Every show has to play. If a band member, even a member of the entourage, gets infected with Covid-19 it's a disaster.
Don't expect the hoi polloi to understand touring, after all they can't understand ticketing, not even the government can understand ticketing, the public thinks that Ticketmaster gets all the fees and the scalpers are such good lobbyists that elected officials end up with a skewed vision of the landscape and no regulations are put into place. But it gets even more complicated, in many cases promoters are in bed with the secondary market, offloading a chunk of tickets reduces their risk. Confused yet?
So the bottom line is these acts that barnstorm across the country, from arena to arena...it's not four guys in a station wagon. It's trucks, carrying production, never mind other infrastructure, both physical and human. It's a business. So, you spend a lot to make a lot. Now more than ever. Belief is the audience won't put up with a show that's only four guys on stage and that's it, that at these ticket prices people expect, demand production, I'm not sure that is true, but that's the standard of the industry, that's the way it is. So, the numbers are big. Let's say you play twenty dates. At best only the last five are profitable. The previous fifteen, even if they all sell out, are all about recovering costs.
Don't feel too bad for the acts, the percentage looks bad on the surface, but those last five dates can be EXTREMELY profitable. But if you have to cancel a few of the twenty for Covid reasons, you're screwed.
This is the dance that's being done now. Especially since acts have gone on the road and encountered this, Kiss and the Doobie Brothers had to shut down, and other performers too. For those acts now on the sidelines, getting ready to go...
So you think the business is back, but the truth is it's still in flux.
But one thing is for sure, the acts that are out there, the big ones, have Covid protocols that will blow your mind. Bottom line, you may work for the band and be unable to see them perform. You've got to stay in the bubble. To make sure the tour can go on, that there are no blips on the radar screen.
The truth is everybody needs the money, but some need it more than others. Meaning there are acts that do less than arena business, who are willing to take the risk, otherwise they're going to go broke. But not all of them. I was speaking to a musician who pulled his tour because it was just too dangerous, he played a couple of dates and then went home. Then again, the next dates on the schedule were in the southeast, he didn't want to play Russian Roulette.
And then there are the no-shows.
This is a phenomenon previously unseen at this level. People who bought tickets but just won't show up, because they're afraid of getting Covid. They don't want to risk their lives for a couple of hundred bucks. The truth is almost nobody wanted their money back from shows canceled in 2020, they held on to their tickets, but now that the dates are playing...some are unsure.
And these people staying home, writing off the cost of tickets, tend to be older. So acts that appeal to this demo take a higher risk in business. Does it make sense to put up a tour now?
What we do know is the fifteen to forty year olds will all show up. Except maybe for those older in the demo who have kids and are afraid of getting Covid and infecting them. This generation feels invulnerable, they believe they won't get infected and if they do they'll live through it, willy-nilly. So they'll show up. Then again, do the acts want to tour everywhere these people are? Already there are acts avoiding certain states. The more unvaccinated, the more the vaccinated are wary of going.
But it gets even worse. It's not only restaurants that can't get help, this is happening in touring too. Sometimes despite being hired, workers just don't show up. And the workers are in control, you can say you're going to fire them because the truth is you're begging them to come at all.
So at some gigs the concession stands can't be fully open. There are fewer merch tables. It's kinda like Brexit, the surface issues are obvious, you think you're immune to the consequences, and then you wake up and you realize you're caught in the quagmire too.
So what is going to happen?
So, Covid infection rates should get worse as the temperature drops. This is complicated. But the more your indoors, the higher the odds of infection. That's one of the reasons the south was hit so hard this summer, because it's so hot and they all retreated inside into the air conditioning.
But will the tours be impacted, will they stop?
Well like I said, the performers are creating leakproof bubbles. Because no one can get infected, it ruins the economics of the whole tour.
As for checking vaccination status...
That varies from gig to gig. I hear constantly from people who say their vaccine card was only barely checked, if at all. They flash their phone, the ticket taker barely glances and they're in. Then I know other shows where the promoter hires a whole new team just to check vaccination status, even asks patrons to show their driver's license to cross-check the information.
Now you can't even do that in every market. Hell, if Texans are beating up the hostess at a restaurant in New York for asking their vaccination status, imagine what it would be like at a gig, where someone has already committed, already paid for their ticket.
Bottom line, the touring business is going to an all vaxxed model, there's just too much at risk. It's not a matter of politics, it's a matter of economics. Furthermore, promoters have the right to do this. Then again, never underestimate the long arm of the law to get involved but...the bottom line is most governments want shows to play, for their economic reasons, it brings money into the community.
No one can state definitively how it will play out, but these are the issues.
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Saturday 18 September 2021
The End Of Minority Tyranny?
Thank god I live in California.
Not only does California have the lowest covid infection rate in the country: https://wapo.st/3klHYZk starting October 7th you've got to be vaccinated or show a negative test to attend an event with 10,000 people or more: https://lat.ms/2VXPeBy That's another reason Newsom won by such a large margin, COVID!
The story was that by having dinner at the French Laundry he sacrificed not only all credibility, but the ability to govern the state. When did we enter this zero tolerance era? It was beyond stupid that Newsom broke his own covid rules, but last I checked people learn from experience. And if it was about faux pas, wouldn't Trump have been impeached? Oh, that's right, he was, twice, but his lackeys wouldn't allow him to be convicted, because loyalty to the team is everything.
Turns out most people are for vaccination, and they're sick and tired of the people who won't get jabbed. If you won't get jabbed you're no friend of mine, you're just a narcissistic self-dealing pariah endangering the rest of the population because... Exactly why? You can't say the vaccine isn't safe, then again you do, and we live in a Facebook world where anything goes, but despite the words of Kellyanne Conway, facts do exist, however obfuscated they might be.
So in the wake of Newsom's victory the Democrats are changing their strategy, kumbaya is out the window, they're no longer going for unity, they're now going to run against Trump and the anti-vaxxers: https://wapo.st/3lEB0Ox Turns out that's a winning strategy, because there are more people on the anti-Trump/pro-vaccine team than the other way around, VASTLY more! It's just that those who oppose them are very vocal and threatening to the point where people are afraid to speak up. It's like the woke police in reverse. Say anything supporting vaccines and your inbox will fill up with hate, vitriol that is not only words, physical harm will be threatened. Leaving us in a Northern Ireland situation.
That's the talk right now. That that's where we are. And that peace needs to be brokered between the sides.
But all that blathering is by people who've never been to Belfast, where not only does the anger still boil, there are walls between Catholics and Protestants. The Berlin Wall? Holds nothing against the walls in Northern Ireland, and they still stand! And sure, you can venture from one side to the other, from one neighborhood to the other, but you'd better be on your guard.
Which is where we're going to in America.
All bets are off. The Republicans call for Milley's resignation when they break the Constitution constantly. Thank god someone stood up to Trump, otherwise you end up with an authoritarian akin to his hero Putin. And there are people who still support Putin, did you read the investigation of voters?
"As Russians Vote, Resignation, Anger and Fear of a Post-Putin Unknown": https://nyti.ms/3znAidA
Turns out many hate Putin but vote for him anyway, remembering what it was like in the nineties with the corruption and endless battle for assets from the soon to be oligarchs. This is the same way many Republicans vote for Trump and his cronies, because a vote for Democrats is a vote for socialism, the "colored" people will take over, they'll hand you free food in your government housing and the American way of life will cease to exist, even though the vision they cling to hasn't existed for half a century.
Not that the Democrats are a picnic either:
"Despite AOC's infamous dress, Democrats are getting cold feet on actually taxing the rich": https://wapo.st/3AucfuY
This is why so many have given up on the system. The fat cats pay the politicians and they ultimately get their way. The definitive statement is the failure to get rid of the carried interest rule, despite it serving no purpose other than to make financial managers even richer.
As for California, as the screws have been tightened on vaccination the truth has been revealed, so many of the public employees are scoundrels.
There's that firefighter who's bitching that he's got no freedom to abstain while he actually resides in Texas and made $247,000 last year. If that doesn't spin your head, you aren't aware that 2,600 members of the LAPD want religious exemptions to getting the vaccine. And we thought the firefighters and the police were on our side, serving and defending the people. Absolutely not! They're a right wing cabal. But at least L.A. keeps tightening the screws, no overtime from working at events or off-duty security unless you're vaxxed or show a negative test: https://lat.ms/3nGuSrU You hit them where it hurts, in their pocketbook, that'll get 'em vaxxed. And overtime is where these public employees keep making all that money, how do you think that firefighter made 247k in a year? And he's far from the only one.
The rich know to do their lobbying behind closed doors, to ensure plausible deniability. But those still working for a paycheck are too stupid to know how the game is played. Angelenos are flipped-out that you can live outside the city, get paid by the city, and refuse to keep them safe. There will be consequences.
Meanwhile, Texas is a paradise. Florida too. Lands of freedom.
As for California, if you listened to these bloviators you'd think it's wall to wall homeless people and that houses in the hinterlands cost a million dollars. Homeless come to California because the weather is good, it's just that simple. And everybody wants to live in the city, that's why housing is so expensive. Take that you rural nitwits.
And they are nitwits.
For far too long the tail has been wagging the dog, the minority has ruled. Hell, McConnell refusing to raise the debt ceiling? They only believe in government, compromise, forward movement if they're in power. Larry Elder was bitching that the election was fixed before it even took place. Talk about threats to democracy.
And I'm not writing this for the right. They'll be the first to react, my inbox will go nuclear, with scathing attacks, false information from unknown websites. No, this is for those of you on the left, who are scared, who think you are losing. YOU'RE NOT! Things are moving in the right direction, now is not the time to be depressed, now is the time to exalt, to push forward. Know that the majority is on your side. That's a fact, not an opinion. And people are pissed at these anti-vaxxers. So feel free to call these people out.
This is what happens when you push too far. And never forget, what people care about most is the safety of themselves and their loved ones, and when something threatens their family there's nothing they won't do to ensure their safety. This has got nothing to do with "freedom," this has to do with life and death. As for the harmlessness of covid:
"1 in 3 COVID-19 patients suffer from long COVID, a CDC study of Long Beach residents finds": https://lat.ms/3ksovGN
And if you're feeling lucky, think the odds are on your side, that you can fight off the virus by being diligent, employing your God-given immune system, I leave you with this:
From: sari leon
Subject: Re: Vaccine Mandates
Hi Bob,
To your loyal fans: GET F'IN VACC'D
My partner did not get vaccinated. He's a strong healthy guy who has followed all masking protocols, we never eat indoors, and have gone the zinc, D3, C vitamin cocktail since 12/19. I'm fully vaccinated. He got Covid, I got him scheduled for regeneron treatment within 72 hours of diagnosis. He was fine for 24 hours and then the s__t hit the fan. It's day 10 and I've already had 911 here but they thought he was better off at home- as I am a MA - then taking him since there was a 90 minute wait at the closest hospital's ER. So now I have an oxygen unit here which he is using 24/7 as his O2 without oxygen hovers around 88%. Oh, and trying to even obtain the medical equipment? I reserved one and said we'd be paying cash. He's on a steroidal inhaler and a steroid dospack, to help his lungs. I have becomes kinder Nurse Ratchet and he has become weaker each day. I can only pray that he turns a corner for the better sooner than later but whenever, his struggle for full recovery will take months. It's alarming as he could play tennis for hours 3 x per week and now he can hardly get to the bathroom.
GET F'IN VACC'D
sl
Florida
Not only does California have the lowest covid infection rate in the country: https://wapo.st/3klHYZk starting October 7th you've got to be vaccinated or show a negative test to attend an event with 10,000 people or more: https://lat.ms/2VXPeBy That's another reason Newsom won by such a large margin, COVID!
The story was that by having dinner at the French Laundry he sacrificed not only all credibility, but the ability to govern the state. When did we enter this zero tolerance era? It was beyond stupid that Newsom broke his own covid rules, but last I checked people learn from experience. And if it was about faux pas, wouldn't Trump have been impeached? Oh, that's right, he was, twice, but his lackeys wouldn't allow him to be convicted, because loyalty to the team is everything.
Turns out most people are for vaccination, and they're sick and tired of the people who won't get jabbed. If you won't get jabbed you're no friend of mine, you're just a narcissistic self-dealing pariah endangering the rest of the population because... Exactly why? You can't say the vaccine isn't safe, then again you do, and we live in a Facebook world where anything goes, but despite the words of Kellyanne Conway, facts do exist, however obfuscated they might be.
So in the wake of Newsom's victory the Democrats are changing their strategy, kumbaya is out the window, they're no longer going for unity, they're now going to run against Trump and the anti-vaxxers: https://wapo.st/3lEB0Ox Turns out that's a winning strategy, because there are more people on the anti-Trump/pro-vaccine team than the other way around, VASTLY more! It's just that those who oppose them are very vocal and threatening to the point where people are afraid to speak up. It's like the woke police in reverse. Say anything supporting vaccines and your inbox will fill up with hate, vitriol that is not only words, physical harm will be threatened. Leaving us in a Northern Ireland situation.
That's the talk right now. That that's where we are. And that peace needs to be brokered between the sides.
But all that blathering is by people who've never been to Belfast, where not only does the anger still boil, there are walls between Catholics and Protestants. The Berlin Wall? Holds nothing against the walls in Northern Ireland, and they still stand! And sure, you can venture from one side to the other, from one neighborhood to the other, but you'd better be on your guard.
Which is where we're going to in America.
All bets are off. The Republicans call for Milley's resignation when they break the Constitution constantly. Thank god someone stood up to Trump, otherwise you end up with an authoritarian akin to his hero Putin. And there are people who still support Putin, did you read the investigation of voters?
"As Russians Vote, Resignation, Anger and Fear of a Post-Putin Unknown": https://nyti.ms/3znAidA
Turns out many hate Putin but vote for him anyway, remembering what it was like in the nineties with the corruption and endless battle for assets from the soon to be oligarchs. This is the same way many Republicans vote for Trump and his cronies, because a vote for Democrats is a vote for socialism, the "colored" people will take over, they'll hand you free food in your government housing and the American way of life will cease to exist, even though the vision they cling to hasn't existed for half a century.
Not that the Democrats are a picnic either:
"Despite AOC's infamous dress, Democrats are getting cold feet on actually taxing the rich": https://wapo.st/3AucfuY
This is why so many have given up on the system. The fat cats pay the politicians and they ultimately get their way. The definitive statement is the failure to get rid of the carried interest rule, despite it serving no purpose other than to make financial managers even richer.
As for California, as the screws have been tightened on vaccination the truth has been revealed, so many of the public employees are scoundrels.
There's that firefighter who's bitching that he's got no freedom to abstain while he actually resides in Texas and made $247,000 last year. If that doesn't spin your head, you aren't aware that 2,600 members of the LAPD want religious exemptions to getting the vaccine. And we thought the firefighters and the police were on our side, serving and defending the people. Absolutely not! They're a right wing cabal. But at least L.A. keeps tightening the screws, no overtime from working at events or off-duty security unless you're vaxxed or show a negative test: https://lat.ms/3nGuSrU You hit them where it hurts, in their pocketbook, that'll get 'em vaxxed. And overtime is where these public employees keep making all that money, how do you think that firefighter made 247k in a year? And he's far from the only one.
The rich know to do their lobbying behind closed doors, to ensure plausible deniability. But those still working for a paycheck are too stupid to know how the game is played. Angelenos are flipped-out that you can live outside the city, get paid by the city, and refuse to keep them safe. There will be consequences.
