“The psychiatrists, analysts and all the psychological and social experts complain that they have to repair the immense damage done, to children in particular, by the social , parental and educational systems. But this human wastage is their stock in trade, whether they be therapists, politicians or social workers and the like. If everything only went well, the social welfare field would disappear, and all these fine people would be laid off. The system feeds, then, on its own misfortune. And every agonizing revision or alternative would involve an even more complicated, even more perverse machination”.
the musicology is courtesy of Marvin with a quality piece of 80’s Boogie from his final Motown set ‘In Our Lifetime’
Apologies for yesterday. Today I’ll make sure the cut is laid down with the post !!
Catharsis..
1: A purification or purgation of the emotions primarily through art.
2: A purification or purgation that brings about spiritual renewal or release from tension.
3: elimination of a complex by bringing it to consciousness and affording it expression.
For me themusicologist delivers all of the above and for that I am more than greatful. In fact over the past few days the raging inner storm is calming and the ‘weight’ is lifting.
I’m assuming that most, if not all, of us are feeling some kind of pressure as the curtain finally closes on the Modern World and opens on what in Philosophical terms is defined as the Post Modern world of, (among other things), decentralization, insecurity, globalization, unpaid work, marketocracy, crowdsourcing and so on and on and on. Many Modern projects that have informed us since the Enlightenment such as freedom, democracy, education and the family are being dismantled and replaced by degrees of economic slavery. It’s always a changing world but sometimes the speed of change is surprising.
So as much as I take responsibility for my actions I also know that there are external forces at work that have a great impact on the herd who tend to be oblivious to the control tactics of the masters. Therefore I will continue on the road of authenticity with my head held high and my eyes, ears and nose wide open and dismiss the one sided Apollonian ideology that reduces art to no more than “amusement governed by empty concepts” and firmly deny Plato’s view that “Art is a secondary imitation of reality and a counterfeit substitute for life itself”
Today’s cut is a fine piece of Art courtesy of the ‘Big O’. Borrowed from the great 1965 ‘Otis Blue’ set….Plato…this one’s all yours.
Modernist / Mod / Mods..for me the label is not the issue it’s the philosophy..the ideology that’s important and how it evolved to influence almost every ‘trend’ that followed. That’s what fascinates me. The narrative of the early sixties is well documented from almost every angle other than the ‘street’ perspective in part because the voice of the people is not one that is often heard. As Johnny Spencer said ‘by 1965 the essence and meaning was gutted from the original movement because it was a genuine threat to the staus quo’. For sure the consumer revolution had been managed as far back as the early part of the 20th Century but ‘Mod/ernist’ was never part of the equation because it came up from the street where the establishment had no control or initial interest other than in how to ‘capitalize’.
By the time I was born in 1968 the control was being fought for and for a moment the chance was there to bring down the system but by then the momentum was with the bourgouise intellectuals who when it came down to it didn’t realise that in the words of Martin Luther King there would be ‘No victory without sacrifice’. As the 70’s rolled on everything had been commoditized and the moment passed, (much to the relief of the establishment), who then went on, (in the 80’s), to destroy the working class by giving us ‘something’ to lose in the way of our own property which, of course, wasn’t ours anyway as it belonged to the banks that had sold us into debt slavery.
Interpret my musings how you will but I know how it was to live through these times with a narrative of Mod/ernist as the guiding principle which is after all an Attitude rather than merely a fashion trend. In my opinion part of why the lifestyle of Mod/ernist has been, (and continues to be), so enduring is the underlying principle at the heart of it which is to follow your own path and, (as much as you can), decide for yourself what to do, wear, listen to, watch, read, learn etc.
Today’s 1962 cut by the Drifters is so well known that it is easy to dismiss it as nothing more than pop but if you listen to the words it speaks the language of pure Mod/ernist, the cats who met, walked, talked and lived together metaphorically
“Up On The Roof..way up where the air was fresh and sweet and away from the hustling crowd and all the Rat Race noise down below…….right smack dab in the middle of town..”
Following on from yesterday’s introduction to the ‘Enlightenment’ with a four minute critique of one of it’s most revered figures, Immanuel Kant whose contribution to the ideology of ‘Reason’ is as important as Plato’s was to ‘Dialogue’. The key word today is Metaphysics…
The musical wisdom is one from themusicologist’s top ten. Wicked slice of late 20th Century ‘steppers’ from the prophet Luciano on the Chant Out Label.
“The greatest knowledge is the knowledge of god and self, It surpasses material wealth,
Seek ye first wisdom ’cause that’s your health and strength,
It will preserve your soul until the end,
Consider yourself oh important my child..be positive and live upright,
Before you think about taking one’s life…think twice..”
Out of the Tao and into the next phase in the wanderings with a slice of spoken word from a next facilitator of learning on the journey to the self. But as we move out of Classical Antiquity and into the modern world I would just like to add that a few minutes from each of these Cats is nowhere near enough to do such an important subject justice but doors are made to be opened and Philosophy along with music is, for me, a door to knowledge that has resonated loud and clear on the quest for ‘meaning’.
