An Artist that went too soon

It was almost thirty years ago. An attorney friend of mine asked me to take a listen to a singer/songwriter that he was helping out pro bono, that needed a manager. I just came off from a cautionary tale of my own as a manger who worked for two years to get a band a recording contract, only to see them replace me when they signed the agreement. Just another tale in the zillions of stories out there in the music business. Although I felt horrible from this experience, I was young enough to bounce back and still had the energy flowing through my veins to make a mark in the industry. So I said, what the fuck...let me check this guy out. So I head down to this shithole on the west side of NYC called SNAFU. A dive...truly. I met my attorney friend there and we sat down to wait for the artist to get on stage. A few minutes later, this guy walks over to the grand piano on the stage, sits down and starts playing. It was just him, no other players accompanying him. From the first few notes, I had that visceral reaction. I knew something great was happening. I sat through the set mesmerized. After the show I went backstage (if that's what you call it), and was introduced to him by my attorney. I shook his hand and said "I don't want to pressure you, but I would like to take you into the studio tomorrow night or the next night and just do some live demos. Would that be ok?" He said "Wow, yes!". So I did just that. I took him to a studio called Right Track where a young, new engineer was just learning the ropes, and he did our session. We probably laid down around 12 songs or so, and did a rough mix onto a cassette tape. One for the artist, one for me. I listened on my ride home later that night and was blown away. Early the next morning, around 7am, I got a phone call from the artist. He was listening to the cassette on his headphones and he was loving every minute of it. None of you would know this artist. His name is Don Yowell. A few weeks ago marked the 25th anniversary of Don's passing from AIDS complications. I'll get back to that later. Don asked me to manage him that morning when he called and of course I said "I would be honored." This marked a new two year period in my life that would turn out approximately 65 songs. I basically pulled Don away from the shithole he was playing in and I struck a deal with a friend of mine in Rockland County, NY, to record Don's songs. I had no idea of what to expect and neither did Don. My role as his manager called for me to pay his rent and phone bill, while I footed the bill for him to record. We must have spent every week in this studio in Nyack, NY, and Don went on a writing craze that was unbelievable. I felt that with my help Don was able to unleash his inner most feelings as a writer, and he crafted the most gorgeous songs one could imagine. The routine was this. I lived in Fort Lee, NJ at the time. I would drive down to North Moore street in NYC, which was downtown all the way on the west side along the water, pick Don up, drive back over the George Washington Bridge, up to Nyack, record, drive him home and then I went back again to Fort Lee. I was only 24 years old at the time, so it didn't faze me. Now I think back and say "holy shit!" At that time, the music industry was in its New Wave/Punk era, and I was shopping a very sophisticated artist. Don's music was very unique...think Joni Mitchell meets Laura Nyro meets Don Yowell, for he had his own very distinct sound, style and voice. I had a few industry executives who loved him, but were perplexed as to how to market him. The singer/songwriter era would turn around years later, but not then. I struggled demo after demo to get him placed, but to no avail. I became very angry at the industry executives and felt they didn't know what the fuck was good. All I heard was mostly shit coming out of the record companies, and nobody had the balls to sign this artist. It is now, as I mentioned, almost thirty years since I started work with Don. And a few years back I revisited his catalogue, spoke with his family who now own the rights, and told them I was going to finish what I started. I want him heard. I want his songs placed. And eventually, I want him to be released on his own so the world can hear what an amazing talent he was. I was thinking today about the 2000 Volkswagon ad that featured Nick Drake's "Pink Moon." All of a sudden, posthumously, Nick Drake started selling cds like hot cakes. Why? Because in a peculiar way, the world got to hear what a talented artist he was. I was into Nick Drake many years before, as I was into John Martyn and other English folkies of that day. I started thinking that perhaps this might be one way to get Don's songs out there...and who knows? Perhaps in a movie or an ad, someway, somehow, the world needs to hear him. Over the past couple of years, I had sent out some of Don's songs to various artists to take a listen. But again, with egos the size of the Earth, many artists cannot get past their own egos, even if they think the songs are killer. I was always about thinking outside the box, and how cool it would be for an artist to do an album's worth of material of an unkown artist. God knows we have tribute albums up the ass of famous songwriters, bands, solo artists, ad nauseum. How about something a little different? I've wanted to get Don's songs to Elton John, because he would do him justice. So I spoke with someone about 7 months ago who said she could get to Elton John easily. And, she was a Don Yowell fan when she worked in music publishing. So, after I send her five cd's of Don's songs, I have been chasing her for the past 7 months to get off her ass and do something...no return phone calls, no return emails, etc. Really, I fucking hate people!!! You know what, it isn't that I hate people, I hate the indecisiveness in the music business where everyone cannot make a fucking decision to save their lives...so they turn to putting out shitty talent, oh wait, I've said this all before, I don't want to repeat myself. Anyway, if I could hope for one thing in my business life it would be for Don to come back to life through other artists, or even through his won cd's...what a talent...what a guy...what a loss...what a shame.

