GMVW # 36: "Homeless"

Gem Music Video of the Week # 36:  Homeless

Song:  The Boxer by Simon and Garfunkel

(Songwriter: Paul Simon)

September 11, 2008

Foxboro Stadium, 1983: Part 1 of 3

The year before Chuck Sullivan lost his shirt as concert promoter for the Jackson Victory Tour in 1984, he and his family actually hosted 3 great shows at the old Foxboro Stadium.  From August thru October of 1983, Simon and Garfunkel, David Bowie, and The Police (in that order) rolled into Foxboro.  Everyone I’ve talked to who attended these shows considered them great events. I attended all 3 and have to agree, so on this, the 25th anniversary of that triple-shot extravaganza, I will re-visit each of them, starting this week with Simon and Garfunkel.  Interestingly, this first show was a reunion tour and the last show (The Police) turned out to be a break up tour.  Sandwiched in the middle was Bowie, and he had his own thing going, but more on him next week. 

1983…by this time Baby Boomers were several years into the realization that we were never going to see a Beatles reunion… and so, Simon and Garfunkel was the next best thing.  They had broken up 11 years earlier, which in those days seemed like an eternity.  In many ways it was. 

Simon and Garfunkel were childhood friends but polar opposites, which made a reunion all the more intriguing.  It was one of the few shows I’ve attended where I felt as if I were witnessing a piece of history.  It also had a time-capsule feel to it.  The reunion actually began a year earlier in Central Park, NY, NY, their “Neighborhood Concert” which was attended by half a million people. The reception and success of that show launched a world tour, which included the Foxboro show.  Most all the songs played on the tour were the same ones played at Central Park. 

Central Park….I was there earlier that year in 1983, around mid-February (during Canada’s winter break). It was one moment of many which added up to one of the greatest road trips of my life.  The trip started in Ottawa, Canada (where I was going to school at the time) and aside from me, included college chum’s Steve Vance, Bob Mainguy, and Tom Murphy, all Canucks (although calling Bob a Canuck is stretching it, but he always liked that distinction, so I will oblige).  After hitting Winooski, Vermont (St Michael’s College, Mac and ‘Winterfest’), Cape Cod, Boston, and Franklin (the last 3 thanks to Mom and Dad who hosted 4 grubs for 3 nights) we rolled into the Big Apple to hook up with another group of Canadians who had holed up there for the entire week at the Milford Plaza Hotel on W 45th Street.  We had all planned on the 4 of us crashing on the floors in their hotel rooms that night, and with that in mind the entire group of us went out for a night on the town, catching some great comedy at a night club. 

When we got back to the hotel to spend the night however, a bouncer at the elevators had other ideas.  Checking for reservations, he refused to let us room-crashers go up the elevator.  We pleaded our case, emphasizing that we had no money or credit cards on us (these were the days when bank machines were few and far between) and that our car was locked up in a garage for the night.  Our plea went for naught.  We wandered out into the streets at 2 am.  The lone guy in the Milford Plaza Hotel crowd we hooked up with, “Chicago Jim”, came down to the alley where we were regrouping and handed us a bottle of Canadian Rye to help keep us warm in the winter air.  The bottle was housed in a brown paper bag.  We were now officially nomadic denizens of the city streets.  Someone yelled at us from a 3rd story window.  A prostitute passed by and made a proposition.  Tom asked for her student rates.

The all-nighter ended in a bus terminal on

42nd Street

.  I spent most of the time there talking to a homeless guy.  A fireside chat with Donald Trump down the road at the top of the Trump Towers would have paled in comparison.  We greeted the morning along with the other downtrodden souls in our midst.  Something about the experience, however, immediately resonated with me.  We wandered into Central Park and eventually headed toward ‘The Lake’ on the West side. This was by the Dakota Apartments where John Lennon lived and where he had been shot and killed a little over 2 years earlier (this area in the park has since been named Strawberry Fields in Lennon’s honor, and is where he had done several videos with Yoko for songs on their ‘Double Fantasy’ album).  There, in front of the Dakota, we found an old abandoned row boat with a hole in it, which we discovered could be temporarily plugged up with a tight fitting glove (if the glove don’t fit, you must jump ship!). Three of us rowed that boat across The Lake.  The 4th among us, Steve, took a picture from a foot bridge using Bob’s camera.  It’s a picture that captures an amazing memory for me.

Most of us go to New York City to broaden our horizons.  Still others go there chasing a dream.  Some succeed (Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie), others fail (John Voight’s character in Midnight Cowboy is emblematic of many).  Most struggle along the way, including the character Paul Simon writes about in this week’s Gem Video, “The Boxer”.  At the concert later that year, I’m quite sure I thought of that day in Manhattan as I listened to the verse “Seeking out the poorer quarters where the ragged people go, Lookin’ for the places only they would know”.  Although our own experience was condensed into 24 hours, it contained the up and down swings of many who had traversed the city streets before us, like “The Boxer”, and it gave me a better understanding of the challenges they faced.

