10 albums, yeah right...

I was challenged to post 10 albums that influenced my taste in music on Facebook. So, I brainstorm in excel to see what 10 I would choose. I come up with about 70. Over the next couple of days, I add about 20-30 more. Then I cull it down to about 65. At this point, I am zeroing in on my top 50. I'm not sure if I can participate. After making this list, it would be awesome to put some of these out there for discussion.
I thought about doing 10 albums before age 15 or somehow narrowing it down. I might just randomly choose 10.

Post tax season Music Documentaries

Quincy -  Quincy Jones



That Little Ole' Band From Texas -- ZZ top



Echo in the Canyon -- 60's Laurel Canyon Music Scene



Miles Davis Birth of the Cool

Nothing is cooler.....

Nothing is cooler than Miles Davis smoking a cigarette in the background while Coltrane solos on "So What".

Listening Journal -- John Prine (3 days of mourning)

Listening Journal -- and new release listening

I decided to start writing down everything I listen to during my workday. It would be too hard to keep up with outside of the office. The idea is that this is a start. I'd like to start taking brief notes, maybe come up with a rating system so I can quickly go back and see what I liked (or not). 

For a couple of years now I've been trying harder and harder to listen to more new stuff as it comes out. I have worked my way into a routine now where I look around the internet (still looking for better sources) every Friday to see what the new releases are and make playlists in Spotify. I try to listen to at least some of them. I'll post again later to explain my system. It could be improved, but the main thing missing is better-curated lists to start from and enough time to listen to it all -- and maybe a discussion. Below is my listening journal list for Friday 3/13/2020. 

Vinyl -- ZZ TOP and Ray

I ended up bringing home Rio Grande Mud and First Album out of this amazing ZZ Top stack. 

And this Ray Charles album is in great shape and sounds really nice. As you can see the note on the plastic cover says, "Mostly instrumental. So Good." Yep!

2019 Jazz and Beyond -- Great new Jazz and Jazz-ish albums

I got deeper into new jazz this year and I was rewarded greatly. I think it was a uniquely special year with lots of great new releases. But, I will do my best to keep up with this new stuff going forward.

 Note: Come to find out the Blue Cranes Album was not a new release -- but new to me.

A dream - what a dream!

KIOTC 2019

2017-10-31 (Sweet Leaf - Black Sabbath)

Sweet Leaf - Black Sabbath (1971)

I have had Black Sabbath songs in the running, to write about, all month. Why Halloween? Why this song? I'll get to that in a minute. Black Sabbath are considered one of the original Heavy Metal bands. It is dark and it is heavy. They truly were pioneers. They had no reference point for Heavy Metal. They came on the scene the same year as Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, who many consider the inventors of Heavy Metal. But, when you follow the path of the genre from this point on, through Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Motorhead, Metallica, Megadeth and even hair metal bands like Motley Crue and G&R, they all have much more in common with Sabbath. 

In my teen years, I was introduced to Metal through Metallica -- and I rejected it, mostly. I mean, I rocked out to "One" and I had to agree with Jeff Cayton that the lyrics were deep and poetic. I also remember a few hazy afternoons at Cayton's listening to these guys (Sabbath) and this song ("Straight people don't know what you're about. They put you down and shut you out"). But, I never got into it... until... you guessed it, Widespread Panic. Panic is not a Metal band, but they are fans of Metal and they certainly can play it. Over the years (especially early on), they have played a lot of Metal covers and I guess because of the darkness of it, they liked to bust them out at Halloween. During my 3 year Halloween streak with Panic (1994-1996), they pulled Sweet Leaf out a couple of times - among others (Dirty Business, Maggot Brain, Cream Puff War, and Werewolves of London)

I know, it's a bit literal for poetry and basically cheesy from the start (cough, cough, cahacahacahcaha!!...). It's a love song, written to weed. But, then that guitar lick and Ozzy's voice - in command. Ozzy had (has) an ability to cut through the noise with screams of emotion, but also with clarity. And, the tempo change and solo starting around the 2:30 mark is the reason why. The reason why this song works. The reason why Panic played it at Halloween. 

Alright now
Won't you listen?

