How very strange.
This album was on the soundtrack at the pub at Cal State Disneyland when I was a (34 year old) senior. Those were not especially good times. It was fall semester ’86, and I should have graduated in Spring, but I got married, and had to get a job. I was too old to be there, taking on brutal class loads, trying to plow through fast, and realizing I had made one of the all time “Wut th’ fuk wer yoo thinkin’?” moves of my life by marrying my less-than-ideal first wife. I had classes at odd times, sometimes getting out early in the evening. I’d grab a sandwich at the cafeteria, then stop at the campus pub, and get a pitcher to end the day. I’d sit there, smoke cigarettes, and drink it alone. The third track on this album, “Love/Longing” would always seem to be playing. That sad, haunting melody just seemed like the theme song for that time in my life. It has been one of those odd recurring earworms for years. But I never knew who played it, or what it was called. Now as I type this, I recall asking the bartender if he knew, but he did not. It was just on a background tape they had. As soon as I clicked this on I recognized the style on piano. I scrolled down the timeline: “Love/Longing (on an album called, “Autumn”) Could that be?…
Holy cow, but it is. Thanks, Gerard, for clearing up one of life’s small mysteries for me.
JWM
Kevin in PAOctober 2, 2021, 12:34 PM
If you like this stye of piano may I suggest more from George Winston:
SUMMER – with a terrific version of Living in the Country, a cover of the old Randy Newman tune – Living Without You, Hummingbird and my favorite – Loreta and Desiree’s Bouquet part 1 and 2. Lovely music.
The album titled FOREST is another good one.
And one of my very favorite albums is LINUS AND LUCY – The Music of Vince Guaraldi. Really great stuff. When I was a lad growing up in the NYC-metro area, the Big Apple offered a wide variety of music radio stations (Radio City). One of my regular stations to tune in was WNEW-NY. I forget the DJ that used to open his show with Guaraldi’s Cast Your Fate to the Wind. That tune still puts me in a dream-like state with so many memories rushing in.
Enjoy.
sjdOctober 1, 2021, 8:01 PM
Beautiful music, but horrible associations. So fortunate to have survived the consequences of poor decisions. Have been resurrected since and am grateful every single day.
Lady Cutekitten of LolcatOctober 1, 2021, 8:36 PM
Beautiful scenery, too!
Aggravated DocSurgOctober 2, 2021, 5:41 AM
I had the chance to see him play in 1986, and again about 10 years ago. He is quiet and seems very humble on stage, and simply plays beautifully. Not sure if he still tours, but he’s definitely worth the price of the ticket; the last time I saw him the place wasn’t as full as it should be.
JackOctober 2, 2021, 6:50 AM
I barely missed being in the same high school that George attended. Integration and all of that BS.
He’s an incredible talent and most of the time you wouldn’t know if he was in the room. Thanks again GVL.
tallowpotOctober 2, 2021, 7:48 AM
Windham Hills record label had many great musicians on vinyl, and then acrylic. They’ve issued sampler albums of various artists every year since at least 1978.
My favorite albums include William Ackerman – “In Search of the Turtles Navel”; George Winston – “December”; Mark Isham – “Vapor Drawings”; Alex deGrassi – “Slow Circle”; and Liz Story “Solid Colors”.
DianaOctober 2, 2021, 10:42 AM
Great music. It was a good way to gather my thoughts! Thanks for sharing.
After scanning its face again and again,
I began to scale it, picking my holds
With intense caution. About half-way
To the top, I was suddenly brought to
A dead stop, with arms outspread
Clinging close to the face of the rock
Unable to move hand or foot
Either up or down. My doom
Appeared fixed. I MUST fall.
There would be a moment of
Bewilderment, and then,
A lifeless rumble down the cliff
To the glacier below.
My mind seemed to fill with a
Stifling smoke. This terrible eclipse
Lasted only a moment, when life blazed
Forth again with preternatural clearness.
I seemed suddenly to become possessed
Of a new sense. My trembling muscles
Became firm again, every rift and flaw in
The rock was seen as through a microscope,
My limbs moved with a positiveness and precision
With which I seemed to have
Nothing at all to do.
