My first installment in this series (begun by my good friend Robin the Girl Wonder) was titled 'The Soundtrack Of My Life (Or, Prelude To An Introduction - Blog Bit 1). Well, if I don't now provide an "Introduction" I will have made a liar of my first blog bit, and dogged if I'm gonna make a liar of my first blog bit! (What kinda guy d'y'all think I am, anyway?)
This Introduction is essentially a statement of where I think I probably am, musically, today. In my future 'The Soundtrack Of My Life' (TSOML) blog bits, I will show you how I got to this point by starting at the beginning and working my way back to here.
I have been a lifelong Beach Boys fan. Brian Wilson and Company created some of the most beautiful songs (and THE BEST harmonies) I've ever heard. Unfortunately, most people only think of their Sand, Surf & Sun (and car) songs when the Beach Boys get mentioned, but they were far more musically and lyrically complex than just that!
If there is one person that I have to select as a living genius of pop music, I would choose Brian Wilson.
~ George Martin, The Beatles' Producer
But let me tell ya something: Brian's brother, Carl, was no slouch either! In fact, he was primarily responsible for one my very favorite B.B. songs, 'LONG PROMISED ROAD'.
I'll guess that it was 2004 when I purchased the album 'THE BEACH BOYS: Best Of The Brother Years - 1970-1986'. The disc contained a number of songs I'd not heard previously. (Incidentally, the album comes with my highest recommendation. You get the deep 'Til I Die', and 'Surf's Up'; the complexity of 'The Trader'; the loveliness of 'Add Some Music To Your Day'; the gorgeous 'Disney Girls', and 'Good Timing'; and the catchy as all get-out 'Sail On, Sailor' and 'California Dreaming'. And, of course, you get the powerful... 'Long Promised Road'.)
I had put the album on "Repeat" and just let it play through over and over while I was doing some writing. 'Long Promised Road' didn't immediately leap out at me because it was surrounded by a number of other unfamiliar songs. But after several playings, the meaning and the power of it just came crashing into my consciousness, and I realized this is one of those songs that should be played with your volume cranked "up to eleven".
I also realized that 'Long Promised Road' was a personal anthem. Today, it is unquestionably one of my all-time favorite Beach Boys songs, and it speaks to me where I live. I have a few anthems because, let's face it, I have a few not-so-subtle facets to my personality. 'Long Promised Road' does an exceptional job of lyrically and musically illustrating that "serious" side of my nature - STMcC the "philosopher" (so to speak), but simultaneously STMcC the "fighter".
Despite all the "Jocularity! Jocularity!", THIS is principally where I "am" today, and when it reaches the climax of blaring horn and ripping guitar, I'm pretty much outta-my-seat and cheering!
So hard to answer future's riddle
When ahead is seeming so far behind
So hard to laugh a child-like giggle
When the tears start to torture my mind
So hard to shed the life of before
To let my soul automatically soar
But I hit hard at the battle that's confronting me, yeah
Knock down all the roadblocks a-stumbling me
Throw off all the shackles that are binding me down
Sew up the wounds of revolution
And the Now starts to get in my way
So what if life's a revelation
If the mind speaks of only today?
So real, the pain of growing in my soul
Of climbing up to reality's goal
But I hit hard at the battle that's confronting me, yeah
Knock down all the roadblocks a-stumbling me
Throw off all the shackles that are binding me down
Long promised road
Trail starts at dawn
Carries on to the season's ending
Long promised road
Flows to the Source, gentle Force, never ending, never ending
So hard to lift the jeweled scepter
When the weight turns a smile to a frown
So hard to drink of passion nectar
When the taste of life's holding me down
So hard to plant the seed of reform
To set my sights on defeating the storm
So I hit hard at the battle that's confronting me, yeah
Knock down all the roadblocks a-stumbling me
Throw off all the shackles that are binding me down
Oh, yeah...
Hit hard at the battle that's confronting me, yeah
Knock down all the roadblocks a-stumbling me
Throw off all the shackles that are binding me down
Whoa yeah...
Hit hard at the battle that's confronting me, yeah
Knock down all the roadblocks a-stumbling me
Throw off all the shackles that are binding me down
I'd love to see you
I'd love to see you
I'd love to see you
I'd love to see you
I'd love to see you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBTTnIsO8ws
Alright, in my next TSOML blog bit, I'll go back to my musical beginnings and 'splain how we got HERE.
Please visit 'The Soundtrack Of My Life' founder Your Daily Dose
~ Stephen T. McCarthy
I really like 'Long Promised Road'. Some guy turned me onto that one, not sure I can remember who. I agree, the climax is...well it's really quite a CLIMAX.
ReplyDeleteI also agree about Carl Wilson. There is a YouTube of him singing 'God Only Knows' in a kitchen at, I think, the wedding of one of his friends kids. That simply YouTube kind of impromptu versions, always brings me to tears.
And as I recall, you told that "guy" that it didn't really do much for you, but you'd listen again anyhow.
ReplyDeleteI guess it grew on you?
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
I think you're mistaken. If I remember correctly, at the time he recommended two songs, the second of which I can't remember, that's how much of an impression THAT one made, but this one was different. I liked it from the beginning.
DeleteI have never heard this and to be honest I don't know much about Carl. I've not heard the album either so I'll check it out.
