Upon a cloudy and foggy afternoon I made my way to Iowa City to see what I can find for music. And amazingly I found some of note.
1) Jesus Was A Cross Maker-Judee Sill (Asylum 45-11000) 1972
The first act to be signed to David Geffen's label, was Sill, who made this forgotten folk rock gem that critics tend to rave about. Perhaps one of the most bad luck artists, Judee ended up overdosing on drugs in 1979 and hanging with the wrong crowd. B side Lady O was covered by the Turtles as a minor hit in 1969. I basically bought this an curio. Both songs produced by Graham Nash.
2) Follow Me-The Drifters (Atlantic 45-2292) #91 1965
There's a 2 CD best of The Drifters that covered the songs up to At The Club, Follow Me didn't make the cut since this was the beginning of the end of the beloved Drifters, not that they were not making quality sides but this song seems to be tailored made for Dionne Warwick. But it's not exactly a memorable hit, it sputtered to 91 on the Billboard charts and probably higher up on the R and B track. B side The Outside World was originally recorded at Gold Star for Dobie Gray but it was never released and so the Drifters added vocals. Probably would have been a better A side. The Drifters continued to record singles for Atlantic up to 1971. Here's hoping in the future I might find those forgotten records.
3) You Got Style-Jon And Robin (Abnak AB-130) 1968
Another forty five from Jon And Robin to which Jeff Berry and Andy Kim wrote this failed single. One of the mysteries of life is why this didn't chart. Highly infectious, somewhat like Neil Diamond was making for Bang Records, to which Jeff Berry may had something to do with that. B side Thursday Morning is a more darker number, which kinda recalls Norweign Wood but twice as depressing. I should get that Sundazed best of from Jon N Robin.
4) Ask Me What You Want-Millie Jackson (Spring SPR-123) #27 1972
The original bad girl, who stirred the pot of R rated soul, starts out with a nice innocent soul toe tapper, I love the chorus line Ask Me what you want, and I'll try my best to get it get it get it get it. Another artist that is in need a decent overview. B side I Just Can't Stand It, is a passable soul ballad.
5) The Shape I'm In-The Band (Capitol 2870) #77 1970 (B side Time To Kill)
Time To Kill charted at number 77 however The Shape I'm In got more air play and made the regional charts. The Shape I'm In is actually better and played more on classic rock radio.
6) Beer Barrel Polka-Glahe Musette Orchestra (RCA Victor 45-1009) 1951
Hot Pretzels-Bernie Wyte Musette Orchestra
Two different bands, but basically it's polka music. But very popular enough for RCA to issue it on the Gold Standard Series. This record is the actual purple pressing from 1951 on 45 and spent a good six months in agony at the Salvation Army waiting for some hoarder to pick it up. Still plays VG despite not having a record sleeve and fared better than a Glenn Miller In The Mood 45 that got cracked.
7) Cotton Eyed Joe-Al Dean (Paid PAD-135) 1981
Originally on Kik-R-202 and issued in 1971. Collectors had debated about this record, which was part of Stop Records but issued on the Kik R label instead. It's hillbilly bluegrass and a lot of fun to listen to. Like the old days of Starday Records and their type of hillbilly bluegrass country.
8) Blue Moon-Elvis Presley (RCA-447-6013) 1956
Reissue of 47-6640 single, to which I already have, but it seems the later day pressing has a bit more clarity than the original 45. But hoarders love to collect Elvis singles and the more off the wall the better. I have come to enjoy hearing this version of Blue Moon, very seeped in the blues. B side is Just Because. This is the mid 60's reissue with the dog on the side label.
9) Hello Mary Lou-Bobby Lewis (United Artists UA-50668) 1970
Lewis recorded for United Artists from 1965-1972. I had him confused with the Tossing And Turning Bobby Lewis, but I do recall hearing this on KHAK years ago, back when KHAK was playing actual country and not that pop crap garbage auto tuned bullshit that is considered country. B side Love Wonderful Love is a honky tonk weeper.
10) Shake Em On Down-Savoy Brown (Parrot 45-40034) 1968
In the glorious history of Savoy Brown, this is their first single released and from their first album called Shake Down which is hard to find on CD (or LP for that matter). Features Brice Portius on vocals, this is basically the Savoy Brown that was into blues covers and not necessarily the boogie, tho' this song is the most close to the boogie that would figure once a change in players became in order. The only 45 that I picked up at Analog Vault before the 2019 year ended out.
Goodwill finds at DBQ.
Toward the end of last year, I made one trip to Dubuque and came across some late 60's early 70s forty fives that were in so so shape. But played fairly well.
11) Master Jack-Four Jacks And A Jill (RCA 47-9473) #18 1968
From South Africa I believe, a very odd song about coming of age and finding Master Jack was a very strange man, to which the final line instead of saying But I Thank You to, You're a Very Strange Man....Aren't You? To which this song gets crabby points for that. Followup was Mister Nico which appeared in the bottom 90 of the top 100 for two weeks.
12) They Don't Know-Tracey Ullman (MCA/Stiff 52347) #8 1984
A cover of Christy McColl's single, also issued via Stiff, to which at that time, was dying on the vine at MCA Records. While Tracey is more a comedy performer, she does put a 60s' girls' charm to this single, to which gets played on the radio from time to time.
13) It's Up To You Petula-Edison Lighthouse (Bell 960) #72 1971
Their 3rd single, to which they changed producers, from Tony Macaulay to themselves. Martin Rushant (Fleetwood Mac, Ian Gomm) recorded this minor pop hit. I remember KCRG playing this song in the sunny days of 1971. I'm surprised this didn't chart higher.
14) Jennifer Tompkins-Street People (Musicor 45-1365) #36 1970
From the mind of Rupert Holmes, who would give you the Pinata Colata Song later in 1979. But at this point he was writing bubblegum numbers and of course, Timothy, which The Buoys covered. Paul Vance produced.
15) Always Something To Remind Me-RB Greaves (Atco 6726) 1969 Charted 1/24/70 #27
Followup to Take A Letter Maria. If you listen close to the horns, they actually mirror Dionne Warwick's Do You Know The Way To San Jose.
16) California Kid And Remo-Lobo (Big Tree BT-119) #72 1971
A disappointing showing on the Billboard chart and I don't think the folks at KCRG payed much attention to this, but this light pop rock number is what Lobo does best. Humm-able chorus and a story line somewhat like Me And You And A Dog Named Boo. Lobo did paved the way for the likes of Gene Cotton, The Bellamy Brothers and anybody that was on Big Tree (with the exception of Brownsville Station).
17) Don't Monkey With Another Monkey's Monkey-Johnny Paycheck (Little Darlin LD-0035) 1967
Celebrated for his Epic singles, I think Johnny had better country songs via the Little Darlin label. This is hard core honky tonk but without Billy Sherrill's polished production. Overall I like Aubrey Mayhew's production over Sherrill's. tho once Johnny went to Epic, Billy was his producer. But then we tend to forget Johnny would record for A.M.I and Mercury in the 80s but was hardly noticed.
18) Don't Leave Me This Way-Communards (MCA-London 52928) #40 1986
19) The Lion Sleeps Tonight-Robert John (Atlantic 2846) #3 1972
Two remakes. One, a decent cover of Thelma Houston's 1977 disco topping hit and the other a modern pop version of The Tokens. Robert John had a history of covering old songs from the 50s and 60s for various labels (Columbia and A&M), followup Hushabye said howdy number 99 on the top 100 and faded after that. John would score a big hit with Sad Eyes for EMI in 1980. Jimmy Somerville would leave the Communards for a solo career and the band renamed themselves Bronski Beat.
20) Primitive Man-Ivan Neville (Polydor 889 022-7) 1989
Somebody was listening to the Rolling Stones it seems. Followup to Not Just Another Girl, this didn't place on the charts but it's a quite rocking little number. To which Neville would be part of Keith Richard's Expensive Winos band. Ivan made another album but have basically disappeared since then.
21) Sunday Sun Neil Diamond (Uni 55084) #68 1969
The A side is Neil learning a few things from Jeff Berry and Ellie Greenwich. That could be Ellie singing along in the background. Don Costa provides the arrangement, tho his orchestra is way back in the mix. B side Honey Drippin Times, is one of those weird sides that Neil was famous for (Pot Smoker's Song, Your So Sweet Horseflies Hang Around Your Neck), it also shows hints of his MOR sound later on. Sunday Sun, however might be the great lost Bang single that was issued elsewhere.
Thursday, February 6, 2020
Sunday, February 2, 2020
62 Winters Later-Buddy, JP, Richie Remembered
There's a old picture of a plane crash that was taken on a barren and snowblown field in Iowa. You may have seen it on the web but it is perhaps the most unsettling reminder of the day that the music died. In reality the music didn't die in 59 on a cold windy day in Iowa, after Buddy Holly, tired of cold buses with no heaters decided to rent a airplane to catch up on some laundry and get ready for another show in the barren of winter. Sad to say that night at the Surf Ballroom turned out to be the final showing of what could have been something that could have changed the face of rock n roll. Buddy along with Richie Valens were on their way to bigger and better things and JP Richardson had a hit with Chantilly Lace, but also The Big Bopper was also a very good songwriter and producer. Sadly that night, an Alberta Clipper was coming from Canada and bringing the chill of a quick snowfall and heavy winds and big drop in temps and with a pilot too eager to please and not enough experience, it all led to the final finale.
It's a sad feeling beyond knowing when you see the up and coming rock stars laying face down in a cornfield, hoping they didn't suffer upon impact. Being thrown out of the plane, I'm sure that may have been the cause but Roger Peterson the unlucky pilot fared worse, to the point that he was tangled inside the plane. In front of the plane laid Richie, while Buddy was to the side and wearing a lighter coat. The Big Bopper, got thrown across the fence. All the promises of a new and exciting rock and roll laid in the wasteland of some cornfield northwest of Mason City. And so the story begins.