Carrying and Passing The Torch

I'm a big believer in carrying and passing the torch, especially when it comes to music. What I mean is simply this...let's take folk music for example. I guess musicologists can essentially argue, and with good reason, that Woody Guthrie was our first real troubador, touring the country singing about political issues, life, labor movement, etc. He was our first folk singer, but certainly not the only one. And when a young Robert Zimmerman a.k.a. Bob Dylan, came from Minnesota to New York, to visit Woody as he lay dying on his death bed, it was a sort of passing of the torch. Woody listened to Bob's songs and gave him the thumbs up...that's all Bob Dylan needed. Woody Guthrie was our country's musical voice. So was Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, Dave Van Ronk, Judy Collins, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Laura Nyro, Eric Andersen, Fred Neil, Peter Paul & Mary, and shitload more. These are just a few names who launched the folk movement in Greenwich Village, NYC. Places like Folk City, Cafe Wha?, The Bitter End, etc., launched many a career. And over the years, albeit a much smaller audience, there are still folk artist, who I guess these days like to be described as singer/songwriters, who carry the torch. Recently a compilation was released called The Village. This intrigued me. It is basically a small collection of songs from the folk movement done by contemporary artists. It is an excellent collection, but there are so many great songs missing, that a collection like this should be done in volumes of releases. However, it proves one point...that somewhere in this country, there are still believers in what folk music had to say. People still feel the same pressures of life today, maybe more so, then years back. And don't get me started on the politics of today. The point is, that music carries forth what many of us think and feel. It is a way of expressing our frustrations, and if it doesn't cure the problem, it just might bring it to people's attention. Some may argue that many genres of music touch upon the themes of society and they would be correct. But folk music was the original train that crossed the nation. Today, acts are still around that shaped folk music, and newer performers like Rod Macdonald and Joe Jencks, among others, carry the torch forward. They even re-record old classics, like Joe Hill, a song many of you may remember that Joan Baez did at Woodstock. Although that song was written in the 1920's, it still has legs...and Joe Jencks just recorded it on his new album. We cannot go back and relive the glory days of Greenwich Village and the energy that was in the air at the time. However, we can still support the great troubadors of today, as well as yesteryear, by seeing them live, buying their cd's, downloading their songs, etc. I have felt that we as a country lost our voice. We have stood by watching the atrocities in Iraq, as if it was another day's news. During the was in Vietnam, we didn't stand by silently...we protested in Washington, D.C. and folk singers rallied at sit-ins and protests all across the country. There was an energy...there was a commitment to right the wrong...there was a time when we had a voice...let's not forget it. If there is something out there that is wrong, voice your opinions. Do your part and carry the torch in your special way...support our singer/songwriters...they have things to say and they should be heard.

