July 2010

I've been asked by a friend of mine to write more on the blog. He's thinking maybe a weekly update or something of the kind. Let's see what I can do. Hopefully, over the weekend, I'll be able to write some things down that at least make sense. I will ask myself only five questions, since I'm the mayor and I know me and I hate the press.
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Q. Randy, how's work and what is work these days?

I enjoy my work. It seems to be challenging and interesting. I feel part hall monitor, father, teacher, firefighter and therapist. I am the advertising director of Lee Enterprise's The Daily Journal in Park Hills, Mo along with weeklies Farmington Press and Fredericktown News Democrat directly overseeing a group of nine. Everyone of my nine are women, sans one. It makes for an interesting dynamic and with each department under a new stress level with more work being added on, it will be interesting and hopefully rewarding to walk them through this. Our technology is exploding and we can offer our clients so much more than just print. Would you like a course on Behavioral Targeting? I can send pre qualified, pre registered customers to my clients. When you sign on any search engine, it keeps information on where you go and develops a portrait of what you are looking for and where. With that info, I can send an ad from a car dealer directly to someone who's looking for a car. You've searched "mortgage" and when you come to my website, an ad for a mortgage guy will pop up. Unbelievable. This is all new. I can create a video ad to run on our website right from my desk. Want a demo? Call me. We are l journeying into uncharted waters and it's cool. But stressful. While learning this, my peeps must be out on the street, not in the conference room. So far, so good.
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Q. Randy, do you miss radio?

Desperately. And I probably always will. I would consider getting back into it, but I don't know if THAT job is available. It would have to be on air and with a side order of management thrown in. I don't think anyone is that stupid. I don't think radio misses me much, I don't think I'm what they're looking for in this PPM world. I have a secure vocation and it's the first time I've felt that way since right before I got fired the last time.

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Q. So how goes the internet station?

I have a small but loyal following of folks that listen all the time. I can go on the site that tells me where people are and there's always someone from Topeka and others all over the world that have this thing on. I've reached the point with it where someone is listening all the time. The numbers continue to creep up, slowly but surely. There's probably about 500 songs too many in there and we're getting ready for an update in a few weeks, so we'll be tweaking the tunes here and there. I really like the way it sounds. Hearing it plugged in the car is very cool and the sound is wonderful. On most days, I can get almost all the way to Park Hills and it'll drop out for a total of about six minutes. Other days, not so well. I find it refreshing that people dig this kind of radio. I knew there was something there.

Q. Do you believe in the "one that got away" theory?
yes.

Q. What do you mean yes and nothing else? Give me more.
I do believe, for what ever reason, the timing with certain individuals wasn't right. You moved away, they lost interest, they cheated, you cheated. There's only one I left behind. And that's five, thanks.

40 years ago...

I found out a lot of things about myself by being on the farm and maybe that's why I have always been comfortable (and sometimes prefer) living alone. The summer of 1970 was one of the most frustrating times of my life. I turned 14 the previous February. When my mom asked me what I wanted for my birthday I replied ..."to get the hell out of here." It made her cry. While my mother had a horrible life that led to her drinking herself to death, she cared deeply about her kids. She did the best she could, and let's leave it at that. I lived about 4 miles outside of Ava Mo. I never had a problem with Ava per se, it's actually kinds comfortable to go back there once in a while, it was just that Ava was in the middle of....nowhere. Kids were being killed at college, my brother was off fighting in some stupid engagement I never quite got (and still don't), the Woodstock generation was going on all over the country, everywhere, it seemed, things were happening and the world was exploding, everywhere but where I was. Things were exploding in my family too, as my brother had his heartbroken and I was wondering why in the hell my parents were living apart and I was stuck in the sticks with my grandparents, mother and sister. I spent the summer as far away from there as I could by just walking creeks (starting at one point and walking as far as you can, then turning around). I would routinely take my backpack with my tent, cooking supplies and an innertube and just walk and float for days. The radio was one of the things that got me through all of that, it was my window to the world to hear what Chicago, Little Rock, Denver, Nashville and other far away places sounded like. I liked it. Those guys on teh radio told me stories, made me laugh, think and sometimes cry over the 14 second intro of a song. I could even get the far away stations under the tent on the creeks with my transistor. That is, until the batteries would wear out.
Here are some of the songs of that summer that filled my life with joy...
The Billboard top 15 from Independence Day 1970...

