Tag Archives: R.E.M.

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 5/30/20

31 Sunday May 2020

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Salutations™!!

RHCP-BSSM

©Warner Bros

YES! You read that correctly. The “haul” and not the “listen.” I haven’t decided yet if I’ll put what I’ve listened to in the last week. You’ll know by the time the end of this blog post happens. So, back to what this means. It means that Underdog Records is back open! It also means that there are a lot of new restrictions that you have to abide by to enter the store. Only five customers are allowed in at a time and each must wear a mask and you get a squirt of hand sanitizer when you walk in and other than cash, all forms of payment are “touchless.” I’m good with all of that.

As I’ve said on the podcasts, I’m not sure that I’m ready to reinsert myself into society just yet. I know Jonathan really didn’t want to open this early but, the need kind of superseded his “want.” When we were there (just after 11am), there was one guy in the store. He left and one of my friends walked in. Soon after that, one more person came, got what was being held for them, and walked out. A gentleman and his son came in and we talked about my Pittsburgh Steelers mask and that was it. Jonathan has spaced the “freshly used” section so the rows that aren’t right up against each other. It was a great “first experience back.” To tell the truth, other than smothering in my mask, it was so great to be back. Now that that was more long-winded than I expected. Let’s do this haul!

  • The Smiths – Louder Than Bombs — Although I skipped most of the compilation albums on the RS list, I stated in my review that I “broke my own rule” and listened to it. The BCPF is huge on the Smiths and my views on them have changed since then, too. I enjoy them… at least in small doses. This is #369 on that list. 2xLP. New.
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers – Blood Sugar Sex Magik — #310 on the RS list, this is my favorite (and to most extents the only one I like) RHCP album. The first time I ever played and “slap bass” in front of anyone was on “Suck My Kiss.” I still love that song. It’s 2xLP and is probably about 5 songs too long, but I don’t mind it. New.
  • R.E.M. – Document — #462 on the RS list, this has some really good stuff on it: “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine),” “Finest Worksong,” “Oddfellows Local 151” and “The One I Love.” The latter being one of the most misunderstood “love songs” I know of along with “Every Breath You Take” from the Police and “You’re All I Need” from Motley Crue. These songs are not love songs, people. New.
  • Yo La Tengo – Summer Sun — Yo La Tengo is one of The BCPF’s bands. I can’t tell you much about them except that they scatter their styles and I don’t mean just album to album. They are basically all over the place on each album, too. She digs them, so there. 2xLP. New.
  • Yo La Tengo – I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass — Same as before. She said this was one of her faves in college. 2xLP. New.
  • Mazzy Star – So Tonight That I Might See — I know nothing about Mazzy Star. This is another of The BCPF’s doing. I know they are a California band and a female lead singer. That’s all I know. This is a reissue and new.
  • Bauhaus – In The Flat Field — Yet another fave of The BCPF. I knew the name of the band when I met her and heard “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” and their cover of “Ziggy Stardust,” and knew of Peter Murphy and more intently Love and Rockets (all from SiriusXM’s 1st Wave) before I met The BCPF. So, basically, you take Peter Murphy and David J from the band and you have Tones On Tail. Insert David J back and you get Love and Rockets. This was their (Bauhaus) debut album. Reissue. New.
  • Bauhaus – Mask —  Their second album and ditto on the previous entry. New.
  • Def Leppard – On Through The Night — The debut album from Def Leppard. I know this is the favorite DL album of several of my friends. I don’t get that. It’s good. But, even The BCPF (who admittedly doesn’t listen to this kind of music) asked after it was played, “that was Def Leppard? That didn’t sound like them.” I liked the more polished, hit-driven Def Leppard better. New.
  • Coldplay – A Rush Of Blood To The Head — The sophomore effort from Martin & Co. which is the follow-up to one of my all-time favorite albums, Parachutes. This has some great stuff on it but isn’t its predecessor by any means. That doesn’t excuse the fact that this album is on the RS list at #466. New.
  • Foo Fighters – Foo Fighters — I will admit that I am not a huge FF fan but I respect the heck out of them. I want to like them and love watching documentaries and specials about the band. Songs from this album, though, I really do like. I have it on CD and now I have it on vinyl. Yay me! New.
  • Superchunk – Here’s Where The Strings Come In — Another fave of The BCPF and one that I have actually seen (I think twice) live with my girl. They put on a good live show. It’s not flashy as I’d prefer but it is high energy. I don’t know about this album but she saw it and wanted it. ‘Nuff said. New.
  • Verdi – Great Men Of Music — It was in the used section but it was still in shrink wrap and is in NM condition so I’m going to say it’s new. It’s a box set with 4xLP.
  • The Coup – Coup De Grace — There is nothing that I can find about this band online. This is a cut-out but sealed copy. It’s listed as “classic rock” on Discogs. That’s what I know. I’ll report when I know more. NM.
  • Patty Smyth – Never Enough — Smyth’s debut solo album after leaving Scandal. NM/EX.
  • Eric Carmen – Boats Against The Current — This album is chock-full of big-name guests from the 70s/80s. Ollie Brown, Andrew Gold, Jeff Porcaro, Bobby Keys, Brian Wilson and Bruce Johnson from the Beach Boys, etc. It’s a sealed cut-out and is listed in NM/VG++.
  • Mike Bloomfield And Al Kooper – The Live Adventures Of Mike Bloomfield And Al Kooper — Another I know nothing about but according to Wikipedia: “The performances, recordings and production cannot be described as flawless; in his sleeve notes, Kooper describes the difficulties of finding rehearsal space, Bloomfield’s insomnia,[1] and the failure of a vocal microphone during “Dear Mr Fantasy”; the track “I Wonder Who” is faded during a Bloomfield solo for no apparent reason. Nevertheless, the album remains an important, if raw, document of a live blues-rock performance of the period and, apart from its intrinsic qualities, is notable not only for one of the earliest live recordings by Carlos Santana but also for Bloomfield’s debut as a vocalist.” It’s kind of beat up and is listed as VG.
  • Commodores – In The Pocket — It is the last Commodores album to feature Lionel Richie, as he left the band to start a solo career the following year. I wish I had blue jeans with The Less Desirables logo embroidered on it like on this cover of this album. NM/EX.
  • Saint-Saëns / Charles Dutoit, Montreal Symphony Orchestra – Symphony No. 3 Organ — I love Camille Saint-Saëns. I don’t know how I feel about the organ part, but I love his work. We’ll see how this goes. It’s NM/EX.
  • Mike Oldfield – Tubular Bells — This album celebrated its 47th anniversary on Monday. I have heard about it but don’t know much about it. The vinyl is VG+, the cover is VG.

