Comeback Pete

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I NEED HELP WITH AN OLD PROBLEM

This Earth Day will see the remix’s release,

 

Please help me!  I wrote this song in 1976. The recording I made got the attention of the record company guy (me at the time), who got my message. I want the message to get out to everyone.  I didn’t perform it because I thought it was an obvious sentiment. I’m now too old to want promote this song live or on social media, ergo I NEED YOUR HELP.

A BRIEF HISTORY:

I was walking through an exhibit of player pianos in 1975 and saw a one-man-band playing “Stars and Stripes Forever” by John Philip Sousa. It was so cool! I recorded it with Glen Kolotkin. I wrote a ditty incorporating a nursery rhyme about being kind to web-footed friends in my duck voice. I was helped by Jon Sargent of Purple Earthquake , who arranged the vocals and Tommy Dunbar, Rubinoos, who added electric guitar in the “Pete” tradition of working with Beserkley band members.

The song was released in 1976 to coincide with the America’s 200th birthday. I never toured, I was not an act.. After the recording paid for itself, I stopped working the song. I felt the premise of the song was so obvious and forgot about it until

                        IT GOT ERIC DIN’S ATTENTION.

 THE SONG GOT ERIC DIN’S (another record company guy) ATTENTION.

Says Din: “We’re excited to get this timely remix out to the streaming services on Earth Day 2022. I was surprised to learn Pete did the “duck” vocals himself, and when I read the lyrics, this suddenly became more than a novelty song for me. It’s an unexpected environmental anthem, and we’re proud to release it on Berkeley Cat Records.   

I made the original video with Calvin West, drawings by Trimla Rose, and I posted it on Youtube.

 

 

WE NEED TO ACT OR AT LEAST TALK ABOUT SOLUTIONS RATIONALLY

If we act now we might extend the lifetime of mankind. We need  climate action in the USA for the world to see. But let’s be REAL – Smoking Causes Cancer and Oil and Gas use causes Global Warming. So ending fossil fuel subsidies makes sense. BUT I see obstacles. Deniers of climate change are like ostriches (using birdbrains) to deny progress. Our next crisis is of our own making, avoidance only putting off the inevitable.

I chose Big Bird by Eddie Floyd.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clvrPmTx4n4

DENIERS I HAVE A PROBLEM, WHAT TO DO?

I have difficulty believing there is a body of people denying that climate change is manmade.   I realize the amount of “change required” once the change to our way of life sinks in.  As ComebackPete I’ve agreed  climate change is real and we’re responsible. I always carry my own bags to the grocery and recycle.

My habits were changed by laws.

I assume that’s how this current climate change business would be dealt with. 

IT’S NOT!

How come?  

No solutions to profit from? 

Are we rich enough to ride it out?  

If not,  what are you doing about it? 

I would help. 

BUT what to do???

Is the burning question.

We have to be ready to make major changes to survive this threat to Mankind.

I have selected a Black Sabbath song “Changes” performed by Charles Bradley (never heard the band before.)

 

GEORGIA IS IN THE SPOTLIGHT- GEORGIA ON MY MIND by BILLIE HOLLIDAY

The fate of the climate agenda rests in the hands of Georgia voters. The run-off law was designed for voter suppression. The Republicans are using this special election as a way to preserve their Senate majority.  Pete hopes turnout of voters might backfire from recent results.

This song became the state song in 1972. It seems to me.  In 1930,  Hoagy Carmichael wrote the music and Stuart Gorrel the lyrics to a song about Hoagy’s sister, Georgia. When  it became the official state song, in 1979,  Hoagy said it was written for the state of Georgia. So I wonder when Billie or Ray sang this song was it a girl’s name song?  Billie recorded this version in 1941,that was years before, it became a state song.

 

GEORGIANS PLEASE VOTE- ”GEORGIA ON MY MIND” by RAY CHARLES

I bet you’ll be hearing this song often. Winning of the Senate majority is very important to the cause of climate concern. If the pandemic is any indication of how to deal with this pressing problem. We fail. There is no worldwide consensus to deal with a problem of this magnitude. There is  just a lot of misinformation and lack of regard for role of science. Pete thinks climate change is not a hoax, but a serious problem. Pete just wonders if this song written by a white man in 1930, about Georgia and then recorded in 1960 by a black man Ray Charles is instructive at all about the New South. This election has thrust Georgia is the international spotlight. This song joining it. 

This song has been recorded by many recording artists from Ella to Willie to The Band, but the  Ray Charles’ version is the most well known,  and I enjoyed it from my 1st listen. Ray is an accomplished songwriter as well as a truly great vocalist  song interpreter. 

VOTE-THE PLANET IS AT STAKE -”WAIST DEEP IN THE BIG MUDDY” by PETE SEGER

I became an single issue voter. The choice couldn’t be more clear the planet is at stake.

The choice about the climate couldn’t be clearer. If you believe climate change is real and should be discussed. or if this is a Chinese hoax? VOTE, please.

I remember the “don’t trust anyone over 30.” In 2020 that’s quite a mouthful. I hear this song and it summed up so much back when I mistrusted anyone over 30. Now I find myself mistrusted. Pete and the folk protest movement had a disproportionate effect on me. Tough to say “this song makes sense today.”

 

VOTE FOR THE CLIMATE- “ACROSS 110 ST.” by BOBBY WOMACK

I became a single issue voter. Pete votes Climate. Pete wants a healthy discussion about the changing climate rather than a flimsy denial. I agree with the group of law students who rank law firms that represent climate denial. Looks like Exxon is a big denier.

I first heard this song in the movie as the title track. I thought I’d stick with the Bobby Womack theme from the beginning of his career to this great  song from him as a solo artist and co-writer.  I chose another lyrics video cause the words are gut punching and haunting.

VOTING IN 2020-”NOT FADE AWAY” by BUDDY HOLLY

Facebook announced  a weeklong voter registration push aimed at Facebook, Instagram and Messenger users. Registering to vote is important, if you know someone that is not registered help them register. Voting is important! It’s a duty of citizens of a democracy.

 

I remember Buddy Holly’s immeasurable impact on life because I was alive then, and had to see him on The Ed Sullivan Show that’s how retarded it was back then. He and the Crickets were mind boggling. The Crickets made  background vocals “Rock and Roll.”  

 

So I picked a song that featured those background vocals, and yes I chose another lyrics video. This song has been recorded by many others. This song was a favorite of my 1st girlfriend.  Lol.