Sunday 30 January 2011

Alive and Well



But feeling the pull of undiscovered countries at moment, and wanting to find some pocket of peace, something existentially like the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco. I used to go there as a child, pining for the rice crackers and jasmine tea we had at the end of every visit.

Here I am with my youngest niece a few years ago.

Sunday 23 January 2011

That Sunset Feeling

r

Just some pictures I found while 'researching' underground Seventies music. These two photographs were taken at a Sikh commune in the States (lots of ex-hippies running around in shawls, singing and dancing, unloading tents from Volkswagen trunks).

Saturday 15 January 2011

Catch a Boat to England


The other night at the Co-Op on Walton Street, I heard two pretty girls singing this tune in harmony beside the lettuce and tomatoes. They were, I thought, too young, too effervescent in their fur coats to ever know such a song as this, first recorded by Jackson C. Frank in 1966, on an album produced by a very young Paul Simon. It was beautiful, a little shock to hear I song I know so very well being sung, shared among others. I wanted to ask these girls where they had heard it, but refrained. They were, I think, busy waiting for someone to buy them cigarettes. Then a few days later I found out that Laura Marling, also young, also from down the road (in Reading), had just released a version of Blues Run the Game on 7 inch vinyl.

Personally, I doubt anyone (other than girls beside the produce section in mini-markets) can do much better than Simon and Garfunkel's majesterial but unreleased version of the song. Nothing quite like hearing two voices sharing a sad but resilient melody together.


Jackson C. Frank

Laura Marling (clip)

Simon and Garfunkel

Nick Drake

Tuesday 4 January 2011

Winter Wings


Birds in the park.

A dream of spring in the air.

Warmer breaths, less clothes, postcard hearts.