Occasionally you just get to a point when you are overworked, overtired, and overcommited. I have reached this point where the sheer force of off-campus commitments is starting to seep into my daily life. And now as I sit in front of my computer at this early morning hour preoccupied about said off and on campus commitments I seriously need a nice panacea. Now, since I do not take drugs (and plus those are not a complete cure) music is my crutch. Nothing like putting some music on to simply relax you. Now, to lift myself up out of the jumbled and crowded cave, here is a song I always turn to, to calm me down. “Somewhere over the Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole.
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Herb Wise’s Photographic Exploration of Musicians
17 SepHerb Wise is one of better photographers in rock n’ roll. Over the course of his career he traveled and photographed some of rock’s famous musicians, using kindness and dedication to earn respect from the musician’s he was photographing.
About his travels, “”You’d like many of these people,” said Wise. “They are good friends, even to know them through a brief glance along the way.”
In a new book being released Oct. 1 by Omnibus press, rare photographs of “People You’d Like to Know,” including Bob Dylan, John Lee Hooker and Blondie will be featured in wonderful black and white captures.
A celebration of the book opening will be held In Morrison Hotel in New York City on October 28 and at the event prints will be on display.
There is nothing quite like rock photography. Attempting to capture some of the best 20th century musicians is as easy as going to a concert with a good camera. But, getting close-up, personal and comfortable shots of musiciansis a skill that is not easy to come by. Herb Wise honed this skill over his many years as a photographer and this compilation of his photos is sure to be fantastic. Here is one of my favorite photographs of Chuck Berry.
Chuck Berry, 1979, in New Orleans at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Credit: Herb Wise
I will be up in Ithaca visiting my brother this weekend. Have a good weekend and I will meet up with you on Monday.
Six Degrees of Your Ipod #3: The Glorious Return
16 Sep
Will this be one of the songs? I don't know. This post is happening in real time
I forgot how much I liked this post category. It was lost in all of the song of the days and court links over the summer. But, in searching for something to post today I came across this category and chose it for a solid Thursday post. By the way, my laptop had a slight problem around two weeks ago that caused my file of lyricists to be deleted. So, I need to create a new list. Top 100 lyricists will be back, but, not for a while. Now let us explore how the first and sixth song that randomly appear on my Ipod relate to each other. The Six Degrees of Kevin…I mean…your Ipod
1.) “10538 Overture” by Electric Light Orchestra
“10538 Overture” was the first single released by Electric Light Orchestra. This song was actually intended to appear as the B-Side of one of The Move’s (British rock band featuring Roy Wood) singles. Rick Price, of the Move, played bass on the track but was never credited because in edits the bass line was lost and ELO everything Jeff Lynne had to lay down a new track. The song, about an escaped prisoner, is perhaps best known for its fantastic guitar riff and cello. Lynne writes, “I had this guitar track, like a real big riff on a guitar. I laid it down in the studio and Roy Wood got his cello, his Chinese cello, and he overdubbed about fifteen cello riffs, just double tracking all the time– and it sounded fantastic. We thought, it was like ‘Wow!’ and we just sat round playing it for days.”
2.) “Dominoes” by Syd Barrett
3.) “Home” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
4.) “That is Moves” by Greg Laswell
5.) “And Your Bird Can Sing” by The Beatles
6.) “Groovin” by the Young Rascals
Ah, 1967. The Young Rascals release the future number one hit, “Groovin” a classic 60’s song about love and a calm summer afternoon. The ultimate 60’s chill song written by Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati. It also has some excellent diversity. The song includes elements of Afro-Cuban music including a Cuban-based bass guitar line from session musician Chuck Rainey.
The Connection:
Okay, this may not please everyone but these two bands are connected more on their music then their members. Let me explain. The Young Rascals hail from New Jersey. ELO is from Birmingham, England. It’s going to be tough to connect them. But, let’s look at these two songs more in depth. The Rascals, who were always considered blue eyed soul, release this new song with Afro-Cuban beats and a relaxed groove that is completely different than their white-soul roots. So much so that Atlantic Records head Jerry Wexler initially did not want to release the song. Flash forward five years and ELO is taking normal rock n’ roll and adding horns and strings to it in order to create a different classical sound. Both bands expanded their genre and had success. That, to me, is connection enough.
