HATCHET MARY

   Change of scenery, the leaves are falling, temperatures are dropping, as we head into the SEASON OF THE WITCH. Let me digress for a second, I first heard the tune “Season of the Witch” by DONOVAN about the same time when I first experienced “Hatchet Mary’s” grave. Some say it has to do with teenage initiation, like your first cigarette, your first drink, first whatever. You hear the stories and bide your time until someone, usually a bit older not necessarily wiser will say, “Let’s go to Hatchet Mary’s grave tonight”. “Yea, what fun” you think…then, IT HAPPENS.

   Almost every small town has a “legend”, many have the same named one, HATCHET MARY, aka MARY HATCHET.  Ours was  located in Amityville, an actual grave site at THE MOTHER HOUSE of The Sisters of Saint Dominic, off of New Highway, on a dirt road next to a group of trees. The stories were Mary was hung from a tree for being a witch, OR, she hung herself because her Navy boyfriend never returned to marry her OR…so many different stories, and a few had to deal with hatchets.

   Click your heels three times, say“Betelgeuse” three times, or as we knew “park your car near the grave, flash your headlights three times, honk your horn once and turn the engine off.” According to the legend, the car won’t start again until Mary appears. Being about 15 years of age I was not too sure I wanted to “see” Mary but I had to go because peer pressure dictates it. Four couples in a station wagon and away we go…

to be continued

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER THREE STANZAS…

Oh, Ye, gentle mistresses and most distinguished gentlemen, and others… The opinions and observations are solely my own views, and I take full responsibility for any errors of fact, not to mention any predictions that prove to be wildly inaccurate.

Today’s Listening Pleasure: THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER

   “The Defense of Fort McHenry” is a poem, four stanzas in length but one the first stanza can be recited or sung by most Americans. We learn it early on, usually in secondary school music class or when played over the public address system. We hear it at all sporting events and over the last few years the playing of the poem when set to music is met with some controversy…kneeling as a way of protest.

   What is this poem and how did it become the “National Anthem” in 1931?

 Let’s go back in time to what in European History is referred to the Napoleonic Age,(May 1804-April 1814…and again Napoleon returns from ELBA  March-July 1815 aka The Hundred Days) when Napoleon ruled France and said France was always having a go with England, Germany, Austria, Prussia and Russia.

   A few years prior to Napoleon, it is said that our American Revolution which led to THE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE( they are two separate entities) inspired the French Revolution(1792-1799) which ultimately led to the rise of Napoleon as leader of FRANCE. As leader he conducted what is classified as THE NAPOLEON WARS (1799-1815) primarily against the British. Back in the (newly formed) US of A we had two political factions as GEORGE WASHINGTON and JOHN ADAMS were FEDERALISTS who supported The British sentiments while another bloc of THOMAS JEFFERSON and fellow Republican JAMES MADISON favored the French. If more background is needed: The JAY TREATY is signed November 1794, ratified by US and Great Britain in February 1796 which pissed the French off, then at war with England. They interpreted it as a violation of its own commercial treaty of 1778 with the US. The US and France engage in an undeclared naval war 1798-1800 which led to arbitration between the two nations. And it got nastier from then on as both England and France placed the neutrality of the shipping/trading rights of the U.S. in jeopardy.Then, 1801 THOMAS JEFFERSON becomes the 3rd President of the U.S. The relationships with England begin to deteriorate, and the conflict between France and England escalate, both countries throwing the U.S. mercantile fleets in disarray. Consequently, American ships that obeyed Britain faced capture by the French in European ports, and if they complied with Napoleon’s Continental System, they could fall prey to the Royal Navy. Neutral vessels (USA) were required to get trading licenses while submitting to search and seizure in ports. The British also impressed (kidnapped) our merchants, taking thousands of our sailors into their Royal Navy.  The United States responds with two horrible attempts to rectify our involvement: THE EMBARGO ACT followed a few years later with the NON-INTERCOURSE ACT, both which hurt our economy more than the British or French economies.

   The French needing some cash to fund their wars sold the LOUISIANA PURCHASE to the U.S. for a mere $18.00 a square mile ($15 million) thereby doubling the size of the USA and the USA gaining control of the mighty MISSISSIPPI RIVER, vital to commerce and security of the budding nation. Meanwhile, Americans were attempting to move westward and northward (Canada) while meeting resistance from the Native Americans who lived there.  With some assistance from the British the US was repelled by the Natives. Which in part leads us to the SECOND WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE aka THE WAR OF 1812-1815 as the British successfully  run a blockade our eastern seaboard ports. NAPOLEON is finally defeated in 1814 and the BRITISH through a Russian ambassador attempt a negotiation with the US while still engaged in warfare. 

   THE BATTLE OF FORT McHENRY, a important strategic fort protecting BALTIMORE HARBOR, occurs on September 14, 1814 After 25 hours of intense bombing from British frigates, FRANCIS SCOTT KEY ,a lawyer ,thought that when the morning came the BRITISH flag would be flying over Fort McHenry, but alas, The Stars and Strips was still flying proudly, becoming the turning point of the war. The poem was later put to a popular British song, its name changed to THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER and in 1931 a Congressional Resolution signed by President HERBERT HOOVER becomes our NATIONAL ANTHEM…

to be continued… 

Defence of Fort M’Henry

BY FRANCIS SCOTT KEY

O! say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,

    What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming,

Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,

    O’er the ramparts we watch’d, were so gallantly streaming?

        And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

        Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there —

            O! say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave

            O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,

    Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,

What is that which the breeze o’er the towering steep,

    As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

        Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,

        In full glory reflected now shines on the stream —

            ‘Tis the star-spangled banner, O! long may it wave

            O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore

    That the havock of war and the battle’s confusion

A home and a country should leave us no more?

    Their blood has wash’d out their foul foot-steps’ pollution,

        No refuge could save the hireling and slave,

        From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave;

            And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave

            O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.

