I don’t know if I stumble over songs or whether through the grace of our universe they are somehow put in my lap. Either way, I am gladdened by their arrival, their wisdom and wide berth! This one took Mr. Bonneville two years to write and arose in his isolation during the pandemic. It is, as he writes, “about coming to terms with one’s inner shadows and healing old emotional wounds.”
“On The Blind Side… -Ray Bonneville (2022)
where a blade of sunlight falls back in time
I’m a kid with a slingshot and a jack knife
under the weight of a fear dealer’s faith
driving me into a secret deeper every day
on the blind side
on the blind side
deeper every day into the blind side
while the old man who would need forgiving
trampled what love there might’ve been
I was telling myself I would come away clean
what was it I just couldn’t see
on the blind side
on the blind side
what couldn’t I see on the blind side
ma she gave me a used guitar
hoping to tame my reckless heart
it took me down a lonesome two-lane
one for loving one for turning away
my eyes getting used to the darkness
in time I see my own likeness
still a kid, still afraid, still making sure
love don’t get close enough again to hurt
on the blind side
on the blind side
close enough to hurt on the blind side
on the blind side
on the blind side
close enough to hurt on the blind side”
“
They say the stars can’t see their rays nor can they count their numbered days.””
Edward Curtis, American photographer, “the Shadow Catcher”
“The Who
Holy Cross Field House
Friday October 17th, 1969
Two months after their 5:30AM performance at Woodstock, The Who were at Holy Cross College as one of the 102 dates of the 1969 tour that featured the entirety of their rock-opera Tommy.
The set list from their 65-minute Woodstock appearance included; Heaven and Hell, I Can’t Explain, It’s a Boy, 1921, Amazing Journey, Sparks, Eyesight to the Blind, Christmas, The Acid Queen, Pinball Wizard, Do You Think It’s Alright?, Fiddle About, There’s a Doctor, Go to the Mirror, Smash the Mirror, I’m Free, Tommy’s Holiday Camp, Shakin’ All Over, My Generation/Naked Eye. I can’t recall the set list from this Friday night in October of 69, but I remember that the final set that followed the entirety of Tommy featured songs from their first three albums as well as a few covers, and then of course Keith Moon trashing his drum set.
I was seated in the sixth row and as with all their concerts, it was LOUD! So loud in fact that it took about six hours after the show before my normal hearing returned. For those six hours it was like balls of cotton had been stuffed in my ear canals. I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. A critic from the magazine, Melody Maker went to the album’s press launch show and although the volume left his ears ringing for 20 hours, he concluded, “we wanted more”. That said, it was a most memorable, great show. The band was in their prime as their Live at Leeds recording made soon thereafter is testament to.
In 1975 Tommy was made into a film directed by Ken Russell. The film starred Roger Daltrey as Tommy. It also featured Ann Margaret and had appearances by Elton John, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, Arthur Brown and Jack Nicholson.
From 1993 through 1995 Tommy had a successful run on Broadway.
As of ten years ago, Tommy had sold 20 million copies.
Right behind you,
I see the millions.
On you,
I see the glory.
From you,
I get opinions.
From you,
I get the story.
Number one song on Billboard on 10/17/1969 – I Can’t Get Next To You – The Temptations”