WSPC PLAYLIST MAY 2013

MAY 2, 2013
"Listen To The Rockingbird" performed by FRED FLINTSTONE
"Eep Op Ork Ah-Ah" performed by Jet Screamer with GEORGE JETSON on the drums!
"Tomorrow Comes Today" performed by Gorillaz

"Hands" performed by The Raconteurs
"Snow Blind" performed by Ace Frehley
"Elephants" performed by Them Crooked Vultures
"2112 Overture/The Temples Of Syrinx" performed by Rush
"I Ain't Superstitious" performed by The Jeff Beck Group with Rod Stewart
"Tomorrow Never Knows" performed by The Beatles

MAY 3, 2013

FRIDAY FEATURED ARTIST AND WSPC BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION: JAMES BROWN
"Doing It To Death"
"Make It Funky"
"Escape-Ism"
"The Payback"
"Papa Don't Take No Mess"
"Talking Loud And Saying Nothing"
"Funky Drummer"
"Mind Power"
"Funky President (People It's Bad)"
"Cold Sweat"
"Reality"
"Say It Loud! I'm Black And I'm Proud!"
"Please, Please, Please/Night Train"-from the TAMI show

May 4, 2013

SATURDAY NIGHT SLOW JAMS
"You're Still A Young Man" performed by Tower Of Power
"Everybody Here Wants You" performed by Jeff Buckley
"Make Me Say It Again Girl" performed by The Isley Brothers
"Spaceship Coupe" performed by Justin Timberlake
"Doing It" performed by L L Cool J
"I Want You" performed by Marvin Gaye
"Turn Off The Lights" performed by Teddy Pendergrass
"Why Have I Lost You" performed by Cameo
"I Want To be Free" performed by The Ohio Players

May 5, 2013
"I Can't Remember" performed by The Thorns
"Tell Me Why" performed by Neil Young
"One More Time" performed by Peter Frampton
"Every Road" performed by Mike Rutherford
"The Lifting (demo version)" performed by R.E.M.

May 7, 2013
'Watch The Sunrise" performed by Big Star
"Sunrise" performed by The Who
"You Were So Warm" performed by Dwight Twilley
"Without You" performed by Badfinger
"Cold Morning Light" performed by Todd Rundgren
"Let It Go" performed by The Bangles
"A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" performed by The Monkees

"I Appear Missing" performed by Queens Of The Stone Age WSPC PREMIERE
"Neurotic Society" performed by Lauryn Hill WSPC PREMIERE
"Sunset (Bird Of Prey)" performed by Fatboy Slim
"Sshh...Peaceful" performed by Miles Davis

May 9, 2013
"Cry Like A Baby" performed by Bourgeois Tagg
"Missionary" performed by Wednesday Week
"Turn It On" performed by Kim Wilde
"Oldest Story In The World" performed by The Plimsouls
"I've Been Waiting" performed by Matthew Sweet
"The World Awake" performed by Prefab Sprout

"Ain't Gone 'N Give Up On Love" performed by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
"Too Many Dirty Dishes" performed by Albert Collins
"While You Were Out" performed by Frank Zappa
"It Never Rains" performed by Dire Straits

May 10, 2013

FRIDAY FEATURED ARTIST-THE STEVE MILLER BAND
"Little Girl"
"Serenade"
"Space Cowboy"
"Sacrifice"
"Come On Into My Kitchen"
"Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma"
"The Window"
"Deliverance"
"Mercury Blues"
"Sugar Babe"
"Nothing Lasts"
"Wild Mountain Honey"
"Journey From Eden"
"Seasons"

May 11, 2013
"Young Guns (Go For It)" performed by Wham UK
"State Of The Nation" performed by New Order
"Smile Like You Mean It" performed by The Killers
"Get Innocuous" performed by LCD Soundsystem
"Lemon" performed by U2
"Couleurs" performed by M83
"The Sunshine Underground" performed by The Chemical Brothers

