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One sunny afternoon I was doodling around on the song “Yesterday” by Paul McCartney, and the workout led to the guitar riffs that led to this song.

I’m a fan of classic comedy of Laurel & Hardy. I’m also a fan of Graham Greene, the prolific British writer known for exploring ambivalent moral, political, and spiritual issues of the modern world. His specialties were paradoxical characters who (often reluctantly or surprisingly) became saviors through ironic or redemptive acts. Meanwhile, Greene would carefully detail the sin-nature of so-called innocents. Greene’s story-endings weren’t always tidy and Hollywood-friendly (even though many of his books became films), yet you have to accept it—because everything happens for a reason. The lyrics propose the notion that Greene could’ve written a film script for Laurel & Hardy on the theme that parts of life are unresolved tragic-comedies. In a way, the song is a refraction on the hymn “Farther Along.”

Tracking was started on a 4-track a portastudio in a loft in San Francisco, then released in an acoustic version on SNAPSHOTS (2002). I played all the violins—multi-tracked countless times. It was a noisy room, but somehow we EQ’d the violins into shimmering submission (I don’t think I’ll ever be able to do that again!).

Five years later I digitized the tracks and moved them to Mind’s Eye Studio in Williamsport PA where I added bass and drums (under the engineering wand of Scott Francis). That became the “Kick Mix” issued on the GRATEFUL CD in 2007.

The end result is probably one of the most Beatle-esque things I’ve ever done.

lyrics

UNRESOLVED Words & Music by Johnny J Blair copyright 1991, 2007 Word2Soul Music BMI

How can I get through
To the time to be one with you

Lazy days and half a chance
Make the straight man sing and dance
Even when the Spirit fills your hall
Many things go unresolved

How did I get into this
It's just what you call another fine mess

Lazy days and half a chance
Make the straight man sing and dance
Promises on carousels
Turn my heart and make it swell
Even when the Spirit fills your hall
Many things go unresolved

credits

from PICASSO​’​S GLAM BAROQUE PSYCHEDELIC SUNSHINE (A collection of 12 way​-​out pop songs), released January 4, 2017
JJB: bass, drums, guitar, piano, production, violins, & vocals
Scott Francis: remixing

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Johnny J Blair "Singer at Large" image

Johnny J Blair "Singer at Large" San Francisco, California

"Johnny is a virtuoso"--Brian Wilson
"Pop music with a conscience.”--Goldmine
“the Harry Houdini of rock and roll.”-- Spotlight. Listen to Johnny's fast-paced mix of old school soul, psychedelia, punk/new wave, & classic pop/rock. Singer-songwriter in his own right, he was also a sideman for Davy Jones and The Monkees + performed with David Cassidy, Al Stewart, Buddy & Julie Miller, & others. ... more

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