MOG - deadmandeadman's Posts

ODETTA. THE VOICE OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. R.I.P.

deadmandeadman — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 11:40:19 GMT

The Voice Of The Cicil Rights Movement has been silenced. Odetta. For those of us of a certain age Odetta's voice was a call to action. In her career as a folk singer she sang for paupers, kings, & presidents. She used her popularity & that gorgeous projecting voice to combat the injustices of American society and along the way inspiring others to speak out. Her infuence on a young Bob Dylan cannot be denied. Pete Seegar, another strong voice in the Civil Rights Movement, often traveled through the deep south with Odetta performing impromtu sets for workers in the fields, helping to organize workers, educating them, moving them to action.

But it was that voice....that glorious voice. Odetta could sing the softest lullabys, or traditional songs of romantic love. But she'll live on in many a heart because she used that voice to tear down walls of hatred and distrust. She helped a whole generation of college stundents understand that any injustice sullies us all. Her contribution to music,& society cannot be overstated.

ELVIS COSTELLO COVERS WRECKLESS ERIC. (Live Music Is Better)

deadmandeadman — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:59:03 GMT

The fidelity is not great, but it ain't too bad. Elvis Costello & The Attractions tear into Wreckless Eric's The Whole Wide World

Happy Sunday Morning everyone!

John Lee Ziegler

deadmandeadman — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 01:45:07 GMT

This has been a tough year for music. John Lee Ziegler passed away in May of this year. A gifted, self-taught left handed guitarist who played his instrument upside down, he developed a smooth gliding style of "bottle-neck" or "slide" guitar playing that perfectly complemented his high pitched voice. This track was said to be recorded on either Ziegler's front porch or his living room, by George Mitchell, in rural georgia in 1970. His friend Rufus Jones on spoons. One hears ghostly, almost subliminal voices of children on this track as they were playing close by.

I GUESS I'M ON A BLUES KICK HERE. BIG SON TILLIS HAS GOT PROBLEMS

deadmandeadman — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:08:47 GMT

I cannot tell you much about Big Son Tillis....information is scarce, but I love the guitar sound here

Another Lost Giant. Bennie Moten & His Kansas City Orchestra

deadmandeadman — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 22:53:48 GMT

Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra was an influential touring blues ensemble in the twenties & thirties. In it's heyday the band included Count Basie on piano & the smooth upright bass of Walter Page. (the upright being somewhat of an innovation in this kind of band, replacing the tuba). After Moten's death The Count built his band from the nucleus of the Kansas City Orchestra.

What!? No JELLY ROLL? This can't be

deadmandeadman — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 21:20:12 GMT

How can a sight like the MOG have no previous posts on Jelly Roll Morton? It boggles the mind. Often refered to as the father of Jazz, indeed boastfull of it, he was a brilliant bandleader with an ear for the rhythms of street dancers & cajun fiddlers. Listen to the tuba here. Listen to the trumpet... jeeze listen to that clarinet...friggin' awesome, says I. This is indeed seminal music...so much would spring from this.

Saturday Morning Blues Too!

deadmandeadman — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 13:41:21 GMT

Its Saturday Mourning and I still have the blues. Lowell Fulson....more on him later. I gotta run. Make sure you stop by & add your opinion

FRIDAY BLUES. Alice Moore

deadmandeadman — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:17:05 GMT

Alice Moore was a blues giant in the early days of recorded blues & she enjoyed a resurgence of popularity in the mid 30's as well. A blues shouter & pianist, she would take control of recording sesions & experiment with the slightly odd (for rural blues) instrumentation (trombone, accordian, penny-whistles, etc). She recorded some incredible sides with slide guitarist Kokomo Arnold that still amaze & amuse. Kokomo's reworking of Scrapper Blackwell's "Kokomo" into "Old Original Kokomo Blues" served as a blueprint for Robert Johnson who reworked it to "Sweet Home Chicago"

Alice also recorded with her boyfriend Peetie Wheatstraw, an accomplished pianist himself, on some sides that took piano blues to new levels in the thirties, as their melodic, rhythmic patterns wove amusing accompaniment to some great songs.

So Yeah, Why bother..........Its like a ghost town in here of late. John Lennon...Mucho Mungo

deadmandeadman — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 14:13:37 GMT

When we listen to something like this, and compare it to the officially released version we realize what may have been..........

...........its like a ghost town in here. Something's been lost....uploading takes forever.....red buttons acting up........folks falling away like autumn leaves.....I'm gonna take a vacation.

IS MOG HAVING GROWING PAINS?

deadmandeadman — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 23:44:39 GMT

This has probably been posted before but I think its worth a repost. Note: There is no red button to fail.

Yo La Tengo covers William DeVaughn. (sadly draining the funk from it too)

deadmandeadman — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:25:32 GMT

I like Yo La Tengo. For many years they have been consistantly entertaining & challenging, building a career on paying homage to the conventions they shatter. And make no mistake, homage it is. And shatter they do. Rearranging the resultant shards into shapes at once familiar yet strange. We recognize the pieces but the "whole" is alien, odd.

The video here is the original...much more funky. I'm not sure Yo La Tengo has won this one. William DeVaughn's version is a fine percolating funkgroove

ALTERNATE TAKES (VOL 1)

deadmandeadman — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 23:58:19 GMT

Its fascinating to hear rejected takes of popular tunes by favorite artists. Though there are ethical issues involved sometimes, hardcore collectors justify the literal theft of an artist's work through complicated intellectual gymnastics that leave their self image as liberators untarnished. We,... I mean they think they're doin' collectors everywhere a favor....and they are.... but that's not the point, is it?

Posted. SUNDAY

deadmandeadman — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 23:15:56 GMT

This is indeed a cover of a Leonard Cohen poem. Buffy Ste Marie said she was moved to "sing" it as soon as she read it.

I'm posting this with a degree of petulence. I look forward to Sundays on MOG.

St James Infirmary

deadmandeadman — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:23:13 GMT

St James Infirmary is one of those songs that almost everyone knows. Its been recorded by a who's who of greats, near greats, not so greats, ingrates & inmates. Said to be based on an English Ballad, The Unfortunate Rake, "St James Infirmary Blues" (or "Dying Gambler" or "Dyin' Cowboy") the song bubbles up through the history of our music in the USA, (hence, all the recordings,) and indeed the english speaking world.

Kid Ory is not as well known as some other early Jazz Giants to most casual fans, but his influence was widely felt. On the trombone there were none better, and as a mentor with an ear for talent...well...at one time or another King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, & scores of others played in Kid Ory's band on their way up. He would later record extensively as a "session player" on tracks by Jelly Roll & King Oliver, and others. Henry "Red" Allen was himself an integral part of the great Jazz Gumbo in the early years & beyond. The two often played together on the Jelly Roll Morton sessions, and a friendship developed (plus a handfull of fun recordings over the years)

The Prisonaires...Walking In The Rain

deadmandeadman — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 13:02:14 GMT

Snip...Paste:

As their name suggests, this doo-wop group was formed while each member was in the State Penitentiary, Tennessee, USA. The founding member was lead singer Johnny Bragg (John Henry Bragg, 6 May 1925, Nashville, Tennessee, USA, d. 1 September 2004, Madison, Tennessee, USA), who took on Ed Thurman (b. USA, d. 1973; second tenor), John Drue (b. USA, d. December 1977, Lebanon, Tennessee, USA; first tenor), William Stewart (b. USA, d. 1959; baritone and guitar) and Marcel Sanders (b. USA, d. 1969; bass). The group was paraded around a variety of receptions and civic functions as demonstration of the jail's enlightened rehabilitation programme, where they played a mix of blues, gospel and pop songs under armed guard. New warden James E. Edwards then arranged for two talent scouts from Sam Phillips' Sun Records to see the group. They were subsequently driven down to Memphis in June 1953 to record a song written by Bragg and fellow inmate Robert Riley, "Just Walkin' In The Rain".

Man, it sure was a pain in the ass to get this uploaded. Is MOG hiccuping this morning?

