My birthday is coming up...

The Top 100 Drags On...

I'm counting them back from ZZ Top forward as I bare my soul and give you my CDs that would be cool to have on a deserted island or anywhere really. The last artist on the list was Joe Walsh and we zoom past Jerry Jeff Walker, Rick Wakeman and even past Stevie Ray Vaughn...wha?

There is no mistaking Stevie; his body of work will stand against anyone's. I just didn't think he released that one powerful LP that formed my musical experiences. Great songs, great style. I think when I first heard Stevie (at 26) my musical alliances had already been formed. Hearing a piece of music at 21 (as inferior as it may be) may have been more influencial. That explanation leads to another in my top 100 of all time

Gino Vanelli's "Brother To Brother" This cat had it going on in the seventies. I first got introduced to Gino by a song I heard on the radio one day called "People Gotta Move" .

Working at an "underground" FM station, I discovered "Storm at Sun Up". This discovery was actually made by a suitor of mine who suggested it was "the greatest piece of music to make love to ever". Can't say she was wrong. That made him very cool in my book

As a matter of fact, I used that piece of music to my advantage many times, and being the careless, young and crazy guy I was, it worked frequently.
"A Pauper in Paradise" 1977 The first side of the album (cassette) was brilliant. The second side with an orchestra was shit.

Which leads us to his masterpiece (in my opinion) "Brother to Brother" which came out in 1978.

With the hit, "I Just Wanna Stop", this LP had everything. Well produced, crisp sounding songs that were played really well. "Appaloosa" kicks it off in high gear and "I Just Wanna Stop" has a smooth cool vibe. "Brother to Brother" is the workout masterpiece. The perfect soundtrack to 1978, right before I became someone. With this guy's hair and looks, anything I could do to have him rub off on me was worth it.

My top ten Gino songs:

10. "The River Must Flow" very funky number on "Brother to Brother"

09. "Mardi Gras" from A Pauper in Paradise

08. "A Song and Dance" from A Pauper in Paradise

07. "Mama Coco" from People Gotta Move

06. "I Just Wanna Stop" his big hit from "Brother to Brother"

05."People Gotta Move" from Powerful People


04. "Appaloosa" from "Brother to Brother"

damn, you have to admire him just for the hair

03. "Black Cars" his "comeback" from 1985. KSHE played this..believe or or don't


02. "Storm At Sunup" from "Storm At Sunup" She was so right, the best aphrodisiac ever.

01. "Brother To Brother" the musicianship is extraordinary in this video.


Quite the showman, probably got more in one week than most guys did in a month.
A true musical mulligan.

R I P John Stewart

He was a member of the Kingston Trio and co-wrote the song "Daydream Believer" for the Monkees. When I really jumped into radio in early 1979, KY 102 played the shit out of "Gold" featuring vocals by Stevie Nicks and a nasty guitar solo by Lindsay Buckingham. Was married for 40 years to the same person. There goes another one...

Here's his story.

Another great one hit wonder here..

R I P Suzanne Pleshette

I had such a wild crush on her in high school. Bob Newhart was the luckiest guy on the planet to wake up to that every day. 35 years ago when the show was in it's hey day, she was 35 and I was 17. Hey, it would've worked. What a beautiful woman. She died of respiratory failure yesterday at the age of 70. Two husbands preceded her in death. One, Tom Poston, just recently. Beauty, style and grace. My heart is sad for her family and for losing another one of those people that made my life just a bit better. The song that played in the beginning was a song titled "Going Home To Emily". Emily goes home.

Advertisements That Wouldn't Quite Fly Today

Innocence is sexy. But not if she looks like she's EIGHT!!!

Uh...there is only one guy who has both hands visible, and he seems to be having way too much fun.

I am thinking 1960 or so, huh?



Today, he'd have a harrassment suit slapped on him so fast, it'd make his head spin.























If you look at the fine print on the cola ad, it reads "Laboratory tests over the last few years have proven that babies who start drinking soda during that early, formative period have a much better chance of gaining acceptance and 'fitting in' during those awkward pre-teen and teenage years. So, do yourself a favor, do your child a favor. Start them on a strict regimen of sodas and other surgary carbonated beverages right now, for a lifetime of guaranteed happiness." The study was probably done by the Soda Pop Board of America along with the National Dentists association.

