GMVW # 32: "The Chameleon"

Gem Music Video of the Week # 32:  The Chameleon

Song:  Change Your Mind by Neil Young and Crazy Horse

(Songwriter: Neil Young)

August 14, 2008

Neil Young can surprise you, and he does it in a number of ways.  One is his versatility.  You look at him and think "that guy is set in his ways.  He's got the plaid shirt, the ripped jeans and the hippie hair.  He's a 60's guy through and through".   Nothing could be further from the truth.  Hanging out with Pat Shea in Ottawa several weeks back, we were in agreement that Pat's fellow Canadian is the gold standard for connecting with younger generations of musicians.  He's toured with and learned from younger bands like Social Distortion and Sonic Youth.  He has sung songs about Johnny Rotten and Kurt Cobain, and he does all this while maintaining his own musical integrity.  Neil Young is indeed multifaceted.  He's a chameleon.

Another way Neil Young surprises is his energy on stage.  The first time I saw him live was a show with his band Crazy Horse (the mid-80s Garage Band tour, complete with garage deco all around the stage).  I lucked out.  I could have been initiated into Young's live act thru a variety of other incarnations, including with CSNY, the Blue Notes, Booker T and the MGS, solo, with wife and friends or in several other flavors (all good).  Crazy Horse does the best job though of bringing out Neil Young's amazing stamina and physical exertion, taking some songs as far as they can go and then back again.  The man is energetic all right.  He's a force.

Finally, Neil Young can surprise with how revealing he is through his lyrics and stage presence.  He is a brutally honest, personal, and courageous musician.  Bruce Springsteen and U2 are known for these superlatives, but Neil Young is the one I connect with on this level.  He takes chances and does not always pull it off, but that's ok: You may luck out and see the best show of your life.  I'm usually willing to take the risk.  Neil Young is intense and thought provoking (check out the album 'Tonight's the Night').  He's an open book.

Which brings me to this week's Gem.  I dug around a bit, because Neil Young has many gems to choose from, but I wanted a video that showcased the feel of a live Crazy Horse song, which made the search a bit harder.  Finally I came upon this great song and video 'Change Your Mind' from the 1993 album "Sleeps with Angels".  The entire album lamented the suicide of Nirvana's Kurt Cobain, which hit the grunge music scene and the rock world in general pretty hard.  A number of younger musicians wrote songs about this tragedy, but it was Neil Young who hit home the hardest, jumping across 2 generations to connect with the reaction and give it a much needed elders perspective that could only come from a sage like Young. 

The video also gives a glimpse (about half way thru) of the jam sessions that Neil Young and Crazy Horse will often break into in their sets.  The Grateful Dead, The Who, and The Allman Brothers are all known for their jams and they are all great, but Neil Young with Crazy Horse is equally superb (yet less recognized in Rock History).  Of all the qualities of a great live band, it's the ability to break into an eye-opening jam that separates the men from the boys.  It's in a great jam where many musicians can sound like one.  It's something that can only develop from years of playing together as a band (in Young's case this was enhanced with his studio music, which was often done with the entire band playing the studio song together from beginning to end, instead of relying on overdubbing prerecorded instruments together on the final record).  The sound of a Crazy Horse jam can be brooding and build up in intensity.  The band seems to relish these moments together on stage.  My friend, Bob Bouvier and I used to joke that Crazy Horse probably waited with bated breath by the phone to get the call from Neil to go on tour (I've often wondered what they did when Neil was touring with others or solo). 

Seeing Neil Young and Crazy Horse that first time in the mid 80's, particularly during songs like 'Powderfinger' and 'Cortez the Killer' was a jaw dropping experience....probably the biggest gap ever between what I expected out of a concert and what I got.  This proved to be reason to catch just about every Neil Young show that has come down the pike ever since.  Watching this video has me thinking that it has been too long....I've got to get myself to another Neil Young and Crazy Horse show.

