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sand pebbles



Last Updated: 11/19/2009

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Status: Single
City: Melbourne
State: Victoria
Country: AU
Signup Date: 4/30/2006
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 

Category: Religion and Philosophy

As a kid I got a bunch of postcards from a high school fete. One of the pictures that fascinated me was a William Claxton shot outside of New York City's Birdland. It shows a hollow-eyed sax player w/ his arm around a pole asking a pointed question of two passers-by. They're not taking him seriously or keeping tight lipped so as to not engage those eyes.
On the postcard it says the people are unidentified. 

Found out recently it's American actor Ben(ito) Carruthers. The shot is a still from the John Cassevetes short film Shadows. I found it trying to hear a rare UK single - "Jack O'Diamonds" by Ben Carruthers & The Deep. It's the same Benito.

He only ever released one single. Jimmy Page played guitar. Nicky Hopkins provided organ. It was produced by Shel Talmy. It flopped.

The version i know is from the first album by Fairport Convention. Ben's is much better, especially the handclap section ... Jack O'Diamonds is a hard card ... It's one I've played over and over.
The song is credited to Carruthers and Bob Dylan. Dylan was a friend but they never wrote together. Carruthers took his inspiration from the liner notes of Another Side of Bob Dylan. Ripped a few keys lines from one of Dylan's raves. (Apparently Ben introduced Dylan to Nico in Paris, cue "I'll Keep It With Mine").

Westley chided me, "back story can make a song for you". Maybe so. But that happens with music, you bring a whole back story to the songs you love.

Carruthers also starred in The Dirty Dozen and the original version of Daredevil. He died in 1983.

- CH 
  
Currently watching:
Shadows (1959) - Criterion Collection
Release date: 2008-02-17
5:56 AM
 
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