Thankful of my SO for dredging through my drunken-nonsensical-rants, manifesting themselves, beat-by-beat, through a personal, and obnoxious onslaught of amazing (as far as I’m concerned) tracklist.
Thanks, kiddo! Welcome!
Category Archives: Misc
Like a Lighthouse Overhead
With the incessant noise from the rotating blades of a nearby helicopter, passing, then again, dipping, diving, and vacationing overhead for the past hour and a half, one can’t help but dig through local news outlets in needed search for the informational cure. With no worthy news to be shared, the mystery still remains, but with decent, drowning-out, attempt-to-ignore-the-violent-disruption-overhead-music desperately needed, one turns to the Canadian psychedelic rock, jazz-infused outfit, Lighthouse, and their 1971 album, One Fine Morning. Here’s hoping the blades of mystery solve themselves sooner, rather than later (and that nobody nearby is seriously, or otherwise, in risk of danger).
Moondance
Van Morrison’s 3rd solo album, 1970’s Moondance, is, pardon my French, a fuggin’ masterpiece! As evidence by the unforgettable tracklist (from a previous post) here, Moondance is wonderful for just about everyone, and for seemingly just about every occasion. Long live the Van!
Doh Nuts
A gorgeous Christmas gift from the SO, this 2x gift cert from Donut Friend (Mark Trombino’s Los Angeles-based sweet-house… the drummer of Drive Like Jehu, k’mon), will afford this here guy a delicious “Chocolate from the Crypt” and a “Drive Like Jelly.” A proper post to follow, post-donut-consumption, but all are happy campers here at the PG with this amazing, sugar-laced gift cert.
(Also, happy friggin’ new-friggin’ year!!!)
A Dance Under the Moon
Many the classic that emerges from Van the Man’s third album, 1970’s Moondance.:
Caravan
Into the Mystic
These Dreams of You
Moondance
Stoned Me
Never has there been a subpar Van Morrison album. Truly, that is all.
Just Clear the Sampler
Just clear the sampler, really.
The Pink Album
So, I’m still trying to figure out The 45 King. Mix Dan the Automator, J-Swift, Jam Master Jay, and DJ Muggs into a violent apparatus that spins (turntable, blender, woodchipper), yet, predate all of these by at least a year, and you’ve got yourselves one heavy weighted, out-mutha-fuggin-standing collection of offhanded, subtly pleasing breakbeats. I’m dumbfounded! I honestly never know, but now, I’m on the hunt for the King’s entire Lost Breakbeat discography.
(Personal note: I’m digitizing this album as I type this. PG = fan of 45 King)
The Yellow Album
Imagine my surprise upon discovering 45 King’s The Yellow Album, at a thrift store, sealed, and for only $3 bucks! $3 for a thrift store album is asinine, but this one was well worth the 300 pennies. Bronx DJ and remix producer (among other things well produced), Mark James, aka The 45 King, released six colored albums throughout 1990 in The Lost Breakbeats series; White, Grey, Green, Red, Orange, and this, Yellow. Having not heard of Mr. 45 King’s work prior to forking over my $3, I was both excited with this album’s overall quality, and dumbfounded that I’d never heard of this guy, or this album before. If you’re into quality hip-hop beats from back in the day (circa: late 80s, early 90s), then The Yellow Album is pure listening satisfaction.
Happy Holidays!
Happy holidays, everyone! From Ray, Dave, Mick, John, John, and all of use here at the Prudent Groove!
Country Death Song
… is an amazing tale of simpleminded, cold-winter-sickness, enveloped within a nightmare of rural, solemn depression, and disguised as a folk-pop song from the great state of Wisconsin (phew… I’m getting too old for the run-on sentence). Arguably the Violent Femmes’ best, most well-rounded track, Country Death Song depicts the extravagant path, a 1000mph highway drive straight past the gnarly gates of hell, and tells the tale of a one-way ticket of blameful sorrow for a troubled father and his shameful, selfless, fatherly actions. Is it a good song? Ye-ah! Is it a happy song? Nope! Merry Christmas eve, kiddos!
Fat Limited Edition Vinyl
“I don’t know that I’ve ever listened to this!” He said aloud to an empty, shade-drawn room. Consentual Selections, the 2010 comp, a “collection of EP tracks from 1987 to 2009,” caught my eye earlier today. Limited to only 300 on blue and yellow colored vinyl, and only 1000 overall, this comp pressing makes for one of the more rare, and obscure in the Caddies’ library.
