Week that is: Davenport, Music, Sports, Death, Etc.

It was a very busy weekend here.  Of course the big story was The Quad Cities River Bandits winning the first High A Central Championship.   Given the new rules of playoffs, the two best teams with the best record get to play, even if they are in the same division.    Minor league baseball still remains the best way to see baseball.  It's even better when you can get in for free, thanks the gentleman who offer me up a ticket to my favorite spot, the right field area.   I was basically torn between both teams, since I live close to the CR area but been to more games in Davenport.   Dressed up in River Bandits apparel in games four and five, the good luck jersey may or may not have been the reason why the Bandits won, but it was timely pitching and the Kernels' lack of getting the runs in.  Game 5, the Bandits showed why they ran away with winning the title.  They got the runs in and managed to shut out the other team.  In the end, it will go down in history as a 2021 High A Central Championship.  Here's hoping for both teams to get back to final series in September. 

And so, the Minor League Season is over, we get to be tortured for another week of bad Cubs baseball, who had to endure the St Louis Cardinals  and was swept away once again.  St Louis has been hot as the weather, winners of now 16 straight wins, sweeping Milwaukee and then poor Chicago the next.  Too little too late for the division title but too bad St. Louis didn't get going sooner.  They will be home for Milwaukee and conclude the Cubs season soonafterwards, Milwaukee did clinch the title Sunday dropping the fading New York Metropolitans 8 to 4 but the Cards had to come from behind to beat the Cubs.   And once again the Cubs have another long losing streak of 8 games.  Which makes me wonder if the Cubs would have kept the lead in these games this year that they could have at least finished with a 500 or slightly better mark, but the constant blowing of leads, by the worst starting pitchers they ever had in history, or the inept bullpen (seems like at least 50 pitchers have come and gone this season) or shitty sandlot league infield players.......one wonders if this team could have contended.   We were wondering about the Cards ourselves but they have caught fire at the right time and even if Chicago was playing better, the Cards would have won anyway.  Put the Cards in the east, and they're ahead by four games.  But Milwaukee ran and hid most of the season, and thanks to them dominating the Cubs, had the title at hand.    If St Louis plays like this in the playoffs, the Brewers may have to be a bit concerned.  You can have a great record in regular season, and then go home if you get swept or beat in the playoffs.  Eat or be eaten as they say.  Meanwhile the Cubs will end the season on the road against Pittsburgh, which will have the basement all to themselves anyway and three more losses to the Cardinals.  Could St. Louis have a 22 game winning streak before the playoffs begin.  My guess is probably not, they host Milwaukee, which got swept away last week.  Incidentally, the Cubs are scoring more runs since the house cleaning, but their pitching, both starters and relievers suck.  Next season they better find somebody that can last more than 3 innings as a starter.  

Four weeks into the Football season, the Iowa Hawkeyes are undefeated, tho they didn't look so great against a subpar Colorado State team 24-14, in fact the Rams led at halftime, dominating a Iowa offense that continue to confuse most of us.  Second half, Iowa got it together, the Rams fumbled deep in their own territory, Tyrone Tracy ran a reverse in for a TD and then Spencer Patras found a wide open Sam LaPorta for the other TD and that was all she wrote.  Colorado State simply could not overcome the errors.  Still the Rams front seven defense proved that they could handle anybody and leading the Hawks in Iowa City would have sent shock waves all over college football.  Iowa's defense has been the best so far, they dominated Indiana and made Iowa State look bad, and they should have blown Colorado State out of the stadium.  But the offense is the big question and what will make their season will be two major games, one with a vastly improved Maryland team and then Penn State, which leapfrogged over Iowa for number 4 on the top 25.   On the other side of the state, Baylor held off Iowa State when the Cyclones didn't get the two point conversation at the end of the game, a bad snap and Brock Purdy tossed it into an empty end zone. 31-29 final score and Iowa State got tossed out of the top 25. Bad special teams and bad defense play as well.  For a team that was supposed to be one of the top best, the Cyclones have been the most disappointing, Chrome Dome Finebaum saying Iowa State is not worth mentioning anymore and he should know.  We do know Baylor is lightning fast and could be a top 10 football team if they get their act together.  We also know Iowa State is in a big mess right now and any more defeats will just add to the disappointment.  Finebaum loves to give Dabo Swinney lots of shit when Clemson fucks up, just like they did when NC State beat them.  The Chrome Dome man called Sweeney a lousy loser.  Well everybody is a lousy loser, but Clemson's season might be done anyway.  They get to play a up and coming Boston College.    And if you read this far,  Arizona State beat Colorado 35-13 in Tempe.   Next up, UCLA.

Foorball: Bears suck.  No offense line.  Justin Fields is going to get killed.  I think the coach will be fired in a few weeks.  In the meantime, on November 8, 1970, Tom Dempsey kicked a 63 yard field goal to power New Orleans over Detroit. Fast forward 50 years later and playing in Detroit, Justin Tucker kicked a 66 yard field goal, to which a lucky DOINK shot, and the ball bounced over for a 19-17 victory for the Baltimore Ravens.  In a twist of irony.  New Orleans won 19-17.  You can't make this stuff up.  Detroit fans were in a sour mood anyway, booing the owner for the ceremony of Calvin Johnson into the ring of fame at halftime. 

So once again Davenport was the place to be in terms of bargain hunting.   Last week, we went to The Source Bookstore, Ragged Records and Co Op Moline, this weekend was back to the thrift stores and I cannot believe the turnaround of CDs at Goodwill Bettendorf and somebody donated a Japanese CD (unsealed) of Tommy Bolin's Teaser.  Nothing like picking up a CD originally sold for 25 dollars and us finding it for 2 dollars.   I didn't think I would find much 45s, the DAV Thrift store still have some remaining but they were the ones that were in worst shape or in the case of The Stroll by The Diamonds a crack.  The Bettendorf Goodwill had the 45's, mostly 70s stuff but I did find three soul 45s and a Stanley Brothers cover of Bill Monroe's I hear my Savior Calling.  On Sunday, I found that Ragged wasn't opened but I did discovered the forth Goodwill Store in the area in Rock Island and even managed to find 2 CDs, including a BMG music club copy of Stack Of Tracks/Beach Boys Party! 2 fer. I'm not a fan of music club copies but I had to listen to it due to a review of it in another Blogspot site. It seems like I'm picking up duplicate copies of LPs and CDs that I have had simply of the fact that they look better then the ones I have now.    

Since the River Bandits forced a game five, I decided to stay there overnight and stayed at an overpriced hotel, which the shower sucked and needed some sort of repair.  I didn't enjoy that scalding hot water with soap in my eyes and trying to get a level of comfort.  But I got the see the classic B movie Hell Bound on TCM twice.   So I had an extra day to check out other places that I wouldn't have. Books A Million doesn't have a CD section anymore.  Disc Replay in NorthPark did have some interesting CDs, A Fleewood Mac best of on CBS, Hoyt Axton's American Originals (since I had the two cd best of, this was not needed) but I didn't pick them up.  Barnes N Noble had some new CD and LPs, this is the best place to find new music, since Best Buy can't be trusted.  

In the end, if I'm looking for interesting CDs and off the wall stuff, Davenport never disappoints, nor Dubuque for that matter.  The donations of Cds have been the most hard to believe, and there will always be crap from the likes of FGL  Celine Dion, and dozens of classical, gospel and other stuff nobody wants.  Somehow among the piles of Hootie and George Strait and Jimmy Buffet's Greatest Hits, there are diamonds in the rough.

What Was Found: CD

Tom Petty: Echo

Dave Brubeck Greatest Hits

Skeeter Davis-The Pop Hits

Sidney Brecht-Running Wild

Beach Boys-Party!/Stack O Tracks

Neil Diamond-Gold

Grateful Dead-100 Year Hall

The 5 Satins Greatest Hits

Little Jimmy Dickens-I'm Little But I'm Loud

Lou Christie-Enlightenment

The Electric Hell Fire Club-Kiss The Goat

Black Sabbath-The Dio Years

Nine Inch Nails-Pretty Hate Music

Queensryche-American Soldier

Della Reece-Voice Of An Angel

Tommy Bolin-Teaser 

Chumbawamba-X

Best Of Tyrone Davis

Peaches-Best Of The Stranglers 

Echo, American Soldier, Pretty Hate Music and 100 Year Hall I had in my collection at one time, the latter had a scratch that didn't play, so I got rid of that one and picked this one up years later.  American Soldier, I wanted to hear, this was during the Geoff Tate led years which the band didn't care much for. And Pretty Mate Music is classic 9 inch nails but I never been a big fan of Trent Reznor.  Echo is a dark album from Petty and goes on a bit too long.  Della Reece, is like Sarah Vaughn or label mate Eartha Kitt or Lena Horne but Reece was more, shall we say, more soulful.  Five of these CDs were 99 cents from the Stuff Etc in Davenport, usually I have come up empty   The Electric Hell Fire Club, is a curio. Pretty tame for satanic metal.   Given seeing that and 9 inch Nails and the Black Sabbath Dio Cds, I'm thinking some metal head or his mom donated them.  Skeeter Davis' Pop Hits is actually better than the two best ofs that RCA put out, Davis could do pop as well as country.  She's almost a dead ringer for Lesley Gore. 100 Year Hall is the Dead on a great night, Bertha and Truckin' has a fun jam vibe.  Now if Donna Gordeaux would just shut up and let the guys sing this would be classic. 

