Tag Archives: Talking Heads

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 3/2/19

03 Sunday Mar 2019

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Salutations™!!

We had a brief encounter with warmer, sunnier weather yesterday. That was nice and it made it harder for us to stay indoors and listen to records, but hey, we were listening to records and that’s one of our favorite pastimes. So, it worked out. But, we pulled a lot of stuff home yesterday from Underdog Records. Here’s the haul:

Sheperd's-dog

©Sub-Pop

  • The Japanese House – Good At Falling — I had heard of The Japanese House (who is really just a pseudonym for Amber Bain) whilst watching something else. It was a showcase or something, I don’t remember. But, I liked what I heard. She’s ethereal, atmospheric and even though she uses Auto-Tune, she uses it for effect, not necessarily for patching shoddy vocals. I liked it. It’s a 2xLP and is in limited white vinyl. I usually don’t read the labels (my eyesight isn’t that good), but it says on this one that it’s to be played at 45RPM. I was a quarter through the first track before I realized something was amiss. New.
  • Van Morrison – Astral Weeks — #19 on the RS list, this is not my favorite VM album, nor do I like it all that much. It has some beautiful moments, but mostly, he warbles on a bit much for me. And, in one song he sounds like Porky Pig. I don’t know, I just don’t understand it, I guess. It’s on the list, it needs to be in my collection. New.
  • The Beatles – Abbey Road — #14 on the RS list. This album, along with The Beatles (#10) – also known as “the white album” – and Sgt. Pepper’s (#1) rotate being my favorite Beatles album, and now I have all three. I have had a couple of versions of this album but they have all been really crappy and I didn’t want my collection to reflect crappy versions. Especially on such an important album. 180g black vinyl remaster. New.
  • Band Of Horses – Acoustic At The Ryman — The Ryman is the theater that housed the Grand Ol’ Opry for many, many years. It has been refurbished and is now a legit music venue again (it has been for many years, this is not new). Band of Horses was one of the first bands I learned of from The BCPF, she calls them one of her faves. When we were doing mix CDs, she put a few tunes on there. I love “No One’s Gonna Love You” and that’s on here. New.
  • The Beat – The Beat — It is this band, who happened to release their album first, that prompted Dave Wakeling and his band The Beat to go by The English Beat in the US. In Europe this The Beat is known as Paul Collins’ Beat. It’s a long and confusing story, lawsuits happened (but not between bands but record labels and bands, hmmm). This is a promo copy of their debut from 1979 and is in really great shape. VG+.
  • Iron And Wine – The Shepherd’s Dog — I actually purchased this on Friday. Knowing that The BCPF also loves this band and we have seen him in concert, together, I sent a picture of it to her at work and her reply was “pant pant pant.” I didn’t know if that was a reference to the dog or what. I guess she was really happy. She told me later that it was the album that introduced her to Sam Beam’s (single person named as a band) work. So, she was excited. VG++.
  • Kansas  – Song For America — The band’s second studio album. VG+.
  • Kansas – Point Of Know Return — Their fifth studio album with the title track and “Dust in the Wind.” VG.
  • Blondie – The Best Of Blondie — VG+.
  • Rose Royce – Strikes Again — The official title is Rose Royce III: Strikes Again. I’m going to be completely honest and say the only reason I bought this is because I had it as a kid. I loved the look of it, the embossed raised rose, the purple and silver motif, I just dug it. I can’t tell you one single song off the album without looking it up, but I wanted it because it reminded me of my childhood. It is probably stashed away somewhere at Ma ‘Rents’ and if I find it one day, it will probably be in pretty torn up shape but I had it and that’s all that matters. VG+.
  • Walter Egan – Fundamental Roll — It’s Egan’s debut album. I like “Magnet and Steel” from his second album. This was there, in good shape, why not? VG+.
  • Robert Palmer – Clues — Palmer had played percussion on Talking Heads Remain in Light and Chris Frantz, the drummer from Talking Heads, returned that favor and played on this. I’m not familiar with any of the songs, but there are a couple co-written by Gary Numan (“Cars”) and one Lennon/McCartney song, “Not a Second Time.” It was found by The BCPF in the $1 bin. VG.
  • Roger Daltrey – One Of The Boys — Critic William Ruhlmann said in AllMusic that “Roger Daltrey called on a wider circle of friends for his third album and came up with a more varied collection of songs … But Daltrey was never in danger of getting lost in the all-star session. Nevertheless, the album was not treated as a major release and found only modest commercial success.” This album has songs written by Colin Blunstone (Zombies), Paul McCartney, Murray Head. Eric Clapton, John Entwistle, Keith Moon, Alvin Lee, Rod Argent and more played on it. Yet, I hear it’s mediocre. But, it was $1 and is in VG/VG+.
  • Book Of Love – Book Of Love — American synth-pop band in the vein of Depeche Mode with a majority of female members. It was $1 and The BCPF said it was in her wheelhouse so there you go. It’s in VG.

