Hey, everyone. I have a channel on satellite that is called Palladia. It broadcasts old, and new, concerts and music shows. Tonight I was fortunate to watch an old concert at the Troubadour Club, out in Los Angeles. It was staged during the Club's 50 year anniversary. About that club...
Seems like I remember Neil Diamond cutting a live album at that place, about 40 years ago. I think a lot of big time entertainers got their start in that place. In fact, James Taylor and Carole King paid homage to the club during the performance.
This particular performance was taped in November, 2007. Both the stars were well-advanced in years but their voices were full and strong. I like watching Carole play the piano. She seems to really enjoy performing. As I watched her, I reasoned that when you get older maybe you appreciate being able to perform and that your body is "on the clock".
Carole King intrigues me. For many years I thought she was black. No reason, really. I just got the wrong impression somehow. I was right about several things concerning her, though. For one thing she is one of the most talented and prolific song-writers in history. I'd have to look to be sure, but I think it was years before she started to put out records herself. She would turn these great hits over to other people to do. Even James Taylor mentioned tonight that she generously let him cut the record for You've Got a Friend. He said that this was while Carole was producing her classic album called Tapestry.
I play several of Carole's songs, myself. It's funny, just yesterday I was playing one of them and then watched the show tonight.
I am a student of people and I tend to study faces. Carole has an interesting face. After I finish this post I plan on doing some research on her. There is something about her face. I see intelligence, zest, maybe zeal. I see passion and maybe a bad temper when she was younger. I don't really see a sensitivity to criticism or a harsh spirit. She seems comfortable with herself. There is nothing there to prove, I don't think. Also, I wondered what the paper was that was taped to her piano and what the red line was that ran across her keys. I am fairly pedestrian as a musician, so I don't savvy real musicians that well.
I loved hearing these two perform together, their voices harmonizing. His beautiful guitar picking and her piano, together. I got the impression that they were very fond of each other and for many years had been that friend, to each other, which they were singing about.
I watched the faces of the audience. I saw an obvious mom and daughter combo. I guess mom had brought her grown daughter to the show. The mom was loving it, the daughter less so. I can hear their discussion before the show.
"Honey, I want to take you to this concert, so that you can understand my generation, my music. It will be a bonding experience." Ha, ha.
Don't get me wrong, the girl wasn't miserable. This type of thing is why I quit buying Christmas presents for my kids. I just give them money. It spends in any generation.
So, the show went on. Songs like It's Too Late, Sweet Baby James, In My Mind I'm Going To Carolina, Fire and Rain. Can I admit something without you thinking harshly of me?
As you get old things can go several ways. You can get more tender hearted, more sensitive, more hard-hearted etc. Tonight I sat there and watched the show. Heard those nice melodies and saw the camaraderie between the musicians. I saw Carole in her wide leather black belt like the 1960's and imagined some of the audience dressed in ponchos and bell-bottoms, maybe driving a VW with flower decals on it. I enjoyed it so much, I sat and tears ran down my cheeks. Not sad, no. Just really mellow and relaxed and ... groovy. Ha, ha. Mainly, I appreciate beautiful things more every day. Whether, music, movies nature, books, or people.
From the author's green retreat, I'm CE Wills.
Seems like I remember Neil Diamond cutting a live album at that place, about 40 years ago. I think a lot of big time entertainers got their start in that place. In fact, James Taylor and Carole King paid homage to the club during the performance.
This particular performance was taped in November, 2007. Both the stars were well-advanced in years but their voices were full and strong. I like watching Carole play the piano. She seems to really enjoy performing. As I watched her, I reasoned that when you get older maybe you appreciate being able to perform and that your body is "on the clock".
Carole King intrigues me. For many years I thought she was black. No reason, really. I just got the wrong impression somehow. I was right about several things concerning her, though. For one thing she is one of the most talented and prolific song-writers in history. I'd have to look to be sure, but I think it was years before she started to put out records herself. She would turn these great hits over to other people to do. Even James Taylor mentioned tonight that she generously let him cut the record for You've Got a Friend. He said that this was while Carole was producing her classic album called Tapestry.
I play several of Carole's songs, myself. It's funny, just yesterday I was playing one of them and then watched the show tonight.
I am a student of people and I tend to study faces. Carole has an interesting face. After I finish this post I plan on doing some research on her. There is something about her face. I see intelligence, zest, maybe zeal. I see passion and maybe a bad temper when she was younger. I don't really see a sensitivity to criticism or a harsh spirit. She seems comfortable with herself. There is nothing there to prove, I don't think. Also, I wondered what the paper was that was taped to her piano and what the red line was that ran across her keys. I am fairly pedestrian as a musician, so I don't savvy real musicians that well.
I loved hearing these two perform together, their voices harmonizing. His beautiful guitar picking and her piano, together. I got the impression that they were very fond of each other and for many years had been that friend, to each other, which they were singing about.
I watched the faces of the audience. I saw an obvious mom and daughter combo. I guess mom had brought her grown daughter to the show. The mom was loving it, the daughter less so. I can hear their discussion before the show.
"Honey, I want to take you to this concert, so that you can understand my generation, my music. It will be a bonding experience." Ha, ha.
Don't get me wrong, the girl wasn't miserable. This type of thing is why I quit buying Christmas presents for my kids. I just give them money. It spends in any generation.
So, the show went on. Songs like It's Too Late, Sweet Baby James, In My Mind I'm Going To Carolina, Fire and Rain. Can I admit something without you thinking harshly of me?
As you get old things can go several ways. You can get more tender hearted, more sensitive, more hard-hearted etc. Tonight I sat there and watched the show. Heard those nice melodies and saw the camaraderie between the musicians. I saw Carole in her wide leather black belt like the 1960's and imagined some of the audience dressed in ponchos and bell-bottoms, maybe driving a VW with flower decals on it. I enjoyed it so much, I sat and tears ran down my cheeks. Not sad, no. Just really mellow and relaxed and ... groovy. Ha, ha. Mainly, I appreciate beautiful things more every day. Whether, music, movies nature, books, or people.
From the author's green retreat, I'm CE Wills.
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