Blood, Sweat, Tears, Love and CSN

I just picked up a 180gm vinyl recording of Crosby Stills and Nash live in L.A. It is awesome!!! This concert is not available on cd...at least not presently. If you are a vinyl collector, pick this up as well as Neil Young's 180gm Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere...gritty, but awesome sound. OK, back to Blood, Sweat, etc. There have been a handful of albums over my life that have affected me viscerally. What I mean by this is that when I heard these for the first time, I had a physical and emotional reaction to them. In other words, I knew something special was happening. Such was the case with two cd's that I revisited the other day, and I still feel the same way as when I heard them for the first time. The very first Blood Sweat & Tears entitled Child is Father to the Man, stands alone in a category by itself. This is true artistic genius and musicianship. Al Kooper, one of those artists I have been following since he was in the Blues Project, created and formed BS&T. However, his tenure with them only lasted one album's worth. But what an album it was. At this time, horns, jazzy rock arrangements, and very cool songs, made for what I would call one of my top five albums of all-time! The group Love featuring singer Arthur Lee (who died a few years back after getting out of prison from complications of leukemia), was a rock band from Los Angeles. They had a unique sound to them, but they created an artistic album of genius as well called "Forever Changes." This album was a departure for them musically, but the signs were there on previous albums...just very subtle. While to some these might sound dated, to me, great albums like great songs, never grow old...they get better and better with age. Like I said in another blog, blogging is a way of spewing...I mean, I can say what I feel, what I'm listening to, and even if I'm writing for myself, its a cathartic exercise in emotional release. I'm listening to the aforementioned CSN Live in L.A. as I write this and I can't help but feel buzzed about it. I have several other CSN live albums and cd's, but this one has an energy unlike the others...please seek it out. I would be remiss if I didn't repeat again, that with the holidays approaching, pick up Windham Hill's A Winter's Solstice. There are several out there and you cannot go wrong with any of them...they set a peaceful and relaxed musical mood, especially if its snowing or cold outside. Cuddle up with a blanket, a glass of wine, a great book, or whatever, and put this cd on. You will feel caught up in the season, no doubt about it. I live upstate in Orange County, NY. Never mind what the fuck are you listening to? When are there going to be a decent chinese restaurant up here? In Greenwood Lake, I stumbled on a chinese buffet featuring not only chinese food, but sushi as well. I went in for dinner alone and asked how much? They said $9.99 a person. I said, how much for the sushi? They said, that's the price for everything. I tried it and was blown away. The sushi was fresh and exotic combinations. Needless to say I took the family there and we visited them more than 40 times. I feared they would close because, hey, its fucking Greenwood Lake!!! And sure enough, they closed a few months back. Hard working people trying to make a go and giving people great food for a great price, and people in that town are too fucking stupid to realize what a golden thing it was. Oh well...I need a great chinese place...being Jewish and all...you know, we have been around over 2,000 more years then the chinese...which begs the question: What did we do without chinese food for two thousand years? If I don't blog again till after the holidays, peace, love and all that bullshit...

