Month: November 2024

Pink Floyd Lucifer Sam 

Anthony3 Comments

Here is an early Pink Floyd track penned by Syd Barrett from the early days of The Floyd, where he was at the helm. Singing leads and playing lead guitar. A role that would be replaced by David Gilmour, later on after Barrett’s mental state unfortunately deteriorated, in 1968 on Saucerful of Secrets and subsequent albums after that. 

Lucifer Sam is about Syd’s Siamese Cat. 

       “Lucifer Sam, Siam cat.”

It’s far more psychedelic than the more known progressive songs by the band.  This is off there first LP, Piper at the Gates of Dawn. There’s definitely quite a few interesting tracks on this album, but Lucifer Sam is my favorite, and I think you’ll enjoy it. Check it out and as always, thank you for reading and listening…

-aaa

I Will…

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I will walk 

I will run

Through the park

Toward the sun.

–

I will stand

I will sit 

Life is grand 

Cannot forget.

–

I will think 

I will speak

Without a blink

Reach the peak.

–

I will search

I will seek 

Not a lurch 

Or the meek.

–

I will mend 

I am through 

Most poems end 

This one will too…

-AAA 1/05/2024

Know Your Worth!

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Many people have no rhyme or reason

They’re there for a week or maybe a season

–

You value their time but you’re just a choice

In the scheme of things you have no voice

–

You have strong feelings and you’re never late

Though you’re not their first choice for a date

–

As you wait, you chomp at the fetter

Wishing that they’d like you better

–

But nothing changes and you’re to blame

For staying an option and playing their games

–

Knowing they’re out with someone else

While you gather dust upon a shelf

–

You have much better things to do

And enjoying people who think so too

–

Be yourself and you’ll never finish last

Now discount your troubled past

–

Come back to a better living

Happy with your life of giving

–

Worry not, that the world has turned

Remember the lessons you have learned

–

Know you’re worth and don’t accept less

A future where you’re someone’s best

–

Take these words to heart and run

As now it’s your turn to have some fun…

-aaa

Originally Published 05/07/2024

Missy’s MAD Challenge #014

Anthony5 Comments

Missy’s MAD Challenge #014

Every week, a creative prompt will be offered for you to unleash your imagination and artistic skills. 

You can share your response in the form of art or any creative expression that the prompt inspires.

There are no restrictions and no deadlines, so feel free to take your time and enjoy the creative process.

Remember to label your response with #missysmadchallenge.

Your challenge for the week

  • On the other side of the town

Fighting Over Politics

On the other side of town

Something bad is going down.

People, vigorously fighting 

With their politics inciting. 

It truly makes me just frown. 

-AAA 11/04/2024

Separate Ways

Anthony2 Comments

We had gone as far as we could.

Said all that we could say.

We can do no further good.

So neither of us want to stay.

–

Our last words are being said.

Along with a deep firm hug.

For one last time I held her head.

Feeling my heart give that familiar tug.

–

The times we had were very hard.

Many situations were each unfair.

Our story mapped on a crooked chart.

Painful times we both did share.

–

As I hold her for the last time.

Fresh warm tears stain my face.

Break-ups are horrible like the scene of a crime.

Pain, ruin, and destruction all over the place.

–

What was the final cause?

I’m not sure if we’ll ever know.

Many bad circumstances we tripped across.

Never finding any stability or flow.

–

We share heartfelt goodbyes.

And many “I’m sorries” in our embrace.

We let go, I give kiss her forehead as she cries.

I softly wipe the tears streaking down her face.

–

The life we shared now at an end.

And the memories of it today, are just a haze.

Once we were lovers, but now distant friends.

Parting, each we go our separate ways…

-aaa

Originally Published 05/06/2024

Sunset Lovers

Anthony2 Comments

It’s nearly sunset.

Oranges grow to reds and pinks.

Daylight it’s falling.

–

We dance on the beach.

In the day’s end afterglow.

We and the sky, burn.

–

I need your soft touch.

I get 1000 goose-bumps.

Each time you’re near me.

–

Shadows are now gone.

There just isn’t enough light.

But we do not mind.

–

A bright sun now sets.

But we are just beginning.

Sharing an embrace.

–

As you draw in close.

Your breathing, fast soft whispers.

Your heart, beating fast.

–

Your lips, sweet candy.

Warm and willing to meet mine.

We share long kiss.

–

The two become one.

United in passion’s fire.

Unending pleasures…

-aaa

Originally Published 05/06/2024

St Judy’s Comet by Paul Simon.