Underdog Records was rockin’ when we were there and it was getting crowded. That’s a good thing. Jonathan has just gone through a bunch of $1 albums and put them out for purchase. Listen to The Less Desirables newest episode on Wednesday night/Thursday mornings and hear what that week’s TLD/UR special is. Discogs helps me keep track of all this stuff.

Until tomorrow, keep spinning…
Scorp out!

—
“He bad production. He got walrus gumboot. He got Ono sideboard. He one spinal cracker. He got feet down below his knee. Hold you in his armchair you can feel his disease. Come together, right now. Over me.” – “Come Together” (Lennon/McCartney)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 7/21/18

22 Sunday Jul 2018

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Salutations™!!

It was a big week from Underdog Records this time around. Not just yesterday but Friday as well. Jonathan had purchased a large number of records and immediately went in and pulled all the $1 records to go ahead and get those out for sale. I happened across them and snatched about 13 $1 records that I couldn’t let get past me. Here’s what we got:

Eat_Em_And_Smile_Cover

©Warner Bros.

  • Beastie Boys – Paul’s Boutique — #156 on the RS list. 3B is really into rap/hip-hop so I’m going to show him the stuff that happened before the current trend of mumbling that’s going on. New
  • Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures — The BCPF is a Joy Division fan. She wanted it and, by golly, I like giving her things she wants. Although I am somewhat familiar with Joy Division, I’d say this was like a cross between The Doors and Talking Heads with dark sprinkles on top. It was a great album, though. New.
  • Black Sabbath – Paranoid — #131 on the RS list. I never really cared for Black Sabbath, as a whole, but the more I listen, the more I like. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t dislike them, I just didn’t care one way or the other. I liked Ozzy’s solo stuff. I also liked the Sabbath “hits,” just not the album stuff. Or at least I thought that was the case. It wasn’t, ultimately. “Paranoid,” “Iron Man,” “Planet Caravan” and “War Pigs.” ‘Nuff said! New.
  • Talking Heads – More Songs About Buildings And Food — #383 on the RS List. I filled quite a few slots on that list this week. This isn’t my favorite Heads album but it’s not bad. I think my only frown on this is that it has the much-overplayed “Take Me to the River.” And, even that isn’t too awful. New.
  • The Beatles – Yellow Submarine — Trying to build up my Beatles collection, too. I also bought a copy of Rubber Soul but I’m going to take that back because it’s the crappy US version and I want the far superior UK version. The songs on this album are great, of course, because it’s the Beatles on drugs. That was the best period or at least my favorite period. I really think George Martin’s orchestrations on the second side are beautiful. VG+
  • Patti Smith – Horses — #44 on the RS list. I caught this one being graded by Jonathan and snatched it right away. It was a great album and we enjoyed listening to it. VG.
  • Cheap Trick – Heaven Tonight — Trying to get caught up on my Cheap Trick needs and this a step in the right direction. It doesn’t make up for my missing In Color both because it’s my favorite CT album but also because it’s on the RS list. But, that being said, this is a fantastic album. VG+.
  • Alice Cooper – Flush The Fashion — I always run my Alice acquisitions by Eugene because he’s my “Alice Guru.” I sent him a picture of this (and the next) and he sent back his approval. I told him that I’m upping my “Alice Game.” He was a happy camper. VG.
  • Alice Cooper – Alice Cooper Goes To Hell — As with the last one, Eug was happy, although less enthused about this as Flush. But, it’s another notch in my Alice collection. VG+.
