"Elegia" and "Geordie"

New Order share 18-minute Ian Curtis tribute...Joan Baez came to say hello...

Two words: Joy Division. Though their career only spurned two complete records, they sure did leave a mark, especially considering that one of my favorite CD's in high school was "Substance," recordings from 1977-1980. Ian Curtis is one of those enigmatic performers/poets that has been revered and questioned about for years and years, especially concerning his suicide in 1980. My adolescent mind was a little perplexed that the New Order outfit (famous for "Blue Monday") were originally Joy Division, but only because they went from a very particular brand of new wave, punk and poetry...to extreme 80s pop, but that's neither here nor there. Nonetheless, great musicians...

New Order has released the full-length version of "Elegia," a tribute song to the late Ian Curtis. The song runs 18 minutes, and it isn't really a jam-session sort of song, but rather sounds like an intro to an 80s horror flick, or serves as the backing music to an uncomfortable stare-down in the high school parking lot (see Pretty in Pink) Either way, if you are a fan, which I am, it's a nice little departing tune. You can listen below:



LISTENING: It's been kind of slow, but I recently discovered an album I bought a while back and completely forgot about, which is Joan Baez In Concert: Part 1. The live album was released in 1962, and features Baez covering folk, blues, and gospel songs with just her voice and an acoustic guitar. To be honest, I listened to the album while cleaning, so I only got to digest a few tracks, which included "Georgie," and "What Have They Done To The Rain." I think the appeal of Baez, and why she's been granted the title of "Queen of Folk," is her voice. I've never heard one like it, and it just has this resonance that stays with you. To hear for yourself, watch her cover Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" below:



That's all. PEACE.