ReplyDeleteI like the wordplay present in the lyrics. When was this song written? The lyrics seem like they come from the experience of a mature adult rather than from a man in his 20's. Ya, I like the dynamic changes as well. Starts out with that slow, strong melody and then smacks you in the face with the verse.
Wilson is undeniably one of the best composers of his generation. An absolute genius and it's so sad he couldn't perform for much of his life. I was thrilled when he did SMILE. I saw the live concert on DVD and cried all the way from the opening strains of music until the last notes.
Howdy, ANNE ~
DeleteI said a good prayer for 'You-Know-Who' last night and will try to keep him "in the groove".
I did the math (Uh-Oh! Always a 50-50 proposition at best) and it seems Carl was 25 when this song was released, which means he was probably 24 when he composed it.
It comes from the 1971 album 'SURF'S UP', much of which was produced by Carl because Brian was in bad shape.
Here's another track from the album by Carl (rather psychedelic with some really wild instrumentation)...
Link:-> FEEL FLOWS
As you probably know, much of the legendary un-released 'SMILE' album was released in bits and pieces over the years, and 'Surf's Up' included 2 or 3 of those songs.
Then of course, fairly recently, 2 "official" versions of the album were finally released.
I'm so pleased to learn that you're a Brian Wilson and (I assume, naturally) Beach Boys fan. And, yes, Brian was indeed a musical genius who was ahead of his time.
Brian's musical ideas, and Bob Dylan's lyrical ideas completely influenced everything in Rock & Roll that came after them (and which was contemporary to them, also).
George Martin knew who the "real" musical genius was who influenced the bejabbers out of his own boys. And lyrically, you can't listen to anything in Rock music that came after Dylan's 'Bringing It All Back Home' album in 1965 that doesn't have his influence ALL OVER IT.
Jefferson Airplane, The Beatles, The Who, The Velvet Underground, Pink Floyd, The Moody Blues, Iron Butterfly, Traffic (one of my favorites), and The Doors - you name it - all were trying to do "Dylan" after that 1965 album took lyrics in a totally different, ultra-creative direction.
I'm not sure if I've seen that 'SMILE' concert or not. I'm going to have to look into that now. Thanks for mentioning it, my friend.
~ D-FensDogG
Feel Flow reminds me a bit of Sid Barrett's style, but much better. Martin knew and the Beatles knew, but sadly Brian didn't. He would have felt less insecure if he had.
DeleteDylan could craft some serious lyrics and definitely influenced nearly everyone out there. Hendrix and Lennon worshiped the ground he walked on. I don't think concept albums would have happened without him.
For me Traffic was Winwood's best work. It seemed to me that in America he's best known for his solo work.
I'm a massive fan of the Beatles. We were able to get those albums as soon as they came out. They were the soundtrack of my life when I was a little girl. There's a picture of me at about age 6 holding an electric guitar (a Christmas present). On the bottom of the pic, my gran wrote "The Little Beatle" I was mad about them. Those early albums got me through the poverty of my own village and gave me visions of another world.
I had a little cardboard record player and cherished the singles on 45's.Did you guys have the singles on 45's?
The only band you've listed that I didn't care for was The Doors. I thought Morrison was a Dylan wannabee and highly over rated. For some reason he gave me the creeps. The girls all thought he was sexy, but I just didn't get it.
You'll have to check out that concert. One of the best things about it is that Wilson is happy. You could tell that the music was closer to what he'd heard in his head when he was young. The musicians he was playing with could give him the intense complexity that only he could hear back then.
PART 1 OF 2:
DeleteLITTLE BEATLE ~
>>... Dylan could craft some serious lyrics and definitely influenced nearly everyone out there.
I really started getting into Rock music seriously circa 1975. That's about when I started collecting LPs, and for the longest time I'd hear and read how Dylan was supposed to be this incredibly influential, master lyricist. I even took a 'Rock Poetry' class my senior year and Dylan was one of the singer-songwriters the teacher was really super-big on. But I still didn't get it.
Thing is, Dylan had influenced everyone who came after him, and those were the people I was listening to, and I didn't understand the "history" of that kind of songwriting. Plus, I was young and stoopid.
Years later, I figured it out, primarily via 'Bringing It All Back Home'. And then about 20 years after that, I had a revelation where it dawned on me: THAT album had been my School Of Creativity and the catalyst for my style of writing and thinking. (I wrote extensively about this in several blog bits on my old, defunct 'STUFFS' blog.)
The bottom line is that the first track on 1965's 'Bringing It All Back Home' was 'Subterranean Homesick Blues'. Prior to that, there were no songs I'm aware of with lyrics written in that free-association, almost stream-of-consciousness manner. But immediately after that album's release, EVERYONE was trying to do it (and most with sub-par results).
Suddenly it was "the killer awoke before dawn, he put his boots on; he took a face from the ancient gallery and he walked on down the hall" and it was "men on the chessboard get up and tell you where to go", and it was "Suzy Cream Cheese" and "Toe-jam football", etc.
But "psychedelic" stuff like that did not exist, as far as I know, prior to 'Subterranean Homesick Blues' and the rest of that album.
>>... For me Traffic was Winwood's best work. It seemed to me that in America he's best known for his solo work.
You're right - I totally agree. I do like Winwood's first solo album, and 'Talking Back To The Night', too (although I don't own that one now). But after that, I feel his sound became much more "slick", and that's when he started racking up the Top 40 hits... and I lost interest.
For sure, give me the Traffic recordings any day!
