Tag Archives: Beethoven

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 8/8 and Otherwise

09 Sunday Aug 2020

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Salutations™!!

You may be asking what that title means. Well, you also may not, but I’m going to tell you anyway. Remember the last time I did the “Spinning Sunday” (two weeks ago if you don’t remember)? I told you that we had gotten a good start on that TimeLife Great Men of Music series? Well, I decided that wasn’t good enough and that I needed to finish the collection. (insert sigh here)

thebestofbigstar

©Stax

I got on Discogs Marketplace and found the last 13 that I needed to have all 30. Yes, I’m a glutton for punishment. I glutted on, I guess. Now, to be honest, I am missing one, only because it’s not here, yet. The USPS tracking says it’s to be delivered on 8/6 (today is 8/9) but is “delayed.” I know C-19 has the world screwed up and there was a hurricane in the area this week, but this is the only one that had a problem. Anywhat! I’ll leave all the GMoM ones until the end. We got some more TimeLife stuff but I don’t think I’ll go looking to collect all of these. Then again, maybe I will…? Here’s the haul:

  • Lou Reed – When Your Heart Is Made Out Of Ice — A live compilation from Lou Reed, circa 1974 or so. Notes from the album: Side A is in mono, all other sides in stereo. Track C2 notes from back cover: ‘Due to the age of the master tape some restoration & cleaning have not been able to improve a slight tape wobble which runs for a few seconds, only.’ 2xLP. New.
  • Big Star – The Best Of Big Star — I had never heard of Big Star until the day Alex Chilton died. St. Patrick’s Day 2010. Doug Davis (yes, that Doug Davis) and either the Plaids or Mediocre Bad Guys were playing at Finnigan’s Wake prior to them slimming down the SPD festivities and Doug said that Alex Chilton passed away and that it was a kick in the teeth for him. I played it off like I knew what he was talking about but I didn’t know.  Big Star has three entries on the RS list (#449, #434, #405). This is a “greatest hits” album but with some remixes and edits. I hear a lot of Doug’s influences here. Great collection. 2xLP. New.
  • Fleet Foxes – Helplessness Blues — The BCPF loves Fleet Foxes and it’s right in her wheelhouse. They only have three studio albums and we have them all, plus a 10″ single that we got for RSD Black Friday 2017. Sub-Pop makes her eyes wide and her breath choppy. Sub-Pop is the label in which FF is signed. 2xLP. New.
  • Various – Berry Gordy’s The Last Dragon – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack — I know it’s 80s cheese and the soundtrack is even more K-R-A-F-T but I love the crap out of this stuff. I loved the movie and the soundtrack. It was there in EX condition and I wasn’t passing it up!
  • Maxus – Maxus — I know NOTHING about this band. It seems to be AOR or something close. I can find some stuff on some of the members online but I think it’s a situation like Toto where it’s a bunch of studio musicians that actually formed a band, but I don’t think they really got anywhere. This is the extent of their releases, I think. I don’t know. But, I like to hunt down stuff strange to me. It’s a promotional copy. VG++.
  • Big Country – Steeltown — This was the follow-up album to the band’s debut, The Crossing which spawned the hit “In a Big Country.” This album had none of that kind of star power but it wasn’t a bad listen, at all. I will even say I enjoyed it. EX.
  • Julian Lennon – The Secret Value Of Daydreaming — The second album from Julian and while it didn’t have the oomph that Valotte had, it still had a modest hit with “Stick Around” that made it to #32 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Mainstream Rock chart. The video featured Michael J. Fox, Joe Piscopo, Martin Kove (the heel sensei from Karate Kid), Playboy playmate Peggy McIntaggart and Jami Gertz. VG+.
  • Cheap Trick – Found All The Parts — A 10″ EP release from 1980. A cover of The Beatles’ “Day Tripper” (not live) and three other tunes recorded live. Apparently, there were several versions of this having different members on the labels. I got the “Bun E on both sides” copy. VG+.
  • Tuxedo Junction – Tuxedo Junction — I thought the cover was cool and didn’t know what it was. Think Taco doing “Puttin’ on the Ritz” but about 5-7 years earlier and then take Taco out of it and that’s what you get here. “Chattanooga Choo Choo” and stuff like that. It was a good laugh if nothing else. EX on transparent gold.
  • Various – Original Soundtrack From The Motion Picture “Teachers” — Nick Nolte, JoBeth Williams, Ralph Macchio, and Judd Hirsch. That’s who was in the film. .38 Special, Roman Holiday, Night Ranger, Motels, Freddie Mercury, ZZ Top, Bob Seger, Joe Cocker, Ian Hunter. That’s who was on the soundtrack. VG+.
  • The Peabody College Madrigalians, Members Of The Nashville Symphony Orchestra – A Psalm Of Joy — Moravian Music. That’s all I got. The BCPF loves her Moravian culture (she worked at Old Salem for many years). VG+.
  • Various – Slavic Traditions — So, here is the start of the other TimeLife collections. As with the GMoM series, these have 4xLP and all three boxes are VG+ condition sleeve and media.
  • Various – The Spanish Style
  • Various – The Story Of Great Music: From The Renaissance