BeeGees=Beatles?

WFMUs Beware of the Blog has links to a couple of early BeeGees' songs that sound very much like Beatles and John Lennon songs. The first is "In My Own Time" "which could be the musical result of Dr. Robert meeting the Taxman in the Rain."
And there's "Have You Heard the Word"with a snockered Maurice Gibb practically channeling John Lennon.
The boozily Beatlesque result somehow found release, evidently without the permission of the principals, in 1970 as a single on the tiny U.K. label Beacon Records, with this one-off congregation identified as The Fut. Did they do a good job? Just ask the bootleggers, who have placed the track on countless Beatles boots, hoodwinking many a rabid Fab Four obsessive.
Again, did they do a good job? Just ask Yoko Ono, who in 1985 attempted to register "Have You Heard the Word" as a John Lennon composition.
If this is your cup of tea as much as it is mine, I recommend the Bee Gees' lysergically-fortified Bee Gees' 1st, their first album, remastered and released on the Rhino label, which has "In My Own Time" on it. Link

Chuck Jones and Charlie Rose

An interview in 1994 with Chuck Jones and Charlie Rose (at the 22 minute mark). Chuck talks about (and draws)Bugs, Elmer, Daffy, Wile E. Coyote, Roadrunner and more. I love this stuff.

Rosie The Riveter

Picture from 1943. Link here. Love the nails. The Greatest Generation.

Backstage Pass Number 15

1986. Big comeback. They were beautiful.

Another One Hit Wonder

I am a sucker for great harmonies...and a great hook. This is from 1990 and a band called Alias. I still love this song today. Hairband? Maybe but the two singers were from Sheriff. The drummer, bassist and guitar player were from Heart.




Guilty pleasure.

In Praise of...The St. Louis Blues

Hockey was dead in the water in this city two years ago. The old owner decided to sell off the team piece by piece and then the strike just about killed any kind of attachment to the team. We didn't know anyone on the team and we just didn't care. Enter: new management. Dave Checketts buys the team, installs John Davidson as the guy. They eat crow publicly. Their media campaign is based on the theme "whatever it takes". They go get Paul Kariya and a number of pretty good players. They draft well. They get a coach who is smart and "gets it" when it comes to dealing with the media. Every time I see him in the halls, he talks to me by name. Nice. It has paid off well for them, they have been the talk of the town even during football season and have sold out a number of dates this season. It's great to see 20,000 people there every night. (Disclosure...we carry the Blues, so if they do well, we hope to do well, too). Tomorrow is free food day, see a hockey game and fill up on grub, for free. How cool is that? Nice job guys. Coming from a marginal hockey fan, I am glad you are in town. Keep up the great work.

R I P Marty Hendin/Georgia Frontiere

Thanks Marty. Just for being a baseball geek that went to school in University City. Just for being a guy who would openly and publicly admit that you had the best job in America; Public and Media Relations director for the Cardinals. And for being one of the easiest and kindest guys ever to deal with. I first met Marty in 1985 when I requested my first tickets as a St. Louis resident and one time big shot. He never forgot me and rarely failed in providing a request to see the Cardinals. He had every promotional schwag he had ever been involved with. That's decades of stuff. No one in this city had anything less than a profound affection and respect for the unflappable one. "No sweat". Thanks again Marty for being one of the truly real good guys. See ya down the road. Done too soon at 59.I am not much of a Rams fan. I think the teams that they put on the field from 1999-2003 will be remembered as some of the best ever but I just don't have an emotional tie to this team. I thought it was a crappy deal that brought the Rams here. We get a team but someone loses theirs? Hardly seems fair. Georgia inherited the team from her late husband, one of seven. The President of the team lives in LA, doesn't spend any time in St. Louis and right now, they suck. But she brought them here and for a few magical years, the Dome (one of the worst places in the world to see a game) was rocking. It's not now. So, I appreciate it. I hope I live to be 80.

Another Old Gas Station

I can imagine having an ice cold RC cola and a MoonPie sitting right there on that bench.
With Diane Lane sitting next to me....and then Mom woke me for school.

