Category: Daily Life

Songs That Helped Shape My American Experience

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Pete Seeger - WE Shall Overcome - a Song that Helped Shape My American Experience

Yesterday an article appeared in my news feed from American /songwriter magazine 5 Folk Songs That Defined the American Experience.

The folk genre has always been a huge part of political music and patriotic songs alike. These five particular folk songs are beautifully intertwined with the American experience, and they are still so relevant decades after they were first released. Let’s take a look, shall we?….

The five songs were……l

  1. “Blowin’ in the Wind “  – Bob Dylan
  2. “This Land is Your Land”- Woody Guthrie
  3. “Early Morning Rain” – Gordon Lightfoot
  4. “The Circle Game” – Joni Mitchell
  5. “Diamonds and Rust” – Joan Baez

I love each of those songs and agree that they do speak to the American experience.. Additionally they are still relevant. However, I started thinking about some of the songs that were important in shaping my world view and came up with the following playlist.

Nine Songs That Helped Shape My American Experience

1.Where Have All The Flowers Gone?”  – Pete Seeger

The first so that popped into my head was “where Have All the Flowers Gone”. The song was written by Pete Seeger. Although, the  version I associate most with the song came from Peter,Paul and Mary.. The song express the  loss  so many felt during the Vietnam War.  And I am sure so many felt in Iraq and Afghanistan. And still feel in Ukraine today.

3. “Turn, Turn, Turn” – Pete Seeger

Another Pete Seeger song that’s been recorded by many. Most notably the Byrds. It addresses the circle of life. It speaks strong of the hope for peace. A hope we have all wished for….

A time to gain, a time to loseA time to rain, a time of sowA time for love, a time for hateA time for peace, I swear it’s not too late

4. “There But for Fortune” – Phil Ochs

While Phil Ochs wrote “There But for Fortune” it is probably best known for Joan Baez’s cover off the song. AS we go through life when we look at folks who are prisoners or homeless we must all remember the there “but for good fortune” go you or go I….
Even as a country we must remember how fortune we are that no bombs have fallen on our country!

Show me the prison, show me the jail 
Show me the prisoner whose life has gone stale
And I’ll show you a young man with so many reasons why
But there but for fortune go you or I, hmm-mmm…

…….

Show me the country where the bombs had to fall
Show me the ruins of the buildings once so tall
And I’ll show you a young land with so many reasons why
And there but for fortune may go you or I, or I

 

5, “Plane Wreck at Los Gatos (Deportees)” – Woody Guthrie

Talk about a song that sill resonates today!

 

The crops are all in and the peaches are rotting,
The oranges piled in their creosote dumps;
They’re flying ’em back to the Mexican border
To pay all their money to wade back again

Goodbye to my Juan, goodbye, Rosalita,
Adios mis amigos, Jesus y Maria;
You won’t have your names when you ride the big airplane,
All they will call you will be “deportees”

6. “My Rainbow Race – Pete Seeger”

Sometimes American folk songs can cross the ocean! “My Rainbow Race”  The paragraph below sounds like today’s Republican party!

The song was performed by Nilsen and a crowd of more than 40,000 people in Youngstorget in Oslo and at squares across the country on April 26, 2012, as a protest against statements given in court by Anders Behring Breivik, the perpetrator of the July 22 attacks in 2011.

The performance was inspired by Facebook reactions after Breivik claimed in his trial testimony that the song was an example of Marxist propaganda and that it was being used to “brainwash” Norwegian children.[

Organization was made at the level of Norwegian Minister of Culture, and other Ministers of Culture from Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands were also present.[2]

The song was thus performed a few days later, in the midst of the ongoing trial. In Oslo the sing-along was followed by a march up to the site of the trial, where the crowd laid down flowers.[3] The song was performed both in Norwegian and English, and Nilsen had personally contacted Seeger, who responded with the words: “Oh me, oh my. I wish you luck  Read More

One blue sky above One blue sky above us
One ocean lapping all our shores
One earth so green and brown
Who could ask for more

And because I love you
I’ll give it one more try
To show my rainbow race
It’s too soon, too soon to die
It’s too soon to die…

From Wikipedia…..