O! thus be it ever when freemen shall stand

    Between their lov’d home, and the war’s desolation,

Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the heav’n-rescued land

    Praise the power that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!

        Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

        And this be our motto — “In God is our trust!”

            And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

            O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.

STOLEN? NO WAY…(66.20%)

Stolen? No Way…(66.20 %)

Oh, Ye, gentle mistresses and most distinguished gentlemen, and others… The opinions and observations are solely my own views, and I take full responsibility for any errors of fact, not to mention any predictions that prove to be wildly inaccurate.

Today’s Listening Pleasure: RANDY NEWMAN “Sail Away”

  I have a hard time fathoming that folks, some folks I know, honestly believe that the “former reality TV host” aka #45 should still be seated in the White House. They claim that the Election of 2020 was “stolen”. To them I say, “If you believe that he won in 2020 as even he claims, well…that’s two terms and he can’t run again”. The Twenty-second Amendment (1951) to the Constitution of the United States effectively limits to two the number of terms a president of the United States may serve, therefore if “The Orange Guy” won in 2016 and 2020, that’s TWO. Sayonara,big boy.

   This last election has been scrutinized with a fine tooth comb by the judicial branch of government, the candidates and their supporters, all while being played out nightly on the media and social platforms from before Election Day to the present. Recapping 2020, BIDEN received 81,268,924 popular votes, TRUMP 77,406,150. What should be noted is… only 66.20% of eligible voters (239,247,182) turned out to vote (158,383,404) for one of the ten (not just two) candidates. More than 100 million votes were cast before Election Day (early voting OR mail in). I repeat, only 66.2 % voted…Let’s reverse that to 33.8% of the eligible/registered voters DID NOT cast a ballot for any of the ten candidates. However, this 66.2% is the highest turn out since KENNEDY/NIXON in1960. This is an embarrassing statistic which for discussion I will leave for another time. 

   Recapping the last two elections in popular votes cast,

Hillary Clinton(2016) had 2,864,903 more than TRUMP and

Joe Biden(2020) had 3,862,744 more than Trump, leaving “the former guy” down -6,727,647 in the last two popular votes. Where is the “steal”?  The numbers are substantially skewed in favor of a win, until…

   THE POPULAR VOTE is what many Americans believe elects the president. Many of those mistaken Americans are learning at least from the last few elections about a thing called the ELECTORAL COLLEGE which officially “verifies and elects” the president. Which will lead us to the debacle of January 6, 2021…that I’ll also save for a later blog.

   The 2022 SENATE is split evenly between 50 Democrats(48 Dems and 2 Indeps) and 50 Republicans. But according to IAN MILLHISER(VOX) the 50 Democratic Party senators represent 41 million more people than the 50 GOP senators. Therefore, based on that number of 41 million, there is a huge difference in red versus blue state ideology (or Trump supporters versus the Dump Trumpsters).

   Let’s pull back a few years and see what America was thinking while pulling the levers, filling in the dots, punching chads, etc, on Election Days:

2008: Barack OBAMA (#44) received 69,456,032 popular votes, more votes than any other presidential candidate in history, thereby defeating John McCAIN by 9.5 million votes. Obama had 365 Electoral College votes to McCain’s 173.(Difference of 192)

2012 OBAMA(332 Electoral Votes) is re-elected defeating MITT ROMNEY(206 Electoral Votes) by 4.8 million votes.(Difference of 126)

2016 Hillary CLINTON wins the popular vote by 2,864,903 more votes than the election winner Donald TRUMP (#45). TRUMP wins the Electoral College votes 304 to CLINTON’S 227.(Difference of 77)

2020 Joe BIDEN #46 (306) defeats incumbent Donald Trump (232) by 3,862,744 popular votes.TRUMP is the 4th incumbent president to lose an election in the last century. BIDEN received the most popular votes ever, 81,268,924.(Difference of 74)

   The Election of 2020 was the 9th consecutive presidential election where the victor did NOT win a popular majority by double digits (1980).

Overall, 1992-2020

Dem Pop Votes    53,398,839

GOP Pop Votes   47,579,244

Difference: GOP  -5,809,545

   As I see it, for the last 28 years the majority of the voting populace pulls the “Blue” lever (dots, chads, whatever) rather the the “Red” ones. However, some folks don’t like the actual results. Which leads us to the “The hanging chads of Florida”, the “irregularities “in Ohio (20 electoral votes) whereby John KERRY concedes costing him the Electoral majority, Obama receiving more popular votes than any candidate in our history until Biden recreates that causing the 4th incumbent  in the past century (Hoover, Carter, Geo H.W. Bush, Trump) to lose re-election.

to be continued…

DOMESTIC TRANQUILITY: WTF is that?

Oh, Ye, gentle mistresses and most distinguished gentlemen, and others… The opinions and observations are solely my own views, and I take full responsibility for any errors of fact, not to mention any predictions that prove to be wildly inaccurate.

Today’s Listening Pleasure: JEFFERSON AIRPLANE “Volunteers”

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

   The Preamble to the Constitution states that “We the People”, collectively, as THE UNITED STATES of AMERICA will “insure domestic Tranquility”. Yet, I question how can “domestic tranquility” be possible with today’s 24/7 news media outlets, where information, many times in its infant stages, is instantaneously diagnosed, most likely without having all the facts at hand and then thrown back at us in seconds as “truth/facts” with the broadcaster’s bias attached. Watching FOX NEWS (labeled as NEWS…seriously, dudes?) or MSNBC, “Caveat emptor”, I say to the viewers. Too many times a “news” report is taken as fact without all the facts. Said example is the FBI raid of Mar-a-Lago whereby FOX NEWS immediately classified the raid as a validation of the sense of persecution of “the former guy”.They continued this dialog for weeks now.

