guitar | music clip of the day

2017

Wednesday, April 12th

timeless

Old recordings, where everyone involved is long dead, don’t just appeal to the ears—they’re springboards for the imagination. Here’s one made in Memphis nearly 90 years ago.

Close your eyes.

Open your imagination.

They’re just about ready to record.

What’s the room look like?

What’s the last thing said before they start?

Tommy Johnson (1896-1956), “Cool Drink of Water Blues” (1928)

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lagniappe

art beat

Robert Frank (1924-), Funeral—St. Helena, South Carolina, 1955/56

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2017

Friday, April 7th

This, I just found, has more than 21 million views. (Where have I been?)

Florence and the Machine, “Cosmic Love”
Live (studio performance), Seattle, 2010

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lagniappe

reading table

I had been happy, happy enough, but now I often found myself uttering a spontaneous prayer that went, simply: She is here, still here.

—George Saunders, Lincoln in the Bardo

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2017

Monday, March 27th

sounds of Lebanon

Yasmine Hamdan, “Galbi,” live, London, 2015

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2017

Sunday, March 26th

old school

Skip James (1902-1969), “Let Jesus Lead You,” 1964

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lagniappe

art beat

Robert Frank (1924-), Funeral—St. Helena, South Carolina, 1955/56

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2017

Friday, March 24th

more

“Johnny B. Goode” (C. Berry), live (TV show), France, 1958

Everyone talks about his guitar playing. And, yes, it’s terrific. But he may be an even better songwriter.

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lagniappe

art beat

Robert Frank (1924-), Candy Store, New York City, 1955/56

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2017

Monday, March 20th

passings

Chuck Berry, October 18, 1926-March 18, 2017, guitar player, singer, songwriter

“Roll Over Beethoven” (C. Berry), live (TV show), France, 1958

*****

the beat goes on

2,600 posts—and counting.

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2017

Wednesday, March 8th

sounds of Detroit

John Lee Hooker (1912-2001), “Boom Boom” (J.L. Hooker), live, 1960s

The world may be going to hell, faster than ever, but in the meantime, at YouTube, this has over 11 million views.

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2017

Wednesday, March 1st

basement jukebox

Howlin’ Wolf (vocals, harmonica; 1910-1976), “How Many More Years,” “Moanin’ at Midnight,” 1951

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lagniappe

reading table

We drew from the models, and you cannot imagine how fantastically boring it can be to look hour after hour at a beautiful body. But an ugly body can be fascinating.

—photographer Lisette Model (1901-1983), quoted in Colm Toibin, “That Little Minx” (reviewing Diane Arbus: Portrait of a Photographer and Silent Dialogues: Diane Arbus and Howard Nemerov), London Review of Books, 3/2/17