Songs for a Sunday Morning

"It's a beautiful morning, 

think I'll go outside for awhile and just smile"

Yes, it is...and I have.

An early morning walk with the dog where it seemed she and I were the only ones awake. I love the peace of the time just after sunrise, where the lake is just beginning to come into focus. This walk gave me my first sighting of the next generation of the local deer herd. Mom and her twins, spotted and frail...so beautiful, so on guard. It seems Mom is teaching them well.

Thought this morning we'd do start off this Sunday morning with some songs which offer the promise of one hell of a great day.  Nothing fancy today, just some good music.

 "Blue Sky" ...Allman Brothers. If this doesn't put you in a good mood, go back to bed.
"Old '55" ...The Eagles. Even today, I still get the same feeling I did when I first heard it...joy. A great Tom Waits cover.
"I Don't Know You" ...New Riders of the Purple Sage. So sweet, so melodic...nothing better on a Sunday.
"Summer Breeze" ...Originally by Seals & Crofts, let's enjoy a cover by Tommy Shaw and Jack Blades

Taste them all, then go out and make this day epic.

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Another One Hit Wonder: Something About a Bridge and Billie Joe

In 1967 when today's one-hit wonder came out I was...well, alive. It was the time of some really great music and some not so great. When this song came out, I absolutely hated it.  But it was everywhere, just like a Katy Perry song today. There was no escape.

Over the years, my hatred lessened to the point where I can appreciate the songwriting and the story. In fact, the song is extremely well crafted... and it has a hook for the ages. I'll get to that later.

Now in the 60's there were several musical hits which dealt with teenagers dying too young. Mostly they involved car wrecks and train wrecks. But there was one which was written about a suicide.

"It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty delta day"

...and so begins the ""Ode to Billy Joe"

The song written and performed by Mississippi native Bobbie Gentry was released in July 1967, hit #1 on Billboard's Hot 100, won a total of four Grammy's, was listed as one of the top 500 songs of all time by Rolling Stone and was turned into a movie. A simple arrangement of her guitar with some strings in the background, her voice and...the story.

The story of the song centers on one Billy Joe McAllister and his death when he "jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge." It is told in first-person narrative, with the storyteller revealing details about his death, as the monotony of everyday life plays out.

"  It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty delta day

I was out choppin' cotton and my brother was balin' hay

And at dinner time we stopped and walked back to the house to eat

And Mama hollered out the back door "y'all remember to wipe your feet"

And then she said "I got some news this mornin' from Choctaw Ridge"

"Today Billy Joe MacAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge"  "

At this point we have no idea who Billy Joe is or his relation to this family.
As the family sits around the dinner table the conversation about Billy Joe is sandwiched in between mundane talk about dinner and chores. And we still do not know his relationship to this family.

" 'n' Brother said he recollected when he and Tom and Billie Joe

Put a frog down my back at the Carroll County picture show

And wasn't I talkin' to him after church last Sunday night?

"I'll have another piece-a apple pie, you know it don't seem right"

"I saw him at the sawmill yesterday on Choctaw Ridge"

"And now ya tell me Billie Joe's jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge" 

Now we've learned there is a family connection.

" 'n' Mama said to me "Child, what's happened to your appetite?"

"I've been cookin' all morning and you haven't touched a single bite"

"That nice young preacher, Brother Taylor, dropped by today"

"Said he'd be pleased to have dinner on Sunday, oh, by the way"

"He said he saw a girl that looked a lot like you up on Choctaw Ridge"

"And she and Billy Joe was throwing somethin' off the Tallahatchie Bridge" "

Now there's the hook. It seems the narrator is the one with the relationship with Billy Joe, clandestine at that. And what were they throwing "off the Tallahatchie Bridge" ?  Now, when this song came out, that was the question. While not quite as big a mystery as who Carly Simon's "You're So Vain" is written about, the music world was wild with speculation. Love letters, a ring, flowers...but the question was never definitively answered.

" A year has come 'n' gone since we heard the news 'bout Billy Joe

'n' Brother married Becky Thompson, they bought a store in Tupelo

There was a virus going 'round, Papa caught it and he died last Spring

And now Mama doesn't seem to wanna do much of anything

And me, I spend a lot of time pickin' flowers up on Choctaw Ridge

And drop them into the muddy water off the Tallahatchie Bridge "

As the story ends, we see that life goes on, not always happily...even for the bridge. It collapsed in 1972.

Take a listen and read the story...

"Ode to Billie Joe"  Bobbie Gentry

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The Lion, The Beast, The Beat: The Nocturnals Come Back With A Roar

Time to taste some new sounds.

In a previous blog titled "Stop the Bus, A Taste of Grace," we've had just a sample of today's featured artist. Their new CD has just been released, so why not have a lick or two.  The band is Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, and the CD is The Lion, The Beast, The Beat.

Grace Potter rocks. Just watch a few videos and you can see why the fan base around the Nocturnals grows every day. Grace has a strong voice, is very respectable with the guitar and keys... and let's just say she has great stage presence.

