LOOK WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO MY SONG, MA
Crabby Apple Mick Lee | INDIANAPOLIS, IN USA | 12/20/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It was 1974 and I had been yearning for this sweet and innocent girl all summer. Finally, I got up the courage and soon she became my girlfriend. After several weeks, she shyly asked if I wanted to go up to her bedroom. Romantic visions swam in my head of both of us losing our virginity to each other as offerings of love. Once she closed her bedroom door, however, I found out she was neither sweet nor innocent. As she tore off her clothes and ripped at mine, she exposed that she was quite experienced and demanding. It was the longest afternoon of my life. Afterward, she laughed at my clumsiness and that I was foolish enough to think she was a virgin. The next day she tossed me aside like a spent shotgun shell.
Brokenhearted, I ran away from home and hit the road. I wanted to forget.
Several weeks later, I found myself at this bar in Chicago where they played jazz music. Late into the night and several whiskeys later, I wandered into the basement where I found this graceful gentleman in an impeccable white suit smoking a long cigar and sipping a gin and tonic. He had a neatly manicured goatee and clear eyes. I suppose I looked a little worse for wear and my speech was little better; but I recognized him as one of the musicians I had seen on stage. "Hey, old man", I slurred, "how come you ruined all my favorite songs?" The stylish gentleman put down his cigar. "First, it's Mr. Mann to you, Sonny. Second, you look like you've been hit hard. What's troubling you?"
I couldn't help it. It was either the booze or the pain in my heart; but I spilled it all out. All the disappointment. All the deception and humiliation by a girl I thought was my sweetheart. Being dumped for everyone in school to see. On the road and miles away, I couldn't hide my shame. And to top it all off, my favorite songs had just been ruined.
"Well, Sonny, I see you take yourself too seriously and not seriously enough. Let's skip that for a moment and talk about jazz. I didn't "ruin" those songs as you imagined. I love the originals as you do. You have to love and revere the original song because that's important and you can't love music without finding something to love in a song no matter where it came from. We jazz musicians used to do the old standards from the 30's and 40's. But that time is gone and jazz itself is partly the reason for that. Today we have rock. Very different music but music all the same. And just like the old songs from the 30's and 40's, there are those that just want the "real thing" straight and nothing else. Jazz has a different sensibility. Jazz takes those revered songs and plays with them-mixes them up for fun mostly. The music is still there. Maybe you can enjoy it a little more."
Mr. Mann took a long drag on his cigar, took it out of his mouth, and paused to look at it. "Now take that girl of yours. You love her and she turned out different from what you expected. She's still the same girl. You can love her all the same-if you choose to. You should go back, look her straight in the eye, and have fun. Maybe she got her laughs but you got the better end of the deal. Maybe you were a little untrained but she's the one who got bedded by you. So she's a tough cookie. Be your own tough cookie. Maybe she'll take you back. Maybe she won't. So maybe it doesn't always work out. But love is always a beautiful thing-even if only in memory."
Mr. Mann took another long puff on his cigar and then finished with a sip of his drink. "You'll have to excuse me, Sonny. My next set is coming up."
Soon thereafter, the whiskey took over and I fell asleep there on the couch. Hours later, I woke up and an envelope with "Sonny" written on it was stuck in my coat. Inside was enough money for a bus ticket home.
After leaving the bus station in my hometown and making my way back to my home, I passed by the record store where Herbie Mann's new album was on display in the window. On impulse, I bought it and returned home.
I went back to school the next day. When I got to my locker, my sweetheart saw me across the hall and began to poke fun at me. Without delay I walked over, took her in my arms and kissed her full on the mouth. As she pulled away, looking startled, I said, "You'll always be mine".
OK. It ended up not working out. But now I was a man of dark mystery. "What happened it Chicago?" They all wondered. I took to wearing black turtlenecks with black clothes and reading books on jazz history. All the girls in high school dug it.
Late at night, I stayed up playing my records-always saving my jazz records for last. LONDON UNDERGROUND was always among my favorites. There was Herbie Mann having fun and making love to the rock music I loved in my heart. He had two pieces on the album that were his own compositions and I would wonder what girlfriends from long ago he was bringing to mind.
Love like music is a beautiful thing. It's beautiful thing when you have it and when you return to it. It is also a wonderful thing in memory.
"
Jammin Jazz Rock
Joan B. Montney | Glendale Az USA | 10/25/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As a fan of Herbie Mann,this ranks as one of my all time favorites! Mann is one of those rare jazz musicians who can perform a remake of virtually any style of music out there. Do it well and do it justice. His choice of musicians on this album is the obvious reason its so good. Highlights from some of my favorites are, Track 1.Which is a remake of a classic Rolling Stones song. A great rock n roll jam featuring solos by Mick Taylor on guitar and Herbie Mann on flute who really cuts loose! Ansley Dunbar on drums who entertains us with lots of Funky foot work! Track 3. A remake of Layla by Eric Clapton. Great guitar solos by Mick Taylor and Albert Lee.Once again,kick in the but drumming by Ansley Dunbar and a variety of instrument solos being played at the same time that are all centered around the basic Layla melody. Track 5. Remake of the 70's classic Mellow Yellow. Mann's choice in using a violin for the vocal line along with his flute is what makes the song unique. Also,nice jazz brush work on the snare by Dunbar! Track 6. A winter shade of pale. A nicely done slow ballad with very beautiful orchestral sounding keyboard parts. Mann plays his flute with so much intensity and feeling that it gives me chills just thinking about it. Track 7. Great piano solo on this tune {sounds like it's being played on a classic Fender Rohdes electric piano} Albert Lee on guitar. Dunbar gives us fancy foot work again! Last but not least is track 8. A Beatles classic. Features a very heartfelt performance by Herbie Mann and Albert Lee on acoustic guitar. Nice vibrato effect on the elecric piano. A soothing relaxing tune. Final thought: A Fantastic album by a Fantastic jazz musician! Great re-mixing done for this re-issue. Awesome Sound! Enjoy!"
Track Listings (9) - Disc #1