Mailbag

Subject: In Search Of The Lost Chord

Hi Bob,

Great that you have taken the time to transport us back to those early days of stereo, Gatefold sleeves, FM Radio and a new Universe of Music that was waiting out there for us all to hear. I am truly proud that you have included our album In Search of the Lost Chord to be part of that new horizon.....

Peace and very Best Wishes

John Lodge
Moody Blues

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Subject: Re: A Little More Moody Blues

Dear Bob,

Well since Justin dropped a line so must I. Mike Pinder here.

I have been on your email list for awhile. I enjoy reading your Lefsetz Letter as I try and keep current on music and my sons are all talented musicians. Mike Lee and Matt are amazing singer/songwriters and teachers in Sacramento. Dan works with Hans Zimmer and others as a music editor in LA. I guess you might say it "runs in the family"

My dad played piano at the local pub. When I was a young lad at home I would take the front from the piano and touch the strings as I played a note and feel the vibration of sound. The higher the vibration the higher the note. Music and sound have always fascinated me. As does space, inner and outer.

I was fortunate to be able to combine that interest in music and the effects of music, melody etc with my mates, Ray, Justin, John, Tony and Graeme to make some memorable music. I remember very vividly the day Justin brought Nights in White Satin to the band. I sat at the Mellotron to add to the arrangement and came up with some counter melodies that Justin loved. You know the ones.

I have always said that we "hang our memories on the shape of sound" and I think we were able to create some lovely shapes for people to hang those memories.

Thinking is Still the Best Way to Travel.
Cheers,
Mike

PS I would love to send you the music of my sons The Pinder Brothers. Pop/Rock with creative melodies, counter melodies and lyrically interesting. Even though the corrupt managers and music companies have tried to manipulate and control creativity, the singer songwriter is still out there, experimenting with lyrics and shaping sound for us.

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From: Kevin Kiley
Subject: Re: A Little More Moody Blues

Hi Bob

Nice to see Justin's thoughts on B's take on his song. She (Bettye) is flattered.
BTW, I went to Spotify and it appears that all of her output is there.
Not sure why it didn't show for you.

P.S. One other thing on B's version.

It was done in one take. When it was over, everyone just said "Yeah, that's it."
The players did an excellent job. Rob Mathes added the strings at Abbey Road and that was it.

(Note: Needless to say, Spotify search is spotty.)

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From: Steve Lukather
Subject: Re: Rhinofy-This Week In 1968

Damn the soundtrack of my childhood Bob.
I LOVE all these records so much.
The whole 60's era of music will never get old to me.
The songs, the production the musicians, and let us not forget the STUDIO players in LA-NYC-Nashville-London and Motown!!
Oh the bands were great too but many had ' ringers' ya know. THE guys.

And the singers!
Nothing remotely close today for me.

Everyone uses the same f**king plug in's and over compression on everything and the same drum samples etc..
It is like seeing how many twinkies you can shove in your urethra. Painful and pointless.

Quick trivia here:
The guy who WAS the 'Green Tambourine' was legendary studio percussionist and someone I love so dearly.. Joe Porcaro, Father of Jeff, Mike and Steve Porcaro and who's house I spent most of my life changing years from 15 years old on..
The inspiration, music, love and lessons that came from that house will stay with me forever.

Love from New Zealand
Luke

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From: Doak Turner
Subject: You two talk

Larry and bob - you two connect! Larry wrote "Bend Me, Shape Me" and also "Rhinestone Cowboy".

Thanks for mentioning "Bend Me, Shape me" on your blog this week. I sent it to Larry.

There ya go Larry!
Doak

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From: Larry Weiss
Subject: HELLO

Hello Bob..enjoyed reading your blog..

The interesting thing about 'Bend Me Shape Me', at least to me, (I am one of the two writers of the song), was that the American Breed version was covered in the UK by a group called Amen Corner..what was interesting was that their version changed the entire chorus melody...and the song still became a hit alongside the American Breed's version, who shared the charts in the UK..really strange..

