Saturday, 8 February 2025

Jachtschepen

A couple of things to mention today: doing the rounds on the blogs in the last few days and I see there's been a lot of talk of (and love coming in for) Boz Scaggs. Something of a cornerstone on this blog in particular, Scaggs is a name that appears on one of my precious few bucket lists: artists I need/want to see live before it's too late. 

Two of Scaggs' biggest hits (on both sides of the Atlantic) Lido Shuffle and Lowdown are both from his 1976 yacht* rock classic long player Silk Degrees. Obviously back in the mid 70s no-one was aware that forty years later the YR tag would be affixed to an album that went 5x platinum in the States and silver in the UK. And both aforementioned bangers Scaggs co-wrote with his then keyboard player, David Paich. Paich would soon jump ship (yacht?) and form Toto (a quintessential YR outfit): he went on to pen Hold the Line, Africa and Rosanna - three bigger YR tunes you'd struggle to find.

But enough of Toto. Take a look at this beautifully deft version of Lowdown - unfortunately the YouTube algorithms are not allowing me to embed it.

   

Today is the Number One Son's birthday. James is 35. Fuck me, where does the time go? (Answers on a postcard); which means it must be nine years since I wrote this - my memories of the momentous event that took place on 8th February 1990 - and Boz Scaggs' cameo appearance. James and his girlfriend are currently in Madrid, so I won't see him till next week. Happy Birthday, James! x 

 

As my recovery continues apace the BlogCon committee are tentatively planning our latest sortie. It's looking like #BlogCon25 will convene in Bristol in early June. I'm in the throws of writing some mini profiles of BC25 attendees. This will take the form of a none too strenuous Q&A c/w a Swedey McSwedeface (a.k.a. a mug shot). If you fancy joining our merry little band please feel free to get in touch via the comments section below. 

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*Susie Dent Corner - as you know I love the derivation of words. Did you know that the word yacht comes from the Dutch word jacht meaning hunt? And jachtschepen was the name for narrow, light and very fast sailing boats that the Dutchmen deployed to itercept larger and slower fleet. Everyday's a school day. Just don't google Urban Dictionary for their take on the word. You're going to aren't you? 

2 comments:

  1. I don't really believe you are remotely old enough to have a 35 year old son but I'll go along with it. Happy birthday James.

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    1. Cheers, Ernesto! I'll be sure to pass your felicitations on to James when I see him.

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