Still Musically Active at 71 1/2

Here on the electric 12-string Rickenbacker: “Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me.” Out of D as you can see, same key as The Byrds’ original.

Interesting year, figuring out which songs for which of the 3 guitars. Fine-tuning singing keys and rhythms on SR-16, now in its 3oth year. Learning new-old songs: lately “Little Things” by Bobby Goldsborough on 12 string. And overduely re-learning old songs like Cohen’s “Suzanne” which I used to perform with early groups (“That’s pretty, Rich” said Stan Helmer, the drummer of Four in 1973, the first time I played it at a show.)

Taking out songs that are now beyond me or which I don’t care for in my master songbook. But as I begin to listen to old reel-to-reel tapes and cassettes of old groups, I see now that I’m missing a lot of good songs I used to perform well. So I may have to do some more reactivations.

I went through the Betty Plus Four live tapes from 1974-5. We sound purty good. Nice harmonies with Betty, in particular. She had a good voice; we used to do songs by The Bells, The Everlys, and The Beatles.

The Fudge tapes go back to 1991. Listening (as I walk the basement circuit daily) currently to the middle of a ‘rehearsal’-show Ken Klause and I did in January, 1992, in my English teacher-friend’s, Kristine’s kitchen. Nice sound and lots of fun. Talking to the old gang from Scona: Larry, Kim, Gloria, Petra, Kelly (now gone), Dave, et al. We are in all form, with them joining in on singing, taking verses, and playing percussion. I sure knew how to get a crowd goin’. Of late, my daughter has been threatening to digitize me of late.

There are also performances from about 20 or more so tapes including Scona room and gym performances as well as June Scona Stag parties just involving the male teachers. Boy, they sure loved to sing and Fudge played these gigs several times. I can still remember Cliff, Bob Berube, and Bob Malcolm (he played the old ’50s country) on guitars. We’d play nonstop into the wee small hours and shut the parties down. Great memories await me when I get around to those tapes.

I have four sounds to work with on 3 guitars. The 1973 Gibson 335 TD can be played with a regular chorus or a hard-sound pedal for heavier tunes: “Born to Be Wild”, “Foxy Lady” and the like. The new tuner is fast and easy. Could have used to decades ago at gigs. A good technology for sure.

Voice is hanging in–I can still sing 2 hrs. or more at a time; sometimes I use No Snore to open up the nose to reach higher notes better/clear the throat–works well. Right playing hand is fine; it’s not often I lose a pick. Left hand has some arthritis in the long finger so I can’t do barred chords anymore (F#m loses something, for sure, when minimally played in 1st position).

Wisely, I did a blog entry in December reviewing my musical career, to have a minimal record. But these tapes and supporting photos certainly flesh out the story. There are also 20 original songs, one praised by Jack Richardson, producer of The Guess Who; the others performed live at various gigs for the record.

In 2021, I suspect I’ll be playing 1-2 x a week in the basement performing space. Important to keep the voice, breathing, fingering, and focus in place. It, of course, remains a ‘wonder’ that I can do credible versions of the songbook songs with guitar, the ‘illusion of bass and backup drums’ by SR-16. A one-man band still, after all this time.

Singing and playing is good mentally, physically, audially, and spiritually. Still the most soulful exercise I get.

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