Thursday, February 7, 2008

Supergroups

I love music. Growing up in the 60's & 70's allowed for so many diverse listening experiences in popular music. I'll state right up front that Stairway to Heaven is definitely NOT the greatest rock and roll song of all time. It's not even Led Zeppelin's best song. I think Dazed and Confused or Babe I'm Gonna Leave You from the first album are better.

Buffalo Springfield gets my vote as the seminal group of the late '60's. Their music has influences still heard today, e.g., The Eagles. Joe Walsh, playing with The James Gang, covered Bluebird and took credit on the liner notes for playing all "10,000 guitars" himself--a "one up" on the original liner notes on the number of guitar sounds/styles from the original. So many of the "supergroup" performers of the early '70's owe a debt to this band. It's members read like a Hall of Fame: Steve Stills, Neil Young, Jim Messina, Richie Furay. This group gave us great music in many of its permutations over the succeeding years--Crosby, Stills & Nash, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Neil Young and Crazy Horse, Loggins and Messina, Poco. My choice for seminal group of the 60's----only one "big hit"--For What It's Worth but a wealth of great music.



Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Super Tuesday Primary aftermath

Some thoughts on the aftermath of the Super Tuesday primary---My brother is a "main-stream" Democrat, read Hillary supporter. We had an email exchange and I thought it appropriate to post some of my comments here. I have been and remain a Bill Richardson fan but since he has quit, I did not want my vote to help Not-so-Hilarious Clinton in any way so I supported Obama in my state's Democratic caucus. Here's why:
28 years of Bush-Clinton does not sound at all good. Neither has excelled at anything but divisiveness, partisanship, and a severe lack of vision for the country and its people. W's record speaks for itself. His father was out of touch. Bubba Clinton was a bubba---where's the latest Monica?? Are we proud of his administration---Somalia, a couple of genocides, failed Hillaricare, the failure to see the threat of Al-Qaeda and Islamic extremism??? Could Obama do worse????? Look at the group around Hilarious---same as the ones who screwed up with her husband. Time for a change----if we elect her we might as well amend the constitution to allow for dynasties and the divine right of kings. It's been 40 years since 1968---Chicago, Vietnam, loss of personal liberty. What's changed in Washington???? NOTHING. This is the opportunity for a radical change; otherwise we'll suffer another 40 years of regression as the world's leader. We are getting hammered and continuing on the same path is ludicrous. In terms of Clintonistas---been there, done that, didn't work then, why do it again??
Obama MAY screw up like Carter but I'm sure Hilarious would.