The Oppenheimer Report - 8/31/15

Bobby Cameron headed back to Toronto last Wednesday. He was our houseguest for almost a week and that was a real treat. The last time he was here, he came with his family while Shauna and I were in the middle of the construction of our log home. Bobby and his family rented a cabin not far from our place, and one night, Bobby and I sat at the kitchen table in that cabin, with our guitars, and played each other a few songs we were working on. There are few people with whom I share my unfinished songs. I’ve begun to change that, because it is helpful to have feedback from other artists I respect. Musically, Juan Barbosa has been very helpful in the arrangements of my songs, but Bobby is really the guy who re-started my love of song writing. He and Shauna were the people who really encouraged me to continue writing songs when I was ready to stop. No words can describe the satisfaction of penning a promising song, then having a good musical artist work on it with you. Having worked with Bobby, and now with Juan as well, I am less intimidated playing with musicians who are better than I am. In the past, I often went off tempo playing with a good musician, because I would listen to his or her performance and forget to focus on my own. I’m working on that.

 

The other day, I pulled up a video clip on my computer that I’d forgotten about, and it was of a writing session in our Banff, Alberta hotel room, when Bobby and his wife, Sherrie, came down from Edmonton to visit. I vaguely remember the songs we worked on, and while I don’t think I had much input in that session, I do remember hearing one song, "Perfect World", which Bobby was writing at the time. That song really moved me, because it has a beautiful and universal message. There are so many strong songs we were privileged to hear as they were being written, and I learned a lot from those sessions. A few years back, my buddy Bob finally convinced me to join him on a visit to the Rock ‘n' Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, and it was not the signature guitars or the famous articles of clothing that most impressed me; it was the original lyrics, written by artists in their own handwriting. For me, to be in the room when a great song is being written is heady stuff. Over ten years after that writing session in Banff, "Perfect World" has finally been released on Bobby’s most recent album, “Comfort Zone.” That album might be the best work Bobby has put out to date, and he’s written a lot of good songs.

All artists go through dry spells. We write something down on paper, maybe we have a hook for the chorus, but we can’t make the lyrics fit to our satisfaction. A word of advice to the neophyte song writers out there: save everything you write. I have three voice recorders lying around the house, and everywhere I travel, I try to take a recorder with me in case I am inspired. In 2009, I wrote a few verses down for a song called "The Middle of Nowhere", and over the past six years, I have re-written the song several times, but without a melody in mind. When Bobby was our houseguest last week, we had a little writing session, just like the good old days, and I pulled out the lyrics for "The Middle of Nowhere". Within five minutes, Bobby had put the song to music, which in turn inspired me to finish writing the lyrics. Almost done, I think this song might be a good one, especially if Bobby records it. For the past several days, every free moment I have has been devoted to polishing that song, and it is almost done. Bobby says his next album will be live, off-the-floor, acoustic performances, and he said he'd like to include my song. Juan Barbosa's new album, Soulbot 6000, will be released in late September, and includes one of my songs, "Stupid Show and Tell". I recently learned that CBC radio will soon put one of the cuts from that album into national rotation, which is great news. Coupled with the fun I am having doing my radio show, thanks to Hunters Bay Radio, I'm a very happy guy.

-Written by Jamie Oppenheimer c2015 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED-

The Oppenheimer Report 8/26/15

Last weekend, Shauna and I hosted a concert in Huntsville in order to present our good friend, Bobby Cameron, to the local community. I have spoken many times in this report about Bobby’s skills as a guitarist and a song writer, but no words can describe his live performances. As an added bonus, also on the bill was my producer and uber talent, Juan Barbosa. The two of these guys on the same stage was a fantastic show, and I could tell that everyone present felt the electricity. We put this show on with Hunter’s Bay Radio, and it was coordinated to coincide, but not interfere, with the Hunters Bay Radio Radiothon, also held this past weekend.

Putting on a concert, even a small one such as this, is no mean feat, and I have a new found respect for people who successfully promote concerts. Disregarding for a moment the obvious challenges, such as conflicting events, there are so many variables which factor into the success of an event. These days, it seems to be harder to get people to attend live concerts, especially if the artist is not well known. Bobby told me of a large music festival that recently had to cancel for lack of ticket sales, and the organizers had already booked 25 or more bands to play the weekend. Bonnie Raitt was scheduled to play, and was probably paid in advance, but with only 300 tickets pre-sold, the festival had to be called off. Any bands that were low on the food chain were out of luck. That meant that not only were they not compensated, but they were left to scramble for another gig during the busy summer season. Indeed, the life of most touring musicians is not at all glorious, and the myth of wealth and fame is just that, a myth. I find it somewhat amusing to watch new artists come into the field with delusions of success and recognition. While the internet does somewhat level the playing field, there is also ten times the competition there was thirty years ago.

Bobby now derives a good portion of his income producing other artists, and he is routinely hired to play to music centers like Nashville and Austin. He’s had the good fortune to meet many of the great writers in those centers, and he said it has been eye opening. He said one night he was invited to a party in Nashville wherein 10 or more songwriters sat around the room and passed the guitar around. Each writer took a turn playing one of his or her own songs. Bobby listened to every artist play their songs and quickly realized that every song was a popular hit. It was a sobering reminder that no matter how much one believes in one’s ability, there are 20 guys out there who are better or more successful at what they do. The only strategy I can see to succeed in this, or any other art form is to simply focus on getting better. I am approaching the halfway mark of my weekly songwriter show on Hunter’s Bay Radio, and in this time, I have been simply amazed by the under-recognized talent in the song writing field.
 

Final notes … The first Hunter’s Bay Radio Radiothon was a success. The weekend-long event featured a steady stream of on-air performances by local artists, and while Shauna and I were busy with Bobby and Juan’s concert, we did spend a good portion of Sunday at the station. The volunteer support was inspiring and the live performances were excellent. By the end of the Radiothon, the station had raised over $14,000, which will help pay the cost of equipment repair, as well as to begin to pay for the CRTC-mandated emergency generator. The generator will allow the station to broadcast in the event of a power outage. Everyone involved in the event should be proud of their efforts. As I said before, this little radio station has been a source of great satisfaction for both Shauna and me. The fact that it is a voice to support the local music scene makes it a valuable asset, to me and many others.


Sorry the report was late this week.
 

-Written by Jamie Oppenheimer c2015 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED-

The Oppenheimer Report - 8/24/15

To my twelve loyal readers - The Oppenheimer Report will be a little late this week. Sorry!