>>... Did you guys have the singles on 45's?
Oh, definitely. I began buying singles before albums. Some people never collected anything BUT the 45s. When I was a kid, we had the 45 of the song 'The Battle Of New Orleans' and the little dust jacket was fully illustrated with cartoons showing the action mentioned in the song. I wish I still had that 45, just for the dust jacket (the song I have on CD).
Continued Below...
PART 2 OF 2:
Delete>>... The only band you've listed that I didn't care for was The Doors.
I was a huge Doors fan in my teens and very early twenties, but then when I discovered Blues (and later Jazz), I jettisoned most of my Rock albums.
About 20 years later, I rediscovered the Rock of my youth and acquired select albums that I found I still liked (including Dylan, Pink Floyd and some Doors).
I think Morrison's intellect has been highly overestimated, but he may have originated the idea of combining Rock and Theatre with performance pieces like 'The Unknown Soldier' and 'The End' (neither song being a favorite of mine).
My friend Sheboyganboy Six and I were recently discussing and analyzing the history of "Punk Rock", and depending on which (or all) of the 3 elements of Punk one wishes to give the most weight to, I came to think that either Eddie Cochran's 'Summertime Blues' or The Doors' 'Roadhouse Blues' is quite possibly the first "Punk" record.
I'm still a pretty big fan of the 'Morrison Hotel' album although I don't play it often. And I must say that, for me, 'Peace Frog' is an essential "Driving Song".
I used to do some acting, and the last part I ever played (for a friend's student film project) was Jim Morrison. It was supposed to be 'A Day In The Life Of Jim Morrison' (this was years before the Val Kilmer movie) and after that... I never wanted to act again.
Hmmm... Maybe it was being Jim Morrison that took all the fun out of it for me. Ha!
I will definitely look for that Brian Wilson concert. Maybe it's even been uploaded to YouTube. I'll have to look later tonight.
~ D-FensDogG
So you acted? Now that's very interesting and you must know we'd all love to see a clip of that film.
DeleteOkay now I'm going to get back a bit of my own. Name your two favourtite albums. And only two. The clock is ticking....5,4,3,2,1 GO!
ANNE O' ~
DeleteGot no clips to post, but I posted some photos on my old 'STUFFS' blog awhile back.
Hokey-Smoke! What you ask is nearly impossible. I CAN name the #1 album, the ONE I would keep if I were told I could listen to only a single release for the rest of my life.
But the second one (which I can narrow down to about 10) would greatly depend upon my mood at the time of choosing.
OK, I'm done stalling...
#1) 'GLENN MILLER: The Popular Recordings (1938-1942)'
#2) Well, the album with the inside track and the smart money on it is probably 'MAHALIA JACKSON: 16 Most Requested Songs'.
BONUS TRACK:
My favorite drummer is JOE MORELLO of The Dave Brubeck Quartet. The drumming on the albums 'The Dave Brubeck Quartet At Carnegie Hall' and on 'Time Further Out' is, to me, the most interesting and exciting I've heard. As a drummer, that guy was just so imaginative; the various patterns and the way he could segue from one to another just blows my mind every time I listen.
~ D-FensDogG
Excellent choices! My husbands gran, who passed recently, used to tell me of times when she went to see The Glen Miller Orchestra play. She would speak of the hours of getting dressed, how the air smelled at night, of the anticipation, of the dancing and of the romance of her youth. That is one time I would like to go back and visit.When she passed, she left her diaries to me and they tell a first person story of a wonderful time in you countries history.
DeleteMahalia had a great set of pipes and she could sing gospel like nobodies business. This might sound odd, but I liked Elvis best when he sang gospel music. For me, it was the truest thing he ever did.
Oh yeah, Joe Morello! I found him in a round about way. Through listening to John Bonham and working my way backwards. I knew what Bonzo was doing wasn't blues or rock, it was Jazz and it turned out to be Morello. Morello influenced Apice, Baker, Aldridge and Ian Paice. If you listen to any one of those drummers solo and then listen to Morello solo, you'll see where they got every single thing they did. Bonzo's big triplets were being done by Morello ages ago, yet everyone thought it was new. As King Solomon said "There's nothing new under the sun"
ANNE O' ~
Delete>>... As King Solomon said "There's nothing new under the sun"
Yep, he sure did say that, and it sure seems to be true. Pretty wise feller that Solomon.
Wow! It would have been fantastic to hear Glenn Miller's Orchestra in person.
My Brother really digs Presley's Gospel songs, too. Of course, Elvis was from the South and was raised in the church, so Gospel music was really in the fabric of his being and was probably the first music he was exposed to.
Have you ever seen the 1981 movie [Link:->] 'AMERICAN POP'?
That was how I first became exposed to Joe Morello's drumming. I loved the movie back then and purchased the LP soundtrack. One song on the album was 'TAKE FIVE' by The Dave Brubeck Quartet. It wasn't my first exposure to Jazz, but it was probably the first time a Jazz tune really grabbed my attention and made me listen carefully.
I fell in love with Morello's drum solo in 'TAKE FIVE'. I can only say this in layman's terms but the thing that really made me sit up and take notice was how "quirky" Morello's drumming could be. It was like no other drum solo I'd ever heard.
