Tag Archives: The Grateful Dead

Fare Thee Well or: A Man Crush Confidential

08 Friday Jun 2018

Posted by in Blogging, Food, Life as We Know It, Travel

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Salutations™!!

My interest in Anthony Bourdain came right after The BCPF and I met. She talked about liking his show, No Reservations, and how she really loved it and his bad-arsed qualities. It was an immediate reaction for me. Dang! This cat is cool and he loves food and travel. He dug into things that went beyond just food and travel, though.

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©David Holloway/CNN

 

He was a social activist. Which I know being a bleeding-heart liberal can turn a lot of people off. But, he was able to do that without being too in-your-face about it. He was outspoken about sexual harassment in restaurant kitchens as well as the circus that has become Hollywood’s own fight within about the same subject. In fact, his partner/girlfriend, Asia Argento, was one of the women that Harvey Weinstein allegedly harassed. But, he worked for better working conditions for restaurant workers.

Another thing that drew me to him was his willingness to try just about any food. He was especially fond of using varietal bits of animals, the stuff that most 21st century people wouldn’t think of eating. That caught on. I mean, a few of my favorite local chefs here in WSNC do what is called an offal dinner and use glands, hearts, gizzards and just about anything else they can find to use. That rubbed off on me, too. It was because of his adventurous eating that inspired me to do more of it myself. Sweetbreads. Foie gras. Glands. Organs. I will try many things like that, now. I love steak/beef tartare and it’s because of him.

But, it wasn’t the food and the activism alone. It was about the travel, too. He had a fascination with the people and cultures of Southeast Asia. He always said when he retired he would move there. The BCPF and I totally expected him to do just that. He loved Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. He loved China, Malaysia, the Philippines and one of the most memorable episodes of his latest show, Parts Unknown, was filmed in Myanmar.

He loved to show his “TV friends” places that most likely would have been way off our radar. Sure, he went to some glamorous parts but mostly he dug deep into deep areas that were “less desirable,” and brought awareness, by way of “documentary-style” television. He got to know the natives. He befriended them, got to know them, lived with them for small amounts of time, learned about them and, perhaps most importantly, he learned from them. Thus, we learned from them.  He was a rock star in travel and food.

The BCPF and I love to travel. We love being places. So much of our “wish list” is based on places that he’s been. The only reason we don’t follow through is financial reasons. But, we both love to learn about different cultures and immerse ourselves in those cultures. He did that for us and we would sit with him in our living room and learn more, benefiting from his insight, knowledge and learning. I’ve loved him. I’ve had a man-crush on him.

Just this past week, 3B, my 16-year old culinary hopeful, asked me who my favorite celebrity chef was. Without hesitation, I said Anthony Bourdain (and followed by Gordon Ramsey), even though he had technically moved from the culinary aspects of his life. He wasn’t completely out of it. He talked a lot about cooking, methods, ingredients, techniques and it was never not part of his conversations, at least on television.

He graduated from Culinary Institute of America in 1978 with an associates degree. He went on to become the executive chef of Brasserie Les Halles in NYC and eventually moved on from there. But, up until their closing last year, he was considered their “chef-at-large.” He was given an honorary doctorate from CIA in December 2017.

I haven’t always agreed with him, though. He’s a fan of the Ramones and I don’t care about the Ramones. He doesn’t like Billy Joel or Elton John and I really like both of them. I am with him on the Grateful Dead though, I don’t care for them, either. He’s been tough on some celebrity chefs and lenient on others. But, he admits when there are mistakes that he’s made and apparently he’s made a lot.

He’s had demons. He was an abuser of illicit drugs. He’s admitted to using LSD, cocaine, heroin, psilocybin mushrooms (which he would soak in honey and flavor his tea) among others. He was a two-pack-a-day smoker until a few years back which he quit for his daughter’s sake. That little girl is 11 years old, now. And she’s without a father.

You see, Anthony Bourdain was found dead in his Parisian hotel by his best bud, Éric Ripert, who appeared on many of “Tony’s” shows. It was an apparent suicide, although as of this writing, I don’t know how he did it. And, I don’t know if there is a note. I think this is hitting me as hard as it did when Prince and Bowie died two years ago. As I said, he was a rock star, at least to me. He sat in my living room. He helped (indirectly) strengthen my incredible marriage to my beautiful wife.

I feel awful about this. I think I’d feel less bad had it been natural causes or something that wasn’t his doing. But, this was suicide and I have an especially hard time with that. I feel for his 11-year old daughter. I feel for his fans. I feel for others that loved him that have also dealt with suicide directly by a loved one as this is reliving a situation. I talked to just a person like that this morning. I won’t go into that because it’s not my story but she touched my heart with her story.

Something very interesting is that he always said he didn’t care for Paris. The BCPF and I call it our favorite city. The last time we were there, we actually purchased his book Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly in Shakespeare and Company, an English-speaking bookstore which happens to be one of the most famous bookstores in the world. I look at it often and say, I want to read that. I have a feeling that I may get to that, now.

I also have a feeling that there will be a lot of binge-watching of old eps of No Reservations and current eps of Parts Unknown. Tony, I miss you already, sir. I need to pick up my culinary chops and do you proud (at least in my mind). Thank you for the inspiration and guidance, though we never spoke. Thank you for the cultural lessons and the social advocacy.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Sad Scorp out…

—
“If I’m an advocate for anything, it’s to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river. Walk in someone else’s shoes or at least eat their food.” – Anthony Bourdain

Silent Sunday or: The Haul – Record Store Edition

22 Sunday Apr 2018

Posted by in Records, Silent Sunday

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Salutations™!!

So, the thing I want to say first is this: as much as I don’t mind the cold, sitting outside when the temperature drops to 41° and the wind comes barreling in at 3:45am in the morning and you’re in line for the Super Bowl of Records and Vinyl. That “ish” sucks like a Hoover. But, that’s exactly what we did right outside of Underdog Records. The BCPF and I camped along with a few of our vinyl friends all night Friday night/Saturday morning to be the first four (actually six but two pairs and two individuals) in the door to make sure we get our wants/wishlist filled for Record Store Day.

