BERKSHIRES MUSIC BEAT USA 21
songs of a coal miner’s son
=======================================
A BLOG FOR MUSIC-LOVERS
With Gene Christy & Rod MacDow
episode twenty-one . . .
What a St Paddy’s season this year! Great craic! Just the way we like it this time of year!
Today, our band, the Dossers, will be on stage as we are booked for the second year in a row to play the annual banquet of the Berkshire County Irish-American Club!
Right now we’d like to send a loud, mighty shout-out to Tara Mulroy herself, who has officially befriended us, and is hostess to both you and us, on the beachfront in South County, RI !!—which Ms Mulroy, who hails from County Tipp, has re-named Rhode Ireland! for St Patrick’s this year. Be sure and stop in when you’re cruising the beautiful waters of the southern New England coastline or some of our gorgeous roads (mind the potholes!)—you’ll be glad you did! You can follow all the doings at Tara’s Tipperary Tavern at
http://www.tarasfamilypub.com/
Last week Paul Rice was our featured artist on our blog here at
BERKSHIRES MUSIC BEAT USA
And we have a brilliant schedule of the Berkshires’ finest live music acts coming up soon on this website, including the likes of the Malibu Bros, the Jeff King Blues Band, (not to be missed!) and singer-songwriter Robin O’Herin—the “Bonnie Raitt” of the Berkshires!
But first, it’s St Paddy’s, and so we must turn our attention to this week’s
FEATURED ARTIST OF THE WEEK
Which is me, Gene Christy, and the rest of The Dossers, Bill Morrison and Rick Marquis—gotta give ourselves props once in a while!
As for me, myself alone, because this is our very busiest weekend of the year, I’m into sharing today—so here’s a message I sent to my partner out in Portland, OR, Rod MacDow, just this morning—effusing about—last night!
“Actually–I was quite totally thrilled and taken with playing what constitutes “the” wifi cafe here in Pittsfield, last night – – the Marketplace Cafe – –
made myself $5.53 in the tip jar!
But what really made it was just as you say Rod – – the rapt attention paid to every warbling note of my exquisite phrasing so tender and bold at the same time– by the attractive woman sitting at the back who never stopped speaking into a headset for more than 2 hours while she typed steadily on a laptop simultaneously–and still managed to give me a smile or two of recognition when she heard a song she liked!
Also, the two older guys who came in for coffee to while away an hour before the film screening of their movie at the Beacon Cinema, which is right next door–and they really liked “Solid White Hardtop Rocket Olds ’61”–in other words, Rod, I had that old feeling at the end of a gig that we used to do back in the old days with The Black Velvet Band five-piece Irish showband in Boston, at the big dance venues like the converted bowling alley of the West Roxbury Irish-American–when our drummer, Paul MacDonald used to turn and say –“Well–fooled ’em again, bub!”
In other words, I got treated last night like they thought I was a real singer!
And the highlight of the evening was definitely “Georgia on my Mind”–which I sang beautifully–even though I had never performed this song in my life and was reading the sheet music and the words from the page as I went along–I turned on the tenor sax shift on the Roland and out came this unbelievable sound! Jazz, man! It was the last song of the night–and I just said, “Well, I’m done–I can’t top that!” Everybody agreed it was the perfect way to end, the perfect song, to end the evening.
Well–I’ll be back there next Friday night with renewed impetus, having discovered that all my life I had missed my vocation, and should have become a cafe troubador back when I was still as young as the girls sitting there last night! If all this sounds foolish and overblown–you have to put it down to the sheer exhilaration one feels when performing at peak or rising to the moment or exceeding one’s expectation–in other words, the lure of the allure of performing music in front of people–who applaud you! It makes you feel a sensation something like–this is what I was born to do! And, you know, Rod, you can’t buy that –on the internet or anywhere else. It’s one of the unforeseen benefits of being alive–as long as we can do this, life is well worth living—
so–onward and upward from here–today, tomorrow, next day . . .
have a fun weekend–don’t worry about the blog–we are on the right track and will get there. Your friend, Gene
p.s. the manager of the cafe was named Ari and turned out to be a sax player and so afterwards when he asked me if he could try my box, because he liked the sax sound I was getting–and he recalled the very first number of the whole night–a medley of “Lullaby of Birdland” with “Moondance!”–he must have liked that!– we sat down together and communed as musicians are wont to do—
but what a side-benefit!–I put the accordian on his lap and he pulled on the straps and tried to fumble a few runs out of the sax shift!–wow–what a blast!–he’s not a keyboard player–but he really liked the Roland!”
And now! to the main business of this fabulous weekend in the Berkshires—the Dossers! We will be performing tonight as heretofore mentioned at the annual Irish –American banquet in honor of St Patrick’s Day—and later tonight at the all-night party at Rob Dwyer’s house!—tomorrow at the Forge in Lanesboro—and Monday, St Patrick’s Day, at Portsmitt’s!
We had hoped to have video edited down for presentation on today’s blog–of our St Patrick’s TV special–
but due to technical difficulties — which we are working on – – and time restraints – – but, hey! we still have audio! Isn’t it all about the music, anyway–given that I have the perfect face for radio?
So, wishing to all an extra-special “Dossers” Happy St Paddy’s, let’s have a tune! How about one from the mighty pen of Tommy Makem? THE RAMBLES O’ SPRING!
And, of course, don’t forget our theme song–RIGHT, LADS, WE’RE THE DOSSERS!
That was written by Myself–Gene Christy–and here’s another good one I wrote–
GIRL FROM THE COUNTY MAYO!
Now, what would At Patrick’s day ever be–without an Irish jig?–a “Traditional” Irish jig?
ROAD TO LISDOONVARNA / THE SWALLOWTAIL
AND last but not least–a good old Irish drinking song ?????
WHISKY IN THE JAR!
From Ricky and Pat in the studio and everybody here at
BERKSHIRES MUSIC BEAT USA
HAPPY ST PATRICK’S DAY TO YOU AND YOURS !!
During the course of the rest of the year, we shall be featuring Dublin Porter, Spurs USA, the Jeff King Blues Band, the Malibu Bros, Robin O’Herin, Patrick Gray and many more!
My band, the Dossers, with myself, Gene Christy, Bill Morrison and Rick Marquis, will be playing in Pittsfield on
Saturday Mar 15th for the Irish-American Club Annual Dinner at the Elks on Union Street 5 – 9 pm for your Irish musical listening and dancing pleasure . . .
The Dossers are, L to R, Rick Marquis on vocals, banjo, and mandolin, Gene Christy on vocals and Roland all-digital accordion, and Bill Morrison, on vocals and rhythm guitar
And on Monday the 17th, St Paddy’s Day, we’ll be at Portsmitt’s Lakeway Restaurant, corner of Peck’s Road and Valentine Road, in Pittsfield, from 4 – 7p and beyond, as long as they can stand up!
Myself, well, you can catch me doing my solo act at The Marketplace Café, North Street in Pittsfield, Fri Mar 14th, and Fri Mar 21st, from 6.30 to 8.30 pm—
As well as in Great Barrington, on Wednesday, Mar 12th, 11a – 1p, for the Italian Club’s luncheon—and we promise to do some Irish there as well!
As they say in Italy – – Ciao! And in Ireland – – Slan!
Catch us next week, same time, same station, here at
BERKSHIRES MUSIC BEAT USA
Meanwhile, visit our friends:
Bobby Sweet at http://bobbysweet.com/
Rakish Paddy at http://www.rakishpaddyband.com/
Eddie Dillon at http://clancybrothersandtommymakem.com/ed_01.htm
And Jessica Roemischer at http://pianobeautiful.com/
Fair thee well, Titanic!
Titanic on her way . . .
BERKSHIRES MUSIC BEAT USA 20
songs of a coal miner’s son
=======================================
A BLOG FOR MUSIC-LOVERS
With Gene Christy & Rod MacDow
episode twenty . . .
