Remembering David Crosby

The news today of David Crosby passing away. In remembrance, the first song I play tonight will be 'The Lee Shore.'

I was introduced to this song as a teenager, often walking down the street and around the corner for a game of basketball at a friend's house and usually finding my way indoors to hang out with his older brother and his record collection. 

There's been a longtime debate between the voices in my head over which version I prefer ..... the live version that I was initially introduced to from the CSNY, 4-Way Street' album or the studio version? Both are equally beautiful and powerful. 

Other Crosby songs being listened to tonight .....

• Triad - Also first heard on 4-Way Street. 
• Almost Cut My Hair - Always reminds me of teenage years and my dad nagging me to get a haircut.
• Carry Me - About hospital visits with his mom who was dying from cancer.
• Shadow Captain - It had seemed at the time, like an eternity between CSN albums, but this song, the first on their 1977 self-titled record, was a signal that they were back. This record, which is very much underrated, has become my favorite CSN, CSNY or any other of the solo or duo recordings.
• River Rise
• The Perro Sessions - A bootleg recording that I stumbled across a few years ago on YouTube. Crosby with Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead. Beautiful stuff that I keep returning to. I don't know it's history. It needs some sort of official release. Maybe it has been?

This hits a little harder than other recent celebrity passings which I generally shrug off. I grew up listening to Crosby. I followed his career and listened to his music in younger times into the present. His songs were vital to me in those younger days. Many of the songs stay with me today. His voice helped to define and enhance my world at a time when I was still trying to figure things out.

Paging Mr. Proust

'Paging Mr. Proust' by The Jayhawks. From 2016.

One of my desert island discs, albums. I've loved every listen, every YouTube video. Full of great songs, harmonies and hooks. In another time, I'd like to think it would have generated. multiple radio hits. You know, a time when there was such things. 

I hear Beatles influences throughout.

To this day, I'm still hearing things that I didn't hear before. Something else to love about it.

If someone were to ask me for an album from the last ten years to purchase, I'd point them to this record. Highly recommended. If I haven't been clear with my opinion, in my eyes, this is an all-time classic.

Today's Vinyl Finds

Hit the road again, ending up in Albany Oregon and within thirty seconds of walking in the door of the record shop, found another Gordon Bok album on vinyl to go with the other that I found two or three months ago in Corvallis. 

Titled; 'Peter Kagan and the Wind' from 1971. I had never seen these records in over half a century of record collecting. It feels like finding hidden treasure.

A few minutes later, I came across, 'Wade In the Water' by Ramsey Lewis from 1966, on Cadet Records. 

I've said this before, but I love the cover photos and design of records from the 1960's. I might have to create a section on my shelves specifically for these. 

From the All Music Guide review: .... "this record evokes its era indelibly."

And then, 'Dance' by the Paul Motian Trio. From 1978. On ECM Records ..... I love finding these ECM recordings from the 1970's and 80's. Perhaps I'm nearing completist status. 

Fact: I had a longtime question answered recently. Does ECM stand for anything? Turns out it stands for, Edition of Contemporary Music.

I walked away feeling pretty good about my record shopping haul. These three records, two Mary Lou Lord compact discs and a Pink Floyd pin, the cover image from The Division Bell album, for $21. Afterwards, stopping at a seafood place for a delicious bowl of clam chowder, all making it an enjoyable vacation day taken from work. (Even if I had to have blood drawn in the morning.) All days should be like this.

The New OK

From 2020 and on compact disc. 'The New OK' by Drive-By Truckers.'

Written (I assume) and recorded just as the covid pandemic and riots were initially spreading and clamping down across the country. Sometimes, upon reflection, those days and memories feel like decades ago.

I've been a fan for years. First heard their sound when Jason Isbell was still in the band. Later I became hooked to their song, 'Zip City.' ..... Rock, Americana, Southern Rock, whatever you want to call their music.

Highlights on this recording are, 'Sarah's Flame' and 'Watching the Orange Clouds.'

There's a line in Watching the Orange Clouds .... "Across the Burnside Bridge there's heads getting bashed and teargas. Boys too stupid to really be proud." .... About the 2020 riots in Portland, Oregon, I assume. Patterson Hood from the band, moved to Portland years ago. I've driven across the Burnside Bridge dozens of times in my lifetime. I can visualize clearly, what and where he was singing of and trying to express here.

Radio Bob

A compilation compact disc that came with the August 2007 issue of Uncut Magazine.

Selections from Bob Dylan's, 'Theme Time Radio Hour' program.

You'll hear from the genres: singer/songwriter, older blues, country, Americana and more.

My top choices from the collection of songs are 'Fourth of July' by Dave Alvin and 'When the Roses Bloom Again' by Laura Cantrell. Then to end the disc is the classic, 'Shoot Out the Lights' by Richard and Linda Thompson.