Meanwhile, Texas is a paradise. Florida too. Lands of freedom.
As for California, if you listened to these bloviators you'd think it's wall to wall homeless people and that houses in the hinterlands cost a million dollars. Homeless come to California because the weather is good, it's just that simple. And everybody wants to live in the city, that's why housing is so expensive. Take that you rural nitwits.
And they are nitwits.
For far too long the tail has been wagging the dog, the minority has ruled. Hell, McConnell refusing to raise the debt ceiling? They only believe in government, compromise, forward movement if they're in power. Larry Elder was bitching that the election was fixed before it even took place. Talk about threats to democracy.
And I'm not writing this for the right. They'll be the first to react, my inbox will go nuclear, with scathing attacks, false information from unknown websites. No, this is for those of you on the left, who are scared, who think you are losing. YOU'RE NOT! Things are moving in the right direction, now is not the time to be depressed, now is the time to exalt, to push forward. Know that the majority is on your side. That's a fact, not an opinion. And people are pissed at these anti-vaxxers. So feel free to call these people out.
This is what happens when you push too far. And never forget, what people care about most is the safety of themselves and their loved ones, and when something threatens their family there's nothing they won't do to ensure their safety. This has got nothing to do with "freedom," this has to do with life and death. As for the harmlessness of covid:
"1 in 3 COVID-19 patients suffer from long COVID, a CDC study of Long Beach residents finds": https://lat.ms/3ksovGN
And if you're feeling lucky, think the odds are on your side, that you can fight off the virus by being diligent, employing your God-given immune system, I leave you with this:
From: sari leon
Subject: Re: Vaccine Mandates
Hi Bob,
To your loyal fans: GET F'IN VACC'D
My partner did not get vaccinated. He's a strong healthy guy who has followed all masking protocols, we never eat indoors, and have gone the zinc, D3, C vitamin cocktail since 12/19. I'm fully vaccinated. He got Covid, I got him scheduled for regeneron treatment within 72 hours of diagnosis. He was fine for 24 hours and then the s__t hit the fan. It's day 10 and I've already had 911 here but they thought he was better off at home- as I am a MA - then taking him since there was a 90 minute wait at the closest hospital's ER. So now I have an oxygen unit here which he is using 24/7 as his O2 without oxygen hovers around 88%. Oh, and trying to even obtain the medical equipment? I reserved one and said we'd be paying cash. He's on a steroidal inhaler and a steroid dospack, to help his lungs. I have becomes kinder Nurse Ratchet and he has become weaker each day. I can only pray that he turns a corner for the better sooner than later but whenever, his struggle for full recovery will take months. It's alarming as he could play tennis for hours 3 x per week and now he can hardly get to the bathroom.
GET F'IN VACC'D
sl
Florida
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Friday 17 September 2021
Fall
It's freaking me out. What happened to summer?
I just walked out the front door to get the mail and not only was the light yellow instead of white, there was a nip in the air, at least by California standards, I've been wearing a sweatshirt all day whereas just last week I was wrestling with Felice how low to set the A/C.
The seasons change subtly in Los Angeles. When you're a newbie you think it's all the same, but it's not. Live here long enough and you're hip to the subtleties. There comes a point when you've got to have an extra layer at night. And that happened this week.
I was out hiking and the temperature was in the low sixties and I had to wear another layer. And usually during the night it does not get too cold down by the beach, where the trail I hike starts. The water... It keeps the air from getting too hot in the summer and too cool in the winter. Although my last few years in Santa Monica I was thinking I needed to buy an air conditioning unit for the window. Used to be there was only a week in Santa Monica you needed A/C, now it's almost the entire summer. Your house starts off cool and then it doesn't cool down until almost daybreak. So sleeping ain't easy.
But I no longer live there anymore.
In my present abode I'm just a tad over the ridge, in the dreaded Valley. You couldn't be any closer to the Westside and still call it the Valley, but it is. In the seventies the Valley was taboo. Now there are residents who rarely ever go over the hill. Then again, there are people who rarely leave their house anymore. There's the traffic and then the communication methods. You used to have to leave your house for meetings, appointments, now you can even see the doctor in the privacy of your own home. And for decades there hasn't been a reasonable music space in the Valley, the Country Club's been gone for eons, now even the Universal Amphitheatre is gone. Action takes place downtown, or in Silver Lake or Echo Park, and the truth is they might actually be closer than they were in Santa Monica, especially since all the hip companies decided to decamp to the coast, never mind all the tech bros who can't live too far from the beach. Santa Monica is gridlocked. All of L.A. is gridlocked. But the truth is all the action is on our screens, despite oldsters telling us to get off of them. Everywhere I go people want to talk about streaming TV, and we're all constantly scrolling, catching up with our feeds on our smartphones. It's a conundrum. Because they're personalized, and we stay in constant contact with our buddies, but oftentimes we only see them once or twice a year, if that. And the truth is as you get older no one just drops by, you become ever more isolated. As for those people who are aged and single, good luck. It's hard to live the life of a singleton as an oldster. Going to bars, hanging out. What did Chris Rock say, you get married because you don't want to be the oldest guy in the club? I feel that these days. In my eyes I'm not a day over fifty, younger in fact, but to everybody else? There are the lines in my face giving it away. Now when there are more photos than ever before you're confronted with this on a regular basis, how people are constantly changing, it's subtle, but you can see it.
Well, that sounds like a march towards death. Which is what fall really is. But to tell you the truth, I love the winter, that's when the snow falls, when you can go skiing, my passion. But before that...
Growing up in Connecticut fall was reasonable until the end of October, when Daylight Savings Time ended. November brought low temps and rain, utterly miserable. In December it starts to snow. But they don't get the kind of snow they got when I grew up. Hell, with Zoom they don't even have snow days anymore, I can't imagine not waking up listening to local radio as they call out the towns where school is canceled.
The leaves don't start to change color until October sometime. And you drive down the street, especially on a Saturday, and you see piles of leaves smoldering, that's what you used to do, burn them. But my father never made me rake the leaves, sometimes we did it for fun, but my dad was cerebral, not physical, if he tried to fix something he broke it, I could give you numerous examples.
And on the east coast you've got a fall jacket. And a spring one too. They're part of your wardrobe. They don't exist in L.A. You've got your cold weather covering, as if the temperature would go down into the twenties, which it never ever does, and then light wraps for the rest of the year, but it does turn to fall, even winter.
When I went to college in Vermont, the first week of school was often warm. You occasionally had classes outside. But then the temperature dropped pretty rapidly. The leaves started to change halfway through September and peak was the first weekend of October. Now it's later. Then again, it depends where you are in the state, Southern Vermont is about a week later than Northern Vermont.
And I go to the Vail cams every day, and the Aspens are starting to go gold. It's an interesting effect, doesn't hold a candle to Vermont foliage, but it indicates death. Even the grass has gone from green to yellow. The snow will start to fall soon. It won't stick, but it'll come down. And after losing its connection to A-Basin, Vail is having its earliest opening ever, on November 12th, think about that, it's not even two months away. If you're on the east coast, seemingly anywhere but the deep southwest, drink up the atmosphere, the weather, because it's all downhill from here.
And the truth is we all have good memories of the fall. That slight nip in the air, having a hot drink outside in the afternoon, you feel invigorated. And too many people hate the winter and do their best to stay inside. They see living in the east as a burden, they want to decamp to Florida. We never did this. Furthermore, I have no problem fighting the cold weather, it makes you feel alive. That's one of the upsides of Alaska not that I've been there in the winter. And did you see how much it snowed in Greenland a few days back? Actually, I read a book based in Greenland just the other week, entitled "Phase Six," and I don't wholly recommend it, but it's interesting to put your mind in that place, with only a handful of people fighting the elements far from the infrastructure of the city. Then again, the phone works everywhere these days. It's confounding to us who grew up when this was not the case, when even long distance phone calls in the U.S. were expensive. I spoke for an hour with Ralph in London yesterday and it was like he was a few blocks away. Then again, it's always interesting to get a firsthand take, if you read the news you'd think shelves are bare, as a result of the trucking/infrastructure/Brexit situation, but Ralph said a chicken chain ran out of birds, but otherwise the markets are full. Not that your experience isn't different. Today everybody believes they're entitled to have their opinion heard, everybody's always correcting the record, and as a result there is no accurate record, you can hear yourself speak but does anybody else? You can post to Instagram and no one sees it. And everybody wants to grow their audience online, even kids in the single digits.
Now on the east coast summer is fully defined. There comes a week in April when you realize winter is history and you start going out in shorts and a t-shirt even if it's in the sixties, the fifties. And then Memorial Day is the start of summer. And Labor Day is the end of it. So you've got to squeeze your time in. If it rains on the weekend you're pissed. Here it never rains during the summer, there's no need to squeeze in activities, we can pretty much do everything all year long, but that does not mean I'm not shocked, positively shocked I tell you, that we're now on the verge of fall. Technically it's still four days away. Then again, next week it's supposed to get hot in L.A. once again. It's gonna work its way up into the nineties. But the days will get shorter and soon it will be in the low sixties or fifties every night, despite a few more burning hot days, and then it will be done.
As for fall activities...
When you're an adult they're a goof at best. Going to the corn maze. As for Halloween...it was little more than a blip on the radar screen when I grew up, it wasn't about costumes but candy, and older people wanted nothing to do with it. Now Halloween is a national holiday. Hell, I saw decorations at the end of August. Soon I'll be seeing Santa. Sure, there's the spirit, but also the commercialism, the corporations love it.
But the sun used to set at 8:11 PM. I checked it on the first day of summer. Today it's 6:56. And once it's dark, it's a completely different mind-set. I actually like the dark, it's when I get most of my work done, when I can truly get into it. Then again, it's depressing. The days get shorter, you drive home from work, traffic is heavy and it's already dark. That's weird.
And especially since L.A.'s hottest days are at the end of the summer you can fool yourself into thinking the warm days are gonna last forever. But then, pfftt! They're gone.
Then again, if you've got any bread you can always fly to where the weather is better. That's another thing that's hard to fathom if you grew up in the sixties. Most people hadn't even been on an airplane. A vacation was within a couple of hours' driving distance, at least on the east coast. The rest of the world was exotic. No longer.
The world is getting smaller.
Then again, Mother Nature is immutable. You can't hold back the shortening of the days. It's gonna happen no matter what.
And as Don Henley sang, there are only so many summers, and so many springs. Used to be the change of seasons was almost a surprise, but you get older and not only do you expect them, they lose a lot of their meaning. It used to be that the change in seasons meant you were jumping through the hoops of life. Going to school, graduating, and then you get to the point where you can see the end. Nobody lives forever. And you don't want to, all of your friends are dead. And so when the seasons change you think of how the time you have left is dwindling. And for those of us who want to accomplish things, to go places, time is running out. You realize you'll never get to certain locations, that you'll never get back to others. And although you want to keep enough money in case you do live long, you don't want to cheap out either, because there's so much stuff you'll be unable to do while you're still alive. Like physical activity. First you can't do sports, then you can't even travel, and then many people are just waiting to die.
Not that an elementary school kid thinks about this, but I do.
All the clichés are true, it goes by in the blink of an eye, but you still don't believe it'll happen to you. And you'll never get a chance to go down a different path. It's too late. You don't want to get a divorce and go back into that pool of singledom referenced above. You can kill time in your twenties and thirties, but get over sixty and every moment is precious. Sometimes you waste time and you're mad at yourself, there are only so many days and years left!
You want to grab hold.
But this big wheel keeps on turning, the sun hits it at different angles and you can't turn back the hands of time, isn't that what everybody says? There's even a song about it.
But sometimes I want to.
I just walked out the front door to get the mail and not only was the light yellow instead of white, there was a nip in the air, at least by California standards, I've been wearing a sweatshirt all day whereas just last week I was wrestling with Felice how low to set the A/C.
The seasons change subtly in Los Angeles. When you're a newbie you think it's all the same, but it's not. Live here long enough and you're hip to the subtleties. There comes a point when you've got to have an extra layer at night. And that happened this week.
I was out hiking and the temperature was in the low sixties and I had to wear another layer. And usually during the night it does not get too cold down by the beach, where the trail I hike starts. The water... It keeps the air from getting too hot in the summer and too cool in the winter. Although my last few years in Santa Monica I was thinking I needed to buy an air conditioning unit for the window. Used to be there was only a week in Santa Monica you needed A/C, now it's almost the entire summer. Your house starts off cool and then it doesn't cool down until almost daybreak. So sleeping ain't easy.
But I no longer live there anymore.
In my present abode I'm just a tad over the ridge, in the dreaded Valley. You couldn't be any closer to the Westside and still call it the Valley, but it is. In the seventies the Valley was taboo. Now there are residents who rarely ever go over the hill. Then again, there are people who rarely leave their house anymore. There's the traffic and then the communication methods. You used to have to leave your house for meetings, appointments, now you can even see the doctor in the privacy of your own home. And for decades there hasn't been a reasonable music space in the Valley, the Country Club's been gone for eons, now even the Universal Amphitheatre is gone. Action takes place downtown, or in Silver Lake or Echo Park, and the truth is they might actually be closer than they were in Santa Monica, especially since all the hip companies decided to decamp to the coast, never mind all the tech bros who can't live too far from the beach. Santa Monica is gridlocked. All of L.A. is gridlocked. But the truth is all the action is on our screens, despite oldsters telling us to get off of them. Everywhere I go people want to talk about streaming TV, and we're all constantly scrolling, catching up with our feeds on our smartphones. It's a conundrum. Because they're personalized, and we stay in constant contact with our buddies, but oftentimes we only see them once or twice a year, if that. And the truth is as you get older no one just drops by, you become ever more isolated. As for those people who are aged and single, good luck. It's hard to live the life of a singleton as an oldster. Going to bars, hanging out. What did Chris Rock say, you get married because you don't want to be the oldest guy in the club? I feel that these days. In my eyes I'm not a day over fifty, younger in fact, but to everybody else? There are the lines in my face giving it away. Now when there are more photos than ever before you're confronted with this on a regular basis, how people are constantly changing, it's subtle, but you can see it.
Well, that sounds like a march towards death. Which is what fall really is. But to tell you the truth, I love the winter, that's when the snow falls, when you can go skiing, my passion. But before that...
Growing up in Connecticut fall was reasonable until the end of October, when Daylight Savings Time ended. November brought low temps and rain, utterly miserable. In December it starts to snow. But they don't get the kind of snow they got when I grew up. Hell, with Zoom they don't even have snow days anymore, I can't imagine not waking up listening to local radio as they call out the towns where school is canceled.
The leaves don't start to change color until October sometime. And you drive down the street, especially on a Saturday, and you see piles of leaves smoldering, that's what you used to do, burn them. But my father never made me rake the leaves, sometimes we did it for fun, but my dad was cerebral, not physical, if he tried to fix something he broke it, I could give you numerous examples.
And on the east coast you've got a fall jacket. And a spring one too. They're part of your wardrobe. They don't exist in L.A. You've got your cold weather covering, as if the temperature would go down into the twenties, which it never ever does, and then light wraps for the rest of the year, but it does turn to fall, even winter.
When I went to college in Vermont, the first week of school was often warm. You occasionally had classes outside. But then the temperature dropped pretty rapidly. The leaves started to change halfway through September and peak was the first weekend of October. Now it's later. Then again, it depends where you are in the state, Southern Vermont is about a week later than Northern Vermont.
