burtoncummings

IT WAS 1969 AND THE GW WERE IN LOS ANGELES TO PLAY A COUPLE OF SHOWS AND PROMOTE "CANNED WHEAT" WHICH HAD JUST BEEN RELEASED ON RCA...WE WERE STAYING AT THE HYATT HOUSE (RIOT HOUSE) ON SUNSET. THERE ARE STILL BILLBOARDS ALL OVER LOS ANGELES TODAY FOR ENTERTAINMENT FUNCTIONS AND PERSONALITIES, BUT BACK IN 69, THEY WERE ALMOST ALL MUSIC BILLBOARDS. AND THE ONES ALONG SUNSET WERE THE MOST PRIZED IN THE INDUSTRY.
I KNOW WE HAVE A DAY OFF, SO I'VE POPPED A SMALL BLOTTER OF ACID THAT MORNING, JUST WANTING TO ENJOY A DAY IN L.A. IN THE "HEADSPACE OF JM" WHO, I HAD READ, WAS IN THAT PARTICULAR MENTAL STATE QUITE OFTEN.
I CHECK INTO MY ROOM AND I HAVE A BALCONY OVERLOOKING SUNSET, DOWN UPON GENERAL L.A. (I AM 21 YEARS OLD)... I HAVE A FRONT ROW SEAT FOR THE BILLBOARD ACROSS THE STREET...MILDLY TRIPPING BY NOW, I CASUALLY STROLL OUT ONTO THE BALCONY TO GET A VIEW OF DOORS-LAND...
AND THERE'S THE BILLBOARD...RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY BALCONY...RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY EYES...
AND, I SWEAR THIS IS NO LIE, GUESS WHAT THEY'RE PAINTING ON THE BILLBOARD...
UNDER COMPLETELY NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES THIS WOULD HAVE BLOWN ME AWAY...BUT ON ACID...GOOD LORD...
THEY'RE PAINTING A BILLBOARD FOR "CANNED WHEAT" AND THEY'RE PAINTING EACH OF OUR FACES INDIVIDUALLY, OVER 20 FEET HIGH...
THEY'VE JUST FINISHED RANDY, AND I'M ON ACID, AND THEY'RE STARTIN' ON ME...
I MUST SAY, IT WAS A SITUATION OF VARIED EMOTIONS...ONE OF SHOCK, FOR SURE, ONE OF MILD DISBELIEF, AND ONE OF "WELL, EITHER THIS IS THE BEST ACID IN THE WORLD, OR I'M IN A VERY SPECIAL PLACE RIGHT NOW IN TIME..."
AND THERE I SAT, HALUCINATING VIOLENTLY ON MY OWN FACE BEING PAINTED TWENTY FEET HIGH IN FULL COLOUR OVERLOOKING SUNSET BLVD. IT WAS ALMOST TOO MUCH...WE WERE ALWAYS TOLD BACK IN THE HIPPIE DAYS TO "STAY AWAY FROM THE MIRROR ON ACID"...TOO DEEP...WAY TOO SCARY...WELL THIS WAS FAR DEEPER THAN THE MIRROR...AND IT WAS FAST...THESE BILLBOARD GUYS DON'T FOOL AROUND...I WATCHED EVERY STROKE WITH FASCINATION AND THOUGHT ABOUT THE MEANINGS OF MANY, MANY, MANY THINGS...WHEN THEY FINISHED WITH ME, THEY STARTED ON EITHER KALE OR PETERSON, CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH BY NOW...I HAD HAD MY "TRIP" FOR THE DAY...I GOT AWAY FROM THE BALCONY AND WENT OUT WALKING. WHEN I RETURNED TO MY ROOM LATER, THERE WERE THE FOUR OF US, ALL NICE AND IN COLOUR AND TWENTY FEET HIGH ON SUNSET BLVD. MY, MY, MY...
OH WELL, JUST ANOTHER LITTLE BLOG ABOUT THE EVERYDAY GOINGS ON IN THE CARTOON LIFE OF JELLY ROLL KIRKPATRICK...

GL & GH...
LITM...
PEACE HERE...

B.C.

Canned Wheat Billboard, Los Angeles 1969 MySpace Blog Post w/ comments

Here are the lyrics from Sanity. Its a new song that will be featured on Above The Ground.