The song has been described as an “anthem … with lyrics that might have been written by the great Woody Guthrie“.[3] Said to be the American patriotic hymn best at combining the American dream with selfless Christian ideals[1] “Power and the Glory” consists of three verses, each followed by a chorus.[2] The first verse invites the listener to walk with the singer, and it describes some of the natural wonders of the United States.[4] The second verse names some of the states through which the listener and the singer would travel.[5] The third verse notes that the United States is “only as rich as the poorest of the poor” but also as “strong as our love for this land”.[4] The chorus of “Power and the Glory” describes the United States as “a land full of power and glory”: Read More

Yet our land is still troubled by men who have to hate
They twist away our freedom and they twist away our fate
Fear is their weapon and treason is their cry.
We can stop them if we try.

Let’s Hope!

8, Thirsty Boots – Eric Andersen

“Thirsty Boots” has been a favorite song of mine since I first heard it many,many years ago!

From Wikipedia …

“Thirsty Boots” is a civil-rights-era folksong by American singer-songwriter Eric Andersen that first appeared on his 1966 album ‘Bout Changes ‘n’ Things. According to the album’s liner notes, the song “was written to a civil rights worker-friend. Having never gone down to Mississippi myself, I wrote the song about coming back.” Read More

You’ve long been on the open road
You been sleepin’ in the rain
From dirty words and muddy cells
Your clothes are soiled and stained
But the dirty words and the muddy cells
Will soon be hid in shame
So only stop to rest yourself and you’ll go off again

 

9, “We Shall Overcome” – Pete Seeger

I don’t know that there is a song that moves me more than “We Shall Over Come”. When I think of the words of the song and the struggles that have been overcome and still need to be overcome, I am moved to tears. Then I think, hey the words apply to everyone we all need to overcome some day!

We shall overcome
We shall overcome
We shall overcome some day

[Refrain]
Oh, deep in my heart
I do believe
We shall overcome some day

[Verse 2]
We’ll walk hand in hand
We’ll walk hand in hand
We’ll walk hand in hand some day

Explore Each Artist

Each of the above eight songs shaped my American Experience. They all had a hand in my beliefs  about war, the environment, and civil rights . And yes  I am a strong liberal Democrat and. Proud of it! Any of you have your American Experience Shaped by these songs?

 

My Ancestral Roots – Karn and Meyer Families

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So when I started my genealogical research on my family, I really new very little about what countries my ancestors came from. I knew my father’s family came from Dresden, Germany. In addition, I knew my mother’s family came from England. As to where in England I had not a clue. After years of research here’s what I’ve discovered. I’ve divided it up by Maternal and Paternal Lines.

P.S. Now while I will be posting this for everybody, this post has been primarily for my children and grandchildren. But I hope others may find it interesting.

According to the latest information from Ancestry my DNA comes from 6 ancestral regions. My DNA composition is  as follows:

Paternal Ancestry Regions

Germanic Europe – 20%
Sweden 11%

RegionMaternalPaternalMe
50%50%110%
Southern Germanic Europe26%26%
Sweden11%11%
Central Scotland & Northwern Ireland10%10%
South East England & Nothwestern Europe4%5%9%
Munster Ireland9%9%
Northern Wales & Northwest England7%7%
West Midlands7%7%
Connacht Ireland7%7%
The Netherlands5%5%
Southern Wales5%5%
Donegal Ireland2%2%
Esotnia & Latvia1%1%
Sardina1%1%


Baltics 1%

Maternal Ancestry Regions

England & Northwestern Europe 22%
Ireland 21%
Scotland 7%

Paternal Ancestry

My father’s parents were Edward Karn and Charlotte Meyer, Here’s a little about the Karn and Meyer Families

The Roots of the Karn and Meyer Families

Karn – Hechler

My grandfather’s parent were Henry Karn and Pauline Hechler. The Karn family came from Germany, while the Hechler family came from Switzerland. Based on my research Henry came to the US alone in 1882. While Pauline and her family arrived in 1882. They were married in New York City in April of 1887.

Pauline Hechler Karn my greatgranmother

Pauline’s parents were Daniel Hechler and Susanna Siegrist. From Daniel’s death certificate I learned he was born in Oberkulm, Switzerland. Oberkulm is a municipality in the district of Kulm, in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. I am not sure where Susanna was from as I have not yet found her deathe certificate.

I learned from Henry and Pauline’s wedding certificate that Henry’s parents were Kasper Karn and Katerina Sohl. On Henry’s death certificate his father’s name is listed as Andrew. When I found records for Kasper and Katerina on Ancestry I discovered that they lived in “Oberaula, Germany. Based on DNA matches at Ancestry, I have several matches with people who have Sohl ancestors in Oberuala.