So, this is a huge haul. It was necessary, at least to me. I needed that. My spirit raised exponentially. To see and talk with Jonathan was amazing, even if I couldn’t and didn’t shake his hand. Being able to rummage the bins was therapeutic. Jonathan will still be doing deliveries and the store will only be open a few days a week but when it is, it will be regular store hours. You can follow him on the social channels and you can always purchase new vinyl any time, day or night, by visiting the Underdog Records website. We haven’t quite gotten back to the TLD/UR special of the week but we are hoping to, soon. Thank you, Jonathan, for keeping it going. I loved my visit to the candy store. Also, I use Discogs to track my collection and it has come in handy for random listening.

To that, I think I have decided that as long as I am working mostly from home that I will continue to use the random method that I have been using and will use Monday’s post for reporting that. I know my blog has become more music-based with anniversaries and such, but music is and has always been such a bit part of my life that I think it fits. Speaking of music and what I do, I have a couple of podcast projects in the works that are music-focused. I’ll certainly talk about it here. You know I will.

So, until tomorrow, keep spinnin’!
Scorp out!

—
“So, if there’s something you’d like to try… If there’s something you’d like to try, ask me, I won’t say no, how could I?” – “Ask” (Marr/Morrissey)

 

 

Spinning Sunday or: The Listens 4/18/20

19 Sunday Apr 2020

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Salutations™!!

As has been the case for the last month, we haven’t really gotten anything new because Underdog Records is affected just like everything else in the world right now. So, in the spirit of “normalcy,” or the “Now Normal” that I call it, I used my listening time during the week hitting Discogs’ awesome shuffle feature and picked albums that I have and streamed them. I pay for Napster (the same that used to be arsehats and cheat artists out of their money, but they’re legit – they used to be Rhapsody) and the artists get paid for my listens, so yay for that. So, here’s what I listened to this week under headphones (not counting what I listened to for Beeswax Vinyl & More):

ListeningCollage419

That’s a pretty good “listens” list, I think. Then yesterday, The BCPF and I got to listen to some records. We did our usual alternating turns and it was all “random grab” via Discogs shuffle. Here’s that list (in no particular order):20200419_113623

That’s my listening for the week. I really cannot wait until Underdog Records opens back up. This is really hard. It’s like having to ween off candy. Jonathan is my “candy man” and the records my candy. Well, you can still purchase things from him. Just go to their Instagram and Facebook pages and see what he’s putting out for sale. He’ll deliver to you, either personally or ship them to you. You can shop via the Underdog Records website, as well. You can also purchase one of the new Underdog Records t-shirts and proceeds go to Underdog Records to help them stay afloat. See how here.

You see the marvel of Discogs already in this post.

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’…
Scorp out!

