You know what is torture? I have had Feliz Navidad in my head for three
freaking hours and then the next three hours I was tortured by Jewel's
Hands making a very cranky crabb.
It's Christmas time once
again. Seems like somewhere Jingle Bell Crock or Rocking Around The
Christmas Tree is playing on the radio in this world. I'm sure Bobby
Helms if he was still living would be making some royalties to live
comfortbly, but here on Crabb Radio we tend to look beyond the same old
same old. To the point that my christmas songs are the same old same old
but I try to do my best to vary them. But I still get a charge out of
hearing The Wailer's Christmas Spirit?!?
This year is a first of
sorts for me. First year that i have a Girlfriend and is still around
the last five months. Anyway, Miss Nicole wants to help out this blog by
adding some Christmas Tid Bits and then yours truly will bring his idea
of christmas cheer in music. Now, the lovely Sassy.
The largest yo-yo weighs 896 pounds.
Macy's is the 2nd largest consumer of helium in the world.
In Spain, midnight mass is called Misa de Gallo. The "Worlds Largest Christmas Tree" is located in California.
Christmas Card Lane is located in Tampa, Florida.
Gingerbread
was originally a German tradition. Lebkuchen (gingerbread) is exported
from Nuremberg, Germany to the US for Christmas. Johann Maelzel in 1820
invented the first speaking doll.
The first mass production of
Christmas tree lights began in 1820. The largest functional cracker was
181' 11" tall and 11' 9" wide.
Nutcracker figurines originated
in Germany in the 1700's. The first iron pair of skates were used in
Scandinavia in the year 200 A.D. Christmas wasn't declared a federal
holiday in the United States until June 26, 1870.
The first eggnog made in the United States was consumed in Captain John Smith's 1607 Jamestown settlement.
In 1836, Alabama became the 1st US state to declare Christmas as a legal holiday.
In 1875, the first Christmas card was printed in the US by Louis Prang, a Massachusetts printer.
Franklin
Pierce was the first President to have a Christmas tree in the White
House. There are 13 types of Christmas trees that have been in the White
House, the most common is Blue Spruce Pine.
"Silent Night" was composed on Christmas Eve 1818. Sale of Christmas trees began in the US in 1850.
The
worlds largest Christmas store is in Frankenmuth, Michigan. The name of
the store is Bronner's. (note from Sassey: Not a bad store to go into
and they have stuff that ain't Christmas related)
In Finland, Santa is called Joutupukki. Play-doh entered the market as wallpaper cleaner in 1956.
The Top Ten of Xmas Songs this year.
1.
White Christmas-The Ventures Here at the Crabb house we enjoy those
great guitar groups doing updated versions of Christmas songs. Don't
know about you but The Ventures Christmas Album is a must for your
holiday tunes.
2. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town-The Townedgers
Of course the little lady would kill me if I didn't include a track from
the best selling album of all time from the TEs but I have choice of
what to play. Dedicated to all of the fans of this garage band from
Anamosa Ioway.
3. Merry Christmas Everyone-Slade Glam rockers
had this top ten hit in the UK and somehow does get played around this
area from time to time. BTW has anybody gotten that Monster Ballads Xmas
CD? Me neither.
4. The Little Drummer Boy-Harry Simeone
Chorale St Louis 2007, I found a picture sleeve of this 45 of this
song that came out on 20th Century Fox Records but I can't think of
going anyplace growing up to somebody's house that didn't have this
number. Sassy sez The TE version is better. I prefer Johnny Cash's
version that can be found on The Christmas Spirit.
5. Christmas
Time Is Here-Vince Guaraldi One of the great family traditions is seeing
Merry Christmas Charlie Brown although 45 years later it looks crudely
drawn due to us being spoiled rotten by computer generated cartoons.
Guaraldi, already a well known jazz piano player, he became better known
for him scoring the old Peanuts cartoons.
6. Holly Jolly
Christmas-Alan Jackson Another Sassy suggestion. I need to get
that girl to start listening to other types of music outside of country
and more country.
But then again she did took time and effort to compile the christmas facts.
7.
Run Rudolph Run-Lemmy, Billy Gibbons & Dave Gorhl Everybody has
done this Chuck Berry number but you haven't heard anything till you
heard Mr Motorhead put the metal to this song, with help from Mr. ZZ Top
and Mr Foo Fighter. Dig it or don't.
8. Santa Claus Is Comin
(In A Boogie Woogie Freight Train) The Tractors Another suggestion by
the lil' lady who threaten me with 10 hours straight of Feliz Navidad.
9.
Chirstmas In Dixie-Alabama Guess which song was suggested by my other
half? Unfortly while trying to compile this week's blog, my
regular rscrabb@ hotmail site is bogged down by something dragging it
down so I'm using a backup and have to do a Plan B. She gave about 20
suggestions and I think I used a couple of them on this one. She's
always loved this song the best in terms of Christmas music outside of
The Townedger's Christmas album.
10. Step Into Christmas-Elton
John Growing up in the 70s outside of waiting for the latest from
Foghat or Led Zeppelin was always waiting for what the UK Diva would
bestow upon us for singles. For Elton John was the greatest singles
artist in that time although I could do without Crock Rock or Bennie And
The Jets. On this, EJ actually outdo Phil Spector in terms of getting
that seasonal sound. Never did find the 45 when it was out at that time
but I do have this song on about 4 other EJ albums.
on a
side note perhaps the most tasteless christmas song ever put
out....Homo Christmas by Pansy Division. Taken from Rhino's Punk Rock
Xmas CD of 1995, this celebrates gay sheningans under the christmas tree
and has to be heard to be believed. 2nd most tasteless song....Fuck
Christmas by Fear...Lin Ving must have been through the Best Buy line on
December 23.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Top Ten Of The Week-Winter Sucks
It's pretty bad when I get stuck in my own driveway. It's icy as hell,
my brother has got way too many cars in the damn way here and I can't
manuever the Crown Victoria worth a fuck in this damn ice rink I call a
driveway. And it puts me in a real bad mood. Stuck in our own
driveway, WTMF?
When they induct ABBA in the rock n roll hall of fame it becomes a joke. I can see Genesis, I can see Jimmy Cliff, I can see The Hollies and The Stooges but I guess Jann Wanner would rather see ABBA make it there than KISS. But it's pretty fucking bad when The Moody Blues isn't in there, nor Rush, Nor______________. ABBA?!? They're MOR Pop for fuck's sakes!.
Next week I hope to be in the Holiday spirit although I doubt it. But my sidekick and contributor Nicole will host the annual Christmas top ten list. She submitted 20 songs to the fray, we'll edited it down to a chosen ten. Usually the rule of thumb is that 10 is the limit, anything more and people get put to sleep.
This week's songs of note:
1. Stranded-Manfred Mann Earth Band 1980 I guess ole Manfred got stuck in Iowa from what the song starts out. Which is why this album charted pretty high around here, it mentioned Iowa. Stuck in my own driveway, watta bunch of.............
2. In Walked Bud-Theolonious Monk 1958 Robert Christgau spoke so highly of this track that I decided to pull it out and listen to it sunday night and found that Johnny Griffin could have been the best sax player, best suited to the style of Mr. Monk. That's saying a lot. Christgau also says that there's too much Riverside product from Monk but he had Monk's Music, Brilliant Corners and Mysterioso, and Solo Monk. Never heard the Town Hall Concert but from what i heard of, The Riverside years remains his best.
3. Cars Hiss By My Window-The Doors 1971 Played on KUNI the other night, this is a slow burning blues to which John Morrison does some freaky wails at the end of this song. Guess he was pretty stoned too.
