Joe

Some nice recollections and invaluable early documentation courtesy of one of my CalArts writing teachers, Bruce Bauman. The interview shared here dates from 1975. AS Bruce says, "I don’t think he’d ever again be so vulnerable." https://trouserpress.com/souvenir-from-a-dream-memories-of-tom-verlaine/

"Richly illustrated with seventy-two pages of photographs and posters from Adger Cowans, Marilyn Nance, Val Wilmer, and others, A Strange Celestial Road interweaves the author’s own moving story—his battles with addiction, spiritual development, and life as a working class performer—with enthralling tales of tutelage under Cal Massey, collaborations with the likes of Ed Blackwell, Marion Brown, and Andrew Cyrille, and profound, occasionally confounding, mentorship by Sun Ra." More info here: https://www.blankforms.org/publications/ahmed-abdullah-a-strange-celestial-road

It contains what might be my favorite rendition of "How High The Moon."

Siouxsie and the Banshees covered "Little Johnny Jewel" on THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS.

At the height of Television's notoriety, some performances could veer into "sheets of sound" territory. But he pared back his style over the years. There are also a couple of freely improvised tracks on WARM AND COOL (1992). Tonally, I hear some similarities with between Verlaine and Richard Thompson. To a much lesser extent, John Cippolina. But there's hardly any blues vocabulary in Verlaine's playing, and he played guitars that rockers oh his era had no use for (Fender Jazzmaster and Jaguar, which became the axes pretty much every post-punk guitarist picked up). I'm not sure where else some of his notions of structure, counterpoint, and — dare I say? — swing could come from but jazz. E.g., this solo: Patti's Smith's elegy for him provides some additional insight into his musical origins. According to her, he started out as a saxophonist.

This one hurts. I so wish I'd had a chance to see Verlaine live, but the stars just never aligned. He's one of the most important artistic influences in my life, and I've probably spent way too much time trying to unravel the mysteries of his iconic solos. He also took rock about as far into Coltrane territory as anyone. Exhibit A.

RIP to maybe the most original "rock" guitarist not named Hendrix.

Great list. Totally agree on "Arietis" — it's quite a fanfare!

"Somethin' Special" from Sonny Clark's LEAPIN' AND LOPIN'

Pretty much anything by Brian Charette. I've particularly fond of his solo recitals on Steeplechase and this one from last year. https://briancharettequartet.bandcamp.com/album/jackpot

I remember his bust here very well; it produced a lot of punchlines. But Crosby clearly felt differently about the experience. https://www.dallasnews.com/arts-entertainment/music/2023/01/19/david-crosby-dead-at-81-once-credited-an-arrest-in-dallas-for-turning-his-life-around/

Crosby lived life #noregrets before anyone knew what a hashtag was. IF I COULD ONLY REMEMBER MY NAME will always have a place in my collection.

I feel like maybe Jim Sullivan's UFO may qualify. Great record regardless. Arrangements by Jimmy Bond. Drums by Earl Palmer. It's more freak-folk, but you might also check out the Relatively Clean Rivers LP.

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/01/18/1139783203/what-makes-songs-swing-physicists-unravel-jazz-mystery 👀 🍿

Yes, this is the second-to-last recording date Kelly led. A mostly overlooked LP, IMHO.

Yep! https://www.discogs.com/master/185305-The-West-Coast-Pop-Art-Experimental-Band-Vol-3-A-Childs-Guide-To-Good-Evil But it dates from 1968, so pre-JCS. But definitely apocalyptic / Manson-esque.

On that vibe, then, there's also the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band's Volume 3: A Child's Guide to Good and Evil.

FWIW, John Tilbury (of AMM) has also recorded a version of FOR JOHN CAGE, with violinist Darragh Morgan. https://diatriberecords.bandcamp.com/album/morton-feldman-for-john-cage

I am a fan generally but I confess I don't know this piece or these recordings very well. Looks like Hat Hut / ezz-thetics now has this covered: https://ezz-thetics.bandcamp.com/album/for-john-cage. But I've yet to audition it. The first Feldman recording I heard pairs the early Durations with Coptic Light. I still have a soft spot for these renditions. https://www.allmusic.com/album/morton-feldman-durations-i-v-coptic-light-mw0001940584

They were all working-class Catholics. Only Catholicism produces that brand of "Satanism." Also, as far as Christian rock concept LPs from this early 70s go, overlook Aphrodite's Child's 666 at your own peril. https://www.loudersound.com/features/apocalypse-and-orgasm-the-crazy-story-of-aphrodites-child-666-vangeliss-cult-masterpiece

Wow!