Top Ten Of The Week-The Lesser Of The Evils

Some observations of note:

A big happening up in Madison as their governor tries to union bust and there's been plenty of protesting going on the past five days because of that.  Not too many people are happy about that but this is what happens when you do not vote.  When you do not vote, you are settling for the worst case scenario and that being Scott Walker, who got in the promise to balance the budget at all costs.  When you do not vote, you have made a choice for Scott Walker in your non voting.  Simple as that, just as those who didn't vote down here cast a vote for the return of Terry Branstad, a governor who also drawing his pension from previous serving as Governor.  Don't think for a moment that Terry Bob isn't thinking of doing away the collective bargaining down here too but he's not as extreme or as dumb as Scott Walker to do it right off the bat.   But as they say battle lines are being drawn and this is probably as close we got to the protests of the late 60s.  In some ways Scott Walker reminds me of Evan Mecham, the Arizona governor who disallowed Martin Luther King Day and people protested to the point that eventually the guy got removed from office.  But I don't think Mecham would ever gone as far as take away the collective bargaining like Walker is trying to do just appease the Koch Brothers, the ones who got Walker into office and wishing for a return to slavery days.  But I'm certain if Evan was alive he would considered that.

But still, even when Walker was running his campaign that even I knew if this guy would get in there would be consequences to be had and this is what you reap for not voting people.  Even if you vote for the lesser of the evils at least you voted against Scott Walker and have that right to bitch and protest.  Just like voting for Branstad by not voting.  For when they talk about sacrificing, realize this that it will be you and me that will doing most of the sacrificing, not them.

Funny how when you see these dictators such as Gaddafi or The Iranian Ayatollah bitching about the Great Satan Imperialist West meddling into their affairs, their goon squad is killing their own people who are against their dictatorial government.  It never seems to amaze me how much these so called men of Allah who suppressed their own people blame the US for every little thing that happens.  Hypocrites to the 9th degree, remember what Jesus said of beware of false prophets?  They're usually dictators, or men with money behind the puppet politician.   We tend to protest of wanting freedom but when we do get the freedom who gets the be the next big man, usually the rich kind that looks out for themselves and not the people who elected them in the first place.   Just a observation.

Speaking of hypocrites, Vince Neil, lead singer and drunk of Motley Crue thinks his jail sentence was a little harsh because he's a rock star and of his previous arrests.  This comes from a guy who killed the Hanoi Rocks drummer after driving drunk in 1984 and basically killed off that band.  Yep, being a rock star kept him out of the slammer for that, if it was anybody else it would have been manslaughter.  If there was any justice in the world, Neil would have died from cirrhosis of the liver and we wouldn't have to deal with his hi jinx anymore but since he's blessed with a cast iron liver, he's free to drink and drive and speed up and down the highway because he's a rock star and has his right to do that.  But there's something ridiculous about a fat, washed up, past his prime, over fifty and looking more like Joe 12 pack who can't get the local 18 year old to look his way anymore to blame those who arrested him due to his rock stardom.  Grow the fuck up Neil and be glad your in the US to do such juvenile things.  If you were in Iran you would have been hanged years ago.

Clyde Clifford has mentioned that there hasn't been much going on in trying to get Beaker Street to another radio station, he says that there's some interest but the ducks are not in the row and it would be another two to three weeks at least.  His wife says Sorry guys but she's loving  the time she's with her sweetie.  It will end soon but till then, HE'S MINE!  her words.

If you up in Madison not protesting against Koch Walker on Thursday at the Wild Horse Saloon they have Dash Rip Rock and Cowboy Mouth, to which Fred LeBlanc, leader of Cowboy Mouth once played drums for DRR back when they were ripping up the country with their rowdy cowpunk rock and roll.  I always been a big fan of Dash Rip Rock but Cowboy Mouth has been a tougher sell, most of their albums so so.  But live Cowboy Mouth is made for the stage so perhaps its best to see them live.  Of course having Wild Bill Davis leading DRR is as fun gets, unlike Vince Neil and his drunken escapades.  And if your in St Louis, The Godfathers (The UK band not the movie) played last night at Off Broadway.  Too bad I didn't get the memo sooner, I'd considered going there.  The Godfathers best known for Birth Work School Death and one of the few guitar driven bands of the 80s have reformed with most of the original members (except for prima donna Kris Dollimore) and have been promoting their lastest live album.  Don't have it myself but you can still find their CDs cheap at Amazon.com.  Or you can buy the vinyl albums at CD's  4 Change and Moondog Music. I enjoy their stuff myself.