What a St Paddy’s season this year! Great craic! Just the way we like it this time of year!
Today, our band, The Dossers, had a great time in the television studio at Time-Warner Cable Local Access Channel 16, here in Pittsfield, county seat of the Berkshires, USA, taping an hour-long St Patrick’s show that lasted 57.38!—loaded with laughs and good tunes—and our Happy St Patrick’s 2014 show will be broadcast on Thursday, March 6, 7pm, as well the next day—4 times, at 9 am, 12.30, 4 pm, and 7.30—this is so that all the blood-thirsty shut-ins of Berkshire County can see us no matter what time they crawl out of bed!—and in addition, the following week, on Thursday the 13th, at 9 am and 2 pm. And throughout the rest of the month, for those of our friends out in Oregon and elsewhere, you can view the show online at
http://www.pittsfieldtv.org/web/?q=showsearch
you may have to select “Show Search,” but then enter the following Program ID info–
20551 Poetry, Arts and Music with Jerry Title: Irish Music Session (View)
3/6/2014
So, you see, the Dossers can be seen—everywhere!
And in person, too, as we are booked for the second year in a row to play the annual banquet of the Berkshire County Irish-American Club!
Right now we’d like to send a loud, mighty shout-out to Tara Mulroy herself, who has officially befriended us, and is hostess to both you and us, on the beachfront in South County, RI !!—which Ms Mulroy, who hails from County Tipp, has re-named Rhode Ireland! for St Patrick’s this year. Be sure and stop in when you’re cruising the beautiful waters of the southern New England coastline or some of our gorgeous roads (mind the potholes!)—you’ll be glad you did! You can follow all the doings at Tara’s Tipperary Tavern at
http://www.tarasfamilypub.com/
And let’s not forget our good friend and host, at this time of year, up in ski country, Murray McGrath, of McGrath’s Irish Pub at the Inn at the Long Trail in Killington! Visit Murray at
http://www.innatlongtrail.com/Home.html
This very weekend, Murray will be presenting our friends, the Rakish Paddy band, with Perry Daniels and Eileen Markland, on Fri Mar 7th and Sat Mar 8th!
Last week Perry and Eileen were our featured artists on our blog here at
BERKSHIRES MUSIC BEAT USA
And we have a brilliant schedule of the Berkshires’ finest live music acts coming up soon on this website, including the likes of the Malibu Bros, the Jeff King Blues Band, (not to be missed!) and singer-songwriter Robin O’Herin—the “Bonnie Raitt” of the Berkshires!
But first, it’s St Paddy’s, and so we must turn our attention to this week’s
FEATURED ARTIST OF THE WEEK
Therefore, we are pleased and proud to present our good friend on fiddle, guitar, vocals, mandolin, dobro and who knows what else, the eclectic, multi-instrumentalist
PAUL RICE
Paul is one of the very first members of the musician’s colony that I met when I first came out here, ten years ago, from the Boston area, and I’m happy to say we’ve been friends ever since—but he’s a hard guy to catch up to! Paul has no less than three principal bands he gigs with on a steady, long-time, revolving basis, and to show his versatility, they cover quite a range—
The Housatonic Philharmonic traditional Irish jigs, reels, hornpipes and vocals with Tim Gray and Andy Gordon
Dublin Porter the same, only different! With Rick Leab and Paul Boudreau
and a “Western Swing” band, called
SPURS USA
with whom Paul sings and plays fiddle and electric guitar!
I know few people with the range of musical knowledge and veteran savvy, or the mastery of such diverse musical skills, as my friend Paul Rice—and we fondly hope to feature more of his music as the year goes on and time and energy permit—but for this week, we were forced to narrow things down to a selection—and so we’ll choose to begin with
HOUSATONIC PHILHARMONIC 
And hope to give the other two bands their own featured artist slots at other times later in the year—otherwise, it’s not possible to do justice to all the fine musicians involved.
The Housatonic River, of course, is our Mississippi, as it wanders and winds its meandering way all through Berkshire County and down through Connecticut. In fact, it goes directly past my house, on the so-called “West Branch” run, down from Lake Pontoosuc, right across the road from my all-weather wrap-around deck, such that I see the river every day as I perform blog duties and record and edit music in my house—I love it! I’m in the city—but right on the urban edge–not more than 1 mile away from open country!
Let’s give you just a taste now, a sample, of
Paul Rice fiddle, mandolin, banjo
Tim Gray hammered dulcimer, piano, pennywhistle, melodica
and Andy Gordon banjo, spoons
They call their group Housatonic Philharmonic, and let’s listen, on their cd album of the same name:
to the well-known Irish ballad, “Star of the County Down.”
As you can readily tell, this band is not your garage-grunge hoot-n-holler wild-bunch Irish pub-crawler group! In other words, ¬not the Dossers! My band is a good-time-music sing-along outfit. Housatonic Philharmonic invites you to an evening in the 18th century, in the drawing room of an aristocratic home on an estate in the Irish countryside—Turlough O’Carolan wanders in with his harp to entertain the young ladies and their beaus, while their parents keep a watchful, but kindly-disposed, eye on the proceedings—and the entire room is wafted away on strings from heavenly choirs!
Who was this man? Obviously he has profoundly influenced Housatonic Philharmonic—as he has every generation of the folks who treasure Irish music since the days when he walked the earth himself.
Turlough O’Carolan, was a blind Irish harper, composer and singer whose great fame is due to his gift for melodic composition. He is considered by many to be Ireland’s national composer.
O’Carolan was born in 1670. He lived at a time when the Irish language (aka Gaelic) was still spoken as the everyday communication-coin of the country. Although he died in 1738, his music will live forever.
I myself years ago taught myself to play his composition called Carolan’s Concerto on my old 1956 Excelsior squeezebox—as I remember, I got it from the radio, or a record, and learned it by ear, without sheet music.
Often I used to sit by myself and play this just for the enjoyment of the sheer, exquisite beauty of the song—as well as the pleasure of tripping your fingers over the keyboard on the rather complicated sequence of notes. I would play it twice or thrice testing myself to see if I could get through it without mistakes, while yet giving it the lilt and feeling of this emotional piece—the rise and fall of it.
I did not know at the time that it was originally a harp piece, for strings. Or that someday I would meet Paul Rice.
Paul Rice remains today the only person I’ve ever met who knew that tune by heart and could sit with me and play it on the fiddle, note for note, while I played all the same notes on my box.
A moment to live for.
I never made a recording of that. Wish I had.
But we do have something even better. Paul Rice and Housatonic Philharmonic performing
Carolan’s Concerto . . .
What, or who, could follow that?
How about another O’Carolan piece–by Housatonic Philharmonic!–one of the old harp-player’s most universally beloved favorites, down through the generations, the heartfelt
Si Bheag Si Mhor (Sheebeg Sheemore)
And what would St Patrick’s be without a jig or two?
Smash the Windows
BTW– both of Paul Rice’s Irish bands are booked for St Patrick’s weekend this year, at The Olde Forge in Lanesboro. On Saturday night, the 15th of March, you can hear Dublin Porter from 7 – 10pm, and on St Patrick’s Day itself, Monday, the 17th, Housatonic Philharmonic will be playing, both afternoon and evening.
Here’s the schedule for the lads the rest of the year – – so far!
March 17, St Paddys at the Old Forge, Afternoon and evening
April 26, Fri., Private Fundraiser with Square One, Greenwich, Ct.
June 30, Sun., Hilltown Dance, Private Afternoon
Lions Den, Red Lion Inn Stockbridge, Ma. 8-11
July 3rd, private party in Richmond
July 9, Tues., Springside Park Concert, Pittsfield, Free 7 – 8:15PM
July 21, Private dance with Square One, Camp Watitah, Becket
July 31, Wed., Lilac Park Concert, Lenox 7 – 8:15
August 18, Sun., Lions Den , Red Lion Inn, Stockbridge,Ma.
