December 14, 2017

Sha Na Na made it into the RnR Hall of Fame!

Screamin' Scott Simon said, 'It's true, the credit card cleared and we went right on in!'

Screamin' Scott actually told me that so it's a true quote lol!

December 13, 2017

Down in Alabama, shoutin' bamalama!

Otis Redding helping to celebrate tonight's victory!

December 7, 2017

STAY!

October 28, 2017

'How the Beatles Destroyed Rock-n-roll' Has anyone read this book?

It poses some interesting ideas chiefly that rock-n-roll started out with black and white performers and black and white fans but separated around the time of Sgt Peppers into white rock music and black soul music.

The book states that rock-n-roll was dance music that emphasized rhythm and that the Beatles started out in this tradition, But that changed in 1966 when the Beatles stopped touring and concentrated on recording in the studio. Sgt Pepper, the book argues, is good music but not rock-n-roll since it is not dance music and has little to no connection to rock-n-roll's black roots. James Brown started out as a rock-n-roller but was reclassified as soul as a reaction to these changes. Since that time, there haven't been very many black rock performers or fans and a white artist could have soul but still won't fit in that category. Essentially, the book states that the Beatles resegregated popular music. Billboard had dropped the separate pop and r&b categories in 1962 because they were nearly identical but brought them back by 1967 because black people were listening to soul music and whites to rock.

The author does not portray the Beatles as doing anything wrong or lacking talent and they don't really get mention until the last chapter. Most of the book details the history of American popular music before the Beatles and the cross-pollenization between black and white musicians that happened.

I look forward to reading this book in it's entirety because it's a refreshing change from the normal rock music group-think mentality of the Rolling Stone Magazine types.

August 16, 2017

'If I Can Dream' by Elvis Presley

Elvis died 40 years ago today but he left a message for 2017 America via MLK and Earl Brown

There must be lights burning brighter somewhere
Got to be birds flying higher in a sky more blue
If I can dream of a better land
Where all my brothers walk hand in hand
Tell me why, oh why, oh why can't my dream come true
oh why
There must be peace and understanding sometime
Strong winds of promise that will blow away the doubt and fear
If I can dream of a warmer sun
Where hope keeps shining on everyone
Tell me why, oh why, oh why won't that sun appear
We're lost in a cloud
With too much rain
We're trapped in a world
That's troubled with pain
But as long as a man
Has the strength to dream
He can redeem his soul and fly
Deep in my heart there's a trembling question
Still I am sure that the answer gonna come somehow
Out there in the dark, there's a beckoning candle
And while I can think, while I can talk
While I can stand, while I can walk
While I can dream, please let my dream
Come true, right now
Let it come true right now
Oh yeah

Songwriter Earl Brown

June 26, 2017

Happy Birthday to the late great Big Bill Broonzy.

Big Bill is my favorite of all the old blues performers. He was a great guitar player, songwriter, singer and he had the suits, shoes and hats to match.

I love his song 'Eagle Ridin' Papa' because it puts an image of Big Bill in my mind that is classic Americana. I picture Big Bill riding on on oversized eagle, holding his guitar and dressed to the 9s. He (in my mind) tours the country riding that eagle making friends with everyone he meets. I know it's not true but I like the idea.

Big Bill also wrote a song that is still close to the hearts of the Civil Rights Movement called, 'Black, Brown and White' (If you're white you're alright, if you're brown, stick around, if you're black, get back get back get back!)

Big Bill is also my avatar.

Cheers to the great Big Bill Broonzy, Happy Birthday Bill!

June 21, 2017

Dem wins in Hawaii

That's about as shocking as R wins in Georgia. Flush it and move on.

Just this short post of mine shows far too much concern for such a 'bear shits in woods' type event.