Tag Archives: The Rolling Stones

Now Normal Chronicles or: Shload

29 Tuesday Sep 2020

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Salutations™!!

Today is a big day in musical releases. Glorified Magnified from Manfred Mann’s Earth Band turns 48. All the World’s a Stage from Rush is 44. The Stranger from Billy Joel is 43. Celebrate! from Kool & the Gang and Hotter Than July by Stevie Wonder are 40. Bend Sinister from The Fall, Somewhere in Time from Iron Maiden, Brotherhood from New Order, The Pacific Age from OMD, and Chicago 18 are all 34 today. Strangeways, Here We Come from The Smiths and The Uplift Mofo Party Plan from Red Hot Chili Peppers is 33. Core from Stone Temple Pilots, Dirt from Alice in Chains, Our Time in Eden from 10,000 Maniacs and Us from Peter Gabriel are all 28. Bridges to Babylon by The Rolling Stones Urban Hymns from The Verve are 23. There are more but none that I really want to talk about.

Whew! That’s a lot. I mean, two huge grunge-era releases, one of the best from Maiden and we know what a fan of Peter Gabriel I am. But, since The Stranger is my favorite album from Billy Joel and this is my favorite song by him, it’s a no-brainer and this dude does it very well. I do kind of wish the saxophonist wouldn’t have been so diva-ish about his parts. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Things are okay with me these days. Got a good job, got a good office. Got a new wife, got a new life and the family’s fine. We lost touch long ago. You lost weight I did not know you could ever look so nice after so much time.” – “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” (Joel)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 9/5/20

06 Sunday Sep 2020

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Salutations™!!

Yesterday was a good day. The weather was perfect, the day was perfect. The BCPF and I got up and enjoyed a “Staycation” day, going to Underdog Records, eating lunch at The Porch, listening to records all afternoon. It was fantastic. We got some good stuff. Here’s the haul:

©Columbia

Elliott Smith – Elliott Smith — A hardcover book of Elliott Smith’s second (self-titled) album with 2xLP and handwritten lyrics and a lot of cool stuff. The BCPF is a Elliott Smith fanatic. New.

Mad Season – Above — Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, lead singer Layne Staley of Alice in Chains, drummer Barrett Martin of Screaming Trees and bassist John Baker Saunders. They only released one album and this is it. Two of those guys (Staley and Saunders) died of heroin overdoses in 2002 and 1999 respectively. 2xLP, gatefold. New.

The Rolling Stones – Goats Head Soup — The follow-up to my least favorite (yet somehow most critically acclaimed) Stones album, Exile on Main Street. This is much better. I mean, I actually like this one and it doesn’t make my skin crawl. This past Monday was the album’s 47th anniversary and this is the 2xLP version that has the original album plus outtakes and alternative versions. The album sounds great, too. New.

EOB – Earth — EOB is Ed O’Brien, guitarist for Radiohead. This is his debut solo album and we haven’t heard it yet, but people have been saying good things about it. New.

The Cure – The Head On The Door — The sixth album from The Cure, this celebrated it’s 35th anniversary last week. This is a great album. It has the singles “InBetween Days” and “Close To Me” but the whole thing is worth it and the deeper cuts are just as good as the “hits.” New.

Various – The Great Big Band Vocalists — The release year for this is unknown, not only to me but to Discogs as well. It features Les Brown with Doris Day, Guy Lombardo with Bing Crosby, and much more. I’m going to say this is NM because, while it’s old (definitely from the mid-to-late 60s to early-70s), it’s still sealed and even the cover is in great shape if you don’t count slight discoloration. So I’m going with New/NM.

So, that’s the haul. Not as much as last week but last week was a ridiculously special day. Jonathan did a fantastic job with the RSD things last week and we had a great discussion about it at the store. He’s still doing deliveries during the early parts of the week and open Thursday-Saturday in the store. He’ll do curbside, too, if you call him. The lottery for RSD Drop 2 is coming next weekend. Follow Underdog Records on social media or drop by the store to find out more about RSD Drop 2. And use Discogs to track your collection, or as I did before (and did this week), use it to purchase hard-to-find items you need in your collection.

