Dad's Car Radio

When the World is Running Down

You make the best of what's still around. 

In that 1980 hit Sting and The Police sang ,"Turn on my VCR, same one I've had for years James Brown on the T.A.M.I. show same tape I've had for years"  This week after the passing of The Godfather of Soul that line came into my head and I realized that I, unlike Sting in yet another way - had never seen that performance. Luckily there's You Tube.

Dad's Top Albums I Haven't Heard Yet

Like reviewing movies I have not seen and recommending books I have not read, compiling this list borders on the insane.  Luckily the border security is about as intense as the Montana - Alberta border and I can walk right in, grab a Molsen and some pretzels, and slap a few imaginary albums on the old Gramophone.

 

#1. M. Ward - Post War. Heard a nice interview on NPR's All Songs Considered, listened to a couple tracks. He sure sounds like my kind of guy.

#2. Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins - Rabbit Fur Coat - Radio Hannibal has this as his Number 1 for the year and he has rarely steered me wrong.  I have not heard a note. Revised 12/27 - I've now heard one song "The Charging Sky" and it is damn good. Looking forward to more.

#3. The New York Dolls - Some Day it Will Please Us to Recall Even This - Just for being there again after all these years.  I've heard two tracks and met David Johanson in 1981, so here on the list!

#4. Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped  These guys are as old as I am and still walk the cutting edge - barefoot! I recently listened to their amazing 1990-something  Daydream Nation on my way to work and was once again awed by their brilliance, power and confidence.  I know I'll love this one!

#5. Lindsay Buckingham - Under the Skin  I am confident that he is still a masterful musician, compelling songwriter and affecting vocalist.  I plan to admire this album, as soon as I hear it. Revised 12/27 - I've now heard the title track 3 times and it's a quiet, quirky cup of coolness.

#6. The Hold Steady - Boys and Girls in America  This is also the favorite live show I didn't see this year. They played at The Ottobar and I would have had such a great time!  Teh track I have heard is ragged glory.

#7. Tom Waits - Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers and Bastards  I am very well versed in Tom Waits - going all the way back to the afternoon in 1974 when "The Heart of Saturday Night " appeared on my doorstep unshaven, hungover and looking for a turntable to spin on for the night.  This 50 song collection is half old and half new more or less and I cant wait to hear the new ones...

#8. John Mayer - Continuum When his Room for Squares was in heavy rotation on Mom's Car radio, and Mom was convinced that he was gong to be around for years and make more great albums. I debated it, I doubted it. I was wrong.  Heard the single "Waiting for the World to Change" many times, love it and I have a feeling there's more where that came from.  Plus - they sell it at Starbucks! It HAS to be good.

#9. Wolfmother - They were one of the first bands to play at the Virgin Festival back in September - and I heard them from my front porch - sounded great! Like a revved up Led Zep.  A song or two has hit me via radio - I wonder if Wolfmother II will be as big a leap as Led Zeppelin II was?

#10. Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass  From the telling a book by it's cover department - This one is here for the title every bit as much as for the potentially brilliant music it contains. Don't know - Haven't heard it.

the Year in Review in Review Part 3

Rolling Stone's year end issue featuring their Top 50 Albums of the Year  just sailed in over the transom. The list includes a bunch of my faves, including another #1 slot for Bob Dylan's "Modern Times".  Other notable entries include Cat Power's "The Greatest" at #7, Tom Waits at #10, and the reunion album from the surviving New York Dolls at #12.

This article features the ability to listen to every on eof the albums via the Rhapsody service. Very nice!

See the full list here and let the debates rage on.

The Year in Review In Review Part Two

Found this in-depth list from a site called Pop Matters. It's a top 60 list with loads of YouTube video Links and lots of stuff I've never heard.  A quick skim finds The Dirty Dozen Brass Band's "What's Going On" at number 10.  I think this CD is brilliant and most brilliant of all is their re-working of Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues"  You know that one "Make me wanna holler - throw up both my hands" ??? Seek this track out!

