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Dropkick Murphys - I'm shipping up to Boston.
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Young Dubliners - If I should fall from grace with god
C.H.U.D.Comment
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I have been sleeping on the job as head obituary writer here.
Alex Chilton, R.I.P.
March 21, 2010
New York Times
Op-Ed Contributor
Beyond the Box Tops
By PAUL WESTERBERG
Minneapolis
HOW does one react to the death of one’s mentor? My mind instantly slammed down the inner trouble-door that guards against all thought, emotion, sadness. Survival mode. Rock guitar players are all dead men walking. It’s only a matter of time, I tell myself as I finger my calluses. Those who fail to click with the world and society at large find safe haven in music — to sing, write songs, create, perform. Each an active art in itself that offers no promise of success, let alone happiness.
Yet success shone early on Alex Chilton, as the 16-year-old soulful singer of the hit-making Box Tops. Possessing more talent than necessary, he tired as a very young man of playing the game — touring, performing at state fairs, etc. So he returned home to Memphis. Focusing on his pop writing and his rock guitar skills, he formed the group Big Star with Chris Bell. Now he had creative control, and his versatility shone bright. Beautiful melodies, heart-wrenching lyrics: “I’m in Love with a Girl, ”September Gurls."
On Big Star’s masterpiece third album, Alex sang my favorite song of his, "Nighttime"— a haunting and gorgeous ballad that I will forever associate with my floor-sleeping days in New York. Strangely, the desperation in the line “I hate it here, get me out of here” made me, of all things, happy. He went on to produce more artistic, challenging records. One equipped with the take-it-or-leave-it — no, excuse me, with the take-it-like-I-make-it — title “Like Flies on Sherbert.” The man had a sense of humor, believe me.
It was some years back, the last time I saw Alex Chilton. We miraculously bumped into each other one autumn evening in New York, he in a Memphis Minnie T-shirt, with take-out Thai, en route to his hotel. He invited me along to watch the World Series on TV, and I immediately discarded whatever flimsy obligation I may have had. We watched baseball, talked and laughed, especially about his current residence — he was living in, get this, a tent in Tennessee.
Because we were musicians, our talk inevitably turned toward women, and Al, ever the Southern gentleman, was having a hard time between bites communicating to me the difficulty in ... you see, the difficulty in (me taking my last swig that didn’t end up on the wall, as I boldly supplied the punch line) “... in asking a young lady if she’d like to come back to your tent?” We both darn near died there in a fit of laughter.
Yeah, December boys got it bad, as “September Gurls” notes. The great Alex Chilton is gone — folk troubadour, blues shouter, master singer, songwriter and guitarist. Someone should write a tune about him. Then again, nah, that would be impossible. Or just plain stupid.
Paul Westerberg, a musician, was the lead singer of the Replacements.After lunch the players lounged about the hotel patio watching the surf fling white plumes high against the darkening sky. Clouds were piling up in the west… Vince Lombardi frowned.Comment
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Not sure if you noticed Howard but it's Wilco week on Austin City Limits.C.H.U.D.Comment
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An American Original, Glenn Miller. His best arrangement: Tuxedo Junction...
One time Lombardi was disgusted with the team in practice and told them they were going to have to start with the basics. He held up a ball and said: "This is a football." McGee immediately called out, "Stop, coach, you're going too fast," and that gave everyone a laugh.
John Maxymuk, Packers By The NumbersComment
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God how I miss the big bands...Here's Gene Krupa, Roy Eldridge and the boys...
One time Lombardi was disgusted with the team in practice and told them they were going to have to start with the basics. He held up a ball and said: "This is a football." McGee immediately called out, "Stop, coach, you're going too fast," and that gave everyone a laugh.
John Maxymuk, Packers By The NumbersComment
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I missed this post....thanks. I watched last night and it was Ben Harper. Must be coming up.Originally posted by Freak Out
Out of curiosity, how did you know I like Wilco?After lunch the players lounged about the hotel patio watching the surf fling white plumes high against the darkening sky. Clouds were piling up in the west… Vince Lombardi frowned.Comment
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Originally posted by HowardRoark
Oh I don't know........maybe it was all the comments you have made about the band for the past couple of years. I thought it was obvious.
I remember a few snippets of lyrics posted here and there.....
It was the 2008 show.....great stuff. I think you can watch the whole show
online.
Here it is:
C.H.U.D.Comment
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This is a fact, that you need to know; oh, oh, oh, oh Wilco, Wilco, Wilco will love you Baby. Are times getting tough? Are the roads you travel rough? Have you had enough of the old, tired of being exposed to the cold?Originally posted by Freak OutOriginally posted by HowardRoark Oh I don't know........maybe it was all the comments you have made about the band for the past couple of years. I thought it was obvious.
I remember a few snippets of lyrics posted here and there.....
It was the 2008 show.....great stuff. I think you can watch the whole show
online.
Here it is:
http://video.pbs.org/video/1458492765
Put on your headphones, before you're exposed; oh, oh, oh oh, Wilco, Wilco, Wilco will love you baby.After lunch the players lounged about the hotel patio watching the surf fling white plumes high against the darkening sky. Clouds were piling up in the west… Vince Lombardi frowned.Comment
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Airline to HeavenOriginally posted by HowardRoarkThis is a fact, that you need to know; oh, oh, oh, oh Wilco, Wilco, Wilco will love you Baby. Are times getting tough? Are the roads you travel rough? Have you had enough of the old, tired of being exposed to the cold?Originally posted by Freak OutOriginally posted by HowardRoark Oh I don't know........maybe it was all the comments you have made about the band for the past couple of years. I thought it was obvious.
I remember a few snippets of lyrics posted here and there.....
It was the 2008 show.....great stuff. I think you can watch the whole show
online.
Here it is:
http://video.pbs.org/video/1458492765
Put on your headphones, before you're exposed; oh, oh, oh oh, Wilco, Wilco, Wilco will love you baby.
Go ahead and skip the first minute fourty.....some skinny dude talking too much.
After lunch the players lounged about the hotel patio watching the surf fling white plumes high against the darkening sky. Clouds were piling up in the west… Vince Lombardi frowned.Comment
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R.I.P. AlexOriginally posted by Iron MikeAfter lunch the players lounged about the hotel patio watching the surf fling white plumes high against the darkening sky. Clouds were piling up in the west… Vince Lombardi frowned.Comment
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After lunch the players lounged about the hotel patio watching the surf fling white plumes high against the darkening sky. Clouds were piling up in the west… Vince Lombardi frowned.Comment
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