OH...SANITY...HUMANITY
DID YOU TAKE A STEP BACKWARD
WERE YOU MISSING IN ACTION...TEMPORARILY...
OH...SANITY...HUMANITY
WON'T YOU TAKE A STEP FORWARD
COME BACK FOR YOUR CROWN
AND STOP ALL THIS THAT'S GOIN' DOWN...

I REMEMBER NOT TOO LONG AGO
I COULD WALK THE STREETS UNAFRAID NO MATTER WHERE I'D GO
NOWADAYS IT SEEMS, THE WAY IT ALL STANDS,
IS IF I'M WALKIN' I'M TAKIN' MY LIFE IN MY HANDS...
I REMEMBER WHEN OLD PEOPLE WERE COOL
NEVER HIT UPON, MOCKED, MAIMED OR RIDICULED
THERE'S YOUNG FOLKS TERRIFIED NOW, ALL THE TIME...
TOO MANY CRYIN'...THERE'S TOO MANY DYIN'....

SANITY...HUMANITY...
DID YOU TAKE A VACATION
WERE YOU MISSING IN ACTION...TEMPORARILY...
OH...SANITY...HUMANITY
WON'T YOU TAKE A STEP FORWARD
COME BACK FOR YOUR CROWN
STOP ALL THIS THAT'S GOIN' DOWN...

HATE YOUR NEIGHBOURS AND CHEAT YOUR FREINDS
THERE'S NO REGARD FOR THE WAY IT ENDS
LIFE IS SO PRECIOUS YET IT'S BARTERED SO CHEAP
IS THERE ANY DIGNITY AT ALL TO KEEP...
NOT TOO LONG IN THE DISTANT PAST
I HAD SOME VALUES I THOUGHT MIGHT LAST
BUT ASHES LIKE DUST ARE ALL THAT'S LEFT OF THE COALS
THE FLAMES WERE THE CRIES OF A BILLION SOULS

SANITY...HUMANITY...
DID YOU TAKE A STEP BACKWARD
WERE YOU MISSING IN ACTION...TEMPORARILY...
OH...SANITY...HUMANITY...
WON'T YOU TAKE A STEP FORWARD
COME BACK FOR YOUR CROWN
STOP ALL THIS THAT'S GOIN' DOWN...

I FOUND OUT THE HARD WAY
THERE WERE SCORES AND SCORES OF SCORES TO SETTLE
I WAS FIGHTING WITH THE WRITING ON THE WALL...

Sanity Blog Post on MySpace

THIS ONE IS A SONG...JUST BANGED IT OUT TONIGHT...SOUNDS PRETTY GOOD, I THINK...IT'S A 6/8 KINDA FEEL...LOTTA HARMONIES...THIS CAME FAST...SOMETIMES GOOD ONES DO...

"LETTERS FOR FREE"

HE WAS CENTURY BOUND WITH A TROUPE OF RENOWN
THROUGH A SKY THAT WAS BLUER THAN SEA...
AND WHEN QUESTIONED ABROAD, HE WOULD QUIP WITH A NOD...
"SIR, I MARKET MY LETTERS FOR FREE...
YES, I MARKET MY LETTERS FOR FREE..."


THERE WERE SHIPS WITHOUT SAILS, THERE WERE SILVERY RAILS
THERE WERE HOPES THAT WERE NEVER TO BE...
BUT AS DARK AS THE RAIN, HE'D REPEAT THE REFRAIN...
"SIR, I MARKET MY LETTERS FOR FREE...
YES, I MARKET MY LETTERS FOR FREE..."


(Bridge}
IF THE MOOD WOULD BE RIGHT HE COULD CONQUER THE NIGHT
AND THE KINGS COULD BE BROUGHT TO THEIR KNEES...
BUT THE QUESTION WAS SUCH IT DEMANDED TOO MUCH
IT'S THE QUESTION THE HEART NEVER FREES...


IN A LIFETIME OR TWO HE WAS DEEMED TO BE THROUGH
THOUGH NO UNSPOKEN PAGE COULD AGREE...
NEVER DOUBTING HIS WORTH, SAID A MAN OF THE EARTH
"SIR, I MARKET MY LETTERS FOR FREE...
YES, I MARKET MY LETTERS FOR FREE..."

B.C. JULY 31 2008

CHEERS ALL...