—
“You are here and warm but I could look away and you’d be gone. ‘Cause we live in a time when meaning falls in splinters from our lives. And that’s why I’ve traveled far, ’cause I come so together where you are.” – “Sentimental Lady” (Welch)

Now Normal Chronicles or: Raining

09 Thursday Apr 2020

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Salutations™!!

Today is the 36th anniversary of REM’s Reckoning album. I tried to find a good cover but there was only mediocre covers to be found, so I went to the source. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Did you never call? I waited for your call. These rivers of suggestion are driving me away. The trees will bend, the cities wash away. The city on the river, there is a girl without a dream.” – “So. Central Rain” (Berry/Buck/Mills/Stipe)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 11/2/19

03 Sunday Nov 2019

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Salutations™!!

In addition to The BCPF’s and my usual Saturday routine, we had to go by Lowe’s to pick out stuff for the renovation project from the “Flood of 2019.” But, we had fun doing that. We also got to go to our happy place which is Underdog Records. We picked up some good stuff and got to talk with Jonathan, so that’s always a plus. Here’s what we got:

KinksStateofConfusion

©Arista

  • R.E.M. – Monster — I have talked a lot about the Vagabond Saints Society in the past. The first show I ever performed with them was the “REM – The Later Years” show around 2007 or so. I had two songs with VSS on that show and one was on this album, “Crush with Eyeliner.” I liked that song then and I like it now. The rest of the album is okay, but it’s one that The BCPF never had on any medium, so yay, us! 2xLP with an entire remix album, so it’s like two-in-one. New.
  • Creedence Clearwater Revival Featuring John Fogerty – Chronicle – The 20 Greatest Hits — This is #59 on the RS list and yes, it is a compilation album. I didn’t listen through it because I didn’t listen to “greatest hits” albums after the Merle Haggard and Loretta Lynn ones. Whew! But, this has a lot of great CCR on it and it was in a weird green vinyl, so I picked it up after it sitting in the bin for a while. 2xLP. New.
  • Cheap Trick – One On One — Cheap Trick’s sixth studio album and the first one to feature Jon Brandt after Tom Petersson left the band. It looks like Brandt only played bass on a few songs and that Rick Nielsen played on most of it. So, there must have been a transition period before Brandt showed up and when they started recording. This album isn’t my fave from them but it has some good stuff: “If You Want My Love,” “She’s Tight,” “I Want You,” and more. VG+.
  • Procol Harum – The Best Of Procol Harum — Jonathan at Underdog has told me many, many times of his love for Procol Harum. This is a greatest hits compilation and I’m looking forward to what they call “hits.” We’re all familiar with “White Shade of Pale” and possibly moderately aware of “Conquistador” but the rest, I’m interested in. VG++.
  • The Kinks – Give The People What They Want — The 18th album from The Kinks, this was in their “Early 80s” phase. I think it was a good time for them. It wasn’t British Invasion popularity or even feel (duh!) but I think, still, it was good. The singles on this album were “Better Things,” “Destroyer” and “Predictable.” VG++.
  • The Kinks – State Of Confusion — The 19th (yep, the follow up to the previous entry) released from The Kinks. The best-known song from this album (and pretty much any Kinks album since the 60s in the US, at least) is “Come Dancing.” Missing from this LP version but on the cassette version was a song called “Long Distance.” Turns out that my friend Parke Puterbaugh, who was a critic for Rolling Stone magazine commented, “there’s no excuse for omitting [‘Long Distance’ from the LP version of State of Confusion]”. I need to find it on streaming or something. VG++.

The haul was somewhat light this week but we filled in some listening time with some Nine Inch Nails records that my pal Daniel Butner let us borrow. I’m trying to absorb some of it and a lot of it I like, but a lot of it, I still don’t get, but it’s growing on me. Underdog Records celebrated its anniversary this past Friday and that’s always a great time/thing to celebrate. They have a few new pieces of used equipment if you’d like to get your listening stations updated! Listen to each new episode of The Less Desirables to hear the TLD/UR special of the week. Use Discogs to keep track of your music collection.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I know you. I know you’ve seen her. She’s a sad tomato. She’s three miles of bad road. Walking down the street. Will I never meet her? She’s a real woman-child. 
Oh, my kiss breath turpentine.” – “Crush With Eyeliner” (Berry/Buck/Mills/Stipe)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 8/10/19

11 Sunday Aug 2019

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Salutations™!!

