As everyone knows, billions of words are written each day about coronavirus, the f*cking demon that has done an excellent job of turning our world to shit. Among those words are repeated recommendations to be in touch with friends and relatives more often than usual. Most of those contacts, by necessity of course, must be via phone and internet rather than in person. We can thank the demon for that.
Good advice, right? Damn straight. After all, we have an innate need for human contact. And if ever there was a time for maintaining, strengthening and even expanding ties, this is it. Expanding? Sure. Now’s your golden opportunity, for instance, to pick up the phone and call that first cousin that you haven’t spoken to in eons because you’ve never particularly gotten along with him and because he absolutely pissed you off big-time by not inviting you to his son’s wedding 25 years ago.
“Guess who this is?” you should say before he has a chance to get a word out of his mouth. “It’s your favorite cuz, that’s who. The pandemic situation has convinced me that I should reach out to you, you loser. You better believe that I haven’t forgotten how you snubbed me all those years ago. Adios, baby. Nice talking to you!”
Okay, that attempt at communication possibly could have been handled more agreeably. But don’t sweat it! There are far more important things to worry about these days.
To continue: So far during the pandemic I’ve done nicely in the keeping-in-touch part of life, though expanding my ties has yet to become a part of the picture. I speak regularly with a good number of my friends and relatives, more regularly than I did in the pre-coronavirus era, and have enjoyed all of those conversations. But what I enjoyed even more were the occasions when old friends of the sonic variety unexpectedly visited me. For it was in late April, over a two-day period, that I heard on the radio three songs that I truly love but had forgotten all about.
Each recording brought a couple of tears to my eyes and made my grizzled heart go all soft and mushy. I sang along with them. I vowed never to let them disappear again, a pledge I plan to keep. No doubt, I’m a happier, more contented individual now that, after long absences, Sweet Lady Genevieve (by The Kinks), Have You Seen Her Face (by The Byrds), and Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain (by Willie Nelson) have reentered my life. And that, by the way, is the order in which I heard them last month.
The songs came out on albums in 1973, 1967 and 1975, respectively. The album titles, again respectively, are Preservation Act I, Younger Than Yesterday, and Red Headed Stranger. I own copies of those albums, for crying out loud. Don’t ask why I hadn’t given any of the platters a spin in a zillion years. Mea culpa.
Each song possesses a personality distinct from the other two, but they have something in common with 90% of all songs ever written. That is, in one way or another they address the prime human emotion. Love. Sweet Lady Genevieve, composed and sung by The Kinks leader, Ray Davies, is a plea for forgiveness and a promise to become faithful and true. Have You Seen Her Face presents a not overly clear-thinking guy who suspects he’d be wise to pursue a certain beguiling lady whom, perhaps, he is destined to bond with. As for Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain, here we have the tale of someone who fully realizes that the love affair of his life has reached its end, and that he never will get over the breakup.
Yeah, to me each of the recordings is something special. Sweet Lady Genevieve’s melody, with its leaps and twists, is irresistible. And the lyrics? Well, the eloquence of the opening line — Once under a scarlet sky, I told you never-ending lies — makes it clear that you’re about to hear a cleverly-spun story. There are many, including me, who consider Ray Davies to be a songwriting giant.
Chris Hillman, who played electric bass in The Byrds, wrote both the music and lyrics for Have You Seen Her Face. Yes, the lyrics are messy, but little matter, considering how freely, almost giddily, the melody unfolds, and how the trippy guitar solos will lift you right out of your body.
And what about Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain? For one thing, Willie Nelson, an ace songwriter, didn’t compose the work. It was written in 1945 by the late Fred Rose, a musician, songwriter and music industry executive. The lyrics are direct and profound, the music likewise. Willie Nelson recognized all of this. His vocals, accompanied by spare instrumentation, will break your heart.
Little more do I need to add, except to mention that The Kinks and The Byrds, iconic rock bands, no longer are functioning units. Haven’t been for years. Many of their once-members, though, remain active musicians. As does Willie Nelson, a mere lad of 87.
And so, without further ado, here are the songs that resonated with me so well recently. Oh, just one more thing: I’d be happy to hear your comments about this article.
Yeah, Another Blogger 
first cab off the rank, Neil; love ‘grizzled heart’. I’m a great fan of the Byrds and the Kinks: so many great songs; I love Dave Davies’ ‘Death of a Clown’ perhaps the most. I’m going to play a few of these tracks now. many thanks 🙂
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Yeah, The Kinks were great. So many terrific songs. What a band!