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©Warner Bros.

 

We went to eat at Mary’s Gourmet Diner directly after and then we went home and crashed for FIVE hours. We got up and listened a little before heading to Willows Bistro to have dinner with friends of ours, The Johnsons. Anywhat! You came for the list, right? I will say that all of these are brand new/NM (because I’m opening them). I’ll also put down who wanted and/or picked it up (Scorp/The BCPF). Here is the list:

  • Fleetwood Mac – The Alternate Tango In The Night – I love the original Tango in the Night. I was kind of disappointed with this. I mean, it’s good, but I was hoping for true alternate takes of “Big Love” and “Everywhere.” There were cool things on it, but I didn’t get my full satisfaction out of it but that’s okay. I’ll listen over and over anyways. This was my top RSD priority. (Scorp)
  • Living Colour – “Live From CGGB’s” Tuesday 12/19/89 – Actually picked up by The BCPF. She saw them open for the Rolling Stones on this tour and wanted to capture it. I’d think it was a little out of her wheelhouse but I was happy she got it. I have always loved what I’ve heard from Living Colour. 2xLP. (The BCPF)
  • The Cure – Mixed Up – A remastered remix album that came out on my 20th birthday (which, by the way, means 1990) and The BCPF loved it. It’s on a 2xLP picture disc set and it’s pretty awesome. I loved the remixes, too. I hadn’t heard them before.  2xLP. (The BCPF)
  • The Cure – Torn Down: Mixed Up Extras 2018 – A sequel to the 1990 remix album Mixed Up. It is even more remixes, done by Robert Smith. 2xLP. (The BCPF)
  • Adam Sandler – They’re All Gonna Laugh At You! – My favorite Adam Sandler album. I got the only one that Jonathan got in. I don’t know how many he ordered but he only received one. I think it’s Sandler’s best. A mix of really great sketches and really good songs. There may be a clunker here and there but overall, it’s great! I’m glad I was where I was in line because the guy behind us wanted it and he drove all the way from New Bern to do his RSD shopping. Sorry, Jason. Looking at his haul though, I’d say he spent close to if not over $1000 that day, so I figured I saved him a few bucks. 2xLP. (Scorp)
  • Ella Fitzgerald – Ella At Zardi’s – Zardi’s Jazzland was a jazz-focused music venue in Los Angeles in the ’50s. It was world-famous and a lot of top-name jazz folks played there, including, Ella. There were only two of these that Jonathan got and it was a top priority for The BCPF, which because our pal Michael got the other, left our friend Bill out. Sorry, Bill. 2xLP (The BCPF)
  • Wilco – Live At The Troubadour L.A. 1996 – The BCPF is a Wilco fan and this is a 2xLP of the band in their heyday, at their peak. I like Wilco pretty well. It’s not my favorite but it is cool. (The BCPF)
  • The Sundays – Reading, Writing And Arithmetic – The absolute top priority for The BCPF, this completes the Sundays trilogy. It’s a reissue but she had them all on CD when she was younger. I’m glad she got it. (The BCPF)
  • Jeff Buckley – Live At Sin-é – The Sin-é Coffeehouse in Manhattan’s East Village was a jumping in point for a good amount of well-known musicians, including Mr. Buckley. This 4xLP is the complete version of his 4-song EP that was released in 1993. The “Legacy” collection (4xLP) was released in 2003 but only on CD. I could be wrong but I believe this is its first time released on vinyl. (The BCPF)
  • Madonna – The First Album – Picture disc of Madge’s first album with “Borderline,” “Holiday” and “Lucky Star.” It was surprisingly inexpensive. It will be fun listening to it. (The BCPF)
  • Neil Young – Roxy Tonight’s The Night Live – A live concert from Neil Young recorded in 1973, although the official release isn’t until next Saturday. Yay us for getting an early copy. It’s 2xLP but only three sides. The fourth side is etched. (The BCPF)
  • Pink Floyd – The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn – The mono version of the debut Pink Floyd album. I wasn’t going to get it but then I figured, I can’t not get it. I won’t get this chance again unless I am ready to pay 20% markup on them. I’ll admit this isn’t a favorite of mine but it is needed for the RS List (#347) but it’s a limited edition. (Scorp)
  • David Bowie – Welcome To The Blackout (Live London ’78) – As the title suggests, it’s live from 1978. Bowie wasn’t ever “not good” and I loved the late 70s/early 80s stuff. This is a 3xLP set, too. (Scorp)
  • David Bowie – Bowie Now – Compilation rerelease on white vinyl. (The BCPF)
  • Lou Reed – Animal Serenade – A 3xLP live album recorded in Los Angeles at the Wiltern Theatre in 2003 after The Raven. The show features a drummer-less band (including Mike Rathke on guitar/synth, bassist, vocalist Fernando Saunders, and the cello of Jane Scarpantoni). Reed delivers dramatic readings of some of his most compelling work. In addition, Anohni, of Antony and the Johnsons fame, contributes background vocals throughout and sings the lead on “Set The Twilight Reeling” and “Candy Says.” (The BCPF)
  • Duran Duran – Thanksgiving Live – The Ultra Chrome, Latex And Steel Tour – A 2xLP of Duran Duran on tour in 1997. (Scorp)
  • Duran Duran – Budokan – A brief live performance from Duran Duran in Japan. There are only nine songs, but they sound fantastic. Simon’s voice is on point and you can really hear everything coming through. (Scorp)
  • Dylan & The Dead – Dylan & The Dead – Just what it sounds like it would be. You can guess who picked this one up but I’ll give you a hint, it was not me. (The BCPF)
  • The Rolling Stones – Their Satanic Majesties Request – I’m very surprised this wasn’t on the RS List. A cool lenticular cover and gatefold packaging. I like KISS’ version of “2000 Man” better, but this isn’t bad. It’s on blue-splattered vinyl. (The BCPF)
  • Human League – Secrets – Vinyl debut and reissue of their 2001 album. (Scorp)
  • Sufjan Stevens – Mystery Of Love – 10″ transparent vinyl of Sufjan Stevens single from the soundtrack of Call Me By Your Name. (The BCPF)

So, by my count, that’s 13 for The BCPF and 7 for Scorp. Not a contest at all and it just is what it is. We both got what we wanted and that’s cool. The only thing I missed was the reissue of the Whitesnake ’87 album which I’ll find somewhere later. It was just a good haul. If I haven’t already told you how much we paid, privately, you’ll have to just guess. No reason to broadcast that, but I will say it was over $70.

