https://nyti.ms/3i8plHH

What kind of crazy, fucked-up world do we live in where the countries of the European Union are more advanced than the United States?

One in which the citizens of the States have been fed the b.s. that’s it’s the greatest country in the world, advanced in all ways, nearly infallible, when that is patently untrue.

In case you missed the memo, and chances are if you lean towards the right side of the spectrum you have, democracy is in peril. That’s right, the basic building block, the underpinning of our American government. They said it couldn’t happen here and as we’ve rested on our laurels it’s occurring under our very eyes. You wonder how America sat by silently as Germany rounded up Jews and killed 6 million of them? Now you know. Go back to the news reports of yesteryear, it wasn’t like concentration camps were unknown, a big surprise, it’s just that America chose not to do anything about them and the country at large was shocked, positively shocked I tell you, when the gates fell and they saw what was inside.

We’ve gotten to the point in America where nothing can be done. Check out legislation in D.C. Mitch McConnell literally said his goal was to completely stop Biden’s agenda, just as it was during Obama’s tenure. Imagine if you were in a marriage and the other party said that it didn’t matter what you had to say, they weren’t going to change, their main goal being to wear you out so that when they regained power they could undercut you. How long do you think that marriage would last?

Welcome to the United States.

Where Covid is just a bad flu and if you think you’re immune you are. All those people who died? Well, we didn’t really land on the moon and if you want to know what is really going on listen to Q, because if you disagree with it it must be false, better to get your news from independent wankers whose only agenda is outrage.

So I guess you read that story about the Florida concert promoter:

“This concert ticket costs $18 — or $1,000 if you’re not vaccinated – The promoter says he’s offering a discount. The governor’s office says he’s violating Florida rules.” https://wapo.st/3c5LnqM

That’s right, it’s against the law, AGAINST THE LAW, to ask someone to provide proof of vaccination in Florida. Because, well because…having papers reminds people of the concentration camps of yore? Well, you can’t drive without a license, and automobiles are deadly weapons, but soon you’ll be able to walk the streets of Texas with your gun proudly displayed without a license: https://nyti.ms/3pcsxUs Westerns passed with the middle of the last century, turns out most people don’t want to watch them, but we’re on the verge of going back to the wild west on the streets, it’s every man for himself in America today…literally! They don’t want you to have health insurance, they don’t want the government supporting you at all, despite your inability to make ends meet at your low-paying service job, as a matter of fact, your state doesn’t want to give you Medicaid money even when the federal government is footing the bill!

Is your head spinning yet?

Yes, all in the name of FREEDOM!

You’re hearing about the possibility of inflation. As if this is the number one concern of the rank and file. But the truth is the rank and file have been operating nearly underground for decades, their goal is just to survive, and therefore they drink and drug and are demonized by those raping them and the economy to get rich while the winners continue to pound their chests saying how brilliant they are.

We don’t even have a civilized society anymore. And god forbid you’re a minority, Black, Asian or Jew…it’s open season.

So the European Union stands up to the tech giants.

The European Union makes moves to prevent the collection of personal data by websites.

But in America, we’ve got Mark Zuckerberg crying that Tim Cook and Apple are stealing his lunch money. I only wish that would happen, as Facebook is a fount of inaccuracy, Facebook has been complicit in undermining democracy, but somehow it can’t be stopped, if anything more falsehoods should be able to be spread. Ron DeSantis of Florida is trying that too, passing a law that no one can be banned from social media.

If only everyone were vaccinated I could leave the house, live a normal life. But that can’t happen, because someone healthy might have to get jabbed, and you can’t invade anybody’s body, it’s their sacred temple… Let’s hear what they have to say when they get sick, they’ll cry for every drug and medical procedure known to man. Yes, they’re all crybabies under the skin. It’s all posturing. But the tail is wagging the dog, elected officials are afraid of alienating them, pissing them off.

So let me ask you, do you feel comfortable going to a concert with no checking of vaccination status? How about Metallica. How about the rest of hard rock, where so many rightward leaning fans attend? The virus knows no political bounds. Even worse, when you don’t get vaccinated you allow the further spread of variants, which are ever more transmissible, but don’t let science get in the way of feelings.

