Tag: music
Arts Intersecting – Cultural Infidels
What I love about the arts is how they inspire each other, borrow from each other, and learn from each other. No art form is unadulterated, no artist completely faithful to her own art form. There are arts for each of our senses, and muses are shared.
This blog is about music. Music frequently tips its collective hat to the other arts and other artists. I thought that would make an interesting blog series.
One of the things that I believe the arts do in common is to serve as a challenge to complacency and status quo. Paintings like Picasso’s Guernica, books like Machiavelli’s The Prince, plays like Václav Havel’s The Memo and songs like One Tin Soldier all elevate the challenge of injustice to an art. They all do it.
So to start out an ongoing, but occasional series of blogs about musical homages and references to the other arts, beginning here with the song Cultural Infidel (lyrics here) by Jimmy Buffet because it ties into my point above point.
Cultural Infidel by Jimmy Buffett (lyrics here)
This song contains a hat-tip to Picasso, Manet, Hemingway, The Rolling Stones, George Bernard Shaw (St. Joan), and more.
And as an extra bonus:
Frenchman for the Night by Jimmy Buffett (lyrics here)
The song contains a reference to Monet.
There are many more examples of music referencing and paying tribute to other arts and artists. This won’t be the last blog about it.
Saving the best for last – the music we lost in 2016
2016 was a banner year for losses in music. Every genre lost a legend or two it seems. Country music lost Merle Haggard, funk lost Bernie Worrell, hip hop lost John Berry, Canada lost Leonard Cohen, jazz lost Mose Allison, the blues lost Ruby Wilson, and we all lost the great genre crossing artists Prince and David Bowie.
I’ve tried to round up some of the farewells below; it’s a long list. Omissions are not meant to offend, but do reflect my personal taste in music, and the paths I have both traveled and not yet discovered in music.
JANUARY

Kitty Kallen (May 25, 1921 – Jan 7, 2016)
Otis Clay (Feb 11, 1942 – Jan 8, 2016)
Red Simpson (March 6, 1934 – Jan 8, 2016)
David Bowie (Jan 8, 1947 – Jan 10, 2016)
- Rubber Band
- When I’m Five
- Modern Love
- Absolute Beginners
- Fashion
- Bring Me The Disco King
- It Ain’t Easy

Dale Griffin of Mott the Hoople (Oct 24, 1948 – Jan 17, 2016)
Glenn Frey of the Eagles (Nov 6, 1948 – Jan 18, 2016)
Black [Colin Vearnecombe] (May 26, 1962 – Jan 26, 2016)
Paul Kantner of Jefferson Airplane/Starship (March 17, 1941 – Jan 28, 2016)

Signe Toly Anderson of Jefferson Airplane (Sept 15, 1941 – Jan 28, 2016)
FEBRUARY
Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire (Dec 19, 1941 – Feb 4, 2016)
Joe Dowell (Jan 23, 1940 – Feb 4, 2016)
Dan Hicks of Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks (Dec 9, 1941 – Feb 6, 2016)

Roy Harris (June 15, 1933 – Feb 9, 2016)
L. C. Ulmer (Aug 28, 1928 – Feb 14, 2016)
Vanity (Jan 4, 1959 – Feb 15, 2016)
Sonny James (May 1, 1928 – Feb 22, 2016)
Lennie Baker of Danny and the Juniors (April 18, 1946 – Feb 24, 2016)
MARCH
Joey Feek (Sept 9, 1975 – March 4, 2016)
Karen Carroll (Jan 30, 1958 – March 9, 2016)
Ray Griff (April 22, 1940 – March 9, 2016)
Gogi Grant (Sept 20, 1924 – March 10, 2016)
Keith Emerson of Emerson Lake and Palmer (Nov 2, 1944 – March 11, 2016)

Frank Sinatra Jr (Jan 10, 1944 – March 16, 2016)
Lee Andrews of Lee Andrews and the Hearts (June 2, 1936 – March 16, 2016)
Steve Young (July 12, 1942 – March 17, 2016)
Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest (Nov 20, 1970 – March 22, 2016)
Patty Duke (Dec 14, 1946 – March 29, 2016)
APRIL

