Bloodlines Mailing List archives June 17-18, 1997
from the John Stewart email list
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bloodlines-digest Wednesday, June 18 1997 Volume 01 : Number 019
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Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997
From: Nancy Talbott <cockatoo@bslnet.com>
Subject: Re: A Night of a Thousand Trains. . .and 29 Loyal Friends. (plus the Set List)
Rick, if you already aren't, you should be a writer....you captured that
evening superbly...I couldn't add one thing to your review. It was indeed a
magical evening.
One little personal note, which I just want to put out in public....most of
you "origianl" Bloodliners are aware that my husband and I seperated in
January, due to his having an affair. :(((( He is responsible for
introducing me to John many years ago, and Thursday night was the first
night I'd seen John since that happened. I went with a little trepidation,
because John's music has a very special place in my heart, for that (among
other) reason. A few months back I was driving to CA and tried to listen to
"Dreamers on the Rise" and had to punch the eject button, cuz I couldn't see
the road for the tears. Anyway, I'm not here for a pity party....I'm going
on with life and I'm doing very well! ...I just wanted to say that because
of Rick and Earle and his wife Carmen, and our new friend Helen, I had a
wonderful evening. I also got a big hug from John, who had written me a
wonderful and encouraging note after I made my situation public.
There is much more to a mailing list of this type, than just analyzing and
discussing and disecting a person's music. Many of us have become better
acquainted and find that we have other things in common, and have the
potential for long and enduring friendships. (yes, that means YOU, Rick!
and your lovely wife Charlene too!) John's music is just the catalyst for
bringing a group of otherwise unknown individuals together, to find
companionship, humor and a genuine sense of caring.
Thanks to John for just being who he is, and thanks to all my new friends here.
Nancy
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997
From: "Nicholas E. D'Amato" <damato.4@osu.edu>
Subject: Akron, OH Set List?
I'd still like to know if anyone on this list was able to attend the
May 31 show at the Cuyahoga National Recreation area. I know I posted
this a week or so ago, but it might have been stampeded by that
'Music Exchange' thread. We had some car trouble due to the rain and only
made it half way back from Columbus.
A newspaper in Cleveland called John the 'Godfather of modern folk
singer-songwriters' ans gave the show a glowing pre-review. I was wondering
if anyone saw the post review? How was the crowd? What was the set list?
Thanks,
NED.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997
From: alleycat@cruzio.com
Subject: Re;Communication on this list
Ron (ClackClack) wrote:
> > I agree and disagree on Steve's take on this medium of exchange.. the
> > internet, Bloodlines, mailing lists, message boards, etc. I happen to think
> > it is a way to open communication tremendously. But like anything it has its
> > dangers.
I agree with my friend, Ron--he and I write a great deal to each other
and are very much in tune. Still we don't always catch what the other
means as a joke nor what is meant as a very serious question requiring a
serious answer. When we are unsure, we ask for direction, respectfully,
and proceed from there. It works rather well for us.
> Lobo (Steve) wrote:
> > I've taken a little bit of flak about some of the names and
> > comments I
> > put on the "worst" list and am beginning to regret it.
> > I repeat my apology-I was just expressing some half-assed
> > opinions and
> > trying to be funny.
Steve, you've done nothing to apologize for. I thought we were all
having FUN discussing various artists and their work. I enjoy you and
your posts and I don't care if you like or dislike Neil Young or
MacArthur Park or anything else for that matter. It's all
opinion......we're not meant to agree on everything.....we're not
expecting to.
Catherine
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997
From: delausa@mailbox.syr.edu (Del Lausa)
Subject: Re: worst songs
Paris, of course. And Kudos to Mort Shuman for creative and sensitve
translation.
>>Angelbravo, I can't believe your list includes Jacques Brel! I have such a
>>passion for Brel. One of my 3 or 4 favorite song writers, along with Peter
>>Gabriel and Paul Simon (you still top my list).
>>
>>del
>
>OK Del... finish this sentance...
>"Jacques Brel is alinve and well and living in _________?"