SATURDAY MORNING. LET'S ENJOY THIS BIG OLD LIFE

deadmandeadman — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 12:37:43 GMT

I have posted this song before, and oddly enough it was a Sunday Morning Song. But I like this song a lot, it came up on shuffle yesterday, and its been a year since that post & it feels like there're a lot of folks here who may not have heard it. So yeah, its a repeat. Hey, what can I say, Its a great cheerful song.

FUNKY BANANA OIL. WATCH OUT LADIES.

deadmandeadman — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:39:55 GMT

Vaughn Deleath, the "First Lady Of Radio" was an immensely popular jazz singer from the roaring twenties though she's little remembered today. Her's was the original recording of Are You Lonesome Tonight? But on this track..Banana Oil, she's got something else on her mind.

The Vid is Ukulele Lady. A song I first heard via Arlo Guthrie

ON A GOOD DAY THERE ARE NO GHOSTS

deadmandeadman — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:44:16 GMT

But on a bad day the ghosts run wild, ripping up daydreams like overdue bills. You can't hide, you can't head for the hills. You can't nail shut all the window sills.

At the zoo the lion stalks back n forth n back n forth n back......then sits and yawns. Tarzan watches from the manicured jungle alive on a cellular level, an atavistic reaction older than species, he dreams of blood/the kills/the feast. Tarzan tingles & yearns for a roar but settles for a yawn.

The Moody Blues are much maligned here abouts and truth be told they could get awful pretentious. Herein is a good example....But it's mighty pretty pretention. You have to stay with it, its slow to get going. But put on a pair of headphones, earbuds....whatever...enjoy the birth & development of western music as imagined by the Moodys

And then for both of you (I'm an optimist) who may make it this far, a thought concerning world affairs. I read the news today, (oh boy), It seems an Al-Queda leader has bad-mouthed our President elect. I cannot believe that this man could be so stupid. His remarks will only unify the nation in ways impossible for me to articulate. Its ironic, says I, that this psuedo-orginization that has used the powers of the internet & mass communication technology so effectively (to our great detriment) in this War On Terror could be so tone-deaf to the tenor of the USA right now. Un-be-fucking-lievable. OOps, sorry to anyone who's made it this far.

I MEAN........WHY BOTHER....ITS ALL THE SAME SONG

deadmandeadman — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 02:54:46 GMT

Its All The Same Song, Right?.........Once I Thought I Saw You In A Crowded Hazy Bar...Do You Wanna Dance & Hold My Hand? You Got A Lot Of Nerve To Say You Are My Friend, What Would You Say If I Sang Out Of Tune? Yesterday I Saw A Big Girl Cryin'. Time Takes It's Crazy Toll, I See A Bad Moon Rising. Hey, Hey Its Okay To Make A Little Mess Out Of Your Life, I Never Kept A Dollar Past Sunset, It Always Burns A Hole In My Pants. Life's The Same I'm Movin' In Stereo, She Said I Know What Its Like To Be Dead, My Daddy Left Home When I Was Three And He Didn't Leave Much For My Ma An' Me. I Give Her All My Love, That's All I Do.

Someone Told Me Long Ago...I Want To Tell You, My Head Is Filled With Things To Say...If You Hate The Taste Of Wine Why Do You Drink It All The Time? How Do You Do What You Do To Me?..Today I Passed You On The Street....You Say You Love Me And You're Thinkin'Of Me But You Know You Could Be Wrong......Who's That Lady? A Flower Lady's Daughter As Sweet As Holy Water.... My Love Don't Give Me Presents! Cat's Foot Iron Claw neurosugeon screams for more...The Eastern World It Is Explodin'........Look What They Done To My Song Ma......When I Get Off Of This Mountain You Know Where I'm Gonna Go....She Would Never Say Where She Came From.....

I'VE BEEN INSPIRED! NOT THAT YOU COULD TELL OR ANYTHING.

deadmandeadman — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 15:16:47 GMT

A sweet Sunday Morning Cover of John Fogarty's "Fortunate Son" is performed here by Donavon Frankenreiter on his wonderful little gem of an EP "recylcled recipes". A reverential cover without aping the original. Quite nices, says I.

CH CH CHANGES. (& hope)

deadmandeadman — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:27:53 GMT

One of a handfull of songs that carried over from the original Parliaments through the wild Parliament/Funkadelic years,"All Your Goodies Are Gone" highlights the emerging talent & wordplay of George Clinton......"Let me see how it feels to be unforreal......With no love of your own. When all your goodies are gone." ...and the attention given to the music & arrangement.

So.....Sen Elect Barack Obama has yet to take office & there's already a new bounce in the step of some of my friends. People have high hopes & expectations true but....its more than that......People want something better. They want change. I'm not sure what is meant when they chant that mantra....but I can identify, I want change too. And therein lies a problem. We have to come to a consensus as to what changes need be made.

As some have noted in this forum, The Election of '08 has been a remarkable excersize. The Post-Election societal mood.........that sigh of relief, the glow, the glower,......is opportunity & trap.

Our President is gonna need support & loyalty to establish & then achieve his agenda. Will the press continue to fawn over the good Senator? Will Republicans continue the unfortnate tenor of late? The "gotcha" politics? Will Democrats, drunk with power, over reach with their liberal social agenda, thus alienating the decidely conservative constituency of the midwest & the South?

Will Foreign affairs tie up all of The New President's energy?

Its gonna be interesting.

VETERAN'S DAY ................The Mammals

deadmandeadman — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:10:41 GMT

A cautionary tale, a commentary, a critique. The Mammals with guest vocal by Pete Seeger reading the words of George Carlin & D. D. Eisenhower

ITS SO BEAUTIFUL. KATZENJAMMER ROCKS! BUT THAT"S NOT ALL THEY DO.

deadmandeadman — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:17:48 GMT

Its always so much fun to discover a new band that just knocks your socks off. Katzenjammer is an all female band from Norway that just delights more with each listen. The band claims to play these instruments: guitar, accordion, bass, banjo, flute, melodica, balalaika, mandolin, trumpet, drums, djembe, xylophone, ukulele and piano. And they rock like mad. But their's is a beautifully nuanced rock, with vocals that range from full throated wails to sweet harmonies.

Ckeck 'em out

Not A Cover but LIVE MUSIC IS BETTER! BRIGHT EYES WORCESTER< MA 18 Nov 07

deadmandeadman — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 16:54:59 GMT

Live music is better.....bumper stickers should be issued.

Bright Eyes seems to be as polarizing as a presidential election. His fans are devoted, his detracters are scornful. I am a fan in that anyone who can come up with "I'm Wide Awake Its Morning" is an artist to watch. Granted "Morning" is an artistic trap....there's no where to go from there...as an artist one backs away slowly & cautiously from such a ledge. But its an awesome insight, a perfect capturing of a certain state of disolute fear/anger/uncertainty endemic to twenty-somethings in early 21st Century America.

This track, "Lua" is taken from a live performance, (an audience recording) and although the audio could be better it ain't too bad. Somehow the sound of his devotees' hushed sing along adds to the charm. But for me the trumpet is worth the price of admission.

A MOST PLEASING BEATLE COVER. DEAR PRUDENCE/ JERRY GARCIA

deadmandeadman — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 13:11:01 GMT

Dear Prudence was one song on the White Album that jumped righ out and became a favorite of mine. I liked the underlying tension & I thought Ringo really did a great job on the skins for this track.

Now I know covering the Fabs is dangerous, as the wise old dermahrk has noted if one merely apes the original, why bother? But stray too far afield and Beatle fans will reject it en mass. But I like this arrangement, the horns are a beautiful touch, and the languid pace may lack the tension of the original but its warm & inviting.

CHECK IN TIME AT THE HEARBREAK HOTEL WITH JOHN CALE

deadmandeadman — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 12:41:28 GMT

For comparison sake....