Merle Haggard (April 6, 1937 – April 6, 2016)
- Mama Tried
- The Bottle Let Me Down
- Always Wanting You
- It’s All In The Movies
- I think I’ll just stay here and drink
Prince (June 7, 1958 – April 21, 2016)
Lonnie Mack (July 18, 1941 – April 21, 2016)

Billy Paul (Dec 1, 1934 – April 24, 2016)
Papa Wemba (June 14, 1949 – April 24, 2016)
MAY
Julius La Rosa (Jan 2, 1930 – May 12, 2016)
Guy Clark (Nov 6, 1941 – May 17, 2016)

John Berry of the Beastie Boys (May 31, 1963 – May 19, 2016)
JUNE
Dave Swarbrick of Fairport Convention (April 5, 1941 – June 3, 2016)
Henry McCullough (July 21, 1943 – June 14, 2016)
Mike Hart of The Roadrunners (Dec 3, 1943 – June 22, 2016)

Shelley Moore (March 10, 1932 – June 23, 2016)
Bernie Worrell of Parliament-Funkadelic (April 19, 1944 – June 24, 2016)
Mike Pedicin (Oct 24, 1917 – June 26, 2016)
Mack Rice (Nov 10, 1933 – June 27, 2016)
JULY

Danny Smythe of The Box Tops (Aug 25, 1948 – July 6, 2016)
Bonnie Brown of the Browns (July 31, 1938 – July 16, 2016)
Fred Tomlinson (18 December 1927 – 17 July 2016)
- co-writer of The Lumberjack Song with Terry Jones and Michael Palin
Lewie Steinberg of Booker T. & the M.G.’s (Sept 13, 1933 – July 21, 2016)
Pat Upton of Spiral Staircase (Aug 5, 1940 – July 27, 2016)
AUGUST

Glenn Yarbrough (Jan 12, 1930 – Aug 11, 2016)
Matt Roberts of 3 doors down ( ? – Aug 20, 2016)
Toots Thielemans (April 29, 1922 – Aug 22, 2016)
- Playing Midnight Cowboy, live
SEPTEMBER
Prince Buster (May 24, 1938 – Sept 8, 2016)
Fred Hellerman of the Weavers (May 13, 1927 – Sept 1, 2016)

John D. Loudermilk Jr. (March 31, 1934 – September 21, 2016)
Jean Shepard (Nov 21, 1933 – Sept 25, 2016)
Oscar Brand (Feb 7, 1920 – Sept 30, 2016)
Clifford Curry (Nov 3, 1936 – Sept 7, 2016)
OCTOBER
Bobby Vee (April 30, 1943 – Oct 24, 2016)

Pete Burns of Dead or Alive (Aug 5, 1959 – Oct 23, 2016)
Rod Temperton of Heatwave (Oct 9, 1949 – Oct 5, 2016)
Joan Marie Johnson of The Dixie Cups (Jan 15, 1944 – Oct 5 2016)
Don Ciccone (Feb 28, 1946 – Oct 8, 2016) of The Critters, The Four Seasons and Tommy James and the Shondells.
NOVEMBER
Leon Russell (April 2, 1942 – Nov 13, 2016)

Leonard Cohen (Sept 21, 1934 – Nov 7, 2016)
Mose Allison (Nov 11, 1927 – Nov 15, 2016)
Sharon Jones of Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (May 4, 1956 – Nov 18, 2016)
Kay Starr (July 21, 1922 – Nov 3, 2016)
Eddie Harsch of the Black Crowes (May 27, 1957 – Nov 4, 2016)
Jimmy Young (Sept 21, 1921 – Nov 7, 2016)
Mentor Williams (June 11, 1946 – Nov 16, 2016)

