Raizor's Edge II

Even the Losers....

2012-01-03T12:21:00.000-08:00

Category: Commercials

There used to be a purpose behind paying celebrities a lot of money to appear in a commercial. The company wanted their product associated with someone who was well-known, liked, respected, and successful.

To paraphrase a popular series of tequila commercials, whatever happened to associating your product with success?

Products, thankfully, do not engage in the political ad rants (e.g., "don't buy that detergent, it'll eat a hole in your clothes!"). However, they do seem to be more and more interested in seeing just how far down the bottom of the barrel they can fall. Country singer Randy Travis once had a song called "Better Class of Losers," and maybe that's what they're aiming for.

A few cases in point: Miller Lite commercials now feature guys (always guys, they don't dare try this with women) who are "one strike away" from having their "man card" revoked. One man can't look down from his lofty perch -- about six inches off the ground -- on a rock wall. Then there are the downright nasty and vindictive Infiniti car commercials: one features a man retaliating against his neighbor by bowling his car out of its parking spot with a gigantic snowball, and the other has the neighbor getting pelted by a hundred or so kids after throwing one snowball. What's the message here: Infiniti, the car of choice for people hell-bent on revenge?

And then there's the Chevy Volt, the car commercial so bad it makes me swear to never drive another Chevy if they give me one for free. Those horrid ads were inescapable during the baseball playoffs, and they have thankfully disappeared (probably due to considerable negative feedback about the ads).

Maybe it's me. I love the VW commercial with people trying to decipher what Elton John was saying in "Rocket Man" (and let me point out, as someone who was quite the Elton John fan in the 70s before the days of looking the lyrics up online, that was NOT always an easy task; and, if you doubt me, ask anyone in their 40s or 50s what they thought Elton was saying instead of "she's got electric boots" when they first heard "Bennie and the Jets" on the radio!). A lot of people seem to dislike it. These people in the VW ad, however, aren't vindictive jerks or guys struggling with their manhood because they're not drinking a particular beer. They're reflecting a reality -- Elton's lyrics weren't easy to understand back then.

So as we hold our breath and prepare for the big day in advertising (the Super Bowl, just five or so weeks away), is it too much to ask that commercials begin to associate their products with winners instead of losers? Tom Petty said, "Even the losers get lucky sometime," but not the way the commercials are portraying them.

The Final Notes of 2011

2011-12-28T22:17:00.000-08:00

Category: Tribute

It was a particularly difficult year for music. In the five years I've been keeping a database of music-related deaths for the year-end memorial this year had the largest number of entries. With that, here is a list of the people in the world of music for whom the final curtain fell in 2011.

Harley Allen (lung cancer, March 30, age 55): Country songwriter of such hits as Dierks Bentley's "My Last Name," John Michael Montgomery's "The Little Girl" and Alan Jackson's "Between the Devil and Me." His father, Red Allen, was also a legendary bluegrass performer.
Liz Anderson (heart and lung disease, October 28, age 81): The mother of Lynn Anderson was also a successful songwriter (such as the Merle Haggard hit "(All My Friends Are Gonna Be) Strangers") and singer on her own.
Nick Ashford (throat cancer, August 22, age 60): Half of the R&B duo Ashford and Simpson, who performed as well as wrote numerous hits for others.
John Atterberry (random murder victim of man on shooting spree in L.A., December 12, age 40): Pop music executive who worked with the likes of the Spice Girls.

Kenny Baker (stroke, July 8, age 85): Legendary bluegrass fiddler who played with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys for 25 years.
Carl Bunch (diabetes complications, March 26, age 71): Buddy Holly's drummer on the 1959 "Winter Dance Party" tour who was in the hospital with frostbite when Holly's plane crashed, he signed autographs as "the Frostbitten Cricket." He also played with Roy Orbison and Hank Williams Jr.
Patsi Bale Cox (emphysema, November 5, age 66): Noted author who wrote her own books (The Garth Factor) and collaborated with the likes of Loretta Lynn in country (Still Woman Enough) and rock's Pat Benatar (Between a Heart and a Rock Place).
Billy Bang (lung cancer, April 11, age 63): Jazz violinist who was a one-time member of Sun Ra's band as well as a solo performer.
Jack Barlow (long illness, July 29, age 87): Country singer who had hits with "I Love Country Music" and "Catch the Wind." He created a stir with the novelty song, "The Man on Page 602," which he released under the pseudonym Zoot Fenster.
John Barry (heart attack, January 30, age 77): Film composer who put the musical score to a dozen James Bond movies.
Joseph Brooks (suicide [suffocation], May 22, age 73): From the height of success with a Grammy and Oscar for writing the song "You Light Up My Life, Brooks fell to the lowest of criminals. He was awaiting trail for the rape of nearly a dozen young actresses when he killed himself.
Odell Brown (unknown causes, May 3, age 71): R&B organ player and songwriter who penned Marvin Gaye's final hit "Sexual Healing."
Ray Bryant (long-term illness, June 2, age 79): Jazz pianist who worked with Gillespie as well as having a long career of his own.
Bob Burnett (brain cancer, December 8, age 71): Founding member of the Highwaymen, who had the hit "Michael." Burnett is one of two members of the folk band to die in 2011 (the other being Gil Robbins).
Michael "Wurzel" Burston (heart disease-induced ventricular fibrillation, July 9, age 62): The guitarist for the heavy metal band Motorhead for ten years.

Paul Cerney (cancer, March 14, age 57): Songwriter who wrote tunes recorded by country (Restless Heart's "I'll Still Be Loving You"), R&B (Aretha Franklin & the Four Tops' "If Ever a Love There Was") and blues ("The Blues is My Business" by Etta James) acts.
Buddy Charleton (lung cancer, January 25, age 72): The steel guitarist for country legend Ernest Tubb during most of Tubb's 1960s success stories such as "Waltz Across Texas."
Terry Clements (stroke, February 20, age 63): While many acts change band members as often as they change socks, Gordon Lightfoot had only one guitarist since his beginning as a recording artist: Terry Clements.
Clarence Clemons (stroke, June 18, age 69): It would be no understatement to say the Big Man was as important to Bruce Springsteen's music as Bruce Springsteen. He also made the charts singing a duet with Jackson Browne, "You're a Friend of Mine."
Wilma Lee Cooper (natural causes, September 13, age 90): Longtime Grand Ole Opry performer who was as purely country as they come.
Charlie Craig (lung cancer, July 1, age 73): country songwriter who wrote hits such as "She's Single Again" and "The Generation Gap."

Beryl Davis (Alzheimer's, October 28, age 87): A singer from the Big Band era who performed with likes of Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman, and Vaughn Monroe, she also had a hit with "Do, Lord" as part of a group with Jane Russell and Connie Haines.
Don DeVito (prostate cancer, November 25, age 72): He spent 40 years as a producer and A&R man at Columbia Records and worked with the likes of Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Aerosmith and Blue Oyster Cult.
Billy Diamond (unknown cause, October 20, age 95): Fats Domino's longtime manager also gave Antoine Domino his legendary nickname.
Hazel Dickens (pneumonia, April 22, age 75): IBMA Distinguished Achievement award-winner who put the hard times of her childhood in West Virginia into words, then unleashed them on the world with her powerful mountain vocals.
Jim Dickson (unknown cause, April 19, age 80): The manager of the legendary 1960s band the Byrds.
Joel "Taz" DiGregorio (car wreck, October 12, age 67): Charlie Daniel's keyboard player and songwriting partner for nearly 40 years, he wrote the fan favorite "The Devil Went Down to Georgia."
Frank Dileo (complications from heart surgery, August 24, age 63): Michael Jackson's manager.
Jean Dinning (respiratory illness, February 22, age 86): A member of the Dinning Sisters act, she wrote her brother Mark Dinning's big hit "Teen Angel."
Jessy Dixon (unknown cause, September 16, age 73): Legendary gospel music performer who became a pop music crossover when he and his Jessy Dixon Singers backed Paul Simon on hits like "Loves Me Like a Rock."
Charlie Douglas (unknown cause, November 24, age 78): Disc Jockey Hall of Fame member who is credited with inventing the overnight radio show aimed specifically at truck drivers. He was also an announcer for the Grand Ole Opry for several years.
Cornell Dupree (emphysema, May 8, age 69): R&B session guitarist, known as "Uncle Funky," who played with countless soul acts. His guitar is heard on songs such as "Rainy Night in Georgia" and "R-E-S-P-E-C-T."

Ear X-tacy (lack of interest in record stores, October 27, age 26): Louisville record store with a national following thanks to their "typewritten"-looking bumper stickers.
David "Honeyboy" Edwards (congestive heart failure, August 29, age 96): Grammy-winning, Blues Hall of Fame Delta blues singer, the last of the originals, who was with Robert Johnson the night he died.
Esther Gordy Edwards (natural causes, August 24, age 91): An executive at Motown Records and the sister of label founder Barry Gordy.
Herman Ernest (cancer, March 6, age 59): The longtime drummer for the "Night Tripper" Dr. John.

Lamar Fike (non-Hodgken's lymphoma, January 21, age 75): The second-longest tenured member of Elvis' "Memphis Mafia," he co-wrote Elvis and the Memphis Mafia. He also served as Brenda Lee's road manager in the 60s and was a Capitol Records executive under Jimmy Bowen.
Bob Flanigan (congestive heart failure, May 11, age 84): Co-founder of the 50s vocal group the Four Freshmen.
Frank Foster (kidney failure, July 26, age 82): Director and saxophonist for the Count Basie Orchestra.

Manuel Galban (heart attack, July 7, age 80): Guitarist in the legendary Cuban band the Buena Vista Social Club.
Russell Garcia (natural causes, November 20, age 95): Conducter, arranger and composer who worked with the likes of Duke Ellington, Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra.
Gary Garcia (unknown causes, November 19, age 63): Half of the one-hit wonder Buckner & Garcia who did the early 80s hit "Pac Man Fever."
Carl Gardner (long illness, June 12, age 83): The lead singer of the Hall of Fame vocal group the Coasters.
Gil Garfield (Cancer, January 1, age 77): Member of the one-hit wonder band The Cheers, who did "Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots."
Eugenia Gingold (congestive heart failure, December 22, 2010, announced January 2, 2011, age 94): Mother of legendary singer/songwriter Carole King.
Johnny Giosa (car wreck, August 28, age 42): Drummer for the hard rock band the Bullet Boys.
Andrew Gold (heart attack, June 3, age 59): Singer/songwriter and musician who was best-known for the 1970s hit "Thank You for Being a Friend," which later became the theme song to the TV series The Golden Girls.
Billy Grammer (long illness, August 10, age 85): A guitar designer and well-loved session man, he scored a huge hit in 1959 with "Gotta Travel On."
Marshall Grant (brain aneurysm, August 6, age 83): The final member of Johnny Cash's seminal original backing band the Tennessee Two, he was stricken while preparing to perform at a show in Arkansas to raise money to preserve Cash's boyhood home.
Dobie Gray (cancer, December 6, age 71): R&B and gospel performer best-known for the 1973 hit "Drift Away."
George Green (lung cancer, August 28, age 59): John Mellencamp's co-writing partner who helped on hits "Crumblin' Down" and "Hurts So Good."
Rob Grill (head injury suffered in a fall, July 10, age 67): The lead vocalist for the 60s group the Grass Roots.
Freddie Gruber (long illness, October 11, age 84): Jazz drummer who played with Charlie Parker and later taught drums to his students, including Rush's Neil Peart.

Carlton Haney (stroke, March 16, age 82): The man credited with inventing the phenomenon that is now known as the bluegrass music festival, Haney also served as the booking agent for bluegrass acts such as Bill Monroe and Reno & Smiley.
Mary Cleere Haran (hit by car while riding bicycle, February 5, age 58): Cabaret-style vocalist who sought to revive popularity in pop hits of the 1930s and 40s.
Jack Hardy (lung cancer, March 15, age 63): Influential New York-based folk singer/songwriter who helped Suzanne Vega get her start, he was also the founding editor of Fast Folk Musicial magazine.
Jet Harris (cancer, March 17, age 71): British rock performer who was a member of the Shadows with Sir Cliff Richard.
Jack Hayes (natural causes, August 24, age 92): TV theme show composer who gave us the opening music for Gunsmoke and Happy Days.
Warren Hellman (leukemia, December 18, age 77): The founder and initial financial backer of, and frequent performer at, the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco.
Gil-Scott Heron (complications from HIV and long-time drug use, May 27, age 62): folk singer, songwriter, poet and activist.
Loleatta Holloway (heart attack, March 21, age 64): Late 70s/early 80s disco singer who had a hit in 1980 with "Love Sensation."
Gladys Horton (stroke, January 26, age 66): Member of the 60s R&B group the Marvelettes.
Ferlin Husky (colon cancer/congestive heart failure, March 17, age 85): A country singer with a long career and two major crossover records, 1957's "Gone" and 1960's "Wings of a Dove."

Mick Karn (cancer, January 4, age 52): Bassist for Peter Murphy and the band Japan.
Trish Keenan (complications of swine flu and pneumonia, January 14, age 42): Leader of the band Broadcast.
Laura Kennedy (hepatitis C, November 14, age unknown): Bassist in post-punk band Bush Tetras.
Tom King (congestive heart failure, April 23, age 68): Founder of the 60s band the Outsiders and co-writer of their one hit "Time Won't Let Me."
Eddie Kirkland (car wreck, February 27, age 88): One-time guitarist with John Lee Hooker, the blues man was known as the "gypsy of the blues."
Don Kirshner (heart failure, January 17, age 76): Songwriter ("You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"), producer (the Archies), and the founder of the 70s late-night TV rock show Don Kirshner's Rock Concert.
Moogy Klingman (bladder cancer, November 15, age 61): A member of Todd Rungren's band Utopia and a songwriter, responsible for Bette Midler's theme song "Friends."
Alex Krist (killed by hit-and-run driver, January 13, age 47): Drummer who played with "godfather of punk" Iggy Pop and the band the Nymphs.
Gene Kurtz (cancer, October 24, age 68): Co-writer of the hit "Treat Her Right" and long-time performer in Austin's alt-country scene.
John Kuzma (unknown cause, July 1, age 60): The guitarist for the band the Hooters who left just before their success with "All You Zombies."
Georgia Carroll Kyser (natural causes, January 14, age 91): A singer and actress who was also the widow of big band leader Kay Kyser.

Jani Lane (acute alcohol poisoning, August 11, age 47): Lead singer of the 80s band Warrant and writer of their biggest hit, "Heaven."
Paul Leka (lung cancer, October 12, age 68): Songwriter of such hits as "Green Tambourine" and "Na Na Na (Kiss Him Goodbye)" as well as a record producer.
Charlie Louvin (pancreatic cancer, January 26, age 83): The surviving half of the Louvin Brothers who had a solo career more commercially successful than the time he spent recording with his brother, but everyone remembers the unduplicated harmonies that Charlie created with Ira.

Ralph MacDonald (lung cancer, December 18, age 67): Gifted percussionist heard on things as diverse as "Young Americans" by David Bowie and "Margaritaville" by Jimmy Buffett, he co-wrote the Roberta Flack/Donny Hathaway duet "Where Is the Love."
Ross MacManus (unknown cause, November 24, age 84): British musician/recording artist and father of Elvis Costello, he played trumpet on two of his son's songs.
Wade Mainer (congestive heart failure, September 12, age 104): A man older than the music he played for 70 years, Mainer was a mainstay in country music and the last of the genre's original pioneers.
Hugh Martin Jr. (natural causes, March 11, age 96): Writer of the holiday classic "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."
Dr. David Mason (leukemia, April 29, age 85): Classical trumpet and flugelhorn player who played the trumpet solo on the Beatles' "Penny Lane."
"Country" Johnny Mathis (pneumonia, September 27, age 80): Hard to believe there were two people with the name "Johnny Mathis" in music. This one, who later went by "Country Johnny Mathis" to avoid confusion with the pop singer who did "Chances Are" (who is still very much alive as of this writing), was a songwriter and singer who had a huge hit with "If You Don't Somebody Else Will" as part of Jimmy & Johnny. Songs he wrote were recorded by the likes of Ray Price, Johnny Paycheck, and George Jones.
Jerry Mayo (blood disorder, June 6, age 76): Trumpet player for the 50s vocal group Freddy and the Bellboys.
Mel McDaniel (lung cancer, March 31, age 68): Country singer and Opry member who had a string of hits in the 1980s including "Louisiana Saturday Night," "Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On," and "Big Ole Brew."
Gene McDaniels (unknown cause, July 29, age 76): Songwriter responsible for "A Hundred Pounds of Clay" and Roberta Flack's #1 song "Feel Like Makin' Love."
Huey Meaux (illness, April 23, age 82): The man credited with discovering the Sir Douglas Quintet also owned SugarHill Studios (no relation to the record label), where Freddy Fender recorded his breakthrough hits "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights" and "Before the Next Teardrop Falls."
Alan Meltzer (unknown cause, October 30, age 67): Founder of the alt-rock label Wind-Up Records.
Ralph Mooney (kidney cancer, March 20, age 82): One of country music's greatest steel guitarists, he wrote Ray Price's classic "Crazy Arms" and played with the likes of Wynn Stewart, Buck Owens and Waylon Jennings.
Gary Moore (heart attack, February 6, age 58): Guitarist for the 70s band Thin Lizzy.
Joe Morello (unknown cause, March 12, age 82): Drummer for the Dave Brubeck Quartet.
Paul Motian (myelodyplastic syndrome, November 23, age 80): Jazz drummer for nearly 60 years.

Duane Nelson (unknown cause, week of March 1, age 52): Prince's brother and one-time employee.
Roger Nichols (pancreatic cancer, April 9, age 66): Always listed as "The Immortal" on the Steely Dan albums he engineered, Nichols also worked with other acts such as John Denver, with whom he won a Grammy.
Joe Paul Nichols (Lou Gehrig's Disease, July 27, age 69): One of the die-hard traditional country performers on the Heart of Texas label, he was also a member of the International Country Gospel Music Association.

James O'Gwynn (pneumonia, January 19, age 82): Known as "the Smiling Irishman of Country Music," his best-known songs were "House of Blue Lovers" and "My Name is Mud."
Norio Ohga (multiple organ failure, April 23, age 82): The Sony Music chairman who is credited with developing the compact disc as a music format.
Barbara Orbison (pancreatic cancer, December 6, age 60): The widow of Roy Orbison and the manager of his incredible musical legacy died 23 years to the day after her husband's 1988 fatal heart attack.

Dan Peek (heart disease, July 24, age 60): One of the original members of the 1972 "Best New Artist" Grammy-winning act America, he left the band in the 80s to concentrate of Christian music.
Joseph "Pinetop" Perkins (cardiac arrest, March 21, age 97): Blues Hall of Fame piano player and recipient of a Grammy lifetime achievement award for his work. He won a 2010 Grammy for an album with "Big Eyes" Smith, who also died this year.
Joan Peyser (complications from heart surgery, April 24, age 80): Noted musicologist and biographer of the likes of Leonard Bernstein and George Gershwin.
Lee Pockriss (unknown cause, November 14, age 87): Songwriter of such hits as "Catch a Falling Star," "Johnny Angel," and "Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weenie Yellow Polka-Dot Bikni."
Bobby Poe (blood clot, January 22, age 77): A rockabilly performer who was a member of Wanda Jackson's backing band.
Steve Popovich (heart problems, June 8, age 68): Founder of the Columbia Records subsidiary label Cleveland International, where Meat Loaf found international success in 1978 with Bat Out of Hell.
Johnny Preston (heart failure, March 4, age 71): Best known for his 1959 hit "Running Bear," which featured its author (J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson) and George Jones on backing vocals with Jones playing guitar.

