Given my opinion that the phrase “current American music” is an oxymoron, I can also conclude that the definition of “music” is fungible. Here is music to my ears:
I think a supercharged engine has to overcome more inertia to start. I’m not an engineer or a physicist (help me out, Philip), but that makes sense to me.
Although the basement/media room/man cave doesn’t look like this anymore, this is a reminder that music, while not as important to me as it’s been for most of my life, will almost certainly continue to have a role in my story.
At the top of my musical pyramid (remember my OCD-fueled need to make order out of chaos) is the recording shown above. To me, Enigmatic Ocean actually transcends music; the recording is an otherworldly manifestation of the creative spirit. After being recorded in the summer of 1977, it was released in September of that year. Not surprisingly to me, it reached the #1 position on the Billboard Jazz album chart, also in 1977. What is a surprise is that it reached the #35 position on the Billboard Pop album chart. I do not think Enigmatic Ocean resembles the instrumental pop/smooth jazz idiom in any way; I think the ranking is merely a reflection of how great it is and how widespread the appeal.
When I was one of the hosts of a sports talk show on the Orioles’ flagship radio station in the mid-1980s, one of the continuing debates I had with the engineer was about whether or not jazz was not more popular simply because people weren’t exposed to it, or whether it was inherently unpopular because it was too complex for most listeners. I still think most people are not exposed to jazz, a shame because it is one of America’s native art forms, and that’s why it’s not as popular as it might be. The engineer didn’t agree. With satellite radio and streaming services, most people now live in music bubbles just like they live in political/social bubbles. At this point, jazz will continue to occupy a small musical niche.
Long live Enigmatic Ocean! Vive Jean-Luc Ponty!
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Does stream of consciousness require consciousness??…as a follow-up to Hit The Pause Button, some chores cannot be avoided and so I was not “chore-less” for the rest of the day. Also, I still walked about two-thirds the number of steps that comprise my daily minimum despite no effort to walk just for the sake of walking.
What do you think of landau roofs on cars? My wonderful wife has dismissed this particular car because it has such a roof:
From AutoTrader a picture of a 2000 Cadillac Eldorado. The car still looks good to me, but I acknowledge a landau roof needs extra maintenance.
I wish I could make more order out of today’s chaos…
#MusicalMonday
#AutomobileMusic
#EnigmaticOcean
#LandauRoof
#somanycarsjustonelife
#disaffectedmusings
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Disaffected Musings 
Landau roofs are a nice throwback.
If public schools taught musical appreciation jazz might be more popular.
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Thanks, master of brevity.
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“I think a supercharged engine has to overcome more inertia to start.”
It depends on the supercharger type. A centrifugal type (like Studebaker used) would be next to zero. A Roots type (most typically used) or a screw type, it is more “drag” than inertia, although there is some minor initial inertia to get it spinning.. The amount of drag is also based on the size of the supercharger, smaller is less. That’s one of the reasons most engines are turbo charged, virtually zero parasitic loss.
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Thanks for sharing your knowledge. The supercharger used on the LT4 engine is made by Eaton and is a Roots-type.
Superchargers create boost “immediately,” but as you point out, some inertia must be overcome to get them spinning. Turbos also have inertia, all bodies at rest tend to remain at rest until acted on by a force, which manifests as turbo lag. Modern turbos have very short lag; Mercedes-Benz has created an electric turbo in which a small electric motor spins the turbine/compressor combo at all times until the exhaust gases pick up the work.
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Maybe I shouldn’t do this, but sometimes I “underplay” my knowledge.
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It’s a good way to separate the wheat from the chaff.
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Many thanks, sir. You know what HL Mencken said about newspaper editors, right? “They separate from the wheat from the chaff and print the chaff.”
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I learned to drive in my father’s 1977 Plymouth Volare with a Landau roof. I remember driving it to a Prom with the glove box held up by tape. Once the horn would not stop, so I drove it the five minutes to the Amoco station. The horn screaming the entire way. The same Amoco station I once met an lovely elderly man who immigrated from Poland.
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Thanks, BB. I assume that man from Poland was my father, but everyone knows what happens when one assumes…
My “second” car was a 1979 Chevrolet Malibu with a landau roof. The reason I put the word “second” in quotes is that some people might count the 1961 Impala I drove during my first semester in college as “my” car. I don’t count it because primary ownership was never mine and it was always understood I would drive my GTO once it was repaired.
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I agree with DDMcG on the supercharger issue. Since turbochargers are powered with exhaust gas flow, upon starting there is very little exhaust gas flow so there is virtually zero resistance to starting.
Most Landau roofs on modern cars are an illusion of a true Landau roof as I understand the definition.
With respect to your basement music “studio”, I will advance my usual social media response which is not enough musical instruments. My usual response is “not enough of…” whatever is posted, such as wine, snow, stupid people, etc.
And now back to watering my garden and the Swiss Chard to protect it from the blistering summer heat.
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Thanks, Philip. Yes, as I understand the definition most modern “Landau” roofs are “faux” Landau.
Did you listen to the audio file? If so, what do you think of the sound? Oh, my basement music “studio” is no more. It has been moved and neutered; I hope to sell the electric bass and amp ASAP.
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Interesting point about jazz and its popularity (or lack thereof). With an all-access subscription to Sirius-XM, music is on much of the day. We pretty much get by with two channels, her with 60’s on 6 and me with 70’s on 7, though I do find myself sometimes listening to Yacht Rock Radio. Truly Lynn and I live in that sound bubble described in your post. 🙂
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Thanks for sharing, sir.
When Sirius and XM merged they eliminated some channels, including my favorite, their “progressive” jazz channel. Why? People are paying for the service. I don’t understand the need to trim 6-7 channels.
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Indeed. Interesting. Seems like they have plenty of bandwidth. I’d love to sit in on some of their programming meetings.
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The homogenization of American “entertainment” is rampant. TLC used to be called The Learning Channel and aired documentaries. All they show now is so-called “reality TV.” The History Channel is the same. I don’t watch MTV, but they don’t show music videos, they just air “reality” shows aimed at a younger audience. It’s a REALLY big country; I can’t imagine a market still doesn’t exist for programming where a person can actually learn something.
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My 76 Grand Prix has a landau roof. Interestingly, I recently had Pontiac Historic Services send me their info on my car (they are really great, even to reprinting dealer window stickers), which did not list any roof treatment as a build option on my car. However, the original bill of sale, which I have in my possession, does list a GM RPO and ‘vinyl roof’. I don’t have it handy but even then the code used I believe is for a padded landau roof, which mine is not. I think I’ve concluded the vinyl was a dealer option added after sale.
Anyway, I have to admit I’m choosy about vinyl roof treatments. Up to the ‘Malaise Era’ cars and boxy Fleetwoods and Town Cars, yes. But on later cars like the Eldo shown, they seem a little out of place.
As you say, DSFDF though.
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My wonderful wife is very much opposed to a landau roof, so I think any vehicle with one is out of consideration. Happy wife, happy life…
Thanks so much for your active participation in my blog. Frankly, I wish more readers would “Like” posts.
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