1. Close to You-Carpenters (guilty pleasure, still love their music)
2. Make It With You-Bread (fell in love over this song...didn't last)
3. Mama Told Me -3 Dog Night(the song of the summer)
4. Band of Gold-Freda Payne (soul music at its finest)
5. Signed Sealed Delivered-Stevie Wonder (see above)
6. The Love You Save-Jackson Five (see above)
7. Spill The Wine-War (great song)
8. Ball of Confusion-Temptations (still relevant after all this time)
9. Tighter Tighter-Alive and Kickin (not a better one hit wonder ever)
10.Oooh Child-Five Stairsteps(another wonderful soulful song)

This was also the summer of Crosby Stills Nash and Young. I heard Ohio on the radio and went to the store to buy Deja Vu, thinking Ohio was on it. It wasn't and I wasn't happy. It has since become one of the most influential albums of my life. The summer of Suzie Gregg. If I ever get a time machine, this won't be a destination.

Back In The Saddle

I have talked to two or three people in the last week that wondered why I quit writing my blog. I really did not have an adequate answer other than the usual..."well, I've been really busy lately..."and then their reply was..."so you weren't then?" Good point. I know I've said it before but I am truly going to try and do this regularly. At one time, I had almost two hundred people coming here every day. Maybe this is where I test out my novelistic capabilities as I am writing the story of my life. It is a pretty interesting story but in order for it have the "it" factor, I must do what a lot of great writers do. Write it in the third person and embellish. I really don't have a problem with that, it would be up to the reader to figure out what's real and what is an illusion. A story of sex, drugs and rock and roll from the point of view from a guy who was lucky enough to land at a number of legendary rock and roll stations. I did a lot of drugs, made love to many beautiful women and was a part of two major cities rock and roll scene. I remember working in (of all places) Muscatine, Iowa and asking on the air which party had the hottest unattached women and damn straight, I got the answer. All this from a kid who would lock himself in his room every night just to keep my sanity. A life many have dreamed about but I have lived. Sex, drugs and rock and roll indeed. Once written, someone takes it, turns it into a screenplay and Showtime picks it up. Too racy for network TV, but just perfect for HBO or Showtime.

Richard Ward Fatherly

R I P

Planetradio.us Manifesto

I thought I would spend a minute or two on what has become my latest plan for world domination. When I set up my planetradio.us facebook page, I invited a number of my friends and family to check out what I was doing, and being that facebook is the next big thing happening now, I figured I'd give the whole "social networking" thing a shot. I don't think what this was about was evident. The station has over 500 fans, but I wonder if many are aware of what we are actually doing. To help you and me, I will approach this in a journalistic manner....

Who? Me, I guess, and Mike too. I was in the radio business for approximately 33 years, 4 months and 23 days, but who's counting (this picture being taken at my last stop)? Most of my experiences were in "AOR", which stood for Album Oriented Radio. I started in Muscatine Iowa for a station that was a dream to work for. No play list, but we had to keep it relatively familiar. I guess it spoiled me, because later in my career, I always wondered why we didn't play a wider variety of music and that philosophy cost me a job or two. The consultants will tell you that you have to play the hits, one philosophy that I believe, but the constant repetition has killed classic rock and especially oldies radio. Anyway, leaving Muscatine for the Quad Cities and doing mornings on the real first rock station there WXLP, I moved to Kansas City to take the night shift to a number one ranking at the legendary KY 102 from 1979-1981. I moved to afternoons in 1981 and then moved to St. Louis in 1985 to helm the afternoon show at KSHE. I was number one in my demo for about 13 years. I left KSHE to be a part of their stiffest competition ever 97.1, The Rock! After KSHE bought us, and fired me, I spent 40 days wondering around in the desert, moving from Kansas City to Nashville, Bloomington Illinois, Springfield Mo and finally back here. I have been a programmer, consultant and market manager. I only say that to qualify my experience and knowledge of the format

Mike Batchelor has been a part of the St. Louis radio scene for a long time and is now getting into station management. I told Mike what I wanted and he provided it for me. I recommend him highly if you are considering this.

