did you read 'A Small Town in Germany'? A neglected masterpiece.

Peter - I enjoyed your singles cover article very much. The graffito 'AW' - on the Joe Brown single - could have been scrawled by my sister Ann. We moved to Bournemouth in 1961. I'm envious that you have a near complete collection of Private Eye. I wish I'd kept mine from the early days.

Bob, thanks for The Walcotts. They sound great. If the economics of touring ever permit them to travel to the UK I'll be there. I sadly missed RoseAnn when she visited - we were in Greece. When's she coming back?

Entered at Sun Sep 4 18:12:15 CEST 2016 from (108.88.109.12)

Pat B

Entered at Sun Sep 4 17:51:17 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Entered at Sun Sep 4 17:32:38 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: I hate incorrect corrections by a robot

I wrote Winwood. It changed it to Linwood. (just did it again). Maybe it just doesn't like him as a performer or something.

Entered at Sun Sep 4 13:49:34 CEST 2016 from (114.75.86.78)

Wallsend

Robbie playing Blue Suede Shoes with Paul and Eric.

Entered at Sun Sep 4 07:10:47 CEST 2016 from (24.114.74.29)

Kevin J

Andrew Shields did do a fine job with the Gordon Lightfoot Toppermost article and list........not sure I have ever seen another list at Toppermost or anywhere else on an artist I cared enough to think about such things where the first 4 selections were without any argument ...... After that, it was relaxation time as I knew all was going to be fair...... Well done......7 of 10 for me - which is about as good as it can get with any list of favourites........play "Railroad Trilogy" and "Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald' back to back and just pause and marvel at the greatness.

Entered at Sun Sep 4 06:16:31 CEST 2016 from (184.66.35.201)

JT

Subject: The presence of the lord

Bill M and anyone else who cares: I saw/heard Blind Faith the summer of 69, I believe, in Toronto at Varsity Stadium under a hot sun. Opening band was perhaps band with a one-word name who clearly was not memorable. That was the first time I saw the pink sticker "Clapton is God'. I was most impressed with Steve Linwood though Clapton's playing was amazing. Played if I recall were only Blind Faith songs and Badge did not yet exist.

Entered at Sun Sep 4 05:03:07 CEST 2016 from (24.114.77.142)

Bill M

Peter V: Thanks for the link to Lightfoot on Toppermost. Good article, though I feel strongly that "The Way I Feel" should have made the cut. Sandy Denny's brilliant cover of that brilliant song brings us back to FC. Which brings us to Jack Bruce's "Songs for a Tailor" with its exceptional -and Bandish - "Theme From An Imaginary Western" (which could be half of Big Brown).

Entered at Sun Sep 4 00:54:34 CEST 2016 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

Ben Pike - I recall Richard Thompson commented on the influence of The Band on FC. And Nick Lowe more recently about a big effect on Brinsley Schwarz and some stories about their meeting. As much as Eric Clapton talks about The Band, they didn't seem to infuence his solo projects much. Maybe his brief soujourn in Delaney and Bonnie. His country thing seemed more influenced by the Tulsa crowd - not that The Band were a country outfit per se, but they were never a blues band.

Entered at Sat Sep 3 18:50:11 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Gordon Lightfoot

Excellent article by Andrew Shields on Gordon Lightfoot on Toppermost (linked). Go over and take a look … comment there if you want.

Entered at Sat Sep 3 16:01:13 CEST 2016 from (174.1.58.122)

Lisa

Subject: Peter Haase, con't.

Here's another one he might like.

Entered at Sat Sep 3 15:49:21 CEST 2016 from (174.1.58.122)

Lisa

Subject: Peter Haase

Bonk, I read about Peter Haase's book in (what's left of) the Vancouver Sun newspaper weekend book reviews, and thought Al would like to know about it. Not only because of the subject matter, but because the author sounds a lot like Al himself - brothers under the skin, so to speak.

I don't know if the Sun informs writers that their books are going to be reviewed as a matter of course or not, but he didn't miss this glowing write-up of his book, did he?

Entered at Sat Sep 3 15:10:39 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: So Much For Love

An August 2016 track by The Walcotts linked. I reckon they've not only heard Bellowhead, but seen the videos - though they don't have Bellowhead's raucous edge. Still very good.

Entered at Sat Sep 3 15:06:23 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: The Walcotts

I checked out their YouTube videos (one linked). They're at huge prices on amazon UK, but further down "Vol. 1' is at normal price as an import and I just ordered it.

They may suffer like Bellowhead and Lambchop from the sheer size of the band making touring so expensive, which would be a shame.