>(I can never remember the name of that play)
>
>Michelle Stevens,
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997
From: alleycat@cruzio.com
Subject: Re: A Night of a Thousand Trains/Harris and Webb
> Before the show, I had a chance to stand at the front bar, and with a
> Moosehead in tow, gaze out thru the open front door to the highway. . .and
> the railroad tracks. It can get a little surreal, almost a bit spooky,
> imagining all the people...in all their vehicles...and all the trains...of
> generations past that have traveled by ...Steinbeck's Dust Bowl Okies' .
> .World War II troop trains...Gulf War equipment on flatbeds...truckers and
> vacationers...
Rick--outstanding job on the review of the evening.....I think we all
feel as if we'd been there. One minor detail though.....how'd it go
with John and your little angel?
> Paul Jenkins wrote
> > The story I heard behind the song is that Richard Harris asked Jimmy Webb
> > to write him a hit song, and if he did, would buy him a Roll Royce. Jimmy
> > got his car, and the rest is history.
Very creative approach to songwriting, don't you think?? Cath
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997
From: wingless-angel@juno.com (Robert J McConnell)
Subject: Re: Music Exchange/Worst Songs
Okay here's something EVEN WORSE then two versions of Muskrat
Love. "Hamster Love." I kid you not. A friend of mine is a big fan of Dr.
Demento(as was I until they pulled him from Bay Area radio) and he has
the largest collection of his radio shows.
On one tape there is the song Hamster Love. It's about
well..cooking Hamster(please no flames! I don't condon cooking Hamster!).
The only part I can remember is the end where these kids go
"Mmmmm...good" as they are eating Hamster Hamburgers. Now if that isn't
the WORST song ever then what is! :)
Ducking the flames,
Wingless Angel Still Surviving(Robert)
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997
From: wingless-angel@juno.com (Robert J McConnell)
Subject: Rough Sketches Akin To W. Guthrie
Hey Liners,
Well I FINALLY got a copy of "Rough Sketches" the other day and
have been playing that a lot. At first I didn't know if I really liked
it. It was different from most of John's stuff, in my opinion. However,
as I really listened to it I found I saw a lot of Woody Guthrie in the
lyrics and music style.
I really like the use of the Harmonica on most of the songs. The
moodiness of some of the pieces reminded me of some of Woody's work. "The
Road" just blew me away! I almost had tears in my eyes after that one.
Spirit of the Road is one of my favorites off this album. I could see
both John and Woody expressing the same thing. The search for identity in
travel and the American experience. The whole album just screams "Where
am I going? Where have I been? and most of all, Why have we forgotten our
past. Whether that past is on Route 66 or our personal pasts.
Does anyone else agree with me on this?
Wingless Angel Still Surviving
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997
From: KShep87309@aol.com
Subject: Re: Music Exchange
Ned, about my "attic" - as a John Stewart fan, I also loved Tom Rush, Gordon
Lightfoot, Ritchie Havens, Hoyt Axton, Judy Collins, Peter, Paul and Mary,
and later Aztec Twostep. Also so many it would blow your socks off! But
roughly, the early years bring to mind the above - plus Glen Yarborough, Joan
Baez.... Roy Orbisonm - and way more -Van Morrison - now I am
day-dreaming --- KShep87309
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997
From: KShep87309@aol.com
Subject: Re: Kingston Trio
also on topic of music from our attics: Eric Anderson, and New Christy
Minstrels. KShep87309
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997
From: KShep87309@aol.com
Subject: Re: Music Exchange
Just thought of another entry: Johnny Rivers - KShep87309
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997
From: KShep87309@aol.com
Subject: Re: Music Exchange
Oh, and while we are on the subject, Eric Clapton's version of "Motherless
Child" gave me goosebumps and brought back half of my teen years! Didn't
many groups do that song, most of them from the era about which many of us
Stewartistas speak? KShep87309
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997
From: KShep87309@aol.com
Subject: Re: JS fan music profile draft#1
And whoever threw in Chad Mitchell, just for that, how about The Highwaymen?\
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997
From: KShep87309@aol.com
Subject: Re: my two cents..
And heads up: Who could forget Harry Belafolte?
