Althouse: Go now.

December 5, 2023

Go now.

"Denny Laine has died...," my son John lets me know.

11 comments:

Iman said...: I enjoyed that song and also his work in Wings…; 12/5/23, 2:09 PM
Temujin said...: Great old song and a great run with Wings. Seems like we're all going these days.; 12/5/23, 2:43 PM
Fustigator said...: wait...his death is announced on a Tuesday afternoon and you missed the opportunity to link to Tuesday Afternoon? The words seem rather fitting to me.

Tuesday afternoon
I'm just beginning to see
Now I'm on my way
It doesn't matter to me
Chasing the clouds away
Something calls to me
The trees are drawing me near
I've got to find out why
Those gentle voices I hear
Explain it all with a sigh
I'm looking at myself reflections of my mind
It's just the kind of day to leave myself behind
So gently swaying through the fairyland of love
If you'll just come with me you'll see the beauty of
Tuesday afternoon
Tuesday afternoon
Tuesday afternoon
I'm just beginning to see
Now I'm on my way
It doesn't matter to me
Chasing the clouds away
Something calls to me
The trees are drawing me near
I've got to find out why
Those gentle voices I hear
Explain it all with a sigh; 12/5/23, 4:02 PM
Josephbleau said...: I like the look of all the singing faces in a row, an abstraction of the Greek Chorus.; 12/5/23, 4:24 PM
Yancey Ward said...: Sad to hear. Wings is where he had the biggest musical impact, though.; 12/5/23, 4:50 PM
BUMBLE BEE said...: Long productive life for a rocker. R.I.P. Denny.; 12/5/23, 5:04 PM
Assistant Village Idiot said...: The usual last or penultimate slow dance in the late 60s, until "Stairway to Heaven" pushed it aside.; 12/5/23, 6:56 PM
Iman said...: “Tuesday Afternoon” came after Laine left Moody Blues… “Go Now” was the song Laine was noted for and one of the reasons he used to sing it at the Wings shows.; 12/5/23, 7:01 PM
Narr said...: Josephbleau sees an allusion to a Greek Chorus, which is interesting. I was thinking more of black American vocal groups like The Platters or Little Anthony and the Imperials--that song is homage IMO. Maybe it's both.

We used to listen to a lot of their later stuff, but I can only think of a few of their songs that I'd like to hear again.

Had no idea the guy played with Wings, and only know their work by way of a few ubiquitous hits.

RIP.; 12/5/23, 7:04 PM
R C Belaire said...: When Laine left MB, Justin Hayward came in. An improvement IMO. But still, sad news.; 12/5/23, 7:11 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: "When Laine left MB, Justin Hayward came in. An improvement IMO."

When you're comparing Laine's decent copy of "Go Now" - not even a cover - to an original composition and recording, of "Nights In White Satin" caliber? Yeah. That was one time Denny Laine was NOT missed. But - ha-ha - he joined Wings and knocked out "Live And Let Die" (surely MB's equal) plus "Jet" and "Band On The Run" and "With A Little Luck" plus "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey" and almost everything on the Wings at the Speed of Sound album. Whew. Here he is, even getting funky on the guitar. That's not only a decent run, but shows a lot of range, for a band as slight as a Paul McCartney project.

So long, Denny Laine, you did good. You even made part of my high school years magical.; 12/5/23, 10:49 PM