Mark Blackburn

My favorite version of I GET ALONG WITHOUT YOU VERY WELL

JAMES TAYLOR - Together at Home

Grandfathers are, as Barbra sang, the “luckiest people in the world”

IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT (second favorite version)

From my favorite Joni Mitchell album (James Taylor's too?)

How about YOU and embraceable too

Old films about old folks - a note from my friend Sam

DOWNTON ABBEY - The Movie (2019)

New all-time favorite Hank Williams 'cover' by James Taylor 69 years ago this month Hank Williams – Country's greatest-ever songwriter according to all the others – went into a Nashville studio to record I CAN'T HELP IT IF I'M STILL IN LOVE WITH YOU. Barely a year before he died, age 29 in the back seat of his Cadillac en route to a New Year's Day concert in West Virginia. One of my own 'top three' favorite Hank Williams songs. The other two? “I'm So Lonesome Could Cry” and “House of Gold” – a song so obscure I've only ever heard one version – by the late, great Kenny Rankin – set to a full orchestral treatment by Sinatra arranger Don Costa, who gave Kenny his first set of guitar strings. But you knew that. The shuffle play miracle that is YouTube circa 2020 just sent my way James Taylor's cover. I'm sure Mr. Williams would have loved what James does with it – the spare instrumentation, the slowed-down tempo, the other-worldly chords: And there are bass notes so low, they sound like distant thunder: I need good earphones (like my 'out-of-print' Sennheiser PX-100's) to detect such low frequencies -- they are almost 'not there.' What a recording! Am I the last James Taylor fan to hear this one? Mr. Taylor lends his special 'gravitas' as the Latins say, to words like these: Today I passed you on the street, and my heart fell at your feet. I can't help it, if I'm still in love with you. Somebody else stood by your side, and he looked so satisfied. I can't help it . . . [and the bridge!] A picture from the past came slowly stealing, as I brushed your arm and walked so close to you . . . Oh! Heaven only knows how much I miss you. I can't help it . . .”

“I love you Mom!” (Nancy's mother's eyes)

"Rather like a habit one can always break, and yet … "

ONCE MORE, WITH FEELING

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – favorite instrumental solo version

Non-musical DVDs to 'binge' by -- while self-quarantining (LAW & ORDER 'original' all 20 seasons)

LAST NIGHT WHEN WE WERE YOUNG (and so were our guitars)

My friend Sam and ALL THE THINGS YOU ARE (best guitar solo)

JACK JONES - You Must Believe in Spring

JACK JONES – I've Got a Crush on You

Feeling down? Play the bass!

Our “other favorite” recording of THAT OLD FEELING

Tony & Diana's THEY CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME

On a night when James Taylor had to cancel his entire Canadian tour . . .

Barbra's lovely “SPRING CAN REALLY HANG YOU UP THE MOST”

Straight to the heart – the Sam Robson 'choir'