4. Kind Of A Girl-Tilted Windows 2009 I'm not very thrilled of the music of this year, particularly of what the mags tout as the best but I'll go with this mini super group of Cheap Trick, Fountains Of Wayne, Smashing Pumpkins and Zack Hanson! I'm still working on the best of 2009 album wise and finding it's taking a bit more work than expected.
5. The Loner-Stephen Stills 1976 This actually got played on the old Q103 back in the day, long before my smarter half was born. This is a more rocking cover of the Neil Young chestnut and I'm sure Mr. Young will make a presence on the top ten before I go to bed. Stills' Columbia period while uneven did pull out some good songs. One can't live on Love The One Your With all the time.
6. Tonight Tonight Tonight-Genesis 1986 Speaking of which, the new HOF inductees show up with a top 30 hit from the overly commerical Invisible Touch album to which I'm still waiting what TAD thought about that record. He didn't care much for Duke, the 1980 album that started gave Genesis a second chance. Never liked Duke all that much either come to think of it.
7. Sample And Hold-Neil Young 1982 To which Neil Young beat Kanye West, Lil Wayne and many more others of this shitty decade in Autotuning but at that time he used a vicorder and it gave him a voice this side of Pete Drake and Kraftwerk. While ppl continue to bitch about Trans being a pile of crap, I actually still think it was a breath of fresh air when he did Trans and still like it very much today. Actually got to see Neil Young do his Trans concert on USA back around 1982 with Nils Lofsgren, Bruce Palmer and Ralph Molina and it kinda funny to see Neil and Nils chase each other around the stage talking computerese.
8. Journal For Plague Lovers-Manic Street Preachers 2009 Title track from the Manic's latest album and featuring words by Richey James who vanished into thin air about 14 years ago. Their new album is very good and may make my 10 best of the year but I sense that the melody of this song recalls Spirit Of The Radio and Limelight from Rush. Somebody in that band listens to Rush.
9. See The Light-Green Day 2009 I didn't care much for their lastest album, it sounds like American Idiot Part 2 and the production was overblown half the time but I do like this finale off 21st Century Breakdown.
10. Sleigh Ride-Davie Allen & The Arrows 2007 I don't listen to christmas music all that much and the only two albums that I heard was Rotary Connection's Peace and Fuzz For The Holidays, the latest Christmas offering from the dood who gave us Blue's Theme way back in 1966. I plan on pulling out The Ventures' Christmas Album before the 25th but this version from Mr Allen is borderline avant garde and very noisy and I don't think the old ladies on day shift would enjoy hearing this song. I remember a long time ago putting together a Christmas music mix tape with songs from Bob Marley, Foghat and the Dance Hall Crashers and the only song they wanted to hear was The Singing Dogs' Jingle Bells. Today, ppl get annoyed when they hear the Singing Dogs but you have to admit that it took a lotta takes to get that right and I do smile a bit when I do hear that. Let's face it, we're going get stuck hearing Jingle Bell Rock or Rocking Around The Christmas Tree twice every half hour. I rather much perfer a little fuzz for my holidays. Such as from Davie Allen.
....
Stuck in my own fucking driveway.....*sigh*.
When they induct ABBA in the rock n roll hall of fame it becomes a joke. I can see Genesis, I can see Jimmy Cliff, I can see The Hollies and The Stooges but I guess Jann Wanner would rather see ABBA make it there than KISS. But it's pretty fucking bad when The Moody Blues isn't in there, nor Rush, Nor______________. ABBA?!? They're MOR Pop for fuck's sakes!.
Next week I hope to be in the Holiday spirit although I doubt it. But my sidekick and contributor Nicole will host the annual Christmas top ten list. She submitted 20 songs to the fray, we'll edited it down to a chosen ten. Usually the rule of thumb is that 10 is the limit, anything more and people get put to sleep.
This week's songs of note:
1. Stranded-Manfred Mann Earth Band 1980 I guess ole Manfred got stuck in Iowa from what the song starts out. Which is why this album charted pretty high around here, it mentioned Iowa. Stuck in my own driveway, watta bunch of.............
2. In Walked Bud-Theolonious Monk 1958 Robert Christgau spoke so highly of this track that I decided to pull it out and listen to it sunday night and found that Johnny Griffin could have been the best sax player, best suited to the style of Mr. Monk. That's saying a lot. Christgau also says that there's too much Riverside product from Monk but he had Monk's Music, Brilliant Corners and Mysterioso, and Solo Monk. Never heard the Town Hall Concert but from what i heard of, The Riverside years remains his best.
3. Cars Hiss By My Window-The Doors 1971 Played on KUNI the other night, this is a slow burning blues to which John Morrison does some freaky wails at the end of this song. Guess he was pretty stoned too.
4. Kind Of A Girl-Tilted Windows 2009 I'm not very thrilled of the music of this year, particularly of what the mags tout as the best but I'll go with this mini super group of Cheap Trick, Fountains Of Wayne, Smashing Pumpkins and Zack Hanson! I'm still working on the best of 2009 album wise and finding it's taking a bit more work than expected.
5. The Loner-Stephen Stills 1976 This actually got played on the old Q103 back in the day, long before my smarter half was born. This is a more rocking cover of the Neil Young chestnut and I'm sure Mr. Young will make a presence on the top ten before I go to bed. Stills' Columbia period while uneven did pull out some good songs. One can't live on Love The One Your With all the time.
6. Tonight Tonight Tonight-Genesis 1986 Speaking of which, the new HOF inductees show up with a top 30 hit from the overly commerical Invisible Touch album to which I'm still waiting what TAD thought about that record. He didn't care much for Duke, the 1980 album that started gave Genesis a second chance. Never liked Duke all that much either come to think of it.
7. Sample And Hold-Neil Young 1982 To which Neil Young beat Kanye West, Lil Wayne and many more others of this shitty decade in Autotuning but at that time he used a vicorder and it gave him a voice this side of Pete Drake and Kraftwerk. While ppl continue to bitch about Trans being a pile of crap, I actually still think it was a breath of fresh air when he did Trans and still like it very much today. Actually got to see Neil Young do his Trans concert on USA back around 1982 with Nils Lofsgren, Bruce Palmer and Ralph Molina and it kinda funny to see Neil and Nils chase each other around the stage talking computerese.
8. Journal For Plague Lovers-Manic Street Preachers 2009 Title track from the Manic's latest album and featuring words by Richey James who vanished into thin air about 14 years ago. Their new album is very good and may make my 10 best of the year but I sense that the melody of this song recalls Spirit Of The Radio and Limelight from Rush. Somebody in that band listens to Rush.
9. See The Light-Green Day 2009 I didn't care much for their lastest album, it sounds like American Idiot Part 2 and the production was overblown half the time but I do like this finale off 21st Century Breakdown.
10. Sleigh Ride-Davie Allen & The Arrows 2007 I don't listen to christmas music all that much and the only two albums that I heard was Rotary Connection's Peace and Fuzz For The Holidays, the latest Christmas offering from the dood who gave us Blue's Theme way back in 1966. I plan on pulling out The Ventures' Christmas Album before the 25th but this version from Mr Allen is borderline avant garde and very noisy and I don't think the old ladies on day shift would enjoy hearing this song. I remember a long time ago putting together a Christmas music mix tape with songs from Bob Marley, Foghat and the Dance Hall Crashers and the only song they wanted to hear was The Singing Dogs' Jingle Bells. Today, ppl get annoyed when they hear the Singing Dogs but you have to admit that it took a lotta takes to get that right and I do smile a bit when I do hear that. Let's face it, we're going get stuck hearing Jingle Bell Rock or Rocking Around The Christmas Tree twice every half hour. I rather much perfer a little fuzz for my holidays. Such as from Davie Allen.
