There's Always 2017...Oh Wait...

I have a confession to make. I had a bad year. I thought about really letting the words flow, you know? Getting it all out. Seeing what you had to offer in return. But then I thought, that has potential to be dangerous. So I'll keep it simple.

Take a look around you. If you see someone who has treated you kindly, someone who has exhibited patience, someone who has dropped his own soul-crippling baggage to be there for you, someone who makes you laugh, someone who got your back...consider yourself lucky and do whatever it takes to keep that person around. Good people are not a dime a dozen.


A very happy and healthy new year to all of you! Thank you for sticking around and for having patience. Burning Wood is nothing without you.




January 6, Pat Harrington Jr, 86, Actor
January 8, Otis Clay, 73, Singer
January 10, David Bowie, 69, Rock icon
January 14, Alan Rickman, 69, Actor
January 14, Rene Angelil, 73, husband and manager for Celine Dion
January 15, Dan Haggerty, 74, Grizzly Adams
January 17, Dale Griffin, 67, drummer for Mott the Hoople
January 18, Glenn Frey, 67, Eagles rocker
January 23, Jimmy Bain, 68, rock bassist
January 25, Abe Vigoda, 94, Actor
January 28, Paul Kantner, 74, founding member of Jefferson Airplane
January 28, Signe Toly Anderson, 74, original member of Jefferson Airplane
January 29, Linus Maurer, 90, cartoonist
January 30, Frank Finlay, 89, Acting great
January 31, Terry Wogan, 77, TV & radio legend
February 2, Bob Elliott, 92, Radio personality
February 3, Maurice White, 74, Earth Wind & Fire star
February 12, Kim Williams, 69, singer/songwriter
February 15, Vanity, 57, Vanity 6 singer
February 17, Andrzej Zulawski, 75, Filmmaker
February 18, Angela "Big Ang" Raiola, 55, actor
February 19, Harper Lee, 89, To Kill A Mockingbird author
February 19, Umberto Eco, 84, Italian Author
February 22, Sonny James, 87, Country artist
February 28, Frank Kelly, 77, Father Ted star
February 28, George Kennedy, 91, Movie great
March 1, Tony Warren, 79, Coronation St creator
March 4, Joey Feek, 40, half of country duo Joey + Rory
March 4, Pat Conroy, 70, Author
March 8, George Martin, 90, Beatles producer
March 11, Keith Emerson, 71, ELP rock legend
March 15, Sylvia Anderson, 88, Lady Penelope
March 16, Frank Sinatra Junior, 72, Sinatra’s singer son
March 17, Paul Daniels, 77, Comedy magician
March 22, Phife Dawg, 45, Lyricist
March 23, Joe Garagiola Sr, 90, baseball player
March 24, Gary Shandling, 66, actor
March 29, Patty Duke, 69, Child star
March 31, Ronnie Corbett, 85, Comedy legend
March 31, Denise Robertson, 83, TV agony aunt
April 2, Leandro Barbieri, 83, Jazz saxophonist
April 3, Erik Bauersfield, 93, Star Wars actor (It's a trap!)
April 6, Merle Haggard, 79, Country legend
April 10, Howard Marks, 70, Author
April 12, David Gest, 62, TV personality
April 17, Doris Roberts, 90, Actress on Everybody Loves Raymond
April 20, Victoria Wood, 62, Comedy genius
April 20, Dwayne Washington, 52, Basketball player
April 20, Joanie “Chyna” Laurer, 46, WWE wrestling legend
April 21, Lonnie Mack, 74, Blues guitar great
April 21, Prince, 57, Pop icon
April 21, Guy Hamilton, 93, Bond director
April 24, Billy Paul, 80, Chart star
May 1, Tommy Kono, 85, weightlifter
May 1, Madeleine LeBeau, 92, French actress
May 8, William Schallert, 93, actor
May 10, Gene Gutowski, 90, film producer and holocaust survivor
May 17, Guy Clark, 74, Country legend
May 19, John Berry, 52, Beastie Boys star
May 19, Alan Young, 96, Mister Ed TV star
May 19, Morley Safer, 84, correspondent
May 21, Nick Menza, 51, Megadeth drummer
May 24, Burt Kwouk, 85, Pink Panther star
May 31, Carla Lane, 87, Liver Birds writer
June 3, Muhammad Ali, 74, Boxing legend
June 6, Peter Shaffer, 90, British playwright
June 6, Theresa Saldana, 61, actress
June 10, Gordie Howe, 88, hockey player
June 10, Margaret Vinci Heldt, 98, creator of beehive hairdo
June 14, Henry McCullough, 72, Wings guitarist
June 15, Lois Duncan, 82, novelist
June 19, Anton Yelchin, 27, Star Trek’s Chekov
June 21, Wayne Jackson, 74, The Memphis Horns
June 23, Michael Herr, 76, screenplay writer