What? It's a radio station on the internet that Mike and I have taken total responsiblity for. I am the programming genius and he is the technical brawn. It's available at www.planetradio.us
I have attempted to carve out a niche for intelligent, knowledgeable rock listeners. The people who were not only followers, but fanatics. I think this station has a certain style and class. I think it's the intelligent alternative to the dribble that is on the radio now. We have 4,146 songs in the system and 413 unique artists. I'm almost done with the music, I'm just filling holes at this time. You'll hear everything from Bread to Judas Priest, from Gordon Lightfoot to Black Sabbath and let's not forget Cat Stevens did other songs than "Wild World" and "Peace Train". But if you were to ask me what artist most represents this station, I would say Steely Dan, The Beatles and Bruce Springsteen. We are easy to receive, just go to the website and follow the directions.

When? We signed on about a month ago and I really didn't think we'd be "public ready" until March. I like what I hear so far, but fine tuning is a never ending ordeal. We're on 24/7 365 unless technical difficulties (I lose the wireless signal). I find there are more people listening overnight than I expected. (Yes, I can track that).

Where? It originates out of my office in beautiful Kirkwood, Missouri. I have people listening as far away as Australia and Belgium. The word is slowly but surely spreading.

Why? I felt that there was a need for a wide play list full of intelligent music whether that music is played by Jackson Browne or Blue Oyster Cult. I grew up in a time where you could hear The Carpenters and Alice Copper back to back. I just wonder why we still can't do that. It's all good music. We have the hits here, but we also have the complete soundtrack to a generation of knowledgeable, passionate rock fans who want more from their radio. It is literally all here.

Planetradio.us mission statement:.."to provide the planet with the best sounding, most intelligent, widest variety of classic rock music available anywhere".

www.planetradio.us

Picture Time

The Words of Shakespeare

I was in my hometown's local grocery store last night picking up some consumables and the new book about KSHE caught my eye. It's funny, even yesterday, someone said to me..."aren't you the Randy Raley from KSHE?" It's been almost twelve years since I left there, and STILL, to this day, that added phrase has seemingly become my last name. I spent a great 13 years at Real Rock Radio. Not all of the time was good. The physical confrontation I had with a drunk superior after he kept repeatingly sticking his finger in my chest wasn't fun. And, when I left, getting a urine and feces soaked headshot in the mail was not fun, especially after having opened it in front of my daughter. Her comment was..."wow, somebody really hates you, don't they dad?" It didn't end well would be an understatement. I made mistakes that, knowing what I do now, I probably wouldn't make again. But still, it seems to me that if JC Corcoran and all his baggage could make it back there, then what was their problem with me? A few years ago, I got a call from the program director there. It seems that they were putting together a "Hall of Fame" portion on their website and would I be willing to donate some items? Sure. How much fun is that? So,I drug a couple of milk crates full of stuff and they were returned in fine shape after being scanned. Not too long after that, I heard that KSHE was having this big 40th reunion with all the old jocks joining Sammy Hagar on stage at The Fox. I kept waiting for my invitation which, sadly, never materialized. I guess my stuff was good enough to be included in their Hall of Fame, but I wasn't good enough to have one last 10 seconds of glory when they call your name and the crowd cheers your work. No dice. I guess what happened at the end erased the 13 years of working my ass off. So, having not been invited to the party, I stopped taking stuff for them to use, which gets me back to the original point. While flipping through this new book, I noticed that nowhere was my name mentioned in the book. They had everyone else but me. I was pretty sure I wasn't going to be in the book because I never heard from the author, but my ego took a huge fall when that fact was confimred. During my time there, I was the ONLY person to top KMOX in the 12+ ratings. In the spring of 1986, I had a 13.6 rating, KMOX had a 13.3. I was number one or two(25-54 adults)in the market for a nine year consecutive run. I still hold rating records and yet, it's as if I never existed there. Why the cold shoulder KSHE? I gave you the best years of my life. Now everyone who's ever pissed any one off over there returned (JC, Woody), but I can't even get my calls returned. It was once a family. My family. Now, we are all estranged with NO hope of ever even being civil. Grudges are easy to hold and hard to let go. I won't say it doesn't bother me, obviously, it does. But, with writing all of this down, it lets it all go. Shakespeare once said .."living well is the best revenge.." I must have the greatest revenge ever. I haven't been this happy in years. So...Emmis, what gives? It's true pride goes before the fall. Now, radio is in the worst shape ever, Emmis is struggling and cuts are being made(or will be made)everywhere. The Chicago stations are being run from St. Louis (which the Chicago people REALLY love)and there's trouble everywhere. Thank God I'm away from that, and my ego would like to think it's karma. It's just bad management.