Under The Radar

Yesterday I listened to some groups that never quite made it big. I never understood why they never received the recognition they should have, but being in the business, it could have been a number of things...poor management, poor record company, no budget to market them, etc. Two groups come to mind: Batdorf & Rodney and Brethren. I believe the Batdorf and Rodney cd is available online. Both of these albums are self-titled, but Brethren is not available as a cd. You might be able to find a vinyl copy somewhere. I became aware of Brethre from concerts I used to see at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY. At that time of my life, my family moved to Orangeburg in Rockland County, NY. I was a junior in high school and there was absolutely nothing to do. We moved into a brand new development and we were one of the first families to move in. I made friends with a guy my age and another a year younger. Thankfully, we all loved music, so we decided to take a critical departure in our lives. Every Friday or Saturday evening, we used to walk a couple of miles to the local restaurant, where we had hot chocolate and an english muffin or some other crap like that. Sounds exciting, no? We wanted to hand out with some girls, but we were sent to a high school in Pearl River, miles away from where we lived, and not to the local high school, where they claimed they were already overcrowded. Pearl River High School was like a neo-nazi academy for this Jewish kid from the Bronx and Yonkers...but that's an entirely different story. Anyway, we all decided that the closest concert venue to us, even though it was over the Tappan Zee Bridge was in Port Chester, NY. We asked our fathers if they would drive us to the concerts each week and then the 3 of us pooled our money together and we took a taxi back home. Now you may not believe this but tickets for each concert, and we went pretty much every week, was around $5.50 a ticket and we got to usually see 3 bands in a show, 2 at the very least. The taxi back from Westchester to Rockland County was a flat rate of $15. So with tip, etc., we each ponied up approximately $12 each for everything. I got to see so many acts at this venue, starting with the Joe Cocker Mad Dogs & Englishmen Tour. Just to name a few of the $5.50 bands, we saw everyone from Steppenwolf to The Byrds to King Crimson to Traffic and the list goes on and on and on. As a matter of fact, my cousin Jason, who I wrote about in a previous blog, called me up one day and said: "listen, tell your friends to go with you to ticketron and get tickets to the Derek and the Dominoes concert coming to the Capitol Theater in Port Chester. I remember laughing when he mentioned the name and I said, who are they? He said: This is Eric Clapton's new band and they are doing these shows without any prior hype or announcement. So I told my friends, and they laughted too...but nonetheless, they knew Jason wouldn't joke, so we got tickets and saw Clapton's new band...and all I can say is this...when he did Layla and Have You Ever Loved a Woman, I didn't pick up my guitar for fun for a few months. I was giving private lessons weekly, but I refused to play in a band during those months because I witnessed Clapton play the blues and hold a note for so long, that it took my breath away! I think that note is still ringing somewhere. Anyway, Brethren was an opening act for many of the headliners. They were a superb band. They had two albums out on Tiffany Records. As I said, the first one, which was just called Brethren was great. Every song grew on you with each listen. The genre was rock, but they had a unique almost gospel type thing going on, but not really gospel...you would have to hear it. As a note of interest, Dr. John is on this first album as a guest artist, but the sound is not akin to Dr. John. They never made it big, and soon after their second album they called it quits. Batdorf & Rodney were two guys who played in a Crosby Stills & Nash kind of groove. Their songs were tremendous...truly. John Batdorf still records to this day and he has excellent product online. But the gem is their self-titled called Batdorf & Rodney. John Batdorf did most of the writing, and I guess like Paul Simon, just didn't want to share the limelight, since he was the main writer. Again, each and every song is wonderful...great...they grow on you each listen. And if you are a fan of great songs, great harmony, nice production, then grab this before it goes out of print. I have so many bands to turn you onto that have flown under the radar for one reason or another, and from time to time I will do this. Blogging not only gives one the license to whine and complain, but it also gives me the opportunity to provide great listening experiences and once again, open up your ears. And I welcome anyone who reads this and ventures out there to try some of my suggestions, to post a response. I'm curious what you think. The news reports are that the swine flu has kind of peaked for the time being, but they all think after the holidays, it will spike. So get your H1N1 flu shot as well as the regular flu shot...especially if you are in a high risk group...of course the choice is up to you. I had my swine flu vaccine last week...I went and got a ham sandwich right after it...I wonder if this is a side effect?

