A Very Young Rod Sings Acapella

Oh Rod Stewart, what happened to you?



Here's one more from 1972--with Rod reading the lyrics for "You Wear it Well."

Curiously enough, the band seems to be following some sort of dress code; everyone has to wear yellow. Except the violin player, who looks like someone's dad.

Last one, live Faces from 1973.

Rock Steady

It is an unimaginably georgeous day in Portland today. OK, what inspired this post is that somehow I was subjected to "classic rock," where I heard a Paul Rogers song that threw me into a complete tizzy. The song--horrible; his voice? Perfection. Serious synapse-frying moment.

It turns out we have a "Bad Company" album that I just listened to on the porch. It was perfect for an early summer day. I adore Paul Rogers's voice. It is not a surprise that Queen decided to use him as a fill-in for Freddie Mercury. (I actually prefer Paul's voice, even if it didn't have the range; it's more supple and sweet and subtle.) I just hate everything that he sang. Pretty much. But that voice! Perfect summer music. My new goal is to acquire some Lynrd Skynnrd (OK, I can't spell the name, but I blame it on "Free Bird.")

So, for the feat of getting through this entire post, here's some "Bad Company" from back in the day before Paul Rogers discovered that mysterious clothing item "Shirts." (On edit; crap, he has a shirt on. I managed to pick the only video of all that I previewed with this aberration.)

How to play a guitar solo

I must admit that George Harrison isn't my favorite beatle. Actually, my favorite beetle is the Scarab Beetle, but be that as it may, Prince plays the shizzle (please take notice that I'm trying not to swear) out of the solo on (eeek! can I even speak the name?) 'While my Guitar Cries In Fright', or something. Amazing solo; amazing outfit. Plus you must check out Dhani Harrison in the background, just 'cause he's so freakin' good looking.

I suggest (strongly) that you ignore everything until about 36 seconds in, when Prince appears magically (I suspect a Tardis in the near vicinity.) Also notice Prince throws his guitar up at the end of the song and it never descends. Magical powers, I tell you.

An Eunice Kathleen Waymon, uh Nina Simone song to lift my spirits.

I love chamber-punk, and now I've discovered chamber-soul. Happiness.

Wikipedia informed me not only about her real name, but that Ms. Simone was 27 when the above clip was recorded. She looks about 17.

I've been mulling a post about how the Supreme Court just legalized bribery, but I find it too depressing to write. So, yet more music.

Here's the Who on the Ed Sullivan Show. The back story here (wait to the end) is that this show (for reasons that will become obvious) permanently damaged Pete Townsend's hearing. And Keith needed a band-aid.


Off to think deepish thoughts. Or listen to more music.

I heard rumors Christmas was on its way

So, in celebration, a hint about what I want to find under my Christmas tree.



The video is fan-made. But it features aliens!

Return of the Grievous Angel

I've been looking for some Gram Parsons--singer, songwriter, beauty, trust fund screw-up, poet, dead at 26--to put on the blog, but footage of the man is nigh unto impossible to find. However, here's one of my favorite songs of his in that youtube format where they give you a slide show. Can you spot Anita Pallenberg and Keith Richards? How about Emmylou Harris?


During my Youtube search, I found this stunning re-interpreted version by Evan Dando. I've gotta reevaluate him as a singer. Take a listen.


Here's my next-favorite song, sung by Ryan Adams and Emmylou Harris (she did the original harmonies.) Poor Ryan isn't quite the country singer Gram was, but the song is still a delight.


20,000 roads I went down, down down.
They all lead me straight home to you.

I saw my devil, and I saw my deep blue sea,
and I thought about a calico bonnet
From Cheyenne to Tennessee.

Rare Exile on Main Street Footage Surfaces

Robert Frank is a renowned photojournalist and photographer that changed the look of photography in his book "The Americans," published back in 1958. In 1971, he took the photos for the Rolling Stones "Exile on Main Street" cover. Super-8 footage used for those photos popped up on youtube. Be the first in your state it watch it. For a music and photography geek like me, it's pretty exciting. All hail Youtube.

Summer Bonus! Edie Sedgwick + the Velvet Underground + Venus in Furs

Youtube is truly a magical, magical place.

Brand new vintage Nico from 1967: Femme fatale. I love Nico beyond any reason. Listen to her sing perfectly on key as the rest of band fails to perform up to her standards. Even though she's not playing a harmonium. We're strong. We deal. Still all perfect. PS. Thanks, my BFF Beck.

Record Club: Velvet Underground & Nico "Femme Fatale" from Beck Hansen on Vimeo.

OOops. Beck. Bad Beck. The original Nico version can't be embedded. You can find it here. I strongly recommend you listen. She's got perfect cheekbones. And perfect pitch.