And I go to the Vail cams every day, and the Aspens are starting to go gold. It's an interesting effect, doesn't hold a candle to Vermont foliage, but it indicates death. Even the grass has gone from green to yellow. The snow will start to fall soon. It won't stick, but it'll come down. And after losing its connection to A-Basin, Vail is having its earliest opening ever, on November 12th, think about that, it's not even two months away. If you're on the east coast, seemingly anywhere but the deep southwest, drink up the atmosphere, the weather, because it's all downhill from here.
And the truth is we all have good memories of the fall. That slight nip in the air, having a hot drink outside in the afternoon, you feel invigorated. And too many people hate the winter and do their best to stay inside. They see living in the east as a burden, they want to decamp to Florida. We never did this. Furthermore, I have no problem fighting the cold weather, it makes you feel alive. That's one of the upsides of Alaska not that I've been there in the winter. And did you see how much it snowed in Greenland a few days back? Actually, I read a book based in Greenland just the other week, entitled "Phase Six," and I don't wholly recommend it, but it's interesting to put your mind in that place, with only a handful of people fighting the elements far from the infrastructure of the city. Then again, the phone works everywhere these days. It's confounding to us who grew up when this was not the case, when even long distance phone calls in the U.S. were expensive. I spoke for an hour with Ralph in London yesterday and it was like he was a few blocks away. Then again, it's always interesting to get a firsthand take, if you read the news you'd think shelves are bare, as a result of the trucking/infrastructure/Brexit situation, but Ralph said a chicken chain ran out of birds, but otherwise the markets are full. Not that your experience isn't different. Today everybody believes they're entitled to have their opinion heard, everybody's always correcting the record, and as a result there is no accurate record, you can hear yourself speak but does anybody else? You can post to Instagram and no one sees it. And everybody wants to grow their audience online, even kids in the single digits.
Now on the east coast summer is fully defined. There comes a week in April when you realize winter is history and you start going out in shorts and a t-shirt even if it's in the sixties, the fifties. And then Memorial Day is the start of summer. And Labor Day is the end of it. So you've got to squeeze your time in. If it rains on the weekend you're pissed. Here it never rains during the summer, there's no need to squeeze in activities, we can pretty much do everything all year long, but that does not mean I'm not shocked, positively shocked I tell you, that we're now on the verge of fall. Technically it's still four days away. Then again, next week it's supposed to get hot in L.A. once again. It's gonna work its way up into the nineties. But the days will get shorter and soon it will be in the low sixties or fifties every night, despite a few more burning hot days, and then it will be done.
As for fall activities...
When you're an adult they're a goof at best. Going to the corn maze. As for Halloween...it was little more than a blip on the radar screen when I grew up, it wasn't about costumes but candy, and older people wanted nothing to do with it. Now Halloween is a national holiday. Hell, I saw decorations at the end of August. Soon I'll be seeing Santa. Sure, there's the spirit, but also the commercialism, the corporations love it.
But the sun used to set at 8:11 PM. I checked it on the first day of summer. Today it's 6:56. And once it's dark, it's a completely different mind-set. I actually like the dark, it's when I get most of my work done, when I can truly get into it. Then again, it's depressing. The days get shorter, you drive home from work, traffic is heavy and it's already dark. That's weird.
And especially since L.A.'s hottest days are at the end of the summer you can fool yourself into thinking the warm days are gonna last forever. But then, pfftt! They're gone.
Then again, if you've got any bread you can always fly to where the weather is better. That's another thing that's hard to fathom if you grew up in the sixties. Most people hadn't even been on an airplane. A vacation was within a couple of hours' driving distance, at least on the east coast. The rest of the world was exotic. No longer.
The world is getting smaller.
Then again, Mother Nature is immutable. You can't hold back the shortening of the days. It's gonna happen no matter what.
And as Don Henley sang, there are only so many summers, and so many springs. Used to be the change of seasons was almost a surprise, but you get older and not only do you expect them, they lose a lot of their meaning. It used to be that the change in seasons meant you were jumping through the hoops of life. Going to school, graduating, and then you get to the point where you can see the end. Nobody lives forever. And you don't want to, all of your friends are dead. And so when the seasons change you think of how the time you have left is dwindling. And for those of us who want to accomplish things, to go places, time is running out. You realize you'll never get to certain locations, that you'll never get back to others. And although you want to keep enough money in case you do live long, you don't want to cheap out either, because there's so much stuff you'll be unable to do while you're still alive. Like physical activity. First you can't do sports, then you can't even travel, and then many people are just waiting to die.
Not that an elementary school kid thinks about this, but I do.
All the clichés are true, it goes by in the blink of an eye, but you still don't believe it'll happen to you. And you'll never get a chance to go down a different path. It's too late. You don't want to get a divorce and go back into that pool of singledom referenced above. You can kill time in your twenties and thirties, but get over sixty and every moment is precious. Sometimes you waste time and you're mad at yourself, there are only so many days and years left!
You want to grab hold.
But this big wheel keeps on turning, the sun hits it at different angles and you can't turn back the hands of time, isn't that what everybody says? There's even a song about it.
But sometimes I want to.
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Wild World
"Your Song" wasn't the only legendary ballad released at the end of 1970, although it took longer for "Wild World" to become a hit.
Not that Cat Stevens was new. Like Elton John he'd been kicking around a while, released music previously, but suddenly the stars aligned. To the hoi polloi they emerged fully formed, it was nearly a miracle, where did this music come from?
Now the truth is Cat Stevens had actually had a bit of success previously, it's just that most people were unaware of it. Those who needed more bought imports of Elton's "Empty Sky" and were disappointed. But when you went back and bought Cat Stevens's earlier LP, "Mona Bone Jakon," you found something darker than "Tea for the Tillerman," more uneven, but with highlights just as good. It was kind of like "Hunky Dory" before the breakthrough of "Ziggy Stardust," although the truth is "Ziggy" was nowhere near as big as either "Elton John" or "Tea for the Tillerman" in the U.S., Bowie had to make three more LPs before he had the giant hit "Rebel Rebel" off of "Diamond Dogs," then again those paying attention, living for music, already knew who he was, it was only the johnny-come-latelies who were surprised, who now had to see Bowie in arenas instead of theatres.
But although the early successes, the earlier artistic peaks, of both Elton and Bowie were high, they continued to crest again and again over the years, Cat Stevens did not. Would Stevens have found the magic once again if he hadn't retired? Possibly, but his albums kept getting worse. "Teaser and the Firecat" had three big hits, but it was a less satisfying listening experience, and a step down in quality. Then, despite making six more albums, Stevens only had two more hits, "Oh Very Young" from "Buddha and the Chocolate Box" and the non-album single "Another Saturday Night" and called it a day. It was big news, Cat's religious conversion, because despite the internet today in the seventies music was the dominant cultural force, far exceeding television, and by the latter half of the decade the blockbuster era had flowered in film, and although there was corporate rock at the same time, there were still monumental albums, too many to list, and "Rolling Stone" had the impact and gravitas of a major newspaper.
Now the truth is Cat Stevens woke up a couple of years back and went on tour and if you didn't see him you missed something special. And then he rerecorded "Tea for the Tillerman." This should never be done. Artists are clueless as to what makes their albums hits, why the public gravitates towards them. Unless, of course, you're going for a hit, but despite radio action those cuts rarely resonate throughout history, it's the ones when you're deep in your hole, doing your own thing, not worrying about the audience, that connect. And as Steven Wilson, the best remixer out there says, you don't want to mess with the sound fans know. Acts are constantly telling him to tweak, to "improve" the sound. But Wilson says these remixes are for fans, and he wants them to sound identical, but clearer, that's what they want. Despite reams of hype, nobody wanted a reimagined "Tea for the Tillerman," but the original...
And speaking of originals, not only did "Mona Bone Jakon" precede "Tea for the Tillerman," but "Matthew and Son" and "New Masters," and Cat's previous work, gained notice and at this point one must say "The First Cut Is the Deepest" is a standard, covered by many.
Also, in the seventies the film "Harold & Maude" became an art house classic and "Trouble" from "Mona Bone Jakon" played in one of the best scenes in the movie so if you look back at the era, the decade, the seventies, Cat Stevens was a big star.
But it all started with "Wild World." That's when most people got their first taste of his music. After all, the initial two LPs were on Deram and most people were completely unaware of them.
Now if you listen to "Elton John," despite some raucous numbers, many of the greatest tracks are dark. With rich production from Gus Dudgeon and strings by Paul Buckmaster. But "Tea for the Tillerman" was different, the songs might have been dark at times, but the production was not, the album had a sunny tone, and as a result ultimately got played out and discarded, well relatively. People kept spinning those early Elton John albums but "Tea for the Tillerman" had been so overplayed, embraced by both casual fans and diehards, that you didn't hear it. And now, decades later, revisiting it is jaw-dropping.
Now the truth is "Wild World" was the hit, but it's not my favorite song on the album. I bought the album based on reviews, I was living in the hinterlands, far from commercial radio, I knew every cut on "Tea for the Tillerman" before I ever heard "Wild World" on the radio, and I remember exactly where it happened, April 21st 1971, on the way back from a gorgeous day at Stowe, in a parking lot in Burlington, a guy had the side door of his van opened, and the song was emanating. A connection was made in my brain, this song really is that big. But ultimately my favorite cut on the album was the final one, a minute five long, the title track.
"Oh lord, how they play and play
For that happy day, for that happy day"
It was just Cat and his piano. Quiet. And then the song built to a flourish, all excited, with backup vocals, and then it was done, and this was long before CD players, if you wanted to hear it again you had to get up and lift the needle. And for a one minute song you rarely did, so hearing ""Tea for the Tillerman" at the end of the LP was a treat, back when we listened to complete sides anyway.
Now strangely, fifty years on the biggest cut off of "Tea for Tillerman" is track 10, deep on the second side, "Father and Son," now that the boomers are parents, at this point even grandparents.
And if I were going track by track, I'd have to singe out "Miles From Nowhere" and "Longer Boats," and most especially "Hard Headed Woman," never mind "Where Do the Children Play."
But right there in the middle of the first side is "Wild World."
"Now that I've lost everything to you
You say you want to start something new
And it's breaking my heart that you're leaving
Baby, I'm grieving"
This used to be the basic paradigm of songs from the blues era on. Broken relationship. Man on the losing end. How we got to this macho turnaround I'll never know, actually I do know, but I can't say, because of the woke police, I can't be politically incorrect, I risk getting canceled, but whereas you could identify with the music of yore, today you often end up feeling inferior, kinda like surfing Instagram. And never forget, despite the bravura, men take breakups harder than women.
"But if you want to leave take good care
Hope you have a lot of nice things to wear
But then a lot of things turn bad out there"
Now wait just a minute here, he's starting to sneer, turns out he's angrier than he let on, he's not only licking his wounds, he's biting back, despite the pleasant "la la" music.
"You know I've seen a lot of what the world can do
And it's breaking my heart in two
Because I never want to see you sad girl
Don't be a bad girl"
He's wiser, he'd protect her, but now she's out on her own without his direction, he's warning her she's gonna take hits, get into trouble, even worse don't encourage men, don't change your personality, don't go down the wrong roads.
"But if you want to leave take good care
Hope you make a lot of nice friends out there
But just remember there's a lot of bad and beware"
This is just a spin on "You don't know what you're losing, you're gonna miss me when I'm gone, you're never going to find anybody better than me."
"Oh, baby baby it's a wild world
It's hard to get by just upon a smile
Oh, baby baby it's a wild world
And I'll always remember you like a child girl yeah"
The truth is you can get very far just upon a smile. And the singer knows this. He resents this. The doors opening for his ex while he's home licking his wounds. He's warning her what's out there, the bad to come, and says he doesn't want to know what happens to her, when she grows up, when she loses her innocence, he's going to remember her how she was with him, a child, who he probably tried to control. The guy in this song probably caused her to leave, by coddling her, trying to clip her wings. Then again, young love rarely lasts. Then again, it's hard to get over your first.
Not that you know all this at age seventeen, when I was listening to "Wild World." Your whole life is in front of you, you're inexperienced, despite thinking you know it all. And the funny thing is I was brought up in an era of freedom, to be who you wanted to be, you could get by on minimum wage, you didn't need a "career," you also didn't need to stay with someone if you were unhappy, and therefore it's hard to find a boomer who isn't divorced. And you'll also find aged boomers who are alone, many with regrets, but there are no do-overs in life. Even worse, the one you fantasize about, who left you...unlike in the song most did quite well, had relatively happy lives, they were looking for the one before they settled down, they wanted to make a good choice, not stay with their first. Then again, not all stories have good endings.
So what you've got here is a legendary hit, a bedrock song, that plays all sunny, that people smile at when they hear it on the radio, but the truth is despite the lilting music, it's really a downbeat number. Casual listeners think the singer is accepting the loss, wishing his ex good tidings, when the truth is just the opposite. But how many lovers scorned don't have resentment.
And one thing is for sure, as we grew up we realized Cat was right, it was definitely a wild world out there and we'd give anything to be a child once again, with our hopes and dreams, our wherewithal still intact. But we've still got this music, which is why they call it classic rock. Is today's music classic? I'll let you decide.
Not that Cat Stevens was new. Like Elton John he'd been kicking around a while, released music previously, but suddenly the stars aligned. To the hoi polloi they emerged fully formed, it was nearly a miracle, where did this music come from?
Now the truth is Cat Stevens had actually had a bit of success previously, it's just that most people were unaware of it. Those who needed more bought imports of Elton's "Empty Sky" and were disappointed. But when you went back and bought Cat Stevens's earlier LP, "Mona Bone Jakon," you found something darker than "Tea for the Tillerman," more uneven, but with highlights just as good. It was kind of like "Hunky Dory" before the breakthrough of "Ziggy Stardust," although the truth is "Ziggy" was nowhere near as big as either "Elton John" or "Tea for the Tillerman" in the U.S., Bowie had to make three more LPs before he had the giant hit "Rebel Rebel" off of "Diamond Dogs," then again those paying attention, living for music, already knew who he was, it was only the johnny-come-latelies who were surprised, who now had to see Bowie in arenas instead of theatres.
But although the early successes, the earlier artistic peaks, of both Elton and Bowie were high, they continued to crest again and again over the years, Cat Stevens did not. Would Stevens have found the magic once again if he hadn't retired? Possibly, but his albums kept getting worse. "Teaser and the Firecat" had three big hits, but it was a less satisfying listening experience, and a step down in quality. Then, despite making six more albums, Stevens only had two more hits, "Oh Very Young" from "Buddha and the Chocolate Box" and the non-album single "Another Saturday Night" and called it a day. It was big news, Cat's religious conversion, because despite the internet today in the seventies music was the dominant cultural force, far exceeding television, and by the latter half of the decade the blockbuster era had flowered in film, and although there was corporate rock at the same time, there were still monumental albums, too many to list, and "Rolling Stone" had the impact and gravitas of a major newspaper.
Now the truth is Cat Stevens woke up a couple of years back and went on tour and if you didn't see him you missed something special. And then he rerecorded "Tea for the Tillerman." This should never be done. Artists are clueless as to what makes their albums hits, why the public gravitates towards them. Unless, of course, you're going for a hit, but despite radio action those cuts rarely resonate throughout history, it's the ones when you're deep in your hole, doing your own thing, not worrying about the audience, that connect. And as Steven Wilson, the best remixer out there says, you don't want to mess with the sound fans know. Acts are constantly telling him to tweak, to "improve" the sound. But Wilson says these remixes are for fans, and he wants them to sound identical, but clearer, that's what they want. Despite reams of hype, nobody wanted a reimagined "Tea for the Tillerman," but the original...