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’…
Scorp out!

—
“I’ve waited hours for this. I’ve made myself so sick, I wish I’d stayed asleep today. I never thought this day would end. I never thought tonight could ever be this close to me.” – “Close To Me” (Smith)

Now Normal Chronicles or: The Last Time (not really)

30 Thursday Jul 2020

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Salutations™!!

Today is the 55th anniversary of the Rolling Stones’ Out of Our Heads album. It’s a classic Stones album with great stuff on it and I’m not even a Stones fan. The magazine (not the band), Rolling Stone listed it at #116 on both the 2003 and 2012 versions of their list. The obvious song would be “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” but I went a different direction. This is a good cover, too. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Well, I told you once and I told you twice. But you never listen to my advice. You don’t try very hard to please me. With what you know it should be easy. Well, this could be the last time, this could be the last time. Maybe the last time I don’t know. Oh no. Oh no.” – “The Last Time” (Jagger/Richards)

Sounds Like Saturday or: Wood to the Rescue

18 Saturday Jul 2020

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Salutations™!!

I’ll end my week of Live Aid memories with something kind of funny and cool. Bob Dylan performed “Blowin’ in the Wind” with Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood and in the middle of the song, Dylan broke a string. Ronnie took his guitar off and handed it to Dylan. I mean, that’s a true friend right there. Dylan appears to be drunk or high or something, at least to me, and probably half of the artists on both stages were. The audio isn’t the greatest here, either but… Anyway, enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man? How many seas must a white dove sail before she sleeps in the sand? Yes, ‘n’ how many times must the cannonballs fly before they’re forever banned? The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind. The answer is blowin’ in the wind.” – “Blowin’ in the Wind” (Dylan)

Spinning Sunday or: The Haul 6/27/20

28 Sunday Jun 2020

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Salutations™!!

The BCPF and I had a good day yesterday. We had breakfast out (which was scary and probably not something I’ll talk her into again for a while) and then went to Underdog Records to see Jonathan, get our fix, and came home listened to everything we bought and had some DiLisio’s for dinner. Great stuff. Here’s the haul:BridgesBabylon97

  • The Rolling Stones – Bridges To Babylon — I have stated many times that I’m not a huge Rolling Stones fan. I have also stated that my favorite era of the Stones is the 1978-1981 years. Well, precisely Some Girls and Tattoo You. Emotional Rescue was pretty bad, to me. I don’t like Exile on Main Street but some of the others around that album I did like. Then there were the later years (not like current era, but the late-80s into the 90s). I had mostly dismissed that stuff. Voodoo Lounge or Steel Wheels. And, of course, this album. The funny thing is, yesterday when we listened to this album. I fell in love with it. Yeah, it’s Glimmer Twins uber-cheesy nonsense but I really, really enjoyed listening to it. This is the first time since 1997 that this album was released on vinyl and it is a half-speed mastering which means the mastering lathe is cutting into the master platter at half the speed which gives the cutting head more chances to get the cut right. Think of a riding lawnmower. If you go at 10-12 mph on that mower, the grass will still be cut but not as good as if you went 5-7 mph, right? The cut will be more precise and it will look better, or in case of a mastering lathe, it will sound better. There are several pro/con schools of thought on that, but I think it is a good thing. Anywhat, I loved listening to this, it sounded great, the songs were enjoyable. I’m so glad I got this. 2xLP. New.
  • Rolling Stones – Steel Wheels — This one, which had more “hits” than the previous entry on this post, didn’t hold up as well to me. I still liked it, but it wasn’t as fun. I had both of these albums on CD and I think listened through them once each. This one may get hit in a “random grab” but I can see the previous one being listened to more readily. This, too, was half-speed mastered. New.
  • Van Halen – 1984 — Yes, I already had this but my copy had some skips and surface noise. It is my favorite VH record. This was remastered, reissued, and is on 180g vinyl. I told The BCPF that I don’t remember hearing “this or that” even on the CD. This was well done. I still love every song on here and am quite happy with paying for a new copy. So, yeah… New.
  • Mother Love Bone – Apple — This was on the Eugeology list that I did with Eugene a couple of years back. I really liked it then. I really love it now. I think when I listened on the “list,” I was focused so much on the analysis or critique that I didn’t get to listen for listening’s sake. Yesterday, I got to listen and enjoy it even more. I am so glad that Eugene put his on my radar and that Underdog Records put it in my hands. New.
  • Superchunk – No Pocky For Kitty — The BCPF and I have seen Superchunk in concert twice. She had seen them more than that, I think before we met. Mac McCaughan started the band in Chapel Hill, NC, and later Merge Records. If you’re wondering, Pocky is a popular Japanese treat. Basically, biscuit/bread treats dipped in chocolate or strawberry coating. We sold them when I owned the comic book store. They were good but not worth the cost (since they were imported). This album, the band’s second release, is pretty good. The BCPF enjoys them more than I do, but I don’t dislike them. New.
  • Superchunk – On The Mouth — The third release from the band (1993), the same applies to this one as the previous entry. She liked it. I didn’t mind it. New.

