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| Foam-O-Graph© - Front N' Center In Th' Void! |
Ronald Theodore Kirk changed his name twice, both times inspired by dreams. Ronald got transposed into Roland, and Rahsaan was added, years later, without the cloying spiritual hubris of a Mahavishnu or a Narada or a Devadip. As with his names, Kirk's music came from his interior world, where anything was possible, and everything came together.
I saw him some time in the early 'seventies, standing like a mythical totem pole strung with jewels in front of the Mandala light show - the biggest and most spectacular in Europe, at least. Possibly the universe, from where I was standing. If you've read The Crystal World by J.G. Ballard you'll know where my head was at, man.
Footnote: The disarmingly modest Ian Anderson, him out of The Jethro Tulls, called Kirk a "snake oil salesman". Fuck him and the embouchure he rode in on.
To claim your personal ticket to Audio Blissville, tell th' other 4/5g© what music you'd like played at your funeral. Me - the theme to Futurama. There's just something about those bells that makes me happy.
ReplyDeleteJelly Roll Morton - Dead Man Blues.
DeleteWent to see Kirk many a time at Scott's - entry with NUS card a mere 30 bob - always a gas.
Last time I saw him was at Ginger Johnson's Iroko club, formerly Stuart Lyons' Country Club on Haverstock Hill, and was the one and only time we were about the only white-(ish) faces present. He was close to death we found later, but still pretty damn good. D'you want any more records? I have a bunch.
If you feel up to uploading, go ahead! There are many more visitors than commenters, and I'm sure links would be appreciated.
DeleteFirst time we really heard of Kirk was on this Mingus album on which Mingus is upstaged and Booker Ervin is vibed-up
Deletehttps://we.tl/t-3DFhGJUcS2
Influenced a shitload of London bands.
Other early Kirk
Kirk's Work
https://we.tl/t-aM8csAaynX
Third Dimension
https://we.tl/t-TliWphnpcN
We Free Kings
https://we.tl/t-KZcyv7LA5Z
Left & Right
https://we.tl/t-0Cz4KvC5rc
Domino
https://we.tl/t-ujoVt8oN78
Reeds & Deeds
https://we.tl/t-nBO43eHbCh
Live in Prague 1967
https://we.tl/t-BlyVGR4crr
Completely off-subject, the other day I googled a bloke I used to know, haven't seen him since 1976. He published his first novel in 1969.
Transpires he published his second novel in 2017.
An inspiration to us all.
Most excellent linkage, DH! Thanks for the work - much appreciated.
DeleteGoing Home - Dire Straits or
ReplyDeleteLay Down Burden - Brian Wilson
Lay Down Burden is a beautiful choice. Let me know when you've set the date, and I'll come along and cry like a baby.
DeleteThe Inflated Tear - that's my go-to Roland album.
ReplyDeleteanderson needs to appropriately sheathe his flute.
ReplyDeletei would request "YOU'RE BLASE'" by JONATHAN AND DARLENE EDWARDS. it would sum up my life of being indifferent and off key.
Hmm. We all know that your signature "indifference" is a defence mechanism. Inside that psychic carapace is a sensitive guy. A guy who trusted, who loved, and who got hurt. Hurt bad. It's time to stop crying inside, DEPRAVOS. It's time to open up, to share your wonderfulness with the world again. You're ready. Make that step into the sunlight. Will we be there to welcome you? Fuck no.
DeleteI hesitate to admit that I've thought about this a good bit.
ReplyDelete"Whispering Pines" - The Band
"Loving Arms" - Etta James
"Running From Mercy" - Rickie Lee Jones with Leo Kottke
I have a CD by The Magnificent Seventh's Brass Band called "Authentic New Orleans Jazz Funeral"
ReplyDeleteMy favorite song on it is George Lewis' “We Shall Walk Through the Streets of the City”
The beautiful chorus goes:
“We shall walk through the streets of that city
Meeting those that are gone long before
We shall meet on the bank of the river
Where we’ll meet to part no more.”
Apparently, Ian Anderson's house, does not have lions.
If I wanted a sad song, I'd pick Fairport's Farewell, Farewell. Or Joe Cocker's I Shall Be Released. But I think those bells clanging out the Futurama theme - DONG-CLANG, DONG-CLANG, DONG-DONG CLANG-CANG (from memory) would cheer people right up.
ReplyDeleteI may have to put the Futurama theme on my list.
DeleteLater today, I'll post some Rahsaan "for beginners", but right now I'm waiting for the Electrician, or someone who looks like a Plumber.
Hello, you must be the true white brother.
DeleteBrother no, Sister yes.