Yesterday was a great day! The BCPF and I got started a little early, went to breakfast, went to our favorite music store (possibly our favorite store of any ilk), we listened to great music, we went to Willows early and then we hung out with The Beer Dads’ extended family. Great times indeed. Here’s the haul:

Lone_Justice_-_Lone_Justice

©Geffen Records

  • R.E.M. – Green — The BCPF’s new addition, she said this was the first R.E.M. album that she bought new. I wasn’t into the band at the time, but “Stand” from this album is part of two stories that I tell. One is in my senior year in high school when I drew circles around the classroom (mimicking the video) and my teacher getting onto me. The other is that it was the first song I ever sang with the Vagabond Saints Society. New.
  • The Rolling Stones – Sticky Fingers — #64 on the RS list, it has always been a good album to me, even though I’ve never been a huge fan of the Stones. Big tunes are “Brown Sugar,” “Wild Horses,” “Sister Morphine” and “Bitch” which, by the way, Gene Simmons always said that “Deuce” was actually “Bitch” backward (the riff, that is). New.
  • Florence + The Machine – Ceremonials — We both had heard of F+Machine but didn’t really know much about them. This was there and is a fantastic 2xLP set. It’s like a lot of what The BCPF (especially) and I listen to, but the more modern version of it. Alternative-esque rock with electronic bite. I liked it. We both liked it, actually. VG++.
  • She & Him – Volume 3 — Who isn’t in love with Zooey Deschanel? Male or female. She’s just amazing. Plus, she can sing. I think Ma Mère would enjoy this album. She’s channeling all of her Leslie Gore/Dusty Springfield that she can muster. NM.
  • Rare Earth – Rarearth — Rare Earth was the first big hit-making act signed by Motown that consisted only of white members. This album came out in 1977. I’m not really familiar with the band outside of a couple of songs like “I Just Want to Celebrate” and “Hey Big Brother.” The latter I only know because it was our closing song on Apartment 5B this past week. VG++.
  • Joe Cocker – Joe Cocker! — Cocker’s second studio album, this album features numerous covers of songs originally performed by Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Leonard Cohen, John Sebastian, and Leon Russell. I liked Joe Cocker, although he could get on my nerves. It was a good listen, though.  VG+.
  • Bob Seger And The Silver Bullet Band – Night Moves — I have always maintained that there would be world peace without Bob Seger songs. But, Clay Howard has done a little work in trying to convert me and so, I am giving him another try with matured ears and I have to say it was a good album. However, I think I pinpointed the culprit of my dislike of him (well, outside of “Old Time Rock and Roll”). “Sunspot Baby” is that song. I hate that song and it is his screaming it the whole time that makes me despise hearing his voice (with the aforementioned OTRnR). But, the rest of the album is actually quite good, and dare I say it… enjoyable. VG+.
  • David Crosby / Graham Nash – Wind On The Water — Yet another of the many incarnations of the CSNY family tree. Yet another that we have, too. VG++.
  • Lone Justice – Lone Justice — I had never heard of Lone Justice but it was from 1985, had a Dexy’s Midnight Runners’ feel to the look and I decided to give it a spin. So, the band is a “cowpunk” band. They’re American (from Los Angeles), but cowpunk started in the UK. I had to look cowpunk up and here’s what I found: a subgenre of punk rock that began in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s and California in the early 1980s. It combines punk rock or new wave with country, folk, and blues in sound, subject matter, attitude, and style. Many of the musicians in this scene have now become associated with alternative country or roots rock. From the first tune, we picked up on the Dolly Parton influence which oddly enough was paired with Punk-styled music. There was definitely a twang that goes with the country genre but it was still rocking. It’s an interesting, heck I’ll say “good” listen. VG+.
  • Mason Jones, The Philarte Quartet – Mason Jones And The Philarte Quartet — “Quintet In E Flat Major, K. 407 for French Horn, Violin, 2 Violas and Cello” by Mozart and “Quartet For French Horn and String Quartet” by Bernhard Heiden. VG++.
  • Firefall – Luna Sea — We’re listening to this one as I write this. “Just Remember I Love You” is probably the biggest hit on this one. We have gotten more and more into Firefall since we’ve started listening to Yacht Rock Radio on SiriusXM. Also, Ma Père’s ringtone when Ma Mère calls him is “You Are the Woman” (not on this album). $1 bin find, but the record is in great shape. I’m going to go with VG/VG+.
  • Ella Fitzgerald And The Nelson Riddle Orchestra – The George And Ira Gershwin Songbook — 2xLP of Ella and Riddle doing Gershwin songs. $1 bin find. VG.

Again, a great day yesterday. Sunny, a good record-buying crowd coming in and just overall goodness of Saturday-ness. We had a great day. Jonathan had a few receivers and turntables that are in really great shape, you should check them out. Also, listen to each new episode The Less Desirables to hear what the TLD/UR special of the week is. And, I use Discogs to keep track of this vinyl madness that I bring to you.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Your feet are going to be on the ground. Your head is there to move you around. If wishes were trees the trees would be falling. Listen to reason, season is calling.” – “Stand” (Berry/Buck/Mills/Stipe)

Spinning Sunday or: RSD Edition

14 Sunday Apr 2019

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Salutations™!!

