44

next to the Fourth, it's our national holiday; God help us.

Gustavo the magnificent

final movement of Mahler's first symphony, conducted here by the new music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel; the tempos are all over the place, but he really breathes life into it; most exciting conductor since my hero Lenny.

Andy's hour

there's no turning back, and defeat is not an option; in just over 12 hours, Andy Murray faces Roger Federer in the finals of the Australian Open; at this point, the last thing Fed needs is another grand slam title; show him who the real #1 is, Andy.

defending the groove

for fans of Weather Report, from 1973, a live version of the WR flag-waver "Boogie Woogie Waltz"; bassist Miroslav Vitous was still with the group here, and the drummer on this gig was Greg Errico, from Sly's band; notice how he doesn't push the tempo, which later versions of WR were prone to do; Zawinul believed Errico could hold down a 3/4 groove better than any drummer; if you can endure Dom Romao's percussion/gong intro, this is worth sticking around for.

under cover

wow, what a find; never knew the Boys covered this Mamas and Papas song; note the cameos from John and Michelle, also Roger McGuinn.

beautiful screamer

Supremes classic from the 60's, brilliantly covered by Vanilla Fudge, and here, in the 80's, by Kim Wilde; beat me with a drum machine, why don't you?; still, i dig this video; God was she cute.

remembering Susie

Susan Alexander Hawley 01/22/1955-02/24/1974

The Big Lie

for everyone who thinks Dylan never wrote a decent song after the 60's, or the first half of the 70's, all i have to say to you is, fetch this; from his 1997 album "Time Out of Mind", brilliantly produced by Daniel Lanois; has a groove you can drive a truck through; roll on, Bobby.

"I'm beginnin' to hear voices and there's no one around
I'm all used up and the fields have turned brown
I went to church on Sunday as she passed by
And my love for her has taken such a long time to die
Well, I'm waist deep, waist deep in the mist
It's almost like, almost like, I don't exist
I'm twenty miles out of town, Cold Irons bound.

Well, the walls of pride are high and wide
Can't see over to the other side
It's such a sad thing to see beauty decay
It's sadder still to feel your heart turn away
One look at you and I'm out of control
Like the universe has swallowed me whole
I'm twenty miles out of town and Cold Irons bound.

There's too many people, too many to recall
I thought some of 'em were friends of mine, I was wrong about 'em all
Well, the road is rocky and the hillside mud
Up over my head, nothing but clouds of blood
I found my world, found my world in you
But your love just hasn't proved true
I'm twenty miles out of town and Cold Irons bound
Twenty miles out of town, Cold Irons bound.

Well the winds in Chicago have torn me to shreds
Reality has always had too many heads
Some things last longer than you think they will
Some kind of things you can never kill
Though it's you, and you only, I'm singin' about
But you can't see in and it's hard looking out
I'm twenty miles out of town and Cold Irons bound.

Well, the fat's in the fire and the water's in the tank
Well, the whiskey's in the jar and the money's in the bank
I tried to love and protect you because I care
I'm gonna remember forever the joy we've shared
Looking at you and I'm on my bended knee
You've no idea what you did to me
I'm twenty miles out of town and Cold Irons bound
Twenty miles out of town and Cold Irons bound. "

remembering Dr. King

never let it die.

stormy weather

batten down the hatches, here it comes.

"If the rain comes they run and hide their heads.
They might as well be dead.
If the rain comes, if the rain comes.
When the sun shines they slip into the shade
(When the sun shines down.)
And drink their lemonade.
(When the sun shines down.)
When the sun shines, when the sun shines.
Rain, I don't mind.
Shine, the weather's fine.
I can show you that when it starts to rain,
(When the sun shines down.)
Everything's the same.
(When the sun shines down.)
I can show you, I can show you.
Rain, I don't mind.
Shine, the weather's fine.
Can you hear me, that when it rains and shines,
(When the sun shines down.)
It's just a state of mind?
(When the sun shines down.)
Can you hear me, can you hear me?
If the rain comes they run and hide their heads."