Number 9 - Satellite of Love oh oh oh oh....

Howdy again,

Just finished Lou Reed painting last week. "Satellite Of Love". Here tis'. The Rough and the final painting.

SATELLITE OF LOVE – Lou Reed

Satellite's gone
Up to the skies
Thing like that drive me
Out of my mind

I watched it for a little while
I like to watch things on TV

Satellite of love
Satellite of love
Satellite of love
Satellite of

Satellite's gone
Way up to Mars
Soon it will be filled
With parking cars

I watch it for a little while
I love to watch things on TV

Satellite of love
Satellite of love
Satellite of love
Satellite of

I've been told that you've been bold
With Harry, Mark and John
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday to Thursday
With Harry, Mark and John

Satellite's gone
Up to the skies
Thing like that drive me
Out of my mind

I watched it for a little while
I love to watch things on TV

Satellite of love
Satellite of love
Satellite of love
Satellite of love

 Started Bobbie Gentry painting this week. "Ode To Billie Joe". First Number 1 I've done I think (July 1967 - 47 years ago this month!). The song was originally intended to be the B-side of "Mississippi Delta", but as was still happening at the time on FM radio the disc jockeys actually chose what they thought was the strongest track and the stripped back "Ode to Billie Joe" took the preference. There was alotta debate at the time of the meaning of the song (see lyrics below). What did Billie Joe and the narrator throw of the Tallahatchie Bridge?

ODE TO BILLIE JOE - Bobbie Gentry

It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta day
I was out choppin' cotton and my brother was balin' hay
And at dinner time we stopped and walked back to the house to eat
And Mama hollered out the back door "y'all remember to wipe your feet"
And then she said "I got some news this mornin' from Choctaw Ridge"
"Today Billie Joe MacAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge"

And Papa said to Mama as he passed around the blackeyed peas
"Well, Billie Joe never had a lick of sense, pass the biscuits, please"
"There's five more acres in the lower forty I've got to plow"
And Mama said it was shame about Billie Joe, anyhow
Seems like nothin' ever comes to no good up on Choctaw Ridge
And now Billie Joe MacAllister's jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge

And Brother said he recollected when he and Tom and Billie Joe
Put a frog down my back at the Carroll County picture show
And wasn't I talkin' to him after church last Sunday night?
"I'll have another piece of apple pie, you know it don't seem right"
"I saw him at the sawmill yesterday on Choctaw Ridge"
"And now you tell me Billie Joe's jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge"

And Mama said to me "Child, what's happened to your appetite?"
"I've been cookin' all morning and you haven't touched a single bite"
"That nice young preacher, Brother Taylor, dropped by today"
"Said he'd be pleased to have dinner on Sunday, oh, by the way"
"He said he saw a girl that looked a lot like you up on Choctaw Ridge"
"And she and Billie Joe was throwing somethin' off the Tallahatchie Bridge"

A year has come 'n' gone since we heard the news 'bout Billie Joe
And Brother married Becky Thompson, they bought a store in Tupelo
There was a virus going 'round, Papa caught it and he died last Spring
And now Mama doesn't seem to wanna do much of anything
And me, I spend a lot of time pickin' flowers up on Choctaw Ridge

And drop them into the muddy water off the Tallahatchie Bridge

Bobby Gentry on the Smothers Brothers show - Ode To Billie Joe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZt5Q-u4crc

I'll post both the rough and the finished piece hopefully next week.

Next I'm workin' on a portrait of some brothers from different mothers, the masters of the ancient form of weaving, Ronnie and Keef.

And then, number 11. Joan Baez or Memphis Minnie, both are getting honored (if you can call it that...). Been narrowing down the final 5. The Boss, Jimi, the Man in Black, Petty, the Big O and Jimmy Reed are all in the running. Pretty hard to pick...

portraits

Hey,

Here's some portraits I've been workin' on. Still might need some touch ups. these are painted straight to ply, without any prelim sketches. In order of appearance, Elvis Presley, Kurt Cobain, Joni Mitchell and Ron Ashton. I realised while painting these how influential these 4 are, how many kids have picked up guitars because of these 4? I think the first 3 or 4 songs I learn t on guitar were probably Stooges songs.

Elvis-

 

Kurt-

Joni-

 Ron-

 Started Lou Reed "Satellite Of Love" painting this week, should be done early next week. So been listenin' to a lot of this era Lou mainly Transformer and Berlin. I have really been gettin' inta Berlin, dunno how I've overlooked this record for so long...So damn good.

Then onto painting number 10 of 16. What's it's gunna be?

 Here's some Stooges, Live at the Cincinnati Pop Festival 1970...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuT5kMoYc1w

And some Joni. This is a hell of an Awesome set.

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

LOBBY

Hey,

Just finished Lobby Loyde painting. Damn those Coloured Balls records are awesome...

Here's the Coloured Balls on GTK.

Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin On-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D0oUakKc78

Human Being-

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

Alright, so a list huh? Since I've just finished that tribute to Australian Guitar greats, here's a Top 20 Top Australian  Records (in no particular order, sorta..).