As you saw for the last two days, I spent almost 20 hours on the sidewalk in front of Underdog Records, camping out, watching the weather, hoping against hope that it didn’t rain, had my hands butter scrubbed, had a new restaurant stop and offer us samples of their shrimp and grits, was joined by The BCPF, survived without any rain, worked with my friends to make sure we all got what we needed and came home and crashed. There was a lot more detail of this story, but we will probably focus on that later in the week. For today, here is the Record Store Day haul!

Trout_Mask_Replica

©Straight/Reprise Records

  • Captain Beefheart And His Magic Band – Trout Mask Replica — This was the reason I camped out, at least for me. I don’t really “like” this album but I love having it. It is #60 (of all spaces) on the RS list. I understand more about it since my first listen, I love the artistic value and respect the heck out of the project. It isn’t a pleasant listen but it is an interesting one. 2xLP reissue. All of these will be Near Mint or NM and I’ll tell how many were available worldwide. This one doesn’t have limited availability, from what I can tell.
  • Pink Floyd – A Saucerful Of Secrets — Last year it was Piper at the Gates of Dawn, Floyd’s debut album remastered in mono. This year it’s their sophomore effort and I can’t wait to listen to it. I really liked Pink Floyd with David Gilmour minus Syd Barrett. I understand the importance and somewhat maniacal genius that Syd was, but just like I like Peter Gabriel, I don’t really like Genesis with him. Barrett was on this album minimally as he was starting his slide. He was dismissed before the album was finished. The cover was designed by Storm Thorgerson of Hipgnosis and is based on a Doctor Strange comic. 6500 available.
  • Bob Dylan – Blood On The Tracks Test Pressing — We have Blood on the Tracks which is #16 on the RS list but this is the New York Test Pressing of the album. The
    “hype sticker” on the shrinkwrap reads: “The original New York version of Blood on the Tracks. Replica of the 1974 test pressing. Featuring unique mixes. Available for the first time ever.” So, The BCPF wanted this one, so that’s what she gets. Only 7500 available worldwide.
  • Fleetwood Mac – The Alternate Fleetwood Mac — The last two years’ RSD hauls have had a few “Alternate” Fleetwood Mac albums. 2017 was Alternate Mirage, 2018 Alternate Tango in the Night and now this. I haven’t listened to it yet, but I like the concept. It’s the entire album, in this case, but is all early takes or early versions. Should be cool. There are no “availability” numbers for this album on the RSD website.
  • Duran Duran – As The Lights Go Down (Live Oakland Coliseum ’84) — DD at their height. 2xLP but only three sides. Side 4 is etched. Only 5500 of these are available worldwide.
  • Frank Black – Frank Black — One of the several that I camped out for, for The BCPF. She tells me that it was released a month or so before she graduated high school and they rode around wearing the cassette out. I like what I’ve heard of it. I like it better than Pixies stuff. It’s orange, too. 4500 available.
  • Jeff Buckley – In Transition —  The BCPF loves her some Jeff Buckley and this is 7 previously unreleased performances of his tunes. Only 3000 worldwide.
  • Bingo Hand Job – Live At The Borderline 1991 — So, one of our fellow campers was looking online and came across this one. I don’t know if he was just researching or if he was intrigued by the name but when he looked it up, he found that it was really REM doing their “alias” thing and playing a club. So, being as we were the first four in line, we kept that secret and three of us grabbed them. Hey, we were the ones that camped for 20 hours, we got what we want. 3000 available.
  • a-ha – Hunting High And Low (The Early Alternative Mixes) — I love the original and these are the early alternate mixes making their vinyl debut. There are only 6000 worldwide.
  • The Charlatans – Some Friendly  — This was the title that The BCPF wanted the most. It was Charlatans UK to her (and it says that on the album cover). It is clear vinyl and only 1000 worldwide.
  • Peter Gabriel – Rated PG — I generally have sworn off picture discs, but hey, this is Peter Gabriel. This is a collection of his songs that have been on movie soundtracks. Supposedly, according to Discogs, it is numbered, but I don’t find any indication on mine of a “number.” It does include a digital download, though. Only 2000 worldwide.
  • David J – Thoughts And Prayers — Similarly with the picture disc model, I don’t usually get 7″ either. But, The BCPF wanted it and here it was. Only 500 worldwide.

So, people have asked me if it was worth it. Truly, the actual record buying was secondary to the camaraderie, conversation, friendship, community and experience. That, in and of itself was worth it. The vinyl we got, knowing that we are one of 500-6000 in the world that have one, is priceless. Thank you so much to Underdog Records, especially Jonathan, for being a place where we want to do such things, always having our backs in the inventory and letting us in to go to the bathroom before you go home, bringing us doughnuts and coffee the next morning and just being an all-around awesome dude. And, thank you, Discogs for being available to help us sort this crazy mess out. And, thank you, Record Store Day (yes it is an entity) for doing this awesome “holiday” twice a year. And, lastly, to David, Jordan, Bob, Michael, Taylor, Jay, and The BCPF, thank you for making it a great experience to be out there.

