GMVW # 70: "Moms the Word"

Gem Music Video of the Week # 70:  Moms the Word

Song:  Your Mother Should Know by The Beatles

(Songwriter: John Lennon and Paul McCartney)

May 7, 2009

Remember those old Dean Martin roasts?  A celebrity would spend a night on the receiving (butt) end of an endless barrage of jokes from fellow entertainers.  The abuse was piled on at an almost Ruth-less pace.  Eventually Ruth (Buzzi) herself would come out to bash the poor sap over the head with her pocketbook.  The humiliation was complete.  Mission accomplished. 

When a retirement party was held in Mom’s honor several years ago, I knew there was going to be plenty of well deserved praise from others, so when I prepared my speech, I figured I would try to follow in the footsteps of Dean Martin and his merry pranksters by sprinkling in a bit of roast material at Mom’s expense.  Part of this was self preservation, not wanting to get too emotional by simply focusing on Mom’s countless positive attributes.  I pondered and pondered some more about what to say and came up with nothing, nada, zip.  I ended up breaking up parts of my praise-centric speech of Mom by roasting myself.  It worked.  I got through it.

Roasting Mom?  How could I even contemplate this as possible?  I mean, shouldn’t I have assumed that mothers are virtually impossible to roast?  You may pull it off for just about anyone else in your life, but not you’re mother:  Too many memories of self-sacrifice and caring; staying with you when you were sick; attending all your big events; being there for EVERYTHING.  In short, too much love to give you any chance of coming up with roast-able material.

So, here it is, Mother’s Day weekend.  Time once again to recognize our mothers and all they’ve done (and continue to do) for us.  This year the big event falls on May 10, hopefully a good omen for Boston fans, particularly those who remember May 10, 1970 (“Happy Mother’s Day, Mrs. Orr!”).

Since this is a music-driven forum, I must include a few thoughts on Mom’s musical influences on my life. There was Mom singing “Rise and Shine (and ring out the glory, glory)”, which woke us up more often than I care to remember.  These and other memories of Mom singing in the house were a reflection of the spirit by which she raised her family, allowing us to pass that spirit on to our children.  There was Mom’s purchase of the Beatles ‘Red Album’, when I would play ‘Michelle’ (my belle) and ‘Paperback Writer’ over and over and in the process get early doses of my future rock-music sensibilities.  Mom (and  Dad) putting up with the repetitive playing of John Lennon’s ‘Shaved Fish’ album on one of our many vacations traveling in the VW Bus (included on ‘Shaved Fish’ was the song ‘Cold Turkey’ on which Lennon imitates heroin withdrawal through a long series of groans and moans toward the end of the song > the fact that tape did not disappear is a testament to tolerance and open-mindedness).  

I could go on, but this week, I’m getting help, with reflections of Mom and her musical influence from Jen, Pat, Fred, Amy and Joe (in that order).  Joe brings up the rear, because his input includes links to a number of memorable songs.  I had planned on including a few add-on links myself (as I often do), but Joe covers this (and then some).  Joe’s links follow this week’s Gem, which is none other than the Beatles performing “Your Mother Should Know” from ‘The Magical Mystery Tour’ movie.  The song itself is borderline Gem material, but the title and subject matter put it over the top, particularly this week. 

Before passing the baton to Jen, a Happy Mothers Day wish to Becca, Ruth, Kip, Madeline, Amy, Jen, Monica, Jean, Kate, Michelle, Trese, Sharon, and mother-to-be Valerie.  Also, any generational maternal associations with surnames Smith, Steeves, Tedesco, Gilligan, Toran, Hedtler, Roche, McDermott, Citarell, Strause, Vance, Mainguy, Martin, Cronin, Shea, Choi, Bremner, Kelley, Geary, Hayes… and, oh yes, Chara. 

Nancy is already covered.

And of course, Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!

- Pete

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Jen

In my mind, music and domestic, family-life go hand in had. Dale grew up similarly, so it's no surprise that our household together now, more often than not, has somebody's music playing, especially during our down/leisure time.

