the great leslie

I posted another comment, and lost it, too. It was an invitation to Nashville to work for practically nothing at the Nashville Scene and cover the writers' clubs. Stay with me. Come on, a year in the South. Nashville isn't NYC, but is an exciting city. In a year, you'd know everything about country music you'll ever want to know,e.g., congress deregulated radio a few years ago. The playlist is determined for the whole country by a handful of dumb song gods... That's why the great stuff is in the writers' clubs and not on the airwaves. These people are interesting, sometimes le miserables with no talent more so than the writers of the great songs. I have to get my book out. It's about all this stuff. Your Mother is very encouraging. I'll be taking apart ten song to let the unbelievers know why they're good, and very stiff to write...sending her now the lyric to "What Mattered Most", written by a couple of California to Nashville singer/songwriters. I use it a lot in the book. The invitation is out there. Love, Pat Now what do I do. Where is the thermal knowledge?

Got it.

when dad plays this song, he often introduces it by saying something about it having seven verses, no chorus, a simple melody, no rhythm you can dance to, and lyrics about a subject few people care about or understand. and yet, it might have been the biggest hit he ever had...

i like to hear him say this, because it reminds me that we don't have to follow all the rules other people made up in order to be great. we are great when we tell our own stories, about what we know. sometimes they are golden or not so golden, but it's good to write them down.

To a word person without a job: I think you should work for a year for the Nashville Scene. Sell yourself the same way with some kind of music twist...get around the writers'club scene with observations about this writer or that song. These people are interesting. Sometimes le miserables with no talent more so than the greats. When my book is finished, it will provide you with great information,e.g., did you know that a few years ago congress deregulated radio? The playlist for the whole country is determined by a handfull of programmers who fashion themselves the country song gods. Of course, they have to sell millions of cars and washing machines and computers. That's why the great songs are in the writers'clubs and not on the radio.

Les, I'm sending you the annual People issue of the Nashville Scene, just out today. Enjoy!

Love,Aunt P

Patti: I was in Nashville this December, as you know, and thought it was great. If there's work to be had, I'm interested in looking into it. Leaving New York sometimes seems impossible, but I guess people do it everyday...xo.