FEAR (IS A MAN'S BEST FRIEND)

deadmandeadman — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 21:28:20 GMT

John Cale's post Velvet Underground work is a maddening hodge-podge of brilliance & bullshit. He can be the most dynamic performer you've seen, stirring dark feelings in our collective psyche, exciting in a primitive way, on a gut level. Or he can be a self-indulgent sop, arrogant & rude, sloppy & uncaring. Sometimes the histrionics were over the top.

Ah, but on a good night, solo or with a band, his explorations of life's foibles and those poor brains squirmin' like toads take on a thrilling, car-wreck fascination.

WHITE HOUSE BLUES

deadmandeadman — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 15:27:17 GMT

Banjo playin' Charlie Poole is another giant of the past who's influence still ripples through various genres of music. An American classic, he bought his first banjo with the money he made off his still. Songs he wrote, or adapted to his style are still with us, still being recorded by a who's who of stars & wanna-be's. John Mellencamp has recorded this track and did a good job, but give ole Charlie the edge here.

And so....The White House Blues

A change has come, its been said. We'll see. We hope. But change, in and of itself, is neither good or bad. Some would say anything is better. Maybe, we'll see. As I have mentioned elsewhere in comments, ....I hope the president elect is not shown the level of respect, cooperation & loyalty as the current president has been shown. The toxic tone of political discourse has to be replaced by reasoned debate. The hard right & the hard left have got to be condemned not across party lines but each within their own. The right has to realize that their issues of States Rights, Smaller, less intrusive government, & lower taxes are still issues that resounds with vast numbers of voters. But their puritanical obsession with peoples' morality & sexuality are off-putting & seen as Exactly the kind of government interference they abhor. The left has to realize that government cannot, should not, attempt to solve every problem. That the perceived immorality of so much of their most extreme agenda, from unfettered abortion rights to gay marriage, coupled with their demonstrable weakness on national security issues leaves many people queazy.

30 states have now voted to ban gay nuptuals, or define marriage as being between one man & one woman. Whites split even in the voting, African Americans support for such measures is in the high 70's & Hispanic voters in the mid 60's.

Sen Obama, in his famed "Philadelphia Speech" concerning Jeremiah Wright, argued eloquently on the unfairness and inadequacies of quotas and racial set-asides. His words are the best testamony available against such sacred cows as Affirmative Action programs.

Again, I hope Sen Obama is afforded more respect & cooperation than was his predecessor. But his biggest battles may well be within his own party.

ANOTHER FROM LOVETRAIN

deadmandeadman — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 13:17:48 GMT

I posted a track recently by Dan Lilley & Lovetrain, it was fairly well received & son in honor of Dan joining the MOG community, I'm posting another. This one has a decidedly "country" flavor, which they do well, but they are most definitely not a country or even countryrock band. I'm uncomfortable pasting any kind of label but much like the Replacements, Lovetrain's roots, their collective appreciation of good times & good music, runs deep & runs all over the map.

So swing on over to Dan's meager page and encourage him to post. He's not a boastful fellow & he has quite a schedule. Like a few MOGgers here about he's a teacher when he's not a rock star.

COMMENTS? WE GOT NO STINKIN" COMMENTS! BOB DYLAN WATCHING THE RIVER FLOW.

deadmandeadman — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 23:35:38 GMT

"What's The Matter With Me? I don't have much to say...."

The people have spoken, returning an indictment against the second Bush term and have opted for promised change. Okay, we move forward now. The heated rhetoric has to be replaced by true dialog. We face some difficult challenges ahead & we're gonna have to work together to overcome some huge obstacles.

Bob Dylan, March 13 08. Once again the Master reimagines his work. This song has been a thunderous rocker, a country swing, a sad dirge, & various other incarnations over the years. I like this nice loping rhythm, but yeah, the fidelity is somewhat less than ideal.

ON THE EVE OF THE VOTING

deadmandeadman — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:37:04 GMT

Obama Undertakes Presidential Internship To Ease Concerns About His Lack Of Experience

Get out and vote. Its your right, and its your civic responsiblity.

Good luck

COME TOGETHER Jeff Healey (Live in Norway 2006) LIVE MUSIC IS BETTER!

deadmandeadman — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:17:01 GMT

I have time for one more post before the last Football Game today (sniff, sniff). Jeff Healey Burn's the Beatles' Come Together to the ground.

The Photo is from one of the summer parties. I'm not in the picture.

EACH TIME WE SAY GOODBYE I"M SAD. GONNA MISS YOU, LITTLE BUDDY

deadmandeadman — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 14:50:22 GMT

From Bloom County To Outland to your own starring roll, what a long strange trip its been.

Mississippi Fred McDowell was the real deal. He had the rich soil of the delta beneath his fingernails & the haunts of the deep south in his soul. A guitar in his hands became a ghostly haunted banshee,a moaning spirit of defiance. Many a "rock star" would mine old MFD for licks n riffs to wow new generations of blues aficionados. But show & flash were pale imitations compared to the unearthly panic, the tension, the hell-hound in the voice of Mississippi Fred McDowell's guitar.

FILL YOUR HEAD WITH HAIR! THE COWSILLS AGAIN

deadmandeadman — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 13:44:55 GMT

I posted a bit by The Cowsills earlier. So to officially kick off my favorite MOG theme; Sunday covers with the Cowsills starting us off with a song from the broadway musical of the same name

Saturday Night Blues, Sunday Morning Redemption, & Sunday Under Covers, all in one shot. Not bad, huh?

deadmandeadman — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:06:47 GMT

A song most often associated with Son House, John The Revalator is in fact as old as the mississippi mud. Accounts of "field hands" (slaves) singing versions of this predate the civil war by 5o yrs. Blind Willie Johnson, unlike so many of the early blues great never left the sanctified music of the church. With his gruff world weary voice his gospel music was gritty, earthy & real.

For dermahrk who loves great Pop Music.

deadmandeadman — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 17:57:14 GMT

The Cowsills rose to prominence on the strength of their glorious harmonies, and infectious poprock.

From wikiworld: The Cowsills were a singing group from Newport, Rhode Island specializing in what would later be defined as bubblegum pop. The band was formed in the spring of 1965 by four brothers — Barry, Bill, Bob, and John Cowsill. After their initial success, the brothers were later joined by their siblings, Susan and Paul and their mother, Barbara. Bob's twin brother Richard, did not sing with the group, but he did serve as a road manager.

I think that mentioning them as sort of proto-bubblegum does the band a great disservice, and is far from accurate. They were a self-contained unit with great songwriters and real dynamic stage presence, their shows were indeed very good rock concerts. I would call them the perfect practioners of brightpop, a term I believe may have been coined by a MOGger but I forget who.

But the term fits so well a style of pop music best personified by The Cowsills

Another great song, I think this may have been their largest seller.

Yo La Tengo dig out their AUTUMN SWEATER

deadmandeadman — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 12:48:31 GMT

Its a very cool early Auntumn morning here. As I step out to get my morning newspapers you can listen to Yo La Tengo's "Autumn Sweater" . I post this for good friend & felow fan poebegone.

It is difficult to understand how such a long-lived band with the incredible catalog they have to fly under so many radar screens for so long. Ira Kaplan & Georgia Hubley et al have explored the sonic & psychological landscape of late twentieth & early twenty firsy century music. From blistering squalls of corrosive feedback to pastoral meditations on a droning note YLT have pushed the envelope to extremes and back, their fans following in rapt delight.

Say What? Vampire Husband

deadmandeadman — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 00:47:49 GMT

I suppose there are some who find the MOG and they're thrilled that such a site exists. A hub from whence to take off in all directions, exploring myriad and sundry sites, expanding in all directions. It is way cool & there are some fantabulous places to visit. But........

It was different a while back, it was a destination in itself. A destination peopled with a wild & wooly raucous crowd of crazy characters. A community of folks of infinitely varied backgrounds, tastes, opinions, & styles. Joined by a shared love of music, feeding off the exhilaration of turning a new friend on to an old favorite tune. A community of caring.

