Monday, December 22, 2014

RIP Joe Cocker (No Longer Available)

Over the last 2 weeks, I have been listening over and over again to the Black Crowes singing Joe Cocker's "Space Captain" from their 2006 Freak 'n' Roll...Into the Fog: The Black Crowes All Join Hands, The Fillmore, San Francisco. I kid you not. As things connect dot after dot, I in turn started watching them on YouTube, and then thought, "why aren't I listening to the original, Joe Cocker version from 1970's Mad Dogs & Englishmen? And so, I ordered that CD last week, and it still isn't here from Germany or was is PA that I eventually got it? Anyway, still waiting for this classic when the BBC news of Joe Cocker's death arrived today.

My heart aches at the passing of all these great, rock 'n' roll singers, players, geniuses. Joe had the penultimate gravel-filled, whiskey-soaked voice. I think only Van Morrison, and yes, Chris Robinson, (at times Chris Cornell in heartfelt bluesy mode) hold my soul in their hands when they sing. The movements of their bodies possessed by what their voices are trying to express and feel.

I am failing miserably, trying to capture with words the emotions their gifts have given me--their willingness to go so deeply with their vocal ability.

RIP in peace, Joe. You are irreplaceable.

Trying to catch his frenetic energy here. I don't think it's possible.

Joe Cocker's "Space Captain"

Black Crowes' "Space Captain"..(OMG--esp. at 2:22 and 3:33! I could cry!)

Space Captain

Joe Cocker

Once I was traveling across the sky

This lovely planet caught my eye

And being curious I flew close by

And non I'm caught here

Until I die

Until we die

Learning to live together

Till we die

I lost my memory of where I've been

We all forgot that we could fly

Someday we'll all change into peaceful man

And we'll return into the sky

Until we die

Learning to live together

Till we die

Live together, yeah,

Learning to live together

Till we die

Learning to live together

Till we die

Hum...Oh...

Ah... hum...

Until we die

Learning to live together

To live together...

To live together

Friday, August 16, 2013

Day 234. Cool Night Drive with Van Morrison

I have a handful, maybe two, of all-time favorite singers. Van Morrison is right up there at the top. I'm sure I first was aware of him with "Gloria" and "Brown-Eyed Girl" listening to them on WLS out of Chicago. I can remember seeing him on Wolfman Jack's "Midnight Special" tv show and singing "Domino" when I was a little kid. I think I fell in love with him, though, in Martin Scorsese's 1978 rockumentary of The Band's final concert, "The Last Waltz" where he sang, "Caravan." I once read that he at times suffered from debilitating stage fright. He seemed so romantic--this other-worldly voice filled with so much soul--he seemed to pull out his deepest emotions, lost almost in a trance, and grab you with him as you fell into an whirling hole of mysticism and smoldering magic.

My uncle had grown up in the '60's, and he had given me all his albums when he moved to the west coast. I had all the classics--original Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Doors, Small Faces, a.k.a The Faces, and Van Morrison. I had 1968's "Astral Weeks," one of the most incredible, classic albums of all time. I remember that Rolling Stone Magazine--back in its heyday--had published an Encyclopedia of Rock and had given "Astral Weeks" its highest rating--5 stars. I used to listen to it over and over again in college--you have to understand, I was in love with that era musically--I always felt that I should have grown up in that time.

O.K., so fast forward to 2008 (released in 2009), Van the Man re-recorded that album as "Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl." It's more uptempo with additional musicians. Both versions are spectacular so please listen to both. Where the h-e-double-toothpick am I going with this rock 'n' roll lesson? Well, I'm going here:

I'm driving home tonight in the cool, night air. I went out to dinner with a friend and then drove home. It was dark out, with swirling puffs of night-time clouds. And I was playing "AWLATHB." And I was playing track 3, "Slim-Slow Slider/Stop Breaking Down." Listen as he opens, "Slim-Slow Rider" and someone in the audience yells, "Yeaaaaaaaaaaah" at 00:18. You know you're in for something great. And really listen to what makes Van Morrison so special. Listen to that phrasing at 1:01-1:05 and again at 1:16-1:19 when he sings, "the fruit grove this morning." The timing, the melody. God, I love it so much. And I love it even more while sticking my hand out into the air through my sun roof and feeling the coolness swirling through my fingers--and more still while glancing my eyes quickly upward at the inky sky above me, so close that it's a part of me and I'm a part of it. And the thing is, at that moment, I feel such joy--such a complete feeling of utter, utter happiness. The music, Van Morrison, the air, the sky...a moment of immense joy for being alive and feeling all of it.

Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl - Slim Slow Slider/Stop Breaking Down