Thanksgiving Weekend Finds And Other Surprises.

Saturday and it was time to do the bargain hunts of this weekend. Back to Davenport.  Not a lot of finds tho.  However, I bought three new CDs at CO OP and waved going past my significant other as she played the downtown bar.  For some reason I thought that I would find some sort of 45's, and only came up with Soul Searching Time from the Trammps (Atlantic 3345 1976).  There were three stacks of scratched up and broken 45s, to which well worn copies of Albert King's Don't Throw Your Love On So Strong and a bunch of ABC Paramount B B King 45s with the labels worn to the point you couldn't tell what song was on the label.    I had thoughts bout Madison but chose to go to the QC and find music there.

It was a beautiful day but the clipper front tore through and temps went down to freezing and 28 degrees when I left the QC.  I thought about going to the Gypsy Highway for supper but they had a cover charge and a band was playing so I opted for Ganzo's   

CDs Found

Deep Purple-Turning To Crime

The Darkness-Motorheart

Avey Grouws Band-The Devil May Care

B B King-Live at San Quentin

Best of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

Neil Diamond-I'm Glad You Are Here With Me Tonight

John Denver Greatest Hits

Seals and Croft-Summer Breeze

George Strait-22 More Hits

Third World-Journey To Addis

Buddy Guy-The Best There Is

The Best Of The Riviera's-California Sun 

Stuff Etc in Davenport had four noted 99 cent specials, (John Denver, Seals And Crofts, George Strait and the Rivieras), the latter being the best of the batch.  Goodwill in Bettendorf had BB King, Marvin and Tami, Buddy Guy and Neil Diamond but they also had some classics from Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield  and Gladys Knight and The Pips, the guess somebody who had these probably had the 45s.  The Buddy Guy is a Vanguard best of, that cherry picks his songs from that label.   The Third World came from Goodwill Moline and is a bit harder to find than 98 In The Shade.  The Devil May Care is the first Avey Grouws album and CO OP had it for 20 dollars.  Since they are a local band,  it made sense to support them.  In the long run, Seals And Croft and John Denver made great singles but their albums were spotty.  While everybody in 1975 might have had JD Greatest Hits, I only find this worthy of Take Me Home, Country Roads, Rocky Mountain High and Leaving On A Jet Plane, Mercury's scraping of Denver's songs on Beginnings were better.  But in terms of theory, Denver bores me.  Summer Breeze, despite the title track, is an album that haven't aged very well. Advance Guards and Red Dirt does end the album on  a up note.  Diamond's I'm Glad Youre Here With Me Tonight shows Neil going toward MOR with Bob Gaudio dragging him down.  He's no longer a rocker despite Desiree being the closest thing to rock and roll and Dance Of The Sabres is goofy.  At this point, this is the good stopping point for those who prefer their Neil with 3 chord pop and rock.  The Riverias will be forever known for California Sun, a early surf/garage rock classic and this best of shows them doing so so remakes of hits such as Slippin And Sliding, Oh Boy, Tossin' and Turning, but the throwaway HB Goose Step is a fond memory of Johnny And The Hurricanes without the sax.  In other words, a good cover band with a great one hit cover.

Nevertheless, I noticed the CD section at all Goodwill stores are low on inventory.  And the Salvation Army bargain store had nothing of note either.  New releases are now in the dreaded softpak, which is worse than the GD digipak but since the Major labels are cheap and CDs are imported from Mexico or Czech Republic.  DADC, the go to for CD making are now history, or perhaps they moved it to Mexico in typical cost cutting and CEO getting more money for doing less.   Stuff Etc in town has quit selling CDs, and Iowa City and DBQ are hit and miss like the QC.  I'm not sure if having 22 more Strait Hits is cost effective, or Neil Diamond's 1977 album but for 99 cents,  they make a nice dust collector. 

The battery in the CD discman died, but we had free XM Sirius Radio so I got to hear the usual Bruce Springsteen songs in each and every channel, Dwight Yoakum's Bakersfield Radio took over Prime Country, which was nice to hear two obscure Rick Nelson songs from the late 60s but a tad too much of Dwight and not enough Buck Owens.    They moved the channels around so the fifties and sixties channels got moved to the 70 slot on the radio.  I could care less about the Led Zeppelin IV weekend, (we took care of that, playing it sometime in October) and it's strange to hear Slow Ride on Ozzy's Boneyard.  In other words, it was a nice free weekend but I'm not about to pony up to renew satellite radio.

As expected former News anchor Tiffany O Donnell defeated Amada Andrews by a margin of 62 percent to Andrews 34 percent.  Thus proving Cedar Rapids people are as stupid as they are.  Guess they like prickly right wing newcasters in goverment.

This weekend was the big week of college football and Iowa had to win and hope that Michigan and Minnesota would win their games.   Lo and behold, both teams did.  Even with a one loss season, Michigan HAD to beat Ohio State,  Michigan hadn't defeated the Buckeyes since my EX, the brat was with me and five straight losses,  I knew Jim Harbaugh wanted to defeat the damned Buckeyes.  And they won 42-27 at Ann Arbor today.  Hassan Hawkins scored a record five touchdowns and Aidan Hutchinson made CJ Stroud's day a living hell, sacking him three times.  Hawkins had 169 yards rushing too.    After striking out five times, Harbaugh and company hit a Home Run, A Grand Slam so to speak.  The cloud has disappeared in Ann Arbor 

The other game of note, was Minnesota.  The Gophers didn't get Floyd of Rosedale again, but they got Paul Bunyan's Axe and chopped Wisconsin 23-13 in a game up in Minneapolis, and chopped the Badgers out of the Championship game.  To which Iowa can thank both Michigan and Minnesota for winning their games.   And Nebraska for being generous enough to fade in the forth quarter.  The Gophers came close.  But in the end. the stars aligned just right for Iowa.  For their reward, they get Michigan for the Championship. 

Finally The Governor's Cup in Arizona. and Arizona State kept the cup again, winning 38-15 in Tempe Saturday.  Jack Jones dominating the game and had a 87 yard pick six to the house. ASU goes 8-4 and Herman Edwards will be back next season.  The Sun Devils have won five straight against Arizona.  The Wildcats end up 1-11. 

Coaching surprises galore:  Chip Kelly bolts Norte Dame to turn around LSU and Lincoln Riley goes to USC from Oklahoma.   Which means Matt Campbell will be hotly mentioned to take over the Irish, or Gary Fickel who turned Cincinnati into a final four playoff team.  Iowa State had a disappointing year, so perhaps a change of scenery might do him good.  

Passing's:  Curley Culp, HOF DT for the KC Chiefs and later Houston passed away Saturday from cancer, He was 75.  Culp was part of the stone wall KC Chief defense that pummeled Joe Kapp and the Minnesota Vikings on Super Bowl 4 23-7.  

Erik Marshall, drummer for the Meekats and Surf Zombies passed from a undisclosed illness.  He joins Kyle Oyloe in the great beyond. 

Five star mud game; One For Curly Culp 

Kansas City 23 Minnesota 7  (Tulane Stadium; NO LA)

Super Bowl 4

65 power toss trap muthafucka.  The end of the game for the Vikings who dominated the NFL  all season.  Destroyed Cleveland twice, made a shambles out of Baltimore, then threw snowballs at the Lions on Thanksgiving game.  Who would thought that Kansas City would have a snowball's chance in hell?   Well, Kansas City begged to differ, and although  Hank Stram became the first reality star on the Super Bowl 4 game, when they mike d him up, Kansas City has a defense which was as tough or even more tougher than the Purple People Eaters. Kansas City's frustration of not beating the Oakland Raiders carried them into the playoff, to which afterward, the Chiefs outshined the Raiders 17-7 to get to the super bowl.   Granted Kansas City in the first SB was outclassed in the second half but in the first half held their own.  This time out, the Chiefs made it clear they would not going to lose this game. At that time, Ed Pololak was still taking notes on the sidelines, leaving Mike Garrett and Robert Homes to rush the 65 power toss trap.  Nevertheless the Vikings were jinxed when Charlie West fumbled the kick and the Chiefs recovered leading to the Garrett touchdown.  The big story was Kansas City D, holding the Vikings down to 24 rushing yards in the first half and battering Joe Kapp to the point that he had to leave in Gary Cruzzo who would throw a pass to Emmit Thomas to end the game and Kansas City first SB victory.  The Chiefs D, lead by Curly  Culp, Buck Buchanan, Aaron Thomas and Jerry Mays  destroyed the Vikings Offense all game.   In the end, perhaps while the Vikings are credited for winning the NFL final championship, they were outclassed by Kansas City, 65 power toss trap or not. 