....
Stuck in my own fucking driveway.....*sigh*.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Stupid People Part 1,242,303
It's no secret that our recent neighbors who moved in about a couple years ago have not been well received in this part of town. They tend to leave the garage door open at ungodly hours and nothing like watching Mrs. Deliverance sit on her big fat merry go round, smoking a damn cigarette and watching TV in the garage. Mr. Deliverance to which my brother calls Mr. No Balls had a following out. They bought this yappyassed beagle for the past couple years who barks all damn day long and then they went out and got another damn dog who I saw running up and down the road barking at cars and anything that passes by while there's no sight of the idiots that watch it. They can't take care of the beagle, why the fuck are they having another dog in the yard? I made it clear to these yayhoos that if this damn dog comes into our yard that all bets are off and if this yappy MF barks, we may have to turn them for animal cruelity. We may have WW 3 with The Delieverance Family on their animals and lack of care.
I have no idea what they do, but they have at least four boys, one a teenager, the other two in their early teens and now a baby that they tote around the yard. They have snowmoblies to go tearing up the ditch with, they have a ATV in the summer so they can drive around town and raise up dust and plenty of cars to go around. As far as I know the boys seem to stay out of trouble but I think my brother bitches more about their damn animals than I do.
It's too bad that everytime we get new neighbors the IQ goes down a bit in Springville/Viola. Three years ago, we had some half wits that moved in, and were total trailer trash and had something like 8 people living in that house before a fire came along and forced them to move back to Wellington Heights. The house sat empty for a while before somebody came out to buy it, rebuild and remodled it and once again sold it to the Delieverance Family. Too bad, we all didn't pool our money together, outbidded the fucks and tore the damn thing down to the ground. But that's the way life seems to be sometimes; you never get the good, you always get the stupid.
I have no idea what they do, but they have at least four boys, one a teenager, the other two in their early teens and now a baby that they tote around the yard. They have snowmoblies to go tearing up the ditch with, they have a ATV in the summer so they can drive around town and raise up dust and plenty of cars to go around. As far as I know the boys seem to stay out of trouble but I think my brother bitches more about their damn animals than I do.
It's too bad that everytime we get new neighbors the IQ goes down a bit in Springville/Viola. Three years ago, we had some half wits that moved in, and were total trailer trash and had something like 8 people living in that house before a fire came along and forced them to move back to Wellington Heights. The house sat empty for a while before somebody came out to buy it, rebuild and remodled it and once again sold it to the Delieverance Family. Too bad, we all didn't pool our money together, outbidded the fucks and tore the damn thing down to the ground. But that's the way life seems to be sometimes; you never get the good, you always get the stupid.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Top Ten Of The Week-Winter Whateverland
f you haven't guess by now, or been hiding under a rock you may have
noticed that we have our 2nd winter storm of the week. So far we
received about 10 inches of the white crap thus assering us of another
white christmas. Envy us Louisana.
I'm not sure about Global Warming but I do think we are in the beginnings of an new ice age. Seems that way the last three freaking winters.
So I spent most of the day shoveling snow and trying to keep it off the car and watching it get covered in snow all over again. Whatever is getting lost in Greenland or the polar ice cap seems to make its way here. December weather in Iowa, one big suckathon.
Yes Sassy Gregg Allman of the Allman Brothers turned 62 Tuesday.
And of course my favorite independent artist Liz Chaffe popped in to say Howdy. Howdy back. In a perfect world Lizzy Williams would be played on radio all across the nation. Magic 8 remains one of the essensial albums of this decade. And Liz always is nice enough to check in too. Keep a rockin y'all!
My other half has compiled a Christmas top ten (and then some) and you will be able to see it two weeks from today. I'm still in the process of editing some of it. But in the meantime, Mr. S will give you another ten reasons why my radio station is better than your radio station (But not as good as AM740)
1. Take It Slow-Lizzy Williams 2005 As forementioned, this track always sounded good leading off an album and Magic 8, as I said before remains one of my favorite albums of the 00's. I haven't kept a log of repeated songs in the top ten but Take It Slow has been on the list a few times, alongside Can't Be Who You Want Me To Be. I'm sure you can find copies at CD Baby. CD Baby remains a great place to discover the everyday rock and roller that still loves music for it is; good tunes. And good music is timeless, like Magic 8.
2. I'll Be Back-The Beatles 1964 Amazing to know that anywhere you go and whatever is played on the radio that new music you cant remember like I can't remember it but when you go to a McDonalds and they're playing something from The Beatles that you can. No it wasn't a hit but it seems to stand out better than what they play for music there. And it's a oldies station they play. The McDonalds that I frequent plays music from the 60s and 70s and has MSNBC so I get entertained easy by Miss Maddow and Mr. Olbermann although the Tiger Woods news is a bit too much. I don't care about Tiger and his mistresses (all 9 of them) and neither should you.
3. A Girl In Trouble Is A Temporary Thing-Romeo Void 1984 Maybe it was the VH1 Bands Reunited that got me interested in this band, didn't care much about them in the mid 80s but did find an album from theirs on the wasted trip to Ames/Des Moines. This still can be heard on 80s radio stations around the area.
4. Detroit City-Drivin N Cryin 2009 I still care and I'm still a fan of Kevn Kenney and Tim Neilsen and their first album in 12 years showcased some great rock and roll. Kenney's voice isn't for everybody, and he looks like the uncle that you tend to avoid at all costs but he can still rock it. Which is the point that keeps me interested in new music. Although next year due to lack of shelf space I won't be so generous in discovering the new big thing, but if Drivin N Cryin still puts out new product I'll still listen.
5. Turn It Over-Eddie Jobson/Zinc 1983 Do you know the biggest one hit wonder of this decade was Daniel Powder's suckfest Bad Day? Do you really care if I brought that up? This was a nice one hit wonder from the dude who played in Jethro Tull and Roxy Music and he made a decent prog rock/new age album called the Green Album and had a minor hit with this. Sounded like Yes in a way. Found it on CD in Vegas a few years ago and sold it but found the vinyl album in Ankeny during the wasted DM trip.
6. The Diary Of Horace Wimp-Electric Light Orchestra 1979 I really haven't been much of a fan of Jeff Lynne in my younger years although I did find some ELO albums in the dollar bins to which I brought Discovery on the basis of Don't Bring Me Down. But the chorus to this song sounds like a rip of the Bee Gees' Night Fever, don't get me wrong this is a cool song but 1979 everybody was apeing the Bee Gees in one way or another.
7. High And Dry-Poco 1974 Another dollar album found at the pawn shop, this was Poco's final album for Epic before moving on to ABC/MCA Records and I think the first album they did with Mark Harman. Wounded Bird reissed this for a time but last I checked it's not availble in their catalog. I suppose in the future I might consider listening to more Poco but we'll see.
8. Ain't That Just Like A Woman-Chuck Berry 1965 From his forgotten Fresh Berry's, this is a cover of the Louis Jordan number that Jordan had a hit back in the early 40s. And some people consider Jordan the first true rock and roller but back then it was called jump blues.
9. Can I Get To Know You Better-The Turtles 1965 The Turtles made some fine fine music of the 60s and this was one of the lesser charting. But it's still a pop classic in its own right. I get a smile when I play it and sometimes my better half complains that I don't smile enough. She might have a point.
10. Girls With Guns-Tommy Shaw 1984 He was never this much fun in Styx, nor anything after this fun pop ditty either. And the less said about Damn Yankees the better but at least American Beat did reissue Girls With Guns on CD.
