Artist Of The Day

Happy birthday to Thelonious Monk, born this date in 1917.

Rock and Roll Part 1 (1964-1969)

ROCK AND ROLL... Part 1: Starts With The Beatles

The Beatles on Ed Sullivan changed everything. No longer vocal groups, Doo Wop, girl singers, or lounge acts, bombarded the airwaves and variety shows, now we teens had something to stick our teeth into. Three weeks, three shows and our world no longer revolved around the sun; a NEW path had been chosen and it was The Fab Four. Soon other "planets" were discovered ; The Rolling Stones on The Hollywood Palace; The Animals, KinKs and  more, oh, so much more. Radio changed immediately as The Beatles beat the charts, taking over the traditional  Top Tens were what was now called THE BRITISH INVASION. Soon albums cuts, those not played as singles on AM  found their way onto the airwaves. As AM progressed into FM, and FM into free form radio so did we as the listeners progress and became more knowledgeable about what we liked. And this is part of my story...

By 1967/68 listening to the radio and watching television rock was not enough. Like every other red blooded Anglophile I picked up the guitar, primarily playing bass in garage bands but was much more in demand as their drummer to which I was more proficient. Needless to say I was drawn to the fire of other like musicians primarily those my own age which help me judge where I stood on the food chain or better yet to judge my proficiency on the bandstand.  Having no true curfew  I started to regularly attend  Hullabaloo, a local teen club in the neighboring town of Lindenhurst. A true  TEEN SCENE club, soda and bags of chips with a $2.00 cover, there they hosted  a few bands each weekend (Friday and Saturday nights), many bands of the garage style  with a few noted National acts tossed in...The Rascals, Vanilla Fudge just to name a two.

During this period I also was entertained by The Critters (Younger Girl; My Dyingly Sad)  at a local roller rink (Copiague Roll N Ice) (1966), Every Mothers Son( Come On Down To My Boat, Baby) at my 10th grade dinner dance,The Good Rats at an art show (1969) ,Scott Muni Sock Hop Show featuring The Left Banke (1967), again at my high school, and of course Long Island's own The Vagrants (Leslie West), The Hassels (Billy Joel), and The Illusion at every other spot but regularly at Hullabloo.

1968
Just finishing out a summer job at a bank on Wall Street, all of 16 years of age but ready for the big stage we ventured out from Suburbia, AKA The Sticks/The Country, on the LIRR and subway to Queens, New York to see what was and probably still are today the Greatest AMERICAN Rock band. They did it all. Wrote, produced, played their own instruments and sang like a church choir...THE RASCALS.

The Rascals, Nazz,The Vagrants, Eire Apparent, Singer Bowl (8/30/68)

It was a beautiful evening, clear skies, the train ride uneventful, and the crowd enthusiastic, me being one of them. Eire Apparent, a band produced by Jimi Hendrix (they said it at least twice during their 25 minutes of fame, were in hindsight about as good as we were at Hullabaloo. NAZZ was next up. The drummer was superb, the singer and bass pretty good. Yet there was something quirky and eye catching about the guitarist. Windmills, neck bending, string slapping, a bit theatrical but too cool to describe: Todd Rundgren caught my musical attention at that moment and would have it for many moons to come. Local favorites (boys from Forest Hills) The Vagrants hit the stage and left doing a Stones tune (Satisfaction) followed by RESPECT. Pretty nicely done on a big stage.. The stars of the show The Rascals were tremendous. The applause deafening at the beginning and at the end. Hit after hit after hit after hit. Solos, musicianship, vocals clear, clean and crisp. It was heavenly.