CD Reviews:

Deep Purple-Turning To Crime (Ear/Edel 2021)

Cover albums are hit and miss.  Sometimes, they serve a purpose of discovering forgotten music, which may be worth seeking out (see Plant/Krauss) or they serve a contractual obligation that might be fun but on repeated listens are no different than your local average bar band (see Ozzy or Queenscrye)  Deep Purple has been quite busy of late, recently issuing Whooosh, an plesantly forgotten studio album and now deciding to revisit classic rock and soul, and getting mixed results.  I'm not sure if covering 7 and 7 is suits them well, or Shapes Of Things.  They do give justice to Dixie Chicken and managed to find  a obscure  Bob Segar song Lucifer and the Caught In The Act Medley, perhaps they should have gone all in on Green Onions or even Dazed And Confused.  Battle Of New Orleans is fun.  But for a busman's holiday, Turning To Crime is a album you won't remember much by.  Take it as a covers album that will amuse you a couple times before filing it away for good

B

Willie Nelson-Family (Legacy 2021)

Amazing to see Willie continuing to put out two to three albums per year as he closes in the backside of 80, and putting together a half hour's worth of inspirational music and most of these songs Willie has covered in previous forms.  It's a bittersweet album, the final one to feature Paul English's last recordings before he passed on. As with other inspirational albums, like the Troublemaker, Willie can be the best in gospel music.  Bobbie, Willie's sister and guidance, helps songs like I saw the light and In God's Way to be required listening.  As close to a family gathering as it gets.

A-  

Vince Gill-Pocket Full Of Gold (MCA 1991) 

Gill is one of the nicest guys and a hell of a guitar player but I have found his albums to be quite boring and not exactly rocking.  His love of ballads may be one reason but upon hearing this album of 30 years ago, the verdict is the same, not enough uptempo stuff, too many ballads.  The bar favorite Liza Jane is the highlight and it would have been fun to hear Albert Lee play on this.  Other songs that kept my attention was side opening I Quit and side closer Sparkle which despite some corny lyrics end the record on a better note.

B-

Robert Plant/Alison Krauss-Raise The Roof (Rounder 2021)

The first album was a bit more hyped up than usual but it did kick start Plant's career.  And to be honest, was more enjoyable than the Page/Plant 1990s get together.  Raise The Roof is slightly better and the reworking of The Price Of Love turns the song inside out.  Searching For My Love turns Bobby Moore's song into a more bluesy torch ballad.  And hearing Can't Let Go, I had to research who did song, since it sounded more familiar and my old band used to play it.  Lucinda Williams is the answer.  Krauss's country honky tonk songs tend to be minor, Hank Williams better than the Merle Haggard cover.  And perhaps some of the songs could have used a fader at the end, John Henry Burnett deciding to ride the groove out.  MVP: Jay Bellerose, who adds just enough color to the songs with his drum work.

A-

Best Of Arlo Guthrie (Warner Bros 1978)

Arlo made an impression with Alice Restaurant Massacree, to which he would have four more minutes in 1996 and made that the essential version of song.  The Motorcycle Song was done better in that forgettable live document with Pete Seeger and then Coming Into Los Angeles another fine song.  And of course, making Steve Goodman a bit more richer with City Of New Orleans.  Alice's Restaurant is now a Thanksgiving staple, still fun to hear once in a while in the proper moment.  This best of, doesn't hold much argument about the best songs from Arlo, the second album after Alice's Restaurant is classic, Last Of The Brooklyn Cowboys not so much and perhaps Amigos is worth your time.  For a cherry picked best of.  It falls short.

B

Oh, Michigan destroyed Iowa 42 to 3 in the championship.  Iowa fucks up again on the major stage again.  Nobody is going to take them seriously, until Kurt Fararnez and his half wit son leave. 

Alabama being the darling of the college football elite, are back at the number 1 position, despite Michigan blowing out Iowa and that they didn't want to repeat a get together with Georgia, which should have had happen.  Cincinnati remains at number 3 and still disrespected by the CFB. All Cincinnati has to do is beat Alabama in the Cotton Bowl.   Michigan will have to dispose of Georgia in the Orange Bowl.  

For looking like shit, Iowa will go Citrus and face Kentucky for a New Year's Bowl game in Orlando.  Arizona State will face Wisconsin in the Las Vegas Bowl December 30th.  The other florida bowl is Iowa State and Clemson.  I don't think there's left to say about this.  We never know who the contender or pretender will be.  In the case of Iowa, what was supposed to be a dream season turned out to be yet another disaster when it came against playing the other team and the championship.   It's obvilous to everybody, Kurt Ferenez can not win the big game.

For the first time ever, no new rock and roll records made it to the Billboard top 100.  Rock is dead. 

 

Gobble Gobble Gobble-Thanksgiving 2021

Funny how time has flown by this year.  It hasn't occurred to me that  Thanksgiving is upon us already.  It has been a very quiet year, a very quiet summer and quiet fall, with hardly any major storms or snowstorms forthcoming.  It seems surreal.  

Usually Thanksgiving is a time to reflect and get back to my folks for a day of turkey and watching the Detroit Lions lose and copious amounts of Jerry Jones hogging the camera on the Dallas Cowboys games. I really don't remember those games but rather the Thanksgiving games of the 1960s.  Green Bay rolling in the mud in 1961, then getting owned in 1962 to which Lombardi had enough and told the NFL to get some other team. The 1962 Lions played the Packers tough, they just lost to the wrong teams to get bounced to the Playoff Bowl and they owned Pittsburgh that season.  The two Thanksgiving games that do stand out was the Baker's Dozen, to which Philadelphia came in and shut out the Lions in a monsoon that turned Tiger Stadium into Lake Tiger Stadium, then the 1969 snowbowl, and having the Minnesota Vikings carving up Greg Landry and company 27-0.  Next year Detroit shocked Oakland during the classic George Blanda season.  Once the Lions moved to the Sliverdome, the games weren't much fun. 

This Thanksgiving is more bittersweet than ever and may be the last Thanksgiving for my family to get together. It's like taking part of being with the Bickersons but at this stage in life, my parents are sick of seeing each other.  Like last year my girlfriend is once again sick with a viral infection or asthma.  She rarely wants to go out anymore for fear of catching somebody's germs or cold.  Her theory of even when you sneeze, you have some sort of cold or flu going on, even tho it doesn't matter if you have dry air or dust particles to deal with.  I'm in line for the COVID booster, which means I'll be sick three days from getting the shot so I better prepare myself for that.  On the music side, I do have a couple of women that would like to date me or even better have more fun but my loyality to my GF is solid.  Even in misery, I would never consider cheating on her.  Percy Sledge is right, loving eyes can never see.  My GF has yet to meet my folks,  I doubt that she'll ever will at this point.   She still misses her Bestie who passed on six years ago,  his replacement isn't been suitable enough to help her get over his loss.  I miss him too.  Everybody would be more happier if he was still living. 

