Canned Heat & John Lee Hooker

Greetings Worlds,

I hope all is well with you ?  Our hearts & prayers go out to those involved in the shootings this morning in Colorado.  We hope the Lord is with you.......

It's another Friday here in England - the Sun is out & the sky is blue..... hopefully, if it stays dry for another day, we will be able to cut the grass - it's far too wet at the moment, but it sure is getting long !!

I'm in a sombre mood this fine day.... I will try & explain !!

Being a writer of a blog, I also enjoy reading a couple as well.  However, I think I made a mistake in reading one in particular.  The lady who wrote it, mentioned 2 people, who I had never heard of..... so, I asked who they were, which seemed like a fair question.  Anyhoo - today, the lady has posted - mentioning how her "hits" go up, when ever she uses trigger words - including the 2 people I asked about !!

So - have I been sucked into some kind of trap ?  Did the lady use the 2 people, to up her page reads ?!  I don't know - but, it's kind of upset my day a bit - I feel as if my simple question.... well like I walked straight into her game plan, if she has one that is !!

Luckily - it won't spoil my entire day... but, it has been a bit of a bummer !!  Onwards, ever onwards....

The ladies of the house have gone out for a drive.  ME wanted B to know where she is going to work, so they have driven over to the other side of the county, to have a look & maybe show B around - I'm not too sure about the latter bit !!  Anyways - that's the ladies of the house... leaving J here again, to look out for me - incase I need any help at all.

I'll be fine - tho' I have had a few bad nights now..... so, I might have a little beauty sleep in an hour or so !!  The trouble is, if I sleep too long this afternoon - I won't sleep too well tonight !!  I'll have to see how things go I guess !!

The music of the moment is a 2 LP set by Canned Heat & featuring John Lee Hooker.  The album  'Hooker & Heat' has been one of my all time favourite Canned Heat albums since I first heard it, in 1971 !!  B bought me a copy of the album, on a 2 Cd set.... which came in a replica sleeve & everything.... but, I prefer the sound of the original Lp !!

It would be a lot easier, to play the Cd's.... I wouldn't have to stand up every 20 minutes or so, to change the side of the album.... but, there is something about this album that sort of plays better, on the Lp.  Side 1 starts with Mr Hooker on his own, just playing guitar & singing..... As side 2 & 3 come along - the various members of Canned Heat join in and the sound get better, fuller and incredibly brilliant !!  By the end of side 4, which is 'Boogie Chillen No 2' - well.... it just boogies along !!  Hard to explain - but, it's really good.... and throw's up a memory from 1975.

I wanted a Canned tape, to play on my car cassette player.  So - one night, I started a tape..... and just kept recording it, until the whole 2 hours were full !!  By the time I had finished, it was the wee hours of the morning and, altho' I didn't realise it at the time..... I was as hot as hell !!  Playing the music thru' my old headphones.... well, I had been so wrapped up in it, I had just forgotten about time or anything else for that matter !!

When the tape was finished - well, the room was deathly quiet.... pitch black outside & not a noise to be heard anywhere !!  Kind of spooky really..... !!

For the record - I still have that tape - it not only (still) contains the music I recorded that night... but, it is the oldest tape in my collection.  I bought the blank in 1971, when I bought my first cassette tape deck, and it still plays fine to this day !!

So - for all of you, who say tapes don't last - they do, if you look after them !!

Talking about being quiet outside..... We have lived in several homes over the years, at least 3 of which were right out in the country.  Now, this might sound completely stupid - but, if you take into account how I am some mornings - well, I wake up here & it's like I have to think hard about where exactly I am !!

I'll wake up - it will be perfectly calm & quiet out side - and depending how "stoned" I am, it takes me a few minutes to come around & work out where I am !!  By "stoned" - I'm talking about the pills & potions I have to take, just to keep myself going from day to day...... but, if I've had a bad night - well - it sounds weird, waking up to nothing...... just the odd bird song.  Oh well..... onwards !!

I can't believe it's the end of another week !!  It's been a good one tho'..... with Dr L taking me off of her books !!  That's something I can work at putting behind me - unless my body gives up again & I get referred back to her !!  That is one thing, about all my Dr's...... they are always there if I need them !!

People always complain about our health service.... but, as I've no doubt said before, if a person is that sick, you are treated as quickly as your health needs !!  If you're sick - you get seen... it's as simple as that really !!

As for the weekend..... well, if I'm able, I will go to Church on Sunday.  I haven't been for 2 weeks now, so I would like to go back soon - it depends how I am on the day !!

I hope, if I can, to go with B shopping, either tonight or tomorrow morning.  I've not been out hardly at all this past few weeks - which suits me fine - but, it is time I tried to get out into the World again !!  I need to get some Cd labels, so I'll use that as an excuse to go
out !!  I really do need a kick in the butt sometimes !!

Oh - I have a Zeppelin concert from today, in 1973..... the tracks are:

CD 1

1) Rock & Roll
2) Celebration Day
3) Black Dog
4) Over The Hills & Far Away
5) No Quarter
6) The Song Remains The Same
7) The Rain Song
8) Dazed & Confused

CD 2

1) Stairway To Heaven
2) Heartbreaker
3) Whole Lotta Love

It was recorded in Boston & I think (tho' I've never timed it) it's probably one of the shortest sets played during the 1973 American tour !!  The main reason seems to be the audience - who all seem to have taken too many "lets cause a riot" pills !!  They are completely off their heads, thru' out the whole show.

So much so, that the band cut 'Since I've Been Loving You' & 'Misty Mountain Hop' possibly 'Moby Dick' and any kind of encore !!  It really is a short set !!  Oh well - it's worth having in my collection - but, as always, don't buy bootlegs - buy the official stuff !!

The following night, Zeppelin played in Providence, Rhode Island and played the standard 1973 set list.... I've been to both cities over the years, they are kind of beautiful in their own ways...... even the bus station, where I got dumped in 1986, trying to make my way back to Boston & then home !!

You see - if we invite people to stay with us - we try & make sure they get back to the airport, even going a so far as hiring a car, to make the trip - mainly as ours was clapped out at the time. But, no.... when I was invited to a wedding in 1986, I was dumped at the bus station & had to figure my own ways home from there !!  Bummer !!

The music has just been changed to Jaimoe's Jasssz Band & their 'Renaissance Man' Cd - which Lady & Sir J sent me recently !!  My thanks to both of you.....

Ok - I better be on my way !!  The Tour of France has just started on TV & I want to watch this stage.  i really like watching these guys race.... so, until next...

Bye Bye