Jonathan was swamped but in a great mood when we left, I hope it stayed that way and I hope he made all his money back and more. I believe he’s open today for a rare Sunday opening. That may have changed but may not have. Check the Underdog Records social media channels.

Surprisingly, Discogs had all of them in by the time I got to them, however, some were just the European versions (which should be about the same), so I’ll go looking for the US versions to make the collection listing more accurate. That’s it, I’m still tired and I’m out!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp is worn out!

—
“Whenever I’m alone with you, you make me feel like I am home again. Whenever I’m alone with you, you make me feel like I am whole again. Whenever I’m alone with you, you make me feel like I am young again. Whenever I’m alone with you, you make me feel like I am fun again.” – “Lovesong” (Smith/Gallup/Thompson/O’Donnell/Williams/Tolhurst)

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 12/9/17

10 Sunday Dec 2017

Posted by in Records, Silent Sunday

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Salutations™!!

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

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©Virgin

 

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

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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

Long Strange Trip or: The Less Desirables Movie of the Week

01 Saturday Jul 2017

Posted by in Movie Review

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Salutations™!!

a/perture cinema, the Official Movie Sponsor of The Less Desirables, presents The Less Desirables Movie of the Week, Long Strange Trip (2017), starring The Grateful Dead.

Long-Strange-Trip-film-poster

©Amazon

 

Per IMDb: “The tale of the Grateful Dead is inspiring, complicated, and downright messy. A tribe of contrarians, they made art out of open-ended chaos and inadvertently achieved success on their own terms. Never-before-seen footage and interviews offer this unprecedented and unvarnished look at the life of the Dead.”

On The Less Desirables, I’m going to let Danielle help me talk about the film since it was her request for me to watch this and the Dead is her favorite band. However, here, I’ll talk about it a bit. This will be brief.

I’ve never liked the Grateful Dead. One, I don’t like jam bands and, two, I don’t generally like the blues-based hippie rock. After seeing this film (broken into six episodes on Amazon), I will say that I found that I could tolerate a bit more of the film than I previously thought I could. Some of it I’d even say that I liked. I’ve never had a problem with “Uncle John’s Band,” “Truckin'” or “Casey Jones.” But, a lot of the other stuff I’ve had to learn to tolerate. This helped a little.

However, what I did gain from this was a lot of respect for Jerry Garcia and what the band went through. Also, I think it was touched on in the film but the phenomenon of “deadheads” actually took over and in some ways overshadowed the talent these musicians had. I believe it’s possible that, like Lynyrd Skynyrd, the actual talent of the band is overshadowed by the sometimes annoying, yet always rabid, fan base. The musicians that make up this band are immensely talented, something I think isn’t obvious in their “jam sessions.” I don’t like jam sessions because I like ensemble pieces not a lot of different solos. It’s one thing in a set for someone to do that, once per person, if need be, but not in every song. I start tuning it out after a while. Also, on studio albums, I think Jerry Garcia can actually sing. Live, it’s shaky. I know that’s not the “spirit of rock and roll” but the spirit of my rock and roll is more polished. And, my spirit kicks your spirit’s butt! I kid.

While the band wasn’t the Jerry Garcia Band, I believe that most of the world saw it as such, but as the documentary showed, Garcia didn’t want any leaders, at least not in the actual sense. Whoever needed to be in charge at any given time was in charge. The film focused on him and I believe it was about him, but that’s not necessarily the overall view of the band or even him at the time. I think the fans see it as Jerry’s band, mostly.

A song that I found that I liked included “Morning Dew.” Hearing the story of that and the truck engineer and how it made him weep was a sweet story. I am listening to the song right now as I write this. I’m listening to the Cornell University show from 1977. It’s just sincere and is an intimate song. I don’t know that I’d listen a whole lot but, Danielle, at least I gave it a shot, right?

Rotten Tomatoes has the film at 100% Fresh and an Audience Score of 92%. IMDb has it at 8.3 stars out of 10. As it is an Amazon original, I watched it on Amazon, all at once. All 238 minutes of it, not starting until about 10:15 pm on Tuesday night. Don’t let the length fool you. I’m not a fan of The Grateful Dead but I do love band and musician documentaries. For what this is and its quality, I am rating it 4.5 stars out of 5. Have you seen it? What did you think? What would you like to hear/read me review?

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“The situation is the boss.” – Steve Parish

Just a Little Bit Too Strong or: That’s the Way It Is (RS Part 26)

04 Friday Sep 2015

Posted by in Music Review

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Salutations™!!

I know I usually do these on Mondays but this coming Monday is a holiday and I may write about that, who knows, so let’s put this one in today… Okay? Okay! I worked my way through the first 250 of Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums of All Time. I wrote my defense (not really, just a recap) of those and now I’m ready to move on. Hopefully, there’s stuff that will surprise me in a good way. I don’t like those unfortunate surprises so much. Anywhat! Let’s hit it!

#250 – Reasonable Doubt by Jay-Z. Ok, a question, here. I know it’s because of the overall influence of what the album has done its affect on others and/or subsequent releases, but how is that an album that is advocating so much violence, especially gun violence against the “N” word, killing, shooting and such, on this list? Biggie is on here, and we know what happened to him. It’s one thing to put on a front but this isn’t WWE. This isn’t just an on-screen spat for entertainment purposes. This is potentially real life-and-death. The songs themselves aren’t really that bad. The subject matter is bad. I understand the posturing and I understand the “I overcame” but that’s one thing; provocation is another. The subject matter of this sickens me and I’m not just being a “bleeding heart liberal” (which sometimes I can be), it’s just way too much for me to pay attention to. Not a good start to “Side 2” of the list but I’m thinking I’m not going to rate it unless something really stands out to me. Some of the music is pretty cool, but nothing other than “Feelin’ It” and “Coming of Age” stick out, really, to me. No rating.

