Body Art?

As much as tattoo art has progressed to higher, more colorful and intricate levels, I don't see myself getting tattooed any time soon. Beyond a trio of ear piercings, I Never really contemplated piercing anything else anytime soon. Nevertheless, health issues conspire, and I'm as good as pierced. And contemplating jewelery decor to offset the horror of it all.

This Wheel's On Fire

A music post today, and why not? I really like it when my horizons open up to a much wider perspective. It's a glorious sunny day out, as good a day as any to enjoy a haunting, dark apocalyptic tune from the late 1960s....

Today I'll focus on a song fave of mine, This Wheel's On Fire, which it turns out, was not a Siouxsie & the Banshees original. But it is a great rendition from 1987. No, the song writing credits go to none other than our very own Bob Dylan, together with Rick Danko. It was performed early on by the Band (1968) and released on the Basement Tapes in 1975.  Notable early covers included Julie Driscoll with Brian Auger and The Trinity, and The Byrds who recorded both in studio and live versions 1969-Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde, and Live at the Fillmore - February 1969.

This Wheel's On Fire
The Byrds
1968

There have been a plethora of cover versions since the 60's, among them you'll find: Phil Le sh, Golden Earring, The Hollies, Ian and Sylvia, Les Fradkin, Leslie West, Serena Ryder, Rod Stewart, KT Tunstall w/ Billy Bragg, Neil Young and Guster.  But I must say I like seeing this song performed by young men in suits and ties!

Because it sounds so different, with their respective vocal styles, I include the KT Tunstall / Billy Bragg version from the 1992 Tribute to Bob Dylan (courtesy of YouTube).

KT Tunstall / Billy Bragg

A good album or play mix can get stuck in my cd player for months or even years, sounding great even with the familiarity of repetition. If you've got a high tolerance for repetition or just plain like covers, as I do, surf over to my playlist on my YouTube channel, where I've gathered together some great performances. Most are videos, with a couple of audio-only tracks, or audio-still image tracks as well. Enjoy!

A Recording of Rod Stewart's version of This Wheel's on Fire

Read the Wikipedia article here. 

Watch/listen to This Wheel's on Fire, performed by various artists featured on YouTube:

as a playlist, courtesy of HiKit's YouTube channel

Siouxsie & The Banshees Live on Razzmatazz 2/1/1987  or the Music Video

Golden Earring

Serena Ryder - Top of the Park, Ann Arbor, June 27, 2008

The Hollies in Kulttuuritalo, Helsinki, Finland 1969


The Band

Julie Driscoll & Brian Auger Trinity 1967-68


Leslie West 1969

Guster

Neil Young & The Sadies  have a version of This Wheel's on Fire too. I know I have this somewhere and I like it better than some versions, but you'll have to try to track it down if you're a Sadies / Neil Young fan.

Flower of the Month: April - Yellow Pond Iris

Auspicious Day

I knew it was an auspicious day when I caught a glimpse of a Great Blue Heron while passengerizing along Hwy 280, California's autobahn. Since this was roadside viewing at 80mph, I don't have a photo. But I do have this photo, taken just an hour later in Golden Gate Park:

Night Heron

Stow Lake, Golden Gate Park

Some time later the same afternoon, I was treated with not one (shown here), but  several bison were ranging and visible in their "habitat" at Golden Gate Park. I think they have a back pasture, where they can be out of sight of people. I like to check in on them, but rarely get to see several at the same time. A powerful beast. Nice.

A little while later that same day, I spotted a second Great Blue, posing in the grasses at the ruins of Sutro Baths.

 Besides the critters pictured here, I also saw sandpipers at the Half Moon Bay Taco Bell-by-the-Sea, and red-tailed hawks near Woodside. 

 Canada Geese Goslings & Parents

Stow Lake, Golden Gate Park

This is a special raft was tethered to the shore, apparently a duckling feeder!

Also at Stow Lake, this is just one of several ducklings -- they were Much smaller than the goslings and did a much better job of staying hidden.

The Man Who Planted Trees - Giono, Back, McCurdy

JEAN GIONO

L'homme qui plantait des Arbres 

You can read this book in English, The Man Who Planted Trees. It's the sort of book you can read easily and finish in one sitting, say, during a commute home on the train.   

There's a 1987 Canadian short animated film of the story, directed by Frédéric Back. From his web site: Back's  Bio, Filmography, Illustrations, Back's KidZone Bio, Museum & Research, As Activist, Caring Together Activity Kits

AFTER YOU READ THE SHORT BOOK, Watch Back's animated version on YouTube:
En Francais, L'Homme qui Plantait des Arbres, part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4
In Italiano, L'Uomo Che Piantava Gli Alberi, part 1, part 2, part 3
En Espanol, El Hombre que Plantaba Árboles, part 1, part 2, part 3
In English, The Man Who Planted Trees, part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4

Wikipedia: The Man Who Planted Trees

Michael McCurdy - Henry David Thoreau Cards

Book Illustrated by Michael McCurdy's woodcuts 

Complete List of Michael McCurdy’s Exhibitions