DIG THIS WITH BILL MESNIK AND RICH BUCKLAND- THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS

As the man stands in front of his former home, he is confronted with the thought that, perhaps, things are better left as they are.  …The spirit-world around this world of sense Floats like an atmosphere, and everywhere Wafts through these earthly mists and vapours dense  A vital breath of more ethereal air. Our little lives are kept in equipoise By opposite attractions and desires; The struggle o...

Warren Zevon has been finally been nominated to enter The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. Zevon is truly the only class of '23  inductee I truly give a damn about with the exception of George Micheal whom I feel is one hell of a great vocalist and Willie Nelson who is.......well, Willie Nelson. Warren's induction could assist his estate in many ways, including providing the grand finale to g...

The man, having remembered his former life, struggles with his conflicting desires, whether or not to return to it.  “You can't go back home to your family, back home to your childhood, … back home to a young man's dreams of glory and of fame … back home to places in the country, back home to the old forms and systems of things which once seemed everlasting but which are changing all the...

The concept to which The Rascals were dedicated was, in Felix Cavaliere's words, "Marvin Gaye's voice, Ray Charles' piano, Jimmy Smith's organ, Phil Spector's production and The Beatles' writing. Put them all together and you've got what I wanted to do." A White Rock band playing Black Soul music was a new idea for Pop in 1965. "The great thing abo...

SPIRIT ANIMAL JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL by Neil Diamond (Columbia, 1973) There were alot of self-help manuals popularized in the 70’s; I remember gifting my mother the book “Your Eronneous Zones” (but that’s another story)…. My acting teacher in college based her syllabus on Eric Berne’s “I’m Ok, You’re Ok”. But one of the biggest New Age parables making the rounds was Ex-Aviator Richard Bach’s...

ELLIE GREENWICH - SONGWRITER HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE- 1991 Ellie Greenwich is one of the most successful songwriters of the modern pop music era. She was one of the major influences on the 60's rock and roll, a music that continues alive and well today. Her songs, which have sold in the tens of millions, have earned her 25 gold and platinum records. Born in Brooklyn, her young life was filled w...

On an early morning ramble,  the Man is stopped dead in his tracks by an unexpected encounter with a wild denizen of the area.  In Native American culture, the Coyote is seen as an important messenger of personal transformation through self-reflection. ... Coyotes also remind us that anything we do to others will come back to us—good or bad.

HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE IF I COULD ONLY REMEMBER MY NAME by David Crosby (1971, Atlantic) The Reaper continues its rampage, cutting swathes across the aging population of musical pioneers. Last week it was Jeff Beck, yesterday David Crosby. In fairness, it was actually amazing that the Croz lived as long as he did. He had diabetes, and In 1994 underwent a liver transplant (paid fo...

Mitch Ryder, one of the most distinctive and soulful voices to come out of Detroit’s 1960s rock music scene, will be inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame June 11, at the Music Hall in Detroit. This year’s crop of inductees also includes Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight & the Pips, the Impressions, Larry Williams, and posthumous inductees James Brown, Isaac Hayes and Mary Wells. Ryder ma...

F U DEATH TRUTH by Jeff Beck (Epic, 1968) Ok, I’m fuckin’ sick of this parade of loss, Death. We just started 2023, and you take Jeff Beck without warning, while on tour with Johnny Depp - (as if he needs any more grief)?! Bacterial Meningitis…? I mean, WTF?!   Of the three guitar gods that descended from Mt. Yardbird - (Clapton, Page, Beck) - for my money, the best that ever bestrode the earth wa...

ARE THEY FOR REAL? The Blues Brothers (Atlantic, 1978) Look what you get to do if you’re a monstrously famous and beloved comic performer: you get to live out your soul man fantasies, backed by some of the greatest living musicians. You get to sell 3.5 million copies of your vanity-project album, and then, parlay your karaoke delusion into a couple of hit movies.  I saw John Belushi in Lemmings at...

The "Soul Diva" Annette Snell died tragically young in a plane crash, and this glorious artifact testifies to her greatness. 

