Quite!
Monday, March 30, 2026
Photo of The Day - Dorothea Lange 1939 A Migrant family FSA Library of Congress
A migrant family from Arkansas playing old-time music. Farm Security Administration emergency migratory camp, Calipatria, California, February 1939 in a photograph by Dorothea Lange for the Farm Security Administration, Library of Congress.
Jed Johnson with his (their!) dogs, Amos and Archie by Andy Warhol (1977)
Not often seen and overlooked by many but Jed was Andy’s longest standing boyfriend/partner and they were considered a married couple by many close friends
Some people’s diary entries seem to bear more portent than others I guess
George Harrison's diary entry for when he left the Beatles
"chip supper with Klaus (Voorman) and Christine”
'Lectures From Beyond The Grave' Curated by Bob Dylan | ROUTE
"A living archive of lectures from the grave, letters never sent, and original short stories curated by Bob Dylan. Curated content by Bob Dylan”
start the week with some Kelly Boesch? Don’t mind if we do . . . . . .
Kelly announces she has a record deal and watch this space for further developments - good Luck Kelly can’t wait to hear (and see?!) what you do next!
KELLY BOESCH : GET INSIDE MY MIND (TAKE A RIDE)
Kelly Says:
I wrote the lyrics to this song early last year and really wanted to rework the song. The lyrics to this song came about from people saying to me all the time “I wish I could see inside your mind”, because I have some crazy ideas. LOLI haven’t mentioned but I have signed a record deal with Nettwerk Records. It has been so great as I now am able to work with a wonderful producer, Marshall Altman, on my songs. He really added some cool vibes to this new version. I’m having such a great time lately with all of the amazing things happening as the result of following this AI path. When I make a song there is so much more that goes into it than just pushing a button. Each song takes time to finish. Writing lyrics, many iterations, editing bits and pieces and now I can run ideas by Marshall and he also has great ideas and adds so much to the song and makes sure it sounds perfect. It’s an exciting and fun collaborative process.The visuals are more strange surreal scenes, kind of my signature style. I am a lover of the surreal. My favorite since I was an art major in college studying art history. I was completely fascinated with surrealism and it has stuck my entire life.Lyrics written by me, Kelly Boesch. Music created under my creative direction with assistance from Suno.Get Inside My Mind (Take A Ride)(Verse 1)Get inside my mind, take a rideNo exit, no place to hideJust take the ride, and feel the flowWhere it leads you'll never knowPull up a chair, pour a drinkWatch my world, but don't thinkNo regrets, no need to hideJust hold on tight and let your mind slide(Chorus)Take a ride, don't ask whyThe wheels turn, the past slides byNo breaks, no rules, no timeJust a psychedelic sky and a freeway line(Verse 2)Whiskey burns, the jukebox sighsSame old tune with different liesDawn rolls in, soft and slowBut I ain't ready to let goWords dissolve before they landSlip like smoke right through my handsVoices blur, I stay clearChasing something almost here(Chorus)Take a ride, don't ask whyThe wheels turn, the past slides byNo breaks, no rules, no timeJust a psychedelic sky and a freeway lineNo way back, no end in sightKeep on trippin' into the night
Sunday, March 29, 2026
This one’s going out to Lou and Rachel . . . . . .
IN MEMORIUM
To transexual Rachel Humphreys who died Jan 30th 1990 aged 37 in Saint Clare's Hospital NY a hospital that specialised in AIDS/HIV care
Lou Reed - Coney Island Baby (live)
Though Lou spoke little about Rachel after their split up he would not hear a bad word said about her and fell out with Lester Bangs for being disrespectful about her and they never spoke again. She had an unhappy end and was last seen homeless and sleeping rough under a famous NY Westside Highway, gaunt and probably dying from AIDS
As for Lou
It’s simple - he loved her
Taj Mahal - The Natch'l Blues (1968 us, awesome blues, 2000 remastered with bonus tracks) | Plain & Fancy
Taj Mahal - The Natch'l Blues
(1968 usa, 2000 remastered with bonus tracks)
An absolute classic revisited!