May 15, 2013
"Needle In The Camel's Eye" performed by Brian Eno
"I'm Designer" performed by Queens Of The Stone Age
"Virginia Plain" performed by Roxy Music
"Brian Eno" performed by MGMT
"The Vagabond" performed by Air with Beck
"Dark Star" performed by Beck
"Army Of Me" performed by Bjork
"Diamond Dogs" performed by David Bowie
"I Zimbria" performed by Talking Heads

May 17, 2013

FRIDAY FEATURED ARTIST & WSPC BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION: TRENT REZNOR
All selections performed by Nine Inch Nails except where indicated
"Terrible Lie"
"Last"
"We're In This Together"
"The Hand That Feeds"
"Discipline"
"Survivalism"
"The Great Collapse"
"Adrift And At Peace"
"The Persistence Of Loss"
"Hand Covers Bruise" performed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
"Hidden In Snow" performed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross
"Ice Age" performed by How To Destroy Angels

"Dead Souls"
"Into The Void"
"La Mer"
"Sunspots"
"Ruiner"
"Echoplex"
"How Long?" performed by How To Destroy Angels
"Ripe (With Decay)"

May 19, 2013

HAPPY 68TH BIRTHDAY TO PETE TOWNSHEND
"Teenage Wasteland"
"Going Mobile" performed by The Who
"New Song"
"Hiding Out"
"Let's See Action"
"A Little Is Enough"
"Bargain"
"Sleeping Dog"
"The Song Is Over" performed by The Who

May 20, 2013

TRIBUTE TO RAY MANZAREK, KEYBOARDIST OF THE DOORS R.I.P.
"When The Music's Over"
"Riders On The Storm"
"Light My Fire"
"Alabama Song"
"Not To Touch The Earth"
"The Ghost Song"

May 22, 2013
"Instant Crush" performed by Daft Punk with Julian Casablancas-WSPC PREMIERE
"Games People Play" performed by The Alan Parsons Project
"Wind Him Up" performed by Saga
"Spice Train" performed by Thomas Dolby
"Entertainment" performed by Phoenix-WSPC PREMIERE
"Me And Sarah Jane" performed by Genesis

May 24, 2013
"Say Hello" performed by April Wine
"She's A Runner" performed by Billy Squier
"Volcano Girls" performed by Veruca Salt
"Fox On the Run" performed by Sweet
"Cabo Wabo" performed by Van Halen
"This Beat Goes On/Switch Into Glide" performed by The Kings
"Fight From The Inside" performed by Queen

May 25, 2013
"Ecstasy" performed by The Raspberries
"We're All Looking" performed by Steve Winwood
"ManWomanBoogie" performed by Q-Tip
"Bandala" performed by The Partridge Family
"Pilgrim" performed by Eric Clapton
"Line Dancing With Monkeys" performed by Jeff Beck
"Lose Yourself To Dance" performed by Daft Punk with Nile Rodgers and Pharrell Williams-WSPC PREMIERE

May 27, 2013

MEMORIAL DAY BROADCAST-PINK FLOYD "THE FINAL CUT"-IN ITS ENTIRETY

"I Dreamed There Was No War" performed by Eagles

May 30, 2013
"Build That Wall" performed by Aimee Mann
"In The Arms Of Sleep" performed by The Smashing Pumpkins
"Long Time Gone" performed by Crosby, Stills & Nash
"The Afterlife" performed by Paul Simon
"Grace" performed by Jeff Buckley

May 31, 2013
"Never Going Back Again" performed by Fleetwood Mac
"Sugar Mountain" performed by Neil Young
"99 Floors" performed by The Smashing Pumpkins
"Here's Where The Story Ends" performed by The Sundays
"Graduation Day" performed by The Beach Boys

WSPC'S ON THIS DAY IN MUSIC-MAY 2013

What you now have in front of your eyes is a new feature for Synesthesia, which is designed for your entertainment, music trivia knowledge and also, a feature to help me not have the Liner Notes series become something truly overwhelming. So, at this time I welcome all of you to "On This Day In Music," a new monthly series which will feature selected historical musical tidbits.