   Fact:The FBI raid was announced (leaked) by the “former guy” who was in New York at the time, not at Mar-a-Lago. The FBI had previously attempted to retrieve said materials from Mar-a-lago in a “less intrusive” way but were met with some resistance.

   FOX: How dare they, with a machine gun carrying militia enter the home of The President. (They still believe he should rightfully be President).

   FACT: DOJ  Attorney General Merrick Garland issued the order for the FBI to raid “the home” of a former president.

   FOX: Claim this action was in retribution for Trump blocking the nomination to the Supreme Court of GARLAND. This statement has NO merit and is completely false. Garland’s nomination by out going term expired PRESIDENT OBAMA, lasted 293 days as the GOP Senate refused to hear/vote on Obama’s nomination. Therefore, that nomination expired January 3, 2017 as did the 114th Congress.

   My questions are: What were these documents?Who saw them?Who packed the items? When were they moved? and WHY?  To most every question I add  “What was the “chain of custody”?, Were the custodial rights violated, and if so by whom? In other words did “Two Hunks With A Truck” move this shit?

   Originally there were the June 15 boxes appropriated by the DoJ. After researching what was contained in those boxes it was determined by DoJ that “there must be more” (my words and guess).The DoJ  asked for specifics about a possible trove of material and their request was met with resistance, hesitation and of course deflection. The “former guy” is great in controlling the narrative, he was and is the “Master of Deflection”. His fifth grade vocabulary is usually of a violent rhetoric and his MAGA Youth aka right/white wing conservative Christian zealots follow his every word as truth. Rather than face the circumstances and maybe saying “oops, I didn’t know it was wrong, first time being President” and let it play out he would rather lather up the troops about the deep dark state of Liberalism.  “Help, they out to get me, me your president.” The “former guy (FG)” has loudly (and inaccurately) complained about the “attack” on his compound at Mar-a-lago and made incendiary attacks about the FBI and DoJ as a loyalty check on his Republicans. He speaks about that attack of his compound in Florida but nothing about the attack of January 6. He speaks about the ‘shadow army’ aka the FBI.

   “You stole confidential documents, tried to overthrow your own government, instigated a riot at the Capitol, interfered with an election, obstructed justice, ran a scam charity, ran a scam university…”(Political Cartoonist:Dave W Hammond)

   Now, in FG’s defense, he will not be prosecuted by DoJ while he attempts to continue to tarnish the traditions of our democracy. The procedure and the “documents” confiscated both times will not be used to prosecute. It is difficult to prove justice if it (the raids and items obtained) is suddenly and selectively invoked to “Target” someone. If this “violation” of the Records Acts was routinely prosecuted then that would be a different story. I heard the chorus in the background singing “but what about”, there is no“Whataboutism” in law. 

   The former President “had a standing order that documents removed from the Oval Office and taken to the residence were deemed to be declassified the moment he removed them.”( John Solomon Aug 2022 )

   Kash Patel, a Trump ally and former national security official in the Trump administration — and also one of the former president’s designees to the Archives — told Fox that Trump “issued sweeping declassification orders on multiple occasions.” 

   “It can’t just be an idea in his head,” said David Laufman, the former chief of the Justice Department’s counterintelligence division who investigated Hillary Clinton’s handling of classified documents. “Programs and officials would have been notified. There is no evidence they were.”

   Speaking of HILLARY, she used a “private server” and had 113 documents containing classified information. Nothing stored in her “clubhouse” where FG had 300 documents. So, after 18 months of haggling, the DoJ had to use some force to get government records back, including some that contained government secrets.

   Records, I love collecting records…

to be continued…

“Where Do We Go From Here?” The Election of 2024

The opinions and observations are solely my own views, and I take full responsibility for any errors of fact, not to mention any predictions that prove to be wildly inaccurate.

   Anyone who suffers with GERDS knows what it is like to be awaken about 4 in the AM with a coughing fit so bad that your lungs hurt. The next day or two you re-evaluate your eating habits and attempt to never recreate the scenario which brought on the attack: spicy foods or a combination of things. My GERDS effect the other evening had me up until 6 AM, giving me ample opportunity to think, which in my case is a dangerous thing.  Tonight’s thinking agenda besides the food dilemma had one additional item… Why we, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE have JOE BIDEN as President #46 ? My thinking is, “The Former Reality TV Host” aka “the former guy#45” left the voters with a bad case of GERDS and therefore we would vote for anyone who “wasn’t him” which I did. Maybe I was wrong for looking at the election of 2020 in that light but there was no way in hell I wanted to have another four years regretting the way the USA was going under his misguided leadership nor did I want to hear that pompous asshole #45 with his fourth grade vocabulary ever speak again.

   “Anyone but him” might not have been the best or most politically savvy way to go but it was the only way for me. Then the Democratic Party offered JOE BIDEN, “milk toast” at best. Both candidates were long in the tooth age wise while Biden offered years of experience.  #45 did nothing for me. As a businessman he was bankrupt many times over, divorced twice and now remarried to a trophy wife, a true looker I might add, who gained citizenship in a nefarious way. As President he surrounded himself politically with his family as advisors, fired cabinet members at will, and then when he lost the popular vote (again) AND this time the Electoral College totals, he claimed the “election was stolen” and refused to step down or go away gracefully.

   So now we are in the process of evaluating where we stand in the midterm election as well as preparing for the 2024 vote. Many shrewd pols are maneuvering in attempts to skew the elections by gerrymandering voting districts.  And those behind the scenes, well…Which leads me back to “Mr. MilkToast”, our current president. I ask myself the question almost daily, “What did Joe Do?” and I hear the response of “nothing” which is not true (follow up to come). Blame it on Congress, particularly THE SENATE, blame it on the Supreme Court, blame it whomever or whatever but truthfully, he did “nothing” good for me. Gas prices are directly attributed to the “robber barons” of old who are more concerned with profits that prices. Gas in Europe cost more than here in the US so JOE didn’t do that. Gas is up so everything else follows and the economy goes in the tank so to speak. Remember the early 1970’s when we rationed gas, odd and even days? The economy sucked and out goes the President. Which leads me to this thought,”Joe or No in 2024”.