KY Coat

circa 1985

Norilsk Russia

I am weeding out some of the CDs I haven't listened to in a long time. Some have been a good investment, some not so good. They have all had some meaning to me in the past. If I haven't listened to a CD in the last twenty years, it's gone. I shipped one today to Norilsk Russia.

Here:

And here:

I will post more of the obsure places people bid from.

KYYS-RIP?

In it's heyday, KYYS-FM (KY 102) owned Kansas City. It was here that a 23 year old punk kid from the farm via the Quad Cities learned his craft and found his niche. I first heard KY while taking a trip from the Quad Cities to Ava, Mo to Denver to see a friend of mine early in 1978. As I passed thorough town, I thought it was a very good sounding radio station. Somehow, someway, through the grace of God, Max Floyd found me and gave me a chance to fail. Here's the show, go do it. Starting in September of 1978 and continuing to June of 1985, I did afternoons, nights, weekends, production, you name it, I did it and I loved it. I got to interview people I grew up listening to but never, ever thought I would meet, let alone spend time with.
Robin Trower, Steve Perry, Jon Anderson, Bob Seger, Geddy Lee, John Mellencamp, Lou Reed, Ozzy, Frank Zappa....and it all happened right there on Southwest Trafficway, owned by Taft Broadcasting. My first engineer was a guy by the name of Randy Michaels, who told me the tower height, location and effective radiated power of the station I had just arrived from. Off the top of his head. I went out with some of the most beautiful women in the world. Liza Gibbons and others who are some of the most colorful parts of my life story. The ubiquitous Hippo! All of the talented people that walked those halls. Paul Fredrocks, who, in my mind, was the most talented guy we ever had. Dick and Jay. Joe MacCabe. Ray Sherman. Brad Oleson. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Max Floyd and his rock and roll army, Randy and Katie with their valuable Nightrocker cards (redeemable for nothing), the dulcet, smooth sounds of Mr. Vaughn Mac. Skid Roadie. Frankie and the Knockouts. And the ever present always on top of the movie world....Jaaack Poessiger (see previous post). {Heavy ass sigh} KYYS (KY 102) was blown up in 1994 and resurrected on another frequency. It wasn't the same, though and today comes word that it's blown up again.
KYYS-FM (1974-2008)

"The business I miss is no longer the business anymore."-Randy Raley March 2007

Stuff On A Sunday Morning

I have a chance to contemplate the first week of the new year. As I sit here listening to some blues I have some thoughts(don't I always?)....In St. Louis, we are getting ready for a MAJOR shutdown of a main artery. Interstate 64/40 is closed for about two years starting really tomorrow. It was closed on January 2nd but the big traffic rush will be tomorrow. All the high schools and vacationers are back and it will be a mess. While they are updgrading on/off ramps that were built in the thirties, they are not widening the highway or putting in a metro link line. It will be closed from Spoede to Brentwood for a year then from Brentwood to Spring for another year. God help us, there will be road rage galore here.

My duties have been expanded at the station. It's nice to have a job and it's nice to have one at a place like KMOX. I can get there a little after rush hour and stay late. I hope to miss most of the rush.

I have nothing but great admiration for Pat Summerall. I have never thought much of him as an announcer, but God love him, he has been in the business forever; that takes some doing and for that, he has my respect. It's time to go. The Mizzou game was great but marred by some of the most shoddy play by play I have ever heard. He missed plays, numbers and sometmes sounded like he was completely lost. I am very ambivelent when it comes to forcing someone out (I will be there someday soon), I don't think Pat needs the money or the fame. His days with John Madden were memorable but that was a long time ago. Which leads me to this...

Fox Sports has the worst line up of play by play teams of any network. Mizzou got screwed on their coverage and the rest of the line up just hurts my head. I was in such agony listening to the bowls that I had to turn down the volume. It made me long for Brent Musberger, and that is bad. Which leads me to this...

This is the new Texas Stadium that Jerry Jones and his ego are building for 20 gazzilion dollars. Notice the two arches that are visible. While being the color guy for the Cotton Bowl (played right down the street), Brian Baldinger said this: ..."see the arches there at the stadium? Those arches are bigger than the arches in St. Louis that span the Mississippi..."

