George Gershwin's Birthday Too

Gershwin & Coltrane, two of America's musical giants, born on the same date. Who'da thunk it?Gershwin died too young too.

His Masterpiece

Won't embed, but worth the listen, w/ live performances & alternative takes.

Coltrane's Centennial

Induction photograph, 1945.

Born on this date, 1926.J.C. died 17 July 1967, at the age of 40, killed by the pig society that drove him to drink, 50 yrs. too early.

73 & Counting ...

I can assure you I don't feel a day over 83.And I'd like to thank all for the sincere good wishes, presents, surprise party & so forth. It's so wonderful to have friends! (Who will cheerfully call the fucking police on me because I was righteously angry. W/ friends like that ...)

Monday Memorial Music: Sonny Rollins

Sonny Rollins would've turned 96 today, but he left this mortal coil in May. Active from from 1947 until 2014, he recorded more than 60 albums as a leader. Other than these two selections, this reporter will leave it to you to do your own research.And Max Roach! Tommy Flanagan's no slouch either.

Only known recording of Rollins & John Coltrane, who hits 100 the 26th.

The Future Is Now!

Time To Shell Out!

Would you like to know more?

87 Today!

Friday Freak Out II

Jacob Miller, 74 Today ...

... if he hadn't died (or been murdered by the C.I.A.) in an automobile accident in 1980.One of the greats & a great loss, his music lives on, what if ..., &c.?From his first session.Earlier numbers w/ Augustus Pablo.W/ versions.

Four-Twenty

Why all the excitement about Hitler's Birthday? (20 April 1889 – 30 April 1945) What's wrong w/ you people?You know who else likes parades?

Sunday Solstice Songs

The Solstice is the "reason for the season". No Jesus means Happier Holidays!Now, at last, it's winter & there's hope the sun may eventually return.

Eighty-Five Today, If ...

FZ in Laurel Canyon living room w/ parental units.

All these songs were written in America. It is a great place to write because all the time you are being bombarded with all of it and you can’t help but try and put it in some kind of form. I think the Mothers of Invention do it so well. You could never be the Mothers if you lived here. (England). I don’t know why, you just couldn’t. It’s all here as well, but not so obvious. As far as I’m concerned those songs just reflect what’s going on.
— Mick Jagger, 1968, in Rolling Stone.

Ten Yrs.

This reporter hasn't had any booze since Thanksgiving 2015, ten yrs. ago today. Not a big deal, as I wasn't boozing much at the time, having tapered off considerably from my yout'.Never got behind (or under) any wheels when plowed good. Don't miss it a bit, either. On the other hand, I had enough "points" for a US$40.00 discount on a $43.00 bag of boo.

Six Yrs. On

Six yrs. ago today the Rail Chief starter set arrived. A few days ago I finished the baseboard, & as I already had the track plan I figured I could nail it all down & start testing electric flow & derailments.

There are two phrases one hears often in model railroading. "It's your railroad, do what you want" (Who's going to stop anyone? The NMRA Police?) & "A model railroad is never finished." While the concept for this one is done, it can't get any bigger, & there's little space for more plastic crap from China, it won't actually be finished for some effin' time, as demonstrated by it taking Sunday, Monday, Tues. & part of Wednes. to get the track as intended & functional in relation to buildings & the like. Then I could start painting the track & painting & cutting cork for roadbed. Won't list everything else there is to do, but I have a reefer car & four buildings to build paint & cement together, & one building & two oil loading platforms to buy & assemble. Also, much of the rolling stock needs better wheels & couplers.

One good thing: W/ the changes & adjustments it turns out I have a turnout that works in a spot where I thought I'd need to blow US$30+ on a curved one from England. No idea what sort of tariffs are being idiotically imposed on goods from Britain above the list price.

I will need to buy a couple of turnouts for the Army camp that's going to be in the northwest section, & the nuclear power or poison gas plant needs plenty of work. (Piping & such. And, radiation trefoils or poison gas skulls & crossbones?)

Fifty (50!) Yrs. Ago Today

Patty Smith's Horses was released.We see that she'll be at our own Walt Disney Concert Hall this Sat. the 15th. And, Mme. Smith will hit the big 8-Oh next December.

Bonus track: Not synched, but a visual document.

Fifty Yrs. Ago Today: Bongo Fury

Did any of you wretches expect to be alive fifty yrs. later? Probably not, because you weren't thinking about it then.Photo allegedly taken at the Foster's Freeze on Sierra Highway in Lancaster, CA.

Same act, no overdubbing or studio stuff on this, then?

State Of The Bouffant

I will see you dead, slumlord bastard!

I have now wasted 72 revolutions around the sun stuck in this awful world on this shithole planet in the hell of other people, like the slumlords & squealers, liars & cheaters, & the damn police.

Went to the croaker; been anemic since Dec. Probably internal bleeding, could mean colon cancer. Time for a colonoscopy. If it is keister cancer you'd better hope I get better, because you're all dead as soon as I'm told I only have X months to live.

Birthday presents, rec'd. yesterday, all from strangers, of course: I gave the new wage-slave at the 7-Eleven® a Lincoln for a $2.99 purchase & she gave me change for a twenty, so I'm 15 bones ahead, & screw 7-Eleven®! And, I found a toy Roman short sword. Wish it were real: I'd be stabbin' & slabbin' 'em left & right!

Thanks again to all my former friends for sweet fucking nothing.

Jimmy Reed's 100th Birthday

B. 6 Sep't. 1925, Dunleith, Miss.D. 29 Aug. 1976, Oakland, Cal.

It Was Sixty Years Ago Today

Giant pitcher Juan Marichal takes a bat to Dodger catcher John Roseboro.

This reporter will never forgive the Japanese for Pearl Harbor, nor will he ever forgive the Giants for this assault.

Koufax steps in.

10 yrs. ago. The Dodgers finished the season by beating Minnesota's Twins in the 1965 World Series, four games to three.Average player salary, 1965: US$14,341.00.

70 Today

Earl "Chinna" Smith

And still kicking.

Friday Freak Out