Current music with a throwback feel

If you read my blogs, you will notice that I will be suggesting music from the sixties, seventies, and possibly a smattering over the next few decades. Recently two artists come to mind that you might find interesting. First, there is Kristina Train, a 27 year old who sounds like Dusty Springfield. Dusty was a singer from the sixties who had a very sultry voice. She was truly fabulous. Kristina has a very similar vibe and has great songs on her debut album. Another great album released recently, which is becoming one of my favorites is by a group called the Avett Brothers. They are a three piece band from North Carolina, I think. They are not new, as they have been making cd's for quite some time, but they hit their stride on their latest cd called "I and Love and You." Produced by recording producer guru Rick Rubins, the production is sparse and very simple, as are their songs and lyrics. However, they acheive a freshness to their sound while at the same time sounding a bit familiar. They also blend instruments together that would be more akin to a bluegrass album. For example, you will have plucked banjo accompanied with acoustic guitar, giving a bluegrass vibe, but not really...this is hard to categorize. They have elements of singer/songwriter material, but occassionally throw in a "punk" groove here and there. It is not punk by any stretch of the imagination. It is more in the way of their song presentation. You would have to listen to hear what I am trying to describe. You can check out bits and pieces on amazon.com or itunes. When I listened to these artists it reminded me of when I was a little kid searching the radio airwaves for the next cool group or artist. I shared a bedroom with my sister in Yonkers, and I remember having a very tiny transistor radio that broadcast am and fm stations. We didn't have stereo headphones back then, so I had a tiny ear phone for one ear. I would sneak it under the covers at night with a flashlight searching for WNEW fm and spent hours listening to their late night shows. This occurred on many a school night, so needless to say, I was not very awake during elementary school. I looked forward to three things back then. First, my nightly radio listen; Second, my weekly guitar lesson and Third, getting my tuna sandwich for lunch from the Roosevelt Deli. My elementary school was set back behind rows of department stores and little restaurants and they used to let us out for lunch, or we could stay at the school. I usually went by myself to indulge in my tuna sandwich. I have been searching for over fourty years for tuna like this...I cannot explain what the hell they did to make it taste so good, but it was all I ate for my duration in elementary school. If my mother felt generous she gave me an extra dollar which entitled me to a side of french fries...they made the kind that Nathan's sells...the crispy and cringly kind...yummy....(was that gay?). Anyway, check those two cd's out. Now, one more thing, just in case I forget. With the holidays coming, if you are having family and friends over, and you want to get away from the usual holiday cd's, check out the Windham Hill cd's. There is one called "Thanksgiving" which is great, and a variety of some called "Winter Solstice". These are mellow and beautiful and add great warmth and feel for background music. Also, another favorite of mine is Vince Guaraldi's "A Charlie Brown Christmas." This is great too. I have so many cd's I just can't remember all of them, but I believe the Windham Hill Winter Solstice has some sort of compilation bringing the best of their Wintery type music. Windham Hill by the way was a label set up many years ago by a solo guitarist, who recorded beautiful music from a variety of artists through the years. There are many great cd's from them, but start with some of these holiday treats. If you like solo piano, try George Winston's "December". It's Sunday so I have to get my bagels, whitefish salad and lox. I've been doing this since I'm a kid. I think it is a Jewish thing. Being Jewish, a funny thing happened to me the other day. I got a turkey hero and was driving home with it. I felt a little dizzy and had to eat...I have diabetes and I felt my blood sugar dropping. So I pulled into a local synagogue and went to the far end of their parking lot. I ate my sandwich, which took all of ten minutes and then left to head home. As I was pulling out of the temple parking lot, a police car was pulling in. I noticed the cop stare at me as I went along my merry way. A minute later, two cop cars were following me. One pulled out and screached to a hault in front of me, blocking my way, and the cop that saw me in the parking lot was behind me. He got out of his car with a hand on his holster housing his gun. I was like "What the fuck is this all about?" He approached my window and I said "Hey Officer, what's up?" He said, can I see your license and I'll tell you in a minute. So I gave it to him. He then inquired why I was in the temple parking lot. I told him I was eating lunch and didn't want to drive and eat. The other cop got of his car and came over and they both said the temple reported me in their parking lot and that I looked suspicious. One cop, after seeing I was totally innocent, and Jewish to boot (my nose is a dead giveaway), he commented on what a different world it is we live in. They let me go and I didn't know if I should be pissed or thankful that people are vigilant these days. I think I was a little of both. After all it is an insane world. So, fill the insanity with some great music and great food, and you are there!!!

