Tag Archives: Bruce Springsteen

Sounds Like Friday? or: Yeah, Because…

03 Friday Jan 2020

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Salutations™!!

I’m moving the Sounds Like Saturday to Friday this week only (I hope) and doing Friend Friday on Saturday because I was busy today and want to make sure I dedicate time for the FF thing.

Sunday is the 46th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen’s Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J. and as most know I’m not a huge Boss fan. But, there are moments that I really dig. A few years back VSS did a whole Summer of Bruce thing and I did “I’m on Fire” (from Born in the USA), “If I Should Fall Behind” (from Lucky Town), “Because the Night” (from whatever that’s from) and my favorite from Greetings… “Spirit in the Night.” Here’s Bruce, himself, doing it from 2013. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Crazy Janey and her mission man were back in the alley tradin’ hands. ‘long came Wild Billy with his friend G-man all duded up for Saturday night. Well Billy slammed on his coaster brakes and said anybody wanna go on up to Greasy Lake? It’s about a mile down on the dark side of route eighty-eight. I got a bottle of rose so let’s try it. We’ll pick up Hazy Davy and Killer Joe and I’ll take you all out to where the gypsy angels go. They’re built like light.” – “Spirit in the Night” (Springsteen)

Spinning (albeit not much) Sunday or: The Grab

20 Sunday Oct 2019

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Salutations™!!

The BCPF and I didn’t go to Underdog Records last week because Jonathan was on vacation. We didn’t go this week because I was at Pride from 8a until 7p yesterday. And, we haven’t really gotten to listen to many albums because we’ve been slammed both weekends and during the week.

TunnelOfLove1987

©Columbia

But, we got lucky when Chef Travis Myers brought me a boot box full of records. Many of them I already had so I looked to see which version I wanted to keep and put the discarded one in the boot box. The albums that we didn’t have I cleaned up and added to my Discogs (which we use to keep up with our collection). Thanks, Chef! All of these are to be considered VG+ unless otherwise noted. Here’s what we got:

  • Julio Iglesias – 1100 Bel Air Place — A collection of love songs from Julio and considered the breakthrough English-speaking album. It has “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before.” VG++.
  • Starship  – No Protection — considered the “second” album from Starship, this is the follow up to Knee Deep in the Hoopla which had one of the most horrible songs ever, “We Built This City.” This had “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” from the film Mannequin. VG++.
  • The Platters – The Golden Sides of The Platters — 2xLP greatest hits album.
  • Barbra Streisand – Songbird — It has her solo version of “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” that she had done as a duet with the song’s co-writer, Neil Diamond.
  • Traveling Wilburys – Volume One — George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty all on one album. That is a “supergroup.” VG++.
  • M1ke + The Mechan1c5 – Living Years — The second album by Mike Rutherford’s side hustle. I loved the first album. I like the title track of this one okay. VG++.
  • Bruce Springsteen – Tunnel Of Love — #467 on the RS list, this is actually a decent album, especially with “Brilliant Disguise,” the title track and “One Step Up.” I was happy to get this even if I’m not a huge Springsteen fan. VG++.
  • Neil Diamond – Heartlight — The title track made it all the way to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in late 1982. It was Neil Diamond’s last top 10 pop hit and also his last #1 on the Easy Listening chart.
  • Melissa Manchester – Don’t Cry Out Loud — I don’t know much about this album, but I like a few of her tunes, so yeah.
  • Jonathan Butler – Jonathan Butler — I know absolutely nothing about Mr. Butler other than what’s on his Wikipedia page. He’s South African and he’s on Jive and it’s from 1987. That’s the label that Billy Ocean was on about the same time and the tune “Lies” from this album hit the Top 40 at #27. 2xLP VG++.
  • Barry Manilow – One Voice — I have no problem with Barry Manilow. This was his sixth studio album and came out in 1979. It only had one relevant tune, “Ships.”
  • Linda Ronstadt With Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra – Lush Life — I dig Linda Ronstadt and I dig Nelson Riddle. Standards with talent. I dig that, too!
  • Jane Olivor – Stay The Night — I’ve never heard of Jane Olivor before. Like Jonathan Butler, just what her Wikipedia page says. She had performance anxiety and dealt with her husband’s illness and passing. This album doesn’t have an entry on Wikipedia, either.
  • Julio Iglesias & Diana Ross – All Of You — 45RPM, 7″, Single, whatever you want to call it. It’s in its original sleeve and it’s in awesome condition.
  • Michael Bolton – (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay — Same as above.

Thanks, Chef, for the additions to my collection. Hopefully, now that Pride is over, I’ll have some listening time. Underdog Records is back up and being awesome again. Listen to each new episode of The Less Desirables to hear what the TLD/UR special is.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Woke up this morning my house was cold. Checked out the furnace she wasn’t burnin’. Went out and hopped in my old Ford. Hit the engine but she ain’t turnin’. We’ve given each other some hard lessons lately but we ain’t learnin’. We’re the same sad story that’s a fact. One step up and two steps back.” – “One Step Up” (Springsteen)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 6/30/18

01 Sunday Jul 2018

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Salutations™!!

The BCPF and I were up early to head to Mary’s Gourmet Diner and then over to Underdog Records, yesterday. We were actually home before noon and that gave us over six hours of record listening before heading to Willows Bistro last night. That was great! Here’s the haul:

