Dylan Biopic Gets Going, plus GN'R Without Axl, McCartney's Latin Roots, Ludacris Cut His Hair, Russia Gets Good Clapton News

• Todd Haynes' Bob Dylan biopic is finally ready to go. No word as to who will play Charlie Daniels.
• Axl Rose got sick the other night, so Sebastian Bach took over for him. Will my dream of a Guns N' Roses without any original members come true?
• Paul McCartney is releasing another classical-music record. It's an oratorio based on themes from Flaming Pie.
• Ludacris has cut off his hair to show that he's making a new start. What's next, an oratorio based on Chicken N Beer? Or maybe Word of Ralph Mouf?
• Russia will be spared a Clapton gig.

Velvet Underground's "Squeeze" Ready to Download, plus Pitchfork ca Change, MTV Anniversary, Willie Nelson Defends the Chicks, Hip-Hop at the Smithson

• Download the Velvet Underground's (more like the Doug Yulederground) Squeeze here. Read about it here.
• Pitchfork is under the delusion that things ever change in popular culture.
• I missed this story the other day: MTV is somehow managing not to celebrate itself on its 25th anniversary Tuesday. But they'll start right back up again on Wednesday.
• Willie Nelson thinks the Dixie Chicks got a "raw deal." I must report this to my pastor at the local megachurch right away so we can start the boycott.
• Be sure to check out the hip-hop exhibit at the Smithizzonian.

John Lennon: Baby You're an Enriched Man, plus Reuters Puts Buzzocks on the Map, Owen Wilson Jabs Back, NOW Now, Freevolver

• Editors ask themselves what an unheard live track of John Lennon would do for a documentary about his problems with the U.S. government. The answer: It would enrich the movie.
• Reuters has decided that the Buzzcocks are still relevant. They didn't have to convince me, but it they had had to convince me, I'd be convinced.
• Owen Wilson fired back at Steely Dan. I love a good fake controversy about a movie nobody liked much and a song that no one heard much.
• NOW that's what I call a way to save the music biz!
• Someone has put together a free ebook about Revolver. It's 130 pages! Hooray for Creative Commons.
  

Come You Masters of Advancement: Bob Dylan

I finally got around to reading Bob Dylan's autobiography. There's a lot of great stuff that I will post here and there. Let's start with this passage that I ran into last night:

"I felt I had a lot in common with Charlie. The kind of phrases he'd use, his sense of humor, his relationship to work, his tolerance for certain things. Felt like we had dreamed the same dream with all the same distant places. A lot of his recollections seemed to coincide with mine.... When Charlie was around, something good would usually come out of the sessions.... Charlie eventually struck it big. After hearing the Allman Brothers and the side-winding Lynrd Skynyrd, he'd find his groove and prove himself with his own brand of dynamics, coming up with a new form of hillbilly boogie that was pure genius."

The Charlie he is referring to is Charlie Daniels.

James Gang Rides Again Again

From Billboard:

"After half a dozen reunion shows in Cleveland over the past five years, drummer Jim Fox tells Billboard.com the time was right for the James Gang's most potent lineup -- Fox, Joe Walsh (vocals/guitar) and Dale Peters (bass) -- to ride again....

"There's talk of recording a DVD towards the end of the month-long run but for now, nothing is certain. In addition, Fox says he'll discuss with his bandmates the possibility of releasing a recently discovered 1970 Netherlands concert, which was recorded a few months before the James Gang's 1971 Live in Concert album."

There is no more satisfying band to listen to than the James Gang when you're in the mood to do it. In fact, I was almost inspired to start a power trio the other day while listening to "Funk #49" but then I realized that would be slightly complicated for at least #50 reasons.

Velvet Underground Documentary

This is part one. The rest, and some other good VU-related stuff, is here.

Bob and Doug Show Us How to Stuff a Mouse in a Beer Bottle

Beware of fleshy headed mutants.

Prince Gets Divorce, plus James Brown Suit, Daltrey and Townsend at It Again, New York Dolls in "Rashomon," Toots and the Maytals Do Radiohead

• Prince is getting a divorce. The funkiest, sexiest divorce you've ever seen.
• James Brown, the only man who could have a funkier divorce than Prince, is suing the guy who made David Bowie even richer than he was. But the most important development is that Brown did not say, "I feel good' at any point in the article about the suit in the New York Post, opting instead for, "No matter what happens," he added, I'll still be the hardest-working man in show business."
• Roger Daltrey and Pete Townsend are in a feud over charity webcasts. Somebody needs to take away Townsend's web access. Doesn't the Who have an IT guy who can make him "read only"?
• David Johansen says it was drugs that split up the New York Dolls. But Sylvain Sylvain says it was because Johansen got the goldmine and the Dolls got the shaft.
• Finally, why not go to iTunes and buy Toots and the Maytals' version of "Let Down" by Radiohead? I and I will!
  