The Women That Made A Difference

I thought I was finished for today, but some thoughts just popped into my head. First, my daughter informed me that Lady Ga Ga is actually spelled Lady Gaga. Of course!!! What an idiot I am...this is what happens when you really don't give a shit about the artist...it is the small attention to detail...but this makes sense, doesn't it...because the first three letters spell the word "gag"...which is what I do when I listen or see her...thank you daughter...
Now, as we all know there are women in music who have made a mark and made a difference. We can go back all the way back to the blues through jazz and rock and list many artists. But today I want to mention just a couple, and for good reason. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, has a board that votes on their inductees every year. Each and every one of those board members should be absolutely ashamed of themselves for not inducting Laura Nyro or Joni Mitchell. I mean, talk about ignorant! Laura and Joni were brilliant songwriters and artists. Laura had many of her songs covered in the 60's by The 5th Dimension and Barbra Streisand to name a few, but as an artist on her own, nobody comes close. There have been artists over the years that have tried to emulate her, but uh uh...no good...keep trying. Laura Nyro, or Nigro, was born and raised in the Bronx. Her very first album called First Songs is a genuine masterpiece and a primmer on how to write gorgeous songs with gorgeous melodies. Joni's first album, Ladies of the Canyon is also in a class by itself. Accompanied by guitar or piano with a very sparse arrangement, allows Joni's craftsmanship to shine through. So, if I ever get lucky and some board member from the Hall reads this, then let me say WAKE THE FUCK UP...YOU PUT IN THE CLASH OVER THESE TWO UNBELIEVABLE WOMEN? YOU ARE ALL OUT OF YOUR FUCKING MINDS. Needless to say there are tons of female artists that made a difference. Just to name a few, in addition to Laura and Joni, you have Ruth Brown, Bessie Smith, Etta James, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald, Janis Joplin, Grace Slick, Bonnie Raitt, Carole King, Ellie Greenwich, and dozens more. I'm certain there are obvious ones missing. I list them here because I want all of you to listen to these artists. Listen to their contribution. Some of these artists pre-dated television, and they had to live and die by the radio and their 78's or 45's or if they were lucky, their albums. Remember what I have been saying all along...great artists, great songs, survive without all the hoopla. When I was growing up I was all about listening to great songs. To me, it didn't matter if they were bubble gum type songs, pop songs, blues, jazz, etc., if they were great songs to my ears, then I bought the records. I remember when The 5th Dimension had monster hits with Laura Nyro's "Wedding Bell Blues"...and I bet each and every one of you know this song, but most know it from The 5th Dimension's version, not realizing Laura wrote it. And let's take the song "Woodstock." Yes, Crosby Stills Nash & Young kicked ass with that song on their album Deja Vu. However, did you know that Joni Mitchell wrote it. And she was supposed to appear at Woodstock, but never made it over there. Instead, we received a gift from her about that glorious day and time. The energy in the air during the 60's is very hard to put into words, and even harder to make someone appreciate it. But suffice it to say that during that decade, the music scene exploded with creativity and amazing songs and artists. I have always been an advocate for women's rights and would fight anyone to the death on their rights to receive equal pay, treatment, etc. So for me, realizing how the aforementioned women had to try and make it in a "man's world", makes their accomplishments even more profound. And today the struggle continues for women. No question it is a far better world for the ladies then yesteryear, but their fight will continue for quite some time. All I ask is that you give these ladies of music a chance. Listen to their words, their melodies, their plights, etc. When you take the time to listen, and I mean truly listen, you will come to the realization that today, nobody comes close to what Laura and Joni have done. I have heard many comparrisons over the years that Tori Amos and others like her, are musically gifted. And to some extent, they have talent...but again, not like Laura and Joni. I would love to travel to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but I won't set one foot in that door until justice is served on the ladies who deserve it! I must admit, I was also very blessed growing up the way I did for several reasons. First, my mother divorced my father when I was 6 months old. She met a great guy when I was 7 years old and they married. I was already into buying my weekly records on Fordham Road in the Bronx, but my step-father, who I have always called my father, loved music and played everything you can think of. Any given weekend could feature The 4 Seasons and the Herbie Mann and then the Broadway album of West Side Story. This could explain why I have such broad taste as well. In addition, my step-father had a nephew, who was now deemed my cousin Jason, who was my fucking idol. Jason lived with his parents in Pelham in the Bronx, and whenever we went to visit, Jason would play me all the newest groups that nobody ever heard of. Not only did he play them for me, but he could literally make his voice sound like any of the singers on the turntable at the time. Jason played in a blues band where he sang and played harmonica. He was a very special cousin. Since I wasn't a "blood" relation, I offen wondered how I would be accepted. Jason would call my parents and ask them if it was ok to take me into the city, especially the village. He took me all over the place and I saw The Rolling Stones movie "Gimme Shelter" with him. He was absolutely, hands down, the greatest cousin a kid could have. One day my parents told me we were going down to see Jason, as he enlisted in the Navy and was going over to Viet Nam. I didn't understand any of this. There were war protests all over the place, and I always thought of my cousin Jason as a hippie...what was going on? I remember sitting there with the family knowing that Jason was leaving the next day and I cried like a baby in front of everyone. Jason came over to me and took me into his room where I hugged him and kissed him goodbye. Little did I know taht it would be the last time I would see him. When Jason came back from the war, he was a very bad drug addict. He got addicted to heroin over there in the jungle. Not too long after he was home, he overdosed on heroin and my hero was gone from my life forever. As I write these words, the tears are rolling down my cheek...he was just very special to me and my musical education. I'll always remember Jason. Oy Vay, talk about a departure...its amazing what happens when you blog or just write for cathartic reasons...it just goes to show you how much you have up there in your head, just aching to come out. Till next time...