Deaths in Threes

Arnold Stang

Arnold Stang, voice of several favorite cartoon animated figures including Top Cat has died at age 91. Stang was a staple for several animated features in the 1960’s and starred as comic relief in any number of movies with stars like Milton Berle and even Frank Sinatra. He was also the voice of one of Popeye’s sidekicks “Shorty”. He reportedly succumbed to complications from pneumonia in a Massachusetts Hospital on Sunday.
This writer remembers Stang best from his role in the film “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World ” from 1963, which any of us “Boomers” saw more than once. As for Hanna-Barbera’s Top Cat, this was once of my favorite cartoons, but I never actually knew who did the voice of the too cool cat. Interestingly Arnold Stang starred in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s first film Hercules In New York in 1970. Stang is survived by his wife JoAnne, to whom he was married for over 60 years, as well as their two children. We are sure he will be sorely missed, as it takes a special person to be the one behind such well loved characters.

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Connie Hines
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.—Actress Connie Hines, who played Wilbur's wife on the popular 1960s television show "Mister Ed" has died. She was 79. Her "Mister Ed" co-star Alan Young told the Los Angeles Times that Hines died Friday at her Beverly Hills home from complications of heart problems. Hines was best known for portraying Carol Post on the show that featured a talking horse. She wrote a book in 2007 entitled "Mister Ed and Me and More." Born in Massachusetts, Hines also appeared in the 1960 film "Thunder in Carolina" and such TV shows as "The Millionaire," "Johnny Ringo" and "Riverboat." Hines was married twice, the last to Lee Savin, an entertainment lawyer and producer. Savin died in 1995. A lovely woman who was, vicariously, a part of my childhood. I got to meet her in 1984 and she was as beautiful then as I remember in childhood fantasies.

Alaina Reed-Amini

Actress Alaina Reed-Amini, best known for her long-running roles as Olivia Robinson on the children's program "Sesame Street" and Rose Lee Holloway on the comedy "227," has died.
Reed-Amini lost a two-year battle with breast cancer at St. John's Medical Center in Santa Monica, California, on Thursday, according to reports.
Reed-Amini, who changed her named from Alaina Reed Hall after she married Tamim Amini in 2008, turned 63 last month. In 1976 she joined the cast of "Sesame Street" as Olivia, a professional photographer and the kid sister of Gordon the teacher. She left the program in 1988 for a role on the NBC sitcom "227."
The actress married her "227" co-star Kevin Peter Hall in 1988. With art imitating life, their characters were married in the final season of the show in 1990. Hall died in 1991 from complications from the AIDS virus that he acquired through a blood transfusion.
Her stage credits include productions of "Chicago" and "Hair." She also appeared in the inspirational one-woman show "Alaina at the Bijou."
Her movie credits include "Cruel Intentions" and "Death Becomes Her." She guest-starred on television shows such as "ER," "NYPD Blue," "The Drew Carey Show" and "Ally McBeal."
Reed-Amini is survived by her husband and two children from her marriage to Hall.

