Fooled Around And Fell In Love

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I first saw Elvin Bishop with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, where he dueled with Mike Bloomfield on guitar.

Those duels were legendary. That band was legendary. And Elvin took some of that magic with him when he left the band in the early Seventies. As in this song, his best. 

And Mickey Thomas has the perfect voice to sing it.

Alfie

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I was listening to Marian McPartland play "Alfie" this morning, in the background as I was working, and as I listened to her take apart and re-assemble Hal David's beautiful melody, as great jazz soloists do, I remembered bits and pieces of Burt Bachrach's lyrics. 

Since everything is just a few Google clicks away, the complete lyrics were easy to find, and I've been struck by how relevant they are, some fifty years later. But then, all great lyrics are like that, aren't they?

 

What's it all about Alfie

Is it just for the moment we live

What's it all about
When you sort it out, Alfie
Are we meant to take more than we give
Or are we meant to be kind?

And if, if only fools are kind, Alfie
Then I guess it is wise to be cruel
And if life belongs only to the strong, Alfie
What will you lend on an old golden rule?

As sure as I believe there's a heaven above
Alfie, I know there's something much more
Something even non-believers can believe in

I believe in love, Alfie
Without true love we just exist, Alfie
Until you find the love you've missed
You're nothing, Alfie

When you walk let your heart lead the way
And you'll find love any day Alfie, oh Alfie
What's it all about Alfie?

Long Distance Information Give Me Memphis Tennessee

There are so many reasons to visit Memphis. The National Civil Rights Museum is there. Stax Records is there. Gibson Guitar is there, all of them with excellent tours. 

Beale Street is there. And Sun Studio is there. If you love music, you must spend a few days in Memphis Tennessee. 

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On Beale Street

On Beale Street

Emmylou Harris' Gibson Hummingbird guitar, available to play at the Gibson factory tour. 

Emmylou Harris' Gibson Hummingbird guitar, available to play at the Gibson factory tour. 

Green Onions

Anyone who's ever asked me what it was like to have been a guest on Late Night With David Letterman has heard me say "It was amazing! Booker T And The MGs played every time the show broke for a commercial break - right there next to me!" 

The group was Dave's musical guest that night, and seeing Steve Cropper, Duck Dunn and Booker T playing live in that small venue was one of the peak musical experiences of my life.

And they even played "Green Onions". But Ann Margret wasn't there.

James Taylor 1970

James Taylor was one of the first artists to be recorded by The Beatles at the Abbey Road studio, for their new record label, Apple Records. James was virtually unknown in the US at the time, with a serious heroin problem, but soon after the album's release, his voice and songs were everywhere, part of the new introspective singer/songwriter renaissance led by Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Jackson Browne and others. His voice and his lyrics were very personal and very clear and, it seemed, exactly what the culture needed in a very dark time.

This is from his concert at BBC Studios in 1970. It is approximately thirty minutes long and, unfortunately, cuts out during the final tune. But it's as glorious and fresh as it was then, no matter how many times you've heard these songs, and no matter how done you think you are with James Taylor by now. There really hadn't been anything quite like this before, at least to those of us who were his contemporaries.