On the evolution of The Grand Wazoo's other name

[The Grand Wazoo]

This is bits of several episodes of thread drift stitched together to try to make a (sort of) coherent tale............It's all Barry's fault!

To set the scene: at the start, my 'name' was 'I'm Portly, I Am Double Knit, Ich Bin Maroon'




Barry:
One of my favourite DVDs!

"There's two guys outside: one of them's asking for dry white toast; the other, a whole fried chicken. Why that's 'Joliet' Jake and Elwood - the Blues Brothers!"


TGW:
That section of the film reminds me of a version of Zappa's 'Sofa' from a show with Flo & Eddie (which has been top right of my AoS posts for a while now):


........well, how many people here tonight can guess what I am?
I can't guess what you are

Well, then I'll give you some clues
And the first clue is
I am portly
...........does that help?

Not much, No, I don't know who you are

Okay, I got one
Clue number two:
I am double knit
............does that help?

No, not much, Whaddya mean?

Well, then I've to give you one more clue
I know this is gonna give it away
And I hate like damn to tell you this
But clue number three:
Ich bin Maroon!

Ahhhhhhhh..............you're a sofa!

[MartinT]

Now I understand your bizarre 'name' :)

[Alex_UK]

I'd already Googled it, I wasn't surprised there was a Zappa connection!

[The Grand Wazoo]

Now the cat's out of the bag, I'm going to have to change it! Mind you, I won't have to look far as that song is a bit of a rich mother-lode of sentences beginning with 'I'm'.
So watch that space up there!

[Barry]

Now the cat's out of the bag, I'm going to have to change it! Mind you, I won't have to look far as that song is a bit of a rich mother-lode of sentences beginning with 'I'm'.
So watch that space up there!

I had noticed that you had 'capitulated'! And I was curious about your 'name'. :doh:

This could be the start of a new and interesting game: 'Track down the source of Chris's new 'name' '! :scratch:

Don't make it too easy Chris: if it's Zappaesque - make it arcane. Obscure, positively obscure. :eyebrows:

Regards

[The Grand Wazoo]

I was thinking some of these from 'Sofa' might be quite good:

'I am the dirt beneath your rollers'
'I am your secret smut & lost metal money down your cracks'
'I am embroidered'

These last two, I love!
'I am the author of all tucks & damask piping'
'I am the eggs of all persuasion'

.....but you want positively obscure!
Positively obscure takes a little longer so maybe I'll choose one of these in the meantime.






Guidance Note from TGW................so I changed it to 'I am the eggs of all persuasion'

[Barry]

Not sure where to post this, but I've just clocked your new 'name' Chris.

I am the heaven
I am the water
I am the dirt beneath your rollers
I am your secret smut & lost metal money
Down your cracks

I am your cracks & crannies

I am the clouds
I am embroidered
I am the author of all tucks & damask piping
I am the chrome dinette
I am the chrome dinette
I am the eggs of all persuasion
I am all days & nights
I am all days & nights
I am all days & nights
I am all days & nights
I am here
And you are my sofa
I am here
And you are my sofa
I am here
And you are my sofa




Another Guidance Note from TGW............so then I changed it to 'Mediocrates of Pedestrium'

[Barry]

I was thinking some of these from 'Sofa' might be quite good:

'I am the dirt beneath your rollers'
'I am your secret smut & lost metal money down your cracks'
'I am embroidered'

These last two, I love!
'I am the author of all tucks & damask piping'
'I am the eggs of all persuasion'

.....but you want positively obscure!
Positively obscure takes a little longer so maybe I'll choose one of these in the meantime.

The Legend Of Cleetus Awreetus-Awrightus & the Grand Wazoo
From Zappa Wiki Jawaka

Uncle Meat is in the basement of his secret laboratory. The lights are dim. All around the basement mysterious wires and cables dangle over, out of, around and through an unlikely collection of dust-covered desks, trunks, umbrella stands, and a huge maroon sofa, terminating in a fake maple book case like you might get if you ordered the whole Collier's Encyclopedia at one time.