Sept. 7, Williamstown Rural Land Council, Annual Square Dance with Square One
Sept. 20 or 27, Founders’ Day, Lee , Ma. 6-8
Check back with us here at
BERKSHIRES MUSIC BEAT USA
During the course of the rest of the year, we shall be featuring Dublin Porter, Spurs USA, the Jeff King Blues Band, the Malibu Bros, Robin O’Herin, Patrick Gray and many more!
My band, the Dossers, with myself, Gene Christy, Bill Morrison and Rick Marquis, will be playing in Pittsfield on
Saturday Mar 15th for the Irish-American Club Annual Dinner at the Elks on Union Street in Pittsfield. Doors open at 5.30 pm Hors d’ouerves at 6 – dinner, music and The Dossers to follow till 10 pm___for your Irish musical listening and dancing pleasure . . .
The Dossers are, L to R, Rick Marquis on vocals, banjo, and mandolin, Gene Christy on vocals and Roland all-digital accordion, and Bill Morrison, on vocals and rhythm guitar
And on Monday the 17th, St Paddy’s Day, we’ll be at PORTSMITT’S LAKEWAY RESTAURANT, corner of Peck’s Road and Valentine Road, in Pittsfield, from 4 – 7p and beyond, as long as they can stand up!
Join Us On St. Patrick’s Day
…Monday March 17th
Corned Beef And Cabbage
~ Special St. Patty Drinks ~
THE DOSSERS! – Irish Music, 4PM-7PM
Myself, well, you can catch me doing my solo act at The Marketplace Café, North Street in Pittsfield, Fri Mar 14th, and Fri Mar 21st, from 6.30 to 8.30 pm—
As well as in Great Barrington, on Wednesday, Mar 12th, 11a – 1p, for the Italian Club’s luncheon—and we promise to do some Irish there as well!
As they say in Italy – – Ciao! And in Ireland – – Slan!
Catch us next week, same time, same station, here at
BERKSHIRES MUSIC BEAT USA
when our Featured Artist of the Week group will be —
none other than THE DOSSERS !!!
Meanwhile, visit our friends:
PORTSMITT’S LAKEWAY RESTAURANT http://portsmittsrestaurant.com/
Bobby Sweet at http://bobbysweet.com/
Rakish Paddy at http://www.rakishpaddyband.com/
Eddie Dillon at http://clancybrothersandtommymakem.com/ed_01.htm
And Jessica Roemischer at http://pianobeautiful.com/
Fair thee well, Titanic!
BERKSHIRES MUSIC BEAT USA 19
songs of a coal miner’s son
=======================================
A BLOG FOR MUSIC-LOVERS
With Gene Christy & Rod MacDow
episode nineteen . . .
Well, we’re rolling right along with 2014! . . . and it looks like at long last another St Paddy’s season is about to wash over our tippling rowboat and take us out to “the sea that surrounds us,” as they say in Ireland, a sea of suds, no doubt, flowing from the tap anywhere and everywhere, from Sydney in Australia to San Francisco in North America, and all the way round to Sligo on the edge of Europe and back again!—just the way we like it this time of year!
Therefore, we proudly proclaim that this week’s
FEATURED ARTIST OF THE WEEK
here at
BERKSHIRES MUSIC BEAT USA
Shall be nominated to be
The Berkshires’ premier Celtic musical duo
RAKISH PADDY
RAKISH PADDY = PERRY PLUS EILEEN!
Click on the link below and you’ll be taken away to a cyper-place where you’ll hear a clip of Rakish Paddy doing an abbreviated rendition of the old traditional Irish ballad, “The Wild Colonial Boy!”
http://rakishpaddyband.com/audio/Wild_Colonial_Boy_clip_0-90_hifi.m3u
We’ll be hearing plenty of trax from Rakish Paddy today—but—who are they? Let me introduce you to
Lead Vocalist and holding down rhythm guitar, Perry Daniels!
PERRY DANIELS
Perry is a singer, songwriter and rhythm guitarist. He has fronted various Irish and Celtic bands in Western MA, and upstate NY. Originally a percussionist early on in life, Perry has been performing music since the age of ten. His rhythmic guitar style, and smooth-bold vocals provide a solid foundation for the band to build upon.
And . . the inestimable . . the ineffable . .
Eileen Markland !
EILEEN MARKLAND
Eileen brings with her a wide range of experiences in fiddle and violin performance and teaching. In 2001 she was appointed by the US Dept. of State as an “American Cultural Specialist” and traveled to Benin, West Africa with Project Troubador. In 2002 she performed at the UN Peace Summit in Switzerland, and in 2004 … she organized and lead “OPERATION WORLD HARMONY,” a cross-cultural music and education tour in Niamey, Niger. More recently she’s performed in Paris, Venice, Dublin, and throughout the Northeastern USA.
BTW, “Rakish Paddy” is an Irish reel, well-known to players in the seisun tradition—and that’s the tune the band is named after!
Let’s hear again from Perry and Eileen!
This time it will be a slice of one of my all-time favorites, “Back Home in Derry,” written by the Irish Republican martyr Bobby Sands, to the well-known tune by Gordon Lightfoot, written in prison while on hunger-strike in the north of Ireland—just click on the link below to hear this soulful ballad, so heart-rendered by Perry on the vocal, with Eileen on tin whistle this time!
http://rakishpaddyband.com/audio/Back_Home_in_Derry1_clip_0-150_hifi.m3u
And where can you see—and hear!—Rakish Paddy, this St Patrick’s season?
Over the years, they’ve become so popular, you would have to say—they’re everywhere! Here’s a short list—
Fri Feb 28th Polish Falcons Pittsfield Jimmy Fund Raiser 8-11p
Sat Mar 1st Bread and Bottle Red Hook, NY 7-10p
Fri Mar 7th McGrath’s Irish Pub, Killington, VT 7-10ish
Sat Mar 8th McGarth’s 2nd Night! 7-10ish
Fri Mar 14th Albany AOH 7-11
Sat Mar 15th Albany AOH 5-9 Parade Day!
Mon Mar 17th ** St Patrick’s Day! Gavin’s Irish Country Inn 1-3p
Fri Mar 21st Fife & Drum Restaurant & Inn
Sun Mar 23rd Wahconah Country Club
“Rock On” Scholarship Benefit for budding young musicians . .
For more details, maps, directions, phone numbers, just click on the link below, to take you directly to RP’s website:
http://www.rakishpaddyband.com/
And now it’s time to sit back, relax and listen to a couple of full-length tracks that will amply illustrate the mastery and artistry of Rakish Paddy!!—here’s their rendition of “Whisky in the Jar!”
(incidentally, the reel “Rakish Paddy” is tagged onto the end of this first track—so you can hear it for yourself!)
http://rakishpaddyband.com/audio/Whiskey_in_a_Jar-Rakish_Paddy_hifi.m3u
And now the famous 1920s Irish rebel tune, “Boys of the Old Brigade!”
http://rakishpaddyband.com/audio/Boys_of_the_Ole_Brigade_hifi.m3u
Last but not least, this next ballad was written by Dougie Maclean, and is performed here by Perry Daniels on lead vocal: it’s called “Ready for the Storm.”
http://rakishpaddyband.com/audio/Ready_For_the_Storm_hifi.m3u
If you can’t make it to one of Rakish Paddy’s gigs yourself—for some unknown reason—like—you live in Salt Lake City—we’re happy we were able to bring them to your living room laptop today!
And as for me, Gene Christy, I’ll be around, too. In fact, last Sunday I was in Matunuck Beach, Rhode Island, to team up with old buddy Bill McElaney from Donegal, who flew up all the way from Florida just for the day, and we performed the rites for
–FINNEGAN’S WAKE!