1969

THE DOORS January 24, 1969, Madison Square Garden, NY: What a way to celebrate my 17th birthday. New brown corduroy slacks, brown boots, and a new overcoat. A few extra bucks in my pocket from my folks as a birthday gift and away I go. A new pack of smokes, train fare, money for the diner after the show, I was psyched. Ooops, forgot, a girlfriend who was more excited about seeing Jim Morrison and chatting with her friends on the train ride than celebrating my birthday. The lights dim, emotionally and physically, as The Staple Singers take the stage set at mid arena. Then, THE DOORS:

1The Soft Parade
2. Tell All The People
3. Love Me Two Times
4. Who Scared You?
5. Spanish Caravan
6. Wild Child
7. Light My Fire
8. Back Door Man /
9. Me & The Devil Blues /
10. Five To One
11. Jim Introduces Band
12. Hitler Poem
13. When the Music's Over

The Doors were musically okay, not great as I had anticipated. Jim Morrison was an idiot, or was it just me, nah, he was an idiot, hindering an otherwise good band with his "poetry" and rants. One rant in particular I remember was about riding the fence. I dug The Staple Singers, now there was a cool group with a smooth sound.


Since September of 68 I was working in an electronics factory making cassette. Their brands included Vangaurd, Elektra, and Capitol records. So my music collection grew substantially each and every afternoon by at least one or two cassettes, blues, folk, rock, jazz. What every could fit in my boot that day I took it all. After working only a few weeks a woman Ruthie who worked in the Mastering lab, an actual air controlled, white glove environment, called me over to hear something she thought was unique but strange to her 50 year old ears. Upon hearing the sounds coming out of her very expensive head phones I was perplexed but knew what it must be. "Number Nine, Number Nine..." over and over with a cacophony of sounds, screams, horns, etc. Smiling I answered with more of a questioning, THE BEATLES?. She then with her white gloves removed the heavy, shiny disc from the apparatus and put on another selection.... HELTER SKELTER....ah< THE BEATLES YES IT'S THE BEATLES. She informed me it was a company hush hush, no one was to know what we were putting together,not even her, no labels, no inserts yet, just a number 4XWL and it was to be  a double cassette set, one million cassettes ( half a million packages to market) to be produced and stored until November 15 shipping. The entire factory, two shifts was working on one project and I guessed who it was. Needless to say Ruthie slipped me a few early cassettes during week one, no labels just The Beatles to share with my friends. who were skeptical at first but after a little while....ah, yea man, The Beatles.

Ticket Stub Man

Ticket Stub Man:

According to my friends and family my obsession with music extends to an extreme level. It is not just the music that I love but LIVE music especially that I enjoy the most.Sitting at home listening to a recording or traveling in a car with the radio on will do once in awhile. But it is the excitement of a live show that hits the spot for me.Over the years and in the process of attending literally hundreds of shows I have accumulated many items of  minor importance but tokens of remembrance of a time well spent...ticket stubs, programs, badges, bumper stickers, and the like. A few years back I decided that a few blokes on e-bay may enjoy one or two of my items more than the old mayonnaise jar which I used for storage of stubs found in my closet or records in my basement. So I experimented. And within a few weeks surprisingly I had more than $1000.00 (US) in my e-bay account. Flamin' Groovies records, a poster, a flexi-disc and magazine went for about $75.00. A Grateful Dead 45 Compilation sold, A Cramps Picture Disc gone, DEVO 45,Johnny Thunders 45, a few CDs,Elvis Costello, Stiff Little Fingers,Raunch Hands, Raybeats, all gone. Easy money for the taking. With things going this smoothly on recorded things I ventured out with a few ticket stubs and concert programs and for sheer joy of my new endeavor I watched the final bidding develop on my screen. Fillmore East ticket stubs sold: THE WHO (6/6/69) $10.60; LED ZEPPELIN( 5/30/69)$ 61.77; DELANEY BONNIE AND FRIENDS w/ ERIC CLAPTON (2/7/70) $10.70 CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL $15.50. To a collector this may be cheap prices but to me, I didn't pay more than $5.50 for any of those shows and I only sold a TICKET STUB for a nice profit. Hence, my buddy Joe dubbed me THE TICKET STUB MAN.