Stu (which is Uncle Meat's first name) crouches malignantly near the book case, fumbling through a stack of books, records, newspaper clippings, religious pamphlets, and campaign buttons. He applies light friction to the rash on his throat, muttering "Yes, yes ... it's all here ... every bit of it ... everything I need to create my greatest masterpiece!"

Excitedly stuffing the whole bundle into the topmost empty shelf of the book case, Stu dodges swiftly to the desk, applies his protective green visor and garden gloves, laughs his special pseudo-scientific laugh, and jerks vigorously on the handle of that big electrical switch he uses all the time. As you might expect, big sparks poot out of everything and the overhead bulb blinks on and off. A filtered cello section goes DUNT DUNT DUNNNNN, but you can't hear it because the sound effects are too loud.

When he turns the switch off, all the sparks stop, and all the noise stops, and the books & pamphlets, etc. have vanished. In their place, outside the lab, not more than 5 furlongs distant, is a life-size, minutely detailed, historically inaccurate, somewhat perverted illusionary replica of ANCIENT ROME or something.

The ruler of this illusion is CLETUS AWREETUS-AWRIGHTUS, The Funky Emperor. CLETUS has a fantastic army of unemployed musicians. Him and the army run the place when they're not out fighting the war with the illusionary arch-villain, MEDIOCRATES OF PEDESTRIUM. MEDIOCRATES also has a fantastic army. These two armies punch out every week on Monday. Score of the weekly battle is posted on billboards, telephone-pole flyers, spray-painted aqueducts, and stone tables called THE CHARTS.

Every emperor, funky or not, has problems to deal with, and CLETUS is no exception. Aside from the long-drawn war, there is a problem of civic unrest. A grotesque cult of masochistic ascetic fanatics who don't like music has sprung up in the catacombs beneath the emperor's very sauna bath. These people are called QUESTIONS.

CLETUS deals with them benevolently in the civic auditorium. After they are captured and held in abeyance for on while, announcements are made to the rest of the PUBLIC AT LARGE proclaiming a FESTIVAL.

The QUESTIONS are stampeded into your usual dirt-floor oval arena. It is at this point CLETUS, in full regalia enters, and speaks to the QUESTIONS through an oversize primitive-but-effective megaphone known as THE GRAND WAZOO. First he says, "Hi, cats & kittens!", to which the audience responds: "AWREETUS! AWRIGHTUS! AWREETUS, CLETUS!" Whereupon the emperor asks: "Any you folks sing, dance, or play a musical instrument?" In some rare instances a QUESTION or two will arise from the fanatics and raise his or her hand to signify some repressed talent or interest in things of a musical nature. These reformed QUESTIONS are permitted to leave the arena and join CLETUS's army (which is, in reality, a BIG BAND). Instead of boot-camp, they get sent to work in one of the many beer-dispensing topless/bottomless night clubs under the careful instruction of a sensitive, understanding CLUB OWNER who will train them for the big stuff.

The QUESTIONS that don't answer the first time are given a second chance when a scantily-clad nubile maiden dashes into their midst with gaily painted cardboard box containing SPOONS, and, if they show some indication of natural rhythm in the use thereof, they are released and sent to Nashville.

Having been as fair as possible to the prisoners, CLETUS must now, regretfully, dispose of the ones who refuse to alter their unmusical ways. Bowing his head in official sadness, he gives the secret cue to the electric piano player in the pit orchestra, who cranks off a funky intro. At the conclusion of this, signified by the entrance of the drum set and electric guitars, a procession of union reps, squealers, goons, and contractors, all tastefully dressed, tug mightily on the end of strain-resistant nylon hauser, which propels a disturbingly large Radio Flyer wagon into the center of the arena.

The wagon contains a giant aquarium sort of thing, in which we see writhing an impressive amount of U.D.T. (UnDifferentiated Tissue), a symbolic accumulation of all the statistical errors and failed attempts of this empire's illusionary scientific community. The fetid tank is towed to within lethal proximity of the unmusicals. The union people go away, as they always do, and, after receiving a series of congratulations, awards, business cards, and fund donations, hold a board meeting off to the side, wherein it is unanimously decided to provide an ultimate solution for the QUESTIONS. The solution itself is released when a high guitar twang shatters the glass of the U.D.T. tank. It burbles and fumes for a few moments, finally gulping them all down. A hush falls over the arena as the vapors dissipate and the pit orchestra makes triumphal reprise of the opening figure.