Now, as promised, the “rest” of the TimeLife Great Men of Music series. These are in the order I received them, not in their serial numbers the ratings are “media” and “sleeve”:

The reason I noted that they are closer to Near Mint is that with Discogs, most of the sellers keep their ratings slightly lower than what they are. Why? If they rate it NM and you feel it’s really only VG+ then they feel you’ve cheated them. If you list it VG+ and it’s really closer to NM, they are generally happy that it was better than expected. Most of them had listed any defects or blemishes and I saw no need to detract from the near-pristine state most of them were in. This genre of music tends to be collected by more discerning and responsible record owners. Not saying rock people don’t take care of their records, many do, but I know what crappy condition my albums were in when I was a kid, for sure. Now, I take very good care of my stuff, even using a vinyl brush and cleaning them after so many uses. Also, anything that wasn’t from the $1 bin gets a plastic sleeve.

Of course, all the non-classical stuff (and the three collections and Moravian music) all come from Underdog Records. Jonathan is ramping up for Record Store Day(s) 2020. It’s a little different this year and will NOT involve camping out. To learn more about the RSD events and how you can be part of them (it is very different this year), visit the Underdog Records website. We missed Underdog Records and Jonathan last week. We made up for it this week. Obviously, I use Discogs to track my collection and to purchase things I can’t find otherwise.

Until tomorrow, keep spinning…
Scorp out!

—
“Now all the masters know that you need the glow. You need the glow, the glow to grow. If you love to live, you live to love. Hah, you got to move to the upper level. Cause when you got the glow, there ain’t no stopping what you want to do. Hah oh! To reach that upper level, your mind, body and soul must be one. It’s a sacrifice. It takes hard work. It’s a way of life.” – “The Glow” (Hutch)

Friend Friday or: King of the Wind

17 Friday Jan 2020

Posted by in Friend Friday, Podcasting, The Less Desirables Network

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Salutations™!!

Remember when you used to do the #FF on Twitter just a few years back? It stood for Follow Friday or Friend Friday (according to who you asked) and as far as I can tell, no one really does that any longer and whilst I’ll admit I was slack on that on Twitter, I will also say that Twitter isn’t my main social media platform and I just didn’t do it. But, I think it was a good idea and I’d like to pick that back up, except do it here on this blog.

I have a slew of friends that are interesting folks. They may have businesses, they may be musicians, they may just be eclectic as heck, whatever! I just think they need to be highlighted more because they bring awesomeness to the world and we’re lucky to have them here in WSNC.PWS

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This week, on The Less Desirables, we had Monique Ferrell Smith and Anthony Tang, the Executive Director and board of directors member, respectively, of the Piedmont Wind Symphony on as our guests.

The Piedmont Wind Symphony, now in its 30th season, is led by Musical Director and Conductor, Matthew Troy. Maestro Troy is not only a very talented conductor and musician but he’s just a great dude. His cast of musicians is based on wind instruments and other than a few outliers here and there, the Piedmont Wind Symphony has no stringed instruments.

PWS logoThe PWS started in 1990 when Rob Simon put together a group of musicians, that included educators and students, to perform compositions for wind instruments and ensembles. Simon was the man on the platform for many years. Matthew Troy came along in 2015, after a stint as the Associate Conductor with the Winston-Salem Symphony from 2009-2014.

As I said, this is their 30th season and already this season they have had two fantastic shows. The first was Along the Silk Road in September. It featured music from Pakistan, India, Korea and China as well as some Puccini and one of my favorite classical composers, Camille Saint-Saens. There was also a musical story that was recited, but I can’t remember the narrator’s name.

The next event was this past November when they presented Chaplin Meets Sousa featuring some bombastic selections from the march-master, himself, John Phillip Sousa and Maestro Troy and his cast also provided the music for two Charlie Chaplin shorts, The Immigrant and The Adventurer. 

