Joan and Bob

Hey,

Been working on Joan Baez sketch and painting, decided on "Diamonds and Rust", which is obviously a song about Joans relationship with Dylan, although she once denied it...It is probably the first real personal song I've dealt with in the series. Great song, great chords. The song was written in 74' just after Dylan had gone back out on the road again for the first time since 66'. With the Band again. Also on the album is another song about this "Winds of the Old Days". Both are very public out cries of lost love, with the later a commentary on Dylan turning his back on the whole "spokesman of a generation" tag that he so rightfully felt uncomfortable about.  Very brave indeed. She also does a great cover of Dylan's "Simple Twist of Fate" on the record.

"Winds of the Old Days"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMzWqIZXUAg

Joan sketch.

Next up I think I'll do another portrait in the same vain as the Ronnie/Keith and Ray/Dave paintings. This time John and George circa 64'. 50 years ago! damn! Great year for that band. The year they really conquered the world.

"Twist and Shout" Festival Hall Melbourne 1964

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTS65BESzn8

And then onto the very last of the 16 painting series. Jimi Hendrix. Then back to the start, touching up more than a few things...Probably another couple of portrait paintings along the way. Who?

Blue-collar

Hey there,

Finished a few paintings during the week.

When I think of blue-collar artists these three are the first to come to mind I reckon. Both in the material and the audience they play for.

Although this song (and most of the album "Born To Run") was written on piano, it's about cars and guitars. It also has the classic line "Well, I've got this guitar and I've learned how to make it talk".

Bruce Springsteen "Thunder Road"

 

Willie.

and John Fogarty

Next I start work on Joan Baez. Been debating with myself all week on which song. I also kinda need a drinking song in the series as it's been a major topic in songwriting forever, also missing a prison song too. But at the moment I'm leaning towards her 1975 song "Diamonds and Rust" which seems to be about Bob. That fits...Guess we'll find out next week.

 Joan in 75' performing that song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGMHSbcd_qI

And the Lyrics...

DIAMONDS AND RUST by Joan Baez
Well I'll be damned
Here comes your ghost again
But that's not unusual
It's just that the moon is full
And you happened to call
And here I sit
Hand on the telephone
Hearing a voice I'd known
A couple of light years ago
Heading straight for a fall
As I remember your eyes
Were bluer than robin's eggs
My poetry was lousy you said
Where are you calling from?
A booth in the midwest
Ten years ago
I bought you some cufflinks
You brought me something
We both know what memories can bring
They bring diamonds and rust
Well you burst on the scene
Already a legend
The unwashed phenomenon
The original vagabond
You strayed into my arms
And there you stayed
Temporarily lost at sea
The Madonna was yours for free
Yes the girl on the half-shell
Would keep you unharmed
Now I see you standing
With brown leaves falling around
And snow in your hair
Now you're smiling out the window
Of that crummy hotel
Over Washington Square
Our breath comes out white clouds
Mingles and hangs in the air
Speaking strictly for me
We both could have died then and there
Now you're telling me
You're not nostalgic
Then give me another word for it
You who are so good with words
And at keeping things vague
Because I need some of that vagueness now
It's all come back too clearly
Yes I loved you dearly
And if you're offering me diamonds and rust
I've already paid

Except, Roll Down Your Windows...

Howdy,

Been workin' on the Boss's "Thunder Road", such a great song, and great album. Have been quite content listenin' to it over and over again through the last week. Such a big, thick sounding record. Helluva production.

Here's me rough....

And the song, live at the Hammersmith Odeon in London 1975 just after the LP's release.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx71aA62Hx4

And watch the makin' of "Born To Run" Awesome doco, box set that came out a few years ago is really worth the $$$

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hwkt6L_vY-I


Here's a painting that I did last year. Thinkin' it'll feature in the exhibition. An impression from my memory of Neil Young and the Crazy Horse in Geelong 2013. Incredible night, never thought I'd see Crazy Horse play my home town (Though I did strangely dream it a few years back). It rained really solidly all day, but then when the band launched inta "Like a Hurricane" it really came down.

I'll have the finished Thunder Road" painting to post next week, and hopefully a portrait of Willie Nelson too.

Lizzie and the Two Sisters

Hey,

Finished Mempis Minnie "Bumble Bee" painting. Such a great guitar player, singer and songwriter. Been really good listenin' to hours of her stuff while doing this piece. Kinda pretty happy with myself with it. Though I just realized I didn't paint the guitar strings in between the nut and the tuning heads, oops. Easy fixed...

Here tis'.

Also finished brothers Davies painting. Titled after the Ray Davies song from the Kinks' 67' record "Something Else", "Two Sisters" This is Ray and Dave circa 67'/68'.

So, gunna start the Boss "Thunder Road" sketch tonight. "Well, I got this Guitar and I learned how to make it talk".

Gettin' towards the end of the series I just realized that the first painting I did was Hank Williams and the last one will be Jimi Hendrix...Just like the Neil Young song from Harvest Moon "From Hank to Hendrix". Stoked on that coinsidence...

Here's somethin' ta watch.

The Kinks - "Days" BBC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQetbyueIWg 

Live set from the kinks early 70's.AWESOME!

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smIF5374bTw

Neil. "From Hank to Hendrix" MTV Unplugged

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIAiPQ2Ge50

twelve and thirteen

Hey,

Sorry, no post last week had the  Johnny Cash "Don't Take Your guns to Town" painting finished, but didn't have time to blog it.

Here it is. Need to re work his eyes a little.

Also have nearly finished the Memphis Minnie "Bumble Bee" painting.  Should have it finished tomorra I reckon. I'll post the final next week. For the meantime here's the rough.

