I've mentioned before that our next-door neighbors are spies. But now its gotten worse.
Over the last couple weeks, they have allegedly started a "real-estate agency" in the duplex-apartment next door. In their garage/office, to be specific.
This wouldn't be so bad, but now we have five cars parked next door, crammed into a space for two cars in the U-shaped driveway. Which we also have to use.
So now we have to compete with being blocked in our own driveway while the young entrepreneurs next door meet and plot their future world real-estate domination.
This was so much easier to deal with when they were just spies.
The Girlfriend first thought these folks might be a challenge when out of nowhere they presented us with a fruit basket for Christmas.
We didn't know them that well. Said "Hi" to them a couple times -- that was about it. And suddenly they said they wanted to thank us for being "such nice neighbors."
Mm-hmmm.
We promptly re-gifted the fruit basket ... because that's what you do with gifts you don't really like, need, want, or plan to use. Right?
Besides, we'd already figured it was probably bugged.
I suggested we give them a couple gift-coffee-cups we had gathering dust here, but The Girlfriend suggested our still-new neighbors weren't "that kind of people."
Just because the cups had The Undertaker from WWE fame on them, I couldn't see why they were inappropriate. What kind of people WERE our neighbors, I wondered?
The woman claimed to be a real-estate agent, though she dressed rather severely -- more like a dominatrix. The guy claimed to be "in security." They were friendly enough for busy, ambitious folks in their mid-to-late 30s. And they did have real-estate signs in the back of their mini-van.
But. They kept very strange hours, always leaving in the middle of the night and showing back up two days later. And they were awfully quiet.
The Girlfriend was the first to suggest they were spies. They were so low-key. Evasive, almost.
When they suddenly started packing up the van and disappearing for a day and a half -- repeatedly, but never at any set time -- I started suggesting they had urgent meetings with Fearless Leader.
We started wondering if they had giant, sensitive electronic ears placed against the adjoining wall of the apartments, listening to my Strange Music-playing sessions on Sunday mornings, or overhearing our tasteless jokes about What Kind of Woman Would Actually Go to Bed With Donald Trump?
I wondered how long it would be before the black helicopters started circling the house....
But now is actually worse. And weirder. After one recent traffic jam in the driveway, The Girlfriend suggested gently to the spies (or whatever) that they might actually be able to fit their five vehicles into the available room if they all pulled straight in rather than just parking every-which-way.
They ignored her.
One of the spies (or whatever) showed during a recent downpour that she can't even back out of the driveway (which is on a hill) without spinning her tires, losing traction, and almost wrecking her van. They continue to park whichever way is quickest and best keeps them out of the rain.
It could be worse. At least they aren't drug dealers. There isn't an endless parade of vehicles swinging through at every hour of the day and night.
And they aren't religious fanatics. They aren't beating a drum and singing "Kum-Bye-Ya" over there.
And if it's a sex ring ... well, they're awfully quiet.
Have I noted that -- except for one -- all their cars are the same ominous dark-gray color?
I figure they're undercover Trump campaign workers, gathering information, trying to keep in touch with the street, seeing what The Common Man really thinks about the new regime.
Good luck with that. I don't think they'll get much feedback. Not with those thick Russian accents....
Showing posts with label silliness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label silliness. Show all posts
Saturday, April 1, 2017
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
The latest rock 'n' roll fake-news
In honor of April Fool's Day:
* The three surviving members of Pink Floyd have decided to reunite for one last album.
Bassist and former leader Roger Waters announced today that the iconic '70s classic-rock band will team up to record ANIMALS 2, a sequel to their angry 1977 faux-punk-rock record ANIMALS.
In a nod to George Orwell's classic satirical novel ANIMAL FARM, the earlier album metaphorically looked at humanity as being composed of Pigs, Dogs and Sheep -- which were also the song-titles on the album. The often-cynical Waters joked that the new album would be a "kinder, gentler" look at mankind -- and said proposed song-titles include "Cowsies," "Horsies" and "Kitties."
Waters also promised the new album would feature more "killer" Dave Gilmour guitar solos. Classic-rock-radio programmers immediately took notice.
The new album will mark the first time the three remaining members of Pink Floyd have recorded together since 1982's downbeat THE FINAL CUT, an album Waters admitted they'd all really rather forget about -- even though he wrote almost all of it.
* A noted music-producer admitted this week that all current pop music is "faked" by a small group of singers and musicians at a single New York City recording studio.
"Adele, Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga -- it's all the same people," claimed producer Eric "Bad Boy" Baddeley in an interview with the current-music website MEANINGLESS. "There's a reason it all sounds the same -- DUH!"
* Sir Paul McCartney has finally admitted that talented-but-tragic early-'70s British pop band Badfinger was really the Beatles in disguise.
"We just wanted to see if we could make the magic happen again," McCartney told DATED magazine. "We'd been taking ourselves too seriously, 'ya know. We just wanted to have some laughs -- get that old rock-and-roll feeling back again."
But McCartney said the public called the band's bluff -- Badfinger's singles were so popular, a band of that name had to be put on the road, and that's when the project spun out of control.
Music-biz pros liked the "band," too -- '70s singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson had a Number One, Grammy-award-winning hit with Badfinger's song "Without You," allegedly written by band "members" Pete Ham and Tom Evans.
McCartney said the song was actually written by John Lennon.
"Yeah, that was about a bust-up he had with Yoko," the Beatles bassist said. "But John thought it was a little too slushy and sentimental, too melodramatic 'ya know, so he didn't want to put it on one of his solo albums. I dunno -- I woulda sung it. I've always liked slushy, sentimental melodrama."
* Beatles drummer Ringo Starr has admitted the REAL Paul McCartney died in 1966 -- just like conspiracy theorists thought at the end of the '60s.
"We really WERE trying to send messages on those later Beatles albums," Ringo said in an interview with the webzine PAST IT. "We were all in shock. We didn't know how to handle it."
Ringo confirmed that all the "Paul is Dead" "hints" on late-'60s Beatles albums were planted there by the surviving band members -- on purpose.
"That line in 'A Day in the Life' -- 'He blew his mind out in a car,' that's EXACTLY what happened," the all-star drummer said. "We just thought we were on God's biggest roll -- and then THAT happened. There's no way to recover."
The Fab Three ended up hiring a dark-haired, left-handed bass-player who could sing a little -- and that lookalike has been "playing" Paul ever since, Ringo claims.
"Even his wife Linda never knew he wasn't REALLY Paul," Ringo said.
* Sammy Hagar has suggested touring again with Van Halen -- with David Lee Roth along as a dual lead-vocalist.
Lawyers involved in the matter said the explosive line-up will never take the stage -- mainly because Hagar and Roth have already started arguing behind the scenes about who will be allowed to hog the spotlight the most.
Asked for comment, whiz guitarist Eddie Van Halen merely rolled his eyes heaven-ward and suggested that maybe his ex-wife Valerie Bertinelli would be willing to step in as lead singer.
Bertinelli couldn't be reached for comment, as she was busy touring with Heart.
* The three surviving members of Pink Floyd have decided to reunite for one last album.
Bassist and former leader Roger Waters announced today that the iconic '70s classic-rock band will team up to record ANIMALS 2, a sequel to their angry 1977 faux-punk-rock record ANIMALS.
In a nod to George Orwell's classic satirical novel ANIMAL FARM, the earlier album metaphorically looked at humanity as being composed of Pigs, Dogs and Sheep -- which were also the song-titles on the album. The often-cynical Waters joked that the new album would be a "kinder, gentler" look at mankind -- and said proposed song-titles include "Cowsies," "Horsies" and "Kitties."
Waters also promised the new album would feature more "killer" Dave Gilmour guitar solos. Classic-rock-radio programmers immediately took notice.
The new album will mark the first time the three remaining members of Pink Floyd have recorded together since 1982's downbeat THE FINAL CUT, an album Waters admitted they'd all really rather forget about -- even though he wrote almost all of it.
* A noted music-producer admitted this week that all current pop music is "faked" by a small group of singers and musicians at a single New York City recording studio.
"Adele, Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga -- it's all the same people," claimed producer Eric "Bad Boy" Baddeley in an interview with the current-music website MEANINGLESS. "There's a reason it all sounds the same -- DUH!"
* Sir Paul McCartney has finally admitted that talented-but-tragic early-'70s British pop band Badfinger was really the Beatles in disguise.
"We just wanted to see if we could make the magic happen again," McCartney told DATED magazine. "We'd been taking ourselves too seriously, 'ya know. We just wanted to have some laughs -- get that old rock-and-roll feeling back again."
But McCartney said the public called the band's bluff -- Badfinger's singles were so popular, a band of that name had to be put on the road, and that's when the project spun out of control.
Music-biz pros liked the "band," too -- '70s singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson had a Number One, Grammy-award-winning hit with Badfinger's song "Without You," allegedly written by band "members" Pete Ham and Tom Evans.
McCartney said the song was actually written by John Lennon.
"Yeah, that was about a bust-up he had with Yoko," the Beatles bassist said. "But John thought it was a little too slushy and sentimental, too melodramatic 'ya know, so he didn't want to put it on one of his solo albums. I dunno -- I woulda sung it. I've always liked slushy, sentimental melodrama."
* Beatles drummer Ringo Starr has admitted the REAL Paul McCartney died in 1966 -- just like conspiracy theorists thought at the end of the '60s.
"We really WERE trying to send messages on those later Beatles albums," Ringo said in an interview with the webzine PAST IT. "We were all in shock. We didn't know how to handle it."
Ringo confirmed that all the "Paul is Dead" "hints" on late-'60s Beatles albums were planted there by the surviving band members -- on purpose.
"That line in 'A Day in the Life' -- 'He blew his mind out in a car,' that's EXACTLY what happened," the all-star drummer said. "We just thought we were on God's biggest roll -- and then THAT happened. There's no way to recover."
The Fab Three ended up hiring a dark-haired, left-handed bass-player who could sing a little -- and that lookalike has been "playing" Paul ever since, Ringo claims.
"Even his wife Linda never knew he wasn't REALLY Paul," Ringo said.
* Sammy Hagar has suggested touring again with Van Halen -- with David Lee Roth along as a dual lead-vocalist.
Lawyers involved in the matter said the explosive line-up will never take the stage -- mainly because Hagar and Roth have already started arguing behind the scenes about who will be allowed to hog the spotlight the most.
Asked for comment, whiz guitarist Eddie Van Halen merely rolled his eyes heaven-ward and suggested that maybe his ex-wife Valerie Bertinelli would be willing to step in as lead singer.
Bertinelli couldn't be reached for comment, as she was busy touring with Heart.
Monday, February 27, 2017
The Music Nazi!
I've hammered on Seattle-area radio for being lame before, but listening on a dull Saturday night at work this past weekend made me wonder if it isn't time to renew the attack.
You'd think in a market with three million potential listeners there'd be something for everyone, but....
During two hours of listening Saturday evening (when you'd think local stations would be playing their A-list stuff) and another hour on Sunday, half a dozen non-scientifically selected Seattle stations played an appalling list of hackwork, some of which -- if I ever become Donald Trump -- will Never Be Played On Radio Again, by Executive Order.
There WAS some good stuff, which will be marked by a * below. But even the good songs were selections you've heard 10 million times before. What does this say about most of the public, if the music they apparently want to hear is such thin garbage?
The entire sorry list follows. Join with me in gasps of horror.
Michael Jackson -- *Beat It (twice), Billie Jean (twice), Man in the Mirror, The Way You Make Me Feel (twice), Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough, Bad, Smooth Criminal. MJ gets more air-time now than he did when he was alive.
Wham! -- Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go. (Can't wait for the George Michael Nostalgia Revival....)
Madonna -- Material Girl (twice), Into the Groove, Like a Prayer (last couple minutes are pretty great).
Dire Straits -- Sultans of Swing, Money for Nothing.
Journey -- Separate Ways, *Lights, Don't Stop Believin', Open Arms, Patiently.
AC/DC -- You Shook Me All Night Long, *Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.
Van Halen -- You Really Got Me, Jamie's Cryin', Jump (I used to almost like this, once).
Guns 'N' Roses -- Welcome to the Jungle.
Frankie Goes to Hollywood -- Relax.
Rod Stewart -- Forever Young.
Eric Clapton -- *Bell Bottom Blues.
Billy Idol -- Rebel Yell, Dancing With Myself (twice).
Jimi Hendrix -- *All Along the Watchtower.
Pink Floyd -- Money, Another Brick in the Wall Part 2.
Goo Goo Dolls -- *Iris.
Toni Basil -- Mickey.
John Cougar Mellencamp -- Jack and Diane (twice).
Led Zeppelin -- Whole Lotta Love (great comedy), *Stairway to Heaven. (Still love the guitar meltdown at the end.)
No Doubt -- It's My Life.
Tom Petty -- I Won't Back Down.
Metallica -- *Nothing Else Matters (twice).
Eddie Money -- Take Me Home Tonight. Ronnie Spector's great, but....
Chicago -- You're the Inspiration.
Prince -- *1999 (twice).
Bangles -- *Manic Monday.
Stevie Nicks -- Leather and Lace.
Steve Miller -- Rock 'n' Me, Take the Money and Run.
Billy Joel -- Uptown Girl, It's Still Rock and Roll to Me.
Talking Heads -- Once in a Lifetime.
Queen with David Bowie -- *Under Pressure (twice).
Grateful Dead -- Touch of Gray. Still not sure how much I like this one....
Modern English -- *I Melt With You. This is a bigger hit now than it was in 1983....
Police -- Every Breath You Take (twice).
Aerosmith -- *Dude Looks Like a Lady (twice).
Loverboy -- Working for the Weekend.
Queen -- Another One Bites the Dust, Bohemian Rhapsody (for me, this was pretty much dead by 1977).
Kenny Loggins -- Danger Zone, Footloose.
War -- Why Can't We be Friends? (I admit this is more charming now than it was back in the day....)
Toto -- *Africa.
Soundgarden -- Black Hole Sun (twice within 15 minutes).
Phil Collins -- In the Air Tonight (this is a bigger hit now than it was in 1981).
Madness -- *Our House.
The Who -- *Won't Get Fooled Again, *Bargain, *Love Reign O'er Me, *Baba O'Riley.
Mr. Mister -- Broken Wings.
Steve Winwood -- Higher Love.
Pat Benatar -- Hit Me With Your Best Shot (twice).
Rush -- The Spirit of Radio, *Freewill.
Whitney Houston -- I Want to Dance With Somebody. (For me, the best thing she ever did.)
Sheryl Crow -- *Every Day is a Winding Road.
David Bowie -- Let's Dance, *Space Oddity.
Tracy Chapman -- Fast Car (twice).
Foreigner -- I Want to Know What Love Is.
REO -- Can't Fight This Feeling (twice).
A-Ha -- Take on Me (three times).
Adele -- Rolling in the Deep.
Hall and Oates -- Maneater, Sara Smile.
Soft Cell -- Tainted Love.
ZZ Top -- Sharp Dressed Man.
REM -- Losing My Religion.
Rick Springfield -- Jessie's Girl.
Should note that this wasn't a "scientific" study. I tuned-in one station aimed at 13-to-30-year-olds, one alleged "oldies" station (KJR FM, who were great when I was 12 years old and whose limited, repetitive playlist REALLY sucks now), "Seattle's only classic-rock station," two others aimed at adults, and one of those "We play what we want" stations. And the playlists weren't that different. Clearly.
Even counting the good stuff, I think what this list shows is that we as listeners are suckers for gloppy love songs, gimmicky/catchy/stupid stuff, and loud guitars that mean nothing. Oh, and repetition.
It could have been worse. There's no Eagles here, no "Smoke on the Water," no "Sweet Home Alabama," no "Hotel California." But "Stairway" still snuck in there. It wouldn't have been the weekend without "Stairway."
If this is what radio stations and advertisers think we want to hear so we won't change channels, we should demand better. It's sad that we settle for so little variety.
If radio stations could play one NEW song not on their playlist -- or one overlooked classic -- EACH DAY, radio would be so much better. And we as listeners would be happier. We might even hear something new that we liked....
You'd think in a market with three million potential listeners there'd be something for everyone, but....
During two hours of listening Saturday evening (when you'd think local stations would be playing their A-list stuff) and another hour on Sunday, half a dozen non-scientifically selected Seattle stations played an appalling list of hackwork, some of which -- if I ever become Donald Trump -- will Never Be Played On Radio Again, by Executive Order.
There WAS some good stuff, which will be marked by a * below. But even the good songs were selections you've heard 10 million times before. What does this say about most of the public, if the music they apparently want to hear is such thin garbage?
The entire sorry list follows. Join with me in gasps of horror.
Michael Jackson -- *Beat It (twice), Billie Jean (twice), Man in the Mirror, The Way You Make Me Feel (twice), Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough, Bad, Smooth Criminal. MJ gets more air-time now than he did when he was alive.
Wham! -- Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go. (Can't wait for the George Michael Nostalgia Revival....)
Madonna -- Material Girl (twice), Into the Groove, Like a Prayer (last couple minutes are pretty great).
Dire Straits -- Sultans of Swing, Money for Nothing.
Journey -- Separate Ways, *Lights, Don't Stop Believin', Open Arms, Patiently.
AC/DC -- You Shook Me All Night Long, *Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.
Van Halen -- You Really Got Me, Jamie's Cryin', Jump (I used to almost like this, once).
Guns 'N' Roses -- Welcome to the Jungle.
Frankie Goes to Hollywood -- Relax.
Rod Stewart -- Forever Young.
Eric Clapton -- *Bell Bottom Blues.
Billy Idol -- Rebel Yell, Dancing With Myself (twice).
Jimi Hendrix -- *All Along the Watchtower.
Pink Floyd -- Money, Another Brick in the Wall Part 2.
Goo Goo Dolls -- *Iris.
Toni Basil -- Mickey.
John Cougar Mellencamp -- Jack and Diane (twice).
Led Zeppelin -- Whole Lotta Love (great comedy), *Stairway to Heaven. (Still love the guitar meltdown at the end.)
No Doubt -- It's My Life.
Tom Petty -- I Won't Back Down.
Metallica -- *Nothing Else Matters (twice).
Eddie Money -- Take Me Home Tonight. Ronnie Spector's great, but....
Chicago -- You're the Inspiration.
Prince -- *1999 (twice).
Bangles -- *Manic Monday.
Stevie Nicks -- Leather and Lace.
Steve Miller -- Rock 'n' Me, Take the Money and Run.
Billy Joel -- Uptown Girl, It's Still Rock and Roll to Me.
Talking Heads -- Once in a Lifetime.
Queen with David Bowie -- *Under Pressure (twice).
Grateful Dead -- Touch of Gray. Still not sure how much I like this one....
Modern English -- *I Melt With You. This is a bigger hit now than it was in 1983....
Police -- Every Breath You Take (twice).
Aerosmith -- *Dude Looks Like a Lady (twice).
Loverboy -- Working for the Weekend.
Queen -- Another One Bites the Dust, Bohemian Rhapsody (for me, this was pretty much dead by 1977).
Kenny Loggins -- Danger Zone, Footloose.
War -- Why Can't We be Friends? (I admit this is more charming now than it was back in the day....)
Toto -- *Africa.
Soundgarden -- Black Hole Sun (twice within 15 minutes).
Phil Collins -- In the Air Tonight (this is a bigger hit now than it was in 1981).
Madness -- *Our House.
The Who -- *Won't Get Fooled Again, *Bargain, *Love Reign O'er Me, *Baba O'Riley.
Mr. Mister -- Broken Wings.
Steve Winwood -- Higher Love.
Pat Benatar -- Hit Me With Your Best Shot (twice).
Rush -- The Spirit of Radio, *Freewill.
Whitney Houston -- I Want to Dance With Somebody. (For me, the best thing she ever did.)
Sheryl Crow -- *Every Day is a Winding Road.
David Bowie -- Let's Dance, *Space Oddity.
Tracy Chapman -- Fast Car (twice).
Foreigner -- I Want to Know What Love Is.
REO -- Can't Fight This Feeling (twice).
A-Ha -- Take on Me (three times).
Adele -- Rolling in the Deep.
Hall and Oates -- Maneater, Sara Smile.
Soft Cell -- Tainted Love.
ZZ Top -- Sharp Dressed Man.
REM -- Losing My Religion.
Rick Springfield -- Jessie's Girl.
Should note that this wasn't a "scientific" study. I tuned-in one station aimed at 13-to-30-year-olds, one alleged "oldies" station (KJR FM, who were great when I was 12 years old and whose limited, repetitive playlist REALLY sucks now), "Seattle's only classic-rock station," two others aimed at adults, and one of those "We play what we want" stations. And the playlists weren't that different. Clearly.
