Ventura Highway

A real nothing kind of day. I have them often. People like my brother Brian don’t. He wishes he had a day to do nothing, and I’m not being snarky by saying that. I just stayed local and low key. Bill’s dad is still in Bellevue and they’re still running tests to figure out what the hell is going on. Why the swollen feet? And the other stuff? Bill’s distressed by the fact that the hospital isn’t doing all that they could be doing for his father’s comfort and general well being. Bill just came home about an hour ago, very tired and in low spirits. Sometimes it’s an emotional roller coaster, since he’s presently rambunctious again.

I had a few errands to run today. Some toiletries and a haircut mainly. That was the extent of it. Oh, a walk to the Post Office and sitting on the stoop, smoking a Padron and reading about Prince in the latest issue of Mojo. No plans for the evening, no plans for tomorrow. Not yet at least. Heard from Julio earlier today so hopefully he was laying down a foundation for a beach day tomorrow. And I’ve probably jinxed that by writing it down. Curses. Where is that delete ke

Here’s some iPod shuffle stuff.

Wait- Angela Lansbury (from Sweeney Todd- The Demon Barber of Fleet Street)
I’ve seen this show (not with Angela Lansbury) quite a few times, some versions better than others, have the cd, the vinyl and two versions of the dvd. Guess I like it huh? It’s also a bonding moment between brother Frank and myself. Also looking forward to Tim Burton’s take on the bloody tale, starring Johnny Depp with the score once again by Stephen Sondheim.

S.U.S.- The Ruts
From Made in Britain- A Mojo Collection from a few years ago. Don’t really like it much. Don’t recall hearing it twenty or so years ago. Sounds close to metal actually. I do know the Ruts had a single called Staring at the Rude Boys.

It’s Gettin’ Hot in Here- Nelly
Classic summer song from a few years ago. I remember hearing this being in Pedro’s car with Bill heading down to what Pedro calls Domino Park in Soho. Still a lot of fun to shake your ass to. It’s just reanimated Bill’s tired spirits as well.

Energy Fools the Magician- Brian Eno
This has chilled Bill’s boisterous spirit. Nice mellow piece, jazzy in the musical sense. Based on Tarot cards I’ve heard. Energy (the Sun), The Fool and the Magician. Check it out.

This Life Makes Me Wonder- Delroy Wilson
From an Uncut magazine collection from March 2007. Old school reggae. Perfect for a summer evening. Great production and you know those guys were all playing and recording at the same time in the same room, which isn’t how they do it anymore. This life makes me wonder, how to live to another day gone.

Very Very Hungry- David Byrne & Brian Eno
From My Life in the Bush of Ghosts. Classic landmark album. I have a few copies of this, including an early version with Qu’Ran (Koran) which was deleted after initial pressings so as not to offend. This was in the 1980’s , not today mind you. This was the replacement track, since an Imam singing people to prayer set to a beat could cause a whole lot of trouble.

Fa Fa Fa Fa Fa (Sad Song)- Otis Redding
Didn’t know too much about Otis until a few years ago. PBS had a documentary about Stax Records on a week or so ago and featured Otis, including a clip of him singing this song on a TV show in the sixties. What a talent. Would have loved to have seen him live.

There you go. That’s it. Better than nothing, wouldn’t you say?

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