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997
From: KShep87309@aol.com
Subject: Re: OK you guys are good...
oh yes - just a thought: What if the list of favorite artists get mixed up
with the list of least-favorite songs? The results could be hilarious! But
let's not start trouble! KShep87309
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997
From: "Nick D'Amato" <damato.4@osu.edu>
Subject: Re: Hank to Hendrix
Oh, I thought you were just comparing him to other legends...:-), thanks
for that history lesson, I'll check him out.
>>
>>>Neil Young is a tremendous singer/songwriter....""Fron Hank to Hendrix"
>>
>>Hey, is that Hank Snow or Hank Williams?
>>
>
>Neither - it's Hank Marvin - the original British guitar hero, and a big
>influence on Neil Young in his early days (see the credits on 'Buffalo
>Springfield Again').
>
>Mike M
>
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997
From: Edraley@aol.com
Subject: Re: my two cents..
I'll see you Highwaymen and raise you a Brothers Four.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997
From: Vitrarius@aol.com
Subject: Re: Muscrat Love
Wrong. The song was written and recorded by one Willis Allen Ramsay on a self
titled album on Leon Russell's Shelter label in the early seventies. A fine
singer-songwriter he was too. Whatever happened to him?
Cordially Yours
Vitrarius
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997
From: clhunt@csn.net (Chris and Liza Hunt)
Subject: Re: Music Exchange
I love that song -
>Steve Gillette is most famous for a song called "Darcy Farrow" recorded by
>John Denver, Ian & Sylvia, and several others.
Chris & Liza Hunt
Boys hell they were men when they stood knee deep in the Johnstown mud...
www.colorado.com/chaffee
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 1997
From: "Mike Armstrong" <MikeArm@netcom.ca>
Subject: Re: A Night of a Thousand Trains. . .and 29 Loyal Friends. (plus the Set List)
Rick,
Great review. I only wish I could have been there.
Mike
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 97
From: Battery Express! <battery@teleport.com>
Subject: Re: Rough Sketches Akin To W. Guthrie
> I could see
>both John and Woody expressing the same thing. The search for identity in
>travel and the American experience. The whole album just screams "Where
>am I going? Where have I been? and most of all, Why have we forgotten our
>past. Whether that past is on Route 66 or our personal pasts.
> Does anyone else agree with me on this?
>
> Wingless Angel Still Surviving
Robert, I think you nailed it and I'm going to pop RS in the CD player
right now and listen to it again!
Mike
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 1997
From: Steve <Loboaw@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: Re: A Night of a Thousand Trains. . .and 29 Loyal Friends. (plus the Set List)
>
>One little story - a microcosm of the evening
>
>Towards the far end of the show, John really gets in to "Fast
>Freight"...perhaps a call sign for the night...and all twentynine of us get
>pumped...feet tappin', heads noddin' to the cadence. . .
>. . .and just as he starts the final stanza, what do you know but the Santa
>Fe comes roarin' by - westbound - and the *very instant* he begins "Hear
>that whistle blow" the diesel sounds her whistle!!! The room goes crazy -
>there could''ve been 2900 in there at that moment! - John can't believe
>it...
>and shouts out ". . .that must be Dave Guard up to his ole
>shananigans!!".
>
>JOHN: Thanks a million for the music, including the 6 new songs and the 6
>medleys... and all the new memories of those magical moments ...from 29 of
>your many loyal friends...especially the six of us in the 'front row',
>including Earl and Carmen, Nancy, and Helen............... Rick
Now that's a live concert event that would have been wonderful to
capture by recording. Can't plan for something like that.
You guys got my envy...!
Take care,
Lobo (AW)
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 1997
From: "L. Kent Martin" <martink@mindspring.com>
Subject: Re: A Night of a Thousand Trains. . .and 29 Loyal Friends. (plus the Set List)
At 03:25 AM 6/17/97, you wrote:
>
>If I can break through the bandwidth of Music Exchange and Worst Songs long
>enough,
>here goes a retrospect of Monsoon's last Thursday evening in Flagstaff.