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Now, I know there is no mystery about why we like each other. The Kinks are one reason. They have such off tonal melodic melodies . I said, when someone asked, they were my favorite band. They didn’t know who The Kinks were.
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They didn’t know who The Kinks were? Oy veh!
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Nice that some old friends resurfaced. 🙂
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I’ve listened to a few Kinks albums since writing this story. A great band.
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Timeless. As all the best songs are. I’ve been listening to things I hadn’t heard in years, even exploring the Beatles, for gawds sake! Been great
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Our world is jam-packed with music. The amount of musical choice available to us is totally unbelievable.
Hi. Thanks for stopping by.
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Was thinking of you yesterday, Neil (you popped into my head as people do…) Good to hear. Yep, some of those oldies are so memorable. Willie Nelson and Blue eyes Crying in the rain is one of my husband’s favourites. There were so many fabulous and talented writers, singers and musicians around in the 40’s and 50’s…We too have been playing some of our old tapes. Here in our part of Spain, we have been in lock-down since the first week of March…Yesterday was the first time out for me past the garden gate….I don’t drive and only one person per car has been allowed. They are very strict here! Take good care. Cheers. x
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Joy, this pandemic is horrible. Obviously. I don’t see anything good happening till an effective vaccine becomes available. Stay well.
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I grew up hearing The Kinks and Byrds, and always think of their stuff as modern-day folksongs, I think both bands could’ve done well in any era. I could see Ray Davies writing his clever, zigzagging lyrics and tunes in the days of strolling minstrels. But I’m glad they were around for the rock ‘n’ roll era. Good picks!
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I wish that The Kinks would re-form. They’ve never officially broken up, actually. But they haven’t performed since 1997, so it’s doubtful they’ll ever get back together.
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When Ray was doing those Americana albums with the Jayhawks, he supposedly announced the Kinks would get back together, and a couple months ago, Dave Davies was saying they’d been going into the studio together, working on a 50th anniversary album and some new material, and said a tour was not impossible.
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Yeah, this kind of thing has been going on for years. Maybe one day they will regroup. By the way, I saw The Kinks in 1996 or so. They performed only a few more concerts after the one I was at.
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Your post’s title almost got me. I thought maybe he has a musical background. 😂. Stay safe.
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Hi Martie. I love to listen to music. But I have almost zero musical talent.
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3 Great songs indeed!
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Hi Dave. I listened to Face To Face the other day. That possibly was The Kinks’ first great album.
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What struck me was how rough and simple the production was of the Kinks and Byrds pieces. Almost a garage band quality – and that is praise, not a put down.
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Hi, and thanks for your input. I agree in re The Kinks song, but The Byrds tune sounds to me as though quite a bit of studio effects were going on, especially in the vocals.
Take care. Stay safe.
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A blast from the past, to be sure. But much needed for present-day sanity.
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You know, Sweet Lady Genevieve has been semi-stuck in my head since I heard it in April. I love this song!
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I agree it’s a good time to touch bases with old friends, sonic or otherwise, Neil. Nice to read about some of yours.
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Hi Des, and thanks. Music can help ease the pain of this f*cking pandemic, for sure.
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Willie makes every song he sings sound like one of his own compositions.
Thanks for sharing the tracks!
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Hello there. Willie’s career has been amazing. He’s still very productive. I believe he just came out with a new album, or will very soon.
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Love anything by Willie Nelson. Nice memories.
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Yeah, Willie has what it takes!
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Always enjoy the music!
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Afternoon, Joyce. Thank you!
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Great tunes . . . friend. Take care. 🙂
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Thanks, as always, for reading the stuff I write. Much appreciated.
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Well, I learned something. I wasn’t at all familiar with the Kinks song, so I just gave it a listen and thought it was terrific. Thanks so much for the recommendation!! Strangely, just yesterday I was listening to an Elton John CD and heard his version of “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain.” I was not impressed by the rendition, I’m afraid. As for the Byrds, I share your love for them and have memorized all of their early albums. I even once had an e-mail exchange (in the early AOL days) with Roger McGuinn!
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Hi Paula. What sort of things did you and Roger talk about via email?
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Well, it was sort of silly. I had had a Scholastic Book Club (remember that?) biography of the Byrds that I had suddenly lost, so I had the chutzpah to write Roger directly and ask if he knew where I could find a copy. And he did! He pointed me in the direction of a warehouse that had a few left, and I was able to get the book. A very nice man!