#249 – Automatic for the People by R.E.M. Now to rinse the taste of the Jay-Z album out of my ears, this is much more tame and much more listenable. Starting off with 1R.E.M._-_Automatic_for_the_People“Drive” it’s a eerie little tune that I happen to love. One of the sappiest, yet saddest, songs ever recorded, “Everybody Hurts,” is something that I’ll remember first and foremost from Taxicab Confessions on HBO and when I first heard it, I thought the singer (yes I know it’s Stipe, now) was awfully whiney. But, I also think that the song is wonderfully written and now I know better. Now, I’m not saying this is a great album from beginning to end, as some of it kind of falls short like fluffy filling but there is some fantastic stuff on here. “Man on the Moon” is a great tribute to the zany Andy Kaufman. I think that’s the first time I’ve really ever used the word “zany” on this blog and probably in real life outside of ZanyZappers that I had as kids. Anywhat! The story in the song is fun and a fitting tribute. And “Nightswimming.” My memories of that song had nothing directly to do with R.E.M.. Rather it’s more about a man named BB who sang it during the “R.E.M.: The Later Years” Vagabond Saints Society show, which happened to be my first show with VSS, ever. BB, whom I’m sorry to say I can’t remember his last name, did it and kind of got flustered during the performance and they restarted it. I felt bad for him, but he pulled it off like a champ. I didn’t really even know him but he seemed to be a very nervous person, although he was a singer for another band, of which escapes me right now. BB passed away a few years back, and when I hear that song, forevermore it reminds me of that night. Bittersweet. I dug the album, though.

#248 – The Shape of Jazz to Come by Ornette Coleman. Whoa! Some very unique stuff, this. It’s not so much that Ornette is playing the saxophone but he’s talking through it. It’s like a personified being more than an inanimate object. And while Don Cherry makes the coronet/trumpet sing, and probably more so than any I’ve heard before, it’s still not as hot as Ornette’s playing. They’re both playing riffs with horns and wind instruments that is almost as fast as some Yngwie licks and that’s super fast. The complimentary conversation between the sax and trumpet throughout the album is amazing. Another unique thing about the album is that it is a quartet but without any 1Ornette Colemantraditional chordal instruments. I hear no piano or guitar on it at all. I hear drums, a double-bass and the sax and trumpet. In “Focus on the Sanity” the sax is like a kitten playing with a ball of string and having a grand old time. Another amazing thing about this album is that all thirty-eight minutes of it was recorded in one day back in 1959. Not that unheard of as Heavens Sake recorded the basic tracks for nine songs in one day, but still, out of six, five of these babies are over five minutes long; one at over nine. This was a joy to listen to and I’d say it was righteous! I dug it, for sure!!

#247 – Live/Dead by The Grateful Dead. I hang my head when I see The Grateful Dead. I’m very ungrateful that I have to be subjected to them. Listening to this is like listening to sporadic, chronic “tuners” (those who stand at the front of the stage constantly tuning their guitars/basses when they’re not really out of tune – it’s a nervous habit, nothing more) that are scoring some strange art-house film that while we hear the soundtrack/score we don’t get to see the crappy movie (caveat, I like art house films, most of the time). This is all criticism of just the first song, a 23-minute epic of a mess called “Dark Star.” After that it gets “better,” whatever that means. I can picture them standing on the stage and just twiddling around on some notes and such. Some of it gets a little dynamic, like “Turn on Your Love Light,” but most of it is b-o-r-i-n-g! I mean even trying to do other things while listening was making the things I was doing bad. I mean, even playing Cookie Jam was not taking my mind off of this garbage. Grateful that The Grateful Dead is over for now. I’m sure there’s more of this junk on here somewhere. This is like a shot of Clorox with a Drain-o chaser. I don’t care if I get flack for talking junk about “the Dead.” This outright sucks! I know I’m not being professional or proper in my critique but it’s not proper to have to listen to this, either.

#246 – Freak Out! by Mothers of Invention. I actually own this album, believe it or not. I don’t know why, but I do. And even if I don’t think this is great, it’s not the (expletive) Grateful Dead!! Now, that being said, I don’t not think this is good. I love Zappa’s satire and he leaves no one out. He’s an equal opportunity blaster. Everyone’s fair game here. “Motherly Love” I have heard before and I don’t know where. Seems like a movie or something but I can’t find a listing about it. “Wowie Zowie” is fun. The whole album is fun, and I think in some twisted way the whole thing is tongue-in-1FreakOutcheek, musically and lyrically. It takes a lot of aspects from doo-wop but the mid-Sixties are definitely threaded throughout. David Fricke of Rolling Stone says that this was a direct influence on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Band from The Beatles (spoiler, it’s very high on this countdown). I don’t know that I hear that but I can’t deny it, either. “You’re Probably Wondering Why I’m Here” reminds me of something and I can not figure out what it is. Maybe it will come to me at a later date. I dunno. Anywhat! I dig it.

#245 – All Killer, No Filler: The Anthology by Jerry Lee Lewis. I want to listen to some of The Killer but not like this. 

#244 – The Marshall Mathers LP by Eminem. “Stan” is but one very disturbing account of the other side of celebrity; the bad side, the stalkers, paparazzi, tabloids, critics, etc. In fact, the whole album is like that. I’m more of a fan of this than I am of the Slim Shady LP (#275) that I reviewed earlier in the countdown. I think I just find this more accessible. At one end, he’s not as hungry as he was before he got “famous” but on the other side he can relax a little bit because he’s gotten where he needs to be – good or bad be the case. Then comes “Kim.” “Stan” was nothing compared to “Kim,” as far as songs go. His hatred for his wife and his account of how she prevented him from seeing their daughter rings through. It’s a murder ballad, or murder fantasy, where he kills her and stuffs her in his trunk. Presumably, this is a prequel to “97 Bonnie & Clyde” from the Slim Shady LP. It’s perhaps one of the most violent songs I’ve ever heard, at least in sense of actually “acting out” the violence. Eminem played both himself and Kim in the song and you can hear the demise, the duct tape and the stowing. Rough stuff, but overall, I dug the album.

