THRICE TOLD TALES

GETTING A BIT LIKE A WELL OILED, WELL RUNNING, CO-ORDINATED MACHINE NOW…I THINK THAT WAS #13…SO HERE IT IS FIVE A.M. AND NOW WE’RE IN SASKATOON. TONIGHT IS TWO OF THREE IN A ROW…AND I’M STILL UP…GOOD GOD, I NEED THOSE HOURS OF SLEEP. BUT AS RICHARD STARKEY ONCE SANG “YOU KNOW IT DON’T COME EASY”…
VALIUM DOESN’T REALLY DO IT ANYMORE…AHH, THAT’S A KINDA STUPID DRUG ANYWAY…IT MELLOWS YOU OUT, BUT YOU’RE NEVER QUITE READY TO PLAY CHESS WITH STEPHEN HAWKING, IF YOU GET MY DRIFT…BODY DRUGS ARE ALL VERY SIMILAR IN THAT CAPACITY. GOES RIGHT BACK AGAIN TO THE HIPPIE DAYS AND THE STONERS VS. THE BEER TRIPPERS. THERE WERE SOME FOLKS BACK THEN THAT DID A LOTTA DRUGS, BUT THEY WERE ALWAYS BODY DRUGS….DUMB, NON-THOUGHT PROVOKING, BODY BUZZ SHIT…YIKES…I DID MY SHARE OF THAT CRAP TOO, BUT NEVER GOT ONE GODDAMNED THING ACCOMPLISHED ON ANY OF IT. HAVE TO ADMIT, THE WHITE LADY HAD A LOT OF “INVOLVEMENT” IN THE WRITING AND MAKING OF #10… BUT AN AWFUL LOT OF THE CREATIVITY WAS FUELED BY PARANOIA…YOU CAN HEAR IT IN THE LYRICS…”SURE LIKE TO BOOGIE AFTER DEATH COMES CALLIN’ “…AND “HAVE A DISEASE FREE SUMMER IN ASIA…” THESE ARE NOT PRETTY LITTLE BOY/GIRL SONGS…JACK RICHARDSON, BLESS HIS HEART, WAS NEVER CRAZY ABOUT #10 I DON’T THINK…HE NEVER SAID SO, BUT I THINK HE WAS WANTIN’ MORE SYRUPY LOVE SONGS CAUSE THEY DID SO WELL ON THE RADIO…AND WE’RE ALL SINGIN’ “WHO MAKES THE MUSIC WHEN YOU DIE…?????”
OH BROTHER.
NOTHER NIGHT, NOTHER SUNRISE, NOTHER SHOW…NOTHER, NOTHER, NOTHER. I’M TOTALLY CONVINCED THAT MOST OF YOU READING THIS NOW COULD NEVER DO WHAT WE’RE DOING IN A MILLION YEARS. I’M NOT TALKING ABOUT THE MUSICAL PART…I’M TALKING ABOUT THE TOURING PART. ROBBIE ROBERTSON CALLED THE ROAD “A GODDAMNED IMPOSSIBLE WAY OF LIFE…” I GUESS IT CAN BE. IT HAS BEEN FOR ME AT TIMES. AROUND 1973, AFTER #10, I HAD TO SHUT IT DOWN FOR A WHILE…JUST TOO TIRED…”LIE DOWN…LIE DOWN….” IT WAS EVEN DOMINATING MY LYRICS…SURE, I’M TIRED THESE DAYS, BUT I’M NOT DOING ANYTHING TO PUT MY BODY THROUGH THE RINGER. HELL, IF I COULD LIE DOWN LIKE NICKY OR AL OR LIL OR MICK OR JONESY AND JUST SLIP OFF TO SLEEP, I’D BE DOIN’ TEN NIGHTS IN A ROW. TROUBLE IS, I HAVE TO EITHER PILE DRIVE OR TRICK MYSELF TO SLEEP EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. THANK GOD THIS IS THE LAST THREE IN A ROW, CAUSE SLEEP IS STARTING TO SLIP AWAY NOW…INSOMNIA REARS ITS UGLY HEAD, AND I’M IN TROUBLE.
CAN’T HIT THOSE NOTES RIGHT WHEN I DON’T SLEEP. BUT I THINK REGINA WAS ONE OF THE BEST 3 OR 4 YET…NIGHT OFF BEFORE, BIG SLEEP, HOT WATER AND HONEY, RELAXATION, NICE WALK AROUND REGINA RELIVING THAT FIRST MAGICAL SUMMER FOR ME ON THE ROAD, ALL OF THAT…IT MADE FOR SOME GOOD VOCAL NOTES IN THAT BEAUTIFUL BUILDING…I SAID I’D RECALL SOME GREAT MULTI ACT SHOWS FROM THE PAST…HERE’S ONE THAT STICKS OUT IN MY MEMORY AS QUITE A MAGICAL NIGHT…AT LEAST FOR ME…