At Tara’s on Matunuck Beach Road,
TARA’S TIPPERARY TAVERN !
Here we are, together again!
L to R GENE CHRISTY AND BILLY MAC !!
My band, the Dossers, with myself, Bill Morrison and Rick Marquis, will be playing in Pittsfield on
Saturday Mar 15th for the Irish-American Club Annual Dinner at the Elks on Union Street 5 – 9 pm for your Irish musical listening and dancing pleasure . . .
The Dossers are, L to R, Rick Marquis on vocals, banjo, and mandolin, Gene Christy on vocals and Roland all-digital accordion, and Bill Morrison, on vocals and rhythm guitar
And on Monday the 17th, St Paddy’s Day, we’ll be at Portsmitt’s Lakeway Restaurant, corner of Peck’s Road and Valentine Road, in Pittsfield, from 4 – 7p and beyond, as long as they can stand up!
SEND MONEY & GET A TEE-SHIRT! $99 ea.!!!
Myself, well you can catch me doing my solo act at The Marketplace Café, North Street in Pittsfield, Fri Mar 14th, and Fri Mar 21st, from 6.30 to 8.30 pm—
As well as in Great Barrington, on Wednesday, Mar 12th, 11a – 1p, for the Italian Club’s luncheon—and we promise to do some Irish there as well!
As they say in Italy – – Ciao! And in Ireland – – Slan!
Catch us next week, same time, same station, here at
BERKSHIRES MUSIC BEAT USA
Meanwhile, visit our friends:
Bobby Sweet at http://bobbysweet.com/
Eddie Dillon at http://clancybrothersandtommymakem.com/ed_01.htm
And Jessica Roemischer at http://pianobeautiful.com/
Fair thee well, Titanic!
Titanic on her way . . .
BERKSHIRES MUSIC BEAT USA! 18
songs of a coal miner’s son
=======================================
A BLOG FOR MUSIC-LOVERS
With Gene Christy & Rod MacDow
episode eighteen . . .
Just shows to go ya . . . true friends will always turn up, alive and kickin,’ BECAUSE THEY CAN FIND U ON FACEBOOK!
This time, my long-lost bosom buddy and co-religionist of Irish music, none other than Billy Mac, aka as “Himself,” aka as Bill McElaney, from the noble-sounding town of Clonmany in the ancient regions of Tullagh Bay in County Donegal!
BILL McELANEY
And fortunately for Billy Mac, he turned up in Florida, USA!
Because this is what it looks like on my outdoor deck in the Berkshires USA, this week!
Ice on the Housatonic
And so, in honor of old pal o’ mine Bill, we are going to make him our
FEATURED ARTIST OF THE WEEK
here at
BERKSHIRES MUSIC BEAT USA!
On behalf of your hosts, Gene Christy and Rod MacDow, welcome! We’re gonna party it up from coast to coast, from Portland in the west to the Berkshires in the east, with Billy Mac, featuring his tunes, videos, and songs—and let you know where you can catch his act, from here to Spain and back again, as we motor on through the snow and ice of 2014!
So, you see, folks, we’re gonna put new definition into the words “Winter Carnival”—we’ll provide the winter, and Billy Mac will provide the carnival!
Naturally, we need an “Overture” to kick off this kind of thing, so here’s a taste of Dvorak–
the Overture “Karneval,” Op. 92, opening 19.087 sec!
Back in the day – – in our case, three brilliant summers we spent on Cape Cod, grouped around 1988 in the middle–Bill McElaney, Tom Neville and myself, Gene Christy, did our thing as the Ramblin’ Rovers—and–check this out!—here’s the song we were named after, performed by Bill and Tom without musical accompaniment (they turned down my mike!) . .
RAMBLIN’ ROVER
Words and music by Andy Stewart, singer/songwriter of the Scottish band, Silly Wizard (not the other Andy Stewart!)
Ah, those were the days!—we were young and the girls were good-lookin’! And when they did let me sing, here’s what came out:
THE CRAIC WAS 90
Yeah! That’s me, Gene Christy, doing “The Craic was Ninety in the Isle o’ Man!”
(Dublin locals will recognize the expression, and others will figure it out–the fun was fast and furious!)
BILLY MAC
Right now we’re gonna interrupt ourselves for a live recorded interview by Billy Mac, on remote location on his own personal island–as you know, no man is an island–except Billy Mac, who has the whole of Donegal for his–
______________ Bill McElaney, right now, is appearing in Ft Lauderdale, FL, where he can be found daily for Happy Hour at 3 pm at Mrs Murphy’s Chowdah (The Hurricane Bar!) aka the Pub n’ Grubb, or the Pun n’ Run!—you can check Bill’s timetables and appearance-dates at his ____Facebook page???? Bill, don’t U have a Website, like an honest, self-respecting musician?
Well, folks, we just had to do it—in honor of
Our Featured Artist of the Week ! Bill McElaney!
aka “Billy Mac”
here at
BERKSHIRES MUSIC BEAT USA!
And now let’s go back once more to the days of old—when I think of it, it’s almost 30 years ago, already! and listen to the Ramblin’ Rovers in their prime, all-together-now! on the Irish rave-up—
THE WILD COLONIAL BOY
That’s with Billy Mac singing lead, playing rhythm on six-string acoustic, Tom Neville and me backing up the vocals, Tom on his electric guitar, myself, playing “Christy on the Box,” with my old 1956 Excelsior squeezebox! (just retired last summer, after too many miles and so many smiles!) (the keyboard has a set of 41 teeth!)
Recorded 1988 at Tom McGann’s “Irish Embassy” on Rte 28 in Falmouth, MA, on analog cassette-tape recorder, transferred to digital cd by Mike Reagan around 2006, and converted into mp3 format by myself this week using Audacity free-ware, downloadable online—the magic of 21st C technology!
Seems like every seven years or so, Billy Mac gets the itch to get back in touch with me! Seems that way, because the last time we actually played together was back around ’07 and ’08, up in Killington, VT! That was a weekend spent playing, singing, eating and sleeping at the Inn at the Long Trail, both years, when we assembled on stage Billy’s band, Revel’s Glen, from Boston, with himself, on vocals and six-string, Jeff Roman on fiddle, Rhode Island’s Tommy Joyce on bass guitar, and my band from Pittsfield, the other end of Massachusetts, the Dossers, with myself on the box and vocals, Bill Morrison on 6-string, and Johnny McManus on banjo. What a time we had at Murray McGrath’s Irish Pub! It was a memorable occasion as it was just before Billy Mac was making his long-awaited return to his hometown and birthplace of Clonmanny in Donegal—and he was feeling sentimental at leaving so many good times and good friends back here in the States—and now, seven years later, he’s back again!
Talk about a bad penny from Clonmany!
Just coddin’ ye, Bill!
Well, before we leave our listeners for today, we just have to re-visit once again that weekend in Vermont—for a little–
WHISKY IN THE JAR!
AND even though it may be so many years ago—so many jobs, so many relationships, so many grimy grins and gritty tears and passing years ago—never will I forget, as long as I live, this song, sung on that golden day, in the summer twilight, with the sun going down out over the ocean peeking through the curtains at the back wall, Tom Neville
TOM NEVILLE
harmonizing with his electric guitar on
Liam Reilly’s “Summer in Dublin,” a huge hit for Bagatelle! (Liam also wrote the words and music for “Streets of New York!”)
SUMMER IN DUBLIN
___ . . . goodnight, good people . . and may we all meet again!
__________________________________________________________________
Stay tuned, every Thursday, same time, same station, for
BERKSHIRES MUSIC BEAT USA
Meanwhile, visit our friends:
Bobby Sweet at http://bobbysweet.com/
Rakish Paddy at http://www.rakishpaddyband.com/
Eddie Dillon at http://clancybrothersandtommymakem.com/ed_01.htm
And Jessica Roemischer at http://pianobeautiful.com/
Fair thee well, Titanic!