The Oppenheimer Report - 8/17/15

I never imagined myself getting involved in a community radio station, but less than two years from my introduction to Hunters Bay Radio, both Shauna and I have become two of their biggest supporters. It all began with my live performance on a cold winter’s day in 2013. I remember there was a terrific snowstorm the day I drove in to Huntsville to perform. A few days earlier, I’d had to cancel a recording session on nearby Bay Lake because it was -30F and my car battery was dead. I tried to open the hood in order to give the battery a boost, and the hood latch was frozen. Anyhow, for my debut performance at HBR, the weather was atrocious, and as I got out of the car, there were tornadoes of snow, and my guitar practically blew out of my hand as I braced myself for the 20 yard walk to the station. Clearly Mother Nature was testing my resolve. But I persevered, and once in the warm station, I remember my first impressions were good. Everyone was friendly and welcoming, and although I had never performed live on air before, I felt as if I was among friends, and it was somehow not all that daunting. Then host of the show, Talent on the Bay, Christine Heron, put me at ease as I bumbled through my six or seven songs and answered her questions. After that day, I began to attend Hunters Bay Radio sponsored events and saw how much the station was doing for the community, and especially for the local musicians. From Talent on the Bay, to the Live Drive show on Thursday nights before my show, HBR provides an open mic to many artists in the area who might not otherwise be heard. Some of these musicians are better than others, but what is notable is that here is a radio station playing what no one else is playing.

 

Another thing I like about HBR is that the programming is so diverse. Barry "Bazza" Hayward hosts a show featuring world Music, Musica Del Mundo, Scott Gilson hosts Neoteric, featuring new music, fellow songwriter Doug McLean hosts a show, which I am listening to as I write this, Blue Monday, that showcases Folk and Blues. Every day, I am exposed to some artist I really like and have never before heard. I’m watching less television these days – I still have to watch the news and reality television from time to time, to remind myself that the world really is coming to an end soon—and I’m listening to more radio broadcasts.    

 

Next weekend marks Hunters Bay Radio’s first Radiothon, and there will be events all weekend. Volunteers will be manning the phones at HBR to take pledges. Money raised during this event will go to fund an emergency generator in order to ensure that HBR can broadcast in the event of a power outage. Musicians will be performing all weekend long outside and inside the HBR studio, and a long list of volunteers including yours truly, as well as radio personalities will be manning the phones and talking about the station on-air. Our good friend and gifted singer/songwriter, Bobby Cameron will be coming in to visit that weekend, fresh off a short concert tour in the Maritimes, and we have arranged for him to play at one of the better local venues on Saturday night. Always a big supporter of radio, Bobby wants to show his gratitude to the station for airing his music. With him on the bill that night is local musician (and the producer of my soon-to-be-released album) Juan Barbosa. Shauna and I have been looking forward to putting these two remarkable talents together in the same room. Last week, I was running around from Bracebridge to Burk’s Falls hanging posters for the event. Shauna is really the promotions expert, and she has knocked herself out to ensure that the show is properly advertised. I do the grunt work. Bobby has a pretty strong following Canada wide, so we’re hoping for a good crowd. If you find yourself anywhere near Huntsville on Saturday night, I can guarantee this will be an entertaining concert. Thank you Hunter’s Bay Radio for all you do in this community!

  

-Written by Jamie Oppenheimer c2015 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED-

The Oppenheimer Report 8/10/15

While I missed the U.S. debate, I understand Donald Trump complained that questions directed at him were more difficult than those asked of the other candidates. I am reminded of Ross Perot’s ill-fated U.S presidential bid many years ago. These rich and powerful hot shots in the private sector have no clue how to win an election, and it always amuses me to see guys like Perot and Trump, with all their bluster and hubris, go up against political veterans and the big bad machine. When one of them self-righteously “speaks the truth” and puts his foot in his mouth, his seasoned opponents and the press crucify them, and the foot-in-mouther then cries foul. The hypocrisy of this righteous indignation is glaringly obvious. Dirty tricks and indiscretions carried out in the private sector often remain secret; they are seldom held up to a microscope for public scrutiny. Politics is a different playing field. I understand Trump is a front-runner in the Republican race right now, but I’m thinking that will likely change. He’s already put his foot in his mouth a few times, and this is not a mudslinging scrum with Rosie O’Donnell. I am cynical enough to hope 'The Donald' remains a viable candidate, at least for a while, to keep things entertaining. Let’s face it, the elephants have been on the ropes ever since they fell off the right side of the table. I’ve been writing this report since 1992, and Trump’s pomposity and arrogance have been fodder for this grist mill ever since he spit Ivanna out like a watermelon seed. As for the recent Canadian debate, sponsored by Maclean's Magazine, I did watch as much of that as I could take. I found it to be “lies, damn lies, and statistics”. I know the average Canadian voter is probably better apprised of the issues than am I, but wow; I got lost in the weeds with the stats. I’ll be interested to see if disgraced Senator Mike Duffy manages to throw current PM Harper under the bus by implicating him in the much-publicized Senate scandal. That scandal would likely prove disastrous for the Conservatives. If ever there is an unfortunate caricature of a politician, it is Mike “Mr. Pork” Duffy. I came up with a line tonight that I want to someday incorporate into a song: the face of pork.

Last weekend, I attended the fifth annual Burk’s Falls Country Jamboree and I had the good fortune to hear some premier Bluegrass acts. I didn’t always enjoy Country and Bluegrass music, but it is growing on me. There are some great storytelling songs written in that style. Living up here, I have been exposed to some pretty good music, both at the radio station and from local friends, and it has expanded my musical appreciation. My favorite acts last weekend were Emory Lester, an excellent mandolin player (among the other instruments he plays), and a band called Winterline, out of Windsor, Ontario. I also had the good fortune to sit and chat with guitarist/ humorist Wendell Ferguson before his set on Friday night, and we had an interesting conversation. We are almost the same age, and Wendell confided that, growing up in Streetsville, Ontario, he used to watch Buffalo television. Of course that was something we had in common. We laughed about Buffalo news anchor Irv Weinstein, the prince of yellow journalism, broadcasting his doom and gloom on channel 7 out of Buffalo. Wendell also knew and had performed with Buffalo native, Gurf Morlix, whose songs I have played on my radio show, and who, to my surprise has a house in Minden, Ontario, not too far from where we live. I bought a lot of CDs this weekend; it might take me awhile to listen to them all. All in all a great weekend, and I look forward to next year’s show.  In two weeks, Shauna and I, along with Hunters Bay Radio, will be hosting a show at Sutherland Hall in Huntsville featuring our good friends Bobby Cameron and Juan Barbosa. The show coincides with the HBR Radiothon fundraiser, and we hope that by whatever means, we can get the word out that this community radio station is of enormous benefit to the community at large and worth supporting. We have listeners from all over the world tuning in, and recently hit a milestone 10,000 Facebook “Likes”.  

In the news last week. there were reports of deadly Typhoon Chan-Hom, which slammed into Southeastern China yesterday and forced the evacuation of about 160,000 people. Taiwan, Japan, North Korea, and Guam were also hit hard by this storm. Earlier in the weekend another (different?) super typhoon, Haiyan, pummeled the Northern Philippines and parts of SE Asia. As always, I am somewhat ashamed of my insulation from all the disasters which occur on the other side of the world. I just learned about those storms last night when I turned on the 11 O’clock news. I was much more distracted by the misadventures of “Squirrel Hair” Trump. So many stories make the headlines for fifteen minutes then it is on to the next road kill. Do these stories simply go away because the Western media stops shining a light on them? We North Americans may not be able to fix all that is wrong in the world, but I think these natural disasters are worthy of my attention if only to bluntly remind me of the human condition and my good fortune so far.

