Tag Archives: KISS

Sounds Like Saturday or: Hot… in the Shade

17 Saturday Oct 2020

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Salutations™!!

Today is the 31st anniversary of KISS’ 15th studio album, Hot in the Shade. It rides really low on my list and if you search this blog you’ll probably find it. We talked about it on Asylum – The Tales From the Devereaux Diaries podcast. Anyway, the album had a few hits including this one, which, oddly enough ended up on five different albums in a year’s time. Bruce Kulick plays on this, I suppose. I like it. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Johnny saw her riding on a street car named Desire. His fate was sealed. She could see him coming like a hundred other liars. It was no big deal. Rosa had a lover on the shady side of town – Tito, he was king of the streets. She was his possession like a jewel on his crown. Johnny better run, better run. Better hide your heart.” – “Hide Your Heart” (Stanley/Child/Knight)

Now Normal Chronicles or: It’s Alive… II!

14 Wednesday Oct 2020

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Salutations™!!

Today is the 43rd anniversary of KISS Alive II. That means it is just 3 days younger than my sister. Sorry, Sis, I guess I gave that away… Anyway, it had some of my favorite KISS songs on it and five studio tunes. This song featured Bob Kulick stepping in for Ace who couldn’t be bothered to show up or just wasn’t able because of demons (and not the Gene Simmons kind). Bob’s younger brother, Bruce, was later a full-member (well, full hired hand). Bob sadly passed away in May of this year. RIP, Bob. Enjoy this video!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Do you wanna make believe? There’s nothing up my sleeve. I’m a man as man can be as you can plainly see. Don’t wanna see no tears. Eliminate your fears. When you think you’ve seen it all, baby… You can’t believe your eyes, what you heard weren’t lies. My love is too much to hold, too much to hold. Much too much.” – “Larger Than Life”

Now Normal Chronicles or: Hell or Well, Hell

09 Friday Oct 2020

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Salutations™!!

Today is the 8th anniversary of KISS’ last (so far) album, Monster. We talked about this this on Asylum: Tales from the Devereaux Diaries podcast last night. It’s not a bad album. There’s a lot of energy and a lot of ambition. I didn’t like it much at first, but over the last two weeks I have listened to it a lot (along with Sonic Boom) and have a new appreciation for it. This KISS tribute band does a decent job with it. The Catman looks like Peter back there. The Starchild has a hard time with the vocals but no worse than Paul does. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I rode the highway to heartache. I took a trip on the ship of fools, woah yeah! And I paid the price to have my way because money makes the rules, yeah!” – “Hell or Hallelujah” (Stanley)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 10/3/20

04 Sunday Oct 2020

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Salutations™!!

It was a routine Saturday for The BCPF and me. Underdog Records, breakfast, records, dinner, movie. That’s how it was and that’s how we like it. Here’s our haul:

©House of Mythology

Sufjan Stevens – The Ascension — I learned very early on in my relationship, nay, my knowing of the existence of The BCPF that Sufjan Stevens is one of her all-timers. Yet, she insists every time we put something new or even old by him, in apologizing because she doesn’t know if I’ll like it. She does that with a lot of her music. I feel don’t be apologetic about it. If you like it, dig it. I picked it out for her because I heard it whilst making the commercial this week for Underdog Records on The Less Desirables. It was a bit more electronica than I was expecting but I really enjoyed it. It’s indie-exclusive clear vinyl. New.

The Doors – Live At The Stockholm Konserthuset, Stockholm, September 20th, 1968 – Radio Broadcast — From the notes on Discogs: “Copyright 2019 Supernaut Records. Manufactured in the EU. Broadcast in 196X. Not exportable for the USA. This is an indipendent [sic] production , released strictly in accordance with the 1988 Copyright Act. Limited to 500 copies.” And, yet, here we have it. I’m okay with that. Import (obviously), unofficial (obviously). New.

Wilco – Sky Blue Sky — I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, The BCPF loves Wilco. We got Wilco. 2xLP. New.

Green Day – Dookie — #193 on the RS List (that matters). The band’s major-label debut. The album had five singles: “Longview,” “Basket Case,” “Welcome to Paradise,” “When I Come Around” and “She.” Back when this came out, I hated it, because, I didn’t understand it. I understand it. I like it. I couldn’t believe I didn’t already have it in the collection. New.