I'm not sure about Global Warming but I do think we are in the beginnings of an new ice age. Seems that way the last three freaking winters.
So I spent most of the day shoveling snow and trying to keep it off the car and watching it get covered in snow all over again. Whatever is getting lost in Greenland or the polar ice cap seems to make its way here. December weather in Iowa, one big suckathon.
Yes Sassy Gregg Allman of the Allman Brothers turned 62 Tuesday.
And of course my favorite independent artist Liz Chaffe popped in to say Howdy. Howdy back. In a perfect world Lizzy Williams would be played on radio all across the nation. Magic 8 remains one of the essensial albums of this decade. And Liz always is nice enough to check in too. Keep a rockin y'all!
My other half has compiled a Christmas top ten (and then some) and you will be able to see it two weeks from today. I'm still in the process of editing some of it. But in the meantime, Mr. S will give you another ten reasons why my radio station is better than your radio station (But not as good as AM740)
1. Take It Slow-Lizzy Williams 2005 As forementioned, this track always sounded good leading off an album and Magic 8, as I said before remains one of my favorite albums of the 00's. I haven't kept a log of repeated songs in the top ten but Take It Slow has been on the list a few times, alongside Can't Be Who You Want Me To Be. I'm sure you can find copies at CD Baby. CD Baby remains a great place to discover the everyday rock and roller that still loves music for it is; good tunes. And good music is timeless, like Magic 8.
2. I'll Be Back-The Beatles 1964 Amazing to know that anywhere you go and whatever is played on the radio that new music you cant remember like I can't remember it but when you go to a McDonalds and they're playing something from The Beatles that you can. No it wasn't a hit but it seems to stand out better than what they play for music there. And it's a oldies station they play. The McDonalds that I frequent plays music from the 60s and 70s and has MSNBC so I get entertained easy by Miss Maddow and Mr. Olbermann although the Tiger Woods news is a bit too much. I don't care about Tiger and his mistresses (all 9 of them) and neither should you.
3. A Girl In Trouble Is A Temporary Thing-Romeo Void 1984 Maybe it was the VH1 Bands Reunited that got me interested in this band, didn't care much about them in the mid 80s but did find an album from theirs on the wasted trip to Ames/Des Moines. This still can be heard on 80s radio stations around the area.
4. Detroit City-Drivin N Cryin 2009 I still care and I'm still a fan of Kevn Kenney and Tim Neilsen and their first album in 12 years showcased some great rock and roll. Kenney's voice isn't for everybody, and he looks like the uncle that you tend to avoid at all costs but he can still rock it. Which is the point that keeps me interested in new music. Although next year due to lack of shelf space I won't be so generous in discovering the new big thing, but if Drivin N Cryin still puts out new product I'll still listen.
5. Turn It Over-Eddie Jobson/Zinc 1983 Do you know the biggest one hit wonder of this decade was Daniel Powder's suckfest Bad Day? Do you really care if I brought that up? This was a nice one hit wonder from the dude who played in Jethro Tull and Roxy Music and he made a decent prog rock/new age album called the Green Album and had a minor hit with this. Sounded like Yes in a way. Found it on CD in Vegas a few years ago and sold it but found the vinyl album in Ankeny during the wasted DM trip.
6. The Diary Of Horace Wimp-Electric Light Orchestra 1979 I really haven't been much of a fan of Jeff Lynne in my younger years although I did find some ELO albums in the dollar bins to which I brought Discovery on the basis of Don't Bring Me Down. But the chorus to this song sounds like a rip of the Bee Gees' Night Fever, don't get me wrong this is a cool song but 1979 everybody was apeing the Bee Gees in one way or another.
7. High And Dry-Poco 1974 Another dollar album found at the pawn shop, this was Poco's final album for Epic before moving on to ABC/MCA Records and I think the first album they did with Mark Harman. Wounded Bird reissed this for a time but last I checked it's not availble in their catalog. I suppose in the future I might consider listening to more Poco but we'll see.
8. Ain't That Just Like A Woman-Chuck Berry 1965 From his forgotten Fresh Berry's, this is a cover of the Louis Jordan number that Jordan had a hit back in the early 40s. And some people consider Jordan the first true rock and roller but back then it was called jump blues.
9. Can I Get To Know You Better-The Turtles 1965 The Turtles made some fine fine music of the 60s and this was one of the lesser charting. But it's still a pop classic in its own right. I get a smile when I play it and sometimes my better half complains that I don't smile enough. She might have a point.
10. Girls With Guns-Tommy Shaw 1984 He was never this much fun in Styx, nor anything after this fun pop ditty either. And the less said about Damn Yankees the better but at least American Beat did reissue Girls With Guns on CD.
Monday, December 7, 2009
What Do I Think Of New Music You Ask?
Not much.
As we conclude another year I've been listening to some albums that are being considered for the best of 2009. We have umpteenth review sites out there that can pretty much tell you what they think is great and some that would rather bash them. It's hard to review most album since there's so much out there and I just don't have enough time to sit down and actually listen to it like I used to when I was younger. Perhaps it's odd to state that the albums that I didn't care much for back in my teens I still listen to on a somewhat regular basis. (KISS Rock N Roll Over, BTO Head On, even Aerosmith Draw The Line come to mind). I remember them better than I do to some of the albums that I gave high praise of this decade. Could it be the loudness wars, to which a CD is TOO LOUD and everything GOES OVER MY HEAD SINCE IT IS SO LOUD?!? Or could it be that in my old age I'd rather watch TV and pass out on the couch rather than put on a CD and listen and pass out during the album.
I come to find that Rolling Stone or SPIN knows zilch about good music judging by reviewing some of their four star albums and being bored to death or it rubbed me the wrong way. I enjoyed the first Wolfmother album but their second just sucked to these ears. Another band that I liked Train, had some listenable albums till they pooped out Save Me San Francisco, an album so bad it reminded me of fucking Daniel Powder. Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear gave us something that sounded like progessive folk music and why or how people found anything of value of these turds I can't hear.
This decade will go down as the worst decade for music ever. Too much sugar coated crap and too many rap acts hiding behind the autotuner. American Idol is also blamed for the crapfest that has been bestowed upon us and gave us Kelly Clarkston and Miss Everything Carrie Underwood. While the Carrie Nation continues to go wow on each and every thing that Underwood puts out, I still get the feeling that she's not as geniune as she would like you to believe. Sure she can sing, but her problem is the problem of all these female singers that want to cram all their octaves into the final chorus (the Celine Dion/Whitney Houston syndrome). Despite what the Carrie Nation would like you to think, Miss Underwood does have her eye on the pop market, probably pissed that Taylor Swift managed to beat her to the pop side, with less albums to boot. And I still think that Taylor Swift would be more likely to talk to me rather than Carrie Underwood.
The talent shows such as Nashville Star or Make Me a Star or American Idol sometimes could give a unknown or runner up a second chance at stardom. Daughtry comes to mind although his Nickelback lite grunge rock isn't for me, and Taylor Hicks's Mike Mcdonald vocals did have a moment or two and even Bo Bice, had he recorded his own band instead of having his album ruined by Jon Bon Jovi might have beaten Daughtry to the charts, but Bice was a bit too southern rock and too 70s for the mass IPOD heads. The only act that made me buy their albums was Miranda Lambert, who was a carbon copy of a female Steve Earle and with the help of a used cd of her first album convinced me that sometimes greatness can come out of a Nashville Star or American Idol. Buddy Jewell where have you gone? So perhaps, Miranda Lambert is one of this decade's artist that I actually care about this year, making a great debut, a classic second album and a credible followup.
