Funky Perfection

A blast from the past. I don't listen much to oldies, but this song is pure funky perfection. I've been playing this song on my bass lately and while the bass line isn't hard, it's impossible to capture anything approaching the feel of the original. I've listened to several covers of the song, including some by 2 of the most highly regarded bassists of our time - Victor Wooten (Bela Fleck and the Flecktones) and Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), and even they can't capture the feel of the original bass line.

So kick back, twist one up if your lifestyle still allows that, and enjoy this '73 classic.

Today in Music

On this day, June 19, 1971, the number one album was Carol King's "Tapestry".

This was an important album for me, after much persuading I talked my parents into ordering if for me from their Columbia Record club.  I was 12, and in Jr High school.  I absorbed that album - every note and nuance.  Later that year they had an assembly at school focused on music.  They asked a few kids to spin a song and talk about it.  I chose "I Feel The Earth Move" from this album.  I don't remember what I said, I think I talked about the transitions between the verse and the chorus, and about the solos.  I also remember the girl that followed me played the Allman Brothers, and gave a critique that made me jealous.

In the nineties my wife came up with Carol King's "Really Rosie" album, and played it for the kids for years - they all grew up listening to Carol King. "Hey dad - this sounds like the Really Rosie lady!"

If I'm not mistaken, this was the flip-slide of the number one single on this day also:

Charlie

Watching our beagle Charlie the other day, and this brought back some memories.  Remember the sheepdog named Ralph from the Roadrunner cartoons?  Sat on top of the cliff, protecting his flock of sheep?  He looked exactly like Charlie does here.  Except Charlie is not looking to protect anything, he's waiting for a squirrel or rabbit to be dumb enough to enter the yard.  

This is doubly memorable, my dad didn't make time for things like cartoons, but for some reason he loved The Roadrunner and Ralph,  the sheepdog.  He'd sit there with us Saturday mornings laughing at the silliness.  Interesting how this would be such a strong memory for me, yet he doesn't remember it at all.  If I'm still around, I want to ask my kids about similar memories when they become adults.

Come A Little Bit Closer

Not exactly the seventies, the song is from the sixties, and the movie from the nineties, but still a familiar song for us Products of the Seventies. I went to school with one of the sax players, and have been listening to him since the eighties. I never get tired of The Iguanas.
From 1996, The Iguanas with Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos. I'm lovin' this!

Fritz The Cat

At the risk of appearing crude and Vulgar, I came across this video. For those Products of the Seventies, how many weren't curious about this movie when it was released? Dig the soundtrack, vintage seventies porn-jazz.

Halloween

Halloween - the greatest kid holiday ever. Remember waiting all season for this?

 

Sons of Guns

Isn't it interesting how you may THINK you understand someone, but you really don't, and never will.

Before I got all soft and liberal, I was as far right as I am left now. I owned a sporting goods store, selling fishing tackle, archery gear, and guns. I carried a gun every day I was in that store. I used to be a serious hunter, with rifle, shotgun, handgun, and archery equipment. So it can't be a surprise that, even though I'm very liberal, I hold to a few of my old values.

I LOVE these gun-shop shows that are on. Sons Of Guns, and American Guns. I know what they're talking about, I know what they'e selling, I know what they're making, and I know why.

Now this has been a long intro to the theme song of Sons of Guns - Tab Benoit's cover of "Shelter Me Lord". He also does much of the music in the individual shows. The show is set in Louisiana, and surprise! Tab Benoit is from Louisiana. He's also one of my favorite blues artists, maybe one of my favorite artists working today. Listen to the tone he gets out of that old Fender.

I Drink

One song for a late night when I can't sleep. Listen - it's a powerful song in a laid-back package. Enjoy.

Mary Gauthier (Go-SHAY ya'll)

The Dude

Another movie clip, from one of the greatest movies of all time. The Dude, a true product of the seventies, who hasn't changed at all since the seventies. The Dude embodies all that we can be, all that we ever wanted out of life. We all think we could be The Dude, but we can't. None of us. The Dude is unattainable perfection. He's what keeps us reaching for the stars.

Boogie Nights

Stumbled on the movie Boogie Nights while surfing tonight. This movie is cool. About 70s porn star Dirk Diggler (Mark Wahlberg), who works for porn director Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds). If nothing else, it's worth checking out just for the disco soundtrack. Brilliantly put together.

Can You Dig It?

I can dig it, he can dig it, she can dig it, we can dig it, they can dig it, you can dig it
Oh let's dig it
Can you dig it, baby

Gimme, Gimme, Gimme Shock Treatment

Don't ask.