That’s the haul. Short and sweet. I failed to mention last week that we also got a Nina Simone record but as of yet it isn’t on Discogs, at least the version I got, which was a reissue released last week. I’ll give it another week and if it’s not on Discogs, I’ll have to add it myself. I don’t like entering them. I always feel like I’m leaving something off. Plus, the meticulous intent from the editors of that site is kind of scary. Which, is why I trust them with my collection; precision and meticulousness. You should use them, too.

Underdog Records is open Thursday through Saturday from 11a-7p. Jonathan does deliveries (weather permitting) Monday-Wednesday. You should follow him on Instagram (the preferred method) or Facebook to see what he’s offering up. It could be new or used. Just follow the instructions in the posts. Plus, you can see what new vinyl (whether reissues, backstock, or new releases) he has, and purchase some via the website.

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’…
Scorp out!

—
“I dance a dancer, I’m all wrong. She thinks she’s young and wise but no, no, no. She dance around my, my pretty little cable car and fix me up with a guy, why? C’mon, how dare you do this? Why she done that to me, ever? Why she done it to me? So I’m singing…” – “Stargazer” (Ament/Fairweather/Gilmore/Gossard/Wood)

Now Normal Chronicles or: Falling Behind

02 Tuesday Jun 2020

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Salutations™!!

So, doing the “listens” list yesterday, I missed a lot of big releases. Would You Believe? from The Hollies was 54. Aretha Franklin’s live Amazing Grace was 48. James Taylor’s Walking Man was 46. The Runaways’ debut album The Runaways was 44. Rolling Stone’s live Still Life is 38. Sting’s debut solo album The Dream of the Blue Turtles was 35. That was yesterday. Today, we have the debut Bowie album which is 53 (not the second one with “Space Oddity” on it). Cockney Rebel’s sophomore effort The Psychomodo is 46. Springsteen’s Darkness on the Edge of Town is 42. Cheap Trick’s Found All the Parts EP is 40. Let It Loose from Gloria Estefan is 33. Mariah Carey’s MTV Unplugged and Wilson Phillips’ Shadows and Light are both 28. Buzzcocks’ Trade Test Transmissions is 27. And, Smashing Pumpkins’ Adore is 22. That’s a lot of stuff for two days, I know.

Out of all of that, here’s what I chose. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“We share the same biology regardless of ideology. Believe me when I say to you, I hope the Russians love their children too.” – “Russians” (Prokofiev/Sting)

Spinning Sunday or: The Listen 5/23/20

24 Sunday May 2020

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Salutations™!!

Another Saturday passes that we didn’t get to darken the door of Underdog Records. That doesn’t mean Underdog isn’t busy. Heck no! Jonathan is running himself ragged to make deliveries and has extended the reach to Greensboro, High Point and other places. So, definitely watch the Underdog Records Facebook and Instagram and watch what he’s releasing. Purchasing is first-come-first-serve so be on the lookout. Also, you can purchase new vinyl anytime day or night on the website. If you’re outside of the delivery area or just don’t want Jonathan to drop stuff off at your door, then he offers “unlimited” LPs (I’m sure it’s a little limited) for a flat rate $4.

