Looking for a Rufous

Just something different – put on your headphones and enjoy at your leisure! I’ll throw in a few of my pictures too, just for fun. The armadillo is in Houston on Kirby Drive next to a really good BBQ place, the Goode Company.

This first entry is kind of self-explanatory since I grew up there. The photo below was taken at another roadside attraction (any Tom Robbins fans out there?) in Del Valle, Texas (don’t blink or you’ll miss it). It is mind-blowing with not only the sheer quantity, but the imagination of the amazing creations. If you’re in the neighborhood, don’t miss it.

Arte de Guanajuato

Introductory Political Statements (nah)

It’s music not politics, so why would I say anything political? Just my nature I suppose, to say something political in a musical way, but I promise the rest will be just music (probably). Actually, it was Tom Johnston’s comment, not mine.

The Doobie Brothers – Listen to the Music

(Turn this one up)

Ah, the overwhelming sensation of walking into the Music Hall in Houston, Texas on a warm night in that other century when concert tickets were still affordable, and hearing that blast of sound from those huge JBL speakers on the stage. The Doobie Brothers were playing “Listen to the Music”. What a great time we had. The back up band was good too! Sorry, not sure who the back up group was, I’m thinking it was Quicksilver Messenger but might have been ZZ Top or the Allman Brothers.

Just a footnote about the song (quoted from the last.fm web site):

The band’s lead vocalist Tom Johnston told Songfacts that Listen to the Music “was all based around this somewhat Utopian view of the world. The idea was that music would lift man up to a higher plane, and that world leaders, if they were able to sit down on some big grassy knoll where the sun was shining and hear music – such as the type I was playing – would figure out that everybody had more in common than they had not in common, and it was certainly not worth getting in such a bad state of affairs about.”

Does Johnston’s quote remind anyone old enough to have experienced it of that wonderful idealism some of us felt and expressed in those days. Almost makes me want to grow my hair long again (if that were possible).

Music from Mary Poppins

OK, this second “political” entry may be a stretch for some of you. Just listen to the music closely and think about what our world might be like if everyone raised their kids with real values, values not based on their cell phones or TV or video games, but based on honesty and friendship and leadership and solid principles. Just think about it. Personally, I’m not complaining, despite all the outside influences, my kids turned out great (thanks more to my wife than me) and my grandkids too as you see.

Favorites

We all have our favorites, no matter how old the songs are and how many times we’ve listened to them. Sometimes it’s a romantic attachment to the music, or we just like the music and the lyrics. On my list there were so many songs it was tough to narrow it down to the ones I selected. Same thing with pictures. I’ll probably have to do another “music” blog later.

The Cars – Who’s Gonna Drive You Home

I don’t know what to say about this one short of, I’ve always loved this song, it almost always gives me the warm fuzzies.

Chicago – Three Selections

I had to do three for Chicago, one of my all time favorite groups, who by the way just did or are doing a tour (not with the original members). The first track, “25 or 6 to go”, is big and brassy – I saw them perform in Houston too, another great concert night – love that rousing finish. The second track, “Wake up Sunshine” is often my morning motivational wake-up music (not being a morning person), and the third track, “Colour My World” is a more somber, romantic piece. Enjoy all three!

25 or 6 to Go

Wake Up Sunshine

Colour My World

Cold Play

In case you were thinking all my favorite music was back in that other century, I wanted to include some more recent stuff. I’ve always liked Cold Play. Try these.

Oh, first I should explain the photo. It’s called “Gospodor Monument”, and if you are on I-5 going north from Portland, about 10 or 15 miles south of Centralia, Washington, there it is. Obviously for those of us who are curious about such things, it’s a traffic hazard. I did stop long enough to take the picture. The link will give you more details.

Gospodor Monument

God Put a Smile on Your Face

You Only Live Twice

In my younger (single) days, I was a big James Bond fan, “shaken not stirred please”, and this is a song Cold Play released inspired by the movie music.

Favorites – Romantic Tracks

Who says romance is dead, listen to some of these tracks.

Bob James & David Sanborn with vocal Al Jarreau – Since I Fell for You

This is an excellent re-release of an old and very romantic song. In the picture I was on a long run in Centralia, Washington when I took the picture. It’s probably my favorite street name in the universe.

Crosby, Stills, & Nash – Our House

Before Neil Young joined the group, this track, perhaps not their most popular, always tugged at my heart strings – give a listen.

Side note: “Our house” in the Montrose (in Houston) is still there, at least urban development had not swallowed it up as of November 2013. On one of my very infrequent trips to Houston, just tooling around, checking out the old neighborhood from those days when my hair was still shoulder length, I saw it and couldn’t believe it, my old house on Grant Street. Hello, time passed you by? It’s been 40 years! The big ole, tall sunflowers in the front yard were missing, but . . . deja vu to the max!

Favorites – Classical Tracks & Wrapping It Up

Did I say some country and western music (not all of it) was depressing. I mean, how uplifting can it be . . . some guy is sitting in a bar with a drink and smoking (or is that outlawed now, I don’t go to bars), talking about his divorce or his dog just bit the neighbor’s kid and he’s being sued. Anyway, I realized that I had not included classical selections. I could do a whole blog on classical, there are so many I like. Here are a couple.

Bach – Toccata in D

Probably one of the more famous Bach pieces, very inspiring, and used in at least one movie (Phantom of the Opera?) followed by a second Bach piece.

Bach – Jesu, Meines Herzens Freud

Steely Dan – Deacon Blue

Yeah, Steely Dan is definitely a favorite.

Canned Heat – On the Road Again

A favorite group in my Vietnam days, Canned Heat was included on many a recorded tape sent back home to be enjoyed later. By the way, I’m working on a new installment in my Vietnam blog:

What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?

Maybe another music blog installment in the future, so many songs, so little time!

This entry was posted on August 6, 2015 at 5:39 am and is filed under People and Places. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.