|
Post by Laura on Jun 3, 2008 17:34:43 GMT -5
For some reason today Willie Nelson has been singing "on the road again" in my mind. You ever had one of those days? All the time Auntie. Speaking of the road..what's the word on Sadie and Roscoe? Any news?
|
|
|
Post by Aunt Ornery on Jun 3, 2008 18:27:08 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Fairweather on Jun 5, 2008 11:28:42 GMT -5
If Lassie were a guitar, this is how she'd come home: news.aol.com/story/_a/after-46-years-country-singer-george/n20080604192209990003George Jones's guitar, named "White Lightnin'" after his 1959 hit of the same name, was stolen during a 1962 concert in Texas. It's being returned to him after forty-six years. If this were really Lassie I'd probably say AWWWWWW-- But since it's a guitar, I'll just say OOOOOOOOOOOOOO--white lightnin'----
|
|
|
Post by moonstone on Jun 5, 2008 12:43:35 GMT -5
If Lassie were a guitar, this is how she'd come home: news.aol.com/story/_a/after-46-years-country-singer-george/n20080604192209990003George Jones's guitar, named "White Lightnin'" after his 1959 hit of the same name, was stolen during a 1962 concert in Texas. It's being returned to him after forty-six years. If this were really Lassie I'd probably say AWWWWWW-- But since it's a guitar, I'll just say OOOOOOOOOOOOOO--white lightnin'---- This appears to be a case of serendipity, for sure, but after reading your blog, I wonder why it took so long for the guy who had the guitar to find George Jones, and also whether he bought the guitar knowing it was Jones' guitar, and if so wondered why he would only have to pay $10 for it. I appear to have my skeptical lawyer thinking cap on today. Sorry.
|
|
|
Post by Fairweather on Jun 5, 2008 13:04:34 GMT -5
1) He probably has been trying all these years to contact Jones directly, and even before the days of stalkers and etc. that was not easy to do. Not to mention these things have to be handled, as I seem to recall the Wicked Witch of the West saying--yep, I just read your blog!--DEL--i-cate-ly.
2) He bought the guitar from a couple of Ft. Worth teens who probably were, in those days, selling for whatever they could get for beer and smokes. Not to mention that none of those involved seem to have known the value of a Martin guitar, considerable even then.
3) According to the article, it was the buyer's father who finally realized, from certain characteristics of the guitar, that it must belong to George Jones.
I'm inclined to think of it this way: if it took them that long to figure it out, and then begin the tedious attempt to return it, they obviously weren't big George Jones fans anyway.
|
|
|
Post by moonstone on Jun 5, 2008 13:10:37 GMT -5
1) He probably has been trying all these years to contact Jones directly, and even before the days of stalkers and etc. that was not easy to do. Not to mention these things have to be handled, as I seem to recall the Wicked Witch of the West saying--yep, I just read your blog!--DEL--i-cate-ly. 2) He bought the guitar from a couple of Ft. Worth teens who probably were, in those days, selling for whatever they could get for beer and smokes. Not to mention that none of those involved seem to have known the value of a Martin guitar, considerable even then. 3) According to the article, it was the buyer's father who finally realized, from certain characteristics of the guitar, that it must belong to George Jones. I'm inclined to think of it this way: if it took them that long to figure it out, and then begin the tedious attempt to return it, they obviously weren't big George Jones fans anyway. And that, in turn, answers the question of why it took so dang long to find him. (Dang -- did I do good?)
|
|
|
Post by Fairweather on Jun 5, 2008 15:38:15 GMT -5
Dang right, you done good!
