Bloodlines Mailing List archives February 5-8, 1997
from the John Stewart email list
Maestro's pre-show talk, "Stewart language", "Seattle, Mister",
and irresistible targets -REB
________________________________________________________________
Subj: Fwd: Joplin/New York
Date: 97-02-05
From: Angelbravo@aol.com
>the name of the song you sang Friday night in Alexandria regarding
>Joplin and New York?
>
>Steve
COWBOY IN THE DISTANCE
________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: Joplin/New York
Date: 97-02-05
From: DBATTI@aol.com
<< the name of the song you sang Friday night in Alexandria regarding
Joplin and New York?
>>
The name of the song is "Cowboy in the Distance"....great song!
________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: Untitled: Darwin's Army
Date: 97-02-05
From: ClackClack@aol.com
A yes vote for DA. We were hoping/talking about it at tonight's chat. We may
get a small Bloodlines Army there. Heard that My Back Pages is the song to
hear.
till Sunday, Ron
and thanks a lot for Targets John.
________________________________________________________________
Subj: ELVIS, TO THE FURIES?
Date: 97-02-05
From: PopWuj@aol.com
I remember once (mid to late 70's?) browsing in one of those used record
stores in Berkley CA, and comming across an album of John Stewart and the
Furies......I somehow only had a buck or less with me (visiting my sister at
the University)....I returned the next day with more cash, deciding I needed
to buy that album.....but low and behold, in its stead, was "WILLARD". I
invested a dollar in the backup copy....but always wondered......who made off
with that ancient piece of rock n roll history.....one of you, perhaps????
________________________________________________________________
Subj: RE: Question
Date: 97-02-05
From: rcaplow@decisive.com (Randi Caplow)
If it sounds like she has a BAD RAT, how about "Bad Rats"? I always listened
to "Ticket to the Stars" and "The Grace of Rain" when I was in similar
situations.
----------
From: Earl Knoob[SMTP:earlkctsr489@webtv.net]
Sent: Monday, February 03, 1997 10:44 AM
Subject: Re: Question
Serious bummer Nanc. Sounds like you have a BAD RAT here. Try
Survivors or Omaha Rainbow. They've always worke for me.
Keep your eye on that far distant star........
earl
________________________________________________________________
Subj: RE: Maestro's show
Date: 97-02-05
From: rcaplow@decisive.com (Randi Caplow)
Sure, clack clack, I'll be there with my friend Judea (yes, john, she's
finally coming!). Thanks for posting the right number. I'll call right now
for dinner show reservations. We don't need a password, because we already
met!! But for the other folks we can use seatlle mister. Although, I confess
I actually don't know what that means.Another list I'm on had t-shirts made
for this purpose. Anyone interested in doing that?
----------
From: ClackClack@aol.com[SMTP:ClackClack@aol.com]
Sent: Monday, February 03, 1997 10:44 AM
To: bloodlines@world.std.com
Subject: Maestro's show
Hi all-
I thought I'd ask who plans to be going to the Maestro's (in San Ramon, CA)
show next Sunday(Feb 9th)? I'll be there with my son. We had a good time and
great seats last year. If you make a dinner reservation you get reserved
seats, and the food is pretty decent. W have dinner reservations for 6PM.
Show is at 8PM. BTW, the phone number Dave sent out is incorrect. The correct
number is 510-855-0370. Hope to see some of you there. (and will our password
be Seattle, Mister too?).
Ron
________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: Maestro's show. . . Seattle Mister
Date: 97-02-06
From: RGodwin495@aol.com
Randi,
"Seattle Mister" is the plaintive cry of the young girl by the side of the
road when John pulls up and asks where she is headed, in the song "July,
You're A Woman"
from the Phoenix Concerts album.
"off to the side of the road you see a little figure,
suitcase by her side
and a sign that reads simply "please"
He asks "hey, honey. . .where ya' going?
she answers "Seattle Mister. . . where are you going?"