Driving home tonight from work, I felt the weather that Buddy and JP and Richie may have gone through. We had a Clipper go through, had a bit of a snowstorm, and felt the winds blow stronger and the skies cleared off to reveal a chilly half moon. Not unlike when they boarded the plane and headed into the teeth of a Alberta Clipper, if only they would have waited.......
In my band's I always wanted to be more like Buddy than Elvis, but also growing up with the sounds of The Who, I wanted to make something that sounded like Buddy leading The Who and probaly failed at that attempt. I wondered tonight as I try to type this out, what made Buddy decide to take a winter tour through the midwest, into the dead of winter when before global warming, the winters were just as a bitch as they are today. It was the dark ages back then, no internet, no cds and no My Space to showcase the happenings. Would have been wonderful had it was possible. I suppose the great debate remains if Richie Valens would have been the new king of rock and roll, or Buddy would have continued his path with his general ideas from the Apartment tapes. Perhaps Richie Valens would have defined rock and roll more so but with Buddy and Richie passing away, rock and roll didn't die but it certainly was in critical condition. Elvis Presley would go into the Army and never would return to the wild rockabilly rock he did in the mid 50s, Jerry Lee Lewis would marry his 13 year old cousin and piss off the world and Little Richard gave up rock and roll at that time to be a preacher against the devil music. And the only ones who carried on the rock and roll spirit were Frankie Avalon, or Fabian or the gastly Paul Anka and their sanatized bubblegum rock.
It has been said that Elvis was the king of rock and roll and Buddy Holly may not have not known it at the time, but the British kids across the pond took his music to heart and they started coming up with what would be known as the British Invasion four years later with The Beatles leading the way and The Hollies with their close knit harmonies to which you can hear in Buddy's songs. But Buddy himself did follow the lead of Elvis Presley by covering his songs out in his garage in Lubbock with Jerry Allison. But although Elvis did choose great cover versions, Buddy stood out by writing his own material which might led him to be into rock royality and so did Richie Valens. One of these two had they live may well replace Elvis to the throne but in the course of history, Elvis did return from the Army and still have the ladies and a fired up performaces but most of his music after was not the same as it was in the wild 50s.
50 years later, there was a sold out crowd at the Surf Ballroom to celebrate the fifty years since Buddy's last performance and even some of the guys that were there did show up to be there. Tommy Allsup, Dion, Bobby Vee, they returned and so does the fans of the music, braving the 5 degree weather just like it was back then. Funny place about Iowa, it's paradise in the fall but hell in the wintertime with the frozen fire that is snow and the biting winds from the northwest that could turn your skin to frostbit blue in minites. I hope someday that I could make a pilgrimmage to Mason City and retrace the steps from the Surf to the cornfield that became the next to last resting place for three up and coming musicians whose lives were cut short before their time. Best I can do right now is to celebrate their memory by playing their music and remembering how good they were and still are today.
Because, if you think about it the music never did die. It lives forever. R.S.
"The fans, they come over there from all over the world, even though it's very cold out there. You really have to love somebody to do that. The Surf has always been more for the music, celebrating his music, not his death." Maria Elena Holly
Appendix: Notes on the plane crash and aftermath.
"The wreckage lay about 1/2 mile west from the farm home's of the Albert Juhl's and the Delbert Juhl's. The main part of the plane lay against the barbed wire fence at the north end of the stubble fields in which it came to earth. It had skidded and/or rolled approximately 570 feet from point of impact directed northwesterly. The shape of the mass of wreckage approximated a ball with one wing sticking up diagonally from one side.
The body of Roger Peterson was enclosed by wreckage with only the legs visible sticking upwards. Richard Valenzuela's body was south, lying prone, head directed south 17 feet from the wreckage. Charles Holley's body, also in the prone position, was lying southwest, head directed southwest, 17 feet from the wreckage. J.P. Richardson's body, lying partly prone and partly on the right side, was northwest of the wreckage, head directed south 40 feet from the wreckage, across the fence in a cornfield. Fine snow fell lightly after the crash had drifted slightly about the bodies and wreckage. Some parts of each body had been frozen by ten hours' exposure in temperature reported to have been near 18 degrees during that time.
Among the wreckage was a large brown leather suitcase with one catch open, lay near one leg of Charles Holley, and about 8 feet north of the same body lay a travel case with brown leather ends, and sides of a light plaid color. A Deputy Sheriff inspecting the ground near the wreckage discovered a billfold containing the name of Tommy Douglas Allsup and a leather pocket case marked with the name "Ritchie Valens."
On Friday Feb 6, 1959, Roger Peterson was buried in the
Buena Vista Memorial Cemetery, in his hometown of Alta.
Richardson's wake was held in the Broussard's Funeral Home, in Beaumont, and he was buried in Beaumont, Texas. Private Soldier Elvis Presley and Colonel Tom Parker sent yellow roses to his funeral.
On Saturday the 7th, Ritchie Valens' body was taken from the Noble Chapel Funeral Home in the San Fernando Valley, to San Fernando Mission Cemetery. His body was driven in a copper colored hearse.
Buddy was also buried on the 7th. Services were held in
Lubbock, Texas, at the Tabernacle Baptist Church. Over a
thousand mourners attended the service, but his widow did not. She later lost the baby.
In 1988, Buddy fan Ken Paquette built a monument to the
singers, from stainless steel, and placed it at the crash site. The current owners of the land also planted 4 trees in memory of the victims, but they all died
Afterthought:
Some of the pictures posted were copied from various sites from the net and disappeared. Plus the photo of Richie laying out in the cold field is still disheartening for me to see, so I took that down. It's better to remember Richie's playing prior than the aftermath. Out of the three Richie Valens had the brightest future and his life after of him. Even in his young life, he was the pioneer of Latino Rock, and influenced many including Los Lobos.
Buddy Holly would have gone more toward a country rockabilly or even folk sound or maybe in production. With the forthcoming reunion of The Crickets he could have polished up the sound judging by the replacement Earl Sinks or Sonny Curtis. I don't think Buddy would have gone the pop route when the Crickets signed with Liberty, but in some ways Buddy did help what we call Garage rock.
JP Richardson or the Big Bopper listening to his songs I believe he would have gone down the same novelty country rock road like Homer And Jethro and Ray Stevens. His best of showed he could do rockabilly great and country music good too.
With the plane crash, rock music took a a few steps back and ushered in the finger pop gang such as Frankie Avalon or Fabian.
Frankie Sardo never made much of an impact, releasing s few singles on ABC Paramount.
Dion, who was part of the acts, didn't go on the ill fated airplane since he couldn't afford the fee to join the others and that did save his life. Dion mentioned it was him that tossed the coin up to see who went, he won but since Richie was feeling sick opted to give Richie the ill fated seat. Dion would go on to a long music career, go into the gospel side of things and return back to rock and later on adapted a more blues style. Reference:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimclash/2019/02/14/rock-icon-dion-recalls-1959-plane-crash-that-killed-buddy-holly-ritchie-valens-and-the-big-bopper/#5b654f952f33
(Photo: Mary Gerber)
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
The So Called Rock Hall Of Fame 2020 inductees
Remember last year when the class of 2019 had some notable folks?
That was last year. This year the Jann Wanner Favorite Bands Hall Of Fame announced their picks and the popular vote didn't count at all. Dave Matthews and Pat Benetar who finished one two are on the outside looking in. And for the first time ever, the non musicians were the most rocking that got in. Jon Landau who produced MC5 Back In The USA and (of course) Bruce Springsteen's albums and Irving Azloff, who for a time tried his hand as President of MCA Records and Giant Records and is superstar manager to The Eagles, Steely Dan and kept Dan Fogelburg's memory alive is the other.
The fan vote didn't count since Wanner overlooked Dave Matthew Bands or just avoided them. Per usual, Wanner got slammed. Richie Faulkner of Judas Priest called the HOF "a joke", and he's right. But it is a cold day in Hades when we see the likes of Whitney Houston and Notorious BIG get in before Jethro Tull, Mott The Hoople and Pat Benetar, who finished second in the voting. But we have been resigned to the fact that this is no longer rock and roll that gets in but rather dollar signs and bullshit rap. Per usual. we try to make sense out of this all and put together the ratings of importance to each inductee. But to be honest, this is the most wimpy of all inductees and the most meaningless.
The inductees:
Jon Landau-We have to have a Bruce Springsteen supporter in there (Gary US Bonds, who had two albums produced by the boss is still on the outside looking in) but Landau was a damn good critic and he did produced The MC5, Back In The USA album (tho the tinny sound sucked). He also managed Bruce Springsteen too. The more you read into these things the more you wonder if this was a pat on the back for himself and Jann too. Must be nice to have friends in high places. Produced Jackson Browne's The Pretender album in 1976.
Irving Azoff-The most powerful man in the industry, he is part of the Azoff/MSG Entertainment. Started out managing REO Speedwagon and Dan Fogelburg, then became part of the Eagles management team. Later was MCA Records President from 1983 to 1989, then started up Giant Records via Warner Brothers. Also formed Full Moon Records.
The Doobie Brothers-To me, the best of the bunch. The Doobies started out as a guitar driven, double drumming band with Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons leading the way, then Micheal McDonald took over when Johnston had health issues and changed the sound to yacht rock. The band called it a day in 1982 and then in 1989 reformed with Johnston, fully healthy again and Simmons leading the way once again. The Capitol albums had moments and then one offs for Pyramid and a country collection on Arista.
