Mailbag

Re: All Blues

Thanks again Bob!!!! By the way, just found out it's #1 again.
That's the 6th week!

Peter Frampton

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Subject: Re: America-This Week's Podcast

Bob,

I think this turned out great and you made it very comfortable! I guess 50 years warrants a closer look back! So many things we missed sharing from those early days in London, and our return to the U.S. in 1972...brushes with the individual Beatles, opening for Pink Floyd and The Who and The Faces and Traffic with Johnny Winter in attendance joining them for an extended jam. The sights, sounds and smells of the British music scene in London are imprinted on my memory forever. Then back in the U.S. sharing the bill with everyone from The J. Geils Band to James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt to Bob Hope and George Burns! Touring with The Beach Boys for years, and Joe Cocker, Kenny Loggins, Chicago, Three Dog Night, Jefferson Starship, Poco and so many others. From World Tours and huge multi-act festivals, to little shows in faraway places. It's been a dream and we still haven't woken up. Thanks again for the opportunity to tell some of our story. best always, Dewey Bunnell

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Subject: Mickey Thomas Responds

I don't engage in debates over the validity of this classic song, either. I WOULD like to thank you and my dear bud, Mickey Thomas, for the recent attention paid to 'WE Built This CIty'! As you might know, mine is the DJ voice on the original, which is a story in and of itself that we'll save for another occasion. Like I said to The Starship in a telex from Switzerland back in 1985, "Thank you all for backing me up on my number one song"!!!

You certainly have my permission to post this, minus my address, please, and i hope that you do…keep those HITS comin', Bob…a hit is a hit is a hit is a hit. Now, MORE music and Les Garland.

Warm regards,
les garland

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Subject: Re: We Built This City

Bernie told me he made more money from that song than from anything else. A good Trivia question which no one ever gets!

Steve Lillywhite

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From: Tom Ross
Subject: Re: We Built This City

You are always entertaining and although I represented the Airplane/Starship for 25+ years, I never knew the answer to why Grace left the band. For most of those early years, I always introduced myself to Grace as I was never sure she knew who or what I did, but most of the times she just enjoyed making people off center and unassured. I had always assumed it was because of all the changing players from the original band but YOU got right to the question. They were the very first band I represented starting at APA in 1968 thru to CAA. Bill Thompson, the mgr, was a great and loyal friend and unique doesn't describe him or his many talents. He had to wear many hats to appease all the group members and conduct business while they were living upstairs in the mansion from time to time. My most favorite memory was being up in SF and hanging out at the mansion off Golden Gate Park. It was a magical time and they were leading the tribe of Golden Gate artists to change the social times and conditions. No tweets, just music and the vibes. Thank you for the walk down memory lane and the update on one of the early Queens of those revolutionary days and her amazing social and musical impact. Different times but great music that clearly pushed the envelope of acceptance thru music. Loved the innocence then! TR

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Subject: Re: We Built This City

Bob,

You need to hear the original demo of "We Built This City" before Starship got it. You can find it on SoundCloud. Makes the single song brilliant!

https://soundcloud.com/emily-emily-k-kesselman/we-built-this-city-demo

Robert Bond

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Subject: Re: We Built This City

Re:Grace Slick

All hail the queen! Love Grace's candor.
As a retired Bay Area stage tech of a certain age, I've worked stages with Grace for years, be it for BGP or as a systems provider.

Mid-80's, Exotic Erotic Ball, SF Civic Center, Micky Thomas aka Litlle Gadget is headlining and Skip Johnson ( Lighting director for the Airplane / Starship) is Lighting Director for Mickey.
I'm with the lighting provider.

We're in the middle of setting up, Band gear is almost done.

We're focusing lights and sorting things out.

On one of my trips back to the lighting desk, there she is, sitting on the cases, looking like the LD's girlfriend always does. She had a black "Carnaby Street" hat on, black mini and long, thigh high boots. As I go do my thing , she says to me, " it's ok, I'm with the band." I smile, turn , look back and said" It's ok Grace, I know who you are." and went back to patching. Yeah Buddy, she is a sexy woman!

Long live the Queen! Allen (Alien) Craft

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Subject: The David Crosby Movie

Dear Bob, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your kind and thoughtful analysis about the Crosby movie, a film I had the great honor to direct with one of my all-time director heroes as producer-- the rock movie oracle himself Cameron Crowe. The fact that it is resonating with you is an honor and dream come true and means that perhaps we might have accomplished what we set out to do.

