. . . and although I am not a fan of blues, when I hear people like Mississippi John Hurt, John Hammond, Muddy Waters, Nina Simone (I thinks she's both jazz and blues), I see more deeply into the motivations and feelings of the human race, and so I overlook my 'non-liking' of blues and just enjoy the music.

. . . and when I listen to gospel (which I don't like), I get off on phrasings and harmonies that groups do (The Gospel Messengers, The Staple Singers, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir) and simply forget I don't like the stuff and enjoy the prestntations.

. . . and when I listen to rock and roll (which I do like), I wonder what happened to it over the years. And all too often I simply turn off the radio or take off the CD because it isn't what I call rock and roll. People like Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band, some Beatles, some Stones, some Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers can still make it happen, but where did it go in general?

. . . and folk music which I love--and seems to mean so many different things to so many different people: NO. I don't want to listen to Danny Boy, and I don't care who sings it. Yes I do want to listen to Wild Mountain Thyme, Maggie, October Winds, and even those rebel songs that some folks think are too political to be folk, but can still stir the blood.

. . . and I admit to a liking for many songs from other cultures and languages: Io Vagabondo, Eres Tu: hey, y'all ever given a listen to Italian rock? Spanish rock? Try it, you might like it.

. . . and listening to many singer-songwriters who can reach out and touch the heart/soul with their writings: Judith McKeown, Davy Steele, Jerry Rasmussen, Alan Moorhouse--they ain't whiners. They are writers, and I thank God for them, because the world needs new songs. And NO, everyone will not like them and everything they wrote or sung, but even their weaker stuff is better than most of what I'm hearing on the damned radio these days.

Having said that for I know not why, I hope everyone has a great day listening to whatever turns their individual crank. I think I know what's good. But even if I don't, I do know what I like.

Now, Buddy Holly, ABBA or The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem--naw, how's about a little Lonnie johnson. Yeah, Lonnie . . . .