T Rex-Guitar hero of the glam movement, Marc Bolan was overdue for inclusion. But I found his albums somewhat spotty, including Electric Wizard which gave us the hit Get It On (Bang A Gong) Warners put out a best of in 1986, to which I did get, but I don't think I ever played it. His other top 40 hit was Hot Love a five minute song that repeats itself most of the way. Later moved over to Casablanca Records before his life ended in a 1977 car crash.
Depeche Mode-UK Electronic Dance Band that I never got into tho Some Great Reward and Construction Time Again are two classic albums. The Best of Depeche Mode pretty much has everything I need to hear from these guys. Vince Clarke would leave DM early and form Yazoo with Alison Moyet and later Erasure. DM would hit big with Personal Jesus.
9 Inch Nails-US industrial noise band led by Trent Reznor. Pretty Hate Music and The Downward Spiral are the high water mark, tho I must admit I thought Ministry did a better job with industrial noise than Pretty Hate Music. Which is their classic moment.
Whitney Houston-The ultimate oversinger of our time.
Notorious BIG-Joins Tupac in the music hall.
With that, I cannot comment on the last two, since they were not part of my music journey. I did listen to Whitney's second album Whitney and it had some moments, it wasn't enough to garner my attention. Rolling Stone called BIG the best rapper of all time, at that time and I suppose if you want proof, try Ready To Die. That said, that pretty much wraps up the wimpiest crop of music inductees in a HOF that is no longer rock and roll and continues to dilute the quality of the HOF. Next year. New Kids On The Block and Backstreet Boys.
Also, the NFL announced their crop of 2020 folks to the NFL HOF and it's more believable, tho the self congratulatory continues with Paul Tagiablue, another NFL commissioner that did more for the owners than players. Steve Sabol, who's NFL shows made ESPN worth watching is a worthy one. He made watching pro football a lot of fun (including the old 60s NFL that showed back then the NFL was smashmouth football and not the glitz it is today). Donnie Shell, Cliff Harris, Jim Covert, Harold Carmichel, Ed Sprinkle, Mac Speedie, Winston Hill, Giants GM, George Young, Bobby Dillon, Duke Slader, and finally the legendary Alex Karras who should have been in there a long time ago. However, while Cliff Harris got in, Drew Pearson was left on the outside looking in. A great injustice since Drew Pearson was Mr. Clutch and is forever hated by making the catch that won the game in 1975 against the Vikings to which a bottle whopped a referee upside the head after making a bogus PI call against the Vikings. I'm sure in the future, Drew Pearson will have his rightful spot in the HOF.
Just like Jethro Tull in the Rock HOF.
That was last year. This year the Jann Wanner Favorite Bands Hall Of Fame announced their picks and the popular vote didn't count at all. Dave Matthews and Pat Benetar who finished one two are on the outside looking in. And for the first time ever, the non musicians were the most rocking that got in. Jon Landau who produced MC5 Back In The USA and (of course) Bruce Springsteen's albums and Irving Azloff, who for a time tried his hand as President of MCA Records and Giant Records and is superstar manager to The Eagles, Steely Dan and kept Dan Fogelburg's memory alive is the other.
The fan vote didn't count since Wanner overlooked Dave Matthew Bands or just avoided them. Per usual, Wanner got slammed. Richie Faulkner of Judas Priest called the HOF "a joke", and he's right. But it is a cold day in Hades when we see the likes of Whitney Houston and Notorious BIG get in before Jethro Tull, Mott The Hoople and Pat Benetar, who finished second in the voting. But we have been resigned to the fact that this is no longer rock and roll that gets in but rather dollar signs and bullshit rap. Per usual. we try to make sense out of this all and put together the ratings of importance to each inductee. But to be honest, this is the most wimpy of all inductees and the most meaningless.
The inductees:
Jon Landau-We have to have a Bruce Springsteen supporter in there (Gary US Bonds, who had two albums produced by the boss is still on the outside looking in) but Landau was a damn good critic and he did produced The MC5, Back In The USA album (tho the tinny sound sucked). He also managed Bruce Springsteen too. The more you read into these things the more you wonder if this was a pat on the back for himself and Jann too. Must be nice to have friends in high places. Produced Jackson Browne's The Pretender album in 1976.
Irving Azoff-The most powerful man in the industry, he is part of the Azoff/MSG Entertainment. Started out managing REO Speedwagon and Dan Fogelburg, then became part of the Eagles management team. Later was MCA Records President from 1983 to 1989, then started up Giant Records via Warner Brothers. Also formed Full Moon Records.
The Doobie Brothers-To me, the best of the bunch. The Doobies started out as a guitar driven, double drumming band with Tom Johnston and Patrick Simmons leading the way, then Micheal McDonald took over when Johnston had health issues and changed the sound to yacht rock. The band called it a day in 1982 and then in 1989 reformed with Johnston, fully healthy again and Simmons leading the way once again. The Capitol albums had moments and then one offs for Pyramid and a country collection on Arista.
T Rex-Guitar hero of the glam movement, Marc Bolan was overdue for inclusion. But I found his albums somewhat spotty, including Electric Wizard which gave us the hit Get It On (Bang A Gong) Warners put out a best of in 1986, to which I did get, but I don't think I ever played it. His other top 40 hit was Hot Love a five minute song that repeats itself most of the way. Later moved over to Casablanca Records before his life ended in a 1977 car crash.
Depeche Mode-UK Electronic Dance Band that I never got into tho Some Great Reward and Construction Time Again are two classic albums. The Best of Depeche Mode pretty much has everything I need to hear from these guys. Vince Clarke would leave DM early and form Yazoo with Alison Moyet and later Erasure. DM would hit big with Personal Jesus.
9 Inch Nails-US industrial noise band led by Trent Reznor. Pretty Hate Music and The Downward Spiral are the high water mark, tho I must admit I thought Ministry did a better job with industrial noise than Pretty Hate Music. Which is their classic moment.
Whitney Houston-The ultimate oversinger of our time.
Notorious BIG-Joins Tupac in the music hall.
With that, I cannot comment on the last two, since they were not part of my music journey. I did listen to Whitney's second album Whitney and it had some moments, it wasn't enough to garner my attention. Rolling Stone called BIG the best rapper of all time, at that time and I suppose if you want proof, try Ready To Die. That said, that pretty much wraps up the wimpiest crop of music inductees in a HOF that is no longer rock and roll and continues to dilute the quality of the HOF. Next year. New Kids On The Block and Backstreet Boys.
Also, the NFL announced their crop of 2020 folks to the NFL HOF and it's more believable, tho the self congratulatory continues with Paul Tagiablue, another NFL commissioner that did more for the owners than players. Steve Sabol, who's NFL shows made ESPN worth watching is a worthy one. He made watching pro football a lot of fun (including the old 60s NFL that showed back then the NFL was smashmouth football and not the glitz it is today). Donnie Shell, Cliff Harris, Jim Covert, Harold Carmichel, Ed Sprinkle, Mac Speedie, Winston Hill, Giants GM, George Young, Bobby Dillon, Duke Slader, and finally the legendary Alex Karras who should have been in there a long time ago. However, while Cliff Harris got in, Drew Pearson was left on the outside looking in. A great injustice since Drew Pearson was Mr. Clutch and is forever hated by making the catch that won the game in 1975 against the Vikings to which a bottle whopped a referee upside the head after making a bogus PI call against the Vikings. I'm sure in the future, Drew Pearson will have his rightful spot in the HOF.
Just like Jethro Tull in the Rock HOF.
Thursday, January 2, 2020
New Year's Eve Beaker Street 12/31/19
https://beakerstreetsetlists.com/2020/06/07/12-31-19-new-years-eve-show/?fbclid=IwAR3hGnnWYE1gaycb6ODpgAoMszEcds3A94S7GNiMrultEwldSwKLzTUM3nQ/
The first Beaker Street Broadcast since 2011. We finally got the playlist
Hour 1
Pink Floyd-Time>The Great Gig In The Sky
Atomic Rooster “Hold Your Fire”
Roger Waters “What God Wants”
Traffic “Tragic Magic”
John Fogerty “Change of the Weather”
Blind Faith-Presence Of The Lord
Leon Russell-Roll Away The Stone
ELO-Do Ya
Blue Oyster Cult “Veteran of the Psychic Wars”
Grateful Dead-West LA Fadeaway
Hour 2
Tommy Bolin-Post Toastee
Loggins And Messina-Angry Eyes
The Alan Parsons Project “May Be A Price to Pay”
The James Gang-The Bomber
Blood Sweat And Tears-God Bless The Child
John Stewart-Gold
Wishbone Ash-Time Was
Steppenwolf-Magic Carpet Ride
Hour 3
Aerosmith-Walk This Way
Robert Palmer-Salin Shoes/Hey Julia/Sneaking Sally Through The Alley
Moody Blues-Tortoise And The Hare
Blue Oyster Cult-Transmaniacon MC
Steve Miller Band-Wintertime
Oingo Boingo-Dead Man's Party
Beatles-A Day In The Life
Mike + The Mechanics “Par Avion”
Trapeze-Medusa
Allman Brothers-Hot Lanta' (Fillmore East Live Version)
Deep Purple-Hard Road (Wring That Neck)
Tyler Vincent managed to get the playlist.
Notes:
Nothing like Beaker Street play Time and the annoying Great Gig In The Sky. I'm surprised nobody ever bothered finding the chiquita banana commercial that used Great Gig In The Sky to sell bananas.
