Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Papa just laughed

Greetings from Vandoeuvres, a stone's throw from the golf course in Cologny. Had the great pleasure yesterday of re-listening to some old Fast Fun tapes that Mary and John have kept. Remember the "Christmas tape" of 1984? Listened to it after lunch at the Auberge de la Ferme. The smell and feel of our mouldy, damp recording facility on the Rue des Alpes (?) by the gare in Lausanne was recalled in full force. Of course, it sounds better than we thought. Mira compared it favourably to demo tapes of some her current favourite bands. And of course, "it sounds like the Velvet Underground", especially Jim's singing and Jesus in general. Also played a pre-demo demo with 3 versions of Reagan on it. Jai was able to discern a preference for the first, "better but less musical" version. Myself, I still get a warm chuckle from that tune. And am still a sucker for "Big House" with full synth flourishes by J Blood, and the ecstatic fury of Waving and Maybe I Will. Ah well, les neiges d'antan or something like that. Gran'pa? Yes, Jimmy ....
Merry Christmas.  War is over.


Thursday, December 13, 2007

Tina: Remember?
Ike: Remember what?
Tina: You used to call me Daffodil
Ike: Yes, those were the good old days.
Tina: A thriller...
Ike: That's me!
Tina: Every woman's loving man.

If the death of JB and the trial of Phil Spector have not sufficiently raised the question of the man vs. the artist, we now have yet another case to consider of a drug-adled, control-freak, wife-beating egomaniac who changed the face of popular music. If the man can be separated from the music, or indeed even if he can't, there remains the genius in the body of work and, especially, the funky down-home guitar playing of Ike Turner.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

I've been coughing so much my diaphragm is sore and it hurts to roll over in bed.  The frog in my throat feels like a Scarlet Crapaud.  Yesterday I had the cold sweats which nonetheless did not make me feel any closer to James Brown.  I'm a little worried because the Maggies will be recording our new pirate-themed LP on Sunday.  But I'm trying to keep a cheery spirit in keeping with the season.  Better to be sick in Berkeley, I suppose.

Friday, December 07, 2007

Wow, both Brave Combo and Bubba Hernendez were nominated for Polka Grammys.  Too bad Jimmy Sturr will win it, same as always; the Academy has its head stuck in 1954.

Sunday, December 02, 2007

I dreamed we were all together again, playing golf.  I wasn't very good at it. Happy birthday, Jim.