When I first met you, didn't realize
I can't forget you, for your surprise
You introduced me, to my mind
And left me wanting, you and your kind, oh yeah

I love you, oh you know it

My life was empty, forever on a down
Until you took me, showed me around
My life is free now, my life is clear
I love you sweet leaf, though you can't hear, oh yeah

Come on now, try it out

Straight people don't know, what you're about
They put you down and shut you out
You gave to me a new belief
And soon the world will love you sweet leaf, oh yeah baby

Come on now, oh yeah
Try me out baby, alright, oh yeah
I want you part of this sweet leaf, oh yeah
Alright, yeah, yeah, yeah, oh try me out
I love you sweet leaf, oh

Songwriters: Michael Butler / Ozzy Osbourne / Tony Iommi / William Ward  

Widespread Panic 10/31/94 Omni Orrington Grand Ballroom, Evanston, IL 1: Papa Legba > Fishwater > Hatfield, Makes Sense To Me > Me And The Devil Blues > Porch Song, Little Kin, Werewolves of London 2: Sweet Leaf > Machine > Barstools and Dreamers, Heroes, Space Wrangler > I Walk On Guilded Splinters > Maggot Brain > Blackout Blues, Coconut > Mr. Soul E: Let's Get Down To Business, Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys [First 'Let's Get Down To Business'; 'Maggot Brain' with spoken word introduction; 'Freebird' jam during 'Space Wrangler'; 'Linus and Lucy' by JoJo before 'Let's Get Down To Business'; From Good Homes opened]

Song Stats Song LTP Date LTP L3TP #/10 #/100 #/Ever BARSTL 10/23/94 5 13 1 10 381 BLACK 10/29/94 1 2 6 58 66 COCONU 10/31/93 126 179 0 0 208 DEVIL 10/05/94 20 9 0 6 138 FISH 10/28/94 2 2 6 63 333 GUILDE 10/07/94 18 36 0 3 63 HATFIE 10/28/94 2 2 5 54 273 HEROES 10/27/94 3 1 6 63 90 LEGBA 10/19/94 9 9 1 12 165 LGDTB 10/31/94 0 0 0 0 0 LSOHHB 10/14/94 13 12 0 7 93 LTKIN 10/28/94 2 2 6 73 141 MACHIN 10/23/94 5 8 1 11 299 MAGGOT 10/26/94 4 11 1 9 24 MRSOUL 10/27/94 3 4 2 15 156 MSTOME 10/28/94 2 2 5 44 294 PORCH 10/29/94 1 2 6 63 631 SLEAF 10/29/94 1 42 1 1 8 WEREWO 10/31/93 126 247 0 0 40 WRANGL 10/28/94 2 2 5 48 689 LTP (Last Time Played): L3TP (Last 3 Times Played): #/10: #/100: #/Ever:  Number of shows since song was last played. Average of last 3 LTP for song. Number of times played in last 10 shows. Number of times played in last 100 shows. Total number of times played.

2017-10-30 (Mountain Jam - The Allman Brothers Band)

Mountain Jam (Live at Fillmore East/1971/2nd show/Pt 1 -- The Allman Brothers Band (35:39)

"It's funny, but I've never, ever thought of us as a jam band. When we started out almost 20 years ago, the old, four-piece Panic literally scared the hippies away, and at this point, jam bands can kiss my ass. Most of 'em can't write a fuckin' song. I don't want to hear someone noodle aimlessly. If I want to hear a jam, I want to hear a master of their instrument playing theme and variation on a great melody. Why can you listen to 35 minutes of 'Mountain Jam?' Because it's a great melody. Why can Jerry Garcia interpret 'My Funny Valentine' for 20 minutes? Because it's a great melody. Without a great song, there is no great melody. Without a great melody, there is no jam." -- Dave Schools (bass player for Widespread Panic)

I was happy to find this quote online, although I heard him talking about this years ago on Sirrius-XM radio show that Stef Scamardo (Warren Haynes wife) had on the JamOn station. 

There Is a Mountain - Donovan (1968)

All of my favorite jams are just what Schools is talking about - variations on a great melody. I believe that's one of the things that gave the Grateful Dead so much jam material and makes them the ultimate "jam band". Jerry and Bob Hunter wrote great songs first, before they expanded them with jams. Plus, their choice of covers brought in tons more great melodies via Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan, The Beatles... Often, at jam band shows cover songs and band classics are most popular for the crowd. It is much easier to recognize and relate to a great jam when the melody of the song is familiar and clear in your mind.

2017-10-29 (Ruby Ridge - Peter Rowan)

Ruby Ridge Wiki entry 

Ruby Ridge - Peter Rowan (1996)

2017-10-28 (Lookin' Out My Back Door - Credence Clearwater Revival)

Lookin' Out My Back Door - CCR (1970)

I was disappointed to read that John Fogerty didn't write this song about an acid trip. Understandably, he used dreamy imagery to appeal to his then 3 yr old son. Does it matter what he meant? 