Entered at Sat Sep 3 09:30:24 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

I think a lot of it is hindsight. I can't recall them being considered particularly important at the time.The 1968-69 era seems more Traffic, Jethro Tull, The Nice, Spooky Tooth to me. Jethro Tull and Traffic were both adding flutes and a folky air to rock, though with Traffic, John Barleycorn Must Die is 1970, so later. But I can't recall people going "Wow!" to Fairport until Liege and Lief, their third album in 1969, but none of my peer group were into them at the time.

BUT I found a pristine vinyl copy of "Strict Tempo" by Richard Thompson yesterday … one of the only ones I never had.

Entered at Sat Sep 3 08:07:39 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

It’s hard to trace these expressions. I reckon Barry Humphries combined a good ear and memory for ones he’d heard in Australia and in London, with invention. In his stage roles as Dame Edna Everidge and Sir Les Patterson he’s meant to be very fast thinking, and always has different stuff. People do trace them back, and “up shit creek without a paddle” is said to be Australian, World War II … but maybe it’s just a new version of “I’m in shit street” which is older. I’ve known both as long as I can remember. I think “built like a brick shithouse” must pre-date Barry McKenzie too.

So I started googling “up shit creek without a paddle” as CREEKS are American geographical features. It’s recorded in the USA in an 1868 from South Carolina as “our men put old Lincoln up shit creek.” Then in 1939, John Dos Passos wrote: “'Well, we're up shit creek without any paddle'.”

The Australian WW2 variant which was recorded is “up shit creek in a barbed wire canoe with a rusty teaspoon for a paddle" It does seem that some areas prize verbal dexterity and invention more than others … London (with rhyming slang), Liverpool, Australia. They spread out.

I reckon the “big clock” is what you got on retirement … so the reward for a lifetime’s work.

A favourite round here is “(He) thinks (his) shit don’t stink (pause) but it do.” I’ve never heard it with doesn’t / does.

Entered at Sat Sep 3 07:38:35 CEST 2016 from (173.108.230.158)

Ben Pike

Subject: Gene Fairport

Peter, the outpouring of affection for Gene Wilder has been impressive this past week. I can't help noticing virtually all of the work that made him a beloved figure was done 68-75. In that critical period, I believe, all standard bets were off and somebody like Gene Wilder could become a movie star.

Just read a bio on Sandy Denny and they covered the huge impact on Big Pink on the Brit scene. But were Fairport The British Band? Discuss....

Entered at Sat Sep 3 03:20:43 CEST 2016 from (96.54.61.38)

Bonk

Al. My favorite from over there is "you've got a face like a slapped backside" By the way Al. Peter and Mona have no idea how you know about the book 'cause they haven't released it over there. How do you know about it? Cheers, Carl

Entered at Sat Sep 3 02:39:18 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

A favourite of me uncle Denny who would always round off a visit to our house with a big silly grin and announce to all and sundry "Right then folks, I'm going home now...'cos that where I live" before hugging everyone and toddling out of the door.

:-0)

Entered at Sat Sep 3 02:06:07 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Love all this to bits and I certainly never knew about Barry Humphries being responsible for brick shithouse and all those others. I can well see why though knowing Barry Humphries. Trust you to know about all this Pete!!

Predictably - just got to join in with a few old scouse ones all of which used to be in everyday use round by us when I was growing up but you just don't hear them today.

BTW BONK - mention these to your scouse mate who wrote the book. He'll know them all I'm sure!

:-0)

On the toilet theme one of my faves which my mate's eldest brother always used to use and was taken up by all of us. Anyone with good eyesight - "he's got eyes like a shithouse rat" - I've no explanations for that one I'm afraid but always loved it.

Then there's the description of centre-forward who couldn't score a goal to save his life who'd get "he couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo"

Or his team fluking a win " More jam than Hartleys!"

There were loads more but a few i can remember off the top of my head

"Will yer turn them lights off, it's like Blackpool illuminations in here"

"If I don't see you through the week, I'll see you through the window"

"Will yer go on a message for me lad" [Some old dear asking you to go to the shops for some groceries or something like that]

"were you born in a friggin barn?" [a request to someone to close the door

"I wouldn't do that for a big clock" [never could quite work out why a big clock was considered so important]

"Will yer buzz off home, yer mam's got cake" [a favourite of my own nan as she'd try vainly to get me out from under her feet]

"Who knitted your face and dropped a stitch?" [if someone was looking a bit glum]

"The state of you and the price of fish" [if someone was acting a bit high and mighty]

"Act daft and I'll buy yer a coal yard" [never quite worked out why folks used to say this]

"He's got more money than soft Joe" [again never knew who soft Joe actually was but clearly it was someone loaded]

"Shut yer cakehole it's gettin' crummy"

"I was stood there like one of Lewis's"

"You talking to me or chewing a brick?"