One morning I arrived at my desk to see my name plate removed and this one taking it's place.



Then in another short burst of e-Bay activity I sold a few more items mostly ticket stubs and programs, etc.... and...Whew, my rent is paid. A Cat Stevens ticket, Blind Faith, Twisted Sister, The Clash, Led Zep, Springsteen, all sold in the next few weeks and sometimes the bidding was fierce. But then one morning I get an e-mail from a certain gentle men who owned a memorabilia shop in NYC across from Electric Lady Studios. The cat knows I have a certain item he needs for "his " collection. A full size ticket, not  a stub, for The Randall's Island Pop Festival, Sunday Night in which Jimi Hendrix performed. He started the bidding at "a hundred" and when I said,  "let's see where it goes",  he determinedly stated "$250.00 Cash delivered to your office in the morning Fed Ex". BINGO, SOLD.
The next morning my secretary told me a Fed Ex guy was here and he entered my office with a FED EX envelop in which I found five brand new $50.00 bills and a return FED EX envelop insured and address to him. The exchange was made and again THE TICKET STUB man made some quick cash. jazzbus@gmail.com

The Doors 1/24/69 MSG                                         $122.50
Led Zep May 1969                                                  $61.77
THE WHO June 1969                                             $10
Blind Faith July 1969                                              $51.75
Creedence Clearwater Revival July 69                   $15.50
Led Zep 8/30/69 originally at Singer                      $15.00
Delaney Bonnie Friends w/ Clapton Feb 1970       $10.50
Grateful Dead Program 5/15/70                              $31.00
CSNY 6/6/70                                                           $15.50
Ten Years After 6/25/70                                         $8.90
Byrds Sept 12, 1970                                                $6.00
Derek and Dominoes October 24, 1970                 $15.00(program)
                                                                                $44.00(stub)
Fillmore Auction                                                    $21.00 Stub
Fillmore Auction                                                    $24.00 Program
TYA MSG 11/13/70 Buddy Miles Express           $5.00
Jefferson Airplane Nov 1970                                 $12.05
Derek and Dominoes Suffolk CC                          $20.00
Grand Funk RR/Humble Pie  MSG 12/18/70        $8.25
Hot Tuna Jan 71                                                     $5.00
Faces/Black Sabbath Feb 1971                              $29.99Program
                                                                               $19.99Stub
Allman Brothers March 13/71                               $29.99
Elton John 4/8/71                                                   $100.00(package4 Eltontixs
Last Show (Allmans)                                             $175.00
THE WHO at Forest Hills  Who's Next                 $15.50
Led Zep MSG    Sept                                              $28.50
Dr John/ Weather Report October 1971 Beacon    $5.00
Led Zep 6/15/72 Nassau Coliseum                          $74.00
Cat Stevens 11/6/72 Philharmonic Hall NYC        $18.50
Dylan and The Band 1/30/74 MSG                         $37.00
Rolling Stones MSG 6/25/75                                  $15.00
Kingfish (Program) Capitol Jersey 12/5/75            $14.00
Linda Ronstadt Capitol Jersey               12/6/75     $6.60
Fleetwood Mac MSG 6/30/77                                 $8.27
Frank Zappa Palladium Tix Stb 10/29/77               $7.00
Patti Smith Richard Hell CBGB Theatre                $6.00
Ramones Runaways 3/24/78 Calderone                 $5.50
THE WHO MSG 9/13/79                                      $15.00
The Clash BONDS INTN'L 5/29/81                     $41.00
 John Entwistle 1/30/96 at TRAMPS NYC           $5.00
Randalls Island Festival                                          $250.00

The Construction Site

Sitting a few hundred miles south of New York State is a land lost in time.A strange place indeed. Recently I had to travel there to attend to some business and was greeted with what is known as true southern hospitality. With drinks in hand and seated around a table with a group of acquaintances  I was introduced to a "new comer" to the already established group in a very  simple but direct way... While politely pointing at me the intro from the host of the get together went as such:  "This here is a Yankee boy who you might actually like"...with me.... being the Yankee boy. WHAT??

