It's a foregone conclusion that the music places that we used to know and love are now ancient history. The FYE's are gone, Hastings is a distant memory and even ten years ago, they closed the Ames store. And I haven't been back to that part of the state since then. The big box stores have stopped selling them. Oh, Target and Wally World might have two or three copies of the latest but unless you have access to a computer, you're shit out of luck. The vinyl revival came into play a few years ago and now the big box stores are selling vinyl. Unlike the good ole days, these are not the nice price ones of 5.99 or less but rather the 19.95 or more. And it seems like the major labels continue to tout the higher priced and less satisfying sounding LPs, rather than the poorly recorded new CDs that come out in digipacks that can cause accidents while driving down the road.
Many years ago (2014), I predicted that 2020 would be the last year in search of the great music library, which turned out to be the biggest hoarding music collection this side of the Mississippi River. While that happened, FYE continued to close up shops and 2016 Hastings closed for good. No more bargain hunting in Arizona any more it seems. So I basically had to rely on donations to goodwill, St. Vinnies and Salvation Army to keep my interest in music going. And people came through, but this year I had a major crisis. The trustworthy Sony Discman died earlier this year and I tried to find a replacement CD player to withstand the driving to and from work and trips to Madison and Quad Cities and other Iowa towns. A Jansen was first to be tested and it failed, miserably. It couldn't play a single cd without skipping or being hung up and in usual fashion, it got tossed out the window on the way to Davenport. A couple weeks later I found a Phillips CD player, with fresh batteries for two dollars and it picked up the slack, tho every cd the volume defaulted back to 13, it did pick up when I paused on a song but sometimes it would go a few seconds further. Slight minor issues but at least it didn't skip. And finally a Sony Discman replacement this weekend. It's a fucking shame Sony decided to discontinue the discman, mine lasted 15 years of consistent playing. When my player died, I didn't realize how hard it was to find another copy, I could have done the EBAY route and pick up a used one for 150 dollars (which was the 1988 price for the original Discman that did skip on occasion) but I decided to wait out and hope for a donated player. Now I have two and may want to pick up another one or two just in case. The recording industry will find a way to piss me off but then again what else do they do besides pissing me off and putting out shitty sounding LPs or CDs?
But then again I am getting old and dealing with Tinnitus more often than not. My stereo speakers need to be reconed or replaced, the midrange is killing my ears, which didn't used to be that way. And I have had those speakers for 33 years and reconed once. I haven't bought new speakers since 1988 so a upgrade is in order. I continue to search for the hard to find cds and odd ball ones and this year has been no different. In fact, it has been a great year for finding used music even during the COVID epidemic. But for new stuff, it's less n less. This year's best places are the usual suspects, with a couple new ones thrown in as well.
Best places to find CDs (new) or LPs.
Moondog Music (DBQ)
CO OP Moline (QC)
Analog Vault (CR)
Vinyl Emporium (CR)
Metro Records (Waterloo)
Ragged Records (QC)
CDs 4 Change (DBQ)
Wax Static (Marshalltown)
Record Collector (IC)
Barnes N Noble (CR, QC, Waterloo)
Target
Madison
Mad City Music X
Strictly Discs
B Sides
Sugar Shack Records
You'll note the absence of the big box music stores Books A Million don't sell cd's anymore to which they got dropped off the list, tho they do have vinyl. If I lived in Madison than I'd be a regular at all four music stores there but since I have limited myself to hour long drives, Moondog Music in Dubuque works best for me. At least they do have the new releases. Thirty years ago we had Relics n Rock n Bach and the rest, this time out, we don't have that many choices. The COVID issues has kept Wax Static as curbside only. Metro Records is the well kept secret, tho I have only been up there one time but yet found a few decent 80s vinyl LPs and enough to recommend them if you go to Waterloo. Analog Vault is now four years old and continues to build on their music fanbase. Vinyl Emporium (formerly Vintage Vinyl) used to be at the old Marion Antique Mall and Lucky Seven Antiques but once lucky 7 closed shop, they moved it to the same block that has Analog Vault. Ragged still has the Rock Island address but the original store in Davenport has moved closer to downtown and has been slated to open later on this year. CDs 4 Change is more vinyl than CD but they do have a decent, tho pricy used CD selection. Record Collector the usual odds and ends and worth driving to. Barnes N Noble is mostly miss than hit but they did have the new AC DC. And Target had Chris Stapleton. But their selection is mostly vinyl than CD. The way it has been going.
Best thrift stores to find music.