Letters For Free MySpace Blog Post

JUST FINISHED A FULL DAY AT BERNIE GRUNDMAN'S MASTERING STUDIOS IN HOLLYWOOD. THE STUFF SOUNDED GREAT !!! JOE AND I WILL LIVE WITH THESE FINAL DISCS FOR ABOUT A WEEK, DECIDING IF EVERYTHING FLOWS WELL AND IF ALL IS BALANCED WELL, MAKING EACH CUT COMPATIBLE WITH EACH OTHER.
THE SEQUENCE SEEMS TO WORK WELL TOO...UP IN THE CANYON IS FINALLY AS MUCH "IN YOUR FACE" AS ALL THE OTHERS.
BERNIE IS A LEGEND IN HIS BUSINESS...GOOD GRIEF, THIS IS THE GUY WHO MASTERED "THRILLER"...AS WELL AS COUNTLESS OTHER LEGENDARY ALBUMS THROUGH THE YEARS. HE ALSO HAS A STUDIO IN JAPAN. HIS WALLS ARE FILLED WITH GOLD AND PLATINUM AND MULTI PLATINUM AWARDS...THE PLACE IS LIKE A MINI HISTORY OF POP MUSIC.
AND HE PERSONALLY LIKED THE ALBUM...SAID THAT JOE AND I "REALLY KNEW WHAT WE WERE DOING"...HIGH PRAISE INDEED FROM ONE OF THE MASTERS...
ALL IN ALL, A VERY, VERY GOOD DAY...
ATG IS ON THE WAY...
GL & GH...
LITM...
PEACE HERE...
B.C.

Mastering of Above The Ground MySpace Blog Post

I KNEW SOMEDAY THE MUSIC MIGHT GET EVIL
I KNEW SOMEDAY I'D BE A HELPLESS PAWN
I KNEW SOMETIME THAT I'D BE JUDGED WITH SINNERS
CAN'T GO ON...CAN'T GO ON...

I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO KILL A MEMORY
I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO STAY ALONE
I DON'T EXPECT A LOT OF FOLKS TO LIKE ME
DON'T MATTER NOW, THEY DON'T MATTER NOW

I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO SHARE YOUR SPIRIT
I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO TRY AND TRY
I KNOW HOW CRUEL IT IS WHEN THINGS GET SHAKY
AND YOU CRY, AND YOU CRY...

HARD UP, HARD UP FOR AMUSEMENT
WHEN YOU TURNED, YOU TURNED TO THE DARKER SIDE,
YOU WERE NEVER MEANT TO UNDERSTAND THE THINGS THAT DRIVE YOU
AND THOSE QUESTIONS AND THOSE QUESTIONS
THEY CAN TEAR YOU DOWN...

I KNOW HOW ENVY DOES THE STRANGEST DANCES
I KNOW HOW EASY COMES THIS THING CALLED PITY
I KNOW HOW YOU CAN RUN
CITY TO CITY
LOOKIN' FOR PITY............

BRIDESMAIDS...
THE ONLY SOLUTION...
ISN'T IT AMAZING...?

IN A CAR, ON A FREEWAY
THERE'S A PRIEST WHO'S CRYIN', A PRIEST WHO'S DYIN'
IN A GRAVEYARD BENEATH A FULL MOON
I SEE A BLACK CAT LYIN' WITH ITS THROAT CUT

I KNOW HOW AGE CAN WEAR THE MASK OF WISDOM
I KNOW HOW EASY IT IS TO STUMBLE TOO
SO MANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU CAN'T GET NAPPIN'
IT'S TRUE...IT'S TRUE...

I KNOW HOW SHITTY IT IS WHEN FRIENDS WILL USE YOU
I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO GROW UP TALL
I KNOW HOW LOSERS CAN JUST TURN YOUR WORDS ROUND
TILL YOU FALL...TILL YOU FALL...

I KNEW SOMEDAY THE MUSIC MIGHT GET EVIL
I KNEW SOMEDAY I'D BE A HELPLESS PAWN
I KNEW SOMETIME THAT I'D BE JUDGED WITH SINNERS
CAN'T GO ON...CAN'T GO ON...

I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS WHEN FRIENDS DESERT YOU
I KNOW THAT LOVE BECOMES THIS THING CALLED "PITY"
I KNOW HOW YOU CAN RUN YOU CAN RUN
CITY TO CITY...LOOKIN' FOR PITY...

