Music and Memory

Personal reflections based on the inspiration of songs. The "Fab Foundations" series (2020) is inspired by the music of the Beatles. "Master Blueprints" (2018) centered on Bob Dylan. "Under the Big Top" (2016) was on the Who. “Forever Young” (2014) was Neil Young centric. “Stepping Stones” (2012) focused on the Rolling Stones. The first 100 postings (the original "Gem Videos") emailed to friends and family and later added here are from 2008 and 2009; include songs from a variety of musicians.

Friday, July 17, 2009

GMVW # 80: "Another Type of Family Tree"

Gem Music Video of the Week # 80: Another Type of Family Tree

Song: End of the Line by The Travelling Wilburys

(Songwriters: The Travelling Wilurys)

July 17, 2009

For many years now, Nancy and I have enjoyed watching the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on TV. My interest actually goes back to 1986, when the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame was first concocted. Then, as now, musicians need to have made their first recording at least 25 years prior. The first batch of 10 inductees included: Elvis Presley, James Brown, Sam Cooke, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly and Little Richard. Over the next 3 years, the Hall would welcome in a number of other classic acts, including Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Dion, Roy Orbison, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Bo Diddley, Marvin Gaye, Simon & Garfunkel, The Supremes, the Kinks and the Who. The flood gaits have opened up since, and each year there are at least one or two inductees that keep my interest alive.

Preparing the write-up for this week’s Gem, I thought long and hard about what it is that I find so interesting about these induction ceremonies. After all, the performances are often unrehearsed and the songs can deteriorate into something unrecognizable, particularly the end-of-festivities jams. The acceptance speeches can be colorful, but they are rarely exceptional. The historical footage is on again/off again.

I guess it comes down to a ‘connecting-the-dots’ of sorts, something I picked up on in those first few years. I found it fascinating to see who it was that was doing the presenting of a particular musician, as most often that person was a passing-of-the-torch protégé of the musician/bands they were honoring. The Hall does this right: They usually find the perfect presenter, who more often than not gives an insightful and heartfelt speech, revealing just how much of an influence the musician had on them. A few memorable ones include: Lou Reed presenting Dion; Pete Townshend presenting The Rolling Stones; Billy Joel presenting Ray Charles; Bono presenting The Who; Springsteen presenting Dylan; and Tom Petty presenting George Harrison.

With the spirit of those presentations in mind, I hauled my family along to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio on the first full day of our 3-week cross-country road trip. I was not expecting to be blown away, though. Hall of Fames in general can be anti-climatic for me: Outfits and artifacts can only go so far in making a connection with my memories and emotions.

However, there were aspects to the Hall that made this side-trek worth it. There was a short film which made a convincing correlation between the advent of Rock music and the freeing of the heart, mind and soul. There were numerous letters Pete Townshend had written to Rolling Stone Magazine in the 70’s and 80’s. There were film clips of hi-lite moments at the induction ceremonies over the years. There was the ability to select and listen to music on head phones, including virtually any song from any inductee. The building it-self was spectacular: a seven-floor modern glass structure on the shores of Lake Erie.

I asked a few employees if there were anything written about the dot-connecting that the induction ceremonies unveils. Nothing doing as far as they knew, but one suggested I may have the idea for a book…..hmmmm.

As for this weeks Gem, I don’t know of any band that showcased influences and generational dot-connecting any better than The Travelling Wilburys. Four generations were represented in this band (Roy Orbison the 50’s; Bob Dylan and George Harrison the 60’s; Jeff Lynne the 70’s and Tom Petty the 80’s). The video for the Gem ‘End of the Line’ was put together after Roy Orbison passed away. The section of the song where he did vocals is represented in the video by an empty rocking chair….classily done.

Apologies for being a day late with this week’s Gem: My lap-top power chord burned out, and I was unable to type for a few days. I’m wrapping this up on Friday, July 17, while sitting on a log-cabin deck in the South Dakota Black Hills. Gotta go though….Peter is demanding I do a cannon ball in the pool.