Usually this year, I take a look at the big jokes that happen this year.  To which the Jan 6th uprising, encouraged by the defeated Joke 45, who called the election a big lie.  The insurgents that went into the Capitol are not being sentenced to jail time.  We have our own jokes here in Farmtown.  Covid Kegger Kim, Joni Ernst, Mariette Miller Meeks, Ashley Hinson and the corpse of Chuck Grassley defeating anybody who challenges him for next year.  This state still voted for the Big Joke and still have Big Joke 2024 signs out and while we thought Joe Biden would be the lesser of the evils, he hasn't done much to entice us to vote for him in 2024.  Which might be ripe for another GOP person to come in and screw things up.  Biden's too old but the Qanon folks are dumber, with this come on Brandon bullshit.  To which we countered with Come On Brannon, for the guy who is back in jail again.  Still, gas prices jumped up over a dollar from last year and Biden, like Obama, Joke 45, etc get blamed.  Or the Keystone Pipeline, which had nothing to do with our oil or gas.  It was dirty Canadian oil for other countries.  We can blame it on Supply and Demand.  Biden is finding out the hard way that change is hard to come by, when you have the GOP stonewalling him every step of the way.  Joe Manchin, the GOP in democratic name only has been the biggest pain in the ass.  As well as the dumbfuck from Kentucky Ole Turpentine Face McConnell. A bigger problem than China or Russia, or even Joke 45.  I'm surprised we haven't heard from Hee Haw Hawley of late but I've heard enough from Ms. Taylor Grenne.  And gave them too much credit by talking about them.

For music, I don't think I listened to an album that disappointed me at all, but then again, I did not buy much new music anyway.   Perhaps Kacey Musgraves' latest might be the least album that I have heard but in all fairness, I don't go much into the pop side of music, which is why I didn't noticed Taylor Swift's re recording of her Big Machine albums.  I've been too busy loading up on 2 dollar finds and cheaper stuff. To which I did find some turds of note but they all got donated back to Goodwill anyway.  If we are talking vintage turkey albums, The Ars Nova Sunshine And Shadows might be one of those albums, I'd played it a couple times and it still didn't move me, nor did Rickie Lee Jones' first album with Chuck E's In Love, or Kate and Anna McGraggle's Dancer With Bruised Knees.   Blake Shelton's Loaded might fall in the turd catagory as well but I liked his Some Beach and Ol' Red.  Kiss My Country Ass is his downfall.  The digipaks, the softpacks still suck for packaging, you can't beat a good ole jewel case, till it cracks or breaks.  As long as I live, I'm not about to go total streaming.  Even with my ears of tin, it still sounds compared to CD or LP or 8 track for that matter.  As long as I have a cd player, I won't listen to the radio and the corporate bullshit that goes with the same 200 songs each and every day.  It sucks we live in a world of so much music but the Corporations continue to stranglehold the playlist with the same songs over and over.  Since giving up cable five years ago, I don't have to witness the evening news, brought to you by Big Pharma.  I usually watch You Tube, tho the commercials there are beginning to be as annoying.

The big Gobble Gobble Gobble goes to the Alex Spanos family for their efforts to keep the Baltimore Orioles in the basement and for another 110 loss season in 2021.  Till the Spanos sell off the O's or pass on, Baltimore will continue to suck.  Turn the time machine back 50 years please.  

Of course, we couldn't leave out the Chicago Cubs and their schizoid year, fooling us when they were in first place and fooling us that Jake Arrieta would return to be his old dominant self five seasons ago and fooling us that Zach Davies was going to be the cornerstone of the starting pitchers. After his no hitter of the LA Dodgers,  The Cubs went south with a 11 game losing streak, which started a fire sale of the beloved Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Javier Baez, plus Andy Chaflin, Ryan Tepera and Craig Kimbrel, who saved Davies' ass in that no hit game. The Cubs dried up in August with another 12 game losing streak, but folks like Frank Schwingel and Patrick Wisdom did hit and Wisdom got the rookie record for most home runs but he struck out a ton as well. Give the Cubs some credit, they did win four of their five last games of the season.  By then, they were done.   In the meantime, Carter Hawkins is the new GM.  So far Wade Miley has been the only new signee for the Cubs.  I think we do need more pitching but the frugalness of the Ricketts and Jeb Hoyer looks to be the same old same ole. 

Gobble Gobble Gobble, worst service ever remains Arby's inside the Pilot Truck Stop once again.  At least the goofy Beavis dude got let go, but they still continue to fuck up your order and some of the help has been there for four/five years.  They can't seem to count that when I want two Arby's roast beef, they only get out one.  Tony is the best of the bunch, he knows what I want and gets it to me fast.    Runner up, the Mount Vernon Hardee's to which a certain person always fucks up the tea order.  Sweet Tea, No Ice, it should be simple right?  Not to her.  We try our best to tip those who are on the front line serving up the food but sometimes we get poor service.  It happens, but when the waitress is too busy watching Tic Toc on her smart phone, no tip for her. 

This Thanksgiving may be the last for the family due to health issues.  I found out that Bud the Cat had to be put down due to a kidney disease,  he might have been in his teens.  For the first time ever Mom didn't cook but I did go out to Kiwk Star to give them a chicken dinner.  We watched a John Wayne movie.  My GF was sick and couldn't show up.   Afterwards, it was a WKRP marathon including the flying turkeys  episode.  The DVD didn't have the original music due to copyright issues, therefore no Pink Floyd or Eagles and the production is dated but I had a few good laughs.  And then of course, Alice Restrauant Massacree.  In the end, this was a bittersweet Thanksgiving but we are all still alive.  And of course the general annoyance of Aunt Jenny aka Sarge, leaving three telephone messages that were 5 munities long and were the same damn message.  I think somebody else has a bad case of Demetria as well.  Like a bad case of hemorrhoids, Aunt Jenny continues to come up at the worst time.   

The Black Friday Finds.

CDs

Best Of Arlo Guthrie

Vince Gill-Pocket Full Of Gold

Kacey Musgraves-Star Crossed

Willie Nelson And Family

Robert Plant/Alison Krauss-Raise The Roof

LP

Paul Mariat-Blooming Hits

Target had their 3 get 1 free music sale so basically it was time to check out the new Plant/Krauss Raise The Roof.  While reviews have been mixed I thought the record might be better than Raising Sand.  The  version of Price Of Love is very moody than the Everly's version and how did I forget that my old band did Can't Let Go done by Lucinda Williams?    The Paul Mariat's Blooming Hits are muzak version of the pop songs we know best, tho' Love Is Blue got him a big hit and a good listen.  This does bring back the days of Muzak.  The CD is hard to find and overpriced, the record is a 1.38 at Goodwill.  Arlo Guthrie remains one of the most frustrating artists that I know of.  His Alice Restrauant Massacree is classic as well the silly Motorcycle Song which is the live version here.  I also love his Coming Into Los Angeles and his cover of City Of New Orleans, which made Steve Goodman a household name. I got the Vince Gill simply of Liza Jane.    I'm sure another bargain hunt will be forthcoming.

I avoided the Black Friday rush and went to the Goodwills and Thrift Stores later.  Target was somewhat busy but not as overbearing as it was in the morning.    Prepare for crappy Christmas music for the next month.

When Iowa went to Lincoln to play Nebraska, there were rumblings that the Cornhuskers would be ready to play and they did, skirting to a 7-0 lead and got referee help when a tie scoring TD was overturned.   Then  Tyler Goodson fumbled and then the Corn Poppers had a 14-6, then 21-6 lead.   And then, they self destructed in the second half, getting a punk blocked and ran in for a TD and then a safety.  Spencer Petras, took over for Alex Padilla and guided the Hawkeyes offense into a winning touchdown going over from the 2 yard line.  Caleb Shudak, who is having a great season as Iowa kicker hit four field goals when the IA offense died in the red zone.    Jermari Harris intercepted a Logan Smothers pass on the 2 yard line and Iowa ran out the clock and the game.  As feared, Smothers had a good game filling in for the injured Adrian Martinez, going 16-22 for 198 yards and had 64 rushing yards on his own and scoring 2 TDs.  But it was the special teams that did the Cornhuskers in.  And Nebraska is the hard luck team of the big ten, those 8 losses, were not blowouts, they lost to Ohio State by 9 points but the other losses were 7 or less points.  They were in all of the games, they couldn't get the job done.   So the Heroes trophy is going back to Iowa City for the seventh straight time.  As for Scott Frost and company, he's done for the year.

