OREO COOKIE BLUES

From the is it Art? collection

2011-11-24T13:25:00.001-05:00

IMG_0135.JPG, originally uploaded by GAC'63.

Subject "dead tree in lake". Colour stripped, image sharpened, tinted and stressed. Just for fum

Fungus on dead fall

2011-10-27T15:02:00.001-04:00

Fungus on dead fall, originally uploaded by GAC'63.

This is where I want to be. Lost in the woods for 5 hours and not stuck in a 9-5 job that I'm bored with.

Toronto skyline

2011-08-29T17:02:00.001-04:00

Toronto skyline, originally uploaded by AC'63.

Played hookey from work last week .. don't want to be here and could not handle it anymore. Drove around Toronto taking pictures. To bad someone wouldn't pay me to do this!

Beaver Lodge at Hidden Lake

2011-08-17T11:52:00.001-04:00

Beaver Lodge at Hidden Lake, originally uploaded by AC'63.

I took 7 teenagers for a walk to the hidden lake on McLaren island. Little did I know that it would take a hour to get there, one hour at the lake rowing them around, and 3 hours lost in the bush trying to get home.

Dallas Rapids, the mouth of the French River, Georgian Bay, Ontario

2011-06-30T16:06:00.003-04:00

Dallas Rapids, the mouth of the French River, Georgian Bay, Ontario, originally uploaded by AC'63.

My Great Grandfather Knight, and great great Grand Father Logan, stood at these rapids and fished over a hundred years ago.

With this map you can see what the mouths of the French look like. This is all glacier carved rock. We started by boat at Key River, entered the Georgian Bay at Key Harbour and and arrived at the lower Pickerel River 50 minutes later. True Georgian Bay wilderness.

View Larger Map

Ice rimmed bay

2011-04-11T18:51:00.001-04:00

Ice rimmed bay, originally uploaded by AC'63.

Polar Bears Swimming at Lincoln Park Zoo

2011-03-29T15:11:00.001-04:00

Lincoln Park Zoo - Chicago (24), originally uploaded by AC'63.

Took the origional of this back in 2008 on our trip to Chicago. I had forgotten all about it, I cropped and sharpened the image and got the above. Fairly happy with it.

Davisville subway yard.

2011-02-17T14:53:00.001-05:00

Davisville subway yard., originally uploaded by AC'63.

Deer in my backyard

2011-02-09T16:49:00.002-05:00

Deer in my backyard, originally uploaded by AC'63.

I live on a park in what used to be North York. It's very beautiful and quite, but I just live south of a very busy and dangerous area called the Jane Finch corridor.

This is what I got to wake up to this morning.

Lonely park bench, on the coldest day of the year so far, Black Creek

2011-01-27T16:33:00.002-05:00

Lonely park bench, on the coldest day of the year so far, Black Creek, originally uploaded by AC'63.

Cedar Forest at the Gorge, edit

2011-01-21T16:16:00.001-05:00

cedar forest at gorge, originally uploaded by AC'63.

Sharpened the image, hightend the colours, increased the tone, stripped the colour out and then did some fine processing.. not sure which I like .. the photo taken in 2005 or the edit done in 2011

Grass in sky for desktop - picnik edit

2011-01-02T19:14:00.001-05:00

Grass in sky for desktop - picnik edit, originally uploaded by AC'63.

Okay new year time .. enjoy

Merry Xmas

2010-12-24T15:01:00.001-05:00

For Facebook Xmas profile, originally uploaded by AC'63.

Okay, sitting here in the office while it seems most of the world is getting ready for Christmas Eve.

Have a very Merry Christmas .. I hope everyone gets what they want and what they didn't know they wanted tomorrow morning.

Those with young kids enjoy the smiles and hugs. Those with teens really enjoy the smiles and hugs (they turn into young kids again don't they .. it's so sweet)

A house on my street

2010-12-20T13:56:00.001-05:00

A house on my street, originally uploaded by AC'63.

Summer Sky .. edit

2010-12-13T13:47:00.001-05:00

Summer Sky .. edit, originally uploaded by AC'63.

Summer Sky

2010-12-08T10:25:00.001-05:00

Summer Sky, originally uploaded by AC'63.

Goodbye John .. 30 years you've been gone. We will never forget you, but we will never remeber his name.

Cropped Dahlia...is it art?

2010-12-03T16:32:00.001-05:00

Cropped Dahlia...is it art?, originally uploaded by AC'63.

Still holding on .. is it Art?

2010-12-03T16:31:00.001-05:00

Still holding on .. is it Art?, originally uploaded by AC'63.

white portulaca edit .. is it art?

2010-12-01T16:50:00.001-05:00

white portulaca edit .. is it art?, originally uploaded by AC'63.

In the bush behind the cottage

2010-12-01T10:18:00.001-05:00

In the bush behind the cottage, originally uploaded by AC'63.

Is a adult allowed to run away?

Toronto crop B&W saturation

2010-11-24T14:03:00.002-05:00

Toronto crop B&W saturation, originally uploaded by AC'63.

I am a corporate SHILL

I was contacted by Lydia from http://www.womworld.com/ a Nokia marketing firm to try out the new Nokia N8 camera phone.

These are some of the photos I've taken with it. It's a great camera for a cell phone, but I would like a more powerful zoom, and less washout on the flash.

It has a lot of fun toys for editing on the camera. Better than any other camera phone that I have ever seen. If I did any editing on these shots it was with the cameras editing tools.

2010-11-22T15:00:00.003-05:00

Fridays nights concert was a pain, I should have gone to my daughters hockey game. I got the Nokia N8 as a two week trial, it arrived the evening of the concert. I took it without getting a chance to charge it. Figured out how to take photos while at the concert. The Toronto skyline above was the first picture shot with the N8 without using the flash.

KO was ok, not my cup of tea you might say. His back up band was good, though I found he screamed his way through the lyrics.

Michael Rault can defiantly play guitar, but his voice was squeaky and aggravating.

Charlie Winston was good, his band was awesome, nice collection of jazz, latin, big band and pop. His harmonica player was one of the best I've ever seen. He made the damn thing sound like a trumpet!
I just wish Charlie Winston had not boomboxed / skat, it just bugged me.

Bedouin Soundclash was disappointing, the lead singers voice was cracking and disappearing throughout the show .. I left after 3 songs. Maybe I wasn't drunk enough!

The battery on the N8 died so no photos, no problem because its not a camera for concerts, zoom isn't good enough to handle taking shots from the mid audiance. .

Doors: 7:00pm
KO: 7:30-8:00pm
Michael Rault: 8:20-8:50pm
Charlie Winston: 9:10-10:10pm
(it was a forty minute to do the staging, maybe this is what got me pissed off)
Bedouin Soundclash: 10:40-11:40pm

(the photo's were taken with the Nokia N8)

Kitchener Tournament

2010-11-17T15:50:00.001-05:00

IMG_8077, originally uploaded by AC'63.

Photo of my middle daughter in net at a recent tournament. Shes was just so tired 4 game in two days, and they stayed up late the night before.

How cool is this .. I've been asked to do a trial of the new Nokia N8... does this mean I have become a corporate shill?
Now all I have to do before it gets here is get a phone with a sim card.

On top of this I've just won tickets to Bookies Big Event with Bedouin Soundclash and KO (who's KO?) for this friday .. have to see if I can bring the camera

... Sweet!

reeds blowing in the wind

2010-11-15T11:52:00.001-05:00

reeds blowing in the wind, originally uploaded by AC'63.

Black Creek, Toronto

2010-11-11T14:41:00.001-05:00

Black Creek, Toronto, originally uploaded by AC'63.

Storm ditch leading into the Black Creek, Northwood Park

2010-11-04T16:54:00.001-04:00

Storm ditch leading into the Black Creek, Northwood Park, originally uploaded by AC'63.

Storm run off leading into Black Creek

2010-10-26T09:48:00.001-04:00

Storm run off leading into Black Creek, originally uploaded by AC'63.

long term love is two way street .. you fall in love to together, when you comfortable in love you stay together

Mr Peanut hot air ballon

2010-09-28T09:04:00.001-04:00

Mr Peanut hot air ballon, originally uploaded by AC'63.

Morning on the bay

2010-09-08T10:29:00.001-04:00

Morning on the bay, originally uploaded by AC'63.

Hudson on the rocks

2010-08-18T16:51:00.001-04:00

Hudson on the rocks, originally uploaded by AC'63.

12 week old, 100% Mutt

Drool, Kensington Market, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

2010-07-22T11:05:00.000-04:00

Pagoda Lantern, Festival of Lanterns Ontario Place

2010-06-21T09:56:00.001-04:00

Pagoda Lantern, Festival of Lanterns Ontario Place, originally uploaded by AC'63.

2010-05-17T15:06:00.002-04:00

Do not push .. who could?

2010-04-29T16:30:00.004-04:00

Do not push .. who could?, originally uploaded by AC'63.

Jewel of the Seas

2010-04-22T16:39:00.001-04:00

Jewel of the Seas, originally uploaded by AC'63.