Lady Ga Ga versus Talent

My daughter sent me a text yesterday saying that after she and a few others formed a posse to hammer the online site to attempt to gain tickets for two new shows added for Lady Ga Ga, that they were successful in their efforts and they have 4 tickets for the Sunday night show. When I read this my first thought was I would rather hear that my daughter was a crack whore living in an abandoned building in harlem. I'm just kidding...I would prefer the building to be in the village. Anyway, after listening to how excited she was, I thought to myself maybe I've been too harsh about my comments of Lady Ga Ga. Maybe there is merit there afterall. So I searched out some music clips and videos and came to this conclusion. Nope, I was right...she absolutely sucks! No offense to my daughter, she's entitled to her opinion, but I cannot be swayed on this one. Her success is akin to why we choose Coke over Pepsi. It's all about marketing and hype. No more, no less. Conditioning and brainwashing is where its at in the music business these days, and it has been this way for quite a long time. This is due to the fact that the music, or songs, cannot stand alone on their own merit. So the industry decides it has to sell their acts via videos, magazines, planted stories, ya know, all the bells and whistles. It is a shame, truly, that my daughter's generation and many like her before and currently growing up, are not exposed to music the right way. That is to say that the song is a great song simply because it is true. Let's take a quick journey into the Simon and Garfunkel catalogue. Take a song like Bridge Over Troubled Water. This song is mostly piano and vocals until near the end of the song. It is an exercise in brilliance as far as a song goes. It stands alone with Art's beautiful voice accompanied by a simple piano backup, and that's it. A great song is also timeless. I hope that nobody is listening to Ga Ga years from now, and perhaps as the saying goes, history will repeat itself and better artists, more talented writers, etc., will find their way to the forefront of the music business and its listeners. The other thing about great songs are that they sometimes even befuddle the writer. I can only site an example of the great Paul McCartney song "Yesterday." When he awoke after a night of dreaming about this song, he put the pen to the paper and wrote the song. He was convinced at that time that somewhere in the deep recess of his mind he ripped the song off from someone, or it was a melody that he already heard on the radio or somewhere. He just couldn't place it. So Paul went around playing the song for his mates and friends, asking them if it sounded familiar to them. After all of them said it was not familiar, Paul was convinced that he wrote a hit song. Where did the Beatles talent actually come from? The stars were aligned and that's all there is to it. I do not think something like that will ever happen again. And, this is not to demean the great songwriters from Pete Townshend to James Taylor, it is just that the Beatles were just beyond definition. OK, I'm losing my concentration on this blog...let me get back to what I meant to state. Ever since MTV hit the television, the generations have been sold on more than a song. They have been sold on visuals, whether it was sexy or not. And for the record, I don't mean to single out Lady Ga Ga...she's just the flavor of the year for now. When I write about her, her name is a euphomysim for herself, Britney Spears, and