June 24, Bernie Worrell, 72, Funkadelic star
June 27, Bud Spencer, 86, Western actor
June 28, Scotty Moore, 84, Elvis’s guitarist
July 2, Caroline Aherne, 52, Comedy actress
July 2, Michael Cimino, 77, director
July 16, Alan Vega, 78, Suicide punk pioneer
July 16, Nate Thurmond, basketball player
July 24, Marni Nixon, 86, actress
July 25, Tim LaHaye, 90, Left Behind author
July 26, Youree Dell Harris, Miss Cleo
July 30, Gloria DeHaven, 91, actress
August 6, 2016 Pete Fountain, 86, renowned jazz clarinetist
August 13, Kenny Baker, 81, Star Wars’ R2-D2
August 14, Fyvush Finkel, 93, actor
August 15 Dalian Atkinson, 48, Villa cup hero
August 15, Bobby Hutcherson, 75, vibraphonist
August 17, Arthur Hiller, 92, actor
August 22, Toots Thielemans, 94, Harmonica great
August 28, Gene Wilder, 83, Comic genius
August 28, Juan Gabriel, 66, Mexican singer/songwriter
August 28, Harry Fujiwara, 82, wrestler
August 30, Vera Caslavska, 74, gymnist
September 1, Jon Polito, 65, actor
September 5, Hugh O'Brian, 91, actor
September 7, Bobby Chacon, 64, boxer
September 8, Prince Buster, 78, Ska Singer
September 8, Johan Botha, 51, singer
September 8, Lady Chablis, performer
September 11, Alexis Arquette, 47, Transgender actress
September 13, Jack Hofsiss, 65, director
September 16, Edward Albee, 88, playwright
September 16, W.P. Kinsella, 81, Canadian Novelist
September 17, Charmian Carr, 73, Sound of Music’s Liesl
September 24, Stanley "Buckwheat" Dural Jr, 68, zydeco musician
September 25, Arnold Palmer, 87, Golfing legend
September 25, Jean Shepard, 82, Grand Ole Opry
September 25, Jose Fernandez, 24, baseball player
October 3, Joan Marie Johnson, 72, singer
October 9, Aaron Pryor, 60, boxer
October 13, Dario Fo, 90, playwright
October 14, Jean Alexander, 90, Corrie’s Hilda Ogden
October 15, Dennis Byrd, NFL defensive lineman
October 23, Pete Burns, 57, Dead or Alive chart star
October 24, Bobby Vee, 73, 1960s teen idol
October 29, Norman R. Brokaw, 89, talent agent for Elvis, Marilyn Monroe
November 4, Jean-Jacques Perrey, 87, French composer
November 7, Leonard Cohen, 82, Iconic singer & writer
November 11, Robert Vaughn, 83, Veteran actor
November 13, Leon Russell, 74, US rock legend
November 14, Gwen Ifill, 61, news anchor
November 15, Holly Dunn, 59, Country singer
November 15, Mose Allison, 89, pianist/singer
November 16, Mentor Williams, songwriter "Drift Away"
November 18, Sharon Jones, 60, singer
November 23, Ralph Branca, 90, baseball pitcher "shot heard round the world"
November 24, Colonel Abrams, 67, 80s chart star
November 25, Florence Henderson, 82, Brady Bunch star
November 26, Ron Glass, 71, US TV star
November 26, Fritz Weaver, 90, actor
November 28, Grant Tinker, 90, TV producer
December 1, Andrew Sachs, 86, Fawlty Towers star
December 6, Peter Vaughan, 93, Game of Thrones star
December 7, Ian Cartwright, 52, Wolves midfielder
December 8, John Glenn, 95, First to orbit Earth
December 8, Greg Lake, 69, ELP legend
December 10, AA Gill, 62, Writer & critic
December 10, Ian McCaskill, 78, TV weatherman
December 11, Esma Redzepova, 73, singer
December 11, Joe Ligon, 80, singer
December 12, Walter Swinburn, 55, Derby winning jockey
December 13, Alan Thicke, 69, TV star
December 15, Craig Sager, 65, reporter
December 18, Zsa Zsa Gabor, 99, Actress
December 24, Rick Parfitt, 68, Quo Rocker
December 24, John Barfield, 52, baseball player
December 25, George Michael, 53, Singer
December 26, Liz Smith, 95, Actress
December 26, Alphonse Mouzon, 68, Percussionist
December 26, Ricky Harris, Comedian and Actor
December 27, Richard Adams, 96, Author
December 27, B.G. & H.P., soul mates
December 27, Carrie Fisher, 60, Actress
December 28 Debbie Reynolds , Actress

Today's Obsession

 

 

You are the hole in my head
I am the pain in your neck
You are the lump in my throat
I am the aching in your heart
We are tangled
We are stolen
We are living where things are hidden

You are something in my eye
And I am the shiver down your spine
You are on the lick of my lips
And I am on the tip of your tongue
We are tangled
We are stolen
We are buried up to our necks in sand