Time Was, like Transmaniacon MC were Beaker Street favorites, tho' they have yet to play Cities On Flame With Rock N Roll, to which I heard that only on Beaker Street. Also Angry Eyes, the long version also got a lot of Beaker Street lovin too. Deep Purple's Hard Road was played many times as well on KAAY after hours, it's the B side to Kentucky Woman.
Monday, December 30, 2019
Best Of 2019-Thanks For The Dance
Once again, that time has arrived. Time to think up the best of 2019.
But first, G.S from Only Solitaire used to have plenty of new reviews, but he seemed to disappear from my reading sources. I discover this lengthy novel from earlier this year.
http://only-solitaire.blogspot.com/2019/09/music-where-hell-is-it-heading-to.html
You'll have set aside about two hours to read the whole novel but G.S does have a point. The only time anybody pays attention to anything is by the old guard artists of the 60s and 70s (80s and 90s) and anything after 2000, nobody gives a fuck. The internet has made everything just about accessible and most new stuff is shit. Don't even bring Kayne West into this, he's worthless. Maybe Kendrick Lamar but again rap is crap and I'm not interested. Florida Georgia Line? The expiration date has expired. Their last album was a flop. That girl that don't know who Van Halen is? Hell, I don't even know who she is.
This is the end of the second decade in the new Millennium, and anybody born around 1999 or beyond are not going to have a clue of classic rockers of the past, unless their parents have CDs or albums and I'm sure they rebelled against their folks with EDM bad rap pop. Which makes me glad I didn't have children. They would be listening to Kanye West or FGL.
It's been a half century since Woodstock, Altamont and the free love and sex that was promised but never delivered to most of us. I was too young, tho Arlens and Woolworths had 3 for a dollar 45s that kept me up to Jimi or The Doors or Steppenwolf. I grew up listening to AM top 30 and then hitting the FM dial and hearing a whole new world of albums and bands I never heard before. Back then, FM radio was the new frontier. Fifty years later, The Telecom act of 1994 gave us Corporate Radio. And since then, radio has not been a friend to the new artists out there. We're still stuck with the same shit, different formats. Even in 1975, five years after 1970 the underground stations were slowly being wiped away. But if you have a computer, you can stream on the forgotten stuff. there's plenty of that out there. Too bad it isn't on the radio dial anymore.
The teen idols of the 50s and 60s are now senior citizens if they're still alive. Sweet Brenda Lee is now 75 years old and most of the Rolling Stones are over 70 too. The music is still young but the artists are now old and any new releases will be barely mentioned on radio before going to another overplayed oldie. The new WHO album is out, but let's play Baba O'Reily to celebrate.
Still the biggest problem was trying to find new releases on CD. This year was off the wall difficult, it took me two months to get the new Darkness album, half a year to get the Dream Syndicate. I'm sure had I asked, Moondog Music would have ordered the CD. I rather not order from Amazon.com, simply of the fact that Jeff Brezos has enough money as it stand. Plus it's best to support the local record stores, even they are in Moline, Davenport, Madison or Dubque. Wally World and Target only had the most popular. They certainly don't have the latest from The Darkness, Ride or Redd Kross for that matter. And screw Best Buy anyway. They don't sell CDs, but if you can order them online. What's the fucking point then? I go to record stores to discover something new. Online stores don't give you that option of seeing actual inventory.
A couple things happened this year that has changed my buying habits. One, I quit listening to the radio and focused more on old cheap music from the past and secondly, I started seeing somebody that is a real musician. And girlfriends are not cheap, especially in emergencies when they short of cash for bills. And basically new music is as disposal at it gets. But let's face it, I've been subject to seven decades of music, the 50s through the 00's and whatever old rock bands had to offer in the 10s. To my surprise, many of the best bands were the ones from back then. It's strange how Drivin n Cryin' or Redd Kross have still sounded viable over the years more than Kings Of Leon or Dawes, who's last album found itself in the dollar bins at Half Price Books. Even old fart Neil Young gave us three albums this year, all enjoyable even if the new Crazy Horse album is the most mellow they ever put out. While Hootie And The Blowfish went country, their latest album is no more country than Cracked Rear View, which got a 2 CD upgrade. But rest assured that reissue will not sell a scratch of the 16 million that the original did, and can be found at every junk shop in town. Or REM Monster for that matter, which also seen a reissue.
Reissues of the year, the only that mattered was Buck Owens Complete Capitol Singles 1971-1975. To which I gave on default tho, Gene Clark's No Other might be runner up. The Bobbette's I Shot Mr. Lee overview on Jasmine is also fun to hear, one of the lesser known Atlantic doo wop groups of the 50s. Maybe somebody will put out The Soul Brothers Six's Atlantic output but unless Ace Records Uk does that, nobody will pay attention. Purists would either give The Rolling Stones Let It Bleed or The Beatles Abbey Road 50th Anniversary albums but at this point, I've bought both albums about 10 times and not about to pony up for a 11th. Or the Bob Dylan Sessions with Johnny Cash.
Anyway, the best of 2019 I doubt will be remembered unless some bored web surfer comes across this and gets a LOL. So here my picks in no particular order but probably the 10 best of the year. Come what may, this will be buried in the archives till blogger goes belly up and we lose everything, just like we did with the other lesser known social media sites that have become the K Mart of the net. (right My Space).
The Best:
King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard-Infest The Rat's Nest (Flightless)
Their metal move. And right off the bat, I played this CD twice in a row. It's a throwback to the fun heavy metal of the 80s and traces of Anthrax and Slayer figure into this as well as a sense of humor (Remember Stone? No you don't, or Spinal Tap) King Gizzard has made about 12 albums the past five years but I really never gotten much into these guys till this came out. Perhaps I'll get adventurous and seek out more of their albums. Or maybe not.
Whiskey Myers (30 Tigers)
30 Tigers is home to some of the best Americana and rock and country out there (Blackberry Smoke, Chris Knight) and Whiskey Myers have been around, more of a poorman's Blackberry Smoke. This time out, they lose Dave Cobb (who went to bombast The Highwomen's overhyped debut) and self produced and for the majority of the album made some of the best Southern rock since Holding All The Roses from The Smoke. Lose the damn soul sisters and trim about three filler songs off this and this album would be one for the ages that people remember. Well, people might remember this album 10 years from now.
Todd Snider-Cash Cabin Session Vol 3 (30 Tigers)
The ghost of Johnny Cash is all over this collection of songs inspired by the man in black. This might be Todd's best album since East Nashville Skyline. Funny and haunting all at the same time.
Drivin N Cryin'-Live The Love Beautiful (DNC Records)
Kevn Kinney's distinctive vocals has always been the one of the most memorable vocalist that you can't name. But the band's music has always been rock n roll up front and personal. Given the Tom Petty sound that's Free Ain't Free starts out the record, it's a guaranteed good time. I have never heard a subpar DNC album (even Smoke, the lesser of their albums, is worth hearing still). and Live The Love Beautiful doesn't disappoint.
The Dawn-Live At The Hotel Raccoon (Cartouche)
Sean Ryan and company continue to be the premier jam band of Iowa. Or is that Western Illinois (Ryan lives in Freeport Ill). This live setting takes the best moments from their last two albums and turn them into jam anthems. 1984 and Dance All Night elbows moe. and Phish out of the way on the way to sonic heaven.
Redd Kross-Behind The Door (Merge)
The Melvins connection has never been stronger since they picked up Dale Crover, who adds a sonic whomp to their glam power pop rock and roll.
Collective Soul-Blood (Suretone)
25 years onward, and Collective Soul's new album was better than their former labelmate Hootie And The Blowfish one. This actually compliments their 1994 S/T album better, tho people don't seem to care anymore.
Steve Earle-Guy (New West)
Tho it pales to the failed So You Wanna Be A Outlaw album, this tribute to the late Guy Clark is another winning album from Steve Earle.
Queensryche-The Verdict (Century Media)
They lost Scott Rockenfield to being a full time dad, but otherwise Todd De La Torre continues to take the band back to the early screamo metal years of the mid 80s. Zeus' production reminding so much of Peter Collins. In a perfect world of rock radio Portrait would be given lots of airplay.
The Darkness-Easter Is Canceled (Cooking Vinyl)
In a perfect world of rock radio, The Darkness would be getting lots of airplay. Out of all the bands of the 2000s, The Darkness is the link to the past and Queen.
Other great albums of note:
The Dream Syndicate-These Times (Anti)
The Specials-Encore (Island)
John Mayall-Nobody Told Me (40 Below)
Neil Young/Crazy Horse-Colorado (Reprise)
Ride-This Is Not A Safe Place (Wichita)
The Ocean Blue-Kings And Queens/Knaves And Thieves (Korda)
Lukas Nelson/Promise Of The Real-Turn Off The News Build A Garden (Fantasy)
Nik Turner-The Final Frontier (Purple Pyramid)
Diplomats Of Solid Sound-A Higher Place (Pravda)
Leonard Cohen-Thanks For The Dance (Columbia)
Basically the best of the rest are basically the rest of the albums that I bought this year. The Dream Syndicate These Times, might be even better than their comeback album of a couple years ago. The surprise would be The Ocean Blue, with a new recording that sounds more 1994 than 2019 and sometimes that is a good thing. While Jerry Dammers has nothing to do with The Specials, this album has the return of Terry Hall on vocals. And Encore is their most reggae sounding album ever. Which is saying something. Ride's second album since their return is a bit more focused, Nik Turner still retains the spirit of Space Ritual Hawkwind than the band itself and Promise Of The Real is more garage rock than Crazy Horse. Speaking of which, Colorado might be the most laid back Crazy Horse album ever. John Mayall, at 85 is beginning to show some cracks in his voice but he continues to defy the odds and make great blues albums. The Diplomats Of Solid Sound continue their soul moods and good time vocals from the the girls. And Leonard Cohen's last album is beyond the grave but the title is the most perfect way to end the 2019 best of.