  • After The Fire – ATF — You know I’m not afraid to buy an entire album for one song, especially when it’s $1 or $2. I did for this one. “Der Kommissar” is on this album and I love their version. It was VG.
  • Elton John – Greatest Hits — #136 on the RS List. Being as it’s a compilation, I didn’t listen when I did the list, but, I didn’t have to, I have had it on CD for many, many, many years. It’s jammed-packed with “hits” and darn good ones, too. VG/VG+.
  • Styx – Crystal Ball — I know Styx gets crapped on all the time, but you know what? I’m unashamedly a fan. Rabid fan? Nah. But, I dig their stuff. It was Tommy Shaw’s debut with the band and he sang the album’s only Top 40 hit, “Mademoiselle.” It was a $1 bin find and in fairly good shape. I’ll go with VG.
  • U2 – Boy — I believe this was one of my two favorite $1 bin finds of the weekend. It’s #417 on the RS list and is, of course, U2’s debut album from 1980. Even though it was in the $1 bin, it’s in really good shape. VG/VG+.
  • Starz  – Starz — Another one that I ran by Eug because he’s also my “Starz Guru.” He sent back “Excellent! Every Starz album is awesome.” So, I’m taking that as it is a win! $1 bin find and VG.
  • Greg Kihn Band – Rockihnroll — Another that I purchased for one song, “The Breakup Song (They Don’t Write ‘Em).” Again, it was only $1 so why not? VG.
  • Berlin – Pleasure Victim — I love Terri Nunn’s voice. That, plus this being a $1 pulled me to purchase the album, but it also has “Sex (I’m A…),” “Masquerade” and “The Metro” and you just can’t go wrong with those tunes. VG.
  • Chic – C’est Chic —  “Le Freak” for $1. Okay. VG.
  • Paul Revere & The Raiders – Paul Revere & The Raiders’ Greatest Hits — $1 bin find. VG.
  • The Raiders – Indian Reservation — $1 bin find. VG.
  • John Cougar – Nothin’ Matters And What If It Did — I don’t recognize any of the song titles on this 1980 album but it was $1 and it had Edith Massey on the cover which makes it something I can’t pass up. Massey played Edie the woman obsessed with eggs and the “Egg Man” in John Waters’ film Pink Flamingos. The BCPF considers this her favorite most hated film, ever. It’s in G+ condition.
  • Tom T. Hall – We All Got Together And… — I have really gotten into the country “crap” that I had to listen to from Ma Père growing up. Tom T. Hall was one of those. $1 and G+.
  • Tom T. Hall – For The People In The Last Hard Town – Same as the previous, it’s Tom T. Hall and it has “I Love” on it, so that helps. $1 and VG.
  • The Call – Reconciled — I’m familiar with the name The Call but not the music, at least that I know of. I do know they’re one of those mid- to late-80s pop bands that I like so much, so let’s try it out. It’s only $1 and in VG.
  • The Call – Into The Woods — As is the case with the last one, $1 and VG.
  • The Who – Meaty Beaty Big And Bouncy — Compilation album in which the outer sleeve is in dreadful condition. It looks like it had lain in the snow for an entire winter, all puffed and bubbly. The vinyl looks to be in decent condition but I’m rating it at about G+ and it was $1.
  • David Lee Roth – Eat ‘Em And Smile — The other that I am very excited about. I loved this album from the first time I ever heard it and when I moved to WSNC, it was the first time that I had MTV at my disposal and the video for “Yankee Rose” was one of my favorites! The whole thing was awesome and fun to listen to. It was in the $1 bin but I’m going with VG/VG+, even, because I think it is great shape.
  • Miles Davis – In Person, Friday Night At The Blackhawk, San Francisco, Volume I — Remember from many months back when I came across that bonus stack of records that I didn’t even know I had had for? This was part of that. There is still a huge stack of jazz and classical albums I haven’t even gone through, yet, but I am (very) slowly getting through that and this was one that I dug out for this week. I know nothing of it. I’m going with VG.

