With complete thanks and regard to Buddy Holly and Don McLean, I feel myself that I may have taken too much liberty with the title of this post. Disclaimer noted.
Written as I listen to the Velvet Elvis album What In The World produced by Velvet Elvis and my dear friend and partner in music, Jeff Carpenter in 1986. My last CD was produced by Jefferson and we had some help on a couple tunes from Dan Trisko who is holding the guitar on the Velvet Elvis album cover. I certainly appreciate all their efforts.
It was an email of all things that made me hang my head recently. I could not believe what I was seeing. 3 dollars and 99 cents. That is what AMAZON was wanting from me to acquire the new solo offering by Paul McCartney, Paul McCartney III.
As Andy Taylor would say, “That cut me.”
Now, I know times are tougher than they have ever been in my lifetime. We’ve seen bad days. But we weren’t wearing masks and trying to avoid death. I am delighted that Paul McCartney’s album can be had for a small price. Imagine how I felt when I looked on my Amazon Music Unlimited account and found this new Paul III waiting for me. 7 dollars and 99 cents a month and I can listen to anything including myself.
On the other hand, I still have a germ or two inside me that can’t accept an album by a Beatle can be acquired for less than 4 bucks. It can’t be.
Some of the greatest musical memories I have, prior to my finding out I can pick up a guitar and make something meaningful come out or my concert going, involve going to record stores as a kid just wading through what was, to me, a cheap art museum to visit. I’d pick up copies of records that I knew I would never take home. KISS, Alice Cooper, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, and stuff like that. In 1978 an album cost 7.99. A double live or greatest hits album was 14.99. I have said it before and I will remind you, this was when a concert ticket was 10 bucks instead of 100. Artists made money making records THEN.
I was listening to The Bay City Rollers and could not get enough Barry Manilow. The first time I saw the rocky coast of New Hampshire and Maine, I heard a piano opening. The edgiest thing I had in my collection at 10 was probably Rod Stewart’s Footloose and Fancy Free. Hot Legs was fun to listen to but the one I wanted to hear was the ballad, of course. You’re In My Heart is still my favorite Rod Stewart song.
No, I have no grand illusion that I will make money from the music I make. For fun I looked at my streaming account. My tunes have been streamed and more rarely downloaded to the tune (sorry) of over 4800 times. I will see a check when my residuals accrue 20 dollars. Right now I have earned just over 11 bucks.
I make music because I love to do it and I am smart enough to take advantage of my resources, albeit not without substantial cost, and enjoy the talent the Good Lord has bestowed on me and the others in the room when we plug in and make it happen.
I used to look forward to release day at the record store which used to be Tuesday. There was a board behind the counter indicating which releases were coming. This was before, well, you know. In 1989, long before we knew who farted in Pittsburgh twenty minutes ago, The Moody Blues were on the release board. They’d released the album Sur La Mer in 1988 which included their last Top 30 hit I Know You’re Out There Somewhere. I had played that cassette raw. I was ready for some new tunes. The 1989 release? I was disappointed. It was a Greatest Hits album with two tunes reworked with proper orchestras under the direction of Anne Dudley.
And so it goes as 2021 is on the horizon. I say bring it on!
My musical nerve will be tested a bit. A couple days ago I wrote a song about the plight of the 2020 Indiana Hoosiers football team and the slights they have endured from their own league and the football broadcasting establishment. As usual, it took about ten minutes. Spewing out like cheeze whiz from a garden hose, as one wise man once put it. I may have to present this song in some form before the bowl game on January 2nd. We’ll see.
Take care of each other and keep on thinking free! The tunes darn near are.
Speaking the rights.
Danny Johnson