where've you been?

I've been right here...but busy. Sorry for the delay in getting back to blogging. Sure, it seems simple, every day you just write down what's been happening...but did you ever stop to think...if something's happening...you're too busy to write about it!
Hmmm.
Anyway...I'm listening to Neil Young's Chrome Dreams II right now. "Ordinary People" is the track, and Neil is jamming the beejeebers out of that note again! Nu-nu-nu-nu,nu,nu,nu-nu-nu-nuuuuuu!!! Gotta love that. Just received my free copy of Ray Davies' Working Man's Cafe, which was given away in the Sunday Times last weekend. My friend and fellow Rylander Jerry managed to score me a copy. (Thanks Jerry) It's a good album, ten songs by the former Kink, which show that Ray still has what it takes and we've always loved his voice (admit it!) The recent DYLAN box is a decent collection, especially for people who want to start a Dylan collection. Not one rare or unreleased track (ok, "Blind Willie McTell" might rate as hard tofind...but it's been available on an official Dylan album before this) but altogether a satisfying bunch of Bob's songs. And I got the special deluxe box (for a great price at Indigo!). Whether or not these are actually Bob's greatest songs...well...that's not for me to say. Many of his best songs are included.
Reading Paul Myers' It Ain't Easy, the biography of Long John Baldry. And it's a good read. Baldry was one of those guys whose music was pretty much in the background but his impact on the scene was more through the success of band members like Rod Stewart & Elton John. Nevertheless...he made some enjoyable records, and...he lived in Dundas for a while, just up the road. Last time I saw him...he opened for the Beach Boys, and sang a duet with Kathi MacDonald.
Clapton's autobiography is a bit like a chat with an old friend. Quite a pleasant way to hear about drug and alcohol abuse. Patti Boyd's book covers much of the same ground. The most unpleasant biography I've read recently is Billy Joel by Mark Bego. I'm really not sure how Mark Bego gets these book deals, the guy can hardly put together a coherent sentence. And Billy Joel comes across like a complete jerk.
The Eagles new CD comes out today, only at Walmart. An exclusive deal! They said on the radio that it's because Walmart impressed Henley and Frey with their devotion to "leaving a smaller carbon footprint"...uh-huh! No comment.

DVDs...

There has been a flurry of posts on the Rylander Discussion Group because British TV was showing the Ry Cooder session on Old Grey Whistle Test. This show was taped in 1977, and features the Chicken Skin Band. They are pretty hot as they work their way through "Tattler," "Dark End of the Street," Jesus On the Mainline," "Do-Re-Mi," "Goodnight Irene," "He'll Have To Go," and "Smack Dab In the Middle." Awesome. I was able to get a DVD copy of this show in a trade I made with an English collector a couple of years back. Also there is a second DVD, called Ry Cooder on the BBC-TV. It seems to be an episode of Later On with Jools Holland and includes two tracks from the OGWT show of '77 ("Smack Dab..." & ""He'll Have To Go"), 2 from an OGWT in 1973 ("Vigilante Man" & "Goin' to Brownsville"), 2 from OGWT in 1982 ("How Can a Poor Man..." & "The Very Thing That Makes You Rich") and 2 from The Late Show in 1990 (Little Village's "Fool Who Knows" and "Rattlin' King Snake" with John Lee Hooker). It even includes all the ads, which make for really entertaining viewing!
Quality is good. We started a trading pyramid on the Rylander Discussion Group for interested traders.
Other DVDs I have include the Pahinui Brothers show, taken from a VHS-tape from Hawaii (includes a cool documentary about Gabby), the Chavez Ravine film, Ry on Rockpalast, and Les Blanc's extraordinary documentary of Ry's Moula Banda at the Catalyst.
I hear rumours that David Lindley has a DVD forthcoming. That'll be a goodun! Maybe Ry will finally release an official DVD one of these days...until he does...it's boots for me!

first posting of October...

Good morning!
It feels like autumn today.
There's another batch of new CDs and I bought a few of 'em.
The new Springsteen, Magic, is packaged in a mini LP gatefold cover, very attractive. First recording with the E Street Band since The Rising, and more lively than that one. On first listen I'd have to say that Bruce picked up some tips from the Seeger Sessions. "Radio Nowhere" sounds like a classic.
JJ Cale's Rewind is a selection of archival recordings from the early days. Excellent album, and no surprises. The Shelter years established JJ's sound and as one might expect these are lazy grooves with Cale's mellow mumble, and nifty guitar picking. I can't get enough of this guy. New or old...it's JJ Cale!
The Very Best of Mick Jagger does a good job of finding the one or two good songs from his non-Stones output. There were always a couple of gooduns on his albums, and for the most part...he (and Atlantic/Rhino) has made the same choices I would've. "Memo From Turner", ""Don't Look Back" (with Peter Tosh), "Just Another Night" and the duet with Bowie on "Dancing In The Streets" are all here, as well as the unreleased (John Lennon produced) "Too Many Cooks". A good collection, but look for the deluxe edition with the DVD...I couldn't find it!
Have a good Canadian Thanksgiving, and look for the new autobiography by Eric Clapton next Tuesday.
Oh, and the new Steve Earle washington square serenade, is getting a lot of play around here.
For Beatles fans. While you're waiting for the release of HELP! on DVD (Nov.6), and The McCartney Years (3 DVDs on Nov.13) check out this web site http://www.beatle-web.com/indexbw.htm for a delightful cartoon history of Beatlemania!
There are two more print Rylanders in the can, so if you're a subscriber look for mailings later this month, and again just before Christmas.

