I’m no expert in the field, but I’d say that unlike the tax breaks that led to a bunch of giant, ridiculous buildings sprouting up all over town, this tax break just might save Country Music.
You got me here Jay- I miss it too. Love the "soggy rant" paragraph-right on! We were lucky to participate in that age of Nashville. Occasionally when writing with a young songwriter, or in todays world a roomful of them-I'll wax nostalgic about the good old days (hoping for a human moment where we might connect on some level) and they usually look at me like they suddenly realize they're in the wrong room. Substop!
I was listening to the Gerry House radio show one Friday morning and he had the songwriters on who wrote that week’s #1song. When Gerry asked how the song came about, the songwriter said “well … we got together about 10 o’clock and started it … then …. We went to lunch … and then …. We’ll we came back … and finished it.” It was riveting!! …. And am I the only one who watched Elaine Stritch? I think she might have been hangry during taping. (I loved it!) …. And one more lunch story … Shannon sanders once told me he hoped I was never in trouble with the law cause they’d know where to find me on Wednesdays! Arnold’s. Wednesday was squash casserole day.
I’ll start at 9:30 if you guys wanta! Hell my boys are both up at 5 am so….miss y’all and miss Nashville but I mostly miss lunches and talking bullmess w all y’all. Peace
Love this Jay... keep it up please. You think CA'yuns have heard all the stories from our boy? I've heard them 12 times a piece and still laugh everytime. Come on back big T!
As someone who transitioned to writing/production full-time only 5 years ago, I'm sad that I missed the glory days of lunch. Now if I have a write that starts at 11, I've been in the chair since 9AM (or before) editing vocals and I know I'll be right back there after we wrap and everyone leaves. Having the luxury of taking a break seems honestly very healthy...I think it's a sinister plot by the people who make Kind bars to keep us trapped in the building
If it makes you feel any better, since you are a writer/producer/engineer, had you been only an engineer back in the day, you rarely would have made it out the door... they always had to take down or set up... something. Most days engineers were lucky if someone remembered to bring em back some lukewarm veggies in a styrofoam box.
Mark D has bought me several lunches, that I still appreciate. Yes, the compatibility, where do you stand on Indian buffets? The best songs include lunch, for sure... Thanks, Jay!
Jon Pardi here, Trent Summar always said “Jay is a Professor, songwriter 1st for sure”! Love this blog and this is my 1st comment. It’s hard to show up at 11 or 11:30 😑 and try to find magic, sometimes you do though! I feel like everyone’s already got a fire going somewhere early in their day. Chores, kids, just life in general. I like writing early if i can. Its hard with my schedule sometimes back and forth from time zones, 10am would be preferred. A lot of artists like to get a place, a cabin or wherever, to write for a couple days- I’ve done it and love it! Its not because of the songs we try to write, it’s because of the stories we tell, the ideas we come up with or the “hey that would be a good song”.
My point is - lunch is always fun, even if we just get a chorus or an idea for the day. For me, going out of songwriter land into personal connections or “i’ve been there”always leads to the next co-write or a song in the future. Hopefully I make sense!
I wrote this on an airplane heading to Vegas. Thank you to all the songwriters and all you do!
Thanks, Jon! And I hear you. Once the day has started, it’s like the day is already over. It’s hard to jam “make a song” somewhere in the middle of it. Mostly because it’s in the open ended “who know what’s next” moments that the magic tends to happen.
Love this blog - my comment is that the mind needs a break from the constraints our consciousness puts on it. And another comment, my conscious mind sees some great lyrics n your post.
Man oh man I love this so much.
FWIW, meals are 100% tax deductible for 2021-23. Maybe slightly offsets the rise in cost. Jeet yet?
I’m no expert in the field, but I’d say that unlike the tax breaks that led to a bunch of giant, ridiculous buildings sprouting up all over town, this tax break just might save Country Music.
You got me here Jay- I miss it too. Love the "soggy rant" paragraph-right on! We were lucky to participate in that age of Nashville. Occasionally when writing with a young songwriter, or in todays world a roomful of them-I'll wax nostalgic about the good old days (hoping for a human moment where we might connect on some level) and they usually look at me like they suddenly realize they're in the wrong room. Substop!
Human connection! Shoot. If they don’t want that then they ARE in the wrong room/wrong profession.
