A Bit More Music...and So Long for Now

Dan Gillmor is a BoingBoing guest-blogger.

At the beginning of this guest-blogging stint at BoingBoing, I posted a song from my days in music some years back. Several of you asked me to post some more. Okay, on my last post for now, here goes. 

Our music, in a band called Road Apple, ranged all over the map, from 20s jazz to rock to country to whatever we felt like. We wrote a lot of our own material. I learned the secret of collaboration: Always work (or play, in this case) with people who are better than you are.

Music was a joy, not a job. I miss it, and miss my musical compatriots and friends who are either distant in geography or who've left us entirely.

These songs reflect my folky tendencies, and are from two albums we recorded in the 1970s; you'll have to decide whether they've held up or not. I wrote the first two. The last is by David Batteau and it may be the best of all the tunes we recorded.

"I Stayed Behind" -- One day I decided to write a lonesome country song:

"California Plane" -- It can be a bad idea to go back home unannounced:

"Space Cowboys" -- A beautiful song, and I think we did justice to it:

It's been an honor and pleasure to be here, sharing a space not just with the incredible BoingBoing team but with all of you as well. Your ideas and comments reinforced what I already knew, that BoingBoing readers are a rare breed. Thanks to all...

[#1 posted by minTphresh , March 23, 2009 8:10 AM]

a rare breed indeed! enjoyed your posting, dan. best of luck to you in your travels. always remember: " red sky in morning, sailor take a warning. rectum, damn near killed 'em!"

[#2 posted by Andrew , March 23, 2009 8:11 AM]

Thanks for the intelligent, thoughtful posts. I may have not agreed 100% of the time (which is to be expected 100% of the time), but you always piqued my interest and held it. Thanks.

[#3 posted by Inkstain , March 23, 2009 8:19 AM]

Thanks for the time, Dan. I didn't always (ever?) agree with you, but I enjoyed the subjects you brought up.

[#4 posted by Takuan , March 23, 2009 8:24 AM]

see you on the flipflop, Dan!

[#5 posted by Teds Famous Kickin Chicken , March 23, 2009 9:20 AM]

Nice job, Dan. Look forward to seeing you at more Berkman/ MIT Center for Future Civic Media events.

[#6 posted by ICEverfrost , March 23, 2009 9:52 AM]

So long for now Space Cowboy.

[#7 posted by EH , March 23, 2009 10:24 AM]

Dan, I've been reading you since your Mercury days, through the citizen journalism project a few years ago that convinced me of my internet blowhardedness enough to start commenting on stories, into the later years of our new century with your various endeavors. To know that you are a musician is some tasty icing on the cake. Thanks for all your work!

[#8 posted by biffpow , March 23, 2009 11:09 AM]

Dan: I've enjoyed your posts more than any other guest blogger--sad to see you go. Keep up the excellent work.

[#9 posted by teleskier , March 23, 2009 11:53 AM]

Dan,
I remember seeing Road Apple at Middlebury in the 70's! Strange how things come around. Thanks for some great times back then and some great posts this week.

[#10 posted by wolfiesma , March 23, 2009 1:40 PM]

Lovely songs. Especially the country ditty. Wolfie did an impromptu interpretive dance to Space Cowboys (in the nude.) Rock on!

We had some musicians stay here from Germany and they were pretty bleak about the future of the music industry. Hopefully good music will survive the break-neck rate of change in the music/media biz...

Good luck with all your future projects!