skidrow

©Atlantic Records

  • Skid Row – Skid Row – I have always been a fan of Sebastian Bach’s voice. He’s got power and soul. His range is amazing, too. This is a VG++ copy of the album was priced at about $20, so it was in magnificent shape and it was so fun listening to it on vinyl after years of CD listening. Great pickup!
  • Extreme – Extreme II: Pornograffitti – I wore the CD out for this album when I discovered it back in the very early 90s. I hate Gary Cherone’s voice outside of Extreme (like in Van Halen), but in Extreme, it fits darned-near perfectly. This was a VG++ copy. Now, my beef with the vinyl version of this album is the exclusion of “Hole Hearted.” I understand there are space limitations on vinyl (see my post a few months back about Dire Strait’s Brothers in Arms) but “Hole Hearted” made it to #4 on the charts! They could have left off “It (‘s a Monster)” or something else. Oh well. I also think this is the Canadian version of the album.
  • Polvo – Shapes – I had never heard of this band before but The BCPF says that they were a staple of the Chapel Hill scene in the early- and mid-90s. I know that it was mixed and partially recorded at my pal Mitch Easter’s Fidelitorium in K-Ville. It was a lot of soft to heavy stuff and I enjoyed listening with her. It was in VG++ shape.
  • Various – Lost In The Stars (The Music Of Kurt Weill) – Kurt Weill was a German/American composer and songwriter active in the 1920s through to his death in 1950. Perhaps his best-known work was The Threepenny Opera which featured the song “Mack the Knife.” This tribute has Sting, Lou Reed, Tom Waits, Marianne Faithfull, Todd Rundgren and others doing his songs. I loved all of it. The BCPF liked some of it. It was great stuff, to me. VG+.
  • Chris Stamey Group Special Guests The dB’s – Christmas Time – Chris Stamey is a Chapel Hill, NC native that spent a lot of time in WSNC. He was in bands with Alex Chilton of Big Star and he was also in Sneakers with Mitch Easter. He later formed the dBs with Peter Holsapple, which along with REM and Let’s Active (Easter’s band) led the charge for guitar bands in the southeast. It’s a Christmas album. That’s what I know of it other than what I’ve already said. VG+.
  • The Dream Academy – The Dream Academy – Yes, “Life in a Northern Town.” But, this album was so much more than just that song. The whole album is in that vein but it’s just as good as that song. This was in the $1 bin and there was a skip here and there but very little. I’m going to say VG.
  • Van Halen – Van Halen – the awesome first VH album and I got it for $1. After cleaning it up, it was in really good shape. Not much surface noise at all and not a single skip. I was quite pleased with that acquisition. I’ll go with VG.
  • The J. Geils Band – Ladies Invited – I don’t recognize any songs on here, but it was $1, so why not? VG.
  • Go-Go’s – Beauty And The Beat  – Yep, “Head Over Heels,” “This Town,” and “We Got the Beat.” No skips and it was only $1. VG.
  • Various – Top Gun (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) – $1 bin find. You don’t pass this soundtrack up. VG.
  • Michel Legrand And His Orchestra – The New I Love Paris – I’ve said it before but The BCPF and I are obsessed with French music from the 50s and 60s. It was $1 so there you go. VG-.

So, a while back, Jonathan had given me a crate of “warped” records that he was going to let me do some experimenting with because I wanted to play with flattening them. I went through some of them yesterday and while there was a little bit of warble on the turntable, none of the ones I pulled were too awfully bad. So, here’s what I cleaned from that stack:

  • Christopher Cross – Another Page – It’s the album with “All Right” and “Think of Laura.” The LP itself was in pretty good shape with the slightest warp. I would say it’s about VG.
  • Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim – Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim – Ol’ Blue Eyes. Not too bad. VG-.
  • Bruce Springsteen – Human Touch and Bruce Springsteen – Lucky Town – Sister releases, ninth and tenth of Springsteen’s studio albums, released on the same day. Lucky Town was still sealed. They each had a little warble but all in all, VG/VG+.
  • The Beach Boys – Endless Summer – 2xLP compilation album. I had to do some serious washing on this album and there were some spots on the album that I have no idea what it is. I washed it extra long and most but not all of that scum came off of the wax. I’d say G+, and that’s being generous.
  • Richard Marx – Rush Street – I’m a huge fan of Richard Marx, whether I should be or not. I dig him. One of my favorite tunes from him and this album is “Hazard.” I love the story. Not much warp, either. VG/VG+.
  • K.T. Oslin – 80’s Ladies – Still sealed and not much warpage. VG/VG+.
  • Various – Happy Days – Fonzie Favorites – Yeah, I don’t know. It was there and I couldn’t resist cleaning it to see what came of it. I’ve not listened to it but it’s mostly Doo-wop and old rock and roll. Everly Brothers, Bobby Darin, Bill Haley & the Comets, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Coasters, The Chantels, etc. VG.
  • Bee Gees – 1st – The guys, including the non-Brothers Gibb, look way young. It’s the coolest that Barry Gibb has ever looked, I’d say. It’s called 1st and for a major label, it is their first, but it’s third in their actual discography. It has the tune “New York Mining Disaster 1941” on it. VG. Mono.
  • Tom Jones – What A Night – I love me some Tom Jones. According to its Wikipedia page, “the album was promoted by Epic as showing a more sensitive and thoughtful side to the singer.” Okay. G+.

So, that’s a pretty good haul or at least a pretty good addition. Jonathan had a pretty good selection of receivers and turntables in Underdog Records yesterday. It’s a great way to start your record collecting (besides having something to play them on), having good and decent equipment.

Thanks to Discogs for providing a place to keep a record of what I have in my collection. Last night at Willows I was able to compare notes and collections with my good friend Michael. Discogs is great.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“A Salvation Army band played and the children drank lemonade and the morning lasted all day, all day. And through an open window came, like Sinatra in a younger day, pushing the town away, away. Life in a northern town.” – “Life in a Northern Town” (Laird-Clowes/Gabriel)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 5/4-5/18

06 Sunday May 2018

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Salutations™!!

First off, notice I changed the title of this one. It seems my Sunday posts are a bit verbose at times, and they’re usually about records. Neither of which really lends to the “silent” aspect of Silent Sunday. So, I think I’m changing the “haul” posts up a bit. I’ll still do Silent Sunday for non-record posts.

