On Grace

I don't spend much time looking at contemporary fashion magazines. I check in with the designers I enjoy most, and follow links and nods and prods when they're sent my way. Music drives me more directly.

When Grace Slick sings, she shows us her soul. There is an active emotional connection between her records and my ears. I am even transported to a more enlivened space when I listen to her sing.

***

Perfectly Reasonable (and very real) Dream: I hire (brown haired) Grace as my voice coach. She sits at the piano, playing while she sings. I work to show her my skill, but am too rusty to impress. Lessons quickly morph into a fun loving friendship. We're kindred spirits. We go shopping.

***

While compiling my newest compilation to showcase the true beauty of my favorite female vocalist, I'm stuck at track 4 --- playing Ai Garimasu over and over at full volume, feeling the intensity of the crescendo into each chorus grow stronger and stronger, and become more and more meaningful. Each build up reveals a deeper level of her soul. When she sings, she means it. When she does most anything, you know she damn well means it.

"That's what I like to see. I wanna SEE your love. And I wanna FEEL your love." -Ai Garimasu, Red Octopus 1975

We feel her love. And we see her love. This is the mantra of my winter, the song replaying in my heart, a color to brighten my grey, a push to move me forward.

THE GOSPEL OF THE CHROME NUN
A Grace Slick Compilation by MC - January 2009

1| Ballad of the Chrome Nun - Baron Von Tollbooth and the Chrome Nun, 1973
2| Somebody To Love - Surrealistic Pillow, 1967
3| Play On Love - Red Octopus, 1975
4| Ai Garimasu - Red Octopus, 1975
5| Mexico - Jefferson Airplane, 1970
6| Father Bruce - The Great Society, 1966
7| White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane
8| Greasy Heart - Crown of Creation, 1968
9| Devil's Den - Dragon Fly, 1974
10| Triad - Crown of Creation, 1968
11| High Flyin' Bird [live] - Live at the Monterey Pop Festival, 1967
12| Lawman - Bark, 1971
13| Fishman - From Baron Von Tollbooth and the Chrome Nun, 1973
14| Sketches of China - From Baron Von Tollbooth and the Chrome Nun, 1973
15| Somebody to Love [live] - The Great Society, 1966