I love this song, as I love the '70s. This video captures the times well.
There's a brief moment when a soldier is walking with a woman...
- Boogie On Reggae Woman
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drspecial- November 5th, 19:50
- When The Sand Is Dry
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- drspecial
- September 23rd, 17:37
A song for the change of seasons.
WHEN THE SAND IS DRY
And the sun is high
Time blows byWhen the tide is low
And footprints stay
Wind slows downEverything you need is where you are
Just park your car and go
It's all the same you still remain- From The Billy Dechand Band's 2001 release, "World Famous In Chapel Hill".
- Musicians: Billy Dechand, Vito di Bona, Mike Yanoski.
- No. 9 Dream
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- drspecial
- September 10th, 8:13
OK, I got my cue: an actual request of my opinion on the remastered Beatles.
All I can say is I haven't heard them. But I am disappointed by what they are not. A number of their albums deserve not just remastering, but remixing. To be clear, remastering is taking the original master, which was the actual tape to which they mixed down their album. So that mix was the best it could sound, using state of the art equipment -- from the 1960s. In contrast, remixing is taking the original multi-tracks, and remixing them to a new master.
I have no doubt that the new remastered CDs sound much better. There are even hopes for my favorite, the White Album. The White Album has been on my dream list of remixes for years. Great songs, shitty mix. CNN explicitly mentioned "Dear Prudence" as being a White Album track that sounds much improved. There was plenty of room for sonic improvement on that one, and I'm relieved to hear that it happened.
But no matter how much you hear them talk about how great the technology is that went into the remastering, remember that that could all be applied to the process of remixing. Each of those high-tech tools for extracting and enhancing could be applied to each individual track, then used to make a sparking, beefy mix. We know it can be done. We first heard it on the Anthology series. they took the alternate takes, original multi-tracks, and suddenly the Beatles goofing around, playing wrong notes was heard like you were hanging out with them. Then they remixed Yellow Submarine, and that was mind-blowingly superior. "Eleanor Rigby" became some sort of 3D experience, just using my two stereo speakers. Then they did it again with Let It Be... Naked. So it's not impossible. They've already done it themselves.
So until I get to hear the White Album and Revolver remixed properly, I will not be satisfied. After so many decades, it's about time we get to hear whatever Ringo might be playing on the upbeat number, "Got To Get You Into My Life". I've heard them mentioned as a... kit of drums? Drum kittle?
- Shut Up! I'm sensitive!
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- drspecial
- September 8th, 17:08
Preparing for my first solo show in several months this October (Stone Spiral, 10-10-09), I'm reminded that my focus is strongly affected by my environment. Certainly professionalism includes practice, along with musicianship. Doubtless, musicianship is a foundation upon which variations of quality rest. Chances are high if you don't have it together, it will suck. At least for most mortals, despite the mythology.
But performance can still mess with you no matter how prepared you think you are. All that effortlessness that comes from nowhere can be thrown to the ground with one unexpected click from the jukebox at the bar, or that long lost friend in the audience, shown up out of the blue.
But really, it's the people. Or, if you're rehearsing, the lack of people. Sure pros are just used to people, and that's part of the cool. But the moment's vibe is unavoidably crucial. If there's some jerk-face smirking from the left, the most seasoned professional will struggle to do his job: express the most tender nuances of emotion. I'll be tender no matter what, ding dang it!
(Note: My Spellcheck made me change "most tender" to "tenderest", then told me "tenderest" was not a word.)
Depending on one's constitution, fellow musicians' confidence or attitude matters even more. It never ceases to amaze me how better I play when my fellow players think I'm good. With those who don't like my music, (non-believers, or infidels really), I can usually bash out the notes correctly, but they probably won't shine. Thus providing positive feedback to their suck notion, the spiral begins. While I have spotted the phenomenon in my own history, I'm not so clever as to the cure. I can very determinedly bash out confidence, but then the joy will be AWOL; and spotted by either others or myself as doubting the whole point of music. The casual responder will suggest that you simply should only play with other kind folks, and I've done that. But the conundrum remains.
This reminds me: If I were more ambitious, would I be less of a nice guy? One may have some set universal answer, but I bet the truth is different for everyone.
What's lucky about such valleys of thought is that, at least on a late summer day in September, a simple step outside into the breeze and sunshine can interrupt all that.
- A circle of groups
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- drspecial
- August 21st, 23:36
Ya dig?
To clarify, each name does not correlate to one figure, but rather all refer to all.
Just sayin'.
- Beautiful
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- drspecial
- August 19th, 10:54
Words and music by Billy Dechand, © 2003 Bucktooth Music (ASCAP)
You say you never had a better lover
Whether he was clever or a fool
You stay, breaking all the records for keeping it together
You’re fine, you’re so cool, and beautiful
They say, "Hey hey, look at those two
What can we do to be like you?
You’re fine, you’re so cool, and beautiful"
I say I love you, you know it’s true
You say you love me, I know it’s true
It’s true, I know, I know
Yeah, I know I know it’s true
I say, "Whatever I imagined as a fantasizing adolescent never
Could have added up to this kind of romance
I never knew
Who knew it could be so cool, and beautiful"- From the Muss My Hair CD, Hold On
- As Backwards
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- drspecial
- August 16th, 19:25
A public health message from Dr Special, MD.
All we do is somehow an act of faith. Complexity managed skillfully. By everyone! Walk down the street, forget your breathing. Breathe in the air, forget you're walking. Even when remembering, its actual happening is still, in some ways, an impossibility. What are the odds of life?
Drive down the street; all those strangers keep to their own side of the yellow line. Behold, scores of chariots, each with an endless bomb exploding within, mere yards away. A thousand near-misses an hour, per thousand cars. One corner, one town.
