Comments on: Playing vinyl records: the sweetness of doing nothing

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 05:56:45 +0000

Nothing worth having comes with out some kinda fight you’ve got to kick at the darkness t I’ll it bleeds daylight
BC
Vinyl and the required effort of looking after it and the equipment is the best way to be and not do.
Do you listen to Luke Bloom?

By: Clive Watkins

Clive Watkins — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 06:35:19 +0000

In reply to Michael Frost.

Agree about Cohen. Did you catch Rabbi Sacks reflection on “You want it darker”?
I’ll leave you with some of Cockburn’s best poetry –

… in grains of sand and galaxies
in plasma flow and rain in trees
in the sepia swell of silted-up surf
in the ebb and the flow of dying and birth
in wounded streets and whispered prayer
the dance is the truth and it’s everywhere …

By: Michael Frost

Michael Frost — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 06:20:20 +0000

In reply to Clive Watkins. Trust me, Clive, you’re not the only one to lament my disinterest in Mr Cockburn. Several friends of mine have tried painstakingly to convince me of what they perceive to be his genius, but sadly I remain unconvinced. I don’t hate him. I just can’t see anything close to a virtuoso there, Brian Walsh’s book notwithstanding. If there’s a Canadian songwriter worthy of a major theological reflection it’s Leonard Cohen, if you ask me.

By: Brian Pember

Brian Pember — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 05:47:33 +0000

Now I want to listen to Van Morrison’s back catalogue of live sets with Candy Dulfer.

Life could be worse!

Van Morrison has been a still point in my inner universe since I was given his Best Of CD.

Unfortunately I don’t have a turntable, and I have all my albums away some years ago.

Grace and peace mate.

By: Clive Watkins

Clive Watkins — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 03:01:44 +0000

Dear Mike, DEEPLY disturbed that you don’t like Bruce Cockburn!
His lyrics have prompted a substantial theological book reflection “Kicking at the darkness” by Brian J. Walsh. Try some of his more recent work. i.e. Last 20 years, especially “Breakfast in New Orleans, Dinner in Timbuktu”

Re vinyl – there is also the pleasure of the album artwork. eg. Phil Travers work on the Moody Blues albums.

By: Barry McLeod

Barry McLeod — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 16:10:41 +0000

In reply to Michael Frost.

I’m guessing your friend is my friend and former ED. Andy and I even went to a Cockburn concert, years ago. The most powerful concert experience I’ve ever had was at was when I first heard Cockburn sing ‘If I had a Rocket Launcher’. When the song ended there was complete silence in the audience. We were all in shock at the powerful expression of anger and revenge in the song. After a few uncomfortable moments, Cockburn explained that the lyrics came to him while he was watching helicopter gunships shooting down innocent people. He said that, on later reflection, it would be unlikely that he could shoot a helicopter down, but that was his initial, visceral reaction and so he recorded it the song. Keep listening!
Barry
(I’ve met you numerous times at Vancouver YU training events. I also sent you the Kash Monk prayer and connected you to Shane Claiborne. Thanks for your helpful books and thoughts on missional Christianity!)

By: Michael Frost

Michael Frost — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 06:12:56 +0000

In reply to Barry McLeod.

You’re going to hate me. I love Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Ron Sexsmith, Neil Young, and KD Lang, but I just can’t see the appeal of Bruce Cockburn. I have two of his albums — In the Falling Dark and Big Circumstance — and they’re kinda okay. But I don’t love them. I have a good friend who adores Cockburn and for his sake I’ve listened to a lot of his music. But, nah, can’t say he’s won me over. Sorry.

By: Barry McLeod

Barry McLeod — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 20:30:46 +0000

I made an oops in my comment. Wondering Where the Lions Are is a song on Dancing in the Dragon’s Jaws. Other favourites include Humans, Circles in the Stream and Breakfast in New Orleans – Dinner in Timbuktu.
If heard Josh Hyslop too and he’s worth a listen!

By: Barry McLeod

Barry McLeod — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 20:16:59 +0000

It’s so nice to hear from others who appreciate old vinyl. I too have lots of the albums that you mentioned in your blog. As a good Canadian, I have to ask how many Bruce Cockburn albums you have in your collection. If you don’t have any, now would be a good time to start collecting (Salt Sun and Time, Wondering Where the Lions Are, World of Wonders…). You won’t regret it.

By: Erin

Erin — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 17:18:36 +0000

I too am a fan of record maybe not only for the sound, but the story. I think it was Beethoven who started going deaf and was embarrassed to share it with others. I think about how it shaped him. His art with the threat of death. I see the world through other’s work often times. I see woven into his despair and suffering beauty. To continue his work he cut the legs off his piano, placed his ear on the floor and played the keys to hear the vibration. He had, still, a hope and expectation that the music would one day return or, at least, make an offering. Insane hope.