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My Heart
My heart goes out to the good people of Oklahoma. My heart goes out to refugees. My heart goes out to all children who aren’t having a terrific childhood. My heart goes out to everyone in Boston who was injured in the bombings. My heart goes out to the homeless, to the hungry, to the abused. My heart goes out to the victims of bullying and to rape victims. My heart goes out to those who can’t make the next mortgage payment or cover next month’s rent.My heart keeps breaking and my feelings are often in tatters. I shutter and wince when a ferry goes down in waters off Bangladesh. I moan for every entombed miner, I grieve when trains collide, and I curl up in a ball when headlines of violent crimes keep streaming across the internet, day after day; month after month.
So my heart requires daily transfusions of trees and flowers and the breeze on my face. My heart gets energy from babies and dogs, from Sam & Dave, Paul Simon, and the Southern Rock of Little Feat and The Allman Brothers Band.
I draw upon shows like “Call The Midwife,” and actors like Denzel Washington and John Goodman. That is why I need the Red Sox, the Patriots, and the Crimson Tide. Certainly, love from my own children fills my heart with happiness and pride. But like all parents, I worry for them. I worry about them. I try not to, but… I am their father and that is simply part of the job description.
My heart is bolstered by every kindness and appreciation in all forms.
My heart usually tells me that I am safe and things are all right. I know where my kids are. In my heart I know that fathers and mothers in Moore, Oklahoma felt just fine two days ago. It can all change in a heartbeat.
So I am thankful. Meanwhile, tragedies keep happening. The News is one bad thing after another. Congress is crippled by partisan meanspiritedness. The floods, the earthquakes, the gas leaks, the rejections; the wishes that go ungranted, the prayers that go unanswered. I swallow it all in. I look for grace and for miracles.
I live in a world that turns and burns. It is cruel and wondrous, bitter and sweet, impossible and entirely possible. It is probably the same for you as well. We write our own stories, to the extent that we can. But 2013 belongs to us all, and we catch the starfish with the seaweed. The bitter herb and the harosis. Poverty kills. Joblessness kills. Stupidity kills. We all want security and opportunity. We want a fair shake in life. My heart is full of hope and despair – Harry Lipson III, 5-21-13_________________________________________________
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ELEPHANT
It’s probably time for me to move on. The Boston Marathon is over. But as a Bostonian, I know that, at least for the moment, part of me is not going anywhere.Boston has picked itself up, dusted itself off.
We are more than grateful for amazing outpouring of concern and support.
To us, this is personal. And thank you for feeling exactly the same. We are all Bostonians.
We are all Marathon runners.
In the face of terrorism, it feels vulgar for me to devote my weekly scribble to the fine weather we’re enjoying. There is an elephant in the living room. There is a fucking elephant in here, and the weather is only the weather. – Harry Lipson – harryShots.com
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My Heart
My heart goes out to the good people of Oklahoma. My heart goes out to refugees. My heart goes out to all children who aren’t having a terrific childhood. My heart goes out to everyone in Boston who was injured in the bombings. My heart goes out to the homeless, to the hungry, to the abused. My heart goes out to the victims of bullying and to rape victims. My heart goes out to those who can’t make the next mortgage payment or cover next month’s rent.
My heart keeps breaking and my feelings are often in tatters. I shutter and wince when a ferry goes down in waters off Bangladesh. I moan for every entombed miner, I grieve when trains collide, and I curl up in a ball when headlines of violent crimes keep streaming across the internet, day after day; month after month.
So my heart requires daily transfusions of trees and flowers and the breeze on my face. My heart gets energy from babies and dogs, from Sam & Dave, Paul Simon, and the Southern Rock of Little Feat and The Allman Brothers Band.
I draw upon shows like “Call The Midwife,” and actors like Denzel Washington and John Goodman. That is why I need the Red Sox, the Patriots, and the Crimson Tide. Certainly, love from my own children fills my heart with happiness and pride. But like all parents, I worry for them. I worry about them. I try not to, but… I am their father and that is simply part of the job description.
My heart is bolstered by every kindness and appreciation in all forms.
