Robert Pirsig (September 6, 1928 – April 24, 2017), American writer and philosopher, is the author of the philosophical novels “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values” (1974) and “Lila: An Inquiry into Morals” (1991).
Pirsig's best-known published writing consists of two books. Published in 1974, the better known, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, delves into Pirsig's exploration into the nature of quality. Ostensibly a first-person narrative based on a motorcycle trip he and his young son Chris had taken from Minneapolis to San Francisco, it is an exploration of the underlying metaphysics of Western culture.
He also gives the reader a short summary of the history of philosophy, including his interpretation of the philosophy of Aristotle as part of an ongoing dispute between universalists, admitting the existence of universals, and the Sophists, opposed by Socrates and his student Plato. Pirsig finds in "Quality" a special significance and common ground between Western and Eastern world views.
Pirsig took nearly four years to complete Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, writing most of the book while living above a shoe store in south Minneapolis, while working as a tech writer for Honeywell.
He received 121 rejections before an editor finally accepted the book for publication—and he did so thinking it would never generate a profit. 50,000 copies sold in the first three months, and more than 5 million in the decades since. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance has become the best-selling philosophy book of all time.
In December 2019, the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History acquired Pirsig's 1966 Honda CB77 Super Hawk on which the 1968 ride with his son Chris was taken.
In April 2024 Pirsig's bike went on public display for the first time ever, in the museum's exhibition "America on the Move", along with the book's original manuscript, Pirsig's manual typewriter and his Apple II computer.
Here are some quotes from Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig for your consideration:
“The place to improve the world is first in one's own heart and head and hands, and then work outward from there.”
― Robert M. Pirsig
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“The truth knocks on the door and you say, "Go away, I'm looking for the truth," and so it goes away. Puzzling.”
― Robert M. Pirsig
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“You are never dedicated to something you have complete confidence in. No one is fanatically shouting that the sun is going to rise tomorrow. They know it's going to rise tomorrow. When people are fanatically dedicated to political or religious faiths or any other kinds of dogmas or goals, it's always because these dogmas or goals are in doubt.”
― Robert M. Pirsig
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“We’re in such a hurry most of the time we never get much chance to talk. The result is a kind of endless day-to-day shallowness, a monotony that leaves a person wondering years later where all the time went and sorry that it’s all gone. ”
― Robert M. Pirsig
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“Mountains should be climbed with as little effort as possible and without desire. The reality of your own nature should determine the speed. If you become restless, speed up. If you become winded, slow down. You climb the mountain in equilibrium between restlessness and exhaustion. Then, when you’re no longer thinking ahead, each footstep isn’t just a means to an end but a unique event in itself.
This leaf has jagged edges. This rock looks loose. From this place the snow is less visible, even though closer. These are things you should notice anyway. To live only for some future goal is shallow. It’s the sides of the mountain which sustain life, not the top. Here’s where things grow.
But of course, without the top you can’t have any sides. It’s the top that defines the sides. So on we go—we have a long way—no hurry—just one step after the next—with a little Chautauqua for entertainment -- .Mental reflection is so much more interesting than TV it’s a shame more people don’t switch over to it. They probably think what they hear is unimportant but it never is.”
― Robert M. Pirsig
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“In a car you're always in a compartment, and because you're used to it you don't realize that through that car window everything you see is just more TV. You're a passive observer and it is all moving by you boringly in a frame.
On a cycle the frame is gone. You're completely in contact with it all. You're in the scene, not just watching it anymore, and the sense of presence is overwhelming.”
― Robert M. Pirsig
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“Peace of mind produces right values, right values produce right thoughts. Right thoughts produce right actions and right actions produce work which will be a material reflection for others to see of the serenity at the center of it all.”
― Robert M. Pirsig
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“The Buddha, the Godhead, resides quite as comfortably in the circuits of a digital computer or the gears of a cycle transmission as he does at the top of the mountain, or in the petals of a flower. To think otherwise is to demean the Buddha - which is to demean oneself.”
― Robert M. Pirsig
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“Sometimes it's a little better to travel than to arrive”
― Robert M. Pirsig
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All quotes from Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values, Mariner Books (1974)]
All content of this post is for educational purposes, only.
This is Mark O'Connor's 1945 D28. I did design and lettering for the jacket of his 1978 guitar album "Markology". For the back cover, my housemate (a professional photographer) took a portrait of Mark, printed it and worked the print in through the sound hole (not as easy as dropping a pick in there). We took out the end pin and placed a stiff wire in behind the print to hold it as flush to the top as possible while he snapped this photo.
‘Civilization is like a thin layer of ice upon a deep ocean of chaos and darkness.’
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Yello – One Second [2 x Analog Reel-To-Reel Tapes]
Triston Masters in Switzerland is preparing master tape for commercial master tape copy release coming soon!
A timeless album showcasing Yello’s spacious, beautiful pop sounds with their sensuous Latin feel – from the shaking and grooving ‘La Habanera’ and the hauntingly beautiful ‘The Rhythm Divine’, to the noisy, growling ‘Si Senor The Hairy Grill’. Released in 1987, the album also features both Billy MacKenzie and Shirley Bassey, the latter singing vocals on ‘The Rhythm Divine’.
Album: Yello – One Second
Format: 2 x Reel-To-Reel, 15 ips, ¼", 2-Track Stereo, 10.5" NAB Reel, Album, Limited Edition, CCIR Eq.
