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Will he do it or won’t he? That is the question that continues to nag at my brain as Sept. 11 rolls around. Yes, yes, yes, a preacher in Florida and a group of his congregation are planning to torch Qurans in protest of the Islamic religion. Now I don’t know about the rest of the free world, but that deed sounds like a bad idea to me. General David Petraeus has condemned the Florida church's plans, warning that the scene "could endanger troops" in Afghanistan. Petraeus was quoted as saying Pastor Terry Jones' September 11 stunt could ignite violence from Taliban forces already versed in harnessing American headlines as propaganda: "It could endanger troops and it could endanger the overall effort," Gen. Petraeus said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. "It is precisely the kind of action the Taliban uses and could cause significant problems. Not just here, but everywhere in the world we are engaged with the Islamic community."
If I had a son or daughter in that combat zone, I think I would be highly disturbed that this “man of God” was about to tick off the entire Muslim community with his absurd stunt.
My bet is that he backs off. I saw this maniac on some show last week saying there is nothing anyone could say to make him change his mind, but the preacher no doubt did not anticipate the reaction his actions would cause for our troops, especially from General Petraeus. It was pointed out that the masses in Afghanistan do not undertand the concept of freedom and an act such as Jones’ is a reflection of America in general. Maybe Jones should reconsider his Nazi tactics and pass on the burning. If he goes through with his plan, American lives will be lost and that is a guarantee. If that does happen, this maniac should be tried for endangering the troops, simple as that. Let his act of ignorance be threatened with some serious jail time and my bet is that he will pass on this crazy idea.
Does Preacher Jones have not a clue about the concept of freedom of religion here in the good ole USA? That is what makes America the nation that it is --- freedom to chose. Good luck come Sept. 11, as you Floridian book-burners embark on a course that could cost American lives, the same lives that are overseas defending your right to freedom. Which begs of the question --- do any of these loonies have a son or daughter serving in Afghanistan? I kind of doubt it.
ON THIS DATE IN 1976 … Abba was at No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart with 'Dancing Queen,' the group's fourth U.K. No. 1 single and their only U.S. No. 1 chart topper. The song was a No. 1 hit in over a dozen countries and stayed at the top of the Swedish charts for 14 weeks.
Have a good one
Pappy
9-7-10
PAPPY IS CELEBRATING THE LONG LABOR DAY HOLDAY WEEKEND DOING WHAT HE DOES BEST....HIS FEET ARE UP, HIS EYES ARE CLOSED, HE IS SNORING AND DROOLING SLIGHTLY.....HE WILL BE BACK ON THE JOB TUESDAY...HAVE A SAFE, SANE AND SOBER HOLIDAY
ed.
“She Came in Through The Bathroom Window” …. The Beatles …. Enough said …
According to SongMeanings.com------
Landis Kearnon (known at the time as Susie Landis) gave us the following account:
Here, all this time I thought this song was written about me and my friend Judy. What a surprise to learn there was someone named Diane Ashley who put a ladder up to Paul's house and climbed in through the bathroom window. This and the bit about "quit the police department" being inspired by an ex-cop taxi driver in NYC tells me something I already know about songwriting, which is that many songs are composites. This one obviously was because Diane wasn't the only person having a profound effect on Paul McCartney by crawling in a bathroom window in 1967 (maybe '68 in her case). Judy and I were paid $1500 by Greene & Stone, a couple of sleazy artist managers driving around the Sunset Strip in a Chinchilla-lined caddy limo, to "borrow" the quarter-inch master of "Day In the Life" off of David Crosby's reel-to-reel, drive it to Sunset Sound studios in Hollywood where Greene & Stone duped it, then put it back where we found it at Crosby's Beverly Glen Canyon pad. Crosby was playing with the Byrds that day in Venice so we knew his house was empty. This was the day after a major rainstorm so the back of his house was one big mudslide. We climbed up it, leaving 8 inch deep footprints and, you guessed it, gained access via the bathroom window, leaving behind footprints and a veritable goldmine of forensic matter. We were really nervous and did not make clear mental notes of how the master reel was on the player, but did have the sense to leave Crosby's front door unlocked while we drove across town and back. After the tape was back on the machine (badly) we changed out of our muddy shoes, drove to the Cheetah in Venice, and hung out with the Byrds into the evening, thinking we were awfully clever and cute. We did not know why Greene & Stone would pay so much money for a copy of a Beatles song, other than the fact that is was a groundbreaking and mind-blowing piece, but found out the next day when we heard "A Day In the Life" on KHJ, I think it was. Greene & Stone had used it as payola to get one of their groups, The Cake, singing "Yes We Have No Bananas," on the air. Which they did, and it sucked, but oh well. By the following day "A Day In the Life" was no longer on the air. And just a day or two after that there was a front page blurb in the LA Times about "A Day In the Life" getting aired one month prior to the release date of the single and the Sergeant Pepper LP, which apparently cost the Beatles plenty and they were suing Capitol or Columbia, whichever the label was, for $2 million... and McCartney was flying in from London to deal with the mess. Oops. Judy and I nearly sank through the floor. Though we were active "dancers" in the various nightclubs on the Sunset Strip, we lay low for a while, not knowing what to expect. In fact, other than a song being written and a GREAT cover by Joe Cocker, nothing happened. We got our money, spent it on groovy clothes, of course (what else was there?) and never heard a word about it. "I knew what I could not say" and "protected by a silver spoon" seemed to explain why there were no repercussions. My dad was a TV director who had already threatened to bust and ruin David Crosby for smoking pot with and deflowering his daughter; he had clout and David was afraid of him. Judy was from money and influence too. I feel that David knew exactly who had broken in and borrowed the tape but couldn't press charges. He probably wasn't supposed to be playing the master for all his friends and hangers-on, so there must have been hell to pay for him. I always felt bad for the cred it must have cost him with his friend Paul McCartney. Oh, the bit about "Sunday's on the phone to Monday, Tuesday's on the phone to me" - that was somebody named Sunday, maybe a detective, I can't remember now, calling the producer Billy Monday about the break-in and song leak. Billy Monday, knowing she was a friend of McCartney's called Tuesday Weld, and it was she who called Paul in London and told him the news. Well, I guess I didn't make this very short after all. But you can't tell me that this incident didn't feed into the overall inspiration for the song. I'm just glad it turned out so cool and hope it made a heap for them in compensation for the publicity costs at the outset.
It was interesting and exciting then, that's for sure. Even though I came of age into that scene and had nothing to compare it to, I still had a sense at the time of being at the epicenter of something big. Some of that was attributable to the hubris of youth, but some of it turned out to be real, as it happened. Now, present time, it makes my day to come across someone who still finds it interesting or even knows what or whom I'm talking about. By the way, I never did get to meet the Beatles, though I was invited to party where they were staying once, when I was 17. My mother wouldn't let me go! I never forgave her.
I lived in LA until 1987 where I was a model, actress, (groupie, but that wasn't professional), marching band manager, religious (Buddhist) leader, newspaper columnist, secretary, copywriter, copy editor, account executive, screenwriter, songwriter, band leader, session singer, textile designer, artist. Since then, in the Santa Fe area and now, since 1992, in Tucson, I continued my artistic and musical endeavors, ran a fabric-painting factory, was a jazz singer for several years (which has mutated to something more individual and artistic of late), have worked numerous odd jobs from pizza delivery to bookstore management, and am now close to completing my first novel, which is set in a Buddhist cult in the early '70s.
In the '70s I traveled halfway around the world on a square-rigged cargo ship, lived and sang in Europe for three years, and, as of 1991, am a mother of one though I never married.
Subsequent to the bathroom window event, my friend and partner in crime, as it were, Judy went off with a Dick Clark Productions road show (can't remember the name of it but it was something timely) as "Irma the Dancing Girl." Her job, nightly, in each new town, was to put on a bikini, dance, and paint wild, acid abstract canvases with her extremely long blond hair. I, on the other hand, joined a Buddhist cult, which was like living on another planet entirely, and completely disappeared from view, as far as the "scene" was concerned. Judy and I didn't hang out much after we realized the impact of our little romp. We didn't talk about it, but we may have decided at some level that we pushed our combined wildness a bit too far on that one and moved on to "safer" friends. I saw her once in the early '70s. She had been married and divorced, was the mother of one, and that was the last contact we had.
Interesting --- I guess.
ON THIS DATE IN 1964 … On tour in the USA, The Beatles appeared at The Convention Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Days before the concert, Philadelphia had experienced race-riots, The Beatles, who were Civil Rights supporters, were shocked to see that their audience of 13,000 is completely white.
Have a good one
Pappy
9-2-10
Oh the good old days of the 60s when music was fresh and new ….. the following list is the top ten songs from each year in the 60s. Amazing to see how much music changed over the course of one decade – let alone five. Anyway, according to Top Ten Songs of Each Year:
1960
1. Will You Love Me Tomorrow - Shirelles
2. Georgia On My Mind - Ray Charles
3. Only The Lonely - Roy Orbison
4. Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go - Hank Ballard & the Midnighters
5. Stay - Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs
6. Chain Gang - Sam Cooke
7. Save The Last Dance For Me - Drifters
8. Shop Around - Miracles
9. The Twist - Chubby Checker
10. Cathy's Clown - Everly Brothers
1961
1. Stand By Me - Ben E. King
2. Crazy - Patsy Cline
3. The Wanderer - Dion
4. Runaround Sue - Dion
5. Crying - Roy Orbison
6. Hit The Road Jack - Ray Charles
7. Runaway - Del Shannon
8. Quarter To Three - Gary U.S. Bonds
9. It Will Stand - Showmen
10. Running Scared - Roy Orbison
1962
1. Green Onions - Booker T. & the MG's
2. Bring It On Home To Me - Sam Cooke
3. You've Really Got A Hold On Me - Miracles
4. The Loco-Motion - Little Eva
5. Sherry - Four Seasons
6. I Can't Stop Loving You - Ray Charles
7. Up On The Roof - Drifters
8. Twist And Shout - Isley Brothers
9. These Arms Of Mine - Otis Redding
10. Do You Love Me – Contours
1963
1. Louie Louie - Kingsmen
2. She Loves You - Beatles
3. I Want To Hold Your Hand - Beatles
4. Be My Baby - Ronettes
5. I Saw Her Standing There - Beatles
6. Surfin' USA - Beach Boys
7. Glad All Over - Dave Clark Five
8. It's All Right - Impressions
9. Blowin' In The Wind - Bob Dylan / Peter Paul & Mary
10. Please Please Me – Beatles
1964
1. You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling - Righteous Brothers
2. My Girl - Temptations
3. You Really Got Me - Kinks
4. House Of The Rising Sun - Animals
5. Where Did Our Love Go - Supremes
6. I Get Around - Beach Boys
7. All Day And All Of The Night - Kinks
8. Oh, Pretty Woman - Roy Orbison
9. A Hard Day's Night - Beatles
10. She's Not There – Zombies
1965
1. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - Rolling Stones
2. Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan
3. In The Midnight Hour - Wilson Pickett
4. Papa's Got A Brand New Bag - James Brown
5. My Generation - The Who
6. Mr. Tambourine Man - Byrds / Bob Dylan
7. Yesterday - Beatles
8. The Sounds Of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel
9. Ticket To Ride - Beatles
10. The Tracks Of My Tears – Miracles
1966
1. Good Vibrations - Beach Boys
2. When A Man Loves A Woman - Percy Sledge
3. Reach Out, I'll Be There - Four Tops
4. Gimme Some Lovin' - Spencer Davis Group
5. Ain't Too Proud To Beg - Temptations
6. Eight Miles High - Byrds
7. For What It's Worth - BuffaloSpringfield
8. Paint It Black - Rolling Stones
9. You Keep Me Hangin' On - Supremes
10. Wild Thing – Troggs
1967
1. Respect - Aretha Franklin
2. Light My Fire - Doors
3. Sunshine Of Your Love - Cream
4. Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix
5. A Day In The Life - Beatles
6. Whiter Shade Of Pale - Procol Harum
7. Somebody To Love - Jefferson Airplane
8. Soul Man - Sam & Dave
9. Strawberry Fields Forever - Beatles
10. Nights In White Satin - Moody Blues
1968
1. I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
2. Hey Jude - Beatles
3. All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix
4. Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding
5. Mony Mony - Tommy James & the Shondells
6. Jumpin' Jack Flash - Rolling Stones
7. Born To Be Wild - Steppenwolf
8. White Room - Cream
9. Sympathy For The Devil - Rolling Stones
10. Revolution – Beatles
1969
1. Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin
2. Proud Mary - Creedence Clearwater Revival
3. I Want You Back - Jackson 5
4. Honky Tonk Women - Rolling Stones
5. Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival
6. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes - Crosby, Stills & Nash
7. Dazed And Confused - Led Zeppelin
8. Gimme Shelter - Rolling Stones
9. Come Together - Beatles
10. I Can't Get Next To You – Temptations
ON THIS DATE IN 1965 … During a U.S. tour, The Beatles appeared at the Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood, California. Tickets cost $3.
That sort of puts things in perspective, doesn’t it? $3 to see the Beatles……
Have a good one
Pappy
8-30-10
According to Music Trivia:
* In 1986, David Gilmour purchased the houseboat Astoria which is moored on the River Thames near Hampton Court, and transformed it into a recording studio. The boat was built in 1911 for impresario Fred Karno, who wanted to have the best houseboat on the river. He designed it so that there could be an entire 90-piece orchestra playing on deck. The majority of the two most recent Pink Floyd albums, “A Momentary Lapse of Reason” and “The Division Bell,” as well as Dave Gilmour's 2006 solo release “On an Island,” were recorded there.
*Elvis Presley has had the most Hot 100 entries with a total of 151 and Paul McCartney has written the most number-one hits with a total of 32.
*Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys died in 1983, he drowned while swimming near his boat in California. Ronald Reagan, then President of America gave special permission so Dennis's body could be buried at sea.
*As of 2005, according to The Guinness Book of World Records, Queen albums had spent a total of 1,322 weeks or twenty-seven years on the U.K. album charts; more time than any other musical act. In 2006 the Queens Greatest Hits album was the U.K.'s all-time best selling album, with sales upwards of 5,407,587 copies, over 604,295 more copies than its nearest competitor, The Beatles' “Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.” The band has released a total of eighteen number one albums, eighteen number one singles, and ten number one DVDs worldwide making them one of the world's best-selling music artists. Their total album sales have been estimated at over 300 million worldwide including 32.5 million in the United States alone as of 2004.
* Sheryl Crow started her singing career as a backup singer on Michael Jackson's Bad tour; also she was a backup singer on tours for George Harrison, Joe Cocker, and Rod Stewart before starting her solo career.
* In 1957, Disc Jockey Al Priddy of KEX, Portland, Oregon, was fired for violating the radio station's ban against playing Elvis Presley's rendition of "White Christmas." After hearing reports that many U.S. radio stations had banned Elvis' Christmas album because of their shock over "the Pelvis" singing religious songs, DJ Allen Brooks of CKWS in Kingston, Ontario, played the entire album and invited listeners to call in their opinion. Of 800 callers, only 56 disapprove of Presley's sacred music.
* Elvis' favorite collectibles were official badges. He collected police badges in almost every city he performed in. Also he was an avid gun collector. His collection of 40 weapons included M-16s and a Thompson submachine gun.
*The Star-Spangled Banner became the U.S. national anthem in 1931. Prior to that, it was “My Country 'Tis of Thee," which had the same melody as Britain’s national anthem “God Save the Queen,” which is based on music written by John Bull in 1619.
*Hendrix claimed 'Purple Haze' was inspired by a dream where he was walking under the sea. In the dream, he said a purple haze surrounded him, engulfed him and got him lost. It was a traumatic experience, but in his dream his faith in Jesus saved him. At one point, Hendrix wrote the chorus as "Purple Haze, Jesus Saves," but decided against it.
ON THIS DATE IN 1963 … The Ronettes first entered the U.S. singles chart with ‘Be My Baby,’ the girl group’s only top 10 hit. Lead singer, Veronica Bennett who became Ronnie Spector, took producer and ex-husband Phil Spector to court in the late 1990s for unpaid royalties.
Have a good one
Pappy
8-31-10
On this Day In:
* 1952 … Atlantic Records bought Ray Charles' contract from Swingtime Records, where Charles had been recording in the mellower, bluesy style of Nat King Cole and Charles Brown.
* 1953 … The Texas duo of Buddy Holly and Bob Montgomery auditioned for radio station KDAV's Sunday Party. The duo started a slot on Sunday afternoon that became known as The Bob and Buddy Show.
* 1955 … After complaints from his neighbors, Rock 'n' Roll fan Sidney Adams was fined £3 and 10 shillings, ($9.80) by a London Court after playing Bill Haley's 'Shake Rattle and Roll' all day at full volume.
* 1956 … Elvis Presley was at No. 2 on the U.S. singles chart with 'Hound Dog' being held off the top by The Platters 'My Prayer.'
* 1956 … 19-year-old Jerry Lee Lewis arrived at Sun Records hoping for an audition, only to find that owner Sam Phillips was on vacation in Florida. Jerry Lee recorded some demos that Phillips would hear when he returned.
* 1957… The Biggest Show of Stars package tour kicked off at Brooklyn Paramount featuring: Buddy Holly & The Crickets, The Drifters, The Everly Brothers and Frankie Lymon. On some dates artists were unable to play because of segregation laws.
* 1962 … Tommy Roe went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with 'Sheila,' a No. 3 hit in the U.K. The record was a re-recorded version of a song that was first released in 1960 when Roe was part of a group called The Satins.
* 1966 … The Byrds played the first of an 11 night run at the Whisky-a-go-go, Hollywood, California.
* 1967… David Bowie released the single ‘Love You Till Tuesday’ which failed to reach the charts.
* 1967… The four Beatles held a meeting at Paul McCartney's house in London to decide upon their next course of action following the death of manager Brian Epstein. They decide to postpone their planned trip to India and to begin the already-delayed production of the Magical Mystery Tour movie. They have two songs already recorded for the movie, ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ and ‘Your Mother Should Know.’
So…there it is folks, all that was taking place in the music biz from 1952 through 1967.
Have a good one
Pappy
9-1-10
The Lovin’ Spoonful ----- what a cool band from the 60s ….. These dudes had a string of hits but none cooler than the one that launched their career ------ “Do You Believe In Magic.”
According to SongMeanings: This was written by John Sebastian, who formed The Lovin' Spoonful with his friend, Zal Yanovsky. Sebastian and Yanovsky were in a group called The Mugwumps, and made a name for themselves playing clubs in Greenwich Village. When the other Mugwumps - Mama Cass Elliot and Denny Doherty - moved to California and formed The Mamas And The Papas, they formed the band and Sebastian began focusing on songwriting. The Lovin' Spoonful started playing electric instruments to get away from the folk music sound and attract a younger contemporary rock audience.
The Lovin' Spoonful played regularly at a famous club called The Night Owl Cafe. Said Sebastian: "We were playing pretty steadily for the local people from Greenwich Village who were part of the Jazz scene or part of the kind of downtown 'in crowd.' They were 'finger poppers,' guys who played chess, 'beatniks.' But there was this one particular night as we were playing, I looked out in the audience and saw this beautiful 16-year-old girl just dancing the night away. And I remember Zal and I just elbowed each other the entire night because to us that young girl symbolized the fact that our audience was changing, that maybe they had finally found us. I wrote Do You Believe In Magic the next day."
The Lovin' Spoonful were signed to a new record label called Kama Sutra. This was the first song they recorded for the label, and it was the first of a string of hits for the group, which included "Daydream," "Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind?" and "Summer In The City."
This is a very popular song for advertising campaigns. It has been used in commercials for Mercedes Benz, McDonald's, Burger King, Kohl's, Dash Detergent and the Trump Casino.
This has been featured on the soundtracks to the movies Parent Trap, Disney's Return To Neverland, Gulliver's Travels and One Trick Pony.
In 1978, Shaun Cassidy covered this. Other musicians to record it include David Cassidy, The Turtles, The Chambers Brothers, John Mellencamp and Dion & The Belmonts. Cher also recorded it solo and with Sonny & Cher.
As the '60s drew to a close, The Lovin' Spoonful disbanded and Sebastian started working on a variety of projects. He wrote music for the CareBear series, published children's books, made harmonica instruction videos, and was a guest star on the TV show Married With Children. In 1976, he wrote the theme song to the TV show Welcome Back Kotter, which was a #1 hit.
In the movie American Pie, Chris "Oz" Ostreicher (Chris Klein) sings a verse of this song when talking to Steve Stifler (Seann William Scott) in the sauna room.
This was used as the theme song to a short-lived US TV series called State Of Grace. The show started in 2001 and was canceled a year later.
In a Songfacts interview, Alan Merrill, who later joined The Arrows and wrote "I Love Rock And Roll," reveals that he narrowly missed an opportunity to debut with this song: "This was mid-'60s. The Lovin' Spoonful were starting, and Laura Nyro said, 'Why don't you audition for the Lovin' Spoonful? Now you know how to play bass, they're looking for a bass player. But you'd have to quit school.' And I said, 'I don't want to quit school.' So I went over to her house after school one day, and she put this record on, and it was 'Do You Believe In Magic.' She just looked at me and said, 'This is what you didn't go to do.' And I was like, 'Oh, s--t, it's gonna be a #1 record. I blew it. I could have been the 14-year-old bass player in the Lovin' Spoonful.'"
ON THIS DATE IN 2007… Kevin Federline's lawyers asked Britney Spears to pay some of her former husband's legal expenses in their divorce case. His legal team said Federline had "no net income" after various expenses, and that Ms. Spears was "clearly the monied party" in the dispute. According to legal documents filed in Los Angeles, the pop star's average monthly income was $737,868 (£365,966). The couple had married in October 2004 and filed for divorce in November 2006.
Have a good one
Pappy
8-27-10
It is always interesting to hear what the stars have to say about this and that. According to Music Trivia:
* “You don’t think I take this seriously, do you? It’s just a bleeping rock and roll band.” Charlie Watts, The Rolling Stones
* “Let’s face it, if I weren’t as talented as I am ambitious, I’d be a gross monstrosity.” Madonna
* "I could be a housewife. I guess I've vacuumed a couple of times." Deborah Harry
* "When I go into a hotel, I get the urge to throw fruit out the window. I'll throw a grapefruit because I like to hear it pop. But don't tell my mum." Janet Jackson, 1988.
* "I've never gone for having a great voice, for cultivating one. I'm still not doing it now." Bob Dylan.
* “You have to give so much, you have to be so generous, I mean, that’s all you’re doing is, giving, giving, giving…” the late front man for INXS, Michael Hutchence, 1989
* “The hippie movement was a failure. All hippies around now just represent complete apathy.” Joe Strummer, The Clash 1976
* “I was doing so many drugs, it was like the end of Scarface. If I hadn’t got clean, I would’ve killed myself.” Gerard Way, My Chemical Romance.
* “I didn’t spit or swear or sleep around. I’ve always maintained I’m the most radical rock ‘n’ roll singer Britain has ever seen.” Sir Cliff Richard, 2009
* “The main trouble with money is that ties you down. I miss the poverty I had before.” Peter Tork, The Monkees, 1968.
* “I want to be half as cool as the Stones for half as long.” Jon Bon Jovi, 1989
* "I'm telling you, this substance cannabis is a whole lot less harmful than rum punch, whisky, nicotine or glue - all of which are perfectly legal. I would like to see it decriminalized." Paul McCartney, 1983.
* “We have a rule of thumb – if I throw a TV out of the window, the other four guys in the band are gonna turn round to me and say ‘Hey, that’s £500 out of your pocket, not ours.’” Joe Elliott, Def Leppard
ON THIS DATE IN 1962 … Little Eva went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with 'The Loco-motion.' The Carole King and Gerry Geffin song was offered to Dee Dee Sharp (Mashed Potatoes), who turned it down. The writers had their babysitter record it who took it to No. 1.
Have a good one
Pappy 8-25-10
Fun Facts About Language, according to Useless information:
* TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using only the letters on the top row of a computer keyboard.
* In ancient Greece the word 'idiot' meant a private citizen or layman.
* If you were to spell out numbers you would have to get to 1000 before you found the letter "A."
* When the Chevrolet Motor Company tried to introduce the "Nova" car to Spain it wasn't a big seller. "Nova" means "Doesn't go" in Spanish.
* In the last 50 years the average working vocabulary of a 15-year-old has decreased from 25,000 words to just 10,000 words.
* The longest word that can be typed only with the left hand is 'Stewardesses.'
* The only English word that ends in 'mt' is dreamt.
* The word 'Queue' is the only word in the English language that can be pronounced the same even if the last four letters have been removed one by one.
* There are more English speaking people living in China than there are in the USA.
* On average there is about 3,000 feet of electrical wiring in every car.
* If you drove at 100 mph for four years you would still not cover every stretch of road in the USA.
* Car airbags explode at 200 miles per hour.
* British Petroleum makes a profit of £3,800.00 per second!
* On average a human being spends two weeks of their entire lives waiting for traffic lights to change.
* The first person to be killed in an auto accident in the United States was Henry H. Bliss, a 68-year-old real estate broker. On September 14, 1899, in New York City, Mr. Bliss stepped from a streetcar, turned to assist a woman passenger, and was hit by a cab.
So, there it is this morning, all the info one needs to know about absolutely useless information ….
ON THIS DATE IN 1965 … Sonny & Cher were at No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart with 'I Got You Babe,' the duo's only U.K. No. 1.
Have a good one
Pappy
8-26-10
It’s Tuesday and time for a joke or two to bring a smile or chuckle as the week continues on. I know, I know, blonde jokes can get a little old, but I couldn’t pass on this one:
According to MusicTrivia:
* An old, partially blind cowboy wanders into an all-girl biker bar by mistake. He finds his way to a bar stool and orders some coffee.
After sitting there for a while, he yells to the waiter,
'Hey, you wanna hear a blonde joke?'
The bar immediately falls absolutely silent.
In a very deep, husky voice, the woman next to him says,
'Before you tell that joke, Cowboy, I think it is only fair, given that you are blind, that you should know five things:
1. The bartender is a blonde girl with a baseball bat.
2. The bouncer is a blonde girl.
3. I'm a 6-foot tall, 175-pound blonde woman with a black belt in karate.
4. The woman sitting next to me is blonde and a professional weightlifter.
5. The lady to your right is blonde and a professional wrestler.
'Now, think about it seriously, Mister. Do you still wanna tell that joke?'
The old cowboy thinks for a second, shakes his head, and mutters,
'No ... not if I'm gonna have to explain it five times.'
* A little Greek girl is kneeling down to pray to the god Zeus.
"Dear Zeus...." she begins.
As the prayer progresses, she dwells on a thought he's had for some time and decides to ask him about it.
"Zeus," she asks "What would a million years to us feel like to you?"
Zeus says "A million years is like a second to me."
Then the little girl decides to ask "What would a million dollars be like to you?"
Zeus answers "A million dollars is like a penny to me."
So, getting a clever idea, the girl says "Zeus, may I have one of your dollars?"
To which Zeus replies "Sure,"
"Just give me a second."
* BEFORE MARRIAGE:
Husband - Aaah! ...At last! I can hardly wait!
Wife - Do you want me to leave?
Husband - No! Don't even think about it.
Wife - Do you love me?
Husband - Of course! Always have and always will!
Wife - Have you ever cheated on me?
Husband - No! Why are you even asking?
Wife - Will you kiss me?
Husband - Every chance I get!
Wife - Will you hit me?
Husband - Hell no! Are you crazy?!
Wife - Can I trust you?
Husband - Yes.
Wife - Darling!
AFTER MARRIAGE: read from bottom to top.
ON THIS DATE IN 1967 … 17-year old singer and guitarist Bruce Springsteen joined a group called Earth.
Have a good one
Pappy
8-24-10
Say it ain’t so …. Say is ain’t so …. genetically engineered sugar beets in ice cream? Not ice cream, please, not in ice cream.
