The man made music for 70+ years.
Another jazz original is gone.
There are so few left!
Here's an interesting one!
Friday, December 27, 2013
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Erotica
In 1992, a Welsh band called The Darling Buds released a record called Erotica. It was their swan song. It fit somewhere between "shoegaze" and "top of the pops". There are some absolute gems on this record. I'm feeling old as I realize this was 21 years ago... Give it a listen!
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Old Favorites
Recently, after discussing Bob Dylan with students I realized I haven't
heard the records I'm telling them to listen to in a very long time.
I try hard to avoid superlatives... but,
The Times They Are A'Changin is one of the most important recordings ever made!
Rather than give my interpretation of each song, I just have a simple request...
Listen to it. Now!
If you already own this record, get it out and look at it. Look at the 'punk' on the front cover! If you haven't listened to it in a long time, play it. Now!
When I listen to Dylan anymore, I end up listening all night.
Luckily, I get a (small) continuous dose as I play "The Times They Are A'Changin", "Only A Pawn In Their Game" and "Subterranean Homesick Blues" every year for my students.
Dylan songs blow my students' minds every year. Even the kids who want to hate it because it appears to represent everything they think they aren't. They can't explain why they dig it, but they definitely do. Perhaps, because he's speaking to young people and they hear it differently. I certainly remember how I felt at nineteen hearing Bob tell the people to gather from wherever they roamed. That voice! That guitar! That crazy harp!
I love playing music for my students! Every time I see a kid's face light up upon hearing new music I remember why I feel music is so important. The United States has such a rich musical history that to keep the radios and televisions tuned to pop icons is to truly miss the American message! Here's the message as far as this record goes: "the present now will later be past... and the first one now will later be last."
I try hard to avoid superlatives... but,
The Times They Are A'Changin is one of the most important recordings ever made!
Rather than give my interpretation of each song, I just have a simple request...
Listen to it. Now!
If you already own this record, get it out and look at it. Look at the 'punk' on the front cover! If you haven't listened to it in a long time, play it. Now!
When I listen to Dylan anymore, I end up listening all night.
Luckily, I get a (small) continuous dose as I play "The Times They Are A'Changin", "Only A Pawn In Their Game" and "Subterranean Homesick Blues" every year for my students.
Dylan songs blow my students' minds every year. Even the kids who want to hate it because it appears to represent everything they think they aren't. They can't explain why they dig it, but they definitely do. Perhaps, because he's speaking to young people and they hear it differently. I certainly remember how I felt at nineteen hearing Bob tell the people to gather from wherever they roamed. That voice! That guitar! That crazy harp!
I love playing music for my students! Every time I see a kid's face light up upon hearing new music I remember why I feel music is so important. The United States has such a rich musical history that to keep the radios and televisions tuned to pop icons is to truly miss the American message! Here's the message as far as this record goes: "the present now will later be past... and the first one now will later be last."
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