This morning I did something I haven’t done for a long time. I checked All About Jazz for today‘s jazz musicians born on this date. As I scrolled down the list I really didn’t see any one that interested me. Now I’m sure that if I researched a few of these musicians I’d find some really good jazz musician. Anyway I chose to check out the birthdays from yesterday.
So last weekend, Saturday to be exact, I went to Trader Joe’s for the first time in a long while. Since the trip takes about 25 to 30 minute I decided to listen to a couple of new albums on Spotify. On the way there, I listened to Down Home from Teddy and the Rough Riders, While the soundtrack on the way back was Blues in My DNA by Ronnie. Baker Brooks. I had listened to tracks from both albums earlier in the week on walks with my granddaughter. Anyway, here’s what I thought of the albums
Three- Inch Teeth is the 24th book in the Joe Pickett series from C.J.Box, It is also the 23rd book I have read in the series. The only book in the series I haven’t read is Cold Wind. (Note to self read Cold Wind this year!). As a long-time fan of the series, while Three- Inch Teeth is one of his best books, it is for me one of the most disturbing.
For me there is not a bad song on this album.
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So on our last trip to Goodwill last Tuesday (Senior’s Day) I made a minor haul, I picked up four albums. Three from favorite artists and one from an artist who has never made it to my music library. Let’s take a look at the albums I found.
While I always enjoyed the music of Richie Havens, only album that’s is in my library is
The Great Blind Degree. The Great Blind Degree
Yesterday an article appeared in my news feed from American /songwriter magazine 5 Folk Songs That Defined the American Experience.
The folk genre has always been a huge part of political music and patriotic songs alike. These five particular folk songs are beautifully intertwined with the American experience, and they are still so relevant decades after they were first released. Let’s take a look, shall we?….
The five songs were……l
I love each of those songs and agree that they do speak to the American experience.. Additionally they are still relevant. However, I started thinking about some of the songs that were important in shaping my world view and came up with the following playlist.
1.Where Have All The Flowers Gone?” – Pete SeegerThe first so that popped into my head was “where Have All the Flowers Gone”. The song was written by Pete Seeger. Although, the version I associate most with the song came from Peter,Paul and Mary.. The song express the loss so many felt during the Vietnam War. And I am sure so many felt in Iraq and Afghanistan. And still feel in Ukraine today.
Where have all the soldiers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the soldiers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards, everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn
As I have watched the unfolding of the events surrounding the President over the last few weeks the similarities to Trump and Nixon get stronger every day. These similarities led me to the songs of Phil Ochs. Well at least to one song “Here’s to the State of Mississippi”
Way back in the mid-60s during the height of the Civil Rights struggle many people were aghast at the actions of the people of Mississippi. Folksinger Phil Ochs responded through song and wrote the classic “Here’s to the State of Mississippi”. In the song Ochs sang….
Here’s to the state of Mississippi,
For underneath her borders, the devil draws no lines,
If you drag her muddy river, nameless bodies you will find.
whoa the fat trees of the forest have hid a thousand crimes,
the calendar is lyin’ when it reads the present time.
Oh here’s to the land you’ve torn out the heart of,
Mississippi find yourself another country to be part of!….
Complete Lyrics Here
Fast forwarding several years and Phil needed to update the song and change Mississippi to Richard Nixon. In updating the song he added a new versus just for Tricky Dick…..
And here’s to the government of Richard Nixon
In the swamp of their bureaucracy
They’re always bogging down
And criminals are posing
As advisors to the crown
And they hope that no one sees the sights
And no one hears the sounds
And the speeches of the president
Are the ravings of a clown
Complete lyrics Here. Here’s Phil performing the song……
Hmm, seem like any government we may know??? Yep! Old Tricky Dick and Donald are like twin sons of different mothers!!
And Now – Here’s to the State of Donald Trump
42. A Death in Live Oak (Jack Swyteck # 14) – James Grippando