Sometimes when I'm blue, I blame the Beatles and marijuana for tempting me to pick up that guitar or plink around on that old upright piano.
In what became a lifelong semi-pro career (nightclubs, bars, a few shows) pot made learning these instruments an excellent adventure rather than a boresome chore. I mean shit, Man . . . it was new. VERY few guitar players around before 1963, LOT's in 65'! It's THAT simple.
Have we any idea how many artists joined the "modern day Renaissance" that began peaking in the 60's and still thrives in many today?
I'm almost 60, retired from playing, in '00 (guitars and singing /pills,bored) and haven't played piano in probably 30 years, despite there being one ten feet behind me, and in pretty good tune (or was?)
That's why I grew my last crop . . . hoping it'd kick-start my songwriting abilities. I even have the ear and inside help of a N-Ville BIG player/producer . . . HUGE, actually.
Anyway, I wasn't smoking any pot while I was in the clubs for almost 30 years . . . it interfered with my drinking, which was always included in the gig . . . and now it's now. I don't drink alcohol anymore.
I can, however, smoke two-hits of my last cure, walk over to that dusty upright, pull up a seat and still, after probably 35-40 years, within a few minutes, be playing
note for note,
ALL the songs on The Band's Big Pink AND The Bands' THE BAND LP's.
These are
not easy, 12 bar blues tunes (JohnnyBGoode), but are quite complex musical arrangements, IMO.
Now I realize a lot of you have no idea who The Band were. They were great, that's all ya need to know, really.
Basically, in the later 60's there were two musical camps (out East, anyway) Folks chose between the Allman Brothers and The Band, which were essentially lifestyles.
Allman followers wore/wear wife-beater T's, have tats, drink whiskey, know how to party, like loud rock n' roll, lots of blond males.
"Band" followers wore/wear flannel, grew beards and drink wine. More artsy.
You can still tell who went which way in today's 50+ crowd.
Those who know will know what I'm saying.
I really don't think this would be possible had I not taken those tunes apart as a young warrior, patience only the wonder of pot and music together could possible provide. How they survive in my head, I've no clue. IT'S INSIDE FOREVER AND POT PUT IT THERE.
That's my story.
Who won? Well, I've got a digital multi-track recorder, a drum-u-lator and a few tunes, half-done, in my head . . . so I smoke, get on here, go to RIU, and now it's today. Maybe I'll put a few tracks down soon? Ha Ha.
Sorry 'bout the long post. I like to do one every now and then.
** I haven't tried to play most of these songs in years, but have no doubt that it's a fact, tho I do love to break into "Whoooa Jaw-Bone" when it's least expected . . . makes the dogs wag their tails! I haven't heard BigPink in ? years . . . heard other a few X's a few years back.
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