The Fury Of Sunsets

“If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.”― Carl Sagan

On this date in 1967 David Crosby is officially kicked-out of the Byrds as they are mid-way through the production of what would become one of my favorite records of theirs, The Notorious Byrd Brothers (which also strangely enough features an uncredited brief return of Gene Clark). Crosby recently told the story in great fashion in his not-to-be missed documentary that Cameron Crowe directed a few years ago (thank you Jon Blaufarb for making sure I did not miss it). There were a lot of reasons leading up to the firing—his behavior on-stage at the Monterey Pop Festival (which I have always found endearing), his constant pushing to have more of his songs on Byrds records…his overall ego and his general self-acclaimed “ass-holishness.”

Crosby obviously landed on his feet in fine fashion with Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young…and proceeded to make incredible records with those fellows, as he did with the Byrds. And following the rule that history tends to repeat itself, over the years he completely alienated all of his musical partners in that band, too. The guy just could not stop publicly saying stupid things about the people he worked with.

Interestingly enough, that while the Cameron Crowe film follows the storyline that all of Crosby’s past musical comrades hate him now…that none of them will talk to him, Roger McQuinn, the main Byrd that supposedly did the deed of firing him, took to twitter to say (and I am paraphrasing…I cannot dig the actual quote up for some reason) that he in no way harbors any anger to David, that he should not be included in the list of haters. David then replied…on twitter…that one of the biggest mistakes he ever made was forgetting who the leader of the Byrds was. A poignant piece of rock n roll history laid out for all to see.

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Top 30 Most Expensive Items Sold on Discogs in September 2021

While the first Velvets record continues to chart big every week…there are some unexpected treasures that are selling for a lot of $$.

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Damon Galgut’s ‘The Promise’ wins Booker Prize for fiction

This article has a short video of Galgut winning the prize and the speech he gives (I had never seen the Booker ceremony before).

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The Silent Film Star Who Vanished Without a Trace

What a crazy story, not only about the disappearance of actress Marie Empress, but about how her legacy has been completely erased: “Empress has been forgotten. Her movies, like so many from the silent era, have all been lost. Although she performed countless songs, none seems to have been recorded. Aside from some old photos and yellowed newspaper clippings, she left almost nothing to be remembered by. Except, of course, for the enduring enigma of what happened to her, and why.”

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Remembering Mort Sahl (1927-2021)

The Library of Congress remembered Mort by unearthing an interview with him where he talks about the need for humor to both make these dark times feel lighter…and to help change them for the better. RIP.\

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Filmmaker John Waters Unveils Gender Neutral Bathrooms at Baltimore Museum of Art

Together with Pink Flamingos/Female Trouble star Elizabeth Coffey, Waters unveiled The John Waters Restrooms/All Gender: “Public restrooms make all people nervous,” Waters said in a speech at the museum reception for the unveiling. “They’re unpredictable. They’re also fueled by accidents, just like my favorite contemporary art.”

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The Fury Of Sunsets

By: Anne Sexton

Something
cold is in the air,
an aura of ice
and phlegm.
All day I’ve built
a lifetime and now
the sun sinks to
undo it.
The horizon bleeds
and sucks its thumb.
The little red thumb
goes out of sight.
And I wonder about
this lifetime with myself,
this dream I’m living.
I could eat the sky
like an apple
but I’d rather
ask the first star:
why am I here?
why do I live in this house?
who’s responsible?
eh?