While fans and critics trip over themselves over Radiohead being best band of the decade, I still can't find anything off Kid A that warrants that praise. Basically, it's pompous, overplayed and a piece of crap as far as I concerned. Didn't care much for their 1997 OK Computer either. Pink Floyd was better although I will give Radiohead props for In Rainbows with their name your own price and make your own CD cover. Another band that suggests overratedness is The Strokes, whose Is This It had the most ironic title of this decade. Room On Fire was perferrable and Last Impressions Of Earth was total dreck. Band number 3 was Kings Of Leon. Their best album was their EP Holy Roller Novacaine which showcased a promising rock and roll band before somebody got them to listen to Radiohead and their albums lost focus. Then Mr. Folllowhill bitched about the price of fame and how they got too big. Nevertheless we can leave Caleb and company in the cutout bins should he feeled trapped by fame and fortune.
There are some highlights in a lost decade. Melody Gardot's Worrisome Heart, Long-View Mercury, Radio Moscow's debut which gave me some hope for the future before their second album Brain Waves proved that maybe they weren't the great lost Blue Cheer we were hoping for. Jack White made Loretta Lynn a genius with Van Leer Rose as producer although he did good things with White Stripes, The Racontuers and The Dead Weather. But the jury is still out wether or not if those albums are as enduring as Elephant or Van Leer Rose.
For progessive rock, I perfer Steven Wilson's Porcupine Tree over the overhyped and overbearing Mars Volta. Porcupine Tree I think will be remembered in the same way of Floyd or Zepplein if modern radio promotes them. Can't say if Those Crooked Vultures will be a band since it remains a all star collective but Dave Grohl's Foo Fighers or Josh Homme's Queens Of The Stone Age did managed to put out decent albums. But then again after listening to Foo Fighters' Greatest Hits, that seems to suggest that they're a better singles band than albums. And The Queens Of The Stone Age flamed out after their flop Era Viguris (sic) album. And the only time the Queens were interesting was when Grohl guest drummed on Songs For The Deaf a album that was great, ruined by Eric Valentine's shoddy production.
And that's the problem of this decade; that most albums were ruined by shitty recording. The Loudness Factor. that made could have been classics such as Long View Mercury or even The Rolling Stones Bigger Bang sound distorted and like crap. Yes, Bigger Band was pretty good but appently was mixed with Mick and Keith's hearing aid turned off. Metallica's Death Magentic would have been their best since Masters Of Puppets but ruined by a mix far into the red. Too loud CDs, compressed and mixed for the IPOD generation.
If Porcupine Tree or Miranda Lambert continues to make new albums I'll listen to them since they remains artists with something to say but the album format is dying and everything is moving over as singles, just like it did back in the 50s but instead of 45s or vinyl you get downloads. And that's where I get off the bus, I haven't downloaded any singles and will not. I still perfer the product in hand. The future generations will dictate what will be classic and if it becomes classic time will tell. The biggest one hit wonder of the decade remains Daniel Powder's crapassed Bad Day which became an American Idol standard for singers that didn't make the cut on AI. Which sums up the bottom line of what i think about the music of this decade.
Not much.
As we conclude another year I've been listening to some albums that are being considered for the best of 2009. We have umpteenth review sites out there that can pretty much tell you what they think is great and some that would rather bash them. It's hard to review most album since there's so much out there and I just don't have enough time to sit down and actually listen to it like I used to when I was younger. Perhaps it's odd to state that the albums that I didn't care much for back in my teens I still listen to on a somewhat regular basis. (KISS Rock N Roll Over, BTO Head On, even Aerosmith Draw The Line come to mind). I remember them better than I do to some of the albums that I gave high praise of this decade. Could it be the loudness wars, to which a CD is TOO LOUD and everything GOES OVER MY HEAD SINCE IT IS SO LOUD?!? Or could it be that in my old age I'd rather watch TV and pass out on the couch rather than put on a CD and listen and pass out during the album.
I come to find that Rolling Stone or SPIN knows zilch about good music judging by reviewing some of their four star albums and being bored to death or it rubbed me the wrong way. I enjoyed the first Wolfmother album but their second just sucked to these ears. Another band that I liked Train, had some listenable albums till they pooped out Save Me San Francisco, an album so bad it reminded me of fucking Daniel Powder. Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear gave us something that sounded like progessive folk music and why or how people found anything of value of these turds I can't hear.
This decade will go down as the worst decade for music ever. Too much sugar coated crap and too many rap acts hiding behind the autotuner. American Idol is also blamed for the crapfest that has been bestowed upon us and gave us Kelly Clarkston and Miss Everything Carrie Underwood. While the Carrie Nation continues to go wow on each and every thing that Underwood puts out, I still get the feeling that she's not as geniune as she would like you to believe. Sure she can sing, but her problem is the problem of all these female singers that want to cram all their octaves into the final chorus (the Celine Dion/Whitney Houston syndrome). Despite what the Carrie Nation would like you to think, Miss Underwood does have her eye on the pop market, probably pissed that Taylor Swift managed to beat her to the pop side, with less albums to boot. And I still think that Taylor Swift would be more likely to talk to me rather than Carrie Underwood.
The talent shows such as Nashville Star or Make Me a Star or American Idol sometimes could give a unknown or runner up a second chance at stardom. Daughtry comes to mind although his Nickelback lite grunge rock isn't for me, and Taylor Hicks's Mike Mcdonald vocals did have a moment or two and even Bo Bice, had he recorded his own band instead of having his album ruined by Jon Bon Jovi might have beaten Daughtry to the charts, but Bice was a bit too southern rock and too 70s for the mass IPOD heads. The only act that made me buy their albums was Miranda Lambert, who was a carbon copy of a female Steve Earle and with the help of a used cd of her first album convinced me that sometimes greatness can come out of a Nashville Star or American Idol. Buddy Jewell where have you gone? So perhaps, Miranda Lambert is one of this decade's artist that I actually care about this year, making a great debut, a classic second album and a credible followup.
While fans and critics trip over themselves over Radiohead being best band of the decade, I still can't find anything off Kid A that warrants that praise. Basically, it's pompous, overplayed and a piece of crap as far as I concerned. Didn't care much for their 1997 OK Computer either. Pink Floyd was better although I will give Radiohead props for In Rainbows with their name your own price and make your own CD cover. Another band that suggests overratedness is The Strokes, whose Is This It had the most ironic title of this decade. Room On Fire was perferrable and Last Impressions Of Earth was total dreck. Band number 3 was Kings Of Leon. Their best album was their EP Holy Roller Novacaine which showcased a promising rock and roll band before somebody got them to listen to Radiohead and their albums lost focus. Then Mr. Folllowhill bitched about the price of fame and how they got too big. Nevertheless we can leave Caleb and company in the cutout bins should he feeled trapped by fame and fortune.
There are some highlights in a lost decade. Melody Gardot's Worrisome Heart, Long-View Mercury, Radio Moscow's debut which gave me some hope for the future before their second album Brain Waves proved that maybe they weren't the great lost Blue Cheer we were hoping for. Jack White made Loretta Lynn a genius with Van Leer Rose as producer although he did good things with White Stripes, The Racontuers and The Dead Weather. But the jury is still out wether or not if those albums are as enduring as Elephant or Van Leer Rose.
