From the sublime to the ridiculous today.
It's Thursday Racket time and today is another two-track bonus special.
I think you deserve it after all the crap of the past few days.
However, in keeping with the week's theme of bleakness our song will be Steve's "Lay By Me."
Some of you may remember that one of the rules of Blues Club is that at least one song per evening must be totally made up on the spot, lyrics and all.
The first version of Lay By Me you'll hear is the one Steve made up on the spot the week he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
It's a song for his wonderful wife, Sonia, basically saying "what do we do now?"
One day you go in for a checkup and the next thing you know you're told you have a terminal and terrifying ravaging disease that will in all likelihood be inherited by your three sons.
You'll know Steve's story from past posts so I won't go into any more detail here.
Suffice to say that this version brought out some fine playing by all concerned.
This was the night when Blues Club went from being just a bit of fun to becoming a serious money-raising event for research into a disease which as yet not only has no cure but doesn't even have any palliative treatment.
Here's the first version, being written as we played it:
Fortunately, Steve has never been one to turn down a laugh when one's available and the second version comes from a year or so later, when - in his infinite wisdom (and his sparkly new electric wheelchair that he said gave "taking the dog for a run" a hilarious if sadistic new meaning) - he decided we should play the song reggae style.
He's still with us, hanging on and playing when he's up to it.
Enjoy the song. It means a lot to all of us.
23 comments:
It's amazing what raw emotion can produce - it seems as though every creative juice was poured into this track. I think if it was released with all proceeds going to the Steve motor neurone disease research fund, you'd made millions with this one, Dive.
I think it's the best music I've heard for years. The sax almost made me weep but your guitar solo had me closing my eyes and hanging on every note.
I'm going back now to listen to the reggae version.
I prefer the original version, the reggae didn't have the same feel.
I'm with Mme. Benaut, whose taste in music is only surpassed by her taste in men she's never met. ;)
Hope you're feeling a little chirpier today, Dive. If not, that's okay too. We like your particular rendition of a "sad and cranky old bastard". It makes us laugh, even though we all know it's really just the brave face you put on the hurt you are nursing - which I think we all understand.
Rock on, buddy.
Ok... you know which one I prefer, and I will only say ....memories, and you will know what I am doing!
Yes Mme.Benaut you can imagine how I feel when I hear Dive play...
Steve is such a lovely person,and always manages to raise a smile whatever he is going through...those nights will be with me always...
Mme: You are as always too kind. We released several CDs of the sessions and recorded others specially, raising quite a sum of money.
I have more versions of this song but the original is my favourite (I believe it is on your own CDs) and the reggae version the silliest and always raises a smile, especially when at the start Michael pipes up incredulously "Is this reggae?" before joining us.
Hee hee, Lucio: Mme's taste is indeed legendary and of course includes the man she DID meet and marry, our inestimable friend MB.
Mum: We were lucky to have all those years of silly sanity bands with Steve and Michael. I only wish more of them had been recorded.
Sigh …
The first version was poignant and almost difficult to listen to because of the tragedy and fear of the future, but that fact that your friend Steve had someone to turn to helped make it easier. That second version, though, was just a lot of fun even with the true story behind it.
The ups and downs of life.
What an amazing way to wake up this morning (still way too early). Since I'm not sure the neighbors want to hear this at 5:30 I have on my headphones, which makes it so easy to clearly hear all the amazing solos and I really feel like I'm there. Knowing now about your friend Steve really adds a powerful dimension to the music - glad he's doing ok. I do prefer the first version, but the reggae version brings a smile. I'm so happy to be able to listen to the Thursday Rackets again!!
Robyn: MOST of my stuff is difficult to listen to but for different reasons.
The ups and downs of life indeed.
Hi, Katie!
I'm glad you're able to tune in again. The first version is buried somewhere on those CDs you've got.
Steve - amazingly - is still with us, hanging on through either will power or spite.
I am so sorry for Steve and his family(and loved ones of course). It must be such a wretched and helpless feeling to watch him decline so rapidly. We need a cure for this horrible disease! I know you guys have helped them get that much closer.
I am so amazed at that fact that he made this song up on the spot and that all of your music was so seemless like you'd been practicing each note for years. I know that it was something you did when you played there but, GOOD GRIEF! Such talent, I tell you.
Thank you, Shan.
Thanks to his being such a stubborn and curmudgeonly old bastard, he has confounded the doctors and lived on way past their predictions and still manages to play from time to time.
Most of the songs I've posted were recorded after he knew his diagnosis.
The Blues Club guys are indeed a talented bunch, though every single one is as grouchy and difficult as I am; Steve not the least.
Can't listen to it, sorry. Too sad. My grandmother died of it.
I bet it's beautiful though and best, best wishes to Steve. It's a wonderful thing to do, to raise these funds.
I'm so sorry, Lynn; it's an awful disease.
Let's hope for a cure before too much longer.
I enjoyed the reggae version! What I take away from this is the display of fortitude by someone who's been thrown a curve ball by life and is willing to stay in the game. There is music in every one of us, some more skillful in sharing it so beautifully with others. Here's to Steve!
Thanks, Dive. Yes it's awful. I was only 14 yet I think of her all the time. Still, let's not ponder that. Here's to Steve and all he does! Fantastic. Long may his music continue.
Joy, that is so true.
What a wonderful thought. Thank you.
Here's to Steve indeed, Lynn. He gives us all hope.
great music, sugar...both versions!
here's to Steve and to you for being one of the good guys. xoxoxo
That was fucking beautiful, Dive.
My uncle was just diagnosed with a motor neuron disease, ALS. I'm trying to find him a neurologist that doesn't suck.
Lay By Me didn't suck. Not by a long shot. In other words, what Maria said.
I definitely have to read the archives and I don't need broken limbs to do so, but thanks for the thought. :-)
Hello to Steve and family. Love the reggae version.
Cheers, Savannah. I must admit this is one of my favourites.
xoxox
Maria: That's probably the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me.
T: My heart goes out to your uncle. Let's hope he's as cheerful and resilient as Steve.
Cali: I'd advise donning rubber gloves and an apron before delving into my archives. Good luck!
I've taken your suggestion, Dive, and the caption competition is in full flight over at mine! All welcome.
Thanks Dive!
The original was truly heartfelt, poignant and I felt like I was there with you. My love to Steve and his family.
The reggae version was fun in a WTF kindof way. Love you all. I've been at an Art Teacher's conference so I'm a day late catching up with the racket. Hope you read old posts. (Dive, you are becoming amazingly popular)!
Thank you, Neetzy. The whole point of Blues Club was the WTF-ness of it all. Nobody - least of all the musicians - knew what we would be playing next … and I mean the next note, not just the next song.
It was such fun.
As for the increasing size of my comments boxes … I put that down to Katie's visit and the newbies attracted from her site.
Though the last time I had posts this big was a couple of years ago when I first did a "Date Dive" series; it seems the women of blogville love to give advice on wooing (none of it has ever worked, though).
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