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"

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.

Soon

HAPPY EASTER


Spike Jones - Ya Wanna Buy A Bunny

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)

BE BACK SOON

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}

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

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

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

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

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

Cancon II

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,

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

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

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!

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}

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}