THE SIGN OF THREE

     Sector 19312 was grim yesterday. Wretched, Eternally Wet and Black, barely only briefly verging into the deepestdrabbest Greys.  

     Add one cheapplastic Korean car, slippery-with-leaves roads, obstacle course detours, and the wine aroma known as "wet dog" and all kind feelings wash down the culvert.

     I turnedon the radio looking for a Sign and found Three.  (Thank the Lord.)

     First, therewas2-4-6-8 Motorway bythe Tom Robinson Band.  It had been so long since I'd heard it and it was even better than I remembered. Kinks-derivative but in the best possible way.  “Ain’t no use setting up with abad companion.”  Amen.

     Then 53^rd & Third by The Ramones, one of Dee-Dee’s realest, truest memoriesplainly spoken to a tragic melody.  Its stiff awkward gait in night-and-day contrast to the group's usual speedy, gleeful kineticism.  No smiles here at all, only flayed forms in high relief.  I know that corner so well.  I used to park my car there.

     Finally, New Orleans byGary U.S. Bonds.  Sometimes they say “they don’tmake ‘em like that anymore,” but they never really made ‘em like Gary’s noisy,joyful, slippery records, which sound like the Underworld raised to Heaven for party purposes. Caroline worked with Gary during his "This Little Girl of Mine" comeback period and I was lucky enough to meet andshare cocktails with him one night.  Gary (Anderson) was one ofthe most intelligent, charming and charismatic people I’ve ever met, one of those men who seem to know everything.

1.  2-4-6-8 Motorway -- Tom Robinson Band

2.  53rd & Third -- Ramones

3.  New Orleans -- Gary U.S. Bonds