THE TROUBADOURS: The Rise of the Singer-Songwriter DVD (Released July 4th 2011)
Folk music – born as a backlash to turbulent times; the antitheses to the anger of rock. When the impossibly tall and flamboyant Doug Weston opened The Troubadour folk club on Santa Monica Blvd in 1968, the US had already been mired in war since the extensive injection of US troops into Vietnam in 1961. One of the first scenes on the DVD is of Graham Nash delivering the astonishing soundbite “Do you know who start world wars? People who are over forty!” Amidst a backdrop of war and peace demonstrations the time was ripe for a seachange of honest emotion.
The Troubadour was an open forum for anyone who could wield a guitar and sing a note. ‘Hoot’ night at the Troubie was a vehicle for any artist who cared to step onstage and sing, what was now, part pop, part intensively personal narrative. ‘Hotel California’ author, Barney Hoskyns, is interviewed throughout the DVD and says of James Taylor, Carole King, Jackson Browne, Neil Young et al, “nobody knew these troubadours would sell millions of records. “ But yet they did just that for years to come. Rock was losing its heart and music was ready for a heartbeat. A quiet revolution of music, steeped in experience and emotion, delivered by true musicians and songsmiths who, collectively worked to serve only the song and not themselves. Altruism was alive and well and hung out at The Troubabour, as the musicians learned from each other, taking turns to “serve the songs” offered up onstage.
James Taylor describes himself as a “recovering addict” who finally cleaned up at 35 years old – not so much a victim of excess but more of artistic angst and escape. Quiet and unassuming, he is passionate about letting the music speak for itself, shunning interviews, believing that to speak about the songs devalues the music. His appearance at The Troubadour in 1969 caused David Crosby to say “he made an eddy…that’s for damn sure…” ‘Fire and Rain’, ‘Sweet Baby James’, ‘Your Smiling Face’, and ‘Carolina on my Mind’ – is just a reminder of the many hits James had over the years. Effortless delivery, calm, measured and sincere is how he maintained his place as a major player in The Troubadour hall of fame. His co-presenter of this DVD is Carole King, who came from the world of the Brill Building tin pan alley , churning out hit and after hit for a variety of artists who didn’t write their own music. Persuaded by James Taylor to sing some of her own compositions at The Troubadour changed the course of her career. Described as not being as “gutsy” as Bonnie Raitt, “wasn’t barefoot like Linda Rondstadt” but was, most definitely, a real woman. Her self-penned hit ‘Natural Woman’ describes this perfectly. Her look swung to earthy rather than pretty but her music touched people, evident by the bar at The Troubadour emptying quickly when her set began.
Artists who couldn’t get arrested were being given a platform for expression and success. An Orange County teenager who wrote lyrics with a maturity that belied his young years was discovered by David Geffen at The Troubadour. His name was Jackson Browne and night after night, in The Troubie bar, Geffen hit the motherload of talent on offer. Steve Martin recounts the birth of [The] Eagles. “What do you think of the name “Eagles” says Glenn Frey to Steve Martin. After a few false starts including “The” in the name, we learn that their name is not “The Eagles” after all but simply, “Eagles”.
With all great success stories comes a dive downwards. Bonnie Raitt describes it as “excess” of “too much money, too many choices, too many drugs” destroying everything in its path. Rolling Stone critic, Lester Bangs, wrote an article entitled “James Taylor marked for death” which highlighted the growing irritation with the singer/songwriter movement. Described by the East Coast as the “mellow mafia”, New Jersey born Danny Korchmar, of the Troubadour backing band, The Section, angrily retorts “fuck you, James Taylor could kick your ass in 5 seconds.” Dismissed as navel gazing, sun drenched, hippy euphoria by the critics, Korchmar’s take on this is that the “music always wins……always…”
Doug Weston’s grip on reality was sliding along with the popularity of his venue. The community that was born of creativity, fragmented as success took the artists on tour and in different directions. Doug was resentful and would take to the stage screaming at the audience to leave. A shrewd businessman, he had tied up most of the artists to make return visits in their contracts which is how Elton John found himself playing Madison Square Garden one week and The Troubadour the next. In the summer of 1975 The Troubadour closed its famous doors. Westin had to be stopped from printing the names of who he held responsible on the front of the marquee. “Things don’t last forever – none of these things are meant to” says James Taylor.
Today The Troubadour has re-opened and is once again a showcase for new talent. James and Carole had a Reunion Tour in 2010, not having been onstage together since 1973. The most moving moment on the DVD is the rendition of You Can Close Your Eyes – “it won’t be long before another day. We gonna have a good time and no one’s gonna take that time away. You can stay as long as you like.”
There’s a moment for everything but The Troubadour legacy lives on in the music. “This is what we are here for – to get people to feel and to find their own humanity. That’s what great music is supposed to do – nothing less.” – Danny Korchmar.
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