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My "Memory" IS Worse Than The One from Cats: Write-Off ReduxApr 25 '01 (Updated Feb 23 '07) Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Into every life a little music must fall. And, some of it is absolutely cheesy.
My "Memory" IS Worse Than The One from Cats: The "I Ripped Off Your Write-Off" WO: It's All About The Music Redux. Vinyl as a Source of Memory I grew up loving vinyl and this topic had me seriously looking at my record collection last night (all 1,700+ of them). It also reminded me how awful my musical taste can be, especially when you’re growing up in the heyday of 1970s hair metal, disco and AM radio, not to mention 1980's new wave and power pop balladry. I made a mental note to start selling my collection on eBay soon. I also embarrassed my wife by playing some of the tracks of my bygone youth. "These songs are really trite." she said. So much so, she not so politely told me to stop. It's frightening when a compatibility issue rears its ugly head in a marriage. She doesn't know just how trite and cheesy I can get. Thankfully I have headphones. If I started at the A's (The As, a Philadelphia band from the 80s) and went to the Z's (ZZ Top of course), I may finish listening to all my vinyl sometime in June. If I throw in the CD collection (1,200+), I'll be looking for an ear doctor in September. I'm embarrassed to tell anyone I love this song and I blast it when it comes on the radio: In my musical closet, I do confess to having quite a bit of cheese. I got my first record player in 1976 and the first four records I bought were: James Taylor's Greatest Hits, Jay Black and the Americans' The Best of, and the Bee Gees' Main Course, and Children of the World. I wore earth shoes, plaid pants and flowered shirts too. What did I know about music? So if a relic of the 1970s comes on the radio, I've been paralyzed with fear knowing that (a) I know the lyrics, and (b)You Should be Dancing. For those keeping score at home, my beer of choice at this point in my life would be my Dad's Schaefer, as it was the only one I had access to. Otherwise, we're talking RC Cola. Favorite moment at a music award show: I rarely watch awards shows as they mainly let me in on just how unhip I am. But I will say that when Eric Clapton won a load of Grammys for the Unplugged album in the early 90s, I was pleased. For those keeping score at home, my beer of choice at this point in my life would be Bass Ale. This song makes me feel cool while I'm driving: Driving is an annoyance especially with the state of current radio. The constant scanning for a good track can seem endless. You haven't heard bad radio until you've driven through Connecticut. I prefer to open the sunroof and head out on the highway with six albums especially: Eric Johnson: Tones, Pat Metheny Group: American Garage or Offramp, Steve Miller Band: Fly Like an Eagle, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Damn the Torpedoes, REM: Chronic Town, and Cream: Disraeli Gears. For those keeping score at home, my beer of choice at this point in my life would be nil as drinking and driving is a bad thing. But as a passenger, I will say that the only beer I ever emptied out willingly on a highway is Yuengling's Lord Chesterfield Ale. Absolutely vile stuff. This one brings up painful memories: OK, for middle of the road, "I’ve been dumped angst," I have knowledge of the following tracks ( a dumpee's top ten): Eagles: Try and Love Again(1976), Jackson Browne: Call It a Loan (1980), Eric Clapton: Never Make You Cry (1985), Steel Breeze: You Don’t Want Me Anymore (1982), Jude Cole: You Were In My Heart (1987), Paul Collins' Beat: Broken Hearted (1985), Bee Gees: Baby As You Turn Away (1975), David Wilcox: Language of the Heart (1989), Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Don't Do Me Like That (1979), and Martin Briley: The Salt in My Tears. (1984) Of course, the real way to deal with being the dumpee is denial. Try Won't Let You Down by BLT (1981). Or anger? Try You Got Lucky by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (1982). For those keeping score at home, my beer of choice at this point in my life would be whatever's handy. Favorite song about sex, booty calls, or anything trashy: I was an altar boy school dropout. I could bring up Donna Summer's Love to Love You Baby or Berlin's Sex ...I’m A here. But for a true sensual experience I prefer to run a whole album's worth of mood. In which case, I would swear by James Taylor's Greatest Hits or Roxy Music's Avalon as good mood