According to a recent article by John Robbins, author of The New Good Life, Diet For A New America, and many other bestsellers, had this to say about ice cream in this excerpt from his story:
“Monsanto has been in the news this week, with a U.S. District Court Judge ruling that the USDA has to at least go through the motions of regulating the company's genetically engineered sugar beets. Monsanto, you may know, is not likely to win any contests for the most popular company. In fact, it has been called the most hated corporation in the world, which is saying something, given the competition from the likes of BP, Halliburton and Goldman Sachs. This has gotten me thinking about, of all things, ice cream, and of how Monsanto's clammy paws can be found in some of the most widely selling ice cream brands in the country. These brands could break free from Monsanto's clutches. So far they haven't, but maybe this is about to change. Ben & Jerry's gets all their milk from dairies that have pledged not to inject their cows with genetically engineered bovine growth hormone (rBGH). Why, then, can't Haagen Dazs, Breyers and Baskin-Robbins do the same? Starbucks now guarantees that all their milk, cream and other dairy products are rBGH-free. So do Yoplait and Dannon yogurts, Tillamook cheese, Chipotle restaurants, and many others. But ice cream giants Haagen Dazs, Breyers and Baskin-Robbins continue to use milk from cows injected with rBGH, a hormone that's been banned in Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Australia and all 27 nations of the European Union. As if to add insult to injury, Haagen Dazs and Breyers have the audacity to tell us, right on the label, that their ice cream is ‘All Natural.’ We have Monsanto to thank for rBGH. Monsanto developed the artificial hormone and marketed it aggressively for years, before selling it in 2008 to Elanco, a division of the Eli Lilly drug company. Of course, Monsanto (and now Elanco) wants us to think the hormone is in every way completely satisfactory and safe. Monsanto's party line has consistently been that there is ‘no significant difference’ in the milk derived from cows who have been dosed with the hormone compared to those who haven't.”
End of excerpt.
To add insult to injury, how about this ---- China and the U.S. are two of the few countries in the world that still allows bovine growth hormones to be injected into dairy cows and now, female infants in China who have been fed formula have been growing breasts! For God’s sake when will this insanity end?
According to the official Chinese Daily newspaper, medical tests performed on the babies found levels of estrogens circulating in their bloodstreams that are as high as those found in most adult women and these babies are between four and 15 months old with all evidence saying that the milk formula they have been fed is responsible.
What a pathetic state of the world we live in when money comes first and foremost --- even if it means infants are now growing breasts in China. What’s next?
ON THIS DATE IN 1969 … Johnny Cash started a four-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with 'Johnny Cash at San Quentin.'
Have a good one
Pappy
8-23-10
So …. 24 percent of the American people believe President Obama is a Muslim, huh?
So what if he is?
The following is History 101:
* Abraham Lincoln,although not a Founding Father, was an extremely influential and important U.S. President. He is considered, after George Washington, the greatest of presidents. Every child is taught about Lincoln's birth in a log cabin, but what is not taught is that he rejected Christianity, never joined a church, and even wrote a treatise against religion.
WHAT????? Lincoln was not a Christian?
* Historian Barry Schwartz writes: "George Washington's practice of Christianity was limited and superficial because he was not himself a Christian... He repeatedly declined the church's sacraments. Never did he take communion, and when his wife, Martha, did, he waited for her outside the sanctuary... Even on his deathbed, Washington asked for no ritual, uttered no prayer to Christ, and expressed no wish to be attended by His representative." [New York Press, 1987, pp. 174-175]
WHAT THE &$#! …. Our Founding Father not a Christian? I wonder if Sarah Palin knows that?
Bottom line ….. Knowing that Obama has visited a church before (remember Rev. Wright?), I just can’t imagine a Muslim entering a Christian church as that just “ain’t gonna happen.”
Obama this and Obama that and Obama should not take vacations and Obama should not weigh in on the Ground Zero fiasco and Obama should not breathe and … and so on and so on ….
America is becoming a psychotic state due to all the fear mongers out there. I am amazed that in this day and age with so much access to the information (true and false) that people do not take the time to do a little research on matters.
I for one did not know that Washington was not a Christian and furthermore, I could care less. When are people going to realize that America is no longer the staunch, white-guys-rule-all as we are a nation comprised of ALL immigrants. Remember, we took the land from the Native Americans, and treated them sooooooooooo good, did we not? The great thing about America is the opportunity for everyone to practice whatever religion they choose without fear of prosecution. A person’s faith should never be questioned as no one knows the hearts of others.
So, with all that being said, so what if the president is a Muslim? Of course, I would bet the bank that he isn’t as it would be sacrilegious for a Muslim to proclaim to be anything other than a Muslim. Of course, how many Christians can say they really know anything about Islam?
Palin could not even cite one U.S Supreme Court case so how in the #@$^ would she know anything about the religion of a person? Come on folks, even a nincompoop should be able to remember the U.S. Supreme Court’s Bush v. Gore decision in 2000 but not old miss goody two shoes Palin.
Ignorance is a tragedy and there is no excuse for it in this day and age.
ON THIS DATE IN 1986 … Rick Allen, drummer with Def Leppard, made his first live appearance with the band after losing an arm in a car accident, when they appeared at the Monsters Of Rock Festival, Castle Donington, England.
Peace
Pappy
8-20-10
Sarah Palin has used Twitter to share some advice with Dr. Laura Schlessinger, the talk radio host who apologized and decided to retire from her highly-rated program after using the N-word on the air 11 times in 5 minutes. Palin's advice: ‘don't retreat...reload!’” --- latest excerpt from Palin.
Boy howdy, how the times do change. So, here is Palin tweeting like the little bird she is about once again, THE CONSTITUTION, being ONCE AGAIN in danger and Schlessinger’s rights being abused. Did they lead her away in cuffs? Did I miss that?
Let’s back up one minute and flash back to the Dixie Chicks. Remember them? Remember when Natalie Mains said she was ashamed that W. was from Texas after he and his administration skewed the facts and invaded Iraq? Was her CONSTITUTIONAL rights violated? No. She spoke her mind --- and paid the price as the Chicks were banned from radio stations all across the nation. Dr. Laura spoke her mind and now she must pay ---- but by her own resignation I might add. The good news is, the CONSTITUTION actually survived on this one as well as she is not locked up in some hole in the ground never to be heard of again. I don’t know about the rest of the free world, but I’m getting sick and tired of constantly hearing about the CONSTITUTION being in jeopardy. CONSTITUTION this and CONSTITUTION that and blah blah blah ….
My CONSTITUTIONAL rights are still alive and well the last time I checked. I still have the right to get up every day and go to work, say what I want to say, pay my taxes … all is still good. The “thought police” have yet to silence my rantings, I can still buy a weapon if I chose to do so, etc. etc.
What Palin obviously fails to realize is the fact that Schlessinger is still a free woman, even after her comments. We can still say whatever we want in the Land of the Free but of course, just like the Chicks, sometimes you must pay a price when “the words of freedom” roll off of one’s tongue. Last I heard, Mains was still a free woman and not jailed somewhere for slamming a president.
So …. Enough of this nonsense about the CONSTITUTION being trampled on. Hogwash, I say, simply hogwash.
Long live the freedom of speech, even if what you say might have consequences, jail time is not one of them. In the good old U.S.A., we can say what we want regardless and never have to worry about being jailed for our words --- even if they are not truthful.
ON THIS DATE IN 1988 … ‘Crazy’ by Patsy Cline, and Elvis Presley’s ‘Hound Dog’ were announced as the most played jukebox songs of the first hundred years. The jukebox had been around since 1906, but earlier models had been first seen in 1889.
Have a good one
Pappy
8-19-10
Nothing like some funny sports jokes to hit the page during the middle of the work week.
According to Useless Information:
* A guy stood over his tee shot for what seemed an eternity, looking up, looking down, measuring the distance, figuring the wind direction and speed. Driving his partner nuts, finally his exasperated partner says, "What the %&^$ is taking so long? Hit the ball!"
The guy answers, "My wife is up there watching me from the clubhouse. I want to make this a perfect shot."
"Well, heck, man, you don't stand a snowball's chance in hell of hitting her from here!"
* Four guys were out on the golf course. As one of them was teeing off at the 10th hole, which was next to the highway, they saw a funeral precession go by. Instead of teeing off, the guy removed his cap and placed it on his chest until the funeral had passed.
At this point, the other three said, "You know, that was the most touching thing I've ever seen."
And the guy answers, "Well, I was married to her for 15 years. It was the least I could do!"
* "How was your golf game, dear?" asked Jack's wife Tracy.
"Well, I was hitting pretty well, but my eyesight's gotten so bad I couldn't see where the ball went."
"But you're seventy-five years old, Jack!" admonished his wife, "Why don't you take my brother Scott along?"
"But he's eighty-five and doesn't even play golf anymore," protested Jack.
"But he's got perfect eyesight. He could watch your ball," Tracy pointed out.
The next day Jack teed off with Scott looking on. Jack swung, and the ball disappeared down the middle of the fairway. "Do you see it?" asked Jack.
"Yup," Scott answered.
"Well, where is it?" yelled Jack, peering off into the distance.
"I forgot."
* First man: My wife suggested that I take up a new sport this summer.
Second man: Well, that's nice. It shows that she has your interests at heart. Did she make any suggestions?
First man: As a matter of fact, she did. By the way, how do you play this Russian Roulette?
* Some members of a health club were having their first meeting. The director of the group said, "Now, I'd like each of you to give the facts of your daily routine." Several people spoke, admitting their excesses, and then one obviously overweight member said, "I eat moderately, I drink moderately, and I exercise frequently."
"Hmm?" said the manager. "And are you sure you having nothing else to add?"
"Well, yes," said the member. "I lie extensively."
* Andy came to work one day, limping something awful. One of his co-workers, Josh, noticed and asked Andy what happened. Andy replied, "Oh, nothing. It's just an old hockey injury that acts up once in a while."
Josh said, "Gee, I never knew you played hockey."
Andy responded, "No I don't. I hurt it last year when I lost $100 on the Stanley Cup play-offs. I put my foot through the television."
ON THIS DATE IN 1962 … Ringo Starr made his debut with The Beatles at the horticultural society Dance, Birkenhead, England, having had a two-hour rehearsal in preparation. This was the first appearance of The Beatles as the world would come to know them: John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
Have a good one
Pappy
8-18-10
“They say that all good things must end” …. So goes the lyrics to a song from way back when and truer words were never spoken. Pappy is back from vacation and trying to get back in the work mode after a two week hiatus.
Vacations are great, especially when one gets to spend it with his grandchildren. Although a vacation is good for the soul, being a news guy and not paying attention to what is happening around the globe is good and bad.
It’s good in the sense that one realizes life goes on no matter what takes place in Pakistan or China. The bad part is there remains a nagging feeling that something huge happened and I missed it.
The earth is still spinning on its correct axis and all seems to be well.
Kids are back in school, the temperature coming in to work this morning was a cool 57 degrees, the latest turmoil, from what I understand, is the community center/Mosque fiasco in the Big Apple and The First Lady, Michelle Obama, taking a vacation to Spain with one of her daughters.
Heaven forbid the First Lady taking a vacation. What is wrong with her? Does she not know that vacations are for everyone --- except her?
As far as the community center/Mosque situation goes, if there are any fingers to point, it should be at the Port Authority, who owns the land where the proposed center/Mosque is to be built, and the developer who has secured the land site.
If you really want to get your feathers ruffled over this matter, Google who the developer is at this site. Bottom line for me is this ---- someone can’t build something on a portion of land unless they have the right to do so and the Port Authority gave its nod to the proposed site.
So, if those who oppose it want to express their anger, direct it to the Port Authority first and foremost and then go from there.
People like Newt Gingrich just don’t get it when they make comments saying no Mosques should be built in America until churches are allowed to be built in Iran. Well Newt, that might be a great sound byte for the news junkies, but a reminder ---- this is America and not Iran.
For all of those people so concerned about our Constitution, I suggest they actually read it and understand that America guarantees the right to practice the freedom of religion, simple as that. A handful of radical Muslims attacked the USA, not the entire Islamic faithful.
Anyway, back to the bottom line ---- the Port Authority gave the nod for the construction site, so all gripes should be directed to them and the developer.
As for me, I could care less, as the site is two blocks away from Ground Zero and not on that site specifically. So be it.
Oh yes, it is good to back to the business of muckraking.
ON THIS DATE IN 1960 … The Beatles begin their first Hamburg engagement at the Indra Club, Grosse Freiheit, Hamburg, West Germany, playing the first of 48 nights at the Club. The owner, Bruno Koschmider, asked The Beatles to "Mach Shau," or really put on a show, which led to the band screaming, shouting and leaping about the stage and sometimes playing lying on the floor. John Lennon once appeared wearing only his underwear and on another occasion, wearing a toilet seat around his neck. The Beatles lodged in a single room behind the screen of a nearby movie house.
Have a good one
Pappy
8-17-10
Time for some words of wisdom from all the stars, according to Music Trivia:
* "From when I was very young, I just knew that being a girl and being charming in a feminine sort of way could get me a lot of things, and I milked it for everything I could." - Madonna, 1985.
* "It's not funny when you’re actually getting shot, but afterwards, yeah, it’s funny." - 50 Cent.
* “Love songs? Yeah I like Love songs – provided they’re about beer.” Lars Ulrich, Metallica
* "I'd like to be as successful as Madonna." - Tiffany, 1983.
* "It's all right leaping about the stage when you're 20 but when you get to 25 it gets a bit embarrassing." - Bill Wyman, The Rolling Stones, 1967
* “I’m not the Yoko Ono of Nirvana.” Courtney Love 1993
* “We always wanted to rock the way Queen did.” Joe Elliott, Def Leppard.
* "Before Elvis there was nothing." - John Lennon
* "It was like Elvis came along and whispered some dream in everybody's ear." - Bruce Springsteen.
* "I will still compose, sing and play as long as I can. I hope even in my seventies." - Mick Jagger, 2003.
* "Mick Jagger's wasted his life. He's going through the motions of being Mick Jagger, which is a bit of a caricature." - Sting.
* “I feel like this is my last time on earth.” Prince 1996
* “We’re one of the few adventures you can still have in America.” Jerry Garcia, Grateful Dead, 1989
* “For years I wanted to be a girl. Not in a sexual way. But everything about men just turned me off. I didn’t want to be a man.” Billy Corgan, Smashing Pumpkins 1993.
* "I could be a housewife. I guess I've vacuumed a couple of times." - Deborah Harry
* “They were fresh and they were honest, and they had star quality. Whatever that is, they had it, or I sensed that they had it.” Brian Epstein on The Beatles
* “I’ve never used an iron or washing machine. I consider myself a good wife, but life’s too short to cook when you can order take outs." - Jessica Simpson
* "The sound of my own voice - I can't get used to it, never have. Makes you wanna hide." - Bob Dylan, 1983.
ON THIS DATE IN 1967 … The Doors started a three week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with 'Light My Fire.' The group's first U.S. No. 1, it only reached No. 49 on the U.K. chart. Re- issued in 1991 when it made No. 7 in the U.K.
Have a good one
Pappy
7-29-10
EDITORS NOTE : PAPPY WILL BE ON VACATION ALL NEXT WEEK.
For all you songwriters out there wanting to hone the skills in the world of rock and need to refresh yourself on how a great song is composed, look no farther than “Desolation Row” by the legendary singer/songwriter himself, Bob Dylan.
The following is a masterpiece and clinic in songwriting:
They're selling postcards of the hanging they're painting the passports brown
The beauty parlor is filled with sailors the circus is in town
Here comes the blind commissioner they've got him in a trance
One hand is tied to the tight-rope walker the other is in his pants
And the riot squad they're restless they need somewhere to go
As lady and I look out tonight From Desolation Row.
Cinderella, she seems so easy "It takes one to know one," she smiles
And puts her hands in her back pockets Bette Davis style
And in comes Romeo, he's moaning "You belong to me I believe"
And someone says, "You're in the wrong place, my friend you better leave"
And the only sound that's left after the ambulances go
Is Cinderella sweeping up on Desolation Row.
Now the moon is almost hidden the stars are beginning to hide
The fortunetelling lady has even taken all her things inside
All except for Cain and Abel And the hunchback of Notre Dame
Everybody is making love or else expecting rain
And the Good Samaritan, he's dressing he's getting ready for the show
He's going to the carnival tonight on Desolation Row.
Now Ophelia, she's 'neath the window for her I feel so afraid
On her twenty-second birthday she already is an old maid
To her, death is quite romantic she wears an iron vest
Her profession's her religion her sin is her lifelessness
And though her eyes are fixed upon Noah's great rainbow
She spends her time peeking into Desolation Row.
Einstein, disguised as Robin Hood with his memories in a trunk
Passed this way an hour ago with his friend, a jealous monk
He looked so immaculately frightful as he bummed a cigarette
Then he went off sniffing drainpipes and reciting the alphabet
You would not think to look at him but he was famous long ago
For playing the electric violin on Desolation Row.
Dr. Filth, he keeps his world inside of a leather cup
But all his sexless patients they're trying to blow it up
Now his nurse, some local loser she's in charge of the cyanide hole
And she also keeps the cards that read "Have Mercy on His Soul"
They all play on penny whistles you can hear them blow
If you lean your head out far enough from Desolation Row.
Across the street they've nailed the curtains they're getting ready for the feast
The Phantom of the Opera in a perfect image of a priest
They're spoon-feeding Casanova to get him to feel more assured
Then they'll kill him with self-confidence after poisoning him with words
And the Phantom's shouting to skinny girls "Get outa here if you don't know"
Casanova is just being punished for going to Desolation Row.
At midnight all the agents and the superhuman crew
Come out and round up everyone that knows more than they do
Then they bring them to the factory where the heart-attack machine
Is strapped across their shoulders and then the kerosene
Is brought down from the castles by insurance men who go
Check to see that nobody is escaping to Desolation Row.
Be to Nero's Neptune the Titanic sails at dawn
Everybody's shouting "Which side are you on?"
And Ezra Pound and T. S. Eliot fighting in the captain's tower
While calypso singers laugh at them and fishermen hold flowers
Between the windows of the sea where lovely mermaids flow
And nobody has to think too much about Desolation Row.
Yes, I received your letter yesterday about the time the door knob broke
When you asked me how I was doing was that some kind of joke?
All these people that you mention yes, I know them, they're quite lame
I had to rearrange their faces and give them all another name
Right now I can't read too good don’t send me no more letters no
Not unless you mail them from Desolation Row.
ON THIS DATE IN 1954 … The first press interview with 19-year-old Elvis Presley was published in the 'Memphis Press- Scimitar.'
Have a good one
Pappy
7-27-10
who do we sing happy birthday to today, July 23? ….. (or at least hum it) …
According to This Day in Music:
* 1935 -- Cleveland Duncan, The Penguins, (1954 U.S. No. 8 single 'Earth Angel, Will You Be Mine').
* 1942 -- Madeline Bell, U.K. singer, Blue Mink, (1970 U.K. No. 3 single 'Melting Pot').
* 1945 -- Born on this day, Dino Danelli, drums, The Young Rascals, (1967 U.S. No. 1 & U.K. No. 8 single 'Groovin').
* 1946 -- Andy Mackay, sax, woodwind, Roxy Music, (1972 U.K. No. 4 single 'Virgina Plain' and 15 other U.K. Top 40 singles').
* 1947 -- David Essex, U.K. singer, actor, (1974 U.K. No. 1 single 'Gonna Make You A Star,' plus 18 other U.K. Top 40 singles, 1974 U.S. No. 5 single, 'Rock On').
* 1947 -- Tony Joe White, U.S. singer, songwriter, (1969 U.S. No. 8 single, 'Polk Salad Annie,' 1970 U.K. No. 22 single 'Groupie Girl,' wrote 'Steamy Windows,' U.K. No. 13 single for Tina Turner).
* 1950 -- Blair Thorton, guitar, Bachman Turner Overdrive, (1974 U.S. No. 1 & U.K. No. 2 single 'You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet').
* 1952 -- Janis Siegel, singer, Manhattan Transfer, (1977 U.K. No. 1 'Chanson D'amour,' 1981 U.S. No. 7 single 'Boy From New York City').
* 1964 -- Nick Menza, drums, Megadeth, (1990 U.K. No. 13 single 'No More Mr. Nice Guy,' 1992 U.S. No. 2 album 'Countdown To Extinction').
* 1965 -- Slash, (Saul Hudson), guitar, Guns N' Roses, (1988 U.S. No. 1 & 1989 U.K. No. 6 single 'Sweet Child O' Mine,' 1991 U.S. & U.K. No. 1 album, 'Use Your Illusion II'). Velvet Revolver, (2004 U.S. No. 1 & U.K. No. 11 album 'Contraband').
* 1970 -- Sam Watters, vocals, Color Me Bad, (1991 U.K. No. 1 single 'I Wanna Sex You Up,' 1991 U.S. No. 1 single 'I Adore Mi Amor').
* 1971 -- Alison Krauss, singer songwriter, winner of 1996 Rolling Stone's critic's choice best country artist. 2007 U.S. & U.K. No. 2 album ‘Raising Sand’ with Robert Plant.
* 1973 -- Fran Healy, vocals, guitar, Travis, (1999 U.K. No. 1 album 'The Man Who,' 1999 U.K. No. 10 single 'Why Does It Always Rain On Me,' plus over 10 other U.K. Top 40 singles).
* 1980 -- Michelle Williams, Destiny's Child, (2000 U.S. No. 1 single 'Say My Name,' 2001 U.S. & U.K. No. 1 single and album 'Survivor').
ON THIS DATE IN 1955 … Slim Whitman was at No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart with 'Rose Marie.' The single stayed at the top of the charts for eleven weeks. Whitman held the record for the most consecutive weeks at No. 1 (11 weeks), until 1991.
Have a good one
Pappy
7-23-10
Desperado --- The Eagles ---- so, what was the song written about? Beats me --- and SongMeanings, as the following really does not go into detail as to what the song means. Anyway, here’s a tidbit on one great song, as members of the Eagles explain it …..
Don Henley began writing parts of this in the late '60s, but it wasn't arranged into a song until his songwriting teammate Glenn Frey came along. It was the first of many songs Henley and Frey wrote together.
Henley explained in the liner notes for The Very Best of the Eagles: "Glenn came over to write one day, and I showed him this unfinished tune that I had been holding for so many years. I said, 'When I play it and sing it, I think of Ray Charles — Ray Charles and Stephen Foster. It's really a Southern gothic thing, but we can easily make it more Western.' Glenn leapt right on it — filled in the blanks and brought structure. And that was the beginning of our songwriting partnership - that's when we became a team."
The album had an Old West theme. It was inspired by The Dalton Gang, a notorious group of outlaws.
Bon Jovi drew similar parallels between the life of a cowboy and that of a Rock Star on their 1986 song "Wanted Dead Or Alive."
This has the feel of the American Old West, but it was recorded in London. the Eagles went there to work on the album with British producer Glyn Johns.
Guitarist Randy Meisner claims he came up with the guitar intro, but was not given songwriter credit. This means he does not get royalties from it.
This was featured in an episode of Seinfeld where Elaine goes out with a guy who won't let her speak when it is playing.
This is a Classic Rock staple, but it was never released as a single.
This has been covered by Linda Ronstadt, Kenny Rogers, The Carpenters, Bonnie Raitt and Ringo Starr, among others. The Eagles started at Ronstadt's backup band.
The Eagles included this on their album Greatest Hits 1971-1975, which, mostly because of catalog sales, is the best selling album of all time. This song is a big reason for its success. Since it was never released as a single, it provided a lesser-known track that fit in very well. The Eagles' "Outlaw Man," which was released as a single, was left off the Greatest Hits album.
In 2004, Linda Ronstadt caused a stir when she dedicated this to film maker Michael Moore during a performance at the Aladdin Casino in Las Vegas. Moore had a movie out called Fahrenheit 9/11, which made U.S. President George Bush look very bad. Ronstadt said Moore "Loves his country deeply, and he's trying to get the truth out." This didn't go over well with the casino's president, who made her leave immediately. It's unclear what happened when Ronstadt performed the song, but stories circulated that patrons got upset and booed the singer. She had been dedicating the song to Moore throughout her tour without incident.
Here are two comments by readers and what they think the song is about:
I think Desperado is a song about a horse.
- Madonna , Washington, DC
My dad says this song reminds him of my brother .. who was a somewhat .. ahem .. problem child.
- nady , adelaide, Australia
Interesting …..
ON THIS DATE IN 1958 … Fans of rock & roll music were warned that tuning into music on the car radio could cost you more money. Researchers from the Esso gas company said the rhythm of rock & roll could cause the driver to be foot heavy on the pedal, making them waste fuel.
Have a good one
Pappy
7-27-10
According to Music Trivia (and the general consensus that mothers do know best) I like the following:
Things My Mother Taught Me:
1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOBWELLDONE.
"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."
2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."
3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"
4. My mother taught me LOGIC.
"Because I said so, that's why."
5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.
"If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."
6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."
7. My mother taught me IRONY.
"Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."
8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
"Shut your mouth and eat your supper."
9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
"Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"
10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
"You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."
11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
"This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."
12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
"If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"
13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."
14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
"Stop acting like your father!"
15. My mother taught me about ENVY.
"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."
16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
"Just wait until we get home"
17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING.
"You are going to get it when you get home!"
18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."
19. My mother taught me ESP.
"Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"
20. My mother taught me HUMOR.
"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."
21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.
"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."
22. My mother taught me GENETICS.
"You're just like your father."
23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.
"Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"
24. My mother taught me WISDOM.
"When you get to be my age, you'll understand."
25. And my favorite: - My mother taught me about JUSTICE.
"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!"
ON THIS DATE IN 1967 … This week's U.K. Top 5 singles: No. 5, 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale,’ Procol Harum; No. 4, 'She'd Rather Be With Me,' The Turtles; No. 3, 'It Must Be Him,' Vikki Car'; No. 2, 'Alternate Title,' The Monkees; and No. 1, 'All You Need Is Love,' The Beatles.
Have a good one
Pappy
7-22-10
Talk about a mess …. Of course, there is never an easy solution to a problem this day and age.
As the BP Gulf oil spill continues to drag on and on and tempers remain at a high level, there are those, including myself that would like nothing more than to see the company belly up, pay the piper and be put out of business for such dangerous practices. Then, reality sets in and one realizes that thousands of people in both the USA and England have their pensions dangling in the balance.
So, I guess the story is this: major corporations are so embedded in societies throughout the world that a crisis like the Gulf spill can’t be resolved without major repercussions and havoc being wreaked on the working class.
Yes, BP should be punished, fined to the hilt and put out of business, not only for the oil spill but for their part in the release of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, a terrorist who was serving a life sentence for his role in blowing up Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988 and killing hundreds of Americans. He was recently released after a doctor deemed his life practically over due to cancer, only to find out that is not the case and he is expected to live several years. BP allegedly played a role in his release for oil rights in Libya.
Anyway, if BP is made to pay the piper and belly up in order to do so, what about those who will lose their pensions?
Should they, the working folks, pay for the sins of BP?
No way can that happen. So …. That is the current state of affairs in the new millennium.
Not only do thousands depend on BP cash for retirements in Great Britain but here in America as well. Oh what a tangled web we weave ….. so the saying goes.
So, the president once again has to walk a tightrope in an effort not to ruffle too many feathers with our global counterpart and long time ally, Great Britain. If Obama raises too much cain with our English brethrens, pensions could fly out the window --- just like the pensions that were stolen when Wall Street decided their coffers were huge and it was time to deplete it.
Why in this day and age would anyone want to be president? Beats me.
ON THIS DATE IN 2005 … U.K. singer Long John Baldry died of a chest infection. He was one of the founding fathers of British Rock 'n' Roll in the 1960s performing with Blues Incorporated and Cyril Davies' R&B All Stars. He later fronted the Hoochie Coochie Men, with Rod Stewart and then Steam Packet with Brian Auger and Julie Driscoll. H He was also a member of Bluesology with Elton John. He narrated on Winnie The Pooh recordings for Disney and was the voice for Robotnik on the Sonic The Hedgehog computer game.
Peace
Pappy
7-21-10
McDoogie’s --- a namesake in the restaurant business.
According to Useless Information, did you know that:
* McDonald's sell more than 1/3 of all the French fries sold in restaurants in the U.S. each year.