- Pete

Gem Music Video: Change Your Mind (this fantastic footage has been temporarily lost.  Need to find… need to find!  In the meantime, here’s the music with amateur video footage)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45qX1VYONds

* A correction to last week's entry, when I labeled John a Yankee fan.  He denies this and insists his position has always been one of begrudging admiration.  You never want to make someone into a Yankee fan who is not.  Sorry, John.

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About the Video: An amazing live video of Neil Young and Crazy Horse, performed in studio.  The light fades to dark at times, then illuminates the band again.  Billy Talbot is wearing a fedora.

Video Rating: 1 (a big, fat, 1)

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Best Feedback: Amy:

Amazing Pete.
How I wish he could read this. 

Also: Paul:

Nice one Pete.  I still wish that I had seen Neil in California when I worked for Ken Fisher.  The bar he goes to is on top of "sugar mountain" next to my old boss's house (there is nothing else up there but a fancy restaurant almost accross the street - which Neal apprently never goes in).  I went in there several times to no avail.

Also: Tina:

dear pete,

thanks so much for sending me this weeks edition. i love it and i cant wait to share it with my friend kimberly. she is a HUGE neil young fan. so huge that when she saw him at great woods she fell to her knees and started chanting neil young is god, neil young is god. (there might have been a tiny bit of drinking involved, but i cant really remember...). anyway, would you please add me to your list? id love to keep in touch with you and in this way. i love reading your writing!

love tina

ps mine is at wavyo.com. you go from the home page to the blog. still writing about the roadrace

pss i always have a blast when i see you and your family. it seems like we all say that, so why dont we do it more often???????????????????

pss have not stop giggling about lambie...

GMVW # 31: "Blind Faith"

Gem Music Video of the Week # 31:  Blind Faith

Song:  100 Years by Five for Fighting

(Songwriter: John Ondrasik)

August 7, 2008

The Manny Ramirez trade this past week was a tough pill to swallow.  It took years, but in the end, I was a Manny backer, despite his transgressions, and it’s going to take a while to get over his parting ways with the Red Sox.  This is unusual for me because I almost always find myself in management’s corner when it comes to disputes with players. However, in a sport that’s way too uptight for its own good, Manny brought a laid back attitude that was refreshing (and will probably add 20 years to his life).  Red Sox fans will not likely see his kind again (after all, have we ever seen another Derek Sanderson or Don Cherry with the Bruins?).  For many, that’s a good thing.  Not me.  Visions of blasé teams and personalities dance in my head (and don’t think Yankees fans aren’t dancing in the streets!).

The Manny move had me reflecting back to the 2004 World Series.  I have to admit, I was a skeptic right up until the final game...too much water under the bridge.  The player strikes had done their fair share of curbing my appetite for baseball over the years, but at the core of my jaded attitude were all the years of Red Sox in-the-clutch futility and bad team chemistry.  I was a die-hard fan in the 70’s, but as the years rolled on into the late 80’s, it came down to too much invested with too little return.  I could role each painful memory out here, but we all know them (at least the Sox fans among us).  No need to re-live the gory details (well, maybe a little below).

Yet something happened that final evening of the 2004 baseball season.  Turning on the TV to watch the game, I caught a pregame nationally televised video montage of the previous 100 years of Red Sox baseball played to the tune of this weeks Gem, ‘100 Years’ by Five for Fighting.  There was amazing synchronicity between the song and Red Sox history.  It was apparent that Fox TV was already convinced of the outcome, and after watching the footage, so was I.  A flood of memories hit me at once as I jumped out of my seat and into the car to get a bottle of champagne at the local package store for the inevitable toast with Nancy later that night.  I’ve searched hi and low for this pregame video on the WEB but cannot find it, so I will attempt to do the play by play, and have attached the original ‘100 Years’ video.

These are all the numbers (ages) mentioned in the song and an attempt to piece together the footage that went with it:

15 (the refrain: “there’s still time for you”) The Ruth years.  3 World Series in 4 years.  Also, 1918 was the 15th World Series and the last won by the  Sox (until 2004).  Babe Ruth footage

22

The last place 20’s.  Harry Frazee sells off most of the team.  Footage of Ruth as a Yankee.