Gerry Rafferty (alcoholism-related liver failure, January 4, age 63): A gifted singer and songwriter who saw fame with "Stuck in the Middle With You" as a member of Stealers Wheel and on his own with "Baker Street" and the superlative 1978 album City to City.
Jerry Ragovoy (stroke, July 13, age 80): R&B singer who wrote "Piece of My Heart," which Janis Joplin turned into a blues/rock classic.
Jody Rainwater (real name: Charles Johnson, complications of heart attack and other ailments, age 92): A one-time member of Flatt & Scruggs's Foggy Mountain Boys and longtime Virginia country/bluegrass disc jockey.
Sam Rivers (pneumonia, December 26, age 88): Innovative jazz saxophonist who was just as comfortable playing with John Lee Hooker as he was playing with Dizzy Gillespie.
Thomas Roady (heart attack, November 28, age 62): The drummer for Ricky Skaggs' band Kentucky Thunder.
Gil Robbins (prostate cancer, April 5, age 80): Member of the folk group the Highwaymen, best-known for their rendition of "Michael" in the early 60s.
Rudy Robbins (cancer, February 21, age 77): Founding member of the "Official Cowboy Band of Texas" the Spirit of Texas.
Sylvia Robinson (congestive heart failure, September 29, age 75): From half of Mickey & Sylvia (of "Love Is Strange" fame) to 70s disco singer and producer of the hit "Rapper's Delight."
Don Rondo (lung cancer, January 27, age 81): Singer and songwriter from the 50s and 60s best-known for the hit "White Silver Sands."
Stan Ross (complications from surgery, March 11, age 82): The co-owner of Gold Star Studios in L.A., where Phil Spector began his famous "Wall of Sound" productions.
Suze Rotolo (long-term illness, February 24, age 67): The one-time girlfriend of Bob Dylan who was pictured on the cover of his Freewheelin' album.
George Roundtree (unknown cause, October 31, age 61): The music director for the legendary group the Four Tops.
Alan Rubin (lung cancer, June 8, age 68): The trumpet player known as "Mr. Fabulous," he played himself in The Blues Brothers.
Chuck Ruff (complications after surgery, October 14, age 60): Drummer on Edgar Winter's "Frankenstein," he also played with Sammy Hagar.
Ken Russell (stroke, November 27, age 84): Renown movie producer who brought the Who's rock opera Tommy to the big screen in 1975.
Mark Ryan (complications from liver damage, January 31, age 51): An original member of Adam and the Ants.

Nick Santo (cancer, December 30, 2010 [announced in January 2011], age 69): Member of the vocal group the Capris, best-known for "There's a Moon Out Tonight."
Mack Self (unknown causes, June 14, age 81): Rockabilly Hall of Famer who had a hit with "Easy to Love" but was overshadowed by fellow Sun Records acts like Elvis, Jerry Lee, and Johnny Cash.
Eddie Serrato (end-stage renal failure/diabetes, February 24, age 65): The drummer for "96 Tears" group ? and the Mysterians.
Sir George Shearing (congestive heart failure, February 14, age 91): Legendary jazz pianist who had an international hit with "Lullaby of Birdland."
Jim "Motorhead" Sherwood (unknown cause, December 25, age 69): Percussionist for Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention band.
Dick Sims (cancer, December 8, age 60): Longtime keyboard player for Eric Clapton.
Gerald Smith (lung cancer, April 20, age 36): Bass player for the band TV on the Radio.
Willie "Big Eyes" Smith (stroke, September 16, age 75): Multiple-award winning blues harmonica player, vocalist and drummer. His 2010 Grammy-winning partner "Pinetop" Perkins also died in 2011.
Phoebe Snow (complications from a 2010 brain hemorrhage, April 26, age 60): Soulful folk singer best-remembered for her hit "Poetry Man" and dueting with Paul Simon on "Gone At Last."
Eddie Snyder (pneumonia, March 10, age 92): The man who wrote Sinatra's classic "Strangers in the Night."
Melvin Sparks (diabetes, March 15, age 64): R&B guitarist who worked with the likes of Hank Ballard, Marvin Gaye, Little Richard, and Jackie Wilson.
Billie Jo Spears (cancer, December 14, age 74): Gifted singer with hits over three decades such as "Mr. Walker, It's All Over" and "Blanket on the Ground."
Dan "Bee" Spears (exposure after falling outside his home, December 8, age 62): Willie Nelson's bassist for over four decades and the backbone of his band.
Mike Starr (prescription drug overdose, March 8, age 44): One-time bassist for Alice in Chains.
Fred Steiner (stroke, June 23, age 88): TV composer who wrote the theme to the Rocky & Bullwinkle Show as well as music scores for Star Trek, Perry Mason, and Hogan's Heroes.
John Strauss (Parkinson's disease, February 14, age 90): The man who gave us the classic theme song to Car 54, Where Are You?
Poly Styrene (breast cancer, April 25, age 53): Lead singer for the band X-Ray Spex.
Hubert Sumlin (heart failure, December 14, age 80): Blues guitarist with Howlin' Wolf.

Victor Tallarico (natural causes, September 10, age 95): The father of Aerosmith's front man Steve Tyler.
Marv Tarplin (unknown causes, September 30, age 70): Guitarist for Smokey Robinson & the Miracles.
Howard Tate (leukemia, December 2, age 72): R&B singer/songwriter, best-known for "Get It While You Can."
Joe Taylor (heart disease, March 24, age 89): A Hoosier native who was content to play his music in Indiana instead of seeking national fame, he nevertheless found it when his song "He's a Cowboy Auctioneer" was recorded by Tex Ritter.
Andrea True (nee Truden, heart failure, November 7, age 68): One-time porn star who had hits with "More More More" and "N.Y., You Got Me Dancing" in the mid-70s.
Mark Tulin (heart attack, February 26, age 62): Bassist with the Electric Prunes in the 60s and early 70s, he also worked with the 90s band Smashing Pumpkins.
Buster Turner (unknown causes, March 3, age 82): An east Tennessee-based country, bluegrass and gospel performer who wrote "Beautiful Altar of Prayer."

John Walker (liver cancer, May 7, age 67): The front man for the R&B group the Walker Brothers.
Don Wayne (illness, September 12, age 78): Country sngwriter who wrote the classics "Country Bumpkin" (Cal Smith) and "Saginaw, Michigan" (Lefty Frizzell's final #1 hit).
Mikey Welsh (drug overdose, October 8, age 40): Former bassist for the band Weezer.
Margaret Whiting (natural causes, January 11, age 86): A masterful pop singer who did one of the best-loved versions of "Baby It's Cold Outside" (with Johnny Mercer), she also made the country charts on several occasions as the singing partner of Jimmy Wakely.
Doc Williams (natural causes, January 31, age 96): A longtime member of the Wheeling Jamboree and influence on countless West Virginia country musicians such as Brad Paisley.
Roger Williams (pancreatic cancer, October 8, age 87): One of pop music's most distinguished piano players and stylists who had the massive hit "Autumn Leaves."
Vesta Williams (sleeping pill overdose, September 22, age 53): 80s R&B singer best-remembered for the song "Congratulations."
Jim Williamson (COPD, January 24, age 75): Longtime recording engineer who worked on songs like "Coal Miner's Daughter," "Stand By Your Man" and "Rose Garden."
Amy Winehouse (alcohol poisoning, July 23, age 27): Brilliant but troubled British pop singer with five Grammy awards under her belt.
Randy Wood (complications of a fall, April 9, age 94): The man who gave us Dot Records, early home of acts such as bluegrass's Mac Wiseman, pop's Pat Boone, and country acts Roy Clark and Barbara Mandrell.
Johnnie Wright (natural causes, September 27, age 97): Country singer who was best known as husband of "Queen of Country Music" Kitty Wells, he also had a string of hits with duet partner Jack Anglin as Johnnie & Jack as well as a solo career.

Paul Yandell (cancer, November 21, age 76): The final person to receive the Chet Atkins-created designation "Certified Guitar Picker," Yandell backed many country acts (most notably, the Louvin Brothers) and played for years with his boyhood idol Atkins.
Snooky Young (lung ailment, May 11, age 92): Jazz trumpet player who was a member of the Tonight Show band.

Finally...

R.E.M. (disbanded, September 21, 31 years together): the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band that may not have invented "college rock" but certainly made it cool.

Farewell to each and every one, and thank you for the music.

A Breath of Fresh Air

2011-11-12T16:38:00.000-08:00

Category: Sports News

Mike Krzyzewski coached his 902nd victory today (11/12). This win ties him with his college basketball coach, Bob Knight, for the most in NCAA men's Division I basketball history.

In 36-plus years of coaching there has never been a scandal or a violation. The worst thing that he's ever done was cuss out a Duke student newspaper reporter who, in Krzyzewski's opinion, was unfair to his team (not to him personally, mind you; rather to one of his players).

He's been married to the same woman for 42 years and there's never been a hint or a whisper or any type of Rick Pitino-like infidelity.

He is a graduate of West Point, where he played and had his first coaching job, meaning that he went into the Army in an era (the late 60s/early 70s) when other men his age were running away from military service.

He prays before games.

Most of the sports headlines over the past two weeks have been filled with stomach-turning news of the rape of young boys and subsequent cover-up by people who were considered pillars of their community. That's why the 902nd "W" with Coach K on the sidelines is a breath of fresh air. Whether you like Duke or hate them (and, as with many successful sports teams, there is no middle ground on which to walk), you cannot help but be thankful that this success has gone to a man above reproach. There won't be any "tarnished legacy" when Mike Krzyzewski finally calls it a career.

We need more coaches like Mike Krzyzewski. More importantly, we need more men like him.

The Day the Music Store Died

2011-11-02T22:27:00.000-07:00

Category: News

Even if you're not from Louisville you've probably seen those bumper stickers. How could you miss them: the old typewriter font with the store's name in lower case letters save for that capital "X."

Ear X-tacy closed its doors in Louisville for the final time on October 27. The store's demise is no real surprise, given all the other mega-chain stores that have bitten the dust with the advent of the download. Yet somehow, through the changes from vinyl (which was predominant when I began shopping there when it opened in 1985) to cassettes to CDs and back to vinyl the store had managed to stay around. It has been cited by numerous national sources as one of the top independent record stores in the country. Now it has suffered the fate of so many other stores.

The store was the child of John Timmons, brother of 80s pop-metal band Danger Danger's lead guitarist Andy Timmons. It was named after John's favorite band, XTC. (John once said one of his biggest thrills was getting to talk to XTC front man Andy Partridge on the phone.) It began in a small store on Poplar Level Road near the Watterson Expressway on-ramp. The first move came when the expansion of the Watterson took the land. Ear X-tacy moved next door to the Great Escape on Bardstown Road in the Highlands. It then moved to a larger location further down Bardstown Road, near Eastern Parkway. At the height of its popularity there were three locations in town, but last year the store had to move to a smaller location on Bardstown Road because of poor business. In addition to records, CDs, and cassettes the store sold just about anything music-related short of instruments: t-shirts, posters, tickets, books, magazines and bumper stickers. Many free performances took place on the second floor of the store.

Despite the loyal fan base Timmons could no longer manage to keep the store in operation. Whether it's the recession or the trends in downloading that keep people away from "real" stores in favor of cyber ones was not addressed in the press release.

Jim James, Louisville native and member of My Morning Jacket, told the Louisville Courier-Journal by e-mail, "There's a tear in my eye right now as I hear about the closing of one of my favorite places on earth."

It's sad to see the place go. I discovered so much great music hanging out in that store. It was at Ear X-tacy that I discovered the joy of the Replacements' Pleased to Meet Me, the brilliance of John Hiatt (name an album, any album), mourned the demise of Talking Heads, and debated the "they sold out" claim about R.E.M. It was, in essence, my rock and roll university.

Ear X-tacy was 26.

And I Thought It Was Bad LAST Year

2011-09-27T20:20:00.000-07:00

Category: News

The nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 2012 induction class were announced today.

As usual, no legitimate superstars who should be nominated on the list (e.g., Steve Miller, Linda Ronstadt, Chicago, ELO, Rush, Moody Blues, Neil Sedaka), and a lot of disco, rap, and one-hit wonders (e.g., Beastie Boys) who should never be considered ARE on the list.

I'd comment on the way these nominations are making a mockery of the Hall of Fame, but these jokers aren't worth the caloric output. It almost makes me glad Miller, Ronstadt, et. al. are NOT nominated: it would cheapen their otherwise very successful careers.

Pat Summitt's Toughest Game

2011-08-23T16:30:00.000-07:00

Category: Sports News

Nobody -- nobody -- has coached more victories in college basketball than Tennessee Lady Vols head coach Pat Summitt. Now the Hall of Fame coach is facing her toughest opponent ever: a serious health issue. Summitt has been diagnosed with early-onset dementia.

Summitt announced today (8/23) that she received the diagnosis of early-onset dementia (Alzheimer's type) in May. Following the conclusion of the 2010-2011 season her doctor sent her to the Mayo Clinic, where she received the diagnosis.

Summitt is receiving treatment and will continue to coach. The interim Athletics Director for the University of Tennessee, Joan Cronan, affirmed that "Pat Summitt is our head coach, and she will continue to be."

Pat Summitt has 1,071 victories, more than any other coach in any division of NCAA basketball, male or female. She has won eight national titles and has spent her entire 39-year coaching career on the sidelines at Tennessee. Her program has never been under any scrutiny by the NCAA for any violations, meaning she has won all those games and titles the right way.

Considering all the foul-smelling news coming out almost daily about college sports it is more important now than ever that the college games obtain more coaches like Pat Summitt. Keep this marvelous coach and her family in your prayers as she battles this terrible diagnosis.

The More Simplistic the Better

2011-08-15T20:51:00.000-07:00

Category: 50 Songs to Hear

SONG: You Are the Everything
ARTIST: R.E.M.
SONGWRITERS: Michael Stipe / Peter Buck / Mike Mills / Bill Berry
ALBUM: Green
YEAR/LABEL: 1988; Warner Brothers

Yee haw! Let's go make an art record!
(Peter Buck)

Athens, Georgia is the home of the University of Georgia. Thanks to the bustling music scene that roared from the town in the late 70s and early 80s, one could make a legitimate argument that it is also the birthplace of "college rock," a genre of more adult, experimental music than the mainstream was cranking out in the disco and synthesizer era. While acts from the Athens music scene enjoyed varying degrees of success (the B-52s were quite successful, Pylon and Kilkenny Cats were not), they all paled in comparison to the Hall of Fame success enjoyed by R.E.M.

When R.E.M. debuted in the early 1980s they were a cross between Tom Petty's jangling rock sound and Bob Dylan's cryptic lyrics (and garbled vocal delivery). The albums had the added problem of no lyric sheets, meaning that it was up to the listener to decided what lead singer Michael Stipe was saying. The music was perfect for the time: "roots rock," the answer to the heavily-synthesized music that was dominating the pop charts at the time. R.E.M. quickly became critics' darlings and picked up an increasing number of fans (among them, Warren Zevon, who recorded his Sentimental Hygiene album backed by Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Bill Berry). When they left the independent IRS label for giant Warner Brothers many claimed they were selling out, but in actuality their music was as fresh as the day they started. Just as they ignored the popular music of the time when they started, as they sold millions they stayed true to what they wanted to do. That meant as music got louder, with the rise in popularity of the hair bands in the mid-80s, R.E.M. decided to pull out the mandolin for a song.

That song is the highlight of their album Green, and indeed one of the highlights of their entire career: the stunningly beautiful "You Are the Everything."

Proving they could mix music styles (the album was labeled, instead of "side one" and "side two," "air side" and "metal side") R.E.M. presented a lovely ballad that was as close to a love song as they had recorded (for the record, Stipe clearly and repeatedly stated in interviews that "The One I Love" was not a love song). Buck picked up the mandolin and played a simple, beautiful melody as Stipe began, "Sometimes I feel like I can't even sing." And you have to love a song that uses the word eviscerate, not to mention the notion of a band from the South throwing in a line that says, "You're drifting off to sleep with your teeth in your mouth."

R.E.M. has continued to impress fans and re-invent themselves. Their masterpiece, however, is a haunting balled with a simplistic instrumentation that proves that a rock band doesn't have to "rock" to be memorable.

OTHER R.E.M. MUSIC TO INVESTIGATE:

The entire Murmur album -- their initial album stands as one of the best of the 1980s.

The entire Dead Letter Office album -- a collection of B-sides, some fabulous ("Ages of You," their cover of "Femme Fatale"), some so bad they're good (their drunken rendition of "King of the Road," which they state in the liner notes should have led to a lawsuit from Roger Miller) but all that needed to be removed from the "buried B-side" status. The best side of a single wasn't always the "A" or "plug" side!

"Gardening At Night" (originally on the Chronic Town EP, a different version appears on Eponymous) -- in various interviews both Michael Stipe and Mike Mills stated they have no clue what this song is about. Flash back to the early days when songs didn't really have to be more profound than a Bob Dylan album to be good. This song brings that notion forward.

PREVIOUS SONGS:

(Country)
You Haven't Heard
Winter's Come and Gone
Where Do I Go to Throw a Picture Away
When My Rowboat Comes In
When I Lift Up My Head
Rose of My Heart
Rock of Ages, Hide Thou Me
Playboy
Our Town
Old Memories Mean Nothing to Me
Not That I Care
Nobody Eats at Linebaugh's Anymore
My Book of Memories
Lost to a Stranger
A Little Bitty Heart
Life Has Its Little Ups and Downs
Life is Too Short
I Want a Home in Dixie
I Lost Today
Fingerprints
Down to the River to Pray
Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyeballs
A Death in the Family
Dark as a Dungeon
Bottomless Well

(Rock)
Wall of Death
Train Leaves Here This Morning
Swallowed By the Cracks
Stephen
Stealin' Time
Starting Tomorrow
Spellbound
Sleep's Dark and Silent Gate
She's a Runaway
Painted Bells
Out to Sea
One More Song
New Delhi Freight Train
Millworker
Long Way Home
Island
Heart of Rome
Harriet Tubman's Gonna Carry Me Home
Entella Hotel
Desperados Under the Eaves
Crossing Muddy Waters
Cliffs of Dooneen
Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow)
Baby Mine

...Even If I Don't Know Anything About Jazz

2011-08-04T22:24:00.000-07:00

Category: Concert Review

I'll start by admitting point blank that I know nothing about jazz. I know some of the names, of course -- Charlie Parker, Louie Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald -- but I don't have any real knowledge of the music, its history, or anything else. Give me two notes can I can tell you if something's real country music or pop wanna-be, but jazz? I haven't even graduated kindergarten in my education. So when I spent an evening at Katerina's in Chicago watching Harmonious Wail perform over two hours of spectacular music all I could say is "wow."

L-R: Jeff Weiss, Sims Delaney-Potthoff,
Maggie Delaney-Potthoff, Mark Kreitzer

Harmonious Wail is a quartet from Madison, Wisconsin fronted by the husband and wife team of Sims and Maggie Delaney-Potthoff. They bill themselves as a "gypsy swing jazz band." I do know enough to know the term "gypsy jazz" is an ode to Django, the masterful French guitarist who influenced people ranging from Les Paul to Chet Atkins. Sims fronts the band not on guitar but on mandolin, having taken lessons from the legendary Jethro Burns (who was also influenced by Reinhardt). Maggie plays various and unique percussive instruments (such as a empty box that once held boxes of Purex laundry detergent and a pair of scissors). Mark Kreitzer plays guitar brilliantly, and Jeff "Jeffro" Weiss is a young but gifted stand-up bassist.

The band, quite simply, is superb. Maggie has a voice that can melt ice cubes then turn around and re-freeze the water. "Torch?" Maybe. "Great?" Absolutely. She let loose on a combination of originals ("I Like to Feel My Bones," a song written after a car wreck, and the title song from their most recent CD "The Vegan Zombie's Lament") and covers ("My Favorite Things" and a show-stopping rendition of Steely Dan's "Home at Last"). Sims' mandolin playing showed his respect for his teacher (most notably when he let loose on "Tico Tico," borrowing heavily from the 1962 Homer & Jethro Playing It Straight arrangement) as well as the love for Django (they played "Djangology" and "Minor Swing").

My favorite quote about music comes from Sir Paul McCartney, who said in an 1974 interview, "I just like good music. And, you know, you gotta search for it." I may not know much about jazz but I do know that Harmonious Wail is a superb band with talented musicians and a gifted vocalist, and they deserve to be heard, regardless of how much you do or don't know about jazz.

Harmonious Wail's web site

At Halftime of the Baseball Season...

2011-07-12T22:52:00.000-07:00

Category: Sports Rant

Now that the Midsummer Classic is over with an astonishing two-game winning streak by the National League in the books, it's time to sound off on the All-Star Game -- and a few other things.

1. Don't Wanna Go to the All-Star Game? Fine! This year's All-Star Game may be remembered more for the players who snubbed it rather than the people who did attend, the outcome, or the game's MVP. This has become a disturbing trend over the past few years: instead of acknowledging the fans' votes and being grateful, more and more players seem upset that their less-successful teammates are getting a three to four-day vacation and they, the superstars, are not. So, they're shunning the All-Star Game. That used to be a resume-padder (so-and-so "is a three-time All Star"). Now people are treating it like a liability.