In the early years, I recall the music of the crooners and swooners that young couples of Mum and Dad's generation enjoyed: Andy Williams, Perry Como, Tony Bennett. I associate their timeless songs with a fun, comfortable and secure childhood. And there was the music of so many Broadway shows and musicals that I now have such a fondness of, and even have on my playlist. Songs from Camelot, Sound of Music and JCSuperstar, to name a few.

As Queen of our household while we were growing up, Mum kindled a sort of "freedom of choice" with our music preferences and tastes. And among the six of us, we each developed and cultivated a unique foundation of faves and interests. As a teen, I discovered the magical power of idols that were David Cassidy, Bobby Sherman and Olivia Newton John. And interestingly enough, I played them without complaint from anyone! My tastes evolved through the pop and rock hits from my adolescent and teen years, and spread into mostly 70's rock.

Mum sang along to songs on the car radio, often making up entertaining lyrics as she went, if she didn't know the words. Or even if she did. And remember her car-exercises to "The Entertainer"?

Finally, my favorite memory of Mum-and-Music is a recollection I have of a hospital visit to Boston with her one day, when I was sick with my kidney problems. We had many day-trips into town together, to Floating Hospital. I recall being on a sidewalk with her that was along the wall of a building which had show stuff painted on it, and in big letters, "There's No Business like Show Business". Mum took my hand, and danced/strutted up the sidewalk with me, singing the quote to tune. I wish I had a video of it.

Happy Mother's Day, Mum! Love you!

xo JEN

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Pat:

Memories of Mom and music put a smile on my face.  My first Mom music memory is heading out to the grocery shop with Mom in the VW wagon before I was going to school.  Some of the tunes on the waves those early '70's days were:  Neil Diamond, lingering Beatles, and random hits like "Brand New Key", K'tel hits and too many more to recall. 

Other memories are snickering with Amy/Jen when Mom would sing the lyrics to some songs with her own rendition - habits which carried over to me as my friends would return the favor of abuse.  Also, when Mom disagreed with a certain Marvin Gay song titled  "xxxual healing".

As with many things for which to thank Mom, I thank her for adapting my love of music! 

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Fred:

Watching Mom sing in the St Mary’s choir (I can’t say I heard her, but assumed she was the best voice) gave me the notion that maybe I, too, had some lyrical talent.  It wasn’t until I saw the Gilligan’s perform ‘Guantanamera’ that I abandoned hope of pursuing that hobby.  But she did provide frequent encouragement to listen to music in our living room on the very large music system we had.  I think it was made by Phillips; with a turntable and receiver, and two built in speakers which I thought was the coolest piece of furniture any home could have.  The ‘Bossa Nova’ was a Mom-favorite, but the two early albums that she loved to listen to, and that I most align with Mom were Neil Diamond and Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. 

When I hear “Sweet Caroline” played at Red Sox games, Mom comes to mind, and to think she was first in all of Boston to like that tune.  As for SPLHCB, I think Dad bought that album for Mom for the main purpose of listening to “When I’m 64”.  I never thought they (we) would ever get there…….

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Amy:

Where to begin?  I can't say that I have a memory from my childhood that isn't in some way attached to a song. When it came to listening to Mum sing in the car or in the kitchen, I became a sponge, learning every lyric and tune.  I loved when Dad would chime in to a classic too, and together they'd try to remember all the words.  They still do this. Mom introduced me to the magic of the Musical at a very young age.  Camelot, The Sound of Music, Jesus Christ Superstar, West Side Story, South Pacific, Annie   Her favorite music became my own.  I was swept up with the fantasy world of Musical Theatre, so much so, that it became my major in College. Without the carefree confidence that Mum instilled in me, I would never have been able to share my voice with anyone but myself.  The two go hand in hand.  Music has always been a natural part of my life.  I can't cook, paint or exercise without music.  I just downloaded "Charlie on the MTA" on my ipod.  That's you Mum.

I remember one night very clearly.  Mum encouraged me to go tryout for the part of Liesl in the St. Mary's Production of The Sound of Music.  I was apprehensive, as it was the second night of auditions; I had already missed the first night.  I got the part.  The experience stays with me, to this day. 