After the fun of the arena: it's back to work as usual for CLETUS. He returns to his regal chamber for a formal dinner with his staff. On his right, the ones that give him the support he needs; ERRONEOUS, his bass player, GREGARIOUS, his drummer, and PER DIEM, his roadie.

On his left, he keeps those other kind of people that tend to hang out with your average emperor: TRIVIA, a hot girl who likes to get flogged, CRETINOUS, the biographer, NEFARIOUS, the guy with the long, stringy moustache who gives advice, EQUILIBRIUM, the pharmacist, DYSMENHORREA, the squinting female oracle, PHOTON, the lighting director, and so forth down the table.

Each week, at the same point in the dinner ceremony, just before they serve the oiled pessaries, an exhausted runner crashes through the doors, falls to his knees before the emperor, and wheezes: "They're coming! Quickly! We'll be surrounded!" The runner is then revived (he always blacks out right then) with a transistor radio tuned to Wolfman Jack. Once his consciousness has been regained, guards remove him to another area where he is pumped and waxed for further information.

CLETUS immediately calls his service. Instructors are given for BEN-HUR BARRET to contract the whole army (if Motown will let him take any outside jobs, this being perhaps the most outside job he could get). The combined forces of the Army Awreetus include 5,000 brass players (assorted) which is the AIR FORCE, 5,000 drummers (assorted) which is THE ARTILLERY, 5,000 players of electric instruments (assorted) which is THE CHEMICAL / BIOLOGICAL / PSYCOLOGICAL WARFARE SECTION, and 5,000 guys with masonite boards strapped on their chests, each one firmly grasping half a coconut shell in either hand which they pummel rhythmically on the board... this is THE CAVALRY. CLETUS leads them into battle with his gleaming MYSTERY HORN (many believe this instrument to be nothing more than a "C" Melody Saxophone, borrowed from Jackie Kelso).

The enemy army of MEDIOCRATES OF PEDESTRIUM (known as THE M.O.P.) has similar sections, except for a new platoon of sinister mercenaries called THE STRING SECTION, or alternately, THE SWEETENER. The main difference between the two armies, however, is THE M.O.P. is heavy on vocals.

THE M.O.P. has 5,000 dynamic male vocalists in tuxedos who stand in the middle of the road, loosen their bow ties, and arch one eyebrow, 5,000 dynamic male vocalists with fringed smocks, tunics, jumpers, and Nudie shirts, 5,000 dynamic (but carefully understated) male vocalists in old Levi clothes who cry, sulk, whimper, and play harmonica, plus 5,000 more dynamic performers of indeterminate sex who can't sing at all, but dance good and do hot moves with the mike wire.

These are reinforced by 100,000 black girl backup singers (assorted) who sway in a trained manner and get funky on command. As if that weren't enough, there's another 5,000 girl Lead Singers, many of which are so sensitive they're invisible and the rest of which are so overwhelming they hurt your eyes whenever the light gets on them.

Every Monday, THE M.O.P. marches into Awreetus Country and lines up outside the main metropolitan area. By means of small-but-powerful portable transmitter, the combined forces of MEDIOCRATES proceed to croon, strut, blither, and bloop a suspiciously accessible barrage of DITTIES into the airwaves in an attempt to anesthetize the decent townspeople into drooling submission.

CLETUS 'n the Army Awreetus defend their turf by marching to a nearby hummock and playing a shuffle.

[MartinT]

Did I just step into an alternate reality?

[The Grand Wazoo]

Did I just step into an alternate reality?

Hehehe!
Well, yes you did actually!

Well done Barry - that was quick!







Yet another Guidance Note from TGW................so then I changed it again to 'Madame Du Barry'

[Barry]

Since I have hijacked a couple of threads over this, it seems the best thing to do is to give it one of its own.

