A few weeks ago, I Netflixed Gus Van Sant's terrific movie "Milk." It got me to thinking about changes in society, homophobia and my mother.
The movie depicted Anita Bryant's hate campaign against gay folks. I remember it well. I was in high school, and was a good old American teenaged homophobe. Like racism and sexism, homophobia was entrenched in white suburban society.
One day, my mother and I happened to be in the kitchen at the same time, and the ever-present radio was on. The WGN newscaster recounted how Bryant had said that homosexuals should be wiped off the face of the earth. I chuckled and said that she was right. My mother, a little shocked, turned to me and asked why I would say a thing like that-- what have they ever done to you?
I stood there in shocked silence-- and thought. I realized that she was right. It was a turning point in my life. If I hadn't dropped the homophobia, I would have missed out on a bunch of terrific friendships, including that of my best friend Jim. On this Mother's Day, decades later, I realize how many of the core values I have were thanks to my mother, whom I'm lucky enough to have around still. Not everyone is so lucky. Thanks Mom, for what you gave me, and for being you.
I've loved Dion's music since I was a kid-- "The Wanderer" and "Abraham, Martin and John," among others, have been favorites of mine since I started listening to the radio in the mid and late sixties.
A couple of years ago, my wife got me Sirius Radio for my birthday, and I quickly fell in love with Little Steven's Underground Garage. One of the things is that I've discovered lots of new music-- either newer groups I'd never heard of, like the Boss Martians and the Cocktail Slippers, older groups I'd never heard of, such as The Cake-- and old songs I'd never heard from artists I loved, like Dion's "King of the New York Streets."
"King of the New York Streets" is full of brilliant wordplay, both broggadio and cautionary-- the story of a guy who had it all, and then walks away before he loses it all. If you took away the melody, it could be a rap song. I found a performance on Youtube from 1990, where Dion has Mussel Shoals guy (and "Dock of the Bay" co-author) Steve Cropper playing with him.
As my aches and pains from my car being wrecked last Sunday begin to fade, I'm left with a lingering headache-- no car. I pick my stepdaughter up from school most days, and thusfar, my neighbor/friend Patrick has lent me his car. I expected a loaner by now. I talked to the other guy's insurance today. It looks like they're headed toward accepting liability, but haven't talked to their guy yet. They told me that I could get a loaner at their rate and they'd reimburse me when it's all settled up. I'll go rent one on Monday.
In the meantime, this afternoon's bike ride and softball practice with my stepdaughter is going to leave me with a more familiar and-- much more welcome-- soreness.
1. Wait Until Tomorrow- The Jimi Hendrix Experience 2. Freiheit!- Jamie O'Reilly and Michael Smith 3. These Dreams of You- Van Morrison 4. Frenchette- David Johansen 5. Bye & Bye- Bob Dylan 6. Lover's Concerto- The Toys 7. The Last Resort- The Eagles 8. Come Back Jonee- Devo 9. The Right Profile- The Clash 10. Senior Service- Elvis Costello and the Attractions
1. I grew up on "Purple Haze," "Are You Experienced" and "Foxy Lady." Discovered this one in later life. 3. German for "Freedom." It's from an album about the Lincoln Brigade. Michael Smith wrote the lovely song "The Dutchman," which Steve Goodman covered wonderfully. 3. From Moondance. 4. From New York Doll David Johansen's fabulous first solo album, and one of my favorite-ever songs. 5. From "Love and Theft." 6. The melody from this song is based on a classical song 7. This one's the closing track on "Hotel California," one of the first albums I ever bought 8. From Devo brilliant and often manic first album. Another one from that one, "Uncontrollable Urge" has become a Yen family favorite to do on Rock Band. 9. A song from "London Calling" about the tragic movie star Montgomery Clift. 10. From "My Aim Is True," one of the greatest first albums ever.
When former Chicago White Sox announcer Harry Carey replaced the retiring Jack Brickhouse as the commentator for the Chicago Cubs, he brought with him a tradition-- singing "Take Me Out To the Ballgame" at the seventh inning stretch. When Carey died in 1998, the Cubs continued the tradition, with different people singing the song at each game.
One of my favorite memories of a game was one I attended with my old friend Dan and some other friends. The group Styx, whom Dan considers pretty much to be the worst music group in history, performed it at that game, much to Dan's dread (and our delight).
More recently, mediocre actress Denise Richards performed it-- very poorly. As a singer, Richards, is, well, a mediocre actress.
The most notorious rendition, however, remains Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne's August 19, 2003 travesty:
"I married Isis on the fifth day of May But I could not hold on to her very long So I cut off my hair and I rode straight away For the wild unknown country where I could not go wrong" Isis Bob Dylan
When I first started listening to FM radio, in 1975, when I was a freshman in high school, a world of music opened up to me. I'd heard songs on AM radio since I was a baby, and had grown to love the Beatles, Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan through their hits. With FM, I discovered there was a hidden side of all of these artists-- great songs that never got played on AM-- the Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps;" the Stones' "Sympathy For The Devil;" and later, in early 1976, Bob Dylan's "Isis."