I'll end with this (which you also taught me)

M are for the million things she gave me

O means only that she's growing old

T are for the tears she shed to save me

H is for her heart as pure as gold

E are for her eyes of love light shining

R means right, and right she'll always be

Put them altogether they spell Mother. 

The world that means the world to me.

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Gem Music Video of the Week: ‘Your Mother Should Know’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euMCu5IRRHM

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Joe:

Some great memories of M&M (Mom & Music) growing up....below are only a few of the many memories that play back in my head when I hear the song.....

Hanging out in the kitchen on Park Road with Mom and Emmet eating breakfast before we headed out to chip away at the mountain, hit home runs at Dean into the tennis courts, throw rocks at Thompson Press, head to Friendly's for double fribbles, or play monopoly 1000 times, we sat at the counter eating eggs on toast and this song would be playing -

Forever in Blue Jeans - Neil Diamond

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

I played this song so many times that Jen couldn't take it any more...or maybe it was eating the popcorn too loud.  Either way, Mom always encouraged us to be ourselves and we had a childhood that most kids would be envious of.  This song reminds me of those great childhood days

-

Only the Good Die Young - Billy Joel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJBoHa3GArA

As the day came to a close and the early evening started up in Lee, NH, at the campground overlooking the lake, we would be getting ready to head into the woods to find some wood for the camp fire that night.  It didn't matter how big the tree was, it was coming down.  As Mom got the camp site ready for the evening, this would be playing on the radio -

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Fortunate Son

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec0XKhAHR5I

When Ginger passed away, this is the song that carried her thru it all. I think about Mom every time I hear it.

Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler (from Movie -Beaches)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDURv8fj9dk

Heading down the cape in the volts wagon bus early in the morning on our way to Falmouth, Mom would be sitting in the front seat turning up the music because it was "all day Beatles music" on the radio.  As we hit the entrance to 495 heading south early in the AM, this would be on the radio -

The Beatles - Here Comes the Sun

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUS49XSN6Zs

Happy Mothers Day Momzo.

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About the Video: From the Magical Mystery Tour Movie

Video Rating: 1

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Best Feedback: Mom

This is the most amazing and wonderful Mother's Day gift ever..... it brings me back to some beautiful days........Thanks so much!!!!!!!   XOXO

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And: Becca

Pete!!

What a great idea!!!

Happy Mother's Day to Nance!!

Dot, Happy Mother's Day!!...let's see....hmmmm....when I think of you and music, I think of you and Pete dancing to Blue, Red and Gray at his wedding.

love Becca

GMVW # 69: "Hyena Killers"

Gem Music Video of the Week # 69:  Hyena Killers

Song:  Jackie Brown by John Mellencamp

(Songwriter: John Mellencamp)

April 30, 2009

Although self-deprived of prime-time TV in high school (as documented for last week’s Gem), this does not mean I don’t have some favorite programs from those days (and earlier):  ‘Creature Double Feature’ (does anyone remember ‘War of the Gargantuas’?), The Three Stooges, and the Bruins were must sees, along with ‘Monty Python’s Flying Circus’, ‘All in the Family’ and ‘Fernwood Tonight’ (where I got my high school yearbook ‘favorite saying’: “Ya Jerry”).  

Right up there with all of these was ‘Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom’.  I would think most who are reading this enjoyed the show as well.  Marlin Perkins’ and Jim Fowler’s documentary footage opened minds to the wonders of Earth’s natural places and the beasts that inhabit them.  Of course Jim Fowler did all the hard work (“While Jim’s down in the swamp giving the crocodile an enema, I’m sitting in the copter sipping my pina colada” …. ok, a slight exaggeration).  However, without Marlin Perkins, there was no show.  His opening and closing remarks were always right on, giving Wild Kingdom a measure of decorum and relevance. 