Even counting the good stuff, I think what this list shows is that we as listeners are suckers for gloppy love songs, gimmicky/catchy/stupid stuff, and loud guitars that mean nothing. Oh, and repetition.
It could have been worse. There's no Eagles here, no "Smoke on the Water," no "Sweet Home Alabama," no "Hotel California." But "Stairway" still snuck in there. It wouldn't have been the weekend without "Stairway."
If this is what radio stations and advertisers think we want to hear so we won't change channels, we should demand better. It's sad that we settle for so little variety.
If radio stations could play one NEW song not on their playlist -- or one overlooked classic -- EACH DAY, radio would be so much better. And we as listeners would be happier. We might even hear something new that we liked....
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
More dreams
I had another dream last night, this one much shorter. And it was actually music-related.
I dreamed I was interviewing Whitney Houston. A pretty good trick, since she's been dead for five years.
But Whitney didn't let that little problem get in her way. She was lookin' fine and keepin' it real, and the interview proceeded without pausing for any decomposition issues:
Q: Whitney, a lot of people think you had the most beautiful voice in pop music history.
A: Well, thank you. It was nothing, really. I was blessed.
Q: But a lot of people also think you wasted that voice on a lot of really awful material....
A: ...Well, I wouldn't say that Dolly Parton's "I'll Always Love You" was awful material....
Q: Yes, but a lot of people thought you howled like a dog in that song.
A: ...WELL! ....
The dream fell apart and I woke up at that point, but I decided that dream could easily wait until the next day to be posted here. And then I went right back to sleep.
More travel over the Valentine's Day weekend in the continuing mission to collect Strange Music in order to get That Book written. Among the items purchased at Tacoma's HI-VOLTAGE RECORDS and Port Townsend's QUIMPER SOUND include The Incredible String Band's RELICS best-of and LIQUID ACROBAT AS REGARDS THE AIR, Michael Hoenig's DEPARTURE FROM THE NORTHERN WASTELAND, Nektar's REMEMBER THE FUTURE, Enid's AERIE FAERIE NONSENSE (great title) and TOUCH ME, McKendree Spring's SPRING SUITE, Oregon's WINTER LIGHT and FRIENDS, Vangelis's SPIRAL, Argent's ALL TOGETHER NOW, Ambrosia's first, Chris Squire's FISH OUT OF WATER, Van der Graaf Generator's REFLECTIONS best-of, Synergy's AUDION ... oh, and Blue Oyster Cult's SPECTRES, The Who's QUADROPHENIA, and The Shoes' TONGUE TWISTER. Not sure how those last three snuck in there, but anyway.
I haven't heard most of these before, and reports on them will be posted here soon.
I continue to be impressed by HI-VOLTAGE's vast selection of vinyl. They've got lotsa good CD's, too. The atmosphere's wonderful and the people are nice. All music sounds better played on their store sound-system. But bring your wallet, and make sure your bank account can survive a visit. They also have a website: hivoltagerecords.com.
QUIMPER SOUND has some charm with its underground in-a-cave location, and the owner is friendly and talkative. Most of the prices are quite reasonable, and he gave me a great deal on the two ISB albums, which hadn't been priced yet.
The store also has a TON of $1 albums I'd like to dig through, but it could take DAYS. The owner said he tossed a couple of Richard Thompson albums in with the cheapies awhile back to see if people were awake -- and they were gone the first day. So, someday when I have lots of time to waste....
QUIMPER SOUND is also co-sponsoring the 2nd Annual Port Townsend Record Show, set for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 4 at the PT American Legion Hall, 209 Monroe St. Parking and admission are free. QS's owner said they're expecting nearly three-dozen record-dealers, some from as far away as Portland, Ore. More info's available here. I'm planning to attend early, even though it's a work day for me. The owner said last year's session was a blast. Sounds like a good time to me....
Also made a return trip to PT's WILLIAM JAMES BOOKS, a great little hole-in-the-wall used bookstore in Port Townsend's historic downtown district, that The Girlfriend and I hadn't been in since last summer. Back then, I was impressed with their huge music-related and science-fiction sections, but those have apparently shrunk over the last few months ... or maybe they sold a lot of stuff during the tourist season. Anyway, brought home a copy of Mark Lewisohn's THE BEATLES' RECORDING SESSIONS, so it was worth the trip.
My thanks to all these merchants for keeping their prices fairly reasonable for those of us on working-poor incomes....
...Do you think Port Townsend might be willing to change its name to "Pete Townshend" if he were to visit and maybe put on a show...?
I dreamed I was interviewing Whitney Houston. A pretty good trick, since she's been dead for five years.
But Whitney didn't let that little problem get in her way. She was lookin' fine and keepin' it real, and the interview proceeded without pausing for any decomposition issues:
Q: Whitney, a lot of people think you had the most beautiful voice in pop music history.
A: Well, thank you. It was nothing, really. I was blessed.
Q: But a lot of people also think you wasted that voice on a lot of really awful material....
A: ...Well, I wouldn't say that Dolly Parton's "I'll Always Love You" was awful material....
Q: Yes, but a lot of people thought you howled like a dog in that song.
A: ...WELL! ....
The dream fell apart and I woke up at that point, but I decided that dream could easily wait until the next day to be posted here. And then I went right back to sleep.
More travel over the Valentine's Day weekend in the continuing mission to collect Strange Music in order to get That Book written. Among the items purchased at Tacoma's HI-VOLTAGE RECORDS and Port Townsend's QUIMPER SOUND include The Incredible String Band's RELICS best-of and LIQUID ACROBAT AS REGARDS THE AIR, Michael Hoenig's DEPARTURE FROM THE NORTHERN WASTELAND, Nektar's REMEMBER THE FUTURE, Enid's AERIE FAERIE NONSENSE (great title) and TOUCH ME, McKendree Spring's SPRING SUITE, Oregon's WINTER LIGHT and FRIENDS, Vangelis's SPIRAL, Argent's ALL TOGETHER NOW, Ambrosia's first, Chris Squire's FISH OUT OF WATER, Van der Graaf Generator's REFLECTIONS best-of, Synergy's AUDION ... oh, and Blue Oyster Cult's SPECTRES, The Who's QUADROPHENIA, and The Shoes' TONGUE TWISTER. Not sure how those last three snuck in there, but anyway.
I haven't heard most of these before, and reports on them will be posted here soon.
I continue to be impressed by HI-VOLTAGE's vast selection of vinyl. They've got lotsa good CD's, too. The atmosphere's wonderful and the people are nice. All music sounds better played on their store sound-system. But bring your wallet, and make sure your bank account can survive a visit. They also have a website: hivoltagerecords.com.
QUIMPER SOUND has some charm with its underground in-a-cave location, and the owner is friendly and talkative. Most of the prices are quite reasonable, and he gave me a great deal on the two ISB albums, which hadn't been priced yet.
The store also has a TON of $1 albums I'd like to dig through, but it could take DAYS. The owner said he tossed a couple of Richard Thompson albums in with the cheapies awhile back to see if people were awake -- and they were gone the first day. So, someday when I have lots of time to waste....
QUIMPER SOUND is also co-sponsoring the 2nd Annual Port Townsend Record Show, set for 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 4 at the PT American Legion Hall, 209 Monroe St. Parking and admission are free. QS's owner said they're expecting nearly three-dozen record-dealers, some from as far away as Portland, Ore. More info's available here. I'm planning to attend early, even though it's a work day for me. The owner said last year's session was a blast. Sounds like a good time to me....
Also made a return trip to PT's WILLIAM JAMES BOOKS, a great little hole-in-the-wall used bookstore in Port Townsend's historic downtown district, that The Girlfriend and I hadn't been in since last summer. Back then, I was impressed with their huge music-related and science-fiction sections, but those have apparently shrunk over the last few months ... or maybe they sold a lot of stuff during the tourist season. Anyway, brought home a copy of Mark Lewisohn's THE BEATLES' RECORDING SESSIONS, so it was worth the trip.
My thanks to all these merchants for keeping their prices fairly reasonable for those of us on working-poor incomes....
...Do you think Port Townsend might be willing to change its name to "Pete Townshend" if he were to visit and maybe put on a show...?
Sunday, June 12, 2016
Rock comedy classics
As we all know from our many intense readings and re-readings of Dave Marsh's landmark study THE HEART OF ROCK AND SOUL, all of the greatest rock and roll songs are actually about sex.
All of them. We KNOW this.
And yet, some aren't about sex. Some are about ... other things.
Here's a few examples:
* Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Bad Moon Rising" appears to be about the end of the world. In reality, it's about how CCR's leader John Fogerty couldn't find a bathroom when he needed one badly during an endless Creedence one-nighter in Lodi. But a fan finally got him pointed in the right direction: Note the repeated lines at the end of the choruses -- "There's a bathroom on the right." And as we all know, sometimes not being able to find a bathroom can FEEL like the end of the world....
* Electric Light Orchestra's "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" is actually about the U.S.-government-forced breakup of AT&T's nationwide phone network in the mid-1970s. ELO's captain Jeff Lynne was disgruntled because the breakup added complications to his trans-continental phonecalls searching for more string-players for the band. Marc Bolan of T. Rex allegedly plays the stark, jagged lead guitar on this track. Bolan had his own issues with phones, AT&T's breakup making it harder for the Boppin' Elf to keep in touch with his girlfriend in New York City. That the long-ago phone-system breakup is still a controversial topic is proven by how seldom you hear this rocker on classic-rock radio.
* Paul Simon's "You Can Call Me Al" appears to be about how a lonely man found friendship and wonder and new meanings in life by immersing himself in a totally new, wondrous, completely alien culture. But it's really about how nobody in South Africa could pronounce Paul's name right, so he asked them to call him Al just to keep it short and friendly. (Sorry about that "short" crack, Paul.)
* George Michael's "Faith" appears to be about holding on until True Love comes along. But in truth it's a heavily autobiographical piece about George's younger days, during which at one point he was attracted to a cute blonde next-door-neighbor girl named Faith. "Gotta have Faith, Faith, Faith, baby!"
* Bob Seger's "Feel Like a Number" seems to be a desperate rocker about a guy who's sick and tired of being ground-down by The System. But it's actually about how Bob couldn't find a joint when he really wanted one during a tough night performing at Detroit's Cobo Hall. (Did you know Bob's '60s band was called The System? Really.)
* Little Richard's "Tutti Fruitti" is actually about how Little Richard Penniman couldn't get the flavor of ice cream he wanted in a Southern small-town ice cream shop back in the early '50s. You can hear the frustration breaking loose in his voice as he finally permits himself to talk about it.
* Supertramp's "Breakfast in America" is about how the frustrated, globetrotting guys in the band couldn't make love to the Statue Of Liberty -- a woman big enough to take them all on at once. Don't believe me? Check out the heavily-coded lyric sheet. ...Oh, wow, guess this IS a song about sex after all.
* Bob Dylan's "One of Us Must Know" is about Bahb's many emotionally-fraught Relationship discussions with Joan Baez back in the '60s. Just ask either of them. But make sure you've got a few hours to spare for just listening....
* Spirit's "1984." Well, this has all come true now, hasn't it?
* The Monkees' "Tapioca Tundra." I have no IDEA what the HELL this song is about. Great guitar and vocal by Mike Nesmith, though. I feel much the same way about The Monks' "Your Auntie Grizelda," "Gonna Buy Me a Dog," "The Porpoise Song," "Daily Nightly," "Randy Scouse Git," "No Time," and some of their other absolutely classic album tracks.
More revealing studies in this area coming soon, he threatened....
All of them. We KNOW this.
And yet, some aren't about sex. Some are about ... other things.
Here's a few examples:
* Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Bad Moon Rising" appears to be about the end of the world. In reality, it's about how CCR's leader John Fogerty couldn't find a bathroom when he needed one badly during an endless Creedence one-nighter in Lodi. But a fan finally got him pointed in the right direction: Note the repeated lines at the end of the choruses -- "There's a bathroom on the right." And as we all know, sometimes not being able to find a bathroom can FEEL like the end of the world....
* Electric Light Orchestra's "Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" is actually about the U.S.-government-forced breakup of AT&T's nationwide phone network in the mid-1970s. ELO's captain Jeff Lynne was disgruntled because the breakup added complications to his trans-continental phonecalls searching for more string-players for the band. Marc Bolan of T. Rex allegedly plays the stark, jagged lead guitar on this track. Bolan had his own issues with phones, AT&T's breakup making it harder for the Boppin' Elf to keep in touch with his girlfriend in New York City. That the long-ago phone-system breakup is still a controversial topic is proven by how seldom you hear this rocker on classic-rock radio.
* Paul Simon's "You Can Call Me Al" appears to be about how a lonely man found friendship and wonder and new meanings in life by immersing himself in a totally new, wondrous, completely alien culture. But it's really about how nobody in South Africa could pronounce Paul's name right, so he asked them to call him Al just to keep it short and friendly. (Sorry about that "short" crack, Paul.)
* George Michael's "Faith" appears to be about holding on until True Love comes along. But in truth it's a heavily autobiographical piece about George's younger days, during which at one point he was attracted to a cute blonde next-door-neighbor girl named Faith. "Gotta have Faith, Faith, Faith, baby!"
* Bob Seger's "Feel Like a Number" seems to be a desperate rocker about a guy who's sick and tired of being ground-down by The System. But it's actually about how Bob couldn't find a joint when he really wanted one during a tough night performing at Detroit's Cobo Hall. (Did you know Bob's '60s band was called The System? Really.)
* Little Richard's "Tutti Fruitti" is actually about how Little Richard Penniman couldn't get the flavor of ice cream he wanted in a Southern small-town ice cream shop back in the early '50s. You can hear the frustration breaking loose in his voice as he finally permits himself to talk about it.
* Supertramp's "Breakfast in America" is about how the frustrated, globetrotting guys in the band couldn't make love to the Statue Of Liberty -- a woman big enough to take them all on at once. Don't believe me? Check out the heavily-coded lyric sheet. ...Oh, wow, guess this IS a song about sex after all.
* Bob Dylan's "One of Us Must Know" is about Bahb's many emotionally-fraught Relationship discussions with Joan Baez back in the '60s. Just ask either of them. But make sure you've got a few hours to spare for just listening....
* Spirit's "1984." Well, this has all come true now, hasn't it?
* The Monkees' "Tapioca Tundra." I have no IDEA what the HELL this song is about. Great guitar and vocal by Mike Nesmith, though. I feel much the same way about The Monks' "Your Auntie Grizelda," "Gonna Buy Me a Dog," "The Porpoise Song," "Daily Nightly," "Randy Scouse Git," "No Time," and some of their other absolutely classic album tracks.
More revealing studies in this area coming soon, he threatened....
Monday, April 14, 2014
#742: Part of the chorus
Because I can't play a musical instrument, maybe I hear things differently than some music bloggers out there (Crabby, the late lamented Groove Sandwich, etc). Maybe it just means I'm ignorant when it comes to writing about music.
I tried to learn how to play guitar and drums when I was a kid, but I didn't have the discipline to stick with either. I gave up without even trying to learn the piano. I just wanted to make some noise.
So I riff on a computer keyboard instead. My kids were born with all the natural musical talent, and I'll bet they hear things differently than I do, too. When it comes to musical ability, I have a tough time getting the CD player turned on correctly, sometimes. I like to think I've gained SOME discipline with my writing, but that took years, too.
In that autobiographical rock group novel I tried to write, I had myself playing bass because I thought it would be unobtrusive -- because I could hardly ever hear it, or at least never noticed it. But I've since learned that the bass is supposedly one of the hardest rock instruments to master. I'm sure any instrument that requires rhythm would mean I'd be starting from two steps back.
That's why that rock group novel will be FICTION, if it ever gets done.
Though I've been known to play air-guitar and air-drums and even air-keyboards if I've got some good music playing while I'm working, I think the most I could ever hope for in Reality would be to become a backing vocalist -- part of the chorus. I think I blend in OK, vocally. I'd never want to be a lead singer -- I don't actually think I can carry a tune with a fleet of wheelbarrows, and besides I have ZERO charisma. But I think I blend OK, and I enjoy vocal blends more than a lot of other aspects of music. Something about a bunch of people's voices blending together....
I find the vocal blends that attract me in a lot of the music I grew up on -- from Kansas's "Miracles Out of Nowhere" to Yes's "Your Move" and "Wonderous Stories," from Caravan's "Memory Lain" and "Surprise, Surprise" and "All the Way" to just about anything by the Moody Blues. Or the almost-surreal vocal blends of the middle-period Beach Boys. The Beatles, of course. Even the Turtles and (Ghod!) the Association and (yeezus) even the Fifth Dimension sound pretty great to me, vocally.
The Association's "Everything That Touches You" is sort of a little piece of heaven for me, no matter how uncool it might be. The Turtles' "Sound Asleep" and "We'll Meet Again" and "Lady-O" and "She's My Girl" are all, like, vocal masterworks. And Fifth Dimension's "Carpet Man" soars vocally, no matter how "straight" it might sound these days. To be part of an ensemble like that would be ... pretty cool, I think.
Course I'd want some killer guitar and some dynamite keyboards to go with it, too.
I thought Crosby/Stills/Nash/Young had a pretty good handle on this kind of stuff for awhile -- with stuff like "Deja Vu" and "Carry On" and "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" and "Wooden Ships." But they wore it out pretty quick. The Byrds were masters of this kind of stuff, too -- the vocal blend and the musical muscle. The Temptations -- I've come to learn as I get older -- were masters of group vocals and dynamic instrumentals ... course, they had a ton of Motown producers pulling it together for them. Jefferson Airplane/Starship was always real good for great group vocals and solid instrumentation: "Good Shepherd," "All Nite Long," "Save Your Love," anything on FREEDOM AT POINT ZERO.
And Phil Spector, of course. He could make anybody sound like the Hallelujah Chorus. I'm sure my weakness for Spector is why I'm also a sucker for Bruce Springsteen's earlier, more epic "teen-opera"-style stuff ("Born to Run," "Rosalita," etc).
Just woolgathering here. Hell, I don't REALLY know how badly I sing. And I'm not sure I WANT to know. I've never even done karaoke. But whenever I dream about being on-stage, it's always off to the side, with the backup singers. Where the lights aren't quite so bright.
Anybody know any bands who could STAND me auditioning for them? Not as a soloist. As a blend. In a vocal GROUP, man. In a group.
I tried to learn how to play guitar and drums when I was a kid, but I didn't have the discipline to stick with either. I gave up without even trying to learn the piano. I just wanted to make some noise.
So I riff on a computer keyboard instead. My kids were born with all the natural musical talent, and I'll bet they hear things differently than I do, too. When it comes to musical ability, I have a tough time getting the CD player turned on correctly, sometimes. I like to think I've gained SOME discipline with my writing, but that took years, too.
In that autobiographical rock group novel I tried to write, I had myself playing bass because I thought it would be unobtrusive -- because I could hardly ever hear it, or at least never noticed it. But I've since learned that the bass is supposedly one of the hardest rock instruments to master. I'm sure any instrument that requires rhythm would mean I'd be starting from two steps back.
That's why that rock group novel will be FICTION, if it ever gets done.
Though I've been known to play air-guitar and air-drums and even air-keyboards if I've got some good music playing while I'm working, I think the most I could ever hope for in Reality would be to become a backing vocalist -- part of the chorus. I think I blend in OK, vocally. I'd never want to be a lead singer -- I don't actually think I can carry a tune with a fleet of wheelbarrows, and besides I have ZERO charisma. But I think I blend OK, and I enjoy vocal blends more than a lot of other aspects of music. Something about a bunch of people's voices blending together....
I find the vocal blends that attract me in a lot of the music I grew up on -- from Kansas's "Miracles Out of Nowhere" to Yes's "Your Move" and "Wonderous Stories," from Caravan's "Memory Lain" and "Surprise, Surprise" and "All the Way" to just about anything by the Moody Blues. Or the almost-surreal vocal blends of the middle-period Beach Boys. The Beatles, of course. Even the Turtles and (Ghod!) the Association and (yeezus) even the Fifth Dimension sound pretty great to me, vocally.
The Association's "Everything That Touches You" is sort of a little piece of heaven for me, no matter how uncool it might be. The Turtles' "Sound Asleep" and "We'll Meet Again" and "Lady-O" and "She's My Girl" are all, like, vocal masterworks. And Fifth Dimension's "Carpet Man" soars vocally, no matter how "straight" it might sound these days. To be part of an ensemble like that would be ... pretty cool, I think.
Course I'd want some killer guitar and some dynamite keyboards to go with it, too.
