THE SATURDAY SONG

[Mellope]

How can you re-rate a thread? I meant to give this a 5 but accidentally clicked 4.

[CRAZY-HORSE]

^^
sorry mate, cant answer you that as i never even knew you could rate threads LOL

[Ruby]

No narrative per se, this week – there isn’t even a Harvest Moon in the offing anytime soon. Just that this clip is a real gem. I love everything about it – those brothers! Lol! And I can do with something that is easy on the ear right now! …

“Harvest Moon” The Brothers Comatose and A.J. Lee …

[CRAZY-HORSE]

^^
what a lovely version.

if only Neil had it in him to write one more song half as good as Harvest Moon

[Music Head]

that was awesome

[Ruby]

Rock genealogy is a bendy, twisty, convoluted thing. I never did get around to acquiring the book – the Pete Frame one which I believe is the authority, but there are charts out there too – great complex rivers of information! Probably easier to wrap one's head around - easier to follow in 'map' format. Well, sort of. 

I’ve been listening to Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe in my car this week, and then I noticed MH had listened to Pavlov’s Dog, which sent me down that road, the connection being Bruford, who played on their second album, At the Sound of the Bell. And no – I’m not going to inflict David Surkamp upon anyone – I realise his voice is an acquired taste! I’m a diehard fan having got acquainted with them in impressionable years but I came across a review in which someone said his sound makes them want to break things, so I won’t risk it!! LOL! Nope – I’m erring safely on the Steve Howe side of the equation – yet another autodidact who has the confidence and innate musicianship that allows him to try his hand at different levels and succeed. Not that he didn't practice his butt off - he did - it's not just a miracle that he plays well. 

Because it’s a bit wild and whacky, and immensely pleasing, and because nothing rhymes with it, much like todays waffle - I give you “Orange” …

[Mellope]

Amazing song choice Ruby! Also very well worded paragraph from you.

[Ruby]

There’s not a lot to say about Marianne Faithfull that hasn’t already been said – many times over. How she managed to transcend the ravages of everything she experienced for as long as she did is a mystery. Not mere survival either - to come back fighting. Her penultimate album was a tour de force, I thought, even although her voice was shot. There is a world of pain and experience, and a still bold defiance in her delivery, and in her phrasing, even while mourning the loss of a friend and the inevitable march of time. Maybe that's it - the eternal rebel - still squaring up, head on. Nuff said - this was my favourite … R.I.P. Marianne Faithfull …

"The Gypsy Faerie Queen"

[Ruby]

This week’s song has been following me around since I first heard it – it’s “Ballad of the Gunfighters” from Jim White and Trey Blake’s new album, Precious Bane. It became a bit of an earworm, to my astonishment! I suppose it’s what you might imagine a typical scene from the Wild Wild West to be – straight out of Louis L’Amour (where on earth did he get that name from??). It was the very hooky chorus what done it, I think – and the somewhat unusual phrasing Trey Blake uses when she sings. Kinda unusual songwriting subject matter too – for a girl (just sayin’ - merely an observation).  

I’ve also been thinking about this collaboration, and I have reached the conclusion that there are few people in the world who would be so incredibly generous of spirit, kind, and open to exploring unknown territory – i.e. a tour with someone who’d never been on stage at all, ever, and with whom you’ve never performed, or even rehearsed – the album was put together remotely. I’d have thought that quite risky! What a gift Jim White has proffered, in terms of opportunity, and I believe it will serve them both well - from all accounts that I can see, it seems to be working out splendidly so far. Not necessarily global fame and fortune (although I do hope the paycheques roll in!) – he describes himself as the worst businessman in the world – there are other rewards in life and these two extraordinary people each deserve whatever it is they most need from their endeavours, IMHO. Incidentally independent touring appears to be a black hole of expenses for musicians, primarily covered by sales of merchandise. Not an easy road at all. 




 
The sun was making the crimson plunge
Behind the hills and into hell
As someone dealt a deck of cards
And someone rang the old church bell
Framed by evening's dying fire
A rider cut a silhouette
Jack Christie whipped his crying horse
Like the Black Angel of Death

And oh, the dying sun
Sweating dust and shards of light!
Upon the dirty streets
Fell into the arms of night

Clay Calder poured himself a drink
And through the darkening window saw
His fate was waiting in the street
Like last time and the time before
"Well boys" he said, "Just deal me in
I'll be there when this thing is done"
He put on his hat with the rattlesnake band
A pair of silver plated guns

And oh, the dying sun
Sweating dust and shards of light!
Upon the dirty streets
Fell into the arms of night

Time stood still, and Clay he thought
The white trees in the western night
Waited there like ghosts to be
Baptized in a river of light
He thought about a grave and then
He thought about a gambling debt
Death was something to keep in mind
Life was something to forget

And oh, the dying sun
Sweating dust and shards of light!
Upon the dirty streets
Fell into the arms of night

Jack Christie drew, and with one shot
He split the night like firewood
Clay was bleeding on the ground
Saying "Boys, he got me good
Jack rode into the burning dark
And Lily Miller wept for Clay
Whose last thought was the white trees looked
Like poor souls freed on Judgment Day

And oh, the dying sun
Sweating dust and shards of light!
Upon the dirty streets
Fell into the arms of night

Oh, the dying sun
Sweating dust and shards of light!
Upon the dirty streets
Fell into the arms of night

[Ruby]

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the release of Supertramp’s Crisis? What Crisis? and today, serendipitously, happens to be John Helliwell’s 80th birthday. Without him, I seriously doubt they would have produced the sounds they did. Amazingly versatile performer and all-round positive guy. And although Rick and Roger fronted the band, Helliwell, Dougie Thompson and Bob Siebenberg were absolutely key to their success, IMHO. A fortuitous confluence - all five of them were astonishingly good musicians and there have since been very few as accomplished as they were, in their heyday, I’d say. Masterful stuff.

It was nearly going to be “Another Man’s Woman” – my song of the week, because I do so love that key change, but given the current state of affairs, or should I say the state of current affairs, I thought “Soapbox Opera” would be more appropriate! The more things change, the more they stay the same!!