Doug Edwards of Chilliwack (March 15, 1946 – Nov 11, 2016)
Holly Dunn (Aug 22, 1957 – Nov 14, 2016)
Ray Columbus of Ray Columbus & The Invaders (Nov 4, 1942 –Nov 28, 2016)
Bap Kennedy (June 17, 1962 – Nov 1, 2016)
DECEMBER
Greg Lake of King Crimson and Emerson Lake and Palmer (Nov 10, 1947 – Dec 7, 2016)
Bunny Walters (May 31, 1953 – Dec 14, 2016)
Barrelhouse Chuck (July 10, 1958 – Dec 12, 2016)
Jim Lowe (May 7, 1923 – Dec 12, 2016)
Valerie Gell of the Liverbirds (Aug 14, 1945 – Dec 11 2016)
Micky Fitz of The Business (1959 – Dec 2016)
George Michael (Jun 25, 1963 – Dec 25, 2016)
Musical Mentions:
George Martin (Jan 3, 1926 – March 8, 2016) called the ‘fifth Beatle’, record producer.
Rudy Van Gelder (Nov 2, 1924 – August 25, 2016) important jazz recording engineer involved with John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins, and Art Blakey.
Robert Stigwood (April 16, 1934 – Jan 4, 2016) managed Cream & Clapton and launched the Bee Gees.
Marni Nixon (Feb 22, 1930 – July 24, 2016) sang voices for actresses in The King and I, West Side Story and My Fair Lady.
Scotty Moore (December 27, 1931 – June 28, 2016) played guitar with Elvis.
Bob Krasnow (July 20, 1934 – December 11, 2016) founded Blue Thumb Records, was chairman of Elektra Records, and co-founded of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Robert Bateman (April 30, 1936 – Oct 12, 2016) co-wrote Please Mr. Postman and If You Need Me.
Curly Putman (Nov 20, 1930 – Oct 30, 2016) wrote Green, Green Grass of Home and He Stopped Loving her Today.
Sandy Pearlman (Aug 5, 1943 – July 26, 2016) involved with albums by Blue Öyster Cult, The Clash, The Dictators, Pavlov’s Dog, Space Team Electra, and Dream Syndicate; and was the founding Vice President of eMusic.com.
Richard D. Trentlage (Dec 27, 1928 – Sept 21, 2016) wrote the Oscar Meyer jingle.
Ruby Wilson (Feb 29, 1948 – Aug 12, 2016) The Queen of Beale Street
Russian Red Army choir – 92 people on board a plane that crashed into the Black Sea, including the choir members.
Allan Williams – credited with discovering the Beatles and their first manager.
Where have I heard that before..?
When I see a movie I come away with the story line and the dialogue stuck in my head. I am word focused. My son, on the other hand, comes away with the background music stuck in his head. It is because of him that I have developed an appreciation for music written for film, TV and other media.
As an autumnal musical treat, perhaps small consolation for the falling leaves and shorter days, I’ve pulled together some music by these modern media composers.
Hugo Mario Montenegro’s best known work is from Spaghetti Westerns. He composed the score for Charro! – and yes that’s Elvis singing.
Leroy Shield wrote the theme song for The Little Rascals.
Steve Jablonsky has composed for film, TV and video games.
Michael Giacchino has composed scores for film, TV and video games.
Howard Leslie Shore is a Canadian composer who composed film scores, notably for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.
Ennio Morricone is one of the most influential film composers of all time. He’s composed over 500 scores for film and TV.
Thomas Newman has scored a lot of Oscar nominated films. The Green Mile is one of them.
Sir Malcolm Arnold produced scores for about 80 films going way back.
Manos Hatzidakis received an Oscar for Best Original Song for Never on Sunday.
Neal Hefti composed the themes for TV and film, most famously for Batman.
Dustin J. O’Halloran composes scores for film and TV.
Hoyt Curtin was primary musical director for Hanna-Barbera and wrote the theme for The Flintstones.
Éric Serra is a French musician and composer. He has worked on films by Luc Besson.
Norrie Paramor was a composer of studio albums, theatrical productions and film scores.
Raymond Scott never actually wrote for cartoons but his music is familiar because it was adapted for Warner Bros., Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies.
Herbert P. Stothart was nominated for twelve Oscars, and won Best Original Score for The Wizard of Oz.
Hans Zimmer composed music for over 150 films, including The Lion King.
Milt Franklyn was a musical composer and arranger with Warner Bros. and Looney Tunes.
