QUOTE OF THE NOW

"Our life evokes our character. You find out more about yourself as you go on. That's why it's good to be able to put yourself in situations that will evoke your higher nature rather than your lower. 'Lead us not into temptation.'" Joseph Campbell

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

1979 via 1991: Paul Simon Late in the Evening

Here's actually a later version of the song, cause it really benefits from his later "world music" sound.


Tuesday, May 10, 2016

1979 Marianne Faithful

This song feels so early 80s, we've definitely transitioned into the keyboard base of the new decade. But I got this song from Thelma and Louise, but the kids these days seem to have got it from American Horror Story.


Monday, May 9, 2016

1978: Blondie and the double backbeats

Here's one I had on my computer and never noticed. How amazing is this? I think it's my favorite Blondie song now. (Well, it's a cover, but you know what I mean.)


Sunday, May 8, 2016

1977: Meatloaf gives 'er

My mom had the Bat Out of Hell album when we wuz little. We loved it. Later I had it on tape, so I remember driving around in my put-put in the 90s, just loving and singing along to every track.

My political philosophy professor hugely admired authors who took a "give 'er" approach to their research and books. When I read Das Kapital I saw what he meant. I mean, Marx just keeps swinging that bat, the more melodramatic the better. Just throw everything you got at the reader.

That's Jim Steinman the writer...

Oh I know you belong inside my aching heart
And can't you see my faded Levis bursting apart
And don't you hear me crying:
"Oh Babe, don't go"
And don't you hear me screaming:
"How was I to know?"




...and Meatloaf the singer. Here he sings the song live, for the first time in decades, and tells the audience: I'll probably mess up, and you can either say "Screw you" or "God he gave it a good try." Love the attitude.


Saturday, May 7, 2016

1973: E.L.O. is just awesome

One of my dad's albums that my brother and I *discovered.* This is the ELO take on Grieg's In the Hall of the Mountain King. I love the crisp sound of those guitars combined with violin, and I love the drums--what a cool cover. Jeff Lynne created such a great sound with this band.



Live version:

Friday, May 6, 2016

1971: Aretha doing Bridge Over Troubled Water

This performance might be later, but the original she did was in '71. Great video--runny eyeliner and all.


Thursday, May 5, 2016

Must be the season of 2012!

Alright: 2012. I got it down to 886 songs.

Starting with Donovan. This song was being used in a movie trailer at the time, I think. Very cool sounding.


Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Ain't Nobody - by somebody



And that brings us to the end of 2011. A year, apparently, filled with 80s downloads.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Still one of my favorite videos

And probably why for a Halloween dance (grade 8?) I went drag in my grandfather's tux. Wish I had a photo. My bestie just wanted an excuse to dress slutty, so I called her my gangster moll.


Monday, May 2, 2016

Love me an 80s Robbie Robertson

“I was proud to rip open my chest and bare my soul,” Robertson said at the time. “I’m not embarrassed to talk about these things anymore. Do you know what a skin walker is? It’s a thing in Indian mythology. There are certain people born with this gift, and they’re able to actually get inside you and mess with your feelings and with your mind. And if a skin walker chooses to get a hold of you, there’s not much you can do. I want a song to get inside me, to feel it did the old skin walker on me. I was kind of discovering that on this album, and now I’m pursuing it.” (Robbie Robertson)

Ooh here's one of those ones I'd forgotten about and love! My brother had this record and it was the shit. Produced by Daniel Lanois.



Same album that brought us the indescribably beautiful "Broken Arrow."
I want to come when you call
I'll get to you if I have to crawl
They can't hold me with these iron walls



I even love the Rod Stewart version. Yes, yes the song is un-cheesable. Love the crescendo at 2:22. 


And of course "Somewhere Down the Crazy River" is sexy as all get out.


He put out this great song in 2011. Love it when an oldie manages to pull a rabbit out of their hat, one last time.


The 1994 compilation soundtrack also has some great songs:

"Jack Wilson claimed to have left the presence of God convinced that if every Indian in the West danced the new dance to "hasten the event", all evil in the world would be swept away, leaving a renewed Earth filled with food, love, and faith." (wiki) And then Wounded Knee happened. Meh.




Reading

Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love
Les années douces : Volume 1
Back on the Rez
My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey
Stupeur et tremblements
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