. Additionally, they had two children (and this is where it gets spooky) Andrew and Peter, The names of two of my sons are Andrew and Peter! Anyway I imagine that buy the time Henry died the only name they associated with Henry was Andrew his brother.

Meyer – Wendel

Family Names included in the Meyer line include Wendel, Ehnert. There are several other names but for this post I am only going back to my great-grandparents.

My Great-Grandparents Herman Meyer and Helene Ehnert were married in Dresden Germany and my grandmother Charlotte and her sister Irmagard were both born in Dresden. Prior to marrying Herman had been a member of the King of Saxony’s guard.

 

The family came to the Philadelphia in 1912. Herman was born in 1871 in Koningswalde, Germany. The Meyer line has been traced back to 1812 in Koningswalde.

Helene’s family came from Olbernhau. Olbernhau is a town in the district Erzgebirgskreis, in Saxony, Germany. It is situated in the Ore Mountains, 35 km southeast of Chemnitz, and 23 km north of Chomutov, Czech Republic.

Helen’s parents Moritz Wendel and Wilhelmina Ehnert also came to the US a few years after Herman and Helene. Helene had one sister Else who also came to America a few years after her parents. Else married Curtis Schrier. Their family lived near Bethlehem  Pennsylvania and I can remember going there as a child,

A brother Rheinhardt died in World War I in Poland.

Ok so this post has gone on a little longer than I expected  so I will handle my maternal line in another post!

Rockin‘ Granddaughter Emma to Sleep with Jerry Jeff and Others!

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2026 Reflections – while “Edward” which is what Emma calls me because that’s all she heard my wife shout before i got y new hearing aids – EDWARD! EDWARD! and now my wofe is teaching Emma’s brother Lucas to continue to call me Edward and nnot Granddad! And while I am no longer rocking Emma to sleep – Lucas has succumbed several times ti the charms of Mr Bojangles!

“Boom, boom, boom.” That’s the sound of love, rhythm, and a sleepy toddler in motion.

I’m trying to get more enthusiastic about writing again — and to do so in a more timely way. Over the summer I did better, but now that the school year has begun, my wife and I are back to full-time babysitting for our granddaughter Emma.

Emma is our fourth grandchild, the daughter of our daughter Elizabeth and her husband Marcus. Elizabeth is a school psychologist in a district about 45 minutes north of their home. So, we babysit from around 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. — a long day for us Grandparents!

When we finally get home and dinner’s done, I’m usually wiped out. Writing feels like the last thing I want to do. But I’m going to try a new approach — to write more posts wrapped around my day. Hopefully, this is the first of many.

How Rockin’ Granddaughter Emma to Sleep Goes….

On a typical day, Emma takes a two-hour nap sometime between 11:00 a.m. and noon. Before that, I usually take her for a walk around the neighborhood — a mile or two, depending on how it goes. The goal? Keep her awake during the walk so she’ll sleep better afterward.

The other day she fell asleep mid-walk, so today I kept my eye on her. Every time her head started to droop, like she was about to doze off, I spoke to her — and her head would pop right back up! We managed to finish the full mile, and she’s now peacefully asleep.

The Rockin’ Grandaughtrer Emma Routine

Once it’s nap time, I rock her — first while standing, then transitioning to a rocking chair. I also sing to her. (I think she stays awake just to hear me stop!)

First up is one of my all-time favorite songs: Jerry Jeff Walker’s Mr. Bojangles. I sway back and forth singing “boom, boom, boom” to match the beat. When Emma was younger, she’d say “boom boom” herself when she got sleepy!

If she’s still awake after that, I move on to Aztec Two-Step’s Baking, and if she’s really holding out, I finish with Harry Chapin’s Taxi.

This past Monday? She held out all the way to Taxi before finally surrendering to sleep.

The Rockin’Playlist for Grandaughter Emma

Here’s a playlist of the songs I sing to her. Someday I’ll have to explain that I rocked her to sleep with a song about a street dancer in a New Orleans drunk tank…

Granddad Needs a Nap Too

Since I can’t take a photo while I’m rocking her, here’s one Grammie took right after a nap — when Granddad needed one just as badly!

Emma after a nap with Granddad

The 1960s Folk Revival and Me……..

