A Beatles Side Project

Today, I got sidetracked into a project that involves a Christmas gift for a couple of people, Let's just say that they will be very happy with what awaits them. In the meantime, I found some post-Beatles videos that reflect the different directions that the Beatles found themselves going. The first is George Harrison's song "Crackerbox Palace." The next is Ringo Starr's song "Photograph." Paul McCartney kept pretty close to the standard formula that had been established when he cut the song "Uncle Albert Admiral Halsey." This would not be complete without the iconic masterpiece of John Lennon's "Imagine." Just for fun, I thought that I put the Peter Seller's zany version of "She Loves You" up for your inspection.

Cosmic Cowboy Style

That's right folks, it is time for another fork in the road. This time we are exploring the cosmic cowboy thing. The Grateful Dead and New Riders of the Purple Sage played Texas in 1971 and 1972. So, this story shared here makes sense in the whole scheme of things. So pay attention please to the following. There are several great examples that ring true. The first is an explanation of the whole concept by Ray Wylie Hubbard's writing the song "Up Against The Wall Redneck Mother." The next song is by David Allan Coe doing a cover of Steve Goodman's song "You Never Even Call Me By My Name" which is described as the perfect country-western song ever written. That reminds me of the line from the Blues Brothers film. When asked at the bar what kind of music that that have, the bar owner says, "We have both kinds - Country and Western." Here's "Rawhide" from the Blues Brothers. What kind of fool would I be without putting in some Willie Nelson. Here is "Angel Flying To Close To the Ground." Finally, this has to be the best hing that i have ever found on the Internet. It is Bob Livingston, who was part of The Lost Gonzo Band that did the first song listed here, that did a tour as a service of the State Department to all parts of the World. He introduced the World to the song "Not Fade Away." Please check this out and dig it.



Music for today:


Allman Brothers Band
June 10, 1973
RFK Stadium
Washington D.C.
opened for Grateful Dead



The Band
December 31, 1983
San Francisco Civic Center
San Francisco, CA
opened for Grateful Dead



Grateful Dead
April 1, 1980
Capitol Theatre
Passaic, N.J.
listen here

Remembering Days of Old

Time does strange things to people. I have been retrospective as of late remembering some music and bands of local flavor. You may have never heard of these groups that I'm about to mention, but trust me when I saw that it is not all about Prince in the Twin Cities. The first band that I will introduce you to is The Lamont Cranston Blues Band. Some of the artists in the band were background players to Bonnie Raitt when she cut her first album here in Minnesota. The first song is "E-Jam." The next is an ode to the beginning of the Big River: "Upper Mississippi Shakedown." Now it is time to kick it old school with The Wallets, "Totally Nude." The funkiest grooviest jams are to be had by The Suburbs first off with, "Waiting"; the next song has the strongest grooves for shaking your tush: "Music For Boys."

Music for today:

Grateful Dead
December 31, 1969
Boston Tea Party
Boston, MA
listen here

Allman Brothers Band
July 28, 1973
Watkins Glen Grand Prix Circuit
Watkins Glen, NY
Part of the package that a friend put together that also featured The Band and The Grateful Dead

Allman Brothers Band
February 13, 1970
Filmore East
New York City, NY
opened for Grateful Dead

Allman Brothers Band
June 9, 1973
RFK Stadium
Washington, DC
opened for Grateful Dead

A Charmed Life

I came very close to meeting my maker in a head on collision with a garbage truck. It missed me by a foot before swerving away. I stopped the car and looked at the tracks that it had left, and the closeness made me ponder my existence. Last year, I was in a major accident at this same time of year. I meet with my job counselor today, and she said that I lead a charmed life. She didn't know anything about the near miss. This made me think of John Prine's song "The Accident." By the way, I own this DVD. The next song come from the same show. It has so much meaning for me on so many levels: "Bruised Orange." The next song is just for fun:" Please Don't Bury Me." The last is for the season: "Christmas in Prison."