2010-04-10T12:54:00.001-04:00

Poison Arrow Frog, Costa Rica

2010-04-08T15:11:00.002-04:00

Poison Arrow Frog, Costa Rica, originally uploaded by http://www.flickr.com/people/42yearoldloserorami/.

Gone, not forgotten, but will he really be remembered for this?

Malcolm McLaren - Buffalo Girls
- Double Dutch

2010-03-03T11:28:00.002-05:00

Even if you don't like their music you've gotta love their videos.

Drake on the humber river, weston

2010-02-17T16:41:00.001-05:00

Drake on the humber river, weston, originally uploaded by Andrew Crump.

Ice on the Humber

2010-01-29T10:52:00.001-05:00

Ice on the Humber, originally uploaded by Andrew Crump.

Hey... I'm still here just swamped .. keep hiting the links and I will post somthing soon.
Keep well

ReGift for Christmas 2009 - Christmas Covers 2008 (Re-Post)

2009-12-23T06:39:00.004-05:00

Horrible photo, I know, but I wanted to show you what my neighbours house looks like. We have tour buses, cars, police cars, and pedestrians on our street just to see this Christmas display. They do it for charity, I think they are raising funds for Sick Kids Hospital. It is overpowering but not to bad, it's just that when you drive up to the house your blinded by the lights of the display and cars that are parked looking at the house.

Anyway, I wanted to regift from last year one of my favorite Christmas songs and covers of it.

Enjoy:

FairyTale of New York @ FairyTale of New York @ FairyTale of New York @ Fairytale of New York FairyTale of New York @ FairyTale of New York

This year I have decided to be the evil dad who wraps the gifts so no one can figure out what they got. Each one of the links above is a cover of Fairytale of New York, in my opinion one of the most powerful Christmas song to come out of the last thirty years. It expressed the love/hate that we all have for this time of year.

Enjoy the season, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and whatever else you might be celebrating.

Give it all you got, or forget about it - Joe Strummer (1952-2002).

2009-12-22T11:08:00.002-05:00

Damn, I say this every year. We are supposed to be happy and getting ready for the holidays, but December sucks.

Bhopal disaster, Montreal Massacre, the 2004 Tsunami, John Lennon's death and the death of Joe Strummer. I know, I know, their deaths can't compare to these horrible tragedies, but they were turning points on how people looked at the world and defined were they stood at that time.

All I can say is I miss Joe's talent.

When you listen remember Joe.

The Clash - Hateful
Kid Dynamite - Hateful

The Clash - Career Opportunities (Live)
? - Career Opportunities

The Clash - London's Burning
Silverchair - London's Burning

The Clash - Spanish Bombs
We Have Ears - Spanish Bombs

Strummerville.com Winter Sessions - Free Download, Check the website

John Lennon

2009-12-06T23:55:00.006-05:00

This is a day that sucks, 29 years ago .. John Lennon was shot and killed, a normal guy who got famous because he was a poet. A nutcase became jealous of him , a stalker who shot John for no better reason than he wanted to be more famous then his victim.

John Lennon was a poet, an artist, a catalyst for a generation/generations to question the ways and whys of how things are supposed to be done. He was no saint, he was a regular guy who was able to find words what we all felt.

It just sucks that he is no longer here.
Take a few minutes and remember the first time you heard a Lennon song.

Los Lonely Boys - Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign To Save Darfur Whatever Gets You Thru The Night

Television Personalities - Fashion Conscious: The Little Teddy Years Whatever Gets You Thru The Night

John Lennon and Elton John - Walls And Bridges (2005 Re-Master) Whatever Gets You Thru The Night [Live]

The Originals & The Covers

2009-12-02T22:30:00.007-05:00

(9:03 am all broken links are fixed, sorry about that.)

I just finished watch The Ed Sullivan Show (the show - Ed Sullivan Rock 'n Roll Classics: the 60's) was on PBS, they are on their cash drive again. So of course they have programs I want to watch. Anyway they showed Tommy James and the Shondells doing Crimson & Clover and how the next day it hit #1 on the US music charts. This got me thinking of a bunch of different things. Programs like Sullivan's really did promote record sales, it was free publicity for the artist and the record company. The program would draw a large audience, especially if they promoted the hell out of it during the week, and the advertiser sponsoring the show would be happy with the reach of their adds. The audience would get their fix of the favorite rock acts. A nice complete circle where everyone gets what they want.

Do we have any variety shows like this now. In Canada we don't, I don't think the states does either. Not sure of the rest of the world. I know, I know ... Saturday Night Live, Letterman, Jimmy Fallon and the other late shows have bands on. But not like it was with Sullivan, Sonny and Cher or Donny and Marie. We sat around the TV as a family watching these shows and the music reached a larger audience, it wasn't narrow casted to a limited audience. I think the TV market has become to saturated with shows to have the kind of effect that Sullivan once had on the music industry. It's a shame.

Also while watching the show I got to thinking... Damn, Joan Jett covered most of these tunes. So for your listening pleasure, The Originals & The Covers.
Enjoy.

Tommy James and the Shondells - Crimson & Clover
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts - Crimson & Clover (live in NY 1982)

Sly & The Family Stone - Everyday People
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts - Everyday People

The origional is not from the Ed Sullivan show time period, I just like it a lot.
The Arrows - I Love Rock & Roll
Joan Jett - I Love Rock & Roll

2009-11-24T16:44:00.003-05:00

Watch this in full screen mode .. worth it if you have a good moniter

Wolfmother - The Kool Haus - 11/11/09

2009-11-12T09:50:00.008-05:00

Okay .. I went to see Wolfmother last night, awesome show. How awesome .. I am deaf right now. All I can hear is a buzzing in my ears, and I wore high end earplugs. Fuck it rocked. I was going to take the Canon DSLR, but chickened out and only had my cellphone.

Andrew Stockdale is a artist, I was never really into the whole guitar god thing of the 70's (Clapton is God, Hendrix is God, Page is God, that sort of thing. Personally I always thought they were wankers who wanted to show off what they could do with a guitar). But I can see why people said those things, Stockdale was awesome, loud, brash, hard hitting, and that was with his guitar (I couldn't make out a damn thing he said).

The music was incredible, they did a really good range of old songs off the first album (Wolfmother) and the new (Cosmic Egg). The new stuff came across as strong as the older music. Heavy hard hitting rock. I won't compare them Zeppelin or ZZ Top, I think Stockdale and Wolfmother are going to make a very strong spot for themselves in the history of music. They guys won't fade away.

The show lasted just over two hours, if it had gone any longer I don't think I would hear ever again. They closed the encore with Joker and the Thief , which really got the audience going out on a high note.

I have to say this for his new backing band, we are not missing out by losing the original members. Its a shame to see them go. But the bassist/keyboard player, Ian Peres, was awesome. I swear the guy head banged more then the people in the audience, but never missed a beat, and what he could do with the Moog, WOW!!!

Don't have much to say about the rhythm guitar, Aidan Nemeth, he did a solid job backing up Stockdale. No flash, but he didn't need to. His riffs were solid and kept pace with Stockdales improvisation. The only thing he needs to do is watch out, Ian almost took his face off twice with the neck of his bass.

The drummer, Dave Atkins, is in the line of Bonham and Moon. A "Banger", huge meaty drum sticks banging and crashing down onto the head and cymbals, creating a deep dark bass thrum in the concert hall.

If you have the time or the cash, I would go see Wolfmother, great concert.

Enjoy the following cuts, go out and buy "Wolfmother" and "Cosmic Egg" (I picked Comsic Egg up last night at the show, got the extra CD with 4 bonus tracks)

Enjoy the following

Wolfmother - Cosmic Egg (BBC Session Acoustic 10-20-09)

Wolfmother - Witchcraft (Live at Wireless 03-10-05)

Wolfmother - Joker and the Thief (Live in St. Petersburg Fl '06)

Wolfmother - Communication Breakdown [11.14.06 - uk rock and roll hall of fame ceremony]

2009-11-06T11:38:00.009-05:00

Hey, I want to go the the 2010 Winter Olymipics .. vote for my photos!

Click on this link to Vote:

*** The Globe and Mail Journalism Dream Contest ***
:) Thanks

With a tough start to the season our girls midget B team has not given up and strives to win each game they have. Though success has just been out of their reach they do not give up.

2009-11-06T00:06:00.015-05:00

Hey, just a quick hello .. not much going on other then I am not posting. Though my 80 gig IPod died a horrible death, had to start using my wifes 8gig Nano. With music size does matter!

I've entered a Globe & Mail contest to win a chance to be a photographer at the 2010 winter olyimpics in Vancouver. If you can take the time to vote I would appreciate it.

The following is the origional and four cover versions of the Kinks song Victoria, not a huge hit for any of the bands but a great song to dance or listen to. I've also decided to try and leave a bonus track of blues music that I do love to listen to.

Enjoy!