New CDs...

We must be gearing up for Christmas! There have been some really interesting releases in the last couple of weeks (and next Tuesday holds quite a bit of promise). Mark Knopfler's kill to get crimson arrived last week. It's a fairly subdued album featuring some intriguing lyrics and music that's beautifully played and recorded if a bit soporific. Of course, if you're REALLY having trouble getting to sleep, try the new Raul Malo! Zzzzzz!
Joni Mitchell was just inducted into the Canadian Songwriters' Hall of Fame (last night on CBC) and her new CD arrived (at Starbucks) the same day! I downloaded it (all legal-like) from eMusic, and I'm glad I did. Saved some dough! It's dull, samey, and precise. Again...a beautiful
sonic sheen covering up...a tired Joni. Shine is not Blue, whatever they tell you. And who needs another version of "Big Yellow Taxi"?
Goin' Home is a double CD sub-titled a Tribute to Fats Domino. Now here's a guy who deserves a tribute. The recent biography Blue Monday gave me a new appreciation for Antoine. And his recent album Alive and Kicking rocks like crazy! This one spreads new versions of Fats's tunes across 2 CDs and features people like Tom Petty, Paul McCartney, Taj Mahal, BB King, Robbie Robertson, and a bunch of Crescent City denizens too! I like it!
I also enjoyed the new Steve Earle disc washington square serenade. It's rootsy, and acoustic, lots of guitars, and mandolins and Steve's rugged vocals.
A new DVD came along too, The Best of the Johnny Cash TV Show. This is just some of the musical guests, hand-picked by Johnny for his 1969-71 variety show. I recall watching many of these when I was a mere boy! I specifically remember Bob Dylan's appearance. The version included here seems far grainier than the rest, and looks as though it comes from a different source. My complaint with this set is that in the opening scenes they show artists who don't appear in the programme. They show James Taylor a couple of times, for instance, but his efforts are not included.
The David Gilmour concert DVD is still getting lots of play at home! Called Remember That Night it certainly helps this viewer remember the night at Massey Hall in Toronto. And the bonus footage is quite interesting too.

New Rylander (in print)

I got down to work and finished off the two Rylanders that had been residing on my computer for the past few months, and have (as off today) mailed them off to subscribers. I also have two more issues almost ready...so in the next month or so I will have caught up! Whew!
I apologize for the delay. My office was moved and already printed issue were lost in the confusion, computer files were misnamed, you know the drill! So now it's back to normal...well...what's normal?
A setting on a clothes dryer!

Strat Masters

After a couple of days in the nation's capitol I returned to find a package I had been waiting for. A 2-DVD set entitled Strat Masters which is called the Definitive History of the World's Most Famous Guitar. It's an excellent documentary showing the development of this iconic axe, and the programme is filled with interviews with famous players. Jeff Beck, Chris Rea, Robert Cray, Hank Marvin, Bruce Welch and even Ryland Peter Cooder. Ry looks ever so comfy in his studio, Strat on his lap, as he chats about this essential tool-of-the trade. The DVD is PAL format only, but all regions so you can watch it on your computer...or...lookup the appropriate 'hack code' and adjust your DVD player to accept PAL discs!
Ordered a copy of Uncommon Sound, which they're mailing out to me today...can't wait! We lefties need to stick together!

Hey...where've I been?

Been absent for a while! Wow, I didn't realize it had been so long. I know everyone out there in blog-land is just waiting on my next posting with bated breath. Especially Lester Bilbo! The newest issue of Fretboard Journal just came out, and again they've shown that they are the best guitar magazine out there! Earl Scruggs on the cover. Awesome. And a review of what looks like a MUST-have book for southpaw pickers like me! Uncommon Sound! 2 big deluxe volumes, lotsof pictures, and all the left-handed guitar players you can name! Well, except for yours truly...but when I sign my name in the front of my own copy...I'll stick a snapshot of myself playing between the pages!
I'm off to a board meeting in Ottawa for the rest of the week, so won't be posting.
New music? I recorded a couple of my own songs at 3 Flamingos Studio in Brantford. Picked up a copy of Eliza Gilkyson's live CD (excellent) and Lyle Lovett's It's Not Big It's Large (I think he means his band!) . Also Ben Harper's new one, (yawn). But I'm waiting for next Tuesday and Mark Knopfler's new CD! And David Gilmour's live DVD. And the Johnny Cash TV show set. It's always something, and me trying to save the money for that book of left-handed guitar players. It's $300!
Anybody want to take up a collection?