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👍👍
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Hi Neil, I loved how you wrote about these songs, history, melody and I guess I’m a little grizzled also. I enjoy Willie also, and when my Dad and I are in the car we listen to him. My Dad has many songs memorized like On the Road Again. Wonderful artist. The Byrds I don’t really know and the Kinks I loved the Schoolboys in disgrace and the song Education. Always makes me smile.
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Hi there. Willie is a talented guy, and very charming in his own way. The Kinks made quite a few great albums. To name two: Something Else; Arthur. If you haven’t heard them, you might want to check them out. See ya.
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Thank you for those tracks…iId lost track of The Byrds…so that was a wake up call to listen again….knew very little of Willie Nelson…something to be rectified. But The Kinks have been a constant while being confined to barracks – not that that is as harsh in Costa Rica as it seems to have been elsewhere..
In the current circumstances this resonates with me, ‘Days’ from the Kinks….
https://youtu.be/8-tNGDWWG60
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That’s one of my favorite songs by the band. Thanks, Helen. Take care —
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You inspire me to get my act in gear and intentionally listen to some albums. [If the CD player still works.] Most of the music I hear is via Sirius XM channels, so I take what they give. I could be more proactive, like in olden times. 🤔
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Give ‘em a spin. You’ll be glad you did.
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Great post and choices of music. I love my vinyls and pulling them out during the Covid brings back all kinds of memories.
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Right, there is something very comforting and sensual about vinyl albums. I’m glad I never got rid of any of mine.
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It is nice to re-connect with old friends like this. Just the other day I did so with the “Byrds” album (the reunion one in which all original five recorded in 1973), so it was nice to you highlighting “Have You Seen Her Face?” here — I had no idea Chris Hillman wrote the lyrics for it. Great post — Marty
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Hey, you’ve got me wondering if I have that reunion album. I’ll check in a bit.
Thanks for adding your thoughts. Much appreciated.
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The album was a bit of a disappointment t the time because it didn’t have McGuinn’s trademark Rickenbacker licks. It also suffered from band members holding back some of their better materials for solo pursuits. However, as a timepiece it’s still worth having. The Joni Mitchell and Neil Young covers in particular are good.
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Great song choices, Neil. It’s a pity sibling rivalry (and getting kicked out of the States if i remember right) meant the Kinks never made it as big as they could have. Willie Nelson really is a national treasure.
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I read fairly recently that another personality clash in The Kinks is between Dave and drummer Mick Avory. Apparently they’ve had serious differences.
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I’m supposed to contact my cousin?! I didn’t know that. Was it in a Corona memo ? I stopped reading them when they started to telling me to wipe down my canned peas.
I need to introduce you my buddy Thom at the Immortal Jukebox. I think you might have some common interests. https://theimmortaljukebox.com/
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Hey, give that cousin a call!
I follow Thom’s site. He has written loads of real good essays over the years.
See ya!
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Excellent music choices, Neil! As for contacting long-lost relatives, I have enough problems with the ones already in my life. I’ll wait til the next pandemic to complicate things further…..
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You know, I actually got a call recently from a relative I’d been out of touch with for 10 or more years. It was really good of her to take the initiative.
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How fun! I was planning to attend a family reunion with some second cousins in June, but that became yet another casualty of this virus. It’s a destructive little devil, in more ways that one….
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Willie’s song is an oft-recurring earworm in my head.
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I think I’ve read that the Red Headed Stranger album revived his career, and that Blue Eyes was the song from that album that resonated with people the most.
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Ah, “Younger Than Yesterday”, one of my favorite pieces of vinyl. SIde 2, My Back Pages, ripped from Dylan and one of the greatest covers ever. That song can stop me anywhere, anytime, and the wondrousness of living, of my life, washes over me anew. Music is an amazing, transportive force. Stay well.
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You’re spot-on about music. It soothes the savage beast.
Younger Than Yesterday is so great. Pretty much a perfect album.
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I am happy for your happiness but pass on the listening – I’m not a music listener! Enjoy!
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Hi Paddy. You’re forgiven!
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No to Willie Nelson and a big hurray to the other two. Music really does bring people together.
Country music always reminds me of extended family celebrations where the adults would have country music going as they sipped their shandies and glasses of beer. While us “kids” were left to roam outside, best fun ever with the cousins.
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Hi Suzanne, and thanks for stopping by. It’s hard to imagine what this world would be like without music. Music, in a real sense, is life.
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You’re welcome Neil. It is hard to imagine life without music as it really is linked to life’s events.
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There’s something comforting about nostalgia in times of crisis. It’s the good times we remember, and probably want to relive until things get better.
