My dreams often come true. Not the little passing fancies, but those I dream with passion and duration. But there’s no guarantee as to when. Dreams can come true, but they’re often late. I imagine that’s because the dream fulfillment department is swamped with back orders. The angels working there – big, burly sweating angels…
Ghost Writer
I hear voices. Scornful voices. In my head. They whisper –“You’re not a real writer.” ”No one’s published your book. You’ve never written for the New York Times or the New Yorker. Real writers…” I do my best to ignore them and keep writing. The same voices used to say, “You’re not a real composer. You’ve never received…
I was a teenage Beatle
One afternoon in January of 1964 I went to my best friend Bobby’s house after school. I heard a racket coming from upstairs, a sound unlike anything I’d ever heard. “What’s that?” He shook his head, little sisters. “Abby. She’s been playing that song nonstop since yesterday,” Over at Bobby’s the next afternoon that song was still…
Guilty Pleasures: 70s Songs I Hate to Love
Here are mine – what are yours? 1. “Rock the Boat” (Hues Corporation) I played this song every night for four months in a Top Forty Funk band. It was my favorite song of that gig, which says a lot about the wretched state of music in the mid-70s. It’s catchy but sleazy, like a…
Brain in a Jar
Brain in a Jar Posted by John Manchester on October 25, 2010 at 3:00pm View Blog EDITOR’S PICK OCTOBER 25, 2010 9:32AM RATE: 26 Flag My father forbade me to see horror movies, Twilight Zone, or Outer Limits. When he came home from a screening of “Psycho” he said, “I’ll never let you watch it” then proceeded to describe in gory detail…
My Dad and Elgar
“There are places I remember…All my life, though some have changed Some forever not for better, Some have gone and some remain All those places have their moments with lovers and friends I still can recall Some are dead and some are living In my life I’ve loved them all ….” J. Lennon. Thirty years…
What’s With All The Hippie Punching?
What’s With All the Hippie Punching? Posted by John Manchester on October 18, 2010 at 3:00pm View Blog OCTOBER 18, 2010 11:03AM RATE: 14 Flag First of all, I’m an old Hippie, and proud of it. When I first heard the term “hippie-punching” over at Digby’s Hullabaloo I felt a jolt of fear. Back in the volatile summer of…
A Brief History of Library Music
The evolution of the music library business has been driven by technological change, notably the digital revolution. Pre-1980 Production library music was born in 1927 with the British company De Wolfe, under the name “pre-recorded music.” It was first available on wax cylinders, and then tapes and LPs. De Wolfe’s eventual competitors came mostly from…
Satisfaction and Mad Men
Like many, I’m a big fan of AMC’s “Mad Men.” I have long been disappointed by all the books and movies that fail to capture the spirit of the 1960’s. It’s one of my motivations for writing, to try to do that myself. From the first episode Mad Men evoked in me chilling moments of remembrance – not…
10 Painters
10 Painters Posted by John Manchester on October 6, 2010 at 3:00pm View Blog OCTOBER 6, 2010 10:27AM RATE: 18 Flag There’s just no escaping Open Salon. Two weeks ago my honey and I flew to Paris to celebrate (?) my 60th Birthday, which just happened to coincide with our meeting 30 years ago.(!) At some point –…
Luminous Muse
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