Here's a solution: if you don't go to the All-Star Game this year after being voted on the starting line-up by the fans, you're automatically excluded for three years. That way, your fans won't waste their vote on you when they could instead be voting for someone who really would appreciate the fans' gratitude toward the season he's having.

2. That Annoying "Every Team Must Be Represented" Rule. There are 30 teams in Major League Baseball -- 14 American, 16 National. There are 25 players in the game on each side. There's also a rule: each team must have at least one representative on the All-Star team. Baloney. A team with sixty-two losses at the All-Star Break deserves a representative? In a word, NO.

Instead, try this: the last-place teams (in each of the six divisions) do not get a representative unless (a) he's voted in by the fans or (b) that team is the host for the game. That way, if Houston were hosting the game this year they would get a representative, or if Carlos Lee received enough votes, they could be represented. Otherwise, let them all stay home and work on getting out of the cellar (between that and Reds' closer Francisco Cordero melting down worse than a damaged Japanese nuclear reactor, that shouldn't take long) and leave that spot for a player that currently has to stay off the roster because of the rule. (Think about it: if this game "means something," would the manager rather have the best players that would help assure a victory, or would he rather have the best player from the worst team instead of, oh, another player off the first-place team?)

3. And While We're On the Subject of "The All-Star Game Means Something..." This may well be the worst thing Bud Selig has ever done to baseball -- and that's saying something. The notion of giving home field advantage to the All-Star champ league hasn't helped re-spark passionate interest in the All-Star Game a whole heck of a lot, has it? (See issue #1.) Fine. Chalk this up as a failed experiment and let's have the World Series home field advantage decided on the field -- the team with the best record gets it. Hockey and basketball seem to think that's a good idea, so why can't baseball do it the logical way as well?

4. Elsewhere, There's the NCAA's Feet-Dragging. So does Ohio State have to give the Sugar Bowl trophy to Arkansas with "2011 Sugar Bowl champions: Ohio State" written on it for the Razorbacks' trophy case? What's going to happen to Auburn if the investigations prove all the news reports about Cam Newton were true? The NCAA moves about as fast as a turtle covered in molasses stuck in a frozen pond when it comes to investigations, and that's making them a laughingstock. They need to change the rules so we don't have any more Heisman Trophies returned to the New York Athletic Club or bowl hardware handed over to the losing team. Come up with a "limbo" program, move faster, or do something to prevent any more egg on the faces of award sponsors, bowl sponsors, universities, and/or the NCAA.

5. How About Punishing the COACHES in These Scandals? "Eddie Sutton" is a worse cuss word in Kentucky than "Christian Laettner." While Sutton was the head basketball coach at Kentucky a number of scandals, from players cheating on their tests to payment of $1,000 to the father of a player, came to light. The NCAA's punishment was swift and sure: Kentucky almost got the "death penalty" for the basketball program but was "let off the hook" with a three-year probation, two-year postseason ban, and a ban from television. While Kentucky's fans, innocent players, and new coach (R*ck P*t*no, another cuss word in the eyes of Wildcat fans considering where he's coaching now) paid the penalty, Eddie Sutton waltzed off to a new job at Oklahoma State.

That is just wrong. The NCAA has to initiate a penalty for ALL the guilty parties. If an assistant coach is slipping C-notes under the table to a player's parents that coach should be banned from working anywhere in an NCAA college for a number of years. I don't know if Jim Tressel could get a job as towel washer at a university right now, given what happened at Ohio State, but given the fact that he is a proven winner (and the name of the game is "just win, baby") somebody is sure to offer him a job. Not so fast: when the slow but sure boom is lowered on Ohio State it should also come down on Tressel. The fact that the guilty coaches, assistant coaches, and other behind-the-scenes people can walk away and immediately become gainfully employed by another university while the former college is left to bear the brunt of the sins is part of the reason there are so many problems in college sports now. Let them experience a consequence for their actions and see how quickly things clear up.

6. And Finally... If these sporting events wish "to honor America," how about having someone sing the National Anthem with dignity, respect, and all of the words instead of calling on pop stars who try to turn the song into their new top 40 hit? Take it from a veteran: having someone who sold four million records last year screaming the song while forgetting the words does not honor America. It should shame these people that the Stanley Cup's games in Canada earlier this year featured a Canadian singing our National Anthem on-key, with respect, and not forgetting a single word. If you want to "honor America," get Wayne Mesmer (who sings the National Anthem at many Cubs games), not Christine Aguilera or Jesse McCartney.

Thank you, and enjoy the second half of the season.

When Scooter and the Big Man Bust This City in Half

2011-06-18T20:53:00.000-07:00

Category: Obituary/News

Thinking about Bruce Springsteen without Clarence Clemons is almost impossible. It's the rock equivalent of Buck Owens without his lead guitarist/tenor singer Don Rich. It's just not right.

Clarence Clemons, Springsteen's "Big Man" saxophonist, died today (6/18) at approximately 7:00 p.m. (ET) from complications of a stroke he suffered June 12. The news had been bad from the beginning: his stroke was considered "very serious" according to news reports, and sources reported that Springsteen and fellow E Street Band members were advised to get to Palm Beach, Florida (where Clemons lived and where he was stricken) as soon as possible. Clemons underwent two surgeries on his brain after the stroke and was reported to be "responsive" although paralyzed on his left side following the operations.

Clemons was in the E Street Band at the beginning, playing saxophone that ranged from raucous rock and roll to beautiful soul. He was featured on the cover of Springsteen's legendary breakthrough Born to Run album in 1975, and the song "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" mentioned him in the final verse ("I'm gonna sit back right easy and laugh when Scooter and the Big Man bust this city in half"). Even Randy Newman mentioned Clemons in his song "My Life is Good," in which he spoofed Springsteen ("Rand, I'm tired, how would you like to be Boss for awhile? Well, blow, Big Man, blow!"). In addition to his work with Springsteen, Clemons released his own music (his duet with Jackson Browne, "You're a Friend of Mine," was an MTV hit in the early 1980s) and played on numerous other recordings.

Shortly after Clemons' passing Bruce Springsteen released this statement:

"Clarence lived a wonderful life. He carried within him a love of people that made them love him. He created a wondrous and extended family. He loved the saxophone, loved our fans and gave everything he had every night he stepped on stage. His loss is immeasurable and we are honored and thankful to have known him and had the opportunity to stand beside him for nearly 40 years. He was my great friend, my partner and with Clarence at my side, my band and I were able to tell a story far deeper than those simply contained in our music. His life, his memory, and his love will live on in that story and in our band."

Rock and roll will never be the same.

Farewell to the great Clarence "Big Man" Clemons. He was 69.

Good and Bad in News

2011-05-23T21:54:00.000-07:00

Category: News Reporting

Kudos to the Weather Channel's Mike Bettes for being human. It's really nice to know that seeing hundreds of people killed and injured and scores of buildings destroyed does emotionally affect a reporter. That was honest, too, as real as the pain on Walter Cronkite's face when he announced that President Kennedy was dead in 1963. Way to go, Mike. I hope the weather improves so you don't get choked up over tornado devastation again for a long time.

As for other news reporters, could you please give us a break from the false prophet who keeps proclaiming a new date for the end of the world every time it becomes obvious that he doesn't have a clue? This clod's giving Christians a bad name by claiming he knows more than God (since Jesus said that only God knows the day). He's also giving reporters a bad name because they treat his spewings as if he's actually newsworthy. Take a hint from Lou Grant, who once said, "There's no such thing as a slow news day, only slow news men."

Or maybe a better reference would be Chevy Chase from "Weekend Update" from the original Saturday Night Live, where he reported that a celebrity was back in the news. Chase then added, "Sources report that nobody is interested and nobody cares." Neither do we.

Golf Loses a Giant

2011-05-07T12:20:00.000-07:00

Category: Sports News/Obituary

Seve Ballesteros lost his two and a half year battle with brain cancer today (5/7). Ballesteros died at his home in Pedrena, Spain less than a day after his family announced that his condition had taken a "dramatic turn for the worse."

Ballesteros was to the European tour what Arnold Palmer is to golf in America, or what Gary Player is to the sport in South Africa. He was an icon not only in his native Spain but throughout Europe. He was the first European to slip the coveted Green Jacket, the prize for winning the Masters, on his shoulders. Overall, he won five majors (three British Opens and two Masters). Additionally, he won fifty European PGA events, more than anyone on the European tour. He captained the European Ryder Cup in 1997, the year it was played in Spain for the first time, leading the Europeans to victory.

It was Ballesteros' seemingly impossible shots that made him a legend. A slice in the woods wasn't a reason to cuss and slam his club (the way some people do), it was an opportunity to invent a new shot. Archive footage airing on the sports tributes showed Ballesteros hitting a ball nearly 200 yards -- from his knees in the woods.

2010 Masters champion Phil Mickelson paid tribute to Ballesteros at this year's Masters Champions dinner. The defending champion picks the menu for the dinner, and to honor Ballesteros Mickelson's dinner had a Spanish theme with a bilingual menu.

Spain has lost one of its most iconic figures, and golf has lost a superb player who was tremendously under-appreciated in this country.

Seve Ballesteros was only 54.

The True End of an Era

2011-04-14T23:02:00.000-07:00

Category: Television News

ABC is canceling two of its three "daytime dramas" (better known as soap operas). All My Children, which has been on the air for 41 years, and One Life to Live, which has aired for 43 years, will end their respective runs on network television by the beginning of 2012. The network states that the expense of producing a daily soap opera -- about $50 million annually according to an L.A. Times article -- no longer justifies the increasingly lower ratings of daytime shows.

Soap operas were once the rule on television. Daytime mornings were filled with game shows, from Concentration to Hollywood Squares; and the afternoon belonged to the soaps. The game shows, by and large, have disappeared from daytime network television (although syndicated shows such as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and Family Feud are quite popular), with only The Price is Right on a network in daytime. Now soap operas are following the game shows into relative oblivion.

Additionally, SoapNet, which is owned by Disney (the owners of ABC), will cease to exist as a cable channel about the same time that One Life to Live dies -- January 2012. SoapNet will be replaced with a new Disney channel for children (which sounds redundant, but I digress).

I have mixed feelings about this. How many different ways can someone have an affair, die then the actor comes back as a twin brother/sister/cousin/friend that nobody ever knew about, shoot someone, get pregnant and lose the baby/not know who the father is, etc. etc. etc. It takes a great actor to make very predictable, sometimes snail's pace-moving storylines (I remember watching The Guiding Light before I went into the Navy...eleven weeks of missing it while in boot camp and nothing changed!) riveting. The surviving shows have that (Eric Braeden is as excellent a villain in The Young and the Restless as he was when he played Captain Dietrich [when he went by his birth name, Hans Gudegast] in The Rat Patrol), but All My Children has the poster child for bitchiness: Susan Lucci. In fact, people who know nothing about soap operas know her name. There comes a point, however, when not even those powerhouse actors can carry a show.

Still, Disney needs to tread lightly here. Soap opera fans, much like old country music fans, are fiercely loyal. Badmouthing Luke and Laura is like saying something nasty about mom, apple pie, or baseball to the fans of these shows. It might be better to have a few million very dedicated fans than ten million fickle watchers who will turn the channel at the first sign of something unpleasant.

The two canceled soap operas will be replaced with much cheaper programs, The Chew (described as a food program) and The Revolution (a makeover series). If Disney's claim that there are fewer "target audience" members (women) at home to watch the soaps, it remains to be seen who will be watching these new productions.

Baker Street Dead Ends

2011-01-04T15:37:00.000-08:00

Category: News/Obituary

Gerry Rafferty died today (1/4) of liver failure after a long, tumultuous battle with alcoholism.

Rafferty was best-known for the 1978 hit "Baker Street," featuring the haunting saxophone and introspective lyrics about a musician who wanted to "give up the blues and the one-night stands." He was also the lead singer for Stealer's Wheel, of "Stuck in the Middle With You" fame.

Rafferty's wife divorced him in 1990 because of his battles with the bottle. In August 2008 he disappeared from a rehab hospital. He turned up at his home in Tuscany six months later. Alas, the alcoholism won the war.

"Stealin' Time" from 1978's City to City is one of the songs on my "50 songs everyone should listen to" project.

Gerry Rafferty was just 63.

A Thrill Ride That Crashes

2010-12-31T18:47:00.000-08:00

Category: 50 Songs to Hear

SONG: Wall of Death
ARTIST: Richard and Linda Thompson
SONGWRITER: Richard Thompson
ALBUM: Shoot Out the LIghts
YEAR/LABEL: 1982: Hannibal

I think that I became a singer through circumstance rather than choice.
(Richard Thompson)

Somehow, in ways that most of us will hopefully never know, misery produces great art. John Prine (also on this list) turned out a masterpiece of an album in Bruised Orange while going through a divorce. Steve Miller's divorce in 1971 saw him churn out one of his best albums (the very underrated Recall the Beginning...A Journey From Eden). Warren Zevon created a gem in The Wind, even as mesothelioma so ravaged him that he could barely breathe well enough to record the final songs. And Steve Goodman taught everyone how to live, even as he knew he was dying from leukemia, with his final two albums Affordable Art and Santa Ana Winds.

As their marriage crumbled Richard and Linda Thompson recorded their final album as husband and wife in late 1981. Shoot Out the Lights was released in 1982 to thunderous critical applause and the sound of two hearts breaking: the people who made the album. The songs on the album are hardly happy, even though most of them were written before the couple's marital problems began. Still, with the timing of the release of the album coinciding with the destruction of the marriage between the Thompsons, one cannot help but read the impending doom into the lyrics (much the way many [including me] see Jackson Browne's The Pretender as a thematic album dealing with his wife's suicide shortly before the album was finished).

The star of the album is Thompson's "Wall of Death," the final song on the album. The song takes the listener to an amusement park and bypasses all the other rides for the ride known as the wall of death: a ride where a motorcyclist rides a circle perpendicular to the ground, occasionally as the floor beneath him disappears, relying solely on his speed to keep his tires on the wall.

The song is loaded with carnival imagery ("beware of the bearded lady") and activities ("and maybe you're strong but what's the use of ringing a bell"). The highlight for Thompson is the title ride. "You can waste your time on the other rides," the Thompsons sing, "but this is the nearest to being alive." The line about the death-defying ride recalls the line in "The Hanging Tree" by Marty Robbins, "To really live you must almost die."

Still, one cannot overlook the references to other rides that give the appearance, in light of the couple's split, that it is more than just a fair attraction. "You're going nowhere when you ride on a carousel," Thompson declares, and he dismisses the symbol of devotion, the tunnel of love, as something that "might amuse you."

After the couple divorced they both enjoyed successful solo careers. Linda eventually won a Grammy for writing "Telling Me Lies," which was awarded the "Country Song of the Year" trophy in 1989 after Linda Ronstadt, Dolly Parton and Emmylou Harris released it on their Trio album. Richard has set the world on fire with his astonishing guitar work and numerous solo albums.

OTHER RICHARD THOMPSON MUSIC TO INVESTIGATE:

The entire Shoot Out the Lights album (Richard & Linda Thompson) -- it is no accident that this album consistently shows up on "best albums ever" lists.
"I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight"(Richard & Linda Thompson, from I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight) -- a hit in England, Richard once did this live and referred to it as "a medley of our greatest hit." It's a marvelous song and should have been one of many.
The entire Rumor and Sigh album -- one of Richard's best from any phase of his career, featuring the oft-covered "1952 Vincent Black Lightning," the joyous tribute to old music "Don't Sit on My Jimmy Shands," the sexual adolescent joke "Read About Love" ("I read it in a magazine, Cosmo and Seventeen"), and the dynamite "Feel So Good."
"She Twists the Knife Again" (from Across a Crowded Room) -- if "Telling Me Lies" was Linda's post-divorce "love letter" to Richard, this rocker with bitter lyrics ("I keep my nose clean, I keep my promises...she twists the knife again") is Richard's reply.
"Woman or a Man?" (from Small Town Romance) -- an absolutely hilarious song about a date that turns into a robbery that leaves the singer puzzling about the blonde wig left behind.

PREVIOUS SONGS:
(Country)
Winter's Come and Gone
Where Do I Go to Throw a Picture Away
When My Rowboat Comes In
When I Lift Up My Head
Rose of My Heart
Rock of Ages, Hide Thou Me
Playboy
Our Town
Old Memories Mean Nothing to Me
Not That I Care
Nobody Eats at Linebaugh's Anymore
My Book of Memories
Lost to a Stranger
A Little Bitty Heart
Life Has Its Little Ups and Downs
Life is Too Short
I Want a Home in Dixie
I Lost Today
Fingerprints
Down to the River to Pray
Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyeballs
A Death in the Family
Dark as a Dungeon
Bottomless Well

(Rock)
Train Leaves Here This Morning
Swallowed By the Cracks
Stephen
Stealin' Time
Starting Tomorrow
Spellbound
Sleep's Dark and Silent Gate
She's a Runaway
Painted Bells
Out to Sea
One More Song
New Delhi Freight Train
Millworker
Long Way Home
Island
Heart of Rome
Harriet Tubman's Gonna Carry Me Home
Entella Hotel
Desperados Under the Eaves
Crossing Muddy Waters
Cliffs of Dooneen
Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow)
Baby Mine

The Last Stanzas in 2010

2010-12-31T18:36:00.001-08:00

Category: News

Here is the chronological list of those from the world of music who performed their final song in 2010:

Jim Hutton (January 1, age 60, pneumonia/AIDS): Queen lead singer Freddy Mercury's one-time companion.

Teddy Pendergrass (January 13, age 59, respiratory failure/colon cancer): a simply exceptional soul singer who went from Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes to a successful solo career.

Chilton Price Searcy (January 14, age 96, natural causes): a songwriter who wrote the country classic "Slow Poke" for Pee Wee King and the pop classic "You Belong to Me."

Carl Smith (January 16, age 82, complications of stroke): Country Music Hall of Fame singer who amazed the world for over 20 years...then retired on his own terms. He was also the first husband of June Carter and the father of country singer Carlene Carter.

Kate McGarrigle (January 18, age 63, cancer): the former wife of Loudon Wainwright III and folk singer/songwriter who saw her song "Heart Like a Wheel" become the title track of a Linda Ronstadt album.

Pauly Feumana (January 31, age 40, illness): the lead singer of the band OMC, who had the hit "How Bizarre."

George Clinton Jr. (February 1, age 40, liver disease): P-Funk leader George Clinton's son.

Sir John Dankworth (February 6, age 82, long illness): Cleo Laine's husband was a well-known jazz performer in England, and throughout the TV world for creating the theme to the TV series The Avengers.

Richard Delvy (February 6, age 67, long illness): a surf rock pioneer who owned the copyrights of the hits "Chick-A-Boom" and "Wipeout."

Dale Hawkins (February 13, age 73, colon cancer): the father of swamp rock and an early rockabilly pioneer who wrote "Suzie Q."

Doug Fieger (February 14, age 57, brain cancer): the lead singer of the Knack, the one-hit wonder band with one of the best one hits of all time, "My Sharona."

Michael Blosil (February 26, age 18, suicide [jumped]): the son of Marie Osmond.

Tom "T-Bone" Wolk (February 27, age 58, heart attack): the bassist for Hall and Oates during their glory years later joined the staff band on Saturday Night Live.

Lolly Vegas (March 4, age 70, lung cancer): the lead singer of the band Redbone, best known for the hit "Come and Get Your Love."

Mark Linkous (March 6, age 47, suicide [gunshot]): a singer/songwriter who worked with Tom Waits and went on to form the alternative band Sparklehorse.

Rockie Charles (Alfred Charles Merrick) (March 12, age 67, cancer): the "President of Soul" was an R&B guitarist and singer who backed the likes of Otis Redding and Percy Sledge.

Lesley Duncan (March 12, age 66, cardiovascular disease): a folk singer/songwriter who wrote the great "Love Song" (and sang harmony) on Elton John's Tumbleweed Connection album. She also appeared with John to sing the song on the 1976 live album Here and There.

Cherie DeCastro (March 14, age 87, pneumonia): the last surviving member of the DeCastro Sisters, the vocal group who had the 1950s hit "Teach Me Tonight."

Ron Lundy (March 15, age 75, heart attack): longtime WABC-AM disc jockey in New York was once hailed as the most listened-to DJ in America.

Herb Cohen (March 16, age 77, unknown cause): the manager of Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention and new Rock Hall of Famer Tom Waits.