Without further adieu, let us regard the milestones contained within the month of May 2013. Enjoy!!!

MAY 2: "Power, Corruption & Lies" by New Order, featuring the tracks "Age Of Consent," "We All Stand," and "Your Silent Face" was released on this day in 1983. Happy 30th anniversary!

MAY 8: Happy 68th birthday to pianist/composer Keith Jarrett.

MAY 10: HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the following musical artists:

Donovan, age 67 

Bono, lead vocalist of U2, age 53 

MAY 14: "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" by Neil Young, featuring the tracks "Cinnamon Girl," "Cowgirl In The Sand," and "Down by The River" was released on this date in 1969. Happy 44th anniversary!

Happy 61st birthday to singer/songwriter/musician/producer/film director/author and leader of Talking Heads, David Byrne.

MAY 15:  Happy 65th birthday to producer/musical artist Brian Eno.

MAY 16: Happy 48th birthday to Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic.

Happy 69th birthday to drummer, producer, composer, bandleader and former member of Mahavishnu Orchestra, Billy Cobham.

Happy 67th birthday to King Crimson bandleader/composer/guitarist Robert Fripp.

MAY 17: Happy Birthday to the following artists:

Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, How To Destroy Angels plus film composer, age 47

Joshua Homme of Queens Of The Stone Age/Them Crooked Vultures, age 40 

Taj Mahal, age 71

Bill Bruford, 

composer, bandleader, drummer for Yes, King Crimson, 

1976 touring drummer for Genesis, age 64. 

MAY 20: Ray Manzarek, keyboardist for The Doors passed away at the age of 74 on this date in 2013.

MAY 21: "OK Computer" by Radiohead, featuring the tracks "Paranoid Android," "Karma Police," "Airbag," "Exit Music For A Film," "Climbing Up The Walls," and "No Surprises" was released on this date in 1997. Happy 16th anniversary!!

MAY 22: Happy 63rd birthday to Bernie Taupin, lyricist for Elton John.

"Headquarters" by The Monkess, the first Monkees album on which Mike Nesmith, Mickey Dolenz, Peter Tork and the late Davy Jones played their own instruments and contributed to the songwriting, was released on this date in 1967. Happy 46th anniversary!

MAY 23: "Ill Communication" by The Beastie Boys was released on this date in 1994. Happy 19th anniversary!

MAY 24: Happy Birthday to the following artists:

Bob Dylan, age 72

 

Patti LaBelle, age 69

 

"OU812" by Van Halen, featuring the tracks "Mine All Mine," "When It's Love," "Cabo Wabo," "Black And Blue" and "Feels So Good" was released on this date in 1988. Happy 25th anniversary!!

MAY 25: Happy birthday to the following artists:

Lauryn Hill, age 38

Paul Weller, The Jam, The Style Council, solo artist, age 55

MAY 26: Happy birthday to the following artists:

Lenny Kravitz, age 49

Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac, solo artist, age 65

Levon Helm (deceased), drummer, The Band, solo artist-born on this date 1940

Miles Davis (deceased)-born on this date 1926

The solo debut album by Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, entitled "David Gilmour" was released on this date in 1978.

MAY 27: Happy birthday to the following artists:

Siouxsie Sioux, Siouxsie and The Banshees, age 56

Andre 3000, OutKast, age 38

MAY 29: "Gish," the debut album by The Smashing Pumpkins and recorded in Madison, WI at the legendary Smart Studios was released on this day in 1991!!

"CROSBY STILLS & NASH," featuring the tracks "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,""Wooden Ships," "Long Time Gone," "Helplessly Hoping," "Guinnevere," "Marrakesh Express" and even more was released on this date 44 years ago.

 

 Jeff Buckley, passed away on this date 16 years ago.

