Bloodlines Mailing List archives January 19-21, 1997
from the John Stewart email list
Drums along the Bloodline draws to a close, Stewart confusion, more house concert
discussion, new intros, and a question about Frank Zappa and the Streets of Laredo ... -REB
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Subj: Re: John Stewart Comedian?
Date: 97-01-19
From: DBATTI@aol.com
They obviously have John Stewart mixed up with Jon Stewart, the talk show/MTV
guy(who is a comedian). This younger generation needs to learn how to spell!
We've had MTV types show up at a few of John's gigs and they thought John
was pretty humorous himself....hey, give up that derivative stuff and go for
the original.
In a message dated 97-01-18, you write:
<<
You're never going to believe this. I was visiting a mall music store in
Macon (GA) today...I think it was Blockbuster. I was checking for some
comedy cds when who should I find filed under comedy but John Stewart!
>>
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Subj: Re: John Stewart Comedian?
Date: 97-01-19
From: ddunet@concentric.net (Michelle Stevens)
Dave wrote:
>They obviously have John Stewart mixed up with Jon Stewart, the talk show/MTV
>guy(who is a comedian). This younger generation needs to learn how to spell!
> We've had MTV types show up at a few of John's gigs and they thought John
>was pretty humorous himself....
I was thinking this tonight listing to "A Prairie Home Companion". While
Garrison Keillor was great weaving a tale of Lake Woebegon, I was thinking
what a treat it would be to hear those two together, bantering back and
forth (not to mention the wonderful music he would bring to the stage) But
that Jon Stewart guy is starting to get on my nerves.
As for the previous discussion about synthesized music accompaniments,
isn't one of the things that we revere in musicians in general and John
Stewart in particular is their willingness to color outside of the lines.
Think about "Pirates of Stone County Road" and "Rocket Roy in the Real
World". If our dear Mr. Stewart was a conformist, we wouldn't have these
great products of his creativity. The risk you take at being creative is
that sometimes you get a dog or two.
Ahem. When we want consistency we go to McDonalds and listen to Jimmy
Buffet. No surprises there.
Michelle Stevens
Webmistess and Bloodlines mailing list manager
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Subj: Re: John Stewart, consistent?
Date: 97-01-19
From: PFARNAM@aol.com
Amen, Michelle!!
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Subj: Re: John Stewart Comedian?
Date: 97-01-19
From: cnewton@fyi.net (Christopher Newton)
Actually, it was probably an honest Macon mistake. I also understand you
can find Spam and Cheeze Whiz in the gourmet section of Macon's grocery
stores ;.)
Kit Newton
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Subj: Re: John Stewart Comedian?
Date: 97-01-19
From: Frgarrett@aol.com
That's because there is a much more popular (oh please, John, not in "my"
opinion) Jon Stewart, who believes himself to be a comedian to the younger
generation. He had his own talk show, I believe now off the air.
Floyd
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Subj: Re: What is a drum machine?
Date: 97-01-19
From: Frgarrett@aol.com
And here I thought we all subscribed to bloodlines so we could express our
feelings about the music...
As Helen Hunt would say...I was wrong.
Floyd
Oh, the shame
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Subj: Re: What is a published writer?
Date: 97-01-19
From: jbrassil@maine.com (John Brassil)
>And here I thought we all subscribed to bloodlines so we could express our
>feelings about the music...
>
>As Helen Hunt would say...I was wrong.
>
>Floyd
>Oh, the shame
Floyd--
your thoughts on "Drum machining" were send out there as part of a
published tome, "The KT on Record." You are a contributing author to that
work, one which at least aspired to make money or make fame for the
contributors. Some, like Ben Blake, managed to impress Capitol Records
enough so that he got to write liner notes for KT cds. Fine.
You, on the other hand, have found that there's an audience that, whichle
it hears your POV, does not agree, and, apparently, wishes you would shut
up about it.
Better luck next time. All this doesn't mean I or most others on the list
don't want you to express your feelings or, if you have them, thoughts.
Take a stress pill. Hey, I LIKED some of what you wrote.
Adios
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Subj: Re: What is a published writer?