#243 – Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath. I can feel myself sinking from the weight of the metal, it’s heavy. If I’m stating my opinion (and I am), this is, especially in the title song’s breadth, where “heavy metal” was born. The earth cracked, gash wide open, up and from its head sprung forth Ozzy, Tommy, Bill and Geezer. You can almost 1Black Sabbathfeel the black clouds rolling in – and not slowly – bringing an impending doom which will swallow you and every ounce of good that was left in your decaying soul, whole; inch by inch. Wow, I don’t know if I could have made that any more delightfully dreadful but the title song is absolutely that. Although I dig “The Wizard,” I feel that the harmonica is watering down it’s weight and I could have done without that, but overall the song is powerful. There’s a bit of confusion on my part as to which version of this album I’m supposed to listen to. There’s the European LP version, the North American LP version, a reissue (which I try to stay away from because I want it to be as close to the original as possible) and bonus tracks, which while sometimes I do listen to, if they’re not on the original, then I don’t include them in the review. The version I decided on (and what was readily available on Rhapsody) is the North American LP version. So, you get as track number three: “Wasp/Behind the Wall of Sleep/Bassically (yes I spelled that right)/N.I.B.” N.I.B. stand neither for “Nativity in Black” nor “Name in Blood.” It’s about the devil falling in love and becoming a decent entity. In an FAQ on their website, Geezer Butler stated that the song had no title so they just called it “Nib” after drummer Bill Ward’s beard which was shaped like a pen nib. I can relate as I have one of those. The end is one long song as well. It’s called “A Bit of Finger/Sleeping Village/Warning.” The “Bit of Finger” part is pretty but haunting. Then it goes back to punching you square in the teeth with a metallic fist whilst being a little jazzy and Zeppelin-like. There’s a bit of “Heartbreaker” in there if you listen close enough. And, after listening to the “Warning” part, I don’t want anyone else to say Page is a sloppy lead player without giving Iommi the same rub. He’s sloppy all through that. But, it doesn’t really take away from the over all. This album was a depressing delight and I most certainly dug it. Any fan of hard rock should like this. Although I really can’t stand the term “heavy metal,” I think this one does offer a great birth of it. Now, I await the hellmouth to swallow me whole.

#242 – Run-D.M.C. by Run-D.M.C. Back when rap was fresh and new not run-of-the-mill whack that it is now. This is some of the spread that caused people to notice rap. It’s elements of rock, pop, rap and hip-hop topped with a bit of awesome sauce rolled up into a fantastic rap dessert. I dig that they give Jam-Master Jay (RIP) some love. Two songs worth, actually. He’s perhaps the most famous of spinner DJs that the rap world has ever known. Other than “Sucker M.C.’s (Krush-Groove 1),” I don’t think I’ve heard any of these songs before. That’s not a bad thing, I just mean that it’s this good without a powerhouse song. At the same time, there’s nothing really standout-ish about it either. I’m not taking away from it, it rocks. I really like “It’s Like That.” Rock on Jay! Dug!

#241 – Let It Be by The Replacements. The first thing I see on the track listing is a 1let it besong called “Black Diamond.” What is this!? It can’t be!? It is! It’s a cover of the 1974 (more precisely it’s a cover of the 1975 Alive! version) debut album track from KISS. If nothing else, they get props for that! It’s a pretty horrible cover, but they did cover it and released it. It seems that this is a jumbled mess. But, that’s not exactly true. I think it’s a well-calculated mess, but a mess nonetheless. Is it punk? Not really. Is it crap? Not at all. Is it my thing? Nope. I know of other Replacements songs, namely “Alex Chilton,” and I know it’s better than this. This isn’t a dismissal, but a resignation that I really don’t care for it. “Unsatisfied,” “Sixteen Blue” and “Answering Machine” are along the lines I wish the rest of the album had been. Having heard good things about them and the “Alex Chilton” song, I was looking forward to this album. It pains me to say that I found it just “so-so.” Dug-ish.

This, the first segment past the halfway point, was a bit of a let down.  Starting off with JAY-Z’s album (which I usually don’t mind him) and then eventually, The Grateful Dead. That’s just wrong. There was an anthology so I skipped that one. That’s almost a third of your segment, right there. There were some real highlights, though. I really liked the R.E.M. (which I own and have heard before), Black Sabbath (which surprised me), Run-D.M.C. and even Eminem albums. The “excited me” find, though, was Ornette Coleman. That really, really impressed me and I will have to find more from him, if there is any. What do you think, Dear Reader? Do you agree with my assessments or strongly (or even mildly) disagree with me? Let me know. Until we next meet on this Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums of All-Tim journey, this seg is done.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!!

—
“When your day is long, and the night, the night is yours alone,
When you’re sure you’ve had enough of this life, well hang on.
Don’t let yourself go ’cause everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes.” – “Everybody Hurts” by R.E.M.

Talkin’ About a Revolution or: No Dead Reign O’er Me (RS Part 24)

20 Monday Jul 2015

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Salutations™!!

Wow, it took a long time to get through this one. Then again, I did go through surgery, picked up a new podcast production gig and life, so it’s reasonable to say, it’s been hectic. A fairly balanced segment last time, I’m hoping for the same this time as I explore the next section of the Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums of All Time. I don’t have anything really to pontificate on prior, so let’s get to it, shall we?