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I was born in 1951 right smack dab in the middle of the American Folk Revival. This revival started in the 1940s and ran through the 1960s. It brought rural white and African-African American musicians to audiences everywhere. \

White artists include: Pete Seeger, Doc Watson, Jean Redpath. While African American artist included Leadbelly, as well as Mississppi John Hurt, Odetta, Elizabeth Cotton and Josh White. I wasn’t around for the 1940s and not listening too much music in the 50s.

In the early 1960s I was listening to The Beatles, Stones and the other British invasion bands. Then for several years I was listening to a lot of Motown until the late 1960s. As my world became more political, as a result of the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War, the music I listened to became more folkie. I listened to more and more Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs and Tom Paxton.

But I’m sure in the years between 1962 and 1967 I was aware of the folk groups that were making it big. One of the ways America was discovering Folk Music was through TV where shows like Hootenanny were on the air….

Hootennnay Showcases Folksingers…..

Hootenanny was a musical variety show that aired on ABC from April 1963 to September 1964.I only have vague memories of the show hey in 1963 I was 12 and in 1964 the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan show and the “British Invasion started.

But until the British Invasion started Hootenanny had help create a new craze. It had created a “the big demand for the folk performers in virtually all areas of show biz (records, concerts, college dates, TV, pix) and creatd a new folk form that appealed to a mass audience.

Artists whose career i have followed through the years like:.Bob Dylan, Tom Paxton, Pete Seeger and Johnny Cash appearede on the show. Other artosts whose names I knew like : Bob Gibson, Malvina Reynolds, Oscar Brand and Woody Guthrie also made appearances!

A dramatic drop in ratings lead to the creation of both Hullabaloo and Shindig which focused on the British Invasion and the new generation of rock musicians, Yet, somehow the memories of those early folkies stayed with me and lead me a few years later to Tom Rush, Tom Paxton, Eric Andersen and others!,

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A Sixties-Seventies Man Adds to His Vinyl Record Collection

During 2023, as I started looking through old albums at Goodwills throughout Southern New Jersey, I decided I would add albums from the folksingers from the Folk Revival period. So far I’ve added albums from the likes Bob Gibson and Hamilton Camp, Flatt & Scruggs, and even Pete Drake and his  talking guitar Additionally, I’ve added several Ian & Sylvia and Joan Baez albums

Here are several from Oscar Brand and The Weavers that I’ve found…….

 

Oscar Brand takes a Humorous Walk on the Folk Song Wild Side

From Wikipedia>>>>

Oscar Brand  (February 7, 1920 – September 30, 2016) was a Canadian-born American folk singer-songwriter, radio host, and author. In his career, spanning 70 years, he composed at least 300 songs and released nearly 100 albums, among them Canadian and American patriotic songs. Brand’s music ran the gamut from novelty songs to serious social commentary and spanned a number of genres.e hosted the radio show

Oscar Brand’s Folksong Festival on Saturdays at 10:00 p.m. on WNYC-AM 820 in New York City, which ran into its 70th year. The show ran more or less continuously from its debut on December 10, 1945[8] to September 2016,[9] making it the longest-running radio show with the same host, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Over its run it introduced such talents to the world as Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Woody Guthrie, Arlo Guthrie, Huddie Ledbetter, Joni Mitchell, Peter, Paul & Mary, Judy Collins, The Kingston Trio, Pete Seeger and the Weavers. In order to make sure that his radio program could not be censored he refused to be paid by WNYC for the next 70 years.

Bawdy Songs and Backroom Ballads was released in 1950. It contains folk songs  Brand  had been collecting for years. Here’s a description of the songs on Side one of the album!

 

The Kingston Trio and Chad Mitchell Trio are Added to My Vinyl Collection

Finally, I’ve added a handful of Kingston Trio and Chad Mitchell Trio  albums. When I buy Kingston Trio albums I always look for the ones  released when John Stewart was a member of the trio (1961-1967). John had a fine solo career after leaving the group. His album Willard is one of my favorites

Kingston Trio albums I’ve added to my vinyl collection….

 

A Chad Mitchell Trio

Basically, when I  look for Chad Mitchell Trio albums, I look for  ones, when John Denver was a member of the trio! Actually, the group was called The Mitchell Trio then because Chad had left the Trio. Oh, I also have one Chad Mitchell Trio album with Jim McGuinn was in the Trio. Before he became Roger McGuinn of The Byrds! You can listen to The Chad Mitchell Trio here

The Chad Mitchell Trio was more political than The Kingston Trio. Here is one of their albums I picked up in 2023.