DeleteI was only quoting Firesign Theater "Waiting for the Electrician", ma'am.
Deleteno funeral not for me
ReplyDeleteI second that emotion.
DeleteLa Mer - Charles Trenet
ReplyDeleteDays - Ray Davies and the Crouch End Festival Chorus
Ian Anderson was never as good as he seemed to think he was. A dog isn't the only thing that lifts its leg when its taking the piss.
"Is That All There Is" by Peggy Lee
ReplyDeleteor
"Cowboy Buckaroo" by Mason Williams.
I'll pick Gene Clark & Carla Olson's performance of Phil Ochs' "Changes"...
ReplyDeleteFirst off the photo is great, really catches the spirit of Rahsaan Roland Kirk. NOT a snake oil salesman in any way. His music is not everyone's cup of tea, but if you get it it's amazingly beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI would want Jerry Gatcia's "To Lay Me Down" for the funeral & David Lindley's "Brother John Is Gone" for marching out. I don't plan a funeral, I told my family to have me cremated and to scatter the ashes out of the car on the way home. Our freeways are such a mess, no one will notice.
Thank 'ee, Mr. W - it's a screen grab from a EwToob video that I warped up.
DeleteThe Doors - The End would be the perfect choice during my funeral, then Son House - My Black Mama Part 1&2 after I'm gone and they crack open the keg.
ReplyDelete"Don't Get Around Much Anymore" by Duke Ellington, or "Where Could I Go?" by Hillman/Leadon/Perkins/Mansfield
ReplyDeleteHere's a nice 2CD anthology of Rahsaan
ReplyDeletehttps://workupload.com/file/ps86WKKuYk8
Gee, Babs, this is mighty swell!
DeleteGlad you like it!
DeleteIf you gotta go, you gotta go, so I want to go out slow.
ReplyDeleteMy pick is Eyl Male Rakhamim by Jant Leichter.
Lay me down easy, God full of compassion.
Rev Dr Baz - I dont intend having a funeral when I return tio my home planet, my choice is Man Of Constant Sorrow by Kaleidoscope, not just for the words but the great vocal by Chris Darrow.
ReplyDeleteOr Stay by Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs which I first heard when I was 10 years old & has been a fave rave for 60 years.
just throwing out an idea for me the best ''Man Of Constant Sorrow' is this 'un https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bP4MKKEAvGE
DeleteRev Dr Baz- didnt Jethro Tull record an inferior version of a R.R. Kirk tune on their first platter?
ReplyDeleteI prefer the original Jethro Tull who invented something during The Agrarian Revolution.
I've always liked Kirk.
ReplyDeleteIt was also quite cunning how he kept winning in the Downbeat poll "other instruments" category by playing strange saxophone things like the stritch.
Roland Kirk - neither as bad as his critics say nor as good as his supporters believe.
ReplyDeleteMy funeral - I won't be there, although my leftovers will, and I hope that during a short period of quiet contemplation the mourner listens to "My All" by The Jimmy Giuffre 3, and when the bonfire lights up James Taylor sings "That Lonesome Road". Or The Poozies version, if preferred.
Cheers, Peanuts Molloy.
Kirk, whatever his musical chops, is an utter and absolute original, a force of nature. To measure him on any comparative scale is to miss the point. The world is a better and brighter place for having him. I can't think of anything better to say about anyone.
DeleteAgree completely, Farq. RRK is not to be judged by ordinary measures. I saw him many times in the 70s when he would regularly tour the west coast. One memorable last set began with his volcanic take on The Old Rugged Cross and ended with Rahsaan holding out his right hand for the audience to grasp while he blasted one earth-quaking, continuous note on his tenor. Using circular breathing to inflate and deflate his cheeks like some sort of fever-dream bullfrog, the audience filed forward to briefly take his hand. Yes, I had consumed some shrooms hours earlier, but the electricity issuing from Rahsaan was of another order entirely. As to chops, his knowledge of American art music was encyclopedic and he could play pretty much all of it. Too often dismissed as a novelty, Rahsaan was about as pure music as it gets; an American original. Thanks for helping widen the audience for Rahsaan; he was indeed a force of nature who still awaits full-fledged recognition. Bright moments.
ReplyDeleteOh, and as to my funeral dirge? — that would be none other than Roland Kirk's Black and Crazy Blues.
ReplyDeleteGerry Mulligan 'Ring Around A Bright Star', for when the bin-men collect me with the rest of the rubbish.
ReplyDeleteHi , I can't find the link
ReplyDeleteMe neither. Come back later, it'll be right here.
DeleteHere ya go:
ReplyDeletehttps://workupload.com/file/DBhTMFt29VM