The social welfare state… I want you to canvass those living in the Scandinavian countries and find someone who is complaining, about free college, free health care and… If you traveled up north to Canada, you’d find the same thing re health care, I know, I’ve been there, but those protesting loudly never have. Yes, take a trip, see how it’s going in the rest of the world, you’ll be stunned how in many ways it’s better.

As for China… You may fear Tesla, but you really should fear all the Chinese electric car companies. You want your truck, you want gasoline, you think the government is unfairly subsidizing electric cars… Well, keep at it, and be sure that almost all the cars in America will soon be Chinese. China is not afraid of the future, afraid of moving forward. Then again, it’s an autocracy. Funny how in America people want authoritarianism to hold back the future, to preserve things just as they are, while the States fall ever further behind.

Give me one good argument why we should not require vaccine passports. You can’t.

Then again, you can’t allow truth, justice and the American Way to supersede your feelings that if you close your eyes, then click your heels, we can all go back to an era where whites dominated.

Can’t be done.

And it wasn’t so good back then to begin with.

Watch as the rest of the world pulls ahead of America.

Oh, you can’t, because the news source you pay attention to doesn’t feature these stories. And furthermore demonizes those which do.

Just because it wasn’t invented here that does not mean it’s not good, not better. America used to latch on to third party ideas, improve them and make them its own.

Now it just makes the sign of the cross and moves on.

Rust never sleeps. Keep your eyes open. The American way of life is disappearing as I write this, while those responsible for this keep telling us they’re all about maintaining the virtues of American life.

Doublespeak.

It’s “1984.”

Only it’s 2021.

We’re heading for the big crash. And it won’t be economic. What will it take for the rest of us to wake up and agitate like those on the right?

I thought it would be abortion, but now there are states where it’s essentially impossible for most people to get one and the left is not rioting in the street.

What is gonna make you realize you’re not immune?

When you gonna wake up?

Bob Dylan asked that question forty years ago, unfortunately too many people are falling further asleep, believing it’ll all pass, that it’s someone else’s job to right the wrongs.

Wrong.

When my wife and visited the Lyndon B. Johnson Ranch in Johnson City, TX, in the early 2000s, the tour of the compound ended with a ride back to the Visitor Center while “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” played in the tour bus. The guide said this was Johnson’s favorite song and he played it in his yellow Cadillac when he was driving around his spread.

Robert Vellani,
Burlington, NC

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As a singer, BJ Thomas’s voice has always been an inspiration to me. I was hired to sing on a session at the old Cherokee Studios on Fairfax, sometime in the late 80s, I think. BJ Thomas was there working in another one of the studio rooms, and came into ours to listen. Since he was hanging out there in the control room, I started chatting with him, and let him know how much his work had meant to me. The discussion got into talking about what he’d been up to lately, and I casually mentioned that I’d seen that he had recently gone through a period of being a gospel artist.

He looked straight ahead and said, “Well, I learned one thing: The only thing more corrupt and full of greed than the record business is the gospel record business.”

Gary Stockdale

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Maybe BJ actually had THREE careers?? He went through a public conversion and started making Christian records for Word Inc. out of Waco, TX around 1977. He had a string of nearly ten Contemporary Christian records over the next 6 or 7 years. He toured with Andrae Crouch and others. The story goes that Christians in his audience would boo when he sang his pop hits. And then others would boo when he’d talk about Jesus and sing his CCM hits. I got to him in once in the late ‘90’s in the halls at Warner Bros. Nashville. I was beside myself trying to even speak a word. What a legend. What a loss.

Chris Hauser

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BJ: “Raindrops….”, “Hooked…” and “Another Done Somebody Wrong Song”. Great Southern Company(me, Ira Sokoloff, Phil Walden, and others) did his merchandise in late ’70’s/early ’80’s. He was just starting to do religious songs mostly by then. A nice, gentle man.

Willie Perkins

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Thanks Bob,I worked in a club where every night the DJ would end the night by playing Hooked On a Feeling.I heard it every night.And I never got tired of it.It’s a great song,and BJ Thomas nails it.I’ve been listening to it all weekend in my mind.Stay well Bob.Thanks,Ted Keane

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Good one Bob. I liked his songs and immediately went to Spotify to listen.