The man decides to try his hand at panhandling, which doesn’t go well, except that out of this failure he experiences a self-realization, and an inkling of his identity.  7 Sales Strategy Secrets from an Expert Panhandler (from Google) Satisfy a compelling customer need. This is most important--for panhandlers or any business. ... Project the right image. ... Choose a tax-favored business. ... Loc...

ELUSIVE GODDESS-  Mary Hopkin (Apple, 1971) Mary Hopkin possesses one of the most achingly beautiful voices in creation. You wouldn’t be blamed, though, for only remembering her for the Paul McCartney produced debut single, “Those Were the Days” from 1968. That song was ubiquitous and sold a million and a half copies in the US alone. She and the cute Beatle followed it up with “Goodbye”, which als...

In honor of the documentary THE VENTURES: STARS ON GUITARS, currently running on Amazon Prime, Bill and Rich are reposting their tribute to the instrumental group that promoted surf music and Mosrite guitars around the world, recorded over 200 albums, and out-sold the Beatles in Japan 2 to 1.  (which only goes to show, once again, that your faithful correspondents, The Splendid Bohemians, have the...

“Motherlove” is the uncontested alpha of the North Hollywood encampment; They are an inspirational motivator who sees every person as valuable, and this shared vision helps lift the entire camp. The Man is immediately smitten by Motherlove’s charisma, and falls under their spell.  The HUD brochure asks: Why do some people choose encampments over the shelter system? One reason: a desire for Autonom...

It's a triple play - no, not "Tinkers to Evers to Chance-" but, a spectacular combo nonetheless:  Dion (The Wanderer), Jay Black of Jay and the Americans (Cara Mia), and Bobby Rydell (Wild One).  Bill and Rich, The Splendid Bohemians, present these titans  to you for three cautionary, yet inspiring examples  of late-career, Show Biz road warriors. They may have been bloodied, but th...

Hear the whole sordid story of the oddest pairing in Christmas music history! Der Bingle didn't know who The Thin White Duke was, and Bowie was not a fan of Bing's. And, yet here they are...

John Lennon and Yoko Ono gave this gift to the world, and it has become a perennial. Merry Christmas, and God Bless Us, Everyone! 

 In his dreams the bereft man is visited by the spirit of his departed pet, who’s disappearance was never solved.  From the book of symbols: Dogs never desert their masters, apt cause for them to be regarded in diverse mythologies and religions as accompanying their masters even unto death and as guides in the afterlife.  In nearly every world mythology, our constant companion the dog has come to...

STREET CRED -by The Paul Butterfield Blues Band (Elektra, 1972) EXTENDED DELUXE VERSION!! When talking about Paul Butterfield there’s a lot to cover, and I can’t do it all justice in this small space. I recommend the documentary HORN FROM THE HEART to get all the nuances in Paul Butterfield’s story. However, listening to this compilation, one can get a nice view of the shapely arc of this band’s j...

The man trudges on, to where he doesn’t know. He just needs a place to land. The air is hot and choking, his brain is racing. Then, he realizes: it’s Santa Ana season.  “The baby frets. The maid sulks. I rekindle a waning argument with the telephone company, then cut my losses and lie down, given over to whatever is in the air. To live with the Santa Ana is to accept, consciously or unconsciously,...

https://futurerocklegends.com/Artist/Frank_Sinatra/ Not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Eligible since: 1965 First Recording: 1939 Previously Considered? No  what's this? Kennedy Center Honoree: 1983 Inducted into Rock Hall Revisited in 1994 ( ranked #13 in the Influences - Pre-Rock Era category) . R.S. Top 500 Albums ( ? ) | Rank | Version In the Wee Small Hours | 282 | 2020 In the Wee S...

In acknowledgement of the unabated parade of beloved ones passing - (the latest being the lovely Christine McVie), and the mind boggling proliferation of American mass shootings, we are reposting these "anti" holiday favs for the more dyspeptic seasonal celebrants among us.

As the man struggles to collect his memories, he finds himself getting lost in the labyrinth of his disordered mind.  Labyrinth (From “The Book of Symbols”): The essentially dual, paradoxical nature of the labyrinth is both circular and linear, simple and complex, historical and temporal. Contained within a compact space, a long and difficult path constantly doubles back on itself, leading circuit...