The music is yet another slice courtesy of The Wailers but this time it’s a later cut, (1968), on Danny Sim’s JAD label featuring the hard hitting Peter Tosh on lead with Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer harmonising.
Out of the Greeks and into the next stage of themusicologist’s ‘development’ with some words of Wisdom from an English Philosopher, Alan Watts. The man who helped me make some kind of sense out of an ideology, (The Tao), that has resonated with me since first coming into contact with it during some of my darkest days.
The music is A QUALITY slice of mid Seventies funk and boogie from a little known group out of Dayton Ohio. Who along with Slave, Faze-O and Zapp, (three of the most respected boogie outfits), put the funk back into ‘Disco’. Recorded and released in 1977 on the Capitol label which for a short period had it’s finger well and truly on the pulse.
(Bobby Bland – If You Don’t Share Your Love With Me)
Final slice of the Greek Philosophy pie features the other of the three most well known Ideas men of Greek antiquity..Aristotle. A name known on some parts of London’s mean streets for his contribution to Double back Rhyming Slang..Aristotle rhymes with Bottle which leads to ‘Bottle and Glass’ which rhymes/translates as Arse !! for example
“did you check the bottle on that Richard?!!”
Anyway back to the Greeks..Aristotle is quite possibly the prime mover in today’s Western Ideology in part for his clear definition of Politricks. Any major Politician today is schooled in Aristotelian Ideology, (it goes with the territory), why? because it’s much easier to maintain the system. That way the ‘blame’ can always be laid at someone elses door. It’s almost unthinkable that many, many years later the society that we live in has NOT evolved much beyond Aristotle’s (much mis-interpreted), Ideology..Our children, (and us), are steeped in the interpreted version of his thinking. Not that I’m imagining this will be clear based on 2 minutes of interperatation here but maybe it will be a doorway to dig deeper…
The musicology is another slice from one of the greatest Soul singers, (featured a few times already on themusicologist), none other than Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland with 2 minutes 43 seconds worth of pure poetry about what, for me, is the thing that makes life complete…Love.
“It’s an ill wind that blows no good,
And it’s a sad heart that won’t love like I know it should,
And oh how lonesome you must be yeah,
And it’s a shame if you don’t share your love with me,
And it’s a heartache when love is gone,
But it’s bad and even sad, woooohh later on,
Woohhh there’s no one blinder than he who wont see,
And it’s a shame if you don’t share your love with me,
And I can’t help it woohhh no if she is gone,
You must try to forget woohhhh you must live on,
And I swear it’s a good thing to love someone,
But it’s bad and even sad when it’s not returned,
And oh how lonesome yes you must be yeah,
And it’s a shame if you don’t share your love with me,
And I said it’s a shame woohhh if you don’t share your love with me
woooohhhh yeahhh”
Well Sarah has made the Ultimate sacrifice and took her life..I think it was the philosopher Schopenhauer who said/wrote that suicide was a cowardly act and not one of bravery and much as I check for some of his philosophy as far as this act was concerned he was wrong. Sarah took her life for more reasons than one…Eddie. She sacrificed her body to Bert and in the process her heart to Eddie. Some might call that selfish but again they would be wrong. If you know the film, (and if not I hope the dialogue has provided some insight), you may agree that Eddie’s salvation was uppermost in Sarah’s heart and mind. ‘Fast’ Eddie Felson wasn’t cut out for the world in which he found himself…he thought he was but in reality he wasn’t. As Bert said “You’ve got to be hard Eddie” where what we meant to say is “You’ve got to be heartless Eddie” and he is right. There’s no room for ‘weakhearts’ in an environment like that you’ve got to be a killer and grind your opponent into the dust and when they plead for mercy you have to twist the knife harder and further and take no prisoners…and as far as I have read it, Eddie isn’t that kind of person. He just loves to play Pool. A few scenes ago when Eddie asked Sarah whether she thought he was a loser, (as Bert never stopped telling him), Sarah answered that he was a Winner because of the love and passion and childlike joy he got out of playing Pool at the top of his game. He retained the child and that is what made him a winner. Bert on the other hand for all his money and material possesions was twisted, crippled and alone and Sarah knew that. She is the film’s hero not Eddie and in this scene we hear him clarify that. All too late. Remember “No Victory without Sacrifice . If you want something chances are you have to make sacrifices…and very few of us are genuinely willing/able to do that….anyway enough of the philosophy and back to the action.
Eddie’s back at Ames Pool room, the place where it all began to unravel and he’s looking to take Fats on again. But this time he has a lot more to say…
Today’s music is an early Motown, (1961?) instrumental cut by a collective known here as ‘The Twistin Kings’. Who were they? I can only hazard a guess that it’s the same band who backed almost all the Motown artists from 1959 right through. None other than what became known, (after The Soul Brothers), as The Funk Brothers. Far too many Cats were a part of this collective to namecheck here but if they are listening they know who they are so I won’t even begin to list them
(Sherman Booker & The Blue Notes – Cool Daddy’s Blues)
back to round 8 of the ‘alternative’ and brother Henry is on a roll. The Guilty’s are falling like dominoes as the ‘Socratic method’ employed by our man continues to work it’s magic.
