Recently, one of my students told me he didn’t know who James Taylor was. Is. Well we can’t have that. So last night, I took a break from all the craziness, called up the 60+ JT tunes off my hard drive, and made him a “mixtape.” The hardest part was deciding which 20 or so to choose.

As I spent the better part of two hours listening and reliving countless memories, I was reminded of why I contend that he is one of the greatest storytellers of my generation — if not the greatest.

While his 1992 New Moon Shine project is my all-time favorite album of stories, there are a dozen songs that easily rank at the top of the “awesome” list. His lyrics know no convention; it’s impossible to pigeonhole him, which I think is fantastic.

From recalling a lost love…

Took a fall from a windy height;
I only knew how to hold on tight
And pray for love enough to last all night (Copperline, New Moon Shine)

To great personal loss…

Just yesterday morning, they let me know you were gone.
Suzanne, the plans they made put an end to you. (Fire and Rain, Sweet Baby James)

To taking quiet delight in a special love…

If I’m feeling down and blue, or troubled by some foolish game;
She always seems to make me change my mind (Something in the Way She Moves, James Taylor)

To clever wordplay…

Don’t be leavin’ me now;
Believe in me now (Only One, That’s Why I’m Here)

…it’s magic.

Having read much about him (most recently in this book), I believe he can tell great stories because he’s known profound joy, sorrow and internal struggle. He spent time in a psychiatric hospital on more than one occasion, did his share of living carelessly, and lost himself in drug addiction. Having come out alive on the other side, he has all the more reason to tell tales — and lucky for us, he’s an incredibly talented singer and guitar player as well.

So choose any one of his albums, or just go to Pandora or Spotify, and lose yourself for an hour or so.

Hmm, two nostalgic music posts in as many days. What does this mean, Yoda?

The Cowsills

Wow. First of all, the song is beautifully sung: in tune, with gorgeous harmonies and impressive style — especially since these were teenagers and their mom. I remember seeing them on some variety show when I was about nine years old, and wishing like heck I could be Susan (the youngest, who is my age). It looked like such amazing fun, fronting a band of older boys, and holding a tambourine. Here is an absolutely delightful video from the Johnny Cash Show in 1969. (“Monday, Monday” was lazily lip-synched, but fabulous nonetheless.) I wanted desperately to stand up there and dance and sing like Susan.

Their family story is both wonderful and tragic. They were the inspiration for what later became the Partridge family of TV fame. The Cowsills were approached first by producers to star in a sitcom about a musical family, but they wanted Shirley Jones to play the part of the mom instead of Barbara, the children’s real mother. Bud Cowsill, patriarch and also the group’s manager, balked, and refused to let the kids do it.

L-R: Bob, Barry, Paul, Richard, Susan and John Cowsill in 2004

But time marched on, and they ended up going their separate ways. A couple of them have died, as have the parents Bud and Barbara. Most notable was the death of Barry Cowsill, who drowned during Hurricane Katrina. The last words his family heard from him before he went missing were recorded on his sister’s answering machine as the storm bore down on New Orleans:

“I don’t know how to get out of town, except to wait for a bus,” he said. Then, “I’ve been so…lonely. I hope I get in touch with you.”

So very sad. Barry’s badly decomposed body washed up on a wharf four months later.

Apparently, Susan has kept performing through the years, and is quite active in the New Orleans Americana music scene.

Do any of you remember The Cowsills? Bet ya do.

So, help me add to the list here. What are the absolute worst pop songs you’ve ever heard? Here are the rules:

1. The songs on your list can be rotten for any reason (ugly melody, stupid lyrics, annoying singer, etc.)
2. Let’s not include songs that you originally liked, but were played to the point of you wanting to shoot yourself. Like, say, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” for instance. I liked it when it first aired, but after the millionth time…
3. Stick to hits. For instance, “Friday” by Rebecca Black is a really bad song, but it didn’t hit the Top 40 charts. It was more of a meme than a song, actually.