Born Sandy Devotional - The Triffids
(I'm) Stranded - The Saints
Rose Tattoo - Rose Tattoo
Ball Power - The Coloured Balls
Vigil - Easybeats
Radios Appear - Radio Birdman
Junk Yard - The Birthday Party
Sunnyboys - Sunnyboys
Honey Steel's Gold - Ed Kupper
The Missing Links - The Missing Links
At Home With You - X
Horse Stories - Dirty Three
Free Dirt - Died Pretty
Tender Prey - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Eternally Yours - The Saints
Magic Box - The Loved Ones
Blood Red River - The Scientists
Mars Needs Guitars - Hoodoo Gurus
Let There Be Rock - ACDC
Smashed On a Knee - Powder Monkeys

Other Faves to just miss out...Post & Gossip - Paul Kelly, Take It Out on You & Negative Waves - Bored!, Prehistoric Sounds - The Saints, Volume 3 - The Easybeats, Heavy Metal Kid - The Coloured Balls, Liberty Belle and the Black Diamond Express - The Go-Betweens,  Starfish - The Church and I think I'll stop there, cause the list can go on and on...

Anyways...Next week I'll post up 4 portraits that I've done in a kinda different style. Elvis, Kurt Cobain, Joni Mitchell and Ron Ashton.

Then back to the main body of work. Next up, Lou Reed...

Rowland, Dave and Pete

Hey,

Just finished 3 of my 4 Australian guitar greats. Here they are. Been listenin' to a bunch of live Triffids and a whole bunch of Rosie Tatts.  2 Very different bands. Have been thinkin' of top Australian records of all time, Triffids "Born Sandy Devotional" would have to be close to Number 1 I think, with Rosie Tatts 1st pretty damn close behind....Might make a list next post next week. I like lists...

Rowland S Howard

Dave MaComb

Pete Wells

I'll post Lobby next week when he's finished, about half way I'd reckon, should be done this arvo.

Here's somethin' to watch. Triffids live at the Australian Made festival. Wide Open Road.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN44HEXswWE

And Rose Tattoo, live at Boggo Road Gaol. 93'. Check out their version of Stones classic "Street Fighting Man" Awesome! The Pete Wells intro...Yew!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnpMTv1-U8w

Then after finished Lobby, I'll probably work on a couple of portraits, Joni Mitchell and Ron Aston I reckon. And then back to the main body of work...Which song next?? Found a best of Lou Reed cd on the footpath the other day, was this a sign? Satellite of Love??

Coat of Many Colors

Hey,

Finished my Dolly Parton "Coat Of Many Colors" painting last week. Again, like all of the paintings I've completed this year, I feel they're at the 97% mark, and I plan to go back and do touch ups later on when I have some separation from them.

here tis.

Workin' on Rowland S Howard  painting at the moment, should be done by next week along with my Dave McComb painting. Been listenin' to a lotta Rowland over the last couple of days. His last record "Pop Crimes" is a classic.

Here he is playin' the title track  at a festival in Japan I think.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJLNw6tWQRQ

puttin' the hours in.

Hey,

Not much to post this week. Been workin' pretty solidly on the Dolly Parton piece. About 25 odd hours so far and a fair few to go. Dunno if I posted the lyrics? Don't think so..Here they are. Great lyrics, great tune. Been listenin' to Dolly a hell of a lot in the last week or so. Damn, she's such a fine songwriter.

COAT OF MANY COLORS - Dolly Parton

Back through the years
I go wonderin' once again
Back to the seasons of my youth
I recall a box of rags that someone gave us
And how my momma put the rags to use
There were rags of many colors
Every piece was small
And I didn't have a coat
And it was way down in the fog
Momma sewed the rags together
Sewin' every piece with love
She made my coat of many colors
That I was so proud of
As she sewed, she told a story
From the bible, she had read
About a coat of many colors
Joseph wore and then she said
Perhaps this coat will bring you
Good luck and happiness
And I just couldn't wait to wear it
And momma blessed it with a kiss

My coat of many colors
That my momma made for me
Made only from rags
But I wore it so proudly
Although we had no money
I was rich as I could be
In my coat of many colors
My momma made for me

So with patches on my britches
Holes in both my shoes
In my coat of many colors
I hurried off to school
Just to find the others laughing
And making fun of me
In my coat of many colors
My momma made for me

And oh I couldn't understand it
For I felt I was rich
And I told them of the love
My momma sewed in every stitch
And I told 'em all the story
Momma told me while she sewed
And how my coat of many colors
Was worth more than all their clothes

But they didn't understand it
And I tried to make them see
That one is only poor
Only if they choose to be
Now I know we had no money
But I was rich as I could be
In my coat of many colors
My momma made for me
Made just for me

 Been thinkin' of who I'm gunna work on next. Thinkin' of Memphis Minnie. She sure was  a great guitar player and songwriter. "When the Levee Breaks" maybe?

And then Jimmy Reed I think. "Bright Lights, Big City". What an amazing groove that guy laid down. Laid back and yet so danceable.

Should be able to post finished "Coat of Many C0lors" painting next week, will also be staring Rowland S. Howard painting tomorra, so that might be done by next week too.

Here's Rowland playin' his classic "Shivers" on Studio 22 some years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7ChSy6FhxQ

sketches...

Hey,

Been workin' on my prelim sketches for my tribute to Australian guitar greats. Rowland S. Howard, Dave McComb, Lobby Loyde and Pete Wells. All sadly missed.

Rowland S. Howard

Dave McComb

 

Lobby Loyde

Pete Wells

Also started Dolly Parton painting, here's the prelim sketch. Coat of Many Colors. Been listenin' to Dolly a bunch this week. Such a great songwriter and highly underrated guitar player...

 And also, as I hadn't posted the Bo Diddley prelim sketch, here tis...

here's a clip to watch..Dolly in 79' performing "Coat of Many Colors" which came out and 71'. there are a few earlier clips, but this one's she's playin' guitar. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1zJzr-kWsI&feature=kp