There’s Something Happening Here – Buffalo Springfield Reunion
14 SepWell, the Jets home opener did not go as well as it could of. A loss combined with the loss of a fantastic defensive force in Kris Jenkins has left Jets’ fans pessimistic. But, like I have said, let’s wait to see how things go next week. But, do you want some good news Jets fans.
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/17386/202900
Ah, yeah!
It may have been 42 years too long, but, Buffalo Springfield will reunite for Neil Young’s Bridge School Benefit in Mountain View, California on Oct. 23 and 24. Original members Neil Young, Stephen Stills and Richie Furay will perform.
According to Furay, Young’s longtime bassist Rick Rosas will sit in for the late Bruce Palmer and Crosby, Stills and Nash drummer Joe Vitale will substitute for the late Dewey Martin.
Furay said in regards to the concert, “I called (after Neil Young asked him to call) and he asked me if I’d be up for a reunion at the Bridge School Benefit. He said, ‘If you’re into it, I think Stephen will be into it.’ The three of us then arranged a conference call, chit-chatted for a few minutes, and planned it all out. The last time I was on-stage with them was the last Buffalo Springfield show at the Long Beach Arena back in 1968. Our lives have gone in different directions and I wouldn’t say that we’re close friends, but we’re friends and its an opportunity for us to get together again for a good cause. I’m very excited.”
While I will not be able to attend the benefit I am quite excited to hear this news. Maybe a tour? Man, that would be awesome. And then the remaining members of the Byrds can get together, add Graham Nash and play a tri-show between the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and an encore of Crosby Stills Nash Young and Friends. Well, a man can dream.
“The setlist will probably be composed of the three albums, though probably more of the first album with a few of the second album and maybe ‘On The Way Home’ from the last one,” said Furay. I really have no idea, though. I’m just going to show up and have a good time.”
Will they listen to me and tour after the benefit?
“Whether anything happens after this, I certainly don’t know. Generally speaking, it’s Neil that gets these things set up and happening. We’re not really saying ‘Hey New York and Chicago and Miami and Denver, we’re coming to your city.”
Well, it is not a no.
Here is some classic Springfield (the Buffalo kind) to brighten up your night.
It’s time to “Get it On”
13 SepFootball is back. Those three words are just so sweet for fans. Putting on that lightweight mesh material with your team’s logo on the front and a player’s name and number on the back is just invigorating. You know you will be in for a season of getting Queso dip on that jersey and tossing the jersey when your team plays poorly. As consistent readers of the blog may be able to tell you, I am a New York Jets Fan. Yes, the over-hyped team of the off-season. Well, as Jets fans can tell you, it does not matter how much hype is on this team, they are still our poor Jets, our “Same ol’ Jets” until they can prove something different. This may be the year that they do just that.
It’s Monday, and while most football crowded CBS and Fox yesterday, the Jets and Baltimore Ravens face off tonight on Monday Night. But, instead of doing the obvious and picking some Hank Williams Jr. for the blog post today, I thought I would try to be clever. Instead, in honor of our sexy coach, here is T-Rex performing “Get it On,” something I hope comes sooner rather than later, because I am getting impatient.
Now, this is a great song minus the weird British club dancers in the background. Released in 1971, “Get it On” was written by glam-rocker Marc Bolan. Bolan was an exceptional talent, a true visionary who was taken from the world at only 30 years old. It saw tremendous success in the UK (#1) and is certainly the group’s best known song. It hit #10 on the charts in the U.S.
This performance is from Top of the Pops (a British music chart television program). And, yes, that is Elton John playing with them as a guest musicians. Interesting story though, not about Elton John. On the record, the piano glissando (a glide from one pitch to another) was performed by Rick Wakeman. Wakeman, best known as YES’s keyboardist, was desperate for work at the time and needed to pay his rent. He bumped into Bolan on the street and Bolan offered him the session. “Wakeman pointed out to Tony Visconti that the record didn’t actually need a piano player. Visconti suggested that he could add a gliss, Wakeman said that Visconti could do that to which Bolan replied “you want your rent, don’t you?”” (credit: Wikipedia). Funny story. Bolan took the job and made some cash.
So, enjoy the music and, as always, J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!
The Music Court 