The Beatles…
I know, I’m “old school”, don’t know much about what people like to listen to today, and so on…but; some things are timeless…like the Beatles.
Mystery Solved!
In a long ago post I discussed a Silvertone bass amp that I had many, many years ago and lamented that I had no idea what became of it. Today, my friend Jerry who resides on the East Coast emailed me this photo. He reminded me that he bought the amp from me for $35 - $40 and has lugged it around for over 30 years! We’re making arrangements for me to get it back (from his basement to mine). Thanks Jerry…it’s great to reconnect with you and great to know we’re both still into music.
1956 Gibson ES-125
I own one of these; my Father gave to me when I was a teen. Beautiful tone, very rich and deep. If I could only play it like Lenny Breau…what a great guitarist!
The Beatles…not one of their more popular songs, but a great song. Sometimes you’re just in the mood for a song like this.
I’m not a huge Taylor Swift fan although I recognize her talent. I just discovered this song, which is apparently a couple of years old. Very nice to hear someone boldly state their beliefs. This is for my daughters; we love Christmas at our house and I think for all the right reasons.
John White
This is my friend John White; we met in the late 60’s when he moved into our neighborhood. We were best friends and hung around together nearly constantly.
We shared a love of music. I remember hours of playing John’s Harmony hollow body electric in his upstairs bungalow style bedroom and playing together in some early teen rock bands. I was with John at his grandfather’s house in Detroit (Greenfield & Grand River area) the day in July the 1967 Detroit riots started. John’s dad picked us up and on the way home I witnessed some of the looting and rioting. While that was scary there are lot’s of great memories.
John left school for the Army and served our country in Viet Nam. From there he ended up in California while I stayed in Michigan. We only recently reconnected.
The bond of our friendship never broke; John you’re still one of my great friends.
From the Bass Bible…must be true, I found it on the internet!
- In the beginning there was a bass. It was a Fender, probably a Precision, but it could have been a Jazz - nobody knows. Anyway, it was very old… definitely pre-C.B.S.
- And God looked down upon it and saw that it was good. He saw that it was very good in fact, and couldn’t be improved on at all (though men would later try.) And so He let it be and He created a man to play the bass.
- And lo the man looked upon the bass, which was a beautiful ‘sunburst’ red, and he loved it. He played upon the open E string and the note rang through the earth and reverberated throughout the firmaments (thus reverb came to be.) And it was good. And God heard that it was good and He smiled at his handiwork.
- Then in the course of time, the man came to slap upon the bass. And lo it was funky.
- And God heard this funkiness and He said, “Go man, go.” And it was good.
- And more time passed, and, having little else to do, the man came to practice upon the bass. And lo, the man came to have upon him a great set of chops. And he did play faster and faster until the notes rippled like a breeze through the heavens.
- And God heard this sound which sounded something like the wind, which He had created earlier. It also sounded something like the movement of furniture, which He hadn’t even created yet, and He was not so pleased. And He spoke to the man, saying “Don’t do that!”
- Now the man heard the voice of God, but he was so excited about his new ability that he slapped upon the bass a blizzard of funky notes. And the heavens shook with the sound, and the Angels ran about in confusion. (Some of the Angels started to dance, but that’s another story.)
- And God heard this - how could He miss it - and lo He became Bugged. And He spoke to the man, and He said, “Listen man, if I wanted Jimi Hendrix I would have created the guitar. Stick to the bass parts.”
- And the man heard the voice of God, and he knew not to mess with it. But now he had upon him a passion for playing fast and high. The man took the frets off of the bass which God had created. And the man did slide his fingers upon the fretless fingerboard and play melodies high upon the neck. And, in his excitement, the man did forget the commandment of the Lord, and he played a frenzy of high melodies and blindingly fast licks. And the heavens rocked with the assault and the earth shook, rattled, and rolled.
- Now God’s wrath was great. And His voice was thunder as He spoke to the man.
- And He said, “O.K. for you, pal. You have not heeded My word. Lo, I shall create a soprano saxophone and it shall play higher than you can even think of.”
- “And from out of the chaos I shall bring forth the drums. And they shall play so many notes thine head shall ache, and I shall make you to always stand next to the drummer.”
- “You think you’re loud? I shall create a stack of Marshall guitar amps to make thine ears bleed. And I shall send down upon the earth other instruments, and lo, they shall all be able to play higher and faster than the bass.”
- “And for all the days of man, your curse shall be this; that all the other musicians shall look to you, the bass player, for the low notes. And if you play too high or fast all the other musicians shall say “Wow” but really they shall hate it. And they shall tell you you’re ready for your solo career, and find other bass players for their bands. And for all your days if you want to play your fancy licks you shall have to sneak them in like a thief in the night.”
- “And if you finally do get to play a solo, everyone shall leave the bandstand and go to the bathroom.”
- Yea, and it was so.
Author: Tony Levin http://www.papabear.com/
When one door closes, another one opens but we often look so long and regretfully at the closed door that we fail to see the one that has opened for us. —Alexander Graham Bell
I’ve retired from a job I loved; not because I had to, it was just time to. There’s an old saying that goes “if you want to know how long you’ll be missed, stick your hand in a bucket of water and pull it out…as fast as that hole fills you’ll be replaced”. While you may leave some waves, you will be replaced and that’s OK…it has to be that way.
I’ve spent enough time looking at the closed door, I need to see which door God opens for me. It has taken me several months to reach this point, I was never one to tell people I hated my job. I loved it and was fortunate enought to achieve the highest level of my profession. I thank God for that opportunity - I hope I served Him and my department well. I had an unrealistic expectation of what “retirement” would be. Perhaps that’s normal. Well reality has set in and while it’s a bit unsettling, it is…reality. Not the first to deal this and won’t be the last.
My mind works (it’s fully engaged!), my body is sound, and I have a lot yet to do. Eight months later, I’m moving on…not easy after 32 years of a calling that consumed my life; but, it is the right thing to do.
Here’s to a great career, a wonderful supportive family who shared it with me and a handful of really good friends I made.
If a man does his best, what else is there?
- General George S. Patton
Theodore “Peanut” Craft - U.S. Navy 1944 - 1945
This is my Dad, he quit high school in 1944, at age 17, to join the U.S. Navy. He was a ”great American” who sacrificed his youth to serve his country. This photo was taken in 1945 aboard the USS Klondike, a destroyer tender that he served on in the Pacific.
Today’s Veterans Day and I want to salute my Dad who loved his country and his family; he always did his best. It’s people like my Dad, not politicians, movie stars, businessmen, athletes, or “celebrities”, that made and make this country great.
I miss my Dad.