Being the son of a songwriter, growing up around the highs and lows of the music, this was a story that I simply couldn't shake..and I fought, borrowed and pled for years to shoot as much of Crosby's third act renaissance as I could, because, as you know, each recording session or concert could be the last...and the new music is not tired, its surprisingly fresh and a window into a soul of someone who still has much left to say.

With much respect...

Crozzingly,

A.J. EATON

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From: Josh Nelson
Subject: Re: Feelin' Alright
Funny how "singles were for sissies," and now albums are for ancients...

- josh nelson

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From: Mo Boyles
Subject: Re: Final Woodstock

Hi Bob,
Michael Lang should partner with nugs tv and do a 3 day exclusive livestream of woodstock 50 via Youtube, produced from a rehearsal space in LA, with all the belles and whistles of festival lighting & video productions,as a background. forget the all camping bs and permitting issues. If Marshmello can do Fortnite with 10.7 million attendees, why cant W50 mature with the times and go digital? All major festival stream via youtube as is. Food for thought.

Mo Boyles

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Subject: Re: Beginnings-Song of the Day

A very special band Bob. We've had the honor of being friends and sharing the stage with them since the 70's...great guys too! Robert has always been a personal support and they all have class. Terry Kath was a monster. Rock on Chicago. Dewey Bunnell

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From: Peter Buffett
Subject: Re: Beginnings-Song of the Day

I have a funny story….

A friend was joining a cover band many years ago and ended up with a list of songs left on his answering machine.

He found all the songs except one. Asking the clerk, he said it was by a band called "Penis of Terror"
Knowing no such band, the clerk asked for the name of the song.

It turned out he was looking for Peter Cetera.

(I was able to relay that story to the man himself… he was not amused)

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From: EveAnna Manley
Subject: Re: Blowback

My company builds audio electronics and if one capacitor is loaded in backwards, or one tiny resistor isn't installed, the whole unit will not function. I also write code. If I forget one semi-colon, the whole script won't execute. Yes, building electronics requires incredible dedication to precision and detail. Send me a resume with a spelling error and I'll throw it in the trash.

I've been reading The Lefsetz Letter for about 25 years. I can't say that I have ever seen a spelling error in your missives. Maybe one? Maybe not even one. Kudos!

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From: Shari Waugh
Subject: Re: Blowback

You are right about the spelling thing. What woman wants to go out with an illiterate!

Shari from Tennessee

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From: Karen Bliss
Subject: Re: Blowback

"I know a woman who decides who to go out with based on spelling errors" — I thought that's how everyone decides.

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Subject: Re: The Git Up

Like I mentioned to you and Flom last October that whole Hick Hop thing is bubbling up and gonna bust out soon.

https://youtu.be/B45AGRIEOxM

Also check out Upchurch the Redneck https://youtu.be/e-TIlOu1zEM

Dude can sell out 600-1,000 and goes out for 10-15k a night anywhere in the southeast and creeping his way up North.

No label, no radio.

And of course The Lacs

Peace and Love,
Dan Millen

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From: Gary Frenay (and more)
Subject: Re: 4+20

According to Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Hot 100 Singles on Billboard book, it was a single, that debuted on the charts on Oct 4, 1969 (just six weeks after their triumphant Woodstock performance), and peaked at #21, while spending 12 weeks on the charts.

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From: Lynette Pearson
Subject: RE: Sebastian Maniscalco

Macy Gray's dress ad was from 2001. I recall it because her album had the misfortunate release date of September 18, 2001 – one week after the World Trade Center attacks. Between 1999 and 2001, we had undergone substantial change. Macy's dress underscores the sad reality that the second word in "music business" is BUSINESS. That said, your letter makes its point well. Best, Lynette

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Subject: Re: Feelin' Alright

Bob,
About thirty years ago I played guitar in a full-on, old school, corporate show for one of the car companies, complete with singers and dancers. The 'star' was actress/singer Suzanne Somers. Over a month's time we played Vegas, Atlanta, Atlantic City, and Detroit. Suzanne's pianist was this quiet guy named Artie Butler. It wasn't until the last night of the tour that we found out that Artie was piano player on Cocker's Feelin' Alright. Holy smokes! Artie was one of those Brill Building guys that migrated to LA and worked with the Wrecking Crew folks. Among Artie's many credits is arranging Louis Armstrong's What A Wonderful World!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artie_Butler
Keep up the good work, Bob.
Thanks,
Sandy Williams
Indianapolis

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From: Randall Barron
Subject: Trent Reznor and Old Town Road

After months of hearing about this song I finally listen and immediately recognize that this is a Nine Inch Nails song. I'm fucking outraged that Trent is blatantly being ripped off and begin Googling, only to find that the legal shit has already quietly hit the fan and Trent and Atticus have been given co-writing and co-producing credits.