There are so many who have come n gone. I often wonder how many read but have not commented. I miss the one & only ROCKNROLLPIMP, he of the heated hyperbole & rocknroll blood in his veins. I miss gerekriss, her gentle awe, her love of life. Bartleby, deadmike, FastRMacR, (I'm in trouble now, bound to commit the sin of omission but I really must stop.) Hattie, , chucky, the delightful Madeline Burke, the friggin' list is long.

There was a time when a single post would instantaneously draw a dozen comments & keep on drawing comments all day. A time when posts by MOGgers only would generate at least a dozen "pages" a day. (dermahrk, look that up will you?). A time when a post by Satisfiedmind would inspire a post by mktackabery & that would fire up Lester Jonze

I know, I know, new folks join all the time, its true. Folks who are willing & trying to establish & nurture that feeling of community, but it gets awfully frustrating to post great tunes, heartfelt thoughts & opinions, or even cool vids & get minimal response. I understand that folks use The Mog as a jumping off point now, as I said, the sites we're linked to are myriad and fascinating (as well as self-aggrandizing(?), frustrating, boring, and dull)

But the MOG used to be a destination n itself.

YOU KNEW THIS WOULDN'T LAST. CRITICIZE MCCAIN OR PALIN AND IT GOES ON FOREVER. CRITICIZE OBAMA AND IT DISAPPEARS AS SOON AS ITS NOTICED

deadmandeadman — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 22:43:43 GMT

The werewolf prowls the land tonight, looking for foolish folks to frighten.

LIVE MUSIC IS BETTER. DYLAN, MYSTERY TRAIN

deadmandeadman — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:11:56 GMT

His Bobness just wanted to play a little rocknroll here, methinks, complete with careening screaming guitars. This song was being considered for his Saved Tour. It did make a few appearences here n' there but never really broke into the regular set.

ITS ALL ONE SONG, RIGHT NEIL?

deadmandeadman — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 22:38:44 GMT

This Will Be Our Year...by the Zombies

We've all read a lot about the "politicization" of the Justice Department in recent years, and that political pounding is having an ironic effect. The prosecutors who are supposed to guard against voter fraud don't seem very interested in running the political risk of doing their job. If voter fraud would ever be ripe for investigation, this would seem to be the year with the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (Acorn) having been caught filing thousands of bogus voter registrations in at least 14 states. Acorn's history of deceit and the national sweep of today's scandal demand a federal probe. Safeguarding the integrity of the vote is every bit as important as protecting access to the polls, yet Democrats want Justice to pay attention only to the latter. House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers recently sent two letters to Attorney General Michael Mukasey deploring a news leak that the FBI is investigating Acorn, and warning Justice to focus instead on "voter suppression." Barack Obama has also joined in this political intimidation, demanding in two letters that Mr. Mukasey appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Justice staff who he claims are engaged in "unlawful coordination" with John McCain's campaign to pursue "so-called 'election fraud.'" There is zero evidence that such coordination exists, but it is remarkable that a Presidential nominee would dismiss election fraud as a myth. The lawyers at the Civil Rights Division are already falling into line. Justice recently decided to reverse a policy in place since 2002 to send criminal attorneys and other federal employees to monitor polling places. The decision came two weeks after a September meeting to which the Civil Rights Division invited dozens of left-wing activist groups to discuss voter "access" to the polls. Justice has also failed to enter the fray in Ohio. As many as 200,000 new voter registrations in that state are suspect, yet Democratic Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner is refusing to follow the 2002 Help America Vote Act that requires her to verify these registrations. The Ohio Republican Party sued Mrs. Brunner, but the Supreme Court said the GOP lacked standing. Justice does have standing -- it is charged with upholding that law -- but has ignored the fight. The Justice excuse is that it isn't appropriate to file litigation so close to Election Day. Yet that hasn't stopped the Civil Rights Division this month from filing a lawsuit against Waller County, Texas, to correct alleged violations of the Voting Rights Act; a lawsuit against Vermont for failing to report accurately on overseas ballots; and an amicus brief in a case filed by a civil-rights group that is suing to stop the Georgia Secretary of State from complying with voter verification rules. Justice's election suits always seem to side with liberal priorities. It doesn't help Justice's credibility that attorneys charged with supervising voting issues are avowed Barack Obama supporters. According to Federal Election Commission data, James Walsh, an attorney in the Civil Rights Division, has donated at least $300 to Mr. Obama. His boss, Mark Kappelhoff, has given $2,250 -- nearly the maximum. John Russ, also in Civil Rights, gave at least $600 to Mr. Obama. A Justice Department spokeswoman declined to make these attorneys available to us, though she didn't deny that the contributions were made. She noted that the Hatch Act does not forbid federal employees from donating to candidates, and that Justice's internal "standards for recusal" on prosecutions depend on any "given situation." Apparently so. Vote fraud is real and can affect elections. In 2001, the Palm Beach Post reported that more than 5,600 people who voted in Florida in the 2000 Presidential election had names and data that perfectly matched a statewide list of suspected felons who were barred from voting. Florida was decided by about 500 votes. In 2003, the Indiana Supreme Court overturned the result of a mayor's race because of absentee ballot fraud -- a case that led to a stricter Indiana ID law recently upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. A 2005 Tennessee state Senate race was voided after evidence of voting by felons, nonresidents and the deceased. A Washington State Superior Court judge found that the state's 2004 gubernatorial race, which Democrat Christine Gregoire won by 133 votes, had included at least 1,678 illegal votes. Voter access does need to be protected, but Democrats are using that principle as a political weapon, suggesting that any serious look at fraud is intended to "disenfranchise" voters. This is a naked attempt to protect their friends at Acorn, who have been registering thousands of phony voters. Congress put the voter fraud statutes on the books, and Justice is obliged to enforce them.

MARLENE DIETRICH Where Have All The Flowers Gone

deadmandeadman — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 22:16:49 GMT

Help me decide here folks. Is this a world weary reading? Or is it some kind of contractual obligation thing?

GIVE A LSTEN AS JOE COCKER TAKES A CLASSIC SLO-BURN TORCH SONG OF INCREDIBLE SAD BEAUTY AND RENDERS IT AS UNINTELLIGABLE GOBBLE-DE-GOOK

deadmandeadman — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 20:30:29 GMT

OK, Well I guess the title of this post says it all. So we'll congratulate the Patriots on a hard fought victory over The Rams

BOTTLE OF WINE

deadmandeadman — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 19:56:56 GMT

Some of you may remember way back when The Fireballs had a minor hit with a frantic version of this song. (which I haven't heard in years ((hint, hint)). Tom Paxton's little hymn to the fruit of the vine benifits greatly from this more laid-back verson.

NICE DAY FOR A WHITE WEDDING WITH HERMAN'S HERMITS.

deadmandeadman — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 16:42:41 GMT

Yeah, so Herman's Hermits brings that delightful Pat Boone-ish feel to this song. You know, all the rough spots buffed away, passion in just the right modulated dollops.

I KNOW, THIS IS SO "LAST DECADE", BUT I CAN'T HELP IT

deadmandeadman — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 15:02:07 GMT

Yeah, I know, the novelty of Pop Bands covering Hip-Hop hits ran it's (mercifully short) course and died an ugly death. But I had to do this.

That's Alright

deadmandeadman — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 14:27:26 GMT

A fine cover of an outstanding Jimmy Rogers song. This was his first Chess release, around 1950(?) on his own, but he's been recording with Muddy Waters for a while by then.

Marie Spinosa & the rest of The Crowmatrix helped out on Levon Helms' 1998 release & Levon was so taken by her version of this classic that he insisted she record it for his album. Old friend Garth Hudson plays some sax here as well, while "Louie" Hurwitz does a fine Garth Hudson imitation with some eerie ethereal keyboard work.

IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE

deadmandeadman — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 12:46:58 GMT

One of the great performances in Rock & Roll history is Rick Danko's hearbreaking performance of It Makes No Difference at The Last Waltz. Although its not one of Robbie Robertson's best lyrics, Rick brings it alive and takes to it the mountaintop. The "cry" in his voice was never as poignant. But that version has been posted a few times here in the MOG so I've posted a version that was performed as a tribute at Wolf Performance Hall on September 8 2002 by Rick's ex-Band-mate (piano) and his wife Maud.

I hope you enjoy this

SAY WHAT NOW?

deadmandeadman — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 23:14:20 GMT

"I met a boy the other day he had barb-wire in his underpants."

There are some lyrics.....I don't know what to say.

From a dedicated web site:

Singer Nora Dean is one of reggae’s greatest mysteries. She recorded solo, as well as a member of The Ebony Sisters, The Soul Sisters and The Soulettes. She did backing vocals on recordings by Jimmy Cliff. Although she was not a prolific artist (especially by reggae standards), a number of her songs are very fondly remembered by fans of Jamaican music as true reggae classics. This is because Nora Dean brought something extra to her best songs, making them unusual and endlessly enjoyable. And yet, there is little biographical information about her anywhere. No interviews with her have ever been published. Photos seemed to be non-existent. Go through every reggae book, documentary, and liner note of the dozens of compilations her classic tracks appear on; you’ll learn that Nora Dean was born in 1952, and nothing more. Google until the search results are exhausted and, all you’ll learn is how many people share her name.

Here's hoping Baudolino can shed some more light.

SOMETIMES IT JUST DOESN'T PAY.

deadmandeadman — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 22:57:03 GMT

Believe it or not, This is good Saturday night music as well. David Bromberg's jaunty little tune starts with some delightful finger-picking and a nice little song that morphs halfway through into....a little dixieland.

C'm MOG, I know I'm gorgeous but What Is This Shit?

deadmandeadman — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 13:59:17 GMT

rom: liliandaudi

To: deadmandeadman

Date: Sat Oct 25 13:21:50 UTC 2008 Subject: My Dearest One!

My Dearest One! Greetings to you, I hope this mail will find you well & healthy and I hope we can established a relationship since we are meeting here for the first time, I have gone through a profile that speaks good of you and I was impressed when i saw your profile on (mog.com) and decide to communicate with you. It is my desire to know you, I like honesty, trust, love, caring,truth,& respect, I have all this qulities in me,kindly respond to me through my private mail box (deleted) so we can know ourself 's better. I hope to read from you if your are also interested. Thanks and hoping to hear from you soonest. your's friend. Miss Lilian.

Call me irrisistable! What is this shit?

A READING FROM THE BOOK OF BOB

deadmandeadman — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 13:49:32 GMT

The world first heard of The Mighty Quinn (Quinn The Eskimo) through Manfred Mann who had a hit in '69(?) with a pop arrangement of what is a brooding, nervous and tense Basement Tapes track. As Dylan Tracks go its certainly a minor work. Perhaps it is, as some have suggested, a near throw-away, a semi-gibberish word game tossed off as a series of inside jokes. But maybe not.

Who is this guy, Quinn? What does he do? The narrator drops us into a very busy industrious place, a place where Everydody seems to be engaged in great and grand endeavors, building big ships & boats (before the flood?), monuments and such. Others are jotting down notes. Are they engineers? Spies? Poets? But everybody's in dispair! Every girl & boy! (are they indeed fearful of a flood?) But (the narrator tells us) When Quinn The Eskimo gets here Everybody's gonna jump for joy. But are the people waiting for The Mighty Quinn? Or is he one they've been waiting for and they don't know it. Or is he just a tamborine man offering a little escape? Nothing is made clear, questions bloom like wildwood weed.

And then there's that chorus, the bark of a carnival huckster enticing, teasing, come all without, he beckons, step inside and see the Mighty Quinn!

I like to do just like the rest, the huckster tells us (but not his pigeons) I like my sugar sweet. But he's not as industrious, with cues & deadlines, so he and his crew are feeding pigeons out on a limb. But the narrator knows that when Quinn the Eskimo gets here all the pigeons gonna run to him.

Now the version I've posted here is the first version by Dylan that the world at large heard, but aficionados had enjoyed the original for years, the brooding, slow-burn angry version of it for years via such illicit (bootlegs) as The Great White Wonder or (the first) basement tapes. I shall post that one in comments if dermahrk does his part. Or maybe someone will beat me to it.

Now, is this really all that? Who knows? Happy Traum et al (don't ask) have a little fun with this ditty. Almost certainly a near gibberish throw-away. LOL

LOVE TRAIN

deadmandeadman — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:59:29 GMT

Love Train is based in Providence , R.I. and they play the club circuit in Ma. & Ct as well. A rootsy, rocky band driven along by the vision of Singer/songwriter Dan Lilley, this Love Train is propelled along by the propulsive rhythm section of John Amitrano on Bass & Phil Hicks on the skins. Polar opposites in demeanor they nonetheless have a telepathic sympatico that translates into that rare rhythm section that's as tight as a drumhead and as loose as a rubber band. The band is rounded out by Mike Sullivan on lead guitar. I like to compare Mike to George Harrison. He plays the sweetest slide in pop music, he's more than content to take his short solos (short, impeccably thought out & played solos), he's imaginative and in tune with the song's feel. He doesn't showboat, like Harrison he's a shy, retiring kind of fellow, content to remain in the background and add his beautiful little flourishes & fills. Dan handles the vocals, with John & Phil helping out from time to time. The track posted here, "Tomorrow Clock" features another figure in providence music, Juxo a multiinstrumentalist & walking encyclopedia of American music, he adds some tasty accordian & harmony vocals.

So.....opinions?

Joe Biden. You're joking, right? Thank You Doctor Marvello. Klaatu

deadmandeadman — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:27:23 GMT

If any conservative had said this.....my god they'd be drawn, quartered and shot.

Klaatu was underappreciated in their time. Purveyors of Bright Pop Music of the finest kind, they were in fect so eclectic, so varied in their approach, that their talents may well have worked against them. Much like The Turtles a decade before, Klaatu would often sound like totally different bands, not just from album to album, but song to song on the same album. They were always fun to listen to and any track sounds great in and of itself. But in toto, one is left with a disquieting feeling that we don't really know what the band really sounds like.

Barack Obama's choice of Joe Biden as his running mate prompted a small wave of warnings about Biden's propensity for gaffes. But no one imagined even in a worse-case scenario such a spectacular bomb as telling donors Sunday to "gird your loins" because a young president Obama will be tested by an international crisis just like young President John Kennedy was. Scary? You betcha! But somehow, not front-page news.

Again the media showed their incredible bias by giving scattered coverage of Biden's statements. There were a few exceptions. On MSNBC's "Morning Joe," co-host Mika Brzezinski flipped incredulously through the papers, expressing shock at the lack of coverage of Biden's remarks. Guest Dan Rather admitted that if Palin had said it, the media would be going nuts. So what gives? The stock answer is: "It's just Biden being Biden." We all know how smart he is about foreign policy, so it's not the same as when Sarah Palin says something that seems off. Yet, when Biden asserted incorrectly in the vice-presidential debate that the United States "drove Hezbollah out of Lebanon," nobody in the US media shrieked. (It was, however, covered with derision in the Middle East.)