MAY 30: "Adore," by The Smashing Pumpkins was released on this date in 1998. Happy 15th anniversary!

Cee-Lo Green of Gnarls Barkley, Goodie Mob, age 39

Topper Headon, drummer of The Clash, age 58

Tom Morello, guitarist of Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave, The Nightwatchman, age 49

MAY 31: "By All Means Necessary" by Boogie Down Productions was released on this day in 1988. Happy 25th anniversary!!

"Speaking In Tongues" by Talking Heads, featuring the tracks, "Burning Down The House," "Girlfriend Is Better," "Swamp," and "This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)" was released on this day in 1983. Happy 30th anniversary!!

Led Zeppelin's the late John Bonham, one of the greatest to ever hold drum sticks and sit behind the skins, was born on this day in 1948. 

Tune in one month from now to peruse through the musical milestones contained in the month of June!

WSPC'S MUSICAL MEMORIES: "LEARNING TO FLY" BY TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS

"LEARNING TO FLY"

from the album "INTO THE GREAT WIDE OPEN" (album released July 2, 1991)

single released April 1991

Produced by Jeff Lynne with Tom Petty and Mike Campbell 

TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS:

Tom Petty: Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Rhythm Guitars, Percussion

Mike Campbell: Lead Guitars, Baritone Guitars, Bass Guitar, Keyboards

Stan Lynch: Drums and Percussion

Benmont Tench: Electric and Upright Piano

Howie Epstein: Backing and Harmony Vocals, Bass Guitar

with

Jeff Lynne: Guitars, Bass Guitar, Keyboards and Backing Vocals 

Have you ever had a musical moment where the music you were listening to connected with absolutely everything, internally and externally and with such complete serendipity that every time you hear the song, you are instantly taken back to a time and place?

On May 19, 1991, I graduated from college. In a series of events that now seems to have occurred all at the same time, I received my diploma, I had immediately moved from my treasured Lakeshore dormitory room into my then girlfriend's apartment with her three roommates who were increasingly growing resentful of my presence, and even more precariously, my girlfriend and I shared a graduation meal with members of our respective families, most notably, my furious parents who were convinced that I was indeed throwing my life away by remaining in Madison, WI for love and not returning to Chicago, IL for practicality, as well as satisfying their wishes for me. 

I graduated from the University Of Wisconsin-Madison with two BA degrees in English and Communication Arts and completely without any ideas whatsoever about what I wanted to do with my life. Yes, I housed dreams of becoming a filmmaker but I was realistic enough to know that those sorts of dreams are more than difficult enough to realize even when planned for and passionately pursued, and especially moreso when living completely out of the Hollywood spotlight or even close to the industry in say, New York. And furthermore, I had no desires to uproot myself for places such as those at all. 

I carried romantic notions of living the "Artist's Life," whatever that happened to be. but I was also practical enough to know that I did indeed need to survive and since relations between myself and my parents were strained and would only grow to become even more estranged for a period, I felt a near supernatural need to prove their fears entirely wrong. Additionally, and for more pop cultural information to bring to you, this was the time in our world's history where my generation would soon be referred to as the seemingly apathetic "Generation X," a term and quality that no one of my generation (that I knew at least) ever embraced because, hey, we needed to eat and pay our bills too. We just wanted to find some meaningful and individualistic ways to accomplish that feat.

While the notion of somehow sharing whatever it was that I had learned with younger people was just a germ of an idea (and perhaps that was a bit of foreshadowing to my current occupation as a preschool teacher), the idea of being a Professor never took hold and the idea of returning to the academic life just caused a sense of anxiety and displeasure. I had always told myself that I would not ever fully count out the possibility of Graduate School, it was something that I carried not even one desire. Essentially, I was fairly certain about all of the things that I didn't want but I was unsure as to exactly what I wanted aside from living with the girl I had fallen in love with during my Junior year of college. 

