The beginning of a Jones...

When I tell the story of how I stumbled upon this incredible jones I have for music (a story I'm sure I'll be telling in my old age whether anyone is listening or not), it usually goes like this; "The first time I remember being hit with the lightning bolt was one night my Dad played the 45 of "Hello Goodbye" by the Beatles (especially the "Hey-la" part at the end). Then, it hit again when my Dad would flip over his 'Let It Bleed' album to side two and go through 6 odd minutes of joy to "Midnight Rambler". For my 10th birthday, I finally got my first album, the Doobie Brothers 'The Captain & Me' after relentless bugging of my Dad to get this at Sears for the sale price of $3.33." Now, what I don't tell people (and this may be the first public confession) is what was in between "Midnight Rambler" and the Doobies. Yes, folks, I was (closet door opens) a Monkees fan. I loved the goofiness of the show (I was, what, 6? 7?) and liked the songs. This led to me wanting to be in groups and alla the things kids dream about when they find something they're really into. Before we made the move west in the early 70's, between my Aunt and my cousins, I had aquired 'The Monkees', 'More of the Monkees' and 'The Monkees Headquarters'. The movers managed to lose the 'More' record but not the cover (I had two records crammed into the cover). These records continued to be treasured until I started my fascination of the Doobie Brothers. The Monkees quickly got shoved into my past, under the carpet and into the closet. Now, I bought far more embarrassing records during the 70's (which I don't plan on telling you about either) but, the Monkees were for little kids! And I left them there to stay. I winced at every movie that would play "I'm a Believer", and almost every other Monkees song or reference. Today's passing of Davy Jones made me think back to those early days and where this thing all began. Even though I couldn't bring myself to jump on the revival wagon with everyone who thinks it's cool to admit they like all kinds of hideous music and pop culture from the 60's and 70's (god, enough Journey already!), I do think it's cool that they did bring themselves from just acting and lip-synching to being full fledged musicians (which Mike Nesmith already was anyways) and becoming more than a kiddie fad. One song I will give them credit on though, is the one that ran over the end credits of each show, "For Pete's Sake", presented here, on this historical occasion. Groovin' on...

Time flies...

Hey there groovies and groovettes! Where does the time go! Seems like just a few weeks ago I was taking pictures of alla my records and telling y'all about it. Another long gap between entries and it also doesn't look like we're gonna make it through alla the albums this year. Unless, of course, I go on a non-stop 5 day listening marathon.

Well, it's been 13 months now since NOTIMEWARP RADIO went into ghost hiatus mode. Man, do I hate it. During this time, I've met some pretty hep cats on Facebook who would so appreciate the righteous grooves delivered on a daily basis by said radio station. And the music I've acquired in that time needs to be spread out there for all to hear! So, with alla that in mind, I think it's time for a comeback. The best I can do at this point, is to return to the same format I had before on Live 365. A lotta the limitations from before are still there, on both their end and on mine too but, at least getting the songs out there is doable. As time progresses, I'll keep working (stop laughing) and researching and gathering to someday present the kind of station I know needs to be out there. So, the time frame we're shootin' fer is around the enda the year, give or take a coupla few months either way. Finding time to do alla the work is hard this time of year (YOU buy a sports package and try not to get yer money's worth) but each passing day, that passion burns hotter and hotter. Follow the blog and the fan page on Facebook for updates and alla that jazz.

The ultra cool pic is from Jimmie Vaughan's show here back in June. Not the sharpest of pics but still ultra cool. Now to watch some Rolling Stones...
Albums listened to since last post; "I Robot", "Pyramid" (Alan Parsons Project), "Now and Zen" (Robert Plant), "Flowers", "Flashpoint", "Stripped" (Rolling Stones), "The Joshua Tree" (U2), "Trouble in Mind" (Mance Lipscomb), "Minute By Minute" (Doobie Brothers), "Magazine", "Bebe Le Strange", "Greatest Hits / Live" (Heart), "Before the Rain" (Lee Oskar), "No Reason to Cry" (Eric Clapton) . Total listened to: 150. To go: 438 (142 days)