45's

I Hear My Savior Calling-Stanley Brothers (Mercury 70718) 1955

When You Got Money-Bethea (Dynamo D-139) 1969

How Was I To Know That You Cared-Doris Duke (Canyon 35) 1970

Synthetic World-Swamp Dogg (Canyon 53) 1970 

Three soul numbers and one gospel forty five.  The Stanley Brothers is the gospel number and any bluegrass number is quite nice and Just  A Little Talk With Jesus is two sorts of melody.  Earlier in the month I found Carl Story gospel 45.  This is a reissue it seems.  The funky 45s are from Bethea, a jive talking groove, in the vein of Joe Tex.   Jerry Williams aka Swamp Dogg put out Synthetic World but the B side Total Destruction Of Your Mind is much funkier and does James Brown.   It's Williams that wrote Feet Start Walking for Doris Duke who recorded for Canyon and Mankind at this time.  Feet Start Walking might have made the R and B chart and is better than the b side How Was I To Know That You Cared, which is a bit too raw sounding for radio.  Not anything X rated, the arrangements were a bit too raw not to be remembered.

LP

Let It Be Written, Let It Be Sung-Ellie Greenwich (Verve/MGM 1972)

Tomorrow Night-Charlie Rich (RCA Reissue 1974)

Greenwich's 1972 album remains a guilty pleasure as the queen of the pop bubblegum era reworks some of her songs into adult contemporary music.  This is my third copy, I still have the first but the second album had a big scratch at the end of side 2 which made it unplayable and it was a DJ promo copy. For whatever reason, this one had been at the As Is Salvation Army store for a couple years.  Charlie Rich had a long and storied career, but Groove/RCA didn't know what to make of him and he later moved over to Hi Records for one album and then Billy Shirrell ruined him with the Muzak sound of Behind Closed Doors.  On a plus side his big sale of Behind Closed Doors and The Most Beautiful Girl opened up the RCA vaults and he scored a top 10 hit with There Won't Be Anymore, a failed 1965 single for RCA which scored a belated chart showing in 1974.  Tomorrow Night is a brief 10 song selection of sides recorded for Groove and RCA.  He could sound like Nat King Cole (12th Of Never) or Ray Charles (River Stay Away From My Door) but Rich was more R and B than Nat or King Elvis. The Crusty Crab of Record Reviews Robert Christgau gave props to this comp while bashing the 1974 Very Special Love Songs as the real deal and you get Big Boss Man, and She Loved Everybody But Me, both failed Groove singles.  A nice addition but it's a shame Sony Music will not give us a complete and decent overview of his RCA years and the Epic comps disappoints, too much Muzak crap and not enough R and B.   Tomorrow Night is flawed but not as cheese as Special Love Songs. 

The Rolling Stones started their 2021 tour in St. Louis with a lovely tribute to Charlie Watts, and with Steve Jordan taking over, continue to rock the masses. Charlie can never be replaced but I assure you that Jordan can do a great job filling in.  In fact, his cymbal lineup is somewhat a tribute to Charlie, with all of the crashes on the ride side.  Something that Charlie did in the early 70s.  Darryl Jones, the Stones bass player since 1993 took this photo behind the stage.

(Photo: Record Exchange St Louis)

And R Kelly was found guilty of Sex Trafficking and racketeering and will be sentenced next May.  Kelly is slated to be at another trial of child pornography, obstruction of justice and more rape charges. Chances are he will be spending a long time in jail when everything is said and done.  I never cared for R Kelly's music.  But for over 2 decades Kelly has been accused of abuse and the other mentioned above charges.    The public will take a dim view of Kelly's music and whatever he accomplished over this.   

I have no idea who Dan Sur is, but this Latin Reggae Rapper had surgeons remove his hair and replaced them with gold chains.  I'm sure in this day and age of trying to out shock people, this is by far the most radical change of all things dumb and stupid, but if you have money to waste, you could build your own rocket to outer space.   Just don't venture too far out in the Mexican desert area, the cartels would have your head on a stick.   I don't see the need to post the picture, google is your friend.  You'll see it then.

And then there's Lady Evil.  To which she is connected to Lady Evil of Black Sabbath in song.  Which is probably how I found the Black Sabbath/Dio best of this weekend.  The irony of it all.  

Passing's:

Commander Cody (George Frayne) passed away Sunday from Cancer he was 76.   He was the leader of Commander Cody and his lost planet airmen.   Best known for Hot Rod Lincoln.

Alan Lancaster (Status Quo), died from ALS.  He was their bass player till 1983 thereabouts. 

Sue Thompson.  Had big hits with the late John Loudermilk writing them (Norman, James (hold the later steady), then went country and made a couple of duet albums with Don Gibson.  Mom of Greg Penny, producer for K D Lang and others).  Sue passed away Monday at age 96.  One of the last links to the old country sounds.

Dr. Lonnie Smith, master of the B 3 Hammond organ and beloved jazz/blues musician passed from lung disease.  He was 79.

Quad Cities River Bandits 2021 High A Ball Central Winners

The Midwest League has looked a lot different since 2019.  Before COVID took out the 2020 season, Clinton and Burlington were dropped from the Midwest League   And the Midwest League was dropped in favor of the High A Central League, one of MLB's cost cutting operations.  Clinton and Burlington played alongside Danville and Normal.  Cape was the 2021 champs of the Prospect League.

Without Clinton and Burlington, the High A Central took on a different look.  Of course, Cedar Rapids Kernels and the Quad Cities River Bandits have been the rivalry through the years.  And most, if not all games I either went to Cedar Rapids or Davenport to see, mostly Davenport due to that area's access to thrift stores and record stores and a stadium by the Mississippi River.    I only went to one Kernels game all season, no thanks to spring processing.    The high A Central has a East and West division but the playoffs were decided with the two teams with the best record.  In this case.  The River Bandits had the best record overall,  Cedar Rapids, beat the Peoria Chiefs, won the last four meetings to outlast Dayton, Lake County and Great Lakes.  Dayton had a six game winning streak, by then it was too little too late and they ended up tying Lake Country with a 65-55 record.

So in essence, this turned out to be an all Iowa Championship series.  Both teams have been in the playoffs for the past few seasons.  The Kernels have managed to make it eight straight playoff series.

Photo: CR Kernels. Camargo ready to hit it out the park

Game one, 1,058 fans strolled into Cedar Rapids to see a pitching duel.  QC scored first, CR got the run back in the second.  It seemed to me that the QC Bandits haven't been as dominant in the scoring department when I have seen them the past three times in Davenport, they had leads,  the other team came back to tie and then The Bandits would win in extra innings and it felt like that was going to happen again. The Kernels left 7 on base in the 4-6th innings.  Jair Camargo then deposited a Caden Monke pitch past the right field wall for a solo shot and  Zach Featherstone came in and struck out Jake Means on a checked swing called strike to end the game. 

Game 2. 1,371 folks showed up for the final Kernels game and this time it was all River Bandits.  Mikel Garcia hit a home run. and scored two more runs and Nick Loftin hit a two run home run in the first and that was all Quad Cities needed to shut out the Kernels 6-0.  Four Bandit pitchers held the Kernels to 3 hits and didn't put much of a fight on offense, 14 K's, very Cubs like.   With that, this becomes a best of three heading to Davenport on Friday.  Me thinks it will be over on Saturday. 

Game 3

The Kernels hit four home runs, two by Eduardo Julien to propel Cedar Rapids to an 8 to 4 win.  A hour and twenty nine minute rain delay and the game took three and a half hours to complete.  Bandits were done in by leaving 13 runners on base. Cedar Rapids can win the Championship on Saturday. 

Game 4

Logan Porter hit a Zach Featherstone pitch over the left field fence in the 9th inning to force a game 5.A 2-1 win.  What really stood out is that the Kernels left the bases loaded three times and failed to score any runs out of this.  The Kernels stranded 14 runners in the game.  And it forced the winner take all game on Sunday.

Game 5

The River Bandits walked 8 Kernels players, but Cedar Rapids couldn't get them in at all.  The game was decided in the first when Game 4 hero Logan Porter drove in Mikeal Garcia.  Tucker Bradley added a home run in the 4th and a sac fly in the 7th to put the game on ice. A J Block, started and pitched fairly well but was lifted for Zach Haake who got the win.  Cody Lawyerson, only got one out before Denny Bentley relieved him.  The Kernels loaded the bases but Haake stuck out the next three batters and basically that what all she wrote for CR, who simply didn't hit.  This power outage would end up being Quad Cities being champs of the newly form High A Central (formerly Midwest League RIP) and their forth in the past decade.  The Kernels were in their 7th straight post season.  The QC title was their first as part of the Kansas City Royals. 