On the Monday after my college graduation, with school a thing of the past and my obligations to my parents severed, I exited my new (yet temporary) apartment with my well loved Schwinn ten speed bike in tow (R.I.P.) to begin my morning journey. I was gearing myself up to return to my position working as a student staff member of the Memorial Library staff on the college campus although I was fully unaware that since I was a graduate, I could not, in all honesty, work as student staff any longer. (Thankfully, some supervisors casually looked the other way and I covertly continued my employment for most of that summer while I simultaneously pounded the pavement.) As I hopped upon my bike, I, of course, had my trusty cassette player headset with me and that morning, I had inserted the cassette single of the (then) brand new Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers single, "Learning To Fly." The instant I pressed PLAY, every emotion and every element that surrounded me forged together into an inseparable connection that was pure and unadulterated perfection.

The gleaming wall of acoustic guitar strums merged blissfully with the Spring breezes that kissed my face and blew the leaves peacefully. As Tom Petty began to sing, his benevolent voice, combined with the way the sun shone that early morning and the happiness I saw in the faces of all of the people I passed, felt like the Universe's most gracious sign informing me that maybe this wrenching decision to just take a risk in my life and remain in Madison for love would pay off in a healthy reward one day. Stan Lynch's "Ringo-esque" drumming set the pace, the fullness of the Heartbreakers' groove pushed me along and kept me on track. and once the harmony vocals arrived, I truly felt as if I was home. 

That feeling of comfort and familiar security must have been due to Jeff Lynne's production as his songwriting and studio wonderment in the Electric Light Orchestra was an ever present sound in the jukebox of my childhood. And now, Lynne's trademark sonic qualities were combined with Tom Petty's wide eyed yet deeply wise and learned lyrics which often reflected the variety of emotions I was feeling at the age of 22 as I was taking my very first steps into the real world. 

"Well some say life will beat you down
Break your heart, steal your crown
So I've started out, for God knows where
I guess I'll know when I get there"

I think that section really said it all for me as I honestly had no idea of where my life was headed, what I wanted to do and where I even saw myself of ending up. In many ways, and even at this stage of my life, 22 years older, 15 years into a preschool teaching career and married to that very same girl I shared a shoe-box apartment with (alongside those aforementioned resentful roommates), I still really do not know who I want to be when I grow up. I think that is why "Learning To Fly," every single time I hear it, feels perfect, for then and for right now. It is a song of discovery. It is a song of questioning uncertainty. It is a song of rebirth, of the eternal child or ever evolving, seeking, travelling spirit.

It is a song of possibility. And as I rode my bicycle into my future 22 years ago, and even now as I sit here writing, whenever I hear this song, I feel that almost any possibilities can be realized.

WSPC'S LINER NOTES-MAY 2013: SIDE FOUR

For SIDE FOUR of your month long Liner Notes, I invite you to open your virtual gatefold one more time and to the pulsating strains of The Who's "Overture" from "Tommy" as your soundtrack as we celebrate four distinct milestones.

TRACK 1: "PET SOUNDS" BY THE BEACH BOYS

On May 16, 1966, this landmark album by The Beach Boys was released and I am happy to celebrate its 47th anniversary.

My introduction to The Beach Boys was an auspicious one as my Dad presented me with a copy of the compilation album "Endless Summer" (released June 24, 1974) when I was a child for no apparent reason other than when he explained to me, "I guess I thought that you liked them." While there were some songs of their's that I had heard and liked very much ("Don't Worry Baby," "In My Room," and "California Girls" spoke the loudest to me) I really had no opinion of them one way or another but I knew that I had never expressed a desire to my Dad, especially as I had no connection to surfing and the beach themed fun in the sun landscape as I was growing up in Chicago. Perhaps he just knew something that I didn't...yet.