Being on the dark side of sixty years of age I am a long, long way from being called a boy by anyone.  As far as a Yankee, well I guess you got me there. However, These southerners are still fighting "the war". State's Rights, integration, Equal Rights, segregation, President Obama, FOX News,  are all topics I wish to avoid when south of Mason Dixon, especially after a few Diet Cokes. But those topics  are generally  brought up after a few bourbons, the drink of choice for my compatriots. Making sure I have been  consistent with taking my blood pressure medicines so I don't blow a fuse I sometimes  am ready to "take up arms" and fight the war, again. Other times it is too futile to even try. A wise man once told me you can't change a negative  to a positive and as hard as you try the negative will only  be further ingrained.

So the business  "This Yankee Boy" needed  was to get some construction work  done by the locals AKA The Yokels. While all smiles when the construction expert arrives to price out the various jobs, as soon as I speak  I hear, "where y'all from in New Yawk? You ain't from deez parts now 're ya?" Screwed before I start.  I know the quote just went up, substantially. A few head nods, a scratch or two from the pencil on a pad and a promise to "Call ya later" was made by the contractor.

 Now  " later"  to me, The Yankee Boy, would be that afternoon or evening. But, no, how naive on my part. " Later" can be anytime from an hour or four (reasonable) to the " Day After Hell Freezes Over". Attempting to call them on the phone only gets their  voice mail "Yo, dis be Bobbie Joe Construction, leave da message and I'll get back at cha .Remember yo business means everythang to us."   Eventually, usually four days and two attempts at phone contact I tend to give up.

Hedging my bets I contacted at least four quotes for each specific job needing subcontracting. Occasionally I lucked out and got a call, estimate, and contract within a few hours. New problem occurs when the contractors said, after dropping off machinery and supplies, "See ya tomorrow."  Shoot, I never asked what" tomorrow" meant  as one day led into the next and finally on to a third day...almost Biblical. Then it occurred, The New York in me came out, came out with a vengeance. I spewed information about "time is money", and many other items which I cannot repeat. They shook their heads and said, " What's up with him?".

Next trip, I bring a group with me, someone who understands this Yankee boy.

Been A Long Time...

It's been a long time since I posted...but I have written plenty and over the next few days I'll post some meanderings and thoughts which might or might not make sense in today's context, Fall of 2012.

Country Music on Long Island

The Jazz Bus: Country Music Comes To Long Island
It has been years since we had a true full time country music station in this area. Long Island never seemed to be a hot bed for “country” activity. Bands seem to shun the area mostly getting as close as the PNC Arena in Jersey or the casinos of the tri state. So additionally for this area live country music was a rarity just like a radio station. Taking it back to the 70’s I do remember WHN-AM and most recently WYNY as country outlets, both too short lived. Clubs like Max’s Kansas City featured Waylon Jennings in 1973, a show still considered a breakthrough in our area, followed by acts appearing at The Lone Star (later uptown as Lone Star RoadHouse) but on Long Island only a few small places catered to the true fan.
Demographic studies done by radio land execs proved that the Country music fan is not what some believe; a missing tooth or two, hard drinking, driving a rusted pickup, trailer park heartbreaker. No, today’s fan is primarily a married, home owner, with two cars and a mortgage: a suburbanite. The group lately has been slightly skewed toward the female variety, aka the CONSUMER, and a great loyal audience base. That same study indicates that if a country music station built upon this estimated fan base that station will surpass the listener base of say WPLJ, one of the most listened to stations in the tristate area.
It’s here, the station anyway, MY COUNTRY 96.1 (WJVC) broadcasting out of Center Moriches. Only problem for me (Far West Suffolk County) is the signal is either too weak or non-existent at certain times of the day. However, the ease of the internet allows me the opportunity to pick 96.1 up on my computer, (LICOUNTRY.COM) where I spend way too much time anyway.
Country music is the new Rock, simple. Well at least it is for us “older rockers” who wish to see great musicianship, live. Recently in my travels to NYC (Madison Square Garden) I saw Brad, Keith, Sugarland, Kenny, et. al. and compared those great shows with the musicianship of Eric, Jeff, Jimmy, Alvin. Sacrilegious some would say.
July 3, LI DUCKS Stadium, The Country Music Fest sponsored by the aforementioned MY COUNTRY 96.1. Arriving a few minutes before the starting time of 6P.M. we found the parking lot almost filled to capacity. Walking toward the stadium one could see a sea of cowboy hats, cowboy boots, and of course the obligatory “Daisy Dukes”. With recorded music soaring in the arena spontaneous line dancing sprung up and we didn’t even start LIVE yet. After a few announcements the show was off and running. Six bands in 3 hours, downtime minimal due to each band using the same equipment, twenty five minute sets, BINGO, fireworks at 9. A wonderful night of music was had by all. Amazingly but somewhat expected ,the “buzz” in the exits was all positive; Great show, great sightlines, good sound, video screens a plus, all the concessions were opened all night, bathrooms spotless… you get the idea. Another “surprise” show will be announced soon. I’m in. jazzbus@gmail.com

