Saying ‘hello in there’
By Steven Brodsky
… can be a helpful start to alleviating loneliness.
It’s not uncommon for people to experience loneliness, and some other difficult emotions, more intensely during the holiday season: in some appropriate circumstances, sincerely extending and receiving expressions of “hello in there” may be especially beneficial at this time of the year.
As we know.
Posted 11-24-24
Nefesh Mountain releases the official lyric video for ‘Milestoned,’ the second single to be released from Nefesh Mountain’s upcoming double album titled ‘Beacons’
By Steven Brodsky
… The official lyric video for “Milestoned” was released today, as was a press release about the single and the double album.
An excerpt from that press release:
NASHVILLE – November 20, 2024 – “Milestoned,” a glorious Americana/psych-folk ode to Southern Rock from the genre-defying band Nefesh Mountain, celebrates the spirit of living life on the highway. Co-written by band founders Eric Lindberg and Doni Zasloff, it is the second single to be released from the electrified Americana half of the band’s upcoming double album titled Beacons, set for release January 31, 2025.
While its two full-length albums are distinctly different, both sides of Beacons clearly exude what makes Nefesh Mountain unique in the first place—a vast musical knowledge and equally vast curiosity, paired with impeccable musicianship. One disc is pure bluegrass, while the other radiates unadulterated Americana.
Beacons is also the band’s first foray into the electric/jam world, and while the sonic shift may be new for some fans, it’s actually old terrain for guitarist Eric Lindberg, who cut his teeth playing electric guitar in his formative years as a studio musician and hired gun on New York’s music scene.
“I’ve been on the road and slugging it out for the better part of the last two decades,” says Lindberg, “and it feels like whatever phase of life I’m in, I can always count on this completely organic high that I get from music, travel, and being in the flow night after night on the road. We tried to express this feeling of being literally mile-stoned by infusing the lyrics with all these little “druggy” surprises. It was a really fun song to write and play with the band, and finally stretch out a bit on the tele too!”
“Being a part of Nefesh Mountain has put me on the most adventurous journey of music, love, and life,” exudes Zasloff. “This song is all about embracing these magical and mystical parts of life and being on the road, getting to soak in the vast landscape of America.”
Nefesh Mountain
Posted 11-20-24
The song that’s as iconically representative of Americana as apple pie
By Steven Brodsky
… Don McLean’s “American Pie,” embedded here in celebration of Don McLean’s 79th birthday:
Don McLean was born on October 2, 1945 in New Rochelle, New York.
Happy birthday wishes go out to Don McLean!
Tour | Don McLean
Posted 10-2-24
This’ll be the day
By Steven Brodsky
… to commemorate Buddy Holly’s birthday by listening to:
Buddy Holly was born on September 7, 1936, 88 years ago.
Posted 9-7-24
‘Mercy,’ indeed
By Steven Brodsky
… Roy Orbison’s ‘Oh, Pretty Woman’ was released 60 years ago.
Released on August 29, 1964:
Posted 8-29-24
‘Pride and Joy’
By Steven Brodsky
… shared here on the 34th anniversary of Stevie Ray Vaughan’s passing away on August 27, 1990:
A helicopter crash took the life of Stevie Ray Vaughan. Stevie Ray Vaughan was 35 years old.
Posted 8-27-24
Paul Simon heard Jessy Dixon perform ‘The Wicked Shall Cease Their Troubling’
By Steven Brodsky
… in Radio City Music Hall in 1972, which prompted Paul Simon to invite Jessy Dixon to sing with him on Saturday Night Live. The two would go on to tour together in the U.S. and overseas for eight years.
Enjoy this video of Jessy Dixon singing “The Wicked Shall Cease Their Troubling” at The Dome:
Job 3:17: “There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.”
Jessy Dixon passed away on September 26, 2011 at age 73. This post appeared in the Conversations About Faith section of the Entertainment, Culture and More column.
Posted 1-10-21, Reposted and Revised 8-19-24
How meeting Livingston Taylor at a concert affected the career of John Flynn
By Steven Brodsky
John Flynn has been interviewed several times for this column. In a 2011 radio interview, John and I spoke about Livingston. We did so again last year in this interview for this column.
John, where and when did you first meet Livingston Taylor and how old were you at the time?