33

Things start to turn around.  1933 Tom Yawkey takes over the team.  Footage of 30’s additions Lefty Grove, Jimmy Foxx, Bobby Doerr, and the best hitter of all time, Ted Williams.

45

Footage of the Red Sox in the 1946 World Series (first Sox appearance since 1918): Pesky hesitating throwing the ball home in the fateful 7th and final game against the St. Louis Cardinals.  Footage of Williams as the last .400 hitter; Williams last at bat in 1960 (a home run).

67

The Impossible Dream but another 7 game loss to the Cardinals in the World Series (first Sox appearance since 1946).  Footage of Yaz, Conigliaro (hit by pitch), Lonborg.  The start of Red Sox Nation.

“Petrocelli’s under it, he’s got it! And the Red Sox Win!”

From there, the song spirals fast with footage from’75 (first Sox World Series since ’67 is a 7 game loss to the Reds), ’78, ’86 (first Sox World Series since ’75 is a 7 game loss to Mets): Bernie Carbo, Dwight Evans (“Evans going back…back, and….what a grab!”), Carleton Fisk (“If it stays fair!”), Fred Lynn, Bucky Dent, Bill Buckner (yet another reminder of the stop sign which lost it’s post outside the Beacon Hill Pub that fateful night), Roger Clemens, Wade Boggs (down and out in the dugout), Pedro Martinez,

99

Grady Little, Pedro, Aaron Boone.  The Sox missing out by a hair the 99th World Series.

100 (the title)

The eve of the first Red Sox World Series in 86 years.  The 100th World Series.  Footage of beating the Yankees 4 in a row.  Footage of Shilling’s bloody sock, Pappi,…. and Manny.

One other thought:  This song, particularly the ‘15’ refrain, reminded me of what it was like as a kid to have blind faith, a believer no matter the odds. Seeing Peter last year, never wavering when his favorite new player, J.D. Drew struggled mightily most of the season, had me longing for those days. In the end, Peter’s faith paid off and it reminded me that despite my elation when the Sox finally won the big one in 2004, it paled in comparison to what the victory brought to those who never gave up.  I remembered those summer mornings in the mid/late 70’s, heading over to John Roche’s house, the 2 of us absorbing every word in the sports section and pouring over the stats and standings (although we were rooting for different teams, as John was a Yankees fan.  I’m not sure this is still the case… John?).  Those were the days when Peter Gammons wrote for the Boston Globe.  I was a believer.  I’d like to think Manny helped bring some of that back.  Adios, Manny.  I hate to see you go.

I’ve also included a song link from the Impossible Dream album.

“Hey 15, there’s never a wish better than this”

- Pete

Gem Music Video: 100 Years

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpkqVqZ7PUE

http://staffannouncer.com/blog/?p=18

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About the Video: Made for MTV video.  The ‘Yaz’ link is only audio

Video Rating: 1

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Best Feedback: Tom:

This was a beautiful and passionately written write-up Pete!  Should go into the Globe for all Boston fans to read.  It was hard to see Pedro go, and now with Manny gone it's just so different too - the end of a truly magical era!!!

Tom

GMVW # 30: "Democracy in the Studio"

Gem Music Video of the Week # 30:  Democracy in the Studio

Song:  What’s the Frequency Kenneth by R.E.M.

(Songwriter: Michael Stipe)

July 31, 2008

I would think it’s an honor to a band when their music is identified as representing a particular genre: Punk = The Clash; Reggae = Bob Marley; Glam Rock = Bowie; Grunge = Nirvana; Folk = Joan Baez; and so on.

Then there are the bands that don’t quite fit any niche.  These bands are just as likely to be revolutionary, and are consistently evolving their sound.  R.E.M. is one of these bands.  They are not easily categorized which is one of the main reasons R.E.M., more than any other band, have carried the Rock n Roll torch thru the 90’s and into this century.  Their songs, albums, and live sound all stand up to any comparison. 