I first heard "Pet Sounds" in its entirety during my college years and I think on first listen, or even perhaps by the second, I found myself completely enraptured, captivated, soothed and warmed by its bitter-sweetness, its melancholy, its wide eyed and open-hearted artistry and humane vision that deeply penetrated my own senses and sensibilities. And furthermore, I finally began to understand what all of the exalted praise over the genius of Brian Wilson was all about.

"Pet Sounds" was composed, produced and recorded under the leadership of Brian Wilson who quit touring with the remainder of the band so that he could fully focus his mind upon his creativity within the studio.

Utilizing a barrage of orchestrated musicianship, odd and unconventional instrumentation (theremins, harpsichords, Hawaiian instruments), soul searching lyrics and his trademark majestic vocal harmonics (which Wilson and his band mates then added to the completed backing tracks), "Pet Sounds" was the album that served as a quantum leap from all prior Beach Boys music. No longer solely about cars, girls, and surfing, "Pet Sounds" was the sound of the individualistic spirit attempting to find a place in the vast universe through a song cycle that included "Wouldn't It Be Nice,""You Still Believe In Me," "Sloop John B." "God Only Knows," "I Know There's An Answer," the amazing "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times" and others. It is an album that transcended rock music itself to become a piece of art that exists in its own artistic galaxy and yet it is accessible to everyone who chooses to listen, something that I urge all of you to do if you have never heard it or wish to revisit it. "Pet Sounds" has richly earned and fully deserves its reputation as I really believe it to be a true masterpiece of timeless quality and humanity.

TRACK 2: "LET IT BE" BY THE BEATLES

On May 18, 1970, "Let It Be," the final album by The Beatles was released to the world.

For me, as The Beatles are above and beyond my favorite band of all time, their story, from its beginnings to its conclusion, feels almost like a classic fairy tale to me as it is so well known, often told and definitive. In the case of this album, which was recorded before their true swan song, my favorite album of all time, "Abbey Road" (released September 26, 1969), my feelings towards it have been conflicted. not because of the songs themselves but because the experience of listening to it sometimes feels so sad to me, knowing that we are hearing the process of a band coming apart. The end is nigh on this album and we can hear is approaching rapidly.

Even so, I think there is so much to be gained from endings as well as beginnings. Originally titled "Get Back," as Paul McCartney desired for The Beatles to return to their musical roots of live performance after years of earth shaking studio wizardry. McCartney hoped to capture the results of raw, real performances on tape, vinyl and even film as documented in Director Michael Lindsay-Hogg's long unseen, long out of circulation documentary "Let It Be" (1970). Yet, what ended up being recorded and filmed was four men, who had been in and out of each other's pockets in an intense experience unmatched by those outside of it, growing up and growing apart from each other, leaving the fate of The Beatles to inevitable destruction. The recording was so stressfully grueling, uncomfortable, and acrimonious that George Harrison brought keyboardist Billy Preston into the sessions to help assuage the proceedings. While Preston's presence did help to a degree, it as ultimately to no avail as Harrison not only quit the sessions for a period, The Beatles, unhappy with the results, shelved the project.

And even so, the songs did emerge, as if by force of will or through the magical musical alchemy that existed between these four men, an alchemy that countless subsequent musicians have long desired to duplicate. The beauty that is present inside tracks like "Two Of Us," the hymnal "Let It Be," the swirling cosmic ocean of "Across The Universe," the bluesy shuffle of "For You Blue,"and of course, the rag-tag glory of "I've Got A Feeling" and the rooftop triumph of "Get Back."

 
What the "Let It Be" album taught me over the years is that this album (as well as the film), is a document about the process rather than existing as the finished product. Whether The Beatles wanted to do so or not, we were all given a peek behind the curtain, warts and all, an act that demystified the mysticism that surrounded the Fab Four, and revealed them to be just four men working and creating together to either success or failure. To this day, I have long had somewhat mixed feelings about the album itself as the tapes were eventually poured over by Producer Phil Spector instead of The Beatles' treasured Producer, and essentially their fifth member, George Martin. Like McCartney, I truly HATED the horrifically goopy strings Spector lathered all over the otherwise gorgeous "The Long And Winding Road" and I do prefer the version, and other sonic touches, as contained on the McCartney sanctioned re-mixed/re-mastered do-over "Let It Be...Naked" (released November 17, 2003).  Regardless, the original "Let It Be" album is a crucial piece of The Beatles' musical puzzle and my celebration of it is paramount.