The Rest:
The Who-Who (Polydor)
The Warlocks-Mean Machine Music (Cleopatra)
Graham Parker-Cloud Symbols (100 Percent Music)
Grateful Dead-Ready Or Not (Rhino)
Weezer-Black Album (Crush/Atlantic)
Sturgill Simpson-Sound And Fury (Elektra)
Miranda Lambert-Wildcard (RCA)
Santana-Africa Speaks (Concord)
Hootie And The Blowfish-Imperfect Circle (Capitol)
The Highwomen (Elektra)
Hozier-Wasteland Baby! (Columbia-Rubyworks)
At this point in my life, I don't have time to list the crappy albums of the year. If they are crappy albums, they're not in the house. And I didn't buy them. You'll notice no rap, no Cardi B, no FGL, no Kanye West. Why waste money on crap you'll never listen to anyway? I ended up getting the Who's latest album right at the time I was compiling the best of, it may not be Who's Next or even Who Are You but it's much better than Endless Wire. Probably just as good as It's Hard or Face Dances, but let's face it, Keith and John would have no place in the Who anymore. I think I listened to the Black Album from Weezer once and forgot all about it, even when I was going to hear it again. Sturgill's rock album is not essential but it makes a good soundtrack getting to work. Those top three albums may find themselves as best of the rest, at least they have a fighting chance better than say, Miranda's latest to which Jay Joyce's screwed up production turn Wildcard into a Joker, Santana's interesting take on African is commendable, but I can't take the female singer very well. And Hootie's latest album is no Cracked Rear View, acceptable but they didn't need a oversinging American Idol reject on track 3, or Sheryl Crow, who managed to sabotage that album and the worst cut off Turn Off The News Build A Garden. And Dave Cobb, who usually does wonders as producer, did no favors for the quickly forgotten Highwomen album. 15 years onward, Miranda Lambert is now one of the old guard of country music and whatever the case may be, gave us another album that didn't live up to my expectations. Producers can make or break an album, but in the case of Wildcard, the joker was Jay Joyce. Maybe in the next decade or album, Miranda will finally get back to her country roots, rather than trying to fall for the flavor of the day, only to be dated one month later.
There were other albums that I did pick up, one was from a certain gospel popper, who's name I can't recall but found their CD for 99 cents and played it once. The Mavis Staples appearance counts but since we can't hear her the record was a bore. The Backstreet Boys had a new album out as well, DNA they call it and the Dubuque Goodwill had it in the bins for two months. Even for a dollar I couldn't bring myself to review it.
There were other albums of note. Local favorites Tripmaster Monkey and Crystal City made vinyl only albums but I got the Crystal City album instead and come to find side 1 is pretty good, side 2 not so much. Neil Young's Tuscaloosa was a nice live document but Time Fades Away still needs a standalone issue. Steve Miller's Sections From The Vault is a nice sampler for those who care and finally with a version of Macho City that is tolerable.
I almost overlooked The Grateful Dead Ready Or Not, a collection of unreleased live tracks of ideas that might have been slated for another studio album but Jerry Garcia's passing in 1995 put the kabash on that. Freedom did find itself on Phil Lesh and Friends' Columbia album There And Back Again, and is more at home there. Vince Welnick adding more off the wall vocals might be hard to take but then again, The Dead have always had eclectic keyboard players and singers in their band. For the Dead completest, Ready Or Not belongs in your collection, for the casual fans you may want to skip this one. It's really not that great.
Late to the party was The Warlocks-Mean Machine Music, a collection of shoegazing drone rock and roll that sounds like drugged out Ride. This band has been around since the late 1990s. Side 2 has instrumental versions of the songs on side 1, Technogaze perhaps? A fun listen, tho I did buy it for the Tribute to Hawkwind song, which, does sound like Hawkwind. However the reprise songs from the first side gets a bit tedious towards the end.
I also forgot about Graham Parker's Cloud Symbols, which Graham adding the horns. Brinsley Schwartz remains but Parker never sounded more cheerful than he does on that album. Maybe he wasn't the angry young man Rolling Stone tagged him to be. Very soulful.
Finally, the Hozier Wasteland Baby CD was found for a dollar at Stuff Etc and played once. I really don't know what to think of it and tho' Mavis Staples sang on it, I couldn't tell what songs she was on. The opening track perhaps. For Christian pop music, there's worse but for me, there was a couple of later songs that had some melody but overall it went on way too long and nothing stood out.
And with that, this completes my 2019 best of lists. It was a struggle to find half of these CDs since Best Buy discontinued the CD department and Wal Mart couldn't be trusted. However the fine folks at Moondog Music in Dubuque, Mad City Music Exchange and Strictly Discs in Madison and Co Op Records Moline did have copies of these albums, which saved me from exploiting the overworked Amazon.com workers and giving Steve Bazos more of my hard earned cash.
Still, the times are changing and it's hard to keep up with the latest disposable crap that the Corporate labels and radio stations promote, rap I don't get and not about to. Robert Christgau, the cranky old music reviewer who I would glanced at his reviews and chuckle over the years has taken his Consumer Guide to a pay site called And It Don't Stop and at this point, I wish him well in giving A's to the rap and world beat artists he tends to favor and has no need for rock n roll. And it seems like the internet is going toward pay sites anyway, despite the 49 dollars per month to be connected, you can now add 9.95 here and there, and now for the future.
As for myself, I will continue to mine the thrift shops for cheap music and if I get some sort of ambition, write about the latest batch of 45s that I wanted to document for shits and giggles. But the ambition is getting less and less, hell it took me about three weeks finally compile this best of. Besides, I got so much going on elsewhere, playing music and being in bands and that has been where my mindset has been. Another reason why there hasn't been much here in Record World land.
And with that. I conclude this year with yet another thank you for at least reading along the way. I'm sure we'll meet again sometime in 2020.
But first, G.S from Only Solitaire used to have plenty of new reviews, but he seemed to disappear from my reading sources. I discover this lengthy novel from earlier this year.
http://only-solitaire.blogspot.com/2019/09/music-where-hell-is-it-heading-to.html
You'll have set aside about two hours to read the whole novel but G.S does have a point. The only time anybody pays attention to anything is by the old guard artists of the 60s and 70s (80s and 90s) and anything after 2000, nobody gives a fuck. The internet has made everything just about accessible and most new stuff is shit. Don't even bring Kayne West into this, he's worthless. Maybe Kendrick Lamar but again rap is crap and I'm not interested. Florida Georgia Line? The expiration date has expired. Their last album was a flop. That girl that don't know who Van Halen is? Hell, I don't even know who she is.
This is the end of the second decade in the new Millennium, and anybody born around 1999 or beyond are not going to have a clue of classic rockers of the past, unless their parents have CDs or albums and I'm sure they rebelled against their folks with EDM bad rap pop. Which makes me glad I didn't have children. They would be listening to Kanye West or FGL.
It's been a half century since Woodstock, Altamont and the free love and sex that was promised but never delivered to most of us. I was too young, tho Arlens and Woolworths had 3 for a dollar 45s that kept me up to Jimi or The Doors or Steppenwolf. I grew up listening to AM top 30 and then hitting the FM dial and hearing a whole new world of albums and bands I never heard before. Back then, FM radio was the new frontier. Fifty years later, The Telecom act of 1994 gave us Corporate Radio. And since then, radio has not been a friend to the new artists out there. We're still stuck with the same shit, different formats. Even in 1975, five years after 1970 the underground stations were slowly being wiped away. But if you have a computer, you can stream on the forgotten stuff. there's plenty of that out there. Too bad it isn't on the radio dial anymore.
The teen idols of the 50s and 60s are now senior citizens if they're still alive. Sweet Brenda Lee is now 75 years old and most of the Rolling Stones are over 70 too. The music is still young but the artists are now old and any new releases will be barely mentioned on radio before going to another overplayed oldie. The new WHO album is out, but let's play Baba O'Reily to celebrate.
Still the biggest problem was trying to find new releases on CD. This year was off the wall difficult, it took me two months to get the new Darkness album, half a year to get the Dream Syndicate. I'm sure had I asked, Moondog Music would have ordered the CD. I rather not order from Amazon.com, simply of the fact that Jeff Brezos has enough money as it stand. Plus it's best to support the local record stores, even they are in Moline, Davenport, Madison or Dubque. Wally World and Target only had the most popular. They certainly don't have the latest from The Darkness, Ride or Redd Kross for that matter. And screw Best Buy anyway. They don't sell CDs, but if you can order them online. What's the fucking point then? I go to record stores to discover something new. Online stores don't give you that option of seeing actual inventory.
A couple things happened this year that has changed my buying habits. One, I quit listening to the radio and focused more on old cheap music from the past and secondly, I started seeing somebody that is a real musician. And girlfriends are not cheap, especially in emergencies when they short of cash for bills. And basically new music is as disposal at it gets. But let's face it, I've been subject to seven decades of music, the 50s through the 00's and whatever old rock bands had to offer in the 10s. To my surprise, many of the best bands were the ones from back then. It's strange how Drivin n Cryin' or Redd Kross have still sounded viable over the years more than Kings Of Leon or Dawes, who's last album found itself in the dollar bins at Half Price Books. Even old fart Neil Young gave us three albums this year, all enjoyable even if the new Crazy Horse album is the most mellow they ever put out. While Hootie And The Blowfish went country, their latest album is no more country than Cracked Rear View, which got a 2 CD upgrade. But rest assured that reissue will not sell a scratch of the 16 million that the original did, and can be found at every junk shop in town. Or REM Monster for that matter, which also seen a reissue.