Whew! That was a large addition week. Jonathan is taking on some hired help to get Underdog Records up to the next level. He says he probably has tons of sellable inventory that he can’t get to because he’s stuck behind the counter and already works a shload of hours that he just can’t keep up with it all. I can’t wait to see what comes from his findings because I’ve gone through all the used stuff that he’s had for the last bit. But, it should bring in new customers when he (and I because I do a lot of advertising for him) starts advertising the stuff on Underdog Records’ social media platforms. So, be on the lookout!!

I didn’t add any Discogs Marketplace acquisitions this week but I did do some dealings with them. You’ll find out more about those when I get them. It will be good stuff. But, use it to keep track of your collection; it’s a great tool.

Until tomorrow, keep spinning!
Scorp out!

—
“I was on the outside when you said you said you needed me. I was looking at myself, I was blind, I could not see. A boy tries hard to be a man. His mother takes him by the hand. If he stops to think, he starts to cry. Oh, why? If you walk away, walk away, I walk away, walk away. I will follow.” – “I Will Follow” (Hewson/Evans/Mullen/Clayton)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 5/26/18

27 Sunday May 2018

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Salutations™!!

It was a rainy, then sunny, then rainy, then sunny day yesterday. Mary’s Gourmet Diner, Underdog Records, Willows Bistro. Lots of record listening. But, it was a great day. Great. Day. Here’s our haul:

220px-Dokken_-_Under_Lock_and_Key

©Elektra Records

  • Dokken – Under Lock And Key – I dug me some Dokken in the mid-80s. This is my favorite album from them as it contains “In My Dreams” which is my favorite song from them. And… it was there in VG++ condition. Why pass that up?
  • Dokken – Back For The Attack – This was there at VG++, too. Double trouble!
  • Simon & Garfunkel – The Concert In Central Park – They had a full band behind them on this album. They performed in front of 500,000 people at this concert. 500k!!! But, it was put the best by The BCPF: Paul Simon solo with Art Garfunkel’s harmonies=perfection. VG+.
  • Dire Straits – Making Movies – This leaves only two albums for me to get to have the whole Dire Straits studio catalog. Granted their catalog isn’t that extensive but the point is that I have really gotten into them and I want all of them. This isn’t my favorite one or even two of theirs but it’s still really good. Jonathan kept an eye out for me as I missed out on a copy a few weeks back. VG++.
  • Talking Heads – Stop Making Sense – I really wish that this was the extended version of the album. That would have been a 2xLP, I’m sure. I don’t even know if there is a version on vinyl or not. This has a truncated version of “Once in a Lifetime,” excluding the “water dissolving, water removing” part. In fact, every song but two were truncated because of limitations of vinyl’s capacity. The CD/cassette versions were longer. Plus, none of the Tom Tom Club stuff. This album is #345 on the RS list. As far as the overall goes, I think it’s way too low. I’d put it in the Top 100, but that’s just me. I think this is awesome, I just wish there was a deluxe version. VG+.
  • George Frideric Handel/ The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock – Music For The Royal Fireworks, Concerti A Due Cori – The BCPF loves her some Hanel. VG+.
  • Electric Light Orchestra – Eldorado – A Symphony By The Electric Light Orchestra – I love me some ELO and I love the Wizard of Oz reference on the cover. VG.
  • Richard Harris – My Boy –  I really enjoyed the first Richard Harris album that I had. I’m wondering if the album was dedicated to his son, Jared, who fans of Mad Men would know as Lane Pryce on the show? He would have been around 10 when this came out. VG+.
  • Jean-François Paillard Chamber Orchestra • I Solisti Veneti • Various – The Pachelbel Canon And Other Baroque Favorites – NM.
  • Nat ‘King’ Cole Trio – In The Beginning – VG+ of very early Nat. It’s his trio and it was true jazz. The BCPF really loves him and I love the style (and him, too). Great record.
  • Nat King Cole – L-O-V-E – $1 bin find in mono and VG shape. More Nat King Cole.
  • Nat King Cole – Let’s Face The Music – And more in the $1 and in VG shape.
  • Johnny Cash & June Carter – Carryin’ On With – $1 bin find in VG shape.
  • Buster Poindexter – Buster Poindexter – The sandpaper-voiced singer of the New York Dolls, David Johansen, in his mid-to-late-80s alter ego, Buster Poindexter. Yeah, I liked “Hot Hot Hot” and that’s why I bought it. Well, that and it was only $1. It’s in VG+ shape.
  • Various – Television’s Greatest Hits, Volume II – I’m a sucker for television theme songs and I actually have this on CD. But, I couldn’t pass up on having the 2xLP version and that 2xLP version was only $1. Ka-ching!
  • Bonnie Raitt – Give It Up – #495 on the RS list and it was sitting in the $1 bin. The BCPF picked it up, so “yay her” for adding to the list. We’re up to 187 out of 500 right now. VG.
  • Monty Python – Instant Record Collection – Exactly as it says., Monty Python. Sketch stuff, I think. $1 bin find. VG.
  • Gerry Rafferty – Night Owl – I enjoyed the other Rafferty album I have. It’s a $1 bin find in VG.
  • Mel Tormé – The Tormé Touch – I got this for several reasons. It was in the $1 bin. I like his voice. I dig his nickname (the Velvet Fog). And, I was a fan of Harry Anderson and Mel was his favorite singer. RIP Harry (and Mel). VG.
  • The Steve Miller Band – Circle Of Love – It was there for $1. That’s the only reason I got it. Well, I liked the cover. VG.

