I was up late playing the music that I love.
*****
I started by playinng some classic Beatles. I think their music really changed with the album "Revolver".
This album starts off with a snappy little rock song, called "The Taxman", later covered by Stevoe Ray Vaughn. It also has a song called "Within you, Without you" which was a real stretch for the Beatles. If you get a chance, listen to "Revolver". It still holds up.
*****
I like new music and older music too. I played a CD by Spoon. They have one song on there called "Japanese Cigarette Case", which is a haunted melody. They begin by heavily leaning into the bass, meanwhile repeating the lyrics: "Bring me my japanese cigarette case, hold the mirror near my face. Let all my memories be gone!" There is also some interesting accoustic guitar work in this song. Check out Spoon.
*****
Other favorites of mine are Zero Seven. A couple of their songs that I really like are "In the Waiting Line", and also "This Fine Social Scene". These guys are from England, and they have toured the US. I had a chance to see them in Portland over the winter, but got there too late, and the show had already started (Rats!). You will like their music if you find out about it.
*****
One band that I have liked for a long time is The Cult. These guys are also from the UK, and they have been around for a long time. One of their more recent hits was "Dirty Little Rock Star", but they go way back to "Edie". "Fire Woman", and "Rain". Great vocals, and shreddding guitar leads. I love The Cult, and you might too if you knew something about them.
*****
One song I played was "Crossroads" by Cream. I have never been able to replicate Eric Clapton's chops on this song, he was that good some forty years ago. I have never improved enough to match that level of precise speed and talent. Eric Clapton definitely deserves all the succeess and respect he has earned over the years. He is one of a kind.
*****
I love the music of the Pinkertones and Madrid de las Austurias, both bands from Spain. Check out the Pinkertones doing "Sonido Total" in Spanish. They feature some excellent acccoustic playing in the middle of this song. One song by Madrid de las Austurias is called "La Vente y Luna" , sung by a very sexy lady that will shred you, she is that hot! Meanwhile, in the background, is some of the best jazz type piano work that you can find. This is a great song. Check out these bands from Spain.
*****
If you have Rhapsody, like I do, finding out about these new bands is pretty easy to do, and fairly cheap too. Also you can get most of these albums directly from Amazon.
Mr. Charming
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
How Rock Music Ruined this Country
Rock and Roll Music helped to turn me into a Lunatic.
*****
My Dad always loved music, although he could not hold a note to save his own skin. He had these old 78's, mostly Gospel Music, which he loved dearly. This type of music conveys a great deal of expression; it has "soul".
*****
My dad would work on some project in the garage, often with the radio blasting some kiind of country and hillbillie music, which I found to be dumb and abominable. Sometimes they would play some Johnny Cash, which we both agreed upon. I love Johnny Cash, and still do. I still love my Dad, and he passed away some twety years ago.
*****
One of my first albums ever was "Meet the Beatles". I think this came out in 1964. Even my parents knew who the Beatles were, as they had been watched on the Ed Sullivan show, and had proven to be very successful entertainers. Later we discovered they were probably musical geniuses, too.
*****
I think that the sixties might have been the Golden Age of Television, which also helped to change everything.
The had variety shows, like the Ed Sullivan show, and the Red Skelton show. But they also had shows like the Smothers Brothers, and Laugh In, which were quite different in their natures.
*****
Growing up, I watched all these shows on television. We did not have much, but we always seemed to have some crappy black and white TV that worked pretty good. We of course did not have cable, or color TV, or any way to record these shows. You sat there and watched them in the Moment, or you would be penalized and would have to wait six months for the re-runs in case you missed anything.
*****
Some of the best shows that I can remember were the Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, and Petticoat Junction. I loved the Man from Uncle, although the Girl from Uncle was a real stinker! Get Smart was a great show, and so was Hogan's Heroes. These are all shows I remember watching as a kid.
*****
My parents naturally hated the Beatles. My Dad thought they were just a bunch of Sissy Boys, and would have nothing to do with them. My Mom could actuallly care less about the whole thing. My Mom liked to read books, and still does. This is a bad habit I later acquired too, and has plagued me for the rest of my life.
*****
I spent the next forty years buying books, storing them in a makeshift library, in order to remember quickly what I have read in the past. That way I can see the path my thinking has taken me, and can pull down a book from the shelf for a reference, if I need to.
*****
I did not buy much else, except for stocks. I became a very successful trader over time, and right now I have accumulated some wealth. I really do not own anything that is of any value - I am reminded of the Eastern line of thought which states that "That which you hold holds you." I do not need that kind of heavy magnetism bearing down on me. When I return to Portland I will sell some books that I no longer need, and will donate others to the Public Library for a tax write-off. I will either sell or give away my crappy furniture. I will keep all my carpentry and gardening tools, and a couple of good ladders and my bicycles. I will travel light, and the move will be very efficient. I have no need to haul a ton of junk half way around the country!
*****
Rock and Roll Music changed everything in the United States. Young men and women were growing their hair long, smoked marijuana, and walked around nearly naked all summer, playing their stupid bongos and going to peace rallies. This all amounted to a lot of fun, and the government naturally could not allow this. Names were written down secretly, and these filthy hippie nests had to be broken up. Us versus them.
*****
Meanwhile, the entire country was becoming polarized over the Viet Nam war. Blame it on this infernal Rock Music, or blame it on Television, or both. Rock and Roll Music supplied the back ground noise to all of this confusion.
*****
My own story turned pretty good. When I turned 18 they had just gotten rid of the draft (Yay!) and legally I could drink like hell and get snockered with all my friends from high school. My friends were all growing their hair longer, and so was I. Our adult lives stretched before us, full of wonderment and promise. We were all lucky enough to have been born into this age of changee, a maelstrom of it right in front of us. Life was going to be interesting. And it was.