Ulver – Flowers Of Evil — Ulver means “wolves” in Norwegian. This band started out as a black metal band in Oslo. They have “developed” over the years. They were black metal, then blending experimental rock, electronica, ambient, trip hop, symphonic and chamber traditions, noise, progressive and experimental music into their oeuvre. I like that word. Ulver’s Oeuvre. Sounds like a band. Anywhat! This is more along the lines, at least to me, of some goth synth pop. I enjoyed it and The BCPF did, too. I heard it whilst making the Underdog Records commercial for TLD. White vinyl. New.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Electric Ladyland — #55 on the RS list (that matters) and #53 on the ridiculous new list, this was Jimi’s last album before he passed. “Crosstown Traffic” and Jimi’s cover of Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” were probably the biggest hits from the record at the time, but “Voodoo Child” and “Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)” have become pretty popular, too. The hype sticker reads: The Authorized Hendrix Family Edition. 180 Gram Audiophile LP Pressing. All Analog Remaster From The Original 2-Track Master Tapes By Jimi’s Original Engineer. Complete Original Artwork, 8 Page LP sized booklet with Rare Photos and Liner Notes. Packaged in a gatefold sleeve. It’s new!

Kiss – The Originals — So, Jonathan just gave this to me. The cover is beaten up, the records have scratches and my search still continues for a good copy but I at least have one in my possession. This is a second printing of the collection, which includes the full albums of KISS, Hotter Than Hell and Dressed To Kill, their first three albums. Again, it’s a pretty crap copy but I have one. But, as I said, I will continue to search for a decent copy. Graded G at best.

That’s the haul. The fair and beautiful weather made for a slow morning for Jonathan, I think. He had added some new stuff in the “Freshly Used” section. He will be going through more this week. Remember he does store to porch deliveries Monday through Wednesday and the brick-and-mortar store is open Thursday through Saturday from 11a to 7p. You can order, anytime, day or night by visiting the Underdog Records website. Hey, do me a favor and tell him that I sent you. Also, use Discogs to track your collection, vinyl, CD, cassette, whatever.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Do you have the time to listen to me whine about nothing and everything all at once? I am one of those melodramatic fools, neurotic to the bone, no doubt about it. Sometimes, I give myself the creeps. Sometimes, my mind plays tricks on me. It all keeps adding up. I think I’m cracking up. Am I just paranoid? Am I just stoned?” – “Basket Case” (Armstrong/Prichard/Wright)

My Holiday or: A Happy Podfather

30 Wednesday Sep 2020

Posted by in Life as We Know It, Podcasting, The Less Desirables Network

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Salutations™!!

Today I get to celebrate a holiday that many celebrate now but when I started there were a lot fewer. Today is International Podcast Day.

I have mentioned before that I have been podcasting longer than probably 98% people in the area and probably that much or more continuously. I started podcasting in 2007 when I was co-owner of a local comic book store. We only did about 5 or 6 that was even worth mentioning and it most of that was rehashing recorded conference calls with Marvel Comics execs. But, it was a start and wasn’t what I wanted to do. I wanted to do a radio show. I wanted to talk about pop culture. I still want to do radio. And, in a way, I do.

I started The Less Desirables with my pal Brian Attridge on February 3, 2010. You know that story. Eugene came along, Brian left, Caitlin came, Eugene left, Bruce came, Bruce left, Danielle came, Caitlin left, Bethany came. I’ve talked that ad nauseum by now. I wanted to do more than The Less Desirables, though. I wanted a whole network of podcasts, whether I was involved or not, perhaps just as an associate producer. Also, I wanted to get my “studio” out of my house and into a real business location.

So, in late 2012, Eugene and I moved all my stuff from my bedroom loft to a spot in the Chatham Building off of Fourth Street in WSNC. Soon after, in early 2013, I started producing both the Camel City News Hour hosted by Chad Nance and Fan Interference hosted by Ty Collins. CCNH lasted a few years and Fan Interference is still going today. Later in 2013, Nikki Miller-Ka, The BCPF and I started Tart & Tangy Triad, a food news podcast. That went until early 2016.

In February 2015, five years after starting The Less Desirables, Jon Lowder, Paul Jones, and I started The Beer Dads Podcast, after we were sitting at Small Batch Beer trying to decide what we were going to do a podcast about and I came in complaining about 3B, my son. We recorded it and Jon and Paul have become partners of mine. We have crossed the 200 episode mark.