And speaking of originals, not only did "Mona Bone Jakon" precede "Tea for the Tillerman," but "Matthew and Son" and "New Masters," and Cat's previous work, gained notice and at this point one must say "The First Cut Is the Deepest" is a standard, covered by many.
Also, in the seventies the film "Harold & Maude" became an art house classic and "Trouble" from "Mona Bone Jakon" played in one of the best scenes in the movie so if you look back at the era, the decade, the seventies, Cat Stevens was a big star.
But it all started with "Wild World." That's when most people got their first taste of his music. After all, the initial two LPs were on Deram and most people were completely unaware of them.
Now if you listen to "Elton John," despite some raucous numbers, many of the greatest tracks are dark. With rich production from Gus Dudgeon and strings by Paul Buckmaster. But "Tea for the Tillerman" was different, the songs might have been dark at times, but the production was not, the album had a sunny tone, and as a result ultimately got played out and discarded, well relatively. People kept spinning those early Elton John albums but "Tea for the Tillerman" had been so overplayed, embraced by both casual fans and diehards, that you didn't hear it. And now, decades later, revisiting it is jaw-dropping.
Now the truth is "Wild World" was the hit, but it's not my favorite song on the album. I bought the album based on reviews, I was living in the hinterlands, far from commercial radio, I knew every cut on "Tea for the Tillerman" before I ever heard "Wild World" on the radio, and I remember exactly where it happened, April 21st 1971, on the way back from a gorgeous day at Stowe, in a parking lot in Burlington, a guy had the side door of his van opened, and the song was emanating. A connection was made in my brain, this song really is that big. But ultimately my favorite cut on the album was the final one, a minute five long, the title track.
"Oh lord, how they play and play
For that happy day, for that happy day"
It was just Cat and his piano. Quiet. And then the song built to a flourish, all excited, with backup vocals, and then it was done, and this was long before CD players, if you wanted to hear it again you had to get up and lift the needle. And for a one minute song you rarely did, so hearing ""Tea for the Tillerman" at the end of the LP was a treat, back when we listened to complete sides anyway.
Now strangely, fifty years on the biggest cut off of "Tea for Tillerman" is track 10, deep on the second side, "Father and Son," now that the boomers are parents, at this point even grandparents.
And if I were going track by track, I'd have to singe out "Miles From Nowhere" and "Longer Boats," and most especially "Hard Headed Woman," never mind "Where Do the Children Play."
But right there in the middle of the first side is "Wild World."
"Now that I've lost everything to you
You say you want to start something new
And it's breaking my heart that you're leaving
Baby, I'm grieving"
This used to be the basic paradigm of songs from the blues era on. Broken relationship. Man on the losing end. How we got to this macho turnaround I'll never know, actually I do know, but I can't say, because of the woke police, I can't be politically incorrect, I risk getting canceled, but whereas you could identify with the music of yore, today you often end up feeling inferior, kinda like surfing Instagram. And never forget, despite the bravura, men take breakups harder than women.
"But if you want to leave take good care
Hope you have a lot of nice things to wear
But then a lot of things turn bad out there"
Now wait just a minute here, he's starting to sneer, turns out he's angrier than he let on, he's not only licking his wounds, he's biting back, despite the pleasant "la la" music.
"You know I've seen a lot of what the world can do
And it's breaking my heart in two
Because I never want to see you sad girl
Don't be a bad girl"
He's wiser, he'd protect her, but now she's out on her own without his direction, he's warning her she's gonna take hits, get into trouble, even worse don't encourage men, don't change your personality, don't go down the wrong roads.
"But if you want to leave take good care
Hope you make a lot of nice friends out there
But just remember there's a lot of bad and beware"
This is just a spin on "You don't know what you're losing, you're gonna miss me when I'm gone, you're never going to find anybody better than me."
"Oh, baby baby it's a wild world
It's hard to get by just upon a smile
Oh, baby baby it's a wild world
And I'll always remember you like a child girl yeah"
The truth is you can get very far just upon a smile. And the singer knows this. He resents this. The doors opening for his ex while he's home licking his wounds. He's warning her what's out there, the bad to come, and says he doesn't want to know what happens to her, when she grows up, when she loses her innocence, he's going to remember her how she was with him, a child, who he probably tried to control. The guy in this song probably caused her to leave, by coddling her, trying to clip her wings. Then again, young love rarely lasts. Then again, it's hard to get over your first.
Not that you know all this at age seventeen, when I was listening to "Wild World." Your whole life is in front of you, you're inexperienced, despite thinking you know it all. And the funny thing is I was brought up in an era of freedom, to be who you wanted to be, you could get by on minimum wage, you didn't need a "career," you also didn't need to stay with someone if you were unhappy, and therefore it's hard to find a boomer who isn't divorced. And you'll also find aged boomers who are alone, many with regrets, but there are no do-overs in life. Even worse, the one you fantasize about, who left you...unlike in the song most did quite well, had relatively happy lives, they were looking for the one before they settled down, they wanted to make a good choice, not stay with their first. Then again, not all stories have good endings.
So what you've got here is a legendary hit, a bedrock song, that plays all sunny, that people smile at when they hear it on the radio, but the truth is despite the lilting music, it's really a downbeat number. Casual listeners think the singer is accepting the loss, wishing his ex good tidings, when the truth is just the opposite. But how many lovers scorned don't have resentment.
And one thing is for sure, as we grew up we realized Cat was right, it was definitely a wild world out there and we'd give anything to be a child once again, with our hopes and dreams, our wherewithal still intact. But we've still got this music, which is why they call it classic rock. Is today's music classic? I'll let you decide.
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Thursday 16 September 2021
The Fat Rat-This Week's Podcast
The Fat Rat is the king of gaming music. He's got over 5.5 million YouTube subscribers and over 2 billion streams on YouTube and Spotify. Find out how a musician from a small city in Germany conquered the music business, going from Berlin to America and ultimately back again, signing to Universal and then leaving, finding he makes more money independently and can do whatever he chooses artistically. Want to know how to make it today? LISTEN!
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-the-bob-lefsetz-podcast-30806836/
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fat-rat/id1316200737?i=1000535518029
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9ff4fb19-54d4-41ae-ae7a-8a6f8d3dafa8/the-bob-lefsetz-podcast
https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-bob-lefsetz-podcast
https://open.spotify.com/episode/38XP9NKUzmOW5mxIj2COfI?si=ppCUJ05LRfCLTo8Q6KeGZg&dl_branch=1
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-Apple: https://apple.co/2ndmpvp
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https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-the-bob-lefsetz-podcast-30806836/
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fat-rat/id1316200737?i=1000535518029
https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9ff4fb19-54d4-41ae-ae7a-8a6f8d3dafa8/the-bob-lefsetz-podcast
https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-bob-lefsetz-podcast
https://open.spotify.com/episode/38XP9NKUzmOW5mxIj2COfI?si=ppCUJ05LRfCLTo8Q6KeGZg&dl_branch=1
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Wednesday 15 September 2021
Elizabeth Holmes said she was too pretty to go to jail.
Needless to say, Holmes is on trial as we speak, blaming her heinous behavior on her old boyfriend Sunny Balwani, claiming abuse and ultimately PTSD as she attends Burning Man and galivants around San Francisco as if she had not a care in the world.
If you think you know everything about this story, you probably don't.
Start by reading John Carreyrou's book "Bad Blood": https://amzn.to/39aYp4E The most memorable part of the book for me is when attorney David Boies, who heretofore had an impeccable image, comes in with a team to threaten Carreyrou at the "Wall Street Journal." But Carreyrou and the WSJ stand their ground.
And now the WSJ is investigating Facebook. You've probably seen the headlines.
Carreyrou single-handedly brought down Theranos, will the WSJ series have an impact on Facebook? Definitely, although how much is yet to be seen.
So if you're into nonfiction, after reading "Bad Blood" be sure to read "Red Notice": https://amzn.to/2Xw3VfR an account of finance in Russia and so much more. As a matter of fact the Magnitsky Act, which Bill Browder, author of "Red Notice," fomented, is in the news seemingly every day.
Both of these books are easily read. As a matter of fact, you'll have a hard time putting them down. If this were a class, they'd be assigned reading.
But before you read those books I would first make you listen to Roger McNamee on Kurt Andersen's podcast: https://apple.co/2XfFwKZ
I know Roger, I've even done a podcast with him myself, but in this hour he details the history and landscape of Silicon Valley, as well as the history of government intervention against bad actors and monopolies so well it's like a master class.
Bottom line... Roger thought tech was a tool for good. Isn't that what Steve Jobs famously claimed, that he was just making tools?
And McNamee was the first to blow the whistle on Facebook in the last election cycle, 2016, and he even wrote a book about Facebook, "Zucked," but his message still has not gotten traction outside a small coterie of thinkers. That's where the WSJ comes in.
But start with McNamee first.
When Roger puts it all in context, talks about how the government regulated meat to the benefit of the public, broke up the phone company, you'll start to see a way through this mess.
Bottom line... Facebook and Google are on both sides of the transaction, they both host and sell, and he says they must do only one or the other.
And they colluded to control online advertising. This has been well documented in the news, but it's not flashy enough to gain ubiquity , despite state attorneys general suing the company. But there is one smoking gun after another, evidence, it's not just a theory.
But wait, there's more! McNamee delineates the difference between the boomers and the millennials. The boomers grew up in an era where it was about the common good. The millennials grew up in an era where it was all about the individual, every person for him or herself, the common good be damned. Think about this, the Reagan revolution has paid dividends, and so many are not positive, the culture was changed, and too many people bought in. So Roger posits when Mark Zuckerberg makes heinous choices to benefit Facebook he thinks he's doing a good thing, he doesn't know any better. And now the details are coming out in the WSJ.
But staying with McNamee... Roger says how when they broke up the phone company, it stimulated advancement. That if you break up Google you'll end up with fifty new companies. If you break up Facebook you'll end up with a hundred. As for innovation, these evil twins are only trying to maintain their audience/customers, there's no real advancement being made, it's like a case study for the dearly departed Clayton Christensen, the old companies waiting to be disrupted.
So McNamee lays out a blueprint to go forward. And acknowledges that government is always behind, but that does not mean government shouldn't flex its muscles.
But going back to the WSJ series on Facebook, the quote in today's paper is priceless:
"A now-former executive questioned the idea of overhauling Instagram to avoid social comparison. 'People use Instagram because it's a competition,' the former executive said. 'That's the fun part.'"
I'd provide a link but either you subscribe to the WSJ or you don't, you're either in the loop or you're not. You can gather misinformation on social media, most especially Facebook, or you can go to the source, but the source costs money and Americans are cheap, even worse, they oftentimes can't even understand what is proffered. I posit a significant segment of the population won't even follow and grasp what McNamee says, even though it's far from boring, they just don't have the education to be able to analyze, to comprehend, many just believe a man in the sky will save them.
So the above quote is from the second WSJ installment on Facebook. Turns out the Facebook owned company Instagram is wreaking havoc on the self-image of today's young women. They just can't live up to the images online. Almost nobody can, unless it's your full time job and you're willing to starve yourself and get plastic surgery. Instagram is for bragging, and too many end up feeling like a loser.
But that's not as bad as tomorrow's segment, which went live on the WSJ site this morning:
"Facebook Tried to Make Its Platform a Healthier Place. It Got Angrier Instead. - Internal memos show how a big 2018 change rewarded outrage and that CEO Mark Zuckerberg resisted proposed fixes."
Turns out the execs are not in the control of the platform, they keep saying they're putting on band-aids when they're not, or they do so with unintended negative results. The goal is just to keep people on the platform, that can't be sacrificed, that metric is king. So despite having studies detailing the deleterious results of Facebook's platforms the company ignores them. Even worse, it says they're taking action when they're not. It's obfuscation all the time. Zuck testifies in Congress, he keeps saying he'll provide backup and then does not. And then he just goes on wrecking the world. You see Zuck is the most powerful person in the world, but this doesn't sit right with elected officials and titans of old school industry. Rupert Murdoch has taught us the power is in the ink, the press. And in truth, Zuckerberg has got a stranglehold on the press, his sites are where people go for information, and his goal is to raise your emotions so you'll stay connected and participate. Like, respond, forward, it's gold to Facebook but lead for our society.
In the first WSJ installment on Facebook it is revealed that the company has a whitelist. That if you're famous, in the public eye, have enough followers, they give you a pass, no matter what you post. Because they're scared you'll fight back and the company might not look good. And the truth is they don't have enough people to police behavior and the algorithm is far from perfect, which is why the hoi polloi are constantly complaining that they post innocuous stuff on Facebook and Instagram and it gets taken down and they might even get blocked while a whole tier of society gets a free pass. Once again, Zuck was confronted with this, what did he do? HE LIED!
Newsom won yesterday. You'll see all these learned lessons in the media today. I'm not sure I believe all of them. Bottom line, California is a Democratic state, and the only reason Schwarzenegger won was because he was famous, a celebrity, a movie star, and in the last fifteen plus years the state has moved even further left. So is California a harbinger for the 2022 elections? I would certainly hope so, but I don't believe it, look at how many votes Trump actually got last November, they far exceeded what all the pundits prognosticated.
And where is this cult's word spread? Online. ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM!
An for TikTok, the WSJ says there's a distinct difference:
"'Social comparison is worse on Instagram,' states Facebook's deep dive into teen girl body-image issues in 2020, noting that TikTok, a short-video app, is grounded in performance, while users on Snapchat, a rival photo and video-sharing app, are sheltered by jokey filters that 'keep the focus on the face.' In contrast, Instagram focuses heavily on the body and lifestyle."
So what is going to happen? Roger McNamee posits a way out, so maybe we can have hope, but Zuckerberg has so much power...
As for Theranos, I highly recommend the podcast "The Dropout, Elizabeth Holmes on trial": https://apple.co/3ziDNlk
You can ignore the previous season. Just start with the August 31st episode "Where Have You Been, Elizabeth Holmes."
But listen to Roger McNamee first.
And know this is the story of our day. I mean who is going to listen to musicians when superstar Nicky Minaj says she heard from a cousin in Trinidad that his friend got Covid-19 and his testicles swelled and he ended up impotent. Of course Fauci and every reputable outlet denied this could possibly happen, but none of them have the reach of Ms. Minaj, who has 22.6 million followers on Twitter and 157 million on Instagram, talk about the power of the image over the written word... Used to be the titans of the "Billboard" chart were educated and smart, no longer, which is why they can only move the uneducated rearguard, anybody with a brain ignores them.
But don't ignore the news. And get it from the source, not handed down via a game of telephone like Nicki Minaj, like so many do on Facebook. In the eighties celebrity gossip culture and top-tier culture merged, this has been the story of the past few decades, but it's no longer the truth, if for no other reason than we're no longer sure who the stars are anymore. The movie stars have been revealed to be two-dimensional and out of touch and everybody at home believes they're a star so you end up with an elite running the world and...those following music and gossip aren't even members, they have no impact. Hell, look at the music business in Britain. They believed Boris Johnson was in their corner, but not only did Brexit make touring the Continent light years more difficult, time-consuming and expensive, despite this now coming to light the government still hasn't negotiated a reasonable settlement. And why would the government listen to the music business anyway, when oldsters like Eric Clapton are issuing falsehoods and the stars of the chart are mostly television nitwits?
