The Great Shift Begins

I link to this article by David Broder not because of its content, which is largely unobjectionable, but because of what it represents. It's the first substantial article I've seen in the traditional media that treats the Obama campaign in a manner that does not reflect the usual Republican framing--Obama is elitist, his campaign is either naifs or thugs, all that crap. And the fact that its author is Broder, "dean of the DC press corps," is significant.

What I think it means, and why I use the term "the great shift," is that the Beltway elite is coming to terms with the possibility of an Obama victory and is beginning to hedge its bets. Count on it, if Obama wins, people like Broder will do their best to convince us that they never liked Bush and were always secretly against him. But what it really means is that proximity to power is the only thing they care about, and they always want to stand beside the winner no matter what. And having actual principles that you care about is only for the little people.

Democracy and Money

Devilstower over at DailyKos explains a few things.

Elvis Presley - Tomorrow Is A Long Time

Bob Dylan wrote it. Odetta recorded it. Elvis Presley heard Odetta's version and decided he wanted to record it. Bob Dylan said that it was his favorite version of someone recording one of his songs.

Muddy Waters - Mopper's Blues

Although it's Muddy Waters we're listening to here, this post is actually to honor the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Big Bill Broonzy, who passed from this vale of tears on August 15, 1958. When that event occurred, Muddy Waters recorded several Broonzy numbers in homage. This was one, and it's a beautiful example of how simple lyrics can also be subtle. Basically the line "happiest man in town" is said ironically every time. But the songwriter plays it straight, and never tips his hand. It's easy to see how a white southerner of the time could have listened to it and never caught the double meaning.

Count Basie Orchestra and Some Boogie-Woogie

nada & the dog of flanders

Nothing today, sorry.

Isaac Hayes RIP

A lot of the attention that's been focused on the career of Isaac Hayes centers on the work that made him famous, which is understandable. But he'd been successful in the music business for several years before he achieved that fame. As a songwriter, arranger, and producer at the famous Stax studios in Memphis, working alongside people like Booker T and the MGs, he was responsible for a lot of good music and a number of hit songs. Here are Sam and Dave singing "Soul Man," written by Hayes and his regular songwriting partner David Porter.

Should have posted this yesterday, but that would have meant three posts in a row about dead people, which isn't much fun.