Nature programming has only gotten better since that time.  I believe I’ve watched the 8-episode PBS show ‘Shape of Life’ (about the 8 most successful animal phyla) more often than any other movie or concert video (excepting perhaps, ‘The Kids Are Alright’).  Another PBS video about the Galapagos Islands (hosted by Richard Dreyfus) has also been a repeat watch.  When Charlotte and Peter were younger, I enjoyed watching the Eyewitness Videos (narrated by Martin Sheen) just as much as they did.  The same applies to ‘Walking with Prehistoric Dinosaurs’ and ‘Walking with Prehistoric Beasts’ and many episodes of the often hilarious ‘Jeff Corwin Experience’.  Every one of these shows was extremely insightful, and the camera work was so good, at times it was hard to comprehend how they pulled it off.  I remember one show about elk herds in Alaska.  The lone bulls that lead each of these herds are intensely competitive with one another.  The camera caught one of the bulls well past his prime and falling behind his herd.  All of the other herd’s bulls, who had not been seen anywhere near one another during the filming (other than one-on-one battles), surrounded this dying bull to protect him from a pack of wolves.  They remained there until he died. 

Another memorable program showed predators and prey in an African jungle getting inebriated side by side under an over-ripe fruit tree.  It looked like

Bourbon Street

during Mardi Gras. 

The singular nature show that stands most for me, however, was a video recommended by Dave Cronin, Father/Father-in-Law of our good friends, Jeff and Madeline Cronin (who have been on the receiving end of these weekly rantings along with everyone else).  At his home one evening years ago, Dave handed me the National Geographic video ‘Lions and Hyenas’ and stated “You have to watch this”.  Coming from Dave, this was like the nature-video equivalent of money in the bank (as when Dad recommends a good book) since Dave always had fascinating insights on most any topic.  When I got home, I slipped it into the VCR and watched.  I was not disappointed.  The video was an in-depth and sometimes brutal account of the competition between a lion pride and hyena clan.  In the early stages of the program, the hyena clan, which is lead by a female matriarch, has the upper hand, stealing food from the lions at an increasingly successful rate, as well as generally harassing the pride, and occasionally killing cubs.  The matriarch of the hyenas gets more and more confident and skillful with each raid. 

The video kicks into high gear, however, half way through, when the tide turns, as unbeknown to the hyenas, the lions have a wild card.  The pride includes a second adult (full-mane) male.  The show’s hosts find it unusual that this lion is allowed to remain in the pride since it’s clear he is not the leader and does not appear to be contributing anything substantive, lounging around and eating his fair share after the females make a successful kill. He’s a couch potato. But then, when the situation for the lions seems particularly dire, his role plays out.  He zeroes in and chases the matriarch of the hyenas in a way that no other member of the pride can pull off, catching up with and killing her. It’s all caught on film, and it is fascinating to see play out.  This lion’s role is discovered…. he is the hyena killer, who struts his stuff only after a matriarch hyena fully establishes herself.

Some recommendations stay with you year after year, and Dave’s ‘Lions and Hyenas’ certainly qualifies as one that them.

The role of ‘hyena killer’ can also play out in human form.  There’s a guy at work, not the most productive employee, but his unique skills are needed on occasion, not only in the office, but across the country in other offices.  What can you say? …he’s a hyena killer. Adam Vinatieri: Hyena killer.  Luca Brasi: Hyena klller.

There are also musician equivalents of the hyena killer, inclusive of any musician who demands recognition every so often.  I regard U2, Bruce Springsteen and John Mellencamp in this category.  Although not a big fan of these acts, I have respect for all of them, since each has proven time and time again that you can never count them out of the mix.  All find ways to hit home at one time or another with a great song or album. It may not be frequently enough for me to want to see them in concert (of the 3, I’ve only seen Mellencamp, and that was Nancy’s doing), but often enough to recognize them as top notch talents.  This week’s Gem ‘Jackie Brown’ by John Mellencamp plays this out: It’s one of those hyena killer songs.

Have a great weekend.

- Pete

Gem Video, ‘Jackie Brown’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGAPtG6PBEk

Since the topic of ‘Fernwood Tonight’ was breached, I’ve included this old clip.  Here’s Barth Gimble (Martin Mull) and Jerry Hubbard (Fred Willard) with Tom Wait’s on that great parody talk show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_0E7x3Nqys

Clip from ‘War of the Gargantuas’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YrWbL6DK5Q

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About the video: Made for MTV style video

Video Rating: 1

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Best Feedback: Madelline

When you wrote about David's video, i recalled fondly another memory of him.