So here we go.  Ready, steady, list!

Worst Pop Hits of All Time
(In No Particular Order)

• Lady Lady Lay – Bob Dylan <–in the top five of my list of Most Overrated Artists Ever (but that’s another post)
• Burnin’ Love – Elvis Presley (“a hunk-a hunk-a”…really?)
• Little Willy – The Sweet
• Havin’ My Baby – Paul Anka
• Babe – Styx (please, please, PLEASE, fuh cripesake, transpose it down a minor third)
• Playground in My Mind – Clint Holmes (look it up, seriously)
• Dance Hall Days – Wang Chung
• Lean On Me – Club Nouveau (not because of the song, but because the singers and producer hadn’t a righteous clue what “that’s a quarter-step sharp” means)
• Safety Dance – Men Without Hats
• Sweet Child of Mine – Guns ‘N Roses
• Escape (The Pina Colada Song) – Rupert Holmes
• Seasons in the Sun – Terry Jacks
• I Would Do Anything For Love – Meatloaf (sorry, he’s just bad)
• Time Passages – Al Stewart
• Mmm, Mmm, Mmm, Mmm – Crash Test Dummies (yes, boys, you sound like James Hetfield, now go away)
• If I Could Turn Back Time – Cher
• Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep – Middle of the Road (I am not making this up)
• It’s a Heartache – Bonnie Tyler

Truthfully, I could list hundreds. But I don’t want to spoil anyone else’s fun. Gofrit!

I still giggled at the drama of Joe Feeney, the Irish tenor and my dad’s favorite part of each program. Irish tenors — how shall I describe them? They are characterized by schmaltzy, emotional performances, with vocal frills like controlled cries, pulls, exaggerated portamentos and soaring falsetto. Hugely nationalistic, you can always find a song or twelve about Ireland in their repertoire.

Anyway, I’d always laughed at Joe Feeney — until I grew up. Male singers should be so fortunate to have that kind of power and control in their pipes, especially above F4.

Here’s a vid of Joe on the Welk show singing “The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi.” If you don’t want to listen to the whole thing, start at 1:11 to get to the yummy part.

~

Maybe it’s the Irish in me, but I adore his sound. He died of emphysema a couple of years ago (although he never smoked), but kept singing throughout the decades. You can read his obit here.

Weird that I can’t find Joe doing “That’s an Irish Lullaby” anywhere. I guess we’ll have to settle for this. HA – loved that movie.

Happy Sumday! Spending some time with BFF Kay tonight, which will be fun.

I had a great time. I’m sure my fiend Brad — who put on an excellent event once again — won’t mind that I snagged his photo of the House Jacks — amazing vocal band. I judged 3 groups with Deke Sharon (I heart him), and did two tandem clinic sessions with Roo, one of their tenors. Great guys all.

The House Jacks in concert, 16 April 2010

~

Last night’s concert began with Tiffin University’s groups. It’s great to know that there is such fine jazz and pop singing going on in Ohio — especially at a college where there is no bonafide music major option in the catalog. Check out Up in the Air — they are awesome as well.

Now it’s the Indians game tomorrow — what a hoot! It’s been a crazy week. Someday, when I actually learn how to use FlipShare, I might upload a video of our national anthem performance, and maybe even of my student, Travis, throwing out the first pitch. How cool is that.

FO

The Russians. Always the Russians.

Russian singers from the 70s — awesome. Russian singers lip-synching a vocalise on Soviet television, complete with gorgeous set tricked out in week-old mustard-colored backdrop and tattered fence-like apparatus — incomparable.

Watch it twice. It’s Finkday, after all. Treat yourself.

I liked his voice a whole lot better than Barry White’s. In fact, BW kind of creeped me out. Not only did every song sound pretty much the same, but the constant, ubiquitous droning harmony (with himself) in thirds just grated on me like I don’t know what. No bueno. But back to Teddy.