* Nearly one in eight workers in the U.S. has at some time been employed by McDonald's.
* McDonald's restaurants will buy 54,000,000 pounds of fresh apples this year. Two years ago, McDonald's purchased 0 pounds of apples. This is attributed to the shift to more healthy menu options.
* In India the "Big Mac" is changed into the "Maharaja Mac," a mutton burger in deference to religious injunctions against the consumption of beef and pork.
* Sälen in Sweden opened the first SKI-THROUGH McDonald's in the world.
* More than 50,000 students from all over the world have graduated with "Bachelor of Hamburgerology" degrees from McDonald's "HamburgerUniversity.”
* McDonald's three kosher restaurants in Israel are the only McDonald's in the world where you cannot buy a cheeseburger.
* Sarah Michelle Gellar was sued by McDonalds at the age of four. She appeared in a Burger King advert where she said, “Do I look 20 per cent smaller to you? I must have at McDonalds because their hamburgers are 20 per cent smaller than Burger King’s.” It was the first time a company used another company’s name in an advert so McDonald’s sued Burger King, the advertising agency, and Sarah herself.
* Since its founding in 1955, McDonald's has sold well over 100 billion hamburgers.
* The northernmost McDonald's restaurant is located on the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi, Finland, while the southernmost franchise is located in Invercargill, New Zealand. Also, the world's easternmost McDonald's is located in New Zealand, in the city of Gisborne; the westernmost restaurant is in Western Samoa, as they are the closest to either side of the International date line.
So … there it is …. All the info one needs to know about the fast food business that turned the world on its ear in the quest for that one great ‘burger.
ON THIS DATE IN 1968 … Iron Butterfly’s second album, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, entered the U.S. album chart for the first time. The album contained the 17-minute title track that filled the second side of the LP which went on sell over four million copies in the U.S. alone.
Peace
Pappy
7-20-10
Hindsight is 20/20 and with that being said, I wonder what mood the nation would currently be in had the Democrats followed the path that Republicans are presently on ---- voting against every single bill the Democrats put up for a vote. If I’m not mistaken, the only bill that got total cooperation from the Republicans was replacing General McChrystal.
Let’s roll back the hands of time to 2001 and the lies that led us into the Iraq War while attention should have been focused on Afghanistan. What if the Democrats would have followed in the footsteps of Representative Dennis Kucinich of Ohio and not voted to send troops to both countries, simply doing what the Republicans continue to do and block absolutely every bill they face?
First off, there would be about 6,000 more troops alive and secondly, the nation’s coffers would not be depleted as both wars have cost America billions, if not trillions. The jury is still out on the Iraq War as we will see how that nation, which still hasn’t put in place a responsible government, will end up once the Yanks have gone home and Afghanistan? Good luck on that one.
I was listening in earnest the other day as a broadcast was telling of the Taliban recruiting system where they get young, uneducated men (no women allowed) to join. These uneducated, poor young fellows actually believe that 60 percent of all American women are “women of the night.” No wonder they fear Christians and will fight against them.
The Democrats are weak when it comes to stepping up to the plate and keeping the opposing party in check when they are in charge.
I realized way back in 2002 or 2004, not quite sure which and way too lazy to Google it, when Senator Saxby Chambliss defeated Max Cleland of Georgia for the seat held by Cleland --- a man who left both legs and an arm in Vietnam while Chambliss chose not to serve. Chambliss called Cleland unpatriotic for voting against additional funding for the Iraq War, basically calling him a traitor for not voting to open up the treasure chest for the Bush Administration. Sad part is, the good people of Georgia voted Cleland out.
Amazing. I like using that word as it surely describes the paranoid state of the union we now live in. Chambliss had a “knee injury” that garnered six deferments from serving in Vietnam. Chambliss took Cleland’s seat by running by running an ad where Osama Bin Laden’s mug filtered into Cleland's face. Even old John McCain was freaked on this one saying, "I've never seen anything like that ad. Putting pictures of Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden next to a picture of a man who left three limbs on the battlefield -- it's worse than disgraceful, it's reprehensible." (Washington Post, 7/3/2003). It’s a shame that an old vet like McCain didn’t stick with his guns because at one point in time, he was a true hero. But now, although I will always admire him for the 5 ½ years he spent in “Hanoi Hilton” suffering from the hands of the North Vietnamese, he has slid into that political arena where the only thing that matters is getting re-elected.
Here’s the lowdown on how Chambliss regards veterans, according to the same Washington Post story:
* Voted against the new GI Bill for Veterans of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
* Voted against Veterans Programs at least 23 times since joining the Senate.
* Voted against additional funding to research traumatic brain injury -- thee "Signature Wound" of the Iraq War.
* Opposed the Webb Amendment guaranteeing troops time at home between deployments.
* Repeatedly voted against additional funding to give the men & women in uniform the armor and equipment they need.
And this man calls himself a patriot! And he still serves in the United States Senate, which is even more amazing.
America better wake up --- and do it quickly.
Gotta go, as the BP oil calamity in the Gulf continues and I need to know more about their “oil for releasing Abdelbaset al-Megrahi,” the terrorist who was convicted for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 which exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 270 people, of which 189 were Americans. He was released from prison last year and returned to Libya after doctors diagnosed him as only having three months to live, but his old ticker continues to tick and he is expected to live several more years.
There is nothing like great news to keep the universe in a happy mood.
ON THIS DATE IN 1965 … This week’s U.S. Top three singles, No. 3 The Byrds, 'Mr. Tambourine Man,' No. 2 The Four Tops, 'I Can't Help Myself' and at No. 1 The Rolling Stones with (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction.
Have a good one
Pappy
7-15 and 16-10
So, I guess it is going to be difficult from now on while eating cucumbers on a salad. I watched Dateline in amazement Sunday night as a migrant family worked the fields in Minnesota and Michigan. The documentary confirmed my belief why passing immigration reform is a difficult task to do.
Yes, yes, yes …. There it was, a family including children under the age of 12, picking blackberries in Michigan and cucumbers in Minnesota in an effort to have the transient family make enough money to squeak out a living. While other kids are enjoying the summer vacation, here is a group of migrants out in the field with their children picking berries. The owner of the blueberry farm said no child labor law is being broken because in order for that to happen, there must be an employee and an employer and since the owner had only hired the father to do the work, his children are not counted as “workers.” The family is paid by the bushel and the only way to make any cash is to have the whole “fam damily” out in the fields picking their fingers to the bone. So what if the children are as small as six years old.
Huh?
See why no politician wants to tackle the immigration problem? I about choked when one scene shows this poor guy out in the cucumber fields with on leg – yes – one leg and a crutch under his one arm as he’s hobbling along picking those cucumbers like there was no tomorrow. One leg and a crutch!
Bottom line ----- huge farms who hire the migrants are either/or: either they are greedy folks who put excessive profits over child labor or they are just trying to make a profit and can’t afford to hire workers at a decent wage without the price of foods skyrocketing.
I choose to believe the former, especially after hearing the one owner say the child was not an employee, his father was. Excuse me, but who were the children out in the fields? Just jibber-jabber from an owner.
So, if these employers would hire American workers, they would have to pay a decent wage and that is not going to happen. So much for immigration reform – once again.
As far as Americans demanding a decent wage and dispelling the myth that Americans won’t do the work, what worker can make even minimum wage and pay $400-600 per month rent? What worker can make minimum wage and make a car payment on a decent vehicle? Wages have been stale for several years now and can’t stay afloat with the cost of living and the business folks can’t pay a decent wage and so on and so on while the migrant workers have their 6-year-olds picking cucumbers and blackberries.
Wasn’t it Mitt Romney during the big debates prior to the 2008 election that said he didn’t remember if he had any illegal aliens cleaning his mansions, all the while knowing that was happening? Better to tell a lie when trying to get elected, I guess. And we think immigration reform is on the table. Right.
So much for that.
Cucumbers and blackberries will never taste the same after seeing how a 6-year-old kid spends the summer vacation.
ON THIS DATE IN 1954 … Sun Records released the first Elvis Presley single 'That's All Right / Blue Moon Of Kentucky' which made the local Memphis chart.
Peace
Pappy 7-19-10
You know, it is very irritating being constantly bombarded with --- “where are all the jobs?”
Uh …. Excuse me, but where do you think all the jobs are? Where has this nation been for the past 30 years as job after job continued to be shipped overseas? Has somebody been sleeping at the wheel? The global community, remember?
More than 15 million jobs have been outsourced and people are now questioning where the jobs are and why Obama hasn’t waved his magic wand and created the 15 million that all of our leaders made evaporate over the years.
Outsourcing America’s livelihood is the only bipartisan effort both parties have managed to put together.
Turn on the news and there it is ---- where are all the jobs?
Amazing, absolutely amazing.
Force companies like Nike Inc. to come on back home and pay a decent wage for an American worker opposed to the pennies they pay for wages overseas – or charge a price like $800 for a pair of sneakers and see how far that goes.
According to a story by the Associated Press a few yeas back, this is what it had to say: “After years of criticism over its labor practices abroad, Nike Inc. is disclosing for the first time the names and locations of more than 700 factories that produce its sneakers, apparel and other products.”
Of course, the story did not say where these 700 factories are but wouldn’t it be nice if Nike would share a little of that “$175 for a pair of sneakers profit” with Americans and let us make their sneakers? Of course, all the athletes would not be getting their millions for attaching their names to it but what the heck, they make a good paycheck and would probably survive without a Nike endorsement. You think? Maybe?
I remember several years ago when I first began to hear about America becoming a “service economy” and wondered, “What the heck is a service economy?”
Well …. It’s a … it is a … uh … a … an economy that makes nothing, only services what is already here.
America once was the innovative nation of the globe, mass producing everything from automobiles to dish washers and a middle class was built.
No more. Gone with the wind. A flash from the past.
Anyway, Obama needs to wave his magic wand that everyone thinks he possesses and create 15 million jobs. Come on Obama, get with it. Creating 15 million jobs shouldn’t take that long, should it?
Go figure.
ON THIS DATE IN 1962 … The Beatles played their first ever gig in Wales when they appeared at The Regent Dansette in Rhyl. Tickets cost five shillings, ($0.70).
See ya
Pappy
1-14-10
On this Day in:
* 1963 -- The Rolling Stones played their first ever gig outside London when they appeared at The Alcove Club, Middlesbrough, Yorkshire supporting The Hollies.
* 1964 -- The Animals went to No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart with 'The House Of The Rising Sun.' Recorded in one take, this was the first U.K. No. 1 to have a playing time of more than four minutes.
* 1965-- Paul McCartney was presented with five Ivor Novello Awards at a lunch party at The Savoy, London. John Lennon refused to attend; Paul was 40 minutes late after he had forgotten about the engagement.
* 1968 -- Black Sabbath played their first gig at a small backstreet Blues club in Birmingham, England.
* 1969 -- Over 100 US radio stations banned The Beatles new single 'The Balled Of John and Yoko' due to the line 'Christ, you know it ain't easy,' calling it offensive.
* 1972 -- During a North American tour The Rolling Stones played the first of two nights at the Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan.
* 1974 -- Elton John started a two-week run at No. 1 on the U.K. album chart with 'Caribou,' his third No. 1 album, also No. 1 in the U.S.
* 1974 -- George McCrae started a two week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with 'Rock Your Baby,' his only U.S. No. 1, also No. 1 in the U.K. Regarded by some as the first Disco No. 1. It was a New York City club hit first.
* 1974 -- Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band played the first of a three night, six show residency at the newly-opened Bottom Line in New York City. The shows received rave reviews and created a buzz in the music industry.
* 1976 -- The first issue of U.K. punk fanzine Sniffin' Glue was published, with features on The Stranglers, Ramones and Blue Oyster Cult. Former bank clerk Mark Perry edited the fanzine.
* 1978 -- The BBC announced a ban on The Sex Pistols' latest single ‘No One Is Innocent,’ which featured vocals by Ronnie Biggs, the British criminal notorious for his part in the Great Train Robbery of 1963. At the time of the recording, Biggs was living in Brazil, and was still wanted by the British authorities, but immune from extradition.
* 1985 -- At 12.01 Status Quo started the 'Live Aid' extravaganza, held between Wembley Stadium, London and The JFK Stadium, Philadelphia. The cream of the world's biggest rock stars took part in the worldwide event, raising over £40million. TV pictures beamed to over 1.5bn people in 160 countries made it the biggest live broadcast ever known. Artists who appeared included Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, The Who, U2, David Bowie and Mick Jagger, Queen, Tina Turner, The Cars, Neil Young, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Bryan Adams, Hall and Oates, Lionel Richie and Led Zeppelin.
Have a good one
Pappy
7-13-10
Ok Ok Ok …. So … In case you haven’t heard about the LeBron James saga …. Only joking as the entire world has heard about his decision to punt the Cleveland Cavaliers and head to the Miami Heat, or SouthBeach, as James so eloquently put it in his announcement.
I have decided that there are two sides to the James ordeal.
Side one: James is something like 25 years old, really just a young man, and what 25-year-old who is worth a gazillion bucks would not want to go to the most partying place on the planet? SouthBeach ---- wild nights, good times and plenty of sunshine to soak up. Why wouldn’t James choose Miami over Cleveland? I mean, really, Cleveland? I have been to Cleveland a few times in my younger days and it is Ok for a big city, but, compared to SouthBeach?
Yes, Cleveland does have the rock ‘n roll Hall of Fame but I can’t imagine James spending a lot of time at the rock ‘n roll Hall of Fame --- day after day after day. Maybe there is more to do in the good city of Cleveland and I am sure there is --- but not compared to SouthBeach. James was a big draw and was a plus for the good city of Cleveland financially. He was from Akron, a short distance from Cleveland and was the hometown hero for years. WAS the hometown hero --- but no more.
On the other hand, James was riding high, the top dog set to take over the NBA and follow in the footsteps of Bird, Magic, Jordan and Kobe, a player who would get the cheers from even opposing teams when hitting the court on road games. Now, I have the feeling that James is in for a shock when he hits opposing courts next season, especially the six teams he passed over in his choice to go to South Beach --- I mean Miami. I don’t care what anyone says, no one likes to be booed and I am also sure that athletes are accustomed to the jeers, but …. James went from hero to zero. Even the sports announcers are beating him up for his choice.
The move was all about getting that coveted championship ring at whatever cost.
As for me, had I been James, I would have stayed in Cleveland and eventually, he would have won a ring there. The Cavs came close the past two years, but, I’m sure as any young man such as James would think --- I WANT THAT RING AND I WANT IT NOW.
Well, he should get his chance with the players that make up the Heat --- Wade and Bosh, or whatever his name is. I’m too lazy to boot up and look, but my point is, would you rather earn a championship ring as the TOP DOG who carried your team to a championship or win one with the help of three other great players?
In my opinion, James has lost the magic and respect that earned him the title to be the next huge name in the NBA.
James better hope the Heat can win all the marbles as every NBA team will be bringing their “A” game when facing the Heat.
Time will tell if James made the right decision.
I’m sure he’s not real concerned for the simple fact that he is, well, he’s a … he’s a multi-gazillionaire and 25 and now residing in SouthBeach, the party capital of the south. How could life get any better than that?
As for me, I have no dog in the fight. I watched in amazement as fans from Cleveland burned his jersey. Tears were flowing from the folks in other cities that felt the letdown of not getting James to wear their jersey. Tears? Spare me.
Anyway, I wish James the best in his NBA future as he is one premier basketball player.
ON THIS DATE IN 1969 … One hit wonders Zager and Evans started a six week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with 'In The Year 2525, (Exordium And Terminus),' also No. 1 in the U.K.
Have a good one
Pappy
7-12-10
And so …. The good news today is that there are 27,000 oil wells considered dormant in the Gulf. Sure is news to me, as I never gave it a second thought as to how many wells the Gulf is home to. That, along with the fact that there are currently about 4,000 wells pumping black gold out of Mother Earth in the Gulf, is disturbing, to say the least.
According to Associated Press writers Jeff Donn and Mitch Weiss: “Of 50,000 wells drilled over the past six decades in the Gulf, 23,500 have been permanently abandoned. Another 3,500 are classified by federal regulators as "temporarily abandoned," but some have been left that way since the 1950s, without the full safeguards of permanent abandonment. Petroleum engineers say that even in properly sealed wells, the cement plugs can fail over the decades and the metal casing that lines the wells can rust. Even depleted production wells can re-pressurize over time and spill oil if their sealings fail.”
Fifty thousand wells? If that isn’t music to your ears, nothing is. I guess the good part of that news is the fact that none of these have been reported as leaking --- yet. The surprising part of this information is with thousands of these dormant wells, none have yet to show signs of leakage.
Actually, I am flabbergasted at this news. I learned a few weeks ago that there are about 4,000 active wells pumping oil out of the Gulf, a fact that was shocking to say the least. I had no idea there were so many wells in that region. I have asked several people in the past few weeks to guess how many wells are operating in the Gulf and most answer by guessing between 40 and 200 --- nowhere close to 4,000, let alone the thousands plugged up and waiting for a disaster to happen.
Temporarily abandoned simply means that the oil companies have shut them down with a temporary seal, holding off on production for numerous reasons including a temporary shutdown until oil prices skyrocket again. Now that, my friends, is comforting news.
I can’t get past the fact that there have been 50,000 wells drilled in the Gulf. Amazing, to say the least.
Meanwhile, I plan to lie back and simply cross my fingers, hoping that another well does not belly up. Hey, it hasn’t happened yet, so I feel pretty good about it. Remember, just cross your fingers and hope, hope, hope, that the oil companies have a grip on the situation and are on top of it should another well explode.
Good luck with that one.
ON THIS DATE IN 1954 … Producer Sam Phillips took an acetate recording of Elvis Presley singing 'That's All Right' to Memphis radio station WHBQ DJ Dewey Phillips. He played the song just after 9:30 that evening, the phone lines lit up asking the DJ to play the song again.
Long live the King.
Peace
Pappy
7-8-10
WWJD …. If I’m not mistaken, this acronym was very popular a few years back … What Would Jesus Do ….
Well, well, well … in this day and age, I wonder WWJD if he witnessed the recent legislation passed in Louisiana as Gov. Bobby Jindal just signed into law a controversial bill from the recent legislative session allowing guns to be carried into houses of worship. The bill, spearheaded by State Representative Henry Burns [R-Haughton], allows persons who are qualified to carry concealed weapons to churches, mosques, synagogues or other houses of worship as part of a security force …. Of course, after having passed the training and background checks to carry them.
Amazing, to say the least.
I visualize a Muslim walking down the street in New Orleans on his way to the Mosque packing a semi-automatic slung over the shoulder. I am quite sure that not an eyebrow would be raised seeing such a sight. Passers-byers I am sure, would simply smile and say something like, “Gee, isn’t it great to see that nice person going to his service packing a semi. Sure hope that weapon is concealed before entering the service.”
I envision a nice Jewish person strolling down the avenue carrying an Uzzi on the way to the local synagogue and being stopped by law enforecment. I can hear it now as the officer says, “Howdy pardner, it’s nice to see you are on your way to services today. Obey the law though and be sure to conceal that weapon when you enter for prayer.”
My crystal ball even played a scene of a good Christian family on the way to Sunday school with the kids in tow and the entire family packing .45s, concealed, of course, anxioulsy awaiting a good sermon on the many ways to love your brother. Conceal those weapons, kiddies.
Kudos to these fine Louisianians and their never-ending quest to allow the paranoid schizos to arm themselves in the houses of the holy.
What’s next? Surgeons packing heat when delivering a baby, just in case some looney bursts into the delivery room to ruin someone’s day?
How about going back to the wild west days when everyone packed their shooters while sloshing down a quart of ignorant oil at the local tavern? To heck with concealment, strap on those firearms and be done with it.
Why not? We all know how mellow some people are when they drink too much alcohol. Ever wonder why weapons are not allowed in bars?
Gotta go, as the Friday evening prayer gathering begins soon and I must get home and strap on the old .38 Smith & Wesson. Nothing makes me feel safer in the church envireonment than a good prayer meeting with everyone packing heat.
Makes me wonder WWJD.
ON THIS DATE IN 1967 … On a U.S. tour supporting The Monkees, The Jimi Hendrix Experience appear at the Convention Hall, Miami, Florida. After it becomes plainly apparent that the group is not suited to teenybopper audiences, the tour’s promoter Dick Clark and Hendrix’s manager Chas Chandler concoct a story saying that the conservative Daughters of the American Revolution group had complained at Jimi’s act and so the Experience left the tour after just six shows.
Peace
Pappy
7-9-10
“Back in the USSR” …. The Beatles, of course. A great song often misunderstood --- until today …..
According to Songmeanings.com:
Mike Love from the Beach Boys was sitting in a hotel lobby when Paul McCartney came down for breakfast. The two of them chatted for awhile, and Love suggested that The Beatles incorporate a little bit of a Beach Boy sound in a song, "Like we did in California Girls." McCartney was impressed with the idea and used some Beach Boys' elements in this song: Instead of "California Girls" it was "Moscow Girls." Plus, the definitive Beach Boy "Oooeeeeoooo" in the background harmonies.
Paul stated in 1968, "In my mind it's just about a (Russian) spy who's been in America for a long time and he's become very American but when he gets back to the USSR he's saying, 'Leave it 'til tomorrow to unpack my case, Honey, disconnect the phone.' and all that, but to Russian women."
Things were tense when they were working on this album, and Ringo walked out during recording, briefly quitting the band. Paul McCartney played drums in his place.
The Beatles originally wrote this for wafer-thin actress and model Twiggy.
The line "Georgia's always on my mind" in a play on the Ray Charles song "Georgia On My Mind." It has a double meaning, since Georgia was part of the U.S.S.R.
This song caused a controversy with conservative America, because it came out during Vietnam and the Cold War and it appeared to be celebrating the enemy.
This opens with the sound of an airplane flying from left to right across the speakers. Stereo was relatively new, so this was very innovative for the time.
On August 22, 1968, following an argument with McCartney over the drum part for this song, Ringo walked out on The Beatles. He flew to Sardinia for a holiday to consider his future. While there he received a telegram from his bandmates saying, 'You're the best rock 'n' roll drummer in the world. Come on home, we love you.' On his return, he found his drum kit covered with flowers. A banner above read, 'Welcome Back.'
Paul McCartney told Mojo magazine October 2008 that the song's middle-eight was a spoof of the Beach Boys leading up to Pet Sounds. He added: "The rest is (sings first bars of the melody line of the opening verse) more Jerry Lee (Lewis). And the title is Chuck Berry, Back In The U.S.A., and the song itself is more a take on Chuck. You'd get these soldiers back from Korea or Vietnam, wherever the hell, and Chuck was picking up on that. I thought it was a funny idea to spoof that with the most unlikely thing of way back in Siberia."
There was a rumor in the Soviet Union that The Beatles had secretly visited the U.S.S.R. and given a private concert for the children of top Communist party members. They believed the song was written because of the concert. Actually, some fans still believe so.
Paul McCartney used this as the title to an album he released only in Russia in 1989. In 2002, McCartney called his US tour the "Back In The US" tour.
So … there it is folks, the true meaning behind “Back in The USSR.”
ON THIS DATE IN 1980 … Led Zeppelin played their last-ever concert when they appeared in West Berlin at the end of a European tour. The set included ‘Black Dog,’ ‘Rock and Roll,’ ‘Kashmir,’ Trampled Underfoot’ and ‘Stairway To Heaven.’ They finished the show with ‘Whole Lotta Love.’
Have a good one
Pappy
7-7-10
July 6th: On this Day:
* 1957 -- John Lennon and Paul McCartney met for the first time at The Woolton Church Parish Fete where The Quarry Men were appearing. As The Quarry Men were setting up for their evening performance, McCartney eager to impress Lennon picked up a guitar and played ‘Twenty Flight Rock’ (Eddie Cochran) and ‘Be-Bop-A-Lula’ (Gene Vincent). Lennon was impressed, and even more so when McCartney showed Lennon and Eric Griffiths how to tune their guitars, something they'd been paying someone else to do for them.
* 1961 -- The Liverpool 'Mersey Beat' newspaper was founded.
* 1963 -- Essex started a two-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. chart with 'Easier Said Than Done,’ a No. 41 hit in the U.K.
* 1963 -- James Brown went to No. 2 on the U.S. album chart with 'Live At The Apollo.' The album spent a total of 33 weeks on the chart.
* 1964 -- The Beatles film 'A Hard Days Night' premiered at The Pavilion in London.
* 1968 -- The Rolling Stones scored their fifth U.S. No. 1 single when 'Jumpin Jack Flash' hit the top of the charts.
* 1968 -- Woburn Music Festival, Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire took place. A two-day affair featuring Donovan, Fleetwood Mac, Pentangle, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Alexis Korner, Family and Tyrannosaurus Rex, two-day tickets were priced at £2.
* 1971 -- American jazz trumpeter, singer and bandleader, Louis Armstrong died. Had many hits including the 1964 U.S. No. 1 'Hello Dolly,' 1968 U.K. No. 1 'What A Wonderful World’ plus ‘When The Saints Go Marching In,’ ‘Ain't Misbehavin’ and ‘We Have All the Time in the World.’ He made frequent use of laxatives as a means of controlling his weight, resulting in Armstrong appearing in humorous, advertisements for laxative product Swiss Kriss; the ads bore a picture of him sitting on a toilet, as viewed through a keyhole, with the slogan "Satch says, 'Leave it all behind ya!"
* 1973 -- Queen released their debut single ‘Keep Yourself Alive’ in the U.K.
* 1974 -- The Faces, Mott The Hoople, Humble Pie, Greenslade, Lindisfarne, Man, Trapeze, and Chapman and Whitney all appeared at Buxton Pop Festival, Derbyshire, England.
* 1974 -- The Hues Corporation went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with 'Rock The Boat,' it made No. 6 in the U.K.
* 1975 -- Rolling Stone Keith Richards was arrested by the highway patrol in Arkansas on charges of reckless driving and possessing an offensive weapon, a seven-inch hunting knife.
There it is folks, the important musical issues that took place on this date, July 6.
Have a good one --- and stay cool …..
Pappy
7-6-10
I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together" …. I Am the Walrus ….
According to SongMeanings.com:
John Lennon wrote this song. As stated in the DVD Composing the Beatles Songbook, John was throwing together nonsense lyrics to mess with the heads of scholars trying to dissect The Beatles songs. They also mention that it's John's answer to Bob Dylan's "getting away with murder" style of songwriting. Lennon told Playboy years later that "I can write that crap too," which is rarely mentioned in relation to this song.
The voices at the end are from a BBC broadcast of the Shakespeare play King Lear.
The idea for the Walrus came from the poem The Walrus and The Carpenter, which is from the sequel to Alice in Wonderland called Through the Looking-Glass. In his 1980 Playboy interview, Lennon said: "It never dawned on me that Lewis Carroll was commenting on the capitalist and social system. I never went into that bit about what he really meant, like people are doing with the Beatles' work. Later, I went back and looked at it and realized that the walrus was the bad guy in the story and the carpenter was the good guy. I thought, Oh, s--t, I picked the wrong guy. I should have said, 'I am the carpenter.' But that wouldn't have been the same, would it?"
When Lennon decided to write confusing lyrics, he asked his friend Pete Shotton for a nursery rhyme they used to sing. Shotton gave them this rhyme, which Lennon incorporated into the song:
"Yellow matter custard, green slop pie, all mixed together with a dead dog's eye.
Slap it on a butty, ten foot thick, then wash it all down with a cup of cold sick."
The song's opening line, "I am he as you are he as you are me and we are all together" is based on the song "Marching To Pretoria," which contains the lyric, "I'm with you and you're with me and we are all together."
The choir at the end sings "Oompah, oompah, stick it in your jumper" and "Everybody's got one, everybody's got one."
This song helped fuel the rumor that Paul McCartney was dead. It's quite a stretch, but theorists found these clues in the lyrics, none of which are substantiated:
"Waiting for the van to come" means the 3 remaining Beatles are waiting for a police van to come. "Pretty little policemen in a row" means policemen did show up.
"Goo goo ga joob" were the final words that Humpty Dumpty said before he fell off the wall and died.
During the fade, while the choir sings, a voice says "Bury Me" which is what Paul might have said after he died.