setters. For those keeping score at home, my beer of choice at this point in my life would be whatever she’s having. Funniest Song: I have a soft spot for Bob and Doug McKenzie's Take Off(with Geddy Lee of Rush) and Beerhunter from the Great White North album (1982). I'll have a Molson Golden on the side. Also, I should mention Tiki Torches at Twilight by David Lindley & El Rayo-X (1988). Mr. Dave as his coffee-loving cult refers to him, is an underappreciated American icon in my musical book. I'd be listening to this on my way to commit a crime: If I were to commit a crime, my better half would have to be involved and probably plan it. On the way out the door I would play Love Is a Dangerous Thing (1992) by Tommy Keene and Lovers in a Dangerous Time (1984) by Bruce Cockburn. After getting what we need, it would be Take the Money and Run by Steve Miller band (1976) all the way home or off a cliff whatever comes first. For those keeping score at home, my beer of choice at this point in my life would be coffee and lots of it. I can't stand this artist or group: Kenny G, Bjork, Kid Rock, Sting (solo), Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan, Carole King, Jewel, Barbara Streisand, Destiny’s Child, and Dido among others. No alcohol needed. I just don't like them ... much. I'd donate a lung (or at least an appendix) to be alone with this singer: If Jamie Lee Curtis ever needs me I have permission to go. In my dreams. From a pure artist category, I still have a thing for Lucinda Williams and Carolyne Mas. If Eric Clapton, Robben Ford, Pat Metheny, Richard Thompson, or Eric Johnson need a kidney, they can have mine ... used. No drinking on operation day. Autographs on my liver welcome. Biggest Disappointment following a hit record: Whatever happened to The Monroes after What Do All the People Know in 1982? How come Mason Ruffner never made it big after Mason Ruffner (1985) and Gypsy Blood (1987)? Whatever happened to Martin Briley, The Rave-Ups, Robert Hazard, Tanita Tikaram, Big Country, and the Red Rockers? Why did Roger Hodgson leave Supertramp? How come the Steve Pryor Band never had another album after their debut on Zoo records in 1991? Zoo went out of business of course, but where are these guys from Oklahoma? A great bar band blues record. How come the Michael Stanley Band never got big nationally after years as Ohio’s best group? And why did Southside Johnny and the Jukes ever release Trash It Up? How come the Pousette-Dart band's catalog is ignored on CD? These are questions best pondered sober. This song made me cry (or close): Steve Forbert: The Last Rays of Sunlight from Mission of the Crossroad Palms, (1995), and David Wilcox: Break in the Cup from Big Horizon (1994). Special mention to Tony Banks' (of Genesis) A Curious Feeling from his first solo record (1979). Note: For real painful, "the guano wagon has unloaded on my lawn" breakups there a few albums that will allow one to (a) wallow in misery for hours if not days, and (b) somehow make it seem like this other person's pain is worse. I would suggest Stephen Bishop's Careless (1976) as possibly THE album for melancholy of the soul. Also, Dan Fogelberg's The Innocent Age (1981) and Derek and the Dominoes' Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs (1970). Both will set a mood and let you relive it endlessly until you wake up from your "lost love fugue." Drink of choice: Pain goes well with a quality beverage that won't let you down, such as Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale, Young's Special London Ale, or generous helpings of Bushmill’s Irish Whiskey. And the loser award goes to.... Rappers of all ages, especially the Puffster. Record companies and the prices they charge. Napster. Top 40 radio. Coolest thing ever done by an artist or group: Neil Young's Bridge school benefits, Farm Aid, Bruce Springsteen's holiday shows, and Eric Clapton's Crossroads treatment center. Also, let's not forget Bonnie Raitt punching out Elvis Costello over some surly racist comments he made back in the 70s. My thanks to sleestakk and phixed for organizing the unapologetic lifting of sslabs and illeneg's work. See other entries by: repulsemonkey, Sloucho, Pyanfar, spicymeatball, zenhues, Psychovant, fm_hunter, slave_boy, Fez_Monkey, drlolipop, Mr.Eyore, jkkelley, factotum, monssfisch, Saxguy, jordan_tar, Arazim, adamldemarco, redsox75, kellydeal, sxejustin, movielover123, DVON, SpookyMonkey, churst, phineaskc, MattA75, xiphoid, Mr_D, PezKing, Officer, phixed, and sleestakk.  |
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