I call Matthew Troy a friend and I have to say that just watching him conduct this ensemble is as much a spectacle as a rock concert can be. He is always energetic, fun, and brings majesty from those he conducts. They have fun with him and you can tell. As I told Monique, I had the whole seat but I only need the edge of it when watching him. I’ve never been a Sousa fan but the November show changed that. You can feel emotion and dynamics with your ears.

Next Friday, January 24, PWS will hold their annual fundraising gala with the theme of “It Happened One Night” and even though we’re heading into the “roaring 20s,” PWS is bringing the 30s (because of their 30th season, get it?) and the film It Happened One Night is from 1934. This means that 30s-inspired attire is expected as well as other theming. The gala will be held at the Millennium Center in downtown WSNC. Tickets are $125 per person and will include food, fun and frolic. And, there will be beer and wine, as well.

You can purchase your tix by visiting here.

Now, you know I feature my sponsors on here, a good bit. Well, this is different. In this instance, I am the sponsor. I am a media sponsor so it is my job to promote them, but this is an honest and heartfelt (and was not asked to make it) recommendation.

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Are you familiar with Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The King & I? It’s a musical that is based on Margaret Landon’s book Anna and the King of Siam. It’s also the presentation from Piedmont Opera that is coming in March. PO logo

Piedmont Opera has been an advertising client of The Less Desirables for a few years, now. PO has a few years on Piedmont Wind Symphony. Where PWS started in 1990, PO started in the late 1970s by Norman Johnson. It’s in its 41st season now.

According to their website, “Piedmont Opera produces the highest quality opera productions possible by using international, national, regional and local professional singers and technicians.”

I remember the first time I went to the opera. I was a senior in high school and the chorus class went to see The Marriage of Figaro. I drove and took a friend of mine with me. It was one of the first times I ventured downtown, too. I really enjoyed seeing the production. They did it in Italian (I think) and then they did this “rewind” thing and then did it in English. After the show, my friend and I went to my car and because she didn’t know you had to lift the handle to lock the door, it wasn’t locked and someone was able to get into my truck and steal my stereo and cassettes. That sucked but the opera experience was great. The last one I saw, Tosca they actually had subtitles so you could understand what was going on.

PO KingThe Piedmont Opera has now done over 48 different productions to an audience of over 150,000 people. I hope to have someone from PO to talk about The King & I in early March.

If you are thinking that you have to “dress up” for either the PO or PWS, think again. Both are more concerned with your butts in the seats than how fancy you can dress. Not, that you’re discouraged from dressing up. By all means, knock yourself out. It’s just not necessary.

Both PO and PWS, along with about 40 other arts organizations in WSNC/Forsyth County are participating in the year-long event, “Beethoven Rocks Winston-Salem.” You know I’ll be talking more about that over the next year. This is a big deal because this year would have been (in my best Alex de Large voice), Ludwig Van’s 250th birthday. So, you’ll hear Piedmont Opera doing Beethoven’s Fidelio along with the Winston-Salem Symphony and Piedmont Wind Symphony will be doing “Extreme Beethoven” from Johan de Meij in their concert in March.

You can purchase tix to the Piedmont Opera’s The King & I here.

As I mentioned, Piedmont Opera is an advertiser and thus I may get compensation from them, however, this is, again, an honest and heartfelt (and was not asked to make it) recommendation.

I hope you’ll visit my friends soon, not just Fridays, and help local businesses and local business owners and hey, you can get good beverages and delicious pies! Thanks for reading about my friends.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“Our Vision is to be the finest opera company of our size in the nation and acknowledged as the best at what we do.” – Piedmont Opera

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 9/14/19

15 Sunday Sep 2019

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Salutations™!!

The BCPF and I slept late because we were out late, even though I didn’t get to play on Friday night. But, we did eventually get by to Underdog Records and had a little bit of listening time before our Saturday evening plans. Here’s the haul:

Tonight_(album)