#270 – Some Girls by The Rolling Stones. One of, if not the favorite album of mine of the Rolling Stones. I think because I really love “Miss You,” “Far Away Eyes,” “Shattered” and “Beast of Burden,” I would say that about this album. I love when 1Some_GirlsDoug Davis does it in his Mystery Dates shows. It’s right there in the disco time and “Miss You” does fit in that realm, but it’s not a disco album, although it is quite slick like one. It’s a full album that I have on my iPod from RS and was a big come back for them as they’d kind of fallen into a rut. My only complaint about this album is that it should be much higher on this list. I’d say it really needs to be Top 50 at least. I’ll admit that I don’t listen to a lot of the “filler” songs, usually, but I’m digging them during this session and with that, forty minutes is like the perfect length of album for me. I truly DIG this with extreme prejudice!

#269 – Psychocandy by The Jesus and Mary Chain. What the heck is this!? Let me clarify. I like the songwriting and songs and even the singing and stuff, but the production…? I don’t know if they were being “clever” or what but this is atrocious. It sounds like it’s in a cave and it’s hard for me to discern anything, really, about what is going on. The songs, like I said, are fine, but I really can’t handle listening to it. Is everything by them like this? I hope not. Did but didn’t dig it.

#268 – Paul Simon by Paul Simon. I’ve always like Paul but didn’t know much about him other than the “hits.” I do have Old Friends, the Simon and Garfunkel Box Set. The BCPF got me to really pay more attention to him. I am a huge fan of Graceland, too, 1PaulSimonwhich comes much later in the list. MUCH later. “Mother and Child Reunion” starts this off and it’s very much what I’d think would be the sound from early-1970s New York City. I have a fascination with that time and regional period that I just can’t explain. It’s a bit on the reggae side but that’s not a bad thing, here. Simon is a fantastic songwriter and he doesn’t disappoint with this. A lot of styles are in play here, from jazz to folk to Americana to the aforementioned reggae. The crowd favorite “Me and Julio Down by the School Yard” is one that you’ll hear others play in acoustic solo shows. “Peace Like a River” and “Duncan” are more hints at Simon’s near-genius songwriting skills. He’s a great storyteller. “Papa Hobo” is a good example of such. And the NOLA-like Jazz ditty, “Hobo’s Blues” fun. I love the electric piano on “Congratulations,” the finale track. Larry Knechtel does great work on the e.p as well as the organ work on that song. A great finishe, I say. Quite a good listen. I’d listen, again. Dug.

#267 – Quadrophenia by The Who. This is not Tommy, is it? I’m thinking they’re trying too hard to redo that rock opera. This is good and I can totally get on board with catching your niche. I just think this pales to Tommy and Who’s Next. I think I may have heard “The Real Me” and I know I have “Love Reign O’er Me.” I had that on a greatest hits album. Yeah, I have greatest hits albums, I’m not against them, but I’m not going to review them. I’m just not… so stop trying to get me to. I digress! This isn’t moving me as much as I feel it should be. It’s Quadrophenia after all!? The album does rock and has a lot of feeling, I think I’m just disappointed with it. I know I’ll get flogged for that comment but that’s just how I feel about it. Dug-ish.

#266 – Child is Father to the Man by Blood, Sweat & Tears. After a nice (yet oddly placed), classical- or circus-like “Overture,” the album goes to “I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know,” a blues-laden, prog love song that, in my opinion, is more 1BSandTenjoyable than anything that was on the Quadrophenia album before. It’s a beautifully written and executed tune that is full of life and luster. That’s not surprising since there’s only like forty-three people in the band. That’s an exaggeration… there’s only eight but whole orchestral sections involved in the recording. This album is so “summer of love”ish which is to say it sounds so “1967” (it really is from 1968) and the love is still flowing at this point. Oddly enough, after this album, Al Kooper, the founder and band leader, flew the “koop” if you will. While BS&T are still touring today, none of the founding members are in the band. It also reminds me of what I’d figure this-era Chicago would sound like with the horn and orchestral sections. I’m not too familiar with this era of prog rock, but I like what I’m hearing here. Great harmonies are on this album, too, along with great melodies and rhythm section work. “My Days are Numbered” is a great example of all that. And Jeez! I love the lounge stylings of “Without Her.” Even Donald Duck makes an appearance in “House in the Country.” I think that it may be a hair too long but at least all the songs are interesting; each a bit different than the next, all while maintaining a canon or uniformed “belonging.” I’d love to hear it on vinyl. I really, dug it.

#265 – The Genius of Ray Charles by Ray Charles. I don’t mind the blues aspect if it’s topped off with an icing of swing-pop and jazz. Plus, I’m a sucker for “standards.” Said standards include “Let the Good Times Roll,” “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” “Come Rain or Come Shine,” “Tell Me You’ll Wait For Me.” What’s cool, too, is not only is Ray singing, he’s playing the piano for all of it as well. His voice is, in 1959, in top shape and he’s 1RayCharleskilling it here. Another cool thing is the first half (side one) is big band pop standards and the second half (side two) is orchestral pop standards. This was kind of critically-panned when it came out but, obviously since it’s on this list, more modern critics find it to be a classic and I would dare to say “masterpiece.” That’s what I’m going with, so there! Definitely, DUG!!!

#264 – Workingman’s Dead by Grateful Dead. Thank you Stephen Stills and David Crosby for teaching this band about harmonies. “Uncle John’s Band” could have been a CSN song. I’ll be honest, I didn’t know what this song was called, even though I have it on a 70s collection. I skipped The Dead on principle; principle I don’t like the “culture.” Hey! I’m not proud of it, just the way it was. And, I already thought this was CSN. Now, I know. They go back to slightly off-key harmonies in the next song (“High Time” which is probably about right), but they gave us a good one to start off.  I know that “Cumberland Blues” is a staple but I don’t really see why. Oddly enough, I do like “Black Peter” as it’s laid back and melodic. Reminds me of someone playing down in the bayou whilst others sip lemonade under a big weeping willow tree or something. I don’t know that’s just the imagery that I get from it. I like that one a lot, actually. And, the final song, “Casey Jones,” if I were going to pick a Dead song to say was my “favorite,” I’ve always considered that one it. All that being said, I think the band is just meh. I think this album is just meh as well. Exceptions being “Uncle John’s Band,” “Black Peter,” “Casey Jones.” Meh.