I thought Crosby/Stills/Nash/Young had a pretty good handle on this kind of stuff for awhile -- with stuff like "Deja Vu" and "Carry On" and "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" and "Wooden Ships." But they wore it out pretty quick. The Byrds were masters of this kind of stuff, too -- the vocal blend and the musical muscle. The Temptations -- I've come to learn as I get older -- were masters of group vocals and dynamic instrumentals ... course, they had a ton of Motown producers pulling it together for them. Jefferson Airplane/Starship was always real good for great group vocals and solid instrumentation: "Good Shepherd," "All Nite Long," "Save Your Love," anything on FREEDOM AT POINT ZERO.
And Phil Spector, of course. He could make anybody sound like the Hallelujah Chorus. I'm sure my weakness for Spector is why I'm also a sucker for Bruce Springsteen's earlier, more epic "teen-opera"-style stuff ("Born to Run," "Rosalita," etc).
Just woolgathering here. Hell, I don't REALLY know how badly I sing. And I'm not sure I WANT to know. I've never even done karaoke. But whenever I dream about being on-stage, it's always off to the side, with the backup singers. Where the lights aren't quite so bright.
Anybody know any bands who could STAND me auditioning for them? Not as a soloist. As a blend. In a vocal GROUP, man. In a group.
Monday, December 16, 2013
#729: Scandalous!
What's news? Depends on where you look. Let's take a brief look at some of today's silliest headlines as the world continues to go crazier....
In the news, President Barack Obama refuses to attend Nelson Mandela's funeral in Mandela's home village in South Africa. During a White House press briefing, Obama said "I dunno ... I never really liked the guy that much anyway...."
In entertainment, Grammy winners Taylor Swift and Adele have agreed to team up on an album of brand-new broken-hearted love songs. The album's due to be completed and released early in the new year. "Might as well just slash your wrists NOW," rock critic says.
In sports, the Seattle Seahawks blow another big game as they lose shamefully to the New Jersey Giants, 63-0 -- a new record in futility for the Seahawks.
At the press conference after the game, cornerback Richard Sherman -- known for his straight-shooting comments to the media -- said about the team's shameful performance: "I dunno ... Maybe we really ARE as lame as everyone says...."
In other sports news, the Seattle Mariners signed yet another unknown ball-player to a multi-year $63-gazillion-dollar contract in another futile effort to bring the team out of perpetual cellar-dweller status. The team's general manager said "We'll sign ANYONE. Money is no object. My checkbook's open. Come on down to Safeco Field and try out...."
In celebrity gossip, Kanye West has offered to pay $5 million for his wedding to Kim Kardashian -- and Kim STILL isn't happy.
"It's not about the MONEY," Kim told the tabloids. "It's just that ... Kanye can be SUCH an asshole...."
In local traffic: According to a new study, the Seattle area continues to have the WORST traffic backups in the country, with some survey respondents reportedly being born, growing old and dying while waiting on I-405 to get from Renton to Bellevue....
In business news, Boeing officials admit that they are looking at moving production of the new 777-XXX "Dreamsleeper" airplane to South Carolina, where costs are lower, salaries are cheaper, and each plane can be built at a shockingly low overall cost to Boeing of just 29 CENTS.
"Sure, they can build it there cheap," said one Boeing machinist. "But let's see how long they can keep it UP...."
He apparently spoke for thousands of machinists, who have been asking the same question about Boeing's CEO....
More coming soon, unfortunately....
In the news, President Barack Obama refuses to attend Nelson Mandela's funeral in Mandela's home village in South Africa. During a White House press briefing, Obama said "I dunno ... I never really liked the guy that much anyway...."
In entertainment, Grammy winners Taylor Swift and Adele have agreed to team up on an album of brand-new broken-hearted love songs. The album's due to be completed and released early in the new year. "Might as well just slash your wrists NOW," rock critic says.
In sports, the Seattle Seahawks blow another big game as they lose shamefully to the New Jersey Giants, 63-0 -- a new record in futility for the Seahawks.
At the press conference after the game, cornerback Richard Sherman -- known for his straight-shooting comments to the media -- said about the team's shameful performance: "I dunno ... Maybe we really ARE as lame as everyone says...."
In other sports news, the Seattle Mariners signed yet another unknown ball-player to a multi-year $63-gazillion-dollar contract in another futile effort to bring the team out of perpetual cellar-dweller status. The team's general manager said "We'll sign ANYONE. Money is no object. My checkbook's open. Come on down to Safeco Field and try out...."
In celebrity gossip, Kanye West has offered to pay $5 million for his wedding to Kim Kardashian -- and Kim STILL isn't happy.
"It's not about the MONEY," Kim told the tabloids. "It's just that ... Kanye can be SUCH an asshole...."
In local traffic: According to a new study, the Seattle area continues to have the WORST traffic backups in the country, with some survey respondents reportedly being born, growing old and dying while waiting on I-405 to get from Renton to Bellevue....
In business news, Boeing officials admit that they are looking at moving production of the new 777-XXX "Dreamsleeper" airplane to South Carolina, where costs are lower, salaries are cheaper, and each plane can be built at a shockingly low overall cost to Boeing of just 29 CENTS.
"Sure, they can build it there cheap," said one Boeing machinist. "But let's see how long they can keep it UP...."
He apparently spoke for thousands of machinists, who have been asking the same question about Boeing's CEO....
More coming soon, unfortunately....
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
#719: Dressing up in women's clothing and hangin' round in bars
My best Halloween ever happened a long time ago, around 1994 in Rawlins, Wyoming -- very much a "Wild West" sort of town.
My family was visiting my then-wife Cyndi's best friend Deb, a former newspaper co-worker of mine ... and between the two of them, the two women I trusted and loved most in the whole world, they hatched a plan for me to compete in a Halloween costume contest at the bar where Deb worked.
Cyndi dressed up as an Old West schoolmarm -- not far from what she was in Real Life. Deb went as a bar floozie -- again, not far from what she was in Real Life.
When they were done putting themselves together, they turned to me. And you could almost see the lightbulbs go on over their heads simultaneously. They whispered between themselves briefly.
I thought I was going to stay home, or at most be their Designated Driver. I was wrong.
"Do you trust me?" Deb asked. Of course I did.
"How do you feel about dressing up as a woman?" Cyndi asked.
I took a deep breath. I could use a good laugh. Work had been a non-stop stress-a-thon, and I could use a good hilarious Night Out With The Girls.
"If we're gonna do this," I said, "let's go all the way out. Let's not hold back. Let's make it something we can look back on and laugh our asses off about."
Suddenly I was Into It. I went to Deb's closet. There I found a garish purple number cut off above the knee, with some thin spaghetti straps to hold it up. Deb pulled out a wild brunette wig with hair splaying out everywhere.
They started laughing. Nobody would believe it. Nobody would be able to take it seriously. It was perfect.
I was gonna be a white, flat-chested Tina Turner.
They started working on my lips and my eyes. Deb slathered on the purple eye-shadow. They lined my eyes in thick black and put on mascara to enhance my eyelashes. All that stuff's a pain in the ass. They gave me the reddest lipstick Deb could find.
They gave me two handfuls of Kleenex for my fake "boobs" -- I had to have them to hold up the front of the dress.
They slapped on the wig, and teased it up and out even more.
When they were done, I looked in the mirror. And I couldn't stop laughing. I was gonna win that damn contest just from comedy effect.
When I was done, my kids looked me over.
"Dad, you look ... funny," said my then-8-year-old son Andy. But he wasn't laughing. I'll bet my then-6-year-old daughter Alicia was even more confused.
We headed for the bar. When we got there the place was packed and rowdy. Deb got us a table, and the ladies started doing tequila shots and other stuff that's beyond my experience. Good thing I was driving.
I settled in, and except for constantly having to pull up the front of my dress, I started getting fairly comfortable.
Until I started attracting ... admirers....
A rugged cowboy type, probably in his mid-30s, sat down at the table right next to me. He was hammered.
"Wow ... you're really something," he slurred.
"Thanks," I said in my normal voice.
Then he started buying me drinks.
I turned to my wife the schoolmarm, who was sitting on my other side -- for protection if nothing else.
"Do you think this guy realizes I'm not a woman?" I asked her.
She gave the cowboy a long look-over.
"If I were you, I'd go for it," she said.
After the contest was judged, we somehow got out of the bar alive -- and to push the ante even higher, we headed for a nearby Truck Stop for breakfast.
I learned some interesting things while climbing in and out of the car on the way there. Like how women in skirts climb in and out of vehicles without showing off all the goods. It ain't easy!
And I had to keep ... readjusting my "boobs" because they kept trying to fall down to my stomach ... which I hear can happen as you get older....
We pulled up a table at the Truck Stop and ordered breakfast. The Truck Stop staff seemed to take it all in stride -- it was Halloween, after all. But halfway through the meal, the Ultimate Challenge appeared.
I was gonna have to head for the restroom. This was a disaster waiting to happen.
So I walked through the Truck Stop, massive hair, slumping boobs and all, and turned the corner to head for the Men's.
From the bar, one of the truckers called out: "Hey, are you sure you've got the right room?"
In my deepest, most manly voice, I said: "Oh. Yeah, right. Thanks."
And kept on going. Faster.
Somehow got out of there without getting the crap kicked out of me. And when we got home we laughed about it a lot. When I looked in the mirror at the end of the night, I didn't look half as "good" as I had earlier. But I was still laughing.
Oh, the contest? Well, I placed sixth. My wife, who's schoolmarm-in-cowboy-boots costume took absolutely no fashion risks whatsoever, placed fifth. And the floozie placed third. Sometimes it's best to go for the obvious.
When I got back to work, I wrote about the experience in a weekly column I did for the newspaper. Nobody knew quite what to make of THAT, either -- whether they should laugh ... or what. And I thought that was pretty funny too....
My family was visiting my then-wife Cyndi's best friend Deb, a former newspaper co-worker of mine ... and between the two of them, the two women I trusted and loved most in the whole world, they hatched a plan for me to compete in a Halloween costume contest at the bar where Deb worked.
Cyndi dressed up as an Old West schoolmarm -- not far from what she was in Real Life. Deb went as a bar floozie -- again, not far from what she was in Real Life.
When they were done putting themselves together, they turned to me. And you could almost see the lightbulbs go on over their heads simultaneously. They whispered between themselves briefly.
I thought I was going to stay home, or at most be their Designated Driver. I was wrong.
"Do you trust me?" Deb asked. Of course I did.
"How do you feel about dressing up as a woman?" Cyndi asked.
I took a deep breath. I could use a good laugh. Work had been a non-stop stress-a-thon, and I could use a good hilarious Night Out With The Girls.
"If we're gonna do this," I said, "let's go all the way out. Let's not hold back. Let's make it something we can look back on and laugh our asses off about."
Suddenly I was Into It. I went to Deb's closet. There I found a garish purple number cut off above the knee, with some thin spaghetti straps to hold it up. Deb pulled out a wild brunette wig with hair splaying out everywhere.
They started laughing. Nobody would believe it. Nobody would be able to take it seriously. It was perfect.
I was gonna be a white, flat-chested Tina Turner.
They started working on my lips and my eyes. Deb slathered on the purple eye-shadow. They lined my eyes in thick black and put on mascara to enhance my eyelashes. All that stuff's a pain in the ass. They gave me the reddest lipstick Deb could find.
They gave me two handfuls of Kleenex for my fake "boobs" -- I had to have them to hold up the front of the dress.
They slapped on the wig, and teased it up and out even more.
When they were done, I looked in the mirror. And I couldn't stop laughing. I was gonna win that damn contest just from comedy effect.
When I was done, my kids looked me over.
"Dad, you look ... funny," said my then-8-year-old son Andy. But he wasn't laughing. I'll bet my then-6-year-old daughter Alicia was even more confused.
We headed for the bar. When we got there the place was packed and rowdy. Deb got us a table, and the ladies started doing tequila shots and other stuff that's beyond my experience. Good thing I was driving.
I settled in, and except for constantly having to pull up the front of my dress, I started getting fairly comfortable.
Until I started attracting ... admirers....
A rugged cowboy type, probably in his mid-30s, sat down at the table right next to me. He was hammered.
"Wow ... you're really something," he slurred.
"Thanks," I said in my normal voice.
Then he started buying me drinks.
I turned to my wife the schoolmarm, who was sitting on my other side -- for protection if nothing else.
"Do you think this guy realizes I'm not a woman?" I asked her.
She gave the cowboy a long look-over.
"If I were you, I'd go for it," she said.
After the contest was judged, we somehow got out of the bar alive -- and to push the ante even higher, we headed for a nearby Truck Stop for breakfast.
I learned some interesting things while climbing in and out of the car on the way there. Like how women in skirts climb in and out of vehicles without showing off all the goods. It ain't easy!
And I had to keep ... readjusting my "boobs" because they kept trying to fall down to my stomach ... which I hear can happen as you get older....
We pulled up a table at the Truck Stop and ordered breakfast. The Truck Stop staff seemed to take it all in stride -- it was Halloween, after all. But halfway through the meal, the Ultimate Challenge appeared.
I was gonna have to head for the restroom. This was a disaster waiting to happen.
So I walked through the Truck Stop, massive hair, slumping boobs and all, and turned the corner to head for the Men's.
From the bar, one of the truckers called out: "Hey, are you sure you've got the right room?"
In my deepest, most manly voice, I said: "Oh. Yeah, right. Thanks."
And kept on going. Faster.
Somehow got out of there without getting the crap kicked out of me. And when we got home we laughed about it a lot. When I looked in the mirror at the end of the night, I didn't look half as "good" as I had earlier. But I was still laughing.
Oh, the contest? Well, I placed sixth. My wife, who's schoolmarm-in-cowboy-boots costume took absolutely no fashion risks whatsoever, placed fifth. And the floozie placed third. Sometimes it's best to go for the obvious.
When I got back to work, I wrote about the experience in a weekly column I did for the newspaper. Nobody knew quite what to make of THAT, either -- whether they should laugh ... or what. And I thought that was pretty funny too....
Monday, June 3, 2013
#679: Prog Rock Road Test!
Here at the Back-Up Plan, we decided to take a wide selection of mostly-new-to-me Prog Rock (& some other stuff) out on a Road Test to see how well it all holds up. Here's the 65-song line-up, hold tight on the curves:
Incredible String Band -- First Girl I Loved.
Can -- Mother Sky, She Brings the Rain, Mushroom, One More Night, Outside My Door.
Jethro Tull -- Nothing is Easy, Bouree, A Song for Jeffrey, Beggar's Farm, A Christmas Song, A New Day Yesterday, Living in the Past, Teacher, Life's a Long Song.
Sparks -- Eaten by the Monster of Love, Angst in My Pants.
Genesis -- Counting Out Time, Carpet Crawlers, Firth of Fifth, The Cinema Show, Supper's Ready, The Musical Box, The Knife, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.
Barclay James Harvest -- Summer Soldier, One Hundred Thousand Smiles Out.
Yes -- Leave It, It Can Happen, Rhythm of Love, Big Generator, Lift Me Up.
Nektar -- Do You Believe in Magic?, Cast Your Fate, King of Twilight, Oops (Unidentified Flying Abstract), Fidgety Queen, Recycle/Cybernetic Consumption/Recycle Countdown/Automation Horrorscope/Recycling/Flight to Infinity/Unendless Imaginations.
Caravan -- For Richard (live), Memory Lain/Hugh/Headloss.
From WONDROUS STORIES (4-CD "Complete introduction to progressive rock" set):
Comus -- Diana.
Van der Graaf Generator -- Darkness 11/11.
Atomic Rooster -- Devil's Answer.
Sam Gopal -- Season of the Witch.
Colosseum -- Walking in the Park.
Nucleus -- Song for the Bearded Lady.
Dr. Z -- Evil Woman's Manly Child.
Jan Dukes De Grey -- Mice and Rats in the Loft.
Curved Air -- Back Street Luv.
Emerson, Lake and Palmer -- Fanfare for the Common Man, From the Beginning.
Mike Oldfield -- Tubular Bells (single version).
Rare Bird -- Epic Forest.
Camel -- Sasquatch.
Caravan -- Golf Girl.
Gryphon -- Opening Move.
Rush -- A Farewell to Kings.
Jethro Tull -- Pussy Willow.
Emerson, Lake and Powell -- Touch and Go.
"First Girl I Loved" is the ISB's usual charming, tuneless, off-key whimsy, quite adorable & nicely nostalgic. Sounds like a throwaway, as does a lot of their stuff -- but the lyrics are cute & funny & well-observed, & there's a nice acoustic-guitar ... riff, sorta ... during the choruses. Nice soundtrack for letting your car warm-up a little. (From BEST OF 1967-1972.)
Can at their best fired on all cylinders, from Jaki Leibezeit's relentless involving rhythm to Michael Karoli's screeching chainsaw guitar, to Malcolm Mooney or Damo Suzuki's odd chanting vocals. "Mother Sky," "Mushroom" & "Outside My Door" are solid examples of their best work -- "She Brings the Rain" is like a lite-jazz-vocal piece, charmingly breezy & unexpected. If you're a sucker for rhythms, you should test-drive these guys. At their very best ("Father Cannot Yell," "You Doo Right," "Outside My Door," "Uphill") you won't care about the words.... (All from ANTHOLOGY.)
Tull's "Nothing is Easy" is my new themesong for work -- mainly it's about how the stress you expect is always worse than what happens in Real Life, I've got no problem relating to that -- & also about how the best way to chill-out is to listen to More Tull. I'd listen to them more often if they actually had a decent, representative best-of.
Tull at their best is like a well-built, rumbling old jalopy with lots of little statues & doodads glued to the body -- lots of extra not-always-necessary ornamentation on top of the pretty-strong songs. & they're gonna make sure you NOTICE EVERY LITTLE DETAIL. ...& I've been wanting to ask for awhile: Why is "Bouree" considered to be a big deal?
"Christmas Song," "Life's a Long Song," "Teacher," etc., all still sound great, & I'm starting to really like "A New Day Yesterday." But my complaints with their many best-of's remain: Not enough stuff from their later, folkier period -- though I will be checking-out their ACOUSTIC BEST-OF.... (All from 30th ANNIVERSARY BEST-OF.)
Sparks isn't Prog (crap, ARE they?), but I couldn't resist spinning "Eaten by the Monster of Love," a hilarious anti-lovesong that should've sold millions. "Angst in My Pants" isn't as sure-fire (if you've seen REVENGE OF THE NERDS, you've heard part of it), but the lyrics are almost as hilarious & the vocal is a lot more ... edgy. Do YOU have angst in your pants? You KNOW you do.... (From BEST OF.)
Early Genesis, hmmm. I have trouble with Peter Gabriel's voice. On "Carpet Crawlers" he sounds positively creepy. For me, the best of these is "Counting Out Time," because it has hilarious lyrics about good ole sex ... & because Pete sounds JUST LIKE Phil Collins. (Is it really Phil doing one of his rare vocal cameos from this period? Neither Wikipedia nor Amazon could tell me....)
Musically, this stuff is all pretty great -- nice melodic keyboards from Tony Banks, good ghostly guitar from Steve Hackett, the usual solid drumming from Phil. But on a lot of these I'm so much more used to Phil's vocals & the re-arrangements from their 1977 live album SECONDS OUT.
That said, "Supper's Ready" still works OK, & still has that great sense of relief & resolution at the end. "The Knife" is surprisingly dramatic, & has an intense megaphonic Gabriel vocal -- an effect he should have used on "Firth of Fifth." I'm not used to "Cinema Show" without "In the Cage" added-on (as on their 1982 THREE SIDES LIVE). "Firth of Fifth" works better with the piano solo in the middle rather than at the start. Bitchbitchbitch.... (All from PLATINUM COLLECTION.)
I would like to love Barclay James Harvest -- they had the right look. But as displayed on their early best-of THE HARVEST YEARS, under the flashy chassis, something somewhere subtly went wrong. All the connections didn't work. They were top-heavy & sluggish & they wandered all over the road. Early in their career they could've written really nice, charming little pop songs (check out especially "Ursula -- The Swansea Song"), but they chose not to. Maybe they didn't know what they were best at.
"Summer Soldier" is a 10-minute anti-war suite, not as heavy & overblown as the earlier "Dark Now My Sky" or "She Said," but still. "One Hundred Thousand Smiles Out" indicates they were listening to Bowie's "Space Oddity." They got better later, thank Ghod....
I find the early-'80s streamlined, revitalized Yes pretty invigorating -- just enough Steve Howe guitar & Trevor Rabin vocals to keep me listening. "Lift Me Up" is not-quite-classic, "Leave It" & "It Can Happen" should be on any Yes best-of, & even "Big Generator" has its attractions after you get past the opening. If "Changes" were here, they'd have the period covered. (From DEFINITIVE COLLECTION.)
