Listening to Kate and Anna McGarrigle in the backyard on a beautiful May Sunday afternoon after Tottenham actually play well and win. Pretty damn good, mama. “We were like interlocking pieces in the jigsaw puzzle of life.”

Perfect Days

Moment by moment by moment, lived gracefully and honorably, makes a life.

Happy Birthday, Ry Cooder!

With the wonderful Eldridge King, Terry Evans, and Bobby King.

Happy Birthday, Connie Smith

Dolly Parton once noted that there were just three real female singers around—Barbra Streisand, Linda Ronstadt, and Connie Smith. “The rest of us,” she said, “are only pretending.”

RIP, Brian Wilson

He shared beautiful gifts from a sad life and a tortured mind.*

Yes, my father used to beat the hell out of us… That is probably why I wrote those happy songs. I try to get as close to paradise as I can. I try to steer clear of heartbreaks.

– New York Times Magazine, 2024

*One might say the same of Sly Stone, may he also rest in peace.

Willie

Happy Birthday to this fine fellow.

RIP, the Great Clem Burke

He was the driving drummer who powered Blondie in the ’70s. Just appreciate his work here:

RIP, Garth Hudson

“Anybody who gets a chance to play with Garth Hudson, they’d be a fool not to. As far as The Band is concerned, he’s the one who rubbed off on the rest of us and made us sound as good as we did.” – Levon Helm

Update: more here.

🎵

I Can’t Stop Loving You

Rewatching, and loving, Ken Burns’ “Country Music,” Episode 4: “I Can’t Stop Loving You.” It’s gotten a little dusty in here a few times.

Modern Sounds, indeed. Thank you, Mr. Charles.

Ringo at Eighty-four

Here’s a thoughtful and appreciative review of a new(!) album of all-new country songs by Ringo Starr. Some remind me a little of Nick Lowe.