#263 – Tracy Chapman by Tracy Chapman. She has such a strong voice, not only the beautiful sound what comes from her face but for the awareness and support for her causes. She would have been just as “at home” in the late ’60s singing protest songs. At least she would have fit in, nicely. I have always loved “Fast Car” and had it on “Cassingle” in 1988, when it came out. Was fascinated by the imagery she portrayed and the songwriting itself. She’s so very talented. That song is probably the biggest hit of her career. Definitely until “Give Me One Reason” many years later. She wanes poetic a capella with “Behind the Wall” in a lament of wondering and worry. “Baby Can I Hold 1Tracy_Chapman_-_Tracy_ChapmanYou” is a fantastic ballad that reached #19 on the charts in 1989 and was even covered by the champion songwriter, Neil Diamond in 1992. There are no clunkers on this album. It’s solid beginning to end. Loved it!

#262 – Crosby, Stills & Nash by Crosby, Stills & Nash. It’s funny that this is on the same segment as Workingman’s Dead since it was during the recording of this that Crosby and Stills stayed at the ranch where the Dead were hanging out and taught them the harmonies in “Uncle John’s Band” and this is followed by another Dead album. Weird. Anywhat! This is some of the most famous and unique (and best) harmonies in music. They set some standards in that department and it all started right here. “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” starts it off and is the first intro to the casual album listener to what will become “that sound.” I also loved “Wooden Ships.” The rest of the album, by all means not ordinary, seemed to vanish into the background for me, though. It was all good, but nothing captured me. Am I becoming too desensitized to the process? I mean, I think I really should have felt better about this album. I dug it but am somewhat disappointed in myself for not liking it better.

#261 – American Beauty by Grateful Dead. *Sigh… Another Grateful Dead album. Other than “Truckin’,” I am not plussed by anything on here. I’m not putting it down and I’m not saying they’re not decent songwriters but it’s just not moving me. “Candyman” isn’t too bad, neither is “Operator.” I don’t hate it, though. I don’t really know what else to say. There’s just not a lot I feel I can say about it. Again, I’m not being critical. I think I’m being exactly the opposite. Meh.

So, two Grateful Dead albums in this segment and both were just “meh”s. I hope I’m done with them, although I figure they’ll sneak at least one more in here on me. Five really good ones, two that I was iffy about, two Grateful Deads and one really confusing (Jesus & Mary Chain). Half were really good so, I think this is a very fine segment, indeed. Four of these (Simon, CSN, BS&T, Chapman) were debut or debut solo albums. RSThat’s pretty cool, I think. I would love to find the Ray Charles on vinyl and the BS&T, as well. My favorite Stones album (so far). Yep this was a fun, yet drawn out listen (it’s about three weeks in the making). So, here’s hoping the next segment of Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums of All Time is at least this good!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I was driving home early Sunday morning through Bakersfield, listening to gospel music on the colored radio station. And the preacher said, ‘You know you always have the Lord by your side.’ And, I was so pleased to be informed of this that I ran twenty red lights in his honor. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Lord.” – “Far Away Eyes” by Rolling Stones (Richards/Jagger)

Moving in Stereo or: Can’t Get Enough (RS Part 22)

08 Monday Jun 2015

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Salutations™!!

After a number of good, bad and ugly last segment (mostly good, though) of the Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums of All-Time, I’m ready to get some good stuff. Let’s see what what we have!

#290 – Call Me by Al Green. Let me say, first of all… “I’m So Lonely I Could Cry” by Hank Williams.  A great song in itself, but to hear Al’s soulful velveteen voice sing it, it’s quite an awesome treat! “Here I Am (Come and Take Me)” has a naughty groove and I’ve always liked the tune. It’s a shoulder sway waiting to happen. Al Green has always had a certain style and this is fast inlaid in the soul genre. When I think of soul, I think James Brown and then I think Al Green. I may be way off on that, but that’s how it is in my mind. Love that stuff. I’ll say it’s almost perfect in length, too. I know I want to get my money’s worth on an album but sometimes there is just too much or more than needs to be there. This comes in right about 35 minutes. To me, that’s right at perfect. It can get you where you’re going without a long drive in the country. T’is a good album, this. Dug!

#289 – Something Else by the Kinks by The Kinks. While never truly been that familiar with them, I’ve always been appreciative of what The Kinks brought to music. I think 1SomethingElseKinksCoverthe Davies bros are a great team. This seems a bit heavy on the Beyond the Valley of the Dolls psychedelia and I like it. Other than “Death of a Clown,” I’m digging it. “Death…” was originally released, I believe, as a Dave Davies solo effort and then ended up on this album. I could be wrong there, but I’m sure Mr. Bumgardner will correct me if I’m incorrect. I just didn’t care for that song. Everything else is pretty cool. It’s not something that I’d listen to a lot of, but I am enjoying this one. Dug!

#288 – Anthem of the Sun by The Grateful Dead. There are times when I believe I really need some dope to understand some stuff. I’ve said that many times before. This is one of those times. It’s decent enough but I am not high enough to “get it.” So far, “New Potato Caboose” is a pretty good song. Spacey; not a bad thing. Overall, though, I have never gotten into, liked nor cared for jam bands. And don’t say their fans followed them around for the love of their music. Their music made a good backdrop for the shloads of illicit wonderment that they consumed and that’s all it was. I know a few GD songs and none of these rank on the care list. There are moments where it sounds like even they fell asleep in the middle. Not a fan.

#287 – Los Angeles by X. Now, punk isn’t my thing, either but this is good to get the taste of The Grateful Dead out of my mouth. That was awful. While this is punk, I’m okay with it. Let me say that the title song, I absolutely LOVE!! There was nothing 1XLosAngelesabout this that I didn’t like. I’ll admit that most of it was background, but whilst saying that, I did listen and found myself bouncing my head and really enjoying myself. This isn’t “offensive” to the ears (to steal a phrase from Eugene about pickles). I’ve been a fan of all the “X” I’ve heard. I’d listen to this over and over. Rock and roll you bastardos!!! Dug!