 

- Written by Jamie Oppenheimer c2015 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED-

The Oppenheimer Report - 8/3/15

At 4pm yesterday, I was scheduled to play a short set at the Kearney Regatta, but the weather did not cooperate and regrettably, all events after 3pm were cancelled. I’d spent several hours over at the regatta on Saturday and attempted to record some of the other musical performances, but the wind was so strong that it interfered with the sound. During a few of the stronger wind gusts, we had to hold down the Hunters Bay Radio tent to keep it from blowing away. At one point, I had visions of being launched into the nearby lake, still holding onto the tent frame. Indeed, I had been looking forward to playing that venue because it promised to include a good-sized audience. There were even cool tie dye tee shirts printed up for the occasion, with a list of the featured musicians (myself included!). In fact, there was a sizable crowd gathered on Sunday, because there were lots of events to watch, but the high winds and rain hit about a half hour before I was to play, and the crowd as well as the concessions packed up and left. City Hall and Mother Nature, right? I later learned that the weather was even worse to the south of us and the severe weather spoiled more than a few outdoor events. While this cancellation was disappointing for me, I’m sure it was much worse for all the organizers who had put so much time and work into making the event happen. I am reminded of the ill-fated and money-losing Muskoka Sound music festival in Huntsville back in 2013, which was plagued by heavy rain and cold weather. The Burk’s Falls Country Jamboree will take place next weekend, and that is a Country music / Bluegrass festival I have been unable to attend for the past several years. This year, I intend to be there. Friday, weather permitting, we are looking forward to hearing Canadian guitar virtuoso Wendell Ferguson play. I am a bit nervous for the organizers, who are friends of mine; clearly this has not been a great summer for outdoor events.

Last week, I had my first correction from a new listener, who wrote to set me straight about the author of a song I played on my Lyrical Workers radio show. I immediately wrote the guy back and thanked him for the correction, and told him I would make note of it on the next show. I try to fact check the songs I play but sometimes I get it wrong. It is not always easy to determine the author of a song. Everyone remembers the artist who made the song famous. Sinatra made a hit out of New York New York, but how many people know (or care) who wrote it? John Kander and Fred Ebb is the answer. The listener who made the afore-mentioned correction is a musician himself, and asked me if I might listen to his original songs and perhaps air one of them. This is what I had hoped to accomplish with the show when I first agreed to do it: I want to expose some good original songs or covers that are not likely to be heard on commercial radio. If I have learned anything important in the past several months, it is that there are literally thousands of good songwriters out there of whom I have never heard. Each week, I get a new suggestion from some friend or fellow songwriter for someone I should hear. Inevitably, there is at least one pleasant surprise, and I am grateful for the education. Best of all, the show has made me a little less myopic about the different styles of song writing that appeal to me.

The big news in Canada this week is that PM Stephen Harper and his Conservative Government have called for a national election, which will take place Oct 19, 2015. I suppose the Conservatives feel that it is better to jump the starting gate rather than waiting for the opposition to mobilize. The left leaning NDP seems to be the biggest threat right now, with NDP leader Thomas Mulcair leading the charge. Liberal pretty boy Justin Trudeau is trailing in the polls but who knows what fickle voters might do. Unless Harper gets caught in juicy scandal, and not something boring like fiscal irresponsibility, I think his party will eat Trudeau alive. Justin comes across as a loose cannon. Albeit a charismatic leader, padre Pierre’s legacy is not something I think most Canadians want to resurrect. Then again, what does this yank know about Canadian politics? Not much is the answer; only what I glean from the media. Not so sure about the NDP. Canadians seem poised for a change from the controlling and secretive Darth Harper, so who knows. It might get interesting in the Fall.
- Written by Jamie Oppenheimer c2015 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED-

The Oppenheimer Report 7/27/15

Sometimes, when I’m sitting down to write this week’s report, which I have been doing now for well over 20 years, I look through my files to see what I wrote a year ago at this time. I did so today and was reminded that my dear friend, Frank Riccio passed on just about this time last year. Frank was a gifted artist, as well as a successful illustrator for magazines and children’s books. Though we did not communicate often, we wrote letters to each other, usually once or twice a year, and Frank’s letters to me were always imbued with beautiful pencil sketches and other examples of his exquisite art work. By the way, who writes letters anymore!? One of my prized possessions, along with my flying squirrel pelt-upholstered easy chair (just kidding), is a very limited edition book of Frank’s artwork, along with some very personal copy about the challenges he was facing at the time he published the book. Thinking about that unique and rare book had me wondering about what we leave behind when we die. With Frank, it was the comforting notion that the sum and total of a person’s life, and one’s impact on the world, might be recognized and appreciated for generations to come. Energy can neither be created nor destroyed, and Frank is still here with me.

I am in the middle of reading some of the writings of a man named Moshe Feldenkrais, whose articles discuss at great length the long term harm we do to our bodies because of improper alignment, bad posture, and bad habits, etc. His theories are now more and more accepted by physiotherapists and healers of all sorts, because his ideas and exercises teach us how we can be more mindful of our bodies, how we can unlearn some of our “bad” behaviors, and how we can relieve chronic pain ourselves. My wife, Shauna suffers from severe chronic pain and, only after decades of her suffering have we stumbled upon several hopeful therapies which don’t involve drugs and a laundry list of ineffective specialists. Without going into the mind body duality discussion and the resounding failure of Western medicine to heal the many puzzling autoimmune illnesses that plague our culture, I will say that I have done a lot of reading on the subject, and this guy makes a lot of sense. The reason I mention him is because in his writings, he gently admonishes his students for their ignorance of the men and women who are long gone, and upon whom he based his theories. Sadly, many of the brilliant minds among us are doomed to obscurity after they go. I did not know of Moshe Feldenkrais until a massage therapist Shauna has been seeing recommended we read about his work, and this man is far more worthy of note than guys like Dr. Oz or Dr. Phil.

I do not think I am one of those brilliant minds, but I do think each of us has a calling, some way we can make our mark to improve the world. Maybe my small contribution will be to support musical artists I deem worthy of attention. Maybe I will even write a song that another artist will sing, and perhaps that song will be enjoyable, meaningful, or helpful to others. Music is my therapy and I choose to dream that my love may benefit others. As idealistic and perhaps naïve as this may seem, I really do believe we are here to help one another and that there is some mysterious synchronicity or serendipity to how this happens. I’ve been told that this is the purpose of religion, but I have yet to find any solace in organized religion. Somehow the notion of altruism has become more and more obscured by the cult of personality and by often useless information that is both corrosive and self-perpetuating. If you doubt this, just list the number of stories you’ve heard this week about unsung heroes. Is Kanye West a hero? No, but in the past week I have heard more about that guy than about the firefighters who are battling the western wildfires.

Frank Riccio is one of my heroes. He improved my life and many others with his wonderful art, his gentle kindness, and his friendship. Frank is a reminder of the kind of person I want to be. Not perfect, but honest, and good. That it is about the anniversary of his passing is less meaningful to me than that I am fortunate enough to have him to remember, whenever I need him. Thanks Frank, wherever you are.

