The Vinyl Community's Mazzy's new "Cease & Desist" YouTube video.

@cd318, in one version of "Revolution" Lennon sings "out", pauses briefly, then sings "in". That was the expression of his mixed feelings on the subject.

I love Jackson Browne’s songwriting and singing, but when he became overtly political his music became less interesting to me. Not only are the songs just not as good musically, but the lyrics are too "earnest", too literal, less artistic. His political/social causes became more important than the music/songs.

Dylan’s lyrics are of course in a class of their own. His path was the opposite of Jackson’s: from literal (his early, overtly political songs) to abstract, surrealistic, multi-level. He then took another turn and went down the road back to Hank Williams and Lefty Frizzell. After spending all of 1967 recording with Bob in the basement of Big Pink, The Band recorded Music From Big Pink in early ’68, including Lefty’s "Long Black Veil" (a great, great song) on the album.

Dylan was simultaneously recording his John Wesley Harding album in Nashville, again challenging his audience to follow him. A Country album in the midst of Psychedelia?! (remember, JWH came out only six months after Sgt. Pepper). And from the man very instrumental in creating the basis for the emerging Counter Culture?! He lost a lot of people with that album, but led others back in time, where we discovered the Hillbilly element in the original Rock ’n’ Roll. Thank you Bob! He’s still leading the pack, and almost 80 years old. THE musical artist of the early-60’s forward. The world will REALLY be a less interesting place when he’s gone.

Me, "help" the audiophile community? First, I don’t presume to have anything in the way of help for that community; I am not nearly as concerned with my music playback system as is the typical audiophile. "It’s about the music" may be a cliche’, but not in my case. My music library is worth far more than is my hi-fi, both in terms of importance to me and in monetary value.

And then there is the fact that the audiophile community---at least the segment active on Audiogon---has largely ignored the products offered by EAR Yoshino, Music Reference, Eminent Technology, Townshend Audio, and London, those being amongst my favorites. Considering that, why would anyone care what I have to say regarding hi-fi? Well, in the case of the London cartridges, that may be justified. ;-)

But that’s not really what you’re getting at, is it @artemus_5?

This thread was started for those whose taste in music, record collecting, and humor might find Mazzie’s posts in general, and the one referred to above specifically, of interest. I thought it might provide solace for like-minded people here on AG in the closing months of our national nightmare. It did for me.

If it doesn’t for you, I suggest you avoid the recordings of not just Neil Young, but also Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Bruce Springsteen, John Fogarty, Ry Cooder, John Mellencamp, Iris Dement, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Johnny Cash, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, and all the other libtard artists.

But don’t despair. There is still Ted Nugent, Mike Love and Bruce Johnston of The Beach Boys, and.....uh, I think that’s about it. Enjoy!