Music for today:



Grateful Dead
December 10, 1969
Thelma Theater
Los Angeles, CA
listen here

Grateful Dead
December 11, 1969
Thelma Theater
Los Angeles, CA
listen here

Grateful Dead
December 29, 1969
Boston Tea Party
Boston, MA
listen here

Grateful Dead
December 30, 1969
Boston Tea Party
Boston, MA
listen here

Ken Nordine

I was reminded of the voice over guy when he did one of his old pieces at the Oakland Auditorium just before New Year's Eve 1990. Ken Nordine, Jerry Garcia, and Mickey Hart did a recording of "Flibberty Jib" that broadcast at the intermission to the show. I wish I could find it. Here is the original recording. Here is another recording that you might find interesting, "Looks Like It's Going To Rain." This is a late addition to this post but I found what I was looking for. Here is the link to the GD Hour Log Page.

Music for today:

Grateful Dead
November 8, 1969
Fillmore Auditorium
San Francisco, CA
released as Dick's Picks Vol. 16

Grateful Dead
November 15, 1969
Lanai Theatre
Crockett, CA
listen here

Grateful Dead
December 7, 1969
Fillmore West
San Francisco, CA
listen here

Rush/I Love You, Man (the movie)

AFI (American Film Institute) released its top ten movies for the year today. "I Love You, Man" was not included in the list. I guess the reason for this was that this band from our Neighbor to the North never really gets the credit it truly deserves here in the USA. I am referring to the the Canadian band Rush. Yeah, I saw the movie "The Hangover"; it was funny. When I saw ILYM, I laughed out loud on a crowded plane. Oh by the way, this movie just plain rocks out. I was introduced to Rush while in high school. For thirty-three years, this guy I know is extremely into the group. My introduction came from the Ayn Rand inspired suite called 2112. This is in two parts. part one; part two. Just for the record, Rush is fourth all-time in record sales behind The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Aerosmith.

The music I've been listening to has come from a vine of 18 DVDs of 1969 shows. This will be coming to to a close soon. The show from August 20, 1969 is missing. It is from the Aqua Theater in Seattle, WA. What makes this kind of remarkable to me personally is that I interviewed the gentleman that did the Aqua Follies in Minneapolis before they built that theater in Seattle. The reason for it being there in the first place was that the show was relocated from Minnesota to Washington State. in the 1950's. Ten years later, the stage is graced by our own Grateful Dead. Unfortunately, I don't have a recording of this show.

Music for today:

Grateful Dead
September 27, 1969
Fillmore East
New York City, NY
listen here and download

Grateful Dead
October 31, 1969
San Jose State University
San Jose, CA
listen here

Grateful Dead
November 1, 1969
Family Dog At The Great Highway
San Francisco, CA
listen here

Grateful Dead
November 2, 1969
Family Dog At The Great Highway
San Francisco, CA
listen here

Grateful Dead
November 7, 1969
Fillmore Auditorium
San Francisco, CA
listen here

Glam Rock and other oddities

I'm as straight as they come, but there is something curious about Glam-rock. Take for instance Lou Reed's album Transformer. The two cuts that have musical appeal though the lyrics are are hard to appreciate are "Vicious" and "Walk on the Wild Side." The next is David Bowie's masterpiece "Ziggy Stardust" and "Hang on to Yourself." I couldn't pass this next video up because it has been a recurring thought of someone doing "You Ain't Woman Enough To Take My Man" in drag. I found a video of it, and here it is.

Music for today:

Grateful Dead
June 27, 1969
Veterans Auditorium
Santa Rosa, CA
listen here

Grateful Dead
July 7, 1969
Piedmont Park
Atlanta, GA
listen here

Grateful Dead
August 16, 1969
Max Yasgur's Farm
Woodstock
Bethel, NY
listen here

Grateful Dead
August 23, 1969
Pelletier Farm
St. Helen's, OR
listen here

Grateful Dead
September 1, 1969
Baton Rouge International Speedway
Baton Rouge, LA
listen here

Grateful Dead
September 7, 1969
Family Dog at the Great Highway
San Francisco, CA
listen here