The Kinks - Victoria
The Fall - Victoria
Sonic Youth - Victoria
Cracker - Victoria
The Kooks - Victoria

Bonus:
Big Bill Broonzy Swing Low Sweet Chariot

Milkweed in the fall

2009-11-04T12:05:00.001-05:00

Milkweed in the fall, originally uploaded by Andrew Crump.

Closing the cottage, getting the docks ready for winter

2009-10-30T13:06:00.003-04:00

Closing the cottage, getting the docks ready for winter, originally uploaded by Andrew Crump.

2009-10-14T13:14:00.006-04:00

Hey welcome to mid month October, the air is colder, the leaves are changing colour, the Maple Leafs still suck .. So whats new.. nothing. No time to post, no time to research.

History behind "It Ain't Easy", I'd always thought it was a old blues song, who knew.

Enjoy.....
David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust - It Ain't Easy
Dave Edmunds - Rockpile - It Ain't Easy
Long John Baldry - It Ain't Easy - It Ain't Easy
The Ranconteurs - Zane Lowe BBC Sessions 2006 - It Ain't Easy (Live BBC)

It Ain't Easy Lyrics - Ron Davies
When you climb to the top of the mountain
Look out over the sea
Think about the places perhaps, where a young man could be
Then you jump back down to the rooftops
Look out over the townT
hink about all of the strange things circulating round
It ain't easy, it ain't easy
It ain't easy to get to heaven when you're going down
Well all the people have got their problems
That ain't nothing new
With the help of the good Lord
We can all pull on throughWe can all pull on through
Get there in the end
Sometimes it'll take you right up and sometimes down again
It ain't easy, it ain't easy
It ain't easy to get to heaven when you're going down
Satisfaction, satisfaction
Keep me satisfied
I've got the love of a Hoochie Koochie woman
She calling from inside
She's a-calling from inside
Trying to get to you
All the woman really wants you can give her something too
It ain't easy, it ain't easy
It ain't easy to get to heaven when you're going down
It ain't easy, it ain't easy
It ain't easy to get to heaven when you're going down

2009-09-29T11:25:00.004-04:00

I haven't posted very much over the last few months so here's a gift, southern ontario punk rock from the late 1970's.

These bands all formed in '75/'76, the colonies/the poor northern cousins answer to DIY bands coming out the US and the UK. It seems that there was a seed in music in that time period that germinated at the same time in western speaking countries. Why?, (in Canada it was CANCON) who knows but the late 1970's was a very rich time for music and the creative spirit. Enjoy.

The Viletones - Screamin Fist.mp3

Forgotten Rebels - Surfing on Heroin.mp3

Diodes - Tired of Waking up Tired.mp3

The Demics - New York City.mp3

Teenage Head - Picture My Face.mp3

There is a heck of a lot more great bands from this time, all you have to do is dig for them.

2009-09-22T11:58:00.005-04:00

I know I haven't posted any music for a while .. sorry about that, but been busy .. I got this email a short while ago. You may want to log in a listen.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Last minute update... Bebel Gilberto, Brazilian singer-songwriter and daughter of the great songwriter Joao Gilberto, and Tom Moon, author of "1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die" are joining WNYC's Soundcheck at the Greene Space for a discussion on the shrinking generation gap between parents and their children and the musical inheritances that are taking place.

Then... Rosanne Cash will perform songs from her new album The List. This takes place at 2 pm EDT Wednesday, September 23rd (yes, TOMORROW!). Here's the link you should post for the live videocast of the entire show:
http://www.thegreenespace.org/thegreenespace/

Thanks,
brittany lambertus publicist rock paper scissors, inc.
http://www.rockpaperscissors.biz/... music of global significance...

This email was sent by: rock paper scissors, inc. 511 W. 4th St., Suite 2 Bloomington, IN, 47404, USA

2009-08-24T11:13:00.012-04:00

I have been working on this blog for like a year and I have only 48 posts, that sucks. But in all reality I have been downloading and listening to some great music. I enjoy posting music, and finding covers of songs that I like, and sometimes I might come up with something interesting to say about music. Cool. That's why I am doing this. Or at least I think that is why I am doing this.

Anyway here is something I'm going to try and work on for the next while. I put before you this hypothesis ....

Modern Popular Music (from Rock'n Roll, R&B, Pop, Metal, Death Metal, Rap, Hip Hop, Funk etc) Would Not Exist Without American Race Radio.

How is that for a statement. Do you think I can prove it? Well I am going to try, because I do believe that it is a fact. Now onto research, I will post my findings over the next while.

I received two emails today that made me feel kind of good, I have been asked to review some new music. I've received a few in the past but have never done anything about it. I know, I know, every music blog receives these emails. Some Record company PR guy grabs as many emails as he can, then mass mails requests for reviews. but I think I will give it a try. Let me know what you think when I'm done.

I seem to have a following of people coming by, not for my post, but to find out what other music bloggers I link to are doing. Kind of funny isn't.

Enjoy the covers!

Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Down By The River Live at River Bend Music Center, Cincinnati Ohio, Hordefest mp3
Buddy Miles - Down By The River
Low - Down By The River
Indigo Girls - Down By The River

2009-08-19T14:24:00.003-04:00

Umbrella Islands, open water Georgian Bay, Ontario.

I'm back, but no music to post, I can't get on the computer to upload anything new. The kids have been hogging the computer since we got back. Can you believe two weeks without a computer. Sweet.

Covers Collection of Summer

2009-07-22T11:11:00.016-04:00

Well this is just horrible, I have only been posting once or twice a month. Not very blogger of me is it. I'll use the excuse that I have been working very hard trying to make my sales quota and getting my bonuses.

(I really am just a lazy bugger and have been downloading audio books (mp3) like crazy. I do have a moral dilemma about this, I am only downloading copies of books that I already own {I read a book 5 or 6 times before I can say I am happy with it, its like watching a movie over and over again because you really enjoy it.} The dilemma is that I have already paid for the book, I can go to a library and borrow these audio books anytime I want, but should I be downloading them as the company that owns the rights to the audio book are not being paid and therefore the Writer who wrote the book is not getting their royalty cut. Moral dilemma)

Anyway, my Eldest (He is 17 years old and really likes Children of Bodom, and is really impressed that they are going to release a covers cd), he and I had a really interesting conversation the other day about how in the beginning of the record industry that records were sold and recorded mostly on a regional basis. A record company would pay for the rights to a popular song (look up Tin Pan Alley for the US and I'm not sure what the UK/Australian/European comparisons would be, I am so Americanized in my history of popular culture, even though I am Canadian.) and then hire a regional artists to sing and play on the recording. The song may have been made popular on a national radio show (look up the history of radio) , or a piece that had been in the market place for a number of years and a arranger coming up with a new take on it.

Anyways, you could end of having multiple versions of the same song being played all over the continent and what would happen was that one version would embed it self in popular culture. There were definite examples of this in what was called Race Music and Popular Music in the states. Anyone know what it was like in other parts of the world?

You can see this happening again with musicians, take a look at the track list from that Children of Bodom album, or go and do a search of cover blogs. I think its interesting that Paul McCartney has to pay Michael Jackson (now his estate) every time he wants to play a Beatles song that is in that library of music that the estate owns, it must really burn a hole in his guts. What will happen in 30 years when some band wants to do covers of the Black Eyed Peas, Backstreet Boys or Jonas Brothers .. who owns the rights to their music?

Enjoy your summer, if your having one! It's been cloudy and cold here. Enjoy the covers.

Eddie Cochran -> Summertime Blues
Bobby Fuller -> Summertime Blues
Blue Cheer -> Summertime Blues
The Who -> Summertime Blues
T-Rex -> SummerTime Blues
Levon Helm -> Summertime Blues
Joan Jett -> SummerTime Blues
Rush -> Summertime Blues
The Ordinary Boys -> Summertime Blues
Guitar Wolf -> SummerTime Blues (thanks Nazz Nomad)

Happy Canada Day

2009-07-01T00:01:00.005-04:00

A wide and varied collection of Canadian artists for you on Canada Day 2009, One Hundred and Forty Two years old... Happy Birthday Canada.

Viletones - I hate You-Without You
The Real McKenzies - Ceilidh
Cancer Bats - Sorceress
Die Mannequin - Do It Or Die
Gordon Lightfoot - Sundown
Neil Young - Tonights the Night
The Diodes - Tired of Waking Up Tired
Forgotten Rebels - Homosexual Murder
The Demics - New York City
Avril Lavigne - Imagine
Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies)
Steppenwolf - Sookie Sookie
Rush - The Spirit Of Radio
OLP - Naveed
Teenage Head - Top Down
Sum 41 - Fat Lip
Payolas - China Boys
Trooper - Raise a Little Hell
Martha & the Muffins - Echo Beach
Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah
Jeff Healey Band - All Along The Watchtower(live)
The Guess Who - American Woman
Pursuit of Happiness - Cigarette Dangles
Great Big Sea - Mari-Mac
Tragically Hip - New Orleans Is Sinking
Spirit Of the West - Home for a Rest
Doug & the Slugs - Making it Work
Barenaked Ladies - If I Had $1000000

Enjoy! Raise a cool one to Canada.