The road trip into New York made the entire Simon and Garfunkel concert more palpable than it would have been otherwise.  Below the Gem Video are some other songs from the Central Park concert and an explanation of how they connected with that surreal road trip in the winter of ‘83.

“I am just a poor boy, though my story is seldom told

 I have squandered my resistance,

 For a pocketful of mumbles such are promises.

 All lies and jest.

 Still a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest”

Gem Video, “The Boxer”  (this link has been temporarily lost *Dec, 09*)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWUCoJJS2DU

“America”, which is also about a road trip in the States.  Simon’s comments before the song (which was near the beginning of the show) are classic

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCbOEZ8c8dM&feature=related

“Kodachrome” (aside from the boat photo, Bob had other classic shots of that night/day, including the Canadian Rye photo op in the alley, and a great shot of us entering Central Park at sunrise)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UL_1RcJ9ys

“Late in the Evening” (the high-life before the elevator bouncer bounced us). 

Simon and Garfunkel enjoyed playing this one so much in Foxboro they played it twice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7k7KcRKZiA

Simon and Garfunkel closed the Foxboro concert with their song ‘Old Friends’:  Quite appropriate for a reunion event to say the least.  They were about my current age at the time.  Looking back, I think I have a better sense now of where they were in their lives.  Despite their differences, they realized that an old friendship never dies.  It may get a bit frayed on the edges every so often, but it doesn’t fade away.  I’m pretty convinced the Beatles, particularly Lennon and McCartney, would have eventually come to that realization themselves. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WB0nt22Sgi8

Finally, here’s “American Tune” to recognize 7 years ago today:

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

- Pete

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About the video: Off the official Central Park video

Video Rating: 1

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Best Feedback: Becca

Pete...that was the summer that our family hit concerts en masse. For the S&G concert at Sullivan it was me, Mom, Jim, Rachel, Naomi, Vern, Spencer,and Jess. Yes....Mom was really into concerts that summer (I think it was her way of staying connected with us in the months since Dad had passed...keeping the pulse on how we were doing). I left for France just a few weeks later. That was a strange summer for us all...first one without Dad... but I remember that concert as a highlight.

I hope all is well....keep these coming.

love Bec

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Also: Amy

Ahhhh Simon and Garfunkel - like a favorite pair of jeans.
I sure would love to see those pictures.  You've led a much more colorful life than I ever knew.

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And: Tina

oh, my, student rates...

still humming,

tina

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And: Mom

Hi Pete!

This is probably one of my favorites.....I have always enjoyed Simon & Garfunkel so much. Thank-you for this "gem of the Week" and for your exquisite writing...I so look forward to it ...XOXO Mum

GMVW # 36: "Raw Emotion"

Gem Music Video of the Week # 35:  Raw Emotion

Song:  Everyday Clothes by Jonathan Richman

(Songwriter: Jonathan Richman)

September 4, 2008

I’ve been asked on occasion what live act I’ve seen the most.  My response is always the Who and Neil Young…. and then I remember Jonathan Richman.  How could I forget Jonathan?  In fact, Jonathan Richman is the only musician I’ve seen in 3 different countries (and 2 languages).  As is evident at his shows, Jonathan appeals to all walks of life.  His act can be best defined as captivating, hypnotic, and uplifting.  When Jonathan is on his game, either everyone is joining in or you can hear a pin drop.  There's not much in between.  He’s a performer I would recommend to anyone.

Gem Music Video of the Week, ‘Everyday Clothes’, shows Jonathan on his game, playing on the Conan O'Brien show (who is a big fan).  The crowd is stone silent until Jonathan gets them to join in half way thru the song.  He has the end-of-song, guitar-as-a-drum dance going.  He’s captivating the crowd with the honesty of his lyrics.  He’s narrating in between the lines (and mentions himself in the 1st person at one point, which he often does).

Finally, he’s got the wide eyed nod going in this video.  If there is anything that sticks with me from a Jonathan show, it’s his wide eyed nods to the crowd.  Often it seems as if he’s staring right at you when he does it. The meaning of the nods generally fall into one of 3 categories:

> You know what I mean

> Heed my warning

> What I’m saying is indisputable

Jonathan Richman is a native New Englander and has often referenced New England locales in his songs (as he does in this week Gem).  However, Jonathan has an international feel to his music.  There’s a Spanish flamenco influence, a punk roots feel, a Velvet Underground inspiration, and in this song, he’s got the Venice gondola thing going. 

I’ve done my best to explain his act, but nothing’s like seeing it (a cd purchase does not do his shows justice).  So, I’ll stop here and let Jonathan Richman and the video do the talking.