GMVW # 68: "It's Like Night and Day"

Gem Music Video of the Week # 68:  It’s Like Night and Day

Song:  Another World by Joe Jackson

(Songwriter: Joe Jackson)

April 23, 2009

If it’s not broke, why fix it?  This has been the mantra for many a band:  They find a formula that works early in their careers and then try to stay with it.  Yet, often, the shtick gets old and the band is helpless as they watch once true-blue fans jump ship. These bands may suddenly find themselves trapped as a parody of their past selves.  Fame and fortune can be fleeting in these cases.

Stagnation has never been a problem with Joe Jackson.  Jackson’s music can best be described as a moving target, with each album representing a new beginning, a new formula.  He’s delved into punk, jazz, pop, blues, straight-up rock, and lounge music.  He is indeed a Jack(son) of all trades.

Joe Jackson’s fifth album, ‘Night and Day’ (1982) has often been described as a watershed disc in his career.  This album broke him into the mainstream, with top-10 hits and MTV presence, and soon landed him in larger live music venues than the clubs he had been playing in beforehand.  The music on the album was diverse, in many ways a microcosm of his entire heterogeneous catalog.  Each song on ‘Night and Day’ has a distinct mood, which was clearly intentional.  The album is a loose concept, with side one representing night-time experiences in New York City, and side two representing day time experiences. 

Being a great concept album, however, the meaning gets a bit deeper than simple day/night events.  Day time is presented as being that period typically when work gets done, yet night is when the real creative thinking evolves (someone should let Mitt Romney in on this secret), and when the real back door politics happens (in the form of lasting friendships).  Borrowing a 3-word phrase from the late Hunter S. Thompson, too much day without nightlife can bring “fear and loathing” based on worry.  Yet, too much night without day can bring fear and loathing based on over-indulgence. As with anything, a balance is best in ones diurnal/nocturnal adventures.  Joe Jackson gets these points across on this album. 

Listening to the night side of ‘Night and Day’, I’m reminded of high school and the old neighborhood Franklin crew (Phil, Mac, Jeff D, Dave, Bruce, Pete F, John and I), known in it’s varying assemblages as first ‘B.O.M.G.A.’ (The Benevolent Order of Maloon the Goon Antagonists as dubbed by Dad in recognition of our relationship with the security force sergeant at Dean Junior College) and later ‘The Blob Squad’ (as dubbed by Dave on a Hampton Beach road trip and subsequently advertised for years as a bright orange bumper sticker on my parents Chevy Van).  I recall for years heading outside with old faithful Nick after dinner (on any given night) taking in the night air, and sensing that I was stepping into ‘Another World’ (the appropriate title of this week’s Gem off the ‘Night and Day’ album’).  It was always an exhilarating feeling. 

One great thing about growing up in Franklin was that it was a diverse town, and we lived in a particularly diverse neighborhood.  Diversity in friendships is a blessing.  It is one of the many reasons why it has always been important for me to keep in contact with hometown friends who, in my case covered the spectrum.  Later in life, you may find yourself oriented towards others with similar interests be it work, hobbies, faith.  Not so with some childhood friendships.

I’ve often found that a conversation is far more interesting when in the company of people with a range of backgrounds and interests.  I would expect to have a far more interesting evening in conversation with, say, a group consisting of a doctor, a custodian, a painter and a housewife at a bar like Cheers than with 4 stockbrokers at a country club (although in the company of the latter, I would likely find ways to make more money) or 4 factory workers at a biker bar (although here I may improve my billiards game).

Looking back on the old Franklin gang, and our nights on the town, I recall many an interesting conversations that took place at locales like ‘The Wall’, ‘The Rock’, and the traveling road show known as ‘Bucko’s Kegs’ (and later ‘The Train Stop’).  Our evening experiences were far removed from those of other kids at school, who I would overhear talking about a new episode of M*A*S*H* from the night before, perhaps something funny Hawkeye did on the show.  I had no idea what they were talking about, and I remember being proud of this lack-of-insight.  We were out making our own laughs.  I would not trade those experiences for anything.

