It Doesn't Matter....

Two versions of the same song, sort of... Same melody, (almost) completely different lyrics. Written by Stephen Stills, Chris Hillman and Rick Roberts. I first discovered "It Doesn't Matter" from the version Steve Stills did with the band Manassas in 1972. It wasn't until mid college (1981, maybe) that I discovered the version Firefall (featuring Rick Roberts) did in 1976. I really like both versions, but Firefall's lyrics seem to have more emotional "punch".

FIREFALL's version

She was just looking, wondering if you might
notice her smile
She was just watching, Hoping you might want
to stay for a while
Let her be by your side
You don’t have to say why, You don’t have to say why
It doesn’t matter
She was just looking at you

Standing alone, While she tells you goodbye
Still wishing she’d stay
Wanting to tell you, The way that she feels
She can’t think what to say
Except don’t walk away
You might need her someday, You might need her someday
It doesn’t matter
She was just looking at you

She was just watching, As you walked away
Without turning around
She was just crying, Her head in her hands
and her eyes on the ground
without making a sound
Oh but don’t turn around, Leave her behind
She’ll be around, If you change you mind
It doesn’t matter
She was just looking at you

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MANASSAS' version

Fallin' and spinnin', Losin' and winnin'

Keepin' my head

Watchin' for signals, Wearisome vigil

Was I misled

I remember you said, that you

Don't want to forget me

It doesn't matter

Which of our fantasies fail

.

Every tomorrow, Lookin' to borrow
A piece of today

Run a bit faster, Here comes the catcher
Makin' his play
You had better not stay

You will soon be surrounded
It doesn't matter
Which of our fantasies stay

Lonely and winsome, Calling for someone
Living right now

Something is shallow, Ugly and hollow
Doesn't even allow
You to want to know how

you might Live for the living

Give for the giving, Moment by moment
One day at a time
It doesn't matter,

It's nothin' but dreamin' any how

Fenced In - Your Input Requested

OK, yesterday was Theme Day in my photo group, the topic was “fences”. I entered a shot, then later decided I liked a different one better. SO….. here’s both, and YOUR opportunity to give me a piece of your minds. Just state your preference (please!) in the comments….

Easy As 1-2-3

OK, here's a sampling of songs, from 1 to 10... Some numbers (especially 1, 2 & 3) had lots of choices (in my library)... Others (6, 8 & 10) didn't.

1 - Three Dog Night
2 Cents Worth - Kansas
Gimmie 3 Steps - Lynyrd Skynyrd
4 + 20 - Crosby Stills Nash & Young
5:15 - The Who
6 Blade Knife - Dire Straits
7 Screaming Diz-Buzters - Blue Oyster Cult
Figure of 8 - Wings
9 - 9 - R.E.M.
Clock Strikes 10 - Cheap Trick

Sticking with 1 through 10, your nominations welcome!

Covered Bridge Discovery

I was driving home from Peoria last Sunday, and decided to take a short side trip… Just south of Springfield, IL, the interstate (I-55 runs more or less parallel to old Rt. 66. I decided to dump over to the “mother road” at Chatham, only to discover that it simply ran right beside the interstate. Exact same view, but slower. BUT!!! As I was looking for the next opportunity to get back on the highway, I saw one of those wonderful brown signs, the ones that mark parks and other (sometimes) interesting spots. This one simply said “Covered Bridge”, and pointed down an uninteresting looking road. After a few miles, and sev eral turns, I came across Pioneer Park, and Sugar Creek Covered Bridge. Sort of in the middle of nowhere, a nice little glade, with a small creek and a covered bridge. Nothing dramatic, but a nice little break. I didn’t see another person the whole time I was there. A patina covered marker, with a few bullet holes, stated:

PIONEER PARK
In memory of the first settlers of Sangamon County. Site of the first settler’s home. Built by Robert Pulltam, October 20, 1817. 200 yards north of here

I didn’t see any remnants of the home, but didn’t look too hard. Some internet research on the bridge revealed that it was built in 1880, and refurbished in 1965.

Take The Water...

A couple of leftover files, from the Linville Falls area along the Blue Ridge Parkway. About 80 miles north of Ashville, NC

Suffragette City

On this date (8/26) back in 1930, the 19th amendment to the US Constitution was formally adopted. The 19th amentment gave women the right to vote. Pretty amazing that it took so long, over 60 years later than the 15th amendment, which guaranteed the right to vote would not be denied based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

What're You Listening to?

Here's the 10 most recent from my itunes:
* The Creeper - Molly Hatchet (now playing)
* Death Or Glory - The Clash
* Staying With It - Firefall
* Cajun Girl - Little Feat (post Lowell George)
* Rock n Roll Band - Boston
* I'm A Lover - David Johansen
* Wild Honey Pie - The Beatles
* The Flowers Of Guatemala - R.E.M.
* Day Or Night (Live) - Little Feat
* Jealous Again - Black Crowes
What're y'all listening to?

