Today's 'Star Track' is for Jacky Archer. (Please see yesterday's posting - below this).

As a big fan of Barclay James Harvest, I think Jacky would approve of the choice.

The track 'Mocking Bird' was a suggestion, however this song was featured in 2021 (link here)

So I have selected this track from the same 'Once Again' album: 'Galadriel'

"Oh what it is to be young"

      R e m e m b e r i n g     

 -   J A C K Y   A R C H E R   - 

Jacky was a regular Friday Music listener and an Old Pel from the 1970s. But far more famously she was a member of the MFPA (Mouth and Foot Painting Artists) from 2008, which I only found out five years ago. 

I don't recall how I first came across the MFPA, it was certainly around the beginning of the new millennium and every year since I receive mailouts of cards featuring paintings by various artists. Then one day I picked up the card of the 'Canal Towpath' (below) and saw the artist was one Jacky Archer. Thinking this was a mere coincidence I contacted Don Mackinlay for confirmation and sure enough it was serendipity in ever sense. 

Here's the link to her MFPA profile and gallery: https://www.mfpa.co.uk/the-artists/artist/jacky-archer/

Photo taken in 2020. 

Jacky sadly passed away in September and this Friday there's a Memorial Exhibition / Celebration of her Life and Art at The Ark in Turners Hill, Sussex. 

As mentioned she was into music and often responded to the Friday 'Star Tracks'. She was especially a big fan of Barclay James Harvest, so tomorrow's music will be for Jacky. RIP

  

My NEIL YOUNG Week concludes - with probably an obvious choice !

However my question is: Did you tune in everyday, anticipating what was next, like listening to an old time radio prog or are going to play 'catch-up' and binge the whole week, like we do today ?

Either way I hope you approved of this Neil Young tribute to his musical genius. 

I spoke of some long tracks that I didn't pick. 'Ordinary People' from the 'Chrome Dreams' album, 'Change Your Mind' - 'Sleeps With Angels' in 1994 and virtually any track off the 'Psychedelic Pill' 2012 LP. 1977s 'Like a Hurricane'. Then there was the 2006 'Living With War' record. So many really...

Finally today we end on the anthem Keep On 'Rockin' in the Free World' from 1989 'Freedom' album - nothing more to add >

But I will add this 

Photo taken on the East Coast of Scotland, 2023.

In memory of John 'Tony' Turner (Keep Rocking ...)

- Unknown to me, but clearly not forgotten -

   

NEIL YOUNG Week - Track 4

Another blistering guitar track, this one even starts with a solo. I simply had to include a track off the 1995 'Mirror Ball' album recorded with Pearl Jam. 

When I read that Neil Young was currently ending his concerts with this song I knew it was still an important and relevant statement 30 years on. 

'Throw Your Hatred Down' with the lead guitars of Stone Gossard and Mike McCready with Jeff Ament and Jack Irons on bass and drums - Pearl Jam

The Friday 'Star Track' is tomorrow - any ideas ?

  

NEIL YOUNG Week - Track 3

I've always had a liking for long tracks that are given the scope to develope. Obviously there's a tendency to over do it and Neil Young is as guilty as anyone of this. But I wanted to include at least one of his longer tracks. There were many candidates in the running and finally on his 80th birthday I settled for 10 minutes of 'Natural Beauty' >

Off the 1992 'Harvest Moon' album - listen out for Neil on the harmonica - a beautiful song ! 

 

NEIL YOUNG Week - Day 2.

Electric phase with 'Powderfinger' from the 'Rust Never Sleeps' 1979 - 'Live' album. 

Recorded the previous year with his band Crazy Horse. The track was also on an expanded double LP released later the same year as 'Live Rust'.

The Crazy Horse line up at this time was Frank Sampedro - guitar, vocals; Billy Talbot - bass, vocals & Ralph Molina - drums, vocals.

'Powderfinger' was also reissued as part of another 'live' record in 1991 on the 'Weld' album >

Welcome to my NEIL YOUNG Week. Having been a big fan from the moment I first heard 'After the Gold Rush' in 1970, as explained in this 2020 blog (here). 