Below the Gem Video is a bonus track, ‘Common People’, written and performed by William Shatner with Joe Jackson (and Ben Folds on organ). If anyone can look good on stage singing with William Shatner, it’s Joe Jackson.  Jackson’s vocals have always been under appreciated, but are on full display here.

- Pete

Gem Music Video: Another World

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

‘Common People’ >> Mac, you have to check this one out!

http://www.joejackson.com/lenowm.htm

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About the Video: Good but not great live version, which could be trumped with something better.  The 2^nd link, however, is one of a kind, Jackson and Shatner on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

Video Rating: 2

GMVW # 67: "Can Guitars Sweat? Check!"

Gem Music Video of the Week # 67:  Can Guitars Sweat?  Check!

Song:  Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black) by Neil Young

(Songwriter: Neil Young)

April 16, 2009

Following on the themes for Gem’s 15 (bass guitar) and 39 (lead vocal), this week’s Gem is a tribute to the lead guitar.  The first images that come to mind are Hendrix playing ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ at Woodstock; an old Rolling Stone magazine cover photo of Pete Townshend holding the neck of a guitar over his head with the caption “This guitar has seconds to live”;  Chuck Berry’s duck walk.

Anyone who has enjoyed Rock, Blues, or Jazz music likely has at least a few favorite guitar licks.  Here are several of my mine:  Mick Taylor’s lead guitar playing on the instrumental portion of the Rolling Stones ‘Can’t You Hear Me Knocking’; Dicky Bett’s work on the Allman Brothers ‘Ramblin Man’; Mark Knopfler on the Dire Straits live ‘Alchemy’ version of ‘Sultan’s of Swing’; Townshend’s licks on ‘Slip Kid’, ‘Guitar and Pen’ and the live Woodstock version of ‘See Me, Feel Me’; Mick Ronson on Dylan’s live ‘Hard Rain’ album (particularly ‘Maggie’s Farm’); Dave Gilmour on ‘Shine on You Crazy Diamond’; Peter Buck on the entire ‘Monster’ album; Johnny Winter’s rendition of ‘Highway 61’. I’m sure I’ve missed a few hundred.

Lead guitar is best when it is played live, and as concert events that I have had the opportunity to witness go, no guitar playing hit me quite as hard as Neil Young’s, especially with Crazy Horse.   It was an intense experience to attend these shows, because Young took many of his songs to the edge of exhaustion.  Just when you thought he was ready to wind down and regroup for another song, he would kick into a gear that you would not think possible.  Then, he would shift into yet another gear beyond that.  Crazy Horse backed him up dutifully, always ready to follow him to wherever it was he was heading. 

Neil Young has had quite a unique career.  When Crosby, Stills and Nash took him into the fold as a fourth member, Neil refused to give up on his other musical ambitions.  This is a bit different from the likes of Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck, who would cut ties entirely with one band when they joined another.  I recently read that Crosby was upset about Young’s stance.  He wanted Neil Young to focus his creative energies on CSNY, and was not all that enamored by Young’s principle alternative, Crazy Horse.  But Neil Young knew that CSNY was restrictive to his guitar playing ambitions.  He needed Crazy Horse to broaden that aspect of his skills.  His decision to always leave his options open has played out brilliantly over the course of his career. 

Neil Young has continually balanced his on-the-edge approach to live performance with a respect for the rock music that he knows he represents on stage.   The guitar playing and lyrics in this week’s Gem Video ‘Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)’ showcase this balance.  In this particular video performance, Young is not playing with Crazy Horse, but the band that backs him (yet another one of his incarnations) is just as ready to follow his lead.  I could have chosen the Crazy Horse version of this song on YouTube (‘Live Rust’), but I think this is even better. 

For whatever reason, when compiling this week’s email and viewing the Gem, I was reminded of old friend Jeff Dangelo.  Jeff was always the daredevil in the neighborhood growing up, always willing to push the envelope. He set up bike ramps for death-defying jumps that no one else would dare, took on different personas (‘Joe Cool’ in his younger days, ‘Pizarro’ later), and smoked cigarettes in second grade. Jeff also loved Rock music (particularly Led Zeppelin), played drums, and opened doors for me beyond the Beatles. Yet Jeff also had a respect for others that betrayed his rebel image.  He was genuinely polite with parental figures and was strong in his faith (for a teenager, which is when I knew him).  I chalk him up as an inspirational figure in my life. He moved to Alaska at the end of high school and we eventually lost touch.  Wherever he is now (likely Miami), I wish him well. 

