Sad and Happy Lunch Report for Wednesday, August 3, 2011

[zapcosongs]

My wife’s dad died on my son’s first birthday. It was late September, with the first hint of chill in the air. The funeral was in the cool of morning, and a dense fog – the first in many months – enshrouded the headstones at the cemetery. Buried on that cool and foggy morning – and preceded in death by more than 20 years by his wife (my wife’s mother) was a very special man.

Slightly too old to be drafted into WWII, he enlisted as soon as he finished dental school, and spent the terrible war jumping out of airplanes with a Medic bag strapped to his back. His experience in Europe would forever haunt him, but he managed to raise 5 kids and provide well for his family.

Well, because my brother-in-law took care of the arrangements, nobody was sure what to expect. But standing before that hole in the cooling earth that would become Sam’s place of rest, when that invisible bugler somewhere in the fog behind us mournfully played the first notes of Taps, I cried like a freakin’ baby.

Fair is fair, after all.

Anyhow, I got to be thinking about sad songs the other day (thanks guys!), and I began to wonder what was the saddest song I ever heard. Then yesterday, while browsing the news, I saw a piece in the paper about folks selecting the saddest movie ever.

So before we step off this roller coaster of emotion, I ask you: What is the saddest song (or piece of music) that you have ever heard?

Here’s mine: I just discovered this Elvis Costello cover of the tune I’m nominating as saddest, and I’m featuring it first mostly because this video provides the lyrics:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOubQpbfzAY

And here is the original version. I just dare you to listen to this early Richard (and Linda) Thompson piece when you’re down and not shed a tear (or pick up – just to study – that bottle of sleeping pills). This is some powerful bad medicine. But it’s wonderful music to my ears. This is the real deal, The End of the Rainbow:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTZWXrVWtvg

I like my second question better, because as we all know, there is much good in the world to balance that which we find troubling – there is so very much to live for. Life is good, all in all, and a smile can go a long way in helping us muddle through. So. Which song or piece of music never fails to make you feel fantastic, brings an instant smile to your face? Let’s post some feel-good music today.

Lunch today will be fried chicken, German potato salad, cole slaw, all washed down with an Arnold Palmer.

Okay, I suppose we need some G&L content. But I need to leave now to take my wife’s car to the shop, so forgive me if cheat a bit. Going back to yesterday’s G&L question, I want to note that I have often wished that my Bluesboy came equipped with a Saddle-Lock bridge. Yeah, the guitar might sound a bit different so equipped, but it would be ever more G&L. I just don’t like the ashtray design – the sides of the tray get in my way, and it’s not a comfortable thing to rest ones’ hand on. Maybe the good folks in Fullerton could explore the feasibility of a “Barrel-Lock” bridge configuration to deliver a bit more traditional Tele tone. What do you think? - ed

[darwinohm]

Hey man, you have really opened up the emotion gate this week. I find that our national anthem is very emotional. Life is full of sad events and I can relate by loosing two brothers at age 39 and my mother at 47. But, life is so good and we all have our things to be so thankful for. The sad part is one of my brothers took his own life and we will never understand why.

Ed, I agree with you on the vintage style bridge. I don't know why people like them. I bought a new Fender American Special this spring and the first thing after playing it a bit, I installed an American Deluxe bridgeplate that I had from a Bigsby conversion. That made it into a very nice guitar. The increase in sustain uplugged was noticeable. I think that most of the vintage plates are flimsy although the G&L is plated much better than the Fender counterpart. It is a stamped assy and probably cheap to produce. The saddle lock is much superior in my opinion and I would agree that it should be standard on the Bluesboy. Have a great day everyone. I think I will go look at some of my guitars for a mood lift!-- Darwin

[Aussie]

I listened to both versions of End of the Rainbow and to be honest while I can appreciate it as a piece of music to me it crosses the line from being a sad song and into just plain depressing.

There are a lot of well crafted sad songs out there. Heard this old track from Wendy Matthews on the radio just today. I always loved the subtlety of the song and the story telling in the clip
[youtube]Zfqusp7s5o0[/youtube]

Feel good tune. Ummm ... I dunno ... its kinda late here and I'm too tired ... Ummm ....Eagle Rock is always a good party tune I suppose?
[youtube]oQfAZVsz6KM[/youtube]

Good night, Robbie

[y2kc]

Ed,

I try to avoid sad songs,movies,TV,books and guitar forums. Life is way too short.

The Bluesboy is what it is. It is a great guitar that does need some minor tweaks. Personnally I seem to adapt to what ever guitar I am playing and the bridge on my Asat Classics just don't bother me.

On the other hand, the bluesboy with a saddle lock bridge would be nice. Throw in a micro-tilt neck and I will be the first to order one.


y2kc

[sirmyghin]

While the tele bridge plate undoubtably effects the pickup, I find myself in the same boat as you Ed, I would love to ditch that archaic bridge, tune the bridge pickup to make up for the lack of plate (more winding, lower resonant peak should work) and have a nice saddle lock. I love that bridge, it is just so very comfortable to play on as well as being extremely functional. Ash tray edges are a nusance in every sense also.

Sad songs, I'll get back to you on that one, I will need to wrack my brain. Beautiful songs, as I think I mentioned Monday, Whispering a prayer tops my list, as does the Count of Tuscany, I just love the soundscape on that one. Satrianis "Searching" Is another song I find rather amazing and uplifting to listen to. I got a whammy pedal, near effectively so I coul play that one run. When I get my 7 I will be able to play the song in earnest.

