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Sweet home, Alabama?

A long time ago, in a piece of e-mail I sent to cartoonist Jimmy (“Arlo and Janis”) Johnson, who lives in Mississippi and attended college in Alabama, I made a crack about my being a confirmed Yankee. I don’t think Jimmy appreciated it, and I regret making the comment, because I enjoy and admire Jimmy’s work so much, and I have tremendous respect for him. Yet I have to admit that I can’t help but feel my Massachusetts mindset kicking in when I read something like this statement from Alabama’s new governor.

“Anybody here today who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, I’m telling you, you’re not my brother and you’re not my sister, and I want to be your brother.”

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=12644212

At least he’s being up front and open about his prejudice. I would be surprised if a majority of Alabamans have a problem with this, but maybe that’s just my own prejudice coming through.

Don Kirshner dead!

This just in — Pop music impresario Don Kirshner has died. In more than one way, “Sugar, Sugar”, with Ron Dante and the non-existent Archies, is Kirshner’s ultimate accomplishment as a music publisher and manager.


The Archies – Sugar Sugar
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In the 70’s, “Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert” featured an eclectic mix of bands. Here is a fantastic set with the Ramones at their Punk Rock peak.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6o_t2Q_gkg

British brass band themes

“Come and Get It: The Best of Apple Records” has some real surprises on it, from the never-released “King of Fuh” (can you say Fuh King?) to this 1968 gem by Paul McCartney, the theme song to a TV show called “Thingumybob”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlV6A_7ZSV0

The Black Dyke Mills Band dates back to 1855, long before John Philip Souza, who wrote the “Liberty Bell March”, that is best known as the theme for “Monty Python’s Flying Circus”.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Yfm2HSoD50

Years later, Julian Nott wrote the delightful brass band theme for Nick Park’s wonderful “Wallace & Gromit” series.

The Boss isn’t boss

“Boss” was an expression in the mid-60’s, before “groovy,” that meant something was very good. The most recent equivalent is to say that something “rules.”

Whenever I reveal that I’m not a Springsteen fan, I get surprised and/or disappointed looks. What can I say? I’ve never felt a connection with The Boss, the hero of the working man. Yes, I know how dedicated he is, and sincere, and hard-working but, sorry, the feeling just isn’t there for me.

What got me in the late 70’s was Punk and New Wave, although I never lived a lifestyle even remotely reflecting the external manifestations of the rougher element of the genre. I remained purely a drug-free nerd, with the visceral, therapeutic intensity of listening to Elvis Costello’s “This Year’s Model”, in particular, being something that has always stayed with me. Here are two tunes from those days that conveyed more to me than anything I’ve ever heard by Springsteen.

The Ramones album “Road to Ruin”, with Marky taking over drums from Tommy, who helped produce, was a stunning accomplishment — this achingly heartfelt song, most of all…

…and the great “Union City Blues”, from Blondie’s ultimate achievement, “Eat to the Beat”…