That’s it. That’s a pretty extensive haul but a lot of it was $1 bin stuff. I added two to the RS list gathering experiment.

Underdog Records has a ton of freshly-stocked used vinyl in. If you’ve not been in a while, go check it out! If you’ve never been, check it out! Don’t have a receiver or turntable or speakers? Want some? Underdog Records always has some equipment for sale and reasonably priced.  All your vinyl needs can be met at Underdog. Usually, they are open Tuesday-Saturday but for this week, they’ll be closed on Tuesday as Jonathan and Kerri are going out of town for the holiday. He certainly needs and deserves it.

Discogs is how I bring you this list every week. I keep every album I own on vinyl listed on there and they have a pretty cool marketplace, too.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“And you may find yourself living in a shotgun shack. And you may find yourself in another part of the world. And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile. And you may find yourself in a beautiful house with a beautiful wife. And you may ask yourself, well… How did I get here?” – “Once in a Lifetime” (Eno/Frantz/Byrne/Harrison/Weymouth)

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 11/18/17

19 Sunday Nov 2017

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Salutations™!!StreetSurvivorsFlames

So this week will be a mixture of the take from Underdog Records and a shload of records that I didn’t know that I owned. Let me explain. About 10 years ago, my ex-wife and my mother went to an auction (they were always going to auctions) and purchased a ton of records. They only wanted to rock records but it was one of those, you take one you have to take the whole thing deals. Well, I didn’t have a record player back then. So they got stored. And, I forgot about them. About 3 weeks ago, my ex-wife asked me if I got the ones out of the cabin. What are you talking about? We didn’t have any in the cabin. She informed me that yes we did. I thought perhaps it was one or two things that I had over time. Well, I had to go in the attic with my mother and she said, there are your records. I was looking through and just like a kid, kept saying these are mine!?!? So, I brought them home and am going through them a little at a time. Many rock albums to add to my collection and a lot of jazz, folk and classical, too. I did the rock ones first. Again, these are mixed here.

This is the Bonus Stack below the line

So, that’s a lot and that’s only the rock and few that The BCPF wanted to listen to. I have at least 50 more to put in that are of all other genres. This coming Friday is Black Friday and Underdog Records will have a ton of awesomeness for Record Store Day – Black Friday Edition. Go to the RSD website to find out what is coming. Jonathan said he’s stocking 90% of that list, so make plans now. And buy a gift certificate for someone, do it now and get an additional 10% added for no additional cost. And as you can see, we do a lot of cataloging with Discogs and we love it!

And RIP not only to Malcolm Young, but Mel Tillis passed away, too. RIP Mel.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Heaven. Heaven is a place. A place where nothing. Nothing ever happens.” – “Heaven” (Byrne)

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 8/1-5/17

06 Sunday Aug 2017

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Salutations™!!

