the geography of nowhere

A looming 21-year High School reunion has led me to ponder the past, especially the town I grew up in. I have been reading The Geography of Nowhere by James Howard Kuntsler, a book which explores the rise of suburbia and automobile culture in America. Kuntsler explores the effects of modernist design philosophy (Le Corbusier, Gropius, Bauhaus etc. ) . Although Kunstler's book is by no means a complete history, his insights are provocative. His basic thesis is that the rise of the automobile has led to the development of a banal and meaningless "geography of nowhere". In other words, since the 1920s, Americans have pursued a single-minded vision when it comes to urban development: namely treating our built surroundings as disposable commodities to be bought and sold.

Growing up in a suburb, I experienced this sort of fake-non-reality-bubble of what a city should be, or what it should do for its residents. There was always nothing to do, nowhere to go. Fortunately, in those days, creative people created their own "scene", no matter how lame it was. Such a naive scene based on our libertine tastes and overbearing ignorance. Of course, conformity was the rule.

And we all nearly shit ourselves when we got behind the wheel of our first car. It was almost like and 5-year-old's first trip to Disneyland. It was like that first sexual experience. It was an epiphany, of sorts.

Little did we realize that our addiction to auto travel would bring such a high cost to our lonely empty souls. Who ever thought that being so cheap would cost us so much?

this is a Fender electric bass guitar: a 20th century instrument with a fine and noble tradition 

the Funk Brothers

"The Funk Brothers are the greatest hit machine of all time."
 
So proclaims the liner notes of Motown's latest 20th Century Masters series release The Best of The Funk Brothers...and I wholeheartedly agree with this assessment....to a point.  When one says "greatest" it usually implies some sort of competition, and I don't think that sentiment personifies the Funk Brothers at all.  These guys are great in the once-in-a-lifetime-greatness way. 
 
So who are The Funk Brothers?
 
simply stated: they are the various members of Motowns in-house studio band(s) circa 1960-1972.
 
James Jamerson-bass
Bob Babbitt-bass
Earl Van Dyke- keyboards
Johnny Griffith-keyboards
Joe Messina-guitar
Robert White-guitar
Eddie Willis-guitar
Benny Benjamin-drums
Richard Allen-drums
Uriel Jones-drums
Eddie "Bongo" Brown-congas
Jack Ashford-vibes
 
These guys made their living playing music, a fact which is abundantly evident on this CD.  The musicianship is first-rate high-calibre honest-to-goodness killer jamming!  But, if these guys didn't produce hits, then...well, then they simply didn't work for Motown anymore.  In other words, the had to kick-butt or else hit the road, Jack.
 
This collection presents the instrumental backing tracks to a plethora of Motown's big (and not-so-big) radio hits.
If you'd like to hear a first-rate rhythm section in action without all that annoying singing, then this CD is for you. 

My personal favourites are:
 
"6 by 6"
"Runaway Child, Running Wild"
"What's Going On"
"Papa was a Rolling Stone"
 
If you see this CD, by all means drop the $10 and pick it up. Worth every penny. 
 
 
 
 
 

dave p 

South of the Border

awoke this morning dreaming
of a Baja surf session
south of the border
(down Mexico way)

get the good friends together
load up the cruiser
driving south, south and further south
Clemente, Onofre, Encinitas, Oceanside, Windandsea
south, south of the border
(down Mexico way)

wind and sea
sand blows across coastal highway
coastal eddy
cool as cool can be under southern skies
south of the border
(down Mexico way)

as the sun came up
I was already at sunset
the day had past before it began
there's no-time
south of the border
(down Mexico way)

the longboard hangs mournfully indoors on the patio
it mocks me
as I eat my Cheerios
getting ready for work
my wetsuit hangs dejected in the closet
among the other clothing I won't wear today

south, southwest
(down Mexico way)

welcome

here is the new blog where dave p posts stuff