Kenneth Williams

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Katherine Ross ….  made me wanna be that bicycle…. 

Andrew Loog Oldham

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B.J.’s nephew is a good friend of mine so I got a chance to meet him a couple times in the past few years. More than just a great performer, he was a genuinely nice human being. He made me feel welcome and apparently asked about me every time he talked to Bobby after that. Condolences to his lovely wife Gloria and their whole family.

Tim Fricke

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Nice job, Bob.
I was in a band that was fortunate to open up for B. J. once back in the lat 70’s. He couldn’t have been a nicer guy. He came in to our dressing room after we were done and told us we’d done a great job, and chatted with us for a little bit.
A very nice guy indeed.
Bill Scherer

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Reservoir Dogs.!

Both of his iconic songs are eternally etched into our existence via the power of film.

Paul Koidis

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Hey Bob, what a great read and reminded of BJ Thomas and his music.     I had such a flash back after reading your post, I guess growing up in Seattle I heard a bunch of BJ on Seattle radio KING Am and KJR both played him a lot. I just wanted to add his version of BeachBoys “Don’t worry Baby “ and ( Hey Won’t you play ) another somebody done somebody wrong song.  Were huge records… and they will always put that period in a capsule for me and many.🙌🏾

Frank Higginbotham

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He was a good man. We had Instagram communication. He was humble, kind and funny. He deserved a lot more than he received.

Lgjg94

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Got to meet BJ Thomas when he was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame years ago. He personified what would become blue-eye soul pop music after the Righteous Brothers.
He told a story of how he was supposed to sing the song “In the Ghetto” which would have made him an even bigger star with its far reaching civil rights message.
But at the last minute the song was pitched to Elvis who needed a career boost badly and the rest is history. RIP BJ
Kenny Lee Lewis

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Bob…check out B.J.’s follow-up to “Feeling,” “The Eyes Of A New York Woman”…it’s got the “guitar sitar” on it and it’s one of the great NYC songs…love it to this day…

Matthew Auerbach

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Actually, the artist briefly known as ‘Blue Swede’ never disappeared but, rather, stepped seamlessly back into his career as himself, Björn Skifs, in Sweden, where he remains an icon to this day. His version of ‘Hooked On A Feeling’ was a bit of a joke which, as things did and continue to occasionally do, went inexplicably ‘viral’. His Wiki page is only in Swedish, if you’re curious here it is, Google Translate works just fine.

https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bj%C3%B6rn_Skifs

Eric Bazilian

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More important than so many others. Forever hooked on a feeling

Randy Lauderdale

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Thank you for this tribute to BJ Thomas.

Some of the things you said really resonate with me and take me back to 1969.

Your observation about polling and quizzing youngsters about movies today, made me think of an experience I had a few weeks back.

I play a ZOOM open mic each week where a ‘challenge’ gets set for the upcoming week. The challenge was to play a song from a movie.  I decided to play ‘Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head’ -  thinking my audience will be familiar with the song. Age-wise, they range from late 20’s up to late 60’s. To my surprise, there were people who didn’t know the song and didn’t know the movie it came from. But they all agreed it was a great song.

I came away happy to know that the song was recognized for its strengths (it transcended the performer!!) but sad that a movie, a scene, a song that I accept as such an emotionally resonant and iconic part of our culture, can mean nothing to people whom I otherwise share a bond with through the weekly playing of live music on ZOOM.

andy jones

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Hey Bobby, yeh i heard the news about B.J.    i was on Facebook yesterday and saw a great pic of him… obviously a young foto..forgot how good looking he was..hahah…it’s funny how you say we all were so young at the time when all that great music was being recorded…where do you even start right?  i was trying to get downtown yesterday and a guy came up behind me on a bike and said  randy!….RANDY!…i’m like holy fuck who is it now… he says B.J. Thomas just died… i’m like ya i just heard..don’t have a clue who this guy was cause we’re all wearing masks up here but he knew who i was.. it’s funny how you just don’t know sometimes who remembers anything but i guess us oldtimers remembered him.. he had a real good string of hits… and he will be remembered …All the Best baby… thanks for the tribute to Mister Thomas

Randy Dawson

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I am a bit of a cover act, I do well over 100 songs.
All genres pop, rock, folk, country.