This week’s haul spans several days as we visited Underdog Records on Tuesday upon our return from Raleigh, seeing Belle and Sebastian. So it’s extra long today. Let’s hit it!

Peter_criss_solo_album_cover

©Casablanca/UMe

 

So, as you can see, that’s a pretty good haul. Some stuff we’re really excited to get, some we just needed for the collection and some “must haves.” It’s always fun to go in Underdog Records. We have a little community that we’ve formed being customers over there. I know Jonathan has a few quality turntables for sale in the store right now and some receivers and speakers, as well. If you’re looking to get into vinyl for the first time, or again, or just want/need to upgrade your setup, then you’ve choices over there. And, we all use Discogs to manage and archive our collection (and to provide you links for this blog).

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“My house! Is out of the ordinary. That’s right! Don’t wanna hurt nobody. Some things sure can sweep me off my feet. Burning down the house.” – “Burning Down the House” (Frantz, Byrne, Harrison, Weymouth)

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 7/8/17

09 Sunday Jul 2017

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Salutations™!!

It was one of our favorite hauls, yet. Underdog Records just had it going on, yesterday. The BCPF and I picked some classic stuff up, for sure. We really didn’t get to listen to a lot of different stuff because we were listening to two albums that were 3 LPs, big. I’ll explain as we go on. Here we go:R-5560361-1460298207-7799.jpeg

So you can see, we picked up some great stuff. We were excited. Get over to Underdog Records between Tuesday and Saturday and grab records, accessories and just good music conversations. Listen to The Less Desirables episodes every week to hear what the current Underdog/TLD deals are. And, if you’re not using Discogs to archive and catalog your collection, then you’re truly missing out.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Fitter, happier. More productive. Comfortable. Not drinking too much. Regular exercise at the gym, three days a week. Getting on better with your associate employee contemporaries. At ease. Eating well, no more microwave dinners and saturated fats. A patient, better driver. A safer car, baby smiling in back seat. Sleeping well, no bad dreams. No paranoia. Careful to all animals, never washing spiders down the plughole. Keep in contact with old friends, enjoy a drink now and then. Will frequently check credit at moral bank, hole in wall. Favours for favours, fond but not in love. Charity standing orders on Sundays, ring-road supermarket. No killing moths or putting boiling water on the ants. Car wash, also on Sundays. No longer afraid of the dark or midday shadows, nothing so ridiculously teenage and desperate. Nothing so childish. At a better pace, slower and more calculated. No chance of escape. Now self-employed. Concerned, but powerless. An empowered and informed member of society, pragmatism not idealism. Will not cry in public. Less chance of illness. Tires that grip in the wet, shot of baby strapped in backseat. A good memory. Still cries at a good film. Still kisses with saliva. No longer empty and frantic. Like a cat. Tied to a stick. That’s driven into frozen winter shit, the ability to laugh at weakness. Calm, fitter, healthier and more productive. A pig in a cage on antibiotics.” – Fitter Happier (Yorke, Greenwood, O’Brien, Greenwood, Selway)

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 7/1/17

02 Sunday Jul 2017

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Salutations™!!

Good day for The BCPF and me at Underdog Records, yesterday. Good stuff. Many $1 bin finds but a few new and fantastic finds, as well. Here’s the haul: R-7786024-1448739666-5969.jpeg

So, yeah, a lot of good additions and some great listening yesterday. Getting started in vinyl? Have a collection you want to part with? Have a collection that you’d like to listen to again? Check out Underdog Records for all your vinyl needs (and wants). And use Discogs to catalog them.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Looking at the world through the sunset in your eyes, trying to make the train. Through clear Moroccan skies, ducks and pigs and chickens call. Animal carpet wall to wall. American ladies five foot tall in blue.” – “Marrakesh Express” (Nash)

CBGB or: The Less Desirables Movie of the Week

18 Saturday Feb 2017

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Salutations™!!

a/perture cinema, the Official Movie Sponsor of The Less Desirables, presents The Less Desirables Movie of the Week, CBGB (2013), starring Alan Rickman, Malin Akerman, Justin Bartha.