My heart usually tells me that I am safe and things are all right. I know where my kids are. In my heart I know that fathers and mothers in Moore, Oklahoma felt just fine two days ago. It can all change in a heartbeat.
So I am thankful. Meanwhile, tragedies keep happening. The News is one bad thing after another. Congress is crippled by partisan meanspiritedness. The floods, the earthquakes, the gas leaks, the rejections; the wishes that go ungranted, the prayers that go unanswered. I swallow it all in. I look for grace and for miracles.
I live in a world that turns and burns. It is cruel and wondrous, bitter and sweet, impossible and entirely possible. It is probably the same for you as well. We write our own stories, to the extent that we can. But 2013 belongs to us all, and we catch the starfish with the seaweed. The bitter herb and the harosis. Poverty kills. Joblessness kills. Stupidity kills. We all want security and opportunity. We want a fair shake in life. My heart is full of hope and despair – Harry Lipson III, 5-21-13_________________________________________________
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“The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up” – Mark Twain from the harryShots.com Good Quotations_________________________________________________
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“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind” – Dr. Seuss…from the harryShots.com “GoodQuotations”_________________________________________________
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“The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself” - Benjamin Franklinfrom the harryShots.com Good Quotations_________________________________________________
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“An economist’s guess is liable to be as good as anybody else’s” – Will Rogersfrom the harryShots.com “Quotes of What”_________________________________________________
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“We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust our sails“…from the harryShots.com Quotes of Whatever_________________________________________________
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“Don’t cry because its over. Smile because it happened.”
- Dr. Seuss
the harryShots.com “Quotes of Whatever”_________________________________________________
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recent bumper sticker:
“You should agree with me
It will save SO much time“
…the harryShots.com “Quotes O’ Whatever”_________________________________________________
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“An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind” - Mahatma Gandhi…from the harryShots.com “Quotes of Whatever”_________________________________________________
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“The shortest way to do many things is to do only one thing at a time” – Richard Cech…from the harryShots.com “Quotes of Whatever”_________________________________________________
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“I knew when my career was over. In 1965 my baseball card came out with no picture” – Bob Uecker…from the harryshots.com “Quotes of Whatever”_________________________________________________
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“I laugh so hard ’til the tears run down my leg“ - a rare Delta Blues joke, from the seminal blues tune, “Silverado in My Pathway“…from the harryshots.com “Quotes of Whatever”_________________________________________________
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“Everywhere is within walking distance… if you have the time”from the HarryShots.com “Quotes of Whatever”_________________________________________________
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“May the blessings of each day be the blessings you need most“from the harryshots.com “Quotes of Whatever”_________________________________________________
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“Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday“from the HarryShots.com Quotes of Whatever_________________________________________________
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“A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle” …from the HarryShots.com Quotes of Whatever_________________________________________________
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“I can only please one person per day. Today isn’t your day…and tomorrow don’t look good either” – anonymous
the HarryShots.com Quotes of Whatever_________________________________________________
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“Peace begins with a smile“ - Mother TeresaThe HarryShots.com “Quotes of Whatever”_________________________________________________
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“If you don’t know the blues… there’s no point in picking up the guitar and playing
rock and roll or any other form of popular music” —-
Keith Richards…from The HarryShots.com Quotes of Whatever
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“Every day is Earth Day“the HarryShots.com Quotes of Whatever_________________________________________________
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“I’ve chosen to treat my life more like a party than something to stress about” - Martin ShortThe HarryShots.com Quote of the Day_________________________________________________
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“Frisbeetarianism is the belief that when you die, your soul goes up on the roof and gets stuck” -
George CarlinThe HarryShots.com Quotes of Whatever_________________________________________________
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James Hood Was Here
It is reported that James Hood died today. from THE TUSCALOOSA NEWS 1-17-2013:-{ “James Hood, who faced down George Wallace’s stand in the schoolhouse door to help integrate the University of Alabama 50 years ago, died Thursday afternoon at the age of 70, in his hometown of Gadsden. James did a great thing for the University of Alabama,” said E. Culpepper Clark, former dean of UA’s College of Communication & Information Sciences, and author of “The Schoolhouse Door: Segregation’s Last Stand at the University of Alabama.”