Gene Shay introduced me to Livingston back in the ’80s. It was prior to one of his appearances at the old Bijou Café in Philadelphia. I was in my early twenties and just starting out. I was a big fan of Livingston’s and I had just appeared on Gene’s radio show on WMMR. I heard Gene mention that he was going to host Livingston’s show, so I asked for an intro. Gene was just too nice to say no.
What was going on in your life?
I was playing some bar gigs, writing songs and mailing demos to Nashville. This was a few years before I got signed to my first publishing deal down there.
Describe what took place. What did Livingston tell you?
To begin with, Livingston was incredibly gracious. As a performer, I really see that now in hindsight, because usually the last thing I want to do before a show is to meet new people and have them sing their songs to me. Actually, I don’t think I’ve met anyone before or since who would have extended themselves in this way to a stranger. But that’s exactly what happened. Gene apparently bragged about me enough to get Livingston to hand me his guitar and sit down directly in front of me. He asked me to play him a song and listened with an almost unnerving, totally focused attention. When I was done he asked if I had any more. I did a second song and he asked for another. I was only too happy to oblige, figuring that if he’d listen to three songs he must be hearing something he liked. When I finished singing, Livingston kind of scrunched up his face and got real thoughtful. There was a long pause. Then he said, “John, there are so many wonderful ways to spend your time in this life. Take a walk, read a good book, spend some time with someone you love. Please do ANY of these things rather than write any more mediocre songs.” The rest was a little bit of a blur. He talked about Cole Porter and Yip Harburg, writers I didn’t really know much about at that point. He really challenged me to study the greats. He spent like ten minutes talking about song structure, and he played me these long-forgotten but really beautiful introductions to popular old standards. – Unknown (at least to me) musical salutations from bygone eras, that had been intended by their composers to set the mood and put the listener in the proper frame of mind to receive the coming song. He even explained that he would be doing relatively few of his own songs in his show that evening because great songs are rare, and a song should be great if you’re gonna sing it. That was the bottom line. If you weren’t going to try to write a great song, then why write one at all?
How did you respond to this at the time?
I guess I was disappointed. But disappointment wasn’t all I took away from the encounter, because Livingston could have easily tossed me a few compliments. He was probably never gonna have to see me again so that would have been the easy thing to do. But I sensed that he respected songs and songwriters too much for that. He chose the harder path and told the truth. He threw down the gauntlet. And, in my way, I accepted the challenge that night. I determined to work much harder at my craft. To really try to write great songs. I’m not saying that’s what I’ve always accomplished. But he got me to aim there. I’ve always been grateful for that.
How did the encounter impact your life?
I’m here forty years later answering questions about music.
Author’s note to readers: Livingston Taylor is a professor at Berklee College of Music.
John Flynn’s website address is: http://johnflynn.net/.
Posted 3-29-19, Reposted 8-6-24
Thinking about Solomon Burke
By Steven Brodsky
… after recalling this morning that the City of Philadelphia had honored Solomon Burke by having declared that July 19, 2002 would be “Solomon Burke Day.”
Solomon Burke (March 21, 1940 – October 10, 2010) was born in Philadelphia.
Posted 7-19-24
Non-botanical ‘poison ivy’
By Steven Brodsky
… The kind of “poison ivy” that appears in a song written by Leiber and Stoller that was recorded by The Coasters 65 years ago (on July 16, 1959) wasn’t botanical.
The song: “Poison Ivy.”
A species of poison ivy (and other plants) is pictured here:
Photo by Steven Brodsky
Posted 7-16-24
Wouldn’t be prudent to dance till a quarter to three
By Steven Brodsky
… nowadays, if you were listening to Gary U.S. Bonds’ recording of “Quarter To Three” when the single went to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the first of two weeks, 63 years ago, on June 26, 1961.
Many of you will be singing and/or dancing while listening to the Gary U.S. Bonds recording, and while watching the following embed of Springsteen covering “Quarter To Three” in concert:
Posted 6-26-24
‘Blue,’ Joni Mitchell’s fourth studio album, was released 53 years ago
By Steven Brodsky
… on June 22, 1971.
One can get a bit blue realizing that so much time has transpired since this monumental album was released.
Enjoy!:
Posted 6-22-24
The ‘bright elusive butterfly of love’
By Steven Brodsky
Photo by Steven Brodsky
… will be fluttering into the lives of some people in the coming months.
Enjoy!:
Posted 5-10-24
Let’s hope
By Steven Brodsky
… that the first-person character in Simon & Garfunkel’s “I Am a Rock” has emerged from social isolation, and that he is now enjoying beneficial relationships.