-Written by Jamie Oppenheimer c2015 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED-

The Oppenheimer Report 7/20/15

The other day, singer songwriter Neil Young created some controversy in the music world by announcing that he was pulling all his music off sources that stream music via the internet. No longer will one be able to download a Neil Young song; you will instead have to purchase a CD or “rip” it from a friend. Young claims that the sound quality is too badly compromised in streamed music (typically MP3 and M4a formats), and he thinks he does a disservice to his fans to charge for his music in such a degraded form. Better, I suppose to deny them access altogether.

 

I really only embraced the Great Satan of streamed music, and specifically ITunes, about ten years ago, when my friend Bob bought me my first IPod. As is the case with most new technology, I am usually about ten or fifteen years behind the rest of the world in embracing these innovations. I very much like my IPod Touch; I quickly transferred a lot of my CDs to my IPod, and I use it constantly. Whereas the sound is somewhat degraded, the convenience of having so much of my music library available at my fingertips makes this IPod a winner for me.

 

The debate continues among audiophiles about whether or not the degradation of sound is too great a price to pay for the convenience, and many people prefer to store and listen to their music in the .WAV file format of compact discs. Certainly the sound quality of those larger .WAV files is noticeably better. Vinyl is making a comeback as well, because many audiophiles prefer the sound of analog tracks and eschew digital technology. I’m not sure where I stand on the digital vs. analog debate. In the past, I had most of my music library on cassette tapes because I did a lot of my listening in the car. Of course, everyone knows that recording music to a cassette tape degrades the sound as well, but again, there was the convenience factor. The truth is, I lost my ability to discriminate between good and bad sound sometime after my concert-filled youth, when I neglected to put cotton in my ears during some of the louder concerts. Once the high end is gone, it doesn’t come back, and my ears are still ringing from a Boston concert I remember attending in the early Eighties. I may not be the best person to ask about sound quality, although I was very concerned about it in my early listening career. For me, the convenience of digital files is still the most important thing. Lately I’ve been getting a bit annoyed with ITunes because there are always memory sucking-software updates and more and more files that cannot be converted from the Apple digital format to MP3. As well, there are privacy concerns and sometimes I feel ITunes is taking over my computer. Someday soon, I might choose another streaming source. Still, it is hard to compete with the convenience of shopping for music online. OK, I admit it, I’m lazy.  

 

I understand Neil Young’s point about sound quality, although, as my wife Shauna points out, it’s not as if this is the London Symphony Orchestra complaining. This is “Nasal” Neil Young, and his music is, well, not all that complicated. Most of the time, when I listen to music now, it is either in my car or through some compact wireless speaker, and not on the sophisticated audiophile quality stereo system I used to own. Once again, the convenience of having so many songs at my fingertips, and also being able to take a compact digital player along with a wireless speaker with me almost anywhere I travel, makes this technology appealing to me. A year or so ago, I read Neil’s most recent book Waging a Heavy Peace, and in it he discusses at great length his efforts to develop better digital files to more truly replicate the original recordings. I don’t know whether or not he has been successful in this venture, but the timing of his latest announcement has me wondering. Does Neil have a better mouse trap? Bring it on rock star, I’m all ears. I’m not worried about his absence from the internet. I have the albums I like in vinyl or CD, and they are already converted on my IPod. As well, I am learning about a lot of other good songwriters, specifically because their music is available online. Maybe the sound could be better, but for this aging music lover, it's OK.

 

-Written by Jamie Oppenheimer c2015 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED-

The Oppenheimer Report 7/13/15

From the D. Jordan Taylor Collection
 

In keeping with my quest to become a better songwriter, I am reading a book right now by Bill Flanagan entitled Written in My Soul. The former editor of Musician Magazine interviewed 27 Rock and Blues musicians and discussed with them their songs and their song writing technique. The book is a little dated, as it was written almost thirty years ago, but I’m finding the interviews edifying. To me, it is very interesting to hear how other songwriters approach the art. So far, I have read interviews with Carl Perkins, Willie Dixon, Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan, Pete Townsend, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Elvis Costello, Mick Jagger, and several others. As a practicing songwriter myself, I am looking for any common experiences I share with these famous writers.

There seem to be two camps among these many songwriters interviewed: those who feel that song writing is influenced by some inexplicable muse, and those who insist that song writing is nothing more than a craft that one perfects; it’s a job. Chuck Berry, widely considered to be one of the seminal influences on modern Rock ‘n' Roll, has a very business-like approach to his art. Give the people what they want, write for the white listeners so as to reach a bigger market; write songs that will draw big audiences, and make a lot of money. When he originally wrote "Johnny B. Goode", Johnny the “country boy” was a “colored boy”, and his producer told him the song would be a hit if he changed “colored” to “country”. In the other camp is Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones, who believes that songs come to him already written, and all he does is act as the middle man. Often, I don’t always know where from my songs come. Some of them seem to write themselves, and I do feel sometimes as if my songs are being influenced by some third party. Other artists say the same thing. I can’t sit down at a desk and decide to write a song. Either that song is there or it isn’t. No amount of coaxing or unblocking will bring it to the surface. The trick is to get the idea down before it disappears. If I had a nickel for every hook or phrase that I did not get down on tape or paper, I’d be a wealthy man. Elvis Costello said that he might have bits and pieces of songs running around in his head, and stored for long periods of time. Sometimes, he’d piece together lyrics from different songs, long after he’d come up with the ideas to produce something acceptable. I try to have a voice recorder handy wherever I go, and I am always listening for a clever line.

The most important thing that I am gleaning from this book of interviews is that there is nothing new under the sun. Almost all of the artists interviewed admit that they have borrowed licks and styles from other artists. Costello would go so far as to say he would set about to imitate another band’s style in some of his songs. I’m always amused when some high-minded critic shoots down a song or an artist by saying that he or she is derivative. Carl Perkins’ rockabilly style drew off the Blues and sped it up, Rock came out of the music of the Deep South, and much of today’s Soul pays homage to the Gospel music from the Deep South. There is a big difference between deriving music from some influential form, and copying it. The best artists add their unique mark to the songs they write. Jimi Hendrix admitted to being influenced by the Chicago Blues style of Buddy Guy, and Buddy Guy grew up listening to the old traditional Blues artists he heard down in his home state of Louisiana. One of the things I try to demonstrate on my radio show is that there is room for everyone’s interpretation, as long as it is fresh and interesting. Many times a songwriter like John Prine writes a great tune (Angel from Montgomery is my favorite), but it is another artist whose arrangement makes the song shine.

As destructive wildfires sweeping through Saskatchewan and points west dominate the headlines, we are finally getting some decent weather here in Ontario, after a very slow start. I might even get some tomatoes to grow this year.

 

“SHAVED ON THE SIDES WITH MOP TOP HEADS

FASHION FROM THE 80'S OR FROM DICKENS INSTEAD

POP ART PUNK ROCK IT'S ALL BEEN SAID

IF SOMEONE SAYS IT DIFFERENTLY THEN WE'RE ALL IMPRESSED

 

WE'RE STUMBLING AROUND IN THE CIRCLE OF LIFE

WE TURN TO THE LEFT UNTIL WE COME TO THE RIGHT

JUST STUMBLING AROUND IN THE CIRCLE OF LIFE

THE PAST IS THE FUTURE WITH A LITTLE MORE LIGHT” 
- excerpt from Circle of Life c1991

 

 

I hope you are all enjoying your summer.

