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RECORD REVIEW: LONNIE JOHNSON (WITH ELMER SNOWDEN) - BLUES AND BALLADS

Monday, Jan 10, 2011 4:38 PM Musicians: Lonnie Johnson - electric guitar and vocals; Elmer Snowden - guitar; and Wendell Marshall - bass.
Release: Prestige/Blueville Records. Recorded at Englewood Cliffs, NJ on April 5, 1960. Lonnie Johnson, a then sixty year old singer and guitarist who was born in New Orleans, had done a multitude of records for Okeh, Columbia, Decca, Bluebird, Disc and other labels between 1925 and 1954, including guitar work with Duke Ellington's Orchestra and Louis Armstrong's Hot Five. He had influenced the likes of Charlie Christian and Eddie Lang. Prior to this particular record, Johnson was working as a janitor in Philadelphia. But it would be Elmer Snowden, while being interviewed by Chris Albertson on radio, and after the two had listened to a Johnson tune, that would initiate their seeking Johnson out. I could go on, but I choose to refrain and get to the music at hand. However, for those who are interested I would suggest "The Country Blues" by Samuel Charters. Blues and Ballads is music for the sunset. Mellow and laid back, this session will take you out of the rocky mountains or off the coast-line and bring you closer to the atmosphere around Asheville, North Carolina (maybe). Acoustic in nature, Johnson and Snowden are complimentary to one another while picking away as Marshall plucks the stand-up. This is a really beautiful piece of musical art. Memories Of You reaches out to touch you with the lyrics and singing that feel of a true experience. Indeed it is a lovely piece. And for all of us, those dreams of ours, I Found A Dream" is an alluring piece where Johnson's vocals gather the the impression and convince the listener. The guitar leads in I'll Get Along Somehow and Back Water Blues leads us to the horizon where the sun is setting in a blue prior to conceding to various tones of orange, gray, and muted whites. Johnson and Snowden pick it up on St. Louis Blues and Elmer's Blues, tunes that lead us to a late night coffee stop. They are up tempo jams, demonstrating Johnson's guitar riffs as Snowden creates the rhythm on acoustic. Savoy Blues, although not the pace of the former, is a pick me up for these two guys. The final cut, Jelly Roll Baker, is a funny piece that fits in telling the story like it is. This is a really fine session. For me, this record lands on the second shelf and to the right (sunset side).


RECORD REVIEW: AMON DUUL II - YETI

Monday, Jan 10, 2011 2:09 PM Release: 1968 on Liberty (German). Photograph depicts a CD cover. This two record set is a German rock and roll delight as Amon Duul II bends guitar and violin strings while performing in an off chord manner that encourages reaching into the listener's non-harmonic sensory parts. This stimulation offers diversity to nervous systems that have been more recently bombarded by commercial music and digital frequencies that are being created by techs and companies that are left brain driven. Yes, now we do live in a time that sees ads promoting coolness in downloading digital files and playing them on digital players. For those of us that hear naturally, not excluding the sounds of nature, we understand current geeks are destroying sound and taking it further from its core sense. At the end of the day, sheep will continue to be sheep and will thus follow the herder. Sheep then will be tuned into a tone that destroys them rather than awakens them. Getting back to the album here, Yeti is far from the experimental excursions of Amon Duul I. This LP demonstrates more structure in comparison to the tribal essence of the former. Entering Yeti sees the Duul creating a boundless trip through humor, battery, sustenance, and whatever you want to call where you may happen to go. You will find yourself catching the jam and holding on for as long as you can, but Amon Duul II will surely change the place you land when you least expect it to happen. Yes, Yeti does make for great listening. This record is highly recommended. Notice the word "record" and not the word "compact disc." You may want to listen to it with an el84 amp also. Other options have been entertained, to include some solid state and other tube compliments. Forget the digital devices, though an old Marantz cassette recorder and player can serve in a pinch.