“With Vivian Malone, he liberated the university to serve all the people of Alabama and thereby join the ranks of the nation’s flagship universities.”
Hood and Vivian Malone Jones, who died in 2005, attempted to register and pay fees June 11, 1963, at UA’s Foster Auditorium, accompanied by Deputy Attorney General Nicholas Katzenbach. Gov. George Wallace, surrounded by a phalanx of state troopers, barred them, attempting to keep his infamous inaugural promise of “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.” Later that day, Wallace backed down after President John F. Kennedy federalized the National Guard. }
JAMES HOOD WAS HERE. Thank you Sir. Lord, may he rest in peace. – HL_________________________________________________
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“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” – Soren KierkegaardThe HarryShots.com Quotes o’ Whatevah_________________________________________________
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“How much easier it is to be critical than to be correct.” – Benjamin Disraeli_________________________________________________
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“Happiness depends more on how life strikes you than on what happens” – Andy RooneyThe HarryShots.com Quotes of Whatever_________________________________________________
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“I’m happy now!” - Nick Saban, 3-time National Champion Football Coach of The University of Alabama_________________________________________________
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“No coach has ever won a game by what he knows; it’s what his players know that counts” – Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant_________________________________________________
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May 2013 bring good health and happiness to all my friends; I wish you the very best.
Let us renew our faith in ourselves, and in each other, and let safety and well-being be a given for everyone, everywhere. Happy New Year. – Harry_________________________________________________ -
“My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness“. – Dalai Lamathe HarryShots.com Quotes of Wha
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“My books are like water; those of the great geniuses are wine. (Fortunately) everybody drinks water.” – Mark Twain…from The HarryShots.com “Quotes”_________________________________________________
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“No one has ever drowned themselves in sweat” – Coach Lou HoltzThe HarryShots.com Quotes_________________________________________________
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“Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people” – Eleanor RooseveltThe HarryShots.com Quotes_________________________________________________
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“Most American children suffer too much mother and too little father” – Gloria SteinemThe HarryShots.com Quotes of Wha (whatever)_________________________________________________
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“Electricity is really just organized lightning” - George Carlinfrom the HarryShots.com Quotes of Wha_________________________________________________
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“Courtesy is as much a mark of a gentleman as courage” – President Teddy RooseveltThe HarryShots.com Quotes of Wha (Whatever)_________________________________________________
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“Think off-center” – George CarlinThe HarryShots.com Quotes of Wha_________________________________________________
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“Grown men can learn from very little children for the hearts of little children are pure. Therefore, the Great Spirit may show to them many things which older people miss“ - Black ElkThe HarryShots.com Quotes of Whatever_________________________________________________
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“Well done is better than well said” – Benjamin FranklinThe HarryShots Quotes of Whatever_________________________________________________
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“Happiness doesn’t depend on any external conditions, it is governed by our mental attitude” – Dale CarnegieThe HarryShots Quotes of Whatever
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“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible” – The Dalai LamaThe HarryShots Quotes of WhAtEvEr_________________________________________________
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“Imagination rules the world” – Napoleon BonaparteThe HarryShots QuOtEs oF wHaTeVeR_________________________________________________
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“Motivation is simple. You eliminate those who are not motivated” - Coach Lou HoltzThe HarryShots qUoTeS oF WhAtEvEr_________________________________________________
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“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us” – Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephonethe HarryShots Quotes of Whatever_________________________________________________
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“I am easily satisfied with the very best” – Sir Winston Churchillthe HarryShots Quotes of Whatever_________________________________________________
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“Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere“. – Carl Sagan, astronomerThe HarryShots Quotes of Whatever_________________________________________________
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“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter“ - Martin Luther King, Jr.The HarryShots Quotes of Whatever_________________________________________________
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“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong” – Mohandas Gandhithe HarryShots.com quotes of Whatever_________________________________________________
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“My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me” - Coach Jim ValvanoThe HarryShots Quotes of Whatever_________________________________________________
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“You don’t stop laughing because you grow old. You grow old because you stop laughing.” – Michael PritchardThe HarryShots Quotes of Whatever_________________________________________________
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“PAGE ONE:
INSIDE THE NEW YORK TIMES”
a documentary (premiered at Sundance – 2011)
A very interesting movie about a very interesting subject. The question posed was (paraphrased): “Do we need the Grey Lady in an age of internet news, instant information, tweeting, the blogisphere, round the clock cable news channels, among the myriad ways we find out about the news?” There are those who see the New York Times, always “the newspaper of record” as either anachronistic now or soon to be so. In this digital age where everybody is a reporter and we all have cellphones, cameras, and are “tapped in” to what is happening, how important and useful, relevant is the NYT and its worldwide bureaus, staff writers far flung around the globe, and the thousands more in New York City who shape and deliver a newspaper on a daily basis?