Community can be invaluable.
Photo by Steven Brodsky
Posted 11-24-24
‘Anyone Who Had A Heart’
By Steven Brodsky
… to commemorate Dusty Springfield’s birthday:
Dusty Springfield was born 85 years ago on April 16, 1939.
Posted 4-16-24
Remembering Solomon Burke (March 21, 1940 – October 10, 2010) on Solomon Burke’s birthday
By Steven Brodsky
Solomon Burke, Grammy-winner and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, was born in West Philadelphia. His records and concerts influenced some of the greatest artists in soul, rock, and other genres.
Enjoy:
“Everybody Needs Somebody to Love”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmkeyzZ91sI
“If You Need Me”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PllNSSUz3gk
“Cry to Me”: Solomon Burke – Cry To Me (Live at Montreux 2006) (youtube.com)
Mary J. Blige inducting Solomon Burke into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2001: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmyRq09cTIs
… and read the chapter “The Song of Solomon: A Triptych” in Peter Guralnick’s excellent Looking to Get Lost: Adventures in Music and Writing.
On July 19, 2002, the City of Philadelphia honored Solomon Burke by declaring the day to be “Solomon Burke Day.”
I had the honor of doing a longform radio interview with Solomon Burke. The interview aired live on May 21, 2010.
Posted 3-21-24
Whether or not the song character in ‘I’m Not in Love’ was in love
By Steven Brodsky
… 49 years after 10cc’s The Original Soundtrack album was released, “I’m Not in Love” (on one of the album’s tracks) continues to be loved by many people.
The Original Soundtrack was released on March 11, 1975.
Posted 3-11-24
Fifty-one years ago, Bruce Springsteen performed a concert at Villanova University’s St. Mary’s Hall auditorium
By Steven Brodsky
… That concert took place on January 16, 1973 before an audience of only fifty or fewer people because advertising for the concert could not run in a campus newspaper (because of a newspaper strike) and because The Boss was young in his career.
How young? Springsteen’s debut studio album, Greetings from Asbury Park, was newly released; the album was released on January 5, 1973.
“Spirit in the Night,” a track from Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ:
Posted 1-16-24
There weren’t many attendees at Bob Dylan’s Carnegie Hall debut performance
By Steven Brodsky
… nearly 62 years ago, on Saturday, November 4, 1961. Reportedly, 53 people purchased tickets to see the then 20-year old Dylan perform in a small auditorium that was located in Carnegie Hall. Tickets were priced at $2.00.
Bob Dylan did not perform “Blowin’ in the Wind.”
The song hadn’t been released nor had it been recorded.
Bob Dylan recorded “Blowin’ in the Wind” on July 9, 1962 at Columbia Recording Studios.
The recording was released on the A-side of a single on August 13, 1963 (the B-side is “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right”); it appears as a track on the album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, released on May 27, 1963.
Bob Dylan’s Philadelphia debut didn’t draw much of crowd either, as this concert too was performed prior to the release of “Blowin’ in the Wind.” Gene Shay invited Dylan to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to perform the concert. The concert took place on Saturday, May 3, 1963 at the Philadelphia Ethical Society building on Rittenhouse Square. Approximately 45 people were in attendance. Tickets were priced at $1.50.
A few months before Bob Dylan’s Philadelphia debut, Dylan performed “Blowin’ in the Wind” on a television show:
Gene Shay told me that Dylan’s Philadelphia debut concert almost didn’t take place: the sound system components for the concert were inaccessible.
Gene Shay passed away from COVID-19 on April 17, 2020. He is greatly missed.
Posted 10-4-23
There’s a bluebird in many hearts
By Steven Brodsky
… whose presence may be more apparent today, the birthday of Charles Bukowski (August 16, 1920 – March 9, 1994).
A recitation of Charles Bukowski’s “Bluebird”:
Miranda Lambert co-wrote and recorded “Bluebird.” The song was penned with some inspiration from the same-named Bukowski poem.
The 2020 CMA Music Video of the Year:
Charles Bukowski’s birthday was referenced yesterday in this section of the Entertainment, Culture and More column: Conversations With Writers And More delcoculturevultures.com.