©EMI America

  • Belle And Sebastian – Days Of The Bagnold Summer — When anything by Belle & Sabastian comes out, we jump on it. This is to a soundtrack of a film, I guess by the name of Days of the Bagnold Summer. It is a great album. If you’re not familiar with B&S, you should check them out. I understand it’s not for everyone but you never know, you may like it. New.
  • Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers – Southern Accents — Petty’s 1985 album that spawned “Don’t Come Around Here No More,” “Rebels” and “Make It Better (Forget About Me).” It’s a great album. EX/VG++.
  • Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Let Me Up (I’ve Had Enough) — His follow up to the previous entry, this one had “Jammin’ Me,” “Runaway Trains,” “All Mixed Up” and “Think About Me” released as singles. A great album, as well. EX/VG++.
  • The Police – Ghost In The Machine — I had this one already but only in VG condition. I just couldn’t pass up a VG++ version. So, I’ll trade the other one in to Jonathan. This is tied for second of my favorite Police albums with Outlandos d’Amour, Reggatta de Blanc and Zenyatta Mondatta (yes, that is all their other albums) after Synchronicity. “Invisible Sun,” “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic,” “Spirits in the Material World” and “Secret Journey” were the singles but “Omegaman,” “Demolition Man,” “Rehumanize Yourself” and “Too Much Information” is also on this album.
  • David Bowie – Tonight — This may shock some people but the first time I ever heard of, or anything by, Bowie was “Blue Jean” from this album. I hated it. I don’t know why. It was because of the video on TBS’s Night Tracks music video program. Remember, I didn’t have MTV until 1986. I also didn’t have access to Bowie on the radio. I was so out of touch. That’s why I make it my mission, now, to absorb as much as I can. Bowie continues his writing with Iggy Pop on this album and does a Beach Boys cover (“God Only Knows” from Pet Sounds) and a Chuck Jackson cover (“I Keep Forgettin'”) and does a duet with Tina Turner on the title track. I love this album. VG++.
  • Chopin, Artur Rubinstein – Nocturnes (Complete) — You’ll see from the next few entries, there were a number of classical albums. This one first. It’s a 2xLP set of, well, the complete set of Nocturnes from ol’ Fred. VG.
  • Beethoven, Wiener Philharmoniker Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Pierre Monteux – Symphony No.3 In E Flat (“Eroica”) — Pretty much what it says. This one is NM and still sealed, although I’ll take care of that in the next little bit.
  • Luys Venegas de Henestrosa – Luys Venegas de Henestrosa (16th Century) “Libro de Cifra Nueva” — The “History of Spanish Music” series, this is a shload of harpsichord music. I don’t know how I feel about that. VG+.
  • Gustav Leonhardt, Johann Sebastian Bach – The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 — 3xLP set that is in great condition and we got it from the $1 bin. VG+.
  • François Chantal – Piano At Twilight — I love piano music, this was in VG+ condition and in the $1 bin. Yes, please.
  • Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Love Beach — Released two days before my eighth birthday, this is the “nadir” of ELP’s output. It’s the last one before they split up. They didn’t play together again until 1992. Although, Keith Emerson and Greg Lake did join up with Cozy Powell for a whole different ELP in the mid-80s. That’s the first time I ever heard of ELP and didn’t know that Palmer was even a thing. Anyway, this is supposed to be earth-shatteringly awful which makes me want to hear it. According to Keith Emerson, the album was “an embarrassment against everything I’ve worked for.” It was $1 and goes in my ELP collection. A win for me, even if it does suck like a Hoover. VG/VG+.

When we got to Underdog Records yesterday, Jonathan had put out some doughnuts from Krispy Kreme and we each had one. Jonathan is always doing cool things for his customers. He has a lot of speaker pairs for sale right now, you should check out the Underdog Records’ Instagram and Facebook to see what he has. Plus, follow to see what he’s just picked up or acquired and is putting out for purchase. Listen to each new episode of The Less Desirables to hear what the TLD/UR special of the week is!

I use Discogs to keep track of what I have so when I came across an album in the store I can look to see if I already have it. I was talking to another customer in the store and he says he gets home and realizes he already had a copy of something and just keeps it. I told him to use Discogs and that doesn’t happen as often. It does sometimes but not usually.

Until tomorrow, keep spinning…
Scorp out!

—
“I got my own way of workin’, but everything is run with a southern accent where I come from.” – “Southern Accents” (Petty)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 12/1/18

02 Sunday Dec 2018

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Salutations™!!

Our original plan for this week was thwarted when the Connells had to postpone their show in Durham due to a member of the band being in a car accident. So, we did the breakfast thing and then over to Underdog Records. It was a dreary morning but we brightened it up with rekkids! Here’s the haul!

