Tag Archives: Tom Petty

Now Normal Chronicles or: Into the Great Wide What!?

02 Thursday Jul 2020

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Salutations™!!

Can you believe that today is the 29th anniversary of Tom Petty’s Into the Great Wide Open album? I can’t. I still think of it as “new” Tom Petty. Wow. Okay, well this isn’t the greatest version but I like how they did it. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“The papers said Ed always played from the heart. He got an agent and a roadie named Bart. They made a record and it went in the charts. The sky was the limit. His leather jacket had chains that would jingle. They both met movie stars, partied and mingled. Their A&R man said, ‘I don’t hear a single.’ The future was wide open.” – “Into the Great Wide Open” (Petty/Lynne)

Now Normal Chronicles or: What a Petty

01 Friday May 2020

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Salutations™!!

There were some albums that had anniversaries today but nothing I cared about so I’m borrowing one from tomorrow. Tomorrow is the 42nd anniversary of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ You’re Gonna Get It! album. I believe I’ve done this song with Clay in the past. Anywhat! This is a great tune and it’s not really a cover but a duet with a guest singer. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Well, the talk on the street says you might go solo. Good friend of mine saw you leavin’ by your back door.” – “I Need to Know” (Petty)

Spinning (albeit not much) Sunday or: The Grab

20 Sunday Oct 2019

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Salutations™!!

The BCPF and I didn’t go to Underdog Records last week because Jonathan was on vacation. We didn’t go this week because I was at Pride from 8a until 7p yesterday. And, we haven’t really gotten to listen to many albums because we’ve been slammed both weekends and during the week.

TunnelOfLove1987

©Columbia

But, we got lucky when Chef Travis Myers brought me a boot box full of records. Many of them I already had so I looked to see which version I wanted to keep and put the discarded one in the boot box. The albums that we didn’t have I cleaned up and added to my Discogs (which we use to keep up with our collection). Thanks, Chef! All of these are to be considered VG+ unless otherwise noted. Here’s what we got:

  • Julio Iglesias – 1100 Bel Air Place — A collection of love songs from Julio and considered the breakthrough English-speaking album. It has “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before.” VG++.
  • Starship  – No Protection — considered the “second” album from Starship, this is the follow up to Knee Deep in the Hoopla which had one of the most horrible songs ever, “We Built This City.” This had “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” from the film Mannequin. VG++.
  • The Platters – The Golden Sides of The Platters — 2xLP greatest hits album.
  • Barbra Streisand – Songbird — It has her solo version of “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” that she had done as a duet with the song’s co-writer, Neil Diamond.
  • Traveling Wilburys – Volume One — George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty all on one album. That is a “supergroup.” VG++.
  • M1ke + The Mechan1c5 – Living Years — The second album by Mike Rutherford’s side hustle. I loved the first album. I like the title track of this one okay. VG++.
  • Bruce Springsteen – Tunnel Of Love — #467 on the RS list, this is actually a decent album, especially with “Brilliant Disguise,” the title track and “One Step Up.” I was happy to get this even if I’m not a huge Springsteen fan. VG++.
  • Neil Diamond – Heartlight — The title track made it all the way to #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in late 1982. It was Neil Diamond’s last top 10 pop hit and also his last #1 on the Easy Listening chart.
  • Melissa Manchester – Don’t Cry Out Loud — I don’t know much about this album, but I like a few of her tunes, so yeah.
  • Jonathan Butler – Jonathan Butler — I know absolutely nothing about Mr. Butler other than what’s on his Wikipedia page. He’s South African and he’s on Jive and it’s from 1987. That’s the label that Billy Ocean was on about the same time and the tune “Lies” from this album hit the Top 40 at #27. 2xLP VG++.
  • Barry Manilow – One Voice — I have no problem with Barry Manilow. This was his sixth studio album and came out in 1979. It only had one relevant tune, “Ships.”
  • Linda Ronstadt With Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra – Lush Life — I dig Linda Ronstadt and I dig Nelson Riddle. Standards with talent. I dig that, too!
  • Jane Olivor – Stay The Night — I’ve never heard of Jane Olivor before. Like Jonathan Butler, just what her Wikipedia page says. She had performance anxiety and dealt with her husband’s illness and passing. This album doesn’t have an entry on Wikipedia, either.
  • Julio Iglesias & Diana Ross – All Of You — 45RPM, 7″, Single, whatever you want to call it. It’s in its original sleeve and it’s in awesome condition.
  • Michael Bolton – (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay — Same as above.

Thanks, Chef, for the additions to my collection. Hopefully, now that Pride is over, I’ll have some listening time. Underdog Records is back up and being awesome again. Listen to each new episode of The Less Desirables to hear what the TLD/UR special is.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Woke up this morning my house was cold. Checked out the furnace she wasn’t burnin’. Went out and hopped in my old Ford. Hit the engine but she ain’t turnin’. We’ve given each other some hard lessons lately but we ain’t learnin’. We’re the same sad story that’s a fact. One step up and two steps back.” – “One Step Up” (Springsteen)

UnCommon Grounds or: One Down

13 Friday Oct 2017

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Salutations™!!

