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I greatly admire Albert and so many others of his ilk. My vote for the best of the best, nonetheless, is Vince Gill, not that this is a competition, mind you. This is from a show in which Vince had just gotten off the phone with Chet Atkins.

His solos have so much structure amid the free-ranging improv, a plot line of sorts, and that really appeals to me (perhaps because I listen to so much classical music). I get the impression that he blocks out in advance the patterns of each solo, then fills in the points between mileposts with his incredible inventiveness.

Albert Lee obviously trims his own bangs.

Oh, ye of little faith!

When all of Vinton's pet owners pack up their critters and head off to Cedar Rapids for a while.

The MN State Fair opened yesterday, and close to 2 million folks will visit over its 12-day run. There's a free shuttle-bus stop in a church down the block from my house, and its lot fills up quickly, so fairgoers park on adjacent streets, like mine. It gives me a wonderful opportunity to see how many people are really clueless about parking.

So newsrooms exclude conservatives, as opposed to attracting liberals? Not in my 50 years of experience.

Column excerpt:


By Leonard Greene / New York Daily News

If you cover politics long enough, you’re bound to learn something new.

Here’s what I learned last week: The iconic Sam and Dave song “Hold on, I’m Coming” was actually written by the late Isaac Hayes.

What does a 1960s classic soul song have to do with politics? Hold on. I’m coming with the answer.

After Donald Trump’s campaign used the R&B hit at a series of rallies, 134 to be exact, Hayes’ estate threatened to file a lawsuit against the former president for copyright infringement.

The family also demanded $3 million in licensing fees the campaign racked up from using the song between 2022 and 2024.

“It has come to our attention that you or the campaign have authorized the illegal public performance of the song on multiple occasions during various rallies for your political campaign without authorization from the copyright holder, despite being asked repeatedly not to engage in such illegal use by our client,” the family’s lawyers wrote Aug. 11 in a cease-and-desist notice.

“As we prepared this letter, there was an additional use in Montana just two nights ago, even with your office apparently aware that you had no permission.”

Exhibit A attached to the letter details every inappropriate use of the song, including a 2022 National Rifle Association rally.

The Hayes family says the $3 million price tag is a bargain.

“The normal fee for those infringements would be 10 times as much if we litigate, starting at $150,000 per use,” the letter said.

Good luck collecting that money. Trump plans to pay that right after he pays the $5 million he owes E. Jean Carroll, the woman who won a civil trial against him for sexual assault.

In other words, never.

“Hold On, I’m Coming” isn’t the only song on Trump’s copyright infringement playlist.

Trump has been warned for using music from other artists including Tom Petty, Rihanna, the Rolling Stones, the Village People, Aerosmith, Bruce Springsteen, Phil Collins and Journey.

Last week, Celine Dion asked him to stop playing her signature song “My Heart Will Go On,” which she said was a peculiar campaign choice, since the anthem anchors the soundtrack to the 1997 film “Titanic,” a movie about a sinking ship.

In contrast, when Vice President Kamala Harris steps out to the song “Freedom” during this week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, she’ll be doing it with singer Beyonce’s blessing.

According to reports, Beyonce gave Harris the OK to use the song throughout the campaign.

Meanwhile, if Trump insists on illegally using Isaac Hayes’ hits at his campaign events, he could at least select a Hayes song that would be more appropriate. “I Stand Accused” is one that comes to mind.

Nothing drastic for me, Dub.

Warty Gourd, excellent band name.