Or when he confused his history by claiming FDR calmed the nation during the Depression by going on TV, the press didn't take it as evidence that he's clueless. And Biden is the foreign-policy gravitas on the Democratic ticket, so his comments are actually even more disconcerting. The outakes of his Sunday remarks don't begin to capture the magnitude of what he said. After warning the crowd that there would be some sort of international incident - Biden could think of four or five scenarios - he told the donors: "We're gonna need you to use your influence, your influence within the community, to stand with him. Because it's not gonna be apparent initially, it's not gonna be apparent that we're right." What does that mean? Obama's election would provoke an international incident because of his inexperience and even Obama's biggest supporters won't be reassured by his response? Then there were Biden's predictions on the economy: "I promise you, you all are gonna be sitting here a year from now going, 'Oh my God, why are they there in the polls? . . . Why is this thing so tough? . . . I'm asking you now, be prepared to stick with us. Remember the faith you had at this point, because you're going to have to reinforce us. "There are gonna be a lot of you who want to go, 'Whoa, wait a minute, yo, whoa, whoa, I don't know about that decision.' " Biden is teling us that, at a time when Americans need to feel confidence in their government, they will be going "Oh my God." Not a great message. Needless to say, if Sarah Palin said this about a McCain administration, the media world would be exploding. Whether you believe Biden is exaggerating, as he is known to do, or is providing real insight, the double standard in the media does even more damage to their lagging brand. Part of the problem is their "Obama love," but we're also seeing the media elite's belief - prejudice - that anyone with an R behind their name is dumb. So, if they say something dumb, they must be dumb. A Democrat, like Biden, can make wildly inaccurate or outrageous comments and they are ignored because the TV and press insiders feel they "know who he really is." On the stump recently, Sen. Biden declared he had "three words" for what the nation needs: "J-O-B-S." Lucky for him, his name isn't Dan Quayle, or that would have followed him for the rest of his career.

Biden also gave a long speech at the debate on vice president Dick Cheney's "dangerous" belief that "he's part of the legislative branch." The great constitutional scholar Biden cited Article I of the Constitution as proof that Cheney "works in the executive branch" and has "no authority relative to the Congress." Biden huffily added: "He should understand that. Everyone should understand that." Palin would have had to deny that Alaska is a state in the union in order to say something comparably stupid. Article II, not I, describes the executive branch. Someone tell Biden, who is supposed to be a lawyer. Apart from getting the Articles of the Constitution mixed up, what on earth does Biden mean when he says that the vice president "has no authority relative to Congress," apart from breaking ties? The Constitution makes him president of the senate every day of the week. I realize that Biden may not be able to count to two, but Article I says the vice president is president of one of the two houses of Congress -- the one Biden is in, for crying out loud -- which is what you might call "authority relative to Congress." Somebody please tell me that Biden wasn't picked for the Democrat ticket based on his knowledge of the Constitution.

LITTLE EVA COVERS DAVE DEE, DOZY, BEAKY, MICK & TICH

deadmandeadman — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:26:23 GMT

Little Eva was chosen to sing The Loco-motion because, according to some sources, Goffen & King couldn't settle on a "real" vocalist & they decided the demo they cut with their baby sitter (little Eva) was perfect. I don't know if the story is accurate, but I know little Evea was a one shot wonder. Released as a "comeback" single in 1966 Bend It failed to chart. Come to think of it, I'm not sure the original did either.

SUNDAY. KERMIT COVERS THE TALKING HEADS

deadmandeadman — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:01:21 GMT

SUNDAY UNDER COVERS WITH SHE & HIM

deadmandeadman — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 22:59:04 GMT

I've taken quite a bit of flack for liking She & Him, and those too polite to actually bust my chops do arch the ole eyebrows. I don't care, I think they have a good thing goin' and I hope they continue to grow and mature to their fullest potential, which is considerable.

What follows is posted for laughs only

The photo below captures a disturbing trend that is beginning to affect wildlife in the US .

Animals that were formerly self-sufficient are now showing signs of belonging to the Democratic Party... as they have apparently learned to just sit and wait for the government to step in and provide for their care and sustenance. This photo is of a Democrat black bear in Montana nicknamed 'Bearack Obama'!

Yes its Sunday

deadmandeadman — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 14:48:47 GMT

Johnny Winters Covers one of John Lennon's little digs at McCartney

The Miniature Tigers Deserve Your Attention

deadmandeadman — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 02:04:36 GMT

And now, for ten words of copy I shall tell you I know nothing of this band beyond what I post here. I was directed to this by a friend and I thought I'd share

For Our Canadian Friends. The Squirrels Cover Rod McKuen

deadmandeadman — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:27:39 GMT

This mushy bit of treacle is rendered almost palatable by the irreverent Squirrels.

Again, I've posted this before, but there are new folks payin' attention now. If you only know the Kingston Trio or Terry Jacks version, you must here this.

YES, ITS SUNDAY SOMEWHERE SO MELANIE CAN COVER DYLAN

deadmandeadman — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 00:12:40 GMT

I believe I have posted this song before. So shoot me. This cover of a relatievely minor entry in The Great One's songbook finds Melanie emoting all over the place, obscuring the simple honest lyric. Quite a lyric it is, too, as the narrator tries to convince the listener that all is well, contentment reigns. That must be what its all about... she sing,..but it doesn't feel right.

SUNDAY UNDER COVERS? So Soon? Yeah, why? A Dylan Cover From Susan Tedeschi

deadmandeadman — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 20:43:10 GMT

Susan Tedeschi has a voice you'll never forget. She has to be an old soul recylcled. She finds the essence of a lyric, the beating heart of the song and presents it with an honest, nuanced, interpretation. An accomplished guitarist as well, she is well schooled in folk/rock/ & blues, as is her husband Derk Trucks.

Her take on this Bob Dylan track has a warm sincere feel. She takes this simple prayer & brings it on home in fine style, says I.

Any opinions?

OH SOLDIER BLUE, CAN'T YOU SEE THAT THERE'S ANOTHER WAY TO LOVE HER

deadmandeadman — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:33:30 GMT

I have posted this song before, perhaps last Columbus Day. Whatever. This song touches us all, I think. That line..... Oh, soldier Blue, Soldier Blue, Can't you see that there's another way to love her?" Says so very much. The cavalry, the burned villages, the rapes, the desctruction, the tired sick souls of all involved.

SUNDAY UNDER COVERS WITH ELVIS COSTELLO & ALLEN TOUSSAINT (Live Music Is Better)

deadmandeadman — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:39:42 GMT

"I don't know a soul who's not been battered, I don't have a friend that feels at ease. I don't know a dream that's not been shattered & driven to it's knees

Ah, but its alright, its alright, 'cause we've lived so well so long."

Paul Simon really touched a nerve with this song. But Elvis Costello & Allen Toussaint bring it to the mountaintop, Elvis' gritty angst-filled vocal perfectly captures the beaten down spirit of the lyric while Mr Toussaint's piano & tortured harmony just slams it home with a haunting, beautiful, sad air.

Smiling Faces

deadmandeadman — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 14:52:14 GMT

Joan Osborne's version of The Undisputed Truth's great tune. Some exquisite guitar work here, and keyboards too.

SUNDAY UNDER COVERS (Let's All Celebrate Bein' One Of Ziplok's Trusted MOG, Shall we?)

deadmandeadman — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 12:47:57 GMT

I think we're all justifiably proud of bein' chosen as one of only 1045 MOGgers that Ziplok trusts. What a thrill.

But on to the music. Maybe you remember the Concretes, maybe not. Their following in America never rises much above cult status. Their music can be light an' airy or thick an' challenging, but the appeal, for me at least, was the voice of Victoria Bergsman so when she left the group to form Taken By Trees, I followed.

From a 2008 single then, Taken By Trees covers Guns N Roses

Little Baby Bobby Dylan in 1962. Blowin' In The Wind, Live

deadmandeadman — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:02:33 GMT

This is believed to be Bob's first unveiling of Blowin' In The Wind. One can detect from the ambience of the track that its a small club with a sparse audience. With all the"official" bootlegs he's been releasing of late its a wonder this hasn't been yet.

THE DIAMOND SEA. SONIC YOUTH'S MASTERPIECE

deadmandeadman — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 11:52:46 GMT

I wasn't sure if this would upload or not, I'm glad it did. Sonic Youth's The Diamond Sea is truly a masterpiece. Melodic & melancholy, The Diamond Sea is a meditation on the imperfections of relationships & the timeless delusional angst as we stare at the face in the mirror and wonder where time went. And the music is absolutely gorgeous as it carries us through the good times & bad.

There's so much more to say about this but sadly, I'm pressed for time.

So enjoy.

