49 Comments
May 14, 2023Liked by Greg Olear

Brilliant-- again!

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I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes.

I have to turn my head until my darkness goes.

I have cherished that line for what seems like my whole life. Best ever.

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I met Mick and the Rolling Stones in 1972 or 1973. My husband managed Professor Longhair, who had recently been dubbed the "Father of Rock 'n Roll" by Rolling Stone Magazine. The band made a pilgrimage to New Orleans to meet Fess. Cosimo Matassa organized the meeting at his studio (also famous in rock 'n roll and R&B history). Mick arrived with an entourage that included Bianca in a fabulous vintage outfit complete with veiled hat and gloves, Truman Capote with an arm in a cast, and the whole band. They were regular guys, respectful and attentive to Fess, who listened to him play piano with expressions of wonder on their faces. It was a peak experience from my life in the fast lane.

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I was born in 1946.

I spent my early, formative years

Eavesdropping on adults

Traumatized by

The Great Depression

And World War II.

Today, in America,

It feels like I'm four-years-old.

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Love the sentiment and the path you followed to arrive there Greg. Happy Mother’s Day to all mothers!

Some great memories in this piece, (Mr. Jimmy) was certainly a local fixture in Excelsior Mn., usually chewing on a cigar, hanging around near my youthful digs, where the Stones in fact did play. It was a great gig in my opinion, although some people didn’t see it that way.

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed/hearing/ meeting/covering the Stones over the years. Bands that played the Marquee Club are many of my favorites!

Jimmy was taken by Limo courtesy of the band, to another venue years later by the by. Jimmy was always a great conversation, as are the Stones memories you’ve stirred, thanks Greg!

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May 14, 2023Liked by Greg Olear

Thanks for this, Greg! "Gimme Shelter" is, in my humble opinion, the very best Rolling Stones song. I believe Merry Clayton was quite pregnant when she recorded that phenomenal track. If you haven't heard Terry Gross's interview with her on Fresh Air, you might enjoy that. Should be in the archives. And she plays Clayton's vocal track without the music. Amazing. I get chills every time I hear her sing in that song. And it's the one song I ALWAYS play VERY loud. Sorry I went on. Bye--gotta go listen now.

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Excellent writing Greg. I had a miscarriage in the early 70’s. I was extremely upset and needed to grieve the loss of my much wanted child. But instead of helping me work through my grief, or even acknowledging it, the doctor loaded me up with Valium. It felt like “shut the hysterical woman up” and that my feelings weren’t valid. It certainly didn’t help this mother at all. I didn’t really process the grief until years later in counseling. I eventually did become a mother though and have a wonderful daughter.

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Interesting dichotomy, needs and wants. In becoming trained consumers instead of freethinking democratic citizens, we've been taught to mistake the desires manufactured in us by marketing gurus as impulses toward need when what we need is freedom from the controls of our minds and our actions from, how did you put it to me recently -- "Fuck sticks"...? Yes, that works -- from the fuck sticks who want us to do as we're told.

Happy Forced Baby Making Day!!!

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May 14, 2023Liked by Greg Olear

Beautiful as always Greg. I started out at 6 years old as a Beatles fan, then teenager was a Stones fan, now back to Beatles but I did see the Stones when I was 18 on their "last tour" which was almost 40 years ago. They are a bit like Elton John. Wonder who really will quit touring first.

A very Happy Mother's Day to your Mom and wife. Certain they both deserve a wonderful day.

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May 14, 2023Liked by Greg Olear

Great piece as always. Merry Clayton was also back up signer on Carole King's Tapestry and featured in Twenty Feet From Stardom.

https://www.npr.org/2021/04/09/985363956/no-longer-20-feet-from-stardom-singer-merry-clayton-steps-out-of-the-background

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Thanks for another great piece of writing. Full disclosure: I am a huge Rolling Stones fan myself

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May 14, 2023Liked by Greg Olear

Thank you once again, sir, for a brilliant column, working the Stones into it too! The Five-8 was some good stuff this past Friday too -- Denver Riggleman. What a guest! Happy Mother's Day to Stephanie (both of them), and your mom. "Hallmark Day" or not, it is always a good day to acknowledge mothers all over the world, for THEY are actually doing the hard work.

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May 14, 2023Liked by Greg Olear

I’m sure my mother loved me unconditionally—that’s what moms are wired to do—but it always felt conditional because of all the Bible-based preaching about my not being on the right (her) path. I was born in February of the year in which, In December, Pearl Harbor got us into WW2. So I’m old enough to be amused by people who are younger than my son complaining about getting old! And old enough to have a different perspective on Mick Jagger. I love the Stones’ music now, but Kris Kristofferson—who is older than I am; Mick isn’t—has been a favorite lyricist for decades. Fortunately I’m married to a wonderful woman who has taught me more about unconditional love than my mother did, and more about what good motherhood looks like than any other woman in my life. Happy Mothers Day!

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May 14, 2023Liked by Greg Olear

What a beautiful journey this took me on. Growing up in Southern California...I was 8 or 9 when Aftermath came out. My babysitters had the beautiful Chrissy Shrimpton - Marianne Faithful hairdos... Incense and Peppermints were in the air.....Your piece evoked these memories from that time. Nostalgia can be a beautiful drug .. With a sense of dread about the coming days.....It is artistic short masterpieces like this "Sunday Pages"installment,that help me garner a little more love of life and to not fall into the paralysis of fear. Thank you so much.Love always, StacyO 💕

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May 14, 2023Liked by Greg Olear

Here's to Louise Hermance Monette.

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Greg, did you see the documentary ‘Twenty Feet From Stardom’? You should. It includes Merry Clayton, Lisa Fisher and several other back up singers. It’s amazing. Won the Oscar for best documentary feature in 2014.

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