The new WikiLeaks dump: a billion words generated by SoS Henry Kissinger (+ bonus cables on the Russians needing more Joni Mitchell, CSNY, Neil Young, Don McLean, James Taylor, and Bob Dylan)

By Jack Brummet, International Intrigue Ed.

WikiLeaks has just released the the "Kissinger Cables," a collection of over 1.7 million pieces of diplomatic communications.  One billion words generated from 1973-76, when Henry Kissinger served as our Cold War Secretary of State/ Détente during the slow spinning down of the Soviet Union.  There is so much material here that you can find almost anything— like, say, the Russian thirst for soft rock. 

This new release is five times the size of Cablegate, the original WikiLeaks dump published incrementally from 2010-2011. I billion words is roughly the size of 125 novels (averaging 80,000 word per novel). 

I've only read a few of the articles, but one of the more interesting threads in the release is the Russian thirst for American "soft rock:"  

Search for "Joni Mitchell," for example, "and you'll find communications between the U.S. embassy in Moscow and the State Department, asking for more Mitchell and Don McLean in Russian lives — and to a lesser extent Neil Young — because, well, that's the Russians wanted in January 1975." -(From TheAtlanticWire.com).

Images from cables in the release:

Somehow, The Eagles and Jackson Brown did not make the list, although this cable seems to hint that they would be perfect Rock Ambassadors. 

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Neil Young's biography, "Waging Heavy Peace"

By Jack Brummet, Music Ed.

I just finished Neil Young's autobiography.  Strange, idiosyncratic, amazingly heartfelt, prismatic, pained, hopeful, and passionate.   One thing that really struck me is how, despite everything he has accomplished, Buffalo Springfield (even as briefly as they lasted) was maybe the core music experience of his life, and an experience he wants to relive.  It always seemed like CSNY was a millstone around his neck (and God knows, they went through a lot of garbage) but he truly loves each one of those guys, and goes out of his way to show that.   I go back and forth on his book when I compare it to other rock autobios, but it is utterly fascinating, and not surprisingly, he breaks the mold.



 I like Buffalo Springfield too. But I'd rather Smell The Horse:




Or hear the fellas...

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Video: Crosby Stills and Nash at Woodstock '69 perform Suite: Judy Blue Eyes (with lyrics)

CSN perform the great song by Stephen Stills, Suite: Judy Blue Eyes (aka Judy Collins) at Woodstock in 1969. It was one of their very first public appearances, and as Stephen Stills said "We're scared shitless."




Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
by Stephen Stills, performed by Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young At Woodstock, 1969.

It's getting to the point
Where I'm no fun any more
I am sorry
Sometimes it hurts
So badly I must cry out loud
I am lonely

{Refrain}
I am yours
You are mine
You are what you are
You make it hard

Remember what we've said, and done
And felt about each other
Oh, babe, have mercy
Don't let the past remind us
Of what we are not now
I am not dreaming

{Refrain}

Tearing yourself
Away from me now, you are free
And I am crying
This does not mean
I don't love you, I do, that's forever
Yes, and for always

{Refrain}

Something inside
Is telling me that I've got your secret
Are you still listening?
Fear is the lock
And laughter the key to your heart
And I love you

{Refrain}
And you make it hard
And you make it hard
And you make it hard

Friday evening
Sunday in the afternoon
What have you got to lose
Tuesday morning
Please be gone, I'm tired of you
What have you got to lose

Can I tell it like it is Catch me I'm falling
Listen to me baby
It's my heart that's suffering Catch me I'm dying
It's dyin' and that's what I have to lose

I've got an answer
I'm going to fly away
What have I got to lose?
Will you come see me
Thursdays and Saturdays
What have you got to lose

Chestnut brown canary
Ruby throated sparrow
Sing a song, don't be long
Thrill me to the marrow

Voices of the angels
Ring around the moonlight
Asking me, said she so free
How can you catch the sparrow

Lacy lilting lady
Losing love lamenting
Change my life, make it right
Be my lady

Do do do do do, do do do do do do
Do do do do do, do do do do
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Neil Young/Stephen Stills talk about Buffalo Springfield (with lyrics to Young's Bufflo Springfield Again and a video of For What It's Worth)

Stephen Stills and his on-again off-again long-time bandmate Neil Young reminisce about the days of Buffalo Springfield. The last video is a promotional film for For What It's worth.

Interview Clip One:



Interview Clip Two:



Interview Clip Three:



Buffalo Springfield play For What It's Worth from a 1967 promo video:



Buffalo Springfield Again
By Neil Young


Used to play
in a rock 'n' roll band,
But they broke up.
We were young and we were wild,
It ate us up.
Now I'm not saying
who was right or wrong.

Looking out on a big green lawn,
Girls and boys
Playing in the afternoon sun,
Life's a joy
I heard an old song
playing on the radio.

Buffalo Springfield again.

I'd like to see those guys again,
And give it a shot.
Maybe now we can show the world,
What we've got.
But I'd just like to play
for the fun we had.

Buffalo Springfield again.
Buffalo Springfield again.
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