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 The New Westward: Trains, Planes, and Automobiles that Move the Modern West is at the Tucson, Arizona Museum of Art through February 12th.
in Tucson, ArizonaHAIL and FAREWELL to the veteran TV/radio host who specialized in the horror/monster genre as well as being a rock & roll disk jockey, John Zacherle— in the ultimate pity that this happened to the “Cool Ghoul” just before Halloween — who has died at the age of 98.
LATELY, FRENCH POLITICS are beginning to more resemble that of the USA, rather than continental Europe. Last year, its conservative party was re-named The Republicans— yes, after you-know-who — and now, in advance of the springtime presidential election, the major parties are holding primary elections…. although the ruling Socialists are no longer as hopeful that this new system will yield a “Barack Obama français” as they once were.
THURSDAY's CHILD is named Sir Thomas Trueheart the Cat— a California kitteh who lost an eye after having acid thrown in his face … but has made an amazing recovery.
Sir Thomas Trueheart the CatYUK for TODAY — I finally found a link to a minister-with-a-mailing-list … which in the pre-Internet days was a dangerous thing — from 1993. The Rev. Joseph Chambers (of Paw Creek Ministries in Charlotte, North Carolina) warned the world back then that (in his own mailing) that Barney the Dinosaur was a “pro-liberal, politically correct, teacher of the current social values being promoted by the new generation of ‘One Worlders.’”
I was unable, alas, to find a quote that the old Esquire Dubious Achievement Awards attributed to him .. that with his “I Love You, You Love Me” …. Barney had (unwittingly) revealed himself as the leader of a “world-wide … free love cult”. Barney … duuude … all-is-forgiven! …. How did I miss the boat on you?!?
FRIDAY's CHILD is named Strider the Hero Cat— normally, a Washington state lazy, goldbricking kitteh … until he alerted his family to two burglars in their home (who were arrested shortly thereafter).
Strider the Hero CatAFTER NEARLY a YEAR in office, Canada’s prime minister Justin Trudeau— who signed the Paris Climate Accord last December — is set to introduce carbon pricing, so as to provide the means to live-up to Canada’s promises contained in that treaty.
BRAIN TEASER - try this Quiz of the Week's News from the BBC.
MERCIFULLY, THE DK5 SYSTEM allowed me to post a poll this week … so I have included two weeks worth of names. I have declared James Comey the default loser for this week (although it remains to be seen what, if anything, will be done to him). Still, there are plenty of names to choose from.
SEPARATED at BIRTH — Detective Eddie Valiant from the film “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” (as portrayed by the late actor Bob Hoskins) … and Chess Records co-founder Phil Chess— who died last week at the age of 95.
Bob Hoskins (died in 2014) Phil Chess (died in 2016)...... and finally, for a song of the week ...........................… jazz fans listening to radio will hear many a disk jockey announce the personnel on a song just played, concluding with “and Billy Higgins on drums” — as he was that prolific a session drummer. Someone who had that role in rock music was the English pianist Nicky Hopkins— who definitely falls into the “You may never have heard of him ….. but you have definitely heard him” category. He might have become a household name but for the poor health that dogged him all fifty years of his life — still, we are enriched for what he did accomplish.
Born in suburban London during a WW-II bombing raid in February, 1944, he showed some early talent for music and won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music.
He left school at age 16 in order to join the band headed by wildman Dave (Screaming Lord) Sutch— who later became one of Britain’s most colorful fringe candidates. Two years later, he left to join one of Britain’s pioneering blues bands, the Cyril Davies All-Stars— led by a blues purist harmonica player who gained much acclaim for his rocking Country Line Special (where you can hear Nicky).
Yet in youth, he was frail from the maladies he suffered from (later diagnosed as having Crohn’s disease, for example). He left the All-Stars in May, 1963 when Hopkins had to enter the hospital for a series of operations (where he was near death) and was bed-ridden for nineteen months. During that time, Cyril Davies died of leukemia (at only age thirty-one) and after recuperation, Hopkins decided to focus on studio work.