Michael Kingsley of the New York Times panned the movie saying it was “all over the place” and “it does little to illuminate that struggle, preferring instead a constant parade of people telling the camera how dreadful it would be if The Times did not survive.”
David Carr, the Times media and culture columnist, is the man who gets the lion’s share of the face time. Frankly, I don’t think the Times could find a better advocate, one who can relate to the question of “relevance.” David is a very interesting man, casually impressive in an offhand but on-point way. I found the movie engrossing and highly interesting.
So, I’ll disagree, rather strongly, with Michael Kingsley and say that this is well worth a couple of hours, if only to see behind the veil and watch decisions being made and the paper put together. I give it “five highfives” “and it goes well with popcorn.” HL_________________________________________________
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Ratatouille
Ratatouille (rat-a-too-ee) is just plain fun to watch. For adults and kids alike. From Disney/Pixar studios and the creative people behind Cars and The Incredibles. Paris never looked so beautiful at night. Voicing by Patton Oswalt, Brian Dennehy, Janeane Garofolo, Peter O’Toole, Brad Garrett, among a host of others. Light, friendly, and charming, although set in a Paris restaurant’s kitchen that is anything but. As improbable as a story can get, but it’s animation, so relax take off your critic’s hat, and let yourself be entertained.I give Ratatouille five highfives, and “and it goes well with popcorn.” HL_________________________________________________
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OH BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?
stars George Clooney, John Goodman, John Tunturro, Tim Blake, Holly Hunter, Chris Thomas King and Charles DurningFrom the creative minds of Joel and Ethan Coen. Which means its both funny and good.
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We start out with a chain gang prison break at Mississippi’s Parchman Farm Penitentiary in Sunflower County in the Mississippi Delta. The year is 1937. The film is said to be loosely based on Homer’s Odyssey, but you sure don’t need to be a Greek scholar to enjoy the hell out of this great movie. The soundtrack won the Grammy award and is good to the very last “Amen.”
We’ve got buried treasure, wanted prisoners trying to stay wanted, a scene at the Mississippi “crossroads of musical fame”, the Ku Klux Klan, Mississippi state elections, and a great deal more to feast your tired eyes upon. John Goodman is extraordinary as always in his cream colored Southern business suit and suspenders. Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? is a great movie and I give it five highfives, “and it goes well with popcorn.” HL_________________________________________________
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OUT OF AFRICAstarring Robert Redford and Meryl Streep (1985)
About once every year when I am restless and looking for something good, really good, to watch, I reach for one of the all time great movies, Out of Africa with maybe the finest work ever done by both Meryl and Bob.
This is an epic movie. It won the big awards as it should have: Best Picture, Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Set Decoration, Best Musical Score, Best Sound, and Best Screenwriting.
Further, Out of Africa was nominated for: Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Costume, and Best Film Editing
Suffice it to say that Out of Africa is a triumph of the human spirit. It is grand, it is large; a tour de force and very well worth your seeing, or seeing again. I love the scene where Meryl’s character, Baroness Von Blixen surprises a lion in the Kenyan brush. She implores Robert Redford to shoot the beast and the dialogue and tension are memorable. And that is just one of a great many rather extraordinary scenes we are part of, in this riveting and well told story. I give it five HighFives, “and it goes well with popcorn.” HL_________________________________________________
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MASKED AND ANONYMOUS
Want to see the coolest movie you never heard of? Want to see a movie with a cast that includes Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Jessica Lange, Val Kilmer, Ed Harris, Mickey Rourke, Luke Wilson, Penelope Cruz, Bruce Dern, Christian Slater, Fred Ward, Angela Bassett, Cheech Marin, and stars Bob Dylan?