Alex Chilton (March 17, age 59, heart attack): the young and powerful voice behind the hits of the Box Tops went on to found the legendary underground band Big Star before embarking on a solo career.

Ian Knight (March 20, age 69, cancer): former stage manager for acts such as Led Zeppelin, Genesis, and the Rolling Stones.

Jim Marshall (March 23, age 74, unknown cause): a rock photographer for five decades whose work is in the book Not Fade Away.

Johnny Maestro (March 24, age 70, cancer): the lead singer for the Crests, best known for "Sixteen Candles."

Herb Ellis (March 28, age 88, Alzheimer's): legendary jazz guitarist who played with the Oscar Peterson Trio and with Tal Fallow and Charlie Byrd in the Great Guitars.

Matt Wariner (April 16, age 28, car wreck): the nephew of country singer/songwriter Steve Wariner was a budding performer in his hometown of Noblesville, Indiana.

Susan Reed (April 25, age 84, natural causes): folk performer who was hailed as "the leading lady of folk music" in Life magazine.

Kenneth "Butch" White (April 29, age 71, blood clot in lung): a songwriter who wrote the doo-wop classic "Teardrops."

Will Owsley (April 30, age 44, suicide): Nashville-based singer/songwriter who, before releasing his own albums, toured with Amy Grant.

Rob McConnell (May 1, age 75, cancer): a jazz trombonist who founded the Boss Brass.

Ernie Harwell (May 6, age 92, cancer): the legendary voice of Detroit Tigers radio broadcasts was also a songwriter, penning over 70 songs beginning with 1967's "Upside Down."

Lena Horne (May 9, age 92, natural causes): her voice and the song "Stormy Weather" were made for each other.

Rosa Rio (May 13, age 107, natural causes): her career as an organist spanned from silent films to TV soap operas.

Dave Fisher (May 14, age 69, bone marrow disease): a member of the folk group the Highwaymen, who did "Michael" during the folk revival.

Ronnie James Dio (May 16, age 67, stomach cancer): the heavy metal icon replaced Ozzy Osbourne as the lead vocalist of Black Sabbath, then went on to success with his own band, Dio.

Paul Gray (May 24, age 38, accidental morphine overdose): the bass player for the band Slipknot.

Judy Lynn (May 26, age 74, congestive heart failure): country singer who had a hit in the 60s with "Footsteps of a Fool" and gave up her career for a life in the ministry.

Thomas "Slim" Bryant (May 27, age 101, illness): a country music disc jockey and longtime musician, he was the last surviving person to have played on a session with "father of country music" Jimmie Rodgers.

Ali-Ollie Woodson (May 30, age 58, leukemia): a member of the R&B vocal group the Temptations.

Benjamin Lees (May 31, age 86, heart failure): contemporary classical composer.

Steve New (a/k/a Stella Nova) (June 1, age 50, cancer): member of the punk band the Rich Kids and briefly a touring member of the Sex Pistols.

Tony Peluso (June 5, age 60, heart disease): guitarist for the Carpenters.

Marvin Isley (June 6, age 56, diabetes): the bassist in the band with his brothers, the Isley Brothers.

Dana Key (June 6, age 56, ruptured blood clot): co-founder of the gospel duo DeGarmo & Key.

Crispian St. Peters (June 8, age 71, illness): the singer of the 60s hit "Pied Piper."

Jimmy Dean (June 13, age 81, natural causes): pioneering country music television host, singer of "Big Bad John," and businessman in the world of sausage.

Ken Brown (body discovered June 14, age 70, emphysema): the founder of a Liverpool band known as the Quarrymen, he found three guys named John, Paul, and George to join the band. The rest is truly history.

Gary Shider (June 16, age 56, brain and lung cancers): guitarist for the funk supergroup Parliament-Funkadelic.

Larry Jon Wilson (June 21, age 69, stroke): acclaimed singer/songwriter who released far too few albums for his fans.

Pete Quaife (June 23, age 66, kidney failure): the original bassist for the legendary rock band the Kinks.

Tommy Hoehn (June 24, age 55, cancer): Memphis session musician who worked with Alex Chilton.

Jo Jo Billingsley (real name: Deborah Jo White) (June 24, age 58, cancer): a background singer for Lynyrd Skynyrd, she quit right before the start of the fatal Street Survivors tour in the fall of 1977.

Benny Powell (June 26, age 80, complications of back surgery): a trombonist in the legendary Count Basie Orchestra.

Bill Aucoin (June 28, age 66, prostate cancer): the man who discovered and managed the band Kiss.

Daniel Cho (July 6, age unknown, drowned): cello player for Regina Spektor.

Harvey Fuqua (July 6, age 80, heart attack): R&B legend with many hats: member of the Moonglows, songwriter, producer of Marvin Gaye's final album Midnight Love, and owner of Harvey Records.

Bill Porter (July 7, age 79, Alzheimer's): the man Chet Atkins credited with being responsible for "the Nashville sound," he was the engineer for RCA on recordings ranging from Elvis to Jim Reeves.

Walter Hawkins (July 11, age 61, pancreatic cancer): gospel singer who, with brother Edwin, wrote the gospel classic "Oh Happy Day."

Tuli Kupferberg (July 12, age 86, stroke): the founder of the 60s underground garage band the Fugs.

Hank Cochran (July 15, age 74, pancreatic cancer): a songwriter's songwriter who gave country music six decades' worth of classics from "I Fall to Pieces" to "The Chair," and even had his own hit with "Sally Was a Good Ol' Girl."

Fred Carter Jr. (July 17, age 76, stroke): the father of country singer Deana Carter was a well-known Nashville session musician for years.

Andy Hummel (July 19, age 59, cancer): the bassist and co-founder of Big Star was the second member of the band to die in 2010, following Alex Chilton.

Robert Tharpe (July 20, age 72, colon cancer): a member of the act Tom & Jerrio, who had a novelty hit in 1965 with "Boo-Ga-Loo."

Margaret Ann Rich (July 22, age 76, Alzheimer's): the widow of Charlie Rich wrote several of his songs, including "Field of Yellow Daisies" and "Life Has Its Little Ups and Downs."

Grady "Tiny" Harris (July 23, age 81, blood clot): the leader of the Tiny Harris Band that backed country acts Freddie Hart and Tammy Wynette.

Al Goodman (July 26, age 67, heart failure): a member of R&B bands the Moments and Ray, Goodman & Brown.

John L. "Johnny" Carson (July 27, age 77, heart failure): the grandson of early country pioneer Fiddlin' John Carson was instrumental in the foundation of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.

Ben Keith (July 27, age 73, heart attack): a pedal steel guitarist who played for Patsy Cline ("I Fall to Pieces") and Neil Young.

John Aylesworth (July 28, age 80, pneumonia): the creator of the legendary country corn TV series Hee Haw.

Mitch Miller (July 31, age 99, illness): the king of the "sing-along" pop records.

Mitch Jayne (August 2, age 80, cancer): Mayberry's Darlings were really the Dillards, and Jayne was their bassist.

Phelps "Catfish" Collins (August 6, age 66, cancer): guitarist in Parliament-Funkadelic who played with his brother Bootsy.

Jack Parnell (August 9, age 87, cancer): the musical director on TV's The Muppet Show.

Richie Hayward (August 12, age 64, liver disease): the drummer and co-founder of the legendary Little Feat.

Michael Been (August 19, age 60, heart attack): part-time actor (played in The Last Temptation of Christ) and full-time singer, songwriter and bassist who fronted the rock band The Call.

Kenny Edwards (August 19, age 64, prostate cancer): the co-founder of the Stone Poneys who went on to spend decades performing with the Stone Poneys' lead singer, Linda Ronstadt.

Bill Phillips (August 23, age 74, diabetes): country songwriter and singer best known for "Put It Off Until Tomorrow," the song that introduced Dolly Parton to the world.

George Weiss (August 23, age 89, natural causes): a prolific songwriter who penned "Can't Help Falling in Love" and "The Lion Sleeps Tonight."

Mike Edwards (September 3, age 62, car accident): a founding member of the Electric Light Orchestra.

Rich Cronin (September 8, age 36, leukemia): the lead singer for the boy band LFO, who had the hit "Summer Girls."

King Coleman (September 11, age 78, heart failure): vocalist on the hit "(Do The) Mashed Potato" and worked with James Brown.

Leonard Skinner (September 20, age 77, Alzheimer's): the Jacksonville high school gym teacher who kicked teenager Ronnie Van Zant out of class for having long hair. Van Zant responded by naming his band after the teacher.

Eddie Fisher (September 22, age 82, complications of hip surgery): pop singer and actor, best known for the sorrowful hit "Oh! Mein Papa."

Reggie Leon Battise (a/k/a Reggie Leon) (October 8, age 55, prostate cancer): played bass in Sha Na Na then in the 80s band the Bus Boys.

Solomon Burke (October 10, age 70, natural causes): "King Solomon" was a masterful R&B singer and performer who gave the world the classic "Everybody Needs Somebody" (later covered by the Blues Brothers in their 1980 movie).

Ari Up (real name: Arianna Foster) (October 20, age 48, reportedly cancer): The step-daughter of John Lydon (Johnny Rotten) was also a member of the all-girl punk band the Slits.

Linda Hargrove (October 24, age 61, complications of bone marrow transplant/leukemia): country songwriter of such hits as "Just Get Up and Close the Door" and "Tennessee Whiskey."

Jim Clench (November 2, age 61, lung cancer): bassist of 70s bands April Wine and Bachman-Turner Overdrive.

Jerry Bock (November 3, age 81, heart failure): the composer of the classic musical Fiddler on the Roof.

Ronny Scaife (November 3, age 63, brain hemorrhage): songwriter of country songs including Travis Tritt's "The Whiskey Ain't Workin'."

Don Meredith (December 5, age 72, brain hemorrhage): the Monday Night Football color commentator who concluded games by singing Willie Nelson's "The Party's Over."

Bobby Woods (December 8, age 59, heart attack): the bassist in the original line-up of the 80s band the Hooters (of "All You Zombies" fame).

James Moody (December 9, age 85, pancreatic cancer): jazz saxophonist whose legendary recording "Moody's Mood for Love" is in the Grammy Hall of Fame.

George Pickow (December 10, age 88, respiratory failure): longtime music photographer who shot the album covers for the likes of Louis Armstrong and Lena Horne and husband of folk singer Jean Ritchie.

Nick "The Stick" Hunter (December 16, age 67, cancer): founder of the Audium record label and concert promoter of country acts Hank Williams Jr., Willie Nelson, and Dwight Yoakam.

Don Van Vilet (Captain Beefhart) (December 17, age 69, multiple sclerosis): former cohort of Frank Zappa's who went on to become for many the definition of avant garde rock and roll.

Jack Tracy (December 21, age 83, unknown causes): editor of DownBeat magazine and a jazz record producer.

Dorothy Jones (December 25, age 76, Alzheimer's): a member of the Cookies of "Don't Say Nothin' Bad About My Baby" fame and served as a back-up vocalist on songs such as Neil Sedaka's "Breaking Up is Hard to Do."

Teena Marie (December 26, age 54, possibly related to grand mal seizures): R&B singer/songwriter and one-time protege of Rick James best known for the song "Lovergirl."

Myrna Smith (December 26, age 69, kidney failure): a member of the Sweet Inspirations, a vocal group that backed acts ranging from Aretha Franklin to Elvis Presley to Van Morrison.

Bernie Wilson (December 26, age 64, stroke and heart attack): the baritone singer for Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes.

Agathe von Trapp (December 28, age 97, congestive heart failure): a member of the von Trapp family who inspired The Sound of Music.

Bobby Farrell (December 30, age 61, heart failure): the leader of the 70s disco group Boney M.

Farewell, and thanks for the music.

Thank the Lord for the Nighttime!

2010-12-17T09:58:00.000-08:00

Category: News

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees have been announced. Neil Diamond is among the new inductees for the March 2011 ceremonies.

As predicted, Tom Waits is among the new inductees. The other acts who are now officially Hall of Famers: Alice Cooper, Darlene Love, and Dr. John.

Thankfully, no disco acts were inducted this year. Hopefully next year they will not be on the ballot, and actual rock acts like Steve Miller and Linda Ronstadt will be.

Congratulations to the five new Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members!

2011 Rock Hall of Fame

Worst of the Worst

2010-10-27T20:24:00.000-07:00

Category: TV Review

The Travel Channel has created some great shows. Programs such as No Reservations, Bizarre Foods, Man v. Food, and anything that Samantha Brown pops up in have become staples on the network.

Unfortunately, Travel Channel has also created some programs that stink worse than Zimmern's sworn enemy the durian. One of those new bombs is 101 Challenges. Oddly enough, the Travel Channel apparently knows this show is bad: they have never aired a promotion for it (as opposed to inescapable promo spots for Bourdain's show or Bert the Conqueror), and its web site has no informational or descriptive listing for it...not to mention the fact that they only have "episode 1" but no "episode 2" on the schedule.

There is a good reason that the Travel Channel is going out of its way to not call attention to 101 Challenges: this show is woeful. In fact, I will be genuinely surprised if episode two gets to air.

The plot? Consider crossing Jackass with Borat combined with all the sweet personality of Dabney Coleman's most unlikeable character (pick your least favorite, he is a master of playing jerks). Two men travel around the world, doing things that people dare them to. I wish I could provide a better description; unfortunately, the show is so horrible that even this is too kind an assessment of the premise.

Perhaps the Travel Channel gives us garbage such as this because they think we are tired of watching Most Unique McDonalds or RV Crazy! for the 600th time this month. Yes, the repeats are boring; however, the test pattern is better than this show.

Nominations for Rock's Hall of SHAME Announced

2010-09-28T20:34:00.000-07:00

Category: News/Opinion

The nominees for the 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction were announced on Tuesday (September 28). The nominees are (in alphabetical order):

Beastie Boys

Bon Jovi

Chic

Alice Cooper

Neil Diamond

Donovan

Dr. John

J. Geils Band

LL Cool J

Darlene Love

Laura Nyro

Donna Summer

Joe Tex

Tom Waits

Chuck Willis

The winners will be announced in December 2010 and formally inducted in March 2011.

Now for the commentary...

ARE THEY NUTS????

I can guarantee you right now that Tom Waits, who has never had a chart record (and only one song of any popularity thanks to the Eagles covering it, "Ol' 55"), will be inducted. Why? He's a "critic's darling." There's nothing wrong with Tom Waits. He's an acquired taste, granted, but he was, and remains, one of the most original performers in rock history. But a "hall of fame" career?

However, there's a slight problem here, and it's the word fame. It's not just a great David Bowie song, it's a central element. On that basis, the inductees should include Neil Diamond, Alice Cooper, and the J. Geils Band. There's also the little problem with the term rock and roll. That should eliminate a few people from this list immediately: Chic, LL Cool J, and Donna Summer.

More importantly, it brings to mind a long list of people who qualify for both rock and roll AND fame who are not on this list, and have NEVER been: Steve Miller, Linda Ronstadt, the Moody Blues, Rush, and another Neil -- Sedaka.

Let's examine things here. I will be the first to admit that Steve Miller's music can be ridiculously boring, to the point where that hideous "Abracadabra" song and Circle of Love album made me positively embarrassed to admit that I once had every one of his albums. However, he has sold over 30 million records, and his Greatest Hits 1974-1978 has sold 14 million copies (or two million more than the Beatles' Abbey Road!). That's a padded resume right there, without throwing in the massive success of Fly Like an Eagle and Book of Dreams and the fact that, after 44 years in the business, he is still a hot concert draw. When LL Cool J can match that they can nominate him in Miller's place, but NOT BEFORE.

Linda Ronstadt? She goes back to the late 60s and was the reason, more or less, the Eagles came to be (they met as her backing band). She's been successful in rock, country, opera, Broadway, and Hispanic music, winning ten Grammy awards and an Emmy in the process. She was also once called "the highest-paid woman in rock," earning more than the two women on the nominee list combined. You would probably have to jog someone's memory about Laura Nyro (she wrote "Stony End," "And When I Die," and "Eli's Coming"), but Linda Ronstadt's career requires no such mnemonic devices.

I will admit right up front that I am not a fan of Rush (Limbaugh, yes; the Canadian band, no way). Geddy Lee's voice goes through me like a cat using a chalkboard for a scratching post. However, anyone who can look at the success their career has enjoyed and then say they do not belong in the Hall of Fame is not qualified to have a vote. Ditto the Moody Blues.

Then there's Neil Sedaka, the man who enjoyed three careers: 1960s singer, 1970s singer, and nearly five decades as a songwriter. Some people may not like his voice; others may dismiss his string of 60s hits as "light." The issue is not quality (I personally find nothing wrong with the happy feel of Sedaka's songs that permeated even his heartbreak songs like "King of Clowns") but fame, and Sedaka had it -- and still does. Sadly, if he ever does get in, it will most likely be the same way his high school friend Carole King (the subject of Sedaka's hit "Oh, Carol!") has been inducted -- as a songwriter, not as a performer.

There have been voices of complaints for years about the Hall of Fame; notably, the murmurs that Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner uses his power as co-founder and vice-chairman of the Hall of Fame to nominate "critic's darlings" (e.g., Waits) and omitting people who were commercially successful but snubbed by critics (the above-named acts, Chicago, the Monkees, ELO). Peter Tork said as much in 2007 in the New York Post.

Many halls of fame have credibility problems (e.g., the Baseball Hall of Fame where writers send in blank ballots claiming "nobody deserves unanimous induction" or saying they WOULD vote for admitted steroid user Alex Rodriguez but not admitted steroid used Mark McGwire; the Country Music Hall of Fame, which last year lowered the "standard" of admission from 25 years in country music to just twenty [if Garth Brooks is inducted next year, you can just refer to this as "the Garth Brooks rule"]), but none stink as badly as what the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is enduring at the present time.

Perhaps a boycott is in order. Money speaks very loudly, and maybe that will be the definitive signature on the petitions that have circulated for years to get the popular (just not critically acclaimed) acts a nomination for the Hall of Fame.

Rock Loses Three

2010-08-20T14:37:00.000-07:00

Category: News/Obituary

Two of the most critically-acclaimed, yet underrated bands in rock and roll, along with one of the biggest superstars from the 70s, have suffered losses in the past few days.

Richie Hayward. Richie was the drummer and co-founder of the band Little Feat. While Little Feat never had a hit record of their own, they were FM rock darlings (until the advent of the "superstars" format) and adored by their fans and many rock critics alike. Hayward died August 12 after a year-long struggle with liver disease. He was 64.

Kenny Edwards. Kenny co-founded the country-rock band the Stone Poneys in the late 60s and spent many years backing the band's lead singer, Linda Ronstadt, as she made her way from shy singer to platinum superstar in six genres (country, rock, pop, Broadway, opera, and Mexican). Edwards died from complications of prostate cancer and the blood disease thrombotic thombocytopenic purpura. He, too, was 64.

Michael Been. The Call's web site refers to them as "perhaps the most underrated band ever," and that is nothing but an understatement. While all the band's albums, featuring lyrics with Christian overtones ("here's to the preachers of the sacred word"), were critically successful, none yielded anything more than the minor 1989 hit "Let the Day Begin." Their front man, bassist and lyricist, Michael Been, suffered a fatal heart while on tour in Belgium. He was 60.

Farewell, gentlemen. We will miss you but always remember you through your gifts of music.

Screaming Good

2010-06-17T19:26:00.000-07:00

Category: TV Show Review

The Travel Channel apparently has been trying to catch lightning in a bottle yet again the way they did with No Reservations, Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, and Man V. Food. Their recent attempt was a major disappointment (as I reviewed here), and a number of their series launches have lasted shorter periods of time than the commercial hyping the show did.

Now the Travel Channel has started a new program, Bert the Conqueror. The show premiered on Wednesday (6/16) after the season opener of Man V. Food (a good lead-in, considering they are both from the same production company). This time, the Travel Channel has a good show that will hopefully catch on and stay around for a long time.

The "Bert" of Bert the Conqueror is comedian Bert Kreischer. He is taking his travel experiences ("half my life I've been on the road" he said in the opening episode) and putting them in front of a camera. Most of these tales revolve around the slightly offbeat: mainly, rides and daredevil attractions located at various cities and theme parks throughout the country.

While that's nothing new to the Travel Channel (see their Extreme series), Kreischer puts a familiar face to the guide showing the audience around these rides. He also puts a new point of view on the rides: his own. During most of the rides he experienced on the opening night shows Kreischer wore miniature cameras mounted to his helmet and clothing so the audience could see the ride from his perspective (and his usually terrified reaction to the ride). His enjoyment of the "human slingshot" in Utah was particularly enjoyable.