For progessive rock, I perfer Steven Wilson's Porcupine Tree over the overhyped and overbearing Mars Volta. Porcupine Tree I think will be remembered in the same way of Floyd or Zepplein if modern radio promotes them. Can't say if Those Crooked Vultures will be a band since it remains a all star collective but Dave Grohl's Foo Fighers or Josh Homme's Queens Of The Stone Age did managed to put out decent albums. But then again after listening to Foo Fighters' Greatest Hits, that seems to suggest that they're a better singles band than albums. And The Queens Of The Stone Age flamed out after their flop Era Viguris (sic) album. And the only time the Queens were interesting was when Grohl guest drummed on Songs For The Deaf a album that was great, ruined by Eric Valentine's shoddy production.
And that's the problem of this decade; that most albums were ruined by shitty recording. The Loudness Factor. that made could have been classics such as Long View Mercury or even The Rolling Stones Bigger Bang sound distorted and like crap. Yes, Bigger Band was pretty good but appently was mixed with Mick and Keith's hearing aid turned off. Metallica's Death Magentic would have been their best since Masters Of Puppets but ruined by a mix far into the red. Too loud CDs, compressed and mixed for the IPOD generation.
If Porcupine Tree or Miranda Lambert continues to make new albums I'll listen to them since they remains artists with something to say but the album format is dying and everything is moving over as singles, just like it did back in the 50s but instead of 45s or vinyl you get downloads. And that's where I get off the bus, I haven't downloaded any singles and will not. I still perfer the product in hand. The future generations will dictate what will be classic and if it becomes classic time will tell. The biggest one hit wonder of the decade remains Daniel Powder's crapassed Bad Day which became an American Idol standard for singers that didn't make the cut on AI. Which sums up the bottom line of what i think about the music of this decade.
Not much.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
History Of Music 2008
1. Radiohead-In Rainbows (ATO) B
2. Bruce Springsteen-Magic (Columbia) C+
3. Raveonettes-Lust Lust Lust (Vice 47:18) B-
4. Ray Davies-Working Man's Cafe (New West 61:56) B+
5. Mike Doughtry-Golden Delicious (ATO) B-
6. Willie Nelson-Moment Of Forever (Lost Highway 53:11) A-
7. The Coral-Roots And Echoes (Deltasonic 42:18) B+
8. Black Crowes-Warpaint (Silver Arrow 53:43) C+
9. Diplomats Of Solid Sound With The Diplomattes B+
10. Raconteurs-Consolers Of The Lonely (WB 55:35) B+
11. REM-Accelerate (WB 34:25)A-
12. Pat Monahan-Last Of Seven (Columbia 48:20) C+
13. James McMurtry-Just Us Kids (Lightning Rod 60:17) A-
14. Lady Antebellum (Capitol 42:48) B-
15. Asia-Phoenix (EMI 64:55) C+
16. BoDeans-Still (Orafin 46:35) B+
17. Bo Ramsey-Fragile (BR Records 41:52)A-
18. Portishead-3 (Mercury 50:47) A-
19. Whitesnake-Good To Be Bad (SPV 59:26) B+
20. Steve Winwood-Nine Lives (Columbia 57:16) A-
21. Rush-Snakes And Arrows Live (Atlantic 79:05-74:47) B+
22. Kooks-Konk (Virgin 43:55) C+
23. Dierks Bentley-Greatest Hits (Capitol 71:30) B+
24. Foxboro Hot Tubs-Stop Drop & Roll (32:42) B+
25. King's X-XV (Inside Out 54:08) A-
26. 7th And Beale-Crossroads & Highways (41:27) B
27. Fratellis-Here We Stand (Cherrytree 47:57) A-
28. Dead Rock West-Honey And Salt (42:12) B+
29. Ringo Starr-Liverpool 8 (Capitol 45:25) C+
30. Townedgers-Pawnshops For Olivia (Radio Maierburg 47:30) A+
31. Alejandro Escovedo-Real Animal (EMI Manhattan 49:09) A-
32. Teddy Thompson-A Piece Of What You Need (Verve 35:50)A-
33. Supergrass-Diamond Hoo Ha (EMI 41:11) B
34. Mudcrutch (Reprise 56:55) A-
35. Joe Cocker-Hymm For My Soul (Fantasy 41:49) B+
36. Switches-Lay Down The Law (Interscope 37:50) B+
37. POD-Where Angels And Serpents Dance (INO 51:30) B
38. Hold Steady-Stay Positive (Vagrant 55:15) B
39. Coldplay-Viva La Vida (Capitol 45:49) B+
40. Los Lonely Boys-Forgiven (Epic 41:35) B+
41. The Roots-Rising Down (Def Jam 47:24) A-
42. Coolest Songs In The World Volume 6 (Wicked Cool 40:35) B+
43. Candlebox-Into The Sun (Silent Majority 49:03) C+
44. Cropper & Cavaralie Nudge It Up A Notch (Stax 48:10) C+
45. Black Stone Cherry-Folklore & Superstition (Roadrunner 53:01)A-
46. Randy Newman-Harps And Angels (Nonesuch 34:55) B+
47. Charaltans UK-You Cross My Path (Cooking Vinyl 36:43) C+
48. Motorhead-Motorizer (SPV 38:43) B+
49. Mettalica-Death Magnetic (WB 74:40) A-
50. BB King-One Kind Favor (Geffen 57:05) B+
51. Blues Traveler-North Hollywood Shootout (Verve 42:10) B
52. John Hiatt-Same Old Man (New West 45:30) B+
53. Wreckless Eric/Amy Rigby (Stiff 40:27) B
54. Matthew Sweet-Sunshine Lies (Shout Factory 50:45) B+
55. Jordan Zevon-Insides Out (New West 40:39) A-
56. Oasis-Dig Out Your Soul (Reprise 45:54) B+
57. AC/DC Black Ice (Columbia 55:39) B+
58. Kings Of Leon-Only By The Night (RCA 42:39) B+
59. Waylon Jennings-Waylon Forever (Vagrant 35:41) C+
60. Ryan Adams-Cardinalogy (Lost Highway 40:39) B+
61. Snow Patrol-A Hundred Million Suns (Geffen 58:16) A-
62. Jack's Mannequin-Glass Passenger (Sire 56:36) C+
63. Coolest Songs In The World Volume 7 (Wicked Cool 48:55) B
64. Secret Machines (World's Fair 48:00) B+
65. The Sound Of The Smiths (Rhino/Sire 77:16) A
66. Melody Gardot-Worrisome Heart (Verve 33:11) A-
67. Belle & Sebastian-BBC Sessions (Matador 57:00) A-
68. We Wish You A Heavy Metal Christmas (Armory 51:14) B
69. Fall Out Boy-Folie A Duex (Island 50:34) B
70. Saliva-Cinco Diablo (Island 38:00) B
71. Jet Black Stare-In This Life (Island 40:17) B-
72. Mother Truckers-Lets All Go To Bed (Funzino 42:10)B-
2. Bruce Springsteen-Magic (Columbia) C+
3. Raveonettes-Lust Lust Lust (Vice 47:18) B-
4. Ray Davies-Working Man's Cafe (New West 61:56) B+
5. Mike Doughtry-Golden Delicious (ATO) B-
6. Willie Nelson-Moment Of Forever (Lost Highway 53:11) A-
7. The Coral-Roots And Echoes (Deltasonic 42:18) B+
8. Black Crowes-Warpaint (Silver Arrow 53:43) C+
9. Diplomats Of Solid Sound With The Diplomattes B+
10. Raconteurs-Consolers Of The Lonely (WB 55:35) B+
11. REM-Accelerate (WB 34:25)A-
12. Pat Monahan-Last Of Seven (Columbia 48:20) C+
13. James McMurtry-Just Us Kids (Lightning Rod 60:17) A-
14. Lady Antebellum (Capitol 42:48) B-
15. Asia-Phoenix (EMI 64:55) C+
16. BoDeans-Still (Orafin 46:35) B+
17. Bo Ramsey-Fragile (BR Records 41:52)A-
18. Portishead-3 (Mercury 50:47) A-
19. Whitesnake-Good To Be Bad (SPV 59:26) B+