TRACK 3: "TOMMY" BY THE WHO
On May 23, 1969, the classic rock opera by The Who was released.

 

I hope that I am able to fully convey to all of you how much this album means to me and the impact it has made upon my life. Yes, as a devotee of what has long been referred to as "classic rock," I was already familiar with songs like "I'm free" and "Pinball Wizard," but I never knew of their full context. I was first introduced to "Tommy" through Director Ken Russell's orgiastic and incredible 1975 film version when I was a Freshman in high school. My intense devotion to the film led me backwards to the original work which I have long embraced as one of my most favorite albums.

The post World War 1 England storyline of a boy, traumatized into an aural/visual/spoken silence by some unknown event caused by his parents, and his eventual rise into becoming the pinball wizard and ultimately a new messiah is a fable of such spiritual deliverance and presented with tremendous pastoral and hypnotic rock and roll power that "Tommy" is indeed one of those albums that continues to reveal itself no matter how many times it has been heard. It is a harrowing tale of child abuse and a cautionary satire of exploitative religious fundamentalism. It is a song cycle of suffering and enlightenment, terror and grace, and quite possibly a musical journey into the soul of a child who is essentially autistic, opening up a window into a world that is incomprehensible to most of us. It is naive yet profound. Simply presented but deeply analytical and impressionistic. And as performed by Roger Daltrey, the late John Entwistle, the late Keith Moon and the peerless Pete Townshend, via an assortment of angelic vocals, guitars, bass guitars, drums, percussion, keyboards and French Horns entirely by the band and no outside members, "Tommy" is a timeless work of art that makes you want to play it all over again immediately upon completion. 

TRACK 4: "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PETE TOWNSHEND"
And where would "Tommy" be without its creator, Mr. Pete Townshend? Lost in the ether, I suppose. Thankfully, Pete Townshend captured Tommy's spirit and unleashed it as well as mountains of music, alongside The Who and as a solo artist for nearly 50 years and on May 19th, I was implored to take the time to celebrate his 68th birthday.

The talents and artistic vision of Pete Townshend are seemingly boundless to me as the creation, writing and performing of music seems to exist as an act of nothing less than spiritual devotion and release for him, a feeling that is palpable through everything he has envisioned from rock operas like The Who's "Quadrophenia" (released October 19, 1973), his own "Psychoderelict" (released June 15, 1993), his piercing self explorations of "Empty Glass" (released April 21, 1980), his peaceful journeys into the spiritual realm with "Who Came First" (released October 1972) and of course, his roaring stabs at rock and roll, most notably on The Who's "Who's Next" (released August 25, 1971).

His skills as a songwriter, composer, producer, guitarist, singer, multi-instrumentalist, electronic music pioneer, as well as an author has placed him at the forefront of his peers and subsequent generations of musicians to this very day as he has shown time and again such euphoric joy, an ocean's worth of empathy and brutal, unflinching honesty, especially when examining himself as you can witness in his stunning and beautifully written memoir Who I Am (published October 2012).

The life's work of Pete Townshend, which is akin to an ongoing musical diary, is of such intense meaning to me that I truly feel blessed that I am able to share a lifetime with him as he creates and remains within the world with all of us. His work has soothed me, consoled me, understood me, counseled me, taught me, and heroically rocked and rolled me over and over and over again (his song "Slit Skirts" has got to be one of the finest songs I have ever heard about the aging process) and my life would not be what it is without his massive influence within it.

Happy birthday, Pete!!

And for the month of May, it is time to bring our double album's worth of Liner Notes to a close...until next time...