Country: Germany
Released: 2024
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Leftfield, Synth-pop
The Tape Tracklist:
Tape One:
1 La Habanera 5:10
2 Moon On Ice 4:17
3 Call It Love 5:05
4 Le Secret Farida 3:17
5 Hawaiian Chance 4:18
Tape Two:
6 The Rhythm Divine 4:10
7 Santiago 5:48
8 Goldrush 4:19
9 Dr Van Steiner 4:18
10 Si Señor The Hairy Grill 4:49
11 L'Hotel 3:56
Music Composed By Producer, Engineer – Boris Blank
Lyrics By, Vocals – Dieter Meier
Backing Vocals – Billy MacKenzie
Bass Trombone – Don Randolph
Drums – Beat Ash
Guitar – Chico Hablas
Piano, Accordion – Philip Kienholz
Trombone – Steve Trop
Written-By – B. Mackenzie, B. Blank, D. Meier, and R. Winters
Co-producer, Engineer – Ian Tregoning
Cover – Ernst Gamper
Producer – Yello
Cutting room: The Townhouse - London.
This album is timeless in many ways, and the musicianship of Dieter Meier and Boris Blank never goes out of style.
Yello's spacious, beautiful pop sounds with a sensuous latin feel. From the shaking and grooving 'La Habanera' through to the hauntingly beautiful 'The Rhythm Divine', through to the noisy, growling and enigmatically titled 'Si Senor The Hairy Grill', there's something for everyone and every track delights.
Released in 1987, the album is noteworthy for featuring both Billy MacKenzie and Shirley Bassey, the latter singing vocals on "The Rhythm Divine". The songs "Call It Love", "Si Senor The Hairy Grill“, "Moon On Ice", "Hawaiian Chance" were used on episodes of Miami Vice and the song "Santiago" used as a sample from Dunya Yunis' "Abu Zeluf“.
AAA 100% Analogue - Pure Analogue Components Only from the Master Tapes. Pure analog transfer from the original master tape - The entire tape mastering analog domain chain was kept analogue from start to finish. There was no compression or limiters used. Master Quality Reel To Reel Recording On RTM SM911 Tape.
All Right Reserved: Phonographic manufacturer and registered owner of the work. Unless specific permits are prohibited duplication, hire-lease, loan and use this phonographic support for pubic performance and broadcasting.
Thanks to my friend Jürg Schopper 🥇💫🥇🥂💫 for the great job and dedication 🇨🇭
Fantastic player, program and recording.
Thanking my pal Marco 💫
Few guitars in the world of rock can boast the fascinating history of Brian May’s Red Special. This instrument has accompanied the guitarist since he was sixteen, through the great successes of Queen, and has earned nicknames like “Fireplace” and “Old Lady.”
At the time, the Mays couldn’t afford to buy an electric guitar, so Brian and his father Harold, an engineer with a passion for modeling, decided to build one themselves. The name “Red Special” refers to the reddish color of the mahogany wood used to make it. It’s estimated that the value of the instrument at the time of its creation was around 8 pounds.
The nickname “Fireplace” has a more particular history. It seems that Harold and Brian used an old fireplace mantel to build the neck of the guitar, and they also used putty to fill the holes made by woodworms.
The Red Special has been a lifelong companion for Brian May throughout his long career.
Life is a long journey where you are both teacher and student. Sometimes you teach, but every day you learn.
This Swiss-recorded disk is simply marvelous, in the purest FMP tradition and a joy to listen to.
It’s a real gift for yours truly as I was lucky enough to attend to a concert of this amazing duo exactly during the same tour which made this recording happening, shortly after a concert in Zurich.
The music is adventurous but highly enjoyable and pleasing and remains a great Polaroid of the stature of these musicians for whom unable to witness their music alive.
💫🥇💫
An iconic instrument belonging to an iconic artist 💫
Sometimes… often, I regret I didn’t study German 😏
Finally, just over 21 and a half years after the death of Maestro Jürg Jecklin, our book «Augenblicke für di Oren – from the life of Maestro Jürrg Jecklin» has been published.
I had conversations with Jürg in 2020 and 2021. You are the basis of this autobiography in conversation form. An entertaining mix of anecdotes and manual has been created. Jürg was not only an inventive master of sound, but was also the creator of the famous Jecklin disc or the electrostatic FLOAT headphones. After 30 eventful years as a master of sound at the Schweizer Radio, he worked as a university teacher at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. Jürg had an unconventional way of approaching problems and maintained an empathetic treatment of students, musicians and musicians.
All participants contributed free of charge to this appreciation of Jürgs Schaffen.
The publication in Switzerland can be ordered, for example, here:
https://www.orellfuessli.ch/shop/home/artikeldetails/A1072249660
or here:
https://buchshop.bod.ch/augenblicke-fuer-die-ohren-juerg-jecklin-9783759751577
A noble heritage, as seen in flamenco guitars ✅
… aehm: sometimes it’s not the case 😉
My amazing Grundig Audiorama 7000 without whom I’d be painfully music-less 😵💫
Steve Tibbets and his beloved Martin D12-20… a gift of his father when he was in his teens; Steve used in most of his amazing albums and this guitar adapted to his style. One of the last mods was using all unison strings E to e (no octave high strings)💫 💫💎💫🥇
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