500x500

©A&M

 

Well, this is a little different in the record category, as well. I went to Underdog Records, three different times from Friday to Saturday. I went on Friday because I didn’t think I’d get there Saturday because of a party we were having with a dear friend of ours. That included a bus and beer. Yep. Bus. Beer. And, also, on Friday, I was given a few records by a friend of mine. She said, here you can have these. Some of them ended up crossing off a few entries off the RS List. So, here’s what we got:

  • Poison – Open Up and Say…Ahh! – Yeah, I know it’s cheesy “hair metal” but I don’t care. I love this album. I think Bret Michaels sings perfectly well for what they were. Still, when people talk hair metal, I’d say 17 out of 20 would say Poison first. This was a reissue, so new.
  • Dr. Dog – Critical Equation – A new album from a band that, to me, sounds like a mixture between Robert Smith of the Cure and Bob Dylan. It’s right up The BCPF’s alley and that’s why I picked it. New.
  • Liz Phair – Exile In Guyville – #327 on the RS List, this was a reissue on 180g vinyl to celebrate its 25th anniversary. It’s a great album. She’s ballsy for a chick. That’s a good thing. New.
  • Bob Dylan – Desire – #174 on the RS List. It was there in the used bin and in VG condition.
  • Frankie Goes To Hollywood – Welcome To The Pleasuredome – Yep, this is the “Relax” album, which is all most people know about. My second favorite song from the band is also on this album, “Two Tribes (For the Victims of Ravishment).” VG
  • Ella Fitzgerald – Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Johnny Mercer Song Book – Ella. ‘Nuff said. VG+.
  • Crosby-Nash – Live – Another rendition/combination involving any or all members of CSNY. Jonathan said it’s great so well see. VG+.
  • Stephen Stills – Stephen Stills 2 – Another in the CSNY shuffle.
  • The Motels – All Four One – “Only the Lonely” is on this one. I love that song and I want to hear more from them. VG+.
  • Bruce Springsteen – Nebraska – #226 on the RS List, it was a little more on the subdued side. That’s okay. I think I gave it a neutral review on the list. VG+.
  • Journey – Infinity – The first with Steve Perry singing and the last with Aynsley Dunbar on drums. I’d say “Wheel in the Sky” was the big hit on this one. VG+.
  • Stan Getz – Stan Getz I hope this is as good as the other Stan Getz things I have. I love his stuff. VG.
  • Squeeze  – Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti – I like Squeeze. It was there. I grabbed it. Done. VG+.
  • Fleetwood Mac – Heroes Are Hard To Find – Pre-Buckingham/Nicks Mac with Bob Welch still in the band. I like Bob Welch. Let’s see what we got. VG+.
  • The Alan Parsons Project – Eve – Another in the Alan Parsons Project cannon! VG++.
  • 10cc – Bloody Tourists – I love the song “Dreadlock Holiday” which is about reggae. I think it’s a great song. We’ll see what the rest of it sounds like. VG++.
  • Supertramp – “…Famous Last Words…” – I see a few of my friends talk about this album as something special. I like Supertramp, let’s see. NM.

These are the ones that were “gifted” to me:

So, a pretty big haul there. Thanks, Lori for the gifts. And thank you Underdog Records for providing me a “candy store” to be proud of. And thanks to Discogs for providing such a great place for me to catalog my stuff!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Winter is here again oh lord. Haven’t been home in a year or more. I hope she holds on a little longer. Sent a letter on a long summer day. Made of silver, not of clay. I’ve been runnin’ down this dusty road.” – “Wheel in the Sky” (Schon/Fleischman/Valory)

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 1/6/18

07 Sunday Jan 2018

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Salutations™!!

main-qimg-004351295541bbab7870fca578a57a4b-c

©Verve

 

So, yesterday was the first trip into Underdog Records of 2018. The BCPF and I got some good stuff, I believe. I filled in a couple of empty spaces on the RS list and one from the Eugeology list, too. The overall haul was short, but the depth was good! Let’s hit it…

Right after we left yesterday, Jonathan got in a used Audio-Technica ATLP120 in like-new condition with an upgraded cartridge. It has already sold but he gets stuff like this in nearly every day. Follow them on Instagram to keep track of what comes through there, as it comes through there. Great deals to be had there, in equipment and records, obviously! We also love using Discogs to keep track of what we have, info on the records, who produced what, who played on what and so on. Plus, there’s a marketplace if you’re not finding the stuff you need elsewhere. Check them out.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Everybody’s at war these days. Let’s have a mini-surrender. I need some sentimental hygiene.” – “Sentimental Hygiene” (Zevon)

Sounds Like Saturday or: Stayin’ Bruce

21 Saturday Oct 2017

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Salutations™!!

I’ve never been a huge fan of Bruce Springsteen but I’ve always admired his playfulness and the dedication to his craft. He takes one of my favorite disco-era songs and makes it his own disco-era song. So, here I present:

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk I’m a woman’s man: no time to talk. 
Music loud and women warm, I’ve been kicked around since I was born. And now it’s all right, it’s okay, and you may look the other way. We can try to understand the New York Times’ effect on man.” – “Stayin’ Alive” (Gibb/Gibb/Gibb)

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 5/20/17

21 Sunday May 2017

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Salutations™!!

We had another great haul from Underdog Records yesterday. Barely beating out Clay Howard to grab a few things, we nabbed the following:

1dark_side_of_the_moon

©Harvest Records

 

We’ve already hit the bottom shelves of our new record case, so, we’ll have to go get another one. Yikes. If you’re not using Discogs to catalog your LP collection (or even your CD collection), you should be. You have a record of what you have in case anything ever happens. And, if you’re into LPs and aren’t going to Underdog Records, you’re missing it. Even if you just want to get back into vinyl and don’t feel like looking for a turntable, he has some in stock that are affordable for those jumping back in.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“She calls me home, she says baby it’s a lonely ol’ night. I don’t know, I’m just so scared and lonely all at the same time. Nobody told me she was gonna work out this way no no no no no no. I guess they knew we’d work it out in our own way.” –  “Lonely Ol’ Night” (Mellencamp)

It’s a Death Trap or: Kind of Blue (RS Part 49)

23 Friday Dec 2016

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Salutations™!!

We have hit the big time of the Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums of All Time: the Top TWENTY! I’ve looked ahead and I see only one more compilation on the countdown total. It’s in this segment but at the end (I don’t like ending a segment on a comp). But, other than that, I’ll be hitting the discs and I’m pretty sure that my scrutiny and my questioning will reach an all-time high. These are supposed to be the best and I already know I’ll be questioning at least two of them, one in this segment and the other in the next. I still have a ways to go and a short time to get there, so let’s hit it!

