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 and ...... well, each of you at Cheers and Jeers. Have a fabulous weekend .... and week ahead.
ART NOTES— an exhibition entitled The Soul of Nature— the first U.S. career retrospective of the German painter Caspar David Friedrich (1774-1840) featuring 75 works (with his landscapes having a consideration of the environment ahead of its time) — is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC through May 11th.
YOUR WEEKEND READ #1 is this short essay in The American Prospect by Harold Meyerson, noting that — while US foreign policy historically has been a mixed bag— the new tenants are determined to undo the best parts, not the worst.
VALENTINE’s DAY NOTES— while the number of resorts in the Pocono Mountains region of eastern Pennsylvania with heart-shaped bathtubs has dwindled in recent years ... some AirBnB properties (even in red states such as AR, GA, TN, AZ, MT and WV) are aiming to please.
THURSDAY's CHILD was rescued by firefighters in Red Bluff, California after being stranded by recent storms … and apart from an injury to her tail, she is safe and receiving treatment.
YOUR WEEKEND READ #2 is also from Harold Meyerson, noting that Venezuelan refugees living in Florida (and voting GOP) feel betrayed by deportation orders … yet the one group that is being offered asylum — and who aren’t seeking it — are white Afrikaners from South Africa — no doubt, a sop to Apartheid Clyde. (The last part was amplified by Adam Serwer, in The Atlantic (gift article).
FRIDAY's CHILD is named Cleo the Cat— a Scottish kitteh who was trapped underground an apartment complex (during the major Storm Eowyn that affected western Europe recently) yet who was rescued by the SPCA and firefighters … and best of all: her family lived just a few blocks away.
BRAIN TEASER— try this Quiz of the Week's News from the BBC ...… and the usually easier, less UK-centered New York Times quiz.
YOUR WEEKEND READ #3 is this lengthy essay in Foreign Affairs with the self-explanatory title, The Path to American Authoritarianism.
SIGN of the APOCALYPSE— until recently, Elon Musk had been the father of twelve children (by three different women). Now, a right-wing influencer— who was dumped from Turning Point USA in 2019 after taking a photograph of herself with known white nationalists (including Nick Fuentes) — has revealed herself to have given birth to his child.
Reader Suggested FATHER-SON? from Audri— country music star Randy Travis and retired NFL star Tom Brady… Whaddya think?
...... and finally, for a song of the week ...........................… someone who died at a young age, yet had success in both pop, country and even acting was Nicolette Larson— a widely popular ensemble singer who at times struggled as a soloist. More than twenty-five years later, he career is worth a second look.
Born in Helena, Montana in 1952, she eventually settled in San Francisco, working at Discount Records in Berkeley. She eventually auditioned for Hoyt Axton, who was managing Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen band at the time — and she was hired as an ensemble singer for a three-year stretch.
She became an in-demand session singer in Los Angeles, appearing on many recordings (which will be noted later on). It was while visiting Linda Ronstadt’s home in 1977 that Neil Young called, asking for a recommendation for a background vocalist. When Linda told him that Nicolette Larson was sitting right there, he came over: telling Nicolette that two others had recommended her, as well. He asked her to join Ronstadt on his American Stars and Bars album … and Nicolette was later asked to sing on Young’s Comes a Time album, leading to her being signed to Warner Bros. Records in 1978.
One of the songs on Comes a Time— which she did not sing on — was Lotta Love, and after telling Neil it was her favorite on the album, he urged her to record it. It appeared on her debut album Nicolette, and reached #8 on the charts in 1978. From the same album, Rhumba Girl reached #47.
Many analysts felt that her inability to have follow-up successes came from having a delicate voice that often was overpowered by producer Ted Templeman’s elaborate productions. They cite her second album (In the Nick of Time) with the song Let Me Go, Love reaching #35 in no small part ... to being a duet with the Doobie Brothers’ Michael McDonald.
She did some more modestly successful pop albums (as well as numerous credits performing on others) through 1982, before taking a detour: acting and singing in a touring version of the country musical Pump Boys and Dinettes. She not only received a new contract from MCA: in 1984 she was named Best New Artist by the Academy of Country Music … even before she had an official Nashville release.
She again had modest success on the country circuit, with only one major hit: 1986’s That’s How You Know When Love’s Right… and once again, a duet (with Steve Wariner this time) that reached #9 on the country charts.
In 1988 she again pursued some acting roles: singing in the Arnold Schwarzenegger/Danny DeVito comedy Twins as well as the TV series Throb. Fifteen years after their first meeting, Nicolette appeared on Neil Young’s 1992 Harvest Moon album, and recorded a 1994 children’s album Sleep, Baby, Sleep. She also performed at USO tours.
She suffered from depression later in life and died in December, 1997 — at only age forty-five — as a result of cerebral edema triggered by liver failure .. which Neil Young’s half-sister Astrid attributed in part to mixing Valium with wine and Tylenol.
She was honored posthumously with two benefit concerts (one the following year) and was the focus of a tribute live album with performers such as Carole King, Joe Walsh, Jimmy Buffet, Dan Fogelberg and Little Feat.
Her greatest legacy are the sheer volume of performers asking her to perform on their recordings. Besides those already mentioned: a list would begin with Guy Clark, Jesse Winchester, Emmylou Harris, Jesse Colin Young, Christopher Cross, Rodney Crowell, Graham Nash, Billy Joe Shaver, Rita Coolidge, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Bonnie Raitt … and continue on.
While I often try to highlight a song that is not-so-well-known in this space, her signature tune so defines her high point that it belongs here.