Michael Hennagin wrote television soundtracks.
John Powell is particularly known for scores for animated films.
James Bernard scored many classic horror films.
John Harle wrote the score for Prick Up Your Ears with co-writer Stanley Myers.
Richard Harvey is known for film and television soundtracks.
Randy Kerber is a composer and keyboard player for film.
Mike Post is best known for TV theme songs like The Rockford Files.
Marco Edward Beltrami is known for his work scoring horror films like Hellboy.
First dates and eulogies
My first date was with a boy named Derek. I was in grade 10, he was in grade 12. He took me to see the movie Purple Rain. During the movie he tried to put his arm around my shoulder and hit me in the cheek. I don’t think that was necessarily an omen but we didn’t last. Spooky.
We lost Prince this year. We have lost a lot of really exceptional artists in the past few years, but this one had significance because I mark that first date as the beginning of my struggle with being me versus being we. And honestly, in a lot of ways the lyrics of that song touch on how I’ve felt in many relationships, and how I have felt many times on my own.
Even now I might be the happiest happily married woman on the planet, but damn, this song gets me.
I am missing, and will continue to miss Prince.
I never meant to cause you any sorrow
I never meant to cause you any pain
I only wanted to one time to see you laughing
I only wanted to see you
Laughing in the purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
I only wanted to see you
Bathing in the purple rain
I never wanted to be your weekend lover
I only wanted to be some kind of friend
Baby, I could never steal you from another
It’s such a shame our friendship had to end
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
I only wanted to see you
Underneath the purple rain
Honey, I know, I know
I know times are changing
It’s time we all reach out
For something new, that means you too
You say you want a leader
But you can’t seem to make up your mind
I think you better close it
And let me guide you to the purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
Purple rain, purple rain
If you know what I’m singing about up here
C’mon, raise your hand
Purple rain, purple rain
I only want to see you
Only want to see you
In the purple rain
An Alberta Icon
Actually, I started out the day humming ‘I wanna be in the cavalry…’which is really catchy, but I’ve ended up playing ‘Hard on equipment’ about 15 times in row now, just because the song is so gosh darned good.
Listen for yourself:
HARD ON EQUIPMENT
(Corb Lund)
He’s been roundin’ off bolts since the age of fourteen
Was that a five eighths or a nine sixteenths?
He’s got a metric socket that don’t quite fit
Well it’ll wiggle just a little but it ain’t quite stripped
The safety guard’s gone from his grinding machine
He got a stiff paint brush he only sorta got clean
He’s the hired man, my neighbor and a cousin in law
He’s a jerry riggin’ fool, he got the tool for the job
Well it’s vise grips for pliers, and pliers for a wrench
A wrench for a hammer, hammers everything else
It just don’t seem to make much difference
I sure do like him but he’s hard on equipment
I sure like you son, but you’re hard on equipment
His corners ain’t square and his floor ain’t level
And he’s had a little trouble with the old tape measure
His doors don’t close ‘cause the jamb ain’t plumb
And he’s a Goddamn menace with an air nail gun
They love to see him comin’ at the lumberyard store
Fixed the leak in his roof with a two by four
Drilled holes in his boards with the wrong kinda bit
And when they don’t line up he blames the government
He got the whole front yard full of fix ‘em up cars
Three don’t run and the rest won’t start
Everything’s fine with his rebuilt motor
Except of course for the couple spare washers left over
Baler twine tie downs goin’ down the road
On two bald tires and an oversize load
He ain’t never read a manual ‘cause that’s like cheatin’
He don’t mind the grease on his hands while he’s eatin’
He’s got busted up knuckles, his thumb got bruised
Jesus Christ was a carpenter, too
That last line “Jesus Christ” reminds me of my dad.