We have already discussed “Mediocrates of Pedestrium”, now we have “Madame du Barry” (no relation)

Madame du Barry, or Jean Bécu, Comptesse du Barry (1743 – 1793) Last courtesan of Louis XV

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/Madame_Dubarry1.jpg/200px-Madame_Dubarry1.jpg
(Image: Wiki)

As reflected in art from the time, Jeanne was a remarkably attractive blonde woman. Her beauty came to the attention of Jean-Baptiste du Barry, a high-class pimp/procurer nicknamed le roué. (again no relation!) Du Barry owned a casino, and Jeanne came to his attention in 1763 when she was entertaining in Madame Quisnoy's brothel-casino. Giving her the appellation of Mademoiselle Lange, Du Barry helped establish Jeanne's career as a courtesan in the highest circles of Parisian society; this enabled her to take several aristocratic men as brief lovers or clients.

She then ‘worked’ her way up the social ladder and eventually into the court of Louis XV. As Mademoiselle Lange, Jeanne immediately became a sensation in Paris, building up a large aristocratic clientele. The dashing Maréchal de Richelieu became one of her recurring customers. Because of this, Jean du Barry saw her as a means of influence with Louis XV, who became aware of her in 1768 while she was on an errand at Versailles. The errand involved the duc de Choiseul, who found her rather ordinary, in contrast to what most other men thought of her. In any case, Jeanne could not qualify as an official royal mistress unless she had a title; this was solved by her marriage on 1 September 1768 to du Barry's brother, comte Guillaume du Barry. The marriage ceremony included a false birth certificate created by Jean du Barry himself, making Jeanne younger by three years and of nobler descent.

In 1792, Madame du Barry was suspected of financially assisting émigrés who had fled the French Revolution. The following year she was arrested. The Revolutionary Tribunal of Paris accused her of treason and condemned her to death.

[Alex_UK]

Very interesting Barry. It really was a cruel old world in revolutionary France, wasn't it!

Might have to disagree with this bit, though:


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/Madame_Dubarry1.jpg/200px-Madame_Dubarry1.jpg
(Image: Wiki)

As reflected in art from the time, Jeanne was a remarkably attractive blonde woman.

I think I'm with the duc de Choiseul on this, though of course beauty is entirely in the eye of the beholder... (and in my case, based on that portrait - even trying to imagine the world 300 years ago, well, you wouldn't, would you?:lol:)

I'm resisting the temptaion to make any "head" jokes. Doh! Too late! :)

(Please Ignore or excuse my cultural irreverence, I am truly a heathen in these matters!)

[The Grand Wazoo]

Well, well........I must say that your historical research on old Louis XV's bit of fluff is impeccable. (And rather spookily, I was going to use 'Louis The Turkey'*** instead of this name)
But that's not it!


***Louis The Turkey was one of the backing vocalists on Frank Zappa's 'Lumpy Gravy' album.

[Darren]

I'd have to say that she looks quite beautiful to me. Her character and whit shine out of that image. Quite charming.

[The Grand Wazoo]

So, lovely as she may well have been, I'm getting bored with her in all my posts. Would anyone care to have a crack at deciphering the musical (and very possibly Zappalogical) connection to her name?

[Barry]

Taken from “Waki pedia”:

Jeff Simmons, aka Robert Sumpner Jr....Jet Sims....Junior Turlock... (along with another half dozen psuedonyms) (May 1949, Seattle, Washington) is an American rock musician and former member of Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention. Simmons provided bass, guitar, and backing vocals for the group between 1970 and 1971.
He first came to the attention of Frank Zappa as a member of the Seattle-based group Easy Chair. When the "Chair" opened for the Mothers at the Seattle Arena, Frank's interest was piqued and as a result they were signed to Straight/Bizarre Records. Easy Chair became part of the legendary Bizarre "Gala Pre-Xmas Bash" on December 6 & 7, 1968 (along with The Mothers, Larry "Wild Man" Fischer, the GTO's, and Alice Cooper) at the Shrine Exposition Hall in Santa Monica.... Easy Chair were handed over to Jerry Yester and Zal Yanovsky for production but time dragged on and the band parted ways.