Having absolutely nothing to do with anything, please be on the lookout for James Booker’s The Lost Paramount Tapes. Look it up…
“Look, Man! I’m Ain’t Fallin’ for No Banana in my Tailpipe!”
Where would members of the court, and high majesty be without the jester… the ushered in, and ushered out comedians to provoke wine-spilling punch lines of the grotesque nature? Likely, they’d be suffocating within a bubble of discomfort and self-loathing. Let’s take today, this 19th of December, and celebrate those who have made us laugh: Mothers, fathers, great aunts, gone, but not forgotten grandparents, and yes, Mr. Eddie Murphy. Richard Pryor he is not, but damn if this man is not a needed commodity, every groovy-once-in-a-while.
The Yoak
Quality, shit-kickin’ country albums live and die with the 1986’s Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc. As a fan of quality tunes, regardless of the flavored wrapping paper, country died with G, C, E, E, and Mr. Dwight Yoakam damn-well need given a 2nd chance.
Between Vitaphone and Video
Time Life Records kept its swingin’ stride with 1970’s The Swing Era: The Music of 1936-1936, a three LP compilation of Jazz / Swing ensembles from the mid-1930’s. The label’s second of 14+ in The Swing Era series, this gem comes complete with a 72-page, fully historical and entertaining, photo-filled booklet. The Swing Era: The Music of 1936-1937 features a bunch of Benny Goodman, some Red Norvo, a bit of Bob Crosby, a dash of Chick Webb, and a healthy dose of Tommy Dorsey.
I doubt I’ll ever read all 936 pages (72x 13 box sets… I’m missing a few), but the music is choice far beyond passable comprehension.
Direct from Canada
Released in January of ’73, this, featured copy of Artificial Paradise, The Guess Who’s 10th studio album, is, unfortunately, missing the cool, direct-mail-mimicking paper sleeve. I only just found out about this jacket’s existence by researching the album for this very post. Apparently, this tongue-in-cheek approach didn’t help sales for the Canadian pop-rock band, and this album, complete with exterior sleeve, was a frequent find throughout brick and mortars will into the 1980s (remember, it was released in 1973).
As for the music, if you ask me, one can’t go wrong with any The Guess Who, but that’s just, like, my humble opinion, man.
Green Villages
Many the sounds that rampage through these temples rage during the festive holiday season. With a stack of quote / unquote holiday records, one leftover from the autumnal excursion still remains, as well it damn-well-should. Happy holidays, kids, however you choose to celebrate them.
Classic Saturday
Tonight’s endeavor consists of the Greatest Hits of Chopin – Beethoven – Bach – Mozart. Classics for a classic Saturday evening. We’re watching Soap… a classic in and of its own, but when you get a sec, Chopin, Beethoven, Bach, and / or Mozart it up!
Ocean Rain
It’s pouring here in The City of Angeles, and this comes as both a welcoming escape from the lingering summer, and a cloud-covered agricultural blessing (we needed the rain).
I’ll admit, that my knowledge of Liverpool’s Echo & the Bunnymen is that of an infant… an infant that has yet learned the art of speech. Although I picked today’s album in an attempt to reflect the current storm, listening to it now, Ocean Rain is a collection of pretty spot-on lullabies for under-umbrella adventures and puddle-jumping lollygagging, and pretty standard pop-fare for 1984.
The Moog Strikes Bach
Back in 1969, Hans Wurman released The Moog Strikes Bach… for RCA Red Seal Records, which is a bit of a strange title considering that ½ of the electronic interpretations derive from the master works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. What the hell… it’s Dr. Robert Moog’s toy, and it’s a gift to all ear-kind, or some type shit. IT’S CLASSICAL MUSIC REINTERPRETED IN 1960’S ELECTRO, PEOPLE! Get on board!
Sincerely,
(starting to get sick and my head is as congested as a Verizon Wireless store in Westwood, CA) Mr. PG
Truckstop
Lagwagon. Yes, it’s pop punk, and yes, it is a defining and monumental element of my past, but it sure mother (expletive) beats the living (expletive) out of anything Red Hot Chili Peppers ever produced, up to and including 1991’s Blood Sugar Sex Magik. I knew I moved back to California for a reason. Thank you, quality underground.
The Prudent Groove 