   What will be my choice in 2024? Democrats must realize that #46 doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell to win the popular vote in 2024 and while tallying the blues versus reds I surmise he won’t win the electoral count either. The GOP must realize that most Americans found #45 to be a crass, arrogant asshole and voted him out for good reason. His chance of winning or lack thereof could only lead to #46 being re-elected for a second term. The only way for either party to win is to erase the slate, move past “the two” and offer some new blood. The GOP could find this easier than the Dems. “Dump Trump” and move to PENCE (or whom ever) and they stand a chance, a great chance if BIDEN is running. If The DEMS ask  BIDEN to “not seek or accept the nomination”, well, let the ball game begin.

   Let’s be honest folks, the last two presidency are not our greatest moments in history. We need a unifying President, one who can capture the true spirit of democracy, and make us whole again. Currently, I don’t see that candidate on the horizon but I only hope one will arise shortly. If it’s Biden V Trump well, God Bless The United States of America.

Today’s Listening Pleasure: ELECTRIC FLAG   “A Long Time Comin’”

to be continued… “Stolen? No Fxxxing Way”

“A Whiter Shade of Pale”…WTF?

   Recently, an acquaintance of mine mentioned the PROCOL HARUM  song “A Whiter Shade of Pale” (music by Brooker/Fisher, lyrics by Keith Reid) which brought me back in my mind’s eye to a loftier time and reminded me that PROCOL HARUM was one of the bands that made me have a strong dislike for Progressive Rock(a different article). Keeping in mind that PROCOL HARUM was a favorite of mine in the late 1960’s through 1971. I had the first few albums, and the 45 rpm “A Whiter Shade of Pale” and enjoyed the pleasure of seeing them numerous times at FILLMORE EAST, SUNY@ Stony Brook, and WOLLMAN RINK in Central Park, albeit with guitarist ROBIN TROWER. Then, he left and so did I.

   “A Whiter Shade of Pale” is a great sing-a-long tune, even if you don’t know ALL THE WORDS. The organ riff (credited legally) of MATTHEW FISHER, the haunting vocals of GARY BROOKER, and the words KEITH REID, all  a wow the first time you hear it and still today. On another note I once saw KEITH REID in the back of the lobby of FILLMORE EAST, over by the water fountain and near the door to the “medical area”(aka “safe room for LSD users), Keith bespectacled, wearing a natty suit and carrying copy of “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”. Thought that to be strange but later found out what it(the book) meant to him and why he carried it…but I digress.

   In an interview with Uncut magazine, Reid shed a little light on the song’s origin and meaning. “I had the phrase ‘a whiter shade of pale,’ that was the start, and I knew it was a song,” he said. “It’s like a jigsaw where you’ve got one piece, then you make up all the others to fit in. I was trying to conjure a mood as much as tell a straightforward, girl-leaves-boy story. With the ceiling flying away and room humming harder, I wanted to paint an image of a scene.”

   I got it, At a Stony Brook concert during  a PROCOL HARUM  performance I was that guy (maybe not) noted in the song, a drunken seduction victim with the sea as a metaphor even though the song was not played that night, but I digress, again. Let’s deal with the lost two choruses which finish out the tale…The “Whiter Shade…” (WSoP) is a drunken sexual moment gone coo-coo for CocoPuffs.

(3) She said, ‘I’m home on shore leave’

Through in truth we were at sea

So I took her by the looking glass

And forced her to agree

 Saying, ‘You must be the mermaid

Who took Neptune for a ride’

But she smiled at me so sadly

That my anger straightway died

[Chorus]

And so it was that later

As the miller told his tale

That her face at first just ghostly

Turned a whiter shade of pale

(4)

If music be the food of love

Then laughter is its queen

And likewise if behind is in front

My mouth by then like cardboard

Seemed to slip straight through my head

So we crash-dived straightway quickly

And attacked the ocean bed

[Chorus]

And so it was that later

As the miller told his tale

That her face at first just ghostly

Turned a whiter shade of pale

…to be continued…

JOHN FROM BROOKLYN

 Sometimes our wheels slide off the rails in life. But when we get back on track we are stronger than before.  So was it with my cousin, John. When I was in high school many years ago I had an assignment to write two separate letters to two people: 1) To whom I loved but never told I love him/her. 2) To someone I idolized and why I idolized him/her…I thought it was a stupid assignment AND since I was a lazy student I thought…”Why not find one person who I loved and did not verbalize that to AND one who I  also idolized?” I wrote a letter to my (older) cousin John.Years later, he told me he saved the letter and what it meant to him.( I got a B+)

   Every Sunday for the past 24 plus years John faithfully called me, never missed, even when he was in Istanbul. Yankees, Giants, Knicks, Nets, music, friends, and family all open for discussion. Laughs abound every time .Now, “all things must pass” so today I play JOHN COLTRANE’s “Alabama” as he requested this emotional song to be his “exit piece”. Rest easy, John

Your broken-hearted cousin,

Michael

BLOOD,SWEAT & TEARS: Part 2,3,4,5,…99

Tags

BS&T

   Oh, Ye, gentle mistresses and most distinguished gentlemen, and others… The opinions and observations are solely my own views, and I take full responsibility for any errors of fact, not to mention any predictions that prove to be wildly inaccurate. Mucho thanks and kudos to AL KOOPER’s book “Backstage Passes and Backstabbing Bastards: Memoirs of a Rock ‘N’ Roll Survivor” , STEVE KATZ’s “Blood Sweat and My Rock n Roll Years” ….. and most importantly BRUNO CERIOTTI for his decades of research on BS&T which provided a timeline to refresh my memories. 