#20 – Thriller by Michael Jackson. Still the best-selling album of all time. By a long mile, too. I had this on vinyl, well my sister did, and between the both of us, we destroyed it pretty darn good. Scratched the heck out of it and threw it about. We were kids, that’s 1thrillerwhat we did. This album had seven singles (out of nine total songs) and all seven went top 10 on the Billboard charts. The only two that didn’t was “Baby Be Mine” and “Lady In My Life.” I didn’t realize that “The Girl Is Mine,” with Sir Paul McCartney, was the first single released, in October 1982, a month before the album was released. I always liked that song and listened to it, but didn’t realize it was first. It reached #2. Up next was “Billie Jean.” That was the first one I remember hearing on the radio. I was just starting to listen to the radio because we had finally gotten a station to listen to. I’d been in my KISS hole up until then. I always thought he was saying “Billie Jean is at my door.” Louis Johnson of Brothers Johnson provided that fantastic bass line. It never stops. Those are always the ones that give me the most trouble, the repetitive ones. The song reached #1. “Beat It” next and it had a true all-star personnel list. Hidden for a while was Eddie Van Halen, but those who knew his style heard it in the solo. I wasn’t familiar with him so I didn’t, but when I figured it out, it all made sense. Steve Lukather played all the leads other than the solo and was the bass player. Steve and Jeff Porcoro plays keys and drums respectively. Another #1. “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin'” came out next. Not my favorite. I did like the “mama say mama sah…” part and I still haven’t figured out why we have to bring vegetables into it. It only reached #5. “Human Nature” only went to #7. “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” only went to #10. “Thriller” went to #4. This is a monster album and it continues to climb on the all-time sales list. I really, really enjoy this album. Let’s even go with a little light “love.”

#19 – Astral Weeks by Van Morrison. Top 20, eh? I don’t get it. Now, let me give the caveat. I think this is some beautiful music. The songs themselves are decent songs, well played and well produced. But, it bored me out of my mind. I tried to read along with the lyrics and it was excruciating. “Cyprus Avenue” seemed like he was just saying whatever came to his mind as he was playing it. While the lyrics of that song make sense, it’s like stream of consciousness and he just repeats things as he wanted to, as he went along. “Madame George” is the same way and the first line of lyrics from that song mentions Cyprus Avenue. Coincidence? I think not! I kid. “Madame George” is also over nine minutes long. It is impressive that Morrison recorded the whole thing in about 48 hours and with a group of musicians he didn’t know. Should this be in the top 20? I don’t know. If it were up to 1borntorunme, certainly not. Top 100? Probably not. Top 500? Maybe. But, it’s not up to me and it’s here. At times it’s like he is just wailing and not in a good jammin’ kind of way. So, it’s here and I don’t much care for it. Beautiful, but boring. Did not dig.

#18 – Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen. The album starts off with one of my two least favorite (that I know of) Boss songs: “Thunder Road” (the other being “Rosalita”). I have never understood the appeal of either of those songs. I suppose I never will. “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” is the story of the formation of the E Street Band. Bad Scooter must have been a nickname for Bruce Springsteen. Still not my favorite. The vocals in “Backstreets” seem to be buried in the mix and he’s just screaming his way through them. This has always been a peeve of mine about Bruce; he just screams through songs. Not always be enough. Musically, there’s a lot of good stuff here and lyrically, he’s a great and fantastic storyteller. It’s hard to beat him there, I’ll give that. And, musically, it’s all sound. I especially like the ending of “Jungleland.” But, something about all of it together. I haven’t ever cared about the title song but I don’t think I really ever caught the lyrics. I still don’t like it but knowing the lyrics makes it a little more tolerable. I’d prefer switching this album with Born in the USA (#86) and then it may be right. Perhaps switching Born in the USA with an earlier ranked Springsteen album and then switch Born in the USA with that. I don’t know i just don’t like this album. Did not dig.

#17 – Nevermind by Nirvana. The exact moment in time where the music that I love (yes, hairband and pop hard rock stuff), died; the moment this was released. I bad mouthed it and talked trash about it ever since its release. I made bad suggestions about Cobain’s suicide that I’m not at all proud of, not at all, I repeat. The truth is, it was time for that to stuff that I dug so much to be put out to pasture. Music is nothing but stale and stagnant unless it evolves. It was perhaps the biggest evolution that I had ever experienced in that sense, though. It was like this album was a musical murderer. But, again, it was time. I still held a grudge about it for a long, long time. It wasn’t until I was basically told to knock it 1nirvananevermindalbumcoveroff by The BCPF that I took time to listen to what was going on. I’ve only known her for a time going on seven years, so that means that I just came around a mere couple of years ago, or so. I purchased it. I listened and thought, okay, it isn’t so bad. But, listen to it in headphones, if you haven’t before. If you’re not too familiar with the album (uh huh really) give it a listen that way. Your mind will be blown how well produced (no, it’s not just noise like I thought) this disc is. And it’s not all gloom and doom that I always thought, either. Cobain was a lyrical genius. Was he the modern day John Lennon like his followers want to portray him as? Well, perhaps modern day, but not exactly. There’s only one of those. I’ve not even touched any of the songs, yet. The opening notes of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is a light setup for the punch in the mouth the rest of the album is going to be. It’s a teaser at the beginning and an onslaught to follow. The title was from a friend of Cobain’s who wrote on the wall the he smelled like the deodorant that his then-girlfriend wore. He was trying to rip off the Pixies. “In Bloom” has great harmonies and was fun to play on Guitar Hero. I love the flanged intro and feel of “Come As You Are.” That whole song feels dark but not necessarily foreboding. “Lithium” is a search for sanctuary in religion upon contemplation of suicide. But, it’s a great song. “Polly” is a good departure from the previous five songs, a little more melodic. After that, it gets a little noisy and less organized. There’s still good stuff there but it doesn’t compare to the first side of songs. Well, the first part, I don’t think this was on vinyl until reissues recently. Dave Grohl is a beast of a drummer, even without a lot of fills – he was pretty much kept at bay; and bad arse harmonies. Same with Krist Novoselic. A mediocre bass player, at best, but solid, all the way. I’m going to kick myself for this, but I believe it should have been about 5 positions higher on this list. Not quite top 10 but close. I love this album. Yes, I just said that.

