You're gonna reap just what you sow

I always had a sort of love/well, he's-good-but-not-always-great relationship with Lou Reed.

Loved most of the Velvet's stuff, as I chronicled here: http://farther-on.blogspot.com/2013/03/between-thought-and-expression-lies.html.

Lou Reed with the other King of the New York streets, Dion Dimucci

Repected but didn't love and often didn't much like his solo stuff. That probably reveals a lot more about my musical appreciation shortcomings than I would like to admit.

But Reed, who died yesterday at 71, knew the importance and power of the music, and wrote about in a supremely profound way.

"...his life was saved by rock and roll. Rock and roll."

That I can appreciate.

I love a girl and Ruby is her name

....and Monday is her third birthday.

So, I want to dedicate this song to her, the little girl who takes my heart away every time she smiles. The little girl with the big spirit and even bigger heart. The little girl with the big, brown eyes that sparkle and shine and light up the whole room.

It's one of her favorites -- does she have great taste or what?

Pretty Flamingo -- Manfred Mann

And this video, featuring Elvis Costello, Squeeze and Nick Lowe, is the cat's pajamas (Ruby, that term is just for you).

And one more for Ruby Baby, featuring some devastating Bronx soul from Dion.

Happy Birthday!