I play ‘Rain Drops’, and almost aways announce it
as the happiest song ever.

The horn section piece at the end is my favourite
piece of music of all time.

I cover it with vocal da da da das.

I like music from folk to death metal, but that little
song, and that little horn piece just moves me.

At least he went fast.

OK, now I need to figure out Hooked in a key
I can sing.

Cheers

Mitch Nixon

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listen to rock and roll lullabye and mighty clouds of joy—two BJ also-ran songs that are simply glorious

such a voice

a wile ago he also release an album done in the bossa nova style—pretty cool stuff

frank

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Thank you. I remember the high school party I was at when I heard “hooked on a feeling“ for the first time.  Fan ever since   We lost a good one

John Huie

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I’ve been reading you for years and never commented.

You nailed it with the BJ Thomas piece.

I recall the Scepter 45’s

Thanks

Rick Gelok

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Man you got me right back in memory lane His music stuck with you like glue. I even remover walking my family’s Dog called Snoopy Another sign of those times  I’d also sneak a cigarette if it was after Sundown  Man you felt like you had it really going on

Thanks for reawakening those memories Bob

Cheers The Sutterman

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I’d just like to note that BJ Thomas’ first hit, his version of “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” is also one of his best and really shows how well he could sing.  Also his “I Can’t’ Help Believing” was his fourth Top Ten single. Not two.

Toby Mamis

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As you wrote in your love letter to 1971, I too was born at the perfect time, albeit several years before you. Hooked on a Feeling was pure dynamite with so much character and punch that it almost jumped out of the tinny transistor that I had.  Raindrops was pure dreck in comparison, although the Bacharach/David team created that incredible and indelible string of masterpieces otherwise.

As far as earthy, well Katherine Ross and Ali McGraw did it for me as I was transitioning from teen-boy to teen-man.  Election night in NY and one of the Independent stations (PIX or WOR) played The Graduate year in and year out for a while – for me!, and if I see it another 10 times it won’t be enough.  Both that and Goodbye Columbus struck a chord deep within me and I’m not sure that I’ve ever gotten over how they affected me.  And I’ll surely never forget how both Ross and McGraw in those roles did that to me as well.

And now, you reminded me to pull up Hooked on a Feeling – the original of course and let it reign o’er me.

Alan

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Great tribute to BJ Thomas . . . he could flat-out sing, and had a surprising number of hit singles. The kind of performer who you go to see and find yourself saying “I forgot he did that one” . . .

– Raindrops (of course),

– Hooked On A Feeling (as you nailed spot on), but also

– Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song

– No Love At All

– Rock & Roll Lullaby

– I Just Can’t Help Believing

– Everyone Is Out Of Town

– Most Of All

. . . I think he even did the theme to a TV show back in the 80’s, and he had quite a run in Contemporary Christian music after dealing with some challenges. Great songs delivered by a terrific singer. It’s sobering when the guys who created our lives’ soundtracks move on.

Be well Bob and keep up the great work . . . I’ve been enjoying your musical insights for years now, ever since the late, great, Bud Prager turned me onto your newsletter.

God bless & GOGETEM!

Pat O’Connor

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Hey Bob,

great write up about B.J. Thomas .Let me tell you about what a class act he was.

I was blessed to  cross paths with him on numerous occasions in various circumstances over the years and he was always professional, humble , kind , and always made time for everyone.  It’s a dream come true when one of your musical hero’s turns out to be a wonderful human.  Years ago when I first met him , I told him the story  of how in ’68 or  69 as a child , my Mom took me to see him in concert at the Univ. of Alabama.  It was my first real concert and my little 5 year mind was blown and  I knew right then what I wanted to do in life. Play music on stage.  I told B.J. of how it was such an inspiration to me and his reply in a serious , straight man face – “ I’m so  very sorry you ended up in the music business” Then he busted out laughing loudly and gave me a big hug!  I melted.. I have a framed photo of that moment and the both of us are cracking up.

