Boston: The Sky Is Cryin'

"The sky is cryin.... 

Can't you see the tears roll down the street"

In 1959 blues legend Elmore James wrote a song which would become a standard, performed by... well, just about everyone. And while the song will be featured, today it's not about the song. It's about Boston.

For me, the day was filled with anticipation. I was going into the city for a show I will be reviewing. I'm sure the day was filled with anticipation for the runners in the Boston marathon, their families and friends. As it was Patriot's Day and a holiday in the city, I'm sure thousands of people anticipated a beautiful spring day where the possibilities were endless.

I'm not sure anyone anticipated loss of life, limb and another layer of innocence.

Surely not the father of an eight-year old boy who was waiting at the finish line to smile with love and pride at his dad. A smile that father will now only see in his dreams. As time goes on we will hear the stories of courage, of almosts, of if onlys. Boston has now joined the group in which no city wants to belong. And if you're not from Atlanta, New York, Oklahoma City, D.C., and a few others, you can empathize, you can feel, but you can't quite grasp what it does to your heart, your guts, your soul. And your innocence.

Times heals, and raw emotions slip away. But for today, for Boston, for a little boy's dad and for all of us...
the sky is cryin'

The Voodoo That You Do...So Well

On May 2, 1968 Jimi Hendrix walked into the the Record Plant recording studio in New York City and laid down the tracks for "Voodoo Chile." This epic song would become part of Jimi's legacy known as the Electric Ladyland double album.

After a late night club scene, Hendrix and friends began recording at 7:30 in the morning. Among the friends that night were Steve Winwood (organ), Jack Casady (bass) and Mitch Mitchell (drums). On the first take, Jimi showed them what to do. A broken string interrupted the second take and the third time was the charm.

Over the years many musicians have tried their hand at the guitar licks by Hendrix. Today, we will taste a few of the best.


Listen up:

Stevie Ray Vaughn "Voodoo Chile" ...perhaps the best outside of Jimi
Kenny Wayne Shepherd "Voodoo Chile" ...nice, especially with Noah Hunt doing vocals
Zakk Wilde & Slash "Voodoo Chile"...double guitars...double the power...blowing it out...killer
Jimi Hendrix "Voodoo Chile"... live at Woodstock. uh huh.

Hot damn, that's some freakin' great guitar work right there.

Pick your favorite and leave a comment below.

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Rest And Listen Under My Little Wing

Today we will finally go through my slight obsession with one song..."Little Wing"

Don't ask me why this song so invades my musical judgement. All I know is that until yesterday, I did not think there could be a bad version of it. To me it is just magical. Jimi Hendrix it has been said, wrote the song for his mother. It has been covered countless times...wonderfully.

"Well she's walking through the clouds
With a circus mind that's running round
Butterflies and zebras
And moonbeams and fairy tales
That's all she ever thinks about
Riding with the wind."


I've seen the original lyrics to "Little Wing" and it seems no artist has ever sung the words as written. Fine by me. The variations on the theme just make each version more memorable. So whimsical, so joyful.

"It's alright she says it's alright
Take anything you want from me,
Anything."

Then there's the guitar.
To hear the interpretations gets my head spinning in twenty directions...all of them good. Except for the one I listened to yesterday. I'm going to include it with the tastes as a cautionary tale...this is not "Little Wing", this is unrecognizable crap.

So here we go with just a few great versions, an interesting one by the Coors and one shit one by very talented Japanese guitarist Kumi Adachi. Some of her stuff is amazing, this isn't.


Kumi Adachi "Little Wing" ... I think
Stevie Ray Vaughn "Little Wing"... the ultimate instrumental version
Eric Clapton/Steve Winwood "Little Wing"... saw them do this live at MSG. Still get tears as I think about how good it was.
Sting "Little Wing"... pure vocal, not quite the guitar emphasis, but a fine blend of instruments
The Coors "Little Wing"... like you've never heard it
and...
Jimi Hendrix "Little Wing"...where it all started

Nothing's sweeter than that.

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Sailing Away Today: Nice & Smooth

Writing, you may have noticed, is my thing. So musically, the lyrics are what catches me first, then I go into the instrumentation. Specifically today, we're talking guitars. Boy this is gonna piss off some people to be sure.

Just like anything else, your favorite rock guitarist is a subjective thing. Yes... Eddie, Jimmy, Jeff...all masters, no argument from me. I can appreciate the depth of their ability and their soul.  Just not what soothes my soul.  My top three: Clapton,Vaughn & Knopfler...with Clapton and Knopfler on top...though no particular order. Disclaimer: No disrespect intended to any guitar players who might read this.  I like smooth, not frenetic...and then Stevie Ray is just Stevie Ray (can you say "Little Wing?")  Having seen all of them play live, well those are memories to savor.

The taste for today is from one of my top three.  The first time I heard "Sultans of Swing" with that guitar solo, it was 'whoa, can I hear that every day for the rest of my life?'  Kinda of how I felt and still feel about the guitar and piano solos of "Layla"...it never gets tired.

On this morning's menu is Mark Knofler doing a little something from one of his solo albums.  The title song from "Sailing to Philadelphia," features James Taylor helping out on the vocals. It's not a knock your socks off guitar piece, just a nice blend of vocals and instrumentation. This entire CD is wonderful, if you have the chance to check it out.

Sail away.

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