You have excellent taste in music, so reliving the soundtrack of your life is a good thing!
Stay well,
eden xo
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Music, for sure, can be comforting. And music is timeless in a very real sense, because we can listen to pretty much anything that ever has been recorded.
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Great music choices! I’ve loved the Byrds since the 60s, and Willie Nelson is a more recent fave. Although I was never a die-hard Kinks fan, I always liked their singles I heard on the radio. But I had never heard Sweet Lady Genevieve–that’s a really good one! Listening to it made me want to read about Ray Davies, and I was surprised to find out that one of my favorite Pretenders tunes, Stop Your Sobbing, was also written by him. Thanks for the musical inspiration–now I gotta go listen to more Kinks!
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Morning, Cindy. They recorded some very great albums. Here are a few: Village Green Preservation Society. Muswell Hillbillies. Lola Versus Powerman.
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Music has always been my friend no matter what direction the world is spinning. I remember hearing a story about a songwriter who had been around many years telling an up and coming writer who had been busted up in romance, “Do you want an easy life or a full catalog? Write a song about it” Thanks for a great essay and drop another dime in the jukebox. Jerry
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We’d be lost without music.
Hi Jerry. Enjoy the weekend.
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I wish I wrote that one Neil. This is exactly what I’ve been going on about. Music that moves us. Love your personal experience. I’ll take that over a regurgitated review any day. 3 great songs to boot. Ray’s opening lyrics are … well Ray lyrics. “Songwriting giant”. Yeah. I was wondering what Kinks song got to you. I also like Hillman tune and I get your feel on this one. And how can you not like Willies work on ‘Blue Eyes’. Good stuff fella.
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CB, you made my day!
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Very cool but it was kinda the other way around.
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You know a hellova lot more than I do about that kind of music Neil: But I can talk about opera. (Chuckle.) Keep listening. Keep enjoying. And most of all, stay well.
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Thanks, Muriel. One of these days, hopefully, opera houses will welcome back audiences. Ditto for all other music venues.
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Always a joy to accidentally come across old favourites and hear them with new ears. I also have been in touch with far more people of late, and a whole new branch of cousins that I’d lost touch with. Still would rather it was face to face but hopefully that day will come in the not too distant future.
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Thank goodness for FaceTime, Zoom, Skype, etc!
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Neil, You’re a sentimentalist! Good share! ❤️👍
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Thanks, as always, for reading my output. Enjoy the weekend, AOC.
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You are welcome Neil, your shares are a work of art, pure on-the-spot entertainment! You could write a person out of any situation. Cheers to your good day and weekend!❤️❤️❤️
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One of the first singles I ever bought was the Kinks’ Lola. It might still be in a box in the loft somewhere! I remember I had written all the lyrics on the cover, which was blue. I’ve been listening to a lot of 60s music because our routine has changed. Before, I would listen to the news on the radio while cooking dinner In time for John’s return. Now that he is working at home, we go out for a walk when he finishes so my favoured news programme is long over when we return. When it’s my turn to cook, I say “Alexa, play 60s music!” I’m rarely disappointed with her choice.
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There is so much good music from that decade. From all decades, really, including the present one. In that sense, all of us are spoiled. Have a great weekend, Anabel. See ya!
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Your intro is hilarious. As for the tunes, isn’t it wonderful to hear a long forgotten favourite! I love The Kinks and your post brought back memories from a trip to London about 5 years ago where we saw the musical Sunny Afternoon. You also hit on one of hubby’s favourites with the Willie song.
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That’s pretty cool that you saw Sunny Afternoon. How was it?
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Loved it! Thanks to you, I’ve been humming “lo lo lo lo Lola…” all morning!
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They do make the years evaporate, don’t they?
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You’re right. It seems almost like yesterday that the songs came out.
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Wow, I feel so out of it. Not even familiar with those songs! But I can see the draw and understand your intensity–especially if/when nostalgia is concerned. The emotions are so strong!
I totally feel that way about Barry White’s Love Theme. And no, I am not a disco person at all! But the Love Theme hearkens back to bright sunlight, summer, everyone in my immediate family was still alive, we had our lives ahead of us!
Are you fond of Willie Nelson’s Starlight at all? His voice is heartbreaking in that one too…
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Right, I know that recording. Willie can get inside a lyric. He’s got soul.
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I love that expression: “Get inside a lyric.”
Exactly, actually. 🙂
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Yeah, Willie Nelson—breaks my heart every time! Thanks, Neil.