If anything this season has seen Scott Frost being rewarded with another year to come back but at the same time, a few coaches got let go and the results were still the same.  If Nebraska had a lead on anybody, they'd find a way to lose it in the end.  They battled Ohio State, they led and should have beaten Michigan, they blew that game. Ditto Michigan State and Minnesota and yes, Iowa as well. The referees screwed them out of the Wisconsin game, but the referees helped them on the Iowa game.  Next week will be shit or get off the pot time for Scott Frost.  He might have Adrian Martinez back for a fifth season but the future is much more brighter with Smothers at the helm.  The above drawing could also apply to Iowa State, which played their best game of the season, blowing out TCU 48-14 with Brycee Hall going wild, scoring four TDs and rushing for 242 yards, to which the Cyclone finish 7-5 and will go bowling.  For the Iowa Hawkeyes, they finish 10-2, tho the losses to Wisconsin and Purdue did diminish things a bit, but Iowa did win the final four games.   But the chances are to play Ohio State in the Championship are remote but not out of the question.   Minnesota has got to reclaim the Paul Bunyan axe and beat the Badgers in Minneapolis.

Week In Review: Keith Allison, Mick Rock. The Crabbies/Food

The latest in news and views and vintage photos that are worth preserving. 

The Eclipse of the Beaver Moon early Friday morning was a treat to see, if you could withstand the 15 degree temps and cold winds.  I managed to stay awake just long enough to see the moon about engulfed by the earth's shadow.   And will not be seen this way again for another 500 years.  This photo needs to find the right person to get credited for.   This is one of the best photos of the Beaver partial.

Wrong beaver shot.  On a different subject, I find the new Silk Sonic soul album quite a good listen.  This is Bruno Mars hooking up with Anderson Paak and Bootsy Collins to put out a album that leans back to the funk jams of the 1970s with some Babyface like soul seduction songs, the first time I actually gave a glance at soul music which died when rap took over.  Of course, Pitchfork slammed it, calling a nice but flawed look at old time soul. Rolling Stone was more giving, which leaves me in the middle, going more with RS with their view rather than the finicky Pitchfork reviewer who would rather review other craptastic albums like The Pharcyde or Lewis Taylor.  Ross Scarano is no Michael Guluucci.

As we come to the conclusion of the this year, I have been compiling ideas about best places to eat at here in the Eastern Iowa area.  Going to Madison is more of a struggle, great music and record stores, subpar places to eat at.  At least here, we can always count on one of many Mexican places to eat at. Chinese food not so much.  I used to rave about the Crossroads Bristol and they are still good, but they have cut their portions down quite a bit, tho there's no shortage of chicken fried rice.  The Kung Pao Chicken still rocks, I just wish they have bigger portions.  For take out Panda Lin, next to Metro in CR remains the best C.F.R. and they are still quick to cook it for you.  Panda Express remains having the hottest blackened chili peppers in their Kung Pao Chicken (or General Tao's Chicken)  The Red Lantern on Boyson and Chef Wong on 1st Avenue are the best of the rest.  Out here in the boonies, the Anamosa Chinese place is preferred over the Monticello Chinese place.  Simply of location. 

The older I get, the less I eat pizzas.  Simply of the fact that old age and the old body don't get along with pizza anymore.  But I still have my faves.  The new Unimpaired Bar in Iowa City had some mighty fine personal pizzas that were out of this world and I'm sure Daven[ort's Unimpaired Bar is more of the same.  Marco's still is the best of the take out pizza and Kum N Go's slices are fine stuff, that is if the cook doesn't throw off the wall crap like pickles and pineapple on them.  Naso's and Leonardo's is the old reliable, however, Happy Joe's shut down their CR Location by Half Price Books. We still have other places to choose from.  Little Ceaser's shut down the Mt Vernon Rd store but their quality has been going downhill for a few years.  Pizza Ranch still has the buffet going on.  Urban Pie closed their Marion store.  Tomaso's still a better alternative to the likes of Pizza Hut or the former Poppa John's. Stone City General Store has some good pizzas too.  

For Mexican, there are and will never be any shortages of them.  If I want to get in and get out in a hurry, Si Senor in Mount Vernon and the Taco Depot number 2 and 3 in Cedar Rapids are my destination. Ditto Los Agaves  in Iowa City before the I 80 exit, a shame that wasn't around when I was working at my place of employment at that time.  While my best friend continues to rave about Cancun on 33rd St,  their waitresses are terrible.  I realize in this day and age it's hard to find good help cuz none of the places pay worth a shit and no health insurance to boot so whoever they hire have a cavalier attitude and spend more time checking their smartphones than wait on you.  Hacienda Los Glorias has two locations, I like the Center Point Rd one better than the First Ave one, but the latter is special simply of the fact that forty years ago, it was known as the Dark Horse Saloon, a very rough biker bar that had plenty of fights and bad bands there.  To which one band was so bad, they had their plug pulled twice.  

Rest assured, that the best of the rest are very good as well.  El Bajio, I'd recommend first, the Los Compradres, which has a great mexican lunch buffet, Villa's Patio in Marion, Las Margaritas, Super Burrito and Casa Los Glorias are honorable mention.  If you're into fast food tacos, Moe's and Pancheros do the trick.Fuzzy's Tacos has closed up shop and moved to Coralville. 

Which brings us to Iowa City. and Los Agaves is the place to go. El Ranchero number 2 and the rest won't disappoint either.   Davenport is usually Ganzo's tho I tend to go to Rudy's Tacos' simply of the fact of their sauces that they offer.  Both Hot and Mild sauces I empty out the container. Los Amigos next to Goodwill, is another place I can get in and out within a half hour when they are not busy. Azteca 3 down the road, is always busy so I never been in there. Nally's Kitchen, is a well kept secret and maybe someday I'll get there to eat.  But if you really desperate for cheap Mex food on the go, there's always Taco Bell. 

Passings:  Mick Rock, famed photographer of the 1970s that captured the likes of Lou Reed and David Bowie, Queen and Iggy Pop passed away at age 72.   Keith Allison, best known as part of the later Paul Revere And The Raiders of the late 60s and early 70's died of natural causes at age 79.   While a lot of fans like the early lineup of the Raiders,  Allison and Freddy Weller replaced them and kept the music a rolling.  Allison did record an album but unlike Weller, never made it past cult artist.  Allison also helped The Monkees during the Head recording sessions. He was part of the Jones, Dolenz, Boyce, Hart band that toured in 1976.  His best known song was Freeborn Man, to which would become a country standard and covered by The Outlaws.  https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/keith-allison-dead-paul-revere-raiders-1235000602/

Billy Hinsche, part of Dino, Desi And Billy fame and later a touring musician with the Beach Boys, passed away at age 70, as well as his mom Celia who was 96 both on the same day.  DD&B had a big hit with I'm A Fool.  In the case of Billy, lung cancer got him. 

The bargain hunts this month has been minimal at best, except for the Half Price Books 45's finds earlier in the month.  Usually at that time, we are being bombarded with the start of Christmas music from the Times Squared own Corporate Crap Channel such as KDAT, (104.5 on your dial from Hell itself).  Get ready for fifty versions of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, White Christmas and that Mariah Carey song.  There will be one more Quad City run before the snows hit.  Perhaps Madison.   Overall, 2021 has been a decent year for bargain hunting and for the first time ever, I tried to document the stuff found.  With Christmas Music in the air at the thrift stores and the Christmas rush is on, I don't think we'll find much till after Christmas, to which by then, Mariah Carey will be retired till next October. 

In this edition of Contender/Pretender.  we look at who is the real thing or fake.  In the case of Michigan State, getting blown out 56-7 at Ohio State is a black eye on their record.  Ohio State we can say is the contender, we don't expect that to change next week.  Iowa State falls at Oklahoma 28-21.  Wisconsin outlasted a stubborn Nebraska team 35-28, which the Cornhuskers could make things interesting for Iowa next week in Lincoln.  This might have the hawkeyes on upset alert.  And Oregon got blown out by Utah 38-7, throwing the Ducks in Pretender land.  This should get Cincinnati into the top 4 for the playoffs.  No more excuses of the so called entitled teams.