Lightscamerarevolution

©Epic

  • Beastie Boys – Licensed To Ill — #219 on the RS list, I wanted to get this to show 3B that not all rap is this mess they call rap these days or cRap as I call it. Sometimes you gotta fight for your right to better music. New.
  • Suicidal Tendencies – Lights… Camera… Revolution — I used to listen to this when my friend Danny (Daniel now) and I used to cruise Stratford. “Lovely” and “Send Me Your Money” was the two best on the album and they still are. Robert Trujillo who is now the bassist for Metallica was the bassist for ST in the day. I saw them open for Queensryche on the “Building Empires” tour, too. They were one of the first rapping metal bands that I remember. New on transparent green vinyl.
  • The Mountain Goats – All Hail West Texas — This is one of those bands that The BCPF loves. This was the sixth “studio” album by the “band.” Up to and including this the albums had been recorded on a Panasonic boombox and it was only John Darnielle writing, recording and playing the songs. It’s a concept album that the cover even says, “fourteen songs about seven people, two houses, a motorcycle, and a locked treatment facility for adolescent boys.” You can hear the wheel gears on the boombox whirling the whole time. It’s very lo-fi and I didn’t really care for it, but it wasn’t for me anyway. New.
  • The Velvet Underground – White Light/White Heat — Once again, I will never understand the appeal of the Velvet Underground. Not the songs. The songs have some substance but the total disregard of sonic sense in the recordings of this album is raking on the nerves of people that enjoy real music. This is #293 on the RS list and I think that is asinine. It should be in the #1 spot for worst thing ever. This is worse than The Velvet Underground + Nico album and that’s saying something. VG++ but how would you know?
  • The Allman Brothers Band – The Allman Brothers Band At Fillmore East — The good news is I was able to add a few from the RS list. The bad news is that I don’t really like two of them. This was is #49 on that list which, again, I just don’t get. I stirred a bit debate on Facebook with the post about this album. I get so tired of extended jamming and endless crapola solos. I agree the guitar tones were fantastic and Gregg’s voice was on point, but if it were just songs of normal lengths, I’d have been quite fine with this, but it goes on and on and on forever. I mean the whole Side 4 is a 22-minute version of “Whipping Post.” I like that song but it was just a bunch of showing off. I didn’t care when I first heard it and I still don’t. But, it’s part of my collection and one off the list. VG+.
  • Handel, Leonard Bernstein, The New York Philharmonic, The Westminster Choir – Messiah — Christmas is coming, right? Leonard Bernstein, right? Yeah. 2xLP set. VG+.
  • Serkin / Beethoven – Three Favorite Sonatas — The “Moonlight Sonata,” “Pathétique” and “Appassionata” are the three and they are doing beautifully by Rudolf Serkin. This was NM and not a single pop and crackle was heard.
  • Bonnie Raitt – Takin’ My Time — I never really cared about Bonnie Raitt but the last few things I’ve listened to, I really liked from her. On this album, there are a few songs that she channels her inner Etta James and you can’t go wrong with that. Others she’s like Carole King. This is a great album. VG+.
  • Prokofiev – The Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy– Classical Symphony, The Love For Three Oranges Suite, Lieutenant Kijé Suite — A $1 bin find, it seems like yesterday was a good classical day for The BCPF and me. Yay us. Even though it was a $1 bin find, it is in VG+ shape.

We got a lot of it listened to yesterday. It was a good day, even with two (necessary) clunkers. Jonathan was bouncing around the store and joking around, so he has gotten over the Record Store Day weekend. He’s gearing up for a good holiday season and you should tell your loved ones that you want a gift certificate to Underdog Records for your Christmas gift. You can use it for anything in the store. You’ll get it on a 45 7″, too. Listen to The Less Desirables each week to hear the TLD/UDR special of the week.

Discogs is the way I keep track of what my collection looks like. Also, I can purchase from other sellers the things that Jonathan may not be able to get.

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’!
Scorp out!

—
“White light, White light goin’ messin’ up my mind. White light, and don’t you know its gonna make me go blind. White heat, aww white heat it tickle me down to my toes. White light, Oh have mercy white light have it goodness knows.” – “White Light/White Heat” (Reed)

Forty-Two On or: Destroyer

15 Thursday Mar 2018

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Salutations™!!

Forty-two years ago today, March 15, 1976, the fourth KISS studio album, Destroyer was released. Destroyer was the immediate follow-up to Alive which, thanks to “Rock and Roll All Nite,” really broke KISS into popularity.

200px-Kiss_destroyer_album_cover

©Casablanca

 

Their first three studio albums did absolutely nothing and were released within 13 months. They tried one after the other and no luck. This album was released two years after the first album.

People had heard rumors that this band KISS put on makeup and were rocking so hard that their live shows were going great. But, bands (and record labels) want to sell records. The release of Alive brought them to the radio. Fans then went back and bought up the first three albums, which made up the contents of Alive.