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Hi Diane. That song is a beauty. And Willie’s version of it is great.
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Comment delivered, Neil:
Maybe it’s because I’m a social leper, but I don’t get all the grieving about isolation and lack of human contact. Jeezus, we have these ubiquitous devices now where we can talk to and view anyone, at any time. And we do just that, to the exclusion of practically everything else. Really, other than immediate family, how often do we need to squeeze people’s flesh or smell their body odor? We are a soft, spoiled society.
But my big comment is your mention of Younger Than Yesterday and my favorite song from that album, Chris Hillman’s “Have You Seen Her Face.” In fact, I just listened to that record a few nights ago, with the added stimulation of some Mother Nature. I was eight miles high. A great album, and a song with cojones. (Do you notice a similarity with The Beatles’ less powerful “Think For Yourself”?) From one old head to another: Good on ya!
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Hi. Glad to hear from you. Not sure if I hear what you do in re The Beatles song.
I saw Hillman in a small venue about 4 years ago. He was performing with Herb Pederson, who also has a long musical career. Terrific show.
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Hi Neil. Coincidentally, I too saw Hillman and Pederson here in greater Cinti about 10 years ago. They signed my Flying Burrito Bros CD after the show. My big takeaway was their cover of Stephen Stills’ “So Begins the Task,” and Hillman admitting how much Stills taught him about songwriting.
I think it’s mainly the verse where I hear the song similarity (“Face” and “Think for Yourself”). The pacing, twangy guitar, and descending chord structure. I much prefer the Byrds song.
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One of the great things about isolation is that it is getting me to play stuff I haven’t played for yonks. Isn’t it great to be reacquainted?
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Yes indeed. For instance, I hadn’t heard Dave Alvin’s King Of California album in a long time. Listened to it last week. It’s a real good one.
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A great collection of music! The Willie Nelson song is a little heartbreaking, though, but it’s a beautiful song.
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I think I mentioned this a few days ago to someone else. But here goes again: The song by The Kinks is semi-stuck in my head. I love that tune.
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I’m about to vent! People, who I had no intention of speaking to ever again, HAVE been calling me, and I’ve been looking at the phone, like what in the entire f*ck is going on???
Okay. I’m done. lol It is much better advice to listen to your favorite tunes. With that said, I think you’d enjoy a podcast from Australia, called The Upshot. The host asks the guest five questions that lead up to what is the meaning of life, and the whole hour, she plays the guest’s favorite songs. I thought it was a pretty neat idea.
Also, were you the one who suggested the movie, Dinner with Herve? If so, I loved it!
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Hi. The Upshot sounds good. I’ve been listening to podcasts on the walks I take for exercise. I’ve made a note to listen to Upshot. As for the movie: I haven’t seen it.
Enjoy the week,Kathy. See ya!
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What an interesting selection, Neil. I love the Kinks, but have somehow missed hearing ‘Lady Genevieve’ up to now – and yes, I’ll go with Ray Davis song-writing genius.
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How great would it be if The Kinks reunited. But they better hurry up, if they’re thinking about it, because they’re in their 70s.
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I haven’t heard any of these song, sadly, and it doesn’t seem to load on my phone either using the app. But I love what you have to say here. It’s beautiful how much more we’re willing to keep in touch or reconnect with the people we love. It’s given me a newfound appreciation of my loved ones. I hope we can all be reunited soon.
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Hi. Maybe a vaccine will be developed sooner than is currently predicted. Then we’ll be able to get together with people again normally
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It’s a great time to reconnect with some old vinyl friends. 🙂 I dug out an old cassette player for my parents so they can listen to the Kingston Trio among other oldies but goodies. Lol. Thanks for the music and the trip down memory lane. 🙂
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Vinyl records have come back in style. I wonder if cassette tapes also have.
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The quality isn’t very good, but my parents have hundreds of cassettes and they know how to work the player. 🙂
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With you all the way on the Kinks and Byrds. Nelson? Well, I might need a couple of Jack Daniels first to warm up. 😉
Stay safe.
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Hey there. Thanks for stopping by. One thing that’s undeniable about Willie is that he’s had an amazingly long and productive career. It must be the pot!
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Thank you for sharing these songs. I have never heard the first two songs before, only being familiar with their hits, so nice to listen to something new. Willy Nelson is always good to hear. Down Under we are also Skyping and Zooming and “seeing” some people more often than usual, which is both good and annoying. Stay safe.
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Hi. Thanks for visiting. It will be a red letter day when the pandemic ends and we can freely and safely meet up with people again.
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