(There goes Charlie for another TD Kickoff Run: Daily Iowan, Photo Credit)

(U Of I Athletics: Photo Credit, Charlie says bye bye)  

Iowa won 33-23, to which Brian Feranenz's conservative play calling annoyed the home town team with plenty of boos.  Illinois lost Bret Bleimana to COVID protocol, which meant his homecoming to Iowa City was not going to happen.  Illinois did enjoy a 10-0 lead before Charlie Jones, ran the kickoff back 100 yards for a 10-7 and then Arland Bruce IV took it in 2 yard that the Hawkeyes regained the lead.  Outside of Tyler Goodson's 132 yards rushing, the offense was lackluster. Caleb Shudak hit four field goals and Jack Campbell had a pick six interception.  Iowa has won 8 straight against their Eastern neighbor and 13 of the last 14 meetings.  This concludes the Iowa games at Iowa City, next up, The Cornhuskers in Lincoln on Friday. 

Arizona State back to their usual shit self again.  Their Pac 12 hopes of winning the division now history as Oregon State Beavers dropped the Plastic Forks 24-10.  The Beaver defense dominated this game and The Plastic Forks place kicker missed two FG.  Wouldn't matter much anyway. Jack Colletto ran through the defense for a 47 yard TD run and game over.  Oregon State finishes with a 6-0 record at home, first time since 2000.  Next game is the battle for the title hopes with Oregon.  Arizona State will try to rebound against Arizona, to which Washington State blew them out 44-18 Friday Night.

For Iowa State it has been a very disappointing year and having a few breaks going against you. What was supposed to be a great year turned south and then to lose on the last play of the game with a long Texas Tech FG and then coming up short to Oklahoma.   I tend to forget that these kids worked their ass off in practice and then go up against other teams that do the same.  That would apply to Arizona State, who one week look like world beaters and next week can't put their pants on .  And then the ire of watching your fave team get blown off the field. Or watching so called power teams play cupcakes and blow them out just for the sake of reaching the College Playoffs.  Georgia played a cupcake team, Norte Dame played another team.  In the case of Iowa, Brian Feranez's playcalling is why fans boo.

Steve Smith, former fullback for LA/Oakland Raiders, died from ALS.  He was 57.

Of course, in December will be the congratulations and self back patting for 20 years of blogging of what used to be known as Crabby's Corner, later R S Crabb Top Ten and Record Views, before going generic with Record World.  I find it strange that I continued to do this blog, even after the usual farewell bullshit that has never happened, I always seem to come back.  In 20 years, times have changed and the world went from CDs back to vinyl LPs and managed to keep buying LP's despite the fact that Vinyl is a lot more expensive than CDs.   The 180 gram virgin vinyl is bullshit marketing but even this area has gotten new record stores in the past five years, namely Analog Vault.  Best Buy, I never go into all that much anymore.  But even in a era of CD's now regulated into the small area at the big box stores, there's Collector's Choice to get the new music, if Target or Wal Mart doesn't have em.

(It's Jane Dillon  as your eye candy girl.  Jane has been the go to girl in Eye Candy)

Still, 20 years later and I never gotten much recognition in the music blog field, even after the Mining Company shut down and My Space was a waste of space.  The best blogs were at the latter and most have been disposed into the big black hole in internet land.   I do have a couple of followers that continue to read the latest and the lamest and I usually have this as a reference to myself, but the ratings and views continue to make me laugh.  In fact, three of the top ten are the so called final blogs that threatened the end of this 20 year ride.  In fact, Jane Dillon was a toddler when I did the original post back at the Mining Company.  Blogger has been the go to place for me since 2008, just before My Space lost its cool and meaning.   In reality, the old My Space did its job before it got too full of itself. Even Justin Timberlake failed with My Space.  I gave up on Twitter, Facebook was bad enough but at least I could chat with folk about music over there.  But Twitter served no purpose.

Maybe a 100 years from now, if Blogger is still around, perhaps these archives will get people to talk about forgotten music, or look at the eye candy of the month or check out the extensive 45 collection that broke out big time, right before the vinyl revival.    I suppose I have reviewed enough new music to come up with a best of 2021.  Which will be compiled right after Neil Young and Crazy Horse new album. 

Singles Going Steady 75-Not Madison, Not Davenport, But Half Price Books

I like 45's and I cannot lie.  And I managed to find a bunch of them this Sunday.

Teen Age Idol-Rick Nelson (Imperial 5864)  #5 1962

For You-Rick Nelson (Decca 31574) #6 1963

Do The Clam-Elvis Presley (RCA 47-8500) #21 1965

Burning Bridges-Jack Scott (Top Rank RA-2041) #3 1960

 B side Oh Little One #34

Deep Water-Bobby Hankins (Audio Deluxe 104) 1965

And Then There Were Drums-Sandy Nelson (Imperial 5870) #65 1962

Mission Bell-Donnie Brooks (Era 3018)  #7 1960

(How can I write on paper) What I Feel In My Heart-Jim Reeves (RCA 7950) 1961 #92 #7 Country

 b side Losing Your Love #89 and #2 Country 

Just To Hold My Hand-Clyde McPhatter (Atlantic 1133) #26 1957

It Hurts To Be In Love-Gene Pitney (Musicor 1040) #7 1964

Stop In The Name Of Love-The Supremes (Motown MT-1074) #1 1965

Where Did Our Love Go-The Supremes (Motown 1060) #1 1964

Tell Him-Suzy Wallis (RCA 47-8863) 1966

Patty Baby-Freddy Cannon (Swan 4139)  #65 1963

Louie Louie-The Kingsmen (Wand 143) #2 1963

Green Onions-Booker T and The MGs (Stax S-127) #3 1962

Honky Honk Hillbilly Music from Bobby Hankins who recorded for Oelwein's Audio Deluxe and had his own country show on KOEL in Oelwein, which at that time was hard core country.  Not much about this forgotten single, it's not on 45 Cat but the guess is it was recorded around 1965.

The majority of these records came from a private collection, (they left their address sticker on the label, and crossed out their names, it's a bitch to get these damn labels off).  After a absence of a while, Rick Nelson has a couple of early 60s songs that we didn't have, Teen Idol (B side I've Got My Eyes On You rocks harder and better) and For You, which was his first top ten single for Decca/MCA which hit number 6, it would be 9 years before he would chart that high again with Garden Party.

Do The Clam, is Elvis sadly out of the times with the Bongo sound which was five years today.  Part Bo Diddley, and James Burton playing guitar on this.  It's Elvis at his most silliest but it is good fun to hear if you don't get too embarrassed by what you hear.  You'll Be Gone, is interesting for the fact that Presley actually wrote this and played to Priscilla, who didn't think much of it.  She might have the point there of it being a bit outdated for the times but hell, I love the Cha cha cha ending.

 

Suzy Wallis, Tell Him is interesting since it was written and arranged by David Gates, later of Bread but at that time, Gates did some work for RCA as a songwriter.  This is the second of three RCA singles that Suzy did with Gates helping out. all three are worth seeking out. B side A Time For Us, is forgettable tho.

Of course you know about the number 1 hits of the Supremes, but the b sides are different than the singles.  He Means The World To Me, sounds like Florence Ballard or Mary Wilson taking on the Norman Whitfield produced and written song.  Ross is back on the I'm In Love Again, but it plods along.  At least He Means The World To Me only is a minute fifty two. 

When I looked up the Jim Reeves song, I was surprised this made the top 100 with Losing Your Love, a Bill Anderson co write with Buddy Killen.  What I Feel In My Heart is the uptempo song and probably the better of the two, tho I find myself seeking out more of Jim's singles in my later years. Burning Bridges is another of the Big Box Of Records of my Grandma's collection.  Oh Little One, I played more than the sadness that is Burning Bridges. 

It Hurts To Be In Love is one of Gene Pitney's strongest songs he ever made.  Given the shoddiness of some of his singles I tend to cringe of some of the stuff that I did hear from him.  B side Hawaii has that staggering 8 bar in the chorus which makes it unique and listenable.  Then again, the 45 seemed to be played a bit, or not cut right, a bit of distortion in the grooves.  Al Kooper co wrote Hawaii. 