The title The Slightly Irreverent Mitchell Trio may have given the game away! The  album includes two songs that are among my all time favorites. Tom Paxton’s “I Can’t Help But Wonder Where I’m Bound” and Phil Och’s “Draft Dodger Rag”. Both were recorded before Paxton and Ochs recorded them! It was daring stuff! Here’s

…..The version of “Draft Dodger Rag,” which appeared almost a year before composer Phil Ochs’ first release, is fantastic and sung with gusto. This was daring stuff indeed for 1964, and it shows that the Mitchell Trio were keeping tabs on new songwriters at the same time as they mined the traditional folk songbooks. Their beautiful cover of Tom Paxton’s “I Can’t Help But Wonder” also came out before the songwriter’s own debut album, and it’s one of the best cuts here.  More at AllMusic

Final Note to Self……

Keep looking for Folk music released during the  1960s Folk Revival. Maybe you’ll find some Dave Van Ronk, Fred Neil, Eric Von Schmidt or some Pete Seeger! Until then you can always listen on Spotify.

And for you folks, here’s a Spotify playlist from the above mentioned folkies I’ll be searching for!

Tom Paxton – Jennifer and Kate Hits Home!

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Comedian and Angrels - Tom Paxton

When I first started  blogging one of the first things I read said to write about what you know. Well I know a lot about things like the soils and geology of New Jersey and the design and operation of septic systems but I don’t think that will interest many people. So I guess I have to continue to write about books and music. Now many times I write about the new music I’m just discovering, not music I know. Well, tonight I’ll write about some music that I DO know that is the music of Tom Paxton.

I have been listening to Tom‘s songs since the late 1960s. Tom‘s songs have made me laugh, cry and every other emotion you can feel.

Tom Paxton – Comedians and Angels

Tonight as I was listening to his album Comedians and Angels I heard one of those songs that tugs at your heartstrings, “Jennifer and Kate“ written about his daughters. Many years ago, I saw Tom live at Thr Concert Under the Strs Series in Lower MArion Township, PA. I asked Tom “How old are Jennifer and Katy? His simple reply was “you don’t want to know! ( I odn’t like to think of my “Little girl as bring the age she is now either)

Tom‘s song “Jennifer Rabbit“ written for his eldest daughter was the opening track on his 1968 album Morning Again. Five years later  Tom was compelled to write a song for his second daughter Kate. The song aptly titled “Katy“ appears on his album New Songs for Old Friends released in 1973.

Thoughts About Jennifer  and Kate

Fast forward 35 years to 2008 and the final song of this trilogy “Jennifer and Kate” reflects on the lives of each of his little girls now grown.

The chorus of the song goes….

I see their mother in the way
They love this family
They give this family the love
Their mother gives to me

Their mother Midge Cummings and Tom Paxton were married in 1963. So they had been married 45 years by the time Tom wrote this song. They would make it to 51 years. Midge passed away in that year after a long illness.’

And while the chorus rings true. It’s the first and last stanzas that get to me, mainly because I see myself in the first four lines.

There is this thing about fathers:
They live in their own zone
They tell you, “Hi! How are you?”
And they hand your mom the phone
At things like sharing feelings
Let’s admit, they are not great
But the lucky ones have daughters like My Jennifer and Kate
And their fathers thanks his angels for His Jennifer and Kate

or their Elizabeth’s,Nicks, Andrews and Peters (boys can be angels, too.)

Links and Listens

 

Catching Up and an LP Haul from The Princeton Record Exchange

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My P Hsul from The Princeton Record Exchange

So once again I must confess to not wrting many new posts. One of my excuses is I am still trying to fully recover from the ankle sprain that occurred on my May 28th run! In order to facilitate that recovery, for the last several weeks I’ve been going to Physical Theraphy twice a week. Additionally, I’ve been working more at Target.Finally, last week in an attempt to get myself to write more I bought a new laptop.

Only I shopped price and bought an HP Chromebook. And while it works fine for using the Internet, which means it works well for most of my uses. It doesn’t play nicely with my iTunes music library. Now because not all of my music was recorded by iTunes and moved right into iTunes my albums and recording are located in various folders on various storage devices! So what I’ve beem doing is relocating them to devices where I know what I have and where they are located! I actually bought a 256 GB microSD card that I think will hold my whole library.

