The more things I remember, this may stretch into 3 parts.

We left off with me getting the Friday night call from my buddy Ira to hit The Village after Heartland.
http://www.prince.org/msg/2/183243

To fully understand what happens next you have to know that I don't drink much. Pretty much isolated to special occasions like this one. So to put things in perspective it must be known that i'd already had 2 Chivas Regals during dinner.

Ira picked me up at the restaurant and off we went.
Growing up in NYC, The Village had always been a special place for me.
During the 60s it was one of the places to be for Jazz/Rock/Folk artists of the day.
Not only did I go to High School in the East Village, I spent most Saturdays there just wandering around digging the vibe.
Some of you already know that I met Jimi Hendrix there, got invited to watch a Mothers of Invention rehearsal by Frank Zappa and could see folks like John Sebastian (Lovin Spoonful), Al Kooper (Blues Project, Blood, Sweat & Tears) and Linda Ronstadt (Stone Poneys) just by walking around. Ms Ronstadt was not as nice as Zappa. She kicked me out of The Stone Poneys rehearsal at the Cafe Au Go Go.

The problem at the time was that I was too young to get into any of these clubs (most of the time) at night.
So the fascination with hanging with Ira, many years later, here was my opportunity.
We started off at The Minetta Tavern, a bar across the street from The Cafe Wha?. This is the club where Hendrix played in a band that included Randy California (guitarist with Spirit) along with Bill Cosby, Richard Pryor, Kool and the Gang and other well known names that were at the time just getting started. Based on what i'll tell you later, it's amazing that The Cafe Wha? is still standing.

Btw, for anyone wondering what Cheryl "Pepsii" Riley (Thanks for my Child) is up to, she's at The Wha? every Tuesday night with a band called Disfunktion.

*Great site for reviewing The "old" Village:
http://home.nyc.rr.com/jk...al.htm#3st

2 Chivas Regals later, the subsequent stops start to blur.
I remember going to a place with a very strange seafarer motif.
It was inhabited by an odd mix of yuppies yelping while watching a hockey replay on TV to Bowery bum types.

1 Chivas Regal later we were at a place called The Groove on MacDougal Street that had live entertainment and was packed.

1 Chivas Regal later we ended up a sidewalk falafel stand.
I think I ate one.

At this point, the kid is 6 Chivas soaked sheets to the wind trying to figure out what's really inside this pita bread i'm holding.
After about another hour of careening through The Village, i've gotta give it up and go prone.

Ira pours me into a cab and I make it back to my room. After a few bouts with the whirlies I finally pass out.
Being the grown man that I am , the Regals, my dinner and the falafel stayed down.

Keep in mind that everyplace we went, everybody knew Ira.


"Around about this time the telephone blew its horn across the room."
What is that vicious noise? Slam the receiver down.

"And the telephone keeps on screamin'."
It's then that I realize i've got an appointment with a friend this morning.

I sit up in bed but I can barely see and my head feels like...



...the old Anacin commercial.

Jump in the shower, get dressed, get downstairs and grab some coffee and a cab.
I'm praying that the driver doesn't find every bump in the road. He does.

I get out a block away from where i'm going so that I can possibly drop this hangover into an open trash can before I get to the apartment.

My friend is Jerry Ragovoy, someone i've communicated with for over 10 years but this will be the first time we'll be hanging out in a non business setting.

Jerry was the original owner of The Hit Factory recording studio.
He was also a prolific 60s R&B songwriter/producer. You can check out a short bio on him at allmusic:
http://www.allmusic.com/c...wpta9ik~T1

The obvious things you'd recognize him for (sometimes writing under the name of Norman Meade)...

Time Is on My Side - (Irma Thomas, The Rolling Stones)
Cry Baby - (Garnett Mims, Janis Joplin)
Stop - (Howard Tate, James Gang, Jimi Hendrix)
Piece of My Heart - (Erma Franklin, Janis Joplin, Faith Hill)

If you haven't already, do yourself a favor and check out the originals (1st artist listed)
IMO, they cream the covers.

He also received a Grammy in 1972 for producing the Best Musical Show Album (Don't Bother Me I Can't Cope)

Other artists he's connected with as either a pianist/arranger/producer/writer include...
Kai Winding
Dusty Springfield
Aretha Franklin
Frankie Avalon
Paul Butterfield
B.B. King
Bonnie Raitt
Fabian
Dionne Warwick
Bette Midler
Gloria Loring
The Pointer Sisters
Miriam Makeba
The Manhattans
Elvis Costello
Lorraine Ellison
Barry White
Chaka Khan
The Drifters
The Yardbirds
Joan Baez
The Walker Brothers
The Small Faces

...among many others. He's got reams of writing credits with BMI/ASCAP.

This guy is a veritable cornerstone of 60s Rock and Soul music.
Add the fact that Jerry is 70 years old, there's no way I was gonna blow this opportunity hangover or no.



...JR at his new Steinway.




...JR in his apartment studio.




...JR and some guy.


Among other things, he told me about being friends/neighbors with Donald Fagen and the fact that he's going back to writing what he initially got in the business for...Jazz.


Back to the hotel for a quick recuperative nap before heading to Azucar's for the Org dinner.

In attendance were Byron, Cborgman, Uncle Grandpa, Sweeny79, purplecam, superspaceboy, Isobelfq, Ocean & Natisse.