Nektar at their best is pretty great driving music -- they just make you wanna go FASTER. "Fidgety Queen" & "Do You Believe in Magic?" are great forgotten rockers; so is "King of Twilight," but in this mix it's much too trebly -- there's no bass at all. "Cast Your Fate" is OK, & "Oops" is a kind-of jam. The RECYCLED suite features lotsa keyboards & strings & choirs -- I'll need more listenings. (All from THE DREAM NEBULA best-of.)
Caravan at their rockin' best also make you wanna push the gas pedal down -- "For Richard" starts off quiet, but the pushy, swinging, ongoing band&full-orchestra riff that fills up the last 9 minutes is freakin' great. "Memory Lain" continues in the same vein. (From the CANTERBURY TALES best-of.)
WONDROUS STORIES is Universal Music Group's 2010 4-disc attempt to fit the history of progressive rock into a box. I've only heard about half of it so far, but can report that it's at least more extensive & more pleasing than Rhino's kinda thin, kinda disappointing SUPERNATURAL FAIRY TALES box issued a few years back.
Both these boxes have licensing problems -- no Pink Floyd, no King Crimson, no Genesis, no Soft Machine, weak choices from bands you've heard of, really BAD selections from bands you've NEVER heard of, etc.
But WONDROUS STORIES avoids SOME of that -- while some obvious prog milestones are included ("Roundabout," "Aqualung," "From the Beginning," "Tubular Bells," etc.), there are also some overlooked acts that deserved more time in the spotlight. Hey, GRYPHON is in here! With "Opening Move," as good an introduction as any....
Unfortunately, what WS mostly shows in its early stages is what a bad idea Prog seemed to be at first. A lot of this early stuff swerves right off the road & ends up crashing somewhere off in the weeds....
The set opens with Sam Gopal's self-consciously jazzy & fairly hideous "Season of the Witch" -- why didn't they just use Donovan's original? It would've fit right in & it still sounds great....
Then they get The Horn Bands out of the way -- Colosseum's "Walking in the Park" is OK except for the vocal; Dick Heckstall-Smith's sax sounds great, he should've had more room to play. Nucleus's "Bearded Lady" is breezy enough, good trumpet from Ian Carr & some nice acrid keybs -- decent jazz-rock, too rocky to be jazz.
Comus's "Diana" is warped folk -- sounds like trolls & witches singing in a wood, with some truly demented violin & drums. Not as violent or extreme as I'd expected from their reputation, sorta like the ISB on acid.
Van der Graaf's "Darkness" is their usual High Gothic Drama -- excellent sax from David Jackson & good doomy organ from Hugh Banton -- but WHAT is Peter Hammill ON about?
Then it's mostly downhill for a bit. Dr. Z's "Evil Woman's Manly Child" is heavy, man. Atomic Rooster's "Devil's Answer" is "eh." Jan Dukes De Grey's "Mice and Rats in the Loft" is some kinda Aztec-human-sacrifice drama with declaiming semi-operatic vocals; the best thing here is the underplayed sax, squoze-over & lost in the right-hand lane. None of these are exactly what you'd call Lost Classics.
After this, it's a pleasure to return to stuff I know: ELP's "Fanfare" & "From the Beginning" still sound great; "Fanfare" absolutely rocks, especially the part near the end where it sounds like Keith Emerson is stomping all over the keyboards, like they're about to collapse ... & then they return to the piece's triumphant main theme -- a classic moment. The single version of "Tubular Bells" still sounds like the best possible version of that piece.
Rare Bird's "Epic Forest" is a great lost prog classic, well worth enshrining here -- the album it's from (1972's EPIC FOREST) is in a Goodwill store near you & features exactly one more forgotten classic, "Birdman." Well worth 99 cents.
Camel's "Sasquatch" is as good an intro to that band as any; nice guitar from Andy Latimer. Caravan's "Golf Girl" is light & cute & funny, but not real representative; I would've picked "Memory Lain" or "All the Way," "Surprise, Surprise," "Be All Right," "Place of My Own," "Can You Hear Me?".... Gryphon's "Opening Move" captures them in all their renaissance-style mastery, with a little bit of their recorder-based wind-up-toy-band sound thrown-in. Timeless.
Rush's "A Farewell to Kings" didn't grab me except for the delicate acoustic-guitar work & Geddy Lee's helium vocal. "Pussy Willow" seemed like a no-big-deal instrumental. "Touch and Go" sounds suspiciously like Asia....
I'll be listening to more of this -- plus there's a whole disc of "neo-prog" & later stuff that I haven't even touched yet....
...Re-loading again soon....
Incredible String Band -- First Girl I Loved.
Can -- Mother Sky, She Brings the Rain, Mushroom, One More Night, Outside My Door.
Jethro Tull -- Nothing is Easy, Bouree, A Song for Jeffrey, Beggar's Farm, A Christmas Song, A New Day Yesterday, Living in the Past, Teacher, Life's a Long Song.
Sparks -- Eaten by the Monster of Love, Angst in My Pants.
Genesis -- Counting Out Time, Carpet Crawlers, Firth of Fifth, The Cinema Show, Supper's Ready, The Musical Box, The Knife, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.
Barclay James Harvest -- Summer Soldier, One Hundred Thousand Smiles Out.
Yes -- Leave It, It Can Happen, Rhythm of Love, Big Generator, Lift Me Up.
Nektar -- Do You Believe in Magic?, Cast Your Fate, King of Twilight, Oops (Unidentified Flying Abstract), Fidgety Queen, Recycle/Cybernetic Consumption/Recycle Countdown/Automation Horrorscope/Recycling/Flight to Infinity/Unendless Imaginations.
Caravan -- For Richard (live), Memory Lain/Hugh/Headloss.
From WONDROUS STORIES (4-CD "Complete introduction to progressive rock" set):
Comus -- Diana.
Van der Graaf Generator -- Darkness 11/11.
Atomic Rooster -- Devil's Answer.
Sam Gopal -- Season of the Witch.
Colosseum -- Walking in the Park.
Nucleus -- Song for the Bearded Lady.
Dr. Z -- Evil Woman's Manly Child.
Jan Dukes De Grey -- Mice and Rats in the Loft.
Curved Air -- Back Street Luv.
Emerson, Lake and Palmer -- Fanfare for the Common Man, From the Beginning.
Mike Oldfield -- Tubular Bells (single version).
Rare Bird -- Epic Forest.
Camel -- Sasquatch.
Caravan -- Golf Girl.
Gryphon -- Opening Move.
Rush -- A Farewell to Kings.
Jethro Tull -- Pussy Willow.
Emerson, Lake and Powell -- Touch and Go.
"First Girl I Loved" is the ISB's usual charming, tuneless, off-key whimsy, quite adorable & nicely nostalgic. Sounds like a throwaway, as does a lot of their stuff -- but the lyrics are cute & funny & well-observed, & there's a nice acoustic-guitar ... riff, sorta ... during the choruses. Nice soundtrack for letting your car warm-up a little. (From BEST OF 1967-1972.)
Can at their best fired on all cylinders, from Jaki Leibezeit's relentless involving rhythm to Michael Karoli's screeching chainsaw guitar, to Malcolm Mooney or Damo Suzuki's odd chanting vocals. "Mother Sky," "Mushroom" & "Outside My Door" are solid examples of their best work -- "She Brings the Rain" is like a lite-jazz-vocal piece, charmingly breezy & unexpected. If you're a sucker for rhythms, you should test-drive these guys. At their very best ("Father Cannot Yell," "You Doo Right," "Outside My Door," "Uphill") you won't care about the words.... (All from ANTHOLOGY.)
Tull's "Nothing is Easy" is my new themesong for work -- mainly it's about how the stress you expect is always worse than what happens in Real Life, I've got no problem relating to that -- & also about how the best way to chill-out is to listen to More Tull. I'd listen to them more often if they actually had a decent, representative best-of.
Tull at their best is like a well-built, rumbling old jalopy with lots of little statues & doodads glued to the body -- lots of extra not-always-necessary ornamentation on top of the pretty-strong songs. & they're gonna make sure you NOTICE EVERY LITTLE DETAIL. ...& I've been wanting to ask for awhile: Why is "Bouree" considered to be a big deal?
"Christmas Song," "Life's a Long Song," "Teacher," etc., all still sound great, & I'm starting to really like "A New Day Yesterday." But my complaints with their many best-of's remain: Not enough stuff from their later, folkier period -- though I will be checking-out their ACOUSTIC BEST-OF.... (All from 30th ANNIVERSARY BEST-OF.)
Sparks isn't Prog (crap, ARE they?), but I couldn't resist spinning "Eaten by the Monster of Love," a hilarious anti-lovesong that should've sold millions. "Angst in My Pants" isn't as sure-fire (if you've seen REVENGE OF THE NERDS, you've heard part of it), but the lyrics are almost as hilarious & the vocal is a lot more ... edgy. Do YOU have angst in your pants? You KNOW you do.... (From BEST OF.)
Early Genesis, hmmm. I have trouble with Peter Gabriel's voice. On "Carpet Crawlers" he sounds positively creepy. For me, the best of these is "Counting Out Time," because it has hilarious lyrics about good ole sex ... & because Pete sounds JUST LIKE Phil Collins. (Is it really Phil doing one of his rare vocal cameos from this period? Neither Wikipedia nor Amazon could tell me....)
Musically, this stuff is all pretty great -- nice melodic keyboards from Tony Banks, good ghostly guitar from Steve Hackett, the usual solid drumming from Phil. But on a lot of these I'm so much more used to Phil's vocals & the re-arrangements from their 1977 live album SECONDS OUT.
That said, "Supper's Ready" still works OK, & still has that great sense of relief & resolution at the end. "The Knife" is surprisingly dramatic, & has an intense megaphonic Gabriel vocal -- an effect he should have used on "Firth of Fifth." I'm not used to "Cinema Show" without "In the Cage" added-on (as on their 1982 THREE SIDES LIVE). "Firth of Fifth" works better with the piano solo in the middle rather than at the start. Bitchbitchbitch.... (All from PLATINUM COLLECTION.)
I would like to love Barclay James Harvest -- they had the right look. But as displayed on their early best-of THE HARVEST YEARS, under the flashy chassis, something somewhere subtly went wrong. All the connections didn't work. They were top-heavy & sluggish & they wandered all over the road. Early in their career they could've written really nice, charming little pop songs (check out especially "Ursula -- The Swansea Song"), but they chose not to. Maybe they didn't know what they were best at.
"Summer Soldier" is a 10-minute anti-war suite, not as heavy & overblown as the earlier "Dark Now My Sky" or "She Said," but still. "One Hundred Thousand Smiles Out" indicates they were listening to Bowie's "Space Oddity." They got better later, thank Ghod....
I find the early-'80s streamlined, revitalized Yes pretty invigorating -- just enough Steve Howe guitar & Trevor Rabin vocals to keep me listening. "Lift Me Up" is not-quite-classic, "Leave It" & "It Can Happen" should be on any Yes best-of, & even "Big Generator" has its attractions after you get past the opening. If "Changes" were here, they'd have the period covered. (From DEFINITIVE COLLECTION.)
Nektar at their best is pretty great driving music -- they just make you wanna go FASTER. "Fidgety Queen" & "Do You Believe in Magic?" are great forgotten rockers; so is "King of Twilight," but in this mix it's much too trebly -- there's no bass at all. "Cast Your Fate" is OK, & "Oops" is a kind-of jam. The RECYCLED suite features lotsa keyboards & strings & choirs -- I'll need more listenings. (All from THE DREAM NEBULA best-of.)
Caravan at their rockin' best also make you wanna push the gas pedal down -- "For Richard" starts off quiet, but the pushy, swinging, ongoing band&full-orchestra riff that fills up the last 9 minutes is freakin' great. "Memory Lain" continues in the same vein. (From the CANTERBURY TALES best-of.)
WONDROUS STORIES is Universal Music Group's 2010 4-disc attempt to fit the history of progressive rock into a box. I've only heard about half of it so far, but can report that it's at least more extensive & more pleasing than Rhino's kinda thin, kinda disappointing SUPERNATURAL FAIRY TALES box issued a few years back.
Both these boxes have licensing problems -- no Pink Floyd, no King Crimson, no Genesis, no Soft Machine, weak choices from bands you've heard of, really BAD selections from bands you've NEVER heard of, etc.
But WONDROUS STORIES avoids SOME of that -- while some obvious prog milestones are included ("Roundabout," "Aqualung," "From the Beginning," "Tubular Bells," etc.), there are also some overlooked acts that deserved more time in the spotlight. Hey, GRYPHON is in here! With "Opening Move," as good an introduction as any....
Unfortunately, what WS mostly shows in its early stages is what a bad idea Prog seemed to be at first. A lot of this early stuff swerves right off the road & ends up crashing somewhere off in the weeds....
The set opens with Sam Gopal's self-consciously jazzy & fairly hideous "Season of the Witch" -- why didn't they just use Donovan's original? It would've fit right in & it still sounds great....
Then they get The Horn Bands out of the way -- Colosseum's "Walking in the Park" is OK except for the vocal; Dick Heckstall-Smith's sax sounds great, he should've had more room to play. Nucleus's "Bearded Lady" is breezy enough, good trumpet from Ian Carr & some nice acrid keybs -- decent jazz-rock, too rocky to be jazz.
Comus's "Diana" is warped folk -- sounds like trolls & witches singing in a wood, with some truly demented violin & drums. Not as violent or extreme as I'd expected from their reputation, sorta like the ISB on acid.
Van der Graaf's "Darkness" is their usual High Gothic Drama -- excellent sax from David Jackson & good doomy organ from Hugh Banton -- but WHAT is Peter Hammill ON about?
Then it's mostly downhill for a bit. Dr. Z's "Evil Woman's Manly Child" is heavy, man. Atomic Rooster's "Devil's Answer" is "eh." Jan Dukes De Grey's "Mice and Rats in the Loft" is some kinda Aztec-human-sacrifice drama with declaiming semi-operatic vocals; the best thing here is the underplayed sax, squoze-over & lost in the right-hand lane. None of these are exactly what you'd call Lost Classics.
After this, it's a pleasure to return to stuff I know: ELP's "Fanfare" & "From the Beginning" still sound great; "Fanfare" absolutely rocks, especially the part near the end where it sounds like Keith Emerson is stomping all over the keyboards, like they're about to collapse ... & then they return to the piece's triumphant main theme -- a classic moment. The single version of "Tubular Bells" still sounds like the best possible version of that piece.
Rare Bird's "Epic Forest" is a great lost prog classic, well worth enshrining here -- the album it's from (1972's EPIC FOREST) is in a Goodwill store near you & features exactly one more forgotten classic, "Birdman." Well worth 99 cents.
Camel's "Sasquatch" is as good an intro to that band as any; nice guitar from Andy Latimer. Caravan's "Golf Girl" is light & cute & funny, but not real representative; I would've picked "Memory Lain" or "All the Way," "Surprise, Surprise," "Be All Right," "Place of My Own," "Can You Hear Me?".... Gryphon's "Opening Move" captures them in all their renaissance-style mastery, with a little bit of their recorder-based wind-up-toy-band sound thrown-in. Timeless.
Rush's "A Farewell to Kings" didn't grab me except for the delicate acoustic-guitar work & Geddy Lee's helium vocal. "Pussy Willow" seemed like a no-big-deal instrumental. "Touch and Go" sounds suspiciously like Asia....
I'll be listening to more of this -- plus there's a whole disc of "neo-prog" & later stuff that I haven't even touched yet....
...Re-loading again soon....
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
#672: I'm all about Value
Prices for books & music -- I Don't Get them.
Because I'm a low-budget guy, I'm constantly looking to expand my musical & reading horizons on the cheap. & I can't TELL you how much GREAT stuff I've found at (this is not a commercial) Amazon.com for A PENNY plus shipping. You probably wouldn't believe me anyway.
The abundance of this Cheap Stuff convinces me that Billy Joel was right when he sang in "The Entertainer" that "If I go cold I won't get sold, I'll get put in the back in the discount rack, like another can of beans." When it comes to music & books, goodness & price have nothing to do with each other. You know how many 5-star books & CD's you can now get for a penny? More than you'll EVER read or listen to....
Of course your mileage may vary, but the more expensive stuff often makes no sense to me, the massive amount of money people ask for stuff & expect that Some Fanatic Out There will pay. I'm not that fanatic.
For instance:
David Sancious and Tone's 1976 jazz-rock/prog classic TRANSFORMATION: THE SPEED OF LOVE. Excellent album in places, with cosmic musical themes & synthesizer riffs that are GUARANTEED to mess up your body-rhythms -- plus one gorgeous solo piano piece. Got my vinyl copy back in 1979 for $5.99. Awhile back someone was selling a used copy on Amazon & asking $250! Yes, this album will Change Your Life -- but not THAT much.
SOME sanity has obviously dawned on sellers out there: You can now buy a used vinyl copy of TRANSFORMATION for a totally reasonable $4. But if you want it on CD, the price starts at $80. No.
But that's just the start of the insanity. Sancious' previous album, the not-as-startling or life-changing FOREST OF FEELINGS, is available on vinyl for a fairly reasonable $8. But if you want the CD, it's gonna cost you $455. & it ain't worth it, folks.
More weirdness? Sancious' follow-up to TRANSFORMATION, 1979's disappointingly average jazz-rock-pop TRUE STORIES, is $516.80 for the CD. THAT'S INSANE. I got my copy 4 $5 a couple years ago & was disappointed with it THEN. The released version of the album was messed-with by Arista Records, who pleaded with Sancious to come up with something reasonably commercial rather than the four 9-to-15-minute instrumental suites he'd originally planned. If I could hear the album he'd ORIGINALLY intended, I MIGHT pay $500 4 THAT....
(By the way, if you'd be willing to buy a copy of TRUE STORIES for $500, PLEASE drop me your e-mail address or phone number in the comments below. I've probably got some other high-priced stuff around the house you might like as well....)
Another example: Cromagnon's 1969 brain-damage "classic" CAVE ROCK. My blogging buddy Crabby sent me a copy of this last year when I was musically bored, & it shocked & disturbed me to the point that I'll never play it again. But a few months ago, folks were asking $50 for the CD. You can have MINE for $50 right now!
Here again, some sanity has prevailed: Currently you can get a copy of CAVE ROCK for $5. But if you want it on vinyl, it's gonna cost you $26. Ghod knows why you would want it at ALL, but again, if you're interested, drop me a note below, etc.
I understand Rareness. I'm OK with that. If sellers want to ask from $190 to $400 for a copy of Dan Matovina's WITHOUT YOU: THE TRAGIC STORY OF BADFINGER, there's nothing I can do. I know the story, but I'd love to learn more, & reviews indicate Matovina got all the ugly legal (& other) details down brilliantly & with a lot of sensitivity. Copies of the book also come with a CD of music, outtakes, interviews, etc. I'd love to read/hear it. But not for $190....
Ken Sharp's OVERNIGHT SENSATION: THE STORY OF THE RASPBERRIES used to be pretty high-priced, too. Now it's a mere $40. & there's not even any gut-wrenching tragedies in that story.
Ten-plus years ago, when I was a lot stupider about this Internet ordering stuff than I am now, I once paid $140 for an original Warner Books paperback copy of Jack Ketchum's horror novel THE GIRL NEXT DOOR -- supposedly The Ultimate Horror Novel, & very rare at the time. (Verdict: Four stars, but it won't Change Your Life.)
& of course, Ghod got me back, because 3 or 4 years later, Leisure Books reissued the novel for $3.95. & it's gone through a couple more printings since then. Lots of Ketchum's books tend to grab high used prices because they appeared only briefly as paperback originals. Out on bookstore shelves & newsstands for a month & then Gone Forever....
Not so long ago, I paid $95 for a copy of Sid Smith's excellent IN THE COURT OF KING CRIMSON, & I was more than satisfied with it. I think it's the best, most detailed book we'll get about that band until Rockin' Bobby Fripp writes his memoirs. Prices for it have gotten a little better -- you can now score a used copy for $59. But a new, updated version is reportedly Coming Soon....
Again, I understand Rareness & how that might boost prices. Grobschnitt's Krautrock classic ROCKPOMMEL'S LAND -- which features one charming 3-minute popsong called "Anywhere" & a 20-minute title track, & which I've been looking for another copy of since 1978 -- is now available on vinyl for a mere $26. But if you want the CD you're gonna have to pay $90 to $117. Why?
Deep-voiced & whimsical British prog-rocker Kevin Ayers' rare import-only outtakes collection ODD DITTIES will run you $40 on vinyl, but from $18 to $103 on CD. But he also has a best-of with most of the ODD DITTIES songs you Need To Hear -- & it's only $3.