HOCKEY HISTORY: REMEMBERING ANDY BARBE

Thursday, Jan 6, 2011 11:28 AM 1949 depicted a post-war industrial Pittsburgh. Smoke filled skies hovered close to the earth to provide great evidence of the city's contribution to steel production. Outsiders were immediately overwhelmed by dark skies that frequently blanketed the area. Western Pennsylvania was obviously polluted during a reality that saw steel forging the character of the city while putting food on household tables. Canada was a distance from the United States' industrial powerhouse that lived on the three rivers. Canadian cities, though many with a strong blue-collar force, did not pump out the same level of steel production as Pittsburgh.
Even then it was not a secret that Canadians loved hockey, but the north country was not the only place for playing opportunities. Professional hockey existed in the states, thus Canucks made their way south in an effort to hitch onto a team.
In the great steel city, housed in Duquense Gardens, on ice warfare survived. Here the Hornets lived, a franchise that competed in the American Hockey League during a time when only six NHL franchises existed. To play in the NHL meant having competed and made one of sixteen roster spots, a number that is astoundingly low considering the expansion that has taken place since. The AHL was full of talented players. Andy Barbe was one of them.
Barbe grew up in Coniston, Ontario with the desire to be a professional hockey player. "I was ten-years-old when I realized I wanted to play in the big leagues," the former pro said in the kitchen of his Monongahela, PA home while in the presence of Francis, his wife. "Every boy growing up in Canada wanted to be a hockey player."
Barbe eluded that even schoolteachers respected the dreams of young boys. "I went to a French parochial school. The teacher would buy us a gift every Christmas. Boys got a hockey stick and girls got a doll. But once when I was in ninth grade the teacher got us prayer books. We didn't like that. It was the only year we didn't get a stick."
Barbe wouldn't get his first pair of skates until he broke double-digit age. They would also come as a holiday gift. "I skated in my mother's skates until I was about ten. They were so big that I had to wear about five pair of socks to get them to fit half decent. Then one Christmas my dad bought me my first pair of hockey skates. They cost him $3.95. I remember that well."
Barbe became a self-taught skater on outdoor rinks in his hometown. The Onatrio resident began playing hockey at five and remained in Coniston through high school. He credits his father, Emil, who played and coached the game, for providing him with the inspiration and motivation that helped in reaching his achievements. "He loved the game," Barbe pointed out in regards to his dad. "He helped me and my brother Aimee." (Aimee also played professionally for the Buffalo Bisons.)
Barbe was first scouted at age eighteen by the St. Louis Flyers while playing Junior A for Falcon Ridge. He attended the Flyers' training camp after which they wanted him in their farm system. Military obligations prevented Barbe from making the move, thus he opted to play senior hockey for the Sudbury Wolves during which time they would win the Ontario title. He remained with the Wolves for two seasons while fulfilling his military obligations. Thereafter (1944) St, Louis sent him to the Oakland Oaks of the Pacific Coast League where he immediately made an impact as a hard shooting defenceman. The Toronto Maple Leafs snatched Barbe from the Flyers the following season and immediately shipped him to their affiliate Los Angles Monarchs. There he would remain for four seasons where his wrist shot became feared by goalies and celebrated by fans. He admitted he did modify his offensive attack for practices. "When other guys were taking their wrist shots near the face off circles, I was taking mine from the blue line. Most goalies wouldn't stand in net during practice unless I shot from there."
Barbe became an impacting Monarch, but now found himself moved to the right wing. It was during this time that the Monarchs won the Southern Division crown and went on to beat Portland to take the Northern Division as well. These victories entitled the Monarch to face off against the Boston Olympians (the Bruins' number one farm team) for the finals. LA would lose the series in overtime of game seven by a score of 3-2. Six players from that season's Olympian squad made the Bruins the following year.
Barbe had settled into Los Angles rather well. "It was a great place, Beaches and nice places to go, and the weather was nice. I liked it." While appreciating his California atmosphere, the 6' 165 pound winger consistently produced as a top ten scorer. He even went on a goal-scoring tear during a road trip that netted him four goals against each team played (Vancouver, Portland, Tacoma and Westminster). His performance in the City of Angels did not go unnoticed as he was chosen runner-up for athletic excellence in the city.
Barbe's fifth season as a professional became one of his most memorable. After attending the Leafs' preseason camp in Wellund, Ontario the parent organization told him to pack his bags and head to Pittsburgh. The destination had never crossed the then 25 year old's mind, and he immediately felt unsettled when he arrived on the Mon. "I didn't want to leave LA!" he emphasized. "When I got to Pittsburgh I remember first driving down those cobblestone streets in my car thinking the sides were going to fall off!
"Then there was smoke everywhere. I'd hang a white shirt up in my locker room at the rink and when I got off the ice it was covered with all kinds of black stuff. I hated it!"
His dislike of Pittsburgh was so great that he went up to then Hornets' GM Baz Bastien and requested a trade. "I asked him to send me back to LA. I just wanted out of Pittsburgh. I even told Baz I wasn't going on the road trip." But Bastien was unwilling to fulfill the request and instead offered Barbe an ultimatum. "He told me that if I didn't play here I wouldn't play at all. I didn't want to be in Pittsburgh, but I wanted to play hockey." Bastien didn't hold anything against Barbe for being honest and direct. Instead, the proven sharpshooter immediately found himself on the first line. Barbe remained there throughout his Hornets' career.
Barbe returned to the Leafs' preseason camp following his first year in Pittsburgh. He recalled the atmosphere. "None of the pros would help you out. Their attitude was that you were a rookie so do everything on your own. I had to walk everywhere. The pros, well they would ride by in their big Caddies (Cadillacs). They wouldn't pick me up. I was a rookie." The Leafs still felt Barbe belonged in Pittsburgh after the camp. But do not be deceived. The Hornets could compete with their parent team and went on to beat the Leafs two consecutive years. Barbe made it clear as to the atmosphere during these hockey times. "Half the guys playing in the AHL could have played in the NHL. That's how good we were. We were tough, but there just wasn't enough roster spots to go around with six NHL teams."
It was then that Barbe became united with Hall of Fame forward Harry Watson, Cal Garner and Hall of Fame defenseman Tim Horton. Barbe claims the latter was "the best defenseman in the game." Horton, who referred to Barbe as "Squire," became Barbe's roommate and close personal friend. “Tim was a great guy on the ice and off,” Barbe pointed out. “He was by far the best defenceman in hockey back then.