Sorry to see her pass. Who didn't have Olivia in some way as a part of their past? Those who watched Sesame Street as a kid, and those who had kids who watched the show. Say hey to Jim Henson

Hello Blogosphere

Wow, Christmas is upon us already. Each year, I try to get into the spirit early and often but this year, like last year, I am late to the party. Don't know why, but I'm just starting to feel the Christmas spirit now. I am reading at Christmas Eve mass at church again. I am proud they ask me to read God's word on the most important day of the year. The boy is home, looking well and rested. I am so very proud of him. In Captain's school, he is the youngest by far. Although mama can't understand why he is going back early, I know and her name is Lauren. This is about time that the women trade places in his life. he'll always love his mother but someone new has his heart, as it should be.
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A few snags on the internet station but we still should be up and going on the first. I have to go back and rename all of the tunes that weren't "renamed" before. I guess when I cleaned up the titles, I only changed the "outside" names of the mp3's, not the "code" name. So, I have a downloaded program that allows me to do just that. I have the scheduler ready to schedule and I will network the program that actually "plays" the songs with what is scheduled sometime later tonight. If Dr. Frankenschteen's machine doesn't blow up, this should be pre launch test number number one. Here's a new graphc design from someone I don't even know. (Thank you).



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I was doing some thinking in the suana last night after basketball while listening to "She's The One" by Bruce. AS we go through life, there are certain things we NEED. Food, shelter, etc. But when it comes to music, I think the same thing holds true. When I was 19, I NEEDED "Born to Run" and "Night Moves". At 22, I NEEDED "City to City" by Gerry Rafferty. I needed to hear "The Pretender", "Reminiscing","Every Kinda People", Dan Fogelberg, etc. That's when the power and the glory of what God has created when it comes to music is certainly and sorely needed in our lives. I'm sure there are those releases in your life that have done the same for you. God bless all of those composers, writers and players who affect our lives and know our works better than we do. "Save Your Love" by the Jefferson Starship just popped into my head. I needed that one in 1982.


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Wow, what a team of sellers I have. At this moment, we are sitting at 110% of goal for the month and for the quarter, it's 102.6%. According to the publisher, this hasn't happened for at least three years. And we still have a day and a half to wrap it up. How high can we go? And yes, I get a bonus. Enough to take my staff out for dinner. On me. The one thing about my business is that once December is over, we start at zero and wind it all again.

Longevity Rules with Bob

BOB SEGER's Greatest Hits is officially the decade's best-selling catalog album in the U.S., it has been confirmed by NIELSEN SOUNDSCAN. Since its 1994 debut, SEGER's Greatest Hits has sold close to nine million copies and enjoyed an unbroken two-year streak on the BILLBOARD Top 200 before moving to the upper reaches of the Catalog Albums chart for 660 weeks.
SEGER is a GRAMMY AWARD-winning ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME member, with more than 50 million career-spanning album sales, as well as 11 platinum and seven multi-platinum RIAA-certified album sales awards. SEGER's Against The Wind, Night Moves, Stranger In Town, and Live Bullet have been RIAA-certified for more than five million U.S. album sales each.

Lint Off My Cuff

As of this morning, my peeps are at 100.4 percent of their December goal. Working hard, playing hard. If they get to 105%, I have made a deal to take them all to dinner. Oy! With what I would get at a 105% rate, I'll come out ahead on the deal and by a lot. Congrats to some of the hardest working people I know. Proud of you.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------The internet station is coming along. I am in ripping and cleaning up titles mode. I have to put a "tone" on the end of every song I want so that the next element will fire in a timely and flowing manner. Hopefully, I'll get it playing this weekend and then the weekend of the first, we should have a rudimentary 1.0 version of the station up and running. I hope March 1st date for the launch will be doable. The domain is set and ready http://www.planetradio.us/ . The sweepers will say "Planet Radio US, the best rock on Earth." Always loved the name planet radio and was bummed when the station in KC had to jettison it. It's available, so I grabbed it. Here is what I want the logo to look like:

but, obviously, I can't use that. very cool though, no?

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Here's a lost oldie but goodie....and a taste of the kind of stuff you'll hear on the station....




Finally, too much make up pancake or nose in the candy jar again?

Now, This Is Funny

Jacksonville/Houston game during a time out. It will never go away.

Hey Jude Simplified

thanks to my friend matt.