2009-06-24T11:21:00.000-04:00

Cats Songs

2009-06-12T10:52:00.016-04:00

Canned Heat - Catfish Blues.mp3
Tom Waits - Tommy the Cat.mp3
Stray Cats - Stray Cat Strut.mp3
Lovin' Spoonful - Nashville Cats.mp3
Johnny Cash - 10 Mean Eyed Cat.mp3
The Cure - TheLovecats(live).mp3
Elton John - Honky Cat.mp3
Goldfinger - Fuck You and Your Cat.mp3
The Cramps - Faster Pussycat.mp3
Bad Manners - El Pussycat.mp3
The Grateful Dead - China Cat Sunflower (live '72).mp3
Squeeze - Cool For Cats.mp3
Ted Nugent - 1-12 Cat Scratch Fever.mp3
David Bowie - Cat People (Putting Out Fire).mp3
Jethro Tull - Cat's Squirrel.mp3
Lightn' Hopkins - Black Cat.mp3
Rufus "Hound Dog" Thomas Jr. - Bear Cat.mp3

Johnny Winter - Stray Cat Blues.mp3
Soundgarden - Stray Cat Blues.mp3
Rolling Stones - Stray Cat Blues.mp3

Hope you enjoy "Cat Songs", been a while since I posted so I thought it was time. Stop by and say hello, and for those of you who come by to go to other sites glad to see you. Though I would like to know who you are .. say a quick hello and let me know where your from.

Have fun

2009-05-25T14:19:00.002-04:00

2009-05-20T12:03:00.004-04:00

Schoolhouse Rock => Three is a Magic Number
Jeff Buckley => Three is a Magic Number
Wilco => Three is a Magic Number
Blind Melon => Three is a Magic Number

This is for the kind words I recieved from "Any Major Dude With Half A Heart"

2009-05-08T13:55:00.002-04:00

2009-04-28T14:43:00.001-04:00

Looking across the Bay. Damn, I want to head north and open the cottage. Have to wait another four weeks.

The first time I heard this song it had to be in about 1977. Punk opened the light, that music was more then just something to listen to, but I had always been attracted to the English blues rock guitar, Hendrix, Clapton and Beck, not the stuff they did in the 70's, that was boring old shit, ego masturbation is the best way I can describe it, but the music they created in the 60's when they were young and trying to prove themselves. I wanted to know where these guys came from and how their styles developed. I watched every rock documentary that came on TV. I read every book that I could (that's not saying very many, as I come from a town with one public library). I don't know if I wanted this information to have standing in the yard in between classes while we grabbed a smoke or was it for myself because the sound talked to me.

Anyway, I found a album in the record store .. 5 Live Yardbirds with Eric Clapton. I've since discovered that it was a bootleg of the "5 Live Yardbirds" live album. But this song was on it. "Smokestack Lightning". Wow! This led me to Howlin' Wolf, who lead me to Muddy Waters, and so on.

Take a listen:

Howlin' Wolf => Smokestack Lightin'
The Yardbirds => Smokestack Lightin'
The Grateful Dead => Smokestack Lightin'
Soundgarden => Smokestack Lightin'

Enjoy the spring.

2009-04-21T10:49:00.000-04:00

Soon

2009-04-12T10:26:00.004-04:00

HAPPY EASTER

Spike Jones - Ya Wanna Buy A Bunny

2009-04-05T16:55:00.029-04:00

I grew up in a house of music. This is the 60's, so you have to realise the my parents were born into the depression and grew up during war. Dad loves big band and jazz music. Mom is a range of jazz to Johnny Cash and Tom Jones. The first album covers I remember seeing were a bunch by Benny Goodman and Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass "Whipped Cream and Other Delights" as a kid I always thought this was really cool.

But the first music I remember, for some reason was Johnny Cash. We used to sing "Ring of Fire" as a joke to bug Dad. He hates Johnny and country music. This wide range of musical taste has affected how I listen to music. Trying to teach the same to my Eldest, but god he is turning into a metal head.

Enjoy the following.

Johnny Cash - The Legend of Johnny Cash -Ring Of Fire(.mp3)
Sleepy La Beef Ring of Fire(.mp3)
Joaquin Phoenix - Walk The Line Soundtrack -Ring of Fire (.mp3)
Bishop Allen - Live the Velvet Lounge - Ring of Fire (Live)(.mp3)
Bob Dylan - Ring Of Fire(.mp3)
Ray Charles - Ring of Fire(.mp3)
Johnny Cash and the Carter Family (Live) Ring Of Fire(.mp3)
Jailbait - Ring Of Fire(.mp3)
Anita Carter - (Loves) Ring of Fire(.mp3)
Elvis Costello - Ring of Fire (Johnny Cash cover)(.mp3)
Blondie - Eat to the Beat CD - Ring Of Fire [Live](.mp3)
Social Distortion - Greatest Hits - Ring Of Fire(.mp3)
Wall of Voodoo -Ring Of Fire(.mp3)
Moby - Ring Of Fire(.mp3)
Dick Dale and his Deltones - Ring Of Fire(.mp3)
My Morning Jacket - Live at Lee's Palace -ring-of-fire-cash.mp3(.mp3)

2009-03-30T14:23:00.004-04:00

BE BACK SOON

2009-02-18T14:20:00.009-05:00

Here it is the middle of February, the snow is almost gone (damn, it's snowing again today), and I want to go away somewhere but I can't.

I'm now another year older, not wiser.

We have a new car (just today - a new Mazda 6), the old crown vic is dead (a write off in a low speed collision, the guy even admitted to hitting me so the insurance covered everything)

I really don't feel like writing anything else today so here is one of my favorite songs covered by a bunch of bands. Enjoy and go and buy if you like them.

Mott the Hoople - All The Young Dudes {Buy}

Billy Bragg - All The Young Dudes {Buy}

F.U.'s - All The Young Dudes {Buy}

David Bowie - All The Young Dudes {Buy}

The Skids - All The Young Dudes {Buy}

2009-01-28T15:26:00.002-05:00

Damn its snowing again .. I just want spring.

The Doors - Wintertime Love - Waiting for the Sun {Buy}
Frank Sinatra - Spring is Here (I wish!!){Buy}

Book Reviews

2009-01-16T15:30:00.002-05:00

Book reviews, who wants to read some wankers book review. Well maybe you do!

I read a hell of a lot. My idea of retirement is sitting on the dock reading books all day long. So anyways I get a lot of books from family and friends. This Christmas it was Chapters gift card, with which I went and bought "Iggy Pop: Open Up And Bleed" by Paul Trynka and then a co-worker gave me Anthony Kiedis "Scar Tissure".

I started reading "Open Up And Bleed" on the Monday after Christmas, and I admit looking at Iggy/Jim Osterberg's early life was pretty boring. The time with the Stooges and the breakup of the band were just not interesting, it was like the author was retelling snippets of information that he had been given without really tying them together. It was a hard read, I spent more time putting this book down then reading it. In fact I read Naomi Novik's latest book "Victory of Eagles" and "Scar Tissue" before I came back to Iggy.

Once I finished those books I picked it up again it became fascinating, the whole Bowie friendship, the time in Berlin, recreating himself from a drugged out has been to a driven, creative artist. Getting dry or at least keeping himself straight when he needed to. Iggy toured more often than I can list, he toured with his worst albums and his best. He toured to make money, he toured to create a fan base for his music which was light years ahead of anyone else. References to early New York and London punk bands, "Search and Destroy" being a staple of auditions. The Pistols covering "No Fun". Iggy/Jim helped revolutionize modern music.

I ended up not being able to put this book down and was engrossed with the two people that inhabited the body Jim Osterberg / Iggy Pop. Jim seems to be a controlled intelligent man with insights into multiple worlds. Where as Iggy is this self destructive monster, that takes over the body when and where it wants to. Dragging Jim into uncontrolled acts of destruction on himself and everyone around him. The most telling quote in the whole book is from page 303

"In June 1996 Guren (Bob Guren) flew over to London for the much-feted show that saw Iggy share bill with the newly reunited Sex Pistols, whose rise Gruen had documented twenty years before. Gruen and Jim had exchanged a few words that afternoon, and a couple of minutes before Jim was due to go onstage, Gruen saw him walk over to a quiet corner. The photographer was about to go up and offer some encouragement when Art Collins (IggyJim's Manager) motioned him aside and warned him "I wouldn't do that now." As Gruen looked on, he saw Jim immersed in some kind of deep-breathing exercise, "and then, suddenly, it was like watching the Hulk, when some normal person, the secret identity, turns into this incredible creature." Gruen watched wave after wave of an almost inhuman energy surge through him: "You could see him become larger and more powerful; Jim had become Iggy and taken on all this mass, this power. And you just knew it was time to stay out of the way and not get anywhere near where he'd be"

The question that the book leaves me with is Iggy just a character that Jim plays and has conned people with for over 40 years or is Jim living with two personalities. I don't think I want to even guess. I just love his music.