Fast forward , years later in August of  2019  my band Sixwire ( who I’m the drummer for )  is the house band for Elvis Week at Graceland , and B.J. was the main guest star performer singing songs that were recorded at American Sound studios ( where “Hooked on a Feeling” and tons of other hits were recorded)  He was amazing!   All songs were in the original song keys and he sang his ass off, and he could not have  been nicer to all of the musicians on stage.  A joy to work with.

Sorry for the length , but here’s  the pay off.  My Mom ( and all my fam) was at this show.  She is a lifelong , huge fan of B.J.’s and insisted that she come back stage after ward and meet her life long crush and musical hero.  I made it happen.  Back story, she’s 80 years old, has some obvious major health issues going on.  B. J.  comes over to me and asks “who’s this young lady?”  and she just lit UP, all goofy and smiling and acting like a total fan girl.  He looks at me and just smiles and winks and gave her all the time she wanted and took pics of the 3 of us… and just like that , my Mom thought she was 25 years old and she floated out of the room , and just for a moment , I saw my Mom became the healthy lady she used to be. I could have cried.

So I go visit my parents  for Xmas a few months later and she has a framed photo of her and B. J. on her mantle , with ME cropped OUT of the photo!!  I knew you loved B.J. Mom, but what the hell?! ( Oldest son, kicked to the curb ….). We still laugh about it, and she was deeply saddened to hear of his passing yesterday..That photo of her and B.J. is one of her prized possessions.   B.J. went out of his way to make her feel special, and boy did he do that.  He would’ve laughed his ass off about my Mom’s photo cropping skills too,  I assure you.

I just wanted to share this with you as  I know you’ll be flooded with
tons of stories of how wonderful B. J. was.    Take care and  stay healthy  Bob .

Chuck D. Tilley
Nashville

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I was thrilled to read your tribute to BJ, and to include Reggie Young as well was really special.

Two of the nicest and most talented people I ever knew.

I first met BJ ,on a Dick Clark American Bandstand tour, many years ago.

Son of a preacher man, a true gentleman, humble, always smiling and caring.

A voice from above.

Met Reggie when I moved to Nashville, another fantastic human being.

Giant of the guitar, and as a man.

Thank you for letting people know of the tremendous contributions that they made to the music we have been listening to all these years.

Best to you and your family,

Felix Cavaliere

https://amzn.to/3c9gtOp

There are two kinds of people in this world. One believes David Mitchell is the bees knees, the best writer working, and the other makes the sign of the cross and runs away from all his words.

I’m in the latter camp.

Although, there is a third breed…people who have no idea who and what I’m talking about and don’t care.

When the “Cloud Atlas” movie was released there was a huge buzz, but a concomitant blowback, from Mitchell fans who felt they did not get it even remotely right.

I did not see “Cloud Atlas.” I don’t think I’d even heard of David Mitchell. And since the film got mediocre reviews at best, I passed.

But then two people sent me David Mitchell’s 2010 book “The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet.” And I was on the fence, but then Don Henley told me he was reading it so I decided to plow through.

It was my most difficult reading experience of the last decade. No, even longer, do I have to hearken back to 1972, when I had to read “Ulysses”?

And I read “Jacob de Zoet” the same way I read “Ulysses.” I just kept on going, I stopped worrying if I understood what was going on. And I’d like to tell you when I was done with the book I was satisfied, but the truth is I was just relieved, and I swore I’d never read another David Mitchell book again, even though people kept recommending them.

But then Andrew weighed in. I’d written about “Opal & Nev” possibly being the best fiction rock book of all time. (Yes, I know about “Daisy Jones & The Six,” I read it, liked it and even wrote about it: https://bit.ly/3g29iZt But “Daisy Jones” follows the Fleetwood Mac narrative quite closely, “Opal & Nev” is more original, and chews off more, even though “Daisy Jones” is the easier reading experience.) And he kept bugging me. To the point where I got “Utopia Avenue” from the library. Little did I know Mr. Oldham was in it.