The new CD is available for a listen on Spotify, and at first listen a few tracks jump out. The title song sets the tone. Not a band to play it safe, with "The Lion..." the Nocs have created more of an anthem. It lives up to the name, it has the pride of a lion, the strength of a beast and...a great beat.

The first song released "Never Go Back" is smokey and sultry.

Taste a few more.

"Timekeeper" ...distinctive vocal by Grace, strong support by the Nocs
"Stars"
"Turntable"
"The Divide"

Fifteen tracks...lots of fun. And definitely worth a look-see.

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A Night with Ringo and Friends

Up in the Catskill Mountains, very close to the footprint of where Woodstock was held in 1969, there now is one spectacular venue to see a show. Winding paths lead to various concession stands, eating areas, and other fun things. The architecture blends perfectly with the countryside. The pavillion where the stage is set, sits halfway down the hill with seating rising up around it. The view is so serene, it's not hard to understand how half a million people peacefully cohabited here for three days in less than ideal conditions.

The event for the night was Ringo Starr's All Starr Band. Fun.

The All Starr Band this year consists of Steve Lukather (lead guitarist,vocals Toto), Richard Page (bass,vocals Mr. Mister), Todd Rundgren (a little bit of everything), Greg Rolie (keys,Santana/Journey), Mark Rivera (keys,sax), and Greg Bissonette (drums).

Starting the show was Ringo singing "Matchbox" and next going into "It Don't Come Easy." As this was my first time seeing Ringo, I was happily surprised how well he commands the stage. Light on his feet, he uses the whole stage and enjoys a really nice rapport with the crowd. Throughout the set, he would bounce between center stage and behind the drums.

Originally I had thought the All-Starrs would each do a few songs, but instead they each did one of their own songs, then handed it over to the next. First up was Todd Rundgren who asked "Have the drugs kicked in yet?" Assuming the old vibe from the Woodstock days might still be evident...it wasn't far from the truth. Although this time, I think the drug of choice might have been Prozac. This crowd was just a little too mellow for this rockers' liking...people, you're at a rock show...it's time to boogie. Rundgren began his night with "Hello, It's Me," ...nice.

Greg Rolie took over next with "Evil  Ways" and mentioned it was 43 years ago, in that summer of '69, that they first played it at this site. Steve Lukather, one guy who really seems to love his job, said this was "the best summer vacation of my life." He then launched into "Rosanna," helped out by Mark Rivera on the upper range of the song. Richard Page did a fine job on "Kyrie" then bringing the circle back to Ringo.

It was a good mix. How can it not be enjoyable when you are going to hear the hits from each member of the band.  From the fun songs like "Yellow Submarine" and "I Don't Want To Work" to the memorable hits "Africa" and "Broken Wing" to the 'just don't stop' songs like "Everybody's Everything" and "Hold the Line.", the music just got better.  

There were not a lot of surprises at this show. Except for the songs Ringo decided to highlight off his new CD, every other song was pretty much expected. And that was a good thing. All hits, all the time....what's the problem there?  Was it one of the best shows I've ever seen...not at all.. But I never expected it to be.  It was a lot of fun for me and I think for the band. If you like at least two members of the All Starr Band...you'll have a enjoyable evening.

Because after all...we'll get by with a little help from our friends.

Peace.
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Road Trip Destination: An All-Starr Night

Another Saturday, another night of live music, another road trip..albeit a short one.

Tonight we take a drive from the weekend house in eastern PA and cross the Delaware into New York. Upstate NY that is. Seeing a show at a venue we haven't been to before...Bethel Woods. Home of Woodstock...the real one in 1969.  The show: Ringo Starr's All Starr Band.

Now as much as The Beatles were my first musical influence, I have never seen a Beatle live. Who would have thought that Ringo would be my first. Over the years, I have heard how every incarnation of his All-Starr  Band is so much fun. Tonight I find out for myself...looking forward to it.

This show was a last minute decision, fueled a lot by the tweets of one of the All-Starr Band...Steve Lukather.  Steve is a great guitarist, known primarily as the lead guitarist of Toto.  Steve is also a great tweeter, very personable...very human. His tweets over the past two weeks have covered his anticipation of playing with the rest of the band, and as the days progressed, his excitement in the progress of rehearsal.

Since it doesn't take much to get me pumped to hear new music, those tweets were enough for me. Also the prices at this venue were so much more reasonable than in the NY metro area. So, in a few hours a party of three will jump in the Sabaru for about an hour's drive.

Time for a little traveling music.

Little Feat "Let it Roll" ...one of the best travelin' tunes
War "Low Rider" ....add a little funk to the trip
Stevie Wonder "You Haven't Done Nothing" ...keep it going
ZZ Top "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide" ...well, just because.

Won't be long before we hit the road...the review of the show tomorrow on the music blog.

Windows down, volume up...and drive.

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