I post a weekly diary of historical notes, arts & science items, foreign news (often receiving little notice in the US) and whimsical pieces from the outside world that I often feature in "Cheers & Jeers".
OK, you've been warned - here is this week's tomfoolery material that I posted.
CHEERS to Bill and Michael in PWM, our Wyoming-based friend Irish Patti and ...... well, each of you at Cheers and Jeers. Have a fabulous weekend .... and week ahead.
ART NOTES — an exhibition entitled Charlie’s Circle: The Art and Influence of Charles M. Russell will be at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming through May 13th.
Now in Cody, Wyoming to May 13thHAIL and FAREWELL to the noted French chef and restaurateur Paul Bocuse— who apparently reversed his initial appreciation for nouvelle cuisine … eventually deciding it as being “nothing on the plate, lots on the bill” — who has died at the age of 91.
John 1:1 — updated for the year 2018 …..
In the beginning was the Party
And the Party was with Trump
And the Party was Trump
THURSDAY's CHILD is named Sverre the Cat— a Norwegian kitteh who is not currently looking to emigrate … as he was walled-inside some interior building work … but was heard meowing and later freed.
Sverre … is not Ceiling CatIN MUCH THE SAME WAY that US cities are removing Confederate statues: the mayor of Rome has given her assent to removing (from streets and squares in Italy’s capital) the names of public officials and scientists who created the Fascist inspired Manifesto of Race— which led to the the stripping of citizenship from its Jewish residents — some eighty years after its publication.
HAIL and FAREWELL to Echo Helstrom Casey— Bob Dylan’s high school sweetheart (and the subject of “Girl from the North Country”) who went on to work on movie sets in Hollywood — who has died at the age of 75.
FRIDAY's CHILD is named Taz the Therapy Cat— an Alberta kitteh who visits the Calgary International Airport (wearing a “Pet Me” vest) and who serves as stress relief to both travellers … and also to airport staff.
Taz the Therapy CatTHE OTHER NIGHT yours truly hosted the Top Comments diary with a look at the music of the late Serge Gainsbourg — now the subject of a world concert tour by his former love interest, the singer and film star Jane Birkin (known for her self-titled Hermés handbag) — and Jane Birkin’s only US performance takes place next week at Carnegie Hall (with a guest appearance by Rufus Wainwright).
BRAIN TEASER - try this Quiz of the Week's News from the BBC.
YOUNGER-OLDER BROTHERS? — film star Macaulay Culkin and a young Robert “Kid Rock” Ritchie … who abandoned his Michigan GOP senatorial bid.
Macaulay Culkin (born 1980) Kid Rock (born 1971)..... and finally, for a song of the week ...........................… with artists believed to be One-Hit Wonders - although that definition is rather loose (most say one needs a single Top 40 hit) - from the early 1970's Norman Greenbaum may be the prototype, although he did more than just one song of note. And while he was long thought to have been retired … in the past few years, he has made some minor guest appearances on-stage.
The suburban Boston native grew up in a traditional Jewish home (attending Hebrew school) and was influenced by the acoustic folk and blues of the late 50's - early 60's. He played in local coffeehouses and studied music at Boston University for two years before dropping out and moving to Los Angeles in 1965.
He became the leader of Dr. West's Medicine and Junk Show that called itself a "psychedelic jug band" - with jug instruments, a washboard bass plus ...... a light show. The band would go through medicine show routines between songs, a shtick which even drew the praise of Frank Zappa.
They had only one album, The Eggplant that Ate Chicago - and the title track (which at this link you can hear) actually reached #50 in the pop charts in 1967 - and it's probably unsurprising to learn that it later became popular on the Dr. Demento show. Towards the end of their time they updated their music to be more rock-flavored with a touch of psychedelia, but the band ran its course by 1968 and Greenbaum began a solo career.
Then Greenbaum hit the big time: Spirit In The Sky reached #3 on the charts in 1969 (and #1 in Britain). As a kid it wasn't my favorite: but with its super-fuzzy guitar licks and hand-clapping backbeat, neither was I surprised at its success. And with its overt references to Jesus (quite unusual for the time in pop music) many thought that Norman Greenbaum was a born-again convert from Judaism.
It turns out he wasn't: he simply watched the late country singer Porter Wagoner sing a song on TV (about forgiveness and redemption) and thought that writing a religious song was the way to go. He felt intuitively that a song mentioning Jesus would be more advantageous than one with a Hebrew name, and the song had a more than a touch-of-satire about the "Jesus Freaks" of the day. His parents were dismayed to hear the song's Christian references but — when it climbed up the charts — they asked him .... "Got any more?"
Well, his song Canned Ham tried, reaching #46 in 1970 but his career went into a tailspin: and by 1980 he went to work as a cook. He used to tend a farm in Petaluma, California and promoted various concerts in the region.
But then "Spirit" had a re-birth in the 1980's; it has been licensed in several movies ("Apollo 13" and "Wayne's World"), on the game "Rock Band 2", by TV advertisers (American Express and HBO) as well as in TV programs themselves ("House" as well as "Law & Order") and Greenbaum says that he made a modest retirement living in Santa Rosa, California from that song alone.
Norman Greenbaum turned age 75 last November and has been asked to tour several times, but always said (a) his voice isn't quite up to it, and (b) he wants people to remember him simply as they did years ago. He said he often receives e-mail from people saying how "Spirit" helped them after losing a loved one.
Then in the spring of 2015, he was in a car accident that left him with a broken jaw and several other injuries and began to reassess his life. And so at the end of 2016, he accepted an offer to appear with the Sons of Champlin in a 2017 New Year’s show. So while it’s unrealistic to expect a comeback, he does have an active website… and also made an appearance at a tribute concert for his 75th birthday.
Norman Greenbaum c. 1970 … and in more recent yearsSpirit in the Sky was ranked as #341 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list and has been covered by a variety of performers - such as the Blind Boys of Alabama, Elton John, The Kentucky Headhunters and was again a #1 hit in Britain in 2003 for the UK Comic Relief charity sung by Gareth Gates (along with the British-Indian family The Kumars). And below you can hear the original.
When I die and they lay me to rest Gonna go to the place that's the best When I lay me down to die Goin' up to the spirit in the sky That's where I'm gonna go when I die When I die and they lay me to rest Gonna go to the place … that's the best Prepare yourself you know it's a must Gotta have a friend in Jesus So you know that when you die He's gonna recommend you To the spirit in the sky Gonna recommend you To the spirit in the sky That's where you're gonna go when you die When you die and they lay you to rest You're gonna go to the place … that's the best Never been a sinner I never sinned I got a friend in Jesus So you know that when I die He's gonna set me up with The spirit in the sky Oh set me up with the spirit in the sky That's where I'm gonna go when I die When I die and they lay me to rest I'm gonna go to the place … that's the best x xYouTube Video