I can say take the time to read "Iggy Pop: Open Up And Bleed", you might find it dry to begin, but it's worth it.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now for " Scar Tissue",
I know this book has been around for a while. Main reason why I haven't picked it up was I had heard it was mostly about who Anthony fucked this day and how much drugs he had done. I wasn't to disappointed, that is what almost all of it was, until you start realising there is a deeper theme running through the Biography. Even though you get some great sex stories, a real look at a hard partying band on tour, Anthony always comes back to the base line of every mistake he made was his own and his responsibility (and I mean he made some massive mistakes, destroying relationships, his body, irresponsible actions that harmfully affected others not just himself). He comes off being really not a very nice guy. His treatment of John Frusciante, though it may not seem harsh to many, it can be destructive to a fragile ego.

If you gloss over the sex (you may not want to, some of it is pretty good) Anthony goes on to explain his background, how he became who he is, how he and Flea came together to form the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the breakups, the deaths, the joy of making music and the tragedy of a man being sucked down into addiction.

The whole book seems to be part of his recovery from addiction and how he treated the people around him. At the end you discover a almost normal healthy person who sets up the chairs for his AA meetings, helps others who are trying to recover and is living each day to its fullest.
A telling quote is when he is talking about composing the lyrics to "Give it Away" on page 273.

Anthony is visiting his friend Nina Hagen and mentioned that he liked a certain exotic jacket in her closet. " Take it. You can have it." she said. "Whoa, I can't take this. This is the nicest jacket you have in there." I said. "That's why I gave it to you," She explained. "It's always important to give things away; it creates good energy. If you have a closet full of clothes, and you try to keep them
all, your life will get very small. But if you have a full closet and someone sees something they like, if you give it to them, the world is a better place"

Anthony goes on to describe how the band brings the music together with the interaction between the band jamming and his reactions to the music being created. In fact you get a very close look at the creative process with Chili Peppers, the music being created and then lyrics being added. It was quite interesting, but seems to be close to chaos, though the results seem to justify the means.

If you haven't read "Scar Tissue" yet, I think you might enjoy it, but hey what do I know.

I do know that if you like Fantasy and Historical Fiction you will love Naomi Novik's Temeraire series. Go out and pick up this series now!

Here are a couple of my favourite tunes by each artist. Go out and buy the CD's, purchase the MP3, or even better try to find the vinyl.

Enjoy

Iggy Pop - I am a Passenger - Lust For Life - buy
Iggy Pop - I'm Bored - New Values - buy
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Give It Away - Blood Sugar Sex Magik - buy
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Knock Me Down - Mothers Milk - buy

2009-01-08T15:13:00.014-05:00

Here I am sitting at work, not really knowing what to post about, but knowing I need to put up the first post of a new year. Even though I really want to be standing on that beach again, feet in the warm Caribbean water, just coming back from a great time snorkeling at the reef. ( I need a holiday!)

It's supposedly "Inter"national Delucker Week. So leave a comment if you like the music, pictures or links.

Here is my first music post of the year, three hits on Mannish Boy, two borrowed and one mine.

Muddy Waters - Mannish Boy
Jimi Hendrix - Mannish Boy
The Rolling Stones - Mannish Boy
(both of the above were borrowed from Rollo & Grady's Sunday Blues, which they seem to have stopped unfortunately)

If you like the music go and Buy it at iTunes.com (but wait till April) or at your local record store for the vinyl or CD.

Enjoy.

Christmas Covers

2008-12-22T17:02:00.005-05:00

Re-Post at 12/23/09
Horrible photo, I know, but I wanted to show you what my neighbours house looks like. We have tour buses, cars, police cars, and pedestrians on our street just to see this Christmas display. They do it for charity, I think they are raising funds for Sick Kids Hospital. It is overpowering but not to bad, it's just that when you drive up to the house your blinded by the lights of the display and cars that are parked looking at the house.

Today we finally got our Christmas Tree, Wife picked me up at work (I took a long lunch), we drove north for a hour, whiteouts (for those of you who don't know what that is - a snow storm with strong winds that makes everything white) for most of it. Got to the tree farm, after about 30 minutes walking around in two foot deep snow, we found a tree. (12 ft tall). Some really nice people also picking their tree at the last minute had a chain saw, so they helped me cut it down, drag it back to the shed, and put it up on top of my van. Then we drove back to Toronto, wife dropped me off at work and she took the tree home.

Anyway, not sure I'm going to be able to do another post before Christmas, so I wanted to share one of my favorite Christmas songs and covers of it.

Enjoy:

Fairytale of New York = The Pogues w/ Kristy MacColl {buy}
Fairytale of New York = Ron Keating & Marie Brennan {buy}
Fairytale of New York = Stars {buy}
Fairytale of New York = York Scotland Yard Gospel Choir {buy}
Fairytale of New York = No Use For A Name {buy}
Fairytale of New York = Various Artists on Cold Blow These Winter Winds

Just to remind you. December is not always the most joyful month. We lost Joe Strummer six years ago today, and John Lennon 28 years ago. Remember the special people in your life and keep them close.
Enjoy the season, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and whatever else you might be celebrating.

Merry Christmas 2008

2008-12-19T10:24:00.002-05:00

Just for you a Christmas special .. a collection of Blackadder Christmas shows, enjoy.
Music to come later

Cancon II

2008-11-27T09:10:00.006-05:00

Just a little game for a long weekend (not here in Canada but down in the States - it's their Thanksgiving), Middle (that is what I call my 14 year old) is in a (Ice) hockey tournament in Pittsburgh PA ( a good 5 1/2 hour drive this afternoon), so yes I am taking a long weekend. She's a goalie, not a bad one, or at least I think so. It should be good, a bunch or hockey loving families heading to the states for a tournament weekend and shopping (no tax on cloths in Pennsylvania)

Anyway .. here are the rules for what makes a song Cancon:
(the MAPL system):
M (music) - the music is composed entirely by a Canadian.
A (artist) - the music and/or the lyrics are performed principally by a Canadian.
P (production) - the musical selection consists of a live performance that is (i) recorded wholly in Canada, or (ii) performed wholly in Canada and broadcast live in Canada.
L (lyrics) - the lyrics are written entirely by a Canadian.

So the game is -> what makes the following songs Cancon? Post your answers in the comments and lets see who gets all four right.

Stompin' Tom Connors - Good Old Hockey Game {buy}

Ashely MacIsaac - Rusty Deconstruction {buy}

Buffalo Springfield - For What Its Worth {buy}

Rufus Wainwright & Martha Wainwright - Hallelujah (live at Glastonbury Festival 2007)

Enjoy the long weekend if you get one. Or just enjoy the day,

2008-11-21T09:55:00.002-05:00

Okay .. sit down drink a "POP" (aka Beer) and watch this... Don Cherry with Rick Mercer .. pure Canadian humour.

2008-11-19T10:41:00.003-05:00

Robin Williams is in town at Massey Hall for two days this week, and I am not going ... dang nab it! I tried to get tickets but they were gone within minutes.

Anyway if you get to go have fun, if not here are a couple MP3's by Robin

Fire by Elmer Fudd
Blame Canada
Come Together

CanCon

2008-11-06T09:13:00.006-05:00

Not sure what radio is like in other countries, but Canada has a rule that we call CanCon (Canadian Content) which has been around since 1971.

To give you a quick overview of what Cancon is, presently Canadian radio stations must play at least 35% Canadian talent. (back when the CRTC implemented it in the 70's it was around 20%)They use a rule called MAPL , that breaks down how talent can be classified as Canadian. There have be fights left right and centre on this, that it cultural protectionism, that talentless bands getting airplay, marginally Canadian artists falling under CanCon rules (Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Steppenwolf) etc....

In my opinion one of the best things about Cancon was Canadian kids getting recorded and put on radio. Over the years CanCon has gave rise to some really good musical movements across the country. Toronto/southern Ontario in the late 70's, Vancouver in the 80's and Halifax in the 90's. Radio stations needed to fill time, so they went looking for music and found it where ever they could. One of these stations was CFNY, they needed Canadian content to fit into their format (new wave/punk/alternative = different from top 40/AOR that was so prevalent in North American radio in the late 70's). So bands got airplay, which meant more people got to hear them, so that more people went to their concerts .. I went to see Teenage Head at the Roxy in Barrie not long before the Ontario Place Riot.

Anyway .. here are some of bands from that late 70's scene in Toronto.

The Demics - (I Wanna go to) New York City {buy}

The Diodes - Tired of Waking Up Tired {buy}

The Viletones - Screaming Fist {buy}

Teenage Head - Kissin' the Carpet {buy}

Forgotten Rebels - Surfin on Heroin {buy}

If you have a moment check out the link for The Last Pogo.net .. I was to young to go to the original, and this time I'll be out of the country so I won't get to see it again, but if your in Toronto on the 29th of November head on down to The Horseshoe Tavern for the 30th anniversary of The Last Pogo!