So, here they were recording a follow-up album. The record company brought in Bob Ezrin, best known at the time, for producing Alice Cooper. Ezrin brought string arrangements, choirs, and special effects. KISS was just straightforward Gibsons and Marshalls at that time. Fans were expecting the same hard rock pizzazz that KISS, Hotter Than Hell and Dressed To Kill had. They got that, kind of…

The strings and acoustic guitars, pianos and choirs kind of threw people off. Not in a bad way, mind you, just perplexingly. It wasn’t expected. And, really, that wasn’t something that happened on a full-blown KISS album again until 1981. The solo albums had some hints of it but, again, full-blown KISS albums.

The album starts off with someone washing dishes and listening to or watching a news report about someone dying in an auto accident. It was the intro to “Detroit Rock City,” which was based on a true story about someone who died on their way to a KISS concert in Charlotte. But, Charlotte Rock City doesn’t have the same ring to it. DRC was a song that I got really tired of really quickly. I got to where it turned my stomach to hear it. It was just overdone and I didn’t really care much about it. I will say the solo was awesome, which was arranged by Ezrin. I have come back around and now don’t mind hearing it again. I don’t know why.

The crash then goes into “King of the Night Time World,” a song about a youth having troubles at home and wanting to make it with his girl (“… and the dirty things that we do”). That song grew on me later, as well. I really didn’t pay much attention to it until the band I was in, Heavens Sake, learned it and played it live.

Third, is my favorite song from the album and one of my all-time KISS songs all around – “God of Thunder.” It is Gene Simmons, even though he didn’t write the song. Paul Stanley did. But, Ezrin thought the theme and progression were better suited for Gene’s darker character, so he slowed it down and turned it over to Gene. Starting off with Ezrin’s kids playing in the studio, they were wearing some space helmets with walkie-talkies in them. What they actually say has been debated for 42 years and even David and Josh Ezrin don’t know what they said. I’ve always thought they said, “okay… talk sexy.” Who knows? Anywhat! I have always loved singing this, which I did for the VSS show a few years back and playing it with Heavens Sake. The darkness of the song is amazing. Lots of crackles, feedback, screaming, moaning and wasteland effects. I love the song. Gene usually does his blood spitting at the beginning of this tune.

All that was well and good. Great hard-rocking tunes. Then it happened. The strings. The acoustic guitar. The odd lyrics and (gasp!!!) the Brooklyn Boys Chorus singing about getting a girl horny. “Great Expectations” was a drastic turn of events. Part of the compositional theme of the song was based on Beethoven’s “Sonata Pathétique,” and I find that pretty cool. Now, I dig the song; like it, in fact. But, it threw people for sure. After a few listens, it grows on you and it’s a pretty cool song. Odd… but cool. End Side 1.

Side Two starts with some rock and roll rebellion going on. Paul wrote two songs about breaking out and being free of the parental grasp on this album. Well, three really. I know that rock and roll was about rebellion and they took this to heart in the song, “Flaming Youth.” I mean, could it be more obvious? “My parents think I’m crazy and they hate the things I do. I’m stupid and I’m lazy, man, if they only knew. How flaming youth will set the world on fire. Flaming youth, our flag is flying higher and higher and higher.” Yeah, rebellion. The song was an amalgamation of ideas from Gene, Paul and Ace Frehley, with Ezrin taking them and embellishing them. I really dig this tune.

“Sweet Pain” is up next and it’s quintessential Gene and his horndog-laden love god persona. Ain’t no one can love you like me and my BDSM loving arse is basically the theme. I’ll love you so much it will hurt. And, he’ll do it while wearing leather and using whips. Isn’t that sweet? Yeah, sweet pain, from what I hear. I didn’t understand most of that when I was a kid but I find it funny now. Gene was what? 26 when they released this? Yeah. Horndog. And, I love it.

The third “break out and be something/do something song” was a bit of a smash from the album and a live staple for many years to come. “Shout It Out Loud” was co-written by  Stanley, Simmons and Ezrin. If it’s too loud they’re too old. Shouting it out loud is basically the cheerleading call-to-action of the rockin’ world. That’s what they want you to do. They took the title from the Hollies tune “We Want to Shout It Out Loud.” Wicked Lester recorded that when Gene and Paul were in that band. I got to do the Gene lines with my pal Reid Mansell at the VSS show.