We are luck
We are fate
We are the feeling you get in the golden state
We are love
We are hate
We are the feeling I get when you walk away
Walk away
Well you are the dream in my nightmare
I am that falling sensation
You are not needles and pills
I am your hangover morning
We are tangled
We are stolen
We are living where things are hidden

We are luck
We are fate
We are the feeling you get in the golden state
We are love
We are hate
We are the feeling I get when you walk away
Walk away
Walk away

You are the hole in my head
You are the pain in your neck
You are the lump in my throat
I am the aching in your heart

George Michael, 1963-2016

This man might have been an easy target, but it's hard to deny his talent. George Michael was a superstar and both "Faith" and "Listen Without Prejudice" remain two brilliant pop highlights from a very bleak musical period. And really, no one should die at 53.

Merry Christmas Everyone

"Oy To The World": Your Annual Non-Traditional Holiday Mix

With a little over a week to go in the year of our devil, 2016, one must wonder just what the hell else could go wrong? The possibilities are endless. You could be a world class optimist and still admit that this year was the pits. Even my good friend BBJ seemed to be a bit down and he's never been one to take shit. But he did empathize with me.

 "I know how you felt last year when you quit the Weekend Mixes. It's a lot of work. I've got about 500 downloads and about 10 comments and/or thank yous."

You think you've got it bad, BBJ? My best, old ex-friend "the troll," anonymously suggested I put a bullet in my head if I thought 2016 was so bad. Jeez! I feel just like George Bailey.


But I digress.


BBJ is taking a well-deserved breather from his stellar work. Thanks for stepping up. I hope your retirement is brief. Don't let the Woodsters get you down. I've decided to give it another go with this non-traditional, mostly hopeful collection of tunes that just might work for Christmas, if you've got an open mind and a patient family.

Merry Christmas to all you fine people. Thanks for all the support. Health and happiness, one thousand times over to all of you. You too, troll. You need it as much as I do. Who are you kidding?

TRACKLIST

Every Kinda People- Robert Palmer
Put The Message In The Box- World Party
North Star- Robert Fripp/Daryl Hall
Up On The Roof- Laura Nyro
The Little Drummer Boy- The Fab Four
Sunset & The Mockingbird- Duke Ellington
Life Is Beautiful- Ryan Adams
Heroes & Villains- Geraint Watkins
Do You Hear What I Hear?- Spiraling
Lovely- Maurice Brown
Low Expectations- The Rails
Got To Be Some Changes Made- The Staple Singers
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear- The Fab Four
Everyday is Christmas- SWAG
Peace In Our Time- Elvis Costello
All Things Must Pass- George Harrison
Old Fashioned Christmas- Duke Pearson
Heroes- David Bowie
American Tune- Allen Toussaint
No More Sad Refrains- Sandy Denny

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2016: Faves and Not So Faves

Let me get right to it. My favorite record of the year is The Flat Five's "It's A World Of Love & Hope." The twisted, often hilarious and occasionally beautiful music of Chris Ligon takes on a whole new life under the care of NRBQ members Scott Ligon (Chris's brother) and Casey McDonough, Alex Hall, and two of the purist voices in music, Nora O'Connor and the otherworldly Kelly Hogan.

The hype sticker on the record describes the band as a "sunshine pop vocal group," but these five people are musicians of the highest order, seamlessly switching from straight 70's pop like "Almond Grove" to cool bebop on "You're Still Joe" to the breezy Brazilian sounds of "This Is Your Night." Chris Ligon's lyrics will take you by surprise, like on the sweet, gorgeous love song "Bottom Buck." The song's harmonies are to die for, as the band sings:

"Whistle while you work, that was her motto, till she won the lotto, now she doesn't work. Said I was a jerk, for smoking potto, she called me crazy Otto, said I was a jerk."

Silly, of course. Also makes you breathe a sigh of relief that "She's Only Five" is an instrumental.
The music is irresistible, as are the voices. No record made me as happy this year, as the Flat Five. AND, they cover this:

I wanted to like The Pretenders record. But leave it to Dan Auerbach to get both a Dr. John record and a Chrissie Hynde record to sound the same. "Alone" has a few good tunes, but the production doesn't work behind Miss Hynde.

Another well-received Drive By Truckers record, another Drive By Truckers record that bores me to tears. This is a band I really, REALLY don't get.

I was very excited about Syd Arthur's "Apricity." I thought their debut sounded like Pink Floyd, Yes and all the good stuff from 60's pop/psych singles. This new one, which has my hero Jason Falkner behind the scenes, sounds very one-note. Another bore.

Iggy Pop's "The Idiot" is one of my favorite records of all time, so it was beyond thrilling to hear something forty years later doing its best to give that record a run for its money. "Post Pop Depression" is not quite "The Idiot," but you couldn't ask for much better from Iggy as he winds down his career. Props to producer Josh Homme for understanding the artist.


