All This Is That

Thursday, August 22, 2013

The Longest Time - the one song by Billy Joel I love

By Jack Brummet, Music Ed.

If you read All This Is That much, you probably know that while I love rock, jazz, bluegrass, blues, country, and classical music, I love most the music that rocks, has hooks, harmony, melody, and preferably, great lyrics. I've never been a Billy Joel fan, but since the first day I heard "The Longest Time," it's been one of my favorites. Even decades ago, when it was released, it sounded like an incredible nod and homage to do-wop and harmony.

The Longest Time
by Billy Joel

Woa, oh, oh, oh
For the longest time
Woa, oh, oh
For the longest

If you said goodbye to me tonight
There would still be music left to write
What else could I do
I'm so inspired by you
That hasn't happened for the longest time

Once I thought my innocence was gone
Now I know that happiness goes on
That's where you found me
When you put your arms around me
I haven't been there for the longest time

Woa, oh, oh, oh
For the longest time
Woa, oh, oh
For the longest

I'm that voice you're hearing in the hall
And the greatest miracle of all
Is how I need you
And how you needed me too
That hasn't happened for the longest time

Maybe this won't last very long
But you feel so right
And I could be wrong
Maybe I've been hoping too hard
But I've gone this far
And it's more than I hoped for

Who knows how much further we'll go on
Maybe I'll be sorry when you're gone
I'll take my chances
I forgot how nice romance is
I haven't been there for the longest time

I had second thoughts at the start
I said to myself
Hold on to your heart
Now I know the woman that you are
You're wonderful so far
And it's more than I hoped for

I don't care what consequence it brings
I have been a fool for lesser things
I want you so bad
I think you ought to know that
I intend to hold you for the longest time

Woa, oh, oh, oh
For the longest time
Woa, oh,oh
For the longest time
Woa, oh, oh
For the longest time
Woa, oh, oh,
For the longest time
(Fade Out)
---o0o---

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Presidents, First Ladies and country stars

By Jack Brummet, C & W Ed.

Another Willie and Jimmy meetup

Richard Nixon sits in at the Grand Ole Opry

Kris Kristofferson and Darius Rucker meet FLOTUS

Waylon and his wife Jessi Colter meet FLOTUS Rosalynn Carter

Willie and Jimmy on the porch

Jimmy sits in with Willie

Jimmy Carter on the mouth harp

An earlier shot of Willie and Jimmy

Jimmy Carter wearing a headband on stage

---o0o---

Alfred Hitchcock on drums, wearing a Beatle wig, circa 1964

---o0o---

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

President Harry S. Truman's angry response to a music critic who panned his daughter Margaret

By Jack Brummet, Presidents/Music Ed.

In 1950, President Harry S. Truman wrote a much loved reply to Washington Post music critic Paul Hume’s review of his daughter, Margaret's singing appearance (Hume: “Miss Truman cannot sing very well").

The president fired off his response:

"I've just read your lousy review of Margaret's concert. I've come to the conclusion that you are an ‘eight ulcer man on four ulcer pay.’

“It seems to me that you are a frustrated old man who wishes he could have been successful. When you write such poppy-cock as was in the back section of the paper you work for, it shows conclusively that you're off the beam and at least four of your ulcers are at work.

“Some day I hope to meet you. When that happens you'll need a new nose, a lot of beefsteak for black eyes, and perhaps a supporter below!”

---o0o---

Poem: Water in motion

By Jack Brummet

Water in perpetual motion
Drifts into the troposphere
Accumulates and returns to earth
To join ice rain and snow
In the hills and mountains
Rolling into aquifers and underground lakes
Chasms fissures streams
Valleys craters hollows
Creeks rivers lakes and oceans―
The only thing on earth
That never gets old.
---o0o---