He toured for several years in the 2000s, despite constant physical barriers he experienced as a result of a 1982 car accident that left him a paraplegic. His story is quite interesting. I had no idea about the trials — both figurative and actual — he endured while trying to physically and emotionally recover. Especially striking is the tactic his therapist used to cure him of his suicidal feelings. Have you ever heard of staging your own funeral? Whoa. I guess it worked:

“I had a sheet over my face,” [Pendergrass] said. “People were giving eulogies and talking about me as though I had gone. It helped me turn my life around. I didn’t want to be dead. I took away the option to die, and knew I had to live.”

Sad day. I liked his music. I also like how the animation on his website shows him walking. Cool.

Have a good day, fiends. My hatred component is on hiatus, temporarily. As Martha says, “That’s a good thing.”

FO

Live music at large parties has seen its share of troubles over the last 25 years or so, agreed BoomR?

I remember having to market my cover band extra-enthusiastically when the DJ idea started to catch on for wedding receptions in the early 1980s. In fact, a movement was started by the musicians’ union (American Federation of Musicians) to choose live music over DJs. I forget the slogan now. The same guy who was the secretary-treasurer in 1978 when I joined the AFM is still the secretary-treasurer today. Maybe I should ask him. I seriously do not know what the Mansfield local is going to do when Eddie retires.

Anyway, I was on Facebook and noticed that BoomR and BluVox are playing a gig tonight in Dallas, 8-1. Awesome. We need more live music.

I know that people want to hear the “original” versions of their songs, done by the original artists, and I  have seen DJs who can really spin a party. But there’s something about a hot band — loud, live, spontaneous, rockin — that can’t be matched.

But how about the best of both worlds? Mixing live with digital, this is one of my favorite musicians (and one of my favorite people in general) in the world: BoomR, with BluVox playing guitar. Take a listen…

Let’s Stay Together

~

*sigh* Love it. Anyway, back to New Years Eve and the holidays in general. Some silly memories:

• A guy who’d had a few tee many martoonis came up to the bandstand and told Tom, the sax player, “I wanna hear some jazz. How about playing some Kenny G?”, to which Tom immediately responded, “Well, which do you want?” HAaaa. One of my all-time fave comeback lines.
• Another guy who’d also had a few tee many martoonis danced/stumbled his way across the floor, right into an amp stack. The stack stood firm…the guy, not so much.
• BoomR, remember this one? We played a Christmas party thrown by the owner of a large local business (this “owner” is now a state senator), and two of his sons got into a drunken brawl about a half hour after the party started. We got paid full price for a 4-hour gig that we only played for 30 minutes.

Funny stuff, but booze really is stupid juice. Don’t get me started on that subject today….

Hey, today is the Thriller’s and my wedding anniversary. How about that? He gets the Longsuffering Perseverance of Job Award for the 13th year running.

Be careful out there tonight, fiends.

Those who know me as a choral director also know that I do not like to brag about my students’ musical achievement, prowess, what have you. In other words, I’m not too generous with the compliments.

Recently, I had a request from a former student to locate a recording of the choir from 2-3 years ago, so I found one. On a kick (because I *never* listen to my own ensembles’ recordings — I hate not being able to fix stuff), I put the disc into the Ranger’s CD player on the way home last night. I must say, I was not offended. The music was actually pretty good in places.

One particular song really impressed me stylistically, tonally — every way. So I thought that today I might let you have a listen, if you like. You don’t have to. Really. But you can if you want.

I’m particularly proud of these two juniors and two seniors from 2006 (one of them is RtB fiend Mathew, singing first tenor). I hope you enjoy this from O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Platinum – Man of Constant Sorrow

And because I can’t leave you without featuring Mr. Mathew on a sweet solo from when he was an 11th grader…

Platinum – Good Night, Sweetheart

I covets it. I wants the game. Complete with the Hofner bass and Ludwig drum kit.