HERE YOU GO INRUMFORD. (only 'cause I still can't post a track in comments) BACK TO CHURCH

deadmandeadman — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 01:31:51 GMT

I find their lo-fi spacey sound appealing, sort of "you are there" immediacy through a thick blue haze. Does that make sense at all? But its an organic sound, it doesn't sound like its been overly fussed with.

CHURCH on Friday Night. (sorry, very low rating on the Funk-O-Meter

deadmandeadman — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:27:49 GMT

Church is an Australian Band that a good MOGger has turned me on to. Seven tracks on a cd has left me wanting more. (hint, hint)

Check 'em out.

Times Are Tough, Give Me A Nickle's Worth Of Liver

deadmandeadman — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 22:27:52 GMT

From an offical site:

The wife of record producer Jesse Johnson, Edith North Johnson was not a professional singer or piano player, but she tracked 18 great blues sides in 1928 and 1929, including a session with Charley Patton in Grafton, WI, for Paramount Records, although it is doubtful Patton actually appeared on any of her songs. She made her home in St. Louis, where she ran a fleet of taxis during World War II and owned a popular diner. Sam Charters recorded her with Henry Brown in 1961 for his anthology called The Blues in St. Louis for Folkways Records. Johnson also recorded under the pseudonyms Hattie North and Maybelle Allen. Born January 2, 1903, in St. Louis, she died there on February 28, 1988.

Buried in here somewhere is a point, (I hope) Bob Dylan's Tell Tale Sign

deadmandeadman — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:15:30 GMT

One way of verbally masking elite preemption of other people's decisions is to use the word 'ask'--as in 'We are just asking everyone to pay their fair share.' But of course governments do not ask, they tell. The Internal Revenue Service does not 'ask' for contributions. It takes." -

But that's just one view, right?

Though its nice to have these bootlegger's delights in one place, I do not find it as satisfying as his previous two cds of all new material.

Love And Theft is a tour de force, it's scorched ozone live immediacy hits the solar plexus. Bob and his band toss off a variety styles & genres without flinching. Not a hint of the dilettante, this music is as authentic as the sawdust on the floor, as thick as the smoke in the air. And the man's lyrics are stunning blends of serious whimsey & whimsical dread, couched in the timeless delivery of the bemused, terrified yet courtly gentleman.

Modern Times is a different kind of modern, the kind that never really goes into or out of style, its just always there. The music of a million garage bands across the world. But this is Bob Dylan we're talkin' about so of course nothing is quite as it seems as he's couching some very topical lyrical concerns in settings generally seen as archaic. It may not stand as tall as Love & Theft, but thats asking alot.

But if there's one thing this new CD does is illustrate how well Dylan uses his voice. The death gargle of Mississippi on the original release is replaced by smoother, less phlegmatic deliveries. His Blood On The Tracks voice makes an appearence on one version of Ain't Talkin'. There's still a version of Mississippi with Emmy Lou Harris that remains unreleased. (I guess thats like saying water is wet)

I Do very much like the live High Water(For Charlie Patton). The thunder rock treatment is exciting even if the comedic nuance gets blunted.

I STILL HAVEN'T FOUND WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR. Say What?

deadmandeadman — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 22:12:15 GMT

Oh say, did you hear? I'm not sure if this is Negativeland or not, its on an unlabeled cd sent by a fan(?). LOL.

An interesting question was asked of our presidential candidates.

Is healthcare a right? A privilege? A responsibility?

Any thoughts?

TWO YEARS!

deadmandeadman — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:38:23 GMT

Two years, Oh My. This MOG rules.

Seasons change as does everything. I'm not sure this track by The Kinks has ever made it to CD. I didn't spend too much time looking it up. My kinks collection is rather thin at about 5 or 6 cds & a dozen or so albums. Also a few singles. This is one of them. I've long liked this song and it seems apt.

Some Songs Cannot Be Covered

deadmandeadman — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:40:50 GMT

Each of us, I'm sure, has a list of songs that we feel just cannot be surpassed as far as performance is concerned. I know, by nature such lists are very subjective but come on, after Ray Charles' America The Beautiful, why would anyone bother to record another? I feel the same way about a dozen or two songs. Don't bother. I don't think anyone should bother with Mystery Train, after The Band's version.

Well this song, By The Band, is not one thats often covered, nor should it be. This song, in it's original form, simply cannot be improved upon. With only the most oblique, almost invisible hints, Robbie Robertson's lyric and The Bands performance drops you into the middle of Middle America, circa early twentieth century. A time of financial upheaval/anxiety as the poor farmer tried to hang on in the face of trials of "jobian" proportions. Richard Manuel's nervous worried delivery so perfectly captures the low-grade madness of constant fear & uncertainty. Rick Danko's etheral soothing harmony, almost subliminal in an already strangely subdued "chorus" has rarely been used to such fine effect, as his bass with Levon Helm's drum keep a jumpy fretful rhythm. And the wonderful Garth Hudson highlighting the procedings with church-like tones on his Wurlitzer. And then Robbie's guitar solo, a breathtaking lesson in economics. Dry frozen brittle notes scattered like hoar on fragile crops gradually coalesce into frenzied, panic'd clusters, a wild thin mercury sound indeed.

I know I have posted about this song before, and I may have repeated myself a bit but I do not care. This song can never be improved upon, IMHO.

So its your turn now. Post a song you think cannot be improved upon. Tell us why.

SUNDAY UNDER COVERS

deadmandeadman — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 12:56:33 GMT

I don't know much about Third Wave, this is all I've ever heard by them. But as I've said elsewhere (& elsewhen(?)) I'm drawn to Beatle covers (and covers in general) like a drunk to whiskey. 99% of the time I'm disappointed. This is no different.

The big test will be you folks. Thumbs up? Down?

Here's Something For Dermahrk To Slam

deadmandeadman — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:19:59 GMT

Ponytail flies under a lot of people's radars. They were certainly not showing up on mine until I read this. Needless to say I've become addicted. And a lot of their music is available as free downloads.

Wifey doesn't like this too much either.

Zydeco Roots Rock N Roll

deadmandeadman — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 22:29:31 GMT

So for now we leave the fevered dreamscapes of Sonic Youth for the down-home swamps of the American south. (full disclosure; The wife's home now and she doesn't mind the music I blast thru the house on a Saturday, as long as its not Sonic Youth.) (I suspect she's not a fan). But she likes Zydeco and she likes rootsrock so...Boozoo Chavis to the rescue. A pioneer of fusion, he incorporated elements of folk, blues, jazz, & any other music he heard, into a frothy brew of dancable, delectable Americana. Certainly an influence on Doug Kershaw & others, his modest catalog deserves more recognition.

LIVE YOUTH IS BETTER, (the sequel)

deadmandeadman — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 17:29:22 GMT

We jump ahead here to 1993. Their sound, while more nuanced, has lost none of it's edge. In fact it may be sharper now, more spiked & wild within frameworks that are growing closer (by millimeters) to a "mainstream" rock orientation.

LIVE YOUTH IS BETTER.

deadmandeadman — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 15:53:54 GMT

This performance, from 1987, finds Sonic Youth in extraordinary form. The sound quality is a bit rough, but this is scorched earth anti-rock. Yet for all it's ragged edges there's a cetain pastoral element to the musique concrete interludes, an odd serenity at the eye of the hurricane they create. Sonic Youth live can be an exhilerating trip.

AN ANGULAR< ENIGMATIC SOUND. THURSTON MOORE ON A SATURDAY MORNING

deadmandeadman — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 14:50:49 GMT

Thurston Moore on a Saturday morning, just what the good doctor ordered.

One of Sonic Youth's mainsprings, Moore, along with wife Kim Gordon, and bandmates Lee Renaldo, & (since 1986) Steve Shelley has taken his vision of (anti)rock music to bold heights & blistered noise treks through avante America.

On his own he can be more........Melodic? No, thats not it.....his approach is slightly more convent.....no, thats not it.

What is it?

JUST A SONG BEFORE I GO (To Work)

deadmandeadman — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:55:07 GMT

A series of dream posts. Ok but I'm going to work and I can't read them all yet.