 

-Written by Jamie Oppenheimer c2015 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED-

The Oppenheimer Report 7/6/15

My '57 Chris Craft Sea Skiff :  "Ahoy Vey"

A belated Happy Canada Day to all my Canadian friends and a Happy Fourth of July to all my friends stateside. As an ex-patriot, I actually forgot that Saturday was the Fourth of July, until I caught part of the Macy’s Fourth of July Special in NYC on television Saturday night. There was a spectacular fireworks display, shot off four or five barges in the Hudson River, accompanied by the NY Philharmonic Orchestra, playing patriotic American favorites. I love fireworks displays and I am fortunate that I was able to see such a well-choreographed show. Once, while Shauna and I were attending the Canada Day fireworks celebration in the Town of Banff, the guy in charge of lighting off the fireworks inadvertently fired off the grand finale first, thereby rendering the rest of the show somewhat anti-climactic. Done correctly, fireworks displays are truly an art form.
 

When I was younger, the Fourth of July was a big deal for me. All up and down the North Shore of Lake Erie, near our summer cottage, one could see the fireworks displays and bonfires. Back in the wild west days of my youth, someone in my band of delinquents would inevitably get a hold of some serious construction grade explosives, and we would have fun waking up the neighbors. Alcohol was very likely involved; it’s a wonder we are all still alive and relatively intact. When I think about my ill-spent youth, this applies to a lot of different scenarios wherein danger was a key component. These days, the most dangerous thing I do is to occasionally drive the moose-lined highways of Northern, Ontario at night. In my early years, we used to watch the big fireworks display at nearby Crystal Beach Amusement Park and sometimes, we’d take a boat or car into Buffalo to watch the shows there. One year was particularly memorable and it involved a fireworks presentation in the Buffalo harbor, hosted by the makers of Whisk laundry detergent. I and some of my friends piled into my 1957 Chris Craft Sea Skiff utility and motored into Buffalo to catch the much-touted fireworks show. It was a dark, choppy ride in from the Canadian shore and when we arrived in Buffalo, we dropped anchor near a break wall, careful not to moor within the channel of the Buffalo ship canal. As show time approached – I believe there was music on shore as well – more and more scofflaw boaters began to moor within the channel (clearly marked with lighted buoys), and obviously some of them were imbibing heavily. There was a lot of hooting and drunken laughter and some of the drunken attendees were firing off hand-held Roman Candles, aiming them at other boaters. Gasoline and fire; brilliant. At one point, one of those bozos inadvertently took aim at the police boat, which was fighting a losing battle to keep the channel clear for its intended purpose. Two notable things happened that night. First, a large sailboat under power rammed into one of the stern corners of my boat. As soon as it hit us, they turned off their running lights, as if that was somehow going to make them invisible. I could hear a kid onboard saying “I told you not to let Mommy drive!” Fiberglass is no match for Philippine mahogany, and the sailboat lost that fight. Not so much as a scratch on my boat; big hole in the bow of the sailboat. The next boating disaster involved the afore-mentioned scofflaws, many who were giving the outgunned police boat fits. All at once, the mighty Miss Buffalo came motoring through the canal, on a collision course with all the fools who had moored improperly in her path. She rammed a few as they scrambled unsuccessfully to get out of the way, and she picked up the mooring lines of many more who were not able to pull up and move away in time. Picture this 150’+  craft barreling through at 5-10 knots, dragging behind it five or ten small craft frantically trying to cut their mooring lines, as they banged and smashed into each other in the churning wake. All the responsible, sober boaters gave out a collective cheer and applauded. Karma is a bitch. Things have tightened up a bit since the 80’s, but back then, there were a lot amateurs out on the high seas.
    

On my show last Thursday night ,I made note of a documentary we watched on CNN entitled I’ll Be Me which covered singer/song writer Glen Campbell’s recent and final concert tour. Campbell, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease a while back, had made the brave decision, along with his wife and kids, to shine a bright light on his decline, and I thought the documentary was remarkably good. Never before a huge fan of Campbell’s music, I did respect his ability to write hit songs, and I am a much bigger fan of his music having seen this documentary. Some might say this was an inappropriate and unseemly airing of a person’s private struggle, but as a family member who has first-hand experienced the remarkable challenges dementia throws at all the family members, I applaud the Campbells for playing out their experience in the public eye. As is the case with so many other kinds of mental illness, silence is our worst enemy. This documentary humanized the struggles of this very public celebrity, and I am sure it did a great service to all the people who are trying deal with this disease personally, not to mention all the researchers who are laboring to find a treatment or a cure.

Again, I hope you all had a wonderful Canada Day and/or Fourth of July, and that you all still have your fingers and toes intact.

 

-Written by Jamie Oppenheimer c2015 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED-

The Oppenheimer Report 6/29/15

Did any of you see the Jon Stewart rant, either on his show, or posted on YouTube, dealing with last week’s hate crime massacre in S. Carolina? Shauna showed it to me the other night, and I found it eloquent and disturbing.  Stewart opened The Daily Show, which I understand he will be leaving in a matter of weeks, with the declaration that he had none of his usual jokes or satire to present this week. Instead, he talked about how saddened he is by the racial divide in America, and he brought up an interesting, albeit unsubstantiated fact about these recent killings, comparing the threat from ISIS to the threats Americans face from domestic terrorism. His point: we are our own worst enemies. Disregarding the questionable actions of various American law enforcement officers, suggesting racial bias, a young man, blinded by hatred, walked into a Black church, which has been a symbol of faith and hope in the Black community for over one hundred years, shot and killed nine members of that church, after publically expressing his hatred of African Americans. We’ve got a much bigger problem on our hands domestically than worrying about every practicing Muslim, most of whom are peace loving, good American citizens. We have school shootings, and mall shootings, serial killings, gang violence, drug wars, etc., plaguing our country. Years ago, in an Oppenheimer Report, I sarcastically suggested that we should simply round up all the hardened criminals and nut jobs in our country and ship them all off with our surplus of automatic weaponry, to the countries whom we deem to be our enemies.    