#16 – Blood on the Tracks by Bob Dylan. A big departure from the heavier album prior. It seems as if Dylan is actually enjoying recording this album. He makes a trip back to the acoustic feel of this folksy day but keeps the band element. We just had Blue from Joni Mitchell last segment and the first song on this album, “Tangled Up In Blue” was inspired by that album after Dylan immersed himself in it. Two very long tunes are “Idiot Wind” (7:47) and “Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts” (8:51). One of those I liked and the other I didn’t. The “didn’t” is the former. “Simple Twist of Fate” is pretty good, too. I am a fan of “If You See Her, Say Hello.” It’s a beautiful tune. I love the harp-like and 1are_you_experienced_-_us_cover-editarpeggiated mandolin parts in that. Overall, I liked it, although after a bit it started sounding run together. I think it is definitely where it needs to be on the list, and I’ll say “dug’ but I’m not in a hurry to listen to it, in full, again for a bit.

#15 – Are You Experienced by The Jimi Hendrix Experience. I love that you can hear Jimi clear his throat before he starts singing in “Purple Haze.” I just think that adds a human element to this superhero-like figure. I never noticed him talking over the solo either. I am a fan of King’s X’s version of “Manic Depression” from Dogman, but I like this one, too. I don’t know if I knew that “Hey Joe” was a cover.I may have. I listened to this with headphones and there is a shload of panning effects from the first note of “Purple Haze” until the last sound of “Are You Experienced?” Also, a lot of delay and echo. The album sounds very experimental, something I think I sort of expected from Hendrix. I believe this is the album I’ve been expecting to hear from him and I’ve not gotten my fill until this album. I like this one better than all the others put together. Am I wrong in thinking that “Are You Experienced?” is a reference to partaking in drugs? The album is definitely in your face, but it’s got laid-back moments, as well. A lot of it, to me, reminds me of The Beatles around the “white album” time, which came out after this album. A good bit of it is trippy in psychedelia, too. Just listen to “Third Stone from the Sun.” I love the jazz aspects of that song. There are many great tunes on here: “Purple Haze,” “Manic Depression,” “Hey Joe,” “The Wind Cries Mary,” “Fire” and “Foxy Lady.” As, I said, this is the album from Jimi that I’ve been waiting on and I got it. I also want to reiterate that I like this better than all other of his albums on this countdown. I really, really, really “dug” it.

#14 – Abbey Road by The Beatles. I have three favorite albums by The Beatles: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles (White Album) and this one. I’m not talking about which is best, that’s not what this list is about, at least on my end. I’m talking about my 1beatles_-_abbey_roadfavorites. This was the last one to be recorded by the Fab Four. Yes, Let It Be came out afterward but that had mostly been recorded by the time these sessions started. Contention was high in the studio and tempers flew. After the recording of this was completed, John Lennon left, albeit secretly, and Sir Paul left publicly a year later. One purpose of this list for me was to explore more the “album form.” That’s why I don’t do compilations, no matter how important those may have been (at least in some cases). Of course, I’m a huge fan of the production, I love production. Another reason I am not usually a fan of live albums. But, it’s the construction, dedication to, and execution of the album, itself. This, to me, is one of the best and well constructed albums, ever made. The track listing is nearly perfect. From the “shoot” and bass line at the beginning of “Come Together” it’s a non-stop barrage of all things musical and really, all things Beatles. You get a little bit of everything here. Slow, heavy, pop, blues, everything. I won’t go into a song-by-song analysis because as I write this I’m already 2200 words in on this post. But, it should be noted that side two is basically a medley of unfinished songs that McCartney pushed together to create its famed weirdness. A lot of it makes perfect nonsense. Some of my favorite Beatles songs are on this album: “Come Together,” “Something,” “Here Comes the Sun,” “You Never Give Me Your Money,” “Golden Slumbers,” “The End” (telling wasn’t it?) and “Her Majesty.” The Vagabond Saints Society did a fantastic job with this album even though it was all a core band deal (I was part of the opening act). So, yeah, I could see this higher in the countdown, possibly even top 10 but, I’m satisfied with its placement here. I LOVE this album.

#13 – The Velvet Underground & Nico by The Velvet Underground. Okay, so in a discussion that almost lead to a major argument between The BCPF and me, I totally understand the need for this album for many people. I get that sometimes people need an outlet for what they have to say, the stories they need to tell, the thought processes they need to convey. Sometimes, there’s no other avenue. I also can get behind Lou Reed as a songwriter because I really find myself liking his solo stuff. He even co-wrote some songs for a KISS album. I get it. But, as I said, perhaps more than once in this segment alone, it’s not about the merits or overall importance of an album for me on this countdown. It’s whether or not I like it. Thumbs up or thumbs down. I only have two thumbs but if I had more I’d give a resounding 12 thumbs down for this. I have mentioned before, also, that I am all about production. I want production. I want to see what the producer’s vision was. This sounds like a big room with people playing whatever came to their minds without a care for key signatures, harmonious note intervals or anything that even remotely resembles a rational chord progression. But, I’m told, it’s about what they say. Not on my list. I don’t care what they’re saying. I’ve been accused before, and I accept it, to not getting the “spirit” of the song. In about 90% of the music I listen to, I don’t care about lyrics, I don’t care about message. I want to hear the overall package. Maybe I’m not equipped to comprehend what’s being said or perhaps I just don’t give two hoots about it. Either way, I don’t care. If 1milesdaviskindofbluethis album must be on the list, give them spot #500. I will never understand the appeal of this 49 minutes I will never get back. I’m sorry, baby, I just do not dig it. Hate is a strong word but the most descriptive I can use politely.

#12 – Kind of Blue by Miles Davis. John Coltrane and Miles Davis together. That’s like a dream, right? There is some of the most beautiful modern music I’ve ever heard on this album. Perhaps even on par with some classical. The last two songs: “All Blues” and “Flamenco Stretches,” plus the bonus track (“Flamenco Stretches (alternate take)”) reminded me of what Vince Guaraldi did later with the Peanuts specials, films and shorts. There’s a melancholy, an underlying sadness in what isn’t really sad sounding. It’s not blatant but understated. The feeling was definitely blue throughout. Now, all that good stuff said, I don’t know that it should be in the top 20. Top 200? Probably. Top 100? Maybe. It’s a great record and I’d love to have it on vinyl and I’d listen to it over and over again, but I don’t think I’d give it top 20. Bill Evans plays some beautiful piano on this album (except on “Freddie Freeloader” which was Wynton Kelly) and Paul Chambers’ double bass is some flavorful stuff. It’s good for conversation and good for relaxing. The album is fan-frickin’-tastic. I love it.