The weekend of finds

The Mississippi Valley Blues Festival is underway in Davenport and Eric Gales ended things on a grand note.  Yesterday my good friends in the Tanya English Band played in the tent stage.  I managed to jam a few songs with her the other day.  That woman could rock.

The high A ball league Championship will begin next week, with The Quad City River Bandits awaiting the winner of the 2nd playoff birth which might be Cedar Rapids if they beat Peoria, otherwise Lake County will be the playoffs.  You gotta love the grit of the teams fighting for that final spot. Unlike the Chicago Cubs who continue to lose to Milwaukee,  11th straight games the Brew Crew has won,  and the second game that the fucking Cubs blew yet another lead.  Had they held the fucking lead, they might be in the playoff hunt. But alas they have no luck and no relief pitching whatsoever. For the River Bandits, they won Saturday night with a 4-3 victory when Tyler Bates hit a base hit that scored Tyler Tolbert.  In the five games that I have seen the QC bandits, they had a 4-1 record.  Quad Cities will get the CR Kernels in the Championship. 

At least the Cubs finally beat Milwaukee, although the bullpen and Rowan Wick, who's doing his best at being worst, damn near gave the game back to the Brew Crew (walking 3 in his 2nd straight shit outing).  With two weeks left in the season, the reclamation projects have taken on interesting twist since the 2016 core players were traded. And the reality is that had the Cubs won the games they blew the lead in, they might be challenging for a playoff spot.  They did lead the Brewers at some point all three games.  The pitching has been a revolving door, even more so in the lack of relief department and nobody had been lights out.  The constant walks, the constant gopher balls given up and every pitcher either getting on the shuttle back to Des Moines or kicked to the curb (so long Dillon Maples, who had a 2.59 ERA but the walks he gave up cost him, 25 in 31 innings pitched) and Miguel Rodriguez finally was shut down for the season.  Wick was supposed to be in line to be the stopper but two crapping showings reveal he was no better than the departed Maples.  Frank Schwingel, on the other hand has shown a comeback after being a journeyman, hitting a hard to believe .364  But the most interesting player is Patrick Wisdom, hitting his 27th home run, breaking the rookie record held by Kris Bryant and driving in three runs.  With Wisdom, it's a all or nothing thing, he has a strike out rate at 40 percent and for the second straight game struck out four times before connecting on the game winner.  Certainly it's great to get HRs, but that 144 (and counting) SO's at bat is pretty ugh.   With those ugly K's, he won't get rookie of the year but for a feel good story, well at least he will have a record of his own when this season is over.  The Brewers won 15 of the 19 games played with the Cubs but at least the Cubs won the final meeting between these two teams   The Brewers will clinch the division title, but they will have to do it against a red hot St Louis Cardinals team that has won 8 games in a row and are determined to get a playoff spot.  This should be a interesting series. 

As for Jake Arrieta, he had yet another bad game as the Cardinals plummeted him for 5 runs, however, Tatis Jr, dropped a fly ball and threw a wild pitch at home, leading to the Cards scoring those runs first. With the Padres putting Jake on the DL once again, his showing in San Diego, 0-2  8.25 ERA, reveals that he is done. He's 5-14 this season and the feel good story of him returning to Chicago is long gone, replaced by the worst pitching of his career.  The 2021 season has been his black eye in a stellar career.

Congrats to the Orioles, for losing another 100 games in a season again. Forever in the crapper till Spanos sells the team. 

We have two hurricanes out in the ocean.  One is named Pete, the other is Rose. Hmm. 

Iowa creamed Kent State 30-7, The Iowa Defense still is dominating, but the offense is still spluttering, even tho Tyler Goodson had 153 yards rushing and scored three TDs. Spence Petras threw for a TD and completed 25 passes out of 36 for 209 yards.  Not bad for a day's work but they still look tentative at times.   As expected, Iowa State went to Vegas and cashed in, rolling over UNLV 48-3.  For our Arizona teams, ASU felled to BYU and Northern Arizona ended their longest losing streak, beating Arizona 21-19 in Tucson, first time they beat the Wildcats since the invention or air conditioning (1932).  It didn't help the Wildcats having two defense players get thrown out for targeting and  two drives ending up with FG only.  UA gets number 4 Oregon next week. Things are looking pretty grim for them as they should beaten NAU which hasn't been that great this season..  As for the ASU plastic forks, they may not be as good as advertised but they should do better against Colorado.

When you can't make classic albums anymore, the way to go is to reissue the classic rock albums, and bloat them up with bonus, tracks, studio chatter and the usual live concert or DVD.  Since the major labels don't have the patience or time to groom a band for three or four albums, they opt to go with the anniversary packages of those great albums that I haven't cared much to buy again.  Aerosmith has managed to get their Columbia masters back to them, so they will reissue them via Universal Music. I'm sure you'll forming at the mouth for that Just Push Play and Nine Lives albums with more cheese.  Me, I haven't gotten rid of my first generation Columbia CDs and that Collector's choice of Draw The Line.  And don't plan too.

Passings; Sarah Dash, part of Patti LaBelle and The Bluebelles and took part on the 1989 Steel Wheels Tour with the Rolling Stone and part of Keith Richard 1988 album died from natural causes.  She was 75. She recorded as a solo artist for Kirshner and EMI records. 

CD Finds:

Big In Iowa-Gentil Pete

Atlantic R and B Volume 7

Kate And Anna McGarragle-Dancer With Bruised Knees

The Fireballs.

Going to Davenport I got there late after arguing with my special someone, who played there yesterday and hurt herself on a faulty stool, a long story behind it being broken but of course guess who got the burnt of that frustration.   And once again, trying to have a decent day, only to have some fucking moronic kid weaving all over the road behind me, with his 13 year old GF giving him a hand job in the process.  And I have been very angry with the Creator about dealing with fucking morons that can't drive, red lights, semis in front and each bargain hunt becomes less fulfilling.  Being later than usual, I didn't hit the goodwill and Salvation Army stores, but rather going to the Source Bookstore and Ragged Records, only to had to use the bathroom at the former thanks to my IBS problems.  I did find Skeeter Davis's Pop Singles Collection on Taragon and on LP A Dream By The Moody Blues.   Ragged had Volume 7 of the Atlantic R and B collection of 1949-1974, plus a Big In Iowa CD,  The Fireballs' first album and Kate and Anna McGarragle's Dancer With Bruised Knees on Hannibal.   If The River Bandits make it to the second round playoffs at home, I'll probably be back.  But I do believe I need to really sit down and clean up the house and take inventory of the stacks of CDs yet to be filed away.  I probably will be single in a day or two.  I don't think neither one of us are happy, and love should not be this indifferent.  But in the meantime, I got to miss out on my friend Kane Brown who played in Moline, I had to deal with his crappy pre recorded drum tracks during their soundcheck and us playing the free stage in Monticello back in July.  Which seems like a long time ago.

The Big In Iowa CD came out in 2006 and features a new singer Eddie Gray in place of Bob Burns and the sounds is more honky tonk Jayhawks than Rolling Stones.  The Fireballs first album balanced Buddy Holly type of songs and instrumentals and the instrumentals win out. Bulldog and Torquay being the highlights, the popularity of the instrumentals would be the exit of the original Fireballs vocalist and Jimmy Gilmer would replace him.  The Atlantic Volume 7 has been the missing piece in my collection, but it is the weakest of the Atlantic box set.  It gives too much emphasis to Robert Flack, not enough Aretha and too much of the Philadelphia soul to which Gamble Huff would take to the next level.  The godawful Love Won't Let Me Wait is a poor way to end this look at Atlantic R and B and perhaps volume 8 should have been created to showcase the funk of Jimmy Castor Bunch or the disco beginnings of The Trammps.  But it does gives us the funky Rock Steady (Bernard Purdie, we are not worthy) and Compared To What.  Add Can I Change My Mind from Tyrone Davis to compliment Turn Back The Hands Of Time and it would be worthy.  

Other finds.

Kate Bush-The Sensual World

Bob Seger-Like A Rock

LP

Heads, Hands And Feet-Old Soldiers Never Die

Tom Paxton-The Things That I Noticed Now

Heads Hands and Feet were the UK's answer to The Band but with a more loose rocking feel, tho Tony Colton prefers those grandstanding ballads.  This is the band that featured Albert Lee, the wunderkind guitar extraordinaire and Chas Hodges, the counter to Colton's pop tendencies.  One Woman was that song that eluded me for many years.  Other highlight includes the Jack Of All Trades/Meal Ticket medley and Another Useless Day.  HHF could rock with the best of them but they broke up after this album was released. A lost classic.  The Tom Paxton is interesting for Albert Bouchard (BOC) playing drums on Bishop Cody's Last Request, which Paxton didn't rock with the best of them.   The wordy 15 minute The Iron Man will try your patience.  The Two and half minute All Night Long, is better. A curio album and a dollar find at the local Analog Vault.  