He's gorra gob like the Mersey Tunnel" [Said about someone who talks a lot!]

Talking of which - Got to say I've really enjoyed recalling them - even if it's all double dutch to everyone else!!

:-0)

Entered at Sat Sep 3 01:53:59 CEST 2016 from (69.112.112.38)

Bob F

Subject: The Walcotts

Check out this new group The Walcotts. Definitely some Band reverence. Even their name is a tribute.

Entered at Fri Sep 2 21:48:18 CEST 2016 from (86.128.177.152)

Dunc

Subject: Bang like a shithouse door

Enjoyed the cartoon and Barry McKenzie Australiaisms. I remember the film and many of the sayings. I loved 'point Percy at the porcelain'.

It is as Peter states 'bang' like a shithouse door' (in a gale) and means the girl in the song has enthusiasm for sex, a British term I think. Very popular at the time in the local area. I mean the song not the sex. (I think the sex was popular too...so I was told). See definition.

PS I ordered a collection of 60s and 70s Marmalade CD today and Love Affair's greatest hits.

Entered at Fri Sep 2 20:58:57 CEST 2016 from (67.82.198.144)

Shawn

Entered at Fri Sep 2 18:04:25 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Barry McKenzie

I've found a cartoon from the 60s and put it on my "photo holding page". Linked. If you click it will enlarge.

Entered at Fri Sep 2 17:53:54 CEST 2016 from (67.84.79.88)

Jeff A.

Entered at Fri Sep 2 17:52:11 CEST 2016 from (24.69.16.215)

BONK

Hey Bill. Ask the boys if they keep in touch with John Szczygiel. Sax player. Cheers, Carl

Entered at Fri Sep 2 15:47:12 CEST 2016 from (24.114.49.135)

Bill M

Peter V: For what it's worth, I've heard "shake hands with the wife's wedding present" (as opposed to "best friend") around here since high school in the early '70s. I've only heard the "nun's nasty" line once, in northern New South Wales in '82 - but it had "at Easter time" tacked on at the end. A guy who gave me a lift reported hearing it from one of the Outback characters he'd been working with at a mining camp.

Entered at Fri Sep 2 12:56:34 CEST 2016 from (108.30.208.242)

Jed

Entered at Fri Sep 2 12:39:11 CEST 2016 from (203.160.29.153)

Fred

I'm not so sure if he was well known in North America.

However "... built like a brick shithouse" I sure heard that a lot and probably used it once or twice myself.

And as for "up shit creek"...that was used a lot by the father of one of my friends. I may have also heard one of my uncles say it (and some cousins too). I don't recall hearing it said by any of my relatives who were immigrants from non-English speaking parts of the world.

Needless to say I have taken tours up there many a time!

Entered at Fri Sep 2 12:16:50 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

to be better than a poke in the eye with a burnt stick

to shake hands with the wife's best friend

to be built like a brick shithouse

to feel like a spare prick at a wedding

to read a hygiene publication

Was he ever popular in the USA?

Entered at Fri Sep 2 12:10:47 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

These were in everyday use in Britain by the late 60s, but I think they may originate with the "Barry McKenzie" strip in Private Eye, or if not were spread by it. For Dunc … see page 74 of "Music To Watch Girls By.' That lists some genuine Barry McKenzie sayings (I have Private Eye more or less complete from the mid-60s and found them there). Barry McKenzie was an Australian set adrift in swinging' London and met strange things fortnightly in the cartoon. The strip was written by Barry Humphries (aka Dave Edna Everidge). According to Wiki, the compilation of the strips "The World of Barry McKenzie" was banned in Australia. The character then appeared in a film.

Barry Humphries used some existing Australian expressions (chunder and technicolour yawn both mean "to vomit") and "up shit creek without a paddle" predates the strip. He also invented new ones though the line between invention and borrowing from existing expressions is blurred. For example, Barry McKenzie's expression for "I'm thirsty" was "I'm as dry as a nun's nasty' and "To urinate" becomes "to point percy at the porcelain."

I'd be grateful for enlightenment from our Australians. Men At Work said "Down Under" was inspired by Barry McKenzie.

Entered at Fri Sep 2 11:04:26 CEST 2016 from (86.168.32.31)

Dunc

Subject: Bang like a shithouse door, Skeets Boliver

This was my favourite band, although I was in my late teens by then. They could really play. Takes me back to a crowded, tiny hall in small hotel.

