My Grammy Coverage, One Neat Little Post

By now most of you know I went to the Grammy Awards out in LA last weekend. It seems I've written an awful lot about it and I'm sure some of you...and I know who you are, are saying "yeah, you wrote an AWFUL lot about it."

Settle down, this is it. The fact is this post is number six on the subject. I've posted in several places and, well I'm worried that y'all might have missed one or two, or five, so I thought I would just write this little post with the links to all of them. And yes there will be a quiz.

As part of the Earth Hertz Records crew, I posted two articles on the Earth Hertz blog.

Earth Hertz at The Grammys, The Appetizer and
The Grammys, Party On

Then over at Lefty Pop, I posted Meanwhile at The Grammys

I decided to put more of my 2 cents over at Onstage Magazine with The Grammys Pre-Telecast or What The Awards Show Should Be

And of course I had to rant on Kat's Theory of Life with I Love LA... Wait, What?

One last note. Just before the Grammys,  I had the privilege of interviewing a Grammy nominee who would go on to win a Grammy in the Best New Age Album category. You can read my interview with Laura Sullivan here: An Interview with Grammy Nominee Laura Sullivan

So that about sums up one hell of a weekend. Interesting people, fun events, good food, and two dear friends who made sure my first Grammy experience was a great one. Next year, hopefully we'll be there again... this time cheering for an Earth Hertz artist.

There's No Crying In MixTapes

Friend. 

How you define one becomes the entirety of your relationship.  Trust, loyalty, and respect are essential, but so are just “getting” each other. And there are times when we all need one. Whether to make us laugh, share a good cry, go shopping with, or just give each other the silent communication of the “eye” across a room, it’s good to have one. So when the time comes when that person needs a pick-me-up, you can do one of two things: Open a bottle of champagne, get shit-faced and laugh your ass off, or play them some music.

Today, Jen of My Skewed View, has offered that theme for this week’s Twisted MixTape.

First up, let’s look to Bob, because really… the man had an answer for everything.

Bob Marley “Every Little Thing”

Going back a long way, you cannot help but feel better after hearing this song. It's just not possible.

Poco "Good Feeling To Know"

Sometimes, a little reflection is a good thing. "The morning sun is rising, it's kissing the day"

Journey "Wheel In The Sky"

You need me? 

Sam & Dave "Hold On, I'm Coming"

I've actually sent this song to someone who needed it. I may have used it before on a MixTape too. Sue me, it's perfect.

Allman Brothers "Soulshine"

Feeling better? Good. I'll keep the champagne on ice... for the next time.

Starting Over... in 100 Words

Starting over. Whether it's in your career, a relationship or a document that somehow gets erased from your hard drive, we've all dusted ourselves off and got back to doing it all over again.

In October 1980, John Lennon and Yoko Ono released their Double Fantasy album. Less than two months later, Lennon was murdered. "(Just Like) Starting Over" was the first single released off that album. John thought it was the best representation of where he was in his life, with this album being his first in over five years.

My friend Lance from MyBlogCanBeatUpYourBlog chose this beautiful Lennon song as this week's 100 Word Song Challenge. If you're new to this exercise, we use the song as a prompt to write 100 words of whatever you want. So here we go.

"(Just Like) Starting Over" 

Three months of planning. First in his mind, then sketched on paper, finally a computer image showing every detail, every color. It was nothing more than math really; a little geometry, a little physics, and maybe throw in a little luck.

Six hours so far. Each piece placed carefully, aligning the colors to the blueprint. Nearing the end, Leo could imagine it unfolding.

The media had assembled, it would be a record… if it worked.

“Oh god no.”

The earth shook. A small tremor by California standards, but enough to destroy the domino chain.

Unshaken, Leo began to start again.

Twenty three years since he's gone and there is still a dark hole in my heart. Wish he had more time to be watchin' the wheels go round and round.

Oops, My Bad: Twisted Mixtape Takes On Mistakes

Mistakes. As Frank sang "I've made a few." Some are inconsequential, while some are life changing. Some come with regrets, some are just learning experiences. Mistakes, that is the theme of this week's Tuesday Twisted MixTape.  Jen from MySkewedView is bringing in the New Year with some soul searching. So let's get started.

I think one of the earliest songs I remember of someone regretting something was from the Bee Gees. Before their disco days, they wrote a lot of songs which had strangely odd lyrics. Like the "New York Mining Disaster." Another song was one about a death row prisoner, a great song, but a little out there as far as subject matter.