"Isis" was on 1976's "Desire" album. Like its predecessor, "Blood On the Tracks," a lot of the material was about the breakup of his marriage. Indeed, "Desire" ends with a heart-breaking song called "Sara," in which he recounts "Staying up for days in the Chelsea Hotel/Writing 'Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands'" for her.
There was also his return to protest after over a decade away, with "Hurricane." He wrote a number of story-songs, many with songwriter/theater director Jacques Levy. Among them were "Black Diamond Bay" and of course, "Isis."
Isis became one of my favorite songs. When I started taking piano lessons, I got myself a couple of Dylan songbooks, and "Isis" was one of the songs I wanted to learn.
A few years later, WXRT, the local "prog-rock" station began playing a live version of the song, from a promotional ep (extended play, for you youngsters out there) of songs culled from the "Rolling Thunder Revue." The Revue was part concert series and part burlesque show. He was joined by a number of others, including his ex-girlfriend Joan Baez, Byrds alumnus Roger McGuinn, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Kinky Friedman, T-Bone Burnette and others. At the beginning of the cut, he explains what the song is about: "This is a song about marriage. It's called Isis." I began to like this version as much as the much slower and cleaner studio version. I always searched the cut-out bins of records stores hoping to find a copy of the promotional ep that it was on, to no avail. Then, in 1985, Dylan released the great "Biograph" box set, and included the version that had appeared on the promotional ep on it.
I think that the vid is from "Hard Rain," a poorly-received 1976 television special that documented the "Rolling Thunder" tour. The performances were spotty, but this one was right on the mark. The violin player is Scarlett Rivera, who performed on the Desire album.
I was able to get an appointment with the doctor today. My regular doctor wasn't available, but someone else in the practice was.
It looks like I was bruised internally on my left side. My arm and shoulder are sore, some cuts, which are already healing, on my elbow, hand and knee, but it's all minor, as I figured.
I was glad I went. I wanted to have a paper trail for other guy's insurance company-- that I was injured enough to see the doctor. There was a bonus. When the nurse took my blood pressure, which is routine, it turned out that it was normal-- 118/78. This is great. It's been high for a few years, but during the visits about my asthma, my new doctor got on me about it, telling me she was going to turn to medication if I didn't get it under control. I started taking it seriously, cutting the ridiculous amount of salt I had in my diet out. Obviously it worked.
Plus, when I asked my substitute doctor if I could play the violin when I was healed, he told me I could. I told him that I was really happy about that, because I couldn't play the violin before...
No, just kidding. That joke's too old for even me to tell. Well, not for a few years at least...
Yesterday, while I was taking The Dude to my ex's house, a guy in a Nissan SUV rolled a stop sign, right into the door on my side. The Dude was unhurt, fortunately. My left side is sore, and I got cut up by flying glass, but all in all, was lucky to be able to walk away. The car was barely drivable-- I got it home, where my neighbor Bob was kind enough to let me keep in his garage until I could run it over to my mechanic today. It's looking like it's going to be totaled. I exchanged information with the other driver-- we called the police, who never showed up. In the meantime, just to be on the safe side, I'm seeing a doctor at 6 PM today.
There was one funny thing. I called Kim, who came over and drove Adam over to my ex's house. She told me that he said, on the trip there, "Boy, my dad is sure a lot calmer than he used to be. Back in the old days he would have beaten that guy up...."
Now that I've gotten into nursing school, I have to sit down today and start tackling financial aid. After that, a little housework and studying. All business today.
1. It Ain't Me Babe- Bob Dylan 2. Down On Mission Street- Lloyd Cole and the Commotions 3. Please Please Me- The Beatles 4. Someplace Where Love Can't Find Me- Marshall Crenshaw 5. Los Quatro Generales- Jamie O'Reilly and Michael Smith 6. Box of Rain- The Grateful Dead 7. Is Your Love Strong Enough?- Bryan Ferry 8. Girl From The North Country- Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan 9. Sex Machine- James Brown 10. Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying- Gerry and the Pacemakers
Notes: 1. One of Bob Dylan's meanest songs. 2. I love me some Lloyd Cole... 3. One of the Beatles' first hits 4. This guy should have been way bigger than he was. 5. From an album about the Lincoln Brigade, Pasiones. 6. A lovely little song about life and loss 7. Solo stuff from Roxy Music frontman Bryan Ferry 8. What's better than Johnny Cash or Bob Dylan? Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan 9. "Stay on the beam..." 10. This song and "Ferry Across the Mersey" are a couple of my favorites by these guys.
A few weeks ago, I Netflixed Gus Van Sant's terrific movie "Milk." It got me to thinking about changes in society, homophobia and my mother.