Al and I will get the meaning of the song. I think it is originally a North of England term referring back to the era of outside toilets. The name has been changed to get past YouTube censors.

One of the members of the band became one of Scotland's greatest singer songwriters.

Entered at Fri Sep 2 10:26:33 CEST 2016 from (86.168.32.31)

Dunc

Subject: Marmalade

Thanks everybody. I never saw many of those Glasgow/West Coast bands, unless they became bigger and played the whole of the country. Marmalade went to London.

What about some help from the American cousins? Is 'Reflections' now a song related to the Vietnam veterans and how did this happen?

The bands I saw would emanate from Dundee, Fife, Aberdeen and Edinburgh. The Bay City Rollers were a ballroom band. I've heard that Skeets Boliver and Sleaze Band singles are rare. Jim Kelly was a Dundonian who became lead guitarist in Honeybus. The AWB also would develop their craft in Scotland, although they were resident in England too.

If you think of the social clubs, football clubs, bowling clubs, golf clubs, works' clubs etc who needed bands for Fri, Sat and Sun nights then there was a huge demand for bands and some of those would get to the top.

I reread your excerpt, Peter. I reminisced when reading about the Christian leader at the youth club. Always serious guys with hearts of gold who took some shit from their adolescent clientele.

Thanks, Westcoaster, I was thinking about you last week. Travelled through Steve's country then went for a sail around Ailsa Craig, a volcanic plug off the West coast of Scotland.

Entered at Fri Sep 2 06:07:52 CEST 2016 from (203.10.111.131)

Doug

Jeff A and Peter V, thanks for following up on my comments on Nucleus Interesting stuff on Mike Clark. 100 pds for a Nucleus lp?? Wow. I turfed mine out with a lot of others of similar vintage a few years ago. Here in Oz, that means putting junk on the path for a council clean up that happens 3 or 4 times a year. People drive around scavenging for anything of value, and I do remember that the lp's had a very short shelf life on that path.

Entered at Fri Sep 2 05:37:05 CEST 2016 from (24.114.49.135)

Bill M

Nice to see "Reflections Of My Life" getting some respect. I still have my 45. Hadn't thought of it as a Vietnam song before, but Dunc's on to something. For whatever reason it made me think of "The Green Green Grass Of Home", which seems likely to be a Vietnam song too. I'd always placed that one in an earlier time, mostly, I realise, because an English teacher in grade 7 or 8 (i.e., when I was 12 or 13) had us considering it alongside a Robert Frost poem, "The Slave's Dream".

Bonk: The current plan is for me to meet up with Denny, Jerry and Les from Zarathustra at a bar on Roncies on Wednesday. Just to shoot the shit.

Entered at Fri Sep 2 00:56:43 CEST 2016 from (82.18.230.252)

Ian W

My wife saw Dean Ford and the Gaylords and said they were very good.

Entered at Thu Sep 1 23:50:39 CEST 2016 from (114.75.209.45)

Wallsend

Just came across this clip of Tom Jones and CSNY doing Long Time Gone from 1969. Surprisingly good I thought.

Entered at Thu Sep 1 22:43:45 CEST 2016 from (77.102.201.158)

Al Edge

Dunc

Agree totally. As good as a pop ballad gets. Perfection from beginning to end for me. Captivated the first time I ever heard it. Phenomenal yet so criminally underrated. I've always had it close to hand. On nearly every collection I've ever done both tape and CD.

Cousin Norman though is a different matter entirely!!

:-0)

Entered at Thu Sep 1 21:22:39 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

On Glasgow and music– I must have mentioned our piano tuner, now deceased, before. He was known as "Jock" (unoriginally), and also did the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra's pianos. Jock always asked whether we wanted "classical tuning" or "dance band tuning" the latter being slightly sharp. Jock always regaled me with non-stop unrepeatable jokes and unrepeatable tales involving dance bands in Glasgow in the 1950s, in which he played piano. Pre-rock era, but it still sounded like a lot of fun.

Entered at Thu Sep 1 18:16:51 CEST 2016 from (67.84.79.244)

Jeff A.

Bill Wyman interview linked.

Entered at Thu Sep 1 10:39:26 CEST 2016 from (86.168.32.31)

Dunc

Subject: Dean Ford and the Gaylords

Peter's post got me YouTubing yesterday. I think one of the band members who signed the Studio Six album lives not far from where I am.

The Glasgow and District scene was a good breeding ground for bands, many of the songs have lasted. I noticed that 'Stuck in The middle with You' has received over 50 million hits on YouTube, a phenomenal number.