In fact, it was Morello's solo that showed me music could actually have a sense of humor injected into it. I knew lyrics could display a sense of humor, obviously, but prior to focusing on what Morello was doing on 'Take Five' I didn't know that the instrumentation itself could display humor. There's one particular place in the solo, where Morello pauses before completing his musical idea, that literally made me laugh out loud the first 50 or so times I heard it.
Later I began exploring other Dave Brubeck / Joe Morello recordings and found that Morello was frequently "quirky" which I found highly interesting and entertaining.
I'll admit that most drum solos (especially in Rock music) tend to bore me pretty quickly - they rarely seem to have any interesting ideas, and it's easy to get the kids all fired up by just slamming away on a drum kit.
However, every blue moon or so I'd come across a drum solo filled with interesting and/or soulful ideas (usually a Jazz track), and those I'd love. Overall, nobody matches Morello's quirkiness to my ears.
Have you ever heard his solo on 'CASTILIAN DRUMS' from the live album 'The Dave Brubeck Quartet At Carnegie Hall'? (The entire album is outstanding!) It's about an 11 or 12 minute solo (which would probably bore me to tears if it were anybody but Morello playing it). Brubeck rightly called it "a whole series of drum solos". And to think, Morello was suffering from the flu the night that solo was recorded and he really didn't even want to play before the curtain went up.
Although 'Castilian Drums' is filled with Morello quirkiness, I think my favorite is still found on 'Take Five'. It's not flashy, but it still intrigues and entertains me.
~ D-FensDogG
POSTSCRIPT:
DeleteMorello's drumming on 'UNSQUARE DANCE' is super-cool, too. There was just something about his style that totally stands out to me. And, hell, one doesn't play with Dave Brubeck unless they're a total master on their instrument. That was one very inventive Jazz band, with all those different time signatures that they began exploring.
~ D-FensDogG
Where to begin, where to begin, so much to say here!
DeleteFirst things first. Holy Mary Mother of God, how did I not know about American Pop?! That trailer just blew my mind. There's all that fantastic music and the animation is by Bakshi. I thought I knew almost all of Bakshi's work, but this one escaped me. I simply must have it. Surely there's someplace online that sells it. If they don't I'll have to see if this store near here called Hastings can order it for me. If I can get it, it's going into the "vault of forever". It's a place where no matter how much a person begs to borrow it, or promises to give it back, the answer is always "NO!!!"
I think the humour was a reflection of Morello's personality. The guy was so nice and he taught near to the end of his life. I did an online version of one of his Master Studies years ago. And no, I can't touch most of what he does, but I tried.
So I do know of Unsquare Dance and I love what he's doing there. He's playing off the drummers stool, the rim and all his cymbal stands to get those different tones. It's so cool to see one of those guys do it and it's not something one thinks of doing on their own. I used to have the Live at Carnegie Hall album but it got lost in one of my many moves. So I just tried to pull it up on the Youtube and they have it. Guess what's going into my playlist now!
Now if you want to see something that will make you laugh so loud, you'll have spittle coming out your nose, check out this drum battle between Art Blakey and Ginger Baker. https://youtu.be/qghrsBfSbgk?list=PLstJMefA14XVyVGrocglM6-LMWhAg79GG
So here's Baker, all Mr. Big with his big drum kit (a big ole double bass kit) and he's using every trick he's got. Man, he's really working it. Then it's Blakey's turn. And Blakey blows him away easily. So now it's Bakers turn again, and boy does he really give it a go. Well while all this is going on Blakey has one of his floor toms removed and he's sitting there with just a bass, a snare and one ride tom. He then proceeds to casually roll Baker up and smoke him. The audience is laughing by this time. Blakeys sitting there grinning the whole time. Then it's Bakers turn again and he really plays his heart out. But the harder he tries the worse it gets, cause there just ain't no beating Blakey. I'd have laid down my sticks, kissed the soles of Blakey's feet and slunk off stage if it were me.
The upshot of all this is that now you've taken me back in time, I've got to rebuy all of Brubecks stuff on CD. This is gonna cost me some serious change dontcha know.
Dammit, you've got me going now.
DeletePS.
Do you know Louie Bellson? To me he was the sweetest, kindest and most decent of all drummers. When he played, he smiled the whole time and you could see the joy written all over his face. He played with just about everyone, Goodman, Dorsey and Ellington. Also he was married to Pearl Bailey.
The reason for this PS is to give you a link to one of his solo's. As you like Morello, I think you'll like Bellson. He does some fun stuff and he's so happy while he's doing it, it's infectious.
https://youtu.be/nBQWaCLlK9Y
Now that's it as I've to paint some miniatures before the sun comes up :0)
Great comment, ANNE O'!
DeleteYeah, I'm pretty sure you'll dig 'AMERICAN POP'. It's a pretty cool animated story about... well... American Pop. Ha!
>>... He's playing off the drummers stool, the rim and all his cymbal stands to get those different tones. It's so cool to see one of those guys do it and it's not something one thinks of doing on their own.
Yeah, I learned a long time ago that when you get to the upper echelon of the greatest artists, they're all pretty much equally proficient. From a technical standpoint, the best of the best can copy what their fellow great artists are doing.
I was once standing nearby when Lee Ritenour whipped off a perfect Eddie Van Halen solo, illustrating how it's done for some fellow musicians just weeks after that first Van Halen album was released. My jaw dropped, and I realized right then and there that great musicians can copy anything, so it's all a matter of who does it first.