Date: 97-01-19
From: Frgarrett@aol.com
Hey Alan Shaw...
let me know when you break even on the book after all these years. And how's
your fame doing?
Floyd
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Subj: Personal Introduction
Date: 97-01-19
From: fgrittner@earthlink.net (Fred Grittner)
I joined the list in Mid-December and have enjoyed getting reconnected with
JS, his music, and his passionate admirers. I would like to take a few
moments and introduce myself and my personal connection to JS's songs and
albums.
First, as Bob Moore mentioned last week, he and I reconnected three weeks
ago after 25 years, courtesy of this list. Bob and I played guitar in
Vietnam in 1972 at service clubs, etc. We got together because he was
playing tunes from Signals and Bloodliness at the service club and I was so
excited to meet another person who dug JS. I won't go on about this
reunion, but if you would like to read the full story and more about our JS
connection, please visit my webpage at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~fgrittner/ Click on the What's New link.
I live in St. Paul, Minnesota. I work for the Minnesota Supreme Court as its
administrator and clerk of court. I also teach civil rights and legal
history in the evenings at two local law schools. I have been writing
songs since Vietnam (Bob and JS were two prime role models) and in 1994
finally worked up the nerve and finances to record, in 1 week, a 15-song
folk-rock album called Transfer Point. If you visit my website and check
out my lyrics page you will see evidence of JS's influence: story songs,
songs about the road, lost innocence, politics.
I got a band together in early 95 and played the Twin Cities for a while
promoting the album. The band fell apart, I unplugged my guitar and went
pretty much the route JS has gone these past few years: guitar, vocal, a
harmony vocal, and a melody instrument. I have been playing coffehouses for
the past two years and have enjoyed the 2-3 evenings each month in front of
an audience. I work in some JS covers here and there (of course!) I
recorded a more acoustic album in my home studio last winter, called
Copper-Lined Sky. It got some airplay around the country last summer on
folk radio shows.
So here I am, a 47-old folkie whatever, still locked into JS. I bought
Bloodlines the week it came out but I have to admit I bought it because JS
looked so cool on the cover and because he had the Nashville cats I admired
as players. I was stunned when I heard the songs. There are only a handful
of albums that have hit me as hard: Dylan's Times They are a Changin', the
Band's Music from Big Pink, and Ry Cooder's Boomer's Story. Like all
great works, Bloodlines is both a part of it's time and timeless.
So I was hooked. I learned to play lead guitar by playing along to
Bloodlines and learned to write songs after hearing Lonesome Picker Rides
Again and Cannons in the Rain. (Still remember JS and Chris Darrow doing
Road Away on the god-awful, schlocky Midnight Special NBC tv music show. Man
they were hot that night.)
As so many of you have commented, JS doesn't stand still. He keeps writing
great songs and has tried different things in the studio over the years.
His use of live concert recordings and home studio productions have allowed
him to get his music out, which in this era of music marketing is incredibly
difficult. I am glad Folk Era is going to be releasing more stuff.
Thanks for indulging me this time. I won't ever be so verbose again.
Thanks again to Michelle for asking me to join the list.
Fred Grittner
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Subj: Fwd: Re: chat/Wingless Angels
Date: 97-01-20
From: Angelbravo@aol.com
Point well taken. I am combing the hair on the back of the elephant. To all you
bloodlines readers, Floyd is a good guy and this is more of a school chum
spat rather than a vendetta.
After years of being drawn and quartered by members of the press, and not
being able to respond until the net was born, Floyd received a full frontal
attack. I appreciate that the other 99% was done with love.
I trust you realize the 1% was a cheap shot.
----- Attached Item -----
From: Frgarrett@aol.com
To: bloodlines@world.std.com
To John Stewart: book critic
From Floyd Garrett: music critic
Okay. No, you're missing the point, John. Here was a book, The Kingston
Trio On Record, that was pure and simply an act of love: Ben Blake, Jack
Rubeck, Alan Shaw, and my chapter on you. This book was 99.9% a love
offering to you guys. Apparently one line in the book has you upset enough
to make me think somebody crapped in your cornflakes. If that was a crummy
jibe I took at you and was my opinion, what was the other 99.9% of the book?