Of the many songs that Neil Young took to the edge and back, several that stood out (aside from this week’s Gem) were ‘Powderfinger’ and ‘Cortez the Killer’.  I was reminded of Conquistador Cortez this past week when Boston University won the NCAA Hockey Championship.  Their motto all year was “Burn the Boats!” in reference to Cortez’s order to his men to burn their own boats, forcing them to the realization that they could only return to the main ship in the boats of their enemies, whom they were about to confront.  They then sacked Montezuma’s relatively peaceful Aztec Nation for their gold.  Not to take away from BU’s championship, but I found the reference a bit off color.   I believe Neil Young would agree.  I’m not sure about Jeff, as Conquistador Pizarro has an equally brutal reputation in his treatment of Central/South American Native Americans.  Then again, I’m sure it was the name more than the reputation that intrigued Jeff to adopt the nickname in his early teen years.  ** A music history reference: ‘Cortez the Killer’ was banned in Spain throughout Francisco Franco’s regime (who, by all accounts, is still dead!).  **

Hopefully, you get a little air guitar out of this one.

- Pete

Gem Music Video: Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black) (This link has been temporarily lost)

http://www.vh1.com/video/play.jhtml?artist=1026&vid=146049

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About the Video:  Part of this video aired at the end of the “Rolling Stone (magazine) XX: 20 Years of Rock and Roll” video. 

Video Rating: 1

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Best Feedback: Fred

Pete

Another true Gem!.

Humpy says there is a Neil Young imitation band (Crazy Horse?) playing at

Patriots Place in May.  I would love to see them.

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And Steve:

Hi Pete;

Neil Young is playing in Edmonton next Thursday. Never seen him live. Maybe I should go eh?

Great write up as usual.

Cheers

Steve

GMVW # 66: "Heartache"

Gem Music Video of the Week # 66:  Heartache

Song:  $1000 Dollar Wedding by Gram Parsons

(Songwriter: Gram Parsons)

April 9, 2009

I received plenty of great album recommendations after my request a month or so ago (the write-up for Gem # 58), so it is going to take a while to sift through…. a good thing.  However, the first returns are in, and a new Gem has been found.  The Gem is off the Gram Parson’s album ‘Grievous Angel’, released posthumously in 1973.  The album recommendation is from Jeff Strause, former fellow USGS employee (now retired), good friend and concert-attendee extraordinaire.    A Jeff Strause recommendation is nothing to shake a stick at.  On the contrary, I’m thankful for this and all his recommendations over the years, because Jeff has a keen ear for music.  He’s attended so many live shows that he has developed an osmosis-like ability to sift through gravel to find nuggets.  With that pressure hanging over me, I hope to do his recommendation justice here.

I’ll start with a bit of Rolling Stones history for some context.  Fans typically break up Stones albums into two categories: ‘Mick albums’ and ‘Keith albums’.  Mick Jagger has been credited as leading the Stones through a fair share of albums over the years (‘Emotional Rescue’, ‘Some Girls’ and ‘Tattoo You’ come to mind), but it was Keith Richards who was running the show in the early 70’s, and it was during this period that one of the Stones most critically acclaimed albums was produced: ‘Exile on Main Street’.   ‘Exile’ rounded out a sound that was slowly evolving in the Stones music over previous albums.  The music on the album straddled the boundaries between Country and Rock.  I once read that the Stones spent time in the Deep South during this period, so that was explanation enough for me.  However, as I listened to Gram Parsons music this past month, it became apparent that the influence was not so much a region as it was a person.  I should have pieced it together years ago….Parsons after all, was one of Keith Richards best friends.  