Really? OK then, I thought we only had one, and it was pretty much on the Missouri side. That's just me...horrible, horrible broadcasting but no one cares. Give me Mike Patrick, Al Michaels, Dick Enberg, etc.

A speedy recovery to Stephen Stills who had his prostate removed on his birthday. His people said he is doing great, so that's wonderful. I think Dan Fogelberg was getting better, too.

There are few things better than having a great mechanic.

I think it's Obama's race to lose. My question is how many white people will refuse to vote for him simply because he is black? Or because of his middle name? I would like to think we are passed that, but I am not so sure.

Happy Birthday Stephen Stills

Graham Nash while on The Larry King Show said Stephen has prostate cancer. I hope he gets well.
This is one of my fave SS songs and one that Firefall redid...enjoy.

..er...uh..wha?

How priceless...





Ozzy Osbourne is struggling to write his autobiography, because he can't remember anything that's happened to him. (you could stop here and finish the whole joke but alas the story continues)



The former Black Sabbath frontman - who successfully fought his addiction to drink and drugs - signed a reported $2 million book deal with publishers Little Brown almost two years ago.Since then Ozzy's wife, Sharon, has completed two memoirs of her own but the rocker's release date keeps getting pushed back, and the tome is now set to hit the shops next May. A source said: "I cannot imagine the book being ready in five months, because so far Ozzy hasn't written anything - he hasn't even got a ghostwriter yet." So it is going to be some time before the book actually appears, if it ever does." Ozzy - who once bit a bat's head off during a live show - recently confessed his memory had suffered because of his drink and drug abuse. He revealed: "My memory isn't what it used to because of the drugs and alcohol I've been living on for the best part of my adult life."I often get asked, 'Is it true you snorted a line of ants?' Knowing me, there's a very good possibility. But do I remember it? No way."

Come And Get Me Copper!!!

From The Washington Post:

Despite more than 20,000 lawsuits filed against music fans in the years since they started finding free tunes online rather than buying CDs from record companies, the recording industry has utterly failed to halt the decline of the record album or the rise of digital music sharing.
Still, hardly a month goes by without a news release from the industry's lobby, the Recording Industry Association of America, touting a new wave of letters to college students and others demanding a settlement payment and threatening a legal battle.
Now, in an unusual case in which an Arizona recipient of an RIAA letter has fought back in court rather than write a check to avoid hefty legal fees, the industry is taking its argument against music sharing one step further: In legal documents in its federal case against Jeffrey Howell, a Scottsdale, Ariz., man who kept a collection of about 2,000 music recordings on his personal computer, the industry maintains that it is illegal for someone who has legally purchased a CD to transfer that music into his computer.
The industry's lawyer in the case, Ira Schwartz, argues in a brief filed earlier this month that the MP3 files Howell made on his computer from legally bought CDs are "unauthorized copies" of copyrighted recordings.
"I couldn't believe it when I read that," says Ray Beckerman, a New York lawyer who represents six clients who have been sued by the RIAA. "The basic principle in the law is that you have to distribute actual physical copies to be guilty of violating copyright. But recently, the industry has been going around saying that even a personal copy on your computer is a violation."
RIAA's hard-line position seems clear. Its Web site says: "If you make unauthorized copies of copyrighted music recordings, you're stealing. You're breaking the law and you could be held legally liable for thousands of dollars in damages."
They're not kidding. In October, after a trial in Minnesota -- the first time the industry has made its case before a federal jury -- Jammie Thomas was ordered to pay $220,000 to the big record companies. That's $9,250 for each of 24 songs she was accused of sharing online.
Whether customers may copy their CDs onto their computers -- an act at the very heart of the digital revolution -- has a murky legal foundation, the RIAA argues. The industry's own Web site says that making a personal copy of a CD that you bought legitimately may not be a legal right, but it "won't usually raise concerns," as long as you don't give away the music or lend it to anyone.
Of course, that's exactly what millions of people do every day. In a Los Angeles Times poll, 69 percent of teenagers surveyed said they thought it was legal to copy a CD they own and give it to a friend. The RIAA cites a study that found that more than half of current college students download music and movies illegally.
The Howell case was not the first time the industry has argued that making a personal copy from a legally purchased CD is illegal. At the Thomas trial in Minnesota, Sony BMG's chief of litigation, Jennifer Pariser, testified that "when an individual makes a copy of a song for himself, I suppose we can say he stole a song." Copying a song you bought is "a nice way of saying 'steals just one copy,' " she said.
But lawyers for consumers point to a series of court rulings over the last few decades that found no violation of copyright law in the use of VCRs and other devices to time-shift TV programs; that is, to make personal copies for the purpose of making portable a legally obtained recording.
As technologies evolve, old media companies tend not to be the source of the innovation that allows them to survive. Even so, new technologies don't usually kill off old media: That's the good news for the recording industry, as for the TV, movie, newspaper and magazine businesses. But for those old media to survive, they must adapt, finding new business models and new, compelling content to offer.
The RIAA's legal crusade against its customers is a classic example of an old media company clinging to a business model that has collapsed. Four years of a failed strategy has only "created a whole market of people who specifically look to buy independent goods so as not to deal with the big record companies," Beckerman says. "Every problem they're trying to solve is worse now than when they started."
The industry "will continue to bring lawsuits" against those who "ignore years of warnings," RIAA spokesman Jonathan Lamy said in a statement. "It's not our first choice, but it's a necessary part of the equation. There are consequences for breaking the law." And, perhaps, for firing up your computer.