There's also a wonderful story behind how 'Rhinestone Cowboy' became a hit..I had the original version out a year before..my version literally blue-printed Glen's which was produced by Lambert & Potter..and which Glen mentioned many times, he would have liked to have had his voice on..Glen heard my version on the radio in L.A. and in Australia where it charted somewhat..and literally pulled off the road to listen to it..when his project was about to get going, Glen and Lambert and Potter marched into Capitol's office with my album under their arms..the head of the company had the same vision with a copy waiting on his desk. Glen's album project began with four sides including mine..Glen then gets a call to participate in a L.A. telethon and performs the song..Paul Drew, then head of the most powerful radio network (RKO), sees Glen on the on show, and inquires if he has recorded the song. He knew the song, because he had considered adding my version a few times but for whatever the reason, had not. Drew calls Capitol Records asking to hear Glen's version and receives a reference copy delivered by Harvey Cooper, who was then handling marketing and promotion chores for Lambert and Potter.. Drew puts the reference copy on the air forcing the record out! Capitol scrambled to complete the album..the rest has become history..but the saga continues..there will be a 'Rhinestone Cowboy' musical later this year..

Best..Larry Weiss

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Subject: Re: Rhinofy-This Week In 1968

Trivia… At least a couple of the guys in the Classics IV were also in ARS. They got to have a hit with the same tune twice in two decades! And the singer on Bend Me Shape Me was Gary Loizzo. He used the money from the tune to build a recording studio which he still runs. And he tours as the live sound engineer for Styx most of the year. Been with them side the '90s. He told me once that he sang the song in a karaoke contest on a cruise ship and lost!

Thanks for a great playlist. I may have to start up Spotify again...

Bill Evans
Content Visionary

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From: Bob Merlis
Subject: "Nobody But Me" by The Human Beinz

Was a cover. It's an Isley Bros. song (as was "Twist and Shout" which many assume is a Beatles original).

Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jf5zXwgv5M4

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Subject: An interesting "Nobody But Me" story

Bob,

A friend of mine, John Golden, owns a mastering studio in Ventura, CA. (He's mastered LPs for Chris Isaak, Sonic Youth, Primus, and tons of others.) Decades ago he had a moderately successful local band in northeastern Ohio, called the UnCalled Four. One of the highlights of their stage show was their own arrangement of the Isley Brother's tune, "Nobody But Me." Another local northeastern Ohio band, The Human Beinz, caught their show, and copied the arrangement. And that became the hit.

Here's a picture of the Uncalled Four: http://www.carlsguitarcorner.com/links/uncalledfour.html

Here's The Uncalled Four's arrangement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfNPNG0YgjI

Carl Grefenstette

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From: Joel Selvin
Subject: "I Wish It Would Rain" The Temptations

Lyrics taken from a suicide note. Check the writers. One you never heard of ... that's the guy.

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From: Joel Selvin
Subject: "Chain Of Fools"

Give Ellie Greenwich the props. Wexler played the track for her and she suggested and sang the "Whoop-whoop" vocal parts. She's credited as vocalist, but it was all her idea. Wexler went back in the studio for her to do it.

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Subject: Re: Rhinofy-This Week In 1968

Hey Bob,

Just a quick footnote or two on "Chain of Fools" by Aretha Franklin, in my view one of the great tracks by the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section.

To begin with, the wobbly-sounding vibrato guitar is none other than Joe South, and despite the fact that it's a little out of tune, it adds the perfect "Pop" Staples feel to the song, enhancing its gospel roots - although Don Covay wrote this song, it's really a re-write of a gospel song called "Pains of Life."

Next, the rhythm guitar part by Jimmy Johnson is one of the rarely noticed but key elements in the Muscle Shoals sound. Jimmy's Gretsch is played almost like a percussion instrument, adding immeasurably to the groove.

And what a groove Roger Hawkins lays down! He is so perfectly in the middle of the pocket that the track just pulses irresistibly - you cannot hold still when you hear it. Every fill is a perfect lesson in economy and when he goes to the bell of his ride cymbal in the last verse, everything soars.

Of course, Aretha's masterful vocal is the main ingredient, but the way she plays off the groove the musicians, are laying down, especially in the first verse, makes me wonder if she could have sung it as well with any other band.

