Category Archives: arts

‘Across 110th Street’

Posted on March 30, 2012 by oddmanout215

Bobby Womack’s song, playing over the opening credits of Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown. And that’s Pam Grier, of course, not little surfer girl Bridget Fonda. You got to be strong if you wanna survive… Better start eating my spinach, it’s … Continue reading →

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Eat crackers and dream

Posted on March 24, 2012 by oddmanout215

“Too Much Time” sounds like a tribute to the Stax/Volt sound, straight out of 1960s Memphis. (Beefheart wouldn’t have liked the word “tribute.”) The song is from Clear Spot (1972), one of his more “accessible” albums. Should have been a … Continue reading →

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Emotional weather report for March

Posted on March 21, 2012 by oddmanout215

The sun is beginning to shine on me, But it’s not like the sun that used to be. – Bob Dylan, “Highlands” Overheard on South Street, outside the city’s worst supermarket: “Yeah, but most South Philly people, they’re really rude … Continue reading →

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‘Will Ye Go Lassie Go’

Posted on March 17, 2012 by oddmanout215

It’s a good day to listen to “Will Ye Go Lassie Go” by the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem. It was also recorded by Joan Baez, and by the Byrds, as “Wild Mountain Thyme,” and has been sung for hundreds of years. … Continue reading →

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From the Gaelic for ‘water of life’

Posted on March 17, 2012 by oddmanout215

Leave it to the Irish to write a song in which the miracle of resurrection is achieved through spilled whiskey (from the Gaelic for “water of life”). This version of “Finnegan’s Wake,” by my deceased mother’s favorite band, brings back … Continue reading →

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Gabriel to Limbaugh: Lay off my tunes

Posted on March 8, 2012 by oddmanout215

It looks like Rush Limbaugh might have to stoop to using Ted Nugent’s music as soundtracks for his rants. I can’t think of any other rocker who might be a good fit. From USA Today: Peter Gabriel doesn’t want Rush … Continue reading →

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Ash Wednesday blues

Posted on February 22, 2012 by oddmanout215

A butcher friend of mine on Ninth Street said hello today, and I couldn’t help but notice the thin black cross on his forehead. I realized this was the first day of Lent and the cross was ash rubbed into … Continue reading →

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‘I’m Looking Through You’

Posted on February 15, 2012 by oddmanout215

I assumed for many years, because of the scorned and scornful tone of the lyrics, that this was a Lennon song. Actually, McCartney wrote most of it. The fact that he’s the lead singer should have tipped me off. John … Continue reading →

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‘Who Do You Love?’

Posted on February 14, 2012 by oddmanout215

I walked 47 miles of barbed wire/Used a cobra snake for a neck tie/Got a brand new house on the roadside/And it’s made out of rattlesnake hide/I got a brand new chimney put on top/Made out of human skulls/Come on … Continue reading →

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‘Third Stone From the Sun’

Posted on February 13, 2012 by oddmanout215

Your people I do not understand So to you I shall put an end And you’ll never hear surf music again

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