Widespread Panic

"Tree huggin’, love makin’, pro choicen, gay weddin’, Widespread Panic diggin’ hippies like me..."
Todd Snider - "Conservative Christian Right Wing Republican Straight White American Male"

Widespread Panic was on Austin City Limits tonight, a new performance. I haven't listened to them much in the last few years, and I was missing out. Even better was the audience, they were really into it. I've never experienced a Widespread Panic show, I'll have to make it a point to attend a show sometime. My middle age system can't handle the "Widespread" drugs, but I'll enjoy it anyway.

Robbie Fulks Show

Saw Robbie Fulks tonight with a son. Had a great time. Robbie's an incredible musician, very intelligent, hilarious, and a very nice guy. Also a Product of the Seventies, although just on the edge. I had a chance to talk with him for a while before the show, he was friendly and gracious, and we both had a few laughs. He asked what my gig was, and I told him it would have been musician, but the F chord kicked my ass. He laughed and said the F chord still kicked his ass at times.

Here he is doing a song from a show 3 years ago, one of my favorite songs of his - It Takes A Long Time To Get Old. I requested it tonight, he said he hadn't played it for several years, then jumped into it and proceeded to blow the audience away.


Here is a pic of my son and I with Robbie after the show.

A very memorable night.

Featured Video: Disco Apache

Could there be a greater video ever made? Seriously. From 1977 (I believe).

Can you hear the musicians / dancers telling to their kids about this? And how mortified those kids would be to see this video?

Featured Video: Nesbitts Orange Soda Pop

Remember Nesbitts Soda Pop? We almost never got soda when I was a kid, and when we did, we never wanted cola. We wanted Nesbitts, but usually got Shasta. At the time I was a kid, Nesbitts was known for it's orange soda, but also had strawberry which kicked ass, but I rarely saw it.

Featured Video: Deadly Bipolar Disorder - Jaco Pastorius

Jaco Pastorius was probably the most important and talented bass player of that generation, and perhaps since. My point of view is different from most, I lost a son as a result of bipolar mania. The disorder is more dangerous than anyone can imagine.

On this video he's playing bass guitar with Weather Report in 1978, you can't miss his flamboyancy. Check out the harmonics he's playing. I chose this song, as it's Weather Report's biggest hit, even though it's not Jaco's best song.


From Wikipedia:

In his early career, Jaco avoided both alcohol and drugs, but he became increasingly involved in alcohol and other substance abuses during his time with Weather Report. Bipolar disorder and psychoactive substance abuse disorders have a highly prevalent comorbidity, with a mutually detrimental inter-relationship. Alcohol abuse ultimately exacerbated Jaco's illness, leading to increasingly erratic and sometimes anti-social behavior.

He was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder in late 1982 following the Word of Mouth tour of Japan in which his erratic behavior became an increasing source of concern for his band members. Drummer Peter Erskine's father, Dr Fred Erskine, suggested that Jaco was showing signs of the illness and, on his return from the tour, Jaco's wife, Ingrid, had Jaco committed to hospital under the Florida Mental Health Act, where he received the diagnosis and was prescribed lithium to stabilize his moods.

By 1986, Jaco's health had further deteriorated. He had been evicted from his New York apartment and had begun living on the streets. In July 1986, following intervention by his brother Gregory and ex-wife Ingrid, Jaco was admitted to Bellevue Hospital in New York, where he was prescribed Tegretol in preference to Lithium. He moved back to Fort Lauderdale in December of that year, again living on the streets for weeks at a time.

After sneaking onstage at a Carlos Santana concert September 11, 1987, he was ejected from the premises, and he made his way to the Midnight Bottle Club in Wilton Manors, Florida. After reportedly kicking in a glass door after being refused entrance to the club, he was engaged in a violent confrontation with the club bouncer, Luc Havan. Pastorius was hospitalized for multiple facial fractures and damage to his right eye and right arm, and had sustained irreversible brain damage. He fell into a coma and was put on life support.

There were initially encouraging signs that he would come out of his coma and recover, but a massive brain hemorrhage a few days later pointed to brain death. Pastorius died on September 21, 1987, aged 35, at Broward General Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale.

In the wake of Pastorius' death, Havan, a karate expert, was charged with manslaughter but later pled guilty to second degree murder. Because of having no priors and with time served while waiting for the verdict, he was sentenced to 22 months in jail and five years probation. He was released after four months in jail for good behavior. Pastorius was buried at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Cemetery in North Lauderdale.

Jaco, we miss you man. There are SO many ways bipolar disorder can kill you.

Featured Video: WKRP Thanksgiving Episode

From October 30, 1978. One of the funniest sitcom episodes ever. Remember this?

Featured Video: AMC Ad

$2998 for a new 1975 "performance" Gremlin. Amazing. "Where's the rest of your car?"