And speaking of the Fabs (and being fab in general), RtB fiend Ross — my writer idol — did a new piece for AskMen.com on the top ten controversies surrounding the Beatles. Checking it out is mandatory; you won’t regret it.

“…coolest coven of all time.” Haha. Yep. Home run, Ross — loved it!

*sigh* I don’t want to work. I just want to bang on de drum all day. Have a goody, everybody.

Fink Rundgren

If you think there is no beauty in this world, or there is no Creator or force of good in the universe, or if your heart is broken, or if you harbor anger against a friend or family member — I got yer fix right here. Sorry, instrumentalists…you are fab and we love you (and I am one of you), but nothing translates the heart of the matter like the human singing voice, da?

Especially, the voice. “Nessun dorma” from Turandot by Puccini. For 3 minutes of your life, there will be beauty. Start off your weekend right. Er, correctly.

Link to video

Fink out (to the school house to do some singing with Tom Hanks today).

His influence on popular music is almost impossible to quantify. His contribution to the music video and studio effects genres is incalculable, as were his groundbreaking ideas about including choreography and backstory to videos and live performances.

He was the ultimate entertainer, but don’t forget “We Are the World.” How many charity events have taken place since then, pioneered (and often financed) by pop artists with a cause?

I still bawl watching that video (albeit for different reasons when I hear Springsteen’s unbearable bleating).

MJ was young: only a couple of months away from his 51st birthday. I guess it proves that when it’s your time, it’s your time. Doesn’t change the fact that his came way, way too soon, though.

Man….

FO

Image: Associated Press

Yes indeedy. On “nine-oh-nine” (of course), “The Beatles” for Rock Band will be released. Will I be the undisputed champeen of the world at it? Mm-hm.

Now I must buy it, or at least pre-order it. Then I need #1 Son to have another RB party in his garage this fall. I must seek him out this day.

The video screenshots look pretty good, and it goes without saying that the music is dynamite. The likenesses of the Fabs are hardly compelling, but that could just be me showing my ignorance of the difficulties in turning human features into computer generated images. But really…couldn’t they have just used tracing paper? Cripes.

Kidding.

Years ago, one of my students asked me, “What was so fantastic about the Beatles? Why do you think they were so important?” Heh. She stood there awhile.

OK, I’m off. I have a really nice Monday planned. I am going to school for the day — because I want to. Hoddy-a like that??

Fink out.

Go ahead. Name any R & B artist since 1970, and any rapper. They all have one thing in common. They have George Clinton to thank.

Spacey, loopy, crazy, confusing, but amazing George Clinton. You don’t need to understand him; one doesn’t question the Georgeness of a thing. You just nod and say, “Yep. That’s where the funk comes from.”

And what is “Georgeness?” Here is Clinton’s response when asked in a 2006 NPR interview to describe exactly what he does:

“Psychoalphadiscobetabioaqua- doloop — the art of dancin’ underwater and not gettin’ wet. That’d be my job…”

And there you go. That’s his job. Well, that, and living out the effects of an awful lot of weed over the years. Seriously though, he is the undisputed king of funk — the music that gave you your rap and hip-hop artists. George says you’re welcome.

He seems like he’d be a lot of fun (albeit completely perplexing) to talk to. I’ll bet his concerts are cool — maybe Lars can weigh in on that, since he’s been to one. Clinton has like 30+ people in his band; not even he knows them all. I’ll bet *you* could steal away on the bus, grab a trumpet, and just stand up there and pretend…and no one would know the difference. Heh. That would be the Georgeness.

My favorite Parliament/Funkadelics tune is “Flashlight” – here is 30 or so seconds of it. Clinton’s music is heavily sampled, and has been for decades by ____________ (fill in the blank with just about any rapper since 1990). I don’t know how many artists have sampled this, but now you know where it originated.

So thank George today. And me. You can thank me. I didn’t do anything, but you can thank me anyway.

FO

Photo credit: Nitin Vadukul