The two episodes of Bert the Conqueror that aired on Wednesday night were quite fun (if a little shaky because of the camera moving at 70 mph along with Kreischer on the rides). Here's hoping that Bert the Conqueror gets to stay on the Travel Channel and "conquer" a large audience.

Bert Kreischer's web site

Here Comes the Blind Commissioner

2010-06-03T21:15:00.000-07:00

Category: Sports News/Rant

Here comes the blind commissioner
They've got him in a trance
One hand is tied to the tightrope walker
The other is in his pants
(Bob Dylan, "Desolation Row")

Needless to say, Dylan did not have baseball in mind when he wrote "Desolation Row," but if ever a line proved prophetic it is the above-quoted lyric.

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig, on a mission to cement his place in history as the worst commissioner in history, has refused to declare the June 2 game by Armando Galarraga of the Detroit Tigers a perfect game.

With two outs in the top of the 9th inning, Indian batter Jason Donald was called safe by umpire Jim Joyce, when every replay angle showed without question Donald was out. It was not just a "blown call," it was a blown call that cost Galarraga a place in history as the 21st pitcher of a perfect game. Umpire Joyce admitted he blew the call and said he felt terrible, not because the call had any outcome on the game itself, but because "I just cost that kid a perfect game."

All was not lost, initially, because the Commissioner of Major League Baseball has the power to overrule things like that. However, Bud Selig quickly announced that he would not overturn the umpire's bad call and declare that Galarraga's game was, indeed, perfect.

This ruling proves one thing is perfect, and it's Selig: a perfect jerk. People like ESPN's Tim Kurkjian praised the commish for not overturning the call, saying that we cannot go back and undo the past. After all, the "human element" is part of the great game of baseball.

Not so fast, Mr. Kurkjian. In 1991, Fay Vincent undid the past when he changed the definition of a "no-hitter." His ruling wiped fifty no-no's off the books. Among the no-hitters that were no longer no-hitters, no matter how many hits the other team did not get, were "visiting pitcher losses." Such a game happened on July 1, 1990, when the Yankees' Andy Hawkins lost to the Chicago White Sox when the Yankees gave up four 8th inning errors, but pitcher Hawkins allowed no hits, in a 4-0 White Sox victory. The Yankees were the visiting team so the bottom of the 9th was not played, meaning Hawkins only pitched eight innings -- so his no-hitter was taken away from him! The loss, however, was not. The Red Sox' Matt Young also threw an eight-inning no-hitter as a losing pitcher in 1992, and in 2008 two Dodgers pitchers combined for an eight-inning no-hitter in a losing effort. Vincent also declared that a no-hitter had to be "at least nine innings," meaning that several games that were official games (meaning they went in one team's "won" record and the other team's "lost" column) were no longer declared to be "no-hitters" because things like rain or darkness ended the game before nine innings.

There is also other cases of "the past" being changed: most famously, George Brett's "pine tar" home run. In 1983 Brett was called out after hitting a home run for having too much pine tar on his bat. Lee McPhail reinstated Brett's homer.

So, Mr. Kurkjian, there is precedent (which is what you were afraid of): the definition of a no-hitter was redefined by the Commissioner of Baseball, effectively eliminating four dozen no-no's from the history book. (The article about disqualified no-hitters.) And, and in all honesty, the "precedent" I would love to see established is for Bud Selig to do the right thing for a change.

The TV Weeps

2010-06-03T20:43:00.000-07:00

Category: Obituaries

The past week has not been kind to television stars. Three major players have passed away, leaving huge holes in the world of television entertainment.

Art Linkletter (died May 27th after an illness): The passing of this giant makes those of us old enough to remember him truly sad for the younger generations who have no Art Linkletter. He reveled in the hilarity brought about by the innocence of childhood on his House Party show. His book, Kids Say the Darnedest Things, featured numerous quotes from the children who appeared on that program.

Linkletter had known numerous tragedies, losing three children (including a 20-year-old daughter jumping to her death in 1969). Still, he managed to keep a smile -- and keep the world smiling as he coaxed "the darnedest things" out of children.

Linkletter was 97.

Gary Coleman (died May 28th of a cerebral hemorrhage): He gave the phrase "Whatchoo talkin' about, Willis?" to American popular culture thanks to his role on the NBC series Diff'rent Strokes. The former child actor grew older but not up (because of kidney problems suffered in childhood), and he found his adult life filled with failures and troubles (although not to the extent of either child co-star: Dana Plato died of a drug overdose at the age of 34, and Todd Bridges has been plagued by legal and drug problems for decades). Coleman was 42.

Rue McClanahan (died June 3 of a stroke): People remember her best as the saucy Blanche from The Golden Girls, but her career had covered decades on the stage and the screen. In fact, The Golden Girls was the second time McClanahan had teamed with Beatrice Arthur: she first played Vivian, the best friend of the liberated Maude Findlay on the controversial series Maude in the 1970s. Her death at at the age of 76 leaves 88-year-old Betty White as the sole surviving "Golden Girl."

Farewell to these three television superstars.

How To Do Country Rock Correctly

2010-05-31T22:30:00.000-07:00

Category: 50 Songs to Hear

This is one of two songs on the list (the other is a country song) that has two versions. Both are worth getting.

SONG: Train Leaves Here This Morning
ARTISTS: Dillard & Clark; Eagles

SONGWRITERS: Gene Clark / Bernie Leadon

ALBUMS: The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark; Eagles
YEARS/LABELS: 1968; A&M (Dillard & Clark) / 1972; Asylum (Eagles)

I consider myself a working musician. I just like to perform for people.
(Bernie Leadon)

The Eagles did not invent country-rock. Ray Charles discovered Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music and Gene Pitney recorded with George Jones while most of the Eagles were still in high school, and Poco was singing, "There's just a little bit of magic in the country music we're singing" before Messers Henley and Frey had even considered takin' it easy. Nevertheless, somehow the band has come to define country-rock, almost to the exclusion of the genre's real pioneers (while some people may recognize the name Gram Parsons it would be difficult to find someone who could name a song).

This is obvious in the case of the 1968 Dillard & Clark song, "Train Leaves Here This Morning." Gene Clark co-wrote the song with Bernie Leadon for the first Dillard & Clark release The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark, which appeared the same year as Poco's debut Pickin' Up the Pieces. Interestingly enough, "Train Leaves Here" co-writer Bernie Leadon and Poco's first LP bassist Randy Meisner would both join the Eagles three years later.

Leadon has a good voice for country music to go along with his musicianship (Leadon is the banjo player on all the Eagles songs that feature the instrument), and no doubt his influence with Dillard & Clark and the Flying Burrito Brothers helped push the Eagles toward the country-rock sound in their early albums (a sound that noticeably vanished with Leadon's departure after the One of These Nights album). Leadon did not sing the Dillard & Clark version (the lead vocal on that version is Gene Clark), but his Eagles version is equally beautiful.

The song is a pained tale of a man who "lost ten points just for being in the right place at exactly the wrong time" (which is one of the best opening lines of any song the Eagles ever recorded). The lost love who "signed me to a contract" is now gone, leaving behind the address of 1320 North Columbus. The narrator takes his mind off of his heartbreak by watching "the smoker pass it on" and getting a chuckle out of the mispronunciation of the name Leadon (which is pronounced LED-in) as "lead on."

Dillard & Clark had a short existence before moving on to other country-rock projects. Gene Clark died of a heart attack at the young age of 46 in 1991. After leaving the Eagles Bernie engaged in a few projects before finding some success with a novelty act, Run C&W (a bluegrass band that did R&B songs). Both men are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Clark with the Byrds and Leadon with the Eagles), and both men are responsible for this gem of country-rock.

PREVIOUS SONGS:
(Country)
Where Do I Go to Throw a Picture Away
When My Rowboat Comes In
When I Lift Up My Head
Rose of My Heart
Rock of Ages, Hide Thou Me
Playboy
Our Town
Old Memories Mean Nothing to Me
Not That I Care
Nobody Eats at Linebaugh's Anymore
My Book of Memories
Lost to a Stranger
A Little Bitty Heart
Life Has Its Little Ups and Downs
Life is Too Short
I Want a Home in Dixie
I Lost Today
Fingerprints
Down to the River to Pray
Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyeballs
A Death in the Family
Dark as a Dungeon
Bottomless Well

(Rock)
Swallowed By the Cracks
Stephen
Stealin' Time
Starting Tomorrow
Spellbound
Sleep's Dark and Silent Gate
She's a Runaway
Painted Bells
Out to Sea
One More Song
New Delhi Freight Train
Millworker
Long Way Home
Island
Heart of Rome
Harriet Tubman's Gonna Carry Me Home
Entella Hotel
Desperados Under the Eaves
Crossing Muddy Waters
Cliffs of Dooneen
Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow)
Baby Mine

Jim Nantz for President

2010-04-13T19:24:00.000-07:00

Category: Sports News

Congratulations to Phil Mickelson for his third green jacket. Sadly, Mickelson's courageous victory and emotional embrace with his wife Amy at the end of the tournament was overshadowed by the very antithesis of the man Lefty is.

Amy Mickelson is drop-dead gorgeous. She might be considered the "poster child," so to speak, for the term "trophy wife," were it not for the fact that she and Mickelson married long before he became the golf superstar he is today. Mickelson truly loves this woman -- he frequently refers to her as "my life partner" and not merely his wife. His golf suffered because his head and his heart were with Amy as she underwent treatment for breast cancer.

Phil Mickelson shares his third
Masters victory with wife Amy,
who is battling breast cancer

Another golfer who shall remain nameless gets a trophy wife then started cheating on her before the ink was dry on his marriage license. He then insulted every golfer who was playing in the Accenture Match Play by scheduling his press show during the tournament as if to say that he agrees with the media that the entire world, not just professional golf, revolves around him.

And that is why Jim Nantz is my new hero. He took a brave stand after the Masters to call out this guy. In the aforementioned press show the golfer said he was going to "respect the game" more. He then proceeded to curse loudly and repeatedly as his game fell apart during the last round of the Masters.

Golf is a gentleman's game, and that kind of language is not allowed. In fact, in 2005, a PGA rules official told the Chicago Tribune that he loved the fact that the very first section of the rules book deals with etiquette. Here is what it says:

All players should conduct themselves in a disciplined manner, demonstrating courtesy and sportsmanship at all times, irrespective of how competitive they may be. This is the spirit of the game of golf.

What part of that does the other golfer not understand? This fellow claims he follows Buddhism, so he should not be evoking the name of the God of monotheistic religions that he does not believe in, especially in a manner that every monotheistic religion considers blasphemous.

The problem is that a lot of writers are lining up against Nantz for saying the profanities uttered (well, shouted) and picked up by CBS's microphones were wrong. I say Good for you, Jim! Nantz is absolutely correct when he said on Mike Francesa's WFAN radio show that if he, as an announcer, had said such a thing he would be standing in the unemployment line by the end of the day. While a number of sports writers have ridiculed Nantz for his stand, I will applaud him loudly.

And to Lefty, your performance at the Masters was superb, and it grieves me as a fan of yours and a fan of the great game of golf to see such a wonderful performance overshadowed by someone else because of lazy reporters.

A Great Trip to the Bottom of the Barrel

2010-04-05T10:22:00.000-07:00

Category: 50 Songs to Hear

SONG: Swallowed By the Cracks

ARTIST: David + David

SONGWRITERS: David Baerwald / David Ricketts

ALBUM: Boomtown

YEAR/LABEL: 1986; A&M

One day my mom was on the Internet looking for relatives and found this fan page. It seemed my music was important to a lot of them. I was genuinely touched by their interest.
(David Baerwald)

Rarely has an album sounded so good while being so depressing as David + David's sole release, 1986's Boomtown. The album wanders through the bottom of the barrel of life in the booze and drug subculture of Los Angeles. The album yielded a minor hit, "Welcome to the Boomtown," complete with those aforementioned pictures of the seedy side: a person dealing "dope out of Denny's" (certainly not the best advertisement a restaurant can pick up) and another one dying because "the ambulance arrived too late."

The same problems of the characters in "Welcome to the Boomtown" plague the three protagonists in the brilliant "Swallowed By the Cracks," the highlight of the Boomtown album. The story is told in first person about a man, his girlfriend Eileen, and Eileen's brother and the narrator's best friend, Steve. They have lofty goals: Steve is a writer, Eileen is an actress, and the narrator is a dancer who has dreams of becoming a famous choreographer. The dreams turn to nightmares: "Stevie ran away and got bored, Eileen took a job in a store, while I became this drunken old whore." They were determined not to be "swallowed by the cracks, fallen so far down like the rest of those clowns begging bus fare back," yet that is exactly what happened. The dancer and writer and actress, instead of pursuing their occupational goals, end up "getting drunk with strangers, telling lies, and singing along with the jukebox."

In the title song from his debut album Guitars, Cadillacs, Dwight Yoakam referred to "this tinsel land" as "this town [that] can shatter dreams." David + David expounded on that thought explicitly in this superb song, a song that showed the promise of where this duo could have gone had they continued to make music together.

PREVIOUS SONGS:
(Country)
When My Rowboat Comes In
When I Lift Up My Head
Rose of My Heart
Rock of Ages, Hide Thou Me
Playboy
Our Town
Old Memories Mean Nothing to Me
Not That I Care
Nobody Eats at Linebaugh's Anymore
My Book of Memories
Lost to a Stranger
A Little Bitty Heart
Life Has Its Little Ups and Downs
Life is Too Short
I Want a Home in Dixie
I Lost Today
Fingerprints
Down to the River to Pray
Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyeballs
A Death in the Family
Dark as a Dungeon
Bottomless Well

(Rock)
Stephen
Stealin' Time
Starting Tomorrow
Spellbound
Sleep's Dark and Silent Gate
She's a Runaway
Painted Bells
Out to Sea
One More Song
New Delhi Freight Train
Millworker
Long Way Home
Island
Heart of Rome
Harriet Tubman's Gonna Carry Me Home
Entella Hotel
Desperados Under the Eaves
Crossing Muddy Waters
Cliffs of Dooneen
Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow)
Baby Mine

Coach Kroojawoosky

2010-04-03T20:49:00.000-07:00

Category: Sports

In Kentucky, Duke is a four-letter word. It has been since March 28, 1992, the night of that game. Every college basketball fan knows exactly "what" game I mean: the regional final in Philadelphia between Duke and Kentucky that went into overtime and ended with Christian Laettner's last-second shot that went in and sent Duke to the Final Four and Kentucky fans home with a horrid taste in their mouths. That game is still discussed in Kentucky, and no doubt there'll be an effigy or two hung on the 20th anniversary of the game in 2012.

Let the Kentucky native and lifelong UK Wildcat fan (and someone who actually attended a University of Kentucky-affiliated community college for two semesters) now praise Coach Kroojawoosky (as a great parody of those old Bud Light commercials once pronounced it). Mike Krzyzewski is one of the true legends of the college basketball game. What is not to like (other than the fact that 99% of the population cannot spell nor pronounce his name -- it's M-I-K-E!)?

His players graduate. In fact, Coach K refused to hang the 1992 championship banner until Laettner finished his final courses in summer school.
His program is clean. Duke does things the right way. No scandal, no hint of a scandal, nothing The NCAA puts endless rules on coaches (everything short of what the coach can have for breakfast before he talks to a recruit), but Krzyzewski follows every one of those rules to the letter.
His players are clean. Krzyzewski once said that he would not recruit someone who he didn't feel comfortable having around his family (and he's the father of three girls). He could probably get better players every year, but he'd also have to take some baggage with them, and he doesn't want to win that badly.
HE is clean. He's been happily married for nearly 40 years. There's no Tiger Woods sex scandals and no Billy Gillispie drunk driving charges out there. Holy cow, Krzyzewski will actually be in church the day before his team plays for a national title!
He is not Vince Lombardi. A famous quote of Lombardi's is, "If it doesn't matter whether you win or lose, then how come they keep score?" Sure, Krzyzewski wants his team to win -- him and 346 other Division I coaches. But Coach K realizes that being a winning human being is far more important than winning a basketball game.
He is genuine. With all his success -- two gold medals for coaching Olympic basketball teams, three national titles, and induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001 -- he still answers his fan mail. I know that for a fact: I have two letters from him and an autographed photo on my office wall.

Whether Duke cuts down the nets on Monday night or the Butler Bulldogs complete the Cinderella story, Duke fans can rest assured they are already winners because of the man who patrols the sidelines. And, as long as Mike Krzyzewski continues to coach college basketball, the game itself wins.

Please Do NOT Let the Food Wars Begin

2010-03-25T18:22:00.000-07:00

Category: TV Show Review

More and more, the Travel Channel is beginning to resemble Food Network 2. Series hosted by chefs Andrew Zimmern (Bizarre Foods and Bizarre World) and Anthony Bourdain (No Reservations) are long-running staples on the network. Recent food-based additions have included the Adam Richman glutton-athon known as Man V. Food (which weekly paraphrases the old country song "How Many Biscuits Can You Eat This Morning?"), the 101 Chowdown Countdown, and Best Places to Pig Out.

Add to the Food...er...Travel Channel's line-up a new series from the producers of Man V. Food, a series titled Food Wars. This is simple enough: host Camille Ford goes to cities where rival restaurants each claim they have the "best" food specialty and invites five people to a blindfolded taste test.

The problem is, Ms. Ford doesn't have it as a host: not Bourdain's profanity-laden biting observations, not Zimmern's Midwestern (via New York) charm and humor, and not Richman's bottomless stomach.

I watched both opening night shows, featuring a Chicago beef sandwich battle and arguments over Buffalo's Buffalo wings. Although the background of the restaurants (especially with the origins of food staples such as the Buffalo wings, created by the owner of the Anchor Bar in Buffalo) was informative, the show simply lacks the spice that gives Richman heartburn on a weekly basis. And, honestly, a 3-2 vote settles nothing, as the conclusion of each episode proves: the people who prefer Duff's over the Anchor Bar haven't been persuaded, and fans of Al's beef sandwich in Chicago conclude the show by badmouthing Mr. Beef, and vice versa (which should be a warning: talking smack about a sandwich the way people do about the Cubs or the White Sox?), totally contradicting the claim that the show will "settle the food wars, once and for all."

No doubt there will be shows about the Cincinnati chili havens (Gold Star or Skyline) and probably more "is it barbecue with a spice rub or with sauce" arguments -- all of which have been already dealt with on numerous occasions on other shows, and in a much more rewarding manner to the viewer. While the majority of the food shows on the Travel Channel are at least enjoyable and at most cannot-miss, this is not one of them.

And, honestly, enough with the food shows. I don't want Samantha Brown's next travel show to be "Samantha Brown Visits Shoney's."

I'm in Love, What's That Song

2010-03-18T19:13:00.000-07:00

Category: Obituary

Listening to the signature song of the 60s group the Box Tops, "The Letter," it's hard to believe the "man" singing lead was only 16. Another big hit, "Soul Deep," makes that seem more implausible.

The boy with the full-grown voice was Alex Chilton. He died March 17th of a heart attack.

After life in the Box Tops, Chilton formed a critically acclaimed group, Big Star. In the 80s he went on to a solo career. His influence was such that the Replacements recorded a song about him on their landmark 1987 album Pleased to Meet Me. "I'm in love," they sang on "Alex Chilton, "what's that song? I'm in love with that song."

Alex Chilton was just 59.

Mission: Remembering

2010-03-16T19:45:00.000-07:00

Category: Obituary

The great Peter Graves died March 14.

Graves had two major careers: for the older people, he was Jim Phelps, the leader of a crack governmental force known as the IMF, on the series Mission: Impossible. The opening theme and title sequence (with a match lighting a fuse that burned while action scenes from the episode flashed in the background) were among the most memorable of any television show, not just of the late 1960s, but of all time.

Then there was Captain Clarence Oveur, the pervert pilot in Airplane! His lines to the little boy in the early stages of the show -- "Joey, have you ever seen a grown man naked?" "Have you ever been in a Turkish prison?" "Do you like movies about gladiators?" -- were riotous. They certainly would not make a modern film in this era of political correctness, which is what makes them even funnier. Graves, known widely for his great dramatic roles, delivered each side-splitting line as if he were doing Shakespeare.

Peter Graves suffered a heart attack after returning home from dining with family. He was 83. Survivors include his older brother, actor James Arness.

