"Barbara O’Brien’s wide-ranging account of Zen history is conveyed with a master storyteller’s ability to keep the forest from getting lost in a myriad of trees. Wearing her scholarship lightly, she blends just the right amount of skepticism about her hagiographic sources with a deep appreciation for the Dharma." — Barry Magid, author of
Nothing Is Hidden and
Ending the Pursuit of Happiness Order here!
OY!
Another part of my long-lost youth, gone…
But what a talented person!
And a R&R pioneer.
What an interesting life he lived!
RIP, Lou.
You’ll be missed.
If my old turn-table still worked, I’d listen to “Berlin,” and his other solo albums.
Instead, I’ll listen to all of The Velvet Underground CD’s, which I have – and which replaced the cassette’s, which replaced the albums.
Listening to the same music over the decades, is really quite expensive.
I saw Lou Reed perform live once. Five years ago when the 17th Karmapa (a Tibetan Buddhist reborn lama; a big deal) was touring the U.S., in New York he spoke at the Hammerstein Ballroom on West 34th. So I went to hear the talk, and lo, before His Holiness came out Lou Reed came onstage with some other musicians. This was unannounced, un-billed, a complete surprise. It was, like, oh by the way, here’s Lou Reed. He did “Perfect Day” from the Transformers album and another song that was new at the time called “Power of the Heart,” my notes say, and I don’t know where or if it was recorded.
Check out his album from the early 80’s titled “The Blue Mask.” He had a great
backing band on that album and he hit a creative peak with these cohorts,
in my mind.
I saw him live on my 18th birthday, a few decades ago. It was a great show, even though I didn’t know a lot of his music at the time.
Sweet Jane is sad today.
The original Punk Rocker!!! RIP
“One chord is fine. Two chords is pushing it. Three chords and you’re into jazz.”