   Just prior to the pandemic outbreak a husband/wife couple I have known for at least 50 years told me about their purchase of tickets to see BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS (2019). They were extremely excited as they very rarely, if ever, go to concerts and thought that their purchase would entice me/my bride to attend the show with them.  I didn’t have the heart to tell them their evening would be a “Night of Blood, Sweat & Tears” music played by guys who were probably not born when the first/second album hit the stands as BS&T has no “original” members since 1976. Besides the “Original Eight” there has been 161 different members of BS&T with one, the retired drummer BOBBY COLOMBY, holding the rights to the name, the band and the  music.

   Years ago I read an interview with BUTCH TRUCKS, drummer/founder of THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND where he said he could envision in years to come musicians traveling and performing the music of a band to which they had no prior relationship, like THE DUKE ELLLINGTON ORCHESTRA, continuing on in name without THE DUKE or any original members. That now appears to be the case for some bands but certainly fits the bill for BS&T.

   July 8, 1967 is the last BLUES PROJECT performance (THE WHO and RICHIE HAVENS on the bill) at the VILLAGE THEATRE…. BS&T (#1) starts as an off shoot of THE BLUES PROJECT when AL KOOPER(guitar, organ, vocals) asks STEVE KATZ (guitar, vocals-BLUES PROJECT), BOBBY COLOMBY (Drums-Odetta), and JIM FIELDER (bass-Mothers/Springfield) to join him as his backing band for a one-oft project to raise money for KOOPER’s move to England. (Un)-Fortunately, the evening did not make the money expected but the vibe was good and the band decided to give it a go as a legit ensemble. August of 67 FRED LIPSIUS (sax/piano) joins the band for the scheduled (September 16, 1967) AL KOOPER/STEVE KATZ billed gig at the Village Theatre as a support act with KINGDOM COME for THE JAMES COTTON BLUES BAND. (Note: The Village Theatre will become FILLMORE EAST). By October, the band numbers eight members by including DICK HALLIGAN (trombone, organ, flute, vocals), RANDY BRECKER (trumpet, flugelhorn), and JERRY WEISS (trumpet, flugelhorn). Practicing and gigging at CAFE AU GO-GO the new band gets recognition and signs with COLUMBIA RECORDS (November 67). The first (and only album featuring AL KOOPER) was released February 26, 1968. April 11 of that year was the last BS&T gig for AL KOOPER,  with RANDY BRECKER and JERRY WEISS leaving a few weeks later.(BS&T #2)

   Rumor has it that everyone from ALEX CHILTON (BoxTops) to STEVIE WONDER was offered the job as BS&T lead singer. LAURA NYRO was considered/auditioned for the spot of lead singer, wisely turning it down. (Note:Blood, Sweat & Tears would go on to have a hit with a cover of Nyro’s “And When I Die”). CHUCK WINFIELD (trumpet), LEW SOLOFF (trumpet), JERRY HYMAN (trombone) and the new singer DAVID CLAYTON-THOMAS round out the ensemble now a nine piece(BS&T#4) while the first album from the ORIGINAL EIGHT reaches #40 on BILLBOARD.

   BS&T (#4) plays FILLMORE EAST supporting The Amboy Dukes and headliners THE CHAMBERS BROTHERS September 13/14 1968. Two weeks later they are recording the second album with producer JAMES WILLIAM GUERCIO who previously added horns to hit singles by THE BUCKINGHAMS at the helm. He also produced for CHICAGO (TRANSIT AUTHORITY). The second album, simply titled “BLOOD SWEAT & TEARS” is released December 11,1968. The band headlines FILLMORE EAST January 24/25 1969 (JETHRO TULL opens).The album gets major radio play, climbs the charts, offers a few Top Ten hits and wins a Grammy. The band is a featured act (July 4, 1969) in the NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL’s “An Evening of Jazz-Rock) and later that summer plays WOODSTOCK.

   This is the band’s period of rapid success as music stars but it is also the time where I questioned what I heard and saw. I thought it was “pop-jazz” and I was not a fan. September 1969 the album “BS&T 3” produced by BOBBY COLOMBY and ROY HALEE (Simon and Garfunkel) is a bust to me. January 1970 JERRY HYMAN leaves as DAVE BARGERON (trombone/tuba) joins (BS&T #5).

   New Years Eve 1971-72 DAVID leaves as does FREDDIE LIPSIUS and BS&T#6 is born with the usual core (4) of COLOMBY, KATZ, FIELDER and DICK HALLIGAN with CHUCK WINFIELD, LEW SOLOFF, DAVE BARGERON and adding JOE HENDERSON (tenor sax), Joiie WADENIUS (guitar/vocals) and (a blind) BOBBY DOYLE (lead vocals/piano).

    BS&T #6 last two months as in APRIL of 72: BOBBY DOYLE (lead vocals) and JOE HENDERSON (sax) are fired. A few weeks later original member DICK HALLIGAN decides to leave.

   BS&T#7 is a 10 piece unit featuring the “originals” now numbering three of KATZ, COLOMBY, FIELDER with LEW SOLOFF, DAVE BARGERON, Joiie WADENIUS, CHUCK WINFIELD and adding

“Blue Lou” MARINI (sax), LARRY WILLIS (KEYBOARDS) and JERRY FISHER (lead vocals). FISHER preferred the band do new material, not all DAVID CLAYTON THOMAS stuff. He lasted five years.

   BS&T #8: January 1973: Original member STEVE KATZ leaves the band as now a 9 piece unit. COLOMBY(drums) and FIELDER (bass) are the only two original founding members with veterans LEW SOLOFF, DAVE BARGERON, Joiie WADENIUS, CHUCK WINFIELD, LARRY WILLIS (KEYBOARDS), JERRY FISHER (lead vocals) and new comer “Blue Lou” MARINI,Jr (sax).

   BS&T # 9:March 1973: Still a 9 piece but  Chuck Winfield is out with Tom MALONE (Trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone, flute, bass) replacing him.