Record Store Day blues 2011

Ok, I didn't get the Blues as much as I brought home some Blues. Despite the date at the top of the post, today is Record Store Day 2011, April 16. I scanned the list of special releases coming out today and prepared my list. After synching up my CD and album lists with my Blackberry, I hit the road. First store was modestly packed and I was able to find one record on my list, the special reissue of John Hammond (Jr.)'s "So Many Roads". Sporting a stellar support cast of Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Mike Bloomfield (on piano!), and Charlie Musselwhite, I figured this belongs amongst my other pieces of great aural history. The next store was within walking distance and, after a short wait for them to open ("Don't they know this is a holiday?"), we all go in to find out the store didn't order any of the Record Store Day releases. Not cool. It's really a great record store (do NOT look behind the counter...) but this was bad form. I headed over to store #3 to complete my day's shopping. In the mix was a reissue of the fantastic "The Immortal Mississippi John Hurt" (Country Blues at it's best) and a CD reissue of "Power of Soul: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix". I was actually kinda fooled by a special release of a 3 song single, with 2 songs from the CD and an unreleased live version of Robert Randolph doing 'Purple Haze'. Funny that the CD I bought had an issue date of 2011, when the CD was originally issued in 2004. In any event, it's well worth picking up for Clapton's scorching version of 'Burning of the Midnight Lamp', Prince's 'Purple House', Santana's 'Spanish Castle Magic', and a ridiculous 'Power of Soul' by Bootsy Collins with help from George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars. These songs were playlist staples when I had NOTIMEWARP RADIO going. I also grabbed me a CD copy of John Lennon's "Walls and Bridges" and the DVD of "Ladies and Gentlemen, The Rolling Stones". Not a bad score, I think. Too bad the Pink Floyd, Live in London 66/67 disc wasn't still available. While I really dig the resurgence of vinyl, both records cost me (give or take a coupla) $20. I've never paid that much for a single piece of music before. I think the record companies still aren't getting it or they've just found another way to stick it to us. For an industry so panicked about people stealing music, they continue to put it out there at excessive costs. Dunno... in my book, it just encourages people to look for cheaper options, which, while the anger is directed at the record labels, it's the artist who gets screwed again. But, anyway, time to get the good vibes going with that John Hammond record, some BBQ beans, a burger, then the Rolling Stones when they were the absolute baddest mofos on the planet! Down in the grooves...


Albums listened to since last post; "Aja" (Steely Dan), "Harvest" (Neil Young), "Stampede" (Doobie Brothers), "Touchdown" (Bob James), "No Wave" (Various), "About Face" (David Gilmour), "Al Green's Greatest Hits", "In the Mood" (John Lee Hooker), "The Secret Value of Daydreaming" (Julian Lennon). Total listened to: 90. To go: 598.

Oozing through the grooves...

Another large gap between posts but, here we are today. Gots the creative jones creeping in as I grab some more new music for the collection, itching to pick up my camera again, Record Store 2011 approaches, listening to tons of music all stirred up on my ipod classic... inspiration just oozing from all directions. It's starting to look like I'm gonna need some serious listening marathons to get through the whole collection by year's end. Regardless if I get through them all, I'm finding some great stuff I either haven't heard in years or just plain forget about. So, this edition's video is from 1975 as the Doobie Brothers rip through 'Neal's Fandango' and 'Road Angel', which the last one comes from the "What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits" album. The Doobies were my first "real" favorite band. I bought my first album, "The Captain and Me" for my 10th birthday. The Doobies were called a "bubblegum rock" band back then and I never got that. Ok, I was into them and was a 10 year old but, they weren't playing mindless pop; these guys rocked! Dig the vid -



Albums listened to since last post; "Toulouse Street", "What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits" (Doobie Brothers), "Band of Gypsys" (Jimi Hendrix), "Ghost in the Machine" (Police), "Gaucho" (Steely Dan), "Jailbreak" (Thin Lizzy), "Sweet Dreams" (Eurythmics), "Stone Crazy" (Buddy Guy), "Purple Rain" (Prince), "Sly & the Family Stone Greatest Hits". Total listened to: 81. To go: 605.

And the first album listened to this year is...

... also the first album I ever owned, "The Captain and Me", the 1973 album from the Doobie Brothers. As a nine year old still living back east, 'Long Train Running' totally captivated me. What a groove this song had (though I didn't realize at the time that was what was capturing my attention) and it rocked! That summer, the family headed west (or "to the moon" as I liked to put it). My birthday rolled around in September and this is what I wanted. Sears had all albums on sale for $3.33 (!). I bugged and bugged my father for this record. We may have gotten there the last day of the sale. But, damn it, I had my first record. And the whole family got to listen to that sucker at least once a day. The record is long since unplayable (I'm on copy #2) but I do still have the first record I ever owned, 37 years later...

I also got into the first two Aeromith albums today. While the first one tipped you off these guys were good, "Get Your Wings" brought the funk. They dropped down into a lowdown in da street groove with attitude. Right outta the gate, 'Same Old Song and Dance' and 'Lord of the Thighs' showed some serious teeth. Tight grooves, a bit of horns, a bit of snarl, and serious guitars. This was a whole 'nother ball game! All kindsa great stuff on there. The real hidden gem is 'Woman of the World'. I can't remember them really doing anything else like it. Man, this record sure does have my turntable excited... that needle's just jumpin' through side two...

Albums listed to since last post; "The Captain and Me" (Doobie Brothers), "Aerosmith", "Get Your Wings" (Aerosmith). Total listened to: 3. To go: 682 (364 days)