So, the deal is: if I a song that I bought on my iTunes and not share it with anyone, that's a violation of the law? So, if I go buy the new "Eagles" CD, take it home (having paid for it), download it to my Itunes, don't share it with anyone, download it to my Ipod to go walking, running, sauna, etc, I am in violation of the law? Are you kidding me? Then, if that is the case, come and get me coppers!

A Route 66 New Years Eve

Tonight following the Blues game (about 9pm CST or so), I will ring in the new year like Dick Clark. We will be counting down the top 30 songs as picked by the loyal listeners of KMOX. The countdown starts at nine and should end up right around midnight (if I don't blow it). So, if you listening from far away, it's KMOX.com and click on "listen live".

For those of you in town, it's 1120 AM on your radio dial. And if the weather stays like this, you might even be able to listen as far away as Texas. Humbled and proud to be your dutiful radio servant (savant?), I am...

Survey Sez...

In order to celebrate a new year and to keep your interest here, I have set up a poll site to your right. I will change the questions from week to week and if you have any questions you would like to share, send em in, I will certainly consider them. the first/last question of 2008/2007 is posted. Tell me what you think.

Gettin A Bit Tired of These...

Uh...I Think It's Called Prep..Ya Might Want to Try That

How not to start an interview. (Swear to God John Cusack looks just like my son)

Photoshop Fun, The Eyes Have It (the mouths that is)

Very cool photoshop project that has the eyes of famous people replaced by their mouth. Interesting, freaky and downright weird.

Past Christmas Magic

I had one of these, I remember it so well, it about broke my mom and dad to get it.



During this holiday season, Telstar Logistics is proud to offer our readers a soothing counterpoint to the relentless commercialism of Christmas present... by taking you on an illustrated tour of the relentless commercialism of Christmas past.

Inspired by the fact that several friends of this Internet weblog recently forwarded us the same excerpts from a 1977 JC Penny catalog, Telstar Logistics reached into our vast corporate archive and emerged clutching a pristine copy of the 1962 Sears Christmas Book.

As you browse the Sears catalog, keep in mind that, according to the Inflation Calculator, $1 in 1962 was equivalent to $6.51 in 2006 dollars. Conversely, $1 in 2006 was equivalent to $0.15 in 1962.


Obviously, this catalog offers a treasure trove of insight into the tastes and domestic habits of a typical American family living 45 years ago, so we've reproduced a broad cross-section of the book which shows everything from childrens' wear and phonograph equipment to power tools and ski gear. Holiday gifts for everyone on your list, from budding young scientists to Bible-thumping fundamentalists! A few of the greatest hits are shown here, but you'll find more than 160 pages of consumerist archaeology at our 1962 Sears Catalog photoset.

