Some suggestions for streaming and positive thoughts for John Prine

[morrisjk]

All,

   I hope all is well with everyone out there and youse are being smart and safe.  Our options for music are now limited to radio, personal collections, streaming devices, and our own creativity.  I miss live music quite a bit and have already realized that some shows that we had planned on for spring and summer will not happen.  No Billy Strings, no Jason Isbell, sadly no John Prine and Emmylou shows for me.  Positive vibes out to John Prine for a full recovery.  I was lucky enough to see him for the first time at a free show with Emmylou back in the late 70's and then afterwards multiple times over the years with one of the best being with Steve Goodman at Navy Pier during Chicagofest.  Lets hope an American icon can pull through this and grace us with more of his essence.
   Recently I came across some videos on The YouTube of a collaboration of musicians throughout the world playing wonderful versions of popular songs called Playing For Change (Song Around The World).  How I missed this earlier is dumbfounding.  The first song I came across while I was on a reggae dive is "Soul Rebel" with Bunny Wailer, Manu Chao and others.  Follow that with Keith Richards and co. doing Words Of Wonder/Get Up Stand Up",  and then a litany of musicians doing The Weight, Higher Ground, What's Going On, Ripple, War/No More Trouble, and then a few familiar faces doing La Bamba, then there is Guantanamera with subtitles in English for gringoes like moi.  Then you can move on to some Natural Mystic with Jack Johnson, Watchtower and more.  Just absolutely wonderful and heartfelt performances.  To see all these musicians from all over the world leaves me in awe.  I never heard of Roberto Luti from Italy playing slide or Vasti Jackson from down south.  Grandpa Elliot?  Who knew?  These are worth viewing on a good monitor with good sound. 
   After you have exhausted those options find Jason Isbell's cover of John Prine's "Hello In There" and give a virtual hug to all our wise elderly sentients, including my 96 year old mother, a WWII veteran.  And if that doesn't get you then just listen to Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's Over The Rainbow with the video of his "Celebration Of Life Memorial" woven in at the end. Mahalo big IZ.
   Until next time take care of yourself and those around you.  It's gonna be tough but we're gonna make it.

                                                                                  Jim



 

[rovalle]

Playing for Change is a wonderful thing...my faves are when children are involved, either singing or dancing...also look for the song "Ripple"...amazing

[Steve J]

...also look for the song "Ripple"...amazing

Yeah, really good. It's been running through my head every morning for the last week or so.

[Steve J]

Looks like I had my fill
Guess I better pay my bill
When I started out I only meant to have a few
Someone just said that you left town
I better get a double round
And yes I guess they oughta name a drink after you

[morrisjk]

R.I.P.  John Prine an American Treasure.

  We can celebrate his life and enjoy his work to get through the misery and these tough times.  He was able to observe life with a critical eye and a heartfelt wink.

Way down
Way down it must be
I can't stop this misery
It must be way down
Spring is just a smile away
Laughing at a summer day
Turn around Look at fall
Winter, hear my lonely call
Way down ...
How ya' gonna get sunshine
Peeking thru Venetian blinds
Don't you know all that fear
Begins and ends the same place
Here
Way down ...

And this gem...

And I smiled on the Wabash
The last time I passed it
Yes I gave her a wink
From the passenger side
And my foot fell asleep
As I swallowed my candy
Knowing he was in heaven
Before he died

Here's a beautiful song he did with Susan Tedeschi    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhW1aX9l3fY

And one that he wrote on his second album.  Even then he could joke about his/our mortality.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhW1aX9l3fY

And more recently from The Tree Of Forgiveness  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0EiV423j0M

When I get to heaven, I'm gonna shake God's hand
Thank him for more blessings than one man can stand
Then I'm gonna get a guitar and start a rock-n-roll band
Check into a swell hotel, ain't the afterlife grand?

And then I'm gonna get a cocktail: vodka and ginger ale
Yeah, I'm gonna smoke a cigarette that's nine miles long
I'm gonna kiss that pretty girl on the tilt-a-whirl
'Cause this old man is goin' to town.................


And if you just want to Chase Corona Out Of Town with a reggae/latin rhythm, try dancing to this.  Straight out of that reggae hotbed of Germany.  (Gotta love the guy playing the cheese grater with a whisk.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoOvXzn9rwY

                                                                      One Love,
                                                                          Jim

                                                               

[bostondavid]

Very sad. And I fear we'll lose many more before this is over.

[unclebuck]

Gotta love that line...gonna get me a cocktail,vodka and ginger ale.I think I`m gonna start writing down the names of artists we lose to this fucking virus and when we can finally go out to a bar,I`m gonna play their music on the juke box,and let people know what was lost so needlessly.Vodka and Ginger Ale will be the first drink I order when that day finally arrives

[mcamp]

Very sad. And I fear we'll lose many more before this is over.

Well the list is growing....along with John Prine....Wallace Roney (jazz trumpeter; age 59), Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne; age 52), "Bucky" Pizzarelli (jazz guitar; age 94...father of the other jazz guitarist John).

[morrisjk]

Hey mcamp,  Right on with your sentiment.
"(Well the list is growing....along with John Prine....Wallace Roney (jazz trumpeter; age 59), Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne; age 52), "Bucky" Pizzarelli (jazz guitar; age 94...father of the other jazz guitarist John).)"

  I'm noticing the various musicians and wealth of humanity that we're losing at such a fast pace.  Not to be forgotten are SNL music producer Hal Willner, as well as jazz patriarch Ellis Marsalis, trumpeter and father of Wynton and Branford (thanks for the beautiful Bird Songs dude).  Wallace Roney was fantastic and a protege of Miles Davis.  We're losing a connection to the greats and can only hope that the younger cats will carry on in their absence.
  I have to wonder what the common thread is for the musicians and maybe it's nothing more than their connectivity and proximity to crowds that exposes them or is it just that we pay attention more when it's someone of notoriety?  Sure we can theorize on lifestyle and such but it's probably more about contact and health care availability to certain segments.  I don't have the answer, but I have another suggestion: check out the Miles Davis documentary on PBS American Masters and enjoy the vibe.

                                                                                           Be Well,
                                                                                             Jim

[Steve J]

Singer-songwriter John Prine named honorary Illinois Poet Laureate