Mission Bell, is fun time teen idol music from Brooks who didn't last as long as Frankie Avalon or Fabian but the record made Jeremy Spencer take notice and covered it on the Fleetwood Mac' Kiln House album. B side Do It For Me sucks.

Patty Baby, was used for a radio station promo ID (which can be found on the Rykodisc Cruisin' Years CD, which is always fun to revisit from time to time, Arnie Ginsberg was the DJ, now that my brain figured out five minutes after writing this). Written by the Feldman/Goldstein/Gottenher team (with C. Kaplin) who minus Kaplin became the Strangeloves.  Betty Jean, is a rip of No Particular Place To Go and Pretty Ladies Everywhere and Hey Hey Hey.  They knew how to borrow songs from.

Louie Louie everybody knows and I never seen a decent copy of it till today.  Haunted Castle is nothing different than the instrumentals that Paul Revere and the Raiders were putting out on Gardena.  Louie Louie is garage rock and punk rock rolled into one. Even if Jack Ely couldn't remember the words.

Clyde McPhatter had a decent career after leaving the Drifters, but Just Hold My Hand sounds closer to Tweedle Dee, tho not as cheesy pop as Lavern Baker or Georgia Gibb's version of that song.  Never heard this before despite the number 21 chart placement, never heard on the oldies radio circuit.  For deep 45 cuts, all you need is a record player to hear this.  No Matter What is pop doo wop but Clyde always had a great voice.  This record is in almost in mint condition.

For the instrumentals, I seldom ever seen a decent Sandy Nelson 45 and Then There Were More Drums is more Nelson fun. Richie Polodor plays guitar and records the fun.  And then, there's Green Onions, the ultimate groove song from Booker T and MG's.  Another single that I never found that hasn't been chewed up, this plays fairly good and it might be a longer version the the album cut.  Seems that way to me there's a few more bars after the fade out.

The playing  sounds of the forty fives vary.  The Supremes Where Did Our Love Go the worst sounding.  I think Vinyl Emporium's finds were better sounding despite no record sleeve but then again it will vary from record to record.  For the looks of things, this is more of a hoarder find but it's always fun to find the older stuff.  Scratches and all.  

Side Note:  James "Mr. G" Giombetti, founder of the Exclusive Company ("Say It With Me") which were the record and cd store that I used to go up to Madison, passed away November 13 in Opa Locka Florida.  He probably was in his 90s since he opened up his first store in 1956.  The Exclusive Company is Wisconsin's independent music store with locations in  Wisconsin.  There were 2 in Madison but both shut down around 2016, but the Janesville store is still open as well as six others.  Even in the times of changes in the record world, Mr. G managed to stay ahead upon seeing a lot of the stores closed down due to the start of the big box stores such as Best Buy.  If anything else, Mr. G lived long enough to see Best Buy shut down their CD department.  In fact, he outlived Best Buy's usefulness.   A mysterious man with a love of Elvis Presley, those who knew Mr. G said he was the best to work for.  Godspeed to Mr. G.  and his trademark phase "say it with me". 

Here Tis-CMA Awards, John Karras

John Karras in 1971 decided to take a bike ride across Iowa, which became RAGBRAI.  He and Donald Kohl never knew how this bike ride would catch on and be a part of Summer.  Karras passed away this week at the age of 91.

Grahame Edge, the only Moody Blues player to play on all their albums, passed away Wed at age 80.  He suffered a 2017 stroke that took away his ability to play.  He wrote the poems (Mike Pender voiced them) and did write a few songs as well.  His After You Came is the Moody Blues at their most hard rocking.

Sam Huff, one of the toughest linebackers in the history of the NFL passed away from natural causes at age 87, one of the lucky ones that didn't die before his time.  Better known as the Giants MLB, the hated Allie Sherman traded him to the Washington Redskins for a couple players which continue to piss him off, long after retiring from the Redskins after 1969.  He butted heads with the likes of Jim Taylor, who Huff pounded the crap out of the 1962 game to which Taylor had the last laugh and Jim Brown to which as legend has it, stopping Brown for a loss and telling he stinks.  Next play, Brown went in for a long TD to which Brown said after scoring how do I smell now..

I haven't paid much attention to the CMA's simply of that fact that I don't know most of the country acts and Jason Aldean and Luke (Gomer) Bryan I can live without.  It is noted that this year Chris Stapleton won four awards and Brothers Osborne beat out Dan N Shay for best duo group.  The times are a changing, Miranda Lambert didn't win anything, Carly Pierce won best female, Luke Combs is entertainer of the year, Jimmie Allen-best new artist, Old Dominion best vocal group.  The shock was seeing Stapleton cleaning house with his Starting Over album, which was quite good.  Brothers Osborne's last album tanked, it was more southern rock than country but anytime anybody beats Dan N Shay, it's a good feeling.  But the feeling of Miranda Lambert singing a medley of her songs rather than the whole songs, seems like she's now a relic of the past.  No thanks to Jay Joyce. 

Searching through the bargains and discarted CDs at the local thrift stores, I didn't find much to take home.  The Workingman's Dead CD from The Dead probably was the best but this CD had a bad CD rot to it and wasn't worth getting.  I did find a Bob Marley Live At The Rainbow at Goodwill but too many people at the check out lane and I decided to put back.  They still had some of the of the old soul 45s, that I went back to take a second look but the Clarence Carter, Take It Off him and Put It On Me single was too far scratched up.  To waste more time, I went to the Vinyl Emporium to see what they had for 50 cent 45s, some were in better shape than the Goodwill buys. 

Goin' Steady-Faron Young (Capitol F-2299)   1952  #2 Country 

Love You So Much-New Colony Six (Sentar ST-1205)  #61 1967

Don't Let The Rain Fall Down On Me-The Critters (Kapp K-838) #39 1967

Playboy-Gene And Debbie (TRX T-5006)  #17 1968

National City-Joiner Arkansas Junior High School Band (Liberty F-55244)  #53 1960

Name Of My Sorrow-Billy Eckstine (Enterprise ENA-9026) 1970

So basically I did find a playable copy of Playboy, which sounds at home on a Quintin Taratino soundtrack., but it does sound a minor league Sonny and Cher.    Love You So Much, still shows the NCS going through their garage rock roots.  B side Let Me Love You is much harder rocking, lyrics more bubblegum but this might be one of the best songs the NCS wrote.  Both songs made it to the long out of print Rhino best of.  Speaking of bubblegum, we come across the Critters' last chart showing of Don't Let The Rain Fall Down On Me, somewhat in tune with The Walker Brothers or early Moody Blues.  Don Giconnie would be drafted to join the Four Seasons eventually.  The next to last single on Kapp, tho The Critters moved on to Project 3 and other minor labels. 

Billy Eckstine pairs up with Issac Hayes in a attempt to modernize, kinda like when Cotillion revived Brook Benton's career. Written by Jimmy Webb, who knows a good riff and lyric.  Going Steady was Faron's first chart buster,  B side Just Out Of Reach was covered by Solomon Burke later for decent country R and B hit.  Goin Steady does  Hank Williams proud. and this would pave a nice career for Faron Young.  National City is a great lost instrumental classic, tho I think the JAJHSB may be tongue in cheek.  This sounds too good for a Junior High Band.  I should know, I made an attempt to play in our Junior High Band and we never sounded halfway as good at this one. 

All came from the Vinyl Emporium in CR. All had no sleeves and the sounds varies. The Liberty single was the roughest looking but plays fairly good.   As for the Blondie photo,  I'm still looking up the person that needs to be credited for this.  

Sometimes when you have to go, you gotta go, to which Sophia Urista had to really go, right in midsong with her band Brass Against, in a version of RATM's Wake Up, some burly dude offered to be her potta potty.  This took place at the Welcome To Rockville in Florida Thursday Night.  Of course, there is footage of this bathroom break, to which burly guy raised up afterwards and decided to share his reward so to speak.   Next time, somebody bring a bucket, just in case you need to go.

https://www.spin.com/2021/11/brass-against-sophia-urista-pee-fan-face-welcome-to-rockville/?fbclid=IwAR332TYV5_bRo90ISFr6SppLbtxgV8MNDttL8u0cbxWXK3yw-3OUJ8j6Qrk

Rockville In Florida continued on with Slipknot concluding the fun and games with a fun show.  Metallica closed it down on Sunday.   Brass Against did put on a good show but nothing was mentioned of it from the RIF website. 