F-f-f-farewell to Sharona's Boyfriend

2010-02-14T18:20:00.000-08:00

Category: Obituary

It was one hit, but oh what a hit: "My Sharona." The 1979 hit by the Detroit-based band the Knack was lyrically filthy and musically infectious and irresistible.

The Knack's lead singer, Doug Fieger, died on Valentine's day after a long battle with various cancers.

Fieger was first diagnosed with lung cancer in 2005. In 2006 he underwent surgery for removal of two brain tumors. Despite losing most of one lung and undergoing chemotherapy he continued to tour with the Knack throughout the world.

In addition to his work with the Knack Fieger made guest appearances on the Was (Not Was) album Born to Laugh at Tornadoes. Was (Not Was) keyboardist and co-founder David Weiss was a long-time friend of Fieger's.

Doug Fieger was 57.

Honoring the Music

2010-01-23T21:57:00.000-08:00

Category: 50 Songs to Hear

SONG: Stephen

ARTIST: Neil Sedaka

SONGWRITERS: Neil Sedaka / Howard Greenfield

ALBUM: The Hungry Years

YEAR/LABEL: 1975; Rocket

I'm pretty passive, except when it comes to my music.
(Neil Sedaka)

One of the largest holes in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame could easily be filled by the induction of Neil Sedaka. His songwriting skills, long list of hits, and six decades as an entertainer stand as his chief credentials. The only possible reason that he is not in the Hall of Fame is the perception that he is "pop." (For the record, the Platters were also pop -- yet they are in the Hall of Fame.)

Yes, Neil Sedaka is pop. And he's darn good at it. Sedaka was, and remains, one of the voices that defined the pre-Beatles music scene. Modern people scoff at the "light" or "meaningless" music of that era. There indeed was an innocence to those days, and Sedaka was a master of that outlook. He delivered his lyrics with an infectious, smiling voice that one could not help but like. Sedaka was not trying to change the world in the 60s, he was trying to make the listener feel good. And, more times than not, he succeeded.

Sedaka's popularity faded in the States as Beatlemania arrived and "innocence" gave way to the turbulence of the later 60s; however, he found a devoted following in England. Among his fans numbered one Elton John, the most successful music act of the 1970s. In a time when Elton could do no wrong (1973) he formed a record company, Rocket, and one of his first signings was Neil Sedaka. In 1974 the label released "Laughter in the Rain" as a single and Sedaka was back, as the album title said, and at the top of the Billboard charts. The next year, Elton teamed up with Neil on the song "Bad Blood,' from the album The Hungry Years, and Sedaka scored his second #1 song within a year.

The star of The Hungry Years is not the big hit but rather the lovely, haunting "Stephen." In the song Sedaka pays tribute to the father of American music, Stephen Collins Foster. Foster lived long before the era of recorded music, yet his songs remain to this day firmly ingrained in the fabric of America (two states have Foster songs as state songs: Florida's "Old Folks at Home" and "My Old Kentucky Home," which may be the best-known state song in existence thanks to the Kentucky Derby). In this marvelous ballad Sedaka acknowledges the debt that every songwriter for the past 150-plus years owes to Foster for making their job possible when he sings, "I can feel your magic in my fingers."

Sedaka begins the song by asking, "Have we traveled down this road together? Tell me, Stephen, are we part of one another?" Sedaka knows the ups and downs of life as a songwriter (he began as a "staff songwriter" and had several of his songs rejected for sounding "too intellectual") that Foster -- and every songwriter since -- endured. In the chorus Sedaka promises the master, "I'll be your voice, I'll be your hands. Come touch the world again."

Neil Sedaka remains one of the great artists of American music, and "Stephen" is one of his great contributions to the world of music.

OTHER NEIL SEDAKA MUSIC TO INVESTIGATE:

The entire The Hungry Years album -- Sedaka looks at getting older ("Crossroads"), life as a musician ("Your Favorite Entertainer"), and proves he's still a great pop ("Lonely Night [Angel Face]," a hit for the Captain and Tennille) AND "deep" ("New York City Blues") songwriter.

"Solitaire" (from Sedaka's Back) -- this is one marvelous number. People ranging from the Carpenters (who had a hit with the song) to Elvis to Shirley Bassey to Clay Aiken have covered it, but there's nothing like hearing the man who wrote it deliver it in all its emotional power.

Any "oldies" compilation -- too often modern music is far too cynical. Cure the cynicism by listening to some music that was designed to make you feel good -- and I guarantee Sedaka's oldies, from "Oh Carol!" to "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" to "Calendar Girl," will do exactly that.

"King of Clowns" (available on All-Time Greatest Hits) -- and speaking of oldies, do not pass up the opportunity to hear one of Sedaka's greatest songs, from then or since. A marvelous broken-heart tune that should have been a much, much bigger hit.

PREVIOUS SONGS:
(Country)
When I Lift Up My Head
Rose of My Heart
Rock of Ages, Hide Thou Me
Playboy
Our Town
Old Memories Mean Nothing to Me
Not That I Care
Nobody Eats at Linebaugh's Anymore
My Book of Memories
Lost to a Stranger
A Little Bitty Heart
Life Has Its Little Ups and Downs
Life is Too Short
I Want a Home in Dixie
I Lost Today
Fingerprints
Down to the River to Pray
Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyeballs
A Death in the Family
Dark as a Dungeon
Bottomless Well

(Rock)
Stealin' Time
Starting Tomorrow
Spellbound
Sleep's Dark and Silent Gate
She's a Runaway
Painted Bells
Out to Sea
One More Song
New Delhi Freight Train
Millworker
Long Way Home
Island
Heart of Rome
Harriet Tubman's Gonna Carry Me Home
Entella Hotel
Desperados Under the Eaves
Crossing Muddy Waters
Cliffs of Dooneen
Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow)
Baby Mine

Coming Clean

2010-01-11T14:48:00.000-08:00

Category: Sports Opinion

Mark McGwire has admitted that he used steroids. That should shock absolutely no one. After all, during the legendary 1998 season a sports reporter spotted a bottle of "andro" in McGwire's locker and reported it.

Now for who really needs to come clean: the sports writers who have the responsibility of inducting people into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

First things first: these people, whoever they are (allegedly the list is secretive to prevent buying a vote), are so snooty they make Charles Emerson Winchester III look like Mother Teresa. Cal Ripken Jr. received 98.7% of the votes, and his fellow 2007 inductee Tony Gwynn received 97% of the votes. While that superficially sounds terrific, the problem is with the 1.3% and 3% who did not vote for Ripken and Gwynn, respectively. There are people who you literally want to grab by the shirt collar, shake them until their teeth fall out, and yell, "What is wrong with you??" The people who did not vote for Cal and Tony are in that category, and this can only be traced to some misguided opinion that nobody deserves to be in the Hall of Fame "on the first ballot" (or that nobody deserves a unanimous vote). Even when they try to appear humane (e.g., waiving the five-year waiting period for Roberto Clemente in 1973 to induct him on the heels of his death in a New Year's Eve 1972 plane crash), there are still holdouts (Clemente only received 92% of the vote). Who are these moronic hold-outs? Yes, we can argue all day long over things like "who was the greatest pitcher" or "who was the greatest left fielder," but to deny a particular individual's greatness and contributions to the game of baseball when they are so apparent a caveman can see them (thank you, Geico) is simply ridiculous.

And, in the end, does it really matter if someone makes it on the first ballot or the fourteenth? There is absolutely nothing on Tony Perez's Hall of Fame plaque that says "he only had 2.7% over the minimum votes required" or "he didn't make it until his eighth year of eligibility." The only place it matters is in the minds of the people who arrogantly look themselves in the mirror and say, "Ha, I sure kept Cal from being unanimous, didn't I?"

Stay tuned, this is going to happen in five years when Randy Johnson becomes eligible. Johnson is one of the most, if not THE most, dominant pitcher of this generation. His numbers speak for themselves. He holds the record (with Cary Wood) for most strikeouts in one game (20) and is second only to Nolan Ryan in strikeouts (and nearly 900 behind him). There were actually six people who did NOT believe Nolan Ryan belonged in the Hall of Fame. Those people don't deserve to vote. They might be saying with their vote, "He doesn't belong 'this year'," but they are insulting the responsibility they have been charged with by making such ridiculous misuses of their votes.

And that leads to the second problem with the writers: the pick-and-choose attitude toward who can get a pass over their transgressions versus who cannot. The most recent poll I saw, prior to McGwire's announcement today, said that about a fourth of the Hall of Fame voters would vote for McGwire (meaning 75% would not). The very same people who think McGwire has committed such an unpardonable sin are TWICE AS FORGIVING for Barry Bonds (nearly 50% said they would vote for him) -- and, may I point out, McGwire is not under federal indictment, while Bonds is.

The steroid era isn't over, and it probably won't be for years, if not decades. They are an awful fact of baseball life, but a fact of life they are. We cannot erase the past two decades or so from history simply because we don't like steroid use anymore than we can erase the past two decades' history of professional football that has seen the "F" in "NFL" come to stand for felon instead of football (and necessitated the joke, "I predict our team will go 10 and 6 this year: ten arrests, six convictions"). The baseball writers, therefore, need to do one of two things: look at the records, regardless of the steroid use or non-use, and vote accordingly (which makes McGwire a lock for the Hall of Fame); or put them ALL in the "I'll vote for Pete Rose first" category. No picking and choosing -- saying Bonds' sins are forgivable but McGwire's or Palmeiro's are not -- because that makes them smell worse than the people they're passing holier-than-thou judgment on.

Remember the 90s: the baseball strike that eliminated the 1994 post-season and World Series nearly eliminated the game of baseball in its wake. The 1998 season was credited -- by these very writers -- with "saving the game of baseball." A large part of that magical year was the McGwire/Sosa home run chase. Whether he was juiced or not, Mark McGwire did save baseball, and for that he should be in the Hall of Fame.

Worth the Wait

2010-01-04T12:11:00.000-08:00

Category: 50 Songs to Hear

SONG: Stealin' Time

ARTIST: Gerry Rafferty

SONGWRITER: Gerry Rafferty

ALBUM: City to City

YEAR/LABEL: 1978; United Artists

I thought the songs were good, but I didn't expect this.
(Gerry Rafferty)

Occasionally, after reading about the disputes that musicians find themselves in, one cannot help but think that the music business is more important to lawyers than singers and people who love music. Bands that break up can have legal arguments that make what happens on Divorce Court appear to be a romantic weekend getaway by comparison. In fact, after the lawsuit David Byrne filed to prevent three-fourths of Talking Heads from performing under that name Tina Weymouth said she was told point blank by her attorney that the band's break-up was a divorce.

Scottish singer Gerry Rafferty no doubt felt the same way when his duo, Stealers Wheel, became entangled in a messy split two years after the success of their song "Stuck in the Middle with You." Rafferty was prohibited from recording for three years under the terms of the Stealers Wheel record contract. During the interim he did tour and travel, collecting experiences and songs. When the recording ban was over Rafferty came out of the studio with a masterpiece: 1978's City to City. The haunting saxophone that opened the hit "Baker Street" flowed out of radios and took the song to the U.S. top three. "Stealin' Time," the final song on the same side of the album as the big hit, stands out as the highlight.

The song could easily have been titled "Cross That Line;" however, given the lyrical content and the tumultuous break-up of Stealers Wheel that kept Rafferty out of the studio for three years, the irony of variations of the word steal in both the title of the song and the band that Rafferty left cannot be under-appreciated. The song speaks very candidly about what it is like to be legally forced into a hiatus. Rafferty has no regrets ("I don't feel guilty 'cause the time was mine") because he felt he "had to let it go." He says of the ability to make records again, "It felt so good to know that magic again." The song lacks the powerhouse saxophone of "Baker Street," relying instead on steel guitar and a beautiful vocal chorus at the conclusion of the song that repeats, "Roll on, cross that line, been so long stealin' time."

In 2008 rumors about Rafferty's well-being began to surface after he disappeared from a hospital that was treating him for alcoholism. It took six months before Rafferty's agent issued a statement. Hopefully Rafferty has more great music in him that he will share with the world. "Stealin' Time" is a prime example of what he is capable of providing.

OTHER GERRY RAFFERTY MUSIC TO INVESTIGATE:

The entire City to City album -- an album filled with every aspect of life as a family man and touring musician, this is one of the greatest albums of the 1970s. If you haven't listened to this album in a while, pull it out and rediscover the magic.

PREVIOUS SONGS:
(Country)
Rose of My Heart
Rock of Ages, Hide Thou Me
Playboy
Our Town
Old Memories Mean Nothing to Me
Not That I Care
Nobody Eats at Linebaugh's Anymore
My Book of Memories
Lost to a Stranger
A Little Bitty Heart
Life Has Its Little Ups and Downs
Life is Too Short
I Want a Home in Dixie
I Lost Today
Fingerprints
Down to the River to Pray
Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyeballs
A Death in the Family
Dark as a Dungeon
Bottomless Well

(Rock)
Starting Tomorrow
Spellbound
Sleep's Dark and Silent Gate
She's a Runaway
Painted Bells
Out to Sea
One More Song
New Delhi Freight Train
Millworker
Long Way Home
Island
Heart of Rome
Harriet Tubman's Gonna Carry Me Home
Entella Hotel
Desperados Under the Eaves
Crossing Muddy Waters
Cliffs of Dooneen
Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow)
Baby Mine

The Final Notes of 2009

2009-12-31T18:38:00.000-08:00

Category: Tribute

Here is a list of the performers and music-related people we lost in 2009.

Lou Albano (October 14, unknown cause, age 76): pro wrestler who appeared in Cyndi Lauper videos and made an album with NRBQ (Lou and the Q).
Al Alberts (November 26, kidney failure, age 87): member of the pop vocal group the Four Aces.
Dee Anthony (October 25, unknown cause, age 83): manager of Peter Frampton during the days of Frampton's biggest success.
Thor Arngrim (August 16, Parkinson's disease, 81): the man who managed the career of Liberace.
Ron Asheton (January 6, heart attack, age 60): guitarist for Iggy Pop and the Stooges.
Ernie Ashworth (March 3, heart attack, age 80): Grand Ole Opry star best known for the 1961 hit "Talk Back Tremblin' Lips."
Leona Johnson Atkins (October 21, long-term illness, age 85): member of the Johnson Twins on Cincinnati's WLW in the 1940s who gave up her career to be Mrs. Chet Atkins.

Clint Ballard Jr. (December 23, 2008 and not announced until 2009, unknown cause, age 77): songwriter of hits such as "You're No Good" and "The Game of Love."
Barry Beckett (June10, illness, age 65): a producer for albums in both rock (Bob Seger, Dire Straits) and country (Kenny Chesney).
Molly Bee (February 7, stroke, age 68): west coast-based country singer who played with Tennessee Ernie Ford and Jimmy Dean.
Jay Bennett (May 24, unknown cause, age 45): member of the alt-country band Wilco.
Randy Bewley (February 25, heart attack, unknown age): member of the Athens, Georgia band the Pylons, who were an influence on R.E.M. They covered the Pylons' song "Crazy."
Bob Bogle (June 14, unknown cause, age 75): bass player for the Ventures.
Jimmy Boyd (March 8, cancer, age 70): the child singer who gave us "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus."
Tom Brumley (February 4, illness, age 73): son of gospel songwriter Albert Brumley, Tom was the original steel guitarist for Buck Owens' Buckaroos.
Norton Buffalo (October 30, lung cancer, age 58): session harmonica player (e.g., Bonnie Raitt's "Runaway") and actor (in The Rose) who spent 30 years in the Steve Miller Band.
Yvonne King Burch (December 13, complications from a fall, age 89): member of the pop King Sisters.

Randy Cain (April 9, unknown cause, age 63): member of the Delfonics.
Jim Carroll (September 11, heart attack, age 60): Basketball Diaries author and poet who had an FM hit in the early 1980s with the song "People Who Died."
John E. Carter (August 21, lung cancer, age 75): member of both the Dells and the Flamingos.
W.T. "Ric" Cartey (August 5, unknown cause, age 72): songwriter responsible for Sonny James' breakthrough hit "Young Love."
John Cephas (March 4, pulmonary fibrosis, age 78): Piedmont blues guitarist in Cephas and Wiggins.
Jim Chapin (July 4, unknown causes, age 89): legendary jazz drummer and teacher who fathered folk music singers Tom and Harry Chapin.
Vic Chesnutt (December 25, suicide [overdose of muscle relaxants], 45): critically-acclaimed Athens, Georgia-based singer/songwriter.
Liam Clancey (December 4, illness, age 74): last member of the Irish folk group the Clancey Brothers.
Chris Connor (August 29, cancer, age 81): female jazz singer who worked with Stan Kenton's band in the early 1950s.
Jack Cooke (December 1, heart attack, age 72): one-time member of the Clinch Mountain Boys, the backing band of bluegrass legend Dr. Ralph Stanley.

John Dawson (July 21, stomach cancer, age 64): co-founder of the 70s country-rock band New Riders of the Purple Sage.
Willie DeVille (August 6, pancreatic cancer, age 58): leader of Mink DeVille.
Jim Dickenson (August 15, heart failure, age 67): legendary producer of acts such as Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, and the Rolling Stones.
Luther Dixon (October 25, unknown cause, age 78): songwriter whose credits include "Sixteen Candles" and Charlie Rich's "Big Boss Man."
Jake Drake-Brockman (September 1, motorcycle accident, age 53): keyboard player for Echo and the Bunnymen.
Hal Durham (March 29, unknown cause, age 77): long-time Grand Ole Opry announcer and WSM DJ.

Ean (Donald) Evans (May 6, cancer, age 48): bassist for current Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Chris Feinstein (December 14, unknown cause, age 42): bassist for Ryan Adams.
Steve Ferguson (October 7, cancer, age 60): founder of the band NRBQ.

Vern Gosdin (April 29, stroke, age 74): in country music, he was "the voice."
Kelly Goucutt (February 18, heart attack, age 63): bassist for the Electric Light Orchestra.
Bobby Graham (September 14, stomach cancer, age 69): British session drummer who claimed that he was offered a job with John, Paul, and George.
Ellen Greenwich (August 26, heart attack, age 68): songwriter of "Leader of the Pack" and the "dead girl song" classic "Tell Laura I Love Her."
Buck Griffin (February 14, heart failure, age 85): country/rockabilly singer.
James Gurley (December 20, heart attack, 69): guitarist in Big Brother and the Holding Company, the band that brought Janis Joplin to stardom.

Jon Hager (January 9, illness, age 67): surviving member of Hee Haw's Hager Twins died less than a year after identical twin brother Jim's death.
Tim Hart (December 24, lung cancer, 61): co-founder of the band Steeleye Span.
Hugh Hopper (June 7, leukemia, age 64): bassist in the progressive rock band Soft Machine.

Lux Interior (February 4, heart ailment, age 62): co-founder of the punk band the Cramps.

Michael Jackson (June 25, cardiac arrest, age 50): self-proclaimed "king of pop."
Duane Jarvis (April 1, colon cancer, age 51): guitarist who played with the likes of Dwight Yoakam, the Divinyls, Lucinda Williams, and Ben Vaughn.
Uriel Jones (March 24, heart attack, age 74): Motown session drummer.

Bob Keane (January 22, renal failure, age 87): founder of Del-Fi Records, the label Ritchie Valens got his start on.
Arthur Kent (January 26, natural causes, age 88): songwriter best remembered for penning Skeeter Davis' hit "The End of the World."
Larry Knechtel (August 20, illness, age 69): studio keyboardist, bassist and arranger who worked with the Beach Boys, the Doors, and Simon & Garfunkel.
Tim Krekel (June 24, stomach cancer, age 57): singer/songwriter who wrote songs for Crystal Gayle and Jimmy Buffett and played in Buffett's band.
Gary Kurfirst (January 13, unknown cause, age 60): manager of the Ramones and Talking Heads, he also jump-started the careers of Hendrix and Joplin.

Greg Ladanyi (September 29, head trauma from a fall, age 57): producer of albums by Warren Zevon, Jackson Browne, and other L.A.-based performers.
Jack Lawrence (March 13, complications from a fall, age 96): pop songwriter of hits like "Beyond the Sea," "Tenderly," and "Linda." (TRIVIA: Lawrence couldn't pay his attorney so he wrote a song and named it after his lawyer's daughter. The song was "Linda," and the little girl it was named for was Linda Eastman -- later to be known as Linda McCartney.)
Drake Levin (July 4, cancer, age 62): guitarist in Paul Revere and the Raiders.
Big Bill Lister (December 1, illness,age 86): member of the Drifting Cowboys who was the first singer to commercially recorded "There's a Tear in My Beer."
Alan Livingston (March 13, natural causes, age 91): Bozo the Clown creator also oversaw Capitol Records' singing of acts such as the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and Steve Miller.
Hank Locklin (March 8, natural causes, age 91): legendary country singer of "Please Help Me, I'm Falling," "Send Me the Pillow That You Dream On," and many others.
Huey Long (June 10, natural causes, age 105): the last surviving member of the 50s band the Ink Spots.