Country and Rock music have both had their fair share of deep thinking musicians with fine music writing abilities, but those musicians who are recognized as the trailblazers for having a foot in both realms are statistical anomalies, since most ALL of them have depth.  There’s The Band, Booker T and the MGs, Emmylou Harris, Towns Van Zandt, Steve Earle, Shawn Colvin, and Nils Lofgren among others.  The guy who did it first, however, was Gram Parsons.  The Byrds certainly found this out when they welcomed him into their ranks for the ground breaking Country/Rock album ‘Sweetheart of the Rodeo’.  Parsons was also a member of the Flying Burrito Brothers, an under-the-radar band in the late 60’s who had Country listeners thinking ‘Rock’ and Rock listeners thinking ‘Country’…. just the way Parsons wanted it. 

Gram Parsons personal life had more than its share of heartache, which is why this week’s Gem follows on-the-heals of the last.  Where last week’s Gem reveals the thrill of love in good times, it is part of the human condition that love can also bring anguish.  The saying goes that it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.  This may have been taken to the extreme in the case of Gram Parsons, who lost his Dad and Mom in separate tragic incidents in his teen years.  Then there was his called off wedding, the story behind this week’s Gem, “$1000 Wedding”, one of the best songs on ‘Grievous Angel’, which is full of great songs.   The lyrics switch from third person to first and back again, as if he could not accept the fact he was singing about himself.  It’s one of the few songs I know that is too personal for anyone to cover it appropriately, although Emmylou Harris does an amazing job backing up the vocals in this version.

There are plenty of great songs about love lost.  I was watching ‘Saving Private Ryan’ yet again the other night and the moments just before the German tanks role into the bombed out French village (as intense of a scene as any I’ve viewed in film), when the rag-tag group of soldiers are waiting for the inevitable.  One of them puts an Edith Piaf song on the phonograph and another interprets her French lyrics, which are of intense heartache.  More recent songs that come to mind: Richard and Linda Thompson ‘Withered and Died’ (an earlier Gem), The Beatles ‘Oh Darling’, The Pretenders, ‘Back on the Chain Gang’ (another Gem), Tom Petty’s ‘American Girl’, Green Day ‘September Ends’, Dylan’s ‘Simple Twist of Fate, The Who ‘Don’t Let Go the Coat’, The Everly Brothers ‘Love Hurts’.  This Gem, however, takes the cake.

Gram Parsons favorite place was the 800,000 acre Joshua Tree National Park where the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts meet in Southeast California, and which is where Parsons ultimately passed on.  One location in Joshua Tree, Cap Rock, was a particularly fascinating place to him.  I had an opportunity to go there a number of years ago.  It’s in the middle of nowhere, many miles from the nearest anything, but naturally spectacular.  There’s a plaque there which reads “Gram Safe at Home”. 

Parsons was a compassionate soul, which can be heard in his music, but can also be seen in a letter he wrote to his lone sibling, Avis, written at the time of their mother’s death when Avis was being sent to boarding school against her will.  The letter was part of a short story of his life I read recently.  Here is an extract:  “The best thing we can do is learn from the past and live our lives the right way so, in time, when we can do something to change things, we will be real people.  Not sick or haunted by what life has done to us.  We have the advantage of seeing definite examples of what can happen when people permit life to tangle them so badly that there is no escape.  For us there is time – life can be real and beautiful if you build it that way honestly so there will be no lies or shadows to be afraid of later….it requires a lot of work, knowledge, and love”. 

It’s no wonder Keith Richards is renowned for his all-nighter lifestyle. With friends like Gram Parsons, there was much to hash out.

Now, the one problem with new music recommendations is that finding Gem Videos becomes all that more difficult.  This is particularly the case with Gram Parsons, as there is precious little footage of him, so this still-shot Gem of “$1000.00 Wedding” is all I have to offer.  To make up for the lack of video, I suggest the audio be played loudly.

Thanks again, Jeff. 

- Pete

“I hate to tell you how he acted when the news arrived

 He took some friends out drinking and it’s lucky they survived”

Gem Music Video: $1000 Dollar Wedding

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veArVcmEn58&feature=related

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About the Video: still shots with the studio version

Video Rating: 2 (although I can’t imagine there is a live recording of Parsons performing this song)