In the midst of all this my wife did make a trip to the NJ State Archives in Trenton on Wednesday of this week, That means that I get to head further north and visit The Princetion Record Exchange! Now because I’m still dont know how to rip CDs using the Chromebook, I only bought vinyl albums, which is actually what I wanted to buy anyway.

My LP Haul from The Princeton Record Exchange

Jazz

Master of the Art – Woody Shaw

I confess I didn’t know anything about Woody Shaw until I started to listen to more jazz in the middle 2010s. I only gave this album a quick listen but I likes what I heard…..from AllMusic

Master of the Art is the studio companion to the album Night Music, also reissued on Wounded Bird records from the original Elektra Musician masters, with the same band as on the live date, but with completely different songs and a short interview from the trumpeter. At a time when Shaw was one of the most consistently brilliant trumpeter’s of the modern era, this effort did nothing to hurt that estimable reputation.

Vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson and trombonist Steve Turre being on the front line made for an arresting sound, while the emerging pianist Mulgrew Miller was asserting himself as a major force, with drummer Stafford James and drummer Tony Reedus sounding like they had worked together for decades Read more at AllMusic

High Energy – Freddie Hubbard

Now Freddie Hubbard is someone I have know for longer and at least one cassette tape is in my collection. Again after a listen last night I liked what I heard.. The first time I heard Ernie Watts he was playing with John Mayall in the early 1970 from AllMusic….

One of Freddie Hubbard’s few decent efforts during his very commercial period with Columbia, this LP found his quintet (with tenor-saxophonist Junior Cook and keyboardist George Cables) joined by a small orchestra and a string section on a set of potentially dismal material….The leader/trumpeter is in good form and there is solo space given to Ernie Watts (on bass flute, soprano and flute) and tenorman Pete Christlieb…. Read More at AllMusic

Rough House Blues – Lou Donaldson

Like Woody Shaw I didnt know a lot about Lou Donaldson until several years ago, I really like hus album Alligator Bogaloo. I listened to this album as I was writing this post and I think I may like it the most of any of the albums I bought ! While AllMusic gave the album thee stars they didn’t have much to say about it…..

Best and most ambitious of mid-60s Argo albums. Oliver Nelson supplied the arrangements for this nine-piece band.

I am familiar with the work of Oliver Nelson through his work with Wes Montgomery in the 1960s. You cant go wrong iif he’s doing the arranging!

The Milt Jackson Big 4 at the Montreux Jazz Festival 1975 – Milt Jackson, Oscar Peterson, Niels Pederson and Mickey Roker.

Sadly, I discovered that I already have this album in my music library. But I say you can never have too much Milt Jackson….the presence of Oscar Peterson on the album made it a no-brainer when I saw it, From AllMusic,,,,,

This is the only album of my haul that got 4 stars from AllMusic,,,,,,

Vibraphonist Milt Jackson teams up with pianist Oscar Peterson, bassist Niels Pedersen and drummer Mickey Roker for this particularly appealing set. There are many exciting performances (particularly Blue Mitchell’s “Funji Mama,” “Speed Ball” and “Mack the Knife”) and some emotional ballad statements (“Everything Must Change” and “Like Someone like Love”). Bags and O.P. always bring out the best in each other and this well-conceived set is no exception. Read More at AllMusic

Folk

Today is the Highway – Eric Andersen

I bought my first Eric Andersen album Blue River in the early 1970s when it came out. I know that I went out and bought some of his prior albums quickly thereafter, However, I never bought this one. He’s had a strange career he spent most of the later 70s  through the 1980s in Europe, He reemerged in 1989 with a new album, Ghosts Upon the Road. Since 1998 he’s been very active producing a numnber of outstanding albums.  From AllMusic

Andersen’s debut album presented him playing in a folkie style that was just starting to become passé upon its release in 1965. It’s an inoffensive set of originals (except for a cover of “Baby Please Don’t Go”) in the early-’60s Greenwich Village style, accompanied only by his own guitar and harmonica (and, on two songs, by Debby Green on second guitar).  Read More at AllMusic

Eric’s Website

Here‘s a baker‘s dozen playlist with random tracks for each album with the exception of The Milt Jackson Big 4…. I did include as the thirteenth track …. „On Green Dolphin Street“ by Milt and Oscar!