>Special thanks to Helen, a young English lady of 28, from Leeds, and a true
>JS fan from across the Atlantic, who flew non-stop London to Phoenix just to
>catch the Flagstaff and Scottsdale shows, for compiling *very* complete
>lists.
>
Pure magic. Without sounding overly redundant, you took the rest of us
there with your words (and yours, too, Nancy, thanks many times).
But Helen who comes direct from London for the shows? My oh my but I have
NO excuse for not making one here in the States!
Missouri Bird,
Kent
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 16 Jun 1997
From: Giza03@aol.com
Subject: Re: Music Exchange/Worst Songs
>>By the way, which version of Muscrat Love?
Merle<<
Hey, Merle.
Good grief .... you mean there's more than one? I'm referring to Captain &
Tennille.
Aldon
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 17 Jun 97
From: Battery Express! <battery@teleport.com>
Subject: Re: Music Exchange/Worst Songs
And speaking of worst songs AND Dr. Demento, one of my most hated songs
on the radio was from the late Minnie Ripperton, "Loveing You". It got an
incredible amount of airplay here. The song redeemed itself however when
I heard it on Dr. Demento's radio show sung by someone with a voice only
another bullfrog could love! By the way, does anyone remember "Mrs.
Miller" with here two albums recorded befor her retirement, her debut
album "Mrs. Millers Greatest Hits" and the follow up, "Will Sucess Spoil
Mrs. Miller"?
Mike in Milwaukie OR
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 97
From: Mike Mooney <M.J.Mooney@Bradford.ac.uk>
Subject: By the time she got to Phoenix...(Was: A Night of a Thousand Trains)
>
>>Special thanks to Helen, a young English lady of 28, from Leeds, and a true
>>JS fan from across the Atlantic, who flew non-stop London to Phoenix just to
>>catch the Flagstaff and Scottsdale shows, for compiling *very* complete
>>lists.
>>
>Pure magic. Without sounding overly redundant, you took the rest of us
>there with your words (and yours, too, Nancy, thanks many times).
>But Helen who comes direct from London for the shows? My oh my but I have
>NO excuse for not making one here in the States!
>
Not even London, but LEEDS (which is where I live). As I hinted in an
earlier thread (about Stratford), many of us parochial Brits would consider
*London* a bit far to travel for a gig (hey, it's 200 miles from Leeds!),
let alone Flagstaff, Arizona.
Who *is* this splendid woman, and why isn't she on Bloodlines?
Mike M
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 1997
From: Mark Austin <tae69@dial.pipex.com>
Subject: Re: By the time she got to Phoenix...(Was: A Night of a Thousand Trains)
Hey heres a thought, a JS concert tour chart trip from the UK!
Any takers? :)
Mark
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 1997
From: "Nicholas E. D'Amato" <damato.4@osu.edu>
Subject: Re: By the time she got to Phoenix...(Was: A Night of a Thousand Trains)
>
>Not even London, but LEEDS (which is where I live). As I hinted in an
>earlier thread (about Stratford), many of us parochial Brits would consider
>*London* a bit far to travel for a gig (hey, it's 200 miles from Leeds!),
>let alone Flagstaff, Arizona.
>
Here in America, there is an annual contest for the #1 long-distance commuter.
The winner is usually in Texas, and usually travels over 200 miles each way
to work every day. (definitely not a life I would choose ! :-) The car
companies like to find out what kind of cars these people drive and use them
in magazine ads.
NED.
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 1997
From: "R.Geddes" <geddes@mcb.net>
Subject: Re: By the time she got to Phoenix...(Was: A Night of a Thousand Trains)
>>
>>Not even London, but LEEDS (which is where I live). As I hinted in an
>>earlier thread (about Stratford), many of us parochial Brits would consider
>>*London* a bit far to travel for a gig (hey, it's 200 miles from Leeds!),
>>let alone Flagstaff, Arizona.
>>
>
>Here in America, there is an annual contest for the #1 long-distance commuter.
>The winner is usually in Texas, and usually travels over 200 miles each way
>to work every day. (definitely not a life I would choose ! :-) The car
>companies like to find out what kind of cars these people drive and use them
>in magazine ads.