-              Pete

Gem Music Video: Everyday Clothes

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

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About the video: Shot live on the Conan O’Brien show

Video Rating: 1 (a big, fat 1)

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Best Feedback: Ruth

Good one, Pete!  Thanks for giving me a little fun in between my work tonight!

Ruth

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Also: Amy “yeah, yeah, yeah!”

and Jen “That was great”

GMVW # 34: "The Written Word"

Gem Music Video of the Week # 34:  The Written Word

Song:  Success Story by The Who

(Songwriter: John Entwistle)

August 28, 2008

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a desk drawer in or near the kitchen for quick-access to personal belongings.  Going back to my teen years in Franklin, the routine was; come in from a night on the town; keys, Swiss Army knife and wallet into the drawer; a conversation with old faithful Nicky by the wood stove; and off to bed.  I still have a drawer near the kitchen.  Occasionally I clean it out, throwing away some stuff, putting other stuff in storage (i.e. concert ticket stubs, letters, homemade cards from the kids).  Yet some things remain in that drawer year after year after year:  There’s an old watch I will probably never wear; a pair of John Lennon style sunglasses; a harmonica; a few cigars; a key to my first car; an old license; a Globe article on the team by team growth of the NHL (good trivia); Charlotte’s Baptism candle; an address list of all Smith-side cousins; a guitar pick; and, relative to this week Gem, a web-site print-out of the lyrics to all the songs on the Who’s 1976 album ‘Who By Numbers’. 

Albums often come without written lyrics.  When this was the case in the days before the WEB (as it was with ‘Who By Numbers’), one was left to his/her own devices when it came to interpretation.  This often resulted in hopeless or hilarious translations.  Cousin Jack may recall ‘Gypsy’s Tramps and Thieves’ lyrics “We’d hear it from the people of the town, they’d call us…” translated by me to “We are here for the people of the town named Cole”.   ** No worries, this is not this weeks Gem. **.  Yet, I was not the only one that struggled to understand a musician’s lyrics.  Ron Wood stated that when he prepared the first time to tour with the Rolling Stones, he got to read lyrics to many of their songs on a TelePrompTer as Mick and the boys broke him in.  Wood got a hoot out of the lyrics, many of which were completely different than what he had assumed for years.

Now it’s as simple as typing the song name in Google to get the lyrics to anything.  A few bands lamented this (R.E.M.), but I found it fantastic.  Before finding the words on the WEB, I had known that the ‘Who By Numbers’ must have had intriguing lyrics, the music was too solid to expect anything less, and when I finally got to read them in their entirety, I was not disappointed (I mostly had to fill in the gaps to what I already knew, or in ‘By Numbers’ case, connect the dots!). 

Most of the songs on ‘Who By Numbers’, like most of the songs in the Who’s entire catalog, were Pete Townshend songs.  This week’s Gem, however, was the sole John Entwistle contribution to the album, ‘Success Story’.  Entwistle (the Ox) always struggled to connect with the feel of a Who album with his one or two song contributions.  Sometimes he succeeded (his songs on ‘Who Are You’ fit perfectly with the rest of that album), and others he did not (he stayed clear of contributing anything to ‘Quadrophenia’).  ‘Success Story’ fit the rest of ‘Who By Numbers’ more lyrically than musically, as Entwistle, much like Townshend , wrote about the down side of fame and fortune. 

A few other comments on Entwistle….aside from John Lennon, The Ox’s passing was probably the hardest blow for me in the context of the loss of someone I never knew personally (the closest I came was a hand shake, eye contact, and a nod of mutual understanding).  The night of the news, I went out with Mac and Kurt. We convinced the bartender in one Boston pub to play ‘Live at Leeds’ loudly from beginning to end.  The next night I went out with Mac again and we caught a tribute event at a night club.  A number of bands played Who music thru the night.  

Mac and I also caught the Who on their first tour without Entwistle.  Townshend stated one of the hardest things he ever went through was looking over to an empty space when the Who played live for the first time without Entwistle (his ‘replacement’, Pino Palladino stands back in the mix and does an admirable, self-styled job).  Aside from being the best rock bass guitar player of all time, Entwistle was the anchor for the Who on stage (everyone else was a tattered sail flailing in the wind).  He was also a great backup singer (along with Towshend, which is a highly underrated aspect of the Who’s performances), brass instrument player, and when the Who needed a high vocal (‘The Punk and the Godfather’ refrain) or low (Boris the Spider), Entwistle was the one to do it.  I had a chance to see John Entwistle solo at least 5 times.  One of these shows, at Mama Kin in Boston, remains the best club show I ever saw.

The video is a goof, but gives a bit of insight into the Ox’s persona.  I’ve also included several other Enwistle-centric videos.  Below the videos are the full lyrics to ‘Success Story’ as accessed off the WEB.  Though not quite as profound as the lyrics of Towshend’s songs from the same album, nonetheless, they were equally as captivating to me when I read them the first time.  The video, which was made for the ‘Kids Are Alright’ movie, doesn’t quite make it through the entire song…. too many other songs to fit into the movie I guess.