*****
Mr. Charming
*****
My Dad always loved music, although he could not hold a note to save his own skin. He had these old 78's, mostly Gospel Music, which he loved dearly. This type of music conveys a great deal of expression; it has "soul".
*****
My dad would work on some project in the garage, often with the radio blasting some kiind of country and hillbillie music, which I found to be dumb and abominable. Sometimes they would play some Johnny Cash, which we both agreed upon. I love Johnny Cash, and still do. I still love my Dad, and he passed away some twety years ago.
*****
One of my first albums ever was "Meet the Beatles". I think this came out in 1964. Even my parents knew who the Beatles were, as they had been watched on the Ed Sullivan show, and had proven to be very successful entertainers. Later we discovered they were probably musical geniuses, too.
*****
I think that the sixties might have been the Golden Age of Television, which also helped to change everything.
The had variety shows, like the Ed Sullivan show, and the Red Skelton show. But they also had shows like the Smothers Brothers, and Laugh In, which were quite different in their natures.
*****
Growing up, I watched all these shows on television. We did not have much, but we always seemed to have some crappy black and white TV that worked pretty good. We of course did not have cable, or color TV, or any way to record these shows. You sat there and watched them in the Moment, or you would be penalized and would have to wait six months for the re-runs in case you missed anything.
*****
Some of the best shows that I can remember were the Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, and Petticoat Junction. I loved the Man from Uncle, although the Girl from Uncle was a real stinker! Get Smart was a great show, and so was Hogan's Heroes. These are all shows I remember watching as a kid.
*****
My parents naturally hated the Beatles. My Dad thought they were just a bunch of Sissy Boys, and would have nothing to do with them. My Mom could actuallly care less about the whole thing. My Mom liked to read books, and still does. This is a bad habit I later acquired too, and has plagued me for the rest of my life.
*****
I spent the next forty years buying books, storing them in a makeshift library, in order to remember quickly what I have read in the past. That way I can see the path my thinking has taken me, and can pull down a book from the shelf for a reference, if I need to.
*****
I did not buy much else, except for stocks. I became a very successful trader over time, and right now I have accumulated some wealth. I really do not own anything that is of any value - I am reminded of the Eastern line of thought which states that "That which you hold holds you." I do not need that kind of heavy magnetism bearing down on me. When I return to Portland I will sell some books that I no longer need, and will donate others to the Public Library for a tax write-off. I will either sell or give away my crappy furniture. I will keep all my carpentry and gardening tools, and a couple of good ladders and my bicycles. I will travel light, and the move will be very efficient. I have no need to haul a ton of junk half way around the country!
*****
Rock and Roll Music changed everything in the United States. Young men and women were growing their hair long, smoked marijuana, and walked around nearly naked all summer, playing their stupid bongos and going to peace rallies. This all amounted to a lot of fun, and the government naturally could not allow this. Names were written down secretly, and these filthy hippie nests had to be broken up. Us versus them.
*****
Meanwhile, the entire country was becoming polarized over the Viet Nam war. Blame it on this infernal Rock Music, or blame it on Television, or both. Rock and Roll Music supplied the back ground noise to all of this confusion.
*****
My own story turned pretty good. When I turned 18 they had just gotten rid of the draft (Yay!) and legally I could drink like hell and get snockered with all my friends from high school. My friends were all growing their hair longer, and so was I. Our adult lives stretched before us, full of wonderment and promise. We were all lucky enough to have been born into this age of changee, a maelstrom of it right in front of us. Life was going to be interesting. And it was.
*****
Mr. Charming
The Flags of Many Nations
Sorting out the various flags from different countries is pretty simple business.
*****
Counties seem to want to promote religion or politics. For example, finland, Iceland, and Denmark all feature the Christian Cross prominently on their flags. Turkey, Pakistan, and Azebaijan all feature the crescent moon, symbolising a Moslem heritage. Naturally, the Israelis have the star of David. South Korea sports a Ying-Yang symbol, which portrays life in balance.
*****
Other countries are still promoting communism. Cuba and Vietnam both feature a red star.
*****
There are many other flags which are usually tri-color bars. A few flags are down right macho! Among these would be the flag of Mexico, which shows an eagle with a snake in its claw. Equally fearsome is the flag for Wales, which sports the mythical Griffin.
*****
The state flag of Michigan strikes me as very gay. Here we have a deer, squared off with an elk. It looks as if they were caught in the middle of a gay sword fight. I have no idea what they trying to promote with this flag.
Utah has a stupid bee hive on theirs. Oregon has a dumb looking beaver. California at least has a bear on theirs, and bears are fearsome.
Mr. Charming
*****
Counties seem to want to promote religion or politics. For example, finland, Iceland, and Denmark all feature the Christian Cross prominently on their flags. Turkey, Pakistan, and Azebaijan all feature the crescent moon, symbolising a Moslem heritage. Naturally, the Israelis have the star of David. South Korea sports a Ying-Yang symbol, which portrays life in balance.
*****
Other countries are still promoting communism. Cuba and Vietnam both feature a red star.
*****
There are many other flags which are usually tri-color bars. A few flags are down right macho! Among these would be the flag of Mexico, which shows an eagle with a snake in its claw. Equally fearsome is the flag for Wales, which sports the mythical Griffin.
*****
The state flag of Michigan strikes me as very gay. Here we have a deer, squared off with an elk. It looks as if they were caught in the middle of a gay sword fight. I have no idea what they trying to promote with this flag.
Utah has a stupid bee hive on theirs. Oregon has a dumb looking beaver. California at least has a bear on theirs, and bears are fearsome.
Mr. Charming
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