Lou Reed and Tai Chi Master at Norwegian Wood

Not much going on today, so here's 55 seconds of pure Advancement.

Robert Pollard Goes British Pop, plus Twyla Tweaks Dylan Musical, Metallica on iTunes, Morrissey Called Names, Robert Johnson's Guitar for Sale

• Robert Pollard's next album will feature 16 two-minute pop songs. Plus, his British accent is back!
• Twyla Tharp figured out what her Bob Dylan musical was missing: Billy Joel.
• Metallica cave and let Apple sell their music. I'm sorry, but the Metallica magic went away for me during that Napster business. Too bad, too, because I sure loved Master of Puppets.
• Surprisingly, Morrissey doesn't like being called a "puffed-up-prat" or a "vain glorious strutting humbug." Maybe not, but either would be a good title for his next record.
• If you're want Robert Johnson's guitar, it's up for sale. You'll find it at thecrossroads.com. The price? Your soul...

Unreleased Hendrix up for Auction, plus Lou Reed Bootleg, Tom Petty Mulls, Journey Is Repackaged, Robert Christgau Thinks It's Neat to Be Nuts

• You can get your very own unreleased Jimi Hendrix song at an upcoming auction. The related article helpfully explains how he died, by the way, as if that had some bearing on the auction.
• This guy's mom had never heard "Walk on the Wild Side" until 1998. Plus, he has reviewed a Lou Reed bootleg.
• Tom Petty is having second thoughts about retiring. I didn't even know he was having first thoughts.
• A lot of Journey records have been repackaged, so if you ever thought about going back to high school to finish your degree, now's the time.
• Robert Christgau thinks we care that he saw 32 shows in June. Here's a bit of how stupid the article is: "The main reason I conceived this project, which many considered nuts, was that I wasn't liking enough new guitar bands. So my professional purpose was to encounter young musicians in their natural habitat." Oooh, how nuts you are! A music critic going to see rock shows! That's just nuts! Nuts!
  

Brian Eno Still Smart, plus R.E.M. IRS Anthology, Rod Stewart Rocks Again, Asia to Tour, No Kinks for Yo La Tengo

• There is an interview with Brian Eno in the Independent. The upshot is that he will always be much smarter than everyone else.
• R.E.M. is going to release a double-album anthology of their IRS music and a DVD with live performances and videos. Sign me up!
• Rod Stewart knows that anything he does is going to sell zillions of copies, so he figured why not go back to rock and roll for a while?
• And now you find yourself in 2006: The original members of Asia are going out on tour.
• That's not Yo La Tengo doing "Waterloo Sunset," in case you were wondering.

Kermit the Frog Sings "Once in a Lifetime" by the Talking Heads

Timeless.

Bob Dylan Owes the Scots, plus Steely Dan v. Owen Wilson, Depeche Mode Cancels Concert, Pete Townsend's Girlfriend Is Delusional, Zune the iPod Killer

• Apparently, Bob Dylan is indebted to Scottish music. If it's not Scottish, it's Overt!
• Steely Dan want credit for You, Me and Dupree. Advanced.
• The Portuguese have been spared from having to see a Depeche Mode concert. Send letters of thanks to the promoters, Brand New Day.
• Pete Townsend's girlfriend says that her music career has suffered because she's Pete Townsend's girlfriend. If only she had known before she started dating him!
• Wired is calling Microsoft's "iPod killer" doomed, but I think they've just misunderstood what's happening. The deal is that Bill Gates said that he got a "killer iPod" for his birthday.

Blue Collar Comedy Preservation Society: Ron White Is a Well-Respected Man

There's an article about the Blue Collar Comedy Tour (the comedy is blue too, I hear) in last week's New Yorker. What does that have to do with anything? Well, check out this quote from Ron White, one of the Blue Collar Comedians about what happens when he and his fellow comedians tour as a group: "We might not be the Beatles...but we are at least the Kinks!" What I love about that quote is that, first of all, anything to do with the Kinks is good, but second, he really must know his Kinks history to make an observation like this. After all, there really are a lot of simliarities between the Tour and the Kinks as far as being nostalgic for old-time values and the working class and all that. Anyway, I just thought that was an interesting thing for him to say. I hope I'm not wrong and White just likes "Lola."