I won't even hazard a guess why everybody remembers these words,
probably a combination of the words themselves, the destination, John's
voice inflection, who knows. I do know that over the years, here in Phoenix,
I've talked to people who were at Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix that
night for John's concert, who are no more than "casual" JS and folk song
fans, and *every single one* remembers the song - and the words Seattle
Mister. . .even after 25 years! Amazing!
I guess the reason it looks like we might be adopting it as a "universal
bloodlines password (?)" is that if you know what it means and where it
comes from, you've got to be in to John's music, even "casually". It
certainly identifies us out there in the madding crowd. . .
hope this helps. . . Rickster
________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: Maestro's show. . . Seattle Mister
Date: 97-02-06
From: t_mstrin@qualcomm.com (Merle Stringfield)
Hi Rickster,
After 28 years of being a JS FANATIC, I too, use certain phrases from his
songs to identify various situations. My kids, now 23 & 14, know exactly
what I mean when a phrase such as "You can't go back to Kansas" is uttered.
Perhaps the fans should write a book called "Stewart Language!" If Seinfeld
can have one...John Stewart should too!!! Merle
________________________________________________________________
Subj: Seattle, Mister?
Date: 97-02-06
From: ddunet@concentric.net (Michelle Stevens)
OK. After much whining and moaning, I have devised a plan for identifying
us Stewartistas (AKA Bloodliners) as we congregate at various venues.
(Where there's a will there's a way) If you recall, we attemped this in the
early days of the mailing list, but the fixed costs were way too high.
So now what we have available is a convention-badge-type-clip-on thingy
that will hold our traditional Bloodlines graphic (much larger than any
commercial buttons we could have procured, (3"x4") and your screen name on
there, too if you'd like. (No extra charge this time).
If you wanna see the graphic, go to
"http://www.concentric.net/~ddunet/cyber.html"
Send me $5.00 for one, $7.50 for two to
Bloodlines Identification Offer
PO Box 222353
Chantilly, VA 20153-2353
For those of you die-hard Northern California fans, I make a special offer.
E-mail me (PRIVATELY-DON'T USE THE "REPLY" BUTTON) by tomorrow morning, and
I'll fed-ex it to you in time for the Maestro's show. (You have to pay for
the shipping, though. Probably about $15)
`````
( O O )
------------------------oOOO--(_)--OOOo---------------------------------
Michelle Luce Stevens
http://www.concentric.net/~Ddunet/ (John Stewart Home Pages)
Data Descriptives Unlimited
Centreville, Virginia
http://www.concentric.net/~Ddunet/ddu/ (Data Descriptives Unlimited)
.oooO
( ) Oooo.
-------------------------- \ (-----( )---oOO-(^)--OOOo----------------
\_) ) / ( O-O )
(_/ !!!!!
________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: Seattle, Mister?
Date: 97-02-06
From: ddunet@concentric.net (Michelle Stevens)
Already an ammendment to our original plan. (I don't know if communication
at the speed of light is s good thing or a bad thing) But anyway, the new
and improved Bloodlines Identifier is now up on the web for your perusal.
go to:
http://www.concentric.net/~ddunet/seattle.html
for a good look. The badge now says "Seattle, Mister?" and includes your
screen name or your given name, which ever you prefer. Take a look and post
me if you want one. (The colors will be much nicer than these appear, trust
me)
________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: Question
Date: 97-02-06
From: PeterB1103@aol.com
To me, one of the many, many truths in "You Can't Go Back to Kansas" is that
you can't turn back after a watershed event or devastating shock--even to
what you had yesterday. "You can't go back to Kansas [even though] it was
there just yesterday." Forgive and move on.
Like so many of John's insights: Filled with compassion, inspiration, and
cold truth, communicated so well and in so few words; and what a challenge to
live up to when put to the test.
So many people "find some healing in [these] song[s]"--we really have become
not just a JS fan club but a mutual support group, simply because of the
nature of our shared interest. This would be marvelous even if John were not
an active participant here, but having him involved makes the experience so
transcendent. ["We are part of a moving thing . . . huddled by the fire,
survivors."] And while I wish millions had discovered how special John's
music is, somehow I think this kind of thing wouldn't work with Kenny G or
Phil Collins.
