The newest edition of Britain's Mojo magazine - my favourite and the best music magazine around - pays tribute to the 50th anniversary of Motown Records. There is the requisite bonus fare: the Motown Nuggets CD with 15 great tracks.
The magazine features interviews with founder Berry Gordy as well as Holland, Dozier, Holland and Martha Reeves.
Mojo's 100 Greatest Motown tracks are selected by British musical elites like The Clash and Paul Weller (who would certainly dislike being called "elite"). It is hard to see how any sane person could put Martha Reeves & The Vandellas Dancing in the Street as the top Motown song, over Marvin Gaye's What's Going On (which is second). Dancing in the Street doesn't belong in the Top 10. Ditto, Barrett Strong's Money (That's All I Want); The Supreme's Stop! In The Name of Love; or Gaye's I Heard It Through The Grapevine. The Gladys Knight version is better.
The Temptations gorgeous Just My Imagination (Running Away From Me) should be in the Top 10, if not number one. On second thought though, Gaye's What's Going On should be number one.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
United and Ferguson in the Driver's Seat
Over the last few days, Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho has tried to bait Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson into strategic miscues in the first leg of their Champion League playoff. Mourinho boasted how Inter would send Man U packing out of the tournament on March 16th.
Yet, even with many of their stars either out or playing injured, United were allowed to play their free-flowing game, especially in the first half. Their back four were hardly pressured throughout the game. While Inter did look dangerous in the second half, they were hardly a threat to United with the defence seemingly in total control.
Knowing how Ferguson's mind works, it is clear that drawing at Inter was like a win. United will be able to field a much strengthened team with main stay Nemanja Vidic back from suspension.
Yet, even with many of their stars either out or playing injured, United were allowed to play their free-flowing game, especially in the first half. Their back four were hardly pressured throughout the game. While Inter did look dangerous in the second half, they were hardly a threat to United with the defence seemingly in total control.
Knowing how Ferguson's mind works, it is clear that drawing at Inter was like a win. United will be able to field a much strengthened team with main stay Nemanja Vidic back from suspension.
The Depression Thing
After a week of highs, this one-legged dog is feeling dispirited. I am on the floor, so to speak. This is the thing with depression.
My problem with depression has always been a nagging suspicion it isn't real: how can someone as positive me be depressed? How can someone like me who has dragged himself up at every step and surprised himself, be melancholy? But that's the game for you.
But when the debilitating lows appear, I feel powerless. Weird thing: I feel almost embarrassed by the episodes.
When I lost my job with the federal government in 2006 the therapy suddenly ended and I couldn't afford a private one. So that was that. Of course I couldn't get into the habit of taking Paxil and it has been over two years since I stopped the medication. My drawer is a make-shift casket for pharmaceuticals: unfilled prescriptions and packets of Paxil mixed in with an almost-empty bottle of Valium or something like it.
It is, in a sense, remarkable that this one-legged dog is pretty much free of vices - no smoking, no drugs, no drinking. Just a boring old fart. Scratch that - just a boring, depressed old fart.
My problem with depression has always been a nagging suspicion it isn't real: how can someone as positive me be depressed? How can someone like me who has dragged himself up at every step and surprised himself, be melancholy? But that's the game for you.
But when the debilitating lows appear, I feel powerless. Weird thing: I feel almost embarrassed by the episodes.
When I lost my job with the federal government in 2006 the therapy suddenly ended and I couldn't afford a private one. So that was that. Of course I couldn't get into the habit of taking Paxil and it has been over two years since I stopped the medication. My drawer is a make-shift casket for pharmaceuticals: unfilled prescriptions and packets of Paxil mixed in with an almost-empty bottle of Valium or something like it.
It is, in a sense, remarkable that this one-legged dog is pretty much free of vices - no smoking, no drugs, no drinking. Just a boring old fart. Scratch that - just a boring, depressed old fart.
Monday, February 23, 2009
The One Legged Dog
I have long been a fan of Mickey Rourke through his films Diner, The Pope of Greenwich Village, 9½ Weeks, Angel Heart and The Wrestler. I am taken by The Wrestler’s tale of redemption which is why I would not have been disappointed if Mickey Rourke had won the Best Actor Oscar last night.
Sean Penn deservedly won for Milk. There is something breathtakingly remarkable about Penn’s ability to transform himself into each character he assumes. He inhabits each and becomes something new. Every time I see Penn in a movie role I wonder if I can’t learn from him in my ordinary humdrum, rundown life: like whether I can believe in a new reconstituted me long enough to make it real.
Mickey Rourke reminds me that no matter how low you get, that like the phoenix you can rise once more. Like Rourke, I felt like Bruce Springsteen’s one-legged dog - down, almost, but not completely out. Of course, there has been much discussion about Springsteen’s One Legged Dog and its meaning. Most don’t seem to understand that it is a metaphor for downtrodden like Rourke and me. And like Rourke, it is my time to dig down deeply and summon up all the drive and determination to reconstitute a life of quality.
Sean Penn deservedly won for Milk. There is something breathtakingly remarkable about Penn’s ability to transform himself into each character he assumes. He inhabits each and becomes something new. Every time I see Penn in a movie role I wonder if I can’t learn from him in my ordinary humdrum, rundown life: like whether I can believe in a new reconstituted me long enough to make it real.
Mickey Rourke reminds me that no matter how low you get, that like the phoenix you can rise once more. Like Rourke, I felt like Bruce Springsteen’s one-legged dog - down, almost, but not completely out. Of course, there has been much discussion about Springsteen’s One Legged Dog and its meaning. Most don’t seem to understand that it is a metaphor for downtrodden like Rourke and me. And like Rourke, it is my time to dig down deeply and summon up all the drive and determination to reconstitute a life of quality.
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