Bob Dylan's Album Leak, plus Tom Waits Hates Online Auctions, Ringo Starr on Ringo Starr, Walter Becker on Rock, Bunny Wailer the Explorer

• Sony accidentally mad available30-second clips of Bob Dylan's new album at their music store. Luckily, nobody uses the Sony music store, so no harm done.
• If you're a online-auction-ticket punter and you want to see Tom Waits, you're out of luck.
• See what Ringo Starr has to say about the ninth All-Star tour, drum solos, being in a band, and some other stuff.
• "Why did we come here? We came here to rock!" -Walter Becker (sadly for his Advanced status, he was joking)
• Now here's a switch: Bunny Wailer is going to take a break from reggae and explore "hip-hop, R&B, rap, you name it." I wonder if he wants revenge for all of those misguided attempts by pop stars to explore reggae.

Why Serious Rock Critics Are So Transplendent

I've been thinking about what makes "serious" rock criticism so ridiculous, and here's what I've come up with so far: All critics have the task of explaining what a work of art means and whether that meaning has any value, so how do they go about this?

• One work may have a simple message and another may have a complex message;
• some critics have a simple interpretation of a work and some have a complex interpretation;
• some critics use simple language to explain their simple interpretation of a simple work;
• some use simple language to explain their simple interpretation of a complex work;
• some use simple language to explain their complex interpretation of a simple work;
• some use complex language to explain their complex interpretation of a simple work;
• some use complex language to explain their simple interpretation of a complex work;
• some use simple language to explain their complex interpretation of a complex work;
• and some use complex language to explain their simple interpretation of a simple work.

And since all you ever need to say about rock and roll (most of the time) is "it rocks me" or "it doesn't rock me," it's very silly when serious rock critics choose the complex-simple-simple instead of simple-simple-simple.

(When I say simple, that is not necessarily a bad thing. Simple can still profound.)

Radiohead Go Reggae, plus Ozzy Doesn't Need a Label, iPods and Street Crime, Andy Summers and Danny Devito, the UnWho

• A reggae version of OK Computer? I and I can't wait!
• Ever the innovator, Ozzy Osbourne will not seek another record deal after his current one with Epic expires because he says he's a big enough star not to need a label. Actually, Sharon said that while Ozzy shook his head in confused agreement.
• In the UK, iPods are the new Air Jordans. Be careful out there...
• Andy Summers is very busy these days: He has an autobiography, a photo book, an album with Ben Verdery, and my favorite, scoring an upcoming "star vehicle for Danny Devito." By the way, the Taxi theme song is one of the greatest pieces of music of all time.
• I find it slightly depressing that the Who don't get to choose their own tour slogan. Then again I'm relieved they didn't think up "Uncut. Uncensored. Unrepentant."

Zoo TV on DVD, plus Kenny Rogers on DVD, George Jones' Restaurant, Keith Richards Pardoned, Elvis Costello Honored

• U2 is releasing the concert movie from the Zoo TV days on DVD. Did I ever mention that I saw Rattle and Hum in the movie theaters? They tell me it's bad, but I sure remember enjoying it.
• Speaking of long-overdue DVDs, Kenny Rogers finally gets a career retrospective, called The Journey. So don't take your love to town without coming back with this DVD!
• George Jones is opening a restaurant in Alabama. Sounds good, but I don't know what he's going to do when an employee calls in sick too many times.
• The governor of Arkansas is going to pardon Keith Richards for a reckless-driver charge from a long time ago. I don't know. This sounds like one of those deals where they trick people who have broken parole and deadbeat dads to turn themselves in with a fake boat giveaway (as seen on TV's Dateline). Don't fall for it, Keith!
• Elvis Costello was honored the other night by VH1. Part of the honor was to get to sing "Alison" with Green Day's Billy Joe. Watch it! (Actually, go to Stereogum, then click the link, then watch it.)
  

Radiohead: Talkin' 'Bout My Ideation

From Slate:

"Despite a breezy tune here and there, Radiohead would never lunge for another moment of pop ubiquity quite like 'Creep.' Instead they retreated into their craft, carefully guarding their brand and swabbing everything they released in baffling layers of abstract electronic textures. Radiohead's profile only grew, as fans committed themselves to tracing some ideational thread through the band's ever-changing moods...."