We are in a fight for democracy. But even more we're in a fight for society, for culture, for state of mind. Turns out these social media outlets are killing our world, they're beyond the control of our elected officials.
And why should they take action, when a healthy part of the population won't get the vaccine and keep talking about it on social media platforms, raining down coin for their owners?
Think about it.
Needless to say, Holmes is on trial as we speak, blaming her heinous behavior on her old boyfriend Sunny Balwani, claiming abuse and ultimately PTSD as she attends Burning Man and galivants around San Francisco as if she had not a care in the world.
If you think you know everything about this story, you probably don't.
Start by reading John Carreyrou's book "Bad Blood": https://amzn.to/39aYp4E The most memorable part of the book for me is when attorney David Boies, who heretofore had an impeccable image, comes in with a team to threaten Carreyrou at the "Wall Street Journal." But Carreyrou and the WSJ stand their ground.
And now the WSJ is investigating Facebook. You've probably seen the headlines.
Carreyrou single-handedly brought down Theranos, will the WSJ series have an impact on Facebook? Definitely, although how much is yet to be seen.
So if you're into nonfiction, after reading "Bad Blood" be sure to read "Red Notice": https://amzn.to/2Xw3VfR an account of finance in Russia and so much more. As a matter of fact the Magnitsky Act, which Bill Browder, author of "Red Notice," fomented, is in the news seemingly every day.
Both of these books are easily read. As a matter of fact, you'll have a hard time putting them down. If this were a class, they'd be assigned reading.
But before you read those books I would first make you listen to Roger McNamee on Kurt Andersen's podcast: https://apple.co/2XfFwKZ
I know Roger, I've even done a podcast with him myself, but in this hour he details the history and landscape of Silicon Valley, as well as the history of government intervention against bad actors and monopolies so well it's like a master class.
Bottom line... Roger thought tech was a tool for good. Isn't that what Steve Jobs famously claimed, that he was just making tools?
And McNamee was the first to blow the whistle on Facebook in the last election cycle, 2016, and he even wrote a book about Facebook, "Zucked," but his message still has not gotten traction outside a small coterie of thinkers. That's where the WSJ comes in.
But start with McNamee first.
When Roger puts it all in context, talks about how the government regulated meat to the benefit of the public, broke up the phone company, you'll start to see a way through this mess.
Bottom line... Facebook and Google are on both sides of the transaction, they both host and sell, and he says they must do only one or the other.
And they colluded to control online advertising. This has been well documented in the news, but it's not flashy enough to gain ubiquity , despite state attorneys general suing the company. But there is one smoking gun after another, evidence, it's not just a theory.
But wait, there's more! McNamee delineates the difference between the boomers and the millennials. The boomers grew up in an era where it was about the common good. The millennials grew up in an era where it was all about the individual, every person for him or herself, the common good be damned. Think about this, the Reagan revolution has paid dividends, and so many are not positive, the culture was changed, and too many people bought in. So Roger posits when Mark Zuckerberg makes heinous choices to benefit Facebook he thinks he's doing a good thing, he doesn't know any better. And now the details are coming out in the WSJ.
But staying with McNamee... Roger says how when they broke up the phone company, it stimulated advancement. That if you break up Google you'll end up with fifty new companies. If you break up Facebook you'll end up with a hundred. As for innovation, these evil twins are only trying to maintain their audience/customers, there's no real advancement being made, it's like a case study for the dearly departed Clayton Christensen, the old companies waiting to be disrupted.
So McNamee lays out a blueprint to go forward. And acknowledges that government is always behind, but that does not mean government shouldn't flex its muscles.
But going back to the WSJ series on Facebook, the quote in today's paper is priceless:
"A now-former executive questioned the idea of overhauling Instagram to avoid social comparison. 'People use Instagram because it's a competition,' the former executive said. 'That's the fun part.'"
I'd provide a link but either you subscribe to the WSJ or you don't, you're either in the loop or you're not. You can gather misinformation on social media, most especially Facebook, or you can go to the source, but the source costs money and Americans are cheap, even worse, they oftentimes can't even understand what is proffered. I posit a significant segment of the population won't even follow and grasp what McNamee says, even though it's far from boring, they just don't have the education to be able to analyze, to comprehend, many just believe a man in the sky will save them.
So the above quote is from the second WSJ installment on Facebook. Turns out the Facebook owned company Instagram is wreaking havoc on the self-image of today's young women. They just can't live up to the images online. Almost nobody can, unless it's your full time job and you're willing to starve yourself and get plastic surgery. Instagram is for bragging, and too many end up feeling like a loser.
But that's not as bad as tomorrow's segment, which went live on the WSJ site this morning:
"Facebook Tried to Make Its Platform a Healthier Place. It Got Angrier Instead. - Internal memos show how a big 2018 change rewarded outrage and that CEO Mark Zuckerberg resisted proposed fixes."
Turns out the execs are not in the control of the platform, they keep saying they're putting on band-aids when they're not, or they do so with unintended negative results. The goal is just to keep people on the platform, that can't be sacrificed, that metric is king. So despite having studies detailing the deleterious results of Facebook's platforms the company ignores them. Even worse, it says they're taking action when they're not. It's obfuscation all the time. Zuck testifies in Congress, he keeps saying he'll provide backup and then does not. And then he just goes on wrecking the world. You see Zuck is the most powerful person in the world, but this doesn't sit right with elected officials and titans of old school industry. Rupert Murdoch has taught us the power is in the ink, the press. And in truth, Zuckerberg has got a stranglehold on the press, his sites are where people go for information, and his goal is to raise your emotions so you'll stay connected and participate. Like, respond, forward, it's gold to Facebook but lead for our society.
In the first WSJ installment on Facebook it is revealed that the company has a whitelist. That if you're famous, in the public eye, have enough followers, they give you a pass, no matter what you post. Because they're scared you'll fight back and the company might not look good. And the truth is they don't have enough people to police behavior and the algorithm is far from perfect, which is why the hoi polloi are constantly complaining that they post innocuous stuff on Facebook and Instagram and it gets taken down and they might even get blocked while a whole tier of society gets a free pass. Once again, Zuck was confronted with this, what did he do? HE LIED!
Newsom won yesterday. You'll see all these learned lessons in the media today. I'm not sure I believe all of them. Bottom line, California is a Democratic state, and the only reason Schwarzenegger won was because he was famous, a celebrity, a movie star, and in the last fifteen plus years the state has moved even further left. So is California a harbinger for the 2022 elections? I would certainly hope so, but I don't believe it, look at how many votes Trump actually got last November, they far exceeded what all the pundits prognosticated.
And where is this cult's word spread? Online. ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM!
An for TikTok, the WSJ says there's a distinct difference:
"'Social comparison is worse on Instagram,' states Facebook's deep dive into teen girl body-image issues in 2020, noting that TikTok, a short-video app, is grounded in performance, while users on Snapchat, a rival photo and video-sharing app, are sheltered by jokey filters that 'keep the focus on the face.' In contrast, Instagram focuses heavily on the body and lifestyle."
So what is going to happen? Roger McNamee posits a way out, so maybe we can have hope, but Zuckerberg has so much power...
As for Theranos, I highly recommend the podcast "The Dropout, Elizabeth Holmes on trial": https://apple.co/3ziDNlk
You can ignore the previous season. Just start with the August 31st episode "Where Have You Been, Elizabeth Holmes."
But listen to Roger McNamee first.
And know this is the story of our day. I mean who is going to listen to musicians when superstar Nicky Minaj says she heard from a cousin in Trinidad that his friend got Covid-19 and his testicles swelled and he ended up impotent. Of course Fauci and every reputable outlet denied this could possibly happen, but none of them have the reach of Ms. Minaj, who has 22.6 million followers on Twitter and 157 million on Instagram, talk about the power of the image over the written word... Used to be the titans of the "Billboard" chart were educated and smart, no longer, which is why they can only move the uneducated rearguard, anybody with a brain ignores them.
But don't ignore the news. And get it from the source, not handed down via a game of telephone like Nicki Minaj, like so many do on Facebook. In the eighties celebrity gossip culture and top-tier culture merged, this has been the story of the past few decades, but it's no longer the truth, if for no other reason than we're no longer sure who the stars are anymore. The movie stars have been revealed to be two-dimensional and out of touch and everybody at home believes they're a star so you end up with an elite running the world and...those following music and gossip aren't even members, they have no impact. Hell, look at the music business in Britain. They believed Boris Johnson was in their corner, but not only did Brexit make touring the Continent light years more difficult, time-consuming and expensive, despite this now coming to light the government still hasn't negotiated a reasonable settlement. And why would the government listen to the music business anyway, when oldsters like Eric Clapton are issuing falsehoods and the stars of the chart are mostly television nitwits?
We are in a fight for democracy. But even more we're in a fight for society, for culture, for state of mind. Turns out these social media outlets are killing our world, they're beyond the control of our elected officials.
And why should they take action, when a healthy part of the population won't get the vaccine and keep talking about it on social media platforms, raining down coin for their owners?
Think about it.
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
Listen to the podcast:
-iHeart: https://ihr.fm/2Gi5PFj
-Apple: https://apple.co/2ndmpvp
--
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Toe Hold
Spotify playlist: https://spoti.fi/3zflA8v
At this point Al Kooper is most famous for playing the organ on "Like a Rolling Stone." The tale has been retold countless times, it's become part of rock lore, overshadowing all the rest of Al's musical contributions, which are formidable in number and scale.
You start with cowriting "This Diamond Ring," a huge hit for Gary Lewis & the Playboys, despite being played in a completely different arrangement than Al imagined, he saw it as a soul number.
And then there was the almost forgotten tenure with the Blues Project which morphed into Blood, Sweat & Tears which ultimately broke through to gigantic success with Al's blueprint on the second LP after he was kicked out of the band, but history has now been properly written, it's the first BS&T LP that is memorable, that is the one, that still holds up today.
And then Al started the jam band record paradigm with "Super Session"...ultimately we ended up with Moby Grape's bonus record "Grape Jam" and the third LP of George Harrison's opus "All Things Must Pass," entitled "Apple Jam." One can even say that Al pushed the envelope with extended numbers, with the "Super Session" remake of Donovan's "Season of the Witch."
And then Al cut his first solo album "I Stand Alone," an unrecognized triumph that never generated a hit record, that has been forgotten to the sands of time, but is one of my absolute favorites, I play it all the time.
The original, the title track, "I Stand Alone," is marvelous, in the league of Al's previous peaks. But then the album took a turn, Al went on an adventure, he covered Harry Nilsson's "One" before Three Dog Night turned it into a regional hit and long before Nilsson's own career gained traction.
Following that you got a cover of "Coloured Rain." Superior to the original on the initial Traffic LP. Which Al also boosted by covering "Dear Mr. Fantasy" on his double live album with Mike Bloomfield. And at this point if you were paying attention you knew the original from FM radio, but it was these covers along with the aforementioned Three Dog Night's rendition of "Heaven Is In Your Mind" that got me to buy Traffic's album in its U.S. form, different from the original U.K. iteration. But I was disappointed, the songs were there, but not the production. Traffic peaked with its second LP, when Dave Mason was a full time member of the band. And Three Dog Night's take of "Heaven Is In Your Mind" is more full-bodied with more energy than Traffic's original recording. And Traffic's take on "Coloured Rain" features an incredible full-throated vocal by Steve Winwood, but Al threw in horns, everything including the kitchen sink, along with raindrops, and turned the song into a tour-de-force. As for "Dear Mr. Fantasy," no one could ever compete with Traffic's original version, a stone cold classic that Steve renders accurately to this day, you'll be stunned his voice is still intact, but even more you'll be wowed by his playing, he's not known as a gunslinger but after you see him picking the notes you'll be re-evaluating.
And on the second side of "I Stand Alone" there's a cover of Bill Monroe's "Blue Moon of Kentucky" which became iconic when done by Elvis Presley, although in this case it's almost an imitation, an homage, it's fun, nearly a throwaway, then again when I first heard it on Al's album I knew no previous recording, being nine years younger than Al, from almost an entirely different generation.
And then came "Toe Hold."
But the piece-de-resistance was the second to last song on Al's album, "Hey, Western Union Man." It was the horn section flourish, the rich background vocals and the telegraph sound, sending a message throughout. "Hey, Western Union Man" is one of my go-to tracks, played constantly. That return of the horn flourish two-thirds of the way through...I wait for it, and then I want it to return when it won't so I just play the track over and over again.
And then I was pushing the SiriusXM buttons one night and lo and behold I came across the original!
Jerry Butler's take went to number 16 on the "Billboard" chart but in this era the chart didn't necessarily square with local radio. Then again, by '68 I was already dedicated to FM, I didn't know it. But I was stunned when I heard it. It's the same arrangement, the same song, but a different production. Butler's take is soul, not rock, there's a slower dreamy groove, and Al's horns are strings, Jerry's take is for making out, Al's take is for sex, Jerry's is a warm-up, Al's is the main event, it's pure action, it's not deep, it's all on the surface, it's in-your-face, it's undeniable, not that many people have heard it.
But even fewer have heard "Toe Hold."
Now in the old days it was all about albums, you dropped the needle on a side and let it play through, so I know "Toe Hold" as well as "Hey, Western Union Man," and after playing the entire LP the other night, "Toe Hold" got stuck in my mind, you know, you're walking through your house and suddenly you burst out with the chorus and those in the vicinity think you're nuts but you're elated, entranced by the music.
And I needed to know more. Obviously it was a cover. But who did the original?
Well, depending on who you listen to you might be confused, Allmusic credits Sam & Dave, but that's not true. The original was done by Johnnie Taylor. But Sam & Dave did do a version, but so did Wilson Pickett, so did Carla Thomas, even Ellen McIlwaine took a swing at "Toe Hold." Imagine the songs of today being covered tomorrow... IMPOSSIBLE! First and foremost most are just beats. And as far as iconic pop numbers...they're few and far between. But acts kept taking a swing at "Toe Hold," and not one version ever broke through, became ubiquitous.
"All my life I been a po' boy
It's been hard to get a dime
Everythin' I got, umm
I had to pay for it on time, but that's all right"
Now wait just a minute, Johnnie's singing from down there, not up here, he's not talking down to us, he's not drenched in jewelry, parading in his Benz on the way to the club to make it rain, he's a nobody trying to survive, but he's not depressed:
"Long as I got a toehold
As long as I got a piece of you
As long as I got a toehold
I can make it through"
That's what gets you through, hope. If you have a little traction you feel you're on your way, if they're giving you the time of day, paying attention to what you have to say, you're halfway there.
And I learned this wasn't written by Johnnie Taylor but David Porter and Isaac Hayes, members of the Memphis Mafia, STAX bedrock. Nashville gets all the attention, Memphis is too often overlooked. but Nashville is country and Memphis is soul, it's more southern, a stone's throw from both Mississippi and Arkansas.
Porter and Hayes wrote the Sam & Dave hits. And ultimately Isaac Hayes went on to become Black Moses, a paragon of soul, and ultimately Chef on "South Park," a role he ultimately ankled in a kerfuffle over the creators parodying his Scientology faith. And it's funny how it's the last thing people remember while what came before is plowed under, and the truth is Porter and Hayes didn't only start with hits with Sam & Dave, actually their first big crossover number was "B-A-B-Y" by Carla Thomas, which was ultimately covered a decade later and made into a ubiquitous new wave number for a whole new generation of fans by Rachel Sweet, an American who recorded for the English company Stiff.