As a matter of fact, almost all of the rock royalty kicking around in the late sixties is in “Utopia Avenue,” from both sides of the glass and both sides of the pond, and I don’t want to ruin the reading experience, but it’s fun when the members of the band Utopia Avenue run into stars, and there are narratives, aligned with truth, as to how these famous names behave.

So at first I was thrilled and surprised by “Utopia Avenue,” I couldn’t wait to get home from my hike and read the book. But then the second night, I was dazed and confused, it turned into a David Mitchell book, with endless words where you weren’t quite sure what was going on, I was ready to give up. But Felice was ahead of me, and she was enjoying it, and she acknowledged at times it was difficult, but that it swung back, so I decided to stay the course and keep reading.

So what we’ve got here is the formation of a band in 1967.

And it’s very different from today. First and foremost there is a band. Today bands are rare, because not only are they hard to keep together, there’s the issue of the MONEY! Sure, you’re willing to starve for a while, but if you actually hit it you at least want to get rich, at least never have to get a day job again, but that’s not how it was for most acts back then, they were doing it for the music, they gave it all up for the music. Elf gave up college, Dean starved, Jasper detoured from his privileged upbringing and…Griff was an anomaly, trained as a jazzer he crossed over into rock.

Levon puts the band together. It’s his last chance. He’s got some backing and the thought of going back to where he came from is anathema.

So everybody’s got a family and everybody’s got a backstory.

And unlike in the usual rock novel, the book is just not a string of plot points run together. Sure, there’s plenty of plot in “Utopia Avenue,” but a lot of it revolves around the band members and their histories and individual dealings. “Utopia Avenue” moves slower than the average rock level, it’s not “Behind the Music,” an entire act’s history shmushed down into an hour, rather it’s a deep dive into just a few years. And in those years are a lot of hopes, which are too often dashed, and detours, and excitement and drudgery. Join a band and you can see the world, and I’m not only talking about travel. Just don’t plan on getting rich at the end, then again there was a hell of a lot less money in it in the sixties, and never forget, almost no one made it.

So what we’ve got here is a real writer writing a rock story, and that’s very rare. But it is David Mitchell, so he goes off the rails occasionally. Also, if you’re familiar with Mitchell, you know his books all reference his others. Yes, the lead guitarist in Utopia Avenue is named…Jasper de Zoet. Furthermore, in this book they tell you how to pronounce it, which is “zoot,” I read that whole damn book about his ancestor and kept on getting it wrong!

So Elf’s family is middle class. She’s the black sheep. She’s talented, but her parents want her to go straight. And she’s insecure sexually, she doesn’t think she’s good-looking enough, sexually attractive. Then again, when Utopia Avenue starts to gain traction being a woman in a band you get the spotlight shined upon you, and it’s weird, getting attention just because you’re a woman, in a world run by men, how do you handle it?

And some of the men are creepy, but oftentimes you don’t realize this until it’s too late.

Dean comes from a challenging background. His father didn’t want him to be a musician either, but his dad takes more drastic action than Elf’s.

And Jasper keeps getting called a girl because of his long hair.

And today these issues are completely incomprehensible, but you don’t know, in 1967 even growing your hair long was a statement, there was the generation gap, parents were not best friends with their children.

Getting a record deal is the hardest part. Back then if you didn’t have one, you couldn’t play.

And then there’s the money. If you’re in music you know the cliché: “It’s not about the money…IT’S ABOUT THE MONEY!” If you’ve got the single, you make more, because of the publishing. And there are three writers in Utopia Avenue, so who goes first? And then the label starts to meddle and you have to make the album on a budget and…

The nuts and bolts, the mechanics, are pretty well delineated here, even the risks of the road. You got paid in cash, because you couldn’t trust the promoter’s check to be good.

Yes, there’s a lot of truth in “Utopia Avenue.”

But it’s a commitment. It’s long, and it’s not always an easy read. But in these days where we’re confronted with the present all day long, the news which obliterates us, the pain of everyday life, “Utopia Avenue” is a great respite, you can dive into this world and remove yourself from the issues of today, your troubles.