#11 – The Sun Sessions by Elvis Presley. Another one that I’ll have to revisit after this countdown is over. But, it’s a comp and the fact that it’s top 11? Argh! There should be another list for comps.

So, the Top 20 wasn’t as exciting as I thought it would/could/should be. Five “loves,” one “hate is too strong but close,” two “did not digs,”one “dug but meh” and one comp. I was hoping to be knocked out by something and with a couple I did, but for the most part, it was an average or so-so segment. Disappointing to me. Let’s hope for better to end the whole thing. That’s up next!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.” – “The End” (Lennon/McCartney)

A Man Needs a Maid or: Very Superstitious (RS Part 42)

28 Friday Oct 2016

Posted by in Music Review, Uncategorized

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Salutations™!!

The last segment of the Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums of All-Time was fantastic and I’m hoping this one will be, too. I’m not going to waste time talking about it, let’s delve, shall we?

#90 – Talking Book by Stevie Wonder. One thing that I have always loved about Stevie, 1talkingbookother than he’s just awesomely funky-n-groovy? That on many of his albums and tracks, he plays most of the instruments himself. Lots of clavinets happening on this album and other great keyboard spots. He plays the drums, synth basses, a bit of everything. That and guest spots from Ray Parker, Jr., Jeff Beck, Deneice Williams, “Buzz” Feiten make this album even more spectacular. Stevie’s use of melody and orchestration fills the cracks and holes (not in quality, just covers the speakers) with aural splendor. The ultra-powerful and urgent, “Superstition” is there and offset by the sweetness of “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” and “You and I” and “You’ve Got It Bad Girl.” There’s range and spread on this album and that’s a great thing. Groove and shuffle, intensity and tenderness, bits of it all. I dug this album and thought it was well composed.

#89 – Dusty in Memphis by Dusty Springfield. Dusty Springfield has such a smooth, silky and sultry voice. It’s standard soul and R&B that breathes sexy life into some serious Carole King and Jerry Goffin music. The couple co-wrote four of the tunes. Randy Newman wrote two. Other writing credits belong to Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, Eddie Hinton, Donnie Fritts, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, Michel Legrand, Burt Bacharach, Hal David, John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins, the latter two co-wrote what was probably her signature song, “Son of a Preacher Man.” That song is one of the sexiest ever, in my opinion and holy smokes! Tony Cogbill is a heck of a bass player. He’s all over the place and that is a good thing! My favorite songs are, of course, “…Preacher…,” “Don’t Forget About Me,” “The Windmills of Your Mind” which reminds me of something from a James Bond film, sexy and dark. I love the gospel-like choir on “No Easy Way Down,” too. 1johnny_cash_at_folsom_prisonThere’s so much power in her music and in these songs it’s easy to get lost in them. This is a fantastic album. I DUG it!

#88 – At Folsom Prison by Johnny Cash. Johnny seems to have fun at this show as do the audience members. He messes up a few times and doesn’t let that stop him or slow him down. He entertains and they love it. Cash speaks to the “less desirables,” the down trodden, the working man and common folk; he always did. Energy unleashed, this is rock and roll goodness that’s honest and genuine; at least in the delivery. He’s not afraid to chuckle at things happening in the audience or at himself. He brings June Carter up to do a few songs with him and she sings backup on out. Now, I had to piece this together as I wanted to hear the original track listing as that’s what I’m listening to on this. There was a bunch of other songs that got rid of so I could keep the original in tact. I may go back and listen to the others soon, as I’m sure they’re worth it. I really liked the album. Dug.

#87 – The Wall by Pink Floyd. My favorite Pink Floyd album. For one, because I’m a sucker for concept albums, even if I don’t get the story the first time around. Another, and more importantly, I’d say, is that it was the first Pink Floyd I ever heard. Yes, we chalk it up as 1thewallyet another check on the “I’m from West Virginia and my parents listened to country music” tally of life. Neither of those, by the way are knocks nor mock on the facts. We didn’t have radio stations that played Pink Floyd, or anything like that until around 1981 or 1982. Ma Mère listened to gospel or older pop stuffs like Leslie Gore or folksy stuff like Peter, Paul & Mary. Ma Père listened to country. Tears-in-beer country. Plus, none of my friends listened to Pink Floyd, so I had no exposure, at all. I do remember walking into a record store on Main Street in Welch, WV, looking for KISS’ Unmasked (1980) album and seeing a cardboard cutout of the album cover and Gerald Scarfe posters that were associated with the album. I moved to WSNC, as I’ve said countless times, in 1986 and there was a reissue of “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2” around 1987-88 or so and I bought it on 45. I had just started listening to the local classic rock station and got more familiar with some other Floyd songs. I decided, sometime later, to buy The Wall, but it was in or after 1990 because I didn’t buy my first CD player until December 27, 1989. I did have Delicate Sound of Thunder on cassette (it was released two days after my 18th birthday) and heard three of the songs that way. Anywhat! All that to say, I love the album and with the exception of a song or so (can we say “Bring the Boys Back Home?”). My faves are (all three) “Another Brick in the Wall,” “Goodbye Blue Sky,” “Young Lust,” “Hey You,” “Comfortably Numb” and “Run Like Hell.” I love the album.

