Poor, Poor Pitiful Me

Linda Ronstadt has announced that she has Parkinson's Disease, and the condition has left her unable to sing a note.

Some may be too young, or simply too uninterested, to remember, but LR pretty much owned the pop airwaves in the 1970s, releasing a succession of chart-topping albums featuring revived early rock, Motown, country, and covers of  various singer-songwriters (JT, Bonoff, Zevon, Souther).  In preparation for this post, I uncovered some material I'd never seen before.

Here, with the Wichita Lineman (Rhinestone Cowboy for you young 'uns/replacement Beach Boy for oldsters) himself:

A couple of guys apparently formed some sort of band while playing in Linda's:

Obscure trivia tidbit: Mr. J. Fidler Walsh was one of the models
for the Easter Island maoi stonecarvers.  Or so I heard.

And an absolutely beautifully orchestrated (love the cello) cover of The Left Banke's Walk Away Renée:

This Karla Bonoff song, one of three of the songwriter's on Hasten Down The Wind, and its opening track, showcases the power of Linda's voice (and is one of a few from that era not recorded at the Offenbach, Deutschland concerts).  Despite a mild bit of tape hiss, it's clearly the best of three I found of this song, and closest to the recorded version, though seemingly lacking the Aphex Aural Exciter punch and clarity.

Finally, a lovely a cappella Rivers of Babylon (Ps. 19:14):

OK, so I guess it didn't work out, huh?

Seen at a local Goodwill store - a sign of the times - not sure who's gonna buy that.

Sorry, Jules & Jus - guess it just wasn't meant to be.

I suppose Dee or Zin just figured sometimes it's best to do as Joe the Journalist did and just forget the psycho, and move on.

Put some high test in the DeLorean, Marty!

...'cause we're going back a ways to some strange advertising of the past:

This could help explain some people I know...

One white-bearded gent deserves another (OK, that sounded awkward...)

Apparently, not all those Christmas-time house fires were caused by faulty tree lights...

One classic deserves...

...another.

Like an experienced sommelier, I'm pairing this fine Ronstadt Ry Cooder cover, from the artist's pinnacle LP Hasten Down the Wind (Asylum 1072 - for those readers who also used to work in a record/tape warehouse),  with yesterday's vintage Taylor.  Featuring performances by the late Michael Botts (earlier of  Bread) on drums, Kenny Edwards (Stone Poneys) on bass, and Andrew Gold on keyboards.  With undertones of Robert "Waddy" Wachtel¹ on slide guitar, try a sip - you'll like it:

Well there's lots of good women want to marry, and they want to live well at home.

But they're afraid they'll get 'hold of some rowdy man - can't let other women alone.

And there's lots of good men want to marry, and they want to live well at home.

But every time they turn their back, there's a man there askin' "Darlin' , is he gone?"

¹ Yes, the sharp-eyed among you may notice that Mr. Wachtel appears in both the Taylor and Ronstadt clips.

More vintage JT

...featuring a musical elucidation of his position on the subject of prevarication:




Ps. 52:3   Mark 9:42   Rev. 17:4

Volunteers Pump You Up!

Y'all know by now that, uh, I'm not exactly the Rap/Hip-Hop kinda dude.

But, my church does frequently use the idiom to get its message out.  Take a look:



Oh, and here's the graphic from the series just started yesterday/today:

Do you ever feel like your life is dry? We often turn to so many good things to fill us up but they never really satisfy...like relationships, food, drink, or sex. Its like we are thirsty. How do we quench that thirst? The Bible says those who "drink the water He gives will never thirst again." (John 4:14) "Don?t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit." (Eph 5:18) God has everything you'll ever need. His tap never runs dry. He offers unlimited Love, Peace, Forgiveness, Power, and his Presence. What does this cost us? nothing?the tab is covered.

Beginning the weekend of July 27/28, Pastor Brandon Thomas will begin a new series called "God on Tap." This Summer, TAP into God's unlimited FLOW for your life and never thirst again. God's power for your life FLOWS FREELY.

It may or may not sit well with some of the other churches.  But the root beer in the lobby, after service, was great.

41 the Blogger?

In a move that underscores the premise that George Herbert Walker Bush is undoubtedly the most decent living former CIC, the last (R) President of the 20th century today shaved his head in solidarity with the follically challenged Todd the Blogger, as well as a young leukemia patient:

No word yet on whether the Houstonian plans to grow a beard, but he does already occasionally wear garish, mismatched socks...