I went to school on this and many other records involving Aretha, the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, and Jerry Wexler. This particular track is a national treasure.

Best,
John Boylan

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From: Roxanne Tellier
Subject: Re: Rhinofy-This Week In 1968

Hi Bob,

terrific column, as always. Every one of these songs goes through my head regularly.

But here's a little information I found recently that's a bit disturbing. The song, "Chain of Fools" is pretty much a complete ripoff of an earlier gospel song, and largely uncredited.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdcLUN8K998 "Pains of Life" Elijah Fair

Considering that "Chain" basically broke Aretha, and won so many awards, it's terribly sad that the original has been given such short shrift. Here's the wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chain_of_Fools

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From: Kenny Lee Lewis
Subject: Re: Rhinofy-This Week In 1968

Harry Middlebrooks, who used to tour with Elvis as a backup singer, and was a regular guest on Lawrence Welk, wrote Spooky. He is the godfather to my kids. Still performing in the Valley on weekends. Great southern gentleman from Atlanta.

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From: Carlos Delgado-Imbert
Subject: green tambourine video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxm19NBAcfc

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From: Michael Solomon
Subject: Re: Rhinofy-This Week In 1968

I'm sure you know this, Bob, but Paul Leka produced the early Harry Chapin records in his studio in Bridgeport.

I was Harry's co-road manager and sound mixer from 1974-1978 and spent a lot of time at that studio.

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From: Bobby Poe
Subject: Re: Rhinofy-This Week In 1968

Hi Bob,

First let me say I love your Rhinofy playlists and "This Week In 1968" brings back a lot of memories. But one thing that drives me nuts with Spotify are the remakes of classic tracks, even (or maybe especially) if they are by the original artists. The most blatant example on Spotify are the early tracks by Badfinger that have been rerecorded. And K-Tel is notorious for compiling rerecorded versions.

On the other hand, occasionally it takes me 10 times of listening before I can go, "That version is bogus!" I believe there are two cases of this on your playlist: "Bend Me Shape Me" and "Love Is Blue". I must admit the rerecorded version of "Bend Me Shape Me" is perhaps the best I've ever encountered. And to me, the version of "Love Is Blue" just sounds a tiny bit off...but I would still bet money it's not the original version.

I mention this not to be a dick, but because like you, I look as the music of our youth as a precious heritage to be passed on. If I'm wrong, I will stand corrected and try not to obsess over it for days. But if I'm correct, I hope all of your disciples will listen and speak up when the music is not quite the music of yesteryear.

Best Regards,

Bobby Poe, Jr.

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From: Elliot Mazer
Subject: Re: The Eagles Movie

Bob
Bernie Leadon was with Linda at that time too. He played on Silk Purse which I produced. He is an amazing musician whose goals were different than those of Henley and Glen.

Eagles knew that combing desirable music with sex appeal was the way to go. Get on stage and play great and sell the music.

Other artists made fun of them, and everybody wanted their success. There was a sign in Bruce Dickinson's office at Columbia Records saying "Blame It On The Eagles" They were the first band to spend a year making an album. They edited and cloned stuff on tape the way people use Pro Tools today. But knew what they wanted to do and they stuck to is until is was right.

Great songs make great records and that is how they succeeded.

No circus stunts.
Nothing but music and sex

Elliot

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Subject: Re: The Eagles Movie

Hey Bob - I was playing in a high-end cover band a few years ago, and we were booked for a birthday party at a ritzy country club in Dallas. We got a call the night before the gig that the woman hosting the party had donated an enormous sum of money to Walden Woods Project, and in exchange Don Henley had agreed to sing a song at her husband's party. We had a last minute rehearsal and learned 'Life in the Fast Lane.' Henley sang the song once with us at sound check, and again at the gig. I believe it was his daughter's birthday, too, but he took time away from his family to benefit the charity. He sounded terrific.

A few weeks later, we got a note from Don - he said that he had played in similar bands earlier in his career, and that we played the song well. He also included a large check to the band, from his own pocket, to thank us for the extra work. In addition to being a legendary musician, the guy is truly a class act - I can't wait to see this movie!