"Now listen
I said I went to my doctor
First thing he talked about is malnutrition
I'm not tryin' to be a fat man
I've got to look after my ambition"
Doctors used to be a regular feature of songs, before the performers believed themselves invincible. And once again, Taylor is not looking for everything, just something, somebody, the object of his affection, who he is not observing from afar, but upon whom he's got a toehold.
"So baby if you're with me
I'll let the whole world be against me
I don't expect to ever get rich
You may find me diggin' in a ditch"
It's you and me baby, against the world. We don't need everything, just each other. This is not an aspirational tale for the masses, but a situation, a vision they can identify with.
"Oh give it to me baby
A little little little little little little little little little toehold
A little little little little little little little little little toehold"
And now they're together, participating in monkey business, intimacy, at first he's singing the song from afar, but now they're conjoined, having fun. Because he's got a TOEHOLD!
That's all we're looking for.
And now I'm old enough for living history to rear its head, for me to go back and mine the past, and it's easy to do as a result of the internet and streaming services, you can discover the roots. This music is ready to be found, as fresh as ever. And the provenance of them is there too. Who wrote them, who played on them, these giants.
And it all started with Al Kooper's covers, he gave me a toehold!
At this point Al Kooper is most famous for playing the organ on "Like a Rolling Stone." The tale has been retold countless times, it's become part of rock lore, overshadowing all the rest of Al's musical contributions, which are formidable in number and scale.
You start with cowriting "This Diamond Ring," a huge hit for Gary Lewis & the Playboys, despite being played in a completely different arrangement than Al imagined, he saw it as a soul number.
And then there was the almost forgotten tenure with the Blues Project which morphed into Blood, Sweat & Tears which ultimately broke through to gigantic success with Al's blueprint on the second LP after he was kicked out of the band, but history has now been properly written, it's the first BS&T LP that is memorable, that is the one, that still holds up today.
And then Al started the jam band record paradigm with "Super Session"...ultimately we ended up with Moby Grape's bonus record "Grape Jam" and the third LP of George Harrison's opus "All Things Must Pass," entitled "Apple Jam." One can even say that Al pushed the envelope with extended numbers, with the "Super Session" remake of Donovan's "Season of the Witch."
And then Al cut his first solo album "I Stand Alone," an unrecognized triumph that never generated a hit record, that has been forgotten to the sands of time, but is one of my absolute favorites, I play it all the time.
The original, the title track, "I Stand Alone," is marvelous, in the league of Al's previous peaks. But then the album took a turn, Al went on an adventure, he covered Harry Nilsson's "One" before Three Dog Night turned it into a regional hit and long before Nilsson's own career gained traction.
Following that you got a cover of "Coloured Rain." Superior to the original on the initial Traffic LP. Which Al also boosted by covering "Dear Mr. Fantasy" on his double live album with Mike Bloomfield. And at this point if you were paying attention you knew the original from FM radio, but it was these covers along with the aforementioned Three Dog Night's rendition of "Heaven Is In Your Mind" that got me to buy Traffic's album in its U.S. form, different from the original U.K. iteration. But I was disappointed, the songs were there, but not the production. Traffic peaked with its second LP, when Dave Mason was a full time member of the band. And Three Dog Night's take of "Heaven Is In Your Mind" is more full-bodied with more energy than Traffic's original recording. And Traffic's take on "Coloured Rain" features an incredible full-throated vocal by Steve Winwood, but Al threw in horns, everything including the kitchen sink, along with raindrops, and turned the song into a tour-de-force. As for "Dear Mr. Fantasy," no one could ever compete with Traffic's original version, a stone cold classic that Steve renders accurately to this day, you'll be stunned his voice is still intact, but even more you'll be wowed by his playing, he's not known as a gunslinger but after you see him picking the notes you'll be re-evaluating.
And on the second side of "I Stand Alone" there's a cover of Bill Monroe's "Blue Moon of Kentucky" which became iconic when done by Elvis Presley, although in this case it's almost an imitation, an homage, it's fun, nearly a throwaway, then again when I first heard it on Al's album I knew no previous recording, being nine years younger than Al, from almost an entirely different generation.
And then came "Toe Hold."
But the piece-de-resistance was the second to last song on Al's album, "Hey, Western Union Man." It was the horn section flourish, the rich background vocals and the telegraph sound, sending a message throughout. "Hey, Western Union Man" is one of my go-to tracks, played constantly. That return of the horn flourish two-thirds of the way through...I wait for it, and then I want it to return when it won't so I just play the track over and over again.
And then I was pushing the SiriusXM buttons one night and lo and behold I came across the original!
Jerry Butler's take went to number 16 on the "Billboard" chart but in this era the chart didn't necessarily square with local radio. Then again, by '68 I was already dedicated to FM, I didn't know it. But I was stunned when I heard it. It's the same arrangement, the same song, but a different production. Butler's take is soul, not rock, there's a slower dreamy groove, and Al's horns are strings, Jerry's take is for making out, Al's take is for sex, Jerry's is a warm-up, Al's is the main event, it's pure action, it's not deep, it's all on the surface, it's in-your-face, it's undeniable, not that many people have heard it.
But even fewer have heard "Toe Hold."
Now in the old days it was all about albums, you dropped the needle on a side and let it play through, so I know "Toe Hold" as well as "Hey, Western Union Man," and after playing the entire LP the other night, "Toe Hold" got stuck in my mind, you know, you're walking through your house and suddenly you burst out with the chorus and those in the vicinity think you're nuts but you're elated, entranced by the music.
And I needed to know more. Obviously it was a cover. But who did the original?
Well, depending on who you listen to you might be confused, Allmusic credits Sam & Dave, but that's not true. The original was done by Johnnie Taylor. But Sam & Dave did do a version, but so did Wilson Pickett, so did Carla Thomas, even Ellen McIlwaine took a swing at "Toe Hold." Imagine the songs of today being covered tomorrow... IMPOSSIBLE! First and foremost most are just beats. And as far as iconic pop numbers...they're few and far between. But acts kept taking a swing at "Toe Hold," and not one version ever broke through, became ubiquitous.
"All my life I been a po' boy
It's been hard to get a dime
Everythin' I got, umm
I had to pay for it on time, but that's all right"
Now wait just a minute, Johnnie's singing from down there, not up here, he's not talking down to us, he's not drenched in jewelry, parading in his Benz on the way to the club to make it rain, he's a nobody trying to survive, but he's not depressed:
"Long as I got a toehold
As long as I got a piece of you
As long as I got a toehold
I can make it through"
That's what gets you through, hope. If you have a little traction you feel you're on your way, if they're giving you the time of day, paying attention to what you have to say, you're halfway there.
And I learned this wasn't written by Johnnie Taylor but David Porter and Isaac Hayes, members of the Memphis Mafia, STAX bedrock. Nashville gets all the attention, Memphis is too often overlooked. but Nashville is country and Memphis is soul, it's more southern, a stone's throw from both Mississippi and Arkansas.
Porter and Hayes wrote the Sam & Dave hits. And ultimately Isaac Hayes went on to become Black Moses, a paragon of soul, and ultimately Chef on "South Park," a role he ultimately ankled in a kerfuffle over the creators parodying his Scientology faith. And it's funny how it's the last thing people remember while what came before is plowed under, and the truth is Porter and Hayes didn't only start with hits with Sam & Dave, actually their first big crossover number was "B-A-B-Y" by Carla Thomas, which was ultimately covered a decade later and made into a ubiquitous new wave number for a whole new generation of fans by Rachel Sweet, an American who recorded for the English company Stiff.
"Now listen
I said I went to my doctor
First thing he talked about is malnutrition
I'm not tryin' to be a fat man
I've got to look after my ambition"
Doctors used to be a regular feature of songs, before the performers believed themselves invincible. And once again, Taylor is not looking for everything, just something, somebody, the object of his affection, who he is not observing from afar, but upon whom he's got a toehold.
"So baby if you're with me
I'll let the whole world be against me
I don't expect to ever get rich
You may find me diggin' in a ditch"
It's you and me baby, against the world. We don't need everything, just each other. This is not an aspirational tale for the masses, but a situation, a vision they can identify with.
"Oh give it to me baby
A little little little little little little little little little toehold
A little little little little little little little little little toehold"
And now they're together, participating in monkey business, intimacy, at first he's singing the song from afar, but now they're conjoined, having fun. Because he's got a TOEHOLD!
That's all we're looking for.
And now I'm old enough for living history to rear its head, for me to go back and mine the past, and it's easy to do as a result of the internet and streaming services, you can discover the roots. This music is ready to be found, as fresh as ever. And the provenance of them is there too. Who wrote them, who played on them, these giants.
And it all started with Al Kooper's covers, he gave me a toehold!
--
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--
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Tuesday 14 September 2021
Songs With Horn Sections Playlist
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3nCgG30
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The Apple Keynote
https://www.apple.com/apple-events/september-2021/
It played like a commercial.
Actually, the product introduction was not the biggest Apple news today, no, that was the security update, to deal with an Israeli snooping program that infiltrated your device without any clicks, without you doing anything. It could listen and see you and... The best account of what transpired is here:
"Apple Issues Emergency Security Updates to Close a Spyware Flaw - Researchers at Citizen Lab found that the NSO Group, an Israeli spyware company, had infected Apple products without so much as a click": https://nyti.ms/3hyeoyh
Bottom line, update your Apple products IMMEDIATELY! Your iPhone, iPad, Mac... And if the update wasn't automatically pushed to you yet, go into Settings and click on "Software Update," on the iPhone and iPad it's under the heading "General."
So Steve Jobs staged a show. Then again, he was a showman. A natural born seller of products. Didn't matter what he was offering, you were interested in the spiel. Today? You could have skipped it no problem. But if you watched it...
It began with a commercial for California that was so rich you'd want to fly out here or if you already live here get in your car and go for a drive. With all this focus on government, all the put-downs of the Golden State, one forgets what a cornucopia of attractions, of landscapes, of cities California is. However, the song that played during the montage...who came up with this? Talk about a track not being a hit.
So then Tim Cook comes on and tells us about Apple TV+.
Now that's a flawed streaming network. It's simple, THEY NEED MORE PRODUCT! The nature of making TV is you don't know what you've got till you're done. You can hire the best people and have the best script and still end up with a turkey, which is why you have to make more product to get more hits. Apple's got a lot of flashy shows that aren't worth watching. As for "Ted Lasso"... Believe me, when Apple gets rid of the free subscriptions no one is going to wait for week to week for the episodes, they're gonna wait for the series to play and then binge it for one low monthly fee. Tim Cook babbled on about satisfying the company's customers, how they're number one, but nothing could be further from the truth with Apple TV+.
As for the Apple TV...
Apple was way ahead of the game. And then it blew it. The iPod was expensive upon launch but when competitors jumped into the game they kept improving the product and lowering the price and no one could compete. Apple's TV hardware is still too expensive. Especially when you can get a competing streaming stick for fifty bucks. It doesn't matter how good the interface is, the price point is insane.
But Apple is killing it with the Watch.
Actually, the Watch is akin to a Microsoft product. Released half-baked and then improved over time. The Watch still has a power problem, it has to be charged every eighteen hours, but if you don't have a Watch you will, it's just a matter of time. The Swiss timepieces are now jewelry. They weathered the initial launch of the Apple Watch, but youngsters are never going to lay down four figures, never mind five, for the icons of horology. And like Tesla, Apple is so far ahead of the competition that no one can effectively compete. And Apple has lowered the price to the point where it makes no sense to buy a cheap competitor, you can get a Series 3 for $199. But really, you want the new one, the Series 7, BECAUSE IT'S BIGGER! Not too big, but they shrunk the borders and increased the screen size just enough to make a huge difference. As for applications...
Seems like the Watch now interfaces with every sport. And it's a direct line to your health.
And speaking of health/exercising... Apple Fitness+ finally looks mature. It could put a big dent in Peleton. Like the Watch, it will take time for it to burgeon.
As for the iPad...
The basic iPad, at $329, is a vast improvement. However, never forget you're getting the A13 Bionic chip when the state of the art is the A15. In other words, you're already two generations behind, which means you'll have to replace it sooner.
As for the iPad Mini... A breakthrough, but vastly overpriced. It's dead in the water at this cost.
As for buying an iPad...you either need one or you don't. And if you already have one the only reason to replace it is if yours is too slow. And it eventually will be. The chips get faster, the software asks more of them and your old iPad is left in the dust. So, only buy cheap if you're getting it for a kid or you're going to replace it soon or you only watch movies. Otherwise, buy as much machine as you can afford. I've got one of the iPad Pros with the M1 chip and...it's stupendous. Assuming you want an iPad.
As for the new iPhone?
You don't need it, you don't need to upgrade. Remember when you had product envy, when you needed the new thing, the latest iteration? Those days are through with the iPhone. If you've got a 12, you do not need a 13, no way.
The sales pitch was bogus. They kept comparing the speed of the new A15 Bionic chip to...other smartphones, the competition, whereas they used to compare the new chip to the old one. Can't be much of an improvement if they didn't say so.
And buy the most you can afford. I'll tell you to buy an iPhone Pro Max hands down, it's the one. You want that screen real estate, your smartphone is now you're number one device, this is where you should not skimp. And since you're going to keep it for a while, when you amortize the price over years, it's worth it.
As for storage? Always bump up from the minimum amount. Sure, so much is in the cloud these days, files are in many cases history, but if you want to load up your iPhone or iPad with movies for an intercontinental flight, you want to have enough storage. Trust me on this. And unless you know you need the most, don't even bother, it's way overkill.
Going deeper...
You know whether you need a new iPhone or not.
If you still have an iPhone with a button, you can probably go one more cycle, one more year, but this might be a good time to upgrade.
As for 5G? The speed increase is imperceptible unless you have Verizon Ultra Wideband or the equivalent. But that speed is almost nowhere. Verizon has installed it in stadiums, so if you've got a 5G iPhone that's great, but... Furthermore, the iPhone with 5G defaults to LTE to save battery life. At some point you'll get a 5G phone, but you don't need to rush to do so today.
However, one big caveat, if you've got an old iPhone and use it a lot, I heartily recommend going to a 13, because of the chip speed. You've got no idea how slow your old iPhone is until you're on a new one. Ditto with the iPads with faster chips. It's like going from a dial phone to a push button one.
As for the Wall Street perspective?
People will replace their devices, but there won't be a rush to the store for iPhones. Sure, at first there will be demand, but we know it always falls off after Christmas. Unless the carriers offer incentives.
This time, Apple got out ahead. Instead of waiting for the carriers to blow out the iPhone, they made the providers part of the pitch. Trade in your iPhone, get up to $700! Yeah, if you trade in last year's top of the line iPhone. Go into the fine print. The monthly price looks low, but it's over thirty months! You're essentially paying retail. Then again, after years of prices holding firm, last year AT&T started blowing out the new iPhone and T-Mobile and Verizon got on board too. So, if you're looking for a deal, wait, up to two months. But I wouldn't count on getting a big discount this year. Then again, you can never underestimate T-Mobile in its dash for market share.