I am still getting anonymous threats because I don't like the new Rolling Stones record. It's disturbing to have a troll, especially when you've figured out who it is, or at least have an idea. I still think "Blue & Lonesome" is a big swing and a miss.

And about those Lemon Twigs. Man, did I love that performance on The Tonight Show. But man, does their debut need some work. "Do Hollywood" has a billion great ideas and maybe three songs to show for it. I look forward to record #2.

I can't believe in the year 2016, I'm saying that The Monkees released one of my favorite records of the year. Even more amazing is that the Ben Gibbard track, "Me & Magdalena" might be my favorite song of the year. There are no surprises on "Good Times." Thankfully!! It's The Monkees with some very talented people helping out and it's a blast. In my Top 5.

Another year and another terrific record from Southern Culture On The Skids. Always fun. They can rock. They can get funky and greasey. And Mary Huff can do a number on you with a heartbreak ballad. The new one, "Electric Pinecones," is as good as anything they've done. Try to find it.

Dinosaur Jr.'s "Give A Glimpse Of What Yer Not" screams right out of the box with the opener, "Goin' Down," another fave song of the year. But again, the record fails to sustain. Nothing else is as exciting as track one.

"Nothing More To Say," the debut on Daptone from The Frightnrs should have been a major source of joy for the reggae band from Queens. But soon after its release, singer Dan Klein lost his battle with ALS. What he left behind is one of the best records of the year. Evoking the spirit and sound of some of the great rock steady records from Jamaica, "Nothing More To Say" is a complete joy from top to bottom. In my Top 5 of the year.


Two more records that pleased me were Cheap Trick's "Bang Zoom Crazy Hello" and Margo Price's "Midwest Farner's Daughter." Early visits with the Cheap Trick record had me thinking it was their best record in years. And then my recent revisiting of the record before, 2009's "The Latest" made me realize THAT was their best record in years and "Bang Zoom" was simply a solid return.  As for Margo Price, it's wonderful to hear someone young, smart, clever and talented. Price has an edge, but she has no problem sticking with traditional C&W sounds.  This record can play on shuffle with classic George & Tammy and not feel out of place.

Michael Kiwanuka's debut, "Home Again" might have been my favorite record of 2012. I was so ready for the follow-up, "Love & Hate." It didn't happen. "Love & Hate" has some moments, but too much of it meanders. "Home Again" felt fresh, while "Love & Hate" does not. Good stuff, but a disappointment.

Allen Toussaint's last recordings were captured perfectly by producer Joe Henry on "American Tunes." This record is both stunningly beautiful and an absolute joy. Toussaint is a master and even at 76, hadn't lost a bit of his chops on piano. He turns American standards and New Orleans classics into something all his own. One reader mentioned how he didn't think we needed another version of Paul Simon's "American Tune," but then changed his mind after hearing Toussaint's heartbreaking take. One of the top five records of my year.

Lydia Loveless released one fantastic set of tunes on this year's "Real." Not quite as traditional as Margo Price, Loveless still has a bit of twang in her voice as she sings songs that teeter between country and power pop. I want to thank Captain Al for relentlessly pushing this record. It's as good as he's been saying.

Ian Hunter is 77 years old. He continues to stay relevant, writing fresh material that reflects his age and never turns his back on his fans. Not sure I could have wanted for anything more that what I got from "Fingers Crossed." Another top five record of 2016.

The Posies turned in a keyboard driven set of tunes on "Solid States" and gave me one of my favorite Side Ones of the year. Wilco's "Schmilco" started to grow on me, but I decided I had given it enough time to take. It ain't happening and neither is Radiohead's record.

Still have not heard a note off of this year's records from:

P.J. Harvey
Paul Simon
John Doe
Charles Bradley
Corinne Bailey Rae
Teenage Fanclub

The Steven Tyler country record is not as horrible as you think. It's kind of horrible, just not as horrible as you think.

Field Music's "Commonwealth" is a grower. The first cut, "The Noisy Days Are Over" is an absolute killer. And not much else on the record sounds like it. But these brothers have a lot up their sleeves and they execute it beautifully. A great, great record.

The Jayhawks, Dion, William Bell, Mudcrutch and yes, Sting, all put out very fine records this year. So did Bonnie Raitt, which featured another of my fave tracks of the year, "I Knew."

I had hoped to love the Emitt Rhodes, but I don't. I do love a few tunes, though, especially, "Isn't It So."

I also had high hopes for the Shawn Colvin & Steve Earle record. I dig the originals. They missed the mark on the covers.

And finally, David Bowie's "Blackstar," a record that came with a whole lotta baggage. I can't think of an album that evokes so many feelings. Am I listening to the music? Am I searching for clues? Do I like it for the wrong reasons? Eleven months after his death, David Bowie's "Blackstar" remains a solid piece of work from one of my music heroes, but the truth is, I just don't love it.

