From Facebook - Music

My brother and I went to see Shane and the Popes at a place on Landsdowne. Later, a bartender I knew told me Shane n was seen next door drinking 10 gins at Mamakin (place next door) just before going on. He came on sweating and he had two big fans right in front of him set. We had found a place standing right at the stage. Good view. That was not wise because these big droogs started bashing into each other and basically we were in the way and candidates from broken arms etc. So went onto the stage, where a guard was about to block us. But in sign language I explained we were normal people, weren't going to mosh, and and we were just going round the big amps and then back into the safer part peripheral of the crowd again. That found us on stools at the very far back of the bar. We'd seen Shane and the Popes and we could hear them fine in the back. But, at some point he broke into Cracklin Rose. "Neil Diamond?" I asked my brother, Mike. "Wow" Un-cool beyond cool. The joint was rockin. Have to see this! We came back to watch more closely. But safely outside the front and center. It sounded great. I imagine versions of Cracklin Rose were on the Irish Hit Parade on Saturdays. I learned later it is a song about cheap wine (Gypsy Rose, Wild Irish Rose) - I think this was before Sweet Caroline became an anthem at Fenway. Saw a picture of Shane with Bruce Sprinsteen recently. Looks like he has slowed down. Saw the Pogues with Mike when they first came over here (also on Landsdowne) with Kait O'Riordan on bass and a St Patrick's Day at the Orpheum after Sean had rejoined. Always a remarkable show..

Through a cyclone fence up in Milwaukee//I got up the gumption and Talked to Bo Diddley!\

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My cousins were older.... and they had the Look walk and swagger. Black leather too. Like Eddie Cochran, god bless him!

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Ray Charles was doing so good, then, by today's standards, he died so young. This kind of crossover of musical styles is less crisp today than in past. In Ray's hands, totally excellent. Remember his advice: "Get paid in ones." 2012

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I think I saw Frank Morgan play at a small club on 2nd Ave in NYC back in the early '70s. It was heavy stuff. My guide - Jim Haas was familiar with his name and said it was a rare opportunity. We used to bounce between jazz, rock, folk. Also got to "Slugs" one time to see Archie Shepp. So glad that the Frank Morgan story has endurance resilience redemption. He was in between things, I'd guess, when we saw him. Can't guarantee.

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On Sweet Woman from Maine by Robert Lockwood. This could be a conjured recollection, but I think I was with him when someone asked Robert what possessed him to write this song. I think he said he was trying to think of as far away place as possible. Sunnyland Slim plays piano on it.

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Back in the day WBCN would live broadcast concerts. You could find somebody with a tape deck to record it for you while you were at the concert. Let the Good Tapes Roll!

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A shout-out to my spouse Jack Vaughan on his prose poem written about Sunnyland Slim (Albert Luandrew). His work entitled, SUNNYLAND BLUES (self-published 1979 and copyrighted); portions of which are recited by John Sinclair in Sunnyland Train; woven with Robert Palmer's descriptions of his version of Sunny's bio.

When in the Boston-area for poetry readings, John would visit us at our Mission Hill home. (Inbox me for details if you're interested in a copy of SUNNYLAND BLUES by Jack Vaughan and Sunnyland Slim.) - C.

 

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THE FROGS '[SATIRE} - he Frogs were seriously underrated. I know the second LP was a disappointment, and the Live record was unnecessary. Too bad singer went solo. They all did too many side-projects. But their 17 minute version of Season of the Witch kills it. Bullfrog Blues is unsurpassed. Rivet, She Said=Priceless. Frog Hop: Pedestrian. Hope they have a reunion tour. Not sure how many of the originals are still croaking...

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The Ratskellar Kenmore Sq - Did they ever fix the light in the men's room? Did they ever fix the light in the men's room?Did they ever fix the light in the men's room? No, that would be too obvious.

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Imagine Freddie King doing Im Going Down - Thinking bout Freddie King. Thank God Rolling Stone remembered him on their list! Would that he always will be recalled. He did some stuff with Leon Russel on Shelter before departing. Here is is doing one of the biggest killer numbers of all time...I'm Going Down [Aside: Once got to saw Peter Green do this at Roxy in Boston .. it's a wonder the building [it was inside the old Bradford Hotel - blues hotel in my book] stood. Shut that barroomdoor! Im going back to Tuscanooga, see sister Irene Ford!

***** The Who started out doing incredibly inept versions of American R&B (James Brown's I Dont Mind covered here. I recently saw an early footage of them doing HeatWave. With just three pieces how could it be done? Well they made do, and the bad impersonations turned into something good, Herman. Of course alot was owed to Link Wray on the guitarist's part. Now we are just talking three chords, here. but that can be ocean. They looked for a name to describe it: They called in Maximum R&B