“Desperados Waiting for A Train” Leads to a Big Oh My!

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So I took a trip back musically this afternoon and listened to some Jerry Jeff Walker. I listened to his 2012 album Live from Dixie‘s Bar & Bus Stop. The live set is composed  of most my favorite JJW songs.  Among those songs is Guy Clark’s “Desperados Waiting for a Train“.  first heard this song way back in 1973, when it appeared on JJW’S 1973 album Viva Terlingua!  When it played today I shook my head and said oh my!

Can my fellow boomers tell why?

The verse…..

I’d play the Red River Valley
And he’d sit in the kitchen and cry
And run his fingers through seventy years of livin’
And wonder, “Lord, has ever’ well I’ve drilled gone dry?”
We was friends, me and this old man.

So I was going to post a video of The Highway playing the song but you can only view it here at YouTube! Anyway below is “Desperados Waiting for a Train” from Spotify.

When I viewed The Highwaymen performance, which was recorded in 1990, I got sad because once again I was reminded about how Father Time ruins everything!

Waylon and Johnny Cash and Guy Clark have left us, while  Kris is 85 and Willie’s 88!

 

And yes the reason I shook my head is that I realized I can run MY fingers “through 70 years of livin‘!

At least I don’t have a beer gut or play dominoes. All though,I will admit playing Crazy Eights and Go Fish but that’s with my grandchildren!

David Crosby – My Favorite Crosby, Stills and Nash Songwriter?

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David Crosby

So the other day, well, May 29th to be exact a friending Facebook shared a post from Baby Boomer’s Jukebox. The post was about the release of  Crosby, Stills and Nash’s debut album on that day in 1969.

My friend’s only comment was Stephen Stills, which I assume means Stills was his favorite. I guess he has been my favorite,also. While I found his solo albums ok, I loved the first Manassas album.

More recently I enjoyed the music of The Rides”, Still’s collaboration with Kenny Wayne Shepard and Barry Goldberg. I’m listening to the album Pierced Arrow now. If you’ve never heard the album check it out!

So while through the years I’ve enjoyed the music of Stephen Stills, the songs of David Crosby were some if my favorites back then. And while he has had a successful solo career, I just wonder what he could have done if not for the drugs.

Here’s a short six pack of some of my favorite David Crosby songs…..

The first two are my favorites.  The second of course being sung by Grace Slick.  The third song “Morrison” is from the album by CPR the album he recorded with his son James Raymond.

“Deja Vu” is of course the title track from the CSN&Y a álbum. Wooden Ships” was co-written with Paul Kantner and was recorded by both CSN and Jefferson Airplane. I loved both versions.

The last song is “Laughing”. This version was recorded on The Byrds 1973 reunion album

My favorite track on that album is the opening track “Full Circle” I would include that here but Gene Clark wrote that song…. now there is one of my favorites, but his songs are for another post!

Links for the Further Exploration of the Music of David Crosby

Artist’s Website
Facebook
YouTube
Instagram
Amazon

Ok so which Crosby Stills  Nash songwriter is your favorite?…..Neil Young doesn’t count!

Ally Venable, A Run and Thoughts about My Blog

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aLLY vENABLE hEART OF fIRE

When I started my first blog I titled it Me, Myself, Music and Mysteries. The idea was that there would by posts about Me, the music I listened to and the books I read most often which were mysteries.

The “Me” part would include;  posts about my family both my present family and also my ancestors. As well as posts about my attempts to turn back the hands of my biological clock. I attempt to turn those clocks back by eating right, and exercising regular. My exercising includes yoga,  running and indoor cardio workouts.

So why am I writing all of this? Well quite simply I don’t think I can limit myself to only writing about books and music. My ADHD brain just won’t allow it.

The bottom line is I want to open this blog up again to encompass ALL of my life. And maybe just maybe I can post a little more often.

For now and until such time as I can think of another name for this blog, I’m just adding “and More” to the title!

2026 Update: It took a few years, but I finally found the name I was looking for. The ideas I was wrestling with here eventually became A Sixties & Seventies Man. Instead of trying to fit everything into one blog, I realized my writing was really about the music, books, family stories, genealogy, running, and everyday moments that have shaped my life from the 1960s and 1970s onward. Looking back, this post was the first sign that I was already heading in that direction

The Run

Now with all of the above out of the way I can write about runningI have been putting off running for most of 2021. I ran one time back in the beginning of March, but since the weather has been getting nicer the running itch has gotten stronger, so the other day I gave in and ran or at least traversed 2.8miles as fast as my 69 year old legs can carry me. And while it may not be as fast as I’d like it to be, I’m just glad I can still do it! Here are the nerdy details.