On the other hand, the cast recording of "Lazarus," featuring theatrical arrangements of Bowie's catalogue, including three unreleased tracks from the "Blackstar" sessions in versions by both the cast and Bowie himself, is one of the great delights of the year.

I don't know if the John Sally Ride record, "A New Set Of Downs" will end up on anyone's "Best Of '17" list, but I am proud of the music on that record. It is also a personal fave of this year, though only three of us have heard it all. Take a listen below this post to the two advanced tracks and hopefully you'll dig it.

I know I am missing a ton of music that was released this year. But this is all I can manage right now.

The John Sally Ride

I've written about the great songs of John Dunbar a few times. A little over a year ago, I was asked to back him for a one-off performance. We asked our friend, Sal Maida, if he'd like to hold bottom. We went over! We inspired each other so much, John thought we should make a record. Sal and I enthusiastically agreed. The John Sally Ride was born and a year later, the album "A New Set Of Downs" was completed.

The two songs above are from the forthcoming record, set for an early 2017 release.

Hope you dig listening as much as we dug making the music.

Songs Of The Week, 2016: 12/10-12/16

Dig A Pony- The Beatles
Move On- David Bowie
Never My Love- The Association
Standing In The Rain- The James Gang
Everybody Knows- Cheap Trick
In The Wee Small Hours Of Sixpence- Procol Harum
Atomic- Blondie

zip

Weekend Mix: Hats Off To Roy

Of course the first time I encountered Roy Harper was as a title for my least favorite song on Led Zeppelin III.

I met my friend Chris in 7th grade. He had a Norelco Carry Corder. The first portable cassette machine. On it he had "Abbey Road", and he let me listen to the "big melody" from side 2.
We've been friends ever since, although last time I saw him in person was 1985.
He started reading Melody Maker and NME. He bought more records than anyone I knew. He had about 30,000 last time I was over.
I spent a lot of time at his house getting educated. Zappa, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Fairport Convention, John Martyn, and Captain Beefheart, to name a few.

He was big into the underground folk scene and that's when I first heard Roy Harper.
"HQ" had just come out, and from the first notes of "The Game" I was hooked.
The band on that record includes John Paul Jones, Bill Bruford, David Gilmour, and Chris Spedding. A supergroup in 1975 at the top of their game behind someone no one's heard of. Except other musicians, apparently.
Roy is an exceptionally gifted musician and songwriter.
He can really play guitar. One reason why Jimmy Page has appeared on five Roy Harper albums.
Their styles meld beautifully.

I didn't keep up with Roy after 1977's "Bullinamingvase".
Punk intervened. In 1978 I was all about "Public Image".

Like an idiot I sold almost all my records in 1991 and started collecting cd's.
In replacing parts of my former collection, and revisiting my roots, I started looking for the things Chris had originally exposed me to.

I used to travel a lot for my job. Whenever I was in a new town I'd check the local record/cd shop and squander some of my employers money . Usually I went right to "A" in search of Kevin Ayers.
It would be an indicator of the depth of their catalog. Next stop, "H" for Roy Harper. It took me years to finally find a cd copy of "HQ". I'd unsuccessfully ordered it at NYCD.
I finally found one at the Virgin Megastore in Times Square.

I have "The Dream Society" (1998), and "Man & Myth" (2013), and both find Roy in good form, but a 20 year gap between songs didn't work for me.

Some background:

"Harper is a terrific songwriter," said one-time manager Peter Jenner, ''But a bit crazy, like all the best people. The great problem for him was seeing all these people who'd nicked his licks doing so much better than he did. People like Jethro Tull, Led Zeppelin and, to some extent, Roger Waters."

Roy Harper was born on 12 June a long time ago in Rusholme, Manchester. His step-mother, a devout Jehovah's Witness, instilled in him a little more than hatred of religion. When not battling with his parents, or fighting at school, he listened to a lot of blues. "Remember, this was a world that was still ethnically separated. I was thirteen and ignorant of the social situation in America, but I felt these records were better than what my own culture was turning out."

At 14, he formed a group, De Boys, with his brothers David and Harry. At 15, home life became too much and he left, lying about his age to join the RAF, where he performed skiffle at camp concerts and ultimately suffered a self-induced nervous breakdown that let to committal in Lancaster Moor Mental Institute.

After a beating (for dressing without permission) Harper escaped in his pyjamas through a bathroom window. Some weeks later, in London he was arrested and jailed for trying to climb the clock tower at St. Pancras Station and sundry other misadventures.

During 1964, after getting out of prison, he busked in North Africa, Europe and London for a year, then graduated to the folk clubs. ''I spent most of my time being thrown out of folk clubs for not being Nana Mouskouri."