I never saw Dean Ford and the Gaylords, who became Marmalade. They would be in competition with Studio Six and the Poets, who I saw and were signed by Andrew Loog Oldham. If a band began to make it big, the move to London was inevitable.

I think 'Reflections of My Life' is a wonderful song with a great guitar solo. Listening to it over the years, I noticed that the song seems to have become almost a Remembrance song for Vietnam veterans. It is very moving.

I googled yesterday and found that 'the song's lyrics appeared frequently in John T Halliday's book 'Flying Through Midnight' a memoir of a Vietnam War Veteran.

The power of music...from Glasgow dance halls to a poignant vehicle for Remembrance.

Could anybody shine further light on why this has occurred?

It is a great song.

Entered at Thu Sep 1 09:33:19 CEST 2016 from (82.69.47.175)

Peter V

Subject: Vertigo swirl label

Ah, that's Vertigo label, Doug. Link to a dedicated website. Even the inner sleeves had the swirl. It started with Colosseum's Valentyne Suite, Juicy Lucy and Manfred Mann Chapter III, the last being the one I bought on release.

It's one of the most collectible labels, partly because of that swirl label, but mainly because a lot was folk-psych, or on the prog-jazz border. Reputedly some LPs were done in runs of only 1000 copies worldwide even though it was owned by the mighty Philips/ Phonogram group. The valuable records are mainly swirl centres, or the Roger Dean illustrated centre that follows it. Dire Straits was on Vertigo, but no, there are too many about to be valuable.

The most common swirl LP by a mile is the first Black Sabbath. Nucleus? Well, in mint condition, the first three are rated at £175 to £200 each. They have to retain the swirl inner sleeve. I saw some last year with records in "very good" condition (the third quality level after excellent and mint) and they were still asking around £100 each. Way too much for me, even though I saw them live back in the day.

Entered at Thu Sep 1 04:12:36 CEST 2016 from (67.84.79.244)

Jeff A.

Entered at Thu Sep 1 03:36:15 CEST 2016 from (67.84.79.244)

Jeff A.

Subject: Mike Clark, & a pile of interviews well worth reading ( Doug, you prompted this)

Doug- jazz rock huh... Fusion? Funk Rock? Remember Herbie Hancock's HeadHunters, & Brand X? Remember Mike Clark, the HeadHunter's drummer, & the drummer who alternated in the drum spot in Brand X with Phil Collins .BTW, Collins doesn't get near Mike Clark. I had the golden opportunity to see Mike Clark play in a blues / jazz trio of badasses, in really intimate settings with great sound, in late May or early June, and again in late July.First time I've seen him play since a Brand X show at the Bottom Line in the late 70s. (Honestly, the only reason I went to the Brand X show was my cousin's band, The Alan Harris Band, based up in Pine Hill , N.Y. at the time, opened the show ( Rob Leon, Christine Cordone, Alan, Mike Kimmel- my cousin,others...).) Clark has cancer now, and is now undergoing treatment. You never would have known he wasn't feeling well at these shows.... From what I know, he is responding well to his treatments....

http://jazztruth.blogspot.com/2010/08/mike-clark-interview.html

http://musicguy247.typepad.com/my-blog/2016/02/an-interview-with-drummer-mike-clark-jazz-funk-blues-headhunters.html

http://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2016/02/mike-clark-interview

Entered at Thu Sep 1 02:47:59 CEST 2016 from (208.181.205.134)

Rockin Chair

Subject: An' Don't Forget

Gene Wilder's part in Blazing Saddles was unsurpassed. A washed up drunk of a gun fighter who had been shot in the ass by a little kid?!?!

Some of the scenes him and Richard Prior pulled off in "Hear No Evil - See No Evil" were brilliant....Jesus, who writes that stuff/:-)

Entered at Thu Sep 1 00:48:34 CEST 2016 from (203.10.111.131)

Doug

Reading discussion on singles and their labels etc made me think of my phase as a jazz rock fan in the early seventies. I owned a Nucleus lp (We'll Talk About It Later) which had a label that looked like a vortex when spinning on the record player. I could spend what seemed like hours just looking at it. Can't do that with mp3

Entered at Thu Sep 1 00:46:47 CEST 2016 from (63.142.158.9)

JQ

Man he was so naturally funny and deeply comedic in any performance. The Producers and Young Frank stand out, not just for his stuff but for the stories. His role as a Rabbi in Frisco Kid remains a favorite, maybe the movie was not as good story-wise but worth it for GW stand alone. His bit in Bonnie and Clyde was a great performance, amongst others, in that film too.

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