45's

Polk Salad Annie-Tony Joe White (Monument MN-1104) #8 1969

Bertha Butt Boogie (part 1)-Jimmy Castor Bunch (Atlantic 45-3232) #16 1975

If You Talk In Your Sleep-Elvis Presley (RCA APB0-0280) #17 1974

Money Honey-Bay City Rollers (Arista AS-0170) #9 1976

White Horse-Laid Back (Sire 7-29346) #26 1984

One of those look what Goodwill had for 45's this week.  I didn't think there would be much there since I was there a few days ago but somebody threw out their collection of mid 70s singles and a decent copy of Polk Salad Annie and White Horse. What strikes me funny is how The Bay City Rollers really rocked it up with Money Honey, their best attempt at glam rock and forget the faces and teen idol pinup shots and it just as rocking as T Rex or Slade.  Jimmy Castor's Bertha Butt Boogie has been funky fun stuff and even Elvis puts together a nice hard r and b song in If You Talk In Your Sleep.  He did have a nice run of rockers in the mid 70s, Promised Land was the next single.

Five Star Mud Football Game: Fun In The Mud

Cleveland 7 NY Giants 0

Polo Grounds: New York 10/25/53

I was watching the Chargers/Cowboys game from the new stadium that the Chargers and Rams share, it looked like a GD Ouija pointer with the fake turf and the Cowboys winning on a long FG to which we got to see Jerry Jones's ugly mug sucking face with the next person next to him. And people wonder why I hate the Cowboys.   New stadiums look good, and players can mug around like the WWE and there's not a shred of personality anymore.   Back in the dark ages, players have to play in elements and crappy old stadiums that seen better days.  Even in 1953 the Polo Grounds looked like a wrecking ball away from being knocked down, rats big as linemen running around the locker room and field.  With a lack of a drainage field and a baseball infield not covered and a driving rain turned the Polo Grounds into a mud field.  And there wasn't much offense in this weather.  Cleveland was undefeated, and New York was trying to find their way back to the top, but even with Charlie Cornerly, they weren't that great.   Otto Graham, the HOF QB rushed for 41 yards and a mud splattered 4 yard TD run to decide this game.  A very youthful Frank Gifford ran a couple kicks back for a few yards, but basically this was your defensive battle for both teams.  Not much of a game but if you love a good mud game.  This one can't be beat. 

Record Reviews

Grateful Dead-Road Trips Volume 2 (the Carousel 2-14-68) (Real Gone 2021)

Disc 2 is Anthem Of The Sun done in one setting and not without various concerts spliced in and to be honest it is nice to hear these songs without distraction, tho Anthem Of The Sun remains trippy hippy dippy classic.   You can tell they're still working on getting things squared away on Alligator and the 10 minute Caution Do Not Stop On The Tracks before concluding with a barrage of feedback noise that gives fond memories of Metal Machine Music, or perhaps Starship from the MC5.  Phil Lesh mentioned that is one of his fave Dead concerts and perhaps he has a point.  Anthem Of The Sun really can be mentioned as one of the early space rock albums and beat Hawkwind by about five years to make this spaced out effort.  For bonus tracks, I like the economics of Beat It Down The Line, the magic mushroom hallucinations of Viola Lee Blues (all 20 minutes of it) and the second version of Dark Star.  Not all of this album works, The Midnight Hour isn't that great.  Certainly, Road Trips 2 is a classic concert of who the Dead were and certainly Pigpen was still singing the blues quite a bit.  But you can tell the winds were changing, Quicksilver Messenger Service would take these space jams to their own level on the Happy Trails album.  Which wasn't as classic as you think it is.

A-

The Moody Blues-A Dream (Nova Import 1976)

Tracy Deaton aka Tad told me about this album when we were discussing the Moody Blues and of course I remembered it and of course I would go find the album soon afterwards.  Decca Records (the supreme record company) gave their blessing to a German label to compile the Denny Laine years along with early singles from Laine's replacements Justin Hayward and John Lodge to try to fit the pieces in before the classic 7 albums that came soon after.  In some ways, we cannot overlook Laine's contributions to the Moodies,, and for that matter Mike Pinder who's songs revealed a forward into the future with Love And Beauty but also showing his R and B roots with I Really Haven't Got The Time.  Those early singles would be on Prelude, a nifty London comp, that included the five bonus tracks from the Caught Live album, the Laine years were compiled into the hard to find Magnificent Moodies collection, tho Repertoire would issued the Go Now album, but their album pales to the London M.M. album due to less bonus tracks.   As the Moody Blues MK 2 Lineup became the prominent lineup, the early stuff is forgotten or ignored.  Which is a shame since Go Now and From The Bottom Of My Heart are classics  in their own right.  Perhaps nobody would have noticed if the latter did sneak up on a later overview tho Laine's primal screams at the end would reveal as am imposter of sorts.  But the the R and B of Bye Bye Birdie and I Don't Want To Go On Without You would have clashed.  It would have been fun to see Tony Clarke get a hold of these songs and segment them into the other songs as he did with the 7 classic albums.  Hayward does have some great songs here as the newbie, Fly Me High and Cities would gave a great counterpart to Laine's music.  Also telling,  the importance of Mike Pinder being the bridge from the R and B band unto the new frontier of music cannot be overlooked.  This may have never happened had Laine not gone solo and they stayed to a Rhythm n Blues cover band sound. I think think A Dream was made after This Is The Moody Blues came out to show the now forgotten side.  To which it did have it's moment and makes a good companion to This Is, that is if you can find it.  

B plus  

 

Crabb Bits: Cy Haws, Mick Tingelhoff, Cubs LOL

I didn't spent any time watching the Iowa Hawkeyes beat Iowa State 27-17 in Ames, but I did hear some of it on the radio.  Iowa defense once again dominated the game forcing 4 turnovers and 20 points which was the game.  Breece Hall got stripped of the ball and Jack Campbell (no relation to the cyclone coach Matt Campbell) waltzed into the end zone six yards away.  Hall did have a TD and 93 yards total offense but that fumble basically turned the game into a Hawkeye victory.  Brock Purdy had a "purdy" bad game and Hunter Dekkers relieved him to throw a late TD pass to make the game a bit more closer.  Actually the Cyclones did have 339 yards total offense but the turnovers and very tough Iowa D was the game. Purdy did have Heisman potential, and history has shown that he'll return stronger and better.  Dekkers is considered the future and next year's QB in the Cy Hawk series to which Iowa brought the trophy down, kinda like a weekend pass before returning back to the comforts of the trophy case in Iowa City.  The Iowa offense was workmanlike, Spencer Petras threw a TD pass to Charlie Jones and Tyler Goodson had a rushing score.  But this was all Iowa Defense, Matt Hankins picking off two "purdy" passes, Seth Benson one. The Cy Hawk came to see Ames and headed back east to Iowa City.  Iowa now has six straight wins against I State and will move up in the top 10.  Iowa State will fall out of the number 9 position.  In the end, Cyclones did move the ball better, but the turnovers killed them.  Iowa goes home to play Kent, Cyclones go out to Vegas and will try their luck against UNLV.

For his efforts, punter Tory Taylor was named special teams player of the week by the big ten.  He was the reason why Iowa State had to start deep in their own territory. Four of his 8 punts were inside the ISU ten yard line and beyond. 

Mick Tingelhoff, one of the ironmen of pro football passed away at age 81.  He never missed a game in his 17 year career (250 games) and is one of the all time great Vikings of all time.  He protected the likes of Joe Kapp and Fran Tarkenton in the glory years of the Vikings, good enough to get the super bowl but never enough to win it.  He was soft spoken but let his blocking do the talking.  Only Jim Marshall never missed a game as a Viking (270 straight games up to his 1979 retirement).  Phillip Rivers managed to tie Mick's games played in  a row before he retired last season.  Needless to say I think Marshall's and Tingelhoff/Rivers game streak played won't be broken.  In the above photo, Mike Lucci awaits the play.  Lucci passed away on October 26, 2021 at age 82. 

I had to include a photo of Fran Tarkenton behind Mick.  They spent a lot of time on the field, and yes Joe Kapp was great back in 68-69, Takenton and Mick were naturals together.   Once the Vikings went indoors and Mick and Fran retiring, it was never the same again. 

Last week we talked about the Cubs seven game winning streak and how they could play spoiler.  Well, the jokes on us, especially after the Giants pummeling Hapless Zac Brown Davies 15-4   In typical fashion, Cubs give Davies a 1-0 lead and then next inning Davies can't get nobody out and it's 5 to 1 and another 2 inning shitshot pitching from Davies, the booby prize of the Yu Darvish trade.  Even with his no hitter combined with Chapin/Tepera/Kimbrel, Davies looked like shit all season.  Cubs may as well sit his ass down. The Three Stooges tandem of Davies, Slow Poke Rodriguez and Don't Bother Brothers gave up 10 of the 11 walks issued.  Kris Bryant got more applause than the Cubs themselves, and former Cubbie La Stella hit a three run home run.   I wasted too much time on this anyway, Cubs lose and back into their stumbling bumbling ways, no thanks to a pitcher that can't last two innings as a starter. And Miguel Rodriquez has a long way to go.  And Brothers?  Light a fart for his half assed effort.  They can all go home in three weeks.  Speaking of jokes, The BJ's of Toronto blew up the A ball Orioles 22-7.  Forever rebuilding but still bathing in the suck. 