Wrap Season

When I was in kindergarten or first grade, I had a teacher that always used the word "wrap" as a synonym for coats. "Please take your wraps off when you enter the classroom." I never heard anyone else use that term until today in the office, one of my peeps said something about not wearing a "wrap" today. Tomorrow will be the first day of the season that I will wear a "wrap". I actually enjoy all of the seasons and really couldn't imagine living somewhere that doesn't have winter. (OK, maybe I can). When I got to the Y yesterday morning, the woman at the desk asked where my coat was. I answered the way I normally do..."Hey, I grew up in Iowa...you know what we call this weather in Iowa? Summer!" Hahahahaha. Well, what's happened in Iowa the past couple of days has been record setting. Maybe one of the largest snow storms ever has passed through the state. That's diffucult to believe because in the winter of 78-79, it snowed. A lot. Over and over again. That must have been some snowstorm that just went through there.
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The Tiger Woods story just gets worse and worse for this guy. I don't feel sorry for him in any way shape or form but I have NEVER witnessed a fall from glory so weird and quick. This guy had it all, a billion dollar fortune, maybe the most recognized man on the planet, an absolutely capitivating and beautiful wife and...it wasn't enough. Was it the thrill of the hunt? Was it the knowledge and power that he could have sex with whomever he pleased? The count is now in double digits and the possiblity that one of his paramours video taped them having sex. Were these women providing him with all the things his wife didn't? Shouldn't he have known that before he married her? Now, there are reports that there might be kids out there he doesn't know of? Ick and ew. One month ago today, he was hailed as one of the best ever. Now, he's the butt of jokes and is watching his character and legacy slip away like sand through his fingers. I really am not at all interested in this anymore, I bring ot up only to point out how fast and quickly the house of cards can fall. And hard. I could NEVER pull this off. I don't lie very well.
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I am looking to get out a lot more this next summer and enjoy the camping life. Not like my sister does it, basically taking everything with her (and that's OK). I'll take a tent, some Coleman gear and a sleeping bag. Out hiking through the woods all day and back to the campground for grub and night time fun. I have plotted out two places here in teh Parkland. St. Francois State Park and St. Joe State Park seem to have the best facilities around here. Can't wait to be unwashed again.


randy's lost classic:

Sad Cafe "Run Home Girl"






I remember playing this song and this band at 97x in Davenport, somewhere around January-February 1979. This always sounded like Toto. Loved the cool vibe and sax solo in the middle. They also did a song called "Restless" that I loved too. Can't find a video though.

here's their wikipedia entry:

link

Wha' Happened?

How did this..........................................................................turn into this? Yech!

It Was 29 Years ago Today....

