April 13, 2018

The Jokers, from Belgium - early 1960s - perform "Tabou"

March 31, 2018

AMP (Allocation for Music Producers) Act...

...I received the following email from NARAS (The Grammys):

Dear Producers & Engineers Wing member,

I’m writing to you today about a momentous occasion and an historic “First!”

Thanks to the hard work and diligent efforts over the last 10 years by the P&E Wing, its members across the country, and the Recording Academy’s Advocacy department, on Thursday, March 22, a bi-partisan Senate version of the AMP (Allocation for Music Producers) Act was introduced by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and co-sponsored by Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Senators Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Kamala Harris (D-Calif.).

This legislation, which was re-introduced into the House of Representatives in February by Rep. Tom Rooney (R-Fla.) and Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.), represents the first time in history that producers and engineers have been mentioned in U.S. copyright law. Here are some comments from the bill’s sponsors, and see below for links to articles with further information.

Chuck Grassley: “This will help support the role of these important individuals in the creative process. With the introduction of this legislation, we take a positive step toward music reform and make sure that all in the industry have a fair shake at succeeding. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan effort and look forward to the rapid enactment of this bill.”

Dianne Feinstein: “Great music is the work of not just great artists, but talented sound engineers, mixers, and producers as well. For the first time, this legislation protects their contributions under federal law, and ensures that they can receive the royalties they are due for their part in creating the music we so enjoy.”

Bob Corker: “Tennessee is blessed with a vibrant music industry composed of accomplished producers, talented songwriters, skilled musicians, and countless small and large businesses. However, while the industry has transformed with advances in technology and new platforms providing access to music, we have yet to modernize the way music creators are compensated for their work. This legislation will help improve the music marketplace so that it works not only for consumers but also the countless people who bring to life the music we enjoy each day.”

Kamala Harris: “Producers, mixers, and engineers play an indispensable role in the creation of music we love. Though their contributions are being made behind the scenes, these studio professionals should not be denied fair pay for their work.”

I hope you take a few minutes to celebrate this occasion. We understand and appreciate the work that you do, and it is our stated mission that the rest of the world does the same!

Sincerely,

MAUREEN DRONEY
Managing Director, Producers & Engineers Wing – Recording Technology
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RECORDING ACADEMY

March 19, 2018

Sagittarius album "Present Tense" from 1968...50 years ago...

...which had this song called "My World Fell Down"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagittarius_(band)

...via Gary Usher

December 30, 2017

So, right before I woke up this morning, I had a dream about net neutrality...

...in the dream, I was in a room or office or such, and I heard a voice say "oh look, it's Ajit Pai."

Next thing I know, Ajit - who looks like a really young-20-something-Japanese-guy, NOT what the actual Ajit Pai looks like - comes up to me and sez: "Here, take this" as he hands me a packaged-in-a-plastic-bubble-black-disc which looks like a flat, circular refrigerator magnet about the size and thickness of a quarter.

He sez: "Stick this to your laptop" (I don't have one in real life, but I do in this dream) - "and it will play what you need to see."

The content from the black disc was a video of a woman sitting in a chair, in full left side profile, being stripped of her clothes by unseen forces - like powerful winds - and then it zoomed in on the left side of her face, which was covered by massive amounts of what appeared to be acne.

Not sure what it means, but it was fuckin weird! Kinda like a Dali crawling ants thing.

I usually don't remember my dreams, but this one was very memorable, in a disturbing way.

I did, however, think that a "digital magnet" device was a pretty cool idea.

Happy New Year.

December 25, 2017

"Here Comes Christmas" by my band Green Sparkle Frog...

...from the 2012 release Die Happy & Other Songs About Life.

December 22, 2017

Earlier today I voted for Bernie!

Not sure if this was already mentioned here, but Bernie is up for a Grammy in the Spoken Word category.

Actually, it's Bernie along with Mark Ruffalo, for Our Revolution: A Future to Believe In.

Today was the last day to vote for the 60th Grammy Awards, which will happen on January 28 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

As a Grammy voter, it was my great pleasure to vote for Bernie, even if it was just for a Grammy and not for President.

November 22, 2017

So I was just on Youtube listening to The Byrds performing...

...a live version of "Lover of the Bayou" from 1970, and had thought, after that, I'd search for The Mamas & Papas song Twelve Thirty.

I looked over to the right side of the Youtube page, where they have links to other stuff, and I saw:

"Recommended for you" The Mamas & Papas Twelve Thirty.

How did "they" know?!

October 2, 2017

Mr. Tangerine Man...two different interpretations:

Wesley Stace “Mr. Tangerine Man” Live at the Philadelphia Folk Festival

Mr. Tangerine Man

August 26, 2017

"Rich People Suck" by former Captain Beefheart/Magic Band drummer...

...Robert Williams - as Beefheart Jr - from the album Temporarily Immortal

Robert was the drummer in Captain Beefheart's Magic Band when they recorded and toured to promote the albums Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) and Doc At The Radar Station.

Also from the album Temporarily Immortal

"Beautiful Sunday"

July 15, 2017

GERMS Retrospective at the Fullerton Museum Center...

This is Jaime GERMS Zacarias, not the L.A. punk band -although Jaime was officially given the "Germs Burn" by Don Bolles several years ago.

I have contributed over 50 pieces to this GERMS landmark show.

This will be the first time I will be able to see a lot of of my Germs collection at one time, so I'm very excited about that!

It's rare, I think, for a 36 year old artist to have a museum retrospective, but, there it is.

The show will include the Germs Lamps (which I art directed/produced) and other artists' collaborative works w/Germs, including an etching with aquatint by my son, Abe K.

BTW The Fullerton Museum Center is the home of the Leo Fender Gallery. So a double treat!!

https://www.cityoffullerton.com/gov/departments/museum/exhibits/calendar/default.asp