Lenny
10.02.03
So I am pretty sure that Lenny Kravitz is a big asshole. And that he's a little bit self-absorbed. But maybe that's why I was so head-over-heals for him for almost ten years. I first discovered him when I was 11 or so - my sister had gone to college, we switched rooms, and I found her copied tape of Kravitz's 1991 Mama Said in amongst the crap she left in her dust. I listened to that puppy like a crazy woman, and became a fan.
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At the time, he was really only known for that "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over" song, and he wasn't seen as a total sell-out. Or maybe I was just too busy fawning over him to listen to his criticism. Anyway, needless to say, the obsession continued until I was 19, he chopped off his hair, and started getting too in-my -face. I still respect the guy (less, though), but I don't like his new stuff. It's just not my style.
However, I still pull out two of his older albums - Are You Gonna Go My Way and Mama Said - once or twice a month. That's a lot, when you consider how old they are. And how much other crap I am listening to, as well. They're really good albums. A little known fact about Lenny: he plays a shit ton of instruments. For most of the songs on most of his albums, it's him and this other guy, Craig Ross, running the show. Everything is just Lenny and Craig, recorded over previous recordings of them playing different instruments. Impressive. If you have any of his albums, check out how many instruments he knows how to play. Included in the list are green Heinken bottles (on his disappointing second-to-last album, 5)
At any rate, this precious gem from Are You Gonna Go My Way is a quiet little non-rock-star song called Heaven Help. I listened to the album version forever before finding this beautiful acoustic version. It's a far cry from that party-like "Fly Away" atrocity he pulled in 1999. Take a gander. It might just change your opinion of Lenny.
Download it here: - Lenny Kravitz - Heaven Help - download no longer available, contact me to find out how to get it.
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Stevie...
10.01.03
Not Stevie Wonder or Stevie Nicks. Not today. Today is Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Personal story: when I was about thirteen, I discovered Jimi Hendrix. "Little Wing" quickly became my favorite song. Very quickly. I bought a blacklight poster of Jimi's head floating amongst some butterflies and zebras.
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And then, maybe five years later, I discovered Stevie Ray Vaughan's version of the song. "Little Wing" has probably been remade as many times as "I Will Survive" has been played on karoake night, but Steve's version is different. I played it six or seven times in a row while lying on my bed, just listening.
Your turn.
I don't want to say anymore about it. It's just a beautiful, beautiful song.
Download it here: - Stevie Ray Vaughan - Little Wing - download no longer available, contact me to find out how to get it.
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