Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Two-fer Tuesday: Heart

How about something from Heart since Nancy is divorcing Cameron Crowe. Don't even start me on the report I heard on the radio last night annoucing this. "When her and he announced..." okay, so I started. Seriously, this is what "journalism" has come to in this country?

Never. NEVER!

Growing up, there were all sorts of women's voices coming out of the radio, but none were as strong as those of Ann and Nancy Wilson. Sure there were "Dreamboat Annie" and "Dog and Butterfly", but there were also kick ass songs like "Barracuda", "Kick It Out", "Magic Man", "Crazy On You", "Heartless", and "Straight On". Those were songs you weren't hearing from anyone else. The Wilson sisters stoked the flames of indepence in a young girl's heart, even while allowing her to dream of the sweeter, more romantic side of life.

Thank God these ladies are still rockin' it out. Where would we be without them?

Don't know what went wrong between the Wilson/Crowes, but somehow or other, they're gonna have to split everything up...they're gonna have to even it out in divorce court.



Hey you! Yes, you, Nancy! Shine on.



We need one more, don't we? Yeah. Can't leave things so mellow. I mean, WTF is up with that?

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Two-fer Tuesday: Jimmy Thackery

I've seen Jimmy Thackery in concert several times now and I'm always amazed at the depth and breadth of his catalogue. He can be so very subtle and then he can slash and burn the land for miles around with just a few notes. He's been doing this for how many years? I dunno. What I do know, though, is I hope he doesn't think of retiring any time soon.

This first tune is dedicated to my friend, Curtis of the Stoney Curtis band, who also does a bang up version during his show.



And this tune? It's beautifully heavy.


Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Two-fer Tuesday: Kool & the Gang

How can anyone possibly listen to this first tune and not want to get up and dance? There's something inherently enticing about that groove and those horns that reaches into one's soul and prompts the movement of feet and arms and hips.




I wish I could remember where I was the first time I heard "Hollywood Swingin'", but I don't. I was seven years old, just moving to California, and it was likely played on KCBQ at some point, wherein I started doing my little white girl dance alone in my bedroom. Guess that's not a bad memory to have. At least I had good taste in music!

Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't include "Celebration" in this little party. Another danceable tune if there ever was one. In fact, it's such a fun, catchy song that the San Diego Zoo uses it in their sea lion show. So, yeah...I often envision a sea lion dancing along. (Shake it off, girl, and just dance!)

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Top 5 Music Documentaries

T-Bone's Prime Cuts has a monthly Top 5 Day. This month, it's documentaries. I could totally get behind this one! However, when I commented, I hit enter before I finished my list. So here's the complete list along with some of my thoughts.

1. Lightning in a Bottle - it's the blues, baby. They cover a lot of ground and it's a thing of beauty. Yes, it would have been easier to pick Martin Scorsese's The Blues, but that's not the kind of girl I am.

2. End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones - easily one of THE most defining bands of the 70s. I was an early fan and I remain one to this day. I passed along the Ramones jones to my son and I'm proud of that. You can never have "too much" of the Ramones.

3. Tom Dowd & The Language Of Music - Tom Dowd was definitely the man to see if you wanted your music to sound real. He understood the essence of a song and the essence of an artist. His fingerprints are all over some of the greatest music ever recorded.

4. Runnin' Down A Dream: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - if you're not a Petty fan before you watch this, you will be after. I started off young, so there's never been any hope for me. This doco answers a lot of the questions I always wanted to ask.

The next two documentaries rank very high for me and thus tie for the #5 position.

5a. Buena Vista Social Club - I blame my grandfather for this one. The rhythms, the feeling, the musicians, they all speak to and from the heart.

5b. Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars - I fell in love with the song "Soda Soap" after listening to a clip in some PR package several years ago. I started digging around, found many clips from the doco online, watched, and was hooked. I bought the CD and it's been a regular listen ever since. Not long after seeing the online footage, I caught the full documentary on PBS. The DVD was an easy purchase. (It was also an easy steal, apparently, as I loaned it out and the borrower suddenly couldn't find it when I asked for it back.)

What are your favorite music documentaries? Leave a comment here and then go over to T-Bone's Prime Cuts to let him know, too.

Saturday, September 11, 2010

In Remembrance of September 11, 2001

Music has always been my healer; so it was when I was a child, so it was in the days after 9/11, and so it is still.

I've long pondered the prescience of John Denver's lyrics and came to the conclusion that some events seem to repeat themselves, or at least the magnitude of the events and the similarities...for ill or for good. Anyhow, all I know is that "Rhymes & Reasons" is THE tune I return to time and time again when it comes to remembering the events of and the lives lost on September 11, 2001.




So you speak to me of sadness
And the coming of the winter
Fear that is within you now
It seems to never end
And the dreams that have escaped you
And the hope that you’ve forgotten
You tell me that you need me now
You want to be my friend

And you wonder where we’re going
Where’s the rhyme and where’s the reason
And it’s you cannot accept
It is here we must begin
To seek the wisdom of the children
And the graceful way of flowers in the wind

For the children and the flowers
Are my sisters and my brothers
Their laughter and their loveliness
Could clear a cloudy day

Like the music of the mountains
And the colours of the rainbow
They’re a promise of the future
And a blessing for today
Though the cities start to crumble
And the towers fall around us
The sun is slowly fading
And it’s colder than the sea

It is written from the desert
To the mountains they shall lead us
By the hand and by the heart
They will comfort you and me
In their innocence and trusting
They will teach us to be free

For the children and the flowers
Are my sisters and my brothers
Their laughter and their loveliness
Could clear a cloudy day

And the song that I am singing
Is a prayer to non-believers
Come and stand beside us
We can find a better way


The other song that resonates deeply for me touches upon the void left within our lives.



And finally, one of my new favorite songs, which was written specifically in remembrance of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, is from Tony "The Fretless Monster" Franklin. The song is "Never Be The Same". The story behind "Never Be The Same" is also available on Tony's Myspace blog.

Peace to all.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Two-fer Tuesday: The Monkees

When I was a little girl, I was a huge fan of the Monkees. Didn't matter that they were big around the time I was in diapers, I knew what I liked. I still know what I like and, dammit, I like the Monkees.

They were the pre-Fab Four to some. A major joke to others. But to millions of fans, they were every bit as deserving of accolades as any other band. I've seen them in concert. Twice.

Their first single, "Last Train To Clarksville", was released August 1966, just months after I was born. You know what? It's a good song! It was good then and it's good now.

Witness:




I can't quite seem to locate a video for "Peter Percival Patterson's Pet Pig Porky" that's anything other than static images, so let's go with another forgotten gem.



Tell me that's not genius!

Super extra bonus video time!



And I fully admit to copping Davy's dance moves from this particular video. Yes, that's right. C'mon down and catch me just about any Thursday night at the local blues joint and you'll see me throw this out for at least a couple songs. For real.




I would have loved to included "(Not Your) Steppin' Stone", but there's a dearth of quality clips available for that one. Same with "Auntie Grizelda" and "Shades of Gray" and a million others.

Once upon a time I owned the entire Monkess collection. On vinyl. Uh huh. I know. Hardcore Monkees fan here.

There are only two rules when you belong to this club:

1) You never utter the other foursome's name in the same sentence as the Monkees.

and

2) Don't ask, "so who's your favorite?"
_____

Written by Mickey Dolenz, "Randy Scouse Git" is another sneaky favorite.