The food was very good, the company great but the music way too loud (hangover still hangin').
At dinner, superspaceboy was gracious enough to give us a copy of his fuzzpod CD.

Got a nice picture of...



...isobelfq

The laid back side of Uncle Grandpa...



...rockin' the Richard Pryor t-shirt.


Here's where things get interesting.
A very attractive woman appears at the table and identifies herself by her given name.
Everyone introduces themselves and then we get this...

Hi "given name". What's your orgname?
I'm not going to tell you that right now.

... All ritey then.

The conversations resume and the attractive Mystery Woman inquires as to what the group's plans are after Azucar.
The general consensus was that no specific plans had been made.
Mystery Woman very astutely brings up the point that we're in a rather dead part of the city and suggests a trip to The Village.
I'm for that and the group rather hesitantly agrees. During my conversation with Mystery Woman, I get the feeling that I sort of know her for some reason.
Once outside the apprehension is building as to who this woman is. When asked, "Do you know who she is?", I respond, "Haven't got a clue. Maybe she's Zelaira!"

At this point i'm game to let this attractive, witty, very intelligent and creative (check the video) lady lead me to the gates of hell even if she is Zelaira.

Off we go to the subway and on to The Village.
If i'm not mistaken, this subway ride was where the outro scene to the 3121 - TWISTBD was shot.

We toured the neighborhood a bit.

One of the old haunts of Jimi Hendrix...



...the famous Cafe Wha http://www.cafewha.com/ab...istory.php


The spirit of Jimi...



...is alive and well in this area of town.


Another famous club from the 60s that's still standing...



...The Bitter End
Check out the roster of talent they've had on their stage since 1961:
http://www.bitterend.com


Some freak...



...that appears to like being photographed in his undies.


The animated Uncle Grandpa...



...cuttin' up.


Unfortunately, when we tried to get into a few bars, Natisse didn't have her ID.
Byron gallantly volunteered to accompany Natisse and Ocean back to their hotels so that the rest of us could carry on no holds barred so to speak.
It was at this point that Natisse manage to pry Mystery Woman's orgname out of her.
I wasn't about to remain in the dark so I fired up the solitary naked light bulb and stepped up my interogation.
After giving a hint I sussed out that we'd been dealing with Anon.

Next stop was Bleeker Street Bar...



...where we got some long awaited drinks.


The next place we went (I can't remember the name) was having a karaoke night.
And would you believe I couldn't get any of these folks to go up and do a tune.

I won't bust anybody but here are a couple of the lame excuses...

"My voice is messed up".
"I'm too shy".

...

Watching the other performers was a lot of fun.
This included a rather inebriated woman who did I Love Rock and Roll and I think a Pat Benatar tune, Love Is A Battlefield (?)
Or in her words, Love Is A F'ng Battlefield.

Eventually it was time to call it night and everyone made it in safe and sound.


Great evening with some fun folks.


If I can muster the strength i'll do Sunday night and some final thoughts.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431
[Edited 4/3/06 22:08pm]

...

I'm enjoyin'this!!! Bring on Part III...



...

Gates of Hell!?
Really!?
And you tell me this now?

I think my key still works, too.

awesome, tA so glad you were there with us

paligap said:

Damn, that's a lot of work.




tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

anon said:

Cool.

And just in case you've lost it,...



...I've got your ticket for the handbasket ride.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

Natisse said:

I'm glad I could make it.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

theAudience said:

theAudience said:

I'm jealous.....the next time, I'll come too....and pretending you don't know me is unacceptable!....and I sing quite well, I must say...so I am fearless with karaoke and will encourage you to join me in a duet.....how about a little Sonny and Cher?
I ~rarely~ drink either, so I can feel your pain.

Thanks for sharing your experiences....I really enjoyed reading your post and anxiously await Part Deux.

cubic61052 said:

I meant Part Trois.....we blonde Southern people can't count....

i am shy... believe it or not.

and the last thing i wanted was video footage of my fat ass ccat-wailing at karaoke.



plus, was in "impress cam, don't make an ass out of yourself" mode.

cborgman said:

Be yourself the next time and I am sure you will be just fine.....and if I am there you and I will cat-wail all night long if we want to!

cubic61052 said:

now i know to just be relaxed and myself. at the time, it was still first two meetings.

cborgman said:

I saw a bit of your shyness. However, it's the shy ones that make the best entertainers. You, cborgman, shy or not, are very entertaining.

anon said:

awww, thanks.

Love it...!! And love JR's apartment studio...

Man I enjoyed reading that! I miss you theAudience, you are the poster child for cool and this thread proves that. Oh, I have no shame, my voice was practically gone by the time we went to that club so I was no going up there croaking. Brotha's got his pride you know .

cubic61052 said:

When did I pretend I don't know you?

As for the Sonny & Cher thing..."It Ain't Me Babe" (Dylan)


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

cborgman said:

Just be yourself bro. You're amongst friends.
Besides, pc seems like a very accepting individual.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

Byron said:

Glad you dug it.

That's not even all his gear.
He said most of it is in storage.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

purplecam said:

Thanks pc. It was a pleasure meeting and hangin' with you.
It's nice to make some new friends in my hometown.

Next time however, you're not getting off the hook.
Croak or no croak. Just bring your Kermit gear.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

theAudience said:

You have never pretended to not know me...I was teasing you....

theAudience said:

tAzine
All you need is a Masthead.

We should make you do this monthly.

anon said:

I thought we were friends?


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431