#286 – I’m Still in Love with You by Al Green. Is this the first time I’ve gotten the same artist more than once in the same segment? I’ll have to go back and look. I know it comes again a few times in future segments. Other than “Oh, Pretty Woman,” the Roy Orbison cover, there’s nothing that really captures me on this album. I”m not saying it’s not good. It is. But, what is better about this album than Call Me, the entry at #290? What puts this one over that one? I think Call Me is a better album, really. Does anyone know if Al Green had dentures? There’s a certain whistling sound that comes from his mouth when he sings that it reminds me of someone with dentures. It’s neither here nor there, just wondering. Like I said, it’s a good album but I think it’s misplaced on the list. It should have a lower (toward the #500 spot) number, in my opinion. Dug.

#285 – Music of My Mind by Stevie Wonder. Hard to believe this is 1972. It sounds more modern than that. At least mid-80s, to me. It’s every bit Stevie as you’d expect from the later eras. I am a fan of “I Love Every Little Thing About You.” That’s a great tune. The sweet food references at the end of that song is a nice touch, too. A good 1Stevie_Wonder_-_Music_of_My_Mindsegue into “Sweet Little Girl.” Some humor in those songs as well. Another remarkable thing that many people may or may not know: as with many of Stevie’s albums, he played most of the instruments himself (not guitar) including drums, harmonica, and bass parts (via Moog). Stevie is a great songwriter and this is a showcase to his abilities as to that and the musicianship. He’s amazing, truly. The range of songs from the rockin’ to the beautifully written testaments of love reside on this album. Case in point to the latter: “Happier Than the Morning Sun.” The use of synthesizers and vocal effects on this album, again, is ahead of their times and again, it seems like this should have been in later periods. The keys work on “Keep on Running” is more like the former descriptor, rockin’! A great album front to back and I dug it!!

#284 – The Cars by The Cars. I know some people say that The Cars are boring live. That may be true, but I love listening to them. I have Heartbeat City on CD and vinyl. This, their debut, features a lot of Cars staples such as “Good Times Roll,” “My Best Friend’s Girl,” “Just What I Needed,” “You’re All I’ve Got Tonight,” “Bye Bye Love” and “Moving in Stereo.” Anyone want to guess what I think of when I hear “Moving in Stereo?” Anyone? Anyone? We’ll come back to that. Ric Ocasek, for an ugly dude married a very beautiful woman in Paulina Porizkova but he’s a great songwriter as is Ben Orr. Orr is a very underrated but talented bass player. In fact, he sings one of my 1The_Cars_-_The_Carsfavorite Cars songs, “Drive” from Heartbeat as well as two of the better songs from this album, “Just What I Needed” and the afore-lamented “Moving in Stereo.” Speaking of which, did you guess what it is I think of when I hear that song? That song is what is playing when Phoebe Cates steps out of the pool and removes her top during the dream (or masturbation) scene from Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Sigh… Phoebe Cates. This is a great New-Wave album and I love listening to it. I have to get this on vinyl. Probably my fave on this segment, at least so far and I whole-heartily recommend listening to it. It will put a huge smile on your face! DUG!!

#283 – Can’t Get Enough by Barry White. Oh, the confusion that is Barry White. Why confusion you ask? He was a big, not-so-attractive man that so happened to have a sexy, velvety voice and the ladies went soppy over that in a heartbeat. I have to admit that I can relate. I am a big, not-so-attractive man with a sexy, velvety voice and well the ladies love me. So maybe I’m not so confused after all? I can dig it. I also have to admit that while listening to this album, I found myself in the corner of The Less Desirables studio making out with myself. It was that sexy. I may have to have that red chair cleaned professionally, now. I don’t even wear panties and I threw some at the studio monitors. Ok, I have to wipe the drool from my lips. This really got me going. I don’t know how I feel about the ten minutes worth of “I Can’t Believe You Love Me,” but everything else on this album is frickin’ fantastic! “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything” and “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe” are, of course, the highlights but again, the sheer sexiness of this album (even with that epic middle) overcomes all the woes in the world. I feel comforted like a little baby swaddled in three cotton blankies.  Can you tell I dug it?! Now I have to go smoke a cigarette.

#282 – Folk Singer by Muddy Waters. I should have stayed out smoking that cigarette while this played. I can’t tell when one song ends and the next begins, except for the silence in between. I really, really, really loathe this stuff. Just it playing in the background slowed down my production. I couldn’t get anything done, it was a distraction and not a good one. I don’t get the appeal of this at all. I just kept watching to see how much longer until it’s over. I’m not even going to give it anymore of my writing time. Blech.

#281 – My Life by Mary J. Blige. No matter whether I like this or not, it is 1000% better than the last entry. That being said, why must we endure the “N” word like it’s 1Mary_J_Blige_album_cover_My_Lifenothing!? I don’t care about the “art” of it in this case. The rest of the album is pretty good. MJ’s voice is powerful, rich and beautiful! She’s all about self-awareness and talks about the ups and downs, good and bad, pain and pleasure. She’s almost as sexy to listen to as Barry White. Almost. She spends the album trying to find herself and working through some personal struggles. I think she got through it. It’s worth a listen but I don’t know that I’d want to listen to it again. Dug.

This segment had some really good stuff. I loved The Cars album, Stevie, Kinks, X, two Al Green albums. But, I had to deal with Muddy Waters and the Grateful-frickin-Dead. Those were true buzzkills. If I could erase them both from the list, it would be a better list. So, here’s to the next segment and farewell to a decent one this time.

What do you think of these reviews? Do you agree or think I’m nuts? Or do you agree with me because I am nuts? Let me know. Drop me a line on your favorite social media of choice (or here) and let me know.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I don’t mind you coming here and wasting all my time.
‘Cause when you’re standing oh so near, I kinda lose my mind” – “Just What I Needed” (Ocasek) by The Cars