Perhaps Thom Yorke should replace the old concert standby "Are you ready to rock and roll?!" with "Are you ready to trace some ideational thread through our ever-changing moods?!" To which the audience can respond, "Yes, carefully guard your brand and swab everything you play in baffling layers of abstract electronic textures!"

Harvard rock critics (sigh).

Deep Purple: Bravest Rock Band on the Planet

As you just read, Deep Purple is going to rock Beirut even though it might not exactly be the safest time to play there. In honor of their bravery, I bring you "Highway Star."

Jimmy Buffet at Wrigley, plus Thom Yorke Vies for the Prize, Save the Children, Record Stores Are Dying, Deep Purple Are Brave

• Jimmy Buffet has another baseball-related live CD coming out, this time a recording from a concert at Wrigley Field. Bob Dylan obviously is more Advanced for playing minor-league parks, but this is still pretty good.
• Maybe it's the lack of sleep talknig, but Yorke Vies With Monkeys For Mercury Prize." So is it amusing? And if so, was it intentionally amusing? I'm just a'musing this morning, aren't I?
• Franz Ferdinand, Belle and Sebastian, and Flaming Lips made a kids' record. I can't tell if this is old news, but I'm suddenly very interested.
• If you like record stores, don't read this unless you want to feel sad.
• Deep Purple aren't going to let anything stop them from rocking Beirut. More on this soon...
  

"Hardware Wars"

Well, this is just for the fun of it. Above is Part One...


and above is Part Two. You've seen it before, but why not watch it again?

National Geographic Music Store, plus Bob Dylan Track List, Russian Piracy, Best Metal Band Ever, the Voice in the Mirror

• National Geographic is starting up a music store. Remember: Embracing World Music is Advanced.
• The song titles for Bob Dylan's new album are out. One of them is "The Levee's Gonna Break," which is either about Katrina or a Zeppelin homage or, more probably, about something totally different.
• When it comes to piracy, Russia is the new China. But Dwight Schrute could have told you that a long time ago.
• Which group was the greatest metal band ever? Which reminds me: It seems like I haven't heard "Balls to the Wall" by Accept in a very long time. Too long, in fact.
• In the Village Voice, music critics prefer to write about themselves than musicians.

Justin Timberlake Sticks Up for Paris, Glastonbury vs. U2, Who's on First Virgin Lineup, Mick Rock on Syd Barrett, George Jones Video

• I'm not sure, but I think Justin Timberlake might be interesting. One thing is for sure: He makes a great Gibb.
• The Glastonbury festival is "too big" for U2! (According to the Glastonbury organizers.)
• You can catch the Who playing with the Red Hot Chili Peppers (and others) at the Virgin festival in Baltimore. Attendance is not mandatory, however.
• Mick Rock says don't feel bad about Syd Barrett's last years: He was rich.
• Check out George Jones' video for "One" (you have to click their link). No, not that "One," another "One" with Tammy Wynette. His voice can make anything good.

Cover of "Modern Times," plus Pitchfork Interview With David Byrne, Lyrics the New Napster, Johnny Cash "V" Number One, Diamond Dave

• The cover of Bob Dylan's new record, Modern Times, appears to be a blurred photo of an old-fashioned taxi. (Thanks to Right Reason)
• Pitchfork interviewed David Byrne about the rerelease of Bush of Ghosts and lots of other stuff. Interesting as always.
• You better get the lyrics to "Bling Bling" while you can because soon unauthorized lyrics websites might start getting sued.
• The only thing Johnny Cash has to do to be number one is play a prison or die.
• From the New York Times: "Mr. Roth had just referred to himself in the third person: 'Diamond Dave, he’s just a white boy lost in the blues.' He was dressed like a 1930’s gangster, with a white fedora atop his short, feathered hair. He launched into an endless spoken-word riff, praising his band for “'ooking cool and smooth/like the other side of her pillow/three Budweisers too many.' To be more accurate, the moment was very, very, very sad." What's sad is how little the Times understands Advancement.
  

More Memories of Advancement

I'm running out the door to go be with the newest member of the Advanced community, so I thought I'd put up a few more "classic" posts. I'll be back on Monday!

• Just what is the Advanced Theory? Read an early attempt to explain it.
  
• Does Overt, the opposite of Advanced, mean bad?
• Could Madonna be Advanced? Is she the next Cher? Is she a uniter not a diva? Read my review of her concert at the Garden in 2004.
  

