Old Folk Rock Curmudgeon- we went to see Richard Thompson perform at the historic venue Thalia Hall in the Pilsen neighborhood. A good set with a sampling of rock pieces interspersed by the technical guitar virtuoso work he’s also known for. Midway through the gig he sang his most widely known ballad: Vincent Black Lightning 1952. The story of ne’er do well James and his red headed gal, Molly. Wonderful stuff!
Imagine – John Lennon would have been 78 today. “Time you enjoy wasting, was not wasted.“
Hang On! Make sure your lassie keeps a good hold of you!
It reminds me of an old folk song we sang at school:
TURN THE GLASSES OVER
I’ve been to Haarlem, I’ve been to Dover,
I’ve traveled this wide world all over.
Over, over, three times over.
Drink all the brandywine and turn the glasses over.
Sailing east, sailing west,
Sailing over the ocean.
Oh, you’d better watch out when the boat begins to rock,
Or you’ll lose your girl in the ocean.
The Eye of the Tiger –
“Risin’ up, back on the street
Did my time, took my chances
Went the distance, now I’m back on my feet
Just a man and his will to survive
So many times, it happens too fast
You trade your passion for glory
Don’t lose your grip on the dreams of the past
You must fight just to keep them alive
It’s the eye of the tiger, it’s the thrill of the fight
Risin’ up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he’s watchin’ us all with the eye of the tiger”
Like a Prayer- the Queen of Pop reached the age of 60 today. Madonna has spent the last several decades rewriting the lyrical content and reinventing a visual style in the music industry. Here she pouts in true Vogue style with a BSA .
Today also sadly saw the passing of the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, whose voice sang across the ages from the social unrest of the Sixties, The Blues Brothers in Reagan’s 80’s, to Obama’s inauguration in 2009. R-E-S-P-E-C-T
You’ll be a Dentist – one of the great musical pieces in Little Shop of Horrors is comedian Steve Martin, whose birthday it is today (73), as the psychopath oral pain specialist Orin Scrivello. “Now Spit!”
Bye Bye Birdie – Norton Atlas provides are very apt machine for Ann Margaret and Jesse Pearson in the titular sixties musical comedy. Portraying Kim MacAfee, the movies teenage protagonist and Conrad Birdie,the heartthrob crooner, respectively the characters get up to all sorts of period Hollywood high jinx. Another Norton “650 Manxman” was also used.
Break a Leg! Period post seventies shenanigans as singer David Essex and the late great racing driver James Hunt lad it up on a Triumph T-140. Hunt broke his leg skiing thwarting a possible comeback in 80′ with McLaren.
Meatloaf! – for old time sake I picked up this overplayed album from the eighties. Classic and theatrical. Perfect foot stompin’ dashboard slappin’ music when you’re stuck in Friday evening Lake Shore Drive traffic – water on the drivin’ side…
ELP – Prog Rock piano and keyboard master Keith Emerson astride his aped Norton Commando clad in full leathers. Forming the group The Nice he developed a mix of classic, rock, jazz, blues, and boogie-woogie amongst others first on a Hammond organ and later on a Moog. I would hope he took musical inspiration whilst hating around on his black motorcycle.
The Quiet Beatle – George Harrison would have been 75 today; whilst John & Paul collaborated to create some of the most memorable songs, and Ringo was one of the greatest drummers; it’s George whose music stays with you in a deeper more spiritual way. The triple album ‘All Things must Pass” is a mainstay of my Desert Island disk list. Here he looks happy on a Triumph Bonneville photographed by wife Pattie Boyd. “If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there”
Red Molly – flowing crimson locks under a moonlit star-studded sky. The muse in Richard Thompson’s most known song; who was given the keys for a ’52 Black Lightning by her dying beau James Adie, as he gasps his last breath from injuries sustained from armed robbery.
Illustrator Brett Breckon from the UK has created a stunning vision of le femme Moto.
Using a process called scraperboard it is the removal of black ink to reveal a white subsurface. The dark mass of a Vincent and it’s leather-clad rider are perfect for such a media.
Vinyl LP – fun graphics in cheery colors and swift illustrative gestures for the period cover artwork on a 1960 record.
It’s the Real Thing! Not quite a Hilltop of anticipated world peace, or a Pacific sunrise revelation by Don Draper, but smashing weather conditions for a cracking ride deserved an ice cold Coke. Proper stuff with real sugar, glass bottle, straw… Perfect!
Spy vs Spy – lip curling proletariat Billy Bragg looks the rocker part on a sweet Speed Twin. The cardigan wearing guys with their thumbs up is 80’s Hull band The Housemartins, Paul Heaton (R) and Stan Cullimore (L).
geordiebiker.com 