Picture my sister and I sitting watching TV upstairs, my dad downstairs putting lights in the newly finished basement. All of a sudden we hear “gggggggaaaargh” – then silence. I look at my sis, she looks at me. We spend a moment in silence, then I say “You go down”, she says “No, you go down”. This goes on for another 30-40 seconds. Finally, much to our relief we hear “JEEESUS CHRIST” in my dad’s voice booming from the bowels of the house. So, we figure, if he can curse he’s OK, and went back to the Flintstones.
True story.
Don’t know what you about Corb Lund, but here are a few highlights about this Alberta music icon:
Lund was a founding member of The Smalls ; (http://liamdynes.wordpress.com/portfolio/writing/the-smalls-go-out-big/) – a hardcore punk band I caught at least once – I think at Bronx. (‘nother fact, Nirvana played Bronx too http://www.nirvanaguide.com/1991.php)
Hurtin’ Albertans is Corb Lund’s touring band.
In 2006 Kurt Browning, performed a figure skating routine to “Expectation and the Blues”.
In 2009 Lund signed with New West Records, home of Dwight Yoakam, Steve Earle, Kris Kristofferson – keeping company with alt rock aristocracy.
BONUS MUSICAL SELECTIONS
Tell me if I start Ramblin’
An oldie but a goodie:
I am not a Ramblin’ Man, but I was married to one, when it came to leavin’ he thought I’d understand…now I am married to a doctor, we have a big house, I have a walk-in closet the size of my former kitchen, a library, an art studio and a BIG BIG smile on my face. No hard feelings and I still like the song.
Ramblin’ Man is an Allman Brothers song from their 1973 album Brothers and Sisters.
This southern rock standard has been featured in in several movies, including The Exorcist, Big Fish, and When Harry Met Sally.
The song was their only top ten single, climbing the charts to number 2 but edged out of number 1 by Gregg Allman’s future wife’s – Cher – Half Breed. There’s a kitchy song if you’re in the mood:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=CA&v=Z6E98ZRaU1s
Cher’s chart topping triumph aside, the song made it onto the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s list of 500 songs that shaped rock and roll.
The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.
http://rockhall.com/inductees/the-allman-brothers-band/
The Allman Brothers’ Ramblin’ Man is based on a classic Hank Williams song of the same name.
Take a listen to both versions below, and remember: it’s a song not life advice.
Allman Brothers Band Ramblin’ Man Lyrics:
Lord, I was born a ramblin’ man
Tryin’ to make a livin’ and doin’ the best I can
And when it’s time for leavin’
I hope you’ll understand
That I was born a ramblin’ man
My father was a gambler down in Georgia
He wound up on the wrong end of a gun
And I was born in the back seat of a Greyhound bus
Rollin’ down highway forty-one
Lord, I was born a ramblin’ man
Tryin’ to make a livin’ and doin’ the best I can
And when it’s time for leavin’
I hope you’ll understand
That I was born a ramblin’ man
I’m on my way to New Orleans this mornin’
I’m leavin’ out of Nashville, Tennessee
They’re always having a good time down on the bayou
Lord, them Delta women think the world of me
Lord, I was born a ramblin’ man
Tryin’ to make a livin’ and doin’ the best I can
And when it’s time for leavin’
I hope you’ll understand
That I was born a ramblin’ man
Lord, I was born a ramblin’ man
Lord, I was born a ramblin’ man
Lord, I was born a ramblin’ man
Hank Williams Ramblin’ Man lyrics:
I can settle dow-own and be doin’ just fine
Til I hear an old train rollin’ down the line
Then I hurry strai-aight home and pack
And if I didn’t go, I believe I’d blow my stack
I love you ba-aby, but you gotta understand
When the Lord made me
He made a Ramblin’ Man.
Some folks might sa-ay that I’m no good
That I wouldn’t settle down if I could
But when that open ro-oad starts to callin’ me
There’s somethin’ o’er the hill that I gotta see
Sometimes it’s har-rd but you gotta understand
When the Lord made me, He made a Ra-amblin’ Man.
I love to see the tow-owns a-passin’ by
And to ride these rails ‘neath God’s blue sky
Let me travel this la-and from the mountains to the sea
‘Cause that’s the life I believe He meant for me
And when I’m go-one and at my grave you stand
Just say God called home your Ra-amblin’ Man.
Dreamweaver