At that point, what differentiates them is style and inventiveness. When they put their own personal "stamp" on their work, that's what we're given to choose from. Do I prefer Satchmo's trumpet style or Miles Davis' style? (Although, of course, I can and do love them BOTH.)
That drum battle was fantastic, and I agree completely with your assessment. That little trick Blakey did with the sticks in his second solo was a neat bit of showmanship (had to rewind and watch it again).
Ginger Baker started out his third solo pretty well, but before long it was clear he was out of ideas and just hammering away with nothing really creative happening.
Blakey won, and as you pointed out, with far fewer drums, too! And I loved the cigarette dangling from his lips, also. It reminded me of Manny Fernandez. He's in the middle of battle, but it's not so tough he can't smoke a cig at the same time. Ha!
[Link:->] SCROLL DOWN PAST THE DEAD VIDEOS TO THE 'MANNY FERNANDEZ' SECTION.
The Louie Bellson solo was great too. Oh, yeah, I knew Louie Bellson. I've never owned a full Bellson album but I have owned several Bellson tracks on Jazz compilation LPs over the years. He was a master, too.
And I don't care who disagrees with me, when it comes to musicians, the Jazz players beat the Rock players hands down. Most Rock musicians would be incapable of even wrapping their minds around what the Jazz players are doing. There are a few exceptions, but not many.
Just recently I watched this one-hour interview with Carol Kaye, a bassist for the legendary 'Wrecking Crew'. She makes it clear numerous times in no uncertain terms that the Jazz musicians are unquestionably better than the Rockers.
She even quit working as a hired gun in the studio because she got sick and tired of playing simplistic Rock ____ (I can't remember if she called it crap, bullshit, garbage, or what, but her meaning was clear.)
If you can find the time (maybe even 5 min. here, 10 min, there), I think you'll like this interview. Carol tells it the way it is:
[Link:->] 'CAROL KAYE OF 'THE WRECKING CREW'
Loved the comment and videos, ANNE!
~ D-FensDogG
POSTSCRIPT: For a long time, I've had Art Blakey on my 'Future BOTB Match-Ups' list. Maybe I'll do that one on June 1st, now that I've got Jazz Messengers on my mind. (You gonna become a regular BOTB voter? I hope so.)
You'll get no argument from me on that score. The Jazz musicans beat the Rockers hands down. It takes a particular set of skills and discipline to be a good Jazz musician. And the audience demands more from them as well. Also at the risk of sounding all "Spinal Tap" I would say Jazz musicians paint with more colours than Rock Musicians.
DeleteI've got the Carol Keye interview in my Youtube list. I'll watch the whole thing straight through. Have you heard Jeff Becks bass player Tal Wilkenfeld? I don't think there's ever been any female that could come as close to Carol as this young girl can.
I'm beginning work on painting figures of a Jazz Quartet. I'm going to lay primer on them tonight, but it will take me a good two months to finish all four figures. The figures are about one inch high and were sculpted to represent the Jazz musicians of Harlem. If you're interested, when I get them done, I'll give you a link so you can see the photographs.
Of course I'm going to be a regular voter BOTB voter. I'm hooked baby!
That should say BOTB voter. It's been a long day :0)
DeleteANNE O'KLEY ~
Delete'Spinal Tap'... I LOVE that movie. There's so much truth in it, and yet it's damned funny! (I quote that "up to eleven" line ALL THE TIME!)
Tal Brooke, I've read, but Tal Wilkenfeld I've never heard of. I'll check her out. (Is she single?:-)
Yes, by all means, I would like to see the Jazz Quartet when you're finished with 'em.
Pleased to learn you're going to be a BOTB voter. We've got a new Battle coming up this Friday, but you'll have 6 days in which to vote before the winner is announced.
~ D-FensDogG
I think Tal is single and she's cute as a button as well.
DeleteI'm glad we'll have 6 days to place our vote. As I'm not familiar with this song, I'd like to have time to give them both a fair listen. When you're new to something, you've got to live with the song for awhile.
Well, I'm pretty sure you will know both that I will be posting tomorrow. One was a huge hit, and you would have had to be living under a mobile home in Paducah not to be familiar with it.
DeleteThe other one is by a famous artist although the recording is not well known.
I'm pretty certain I know which way you will vote on this one. We'll see.
~ D-FensDogG
Very much looking forward to hearing what you've chosen.
DeleteI shall see you on the morrow!
Hey DogG.
ReplyDeleteLast month I had a post on playing a favorite song 10-15 times, non-stop. I'm an about 99% sure, that this was your song at the time.
Super lyrics, but that chorus really screams the current scene here. (my here.) I'm glad I'm not doing roller coasters.
In this song I heard sounds particular to another favorite band of mine. "Yes" came out in the '70's I think. They more than likely picked up some 'pet sounds' by The Beach Boys... like you indicated, who didn't glean from their creativity?
Nice woids.
DIXIE POLKA ~
DeleteYep, yer right. 'LONG PROMISED ROAD' is the one I linked you to and said I could never play it just once. Usually mo' like 3 or 4 times in a row.
I know YES pretty well and owned 2 or 3 albums back "in the day". I'm not really a fan now (don't care much for Prog-Rock), but I think it's fair to say that Yes would have been No without Brian Wilson coming before them.
What Brian did was introduce an "orchestral" effect to Rock music, and in so doing, used all kinds of instruments that previously had never been heard on Rock recordings, like oboes, and French horns and even that weird (electro-)theremin.