Reissues of the year, the only that mattered was Buck Owens Complete Capitol Singles 1971-1975. To which I gave on default tho, Gene Clark's No Other might be runner up. The Bobbette's I Shot Mr. Lee overview on Jasmine is also fun to hear, one of the lesser known Atlantic doo wop groups of the 50s. Maybe somebody will put out The Soul Brothers Six's Atlantic output but unless Ace Records Uk does that, nobody will pay attention. Purists would either give The Rolling Stones Let It Bleed or The Beatles Abbey Road 50th Anniversary albums but at this point, I've bought both albums about 10 times and not about to pony up for a 11th. Or the Bob Dylan Sessions with Johnny Cash.
Anyway, the best of 2019 I doubt will be remembered unless some bored web surfer comes across this and gets a LOL. So here my picks in no particular order but probably the 10 best of the year. Come what may, this will be buried in the archives till blogger goes belly up and we lose everything, just like we did with the other lesser known social media sites that have become the K Mart of the net. (right My Space).
The Best:
King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard-Infest The Rat's Nest (Flightless)
Their metal move. And right off the bat, I played this CD twice in a row. It's a throwback to the fun heavy metal of the 80s and traces of Anthrax and Slayer figure into this as well as a sense of humor (Remember Stone? No you don't, or Spinal Tap) King Gizzard has made about 12 albums the past five years but I really never gotten much into these guys till this came out. Perhaps I'll get adventurous and seek out more of their albums. Or maybe not.
Whiskey Myers (30 Tigers)
30 Tigers is home to some of the best Americana and rock and country out there (Blackberry Smoke, Chris Knight) and Whiskey Myers have been around, more of a poorman's Blackberry Smoke. This time out, they lose Dave Cobb (who went to bombast The Highwomen's overhyped debut) and self produced and for the majority of the album made some of the best Southern rock since Holding All The Roses from The Smoke. Lose the damn soul sisters and trim about three filler songs off this and this album would be one for the ages that people remember. Well, people might remember this album 10 years from now.
Todd Snider-Cash Cabin Session Vol 3 (30 Tigers)
The ghost of Johnny Cash is all over this collection of songs inspired by the man in black. This might be Todd's best album since East Nashville Skyline. Funny and haunting all at the same time.
Drivin N Cryin'-Live The Love Beautiful (DNC Records)
Kevn Kinney's distinctive vocals has always been the one of the most memorable vocalist that you can't name. But the band's music has always been rock n roll up front and personal. Given the Tom Petty sound that's Free Ain't Free starts out the record, it's a guaranteed good time. I have never heard a subpar DNC album (even Smoke, the lesser of their albums, is worth hearing still). and Live The Love Beautiful doesn't disappoint.
The Dawn-Live At The Hotel Raccoon (Cartouche)
Sean Ryan and company continue to be the premier jam band of Iowa. Or is that Western Illinois (Ryan lives in Freeport Ill). This live setting takes the best moments from their last two albums and turn them into jam anthems. 1984 and Dance All Night elbows moe. and Phish out of the way on the way to sonic heaven.
Redd Kross-Behind The Door (Merge)
The Melvins connection has never been stronger since they picked up Dale Crover, who adds a sonic whomp to their glam power pop rock and roll.
Collective Soul-Blood (Suretone)
25 years onward, and Collective Soul's new album was better than their former labelmate Hootie And The Blowfish one. This actually compliments their 1994 S/T album better, tho people don't seem to care anymore.
Steve Earle-Guy (New West)
Tho it pales to the failed So You Wanna Be A Outlaw album, this tribute to the late Guy Clark is another winning album from Steve Earle.
Queensryche-The Verdict (Century Media)
They lost Scott Rockenfield to being a full time dad, but otherwise Todd De La Torre continues to take the band back to the early screamo metal years of the mid 80s. Zeus' production reminding so much of Peter Collins. In a perfect world of rock radio Portrait would be given lots of airplay.
The Darkness-Easter Is Canceled (Cooking Vinyl)
In a perfect world of rock radio, The Darkness would be getting lots of airplay. Out of all the bands of the 2000s, The Darkness is the link to the past and Queen.
Other great albums of note:
The Dream Syndicate-These Times (Anti)
The Specials-Encore (Island)
John Mayall-Nobody Told Me (40 Below)
Neil Young/Crazy Horse-Colorado (Reprise)
Ride-This Is Not A Safe Place (Wichita)
The Ocean Blue-Kings And Queens/Knaves And Thieves (Korda)
Lukas Nelson/Promise Of The Real-Turn Off The News Build A Garden (Fantasy)
Nik Turner-The Final Frontier (Purple Pyramid)
Diplomats Of Solid Sound-A Higher Place (Pravda)
Leonard Cohen-Thanks For The Dance (Columbia)
Basically the best of the rest are basically the rest of the albums that I bought this year. The Dream Syndicate These Times, might be even better than their comeback album of a couple years ago. The surprise would be The Ocean Blue, with a new recording that sounds more 1994 than 2019 and sometimes that is a good thing. While Jerry Dammers has nothing to do with The Specials, this album has the return of Terry Hall on vocals. And Encore is their most reggae sounding album ever. Which is saying something. Ride's second album since their return is a bit more focused, Nik Turner still retains the spirit of Space Ritual Hawkwind than the band itself and Promise Of The Real is more garage rock than Crazy Horse. Speaking of which, Colorado might be the most laid back Crazy Horse album ever. John Mayall, at 85 is beginning to show some cracks in his voice but he continues to defy the odds and make great blues albums. The Diplomats Of Solid Sound continue their soul moods and good time vocals from the the girls. And Leonard Cohen's last album is beyond the grave but the title is the most perfect way to end the 2019 best of.
The Rest:
The Who-Who (Polydor)
The Warlocks-Mean Machine Music (Cleopatra)
Graham Parker-Cloud Symbols (100 Percent Music)
Grateful Dead-Ready Or Not (Rhino)
Weezer-Black Album (Crush/Atlantic)
Sturgill Simpson-Sound And Fury (Elektra)
Miranda Lambert-Wildcard (RCA)
Santana-Africa Speaks (Concord)
Hootie And The Blowfish-Imperfect Circle (Capitol)
The Highwomen (Elektra)
Hozier-Wasteland Baby! (Columbia-Rubyworks)
At this point in my life, I don't have time to list the crappy albums of the year. If they are crappy albums, they're not in the house. And I didn't buy them. You'll notice no rap, no Cardi B, no FGL, no Kanye West. Why waste money on crap you'll never listen to anyway? I ended up getting the Who's latest album right at the time I was compiling the best of, it may not be Who's Next or even Who Are You but it's much better than Endless Wire. Probably just as good as It's Hard or Face Dances, but let's face it, Keith and John would have no place in the Who anymore. I think I listened to the Black Album from Weezer once and forgot all about it, even when I was going to hear it again. Sturgill's rock album is not essential but it makes a good soundtrack getting to work. Those top three albums may find themselves as best of the rest, at least they have a fighting chance better than say, Miranda's latest to which Jay Joyce's screwed up production turn Wildcard into a Joker, Santana's interesting take on African is commendable, but I can't take the female singer very well. And Hootie's latest album is no Cracked Rear View, acceptable but they didn't need a oversinging American Idol reject on track 3, or Sheryl Crow, who managed to sabotage that album and the worst cut off Turn Off The News Build A Garden. And Dave Cobb, who usually does wonders as producer, did no favors for the quickly forgotten Highwomen album. 15 years onward, Miranda Lambert is now one of the old guard of country music and whatever the case may be, gave us another album that didn't live up to my expectations. Producers can make or break an album, but in the case of Wildcard, the joker was Jay Joyce. Maybe in the next decade or album, Miranda will finally get back to her country roots, rather than trying to fall for the flavor of the day, only to be dated one month later.
There were other albums that I did pick up, one was from a certain gospel popper, who's name I can't recall but found their CD for 99 cents and played it once. The Mavis Staples appearance counts but since we can't hear her the record was a bore. The Backstreet Boys had a new album out as well, DNA they call it and the Dubuque Goodwill had it in the bins for two months. Even for a dollar I couldn't bring myself to review it.
There were other albums of note. Local favorites Tripmaster Monkey and Crystal City made vinyl only albums but I got the Crystal City album instead and come to find side 1 is pretty good, side 2 not so much. Neil Young's Tuscaloosa was a nice live document but Time Fades Away still needs a standalone issue. Steve Miller's Sections From The Vault is a nice sampler for those who care and finally with a version of Macho City that is tolerable.
I almost overlooked The Grateful Dead Ready Or Not, a collection of unreleased live tracks of ideas that might have been slated for another studio album but Jerry Garcia's passing in 1995 put the kabash on that. Freedom did find itself on Phil Lesh and Friends' Columbia album There And Back Again, and is more at home there. Vince Welnick adding more off the wall vocals might be hard to take but then again, The Dead have always had eclectic keyboard players and singers in their band. For the Dead completest, Ready Or Not belongs in your collection, for the casual fans you may want to skip this one. It's really not that great.
Late to the party was The Warlocks-Mean Machine Music, a collection of shoegazing drone rock and roll that sounds like drugged out Ride. This band has been around since the late 1990s. Side 2 has instrumental versions of the songs on side 1, Technogaze perhaps? A fun listen, tho I did buy it for the Tribute to Hawkwind song, which, does sound like Hawkwind. However the reprise songs from the first side gets a bit tedious towards the end.
I also forgot about Graham Parker's Cloud Symbols, which Graham adding the horns. Brinsley Schwartz remains but Parker never sounded more cheerful than he does on that album. Maybe he wasn't the angry young man Rolling Stone tagged him to be. Very soulful.