Half Price Books (Marion, Madison, DM)
Goodwill (CR, Marion, IC-Coralville, Madison, QC, Waterloo, Independence, DBQ)
Salvation Army (CR, QC)
Housewerks (Iowa City)
St Vincent De Paul (Madison, Dubuque)
Helping Hands (CR)
Stuff Etc (Coralville, QC)
The Source (QC)
Sweet Living Antiques (IC)
Crowded Closet (IC)
Money And More (IC-Waterloo)
Shops By The Wapsi (Anamosa)
The thrift stores continue to be hit and miss, Stuff Etc doesn't sell CD in Waterloo or Cedar Rapids but once in a while somebody will bring some in at the Coralville-IC store or Davenport. And for 99 cents you can find a few bargains among the Hoku, Hootie and Maroon 5. Even with CORVID, Half Price Books still gets a few decent Cds in the cheap bins. I did find the latest Brett Eldridge cd at the Army as well as latest stuff from Flaming Lips or Jessie Colin Young and Allman Betts Band. St Vinnie's closed the Waterloo location last year so only Dubuque and Madison are the only places I know. CR's store is only open for two hours on Saturday. The Shops By The Wapsi has a vintage record/cd place that is worth going once a year. Probably the only place that had two copies of Easy To Slip by Little Feat. Money and More is the only pawnshop that sells CDs, mostly junk tho. Helping Hands is a new thrift store next to Sav A Lot in CR. They tend to be hit and miss as well as the Crowded Closet.
For 45s, they too are hit and miss. Usually the Madison St Vinnies and Half Price Bookstores have them, tho somebody did donate about 25 of them to Coralville to which I picked most of them up and documented them. And Vinyl Emporium had a bunch of dumpsters 45s on hand too. Analog Vault announced that they had a bunch for sale but I yet to go there and see what they have. Usually I do have luck in finding them over there.
Best Mexican Food
Si Senor-Mount Vernon
Los Argaves-Iowa City
Taco Depot-CR
Los Tres Argaves-Anamosa
Los Casa De Poncho-Maquoketa
Cancun-CR
Frida Ketio-Solon
Villa's Patio-Marion
Mi Terra-Marion
El Bajio-CR
Los Compardes-CR
Hacienda-Monticello
Los Aztecas-DBQ
Fiesta Cancun-DBQ
Salsas-DBQ
90 percent of me eating out is to Mexican places and all have been quite good. Sometimes the lax of the service will make drop the recommendation down a bit, but all these places that I mentioned are worth going to. SI Senior in MV is lightning fast on the order as well as the Taco Depot in CR, which is where the old Long John Silver's place used to be. This area has some great Mexican places, whereas in Madison, I have to yet to find any place that I can enjoy a decent Mexican meal. One of the places that I went to in Independence did go under tho.
Best Burger Joint:
Tornados'-Cedar Rapids
Bo Macs-CR
Stone City General Store
The Starlight-CR
Red Robin CR
Chrome Horse-CR
Checkers' CR
Lucky's on 16th-CR
The Grove-Scotch Grove
As I gotten older, I have not gone out eating burgers all that much. Seems like I have stomach issues or a run to the can. For local, I still like a good burger from Tornados or Bo Macs. I tend to enjoy the Southwestern Chicken Wrap at Chrome Horse more than their burgers. Lucky's on 16th is where i go for a good Hot Beef Sandwich, or The Grove in Scotch Grove, which still is a well kept secret. For Mac n Cheese, Lucky's on 16th is best.
Best Pizza Place
Marcos-CR
Naso's-Marion
Zoey's-Marion
Lenardos-CR
In these days and times, Pizza has taken a back seat to my Mexican food craze. While Marco's still remain more of a franchise, I prefer them over Pizza Hut, which has gone down in quality or Dominos or Little Ceasar's that tend to be a quick fix for the pizza jones. Kwik Star, I like the cheap 4.99 special over the 7.99 deep crust, tho I haven't been that excited for their pizzas much. or Casey's which tend to be a bit greasy for my liking. But if any pizza is edible, I'll eat it. And pay of it later.
For Chinese, Cross Roads Bistro still rocks, but the COVID did shut down a lot of the buffets that i used to go to. The Kirkwood Chinese place also is history but Panda Lin and Yen Chang on MV road, do give you heaping helpings of fried rice. The Anamosa China Inn doesn't disappoint tho a little more of a drive will get you to Monticello and the China Inn.
back to music things.
The Beaker Hour with Big Mo KCCK 11/27/20
Dazed And Confused-Led Zeppelin
30 Days In The Hole-Humble Pie
I've Been There Too-10 Years After
Sweet Ride (never again)-Moby Grape
Too Many People-Cold Blood
Chasing Shadows-Deep Purple
Hey Baby (new rising sun)-Jimi Hendrix
In From The Storm
Two tracks from the Live In Maui album from Jimi Hendrix and a couple deep album cuts from Moby Grape and Deep Purple, tho Chasing Shadows has been heard on the Clyde Clifford Beaker Street shows.