20. Steve Winwood-Nine Lives (Columbia 57:16) A-
21. Rush-Snakes And Arrows Live (Atlantic 79:05-74:47) B+
22. Kooks-Konk (Virgin 43:55) C+
23. Dierks Bentley-Greatest Hits (Capitol 71:30) B+
24. Foxboro Hot Tubs-Stop Drop & Roll (32:42) B+
25. King's X-XV (Inside Out 54:08) A-
26. 7th And Beale-Crossroads & Highways (41:27) B
27. Fratellis-Here We Stand (Cherrytree 47:57) A-
28. Dead Rock West-Honey And Salt (42:12) B+
29. Ringo Starr-Liverpool 8 (Capitol 45:25) C+
30. Townedgers-Pawnshops For Olivia (Radio Maierburg 47:30) A+
31. Alejandro Escovedo-Real Animal (EMI Manhattan 49:09) A-
32. Teddy Thompson-A Piece Of What You Need (Verve 35:50)A-
33. Supergrass-Diamond Hoo Ha (EMI 41:11) B
34. Mudcrutch (Reprise 56:55) A-
35. Joe Cocker-Hymm For My Soul (Fantasy 41:49) B+
36. Switches-Lay Down The Law (Interscope 37:50) B+
37. POD-Where Angels And Serpents Dance (INO 51:30) B
38. Hold Steady-Stay Positive (Vagrant 55:15) B
39. Coldplay-Viva La Vida (Capitol 45:49) B+
40. Los Lonely Boys-Forgiven (Epic 41:35) B+
41. The Roots-Rising Down (Def Jam 47:24) A-
42. Coolest Songs In The World Volume 6 (Wicked Cool 40:35) B+
43. Candlebox-Into The Sun (Silent Majority 49:03) C+
44. Cropper & Cavaralie Nudge It Up A Notch (Stax 48:10) C+
45. Black Stone Cherry-Folklore & Superstition (Roadrunner 53:01)A-
46. Randy Newman-Harps And Angels (Nonesuch 34:55) B+
47. Charaltans UK-You Cross My Path (Cooking Vinyl 36:43) C+
48. Motorhead-Motorizer (SPV 38:43) B+
49. Mettalica-Death Magnetic (WB 74:40) A-
50. BB King-One Kind Favor (Geffen 57:05) B+
51. Blues Traveler-North Hollywood Shootout (Verve 42:10) B
52. John Hiatt-Same Old Man (New West 45:30) B+
53. Wreckless Eric/Amy Rigby (Stiff 40:27) B
54. Matthew Sweet-Sunshine Lies (Shout Factory 50:45) B+
55. Jordan Zevon-Insides Out (New West 40:39) A-
56. Oasis-Dig Out Your Soul (Reprise 45:54) B+
57. AC/DC Black Ice (Columbia 55:39) B+
58. Kings Of Leon-Only By The Night (RCA 42:39) B+
59. Waylon Jennings-Waylon Forever (Vagrant 35:41) C+
60. Ryan Adams-Cardinalogy (Lost Highway 40:39) B+
61. Snow Patrol-A Hundred Million Suns (Geffen 58:16) A-
62. Jack's Mannequin-Glass Passenger (Sire 56:36) C+
63. Coolest Songs In The World Volume 7 (Wicked Cool 48:55) B
64. Secret Machines (World's Fair 48:00) B+
65. The Sound Of The Smiths (Rhino/Sire 77:16) A
66. Melody Gardot-Worrisome Heart (Verve 33:11) A-
67. Belle & Sebastian-BBC Sessions (Matador 57:00) A-
68. We Wish You A Heavy Metal Christmas (Armory 51:14) B
69. Fall Out Boy-Folie A Duex (Island 50:34) B
70. Saliva-Cinco Diablo (Island 38:00) B
71. Jet Black Stare-In This Life (Island 40:17) B-
72. Mother Truckers-Lets All Go To Bed (Funzino 42:10)B-
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Top Ten Of The Week-Once In A Blue Moon
Do you know that this month we have two full moon cycles? One today and
the next full moon cycle comes at New Year's Eve. Let's hope we have a
nice clear evening to see that.
Looks like the folks at J & K Trucking and myself have settled upon a agreed upon payment to get my Corsica Fixed. Basically it's a 50 50 type of settlement and it's better than nothing. So hopefully, the car will be fixed just in time for my girlfriend to arrive.
I don't care about Tiger Woods
Chuck Grassley is an old senile fuck that's out of tune with the people here and the lobbyist from insurance and drug companies in his back pocket.
Lee Ann Womack, the one who gave us I Hope You Dance tweeted me the other nite saying she liked my comment about Bruce Springsteen sounding like he need to take a dump during the RNRHOF concert on HBO sunday night. "hit it on the head" she repiled. Gotta love Lee Ann for chatting with us plain folk. Thanks for writing Lee Ann, we hope you dance too.
And now this week's top ten playlist. Only four more left to go kiddies.
1. Keep Pushing-REO Speedwagon 1977 I had the CD and traded it in since I had the album but playing the album sunday night I noticed quite a few pops and clicks on the record and wondering WTF? If I known the album sounded this bad, I would have kept the damn CD. Anyway, Kevin Cronin returns on this album and this becomes the first step in world domination from the Speedwagon. REO was a pretty good midwestern rock band till they went MOR ballads in 1980. Sellouts indeed.
2. It's Gonna Be-Norah Jones 2009 Not surprisingly, her new album didn't top the charts, she went with a more guitar driven and more moody sound than Not Too Late but I think I do like her new album The Fall a lot. I kinda wished this record would do better but there's not much that resembles her big hit Don't Know Why, a song that I can really do without due to KDAT overkill. The Fall just might make my top ten best albums of 2009.
3. Cry Me A River-Joe Cocker 1970 From Mad Dogs & Englishman that mammoth live album and mammoth band that Leon Russell put together. Finally got around hearing Mad Dogs this week and despite the slow and plodding Blue Medley, it's not a bad album. Compared to Joe's Woodstock concert, this was ALL OUT, with Woodstock, the Grease Band was more stripped down and needed those female vocals. Does it amaze you that Joe Cocker is still around 40 years later too? It does to me.
4. Picture Book-The Kinks 1968 KKRQ played a very rare Kinks track today. Plastic Man! Never heard it before on the radio mind you and it's rare to the point that I don't even have that on any of my cds. KUNI played Picture Book, a new version from an album that Pairs Ray Davies up with a chorial. Strange to hear a choir singing background on this song and I doubt if I'll buy that album but it did remind me to refer to the original version that can be found (and perferred) on The Kinks Are The Preservation Society CD. Even still have it on vinyl, God I'm a music pack rat.
5. Ever Since The World Begin-Gary Myrick & The Figures 1980 With Wounded Bird reissing Gary Myrick's albums I have to pull out my vinyl copy to rediscover Mr. Myrick and found that his first album remains his best. I know I played this album quite a bit during 1980 enuff to put most of those songs on a cassette on the old Crusing By The Moonlight show that I did. Basically it was me and a cassette player crusing up and down old highway 151 in Cedar Rapids way back when. Don't do that too often and the cassette player has been replaced by a Discman that still plays great after 9 years of everyday use. It actually outlasted two CD players hooked up to my stereo. Oh, to be young again and making the same mistakes that I used to do.