Nashville is the first place I heard someone say. “Skweet. Yawntoo?”
Skweet yet? 😂
Tacos are what turned our almost prize winning song into an almost prize winning single.
I remember the exact spot along Wedgewood on the way from my office to La Hacienda where it happened.
So you don’t have to lunch me anymore?
I was listening to the Gerry House radio show one Friday morning and he had the songwriters on who wrote that week’s #1song. When Gerry asked how the song came about, the songwriter said “well … we got together about 10 o’clock and started it … then …. We went to lunch … and then …. We’ll we came back … and finished it.” It was riveting!! …. And am I the only one who watched Elaine Stritch? I think she might have been hangry during taping. (I loved it!) …. And one more lunch story … Shannon sanders once told me he hoped I was never in trouble with the law cause they’d know where to find me on Wednesdays! Arnold’s. Wednesday was squash casserole day.
Haha. Yes. Elaine Stritch’s whole vibe is always that of someone in need of a sandwich or a smoke or a drink or a... something. She’s the BEST!!
(Saving my Gerry House thoughts for a future edition.)
I’m fond of Barbra Streisand’s version of that song too!
I’ll start at 9:30 if you guys wanta! Hell my boys are both up at 5 am so….miss y’all and miss Nashville but I mostly miss lunches and talking bullmess w all y’all. Peace
To be fair, you tended to talk as much bullmess before and after as you did during lunch. Also. I miss you.
Love this Jay... keep it up please. You think CA'yuns have heard all the stories from our boy? I've heard them 12 times a piece and still laugh everytime. Come on back big T!
As someone who transitioned to writing/production full-time only 5 years ago, I'm sad that I missed the glory days of lunch. Now if I have a write that starts at 11, I've been in the chair since 9AM (or before) editing vocals and I know I'll be right back there after we wrap and everyone leaves. Having the luxury of taking a break seems honestly very healthy...I think it's a sinister plot by the people who make Kind bars to keep us trapped in the building
If it makes you feel any better, since you are a writer/producer/engineer, had you been only an engineer back in the day, you rarely would have made it out the door... they always had to take down or set up... something. Most days engineers were lucky if someone remembered to bring em back some lukewarm veggies in a styrofoam box.
Hahahah...yes this helps. A life where lukewarm veggies are the highlight of my afternoon is not really on my vision board 😂😂😂
Jay, this is always a great read. And I miss Sub Stop!
Sub Stop!
Sammy B’s chicken salad melt for me. Thanks for this reminder, Jay.
Woolgathering is essential.
That’s why you’re the poet.
Mark D has bought me several lunches, that I still appreciate. Yes, the compatibility, where do you stand on Indian buffets? The best songs include lunch, for sure... Thanks, Jay!
No Indian buffet unless all you have left to write is the bridge.
I miss The Baja Fresh on West End...
This is great Jay. There is such nostalgia in this for those that know and can relate to those days in some capacity. Not a rant just the truth.
CRL
Love this, Jaybird! I feel like we just had lunch
Jon Pardi here, Trent Summar always said “Jay is a Professor, songwriter 1st for sure”! Love this blog and this is my 1st comment. It’s hard to show up at 11 or 11:30 😑 and try to find magic, sometimes you do though! I feel like everyone’s already got a fire going somewhere early in their day. Chores, kids, just life in general. I like writing early if i can. Its hard with my schedule sometimes back and forth from time zones, 10am would be preferred. A lot of artists like to get a place, a cabin or wherever, to write for a couple days- I’ve done it and love it! Its not because of the songs we try to write, it’s because of the stories we tell, the ideas we come up with or the “hey that would be a good song”.
My point is - lunch is always fun, even if we just get a chorus or an idea for the day. For me, going out of songwriter land into personal connections or “i’ve been there”always leads to the next co-write or a song in the future. Hopefully I make sense!
I wrote this on an airplane heading to Vegas. Thank you to all the songwriters and all you do!
JP
Thanks, Jon! And I hear you. Once the day has started, it’s like the day is already over. It’s hard to jam “make a song” somewhere in the middle of it. Mostly because it’s in the open ended “who know what’s next” moments that the magic tends to happen.
Love this blog - my comment is that the mind needs a break from the constraints our consciousness puts on it. And another comment, my conscious mind sees some great lyrics n your post.