R.E.M. has always had a complex studio sound, but somehow can pull it off live.  Converting a studio sound to the stage has been the downfall of many bands over the years:  Several that come to mind are The Cars, Boston, Yes, and Alan Parsons Project.  A typical R.E.M. concert will see them dig at most 3 albums deep into their war chest.  They are not about reminiscing, and like to keep current (they were one of the very last long-term successful music acts to release a greatest hits album).  So, if you are catching a show and are enjoying the most recent album release, you are all set.  I’ve had a chance to see them 3 times, two of which immediately followed my favorite R.E.M. albums: Monster and Up.  The shows were fantastic (the Up show was a great birthday gift from brother, Pat).

I believe that one of the main reasons R.E.M. is so successful is that the band is balanced talent wise.  They are also balanced in their decision making.   This is rare for a band and it’s been fun to see how it has played out over the years as it’s impossible to get a sense on who is leading and who is following.  Finally, R.E.M. as a band seems free of the pressures of fame and conformity more so than most musicians, giving them a limitless palate to work on.  This is not so hard to find in individual musicians (Dylan, N. Young, Tom Waits).  It is very hard to find in an entire band.

One of the songs I found impressive for R.E.M to pull off live was ‘What’s the Frequency Kenneth’, off the Monster album, hence its choice as this week’s Gem Video.  The lyrics are obscure (as many R.E.M. lyrics are) but to me that's no biggie...the energy, originality, and bass lines are enough in this case.

Because it’s a heavy rock song, I’m also including a great Gem Light video ‘Day Sleeper’ off the Up album. 

 ‘nuff said’

- Pete

* There may be a short (20 secs) add previewed before these videos since they are both from a VH1 site (which runs adds).

Gem Music Video: What’s the Frequency Kenneth (VH1 site: you have to register)

http://www.vh1.com/video/play.jhtml?artist=1009&vid=9822

Day Sleeper

http://www.vh1.com/video/play.jhtml?artist=1009&vid=9793

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About the Video: Made for MTV video (as is the Gem Light).

Video Rating: 1

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Best Feedback: Madelline:

Hey, you are so fun doing this while on the Cape!

GMVW # 29: "Innocent Until Proven Guilty"

Gem Music Video of the Week # 29:  Innocent Until Proven Guilty

Song: Rock Lobster by The B52s

(Songwriters: Fred Schneider and Ricky Wilson)

July 24, 2008

Place: Serious Rocker Tribunal made up of 9 judges

Time: A futuristic ‘What If’ scenario

Setting: An interrogation. Spotlight on me

Chief Justice: So, Steeves, you consider yourself a serious rocker?

Me: ahh, yes, I do

Chief Justice: Someone who takes his music seriously?

Me: Yes

Chief Justice: Let’s review your records.  Going way back now, there are reports that you listened frequently to Neil Diamond and the Carpenters with your family on the way to swimming lessons as a teenager. 

Me (sheepishly): Yes, but Rock n Roll initially passed my parents by.  They were busy being parents, and, well, Dad’s a big time classical music kind of guy.  You can’t knock classical, particularly Mozart.  Mom, she came around.  Started enjoying Creedence Clearwater Revival, Elton John, The Beatles.

Chief Justice: Hmmm.  You did stoop pretty low, though.  Do the words “Sky Rockets in Flight” ring a bell?!!!

Me: Ouch, that hurt.  Believe me though, by that time some basic instinct was starting to kick in.  I was not quite as duped as others my age. They were sliding down a slippery slope, like John Travolta under that mirror ball.

Chief Justice: Back to you. One of your first album purchases: ‘Breakfast in America’

Me: Chalk it up to Late Bloomer Syndrome

Chief Justice: Moving on to the late 80’s.  We have reports of your car’s radio having every fixed station tuned to KISS 108 for the better part of a long weekend!

Me:  I can explain!  My then soon-to-be sister-in-law pulled off a cunning, diabolical and, I must admit, smooth maneuver. 

Chief Justice and other judges < huddling and murmuring >

Chief Justice: ok we will let that one slide.

Chief Justice:  < shuffling thru documents >: The rest of your records look pretty good….. Wait!  What’s this!  Right up to the present day, we see a love for the music of the B52s… and you consider yourself a serious rocker!