During the fade, we hear someone reciting the death scene from Shakespeare's play "King Lear."
The BBC banned this for the lines "pornographic priestess" and "let your knickers down."
This was released as the B-side to "Hello Goodbye," which Paul McCartney wrote. This angered Lennon because he felt this was much better.
In The Beatles song "Glass Onion," Lennon sang, "The Walrus was Paul." He got a kick out of how people tried to interpret his lyrics and figure out who the Walrus was.
ON THIS DATE IN 1963 … The Beatles recorded their next single at EMI Studios, London, ‘She Loves You’ and ‘I'll Get You,’ completing the two songs in less than four hours. Released in August this year, ‘She Loves You’ went on to become The Beatles' first million-selling single.
Have a good one
Pappy
7-1-10
There’s gold in them thar hills!”
The recent discovery by U.S. military officials and geologists conclude that mineral deposits in Afghanistan are worth nearly $1 trillion, including vast supplies of minerals such as iron, copper and gold, all with worldwide technologicalapplications, are scattered over the country, according to the Defense Department.
When The Bush Administration decided to send our troops to Afghanistan, rumors floated around that it was due to a natural gas supply that would choke a horse, so I am guessing that they probably knew of these resources as well, since, after all, the nation did nothing serious about the Afghanistan situation until recently, focuing its attention on Iraq instead.
Hmmm ….
The question that continues to nag at my brain as the days go by and as the death toll continues to rise in Afghanistan as American troops, along with a small contingent of allies, tread on in the quest to bring a stable government to a nation that is so corrupt that our politicians even admit it. Do we continue shedding blood for freedom in a land that is so different than our democracy? Not to mention all the civilian deaths that continue to rack up as the nation continues head first into its longest war.
I know, I know, say something against the war and you are automatically labeled unpatriotic, a nonsensical notion that lags on after the invasion of Iraq ---- support the troops. What American in their right mind would not support the troops? Common sense tells us that this war is a no-win situation as opposed to the Iraq War, where at least they did have a standing military structure that could be converted into a peace-keeping force. Time will tell how that all turns out.
The war in Afghanistan can never be won the way we are going about it. This poor nation thrives on the opium trade and is one of the most corrupt governments on the planet. The Taliban are a brutal lot who will chop a child’s head off for cooperating with the Yanks. That can’t be stopped the way we are currently conducting the war.
Yesterday, I listened in amazement as the news folks talked about the $2.5 billion in American aid that has been spent at the beaches in Dubai and the good Lord only knows where else, as opposed to where the cash was earmarked for. I want to now why our taxes are being spent on the corrupt Afghan officials as they lounge around the luxury pools, sipping exotic drinks --- on our money while American and ally troops are dying. In my opinion, the only way to win this war is to go in full tilt boogie and simply take over the nation, lock, stock and barrel. Are we committed to do such an invasion in a Muslim nation?
The former Soviet Union collapsed after a decade trying to take over that nation of thugs.
Hmmm ….
The Clash said it best: “Should I stay or should I go.”
I’d say go, beat it, get out of Dodge, before what little is left of our economy money-wise ends up in some high class night club in Dubai.
ON THIS DATE IN 1961 … Del Shannon was at No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart with 'Runaway,' his only U.K. No.1 and the first of 14 U.K. Top 40 hits.
Have a good one
Pappy
6-29-10
“Gloom, despair, agony on me” …. Read it and … and … weep? Rather lengthy but very informative ….
Paul Krugman is an American economist, columnist and author. He is Professor of Economics and International Affairs at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, Centenary Professor at the London School of Economics, and an op-ed columnist for The New York Times. In 2008, Krugman won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics for his contributions to New Trade Theory and New Economic Geography. He was voted sixth in a 2005 global poll of the world's top 100 intellectuals by Prospect.
In my opinion, Krugman should be in charge of the mess on Wall Street as he seems to be the only economist that dares to tell it like it is.
Here is a condensed version of what Krugman wrote in the New York Times on June 27:
“Recessions are common; depressions are rare. As far as I can tell, there were only two eras in economic history that were widely described as ‘depressions’ at the time: the years of deflation and instability that followed the Panic of 1873 and the years of mass unemployment that followed the financial crisis of 1929-31.
Neither the Long Depression of the 19th century nor the Great Depression of the 20th was an era of nonstop decline — on the contrary, both included periods when the economy grew. But these episodes of improvement were never enough to undo the damage from the initial slump, and were followed by relapses.
We are now, I fear, in the early stages of a third depression. It will probably look more like the Long Depression than the much more severe Great Depression. But the cost — to the world economy and, above all, to the millions of lives blighted by the absence of jobs — will nonetheless be immense.
And this third depression will be primarily a failure of policy. Around the world — most recently at last weekend’s deeply discouraging G-20 meeting — governments are obsessing about inflation when the real threat is deflation, preaching the need for belt-tightening when the real problem is inadequate spending.
In 2008 and 2009, it seemed as if we might have learned from history. Unlike their predecessors, who raised interest rates in the face of financial crisis, the current leaders of the Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank slashed rates and moved to support credit markets. Unlike governments of the past, which tried to balance budgets in the face of a plunging economy, today’s governments allowed deficits to rise. And better policies helped the world avoid complete collapse: the recession brought on by the financial crisis arguably ended last summer.
In the face of this grim picture, you might have expected policy makers to realize that they haven’t yet done enough to promote recovery. But no: over the last few months there has been a stunning resurgence of hard-money and balanced-budget orthodoxy.
As far as rhetoric is concerned, the revival of the old-time religion is most evident in Europe, where officials seem to be getting their talking points from the collected speeches of Herbert Hoover, up to and including the claim that raising taxes and cutting spending will actually expand the economy, by improving business confidence. As a practical matter, however, America isn’t doing much better. The Fed seems aware of the deflationary risks — but what it proposes to do about these risks is, well, nothing. The Obama administration understands the dangers of premature fiscal austerity — but because Republicans and conservative Democrats in Congress won’t authorize additional aid to state governments, that austerity is coming anyway, in the form of budget cuts at the state and local levels.
It’s almost as if the financial markets understand what policy makers seemingly don’t: that while long-term fiscal responsibility is important, slashing spending in the midst of a depression, which deepens that depression and paves the way for deflation, is actually self-defeating.
So I don’t think this is really about Greece, or indeed about any realistic appreciation of the tradeoffs between deficits and jobs. It is, instead, the victory of an orthodoxy that has little to do with rational analysis, whose main tenet is that imposing suffering on other people is how you show leadership in tough times.
And who will pay the price for this triumph of orthodoxy? The answer is, tens of millions of unemployed workers, many of whom will go jobless for years, and some of whom will never work again.”
End of story.
A picture of gloom as far as America and the global economy goes, right? Yea, that global “thang” keeps rearing its ugly head.
Again, “Gloom, despair, agony on me” …. Sounds like Hee Haw to me …..
ON THIS DATE IN 1975 … Cher married Greg Allman four days after her divorcing Sonny Bono, the couple split after ten days, followed by a three year on and off marriage.
Peace
Pappy
6-30-10
Every now and then, a story appears that is just too good to let pass without a comment or two from old Pappy. A recent story that made headlines was such a story. Here is an excerpt from the story as reported in the Huffington Post: “A man who apparently passed out on a pool float at a Tampa area beach ended up drifting about a mile from Florida's shore in the Gulf of Mexico. The U.S. Coast Guard rescued the man, identified as Jerry Whipple, on Wednesday afternoon. Coast Guard Petty Officer First Class Mariana O'Leary says they suspect the man was very drunk. The Coast Guard says a boater reported seeing an unconscious man floating well offshore. The Coast Guard and a Clearwater Fire Rescue unit responded and found the man, still unconscious and wearing a life jacket.” End of quote.
Give me another beer! Make it a case!
Now that is a story, my friends, that is a story. I can only imagine how this dude felt when he sobered up and rezalized that he made the news.
None of that “I only had two beers” that always pops out of one’s mouth when stopped by law enforcement or none of that “I only had a few” as this man made his way to shore --- compliments of the Coast Guard.
Had the man not been spotted by a boater, it is hard telling just how far out he would have floated. I am surprised that Mr. Whipple was not covered in oil as he made his way out into the Gulf.
Yes yes yes …. Rule number 1 on water safety ---- never, I repeat never, drink a gut full of brewskis and decide to lay back and enjoy a nice float on a pool float outside of the POOL, especially during these times in the Gulf. I do question why this dude was wearing a life jacket though????
Beats me --- as it is a crazy world we live in.
ON THIS DATE IN 1997 … The classic Pink Floyd album ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ spent its 1056th week on the U.S. album chart. It was rumored at the time that if the album was played while watching The Wizard of Oz movie, and started exactly when the MGM lion roared the third time during the movie’s intro, very interesting connections could be made between the two.
Have a good one
Pappy
6-28-10
Being an avid reader of Rolling Stone for several years (with a few years hiatus), a clear misconception regarding the contents of the magazine exists. Rolling Stone has always been known as a music mag but what is not clearly known is the fact that RS always has top notch stories regarding the political scene in America.
For those who think that RS is a “lefty” mag obviously hasn’t read an issue lately.
Since the big news the past few days has been the upcoming interview with General Stanley McChrystal that cost him his command, it is only appropriate to set the record straight --- in my opinion, RS is one of the few places where journalism is correct and accurate and truthful.
If you are not a RS reader, I suggest you pick up the next copy if you are interested in reading the real facts --- for a change. Rolling Stone writers Matt Taibbi and Tim Dickinson have shown no mercy on the Obama Administration. Taibbi in particular exhibits true journalism at its finest. Naturally, he exposed the Bush Administration as the corrupt administration that it was and the affect it had on the nation and the criticism did not end when Obama took over. And … just for the record, there are 60 U.S. senators with law degrees and approximately 300 members of the U.S. Congress are lawyers. Scary thought, but true.
Taibbi first began questioning Obama’s picks of U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Director of the National Economic Council Larry Summers when both were kept over from the Bush Administration.
Why would Obama keep these two in charge of the Fed after the part they both played in bringing down the nation’s financial system? Beats me, but Taibbi is brutal in his stories regarding these two financial “wizards.”
Granted, RS is a music magazine but it also devotes at least two in-depth stories of interest in every issue.
From interviews with everyone from Willie Nelson to John Meyer to stories about the blood and guts of the fierce Fallujah battle in Iraq, RS is real journalism, unbiased and factually correct.
If you want to read about the next financial breakdown that is looming around the corner, pick up an issue of RS as these writers lay the groundwork for the next scam that is about to take place since the Obama Administration is heaven-bent on keeping the two men in place that helped perpetuate the meltdown in the first place. It is coming, they say, as nothing has changed on Wall Street.
No yellow journalism in RS, just the facts, which is what journalism is supposed to be, right?
So, General McChrystal gets canned for his candid interview with RS. I admire the General for speaking his mind and Michael Hastings for his in-depth interview.
If there is a good story out there that needs to be written, RS will do the job. I let my subscription expire a while back but thanks to my son, a Christmas present a few years back put me back on track with a subscription.
RS is a great magazine with excellent writers. Yea, yea, yea, one must endure Lady GaGa, Adam Lambert and a host of other musicians that are of a generation that way surpasses my taste but …. It is their generation and I am cool with that … just keep up the good work on exposing the truth.
Anyway, pick up a copy of RS and I think you will be surprised as to what is in its pages.
Gotta go as I just can’t wait to read the McChrystal interview --- and, of course, shake my head over the cover which is none other than ….. Lady GoGo, GiGi or GaGa, or whatever her name is.
ON THIS DATE IN 1965 … John Lennon's second book of poetry and drawings, 'A Spaniard In The Works,' was published. The book consisted of nonsensical stories and drawings similar to the style of his 1964 book 'In His Own Write.'
Peace
Pappy
6-24-10
EDITORS NOTE.....WE ARE NOT OWNED BY ROLLING STONE AND RECIEVED NO MONEY FOR THIS BLOG...WE JUST LIKE THEM A LOT...........
THIS DATE IN:
* 1964 - Roy Orbison was at No. 1 on the U.K. singles chart with 'It's Over,' his second U.K. No. 1. Orbison was the first American artist to score a U.K. No. 1 in the past 47 weeks.
* 1964 - The Beatles played the second of two nights at Auckland Town Hall, New Zealand.
* 1966 - The Beatles started a two week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with 'Paperback Writer,' the group's 12th U.S. No. 1. Also No. 1 hit in the U.K.
* 1966 - The Beach Boys, The Byrds, Love, Captain Beefheart, The Lovin Spoonful and Percy Sledge all appeared at The Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood, California.
* 1966 - Jackie Wilson was arrested for inciting a riot and refusing to obey a police order at a nightclub in Port Arthur, Texas. Wilson had a crowd of 400 whipped into a frenzy and refused to stop singing when requested to do so by police. He was later convicted of drunkenness and fined $30.
* 1967 - During a North American tour The Jimi Hendrix Experience gave a free afternoon concert in Golden GatePark, San Francisco. They then played another two shows that evening at the Fillmore West.
* 1967 - 200 million people saw The Beatles perform 'All You Need Is Love' live via satellite as part of the TV global link- up, 'Our World.’ Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Graham Nash, Keith Moon and Gary Leeds provided backing vocals.
* 1969 - The Hollies recorded 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother.' Elton John played piano on the session.
* 1977 - Marvin Gaye went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with 'Got To Give It Up,' his third U.S. No. 1.
* 1980 - Billy Joel appeared at Madison Square Garden, New York City.
* 1983 - The film soundtrack to 'Flashdance' started a two-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. album chart.
* 1983 - The Police scored their fourth U.K. No. 1 album with 'Synchronicity,' also No. 1 in the U.S. and featuring the singles 'Every Breath You Take' and 'Wrapped Around Your Finger.’
* 1988 - Hillel Slovak, original guitarist and founding member of The Red Hot Chili Peppers, died from a heroin overdose shortly after the band returned from a European tour. Slovak recorded two albums with the band, Freaky Styley and The Uplift Mofo Party Plan.
* 1988 - Van Halen started a four-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with 'OU812.’
* 1987 - Songwriter Boudleaux Bryant died. He wrote with his wife Felice, The Everly Brothers hits, 'Bye Bye Love,' 'All I Have To Do Is Dream,' 'Wake Up Little Susie' and 'Raining In My Heart' a hit for Buddy Holly. Other acts to record their song include Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Tony Bennett, Simon and Garfunkel, Sarah Vaughan, the Grateful Dead, Dolly Parton, Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys, Roy Orbison, Elvis Costello, Count Basie, Dean Martin, Ruth Brown, Cher, R.E.M. and Ray Charles.
Have a good one
Pappy
6-25-10
Every now and then, a story appears that is just too good to let pass without a comment or two from old Pappy. A recent story that made headlines was such a story. Here is an excerpt from the story as reported in the Huffington Post: “A man who apparently passed out on a pool float at a Tampa area beach ended up drifting about a mile from Florida's shore in the Gulf of Mexico. The U.S. Coast Guard rescued the man, identified as Jerry Whipple, on Wednesday afternoon. Coast Guard Petty Officer First Class Mariana O'Leary says they suspect the man was very drunk. The Coast Guard says a boater reported seeing an unconscious man floating well offshore. The Coast Guard and a Clearwater Fire Rescue unit responded and found the man, still unconscious and wearing a life jacket.” End of quote.
Give me another beer! Make it a case!
Now that is a story, my friends, that is a story. I can only imagine how this dude felt when he sobered up and rezalized that he made the news.
None of that “I only had two beers” that always pops out of one’s mouth when stopped by law enforcement or none of that “I only had a few” as this man made his way to shore --- compliments of the Coast Guard.
Had the man not been spotted by a boater, it is hard telling just how far out he would have floated. I am surprised that Mr. Whipple was not covered in oil as he made his way out into the Gulf.
Yes yes yes …. Rule number 1 on water safety ---- never, I repeat never, drink a gut full of brewskis and decide to lay back and enjoy a nice float on a pool float outside of the POOL, especially during these times in the Gulf. I do question why this dude was wearing a life jacket though????
Beats me --- as it is a crazy world we live in.
ON THIS DATE IN 1997 … The classic Pink Floyd album ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ spent its 1056th week on the U.S. album chart. It was rumored at the time that if the album was played while watching The Wizard of Oz movie, and started exactly when the MGM lion roared the third time during the movie’s intro, very interesting connections could be made between the two.
Have a good one
Pappy
6-28-10
At the end of May, President Obama implemented a six-month moratorium on all drilling in water depths greater than 500 feet and stopped work on 33 Gulf deepwater exploration rigs, except under special circumstances. All of a sudden, Chicken Little has reared its ugly head and the world is about to come to an end, right? The pundits are quick to point out that this will cause a massive loss of jobs, etc. etc. All I can say is where were all of these pundits when they began shipping the automotive industry’s jobs out of Detroit and hundreds of other communities that depended on the auto industry for jobs to parts unknown? Where was all the concern about these thousands of jobs? A great part of Detroit now looks like a third world nation but no one stepped up to the plate during the past several years as the city slowly began to crumble due to such a massive loss of jobs. Don’t get me wrong, as I sympathize with those who are losing their livelihoods in the Gulf, but I can’t see how putting the clamps on 33 rigs out of nearly 4,000 for safety concerns can be so devastating. Maybe I’m wrong.
I don’t know about all of that, but I do know this – a moratorium on 33 deepwater rigs is not the end of the Western Civilization as we know it. I was amazed a few weeks ago when I learned that there are almost 4,000 oil rigs pumping oil out of the Gulf. Amazing. So, by placing a moratorium on 33 rigs to assure safety is not that big of a deal – to me anyway.
I guess if there is a good side to the Gulf catastrophe, it is the fact that out of nearly 4,000 wells pumping black gold out of the sea floor, only one is currently malfunctioning. The only problem is, is that it only takes one to wreak havoc on the environment and those who have their fingers on the pulse indicate that BP has another well that is even deeper (8,000 feet) and concerns are being raised about just how safe that well is. Should we be concerned?
I am leery about the dispersant that BP has been applied to the leak in an effort to break down that nasty, gooey substance that the world so much depends on to continue functioning.
The last I heard, the EPA suggested BP not use the dispersant since it had not been properly tested for damages that is could cause to the environment. What the heck, why bother, just mix the chemical and hope for the best while the BP top dogs go off on a yachting race. No need to worry about the chemical, let’s just all cross our fingers and hope for the best. That’s the way to handle the crisis. Cross your fingers and hope folks, just cross your fingers and maybe this crisis will simply disappear and all will be well again in the Gulf.
I’m even crossing my toes. No matter what decision the president makes, half of the population will disagree, no doubt.
ON THIS DATE IN 1970 … Cubby Checker was arrested in Niagara Falls after police discovered marijuana and other drugs in his car.
Have a good one
Pappy
2-23-10
Interesting tidbits that you might not know but just could not live without, according to Useless Information:
* Elton John started his career in 1964, as a weekend pub pianist at the Northwood Hills Hotel for £1 a night.
* Frank Sinatra scored his first ever U.K. No. 1 album in 1977 with 'Portrait Of Sinatra,' the singers 46th album release.
* Clem Cattini, the original drummer with The Tornadoes, has featured on a record 44 different U.K. number one singles, from artists such as Tom Jones, T. Rex, The Seekers, Bay City Rollers, Rolf Harris and Hot Chocolate.
* David Bowie injured his left eye during a fight at school in 1961, resulting in part of the pupil being surgically removed. This makes Bowie's eyes appear to be different colors.
* The debut album to sell the most copies in one week in the U.K. is The Arctic Monkeys 2006 album ‘Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not,’ which sold 363,735 copies.
* The biggest selling album by a country group is the 1998 “Wide Open Spaces” by the Dixie Chicks which had sold over 8 million copies.
* Only four U.K. female singers have ever topped the U.S. singles chart. Petula Clark was the first to score a U.S. No. 1 single in 1965 with ‘Downtown,’ Sheena Easton's ‘Morning Train’ followed in 1981. Kim Wilde was the third with her 1987 cover version of the Supremes hit ‘You Keep Me Hangin' On and X Factor winner Leona Lewis became the fourth in 2008 with her single ‘Bleeding Love.’
* The man who is on fire on the front cover of Pink Floyd’s album ‘Wish You Were Here’ is U.S. stunt man Danny Rogers who also worked on TV shows Chips, The Waltons, Starsky & Hutch and A Star Is Born.
* John Lennon and George Harrison attended the same Primary School but never met as John was 3 years ahead.
* According to the Led Zeppelin biography Hammer of the Gods, while touring the U.K. in the 1960's, Sonny Boy Williamson set his hotel room on fire by trying to cook a rabbit in a coffee percolator.
* Alanis Morissette holds the record for the longest stay on the U.K. album chart by a female artist with 'Jagged Little Pill' which spent 94 weeks on the chart.
* When Decca Records first released ‘Rock Around The Clock’ by Bill Haley And His Comets in the Spring of 1954, it was as the B-side to "Thirteen Women (and Only One Man in Town)."
ON THIS DATE IN 1963 … 13-year old Stevie Wonder first entered the U.S. singles chart as Little Stevie Wonder with 'Fingertips Parts One and Two.'
Peace
Pappy
6-22-10
According to Useless Information, here’s what the ladies have to say about their counterparts:
* "I call everyone 'Darling' because I can't remember their names."
Zsa Zsa Gabor
* "If men can run the world, why can't they stop wearing neckties? How intelligent is it to start the day by tying a little noose around your neck?"
Linda Ellerbee
* "In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man; if you want anything done, ask a woman."
Margaret Thatcher
* "Sometimes I wonder if men and women really suit each other. Perhaps they should live next door and just visit now and then."
Katharine Hepburn
* "When women are depressed they either eat or go shopping. Men invade another country."
Elaine Boosler
* "I never married because there was no need. I have three pets at home which answer the same purpose as a husband. I have a dog which growls every morning, a parrot which swears all afternoon and a cat that comes home late at night."
Marie Corelli
* "I base most of my fashion taste on what doesn't itch."
Gilda Radner
* "Any girl can be glamorous. All you have to do is stand still and look stupid."
Hedy Lamarr
* "Behind every successful man is a surprised woman."
Marion Pearson
* "I am a marvelous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man I keep his house."
Zsa Zsa Gabor
ON THIS DATE IN 1975 … Elvis Presley had a face-lift at Mid South hospital, Memphis.
Have a good one
Pappy
6-18-10
Joke day ……
* Donald Rumsfeld is giving the president his daily briefing. He concludes by saying: "Yesterday, 3 Brazilian soldiers were killed." "OH NO!" the President exclaims. "That's terrible!" His staff sits stunned at this display of emotion, nervously watching as the President sits, head in hands. Finally, the President looks up and asks, "How many is a brazillion?"
* An elderly couple had been experiencing declining memories, so they decided to take a power memory class where one is taught to remember things by association. A few days after the class, the old man was outside talking with his neighbor about how much the class helped him. "What was the name of the Instructor?" asked the neighbor. "Oh, ummmm, let's see," the old man pondered. "You know that flower, you know, the one that smells really nice but has those prickly thorns, what's that flower's name?" "A rose?" asked the neighbor. "Yes, that's it," replied the old man. He then turned toward his house and shouted, "Hey, Rose, what's the name of the Instructor we took the memory class from?
* A doctor and a lawyer were talking at a party. Their conversation was constantly interrupted by people describing their ailments and asking the doctor for free medical advice. After an hour of this, the exasperated doctor asked the lawyer, "What do you do to stop people from asking you for legal advice when you're out of the office?"
"I give it to them," replied the lawyer, "and then I send them a bill."
The doctor was shocked, but agreed to give it a try. The next day, still feeling slightly guilty, the doctor prepared the bills.
When he went to place them in his mailbox, he found a bill from the lawyer.
* A man walking along a road in the countryside comes across a shepherd and a huge flock of sheep. He tells the shepherd, "I will bet you $100 against one of your sheep that I can tell you the exact number in this flock." The shepherd thinks it over; it's a big flock so he takes the bet. "973," says the man. The shepherd is astonished, because that is exactly right. He Says "OK, I'm a man of my word, take an animal." The man picks one up and begins to walk away.
"Wait," cries the shepherd, "Let me have a chance to get even. Double or nothing that I can guess your exact occupation." Man says sure. "You are an economist for a government think tank," says the shepherd. "Amazing!" responds the man, "You are exactly right! But tell me, how did you deduce that?" "Well," says the shepherd, "put down my dog and I will tell you."
ON THIS DATE IN 1971 … Carole King went to No. 1 on the U.S. album chart with ‘Tapestry’ for the first of 15 consecutive weeks. The album contained ‘It's Too Late,’ ‘I Feel the Earth Move,’ ‘Will You Love Me Tomorrow?’ and ‘You've Got a Friend.’
Peace
Pappy
6-17-10
"Bohemian Rhapsody" …. Queen at their best ….. Mama Mia Mama Mia …
According to Songmeanings.Com:
Freddie Mercury wrote the lyrics, and there has been a lot of speculation as to their meaning. Many of the words appear in the Qu'ran. "Bismillah" is one of these and it literally means "In the name of Allah." The word "Scaramouch" means "A stock character that appears as a boastful coward." "Beelzebub" is one of the many names given to The Devil.
Mercury's parents were deeply involved in Zoroastrianism, and these Arabic words do have a meaning in that religion. His family grew up in Zanzibar, but was forced out by government upheaval in 1964 and they moved to England. Some of the lyrics could be about leaving his homeland behind. Mercury claimed the lyrics were nothing more than "Random rhyming nonsense" when asked about it by his friend Kenny Everett, who was a London DJ.
Mercury may have written "Galileo" into the lyrics for the benefit of Brian May, who is an astronomy buff. Galileo is a famous astronomer known for being the first to use a refracting telescope.
The video was very innovative. It was the first where the visual images took precedence over the song. It was based on their album cover, with the 4 band members looking up into the shadows. It was shot in 3 hours for $3,500. Effects were achieved by using camera feedback and prism lenses. At the time, it looked high-tech. It was also the first music video in the sense that it was shot on video instead of film.
This was Queen's first Top 10 hit in the US. In the UK, where Queen was already established, it was #1 for 9 weeks, a record at the time.
Brian May recalled recording "Bohemian Rhapsody" in Q Magazine March 2008: "That was a great moment, but the biggest thrill for us was actually creating the music in the first place. I remember Freddie coming in with loads of bits of paper from his dad's work, like Post-it notes, and pounding on the piano. He played the piano like most people play the drums. And this song he had was full of gaps where he explained that something operatic would happen here and so on. He'd worked out the harmonies in his head."
In 1991, this was re-released in the UK shortly after Freddie Mercury's death. It again went to #1, with proceeds going to the Terrence Higgins Trust, which Mercury supported.
Elton John performed this with Axl Rose at the 1992 "Concert For Life," held in London at Wembley Stadium. It was a tribute to Freddie Mercury, who died of AIDS the year before. In 2001, Elton John got together with Eminem, who like Axl Rose, was often accused of being intolerant and homophobic. They performed Eminem's "Stan" at the Grammys.
When this was re-released in the US, proceeds from the single went to the Magic Johnson AIDS Foundation. Johnson and Freddie Mercury were 2 of the first celebrities to get AIDS.
ON THIS DATE IN 1967 … The three day Monterey Pop Festival in California began. All the proceeds went to charity when all the artists agreed to perform for free, the “Summer of Love” was born. The festival saw the first major US appearances by The Who, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. Also on the bill: The Byrds, Grateful Dead, Otis Redding, Simon & Garfunkel, The Steve Miller Band, Canned Heat, The Mamas And The Papas, Jefferson Airplane, Buffalo Springfield and The Electric Flag. Tickets cost $3.50–6.50 (£2–3.80). John Phillips, of The Mamas and The Papas would later write, ‘San Francisco’ (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair) about the festival, which became a hit for Scott McKenzie.
Have a good one
Pappy
6-16-10
Did you know that Freddie Mercury and Brian May, both members of Queen, grew up as neighbors but didn’t know each other until meeting later in life?
According to This Day in Music:
* On the Beatles ‘Hey Jude’ you can hear John Lennon shout an obscenity (2.58 into the song) after he makes a mistake on his backing vocals.