1bornintheusa#86 – Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen. I think this is the first time in a bit, if not the entire list, that I have two albums in a row that I actually own. It may have happened. But, I’m pretty positive that it is the first time that I own two in a row on vinyl. Sadly, I didn’t have time to listen to this on vinyl at home. I’ll try to do a vinyl listen soon, if I have something that is available on it. That’s something that I’ve not done since I’ve started this countdown. It’ll be fun. When I first heard the first single, “Dancing in the Dark,” believe it or not, that was the first time I heard of Bruce Springsteen. Yeah, yeah, I know, but it really was. Chalk it up to my total immersion into KISS and just breaking out of the mold. And, here’s the other thing, I hated it, every bit of it. I don’t know that I heard “Cover Me” (the second single until much later. If I did, I probably turned it off or went out to play or something. I’ve mostly come around to who I used to call Spruce Bedspring over the years. Most of that with the help of my friend Beth who is the biggest Springsteen fan I have ever met or even ever heard of. To me, though, at the time, the title track and to some extent “Dancing…” sounds like he’s just yelling the whole time. I just wanted to shout back “just shut up!” Now, fast forward to now. I don’t know how I feel about “Darlington County” but the rest of the album (if you take into account I like more laid-back and alternative versions of the title track) is fantastic. Of course, my favorite tune (since I asked for it and did it at the VSS Springsteen show) is “I’m on Fire.” It’s a sultry little number. I loved the video, too. “My Hometown” and “Glory Days” are also faves of mine. There are some throwaways, at least to me, such as “Working on the Highway” and the aforementioned “Darlington County.” “Downbound Train” and “I’m Goin’ Down” make up for both of those, though. There were seven singles released on this album. While none of the songs are virtuosity tunes or even particularly intrinsic or complex, that’s not what this album was about it, I don’t think. It was just putting out a good album. This is that. Great even. I really dug it.

#85 – Lady Soul by Aretha Franklin. It’s like being in church, at least what I feel a southern African American church would sound like to be in. It’s almost like heaven (purposely not capitalized) was singing down on its people the whole time you listened to this. There’s some hefty love ambition and ooey-gooeiness, too. That’s good stuff. Now, my question is why does this deserve to be higher than say, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music, Giant Steps, The Bends, At Last! or Stand!? I thought this was a good album, great even, but it’s not better than those. I hear some iconic songs but they’re not so iconic to beat the stuff from those other albums. Top 500? Yes, Top 100? Not to me and just my opinion. Great stuff on this includes: “Chain of Fools,” “People Get Ready,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” and “Groovin'” even though there’s not a bad song on the album. And, she co-wrote a couple of the tunes, at that. I dug it.

#84 – I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You by Aretha Franklin. Yep, two in a row from the “queen of soul.” Like Lady Soul and I’m figuring a lot of her stuff, she co-wrote some of the tunes on this album, including “Dr. Feelgood (Love is Serious Business) and no, not the Mötley Crüe version. The song that I figure is most associated with Miss Franklin, “Respect” is on this album, as is “I Never Loved a Man (the Way I Love You)” which I don’t think I ever knew the title of the song, but was well aware of it. It’s in a lot of movies and commercials. One thing I find with her, especially on this album, is how even at this age (she was 24 when she recorded this), she goes between a mighty young thing to sounding like she sounds now at the age of 74. The example of this is “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man.” I like Aretha, I really do. I think she truly is the queen of soul. However, her status and accolades notwithstanding, I just don’t get how this album, like the one before it on 1axisboldaslovethis countdown are any better than most of the albums that were in the top 200-100? Does it deserve to be on this list, absolutely and I dig it, but I still don’t think it’s Top 100 material. Not a knock on the album, I just think some stuff is better. Dug.

#83 – Axis: Bold as Love by The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Um… “EXP” was a bit trippy. “Spanish Castle Magic” is heavy and is awesome. “Wait Until Tomorrow” is a fun little ride. I especially like “Little Wing.” I think the bell was a nicely added touch. In “If 6 Was 9” I believe I’m getting a bit of rebellion. Rebellion against the establishment. “White collared conservative flashing down the street. Pointing their plastic finger at me. They’re hoping soon my kind will drop and die. But, I’m gonna wave my freak flag high, high.
Wave on, wave on.” Speak it brother. I really think, though it was more about pushing individualism, not conforming to the status quo. That’s what I get anyway. I find that while some of it is in there, this album is missing a lot of the “Jimi Flair” that I expect with Hendrix albums. That does not mean that there aren’t great songs on the album. It’s just not what I expected. I’ve never been a fan of Hendrix, but was expecting a bit more from it. Now, I like this and think there’s great tunes happening on here. I liked it better than I thought I would. I just think it sounds like they were doing exactly what they set out to do: put something out because they were contractually obligated to do so. I think it was rushed and even though there’s some innovative things on here, it still sounds a bit rushed and the feel fabricated. Still, it was a Hendrix album that I liked. Dug.

#82 – Harvest by Neil Young. Yep. It’s Neil Young. Brilliant songwriter, horrible voice. The orchestrations and instrumentation on this album is out of sight. This was the immediate result after Young left Crosby Stills & Nash. He went country. “A Man Needs a Maid” is the first true bit of genius I get from this album. The first two tunes, “Out on the Weekend” and the title track are fine but “…Maid” is a fantastic song. I could (and did, listen to that a few times). “Heart of Gold” is Neil Young, to me. Crunchy, yet meaty. I like that tune. “Old Man” reminds me of something that CSN would have done but actually sing it better. Not taking away from Young, here. I’m just thinking it could have been done by CSN. There’s more of the fantastic orchestration (performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, by the way) on “There’s a World.” If he had made an album full of stuff like this and “…Maid,” I’d have been searching the world over for the vinyl version. “Alabama” is the precursor (along with “Southern Man” from After the Gold Rush) to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s response in “Sweet Home Alabama.” Even though I don’t really hear the disparaging remarks in the song. I read the lyrics and it seemed there was truth, but I guess no one likes to be told they’re ugly (I know it was more than that, it’s metaphorical). “The Needle and the Damage Done” is a classic, sad and beautiful song, recorded live in January of 1971. All in all, this album is a good one, it’s a good jump from his days in CSN and a good direction for him. I like about 8 of the 10 songs. Good work, Mr. Young. I dug it!

#81 – The Clash by The Clash. This is the UK version of the album. The Clash have a way to make their angst sound fun. There’s 14 songs on this album and I don’t really care anything about any of them. “White Riot” is pretty good, but the rest of it was background as I wrote for The Man Who Walked the Town. It’s just not my bag. I will say, though, that I like The Clash tons more than The Ramones. I will never get that, at all. I really liked The Clash in their later years. The more poppy stuff was, to me, much better than this. Not saying it is bad, just saying it does nothing for me. But, as I said, even through the politics and angst, they have a weird poppy feel and is that reggae I hear in there? A little. Not a bad album, just nothing I care about. Meh.