   Original bass player JIM FIELDER leaves in 74 but BOBBY COLOMBY hangs in “retiring” in 1976 owning the name, the music, and all rights to BS&T to this day.

   To Recap: from WIKI…

Original eight

• Al Kooper: keyboards, vocals (1967–1968)
• Randy Brecker: trumpet, flugelhorn (1967–1968)
• Jerry Weiss: trumpet, flugelhorn, backing vocals (1967–1968)
• Fred Lipsius: alto sax, keyboards (1967–1972)
• Dick Halligan: keyboards, trombone, horns, flute, backing vocals (1967–1972) †
• Steve Katz: guitar, harmonica, flute, mandolin, vocals (1967–73, and as a special guest at some shows 2008–10)
• Jim Fielder: bass, guitar, backing vocals (1967–1974)
• Bobby Colomby: drums, percussion, backing vocals (1967–1977)

CURRENT MEMBERS (BS&T)

• Keith Paluso: vocals
• Brad Mason: trumpet
• Jonathan Powell: trumpet
• Ken Gioffre: saxophone, flute
• Mike Boscarino: trombone
• Dylan Elise: drums
• Ric Fierabracci: bass guitar, vocals
• Julian Coryell: guitar, vocals
• Glenn McLelland: keyboards

PAST MEMBERS:(161)