If anybody out there who has read the book thinks I did a hatchet job on
John, be brave, speak up. The line in question in the book mentions the use
of drum machines and listening to Mr. Buckingham's production habits...or
some such rot. I don't know, John...I haven't read since I wrote it. This
is not like in Amadeus where I'm telling Mozart he's playing too many notes.
Come on now. Lighten up.
Floyd
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Subj: Fwd: RE: chat/Wingless Angels
Date: 97-01-20
From: Angelbravo@aol.com
It's a forum and all that implies.
----- Attached Item -----
From: Tony.Davies@carfax.co.uk (Tony Davies)
To: bloodlines@world.std.com ('bloodlines@world.std.com')
Enough of this, can we please stop all this bickering. I did not think
that this was that kind of forum.
tony davies
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Subj: Re: Personal Introduction
Date: 97-01-20
From: ClackClack@aol.com
Fred-
I really enjoyed your introduction. I love these stories.I think it is safe
to say that most of the Bloodliners enjoy the introductions of others.
Sooo... how about the others who have joined up and haven't sent in their
intro's sending them in?
Ron
Clack's Cellar
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Subj: Fwd: Personal Introduction
Date: 97-01-20
From: Angelbravo@aol.com
Nice to meet you Fred.
Thanks for the intro.
Welcome to the blood.
John S.
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Subj: House Concert CD
Date: 97-01-20
From: battery@teleport.com (Battery Express!)
A while back there was the suggestion of tapeing the anticipated house
concert in California next April or May. What a great idea! Here is a
proposal. A friend of mine in California has an independant recording
company. He has recorded myself along with several other Portland and
California musicians and has received some serious reveiws for his work.
He uses all digital recording equipment and can produce "on-demand" CD's
and cassettes in any quantity, small or large. A booklet with artwork
etc. (perhaps pictures from the event) would be included and could be
very personalized. Two priorities would be that Johns interests and
rights are honored and that he be substantially rewarded financially for
this! Details would have to worked out, but at about $30.00 per CD, the
cost of production would be covered and John would receive the largest
portion and anything more than that would all go to John!
If 50-100 CD's are made for the Bloodlines Group it would certainly make
Johns performance more rewarding for him and would be a treasured item
for each of us! Let me know what you think and count me in for a couple
of tickets, whenever it happens!
Mike
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Subj: Re: House Concert CD
Date: 97-01-20
From: cnewton@fyi.net (Christopher Newton)
You just made a terrific idea even better! Eveeryone wins, including those
of us not lucky enough to live in Northern California.
Kit Newton
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Subj: Daydream Beleiver 30th Anniversary
Date: 97-01-20
From: WOakStreet@aol.com
I caught Dick Clarke on his Rock and Roll Remembered show yesterday on the
local 60's station here in Eastern Iowa. He finished the hour by noting that
exactly thirty years ago "Daydream Believer" was the number one hit in
America for the Monkees and then playing it.
What a song!
I was thrilled to have John include it on the Airdream Believer retrospective
CD. To have Nancy Griffith sing along made it even better.
Paul
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Subj: Re: What is a drum machine?
Date: 97-01-20
From: M.J.Mooney@Bradford.ac.uk (Mike Mooney)
John Brassil wrote:
>Sorry, but this "drum machine" thread is pitiful.
>The creative process means trying stuff-- different brand instruments,
>different sound makers. Different voices.
>
>It's going to happen. It is happening. It has happened.
>
>Some people will like some of the things, others won't. When someone makes
>a pronouncement that "such-and-so is no good" or "this-n-that is all there
>is" it's just ego time anyway. The music is what gets made; writing about
>the music is more or less an ego-laden attempt to affirm one's own
>prejudices by "sharing them" with an audience. The audience accepts your
>views as authoritative? Great, you've got an audience for your writing. The
>audience thinks you're wrong? Few will keep reading.
>
>If someone doesn't like the music, he or she can listen to something else.
>If someone doesn't like the writing, he or she can read something else.
