We’d just returned to Kap & Jelena’s spacious Hamptons home from a formal cocktail party gathering, a few drinks down and still dressed in jackets and ties, when an indoor soccer game broke out. No one really said we were doing it, it just sort of happened, with the teams only loosely defined but mostly as our hosts’s whiz kid son Jonah against all the tipsy geezers. And then, as Ron Burgundy casually remarked in “Anchorman,” things escalated quickly; Matty sweating completely through his dress shirt, Jonah and brother Joshua diving over couches, piles of bodies bouncing off walls, soccer evolving to hand ball, until, not unpredictably, a stray shot from Hoosh blasted into someone’s face – mine – eluding any serious damage but snapping my (prescription) glasses into pieces. I dejectedly slumped off to bed.
With no back-up pair on the trip, and a wedding and full weekend of activities in front of us, I arrived in the kitchen the next morning still a bit downhearted and unsure of how I might best be able to cope with the small detail of not being able to properly see. But my crew knew, entirely properly as it turned out, that the situation called for something critical: not consolation, but merciless derision. Anticipating the moment, Kap had queued up the Marshall Tucker Band, and out of his speakers came the familiar guitar and flute intro to their classic ‘Can’t You See.’ ‘Lyin’ Eyes’ followed shortly thereafter, then Kim whispered a request to hubby Duck, and on came the brilliantly apropos ‘Doctor My Eyes.’ No sappy sympathy here, just merry mockery. And hysterical laughter, naturally. I could easily see why I’d been friends with these folks for well over 40 years…but I did have to squint.
The welcomingly farcical breakfast was soon paired with a quick vision resolution – shout out to Jesse at Optyx in East Hampton for the emergency replacement frames – and I’m happy to report that I could see clearly (now)* at the incredible nuptials event of Sam & J.J., put on as only they could by more 40-plus-year friends, Rosey & Linda, and featuring, among many other highlights, a live performance of ‘U Can’t Touch This’ by wedding guest MC Hammer, and a Carvel truck. It’s true; I call ‘em as I see ‘em.
So how about a So Much Great Music playlist to commemorate my gloominess turned gladness, a few high-visibility tunes (by Tucker, Eagles and Jackson Browne) pulled out specifically for my low-visibility, and a bunch more (by Guess Who, Hootie, Beatles, CSN and even Culture Club), that fit right in behind them, sight-unseen. Please enjoy the brand new SMGM playlist, “Can’t You See.” To borrow a title from The Who, it might just give eyesight to the blind.
* Johnny Nash’s ultra-happy finale on the playlist
David Wachs
September 21, 2024 1:23 amNice. You’re no Ricky Sobel (SHS soccer great). Anyway, 2 obvious titans left off this list. Porqouis? The Who’s “See Me, Feel Me” and YES’ “I’ve Seen All Good People”. Dweck and Little Zuck used to do the most famous drum fill of our day from the YES mega tune by playing it on their bare bellies, side by side. A sight to be seen, if you allow me to say so.
Speaking of drum fills. Have you ever considered doing a playlist to play air instruments to? You live an air guitar solo as much as anyone. Bill Bruford then Alan White made the YES drum fill famous in our day, before Phil Collins took the mantle with In The Air Tonight. At Live Aid in Philly, I saw 80,000 people play and vocally mimic air drums to that song, while Phil played it acoustically on the piano (having Concorded it from London)! Amazing moment. I can see it clearly now.
PS – Search Thomas Dolby’s “Valley of the Mind’s Eye”, my favourite song of his. A real beauty! And while we’re on the topic of Dolby…don’t forget “Blinded Me With Science”, mate. X
So Much Great Music
September 21, 2024 9:19 amTotally solid picks of my obvious misses – Who, Yes and Dolby (though Who was represented with another similar one from “Tommy”) – but I think I might want to get my prescription checked for visuals of the Dweck/Lil’ Zuck big bare belly fill!