I can’t think of a better way to say goodbye to the end of 2015 than with the beginning of arguably the most prolific force of all British Invasion bands. 30 years of Kinky blues-driven hard rock (1964 – 1994) all started with this album (this copy, an obvious reissue), and as we look forward to a fruitful 2016, let’s not forget the lucrative paths that brought us to today. Goodbye, 2015. You were no 1964.
Monthly Archives: December 2015
… Pillow
Home from the outback excursion, and we’re ready to lay our heads on any immobile pillow within arms reach, surrealistic, or otherwise. Happy New Years eve, kids!
Two Ton
First on tomorrow’s platter is this 2x 10″ of silly songs by the Mercury Miniature Playhouse, Two Ton Baker. Non-breakable records as it says, we’ll see if this vibrant cover bleeds through to the silly-song grooves within. Redheaded kids on yule logs thumping on piano-playing backgrounds with nearby red-eyed rabbits sell a damn-good tale of voluptuous entertainment, such that it is. We’ll see if ol’ Two Ton packs a worthy punch on ol’ Wednesday morn.
RV Outing, Day 3
Village Green on the Pacific coast with the fam. Essentials with essential people. Happy holidays from warm, Southern California.
RV Outing, Day 2
Walter Light says, enjoy the good things in life… be them Blue, fire, and / or solid JR Cash.
RV Outing, Day 1
Nothing but the essentials, now that the portable is in full, functioning condition. Thanks to the ol’ man for the electronic resurgence, and for he and my mom for both the opportunity, and the hearty company. Happy holidays, campers!
Happy Holidays, Here’s a Sticker
Reason #242 why I keep the shrink wrap affixed to my records, this 2015 Kinks promo sticker from the Dedicated Kinks reissue 7″. Exciting it is not, but potentially interesting some years down the road? Absolutely. Happy holidays, kids!
Fat Finger Discount
Ukulele Hiro was introduced to me and my chap during intermissions of last Friday’s punk rock parley at the Viper Room, and let me say that this was, without question, the highlight of the evening. No disrespect to The Briggs or Pulley, but Ukulele Hiro made this evening. PBRs all around!
Muswell 8-Billies
I’m so absolutely beside myself to finally own a working copy of Muswell on 8-track that I’m thoroughly on board with the complete reworking of the playlist for this bass-heavy medium. Have a Cuppa Tea, followed by Skin and Bone, wait… TO CLOSE OUT THE ALBUM?! I continue to tell myself how fortunate I am to have finally found this 12-song, 8-track cartridge of perfection, and will, obviously, welcome it into the family with open, outstretched arms despite its, lets say, unorthodox and creative reordering. I now own Muswell a total of four times, but really, who’s counting?
Music for Time Travel Cooking Baking Night
Just a few of the holiday records that kicked off time travel cookie baking night at the homestead. We started with Willie Nelson’s Pretty Paper (Rudolph, Blue Christmas, White Christmas, etc.), then on to the immensely depressing, The Christmas Spirit by Johnny Cash (Here Was A Man, The Gifts They Gave, The Ballad of Harp Weaver), then we finally got the funky, funky party going with Merry, Merry Christmas by New Kids on the Block (Funky, Funky, Xmas, This One’s for the Children, I Still Believe in Santa Claus). It was certainly a merry evening, at least the parts I can recall…
White Riot
Back in 2008, Asian Man Records released their 2nd pressing of Alkaline Trio’s 2nd (and last great) album, 1999’s Maybe I’ll Catch Fire. Released on clear red / black swirl, orange / black swirl, 180 gram black and this, white / red swirl, the 2nd pressing contained 3000 records in total and I, of course, felt the need to purchase every variant. Add an original orange vinyl from the first pressing, and I think my Maybe I’ll Catch Fire collection is damn near maxed out.
Without a Key
In order to open a door of dreams, one must prominently present their hopes and aspirations in the most whimsical of ways. And, let’s thank Joe Reisman and his Orchestra for his 1957 pop jazz lullaby, for both producing the door, and the seminal key.
Great, Great, Great
I know what I’ll be doing Saturday, February 27th, if all goes according to plan. I had no idea I’d pocketed this flyer at The Briggs / Pulley show last night, let alone the fact that Reagan Youth was still alive and kicking. Thank you, Punx Not Dead Productions!
Ole
As generic as this statement is, it was a major selling point, or at least that’s what I can assume by its plastering in large print on the back of Bravo Records’ “Ole” Music of the Bull Ring from The Madrid Festival De Matadors’ Orchestra. There’s nothing quite like intrepid ballads of bloody, charging bulls to bring the whole family together, am I right? As the holidays approach and the kids are acting up, consider 10 tracks of mischievous animal cruelty.
The 1969 Warner-Reprise Record Show
In 1969, Warner-Reprise released a pretty badass 2-LP comp titled, The 1969 Warner-Reprise Record Show. The Kinks, The Mothers of Invention, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Fugs, The Dead, Tull, Neil Young, and Fats Domino all make their prominent appearance. It’s a pretty solid comp; mixing well-known with mysterious obscurity. We paid $0.33 for this double LP, and she’s well worth every last dime.
Gypsy Fire
It’s a random Wednesday in December, so let’s celebrate the mundane doldrums of mid-week mediocrity with Boris Sarbek and His Orchestra’s 19?? Gypsy Fire. This enticing, bongo-hugging, ethnically-charged, gas-fireplace-raging, not-so-subtle-hint of sexual emotion is, by all intents and purposes, the perfect mid-week ear snack.
Cloudy Tuesday
Coffee and records, the Sun Records way. Happy Tuesday, kids. Don’t forget to take that much needed morning recess, any, and every damn day!
Goodbye, Hank Williams, My Friend
Ever’ so once in a blue moon, it’s Johnny Cash time, and on those rare instances where substance outweighs initial flair, it’s Johnny Cash Sings Hank Williams time. Now, more than ever, is that time. Take stock, kids… stock in the honest things that make you what you are. The rest is dispensable rhetoric, disguised as irreplaceable necessity. Weed through the muck. You’ll thank yourself tomorrow.
Ellis in Wonderland
Minimal set dressing with scantily clad vixens looks an awful lot like my company holiday party, so let’s just say that Ray Ellis knew what the hell he was doing for his 1957 album, Ellis in Wonderland.
(Prudent) Gruve Gard
The Prudent Groove 