You thought the leaden winter
Would bring you down forever
But you rode upon a steamer
To the violence of the sun
And the colors of the sea
Blind your eyes with trembling mermaids
And you touch the distant beaches
With tales of brave Ulysses
— Eric Clapton/ Martin Sharp, Tales of Brave Ulysses
Today, I thought I’d share the new small piece above, The Voyager, which is headed down to the Principle Gallery for their annual show of small works for the holiday season. These small boat pieces are among my favorites to paint and this particular painting fits in with that trend. There’s something in the simplicity of the compositions that makes it even more fulfilling when emotion is evoked from just a few simple forms and colors.
Like a visual haiku.
For this week’s Sunday morning music, I sought something that would pair up with this piece and decided that we would go back in time a bit, back to 1967. I thought we’d listen to some Cream this morning, from their classic Disraeli Gears album. As some of you may know, Cream was the first supergroup with members– Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker— all coming together from other highly successful bands. With their strong personalities, they only lasted a short time but produced some great and lasting music, including today’s song, Tales of Brave Ulysses.
Here’s a little trivia about this song: This was earliest use of the wah-wah pedal by Clapton and the song was a collaboration between Clapton and an artist neighbor who lived in the the same building, Martin Sharp. Sharp heard that Clapton was a musician ( he wasn’t yet a legend at that point) and told him that he had written a poem that he thought might make a good song. Fortuitously, Clapton had been working on some music that was based on a current hit song that was among his favorites. The song was, surprisingly enough, Summer in the City from the Loving Spoonful.
I had to go back and listen to see if I could see the influence. It doesn’t jump out at you but it’s there, after all.
Anyway, this song became the B-side to Cream’s Strange Brew and has become a classic bit of rock history. And today it’s floating along with the The Voyager at the top. I threw in their Sunshine of Your Love from the same album mainly because it’s a favorite of mine. But it could fit this panting as well. For that matter, Strange Brew might also fit. You be the judge.
Enjoy your own voyage and have a good Sunday.
Redtree Times 
Gary, once again you’ve taken me back to the days of my youthful indiscretions… I find myself sadly amazed at the songs I grew up with and never really knew. Lyrics I heard but never listened to. Words , that on paper are poetic, and with music beautiful, but that I never really understood… Thanks for the memories.
I always try to look up the lyrics to any older song before I share it because so often I misremember or totally misinterpret them. There are songs that I have known for 50 years and, like you, have grown up with, where I only learn the real lyrics this way. It usually gives me a new and deeper appreciation of the song. Funny how much we skim over, isn’t it?