Titanic on her way . . .
BERKSHIRES MUSIC BEAT USA! 17
songs of a coal miner’s son
=======================================
A BLOG FOR MUSIC-LOVERS
With Gene Christy & Rod MacDow . . AND THE BEATLES!
episode seventeen . . . 
</Cavern Club, Liverpool
Just shows to go ya . . . some of us Berkshires musicians really do make it to the big time, and I mean—
Appearing on CBS on Sunday night, 50 years to the day when they first appeared in America on the Ed Sullivan show, with original Beatles Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney!—
Our own Kenny Aronoff, longtime Stockbridge resident, and the local-guy drummer who has had a long and spectacular rock career laying down the beat for stars like Elton John, Bob Seeger and John Cougar Mellencamp!
And so, in honor of Ringo, Sir Paul, the dearly departed John and George, the original Beatles, and also, newly enlisted sideman Kenny Aronoff, we would like to officially declare this month of February, 2014 to be
Beatles History Month !
here at
BERKSHIRES MUSIC BEAT USA
On behalf of your hosts, Gene Christy and Rod MacDow, welcome! We’re gonna party it up from coast to coast, from Portland in the west to the Berkshires in the east, with the Beatles, featuring their tunes and their pictures and OUR MUSIC—because who personified in our lifetimes the soundtrack of our days if not The Beatles?
In fact, let’s listen right now to our own Norm Schaffer, with Mountain Breeze backing him up—
doing the Beatles___
CAN’T BUY ME LOVE
Just in case you thought the Beatles weren’t popular “across the universe”—check this out–!
What a morning to invite Jessica Roemischer to visit with us! It’s snowing out there in the Berkshires and it’s supposed to go on all day and all night! Just in time for me and Cam Collins to do our Collins & Christy duo tonight at the Olde Heritage Tavern in Lenox! But you see—we go all out for the Beatles History Month—and let not wind, rain, snow or sleet stop us!
Here’s Jess with her beautiful piano rendition of Paul’s song to his mother,
LET IT BE
It’s hard to describe in words, what Jessica does with a piano, but, as she plays most Saturday afternoons at the Chocolate Springs Café, here in Lenox, we are privileged to have her “in our midst,” so to speak—and I recommend heartily to you that next time you’re up our way, don’t fail to treat yourself to chocolates, latte and Jessica, and make your weekend complete.
Jessica Roemischer!
Right now we’re gonna interrupt ourselves for a live recorded interview—Gene Christy interviewing himself!
I know—it’s all very confusing—but with tongue firmly planted in cheek, here I go interviewing myself!
(Don’t miss it—it’s all Beatles all the time!)
gene christy interviewing himself ??
Well, folks, we just had to do it—we made the sacrifice—in honor of
Beatles History Month !
here at
BERKSHIRES MUSIC BEAT USA
The Dossers are, L to R, Rick Marquis on vocals, banjo, and mandolin, Gene Christy on vocals and Roland all-digital accordion, and Bill Morrison, on vocals and rhythm guitar
And now let’s hear from my band, The Dossers, with my partners Bill Morrison and Ricky Marquis, doing the Beatles’
I’VE JUST SEEN A FACE
Next up!— Michelle Plouffe of Mountain Breeze
harmonizing with partners Tim Farkas and Norm Schaffer on Ringo’s hit re-make of Buck Owens’–
ACT NATURALLY
RINGO PUTS HIS STAMP ON TODAY’S BLOG!
Next, we’d like to call on the Dossers again– this time our own ace vocalist, Rick Marquis, for his soul-sensitive banjo! rendition of–
AND I LOVE HER
Recorded live at The Old Forge, Lanesboro, December, 2013
Any Beatles fans out there? I know you are! I’m one, too! As well as my friends! So, to wrap it up on our Beatles Tribute one-day-only blog-tour, in honor of the world’s favorite band—
John Lennon, standing outside the Cavern Club in Liverpool
Here’s Norm Schaffer doing Ringo Starr doing the cover of 50’s girl group “The Cookies” doing Bob Marlette and Sue Shifrin’s immortal rock’n’roll classic–
CHAINS
Don’t forget, folks, as we tour the Berkshires, USA, this year, in 2014, we’ll be hunting up the best of our local artists on the musical bandwagons of the County, north and south, and so, in the coming weeks we’ll be featuring Anthony Luchi, Mary Verdi, Patrick Gray, Rakish Paddy, Bobby Sweet, Jack Waldheim, the Malibu Brothers, Norm Schaffer, Erin and Duffy, and hopefully many more—
along with our regular Dossers and Gene Christy selections—
UPCOMING THIS YEAR__2014!
We will have plenty of new, original Gene Christy tunes, recorded here at Christy Studios, some from last year and yet-to-be-recorded, some yet-to-be-written, on the road to 99 good tunes—
Because, you see–
The Berkshires is not home solely to James Taylor and Arlo Guthrie!—WE ALSO COUNT KENNY ARONOFF as one of our own!
So stay tuned, every Thursday, same time, same station, for
BERKSHIRES MUSIC BEAT USA
Meanwhile, visit our friends:
Bobby Sweet at http://bobbysweet.com/
Rakish Paddy at http://www.rakishpaddyband.com/
Eddie Dillon at http://clancybrothersandtommymakem.com/ed_01.htm
And Jessica Roemischer at http://pianobeautiful.com/
Fair thee well, Titanic!
BERKSHIRES MUSIC BEAT USA! 16
songs of a coal miner’s son
=======================================
A BLOG FOR MUSIC-LOVERS
With Gene Christy & Rod MacDow
episode sixteen . . .
Yes! WE HAVE DONE IT!
We are re-branding the brand, folks!
Without further ado, and also without prior notice, in our fast-paced universe, and in our ever-expanding quest for new readers, listeners and viewers, we are taking it up a notch and re-inventing ourselves as!–
- BERKSHIRES MUSIC BEAT USA!
Well, we just had to do it—in the interest of all the fine music, and more precisely musicians, featured lately on our blog—and looking ahead to the delights of exploring throughout the Berkshires USA the rest of this year 2014, on the hunt for bands, tunes, performances—and yes, Tanglewood will be back this summer!—because we’re now in a position to look forward to increasing delights of live music within plain view of our glorious hills and valleys–!
In fact, let’s listen right now to Jack Waldheim live at Portsmitt’s:
ATLANTIC CITY
words & music by Bruce Springsteen
performed live by Jack Waldheim at Portsmitt’s Oct 2013
JACK WALDHEIM
What a snow-blanketed morning full of sunshine, here in the Berkshires USA, to invite Jessica Roemischer to visit with us! (We had one of our traditional February blizzards yesterday!)
JESSICA ROEMISCHER
It’s hard to describe in words, what Jessica does with a piano, but, as she plays most Saturday afternoons at the Chocolate Springs Café, here in Lenox, we are privileged to have her “in our midst,” so to speak—and I recommend heartily to you that next time you’re up our way, don’t fail to treat yourself to chocolates, latte and Jessica, and make your weekend complete.
In fact, I must say, Jessica is one of the reasons we are re-branding! More people should know about her and be able to hear her! So, after intense skype-consultation with our West Coast partner, Rod MacDow, out in Portland, OR, and with our man in New York City, Jorge Hernandez, at CoPromote.com, on this, our 16th edition, I’m proud to present, right here on our blog,
-
BERKSHIRES MUSIC BEAT USA!
LET IT BE Words and music by Lennon and McCartney
performed by Jessica Roemsicher on her cd “Haven”—
Needless to say we selected this track by Jessica in honor of the 50th anniversary, this month, of the Beatles landing in New York!
And if you would like a copy of “Haven” for yourself,
just visit Jessica at her website http://pianobeautiful.com/
where you will find all her cds available for purchase, including her most recent, just out a week ago, the “Light Born of Light” album.