Per IMDb: “A look at the New York City punk-rock scene and the venerable nightclub, CBGB.”

Hilly Kristal (Rickman) had a few businesses and marriage that failed, mostly because of

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©XLerator Media

his hedonistic lifestyle of thinking that money was secondary and happiness and doing good was enough. Doesn’t always work that way. He tried another “club,” this time in the Bowery of New York City. His closest friends, even his daughter, figured he’d fail, as he always had. He wanted this bar, again, in the Bowery of NYC, to be a place for country, blue grass and blues, so he renamed what was going to be called Hilly’s on the Bowery, CBGB to reflect his wishes for the establishment.

He hired an artist fella by the name of “Taxi” to run sound for his new club. He gave a junkie named “Idaho” a job cooking what looks like old toilet water, but they call it Hilly’s Chili. He enlists the help of some biker gangs to keep people off of his back, giving them free drinks in exchange for “protection,” whenever he needed it.

One day, a dude by the name of Terry Ork shows up saying he represents a band called Television and they want to audition to play the club. He doesn’t really dig it but he doesn’t really not. He gives them a gig. They become popular. Following that, a slew of punk icons, still in their early days, come rolling through. Acts like The Ramones, Blondie, Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, The Dead Boys, Talking Heads and Patti Smith, just to name a few. CBGB became the birthplace of American punk. Speaking of which, the film also talks about the phenomenon that was Punk Magazine. The mag’s origin, the people that worked there, promoted there and counted on there to get their fix of the NYC punk scene.

I don’t know how truthful most of this film is. It seems plausible but improbable most of the time. It is entertaining, though. It’s NYC in the 70s, what could be bad about that? The story is gritty and dingy, as is the scenery, as are the sets. I’ll admit that I don’t know a lot about the punk scene, American, British, or otherwise, but I really enjoyed getting a (probably) convoluted account of the rise and somewhat fall (Dead Boys) of some of these punk pioneers. I also, admit that I enjoyed the soundtrack immensely. Bands that I normally wouldn’t care for, I enjoyed, even the Ramones, if you can believe that. It made me want to go and find the real backstories of these real life bands.

I liked the many cameos and supporting actors and actresses that had parts. Rupert Grint as Cheetah Chrome, Taylor Hawkins as Iggy Pop, Johnny Galecki as Ork and many others. Again, I’m not thinking this film was supposed to knock anyone’s socks off and it certainly didn’t. Total US theater gross for this film was $40,400. That’s not a typo, forty thousand, four hunderd. Including the Home Distribution tallies, it has made about $526,514. Still, small change for the movie industry with a large release.

I don’t know that the filmmakers knew how to handle the true history and made it a bit cheesy, where the source material should have been portrayed a bit richer. I am huge fan of Alan Rickman and this was one of the last films he made before his death a little over a year ago, January 14, 2016. I don’t know that I especially enjoyed his portrayal of Hilly Kristal but I liked that he gave it a shot.

Rotten Tomatoes rates the film at a dismal 8% Rotten and the Audience Score, while significantly better is only a 42%. IMDb has it at 6.6 stars out of 10. That’s actually not too bad. I saw the film on Netflix. I am rating it 3.75 stars. That last .75 is from the soundtrack alone. Not a great film but decent if you want a bit of historical fiction and some great music. Have you seen it? What did you think? What would you like to hear/read me review?

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“I opened CBGB because I thought country music was gonna become the next big thing. And it did… in Nashville.” – Hilly Kristal

I Wouldn’t Have It Any Other Way or: The Monday After

15 Monday Aug 2016

Posted by in Life as We Know It

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Salutations™!!

Whew… It may take me a bit to recover from this past weekend. Between walking, music, food and booze, I’m ready for a weekend. It’s been the busiest I can remember on record. But, for the purpose of this blog I’m going to focus, at least today, on one thing: music.

After a long walk with by pal Patrick on Friday morning and a marathon conversation with a spectacular young woman that afternoon, and then one of the dinners of the week, I played with my pals, Clay Howard and Neal Goode at Test Pattern. Collectively we’re 13901310_518832031645974_8202719342297880616_n.jpgknown as The Threadbare Trio. I think it was the best we’ve done as a group. I say that because we actually seemed to know the songs this time. I kid mostly. I’m mostly familiar with the tunes, but have never played them. So, I’ll admit, I cheat and have my tablet on a stand in front of me, so I can use my charts and such. I don’t do that for full on rock shows, but for this (we’re all sitting on stools of some sort), I’m okay with that.