I'm gunna start workin' on the Davies brothers piece tonight. Reckon I'll have somethin' to show by next week too. The Kinks are at times my favourite band, but then I have a lotta favourite bands...

Speaking of which, saw Bob last week. Awesome show. Awesome band. Played a bunch of songs from "TEMPEST", great record and live they were so damn good.

Bob and Charlie Sexton Palais Theatre St. Kilda

Hafta start the Bruce Springsteen "Thunder Road" one too next week. Here's the lyrics. Such a great song, but I don't have to tell ya that do I?

Bruce Springsteen THUNDER ROAD

The screen door slams, Mary's dress waves
Like a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays
Roy Orbison singing for the lonely
Hey, that's me and I want you only
Don't turn me home again, I just can't face myself alone again
Don't run back inside, darling, you know just what I'm here for
So you're scared and you're thinking that maybe we ain't that young anymore
Show a little faith, there's magic in the night
You ain't a beauty but, hey, you're alright
Oh, and that's alright with me

You can hide 'neath your covers and study your pain
Make crosses from your lovers, throw roses in the rain
Waste your summer praying in vain
For a savior to rise from these streets
Well now, I ain't no hero, that's understood
All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood
With a chance to make it good somehow
Hey, what else can we do now?
Except roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair
Well, the night's busting open, these two lanes will take us anywhere
We got one last chance to make it real
To trade in these wings on some wheels
Climb in back, heaven's waiting on down the tracks

Oh oh, come take my hand
We're riding out tonight to case the promised land
Oh oh oh oh, Thunder Road
Oh, Thunder Road, oh, Thunder Road
Lying out there like a killer in the sun
Hey, I know it's late, we can make it if we run
Oh oh oh oh, Thunder Road
Sit tight, take hold, Thunder Road

Well, I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk
And my car's out back if you're ready to take that long walk
From your front porch to my front seat
The door's open but the ride ain't free
And I know you're lonely for words that I ain't spoken
But tonight we'll be free, all the promises'll be broken

There were ghosts in the eyes of all the boys you sent away
They haunt this dusty beach road in the skeleton frames of burned-out Chevrolets
They scream your name at night in the street
Your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet
And in the lonely cool before dawn
You hear their engines rolling on
But when you get to the porch, they're gone on the wind
So Mary, climb in
It's a town full of losers, I'm pulling out of here to win

Man In Black

Howdy,

Started "Don't Take Your Guns To Town" painting last week, goin' pretty good...

Here's the rough. Should have the painting done by next week.

Next up is Memphis Minnie "Bumble Bee"

Link to song...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKBzv5lWLQs 

Then The Boss, Joan Baez and Jimi Hendrix...done! Sweet 16!!

Also gunna start workin' on a Ray and Dave Davies painting circa 68' I reckon. I'm a big fan of everything Kinks, but the records that came out between "Village Green Preservation Society" and "Muswell Hillbillies" I really dig hey. It'll go with the Ronnie and Keith painting, think I'll also do one of John and George, and also Angus, Malcom and George Young in the same size/style. Other portrait paintings will consist of, John Fogerty, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Willie Nelson.

School Boys in Disgrace.....

Bright Lights, Big City

Hey,

Kinda finished the Jimmy Reed "Bright Lights, Big City" painting, not 100% happy with it, a few touch ups still needed I reckon, but here tis'. kinda has a bit of a pulp novel feel about it I think.

Haven't started the rough for "Don't Take Your Guns to Town" yet. Have been painting a band poster for Claire Birchall and the Phantom Hitch Hikers, so been delayed a bit there...Gotta get onta it tonight. Reckon I'll get it done pretty quick though.

"Don't Take Your Guns Your Guns To Town" was one of the first singles Johnny Cash did for Columbia records after leaving Sun (featured on "The Fabulous Johnny Cash" record). It made it to number 1 in the Country charts and stayed there for 6 weeks, backed by "I Still Miss Someone".

That 7" was actually the first Johnny Cash record I bought way back when...

The Lyrics...

"Don't Take Your Guns To Town"

A young cowboy named Billy Joe grew restless on the farm
A boy filled with wonderlust who really meant no harm
He changed his clothes and shined his boots
And combed his dark hair down
And his mother cried as he walked out

[Chorus]
Don't take your guns to town son
Leave your guns at home Bill
Don't take your guns to town

He laughed and kissed his mom
And said your Billy Joe's a man
I can shoot as quick and straight as anybody can
But I wouldn't shoot without a cause
I'd gun nobody down
But she cried again as he rode away

[Chorus]
Don't take your guns to town son
Leave your guns at home Bill
Don't take your guns to town

He sang a song as on he rode
His guns hung at his hips
He rode into a cattle town
A smile upon his lips
He stopped and walked into a bar
And laid his money down
But his mother's words echoed again

[Chorus]
Don't take your guns to town son
Leave your guns at home Bill
Don't take your guns to town

He drank his first strong liquor then to calm his shaking hand
And tried to tell himself he had become a man
A dusty cowpoke at his side began to laugh him down
And he heard again his mothers words

[Chorus]
Don't take your guns to town son
Leave your guns at home Bill
Don't take your guns to town

Filled with rage then
Billy Joe reached for his gun to draw
But the stranger drew his gun and fired
Before he even saw
As Billy Joe fell to the floor
The crowd all gathered 'round
And wondered at his final words

[Chorus]
Don't take your guns to town son
Leave your guns at home Bill
Don't take your guns to town 

I'll post the rough next week...Until then.