In 1966 a small indie label gave him the chance to record 'The Sophisticated Beggar' (Strike), which included 'Committed', a song celebrating his mental condition. The album attracted not only favourable reviews but also the attention of the larger Columbia Records, for whom he quickly recorded 'Come Out Fighting Ghengis Smith' (Columbia) in 1967. "Some of my songs start out nice and suburban," he said concisely summing up its mood, "and suddenly swing violently across to anarchy".

When the more considered 'Folkjokeopus' (Liberty) appeared in 1969, he was already gaining a reputation as an artist who refused to compromise. "When I go to the States", he speculated, "I'm gonna sit in front of the audience and sing 'I Hate the White Man' knowing that probably someone in the audience will get up and aim a gun at my head but, unless you can put your blood on the streets, you're not worth what you're saying".

With Harper's reputation growing, Pink Floyd's manager Peter Jenner signed him to a long-term deal with EMI's 'underground' subsidiary, Harvest. 'Flat Baroque and Berserk' (Harvest), from 1970, featured contributions from The Nice, and included the aforementioned 'I Hate the White Man', now a Harper classic, plus 'Another Day', covered many years later by This Mortal Coil, Kate Bush & Peter Gabriel.

1970 also saw the tribute 'Hats off to Harper' on the album Led Zeppelin III, written by life-long friend Jimmy Page.

1971 brought 'Stormcock' (Harvest), a more mature work given added distinction by sympathetic, evocative string arrangements from David Bedford. Harper also found the time to write the script and music for the socio-realistic film 'Made', in which he starred opposite Carol White. "They wanted somebody who had something more than just a pop singer. There was an incredible list of guys auditioned, starting with Marc Bolan, Kris Kristofferson, Tony Joe White... it's a very strange project," he revealed.

"I became very ill in late '71 and it put paid to my momentum. By the time I

got better and got my wind back, it was 1975." The problem was a rare congenital circulatory disorder (multiple pulmonary arterio-venus fistuli, veins and arteries joined in the lungs). "I can't sing more than half a song without getting terrible pains," he explained to one interviewer. Ever since he's been running one and half mile a day, it hasn't bothered him much though!

In a subsequent interview he recalled that "I was given seven years to live when I was 31, and then the doctor came back to my bedside a fortnight later and said 'I think I'm wrong'. It's been that sort of situation ever since."

The association with Harvest continued through 'Lifemask' (1973) and 'Valentine' (1974) and on February 14 (Valentine's Day) 1974, Harper played the now legendary gig at London's Rainbow, backed by Jimmy Page, Keith Moon and Ronnie Lane. Soon after, he formed the band Trigger, and supported Pink Floyd at the 1975 Knebworth Festival.

In the same year Harper's vocals were heard on Pink Floyd's 'Wish You Were Here' album, singing 'Have a Cigar'. Roger Waters explained, ''A lot of people think I can't sing. I find it hard to pitch... and Roy Harper was recording his own album in another EMI studio at the time, and he's a mate, and we thought he could probably do a job on it.'' He did.

1974 was rounded out with 'Flashes from the Archives of Oblivion' (Harvest), the definitive Harper live double set, including material from the Rainbow gig, the infamous naughty cover and musical contributions from Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull.

The 1975 album 'HQ' (Harvest) featured Trigger, with Harper again aided and abetted by Bedford's orchestral arrangements, plus the Grimethorpe Colliery Band on 'When an Old Cricketer Leaves the Crease'. ''I found it necessary in the last couple of years to boost the Englishness that's around... re-iterate my own Anglo-Saxonness. Old Cricketer is one of the fruits of that.'' With things once more looking good for him, Harper collapsed on stage during the 'HQ' tour, due to a combination of excesses. Fortunately, an excellent compilation, 'Harper 1970-1975' (Harvest), kept his name in front of the public whilst he was out of action and introduced him to many new fans.

In 1976 Harper bought a farm in Hereford and, the following year, was back at full operating efficiency with 'Bullinamingvase' (Harvest). This classic included vocal contributions from Paul and Linda McCartney on 'One of those Days in England', the nearest Harper ever came to a hit single. ''That was a very good period for me. Then I made another record, as a quick follow-up, which the record company and I began to argue about. The argument went on for three years, so I lost my momentum again.''

That album, 'Commercial Breaks', was never released although much of it did turn up later on the compilation 'Loony On The Bus' (Awareness). This was also the era when Harper found himself the victim of unfortunate business deals and "ended up owing my house to the bank. Barclays bank, Hayes, Middlesex, to be exact." He was obliged to sell the farm.

- Science Friction Records.

Besides Roy on vocals and guitar, "Male Chauvinist Pig Blues" features Jimmy Page, Keith Moon, and Ronnie Lane. With the addition of Ian Anderson on flute, the same personnel play on "Home".