* Alanis Morissette holds the record for the most weeks on the U.K. album chart by a female artist with 172 weeks.
* After Bono accepted an honorary knighthood in 2007, the U2 singer's new title became: Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE).
* The longest span for U.K. No. 1 hits is held by Elvis Presley. His first number 1 was 'All Shook Up' in 1957 and his last 'A Little Less Conversation (Elvis vs. JXL) in 2002. This stayed at No. 1 for 4 weeks, making the total span 45 years precisely.
* In 1986, Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist Allen Collins crashed his car in an accident that killed his girlfriend and left him permanently paralyzed from the waist down. A year later during a Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute tour as part of his sentence from the crash, Allen went on stage every night to let his fans know the reason why he couldn't play with Skynyrd and the dangers of drunk driving.
* Led Zeppelin recorded their debut album in London in a mere 30 hours and cost just £1,782. The album went on to gross over £3.5 million, just short of 20,000 times more than invested.
* During the 70’s, Who drummer Keith Moon owned two Rolls Royces, (one of these may well have been the world's only lilac Rolls-Royce, which he painted with house paint), a Ferrari, an AC Cobra, a Mercedes, a Chrysler hot rod, a Hovercraft and a Milk Float. Moon couldn’t drive and never had a driver’s license.
* In 1988, Nikolas Hartshorne booked Nirvana to play at the Central Tavern in Seattle, the band's third ever gig. Six years later, Hartshorne was the Medical Examiner at Kurt Cobain's death.
* In 1987, five teenagers caused $350,000 worth of damage to a house in Washington, D.C., after trying to re-create scenes from the Beastie Boys video 'Fight for Your Right, (To Party).’ One partygoer had to be dragged from the house as it burnt down.
* The young girl featured on the cover of the Led Zeppelin album ‘Houses Of The Holy’ climbing naked up Giants‘ Causeway in Northern Ireland is Samantha Gates, who was 6 years old at the time of the photo shoot.
* The best-selling album of all time is "Thriller" by Michael Jackson with global sales of over 51 million copies to date since 1982.
* Ray Charles was married twice and fathered twelve children by seven different women.
* Elton John made his first appearances on Top Of The Pops as a backing singer for Brotherhood of Man and Pickettywitch.
* Freddie Mercury and Brian May from Queen grew up less than 100 yards from each other but never met until 1970.
ON THIS DATE IN 1977… The Sex Pistols held a party on a boat as it sailed down The River Thames in London. The Pistols performed 'Anarchy In the U.K.' outside The Houses Of Parliament resulting in members from the party being arrested when the boat docked later that day.
Peace
Pappy
6-15-10
So …. Who’s who this day in the entertainment field? Who in the world IS Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam? Beats me. What are the real names of the stars?
According to This Day in Music:
* Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson - Katy Perry
* Saul Hudson – Slash
* John Anthony Gillis - Jack White (White Stripes)
* Jeffrey Isbell - Izzy Stradlin - Guns N' Roses
* Roberta Joan Anderson - Joni Mitchell
* Ernest Evans - Chubby Checker
* Aliaune Damala Bouga Time Puru Nacka Lu Lu Lu Badara Akon Thiam – Akon
* Thomas Jones Woodward - Tom Jones
* Alecia Moore – Pink
* Allan Pineda Lindo - apl.de.ap (The Black Eyed Peas)
* Cecil Ingram Connor, III - Gram Parsons (Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers)
* Malcolm John Rebennack - Dr. John
* Pauline Matthews - Kiki Dee
* Carole Klein - Carole King
* Mary O'Brien - Dusty Springfield
* Helen Folasade Adu – Sade
* James Osterberg - Iggy Pop
* Ronald Belford - Bon Scott
* Stanley Burrell - MC Hammer
ON THIS DATE IN 1975 … America went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with 'Sister Golden Hair,' the group's second U.S. No. 1. Not a hit in the U.K.
Have a good one
Pappy
6-14-10
According to a piece in the Huffington Post, the following bands met while attedning college:
* Steely Dan officially started when Donald Fagen and Walter Becker crossed paths at Bard College in 1967.
* At the University of South Carolina in 1986, the members of Hootie and the Blowfish decided they only wanted to make music with each other (and hold each other's hands, or something). Their first EP dropped in 1991.
* Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden started making music as MGMT during their freshman year at Wesleyan University. After graduating in 2005, they released their EP "Time to Pretend."
* John Oates and Daryl Hall met as teens and found out by coincidence that they were both going to Temple University. The two became roommates; proximity bred a fruitful musical partnership.
* In 2007, Passion Pit started in one member's dorm room at Emerson College in Boston, MA. Two years later, they released their smash-hit album "Manners."
* Chris Martin met guitarist Jonny Buckland during orientation week at University College London in 1996. Soon after, they started their first band "Pectoralz." After a few name changes and member additions, they became Coldplay.
* Creed's lead singer, Scott Tapp, met guitarist Mark Tremonti in high school. Creed formed when they started at Florida State University.
* In 1983, legendary jam band Phish came into being at the University of Vermont. Their first gig was at a Halloween dance.
* The seeds of Interpol were planted when Daniel Kessler met initial drummer Greg Dundy in a philosophy class at New York University.
* Greg Gillis, the brains behind Girl Talk, began sampling sounds while studying biomedical engineering at Case Western Reserve University.
* Queen guitarist Brian May met bassist Tim Staffell while both were students at Imperial College in London in the early 70s. With the addition of Ealing Art College student Farrokh Bulsara, aka Freddie Mercury, Queen was born (though they originally called themselves Smile).
* While students at the Rhode Island School of Design, David Byrne and Chris Frantz played in a band called The Artistics. After graduating, moving to New York and getting Frantz's girlfriend Tina Weymouth to learn bass guitar, they became the Talking Heads.
* The prep rockers behind Vampire Weekend met at Columbia University. Indie-rock group Ra Ra Riot began their mission at first playing in basement parties at Syracuse University. What started as a local campus sensation soon became a big-time music festival player, touring with the likes of Vampire Weekend and Death Cab for Cutie.
So …. There it is folks. Some of the great music talents and how they formed.
ON THIS DATE IN 1949 … Hank Williams made his debut at the 'Grand Ole Opry' in Nashville and received an unprecedented total of six encores.
Have a good one
Pappy
6-11-10
to Music trivia:
Two men are in the changing room of a golf club. A mobile phone on a
bench rings and a man engages the hands free speaker-function and begins to talk.
Everyone else in the room stops to listen.
MAN: "Hello"
WOMAN: "Honey, it's me. Are you at the club?"
MAN: "Yes"
WOMAN: "I am at the shops now and found this beautiful leather coat.
It's only £1,000. Is it OK if I buy it?"
MAN: "Sure, go ahead if you like it that much."
WOMAN: "I also stopped by the Mercedes garage and saw the new models. I saw one I really liked."
MAN: "How much?"
WOMAN: "£60,000"
MAN: "OK, but for that price I want it with all the options."
WOMAN: "Great! Oh, and one more thing .... The house we wanted last year is back on the market. They're asking £950,000."
MAN: "Well, then go ahead and give them an offer, but just offer
£900,000."
WOMAN: "OK. I'll see you later! I love you!"
MAN: "Bye, I love you, too."
The man hangs up. The other men in the changing room are looking at him in astonishment.
Then he asks: "Anyone know whose phone this is?"
THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE:
1) You believe in Santa Claus.
2) You don't believe in Santa Claus.
3) You are Santa Claus.
4) You look like Santa Claus.
Eleven people were hanging on a rope under a helicopter, ten men and one woman. The rope was not strong enough to carry them all, so they decided that one has to drop off.
Otherwise they are all going to fall.
They were not able to choose that person, but then the woman made a very touching speech. She said that she would voluntarily let go of the rope, because as a woman she was used to giving up everything for her husband and kids, and for men in general, without ever getting anything in return. As soon as she finished her speech, all the men started clapping their hands...
ON THIS DATE IN 2009 … The daughter of Cher, Chastity Bono, was set to undergoing a sex change to become a man. The gender-swap process began shortly after Bono's 40th birthday in March and more than a decade after she came out as a lesbian.
Have a good one
Pappy
6-10-10
American Woman” by the Guess Who …. The guitar just grabs out at you when it first begins playing.
According to Songmeanings:
Randy Bachman explained the origins of this song in an interview with Words & Music magazine, Spring 2005. Said Bachman: "We were playing in a curling rink in Kitchener, Ontario (Canada), and I broke a string. I was up there alone, tuning up my E and B strings on an old Les Paul. I started playing that riff and in the audience, heads started turning. The band got up, and I said, 'Keep playing this, I don't want to forget it.' When Burton had run out of solos, I yelled out, 'Sing something!' So out of the blue Burton just screamed, 'American Woman, stay away from me!' That was the song, the riff and Burton yelling that line over and over. Later, he added other lines like 'I don't need your war machine, you ghetto scenes.' Before America knew it, it was a #1 record and it was a protest song."
The lyrics are a scathing commentary on America's imperialistic attitude at the time of the Vietnam War. The Guess Who are Canadian.
Some of the lyrics were inspired by a problem the band encountered at the Canada/US border involving the Vietnam War draft.
Due to the anti-American lyrics, The Guess Who was not allowed to play this when they performed at the White House for President Richard Nixon in 1970.
The first time the band performed this was before 150,000 people at the Seattle Pop Festival in 1969. The crowd loved it even though they had never heard it.
This is one of the most misinterpreted songs ever. Despite a very clear lyric: "American Woman, get away from me," Americans often hear it is a patriotic ode and a tribute to American women.
This was released as a double A-side with "No Sugar Tonight." It was #1 in the US for 3 weeks. The Guess Who were already huge in Canada, but this broke them in The States.
In the late-'90s, this was used in a variety of commercials, including one for Tommy Hilfiger and another for Castrol motor oil. Nike also used in an ad featuring women's soccer.
Lenny Kravitz covered this in 1999. His version was used in the movie Austin Powers 2, The Spy Who Shagged Me.
Kravitz and The Guess Who performed this September 21, 2000 at the MuchMusic Video Awards in Toronto. The Guess Who were given a lifetime achievement award.
The album version contains a 1:05 acoustic intro. Radio stations often skip past it.
Randy Bachman left the group the month after this hit #1 in America because the band's lifestyle did not jibe with his religious beliefs. Because of his departure, they did not tour the US when this was hot, which could have made them a lot of money.
The Guess Who reunited and toured in 2000, 30 years after this was a hit.
This was featured in the Jim Carrey movie The Cable Guy, where it appears in a Karaoke scene, and American Beauty, where Kevin Spacey rocks out to it while going through a mid-life crisis.
So … there it is folks …. How a broken guitar string produced one of the most mis-interpreted songs that still receives airplay on the classic channels.
ON THIS DATE IN 1963 … The Crystals' "Da Doo Ron Ron" peaked at No. 3 on the U.S. singles chart. Produced by Phil Spector, who used a multi-track recording system to build the song layer upon layer to achieve a result that become known as a "wall of sound." Backing musicians include Glen Campbell on guitar, Leon Russell on piano, Hal Blain on drums and Nino Tempo on sax.
Have a good one
Pappy 6-8-10
once in a blue moon does someone in the spotlight mess up --- and admit to it. That is what happened last week during the Detroit Tigers/Cleveland Indians game when a blown call by first-base umpire Jim Joyce ruined Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga of being in the history books.
By now, this saga is no longer news as the event even hit the cable channels.
But, just in case you were not aware of this event, here’s a wrap of it - The Tigers are leading the Indians 3 to zip with two out in the ninth. Jason Donald hit a grounder to first base. Galarraga covered at first, taking the throw from Miguel Cabrera and clearly had the runner out ---- except Joyce ruled the batter safe.
Ok Ok … here is where it gets good.
The next day, Joyce steps up to the plate (not literally) and admits that he made a terrible call, one that cost Galarraga his place in Major League history. Was Galarraga mad? Did he throw a fit and demand that the call be over-ruled? Did he go ballistic and threaten to sue America and the Major League?
No, he just smiled and said umps make mistakes. Amazing. These two – Galarraga and Joyce – are fine examples of what is missing in today’s society. Someone makes a mistake and it is everyone’s fault but the one who screwed up. Wasn’t me. Not my doings.
Joyce went out of his way to say how sorry he was that his bad call cost Galarraga his rightful place in history. Galarraga tells the press that life goes on and Joyce is only human and humans do make mistakes.
All is not lost though, as Galarraga was presented with a new Corvette compliments of the Tigers franchise the following day when the Tigers once again squared off against the Indians.
Oh yea, I forget to mention this fact --- when Joyce took to the field the next day, the crowd gave him a huge round of applause ---- apparently for admitting he made a mistake.
That took a lot of guts to admit a mistake that cost a pitcher a place in history.
Kudos to Galarraga and Joyce --- two fine gentlemen.
ON THIS DATE IN 1964 … During their first ever U.S. tour, The Rolling Stones were booed off stage at a gig in San Antonio, Texas. Some performing Monkeys who had been the act on before the Stones were brought back on stage for another performance.
Have a good one
Pappy
6-7-10
El Condor Pasa” --- one beautiful song by one of the best duos ever ---- Simon and Garfunkel.
According to Songmeanings:
This was originally a Peruvian folk melody written by Daniel Robles. Paul Simon heard a version called "Paso Del Condor" by Jorge Milchberg, who is head of the group Urubamba, formerly known as Los Incas. Simon became friendly with the group through this song, and ended up touring with them and producing their first American album. Paul Simon personalized the song by adding his own English lyrics. On the Simon & Garfunkel version, Robles, Milchberg and Simon are all listed as songwriters.
Comments:
El Cóndor Pasa means ¨The Condor flies over¨ and it´s a beautiful Peruvian song, it takes me way back.....fantastic tune Beno Albarran, Guadalajara, México
- BENO, GUADALAJARA, Mexico
Another great S&G song, but the vocal sound is terrible. You can't hear Paul Simon's opening words, and one part sung by Art Garfunkel is in such a high pitch that it sounds distorted and it's difficult to understand anything he's singing.
- David, Youngstown, OH
I'm no Spanish expert, but when someone says to me "Que pasa?", it loosely translates to "What's happening?". So therefore, I always kind of thought the title loosely translated to The Condor happens. Paso would be "happened", right? So what, the condor happens like s--t happens? That could spell disaster for some little jackrabbit in the desert! Hey, whatever. Either way, this is one of my all time favorites of Simon and Garfunkel. It sounds pretty Peruvian or more broadly Andean to me. Especially since I have some Andean folk music on a Monitor Records release that uses the Pan Flute pretty extensively. And the little Charango (a small guitar, but NOT a ukelele or a mandolin). This tune displays beautifully what made Simon and Garfunkel (and moreso Simon) so great! They helped otherwise stupid Americans learn to appreciate other types of music than just rock, blues and country. Now if only they would have reintroduced the masses to our very own Jazz!
- Jesse, Madison, WI
My 5 siblings and I were all really into music and would sometimes perform. The brother just older than me and I would do an "interpretive dance" to this song. Since he was older, he got to be all of the "I'd Rather Be's" and I, being youngest, got stuck with all of the "Than a's". I particularly disliked "I'd rather be a forest than a street". Incidentally, I was about 6 when we did this.
- Karen, Manchester, NH
They just had so many wonderful songs---this one among the rest.
- Harold, San Bernadino, CA
My oldest brother told me about this song, saying that it was a passive protest to conditions in Communist Soviet Union/Russia. Rather be a sparrow than a snail... a sparrow is free and swift able to come and go as it pleases, a snail; slow and stupid. Rather be a hammer than a nail... a hammer is the strength and a nail gets put in a place (pounded down by the hammer) and never moves and if it's pulled out it's usually not the same. This bridge talks about simply the oppression of Communism, and the lament of the loss of freedom. Away, I'd rather sail away Like a swan that's here and gone A man gets tied up to the ground He gives the world its saddest sound Its saddest sound Rather be a forest than a street A forest grows free and tall and isn't usually confined, a street gets aligned and is rigidly placed and usually gets trampled on. Rather feel the earth beneath my feet Feeling the earth beneath your feet is a symbolic synonym to being free. Was told that this song was banned in the USSR... dunno if that was true or not... but it does make sense given the context of the lyrics... that and Simon being Jewish himself may have written the song to express sympathy for his brethren behind the Iron Curtain.
- Ralph, Chattanooga, TN
I once heard a band from Argentina break into this song about halfway through their set . It was awsome!
- Rockie, Oregon City, OR
A truly Beautiful and Inspiring song. The lyrics are so emotive. Love it!
- jonn, liverpool, England
"El Condor Pasa" means "Condor Pass"
- Jonathan, Bradford, MA
ON THIS DATE IN 1975 … The Rolling Stones became the first rock band to receive royalties for sales of their records in Russia.
Have a good one
Pappy
6-4-10
So … what do all the stars have to say today? Words of wisdom folks, nothing less than words of wisdom.
According to This Day in Music:
“I choose to have one foot in the modern world and one in the past.” - Beck 1997.
“Record company drinks? It used to be grams of charlie, now it’s bloody tomato juice.” - Robert Plant - 1990.
"I wouldn't have Elvis Presley on my show at any time" — Ed Sullivan, early 1956. "And now, here is Elvis Presley!" — Ed Sullivan, October 28, 1956.
"Sometimes it feels a little undignified but I never seem to get tired of getting drunk. I've tried going on stage sober and it wasn't much fun.” Norman Cook, (aka Fatboy Slim).
“In our heads, we’re punk. You don’t have to sound like the Sex Pistols to be punk.” - Michael Stipe, 1994.
“We shall never tour America again. It’s very hard work, and one bring down after another. You have no idea how terrible it is" Keith Richards – 1967.
“I will still compose, sing and play as long as I can. I hope even in my seventies." - Mick Jagger, 2003.
"Mick Jagger's wasted his life. He's going through the motions of being Mick Jagger, which is a bit of a caricature." - Sting.
“I think I was the only rock star never to wear a pair of beads.” – Rolling Stone, Charlie Watts.
‘Sorry if you can’t understand what I’m saying – I’m from Scotland.” Eric Faulkner, Bay City Rollers.
“I enjoy the wealth because it means we can afford a nanny.” Kurt Cobain 1993.
“Gone too far? That’s the story of my life…” Lou Reed.
"I know a few groovy middle-aged people, but not many." - Keith Richards, The Rolling Stones, 1966.
“I don’t know much about Morrissey, apart from the fact that he brings out records with the greatest titles in the world, which somewhere along the line he neglects to write songs for.” Elvis Costello, 1989.
ON THIS DATE IN 2002 … It was reported that Paul McCartney had thrown his fiancée Heather Mills’ engagement ring out of a hotel window during a row. Guards at Miami’s Turnberry Isle Resort combed the grounds using metal detectors and later found the £15,000 ($25,500) ring.
Have a Good One
Pappy
6-2-10
Oil …. Black gold …. Texas T …. Whatever one wants to call it …. As it continues pouring out of the ocean bottom at an estimated 900,000 gallons per day.
The underwater pictures of the leak continues to be displayed and seeing the mess that flows day after day can become quite disturbing.
A relief well seems to be at this point the only way to solve this tragedy.
Of course, BP, Transocean and Halliburton – the three culprits involved in this fiasco --- would never think to construct such a well as a preventative measure as that would cost extra money and Heaven forbid those poor oil companies shell out a few extra bucks to assure that such a leak never happens. In Canada, any well dug in water must have a relief well as a backup. Go figure.
The next step in stopping the flow will be to position submarine robots that will attempt shearing off a collapsed 21-inch riser pipe using industrial diamonds. Good luck with this game plan.
If this move is successful, officials will then need a couple of days to position a domelike cap over the blowout preventer, which failed to shut off the well.
Time will tell if this maneuver will work or not but I have little faith that it will.
Anyway, enough of that. The GulfCoast will probably be damaged beyond comprehension for years to come, according to top environmentalists at the site.
Once again, no regulation oversight on offshore drilling has caused this to happen. I don’t know who is to blame but I do know this ---- the private sector can’t be trusted to regulate themselves as greed is the wheel that is prevalent in nearly every facet of our society in this new age of the Global Community.
Look at how Wall Street bilked trillions out of the workers due to de-regulation.
Somebody has to be the watchdog when it comes to money because humans are inherently greedy when it comes to the almighty dollar.
(editors note. These views reflect the author's thoughts)
ON THIS DATE IN 1963 … Lesley Gore started a two week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with the Quincy Jones (then a staff producer for Mercury Records) produced 'It's My Party,' a No.9 hit in the U.K. Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin scored a U.K. No. 1 in 1981 with their version of the song.
Have a good one
Pappy
6-1-10
After all the jacks are in their boxes --- and the clowns have all gone to bed” …. So go the lyrics to “The Wind Cries Mary” by the guitar master himself --- the late, great Jimi Hendrix. So goes it tonight with the wrap-up of American Idol.
Lee or Crystal --- one will walk away with the honor of being the next American Idol.
Last night, Crystal put on a clinic.
Each singer crooned three songs with the first being a repeat of any song they sang during the competition.
Lee belted out Simon and Garfunkel’s “Boxer” while Crystal sang “Me and Bobby McGee.”
The second song found the two singers performing a song picked by producer Simon Fuller. Lee done a great job on REM’s “Everybody Hurts” while Crystal took “Black Velvet” to another level. Man, that girl can sing --- but so can Lee.
Round Three had the singers performing the song they’ll release as their first single should they win. Lee sang U2’s “Beautiful Day” while Crystal belted out Patty Griffin‘s “Up to the Mountain.”
So …. Tonight is the night. Simon will make his final appearance on the show and will surely have some words of wisdom in parting.
Replacing him will be a difficult task. He is at times, hard to take with his criticism but, as those in the business realize, gaining entrance into the music industry is a very brutal task, one not for the weak of heart as reality is often hard to take …. Rejection after rejection after rejection.
That is the beauty of American Idol, as Simon often points out when critiquing contestants. He likes these performers to know that they are being offered an opportunity to “short-cut” their way through to reaching the dream of success in the music industry – a dream that comes true for only a fraction of those who devote their lives to reach that pinnacle of success. Anyway, good luck to both Lee and Crystal, as they are both top-notch singers who should do well in the biz.
To quote another great band who penned an anthem ---AC/DC – “It’s A Long Way to the Top (If You Want to Rock ‘N Roll.”
Truer words were never spoken, or sang.
ON THIS DATE IN 1990 … David Bowie was sued by his ex-wife Angie for $56 million.
Ain’t love grand!
Have a good one
Pappy
5-26-10
The hottest act in Nashville, in my opinion ---- Lady Antebellum. What a sound this group has developed.
Accordig to their bio: Lady Antebellum was formed in 2006 in Nashville, Tennessee, by Charles Kelley, Dave Haywood and Hillary Scott. Scott is the daughter of country music singer Linda Davis, and Charles Kelley is the brother of pop artist Josh Kelley. It was these family connections and music industry ties that helped launch the band. Kelley moved to Nashville in mid-2005 from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he had been working construction with his brother John. Trying to become a successful solo country artist, Kelley convinced his old middle-school classmate, Haywood, to move to Nashville from Georgia in 2006 so they could write music together. Shortly thereafter, Scott recognized Kelley from MySpace, and they started to talk at a Nashville music club and invited Scott to join him and Haywood in the new group, which assumed the name Lady Antebellum. The trio then began performing at local venues in Nashville before being signed in July 2007 to a recording contract with Capitol Records Nashville. In an interview with Sirius Satellite Radio, Scott claimed she was rejected from the hit show American Idol two times, not even making it past the first round.
Shortly after the trio signed to the label, adult contemporary artist Jim Brickman chose Lady Antebellum to sing on his 2007 single "Never Alone," which reached #14 on the Billboard adult contemporary charts. In mid-2007, Lady Antebellum also wrote a song for the MTV reality television series “The Hill.”
Their solo debut single "Love Don't Live Here" was released in September of that year, with a music video for the song following in December. This song was the lead-off single to the band's self-titled debut album. Released on April 15, 2008, Lady Antebellum was produced by Paul Worley along with Victoria Shaw, a Nashville songwriter and former solo artist. "Love Don't Live Here" reached #3 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. The album itself was the first album by a new duo or group to debut at Number One on the Billboard Top Country Albums charts.
A second single, "Lookin' for a Good Time," was issued in June 2008 and just peaked at #11 in December. In addition, Lady Antebellum was signed as an opening act on Martina McBride's Waking Up Laughing Tour in 2008. Lady Antebellum also contributed the song "I Was Here" to the AT&T Team USA Soundtrack, a song which peaked at #24 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 based on downloads. In December 2008, their rendition of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" peaked at #3 on the same chart. Their third official single, "I Run to You,” was released in January 2009. It eventually became the trio's first Number One in July 2009.
Haywood and Kelley co-wrote labelmate Luke Bryan's 2009 single "Do I" on which Scott also sings backing vocals. This song is the first single from Bryan's second studio album "Doin' My Thing," which was released on October 6, 2009.
In August 2009, the group released their fourth single, "Need You Now," the lead-off single and title track to their second studio album, on January 26, 2010. It debuted at #50 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and became their second Number One hit on the charts for the week of November 28, 2009.
On April 28, 2010, Lady Antebellum performed on the results show of American Idol, performing "Need You Now."
ON THIS DATE IN 1973 … Carole King played a concert in New York's Central Park, which attracted an audience of 100,000.
Have a good one
Pappy
5-25-10
Pappy is away today so I get to play. Danica Patrick is taking a certain amount
of heat for saying her car is junk and it is not her fault. I am not sure why though. Junior, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, and countless other NASCAR drivers say the same thing week in and week out. This car is junk, they say, and they are not booed or ripped on by the TV folk. DW explains is pretty clearly. There is only so much a driver can do, any driver, with a car that is not set up properly. This was the case with Danica's car. She is in the field for the Indy 500 on Sunday but was less than thrilled with the car she was driving. From what she described, it was indeed a bad setup. This falls to the crew and car chief, right? They unload it, put the setup in it and then work with the driver to get it perfect or as close to perfect as possible. Obviously there was a breakdown in communication with her crew and the changes
she needed were not made to improve the car so when she talked about how bad the car was, the crowd at the raceway booed her......Danica, come right over to NASCAR. We are used to whyiners and complainers. Junior has been doing it for a long time and he is still cheered. Jeff Gordon is good at it and he still has his fans and Robby Gordon never does anything wrong, and he is still there getting cheers too. So NASCAR will welcome you with open arms. It is a long tradition of dealing with drivers who never do anything wrong, always finding someone else to point the finger of blame at.....you will
fit right in and chances are the fans will cheer you too..See unlike Indy car fans we NASCAR fans a very charity minded.....how else do you explain the fact that Junior has tons of fans and can't win a race...
5-24
Cramerinthemorning.
The old saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words” could not be more truthful than the pix of the Gulf oil leak.
I’ll tell you one thing ---- the more I see that oil and gas flowing out of the ocean bottom, the more it makes me sick ---- literally.
Purdue professors have logged in saying the 5,000 barrels being spewed out daily is more like 75,000 barrels and being a Purdue fan, I tend to believe the Purdue professors rather than the BP execs.
Here is the problem --- as I see it.
The “Drill Baby Drill” folks are against government regulation of practically everything under the sun. You know the philosophy ---- let the private sector regulate itself as the government has no business sticking its nose in such affairs.
Fine and dandy. Let’s just all be comforted by the fact that BP, Halliburton and Transocean officials will take care of the mess that is ruining the Gulf and slowly spreading to Florida and the East Coast. Yes sir, these oil dudes have it all under control – as the oil continues gushing from a mile down on the ocean floor and has been doing so for weeks now. They don’t know how to fix it.
Yes, these experts have not a clue as to what to do about this environmental crisis –except to point the finger at each other. What a joke.
It is almost unbearable to watch the video of the leak. Why these CEOs are not facing prison time is beyond comprehension. To say nothing of the 11 people killed in the explosion.
Now, all of a sudden, the Obama Administration is taking heat for not stepping in and stopping the leak. I agree – but for a different reason. The government should have stepped in but the fed is not the expert in oil drilling, the oil folks are, or supposed to be. What a joke.