Dixie, I'm a dealer of Nice Woids. I hope the DEA never catches up with me!
~ D-FensDogG
I read/listened to this yesterday, BUT my mom was thinking of something she wanted to tell me every three minutes (yeah, seriously) and just when I'd get back in my groove: interruption. I couldn't make it through the song without another one. So, I just said to myself, "Forget it. I'll read this tomorrow." My mother, bless her heart, has the best intentions. (Mostly she'll forget what she's thinking if she doesn't say it right then when she's thinking it!)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I started over today. You said that you discovered this song in 2004 and it spoke to you then. Were you in Phoenix at that time? Were you already struggling with Phoenix (even then)? The reason I ask is because I think we all go through struggles as we live our lives. As we overcome on thing, guess what? There's another thing. So, I was just wondering if you've been battling what feels like the same thing since 2004 or you've got a new thing now? Or you also think that life constantly presents us with "things?"
I listened to the song three times. Each time I liked it more. The verses (challenges) are fairly universal, meaning we can adapt them to whatever problem we are facing. For instance: "So hard to shed the life of before To let my soul automatically soar." For me, that means letting go of all the bad stuff that really culminated in my marriage and divorce (leaving me with chronic migraines) and simply allow my soul to soar. For you, I'm sure it means something totally different. (Which is pretty awesome)
I really like this song. I feel like anyone who's "been through it" would feel this one in their soul. Especially if no matter how hard the struggle has been or how long it's gone on, they still believe that they will power through it. Maybe not clear on the whys and wherefores, but sure that there will be relief. (It's called Long PROMISED Road after all.)
It's really strange to think that there are so many people in pretty much the same place (and a song can make us see that). I'm determined to shake off these migraines (the shackles that are binding me down) by going to the therapy and doing anything and everything that I think will move me toward that healthier place. While you are doing the things you need to do to shake off your own shackles (which are not the same as mine), but a shackle is a shackle, no?
And that's why I love these Soundtrack posts. It sometimes feels like we're traveling this road alone. The reality is that we are traveling together alone. (with God, of course) But, I mean we can benefit from the unity of shared experience. I guess that's what I'm trying to get at. For someone who prides herself on writing, I sure can muck it up...
I look forward to your next Soundtrack post!
GIRL WONDER ~
DeleteYour Mom sounds just like mine. I wonder how many times I heard this: "Sorry to interrupt, but if I don't say this now, I'll forget it".
>>... Were you in Phoenix at that time? Were you already struggling with Phoenix (even then)? .... As we overcome on thing, guess what? There's another thing. So, I was just wondering if you've been battling what feels like the same thing since 2004 or you've got a new thing now? Or you also think that life constantly presents us with "things?"
Yes, I was in Phoenix (and hating it) when I "found" this song.
And I call that "The Pendulum Effect". Don't ever get feeling too comfortable, because even now that pendulum has reached its apex and is beginning to swing back down toward you. Better be ready to duck, 'cause bad times are coming back!
So, yes, I think life is constantly presenting us with "things", and there will always be the need to "hit hard at the battle that's confronting us; knock down all the roadblocks a-stumbling us; throw off all the shackles that are binding us down".
It's all part of that "Big, Round School" learning process. Or, "growing in soul".
>>... "So hard to shed the life of before To let my soul automatically soar." For me, that means letting go of all the bad stuff that really culminated in my marriage and divorce (leaving me with chronic migraines) and simply allow my soul to soar. For you, I'm sure it means something totally different.
Yeah, it can have a personal meaning for everyone. It's a great song that most anyone should be able to relate to in some way.
>>... It's called Long PROMISED Road after all.
Right! And I like the little references to God in the song. It doesn't hit you over the head with them, but they're there for anyone who's really paying attention.
I also like how you can hear Carl's weariness in the way he sings the word "hard" in "So hard to drink of passion nectar". But then, a little later, he finds the Strength he needs and whoops it up!
>>... I'm determined to shake off these migraines (the shackles that are binding me down) ... While you are doing the things you need to do to shake off your own shackles, but a shackle is a shackle, no?
Exactly! We're all dealing with shackles in one form or another.
>>... For someone who prides herself on writing, I sure can muck it up.
You didn't muck it up at all. Everything you wrote was spot-on!
I like how the person who uploaded this song to YouTube used that painting showing the road disappearing to a point seemingly in the sky. Very appropriate.
~ D-FensDogG
I had never heard that song before and it is just great. It speaks on many levels. I know so little about the Beach Boys except for the popular music and the hardships some faced. It is amazing how much music plays a part of our lives. How it shapes our memories or gives us courage.
ReplyDeleteBIRGIT ~
DeleteYeah, gives us courage. I really love the Beach Boys in general, and it's such a bonus when you come across a song by a favorite band which inspires you to keep fighting the good fight.
One thing I like about 'LONG PROMISED ROAD' is that it's really poetic, rather philosophical, but at the same time it provides that power and that emotionally-high punch that puts it in a whole second realm. It's poetic and feisty at the same time, and that's a pretty unique and inspiring combination!
Thanks for listening and commenting, my friend.
~ D-FensDogG
I also had to listen to this song a few times before the powerful lyrics got to me. It was also good advice to crank the volume for the climax. This actually involved leaping out of bed, and locking myself in the bathroom, so I wouldn't wake my sleeping hubby. Thank goodness it was almost worth it!
