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- “I’m not interested in money. I just want to be wonderful.” – Marilyn Monroe
- “[My ambition is to] give something to our literature which will be our own.” — Walt Whitman
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- Reviews: Currents (2026)
- Reviews: Forge (2026)
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- Dave on Review: The Chronology of Water (2025)
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Tag Archives: Etta James
“You can’t fake this music.” — Etta James
Etta James was born on this day. She grew up rough. Real rough. It’s a terrible story of near-constant abuse and neglect. She was in the foster care system, she never knew her dad. She had an early gift for … Continue reading
Autumnal iPod Shuffle
“Family Tradition” – Hank Williams, Jr. Bitter! It’s such a great “fuck you” to Nashville country-music prudes and a great wielding of his autobiography as a weapon: “If I get stoned and sing all night long, it’s a family tradition.” … Continue reading
Posted in Music
Tagged Alexander Hamilton, B.B. King, Bleu, Bob Dylan, Brendan Benson, Charlie Rich, Doris Day, Eddie Cochran, ELO, Elvis Presley, Eminem, Eric Church, Etta James, Glee, Huey Lewis, Jackie Wilson, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Judy Garland, Link Wray, Little Richard, Liz Phair, Michael Jackson, Mike Viola, Pat McCurdy, Queen, Robbie Williams, Rufus Wainwright, Sam Cooke, shuffle, Sinéad O'Connor, The Everly Brothers, The Rolling Stones, Wanda Jackson
16 Comments
R.I.P. Aretha Franklin
When you talk about Aretha Franklin, you really must – there is no other choice – use words like “transcendent,” “genius,” etc. It was palpable in everything she did, in her recordings, in her live performances. What you see in … Continue reading
Autumnal iPod Shuffle
Been a while since I’ve done one of these. I am working 3, 4 jobs and my writing career has morphed into a semi-regular schedule of work – expected and unexpected – but I will NEVER give up this blog. … Continue reading
Posted in Music
Tagged Alexander Hamilton, Bob Dylan, Brenda Lee, Carl Perkins, Charlie Rich, Chuck Berry, ELO, Elvis Costello, Elvis Presley, Eminem, Etta James, Foo Fighters, Frank Sinatra, Glee, Green Day, Huey Lewis, Indigo Girls, Jerry Lee Lewis, Liz Phair, Marilyn Monroe, Mike Viola, Robbie Williams, Sam Cooke, shuffle, The Beatles, The Everly Brothers, Waylon Jennings
17 Comments