The Nerdy Details

Total Dist: 2.81 Time 33:18  Pace: 11;52 min/mile

Splits

Mile 1 11:50    Mile 2: 11: 56     Mile 0.82 11:47

Avg HR 145 Max HR 167 Cals Burned: 446. Cals

The Almost Soundtrack – Heart of Fire – Ally Venable

The soundtrack for the run was going to be Heart of Fire  the new album from Aly Venable. I say was supposed to because when I started the run I received a message that my phone’s battery was low. So after about a quarter mile I turned my headphones off to conserve the battery. It worked because I still had a battery life after finishing the run. Of course I have know way of knowing if it would have done that if I kept listening to the music.

I guess what I’ll need to do is check the charge in my phone before and after my next run!

Anyway if I had checked the charge on the phone before my last run, this post would have a music tie-in via Heart of Fire from Aly Venable. As it is I will give the album a few more listens before I write about Ally and the album

Here’s a post I wrote when I first listen to Ally Venable. Her able Puppet Show had just entered my music rotation. It is a winner!

Artist’s Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Amazon

The Video

Currently,Heart of Fire is number 18 on the Roots Music Reports Top 59 Albums Chart and climbing! Here’s the Official Music video for the title track from Heart of Fire

 

Graham Nash David Crosby Album Leads to The Immediate Family!

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This morning I want to start writing about the CDs that I found at Goodwill last week. First up is the album Graham Nash -David Crosby.


I have a always thought the harmonies of David Crosby and Graham Nash were special. They were obviously an important part of the sound of Crosby, Stills, Nash and sometimes Young.

From Wikipedia:

Graham Nash David Crosby is the first album by the partnership of David Crosby and Graham Nash, released on Atlantic Records in 1972, catalog SD 7220. It peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart, and a single taken from the album, “Immigration Man”, peaked at No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 on June 17 and 24, 1972. It was certified gold by the RIAA, and it was dedicated to Joni Mitchell, as “to Miss Mitchell”.

Sessions for this album featured backing from notable guests Dave Mason and members of The Grateful Dead — Jerry Garcia, Phil Lesh and Bill Kreutzmann.

Most of the musical support came from The Section, a quartet of in-demand session musicians on the West Coast in the 1970s. Consisting of Craig Doerge, Danny Kortchmar, Leland Sklar, and Russell Kunkel, they would appear on dozens of albums, notably those by James Taylor, Carole King, and Jackson Brown. They would also continue to work with Crosby & Nash for the remainder of the decade, both in the studio and on tour…..Read More

Wait Danny Kortchmar and Friends are The Immediate Family

Ok so now my ADHD brain has been engaged. The reason is because last week I was reviewing the current Top 59 Blues albums chart at Roots Music Report. I was  looking for new music to listen to and I spied an album at #45. It caught my attention because the band appeared to composed of five greybeards like me. The album was Slippin’ and Slidin’  from The Immediate Family. When I saw the album cover….

I immediately recognized the names Kortchmar, Sklar and Kunkel and yes they are of course the former members of The Section who played in the Graham Nash  David Crosby album! The great thing is they still sound just as good almost 50 years later!

The Immediate Family is comprised of guitarists Danny Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtel and Steve Postell, bassist Leland Sklar, and drummer Russ Kunkel.

Slippin’and Slidin’ has a lot of good tracks in the album. The only bad thing is that it’s an EP. I want more ……

Final Thoughts

Ok so summing up the CD Graham Nash David Crosby was a great find at Goodwill and it was good to listen to the album again. If you’ve never heard it give it a listen.

If you don’t know both David Crosby and Graham Nash are still active. They both tour and have current albums to check out!

Check out Graham Nash’s 2016 album This Path Tonight here onSpotify. And David Crosby’s 2018 release Here If You Listen.

Finally check out The Immediate Family’s Slippin’and Slidin’

Here’s the official video for the title track of The Immediate Family’s Slippin’and Slidin’

Links for the Further Explorations of the Music of Graham Nash David Crosby and The Immediate Family

Graham Nash : website
David Crosby : website

The Immediate Family: website
The Immediate Family : Facebook