MOONDOG: 90th Birthday Tribute (guest: Moondog biographer ROBERT SCOTTO)

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MOONDOG: 90th Birthday Tribute (guest: Moondog biographer ROBERT SCOTTO)

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asrati

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MOONDOG: 90th Birthday Tribute (guest: Moondog biographer ROBERT SCOTTO)

Posted over 2 years ago

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Moondog

Mogger poebegone recently concurred with me that John Lee Hooker may be the world's finest Blues vocalist, "albeit i am torn between JLH and "Moondog":http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moondog as to who is closest to my heart." I know nothing of Moondog but photographs. It's high time I investigate further. "Here":http://wfmu.org/listen.ram?show=19122&archive=27715 is a 2-hour-long WFMU tribute to the artist you are welcome to explore along with me. RealPlayer required. Playlist "here":http://wfmu.org/playlists/shows/19122.(...So far, delightfully far from what I expected [why did I expect difficult, doomy music?]. Already I hear some riffs filmmmaker/composer Hal Hartley has borrowed for his film scores.)

Comments (4)

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deadmandeadman says Anyone ever hear of Blind Willie McTell? J. B. Lenior? Chuck Berry? These men, and others, have to be in the discussion. Ma Rainey? Fred McDowell? There have been many astounding voices through the years. Voices that ARE the blues. John Lee Hooker & Moondog were among the best, to be sure, but its a fairly large group.

Permalink posted 11/10/2007
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asrati says Hi, deadmandeadman, Absolutely. The gist of the "original post":http://mog.com/asrati/blog_post/122990 is the fanciful notion that there are some bluesmen/women who are so good that when you get caught up in listening to them, they are, at that moment, the best in the world: you're convinced they have to be. Others who move me this way are Bukka White, Johnny Shines, Howlin' Wolf ... Are Blues musicians unique in generating this feeling? Let's just say I've never noticed the effect while listening to Rock and Roll. I bet if I were into Country more, the phenomenon might rear it's head there. I guess the core issue is unimpeachable sincerity and authenticity. A unique approach is also a must, which makes the whole matter at its upper reaches a contest between apples and oranges.

Permalink posted 11/10/2007
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deadmandeadman says Very well said asrati. I think the phenomenon raises its head in rock n roll as well. I'm thinkin' Dylan, Lennon, and others. But the blues (across the spectrum) is the more "personality" driven.

Permalink posted 11/10/2007
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poebegone says unimpeachable sincerity and authenticity makes an excellent subject for a playlist. Dylan, most certainly, and i am pretty sure there are lots more in rock and roll. pondering that phrase, "while my guitar gently weeps," i suppose the blues can make you weep by inequivocally, really, really weeping along with you. and that's powerful. whereas rock can make you weep by not weeping when it is obviously weeping. and that's equally powerful. so, yeah, apples and oranges. (:

Permalink posted 11/16/2007