Finally, the Hozier Wasteland Baby CD was found for a dollar at Stuff Etc and played once. I really don't know what to think of it and tho' Mavis Staples sang on it, I couldn't tell what songs she was on. The opening track perhaps. For Christian pop music, there's worse but for me, there was a couple of later songs that had some melody but overall it went on way too long and nothing stood out.
And with that, this completes my 2019 best of lists. It was a struggle to find half of these CDs since Best Buy discontinued the CD department and Wal Mart couldn't be trusted. However the fine folks at Moondog Music in Dubuque, Mad City Music Exchange and Strictly Discs in Madison and Co Op Records Moline did have copies of these albums, which saved me from exploiting the overworked Amazon.com workers and giving Steve Bazos more of my hard earned cash.
Still, the times are changing and it's hard to keep up with the latest disposable crap that the Corporate labels and radio stations promote, rap I don't get and not about to. Robert Christgau, the cranky old music reviewer who I would glanced at his reviews and chuckle over the years has taken his Consumer Guide to a pay site called And It Don't Stop and at this point, I wish him well in giving A's to the rap and world beat artists he tends to favor and has no need for rock n roll. And it seems like the internet is going toward pay sites anyway, despite the 49 dollars per month to be connected, you can now add 9.95 here and there, and now for the future.
As for myself, I will continue to mine the thrift shops for cheap music and if I get some sort of ambition, write about the latest batch of 45s that I wanted to document for shits and giggles. But the ambition is getting less and less, hell it took me about three weeks finally compile this best of. Besides, I got so much going on elsewhere, playing music and being in bands and that has been where my mindset has been. Another reason why there hasn't been much here in Record World land.
And with that. I conclude this year with yet another thank you for at least reading along the way. I'm sure we'll meet again sometime in 2020.
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Best Of 2019-The Record Stores
Right.
As we limped on to the end of the year, it's time for the annual bragging of what was the best albums of 2019. Each year, it gets to the point that we post the best and then forget about them when the New Year's Day rolls around.
With corporate radio sticking to same fucking bullshit playlist of the past 30 years, new bands have to rely on NPR, a local college station still playing new music or satellite radio or streaming. Deep Tracks will promote commercials of new music and then revert back to a overplayed classic rock. Despite what they tell you, The Weight nor Somebody To Love are deep tracks, they're played consistently on regular radio.
But then again I'm old. I still enjoy hearing something not being played to death, which is why I continue to search for the off the wall LP and CD that is out there. There'll be no shortage of off the wall music that you will not hear on the radio. 2019 has a few albums that you won't hear on the radio. My picks of the year BTW. It's a losing battle to seek the new album on CD. Best Buy don't sell them anymore and Wal Mart and Target cherry picks the usual. Only artist I heard about is Cardi B telling the world her booty is her smorgasbord. Yeah we have come a long way down the poop chute. What used to be a way to tell people to fuck off is now passe. Unless, there's Cool Whip and Hershey's Syrup, shit still taste like shit. And I'll pass on Cardi B's offer of booty burgers.
It was decided that this year would be my final year of reviewing new music on a regular basis. It's been more irregular and me having to make special trips to Madison and Dubuque to get new albums. Moondog remains the best of the bunch. CO OP Moline a distant second. So, for best record stores in the area that sells CDs. Here's my picks
Best Record Store (within a 2 hour drive)
1) Moondog Music-Dubuque IA
2) CO OP Tapes and Records-Moline ILL
3) Analog Vault-Cedar Rapids
4) Ragged Records-Rock Island ILL (The Davenport Store has been closed since the March Flood)
5) Wax Static-Marshalltown IA
6) CD's 4 Change-Dubuque IA
7) Books A Million-Dubuque/Davenport IA
8) Record Collector-Iowa City IA
9) Wal mart/Target-Various Locations
10 Metro Records-Cedar Falls IA
Upon trying to find that Waterloo store that sold records, I came across Metro Records in Cedar Falls but I never been there to check out their selection. Moondog and Co Op are 1 and 2 simply of the fact that they still have a decent used CD selection and still sell new ones. Analog Vault in town, is the best place for records if you're looking for new albums. Wax Static in Marshalltown has grown by leaps and bounds to the point that they now have the Deep Cut Song of the day, which most of the time are not Deep Cuts. I have still yet to check them out, maybe next year. If I need to head to Madison, Mad City Music Exchange and Strictly Discs are the best places to go. Weird Harold's in Burlington is another place I need to check out and after the flop Davenport record hunt, perhaps I should have gone the extra 35 miles.
Best Used Music Stores:
1) Half Price Books (Marion, Madison and Des Moines)
2) St Vincent De Paul (Waterloo, Cedar Rapids and Madison)
3) Stuff Etc. (Dubuque, Coralville, Iowa City, Davenport, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo)
4) Goodwill (Various Locations)
5) Salvation Army (Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Moline)
6) Housewerks (Iowa City)
7) The Source Bookstore (Davenport)
8) Crowded Closet (Iowa City)
9) Money And More (Iowa City/Waterloo)
10) Sweet Living Antiques (Iowa City)
11) Vintage Vinyl (Cedar Rapids)
To be honest, this is where I find the majority of albums and CDs, the thrift stores, the kindness of strangers, the travels that have put 25K on my car this year. I do not agree that the CD era is over, I read and see some of my hoarder friends across the pond paying big bucks for certain CDs. Stuff Etc in CR hasn't been selling CDs of late and neither has the Waterloo location. But the opening of the Dubuque Stuff Etc, (next to Goodwill) I managed to find more than I usually do. Out of all the areas, the Coralville location still continues to have a decent turnover of inventory. The surprise has been the DBQ location, the best bargains are at Davenport at 99 cents per cd. All have been hit and miss except sometimes I do score a few, which isn't too often.
For 45's The Salvation Army in Davenport was the go to place but the last four times I have been there I found nothing and a couple times there were no 45s anywhere. This summer, the Cedar Rapids location had quite a few but the best ones were picked off a long time ago and basically the leftovers are too scratched up for playing. Which the St Vincent De Paul Madison area is the best place for 45s tho they are mostly pop standards of the 50s. Or for that matter, Mad City Music Exchange or Moondog DBQ, I enjoy the quarter selection of Mad City Music X or the dollar section at Moondog, Analog Vault also has various 25 and 50 cent selections worth seeking out too.
What galls me is some of the record stores that have to look up certain records on the internet and then priced them out of my price range. A certain record store that I used to frequent when in town made that big mistake of pricing a 45 at 30 dollars and I'm not about to pay 30 dollars for a VG stock copy that have seen better days. I know they have to make a living but I also know that I have to pay bills and keep a roof over my head. And girlfriends are not cheap either.
But since their appearance in Marion since 2005 it's been Half Price Books for the bargains and they do have 45s from time to time. I love the Marion store and the West Madison store, but the East HPB has always been the lesser of the three. And maybe I'll see what the Des Moines store has to offer. I haven't been to Des Moines in 10 years, if I can stomach the traffic congestion, I might pop a couple Xanax and go for it and head west again. But it's not high on my list of things to do.
The bargain hunts don't usually go outside of Dubuque nor Davenport anymore. I enjoy taking a couple days up and hit Madison but this year's took a lot out of me. The constant hurry up and run from Goodwill to Half Price Books to St Vincent De Paul took two days to sort things out. And a whopping three hours total at Mad City Music X as well, but then again it's more worth going to Madison than Iowa City, which only has Record Collector that sells records and CDs. Once they lost FYE and Real Records, it wasn't the same. Pawn Shops are about as trash as it gets, sometimes there'll be some quarter finds, as there was when I went to Waterloo last month but it's a rare occasion if I find anything. Therefore, they get a honorable mention.
Sweet Living Antiques is a very good place to find records but I do admit I haven't been there in a while. Vintage Vinyl in Cedar Rapids used to be part of the old Antique Mall in Marion but I don't think BDW is a part of them nowadays. I have yet to go there since they moved.
In 10 years time I have seen the disappearance of Hastings Entertainment, FYE and most of the mall record stores. We're better off just ordering off Amazon or Second Spin to get new music but I continue to have pretty good success of finding them at Thrift stores and the Half Price Books Clarence Bins. The question remains if Stuff Etc will phase out the CD section, like they did in Cedar Rapids or Waterloo. And record and CD hoarders will be out and about. As long as Half Price Books still keeps going on, we'll continue to find the off the wall CDs and albums. I rather hit the music stores than give Jeff Bazos any more of my money, the reason why it took so long to get the new Darkness album. It's great to know that Co Op Moline had a copy but in theory I should have let the guys at Moondog order up a copy for me. But I did buy the latest Specials album from Moondog.
A way to let them know that they're still the best store in this area.
PS I got off subject about the best music of 2019 and went with the best record stores instead. We'll do that next time we get together, pick the best albums.
As we limped on to the end of the year, it's time for the annual bragging of what was the best albums of 2019. Each year, it gets to the point that we post the best and then forget about them when the New Year's Day rolls around.
With corporate radio sticking to same fucking bullshit playlist of the past 30 years, new bands have to rely on NPR, a local college station still playing new music or satellite radio or streaming. Deep Tracks will promote commercials of new music and then revert back to a overplayed classic rock. Despite what they tell you, The Weight nor Somebody To Love are deep tracks, they're played consistently on regular radio.
