Category Archives: Random Topics

These posts are on topics that cannot be categorized in any of the other categories.

“Christmas In The Trenches”

“Christmas In The Trenches” is a song by John McCutcheon. It is the fictionalized but masterfully rendered telling of the very real events that took place on Christmas Eve in 1914 between British and German troops on the battlefields of … Continue reading

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This Historic Day In Music: “Sweet Home Chicago”

“Oh, baby, don’t you want to go?” If you were to make a list of “standard” Blues songs, “Sweet Home Chicago” would definitely be among the top ten. I can’t, however, think of any song on that list with roots … Continue reading

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Dear Boston Red Sox,

Thanks for a great season! (O = a win, X = a loss.) Wait’ll next year! In the meantime, here’s a great rendering of “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” by guitarists Doc & Merle Watson, with T. Michael Coleman … Continue reading

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This Historic Day In Music: Chuck Berry

If you wouldn’t mind, read the next two lines out loud. “Well, I’m a write a little letter, I’m go’n mail it to my local DJ. Yes it’s a jumpin’ little record I want my jockey to play.” Good! Now … Continue reading

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Charlie Watts

Tuesday, August 24, 2021. The text came in from my son at 1:02 pm. “RIP charlie watts! Sad news” Rather stunned, I quickly replied: “Oh no! Very sad news!” The first article that appeared on the news feed on my … Continue reading

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Maura & Nanci

As I remember it, I had the tv on one afternoon while I was doing some chores around the house. When the chores were done, I picked up the remote and did some quick channel surfing… until I came upon … Continue reading

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This Historic Day In Music: Charlie Christian – Take 3

Oklahoma Jazz musician and electric guitarist Charlie Christian turned the nationally renowned Benny Goodman Quintet into a Sextet on August 16, 1939. Over the course of the next twenty-three months, Charlie’s dazzling contributions to the many live performances, recordings and radio … Continue reading

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The “Chitarra Battente” – a fourteenstr story

Last month, I had the great pleasure of spending an afternoon at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, Massachusetts. It was my first time visiting this magnificent venue. While exploring the Raphael Room on the museum’s second floor, I … Continue reading

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Happy Valentine’s Day

We met on Monday, February 17, 1975. We were students at the University of New Hampshire and our paths crossed that day in the office of The Granite, the school yearbook. I was there to have my senior picture taken … Continue reading

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The Voices of January

All of these musicians – each one especially revered for her/his unique and extraordinary voice – were born in January. Elizabeth Cotten – January 5 Elvis Presley – January 8 Joan Baez – January 9 Janis Jopin – January 19 … Continue reading

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