But it's rarely as cut-and-dried as that, is it? Just because we like a
particular artist's work doesn't usually mean we unreservedly like every
single note he/she creates, to an equal level. As John himself said, this is
a forum, and surely the whole point of a forum is to discuss differences of
opinion (in a friendly and constructive manner, natch.) Otherwise it'd be
just "Hey, I love Trancas" "Yeah, me too" "And me" (actually there already
*is* plenty of that). Maybe ego-gratifying for John but not very interesting.
>Of course, if I'm the artist, I have a right to be pissed when someone
>slams my effort or my attempts to try things.
>
Hmmm. Yes, if it's merely an insult rather than constructive criticism. But
this is where something like the Internet changes things - the feedback is
instant and uncensored. By being on this list John takes the chance of
hearing things he may not like, and all credit to him for doing it. He also
gets the chance to defend his decisions, which is real innovation for *us*,
the audience. It all requires a special code of behaviour - 'Netiquette' -
in order for the advantages to be realised. But please, let's not sanitise
the dialogue; if that mini flame war over drum machines hadn't taken place,
I might never have gone back to re-evaluate Trancas. I'm glad I did.
All I'm trying to say is - a little controversy now and then is *healthy*.
>Sometimes "the machines" sound OK, sometimes they don't work so well. but
>that's true of guitars, voices, you name it.
>
Absolutely right.
(English) Mike
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Subj: A question for John
Date: 97-01-20
From: M.J.Mooney@Bradford.ac.uk (Mike Mooney)
A question for John:
Is it true that Frank Zappa taught you the chords to "Streets of Laredo",
'back in Pomona'?
(English) Mike
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Subj: Fwd: A question for John
Date: 97-01-21
From: Angelbravo@aol.com
Yes.
----- Attached Item -----
A question for John:
Is it true that Frank Zappa taught you the chords to "Streets of Laredo",
'back in Pomona'?
(English) Mike
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Subj: new member
Date: 97-01-20
From: jwj@CCIT.ARIZONA.EDU (jim johnson)
Ok, so I'll stop hiding in the woods and fess up to spying on you all for
several weeks without ID myself.
I've been a John Stewart fan since California Bloodlines, but I
can't remember how I got hooked on him. Looking back I just remembered
liking him. That simple. I tried for years to see him in person, but I
was never able to do so. About three or four years ago he appeared in
Portland, Ore., at an outdoor concert at the zoo. Finally I got to see
The Man. Then he appeared in Scottsdale six months later and I saw him
again. Now I get up from Tucson to see him at every chance.
I'm a writer (oh, oh) by trade. I worked for 18 years as a
reporter and editor for the Oakland Tribune. In 1970 I became a
journalism professor at the University of Arizona. So you can see I'm one
of the older codgers in the fan club. I recruited a fellow professor to
the club about three years ago and we make the trek each year to
Scottsdale.
Thanks for all the joy over the years, John. Keep up the good
work. cheers, Jim Johnson
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Subj: Re: House Concert CD
Date: 97-01-20
From: GregDenis@aol.com
In a message dated 97-01-20 02:06:59 EST, Mike writes (about the house
concert taping):
<< Two priorities would be that Johns interests and
rights are honored and that he be substantially rewarded financially for
this! Details would have to worked out, but at about $30.00 per CD, the
cost of production would be covered and John would receive the largest
portion and anything more than that would all go to John!
If 50-100 CD's are made for the Bloodlines Group it would certainly make
Johns performance more rewarding for him and would be a treasured item
for each of us! Let me know what you think and count me in for a couple
of tickets, whenever it happens! >>
I think that sounds great --especially about being sure we respect John's
copyrights and get him the bulk of the dough. I plan to be at the house
concert, and would love to have this little memento, too.
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Subj: House Concert CD
Date: 97-01-20
From: tae69@dial.pipex.com (Mark Austin)
I can't make the concert, but I'd certainly buy a CD. In fact,
make it a double!
Mark
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Subj: Re: House Concert CD
Date: 97-01-20
From: MFinleyCS@aol.com
As one who would not be able to attend such a house concert, I would greatly
appreciate having a CD of the concert available. Super idea.