Classic pinup from the70s'  The Runaways.  Joan Jett always looks great in black.

In this episode of Contender or Pretender, we take a look at some of the NCAA teams of note:

Purdue: Pretender. Oh, they looked good against Penn State (and so has Michigan) but they're getting blown to bits in Columbus.   And while Michigan is 9-1, till they beat Ohio State, they will be a pretending team.  They beat Penn State today.  Alabama played a cupcake team, New Mexico State, even with that, The tide is a contender.  Baylor upset and pissed off Oklahoma on a FG on last play of the game. Not sold on Baylor tho, Pretender.   Georgia is the best.  Wisconsin might be a contender, Ohio State remains a contender till the play a SEC team.  And you can forget about Texas, which lost to Kansas for their fifth straight loss. 57-56 was the score.  Steve Sarkanian may not survive this season.

Floyd stays home, although the referees did their damnest to give the game to Minnesota, but the Hawkeyes won 27-22, tho Minnesota had the ball twice as long as the Hawkeyes did. Alex Padilla threw for two scores, and Charlie Jones scored on a 72 yard bomb.  Minnesota scored on a long bomb which a chop block was called but then the flag was picked up.  Which set the Iowa faithful in fits. However the tired Defense did hold up for the final plays against Tanner Morgan, who ran out of miracles and even the refs couldn't help, as hard as they tried.  It's the seventh straight victory for Iowa and Floyd Of Rosedale will get to spend another winter in Iowa City. Minnesota has not beaten the Hawks in Iowa City since 1999.   Illinois is next in Iowa City. Minnesota should have a easier time with Indiana next week.  And in the meantime, Charlie Jones says bye bye to the Gophers on this 72 yard TD grab and go.  

Arizona State has seemed to find their groove again, coming back from a 17-7 Washington lead to win 35-30 up in Seattle  Rasceed White scored the go ahead TD with 2 minutes left and then Merlin Robinson's pick six made it 35-24 lead.  Washington would score with 3 seconds left and recovered an onside kick. But the pass was battled down for a very exciting Sun Devils win.  This was the first game that Washington gave up 35 points in a game for the first time in 84 games. ASU moves to Corvallis next week against the Oregon State Beavers.  Washington then fired Jimmy Lake the next day.

(Floyd stays an Iowa resident for the 7th year in a row) 

As for Iowa State, it has not been their year after being picked to be in the top ten NCAA teams, bad luck and lackadaisical play as well.  Down 31-17 at the half to Texas Tech, The Cyclones battled back to tie up the game only to lose on a 62 yard field goal from Jon Gariby with three seconds left.  And Iowa State lost to another mediocre team and with their coach being fired a couple games ago. Cyclones fall to 6-4 and with two games to play may be on the outside looking in.  

A story from Buddy Guy about Junior Wells.

Buddy Guy: Junior had him a hellacious sound on harp, and he was a helluva singer too. He could dance all over the stage. I’d call him an all-around entertainer. When we started doing shows together, he liked my way of not even being in the club when the band started playing. He got him a 150-foot cord for his amp like I had for my guitar. We’d come marching in from the men’s room or the kitchen. Alone, I could cause a sensation that way. With Junior the sensation got bigger. 

Junior had a beautiful soul. I remember one night when Sonny Boy dropped by Theresa’s—the same Sonny Boy who’d pulled a knife when Junior wanted some advice on how to play. Junior wouldn’t even look at him. Sonny Boy tried to say something, but Junior turned his back.

“Wait a minute, motherfucker,” said Sonny Boy. “I know you pissed about how I did you.”

 “Goddamn right I am,” said Junior. “But look here, I told you that shit to see if you was serious. If you really wanted to be a bluesman, I figured you was the kinda cat who would go off and prove me wrong.” “That’s just what I did.”

 “I know,” said Sonny Boy. “I hear. So all I’m saying is that I did you a solid. Wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t blow good as you blow. I got you off your ass, boy.” Junior closed his eyes and didn’t say nothing. I could hear the wheels turning inside his head. “You know something ,” he told Sonny Boy. “You right.” From then on they was cool.

Guy, Buddy. When I Left Home: My Story

Five Star Mud Game.   New York 19  Philadelphia 14  11/18/62  Yankee Stadium

One for Sammy. 

Upon the death of Sam Huff, it's fitting to pay tribute to him by showcasing a game to which they played in the rain and the field turning into goo.  Be it, Polo Grounds, Yankee Stadium, Shea Stadium or even the Yale Bowl,   Neil Liefer, who was at some of the finest mud games ever probably took these photos of the Giants D and Sam at various times of this game.  Most of scoring was done in the first quarter with  Sonny Jurgensen hooking up with Tommy McDonald with a scoring pass.  Timmy Brown running past Huff and company on a 62 yard dash and Alex Webster scoring one for the Giants and Don Chandler kicking one of four field goals.  In fact, the Giants D dominated the Eagles the rest of the game and Chandler kicking FGs in each quarter.  Webster had 107 yards rushing.  This game was the fifth in a 9 game winning streak for the G men, to which would end on a windy and cold day in Yankee Stadium as Jim Taylor and the Green Bay Packers beat them 16-7.  

Back Into The Dark-Last Of The Daylight Savings Bargains

Fall comes to an end with the end of Daylight Savings Time.  But it didn't stop me from going to Iowa City/Coralville.   A stop at the U of I Medical Center due to my medical issues, bone spur in my shoulder and a BP of 187/108 was cause for alarm but perhaps having a sweet tea beforehand was the cause.  Or it could have been the bottleneck of people trying to get into Trader Joe's.

I was in a pissed off mood afterwards, having 8 dollar in change fly out of my pockets and the wind blowing it all over the street  (Gawd, the ever continuing of bullshit luck) which send F bombs as I hopped around the damn road and hoping that the lights didn't change.  Otherwise a five spot and three singles would still be blowing in the wind.

Wasn't much for bargains.  I picked up a couple of cheap CDs at Money and More and three singles from Record Collector, including the Jazz Samba from Cannonball Adderley, to replace my cracked copy, I See The Light/Five Americans and Where Is My Mind by The Vanilla Fudge, which basically expressed my feelings for the day.

CD's found

Michael Bolton 

Best of Glen Campbell (10 Best)

Paul K And The Weathermen-Garden Of The Working Paths

Mekons' FUN 90

Weather Report-Heavy Weather

The Birthday Party-Hee Haw

45's

I See The Light-Five Americans (Abnak  A-109) #26 1966

Where Is My Mind-Vanilla Fudge (Atco 6554) 1968

Jive Samba-Cannonball Adderley (Riverside RF-4541) #66 1963

The Jive Samba is one of the finest jazz singles out there but little did I know that this was a two minute edit of the 12 minute song off the Best Of Cannonball Adderley, a cheap compilation that CEMA quietly put out back in the early 90s.  Where Is My Mind was too weird even for the bubbling over but it remains one of the more hippy trippy songs The Fudge put out.  B side The Look Of Love actually plays it safe.  I See The Light is the actual Abnak single, which sells higher than the Hanna/Barbera single and is a different take than the one I'm used to hearing.  Finding it for 2 dollars might have been a bargain.  Back around 1971, KCRG played this as a vintage oldie classic.  Mike Rabon would do a remake of said song and called I See The Light 69 and issued on yellow vinyl.  To which said song was ignored by radio and Sundazed Music which never did issued it on their best of The Five Americans CD.   Confusion was that Abnak was part of Atlantic Records, they were not, they were just paying tribute to that label with the yellow and black label (of the 1950s) of Atlantic, and perhaps Mr. Ertaguen thought was it a nice gesture.  We all know that wouldn't fly in this day and age with a cease and detest order from the bean counter's lawyers who have destroyed the music since corporations bought out most of the other labels.  https://www.bsnpubs.com/texas/abnak.html