Then you want to seek out an amazing piece of cinema called “Masked and Anonymous” (2003). The soundtrack is sensational. John Goodman channels The Big Lebowski to a certain extent.
The dialogue is incredible. Val Kilmer is at his peak in his brief but unforgettable cameo.The poster at left is a Spanish language promotional poster.
I give this film five highfives, “and it goes well with popcorn“. HL_________________________________________________
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The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story (2009)
Two brothers who hated one another and wrote the most wonderful songs. Songs you sing, songs you hum, songs your kids (grandkids) sing or will be singing a hundred years from now. The two brothers, Robert (Bob) and Richard (Dick) Sherman collaborated uneasily, but wrote songs such as:It’s A Small World * A Spoonful of Sugar * Chim Chim Cher-ee * Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious * Winnie The Pooh * Chitty Chitty Bang Bang * Tall Paul (a pop hit on the Billboard charts) * You’re Sixteen (You’re Beautiful and You’re Mine) (another Billboard chart topper). Their list of songs is as long as your arm. Walt Disney recognized their talents early on and they were integral parts of the Walt Disney empire. They won Academy Awards, Grammies, Presidential Medals of Freedom, and more.
The movie is a documentary about their careers and lives, as told by their adult children. This is a story of two families, fame, creative genius, rivalry, dysfunction on one level and acclaim on another. It is truly amazing, award-winning documentary and definitely worth seeing. The Boys: The Sherman Brothers Story is a HarryShots.com Ramble recommendation, I give it five highfives, “and it goes well with popcorn“. HL_________________________________________________
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Barney’s Version
I am a fan of Paul Giamatti so it was a treat to stumble on Barney’s Version (2010) not long ago. If there was press and media hyping this movie, I totally missed it. You probably did as well, ’cause I think it was minimal at best. So if you are looking for a something not too taxing or heavy handed, may I recommend Barney’s Version, with a nice role for Dustin Hoffman as icing on the cake.
Rosamund Pike is magnificent to watch. Bruce Greenwood, Minnie Driver are both in the cast. “Barney” time travels back and forth over a handful of decades, weaving a remarkable and quirky story but a cool one. I give it five highfives, “and it goes well with popcorn“. HL_________________________________________________
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SOUTHERN BELLESStars Anna Faris and Laura Breckenridge. Looking for a good movie to rent? I’m recommending Southern Belles (2005). Might be hard to find, but good stuff often is. It is a little Georgia small town slice of life picture. Numerous memorable scenes and dialogue. It’s a lot of fun. Rated H for happy. I rate it Five HighFives, “and it goes well with popcorn“. HL_________________________________________________
““A Night In Summer Long Ago” by Mark Knopfler
Click here to download this mp3 for 99 cents at Amazon.com
Here is the beautiful “A Night in Summer Long Ago” by Mark Knopfler. This Scottish singer and guitarist sings this lilting Scottish ballad that seems timeless. That belies the fact it was written by Knopfler not so long ago, perhaps on a summer’s night. From the album, Golden Heart. HL
“
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seen on t-shirtThe Ballad of Davy Crockett by Walt Disney Studios (The Wellingtons)
Here’s a nostalgia fix for baby boomers who grew up with Fess Parker, Disney, The Alamo, cap guns, black and white television, and coonskin caps.
Almost every American boy (and many girls) knew the following things about Davy Crockett:
1. He was born on a mountaintop in Tennessee 2. Tennessee is the greenest state in the land of the free 3. He lived in the woods where he knew every tree (did he actually know every tree? or did he know every kind of tree?) 4. He killed a bear when he was only three (and we believed this).
Here is the original theme song from the TV show. HL
““The Panama Limited” by Booker T. Washington White (Bukka)
Click here and download the song for 99 cents at Amazon
I have had this track for years and I had trouble when the artist was listed as Washington White. Of course that is Booker T. Washington White who we mostly think of as “Bukka.” On my track, the artist is listed as Washington White. They are one in the same.