A copy of John Coltrane's ASCENSION on vinyl is $120. I saw a copy awhile back in a used record store for $75. But you can still get GIANT STEPS and A LOVE SUPREME for less than $5 on CD. & they're worth it.
Gentle Giant's rare imported GIANT STEPS best-of -- featuring a couple songs you can hardly find anywhere else -- is $13 to $26 on CD, $15 to $52 on vinyl. The Giant's equally rare & import-only PRETENSIOUS best-of -- a better selection -- is $45 on vinyl.
Probably none of this stuff will ever make sense to me. The seller's motto is Whatever The Traffic Will Bear. I still Don't Get why people (and Capitol/EMI) ask such outrageous prices for Beatles albums that have never gone out of print....
But tonight while browsing for outrageous prices I found a vinyl copy of Space Art's A TRIP IN THE CENTER HEAD -- the best, most memorable synthesizer album I've ever heard, & I haven't heard a note of it since 1982 -- for only $9.98, & I am gonna GRAB that sucker.
Happy hunting....
Because I'm a low-budget guy, I'm constantly looking to expand my musical & reading horizons on the cheap. & I can't TELL you how much GREAT stuff I've found at (this is not a commercial) Amazon.com for A PENNY plus shipping. You probably wouldn't believe me anyway.
The abundance of this Cheap Stuff convinces me that Billy Joel was right when he sang in "The Entertainer" that "If I go cold I won't get sold, I'll get put in the back in the discount rack, like another can of beans." When it comes to music & books, goodness & price have nothing to do with each other. You know how many 5-star books & CD's you can now get for a penny? More than you'll EVER read or listen to....
Of course your mileage may vary, but the more expensive stuff often makes no sense to me, the massive amount of money people ask for stuff & expect that Some Fanatic Out There will pay. I'm not that fanatic.
For instance:
David Sancious and Tone's 1976 jazz-rock/prog classic TRANSFORMATION: THE SPEED OF LOVE. Excellent album in places, with cosmic musical themes & synthesizer riffs that are GUARANTEED to mess up your body-rhythms -- plus one gorgeous solo piano piece. Got my vinyl copy back in 1979 for $5.99. Awhile back someone was selling a used copy on Amazon & asking $250! Yes, this album will Change Your Life -- but not THAT much.
SOME sanity has obviously dawned on sellers out there: You can now buy a used vinyl copy of TRANSFORMATION for a totally reasonable $4. But if you want it on CD, the price starts at $80. No.
But that's just the start of the insanity. Sancious' previous album, the not-as-startling or life-changing FOREST OF FEELINGS, is available on vinyl for a fairly reasonable $8. But if you want the CD, it's gonna cost you $455. & it ain't worth it, folks.
More weirdness? Sancious' follow-up to TRANSFORMATION, 1979's disappointingly average jazz-rock-pop TRUE STORIES, is $516.80 for the CD. THAT'S INSANE. I got my copy 4 $5 a couple years ago & was disappointed with it THEN. The released version of the album was messed-with by Arista Records, who pleaded with Sancious to come up with something reasonably commercial rather than the four 9-to-15-minute instrumental suites he'd originally planned. If I could hear the album he'd ORIGINALLY intended, I MIGHT pay $500 4 THAT....
(By the way, if you'd be willing to buy a copy of TRUE STORIES for $500, PLEASE drop me your e-mail address or phone number in the comments below. I've probably got some other high-priced stuff around the house you might like as well....)
Another example: Cromagnon's 1969 brain-damage "classic" CAVE ROCK. My blogging buddy Crabby sent me a copy of this last year when I was musically bored, & it shocked & disturbed me to the point that I'll never play it again. But a few months ago, folks were asking $50 for the CD. You can have MINE for $50 right now!
Here again, some sanity has prevailed: Currently you can get a copy of CAVE ROCK for $5. But if you want it on vinyl, it's gonna cost you $26. Ghod knows why you would want it at ALL, but again, if you're interested, drop me a note below, etc.
I understand Rareness. I'm OK with that. If sellers want to ask from $190 to $400 for a copy of Dan Matovina's WITHOUT YOU: THE TRAGIC STORY OF BADFINGER, there's nothing I can do. I know the story, but I'd love to learn more, & reviews indicate Matovina got all the ugly legal (& other) details down brilliantly & with a lot of sensitivity. Copies of the book also come with a CD of music, outtakes, interviews, etc. I'd love to read/hear it. But not for $190....
Ken Sharp's OVERNIGHT SENSATION: THE STORY OF THE RASPBERRIES used to be pretty high-priced, too. Now it's a mere $40. & there's not even any gut-wrenching tragedies in that story.
Ten-plus years ago, when I was a lot stupider about this Internet ordering stuff than I am now, I once paid $140 for an original Warner Books paperback copy of Jack Ketchum's horror novel THE GIRL NEXT DOOR -- supposedly The Ultimate Horror Novel, & very rare at the time. (Verdict: Four stars, but it won't Change Your Life.)
& of course, Ghod got me back, because 3 or 4 years later, Leisure Books reissued the novel for $3.95. & it's gone through a couple more printings since then. Lots of Ketchum's books tend to grab high used prices because they appeared only briefly as paperback originals. Out on bookstore shelves & newsstands for a month & then Gone Forever....
Not so long ago, I paid $95 for a copy of Sid Smith's excellent IN THE COURT OF KING CRIMSON, & I was more than satisfied with it. I think it's the best, most detailed book we'll get about that band until Rockin' Bobby Fripp writes his memoirs. Prices for it have gotten a little better -- you can now score a used copy for $59. But a new, updated version is reportedly Coming Soon....
Again, I understand Rareness & how that might boost prices. Grobschnitt's Krautrock classic ROCKPOMMEL'S LAND -- which features one charming 3-minute popsong called "Anywhere" & a 20-minute title track, & which I've been looking for another copy of since 1978 -- is now available on vinyl for a mere $26. But if you want the CD you're gonna have to pay $90 to $117. Why?
Deep-voiced & whimsical British prog-rocker Kevin Ayers' rare import-only outtakes collection ODD DITTIES will run you $40 on vinyl, but from $18 to $103 on CD. But he also has a best-of with most of the ODD DITTIES songs you Need To Hear -- & it's only $3.
A copy of John Coltrane's ASCENSION on vinyl is $120. I saw a copy awhile back in a used record store for $75. But you can still get GIANT STEPS and A LOVE SUPREME for less than $5 on CD. & they're worth it.
Gentle Giant's rare imported GIANT STEPS best-of -- featuring a couple songs you can hardly find anywhere else -- is $13 to $26 on CD, $15 to $52 on vinyl. The Giant's equally rare & import-only PRETENSIOUS best-of -- a better selection -- is $45 on vinyl.
Probably none of this stuff will ever make sense to me. The seller's motto is Whatever The Traffic Will Bear. I still Don't Get why people (and Capitol/EMI) ask such outrageous prices for Beatles albums that have never gone out of print....
But tonight while browsing for outrageous prices I found a vinyl copy of Space Art's A TRIP IN THE CENTER HEAD -- the best, most memorable synthesizer album I've ever heard, & I haven't heard a note of it since 1982 -- for only $9.98, & I am gonna GRAB that sucker.
Happy hunting....
Sunday, April 14, 2013
#652: Great Backsides!
No, we R not gonna talk about Kim Kardashian here. Or J-Lo. Or Beyonce. Those R all worthwhile subjects 4 a whole 'nother blog.
1nce upon a time, record companies used 2 release little 7-inch vinyl musical donuts that played at 45 rpm's -- they were called "45's" or "singles," & sometimes recording artists issued some great overlooked stuff on the non-hit-side of the single, the "B-side."
Can't believe I haven't written about this stuff B4, this list came 2 me so easily -- maybe I've mentioned them all previously as part of my series on Great Lost Singles. Anyway, here's a dozen or so worth checking out ... again....
* Fleetwood Mac: "Silver Springs" -- The B-side 2 "Go Your Own Way," this is the track that got squoze-off RUMOURS, & they shoulda found some way 2 squeeze it right back on there, there's sevral songs it's EASILY better than. This is 4 minutes of haunting, heartbroken melancholy, probly the best thing Stevie Nicks has ever done. Great mournful guitar from Lindsey Buckingham, too, & a great dramatic choral-vocal finish. Finally appeared on-album on THE CHAIN box set about 10 years later....
* Moody Blues: "Simple Game" -- In Europe, this was the B-side 2 "Ride My See-Saw," finally appeared on-album on the Moodies' THIS IS best-of in '74. Sorta a nod back 2 their beat-band roots, or a cross between their simpler beginnings & their late-'60s cosmic stuff, the "doo-doo-doo" chorus'll get you every time. 4 me, it's the best thing keyboardist Mike Pinder ever wrote. If Decca Records had been smart, this coulda been a hit in '74. & the Four Tops did a cover version....
* Dion: "Daddy Rollin' (In Your Arms)" -- The B-side 2 his big late-'60s peace-love&understanding hit "Abraham, Martin and John," "Daddy Rollin'" is a stripped-down country-blues number that seems to make vague references 2 Dion's well-known heroin habit. Not only does it rock more convincingly than anything else he's ever done, check out summa the vocals later in the song -- his cold, distant whining is really chilling. 1 of a kind.
* Kate Bush: "Empty Bullring" -- This stark, brief, stripped-down piano&vocal portrait of a disintegrating marriage was the B-side of Kate's Top 10 British single "Breathing," & it's among the 1/2dozen most haunting things she's ever done. Finally appeared on-album on her THIS WOMAN'S WORK best-of, where there's LOTS of other Good Stuff, like "Cloudbusting," "December Will be Magic Again," "Running Up That Hill," the heartbreaking "This Woman's Work," etc....
* Billy Joel: "All for Leyna" -- 4 me by far the best song offa GLASS HOUSES was the B-side 2 the hit "Sometimes a Fantasy" (I think....), so there was no chance of it ever getting any airplay. 4 me, this is among Billy's Top 5 best ever, sums up everything he tried 2 do on THE STRANGER, & adds summa that NYC Attitude, & it still rocks. Nice piano, too.
* Nino Tempo & April Stevens: "I've Been Carrying a Torch for You So Long That I've Burned a Great Big Hole in My Heart" -- I'm not making this up. The B-side 2 the 1961 #1 Grammy-winning "Deep Purple." Talk about stripped-down: loony vocals, strummin' guitar, & lyrics that R out of this world, like a deep whoop of lovestruck lunacy, somewhere between a yodel & a field holler. The folks at Atco Records were on some heavy drugz I guess, "Deep Purple" always sounded strange enuf 2 me....
* Electric Light Orchestra: "10538 Overture (live)" -- This live version of a track offa their very 1st album was the B-side 2 "Evil Woman" (I think....), & has the same majesty & catchiness & haunting melody that made "Can't Get it Out of My Head" a big hit. & even with the string section, it still rocks....
* Dave Edmunds: "Creature from the Black Lagoon" -- The B-side 2 the shoulda-been-hit "Girls Talk," this is a 3-minute horror-comedy-lovestory with lots of great driving guitar. Dave shoulda had 1/2adozen more hits....
* Genesis: "Vancouver," "Inside and Out" -- Do EP's count? The 3-minute runaway story "Vancouver" was part of the B-side 2 the British "Many Too Many" single. It doesn't overstay its welcome, the lyrics R great, Phil Collins's singing is sweet, it's perfect in its way. "Inside and Out" was guitarist Steve Hackett's last work with the band, & the 7-minute track features about 4 mins of great instrumental interplay at the end. It was the B-side of the British "Match of the Day" EP.
* Fleetwood Mac: "Monday Morning (live)" -- The live version of this song (from FLEETWOOD MAC LIVE) beats the studio original 2 DEATH. A rousing, rocking crowd-pleaser. The A-side is the gorgeous Beach Boys cover "The Farmer's Daughter," which shoulda been a huge hit....
* The Beach Boys -- They always had LOTS of great B-sides, like "Kiss Me Baby," "Let Him Run Wild," "There's No Other (Like My Baby)," "Here Today," "This Whole World," "She Knows Me Too Well," even silly stuff like the dinner-table chant "You're Welcome," or the hilarious "TM Song." Or how bout "Susie Cincinnati," which was a B-side at least 2wice B4 it ever got on an album?
* The Beatles -- Speaking of great B-sides, how 'bout "I Am the Walrus," "Old Brown Shoe," "You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)," "I'm Down," "Thank You Girl," "I Saw Her Standing There," "I Should Have Known Better," "Strawberry Fields Forever," "Do You Want to Know a Secret," "I Don't Want to Spoil the Party," "Day Tripper," "Baby You're a Rich Man"....
...& your favorite backsides of all time are...?
1nce upon a time, record companies used 2 release little 7-inch vinyl musical donuts that played at 45 rpm's -- they were called "45's" or "singles," & sometimes recording artists issued some great overlooked stuff on the non-hit-side of the single, the "B-side."
Can't believe I haven't written about this stuff B4, this list came 2 me so easily -- maybe I've mentioned them all previously as part of my series on Great Lost Singles. Anyway, here's a dozen or so worth checking out ... again....
* Fleetwood Mac: "Silver Springs" -- The B-side 2 "Go Your Own Way," this is the track that got squoze-off RUMOURS, & they shoulda found some way 2 squeeze it right back on there, there's sevral songs it's EASILY better than. This is 4 minutes of haunting, heartbroken melancholy, probly the best thing Stevie Nicks has ever done. Great mournful guitar from Lindsey Buckingham, too, & a great dramatic choral-vocal finish. Finally appeared on-album on THE CHAIN box set about 10 years later....
* Moody Blues: "Simple Game" -- In Europe, this was the B-side 2 "Ride My See-Saw," finally appeared on-album on the Moodies' THIS IS best-of in '74. Sorta a nod back 2 their beat-band roots, or a cross between their simpler beginnings & their late-'60s cosmic stuff, the "doo-doo-doo" chorus'll get you every time. 4 me, it's the best thing keyboardist Mike Pinder ever wrote. If Decca Records had been smart, this coulda been a hit in '74. & the Four Tops did a cover version....
* Dion: "Daddy Rollin' (In Your Arms)" -- The B-side 2 his big late-'60s peace-love&understanding hit "Abraham, Martin and John," "Daddy Rollin'" is a stripped-down country-blues number that seems to make vague references 2 Dion's well-known heroin habit. Not only does it rock more convincingly than anything else he's ever done, check out summa the vocals later in the song -- his cold, distant whining is really chilling. 1 of a kind.
* Kate Bush: "Empty Bullring" -- This stark, brief, stripped-down piano&vocal portrait of a disintegrating marriage was the B-side of Kate's Top 10 British single "Breathing," & it's among the 1/2dozen most haunting things she's ever done. Finally appeared on-album on her THIS WOMAN'S WORK best-of, where there's LOTS of other Good Stuff, like "Cloudbusting," "December Will be Magic Again," "Running Up That Hill," the heartbreaking "This Woman's Work," etc....
* Billy Joel: "All for Leyna" -- 4 me by far the best song offa GLASS HOUSES was the B-side 2 the hit "Sometimes a Fantasy" (I think....), so there was no chance of it ever getting any airplay. 4 me, this is among Billy's Top 5 best ever, sums up everything he tried 2 do on THE STRANGER, & adds summa that NYC Attitude, & it still rocks. Nice piano, too.
* Nino Tempo & April Stevens: "I've Been Carrying a Torch for You So Long That I've Burned a Great Big Hole in My Heart" -- I'm not making this up. The B-side 2 the 1961 #1 Grammy-winning "Deep Purple." Talk about stripped-down: loony vocals, strummin' guitar, & lyrics that R out of this world, like a deep whoop of lovestruck lunacy, somewhere between a yodel & a field holler. The folks at Atco Records were on some heavy drugz I guess, "Deep Purple" always sounded strange enuf 2 me....
* Electric Light Orchestra: "10538 Overture (live)" -- This live version of a track offa their very 1st album was the B-side 2 "Evil Woman" (I think....), & has the same majesty & catchiness & haunting melody that made "Can't Get it Out of My Head" a big hit. & even with the string section, it still rocks....
* Dave Edmunds: "Creature from the Black Lagoon" -- The B-side 2 the shoulda-been-hit "Girls Talk," this is a 3-minute horror-comedy-lovestory with lots of great driving guitar. Dave shoulda had 1/2adozen more hits....
* Genesis: "Vancouver," "Inside and Out" -- Do EP's count? The 3-minute runaway story "Vancouver" was part of the B-side 2 the British "Many Too Many" single. It doesn't overstay its welcome, the lyrics R great, Phil Collins's singing is sweet, it's perfect in its way. "Inside and Out" was guitarist Steve Hackett's last work with the band, & the 7-minute track features about 4 mins of great instrumental interplay at the end. It was the B-side of the British "Match of the Day" EP.
* Fleetwood Mac: "Monday Morning (live)" -- The live version of this song (from FLEETWOOD MAC LIVE) beats the studio original 2 DEATH. A rousing, rocking crowd-pleaser. The A-side is the gorgeous Beach Boys cover "The Farmer's Daughter," which shoulda been a huge hit....
* The Beach Boys -- They always had LOTS of great B-sides, like "Kiss Me Baby," "Let Him Run Wild," "There's No Other (Like My Baby)," "Here Today," "This Whole World," "She Knows Me Too Well," even silly stuff like the dinner-table chant "You're Welcome," or the hilarious "TM Song." Or how bout "Susie Cincinnati," which was a B-side at least 2wice B4 it ever got on an album?
* The Beatles -- Speaking of great B-sides, how 'bout "I Am the Walrus," "Old Brown Shoe," "You Know My Name (Look Up the Number)," "I'm Down," "Thank You Girl," "I Saw Her Standing There," "I Should Have Known Better," "Strawberry Fields Forever," "Do You Want to Know a Secret," "I Don't Want to Spoil the Party," "Day Tripper," "Baby You're a Rich Man"....
...& your favorite backsides of all time are...?
Monday, March 25, 2013
#646: Washington drivers: Worst in the world!
Western Washington has GOT to be home to the world's worst drivers.
I can say this without fear of contradiction, because anybody who's ever lived here knows exactly how bad it really is.
It's unspeakable.
I've lived in the San Francisco Bay area -- where the 45-minute drive home turned into 3 hours when it rained; in San Antonio, Texas -- where I was run off the road twice in the first week because I couldn't drive fast enough; and in Ankara, Turkey -- where they sometimes drive on the sidewalks.
They don't drive on the sidewalks here yet, but it's getting close.
Drivers in the Seattle area are the most distracted, most stressed-out, most careless, rudest, scariest folks to ever take to the roads.
They're out of control.
Every week there's another story in the media about someone driving the wrong direction on the freeway, causing massive accidents. Only occasionally are these folks suicidal or drunk.
Late last year we had three ugly car wrecks in the same WEEK out in front of the store where I work. In all three cases, the drivers refused to slow down even though it was raining, they didn't watch where they were going, were completely oblivious of other drivers. Miraculously, everybody walked away from the crashes. But five cars were totaled.
These people scare me.
Drivers here are constantly blabbing on their cellphones while behind the wheel -- even though it's a $125 fine if they get caught.
They change lanes suddenly, without warning, almost always without using their turn signals, shoe-horning their way into the slightest gap between cars. One guy I saw on the freeway last week bounced all over from lane to lane, refused to choose one lane and stay in it, never used his turn signals once, & was long gone before I could focus on his license-plate number.
They think speed limits are a joke: 35 miles per hour really means 40, 40 means 50, 50 means 65 -- & 60 means whatever you can get away with.
And they don't slow down when it rains -- which is basically 9 months of the year.
Some of them forget to turn on their headlights when it's pitch dark.
This state is lucky I'm not a cop, because I could easily write a couple hundred tickets each day. (Of course that'd keep the revenue coming in!)
Last week on the way to work I glanced at the driver behind me in my rear-view mirror. She was talking on her cellphone with one hand, brushing her hair with the other, and must have been handling the steering wheel with her knees.
Another guy a few days back got SO CLOSE to the back end of my car at a stop light that all I could see in my rear-view mirror was the very top of his head. And his head was bent down so I assume he was texting. There's a fine for that, too....
A few years back, one of our Regulars blew through our parking lot at about 50, tried to make the corner at the other end, and rolled and totaled his pickup. He wasn't seriously injured, but he's slowed down quite a bit since then.
Maybe it's true that people never slow down until they're in a crash. If so, all I can say is Full Speed Ahead, Folks! There's a wreck out there with your name all over it!
Think this is nothing? Think maybe your area has even scarier drivers? As a public service, please feel free to submit your frightening evidence below....