Irby Mandrell (March 5, unknown causes, age 84): the father and manager of Barbara Mandrell died shortly after the announcement that his daughter had been elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Dewey Martin (February 1, natural causes, age 68): the drummer in Buffalo Springfield.
Al Martino (October 13, heart attack, age 82): pop crooner best known as playing Johnny Fontane in The Godfather.
George McPherson (June 3, lung cancer, age 78): manager of Victor Borge and Harry Belafonte.
Coleman Mellett (February 12, plane crash, unknown age): member of Chuck Mangone's band who died in the crash of Continental flight 3407.
Taylor Mitchell (October 28, mauled by coyotes, age 19): young, critically-acclaimed Canadian folk singer.
Vic Mizzy (October 17, heart failure, age 93): television theme show composer who gave us the themes to Green Acres and The Addams Family.

David "Fathead" Newman (January 20, pancreatic cancer, age 75): jazz saxophonist who played with Charlie Parker.
Gerry Niewood (February 12, plane crash, age 62): member of Chuck Mangone's band who died in the crash of Continental flight 3407.

Nancy Overton (April 5, esophageal cancer, age 83): member of the Chordettes, the vocal group who did "Mister Sandman."

Tam Paton (April 10, heart attack, age 70): manager of the 70s teenybopper band the Bay City Rollers.
Les Paul (August 13, pneumonia, age 94): a guitarist's guitarist who also invented multi-tracking recording and the solid-body electric guitar.
Dickie Peterson (October 12, cancer, age 61): bassist for the 60s hard rock band Blue Cheer and the lead singer on their version of "Summertime Blues."
Fayette Pinkney (June 27, acute respiratory failure, age 61): member of the 70s band the Three Degrees, who did the song "When Will I See You Again."
Billy Powell (January 28, heart attack, age 56): keyboard player for the original line-up of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Steve Raitt (April 4, brain cancer, age 61): Minneapolis-area sound engineer who was also the brother of Bonnie Raitt.

Kenny Rankin (June 7, lung cancer, age 69): pop singer ("I Like Dreamin'") and songwriter (wrote "Peaceful" for Helen Reddy).
Ron Richards (April 30, unknown cause, age 80): British record producer and engineer who worked with the Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers, the Hollies, and many others.
Billy Lee Riley (August 2, colon cancer, age 75): rockabilly singer.
Stacy Rowles (October 27, injuries from a car wreck, 54): daughter of jazz performer Jimmy Rowles who followed her father into jazz music performing.
George Russell (July 27, Alzheimer's, age 86): influential jazz composer.

Sky Saxon (June 25, infection, unknown age): member of the 60s garage band the Seeds.
Aaron Schroeder (December 2, Alzheimer's, age 83): songwriter for Presley ("Stuck on You," "Good Luck Charm") and record producer for early Randy Newman and Gene Pitney.
Clive Scott (May 10, stroke, age 64): keyboard player in the band Jigsaw, who had the one hit "Sky High" in the mid-70s.
Dan Seals (March 25, mantle cell lymphoma, age 61): brother of Seals & Crofts' Jim Seals, he began in pop as "England Dan" with John Ford Coley, then moved into country in the 1980s.
Mike Seeger (August 7, leukemia, age 65): folk singer and younger brother of Pete Seeger.
Bud Shank (April 2, pulmonary failure, age 82): flute player who worked on "California Dreamin'."
Shelby Singleton (October 7, brain cancer, age 77): influential Nashville producer who signed Roger Miller to Smash Records and launched the career of Jeannie C. Riley. He also owned Sun Records starting in 1969.
Garry Stevens (December 8, natural causes, age 93): billed as the "boy singer" with big bands in the 1940s, he was the first person to commercially record "White Christmas."
Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan (December 28, natural causes, 28): drummer in the band Avenged Sevenfold.
Lenny Sullivan (October 26, drug overdose, age 36): Bruce Springsteen's cousin and assistant road manager.

Koko Taylor (June 3, gastrointestinal surgery, age 80): she was to blues what white is to snow.
Sam Taylor (January 5, heart disease, age 74): guitarist and singer who worked with Joey Dee & the Starlighters and the BT Express.
Wayman Tisdale (May 15, cancer, age 44): one-time NBA player who gave it up to be a jazz musician.
Mary Travers (September 16, leukemia, age 72): the "Mary" of Peter, Paul and Mary.

Lucy Volden (September 28, Lupus, age 46): a schoolmate of Julian Lennon whose drawing inspired the title "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds."

Gordon Waller (July 17, cardiac arrest, age 64): the "Gordon" of Peter and Gordon.
David Williams (March 6, post-stroke complications, age 58): guitarist who worked with the Jacksons and Madonna.
John "Bootsy" Williams (September 21, unknown cause, age 69): singer in the doo-wop group the Silhouettes (of "Get a Job" fame).
Kyle Woodring (September 8, suicide [hanged self], age 42): session drummer who worked with Deana Carter in country and Survivor in rock.
Eric Woolfson (December 2, cancer, age 64): co-founder of the Alan Parsons Project.
Ruby Wright (September 29, heart disease, age 69): daughter of Kitty Wells and Johnnie Wright who had an "answer song" to "Dang Me" ("Dern Ya") become a hit.
Timothy Wright (April 23, injuries from a 2008 car wreck, age 61): singer in gospel.

Otha Young (August 6, cancer, age 66): songwriter, best-known for Juice Newton's "The Sweetest Thing."

Five Reasons Remakes Stink

2009-12-18T17:38:00.000-08:00

Category: Opinion

A recent flop of a remake of a classic television series inspired this blog about five remakes that never should have been.

The Prisoner -- Patrick McGoohan created and starred in a 16-part show that, to this day, people are at a loss to categorize: was it drama? Science fiction? Mystery? Dry British comedy? Who cared, it was a masterpiece, one of the greatest television series in history. So, naturally, the legions of fans the original had made it rife for a remake. The 2009 A&E series owed far more to the original film Rollerball than the original Prisoner: a corporation controlling everything (remember that "corporate anthem" that played before the Rollerball games began?) to the point where Jonathan E....er...."Six" can see what's going on; as opposed to the mysterious nature of just who ran the Village ("that would be telling," was the reply when McGoohan's Number Six asked, "Who's side are you on?"). And, of course, it was all filmed with typical music video 0.0385 second-per-shot editing. One of the rovers from the original series should have headed this remake off at the pass.

The Electric Company -- the PBS show that taught kids to read in the 1970s was equally popular with older people because of its Vaudeville format. The remake is more episodic -- and boring. No J. Arthur Crank, no Rita Moreno yelling "Hey, you guyyyyyyyys!", no Morgan Freeman as Easy Reader, and no superb cameos (my favorite: after a cartoon featuring the joke about "there's a banana in your ear" with the reply, "I can't hear you, there's a banana in my ear," Lorne Greene popped in and said, "I can't hear you, there's a Bonanza in my ear!"). If the boy in "Love of Chair" (the first season lampoon of soap operas) had seen the remake, the script would have read, "The boy is throwing up."

Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) -- speaking of ITC shows (the company that produced The Prisoner), another charming program from the British vaults was 1969's Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) (which aired here in syndication in the mid-70s as My Partner the Ghost). The series rubbed out one of the main characters before the second commercial break (hence the "deceased" part), but fear not, Marty Hopkirk spent the rest of the 26 episodes as a ghost that only his private detective agency partner Jeff Randall could see. When the series was remade in the early 2000s it starred the British comedy team of Vic Reeves (as the ghost) and Bob Mortimer (as Jeff). The computer-generated special effects were a major improvement from the 1960s wire and pulleys to move objects (some of which were plainly visible in the scenes) and "Pepper's ghost" effects to make Marty walk through walls. The plots, however, were mostly rehashes of the original series -- and bad rehashes at that. To be fair, when the remake went for originality it showed definite promise; however, that was too few and too far between to keep fans of the original series and fans of Reeves & Mortimer interested for more than 13 episodes before it joined Marty Hopkirk in death.

AfterM*A*S*H -- M*A*S*H lasted about three seasons too long to begin with, so there was no way AfterM*A*S*H was going to relive the glory of the heyday of the legendary series. We really were ready to give the series up. Unfortunately, CBS didn't realize this until after they subjected us to this hunk of junk.

Burke's Law -- the original, starring the late Gene Barry, was one of the best TV series ever despite its absolute ridiculous plot (a millionaire police homicide captain today would make everyone yell "kickbacks!"). In the mid-90s this show was revived, this time with Barry as an octogenarian. Lightning did not land in the bottle the second time around, and it was wrong to think it would to begin with. Runner-up goes to Amos Burke, Secret Agent, which was ABC taking a very good thing -- and ruining it by trying to turn Burke's Law into something along the lines of "The Millionaire Police Homicide Captain from U.N.C.L.E."

And I'm going out on a limb here to add one that I am almost certain will be on this list this time next year:

The Green Hornet -- given the track record of TV shows that become movies, I am not holding my breath in anticipation of a masterpiece of this forthcoming (Christmas 2010) film version of the TV series. One of the great things about the television series (and the movie serials before it) was that Britt Reid, as a rich man, could afford gadgets that "regular folks" could not, things that gave him an edge in his crime fighting. It's the 21st century now, we all have the gadgets. Worst of all, the movie will not have what the TV series had that made it special: Bruce Lee.

It's Burke's Law

2009-12-11T19:28:00.000-08:00

Category: Obituary/News

You just cannot beat a plot like this: a millionaire L.A. police homicide captain who's a playboy gets chauffeured to the scene of every crime in a Rolls. That was Burke's Law, the intelligent and extremely funny series that aired in the early 1960s. Gene Barry played Amos Burke, the captain who usually found his date interrupted by a phone call from one of his detectives, asking him to come to the scene of a murder. Every episode's title began "Who Killed..." Sometimes the answer was obvious; other times it was a total surprise.

Gene Barry died December 9 at a retirement home, apparently of natural causes.

Barry played many other roles in his life -- Bat Masterson, Glenn Howard in The Name of the Game, and Gene Talbot in Our Miss Brooks. But there was nothing like Amos Burke -- not before, not since.

Gene Barry was 90.

Americana 101

2009-12-03T13:43:00.001-08:00

Category: 50 Songs to Hear

SONG: Starting Tomorrow

ARTIST: Marshall Crenshaw

SONGWRITER: Marshall Crenshaw

ALBUM: Life's Too Short

YEAR/LABEL: 1991; MCA

I guess that, if I had to explain my stuff, one thing I'd say about it is that what I usually present on my records is a guitar-dominated soundscape.
(Marshall Crenshaw)

When Marshall Crenshaw first burst onto the scene in 1982 people were doing a lot of physical comparisons. He had played John Lennon in a production of Beatlemania and also had a Buddy Holly look about him (he later would play Holly in the film La Bamba). Musically, however, the only person Marshall Crenshaw could be compared to was Marshall Crenshaw.

His first album yielded a minor hit ("Someday, Someway") and songs for others to cover (blues singer Lou Ann Barton covered "Brand New Lover" on her 1982 album that was produced by Glenn Frey). Most importantly, it produced some of the absolute best music of the early 80s and ushered in a "roots-rock" sound that relied more on guitars and less on synthesizers. It also introduced the world to one of the best performers in American rock and roll.

Crenshaw quickly faded into "cult star" status, which is too bad for those who have yet to discover his talents. He popped out album after album of music that was good, great, or memorable. Falling in the latter category: 1991's exceptional Life's Too Short album. Shining as a gem from that album is the mid-tempo ballad "Starting Tomorrow."

The song begins with a marvelous line: "Starting tomorrow, if this night ever ends." That line evokes something everyone can relate to, from students to people sitting in the waiting room of a hospital. In this case Crenshaw is waiting for the new day so he can get off the road and go home to his family. "All night long it seems like time was running slow," he complains, and the listener empathizes completely. The wait that never seems to conclude has a pay-off: "I'll feel more alive as soon as I'm not alone." Crenshaw is torn between being a touring musician ("the feeling in my heart that won't let me settle down") and a family man ("it only comes around and bothers me when I'm away from you"). He's not the first performer to feel these conflicting feelings and he won't be the last; however, he did one of the greatest jobs of articulating the pain.

The world needs more rockers like Marshall Crenshaw. Thankfully, we have Crenshaw himself.

OTHER MARSHALL CRENSHAW MUSIC TO INVESTIGATE:

The entire Life's Too Short album -- great music from start to finish with warnings about consuming too much ("Stop Doing That," "Better Back Off") highlighting the album.

The entire Marshall Crenshaw album -- the debut album that nearly everyone wishes they could make as their opening statement. "Rockin' Around in NYC" should have been a major hit.

"I'm Sorry (But So is Brenda Lee)" (from Downtown) -- with a title like that, one would expect something from the Homer & Jethro discography, but the cover of a Ben Vaughn song is actually a break-up tune that is as good as the title is clever.

"You Should've Been There" (from Good Evening) -- this song that is thematically similar to Porter Wagoner's "I Thought I Heard You Calling My Name" features backing vocals by the BoDeans (who co-wrote "Radio Girl" on the same album).

PREVIOUS SONGS:
(Country)
Rock of Ages, Hide Thou Me
Playboy
Our Town
Old Memories Mean Nothing to Me
Not That I Care
Nobody Eats at Linebaugh's Anymore
My Book of Memories
Lost to a Stranger
A Little Bitty Heart
Life Has Its Little Ups and Downs
Life is Too Short
I Want a Home in Dixie
I Lost Today
Fingerprints
Down to the River to Pray
Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyeballs
A Death in the Family
Dark as a Dungeon
Bottomless Well

(Rock)
Spellbound
Sleep's Dark and Silent Gate
She's a Runaway
Painted Bells
Out to Sea
One More Song
New Delhi Freight Train
Millworker
Long Way Home
Island
Heart of Rome
Harriet Tubman's Gonna Carry Me Home
Entella Hotel
Desperados Under the Eaves
Crossing Muddy Waters
Cliffs of Dooneen
Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow)
Baby Mine

One of the Finest Harmonica Players in Rock Passes

2009-11-02T12:33:00.001-08:00

Category: Obituary/News

Norton Buffalo made a few records on his own (1977's Loving in the Valley of the Moon was particularly good) but he spent most of his career standing in the shadows of Steve Miller -- and frequently upstaging him. Buffalo could flat-out play the harmonica.

Norton Buffalo died Friday, October 30 of advanced lung cancer that had spread to his brain.

Buffalo stepped into the limelight when he began working with Steve Miller about the time Miller's career took off with The Joker, Fly Like an Eagle, and Book of Dreams. Miller got Buffalo a contract at Capitol and produced two albums (Lovin' in the Valley of the Moon and Desert Horizon) for him.

Aside from his work with Steve Miller he was the session harmonica player for a number of blues/rock acts (as the video of him with Bonnie Raitt shows).

Norton Buffalo was 58 (although Steve Miller's web site posted his age as 55).

THE Cult Band of Our Time

2009-10-21T12:41:00.000-07:00

Category: 50 Songs to Hear

SONG: Spellbound

ARTIST: Poco

SONGWRITER: Rusty Young

ALBUM: Legend

YEAR/LABEL: 1978; ABC

We've been together longer than any of our marriages.
(Paul Cotton)

Jethro Burns once quoted his father as saying of Homer and Jethro's early career, "You boys are about as unlucky as a one-legged man at an ass-kicking contest." Looking at the long career of Poco, one can only wonder if a member's father made that assessment of them as well. Poco was the pioneering band of the genre that would become known as "country-rock" in the late 60s and early 70s, forming before Gram Parsons joined the Byrds and made the landmark Sweetheart of the Rodeo album, and singing "there's just a little bit of magic in the country music we're singing" long before the Eagles even dreamed of takin' it easy -- or had even moved to California. The Eagles eventually became the epitome of "country-rock" and in the process acquired both their bassists from Poco (Randy Meisner played bass on Poco's first album but left before the album artwork was done, relegating his mention to a footnote in the credits) while enjoying a hall of fame career. Meanwhile, Poco put out album after album of great music, most of which sold a tiny fraction of the Eagles' records.

Ironically, after spending most of the 1970s in the shadows of the far more successful (and lyrically cynical) Eagles, it was the long hiatus that the Eagles took after the monstrous success of Hotel California -- and the departure of Timothy Schmit from Poco to replace Randy Meisner in the Eagles as he had done in 1968 for Poco -- that gave Poco an opening to score their biggest commercial success, 1978's "Crazy Love" from the album Legend. The album eventually sold nearly two million copies while Schmit was sitting in a studio in Miami recording the follow-up to Hotel California (1979's The Long Run, the last Eagles studio album for almost three decades), leading Glenn Frey and Don Henley to joke that Schmit may have left his former band right at the wrong time.

"Crazy Love" is a superlative song, one of the few numbers that became the best-known song for a "cult status" act that was actually deserving of the success (think of the best-known songs by acts like Jimmy Buffett, Warren Zevon, and Steve Forbert as examples of the opposite being true). One song that was overlooked on Legend that certainly should not have is "Spellbound." The song's title is a good indication of what the tune does to its listener.

The lyrics paint a lovely opening picture. The sound of crickets compliment the first line, "There's an easy evening breeze moving softly through the trees." The lyrics continue to weave a spell of spine-tingling lines ("she's got me hanging my a heartbeat") and meanders between first-person and third-person to suggest that this type of love (deemed "crazy" in that big hit on side two of the album) hits everyone at some point.

Poco has existed for over forty years in various incarnations. They have lost many famous members (Richie Furay, Jim Messinia, and the two bassists) and have seen music change so much that even their more rock-based songs would never find a home on country radio because they would be labeled "too country," yet they endure. As of this writing, original drummer George Grantham has recovered significantly from a stroke suffered onstage in July of 2004 but is unable to drum.

Country-rock would not exist without Poco, and if for no other reason than that they belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. .

OTHER POCO MUSIC TO INVESTIGATE:

(This is one band I truly want to say "get everything of theirs.")

The entire Rose of Cimarron album -- they should sue Emmylou Harris for what she did to the title track. Songs like "P.N.S. (When You Come Around)" and "Too Many Nights Too Long" make this one of Poco's best albums.

The entire Indian Summer album -- and then there's Rose of Cimarron's follow-up, the last album Timothy Schmit played on before leaving for the Eagles. What an album to go out on. The title track is one of the best songs of the 1970s, period.

The entire Cantamos album -- Richie Furay left after Crazy Eyes and Poco recorded a clunker (Seven). They rebounded beautifully with this marvelous album.

The entire Head Over Heels album -- the closest thing to a hit Poco had before "Crazy Love" is "Keep on Tryin'" off this album. Other gems such as their rendition of a song penned by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen ("Dallas") and a lovely tune about New Orleans ("Down in the Quarter") make this worth owning.

"Brass Buttons" (from Crazy Eyes) -- a lovely rendition of Gram Parsons' song.

PREVIOUS SONGS:
(Country)
Playboy
Our Town
Old Memories Mean Nothing to Me
Not That I Care
Nobody Eats at Linebaugh's Anymore
My Book of Memories
Lost to a Stranger
A Little Bitty Heart
Life Has Its Little Ups and Downs
Life is Too Short
I Want a Home in Dixie
I Lost Today
Fingerprints
Down to the River to Pray
Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyeballs
A Death in the Family
Dark as a Dungeon
Bottomless Well

(Rock)
Sleep's Dark and Silent Gate
She's a Runaway
Painted Bells
Out to Sea
One More Song
New Delhi Freight Train
Millworker
Long Way Home
Island
Heart of Rome
Harriet Tubman's Gonna Carry Me Home
Entella Hotel
Desperados Under the Eaves
Crossing Muddy Waters
Cliffs of Dooneen
Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow)
Baby Mine

The Sound of One Heart Breaking

2009-10-16T19:48:00.000-07:00

Category: 50 Songs to Hear

SONG: Sleep's Dark and Silent Gate

ARTIST: Jackson Browne

SONGWRITER: Jackson Browne

ALBUM: The Pretender

YEAR/LABEL: 1976; Asylum

The perception was that I wrote an album about my wife's death, which was not true. If you want to listen to "Sleep's Dark and Silent Gate" or "The Pretender" or "Your Bright Baby Blues" -- they're not about somebody dying.
(Jackson Browne)

Many performers emerged from the "singer/songwriter" era of the late 1960s and early 1970s. A number of them either came from or were based in southern California (e.g., David Blue, who wrote "Outlaw Man" on the Eagles' Desperado album, Warren Zevon, Randy Newman, J.D. Souther, and James Taylor), to the point where critics of the music labeled it a "mellow mafia." Fair or not, the music would never be mistaken for Led Zeppelin and the lyrics were heavily influenced by the deep, introspective writing of Dylan or other folkies.