Patrick Donahue
www.therusttones.com

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Subject: Re: The Eagles Movie

Bob .. you are so singing my tune when talking about the Eagles.

I grew up in a small town in East Texas just down the road from Henley's home town - Linden, TX - another East Texas small town. While Don was long gone to California when I was coming of age, his legacy remained ... how cool was it for this small town ET girl to get to meet people who knew - or claimed to know - or played in bands or recorded with a guy in he "best band ever"! Or at least that was their story ... and the stories grew as the Eagles spotlight grew!

I even had my own once removed close encounter. It was nearing the holidays and I was working at Zales selling Seiko watches while going to college. Hotel California was out and like most of my friends, I had the cassette tape in my car and knew every word to every song ("Wasted Time" was "my song" ... an ode to my youthful melancholy I guess). It was about this time that I met Mrs. Henley (aka Donnie's mom, as she explained to me). She happened into Zales while I was working one day. When I realized who she was (and it went something like "You're from Linden ... your name is Henley .. are you related to Don Henley???!" to which she replied, "why, yes I am! are you a friend of Donnie's?"), I told her that, no I unfortunately wasn't a friend of Donnies, but I sure did love his band and she said she'd let him know. No idea if she ever told him that he had a fan at Zales in the Marshall Mall, but doubtful. However I was NOW one of those with a story! I had my own "connection" to the "best band ever" in the form of Donnie's mom! A few weeks later Mrs. Henley showed up at Zales again - looking for me! - and with a small family photo album in hand (you know, those things we used to carry around when photos were something you held and touched ... sort of like music albums used to be). I spent my break that day going through the album with Mrs. Henley ... "This is Donnie in ROTC, This is Donnie in the backyard, oh, and this is Donnie and Linda ..."! And some 30 yrs later, I still love to tell people about the day I rubbed elbows with the mom of the drummer / singer / writer of the BEST BAND EVER!

Denise Nichols
The Primacy Firm, LLC
Nashville TN

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Subject: Re: Getting Old

Hi Bob,

Got to say, loved your elegant Getting Old rant - full of wisdom and grace and hard-earned life lessons. I'm sitting in a hotel room in Bilbao, Spain and its been raining for three days. Anyway, the longer I stay on the road, the less I leave the hotel rooms. God bless room service and iTunes films. Just played 3 sold out shows here, not huge venues but all beautiful theaters, wonderful audiences and I'm about as happy as I'm gonna get when I'm taking in that applause. Believe me, I know how lucky I am to have found my niche here in Europe over 30 years ago thanks to the incredible American music business of the 1970's that put me on the map, gave me a start, gave me a bona fides stamp on my musical passport so that the rest of the world might take me seriously. I've witnessed as some of my peers became as wealthy and powerful as kings while talented others were tossed in the dustbin of rock history. Well, I'm neither rich nor famous but those terms don't define success for me anymore. I've been able to make a living doing what I love for 40 years, put out 30+ albums and played over 2000 shows but you know what is most gratifying? That I put my son through college. How can I complain?

"Will you still need me, will you still feed me when I'm 64 ..." That's what I'll be in two months. Forget about retiring. I'm still hungry and full of impossible dreams. My son Gaspard just got a record contract for his band in France and is recording his first album and asks my advice about everything. That's the equivalent of me, when I was making my first album in 1973, asking the advice of someone who began recording in ... 1933! Ain't life grand!

Hasta luego,
Elliott Murphy

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Subject: Re: Getting Old

What you said..........plus all those nubile young females! I know I
could still give them the best orgasms of their lives, but only very,
very rarely do I ever even get a remote chance from the youngsters. I
have now lived long enough to know what a dirty old man is and it is me!

Willie Perkins

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Subject: RE: Getting Old

I've been told that you know when you're old when you wake up and everything
is stiff but your prick.

Enjoy your columns.

Fred Smith
Hard Core Country CHRW 94.9 FM

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From: Ross Fitzsimons
Subject: Re: Martin Elbourne On HMV

Another one (Blockbuster UK) bites the dust:

http://gu.com/p/3d5z5

Martin's right. And there are many reasons for HMV's failure - it's not all about migration to film and music streaming and downloads.