Memories of U2, Elvis Costello and Your Favorite Artists

I have a big-time event going on today, so I won't be able to post, so I thought I'd give you three posts from the early days of the Advanced Theory Blog:

• U2: Advanced or what?
  
• Elvis Costello? Definitely Advanced.
• Disappointed in a once-favorite band's direction? Give them another chance!

See you soon!

Zero Hour

Not much going on in the world today, though I do appreciate Outkast's decision to tour without Andre 3000. Now that's well played. Pretty sad news about Syd Barrett, though I guess the sad part really came a long time ago. Lou Reed was called a "cool Jew" by Salon the other day, but I didn't link to it, just because. I think it's time for David Bowie to do a sequel to Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars. It would really make people upset, and could be interesting in the bargain, not to mention Advanced. If it's good enough for Meat Loaf, I don't see why it wouldn't be good enough for David Bowie. Maybe Meat Loaf should make the Ziggy sequel and Bowie could do Bat III. Now that would be good! Anyhow, let's hope tomorrow is busier in the Advanced world. It's just possible I'm not going to be in front of a computer tomorrow, but we'll just have to see.

Grateful Dead Get Richer and Lazier, plus Grumpy Old Men Musical, Pat Benatar in Candies, Keith Richards, Village Voice Incomprehensible, Just Dunkin'

• The Grateful Dead have signed an "innovative" licensing agreement with Rhino. The agreement was signed on hemp! Not really. It actually just lets them all be rich without having to work as hard. Typical hippies.
• Grumpy Old Men the musical has the green light. I would have thought it would have gotten the left turn signal. Would Lou Reed and Iggy Pop be great in that?
• Pat Benatar is back! And she's wearing Candies.
• Keith Richards is healthy and excited to be paid millions of dollars to rock.
• The Overt Village Voice has something to say about Thom Yorke, but for the life of me, I can't tell what it is. I think it's about time the Voice went the way of CBGB.
• This is just a hunch, but I bet that Dunkin' Donuts will lose the "donuts" in its name to show that it is more than just donuts, just like Kentucky Fried Chicken became KFC to avoid "fried."

Bob Dylan and Twyla, plus Paul McCartney's First Guitar, Bono v. Hugo Chavez, Talking iPod, Ray Davies' Meaningful Ellipsis

• Learn a little a bit about one of the more Advanced projects to come around for a while, the Bob Dylan/Twyla Tharp musical. The Overt will ask Why? but we all know the answer to that.
• Paul McCartney's first guitar is going up for auction. I bet the price will be high, high, high.
• Bono is in trouble with Hugo Chavez. Videogame trouble.
• A talking iPod? Why not.
• Ray Davies quote: "We weren't afraid to fail and I think that's probably a plus and a minus because, you know, when we did those rock operas in the '70s, it was a death knell. It just made us more stronger and built up a following of really dedicated . . . fans." Yes, I...agree.

The Velvet Underground and Nico Rehearsing (January 1966)

Here's what the poster says: "The Velvet Underground rehearsing at the Factory, with Nico playing tambourine and her three year old son, Ari, playing at her feet. Wild camera work courtesy of Paul Morrissey. Directed and produced by Andy Warhol."

Jim Nabors and Leslie Uggams Sing the Beatles

I'm also one of the people who feel that Jim Nabors and Leslie Uggams are underrated.

The Beatles - "Revolution" (Live Promotional Movie)

As you may remember, I'm one of the few people who think the Beatles are underrated (for being able to rock, that is).

The Doors - "The Crystal Ship" (Promotional Movie)

Kinda fun.

Bluegrass Does Classic Rock, plus Expanding Monkees and Elephino, Termites in Tom Petty's Studio, Free v. Convenient, Paul Simon Is Muscular

• There's a nice article about the history of bluegrass covers of classic rock at Yahoo!. Speaking of which (sort of), "White Light/White Heat" would make a perfect bluegrass song. If you use this idea, I get credit and some of the proceeds! And send me a copy, too.
• Rhino is releasing expanded versions of the Monkees' two first records. That reminds me: What do you get when you cross and elephant and a rhino?
• More animal news: Termites have made their way into Tom Petty's home studio. Buddy Holly would have used them in a recording, I'll bet.
• When it comes to downloads, free is nothing compared to convenience.
• You can hear Paul Simon talking about working with Brian Eno here. But what I want to know is who he is working out with. Or am I the only one who thinks he's pumped up these days?
  