I can say this without fear of contradiction, because anybody who's ever lived here knows exactly how bad it really is.
It's unspeakable.
I've lived in the San Francisco Bay area -- where the 45-minute drive home turned into 3 hours when it rained; in San Antonio, Texas -- where I was run off the road twice in the first week because I couldn't drive fast enough; and in Ankara, Turkey -- where they sometimes drive on the sidewalks.
They don't drive on the sidewalks here yet, but it's getting close.
Drivers in the Seattle area are the most distracted, most stressed-out, most careless, rudest, scariest folks to ever take to the roads.
They're out of control.
Every week there's another story in the media about someone driving the wrong direction on the freeway, causing massive accidents. Only occasionally are these folks suicidal or drunk.
Late last year we had three ugly car wrecks in the same WEEK out in front of the store where I work. In all three cases, the drivers refused to slow down even though it was raining, they didn't watch where they were going, were completely oblivious of other drivers. Miraculously, everybody walked away from the crashes. But five cars were totaled.
These people scare me.
Drivers here are constantly blabbing on their cellphones while behind the wheel -- even though it's a $125 fine if they get caught.
They change lanes suddenly, without warning, almost always without using their turn signals, shoe-horning their way into the slightest gap between cars. One guy I saw on the freeway last week bounced all over from lane to lane, refused to choose one lane and stay in it, never used his turn signals once, & was long gone before I could focus on his license-plate number.
They think speed limits are a joke: 35 miles per hour really means 40, 40 means 50, 50 means 65 -- & 60 means whatever you can get away with.
And they don't slow down when it rains -- which is basically 9 months of the year.
Some of them forget to turn on their headlights when it's pitch dark.
This state is lucky I'm not a cop, because I could easily write a couple hundred tickets each day. (Of course that'd keep the revenue coming in!)
Last week on the way to work I glanced at the driver behind me in my rear-view mirror. She was talking on her cellphone with one hand, brushing her hair with the other, and must have been handling the steering wheel with her knees.
Another guy a few days back got SO CLOSE to the back end of my car at a stop light that all I could see in my rear-view mirror was the very top of his head. And his head was bent down so I assume he was texting. There's a fine for that, too....
A few years back, one of our Regulars blew through our parking lot at about 50, tried to make the corner at the other end, and rolled and totaled his pickup. He wasn't seriously injured, but he's slowed down quite a bit since then.
Maybe it's true that people never slow down until they're in a crash. If so, all I can say is Full Speed Ahead, Folks! There's a wreck out there with your name all over it!
Think this is nothing? Think maybe your area has even scarier drivers? As a public service, please feel free to submit your frightening evidence below....
Thursday, February 21, 2013
#635: Money-making secrets of the Illuminati -- Revealed!
So, if you're going out for dinner you might want to know in advance what kind of sounds the restaurant's muzak system will be playing -- it might make the difference between a great dinner & indigestion, if you're a big enuf music fan.
So, if you're gonna be around the Bremerton/Port Orchard, Wash., area anytime soon, here's what a few local restaurants will be playing while you try to eat. Can't speak for the rest of the country, of course, but this research is To Be Continued....
International House of Pancakes, East Bremerton -- Too much new stuff, but 1 song stopped me in mid-bite: Dwight Twilley Band's "I'm on Fire," which I hadn't heard since about 1976. Also Chic's "I Want Your Love," which I also hadn't heard in awhile. Music's at just the right volume, tho again there was 2 much stuff from the past decade. + we had the place 2 Rselves at 8:30pm & the food was good & cheap. Grade: A-.
Shari's, East Bremerton -- Decent mostly-upbeat '60s/'70s hits, played not-quite-loud-enuf, not too much overplayed crap -- the big minus they earned for playing "Desperado" is more than outweighed by the + they get for Heart's "Love Alive." Other songs: The Chain, Wild Night, Levon, For What it's Worth, Loves Me Like a Rock, Poor Poor Pitiful Me. You can also overhear intresting conversations from nearby booths. Overheard from the young couple in the booth next to ours: "California's REALLY tough on smokers." Ha, welcome to Washington, kids -- you ain't seen nothin' yet. B+.
Family Pancake House, East Bremerton -- Mostly '70s pop & R&B hits by Nilsson, Cat Stevens, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, The Stylistics. Sounds good. Decent food, too. B+.
Shari's, Port Orchard -- Mostly obscure '50s & '60s rock&roll, R&B and pop hits that will keep your head spinning. Everything from Little Richard (doing WHAT? Couldn't place it) to "Along Comes Mary." Should be LOUDER. B+.
Shari's, Silverdale -- '70s hits played TOO LOW. The big minus they got 4 playing Dr. Hook's "Only Sixteen" & Elvin Bishop's "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" was more than counterbalanced by big +'s 4 "The Only Living Boy in New York" & "Morning Has Broken." Food was great, service was solid. B+.
Family Pancake House, Bremerton -- Everything from '50s rock&roll to current rock & country, played a little bit too low. Too much alternative rock. B-.
Denny's, Bremerton -- '80s hits by the likes of Blondie, The Clash, Split Enz, Wang Chung, Duran Duran, Thomas Dolby, Tommy Tutone, The Knack (ugh), Squeeze(?), etc., played so low that they R mostly buried by the heavy-metal radio sounds coming out of the kitchen. The atmosphere & the employees R usually pretty great. The food is sometimes pretty good too. But still, musically speaking, C+.
Spiro's, Silverdale -- Too much low-key current stuff, with 1 suprise: Florence + the Machine's raucous "Dog Days Are Over." Music played 2 softly, tho the view's nice & the pizza & lasagna were Xcellent. C+.
So, if you're gonna be around the Bremerton/Port Orchard, Wash., area anytime soon, here's what a few local restaurants will be playing while you try to eat. Can't speak for the rest of the country, of course, but this research is To Be Continued....
International House of Pancakes, East Bremerton -- Too much new stuff, but 1 song stopped me in mid-bite: Dwight Twilley Band's "I'm on Fire," which I hadn't heard since about 1976. Also Chic's "I Want Your Love," which I also hadn't heard in awhile. Music's at just the right volume, tho again there was 2 much stuff from the past decade. + we had the place 2 Rselves at 8:30pm & the food was good & cheap. Grade: A-.
Shari's, East Bremerton -- Decent mostly-upbeat '60s/'70s hits, played not-quite-loud-enuf, not too much overplayed crap -- the big minus they earned for playing "Desperado" is more than outweighed by the + they get for Heart's "Love Alive." Other songs: The Chain, Wild Night, Levon, For What it's Worth, Loves Me Like a Rock, Poor Poor Pitiful Me. You can also overhear intresting conversations from nearby booths. Overheard from the young couple in the booth next to ours: "California's REALLY tough on smokers." Ha, welcome to Washington, kids -- you ain't seen nothin' yet. B+.
Family Pancake House, East Bremerton -- Mostly '70s pop & R&B hits by Nilsson, Cat Stevens, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, The Stylistics. Sounds good. Decent food, too. B+.
Shari's, Port Orchard -- Mostly obscure '50s & '60s rock&roll, R&B and pop hits that will keep your head spinning. Everything from Little Richard (doing WHAT? Couldn't place it) to "Along Comes Mary." Should be LOUDER. B+.
Shari's, Silverdale -- '70s hits played TOO LOW. The big minus they got 4 playing Dr. Hook's "Only Sixteen" & Elvin Bishop's "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" was more than counterbalanced by big +'s 4 "The Only Living Boy in New York" & "Morning Has Broken." Food was great, service was solid. B+.
Family Pancake House, Bremerton -- Everything from '50s rock&roll to current rock & country, played a little bit too low. Too much alternative rock. B-.
Denny's, Bremerton -- '80s hits by the likes of Blondie, The Clash, Split Enz, Wang Chung, Duran Duran, Thomas Dolby, Tommy Tutone, The Knack (ugh), Squeeze(?), etc., played so low that they R mostly buried by the heavy-metal radio sounds coming out of the kitchen. The atmosphere & the employees R usually pretty great. The food is sometimes pretty good too. But still, musically speaking, C+.
Spiro's, Silverdale -- Too much low-key current stuff, with 1 suprise: Florence + the Machine's raucous "Dog Days Are Over." Music played 2 softly, tho the view's nice & the pizza & lasagna were Xcellent. C+.
Monday, January 28, 2013
#628: Future Playlist 2
We have been advised by our Official Legal Advisers that releasing Your Future Playlist thru clever asides, hints & hidden subtexts is not gonna cut any ice with music fans.
So. A partial playlist appears below, featuring a few of R favorite artists & summa their songs you can Xpect 2 hear blaring from local rock&roll stations in the not-2-distant future. This is just the beginning, but it should give you something to chew on 4 awhile.
If you've been reading here 4 very long, you'll probly find few suprises below. But if you're a more "mainstream" radio listener, this list might mess you up a bit.
Get used 2 it. It's For Your Own Good. Really.
More soon.
Beatles -- I'm Down, Hey Bulldog, Things We Said Today, Everybody's Trying to be My Baby, There's a Place, You Never Give Me Your Money, Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End, Old Brown Shoe, The Night Before, I Need You, Oh! Darling, Dear Prudence, I Will, In My Life, Thank You Girl, I Don't Want to Spoil the Party, Tomorrow Never Knows, Tell Me Why, Any Time at All, And Your Bird Can Sing, It's Only Love, For No One, I'll be Back, No Reply, I'm a Loser, Birthday, Across the Universe.
Moody Blues -- Peak Hour, Evening: Time to Get Away, Twilight Time, Simple Game, The Actor, Voices in the Sky, Lovely to See You, Never Comes the Day, Gypsy, Eyes of a Child Part 2, Don't You Feel Small?, It's Up to You, Our Guessing Game, One More Time to Live, You Can Never Go Home, You and Me, Land of Make-Believe, For My Lady, Meanwhile, In My World, Veteran Cosmic Rocker, Blue World, Sorry.
Yes -- The South Side of the Sky, Wondrous Stories, Every Little Thing, No Opportunity Necessary No Experience Needed, Looking Around, Sweet Dreams, America, Survival, Time and a Word, Close to the Edge (live), And You and I (live), Siberian Khatru (live), Starship Trooper (live), Yours is no Disgrace (live), Perpetual Change (live), Changes.
Fleetwood Mac -- Oh Well, The Green Manalishi, Dissatisfied, Hypnotized, Why?, Silver Springs, I Know I'm Not Wrong, Brown Eyes, Never Make Me Cry, Sisters of the Moon, Monday Morning (live), Fireflies (live), One More Night (live), I'm So Afraid (live), The Farmer's Daughter (live), World Turning, Wish You Were Here, Eyes of the World, Straight Back, Isn't it Midnight?, Tango in the Night, Big Love (live), Go Insane (live), Murrow Turning Over in His Grave.
Genesis -- Vancouver, Madman Moon, Ripples, Entangled, Robbery Assault and Battery, Dance on a Volcano, Squonk, Afterglow, Your Own Special Way, Supper's Ready (live), The Carpet Crawlers (live), Firth of Fifth (live), The Musical Box (closing section) (live), Down and Out, Deep in the Motherlode, Undertow, Snowbound, Burning Rope, The Lady Lies, Inside and Out, You Might Recall, Keep it Dark, Like it or Not.
Peter Gabriel -- Family Snapshot.
Phil Collins -- Droned/Hand in Hand.
King Crimson -- Epitaph, 21st Century Schizoid Man, Larks Tongues in Aspic Parts 1 & 2 (live), Doctor Diamond (live), Easy Money, The Talking Drum, The Great Deceiver, The Night Watch, Fracture, Red, Starless, Frame by Frame, Sleepless.
Paul McCartney & Wings -- Magneto and Titanium Man, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five, Love in Song.
Ronettes -- I Wonder, The Best Part of Breaking Up.
Hawkwind -- You'd Better Believe It, Lost Johnny, Psychedelic Warlords (Disappear in Smoke), Sonic Attack, Urban Guerrilla.
Roxy Music -- The Thrill of it All, Oh Yeah (On the Radio), Over You, Same Old Scene, Dance Away.
Clannad -- Second Nature, The Wild Cry, Blackstairs, Indoor, Journey's End, In Fortune's Hand.
REO Speedwagon -- Blazing Your Own Trail Again.
Journey -- Daydream, People and Places, Something to Hide, Feeling That Way/Anytime, Patiently, Lights.
Caravan -- For Richard (live), The World is Yours, Aristocracy, Memory Lain/Hugh/Headloss, Surprise Surprise, The Dog The Dog He's at it Again, Be All Right, Place of My Own, Virgin on the Ridiculous, Can You Hear Me?, All the Way (With John Wayne's Single-Handed Liberation of Paris), Nine Feet Underground, Disassociation, Songs and Signs, And I Wish I was Stoned.
Camel -- Never Let Go, Rhayader/Rhayader Goes to Town, Flight of the Snow Goose, Spirit of the Water, Unevensong, First Light, Rain Dances, Breathless, Echoes, Down on the Farm, Summer Lightning, City Life, Captured, Sasquatch, Manic, Wait, Eye of the Storm, Who We Are.
Led Zeppelin -- The Rover, Carouselambra, Hot Dog, Fool in the Rain, When the Levee Breaks.
Bob Seger -- Feel Like a Number, Khatmandu, Roll Me Away.
Jackson Browne -- The Fuse, Hold On Hold Out, Disco Apocalypse, The Pretender.
Grateful Dead -- Uncle John's Band, Passenger.
Eagles -- James Dean, Outlaw Man, Seven Bridges Road, The Greeks Don't Want No Freaks.
Doobie Brothers -- Nobody, Neal's Fandango.
Cars -- Dangerous Type, Stranger Eyes, Bye Bye Love, All Mixed Up.
Kenny Loggins -- Conviction of the Heart.
Turtles -- Grim Reaper of Love, We'll Meet Again, Lady-O, Sound Asleep.
Sex Pistols -- God Save the Queen.
The Jam -- That's Entertainment, Funeral Pyre, Thick as Thieves, Little Boy Soldiers, Private Hell, Strange Town, Wasteland.
Pete Townshend -- Slit Skirts, Uniforms, North Country Girl, A Little is Enough, Jools and Jim, Gonna Get Ya, Now and Then, Misunderstood, My Baby Gives it Away, Zelda, Give Blood.
The Who -- Daily Records, Another Tricky Day, Slip Kid, Blue Red and Gray, The Relay, Bell Boy, Love Reign O'er Me, Melancholia, I'm the Face, Armenia City in the Sky, My Wife, Baba O'Riley, Music Must Change, The Song is Over, Bargain, Little Billy.
Go-Go's -- Can't Stop the World, Capture the Light, I'm With You, Forget That Day, I'm the Only One.
Bangles -- Hero Takes a Fall, Dover Beach, Restless, Going Down to Liverpool, Silent Treatment, Let it Go, September Gurls, Angels Don't Fall in Love, Be With You, Everything I Wanted, Following.
Steely Dan -- Gaucho, Third World Man, Don't Take Me Alive, Dirty Work, Berrytown, Pretzel Logic, My Old School, Bodhisattva, Any Major Dude Will Tell You.
To Be Continued....
So. A partial playlist appears below, featuring a few of R favorite artists & summa their songs you can Xpect 2 hear blaring from local rock&roll stations in the not-2-distant future. This is just the beginning, but it should give you something to chew on 4 awhile.
If you've been reading here 4 very long, you'll probly find few suprises below. But if you're a more "mainstream" radio listener, this list might mess you up a bit.
Get used 2 it. It's For Your Own Good. Really.
More soon.
Beatles -- I'm Down, Hey Bulldog, Things We Said Today, Everybody's Trying to be My Baby, There's a Place, You Never Give Me Your Money, Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End, Old Brown Shoe, The Night Before, I Need You, Oh! Darling, Dear Prudence, I Will, In My Life, Thank You Girl, I Don't Want to Spoil the Party, Tomorrow Never Knows, Tell Me Why, Any Time at All, And Your Bird Can Sing, It's Only Love, For No One, I'll be Back, No Reply, I'm a Loser, Birthday, Across the Universe.
Moody Blues -- Peak Hour, Evening: Time to Get Away, Twilight Time, Simple Game, The Actor, Voices in the Sky, Lovely to See You, Never Comes the Day, Gypsy, Eyes of a Child Part 2, Don't You Feel Small?, It's Up to You, Our Guessing Game, One More Time to Live, You Can Never Go Home, You and Me, Land of Make-Believe, For My Lady, Meanwhile, In My World, Veteran Cosmic Rocker, Blue World, Sorry.
Yes -- The South Side of the Sky, Wondrous Stories, Every Little Thing, No Opportunity Necessary No Experience Needed, Looking Around, Sweet Dreams, America, Survival, Time and a Word, Close to the Edge (live), And You and I (live), Siberian Khatru (live), Starship Trooper (live), Yours is no Disgrace (live), Perpetual Change (live), Changes.
Fleetwood Mac -- Oh Well, The Green Manalishi, Dissatisfied, Hypnotized, Why?, Silver Springs, I Know I'm Not Wrong, Brown Eyes, Never Make Me Cry, Sisters of the Moon, Monday Morning (live), Fireflies (live), One More Night (live), I'm So Afraid (live), The Farmer's Daughter (live), World Turning, Wish You Were Here, Eyes of the World, Straight Back, Isn't it Midnight?, Tango in the Night, Big Love (live), Go Insane (live), Murrow Turning Over in His Grave.
Genesis -- Vancouver, Madman Moon, Ripples, Entangled, Robbery Assault and Battery, Dance on a Volcano, Squonk, Afterglow, Your Own Special Way, Supper's Ready (live), The Carpet Crawlers (live), Firth of Fifth (live), The Musical Box (closing section) (live), Down and Out, Deep in the Motherlode, Undertow, Snowbound, Burning Rope, The Lady Lies, Inside and Out, You Might Recall, Keep it Dark, Like it or Not.
Peter Gabriel -- Family Snapshot.
Phil Collins -- Droned/Hand in Hand.
King Crimson -- Epitaph, 21st Century Schizoid Man, Larks Tongues in Aspic Parts 1 & 2 (live), Doctor Diamond (live), Easy Money, The Talking Drum, The Great Deceiver, The Night Watch, Fracture, Red, Starless, Frame by Frame, Sleepless.
Paul McCartney & Wings -- Magneto and Titanium Man, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five, Love in Song.
Ronettes -- I Wonder, The Best Part of Breaking Up.
Hawkwind -- You'd Better Believe It, Lost Johnny, Psychedelic Warlords (Disappear in Smoke), Sonic Attack, Urban Guerrilla.
Roxy Music -- The Thrill of it All, Oh Yeah (On the Radio), Over You, Same Old Scene, Dance Away.
Clannad -- Second Nature, The Wild Cry, Blackstairs, Indoor, Journey's End, In Fortune's Hand.
REO Speedwagon -- Blazing Your Own Trail Again.
Journey -- Daydream, People and Places, Something to Hide, Feeling That Way/Anytime, Patiently, Lights.
Caravan -- For Richard (live), The World is Yours, Aristocracy, Memory Lain/Hugh/Headloss, Surprise Surprise, The Dog The Dog He's at it Again, Be All Right, Place of My Own, Virgin on the Ridiculous, Can You Hear Me?, All the Way (With John Wayne's Single-Handed Liberation of Paris), Nine Feet Underground, Disassociation, Songs and Signs, And I Wish I was Stoned.
Camel -- Never Let Go, Rhayader/Rhayader Goes to Town, Flight of the Snow Goose, Spirit of the Water, Unevensong, First Light, Rain Dances, Breathless, Echoes, Down on the Farm, Summer Lightning, City Life, Captured, Sasquatch, Manic, Wait, Eye of the Storm, Who We Are.
Led Zeppelin -- The Rover, Carouselambra, Hot Dog, Fool in the Rain, When the Levee Breaks.
Bob Seger -- Feel Like a Number, Khatmandu, Roll Me Away.
Jackson Browne -- The Fuse, Hold On Hold Out, Disco Apocalypse, The Pretender.
Grateful Dead -- Uncle John's Band, Passenger.
Eagles -- James Dean, Outlaw Man, Seven Bridges Road, The Greeks Don't Want No Freaks.
Doobie Brothers -- Nobody, Neal's Fandango.
Cars -- Dangerous Type, Stranger Eyes, Bye Bye Love, All Mixed Up.
Kenny Loggins -- Conviction of the Heart.
Turtles -- Grim Reaper of Love, We'll Meet Again, Lady-O, Sound Asleep.
Sex Pistols -- God Save the Queen.
The Jam -- That's Entertainment, Funeral Pyre, Thick as Thieves, Little Boy Soldiers, Private Hell, Strange Town, Wasteland.