So …how do the “Drill Baby Drill” folks want it? Don’t interfere with us -- unless of course, we can’t solve the problem, then it is alright for the government to step in, right?
Insanity.
Same with the Wall Street fiasco.
Clinton deregulated the banking industry to allow commercial banks to compete with the investment banks by dismantling the Glass-Steagall Act – and act that prevented exactly what has happened. This Act stood as protection against the current crisis since 1939.
Clinton let the horse out of the barn and man oh man, did the Bush team and Wall Street chomp away, stealing trillions of 401s, pensions and savings, while we bail them out.
Great way to run a nation, right?
ON THIS DATE IN 1966 … The Castiles (with Bruce Springsteen on vocals) appeared at FreeholdRegionalHigh School in New Jersey. They were performing at their own high school for the very first time. All five members of the band were Juniors at FreeholdHigh School.
Peace
Pappy
5-21-10
It is crunch time …. American Idol is about to wrap it up for another season and it all boils down to Crystal, Lee and Casey.
General consensus is that the final two will be Crystal and Lee --- and I agree, but …. I can’t count Casey out yet. My gut says he has a good chance to make the final cut.
I missed half of last night’s action but managed to see the wrap-up at the end. Lee appeared to have had the best night.
Anyway, if I had to place a bet on the outcome, I would stick with Crystal as she has been my favorite throughout the competition.
Time will tell.
As for a wrap-up, I still disagree with all the critics, as I believe this season has been one of the best that I have watched.
All three finals, in my opinion, will go on to careers in their respective fields of music.
All three are entertainers who can hold an audience captive. They all have the “package deal” that those in the music industry look for --- talent and good looks.
I would pay top bucks to see any of the three perform. Actually, I am considering checking out where the summer tour takes the top 10 and attending it … if it is within a reasonable traveling distance.
So, with all that being said, tonight is the night when the final two are announced and I will be watching in earnest.
As I have said before, I don’t see where any of the three will be declared a loser as all will be represented well in their genre.
Don’t be surprised though if Casey waltzes out and ends up in the top 2 --- in the music business, expect nothing and take what is given.
Remember last year when Adam Lambert was considered a “no brainer” as the winner --- only to take second place.
As for me, it is a win-win situation as to who the winner is.
ON THIS DATE IN 1979 … Eric Clapton held a party at his Surrey house celebrating his recent marriage to Patti Boyd. Clapton had set-up a small stage in the garden and as the evening progressed, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr ended up jamming together along with Clapton, Ginger Baker and Mick Jagger. The all-star band ran through old Little Richard and Eddie Cochran songs.
Have a good one
Pappy
5-18-10
OK OK OK …. I realize that we live in a crazy age and difficult times, times where it is often hard to get the real facts as opposed to the spin doctors that skew the news.
The truth is out there but very difficult to find … and once you think you have found it, one remains skeptical as to if it is truth or fiction.
I recently stumbled on to a web site -- themiddleclass.com – and after checking it out, ended up spending a couple of hours muckraking through the info provided.
The site, which I think must be legitimate, lists all the politicians and how they vote on every issue.
It is a cool site, as on the right side of the web site, there is a list of every Senator and House of Representatives. Boot up a member and it shows how they voted on each bill and how that vote affects the Middle Class.
I tend to believe the info is correct because of the in-depth research put into it. Not only does it state the bill, but gives all the information that comprises that bill.
So, with that being said and you are not too busy right at the moment, boot up themiddleclass.com and check it out.
This cool site not only shows the voting record of all serving but also a nice, neat little picture of them as well.
With the Middle Class slowly being dismantled over the past several years, this site clearly shows why this is happening.
Fact or fiction? Boot it up and make your own decision. You might be surprised as to how our elected leaders have voted on issues that pertain to the way of life in the good Ole USA.
The truth is out there somewhere but one must dig dig dig to find it.
Anyway, to switch gears, Casey was given the boot last night on American Idol, leaving Lee and Crystal as the final two. Man, I hate to see either of them lose, but, as in life, there are always winners and losers.
ON THIS DATE IN 1966 … Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of the Who grew tired of waiting for John Entwistle and Keith Moon to arrive for their gig at the Ricky Tick Club in Windsor, England so they took to the stage with the bass player and drummer of the local band that opened the show. When Moon and Entwistle finally arrived in the middle of the set, a fight broke out, with Townshend hitting Moon on the head with his guitar. Moon and Entwistle quit the band, (and rejoined a week later).
Have a good one
Pappy
5-20-10
So …. Who in the music business just happened to be born on this day ….
* 1911 -- Born on this day, Joe Turner, U.S. blues songwriter. Wrote 'Shake Rattle and Roll' and 'Sweet Sixteen.' He died November 23, 1985.
* 1912 -- Born on this day, Perry Como, American singer and TV presenter, (1957 U.S. No. 1 single 'Round And Round' and 15 U.S. & over 25 U.K. chart hits, 1958 U.K. No.1 single 'Magic Moments'). Como died on May 12, 2001.
* 1942 -- Born on this day, Albert Hammond, (1972 U.S. No. 5 single 'It Never Rains In Southern California,' 1973 U.K. No. 19 single 'Free Electric Band').
* 1946 -- Born on this day, Bruce Gilbert, guitar, Wire, (1989 U.K. No. 68 single 'Eardrum Buzz').
* 1946 -- Born on this day, George Alexander, The Flamin Groovies, (1976 album 'Shake Some Action).
* 1949 -- Born on this day, Rick Wakeman, keyboards, Strawbs, Yes, ('1974 U.K. No. 1 album 'Journey To The Centre Of The Earth').
* 1949 -- Born on this day, William Wallace, Guess Who, (1970 U.S. No. 1 & U.K. No. 19 single 'American Woman').
* 1952 -- Born on this day, George Strait, U.S. country singer, songwriter, (1992 album 'Pure Country' spent 40 weeks on the U.S. chart). He has the second most number one country hits among any artist in any musical genre in history, totaling 53 number one hit songs. Only Conway Twitty has more, with 55.
* 1953 -- Born on this day, Butch Tavares, Tavares, (1976 U.K. No. 4 and U.S. No. 15 single 'Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel').
* 1957 -- Born on this day, Michael Cretu, Enigma, (1991 U.K. No. 1 & U.S. No. 5 single 'Sadness Part 1).
* 1961 -- Born on this day, Russell Senior, guitar, Pulp, (1995 U.K. No. 2 single 'Common People'). Left the band on January 20, 1997.
* 1975 -- Born on this day, Jack Johnson, Hawaii born singer, songwriter, surfer, (2006 U.K. No. 1 album 'In Between Dreams,' 2006 U.S. & Australian No. 1 album ‘Sing-A-Longs and Lullabies for the Film Curious George').
ON THIS DATE IN 1968, Grateful Dead, The Doors, The Steve Miller Band and Jefferson Airplane all appeared at The Northern California Rock Festival in Santa Clara.
HAVE A GOOD ONE
Pappy
5-18-10
According to Reuters Health, “Children exposed to pesticides known as organophosphates could have a higher risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a new study. Researchers tracked the pesticides' breakdown products in kids' urine and found those with high levels were almost twice as likely to develop ADHD as those with undetectable levels. The findings are based on data from the general U.S. population, meaning that exposure to the pesticides could be harmful even at levels commonly found in children's environment.
‘There is growing concern that these pesticides may be related to ADHD," said Marc Weisskopf of the Harvard School of Public Health, who worked on the study. ‘What this paper specifically highlights is that this may be true even at low concentrations.’
Organophosphates were originally developed for chemical warfare, and they are known to be toxic to the nervous system. There are about 40 organophosphate pesticides such as malathion registered in the U.S., the researchers wrote in the journal Pediatrics.
Weisskopf said the compounds have been linked to behavioral symptoms common to ADHD -- for instance, impulsivity and attention problems -- but exactly how is not fully understood.”
End of quote ….
Disturbing news to say the least, but what can one expect when “the bottom line” --- money --- is apparent in every segment of society?
There was a great line in the lyrics to an old Jefferson Airplane song that said, “You are what you eat.”
Truer words were never spoken, in my humble opinion.
One does not have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that spraying countless numbers of chemicals on the food supply can and will cause untold problems. They sprayed Agent Orange throughout the nation of Vietnam during that war and repercussions are still being experienced on that blunder with the problems many ‘Nam vets are going though.
Yea yea yea ... we have to make sure that apple is as shiny red as possible so the customer can feel good about having the pretty apple to munch on.
Anyway, I can assure you that when I grew up back in the 50s and 60s, ADHD was unheard of – at least I never heard of the symptom.
Oh well, keep on deregulating everything under the sun so the endless money supply continues making “the chosen few” very rich and to heck with the food chain and what we eat.
Sad state of the Union, in my opinion. Makes me want to go have a good lunch somewhere.
ON THIS DATE IN 1966 … During a U.K. tour, Bob Dylan appeared at The Free Trade Hall in Manchester. This was the concert where a member of the audience shouted out ‘Judas’ at Dylan unhappy with the singers move from acoustic to rock. Dylan replied with ‘You’re a liar’ and the entire concert was eventually officially released in The Bootleg Series by Sony Music in 1999.
Peace
Pappy
5-17-10
A lot of strange things happen in the field of music as is typified by this first tidbit of info. The Bellamy Brothers penned one of their biggest hits after a statement by Groucho Marx? Now THAT is pretty cool ….
* The double entendre title of the Bellamy Brother's 1979 hit ‘If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me’ was derived from a quote by Groucho Marx.
* The young girl featured on the cover of the Led Zeppelin album ‘Houses Of The Holy’ climbing naked up Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland is Samantha Gates, who was 6 years old at the time of the photo shoot.
* The Beatles 'Can't Buy Me Love' was the first ever single to enter the US charts at the No.1 position. Released in 1964 the single had advanced orders of 2.1 million in the US alone. It was also one of the first songs to begin with its chorus.
* The Simpsons UK No.1 hit 'Do The Bartman' was co-written by Michael Jackson. The Simpsons became the first cartoon characters to score a No. 1 since the Archies hit 'Sugar Sugar' in 1969.
* During nine weeks in 1968, three consecutive UK number 1's had a Beatles connection. 'Hey Jude' by The Beatles reached No. 1, followed by the Paul McCartney-produced Mary Hopkin single 'Those Were The Days,' which was followed by Joe Cocker's version of The Beatles’ 'With A Little Help From My Friends.'
* Christina Aguilera was reportedly paid £1m ($2.1m) for performing three songs at the wedding of Russian oligarch Andrei Melnichenko in September 2005.
* During 1963, on a recommendation by George Harrison, Dick Rowe, head of A&R at Decca records (and the man who turned down The Beatles), went to see The Rolling Stones play at Crawdaddy Club, London. The band signed to the label within a week.
* Elvis Presley had a pet chimp called Scatter that developed a taste for whisky and bourbon.
* Cockney Rebel bass player Paul Jeffreys was one of the 270 passengers on Pan Am flight 103 killed by a terrorist bomb when the plane crashed over Lockerbie, Scotland. Sex Pistol John Lydon and his wife Nora missed the flight because his wife hadn't packed in time. The Four Tops also had been booked onto the flight returning to the States for Christmas but missed it after a recording session overran.
* In 1953 when Hank Williams died of a heart attack brought on by a lethal cocktail of pills and alcohol, he was at No. 1 on the country charts with 'I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive.'
ON THIS DATE IN 1976 … 33-year-old Keith Relf, former lead singer for The Yardbirds, was electrocuted while tuning a guitar which was not properly earthed. The accident happened in his West London home where he was found by his eight-year-old son, still holding the plugged-in electric guitar. The Yardbirds had the hits 'For Your Love,' 'Heart Full of Soul' and 'Shapes of Things.'
Have a good one
Pappy
5-14-10
I don’t get it. I have been reading a lot of smack about this season’s American Idol, how it is not up to par with previous seasons, etc. etc. etc….
What American Idol are these critics watching?
Last year, I admit, had the best singer ever to don the American Idol stage with Adam Lambert. Even though Lambert placed second behind Kris Allen, I stick to my guns when I say he is the best singer to ever hit the Idol competition.
When Queen, one of the biggest rock bands on the planet, asks you to sing with them and you can cover a Freddie Mercury vocal, it doesn’t get any better.
With that being said, I would take the final four singers this year – Big Mike, Crystal, Lee and Casey – over the final four of any season (that I’ve watched, which is maybe three and one half seasons).
So much for all of that and back to last night’s elimination of Big Mike. He had to go and although he is now eliminated, I expect the field of R&B will pick up on his marvelous voice and he should have a lucrative career ahead of him. That’s my prediction for the future of Big Mike.
Crystal, Lee and Casey ---- it is crunch time and although my gut goes with Crystal to take it all, one never knows.
Back to my smack on Adam Lambert ---- I thought he was a shoo-in last season but the fans spoke and voted Allen as the winner. Sometimes the best just doesn’t always come out on top. I think Lambert would have won had he not gone so freaky on the world during the last half of the season.
Anyway, I happen to think the final four of this season are right on --- four great genres of music represented with Crystal doing the Bonnie Raitt thing, Big Mike and R&B, Casey rockin’ and Lee doing the Pearl Jam alternative thing. What a great season. I must be nuts as this is the exact opposite of what all the critics are saying. Oh well.
Go Crystal ….. uh, I mean Lee … or is that Casey I’m rooting for?
ON THIS DATE IN 2007 … Brian May was under 24-hour security watch after a deranged man announced he was setting off to murder him - then disappeared. Police were hunting for a schizophrenic who left a letter behind at his home blaming the Queen guitarist for his illness. In it the man said May was an "impostor" and that HE was the real rock star. He signed the letter "Brian May."
Have a good one
Pappy
5-13-10
American Idol is coming to a close for this season and last night’s performance by the four remaining contestants was rather impressive, I thought.
I read a few reviews this morning and some were very negative, calling this season one of the worst.
What Idol are these critics watching? I am thinking just the opposite as this season, in my opinion, has the coolest final four of all the seasons I have been tuned in to.
Crystal, Lee, Casey and Mike are all heading for stardom, in my humble opinion, of course.
Casey took a beating in press reviews for his take on the classic by Simon & Garfunkel, “Mrs. Robinson.”
As being one of my all-time favorite songs, I thought he did a marvelous job with a little change here and a little change there of that classic song. I am a big fan of his, as he is not only a great singer but musician as well. I don’t see Casey winning the competition but he will be heard of in the music field. Not only is he a great singer but man, the dude can really play the guitar. Randy passed some Kudos to him last night for his classical guitar-playing on his duet with Mike.
Crystal is still my bet to win it all although Lee continually knocks his songs out of the park.
Mike should go on to a successful career in R&B as he too has a marvelous voice.
Both duets last night were awesome, as the final four, once again, in my opinion, showcased true talent. What great singers!
Here is my prediction: Final 2 --- Lee and Crystal.
And the winner is ------ toss a coin as this one is a tough one to call. I will go out on the limb and predict that Crystal Bowersox will take the contest.
Anyway, good luck to all of the final four as they have taken the show to a new level, in spite of what some of the critics are saying.
Besides, what do critics (such as me) know?
ON THIS DATE IN 2008 … Singer-songwriter Neil Young had a spider named after him. US university biologist Jason Bond discovered a new species of trapdoor spider and decided to name it after his favorite musician. Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi was found in Jefferson County, Alabama, in 2007.
Too cool … how many artists have the honor of having a spider named after them? Only The King of Grunge Himself ---- Neil Young.
Have a good one
Pappy
5-12-10
On this date in:
* 1958 … Connie Francis was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with a cover of the 1923 song 'Who's Sorry Now.' Francis was the first female rock 'n' roll star to reach No.1.
* 1963 … The Beatles started a 30 week run at No.1 on the UK album charts with their debut album 'Please Please Me,' making it the longest running No.1 album by a group ever. The bands follow up 'With The Beatles' replaced it at the top of the charts on 7th December 1963 and stayed there for 21 weeks.
* 1964 … During a UK tour The Rolling Stones were refused lunch at The Grand Hotel, Bristol, where they were staying because they were not wearing jackets and ties. The following day the Daily Express ran the story with the headline, 'The Rolling Stones gather no lunch.’
* 1965 … Roger Miller was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'King Of The Road.' The singer's only UK No.1. The Proclaimers had a UK No. 9 hit with their version of the song in 1990.
* 1967 … The Bee Gees made their Top Of The Pops debut performing 'New York Mining Disaster' on the UK TV show.
* 1970 … The triple soundtrack album 'Woodstock' was released in the US, going gold within two weeks.
* 1972 … John Lennon appeared on the US television 'Dick Cavett Show,' claiming he was under surveillance from the FBI.
*1974 … Led Zeppelin attended Elvis Presley show at the Los Angeles Forum in California. After a shaky start to the show, Elvis stopped the band and jokingly said: “Wait a minute…if we can start together fellas, because we’ve got Led Zeppelin out there, lets try to look like we know what were doing.” All four members of Zeppelin met with Elvis after the show, spending over 2 hours backstage. Elvis asked for all the group’s autographs for his daughter Lisa Marie.
* 1985 … UK producer and keyboard player Paul Hardcastle was at No. 1 on the UK singles chart with '19.' The title referred to the average age of American soldiers in the Vietnam War and features dialogue by television narrator Peter Thomas, and a strong anti-war message.
* 1985 … Bruce Springsteen and a small group of friends went out for a boy’s night out in Lake Oswego, Oregon, two nights before his wedding to Julianne Phillips. Drinking in the Gemini pub Springsteen sang a number of songs, karaoke-style, to his own records in the jukebox.
Have a good one
Pappy
5-11-10
Planet Green is really a cool channel to lounge around on the couch and watch, something I am very good at.
Animals in Africa was the show last night and it was amazing, for me at least.
I watched in bewilderment as a pack of wild dogs devised their game plan as they were on the hunt for a Gazelle --- a tasty supper for the pups.
Instincts --- that’s what these fighters live on --- instinct.
The wild dogs have a speed advantage but the Gazelle has longevity in the endurance factor, but that falls by the wayside when these dogs get on the trail.
So there they were, a pack of about eight dogs slowly sneaking up on the unsuspecting Gazelles while devising a game plan. As the pack of dogs neared the grazing animals, they split up in three groups in an effort to flank the prey and cut one off at the pass.
Man, it was just like watching a war movie as these dogs instinctively know how to go about catching a good meal.
So, the race was on and as the pack moved in for the kill, one targeted Gazelle took off like a bat out of Heaven, in for the run of its life with a three dogs hot on the trail.
It finally boiled down to a race between the freaked out Gazelle and a few dogs when the Gazelle took to a water hole, only to have to emerge eventually since they are not good swimmers.
To make a long story short, the dogs waited a few minutes and then, you hear a yelp, a call from the pack, that the main pack had indeed caught dinner and the three took off for supper, leaving one Gazelle for another day of living in the African wild in hopes of seeing the next.
Great stuff --- and an even greater way to spend a Sunday evening lounging on the couch and being totally useless, watching some poor, unsuspecting animal fighting for its life in the rugged wilds of the African tundra.
Life is grand – for me --- but not so good for the Gazelle, whose time had come to become a part of the food chain.
ON THIS DATE IN 1960 … The Silver Beetles (John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Stuart Sutcliffe and Tommy Moore) auditioned for promoter Larry Parnes and singer Billy Fury for a job as Fury's backing group. Parnes was also looking for backing groups for his lesser-known acts and The Silver Beetles were selected as backing group for singer Johnny Gentle's upcoming tour of Scotland. The group had changed its name from 'The Beatals' to 'The Silver Beetles' after Brian Casser (of Cass and the Cassanovas) remarked that the name 'Beatals' was "ridiculous.” He suggested they use the name 'Long John and the Silver Beetles' but John Lennon refused to be referred to as 'Long John.'
Have a good one
Pappy
5-10-10
Top headlines for today ….
* “Neanderthals mated with some modern humans after all and left their imprint in the human genome, a team of biologists has reported in the first detailed analysis of the Neanderthal genetic sequence.” …. Well, in my humble opinion, there are still plenty of Neanderthals roaming the planet, primarily in Washington, D.C.
* “More than 17 years after Lawrence Taylor left a football field for the last time, he finds himself facing real prison time for an alleged crime as to which there are precious few defenses.” …. LT.. LT.. LT … when are these athletes going to realize that they are not above the law and can be held accountable for their actions? I guess after they do some time in the slammer, which is finally beginning to happen in the Land of Plenty of sports.
* “BP PLC has started to lower the cofferdam containment dome that it hopes will capture oil leaking from a well at the seabed in the Gulf.” … Yea, yea, yea … after the fact that millions of gallons continue to flow into the Gulf. Where are all the Drill Baby Drill folks? I haven’t heard a word from these folks. Silence is really Golden. It seems every time there is a crisis somewhere, the name Halliburton pops up, HMMMMMM!
* “New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Thursday unveiled his revised $63 billion budget plan for fiscal 2011, which includes shedding 11,000 public employees through layoffs and attrition.” … How can a nation create jobs when they have all been moved overseas and the country financially ruined by years of abuse at Wall Street, a fact that continues on and on and on.
* “Lady Gaga takes to her Twitter page to let fans know that "American Idol" didn't air her entire performance Wednesday night.” …. Thank God for miracles.
ON THIS DATE IN 1966 … The Mamas and the Papas started a three week run at No. 1 on the US singles chart with 'Monday Monday.' It made No. 3 in the UK. The group was reported, as saying they all hated the song except for its writer John Phillips.
Have a good one
Pappy
5-7-10
American Idol --- my interest in the show goes back to the second season when a singer from Connersville made it to the final 16 -- Aliceyn Cooney, who sang "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan. Cooney is quite a singer, having played in a band that featured her for a short period of time right before her appearance on Idol. Anyway, I watched the second season due to Cooney being on the show but lost interest after her elimiantion.
I tuned in once again two years ago when David Cook won and I have been addicted (well, sort of) to Idol since.
Here are the winners up to this point in time:
Season 1--Winner: Kelly Clarkson; Runner Up: Justin Guarini
Season 2-- Winner: Ruben Studdard; Runner Up: Clay Aiken
Season 3-- Winner: Fantasia Barrino; Runner Up: Diana Degarmo
Season 4-- Winner: Carrie Underwood; Runner Up: Bo Bice
Season 5-- Winner: Taylor Hicks; Runner Up: Katherine McPhee
Season 6-- Winner: Jordin Sparks; Runner Up: Blake Lewis
Season 7-- Winner: David Cook; Runner Up: David Archuleta
Season 8-- Winner: Kris Allen; Runner up: Adam Lambert
Back to the point of this story ----- Lady GaGa and her performance last night.
While literally millions of people watch the popular show, including the very young I’m sure, Lady GaGa’s performance last night was something right out of a Las Vegas showgirl routine.
Being a product of the 60s, nothing really freaks me out as far as skimpy-clad people go, but come on Lady GaGa, put on some clothes, pronounce your lyrics more clearly (unless they are too vulgar for mainstream TV, which I’m sure they are) and leave the Greek/Roman dancers at home.
Yes sir, there she was, all decked out in her fishnet outfit in what looked like a bikini one would see on the beaches of Rio intertwined with ---- I can’t even explain it.
A string bikini --- at that. Her dancers --- I won’t even comment on.
If I want to see a dance review, I’ll go to a dance review.
This is my gripe with the current music scene --- it isn’t about music, it’s all about dancing.
Dancing with the Stars and So You Think You Can Dance are shows that feature dancers.
I was reminiscing last night while the Greek dancers pranced around doing their goofy dance routine with GaGa and I had to chuckle as I thought about how times have changed. I flashed back and wondered what it would have been like going to a Uriah Heep concert back in 1972 and seeing a stage full of dancers as the Heepsters belted out July Morning ---- it just didn’t fit man, it just didn’t fit. We would have rioted and ended up in jail had they tried that crap back when music was really music.
Oh well, it is a new dawn people, and the music business is like everything else this day and age ---- try anything and everything to get ratings and increases in sales and push to the limit what one can get by with on national TV.
Lady GaGa is the Madonna of this age, so she and her act are not really something new, just old, re-hashed Madonna.
Anyway, as the old saying goes, “There’s no business like show business.”
By the way, my prediction as to the Idol winner this season --- Lee.
ON THIS DATE IN 1965 … In their Clearwater, Florida, hotel room, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards worked out the opening guitar riff of ‘Satisfaction’ following Richard's purchase of a Gibson fuzz-box earlier that day.
Peace
Pappy
5-6-10
I’m convinced that the nation is going bonkers trying to adjust to life in the new millennium.
A concept currently sweeping the nation is the notion that teachers should no longer be tenured and their pay and raises should be based on student grades.
Is there no common sense left in America? A teacher’s pay based on the performance of the students they teach?
Well, that is fine and dandy --- if you happen to be a teacher that teaches in a wealthy district or you happen to teach a subject that the smart students take such as calculus, physics, etc. etc. but what about the poor teacher that has students that just do not have an interest in doing well in school, or a student who has a terrible home life with no guidance from their parents?
How can we hold a teacher responsible for such actions that are out of their control?
I speak on the subject from the standpoint of having been an assistant in an alternative school for troubled students several years ago. There were 19 students in the school and not one came from a family with a father figure in the home, to say nothing about a mother that cared about the welfare of their child when it comes to getting a good education.
And a teacher’s pay should be tied in to their performance? Please!
I know, I know, there are some teachers out there that are not the best, but I would bet the farm that 95 percent of those who graduate with a B.A are more than qualified to teach. If not, try going to college and becoming a teacher. See how difficult earning that four year degree can be.
I pity the poor teacher who would have been rewarded or penalized in their salary while teaching me way back when. I thought learning to play a guitar was far more important than doing well in school. Yea, yea, yea, we had some teachers in my era that were hard core and some would say in this day and age, not a GOOD teacher.
Bull! Get over it and realize that we all can’t be Rhodes Scholars as some students are lazy and some are just not capable of doing well for whatever reason.
There is a solution to this idiotic notion though ---- if an educator teaches trigonometry to the smarter students one year and those students do well, let that same educator teach beginning math the next year to students who are not good at math and simply could care less about getting a good education.
A teacher’s pay and raises based on a student’s performance?
Hogwash!
ON THIS DATE IN 1968 … BuffaloSpringfield split up. Richie Fury formed Poco and Stephen Stills teamed up with David Crosby and Graham Nash in Crosby Stills & Nash.
Have a good one
Pappy
5-5-10
Weekend wrap-up ---- Tiger has his worst performance ever, Crystal Bowersox planned to quit Idol and the Gulf is awash in oil.
Poor old Tiger Woods. His constant hounding by the press is interfering with his game as he had his worst performance ever? That’s what the press said early this morning. Tiger held a press conference saying the press just will not let his past go. If I were Tiger Woods, I would simply disappear into the sunset with all my millions and let the game of golf try to keep its ratings without my participation. Yes, Tiger screwed up. Yes, he’s a jerk for his womanizing but how long does the media think he should be asked the same questions over and over and over and over?
I am not a golfer, never played a round in my life and I am definitely not a fan of the game but Tiger ought to pack it up and ride off into the sunset and let the game of golf continue on – without him. The ratings would tank and the game would lose its high ratings. Anyway, yes, Tiger was (is) a jerk but come on people, how many months will the press drag him across the fires asking the same questions? Move on Tiger. Go retire in the Bahamas or wherever else the billionaires hide away to. Let the golf game go a few years without you and wait until the next big thing hits the scene.
Crystal Bowersox almost quit American Idol? I just read that this morning and after reading the story several times, still can’t figure out why she almost packed it up and hit the road. I guess Ryan Seacrest talked her out of the move. Having become a huge Idol fan over the past few years, I think Crystal is a shoo-in to win the title this year. Don’t know why she was on the verge of leaving but I am glad she decided to stay. Go Crystal.
Last but not least, the Gulf coast must be jinxed. After finally making slow progress to rebuild the city after the 2005 Hurricane Katrina devastation, now comes the BP oil refinery explosion that is still leaking thousands of barrels of oil from the depths of about 5,000 feet. They can’t plug the leak yet. Great news to hear. Drill baby drill is the phrase we keep hearing and how modern technology allows the oil companies to drill in a safe and environmentally sound way. So much for all that yip-yap.