This Friday evening in Pittsfield, Feb 7th, will feature the return engagement of good friend, Norm Schaffer, at the American Legion, on Wendell Avenue, in Pittsfield, 7-10 pm.
Norm, at Portsmitt’s, Tuesday night!
Yes! Norm came down, and it was just like at Cheers! The room erupted when Norm walked through that door! What a BLAST! we had! We almost tore the roof off the place! Those who were there—well, you know what I mean! Norm Schaffer joining in for a totally off-the-cuff, completely unrehearsed jam session with the Dossers, myself, Gene Christy, that’s me! on squeezebox, Bill Morrison on 6-string, and Rick Marquis on banjo and tender ballads. Well, it just goes to show—because we didn’t have the recorder going—you had to be there!
Let’s hear from Norm right now, on a previous live recording:
RAMBLIN’ MAN Words and music by Dicky Betts of the Allman Bros
Next up!—Cam Collins!
BROKE-DOWN ENGINE Words and music by Blind Willie McTell
Performed solo by Cam Collins at O’Loughlin’s in Pittsfield last Ocotber—or November—one of them months!
CAM COLLINS
Now what happens when you add squeezebox to the same tune? Yes, that’s me, Gene Christy, on my old, now-retired, acoustic accordion, my 1956 Excelsior, backing up Cam Collins—
BROKE-DOWN ENGINE Words and music by Blind Willie McTell
Performed by Collins and Christy at the Olde Heritage in Lenox, July, 2013.
Any Johnny Cash fans out there? I know you are! I’m one, too! As well as my friends! Here we are on a memorable night up in Killington, Vermont, away back in 2007 or 8, at McGrath’s Irish Pub, at the Inn at the Long Trail—on an evening when the Dossers, from Pittsfield, with Gene Christy on the old Excelsior acoustic squeezebox, Bill Morrison on 6-string, and Johnny McManus on banjo, joinng forces on stage with Billy Mac’s group, Revel’s Glen, out of Boston, with a line-up of County Donegal’s own Bill McElaney on rhythm guitar and vocals, Jeff Roman on fiddle, and Tommy Joyce on bass guitar, from the Joyce Family Pub, in Matunuck Beach, Rhode Island, just inches from Narragansett Bay, of which it was said by a visitor from California:
Cheap booze, guitar player, local old drunks at the bar, greasy food. I’ll be back!
So, we’re all assembled up on stage in Killington, that nice, warm September evening, in 2007 or 8 or whatever, and Billy Mac’s getting a little sentimental, and remembering the old days on the Cape when he and Tom Neville and I used to play Falmouth in the hot weather for the bikini brigade from Boston, out and about, and desperate for a wild summer!—and Billy starts reminiscing about how we met! I left it all in—but don’t be surprised when he calls me “Chris”—which is one of my names—in Dublin, I was known as “Christy”—and in London, as “John Doyle”—but that’s another story! Anyway, here’s the
UNCUT VERSION
Of Johnny Cash’s “Long Black Veil”—
LONG BLACK VEIL
Don’t forget, folks, as we tour the Berkshires, USA, this year, in 2014, we’ll be hunting up the best of our local artists on the musical bandwagons of the County, north and south, and so, in the coming weeks we’ll be featuring Anthony Luchi, Mary Verdi, Patrick Gray, Rakish Paddy, Bobby Sweet, Jack Waldheim, the Malibu Brothers, Norm Schaffer, Erin and Duffy, and hopefully many more—
along with our regular Dossers and Gene Christy selections—
UPCOMING THIS YEAR__2014!
We will have plenty of new, original Gene Christy tunes, recorded here at Christy Studios, some from last year and yet-to-be-recorded, some yet-to-be-written, on the road to 99 good tunes—
I just wrote one today called “Solid White Hardtop Rocket Olds ’61.”
It’s about my way-back-when original car which I purchased for 50 bucks !!!! on a long-ago day in South County, RI !! Wait’ll ya hear that one!
Because, you see–
The Berkshires is not home solely to James Taylor and Arlo Guthrie! We are fortunate, indeed, here in the Berkshires USA because
WE HAVE THE BEST, and WE HAVE THE REST!
So stay tuned, every Thursday, same time, same station, for
- BERKSHIRES MUSIC BEAT USA!
Meanwhile, visit our friends:
Bobby Sweet at http://bobbysweet.com/
Rakish Paddy at http://www.rakishpaddyband.com/
Eddie Dillon at http://clancybrothersandtommymakem.com/ed_01.htm
And Jessica Roemischer at http://pianobeautiful.com/
Fair thee well, Titanic!
Titanic in the sunset . . .
songs of a coal miner’s son 15
=======================================
A BLOG FOR MUSIC-LOVERS
With Gene Christy & Rod MacDow
episode fifteen . . .
Good morning! What a gorgeous day to be alive in the Berkshires, USA!—strong, glittering sunshine, pristine cold of January, beds of white snow lying on the rushes of the river across from my house—where the ducks motorboat around, impervious to the frozen temperatures–I can watch them amuse themselves through my dining room windows!
the west branch of the Housatonic River
What a morning to invite Jessica Roemischer to visit with us!
It’s hard to describe in words, the magic Jessica causes, with just two hands, to pour forth from a piano keyboard as she extemporizes, but, as she plays most Saturday afternoons at the Chocolate Springs Café, here in Lenox, we are privileged to have her “in our midst,” so to speak—and I recommend heartily to you that next time you’re up our way, don’t fail to treat yourself to chocolates, latte and Jessica, and make your weekend complete!
Here’s what one listener had to say:
“Jessica Roemischer’s solo piano performance is a musical meditation, an exploration of melody through the prism of blues, jazz, classical, and more. She wonderfully integrates these styles into a tapestry of sound textures that evoke peace, because they come from love.”
Greg Thomas, Music Writer and Author, New York Daily News
So, today, I’m proud to present, right here on our blog, “Songs of a Coal Miner’s Son,” Jessica Roemischer.
LEONARD COHEN – HALLELUJAH
I would really like to describe the range that Jessica displays in her playing, where she roams from classical to pop, from Broadway show music to down-home rock’n’roll, from folksong to new-age meditation—
But let’s take this opportunity to sit down and enjoy a little chat with Jessica herself!
Recorded Live at Chocolate Springs Cafe, Rte 7, Lenox, MA, on Saturday, 10 January__2014 on TEAC VR-20 digital recorder
And next, for your listening pleasure, let’s dip into the amazing rendition Jessica gives to Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone.”
LIKE A ROLLING STONE
Just for comparisons-sake, you can hear Dylan himself performing “Like a Rolling Stone,” on stage in Liverpool, back in 1966! –just by clinking on this YouTube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vld69lCK-lc DYLAN, Live in Liverpool, 1966
While we’re on the subject of our FEATURED ARTIST OF THE WEEK, I would also like to let you know all about Jessica’s own website—and encourage you to visit her there—where there is so much more on offer—an entire lineup of videos and audios and even cd’s which you can buy to add to your own collection:
http://pianobeautiful.com/ This Link will take you to Jessica
Here’s what one individual, who happens to be our Governor, here in Massachusetts, had to say about Ms. Roemischer:
“In her work, Jessica Roemischer makes so much possible
and it is clearly giving her so much in return.”
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick
Any Bruce fans out there? I think so. Jessica has something for the Springsteen legions, right here, right now:
JESSICA ROEMISCHER playing BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN’S “Incident on 57th Street”
You can also hear Mr Springsteen performing this song in Barcelona by clinking on this YouTube link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb6SG9GtgMU
Don’t forget, folks, as we tour the Berkshires, USA, this year, in 2014, we’ll be hunting up the best of our local artists on the musical bandwagons of the County, north and south, and so, in the coming weeks we’ll be featuring Anthony Luchi, Mary Verdi, Patrick Gray, Rakish Paddy, Bobby Sweet, Jack Waldheim, the Malibu Brothers, Norm Schaffer, Erin and Duffy, and hopefully many more—
along with our regular Dossers and Gene Christy contributions . . .
