The Heavy Heavy - Go Down River (Live in Chicago)

Until (if?) I find my writing self again, I’ll post something from a newish band whose work I love. You may read more about them here. I delight in their sound which is reminiscent of older times, but also fresh and new. It is music that makes me feel uplifted and cheery. In the bio they make reference to some bands I love. "Peter Green - era Fleetwood Mac (my favorite period of that band), The Rolling Stones, British Invasion pop acts like The Hollies, and folk-blues Delaney and Bonnie." The last one is a group I was wild about, but they aren’t mentioned much anymore. I even bought Bonnie Bramlett’s album after Delaney died, and one by their daughter Bekka. And there were so many great British Invasion groups that I still listen to and get great joy from.

 

Jan Morris on being 90 years old

I am currently reading Jan Morris' book, In My Mind's Eye: A Thought Diary, published in 2018. It begins on Day 1, and continues through Day 188, in 2017 when she turned 91. I went searching for a video of her at this time in her life, and here it is.

White Mountains of New Hampshire

My blogging friend Dewena told me that there was a little movie on CBS about my home area and I found it on YouTube!

Frank Sinatra & Ella Fitzgerald - Moonlight In Vermont

This is a beautiful version of the song "Moonlight in Vermont". Here's something cool I learned on a jazz radio show. I was amazed to learn that each verse is a haiku. From the dictionary: a Japanese poem of seventeen syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five, traditionally evoking images of the natural world.

Both Sides Now, covered by Brandi and Evangeline Carlile

Just a little video to melt your heart!

Today's song - This Happy Madness - Stacey Kent

I've been hearing this lately on a jazz station I listen to, and thought I'd share it. Stacey Kent is one of my very favorites, and I have been buying her albums for years. In the early days of the blog, I offered a Stacey Kent week. Of course hardly anyone read my blog in those days, let alone commented!     

Today's video/Michael Franti & Spearhead - "Good Day For A Good Day" (Acoustic Video)

New Michael Franti & Spearhead!

On his 78th

Two months after my mother died, the new Rolling Stone Magazine must have had a piece on Mick Jagger turning 30. I don't recall the article, but I do remember saying to Tom, "as long as Mick Jagger is in the world, I'll never feel old." I even know the room I was in when I said it. I was 25. 

Well, today he is 78 and I am still five years younger than him, and really, I feel the same way. He is a wild man, with more energy than any ten men of 30 or 78! 

Instead of putting up a video of the Stones, I thought I'd share one of my favorite songs - a duet between the late, lamented Peter Tosh and Mick Jagger.

Grammy and Nana award winner! The Adults Are Talking - The Strokes LIVE NYE

This year I did something I hadn't done since I was a kid. I bought an album called The New Abnormal by The Strokes based on my love of one song, "The Adults Are Talking"! Every time it was on the radio, I stopped in my tracks, and thought that I just had to own it. Happily, I love every single song on the record. But this one, oh, is a perfect, perfect song to me. I love every note. The album has not left the turntable for weeks. When I heard it had won the Grammy award for Best Rock Album, I was so happy. The lyrics are a bit hard to understand, but honestly, I don't even care that much. It is that music and voice and instruments that I am wild about.

 

David Bowie – Life On Mars? (Official Video)

This evening I watched a live Instagram of Lukas Nelson, and one of the songs he sang was Bowie's "Life On Mars" in honor of the Mars landing. I was never a huge Bowie fan, but I still thought this was appropriate today. And here he is way back in 1973. Does not seem possible it was that long ago.

For Real - For Tom (Official Lyric Video)

A bunch of my favorite musicians doing this wonderful tribute to Tom Petty. I loved his work, and this is such a special song. More about the song, if you are interested:
https://www.spin.com/2019/12/willie-nelson-jakob-dylan-dhani-harrison-amos-lee-more-tom-petty-for-real-for-tom-cover/

I read a comment someone left somewhere: "Son Rock". Ain't that the truth! Willie's sons, Bob Dylan's son, George Harrison's son. Pure magic.

Today's song/video - Hands/Jewel

"Hands"

If I could tell the world just one thing
It would be that we're all OK
And not to worry 'cause worry is wasteful
And useless in times like these
I won't be made useless
I won't be idle with despair
I will gather myself around my faith
For light does the darkness most fear
My hands are small, I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken
Poverty stole your golden shoes
It didn't steal your laughter
And heartache came to visit me
But I knew it wasn't ever after
We'll fight, not out of spite
For someone must stand up for what's right
'Cause where there's a man who has no voice
There ours shall go singing
My hands are small I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
I am never broken
In the end only kindness matters
In the end only kindness matters
I will get down on my knees, and I will pray
I will get down on my knees, and I will pray
I will get down on my knees, and I will pray
My hands are small I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken
My hands are small I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken
We are never broken
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's mind
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's heart
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's eyes
We are God's hands
We are God's hands

Today's song and video - Purple Haze/The Jimi Hendrix Experience

When Hazel was a baby, I'd hold her and she would stare at the ceiling fan in her house while I sang her this song. When she was just a few months old, I showed her a picture of Jimi which amazingly fascinated her. She would stare and stare and begin wiggling her arms and legs. Hope he was smiling down at that sight!