Paul, Linda, Wings, and Ronnie Lane contribute to "One Of Those Days In England", and "Watford Gap".

wiki:
"The owners of Watford Gap service station objected to criticism of their food – "Watford Gap, Watford Gap/A plate of grease and a load of crap..." – in the lyrics of the song "Watford Gap", as did an EMI board member who was also a non-executive director of Blue Boar (the owners of the service station). Harper was forced to drop it from future UK copies of the album, though it remained on the US LP and reappeared on a later CD reissues.
Roy claimed the food was "junk, absolute junk. I tried to get the media commentators of the day interested, but none of them would help me because they were all kind of bought off in some way, they were in the pockets of the corporations."
Under duress he replaced it with "Breakfast With You", a song he allegedly described as "pap".

"The Game", "Grownups Are Just Silly Childrem" and "The Spirit Lives" are from "HQ", and feature the aforementioned supergroup.

I can't tell you how many hours I've spent playing the riff to "One Man Rock N Roll Band", or how many songs, "Page-like", I turned it into one of my own.

Roy's music can be experimental, challenging, and not always fun, but it's never superficial.

Here are 12 of my favorites.

Represented here are:

Folkjokeupus (1969)
Flat Baroque And Beserk (1970)
Stormcock (1971)
Valentine (1974)
Flashes From The Archives Of Oblivion (1974)
HQ (UK) When An Old Cricketeer Leaves The Crease (US) 1975
Bullinamingvase (1977)

Enjoy!
-BBJ

Hats Off To Roy

Hats Off To Roy, Too

Highlighting Cheap Trick's "The Latest"

It's been a while since I gave Cheap Trick's 2009 release a spin. I remember thinking at the time that "The Latest" felt like one of their best. I would play a few tracks here and there, the faves from the record like "Everybody Knows" and "Closer," but yesterday, having tracked down a very rare vinyl copy of the record, I decided to give the whole thing a go. Loved it so much, I played it twice, giving Side Two a third spin, a few hours later.  It's been eight years since its release, still in 2009, it could have been considered a late career masterpiece. I still feel that way.

Bet Your Bottom Dollar That Tomorrow....

My father left sporting events early. It didn't matter if it was the World Series or a Knights Of Columbus potato sack race. Beating traffic was the only thing that mattered. To my recollection, it only really backfired once. It was Cap Day, 1971 or 1972, New York Yankees versus the Minnesota Twins. It's been awhile, so I could be off on details, but I do recall the Twins scoring eight runs in the first inning, and with a Yankees team full of superstars like Curt Blefary and Jake Gibbs, it would probably take four games to score the nine runs they needed to win. I think we left in the third inning, much to the chagrin of my uncle and cousin, who joined us, in our car. Yankees beat the odds and won that game 9-8. I heard about that one from my cousin until Cap Day of 1974.

My father's impatience runs through my blood. I try to plan ahead instead of taking things as they come.  I look at set lists for concerts I am about to attend. If the E Street Band has played "Bobby Jean" and "Shout" as the last two songs of the night, every night for two weeks straight, I am leaving at the end of "Thunder Road." This has backfired more than once. I once got a text from my friend that said, "This is amazing!" When I replied, "What is," he knew I was already in a cab while Elvis Costello was duetting with Bruce on the Jackie Wilson classic, "Higher & Higher." I got over it right away. I just felt more disappointed in myself than in missing the performance.

That's not the half of it. I'll do this overthinking with everything. I'll check the 10 day weather forecast, and if I have outdoor plans on Day 9 and I see rain or snow, I agonize for the next 7 days. I'll answer questions I haven't yet asked people and then react to my answer and not their answer. It's no way to live.

When Prince died in April of this year, we had already lost Allen Toussaint and Lemmy at the end of 2015, and then the shock of David Bowie was followed by the shock of Glenn Frey, with Merle Haggard, Maurice White and Paul Kantner soon after. Not to mention Keith Emerson and now Greg Lake, Leon Russell, Leonard Cohen and Sharon Jones. It's not a joke to say, that's just the beginning. The list is literally too long and I know I have neglected mentioning many. We have a little more than half of December to go and with such a short time to go before we kiss the motherfucker known as 2016 goodbye, I am agonizing again. I don't feel comfortable saying the worst is over.

I haven't been a fan of Christmas since I found out Santa wasn't real 12 years ago.The end of a year has always been a time of reflection. But 2016 has eaten a lot of us up and has shat a lot of us out, only to be given one last kick in the face, like the bullet-riddled Sonny Corleone at the toll booths. I'd rather not reflect. I can't recall a worse year.


Should we take the high road and hope for a comeback like the 1978 Yankees? Or do we try to beat the traffic and just save our best for 2017?  It's not in my make to hope for the best, especially when January 20th, 2017 is right around the corner. But as impossible as it is to believe, I think I have run out of ways to bitch and moan. The little energy I have left can certainly be put to better use. "We have one life," as a friend of a friend likes to say. 