Me: I was hoping you would have missed that

Chief Justice:  You better have an explanation for this!  What’s to keep us from banishing you to a deserted island with nothing but a collection of ABBA albums?

Me: Yow! < pause > ….no, I can’t abandon them now… the B52s are a great band!

Chief Justice and other judges < exasperated >

Chief Justice: You must be joking.

Me: No I’m not.

Chief Justice: <looking through B-52s lyrics>:  How can learning the Camel Walk be serious stuff?  The Coo-ca-choo?  The Aqua-velva?

Me: ahhh well….

Chief Justice: < interrupting >: Let’s read a few lyrics, shall we?  “She came from Planet Claire, I know she came from there, she drove a Plymouth Satellite, faster than the speed of light”.  Here’s another:  “His ear lobe fell in the deep.  Someone reached in and grabbed it.  It was the Rock Lobster”. What the…..

Me:  Great stuff, actually.  Sorry you didn’t connect.  You missed out!

Chief Justice: Your time is running out.  Explain please.

Me: ok, the lyrics were a little out there.  But the lyrics worked because they fit well with the music.  The guitarist was very original.  The interplay between the 3 lead singers was brilliant.  The stage presence of Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson was absolutely hypnotizing.  I relate it to watching Natalie Merchant spinning like a top in front of her band, 10,000 Maniacs, or the imposing figure of Peter Garrett strutting his stuff in front of Midnight Oil

Chief Justice:  Keep going…

Me:  Well, and then there is my sister, Jen.

Chief Justice: Jen?

Me: Actually, her alter ego, Jenzo.  Jenzo immersed herself into the New Wave scene and brought the rest of the family along for the ride.  Jen had added the ‘zo’ to her name in order to spell it out along her 5-hole pierced ear lobe.

Chief Justice: Pretty hot shit.  But how is that supposed to sell us?

Me: Jen(zo) also brought Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin into our household.  She introduced the family to these bands.

Chief Justice: I see.  Please give us a few moments. 

< A few moments >

Chief Justice: We have come to a consensus.  We would like to hear ‘Rock Lobster’

Me:  Let me take you back to Gem Music Video of the Week #29

Chief Justice:  I’m already Froogin!  Pass the tanning butter!

- Pete

Gem Music Video: Rock Lobster

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szhJzX0UgDM&feature=related

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About the Video: Made for MTV like video (rare and strange).  Includes footage of the band and other things (like a hover craft and dancing lobsters).

Video Rating: 1

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Best Feedback: Jen(zo)

If you consider any and all sorts of music influences that we bring into each other's lives, CJ would certainly have banished you to an island, or better yet, a desert - with mirages of Olivia Newton John, Bobby Sherman and The Partridge Family  appearing ahead of you. Thankfully, I saw the light, too, eventually. Thanks in part to Dale, with his enjoyment of classic American sounds from Queen, Boston, and from funky, new sounds from B-52's, Talking Heads, Lena Lovitch (anybody remember her?). We all bring music to each other.

xo JEN(ZO)

** Jen later corrected Queen as an American band reference

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Also: Jack

One of my fondest memories was sleeping over Pete's house during April vacation.  This is when I got exposed to BOMGA (Benevolent Order of Maloon the Goon Antagonists".  I can tell you for a fact that the defendant was NOT perjuring himself under oath.  The first morning I woke up, there were two things permanently engrained on my mind.  The large grandfather clock that made a noise every 15, and Dotsy playing her stereo aloud with the song, "Music Box Dancer".  No Zepplin, No Aerosmith, strictly Lawrence Welk fare.  It was then that Pete introduced me to the Red Album! :)

-Jack

GMVW # 28: "Hootenanny!"

Gem Music Video of the Week # 28:  Hootenanny!