This week’s “listens” were abundant. 22 albums I got through from Monday-Friday.

And, per usual, this week’s streaming listens comes from Discogs’ shuffle feature and it has to be an album that I own on vinyl (outside of peripheral things like Beeswax Vinyl & More listens), that way it’s like listening to my vinyl but with headphones from my computer whilst The BCPF works 10 feet away. Here’s the list (this is in order of listens):

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Whew! A long listening list indeed! It was spread out, too. The BCPF remarked how I went from Streisand to Megadeth. It worked. I love Streisand and I’m not afraid to admit that. But, I was ready for something heavy after having gone through The Mamas and the Papas and Streisand back to back. It worked, as I said.

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Well, yesterday, here’s what The BCPF and I listened to, actually on vinyl:

All-in-all, it was a great listening week. I just hope to get into Underdog Records soon to rummage through the used vinyl.

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Again, check out Underdog Records’ social and web stuffs. Buy records. Use Discogs to keep track of your collection and use it’s groovy (see what I did there) shuffle feature.

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’…
Scorp out!

—
“I was seventeen, you were just a dream. I was mesmerized, I felt scared inside. You broke my heart and I still can feel the pain. I’ve been counted out, I’ve had fear and doubt. I’ve been starry-eyed, never satisfied. Because late at night I still need you just the same.” – “Sure Know Something” (Stanley/Poncia)

Now Normal Chronicles or: Tumblin’

12 Tuesday May 2020

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Salutations™!!

Today is the 48th anniversary of the Rolling Stone’s “masterpiece,” Exile on Main Street. I use the quotation marks because I think it’s an overhyped piece of mediocrity at best. There are some great songs on the album but it sounds muddy and is about three sides too long. As Clay and I talked about on the Beeswax Vinyl and More podcast last week, it would have been a great one-side record. There’s about five, maybe six good songs on here. The rest is a lot of fluff and filler. It’s #7 on the RS list and I think that’s just ridiculous. Top 200, I can see that. Top 100? Pushing it. Top 10? No f*&$@ing way. But, somehow it’s there and people who love it, go stupid over it. I find it, again, to be a big meh. Anywhat, I have started watching these composite Covipocalypse videos and found this one interesting. So, enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Women think I’m tasty, but they’re always tryin’ to waste me and make me burn the candle right down. But baby, baby, I don’t need no jewels in my crown. ‘Cause all you women is low down gamblers, cheatin’ like I don’t know how. But baby, I go crazy, there’s fever in the funk house now. This low down bitchin’ got my poor feet a-itchin’, you know you know the deuce is still wild.” – “Tumbling Dice” (Jagger/Richards)

Now Normal Chronicles or: Gettin’ Sticky

23 Thursday Apr 2020

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Salutations™!!

Today is the anniversary of a few albums. The Rolling Stones’ Sticky Fingers (49th) and Black and Blue (44th), The Ramones’ self-titled debut (44th), Too Old to Rock ‘n’ Roll: Too Young to Die! from Jethro Tull (44th), Bob Dylan at Budokan (41st), Men At Work’s Two Hearts (35th), Two Hearts, the Dave Mason album (33rd), Joe Walsh’s Ordinary Average Guy (29th), Hootie and the Blowfish’s Fairweather Johnson (24th), Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (18th), Elvis Costello’s When I Was Cruel (18th), Supertramp’s final album Slow Motion (18th), and Peter Gabriel’s Live Blood (8th). That’s a wide field. And, I find it odd that there are two completely different albums with the same name on the same anniversary. I’ll go with this cover, though. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Let’s forget about the tongue-tied lightning. Let’s undress just like cross-eyed strangers. This is not a joke, so please stop smiling. What was I thinking when I said it didn’t hurt?” – “I Am Trying to Break Your Heart” (Tweedy)

Spinning Sunday or: The Listens 4/18/20

19 Sunday Apr 2020

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Salutations™!!

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

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

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

You see the marvel of Discogs already in this post.

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’…
Scorp out!

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