1. The property market: UK retail property is largely owned by financial institutions and backed by pension funds. Retail is changing fast, but rent yields are still based on the old model. With UK retail space heading toward 20% vacancy, rents will have to come down if occupancy rates are to rise. This didn't happen in time for HMV, saddled with high rents from the period of big consumer spending in the early 2000s, when we all seemed to think the party would go on forever. Banks and pension funds are heading for another big haircut in the retail property market, as they will have to revalue their portfolios "significantly downward" over the next two or three years.

2. Lack of investment in online and digital: Despite management's desire to take the company digital, apparently funds were not forthcoming from the board to invest in the necessary development. Board directors representing the institutional investors (remember them?) insisted on maintaining high dividends to keep the share price up, thereby ensuring there was little money available to develop the company. A share worth $2.50 four years ago, crashed to a few cents last year, meaning those banks and pension funds have lost $2bn+.

3. Supermarkets: The grocers, as we call them in the UK, discovered CD and DVD over the past decade, and undercut HMV with loss-leading offers on major film and music releases. They will sell a new hit movie for £5 ($8) on DVD, which is less than the studio charges them (or HMV) to buy it. The grocers have no range, often only stocking the Top 20, but have taken away this crucial volume business from HMV. Record companies and film studios rushed headlong into this arrangement, despite ("allegedly") having to give 40%-50% discounts, major marketing commitments and 100% returns allowances, terms they ("reportedly") wouldn't grant HMV, who were expected to continue stocking range without benefiting as much as they used to from big releases. The consequent pressure on entertainment company margins has also seen major losses accrue for... those banks and pension funds again.

4. Government's approach to VAT (sales tax in the US): Online retailers (Amazon and others) used a tax loophole to set up in the Channel Islands (no VAT there) and sell discs without the 15-20% VAT levied on UK physical stores. Government refused to change the tax law, so HMV set up in the islands too, but lack of investment in their online offer (thanks to the banks and pension funds) meant they never competed effectively. I believe US states are now finally facing down this same issue with online retailers.

These are just a few of the other issues which contributed to the demise of a 111-year-old company that had been in entertainment retail since 1921, when Sir Edward Elgar officially opened the first store in Oxford Street in London.

Martin's completely correct about the consequent changes he identifies. I suggest you can add the adjustment to pension funds and financial institutions as they revalue their property portfolios downward. The Big Shakeup continues.

Be well.

Ross

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Subject: Re: Zoe & Amanda Respond

I was the Dresden Dolls marketing person in their time at Roadrunner, and as such, I find the idea of ANY independent-minded person taking shots at Amanda to be completely and utterly laughable.

Through the sometimes rocky road we walked in that time, she had a long term vision and unwavering loyalty to her fans, her vision, and to the creative people around her that had gotten her to that point. The label would have welcomed working with other video directors, photographers, producers, etc... for far more money. But Amanda knew what - and who - worked for the band, and kept the work within that trusted circle.

At the label as well, she knew who was working hard for her, and she was consistently cool with and appreciative of them. Certainly said no sometimes, but did so nicely enough. Left pleasant notes for staff on their desks when they weren't around. She motivated- either just to be nice, or to win. Or both. What difference does it make?! Is that being a user, or is it being someone that will eventually succeed in their chosen field?

I left Roadrunner before she did, so maybe all that changed... but I doubt it. Being in management now, thats where you see how important that self-assurance and long term vision is. There are no scarier words to hear from an artist than 'I'll be whatever you people think I should be!'.

Instead of trolling, the haters should be taking notes on how to do the work, and grow something authentic and all their own.

Bob Johnsen

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Subject: Re: Amanda Palmer

One thing about Amanda is that she has such a tight underground network because 99% of the stuff she doesn't give a s**t whether people see it or not.

She doesn't get pleasure out of ego. She simply lives and dies to keep art progressing.