Song: Just Like A Woman by Bob Dylan

(Songwriter: Bob Dylan)

Covered Here By: Richie Havens

July 17, 2008

Consummate professional musicians all have the ability to develop momentum in their concerts.  It’s something you see a lot of at outdoor festivals.  Folks will be milling about at the beginning of a set, but slowly the musician grabs their attention, and as the show progresses the crowd settles down and locks in.  This is also what distinguishes a great live album.  A great example is the Who Live at Leeds.  I did not truly enjoy this album until they added the entire set list to the dozen or so songs that were selected out of the Leeds show in the original release.  Once the entire concert played out in the re-release the music flowed and built up in intensity.   Now it’s one of my favorite albums to play when I have the luxury of listening to something loud!

As for the festivals, the 2 musicians I can think of that are great at creating momentum in their sets are Arlo Guthrie and Richie Havens.  They both can be deceiving.  At first your thinking, “hmmm, maybe I’ll go to the beer booth” as they fidget about with tuning guitars, chumming with the crowd and telling stories.  The first few songs are usually nothing special.  However, the set soon gathers moss and before you know it your knee deep in Hootenanny!

When Richie Havens played at the ‘Bob Fest’ (in honor of Bob Dylan’s 35 years with Atlantic Records… also discussed in Gem # 9) he had to pack this momentum into one song and he does it brilliantly in this weeks Gem video, his cover of Dylan’s ‘Just Like A Woman’.  It helps that the song itself is intense.  A great many critics believe Dylan to be an overly private individual, but I believe that one of the secrets to his success is his openness and ability to throw caution and privacy to the wind in his lyrics, which comes out in this song.

Richie Havens was the opening act at Woodstock in 1969.  I was just looking at the set list (url attachment below Gem), started reading thru other set lists (from the other musicians who played), and could not believe how many great songs were played there…the video and album of Woodstock only tell a very small part of the story.  On the subject of Woodstock, I am also including a link showing a hilarious interpretation of Joe Cocker’s version of the Beatles ‘With a Little Help from my Friends’, which Cuz Jack sent to me.

- Pete

Gem Music Video: Just Like a Woman (This fantastic footage has been temporarily lost *Dec, 2009).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9UuK-rIpJk&eurl=http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=Richie+Havens&hl=en&sitesearch=

http://www.geocities.com/~music-festival/wsonglist.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4_MsrsKzMM

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About the Video: Bob Dylan’s 30^th Anniversary Concert

Video Rating: 1

GMVW # 27: "The Story Behind the Song"

Gem Music Video of the Week # 27: The Story Behind the Song

Song: Back on the Chain Gang by The Pretenders

(Songwriter: Chrissie Hynde)

July 10, 2008

It’s fascinating when there’s a good story behind the making of a great song.  One of the best known examples is The Beatles ‘A Day in the Life’.  Take a little Lennon: “I read the news today, oh boy….”; add some McCartney: “Woke up, got out of bed, dragged a comb across my head…”; sprinkle in an orchestra in free fall, and Voila!: A classic Lennon/McCartney composition. 

This week’s Gem came together in a similar way, but with this song there was only one lyricist, Chrissie Hynde.  The similarity is in the piecing together of the song.  In this case, however the pieces are event based…a before and after. 

The Pretenders hit it off big with their first self-titled album in 1980 (few songs are as edgy as ‘Precious’) and followed it up with another stellar effort, Pretenders II, a year later.  Their success hit a brick wall however, when their lead-guitarist/co-writer James Honeyman-Scott died of a (what’s been described as out-of-character) drug overdose.  The band carried on, but was never the same (although few bands equal the success of early albums with later ones).

Before Honeyman-Scott died, Hynde had been writing a song about Ray Davies (Gem # 17), whom she had a long relationship with. After Honeyman-Scott’s death, the song took a more ambitious path and evolved into ‘Back on the Chain Gang’, notching up the sense of loss a few pegs in the process.  What was probably a very good song had become a great one (my only qualification for a Gem).  The ‘after’ part of the song appears to be primarily in the brilliant bridge, which plays out in the video after Hynde walks through the door into the chain-gang

pits.

The title alone tells the story.... Chrissie Hynde facing the realization that life at the top (in her case, success and relationships) can be fleeting.

- Pete

Gem Music Video: Back on the Chain Gang

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CK3uf5V0pDA&feature=related

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About the Video: Made for MTV type video (rare)

Video Rating: 1