When Margaret, her mother, was a little girl, she asked me once, in all seriousness, "Was Jimi Hendrix gay?" I asked her why she asked. "Because he says "scuse me while I kiss this guy." Years later I saw a book called 'Scuse Me While I Kiss This Guy: and Other Misheard Lyrics. 

This is the first song I heard today on our local community radio station which is being run from the founder's home and via zoom these days, keeping us all connected and content in our musical lives.

Today's song/video - Another Story by The Head and the Heart

One of the people I follow on Instagram is my Governor's wife. She has wonderful postings, and today she had this song. The Head and the Heart is one of my favorite bands.



"Another Story"

These are just flames
Burning in your fireplace
I hear your voice and it seems
As if it was all a dream
I wish it was all a dream

I see a world
A world turning in on itself
Are we just like
Hungry wolves howling in the night
I don't want no music tonight

Can we go on like it once was

Every time I hear another story
Oh the poor boy lost his head
Everybody feels a little crazy
But we go on living with it
Yeah they go on living with it

These are just flames
Burning in your fireplace
I hear your voice and it seems
As if it was all a dream
I wish it was all a dream

Can we go on like it once was
Can we go on like it once was

Every time I hear another story
Oh the poor boy lost his head
Everybody feels a little crazy
But we go on living with it
Yeah they go on living with it

I'll tell you one thing
We ain't gonna change much
The sun still rises
Even with the pain

I'll tell you one thing
We ain't gonna change love
The sun still rises
Even through the rain

Can we go on like it once was
Can we go on like it once was

Everybody feels a little crazy
Like it once was
Everybody feels a little crazy
Like it once was

Can we go on like it once was

Today'video -- Peace sung by Norah Jones

There's a place that I know
Where the sycamores grow
And daffodils have their fun
Where the cares of the day
Seem to slowly fade away
In the glow of the evening sun
Peace, when the day is done

If I go there real late;
Let my mind meditate
On everything to be done
If I search deep inside;
Let my conscience be my guide
Then the answers are sure to come
Don't have to worry none

When you find peace of mind
Leave your worries behind
Don't say that it can't be done
With a new point of view
Life's true meaning comes to you
And the freedom you seek is won
Peace is for everyone
Peace is for everyone
Peace is for everyone

Today's video - Nina Simone / Why? (The King of Love is Dead)

Written by her bassist, Gene Taylor, this is Nina Simone singing.

These words were written by the person who posted the video, Baye Kambul:

Recorded on April 7, 1968, live three days after the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. and performed at the Westbury Music Fair. Nina Simone dedicated her performance to King's memory. The song was written by her bass player, Gene Taylor. An edited version of this performance appears on Simone's album, Nuff Said (1968). I felt the unedited version captures the true emotional energy of the period surrounding Simone's performance.

It's (almost) midnight and the kitties are sleeping

Do you remember Letterman singing this song?



Well, we got our kitties today, and it was 11:30 when I took these pictures. That's Gemma on the couch, and Maisy on the floor. They have been wild as sin! Play, play, play and then fall down asleep. I had forgotten the utter joy of kittens. More, and better, pictures to come.

Today's video - Love Me/ Elvis

I know I've mentioned my mother here on the blog, and put up pictures, but I'm quite sure I've not told you this story. When I was 25, Tom and I sat in the waiting room while my mother was having her gall bladder out. The doctor came in and told us that they found pancreatic cancer, and she had 2-6 months to live. This was March 18, 1973, and she died exactly a month later. I really can't remember that month at all, only that it was awful. But there was one bright light, one hour or so when I was able to completely immerse myself in something else, and that was the televised version of Aloha From Hawaii. I took the phone off the hook, and Tom and I just watched. We are both huge Elvis fans, and watching him now I still feel there will never be anyone to top him.

On what would have been his 85th birthday, here is one of my favorites from the show.

Today's video - "The Clocks Are Going Back!" - Michael McIntyre

Today's video/Brittany Howard

Eight years ago, I put up a video of Alabama Shakes, whose lead singer was Brittany Howard. She has just gone out on her own, and oh man, is she ever good! Listen to what James Corden says to her at the end!