Simmons was then signed to Straight Records to do two albums: one was a - mostly instrumental - soundtrack for the obscure biker film "Naked Angels"; and the other "Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up". Zappa contributed generously to the 2nd album, under the pseudonym LaMarr Bruister. (FZ wrote the title track - which he later recorded for Joe's Garage Act I, co-produced the album - with engineer Chris Huston, played lead guitar on 'Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up' and 'Raye', and co-wrote Wonderful Wino with Simmons)

Simmons was then tapped by Frank to play bass for a one-off "Hot Rats" concert, and soon after to join The Mothers. Though he played both bass and guitar in the MOI, Jeff considered himself honored to follow "such a great bassist as Roy".... Simmons is the transistional Mother and was equally at home with the rock and the jazz. Playing alongside Ray Collins, Don Preston, and his tutor for the Zappa book Ian Underwood, Jeff cut his musical teeth with some of the heaviest including the great George Duke, Aynsley Dunbar and the Fowler Bros.

Simmons provided bass, guitar, and/or vocal for 'Chunga’s Revenge'; 'Waka/Jawaka', 'Roxy & Elsewhere'; 'You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 1'; 'You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore Vol. 6', and 'Playground Psychotics'; also for the Beat The Boots series disks: 'Freaks & Motherfuckers'; 'Unmitigated Audacity'; 'Piquantique'; 'Disconnected Synapses'; 'Tengo Na Minchia Tanta' and 'At The Circus'.

Jeff can be seen in the Zappa movie The True Story Of 200 Motels, even though he "left the group just before the movie started".


What has all this to do with Madame Du Barry? Well:

Jeff Simmons included a song about Madame du Barry

zH5COSNB3mo

in his 1969 album ‘Lucille Has Messed My Mind Up’.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51wULVyH3CL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

This album was produced by Frank Zappa and released on his Straight label.

[The Grand Wazoo]

Way hey!

Really obscure is hard with the internet!

[Barry]

:lol:

Now change your 'name' Chris. ;)

Regards

[The Grand Wazoo]

Who the hell is Rose Hill?

Ah-haaa!
Have I got you?

[Barry]

Ah-haaa!
Have I got you?

Yep! It could be one of a number of things: the name of your prep school; the name of a teacher at said school; your first girlfriend; your mother's maiden name etc. etc. etc.

Or simply the name you use when attending one of Marco's exclusive 'frock' parties.

[Marco]

Can't be the latter, otherwise he'd have been called 'Daphne'.

Marco.

[The Grand Wazoo]

Yep! It could be one of a number of things: the name of your prep school; the name of a teacher at said school; your first girlfriend; your mother's maiden name etc. etc. etc.

Or simply the name you use when attending one of Marco's exclusive 'frock' parties.

Oh no.......it's certainly music related but, as you requested, Zappa free and most definitely obscure. People who know the answer to this are not girlies. You're not likely to get it unless you're very butch - in fact, you don't stand a chance unless you're all man.

[Barry]

Oh no.......it's certainly music related but, as you requested, Zappa free and most definitely obscure. People who know the answer to this are not girlies. You're not likely to get it unless you're very butch - in fact, you don't stand a chance unless you're all man.

Ah! - think I might have 'cracked it'.

The Allman Brothers' guitarist Dickey Betts wrote "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed". (Allman = 'all man') Duane Allman is buried at the same cemetery as Elizabeth Reed Napier - the Rose Hill cemetery.

It was the first original instrumental by the Allman Brothers, and was based on Miles Davis's "All Blue". At concerts this was a showcase for Allman drummers Jaiman and Butch Trucks, who performed a drum solo at the end.

Close?

[The Grand Wazoo]

Yikes!
My clues were too obvious, or you're too good at cryptic crosswords!

I moved the last few posts to protect the innocent.

Now I've got to think of another.........blimey guv'nor........let's see...........hmmmm

[Barry]

Yikes!
My clues were too obvious, or you're too good at cryptic crosswords!

I moved the last few posts to protect the innocent.

Now I've got to think of another.........blimey guv'nor........let's see...........hmmmm

You set a tough challenge Chris, and I have to admit I went down a couple of blind alleys! For example: 'Rose Hill Drive' are an American heavy metal group whose music shows influence by Led Zepplin and Cream, but no.

