[geodeticman.5]

Char - THAT is really interesting: to me, one: - I did think he was lip-synching, two - the piano first thing was from just one quote from Gord perhaps in the songbook "book", and (three) my thoughts of his forays into -barely- jazz of "Make Way For the Lady", and 'Oh Linda" - are confirmed now more... as i recall the writing of his Westlake School of Music initial interests including jazz, perhaps significantly, and interesting to hear that pro's as you mentioned speak of what i really was just 1/2 guessing on, 1/2 Lightfoot's quote i barely remember, - of the value and versatility of writing on, and learning first..the piano.... .

I lay no claim to being a musician per se , so I defer to the experienced musical hands in here. ... but.... I was a garage-rock-band drummer in and after high-school. My only "GIG" was one hilarious night where at the local Ramada in Estes Park, Colo., the Country & Western - as it WAS called in late 70's here....band... who's drummer got..sick..... i think it was the Russian (vodka) Flue LOL, well they needed a pinch hit drummer, and -thanks- (NOT) to my less than brilliant old friend who was always boasting of his friends prowess in various things..... told them i was a "really great drummer" ....Oh God..... he committed me to it.... at THAT time I hated Country - was listening to Aerosmith, Eagles, Deep Purple, Foghat, ZZTop, etfc etc. 8-tracks,,,, and of course Lightfoot in my quiet time at home mostly on that mountain-side ....

Well, having been committed - I played the gig. I listened to ONE Country tape a friend's father said was representative of "common contemporary Country" (70's), and i noted three basic variations in drum accompaniment, that were..then..... agonizingly simple - for THAT time period...

mind you I LIKE a lot of Country now.... more "Western" but the distinction seems to have blurred.... but why they wear cowboy hats down in Tennessee where safe to say very few men have poked along little dogies with a coiled rope swinging.... I don't know (smile).... I know its the genre.... cant hardly wear a baseball hat on every album cover eh ?

Long story short - it took three beers to get me up on stage in the bar(band), which the bartender said "I ain't supposed to give drinks to the band more than one before the show" - to which I replied "there ain't gonna BE a show if I don't toss those back - as "Dr. McCoy would have presribed for strictly medicinal purposes, Sarian Brandy though it may not be" - and he looked at me like I was from Mars - i said "never mind.....and tossed some folding money on the bar... but the band members got ONE wood nickel for ONE drink that was free of my three .... LOL

And I got up on the stage, a little unsteady after three FAST beers back-to-back. , took my post on the (drum) throne, nodded to the group lead guitar player ( no rehursing at all, had never heard the songs......) they started playing 'my daaawg died and my pickemup truck done broke...... my wife she left me ,,for that rich old fa** who had a stroke......" ( just kidding... I really do like where country lyrics are going lately)
it was not exactly a science with this band though, back then,,,,,

and i played in and alternated one of the 3 licks to each song i picked up from the album i listened to, as it applied surprisingly to most all of the songs, the three rythms, that is.....

so goes my 15 minutes of musical fame..... when i was in my prime.... there went mr cool (not) , stumbling up to the barband platform.....LOL

~geo steve