Again thanks to my dear brother Steve who introduced me to more Taj after my first hearing his Statesboro Blues on the Rock Machine Turns You On (1968) compilation (10s/6d as I recall! 52.5p in today’s money!) and he started our mutual passion for all things Taj when he came home with this album - this being the first I heard!
Taj Mahal (formerly Henry Saint Clair Frederick) literally was born to play the blues. Growing up in a musical household, his musical pedigree would be defined by the gospel music of his mother and the West Indian jazz arrangements of his father. Classical piano lessons resulted, plus mastering the harmonica and acoustic guitar. His organic comprehension of music was reflected in academic pursuits of farming, a passion he maintained in addition to his music.
Taj moved to California and formed a blues group with Ry Cooder that failed to generate commercial success. Subsequently, he started working with iconic blues players, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy and Lightnin’ Hopkins, developing his distinctive singing and playing. He recorded with the Rolling Stones (appearing in the groundbreaking Rock and Roll Circus), and release a self-titled debut album for Columbia Records. His career over the next four decades elevated his status to legendary.
Natch’l Blues, originally released in 1968, is a transformative album. It combines traditional blues with modern sound production. “Good Morning Miss Brown” sets a rhythmic tone with a jazzy acoustic steel guitar, walking piano bass line, and soulful vocal. There are numerous hooks that make the songs vibrant. “The Cuckoo”, a medium-paced number has an infectious electric guitar groove that works in tandem with Taj’s discerning harp work.
The harp playing has a natural, understated quality, that is displayed on the instrumental, “Things Are Gonna Work Out Fine” (one of three bonus tracks on the album), as he and Jesse Ed Davis exchange urgent leads, fixed in counterpoint. On the frequently covered, “Corinna”, a country aesthetic is rendered with the harp licks, blending seamlessly with the song’s tempo. A colorful rhythm and blues theme is developed on “You Don’t Miss Your Water (‘Till Your Well Runs Dry)”, punctuated by Memphis-Stax/Volt horn chorus and lead vocals reminiscent of Otis Redding or Sam Cooke.
Even in a traditional blues format (“Goin’ Up To the Country, Paint My Mailbox Blue”), the mystique of this modern bluesman is proprietary. It is inconceivable that he recorded an album this commanding in his twenties. The supporting band (Davis, Gary Gilmore, Chuck Blackwell, Al Kooper and Earl Palmer) is cohesive, led by the musical acuity of Davis.
The analogue stereo sound is flawless. The separation of the instrumentation (especially between the electric and steel guitars) is exact. With reduced distortion, a clearer tone on the electric instruments and the harmonica is achieved. Audiophile or not, this album is an idiomatic excursion into great blues music.
by Robbie Gerson
Tracks1 Good Morning Miss Brown - 5:162 Corinna (Jesse Ed Davis) - 5:013 I Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Steal My Jellyroll - 5:134 Going Up To The Country, Paint My Mailbox Blue - 5:355 Done Changed My Way Of Living - 11:446 She Caught The Katy And Left Me A Mule To Ride (Taj Mahal, James A. Rachell) - 5:277 The Cuckoo (Traditional) - :558 You Don't Miss Your Water ('Til Your Well Runs Dry) (William Bell) - 7:059 Ain't That A Lot Of Love (Homer Banks, William Dean Parker) - 6:4110 The Cuckoo (Traditional) - 5:2011 New Stranger Blues - 8:5912 Things Are Gonna Work Out Fine - 5:17All songs written by Taj Mahal except where notedBonus Tracks 10-12Musicians*Taj Mahal - Vocals, National Steel Guitar, Harmonica*Jesse Ed Davis - Guitar, Piano*Al Kooper - Piano*Gary Gilmore - Bass*Chuck Blackwell - Drums*Earl Palmer - Drums
Dedicated to the memory of my Brother Steve
he knew why!
Taj Mahal - Cakewalk Into Town 1973
Taj Mahal and guests! - Statesboro Blues
Nashville Tennessee September, 2014 - Ry Cooder (Lead Guitar), Buddy Miller (Guitar), Don Was (Bass), Joachim Cooder(Drums),Tim Lauer(Piano),
R.E.M : a three for . . . . . Perfect Circle, Gardening at Night, So Central Rain [O My Soul]
Nice choices of R.E.M. this morning from Alice over at O My Soul
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