In July of 2016, I recorded my first episode of The Man Who Ate the Town Podcast because I wanted another food podcast and had to rebut nasty comments about a critique of a local restaurant that I was actually a fan of. That is still going and I have had four co-hosts. Kelly Bone was my first, followed by Tim Johnson, then Ray Morgan. Ray is still with me and we have added Lea Metz to our lineup. I love them both being there. We will record episode 170 next week.

In late 2016, I started Sipping NC: The Art of Drinking Podcast with Jordan Keiper and we had a lot of drinking to do, for sure. We recorded into 2017 had to pause due to an illness in Jordan’s family. We are still on that hiatus, although Jordan and I have discussed, along with Danielle from TLD restarting it back up, but C-19 and other issues have kept us from doing that.

In 2018, along with “Jeff Evans” and Rory, we started Apartment 5B: Irrational Conversations with the Cool Breezes of Anytown, USA. We did that up to the pandemic, which JE’s wife was getting ready to have a baby, so we put everything on hold and we haven’t started back up.

In July 2019, Clay Howard and I started Beeswax Vinyl & More, a podcast that explored music in a different way. Clay’s schedule didn’t allow for him to do that long. I’m exploring other options for that. I haven’t given up on it. Stay tuned.

In February of 2020, Eugene B Sims started his long-awaited podcast, Wheeler’s Dog. He does two a week, one for the general public and one for his Patreon subs. I am an “associate producer” for that show. It’s all Eug, really. But, it is on my network.

And, finally, in July of this year, my “Kousins” Gary and Marvin and I started Asylum: The Tales from the Devereaux Diaries Podcast. We talk music but almost exclusively about our favorite band, KISS.

Also, I have produced a lot of podcasts for companies and clients. Forsyth Magazines, Blue Door Group, Phoenix Rising, Ring the Bell Realty, Center for Private Business, Dr. Shawn Ricks, and more are on the way in the next few months.

So, podcasting is now in my blood. I have done it so long and for so many that I’ve been christened, “The Podfather” and I love that title. I run with it and will continue to do so. So, to all my podcasting co-horts, whether they’re mine or not, to those in the community that do podcasts that I’m not part of but may have been inspired by (so I’ve been told) and to the people who listen to them, HAPPY INTERNATIONAL PODCAST DAY!!!!!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I think podcasting is here to stay.” – Adam Scott

Now Normal Chronicles or: Circus Baby

22 Tuesday Sep 2020

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Salutations™!!

Today is the 22nd anniversary of the last KISS album that had any substance, Psycho Circus, another polarizing and controversial album because Peter only played on one song, Ace only played on a small handful of tunes. I like it and with the exception of a tune here and there, it’s a good pop rock record. The best song on the album is the title track, I think. These ladies do a good job with it.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—

I’ve been waiting here to be your guide. So come, reveal the secrets that you keep inside. Step up! No one leaves until the night is done. The amplifier starts to hum. The carnival has just begun. You’re in the psycho circus.” – “Psycho Circus” (Stanley/Cuomo)

KISSmas Comes Early or: A Dayful of KISS

18 Friday Sep 2020

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Salutations™!!

Today is a day unlike any other in KISStory. September 18 had four solo albums, Lick It Up and Crazy Nights all come out. In addition to that, today is the day, 37 years ago that Paul, Gene, Eric and Vinnie showed their face publicly without makeup on MTV. So, happy 42nd anniversary to Gene, Ace, Paul and Peter’s solo albums, 37 to LIU and 33 to Crazy Nights.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Don’t wanna wait ’til you know me better…” – “Lick It Up” (Stanley/Vincent)

Now Normal or: Oh No!

16 Wednesday Sep 2020

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Salutations™!!

Today is the 35th anniversary of KISS’ 13th studio album, Asylum. It’s the youngest of the “triplets” that includes Lick It Up, Animalize and this one, in that order. While I think it is overall the weakest of the three, it did have the best single (to me) from the three albums, and this is that. The funny thing about this version is that it’s the Monsters Of Rock festival and other than some appearance in the background, Gene, who is probably one of the two most important members, is never shown in this. I just find it strange. But, they do a good job of it. This is from 1988. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I read your mind like an open book. You lost the fire in your eyes. You turn to me with a different look. And then it’s raining; looks like it’s raining. Oh no, tears are falling.” – “Tears Are Falling” (Stanley)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 8/22/20

23 Sunday Aug 2020

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Salutations™!!