So, we were able to get through an acoustic show as Threadbare Trio +1 at Common Ground this evening. We played with the beautiful and talented Abigail Dowd and Jason Duff. She even got up on stage when we opened for her and did “Stop Dragging My Heart Around” by Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty. We sounded pretty good and Chad Huskey did a great job playing with us. It was fun.1testpattern

Now, it’s time to get some rest, do our regular Saturday thing, get some records and then prepare to go to Test Pattern and do the thing again, this time full electric and loud and with Party Battleship. So, you missed us at Common Grounds, catch us at Test Pattern. The show starts around 9 and we are doing the opening thing (but going last).

See you, then!

Until then, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“When I say I’m in love you best believe I’m in love, L.U.V!” – “Looking For a Kiss” (Johansen) (“Love Baby Love” by Clay Howard)

Silent Sunday or: The Haul 10/7/17

08 Sunday Oct 2017

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Salutations™!!

The BCPF and I had a great day yesterday and that included a great haul from Underdog Records. The quantity was lower than normal but the quality was dyn-o-mite! So, let’s not even wait:

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©Virgin Records

 

So, as you can see, it’s not a long list today but we really enjoyed the haul. Jonathan is always getting in, cleaning and putting out new used inventory and every day is a new adventure in Underdog Records. Records have become one of my new passions (along with cooking) and I love listening to them. I hear things on albums I’ve owned on CD for years that I never even knew existed. Good stuff, indeed. Also, not to throw in a shameless plug for The Less Desirables, but there is a weekly Underdog Records/TLD special, every week. To hear what that special is, you have to listen to TLD to find out. Sneaky, I know, but hey, it’s my job (literally). I also keep all my personal collection logged into Discogs.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been. Lives in a dream. Waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door. Who is it for? All the lonely people. Where do they all come from? All the lonely people. Where do they all belong?” – “Eleanor Rigby” (Lennon/McCartney)

A Face in the Crowd or: RIP Tom

03 Tuesday Oct 2017

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Salutations™!!

I have known my entire life that I’m a late bloomer when it comes to music. Some of my now-favorite stuff is music that I shunned as a kid and some into adulthood. I don’t know if it’s just stubbornness or if there is some kind of mental illness I have or if I’m just a plain-ol’-dumbarse. I think it’s a combination of all of that, really. But, this week, and really the last few months, have shown me how ignorant I am about that area I talk about being such a fan of, music.

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Inner sleeve of Damn the Torpedoes ©Backstreet Records/MCA Records

 

Again, a lot of it I will contribute to non-access, especially the hard rock stuff because it just wasn’t accessible to me. I had no way of knowing. But, some stuff… I was right in the path of and skirted around it. Tom Petty was one of those. I am so ashamed at my comments about him when I was younger. You see, I used to say that Tom Petty was proof that you didn’t have to have talent to make it. Now, before you go off and virtually slap the ever-loving bejeezus out of me, don’t worry, I have done it to my own self and it was hard and painful.

I don’t know why I didn’t like him. I don’t know why I didn’t hear the genius in his songs. I. Just. Don’t. Know. Why. Is his voice the greatest? No. But, like his pal Bob Dylan, when he sings his tunes you get the full emotion from it, regardless of the smoothness of his voice. But, even that, over time, I came to really enjoy his singing voice. He could really belt it, sometimes strained, but it always sounded like it was supposed to be that way. “Here Comes My Girl” is what I always think of when I think about that aspect.

As much as the local classic rock radio got on my nerves (when I listened to terrestrial radio), it did start turning my views a little. Then I got a greatest hits album and realized that, man, I do enjoy this stuff. Full Moon Fever hit and it was the final straw. This is good stuff. But, again, I wouldn’t admit it until much, much later. Now, I really enjoy listening to Tom Petty. I will say, though, once you’re outside of the hits, playing Petty as a musician, gets kind of boring. But, these songs are not written for musicians, they’re written to be enjoyed by music fans. Boring or no, they make for great listening. I have played a few of his songs with Threadbare Trio, Clay and Neal.

Tom passed away, then didn’t, then did yesterday/last night. We may still get some new music from him but it won’t be the same. We won’t get to watch videos or new live vids on YouTube. The good news is, we have his back catalog to keep us company, including his Traveling Wilburys stuff. I’m going to miss Tom as I’ve already played Damn the Torpedoes and Full Moon Fever on vinyl and will now have to start collecting his other stuff on vinyl. Rest in peace, Tom. You’re now “into the great wide open…” wherever/whatever that may be.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Some days are diamonds. Some days are rocks. Some doors are open. Some roads are blocked. Sundowns are golden then fade away. But if I never do nothing, I’ll get you back some day. ‘Cause you got a heart so big it could crush this town. And, I can’t hold out forever. Even walls fall down.” – “Walls (Circus)” (Petty)

Soundtrack of a New Planet or: a Vagabond Bowie Union

29 Friday Jan 2016

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Salutations™!!

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

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

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

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

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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