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- Written by: Giovanni "Gio" Pilato
Radio personality, rock and blues writer, Giovanni "Gio" Pilato, shares his personal thoughts and memories on Lou Reed.
I have grown up surrounded by any sort of music in my life but nobody has been able to touch the most remote chords of my soul more than Lou Reed. I was born in 1968, therefore I had to work retrospectively to get to the core of Lou's musical philosophy, until reaching The Velvet Underground discography.
The epitome of rock'n'roll anti-hero, Reed has been a true example for me of somebody that believed so hard and deep in what he did, although it might have been taken almost as sheer arrogance by many. When he once said that his songs were the "Book Of Great American Novel", he was not far away from the truth; a sort of contemporary John Steinbeck, although most of his lyrics were at their utmost crude and tough most of the time but certainly a true mirror of 5 decades of American History.
One of the greatest rock photographers of the last half century of music, my fellow Italian friend Guido Harari (who created Lou's cover of Animal Serenade) once said of Lou: "I lived my friendship with Lou with extreme simplicity; Lou said to Harari once "If people just knew how normal I am in my everyday life, all the fascination about me as an artist would vanish".
I truly believe in this statement; behind the mask of an introvert and almost rude-sounding person that the press has depicted as such for almost the entirety of Lou's career, there was a honest, genuine man that loved art in all different shape and form, life and love for life.
Most people say they will always remember the day John Lennon died... I don't, I shall always remember the day Lou passed, instead, for all that he provided to me through all these years; my music formation, understanding and appreciation of Abstract Art, both visual and musical, in his case and most of all, the idea of keep on walking on my side, doesn't matter whether a wild or an ordinary one.
I figured that if I would be able to ask Lou today what life meant for him, he might have said "... I guess I just don't know", just like he did in Heroin, in my view, the most underrated rock and roll masterpiece of the last 50 years.
Look after yourself up there, Lou, thank you always to save some old music souls like myself from being an "Average Gio".
Thank you, to all at Bluebirdreviews.
Yours truly,
~Gio
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- Written by: Bluebird
~For Mary.
Why Do We Love Gordon Lightfoot?
Canadian singer-songwriter, Gordon Lightfoot is still going strong at beyond 80 and we wanted to give our gratitude for his music in our hearts and minds. I grew up with his music on my WABC radio. "Sundown" "If You Could Read My Mind" and "Rainy Day People" were popular tunes and his name was quickly a household word back then. His warm, textured voice is comforting in any situation. When he sings of tragedy, such as the "Wreck Of the Edmund Fitzgerald" you want to listen and hear the story, because he reflects the tales from the subject's perspective.
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- Written by: Bluebird
Phil Everly of The Everly Brothers passed away on January 3, 2014.
He was known as the harmony of the duo, and the songs they penned will live on forever. No video back then to catch live shows by fans, but this TV recording captures the passion behind the music that the duo carried throughout the generations. "Wake Up Little Suzie" is a very time tuned track on the recorded version, playing it live, the Everly Brothers really unleash their rock hungry talent!
Read more: Phil Everly and The Everly Brothers - A Timeless Sound Never Dies.
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- Written by: Bluebird
Western Mass will rock its best in homage to their prolific hero, Lou Reed. Mr. Reed's poetic music of hope in the most unusual places will be honored in song by some of the Pioneer Valley's most experienced musicians at the Iron Horse Music Hall this week. BBR posted a review of Reed at the Calvin Theatre several years ago and it remains an unparalleled experience. Visit the Iron Horse Music Hall website for tickets. Mr. Reed left us after a courageous battle with liver cancer, all proceeds from this show go to the Cancer Connection in Northampton, MA.
Read more: Lou Reed To Be Honored in Tribute at The Iron Horse Music Hall.
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- Written by: Bluebird
Press Release from REAL WORLD RECORDS:
Treat yourself to a one of the coolest Christmas albums ever with The Blind Boys of Alabama's Go Tell It On The Mountain, featuring guests Tom Waits, Solomon Burke, Mavis Staples, Shelby Lynne, Chrissie Hynde and more. Described by Mojo as "a soulful,
star-studded Christmas cracker", and by Jazz wise as "the silver thruppence amid the stodge that is the usual Christmas fare."
Happy Holidays!
Browse the REAL WORLD RECORDS store.