________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: Maestro's show. . . Seattle Mister
Date: 97-02-06
From: PeterB1103@AOL.com
Don't leave out the narrator's response to "Seattle, Mister": "(Sniff) I
was just going to the store for a pack of cigarettes, but I'll go to
Seattle." No one's going to take this man's road away.
________________________________________________________________
Subj: Darwin's Army
Date: 97-02-07
From: ClackClack@aol.com
I've been attempting to send emails to bloodlines unsuccessfully. At least
they aren't coming back as a post, but they aren't being returned as
undeliverable so i suspect the good ol AOL is having some problems again.
I put in a BIG yes vote for Darwin's Army at Maestro's.
Plus I'm interested in hearing any trivia about the first incarnation of DA
with Chuck McD in the mid 80's.
Ron
________________________________________________________________
Subj: Seattle Mr...
Date: 97-02-07
From: tae69@dial.pipex.com (Mark Austin)
To me this is where it all began. OK I had bought BADB which was
fine, but only when I heard the Seattle Mr story and July afterwards
did I totally flip.
I remember it clearly. It was a summer Sunday morning in 1979. I had
driven into town to pick up the sunday papers and I used to sit in
the car afterwards and flick through the football results. Anyway,
whilst doing this I would listen to the Noel Edmonds sunday show on
the radio and suddenly this story started. It was like nothing I had
heard before, and I sat entraced. I laughed out loud at the punchline
and was swept away by the following version of July. It was perfect.
When the singer was back announced after the song, the name
clicked and I vowed to track it down, but it seemed impossible to
find. It was at least two years later when I found a secondhand
copy of Forgotten Songs that I snatched from the box like a mad
thing. Since then I had to have it all.
I spent years looking through bargain bins and second hand shops and
managed to find nearly everything. Thanks to the web and Homecoming,
I've updated most stuff to CD.
That live version of July is to me the definitive version and the
song and story are forever linked. That period of work is my
favourite, perhaps because deep down in my mind, I remember how it
all started.
Mark
________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: Seattle Mr...
Date: 97-02-07
From: Bluesy33@aol.com
I had a similar experience with July You're a Woman. I heard the Kingston
Trio play it live in 76 and credit John Stewart as the writer. I instantly
loved the song but it took me a year or so to find it on Phoenix Concerts. I
learned the song on my guitar and have been playing it at least once a week
ever since. Is this obsessive compulsive behavior?? Or astute recognition
of a masterwork by a genius?
________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: Seattle Mr...
Date: 97-02-07
From: t_mstrin@qualcomm.com (Merle Stringfield)
you wrote:
>I had a similar experience with July You're a Woman. I heard the Kingston
>Trio play it live in 76 and credit John Stewart as the writer. I instantly
>loved the song but it took me a year or so to find it on Phoenix Concerts.
I
>learned the song on my guitar and have been playing it at least once a week
>ever since. Is this obsessive compulsive behavior?? Or astute recognition
>of a masterwork by a genius?
>
No...it is not 'compulsive, obsessive, behavior'...it is simply paying
homage to "The Master Singer/Songwriter." I too, play Stewart music every
week. When the band I'm in performs, there is one song thats played EVERY
time...without fail. The song is "Runaway Train" and it always get a loud
ovation. Contrary to what Mick Jagger once said, in this case anyway, "its
the song and not the singer" Thanks, Merle
________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: Seattle Mr...
Date: 97-02-07
From: cockatoo@bslnet.com (Nancy Talbott)
At 07:28 PM 2/7/97 -0500, Bluesy33@aol.com wrote:
>I had a similar experience with July You're a Woman. I heard the Kingston
>Trio play it live in 76 and credit John Stewart as the writer. I instantly
>loved the song but it took me a year or so to find it on Phoenix Concerts.
I
>learned the song on my guitar and have been playing it at least once a week
>ever since. Is this obsessive compulsive behavior?? Or astute recognition
>of a masterwork by a genius?