Anthony3 Comments

Yes, I’m back with some more music. Oh boy here we go again lol. Another Paul Simon song, my other favorite by him. Again, not as well known as others, but it’s quite beautiful and lovely. It’s called Saint Judy’s Comet and is off the 1973 album release, There Goes Rymin’ Simon. 

It’s a simple little lullaby, written for his son and turned into a song.  Again, there’s something about the chords, the keys, the lyrics, and the direction of the song that touches my heart and soul.

I hope they do the same for you check it out.  Maybe you can try it before bedtime and it might put you into a real serene mood as well. As always, thank you for reading and listening…

-aaa

A Silly Set of Raikus

Anthony2 Comments

Let us sing a song.

With lyrics that are all wrong.

Sing it for too long.

–

Let us tap a dance.

While wearing our backwards pants.

As if in a trance.

–

Let us cook some food.

Using our gas range and hood.

That’ll be quite good.

–

Let us talk the talk.

while enjoying a brisk walk.

I know we won’t balk.

–

Let us end this rhyme.

It’s been a small uphill climb.

But it’s about time…

-aaa

Originally Published 05/04/2024

We Should All: Beware Of Darkness 

Anthony3 Comments

All Things Must Pass is an amazing album and truly, one of the best of the post-Beatles  albums released by the Fabs (11/27/1970).

Released less than a year after their highly public break up. A veritable who’s who was in the studio helping out with this album’s creation, including at least a couple of the ex Beatles (Ringo, and John). Co-Produced (Wiyh George Harrison) by the (later highly troubled and controversial) the ‘wall of sound’man himself, Phil Specter.

There are many great songs on this triple LP:  Isn’t it A Pity,  Wah Wah, Let It Down, What Is My Life, All Things Must Pass, I Dig Love,  I’d Have You Anytime,  If Not For You, The Art Of Dying. They’ve been in numerous movie, soundtracks and get a lot of radio play. I highly recommended, checking out at least the first two sides of this triple album. Where the third side is just a series of jams and silly songs. 

My favorite is the song Beware Of Darkness. It really is a wonderful cautionary tale song. The guitars and everything else are just fantastic in this song with a lot of really great blues chords. 

The lyrics are very telling and very appropriate, even for today, especially the last verse set in my opinion, which rings true in today’s political climate in the Americas:

    “Watch out now, take care Beware of 

      greedy leaders, they take you where you 

      should not go, while Weeping Atlas 

      Cedars, they just want to grow, grow and 

      grow, Beware of darkness.”

Aside from the interesting music and poignant lyrics., I feel the song ends sort of on a non-resolved chord, and then there’s just a bit of a soft resolve by the keyboard and strings at the very end of the song. 

Covered by the great Leon Russell first on his self titled album with the shelter people and on the live Bangladesh album. 

Check it out I think you’ll enjoy it and as always, thank you for reading and listening…

-aaa

QOTD: #230

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Invent a holiday! Explain how and why everyone should celebrate.

I cannot really think of anything that hasn’t already been said here.

Also, I feel in the world, and North America, where I live, we have plenty of great holidays already.

As always, thank you for reading,..

-aaa

QOTD: #229

Anthony10 Comments

What are your favorite websites?

This is an intriguing question and it does smell of market research but nonetheless, I’m gonna answer it anyway. What the heck? Lol

1. Google (www.google.com) has been my premier search engine since its inception. I remember trying others but nothing for me compares.

2. Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.com) is also a favorite of mine. I know some of the content in there may not be 100% accurate but it’s an amazing way to find out more about things. You’re very interested in. For me that’s music art, and literature, of course. Movies and musicals as well.

3. YouTube (www.youtube.com) I love music and I love watching videos of yesterday and here’s a great place to find them all. As well as many unusual forms of music I never even thought I would’ve discovered.

4. Amazon (www.amazon.com) I’ve been a huge Amazon since its inception in the late 90s as a book and music house. They have the best prices on music at the time and I bought most of my CDs in the 90s on Amazon. As well as many books. I still use it to this day and love it and shop quite frequently on it and utilize all of its features.

5. WordPress (www.wordpress.com) though our relationship is somewhat tenuous (currently), I spend 4 to 6 hours a day working hard on my blog and appreciating other blogs on this site. Therefore, it should be included in my list.

As always, thank you all for reading, listening, and for your support…

-aaa

My Favorite Song

Anthony11 Comments

It’s always an arduous task to try and come up with a favorite song when you love literally thousands of them as I do. 

I remember the first time I was introduced to this song by my favorite person in the world my godmother and aunt who passed away a little over 20 years ago.  I believe we’re listening to KLOS 95.5, on a Sunday afternoon, heading home from Whittier, California. 