Worse still, distracted by your clues "butch" and "all man", I learnt that Rose Hill is the name of an American (where else?) escort agency that specialise in the provision of transexual/transgender escorts! :eek:

Keep 'em coming. Maybe other members of AoS might like to have a go?

Regards

[Tim]

I learnt that Rose Hill is the name of an American (where else?) escort agency that specialise in the provision of transexual/transgender escorts! :eek:
You don't have a link for that do you Barry? :lol:

[Barry]

You don't have a link for that do you Barry? :lol:

Forbidden by Forum Rules I'm afraid Tim! Alas. ;)

Regards

[Alex_UK]

Worse still, distracted by your clues "butch" and "all man", I learnt that Rose Hill is the name of an American (where else?) escort agency that specialise in the provision of transexual/transgender escorts! :eek:

Keep 'em coming. Maybe other members of AoS might like to have a go?



I'll remember that excuse for the next time my wife checks my browsing history - thanks Barry! :lol:

Mine is a music reference one, but you'd get it with a simple Google - I'll try and think of something else...

[The Grand Wazoo]

You set a tough challenge Chris, and I have to admit I went down a couple of blind alleys! For example: 'Rose Hill Drive' are an American heavy metal group whose music shows influence by Led Zepplin and Cream, but no.

Worse still, distracted by your clues "butch" and "all man", I learnt that Rose Hill is the name of an American (where else?) escort agency that specialise in the provision of transexual/transgender escorts! :eek:

Keep 'em coming. Maybe other members of AoS might like to have a go?

Regards


Good detective work Barry. What made you decide it wasn't Rose Hill Drive? (whom I don't think I knew about, by the way).

[Barry]

Good detective work Barry. What made you decide it wasn't Rose Hill Drive? (whom I don't think I knew about, by the way).

The fact that it wasn't simply 'Rose Hill', anyway I didn't think Rose Hill Drive was quite you - well not sufficiently for you to use them as an alternative pseudonym.

eMJ8NaeTu74

Cheers

[The Grand Wazoo]

The latest puzzle for Barry since May of this year:

Clue No. 1
I'm AdamsDylanNashCohenKaukonen

No. 2
I'm KinkyJoeyJoniNicoIggy


Tallest until '02

Don't forget to check in to this thread when you've got the answer!

[Barry]

............It's all Barry's fault!

It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it.



The latest puzzle for Barry since May of this year:

Clue No. 1
I'm AdamsDylanNashCohenKaukonen

No. 2
I'm KinkyJoeyJoniNicoIggy


Tallest until '02

Don't forget to check in to this thread when you've got the answer!

I'm working on it, I'm working on it - I really am! It's one of the few things that cause me to stay with the Forum.

I've got friends working on it it as well - but it's a tough challenge! It's driving me round the bend, maybe other members might be more successful?

[Barry]

Well after an inordinate amount of hints given to me by Chris, I have at long last managed to solve the puzzle. :doh:

The answer is The Chelsea Hotel, at 222 West 23nd Street in New York.

I assume, post hoc that "Kinky" refers to the habits of residents of The Chelsea Hotel, such as William Burroughs and further assume that "Joey" might refer to Joe Dellesandro, the friend of Andy Warhol and the "little Joe, who never once gave it away" from the Lou Reed song: 'Walk on the Wild Side'.

The common denominator would seem that all the names mentioned did at some time in their lives either stay at the Chelsea Hotel or wrote about it.

You did say it was a musical connection? :scratch:

[The Grand Wazoo]

Part One
I'm AdamsDylanNashCohenKaukonen

Ryan Adams
'Chelsea Hotel Nights' from the album 'Love Is Hell (Part 2)'

And I'm tired of living in this hotel
Fire and rain blowing through the streets
In fact I'm tired of 23rd Street
Strung out like some Christmas lights
Out there in the Chelsea night

nq745EJ06DY



Bob Dylan
'Sara' from 'Desire'

Sara, Sara
It's all so clear, I could never forget
Sara, Sara
Loving you is the one thing I'll never regret.