Songs Of The Week, 2016: 11/26-12/9

Hasten Down The Wind- Warren Zevon
Daily Bread- Corey Harris
Axe Victim- Be Bop Deluxe
State Of Grace- Billy Joel
Heaven That I'm making- Crowded House
Full Measure- Lovin' Spoonful
Who Are You- Tom Waits
Do You Believe In Magic- The Pogues
Waterloo Sunset- David Bowie
The Neighbor- Jason Falkner
Solider Blue- Julian Cope
Pay It Back- Elvis Costello
Run Devil Run- Paul McCartney
Anyone Who Had A Heart- Dionne Warwick

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Take It On The Arches, 2016: THE WEEKEND MIX

There are 18 artists on this Weekend Mix. They represent some of my favorite songs of 2016. But of the 18 albums represented, there are only 5 that I truly love and would place on a year-end, "Best Of" list. This is the first time I can recall not having any real passion for a solid Top Ten. Some years, I had no problem coming up with a Top Twenty.

I am still working on it, but until then, take a listen, if you are up for it.

zip

I Love When That Happens

I asked a friend, a Ryan Adams expert (my label, not his), for some advice. I wanted to listen to something I hadn't heard before. Adams has many records. I have four of them. I took a peek at what All Music had to say about the records I wasn't familiar with. My friend mentioned how he liked a lot of "29." All Music had this to say about "29":

"After opening with the title track's straight-up rewrite of the Grateful Dead's "Truckin'," it slides into a series of quiet, languid late-night confessionals that all barely register above a murmur. It's like Love Is Hell transported to a folk/country setting, then stripped not only of its sonic texture but also its songwriting skeleton. Apart from "29" and to a lesser extent "Carolina Rain" and "The Sadness," these songs meander with no direction. The songs on 29 never have energy and they always feel incomplete, lacking either a center or a sense of momentum, nor ever conjuring the alluringly weary melancholia that carried Love Is Hell. Instead, it's the first time Adams has sounded completely worn out and spent, bereaved of either the craft or hucksterism at the core of his work."

Hmmm....

As it happens, at this past weekend's record show, someone had a copy of "29" for the right price, so I bought it and have been listening. This record is a beauty. Like my friend, I like a lot of it, with my least favorite tracks being the "Truckin'" rewrite and "The Sadness," both cited (kind of) as the better songs on the record. Strange how we hear music differently.

I will say this. "29" is not an upbeat record. But the songs are powerful. Not having "energy" and "sounding completely worn out" seem like unfair descriptions. Johnny Cash sounded worn out on his Nine Inch Nails cover and that is one of the more powerful songs of the last 25 years.

"29" may not be for everyone, but I was knocked over by some of Adams "confessionals." Two of them are here.

(h/t Zippy)

No Words

Keef On Keefin' On

It's December and rainy and chilly and Monday. These are just four my least favorite things. But, it's not like me to bring everybody down. ~ahem~

Anyway, I woke up to this gorgeous Keith song in my head. It feels appropriate for today and it is certainly a high note of late career Stones.

Plus, I got nothin' else.

Rolling Stones Country: THE WEEKEND MIX

I found a post from 2013, written right about the time the Rolling Stones were about to go on tour. I go on for more than a bit about the same things I went on about just the other day while discussing their new blues record. I mention Jagger trying too hard to stay relevant, jacked up ticket costs, bad live performances, lousy production, age, etc.. But it wasn't all bad. The post, actually a Weekend Mix, ended this way.

"That said, here are a dozen of my favorite Stones songs from the albums that apparently suck. It should not go unnoticed that four and a half tunes are sung by Keith and four are from "Steel Wheels," a real diamond in the doody that is the Stones' 80's output. I'd also like to mention that anyone who dismisses "It's Only Rock & Roll," and especially "Black & Blue," just isn't listening."


This was the tracklist:

Love Is Strong
Hand Of Fate
Worried About You
Luxury
All About You
The Worst
Can't Be Seen
Fingerprint File
Almost Hear You Sigh
Memory Motel
Hold Onto Your Hat
Slipping Away

I knew I wanted to put together a Stones mix, as an antidote to the dreck that is "Blue & Lonesome." A compilation of better blues tunes seemed too obvious. I thought of calling the mix "CBGB," but couldn't come up with one Stones bluegrass tune, at least real bluegrass. I decided on "Rolling Stones Country," which covers a lot of ground while not really straying too far from the theme.

Mick & Keith always sounded great together when singing country harmony. It's not all about that, but you'll get the idea. It could almost be the Stones "Stripped," like the album of the same name, only everything here is from the studio, including a few oddities to keep everyone on their toes.

Enjoy, I hope.

TRACKLIST

Country Honk
Silver Train
Dear Doctor
Back Street Girl
Drift Away
Factory Girl
Shake Your Hips
Let's Spend The Night Together '95
No Expectations
Through The Lonely Nights
Dead Flowers
Sweet Black Angel
You Got The Silver (Mick's Version)
You Win Again
Blinded By Love
Sweet Virginia

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