Don Maddox, the last living performer and the final link to the development of country music passed away.  He was 98. https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/don-maddox-final-member-of-maddox-brothers-rose-has-died/

Five Star Mud Game-Dallas 14-New Orleans 10  (10/15-67) 
Cotton Bowl-Dallas

Slip Sliding Away.

On occasion the famed Cotton Bowl would be the place for some memorable mud games, and the Cowboys kryptonite in Dallas is mud (take for account the 1970 big muddy in Cleveland which they won 6-2 in one of the worst all time mud fields in NFL history) and playing the winless expansion New Orleans team should have been a slog through the mud right?  Not really, both teams turned the ball over three times and Dave Witsell had one of his best games, two interceptions, one for a pick six and one to snuff out a Dallas drive. New Orleans had three chances to take the lead, Jim Taylor fumbled after catching a pass and then Gary Cuozzo had a pass picked in the end zone by Cornell Green. However the big fumble came on the Dallas 6 and with The Saints driving, Billy Kilmer blotched a center snap to which Dallas recovered and game over.  

Record Reviews:

James Mc Murtry-The Horses And The Hounds (New West 2021)

It's a big event when James comes out with a new album and for his first in over 6 years he went back to his roots and got David Grissom and Kenny Aronoff to play and Ross Hogarth, who recorded the first two albums for Columbia and it's a winning album.  He saves the best for songs that I can relate to, Fort Walton Wake Up Call, where's the singer is dealing with his nagging companion and What's The Matter, where the nagging companion complains from afar.  Blackberry Manor might be three complaint songs too many but that you can refer to the first 7 songs.  Next to Tom T Hall, James Mc Murtry is the best singer narrative songwriter.

A

Kacey Musgraves-Star Crossed (MCA Interscope 2021)

And now, the biggest disappointment of 2021.  Eight years ago, she was the new face of Country Music with Same Trailer Different Park, but with the surprise showing of Golden Hour, Musgraves has set her sights on EDM pop music and strikes out.  Basically an album with songs that described her divorce, the album is sunk on the same production team that made Golden Hour what it was.  I never thought that record was all that great, for pop it was passable but for country, it was a Trojan Horse passing for country but was New Order mope and sorrow.  Best song Simple Times describes this the best: Being Grown up kinda sucks.  The last song really sucks.  Which sets the tone between processed beats and autotuned vocals, one of the more annoying things about music today  In some ways, Ruston Kelly, the inspiration of Golden Hour becomes the un-inspiration of Star Crossed, an album that might win a couple of converts, but lose a thousand others, to which this may be the bomb of 2021.  Musgraves deserves better, but perhaps the best advice is to get back to the country and soon.   Upon a second listening, it's still odd to hear Kacey in this mope mode rather than the fun of her first two albums and of course Happy Hour.  Star Crossed is the morning after the night before of Happy Hour. 

B-

The Smithereens-11 (Capitol 1990)

I do miss Pat Dinizio's lamented songs about love and failed love, and his attempts to create tributes to The Who and The Beatles and Christmas Music.  But for original songs,  Pat came up with great sounding singles but the albums that came with the singles were so so, with plenty of filler songs to boot. 11 followed the success of Especially For You and Green Thoughts with a change of producers (Don Dixon traded for Ed Stasium) and a more polished style.  I think they played this too safe on 11, tho it starts out with two side openers that are the best (Girl Like You, Yesterday Girl) then after that, you can't tell the difference.  Blues Before And After was a failed single and the medley of Cut Flowers and William Wilson is a wink without changing the chords.   I have bought this CD in the cheap bins a couple times, played it and then donated it to Goodwill and then getting it again to compare if it has improved over the years.  But found out it's still the same.  It's workman like and tight as a drum, maybe a bit too tight.  Even the Beatles and The Who could loosen up.

B

Ned LeDoux-Sagebrush (Thirty Tigers 2017)

Chris's son follows in his dad's footsteps with cowboy songs, songs about the rodeo life, songs about being on the road.  He does his dad proud and Ned got the finest session players to help (Mac Mcanally produced and played guitar, Greg Morrow drummer extraordinaire). Upon hearing the rest of this, This Cowboy's Hat isn't that bad.  His tribute to his dad is a tearjerker and a classic. 

B+

Album From My Youth:  This Is The Moody Blues (Threshold 1974)

Anybody that grew up in the 1970s had a copy of This Is The Moody Blues, an overview of the 7 albums that the Moodies made after Denny Laine departed and Clint Warwick left and got a real job. The new guys Justin Heyward and John Lodge took the band into a whole new direction and Mike Pinder discovered the mellotron.  If you really think about it, Pinder was the sound behind the Moody Blues as this overview suggests, the crazed out Legend Of A Mind part where Pinder's sounds like a LSD trip gone bonkers, The Voyage, which has not aged well but might be the most progressive rock song they ever did and, of course, Melancholy Man which I tend to hate one minute and then love. But every Moody gets their due.  Justin Hayward's Question, The Story In Your Eyes, Lovely To See You and Never Comes The Day.  John Lodge has Ride My See Saw, Isn't Life Strange and I'm Just A Singer (in a rock n roll band).  Ray Thomas with Legend Of A Mind, and the silly For My Lady and co writing with Heyward with Waiting And Waiting.  Which leaves Grahame Edge's and his poetry (to which Pinder recites perfectly, but Edge did contribute After You Came, the most metallic song that didn't make the cut but is on Every Good Boy...).  Of course Nights In White Satin is their best classic song that you hear still today on radio, a combination of the band combining with Peter Knight's orchestra to conclude this on a high note.  All the songs on This Is, were remixed and have a more polished sound so to speak.  This record isn't exactly perfect but it did capture the hits that made the Moody Blues one of the more beloved bands of rock n roll.   The 7 albums have been reissued and remixed and have full of alt takes and b sides for the listener to seek out, but if you're on a budget and can find this for 2 dollars at the local thrift shop and not a Moody fanatic, this is for you.

A-

Fred Walk was part of Linn County.  The band that recorded for Mercury/Phillips back in the late 60s. He was 78.

FREDERICK LESLIE WALK JR.

Palm Bay, Fla.

Frederick Leslie Walk Jr. moved on from this earth Friday, August 27, 2021. He passed away in the comfort of his home with his wife and daughter.

Fred was born Jan. 3, 1943, in Long Beach, Calif., to Florene and Leslie Walk Sr. He was brought to Webster, Iowa, by his father at the age of three, then was raised by his paternal grandparents, Dr. David

and Grace Walk.

He taught himself to play guitar at the age of 13 while listening to a Chicago radio station on his transistor radio. He went on to play bass, trumpet and guitar. In the 1960s, while attending the University of Iowa, Fred started to perform with the Prophets, blending a unique combination of of rock 'n' roll, R&B and blues with his fellow bandmates. Midwest touring and popularity increased until an offer from Mother Blues in Chicago came to be their house band. The move to Chicago came with a name change, the Linn County Blues Band. In time, the gig led to a recording contract with Mercury Records. Mercury relocated the band to San Francisco. Their name was changed to Linn County. In San Francisco, they played the Fillmore West, the Fillmore East and other popular venues, sharing the bill with many historical artists.

In addition to Linn County, Fred played with Danny and the Juniors, was back up for many artists, and played the Cedar Rapids music scene with so many talented artists. In later years, Fred was a business owner and territory manager for Mohawk Industries. Fred loved fishing and boating.

Fred was a lifetime member of the Iowa Rock 'N' Roll Music Association. He was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2003 (Rockin' Flames) and in 2004 (Linn County).

He was inducted into the Iowa Blues Hall of Fame in 2006.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, David Pharr; and in-laws, Millie and Robert Mitchell.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Deborah Walk; daughter, Leah (Cole) Gonzales; sister, Gail (Jim) Ralph; and grandsons, Cole "C.J." and Lincoln Gonzales. Extended family members in addition to a wealth of friends also survive. Fred will missed by his family and loved forever.

In lieu of a funeral service, Fred's family ask that all who love him nationwide celebrate his legacy on his birthday, Jan. 3. Or, after reading this, play one of his songs, or your favorite song, to celebrate the joy that music brings into our lives.

He always held Webster, Iowa, and surrounding communities close to his heart. Donations in Fred's memory may be made to: English Valleys Schools, 211 College St., PO Box 490, North English, IA 52316.

DBQ-Dumpster Singles And Otherwise

There's a place outside of Asbury that has a record sale every month.  So I overindulged myself.  Of course when you spend over 40 dollars you get a 10 percent discount.  Of course I earned that one.

For sure for sure.

However, I had 10 minutes to spare before Goodwill closed and damned if somebody didn't bring two stacks of 45's of varying degree.  With the employee counting down the closing minutes, I had no time to inspect.   Just a quick glance and hope that they are not in bad shape.

A collection of county and soul singles.  I have been having good luck finding soul singles but alas, the ones that I found in Moline were trashed. 

The cream of the crop so to speak.