It was a short “haul” this week. The BCPF and I went to say goodbye to West End Coffee House as Jim and Dana had their final day open. We went to Underdog Records. We went to BLL Rotisserie Factory and then came home, listened to some records, and later, had friends over and watched a movie on the side of our house. It gave us the perfect scenario to physically distance and still have a social time. We watched Jurassic Park. Other than some minor tech glitches, it was a great time. Here’s the haul:

psychocircus

©Mercury

  • Kiss – Psycho Circus — The reunion album, kind of. Peter didn’t play much on this album and Ace really had little input, too. Some people were disappointed in it but I actually love the whole album. There are some places that could be a bit contrived but I’m okay with that. I’m still a “KISS is Gene and Paul” kind of guy but I was happy with the product. I didn’t want to buy it yet as I tried to get them in order and the last one I have is 1987’s Crazy Nights. Smashes, Thrashes & Hits, along with Hot In The Shade, Revenge, Alive III, and Carnival of Souls, are hard to find and are quite expensive if you look on Discogs (which, of course, I do!). New.
  • U2 – How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb — My favorite U2 album post-Achtung Baby. So many great songs on here. My favorite? “Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own.” But, also “All Because of You,” “City of Blinding Lights,” and “Vertigo.” I put the first one on a mix CD for The BCPF when we were just “friends talking.” New.
  • The Cure – World War (Rare Demos) — Bright yellow vinyl with demos and alternative takes of early Cure songs. They were more of a pop band back then and not so much the “Dark Wave” darlings they became. I like both versions of the band but I think I like the “real” Cure (dark) better. Imported. VG+.
  • The Lumineers – The Lumineers — The album that kind of started a movement. I don’t know how I feel about that movement but hey (ho), it is what it is. A lot of acoustic swing and alt-country vibes happening on this album. It’s not something I listen to often. The BCPF on the other hand…? New.
  • Tamba 4 – We And The Sea — World jazz and Latin. That’s all I got. The BCPF was compelled and I try not to say no. VG.

So, yesterday was the last day to register for the Record Store Day lottery. Three people (with a plus-one) will be allowed in every 15 minutes to do their RSD shopping. When that 15 minutes is up, they have to check out and leave. It’s not ideal, especially compared to the past, but it’s the only way to do it in these crazy times. The drawing for the lottery is Tuesday morning. Jonathan struggles with the potential of regulars not getting in. I told him not to worry about that. This is fair and we regulars (at least The BCPF and I) understand the risks. We each have our name in the hat and if one of us is pulled the other is disqualified from contention. That too is fair. The good news is, there is no camping out and no one is going to be allowed to buy multiples of anything. No immediate clamoring, I guess. At 11am, all sales are closed. The store is closed and Jonathan will take inventory of what is left. And for the first time ever in the history of RSD, online sales will be allowed and that will happen at 1pm from the leftover RSD stock, first-come-first-served. I know there’s a greater chance of me not getting the few titles I want but also I think it’s fair and balanced in approach.

I use Discogs to catalog my collection and use the Discogs Marketplace to purchase things that Jonathan can’t get me.

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’…
Scorp out!

—
“Tough, you think you’ve got the stuff. You’re telling me and anyone, you’re hard enough. You don’t have to put up a fight. You don’t have to always be right. Let me take some of the punches for you tonight.” – “Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own” (Mullen/Clayton/Evans/Hewson)

Now Normal Chronicles or: You Pulled the Trigger

30 Tuesday Jun 2020

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Salutations™!!

Today is the 43rd anniversary of the KISS album that sits at #2 on my list. #2 but in reality it’s probably #1, Love Gun. It was my first KISS album. It was the one that was fresh (other than Alive II and the solo albums) when I discovered the band that I call my favorite of all time and that I have formulated an entire podcast, along with two of my cousins, around. I will be getting into this album more in the weeks and months ahead when we discuss it on the podcast. I’ll tell you more about that podcast later, too. Incidentally, it is also the 43rd anniversary of KISS putting their blood in the ink at the Marvel Comics printing plant. This was a “sleeper” on the album and when I was a kid, I rarely listened to it, but as I got older, I realized that this was pretty much the epitome of Gene, outside of “God of Thunder” (which oddly enough, he didn’t write, Paul did). I really love this tune and it seems this is the second time they did it live, so Paul says. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I’m almost human, can’t help feeling strange. The moon is out, I think I’m gonna change. You’re so smooth and tender, a living, breathing dream. I’ve got to have you, baby, I’m listening for your scream. (I’m almost human) I’m almost a man.” – “Almost Human” (Simmons)