These Are A Few

of my favorite things.

Martin D-18

Elvis with a D-18

In the summer of 1974, I was perusing albums at the Sam Goody in the Echelon Mall in Voorhees, NJ when I spied my baby. Back in those days, Sam Goody had several levels of store. This one offered only low-end stereo and discount guitars.

The manager explained that the regional center sent him the Martin in error. It came with no paperwork and no case. Bureaucratic logic determined that since no paperwork existed sending it back would cause more problems. So among the Teiscos and Hondos, sat this Martin D-18.

Throughout that summer, whenever possible I would visit the store and play this holy grail. Either my incessant visits to play the guitar, or the manager's desire to rid himself of this albatross, caused an offer to be tendered. The guitar listed for $750. Since it had no paperwork from Martin, he quoted $400. My liquid assets combined with items taken to a local pawnshop provided the means to purchase the guitar.

Despite a Passport Scotch bottle through the soundboard in 1985, scratches, and sundry other issues, I play this baby everyday and at all my gigs. It is still my favorite guitar to play.

Jujyfruits
I cannot resist these wine gum candies. Wine gum is the confectioners term for a firm, corn starch,
gum drop like candy without a sugar coating. There are Swedish fish, gummy bears, Dots, etc., but in my eyes, they all dim in comparison to Jujyfruits.

Film Noir
I won't go into the influence of German Expressionism, or the lighting and composition that give these movies their allure. But, when I stumble upon one of those films from the 40s-50s, no matter how far along the movie is, I must watch.

Like I discovered the blues of Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf through bands of the British Invasion, I discovered hard-boiled detective novels through these movies. Without them, I never would have read Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, James M. Cain who led me to Elmore Leonard and James Ellroy. Thanks to them, my vocabulary includes gams, gat, roscoe, yegger, gumshoe, butter & egg man, banging the gong and other colorful patois.

Baths
Nothing soothes the soul like a soak in a hot bath. No matter what situations
have caused me turmoil, be it mental or physical, a restorative bath is the answer. It cleanses both body and the soul.  As ever - BB

“Under the thinning fog the surf curled and creamed, almost without sound, like a thought trying to form itself on the edge of consciousness.” - Raymond Chandler, The Big Sleep

Extra, Extra!

Before radio opened the door to instantaneous information, newspapers would produce an Extra. This special edition informed the masses about events that happened after the paper had been published, but were too important to wait until the next issue.

This extra to my blog concerns a very special event that occurred at Leadbetters Tavern, this past Saturday, January 17. Local musician and songwriter, Joe Scala, held the release party for his CD, Skin & Bones. The exceptional thing Joe did was invite several local musicians to open the show with their versions of his songs.

Those lucky enough to come out experienced a magical evening! I was honored to be included.

Leadbetters was packed. I would guess that about one-third of the audience were fellow players attending to give their support. One who just moved from Baltimore to Manhattan looked around, then turned to me and said, "This is what I miss. This place is like a musicians' clubhouse."

After such a fantastic Saturday, I felt impelled to write a brief piece thanking Joe for his generosity and complimenting him on this unique and clever idea for a CD Release Party.

Hopefully, the positive vibes generated on Saturday will keep that musician's clubhouse feeling going. As ever - BB

In place of the usual quote, I'm ending this blog with a link to Joe's website. You can purchase the CD there, and I strongly recommend it. 

 http://josephscala.com/

Vive La Difference!

I have always felt more attuned to the past. This affinity requires the legerdemain of avoiding nostalgia's deadfall. Looking back with rose-colored glasses leads to sentimentality and self-delusion. As humorist, Finley Peter Dunne said, "The past always looks better than it was. It's only pleasant because it isn't here."

Two unique characters from those thrilling days of yesteryear comprise the subject of my latest musing. Born in the ebbing of the 19th century and despite less than salubrious habits, they both lived into my lifetime.