We had a decent crowd for that show, we even got Jerry Chapman up to play some bass (my instrument) on three songs. I stood on stage using Neal’s tambourine and shaker-set to keep some semblance of rhythm. I wasn’t great at that. But, I was doing backup vocals, so I guess that mostly made up for it. We were supposed to play about 90 minutes but the bands that were following up on us backed out and went somewhere else to play, so we played for a little longer. I made a few bucks, so, no complaints there, not for any of it.

Then, Saturday got The BCPF and I up and we walked another 10k steps. Then rush home to shower and then rush to our friend Evan’s place around 10:30a to start having about 30 mimosas and/or bloody marys and then a dark and stormy (or two) before going to a seafood festival at 3pm – you do the math, there; there was that much drinking. Then we had to trek over in the awful heat and humidity to Liberty Street so I could perform the “Summer on Liberty” show with the Vagabond Saints Society doing Talking Heads. I did my three songs, “Stay Up Late,” “Burning Down the House” and “Once in a Lifetime” for the last time. I figured because it was the last time, I just threw down; whatever happened happened and I was going to have to be okay with that. Nothing but good things (at least that I could tell) happened and I was excited and relieved that it was all over. I can purge those songs and prepare for the next VSS show that I will be part of (which may or may not be the next show, I haven’t decided).

All that being said, I really enjoyed being on stage with musical brothers and sisters for both shows. Being part of it with them made everything extra spectaculicious. I know some of the most talented singers and musicians in the world, I just wish the world knew more about them. I am trying my best, at that. So, lots of musical work this weekend, thrown in on top of the food and beer and liquor and wine and walking and… and… and… I am so ready for the weekend, now.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!!

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“This is what it sounds like, when the doves cry…” – “When Doves Cry” (Prince)

Silent Sunday or: Waiting on the Weekend

14 Sunday Aug 2016

Posted by in Beer, Blogging, Food, Podcasting, Silent Sunday

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Salutations™!!

I was talking with The BCPF this morning that I can’t remember the last time a weekend was this jam-packed. It’s been chock-full of stuff and it’s not over, yet. I’ll have plenty to talk about across all my blogging brands this week and I’ll catch you up on that throughout the week, but here’s a quick preview of what you’ll read about.

Useless Things Need Love, Too: The Threadbare Trio played a show at Test Pattern on Friday and on Saturday I played the last of the Vagabond Saints Society’s Talking Heads shows at Summer on Liberty. More on that tomorrow…2016-08-14 12.07.26

The Man Who Walked the Town: Not only did we do our “10k by 10a” last Saturday, which I haven’t talked about, yet, we did it yesterday, but also, my good buddy, Patrick Ferguson and I walked our own “10k by 10a” twice during the week. So, I have a lot of walking and a lot of ground to cover (see what I did there?)

The Man Who Ate the Town: The BCPF were honored with the ability to attend not one, but two nights of the Sweet Summer Luv Luv Festival, the awesome event conceived and hosted by Chef Tim Grandinetti of Spring House Restaurant, Kitchen and Bar, with some of my favorite chefs in town. On Saturday, on of those favorite chefs, Chef Mark Grohman held his annual seafood festival at Meridian. Tonight, we’ll be attending the Beer vs. Wine Dinner at 1703 Restaurant, thanks to Chef Curtis Hackaday. So I have plenty of food to talk about.

But, for today, the fun isn’t over. The August Edition of Second Sundays on 4th is happening today from 3pm until 6pm. Come out, enjoy food, drink and music on The Little Block of Awesome between Cherry and Marshall. The headliners for today is Holy Ghost Tent Revival. Bring the family, you’ll have a great time.

Whew that’s a long “silent” Sunday. I’m leaving a preview of the food blog for this week in form of the picture. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“Don’t you wanna make him stay up late?” – “Stay Up Late” (Byrne)