One last happy message from Jessica, who would like to thank her friends and supporters, because – – this news just in!—
1,000 copies of “Light Born of Light” were just delivered to my doorstep. I put one on the CD player and it sounds BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for making this album possible!!!!!! Each of you will be receiving the deluxe digital download of the album. And those who opted for a Light CD reward will be receiving a physical CD, too.
Thanks to your help, I am able to bring this music to the world. You are in my heart and a part of the beauty and inspiration music brings to so many.
With love always,
Jessica
P.S. The albums are available on my website http://www.pianobeautiful.com and will soon be up on iTunes, CDBaby and Amazon. Please share with anyone you know who will enjoy what you’ve helped me create. Thank you again!!
UPCOMING THIS YEAR__2014!
We will have plenty of new, original Gene Christy tunes, recorded here at Christy Studios, some from last year and yet-to-be-recorded, some yet-to-be-written, on the road to 99 good tunes—
As you can see–
The Berkshires is not only home to James Taylor and Arlo Guthrie!
So stay tuned, every Thursday, same time, same station, for “Songs of a Coal Miner’s Son.”
Join the blog and become a Follower—click on the flag lower right corner!
Meanwhile, visit our friends:
Bobby Sweet at http://bobbysweet.com/
Rakish Paddy at http://www.rakishpaddyband.com/
Eddie Dillon at http://clancybrothersandtommymakem.com/ed_01.htm
And Jessica Roemischer at http://pianobeautiful.com/
Fair thee well, Titanic!
songs of a coal miner’s son 14
=======================================
A BLOG FOR MUSIC-LOVERS
With Gene Christy & Rod MacDow
episode fourteen . . .
Wow! I’m excited now!
It was 12 below in the Berskshires last night!
Now that is the fact, but it’s hardly what I’m excited about!
I’m excited about Norm Schaffer heatin’ things up over at the American Legion Hall,
in the downstairs pub, last Friday night.
NORM SCHAFFER __OUR
FEATURED ARTIST OF THE WEEK!
BAD MOON RISIN’
What better song to warm you up, and get things cookin,’ than a little Creedence!
WORDS AND MUSIC by John Fogerty. From the CCR album, “Green River”
We were there with a table-ful of friends–
I SEE MARIE G!
and Norm kept it warm and lively with his inimitable renditions of all our favorites from days gone by that we grew up with and went to high school with and fell in and out of love to—the soundtrack of our lives!
I imagine it’s the same or similar all over “This Land is Your Land,” as Woody sez, and has been for a long time now—for the life of me, I can’t understand why some of the talents you see on a Friday night at the Legion Hall or the VFW or the Grange are not household names in every town and village across this great big USA of ours! But as someone wisely told me—I think it was good-buddy Rod MacDow—“The further up the pyramid you go, the less room there is at the top!”
And that’s not to say that the Norm Schaffers of the world don’t have their finger on the pulse. They do! It’s the TV dolls with their botox lipsticks and beat-box monotony that all look and sound the same, and only talk to each other, removed and remote behind their glass walls and inside their pixel-boxes, in their rarefied isolation from the real world of real people.
I’ll take me some home-cookin’ any day in the week!
“NORM IS AVAILABLE!”
So without further ado, let me introduce NORM SCHAFFER, as our FEATURED GUEST OF THE WEEK—and also let you know that Norm may be just the first—if our plans work out, there will be many more as we go through 2014 together.
And one of the extra-added nice things about this is that, beginning with Norm, we will commence a series of LIVE RECORDED INTERVIEWS with our featured guests, so that listeners and musicians alike can learn about not just the person but how he goes about creating the sounds of music that we present on our blog alongside the interview.
Listen up, folks! Here’s Norm Schaffer, in a studio version, on the well-known John Denver favorite,
TAKE ME HOME, COUNTRY ROADS
This song was written by John Denver with Bill and Taffy Danoff in an all-night session after a gig in Washington, DC, on a night when Denver broke his thumb in an auto accident! When Denver brought it in to his producer with the title “Country Roads”–Milt Okun pointed out to him that James Taylor had just brought out a song called “Country Road.” Denver didn’t blink when he replied, “Sure–whatever–make it “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”
Whatever, indeed. Even if you call it “Country Roads,” it will forever be known as John Denver’s signature song.
And next, one of my own particular all-time faves,
GREEN, GREEN GRASS OF HOME
“Green, Green Grass of Home” was written by Curly Putman and recorded by singer Johnny Darrell, but originally made popular by Porter Wagoner, in 1965—but it only reached No. 4 on the country charts. It didn’t become the world-wide sensation and trendsetter it was destined to become until Tom Jones, the Welsh heart-throb of the blue-haired Vegas set—and your living room TV!—put it out in 1966—and suddenly every pop star had to record a country ballad!
Before we go any further–! COMING NEXT WEEK!
Jessica Roemischer—Piano Beautiful!—right here on “Songs of a Coal Miner’s Son”—
JESSICA !
NEXT WEEK! Don’t miss Jessica!
A live recorded interview with Jessica will be one of the features!
And now—back to Norm Schaffer—with the Beatles!
Seeing as we are celebrating right now 50 years of the Beatles on our American shores—
STRANGERS WELCOME
And to show you a little peek into Norm’s diversity of talent–
here’s John Lennon’s “Across the Universe”
Check it out! Recorded live on a Teac VR-20 Digital Recorder
Friday night, 17 Jan 014, at
the American Legion Hall, Downstairs Pub, Pittsfield, MA
. . . in the Berkshires, USA!
ACROSS THE UNIVERSE
This song was written, words and music, by John Lennon, but credited to Lennon-McCartney—just as “Lady Madonna” was credited to the partnership, but was actually written by Paul McCartney. John’s song first appeared, in a version different than the one on the “Let It Be” album, in December of 1969, on a compilation album called “No One’s Gonna Change Our World.”
And now it’s time for us to sit down with Norm for a little Q&A session!
INTERVIEW WITH OUR FEATURED ARTIST OF
THE WEEK!
__NORM SCHAFFER!
A song written by Norm Schaffer himself?—both words and music?
Here it is—and it’s a good one–I love it–I’m jealous!–good job on you, Norm!
PEACE OF MIND
Words and music by Norm Schaffer
Norm Schaffer ***** Sammy Winner
__Notable New Berkshires Performer of 2014
This award is named after little Sammy, the son of Cam and Rachel Collins, and also little Sammy, the son of Ricky and Theresa Marquis—I can never tell them apart—they both have sons named Sammy!
They have the Grammy! We have the Sammy!
REFLECTIONS OF NORM
UPCOMING THIS YEAR__2014!
We will have plenty of new, original Gene Christy tunes, recorded here at Christy Studios, some from last year and yet-to-be-recorded, some yet-to-be-written, on the road to 99 good tunes—
As you can see–
The Berkshires is not only home to James Taylor and Arlo Guthrie!
—we are lucky enough to have here in our little mountain home an array of talented performers, which makes it a very special place indeed!
so look for such featured guests such as Erin and Duffy, Rakish Paddy, Anthony Luchi and Bobby Sweet—
And don’t forget!—
COMING NEXT WEEK! — JESSICA ROEMISCHER!
So stay tuned, once a week, same time, same station—
Join the blog and become a Follower—click on the flag lower right corner!
And don’t forget, people, to go visit the websites, while you’re here, of our friends,
Bobby Sweet at
You can find Rakish Paddy at
http://www.rakishpaddyband.com/
You can find Eddie Dillon and a world of great music at
http://clancybrothersandtommymakem.com/ed_01.htm
See you guys next week, same time, same station!