NFO

Just a minor local landmark …. This old barn sits along the interstate (I-270), the photo was shot from the Meridian Rd. overpass. It's probably at least a 20 ft embankment down to the highway. There used to be this great porch/overhang on the far side, till some guy in a semi had a massive heart attack, ran up the hill and knocked it down. Bummer, especially for the guy, who didn't survive...

And Then There Were Eight

After 76 years, Pluto has gotten a pink-slip. It seems that the scientific "fact" that there are 9 planets in our solar system has been revised. With Pluto's demption, we're down to 8. Thank goodness we've settled THAT! Or have we?? Pluto will now be a "dwarf planet" raising the question: "If a raincoat is still a coat, and a cell phone is still a phone, why isn't a dwarf planet still a planet?"... Well, at least Pluto is way out there, so we're still the 3rd Rock, or 3rd Stone, from the sun...

Photo-Journalism 101

I think I’ve mentioned it before, but back in my college days, I spent a little time shooting for the school newspaper, the Duke University Chronicle. I started in the summer of ’81, as a favor to the editor, who happened to be my girlfriend’s roommate. My main goal at the time was to have access to a “real” darkroom, rather than using the bathroom in my apartment (which tended to offend my roommate). I primarily did the Thursday “Arts” supplement, and only for 6 months or so. I recently dug out some long yellowed copies, and decided to scan the images. A retrospective, from 25 years ago:

“R&R” refers to rest & relaxation, of course, as in the impending weekend. The Chronicle was ½ size, about 12x15”. So the cover shot was just under 7x10”. The cover story for this issue (Vol,1, Number 6, 10/15/1981) was the university radio station at nearby UNC (since Duke’s radio station sucked). As it turned out, as a music geek (who actually listened to the station) I did most of the interview, the “reporter” mainly took notes. Oh yeah, I did do 5 photos of various shapes and sizes.
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This is the shot I wanted to use for the cover, I think it’s a LOT better. But, you know how editors are. That was one of the main reasons my photojournalism career didn’t take off. I wasn’t very good at taking direction... For all you young’uns out there, those black round things are called records, sort of prehistoric CDs.
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What're You Listening to?

Here's the 10 most recent from my itunes:
* Love Is A Heart Attack - John Entwistle (now playing)
* In The Crowd - The Jam
* Mondo Bondage - The Tubes
* Crosstown Traffic - Jimi Hendrix
* Nostradamus - Al Stewart
* Loop Garoo - Dr. John
* One To One - Joe Jackson
* Keeping The Faith - Lynyrd Skynyrd (post crash)
* Rosalita - Bruce Springsteen
* Cheyenne Anthem - Kansas
What're y'all listening to?

Has Your Band Begun To Rust?

Thanks to Netflix, I've finally seen Neil Young's 1979 concert movie, "Rust Never Sleeps". Gotta love it... I remember freshman year of college, when RNS came out, what a great record. And this is a fun film. I never saw NY in concert, except for with the Stills/Young band in early '77 or so... I do have the 1983 Berlin HBO concert, which is also great, but very different (from the Trans" period).

First!!

Today was the first day of first grade for my first (and only) son! By contrast, it was also the first day of my second daughter’s last year of high school. …. I almost missed him boarding the bus, he wasn't too interested in posing...

Joe Roenthal, 1911-2006

On February 23, 1945, Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal took one of the most famous photos in U.S. history, the flag raising at Iwo Jima. 1945, during the battle for Iwo Jima, U.S. Marines raised a flag atop Mount Suribachi. This was actually the second flag raising, replacing the original, smaller, flag. Joe Rosenthal passed away yesterday, at the age of 94.

I've Looked At Clouds From Both Sides Now

My Yahoo Photo-Group runs several “theme” contests through the month. One of the tasks for this month is “Clouds”. Well, I dug through the archives, and found several examples I like. The first one is my actual entry.

Late afternoon, clouds lit from above... An oldie, from my Kodak LS443 Point&Shoot
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STOP and look!…
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Pretty Sunset, SW Illinois style
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Artificial clouds…
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Fingers of God??
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Generic sunset, Glen Carbon, IL
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A Study in B&W…
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Truth Hits Everybody

Gordon Sumner (better known as Sting), Stewart Copeland, and Andy Summers give their first performance as The Police at a nightclub in Birmingham, England. Sting and Copeland had formed the band several months earlier with another guitar player, Henry Padovani, who had quit the band, but this was the first show featuring the trio that proved to be a hit-making combination.
Sting, nicknamed for a black and yellow shirt he frequently wore to his early gigs, was born in Newcastle, England. Before becoming a full-time musician, he worked as a teacher and ditch digger. Playing bass, saxophone, and keyboards, as well as singing, Sting played in Newcastle jazz clubs in his early 20s, when he met drummer Stewart Copeland. Copeland was born to American parents in Egypt; his father was in the CIA. Summers, a classically trained guitar player from Blackpool, England, had played with numerous successful musicians, including Neil Sedaka, before joining the Police. Copeland and his brother created a record label that produced a single, "Fall Out," by the Police in 1978. A year later, the group signed a record deal. (courtesy of History Channel)

I used to have the 45 of Fall Out, whith HenryP on guitar, but I sold it on eBay a while back...