Until tomorrow, keep spinning…
Scorp out!

—
“Master, master. This is recorded thru uh flies ear ‘n you have t’ have uh flies eye t’ see it. It’s the thing that’s gonna make Captain Beefheart and his magic band fat. Frank, it’s the big hit. It’s the blimp! It’s the blimp, Frank! It’s the blimp!” – “The Blimp (Mousetrapreplica)” (Van Vliet)

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)

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 6/17/17

18 Sunday Jun 2017

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Salutations!!

Our haul from Underdog Records was smaller than normal but we didn’t go through the $1 bin, so that kept us a little more honest. Here’s what we got!R-371878-1351475600-8668.jpeg

I have been looking hard for Berlin from Lou Reed since I heard it on the Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums of All Time that I did the last couple of years. I found a near mint first pressing of it and it is near perfect. I am so happy to have that one, finally. Thanks, Jonathan. Get over to Underdog to check out his vinyl awesomeness and listen to The Less Desirables for the weekly UDR/TLD special. And, as always, use Discogs for your album archiving needs (it’s free)!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Oh! You Pretty Things. Don’t you know you’re driving your Mamas and Papas insane? Oh! You Pretty Things. Don’t you know you’re driving your Mamas and Papas insane? Let me make it plain: you gotta make way for the Homo Superior!” – “Oh! You Pretty Things” (Bowie)

Soundtrack of a New Planet or: a Vagabond Bowie Union

29 Friday Jan 2016

Posted by in Life as We Know It

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Salutations™!!

Well, it’s that time again. Time to invite you to the latest edition of the “Vagabond Saints Society Rocks Your Face Off Chronicles.” A refresher on the VSS real quick: a core band of musicians, consisting of Doug Davis, Jerry Chapman, Randall Johnson and Corky McClellan, decide on a “musical theme” (past shows have been a tribute to John Lennon on the 25th anniversary of his death, Tom Petty, two shows about R.E.M., KISS, Woodstock, Springsteen, XTC, Hall & Oates, even a collection of “Manc Sound” artists and many more) and invite, usually, a collection of local musicians to either play or sing with them in this theme. I have been a proud “card-carrying Vagabond Socialite” since around 2007-08 with the second of the R.E.M. shows and have become a regular having only ZiggyStardustmissed two shows in that time (Nick Cave and Emmylou Harris).

This latest show is really a bonus that just sort-of happened. VSS usually does three themes a year: one in spring, a summer mini-tour and a fall show. This one is a show honoring the musical genius of the very recently-lost David Bowie. We try not to use the work “tribute” because that gives the false-impression of us trying to mimic the artist(s) instead of what the truest sense of the word is: an act, statement, or gift that is intended to show gratitude, respect, or admiration. So, generally, there is a rule that says that no outside use of bands or instruments that aren’t part of the core band’s inclusion is allowed. But, for this show, that’s being waived and there will be several bands playing a one-off song (presumably) for the show, spanning Bowie’s entire, vast career. I know there are a couple of impromptu gatherings happening for that and some reunions of old bands that will do the same.

In addition to all of that, the core band will be doing his (in my opinion) magnum opus, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. That’s where I come in. I didn’t want to have to find people to play with and I didn’t feel comfortable enough to do an acoustic version of anything so I went with the comfortable surrounding of the core group and do a song that has meaning to me and The BCPF, “Starman.” I’ve known the song for a while because The BCPF put it on a mixtape for me when we weren’t even dating, yet. That being said, I’ve never really paid enough attention to know the workings of the song, so I’ve been cramming to learn the lyrics, including putting it on repeat and just doing the lyrics over and over again. So much so that my 13-year old made fun of me and asked if I was getting tired of it, yet, because he was (after two times through). It’s really a short-lyriced song, and they’re not the problem. The verbage is what gets me the most. I know what he’s saying, it’s how he says them that throws me. Danged Brit! I have them, though, I’m pretty sure. I had to skip on the one practice they had for the show because they did it on Wednesday which combined with the time frame was exactly the time that I record The Less Desirables. So, Doug is trusting me to get it right and he says he has faith in me. I’m glad he feels that way, even if it is extra pressure. But, yeah, I got this.