Old Town Road is Trent Reznor's first #1 song on Billboard, he and Atticus own 50% of this song. This happened a month ago and I've heard not a fucking peep about this from you or anyone else at Volume....what the fucking fuck?!?!?!

Perplexed,
Randall

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Subject: Re: The Metallica Ticket Fracas

Bob,

In my limited survey of the public's reaction to this, every person decrying the band for this are also saying in the same breath "I've hated them since Napster" or "They've sucked since '88, anyway". In other words, the people complaining are people who would not pay to go see Metallica in the first place. I coughed up a couple hundred bucks to see the band this past January by purchasing my tickets through the fan club, loved every fucking second of the show, and bought two t-shirts to boot. Why? Because I love the band and think they are worth the money. When I saw this story, it was obvious to me they were simply exposed for doing what everyone else does, despite Live Nation's claim that it is not something done regularly. The music media reporting on this just knew they would get clicks and a feisty comments section in their social media posts by posting this story. It was all about the headline and not about the substance of the story. And much like Trumpers and Trumpettes like to yell "WHAT ABOUT HER EMAILS?!", the haters got to beat the dead horse of Napster with Metallica. (By the way, someone who is mad about a band not wanting their music given away for free is of course going to be the same person who thinks concert tickets should be $5.)

This story is one big *yawn* if you ask me. Long live Metallica!

Nick Tieder

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From: BILL BERGER
Subject: Cutouts

Hi Bob

Funny, you mentioned cutouts - which I'm guessing 50% of your readers have no idea what they are - and I'm remembering the havoc and wealth they played.

When I was in retail - I was President/Partner in Stawberries - I would get cutout lists from Morris Levy's Promo Records with albums currently on Top 100 along with the dregs. You are correct, I had to buy 100 dogs to get 25 gems. Many label people would come to me for the all important "first crack" at the lists. Somebody was getting taken care of for somewhere along the way.

A handful of dealers controlled all these cutouts and most every label had an exclusive deal with one. The two most famous cutout dumps were RSO's Saturday Night Fever and MGM's Dr Zhivago. You could buy these for $1.99 when they were No. 1 on the charts.

When I started working at labels, it was like a candy shop, so many people got a "taste" over cutouts. When I was EVP at one major, I discovered the head of production was also selling the cutouts, so we were in overrun heaven constantly. I tried to take it away from him and give it to head of sales but was stopped by someone above me. Didn't take much to figure that out what that was all about.

It was the Golden Era all right.

P.S. Those RSO and MGM cutouts were $1.99 at retail not my cost.

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Subject: Re: The Rolling Thunder Revue


Great review......my friend George Moran was Bob Dylan's bodyguard for the Rolling Thunder Tour........he's in the movie 4 times, starting with singing "You Are My Sunshine" near the beginning of the movie with Dylan watching on. George is in the credits 2x. He was an entertainer on the Auto Train in '74 when I was a hostess and when he left he started Body-guarding for Dylan.

He told Dylan something really brilliant that I've been hanging onto just in case I ever got famous. He suggested that Dylan pay for everything by check, because most people would rather have Dylan's autograph than cash the check!!!!

Katie Bradford
Portland, OR

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Subject: Re: The David Crosby Movie


Yes, David has always marched to the Beat of his own Drum. Very Salty at times, kind of a Smart Ass in high school, but can also be very fun to hang out with and be very congenial. I sat next to him in Acapella class for a year at SBHS, and yes he had great talent then, mainly as a harmonizer and guitar player. Our teacher knew he had talent and at times they would spar verbally when David was in one of his salty moods. David helped produce our HS Spring show and came up with the name "Someone's Singing, Someones Dancing," that was quite a nice review played to the student body and at night for the public. I mentioned to you earlier that I used to follow David and his brother Ethan to all these Santa Barbara Venues where they would play their music or join other groups playing there. Most of these Venues, like the Iopan, were leftover coffeehouses from the Beatnik era, but had allcomers music entertainment on the weekends. Later when David joined the Byrds, I saw them play at Deano's Pizza Parlor on the Mesa and yes, SBHS beauty, Nance Martai (spelling) was there. When I had my ranch in Mount Shasta, Ethan Crosby was living there. For a year he lived in one of our guest houses and fed our horses for us. Ethan liked peace and quiet and would turn his refrigerator off at night because he did not like to hear the motor running. Ethan did play music at some venues and local gatherings. He
told me he was worried about his brother David, although now a successful music star, his big time partying, drinking and drugs was getting out of hand. Ethan had a beautiful girlfriend who was recuperating from a bad crash in her Volkswagen. Sad to say, a couple of years when I moved from Mount Shasta, Ethan took his last hike up Mount Shasta Mountain, and never returned. Probably joined the Lemurians. David's best friend from Cate School, Jeff Palmer had also moved to Mount Shasta from Santa Barbara. Became great friends with Jeff, who owned the famous Lotus Leather Company. Still miss and Love Mount Shasta, Beautiful and Mystic place.