Panama Limited was first recorded by Mr. White around 1930. The Panama Limited was a sister train to The City of New Orleans, both running back and forth from New Orleans to Carbondale, Ill. under the auspices of the Illinois Central ( IC ) Railroad. One was the express train, the other was the local limited and made all the stops along the way. Of course, each train is celebrated in song.
The City of New Orleans is still running daily. The Panama Limited made its last run in 1974.
Bukka White is considered a first generation Delta blues musician, who was “rediscovered” in the early to mid 1960s. Many of us first heard of Bukka on Bob Dylan’s first record.
Here’s to you Bukka. Here’s The Panama Limited. HL
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“How The West Was Won” by Eric Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops
Click here if you want to download the mp3, from Amazon.com
How The West Was Won was a 1962 movie with a great musical score. The legendary Alfred Newman wrote the music.
HTWWW starred John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, Lee J. Cobb, Henry Fonda, Gregory Peck, Andy Devine, Walter Brennan, Karl Malden, George Peppard, Eli Wallach, Robert Preston, Richard Widmark, Carrol Baker, Harry Morgan, Raymond Massey, Agnes Morehead, and Debby Reynolds among one of the great all-star casts ever assembled. Spencer Tracy was the film’s narrator.
And the musical score for How The West Was Won was nominated for an Academy Award (it lost to Tom Jones). HTWWW was the first film (and one of only two, ever) to be presented in Cinerama. HL
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“Faithless Love” by J.D. Souther
Click here if you want to download the mp3 from Amazon.com - 99 cents
J.D. Souther is something of a legendary dude.
He has recorded six albums, his first in 1972 and his latest in 2011. Somewhere in the middle he took a 25 year break.
He spent the time acting, producing records, collaborating with a who’s who in music, including Linda Ronstadt, Chris Hillman, Richie Furay, James Taylor, Glenn Frey, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Doug Kershaw, and Ry Cooder , which is not the complete list but does give you a pretty good idea of how highly each of them think of J.D.
If you are a longtime fan, good for you for having great musical taste.
If J.D. is new for you, check him out and see what you think. Here is John David Souther’s “Faithless Love” which is the song of the day at HarryShots. Both Glen Campbell and Linda Ronstadt have also recorded it. HL
““Long Time Gone” by Dickey Betts
click here if you wish to download the mp3. 99 cents at Amazon
If you are a fan of the guitar, Southern Rock, The Allman Brothers, Americana music, and/or country rock music, then you either are, or should be, familiar with the great guitar and vocals of Dickey Betts.
From the album, Highway Call, here is “Long Time Gone.” HL
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“Golfing Blues” by Loudon Wainwright III
The Golfin’ Blues from a live concert at the Bottom Line, in NYC, in 1978. Listen here
Listen to more Loudon Wainwright III at Wolfgang’s Vault.
There are not a lot of golf songs. Just as well. This one would be hard to beat, for my money. With the last round of the Open Championship teeing off in a matter of hours, HarryShots salutes the venerable and quixotic game of golf, especially in the kingdom.
Loudon Wainwright III is a hit and miss genius. Some of his stuff is brilliant, some is beneath a man of his ability. But, at least we have the good stuff, and “Golfin’ Blues’ falls into the brilliant pool of LW3 songs.
“Mr. Jones shot a eagle. Mr. Smith shot a par. Mr. Green shot him a bogey, he’s down drinking in the clubhouse bar”
“I’ll never be no caddy, totin’ another man’s bag. I’ll never be no caddy, waving another man’s flag.” – from Golfin’ Blues by LW3
Gotta love the links golf. HL
““People Got To Be Free” by The Rascals
click here if you want the mp3 download – 99 cents from Amazon.com
I remember driving through the mountains of North Georgia with the windows down during the summer of 1968, listening to “People Got To Be Free“ by The Rascals.
It is so right that we can go back in time with recorded music. Hop into the Wayback, Sherman.
Here’s what was going down. HL
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“Big Old Jet Airliner” by The Steve Miller Band
click here if you’d like to download this mp3 at Amazon (for 99 cents)
This is my favorite Steve Miller hit.
Plus it has one of the great intros, taking more than a minute, before the lyrics begin.
“Jet Airliner” was written by Paul Pena, but it was released originally by Miller on the Book of Dreams album, back in 1977.