7 months ago she donated to my Kickstarter. It didn't get funded, but who gives a s**t at this point ( http://kck.st/WfMVCa ). The fact is that only 3 people contributed to the project, and one of them was Amanda Palmer, who I worked with years ago for an orchestra concert. What major rockstar is climbing into the depths of an unknown corner of the globe to support an underfunded person they met 4 years ago? Would they even make time to say hello to you, or recognize you, as opposed to give you their hard earned cash?

When everyone was screaming last year about her "not paying artists" or taking advantage of them or whatever, I couldn't believe it because nothing could be further from the truth. But I won't rehash the sides of that argument because it's all been said.

If you're going to highlight how she's a star and works her ass off, I would like to highlight how authentic, transparent, and caring she is.

There are a lot of hard working people in the world, there are a lot of nice people, and there a lot of people who actually care about the artform as opposed to themselves. But to get all 3 is rare, and that's why Amanda is loved. The only way you'll find someone's true character is to see how they act behind closed doors.


Walt Ribeiro
For Orchestra
walt@fororchestra.com
http://fororchestra.com

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From: Ife Mora
Subject: Re: Amanda Palmer

Bob,
Oh and by the way, I am married to a celebrity chef (Aaron Sanchez). He does all the restaurants for The House of Blues and is always on TV. You think that has helped me get any gigs or get more people to come out to my shows or get booking agents or record labels interested? The answer to that is a big fat NO.
Ife

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From: BERTON AVERRE
Subject: Re: RIchard Marx

I agree with the main point that Richard Marx makes a mistake when he gets down into the mud with guys writing snide things about him on the internet. The phrase "punching down" is apt, but you must also remember that long after you've left the ring, the guy with the pen (or the radio mic) can keep the argument going, on his terms, as long as he wants. It's a no-win situation. The urge to tell someone insulting you to shut the f**k up already is strong, yes, but the wise course is to ignore it and continue to live your life, which from Marx's description does indeed sound like a very fulfilling one.

Having said that, my main takeaway from this story isn't Richard Marx's actions or reactions, or even the relative righteousness/pettiness of the blogger, but the wrath and contempt people feel for performers whose music they don't like. Its source is the love people feel for their favorites, but unlike that love the resentment spewed out at the Richard Marxes of the world is an utter waste of energy.

I can't say I don't understand this backlash mentality. There are a lot of TV shows I think are great, and a whole lot I think are execrable -- and which invariably get much bigger ratings than my favorites. I'd be lying if I said there wasn't part of me that thought dark thoughts about the people who watch those shows: my elitism raises its ugly head and I mourn for probably the fifth time that day how truly stupid a nation we've become. So, I get it. But guess what? I've watched shows that would lead people to conclude that I was pretty stupid. I listen to (and love) music that a whole lot of people would condemn with that unmatchable stamp of doom, "lame". Doesn't stop me from getting my big dose of love from listening. So why should I (or any of us) begrudge Richard Marx fans from loving his music, just because I don't like it, or I cringe the tiniest bit to read he outsells The Beach Boys and Dylan? Music isn't zero sum: The Kinks and Steely Dan exist whether or not there's a Barry Manilow (who of course is a very good musician in his own right, so there you go).

I always tell the story, but I'll say it again: back in the day, when having a hit on the radio meant my opinion mattered to some people, I got a kick out of telling them (100% truthfully) that I loved The Sex Pistols, and I loved Abba. Then I'd sit back and watch their heads explode. When the rock and pop music world is healthy, there's room for a whole lot of artists to please a whole lot of people. Listening to "Dancing Queen" adds three minutes of pleasure to your life, and those three minutes of pleasure you got from listening to "God Save The Queen" isn't changed one iota.

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Subject: Berklee School of Music Outcome

Bob,

I wrote you a few months back about your discussion in regards to the merits of someone attending Berklee and its associated cost. I told you that instead of going to the school Jacob decided to try and find someone in the music industry that he respected as an artist to help him become a better writer and player. I told him that the odds of someone agreeing to work with a 17 year old were slim but to try. He decided to reach out to Jules Shear. He loved Jules music and his way with clever insightful lyrics. We knew he lived in Woodstock and just tried first to look on white pages.com. There he was. Jules and his wife Pal Shazar. So I called. He was wonderful, but I could tell he was hesitant to work with someone so young. We talked and he asked me send him some music that Jacob could not finish or was having trouble developing. Jacob sent him some of his work and Jules really liked it. He asked us to come visit Woodstock and maybe something just might develop. The two of them hit it off immediately and wrote several songs. Jules told him the same thing that you have preached. There can be no plan B, no alternative plans. You have the talent but have to work hard every day. Practice, play, write, go play in front of no one, practice some more, play out even more...and get better. Jules enjoyed the experience so much that he asked Jacob back to his home to write again. So off he went, 17 years old to Woodstock to spend 5 days with Jules and Pal, in their home living and breathing music and art.