 

Of course, all the stupid opinions pop up after a tragedy like this occurs. Right after the church shootings, some NRA supporter suggested that the murderer would not have succeeded in taking down as many congregants had those congregants themselves been armed. Well there’s a solution, let’s just arm everyone in America! Kids, the mentally ill, let’s all pack heat. Every time there is a horrific shooting in the U.S. - the Virginia Tech murders years ago, the Sandy Hook school shooting of young children, the Gabby Giffords shooting near Tucson, Arizona - there is the usual talk about gun violence and the facility with which Americans can obtain guns. But effective gun legislation does not seem to be in the cards, and I very much doubt that, given the paralysis of the American political system and the strength of the NRA lobby, it could be properly enforced in a country so full of guns already. Absolutely, guns are too easy to come by in America, but what of the growing public perception that law enforcement officials are themselves partly to blame for the racial divide? What I think Jon Stewart was getting at in his rant, is that when you strip away the politics and the moral grandstanding, and the media outrage, what we are left with is a glaring societal problem that we continue to externalize as someone else’s fault. We sweep each domestic atrocity under the table as soon as the next celebrity scandal trumps the story. As the cartoon character Pogo said: “We have seen the enemy and he is us.” Nothing is going to change unless we as individuals change. Families need to be stronger and more vigilant, but we are told the family structure is breaking down, especially among the most at risk members of our society. We need to do a much better job of addressing and helping the mentally ill in our countries, but that is going in the wrong direction as well. Good and effective education is clearly front and center in this struggle, but herein lies another daunting challenge. Fear and hatred can only be combatted by fighting ignorance. We have infinitely more information available to us today and yet ignorance seems to be spreading like wildfire. I can see all the contributing factors, but I see no solutions.  Genuine role models and heroes in our country are being overshadowed by Marvel Comics superheroes and Pixar fantasies. Is it not telling that we increasingly seem to turn to fantasy and unreality for our entertainment?  Who’s telling the story of the everyday hero? We can take down the Confederate flag, but we cannot erase that for which it stands.

 

It’s easy for me to point out the underlying factors I see as causes for today’s societal ills, but I say all this knowing that, as a white person, I am a racist. I like to think that I am not; I don’t seek to murder African Americans, and I do not hate them. I try to treat all people fairly, but I have a few close friends who are Black. I grew up in a city with a large African American population, and the divide between the east and west side of Main Street in Buffalo was a de-facto apartheid in my city. I have an inborn suspicion of many strangers who are African American, maybe because I had been mugged several times and robbed by black kids when I was younger. I see the vicious cycle of fear and consequence, and I haven’t a clue how to undo it. I think it is good that someone as high profile as Stewart had the balls and showed his outrage in such a public way. Dialogue is a start. Seeking to be more apprised of and connected with the others in your world is certainly helpful. It will always be easier to hate than to love, and the more of us there are, the more conflicts and opportunity for misunderstanding there will be. I am truly saddened by the events of last week, but I am perhaps most saddened by the hopeless feeling that I am not a part of the solution.

               

-Written by Jamie Oppenheimer c2015 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED-

The Oppenheimer Report - 6/22/15

Yesterday was Father’s Day, and it’s now been about six years since mine passed away. I miss him a lot, and probably always will, but I am thankful he lived the long and productive life he did, and I am also thankful to have had him in my life for well over fifty years. Reading some of the Facebook posts yesterday, I noticed that there seemed to be a lot of people mourning the loss of their fathers. This loss is especially painful if the father died before his time. Mine did not, but I still get sad sometimes when I think of something I would like to say to him. What I’m trying to do more and more is to remind myself of the happy memories I shared with him; and there were many. I told a story on Facebook about Dad taking me to an amusement park when I was four or five, to ride a kiddie train. After the ride was over, he came over to me expecting I don’t know, exhilaration, joy; something. He asked me if I liked the ride, and my response was “I could walk faster.” I was a wise ass at four, and he loved to tell that story about his son. I worked with him for about twenty years in the family business, learned a great deal from him, and we grew to be good friends. He and I were very different people, but somehow also very much alike. Shauna tells me I baby talk to the dog exactly the same way he used to talk to his dogs. Maybe it’s genetic. Anyhow, Dad I miss you, I love you, and wherever you are, stop telling that story about the kiddie train ride.  
 

Donald Trump for President of the United States? I’m sure Jon Stewart is having a field day with this. I’ve heard some people comment that Trump is a business man and might make a good political leader, but I am reminded what happened to Ross Perot when he entered the political arena. He was eaten alive. Trump will do what he has so successfully done throughout his life: entertain us with with his pomposity and arrogance. My guess is the big money will back Jeb Bush, and as a moderate Republican, he is probably the party’s best hope. That said, the Republican party lost me (and I think a lot of other voters) a long time ago when religious fundamentalists hijacked show. What concerns me most about the election process is that it is so inextricably tied to big money. It is about who has the biggest PAC fund, and I doubt that whoever becomes President will have as much impact on the state of the union as the next pop star or communication device. Speaking of the state of the union, race is again front and center in the news as a hateful young man named Dylann Root opened fire last week in a historic Charleston, South Carolina church, killing 9 African Americans. Nobody can deny that racism is still a huge problem in the United States, but this kind of extreme crime only serves to remind me how many loose cannons are running around packing heat and ready to explode. My heart goes out to the families of the victims, and my only hope is that the hatred that inspired this crime has the unintended effect of unifying the very people whom the killer hoped to divide.

Some of my old friends are coming out of the woodwork and taking time out of their busy days to comment on my Thursday night radio show at Hunters Bay Radio. Not only am I getting good suggestions for songs and songwriters with whom I am not familiar, but people are reminding me of long forgotten groups I used to follow. Clearly my show is weighted towards what I know, but my musical solar system is gradually being expanded by my listeners, and by other hosts at the station who have opened me up to new artists and songs I may never have otherwise heard. My evil plan is working. I sponge off your musical knowledge, and this in turn improves my songwriting. At least this is what I’d hoped would happen when I began hosting the show. It’s funny because, I’ve been listening to some of these songs for forty or in some cases over fifty years, but in many instances, I did not listen carefully to the lyrics, or I was mistaken about the writers. Someday I may do an entire show about songs wherein I misunderstood the lyrics. I wanted the show to be about the fact that I am trying to learn something myself. The listeners and the host learn together. The mandate of community radio is not simply to play music, but to provide useful information for the listeners. In an age where we are bombarded with too much news (much of it “soft” news), and “information” I find community radio to be an increasingly more acceptable medium through which to sift through this information. Indeed we are watching far less television these days, and the radio is on a good portion of the day. It always makes me smile when I walk in to a store in Huntsville and they are playing HBR. As my show evolves, I hope it will include more of your feedback and comments. At Shauna’s suggestion, I have begun to quote some lyrics I find noteworthy, and perhaps some time in the future, there will be brief interviews with some local songwriters. Thanks again to those who have listened and offered their input; I’m having a ball doing the show.

 

Written by Jamie Oppenheimer c2015 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The Oppenheimer Report - 6/15/15

To my 12 loyal readers (and thanks to one of them for reminding me!) - While I wrote this week's report I forgot to post it. Jasper's surgery was Monday and with all the commotion, I did not post what I had written. Sorry! Jasper is fine by the way. Practically toothless, but fine. Here is Monday's report, albeit on Friday ....

