My Waterloo Sunset

How does someone successfully cover an already great song? I don't have a definite full proof answer or mathematical equation to guarantee success but I do think there is one very important rule to follow by, don't attempt to duplicate but do add a personal touch.

Probably the best example to illustrate this is The Sex Pistols rendition of Frank Sinatra's "My Way",it's a classic. Some may find their version obscenely offensive, horrifying even, others entertained and amused but one thing is for sure, there's no denying, they did it their way.

There is something uniquely beautiful about walking out of step, not for the sole purpose of not conforming but because you feel something different. There's those who follow in step, there's those who intentionally walk out of step, then there's those who simply, as they say, march to the beat of their own drum. It's the latter who intrigue me and unequivocally, simply can't go wrong.

My playlist is inspired by a current favorite song I've been playing to death... Waterloo Sunset by The Kinks, alternative version by Elliott Smith (track 11). I love it's simple tune and equally simple story, makes for the best kind of song. It tells the story of one the sweetest things, being happy from seeing the happiness of others, a waterloo sunset.

1 Complainte de la Butte - Rufus Wainwright

original Marcel Mouloudji

2 Inside + Out - Feist original The Bee Gees

3 Smooth Criminal - Alien Ant Farm original Michael Jackson

4 If I Fell - Jason Castro original The Beatles

5 Can't Take My Eyes Off of You - Muse

original Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons

6 Bizzare Love Triangle - Frente original New Order

7 Hey Ya - Obadiah Parker original OutKast

8 Across the Universe - Fiona Apple original The Beatles

9 Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley original Leonard Cohen

10 Band on the Run - Foo Fighters original Wings

11 Waterloo Sunset - Elliott Smith original The Kinks

12 Love of My Life - Scorpions original Queen

13 Cry Baby - Janis Joplin

original Garnet Mimms ft The Enchanters

14 A Whiter Shade of Pale - Annie Lennox

original Procol Harum

15 Fields of Gold - Eva Cassidy original Sting

16 Golden Slumbers - Ben Folds original The Beatles

17 Starman - of Montreal original David Bowie

18 Angie - Tori Amos original The Rolling Stones

19 Don't Let Me Down - Stereophonics original The Beatles

20 Lady Stardust - Seu Jorge original Davis Bowie

21 You belong to Me - Patsy Cline original Chilton Price

22 My Way - The Sex Pistols original Frank Sinatra

Love at First Sight...

I have fallen in Love! This morning my life was a simple life, enjoying hot chocolate and breakfast burrito at a Starbucks with Ruth, discussing books and thoughts, anticipating a great read, Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain, when the most beautiful, strong, precious thing walked into my life.

The sky was clear and sunshine abundant, my thoughts of the future were clear. I imagined my life, living on a secluded, peaceful, piece of property near Jalama Bay, with acres of sprawling land and a little white house with breezy windows. I'd play the piano while he napped nearby, life could be so beautiful together.

Here's a picture we snapped, now I know he already has an owner who I'm sure adores and loves him (rightly so) but one just like him would be Awesome!

He's an English Mastiff, they're ginormous!! You can't really tell from the photo because you have nothing to compare him to but I've done some research and they typically weigh in around 169-250lbs+ In the Guiness Book of World Records, the heaviest dog in the world is an English Mastiff named Zorba weighing 343lbs. The greatest part is, with their great size and brute strength, they're really the gentlest of dogs, described as calm and affectionate, loyal and well-mannered, I want one!

And so, the day I have adequate space and money to feed such an adorably beasty animal, I'm getting me one of these. Here's to you.

My Fatburger Days

It's been a long morning in the darkroom, I need to see the light of day and put some good solid food in my belly, what do I do, I head over to the Fatburger just down the street on West Charleston. I arrive and there are all of 2, maybe 3 customers sitting in the usual seats, eating in silence. 

I order a fatburger with homemade onion rings (ranch on the side) and a real ice cream shake, Oreo if they have it. I take what money I have left and walk myself over to the beloved jukebox at which point I'm all giddy, excited to see what songs I'll choose to share with my fellow patrons.

Oh the days of my regular Fatburger visits. There were some days when everyone seemed to appreciate my selection, tapping their feet, sometimes even singing along, that's a great feeling... then there were times when my song choice must of disagreed with my fellow Fatburgians because you could hear someone say something like, "Who picked this song"? I admit I wasn't like raising my hand, dancing on the tables when this happened, usually at this point I just had to enjoy on my own, hamburger in hand, quietly singing to myself.