Jacob came home just exploding with ideas. He dove into his craft and has never looked back. He immediately called a friend and they went into the studio to record the songs he wrote with Jules. They turned out amazing. He sent the song California to Jules. I was having dinner when my phone rang. It was Jules. He told me that what he heard was just incredible and was very proud of Jacob. Based on the strength of the songs and recordings, which someone referred to as Jules Shear with technology or on steroids, we got a call from someone in Nashville who loved the songs and wanted to work with and manage Jacob.

Who knows where this might end. But it does not matter. What an experience for Jacob. He talks to Jules regularly and Jules continues to preach hard work, which Jacob is doing. He plays, writes, and is now rehearsing with a band to hopefully showcase. Record labels have called and we are taking it slow but steady. But as you have said over and over it is the music, the songs that matter. That is what Jules keeps telling Jacob. Make great music. And that is something that in my view most music schools cannot preach. Not like Jules Shear. These are great songs.

Take a listen and I think you will really enjoy. The songs he wrote with Jules are Cali and All Over Now. The others he wrote himself.

http://soundcloud.com/jacobkleinmusic

www.jacobkleinmusic.com

Thanks very much

Michael Klein

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From: Peter Buffett
Subject: Beck poster in the New Yorker

Bob -

I've never written you before you write first. But I know you're a New Yorker reader.. and the minute I saw the Beck tie in with the "Lincoln Motor Company" my heart sank. And then I thought of you.
"what would Bob say?"

Being a huge Beck fan and always thinking he was the hipster outside the law... it was incredibly disappointing to see this. I felt embarrassed for him and me.

Strangely, I'm reporting my feelings to you. :-)

Peter
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From: Fiftysomething L.A. Woman
Subject: Re: The Women Of L.A.

This is great, and so true. What I've heard over and over again from my several young lovers is that this is the case. Not that they can't get laid. They're not rich, but they're handsome, hot, smart, educated, cool, musicians or filmmakers, and they have lives. Not geeks or nerds, but sexy young men. They're aren't players, but sincere, thoughtful, creative, adventurous guys trying to figure out their lives.

They find these women so unattractive on a number of levels, and wish for a woman they can connect with on their level. They of course hang out with me because we have hot sex, and they find me attractive for an older women, and I don't lay the expectations that the young women would on them, because really it's not going to have a future beyond friendship. They also like to hang out with me because I'm real and cool, I listen to them, and I'm into the music they're into as well - plus, vinyl!

I'm laughing through my orgasms because these young hot women are missing out big time. One one them actually IM'd me on (dating site). She lives in the Palisades, is a professional with a Masters degree, hot body, long blond hair, gorgeous face. Does triathlon training every day!!

Her mood was plaintive. She messaged me to chat, and as we chatted she remarked that we were both hot women who love to cook, yet neither of us have a boyfriend. I wrote back that I was happy, and it didn't really matter if I had one, I was having fun. Then I looked at her profile and the long list of requirements a guy had to fulfill to qualify for a date with her. Wow, too much! Who could jump through all those hoops??

I suggested she chill out a bit and go out with some guys who may not fit all of her requirements, and have a little fun. She complained that she would have to do everything to make the guy happy but might not get what she wants. So sad she is so misinformed . . . and though I don't want you to get the idea I'm having an orgy of young men, there have been handful of lovers these past several years, and it's been great, from age 22-34, and they all tell me the same thing about not being able to relate to these women, and they wish there were women their age who were more like me!

This is a fine video and I hope there are more like it that come out.


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