For years Jackson Browne wandered about in the land of "cult" status. He was best-known for an early hit, "Doctor My Eyes," and for co-writing the first Eagles hit "Take It Easy" with Eagles front man Glenn Frey. Despite excellent albums that were praised by both his fans and critics he could not break through to "superstar" success.

After the release of his album Late for the Sky Browne married the mother of his son, Ethan. While recording the follow-up album The Pretender Browne's wife committed suicide, leaving Browne alone to raise his son and try to mend his broken heart.

Browne later claimed that The Pretender was not a musical documentary of his wife's death and his struggle to move on. Perhaps the melancholy mood of the album makes it appear that the opposite is true. Whatever the case, The Pretender is an album of pain, and "Sleep's Dark and Silent Gate" is the most painful song of all.

The song may not be explicitly about Phyllis Browne's overdose in March 1976 but the imagery makes it difficult to conclude otherwise. The term "sleep's dark and silent gate" screams of a euphemism for death (especially given the number of cultures and religions that refer to death as "sleeping" or older songs such as Bill Monroe's "Mother's Only Sleeping"), which may be where the belief that the song was the most personal reference of Browne's heartbreak. Or it could be the literal cry in his voice when he pours out the line, "Oh, God, this is some shape I'm in." Misery and genuine grief oozes from every syllable uttered in this song, and that is one of the reasons for its greatness.

The Pretender enjoyed more success than any previous Browne album, gave him his second minor hit ("Here Come Those Tears Again"), and set him up for the superstardom that was to be his beginning with the next album (Running on Empty). The album stands in stark contrast to everything before or after it because of the personal tragedy Browne endured, best exemplified in "Sleep's Dark and Silent Gate."

OTHER JACKSON BROWNE MUSIC TO INVESTIGATE:

The entire Late for the Sky album -- some of Browne's best writing and one of his best rockers ("The Road and the Sky"). From start to finish it is the premiere album of Jackson Browne's career.

"These Days" (from For Everyman) -- "don't confront me with my failures, I had not forgotten them" is not only the superlative line from this song but wisdom that the wisest of philosophers did not provide us with.

"Of Missing Persons"(from Hold Out) -- a tribute to Jackson's friend, Little Feat front man Lowell George, sung to George's daughter. A wonderful memorial to a great talent we lost too early.

PREVIOUS SONGS:
(Country)
Our Town
Old Memories Mean Nothing to Me
Not That I Care
Nobody Eats at Linebaugh's Anymore
My Book of Memories
Lost to a Stranger
A Little Bitty Heart
Life Has Its Little Ups and Downs
Life is Too Short
I Want a Home in Dixie
I Lost Today
Fingerprints
Down to the River to Pray
Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyeballs
A Death in the Family
Dark as a Dungeon
Bottomless Well

(Rock)
She's a Runaway
Painted Bells
Out to Sea
One More Song
New Delhi Freight Train
Millworker
Long Way Home
Island
Heart of Rome
Harriet Tubman's Gonna Carry Me Home
Entella Hotel
Desperados Under the Eaves
Crossing Muddy Waters
Cliffs of Dooneen
Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow)
Baby Mine

Kenny Perry's Mother Dies

2009-10-03T23:32:00.000-07:00

Category: Sports News

Kenny Perry is one of the truly nice guys on the PGA tour. The Kentucky native became a national hero during the 2008 Ryder Cup and nearly won the Masters in 2009. (Golf is one of those sports where second place is not, to the chagrin of Vince Lombardi and his famous quote, first loser.) He is also the 2009 recipient of the Payne Stewart Award.

Kenny Perry's mother, Mildred, died Thursday, October 1, in her Franklin, Kentucky home after a bout with multiple myeloma.

Perry will honor his family's request and play as scheduled in the President's Cup October 8-11.

Mildred Perry was 79.

A Most Powerful Opening Salvo

2009-09-19T10:27:00.000-07:00

Category: 50 Songs to Hear

SONG: She's a Runaway

ARTIST: BoDeans

SONGWRITERS: Sam Llanas / Kurt Neumann

ALBUM: Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams

YEAR/LABEL: 1986; Slash

When I first heard Sam sing I thought it was an old woman. A very soulful old woman.
(Robbie Robertson)

Amid all the hair bands, synthesizers, and dance music of the mid-1980s came a different kind of "punk" movement: the root rockers. They were far less angry than the Clash or the Sex Pistols had been in rebelling against the disco and pop of the 1970s; and, unlike most punk bands, could actually play their instruments and sing well. These people weren't interested in seeing just how P.O.'ed at the world they could sound or trying to turn everything into a political cause. They just wanted to make good music. And most of the acts that came from that movement (e.g., Marshall Crenshaw, Webb Wilder) did exactly that.

The BoDeans happened along at the right time. They were both roots rockers and from one of the hotbed music scenes in America -- Milwaukee. In the mid-80s bands such as the Violent Femmes (the only act in history to get a platinum album [for their eponymous debut] without ever making the Billboard "top 200" best-sellers chart) and the Spanic Boys (a father-son duo that is the answer to a trivia question: what act was a last-minute music substitute on Saturday Night Live in 1990 when Sinead O'Connor refused to appear because Andrew "Dice" Clay was the host) garnered a good deal of attention from record labels. Most of the acts, unfortunately, never went beyond the Wisconsin border in terms of fame, with the Femmes and the BoDeans being the two notable exceptions.

What set the BoDeans apart, and continues to do so, are the harmonies. Front men Sam Llanas and Kurt Neumann, two high school friends, sing with harmonies that owe a great deal to the Everly Brothers or even the Louvin Brothers from country music. The band received a lot of attention initially because of these harmonies, and more so because of Llanas' voice, which, to say the very least, is unique. Critics began having a field day with descriptors of Llanas' voice. (His personal favorite: "a frog with laryngitis.") The attention, coupled with their stint as the opening act for U2 in the fall of 1987, established the band a solid cult following.

That is good and bad. It is good in the sense that they have a loyal audience, many of whom have been fans dating back to the 1986 debut Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams (a title taken from the opening line of the Rolling Stones' song "Shattered"); however, it is bad because this good, solid band has only made one venture into the top 40 ("Closer to Free," which was used as the theme song to Fox's TV series Party of Five).

Exhibit A as to why the latter is such a shame can be found in the first song from their first album, an incredible story song called "She's a Runaway." The story is not based on anyone from Llanas' life; however, the tale of the battered woman who "got beat up one too many times" rings sadly too true in society. Ditto the consequences: the victim of the story, Mary, decides the only way to solve the problem is by taking matters into her own hands. "Mary stole some money and she got herself a gun, then she shot her man down." The movie Thelma and Louise almost seems to be inspired by the plot of this song.

Trends in music have come and gone since 1986 but the BoDeans remain true to their original sound. Hopefully someday soon the trends will return to the roots rock sound so the BoDeans can enjoy the success they deserve.

OTHER BODEANS MUSIC TO INVESTIGATE:

The entire Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams album -- there's not a bad song on it anywhere. The reissued version includes the incredible "Try and Try," which had previously been relegated to a non-album B side (the flip of their first single, "Fadeaway").

"Forever Young (The Wild Ones)" (from Outside Looking In) -- the sophomore album that suffers from fellow Milwaukee native Jerry Harrison's too-heavy production (the Talking Heads guitarist/keyboardist did the same with the third Violent Femmes album, almost overproducing it into oblivion) still produced some gems. Harrison stepped back and let the BoDeans do what they do best on this song. If you can find any bootlegs from their 1988 tour where Neumann did this song as a ballad (with just a piano backing) it will be well worth the search.

"Small Town Ways" (from The Leftovers, a fan club-only release) -- originally recorded for the 1985 demo that got them the deal with Slash, this rocker traces how a job loss turns the protagonist to a life of crime.

"True Devotion" (from Black and White) -- this beautiful ballad was written after a long drought ("the night it finally rained") and features a wonderful, haunting backing vocal by Neumann.

"Far Far Away From My Heart" (from Home) -- the loneliness of the road poured out in a superb Llanas solo.

"Locked Up in the State of Illinois" (from All the King's Men, various artists) -- using Elvis' backing musicians the BoDeans finally committed to CD one of their old and great live songs.

"Somewhere Down the Crazy River" (Robbie Robertson, from Robbie Robertson, backing vocals by Llanas) -- one of Robbie Robertson's best songs with Sam providing backing vocals that make a haunting song more haunting.

PREVIOUS SONGS:
(Country)
Old Memories Mean Nothing to Me
Not That I Care
Nobody Eats at Linebaugh's Anymore
My Book of Memories
Lost to a Stranger
A Little Bitty Heart
Life Has Its Little Ups and Downs
Life is Too Short
I Want a Home in Dixie
I Lost Today
Fingerprints
Down to the River to Pray
Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyeballs
A Death in the Family
Dark as a Dungeon
Bottomless Well

(Rock)
Painted Bells
Out to Sea
One More Song
New Delhi Freight Train
Millworker
Long Way Home
Island
Heart of Rome
Harriet Tubman's Gonna Carry Me Home
Entella Hotel
Desperados Under the Eaves
Crossing Muddy Waters
Cliffs of Dooneen
Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow)
Baby Mine

Jackie Paper Comes No More

2009-09-17T12:52:00.000-07:00

Category: Obituary/News

There was something magical about the song "Puff the Magic Dragon" when Peter, Paul and Mary sang it. Some people claimed it was a drug reference (they must've been smoking what they accused the song of promoting) and called for it to be banned, but fortunately most people accepted the song for what it was: great.

Mary Travers, the Louisville, Kentucky native who went to Greenwich Village and hooked up with Peter (Yarrow) and Paul (Stookey) to form one of the greatest folk groups of all time, died Wednesday (9/16) after a long bout with leukemia. In the end, it was not the actual disease that took her life but the complications from the treatment.

The iconic folk group also gave a young songwriter named Henry John Deutschendorf a foot in the door when they recorded his song "Leaving on a Jet Plane." Deutschendorf changed his name professionally to John Denver and went on to great success in the pop, country, and folk fields.

Mary Travers was 72.

BYE LARRY

2009-09-12T19:36:00.000-07:00

Category: Obituary

If you watch the movie M*A*S*H you can see it almost begged to be a television series. It wasn't a movie with a central plot, but rather "episodes" out of the lives of the surgeons at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital.

Larry Gelbart must have seen that as well, for he took the 1970 film and developed it into a TV series that debuted in 1972. A lot of people don't know that the show nearly died in its Sunday night 8:30 slot during its first year. But it survived. Boy, did it survive. M*A*S*H is like I Love Lucy or The Andy Griffith Show or Star Trek -- timeless with legions of fans who "remember when" as well as discover it for the first time because they were not even born when it aired originally.

Larry Gelbart died Friday, September 11 at home in Los Angeles of cancer.

Although he was quite successful in his writing for other things (winning a Tony Award for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Oscar nominations for Oh God! and Tootsie), he will probably always be remembered for his work on M*A*S*H. And that's certainly something to be proud of.

Larry Gelbart was 81.

There Are Voices, And Then....

2009-09-02T16:58:00.001-07:00

Category: 50 Songs to Hear

SONG: Painted Bells
ARTIST: Boz Scaggs
SONGWRITER: W.R. Scaggs
ALBUM: Moments
YEAR/LABEL: 1971, Columbia

Boz Scaggs is like sex and rock and roll: when he's good, he's great; when he's bad, he's not all that bad.
(Opening line of Rolling Stone magazine review of Down Two Then Left, 1977)

While still a teenager William "Boz" Scaggs played guitar and sang in a band at his high school, St. Mark's, in Dallas. Named the Marksmen, the combo featured another guitarist by the name of Steve Miller. After graduation, Scaggs went to Scandinavia and Miller went to the University of Wisconsin.

The two reunited in San Francisco in 1967. Scaggs played and sang on the first two Steve Miller Band albums, Children of the Future and Sailor, before parting company again. Scaggs recorded an album for Atlantic in 1969 (which featured what many consider to be Duane Allman's best guitar work, "Loan Me a Dime") before snagging a deal with Columbia Records. His debut on Columbia, Moments, featured a true classic: "Painted Bells."

Scaggs' recording career is filled with songs that showcase his lovely, soulful voice. "Painted Bells" is the first and one of the best. The song's story puts Scaggs in a cafe during an evening shower. His lyrics are as beautifully descriptive as the vocals he delivers them with. "I fall with the evening rain," Scaggs sings in the opening verse. He is just getting warmed up. He describes a rainy night perfectly, referencing "steam rising off the road" and people stepping carefully "to see that they don't get wet" while his cafe seat is under a tree. He sits there, content to "let the drops fall all over me and watch the city lights flick on."

Amid this rainy scene where "the crowds collide just out of my reach," the narrator's thoughts are on an old love, in his memory so fresh that he believes she is sharing the "wet cafe" table with him.

The "string of tiny painted bells" that give the song its title jolt Scaggs back to reality as he realizes the dream is like the passing shower: "the rain will go, and you will too."

Scaggs shot from cult status to Grammy-winning stardom with the 1976 album Silk Degrees, featuring his two best-known hits, "Lowdown" and "Lido Suffle." His greatest song, however, lies buried on an album that has yet to be released on CD in the United States.

OTHER BOZ SCAGGS MUSIC TO INVESTIGATE:

The entire Moments album -- no "sophomore jinx" here. This album blew the debut out of the water and set the tone for what was to come.

The entire Silk Degrees album -- yes, it is the successful Boz Scaggs album, and there is a very good reason for it.

The entire Middle Man album -- Boz wanders through pimps ("Jojo"), hookers ("Simone") and everything in between on an exceptional album that showcases his range from ballads ("You Can Have Me Anytime") to full-tilt rockers ("You've Got Some Imagination").

"Pain of Love" (from Slow Dancer) -- Creem magazine once said they wanted to present Scaggs with a Hostess snowball for Christmas that was "white on the outside and black inside, for obvious reasons." This exceptional blue-eyed soul tune is probably what gave them the idea for that joke.

"Runnin' Blue" (from Boz Scaggs & Band) -- Boz delivered this exceptional blues tune on an album with a large band that hid the fact that Scaggs is actually a rather good guitar player.

"Full-Lock Power Slide" (from My Time) -- strap in and hold on as Scaggs burns down the house with a straight-ahead rock and roll song that proves he is far from just a blue-eyed soul singer.

PREVIOUS SONGS:
(Country)
Not That I Care
Nobody Eats at Linebaugh's Anymore
My Book of Memories
Lost to a Stranger
A Little Bitty Heart
Life Has Its Little Ups and Downs
Life is Too Short
I Want a Home in Dixie
I Lost Today
Fingerprints
Down to the River to Pray
Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyeballs
A Death in the Family
Dark as a Dungeon
Bottomless Well

(Rock)
Out to Sea
One More Song
New Delhi Freight Train
Millworker
Long Way Home
Island
Heart of Rome
Harriet Tubman's Gonna Carry Me Home
Entella Hotel
Desperados Under the Eaves
Crossing Muddy Waters
Cliffs of Dooneen
Bruised Orange (Chain of Sorrow)
Baby Mine

You Love Your Wife and Kids

2009-08-19T15:17:00.000-07:00

Category: Birthday/Tribute

There are singers and songwriters and singer/songwriters. Then there's John Hiatt. The masterful Americana performer celebrates his 57th birthday on August 20th.

The exceptional John Hiatt

What makes John Hiatt unique is his ability to tear your heart to a million pieces in one song then make your sides hurt from laughing so hard in the next. He has a way with lyrics that paint pictures worthy of hanging in a museum. Consider the opening line of "Lipstick Sunset:" "There's a lipstick sunset smeared across the August sky." He can also tell you a lot by omission. The final line of "The Night That Kenny Died," a song about an unpopular geek who became a hero because of the way he met his end (a motorcycle wreck), is such a case: "They kept the casket closed."

Hiatt has known his share of trouble and heartache, and he has turned these into songs. The title song from his 2000 Grammy-nominated album Crossing Muddy Waters deals with the suicide of his second wife shortly after the birth of their daughter. Now clean and sober, he deals with his alcoholism in both serious ("The Back of My Mind") and comical ("these days the only bar I ever see has got lettuce and tomatoes" from "Stolen Moments") ways.

Hiatt produces some of the best love songs of the last three decades, all of which were, as he proudly proclaims, inspired by his love of wife Nancy. And yet he can also write a hearbreak song so intense that fans write him and ask if his marriage is in trouble. Perhaps the reaction in the latter case is because Hiatt writes such intimate, autobiographical songs ("Two kids up and at 'em, one more left at home" he reported in "Circle Back," or the third person "Your Dad Did" that is obviously Hiatt's own paean to domestic bliss, "you love your wife and kids just like your dad did") that some automatically assume every song is a chapter out of his life. Of course, that does not seem to be true: it's hard to think Hiatt ever poked pins in a doll out of teenage sexual frustration such as the way the heroine of "Pink Bedroom" did.

That is part of the magic of John Hiatt. He is everyman -- very nice in person, funny, thoughtful, intelligent. He can translate the feelings of a shattered relationship (which he has known) into a masterful song just as easily as he can extol the joys of marital bliss that he has experienced for the past two and a half decades. It is truly sad that, while many of his songs are well-known ("Sure As I'm Sittin' Here," "Angel Eyes," "Thing Called Love"), he is not.

If you're unfamiliar with Hiatt's material, celebrate his birthday by treating yourself.

Vaya Con Dios, Mr. Guitar

2009-08-13T20:05:00.000-07:00

Category: News

Les Paul didn't invent rock and roll, but it's hard to think where rock and roll would be without him. He gave the world the solid-body electric guitar and multi-track recording techniques that have become synonymous with rock and roll.

The great Les Paul died Thursday, August 13 of pneumonia.

Paul had a drive to play guitar. His right arm was permanently paralyzed in an automobile accident in 1948, so he had the doctors set his arm at a 90 degree angle so he could continue to play. and play he did. Les Paul was a guitar player, and then some. He won numerous Grammy awards, including one he shared with country music's version of "Mr. Guitar," Chet Atkins, for the album Chester and Lester. His career spanned eight decades and included both instrumental albums and great pop standards recorded with his wife, Mary Ford, who passed away in 1977.

A sad farewell to one of the greatest performers of our time, Lester William Polfuss -- Les Paul. He was 94.

Raizor's Edge II

Even the Losers....

The Final Notes of 2011

A Breath of Fresh Air

The Day the Music Store Died

And I Thought It Was Bad LAST Year

Pat Summitt's Toughest Game

The More Simplistic the Better

...Even If I Don't Know Anything About Jazz

At Halftime of the Baseball Season...

When Scooter and the Big Man Bust This City in Half

Good and Bad in News

Golf Loses a Giant

The True End of an Era

Baker Street Dead Ends

A Thrill Ride That Crashes

The Last Stanzas in 2010

Thank the Lord for the Nighttime!

Worst of the Worst

Nominations for Rock's Hall of SHAME Announced

Rock Loses Three

Screaming Good

Here Comes the Blind Commissioner

The TV Weeps

How To Do Country Rock Correctly

Jim Nantz for President

A Great Trip to the Bottom of the Barrel

Coach Kroojawoosky

Please Do NOT Let the Food Wars Begin

I'm in Love, What's That Song

Mission: Remembering

F-f-f-farewell to Sharona's Boyfriend

Honoring the Music

Coming Clean

Worth the Wait

The Final Notes of 2009

Five Reasons Remakes Stink

It's Burke's Law

Americana 101

One of the Finest Harmonica Players in Rock Passes

THE Cult Band of Our Time

The Sound of One Heart Breaking

Kenny Perry's Mother Dies

A Most Powerful Opening Salvo

Jackie Paper Comes No More

B*Y*E L*A*R*R*Y

There Are Voices, And Then....

You Love Your Wife and Kids

Vaya Con Dios, Mr. Guitar

BYE LARRY