“Beth” was a surprise. It was filler. It was a throw-away. They recorded it to appease Peter’s itch to have a song with his name on it. That may not be the official story but from what I’ve read between the lines over the years, yeah… It was the B-side of “Detroit Rock City” and was left to its (presumed) fate of filler. But, something happened. Something that I don’t know what really common at the time, DJs started flipping the record over and playing “Beth” instead of “DRC.” It still sits as the highest charting song in KISStory, at #7, one place higher than “Forever” which came 14 years later. I like the tune. I prefer the Eric Carr version on the greatest hits album, Smashes Thrashes and Hits in 1988, but this is classic.

The album closes with “Do You Love Me.” It’s a tune about the glitzy lifestyle of the rockstar and the potential gold-digging girlfriend who may or may not really like the singer; she may just be using him to get the status, attend the parties, get the backstage passes, limousine rides and so on. It’s sad really. That is unless Paul’s character in the song was getting what he wanted out of it. But, if he was, would he need to ask if she loves him? Probably not. That song became a concert staple. It then fades into some weird effected thing where you hear Paul doing banter from Dressed to Kill/Alive tour about a “rock and roll party.” I never felt it was necessary but I didn’t hate it.

I wasn’t into KISS or even know about them, until around 1977/78 and I never had this on vinyl as a kid. I did get it on cassette when I moved to WSNC and I definitely got it on CD and then the remastered CDs. I got it the vinyl remasters on 180g black vinyl that has all the original packaging and all.

I do have the remixed copy of Destroyer: Resurrected that Ezrin remixed and re-EQed the songs while adding some elements that had been left out. The original Ace solos (which were originally Dick Wagner of Alice Cooper’s band in the release) for a couple of songs and added some additional vocals to a few songs. Ace was part of stuff from this album but he was starting to flake a bit. That’s why Wagner did his thing.

The cover was painted by sci-fi/fantasy artist Ken Kelly (who also did the Love Gun cover) and it depicts a true wasteland with burning buildings and barren, burning land. It showed the band as larger-than-life characters that were destroying the world around them.

I don’t know why the album was called Destroyer other than it goes with the God of Thunder theme. I don’t know and I don’t care. It’s a great album. To me, there’s not a filler on there. It is #489 on the RS list I’m always talking about. It isn’t my favorite KISS album but I’d say it’s in the top 10. One day I really need to rank them. I’ll do a post on that when I do.

Have you listened to this album, Dear Reader? What did you think? Tell me about it, I’m truly interested. If you haven’t check it out on your favorite streaming service and if you like it, consider purchasing it. It sounds great on vinyl, but I’m biased. Rock on, Destroyer!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I’m the lord of the wastelands. A modern day man of steel. I gather darkness to please me and I command you to kneel before the… God of Thunder and Rock and Roll. The spell you’re under will slowly rob you of your virgin soul.” – “God of Thunder” (Stanley)

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 12/9/17

10 Sunday Dec 2017

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Salutations™!!

A lazy, snowy day in WSNC yesterday. It was great, though. It was cold enough to snow and the ground warm enough to not allow it to stick to the roads. They were navigatable and it was beautiful. The flakes were big and fluffy. The BCPF and I loved it. It was cool to stand in Underdog Records, talking records, life, music in general, everything. It was just cool. So, we walked out with this:

Phil_Collins_-_Face_Value

©Virgin

 

So, there you have this week’s haul. Not a bad one, I don’t think. We have sure enjoyed listening to the five or six we got through yesterday (and into today). Right now you can get an additional 10% on a gift certificate (also a 45RPM record with a sticker, très chic!) to give to that record lover that you just don’t know what they have already (and don’t look at Discogs to find out). Jonathan has a few turntables, both new and used, in the store right now! Go check them out. And, if you haven’t noticed, I like Discogs, a lot!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Sukie was the kid, she liked to hang out in the graveyard. She did brass rubbings, she learned you never had to press hard. When she finished hanging out she was all alone. She decided that she better check in at home. There was an awful row between her mum and dad. They said she hadn’t done this, she hadn’t done that. If she wanted to remain inside the family home she’d have to tow the line, she’d have to give it a go. It didn’t suit Sukie, so she took her things and left.” – “Sukie in the Graveyard” (Kildea/Geddes/Cooke/Colburn/Martin/Jackson/Murdoch

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 10/28/17

29 Sunday Oct 2017

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Salutations™!!