But The Magnetic Fields are way Too Drunk For Dreaming.

LIVE MUSIC IS BETTER. Rick Danko, Eric Clapton, Robbie Robertson, Billy Preston, Garth Hudson

deadmandeadman — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 22:54:48 GMT

Sometimes the best music happens off-the-cuff. A jam at a party, or during a break in recording. Spontaneous, improvised, & maybe a bit more daring. Anyway, this track was recorded at a birthday party for Eric Clapton. The sound isn't bad, but you must be patient as it takes a while to get going. Present and feeling no pain at all were Billy Preston, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, Ron Wood, Van Morrison, Robbie Robertson, Jesse Ed Davis, and later in the early morning, Bob Dylan. The decision had been made to record everything that happened that night. To me its facinating to hear these kinds of sessions, hearing each musician find his place, try his ideas. Its like walkin' a tightrope over a friendly pool.

R.I.P. PAUL NEWMAN

deadmandeadman — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:29:07 GMT

Gone, but not to be forgotten. A gentleman, old school hip. Thanks Mr Newman.

Rest In Peace

THE INFURATING POLITICS OF RACE BAITING.

deadmandeadman — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 01:21:04 GMT

This campaign was supposed to be something new, above the slime. Yeah, we all know how that went, huh? Sen Obama has interjected Race into this campaign in the most cynical way possible & his sycophants in the press have gladly played along.....The good Sen. told us we would hear innocent sounding phrases & words that are really code words used to disguise the ugliness & ignorence of the past. He was right, too. "You can put lipstick on a pig.....".

But the essay below is an insidious, devisive, bigoted rant that will surely anger any thinking voter. The absolutely racist conclusions he draws will draw not a whisper of protest from "responsible" journalists or commentators.

So read Jerry Landay's essay & keep in mind he's a former CBS correspondent.

THERE’S AN INVISIBLE elephant in this election hiding in full view. A mere handful of observers has noted its existence. But the elephant could determine the outcome of the presidential election. If Barack Obama cannot overcome what some observers call the Bradley Effect, he will lose to John McCain. It is the racial issue — anti-black prejudice, conscious and unconscious, on which much of our history has turned since colonial times. A Washington editor told me that "voters regularly tell our reporters that while they’re prepared to vote for a black man, their neighbor or brother-in-law or friend isn’t." Two respected sources have dared to give prominence to the racial issue — National Public Radio and the New York Review of Books. In the September issue, political scientist Andrew Hacker has a noteworthy article called "The Price of Being Black." He cites these potential determinants of the election outcome: Race determined the primary outcome in three industrial swing states. Hillary Clinton, a white, won by large margins in the Democratic primaries of Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. Barack Obama, half-black, but self-identified as an African-American, lost. Some 15 to 20 percent of voters confessed to post-election pollsters that race was a "factor" in their decision. Obama must win these states. Biased voters are reluctant to tell pollsters the truth. Hacker writes that the racial factor could have been even larger in those three states, but some voters don’t tell pollsters the truth. That’s where the Bradley effect comes in. Hacker cites Tom Bradley, the former black mayor of Los Angeles, who lost to a white opponent in his 1982 campaign for governor of California. Every pre-election poll showed Bradley leading. He actually lost by 7 percentage points. Hacker concludes that every Obama campaign office should post a large sign for staffers: Always subtract 7 percentage points. Many racially biased voters cover up their motivation. On Sept. 11, NPR aired a digest of a three-hour group interview with 13 voters in York, Pa. Seven voters were white, and six were people of color — three African-Americans and three Hispanics. The underlying question: "Is America ready for a black president?" Consciously or subconsciously, would their votes carry a "racial fingerprint"? Reluctant to talk at first, the interview subjects finally opened up. A York law-enforcement officer declared that America was ready for a black president. But . . . "I just don’t think Obama’s the right one." He declared that Palin "has more experience than he does. No one has ever told me what a community organizer is." In fact, in speeches and two books, Obama has repeatedly described his efforts to help the people who live in southside Chicago. "Community organizer" in this context has been made a code word for "black." A white woman assured her interviewers that she had no racial prejudice as a child. Minutes later, she asked: "Years ago, was he [Obama] taken into the Muslim faith? And my concern is, the only way you are no longer a Muslim is if you are dead, killed." When told that Obama declares that he has never been a Muslim, she replied, "No, there’s something about him I just don’t trust." Her argument, like the policeman’s, was visceral. At the end, the box score on voter intentions was a "majority" for McCain among the whites; all six non-whites favor Obama. A black high-school drama teacher seemed to anticipate an Obama defeat: "You tell all the world that we have the greatest opportunities. You tell them we can start by shining shoes . . . but you say, you can’t live in the big white house." There are major efforts in key states to limit the non-white vote. In a 6-to-3 decision, Justice John Paul Stevens joined the conservative bloc at the Supreme Court to uphold an Indiana law requiring voters to show official state-issued IDs with photo. Several other states have similar requirements. A potentially decisive 15 percent of Indiana voters have no drivers’ licenses. That includes a sizable number of blacks. A federal appeals court let stand a Florida law that purges convicted felons from voting rolls for life. Sizable numbers of blacks who share the same names as the felons are often blocked from voting. Racial fear abides deeply in those I call Civic Sleepwalkers, "bitter" blue-collar workers among them, so-called Reagan Democrats disillusioned by joblessness, low pay and long hours. They do not read very much, absorbing the anti-Obama views of evangelical preachers and Rupert Murdoch’s Fox channel. A poor self-image in many is made to feel worse by the mere idea of a black man in the White House. These are offset by a record Democratic registration of newly minted voters — African-Americans, Hispanics and the young. In past elections, some of these haven’t shown up to vote. Late polls suggest there’s been a voter surge toward Obama in response to the financial crisis. The outcome will rest on his mustering a turnout at the polls among young voters, Hispanics and African-Americans to overcome the hidden racial vote he is not going to get.

L'Angelo Liked A Low Profile

deadmandeadman — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 23:54:28 GMT

IF you read this then you already know of the legendary session guitarist known as L'Angelo Mysterioso. A musician of remarkable talent & great humility, he helped the fledgling Derek & The Dominoes record their first single, "Tell The Truth/Roll It Over. Tell The Truth was later rerecorded for the Layla album, but the original can be found on The History Of Eric Clapton. I'm not sure if the original "Roll It Over" has ever been officially released subsequently.

So have a listen. a footnote: L'Angelo was uncredited at the time.

AGAIN, NOT A COVER, QUITE, BUT ITS CLOSE.

deadmandeadman — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 21:54:29 GMT

I don't know, just listen. If the song's title is vaguely familiar, you should listen.

NOT A COVER, BUT A LOST TREASURE.

deadmandeadman — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 21:42:58 GMT

Elyse (the album) was released in 1968 and sold close to twenty copies. I jest of course, but the album quickly faded into obscurity. A pity too, as this is just one of the gorgeous tracks on the cd (Orange Twin Records). Listening now, it sounds much less dated than so much of what came out that year. Thats Neil Young helping her out there on guitar.

A song of surprising depth & understanding, Houses explores the futility involved in trying to change places & inhabiting the soul of another.

So, thumbs up? Thumbs done? Sideways? (WTF?)

SUNDAY UNDER THE COVERS

deadmandeadman — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 10:51:50 GMT

I developed a crush on this voice many years ago. Francoise Hardy has a way with a song that just melts my heart.

From www.frankenstein.com;

"Françoise Hardy has been called the melancholly, timid chanteuse. Her songs sentimental, sad and at times sophisticated. Ophelia without the delirium."

Work To Do

deadmandeadman — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 17:50:23 GMT

.....This "new" MOG has caused a lot or reassessment. Posts are not being commented on as much, and quite a lot of posts seem to be advertisements in drag. Lurking has become the vogue, as many of you have indicated, and commenting has become...........

But one can still instigate a good discussion sometimes.