But then again I'm old. I still enjoy hearing something not being played to death, which is why I continue to search for the off the wall LP and CD that is out there. There'll be no shortage of off the wall music that you will not hear on the radio. 2019 has a few albums that you won't hear on the radio. My picks of the year BTW. It's a losing battle to seek the new album on CD. Best Buy don't sell them anymore and Wal Mart and Target cherry picks the usual. Only artist I heard about is Cardi B telling the world her booty is her smorgasbord. Yeah we have come a long way down the poop chute. What used to be a way to tell people to fuck off is now passe. Unless, there's Cool Whip and Hershey's Syrup, shit still taste like shit. And I'll pass on Cardi B's offer of booty burgers.
It was decided that this year would be my final year of reviewing new music on a regular basis. It's been more irregular and me having to make special trips to Madison and Dubuque to get new albums. Moondog remains the best of the bunch. CO OP Moline a distant second. So, for best record stores in the area that sells CDs. Here's my picks
Best Record Store (within a 2 hour drive)
1) Moondog Music-Dubuque IA
2) CO OP Tapes and Records-Moline ILL
3) Analog Vault-Cedar Rapids
4) Ragged Records-Rock Island ILL (The Davenport Store has been closed since the March Flood)
5) Wax Static-Marshalltown IA
6) CD's 4 Change-Dubuque IA
7) Books A Million-Dubuque/Davenport IA
8) Record Collector-Iowa City IA
9) Wal mart/Target-Various Locations
10 Metro Records-Cedar Falls IA
Upon trying to find that Waterloo store that sold records, I came across Metro Records in Cedar Falls but I never been there to check out their selection. Moondog and Co Op are 1 and 2 simply of the fact that they still have a decent used CD selection and still sell new ones. Analog Vault in town, is the best place for records if you're looking for new albums. Wax Static in Marshalltown has grown by leaps and bounds to the point that they now have the Deep Cut Song of the day, which most of the time are not Deep Cuts. I have still yet to check them out, maybe next year. If I need to head to Madison, Mad City Music Exchange and Strictly Discs are the best places to go. Weird Harold's in Burlington is another place I need to check out and after the flop Davenport record hunt, perhaps I should have gone the extra 35 miles.
Best Used Music Stores:
1) Half Price Books (Marion, Madison and Des Moines)
2) St Vincent De Paul (Waterloo, Cedar Rapids and Madison)
3) Stuff Etc. (Dubuque, Coralville, Iowa City, Davenport, Cedar Rapids, Waterloo)
4) Goodwill (Various Locations)
5) Salvation Army (Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Moline)
6) Housewerks (Iowa City)
7) The Source Bookstore (Davenport)
8) Crowded Closet (Iowa City)
9) Money And More (Iowa City/Waterloo)
10) Sweet Living Antiques (Iowa City)
11) Vintage Vinyl (Cedar Rapids)
To be honest, this is where I find the majority of albums and CDs, the thrift stores, the kindness of strangers, the travels that have put 25K on my car this year. I do not agree that the CD era is over, I read and see some of my hoarder friends across the pond paying big bucks for certain CDs. Stuff Etc in CR hasn't been selling CDs of late and neither has the Waterloo location. But the opening of the Dubuque Stuff Etc, (next to Goodwill) I managed to find more than I usually do. Out of all the areas, the Coralville location still continues to have a decent turnover of inventory. The surprise has been the DBQ location, the best bargains are at Davenport at 99 cents per cd. All have been hit and miss except sometimes I do score a few, which isn't too often.
For 45's The Salvation Army in Davenport was the go to place but the last four times I have been there I found nothing and a couple times there were no 45s anywhere. This summer, the Cedar Rapids location had quite a few but the best ones were picked off a long time ago and basically the leftovers are too scratched up for playing. Which the St Vincent De Paul Madison area is the best place for 45s tho they are mostly pop standards of the 50s. Or for that matter, Mad City Music Exchange or Moondog DBQ, I enjoy the quarter selection of Mad City Music X or the dollar section at Moondog, Analog Vault also has various 25 and 50 cent selections worth seeking out too.
What galls me is some of the record stores that have to look up certain records on the internet and then priced them out of my price range. A certain record store that I used to frequent when in town made that big mistake of pricing a 45 at 30 dollars and I'm not about to pay 30 dollars for a VG stock copy that have seen better days. I know they have to make a living but I also know that I have to pay bills and keep a roof over my head. And girlfriends are not cheap either.
But since their appearance in Marion since 2005 it's been Half Price Books for the bargains and they do have 45s from time to time. I love the Marion store and the West Madison store, but the East HPB has always been the lesser of the three. And maybe I'll see what the Des Moines store has to offer. I haven't been to Des Moines in 10 years, if I can stomach the traffic congestion, I might pop a couple Xanax and go for it and head west again. But it's not high on my list of things to do.
The bargain hunts don't usually go outside of Dubuque nor Davenport anymore. I enjoy taking a couple days up and hit Madison but this year's took a lot out of me. The constant hurry up and run from Goodwill to Half Price Books to St Vincent De Paul took two days to sort things out. And a whopping three hours total at Mad City Music X as well, but then again it's more worth going to Madison than Iowa City, which only has Record Collector that sells records and CDs. Once they lost FYE and Real Records, it wasn't the same. Pawn Shops are about as trash as it gets, sometimes there'll be some quarter finds, as there was when I went to Waterloo last month but it's a rare occasion if I find anything. Therefore, they get a honorable mention.
Sweet Living Antiques is a very good place to find records but I do admit I haven't been there in a while. Vintage Vinyl in Cedar Rapids used to be part of the old Antique Mall in Marion but I don't think BDW is a part of them nowadays. I have yet to go there since they moved.
In 10 years time I have seen the disappearance of Hastings Entertainment, FYE and most of the mall record stores. We're better off just ordering off Amazon or Second Spin to get new music but I continue to have pretty good success of finding them at Thrift stores and the Half Price Books Clarence Bins. The question remains if Stuff Etc will phase out the CD section, like they did in Cedar Rapids or Waterloo. And record and CD hoarders will be out and about. As long as Half Price Books still keeps going on, we'll continue to find the off the wall CDs and albums. I rather hit the music stores than give Jeff Bazos any more of my money, the reason why it took so long to get the new Darkness album. It's great to know that Co Op Moline had a copy but in theory I should have let the guys at Moondog order up a copy for me. But I did buy the latest Specials album from Moondog.
A way to let them know that they're still the best store in this area.
PS I got off subject about the best music of 2019 and went with the best record stores instead. We'll do that next time we get together, pick the best albums.
Monday, December 2, 2019
The Final Bargain Hunt-Davenport
One of the things I need to remember is that I seldom find anything worth a shit during Thanksgiving weekend. I talked myself into going to Davenport rather than Madison. I tended to regret that decision.
Ragged Records In Davenport still hasn't opened but they moved the CD section over to the Rock Island Ragged Records. I do wish they can reopened the Davenport store, it's been out of service since the spring flood. I didn't find nothing at the Rock Island store, their 45 section is not even half as good as the Davenport location.
So I got to check out most of the thrift and second hand stores. I found 6 cds. 10 CC Original Soundtrack, Point Blank-Second Season, A Charlie Parker Rhino set, The Singles Soundtrack, Roy Buchanan's first album and The Darkness new album Easter Is Canceled. I did bank on Co Op Moline having that CD and they did.
I found no 45s but found a near mint copy of Roy Orbison Sings Don Gibson on MGM plus a 7th CD, Johnny Tillison's Early Greatest Hits on Ace. I can always count on The Source Bookstore to have something off the wall.
Nothing was found at the Salvation Army Junk store, Goodwill-Moline, Salvation Army-Moline, Books A Million and the Vets Thrift Shop.
Today marks the second anniversary of being a special somebody to Julie. I'm surprised that we have managed to stick together through rough and strange times together. In hindsight, we should have stayed being social friends, I've helped her in her bands and trying to keep a roof over her head. It's a relationship that has been one of more strange that I've ever been in, but I have to accept her for who she is. But she captures my heart all over again when she sings. Love is always strange, and tho we keep separate homes, my loyality to her remains always. But we still remain special n safe friends. Anything else would be a shock to the system.
Overall, the Davenport Bargain Hunt was a disappointment. But I did find a few things and CO OP Moline had that 10CC CD there for over a year. It was time to rediscover that album.
Ragged Records In Davenport still hasn't opened but they moved the CD section over to the Rock Island Ragged Records. I do wish they can reopened the Davenport store, it's been out of service since the spring flood. I didn't find nothing at the Rock Island store, their 45 section is not even half as good as the Davenport location.
So I got to check out most of the thrift and second hand stores. I found 6 cds. 10 CC Original Soundtrack, Point Blank-Second Season, A Charlie Parker Rhino set, The Singles Soundtrack, Roy Buchanan's first album and The Darkness new album Easter Is Canceled. I did bank on Co Op Moline having that CD and they did.
I found no 45s but found a near mint copy of Roy Orbison Sings Don Gibson on MGM plus a 7th CD, Johnny Tillison's Early Greatest Hits on Ace. I can always count on The Source Bookstore to have something off the wall.
Nothing was found at the Salvation Army Junk store, Goodwill-Moline, Salvation Army-Moline, Books A Million and the Vets Thrift Shop.
Today marks the second anniversary of being a special somebody to Julie. I'm surprised that we have managed to stick together through rough and strange times together. In hindsight, we should have stayed being social friends, I've helped her in her bands and trying to keep a roof over her head. It's a relationship that has been one of more strange that I've ever been in, but I have to accept her for who she is. But she captures my heart all over again when she sings. Love is always strange, and tho we keep separate homes, my loyality to her remains always. But we still remain special n safe friends. Anything else would be a shock to the system.
Overall, the Davenport Bargain Hunt was a disappointment. But I did find a few things and CO OP Moline had that 10CC CD there for over a year. It was time to rediscover that album.
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