Sunday morning music...

I'm sitting here listening to iTunes.  I have a bunch of playlists that I made when the mood struck me. One of the playlists I made consists of music from the 70s and 80s, which happens to be my favorite time period for pop music.  Yeah, I know... I'm old.

Still, I can't get over how good some of this shit is.  I really think the music business has become a lot more about packaging than actual talent.  The talented folks aren't necessarily the ones on stage.  They're the ones coming up with songs that sell and images that others will think is cool.  How I miss the days before music videos, when a person could be very ordinary looking and still rock the house.

From the No Nukes concert in 1979...  The album that accompanies this is just awesome!

Bruce Springsteen at the same show...

Carole King and James Taylor at The Troubadour in 2010 singing a classic song...

A little Jim Croce...

Okay... this is from 1969, but still...

I usually like a little mellow music on Sundays, but it's fun to hear what comes up randomly.  I'm so glad I was around when music was still awesome.  (Yes, I'm old.)

Angel From Montgomery...

Today, I discovered some interesting things about John Prine's hit, "Angel From Montgomery".  I had no idea that Carly Simon recorded it in 1972 with help from her ex husband, James Taylor, and James's pal, Danny Kortchmar.  I am very partial to Bonnie Raitt's stellar rendition, but I have to admit there's a certain style in Carly Simon's take on this song.

I think Carly might be a little too northern for this bluesy number, though...  She sings it like a New Yorker or a Bostonite instead of an "Angel From Montgomery"...  This track was never released for the album it was recorded for, No Secrets.  I did read that she later updated it for her box set, Clouds in My Coffee, and her son Ben Taylor helped her with it.  I haven't heard their rendition yet.

A young Bonnie Raitt sings with the song's author, John Prine...

I did this song the other day with a guy from Australia who turned out to be a really good partner.  I enjoyed it so much that I decided to record my own solo version of it.  This song really suits my voice.  It requires a certain sadness.



I suppose I should sharpen my video making skills, but it's more fun to make music.

Happy birthday, James Taylor!

Yup, he's 66 years old today.

He's come a long way since 1970's "Fire and Rain"…

"Carolina in My Mind" remains one of my favorite songs by JT.

And though James and Carly didn't stay married, they did make some beautiful music and two fabulous kids.

James Taylor and Alison Krauss have also made fabulous music together.

He also has a fine sense of humor when he has brainfarts.

I love James' version of "The Water Is Wide"…

*Sigh* I love "Copperline"…

The hauntingly gorgeous "Caroline I See You"…

For his wife, Kim...

Happy birthday, James!  May there be many more to come!

I owe James Taylor a great deal.  His music has gotten me through some tough times.  When I hear him sing, I always feel like I've got a friend.

Julie Through The Glass...

Some time ago, I found a corny Mormon PSA/ad on YouTube which used the song "Julie Through The Glass".  When I first saw the ad, I didn't know who had written or originally sung the song or even why it was written.  It was just being used on one of those old LDS ads that were so prevalent back in the 70s and 80s.

As you can see, this ad is probably from the late 70s or early 80s… and it runs for an astonishing two minutes!

Yesterday, an old friend got in touch with me on Facebook and I noticed she had posted the song "Julie Through The Glass".  Much to my surprise, I saw that it was a Carly Simon original.  Someone on YouTube commented that she had written it in honor of her newborn niece, Julie, born to her sister, Lucy Simon.

I love Carly Simon's music and am glad I got to hear the original version of this song…

The words to this song are just extraordinary.  They describe a woman seeing a baby relative for the first time.  Obviously, Carly was singing this for her niece, from the perspective of a loving aunt.  But it could have just as easily come from a new mother.  As you can see, Carly was quite the hottie in 1971 and this album cover was pretty sexy for its day.

It would be another three years before Carly would have her own daughter, Sally, with James Taylor.  Three years after that, she'd have her son, Ben, with James Taylor…  and then a few years after Ben's birth, Carly and James would divorce.  From all accounts, Carly Simon is a very dedicated mom, so it's natural that these beautiful lyrics would come from her.

Julie through the glass
Lookin' up at me
You've just got to be
The sweetest thing I've ever seen
Julie through the glass
Just born a day ago
And who knows where you've been
And where you're gonna go

We want you to love the world
To know it well and play a part
And we'll help you to learn to love yourself
'Cause that's where loving really starts

Julie through the glass
I'm looking forward to
Doing things with you
For many years to come

Read more: Carly Simon - Julie Through The Glass Lyrics | MetroLyrics 

Mockingbird...

This song has been popularized by plenty of folks.  Perhaps James Taylor and Carly Simon's version is the most famous… it's definitely the one with which I am most familiar.  I bought a Carly Simon greatest hits album about twenty years ago and her famous duet with JT was on it.  I liked it, even though it's kind of corny…

Inez and Charlie Fox had the original version of this song…

Toby Keith sang it with his daughter...

And of course, Clark and Ellen Griswold sang it while on Vacation...

I did my part some time ago and this talented gentleman joined me.  I think it turned out quite well.

The Times... They Are A Changin'...

I happen to own the fabulous live double CD called No Nukes, which was put out in 1979 by stars who were against nukes...  People like James Taylor, Carly Simon, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, Nicolette Larson, and Raydio were all guests.  And they sang songs like "The Times, They Are A Changin'"  They all performed at Madison Square Garden...

James Taylor and Carly Simon were still married at the time.  They contribute a couple of really nice collaborations.

Part of the accompanying documentary... No Nukes.

Nukes are not as big of a threat these days, but we're still dealing with plenty of upheaval.

In light of the week we've just endured with a government shutdown, I decided I'd try the song myself...



The times are a changin'... hopefully for the better for at least some people...