So you've got a mature company with a great product line trying to expand into services. And if you're locked into the Apple ecosystem, maybe, but if you're not... Never forget, the United States is an outlier, in the rest of the world Android rules. And as smartphones become ever more mature and fungible Apple becomes Sony in the seventies and eighties, selling a premium product to a specialized audience for more money. Then there's a product revolution and the advantage collapses. TVs went from tubes to flat screens and Sony has never recovered. So how does Apple plan to stay ahead? Well, it's the ecosystem, and they're doing a good job of it, but someone else could compete, if they cared, but they don't seem to. Then again, imagine this spyware crisis on Android. Everybody's on a different version of the operating system, many without a direct upgrade path. But it's been learned that people will sacrifice their privacy for price, it's no competition.
So this was maybe the worst Apple Keynote ever. It had no sizzle, no buzz. It had a rainbow of diversity on display, but in many cases that's what you saw, the woman or the person of color more than the product. The woman who talked about the chip was the best. She looked like she knew what she was talking about, not just a talking head. She looked like she worked in the lab. She looked like she knew more than we could comprehend. And she wasn't Hollywood beautiful, she was just a person. She couldn't be replaced, but everybody else on screen could have been.
So Microsoft may overtake Apple as the world's most valuable company.
But I'm still a member of the ecosystem.
Yet the truth is the biggest star in today's presentation was California itself. Look at the landscape, check out the locations, you'll want to go.
"Oh California, I'm coming home."
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Listen to the podcast:
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It played like a commercial.
Actually, the product introduction was not the biggest Apple news today, no, that was the security update, to deal with an Israeli snooping program that infiltrated your device without any clicks, without you doing anything. It could listen and see you and... The best account of what transpired is here:
"Apple Issues Emergency Security Updates to Close a Spyware Flaw - Researchers at Citizen Lab found that the NSO Group, an Israeli spyware company, had infected Apple products without so much as a click": https://nyti.ms/3hyeoyh
Bottom line, update your Apple products IMMEDIATELY! Your iPhone, iPad, Mac... And if the update wasn't automatically pushed to you yet, go into Settings and click on "Software Update," on the iPhone and iPad it's under the heading "General."
So Steve Jobs staged a show. Then again, he was a showman. A natural born seller of products. Didn't matter what he was offering, you were interested in the spiel. Today? You could have skipped it no problem. But if you watched it...
It began with a commercial for California that was so rich you'd want to fly out here or if you already live here get in your car and go for a drive. With all this focus on government, all the put-downs of the Golden State, one forgets what a cornucopia of attractions, of landscapes, of cities California is. However, the song that played during the montage...who came up with this? Talk about a track not being a hit.
So then Tim Cook comes on and tells us about Apple TV+.
Now that's a flawed streaming network. It's simple, THEY NEED MORE PRODUCT! The nature of making TV is you don't know what you've got till you're done. You can hire the best people and have the best script and still end up with a turkey, which is why you have to make more product to get more hits. Apple's got a lot of flashy shows that aren't worth watching. As for "Ted Lasso"... Believe me, when Apple gets rid of the free subscriptions no one is going to wait for week to week for the episodes, they're gonna wait for the series to play and then binge it for one low monthly fee. Tim Cook babbled on about satisfying the company's customers, how they're number one, but nothing could be further from the truth with Apple TV+.
As for the Apple TV...
Apple was way ahead of the game. And then it blew it. The iPod was expensive upon launch but when competitors jumped into the game they kept improving the product and lowering the price and no one could compete. Apple's TV hardware is still too expensive. Especially when you can get a competing streaming stick for fifty bucks. It doesn't matter how good the interface is, the price point is insane.
But Apple is killing it with the Watch.
Actually, the Watch is akin to a Microsoft product. Released half-baked and then improved over time. The Watch still has a power problem, it has to be charged every eighteen hours, but if you don't have a Watch you will, it's just a matter of time. The Swiss timepieces are now jewelry. They weathered the initial launch of the Apple Watch, but youngsters are never going to lay down four figures, never mind five, for the icons of horology. And like Tesla, Apple is so far ahead of the competition that no one can effectively compete. And Apple has lowered the price to the point where it makes no sense to buy a cheap competitor, you can get a Series 3 for $199. But really, you want the new one, the Series 7, BECAUSE IT'S BIGGER! Not too big, but they shrunk the borders and increased the screen size just enough to make a huge difference. As for applications...
Seems like the Watch now interfaces with every sport. And it's a direct line to your health.
And speaking of health/exercising... Apple Fitness+ finally looks mature. It could put a big dent in Peleton. Like the Watch, it will take time for it to burgeon.
As for the iPad...
The basic iPad, at $329, is a vast improvement. However, never forget you're getting the A13 Bionic chip when the state of the art is the A15. In other words, you're already two generations behind, which means you'll have to replace it sooner.
As for the iPad Mini... A breakthrough, but vastly overpriced. It's dead in the water at this cost.
As for buying an iPad...you either need one or you don't. And if you already have one the only reason to replace it is if yours is too slow. And it eventually will be. The chips get faster, the software asks more of them and your old iPad is left in the dust. So, only buy cheap if you're getting it for a kid or you're going to replace it soon or you only watch movies. Otherwise, buy as much machine as you can afford. I've got one of the iPad Pros with the M1 chip and...it's stupendous. Assuming you want an iPad.
As for the new iPhone?
You don't need it, you don't need to upgrade. Remember when you had product envy, when you needed the new thing, the latest iteration? Those days are through with the iPhone. If you've got a 12, you do not need a 13, no way.
The sales pitch was bogus. They kept comparing the speed of the new A15 Bionic chip to...other smartphones, the competition, whereas they used to compare the new chip to the old one. Can't be much of an improvement if they didn't say so.
And buy the most you can afford. I'll tell you to buy an iPhone Pro Max hands down, it's the one. You want that screen real estate, your smartphone is now you're number one device, this is where you should not skimp. And since you're going to keep it for a while, when you amortize the price over years, it's worth it.
As for storage? Always bump up from the minimum amount. Sure, so much is in the cloud these days, files are in many cases history, but if you want to load up your iPhone or iPad with movies for an intercontinental flight, you want to have enough storage. Trust me on this. And unless you know you need the most, don't even bother, it's way overkill.
Going deeper...
You know whether you need a new iPhone or not.
If you still have an iPhone with a button, you can probably go one more cycle, one more year, but this might be a good time to upgrade.
As for 5G? The speed increase is imperceptible unless you have Verizon Ultra Wideband or the equivalent. But that speed is almost nowhere. Verizon has installed it in stadiums, so if you've got a 5G iPhone that's great, but... Furthermore, the iPhone with 5G defaults to LTE to save battery life. At some point you'll get a 5G phone, but you don't need to rush to do so today.
However, one big caveat, if you've got an old iPhone and use it a lot, I heartily recommend going to a 13, because of the chip speed. You've got no idea how slow your old iPhone is until you're on a new one. Ditto with the iPads with faster chips. It's like going from a dial phone to a push button one.
As for the Wall Street perspective?
People will replace their devices, but there won't be a rush to the store for iPhones. Sure, at first there will be demand, but we know it always falls off after Christmas. Unless the carriers offer incentives.
This time, Apple got out ahead. Instead of waiting for the carriers to blow out the iPhone, they made the providers part of the pitch. Trade in your iPhone, get up to $700! Yeah, if you trade in last year's top of the line iPhone. Go into the fine print. The monthly price looks low, but it's over thirty months! You're essentially paying retail. Then again, after years of prices holding firm, last year AT&T started blowing out the new iPhone and T-Mobile and Verizon got on board too. So, if you're looking for a deal, wait, up to two months. But I wouldn't count on getting a big discount this year. Then again, you can never underestimate T-Mobile in its dash for market share.
So you've got a mature company with a great product line trying to expand into services. And if you're locked into the Apple ecosystem, maybe, but if you're not... Never forget, the United States is an outlier, in the rest of the world Android rules. And as smartphones become ever more mature and fungible Apple becomes Sony in the seventies and eighties, selling a premium product to a specialized audience for more money. Then there's a product revolution and the advantage collapses. TVs went from tubes to flat screens and Sony has never recovered. So how does Apple plan to stay ahead? Well, it's the ecosystem, and they're doing a good job of it, but someone else could compete, if they cared, but they don't seem to. Then again, imagine this spyware crisis on Android. Everybody's on a different version of the operating system, many without a direct upgrade path. But it's been learned that people will sacrifice their privacy for price, it's no competition.
So this was maybe the worst Apple Keynote ever. It had no sizzle, no buzz. It had a rainbow of diversity on display, but in many cases that's what you saw, the woman or the person of color more than the product. The woman who talked about the chip was the best. She looked like she knew what she was talking about, not just a talking head. She looked like she worked in the lab. She looked like she knew more than we could comprehend. And she wasn't Hollywood beautiful, she was just a person. She couldn't be replaced, but everybody else on screen could have been.
So Microsoft may overtake Apple as the world's most valuable company.
But I'm still a member of the ecosystem.
Yet the truth is the biggest star in today's presentation was California itself. Look at the landscape, check out the locations, you'll want to go.
"Oh California, I'm coming home."
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--
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More Paul Anka
Well, I sure as hell did listen and it was your Academy Award Show! I knew Paul a bit when I was at Buddah '70-'73 and have been a big fan of his since his beginning. He's now got more "wanna bees" than Paul McCartney! We are all so very lucky to have him still with us and his shows and his music never gets old and tired! You did a grand job of "getting him to share many of his thoughts" and it sounded like he was having a good time! Thanks again for having Paul Anka as your guest! jfs
Jerry Sharell
________________________________________
Bob I've been listening to your pods since the beginning and I have to say that Paul Anka interview was the most entertaining,enlightening and enjoyable of all your pods to date.
Best Regards
Thomas Black
________________________________________
I really enjoyed it Bob. As if Paul and Phil Everly were about to get beaten up by some thugs and their band arrived to look out for two young pretty boys. So good. You know we Canadians celebrate our own, Paul is a living legend here. I've read his book but you coaxed great stories out of him.
Jack Ross
________________________________________
enjoyed it as well! great stuff...
Brad Byrd
________________________________________
Loved the Paul Anka Show. The Norman he was referring to was my godfather.
Bill Gerber
________________________________________
Totally agree…one of your best interviews.
Canadians rock!
Ottawa, home of Paul Anka and Alanis.
John Borsten
________________________________________
I agree, Bob. The best since the Bob Ezrin podcast.
Thanks for doing what you do.
Alex Lopez Negrete
________________________________________
Wow Bob. Your interview with Paul was so revealing. It felt like you were having a candid chat with an aperitif after dinner. So many fascinating stories. Can't believe how much he remembered like it was yesterday. I barely remember past three decades let alone six!
I had to look up Irving!
Those Sinatra stories are true gems!
Fiona Bloom
________________________________________
Totally agree. Totally alive musician on the planet.
Special bonus: coral electric sitar at 1:42 of Making Memories.
Hank Barry
________________________________________
Couldn't agree more!
I could have listened to another hour at LEAST!
Mr. Anka was one of the most interesting interviews of any musician/songwriter I've ever heard.
Heck I'd watch a Netflix show about his life!
Best,
Michael Leonard
________________________________________
wow! I am a mid-level manager and agent, in middle age, during this brutal year and half in the music business. No retirement to speak of, but a love so deep for the game I just keep plugging away. Paul Anka was a total inspiration. I often listen to your podcast in 30 minute clips before hitting the hay. You had me up to midnight before I finally fell asleep, just kept adding another 30 minutes to the timer because it was just so entertaining. Listened to the last ten minutes this morning and was ready to run a lap around the block. Man, love Paul Anka now! Love you too Bob, keep it up, such a service to all of us!
Parker Forsell
________________________________________
At the risk of you not including this - but i hope you do for balance
I listened to the Anka Podcast and it found it reeked of sour notes and desperation. Yes, before Buble there was Anka but there were also way better singers than those he considers his contemporaries. Anka was a child phenom that was eclipsed by the rat pack and peaked as a teen idol, He became a hanger on appendage to the legends that let him pal around. Everyone i now dead and can't even verify his tales. What is the saddest element of the podcast is that Anka walks around with a chip on his shoulder demanding he be recognized and taller than the lifts he wears. He earns a black belt in name dropping. here is nothing wrong with a solid career in casinos and resorts, but this life long quest to be greater than that is boring.
Ron Davies
________________________________________
I thought it was pretty cool he did the Masked Singer and still sounded damn good.
A legend who doesn't get the credit for being one.
Richard Young
________________________________________
Greetings Bob,
AGREED; the Paul Anka Podcast was IT!!! or to paraphrase Mr Anka's lyrics, THIS WAS IT!!! The best ever podcast you've ever done, It was Mr Peabody's wayback Machine x 10.... and we were all Sherman.
Will the new generation of performers ever understand the old school work ethic, the school of hard knocks etc etc?? I seriously doubt it.
"The kids making money for us, The kid can sing, The kid's an entertainer"
"And I do what I Do"
Mr Anka is The Real Deal, and what a Pro. And not only one of the most outstanding songwriters of his generation, but a philosopher to boot.
"IF you stop moving, they throw dirt on you"
WOW, Superb, and Extraordinary really are insufficient
And now all of your podcast guests are going to feel like Sophie Tucker when she had to go on after Paul A at The Sahara
A truly inspiring, uplifting, and unforgettable interview.
Kudos to you and God Bless Paul.
Shanah Tova from NYC
David Bernstein
________________________________________
Totally agree. Paul Anka was just amazing.
My Jewish surrogate father ran a one-stop in East Hartford CT who told me the story many years ago about Anka stopping by his little dingy shop to say hello and thank him for pushing his records. That's all - just thank you. No women - no drugs - just a well-brought up kid who was maybe 17 and had manners.
Wow. -tony d'amelio
________________________________________
Bob, I have to agree with the previous reply. When I saw Paul Anka and it was just over 2 hours, I figured I would get info about "My Way" and a few other songs of his. To start, You are one of my favorite interviewers, I listen to the ones I have no interest in, Skier Bode Miller, fascinating, or the bit coin guy. I always listen as you ask the best questions abs keep it moving.
Paul Anka was so compelling, I was disappointed when it ended. His stories about the Rat Pack had me going back they Apple Music and listening to all 3 of them.
Listening to him talk about marriage I was both laughing and agreeing with him.
Great job with a great guest.
Thomas E. Melle
________________________________________
I totally agree. This was one of the finest podcasts I have ever heard. Great stories, amazing dude, and you dug deep to get the stories out.
Happy New Year-
Rich Madow
________________________________________
I am glad you did this. What an amazing podcast. My parents talked about Paul Anka but way before my time. I kind of blew it off the first time you posted. Nice one. Cheers.
Alan Stewart
________________________________________
I listened to it and I thought it was a spectacular podcast. I knew he was a teen idle. I knew he wrote The Tonight Show Theme. I did not know he was instrumental in bringing the Beatles to America. I did not know about his Rat Back days. He was entertaining, articulate,honest and funny. Totally blown away by it. He is truly one of a kind and has done it and seen it all. I especially liked the fact that he followed his mother's advice."Never look down on another human being,no matter what their status is in life. He even said he borrowed some of your writing to create a lyric. I wrote a song Tempting The Hands of Fate. I believe I wrote it before you used the term. I should write a song Paradigm because it is your favorite and most used word other than the word the. HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA The Guitar Master Disaster I listened to it twice
Paul Donsanto
________________________________________
Agreed from this geezer who grew up with him since "Diana".
…..Read his autobiography about sneaking into Annette's bedroom window at 16 and being called into Bridget Bardot's bedroom while still a teenager!
