Hey Reader,
After four years of angst, frustration, and ‘page fright’ about facing an audience every week, I’ve finally wrapped my heart around creating a consistent email missive. Writing in different disciplines for different platforms sometimes feels like dangling between Oz and Middle Earth. But after I started following the advice I give my students about utilizing their ‘power of perspective’, I’m excited to launch this digital storytelling portal by introducing my latest photo book “Imaginary Bands & their Fake Ass Songs.”
Conceived during the wee hours of pandemic quarantine, when instead of trying to count sheep to get to sleep, I started making up fake song titles and marrying them with my photographs. Then the screenwriter in me couldn’t help but build characters and backstories about who’d sing these songs. Heavily influenced by my late-night listening to AM stations fade in and out at night on my transistor radio as a child — broadcasting rock, soul, Country, Classical and Gospel — the forty-plus “Imaginary Bands…” represent an array of genres, tones and cultures.
Because I also savored the colorful label art on 45s banked up on my record player spindle before they dropped down onto the turntable, of course, I came up a fake record label, too. (Full disclosure: Finger Lips is the name of an app I made up for a script I wrote a couple years ago :)).
What does any of this have to do with Al Green? Like distant kinfolk, his voice has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. While real life relatives could guarantee us more laughter than any famous comedian — except maybe Richard Pryor — they “couldn’t carry a tune in a foot tub”. But from stereos, radios and occasional television appearances, Uncle Al Green was the one we could rely on to make us feel ‘some-kinda-way’.
Though his classics, “So Tired of Being Alone”, “Let’s Stay Together” and “Love and Happiness”, were just as soothing to my 10-year old soul as Mama’s smothered chicken and gravy was, while I did my chores around the farm, it wasn’t until I heard his rendition of “Unchained Melody” decades later driving into Lake Tahoe, that his voice became the closest thing to rapture I’ve ever experienced.
Upon revisiting his “Greatest Hits” album with an adult [writer, filmmaker] ear, I realized what manifestations of vocal ingenuity “Love and Happiness”, “Simply Beautiful” and “So Glad You’re Mine” are. Evident in his otherworldly phrasing, Rev. Green grooves to the beat of an invisible drummer — whom he is glad to identify. Dropping in lyrics before or after a scheduled note, like he’s streaming melodies from a parallel universe, touches the heart of anyone with a pulse, and shifts the energy in a room. Not picking up what I’m putting down yet? Check out some clips of his sizzling live “Soul” or “Soul Train” performances on YouTube.
What does this have to do with “Imaginary Bands…”or its fictional Finger Lips Records art featured here? Only everything. Since contemplating the power of Al Green’s artistry, I’ve been on a quest to make people feel ‘some-kinda-way’ with my work. Though I often wrestle to articulate exactly how his music makes me feel. It’s better than good. Deeper than great. Hotter than cool. It blankets me in delight, like the adoration of a kiss. “Sweet”.
In his documentary, “The Gospel According to Al Green”, you can feel the deep abiding love Al Green has always had for sharing his music with the world. As well as a humble awareness of what a gift his talent is. Creating “Imaginary Bands & their Fake Ass Songs”, using a variety of creative disciplines, I tapped into a fervent love of storytelling that I’d never known. And I pray this devotion oozes into the hearts of everyone who views it.
I appreciate you investing 6 minutes of your time into this note. Please let me know if it has been entertaining, enriching or inspiring to you. (‘Audio editions’ are coming soon). My next epistle will feature “Reflections” in images, music and life — along with info on artwork, events and book release dates for “Imaginary Bands & Their Fake Ass Songs”.
Big peace!
Carolyn
PS, here's a link to Al Green performing How Can You Mend a Broken Heart. Makes you feel 'some-kinda-way', right? :)