“Tim really never got mad. I recall once that some guy was giving everyone a hard time on our team, arguing and shoving us around. Tim just skated over to him, picked him up and dumped him over the boards. He didn’t fight though. He didn’t have to. He was a great player.”
Barbe reflected on Horton's tragic death on the Queen Elizabeth Highway outside of Toronto. It was devastating to his former roommate and friend. "I was coaching at Duquense University (Pittsburgh) at the time. Tim stopped by to see how I was doing and mentioned he was heading to Buffalo. I told him that he should have called me since we usually got together for a sandwich and beer when he was in town. But Tim said he had a lot of things going on that week, and that the team was headed for Buffalo that night, so he didn't have much time. He said he would drop by over the weekend, that he would bring his wife along so we could all celebrate his birthday together. Then I was informed of the car wreck. It was really tragic."
There was obvious sadness as Horton's former teammate and close friend spoke of the final day that he had spent with Horton before his death. The melancholy mood was heightened when Barbe's wife brought out a platter that showed the star defenceman etched on the front, kneeling in hockey uniform with his arm around two youngsters. It was a memento that clearly depicted Horton's fondness of children. "He was that type of guy," Barbe said as he looked at the piece of memorabilia. "He was a true gentleman who loved helping kids."
Horton left a lasting impression on Barbe, one that he will never put to rest. When speaking of the legendary defenceman he was able to bring Horton's spirit alive. Barbe too would leave a lasting impression, but his would be with Hornet fans. His greatest asset, his wrist shot, propelled him to the forefront of the AHL. The city quickly nicknamed him A-Bomb, as the self proclaimed finesse forward scored a total of 126 goals in his seven seasons with the Hornets. 26 of these would come in a single year. These statistics were highly respected during an ear where 20 goal seasons were difficult to come by. He also consistently led the team in plus-minus average, demonstrating his strong two-way play. "We played what was known as Toronto style hockey, a clutch and grab game," Barbe explained as the reason for the low number of goals scored during those days. "Back then Toronto was the best team in hockey, and they were the leaders in the game's defensive style of play."
A-Bomb's devastating wrist shot continued to silence the competition, a shot he confidently pointed out that he scored on one out of every two chances. His play helped lead the Hornet's to three Calder Cup appearances, two of which they won in 1953 and 1956. He believes they should have won three, but an unusual goal by the Cleveland Barons in overtime of game seven would sink the Hornets in 1955. "The Barons were one of the toughest teams in the league," Barbe admitted. "It was tough when we played in their home rink.
“It even had chicken wire instead of glass atop the boards. They were our most feared competition.
"The loss in the '55 final came on a fluke goal. We were coming off the sixth game earlier in the week that we had lost in triple overtime. That game started at 8 PM, but didn't end until 2 in the morning. That was a tough one.
"The final went to overtime too. We could have won it with only ten seconds left in the third. One of our forwards had an open shot and let it loose. It really looked good, but it hit the post. The overtime didn't go our way. They took advantage of a puck that somehow everyone lost sight of. It went up into the rafters down in our end. When our goalie finally saw the puck coming down it was too late. He came out to make the play on it, but it hit the ice and somehow went by him and into the net. We lost 1-0."
It was a tough loss for the Hornets. It was also a difficult one for Hornets’ fans who watched the first televised game in the Steel City. But it was even more difficult for Barbe who had played the entire series only ten days after having his face fractured in four areas during a game. Barbe somehow played through the mess. "My face was a mess, and I didn't think there was any way I'd be able to play the series. They repaired it at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh by using a coat hanger. I had some sedation, but in all the years I had played I never experience anything like that.”
With serious facial fractures, Barbe was ready to watch the series from the stands. "They (Hornets) wanted me on the ice. So they got together with someone who designed a plastic facemask for me. It was a flimsy thing, like paper. I was in the locker room before game one, not expecting to dress, when our coach, King Clancy, told me to get my gear on. Then after warm ups he told me to get out on the ice for my first shift."
Barbe ended up playing the whole series behind the mask.
"It was terrible!" he indicated. "I couldn't breathe very well, and couldn't see well because when I breathed it always fogged up."
Retirement came to this hockey player with difficulty. By 1952 he was called up to play for the Leafs, where he claims the best forward he ever played against was Maurice "Rocket" Richard. Barbe claimed to have earned a full-time roster spot with Toronto in 1953, but a personal tragedy would keep him from fulfilling the spot. "In 1953 my wife was in a very serious car accident. She was pregnant at the time, and I almost lost them both. My family meant more to me than hockey. That's why I turned the Leafs down."
Barbe seriously contemplated retiring in 1955 and 1956 but the Hornets pried him back, rewarding him with first a salary increase to $12,000 followed by an additional $500 compensation for the '56 season. He missed training camp both years since he was in management and production training for Coca-Cola. The '56 season would be his last. Oddly enough, Pittsburgh, the town he originally did not want to live in, would become his home.
The former pro doesn't sit around second guessing his past career, nor does he show envy toward today's players and the salaries associated with the game. "I wouldn't want to do anything different than what I have done. Hockey was great back then, and this town (Pittsburgh) loved the game. You would have to stand in line after the game to be able to get a ticket to the next one."
The lines of history are long gone: the lines to get into a game and the lines that played the game. Oh to step back in time. Simplicity. Greatness. Splendor. Perseverance. Talent. Dedication. The list goes on and it is one that was created without the bombardment of commercialism and advertising associated with today’s game. Hockey was the game being played. The other game, to include where to find the greatest value meal or where to buy insurance need not be blasted over and over to influence fans’ decision making. Fans figured it out, to include the real deals and qualities that existed.
As for quality and the real deal, Andy Barbe was one of them. The fans got that right too.
(Andy Barbe passed away on January 15, 2004. This article was first published in Chekyo "The Hockey and Skating Planet" in 1994. Chekyo is a sector of Radio Canmore.)