It reached #6 on the Billboard charts. HL
““Mountain Greenery” by The Art Van Damme Quartet
As the Tour de France winds its way through the Pyrenees, the last mountain stage coming today, I chose a little light jazz, by The Art Van Damme Quartet, and the jazz standard, “Mountain Greenery.” Listening to it seems like a good fit as the riders descend at high speeds.
HarryShots has been quite varied in its daily musical selections, but jazz has some catching up to do and I have a lot of great jazz to recommend. We do a pretty good job of featuring folk, Americana, roots, blues, music from the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, as well as underground fm from its heyday in the early 70s.
Thanks for taking the time to visit HarryShots. Enjoy “Mountain Greenery” and perhaps, the Tour de France as well. Merci. HL
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“Going Down The Road Feeling Bad” by Delaney and Bonnie and Friends
I cannot speak more highly of musicians than I do now (and as I have previously) with regard to Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett and the “friends” they hung out with.
In this record, Motel Shot, that musical talent included this amazing list: Delaney Bramlett – guitar, vocals, arranger, Bonnie Bramlett – vocals, Duane Allman – guitar, Stephen Stills- vocals and perhaps guitar, Ben Benay – guitar, Joe Cocker – vocals, John Hartford – banjo and fiddle, Eddie James – guitar, Jim Keltner – drums, Bobby Keys – saxophone, Eric Clapton – guitar, Dave Mason – guitar, Gram Parsons – guitar and vocals, Carl Radle – bass guitar,Leon Russell – piano and keyboards, Clarence White – guitar and vocals, Bobby Whitlock – vocals, and Jay York – backing vocals. This is a was a We Are The World kind of assemblage. Was there ever more talent in any studio? FYI, Beatle, George Harrison was part of the entourage, and was often in the recording sessions with Delaney and Bonnie, but he somehow missed out on this album.
On top of all this, you take a Woody Guthrie song (happy 100th Woody!) and what you get back is this amazing track. Enjoy “Going Down The Road Feeling Bad“ which is our song of the day. HL
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“Hard Times” by Jacob Sweet
Click here if you want to download the mp3 at Amazon for 89 cents
Good ol’ Stephen Foster keeps on flowing and “Hard Times” is just one of his many truly good songs. If they gave posthumous Nobels in music, he would be in line for a trip to Oslo. Bob Dylan and Jerry Garcia (he’d come back for this) would give speeches on his behalf.
Always plain spoken, sparse, and deeply sweet and respectful, Foster was America’s first great songwriter of note. I see him up there with Sam Clemens, himself a sure fire Nobelist in literature, as long as we are handing them out posthumously at HarryShots.
“Hard Times” has been recorded by a long list of fine folks; today I thought I would choose someone less well known - Jacob Sweet, who lives in Chicago, is a folksinger, and teaches at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Can you say Steve Goodman (he’d be in Oslo to sing to Stephen Foster), John Prine, Bonnie Koloc, and Studs Terkel (He’d deliver the Clemens speech, along with Will Rogers).
Enjoy Jacob Sweet with “Hard Times,” our song of the day. HL
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“Country Roads” by Toots (Hibbert) & The Maytals
Click here to download the mp3 for 99 cents at Amazon.com
How about a little reggae cover of John Denver’s “Take Me Home Country Roads.” “Almost heaven, West Jamaica…“
The legendary reggae master, Toots Hibbert, shows is the way. This is an unexpected and fresh version of a truly great song. I think we forget how talented John Denver was and what great songs he wrote. Note to self: feature some of John’s own stuff on HarryShots, in the near future.
Toots Hibbert is the singer and leader of Toots and The Maytals, themselves, one of the foremost reggae bands in the world. It is a pleasure to feature them as well.
Enjoy Toots and The Maytals and “Country Roads.” HL
““Magnificent Seven” by Elmer Bernstein
Click here to download this mp3, from Amazon.com, for 99 cents
This orchestral instrumental piece is one of the most rousing tunes ever written. Elmer Bernstein (not Leonard) wrote this masterpiece. I always feel superb when I hear it. Hopefully you will too.
Enjoy “The Magnificent Seven,” our song of the day. HL