Today Jasper has to have dental surgery and we are trepidatious when she needs to be anesthetized. This is her second dental surgery to remove decayed teeth, the first time she had about twenty removed. As adult dogs have about 42 teeth, you can imagine this was a lot of teeth to remove. This surgery will hopefully be far less invasive. You are probably thinking to yourselves, what terrible dog parents; don’t you care for her teeth? We did. Unfortunately, Miniature Schnauzers are particularly prone to bad teeth, and this is a double whammy because, at the direction of her breeder, Jasper eats soft dog food. There is a big debate about the pros and cons of a soft food diet, but we choose to honor our breeder’s advice. She has had good success breeding healthy schnauzers. When we first got Jasper as a pup – she just turned ten this May - her breeder gave us a regimen to follow in order to keep her teeth clean, and we did what we were told. There was a spray, which we were instructed to spray on her teeth after meals, and that evolved into a kelp derivative which we added to her food. We were also instructed to brush her teeth, but this has been problematic for a number of reasons. Have you had much success brushing your dog’s teeth? It became increasingly difficult after half of them were removed, and eventually I just smeared the enzymatic toothpaste (poultry flavor) on her teeth with a finger brush. Hindsight is 20/20 and the vet had recommended periodic teeth cleaning, requiring anesthesia, but we were concerned about putting her under. Pet dental care never really impressed me as a priority in the care of our pet, but in fact it is serious business. Jasper developed an infection from decaying teeth which, if left unattended might have killed her.

 

Last Saturday night Shauna and I attended a local concert in Huntsville, something we have not done as often as we would have liked of late. We saw our friend, local singer-songwriter Sean Cotton, opening for Juno Award-winning Canadian blues artist Suzie Vinnick. Also on the bill was Canadian guitar virtuoso Wendell Ferguson, and if you ever have the opportunity to see this guy perform in your town, you will not be disappointed. On top of having a deliciously irreverent sense of humor, Wendell is an excellent guitarist and songwriter. His song writing often involves parody and humor, which sometimes belies his remarkable technical abilities as a guitarist. A big fan of Chet Atkins, Wendell is an accomplished finger picker and his music is a delight to the ears. He accompanied Suzie and the two of them went back and forth playing their original songs. This is rapidly becoming my favorite kind of musical performance, wherein two or more artists perform and discuss their work or the songs they cover. While I am still a fan of pop music, more and more I eschew big venues and “popular” artists in favor of smaller more intimate concerts. After the show I had an opportunity to talk to these two very approachable artists and get our cd’s signed. Every time I see a new and talented artist I am reminded of how much under-recognized talent there is in the world, and I try to avoid thinking about the unbalanced weight pop culture places on mediocre talent. Over the past several years I have had many musicians tell me how good Wendell is and it was pleasure to finally see him.

 

We have been back up north for two weeks now, and I have been able to get back to broadcasting “Lyrical Workers” from the Hunter’s Bay Radio studio. I implore all twelve of my loyal readers to offer suggestions for songs they might like to hear on the radio. So far, I have had some interesting suggestions, and there have been a lot of “oh yeah, I forgot about that song” moments. Some of my friends have an encyclopedic knowledge of music, and this only serves to improve my show. Many years ago, Gil, my music-loving friend from Florida, gave me a one year subscription to CMJ magazine, which is a publication focusing on new music. With every issue there came a CD of new music from various artists. Some of the songs I did not care for, but many were really great. Gil knew I wrote songs, and this was such a thoughtful gift. Gil also introduced me to the novelty band Dread Zeppelin many years ago. I’ve heard a lot of people personalize Led Zeppelin songs, but never before in the reggae style. My friend Earle in Memphis introduced me to John Prine a long time ago, and has been a reliable source of musical wisdom over the years. While I generally focus on songs I feel are strong lyrically, and in fact have begun to read lyrics on air that impress me, I will play anything that I deem to be a strong song. That can include songs no one has heard before. I am always willing to listen, once, and it is always exciting for me to hear a song that moves me for the first time. There are several songs that fellow songwriters have written that have never been heard by the general public, and with their permission, I will do my best to air those songs. Lately I have been listening to a lot of bluegrass, crooner and Broadway music. These are three forms of music which I would have ignored thirty-five years ago, when I began to writing songs. I hope that some of my 12 loyal readers will tune in to the show for a listen if you find the time. Muskokaonline.com is the Hunter’s Bay Radio website.

                           Written by Jamie Oppenheimer c2015 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The Oppenheimer Report 6/8/15

Some of the songs I’ve written so far are inspired either directly or indirectly by news stories I have seen over the years. Last Monday night I watched a show on CNN covering its 35^th Anniversary, including clips from all those years of coverage. Called “Chicken Little News” by some in the early days, CNN marked a seismic shift in the way news is presented. The network did not catch on overnight, and it was interesting to trace the stories that boosted its approval ratings. I remember some of the early stories, and I remember noting to myself that this was the first time I’d ever heard the expression “infotainment.”  I can’t believe it was all the way back in 1987 when Baby Jessica McClure fell down a well in Midland Texas, and CNN was there to cover the whole thing. I think Operation Desert Storm and the first Gulf War really put them on the map, because when the rockets began to fly, CNN had the only reporters in Bagdad at the time. I remember how strange it was to watch a war unfolding on television, and I was so moved by the experience I wrote a song called Watching the War on TV about the CNN coverage of the first Gulf War. That was my first real exposure to CNN news. The whole world was using CNN’s footage in Iraq, because they had to. Other news stories that were covered in the 35^th Anniversary show: The Rodney King beating, Clarence Thomas’ appointment hearings, wherein he was accused of sexual harassment, the Bosnian War, the first bombing of the World Trade Center, the death of Lady Di, “Blowjobgate” with Monica Lewinsky and President Clinton, the taxpayer-dollar-depleting Ken Starr witch hunt to link Bill Clinton to the Whitewater scandal, and many, many more events that don’t seem as if they happened so long ago.  

Like many of my songs, CNN news stories became my time markers for things that were going on in my life at the time. I watched the famous and very bizarre low speed car chase, OJ in his white Bronco, followed by a posse of LA’s finest, as Shauna and I were waiting for a plane on our honeymoon. When we returned home, Shauna and I became very interested in the trial. CNN was interviewing everyone involved in the case. Witnesses became temporary celebrities, enjoying their fifteen minutes of fame. Everybody wrote a book. I remember suggesting in one Opp Report that, according to his agent, OJ’s dog was writing a book entitled “Blood on my Paws.” Where is Kato Kaelin now? I’m sure he must have parlayed his fifteen minutes into some kind of lasting employment. It would be interesting to go back to Oppenheimer Reports I wrote during that period to see what developments in the trial I deemed noteworthy. I do remember at one point thinking very early on that this was way too much coverage of something that amounted to a crime of passion. There was even a musical theme to accompany all O.J. trial coverage, and I suggested that perhaps CNN should have themes for all their big stories.  If CNN had devoted as much coverage to the genocide in Rowanda, it may never have become the horrific tragedy it became.

 

As much as I joked about CNN and their sometimes ridiculous coverage, I watched a lot of it, perhaps rationalizing that I needed fodder for this report. What has become evident from the inception of 24-7 news broadcasting, is that hard news is being trumped by that which is scandalous, celebrity based, or involves puppies and children. A good example of this was a story reported on CNN a few years back wherein a hot air balloon escaped and there was some speculation that a little boy was trapped in it. I think there was a full day of coverage, and hot air balloon experts and meteorologists were interviewed, all the while airing video footage of this balloon, drifting into the upper atmosphere. It was like Geraldo discovering Al Capone’s wine bottles. As it turned out the kid was safe on the ground, probably hiding from his whacky parents, and meanwhile there was hard news occurring in the rest of the world which went unreported. Information dissemination changed with the advent of the internet and 24-7 news. Now we have a lot of facts, and damning video, and opinions disguised as facts, but are we any better informed? TMI dude.