Fair thee well, Titanic!
songs of a coal miner’s son 13
=======================================
A BLOG FOR MUSIC-LOVERS
With Gene Christy & Rod MacDow
episode thirteen . . .
13 in ‘14!! . . . what was going on this year a hundred years ago?
A little affair they decided to call, as they went along, “The Great War”—and, lest we forget—“The War to End All Wars”–???
Thank God we got over that century!
Fifty years ago, this year, however—things lightened up considerably with the arrival on our shores of — the Beatles!
As you may well remember, at least one of them was tagged on the Facebook of the day, Melody Maker, as the “good-lookin” Beatle!
So here goes with the Dossers’ own Good-Lookin’ band-member, Ricky Marquis,
GOOD-LOOKIN’ RICKY!
giving his rendition of the Beatles’
__________AND I LOVE HER Lennon & McCartney
( . . . & always remember —– DOSSERS has the same number of letters as BEATLES___!!!!!!)
BY THE WAY–how about that Ricky! what a fabulous job of picking that tune on–BANJO !!!
Before we go any further–! COMING SOON!
Jessica Roemischer—Piano Beautiful!—right here on “Songs of a Coal Miner’s Son”—
Jessica! pictured here with Gov. Patrick of Massachusetts – – who also lives here in the Berkshires!
In just 2 weeks! Don’t miss Jessica!
A live recorded interview with Jessica will be one of the features!
And now—Jack Waldheim, live at PortSmitt’s!
THE DOSSERS PLAY EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT AT PORTSMITT’S!
Check it out!
__________WALKIN’ IN MEMPHIS
Words and music by Marc Cohn, 1991, #13 on Billboard Charts
Grammy Winner __Best New Artist of 1992
JACK WALDHEIM
Moving right along, next up we have none other than Cam Collins!
__________GET ALONG HOME, CINDY, CINDY!
by the well-know A. Nonymous
Traditional American folk-song artist !
CAM COLLINS
UPCOMING THIS YEAR__2014!
We will have plenty of new, original Gene Christy tunes, recorded here at Christy Studios, some from last year and yet-to-be-recorded, some yet-to-be-written, on the road to 99 good tunes—
This week, on Friday night, we’ll be getting together with Norm Schaffer at the American Legion hall in Pittsfield for a little live recording of tunes and interviewing the singer/guitarist, so look for Norm to be here soon, as well, on our blog, in addition to featured guests such as Erin and Duffy, Rakish Paddy, and Bobby Sweet—
The Berkshires are not only home to James Taylor and Arlo Guthrie!
—we are lucky enough to have here in our little mountain home an array of talented performers, which makes it a very special place indeed!
And don’t forget!—
COMING SOON! — JESSICA ROEMISCHER!
So stay tuned, once a week, same time, same station—
Join the blog and become a Follower—click on the flag lower right corner!
Right now, we’re gonna leave you with a selection from that well-known sensitive-dude-of-the-90s, Gene Christy,
on a number written by Tommy Makem—one of my all-time faves—which I learned long, long ago from County Waterford’s own Michael Dunphy—on this recording, with Eileen Markland, of Rakish Paddy, accompanying on fiddle—
Smile, Eileen!
and it’s called . . .
__________RAMBLES O’ SPRING
words and music by Tommy Makem
Recorded Jul 15_2013 Live at The Shamrock, Rte 9, Dalton, MA
And don’t forget, people, to go visit the websites, while you’re here, of our friends,
Bobby Sweet at
You can find Rakish Paddy at
http://www.rakishpaddyband.com/
You can find Eddie Dillon and a world of great music at
http://clancybrothersandtommymakem.com/ed_01.htm
See you guys next week, same time, same station!
Fair thee well, Titanic!
songs of a coal miner’s son 12
=======================================
A BLOG FOR MUSIC-LOVERS
With Gene Christy & Rod MacDow
episode twelve . . .
No. 12!! . . . a round dozen! Who ever thought we’d make it this far?
But this year we have a chance to string together 52 episodes in a row. GO FOR IT!
That’s what Joltin’ Joe did—he went for it—a hit in every game—56 in a row!
So, let’s start building a brand-new tradition, right here, right now, with a song from my band, the Dossers
The Dossers are
Bill Morrison, Martin 6-string and vocals
That’s me!—— Gene Christy, Roland all-digital accordian and vocals
And, of course, the ever-popular star of his own long-running show,
Good-Lookin’ Ricky Marquis! On vocals (wow!) banjo & mandolin!
So here goes with the whole band jamming it up on a Beatles tune!
This one can be found on the “Let it Be” album—just a 7-sec slice where John trills a few notes of an old-time Liverpool street song that the lads sorta grew up with—but which John was too embarrassed to sing in full—so, on the album, he kinda makes a joke of it, and tosses off a line or two!
But we’re gonna give ya the whole thing!
It’s called . . .
DIRTY MAGGIE MAY!
words and music by A.Nonymous___Liverpool___c. 1850
performed by The Dossers
Recorded Live at The Old Forge, Lanesboro, MA, 17th Dec 2013
( . . . & always remember —– DOSSERS has the same number of letters as BEATLES_____!!!!! )
And now—Jack Waldheim, live at PortSmitt’s!
Check it out!
I’LL STOP THE WORLD & MELT WITH YOU
words and music by Modern English 1990s
performed by Jack Waldheim on vocal, guitar and looping
Recorded live at PortSmitt’s Oct 2013
JACK WALDHEIM
Moving right along, next up we have none other than Cam Collins!
CAM COLLINS
JOHNNY 99
words and music by Bruce Springsteen
performed by Cam Collins on vocal and 1999 Takamini acoustic guitar
Recorded Oct 1 _2013 Live at O’Loughlin’s, merrill Road, Pittsfield, MA
UPCOMING THIS YEAR__2014!
We will have plenty of new, original Gene Christy tunes, recorded here at Christy Studios, some from last year and yet-to-be-recorded, some yet-to-be-written, on the road to 99 good tunes—
as well as featured guests such as Jessica Roemischer, Norm Schaffer, Erin and Duffy, Jack Waldheim, Dublin Porter, Patrick Brady, Rakish Paddy, Bobby Sweet, Mary Verdi and many others!
So stay tuned, once a week, same time, same station—
Join the blog and become a Follower—
Right now, we’re gonna leave you with a selection from that well-known sensitive-dude-of-the-90s, Gene Christy, on a number written by Pete St John—one of my all-time faves—with Eileen Markland accompanying on fiddle
EILEEN MARKLAND
—and it’s called . . .
DUBLIN IN THE RARE OULD TIMES
words and music by Pete St John
Recorded July 15_2013 Live at The Shamrock, Route 9 in Dalton, MA
Lead vocal and Roland all-digital accordion by Gene Christy
Eileen Markland on fiddle
See ya next Thursday!
oops!!!! almost forgot . . . a blast from the past___
THE RODEO SONG
words and music by Garry Lee
performed by The Ramblin’ Rovers
Recorded Live in the summer of 1988 at Tom McGann’s Irish Embassy Pub, Route 28, Falmouth, Cape Cod, MA
the Ramblin Rovers were Billy Mac, aka Bill McElaney, County Donegal, vocals and 6-string rhythm guitar
Tom Neville, County Connecticut, on vocals and electric guitar
Gene Christy, on vocals and 1956 Excelsior acoustic accordian, and passing-out-in-the-back-seat-of-the-car across the road from the pub between sets . . .
ANALOG RECORDING__ Recorded live on a stolen govt-issue professional-grade casette-tape recorder on a lead wire direct from the mixer, which is why the crowd noise of the bikini girls is rather subdued on the audience participation shout-outs . .
we didn’t steal the recorder–we borrowed it from the guy who stole it . .
transferred to digital sometime in the 2000s . . .
. . SO MUCH FOR THE SENSITIVE DUDE OF THE 90s !!!!
See ya next Thursday!
gchristy99 