I WAS STILL 21. RANDY WAS STILL WITH US, SO IT WAS LATE 69 I THINK, NOT SURE. IT WAS ATLANTA AS I RECALL…5 ACTS, THE HEADLINERS AND THE ONES REALLY DRAWING MOST OF THE PEOPLE WERE PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS. NEXT DOWN ON THE BILL WAS KENNY ROGERS…NEXT DOWN ON THE BILL WERE THE GRASS ROOTS…NEXT DOWN ON THE BILL WAS OUR BAND, THE GUESS WHO…AND OPENING THE SHOW WAS TONY JOE WHITE…HE CAME ON FIRST, IN FRONT OF ALL THESE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THERE TO SEE THE RAIDERS AND KENNY AND THE GRASS ROOTS…JUST TONY JOE AND HIS DRUMMER. THE DRUM SET LOOKED LIKE A LITTLE KIT YOU’D GET FOR A KID TO FOOL AROUND ON. TONY CARRIED HIS OWN AMP, GUITAR SLUNG AROUND HIS NECK, AND A HARMONICA ON ONE OF THEM DYLAN HARP NECK GADGETS…DRUMMER SETS HIS BASS DRUM, SNARE AND HIGH HAT DOWN, TONY SETS HIS AMP DOWN, PLUGS IN AND OFF THEY GO…TWO GUYS…MAYBE 15 THOUSAND PEOPLE AT LEAST IN THIS HUGE ARENA…AND IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST 25 MINUTES OF LIVE MUSIC I’VE EVER SEEN TO THIS DAY. AND I HOPE TO MEET TONY JOE WHITE SOMEDAY AND TELL HIM JUST HOW MAGNIFICENT IT REALLY WAS THAT NIGHT. I’VE NOW GOT ALL HIS RECORDINGS, INCLUDING 2 VERSIONS OF “STUD SPIDER” ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE SWAMP SONGS…GOD, HE WAS JUST MAGNIFICENT THAT NIGHT…TWO GUYS…A TINY AMP…DRUMS, GUITAR, HARP, VOICE…I’VE NEVER FORGOTTEN THAT. IT WAS A LESSON FOR ME ABOUT WHAT TO STRIVE FOR…HE CONNECTED WITH ME THAT NIGHT…CONNECTED WITH MY “SOUL” WHATEVER THAT IS…AND I’VE NEVER FORGOTTEN HOW SPECIAL IT WAS ON SO MANY LEVELS. FIRSTLY, EVEN WHEN THE RAIDERS FINALLY CAME ON WITH THEIR SOLDIER OUTFITS AND GREAT GUITARS AND LIGHTS AND FLASH AND HARMONIES (Good God, they were almost as famous, something like an American Beatles…Mark was on the cover of everything…moreso than Justin B. is today…) I WAS STILL THINKING ABOUT TONY JOE AND THAT DRUMMER…IT TAUGHT ME THE GREATEST LESSON I THINK YOU CAN LEARN ABOUT SHOW BUSINESS….IT’S ABOUT THAT CONNECTION. I’M NOT SAYING TO GO OUT AND “GO TO ANY LENGTHS” TO CONNECT…JESUS, I’VE SEEN SOME EXTREMES…SID VICIOUS USED TO CUT HIMSELF A LOT…THAT GOT SOME PEOPLE’S ATTENTION…WENDY WILLIAMS USED TO SHOVE THE MIKE UP INSIDE HERSELF ON STAGE…THAT TURNED SOME HEADS. BUT I SAW “CONNECTIONS” GALORE IN THE GOLDEN DAYS…THE LAST THROES OF THE HIPPIES…I PLAYED AT SOME SPECTACULAR POP FESTIVALS, SOME OF THE LAST GREAT ONES…SEATTLE WAS ONE OF THOSE…AND NOBODY FILMED IT…SO WHAT…MY HEAD FILMED IT…I CAN LIVE IT AGAIN ANYTIME I CHOOSE, AND BELIEVE ME, I THINK ABOUT THAT ONE A LOT…BUT THAT TONY JOE