The BCPF’s and my trip to Underdog Records was cool because we got to see Clay Howard and two of his girls. One really must see Clay Howard often. There were a plethora of cool things to find there. Here’s what we picked up:R-2246678-1288212272.jpeg

There was another album that wasn’t listed on Discogs. It’s about 55 years old and is surprising to me that it’s not there. That’s three that I have to put in, I guess. It’s just tedious work. But, yes, I noticed that Jonathan had a shload of turntables that he’s probably going to put up for sale. Now, before the holiday season is the time to get a jump on your vinyl collecting.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“When I wake up, well I know I’m gonna be, I’m gonna be the man who wakes up next you. When I go out, yeah I know I’m gonna be, I’m gonna be the man who goes along with you. If I get drunk, well I know I’m gonna be, I’m gonna be the man who gets drunk next to you. And if I haver up, yeah I know I’m gonna be, I’m gonna be the man who’s havering to you.” – “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” (Reid/Reid)

Bringing a Little Class or: Relaxed and Refreshed

21 Monday Mar 2016

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Salutations™!!

This weekend, whilst watching The Chef’s Table, a six-part docu-series on chefs from around the world and their “best restaurants in the world” on Netflix, there was a piece of music that The BCPF drew a big sigh and said that it was one of her all-time favorite pieces of classical music. So favorite, in fact, that she didn’t know the name of it. I get that with classical music; it’s vast. There was a lull in the speaking parts and I “Shazam-ed” it to find out what it was.

It turns out that it was the second movement of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, 313T2XWTR2L“Allegretto,” which means a little lively. And, it also turns out that I have it on vinyl. I have all nine of Beethoven’s Symphonies on vinyl. So, we listened to that after the episode of The Chef’s Table we were watching was over. The BCPF’s father was big on classical and played that, over popular music of almost any kind, quite often at home. I was a music major my first stint in college and learned (and enjoyed learning) to appreciate it. I know my favorite pieces, especially from Beethoven and Mozart and some of the most famous pieces from others, like Strauss II and Tchaikovsky and Chopin. We enjoyed taking that in.

I got my first CD player in December, 1989. Sometime after that Ma Mére and I were doing a little shopping at Sam’s when we came across the “Masters of Classical Music” 10-disc set and she got it for me. I wore the Beethoven, Chopin and Mozart ones out, listened moderately to the Tchaikovsky, Strauss and Vivaldi ones and with the exception of “Toccata and Fugue in D minor,” stayed far away from the Bach one. I’m not a fan of his, at all. The others were Wagner (which I do like, even more now than then), Verdi and Schubert. Side note: I wonder if Giuseppe Verdi was mean? Get it? I’ll let it rest for now.

Anywhat! We put all 10 in my 200 disc changer and listened from Disc 1 (Mozart) through Disc 3 (Beethoven; Bach was Disc 2) on Saturday before we went to The Less Desirables Post-Post-Post Holiday Party. Sunday morning we picked back up and kept going through Disc 10 (Verdi). The BCPF did some things around the house, cooked some meals and actually colored a bit (yes, she does that; it’s cool). When 3B got there, I could tell that he was nonplussed. He’s been grounded from all his electronics and he’s relegated to watching whatever it is we are watching. However, we weren’t watching anything. He did try, though, I’ll give him that. Ordinarily, I’ll fight him on sleeping the day away but, for this, I let him go.

All of the music was relaxing. I told her that I have a good bit of classical and opera in my CD collection and we have access to much more online. It was really enjoyable so I think we can count on doing that a good bit in the future. So nice. So, Giuseppe Verdi… did you get it, yet? Giuseppe is Italian for Joseph and Verdi is Italian for green. So Joe Green(e)… Okay, it was a bad joke and not worth the build up. But, it’s here, anyway! Do you listen to much classical or opera? What’s your favorite composer or piece, or even pieces of music? I’d love to hear about it.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“Beethoven can write music, thank God, but he can do nothing else on earth.” – Ludwig Van Beethoven

Moonlight Birthday or: Not on Deaf Ears

17 Thursday Dec 2015

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Salutations™!!Beethoven

Just wanted to take a quick moment to wish one of my favorite composers of all time, the awesome Ludwig van Beethoven, a happy “christening” day. I don’t know when the birthday is, but records show that he’s christened on this day in 1770. So, that’s 245 years. Whoo hoo!

“Für Elise” is Ma Mère’s all time favorite piece of music, as is it one of mine. The “Fifth,” “Moonlight Sonata,” “Ode to Joy”and the list goes on. He’s awesome and I never tire of listening to him. The things he was able to do, even after losing his hearing, was some artfully and beautiful Roll over Beethoven and rest well, you sometimes arrogant bastardo!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“What you are, you are by accident of birth; what I am, I am by myself. There are and will be a thousand princes; there is only one Beethoven.” – Ludwig Van Beethoven