The many styles of music Neil Young has covered over the decades has only enhanced my love. From folk to country, rock, blues and grunge, even his electronic moments, it's been incredible. 

So everyday this week I've a favourite track, a selection across the years to illustrate his breath of output. In a chosen chronological order, until Friday when I return to 1989. 

Starting in the year 1978 from the 'Comes A Time' album I've picked 'Four Strong Winds'

Not composed by Neil Young 'Four Strong Winds" is a song written in 1962 by Ian Tyson and recorded by Canadian folk duo Ian and Sylvia on their 1963 album of the same name. Apparently the song is considered the unofficial anthem of Alberta.

Neil worked with many band members who showed up over the years in The Stray Gators and Crazy Horse to name a few. 

The 'Comes A Time' album line up was - Neil Young - guitar, banjo, vocal; Nicolette Larson - harmony vocal; Ben Keith - steel guitar; Karl T. Himmel - Drums; Tim Drummond - bass; Spooner Oldham - piano; Rufus Thibodeaux - fiddle.

Tomorrow is another day and another track >>> 

  

Final Part: A Majestic Music Tale

Saturday evening and we're back at the Majestic Cafe in Conway, New Hampshire. 

Sitting at our usual table having been greeted by Majestic volunteer Beverly, who had not only taken us under her wing and recommended tonight's duo Dennis O'Neil & Davey Armstrong, but immediately went to speak with Scotsman Davey to inform him that Margaret was also Scottish. This led to an interval meeting in which he came over for a chat. There followed a special moment, when their second set began he sang a song especially for Margaret - 'Caledonia'. If you know the song you'll get the moving message in the lyrics. 

The whole evening was special and the music very varied from traditional folk to recognisable contemporary songs. Dennis O'Neil played a Godin guitar (a stringed instrument or synth guitar) which was linked to a console beside him that, at the touch of buttons, sounded like a banjo, a piano, an organ, a violin or accordion and also made different electric and acoustic guitar sounds. Quite amazing ! (See more tech info here.)

Also Davey played an unusual pipe instrument that was a bagpipe minus the bag. I've found an old video of them playing at the Shannon Door pub in Jackson (a few miles north of Conway). It shows Davey's stage persona, bare feet hitting floor pedals, and Dennis's guitar becomes an accordion - it certainly captures their performance and how much fun it was. Here they're playing the Steve Earle song 'Galway Girl' > 

Encore >

Having enjoyed ourselves once again, it took little persuasion from Beverly for us to come along the following Wednesday for more entertainment in the shape of Kevin Nolan & Simon Crawford. English and Scottish musicians, full of jokes and a good ol' sing song to many well known tunes. Bar manager Joe had encouraged dancing and the invite was accepted (see video below - click ➤ twice) - to some 'Old time Rock and Roll'

That's THE END of our story, but not I suspect the last we'll hear of the Majestic Cafe, Conway. 

(click link here for more)

  

An alternative (and occasional) music posting highlighting something out of the ordinary.
Perhaps of limited appeal, unconventional, experimental or just far-out !Call it what you like
(or switch it off, if you don't like). 

Part 2 of: A Majestic Music Tale

Some 5 hours after 'Travelling the Blues Highway' with John Howell, we were back at the Majestic Cafe in Conway for the Friday Night Jazz.

The music was a tribute to American jazz legend, pianist and innovator Bud Powell, who I'd never heard of. The piano quartet playing were lead by Jed Wilson on piano with Mike Sakash (sax), Scott Kiefner (double bass) and the impressively cool Tim Gilmore on drums. 

We enjoyed many of the improvised pieces they played but the name of this tune really stuck with me. Titled 'In the Mood for a Classic' - and why not !

Sitting on other tables were some of the lady volunteers from earlier in the day, who'd said we shouldn't miss this evening, and we got to meet Joe the manager who ran the bar with a smile and had a good selection of local draft beers to tempt me. 

As we were leaving one of the ladies pulled up in her car and offered us a lift back to our Airbnb, saving us the 20 minute walk in the dark. Nice !

- 24 hours later we'd be back again for the Folk music. And another classic evening... 

Final verse - this Friday