Pete Townshend -- Slit Skirts, Uniforms, North Country Girl, A Little is Enough, Jools and Jim, Gonna Get Ya, Now and Then, Misunderstood, My Baby Gives it Away, Zelda, Give Blood.
The Who -- Daily Records, Another Tricky Day, Slip Kid, Blue Red and Gray, The Relay, Bell Boy, Love Reign O'er Me, Melancholia, I'm the Face, Armenia City in the Sky, My Wife, Baba O'Riley, Music Must Change, The Song is Over, Bargain, Little Billy.
Go-Go's -- Can't Stop the World, Capture the Light, I'm With You, Forget That Day, I'm the Only One.
Bangles -- Hero Takes a Fall, Dover Beach, Restless, Going Down to Liverpool, Silent Treatment, Let it Go, September Gurls, Angels Don't Fall in Love, Be With You, Everything I Wanted, Following.
Steely Dan -- Gaucho, Third World Man, Don't Take Me Alive, Dirty Work, Berrytown, Pretzel Logic, My Old School, Bodhisattva, Any Major Dude Will Tell You.
To Be Continued....
Sunday, January 27, 2013
#627: Your Future Playlist
OK, probably I've been listening 2 too much late-nite Talk Radio with their massive behind-the-scenes conspiracy theories ... but I thot it's probly time to come clean with you about my own big project....
We here at TAD's Back-Up Plan have been working steadily, quietly, clandestinely, behind the scenes ... to take over the nation's broadcasting airwaves.
At least the rock&roll stations.
This has been in the works for quite some time & involves intricacies which I simply cannot divulge on a public website such as this one. But rest assured that our nationwide takeover is at hand. & it's coming soon.
At 1st we here at TAD's had planned -- once we took over -- to open up the playlists of rock&roll stations nationwide & let real, live, honest2Ghod DJ's -- real people sorta like you & me -- pick what kind of music they wanted 2 play over the air, have some fun with it, put some LIFE back into broadcasting, get us away from that all-commanding Bottom Line. & we thot with such power in their hands, maybe we'd hear some good new tunes, 2.
But we have been dismayed to discover that 4 some folks, that's simply TOO MUCH FREEDOM, it's TOO SCARY. People get edgy when there's no safety net, nothing familiar 2 grab hold of.
Which reminds us here at TAD's that music can also be used as a sort of mind control -- a way to soothe you & keep you distracted from what's really going on.
So, we've had a bit of a re-think about our World Domination plans. & we didn't want 2 do it, but we've been forced 2 come up with a new playlist 4 the new millennium.
This new playlist will be coming SOON.
It will include no "hits." Or at least not what we once thot of as hits.
But what does that word mean anymore, anyway? We've already journeyed deep into a scary new age in which nobody knows what the #1 song in the country is anymore -- depends on what list you look at, doesn't it? & nobody cares anyway. Not at all like when I was a kid & EVERYBODY KNEW what the #1 song was -- everyone KNEW what was Hot & what was Not.
...So. This new playlist will be revealed in upcoming posts. It will be revealed indirectly, of course -- in codes, in subtext, in afterthoughts -- as befits a massive behind-the-scenes conspiracy.
But rest assured that this new playlist will include lots of GOOD MUSIC, by artists you know well -- it'll just be stuff you've hardly ever heard on radio before.... At least, not in the last 35 years. There are sure to be some surprises. You'll want to hold on tight on the curves.
Again, we would've preferred a doors-wide-open policy -- & that's what we still hope to transition into, once everybody's aboard. But we guarantee that the music you'll soon be hearing on your "favorite"(?) local radio station (is there still such a thing?) will be FAR better than the soul-shriveling Same Old Stuff the Cumulus- and Clear Channel-owned stations of these grim & ugly modern times prefer to play these days.
The new list -- & the radio takeover -- is Coming SOON. Watch for the signs. Stay awake for the hints. Look closely for the double-meanings.
We suggest that you get acquainted with these new tunes pretty damn quick. Because you're going to be hearing a lot of them....
We here at TAD's Back-Up Plan have been working steadily, quietly, clandestinely, behind the scenes ... to take over the nation's broadcasting airwaves.
At least the rock&roll stations.
This has been in the works for quite some time & involves intricacies which I simply cannot divulge on a public website such as this one. But rest assured that our nationwide takeover is at hand. & it's coming soon.
At 1st we here at TAD's had planned -- once we took over -- to open up the playlists of rock&roll stations nationwide & let real, live, honest2Ghod DJ's -- real people sorta like you & me -- pick what kind of music they wanted 2 play over the air, have some fun with it, put some LIFE back into broadcasting, get us away from that all-commanding Bottom Line. & we thot with such power in their hands, maybe we'd hear some good new tunes, 2.
But we have been dismayed to discover that 4 some folks, that's simply TOO MUCH FREEDOM, it's TOO SCARY. People get edgy when there's no safety net, nothing familiar 2 grab hold of.
Which reminds us here at TAD's that music can also be used as a sort of mind control -- a way to soothe you & keep you distracted from what's really going on.
So, we've had a bit of a re-think about our World Domination plans. & we didn't want 2 do it, but we've been forced 2 come up with a new playlist 4 the new millennium.
This new playlist will be coming SOON.
It will include no "hits." Or at least not what we once thot of as hits.
But what does that word mean anymore, anyway? We've already journeyed deep into a scary new age in which nobody knows what the #1 song in the country is anymore -- depends on what list you look at, doesn't it? & nobody cares anyway. Not at all like when I was a kid & EVERYBODY KNEW what the #1 song was -- everyone KNEW what was Hot & what was Not.
...So. This new playlist will be revealed in upcoming posts. It will be revealed indirectly, of course -- in codes, in subtext, in afterthoughts -- as befits a massive behind-the-scenes conspiracy.
But rest assured that this new playlist will include lots of GOOD MUSIC, by artists you know well -- it'll just be stuff you've hardly ever heard on radio before.... At least, not in the last 35 years. There are sure to be some surprises. You'll want to hold on tight on the curves.
Again, we would've preferred a doors-wide-open policy -- & that's what we still hope to transition into, once everybody's aboard. But we guarantee that the music you'll soon be hearing on your "favorite"(?) local radio station (is there still such a thing?) will be FAR better than the soul-shriveling Same Old Stuff the Cumulus- and Clear Channel-owned stations of these grim & ugly modern times prefer to play these days.
The new list -- & the radio takeover -- is Coming SOON. Watch for the signs. Stay awake for the hints. Look closely for the double-meanings.
We suggest that you get acquainted with these new tunes pretty damn quick. Because you're going to be hearing a lot of them....
Sunday, January 13, 2013
#623: Hadda dream 2
Had another 1 of THOSE dreams, music dreams. Ghod knows why. Thot it'd B worth sketching-out here cos it was so odd....
Very vivid: I'm at some kinda Southern Colonial-style house somewhere, big old-style wraparound covered front porch with railings, big windows in the house, very airy, huge grounds all around.
...& 4 some reason I'm replacing bass-player & vocalist Mont Campbell in the British early-'70s experimental/art-rock/Canterbury trio Egg. & I don't even play the bass. Or sing.
I'm sitting in the big bright airy drawing room of this almost-mansion, drinking coffee & talking over whatthehell we're gonna do at some quickly-approaching gig, talking with long-haired glasses-wearing keyboard whiz Dave Stewart & drummer Clive Brooks.
I don't know why I'm here or how I got the job. & I say so.
Because I've only heard about 1/2adozen Egg "songs," & wasn't even able 2 listen all the way thru their last album, 1974's arty & odd THE CIVIL SURFACE. I'm not really even a fan.
But Dave & Clive don't take it personally. We're joking around & I'm laughing nervously cos I have NO IDEA what I'm gonna do at this quickly-approaching gig, which might even B scheduled 4 THIS VERY NITE at this plantation or whatever.
It's a beautiful, mild summer day. We step outside, out in2 the huge yard, me strumming a guitar (?! I don't play 1 of those either), & we continue 2 sit & laff at R strange predicament.
Because I don't know their material & we've never worked 2gether B4, we decide we could just sorta jam & noodle around & that might possibly fill up an hr or 90 minutes of performance.
Dave is philosophical about it: "We could do 1 long piece and call it 'This Will Take Up 20 Minutes,' and then do another long piece and announce it as 'This Will Take Up 20 More Minutes.'"
And we laff about this. It's just about what you'd Xpect from a band that titled their compositions with names like "Long Piece No. 2."
At this point the dream faded out & I woke up, but I'd like 2 know: What do these dreams MEAN, Sigmund?
I hardly ever dream. But a couple nites ago I dreamed I was a new member of TV's NCIS team. & I know that's where I was Bcos Agent Gibbs was there, scowling disapprovingly the whole time....
COMING UP NEXT: Cheers(?!) for Seattle-area radio ... & 15 Great Overlooked "Pop" Albums....
Very vivid: I'm at some kinda Southern Colonial-style house somewhere, big old-style wraparound covered front porch with railings, big windows in the house, very airy, huge grounds all around.
...& 4 some reason I'm replacing bass-player & vocalist Mont Campbell in the British early-'70s experimental/art-rock/Canterbury trio Egg. & I don't even play the bass. Or sing.
I'm sitting in the big bright airy drawing room of this almost-mansion, drinking coffee & talking over whatthehell we're gonna do at some quickly-approaching gig, talking with long-haired glasses-wearing keyboard whiz Dave Stewart & drummer Clive Brooks.
I don't know why I'm here or how I got the job. & I say so.
Because I've only heard about 1/2adozen Egg "songs," & wasn't even able 2 listen all the way thru their last album, 1974's arty & odd THE CIVIL SURFACE. I'm not really even a fan.
But Dave & Clive don't take it personally. We're joking around & I'm laughing nervously cos I have NO IDEA what I'm gonna do at this quickly-approaching gig, which might even B scheduled 4 THIS VERY NITE at this plantation or whatever.
It's a beautiful, mild summer day. We step outside, out in2 the huge yard, me strumming a guitar (?! I don't play 1 of those either), & we continue 2 sit & laff at R strange predicament.
Because I don't know their material & we've never worked 2gether B4, we decide we could just sorta jam & noodle around & that might possibly fill up an hr or 90 minutes of performance.
Dave is philosophical about it: "We could do 1 long piece and call it 'This Will Take Up 20 Minutes,' and then do another long piece and announce it as 'This Will Take Up 20 More Minutes.'"
And we laff about this. It's just about what you'd Xpect from a band that titled their compositions with names like "Long Piece No. 2."
At this point the dream faded out & I woke up, but I'd like 2 know: What do these dreams MEAN, Sigmund?
I hardly ever dream. But a couple nites ago I dreamed I was a new member of TV's NCIS team. & I know that's where I was Bcos Agent Gibbs was there, scowling disapprovingly the whole time....
COMING UP NEXT: Cheers(?!) for Seattle-area radio ... & 15 Great Overlooked "Pop" Albums....
Thursday, December 6, 2012
#610: Powered by cashews
Hey, everybody needs SOMETHING, right? The stress of my job has turned me in2 a 2-pack-a-day man. & I'm not talking about cigarettes. I'm talking about an addiction MUCH more insidious, something that will send you to the Emergency Room MUCH faster.
I'm talking about cashews. Nature's perfect food. They're rich & tasty, they're salty, they're crunchy, they're not-too-filling. & there's something I think the weight-loss industry has missed-out on: If you overdo it on cashews, the weight will simply FALL OFF. Trust me on this.
I ought to patent "The Cashew Diet." I'm sure much of the reason 4 my still-fairly-trim figure is largely due 2 cashews. This isn't my 1st food addiction, but it's probly 1 of the longest-lasting. 4 at least the 9 years I've worked at the gas station, I've had 2 have at least 1 3-ounce package of cashews per day just 2 function. & on bad days that number goes up.
I'm not truly settled-in at work until I've started drinking a bottle of pineapple-mango-orange juice & started munching on a pack of cashews. Then I can Get On With It.
But the addiction goes back much farther. I remember discovering giant plastic jars of cashews at WalMart or Costco, taking the discount-priced treasure home, then going thru the whole thing in 2 or 3 days....
No wonder I ended up in the Emergency Room....
Of course, the longest lasting addiction I've had is coffee, with as much sugar & cream in it as I can stand. I don't think I'll ever break away from that 1. I started drinking coffee around age 13, even tho my Mother warned me away from it. In my 20's, my best friend Don Vincent & I could go thru multiple pots of coffee a day between the 2 of us.
Even now, I won't get out of bed if there's no coffee in the house. What's the point? & tho I can't drink much more than 2 big cups now B4 I start jittering 2 pieces, I've GOT 2 have it B4 I can get anywhere NEAR human. I never drive without at least 1 cup of coffee in me. & I can't face The Public without 2....
When I was younger, I had more food addictions, uglier 1's. I was a sucker 4 all kinds of candy & gum when I was a kid -- I'd chew gum til my jaws got tired. & 4 YEARS I was addicted 2 wint-o-green Life Savers, another perfect food. 2 bad you can't live on them....
After highschool, I became so hooked on cheeseburgers & chocolate milkshakes that it was practically a daily obsession. But 2 months of eating most of my meals at McDonald's while settling in2 my 1st newspaper job in Washington state may have ground that longtime addiction out of me. Now I can go MONTHS without a burger. & I can't REMEMBER the last time I had a chocolate shake....
Slightly later, when I was spending lotsa late nites at certain 24-hour cafes around the Boise, Idaho area, my perfect meal was a bacon&cheese omelette with a tossed green salad on the side, & a chocolate shake 2 wash it down. Guess you could say my taste "matured." Rumor had it that I married my X-wife because she made great omelettes. Mmmm, could be....
During my 2 years in Turkey with the Air Force, I lived on chocolate-frosted Pop Tarts -- for lunch, snacks, sometimes dinner -- 2 the point that when I left Turkey, my co-workers gave me a Turkish brass plate engraved with my name, the front of a box of Pop Tarts, & the legend "The Pop Tart Kid." The plate's still hanging on my bedroom wall. & the last time I saw a box of chocolate Pop Tarts, I finished it off in a couple of days....
These junk-food addictions, these guilty pleasures, they apparently run 4 awhile & then I'm cured. I figure I'll never get over my love 4 pizza, tacos, spaghetti, lasagna -- even a good burger. But this other stuff that's probly bad 4 me -- well, that's like listening 2 The Carpenters when you've got Led Zeppelin in the music collection, right?
I'm actually showing SOME signs of growing up, tho -- after years of struggling, a friend FINALLY got me 2 start taking vitamins & try 2 eat better. & it actually seems 2 B WORKING. At least sometimes.
Jeez, they'll expect me 2 start EXERCISING next....
I'm talking about cashews. Nature's perfect food. They're rich & tasty, they're salty, they're crunchy, they're not-too-filling. & there's something I think the weight-loss industry has missed-out on: If you overdo it on cashews, the weight will simply FALL OFF. Trust me on this.
I ought to patent "The Cashew Diet." I'm sure much of the reason 4 my still-fairly-trim figure is largely due 2 cashews. This isn't my 1st food addiction, but it's probly 1 of the longest-lasting. 4 at least the 9 years I've worked at the gas station, I've had 2 have at least 1 3-ounce package of cashews per day just 2 function. & on bad days that number goes up.
I'm not truly settled-in at work until I've started drinking a bottle of pineapple-mango-orange juice & started munching on a pack of cashews. Then I can Get On With It.
But the addiction goes back much farther. I remember discovering giant plastic jars of cashews at WalMart or Costco, taking the discount-priced treasure home, then going thru the whole thing in 2 or 3 days....
No wonder I ended up in the Emergency Room....
Of course, the longest lasting addiction I've had is coffee, with as much sugar & cream in it as I can stand. I don't think I'll ever break away from that 1. I started drinking coffee around age 13, even tho my Mother warned me away from it. In my 20's, my best friend Don Vincent & I could go thru multiple pots of coffee a day between the 2 of us.
Even now, I won't get out of bed if there's no coffee in the house. What's the point? & tho I can't drink much more than 2 big cups now B4 I start jittering 2 pieces, I've GOT 2 have it B4 I can get anywhere NEAR human. I never drive without at least 1 cup of coffee in me. & I can't face The Public without 2....
When I was younger, I had more food addictions, uglier 1's. I was a sucker 4 all kinds of candy & gum when I was a kid -- I'd chew gum til my jaws got tired. & 4 YEARS I was addicted 2 wint-o-green Life Savers, another perfect food. 2 bad you can't live on them....
After highschool, I became so hooked on cheeseburgers & chocolate milkshakes that it was practically a daily obsession. But 2 months of eating most of my meals at McDonald's while settling in2 my 1st newspaper job in Washington state may have ground that longtime addiction out of me. Now I can go MONTHS without a burger. & I can't REMEMBER the last time I had a chocolate shake....
Slightly later, when I was spending lotsa late nites at certain 24-hour cafes around the Boise, Idaho area, my perfect meal was a bacon&cheese omelette with a tossed green salad on the side, & a chocolate shake 2 wash it down. Guess you could say my taste "matured." Rumor had it that I married my X-wife because she made great omelettes. Mmmm, could be....
During my 2 years in Turkey with the Air Force, I lived on chocolate-frosted Pop Tarts -- for lunch, snacks, sometimes dinner -- 2 the point that when I left Turkey, my co-workers gave me a Turkish brass plate engraved with my name, the front of a box of Pop Tarts, & the legend "The Pop Tart Kid." The plate's still hanging on my bedroom wall. & the last time I saw a box of chocolate Pop Tarts, I finished it off in a couple of days....
These junk-food addictions, these guilty pleasures, they apparently run 4 awhile & then I'm cured. I figure I'll never get over my love 4 pizza, tacos, spaghetti, lasagna -- even a good burger. But this other stuff that's probly bad 4 me -- well, that's like listening 2 The Carpenters when you've got Led Zeppelin in the music collection, right?
I'm actually showing SOME signs of growing up, tho -- after years of struggling, a friend FINALLY got me 2 start taking vitamins & try 2 eat better. & it actually seems 2 B WORKING. At least sometimes.
Jeez, they'll expect me 2 start EXERCISING next....
Saturday, February 25, 2012
#531: Messin' 5
Hello, Mothership? TAD here.
Think there might B some hope 4 these humans after all. Am continuing 2 use lite Strange Music Therapy on them at every possible opportunity while "working," & Fri nite's session had more responses than NE evening so far. Research & testing will continue. Recent playlists have included:
Go-Go's -- Head Over Heels, You Thought, Forget That Day, Capture the Light, I'm With You.
Bangles -- If She Knew What She Wants, Let it Go, September Gurls, Angels Don't Fall in Love, Not Like You, Manic Monday, Different Light, Walk Like an Egyptian, Return Post, Hero Takes a Fall, All About You, Dover Beach, Going Down to Liverpool.
Wigwam -- Bless Your Lucky Stars, Kite, Do or Die, Simple Human Kindness.
Golden Earring -- Snot Love in Spain.
The Move -- Do Ya, Message from the Country.
The Pop -- Go!
Camel -- Sasquatch, Manic.
Tears for Fears -- Broken, Head Over Heels.
'Til Tuesday -- Maybe Monday.
Icicle Works -- A Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly).
Cream -- Badge.
Van Morrison -- Wild Night.
Paul McCartney -- No More Lonely Nights.
Youngbloods -- Get Together.
Tracey Ullman -- I'm Always Touched by Your Presence Dear.
Squeeze -- Pulling Mussels from the Shell.
A Flock of Seagulls -- I Ran, Space-Age Love Song.
Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- Stranded.
Steve Tibbetts -- Ur.
Glass Moon -- Solsbury Hill.
Roxy Music -- The Thrill of it All.
REO Speedwagon -- Roll With the Changes, Blazing Your Own Trail Again.
Journey -- Feeling That Way/Anytime.
Dave Edmunds -- Information.
Jeff Lynne -- Lift Me Up, Every Little Thing.
Heart -- Never.
ELO -- Twilight, The Way Life's Meant to Be.
Kansas -- Can I Tell You? (demo), Journey from MariaBronn, Song for America, Carry On Wayward Son, The Wall, What's On My Mind, Miracles Out of Nowhere, Questions of My Childhood, Cheyenne Anthem.
Easybeats -- Friday on My Mind.
Bobby Fuller Four -- I Fought the Law.
CCR -- Who'll Stop the Rain?
Stones -- Tumbling Dice.
Raiders -- Hungry.
Badfinger -- No Matter What, Baby Blue.
Cheap Trick -- Surrender.
Bob Seger -- Rock and Roll Never Forgets.
Five Man Electrical Band -- Absolutely Right.
Spencer Davis Group -- Gimme Some Lovin'.
