THE MORNING CONSTITUTIONAL TAKES THE EASY WAY OUT

The title of this morning's post is two-fold.  For one, I wrote this last night.  I'm taking the easy way out, because I have a day job and I'm bad at getting up early.  So, I can only assume I missed overnight breaking news such as Jameis Winston finally being arrested for treason, or the Rose Bowl announcing a permanent move to the new L.A. ChargerRaiders Stadium Sponsored By Nationwide (Nationwide: Your Kids Might Be Dying Right Now!).  For this, I apologize.

The second angle, though, is this baffling bit of late-career blasphemy, from Roy Orbison's 1979 foray into disco, "Laminar Flow".

My god, it's unusual.  The man who Elvis once considered one of the greatest threats to his rock n' roll throne, crooning over synth beats and laser-beam sound effects.  It's a historical footnote, but it's part of the story nonetheless.  It's the knowledge that Babe Ruth hit his last six career home runs as a Brave.  It's Frank Beamer retiring, then coming back for one more year to install a HUNH offense at Tulane.  It's Chuck Wepner inspiring Rocky, then ending up sparring bears at the county fair.

But...

...it's also kinda good, isn't it?

Listen to it through and tell me that Daft Punk wouldn't have killed to have his voice on their next album.  Hell, play it for a coworker and tell them it is the new Daft Punk album.  See if they know you're wrong.

Greatness may go out of style, and it may end up unappreciated.  Disco was a stupid fad and a lousy venue for one of the most distinct voices in rock n' roll history to cash in its chips.  (This was his last solo album of original material, though he did have the Traveling Wilburys / "Pretty Woman" career resurgence in the '80s).

You can't cover greatness entirely, though.  The voice is still there.  And I bet you Beamer'd run the HELL out of a spread offense if he wanted to.

No matter your venue today, be great in spite of it.