THING WAS HEAVY, AND SO WAS THE NIGHT WE OPENED FOR THE AIRPLANE IN THE OLD WINNIPEG ARENA. IT WAS 68, SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THE AURA AROUND THE AIRPLANE THAT NIGHT…JESUS…THEY WERE THERE IN WNNIPEG…THE AIRPLANE…I COULDN’T BELIEVE I ACTUALLY TALKED TO JORMA AND GRACIE THAT NIGHT…ABOUT FOUR WORDS TOTAL, BUT IT HAPPENED…AND SO, ON WE GO, THE GUESS WHO, WE’RE SO TIGHT AND POLISHED WE’RE GONNA BLOW THEM RIGHT OFF THE FUCKIN’ STAGE…BOY OH BOY, WE’RE LOADED FOR BEAR…HERE’S OUR CHANCE TO SHOW UP THE BIG GROUP…AND FROM BEING BACKSTAGE ALL TOGETHER BEWEEN SETS FOR A FEW MINUTES, I HAD A CHANCE TO SEE THE PUPILS OF SEVERAL OF THE CAST OF CHARACTERS’ EYES…SO I THINK THERE WAS SOME ALTERATION GOING ON. ANYWAY, ON WE GO, THE GUESS WHO…AND WE’RE REALLY GREAT. WE SING GREAT, WE PLAY GREAT, I’M SWITCHIN’ AROUND FROM KEYS TO FLUTE TO HARMONICA TO GUITAR AND SINGIN’ PRETTY GOOD, AND THE FOUR OF US ARE PRETTY WELL ON OUR GAME…WE COME OFF STAGE PRETTY SMUG INSIDE…
FEW MINUTES LATER OUT GO THE AIRPLANE…THEIR SET STARTS WITH A HIPPIE TYPE JAM WITH JORMA AND JACK JUST SAILING AND SOARING TOGETHER…SPENCER WAS LUCKY TO BE WITH THOSE TWO…AND PAUL’S HAMMERING ON HIS RICK, I THINK IT WAS A RICK…AND THIS GREAT JAM SNEAKS SEAMLESSLY INTO
“ONE PILL MAKES YOU LARGER, AND ONE PILL MAKES YOU SMALL…”
GRACIE SANG THOSE ELEVEN WORDS AND AT THAT MOMENT NOT ONE PERSON IN THAT ARENA HAD ANY MEMORY OF THE GUESS WHO’S PERFORMANCE WHATSOEVER…THE POWER OF THE HIT RECORD, OR THE “RECOGNIZABLE TUNE” HIT ME LIKE A HAMMER IN THE TEMPLE THAT NIGHT. OUR BAND HAD BEEN EXCEPTIONAL…BUT IT DIDN’T MEAN A HILL OF STALE BEANS ONCE THEY LAUNCHED INTO WHITE RABBIT…
I LOVE MY JOB…BUT IT’S NOT EASY. I’M 63 AND I STILL WORK REALLY REALLY HARD AT MAINTAINING A CERTAIN LEVEL OF PRIDE IN WHAT MAKES UP WHAT WE CALL MY “CAREER”. I HAVE MANY FAULTS, BUT ONE OF THEM IS NOT LAZINESS WHEN IT COMES TO THE MUSIC. I IF WERE LAZY I WOULDN’T HAVE A WORLD CLASS COLLECTION OF ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF MANKIND’S MUSIC…
AND IF I WERE LAZY I WOULDN’T HAVE TYPED ALL THIS AT SIX IN THE MORNING WHEN I’M IN THE MIDDLE OF THREE IN A ROW…GOOD LORD…GUESS IT’S TRANQUIL SLEEPS TONIGHT…
THE FROGS ARE GREAT…REALLY GREAT. THEY TRY HARD. NOT ALL BANDS DO, YOU KNOW…THE FROGS TRY HARD…AND ALL SIX OF US BENEFIT, BECAUSE AT THAT POINT IT BECOMES SOMETHING SPECIAL. THESE SHOWS WILL SURVIVE ON VIDEO FOREVER…THAT’S ENORMOUS PRESSURE ON THE SIX OF US EVERY NIGHT, KNOWING OF THAT VIRTUAL IMMORTALITY. JIM MORRISON ONCE SAID “WHEN YOU DIE, WOULD YOUR LIFE BE INTERESTING ENOUGH TO MAKE A MOVIE ABOUT ?”
THE SIX OF US ARE DOING SOMETHING ALMOST EVERY NIGHT THAT HAS BEEN DEEMED BY MANY, SPECIAL ENOUGH TO FREEZE FOREVER.