2008-10-29T10:42:00.005-04:00

October 29th 2008 8:45 am, Snow at York U on my way to work.

Snowed last night, earliest that I have seen it snow in years. Welcome to winter!

The US election is almost over, for what seems to be two years the country to the south of us has been in the process of choosing who will run them for the next four years. Enough already, elect the buggers and get it over with. I am so tired of hearing about who is right. Who is a socialist (what does the states know of socialism?) It took Canada 5 weeks to set up, run the election and elect a PM. We have also gotten what we deserve, less the 50% turn out and another four years of a conservative government. Lucky us.

I figure Harper called the election early so that he would not have to compete with a Democrat winning in the US.

Enjoy the music
Gladys Knight and the Pips - I Heard It Through The Grapevine. {Buy}
Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through The Grapevine. {Buy}
Ella Fitzgerald - I Heard It Through The Grapevine. {Buy}
The Slits - I Heard It Through The Grapevine. {Buy}

2008-10-23T13:15:00.003-04:00

Losing Frankie the other day, made me want to listen to my Teenage Head albums again, so last night I setup the TTUSB and ripped their self titled first album "Teenage Head"

Enjoy

Teenage Head - Picture My Face {buy}

2008-10-16T09:50:00.005-04:00

This is just sad .. Frankie Venom, lead singer of Teenage Head has passed away from cancer.

Canadian punk band lead singer dies of cancer The Canadian Press October 16, 2008 Hamilton -- Frank Kerr, lead singer of the iconic Hamilton punk band Teenage Head, has died of cancer at age 52. Gord Lewis, his bandmate and close friend since childhood, said Mr. Kerr died yesterday at a Hamilton hospital. He had been diagnosed less than a month ago with throat cancer. To his fans, Mr. Kerr was known as Frankie Venom, a wildly unpredictable stage persona seemingly capable of anything when standing in front of a microphone. "Frankie was the true punk rocker. He really was," said Mr. Lewis, who founded the band in 1975 with Mr. Kerr while they were students in high school. "But that's what made him interesting. I thrived off his abilities and his energy." Mr. Kerr and the band had their biggest hits with their first two albums, Teenage Head (1979) and Frantic City (1980).

This is just a shame. I remember slam danceing and pogoing to the Head at the Roxy in Barrie, I must have seen this band at least 20 times. The last time was in Vancouver in the 80's. Great songs, lots of energy, lots of fun.

Bye Frankie.

2008-10-15T11:52:00.000-04:00

I had always thought that the great bluesmen/folk singers were song writers in their own right. Not that they weren't, but if you take a song like "House of the Rising Sun" made famous by the Animals in the 60's. You suddenly see the history behind a simple song.

I always knew that Eric Burdon hadn't written it, I've got a copy of Leadbelly performing it (Great double album compilation called Blues Anthology UK) awesome song, but nothing like the Animals version (Leadbelly's version if from the view point of a man attending a brothel, not a gambler). But the Animals don't seem to have taken it from Leadbelly. Dylan did a cover just a year or two before the Animals released theirs. Before him, Nina Simone and other artists, then recording history seems to take "House of the Rising Sun" into hazy realm of recording and playing by numerous artists to the point where music historians can't figure out who wrote the song. The melody seems to have come from a traditional English ballad, refined by the American folk, bluegras and blues musicians.

Music history is so cool.

Enjoy!

Leadbelly - In New Orleans {buy}

Nina Simone - House of the Rising Sun {buy}

Bob Dylan - House of the Rising Sun {buy}

The Animals - House of the Rising Sun {buy}

This is about my speed. Guitar lesson for "House of the Rising Sun" from Guitar Noise .com

2008-10-08T22:32:00.004-04:00

Okay is this sad or is this sad. A 45 year old fat man who likes Art, Flowers, gardening, cooking and watching young dancers. Yes!!!! I've found another TV show to watch with wife, one that I can enjoy. Hell I didn't get my IPod or pick up my book for two hours.

Tune into "So You Think You Can Dance Canada", I just spent two hours watching the show and enjoyed just about every minute. Is every dancer fantastic, no. Are the judges fair and even, no. But you do get to watch some really hot young dancers showing off their skills, take a few minutes and sit down and watch it, it's worth the time.

The last couple of the night did a entertaining job to Sam & Dave's Soul Man {Buy}. Give it a listen.

2008-10-01T11:31:00.006-04:00

I started to write a whinny post about pondering my position in the relevance of life and if I'm important to anyone outside of my own little circle. You know that whine of "where is my 15 seconds of fame." And then I realized who gives a fuck. Work is work, living is living and if you get a few minutes of joy each day your doing fine.

Enjoy the following

Gene Vincent - Be Bop A Lula {Buy}

John Lennon - Be Bop A Lula {Buy}

The Clash - Be Bop A Lula {Buy ? }

Be Bop A Lula Guitar Tab

2008-09-25T09:13:00.003-04:00

I don't want to get political, but we are about to have a election here in Canada. The conservatives are probably going to stay in power and Harper seems to be trying to make us into "Little America". The video above is a great response to his cuts in Cultural spending. Hopefully we can get the NDP and Liberals to form a coalition government to defeat Harper. (Do you think they are that smart?)

I support the funding of Canadian arts. Do you?

2008-09-17T15:26:00.009-04:00

An number of months ago at another blog I was in discussion with a friend about the release of Paul McCartny's new ablum and the fact that Starbucks was selling and representing Paul .

Which started me thinking about Music, how it's been produced, distrubited over the last century and how the industry keeps getting itself into a rut that it can't seem to extract itself from, but always seems to be able to slowly (at great expense to us the music buying public) reivent itself.

I like the idea of Starbucks getting into cd production, artist representation and sales. I think its a great way to get people to buy music. You buy a coffee, you see a CD, impulse buy. It's the best way to cash in on the sales cycle. Don't let the sucker think to much.

Before the turn of the century music was presented live, you either saw it in a theatre where it was performed by traveling shows, then if you liked the songs or show you would go out buy the sheet music and play it at home or at a social event. The artist wasn't as important as the song writer/sheet music company, this was where the money was made. You had things like Tin Pan Alley, the Brill Building, Broadway and the theatre district of East End London. I'm sure there are other enclaves around the world that did the same thing. Businesses where song writers would pump out lyrics and music to feed popular tastes.

Then came the gramophone (old record players), the sheet music was written, a performer was found, they recorded it, records were sold and distributed locally, not nationally or internationally (for the most part, unless you were a Caruso). On top of this the early record player/gramophone was expensive, not everyone could afford it. Recorded music was a class thing.

Then came Radio ... all of a sudden you didn't have to wait for Aunt Bessy to come over to the house and play for you or go and visit your cousin with the record player. You could turn on the radio and listen to the latest and greatest jazz/opera or popular music song that was playing at the time. Local and national music was suddenly being presented to a larger group of people at a very limited expense. (I'm not sure about the US but in Canada in those days you were supposed to purchase a radio license to listen to the radio. ( were I'm going with this is the radio license was to pay for the radio station/music and show that were being aired. (I have a old Marconi radio from the 1920's with the radio license, it still work but sounds bad, middle daughter when she was three damaged the speaker))

The sheet music companies and the musicians union hated this new fangled contraption because they felt it was taking work/money out of their pockets. So the sheet music/unions/record companies got together and put out rules on how music could be presented on radio. Once again this didn't last very long because it was cheaper to put a record on the air then to hire a band to come in and play. (If you weren't with the CBC you could even sell the airtime between the records and make money) Or you could pick up a signal from the a national network and simulcast or rebroadcast live music, radio drama's, new and information programming, at a very minimal cost to your local radio station, but it was still cheaper to put a single guy in a studio and have him play records for a few hours each day.

Radio really grew and began to ignore the rules that the Sheet Music, Record Distributors, Musicians Union, were trying to enforce. (Hey these guys were only trying to get paid .. sound familiar?).

Then came some very powerful forces, radio sponsorship of a program, national networks, and popular music. Jazz was no longer being played in the seedy dark night club by great black musicians. It was being brought to the general public by clean, nice looking white boys (sorry for being crude but its true) The big band cleaned up jazz for the general public. In the US and Canada (more so in the states, we were stuck with the CBC, but the signals drifted into Canada .. remember a electronic wave recognizes no border) national networks began to come together. So you could broadcast a show from New York that would cover the whole continent, so why not bring in a band that could attract listeners, have it sponsored by a national company and make money. This attracted attracted large audiences and as the 30's transitioned into the 40's and 50's this was how popular music was presented to the general public. A big band toured, had a sponsorship deal with a national network, did a friday/saturday night live concert, a had record deal with a national distributor and sold their records. But this didn't mean that the music/song wasn't played/recorded by a different band/artist across the world and that it wasn't sold on a different label on a regional basis. You have to remember that the artist really didn't matter at this time. A sheet music company was being paid, for the most part the songs weren't being written by the artists, they were buying or being given the music by the sheet music companies, who had a staff of writers who wrote the music. The bands arranger then took that sheet music, modified/arranged it for the band's/artist’s style.