His piano style was heavily influenced by Fats Domino and Little Richard, with the Kinks’ Ray Davies thinking “he should have been from New Orleans or Memphis”. And Nicky Hopkins proved to be an adroit session musician, seemingly always on a recording session from 1965-1968, leading Pete Townshend (during his struggle playing the piano during The Who’s recording of Tommy in early 1969 to say, “Oh, for Nicky Hopkins!”). Nicky was able to play what he was asked to do without ego, which Ray Davies concluded ... “Perhaps that was his secret”.
In addition to his studio work (which will be recounted later) Nicky did try — during periods of good health — to seek regular band work. He joined a band called Sweet Thursday— which featured two guitarists who would later become featured players for other bandleaders: Alun Davies (for Cat Stevens) and Jon Mark (for John Mayall) as well as bassist Brian Odgers (for jazz guitarist John McLaughlin). Tellingly, their record label went bankrupt on the date of their album release and the band quickly split.
That same year, he spent time in both the Jeff Beck Group as well as the Jefferson Airplane (playing piano at their Woodstock appearance). But the only band that ever gave him an ownership stake was his time in Quicksilver Messenger Service (from 1969-1970).
In 1973, he released his best-known solo album, The Tin Man was a Dreamer— backed by several rock sidemen, plus George Harrison (listed as “George O’Hara”) and then-Rolling Stone Mick Taylor. He later released a final 1975 solo album but never led his own band.
He later settled in California to pursue film and TV recordings in earnest, then had to go into drug rehab in the early 1980’s. For someone who was already quite frail, that accelerated his maladies. Nicky Hopkins died in September, 1994 at only age 50 from complications due to the many illnesses he suffered.
Yet it is the amazing number of hit records he was a sideman on for which he is best known — here is a partial (emphasis on partial) list:
Jeff Beck — the albums Truth and Beck-Ola
Rolling Stones — Sympathy for the Devil, Street Fighting Man, Gimme Shelter and extensively on the Exile on Main Street album.
The Beatles — Revolution ……. and with John Lennon — Happy Christmas ... George Harrison — Give Me Love ... Ringo Starr — You’re Sixteen, plus the No-No Song … and finally Paul McCartney — on his 1989 Flowers in the Dirt album.
The Who — Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere, and the albums My Generation and Who’s Next (for the songs Getting in Tune and The Song is Over).
Jerry Garcia Band — the album Reflections
The Kinks — the albums Kink Kontroversy and Face to Face
Rod Stewart — You’re in My Heart
Joe Cocker — You are So Beautiful
And the list includes such diverse names as Julio Iglesias, Ella Fitzgerald, Art Garfunkel, Steve Miller, Carly Simon, Joe Walsh, Graham Parker, Cat Stevens, Donovan and Peter Frampton.
Small wonder that Nils Lofgren said “Nicky wrote the book on rock & roll piano” and the critic Dave Marsh considered him “THE most important rock & roll session musician ever”. Finally, in much the same way that I opened this profile: the title of a 2011 biography sums up how I (and many others) heard his name mentioned on the radio in my youth …….. And on Piano … Nicky Hopkins.
In 1963 (with Cyril Davies) … and Nicky later in lifeTwo songs on which he plays a central role: one is a song from the Kinks 1966 Face to Face album, with Nicky playing the opening harpsichord (and later piano) appropriately entitled …. Session Man.
Rock 'n' roll or vocal star …. a philharmonic orchestra … Everything comes the same to him
He's not paid to think, just play …. playing at a different studio every day
He reads the dots and plays each line …. and always finishes on time
He is a session man …. a chord progression …. a top musician
x YouTube VideoThe second is from his 1973 Tin Man was a Dreamer solo album entitled Dolly — where he has a rare singing opportunity. Combined, these tunes reflect the breadth of his work.
x YouTube Video