The Top Ten Of The Week:
1.  Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood-Santa Esmeralda 1977  Big disco hit of the Animals classic remade for the times of dancing.  I always thought that the 3 minute version was always lacking but never got around hearing the full 17 minute side long track till I found it in the dollar bins last weekend.  Followup House Of The Rising Sun rarely got a second glance.

2.  Spirit In The Night-Manfred Mann's Earth Band 1975  The start of the Bruce Springsteen infatuation although this got more airplay on the underground FM shows rather than regular radio.  Beaker Street played this a lot too.

3.  Pearl Necklace-Z Z Top 1981  As much as I would like to tell you that Eliminator is their classic, I perfer the oddball El Loco with flop single Tube Snake Boogie and this 45 follow up which got airplayed a lot in the summer of 81.  Robert Christgau writes in his review that a Pearl Necklace is southern term for a blow job.  How that got airplay under Ronald Reagan's watch is one of life's mysteries.

4.  Shook Down-Yuck 2011  Despite the odious name, this is actually a good throwback to the days of early 90's alt rock with an ode to Sparklehorse, My Bloody Valentine and the mellow Velvet Underground.  I loved going to Best Buy and having the smart ass sales clerk asking what I was looking for and I replied Got Yuck?  He didn't know what the hell I was talking about.

5.  Mona-Quicksilver Messenger Service 1969  I am not a fan of their bloated Happy Trails album, which was part live and part acid trip.  The 25 minute Who Do You Love wears out its welcome after 5 minutes but I do prefer the shorter 6:35 version of their Bo Diddley tribute which lead into the sleepy Maiden Of The Cancer Moon and then the snoozefest Cavalry.  Sounded good at the time with all that echo but not much music to remember by.  But Mona does rock in its own way.  Second best track off Happy Trails, the minute long title track.

6.  Church On Cumberland Road-Shenandoah 1989  Our country selection of the night and it comes from a band that reminds one of Alabama, not much on the rock and roll and heavy on the ballads.  They do boast a great singer in Marty Rayborn but since nobody in the band wrote and had to rely on Nashville songwriters, they didn't last very long at any label.  Country radio still plays this once a day though.

7.  Your Woman-White Town 1997  One hit wonder. Found this on a 45 if you can believe that for fifty cents.  I have heard their album is mostly very mellow stuff.  And so it goes.

8.  Keep On Trying-Poco 1975  After being on Epic for 7 years, Poco moved on the ABC label and scored a top 20 hit with this mellow acoustic number written by Timothy B Schmitt.  Probably 3rd of my all time Poco Faves outside of Good Feeling To Know and Railroad Days.

9.  Nutshell-Alice In Chains 1994  AIC was hit and miss for me, didn't like Facelift, loved Dirt and Jar Of Flies was in between the two although the quiet mellowness didn't hide the fact of Jerry Cantrell's or Layne Staley' dark lyrics.  This  song was the reason why I bought Jar Of Flies.  Perfect for being isolated from the world.

10. I Know I'm Losing You-Rod Stewart & The Faces 1971  Maggie May is overplayed, this isn't.  Which is why I chose this as the final track to this top ten.  The first three Rod Stewart albums are classic, when he got together with Faces he became a boogie man and made sloppy fun rock and roll.  Hard to believe it's the same guy that gave us those Great American Songbooks of the last decade.  Touring with Stevie Nicks this summer and while she wants to practice, he wants to go spur of the moment.  Would be even more funner if he reunited with Ronnie Wood and Kenny Jones and Ian Mclegan too.  But he won't.

A note from Craig at Real Records..

Hi Rodney  -- Thanks for your kind words.  Our last day of operation 
 will be Thurs. Feb.24th and we'll be open well into the night.  Come by 
 for some refreshments.  Thanks again, Craig K.