Before we begin – let me say that I am quite a happy fellow lately.
It’s just this rain.
These gray skies and wet sidewalks.
It just begs me to fall down the (aforementioned) rabbit hole of somber folk and blues.
And fall I do – gladly.
Blues run the game, Jackson C Frank
It doesn’t get much sadder than this man’s life. And this song is just so gorgeous.
"wherever you go, the blues are all the same."
Basically his school furnace blew up – covering his adolescent body in burns, he started playing the guitar, moved to new york, and was drawn into the folk coffee house scene of Greenwich village - then he came into money through an insurance settlement – and moved to London, released an album – which never caught on in the US – his money ran out so he had to go back to nyc and fell into a deep depression and was then cripple with stage fright.
Broke, he lived on the streets, eventually he grew very unhealthy and became a ward of the state.
A fan found him in a housing project in the Bronx and took him to woodstock, ny where he started to sing and write songs again. he died in 1999. i mean, the man has a right to sing the blues.
fountains of sorrow, joan baez
the title says it all. If this isn’t an evening-commute-ipod-on-repeat kinda song – I don’t know what is.
both sides, now – joni mitchell
My good friend rebecita brought this song into my life. And shortly after being introduced to it i listened to it whilst smokin grass – and my body almost shut down. i don't listen to joni stoned anymore. talk about a coming of age song.
court and spark – joni mitchell
my dear friend/collaborator jesica brought this album into my life. And I am ever so grateful.
that’s a nice trend – wonderful woman bringing the wonderful joni Mitchell into my life.
Ne Me Quitte Pa, jaques brel
literlally translated it means – do not leave me – but the English version of the song is called IF YOU GO AWAY. which works – but I think do not leave me is more tragic – it’s really desperate. – especially repeated at the end. my french pen pal, lo, sent this to me. he's filled my ipod with a lot of great music -- expect a paris-post soon...
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my knowledge of classic rock and musical tastes were heavily defined by my parents - my mom's peter, paul and mary and donovan albums (not to mention linda ronstadt and sinatra) - my dad always listening to jethro tull and the stones (and some patsy cline or hendrix) -our family taking a drive while listening to loggins and messina or gordon lightfoot. one artist they never listened to all that much was neil young, i am not sure why - they just didn't; or they did - but i don't remember it. as i've grown, and my tastes have matured into my own, i've folded all sorts of new genres and artists into the mix. for whatever reason, neil young never found it's way into my music library. then this cute guy, named sean, started playing him for me -- and i am really digging it.
one day, sean and i were on our way to the MoMA and we wandered down into the york street station to hop on the F. the platform was empty - save for one dude waiting for the train and a subway musician (an "official" one, with the MTA sign, etc.) sitting on the bench - singing harvest moon. he was really good - and the york station is so unique and the song is so beautiful - it was like a scene out of some less polished looking wes anderson movie. definitely a moment when i was very happy to be living in this city.
harvest moon, neil young
have i posted this song:
ticket to ride, the carpenters
i mean, really? just the saddest cover of this song ever, ever, EVER. if a sadder one exists - i shan't listen to it. my head might implode. "i think i'm gonna be sad, i think it's today." mateo, for better or worse, emailed it to me one day - and i really appreciate it.
and what somber rabbit hole would be complete without a little indigo girls?
ghost, indigo girls.
"And the mississippis mighty
But it starts in minnesota
At a place that you could walk across
With five steps down
And I guess thats how you started
Like a pinprick to my heart
But at this point you rush right through me
And I start to drown"
enough said.
and for good measure - here's the wonderful rosemary clooney:
blues in the night, rosemary clooney
i love music.
to prove i don't ONLY listen to sad music -- i'll post happy stuff tomorrow.
enjoy
g
*yes, it's tuesday. i was supposed to post this yesterday - but, you know, sometimes you just don't get around to it....