During my visits to Fatburger, my most favorite thing has to be that strangers alike are brought together for a short time, enjoying some of life's simple pleasures and in that moment the world seems a little smaller, a little more friendly, realizing each individual tapping their foot to the very same song has their very own story.

The following is a music mix of songs I've played at Fatburger at one time or another... I've always wanted to dance to track 16, on those days when I'm sitting there, just me and my satisfied belly, streets with passing cars, customers coming and going, ... I'll daydream about it.

1 Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond

2 Try a Little Tenderness - Otis Redding

3 Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley

4 Don't Stop Believin' - Journey

 5 Beyond the Sea - Bobby Darin

6 Crazy - Patsy Cline

7 Underpressure - Queen & David Bowie

8 Happy Together - The Turtles

9 Vehicle - Ides of March

10 Eternal Flame - The Bangles

11 Band of Gold - Freda Payne

12 With or Without You - U2

13 Sweet Dreams - Eurythmics

14 Piano Man - Billy Joel

15 Midnight Train to Georgia - Gladys Knight & The Pips 

16 Dannys Song - Anne Murray

17 Let's Stay Together - Al Green

18 Crazy - Aerosmith

19 I Want You Back - Jackson 5

20 More Than Words - Extreme

21 The Joker - Steve Miller Band

22 Blue Skies - Willie Nelson

Cruising the Pacific Coast Highway

 Sometimes I think I should have grown-up during the 60s and 70s... missed it by more than a decade. Something about it's musical vibes call to me, beckoning me to wallow in it's coolness, gets me every time.

My first car was a 1970's 2 door hatchback, golden AMC Pacer with roomy leather interior, designed for aerodynamics and high visibility, I loved this car! Aside from it's unpredictable stalling episodes and broken gas gauge that left me always wondering, how much farther can I go? It was a classic.

In more recent years, I have traveled up and down California's Pacific Coast Highway, listening to the Zep and music alike, reliving an era I never lived in the first place but imagine with a distinct familiarity. With windows down, ocean by my side, sunshines warmth and blue skies above, I'm transported to a place where my spirit feels free. These are quite the awesome moments for me.

A music playlist in memory of 

a time I never saw but enjoy none the less.

1 Going to California - Led Zeppelin

2 America - Simon and Garfunkel

3 Hotel California - The Eagles

4 Sister Golden Hair - America

5 Reflections of My Life - Marmalade

6 Kodachrome - Paul Simon

7 Operator - Jim Croce

8 Smile a Little Smile for Me - The Flying Machine

9 Moonlight Mile - The Rolling Stones

10 It Never Rains in California - Albert Hammond

11 You Belong to Me - Bob Dylan

12 Leaving On a Jet Plane - Peter Paul & Mary

13 Anticipation - Carly Simon

14 Beth - Kiss

15 The Air that I Breathe - The Hollies

16 Summer Breeze - Seals & Croft

17 Everything I Own - Bread

18 Ziggy Stardust - Davis Bowie

19 The Weight - The Band

20 Peace Train - Cat Stevens

21 Forever - The Beach Boys

22 Go Where You Wanna Go - The Mamas & Papas

The Little Sparrow

  Hear the voice and song of Edith Piaf and know the sound of a sparrow's heart. While living in London I had a french neighbor who adored a remarkable woman and her music. The raw sound of vinyl escaping his windows, he could be found blasting her beautiful ballads at all hours of the day, morning, mid-day, or midnight... they were special occasions because I have come to love her too. Listen and you'll know everything there is to know about this beautiful, songbird.

I've included the English translation of 

Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien because of it's valiant and 

adamant message. The melody persistent, strong, 

enduring, Edith sings with no hesitation, no apologies, 

she's the read deal. 

No Regrets.

Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien

No! Absolutely nothing...
No! I regret nothing
Neither the good that I've done nor the bad
All this is much the same to me!

No! Absolutely nothing...
No! I regret nothing...
It is paid, swept away, forgotten
I don't care about the past!

With my souvenirs
I lit a fire
My sorrows, my pleasures
I need them no more!

Swept away the love affairs
With their tremors
Swept away forever
I leave with nothing ...

No! Absolutely nothing...
No! I regret nothing
Neither the good that I've done nor the bad
All this is much the same to me!

No! Absolutely nothing...
No! I regret nothing...
Because my life, because my joys
Today that begins with you!

Should you have the opportunity, there was a recent film 

made about the life and music of Edith Piaf called 

La Vie En Rose that's well worth watching. 

French actress, Marion Cotillard, 

does a spectacular job portraying the remarkable 

Piaf and would go on to win a 

Best Actress Academy Award for the part.