Category: tunes

A Story And A Playlist

Karen

Back in August of 2012, I went to Northern California with the man I’d been dating all that year. I never talked about him much here (except to announce that I saved his koi), but he was an Air Force officer who was originally from Monterey; the trip was to see his hometown and the greater Central Coast.  I knew that he’d be moving for the Air Force when we started dating, and at vacation time the relationship was going well, there was a chance he’d be re-stationed in California, we stayed with his parents in Monterey, and the whole thing felt a lot like an audition for The Future.

Well, the audition was…not a success. Which is why I’m still here with my family and my mountains and he ended up in Virginia without leaving a forwarding address. (No wonder I only wrote about 50 words in my post about that vacation.)

I’ve always hated that some incredible scenery and cities got tainted with what turned out to be the beginning of a very prolonged end to that relationship, so I’m doing the trip over again soon, with a good friend. We’re spending two days in San Francisco and then making our way down to Big Sur, both things I wanted to see more of  in 2012. We’ll be going to fabric stores and fancy stores and restaurants on a cliff and staying in what I’m pretty sure is California Hobbiton. I can’t wait–especially when I remember there is no snow there.

So that was the story. And this is the playlist I made for the trip. I’ll listen to it while I look at misty redwoods and sit on cold sand and let it “All Wash Out,” as track 8 suggests. Finally.

(You’ll need a [free] Spotify account to hear this, if you don’t have one.)

Thanksgiving Playlist

Karen

Thanksgiving is in a week! How about some music for it? I put together about an hour of tunes for kitchen prep or pre-dinner drinks, starting with “Simple Gifts” (of course) and then jumping right into jazz, blues, and rock (yay America!). I was going for a mellow 70s, smoke-and-bourbon, slanting afternoon light sort of feeling.

I love Spotify but I’ve never shared a playlist, so if the above player isn’t working you can listen here. (Pretty sure you already have to be a member of Spotify for that link to work, but if you’re not, sign up!)

I’m Sticking With The Union

Karen

We have the labor unions of America to thank for today’s holiday. (We also have the labor movement to thank for weekends and eight-hour workdays and, you know, not being chained to our factory machines.)

As The Writer’s Almanac tells us:

The first Labor Day was celebrated 131 years ago, on Tuesday, September 5, 1882. The holiday was the idea of the Central Labor Union in New York City, which organized a parade and a picnic featuring speeches by union leaders. It was intended to celebrate labor unions and to recognize the achievements of the American worker.

The celebrations became more popular across the country in the next 10 years. In 1894, Congress made Labor Day a national holiday.

(The Writer’s Almanac doesn’t mention the holiday was hurried through legislation because of political backlash from the Pullman Strike, in which 30 members of the American Railway Union were killed.)

My dad is a union man so maybe I’m more aware of them in general (I remember Dad having to picket),  but I think it’s a shame that a holiday that every worker enjoys the benefits of now just means “no more white jeans” and furniture sales.

Woody Guthrie, the New Harmony Sisterhood Band, and I will do our best to change that, though:

Now For Some Happier Tar Pits

Karen2 Comments

So, speaking of tar pits, my dad would always sings snippets of a song when I was a kid that ended with “La Brea tar pits” (or, more accurately, “taaaaaaaaar pits”). My dad has a lot of old and rare songs in his head, but in this case I never realized he was singing part of a real song until a couple weeks ago, when I found a cover of “Pico and Sepulveda.”

This isn’t the cover I found, nor is it the version my dad knew from the Dr. Demento show, but it clearly has the most insane visuals, so it wins:

 

 

Holiday

Karen

Yesterday was Veterans Day and the end of three days of snow. I heard this song on KRCL as I was driving home Sunday and it was a really good pick (thanks, Linda on Sunday Sage). The Veterans Day part doesn’t start until about 4:10 but all of the song is brilliant (“the kids are strapped down like a half laod of pipe” in the back of the car). I wouldn’t expect less from my almost-boyfriend James McMurtry.


Old Rock Stars

Karen
The Writer’s Almanac tells me that 50 years ago today, the Rolling Stones played their first gig. (I have no idea what this news has to do with writers. I think it has more to do with that site’s demographic.)
My parents were always in the Beatles camp and so I was, too, but when I saw Gimme Shelter in my 20s I suddenly got what all the excitement over Jagger was about. And any band who loves and promotes the blues is ok by me (even if they are awfully old to be rock stars). 
Here’s an early performance of “Little Red Rooster”:

Reassurance From The Beatles

Karen

Oh yes, I’m still getting my hippie on with late Beatles tunes. I never cared much for this one until I listened to the lyrics (past the “love, love, love” part); now, I like hearing that there’s “Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time” and there’s “Nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be.”

Bonus Ringo at the end. Mr. Conductor!