Singing The Blues-Marty Robbins (Columbia 4-21545) #17 1956

You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby-Bobby Darin (Atco 45-6206) #5 1961

Blind Man's Blunder-The Kingston Trio (Capitol 4379) #37 1960

The Country Hall Of Fame-Hank Locklin (RCA 47-9323) #8 Country 1967

(I can't help you) I'm A Falling Too-Skeeter Davis (RCA 47-7767) #39 1960

Is It Really Over?-Jim Reeves (RCA 47-8623) #79 1965

Sunlight-The Youngbloods (RCA 74-0465) #123 1971

Lover And A Friend-Eddie Bo & Inez Cheatham (Capitol 2150) 1968

Esther-Bobby Sykes (JED 10,010) 1967

(I got to) Do It To It-Tony Fox (Calla C-146) 1968

It's been a while since I had any Bobby Darin findings, but this quarter find seemed to be in good shape. Basically Bobby doing the twist on this ole pop standard.  B side is the seldom heard Sorrow Tomorrow, which never made it to any Best ofs.  From Doc Pomus/Mort Shuman team.  Singing The Blues, I've known the later version, this is more hillbilly than rockabilly. I'm not sure why I picked up County Hall Of Fame, it's hokey and was overplayed as a juke box 45.  The lovely Skeeter Davis' I Can't Help You was the answer record to Please Help Me I'm Falling. Is It Really Over did get some airplay on the pop chart, tho it did much better on the country side of things.   Bobby Sykes' Esther was not a soul single as I thought it was but a ho hum ballad, Leon Ashley's Laura was a better song.  For the soul singles Eddie Bo with Inez Cheatham's Lover And A Friend is a decent northern soul classic.  Tho the record has seen better days, Do It To It from the obscure Tony Fox, has Teddy Vann producing and arranging it, he's better known for The Whatchacallit, done by the Burning Emotion for ABC.  Sunlight was issued twice by RCA, but the second time it bubbled around number 123.  Three Dog Night would cover that for It Ain't Easy, but didn't issued it as a single.  And Blind Man's Blunder is another winning track from the likes of The Kingston Trio.  Who will be heard from later on. 

There's a guy that lives on the outskirts of Asbury that has a record sale from time to time. Course I have told you that earlier.  I got started late and headed up to Dubuque when I saw his familiar forty five signs out by the four way and I figured I'd better head there before he closed up.  When I drove there, he motioned me to a parking spot and told me to look around, that he was picking up the signs since he closed at 4.  However, he had his grand daughters tending shop so I managed to convince them to keep open and I'll make it worth their while.

Singles Of Note:

Tell Him No-The Jackson Brothers (Atco 45-6139)  1959

A weird one.  Travis And Bob had the hit but in 1959 Sandy Records sold that master to Dot Records for 12 thousand dollars, quite a sum back in 59.  If you research the Billboard archives, another version was on Bullseye with Dean and Mark and this version was originally on Big Top, but Big Top chose to sell this version with the Jackson Brothers to Atlantic.  To which Atlantic, passed it on to the Atco label but with the BG prefix. Of course this version pales compared to Travis and Bob, and even B side Love Me was done better by Elvis Presley.  Lieber and Stroller did produce the Jackson Brothers sides, Billy Mure arranged the song.  The Jackson Brothers were never heard from again but in a case of irony, Travis and Bob would record a solitary single for Big Top before moving to Mercury and issuing two more singles.  Thanks to the folks at 45 Cat for the information.

Some Kind Of Wonderful-The Drifters (Atlantic 45-2096)  #32 1961

Lieber and Stroller continued to produce Atlantic acts such as The Drifters who score a minor hit with Some Kind Of Wonderful.  Rudy Lewis replaced Ben King when King opted for a solo career.  What ties the past to the present is Honey Bee, the B side that comes from the early days of Clyde McPhatter and sounds out of date even for 1961 standards.  This came out in 1953. 

Church Bells May Ring-The Diamonds (Mercury 70835)  #14 1956

The Diamonds were the best cover group for black music and this was a cover of the Willow's song.  In these well worn grooves, the Willows win this battle royal. David Carroll's bland arrangement didn't help things much. Little Girl Of mine, the B side is better and perhaps this should have gotten some airplay consideration.  David Sommerville is one of the best doo wop singers of this era and even a bland David Carroll production can be overlooked.  

And now.  A collection of instrumentals.

Boss Guitar-Duane Eddy (RCA 47-8131)  #28 1963

Memphis-Lonnie Mack (Fraternity F-906)  #5 1963

Green Onions-King Curtis (Atco 45-6496)  1967

Tequila-Eddie Platt (ABC Paramount 9899) #20 1958

Blue Bongo-Preston Epps (Top Rank RA-2067)  1960

Bulldog-The Fireballs (Top Rank RA-2026)  #24 1960

Reveille Rock-Johnny And The Hurricanes (Warwick 513) #25 1959

Bossa Nova USA-Dave Brubeck (Columbia 4-42675)  #69 1963

Classical Gas-Synergy (Passport PPA-7907) 1976

Johnny and the hurricanes really come storming out the gate with this wild rocker and one of their finest songs ever.  Likewise Memphis to which Lonnie Mack did a better version than one that Billy Lee Riley would do for Mercury, not that Riley's wasn't bad, I always thought Mack owned this one.  The Champs trump Platt for Tequila and Preston Epps, Blue Bongo reeks of bachelor pad lounge music. Dave Brubeck's famous quintet had a nice run at the charts beginning with Take Five and ending with Bossa Nova USA, Camptown Races, the B side shows why Joe Morello is one of the best jazz drummers out there, he knows how to swing, but also Eugene Wright and Paul Desmond shine as well. Dave too.  

Bobby's Got A Girl Friend-Royal Teens (ABC Paramount 45-9945) #78 1958

It's odd that I can't find Short Shorts at the junk shops but I managed to find this followup single which bombed. This band featured Bob Gaudio as the keyboard player and song writer, even if Short Shorts was silly fun.   I think Bobby's Got A Girl Friend is more fun, tho B side Hangin Around is boring doo wop.

Replacement Records of the Big Box Of Records I Grew Up With

Silhouettes/Daddy Cool-The Rays (Cameo 117) #3 1957

Ginger Bread-Frankie Avalon (Chancellor 1021)  #9 1958

Tallahassee Lassie-Freddy Cannon (Swan S-4031) #6 1959

I Really Love You-The Stereos (Cub K-9095)  #29 1961

Tom Dooley-The Kingston Trio (Capitol F-4049) #1 1958

The first three songs here played a big role in what I had for records.  It took forever to find a copy of Daddy Cool that wasn't trashed and if I had to live this life over, the big box of records would have been better taken care of.  Frankie Avalon was pap but Grandma had three of his singles there and Ginger Bread was bought for a nickel at a forgotten Goodwill store.  The Freddy Cannon song got the grooves wore off.  The Eric reissues have the longer version but the Swan 45 was in mint condition and played pretty well.  The Rays 45 is mint.  Tom Dooley might have been part of the box of records and if it was, it got broken or lost in the transfer of that box over here.  The Stereos' I Really Love You is fun doo wop. 

The Rest:

Rock A Beatin Boogie-Bill Haley And His Comets (Decca 9-29713) #23 1955 

Dizzy Miss Lizzy-Larry Williams (Specialty 626) #69 1958

She Knows How To Rock-Little Richard (Specialty 652) 1959

Your Good Thing (is about to end)-Mable John (Stax 192) #95 1966

El Paso-Numero Dos-Homer And Jethro (RCA 47-7704) 1960

Do It Again-The Beach Boys (Capitol 2239) #20 1968

One Woman-Heads, Hands And Feet (Atco 45-6923) 1973

Money-The Flying Lizards (Virgin VA-67003) #50 1979

The surprise was Heads Hands And Feet One Woman, a song that I have been searching for but didn't know who did it, till I seen it in the 50 cent bin.  Albert Lee was the main guitar player, Tony Colton and Chas Hodges were capable lead singers, Pete Gavin was part of the Jerry Lee Lewis 1973 super sessions and Ray Smith fits in there somewhere. Jerry Lee Lewis did cover Jack Daniels Ole number 7 but didn't make the final cut for The Session, but was a b side to No Headstone On My Grave. A shame that I couldn't find the stock copy of One Woman, a 7 and half minute version of Dirty Heavy Weather  Road.   Money is the deconstruction of the Barrett Strong song, kinda like Devo reinventing I Can't Get No Satisfaction.   Yet another Little Richard find, She Knows How To Rock was recorded by Piano Red as Rockin' With Red (RCA 50-0099  1950) originally, but around 1959, Little Richard was going through a born again period to which he denounced rock n roll and made gospel singles for End, Mercury and Atlantic. Specialty was basically scraping the bottom of the barrel with She Knows How To Rock.  Dizzy Miss Lizzy is my fave Larry Williams tune with B side Slow Down added value. Do It Again is one of my top five fave Beach Boys song,  Homer and Jethro takes on Marty Robbins El Paso but their humor can be hit or miss,  B side is their take on the Archie Campbell classic, That's Good, That's Bad.   For soul music, I chose the Mable John, Your Good Thing Is About To End.  