• David Clayton-Thomas: vocals, guitar (1968–1972, 1974–1981, 1984–2004)^[12]
• Lew Soloff: trumpet, flugelhorn (1968–1973) †
• Chuck Winfield: trumpet, flugelhorn, backing vocals (1968–1973)
• Jerry Hyman: trombones, recorder (1968–1970)
• Dave Bargeron: trombone, tuba, horns, bass, backing vocals (1970–1978)
• Bobby Doyle: vocals, piano (1972) †
• Joe Henderson: tenor sax (1972) †
• Lou Marini Jr.: tenor & soprano sax, flute (1972–1974)
• Larry Willis: keyboards (1972–1978) †
• Georg Wadenius: guitar, vocals (1972–1975)
• Jerry Fisher: vocals (1972–1974)
• Tom Malone: trombone, trumpet, flugelhorn, alto sax, bass (1973)
• John Madrid: trumpet, flugelhorn (1973)
• Jerry LaCroix: vocals, alto sax, flute, harmonica (1974) †
• Ron McClure: bass (1974–1975, 1976)
• Tony Klatka: trumpet, horns (1974–1978)
• Bill Tillman: alto sax, flute, clarinet, backing vocals (1974–1977) †
• Luther Kent: vocals (1974)
• Joe Giorgianni: trumpet, flugelhorn (1974–1975)
• Jaco Pastorius: bass (1975–1976) †
• Steve Khan: guitar (1975)
• Mike Stern: guitar (1975–1977)
• Keith Jones: bass (1976)
• Danny Trifan: bass (1976–1977)
• Forrest Buchtel: trumpet (1975–1977)
• Don Alias: percussion (1975–1976) †
• Roy McCurdy: drums (1976–1977)
• Jeff Richman: guitar (1976 fill in for Stern)
• Randy Bernsen: guitar (1977)
• Barry Finnerty: guitar (1977–1978)
• Neil Stubenhaus: bass (1977–1978)
• Gregory Herbert: saxophone (1977–1978) †
• Michael Lawrence: trumpet (1977) †
• Chris Albert: trumpet (1977–1978)
• Bobby Economou: drums (1977–1978, 1979–1981, 1994–1995)
• Kenny Marco: guitar (1979)
• David Piltch: bass (1979–1980)
• Joe Sealy: keyboards (1979)
• Bruce Cassidy: trumpet, flugelhorn (1979–1980)
• Earl Seymour: sax, flute (1979–1981) †
• Steve Kennedy: sax, flute (1979)
• Sally Chappis: drums (1979)
• Harvey Kogan: sax, flute (1979)
• Jack Scarangella: drums (1979)
• Vernon Dorge: sax, flute (1979–1981)
• Robert Piltch: guitar (1979–1980)
• Richard Martinez: keyboards (1979–1980)
• Wayne Pedzwater: bass (1980–1981)
• Peter Harris: guitar (1980–1981)
• Lou Pomanti: keyboards (1980–1981)
• Mic Gillette: trumpet (1980–1981) †
• James Kidwell: guitar (1984–1985)
• Jeff Andrews: bass (1984–1985)
• Taras Kovayl: keyboards (1984–1985)
• Tim Ouimette: trumpet, horns (1984–1985)
• Mario Cruz: sax, flute (1984–1985)
• Ricky Sebastian: drums (1984–1985)
• Steve Guttman: trumpet (1985–2005)
• Dave Gellis: guitar (1985–1990, 1996, fill in – 1998, 2005–2016, 2017, 2018)
• Ray Peterson: bass (1985–1986)
• Scott Kreitzer: sax, flute (1985–1986)
• Teddy Mulet: trombone (1985–1986), trumpet (2005–2013)
• Barry Danielian: trumpet (1985–1986, 2013–2014)
• Richard Sussman: keyboards (1985–1987)
• Randy Andos: trombone (1986)
• Tom Timko: sax, flute (1986–87, 1995, 1998–2001, 2005–08, 2009–10)
• Tom DeFaria: drums (1985–1986)
• John Conte: bass (1986–1987)
• Steve Conte: guitar (1986, 2013)
• Jeff Gellis: bass (1987–1990)
• Charley Gordon: trombone (1987, 1988–1994, 2001, 2013–2014)
• Dave Panichi: trombone (1987–1988, 1997–1998)
• Glenn McClelland: keyboards (1987–1993, 1998, 2005–present)
• Dave Riekenberg: sax, flute (1987–1990, 1995–1998)
• Jerry Sokolov: trumpet (1987–1994)
• Graham Hawthorne: drums (1987–1988, 1989–1991)
• Van Romaine: drums (1988–1989)
• Nick Saya: drums (1991)
• Neil Capolongo: drums (1991–1993)
• Peter Abbott: drums (fill in – early 1990s)
• Wayne Schuster: sax, flute (1990–1991)
• Larry DeBari: guitar, vocals (1990–1997) †
• Gary Foote: bass (1990–1994, 1996–2004, 2005–2012)
• Jack Bashcow: sax, flute (1992)
• Tim Ries: sax, flute (1992–1993, 1993–1995)
• Matt King: keyboards (1994–1998)
• Mike Mancini: keyboards (fill in – 1980s/1990s)
• Henry Hey: keyboards (fill in – mid-1990s)
• Cliff Korman: keyboards (fill in – mid-1990s)
• Mike DuClos: bass (1994–1996)
• Jonathan Peretz: drums (1995–1997)
• Craig Johnson: trumpet (1994–1998)
• Matt Milmerstadt: drums (1995, 1998)
• Tom Guarna: guitar (1997–1998)
• Jon Owens: trumpet (1998–2000)
• Charles Pillow: sax, flute (fill in – 1998)
• Brian Delaney: drums (1997–1998, 2001)
• Dave Stahl: trumpet (fill in – 1995–1999)
• Winston Byrd: trumpet (fill in – 1998)
• Dave Pietro: sax, flute (fill in – 1998)
• Dale Kirkland: trombone (1995–96, 1998, 1999–2001, 2002–06, fill in – 2007)
• Pat Hallaran: trombone (1998–1999)
• James Fox: guitar (1998–2000)
• Dan Zank: keyboards (1998–2000)
• Zach Danziger: drums (1998–2001)
• Joe Mosello: trumpet (2000–2002)
• Gil Parris: guitar (2000)
• Gregg Sullivan: guitar (2000–2004)
• Phil Magallanes: keyboards (2000–2001)
• Andrea Valentini: drums (2001–2012)
• Darcy Hepner: sax, flute (1999 fill in, 2001–2004)
• John Samorian: keyboards (2001–2003)
• Nick Marchione: trumpet (2002–2004, fill-in – 2015)
• Eric Cortright: keyboards (2003–2004)
• Leo Huppert: bass (2004)
• Steve Jankowski: trumpet (2005–2013)
• Rob Paparozzi: vocals, harmonica (2005–2011)
• Scottie Wallace: vocals (alternating with Rob P. – 2005–2006)
• Thomas Connor: vocals (fill in – 2006 & 2007, 2012, early 2017)
• Tommy Mitchell: vocals (fill in 1 show 2007)
• Jens Wendelboe: trombone (2006–2013)
• Chris Tedesco: trumpet (fill in for Mulet – 2007)
• Brian Steel: sax (fill in – 2008)
• Bill Churchville: trumpet (fill in – 2008)
• Ken Gioffre: sax (2010–2015, 2016–present)
• Jon Pruitt: keyboards (fill in for McClelland – 2010)
• Ralph Bowen: sax (fill in for Gioffre – 2011)
• Dave Anderson: bass (fill in for Foote – 2011, joined 2012–2013)
• Jason Paige: vocals (2011–2012)
• Bernard Purdie: drums (sat in for 1 tune 2011)
• Tom Bowes: vocals (2012, 2018)
• David Aldo: vocals (2012–2013)
• Joel Rosenblatt: drums (2012–2015, fill in for Elise – June 2017)
• Bo Bice: vocals (2013–2018)
• Jon Ossman: bass (2013–2014)
• Michael Davis: trombone (2013)
• Carl Fischer: trumpet (2013–2015, 2016)
• Dan Levine: trombone (2014 & 2015 – fill in, 2016–2018)
• Dillon Kondor: guitar (fill-in – 2014-2016, 2017–2018)
• Buster Hemphill: bass (2014–2016, 2018 – fill in)
• Trevor Neumann: trumpet (2014–2016)
• Brandon Wright: sax (2014 – fill in)
• Dylan Elise: drums (2015–present)
• Mike Cottone: trumpet (2015–2016)
• Mike Boscarino: trombone (2015–2016, 2018, 2019)
• Ric Fierabracci: bass vocals (2016–present)
• Brad Mason: trumpet- MD (2015, 2016–present)
• Leonardo Amuedo: guitar (2016)
• Jonathan Powell: trumpet (2017-2019)
• Mark Miller: trombone (2017, 2018 – fill in)
• Adam Klipple: keyboards (2017 & 2019 – fill in)
• Frank David Greene: trumpet (2017 – fill in)
• Anibal Rojas: sax (2017 & 2019 – fill in)
• Bryan Davis: trumpet (2017 – fill in)
• Brian Bonvissuto: trombone (2017 – fill in)
• Greg Mayo: guitar (2018 – fill in)
• Julian Coryell: guitar vocals (2018, 2019 – fill in)
• Ozzie Melendez: trombone (2018 – fill in)
• Chris Rodriguez: guitar vocals (2019)
• Keith Paluso: vocals (2019-present)
• Sam Ryan: vocals (2019 – fill in)

DISCOGRAPHY:

• Child Is Father to the Man (1968)
• Blood, Sweat & Tears (1968)
• Blood, Sweat & Tears 3 (1970)
• B, S & T 4 (1971)
• New Blood (1972)
• No Sweat (1973)
• Mirror Image (1974)
• New City (1975)
• More Than Ever (1976)
• Brand New Day (1977)
• Nuclear Blues (1980)

From STEVE KATZ

When the Blues Project broke up soon thereafter, Katz found himself working with Al Kooper, the member of the old band with whom he had fought most often. The new band, called Blood Sweat & Tears, would go on to sell millions of albums, win several Grammys, including one for Best Album (beating out “Abbey Road”) and tour the world, playing everything from festivals to Las Vegas.