Stick Ball Anyone?

The Jazz Bus: Stick Ball Anyone?
Recently I took a drive through the neighborhood. With school closed for the summer I knew I needed to drive cautiously as I would probably see plenty of kids riding bikes, playing in the streets, jumping rope, just having the time of their lives. What I saw was streets that were eerie, emptier than Dodge City’s Main Street during a noon showdown. Coincidentally, Cat Stevens, “Where Do the Children Play?” was on the radio. His mantra rolled around in my head for a bit. Then it came to me. The roads are basically unsafe. No one stops at the big red STOP sign any longer. Today, the octagonal sign is rather a mere suggestion that the driver slows a bit, from sixty to say a reasonable forty MPH, looking to and fro before speeding up again while driving unimpeded through the intersection. Oh, and all the while on their cell phone and smoking a cigarette with the other hand. My bride tells me I am getting grouchier because I yell and complain when I see things that do not make sense. OK, I am grouchy but rightfully so this time. This makes no sense.
Here’s how it happened: Traveling from Tanner Park on Wilson Avenue I slow as I pass the bait store knowing there is a STOP sign directly ahead at the intersection of Montauk Highway. Out of the corner of my eye a landscaping truck complete with an attached loaded equipment trailer goes through their STOP sign on the service road to my left thereby cutting me off. Luckily I was alone in the car and the only one subjected to possible whiplash. The passenger of the landscaping truck, the one without a seat belt on with his feet on the dashboard grinned widely at our predicament. When I regained my senses I beeped my horn so that they would know I was alright. The driver of the truck rolled down his window and gave me some form of sign language acknowledging that they were okay too. Relived that their entire crew of five in that small truck’s cab as well as the three men perched back in the trailer were safe and sound, I jotted down the phone number painted boldly on the side of their truck. Concerned as I was for their safety I made sure I called that number about every half hour or so from when I got home (about 2 a.m.) .Unfortunately the boss/owner never picked up. I tried again late last night and will again tomorrow.
So today I traveled to another busy intersection, one off the beaten path, parked my car for about fifteen minutes and observed. Yup, just what I thought. I must have missed the legislation issued that a red STOP sign now means NOTHING. Just an octagonal inconvenience placed on the side of the road, a true distraction for the driver. So I propose: no new STOP signs to be made or old ones repaired or restored. Just DRIVE AT YOUR OWN RISK signs like for swimming when there is no lifeguard at the beach.
I remember a time when kids played in the street from sun up to sundown without fear. The bumper sticker needs to be revised, DRIVE CAREFULLY-SCHOOL IS CLOSED.jazzbus@gmail.com