The EMI 10 best series of greatest hits are a hodgepodge of the highest charting singles, plus not so great moments.  Glen Campbell's 10 best is more like five best, two piles of crap and three that could go either way.  His best moments was with Jimmy Webb (Wichita Lineman, Galveston) and the 1975 comeback with Lambert/Potter producing Rhinestone Cowboy and Country Boy (Rhinestone Cowboy Part 2) and Southern Nights which was a feelgood 1977 chart topper, the crap is Honey Come Back and a over the top version of It's Only Make Believe.   Getting an original Best Of would be better but this 10 best is a stop gap if I want to hear the late great Glen Campbell again.  Plus he was a helluva guitar player.  For all the Michael Bolton jokes, he started out as a power rocker with Bruce and Bob Kulick helping him on his first album which includes Fool's Game, a song that wouldn't sound out of place on a Sammy Hagar album.  I always wanted to hear this album simply of the fact that it was pure power rock.  For 33 minutes it is living the 80s all over again, where hair grew long and babes went out in leather and spanex pants.  Bolton's next album Everybody's Crazy continues this road but with Neil Kenon boosting the drums and is a full record.  Then Bolton discovered Otis Redding and MOR and changed course, a perfect example of selling out.  Whatever the case, it worked.

There wasn't much in finding music in my Iowa City trip and I came up empty in most spots.  There were questions about picking Liz Phair Exile In Guyville again, some jazz CDs from Stan Keynon and Stanley Turribine but nothing looked worth getting.  The Paul K and the Weathermen Cd probably was still there when Kirk owned the store years ago and the owners got tired looking at it and threw it in the quarter bins.  The Mekon's CD was a dollar.  I wanted a copy of Jive Samba since I broke mine years ago, so paying five dollars for it, that was more than the Bolton,Campbell, Paul K and Mekons CDs put together.  Continuing the phasing out, the Coralville Stuff Etc, had very few CDs (The Iowa City had more but nothing of note). and I didn't find anything at the Goodwill/Salvation Army stores.  Housewerks got by passed in favor of Record Collector.

As DST comes to an end of the 2021 summer/fall, I can't think of any other year that we didn't have any major shitstorms and tornadoes running in the area.  It was a wet October but nothing that came of flooding. Given last year and the life changing shit storm 2020, I think we were entitled into a more gentle sort of weather.  But the four most puke inducing media invented phases came up with "pain at the pump" with gas prices running over 3 20 a gallon.  Chances are next year it looks to be another return to the days of 2008 and four dollar gallon prices here, but then again it is worse in Needles California with their 5 39 a gallon.  Meanwhile, the Come On Brandon Qanon Quacks went to Dallas in hope of seeing JFK Jr. coming back to life to reinstall Joke 45 as Dictator/POTUS again.  Needless to say, JFK Jr didn't show up and Joe is still their POTUS.  Quack on dudes.

And, not surprising, Brad Hart got kicked to the curb by CR voters and will have a run off election.  Technically, the inept Tiffany O'Donnell will be the next hoax mayor, to which we can't wait for her own twist on her political nonsense.    The perks of being a anchor woman on a Sinclair own station.  The fun never ends. 

As we get older, our pin up eye candy women have become the golden girls.  Even Betty White, who might make it to 100 was a sexy babe back in the heyday.  Farrah, Jacklyn Smith, were the right ones in the 70s, as well as Sally Field, next to Julie Newmar one of my fave eye candy girls and could make heavenly pictures without showing all.    Sally has been the mainstay of reasons to go to the movies, Smoky And The Bandit for pure buns. Loved her in Murphy's Romance with James Garner.  She was great in Norma Rae and being Forrest Gump's mom.  She just turned 75  this Saturday, so happy birthday to one of my fave actress.  Still looking as classic and beautiful as ever.

Passings:  Tom Matte, the longtime Baltimore Colt runner who played his career till the evil Joe Thomas traded him off to San Diego (Matte retired after that).  Matte was famous for being the replacement QB when Johnny Unitas and Gary Crouzzo were hurt in 1965 and beat the LA Rams and almost the Green Bay Packers that year.  He saved his best game as QB in the playoff bowl as the Colts blew out the Dallas Cowboys 35-3, throwing two TD passes to Jimmy Orr.  After that Matte would go back being the bowling ball running back, giving Cleveland fits in the 34-0 1968 Championship, scoring three times and then once more in 1971, running through the Cleveland mud and Browns 20-3. One of the best, along with Bill Brown as the RB's that bowled over people.  Farewell  to the the jack of all trades and master of none, still a helluva player. 

On the local scene, FLEX, the modern 90s rock act has Rick Clay taking over the lead guitar spot, taking over for Todd James.  Clay is also part of Four Day Creep.  We'll say congratulations Rick. keep on Rawkin'.

Spencer Petras wasn't cutting it so Alex Padilla came in relief and sparked the Iowa Hawkeyes to a 14-0 lead and survived a Northwestern comeback that fell short when a blotched snap, lead to an  errant pass and Iowa's Dane Belton's  interception and it was  a 17-12 Hawkeye victory.  In the defense of Petras, Wisconsin beat him up in last week's game and was only 2 for 4 before K.F, pulled the plug and put in Padilla, who went 18 for 28 for 172 yards and two touchdowns.  Northwestern did block a punt which put them deep in Iowa territory, but had to settle for a FG and another drive at the Iowa 3 ended with Pat Fitzgerald getting a unsportsmanlike conduct and that lead to another FG.  Questions remain if Petras returns next year for Minnesota but we think the Padilla era just might be starting up.  Now if Iowa can get a offense coordinator, that would be even better. 

Arizona finally ended their 20 game losing streak with a 10-3 win over California, but Cal was missing half the team due to COVID issues.  Arizona State decided to play a full game this time out, scoring two touchdowns in the 4th quarter to run by USC 31-16. Rachaad White running for 202 yards and scoring three TDs.  The win might get the critics off Herman Edwards' back for at least a week. 

Iowa State continues to kick Texas's ass by running past them 30-7.  Brice Hall, tore through the D with a 47 yard run to put the Cyclones ahead for good.  Hall rushed for 136 yards and had another third quarter TD run.  Basically with that, Texas' fans are not very happy, starting out with a ranking but now lost four games in a row.  I don't think they will come close to the 20 games that Arizona lost in the past two seasons but heads will roll if they can't win.  However, Iowa State came ready to play and dominated the Longhorns all game, to which a change of QBs for Texas didn't help.   This might get the Cyclones back into the top 25.  As for Texas, basketball season is starting up.

Ah yes, Rafael Theodore Cruz is mad at Big Bird. We can never have a year off without Fidel Raffy blowing his ass about nothing.  Big Bird announced he got his COVID vaccines and Raffy called him Government Propaganda. Others calling Big Bird a step up from Dr.Fauci. One can only hope that fools like Raffy Cruz, Robby Starbuck and Mike Cerovich end up get Myocarditis since Cernovich brought that up.  Raffy Cruz has been quite instrumental in his arrogant ways (about wasting everybody's time reading children's bedtime stories in congress), perhaps he needs another cancun vacation? 

Five Star Mud Game;  Pittsburgh 3 Miami 0 11/26/2007

I don't include much of the mud games of the 2000's.  The advanced technology on grass fields made it possible for better drainage and the use of more sand mixed with regular turf took most of the mud, and fun out of watching NFL football.    It bores me to pieces to see NFL games anymore.  There's more mud action in a 2010 exhibition game between the same two teams in old Joe Robbie stadium thanks to a dirt infield used by the Marlins.  Let's us return back to the November game of 2007, a defense battle all the way between the Steelers, moving to a playoff spot and the 0-11 Dolphins.  This game was an exercise in trying to stay awake.  If you woke up just before the end of the game, you might have seen Jeff Reed hit the game winning 24 yard FG, with 17 seconds to play.  Miami tried the old Cal/Stanford play of backward passes to which, that failed, and we all turned off the TV and went back to bed.