>
>NED.
>
Wow..and I thought Barnsley to Bristol was far to see John..I admire
her dedication.
Rod
- --
R.Geddes
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 1997
From: wingless-angel@juno.com (Robert J McConnell)
Subject: Re: Music Exchange/Worst Songs
Okay, okay now I'm really gonna get you all with a worst song. Another
from Dr. D. One that "Weird" Al Yankovick PRAYS will stay burried
forever!
When he( "weird" Al) was just a nerdy kid in high school, he used
to drive Dr. Demento nuts by sending him tapes of his songs. The worst
one he ever did and with GREAT BAD TASTE was "Mr. Frumps Iron Lung" It
was about this guy...well in an iron lung! To make the sound of the
machine he took out the baffle from his accordion. When you hear it you
just hear this weezing sound.
If that isn't sick enough then how about "Pencil Necked Geek"?
Enough of this rough riding,
Wingless Angel Still Surviving
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 1997
From: DMotley@aol.com
Subject: Re: Rough Sketches Akin To John Steinbeck
Yes, Robert , I do see a touch of Guthrie in Rough Sketches. I also find
this particular work to be reminescent of John Steinbeck in its tone and
message. When I hear John sing that line about "The Oatman Road to the
Golden Gate, eucaliptus trees to the Golden State....." I can almost
picture Tom Joad (Jimmy Stewart) and his family driving down that dusty road
to the Colorado River crossing. (Scene from The Grapes Of Wrath). I would
characterize John Stewart as "the modern day John Steinbeck of song." What
do you think?
Keep it flyin' ,
Mott
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 1997
From: Steve <Loboaw@ix.netcom.com>
Subject: Re: Rough Sketches Akin To John Steinbeck
DMotley@aol.com wrote:
>
> Yes, Robert , I do see a touch of Guthrie in Rough Sketches. I also find
> this particular work to be reminescent of John Steinbeck in its tone and
> message. When I hear John sing that line about "The Oatman Road to the
> Golden Gate, eucaliptus trees to the Golden State....." I can almost
> picture Tom Joad (Jimmy Stewart) and his family driving down that dusty road
> to the Colorado River crossing. (Scene from The Grapes Of Wrath). I would
> characterize John Stewart as "the modern day John Steinbeck of song." What
> do you think?
> Keep it flyin' ,
> Mott
Mott-
I tend to agree about the "Steinbeckian" quality in AB's music and,
with the emphasis on "mother road" in "Rough Sketches", definetly some
strong parallels. Of course, some of the analogy depends on when you're
looking at both artists' work to do the comparison, I think. The early,
angry Steinbeck (as in, for example, "Grapes etc") would be more
parallel to AB's later music to my ear. (Tho I have to admit I'm torn
here a bit; I think JS has had a streak of optimism about his mother
country in the long run that has usually won out over the
discouragement, but I may be projecting my own feelings here.).
Interesting to see where Steinbeck eventually got to, tho. (BTW, wasn't
Tom Joad played by Henry Fonda?) But, in cany case, the way Steinbeck
captured, at first for California and then eventually for everyone, that
whole "America is the road" thing definetly is a major chord in AB's
work.
Take care,
Steve
------------------------------
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 1997
From: mtnmail@rmii.com (Mountain Mail)
Subject: Re: Rough Sketches Akin To John Steinbeck
Mott -
Great observation on that one. My two favorites John and John. Thanks for
making that connection.
Liza
>Yes, Robert , I do see a touch of Guthrie in Rough Sketches. I also find
>this particular work to be reminescent of John Steinbeck in its tone and
>message. When I hear John sing that line about "The Oatman Road to the
>Golden Gate, eucaliptus trees to the Golden State....." I can almost
>picture Tom Joad (Jimmy Stewart) and his family driving down that dusty road
>to the Colorado River crossing. (Scene from The Grapes Of Wrath). I would
>characterize John Stewart as "the modern day John Steinbeck of song." What
>do you think?
> Keep it flyin' ,
> Mott
------------------------------
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