[youtube]8f4O-0BH8kc[/youtube]

[sickbutnottired]

Country seems to be known for depressing songs, I think this is the absolute saddest Nashville country thing;

[youtube]1R2F9f2Cl6Y[/youtube]

Good music is all about emotion. Really enjoying the lunch reports. I love songs that have sad subject matter but are actually very hopeful. Ummm. Muddy Waters 'can't loose what you never had.' Or my absolute favorite song title of all time "we might as well call it through (I didn't marry your two-timing mother)" - JLH, of course. (that title may not be exactly right, didn't look it up--but you get the picture )

This song is the song i used to get in my head for serious bump skiing, back when I had the knees for that sort of thing. Some of the really happy and care free times in my life happened in the middle of some giant mogul fields. For some reason this song has always been an upper for me....even though it's typically Zep-cryptic.

[youtube]KSd3yys69AE[/youtube]

Gotta say it again, great reports...

[zapcosongs]

Hey sick. You gave me a fright there. Thought you might be going with In My Time of Dying! ;+) - ed

[blargfromouterspace]

Feel-good songs

George Jones does fun stuff as well as anyone too
[youtube]hRp-u_JCNOI[/youtube]

Try not to crack open a cold one listening to this
[youtube]FTBWiUkR69w[/youtube]


A band I've seen countless times in Fremantle, W.A., the Zydecats. I'm sure that Robbie would have seen them too at some point. It's a shame there aren't any more recent clips - this one is from 1994 and they're still playing together to this day.
[youtube]TvyWd-INmzU[/youtube]

[Ahryn]

Gonna have to leave a quick reply here guys sorry for not posting more often but hey that's life right?

Guess I'am gonna only answer the sad songs first, hopefully I'll be able to post some happy songs later....

Here's my top 3 sad songs on my iPod in no particular order...

House of Heroes, great harmonies.
[youtube]TM09zKGacy0[/youtube]

How can we have a list of sad songs without this little gem?
[youtube]SmVAWKfJ4Go[/youtube]

Little long and to warn you a little religious but Relient K is one of my favorite bands of all time for a reason.
[youtube]Egl8yQvnkqs[/youtube]

[Ken Baker]

I do dearly love the music of John Prine. I can't make it through the chorus of this one.

[youtube]FJ85Hep0kD0[/youtube]

Ken...

[Philby]

Today aspirational lunch = actual lunch =

I love sushi.

The opening guitar of 'Here Comes The Sun' by the Beatles never ceases to make me smile, or sometimes cry if I'm really sad, just out of relief to hear it. 'God Only Knows' by The Beach Boys elicits a similar response.

I have a whole MP3 player full of 'up' songs to take on my daily lunchtime walk. Here's a random selection.

[youtube]KqlIFLb6jU0[/youtube]

[youtube]WumSB0vZ5l8[/youtube]

[youtube]hr06Y2esk6U[/youtube]

I like Aussie's choice of 'The Day You Went Away' for a subtle, restrained sad song. I like this one too, for the same reasons.

[youtube]yEjZmjYENOk[/youtube]

[El Fug]

What a fantastic question you pose. Man, oh, man, I can remember locking myself in my room after a couple of different breakups with women and putting together a “play list” as a soundtrack to the sadness, to the tears, to elicit a wholeness of feeling and being.

Here’s a few that I remember putting on:

[youtube]-VOYcRXzs1Y[/youtube]

[youtube]Qx9br5ISRpo[/youtube]

[youtube]gjZbqBUZbl8[/youtube]

"Golden Slumbers" is also incredibly sad. As is the original "Sleepwalk." Oh, and of course Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings.

That Richard Thompson song is great. That guy has a knack for cutting deep. And that John Prine performance was deadly.

[zapcosongs]

Wow! Fantastic stuff you all took the time and effort to post today. As some idiot once said (on SNL?) "I'm not worthy!!!"

Man, today I've been smiling, crying - sometimes both at the same time, literally! Human emotion is such a funny and complicated thing. Much like playing naked Twister with a neighborhood couple after having had a couple....

Though I don't have the time or energy this evening to respond to everything and everyone, please be assured that I clicked on and listened to everything posted in response today's LR (though I admit I didn't not have the luxury of time to hear every second of every one). Y'all did real fine, and I discovered a number of new and very worthwhile bands, and learned something about a bunch of you in the process. Just great!

Me, I'm easily amused. As far as songs that bring me an instant smile, there are many. I'm actually quite exhausted, but what comes to mind at this minute is, i.e., "Friend of the Devil" by the Dead. "Easy Livin'" by Uriah Heep. And that little Armstrong ditty someone mentioned earlier....;+)

Oh, and my final confession: Marley's "No Woman No Cry" gets me emoting pretty much everything all at once. Go figure. 'Night. - ed

[jonc]

another thought provoking day and a lot of great tunes. and another mention of uriah heep.

[youtube]On5372UztI0[/youtube]

[supereiv]

Sorry there's no link available, but the saddest song I know is "wandering away" by Kelly Joe Phelps.... Really !

Well maybe try this : http://www.deezer.com/fr/music/kelly-jo ... zen-360589

[Ahryn]

Ok guys day late and a dollar short but here's some songs that I can't help listening to without a smile on my face.

Couldn't find a decent youtube rip of the album version so enjoy some acoustic Classic Crime.
[youtube]XBzIdv_8jm0[/youtube]

For some people it is here comes the sun but for me I always had a soft place in my heart for this...
[youtube]CUFcfXgW_dQ[/youtube]

And finally another Relient K song, good song to pump you up.
[youtube]QTZsxA4bctQ[/youtube]

[stagecoach]

I am not one for showing to much emotion, but this band use to make me be glade they took a break. Use to be in fits of laughter and stitches from start to finish.

Here is a little clip

[youtube]7YKPW7b362Q[/youtube]