So, to the sales pitch. The show is being held at our “home” (and Official Music Sponsor of The Less Desirables), The Garage. The show will start at 9pm and go until we get it all in. Usually, there is a cover to get in, but for this show, it’s only a $1 donation to gain admission. That dollar goes to cancer research, which if you don’t know, is what took Bowie from this plane and into the Great Wherever. Surely, that’s worth it to come out. It will be crowded and it will sell out, so you’ll want to get there early. Come have a good time and listen to great music with talented folks.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“Ziggy played guitar, Jamming good with Weird and Gilly and the Spiders from Mars. He played it left hand but made it too far; became the special man. Then we were Ziggy’s band.” – “Ziggy Stardust” (Bowie)

Even When She’s What? or: Sometimes I Give Myself the Creeps (RS Part 31)

02 Monday Nov 2015

Posted by in Music Review

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Salutations™!!

The last segment of Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums of All Time went quite well, I’d say. We’re inside the top 200 now. We can see the small, pinhead sized light at the end of the tunnel, but, Dear Reader, we have a long way to go, still. I hope you’re having a fun ride. Strap in, the rest is over and it’s time to get started, again.

#200 – Highway to Hell by AC/DC. My favorite of the Bon Scott albums. I overlook that there is just one AC/DC song and they change the lyrics. It’s just the way it is. I’ve done a few of these songs live. One of the first bands I was in did “Walk All Over You” and one 1Acdc_Highway_to_Hellof the later ones covered the title song. There’s really not a bad song (again, they’re all the same song) on this album. Straight ahead rock and roll; in your face, wanting to hurt you. Cliff Williams even proves me wrong in thinking he’s a three-note bass player. Go figure! Anywhat, to save rambling: listen to this, it rocks. I dug! And for the record, I don’t actually believe there to be only one song or that Williams is a three-note bassist.

#199 – Is This It by The Strokes. Speaking of bass! In the opening, title song, Nikolai Fraiture rocks out on the thunderstick. The overuse of the distorted vocals is a bit annoying to me. The songs, however, are well written. I really like “Last Nite.” The rest, even though they’re done right, nothing really stands out to me as fantastic. A lot of the songs were reminiscent of the others. By the end I was thinking that it should be over soon. Good songs or not, to me the mold was broken after “Last Nite.” I will say I dug it but mostly “meh.”

#198 – Best of Little Walter by Little Walter.

#197 – Murmur by R.E.M. The debut, co-produced by my friend, Mitch Easter, who also produced the album Shinola by Heavens Sake (my band). All the instruments burst on “Pilgrimage” and the production is slick, but still raw. “Moral Kiosk” has a lot of ’60s elements (which really doesn’t all of it?) in the chorus: “Inside, cold, dark, fire, twilight” reminds me of some “Five O’clock World” from the Vogues. It’s good stuff. “Perfect Circle” is, to me, a precursor of the “Everybody Hurts” direction they’d go to later. First listen of this, I’d say it was the alternative that I avoided, like the plague, for so long, but it’s really rock and roll that was different, or alternative, to what I was listening to at the time. It’s really not much different to what I went on to listen to. I have all the 1R.E.M._-_MurmurR.E.M. albums, I think. Part of it is the “connection” I feel because Mitch Easter produced one of my albums and I call Mitch a friend, so it goes hand in hand with listening to stuff he did before working with me. Also, this album highlights that Mike Mills is really a fantastic bass player. That on top of those backing vox he’s pulling off at the same time. Wow. Certainly not my favorite R.E.M. album but it’s still pretty good. Dug!

#196 – Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965-1968 by Various Artists. Pretty much the longest title of any other album thus far, but still a compilation so… no.

#195 – Blues Breakers by John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers. I thought “All Your Love” was “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” from the Beatles. That actually came after this song (it was written in 1958). I still like the Beatles version better. Then comes “Hideaway” after that and some of that crapola blues mess that I detest. Ugh. I did like “Another Man,” though. And it was just that harmonica that I complain about and vox and it was pretty alright. The cover of “What’d I Say” (with “Day Tripper” mixed in) is pretty cool and would be cooler if they’d left that clunky drum solo out. It was just a mess and at times sounded like listening to my sun just beat on drums instead of playing them. There’s some good parts, of course, and the drummer is really good but that solo was clunky. I did like “Key to Love.” It’s a jumpy cool song, really. All in all, even though I can’t usually stand this kind of stuff, it wasn’t bad. Thankfully, it went by pretty quickly. I would (and did) say that I actually enjoyed parts of it. So for that it gets1Transformer a “dug.”