|
|
|
Post by Fairweather on Jun 20, 2008 12:09:30 GMT -5
Images of the Mississippi in flood lead me into some odd musicial musings: I'm reminded, somewhat inexplicably, of contrasting versions of the 1926 song "Ol' Man River", with music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, from the musical SHOW BOAT. The song is one of the few that works outside the context of the musical, as demonstrated by Charlie Rich in 1975. Rich was always more of a blues and jazzman, marketed as country because of the accident that paired him with the legendary over-the-top producer Billy Sherill at Epic Records. Rich performed the song as a nervous, skittery, churning jazz, rather reminiscent of the river at flood stage. But that's not the one I'm hearing on the soundtrack in my head as I watch the levees breached and the civilian brigades desperately sandbagging stretches of river while waiting for assistance from the National Guard, being called out in more than one state--at least, such as are not deployed overseas. What I hear is the bleak majesty of the incomparable Paul Robeson, for whom the song was originally written, and who sang it onscreen in the 1936 movie version of SHOW BOAT: I gets weary an' sick o' tryin' I'm tired of livin' and scared of dyin' But Ol' Man River, he just keeps rollin' along. . . That voice as deep and inexorable as the great river itself, resigned to the vagaries of weather and the indifferent power the river wields against our puniest efforts. I think the Old Man would sing like Paul Robeson, if he sang with words instead of the ominous roar of rising water.
|
|
|
Post by Fairweather on Jun 20, 2008 12:18:33 GMT -5
Might also mention that today would be the 84th birthday of the legendary guitarist Chet Atkins. He was born in Luttrell, Tennessee on June 20, 1924.
|
|
|
Post by g1 on Jun 20, 2008 12:42:56 GMT -5
Brings to mind Randy Neumann's Louisiana 1927. Change "President Coolidge" to "President Bush" and the song could be painfully updated. www.youtube.com/watch?v=91Eb3FiebTs "What has happened down here, is the winds have changed Clouds roll in from the north and it started to rain It rained real hard, and it rained for a real long time Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline The river rose all day, the river rose all night Some people got lost in the flood, some people got away alright The river had busted through clear down to Placker Mine Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline Louisiana, Louisiana They're trying to wash us away, they're trying to wash us away Oh Louisiana, Louisiana They're trying to wash us away, they're trying to wash us away President Coolidge come down, in a railroad train With his little fat man with a note pad in his hand President say "little fat man, oh isn't it a shame, What the river has done to this poor farmer's land"; Oh Louisiana, Louisiana They're trying to wash us away, you're trying to wash us away Oh Louisiana, oh Louisiana They're trying to wash us away, oh Lord, they're trying to wash us away They're trying to wash us away, they're trying to wash us away" === Asleep at the Wheel does my favorite version. In the last verse they change "farmer's land" to a more regionally correct/politically incorrect (given the place and the era) "cracker land."
|
|
|
Post by Laura on Jun 20, 2008 14:29:15 GMT -5
Thanks for the link g1. I love Randy Newman. I kept with the words you posted while listening to Randy sing them. Shades of Katrina indeed. GWB indeed. The more things seem different, they really aren't are they?
|
|
|
Post by moonstone on Jun 22, 2008 8:52:51 GMT -5
On CBS Sunday Morning they were talking summer music, and they mentioned one of my very favorite new artists, blues singer Lizz Wright, and her new album The Orchard. I don't know if this is exactly the kind of music (as it was described) that you would want when sitting on the porch in the evening listening to the crickets, but there's definitely a place for Lizz Wright in everyone's music collection. If you're not familiar, get ready for a treat. Coming Home www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV2jU5W-czQ&feature=relatedThank You www.youtube.com/watch?v=rilKfxeBFBoAnd the most haunting love song I've heard in a long time, Hey Mann www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Wp8-ahXVFI
|
|
|
Post by Laura on Jun 22, 2008 13:55:00 GMT -5
On CBS Sunday Morning they were talking summer music, and they mentioned one of my very favorite new artists, blues singer Lizz Wright, and her new album The Orchard. I don't know if this is exactly the kind of music (as it was described) that you would want when sitting on the porch in the evening listening to the crickets, but there's definitely a place for Lizz Wright in everyone's music collection. If you're not familiar, get ready for a treat. Coming Home www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV2jU5W-czQ&feature=relatedThank You www.youtube.com/watch?v=rilKfxeBFBoAnd the most haunting love song I've heard in a long time, Hey Mann www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Wp8-ahXVFIThis certainly was a treat Moon. I've never heard of Lizz Wright, so glad you introduced her. Beautiful profile of her on the 2nd audio. Loved all three songs. The first "Thank You" I'd love to hear it in a movie.