Beaker Street Playlist
9 p.m. to 10 p.m.
1. The Corporation “I Want To Get Out Of My Grave”
2. Steve Hillage “Saucer Surfing”
3. Wishbone Ash “Leaf And Stream”
4. Uriah Heep “High Priestess”
5. Blue Oyster Cult “Fire Of Unknown Origin”
6. Vanilla Fudge “Shotgun” (Live)
7. Tommy Bolin “Sweet Burgundy”
8. Roy Buchanan “Down By The River”
9. Argent “I Am The Dance Of Ages”
10 p.m. -11 p.m.
1. Horslips “Speed The Plough”
2. Blood Sweat & Tears “Snow Queen> Maiden Voyage”
3. Acoustic Pagans “Believe”
4. Brian Eno and John Cale “Been There Done That”
5. Emerson, Lake & Palmer “Black Moon” (Live At The Royal Albert Hall. 1992)
6. Anglo Tango “Gypsy Radio”
7. Python Lee Jackson (f/ Rod Stewart) “In A Broken Dream”
8. The Jerry Garcia Band “Stop That Train” (Live- The Jerry Garcia Band)
9. Blind Faith “Well All Right”
10. The Youngbloods “Get Together”
11 p.m. to Midnight
1. David Lindley & El-Rayo X “Do You Wanna Dance ” (Live- Very Greasy) excerpt
2. Deep Purple “Anthem”
3. Dave Edmunds “Crawling From The Wreckage”
4. The Dino Kruse Band “Down Home Blues”
5. Brand X “Smacks Of Euphoric Hysteria”
6. Deep Water Reunion “Cindy’s Cryin'”
7. The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown “Prelude- Nightmare/ Fanfare- Fire Poem/ Fire”
8. FM “Phasors on Stun”
9. Santana “Fried Neck Bones and Some Home Fries” (Live at Woodstock)
10. Alan Parsons “Blown By The Wind”
RSD 45's from Analog Vault
Don't Build No Fences For Me-Rusty Draper (Monument 1137) 1969
Draper had a nice long ride for Fred Foster and Monument from 64 to 1970, Ray Pennington wrote this and Cam Mullens added Nashville strings and horns. B side is the oft recorded Am I That Easy To Forget, written by Cal Belew. Draper oversings on the final chorus.
Put Your Head On My Shoulder-The Lettermen (Capitol 2423) #44 1968
Shambala-B W Stevenson (RCA 74-0952) #66 1973
Tulsa-Waylon Jennings (RCA 47-9925) #94 1970
Goodnight Irene-Hoagy Lands (MGM K-13062) 1962
Resurrection Shuffle-Ashton, Gardner Dyke (Capitol 3060) #40 1971
The Lettermen had a nice return to the 60's pop chart with Al De Lory (Glen Campbell) giving them the right sound. Going Out Of My Head would have been their third most interesting song from this era outside of Hurt So Bad. The Vogues also had success with their creamy smooth vocals as well, tho not as campy. For Shambala, 3 Dog Night had the bigger hit but Stevenson did managed to put his version into the top 30 local charts. Hoagy Lands, does a soulful spin on Goodnight Irene, which is produced by Bert Berns. I'm surprised this didn't chart on the pop charts. Resurrection Shuffle made number 2 on the KCRG super 30 chart and even Waylon's Tulsa managed to scrape the top 100 pop charts. Due to me having allergy issues and not feeling up to par, I kept my record store day bargain hunts to Analog Vault, which had 10 percent off. They did have three boxes of 100 count juke box 45s for 10 dollars but i didn't figure it would be cost effective and if they were juke box copies, most would have been donated soon afterwards.
The New And Improved R Smith Show Playlist 11/29/20
American Pie-Don McLean
Dreidel
Rain-Ian Hunter
Gun Control
Theater Of The Absurd
Samson And Delilah-The Grateful Dead
Deal
Loser
Passenger
Buckingham-Nicks. The Townedgers
Cheating Songs
Distant Early Morning Light
Hour 2
All This Music Must Fade-The Who
Beads On One String
Please Help Me I'm Falling-Hank Locklin
You're The Reason
Happy Birthday To Me
Everybody's Talking-Elephants Memory
Crossroads Of The Stepping Stones
Don't Put Me On Trial No More
Take What You Need-Steppenwolf
Everybody's Next One
Monster/Suicide/America
Room To Move-John Mayall
Don't Waste My Time
Blue Train-John D Loudermilk