ReplyDeleteJulie
Ha!-Ha! GEM JULIE, you are even more devoted to good music than I am! Not sure I would have gotten out of bed for it.
DeleteBut, see, THAT'S why you're a gem and I'm the clown prince of foolishness.
This IS a tremendous song though. Now that I'm here, I think I'll give it a listen just to get my day started with a fighting chance.
~ D-FensDogG
I'd never heard this song before, but it's a nice one. The album is new to me as well. I used to listen to a lot of Beach Boys back before 1968 and then I just started listening to other music. I never stopped liking them, but I guess I did somewhat lose interest in most of their releases after "Good Vibrations" came out.
ReplyDeleteStill I've always recognized the genius of their work. My listening just took off in other directions with other groups and artists. And classical.
Once I started building a CD collection I did replace several of my older Beach Boy and Brian Wilson albums because I felt their music is essential for any well rounded collection. I don't listen to much of the music in my collection anymore, but it's nice when I hear one of those old tunes on the radio or elsewhere.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
BOIDMAN ~
DeleteWhen I seriously discovered and got into Blues and Jazz, I did a similar thing by mostly walking away from Rock music across-the-board because I thought Jazz was just so much better.
I still think Jazz is much better, but I rediscovered some of the Rock of my youth about 20 years later and thought: Well, some of that is actually pretty good.
The Beach Boys and The Carpenters are two groups I never really turned my back on though, even if I wasn't anywhere near to collecting all their recordings. (I don't own all of the recordings by ANY artist in ANY genre .)
The later Beach Boys recorded music that was far more complex than a lot of people realize. But, hell, even their Sand, Surf & Sun songs have tremendously complex (and beautiful) harmonizing in them. If you ever hear the Boys on a vocal track, without all the music included, you can really appreciate what they were able to do with their voices.
~ D-FensDogG
I have a few Beach Boys albums from the early years (only managed to see them in concert once) but this one is new to me. I often thought some of their best music were the lessor known songs.
ReplyDeleteLD ~
DeleteI have wanted to see the Beach Boys live for many years but have never managed it (yet).
And I agree that they have some great tunes that were never Billboard hits. 'Long Promised Road' being one good example.
Thanks for stopping by for a listen and a cup of coffee!
~ D-FensDogG
I think music is as big a part of my life as it is in yours, or close, at least. The sentiments you describe in the blog bit and in the replies to your comments make total sense to me both emotionally and rationally. Reading the lyrics, I "get" why you would find them part of the SOYL.
ReplyDeleteMusic is so completely, inexplicably, and intensely personal! I "get" what you say and why you say it... but I do NOT "get" the music itself. The song really does not do anything for me, personally, and I think that has more to do with the performance than the lyrics or melody. I do like the way it builds and gets raucous near the end; it has a couple of aspects that are appealing. So while I get the why's and I feel your emotions, THAT song does not evoke particular feelings in me.
Like Lee, I'd never heard the song before. And perhaps, like you, it might at some point suddenly thwap me on the eardrums and make itself important. But probably not, and frankly it does not matter.
What DOES matter is that it is part of the soundtrack of YOUR life, and therefore it is important and interesting on that basis. This is a fun project to read about, and if I were a blogger I would definitely participate. I'm looking forward to hearing more stuffs I've not heard before. I probably won't like those as much, either! We agree on Tom Petty and now, apparently, Traffic... but not much else in the rock world.
BTW, I liked the Feel Flows song much better, purely from a sound standpoint. Never heard that one before, either.
SHBOYGANBOY J. McSIX ~
DeleteI just got back from the store where I picked up half a gallon of buttermilk which I am drinking straight from the carton.
It seems to me that, yes, music is as important to you as it is to me.
I know that I previously mentioned to Lee that upon first (2nd, 3rd, 4th, etc.) hearing, if I don't actively dislike a song, there's some chance it could grow on me (or I could grow into it). But if I actually DISLIKE the song the first time I hear it, the odds are 99.99% that I will NEVER like it no matter how many times I hear it later.
Only once in my whole life have I strongly disliked a song the first couple times I heard it and then later came to love it.
Maria Muldaur's 'Long Hard Climb' is an example of a song I was ambivalent about for quite awhile until suddenly one day it broke through into my mind.
'Long Promised Road' is another example, although I "got" this one quicker than I did 'LHC'. I would guess I heard 'LPR' 10 to 12 times before I could say "I love it".
I pretty much like EVERYTHING about it, including the multiple tempo shifts. The verses are slow, ballad-like, and then the choruses start jumping, and all of it building up that that point where the horn and guitar wail. I really like, also, how the volume and uptempo shift actually occurs at the end of each verse. It's not a sudden change with the chorus, but a gradual change that begins as the verse is close to transitioning into the chorus. That's really cool!
Yeah, when it comes to Rock, we agree maybe 97% of the time, but we do much better with Jazz. It makes sense we'd both like Traffic because that was a jazzy Rock band. And we'll always have Petty (why, I don't know, but we do).
Well, the fact that you, Lee and I all voted for Maria in my last BOTB leaves a glimmer of hope for "reconciliation" (or evidence that "the end is near"). Ha!
I'll bet you don't like buttermilk straight from the carton either, do you? Yep... it's all a matter of taste, and taste is a mystery.
