a major faithlift

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Songwriter and ClockTower contemporary George F. Root (1820-1895) wrote a call to war in 1864 named “Tramp, Tramp, Tramp” (the boys are marching.)

His favorite lyricist, Herbert Woolston, (1856-1927) had other plans.

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Inspired by Matthew 19:14...

...Woolston imagined this to the same music instead:

Just to piss-off the Tea Party, today he might add a verse:

“Straight or gay or bi or trans,

All are part of Jesus’ plans.”

“Jesus loves ALL little children of the wo-o-orld.”

goes well with oatmeal

http://clocktowertenants.com/2012/08/because-youll-want-it-again-tomorrow.html

http://clocktowertenants.com/2013/04/grounds-for-caffeination.html

http://clocktowertenants.com/2013/01/trouble-brewing.html

oatmeal for breakfast again?

http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2009/02/thick-chewy-oatmeal-raisin-cookies/

for whom the bell tolls (at 2:50)

Wanna really listen to a song?

We all have our favorite recording artists and the BeeGees were always fav’s of mine.

But the arranger/producer behind the scenes often goes unrecognized. The boys in the booth make a good song truly great.

chrisdautry.com

So let’s listen to the producer’s hand for a change... behind this classic from 1971, “How can you Mend a Broken Heart?”

This was the BeeGee’s first #1 hit single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

wiki

It opens with a plucked, sliding bass at :06, then Robin’s trademark trembling vibrato, backed by a plain, acoustic guitar and trilling violins.

robin-hoffmann.com

At :44 listen to how the simple violins and piano introduce the bridge behind their famous birds-on-a-wire vocals beginning about :58.

The sadness builds to crescendo at 1:36, then circles around to the simplicity of the piano and opening vocal again.

There’s a passing 10 second trumpet at 1:46 and you might miss it if you aren’t expecting it.

royerlabs.com

Listen to Maurice’s bass build “bum-bum-bum-bum-bum-bum” to repeat the bridge at 2:41. 

A&M Records

And now, the inspired moment in this recording.

gothamcityinsider.com

That one, solitary tolling bell at 2:50 is a gorgeous choice, the gleam of this production I think. It’s like funereal punctuation to the lyrical point of a “broken man” burying his heart. 

Just lovely.

At 3:09 the la la la reprise…..

Then at 3:23 a solo flute pirouettes through...

studio914.com

at 3:37, a closing harp arpeggio.

overtone.cc

Then the strings back away, the piano and guitar fade, that opening bass pluck reprises at 3:46 and then finally falls silent on the same vocal vibrato on which we began.

Good song.

Really great production.

BeeGeesarchive

Have a great weekend!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Can_You_Mend_a_Broken_Heart

of the times

And the sign says, "Long-haired freaky people need not apply."

So I tucked my hair up under my hat and I went in to ask him why.

He said "You look like a fine, upstanding young man.

I think you'll do."

http://clocktowertenants.com/2012/05/tin-soldiers-and-nixon-coming.html

So I took off my hat and said,

"Imagine that! Huh!... me, workin' for you!" 

Woah-oh-oh!

1971, #3 on the Billboard Hot 100

Signs, Signs, Everywhere there's signs.
Blocking out the scenery. Breaking my mind.

Do this! Don't do that!

Can't you read the signs?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signs_(Five_Man_Electrical_Band_song)

there’s a nap for that

You can tell a lot about a culture by their productivity. 

Algorithms measure working hours and GDP,

“gross domestic product”.

New York GDP leads the United States at 1.358 trillion dollars a year. 

Last year USA workers worked 1,790 hours or 34.42 hours per week. We work about 20% of the time.

Paris and London are about the same in GDP at 731 billion.

But the French work only 28.44 hours a week while the Brits need almost 32 hours to produce the same value. 

Sydney GDP is tiny, smaller than Atlanta, and they average 33 hours per week to do it, nearly as much as the USA.

But Japan blows us all away.

 Their #2 city, Osaka produces a bit less than Los Angeles.

But Tokyo leads the world with $1.9 trillion yearly, almost half again more value every year than in New York.

!!

They must not ever sleep. 

Except maybe on the Metro.

sobro sunset