Martha and the Vandellas -- Dancing in the Street.
Cyndi Lauper -- Money Changes Everything.
Buffalo Springfield -- Bluebird, Mr. Soul.
Jefferson Airplane -- Somebody to Love.
Three Dog Night -- Celebrate, Out in the Country, Shambala, Let Me Serenade You.
Chicago -- Feelin' Stronger Every Day.
Fanny -- Charity Ball.
Blue Ridge Rangers (John Fogerty) -- Hearts of Stone.
Freddy Cannon -- Palisades Park.
Brotherhood of Man -- United We Stand.
Bram Tchaikovsky -- Let's Dance.
Continue 2 think that -- at their best -- these humans might B worth some consideration B4 we take over their planet. On Fri nite, 1 guy asked me about Wigwam while the ominous, rumbling "Bless Your Lucky Stars" was playing -- he said they never heard much music from Finland while he was growing up in Detroit. When I asked if he thot it was turned up 2 loud, he said "Are you kidding?" 1 woman asked who was singing "You Thought" & was shocked 2 learn it was the Go-Go's, tho she thot she recognized the singer -- "Man, that's a blast from the past," she said. 1 woman way 2 young 2 have heard it the 1st time around recognized "Friday on My Mind" & sang along with it! An older gentleman asked "what group" was playing on "Ur" & was suprised 2 hear it was just 2 guys..... 1 guy asked about "Hearts of Stone" & wasn't suprised 2 hear it was really John Fogerty in disguise. 1 guy said while Tears for Fears' "Head Over Heels" was playing "You always have something good playing in here." Coupla women said at least I had some good tunes goin' while I worked. 1 older guy bounced around pretty good 2 "Information"....
...& as 4 me, I actually figured out a few more words to "Palisades Park" -- & I've only been listening 2 it 4 45 years....
So, I urge that this slightly-strange music therapy should continue. The humans seem to like it. Even stuff I hadn't played in awhile (Bangles, Go-Go's, Wigwam, Golden Earring, The Pop) sounded really good on Fri nite. & if I'm hearing new things in music I've bn listening-2 4 yrs, it must B doing good things 4 me, 2.
Hope 2 try out some new & even odder music in the evenings ahead.
More soon....
Think there might B some hope 4 these humans after all. Am continuing 2 use lite Strange Music Therapy on them at every possible opportunity while "working," & Fri nite's session had more responses than NE evening so far. Research & testing will continue. Recent playlists have included:
Go-Go's -- Head Over Heels, You Thought, Forget That Day, Capture the Light, I'm With You.
Bangles -- If She Knew What She Wants, Let it Go, September Gurls, Angels Don't Fall in Love, Not Like You, Manic Monday, Different Light, Walk Like an Egyptian, Return Post, Hero Takes a Fall, All About You, Dover Beach, Going Down to Liverpool.
Wigwam -- Bless Your Lucky Stars, Kite, Do or Die, Simple Human Kindness.
Golden Earring -- Snot Love in Spain.
The Move -- Do Ya, Message from the Country.
The Pop -- Go!
Camel -- Sasquatch, Manic.
Tears for Fears -- Broken, Head Over Heels.
'Til Tuesday -- Maybe Monday.
Icicle Works -- A Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly).
Cream -- Badge.
Van Morrison -- Wild Night.
Paul McCartney -- No More Lonely Nights.
Youngbloods -- Get Together.
Tracey Ullman -- I'm Always Touched by Your Presence Dear.
Squeeze -- Pulling Mussels from the Shell.
A Flock of Seagulls -- I Ran, Space-Age Love Song.
Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- Stranded.
Steve Tibbetts -- Ur.
Glass Moon -- Solsbury Hill.
Roxy Music -- The Thrill of it All.
REO Speedwagon -- Roll With the Changes, Blazing Your Own Trail Again.
Journey -- Feeling That Way/Anytime.
Dave Edmunds -- Information.
Jeff Lynne -- Lift Me Up, Every Little Thing.
Heart -- Never.
ELO -- Twilight, The Way Life's Meant to Be.
Kansas -- Can I Tell You? (demo), Journey from MariaBronn, Song for America, Carry On Wayward Son, The Wall, What's On My Mind, Miracles Out of Nowhere, Questions of My Childhood, Cheyenne Anthem.
Easybeats -- Friday on My Mind.
Bobby Fuller Four -- I Fought the Law.
CCR -- Who'll Stop the Rain?
Stones -- Tumbling Dice.
Raiders -- Hungry.
Badfinger -- No Matter What, Baby Blue.
Cheap Trick -- Surrender.
Bob Seger -- Rock and Roll Never Forgets.
Five Man Electrical Band -- Absolutely Right.
Spencer Davis Group -- Gimme Some Lovin'.
Martha and the Vandellas -- Dancing in the Street.
Cyndi Lauper -- Money Changes Everything.
Buffalo Springfield -- Bluebird, Mr. Soul.
Jefferson Airplane -- Somebody to Love.
Three Dog Night -- Celebrate, Out in the Country, Shambala, Let Me Serenade You.
Chicago -- Feelin' Stronger Every Day.
Fanny -- Charity Ball.
Blue Ridge Rangers (John Fogerty) -- Hearts of Stone.
Freddy Cannon -- Palisades Park.
Brotherhood of Man -- United We Stand.
Bram Tchaikovsky -- Let's Dance.
Continue 2 think that -- at their best -- these humans might B worth some consideration B4 we take over their planet. On Fri nite, 1 guy asked me about Wigwam while the ominous, rumbling "Bless Your Lucky Stars" was playing -- he said they never heard much music from Finland while he was growing up in Detroit. When I asked if he thot it was turned up 2 loud, he said "Are you kidding?" 1 woman asked who was singing "You Thought" & was shocked 2 learn it was the Go-Go's, tho she thot she recognized the singer -- "Man, that's a blast from the past," she said. 1 woman way 2 young 2 have heard it the 1st time around recognized "Friday on My Mind" & sang along with it! An older gentleman asked "what group" was playing on "Ur" & was suprised 2 hear it was just 2 guys..... 1 guy asked about "Hearts of Stone" & wasn't suprised 2 hear it was really John Fogerty in disguise. 1 guy said while Tears for Fears' "Head Over Heels" was playing "You always have something good playing in here." Coupla women said at least I had some good tunes goin' while I worked. 1 older guy bounced around pretty good 2 "Information"....
...& as 4 me, I actually figured out a few more words to "Palisades Park" -- & I've only been listening 2 it 4 45 years....
So, I urge that this slightly-strange music therapy should continue. The humans seem to like it. Even stuff I hadn't played in awhile (Bangles, Go-Go's, Wigwam, Golden Earring, The Pop) sounded really good on Fri nite. & if I'm hearing new things in music I've bn listening-2 4 yrs, it must B doing good things 4 me, 2.
Hope 2 try out some new & even odder music in the evenings ahead.
More soon....
Friday, February 10, 2012
#527: Messin' 3
Xperiments continue on the humans. Tho there have bn some signs of progress, I remain in grave doubt about these Earthpeople. I swear that during what they call the evening "rush hour" I could play "Deutschland Uber Alles" or Bloodrock's "D.O.A." on the store stereo & no1 would notice. Maybe I should try it as a test!
Nevertheless, the following "pop" songs were inflicted on the unknowing general public Thurs nite, with a few encouraging responses (which follow):
Hall & Oates -- How Does it Feel to be Back?
Pogues -- Lorelei.
Who -- I Can See for Miles.
Eagles -- Peaceful Easy Feeling, Seven Bridges Road, James Dean.
Outlaws -- I Can't Stop Loving You.
Georgia Satellites -- Keep Your Hands to Yourself.
Aerosmith -- Dude Looks Like a Lady.
Billy Ocean -- Love Really Hurts Without You.
Quarterflash -- Find Another Fool.
B.W. Stevenson -- My Maria.
Tricia Yearwood -- X's and O's.
Mary-Chapin Carpenter -- Downtown Train, This Shirt, You Win Again, Middle Ground, The Hard Way, He Thinks He'll Keep Her, Passionate Kisses.
Doobie Brothers -- Nobody.
Guess Who -- No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature.
Mott the Hoople -- All the Young Dudes.
Warren Zevon -- Werewolves of London.
Bubble Puppy -- Hot Smoke and Sassafras.
Kinks -- Victoria, Village Green Preservation Society, Dead-End Street, Shangri-La, Apeman, Sunny Afternoon.
Men at Work -- No Sign of Yesterday.
Buffalo Springfield -- Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing, Broken Arrow, Rock and Roll Woman, Go and Say Goodbye, On the Way Home.
Joan Armatrading -- I Love it When You Call Me Names, Drop the Pilot, When I Get it Right, Temptation, Talking to the Wall, Me Myself I, All the Way from America, I Need You, The Weakness in Me, Persona Grata.
Monkees -- Porpoise Song, Tapioca Tundra, Your Auntie Grizelda, Zilch, No Time, Sunny Girlfriend, The Door into Summer, Love is Only Sleeping, Daily Nightly.
Lindsey Buckingham & Stevie Nicks -- Without a Leg to Stand On.
Fleetwood Mac -- World Turning, I'm So Afraid (live), The Farmer's Daughter, Silver Springs, Fireflies, One More Night.
...Not the most outlandish lineup, but 1 must fit in, & a good proportion of these Rn't normally played on US radio.
RESPONSES: 1 Regular said he liked coming in 2 the store at nite & hearing the music. 1 young woman said she liked coming in at nite 'cos the music keeps things lively (this was during "Tapioca Tundra"); I responded that the music keeps me awake -- & HAPPY. 1 man asked about Joan Armatrading during "Talking to the Wall," so I got a chance 2 show-off summa my ignorance about her; maybe he'll buy summa her stuff -- hope so, she's pretty great. Another Regular came in while I was howling along with the Xtremely loud "I am in love with you" choruses of Armatrading's "Persona Grata" -- & she just smiled at me. 1 guy said "Hot Smoke and Sassafras" sounded pretty good, & we both agreed that was a long time ago & you don't hear 2 much stuff like that NEmore. 1 woman "vaguely" recognized "Daily Nightly" (she was humming along with it) & wasn't suprised 2 hear how old it was....
So, a better crop of responses than usual. Progress is being made. Radio-weary ears R being opened. However, all this Xperimenting was done after 9 pm. B4 8 pm it doesn't seem 2 matter what music is used as a soundtrack -- the Earthers R 2 wrapped-up in their "rush hour" activities 2 notice.
Xperiments will continue, however. My cover story remains safe Bcos nobody cares. They all ignore me cos they don't know I'm really a spacer from those UFOs....
Nevertheless, the following "pop" songs were inflicted on the unknowing general public Thurs nite, with a few encouraging responses (which follow):
Hall & Oates -- How Does it Feel to be Back?
Pogues -- Lorelei.
Who -- I Can See for Miles.
Eagles -- Peaceful Easy Feeling, Seven Bridges Road, James Dean.
Outlaws -- I Can't Stop Loving You.
Georgia Satellites -- Keep Your Hands to Yourself.
Aerosmith -- Dude Looks Like a Lady.
Billy Ocean -- Love Really Hurts Without You.
Quarterflash -- Find Another Fool.
B.W. Stevenson -- My Maria.
Tricia Yearwood -- X's and O's.
Mary-Chapin Carpenter -- Downtown Train, This Shirt, You Win Again, Middle Ground, The Hard Way, He Thinks He'll Keep Her, Passionate Kisses.
Doobie Brothers -- Nobody.
Guess Who -- No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature.
Mott the Hoople -- All the Young Dudes.
Warren Zevon -- Werewolves of London.
Bubble Puppy -- Hot Smoke and Sassafras.
Kinks -- Victoria, Village Green Preservation Society, Dead-End Street, Shangri-La, Apeman, Sunny Afternoon.
Men at Work -- No Sign of Yesterday.
Buffalo Springfield -- Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing, Broken Arrow, Rock and Roll Woman, Go and Say Goodbye, On the Way Home.
Joan Armatrading -- I Love it When You Call Me Names, Drop the Pilot, When I Get it Right, Temptation, Talking to the Wall, Me Myself I, All the Way from America, I Need You, The Weakness in Me, Persona Grata.
Monkees -- Porpoise Song, Tapioca Tundra, Your Auntie Grizelda, Zilch, No Time, Sunny Girlfriend, The Door into Summer, Love is Only Sleeping, Daily Nightly.
Lindsey Buckingham & Stevie Nicks -- Without a Leg to Stand On.
Fleetwood Mac -- World Turning, I'm So Afraid (live), The Farmer's Daughter, Silver Springs, Fireflies, One More Night.
...Not the most outlandish lineup, but 1 must fit in, & a good proportion of these Rn't normally played on US radio.
RESPONSES: 1 Regular said he liked coming in 2 the store at nite & hearing the music. 1 young woman said she liked coming in at nite 'cos the music keeps things lively (this was during "Tapioca Tundra"); I responded that the music keeps me awake -- & HAPPY. 1 man asked about Joan Armatrading during "Talking to the Wall," so I got a chance 2 show-off summa my ignorance about her; maybe he'll buy summa her stuff -- hope so, she's pretty great. Another Regular came in while I was howling along with the Xtremely loud "I am in love with you" choruses of Armatrading's "Persona Grata" -- & she just smiled at me. 1 guy said "Hot Smoke and Sassafras" sounded pretty good, & we both agreed that was a long time ago & you don't hear 2 much stuff like that NEmore. 1 woman "vaguely" recognized "Daily Nightly" (she was humming along with it) & wasn't suprised 2 hear how old it was....
So, a better crop of responses than usual. Progress is being made. Radio-weary ears R being opened. However, all this Xperimenting was done after 9 pm. B4 8 pm it doesn't seem 2 matter what music is used as a soundtrack -- the Earthers R 2 wrapped-up in their "rush hour" activities 2 notice.
Xperiments will continue, however. My cover story remains safe Bcos nobody cares. They all ignore me cos they don't know I'm really a spacer from those UFOs....
Saturday, February 4, 2012
#525: The Stupor Bowl!
Hey, hear there's some big football game coming up this weekend, Giants/Patriots, a lotta people R Xcited....
Yeah? So what? Who cares?
The Giants won the Super Bowl last year, the Pats have won a buncha times. So what? It's the same old guys in there. Big deal.
Won't miss NOT seeing it. Glad I'm workin.
I hear that big-screen TV sales go thru the roof in the weeks leading up 2 the Super Bowl every year.
I also hear that more & more people suffer heart attacks every year during the game -- especially if it's really close. They just can't take the stress.
+ it's a fact that there R more Domestic Violence incidents reported on Super Bowl Sunday than on NE other day of the year.
So, since we're having all this "fun" already, I've thot of a way the National Football League can hype their annual championship game even more. If the NFL's smart -- & they usually R when it comes 2 $$$ -- they'll adopt this idea....
Why not have the 2 WORST teams in the league during the regular season face-off in a sorta pre-Game game, & have the prize B who gets 2 pick the 1st college draft-choice in the off-season?
Of course the "winner" of this game would havta B the LOSER, Bcos the worst team overall always makes the 1st pick.
THERE's a game even "my" Seattle Seahawks would B thrilled 2 play in -- would B thrilled 2 LOSE -- Bcos even by losing they'd win, if you see what I mean. + they'd B on national TV & all -- & losing, something they usually do, would B a worthwhile goal in this match.
They could call it The Stupor Bowl -- a chance 4 the 2 teams who faced the utmost futility during the regular season 2 fight it out 1 last time 4 "bragging rights"....
MayB the Seahawks weren't actually bad enuf 2 B "invited" 2 The Stupor Bowl this year -- but it sure SEEMED like it. MayB they didn't go 1-15 for the season. Maybe they were only 4-12 or 6-10 -- doesn't matter. Who cares?
My point is, a pre-Game game like this would get some NEW TEAMS in the spotlight, some folks you don't C all the time -- 4 obvious reasons. Some teams that got overlooked in the pursuit of Xcellence.
Let's see -- I'm thinking Seahawks/Raiders, maybe? Or Seahawks/Bills? Who was REALLY BAD this past season? Detroit? Cincinnati? (I didn't really pay much attention....)
Look, I useta B a BIG football fan. For YEARS. Back when I was married & spent mosta my Sundays doing laundry, that TV was tuned 2 football from 10 am 2 10 pm, & I yelled & cheered & screamed when my favorite teams did well. There was nothing on TV as pretty as seeing Joe Montana complete an 80-yard pass over Jerry Rice's right shoulder just as the clock ticked down 2 the end of regulation time.
But a couple days B4 the Super Bowl of 2000, it was like I OD'd on football. I called the cable company & told 'em 2 pull the plug & come get the equipment cos I was done.
& Xcept 4 the Seahawks' wasted trip 2 the SB a few years back, I haven't watched a single game all-the-way-thru since.
& I haven't missed it.
In fact, most sports events seem more & more pointless the older I get.
Basketball season was almost cancelled this year? So what?
Baseball? They're all WAY overpaid.
Jeez, I don't even watch HOCKEY anymore, & I thot I'd NEVER break THAT addiction.
But I think The Stupor Bowl has possibilities. I'd switch-on the TV 2 C the 2 worst teams of the year face-off 4 1 last all-or-nothing match-up. & if I would, I'm sure there's 1,000s of others who'd watch, who mayB don't give a crap about the Real game....
R U listening, NFL? Give me a call or drop me an e-mail & we'll do lunch....
Yeah? So what? Who cares?
The Giants won the Super Bowl last year, the Pats have won a buncha times. So what? It's the same old guys in there. Big deal.
Won't miss NOT seeing it. Glad I'm workin.
I hear that big-screen TV sales go thru the roof in the weeks leading up 2 the Super Bowl every year.
I also hear that more & more people suffer heart attacks every year during the game -- especially if it's really close. They just can't take the stress.
+ it's a fact that there R more Domestic Violence incidents reported on Super Bowl Sunday than on NE other day of the year.
So, since we're having all this "fun" already, I've thot of a way the National Football League can hype their annual championship game even more. If the NFL's smart -- & they usually R when it comes 2 $$$ -- they'll adopt this idea....
Why not have the 2 WORST teams in the league during the regular season face-off in a sorta pre-Game game, & have the prize B who gets 2 pick the 1st college draft-choice in the off-season?
Of course the "winner" of this game would havta B the LOSER, Bcos the worst team overall always makes the 1st pick.
THERE's a game even "my" Seattle Seahawks would B thrilled 2 play in -- would B thrilled 2 LOSE -- Bcos even by losing they'd win, if you see what I mean. + they'd B on national TV & all -- & losing, something they usually do, would B a worthwhile goal in this match.
They could call it The Stupor Bowl -- a chance 4 the 2 teams who faced the utmost futility during the regular season 2 fight it out 1 last time 4 "bragging rights"....
MayB the Seahawks weren't actually bad enuf 2 B "invited" 2 The Stupor Bowl this year -- but it sure SEEMED like it. MayB they didn't go 1-15 for the season. Maybe they were only 4-12 or 6-10 -- doesn't matter. Who cares?
My point is, a pre-Game game like this would get some NEW TEAMS in the spotlight, some folks you don't C all the time -- 4 obvious reasons. Some teams that got overlooked in the pursuit of Xcellence.
Let's see -- I'm thinking Seahawks/Raiders, maybe? Or Seahawks/Bills? Who was REALLY BAD this past season? Detroit? Cincinnati? (I didn't really pay much attention....)
Look, I useta B a BIG football fan. For YEARS. Back when I was married & spent mosta my Sundays doing laundry, that TV was tuned 2 football from 10 am 2 10 pm, & I yelled & cheered & screamed when my favorite teams did well. There was nothing on TV as pretty as seeing Joe Montana complete an 80-yard pass over Jerry Rice's right shoulder just as the clock ticked down 2 the end of regulation time.
But a couple days B4 the Super Bowl of 2000, it was like I OD'd on football. I called the cable company & told 'em 2 pull the plug & come get the equipment cos I was done.
& Xcept 4 the Seahawks' wasted trip 2 the SB a few years back, I haven't watched a single game all-the-way-thru since.
& I haven't missed it.
In fact, most sports events seem more & more pointless the older I get.
Basketball season was almost cancelled this year? So what?
Baseball? They're all WAY overpaid.
Jeez, I don't even watch HOCKEY anymore, & I thot I'd NEVER break THAT addiction.
But I think The Stupor Bowl has possibilities. I'd switch-on the TV 2 C the 2 worst teams of the year face-off 4 1 last all-or-nothing match-up. & if I would, I'm sure there's 1,000s of others who'd watch, who mayB don't give a crap about the Real game....
R U listening, NFL? Give me a call or drop me an e-mail & we'll do lunch....
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