And to make matters worse, try and erect windmills in Cape Cod in an effort to reduce our dependency on oil, foreign or not, and the Kennedy clan, of all clans, are complaining saying it will botch up the beautiful Cape Cod view. Amazing.
I’m out of here.
ON THIS DATE 1968, The Beach Boys opened their US tour on which the co-headliner was Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.
Have a good one
Pappy 5-3-10
ON THIS DAY IN:
* 1960 - The Everly Brothers started a seven week run at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Cathy's Clown,' giving Warner Bros a No.1 with their first release.
* 1964 - The Beatles received $140,000 for the rights to having their pictures included in packages of bubble gum in the USA.
* 1965 - Manchester group Herman's Hermits began their first US tour supported by The Zombies.
* 1966 - The Young Rascals went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Good Lovin.' The song had been a hit for The Olympics the year before.
* 1967 - Jimi Hendrix, The Walker Brothers, Engelbert Humperdink and Cat Stevens all appeared at the Granada Theatre, Tooting, London.
* 1968 - BBC TV launched The Cilla Black Show making Cilla the first British female performer to have her own TV show. The theme song, ‘Step Inside Love,’ was written by Paul McCartney.
* 1970 - Twiggs Lyndon, the road manager for the Allman Brothers Band, was arrested for murder after he stabbed a club manager during an argument over a contract. At the ensuing trial, Lyndon's lawyers argued that he had been temporarily insane at the time of the incident and that touring with the Allman Brothers would drive anyone insane. Lyndon was acquitted.
* 1976 - The Who's drummer Keith Moon paid nine cab drivers to block-off both ends of a New York street so he could throw the contents of his hotel room out of the window.
* 1977 - Led Zeppelin broke a new world attendance record at a concert when they played to 76,229 people at a gig at the Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan. The Who held the previous record at the same venue with 75,962 people.
* 1983 - American Blues legend Muddy Waters (McKinley Morganfield) died in his sleep at his home in Westmont, Illinois, aged 68. Major influence of many acts, Cream, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones named themselves after Waters' 1950 song 'Rollin' Stone.' Best know songs include 'I Just Want To Make Love To You,' 'I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man' and 'Got My Mojo Working.'
* 1990 - Prince played a concert at Rupert's Night-club, Minneapolis. The $100 a head ticket proceeds all went to the family of his former bodyguard Charles 'Big Chick.' Huntsberry who had died from a heart attack.
* 1991 - Nirvana signed a recording contract with Geffen's DGC label for $290,000.
Have a good one
Pappy
4-30-10
voice! CSN&Y and the Hollies ----- Graham Nash was (is) the voice.
According to his bio: Graham William Nash (born 2 February 1942) is a British singer-songwriter known for his light tenor vocals and for his songwriting contributions with the British pop group The Hollies, and with the folk-rock band Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Nash is a photography collector and a published photographer. Nash was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Crosby, Stills & Nash and as a member of The Hollies in 2010..
Music career
Graham Nash has immortalized the circumstances of his birth on February 2 1942 in the first lines of the song 'Military Madness' (Nash Notes): 'In an upstairs room in Blackpool, by the side of a Northern sea, the Army had my father and my mother was having me.' As a potential target for German air raids, the city of Manchester was not a safe place for expectant mothers and small children, hence Mary Nash had been evacuated for the blessed event. The baby was brought back to his hometown of Salford soon afterwards, and his first memories of growing up include recollections of the wartime conditions imposed on his family. By 1947, after the Second World War was over, the five year old Nash first attended Ordsall Board School and soon got acquainted with a new boy, his future colleague Allan Clarke.
Their friendship had a strong basis in music. Graham sang descants, Allan sang melodies, and they were often asked to perform together from their earliest school days. By the time they had reached the age of fourteen, the boys first got paid to sing, having various engagements in the Manchester area as 'The Two Teens.' Over the next few years their reputation grew, their stage name changed to 'The Guytones' and then to 'Ricky and Dane.' At about this time both Nash and Clarke eagerly absorbed the sounds of American 'rock and roll', notably Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, and especially the Everly Brothers - the most direct influence upon their developing sound. Graham in particular loved to harmonize so much that he often made up a third part, up higher than that of Phil Everly, when he sang along with their recordings.
- 1960s: Nash became a founding member of The Hollies, one of the pop groups from the UK associated in the United States with the "British Invasion." Using his keen sense of social poetry, often writing in collaboration with Allan Clarke, Nash contributed to many of the band's songs.
- 1966: During a visit to the US Nash found himself in Laurel Canyon with Mama Cass Elliot, David Crosby and Stephen Stills. Nash began to explore recreational drug use and soon left The Hollies to form a new group with David Crosby and Stephen Stills, Crosby, Stills & Nash.
- 1969: Joined by Neil Young to form Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (CSNY); August, CSN play the Woodstock Festival joined by new member, Neil Young.
- 1970: CSNY defined the Woodstock era as part of the film documentary on the Woodstock festival with their rendition of "Woodstock," written by Joni Mitchell.
Nash becomes politically active after moving to San Francisco. Following such others as Pete Seeger, Joan Baez and Bob Dylan, Nash presses for social change with his lyrics in such songs as "Military Madness" and "Chicago (We Can Change the World)."
- 1971: Nash teams with Crosby as a recording and performing duo. Also releases his first solo album, Songs For Beginners.
- 1974: CSNY Arena Reunion Tour.
- 1977: Nash and Crosby reunite with Stills as CSN.
- 1978: Nash becomes a citizen of the United States of America on August 14.
- 1979: Nash co-founds Musicians United for Safe Energy.
- 1982-1983: Nash rejoins his former group The Hollies and scores a sizable hit with them, a remake of The Supremes' "Stop! In the Name of Love" before leaving once more after a year.
- 1997: Nash is inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Crosby, Stills & Nash.
- 2005: Nash collaborates with Norwegian musicians a-ha on the songs "Over the Treetop" (penned by Paul Waaktaar-Savoy) and "Cosy Prisons" (penned by Magne Furuholmen) for the Analogue recording.
- 2006: Nash works with David Gilmour and David Crosby on the title track of David Gilmour's third solo album, On an Island. In March 2006, the album is released and quickly reaches #1 on the UK charts. Nash and Crosby subsequently tour the UK with Gilmour, singing backup on "On an Island," "The Blue," "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" and "Find the Cost of Freedom."
- 2007: Nash works with No Nukes group against the expansion of nuclear power. Nash and partners contribute a new music video version of the Buffalo Springfield song "For What It's Worth."
- 2008: Nash appears on the season 7 finale of American Idol singing "Teach Your Children" with Brooke White.
- 2010: Nash was inducted a second time to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, this time as a member of The Hollies.
Graham Nash --- one of my all-time favorite artists, who just happended to be a member of two great bands --- CSN&Y and the Hollies. He rightfully belongs in the Hall of Fame.
ON THIS DATE IN 1960 - Warner Brothers launched its own record label in Britain with the release of The Everly Brothers 'Cathy's Clown.'
Peace
Pappy
4-29-10
A little humor to get the day off on a happy note ….
* Saint Peter is checking ID's at the Pearly Gates, and first comes a Texan.
"Tell me, what have you done in life?" says St. Peter. The Texan says, "Well, I struck oil, so I became rich, but I didn't sit on my laurels--I divided all my money among my entire family in my will, so our descendants are all set for about three generations."
St. Peter says, "That's quite something. Come on in. Next!" The second guy in line has been listening, so he says, "I struck it big in the stock market, but I didn't selfishly just provide for my own like that Texan guy. I donated five million to Save the Children."
"Wonderful!" says Saint Peter. "Come in. Who's next?" The third guy has been listening, and says timidly with a downcast look, "Well, I only made five thousand dollars in my entire lifetime."
"Heavens!" says St. Peter. "What instrument did you play?"
* An older, white haired man walked into a jewelry store one Friday evening with a beautiful young gal at his side. He told the jeweler he was looking for a special ring for his girlfriend.
The jeweler looked through his stock and brought out a $5,000 ring. The old man said, "No, I'd like to see something more special."
At that statement, the jeweler went to his special stock and brought another ring over. "Here's a stunning ring at only $40,000" the jeweler said.
The young lady's eyes sparkled and her whole body trembled with excitement.
The old man seeing this said, "We'll take it." The jeweler asked how payment would be made and the old man stated, "by check. I know you need to make sure my check is good, so I'll write it now and you can call the bank Monday to verify the funds and I'll pick the ring up Monday afternoon," he said.
Monday morning, the jeweler phoned the old man. "There's no money in that account."
"I know," said the old man, "But let me tell you about my weekend!
* A cowboy named Bud was overseeing his herd in a remote mountainous pasture in California when suddenly a brand-new BMW advanced out of a dust cloud towards him.
The driver, a young man in a Brioni suit, Gucci shoes, RayBan sunglasses and YSL tie, leans out the window and asks the cowboy, 'If I tell you exactly how many cows and calves you have in your herd, Will you give me a calf?' Bud looks at the man, obviously a yuppie, then looks at his peacefully grazing herd and calmly answers, 'Sure, Why not?' The yuppie parks his car, whips out his Dell notebook computer, connects it to his Cingular RAZR V3 cell phone, and surfs to a NASA page on the Internet, where he calls up a GPS satellite to get an exact fix on his location which he then feeds to another NASA satellite that scans the area in an ultra-high-resolution photo. The young man then opens the digital photo in Adobe Photoshop and exports it to an image processing facility in Hamburg, Germany.
Within seconds, he receives an email on his Palm Pilot that the image has been processed and the data stored. He then accesses an MS-SQL database through an ODBC connected Excel spreadsheet with email on his Blackberry and, after a few minutes, receives a response. Finally, he prints out a full-color, 150-page report on his hi-tech, miniaturized HP LaserJet printer and finally turns to the cowboy and says, 'You have exactly 1,586 cows and calves.'
'That's right. Well, I guess you can take one of my calves,' says Bud.
He watches the young man select one of the animals and looks on amused as the young man stuffs it into the trunk of his car.
Then the Bud says to the young man, 'Hey, if I can tell you exactly what your business is, will you give me back my calf?' The young man thinks about it for a second and then says, 'Okay, why not?'
'You're a Congressman for the U.S. Government,' says Bud. 'Wow! That's correct,' says the yuppie, 'but how did you guess that?'
'No guessing required.' answered the cowboy. 'You showed up here even though nobody called you; you want to get paid for an answer I already knew, to a question I never asked. You tried to show me how much smarter than me you are; and you don't know a thing about cows...this is a herd of sheep. Now give me back my dog.
ON THIS DATE IN 1967 … Bee Gees debut on UK chart with "New York Mining Disaster" and Traffic debut on US charts with their LP "Mr. Fantasy."
Have a good one
Pappy
4-27-10
Well, to be perfectly honest, I never thought I’d be writing on Lady GaGa …. But, my granddaughter told me Sunday she liked “Telephone” so I thought I’d check it out.
According to Songmeanings:
In this song the protagonist is being harassed by her lover on the phone when she's trying to dance in a club.
The song features Beyoncé, who returned the favor to Gaga after the dance queen guested on the former Destiny Child singer's "Video Phone."
The song was co-written and produced by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, and it was originally intended for Britney Spears, but it wasn't included on her album. Jerkins previously collaborated with Beyoncé on Destiny Child's hit single, "Say My Name."
GaGa told MTV News that this song is about her "fear of suffocation." She explained: Something that I have or fear is never being able to enjoy myself. 'Cause I love my work so much, I find it really hard to go out and have a good time."
Gaga added that the phone in the song isn't just a physical phone, but also somebody in her head telling her to keep working harder and harder. "That's my fear — that the phone's ringing and my head's ringing," she explained. "Whether it's a telephone or it's just the thoughts in your head, that's another fear."
This was the third time Beyoncé charted as a guest artist on someone else's record. Her first billing was on Jay-Z's "'03 Bonnie and Clyde" in 2002 and she subsequently recorded a duet with Alicia Keys, "Put It In a Love Song" around the same time as "Telephone."
Gaga told Los Angeles Power 106 radio station that the song's mini movie is more about Beyoncé than herself and claimed that the former Destiny's Child singer is her "vehicle" for changing the idea of what a visual product can be. "The video in a lot of ways is more about [Beyoncé] even than it is about me," Gaga said. "It was sort of a pop-art venture for me to bring her into my world. In a way, the video is an attempt for her and I to erase pop music as we know it up until this very point. It's meant to change the perspective of the world on what a pop music video should be and she's kind of the vehicle for that. In reality, more people around the world are familiar with her aesthetics than they are with mine. It was something for me to kind of change the way that you see her for one video."
Gaga discussed with Ryan Seacrest the Coca-Cola cans she wears in her hair in the video. "My mom used to do that when I was a kid," she explained. "'Cause if we didn't have any rollers in the house, she'd slice up some Coke cans and then she'd heat them up and pin them in her hair."
Gaga added that she "really believe[s] in the power of visuals, and sometimes visions come to me and I know I have to do them. It doesn't really matter if it makes sense or if it doesn't make sense. By the end of the video, it became so much more as we explored each scene it became about transsexual women and it became about making fun of American hallmarks like soda cans and cigarettes and mayonnaise and bread."
The song's climb to #1 on the UK singles chart coincided with The Fame returning to the top of the album tally for the third time. Gaga had preciously managed the same achievement in April 2009 and this meant she became the second solo female to simultaneously top the UK singles and albums chart on more than once occasion. Madonna is the other solo female artist to do so.
The song was Lady Gaga's fourth UK #1 single in a little over 14 months, the only other solo female artist to have topped the charts four times in a shorter period was Madonna who managed a quartet of chart-toppers in 12 and a half months between July 1986 and July 1987.
So, there it is Lady GaGa fans …..
ON THIS DATE IN 1982 … Rod Stewart was mugged in Los Angeles in broad daylight. He was robbed of his $50,000 Porsche by a gunman on Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles. He was not hurt in the incident.
Have a good one
Pappy
4-26-10
Karen Carpenter the best drummer in the world, edging out the late, great John Bonham of Led Zeppelin?
WHAT? Yes, yes, yes … according to a Playboy music poll in 1975. Playboy should stick to what they do best (whatever that would be) and leave music polls alone.
According to This Day in Music:
* In 2002 Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour decided he had enough money and gave the £4.2m he got for selling a house to a homeless charity.
* Elton John and Bernie Taupin wrote 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' under the pseudonyms Ann Orson and Carte Blanche.
* Elvis Presley's 111 hits have spent a total of 1,149 weeks in the UK singles chart. His first hit was the 1956 "Heartbreak Hotel."
* Drummer Nick Mason is the only member of Pink Floyd to appear on all of the band's albums.
* Jim Morrison’s grave in Paris is monitored by video cameras in an attempt to deter graffiti artists.
* When The Beatles arrived at Adelaide airport during their 1964 world tour, they were met by over 200,000 Australian fans who lined the streets for 10 miles to the city centre.
* Courtney Love gained the distinction of being the first AOL subscriber to have her e-mail account shut down, mainly for the death threats she posted against people she thought deserved them. Also, Courtney Love's father Hank Harrison was The Grateful Dead's tour manager.
* James Brown holds the record for most US Hot 100 entries (ninety-nine) without ever scoring a number-one song.
* At one point in 1980, all nine albums released by Led Zeppelin were on the Billboard chart, the most albums ever by a single artist to chart at the same time.
* In 1975 a Playboy music poll ranked Karen Carpenter the best drummer in the world. Led Zeppelin's John Bonham came second.
* “Forever Your Girl” by Paula Abdul spent sixty-four consecutive weeks on the Billboard album chart before hitting number one, making it the longest time for an album to reach the number one spot.
* All-time sales by The Beatles have been estimated by EMI at over one billion discs and tapes to date. In 2001, they had been certified for album sales of 163.5 million in the US alone.
ON THIS DATE IN 1997 … The Four Tops received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Have a good one
Pappy
4-23-10
Where did they get that name?
According to Music Trivia, the following decided to name themselves after some interesting concepts:
* BOB DYLAN - Robert Zimmerman changed his surname to Dylan in honor of Dylan Thomas.
* BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS - Al Kooper (founder) came up with the name when on the phone with a promoter, while gazing at a Johnny Cash album cover, Cash's "Blood Sweat & Tears" album.
* CANNED HEAT - Alan Wilson and Bob Hite took the name from Tommy Johnson's 1928 "Canned Heat Blues", a song about an alcoholic who had desperately turned to drinking Sterno, often called "canned heat."
* CREEDANCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL - It is reported the band took their name from Norvel Creedence, a friend of band leader John Fogerty, plus John's favorite beer was called Clearwater, which, after it disappeared from the market for a time, was revived by another brewery.
* EMINEM - His real name is Marshall Bruce Mathers III, he took the "M-and-M" and rewrote it as Eminem.
* FALLOUT BOY - The band was nameless for their first two shows. At the end of their second show, they asked the audience to yell out their ideas for a name. One audience member suggested "Fallout Boy," a reference to the sidekick of the Simpsons cartoon character RadioactiveMan.
* FOUR SEASONS - Originally the Varietones, when they got turned at an auditioned to appear at a local bowling alley, they adopted the name of the place "The Four Seasons."
* HERMAN'S HERMITS - Peter Noone resemblance to the character Sherman in the TV cartoon 'The Bullwinkle Show,' but he misheard the name as Herman. Soon after, the band changed their name to Herman and The Hermits, very soon became abbreviated to Herman's Hermits.
* THE HOLLIES - Not in homage to Buddy Holly, as rumored. They chose the name from some Christmas holly decorating Graham Nash's house.
* JETHRO TULL - Jethro Tull was an 1800's British farmer who invented a type of plough. The band used to change their name frequently, found Jethro Tull luckier than the rest.
* MEATLOAF - Marvin Lee Aday stepped on the foot of his high school football coach, who shouted 'Meat Loaf' instead of swearing.
* NICKELBACK - Some say it derived from the American Football term,, but according to most sources the name is derived from the nickel (money), which Mike Kroeger frequently had to give customers back in change when he was working at a Starbucks coffee shop and would frequently say, "Here's your nickel back."
ON THIS DATE IN 1974: Tina Turner started filming in the role of Acid Queen in the Who's film "Tommy."
Have a good one
Pappy
4-22-10
CCR ---- John Fogerty was (is) the man when it comes to songwriting having penned such classics as “Lodi,” “Who’ll Stop the Rain,” “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” and the list could go on.
Anyway, according to SongMeanings: “Bad Moon on the Rise” ….
In Rolling Stone issue 649, John Fogerty explained that the lyrics were inspired by a movie called The Devil and Daniel Webster, in which a hurricane wipes out most of a town. This is where he got the idea for the words "I feel the hurricane blowin,' I hope you're quite prepared to die." Overall, he said the song is about the "apocalypse that was going to be visited upon us."
This became the theme song of the demonstrators during the People's Park riots in Berkeley, California, in 1969.
This was used in two science-fiction movies of the 1980s: An American Werewolf In London (1981) and Twilight Zone: The Movie (1982).
This contains a classic misheard lyric. The line "There's a bad moon on the rise" is often heard as "There's a bathroom on the right." Not only do many people sing the wrong lyrics, but John Fogerty himself sang the "bathroom on the right" lyric once during the "Premonition" concert. It can be heard after the last verse of the song quite plainly.
The music makes this sound like a happy song, but the lyrics are very bleak, describing events that indicate a coming apocalypse.
As a result of this song, American football player Andre Rison's nickname was "Bad Moon," as in "Bad Moon Risin'." Rison was an all-pro wide receiver, but is also famous for having his house burned down by Lisa (Left Eye) Lopes, a singer with TLC who was his girlfriend at the time.
This has been covered by Nirvana, Bruce Springsteen, Bo Diddley, Type O Negative, 16 Horsepower, Reels, Spitballs, Blue Aeroplanes, Lagwagon, Battlefield Band, Ducky Boys, Acoustic Shack, Ventures, Meteors, and Rasputina.
Comments:
I can't believe that the lyrics were thought with the bathroom on the right thing. I've been listening to this song for years and never heard it that way. After reading that, I even had to find my CD and listen to it, just to see where you were coming from.
- Alayna, Gainesville, FL
I believe this is a prophetic song about the coming events from the book of Revelation. Matthew 24 shows some of these things happening and will soon to be. I hope you've got your things together. Be prepared.
- Clyde, Cocoa,, FL
This song was the "Anthem" of the Vietnam War. I once watched a hall full of Viet Vets go absolutely NUTS when Fogarty hit the opening chords. They whistled, cheered, stomped, or clapped along. Watching them, I couldn't hold back the tears... Sure it's "dark"...but so is that Classic Paratrooper's Song "Blood Upon The Risers" with it's cheeky "He Ain't Gonna Jump No More" refrain. I hum this song to myself whenever I need a "Lift," or when I watch a Huey Helicopter go Whup-Whupping through the summer sky.
- Anna, Winnipeg, MB
Regardless of what inspired this song it was THE Vietnam Warrior's Anthem. I remember seeing a hall full of Vets start whistling, cheering, clapping or stomping along as the opening chords to "Bad Moon" were struck. These 200+ graying geezers --some in wheelchairs or leaning on canes were suddenly teenagers again getting ready to "lock and load"....Sure the song is "Dark." But so it’s that macabre Paratroopers' Song with the cheeky refrain: "He ain't gonna Jump No More!"
ON THIS DATE IN 1963. . The Beatles and the Rolling Stones met for the first time at the Crawdaddy Club in Richmond, England. The Rolling Stones opened show.
Have a good one
Pappy
4-21-10
Talk about redistribution of wealth! My … my … my … how once again the talking money heads turn it all around and try to convince the Middle Class that the Obama Administration is trying to “redistribute the wealth.”
Amazing -- since just the opposite has been taking place for the past several years.
I don’t know from personal experience as I have never participated in the Wall Street criminal activities (and never will) that have propelled our nation into practically a Third World level, but I do know how much my mother lost last year as simply a low-ranking investor. She managed to lose about $30,000 to the thugs on Wall Street.
Talk about redistribution of wealth! Well, there it is, $30,000 went from my mom to Goldman Sachs CEOs and their gazillion dollar bonuses while my mother took a $30,000 hit.
And the politicians continue to blabber on about redistributing the wealth.
How about, just for the heck of it, allowing Wall Street to get off their trillions they stole and redistribute it back to the folks that they stole it from?
How about that for starters? But, as we all know, it is an imperfect world and the Middle Class will continue not having a say in how bad it is going to get tattooed in our finances.
We have become a nation led by pathological liars who will do and say anything as long as they can keep the Middle Class confused as to whom the culprits are that continue fleecing America and the world.
Wall Street criminal activities have cost the nation more than 7 million jobs and trillions of dollars as the politicians continue asking, “where are all the jobs?” Go ask Wall Street.
My advice: take a good listen to the late John Lennon’s song, “Working Class Hero.”
Anyway, Wall Street remains unchecked and continues on its path of wealth distribution --- to them of course.
ON THIS DATE IN 1959 - Dolly Parton at 13 years old releases “Puppy Love” in the U.S., her first single.
Peace
Pappy
4-20-10
It’s Monday, and a little humor might help to set the week off on a good course. Personally, I think the week should begin on Wednesday as a five day weekend would be just what the doctor ordered. Oh well, I enjoy living in a dream world …. Me and Walter Mitty ….
Anyway, here are but a few funnies that I got a chuckle from:
* The Pope has just finished a tour of NapaValley and is taking a limousine to San Francisco. Having never driven a limo, the Pope asks the chauffeur if he might drive for a while. Well, the chauffeur doesn't have much choice, so he climbs in the back of the limo and the Pope takes the wheel.
The Pope proceeds down Silverado, and starts accelerating to see what the limo can do. He gets to about 90 mph, and suddenly he sees the red and blue lights of a CHP cruiser in his mirror. He pulls over and the trooper comes to his window.
The trooper, seeing who it is, says, "Just a moment please, I need to call in."
The trooper calls in and asks for the Chief. He tells the Chief that he's got a REALLY important person pulled over, and asks how to handle it.
"Is it the governor?"
"No! Even more important!"
"Is it the PRESIDENT?"
"No! Even more important!"
"Well, WHO THE HECK is it?" screams the Chief.
"I don't know, Sir," replies the trooper, "But he's got the Pope as his chauffeur!
* Doing 120 in a 65, he knew he was in trouble when the cop pulled in behind him with the roof lights on. Figuring he could just lose the cop he floored the Ferrari. 130, 140, 150 and still the cop was right on his tail. 170, 180, still could not ditch the cop. Giving up he pulled over.
The cop approached the car," Give me one good reason why I shouldn't give you the biggest ticket this world has ever seen"
"Well, he stated, “Just last week my wife ran off with a cop."
"SO WHAT!!!" the cop screamed.
"I thought you were trying to bring her back."
* Andy came to work one day, limping something awful. One of his co-workers, Josh, noticed and asked Andy what happened. Andy replied, "Oh, nothing. It's just an old hockey injury that acts up once in a while."
Josh said, "Gee, I never knew you played hockey."
Andy responded, "No I don't. I hurt it last year when I lost $100 on the Stanley Cup play-offs. I put my foot through the television."
* A woman in Brooklyn decided to prepare her Will and make her final requests. She told her rabbi she had two final requests. First, she wanted to be cremated, and second, she wanted her ashes scattered all over Bloomingdales.
"Why Bloomingdales?" asked the rabbi.
"Then I'll be sure my daughters visit me twice a week."
ON THIS DATE IN 1980 … Brian Johnson 32 year old singer with Geordie joined AC/DC, replacing Bon Scott, who died after a drinking binge.
Have a good one
Pappy
4-19-10
She’s Not There” ---- The Zombies knocked this one out of the ballpark as it remains to this day a classic. Written by Rod Argent, who later went on to a solo career and scored another smash hit as Argent with “Hold Your Head Up.”
Anyway, I’ve always been a Zombies fan (60s, you know) and still listen to this great song having it downloaded in my iTunes catalogue (and paying for it, of course).
According to SongMeanings:
The Zombies recorded this in one take after they won a talent contest at their college called the Herts Beat competition. The prize was a recording session.
This was The Zombies first single. The band also recorded a cover of Gershwin's "Summertime" for their first album, which was considered for the band's first single, but "She's Not There" got the nod. Boosted by radio play on New York powerhouse WINS, the song became a hit in the US.
Some of the chord changes Argent used were inspired by Brian Hyland's "Sealed With A Kiss."
This was The Zombies' biggest hit. Even though it did very well, their next releases didn't catch on until 1969, when they hit US #3 with "Time Of The Season." Unfortunately, the band had already broken up by then and Argent had started his own group.
Keyboardist Rod Argent wrote this and most other Zombies songs. He later formed the early 1970s group Argent with Zombies bassist and co-writer Chris White.
Lead singer Colin Blunstone re-recorded this in the early '70s under the name Neil MacArthur. His version went to #34 in the UK.
The lead instrument is an electric piano, which was rare at the time. In the UK, it was the first hit song with an electric piano as the lead instrument. Rod Argent, the keyboard player in the Zombies, was challenged by Decca Records producer Ken Jones to write a hit record for his group, after they had just won the Herts Beat talent contest and he came up with this.
Santana covered this on their 1977 album Moonflower. Their version hit #27 in the US and #11 in the UK; it was the only non-live song from the otherwise live album. It was the last Santana cover song to chart. From here on out, the band would experiment with more Jazz-sounding material. Moonflower was also the last album before Supernatural to sell more than a million copies.
Comments:
Yes this song was covered on Kill Bill 2, however it is like a remix not the whole song. It just takes a few lines from the original song "She's Not There" mixed with a song from the great African American jazz/blues singer Bessie Smith for the 1930's "My Man." It has a slow cool hip beat remix.
- constance, dallas, TX
Well, I am amazed! I still get those goose bumps. 1967 to 2009. I feel that a natural voice came out. It is very seldom to hear. The catching of one's breath as you put forth your emotions in song. I do thank the Zombies....Snow
- Snow, Sierra Foothills, CA
This song plays a prominent role of novelist Jennifer Boylan's eponymous memoir. That book tells the story of her evolution from a boy/man named James, and the song recurs in it, like thunder muttering through some dream one gets drunk or high in order to forget, and returns at the moment she realizes she can no longer live as a man. I have always loved this song, but it means even more to me now because of Jennifer Boylan's book, which also means a lot to me because I've taken the same journey that she's made.