#194 – Transformer by Lou Reed. As much as I can’t stand Lou Reed with Velvet Underground, I’m not too low on him solo. “Vicious” is a great tune. “Hey, why don’t you swallow razor blades!?” I mean, who wouldn’t love lyrics like that? Yeah, great tune. “Perfect Day” is a danged fine song, too. I’ve heard covers but (can you believe it?) I actually prefer Reed’s version. I’d venture to say it’s one of my faves from him. Marky Mark shows up on this album… not really. “Walk on the Wild Side” was the first thing I ever heard from Reed. I couldn’t believe they got away with talking about the subject matter and “all the colored girls sing” parts. Herbie Flowers is rockin’ that double bass, too. I don’t know that I’d ever heard the song “Satellite of Love” even though I’ve heard of it. Not my favorite but wasn’t too bad. Lou Reed was an excellent songwriter and, just like Dylan, if you can get past his voice, you can see that. Something about VU that just tears me up, this is really good. His voice, while moderately annoying, has an honesty about it. It feels like he’s about to lose traction on the pitch and while he’s doing a high-wire balancing act with the vocals, he never falls off. It’s a masterfully composed and executed album. Thanks David Bowie for making sure he got the broader audience. Otherwise, we’d just have been stuck with VU. I loved this album, much like I did Berlin. I’d love to own it on vinyl. DUG!

#193 – Dookie by Green Day. Forcing grunge to scoot over, this pop punk band showed up and rocked the house. And yes, I hated it. Then. Again, I’ve, well, to be cliche, “When I Come Around,” it was clear that they were certainly worth a listen. More than one and often. For its time it was definitely a breath of cigarette-filled “fresh” air. Nirvana, Pearl Jam and their ilk were poised to take over the world (and would have succeeded had it not been for these punk kids!). Now, you weren’t forced to pick a side: hair vs. flannel. Dookie added another hook-filled dimension. In early 1994, there was how many chicks you were banging for the pretty boys or “how woe is me?” is me from 1dookiethe Seattle-esque clans. Then, in February of that year, optimistically ironic music made a splash in the form of this album basically forcing people to stop being a wuss and take responsibility for your own danged self. “Long View” shows off Mike Dirnt’s bass prowess but that’s not the end of it. He highlights every song on the album with great and tasteful riffs. Listen to the work on “Welcome to Paradise,” as well. GD pulls some influence from the 50s with “Pulling Teeth.” No, it doesn’t sound like it’s from the 50s but you can certainly hear that pull (pun). “Basket Case” was my first intro to GD and I found it funny but was still not taking anything like this seriously. Listening to it now, it was more leaning toward the hair stuff whilst sucking some grunge from the other side. Now, after all these years I can see the beauty in this and truly appreciate it. American Idiot was another demonstration of the band’s effectiveness in this area. Billie Joe Armstrong’s lyrics are canny and crafty bordering on misery and majesty. Well written, all around. I can’t say enough good things, listen and love. DUG!

#192 – The Gilded Palace of Sin by The Flying Burrito Brothers. Certainly a great name for a band. I also know it predates the Eagles by a few years but it reminds me of their early albums. “Sin City” takes me back to Ma Père’s favorite honky-tonk country and him listening to records in the dark (not that that happened a lot, mind you) and it’s that same kind of feel. I also feel like I could be watching Hee Haw. Still not a bad thing. I’m not sure I get the “Cosmic American Music” part. “Hot Burrito #1” I like. “Hot Burrito #2” I like, too. Add “Christine’s Tune” and the aforementioned “Sin City” to those and I’m good. Even though it drudged along, the final cut, “Hippie Boy,” I liked that one, too. The rest of it, I didn’t really care one way or another. So based on the 1funhousenostalgia I felt and that I could actually name so many of the songs as likes, I’m going to say I dug it. But, that’s kind of pushing it.

#191 – Funhouse by The Stooges. I’ve never really known much about Iggy Pop other than videos and the fact that the brother is weird. I’m on the first song, “Down on the Street” and I think it’s fantastic! “Dirt” is epic and you feel the classic Iggy Pop performance coming through the recording. Is this where he would actually cut himself live? Did he really do that, or is it just urban legend? I’m sure someone will tell me. The energy continues with “1970.” Strange but wonderfully so. Steve Mackay’s distressed sax solo makes “Funhouse” fun(ner?). I can picture Iggy just wallowing around on the floor of the studio just being Iggy. I didn’t even notice the nearly 8 minutes of length on that song. That’s when you know it’s a good song. The song “L.A. Blues” pretty much was what you’d envision them sounding like at the end of a show: lots of feedback and drum improv. From what I understand, they stripped the studio of baffling, isolation and separation, opting instead to record like they would live. There’s a live feeling throughout this and I believe it shines through and makes this what it is. I’m sure that’s bound to surprise some people. Anywhat! I actually loved this album.

So, two compilations on this segment and I see a few on the horizon. I don’t like creeping too far ahead, I like that “ooh what’s next” aspect. A few that I didn’t think I’d like and really, really did, including a Lou Reed album, a punk record and a blues record. A few that I could take or leave but overall, it was a pretty good segment. I’m off to do another in between everything else, now.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“Just a perfect day. Drink sangria in the park. And then later, when it gets dark, we go home” – “Perfect Day” by Lou Reed