Willie Nelson Buys a Church, plus Rick Rubin, Ray Davies: Secret of My Failure, Chad Smith v. U2, iPod Is a Lightning iRod

• Willie Nelson bought a church. So he ought to be covered in the afterlife, I guess. (Though something tells me he was already in good with the Man Upstairs.)
• USA Today hearts Rick Rubin, as do we all.
• Was it the box set or the brains that stopped the Kinks from being the Beatles?
• Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers thinks U2 are sell-outs. Whatever, dude.
• iPod users are not safe in an electrical storm!

Pixies Won't Record or Stop Touring, plus Ozzy's House Burns, Bono on Yahoo!, CBGB to Close for Real, Farm Aid 19

• The Pixies are going to skip recording to focus on what they do best: Touring and making tons of music playing their old songs. I'm not sure if that's Advanced or Overt.
• Ozzy Osbourne's house caught on fire because of a "faulty lamp." In the good old "Bark at the Moon" days, we would have never believed that excuse.
• Bono is going to be on Yahoo! Answers tomorrow to promote a new album. Just kidding. He's going to be talking about debt relief.
• CBGB is going to close for good on September 30. So get your seven-dollar Corona while there's still time!
• Farm Aid 19 will be held in New Jersey. Meanwhile, Polluted Swamp Aid 17 will be held in Omaha, Nebraska. (Just kidding, New Jersey.)

Velvet Underground Debut Is Finally Number One, plus Kraftwerk Vocoder Sold, Dan Spitz Watches, Roger Waters and the Who, Ray Davies' Pants

• The readers of Uncut magazine have voted The Velvet Underground and Nico the greatest debut of all time. Meanwhile the readers of Unpaste magazine prefer Donovan's debut.
• The old Kraftwerk Vocoder that was up for auction on eBay sold for $12,500. I hope he wasn't buying it to lure women to his apartment.
• Dan Spitz, former guitarist for Anthrax, is releasing his on line of watches. I think I prefer the guy from the Fixx's hats, but then I prefer the Fixx to Anthrax(x).
• Roger Waters was the head and the Who was the heart at the Hyde Park Calling festival. And the Hard Rock Cafe was the wallet.
• Ray Davies wonders where his pants are.
  

Tom Waits to Tour, plus Johnny Cash's "American V," the LL Cool J Diet Plan, Bob Dylan Can Write Well, Toy Guitar of Death

• The Reverse Advanced (started out Advanced and became Overt, otherwise known as Second-Stage Advanced Weirdo) Tom Waits is going on an honest-to-goodness tour. Well, eight dates and for Overt, cockamamie reasons, but I'll take it.
• Everybody loves Johnny Cash's American V, so I guess his reputation will remain intact. What a relief.
• Get as ripped as LL Cool J! (But not Brad Pitt.)
• Bob Dylan was voted top living songwriter by the readers of Paste magazine. Meanwhile, the readers of Copy magazine prefer Donovan.
• Avoid this toy guitar at all costs! It has parts that could cause you to choke, plus it encourages you to play "Wonderful Tonight" by Eric Clapton.
  

Swamped!

I'm super busy, so no posts until this afternoon. Just wanted to let you know...

Jason

John Peel and Captain Beefheart Listen to the Trees

Our friends at Cool Noise had an interesting anecdote about John Peel and Captain Beefheart, who I think was so relentlessly Overt that it was almost Advanced. (Could it be that like love and hate, the two are the same? No, but it's a nice thought.) Anyhow, it seems that John Peel and Captain Beefheart were driving along together in 1967 when CB asks JP to stop the car to listen to the trees. About this Peel wrote in Margrave of the Marshes:

"If anybody else had said it, I would have said 'stupid bastard' under my breath. But with Beefheart you thought: Well, he knows more than I do and if he wants to listen to a tree, and I'm in a position to enable him to do so, then I'm going to give him a chance to do it."

I'd like to think that John Peel would have really appreciated the Advanced Theory.

The Making of "Peg" by Steely Dan

I've been moving all weekend, so I haven't had much of a chance to do anything but carrying things and curse. Now I'm done, though, and I wanted to share this video that I found through Goldenfiddle through The Rich Girls Are Weeping. It shows how Steely Dan put together "Peg," with Donald Fagen and Walter Becker sitting at the mixing board highlighting their favorite parts. I could watch this stuff forever...