“Utopia Avenue” is 570 pages long. And I couldn’t read even 10% per hour. So do the math, you can see how long it took me to read it. I know it’s a holiday, but I spent most of Saturday and a good chunk of Sunday finishing it, never mind the hours I put in before.

Which is why there was never much buzz about “Utopia Avenue” in the rock world when it was released last year. Records are short, they require little commitment, and music is not an intellectual business, as a matter of fact if you’re highfalutin’, you often miss the point.

Then again, back in the sixties, the highfalutin’ people were involved, that’s just how powerful the music was. If you couldn’t play, you wrote. That’s how Jon Landau started out. R. Meltzer… The writers weren’t as legendary as the players, but they were known.

And when “Utopia Avenue” came out I don’t remember universally positive reviews.

Then again, it gets four and a half stars on Amazon, but is that mostly Mitchell fans?

If you’re looking for something light, something you read only for the plot, don’t even start. But if you’re willing to go down the road less taken, where all the rewards lie, you’ll get more out of “Utopia Avenue” than almost any fictional book about music, maybe nonfiction too. Will it give you a leg up, teach you lessons, help you get rich? Absolutely not. If for no other reason than the business is completely different today, it’s corporatized, the hustlers and sharks of yore are gone…but it was these characters that gave the business its color, they took risks corporate types never will, and they risked on innovation, all the bands sounded different.

And didn’t last long.

That’s one thing you learn as you age…the peak period for almost all acts is very short, just a handful of years, and then they lose it, or the sound changes, or people tire of them, or all three. They may stick in your mind, but they’re also stuck in time, playing their hits forever, assuming they had any.

If you’re old enough to remember the sixties, and contrary to the legend, everybody remembers them if they lived through them, this is your era.

If you’re younger than that, you’ll still recognize most of the names, and you’ll also get insight into how it used to be.

On Denmark Street. At the Marquee. In the record bins. Which used to be the most happening places extant. Forget dope, you got high just going into a record store. Mitchell does a good job of capturing that spirit. And more…

P.S. “Utopia Avenue” isn’t about making a statement, the words service the story, it’s not like there’s a stunning aphorism on every page, wisdom laid down. But there are a number of passages I highlighted, I want to drop a few:

“No — you are a star first, therefore you have the hits.”

You’ve either got it or you haven’t, either you’re dripping charisma or…get a job behind the scenes.

“A person is a thing who leaves.”

You’re alone in this world. The most committed person dies. It’s sad, and lonely, hopefully the music will keep you rooted.

“‘If I can play,’ says Jasper, ‘it’s because I practiced in lieu of a living. It’s not a method I recommend.'”

BINGO! This is the difference between yesterday and today. Do you want to shut off social media, never mind streaming television, and take ten years to practice your instrument? I don’t think so…

“You’ll be ripped off, mugged, and shat on, but Utopia Avenue’s waiting for yer. Hang on in there.”

It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock and roll. And that means a lot of false starts, a lot of blind alleys, if you’ve got it and you persevere you’ve got a chance, but without perseverance you’ll never make it.

“‘The best pop songs are art,’ says Jasper. ‘Making art is already a political act. The artist rejects the dominant version of the world. The artist proposes a new version. A subversion. It’s there in the etymology. Tyrants are right to fear art.'”

And there you have it folks, the difference between yesterday and today. And the definition of an artist.

“‘And music scares ’em shitless,’ says Dean. ‘It’s the hooks. Once music’s in yer, it’s in for good. The best music’s a kind of thinking. Or a kind o’ rethinking. It doesn’t follow orders.'”

That’s the power of music. And we haven’t had that spirit here since…

“‘Everyone acts. The trick is to do it well and reap rewards.'”

Yup, even if you’re not on stage, if you’re working in a record store, everyone is playing a role.

“How stability is illusory. How certainty is ignorance.”

This is the hardest part, you can never rest. But as difficult as this is, it’s what makes life interesting.

At times this is so slow it’s a chore to keep watching. And therefore I don’t recommend it. Then again, if you’re a fan you’ve probably already seen it. And if you’re not…

But you should be. The first two seasons of “Master of None” are fantastic. But having been caught up in the #Metoo movement, Aziz Ansari has been licking his wounds and therefore it’s taken four years for this new season. (As for #Metoo…if you succumb to sex on a date, making the choice yourself, does the person who implores you to do so need to be canceled? I’ll let you decide.)