I KNOW HOW AGE CAN WEAR THE MASK OF WISDOM
I KNOW HOW EASY IT IS TO STUMBLE, TOO...
TOO MANY QUESTIONS AND YOU'LL NEVER GET NAPPIN'
IT'S TRUE...IT'S TRUE...
YEAH...IT'S TRUE...
YOU KNOW IT'S TRUE...

Ponderlust Lyrics MySpace Blog Post

TOOK A BREATHER TODAY FROM VIDEO LAND, AND PAID A VISIT TO KOPPS MUSIC, A LITTLE STORE ON QUEEN ST. HERE IN TORONTO...BOY OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY...DID I FIND SOME GREAT STUFF. KOPPS IS RUN BY A BRITISH GUY WHO'S JUST AN OBSESSED COLLECTOR. HIS ASSISTANT CHRIS HAS BEEN WORKING WITH HIM FOR YEARS. I'VE FOUND GREAT STUFF THERE BEFORE AND TODAY WAS NO EXCEPTION...TODAY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, I GOT...

BABY SITTIN' BOOGIE-BUZZ CLIFFORD (THE WHOLE ALBUM ON CD, PRETTY GOOD PRESSING)

NOT FADE AWAY-3 DISC BUDDY HOLLY BOX, INCLUDING SPOKEN RADIO PROMOS AND SEVERAL INTERVIEWS, ONE OF WHICH IS WITH RED ROBINSON FROM VANCOUVER

MULE SKINNER BLUES-FENDERMEN-RECENT CD COMP WITH 27 TRACKS !!!

STEVE LAWRENCE-THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION-BOOTLEG WITH OLD SPARTAN TRACKS AND LATER STUFF ON COLUMBIA...ALL THE RADIO STUFF STEVE HAD...

WES DAKUS AND THE REBELS, VOLUMES 1 AND 2...I FORGOT HOW GOOD THOSE OLD INSTRUMENTALS WERE...STUFF WAS ALL DONE IN EDMONTON IN THE EARLY SIXTIES.

MOUNTAIN OF LOVE-HAROLD DORMAN-ENTIRE ALBUM ON CD... (1959)

BABY CAN ROCK-DOROTHY COLLINS-COMP CD WITH 31 TRACKS !!

BYRDS LIVE AT ROYAL ALBERT HALL 1971 (EASY TO FIND, BUT I NEVER HAD IT BEFORE)

YOUNGBLOODS-GREAT RE-PRESSINGS OF THE DEBUT ALBUM, EARTH MUSIC, AND ELEPHANT MOUNTAIN, ALL IN ONE THREE PACK...GREAT STUFF...JCY WAS A HUGE INFLUENCE ON ME...WHAT A VOICE !!

GOODBYE COLUMBUS SOUNDTRACK-THE ASSOCIATION

GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICAN POPULAR MUSIC (JAZZ HITS EDITION)-28 TRACKS

GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICAN ROCK AND ROLL NOVELTY EDITION-30 TRACKS

GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICAN ROCK AND ROLL VOLUME 11

GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICAN ROCK AND ROLL FOLLOW UP HITS EDITION

GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICAN POPULAR MUSIC (HARD TO GET BILLBOARD HITS FROM 1956-1965)

I HAD SOME OF THIS STUFF BEFORE, BUT MOST OF THESE I GOT TODAY ARE LATER PRESSINGS AND THEY SOUND JUST GREAT IN THE GOOD SONYS. ALSO GOT A DVD OF THE MOVIE "ROCK, ROCK ROCK" STARRING FRANKIE LYMON, LA VERN BAKER, CHUCK BERRY, THE MOONGLOWS AND THAT THIEF ALAN FREED...OH YEAH, ALSO STARS JOHNNY BURNETTE TRIO AND TEDDY RANDAZZO...RARE STUFF...

LOVE THE COLLECTING...ALWAYS DID, ALWAYS WILL...

CAN'T STAY HERE NOW AND TALK...I'VE ALREADY PUT ALL THESE GOODIES INTO MY I POD AND NOW I'M GOIN' FOR A LONG WALK WITH THE GOOD SONYS...FANTASYLAND...

GL & GH
LITM
PEACE HERE
B.C.

Treasures MySpace Blog Post