But that was all in the future. Their debut album, “Child is Father to the Man,” was recorded in late 1967 with the mercurial Kooper, and it’s still considered by some to be the band’s finest hour. Yet Kooper departed soon thereafter, and his place was filled by the big-voiced, barrel-chested David Clayton-Thomas, who became, for Katz, “the Canadian albatross” and made Kooper seem like Gandhi by comparison.

The band’s second album, called “Blood, Sweat & Tears,” with Clayton-Thomas singing “Spinning Wheel,” “And When I Die” and “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy,” soared to the top of the singles and album charts and stayed there for months. In an irony that only rock music can produce, when Katz was at his most successful commercially, he was most miserable personally. The band was for him now more a business consideration than a musical entity.

“Part of my problem was that the band did not have the family vibe that Blues Project had,” said Katz. “Mainly, I didn’t like the direction the band was going in, which was deeper and deeper into jazz. Plus, David was beginning to sound like Sammy Davis Jr. But once we had the hit singles, we had no choice. You have to deal with lawyers and accountants and you have to trust them but, unfortunately, there was nobody you could trust in those fields back in those days.”

Nonetheless, the band did have some exciting times, such as playing a muddy, late-night set at Woodstock that was not included in the movie. They had happier experiences at the Atlanta and Toronto pop festivals, and toured Eastern Europe at the behest of the State Department. Katz hung on through four albums and even outlasted Clayton-Thomas, but eventually left in 1973.

CHILD IS THE FATHER TO THE MAN/BS&T

Tags

Al Kooper, BS&T, music

CHILD IS FATHER TO THE MAN

   Christmas 1966 my folks gave me the only gift I truly wanted, an AM-FM portable AC powered radio with a battery backup.They got me one of the best, a PANASONIC which lasted until 1976 when my friend, Bobby T. threw it against the wall after a NY Yankees loss. Not one of his best tantrums but close as his best was throwing an ashtray through the TV after losing at a game of “Spades”. But I digress. My portable radio had a pull out antenna and in the gift box was a strange looking wire. I asked my Dad if he ever saw this kind of wire as he was an electrician for the NYTA. He laughed, went to his workbench downstairs and came back with a small spool of the identical wire. He told me when the wire is attached to the pull out antenna the clarity of sound of distant stations would probably be clearer. Clearer I could not imagine as the sounds emulating from this radio was already amazing.  Pulling in distant stations was intriguing. So I got a ladder, climbed up the tree next to my upstairs bedroom window, shimmied up to the upper branches, as high as I could go (remember, I am afraid of heights) and attached the wire to the tree bark with a few heavy duty staples. The other end of the wire was attached to the side of my night table which when needed I would hook to my radio. WHEW…I could pick up all sorts of stations, especially at night when I could get the Canadian station CKLW (The Big 8). One night I heard ITCHYCOO PARK (Small Faces) on that station.

   My neighbor across the street, an older guy by 4 years, had an eclectic taste in music and occasionally would lend me albums like The Blues Project, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, and such. I nagged him about taking me to see The Lovin’ Spoonful to which he said he would but my Dad nixed it before it got any further. What’s this got to do with “Blood Sweat and Tears”? Well, one night (Spring of 68) while reading a book under the lamp in my bedroom with the radio playing softly in the background I heard something that caught my attention…”I Can’t Quit Her”, a nice little ditty, piano leading with horns. “WOW”, I thought, “This is good, who is it?” ROSKO, one of the Dj’s on the new WNEW-FM format announced it was “BLOOD, SWEAT and TEARS”. I thought, “That’s a weird name for a band”. A few weeks later while perusing the record department in TSS Stores I saw a strange looking album cover with an even stranger title ,“CHILD IS FATHER TO THE MAN” by BLOOD SWEAT & TEARS, needless to say I purchased it.

   As per my usual procedure I awaited until evening for the darkness and comfort of my bedroom before partaking of the sounds recorded on that 12 inch vinyl. I lit up my Marlboro Red, dropped the stylus down and …”The Overture” to which I thought, “What’s with that laughing?” … and then, “I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know” an amazing song, all 5 minutes and 58 seconds of it. Then, the cacophony of horns as intro to “Morning Glory” (with what later in another incarnation of BS&T the organ/arrangement becomes “You Made Me So Very Happy”). I was mesmerized sitting there, then NILSON’s song “Without Her”, Side 2 with “I Can’t Quit Her”, “Something’s Goin’ On” and all the others.  This album is a keeper.

     As things turned out AL KOOPER the originator of the band was “fired” from his own band due to “creative differences” leaving BS&T to chart a different course, hit making pop music, as the second album BLOOD SWEAT and TEARS released at the end of 68 soared up the charts and included three (3) Top Ten singles. Critics hated the new version of the band but the record buying public loved it. Meanwhile, Alan Peter Kuperschmidt aka Al Kooper  Summer of 68) had a TOP TEN album on the charts with “Super Session” featuring MIKE BLOOMFIELD and STEPHEN STILLS.

Led Zeppelin: February, 1969

IRON BUTTERFLY at FILLMORE EAST January 31 and February 1, 1969,  Pete my buddy at work attended one of those shows that weekend. He raved about this new band who blew Iron Butterfly off the stage, leaving Iron Butterfly to play just one song, their hit IN A GADDA DA VIDA, and according to Pete, Led Zeppelin the other band came back out due to the booing of Butterfly and the calls from the crowd for more Led Zeppelin. I have never been able to verify that but Pete said it, so…it must be true. 
   A few days later while at work Pete asked me to join him to see LED ZEPPELIN at THE SCENE a club in Manhattan. With little provocation I agreed to go to the Wednesday night show. But alas, the shows were cancelled due to John Bonham’s son falling at home in England and Bonham was needed there. So, I made due by purchasing LED ZEPPELIN and listening to the debut album, over and over again. And waited for their return to NY.