>
>
The LATTER, without a doubt <G>
Nanc
________________________________________________________________
Subj: shooting down the angels
Date: 97-02-07
From: ClackClack@aol.com
The comment that Merle made a day or two about Stewart lines becoming part of
our speech rings very true with me. I'm sure it does with a few others here
too. On more than one occassion I've used that Kansas line. The unbelievers
probably think I'm spouting words from The Wizard of Oz, but those few words
say so much. There's a lotta Stewart lines like that. John's words and music
have helped me through dark days and sometimes they help me try to make sense
of the world. Sometimes nothing helps me make sense of the world, but the
knowing helps.
This past week I feel as if my heart has been torn open. I find myself
wanting to scream at the sky. On Sunday, February 2nd, one of the finest men
I have ever known was taken out by a hit and run driver in San Francisco.
Redmond was one of those wingless angels. I don't think I've ever known
someone with a bigger heart or more generous spirit. When I met him 30 years
ago I was just a teenager and he was a young man with two little kids.
Seemingly just a regular joe. But he was an uncommon man from a common
background. I don't know where that something special comes from. It makes me
wonder about God. It makes me wonder about life. When I see bad things
happening all over, senseless murders, I'd also see Red helping every way he
could in all sorts of ways. Some little, some big, but always there for
someone. Sometimes I called him Ironman, a nickname my grandfather had for
him.
I cannot imagine the horror and pain that must sear one's soul to see your
husband slaughtered just a handslength away. At the service when his widow,
herself a wingless angel, held my hand, her eyes glassy, and said to me:
"Ron, what am I going to do? What am I going to do?" I wanted to tell her
that we need to beat our arms against the sky. But she wouldn't understand
and even I couldn't beat my arms. I could just try to whisper that we need to
try and figure out how to live without him.
At the service there must have been at least a thousand people. My mind
boggled at the number of people this wonderful man must have touched in some
way. If there were this many people HERE, how many more were out there? It
made me feel like I was going to have to work a whole lot harder at life just
to make a tiny dent in the loss the world just took. They're always shooting
down the angels. You can bet your life they are. They're irresistable
targets.
Godspeed Redmond.
________________________________________________________________
Subj: common ground
Date: 97-02-07
From: ClackClack@aol.com
One of the rewards of building my website is the feedback I get from folks
out here. I want to thank those of you who have helped in some way with
suggestions or reviews or photos and the like for me to put up. Every so
often I get a nice letter in my email from someone who has stumbled upon my
site. It feels good to know that in my little dinky way I help people connect
and share in John's music. We have a common ground in our understanding and
exploring.
Its also nice to know that it helps get a few extra bucks John's way when
people find that hard to find music and can order stuff from Homecoming off
of Michelle's pages. I thought I'd share this letter that came in today:
"After years of casually browsing record stores large and small and
invariably being dissappointed at finding only air between selections of
"Al Stewart" and "Rod Stewart", it's great to have discovered "Clack's
Cellar" and the related John Stewart sites. As far as the mainstream
press goes, John seemed to have dropped off the face of the earth
sometime in the mid-seventies. Although I only saw him once in a show at
the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach, CA, his music and I have aged
together well. Listening to the old scratchy albums I'm as moved as ever
by the sense of loss over what might have been as voiced in "The Last
Campaign" and can "see" the wonder of the crowd and feel the breeze as
Mr. Stuart flies by holding the reins of Sweetheart on Parade and I know
he is driving her stone blind. I especially look forward to receiving
several CD's I just ordered through Homcoming Records to replace some of
the albums that have been lost or inadvertantly left in the sun over the
last 20 years. It's the anticipation of meeting an old friend. The
rehashing of old stories and maybe catching up on what's new since we've
last met.
Clack's Cellar is easy to get around in and is truly a one stop shop for
J. Stewart info. Your links to other sites are especially helpful for
online novices like myself. Thanks for your efforts. I look forward to
visiting often."