~ D-FensDogG
You would have to bring up buttermilk and now I've got a craving. I guess my shopping trip tomorrow will probably include some buttermilk. I've never tried drinking it straight from the carton, but on the other hand I prefer drinking just about anything out of a glass glass (not plastic!). And when I drink buttermilk I like to add salt and pepper to it and that works better when it's in a glass.
ReplyDeleteAh, buttermilk! That might mean getting some potato chips to go with it. My lunch plans are set for tomorrow.
Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out
BOIDLEE ~
DeleteAhh, that's right, I remember that you too are a buttermilk lover like me. We're in the great minority, Bro.
You've mentioned salt and pepper in it before. I'll have to try that later today.
You're so fortunate that you can get KNUDSEN'S BUTTERMILK (with the real butter chips in it!) That is the BEST buttermilk I've ever had, but I've never been able to find it anywhere outside of the Los Angeles area. Every time I go to L.A. on vacation, I make sure to pop into a grocery store and pick up at least one quart of Knudsen's buttermilk.
Well, I'll give that salt and pepper a try and let you know what I think of it. I've been on a buttermilk kick since I moved to Reno and I've been trying different brands to see if I can find something reasonably close to Knudsen's. No luck so far.
~ D-FensDogG
I was planning on doing something similar to this, but it would probably all be in one post for me. This is more suited to your refined, passionate taste ;)
ReplyDeleteHiYa, MICHAEL ~
DeleteI too did this same thing all in one long post years ago. But Robin (GIRL WONDER) yakked me into doing it again (updating as I go) and having each song separated as its own blog bit.
That actually makes good sense because with a whole bunch of songs posted all at once, readers are less likely to play them all and really hear them (you know, time constraints).
So, for maximum effect and exposure, I think Robin's right about doing each song individually and posting them every so often. That way people can give each one their full attention.
That's the primary reason I agreed to redo (and update) this concept on my blog. Plus, it gives me something to post in-between BOTB installments.
I look forward to seeing YOUR "Soundtrack", however you decide to format it.
~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'
Hey Stephen,
ReplyDeleteWe met last year through Arlee Bird -- he told me to tell you that I'm a friend of his and that you wouldn't hold that against me. Ha! I would like to join your Battle of the Bands. Ever since I did the A-Z Musical Tour of My Life, I want to do something on my blog that is music-related on a regular basis. BOTB fits that perfectly. I'd like to join for this Friday. What all do I need to do?? Please fill me in.
Thanks!
Michele at Angels Bark
Howdy, MICHELE! ~
DeleteI'd like to let you join BOTB but... any friend of Arlee's is an enemy of mine.
Alright, that's a slight exaggeration.
Welcome! Glad to have you join us.
There's always room for "just one more".
I will be sure to add a link to your blog on my BOTB page this Friday, and also one on my Sidebar O' Links.
>>... What all do I need to do??
Not too much. Just make sure you have your Little Orphan Annie Secret Agent Decoder Ring and wear yer "Stinkin' Badges" where everyone can see 'em.
In all seriousness, all we ask is that you post on the 1st and 15th of each month (whenever you can). Add your own vote and tally 'em up and announce the BOTB winner on the 7th and 21st of each month (whenever possible).
Usually we pit two versions of the same song against each other. It's OK to do a 3-way once in awhile, but if you ever add more than 3 songs you'll get everyone mad at you due to the time investment. (Don't be a DiscConnected and post 47 versions of a Todd Rundgren song;-)
Please visit all the other BOTBers and submit your vote on their Battles sometime during that 6-day period when the voting window is open. Uhm... I guess that's all there is to it.
If you have any questions whatsoever, please don't hesitate to ask.
Welcome to BOTB, Michele. I hope you enjoy it like the rest of us do.
~ D-FensDogG
you can email me directly at michele@angelsbark.com
DeleteThanks Stephen! I'd like to add the other participants links in my BOTB post so is there a specific place to get all those links or do I just go to your sidebar and grab them from there? Thanks for the reminder about the Badge! I forgot about it until you just said it. Taking care of that right now... Muchos gracias.
DeleteMICHELE ~
DeleteYeah, right now the best place to get links to all the other BOTB participants is probably my sidebar.
You COULD go to my last BOTB blog bit (May 1st) and copy the links from the bottom of that page, but along with you there will be two other NEW PARTICIPANTS starting BOTB this Friday: 'Cherdo On The Flipside' and 'The Doglady's Den'.
Those two won't be listed on my last BOTB page, but you can find them in the sidebar.
So, whichever works best for you (or a combination of the two sources) you can copy from.
I look forward to seeing your first BOTB contest the day after tomorrow. Psst... Be forewarned that BOTB voting often goes very different from what we expect it will. The only thing you can be sure of is that there's nuttin' you can be sure of.
~ D-FensDogG
wouldja believe that is a Beach Boys' song that I have not heard until this evening? And I really like it. ('I'm diggin' it, man!')
ReplyDeleteOh, my. Thank you!
Howdy, DIANA ~
DeleteAhh, I'm glad you dug it. It's one of several little-known Beach Boys songs that I think be fantabulous! Very inspirational to me.
Gotta love the Beach Boys!
~ D-FensDogG
Hey, hey, whadda I say!
ReplyDeleteI say you better quit foolin' around and get your BOTB put together.
Delete~ D-FensDogG
Uh... was that a clue?
DeleteYou doin' Ray Charles?
~ D-FensDogG