The 10 minute of search and grab at the Goodwill did come up with some cool stuff, Esther will be donated back somewhere in the future and Country Hall Of Fame was quite dirty sounding.  Hank Locklin has slowly been becoming a bigger part of the singles grab bag.  I could return tomorrow but I already put about 500 miles on my car due to the Madison/Davenport previous bargain hunts and I don't see the need to return.  Plus I don't think they had the turnover of CDs from the last time I was there.  And besides, I found the James McMurtry new album at Moondog and spent 78 dollars on a Grateful Dead album and the recent Todd Snider.  So I think I am good for a while.  At least till the baseball playoffs in Davenport and pick up stuff from Ragged Records that I left behind.   A Record Collector, Hoarders work is never done. ;) 

Leftovers;

Lady Godiva-Peter & Gordon (Capitol 5740) #6 1966

Heart Healer-Mel Tillis (MCA 40667) #1 Country 1976

Easier Said Than Done-The Essex (Roulette R-4494) #1 1963

Off To Dublin In the Green-The Abbey Tavern Singers (HBR-498) #94 1966

The curio is the Abbey Tavern Singers which was issues as ARC (A-1144) and Hanna Barbera picked up the US rights and scored a number 94 chart placing on the charts.  Which was a big surprise. We didn't think Irish ballads would make a ripple on the charts.  This would be their only US single..  And it seems to be a sought after record, due to the fact that it was on Hanna Barbera.  The Essex and Mel Tillis come up with number 1 songs, Mel hitting and topping the country chart and one of his better songs. Which leaves us with Lady Godiva, one of the coolest songs from the stuffy Peter and Gordon. The Essex came from a batch of 45s that were up at half price books and nobody picked it up.  Unlike Bristol Stomp, Easier Said Than Done played like a fairly decent 45 despite multiple plays over the years. 

Baseball Finds In Davenport (when don't I?)

So I basically went back to Davenport once again in search of music and found more than I should. 

But it is the end of the regular season MiLB and the River Bandits clinched yesterday.  The owner  gave everybody free admission for yesterday clinching the top playoff spot, so today the Bandits were a bit hung-over it seemed.  taking a 4-1 lead before Peoria came roaring back to tie things up.  The strangest move was opting to go with Gavin Stupenski, who hit a home run earlier.  And alas, he gave up four runs and a hit batsman which sent the bench coach into a F bomb tizzy and got excused in the 11th inning.  It was only the second time a River Bandit coach got bounced.   QC did score a run and had a chance to win it with a grand slam but Jake Mears struck out to end the game.  It wasn't much of a crowd and the Palmer School of future Chiropractors went home after the 10th inning and missed a interesting 11th inning.  Of note, there was a teenager that snagged three balls, a home run (Thomas Francisco), a foul ball and a ground rule double from  Todd Lott.  I found an extra ball and since the dude had three, I gave him number four and said it was a foul ball from Francisco.  By the 11th,  it was school night and the kiddies were long gone.  Hell, I was the only one out in the berm area.  I'm sure I'll be back in a couple weeks during the playoffs.  Davenport is a great place to watch a baseball game.  Quad Cities will be in the playoffs,  Cedar Rapids Kernels are a game ahead of Great Lakes and Lake County for the second spot with 9 games left to play.  

Quad Cities had 1,355 people show up, 1,300 were gone by the 11th inning.  Strange how playoff games the attendance gets less n less. 

I'm still amazed of finding CDs n LPs and some scratchy 45s, picking up what was salvageable from the Vet's Thrift Shop.  Lavern Baker's classic Jim Dandy, suffered from a very bad scratch that I couldn't buff out, but B side Tra La La looks playable.   Every store had some decent music and CDs.  For 99 cents I couldn't pass up A Night At The Opera from Queen.  Even the Salvation Army store in Moline had Fool For The City by Foghat (I didn't pick that  one up since I had a copy).  Goodwill, in Bettendorf, continues to impress with stuff like This Is The Moody Blues.  Alas, Co Op Moline did not have the new James Mc Murtry album, to which I have to wait till end of the month to try my luck in Dubuque.

What Was Found:

LPs
Bobby Darin-Clementine 

Angel-On Earth As It Is In Heaven

CDs

Queen-A Night At The Opera

This Is The Moody Blues

George Burns-Young At Heart

Caribbean Nights-Various Artists

Run Run Rudolf-The Oil Christmas Compilation Volume 1

Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins-Rabbit Fur Coat

Mountain-Twin Peaks

Humble Pie-Rocking The Fillmore

Buddy Knox and Jimmy Bowen

Best Of Gerry And The Pacemakers

Wild And Swinging-Various Artists

Squeeze-Sweets From A  Stranger

Ricky Lee Jones-Pirates

45's

Jim Dandy-Lavern Baker (Atlantic 45-1116) #17 1956  Tra La La #94 (B side)

There Never Was A  Time-Jennie C Riley (Plantation PL-816)  #77 1969

Butterfly-Charlie Gracie (Cameo 105)  #1 1957

Philadelphia USA-Art Lund (Coral  9-62054)  #89 1958

College Man-Bill Justis (Phillips Int. 3522) #42 1958

Bippin And Boppin (over you) Robert Byrd (Jamie 1039)  1959

Bippin n Boppin is  a forgotten R and B tune, that I'm surprised the pickers didn't get this one after my pick of the litter of the Vets Thrift Store finds about six weeks ago. College Man was a bit more radical rocking (despite the corny singalong at the beginning), Justis will be remembered for Raunchy, but College Man is worth hearing.  Philadelphia USA is more good time cheese pop that Dick Jacobs is famous for, the b side is total crap. Butterfly is Charlie Gracie copying Marty Robbins or Guy Mitchell and got a number 1 song for his effort.  I had an earlier copy but it had a crack halfway through the record and I couldn't play it.  Andy Williams covered this and scored a sizable hit.  Jennie C had the big hit with Harper Valley PTA but she still had some minor hits on the pop chart with There Never Was Time, passable I guess but the record revealed more scratches beyond the surface.  Which leaves us with Tra La La from Lavern Baker, which did better on the R and B chart.  Georgia Gibbs' version did much better at number 24,compared to Baker's places 70 positions downward.  This song was better suited for Georgia Gibbs.  As mentioned Jim Dandy had a vertical rub scratch that rendered it unplayable. 

This Is The Moody Blues was an album I grew up with and listened to quite a few times, I used to knick it from my aunt when she lived with us years ago and it still remains a decent overview of their classic 7 albums after Denny Laine and Clint Warwick (who?) left and Justin Hayward and John Lodge joined. At that time, Simple Game was not on any album (they did the song with the Four Tops of all soul groups) and this record had a more smooth out mixes of Legend Of A Mind and Watching And Waiting and others.  Queen's Night At The Opera is a rare find in the junk shops and still commands a 7.99 used price at half price books.  I always loved the beauty of 39, tho it became a nasty earworm that got me to rid of the cd.  Since Ricky Lee Jones was seeing Tom Waits at that time, Pirates turned out to be a album that I wanted to hear since a few songs were about her and Tom. To be honest, I never cared for her first album and her Walter Becker produced album had some moments of greatness but she's always been an acquired taste.  Just like Jenny Lewis.  The George Burns is a curio,  at age 84, he went to Nashville and cut I Wish I Was 18 Again for Jerry Kennedy and Mercury Records.  Kennedy is a perfect fit for Burns, a nostalgic look at the past and some of the most damning lyrics, particularly I Wish I Was 18 Again.  The 1980 namesake album might have been the better one to reissue and the female singers and goofy arrangements might be hard to take, but Burns remains charming as he sorts through these old time treasured classics which lasts about a half hour of the 14 songs. Caribbean Classics is Polygram's budget line Rebound Records, cherry picking through some reggae songs from the legends, adds Blondie and Billy Ocean for temptation and Bobby Bloom's Montego Bay, his 1970 one hit that garners jokes from time to time.  Wild And Swinging is part of Capitol's ultra lounge series that came out during the Big Band revival craze.  Thank you Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.  

The Bobby Darin Clementine album is interesting since it was part of Atlantic's bargain line of Clarion albums, something that I didn't know all that much about.   Most were decent comps from the likes of King Curtis, Coasters and Drifters and Clarion 601 had a Beatles album out with some Beatles singles along with other tracks by the Swallows.   Atlantic issued 21 albums on Clarion but never followed through on future editions.   The Songs are basically in the style of That's All with collected singles and so so pop standards.  All Night Long is up-tempo swing blues.  Certainly, better comps are out but for a budget priced album it's fairly decent.   The Angel album....I remember Angel getting called a lot of nasty names. for their glam rock moves and basically I was never imprssed with their output (White Hot and Sinful terrible albums)  On Earth....sows the seeds of the 80's hair metal (Greg Gurffina moved on to 80's cheese bands with his namesake band) without them knowing it.  I bought this since Eddie Kramer (Jimi Hendrix, KISS) helped out.  If nothing else, they were way ahead of their time by about 10 years.  Closer track Just A Dream sucks.