This song comes on the radio and she identified it to me and said “just listen to this and tell me what you think”. I couldn’t have been more than 13 at the time not sure why I’ve never heard it before, but it just did something to me. I remember when it ended, I couldn’t even respond. My mind was still processing what I just heard, realizing it transformed me forever, at that moment.

It transformed me and showed me the beauty and simplicity in the world. That most of us often miss caught up in the everyday struggles and challenges. We all have to deal with. 

With her help and some sheet music and a ton of patience, I was able to learn and master the harpsichord part of the song and can play it to this day on the piano.

The song is Because by The Beatles.  It’s on my favorite album Abbey Road by the band which in itself has many fantastic songs, but this one to me is the centerpiece. And I know, most people love side two with McCartney’s rock, opera piece, and I do too. But this song has something beautiful and just so unusual about it. 

I read somewhere I think on some liner notes to some sheet music that it’s sounds a little like Beethoven’s fifth Symphony in reverse. The electric harpsichord and electric guitar provide the music itself. Along with a Moog Synthesizer taking over the main melody near the end, truly, spellbinding. It even ends on sort of a not quite resolution chord which is unusual. I kinda liked songs like that. They don’t quite end. They sort of go on forever. They feel like “hey isn’t there something missing here, one or two more notes?” 😂

Being a bit of a book/research nut, I did some research on the song I found that the band members had tracked themselves on vocals nearly 16 times over to accomplish the beautiful and haunting harmonies you hear. And obviously without the aid of an auto tuner or computer, like current artist use to make their vocals on pitch.

I’m going to share with you the original version as well as a brilliant cover, but I know that by another one of my favorite artists, the late great Elliott Smith. 

Please check them out and I hope you enjoy them as much as I did and still do. 

-aaa

The Late Great Johnny Ace by Paul Simon off of Hearts and Bones Circa 1983

Anthony2 Comments

I posted this back on July 19 of this year and for whatever reason I’m just thinking of this song right now as we come close to the anniversary of the of the murder and subsequent death of John Lennon.

I was thinking of writing a post about this, and I forgotten that I already had. Just wanted to re-share it with many of you who may not have seen it before or may not be allowed to see it for other reasons I can’t control.

I hope you enjoy it again or for the first time and please listen to this song. It’ll really do something to you. It has everything like I mention in my brief article below.

This just does something to me every time I hear it. it’s got everything hope happiness, love, sadness, heartbreak, and this beautiful eulogy at the end in this lovely coda by Philip Glass. It’ll break your heart. A touching tribute to Johnny Ace and John Lennon.

Check it out below, I think a lot of you may not be familiar with it.

-aaa

The Late Great Johnny Ace

Frazzled Friday Ends 

Anthony2 Comments

Another Friday in the books 

More frazzled a day than it looks.

–

Tons of writing by day and night

Taking some aspirin, my head feels light.

–

I’ll try to take it easy tomorrow

And avoid unnecessary sorrow.

–

Enjoy everything, my friends

As this week comes to an end.

–

Adieu and goodnight

Hope you’re all feeling right… 😊

-AAA 11/01/2024

QOTD: #228

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Is there an age or year of your life you would re-live?

What year age could I live again? How about age 12 forward. I’d like to get back to where I was in junior high school and just live forward from there.

I would have to, of course take the knowledge and hard lessons I’ve learned up to now with me or forget about it. 😂😂

If I could talk to myself at age 12, I would say, “Don’t let any ugly things people project on you become what you are”. That is the hardest lesson in the biggest setback of my life and took me till about age 50 to figure out and undo. also, “It’s OK to be weird and be different and be sensitive. Many people won’t understand it, but that’s OK. They don’t have to. You just have to.”.

If I could maybe change things around and have a longer period of grace and perspective and peace in my life, I think it would’ve been a lot more fun.

That’s not to say I’m not having a great time now, but just taking this question as a hypothetical, I would return to that time with the knowledge I have and live the greatest life I could and help the most people I could as well.

I definitely would not change many things. I’d be a musician still and I’d be a writer as well. The only difference is I’d stick with those things my whole life and keep that technical knowledge I learned from going that route, since it wouldn’t hurt.😉

I don’t want to be rich or famous. I just want to be happy and if I could’ve lived a happier life with all these realizations far earlier, it wouldn’t be a bad thing. I’m not experiencing any regret on that truthfully I’m just enjoying this fantasy presented.

As always, thank you for reading and listening. I love you all out there, and if I ever get the chance, I will officially “like” your writings and submissions again. I’ll do my best to comment where I can, but I cannot comment on every single thing unfortunately, just know I love everything you all do and have the upmost respect for you all. ❤️

-aaa