- Pete

Gem Music Video ‘End of the Line’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GAjJXmTKdI

About the Video: Made for MTV-type video

Video Rating: 1 (although, I may have chosen another Wilburys tune if given more research time)

Best Feedback: Fred

Way to keep the train rollin'....even on vacation

Love the Wilbury's....

and: Madeline

Thanks Pete! Hugs to you, Nancy and the kids. I'm so glad you are having a great time!

Thursday, July 9, 2009

GMVW # 79: "Of One's Own Volition"

Gem Music Video of the Week # 79: Of One’s Own Volition

Song: No One to Run With by the Allman Brothers

(Songwriter: Dickey Betts)

July 9, 2009

To those who ended up with their high-school sweethearts, I say all the power to you. Same goes for those on the other end of the spectrum who have kept their independent bachelordom intact all these years. Most of us, however, fall somewhere in-between, finding ourselves back on the chain gang for a spell before connecting with a soul mate and settling down. And although I would not trade my lot-in-life for anything (if there is anything I was meant to be, it’s a Dad), there are times, I must confess, when those years of independence tug at the heart strings. Hard to believe, when factoring in the loneliness and boredom, but there were also moments that were truly transcendent, and these tend to cancel those others ones out, occasionally trumping them when the memories kick into high gear: Nostalgia can be powerful at times.

It’s difficult to explain to the folks who got it right the first time and hitched up early, but long stretches of independence can be addictive: Perhaps not a consistently healthy addiction, but an addiction nonetheless. Three-day music festival….where is my ticket? Ski Trip...where are my long johns? Multi-night wilderness hike...where are my binoculars? Road trip..... where are my maps? Europe….where’s my backpack? Overnight bachelor party.... where is my bottle opener? After doing this for years, with great friends, how could all that not be addictive?

Many musicians have written songs about their free-wheeling days. In fact, it seems to be a right-of-passage topic for country musicians. One rock song, in particular, stands out for me as getting the mood right: This week’s Gem, ‘No One to Run With’ by the Allman Brothers. The Allman Brothers are one of the greatest of jamming bands, and this song fits right into their repertoire. Since their early days, this band has been labeled a ‘Southern Rock’ band, but the adjective has never been needed as far as I’m concerned. Many ‘Southern Rock’ band’s strut that Dixie Confederate thing: They seem to want to make it a point that they are Southerners first, Rockers second. The Allman Brothers should never be labeled in that way. They rank among the best Rock bands, period.

When I got married, I recall telling a few friends, “This won’t change anything; we will still hook up frequently”. And, for the most part I believe I was telling the truth as both Nancy and I frequently got out both together and separately with our friends and families back in the Lake Street days. However, I never promised a thing when children entered the picture. The future was a bit more clouded. It was harder to look into that crystal ball. Lucky for me, I didn’t say anything reassuring to those same friends: I would have ultimately found I was lying (although I do better than most Dads!). As stated in the song though, I did leave some friends with “nobody to run with” (or at least one less option), and yet you could say I put myself in the same boat, a bit more voluntarily, however.

So, hears to the die-hard, rock-till-you drop days of going it solo, when the world’s problems were being solved over a few beers in the wee-hours at the edge of a river, campfire, or kitchen table. Visions are dancing in my head of Ottawa, Brussels, Allagash Maine, The Canadian Rockies, The Big Apple, Quebec, North Adams, Burlington Vermont, Boston, Portland, Jay Peak, Craftsbury, Montreal, Bancroft, Thousand Islands, The Adirondacks, Cape Cod, Nantucket, Chicago, New Orleans, and Franklin.

It’s all coming back. I gotta go before I do something crazy like drive across the country.

…. too late! Nancy and the kids are on board.

Nobody left to run with any more? Maybe not….. maybe not.

See you in August.

- Pete

Below the Gem are the lyrics to ‘Nobody to Run With’. Crank it up!

“No One to Run With” > Allman Brothers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1w3a8pyk2V0&feature=PlayList&p=43AB7D1C63F37127&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=65

Lyrics to ‘Nobody to Run With’

Everybody wants to know where Jimmy has gone

He left town, I doubt if he’s coming back home

Well Tony got a job, three kids and a lovely wife

Working at the commerce bank for the rest of his life