Hockey Sax

Wednesday, Jul 21, 2010 4:14 PM Cousins Mia and Eric got together to celebrate cousin Angie's Graduation Party held in Finleyville. Eric, the former lead sax man with the Voodoo Glow Skulls, recently finished a US tour during which he blew away the crowd when the band played in Millvale outside the 'Burgh. He'll be heading south this fall to dabble in continued music studies and excursion. Mia, who recently attended her own graduation ceremonies at the University of Alberta, is off the ice for the summer. The former Panda, Northeastern Huskie and NMH Hogger will be headed back to the Edmonton Chimo's to play a second season in the WWHL.


Harry Catches Foul At PNC

Wednesday, Jul 21, 2010 3:46 PM What happened at PNC Park in Pittsburgh this season that didn't get press? Former pitcher Harry P. "Nick", as photographed here in the forefront in his seat at the ballpark, caught a foul ball with his right hand (throwing hand) while holding his cell phone in his left hand. Steve "Backhurt" is seen sitting by Harry after the catch. The Pirates went on to win the game, beating the Dodgers. Fans demonstrated an appreciation of Harry's ability by clapping. Harry said, "I guess I still got it and didn't even need my glove hand." The ball did not have an arc, reaching Harry on a line. He did not flinch as it arrived, placing his hand out to snag it cleanly. No alcohol was present during the episode as Harry and Steve were sipping bottled water.


RECORD REVIEW: THIRD EAR BAND - ALCHEMY

Sunday, Jul 5, 2009 2:44 PM [Released in 1969 on EMI (UK). Those of us who have traveled to different places with the Third Ear Band have never been disappointed as to where we end up after happening to go. I maintain a strong feeling after excursions taking place with the Ear's initial go around of four movements that thrust forward at some point unlike Alchemy which enables more limbic rhythm in textural places. Sweeny's repetition of time is splattered in expressive notes brought forth by Minns, Davis and Coff. The destination is a dark painting with the brightest color being subtle gray. Third Ear Band has always brought a haunting presence once the needle drops into the record's groove. It is that there is a connection with their music and the elements. There will not be melodies to sing-a-long to, but there will be a dissociative plane the listener reaches, a scenic place although dark, however a place where there are spirits in waiting. Alchemy is recommended for listening and for the permanent collection.


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