The world is a dangerous place. Presence is not just lucky, but fantastic. Hard to believe, we've made it this far! Meanwhile, our eternities are instants. So true as backwards, and here we are. Bravo, aardvark! You too!
Nature's effortlessness is astounding, and solid. Rocks are natural. But thinkers imagine. Danger, growth, and beauty spiral upwards.
Beyond sushi, any ten-cent sucker is a fall backwards into strangers' arms. The hands that feel most value the heal. There's more there than fear of pox, reaper, or menace. Firm ground. Simple as salt, a tasty sand. Hands everywhere have real blood, real steel, real books, vinaigrette. It all works, even does what you expect.
You're welcome.
- Hold On
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- drspecial
- August 7th, 12:27
Words and music by Billy Dechand, (c) 2003 Bucktooth Music (ASCAP)
Hold On
Hold on, find another day to cry
Hold on, we need this time
No, don’t deny your feelings
More so, hold them close
Hold my hand
I need you here to keep me
Bold and strong
So I can keep what I hold dear
On this live version, Dan Ingenthron plays piano.
- All Michaels Must Pass
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- drspecial
- June 27th, 13:54
The day Michael Jackson died, I got the new George Harrison collection. Instead of subjecting myself to all the media stuff that helped to do him in, I sat down and listened to George Harrison. First off, this is a great album in its own right. It's not the usual soulless, greatest hits package. Apple put a lot of thought into the sequencing, and though I never need to hear "My Sweet Lord" ever again, it makes sense in the context, and I actually enjoyed it. As unfunky as George is, this song is danceable, if you put your hands together in a prayer-like gesture... then swivel them hips! You'll get some Krishna booty in no time.
"All Things Must Pass" appears early, and it had extra bite that day. Since I'm a fan of both musicians, it was quite moving. While George is the Whitest Beatle, and Michael the Whitest Jackson, they have very little in common. Or at least handled their excessive fame very differently. The Beatles always said that they survived their insane popularity because they had each other, in contrast to Elvis. Michael consciously took Elvis's place by marrying the King's daughter, and declaring himself King of Pop. George said "piss off" then became a hermit.
And yes, the songs on the CD sound better than ever, what with Junior Martin overseeing the remastering. The live tracks from Bangladesh shimmer; there are bass lines the guitars double that I'd never noticed before. Great stuff. Any Beatles fan who doesn't know George solo should get this, and treat the music the way you're supposed to: listen. Foreground, not background.
- Attack of the Time Lapse from Space
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- drspecial
- June 5th, 23:40
I would like to see this footage IMAXed.
Good video, bad audio.
Add "very"s.
In my opinion.
- It Never Rains On My Birthday
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- drspecial
- May 28th, 7:16
It Never Rains On My Birthday
© 2008, words and music by Billy Dechand
I was born between falling stars
Our bothers, preachers and bootleggers sons
Oh, it hurt when they fell
I was so small I hardly knew
They came to do good and did well
My father, he liked his things
Mother loved to sing
Brother mastered his art
Sister knew how to party
Everyone's happy in Spring
It never rains...
No, it never rains on my birthday
The sun always shines
It never rains
All through the years
Oh so many tears
Love come and gone
Hoping for better days
Sometimes there's even parades
It never rains...
No, it never rains on my birthday
The sun always shines
It never rains
- Penultimate Pre-DTV
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- drspecial
- May 3rd, 19:42
Right now our TV is falling part. The power switch, I broke once by tapping it too hard. Careless me. It is loosely attached to the VCR, which receives the free analog local stations. Since channel 30 went out in February when they were supposed to, we haven't had ABC. So, I've abstained from DTV as long as possible, after my initial first encounter.
It was last summer, and I got my new converter, avec coupon. Brought it home, added it to the tangle of wires necessary to keep it simple, and cranked that baby up. First thing out of the box, Fox 2 is clear. Well, cool, that was the weakest one with the old system. Turns out all the strong stations are weak, and the weak one is strong. (Channel 30 was clear before, and also is DTV.) All the weird extra stuff that came in faint, but you didn't want anyways... gone. No more Pax, or Christian monster movie infomercials. PBS, usually the best and clearest wherever I live, one of several simple pleasures of Civilized America, now has four stations, each of which tune in such a way that they stagger, stutter, and often freeze. As jerky as the net.
Tonight on 30 is Desperate Housewives. Great haste! I must hook up the DTV as quick as I can!
- Acceptance speech
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- drspecial
- May 2nd, 10:48
Reminds me of a Dave Chappelle skit... I'm sure he'd be impressed if he saw speech.
John Wayne presenting an award to the Beatles. Only in Hollywood.
- Ellsbury steals home
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- drspecial
- April 28th, 12:06
My old chum Ed was at this game, and I'm happy that he got to see this.
One of the few things more satisfying to a Red Sox fan is an excellent play is that same excellent play done under the noses of the Yankees. And their subsequent grimaces.
I can only imagine what Fenway felt like that night.
- The Man In The Suit
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- drspecial
- April 8th, 23:39
From 1998 Billy Dechand CD Pop Another Cork.
Seems the wiser
Varies with age
Takes the time to
Change his mind
Walks through the swarm
The venom of his enemy is wine
A stranger in silver
Steals from the queen
Painless and generous
The drones replace the gold
The spoils of his honey gift spread,
And word gets round
He takes chances
There's no danger
Even stronger
The sting endured
The poison is the cure
The venom of his enemy is wine
A stranger in silver
Steals from the queen
Painless and generous
The drones replace the gold
The spoils of his honey gift spread,
And word gets round