Dennis Brent
________________________________________
Just finished listening to the Paul Anka podcast. You need to do another one with him. It was great
Cheers
Kieran Stafford
Birdland Records
________________________________________
I could not agree more, Paul was a fantastic guest and you did a great job bringing out the best in Paul.
I plan on listening again for it was so interesting!
Thank you
Bruce Ogilvie
________________________________________
I completely dug that cast
Lew Enstedt
________________________________________
Your Paul Anka interview was amazing!
Not sure if you've ever seen his doc Lonely Boy from when he was 19.
It's no accident he reached that level of success.
He had it in him from day one.
https://youtu.be/nrdqWM5X2zg
Angelo Oddi
Toronto
________________________________________
I wanted to compliment you on your questions for Paul Anka. Definitely kept me totally interested from start to finish.
You showbiz acumen is on full display in this Podcast.
Thank you so much. Everyone interested in the business during the last 50 years should check it out.
Cheers,
Jimmy
Jimmy Murphy Management
Nashville
________________________________________
Actually it's vert interesting that you sent this email. I was meaning to write to you about the Paul Anka podcast and people who on the surface I'm not as inclined to think ( and I stress think) that I would be that interested in but who turn out to fascinating conversations.
What I've learned is to get past my perceived view of what's coming and just listen and learn. Paul Anka was fascinating, candid and dare I say very cool. And like Ezrin
quite the raconteur.
Peter Roaman
________________________________________
Great job on the interview, love the candid questions such as how much the record cost and who paid for it — not sure many would have asked those, but that's also why we listen to your podcast :-)
Al Walser
________________________________________
I usually listen at work…my brother listened and said it was stellar so I'm setting some time aside so I can listen to it all the way thru on one listen…
Tom Clark on Maui
________________________________________
Definitely need a part 2.. and 3, and 4 etc!
rdesjean
________________________________________
Hey Bob,
I agree on Paul Anka.
What I love about your show is that you interview folks with amazing careers, and you've been on a roll with that lately, from Paul Anka to Ann Wilson, Rod Argent and Irving Azoff.
All of the hours deserved to be two hours. There was so much there.
I didn't know much about Anka beyond the "Tonight Show," early hits and "My Way."
He wrote a tune for Buddy Holly! He made as much as $15 million from Doc and the band playing Johnny's theme.
And he told great stories.
Congrats again Bob!
Jefferson Graham
________________________________________
Keep it comin Bob.
...I think the PodCast is the best part of the Bob media empire — basically the greatest class I've ever taken.
I frequently send reminders like these to my fellow Bob heads when an outstanding episode comes down. This reminder will get me to move Paul to the top of my queue.
Steve Lindstrom
________________________________________
The simple fact that he talked about little clubs he'd played and you knew the venues. That's it. You cracked the code. You're the ultimate fan and it was a joyous conversation. I listened to all the Joe Smith artist interviews. He tried, but he didn't know where the early, little venues were. It makes all the difference. You were thrilled in anticipation of each Paul Anka answer, and so was I.
These guys are getting older. The conversation about white pop artists traveling in the south in the late 50s thru mid-60's with mixed bands is a docu-series unto itself. I know Pat Boone a bit, and he's told me similar stories (he did a 10 day tour of South Africa in the early 60's, but didn't know they were white-only until he got there - and he refused to perform. The South African president suspended apartheid so he could do integrated shows). Pat has taken decades of crap for all kinds of things, but his work before and during the civil rights era supporting black artists is well known - among black artists of the time. More people should know this about him. It took courage - as Paul Anka described. There are probably a dozen guys still around who could contribute to that narrative.
Thank you Bob,
Steve Okin
________________________________________
I have to pass along my favorite (and only) Paul Anka story:
My daughters' grade school used to do a video yearbook every year, and I would always volunteer to try to get low-cost sync and master use licenses for the project. It would usually run $200-500 a year.
One year the kids wanted to use Paul Anka's "The Times of Your Life" - a great song for the purpose.
I wrote to the publisher and the label. A couple of weeks later, I got an e-mail from Paul Anka himself.
He attached a re-recorded version of the song and gave us gratis licenses for as long as we wanted.
My kids graduated 15-16 years ago. For all I know, the school is still using the song.
Thanks, Paul!!!
Charles McGarry
________________________________________
That is SO sweet. Thank you!
And I'm planning on an evening with Paul as soon as we get back home.
Love,
Bob Ezrin
--
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--
Listen to the podcast:
-iHeart: https://ihr.fm/2Gi5PFj
-Apple: https://apple.co/2ndmpvp
--
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--
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Jerry Sharell
________________________________________
Bob I've been listening to your pods since the beginning and I have to say that Paul Anka interview was the most entertaining,enlightening and enjoyable of all your pods to date.
Best Regards
Thomas Black
________________________________________
I really enjoyed it Bob. As if Paul and Phil Everly were about to get beaten up by some thugs and their band arrived to look out for two young pretty boys. So good. You know we Canadians celebrate our own, Paul is a living legend here. I've read his book but you coaxed great stories out of him.
Jack Ross
________________________________________
enjoyed it as well! great stuff...
Brad Byrd
________________________________________
Loved the Paul Anka Show. The Norman he was referring to was my godfather.
Bill Gerber
________________________________________
Totally agree…one of your best interviews.
Canadians rock!
Ottawa, home of Paul Anka and Alanis.
John Borsten
________________________________________
I agree, Bob. The best since the Bob Ezrin podcast.
Thanks for doing what you do.
Alex Lopez Negrete
________________________________________
Wow Bob. Your interview with Paul was so revealing. It felt like you were having a candid chat with an aperitif after dinner. So many fascinating stories. Can't believe how much he remembered like it was yesterday. I barely remember past three decades let alone six!
I had to look up Irving!
Those Sinatra stories are true gems!
Fiona Bloom
________________________________________
Totally agree. Totally alive musician on the planet.
Special bonus: coral electric sitar at 1:42 of Making Memories.
Hank Barry
________________________________________
Couldn't agree more!
I could have listened to another hour at LEAST!
Mr. Anka was one of the most interesting interviews of any musician/songwriter I've ever heard.
Heck I'd watch a Netflix show about his life!
Best,
Michael Leonard
________________________________________
wow! I am a mid-level manager and agent, in middle age, during this brutal year and half in the music business. No retirement to speak of, but a love so deep for the game I just keep plugging away. Paul Anka was a total inspiration. I often listen to your podcast in 30 minute clips before hitting the hay. You had me up to midnight before I finally fell asleep, just kept adding another 30 minutes to the timer because it was just so entertaining. Listened to the last ten minutes this morning and was ready to run a lap around the block. Man, love Paul Anka now! Love you too Bob, keep it up, such a service to all of us!
Parker Forsell
________________________________________
At the risk of you not including this - but i hope you do for balance
I listened to the Anka Podcast and it found it reeked of sour notes and desperation. Yes, before Buble there was Anka but there were also way better singers than those he considers his contemporaries. Anka was a child phenom that was eclipsed by the rat pack and peaked as a teen idol, He became a hanger on appendage to the legends that let him pal around. Everyone i now dead and can't even verify his tales. What is the saddest element of the podcast is that Anka walks around with a chip on his shoulder demanding he be recognized and taller than the lifts he wears. He earns a black belt in name dropping. here is nothing wrong with a solid career in casinos and resorts, but this life long quest to be greater than that is boring.
Ron Davies
________________________________________
I thought it was pretty cool he did the Masked Singer and still sounded damn good.
A legend who doesn't get the credit for being one.
Richard Young
________________________________________
Greetings Bob,
AGREED; the Paul Anka Podcast was IT!!! or to paraphrase Mr Anka's lyrics, THIS WAS IT!!! The best ever podcast you've ever done, It was Mr Peabody's wayback Machine x 10.... and we were all Sherman.
Will the new generation of performers ever understand the old school work ethic, the school of hard knocks etc etc?? I seriously doubt it.
"The kids making money for us, The kid can sing, The kid's an entertainer"
"And I do what I Do"
Mr Anka is The Real Deal, and what a Pro. And not only one of the most outstanding songwriters of his generation, but a philosopher to boot.
"IF you stop moving, they throw dirt on you"
WOW, Superb, and Extraordinary really are insufficient
And now all of your podcast guests are going to feel like Sophie Tucker when she had to go on after Paul A at The Sahara
A truly inspiring, uplifting, and unforgettable interview.
Kudos to you and God Bless Paul.
Shanah Tova from NYC
David Bernstein
________________________________________
Totally agree. Paul Anka was just amazing.
My Jewish surrogate father ran a one-stop in East Hartford CT who told me the story many years ago about Anka stopping by his little dingy shop to say hello and thank him for pushing his records. That's all - just thank you. No women - no drugs - just a well-brought up kid who was maybe 17 and had manners.
Wow. -tony d'amelio
________________________________________
Bob, I have to agree with the previous reply. When I saw Paul Anka and it was just over 2 hours, I figured I would get info about "My Way" and a few other songs of his. To start, You are one of my favorite interviewers, I listen to the ones I have no interest in, Skier Bode Miller, fascinating, or the bit coin guy. I always listen as you ask the best questions abs keep it moving.
Paul Anka was so compelling, I was disappointed when it ended. His stories about the Rat Pack had me going back they Apple Music and listening to all 3 of them.
Listening to him talk about marriage I was both laughing and agreeing with him.
Great job with a great guest.
Thomas E. Melle
________________________________________
I totally agree. This was one of the finest podcasts I have ever heard. Great stories, amazing dude, and you dug deep to get the stories out.
Happy New Year-
Rich Madow
________________________________________
I am glad you did this. What an amazing podcast. My parents talked about Paul Anka but way before my time. I kind of blew it off the first time you posted. Nice one. Cheers.
Alan Stewart
________________________________________
I listened to it and I thought it was a spectacular podcast. I knew he was a teen idle. I knew he wrote The Tonight Show Theme. I did not know he was instrumental in bringing the Beatles to America. I did not know about his Rat Back days. He was entertaining, articulate,honest and funny. Totally blown away by it. He is truly one of a kind and has done it and seen it all. I especially liked the fact that he followed his mother's advice."Never look down on another human being,no matter what their status is in life. He even said he borrowed some of your writing to create a lyric. I wrote a song Tempting The Hands of Fate. I believe I wrote it before you used the term. I should write a song Paradigm because it is your favorite and most used word other than the word the. HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA The Guitar Master Disaster I listened to it twice
Paul Donsanto
________________________________________
Agreed from this geezer who grew up with him since "Diana".
…..Read his autobiography about sneaking into Annette's bedroom window at 16 and being called into Bridget Bardot's bedroom while still a teenager!
Dennis Brent
________________________________________
Just finished listening to the Paul Anka podcast. You need to do another one with him. It was great
Cheers
Kieran Stafford
Birdland Records
________________________________________
I could not agree more, Paul was a fantastic guest and you did a great job bringing out the best in Paul.
I plan on listening again for it was so interesting!
Thank you
Bruce Ogilvie
________________________________________
I completely dug that cast
Lew Enstedt
________________________________________
Your Paul Anka interview was amazing!
Not sure if you've ever seen his doc Lonely Boy from when he was 19.
It's no accident he reached that level of success.
He had it in him from day one.
https://youtu.be/nrdqWM5X2zg
Angelo Oddi
Toronto
________________________________________
I wanted to compliment you on your questions for Paul Anka. Definitely kept me totally interested from start to finish.
You showbiz acumen is on full display in this Podcast.
Thank you so much. Everyone interested in the business during the last 50 years should check it out.
Cheers,
Jimmy
Jimmy Murphy Management
Nashville
________________________________________
Actually it's vert interesting that you sent this email. I was meaning to write to you about the Paul Anka podcast and people who on the surface I'm not as inclined to think ( and I stress think) that I would be that interested in but who turn out to fascinating conversations.
What I've learned is to get past my perceived view of what's coming and just listen and learn. Paul Anka was fascinating, candid and dare I say very cool. And like Ezrin
quite the raconteur.
Peter Roaman
________________________________________
Great job on the interview, love the candid questions such as how much the record cost and who paid for it — not sure many would have asked those, but that's also why we listen to your podcast :-)
Al Walser
________________________________________
I usually listen at work…my brother listened and said it was stellar so I'm setting some time aside so I can listen to it all the way thru on one listen…
Tom Clark on Maui
________________________________________
Definitely need a part 2.. and 3, and 4 etc!
rdesjean
________________________________________
Hey Bob,
I agree on Paul Anka.
What I love about your show is that you interview folks with amazing careers, and you've been on a roll with that lately, from Paul Anka to Ann Wilson, Rod Argent and Irving Azoff.
All of the hours deserved to be two hours. There was so much there.
I didn't know much about Anka beyond the "Tonight Show," early hits and "My Way."
He wrote a tune for Buddy Holly! He made as much as $15 million from Doc and the band playing Johnny's theme.
And he told great stories.
Congrats again Bob!
Jefferson Graham
________________________________________
Keep it comin Bob.
...I think the PodCast is the best part of the Bob media empire — basically the greatest class I've ever taken.
I frequently send reminders like these to my fellow Bob heads when an outstanding episode comes down. This reminder will get me to move Paul to the top of my queue.
Steve Lindstrom
________________________________________
The simple fact that he talked about little clubs he'd played and you knew the venues. That's it. You cracked the code. You're the ultimate fan and it was a joyous conversation. I listened to all the Joe Smith artist interviews. He tried, but he didn't know where the early, little venues were. It makes all the difference. You were thrilled in anticipation of each Paul Anka answer, and so was I.
These guys are getting older. The conversation about white pop artists traveling in the south in the late 50s thru mid-60's with mixed bands is a docu-series unto itself. I know Pat Boone a bit, and he's told me similar stories (he did a 10 day tour of South Africa in the early 60's, but didn't know they were white-only until he got there - and he refused to perform. The South African president suspended apartheid so he could do integrated shows). Pat has taken decades of crap for all kinds of things, but his work before and during the civil rights era supporting black artists is well known - among black artists of the time. More people should know this about him. It took courage - as Paul Anka described. There are probably a dozen guys still around who could contribute to that narrative.
Thank you Bob,
Steve Okin
________________________________________
I have to pass along my favorite (and only) Paul Anka story:
My daughters' grade school used to do a video yearbook every year, and I would always volunteer to try to get low-cost sync and master use licenses for the project. It would usually run $200-500 a year.
One year the kids wanted to use Paul Anka's "The Times of Your Life" - a great song for the purpose.
I wrote to the publisher and the label. A couple of weeks later, I got an e-mail from Paul Anka himself.
He attached a re-recorded version of the song and gave us gratis licenses for as long as we wanted.
My kids graduated 15-16 years ago. For all I know, the school is still using the song.
Thanks, Paul!!!
Charles McGarry
________________________________________
That is SO sweet. Thank you!
And I'm planning on an evening with Paul as soon as we get back home.
Love,
Bob Ezrin
--
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--
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-Apple: https://apple.co/2ndmpvp
--
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Songs With Horn Sections-This Week On SiriusXM
Tune in today, September 14th, to Volume 106, 7 PM East, 4 PM West.
Phone #: 844-6-VOLUME, 844-686-5863
Twitter: @lefsetz or @siriusxmvolume/#lefsetzlive
Hear the episode live on SiriusXM VOLUME: siriusxm.us/HearLefsetzLive
If you miss the episode, you can hear it on demand on the SiriusXM app: siriusxm.us/LefsetzLive
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