Mitch Finley
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Subj: Re: House Concert CD
Date: 97-01-20
From: PFARNAM@aol.com
I will be there, and a "commerative CD at $30.00 or so would be absolutely
great!!
Count me in on the CD!
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Subj: Re: House Concert CD
Date: 97-01-20
From: delausa@mailbox.syr.edu (Del Lausa)
What a great idea!
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Subj: Bloodlines Welcome
Date: 97-01-20
From: kbiermann@ccmail.viewlogic.com
O.K.
I guess I should make my self known. I just joined last week. I have
been a J.S. fan far about as long as I can remember anything. My dad
got me into John Stewart (NOT Jon Stewart) sometime in the 60's - I
was born in '62. There's a lot of music that I like but nothing,
absolutely nothing can compare to John Stewart.
I live in North Andover MA. I just found out that the Old Vienna,
where John used to perform about every 6-8 months, will no longer be
open for live concerts. This is not good news. Looks like I will
have to go back to driving to NY to see him.
I hope the house concert CD works out. You can put me down for one no
matter what the price.
-Ken Biermann
______________________________ Forward Header __________________________________
Subject: Bloodlines Welcome
Author: ddunet@concentric.net (Michelle Stevens) at unix
Date: 1/15/97 1:17 AM
Welcome to "Bloodlines"! We are almost 100 strong at this point! Here's a
couple of things you'll need to do in the next few days in descending order
of importance.
1. We would love to have a little introduction from you, so that we can get
to know you. Let us know how you first got interested in John's music, how
you found out about the list, what part of the country you live in and
anything else you'd like to tell us! (mail to bloodlines@world.std.com)
2. If you'd like to review the posts from the past few months that we've
been online, go to ClackClack's Cellar (hosted by my buddy Ron Beffa).
http://members.aol.com/clackclack/rebeffa1.htm
Follow the signs to the Bloodlines archives.
Michelle Stevens, your friendly mailing list manager and webmistress
`````
( O O )
------------------------oOOO--(_)--OOOo---------------------------------
Michelle Luce Stevens
http://www.concentric.net/~Ddunet/ (John Stewart Home Pages)
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Subj: New Member
Date: 97-01-20
From: RTFAL@aol.com
Have been on the network for about 6 weeks ---- saw John for the first time
in 1962 when he first toured with the Trio. Have been a fan ever since. Just
a wonderful singer/songwriter who never ceases to amaze. Attempt to see him
perform whenever he is close to the New York area. I am avid collector of JS
material; have given up on playing guitar at this point but appreciate the
musicianship and songs that JS provides and hopefully will continue to do so
in the future.
Am located in Faifield CT. and look forward to taking part in the Bloodlines
network.
Enjoy the interchange of views and opinions --- this is a great forum to
express ideas and hopefully JS appreciates what transpires.
Would love to attend the spring concert but time and distance creates a
logistical problem. Whomever is in charge of the CD, Tape or Video aspects of
this planned event --- count me in for support, whatever it reasonably costs.
Art Faller
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Subj: Fwd: Re: What is a drum machine?
Date: 97-01-21
From: Angelbravo@aol.com
Here's another two cents from me.
There are only a few of my albums I still like today. I'm not thrilled with
the drum machine on Trancas, but experimenting is one of the things that
keeps the music new and fun.
Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. That's one of the things i oove
about Neil Young, he takes chances with his music.
Sometimes he crashes and burns
sometimes he hit's a home run. I enjoy his search. I always want to hear what
people think of my albums and shows. In this instance to say, "Come on John,
just because Lindsey uses one." refering to the drum machine, was nothing
more than a cheap little shot. I hate cheap little shots. They're self
serving and demeaning. That fact that all of you still not only listen to my
music but take the time to write about it on the net, continues to amaze me.
I thank you all
JS
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Subj: Re: What is a drum machine?
Date: 97-01-21
From: MFinleyCS@aol.com
John wrote:
<< There are only a few of my albums I still like today. >>
I would enjoy knowing which of your albums are the few you still like.
Mitch Finley
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end of Bloodlines archive January 97(F)
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