I got through this segment pretty fast. Still wondering about those Aretha records being this high on the chart, but they are landmark ones for her. Great start of this round and it gradually got me less enthusiastic by the end, but, there’s not a bad album on this segment. Again, we must be in the top 90 with this. Can’t wait to see what the next segment brings.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Sometimes it’s like someone took a knife, baby, edgy and dull and cut a six inch valley
through the middle of my soul.” – “I’m on Fire” (Springsteen)

Cease and Desist or: No More Political Use?

05 Thursday May 2016

Posted by in Life as We Know It

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Salutations™!!

First, let me be clear. I’m not at all trying to get into or start a political conversation as a) I’m tired, and have been tired since 2012, of hearing about politics, the people and even issues and b) I try to stay out of political conflicts with my friends and family. Any comments that have to do with endorsement of or to talk crap about any of the candidates (even if it’s positive about the one that I personally like and want to win) outside of just a mention to this article, will be deleted.No Use of Music

Now, the reason I’m posting this is just that I found it an interesting read. It’s about what can artists actually do to enforce their demands that candidates stop using their music for celebrations or to make a point. It really goes beyond politics, but it seems that politics are the most polarizing of circumstances and we’re in the heat of the political season.

I give FULL credit to Travis M Andrews and The Washington Post for the article. It isn’t mine, it’s theirs. I’ll post part of it here, but I recommend that you read the whole thing.

“As reality television star and real estate mogul Donald Trump took to the stage at Trump Tower on Tuesday to deliver his victory speech, a familiar tune filled the room: ‘Start Me Up,’ that rough, thumping anthem by the Rolling Stones. (Perhaps Trump hadn’t listened to the final two lines of the song beforehand, which Salon reported had to be cut for their raunchiness during the band’s Super Bowl appearance in 2006).

The song has a history of advertorial usage — it was the first Stones song used in a TV commercial when Microsoft co-opted it to sell its Windows 95 operating system, Business Insider reported — but the band might be more fond of Bill Gates than of Trump. On Wednesday, it released a statement that read, ‘The Rolling Stones have never given permission to the Trump campaign to use their songs and have requested that they cease all use immediately,’ Entertainment Weekly reported.

It’s far from the first time this sort of thing has happened. Numerous examples have appeared in this election season alone. Trump’s candidacy kicked off with Canadian rocker Neil Young blasting the businessman-turned-politician for using ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’ during his candidacy announcement. Adele and Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler have both demanded Trump stop using their music, the Associated Press reported.

And a glance at history reveals many more examples.

Perhaps the most notable one is Bruce Springsteen versus President Ronald Reagan. During his successful run for reelection in 1984, Reagan announced to a crowd in New Jersey, ‘America’s future rests in a thousand dreams inside our hearts. It rests in the message of hope in the songs of a man so many young Americans admire: New Jersey’s own Bruce Springsteen,’ CNN reported.

He was referencing ‘Born in the U.S.A.,’ which he had requested to use in his campaign, only to be denied by Springsteen. The New Jersey rocker was so angry, the previously apolitical rock star began speaking out against Reagan.

‘I think people have a need to feel good about the country they live in. But what’s happening, I think, is that that need — which is a good thing — is getting manipulated and exploited,’ Springsteen told Rolling Stone, regarding the candidate’s request.”

The article (which you should read all of here), goes on to talk about other artists in the modern era that have demanded that candidates not use their material on the campaign trail. Then the question is posed as to whether there’s any recourse if the candidate refuses to stop using it. Here’s that part of the article:

“With that in mind, do bands have any true recourse to stop politicians, aside from making public statements and hoping to shame them into pulling the songs from their campaigns? As it turns out, the answer to that question is both yes and no.

First, it depends on how the songs are used. Most of the complaints listed above are for politicians using their songs at campaign rallies, which the Associated Press reports is legally okay so long as either the political organization or the venue acquires a ‘blanket license’ for an artist’s entire catalogue from ASCAP and BMI — both of these are non-profit performing rights organizations that license music and distribute royalties.”

The article goes on: “Then, there’s what the song’s usage might denote. Musicians can (and have) sued politicians for false advertising claiming that the song makes it seem as if the musician has endorsed a particular candidate, the New York Times reported. The ‘right of publicity’ also potentially allows an artist to protect his or her image in the public realm.

‘It’s untested in the political realm,’ Iser told Rolling Stone. ‘Even if Donald Trump has the ASCAP right to use a Neil Young song, does Neil have the right to nevertheless go after him on right of publicity? I say he does.’

An ‘explainer’ released by ASCAP states, ‘As a general rule, a campaign should be aware that, in most cases, the more closely a song is tied to the ‘image’ or message of the campaign, the more likely it is that the recording artist or songwriter of the song could object to the song’s usage in the campaign.’

It remains a legal gray area, but lawsuits against politicians have become more common since 2008.”

Now, I’ve never had the pleasure or displeasure of having a song played at a political rally or equivalent. I don’t really know how I’d feel about having that happen. If it were a candidate that I can’t get behind, don’t like their platform or think they’re completely wrong for the country, then I would probably want to disassociate myself. If I agree with them, I may go along with it. But, hey!? Who wouldn’t want to have that kind of publicity if you’re in the business of publicity? Again, if it was the candidate that I support and believe in. I’m wondering if candidates shouldn’t hire artists to write them songs specifically for them? That would give them exclusivity and work for the artist, am I right?

To my music friends (or even my friends who aren’t musical but wish they were), would you let your music be used by a candidate that you don’t agree with? Do you weigh the royalties vs. integrity (if you think that’s what would be compromised)? Do you weigh the publicity vs. damage? I’m sure you do, but would you allow them to use it? I’m just interested.

Again, FULL credit to Travis M Andrews and The Washington Post for the article which you should read in its entirety, here.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“Because nobody sued, the candidates always thought they could get away with it, and they still think that today,” – Lawrence Iser