The first time I remember having some semblance of real independence in life was when my friends got their driver's licences. And, the summer after my sophomore year, it became incredibly easy for us to gather - here and there. I remember falling into a pretty sublime routine that summer. My Dad would leave for work around 1:00 and my Mom would get home around 4:15. I called that unsupervised time "Happy Hour" at our swimming pool. Many friends had a standing invitation, but the regulars were the Cecil twins, Jared Hayes, Nevin Goeble, with the occasional showing from the Becky/Alana/Michelle crew, Cliff Stewart or John Shearer. It would usually look like the Cecils showing up with 8-15 warm Budwisers. We would get them on ice, give them a spin and start cracking them open. The guys might have to help me finish up my chores -- suckering tomato plants or mowing the yard. Then, a dip in the pool and it was time to get out of there. Nevin ('s Dad) had a pontoon boat docked on the Kentucky River, down on 4-mile. If we had money to gas it up, we might take it out for an hour or two, and then onto whatever summer nights in Funchester might bring -- cruising "The Pig", a pool party at "Breakers", or heading out to the country to raise a little hell. 

The soundtrack of that summer was long and varied but probably due to Tom Cecil's influence, early Who and CCR "Chronicle" dominated the air waves during "Happy Hour". 

2017-10-27 (Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens - Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown)

Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens - Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown (1973)

2017-10-26 (Seneca - Tortoise)

1. Seneca - Tortoise (2001)

2. Eros - Tortoise (2001)

Tortoise fills a gap for me. It is home base music, in the same way as Lambchop or Widespread Panic. I've never had to consider what other people think about them, critical acclaim, technical merits.... They are a band that hits the spot. What spot? Well, the best way for me to describe it - when life (or just my day) feels chaotic, when I feel overwhelmed by the million things and can't focus on what's in front of me, this music understands. They tend to ease into their compositions, building slowly then falling into an already full speed song. They use odd timings and uncommon instrumentation. That's where the "understanding" is -- it sort of matches the chaos. Then, they thread calm and wise melodies throughout. Six Pack is another great example from this album. 

One of my biggest musical regrets is missing them at the Orange Peel back during tax season (March 21st). They all have other projects, so the band doesn't tour a lot. They are definitely high on my bucket list.  

Tortoise (the band) Wiki entry

2017-10-25 (I'm Gonna Be a Wheel Someday - Fats Domino)

I'm Gonna Be a Wheel Someday - Fats Domino (1959)

RIP Fats (2/26/28 - 10/24/17)

Walking to New Orleans - Fats Domino

2017-10-23 (I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight - Richard and Linda Thompson)

I Want To See the Bright Lights Tonight - Richard and Linda Thompson (1974)

This is just one of those songs that seems perfect - the arrangement, the groove, the simplicity of the lyric and the emotion in her voice. I know almost nothing about these guys. They were part of an early 70's British folk movement, made some critically acclaimed albums together and split sometime in the 80's. 

I had a coworker at the record store who was a huge fan. Because of him, I listened to a fair amount, especially of Richard's stuff, but it never took. But, every time I hear this song (usually on WNCW), it gets my attention. For some reason, my first thought is always that it is Blondie. I'm not sure why. 

2017-10-23 (You're Still My Woman - B.B. King)

You're Still My Woman - B.B. King (1970)

This is not the song I was thinking of at lunch today. This one comes from a great album. I was never a huge fan of B.B. and his Chicago blues sound. But, when this came over the PA system before a show (I forget which) at the Grey Eagle, I had to ask the sound man what it was. Another of my favorite tracks on this album is King's Special.  

2017-10-22 (Who Built the Moon - Shinyribs)

Who Built the Moon - Shiyribs (2010)

A sort of contemporary gospel song. To me, as compelling of a tale as any other. I mean, why not? It explains what needs explaining. Why are we here, lonely, looking at the moon? 

From the same album as po peepl sto and kountry kul.

2017-10-21 (Night Time is the Right Time - Ray Charles)

Night Time is the Right Time - Ray Charles and the Raelettes (1958)

This sound was coming from black artists, for black audiences, throughout the 50's, on the chitlin circuit and in big city theaters. When Jerry Lee Lewis and other white musicians caught on and brought it to the masses, they called it rock'n'roll. The thing that takes this track to the next level is the vocal performance from Margie Hendricks. 

In a recording session, Ray huddles with Margie Hendricks as he helps her work out a lyric idea.