Yep. Way back when I worked the Detroit auto show he drove out one of the new (then) Thunderbirds.
Does anybody mind if I pass out?
Willow ,'Beneath You'
Buffista Music II: Wrath of Chaka Khan
There's a lady plays her fav'rite records/On the jukebox ev'ry day/All day long she plays the same old songs/And she believes the things that they say/She sings along with all the saddest songs/And she believes the stories are real/She lets the music dictate the way that she feels.
Daisy Jane - Jun 10, 2004 1:15:01 pm PDT #3061 of 10003
"This bar smells like kerosene and stripper tears."
Rick - Jun 10, 2004 4:25:39 pm PDT #3062 of 10003
Our little airport has a 'Ray Charles runway.' Apparently back in the 80's he was flying in to do a concert at the university when his private jet skidded off the tiny and inadequate runway, damaging the plane and scaring everyone on board half to death. No, Ray was not the pilot.
Anyway, he could have gotten pissed and sued the airport, but instead he gave a killer concert (noting 'Since I almost died today I'm going to take things up-tempo') and then donated enough money so the airport could build a decent runway. Damn fine gentleman, according to the folks here.
Michele T. - Jun 10, 2004 4:38:03 pm PDT #3063 of 10003
with a gleam in my eye, and an almost airtight alibi
Hayden, Misha & any other fans of The Baffler, Thomas Frank is being interviewed on Fresh Air right now.
Actually, my relationship to the Baffler is one less of fandom than of occasionally bemused quasi-solidarity. But I will seek out the interview nonetheless.
I learned of Ray Charles's death from an LED display in Times Square, shortly after I came out of the building that inter alia holds the headquarters of MTV. There's got to be a name for that level of irony.
katefate - Jun 11, 2004 4:22:56 am PDT #3064 of 10003
Frail my heart apart and play me a little Shady Grove
Farewell Ray Charles.
As I was driving home last night, I listened to a monster Ray Charles set on the radio. Just as I was thinking how badly I wanted to hear "America the Beautiful," it came on and accompanied me on my last miles home. That man shows a love of country in those few moments that puts all the empty praise of a dead president to shame.
It felt good not to be embarrassed to be American again.
Trudy Booth - Jun 11, 2004 5:44:23 am PDT #3065 of 10003
Greece's financial crisis threatens to take down all of Western civilization - a civilization they themselves founded. A rather tragic irony - which is something they also invented. - Jon Stewart
AND he was on Sesamee Street. Which is just cool.
Jon B. - Jun 11, 2004 5:53:41 am PDT #3066 of 10003
A turkey in every toilet -- only in America!
Trudy Booth - Jun 11, 2004 6:01:58 am PDT #3067 of 10003
Greece's financial crisis threatens to take down all of Western civilization - a civilization they themselves founded. A rather tragic irony - which is something they also invented. - Jon Stewart
I have a music question...
I've been asked to find Hugh McCracken's best four or five recordings. Any thoughts? His not being a headliner guy makes it a tough Google.
joe boucher - Jun 11, 2004 7:02:27 am PDT #3068 of 10003
I knew that topless lady had something up her sleeve. - John Prine
Don't know what to tell you, Trudy. I checked his All Music Guide listing, but while he's on a lot of recordings I know quite well his playing doesn't stick out in my mind at all. I'm looking at the track listings for Donald Fagen's The Nightfly, one of my favorite albums, and of the many many instrumental bits that I love (pick hit: Greg Phillinganes' piano intro on "Maxine") and that stick out in my mind on it I can't swear that any are his. Sorry.
DavidS - Jun 11, 2004 7:25:22 am PDT #3069 of 10003
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
I've been asked to find Hugh McCracken's best four or five recordings. Any thoughts? His not being a headliner guy makes it a tough Google.
Heh. He actually was one of the many first call R&B sessionmen who played on the Archies recordings. He's on Aretha's Young Gifted and Black, Paul Simon's Still Crazy After All These Years, Hall and Oates' Abandoned Luncheonette ("She's Gone" & "Sara Smile"), Laura Nyro's Smile, Van Morrison's T.B. Sheets, (though Eric Gale's guitar is the dominant on that record) Paul McCartney's Ram and Billy Joel's The Stranger and 52nd Street.
joe boucher - Jun 11, 2004 7:32:05 am PDT #3070 of 10003
I knew that topless lady had something up her sleeve. - John Prine
I think he's better on uptempo and salty numbers than he is on crying ballads.... I just think he's a little too vital, a little too freakin' ALIVE to ever sound completely desolate.
I disagree. (I know Hec is just stunned by that...) If you want Hank Williams or George Jones-level desolation Ray comes up a little short, but those guys are the gold-standard for bottoming out songs and they had the "advantage" of being incredibly fucked up people. Not to take anything away from his artistry, but part of the reason Jones is so convincing on "If Drinkin' Don't Kill Me (Her Memory Will)" is because he knows firsthand what it's like to pass out face first on his car's horn and have "the whole neighborhood know I'm home drunk again". Argue artistic distance if you want but you won't convince me that's not true. Anyway... back to RC. Listen to "Just for a Thrill" or the live versions of "Drown in My Own Tears" and "A Fool for You" and its gutwrenching penultimate scream and tell me he can't sound desolate. "Crying Time" is great, but it's a Buck Owens song and Buck is a fundamentally happy guy so I don't think it's the best place to look for torn up Ray. Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul has a number of haunted vocals, too. It isn't always easy to ignore the godawful back up singing on "Ol' Man River" and "Over the Rainbow" but do it and you'll find two of his great performances. And "That Lucky Old Sun" is pretty much perfect, even with the JAck Halloran singers.