This one is thanks to a co-worker, as a result of a coffee break debate on whether love at first sight is possible. I think I lost the debate and this song was my punishment.
Some fun facts; the song was featured in Wayne’s World (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im8uIoq1fjs) and in the opening credits for The People VS Larry Flint.
Gary Wrights’ official site has some fun sites fun facts (http://www.thedreamweaver.com/) like: the songs was inspired by a trip Gary took to India with George Harrison; is done with keyboards and drums, no guitar, very unusual for the 70’s. He has collaborated with/worked with George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones.
Gary Wright fronted Spooky Tooth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spooky_Tooth) famous for the song That Was Only Yesterday (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGxRstWAZBc)
Listen to Dreamweaver here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Hdx9JjzDfo
I have just closed my eyes again
Climbed aboard the Dream Weaver train
Driver take away my worries of today
And leave tomorrow behind
Dream Weaver, I believe you can get me through the night
Dream Weaver, I believe we can reach the morning light
Fly me high through the starry skies
Or maybe to an astral plane
Cross the highways of fantasy
Help me to forget today’s pain
Dream Weaver, I believe you can get me through the night
Dream Weaver, I believe we can reach the morning light
Though the dawn may be coming soon
There still may be some time
Fly me away to the bright side of the moon
And meet me on the other side
Dream Weaver, I believe you can get me through the night
Dream Weaver, I believe we can reach the morning light
Good morning, singer
I wake up EVERY morning with a song stuck in my head. A random song. A song that may have been long buried in my subconscious mind, or may have been playing while I stood in line to buy a vente latte on the way to work.
Why, you ask? What does that say about me, I don’t know. But I am sure that something that weird should not go to waste. So I am going to write the songs down, do I little research, and post my ramblings here. Shall we begin?
Good morning, singer. Make me some coffee…
I woke up this morning and thought, Peggy Sue; is that you?
BuddyHolly http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1875021_1837072,00.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Holly penned the song and named it for a band member’s girlfriend (obviously named Peggy Sue).
The song was followed by a song called Peggy Sue Got Married, which inspired the 1986 movie by the same name.
The movie starred Nicolas Cage (directed by his uncle, Francis Ford Coppola) and Kathleen Turner.
Jim Carrey played a supporting role, as one of the guys who sang in a quartet with her high school sweet-heart come husband (Nicolas Cage).
Really interesting to me, researching for this blog I discovered that Maureen O’Sullivan was also in this movie. She played Kitty in a 1935 version of Anna Karenina. Recently I have been ranting about the soon to be released version of the same, which will star Keira Knightly as Anna. And they are not friendly rants, I loathe Knightly, and Anna Karenina is among my favourite novels of all time. I have to find a source for this version of the book, because Greta Garbo plays Anna and that strike me as all wrong as well, though for a different reason.
Then you’d know why I feel blue
About Peggy, my Peggy Sue
Oh well, I love you, gal
and I love you Peggy SuePeggy Sue, Peggy Sue
Oh how my heart yearns for you.
Oh P-e-ggy.. P-e-ggy Sue
Oh, well, I love you gal
Yes I love you Peggy SuePeggy Sue Peggy Sue
Pretty pretty pretty pretty Peggy Sue
Peggy oh Peggy Sue
Oh well I love you gal and I need you Peggy SueI love you Peggy Sue
With a love so rare and true
Oh, Peggy, my Peggy Sue-ue-ue-ue-ue-ue-ue-ue
Oh, well, I love you gal
I want you, Peggy SuePeggy Sue, Peggy Sue
pretty pretty pretty pretty Peggy sue
oh Peggy, my Peggy Sue-ue-ue-ue
Oh, well, I love you gal
yes I need you, Peggy Sue
I love you Peggy Sue
With a love so rare and true
Oh, Peggy, my Peggy Sue-ue-ue-ue-ue-ue-ue-ueOh, well, I love you gal
Yes, I want you, Peggy Sue
Oh, well, I love you gal
Yes, I want you, Peggy Sue