Category: Music

In the late '50s the sexual revolution was right around the corner, but hadn't yet arrived.  So those late '50s dudes did more dreaming than doing.  The dream theme is well explored in these 'classics':  Dream Lover (Bobby Darin, 1959), Dreamin' (Johnny Burnett, 1960), In Dreams (Roy Orbison), In Dreams (Orbison, live version), All I…

We need a list of 'Reason' titles.  Here are three: You're the Reason I'm Livin; You're the Reason (I Don't Sleep at Night); Reason to Believe.  Last week or so I've been forcing myself to listen to Michael Jackson stuff to see if maybe, just maybe, I may have missed something of merit.  But it's just…

The lately bruited hosannahs to a certain pretender to the throne notwithstanding — may peace finally be upon him — there is but one king.  She Thinks I Still Care.  He'll Have to Go.  This is music with human meaning.

First off, a beautiful version by Joe Satriani.  Admirably restrained given Satriani's incendiary chops.  Then a very satisfying  Leo Kottke-Chet Atkins duet presided over by Garrison Keillor.  Finally the original version by Santo and Johnny, 1959. 

I won't comment on the Phil Spector sentencing. I suggest we avert our eyes from what he has become and remember him as he was in the glory days.  His trademark 'Wall of Sound' is in evidence in Uptown, a Crystals tune from 1962.  The Phil Spector Jukebox is a quick run-through of his amazing body of…

This wonderfully creative but rarely played song by The Lovin' Spoonful dates from 1966.  Six O'Clock is one of the songs that captures for me the 'magic' of those fabulous and far-off days. Same goes for Van Morrison and Them's Here Comes the Night (1965).

See if you can identify the famous sidemen in this live version of Oh Pretty Woman.  My list in the first comment.

Freddie Slack and Will Bradley Trio (1940), Down the Road A Piece. If you like to boogie woogie, I know the place.It's just an old piano and a knocked out bass.The drummer man's a guy they call Eight Beat Mack.And you remember Doc and old "Beat Me Daddy" Slack. Man it's better than chicken fried…

Mike V.: Born to be Wild Peter L.: Smoke Smoke that Cigarette Phil F.: Money

I settled accounts with the Infernal Revenue 'Service' a few days ago.  How about you?  I had to pony up, but that's better than a 'refund.' If you let them take too much and hold your money without paying you for the use of it, then you are, shall we say, ordering your temporal affairs suboptimally.   Time now…

Leonard Cohen, Suzanne. And Jesus was a sailor When he walked upon the water And he spent a long time watching From his lonely wooden tower And when he knew for certain Only drowning men could see him He said "All men will be sailors then Until the sea shall free them" But he himself…

Enjoy.  In order of  appearance: Joan Baez, Leonard Cohen, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Baez impersonating Bob Dylan, Ramblin' Jack Elliot.