Yes, have seen and talked to David many times in the past few years living in Santa Ynez. David has a nice home in the outskirts of Santa Ynez near the San Lorenzo Seminary. David is (or was) a frequent customer at Bakers Table for breakfast and that is where I talked to him frequently. If David did not like the way they cooked his breakfast, he would let the restaurant staff know about it, until one day he walked behind the cook station to complain, and the owner said, "Well, maybe you should find another place for breakfast!) Talking with David about high school days, and Mount Shasta, and the music industry, David said that it was hard to make money today cutting a record because of streaming. He also said he would probably never get together with Stills, Nash and Young for a concert because of Bad Blood, but if the money was good enough? One day, a couple of years ago, at Bakers Table, there was a couple of guys
I started talking with. They said they were waiting for David to show up. When David showed up he introduced my friend and me to these guys, who were going to film a movie about David.

David is still holding concerts at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara on occasion, sometimes, with his son, or a young band that he also recently toured Europe with. Yes, after the hard party years he did get a new Liver. A couple of years ago he ran over a bicyclist who later died, but
David was not drinking at the time, but otherwise David is enjoying the quiet life here in Santa Ynez, and still cutting records.

John Roger Battistone

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From: Lance Grode
Subject: Re: Taylor Swift/Scooter Braun

Didn't Swift's father invest in Big Machine?
That would have been the time to try (I said try) to own masters but no new artist gets reversion. I cite Dennis Hopper's spectacular observation: if you want to paint the Sistine Chapel, you gotta deal with the pope, ( the signing label being the pope).

I was involved in the Jackson purchase of The Beatles catalogue through a third party who was also in the bidding. I want everyone reading this to know the following: McCartney wouldn't go a penny past 38 million, Jackson came in at 48.5-49 million, my clients bid 50 million but couldn't raise the final part of the money.

Paul then went on Howard Stern and told some Trump-like story about telling Michael about publishing and claiming that Michael didn't give him a UNILATERAL raise on the writer's share of his songs in the catalogue—something that has never happened from before the Crimean War.
I mention this because Swift, who I really like, really fucked up here by even suggesting she was wronged by a sale of property she doesn't own. Much like Paul she could have stepped up and didn't.

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Subject: Taylor Swift

Hi Bob:

As you write about Taylor Swift jousting with Borchetta and Braun over the ownership of her masters, you might find this excerpt from my untitled, work in progress autobiography relevant:

It was in the mid 60s, when Brian Auger was a scalding hot property and was about to sign with RCA. He wanted an unusual clause added to his contract. What he wanted in the agreement was a paragraph stipulating that 20 years after the termination of the agreement, the ownership rights to the master recordings would be reassigned to him so that he could own and control his own music. "What? We just don't do that. It just isn't done.", said the RCA rec exec. Knowing that RCA really, really wanted him on their label, he said to the exec, "Tell me. Do you think you'll be working for RCA 20 years from now?" "I don't know", the puzzled exec responded. "Probably not". "Then why the fuck would you even care if I end up owning my masters 20 years from now," said Brian Auger with just enough agitation in his voice to sound like he might just walk away from the deal if he didn't get his way. "You won't even be here." "Fine", said the rec exe, not wanting to blow the whole deal and then having to explain to his higher ups why the deal fell apart. What Brian was asking for would barely be a blip in the the contractual radar and in all likelihood, would probably not even be noticed by anyone at the label. And because of this barely noticeable clause in a contract Brian signed almost 50 years ago, I have been in a position, as his personal manager, to be able to license Brian Auger's valuable catalog all over the world to various licensees to the tune of around a million dollars. So far. And his catalogue is as musically viable today as it was decades ago. Contracts may have termination dates but great music doesn't. Such foresight, Brian.

Regards,
David Libert

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From: John Loken
Subject: Re: Trump Tells The Squad To Go Home

Thanks for ending with a Jethro Tull lyric. I saw them last week in Palm Springs, and there was a guy actually hoisting his walker over his head with wild (but seated) abandon. Too old to rock and roll, too young to die.

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