Wolfgang's Vault

If you have not been to Wolfgang's Vault - you really should check it out.  Wolfgang's Vault sells vintage concert memorabilia - original editions of concert posters, tickets, all sorts of stuff from the golden age of rock and roll. In addition they also offer free streams of hundred's of concerts from the archives of Bill Graham Productions.  Shows from the 60's and 70's at the Fillmore (East and West) Winterland - and various other venues.  All these archives were part of the Bill Graham Productions assets when the company was acquired by Clear Channel Entertainment. the name of the site is a tribute to Bill Graham who was born Wolfgang Grajonca in Berlin.

I have listened to a couple shows, Miles Davis at the Fillmore East in 1969, Neil Young and Bob Dylan at a Keyser Stadium benefit show around 1970/71, a bit of a Bruce Cockburn show recorded in Chicago in the early 80's.  The shows are streamed for free and while the quality is decent - these are all soundboard recordings and never overdubbed, remixed, or brushed up for release. Those who go here and stream this stuff are FANS. The most dedicated audience for these acts plus kids who have just heard the name, heard the legend or alway s wondered what it was like back in th eday can get a peek intot the past. And then go out an Buy something  else from the Doors or WHo or Zeppelin or Grateful Dead. It's like exploring a library of treasures. It's a wonder and a joy.

So of course there had to be a lawsuit.

Musicians Sue Wolfgangsvault.com

Tuesday, Dec 19, 2006 6:00 AM ET

MUSICIANS INCLUDING CARLOS SANTANA, MEMBERS of Led Zeppelin and The Doors have filed a lawsuit against the operator of the Web site wolfgangsvault.com, which sells memorabilia like vintage concert posters, and also allegedly streams pirated recordings of live concerts. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California against William Sagan, who acquired the material when he purchased the archives of concert promoter Bill Graham from Clear Channel Entertainment. +++++++++++ There's a longer article in the LA Times While I am no fan of the explioitation of musicians and feel they probably do have some rights with regard to images, logos and likenesses, let the streaming concerts live, Dudes.  In contrast, one of the guys from Big Brother and the Holding Company was quoted in a recent article about the Vault's streaming of his band's concerts. "I'm just glad people can hear the music. "  Peace.

The Year in Review in Review

The Best of 2006 lists are rolling in. I'm looking for trends.

Here's Newsweek's list - Full article Here

1. At War with the Mystics - The Flaming Lips

2. Broken Boy Soldiers - The Raconteurs

3. Food & Liquor, Lupe Fiasco

4. Savane, Ali Farka Touré

5. Once Again, John Legend

6. Ta-Dah, Scissor Sisters

7. Kingdom Come, Jay-Z:

8. What it Is! Funky Soul and Rare Grooves!!! Various Artists

9. Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers and Bastards, Tom Waits

My Comments: This is one of those all inclusive types of lists - skimming the cream from a number of genres.  The Tom Waits collection appears to be great, spanning 30 years with rarities outtakes and, of course, the Best of.

THREE of these artists played at the Virgin Festival  - Flaming Lips, Raconteurs and Scissor Sisters. 

All I've heard form the Jay-Z record is what's on the Budweiser commercial...

I keep seeing Lupe Fiasco mentioned, but haven't heard a note. Must investigate.

Favorites of 2006

I am starting to compile my Best of and/or favorite music of 2006 list and realize that I have not acquired nearly enough music this year. My buddy Radio Hannibal has just posted his Top 50 list - TOP 50??? Geez, I am slacking off, I'm lucky if I pull together a dozen that I really liked this year. 

Maybe I'm not thinking hard enough.   But this dude over at "the Late Greats" takes the cake in the "uh, when do you find time to do anything else" department. 

He has compiled a Top 2006 songs of 2006.

To put this in perspective, many Classic Rock radio stations have an on air play list of 500-700 songs.  Of course, that's an abomination in it's own right, but a TOP 2006??? 

I have a few problems with this list too.  The Flaming Lips "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah song" came in at # 1993 on this list - it should easily be in the top 1000. "Margaret vs. Pauline" by Neko Case is #1965, when EVERYONE KNOWS it should be at  #1950. 

Top 2006