 

Labor Day Finds

Ricky Reynolds, the lead guitar player for Black Oak Arkansas  passed away from kidney failure and a heart attack on Sunday.  He was 72.  He was in a Memphis hospital since early August.  Willard Scott, famed weatherman for Today show after a long illness on Saturday, he was 87.

(Getty pictures: Credit) 

The World Naked Bike Ride in Madison had a few of the NRA folks joining in,  the first ride that had somebody waving flags through the bike ride which irked a few folks and then of course, Joan Downs wrote yet another complaint letter to the newspaper saying how in poor taste the newspapers continue to show naked folk going up and down Madison

As an abuse survivor, I try diligently to avoid the World Naked Bike Ride. But the Wisconsin State Journal puts it photographs of the event online where everyone -- even children -- can see them.

I thought the State Journal considered itself "family friendly." 

The event organizers refer to their ride as a method of expression. Their framing of it this way is enabled by Madison's law enforcement not taking any action against the nude participants. Yet this same law enforcement does not seem to hesitate in issuing a fine to a single naked person or a woman whose breasts are uncovered.

While I would not be comfortable in either instance, the actions or inactions of Madison law enforcement -- and I use the next word intentionally -- expose the differences in standards for dealing with different people or groups.

I believe Madison law enforcement should hold the participants of this event accountable for their actions, as it does when a single person is involved.

Joan Downs, Madison

What Joan doesn't get is that the Madison police does coordinate this and they do their job to keep the naked riders on the approved roads for this event.  Therefore, the only action they need to do is make sure nobody goes off course butt naked, then they get arrested for indecent exposure.   Of course, every event like WNBR will have the Joan's out bitching and mowing about naked people.  I've done the WNBR for three years and didn't see any of the bike riders being abused  or body shamed at the point where people undressed.  And the hosts of these were always first class and made sure nobody got abused.  It's a one day, two hour bike ride event.  It's no orgy.  I had my fun doing this, but I doubt that I'll be riding around Madison in my birthday suit any more.    And there'll be self righteous folks like Ms. Downs bitching and moaning.   Don't be a Joan.

Football season has started and Iowa came roaring out of the gate, blowing Indiana off the field 34-6 but the highlight was poor Dave Holloman having the misspelled state on his jersey, to which he was spared of any more embarrassment.  Mike Penix had a bad game, throwing for 3 interceptions to which Riley Moss took one 30 yards for a pick six. Tyler Goodson went for 99 yards, including a 56 yard TD run. Moss would add another pick six for 55 yards.  Indiana, ranked 17th never got going and Penix was finally taken out in the fourth quarter.   Nobody did expect Moss would score more points than the Hoosier offense.  Next up for Indiana, a home game with Idaho, for the Hawkeyes, a rumble in Ames with the Cyclones who barely got by Northern Iowa 16-10.

We have talked about the gutted Chicago Cubs and trading away just about everybody from the 2016 WS Champion season, but the Cubs are now on a seven game winning streak, sweeping Minnesota and then Pittsburgh over the weekend.  The days of Rizzo, Bryant and Baez were replaced by Frank Schwingel, Patrick Wisdom and Raffy Ortega, the first two hitting home runs and driving in winning runs.  Even Ian Happ has gotten his batting average above the Mendoza line (a robust .211 at this writing). Matt Duffy hitting two home runs on Sunday and even Jason Heyward is now bopping at .213 BA. Alfonso Rivas has been a spark plug coming off the bench as well as Mike Hermosillo, who could develop into something special if Old Man Ross puts him in the lineup.  The liabilities remain poor starting pitching, (nobody seems to go back five innings, Davies and Hendricks hot-cold streaks) but the bullpen is starting to hold the other teams back.  But the way the Cubs battled back against last place Pittsburgh after being down has shown the new Cubbies have no quit in them.  They still strike out way too much (Sergio Alcantana, Wisdom and the newly  departed Andrew Romaine) but I love the fight that the Cubs continue to show.  We certainly didn't expect them to win 7 games in a row this late in the season, but we are enjoying the ride. 

Frank Schwindel is the second player in the Expansion Era to have a go-ahead RBI in the 6th or later in four straight games. The other was Orlando Cepeda in 1967.

Interesting fact: Cubs have used 38 people for pitching this season, including four position players. Eric Sogard on multiple games, who is no longer around.

 

Labor day, and Goodwill and Salvation Army and a few thrift stores were opened today.   If you were in Moline at the CO OP, you could have said hi to Richie Ramone and Corey Glover popping in to sign autographs and chat for a while.  For myself, I stayed in town and found some things at Half Price Books.  

CD's

On The Soul Side 2 (Time Life)

Delbert McClinton-Genuine Rhythm And The Blues (Hip O)

45's

Downtown-Mrs. Miller (Capitol 5640)  #82 1966

Hurt-Timi Yuro (Liberty F-55343)  #4  1961

Na-Ne-No-Troy Shondell (Liberty F-55445)  1962

Lie To Me-Brook Benton (Mercury 72024)  #13 1962

Echoes From The Burning Bush-Carl Story (Mercury 70687) 1955

(Wikipedia photo) 

I have a FB friend, Pam that works at Czech Village Antiques in CR and in usual senile frame of mind called her a different name, I thought she was Ann.  She is a nice elderly lady who follows my usual rant and raving about nothing there but I popped up to her place just before closing and asked if she had any scratchy 45's laying around.  Oh, they had tons of albums but I simply didn't have time to go through them.  There was a weaved basket and I basically bought four of them just for the sake of being nice.  Echoes From The Burning Bush is not even listed on 45 Cat. Carl Story has been more toward Bluegrass Gospel (best known hit was Family Reunion).   Echoes, is a very good bluegrass number and Carl Story is one of the best if not the best of the gospel bluegrass singers. By The Hands Of God, another great call and response gospel number, easy to sing along.   It's been a while since I found any Brook Benton music but Lie To Me continues his modern sounds in country music with Shelby Singleton and Jerry Kennedy watching over the proceedings and Margie Singleton co wrote Lie To Me with Brook. The Troy Shondell Na Ne No song is interesting for Phil Spector producing, a bridge between the wall of sound and girl group vocal but this is stripped down even with Spector's standards.   To which the record didn't chart.  I always mess up Timi Yuro's name (I do recall putting down her single Down In The Valley, a record I originally had back in Lincoln Ill, in the early childhood years on a blog but Blogspot can't seem to locate it) , that record wasn't part of the famed Grandma's Ambrose box of 45s to keep me out of trouble.  Hurt might have been part of the box of records, but this record seemed to be in playable shape. 

As for the Mrs. Miller 45, that was another mercy buy I suppose, tho it was 5 dollars.  Elva Miller did put out three albums for Capitol but Downtown seems to be the only 45 released.  B side Lover's Concerto, will drive anybody crazy.  Fact was I never seen this 45 before.  Usually the Half Price 45 section always have the pickers destroy the record sleeves when they don't put them back right.  To the memory of Mrs. Elva Miller, we'll raise a glass and give her a cheer for her attempt to sing these songs, but in the end, neither Petula Clark or The Toys didn't lose sleep over these cover songs. 

(Sports Illustrated: Photo)  

Five Star Mud Game- Cleveland 52 New York 20  12/12/64  Yankee Stadium

Tittle's Last Stand.

The 1964 NY Giants bombed bigly after coming up short in the 1963 Championship with the Bears and were picked to return to the playoffs but time and age caught up and they only won 2 games that fateful year.  If anything the Giants were number 1 in mud bowl games played that season, including one of the top five all time Mud Bowl, a 10 10 tie with the Cardinals on a rain swept Sportsman's Park (or Original Busch Stadium)  and Minnesota winning 30-21 before Cleveland came a calling'.  Andy Robustelli, Frank Gifford and Y A Tittle would be playing their last game on a wet n rainy day. Frank Ryan threw for 5 TD passes (Two to Ernie Green).  Tittle did throw a TD pass to Dick James for a brief 7-3 lead. The difference may have been Sam Huff traded to Washington and without him clogging up the field, Cleveland kept running down the field.  Tittle would have more mud of his uniform than most of the lineman, due to running out of bounds into plenty of mud on the sidelines.  Most of the time, plenty of Cleveland defense guys coming back to wish Tittle a happy retirement time and time again. He finished 10/15 in passes for 93 yards and one interception.  Gary Wood would replace him and and made the score not so lopsided including the final scoring play to Aaron Thomas before time ran out and the bored New York crowd stormed the field and knocked down the goalpost in typical New York Fashion.  Lou Groza, hall of fame kicker, missed three field goals which would have made the outcome more dominant.  The Brownies did have 407 total yard, and the Giants a respectable 339 yards but they had six fumbles (lost two) in lieu of Tittle's two INTs.  In previous seasons, Cleveland came up short, including losing three times in 1958 to the G men and then the Giants blew them out 33-6 for the chance to play the Bears.  This time out, with the up and coming Browns better and the Giants getting older, The Browns dominated and would go on to shut out Don Shula's Baltimore Colts 27-0 for the championship.   In the future, New York and Cleveland would play a few more mud games before the 60s were over and done.  Somehow the picture of Tittle throwing this pass and seeing the lopsided score in front of him simply got him sinking deep in the muck.