I can still hear the sounds of those Methodist bells
I'd taken the cure and had just gotten through
Staying up for day in the Chelsea Hotel
Writing "Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" for you.

(Dylan Thomas also lived at the Hotel Chelsea)

E0KEDfPawWs



Graham Nash
'The Chelsea Hotel' from 'Songs for Survivors'

Down at the Chelsea Hotel, with poetry and paintings
The walls are still holding memories of people who fell,
Down through the years, fighting their fears.


Leonard Cohen
'Chelsea Hotel #2' from 'New Skin From An Old Ceremony'

I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel
you were famous, your heart was a legend.
You told me again you preferred handsome men
but for me you would make an exception.
And clenching your fist for the ones like us
who are oppressed by the figures of beauty,
you fixed yourself, you said, "Well never mind,
we are ugly but we have the music."

Dx11oNHPDrA



Jorma Kaukonen
Jefferson Airplane - 'Third Week in the Chelsea'

PcJwv7fL6MU[/QUOTE]


Part Two
I'm KinkyJoeyJoniNicoIggy

Kinky Friedman – ‘Dear Abbie’

Well, the last time that I saw you
You were living at the old Chelsea Hotel.
Even though it's been a while, hell
Even now it makes me smile
To think of how you tennis-shoed the bill.




Joey Ramone – ‘Like a drug I never did before’

Hanging in the lobby of the Chelsea Hotel
On a wild psychedelic night, pretty wild
Like a drug I never did before a drug I never done
A drug I never did before this ain't fun

Zii1EtWQiXc




Joni Mitchell – ‘Chelsea Morning’


Not strictly speaking about the Hotel, but Joni Mitchell used to live in West 16th Street in the Chelsea District of New York, just a few streets away.

c5DYLYHlKvk



Nico – ‘Chelsea Girls

Here's Room 506
It's enough to make you sick
Bridget's all wrapped up in foil
You wonder if she can uncoil.
Here they come now
See them run now
Here they come now
Chelsea Girls

BRxvUneWcdQ




The Stooges – ‘We Will Fall’

Completely out of character Velvet Underground style track (produced by John Cale, who also played the viola drone) The lyrics have Iggy Pop waiting for his girlfriend to arrive at his room in the Hotel Chelsea. The girlfriend was Nico.

and I 'll lay right down
on my back
on my bed
in my hotel
and I'll be in love


Well, all night, all night
and in the mornin' I'll be ready
To see you, to see you
Don't forget to come
Room 121
Don't forget to come

4wIuwzOK-EU

PART 3
Tallest Till '01
Tallest building in New York until 1901


PART 4
Don't forget to check in to this thread when you've got the answer!


PART 5
I'm BesideElQuijoteButAcrossFromTheCPUSA.

226 West 23rd Street, New York - El Quijote, bar and restaurant since 1930.
235 West 23rd Street, New York - Communist Party USA national HQ





The Answer - 222 West 23rd Street The Hotel Chelsea.

[Barry]

Well only 6/10 I think for me, plus a "must try harder" comment.

I hadn't heard of Kinky Friedman or of Joey Ramone.

Still I can go to bed a reasonably happy man and wait with some apprehension for your next "I'm ...." riddle to solve!

[The Grand Wazoo]

Well done Barry - it was pretty tricky.
I'll try not to be so fiendish next time.

Twice you mentioned Leonard Cohen & Janis Joplin meeting there & I thought you'd got it!

[Barry]

Well done Barry - it was pretty tricky.
I'll try not to be so fiendish next time.

Twice you mentioned Leonard Cohen & Janis Joplin meeting there & I thought you'd got it!

Had you mentioned Janis in your list, I could well have got it. Come to think of it, if you had mentioned Kris Kristofferson, that would have triggered the Cohen/Joplin anecdote.

Think I'll have a 'wee dram' to celebrate. :)

[The Grand Wazoo]

Never mind Janis Joplin, I thought using Nico was going to give it away!

I like the way the Graham Nash lyric that I quoted above refers to the paintings that some of the fallen on hard times residents donated in lieu of rent:


Down at the Chelsea Hotel, with poetry and paintings
The walls are still holding memories of people who fell,
Down through the years, fighting their fears.