Look, I'm not writing anything that you can't find online or at a bookstore/library.. sorry about taking up so much time to get to the point. What I am trying to say is that at one time the sheet music industry tried to stop radio because they saw it as an attack on their profits. Then the record companies fought against the Artist/Performer, because they didn't think they could make money off a musician performing there own music. Then they fought against top 40 radio because not all the artists were represented, or they complained about race radio, album oriented rock radio and boring old AOR. The music industry tried to prevent/tax recordable cassettes because you could then copy and distribute music without paying for it or it destroyed the way the artist wanted his/her music presented (Mixtapes) .

Then they fought against file sharing because of the same reasons. They have all forgotten the same small thing. A song is made popular not by a radio station/file sharing/, it’s made popular by a person who has the time and budget to buy the music and listen to that album or song.
In 2008 we have so many things that we can spend or time and money on. We want it instantly, music buyers can buy a CD for $10, a .mp3 for 99¢, a video game for $60, go to the movies for $20, buy a book for $10, go to a concert for $100, go out clubbing for whatever the cost is now (I’m to old to remember clubbing).

My first love has always been music and sound. When I was a kid I had an old Grundig FM/AM/Shortwave radio (the only way you could tune in a signal was to open the back and turn the wheel by hand. Damn the tubes got hot). I would stay up late into the night listening to music from around the world (by the way this is around '73/'74). Now, I can't play a instrument worth a damn (I'm finally willing to admit that I am to lazy to learn a instrument), but I wanted to be part of how sound is created. I first thought being a Radio announcer would be the greatest. Then after going to college for Radio I learned that with my monotone voice and dry sense of humor it would just not work for a rock jock. So I set my sights on being a Audio Engineer .. now I'm a software sales guy. But I still love music, we just have to get these idiots to realize, we will buy it they just have to make it available in the locations we are at... Starbucks is on the right track.

Louis Armstrong - Blueberry Hill {Buy}
Fats Domino - Blueberry Hill {Buy}
Bruce Cockburn - Blueberry Hill {Buy}
Jah Wobble - Blueberry Hill {Buy}

Click here to see what you get when you do a search for piano tabs for Blueberry Hill.

2008-09-09T08:46:00.018-04:00

As a father of a teenager going to a all girls Catholic School, I find this song unsettling. Here I am 45 with a teenage daughter, and these old men are sing about a Little School Girl. Not gonna happen.

Great tunes, each artist does a awesome cover. I think it was origionally recorded by Sonny Boy Willimson in 1937, but I'm not sure. Give a listen, go out and buy.

Muddy Waters - Good Morning Little School Girl -> {buy}

Mississippi Fred McDowell - Good Morning Little School Girl -> {buy}

Smokey Hogg - Good Morning Little School Girl -> {buy}

Yardbirds - Good Morning Little School Girl -> {buy}

10 Years After - Good Morning Little School Girl -> {buy}

Jonny Lang - Good Morning Little School Girl -> {buy}

This song is just great but damn does it really creep me out. I didn't know this but the video was banned by MTV in the states, I know I never saw it on MuchMusic here. But then again, I don't watch video channels much anymore I'm to old for its demographic.

Custom - Hey Mister -> {buy} watch the video on youtube .. should it have been banned?

By the way, for any future boyfriends, I have my grandfathers shot gun! Think twice.

Yardbirds guitar tab for "Good Morning Little School Girl"

2008-08-25T22:23:00.011-04:00

Okay time for another covers post. I've got this thing for covers, I want to see how other groups/artist handle each others music. I think its supposed to be a tribute and more often then not it is.

You all love the Doors, admit it, they are always a hidden pleasure. They hit their heights in the late 60's, again in the early 80's, have had a movie made about them and had/have one of the most interesting lead singers of all time, Jim Morrison.

Take a few minutes listen to the different versions of "Soul Kitchen" that I'm offering up to you.

The Doors Soul Kitchen {Buy}

The Doors (live Matrix 3-10-67) Soul Kitchen

Patti Smith Soul Kitchen {Buy}

X Soul Kitchen {Buy}

Echo & The Bunnymen Soul Kitchen {Buy}

Widespread Panic (live New Orleans 10-28-00) Soul Kitchen {Buy}

Soul Kitchen Chords
Well, the clock says its time to close now
I guess Id better go now
Id really like to stay here all night
The cars crawl past all stuffed with eyes
Street lights share their hollow glow
Your brain seems bruised with numb surprise
Still one place to go
Still one place to go
Let me sleep all night in your soul kitchen
Warm my mind near your gentle stove
Turn me out and Ill wander baby
Stumblin in the neon groves
Well, your fingers weave quick minarets
Speak in secret alphabets
I light another cigarette
Learn to forget, learn to forget
Learn to forget, learn to forget
Let me sleep all night in your soul kitchen
Warm my mind near your gentle stove
Turn me out and Ill wander baby
Stumblin in the neon groves
Well the clock says its time to close now
I know I have to go now
I really want to stay here
All night, all night, all night

2008-08-14T19:34:00.001-04:00

I'm not going to call this anything but the EXCESS Post... Look, I don't know about you but I did things to excess when I was younger, I mean drinking and drugs. We all might have, to different degrees. Some of us got smart and slowed down ... others didn't and checked out.

All the songs below are from great artists who did things to excess and sang about it.

Enjoy.

Cab Calloway -1931- Minnie The Moocher {buy}
Hendricks, Ross & Lambert - 1960 - Gimme That Wine {buy}
John Lee Hooker - ? - Whiskey and Wimmen {buy}
The Doors - 1967 - Alabama Song(Whiskey Bar) {buy}
Jefferson Airplane - 1967 -White Rabbit {buy}
Velvet Underground - 1967 - Heroin {buy}
Canned Heat - 1968 -Amphetamine Annie {buy}
Eric Burden - 1970 -Spill the Wine {buy}
Don McLean - 1971 -American Pie {buy}
Neil Young - 1972 -The Needle and the Damage Done {buy}
Eric Clapton - 1977 - Cocaine {buy}
Johnny Thunders - 1976 -Chinese Rocks {buy}
Ian Dury and the Blockhead - 1977 - Sex & Drugs and Rock n Roll {buy}
Monks - 1979 - Drugs in My Pocket {buy}
Social Distortion - 1990 - Drug Train {buy}
Placebo -1998 - Pure Morning {buy}
Amy Winehouse - 2006 -Rehab {buy}

2008-08-01T11:17:00.007-04:00

Another week off ... going up north to the cottage. Northern Ontario bush, Georgian Bay water, stripping a old cedar strip canoe, swimming and fishing. BBQ every night, wife baking in the sun, warm nights, and good beer. What better way to spend a week, only thing that could make it better would be some good music. I've run a few albums through on my TTusb turntable this week (first time I've been able to get it out in over a month.)
Enjoy and buy!

Some of my favorite songs:

John Lennon - Instant Karma (Live) - Live In New York City {Buy}
English Beat (hey I'm a Canadian, this is what we've always know them as!) - Whine & Grine/Stand Down Margaret - Just Can't Stop It! {Buy}
D.O.A. - War - War on 45 {Buy}

Lollapalooza is this weekend in Chicago, I got a really cool link in my email. I'll be up north, so you people enjoy. It seems we can see Lollapalooza live if we want, can't find a cost can you?

2008-07-22T23:16:00.005-04:00

I stood in Daly Plaza at 10pm at night taking a picture of a Picasso. Chicago .. what a town. Had a great trip, enjoyed almost every minute of it, and will go back again. Though I think without the kids. Maybe this time I'll go in June for the Blues Festival. No wonder they call it sweet home chicago.

If you want pizza go to Pizza Uno/Duo, if you want music Buddy Guys, and you have to take a river cruise.

Robert Johnson - Sweet Home Chicago {Buy}
Eric Clapton - Sweet Home Chicago - Complete Clapton {Buy}
The Blues Brothers - Sweet Home Chicago - The Definitive Collection {Buy}
Stevie Ray Vaughan [with Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Vaughn] - Sweet Home Chicago(Live 8-26-90)

Robert Johnson Sweet Home Chicago Guitar Tab

2008-07-09T16:24:00.011-04:00

Okay .. this is not going to be a long post ..... I'm driving to Chicago tomorrow for a wedding and a weeks holiday. We're going to be coming back through Cleveland so that I get to hit the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ... I'm in heaven

I know, I should be posting Chicago related songs, home of the northern blues and all that, but I forgot to upload them. So today's post is about how one generation of musicians use the work of the previous in new and interesting ways. Take a listen to the following.

Howlin' Wolf - Killing Floor.mp3, From "His Best" {Buy}

The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Killing Floor (Live at Monterey Pop Festival).mp3, from Monterey International Pop Festival, June 16-18, 1967 {Buy}

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By the way if your interested in looking for new/old music spend sometime with the Retro Music Snob and welcome him back from his short hiatus. Or click on the Hype Machine.