6. The River-Octopus 1970 Another odd cd that was found at HP Books, this was a forgotten British band that made one album for Larry Page's Penny Farthling UK label although I don't think it was ever released in America and best known for a comic book drawing that the band didn't care much for. Rev Ola reissued the CD with bonus tracks including a note for note live version of I Am The Walrus. Two members of this band went on to join Split Enz just in time for their biggest hit I Got You (Malcom Green and Nigel Griggs).
7. Black Day In July-Gordon Lightfoot 1968 Lightfoot made four albums for United Artists and this was a minor hit for him. Basically a retelling of the Detroit Riots of 1967.
8. Christmas For Cowboys-The Townedgers 2005 It's christmas time and I'm sure I'll add a song or two from the holiday season but I'll go with a local band that did a cover of the John Denver version that is more famous. K Memory played the John Denver version today marking the first time that I heard a christmas song anywhere without changing the channel but I'm sure you'll hear Jingle Bell Rock and Rockin Around The Christmas Tree about 150 times before Christmas. But not the TEs, they're exclusive here.
9. Napoleon Bona-Part One And Two-Budgie 1975 Forgotten three piece power rock band that made a bunch of albums for MCA and A&M but they also had a deadpan sense of humor too. One of a few albums that I found on the illfated Ames/Des Moines trip. Thank God the Ankeny Goodwill had some decent music albums.
10. Burn Down The Mission-Elton John 1971 For all purposes I still can't get into Tumbleweek Connection but this remains my favorite song off that album and it was also on Your Songs, that 1986 MCA compliation that was tailor made for the CD age but since I have upgrades of his classic albums, I didn't see the need for Your Songs and donated mine to the Salvation Army in a attempt to give back in what I found for bargains up there. If you are thinking that there seems to be a lot of Elton John songs in the top ten of the week the past month, you're right, I've been listening to lots of EJ. And that's of a forthcoming blog about his past music works and I am trying to at least listen and grade accoudingly. He may be a diva, but EJ did provide us some of the greatest music of the 70s, most of it overplayed to death but the lesser knowns still have a redeeming quality and charm. Let's hope that they don't get ran into the ground like Rocket Man or Bennie And The Jets or Crock Rock.
Looks like the folks at J & K Trucking and myself have settled upon a agreed upon payment to get my Corsica Fixed. Basically it's a 50 50 type of settlement and it's better than nothing. So hopefully, the car will be fixed just in time for my girlfriend to arrive.
I don't care about Tiger Woods
Chuck Grassley is an old senile fuck that's out of tune with the people here and the lobbyist from insurance and drug companies in his back pocket.
Lee Ann Womack, the one who gave us I Hope You Dance tweeted me the other nite saying she liked my comment about Bruce Springsteen sounding like he need to take a dump during the RNRHOF concert on HBO sunday night. "hit it on the head" she repiled. Gotta love Lee Ann for chatting with us plain folk. Thanks for writing Lee Ann, we hope you dance too.
And now this week's top ten playlist. Only four more left to go kiddies.
1. Keep Pushing-REO Speedwagon 1977 I had the CD and traded it in since I had the album but playing the album sunday night I noticed quite a few pops and clicks on the record and wondering WTF? If I known the album sounded this bad, I would have kept the damn CD. Anyway, Kevin Cronin returns on this album and this becomes the first step in world domination from the Speedwagon. REO was a pretty good midwestern rock band till they went MOR ballads in 1980. Sellouts indeed.
2. It's Gonna Be-Norah Jones 2009 Not surprisingly, her new album didn't top the charts, she went with a more guitar driven and more moody sound than Not Too Late but I think I do like her new album The Fall a lot. I kinda wished this record would do better but there's not much that resembles her big hit Don't Know Why, a song that I can really do without due to KDAT overkill. The Fall just might make my top ten best albums of 2009.
3. Cry Me A River-Joe Cocker 1970 From Mad Dogs & Englishman that mammoth live album and mammoth band that Leon Russell put together. Finally got around hearing Mad Dogs this week and despite the slow and plodding Blue Medley, it's not a bad album. Compared to Joe's Woodstock concert, this was ALL OUT, with Woodstock, the Grease Band was more stripped down and needed those female vocals. Does it amaze you that Joe Cocker is still around 40 years later too? It does to me.
4. Picture Book-The Kinks 1968 KKRQ played a very rare Kinks track today. Plastic Man! Never heard it before on the radio mind you and it's rare to the point that I don't even have that on any of my cds. KUNI played Picture Book, a new version from an album that Pairs Ray Davies up with a chorial. Strange to hear a choir singing background on this song and I doubt if I'll buy that album but it did remind me to refer to the original version that can be found (and perferred) on The Kinks Are The Preservation Society CD. Even still have it on vinyl, God I'm a music pack rat.
5. Ever Since The World Begin-Gary Myrick & The Figures 1980 With Wounded Bird reissing Gary Myrick's albums I have to pull out my vinyl copy to rediscover Mr. Myrick and found that his first album remains his best. I know I played this album quite a bit during 1980 enuff to put most of those songs on a cassette on the old Crusing By The Moonlight show that I did. Basically it was me and a cassette player crusing up and down old highway 151 in Cedar Rapids way back when. Don't do that too often and the cassette player has been replaced by a Discman that still plays great after 9 years of everyday use. It actually outlasted two CD players hooked up to my stereo. Oh, to be young again and making the same mistakes that I used to do.
6. The River-Octopus 1970 Another odd cd that was found at HP Books, this was a forgotten British band that made one album for Larry Page's Penny Farthling UK label although I don't think it was ever released in America and best known for a comic book drawing that the band didn't care much for. Rev Ola reissued the CD with bonus tracks including a note for note live version of I Am The Walrus. Two members of this band went on to join Split Enz just in time for their biggest hit I Got You (Malcom Green and Nigel Griggs).
7. Black Day In July-Gordon Lightfoot 1968 Lightfoot made four albums for United Artists and this was a minor hit for him. Basically a retelling of the Detroit Riots of 1967.
8. Christmas For Cowboys-The Townedgers 2005 It's christmas time and I'm sure I'll add a song or two from the holiday season but I'll go with a local band that did a cover of the John Denver version that is more famous. K Memory played the John Denver version today marking the first time that I heard a christmas song anywhere without changing the channel but I'm sure you'll hear Jingle Bell Rock and Rockin Around The Christmas Tree about 150 times before Christmas. But not the TEs, they're exclusive here.
9. Napoleon Bona-Part One And Two-Budgie 1975 Forgotten three piece power rock band that made a bunch of albums for MCA and A&M but they also had a deadpan sense of humor too. One of a few albums that I found on the illfated Ames/Des Moines trip. Thank God the Ankeny Goodwill had some decent music albums.
10. Burn Down The Mission-Elton John 1971 For all purposes I still can't get into Tumbleweek Connection but this remains my favorite song off that album and it was also on Your Songs, that 1986 MCA compliation that was tailor made for the CD age but since I have upgrades of his classic albums, I didn't see the need for Your Songs and donated mine to the Salvation Army in a attempt to give back in what I found for bargains up there. If you are thinking that there seems to be a lot of Elton John songs in the top ten of the week the past month, you're right, I've been listening to lots of EJ. And that's of a forthcoming blog about his past music works and I am trying to at least listen and grade accoudingly. He may be a diva, but EJ did provide us some of the greatest music of the 70s, most of it overplayed to death but the lesser knowns still have a redeeming quality and charm. Let's hope that they don't get ran into the ground like Rocket Man or Bennie And The Jets or Crock Rock.
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