|
|
|
Post by moonstone on Jun 22, 2008 14:28:54 GMT -5
On CBS Sunday Morning they were talking summer music, and they mentioned one of my very favorite new artists, blues singer Lizz Wright, and her new album The Orchard. I don't know if this is exactly the kind of music (as it was described) that you would want when sitting on the porch in the evening listening to the crickets, but there's definitely a place for Lizz Wright in everyone's music collection. If you're not familiar, get ready for a treat. Coming Home www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV2jU5W-czQ&feature=relatedThank You www.youtube.com/watch?v=rilKfxeBFBoAnd the most haunting love song I've heard in a long time, Hey Mann www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Wp8-ahXVFIThis certainly was a treat Moon. I've never heard of Lizz Wright, so glad you introduced her. Beautiful profile of her on the 2nd audio. Loved all three songs. The first "Thank You" I'd love to hear it in a movie. My pleasure, Laura. I'm so glad you liked her. I'd love to hear her stuff in a movie, too. Maybe something with John Cusack. By the way, there are lots more videos on YouTube.
|
|
|
Post by Fairweather on Jul 2, 2008 12:50:19 GMT -5
Ever wondered why the violins built in Cremona, Italy by such legendary violinmakers as Stradavarius and Guarneri have such heavenly sound? news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080702/sc_nm/stradivarius_dcThis reminds me of something I read once about Itzak Perlman--he tried out a modern aluminum (I think it was aluminum) violin, praised its tone--but said he'd rather play his Strad, thanks very much.
|
|
|
Post by nanalinda on Jul 2, 2008 13:04:09 GMT -5
Ever wondered why the violins built in Cremona, Italy by such legendary violinmakers as Stradavarius and Guarneri have such heavenly sound? news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080702/sc_nm/stradivarius_dcThis reminds me of something I read once about Itzak Perlman--he tried out a modern aluminum (I think it was aluminum) violin, praised its tone--but said he'd rather play his Strad, thanks very much. Do you think that pollution in the water sources and in the air could be a cause of the deterioration in the wood? I heard the steel (I think) violin on YouTube on Sunday. It sounded quite good.
|
|
|
Post by Jamie on Jul 2, 2008 13:20:24 GMT -5
Ever wondered why the violins built in Cremona, Italy by such legendary violinmakers as Stradavarius and Guarneri have such heavenly sound? news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080702/sc_nm/stradivarius_dcThis reminds me of something I read once about Itzak Perlman--he tried out a modern aluminum (I think it was aluminum) violin, praised its tone--but said he'd rather play his Strad, thanks very much. Do you think that pollution in the water sources and in the air could be a cause of the deterioration in the wood? I heard the steel (I think) violin on YouTube on Sunday. It sounded quite good. HEY, HEY, HEY, Amica, don't be talking about our pollution-they picked up the trash today and promised to build an incinerator at the old US Naval site here. Okay, we have pollution-though I never thought it'd make the wood of violins sound better.
|
|
|
Post by nanalinda on Jul 2, 2008 13:33:54 GMT -5
Do you think that pollution in the water sources and in the air could be a cause of the deterioration in the wood? I heard the steel (I think) violin on YouTube on Sunday. It sounded quite good. HEY, HEY, HEY, Amica, don't be talking about our pollution-they picked up the trash today and promised to build an incinerator at the old US Naval site here. Okay, we have pollution-though I never thought it'd make the wood of violins sound better. I meant the effects of pollution everywhere in the late 20th & 21st centuries might affect the quality of the wood used in the making of violins. Once again I didn't express myself very well. In passing, is the garbage strike still going on?
