Monday, November 15, 2010

“Lost Highway”

Happy Monday, folks—& once again a Musical Monday on Robert Frost’s Banjo.  If you saw yesterday’s coming attractions, you know that I really wasn’t sure what I was going to record for today’s song; earlier I’d talked about posting just instrumentals for awhile, but I knew I felt like singing a song.

On the other hand, it’s something different: a song associated with Hank Williams—tho actually written by the great, if not as well-known Leon Payne—played slide style on my Regal resonator guitar.  Sort of country meets blues, which seems eminently appropriate to this tune.  For those who are curious about such things, the Regal is tuned to open G, & I’m playing with a brass slide (as usual).   I'll also probably play around with doing this one on the banjo.

I’m trying to shake things up a bit on the music front.  Hope you enjoy this one!

Finally: there's a great review of my book of poetry, The Spring Ghazals, up at the Tangerine Tree Press blog.  Please check it out—this is the link.



pic shows Highway 395 south in Oregon

8 comments:

  1. Wow, John. That sky...that highway! Looks like the opening shot in a road movie.

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  2. Oh that slide guitar is to die for! I'm wondering if it would have more resonance if the words were spoken rather than sung but hey, its ptretty damned good.
    Have been trying to devise a road trip over that part of the country myself (I need to get from Portland to Jackson Wyoming) but I was thinking Rockies! Your picture seems distinctly unmountainy!

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  3. Great song, great photo. I am trying to work out why that photograph is so obviously America rather than over here in the UK. Something about the shape of the land

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  4. Hi Martin, Peter & Alan

    Martin: Thanks--I often take shots like this when traveling on those lonesome western straightaways.

    Peter: Thanks. Singing is my weak spot, but glad you liked the song. The mountains in Oregon are pretty low in comparison with the Rockies. However, I'd guess that the elevation where that shot was taken is at least 4,000 feet.

    Alan: Thanks--the eastern U.S. doesn't look like this either!

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  5. That's a good song. Your voice goes well with the guitar and the general 'feel' of that song - kind of mellowed, melancholy and thoughtful.

    And congrats on the great review for your book! I'm happy to say the book arrived here, and now only needs a break in my workload for me to be able to sit for a while and read it...

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  6. Hi HKatz: Thanks--glad you liked the song--& very glad you have The Spring Ghazals--I'll be curious to know what you think when your schedule permits. Yes--the review is great; thanks for taking the time to check it out.

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