"....The Muslims and the Western Satans, embroiled in the fight/ While the media stands up there on the front line, deciding who's wrong and right/ Me I want the big picture, I want the bottom line/ But although I'm watching the blow by blow, you know, the truth is hard to find, watching the war on T.V. ..."

 

Written by Jamie Oppenheimer c2015 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The Oppenheimer Report 6/1/15

To my twelve loyal readers, I must first apologize for not writing a report last week. Even in times of adversity, I usually write this weekly report, and have done so for well over 22 years now. It is the discipline of writing down a page of my thoughts, no matter what the circumstances, that I strive to maintain. Frankly, the week just got away from me. After almost a month down in Toronto, we headed back up north a week ago Sunday and it seemed as if every little thing that could go wrong in our house did. The water purification system malfunctioned, the phone line was out, and even the internet was out. There were weird electrical problems we have never before experienced, and the list goes on. It was as if gremlins had been let loose to sabotage our home while we were away. Little problems; nothing went seriously wrong, these were just little annoyances to add to the adversity of the past month. Anyhow, by the time I realized that I’d missed writing the report, the week was over.

As I have mentioned in this report on more than one occasion, I very much enjoy doing my radio show on Hunters Bay Radio, but this week, my good friend and fellow songwriter Scott Gilson has acted as a guest host for me. As I begin writing this report I am listening to the show and Scott is doing a great job. That Scott is hosting this week is fitting, because I took over the Thursday time slot from him when he found he did not have time to do the show weekly. Scott has a much better radio presence than I, and he’s had a lot more experience. It’s always interesting to hear another songwriter’s take on good writing. Now that I am back, I hope to get together with him soon, as we have begun to co-write a song. Scott has a great voice, we share a tendency towards odd guitar tunings, and he has an interesting percussive guitar style.

Twenty one years ago last Friday, Shauna and I were married at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto. Some of you reading this were probably in attendance. Shauna and her parents spent almost a year planning the wedding, and it was a beautiful event. As Friday approached, neither Shauna nor I had made any plans to celebrate. We were so pre-occupied with the events of the previous month that we were just delighted to once again be in our own home, and sleeping in our own bed. We decided to postpone our celebratory dinner and instead settle for a quiet evening at home. More and more we cherish the quiet evenings at home. I have lived with this woman for over twenty one years, we have travelled extensively together, and we have shared our many joys and sorrows. I wanted to write something meaningful for her to commemorate our time together, but I was blocked. Then, Friday evening, as I was taking a shower before dinner, a memory came to me which became the seed for a song I wrote very quickly, entitled simply “21”. The memory dates back to our honeymoon, wherein for a part of it we took a cruise ship up the Alaska coastline. At one stop, in Skagway, we rented a car and drove across the border into Canada, travelling about 100 miles up the scenic Yukon Trail. We were practically alone on the highway, the trip was spectacular, and the memory washed over me like a warm summer breeze. I remember taking video of Shauna at a large lake called Tutshi Lake. Over the years I have written love songs about Shauna and me, and one common theme is the swift passage of time. Anniversaries, birthdays, holidays all blend together in time. For me, they are simply reminders of the relentless march of time. Shauna and I are not, as some people have suggested, the “perfect” couple; I doubt any couple is. Over time, what I have been fortunate enough to realize, what has become more and more important to both of us, is our mutual growth and love for each other. The best friend I married twenty-one years ago was a relative stranger to me when I was filming her at Tutshi Lake. I know her much better now, and I love her 21 times as much as I did back then (which was, by the way, a lot).

 

Written by Jamie Oppenheimer c2015 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The Oppenheimer Report - 5/18/15

Tomorrow Shauna’s mom will be discharged from the rehab facility wherein she is staying at present, and that is a mixed blessing for us. We are relieved to be leaving what has been I think a substandard care facility, mired in bureaucracy and more interested in shuffling beds than helping the afflicted, but clearly Mom Taylor is not out of the woods yet. According to a recent assessment by a neurosurgeon in Toronto it may take up to three months for her injury to heal, and certainly her advanced age is a factor. While she has been generally cooperative and feels terrible for having put her kids through this ordeal, the caregiving issues remain complicated. Fiercely independent, she will, I foresee, object to the 24-7 care we and her doctors now feel she requires, and while she may feel she is capable of handling all her own affairs, we have plenty of reminders that this is not the case. She does not want to go into an institution, and frankly neither do we want that, based on our observations of the care at a rehab facility. So now what do we put in place to make her safe? The house is handicapped friendly, something we did when Shauna’s Dad was so ill, and generally Ethel can get around with a walker.

I’ve been through at least five or six of these family disasters so far, and the inclination is to succumb to angst or self-pity. I wrestle with this from time to time; oh woe is me, after a long and harsh winter, here we are in the throes of spring/summer and there is yet another elder crisis with which to deal. But these are our parents, and they have been good parents. They sacrificed exponentially more for us than we are now called upon to sacrifice for them. I wrote my good friend Bob the other day, perhaps partly to rationalize my currently compromised circumstances, and partly to remind myself to practice what I preach. In the note, I referred to a photograph I use as the screen saver on my computer, and it is and action shot of the two of us participating in an offshore boat poker run several years ago. We are in Bob’s vintage 27’ Magnum Sedan Cruiser, a classic twin screw offshore powerboat, cruising along at 40+MPH in the Lake Erie chop. It’s an aerial shot taken from a helicopter, and shows us launching off a wave and in mid-air, with only the outdrives barely touching the water. Bob and I share of love of boats and rough water, and have done a bit of dangerous boating in our long career as friends, usually in small crafts.  That action shot is a reminder of a charmed life. As I strive to adjust my attitude, I pull my little mental Zen rake through the garden of my happy memories, and once again remember to be thankful for all that has so far been given to me. Even these challenges are a gift.

 

During my “shifts” in the rehab center, I took Ethel out for walks around the ward, and when we'd done a sufficient amount of exercise, we rewarded ourselves by sitting out on the back balcony, off the patient lounge on her floor, overlooking the beautiful grounds on the facility. The other day, the trees were erupting in green, and seemingly overnight we saw spring make a break from jail keeper Jack Frost.  Children were running around, playing happily, seemingly unaware of the unhappy circumstances that brought them to this place. As life unfolded beneath us, we had some  good talks. I’ve had my issues with my mother-in-law, and likely she with me, but we have shared over 20 years of our lives together and we have come to know each other pretty well. Maybe this sad accident has a silver lining, and maybe I needed to take a break from whatever it was I thought I was doing, that I deemed so important, to focus on the circle of life. I’ve waited in traffic jams, I’ve waited for elevators, I’ve waited for success, hell, I’ve even waited in line for an hour for a ride on Space Mountain at Disney World. So far, I’ve had many moments of joy with a beautiful wife who loves me, and I’ve had many moments flying through the air with both props out of the water. Finally, what give those moments meaning are the moments when I help another human being.  

              - Written by Jamie Oppenheimer c2015 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED