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 Laramie, 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 A Beautiful Mess: Weavers & Knotters of the Vanguard— eleven artists who transform rope, yarn, clay, wire (and more) into wall hangings and sculptures — is at the North Dakota Museum of Art in Grand Forks to December 10th.
YOUR WEEKEND READ (if you have not already) is this lengthy yet fascinating essay by a ProPublic reporter named Kavitha Surana— on how some red state GOP state legislators sought modifications to their states’ near-total ban on abortion … only to have zealots threaten them with primaries.
THURSDAY's CHILD is named Toby the Cat— an English kitteh who went missing eleven years ago, and now returned to his family due to his microchip.
CHEERS to a fabulous long Thanksgiving weekend — a chance to decompress, enjoy some fabulous meals, do some hiking (both urban and nature-preserve varieties) and catch-up with friends and family. T’was good to get away from worrying about politics; planning a day-trip this coming weekend.
FRIDAY's CHILD is named Kale the Cat— an Australian kitteh who was depressed after being sent back to a shelter three times in his 9-month life … until a foster family brought him home and after “snuggling in between his foster mum and dad on the bed” has now been adopted.
BRAIN TEASER— try this Quiz of the Week's News from the BBC ...… and the usually easier, less UK-centered New York Times quiz.
THE OTHER NIGHT yours truly hosted the Top Comments diary with a book review of the recent memoirs released by Sylvester Stewart… a/k/a Sly of the Family Stone.
HAIL and FAREWELL to a founding member of my favorite American punk band (The Dictators) — rhythm guitarist Scott (Top Ten) Kempner— who has died from early-onset dementia.
Reader-suggested SEPARATED at BIRTH from Audri— two English TV stars: Andrew Gower (“Outlander”) and Harry McEntire (“The Last Kingdom”). Whaddya think?
...... and finally, for a song of the week ...........................… recently a tribute album that touched my heart was released. Entitled Heavenly Cream, it is a (largely) acoustic album of songs made famous by my favorite band (Cream) from 1966-1968. It was five years in the making, based on conversations between the band’s principal songwriter (Pete Brown) and his record company.
Best of all, it features performances by Malcolm Bruce (son of the band’s late bassist Jack Bruce), Pete Brown and the band’s drummer Ginger Baker. Sadly, the last two did not live to see the record’s release (Ginger Baker died in 2019, and Pete Brown just this past May).
Other performers include the US blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa, Paul Rodgers (of Free, and later Bad Company) and the now 90 year-old Chicago bluesman Bobby Rush (whom I profiled this past May). Former Whitesnake guitarist Bernie Marsden (who passed away just three months ago) also appears.
There are also two veteran female UK blues singers: Maggie Bell (Stone the Crows) and Deborah Bonham (sister of the late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham) who has led her own bands.
There are also some lesser-known names (outside of the UK) and some string players (used to great effect). There is supposed to be a documentary on the recording sessions (a trailer can be seen at this link). All in all, a worthy tribute.
What to choose? Two stand-out to me. One is Deserted Cities of the Heart— sung here by Joe Bonamassa (and Malcolm Bruce sounds like his father on bass).
The other song was not even written during the lifespan of Cream (appearing on Jack Bruce’s 1969 first solo album). Yet Theme for an Imaginary Western is the most allegorical lyrics Pete Brown ever wrote (and he sings it here). The American westward expansion in covered wagons theme … represented the London-based bands, venturing out in their vans in the 1960’s to the small towns in northern England and beyond. (Plus, it’s the most elegant music Jack Bruce ever composed).