Anyway enjoy and I will see you in a week.

2008-06-27T14:41:00.006-04:00

In 1980 I was only 17. I was a Punk/New Wave snob. I wouldn't listen to anything that wasn't new. I talked about how dinosaur rock had to go, I wanted to see young and inventive artist take over the stage. I thought I knew everything about music.

Then I heard a song that I wasn't supposed to like, it was Heavy Metal. It went against everything I thought music was supposed to be about. I started to grow up real quick and realize that music is music and you can like whatever you want to and that you don't have to be part of a clique to express your tastes in music. (Though I admit it does help to have other people backing you up when you are faceing down another group of teens that may not like you becuase of the music your listening to and the way you look ... fists and boots hurt)

download/listen to -> Motörhead, Ace of Spades.mp3 {Buy} 1980

Ace of Spades Tabs

Happy Canada Day and have a great 4th of July

2008-06-16T15:45:00.003-04:00

Hey not sure if you've heard this song from a great Toronto punk band known as Hostage Life. This Song Was Written By A Committee. {Buy}

It was on a 2006 album/CD "Walking Papers", Which got a lot of air play on Toronto radio over the last two years. I definitely am looking for more from this band.

2008-06-10T23:30:00.003-04:00

Long ago when I was a kid, in grade five we had a music teacher who made us learn this song, by Tex Ritter, Blood on the Saddle {Buy}

Don't ask me why I remember this song 35 years later, but I can sing almost every word and note (off key of course)

There was blood on the saddle and blood all around
And a great big puddle of blood on the ground

A cowboy lay in it all covered with gore
And he never will ride any broncos no more

Oh, pity the cowboy, all bloody and red
For the bronco fell on him and bashed in his head

There was blood on the saddle and blood all around
And a great big puddle of blood on the ground

2008-06-06T15:15:00.002-04:00

Bad Manners - Lip Up Fatty {Buy} Though I got this off of Bad Manners (MCA Records / America) (1982) ( I found it in a delete bin back in '84) I ripped it with my new Numark TTUSB. Love it, great fun though it has lead to some late nights .. the only thing I can say against it is that it doesn't have a dust cover and don't let your kids near it. I had to replace the needle in the first week. 8 year olds, have to love em.

2008-05-25T23:10:00.004-04:00

In honour of the playoffs (NHL not NBA), go Peguins no I mean Red Wings, no I mean Penguins .. Damn who do I want to win?, we have Stompin' Tom Connors - The Hockey Song {Buy}

Charles Thomas "Stompin' Tom" Connors (b.1936 in Saint John, New Brunswick) from: Stompin' Tom And The Hockey Song, 1973

The Hockey Song (The Good Old Hockey Game)

Hello out there! We're on the air,
It's Hockey Night tonight;
Tension grows, the whistle blows,
And the puck goes down the ice.
The goalie jumps, and the players bump,
And the fans all go insane;
Someone roars, "Bobby scores!"
At the good old hockey game.

Oh! The good old hockey game,
Is the best game you can name;
And the best game you can name,
Is the good old Hockey game!

[spoken] "Second period...."
Where players dash with skates a-flash,
The home team trails behind;
But they grab the puck and go bursting up,
And they're down across the line.
They storm the crease like bumble bees,
They travel like a burning flame;
We see them slide the puck inside,
It's a one-one hockey game.

Oh! The good old hockey game,
Is the best game you can name;
And the best game you can name,
Is the good old Hockey game!

[spoken] Third period! Last game in the playoffs, too!"
Oh, take me where the hockey players
Face-off down the rink;
And the Stanley Cup is all filled up,
For the champs who win the drink.
Now the final flick of a hockey stick,
And the one gigantic scream:
"The puck is in" - The home team wins
The good old hockey game!

Oh! The good old hockey game,
Is the best game you can name;
And the best game you can name,
Is the good old Hockey game!

[Repeat chorus as often as required.]

2008-05-16T10:59:00.003-04:00

Okay, sencond music only post for me. I've been blogging for over 4 years, but I've become kind of tired of the daily family is fine, I'm okay we will survive type posts.

I've become enamored with the whole music blog, Hypemachine blogging thing. I want to share my taste in music and maybe introduce people to bands they have never thought to look at.

So for today we have Ashley MacIsaac, download -> Rusty D Con Struck Tion.MP3 {buy}

I bought this CD back in '95 and have been listening to it ever since. Ashley created a great mix of Celtic, traditional and rock kitchen party atmosphere here. Give it a listen.

Unfortunately I can't fund Rusty D Con Struck Tion on youtube but here is Ashely's Devil in the Kitchen, enjoy.

2008-05-15T11:54:00.000-04:00

Lonnie Mack & Stevie Ray Vaughn

download-> Oreo Cookie Blues.mp3. {buy}

I found this song on a great CD in a delete bin at a grocery store, look for it on "A Celebration of Blues: Great Acoustic Blues"

(Oreo Cookie Blues Guitar Tab)

2008-05-10T15:10:00.000-04:00

Close up on a Larkspur

I'm in heaven ... I am now a proud owner of a 80 gig IPod. Why should you care, you really shouldn't, this toy is just another tool to separate the user from society, but damn do I love it.
I've got about half my CD's loaded (2200 songs), I'm thinking (been doing this for a while but just to lazy) of digitizing my record collection .. I've got about 1000 LP's that I've been collecting since I was 15 [sad aren't I]. Wife gave me the IPod for Christmas, she surprised the heck out of me, I got a shoe box and inside was a pair of ugly hiking boots (I then realize that they are my sons), inside of them I find the Ipod, I haven't felt this good at Christmas since I was a little kid. I do love her so.

Now I'm pretty boring and laid back, small thing make me happy. Last night as I was loading songs I found another joy of having a IPod, Podcasting. I found that the CBC is podcasting some of my favorite shows. I listened to Rick MacInnes-Rae on Dispatches and I sync'd DNTO season ender with Sook-yin Lee interviewing Johnny Rotten and Adrienne Clarkson and listened to it on the way to work. I love radio, but I don't get to listen to interview shows or radio documentaries. I'm either always busy when the show is broadcast or I'm in the Van with the kids and wife and they all hate the CBC, so I never get to listen in, as I said I'm in Heaven. They seem to edit for the cast, I would rather have the raw streamed show, but oh well, I live with what I can get. Now all we have to do is get them to podcast some of the great radio Plays that they do.

I also downloaded "Minnie the Moocher" a old cartoon from Fleischer Studios. Staring Betty Boop and the Cab Calloway Orchestra. I saw this cartoon years ago (I originally wanted to go into animation - heck I used to dream in cartoons), and fell in love with the music of Cab Calloway, it was great to discover this again. As I keep saying I'm in Heaven.

"Cheek to Cheek" by Irving Berlin

Heaven... I'm in heaven,
And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak.
And I seem to find the happiness I seek,
When we're out together dancing cheek to cheek.
Heaven... I'm in heaven,
And the cares that hung around me through the week,
Seem to vanish like a gambler's lucky streak,
When we're out together dancing cheek to cheek.

Oh, I love to climb a mountain,
And to reach the highest peak.
But it doesn't thrill me half as much
As dancing cheek to cheek.

Oh, I love to go out fishing
In a river or a creek.
But I don't enjoy it half as much
As dancing cheek to cheek.

Dance with me! I want my arms about you.
The charms about you
Will carry me through to...

Heaven... I'm in heaven,
And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak.
And I seem to find the happiness I seek,
When we're out together dancing cheek to cheek.

2008-05-09T15:24:00.000-04:00

Rome at night, yes that bus is really that small.

Arrrgh!!!! I am so sick.

I had a great time at Gogol Bordello. Awesome concert. I got there early, a bit to early 8pm. Got a great spot, right up to the front, only about 2 deep from the stage ... the opening act, Dub Trio, didn't come on til 9pm. Dub Trio is a pretty cool band, Bass Guitar Drums doing Art Rock/Metal/Punk/Dub .. really interesting but LOUD. You could feel the bass cords inside your body.

By the time Gogol Bordello came on I was soaked with sweat. My hair, shirt and pants were wet with sweat. I have not be crowded by people since I don't know when. The music was great, LOUD again (next time I will bring ear plugs) Then the mosh pit began right behind me. Started getting slamed from all sides, claustraphobia clicked in and I had to get out. Finally after wading through the pit, I got to the outside and was able to watch the concert in some peace. Occasionally getting you foot steped on, slammed by someone falling out of the pit. But hey I had a great time. Can't remember the songs, in fact the guy I was with said afterword that it was the best concert that he had ever been at where he could not understand a word being sung.

Anyway Gogol Bordello was great, but it made me so sick. I still haven't gotten over the cold. Had to take a day off of work on Thursday. Then I spent most of today in bed.

Enjoy a couple of cover versions:

Willie William-Armagideon Time (Download)
The Clash-Armagideon Time (Download)
The Who-Baba O'Riley (Download)
Waco- Baba O'Riley (Download)