ON THIS DATE IN 1966 - BuffaloSpringfield performed for the first time as the support act for the Byrds in San Bernadino, CA.
Have a good one
Pappy
4-15-10
Last night was Elvis night on American Idol --- The KING --- and some of the contestants put on a clinic while others, well, faired pretty good and well, uh, two were let’s say, less than memorable.
Adam Lambert was mentor to the singers and I must say, I was impressed. Lambert, last year’s runner-up, in my opinion has the best voice to ever take the Idol stage and in his capacity as mentor, he was great. The advice he offered was tops and most took his advice.
Crystal Bowersox knocked ‘em out with "Saved," and when all the chips are settled, she is my pick to take all the marbles. She has yet to serve up a mediocre, let alone bad, performance.
Andrew Garcia couldn’t have picked a worse song to sing as he crooned through a very lame version of "Hound Dog," a perfromance that I believe will send him packing along with Aaron Kelly, who took a weak stab at "Blue Suede Shoes." I think these two will get the big boot tonight.
Tim Urban – man, I can’t figure this guy out as he is coming on strong as the contest continues. With him, it is all about song choices as he is beginning to pick tunes that he can croon. He did a great job last night on "I Can't Help Falling in Love With You." Tim, you have come a long way baby, but your days are numbered as you are no contest when compared to Crystal, Siobhan, Lee and Casey.
Lee Dewyze, whom I am a fan of, sang "A Little Less Conversation” and performed like always --- a good, solid night.
Siobhan Magnus sang "Suspicious Minds" and I thought she did a marvelous job, sort of Dwight Yoakam style but the judges tore her up. Go figure. Anyway, I do believe she is safe tonight.
Big Mike Big Mike Big Mike ---- sang "In the Ghetto" and I do believe the judges played the right card last week by saving him. He performed well but I think his days are also numbered.
Katie Stevens --- she beats me. I still can’t put a finger on her as she is good, but something just seems to be missing. Anyway, she crooned "What Do You Want Me To Do?" and did OK. I just don’t know, Katie reminds me of a person one would see on Cosmopolitan Magazine or something like that (like I know anything about Cosmopolitan). She just seems like more of a model as opposed to a singer.
Casey James ---- "Lawdy Miss Clawdy?" Casey was my choice to make it to the final two and I still believe it will boil down to he and Crystal, but he needs to re-energize himself and keep on rocking. I thought he performed well but once again, choose a great song man, choose a great song.
Anyway, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. My prediction for the two that will depart tonight ------ Andrew Garcia and Aaron Kelly.
ON THIS DATE IN 1971 - The Illinois Crime Commission issued a list of 'drug-oriented records' including Jefferson Airplane’s 'White Rabbit,' Procol Harum’s 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale' and The Beatles 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.'
Peace
Pappy
4-14-10
Just for the record: a recent Letter to the Editor in the Connersville News Examiner from a man in New Castle indicated that he attended the Carbon Motors Information Day that recently took place at the Carbon Motors Complex in Connersville. He said that Carbon Motors would have a difficult time finding 1,500 workers who possess an Associate Degree in engineering.
What seminar did he attend?
Here is what was said:
“Trevor Rudderham, executive vice president and Chief Development Officer, said engineers hired must have a Bachelors or Masters Degree or higher and 5 to 30 plus years experience in the automotive industry.
Alan Bratt, Chief Production Officer, said a Bachelors Degree and 10 plus years in the auto industry will be required for hiring in production engineering.”
What part of the seminar did this man not understand? If you want to hire on as an ENGINEER, you must have the above qualifications --- to be an ENGINEER. I guess this dude thinks that Carbon Motors will only be hiring engineers, all 1,500 of them!
Man, can’t people pay attention to anything this day and age? Yes, the worker at Carbon Motors will have to have a two year degree and have computer knowledge and what is wrong with that? Anyone who can’t operate a computer in these times needs to climb into the future and do it NOW.
What planet is this dude from? Has the entire nation been stricken with ADHD? Can’t people listen and process what they hear? Obviously not.
I attended the seminar and noticed some people walking out when speakers began talking about qualifications needed.
Yes folks, it is a changing world. The technology age is upon us and those who haven’t figured this out are in for a rude awakening.
As for the letter writer, pay better attention when you visit your next job fair and maybe, just maybe, you will get the facts straight and find yourself a job --- MAYBE.
ON THIS DATE IN 1967 - Rolling Stones perform behind Iron Curtain for the first time at the Palace of Culture, Warsaw. Police use tear gas to subdue 2,000 fans.
Have a good one
Pappy 4-13-10
There is no better way to get the week going than to highlight just exactly what transpired over the past few days that is newsworthy. So, with that being said, the following are but a couple of tidbits I find rather interesting regarding the current state of the union:
* Sarah Palin and her comments on the nuclear proliferation treaty with Russia, saying the move makes America less safe. Here are the facts: The U.S. and Russia sealed the first major nuclear weapons treaty in nearly two decades Friday, agreeing to slash the former Cold War rivals' warhead arsenals by nearly one-third and talking hopefully of eventually ridding a fearful world of nuclear arms altogether. Just for the record: Dr. Robert M. Gates was sworn in on December 18, 2006, as the 22nd Secretary of Defense. Dr. Gates is the only Secretary of Defense in U.S. history to be asked to remain in that office by a newly elected President. President Barack Obama is the eighth president Dr. Gates has served.
I can’t speak for the rest of the free world, but, as Secretary Gates noted yesterday on Meet the Press, he and the Joint Chiefs of Staff are OK with the treaty calling it a good deal for not only both nations but the world as well.
I know, I know, President Obama, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Robert Gates and the Joint Chiefs do not have the expertise or credentials in nuclear matters that Sarah Palin possesses, but … I’m going to go out on a limb and trust Obama, Medvedev, Gates and the Joint Chiefs on this one.
Sorry Sarah, but your knowledge on nuclear matters just doesn’t quite add up to the above-mentioned.
* Quick Loan Funding ---- Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Google Daniel Sadek and read about how a Lebanese immigrant with a third grade education brought down the housing industry.
Sadek founded Quick Loan in 2002, wrote about $4 billion in subprime mortgages before it collapsed in 2007. Sadek made, and eventually lost, a fortune through Quick Loan. He bought a NewportCoast mansion, a fleet of exotic cars and a condo in Las Vegas where he became a high roller at the blackjack tables. Citigroup, the New York financial giant, also boomed and nearly went broke because of subprime-related investments. Still buried among its troubled assets are three pools of securities totaling $1.5 billion that include $295 million from Sadek's company. By November, 36 percent of the loans in the three pools were in default, according to Bloomberg data.
Yes yes yes Google up this maniac and read and weep with how a dude with a third grade education toppled Wall Street and then, took our money to prop them back up.
De-regulate Wall Street and this is the result. I know, I know, many out there say too many people knew they were getting in over their heads, but when you really investigate the issue, you begin to understand how home loans were made to folks who were told that the housing bubble would never burst, home values would continue to increase forever and refinancing could be done after a two year period, allowing those who were duped to think that they could refinance and make a killing and continue on with the good life. Amazing.
So …. There it is folks, some great news to get your week off on a good start.
ON THIS DATE IN 1967 - US Greyhound bus company begins a guided tour service of 'Hippyland' in San Francisco.
Peace
Pappy
4-12-10
April 9th: On this Day:
* 1956 - Gene Vincent recorded the classic rock 'n roll song 'Be Bop-A-Lula,' which went on to be a US & UK Top 20 hit in this year.
* 1963 - The Beatles appeared live on the ITV show Tuesday Rendezvous, miming ‘From Me to You’ and ‘Please Please Me’ (during the closing credits). In the evening The Beatles played live at the Gaumont State Cinema, Kilburn, London.
* 1965 - The Rolling Stones appeared on UK TV show Ready Steady Go!
* 1966 - 'Blue Turns To Grey,' a song written by Jagger and Richards, gave Cliff Richard a No.15 UK hit.
* 1966 - Jeff Beck collapsed on stage during a Yardbirds gig in Marseilles, France.
* 1966 - The Righteous Brothers started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'You're My Soul And Inspiration,' a No.15 hit in the UK.
* 1967 - The Doors and The Jefferson Airplane appeared at Cheetah, Santa Monica Pier, Venice, California. This was the largest show The Doors had played to date with a crowd of over 3,000.
* 1970 - Pink Floyd kicked off their second North American tour at The Fillmore East, Manhattan, New York City.
* 1973 - Newly signed to EMI Records, Queen played a showcase gig for their new record label at the Marquee Club, London.
* 1974, - Terry Jacks was at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Seasons In The Sun.' Jacks became the first Canadian to score a No.1 since Paul Anka in 1957. The song (written in French by Belgian, Jacques Brel), had English lyrics by poet Rod McKuen.
* 1974 - The Jackson 5 played the first of 15 shows at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.
* 1976 - American folk singer songwriter Phil Ochs, hung himself at his sisters home in Queens, New York. Wrote 'There But A Fortune,' a hit for Joan Baez.
* 1977 - Abba went to No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Dancing Queen,' the group's 7th US Top 40 hit and first No.1., also a No.1 in the UK in 1976.
There it is folks, all the musical events that took place on this day.
Have a good one
Pappy
4-9-10
I should have seen it coming years ago. I should have known way back when that the day would come when this little game we played in elementary school would turn out to be the “news of the day.”
I remember vividly lining up in the classroom. There were maybe 25 of us in Mrs. Williams’ class at GrandviewElementary School in Connersville.
This little game began when the first person in line was told something along the lines of, “Johnny has to sharpen his pencil.”
The first person then turned to the next student and repeated what was told by whispering in the ear and the process continued until the last person in line was supposed to be told, “Johnny has to sharpen his pencil.”
Well, I’m here to say that the little game proved a point that was way beyond comprehension as to what the moral of the little game was to be.
I remember the entire class laughing because the end result of that statement turned out to be something like, “Kathy is the worst kickball player in school.”
WHAT? How in the world could a statement so easy to remember get so lost after being repeated several times?
What is the similarity between “Johnny has to sharpen his pencil” and “Kathy is the worst kickball player in school?”
Beats me, which brings me to the point of this useless bit of information ---- Ben Franklin said it best --- “Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see.”
Reminds me of the information age we live in these days.
With the advent of the technology age, we now have the ‘Net, Email, Text Messaging, Twitter, FaceBook, MySpace, YourSpace, OurSpace, TheirSpace, WhoseSpace, WhatSpace, WhySpace and every other form of communication known to the universe and where has it taken us?
Into the land of mis-information where no one knows what is real and what is make believe.
Joe says this and Jill says that and Jim hears that and Joan hears this and it goes on and on and on and on.
HELP! I’m at the mis-information overload and my brain is on fire.
Of course, I would be remiss not to try and re-live the good old days when this little game was played and went right over our little heads.
Anyway, here is how the game would probably go in these times:
“Johnny has a gun in his locker.”
After passing through 24 more ears, it would probably come out like this, “RT’s mom is a druggie and we’re going to stomp his head in at recess so be at the track at recess ready to rumble.”
Just this morning, I pulled into the fast lane (an oxymoron in and of itself) to get a sausage biscuit and ended up with an “egg something.” I could have sworn that I ordered a sausage biscuit ---- or did I?
Was I focusing on what I wanted to order or was my mind wandering off in La La Land, not paying attention to what I really wanted. OR …. did the little lady taking my order get it all wrong?
Don’t know, don’t care. Life goes on.
I should have also ordered a drink, you know, some sweet nectar concoction but it probably would have ended up being a hamburger with onions on it.
I have come to expect that nothing goes right in this day and age. You gotta love it … or go crazy.
Crazy times we live in folks, absolutely crazy times.
Bring the 60s back.
ON THIS DATE IN 1961 - BBC banned the song '100 Pounds of Clay' because it had reference to woman being created from building materials, considered to be blasphemous. The song reached No. 9 in the U.K. charts by April 20th.
Peace
Pappy
4-8-10
With it being Good Friday and Easter Sunday, I figured it is only appropriate to test the old brain regarding what one has learned about the Bible. As for myself, well ….. l’ll put it this way … if this was a test, I would have flunked, having only known 5 of the 10.
Oh well, 5 is better than 4 …. I guess.
Anyway, here it is folks, a chance to test your knowledge on this Easter weekend.
General Bible Trivia Questions:
1. How many books are there in the standard Bible?
A: 39 B: 54 C: 66 D: 72
2. At the time of the census which was conducted by Moses in the first chapter of Numbers, which of the twelve tribes of Israel was the largest?
A: Judah B: Gad C: Asher D: Reuben
3. Which of the following animals were the Israelites forbidden to eat by the Old Testament?
A: Sheep B: Goat C: Rabbit D: Antelope
4. When were Israelites required to free their servants?
A: In the seventh year of service B: In the twelfth year of service C: When the servant produced offspring D: Never
5. Who climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus as he entered Jericho?
A: Zerubbabel B: Zacchaeus C: Nicodemus D: Nebuchadnezzar
6. Which of the following is NOT a book of the Apocrypha?
A: Judith B: The Coming of the Nephilim C: The Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs D: The Book of Bel and the Dragon
7. Who was chosen to replace Judas as the twelfth apostle?
A: Bartholomew B: Paul C: Matthias D: Andrew
8. Who did Peter raise from the dead in Joppa?
A: Ananias B: Lazarus C: Martha D: Dorcas
9. What two men in the Bible never died?
A: Jesus & Lazarus B: Methuselah & Elijah C: Enoch & Elijah D: Paul & Methuselah
10. What is the longest book in the Bible?
A: Psalms B: Proverbs C: Acts D: Exodus
ANSWERS:
1. C - 66
2. A - Judah
3. C - Rabbits
4. A - In the seventh year of service
5. B - Zacchaeus
6. B - The Coming of the Nephilim
7. C – Matthias
8. D – Dorcas
9. C - Enoch and Elijah.
10. A – Psalms
ON THIS DAY IN 1967 - Steve Winwood left the Spencer Davis Group to form Traffic & The Beatles finished recording the album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." the biggest selling album of the 60's in the UK.
Have a good one
Pappy
4-2-10
Neil Young – the everlasting King of Grunge and the Garage Band hero of all time. Young continues to be a driving force in music after decades of notoriety. Young began his career way back in the 60s as a part of Buffalo Springfield, then on to Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, then on to becoming a cult hero with his band, Crazy Horse.
"Rockin' In The Free World"
There's colors on the street
Red, white and blue
People shufflin' their feet
People sleepin' in their shoes
But there's a warnin' sign
on the road ahead
There's a lot of people sayin'
we'd be better off dead
Don't feel like Satan,
but I am to them
So I try to forget it,
any way I can.
Keep on rockin' in the free world,
Keep on rockin' in the free world
Keep on rockin' in the free world,
Keep on rockin' in the free world.
I see a woman in the night
With a baby in her hand
Under an old street light
Near a garbage can
Now she puts the kid away,
and she's gone to get a hit
She hates her life,
and what she's done to it
There's one more kid
that will never go to school
Never get to fall in love,
never get to be cool.
chorus
We got a thousand points of light
For the homeless man
We got a kinder, gentler,
Machine gun hand
We got department stores
and toilet paper
Got styrofoam boxes
for the ozone layer
Got a man of the people,
says keep hope alive
Got fuel to burn,
got roads to drive.
chorus
According to SongMeanings:
This was inspired by the political changes going on at the time, and was highly critical of the George Bush presidential administration (the first one). Some of the lyrics mock Bush's campaign speeches: "We got 1,000 points of light, for the homeless man," "We got a kinder, gentler machine gun hand."
This was released a few months before the fall of the Berlin Wall. It became kind of an anthem for the event as freedom spread through Eastern Europe.
Frank Sampedro, who was in Young's band Crazy Horse, came up with the title when he and Young were watching Chinese protests on TV. Sampedro said their tour should just "Keep on rockin' in the free world."
Young used members of his former backing group The Bluenotes to record this.
Young performed this with Pearl Jam at the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards. He would join Pearl Jam on stage from time to time over the next few years.
Young performed this at the 7th annual Bridge School benefit in 1993 with all the artists involved joining Young on stage to close the show. Young puts on the concert every year for the school, which serves children with special needs.
ON THIS DATE IN 1961 - The Beatles began a three- month residency at The Top Ten Club, Hamburg. They played for seven hours a night on weekdays and eight hours at weekends with a fifteen-minute break every hour.
Have a good one
Pappy
4-1-10
News flash ---- Butler 77 v. UTEP 59; Butler 54 v. Murray State 52; Butler 63 v. Syracuse 59; Butler 63 v. Kansas State 56; Butler 52 v. Michigan State 50.
Five teams down with the “big one” tonight for all the marbles.
Kudos to the Butler Bulldogs and Connersville’s own Matt Howard for a run at the NCAA championship game tonight ---- against the Duke Blue Devils.
This year’s tourney has been an exciting one for area fans as the Bulldogs continue on their path to hang the BIG BANNER in Hinkle Fieldhouse.
Can the Bulldogs knock off one more Number 1 seed and take it all? I don’t know what the odds makers are saying on this one and further more, don’t care.
Butler has already knocked off Syracuse, a Number 1 seed, on their march through March Madness and I am a firm believer that they can do it again with the Blue Devils.
I must admit though that I do have some concerns. After all, we are talking about Duke, the perennial powerhouse with Coach K and a very tall team with outside shooters that can absolutely drill a team to defeat.
Of course, my heart is rooting for the Bulldogs as the Dukies always seem to be in the mix come tourney time and this would be a good year to send them back to North Carolina as the Number 2 team in the nation --- where they belong.
Plus, Duke is a lucky team, in my opinion. I remember them beating Kentucky during the final game with just seconds left and a heave of the ball to Christian Laettner where he turns and lets it fly to beat Kentucky in what was one of the best final games ever played in 1992.
Other thrillers in the NCAA tourney:
* North Carolina's 1957 triple-overtime survival of Kansas and Wilt Chamberlain, and the Tar Heels' 1982 1-point victory over Georgetown and freshman Patrick Ewing on a shot by another freshman named Michael Jordan.
* North CarolinaState's 1974 double-overtime, come-from-behind victory over U.C.L.A. in a national semi-final that ended the historic Bruin streak of seven national championships. And the U.C.L.A. overtime victory over Louisville one year later that led to a 10th championship in John Wooden's final season as coach.
* North CarolinaState's last-second upset of Houston on Lorenzo Charles' dunk of Derek Whittenburg's airball in 1983.
* Villanova's near-perfect championship game against Georgetown and Ewing in 1985, in which the Wildcats made a record 78.6 percent of their shots.
So, with all the marbles on the table, tonight it the night.
Bulldogs v. Blue Devils.
Win or lose, the Bulldogs have had a terrific season and should be back in the mix next year as the only starter the Bulldogs lose is Veasley.
May the best team win tonight ---- as long as it Butler……
ON THIS DATE IN 1983 - Beach Boys and Grass Roots were banned by Interior Secretary James Watt from performing at annual Fourth of July celebration in Washington, but two days later President Reagan overturns James Watts's decision and invites Beach Boys to perform.
Have a good one
Pappy
4-5-10
Every once in a blue moon an artist comes along that defies the norm and transcends the musical barriers. Dwight Yoakam is the epitomy of that. With such great hits as “1000 Miles from Nowhere,” “I Sang Dixie,” “Guitars, Cadillacs” and “Suspicious Minds,” Yoakam is hero material ---- in my opinion.
According to his bio, Yoakam was born in Pikeville, Kentucky, the son of Ruth Ann, a key-punch operator, and David Yoakam, a gas-station owner. He was raised in Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from Columbus' Northland High School on June 9, 1974. During his high school years, he excelled in both music and drama, regularly securing the lead role in school plays. Outside of school, Yoakam sang and played guitar with local garage bands and frequently entertained his friends and classmates as an amateur comedian, impersonating politicians and other celebrities, such as Richard Nixon, who, at that time, was heavily embroiled in the Watergate controversy.
Yoakam briefly attended Ohio State University, but dropped out and moved to Nashville in the late 1970s with the intent of becoming a recording artist.
When he began his career, Nashville was oriented toward pop "Urban Cowboy" music, and Yoakam's brand of hip Honky tonk music was not considered marketable.
Not making much headway in Nashville, Yoakam moved to Los Angeles and worked towards bringing his particular brand of new Honky Tonk or "Hillbilly" music (as he himself called it) forward into the 1980s. Writing all his own songs, and continuing to perform mostly outside traditional country music channels, Yoakam did many shows in rock and punk clubs around Los Angeles, playing with roots rock or punk rock acts like The Blasters, Los Lobos, and X. This helped him diversify his audience well beyond the typical country music fans, and his authentic, groundbreaking music is often credited with rock audiences accepting country music.
Yoakam's recording debut was the self-financed E.P. Guitars Cadillacs, Etc. on independent label Oak Records produced by lead guitarist Pete Anderson; this was later re-released, with several additional tracks, as his major-label debut LP, 1986's Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.. It launched his career. "Honky Tonk Man," a remake of the Johnny Horton song, and "Guitars, Cadillacs" were hit singles. His stylish music video "Honky Tonk Man" was the first country music video ever played on MTV. The follow-up LP, Hillbilly Deluxe, was just as successful. His third LP, Buenas Noches From a Lonely Room, included his first #1, a duet with his musical idol, Buck Owens, on "Streets of Bakersfield."
Yoakam's song "Readin', Rightin', Route 23" pays tribute to his childhood move from Kentucky, and is named after a local expression describing the route that rural Kentuckians took to take to find a job outside of the coal mines. (U.S. Route 23 runs north from Kentucky through Columbus and Toledo, Ohio and onto the automotive centers of Michigan.)
Johnny Cash once cited Yoakam as his favorite country singer. Chris Isaak called him as good a songwriter as ever put a pen to paper. Time magazine dubbed Yoakam "A Renaissance Man" and Vanity Fair declared "Yoakam strides the divide between rock's lust and country's lament."
Yoakam has never been associated only with Country music; on many early tours, he played with hardcore punk bands like Hüsker Dü, and played many shows around Los Angeles with roots/punk/rock & roll acts. His middle-period-to-later records saw him branching out to different styles, covering rock & roll, punk, 1960's, blues-based "boogie" like ZZ Top, and writing more adventurous songs like "A Thousand Miles From Nowhere."
In the 21st century, Yoakam released dwightyoakamacoustic.net, a record featuring solo acoustic versions of many of his hits; left his major label and started his own label. His latest album of all-new tracks is 2005's well reviewed Blame the Vain, on New West Records. Yoakam also released an album dedicated to Buck Owens, Dwight Sings Buck, on October 23, 2007.
So, there it is folks, the scoop on one of the top entertainers in the music business. Long may Yoakam rule the real musical world.
ON THIS DATE IN 1988 - During a European tour, Alice Cooper accidentally hung himself in a rehearsal when a safety rope snapped; he dangled some seconds before a roadie saved him.
Try to have a good one
Pappy
4-7-10
Never --- I say never --- fall asleep during the final game of an NCAA tourney. So, what did I do last night as the Butler Bulldogs gave Duke all they could handle? I dozed off. Yes sir, the biggest game of the year and I nod off.
I did get to watch the first half and it was a great first half with Butler hanging with the big dogs, being down by only two points at the intermission.
Then ---- Mr. Sandman entered and the next thing I knew, I was watching Coach Brad Stevens talking to an announcer and I could tell by his manner that the Bulldogs had lost. I just didn’t know by how much or how they lost.
I know there is no consolation for coming in second place, but the Bulldogs can hold their heads up and look back on one great season.
They held every opponent they played in the tourney to less than 60 points --- except for last night. That is a remarkable feat in and of itself.
Even Coach K actually seemed to be sad for the Bulldogs as he continued to compliment them on such a great season.
Gordon Hayward came within inches of knocking off the Dukies and what a finish that would have been.
Connersville’s Matt Howard took another beating (from what I’ve read) under the boards but he is no stranger to that having spent most of the tourney being beat up on but hey, that’s basketball.
Howard is a fine example of what basketball is all about and can hold his head up today, along with the rest of the Bulldogs. Howard and Hayward will be back next year as will all starters with the exception of Veasley, so, with that being said …. As much as I hate to say it, but here goes ---- wait until next year.
Duke Blue Devils …. What can you say about the Dukies? Coach K always has a team that can never be counted out when it comes to tourney time. I agree with former Coach Bobby Knight when he said last night that teams like Duke always play by the rules, no recruiting violations, never on probation, etc. etc.
Coach K and the Duke team deserve to be the 2010 champs as credit must be given where credit is due, so kudos to the Duke Blue Devils. It just happens to be a shame that they had to beat the Bulldogs. Such is life.
There should be penalty or a fine or something leveled against me for sleeping during the best final game in recent years.
ON THIS DATE IN 1968 - Pink Floyd announced founder Syd Barrett had officially left the group. Barrett was suffering from psychiatric disorders compounded by drug use.
Have a good one
Pappy
4-6-10
I should have seen it coming years ago. I should have known way back when that the day would come when this little game we played in elementary school would turn out to be the “news of the day.”
I remember vividly lining up in the classroom. There were maybe 25 of us in Mrs. Williams’ class at GrandviewElementary School in Connersville.
This little game began when the first person in line was told something along the lines of, “Johnny has to sharpen his pencil.”
The first person then turned to the next student and repeated what was told by whispering in the ear and the process continued until the last person in line was supposed to be told, “Johnny has to sharpen his pencil.”
Well, I’m here to say that the little game proved a point that was way beyond comprehension as to what the moral of the little game was to be.
I remember the entire class laughing because the end result of that statement turned out to be something like, “Kathy is the worst kickball player in school.”
WHAT? How in the world could a statement so easy to remember get so lost after being repeated several times?
What is the similarity between “Johnny has to sharpen his pencil” and “Kathy is the worst kickball player in school?”
Beats me, which brings me to the point of this useless bit of information ---- Ben Franklin said it best --- “Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see.”
Reminds me of the information age we live in these days.
With the advent of the technology age, we now have the ‘Net, Email, Text Messaging, Twitter, FaceBook, MySpace, YourSpace, OurSpace, TheirSpace, WhoseSpace, WhatSpace, WhySpace and every other form of communication known to the universe and where has it taken us?
Into the land of mis-information where no one knows what is real and what is make believe.
Joe says this and Jill says that and Jim hears that and Joan hears this and it goes on and on and on and on.
HELP! I’m at the mis-information overload and my brain is on fire.
Of course, I would be remiss not to try and re-live the good old days when this little game was played and went right over our little heads.
Anyway, here is how the game would probably go in these times:
“Johnny has a gun in his locker.”
After passing through 24 more ears, it would probably come out like this, “RT’s mom is a druggie and we’re going to stomp his head in at recess so be at the track at recess ready to rumble.”
Just this morning, I pulled into the fast lane (an oxymoron in and of itself) to get a sausage biscuit and ended up with an “egg something.” I could have sworn that I ordered a sausage biscuit ---- or did I?
Was I focusing on what I wanted to order or was my mind wandering off in La La Land, not paying attention to what I really wanted. OR …. did the little lady taking my order get it all wrong?
Don’t know, don’t care. Life goes on.
I should have also ordered a drink, you know, some sweet nectar concoction but it probably would have ended up being a hamburger with onions on it.
I have come to expect that nothing goes right in this day and age. You gotta love it … or go crazy.
Crazy times we live in folks, absolutely crazy times.
Bring the 60s back.
ON THIS DATE IN 1961 - BBC banned the song '100 Pounds of Clay' because it had reference to woman being created from building materials, considered to be blasphemous. The song reached No. 9 in the U.K. charts by April 20th.
Peace
Pappy
4-8-10
I must have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed this morning because I am not in the best mood today – and when I get in a bad mood, I automatically start to think of songs that keep me in a bad mood. I guess I need to see a psychiatrist over this dysfunctional attitude as a song should not dictate the type of day one is having |