all the other shitty performers, including most rap artists, who parade as serious musicians and performers. Can some of them dance? Yes. Can some of them sing? Not really. Do they have great songs? No. Sorry, but maybe its about time the truth be told. So the masses who disagree can say this is simply my opinion and that I don't speak for everyone. My answer is simply what I wrote in my first blog, I don't give a shit what anyone thinks about what I write...this is in some ways therapeutic for me...it is an excuse to vent my musical frustrations and offer some sound musical choices along the way to anyone interested in expanding their ears for the better. Which brings me to another musical recommendation. And when I make these suggestions, they are random. They are not in any chronological order, it is just perhaps something I might be listening to as I write this blog. And that is exactly what is going on at this minute, the album I am suggesting is the very first self-titled Crosby Stills & Nash. For those of you who need a little musical education, David Crosby came from the one of my favorite bands of all time, The Byrds. Stephen Stills came from Buffalo Springfield. And lastly Graham Nash came from a great band from England, The Hollies. All of these aforementioned groups had amazing hits and great albums as well. The first CS&N album was very special. Again, every song is a winner. However, the coolest thing about this group then, and still going strong, is their amazing ability to harmonize the way they do together. In the same way that Lennon and McCartney had a unique sound together, so did CS&N. I'm listening to the newley remastered 180gm vinyl copy. Yes, there is a warmth to vinyl that cd's were never able to replicate. I of course listen to cd's all the time as well. However, when I am in my home office where my lp's are stored, I listen to vinyl. I wish I had Lady Ga Ga on vinyl...I would use it as a frisbee. So in closing, let me list for you a sample of the top ten things I would do before I would listen to a Lady Ga Ga cd from beginning to end...and yes, it's like a Dave Letterman thing, but here goes:
10. I would boil water and soak my balls in it;
9. I would eat a dozen raw, chopped garlic pieces and down it with sour milk;
8. I would listen to a Brittany Spears song, just one, no more;
7. I would put a screwdriver into my ear and puncture my eardrum;
6. I would light my dogs on fire and watch them cry and burn...not really;
5. I would eat a Subway sandwich every day of the year (WTF, their turkey is like shitty meat, what's up with that?);
4. I would tatoo a picture of George Bush on my chest...uh...maybe not...maybe one of his daughters...no, maybe his father...no, forget it, maybe Dick Cheney;
3. I would turn gay for the year visiting as many gay bars as I could, and then force myself to be on the bottom during any sexual encounter;
2. I would jump off any nearby bridge dressed in nothing but women's lingerie, so as to embarass my family when they find my body;
1. I would throw myself into a pre-heated oven for about ten minutes...burning myself from head to toe and then experiencing pain from the scars for the rest of my life!

Do these seem extreme? You know, I really wouldn't do any of these, except maybe number 5. I mean, eating a Subway sandwich is not all that bad...

OK, so pick up CS&N, the self-titled album, and for those interested in getting turned onto jazz, get Miles Davis album "Kind of Blue." This should be in every jazz collector's bin.