Real World Address for Donations, Mash Notes and Hate Mail
Gerard Van der Leun
1692 MANGROVE AVE
APT 379
Chico, Ca 95926
Who Am I? by Carl Sandburg
My head knocks against the stars.
My feet are on the hilltops.
My finger-tips are in the valleys and shores of universal life.
Down in the sounding foam of primal things I reach my hands and play with pebbles of destiny.
I have been to hell and back many times.
I know all about heaven, for I have talked with God.
I dabble in the blood and guts of the terrible.
I know the passionate seizure of beauty
And the marvelous rebellion of man at all signs reading “Keep Off.”
My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive in the universe.
![That Was the Whopper Weekend That Was [Illustrated]](https://americandigest.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/welcometohell-150x150.jpg "That Was the Whopper Weekend That Was [Illustrated]")
![Allen Ginsberg: The Interview, <strong> ➡ 1972 ⬅ </strong> [Republished by unpopular demand]](https://americandigest.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/ginsbergnirvana-150x150.jpg "Allen Ginsberg: The Interview, <strong> ➡ 1972 ⬅ </strong> [Republished by unpopular demand]")
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How very strange.
This album was on the soundtrack at the pub at Cal State Disneyland when I was a (34 year old) senior. Those were not especially good times. It was fall semester ’86, and I should have graduated in Spring, but I got married, and had to get a job. I was too old to be there, taking on brutal class loads, trying to plow through fast, and realizing I had made one of the all time “Wut th’ fuk wer yoo thinkin’?” moves of my life by marrying my less-than-ideal first wife. I had classes at odd times, sometimes getting out early in the evening. I’d grab a sandwich at the cafeteria, then stop at the campus pub, and get a pitcher to end the day. I’d sit there, smoke cigarettes, and drink it alone. The third track on this album, “Love/Longing” would always seem to be playing. That sad, haunting melody just seemed like the theme song for that time in my life. It has been one of those odd recurring earworms for years. But I never knew who played it, or what it was called. Now as I type this, I recall asking the bartender if he knew, but he did not. It was just on a background tape they had. As soon as I clicked this on I recognized the style on piano. I scrolled down the timeline: “Love/Longing (on an album called, “Autumn”) Could that be?…
Holy cow, but it is. Thanks, Gerard, for clearing up one of life’s small mysteries for me.
JWM
If you like this stye of piano may I suggest more from George Winston:
SUMMER – with a terrific version of Living in the Country, a cover of the old Randy Newman tune – Living Without You, Hummingbird and my favorite – Loreta and Desiree’s Bouquet part 1 and 2. Lovely music.
The album titled FOREST is another good one.
And one of my very favorite albums is LINUS AND LUCY – The Music of Vince Guaraldi. Really great stuff. When I was a lad growing up in the NYC-metro area, the Big Apple offered a wide variety of music radio stations (Radio City). One of my regular stations to tune in was WNEW-NY. I forget the DJ that used to open his show with Guaraldi’s Cast Your Fate to the Wind. That tune still puts me in a dream-like state with so many memories rushing in.
Enjoy.
Beautiful music, but horrible associations. So fortunate to have survived the consequences of poor decisions. Have been resurrected since and am grateful every single day.
Beautiful scenery, too!
I had the chance to see him play in 1986, and again about 10 years ago. He is quiet and seems very humble on stage, and simply plays beautifully. Not sure if he still tours, but he’s definitely worth the price of the ticket; the last time I saw him the place wasn’t as full as it should be.
I barely missed being in the same high school that George attended. Integration and all of that BS.
He’s an incredible talent and most of the time you wouldn’t know if he was in the room. Thanks again GVL.
Windham Hills record label had many great musicians on vinyl, and then acrylic. They’ve issued sampler albums of various artists every year since at least 1978.
My favorite albums include William Ackerman – “In Search of the Turtles Navel”; George Winston – “December”; Mark Isham – “Vapor Drawings”; Alex deGrassi – “Slow Circle”; and Liz Story “Solid Colors”.
Great music. It was a good way to gather my thoughts! Thanks for sharing.