|
|
|
Post by g1 on Jul 2, 2008 15:44:08 GMT -5
Ever wondered why the violins built in Cremona, Italy by such legendary violinmakers as Stradavarius and Guarneri have such heavenly sound? news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080702/sc_nm/stradivarius_dcThis reminds me of something I read once about Itzak Perlman--he tried out a modern aluminum (I think it was aluminum) violin, praised its tone--but said he'd rather play his Strad, thanks very much. I recall a few years ago Yo Yo Ma demonstrating a carbon-fiber cello on the Today show. Though it was in the morning, he was outside in Texas in the summer and the instrument -- which sounded great -- was obviously quite warm to the touch by the end of the demo. On the topic of woods, I've often wondered how woods that have been submerged for years would do for musical instruments. Earlier theories on the Strads suggested that the wood was soaked before being carved, that the trees were floated down the Mediterranean coast in seawater, etc., and these processes flushed out some soluble component of the woods to make them more resonant. What would be the effect on woods submerged in rivers from the old-time logging days 100+ yrs ago? Or a more extreme example -- trees buried in tens of thousands of years ago by the glaciers? This wood is apparently easy to find in the right locales, though I don't know of any commercial use for it (aside from firewood)
|
|
|
Post by Fairweather on Jul 2, 2008 16:15:15 GMT -5
Ever wondered why the violins built in Cremona, Italy by such legendary violinmakers as Stradavarius and Guarneri have such heavenly sound? news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080702/sc_nm/stradivarius_dcThis reminds me of something I read once about Itzak Perlman--he tried out a modern aluminum (I think it was aluminum) violin, praised its tone--but said he'd rather play his Strad, thanks very much. I recall a few years ago Yo Yo Ma demonstrating a carbon-fiber cello on the Today show. Though it was in the morning, he was outside in Texas in the summer and the instrument -- which sounded great -- was obviously quite warm to the touch by the end of the demo. On the topic of woods, I've often wondered how woods that have been submerged for years would do for musical instruments. Earlier theories on the Strads suggested that the wood was soaked before being carved, that the trees were floated down the Mediterranean coast in seawater, etc., and these processes flushed out some soluble component of the woods to make them more resonant. What would be the effect on woods submerged in rivers from the old-time logging days 100+ yrs ago? Or a more extreme example -- trees buried in tens of thousands of years ago by the glaciers? This wood is apparently easy to find in the right locales, though I don't know of any commercial use for it (aside from firewood) Although I don't recall ever hearing of instruments being made from wood that had been submerged for decades or centuries, I do seem to remember seeing something on TV once (may have been on DIRTY JOBS) about such logs being recovered from the Great Lakes and made into furniture once it was dried out. I can't remember what the circumstances were though as to how the logs got submerged. (On the other hand, Waylon Jennings, who played a 1953 Stratocaster, once attributed its sound to "the way they pissed on the wood that year." Although frankly I'm inclined to think that Waylon, in his wilder days, was the one who did the pissing. ;D) Wood for instruments does, though, go through some sort of soaking process to make it pliant enough to shape--but helping the sound? Jury still out?
|
|
|
Post by Laura on Jul 2, 2008 16:24:13 GMT -5
Katie..I remember that episode about recovering those logs. They used to transport the logs down river to the saw mills. Some of the logs got waterlogged and sank. Those are the ones they are recovering. That wood in todays market is like gold once it dries out.
|
|
|
Post by Fairweather on Aug 11, 2008 10:04:32 GMT -5
A goodbye to another of our Tennessee musical greats: www.nytimes.com/2008/08/11/arts/music/11hayes.html?th&emc=thIsaac Hayes of "Theme from SHAFT" fame was found dead in his home in Memphis yesterday. He was 65. Over here in East Tennessee our singers run mostly to country and bluegrass, the most recent such being Luttrell's Kenny Chesney; it's got something to do with the mountains and the red mud, the legacies of Roy Acuff, Dolly Parton, Chet Atkins, and a host of others. In West Tennessee, all's different; there the blackland dirt and cotton plantations and the muddy rush of Ol' Man River tend to produce great blues, soul and rock performers. Exhibits A and B would be the incandescent Tina Turner and Isaac Hayes, whose awesome growl of a voice was a revelation. No cause of death had, at last report, been determined, but Hayes had suffered a stroke in 2006 and was still recovering from its effects. Sad that to younger people he's probably more famous as Chef from SOUTH PARK than for his music. Rest in peace, Mr. Hayes.