Philosophy is such an important part of our lives that it’s shocking how little is taught in our schools. Unless we count the almost complete domination of the Greek School of thought which is taught ideologically to young children in an effort to set them up as ‘citizens of the future’ rather than introduced as a tool to help them aquire ‘knowledge’. For me Philosophy is all about asking, (and answering), questions and coming to your own conclusions which obviously doesn’t fit in with current politrickal ideas of mass control. With that in mind and before I get too far into the saddle of my high horse I’ll get back to the music.
today’s cut of the ’57 pie is a piece of ‘blues’ from an almost unknown outfit, Sherman Booker & The Blue Notes, about whom I know absolutely nothing, other than they recorded this one in 1957 for L.A’s Combo Label.
(Little Miss Cornshucks – Try A Little Tenderness)
Shooting The Monkey (freedom from the distracting ego)
‘Has your majesty never observed the bounding monkeys?’ answered Chang to the King of Wei. ‘If they can reach the tall cedars or camphor trees, they will swing and sway from their limbs, frolicking and lording it in their midst, so that even the famous archers Yi or P’eng Meng could not take accurate aim at them, But when they are attracted to what they suppose are delicacies and find themselves among the prickly mulberries, brambles, hawthorns, or spiny citrons, way below their loftier arena, they must move with caution, glancing from side to side, quivering and shaking with fear.
‘It is not that their bones and sinews have become suddenly stiff and lost their suppleness. It is simply that the monkeys find themselves in a difficult and disadvantageous position, one where they cannot exercise their abilities to the full. And so it is when Man becomes full of himself. His attraction to what is seemingly of benefit and greater security to him actually distracts him from expressing himself in his full light.’
‘I like that tale, ‘ said the King of Wei, ‘but knowing you as I do, I have no doubt that the monkey is merely a metaphor for Man’s own mischievous self. Our fall from our true identity causes us to improvise and clutch at a false identity with the same desperation as someone falling continuously into the abyss.’
‘Exactly so!’ said Chang gleefully. ‘In the absence of the true knowledge of who we really are, our adopted self must keep alive its fictional existence with convincing, albeit empty, chattering.’
‘Chattering which is taken to heart rather than ignored,’ said the King. ‘Incessant and sweet chattering thoughts that, while sometimes a nuisance, sweetly persuade, convince, cajole, even scare us into believing that if we want protection, security and peace of mind, there is no other self worth listening to.’
‘And if such a self was indeed a monkey, how would you, as a sagely king, deal with it?’ enquired Chang.
‘Why I would ensure that both Yi and P’eng Meng practised harder, until they were successful,’ his monarch replied with amusement.
‘And how so for your own self, is it also a case of shooting the monkey?’ asked Chang.
‘Again, I would employ and develop those decisive archer parts of my own being to unmask myself.’
‘Well said, my King, for only by such action will you rid yourself of a fictional power that ultimately renders you powerless.’
Stalking The Heron, (infinite patience, immediate results)
‘So his obsession for not leting go of anything finally caught up with him,’ commented Yan Kan to himself, on hearing news that the Emperor had met with an untimely end.
It had been several years now since Yan Kan had fortuitously escaped the Emperor’s wrath. It had been his experience of stalking the heron that had led him to see things in a different light. When water accumulates, it breeds predatory fish. And when rites and duties become decorations, they breed artificial and hypocritical people. The title that the Emperor had quickly invented and thrown to him that day, and which he had so obsequiously caught, were now empty and meaningless to him.
He had decided at that moment to apply his new found virtue of patience to more meaningful pursuits and departed the Court.
He would no more attach such importance to such false things. And he would no more suggest solutions that sought reward by pandering to the whims of another in authority. Any leader who demanded, needed or revelled in such bolstering was an insecure leader. How strange it is that when rulers have obsessions, thier subjects do a lot of posturing; when a ruler is crafty, their subjects are devious; and when a ruler is demanding, their subjects are contentious. Any ruler who blamed ill luck for the state of his kingdom and sought to determine outcomes by using his strength to hold on to something weaker, was bound to fall sooner or later.
Yan Kan felt no surprise that the Emperor had lost his life through his rigid attachment to his policy for growth and recognition. His wise friend Cai Tok had ben right: ‘When political leaders ruin their countries and wreck their lands, themselves to die at others hands, it is always because of their impatient desires.’
Since becoming a merchant, Yan Kan had determined to himself that he would follow the sage-like philosophy he now knew to be true: ‘To be able to use the power of other people, it is necessary to win people’s hearts. To be able to win people’s hearts, it is necessary to have self mastery. To be capable of self mastery, it is necessary to have patience.’
Yan Kan resolved to apply patience in everything, particularly when he encountered the obstacles which he had discovered were as much a part of business as they were of life.
‘The ancients were certainly wise in creating writing symbols that contained the meanings of both crisis and opportunity. I will see every obstacle as a further reminder to be infinitely patient and unattached to any particular schedule. For in such flexibility lies the power to cultivate the hidden pearl of opportunity from the grit of adversity.’
themusicologist 