Anyway, Aziz is barely in this season. And when he appears in the first episode, it’s a breath of fresh air, a jolt to one’s focus, you snap to attention, gladly…but then he’s gone.

But it’s when Aziz and his girlfriend show up that the greatness begins. You see they start to fight. They’re picking at each other. And neither is innocent. And they’re doing it front of Denise and Alicia.

You’ve been there. Or else you’ve never had a deep relationship. When things get so bad you don’t bother hiding them, you can’t hold back, you’ll fight anywhere. And Aziz/Dev even states maybe they’re just staying together because they’re afraid to get back out there. There’s so much truth here it’s a revelation.

But even better is when Aziz’s girlfriend retreats to the bathroom with Alicia and confesses…she just didn’t think her life would turn out this way, in her thirties she expected success, not loose ends, not knowing where to go next, floundering.

Media is populated with winners. We can debate all day long whether America can handle the truth, but one thing is for sure, they don’t often see it on the screen. You’re supposed to be optimistic, never lose hope, and furthermore, if you’re not a winner you’re supposed to feel inferior, and shut up and get out of the way.

You’re in training for twenty years, in school, and then you graduate and get a job and maybe even get married and then you wake up…is this where I want to be? Are my goals aligned with my significant other’s? Has too much time gone by for me to get on the train and arrive at my destination?

This happens to everybody. But not necessarily at the same time. If you think life can be about a steady ascension, you’re not on the ladder. You wake up one day and you ask yourself is this it, and no matter how much money you may have, where do you go next?

So I’m loath to give away plot points, then again, once again, if you don’t know them you’ll probably never see this. Which is equivalent to Woody Allen’s art films, but even more realistic. There are almost no jokes, but there is a lot of personal truth. Does every comedian have an urge to pull down the mask, set aside the laughs and speak existential truth? Maybe so.

So keeping a relationship/marriage on track is one of the hardest things you’ll do in life. And the number one criterion for doing so is too often absent. And that’s commitment. People always think they can trade up, do better. But live long enough and you find out this is not true. Every relationship is chiaroscuro, with ups and downs, it’s about a balance, and if you get so far as to be married, standing up in front of friends and family, you should do your best to make it work…but that is not what happens. Your friends will sympathize with your issues, implore you to leave your partner, and then when you’re single they’ll find significant others and leave you behind, all alone, lonesome.

And then Denise, after reaching the pinnacle and it not sustaining, speaks of her fear of being ordinary. If you’re on the road to a destination, this is what you fear most. Getting married, getting a job, buying a house, having kids and…hopefully some good times, but not much more. Not rich, not on the cover of a magazine, not recognized when you go out… Maybe you never had this dream, but if you did, when it is snuffed it is painful…yes, when you have the realization that you truly are just like everybody else.

And does love ever die? Or does what you have with one person last forever, can you hook back into them as easily as snapping your fingers. And is the exciting one ultimately less compatible than the boring one?

You don’t have to watch season one and season two to get and understand season three of “Master of None.” People have argued that Denise is not even the same person, although Aziz/Dev is.

One can also argue that the slowness reflects real life. Alicia in the laundromat, staring into space as her clothes spin.

Or Denise staring into the distance…

But then there are the small moments which mean much more than they appear. Like losing your inhibitions and dancing together. No one else can see you, but the mood, the connection, is palpable and memorable.

Season three of “Master of None” is not a huge commitment. There are only five episodes, but with so much else on offer…

Yet if you’ve reached thirty, and you watch this, it will touch feelings, emotions that have been dormant for too long, or that you thought only you had.

It’s easy to say Aziz Ansari should get back to where he belongs, just do comedy, people implore others to stay in their lane constantly, especially if they’ve had any success, and I would like to see more Aziz comedy, but I would also like to see more Aziz drama, albeit moving a bit faster, because Aziz is dealing with the real issues of life…there’s a sensitive soul inside there, as there is in you, not that you’d admit it to anybody.