|
|
|
Post by Krista on Aug 11, 2008 10:14:27 GMT -5
A goodbye to another of our Tennessee musical greats: www.nytimes.com/2008/08/11/arts/music/11hayes.html?th&emc=thIsaac Hayes of "Theme from SHAFT" fame was found dead in his home in Memphis yesterday. He was 65. Over here in East Tennessee our singers run mostly to country and bluegrass, the most recent such being Luttrell's Kenny Chesney; it's got something to do with the mountains and the red mud, the legacies of Roy Acuff, Dolly Parton, Chet Atkins, and a host of others. In West Tennessee, all's different; there the blackland dirt and cotton plantations and the muddy rush of Ol' Man River tend to produce great blues, soul and rock performers. Exhibits A and B would be the incandescent Tina Turner and Isaac Hayes, whose awesome growl of a voice was a revelation. No cause of death had, at last report, been determined, but Hayes had suffered a stroke in 2006 and was still recovering from its effects. Sad that to younger people he's probably more famous as Chef from SOUTH PARK than for his music. Rest in peace, Mr. Hayes. Readying myself for slings & arrows, I had never heard of him until South Park. Cut me a little slack; I was born in 1971 and wasn't "of age" for Shaft.
|
|
|
Post by Fairweather on Aug 11, 2008 10:16:35 GMT -5
A goodbye to another of our Tennessee musical greats: www.nytimes.com/2008/08/11/arts/music/11hayes.html?th&emc=thIsaac Hayes of "Theme from SHAFT" fame was found dead in his home in Memphis yesterday. He was 65. Over here in East Tennessee our singers run mostly to country and bluegrass, the most recent such being Luttrell's Kenny Chesney; it's got something to do with the mountains and the red mud, the legacies of Roy Acuff, Dolly Parton, Chet Atkins, and a host of others. In West Tennessee, all's different; there the blackland dirt and cotton plantations and the muddy rush of Ol' Man River tend to produce great blues, soul and rock performers. Exhibits A and B would be the incandescent Tina Turner and Isaac Hayes, whose awesome growl of a voice was a revelation. No cause of death had, at last report, been determined, but Hayes had suffered a stroke in 2006 and was still recovering from its effects. Sad that to younger people he's probably more famous as Chef from SOUTH PARK than for his music. Rest in peace, Mr. Hayes. Readying myself for slings & arrows, I had never heard of him until South Park. Cut me a little slack; I was born in 1971 and wasn't "of age" for Shaft. No slings and arrows, hon. But I do feel a bit old now. ;D
|
|
|
Post by Laura on Aug 11, 2008 11:04:37 GMT -5
A goodbye to another of our Tennessee musical greats: www.nytimes.com/2008/08/11/arts/music/11hayes.html?th&emc=thIsaac Hayes of "Theme from SHAFT" fame was found dead in his home in Memphis yesterday. He was 65. Over here in East Tennessee our singers run mostly to country and bluegrass, the most recent such being Luttrell's Kenny Chesney; it's got something to do with the mountains and the red mud, the legacies of Roy Acuff, Dolly Parton, Chet Atkins, and a host of others. In West Tennessee, all's different; there the blackland dirt and cotton plantations and the muddy rush of Ol' Man River tend to produce great blues, soul and rock performers. Exhibits A and B would be the incandescent Tina Turner and Isaac Hayes, whose awesome growl of a voice was a revelation. No cause of death had, at last report, been determined, but Hayes had suffered a stroke in 2006 and was still recovering from its effects. Sad that to younger people he's probably more famous as Chef from SOUTH PARK than for his music. Rest in peace, Mr. Hayes. Readying myself for slings & arrows, I had never heard of him until South Park. Cut me a little slack; I was born in 1971 and wasn't "of age" for Shaft. No slings and arrows..but don't rub it in ok missy.. ;D ;D
|
|