Gambler, hustler and con man, Alvin Clarence Thomas, better known by the moniker, Titanic Thompson, spent his life making wagers, hustling golf and pool. The nickname arose after one of his bets. A by-stander asked, "Who is that guy?" The loser answered, "He's Titanic; he sinks everybody."

Natural athletic ability and extraordinary hand-eye coordination explained his skill at golf and pool. However, not all of his wagers were above board. Thompson would cheat and finagle to give himself
every advantage. My favorite one - days before he came into a town, he would move the sign giving the mileage to reach the city limits. When he got to town, he'd bet everyone he saw that the distance marker was incorrect. Of course he'd win. This would lead to more wagers and usually more losses for the locals.

The other subject is more familiar - Mae West. This dynamic female pushed the envelope of censorship, and in a era of male-domination controlled her life and career.  I first became aware of her through her movies. However, she didn't go to Hollywood until she was 40. By that time she had sang and danced on the New York stage and had written provocative, successful plays for almost 20 years.

The first play she wrote, directed and starred, was Sex. The play drew crowds, but got her arrested on vice charges. Her next play, Drag, focused on homosexuality, but the authorities closed it during rehearsals. She continued to write titillating works which thrilled audiences and upset the status quo. When asked if censorship bothered her, she laughed and said, "Not at all, it makes me money!"

On the set of her first film, Night after Night, she complained about her lines. The director let her improvise. That provided her first memorable movie quote. A hat-check girl says "Goodness what beautiful diamonds!" Mae's reponse, "Goodness had nothing to do with it, dearie." George Raft, star of the movie commented that West stole that scene and everything else except the movie cameras.

She challenged discrimination on all fronts. West moved into a plush apartment building in Hollywood. Her paramour at that time was William "Gorilla" Jones, an African-American boxer. Management barred Negroes, not uncommon in the 1930s. Mae proceeded to buy the complex and remove the ban. She owned it and lived there until her death in 1980 at 87.

Some examples of Mae's prowess:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJS670okmZc

There is a shortage of true individuals like the aforementioned. Technology advances at warp speed, but uniqueness languishes. At times, I think we've transformed into a society of lemmings taking selfies of ourselves as we rush over the edge into oblivion. As ever - BB

"Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect." ~Mark Twain

Nothing Lasts!

The original bus in the swamp at Kesey's Oregon farm

The intrepid band of Merry Pranksters left Ken Kesey's ranch at La Honda, CA on their continental trip to find a kool place on my 10th birthday, June 17, 1964.  This psychic, seismic wave triggered the tsunami which sweep across the world in the mid-to-late 60s. As Hunter Thompson said in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: "We had all the momentum; we were riding the crest of a high and beautiful wave. . . ."

 The Pranksters realized that life is ephemeral, and the title of this musing is their motto,"Nothing Lasts!" That phrase has echoed in my head since I learned that my favorite, neighborhood dive bar, Leadbetters, had been sold. Rumors and gossip as to what will happen are rampant. Like a supernormal surfer, I will ride out this uncertain undulation accepting whatever may occur.

However, the memories and friends I have gleaned from the denizens of this den of drunkenness will never wane. I had not performed in public or almost 35 years. Leadbetters gave me the opportunity to once again tootle the masses with my ol' guitar. That in itself is incredible. More impactful is the embrace I have felt from the community of musicians this tavern attracted.

Being a musical autodidact, true players have always intimidated me. But,
 my fellow musicians at Leadbetters not only accepted and encouraged me, but corroborated in my endeavors. When Kristin added her harmonic vocals, the support was electrifying. Of course the support came with the offbeat, irreverent humor which hallmarks Leadbetters.  Once her voice was heard, others would invite her up to sing with them. Unrestrained jokes and jibes of stealing the best part of my act became de rigueur.

Eschewing auguries, what the future holds for this beloved, gritty, diamond-in-the-rough, musical oasis is uncertain. But with a certainty that seems archaic in the modern world, I affirm that while physically Leadbetters may not last, its essence is eternal. As ever - BB
"If you pour some music on whatever's wrong, it'll sure help out." - Levon Helm