La Morte De Elvis

29 years ago today, 8/16/1977, Elvis died. Long live the King!

His demise left the music world all shook up, although there are still some suspicious minds who think. OK, that's enough of THAT!

Some Elvis related photos, or at least Memphis, from the "way back" section of the archives:

A couple more shots from along the New River Gorge, from last month’s WV vacation

I really liked the dead tree, lying horizontal just above where the stream appears…. This was along the little 1-lane road leading into the gorge
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Clearance, 14 Ft….
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This little stream was ROCKIN’. You can see the New River in the background….

44 Down, 6 to go

I finally made it to Minnesota a couple of weeks ago, on a business trip to Minneapolis (Minnetonka). That makes 44 states (and the District of Columbia) where I've spent at least a little time. From states I've lived in (WV, PA, NC, MD, IL) to states I've spent lots of time in (TN, VA, GA, MO, WA) to states I've just barely been in (AL, AR)... The ones that are left may take some doing: Nebraska, Oklahoma, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming and Mississippi. Like the Johnny Cash Song says "I've been everywhere, man"... almost.

Wet & Wild

Raging water in West Virgina, along the New River gorge…. .

What Do You Want From Life??

On this date (8/13) in 1975, from the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame website: The Tubes release their self-titled debut album, featuring the band's anthem "White Punks On Dope". It also includes the classic "What Do You Want From Life". I'll always rememebr, freshman year of college (fall of 1978) a room full of new friends singing along to WPOD, when we all realized that Colleeen T. was singing "We're white puss on toast"...... I guess you had to be there, but it was pretty funny at the time.

Under The Bridge

The Rt. 19 Bridge of New River Gorge, WV .

Rhododendron bud

Along the Blue Ridge Parkway, NC .

Cornstalks

The edge of a cornfield, just across streets from the YMCA and the Middle School… It’ll be a neighborhood soon, I’m sure…. .

Compressor

A detail look at an old train car…. .

Hotel...

Just back from a week in a hotel, on a business trip. A bit worn down, the alarm went off at 3:30am to make a 6:00am flight; that's 2:30am now that I'm back on central time... Anyway, the whole thing reminds me of a Brian Protheroe song from 1976, nice and obscure, just how I like 'em! I remember ALMOST buying the album this is on at "Head's Together" on vinyl, but passing because I was really looking for "Pinball".... I must admit I'm not 100% sure of the fisrt line, but that's how it sounds to me.....

Hotel - Celibitize, leading the gold line
Hotel - High ball for one, away from the sunshine
Hotel - Bellboy caress while you guess the language
Hotel - He get the bread and you get the sandwich

Hotel - Scuttling maids, crisp and delightful
Hotel - Linen to change wet from the nightfall
Hotel - Sister Louise in with the bedpan
Hotel - I’m on my knees trying to look deadpan

Hotel - Look here I am, here I am
Hotel - Telling the time eating the jam
Look here I am…

Hotel - There in the room I saw Solome
Hotel - Asked her to dance she didn’t know me
Hotel - Smiling, I lied I have a penny
Hotel - Sorry she sighed, I haven’t any

Hotel - Look here I am, here I am
Hotel - Telling the time eating the jam
Look here I am…

Hotel – Sit by the wall watching the TV
Hotel – Man on the screen says he can see me
Hotel - Silent he lies behind a rainbow
Hotel – What a surprise we’re in the same show

Hotel - Look here I am, here I am
Hotel - Telling the time eating the jam
Look here I am…

Squirrel

repost from August 2005....

A sneaky squirrel, taking the roundabout route to the bird feeder. When we moved to Illinois (at the end of the 80’s), it amazed me that there were virtually no squirrels. At least compared to Pittsburgh or Washington, DC. Rabbits out the ears, but not many squirrels. Well, I planted as many trees as I could fit on our 0.30 acre, and 15 years later, we have squirrels. Squirrels that eat the food I put out for the birds. GRRRRRRR….

RIP Lacy.....

Courtesy of Rolling Stone, on this date in 2004, Legendary Southern Rock figure Lacy Van Zant died at his home in Jacksonville, Fla., due to chronic pulmonary illness. He was 89. Lacy was the father of the Ronnie Van Zant (founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd), current Skynyrd frontman Johnny Van Zant and 38 Special's Donnie Van Zant, as well as daughters Darlene and Marlene, Lacy was known as the "Father of Southern Rock."

Hmmmm.... Ronnie, Donnie and Johnny. Darlene and Marlene...... I think I see a pattern.