Posted 8-16-23
Shel Silverstein’s ‘A Boy Named Sue’ was released by Johnny Cash 54 years ago, on July 26, 1969
By Steven Brodsky
Shel Silverstein, a creative genius, wrote many other songs. He was a children’s book author, a cartoonist, and he was a poet. Read about the life of Shel Silverstein in the book A Boy Named Shel, by Lisa Rogak.
Posted 7-26-23
‘I was glad to get it over with, and I thought that would be the last of it.’
By Steven Brodsky
… said Freddy Fender about recording “Before the Next Teardrop Falls.”
Of course, it wasn’t the last of it: many millions of people would hear and adore the record.
“Before the Next Teardrop Falls” was released on February 1, 1975.
It arrived at the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on May 31, 1975 (and would remain on that chart for a total of 21 weeks).
On the 48th anniversary of the record reaching the summit of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, enjoy:
Freddy Fender was born Baldemar Huerta, in 1937, in a Texas border town. He was the son of migrant workers.
Freddy Fender served in the U.S. Marines for three years.
After his discharge, he achieved recognition as a singer of Spanish translations of rock and roll and other songs.
In 1960, his release of “Wasted Days and Wasted Nights” took off in the U.S. This national breakthrough was soon tamped down by a prison sentence. He served nearly three years of a five-year sentence in a very tough Louisiana prison for possessing two marijuana joints.
After his prison release, there was a long period of time working various jobs—with music a part-time endeavor.
While Freddy Fender was at work in a car wash, a record producer heard him singing and recognized his voice. Freddy was handed the producer’s business card. The encounter resulted in Freddy returning to recording.
Posted 5-31-23
An unfortunate ‘truth’
By Steven Brodsky
… was learned at seventeen by the song character in this iconic Janis Ian song: Janis Ian – At Seventeen (Audio) – YouTube.
Janis Ian, born in New Jersey on April 7, 1951, turned 71 years old today.
Happy birthday wishes to Janis Ian.
The song begs the question: What “truths,” dear readers, did you or will you learn at seventeen? There are some “truths” that are best unlearned.
Posted 4-7-23
On the 83rd anniversary of Woody Guthrie penning the lyrics to ‘This Land is Your Land’
By Steven Brodsky
Woody Guthrie wrote the lyrics to “This Land is Your Land” on February 23, 1940 in a hotel that was located on the northwest corner of 43rd Street and Sixth Avenue in Manhattan (Sixth Avenue is now also known as Avenue of the Americas).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Cs2woIb2fY&ab_channel=BruceSpringsteen-Topic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol0rRdF5L1c&ab_channel=WoodyGuthrie-Topic
Posted 2-23-23
He was the ‘Jackie Robinson of television’; on his ‘show rode the hopes and fears and dreams of millions of people’; his show debuted nationally on November 5, 1956
By Steven Brodsky
… He was Nat King Cole, the first African American to host a television show on nationwide television. That show was The Nat King Cole Show. Today is the 66th anniversary of the national debut of the Nat King Show on NBC TV.
Nat King Cole ranks among the most acclaimed jazz and pop musicians of all time. Born as Nathaniel Adams Coles in Montgomery Alabama in 1919, he would go on to achieve recording and concert performance success that was nearly unmatched by others of his generation. “Mona Lisa,” “Unforgettable,” “The Christmas Song,” are among the nearly 700 songs that he recorded. Well over 100 of Nat King Cole’s records charted. He was a prominent presence on national television shows (he appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show on six occasions).
The Nat King Cole Show was popular and attracted some of the most sought-after entertainers, but it could not secure a national sponsor (other than a few sponsors for brief periods of time before the show expanded from 15 minutes to a half hour). There were 30 sponsors with cooperative arrangements supporting the show across the country on local stations, but nationwide—not one.
In an essay in the February 1, 1958 issue of Ebony titled “WHY I QUIT MY TV SHOW” by Nat King Cole (as told to Lerone Bennett Jr.), Nat King Cole said, “For 13 months, I was the Jackie Robinson of television… On my show rode the hopes and fears and dreams of millions of people.”
Posted 11-5-22
On a Sunday mornin’ comin’ up
By Steven Brodsky
… Let’s hear from the character in Kris Kristofferson’s “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down,” in this performance by Johnny Cash: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ja0X-ZGDFzs&ab_channel=LiveFromAustinTX.
Yes, “there is something in a Sunday that makes a body feel alone” (or feel in communion with others).
Those twelve words in the lyrics masterfully express the loneliness of the character and deepen the relatability of his experience.
Posted 5-15-22