Merry shopping!

LINKS:
1962 Sears Christmas Book (Flickr photoset by Telstar Logistics)

Wishbookweb.com (Enthusiast website with complete scans of historic department store catalogs)

The Countdown Continues...

Late summer, 1973, the job is winding down at the drive-in, I am getting ready for my last year of public education and life is pretty mellow. On the radio comes this weird sounding frieght train guitar riff and words that meant absolutely nothing. That freight train riff and the solo in the middle were courtesy of my now friend Bob Heil, inventor of the "talk box". The song was "Rocky Mountain Way". My favorite DJ at the time Rich Ericson had just been fired by the "lite rock" station and he made his triumphant return to the legendary top 40 station (KSTT)by playing "Rocky Mountain Way " and declaring openly that he was happy to be back because that was a song that they never "allowed" him to play at the "lite rock" station! Yeah! Right On! I immediately made a contribution to his defiance by buying the album. I knew Joe from The James Gang and I also bought "Barnstorm" although I was a bit disappointed in it. The rest of the album sounds nothing like "Rocky Mountain Way".
Very laid back and trippy for me. I was experimenting a bit with different things and found the vibe to be very nice. "Book Ends" was a bit of a throwaway and "Wolf" a bit of a downer. Really dug the instrumental "Midnight Moodies" with Joe on keyboards and guitar and a Jethro Tull sounding flute. "Happy Ways" is a Joe Vitale song with a tropical beat and a great middle eight. "Meadows" is typical Joe (in a good sense) and "Dreams" is like floating away. "Days Gone By" is probably my fave over the years and "Daydream Prayer" is the coda where the band steps out on stage taking their bows.

At the time, this was an imporatnat release to me as I drove a long distance to work. I think I went through two eight tracks in all.

Honorable Mention




Loved both of these too...

My Christmas Song Present For You..

It doesn't get much better than this...enjoy!!

For God So Loved The World....

.... that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. John 3:16

Merry Christmas and may the love and the light of the Lord shine on you this holiday season.

Stupid Sports Junk

I have been watching a lot of college basketball. It's a great time of year for that. Over the weekend I saw the Memphis/Georgetown game along with Illinois/Missouri. Here is the one thing that gets me. What in the hell happened to the fine art of shooting free throws? Man, I have never seen so many "athletes" clank free throws. Missouri hit 12-23 and the rest of the teams were as bad or worse. Does no one teach this stuff anymore? Or are players just concerned about ho to make 360 degree super slam dunk shots. If Mizzou would have hit at least 67% of their free throws (barely passing), they would have won the game.
This is how I always learned it...

1. Balance yourself at the free throw line. Keep your feet shoulder-width apart and parallel to one another.
2. Point both feet and square your upper body toward the basket. Position your feet just behind the line; move one of your feet back an inch or two, if that's comfortable.
3. Hold the ball by using the hand of your nonshooting arm to support and cradle it lightly. Place the middle three fingers of your shooting hand on the seams of the ball, with your thumb and palm acting as supports.
4. Keep your shooting forearm straight, and avoid tilting it to one side. Try to keep the arm that will be releasing the ball oriented toward the basket.
5. Aim for a target just above the rim, and try not to shoot the ball short. A good target is the backboard shooting square drawn above the rim.
6. Bend your knees. An accurate shot doesn't rely on arm strength; it uses leg strength to propel the shooter upward.
7. Shoot in one fluid motion, straightening your knees to strengthen the shot and your arm to provide aim. Release the ball with your fingertips. This allows you more control over your shot and a softer arc because of the backspin you create.
8. Follow through by bending your shooting hand forward, as though you're reaching for the rim.
Tips & Warnings
Practice, practice, practice.
Being comfortable with your shot can make a big difference. If you find a motion that helps, such as adding a little hop while shooting, use it.
Take your time at the line. Most players bounce the ball or spin it in their hands before setting up their free throws.

See? Pretty damn easy. That's why they call it a "free throw". From a guy who used to shoot 87% at the line, I am appalled at the lack of fundamentals that permeate this sport.