- Pete

Gem of the week: Success Story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRCk7M3O2Es

The Who at Woodstock:  A clip which showcases Entwistle's backing vocals (in this case high notes).  Don't confuse with Townshend's backing vocals, as he and Daltrey get more camera time than the Ox:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc4REpJ9FsE&feature=related

Entwistle's isolated bass during 'Wont Get Fooled Again':

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfDE-ZvfOwU

The Who wrote this song, 'Old Red Wine, in rememberance of the Ox:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtQ05FDCk5Q

Lyrics to Success Story

Friday night, I'm on my way home

They oughta make work a crime

I'm home for the weekend

I'm gonna make the most of my time

There's a rock and roll singer on the television

Giving up his music, gonna take up religion

Deserted rock and roll

To try to save his soul

Saturday night, gotta gig with the band

Playing the electric guitar

Someday I'm gonna make it

Gonna be a super-duper-star

Get a flashy car

And a house for my Ma

The big break better happen soon

'Cause I'm pushing twenty-one

Just like Cinderella

When she couldn't go to the ball

A voice said, "I'm your fairy manager

You shall play the Carnegie Hall"

I gotta give up my day job

To become a heartthrob

I may go far if I smash my guitar

Away for the weekend

I've gotta play some one-night stands

Six for the tax man, and one for the band

Back in the studio to make our latest number one

Take two-hundred-and-seventy-six

You know, this used to be fun

Monday morning, I just got home

Six and the birds are singing

I need a drink and my clothes are wet

Ooh, and my ears are still ringing

There's a rock and roll singer boppin' on the TV

He used to be a preacher, but now he sings in a major key

Amended his decision to the new religion

Old Red Wine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfDE-ZvfOwU

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About the Video: From the ‘Kid’s Are Alright’ movie.

Video Rating: 1

GMVW # 33: "My Glory Days"

Gem Music Video of the Week # 33:  My Glory Days

Song:  Dangerous Type by The Cars

(Songwriter: Ric Ocasek)

August 21, 2008

I would think everyone has songs or albums that stir memories of their 'Glory Days'.  Few albums evoke these memories for me like the Cars Candy-O album.  The album seemed to be playing ceaselessly in the background during my senior year of high school.  This was particularly the case at basement gatherings of a neighborhood friend, George Lazano.  The gatherings were usually small groups of us, but occasionally the word would leak out, and it would seem half the town of Franklin would converge in on the Lazano home.  Not a surprise, considering George lived in a mansion (the word 'basement' does not do justice the size and style of the lower living space).  After a few of these parties got a bit unruly, George began assigning several in our group as bouncers, which on occasion caused some consternation at the entry way.  The inevitable scuffle would often ensue.  Inside the house and in the driveway, the party roared... and through it all, Candy-O played on and on.

Candy-O was the Cars second album.  The first self-titled album was a greater hit and money maker, but for me Candy-O was a more solid effort.  It also appeared to have a loose concept to it (which I could never verify), centered on a woman (Candy-O) and the singers infatuation for her.  The Cars never got all that deep on their albums, but this effort seems to have come the closest.

For many, the purchasing of original (non-greatest-hits) Cars albums stopped at the debut album, or for the more adventurous, Candy-O.  Not so for good friend Pete Faeza, however.  When Pete got into a band, he was usually there for the long haul.  His album collections were truly amazing to look thru because you would typically get to see the entire portfolio of some bands.  Since Pete was into the Cars, his collection included lesser known albums like 'Panorama' (with the great song 'Touch and Go'), 'Shake it Up' and 'Heartbeat City'.  Pete also loved Pink Floyd, and as such his collection included deeper cut Floyd albums like 'Ummagumma, 'Meddle', and 'Animals'.  Because I always respected Pete's taste in music, his explorations into the lesser known albums of some bands increased my own interest in digging deeper into the music of bands I enjoyed, as well as the bands in his collection. 

Gem Music Video, 'Dangerous Type', off of Candy-O, is followed by a few other cuts off the same album.  If you have similar memories, enjoy the time warp.

- Pete

Gem Music Video: Dangerous Type

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQn9HZdGeQk

'Double Life'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH3ej5DeEUk

'Lets Go'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnPb3jK7Q6M

'Candy-O'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEkGqb2wu5k

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About the video: These are all live videos, but no crowds shown.  ‘Dangerous Type’ has a heading at the beginning: ‘MuSiMax’

Video Rating: 1

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Best Feedback: Fred

Good memory.....

After a Lazano party, Mom caught me, for the first time, drinking.  She said she was "disappointed" in me.  That hurt me worse than anything she or Dad could have said/done

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...