"I've Gotta Get A Message To You"

"Got a wife and kids in Baltimore Jack, I went out for a ride and I never went back." Yeah, that might be a mistake. Bruce.

"Hungry Heart"

Then there's the mistake of having some illegal party favors in your hotel room. Oops. The Dead.

"Truckin"

Sometimes it's hard to tell if the mistake is in staying... or going. A beautiful song by Tim Buckley.

"I Must Have Been Blind"

And then there's the realization that you know you've made a mistake. Originally recorded by Tyrone Davis, I love the smooth essence that Boz Scaggs brings to it.

"Baby, Can I Change My Mind"

Though they might be about mistakes, there's not one on this list. Turn up the tunes and stay warm.

Foreverly: With Love to Phil

A couple of weeks ago the "uncle" and I were discussing the new album collaboration between Norah Jones, and Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day. The duet album title Foreverly, was a cover of an album originally done by the Everly Brothers. That album was called Songs Our Daddy Taught Us, and it was a compilation of songs that were probably Everly family favorites.

After our talk about the album, the plan was to write a blog post about it. Well other things, including the holidays got in the way. Then last night word came that Phil Everly had died. I expect in the next few days we will all be hearing a lot of the familiar songs by Phil and Don, so I thought here on Kat's Theory of Music, we'd take a listen to the Jones-Armstrong tribute to two of the pioneers of rock music.

When they started to record the album, Jones and Armstrong weren't sure how their harmonies would sound. Norah Jones decided they needed to look at each other as they sang, to see and feel each other's breathing. The first song they recorded was "Long Time Gone," and it's fair to say her idea worked wonderfully. Now nothing comes close to sibling harmonies, think the Everly's, Ann and Nancy Wilson, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, the Coors, and going all the way back to the Andrew Sisters. But Jones and Armstrong found a beautiful balance in their voices where each exhibits its full harmony potential.

As was the case with so many of the songs handed down through the generations, this grouping has its share of sad and melancholy numbers. There is also the feel of old fashioned Americana-Country, where the harmonies let the story be told. This isn't an album of Everly Brothers hit songs, rather it's more of a trip back to discover their roots.

Norah Jones and Billie Joe Armstrong have recorded a surprisingly beautiful album, hopefully it will find an audience to enjoy some songs which influenced two of music's great writers, who brought singing harmony to an entirely new level.

Rest in Peace Phil Everly. May your journey home be a tuneful one.

Stream the entire album here:

Bring on the Palm Trees, Bring on the Music

It's freakin' cold today. Six degrees cold. And there's snow, wind blown snow that needs to be gone. But it ain't leaving any time soon. I need warmth. I need palm trees, I need sun, and those of you who know me realize sunshine is not usually a priority in my life. I could use some today. Or in three weeks.

Three weeks. Twenty-one days, and I'll be leaving on a jet plane. Off to a warmer climate, though the temperature is really just a nice throw-in. No, the reason for me leaving the great state of New Jersey is to fly to Los Angeles. For the Grammy Awards. Yeah.

I'm going to the Grammy Awards. As I have mentioned several times on Kat's Theory of Music, I am part of Earth Hertz Records, and apparently there are some real nice perks. Getting invited to the Grammy Awards is one hell of a nice perk... don't you think? Yeah.

So on January 24th, I'll be flying into LA, and that night the fun begins with a pre-Grammy party. There will be a lot of people to meet, and at this point I'm still a bit overwhelmed. I'm just a writer of a little blog who somehow fell in with some extremely cool people, and together we have a vision for the record business. I'm not sure what made Robert & Eloa Xeno believe I would be the right fit for their company, and I don't even have the words to describe how happy I am that they did.

All arrangements are made, almost all the shopping is done. I have the dress and even more importantly because I will be on my feet for a very, very long time, I have the shoes. Hopefully the hair and nails will be done the day before, and I am begging Mother Nature to calm her ass down with this winter weather shit.

There will be lots to write about, and I hope to bring you all some sort of play-by-play on what it's really like to be Cinderella at the ball.

Just one last thing. Jumping into this record company adventure was a huge leap of faith, for them and me. I've always tried to listen to what my gut tells me. In this case it told me there was a possibility of a real fun journey, and it was all about music. I felt like I was just taking a new path home. If life opens a door, run through it before someone slams it in your face.

Hey, I'm going to the Grammy Awards. Yeah.

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