Astonishing; Nico in her phasers set to stun phase.
A brief bit of live Nico from back in the day, with her harmonium, singing her very own song. Unfortunately, for scenes of Edie Sedgwick dancing, you'll have to google youtube. At any rate, (and with this recession, one can hope that the rate is pretty minimal) even though Nico and the gang are cooler than us, to lessen our grief, they're also dead. Mostly. But the music remains. How does one deal with grief, but to tackle it straight on?

A song for the recession: No one loves you when you're down and out

Greg and Duane Allman.

Greg was one of those annoying idiot savants--He couldn't even stay married to Cher for longer than a forgotten weekend--with a perfect voice. And a perfect face. Not a good combination. Duane, just a perfect musician who died way too young.

Plus, I have this theory that Duane Allman was one of the best musicians of the 20th century. Damn those motorcycles.

If that isn't enough, just above is a clip of Duane and Eric Clapton playing the same song. Duane does a much better job on guitar than in the earlier version with his brother; Eric Clapton is a fine fresh fellow, but to compare his vocals with Greg...not going there. There's not a single live version available, so please put up with the sound, only--well worth it. All of you with stereo, listen, intensely, to Duane's slide guitar emanating from the left speaker. Heaven.


A bit of a personal recollection. I remember on our second date geebee (my sweetie) was astonished to discover that I was a huge Allman brothers fan. Of geruning course. No one better.

Is there life on Mars?

The magic is in the grooves.

I haven't heard the album version of Hunky Dory since I was eighteen ish, (casettes and CD's for me, baby) when I was at (shudder) BYU. There was this awesome and beautiful girl on the first floor of my dorm (I was on the second floor) that had a copy; I'd go down to her room and listen to it. Until now, I'd totally forgotten about that particular section of my life; but it reared its ungainly head this evening when George played his newly bought extremely early version--all those memories unlocked. I can't remember the girl's name; but she was from Boston, looked Jewish, had a devoted boyfriend who wasn't Mormon that she refused to entertain. I wonder what happened. Is there life on Mars?

Beck's waiting for his man.

I somehow managed to be the only teen in the 70's who listened, rabidly (was there any other way?) to the Velvet Underground and did not start my own band. The distinct lack of musical talent might have had sooomething to do with it, but after the Punks, even that wasn't much of an excuse. What was I thinking? Beck, in so many ways (well, there is that Emperor Klaaktu of Rigel VII bit, but I have skeletons in my own closet, so who's to talk), got it right. He continues to do so -- he and his buds have covered the first eponymous VU album. Here's 'Waiting for My Man' with an amazing groove--listen for the slightly dissonant Sonic Youth style guitar tunings plus bonus sitar! Enjoy.

Record Club: Velvet Underground & Nico 'Waiting for My Man' from Beck Hansen on Vimeo.

I found another one! 'Sunday Morning'! I confess that my current favorite Beck album is "Sea Change," his sad breakup album. I still can't believe his long time girlfriend (from when he was just a random street kid) dumped him. But what an Album (or whatever musical delivery devices are called these days). This song has the same wonderful, wistful, regretful, adjectival quality. I'm astonished that he found someone not only icy but Icelandic to replace Nico (I confess, one of my favorite artists.)

Record Club: Velvet Underground & Nico 'Sunday Morning' from Beck Hansen on Vimeo.

I just figured out that Beck seems to have dropped the 'c' in his name, (be the first on your block to know) and his website can be found here.

Dresden Dolls vs. Michael Jackson

Amanda Palmer, of the Dresden Dolls, performed this majestic version of "Billie Jean" the night Michael Jackson died. I confess to never particularly liking this song, but Amanda's version is sweet and heartbreaking.



And just because one Dresden Doll video isn't enough, my favorite Black Sabbath cover ever (other than the five or so bars the Replacements played one night).

I bring you War Pigs! Turns out piano and drums is just what Ozzy would have ordered, if we wasn't so busy biting the head off bats, or echolocating, or trying to see through his runny mascara, or buying big-ass crosses, or something.

Bizarro post of the day: AT&T for the American Idol Kris Allen Win!

Read about it here.

In short, Adam Lambert (I might call him Screechy McScreech on a bad day), the flamboyant Queen-fronting Kiss-singing-off-the-stage (not that that's difficult) colouratura trilling American Idol superstar lost to Kris Allen, a sweet guy from Arkansas who couldn't hold a tune. How could this happen? Now we know.

According to the New York Times link above,

AT&T, one of the biggest corporate sponsors of “American Idol,” might have influenced the outcome of this year’s competition by providing phones for free text-messaging services and lessons in casting blocks of votes at parties organized by fans of Kris Allen, the Arkansas singer who was the winner of the show last week.

Why would they want Kris Allen to win? Thinking...Thinking....

You've got everything now--Happy 50th, Morrissey

Can one use the words "Happy" and Morrissey in the same sentence? The video below is from 1983. Oh, you handsome devil.