“THIS IS THE DAWNING OF THE AGE OF GREGARIOUS…”

PEACE INSIDE…BLC

BOOKS (a re-narrowcast)

HADN’T THOUGHT ABOUT THIS ONE FOR A WHILE…THEN I READ IT AGAIN LAST NIGHT AND THOUGHT IT DESERVED A SECOND LOOK NOW…SCRIBBLED IT DOWN ON JUNE 11, 2010. IT STRIKES ME THAT IF I’D HAD TO CENSOR OR RESTRICT MYSELF IN ANY WAY, I’D NEVER HAVE WRITTEN IT. THIS IS WHAT UPSETS ME ABOUT ALL THIS BICKERING ABOUT LANGUAGE. ANOTHER GUY’S ALL UPSET NOW, SAYS THAT I’M A “FILTH MONGER”…WELL, OKAY…I’M NOT FIGHTING ABOUT ANY OF THIS ANYMORE…BUT HERE’S A NICE PIECE WITH SOME NICE PHRASES…WRITTEN DOWN QUICKLY WITH NOT MUCH THOUGHT…IT WOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED HAD CERTAIN PEOPLE HAD THEIR WAY…
I’M STARTING TO BELIEVE THAT PEACE REALLY WILL FIND THOSE WHO DESERVE IT…
HOPE YOU LIKE THE POEM…I’M NOT TRYING TO BE PRETENTIOUS OR PROVE ANYTHING…I JUST LIKE PLAYING WITH WORDS…IF THAT’S A CRIME, THEN LOCK ME UP…

BURTON CUMMINGS-ORDER OF CANADA / SONG AND DANCE MAN

BOOKS

A KISS UPON A TEAR WOULD CHASE THE PAIN
AND BRING AT LEAST A BREAK TO TORRID GRIEF
THO NEVER TO BE SEEN IN GRACE AGAIN
EMERITUS AND USED, IF ALL BE BRIEF…
AND TWICE UPON A TIME OCCURRED THE WILL
BELABORED AND BELITTLED FOR ITS TRANCE
WITH BONA FIDE ATTENTION WISHING ILL
THE DARKEST OF THE DARKEST START THEIR DANCE
FOR CLOSURE BE INDEBTED TO THE SAINTS
IN HALLOWED FOOTSTEPS STILL THEIR WORDS WILL STAND
THE OPPOSITE OF MISERY ACQUAINTS
TO SMILE, EXTENDING VIRTUE THROUGH A HAND…
BUT WHERE TO RUN WHEN SHALLOW WATERS BOND
WITH DARKER FORCES COME UPON THE DEEP
OF PRUDENCE TO REMAIN SO VERY FOND
THE SACRIFICE FOR SCRUPLE IS THE SLEEP
I CRY UPON THE SHOULDER OF THE LOST
FOR ALL THAT GOT AWAY BEFORE THE LIGHT
THE RENEGADE WITHIN ME NOW IS DROSSED
ABANDONED AND CONFUSED, AFRAID TO FIGHT
AN ECHO ONCE RETURNED UPON A PRAYER
BE FORFEITED ALOFT FOR PASSAGE DOWN
THE SENTENCE AND THE PRISON CHOKE THE AIR
A DISTANCE OVERWHELMING FROM RENOWN
I CANNOT FEEL THE FORCES OR THE STRAIN
THE NUMBING OF THE LEAVES HAS TRANSFERED HOME
AND SEASONLESS FOREVER I REMAIN
CONTENT WITHIN THE PAGES OF THE TOME
THE HOUSE WHEREIN THE LOVE IS EVER REAL
THE SHIP UPON THE SEA FOREVER MINE
THE SECRET PASSAGE, CLEVER TO CONCEAL
THE SACRED MINARET IN SOFT DECLINE
AN HONOUR CODE AND THOSE WHO HELD IT DEAR
WOULD FIGHT FOR THOSE WHO COULD NOT HOLD THEIR OWN
AND THOSE WHO FIND THE WONDROUS CHRISTMAS CHEER
IN TIMES OF LOVE WHEN NONE IS LEFT ALONE…
THE FOREST RIFE WITH MAGIC AND AGLOW
IF EVER THERE WERE WONDERS IN THE NOW
FOR TIME AND SPIRITS EVER ON THE GO
AND NEVER TO FORGET THEM IS MY VOW…
I COME TO CALL UPON THEM IN THE NIGHT
I LET THEM TAKE ME ANYWHERE THEY WILL
AND I AM ALWAYS READY FOR THE FLIGHT
AND I AM ALWAYS DAZZLED BY THE THRILL…

BLC 11/6/10