Wow! You really capture the thrill of being a teenager enjoying the freedom of speeding down the freeway with rock music blaring full blast. Gotta open the windows too to let that cool breeze in (no air conditioning back then in our cool cars, at least not in the 60's). I never really had a cool car until I married at the age of 18, (still a teen, although I didn't think of myself that way then.) But I loved driving our 911 Porche with the top down, especially pulling up in the community college parking lot. And Santana, yes. It's still on my playlists. You truly are a great writer, Michael, as another noted in the comments. You make us feel music in a new, magical way, or perhaps, bring back the old feelings of how music rocked our young lives and still fill our old souls.
Thank you, Deborah. All the students no doubt clocked the super cool teacher as you pulled up in a Porsche 911 at the Community College! 😎.
I am humbled by your kind words, and they reaffirm why we keep writing. We all hope our pieces are worth five minutes of someone's day. And we all feel like we have something valuable to share. But, in reality, like all art, we create for ourselves and hope someone might find some meaning in it. I'm glad that there are a few people here on Substack who seem to get something from my pieces. 🙏
Yes, those responses to our writing makes all the difference. Knowing others are moved or inspired or entertained by what we offer them. We do create for ourselves, and I've often said that even if no one ever read what I wrote I'd keep on writing because i love it, the joy of creativity, the flow and rhythm and sound of the words that come from some deep place--but when others respond to a piece the way we hoped, when they get what we were trying to do, that sense of connection, there's nothing else like it.
I've seen Santana multiple times since I was a teenager. As good as they were (it's been years since I last saw them), I can't even begin to imagine how insanely mindblowing they must have been in those early years (1968-1974). I have a couple cool records of early pre-1st LP recordings and a live set pre-Woodstock that are simply out of this world. But then there is 'Lotus,' which takes Carlos' spiritual jazz leanings to an entirely different level of mystical badassery.
These years, these records (including 'Welcome,' 'Caravanserai,' and 'Lotus') are amongst my very faves. Even 'Abraxas,' which I have heard a gazillion times and is totally overplayed, is still jaw droppingly brilliant.
What a great writer you are, seriously. I really enjoyed this post. I don't even drive, and I never thought I could feel as much from an ode to a car as I felt reading this. Clearly, there's a lot more than a car there, and trust me, I'm here for the ride!
Really enjoyed this, Michael. Cool car, great song, and could just imagine the feeling of freedom and euphoria. Beam me back to 1986 please!
Thank you, Ellen. Yes, I would hop on board that time machine, as well!
Wow! You really capture the thrill of being a teenager enjoying the freedom of speeding down the freeway with rock music blaring full blast. Gotta open the windows too to let that cool breeze in (no air conditioning back then in our cool cars, at least not in the 60's). I never really had a cool car until I married at the age of 18, (still a teen, although I didn't think of myself that way then.) But I loved driving our 911 Porche with the top down, especially pulling up in the community college parking lot. And Santana, yes. It's still on my playlists. You truly are a great writer, Michael, as another noted in the comments. You make us feel music in a new, magical way, or perhaps, bring back the old feelings of how music rocked our young lives and still fill our old souls.
Thank you, Deborah. All the students no doubt clocked the super cool teacher as you pulled up in a Porsche 911 at the Community College! 😎.
I am humbled by your kind words, and they reaffirm why we keep writing. We all hope our pieces are worth five minutes of someone's day. And we all feel like we have something valuable to share. But, in reality, like all art, we create for ourselves and hope someone might find some meaning in it. I'm glad that there are a few people here on Substack who seem to get something from my pieces. 🙏
Yes, those responses to our writing makes all the difference. Knowing others are moved or inspired or entertained by what we offer them. We do create for ourselves, and I've often said that even if no one ever read what I wrote I'd keep on writing because i love it, the joy of creativity, the flow and rhythm and sound of the words that come from some deep place--but when others respond to a piece the way we hoped, when they get what we were trying to do, that sense of connection, there's nothing else like it.
That's a pretty mean car.
When folks scoff at the mention of Santana, I imagine they've never sat down with this, Welcome or Caravanserai.
I've seen Santana multiple times since I was a teenager. As good as they were (it's been years since I last saw them), I can't even begin to imagine how insanely mindblowing they must have been in those early years (1968-1974). I have a couple cool records of early pre-1st LP recordings and a live set pre-Woodstock that are simply out of this world. But then there is 'Lotus,' which takes Carlos' spiritual jazz leanings to an entirely different level of mystical badassery.
These years, these records (including 'Welcome,' 'Caravanserai,' and 'Lotus') are amongst my very faves. Even 'Abraxas,' which I have heard a gazillion times and is totally overplayed, is still jaw droppingly brilliant.
I'll throw that Love Devotion Surrender album with John McLaughlin in there, too.
Good call. And maybe that Carlos & Alice Coltrane record, as well!
What a great writer you are, seriously. I really enjoyed this post. I don't even drive, and I never thought I could feel as much from an ode to a car as I felt reading this. Clearly, there's a lot more than a car there, and trust me, I'm here for the ride!
Wow, I really appreciate these words, A LOT! Thank you so much, Andres! 🙏
🤗🤗