________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: shooting down the angels
Date: 97-02-08
From: cockatoo@bslnet.com (Nancy Talbott)
Ron,
I have no words to express my sorrow for you. I sit her writing with a lump
in my throat and a tear on my cheek, thinking "how could I THINK my stupid
problems with a cheating husband could compare with your pain?"
You are in my prayers, as well as your friends' family.
Nancy
"Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit
salvation?
"...Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have
entertained angels without knowing it..." ~ Hebrews 1:14; 13:2
________________________________________________________________
Subj: your recent sad post
Date: 97-02-08
From: MButters@aol.com
So sorry to hear your news. I liked the idea of "Chilly Winds", but I also
favor "A Little Road and A Stone To Roll", even though the text doesn't
exactly fit your situation.
Last week I did my two-minute show, on Thursday, about daily bread. I think
"Little Road" is a lot like that.
I really have a problem with daily bread ... just enough for what I need, and
not merely for what I want, in the right-here-and-now. I'm always wanting to
know who you have to see about a whole loaf. Preferably about a whole loaf
well ahead of time.
But daily bread is about God's providence -- on time, in time, all the time.
Never too much or too little. Never too early or late.
Corrie Ten-Boom wrote about God's grace as being like the railway ticket her
father would give her on their many train trips -- always just when she
needed it, to make passage -- never so far ahead that she might lose it,
never so late as to be useless.
God wants a personal relationship and wouldn't settle for less. He would not
buy us off like some cosmic Sugar Daddy. Nor can He relate to us when we are
so full of ourselves and our own designs.
All He offers is a little daily bread. A little road. And a stone to roll.
Weeping may remain for a night, but joy comes in the morning -- Psalms 30 : 5
________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: common ground
Date: 97-02-08
From: Bluesy33@aol.com
One more time for a "stone blind" Bloodliner--how do I hook up with
Michelle's page to order direct from Homecoming?
________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: common ground
Date: 97-02-08
From: slowcoach@easynet.co.uk (Bob Elliot)
Her URL is
http://www.cris.com/~ddunet
> One more time for a "stone blind" Bloodliner--how do I hook up with
> Michelle's page to order direct from Homecoming?
>
==
"Life is like a sewer. What you get out of it depends on what you put into it".
(Tom Lehrer)
________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: shooting down the angels
Date: 97-02-08
From: delausa@mailbox.syr.edu (Del Lausa)
Ron,
"I'm sorry" just doesn't carry the proper weight via email. But, "Shadows
of the Angels' Wings" happened to be on while i was reading your post. That
song has always reminded me of the book by Victor Frankel (Holocost
survivor), _Man's_[sic]_Search_for_Meaning_. In short, it is our task to
give meaning to these senseless trials and losses. Up to us to *make* sense
of them--to weave the narratives and make the connections that hold us
together in community. I've always thought that a strength of John's music.
"We are autumn,
We are spring,
We are part of a movin thing,
Huddled by the fire, survivors."
Huddle close, Ron. And don't lose sight of the faces in the firelight
around you.
del
________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: your recent sad post
Date: 97-02-08
From: cockatoo@bslnet.com (Nancy Talbott)
What a wise man you are...thanks so much :)))
Daily bread is Manna....ya can't pick it up and save it or it will rot
Nanc
________________________________________________________________
Subj: Re: common ground
Date: 97-02-08
From: ddunet@concentric.net (Michelle Stevens)
>One more time for a "stone blind" Bloodliner--how do I hook up with
>Michelle's page to order direct from Homecoming?
go to:
http://www.concentric.net/~ddunet/available.html
`````
( O O )
------------------------oOOO--(_)--OOOo---------------------------------
Michelle Luce Stevens
http://www.concentric.net/~Ddunet/ (John Stewart Home Pages)
Data Descriptives Unlimited
Centreville, Virginia
http://www.concentric.net/~Ddunet/ddu/ (Data Descriptives Unlimited)
.oooO
( ) Oooo.
-------------------------- \ (-----( )---oOO-(^)--OOOo----------------
\_) ) / ( O-O )
(_/ !!!!!
________________________________________________________________
end of Bloodlines archive Feb 97 (B)
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