This was always one of my favorites from your song catalog. I still have the meta “Che Guevara T-Shirt” that was sold at some of your shows. This background story about “Tonada de Luna Lena” is fascinating, thanks for sharing!
That is from one of my favorite of your albums, although right now I have Careless on repeat. And now I am checking out Caetano Veloso and Simón Díaz. Hetty
Glad to see you give just credit to the great John Stewart, one of our little recognized singer/songwriters. Everyone should own his live album from the early 70's, The Phoenix Concerts. He was a star in Phoenix due to a local DJ who was a huge fan and exposed his listeners to his music. The crowd roars as if they were seeing the Beatles take the stage.
Che Guevara T-Shirt along with Last Fare of the Day are among my favorite songs. When they come up on my playlist I always play them multiple times before moving on. They both grab my very soul.
I vividly remember hearing “Che” for the first time at the Knitting Factory in March 2003 at the show in which you were accompanied by Tracy Grammer and Byron Isaacs. It remains one of my top ten songs of yours, always fun to play on guitar in all its DADGAD glory, and a showstopper whenever I perform it for others (typically in a mini-set including “Fishing” and “Deportees.”) Thanks for sharing the backstory of the “luna luna llena” reference. And yes, I also own the red Che t-shirt.
If I may: I went to a sleep-away camp called Camp Gulliver in Pine Hill, NY when I was 9 years old in 1967. I was probably too young for the camp and too young to understand the songs I heard there, including the two I felt so drawn to (Phil Ochs' "Changes" and Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne"), but those two songs have become sort of like companions to me, in a way, as I make my way through my life. Periodically I find myself listening to them with a new set of ears and perceiving something new through them that illuminates something that I'm puzzling about. I want to add that I have that same experience of perceiving things through many of your songs, Richard, as though they are a kind of portal to things just beyond my usual ken that clarify something for me. And yes, I know, because I've been told, that songs are just songs.
T-Shirt isa favorite for me too. And to see the original, the unreachable beauty of the moon juxtaposed with the intimacy of clothes on skin, a gift. Your song carried that juxtaposition through perfectly -- the immense solitude of the moon over a stolen ocean against the ravenous desire for the beloved body swathed in sheer cotton. Who among us has not been driven wild by what's under that shirt.
that whistle intro, ending on the 7th note of the scale, just hanging in the air like a mystery moon in a cloudy night sky. and the beautiful expressive straining of his voice at the top of its range. Such sweet straining. Thanks for sharing both songs.
I love that so many times music (from you and others) can transport the listener in time and space to some other world to experience new emotions and experiences.
But, not until I read your words (just now!) did I realize that it can transport a person in space and time back _in_ones_own life!
This was always one of my favorites from your song catalog. I still have the meta “Che Guevara T-Shirt” that was sold at some of your shows. This background story about “Tonada de Luna Lena” is fascinating, thanks for sharing!
Thank you for sharing this gorgeous version of Tonada de la Luna Llena. It's a weirdly haunting song.
I do smile when I listen to Veloso's live version at how the women in the audience scream when he sings "tu corazon con el mio."
That is from one of my favorite of your albums, although right now I have Careless on repeat. And now I am checking out Caetano Veloso and Simón Díaz. Hetty
Just wonderful, Richard. Just wonderful.
Couldn't find the 1994 but found this duo with another favorite artist. Oh my.
https://open.spotify.com/track/6ABnSm5zD72xlhwDTNARhO?si=2afd553535cd4dfa
Caetano and Gilbeto Gil...
Also apropos of photo one of my favorite words " moonglade " ...
Glad to see you give just credit to the great John Stewart, one of our little recognized singer/songwriters. Everyone should own his live album from the early 70's, The Phoenix Concerts. He was a star in Phoenix due to a local DJ who was a huge fan and exposed his listeners to his music. The crowd roars as if they were seeing the Beatles take the stage.
Che Guevara T-Shirt along with Last Fare of the Day are among my favorite songs. When they come up on my playlist I always play them multiple times before moving on. They both grab my very soul.
I vividly remember hearing “Che” for the first time at the Knitting Factory in March 2003 at the show in which you were accompanied by Tracy Grammer and Byron Isaacs. It remains one of my top ten songs of yours, always fun to play on guitar in all its DADGAD glory, and a showstopper whenever I perform it for others (typically in a mini-set including “Fishing” and “Deportees.”) Thanks for sharing the backstory of the “luna luna llena” reference. And yes, I also own the red Che t-shirt.
If I may: I went to a sleep-away camp called Camp Gulliver in Pine Hill, NY when I was 9 years old in 1967. I was probably too young for the camp and too young to understand the songs I heard there, including the two I felt so drawn to (Phil Ochs' "Changes" and Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne"), but those two songs have become sort of like companions to me, in a way, as I make my way through my life. Periodically I find myself listening to them with a new set of ears and perceiving something new through them that illuminates something that I'm puzzling about. I want to add that I have that same experience of perceiving things through many of your songs, Richard, as though they are a kind of portal to things just beyond my usual ken that clarify something for me. And yes, I know, because I've been told, that songs are just songs.
Thank you for sharing. Very haunting. And, you are right, no need for the translation to stop you in your tracks. I just love those moments.
T-Shirt isa favorite for me too. And to see the original, the unreachable beauty of the moon juxtaposed with the intimacy of clothes on skin, a gift. Your song carried that juxtaposition through perfectly -- the immense solitude of the moon over a stolen ocean against the ravenous desire for the beloved body swathed in sheer cotton. Who among us has not been driven wild by what's under that shirt.
I love the silky vocals laid over the syncopated rhythms.
I like it.
that whistle intro, ending on the 7th note of the scale, just hanging in the air like a mystery moon in a cloudy night sky. and the beautiful expressive straining of his voice at the top of its range. Such sweet straining. Thanks for sharing both songs.
I love that so many times music (from you and others) can transport the listener in time and space to some other world to experience new emotions and experiences.
But, not until I read your words (just now!) did I realize that it can transport a person in space and time back _in_ones_own life!
Music really is magic!
One my favourites!