...that John Lennon was murdered in the street in front of his residence at the Dakota Apartments in New York City. I had just gotten off the air at KY 102 and was at home with my girlfriend. I had just taken the dog out to do his thing. Bree had made a lovely dinner for me and even at the late hour of 10pm, we usually spent that time together eating and chatting about the day. As I was bringing the dog back in, I looked ahead and saw her weeping uncontrollably. What was the matter? What had happened in the time I had taken to the dog out? Heck, it wasn't even ten minutes... She pointed at the television when Howard Cosell said those infamous words..."it has been confirmed John Lennon has been shot and was enroute to a New York City hospital..." Holy cow, NOT John Lennon, not THIS way, I consoled her and said it would be ok, we don't know the extent of the injuries. I immediately called the radio station, where Jon Hart answered the phone. He knew, he said and was monitoring all the news services and was looking for information. I knew, whatever happened, that Jon was the guy to have on the air, one of the very few people that was as big of a Beatles fan as I was. Then, it happened. Howard again..."this just in, John Lennon has died of his injuries as a result of a gun shot wound suffered earlier this evening." Howard was speechless after that and I was too. At that time, the radio station was playing a Led Zeppelin A-Z tribute because Robert Plant earlier in the week disbanded the band after John Bonham drank himself to death. That was stopped quickly and we went all Beatles all the time. NOT John Lennon, NOT after he had disappeared from public view and not NOW. John looked happy and healthy and ready to take on the world again. NO! IT CAN'T BE HIM!!! Not with him releasing one of the most important come back recordings ever. With Jon Hart handling the tunes very deftly, all Bree and I could do was hold each other close and cry. We made sweet love and then went to sleep, emotionally exhausted. The next night, on the air, I cried. I had never done that before and have done it only one time since. I didn't know what to say after everything had been said. There was no internet and not many people had cable, so this was basically one of the only outlets we had. I opened up the lines to anyone who had anything to say about anything. It turned out to be one of my most unforgettable shows, one where I did next to nothing but field phone calls. The people were heart broken; they turned to their local station and talked, talked some more and cried, cried some more and talked more. It was the most incredible out pouring of love and grief at the same time that I have ever been a part of. One of the callers was the local pastor at the All Souls Unitarian Church announcing that there would be a candlelight ceremony on Wednesday. Would I be interested in saying a few words and being a part of the ceremony? There was no hesitation. On Wednesday, Bree and I made our way through a completely filled church and I got up and talked about John and what he meant to an entire generation's culture. John and the rest of the Beatles not only affected music but also shaped a culture where this generation cut it's teeth. When the Beatles wore their hair long, so did we. When the Beatles said "All You Need Is Love", we believed it. I did a 30 minute eulogy without notes. Something was guiding what I said like never before and the fitting words fell off my tongue like they were placed there days before. It was so easy to talk about someone who you thought you knew as well as you did the members of your family. I remember thinking how cold it was that day and how I longed for a time that we could sing "Here Comes The Sun" after a long, cold lonely winter. That winter was particularly cold and lonely, even with the love of one of the most beautiful women to walk the planet. The world became a meaner place and I felt that I aged much more than my 24 years would attest. A part of me was gone, a bit of innocence lost. There would be no Beatles reunion. Not in this world anyway. 16 years after that, I spoke to Yoko in a hotel room and in probably one of my worst interviews, we talked about John's artwork. We played the song "Just Like Starting Over" and she stopped the interview. It was STILL too soon for her and the song still hit her hard. I heard "I'm Losing You" in the sauna last night and my mind was directed to 29 years ago in those palpable moments when all was well in the world. I was in love and life was good. It took Howard Cosell and a madman named Mark David Chapman to change it all forever. Bree has passed (killed in a car accident) and sometimes, I still go back there, the minutes before I heard the news today..oh boy.





..."we all shine on, like the moon and the stars and the sun..."

Bree and Me on Wednesday, December 10 1980

Cold, Colder, Coldest

Northern Lights Over Teepees. I think this would be a blast. A cold one at that.

THIS IS A FIRE RAINBOW (below) - THE RAREST OF ALL NATURALLY OCCURRING ATMOSPHERIC PHENOMENA. THE PICTURE WAS CAPTURED ON THE IDAHO / WASHINGTON BORDER. THE EVENT LASTED ABOUT 1 HOUR.

CLOUDS HAVE TO BE CIRRUS, AT LEAST 20K FEET IN THE AIR, WITH JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF ICE CRYSTALS AND THE SUN HAS TO HIT THE CLOUDS AT PRECISELY 58 DEGREES.

Dude.

It all began with Whore Zero, Rachel Uchitel, who has repeatedly denied any affair with Woods. And yet…Rachel has offered little explanation about how she ended up in Australia at the same time and at the same hotel as Tiger just weeks ago.
Now there’s this from Us Weekly…
A Los Angeles cocktail waitress says she had a steamy 31-month fling with Tiger Woods and has a voicemail recording and text messages to prove it.
Jaimee Grubbs, now 24, says she began having an affair with Woods, 33, in April 2007.
…they went on to have 20 sexual encounters.
And this from Radar Online…Several other women are coming forward claiming they had affairs with Tiger Woods. I think it’s safe to say he didn’t think this all the way through. He’s maybe the most famous person on earth. Of course he got caught. The Statue of Liberty could go buy some weed and have a better chance at getting away with it than he did.

This is what he had at home....dude, seriously

Roger Dean album covers

I made a remark on Facebook about how James Cameron must have spent a lot of time looking at Yes album covers when it came to making his movie. I swear in the trailers for Avatar I see Roger Dean album covers for scenery. Here's a great collection of Roger Dean album covers....

Link

New Facebook Friend

Yeah, I know this Facebook thing is
a)for weirdos
b)an extreme waste of time
c)maybe not for you or
d)all of the above.

I have entered into a conversation with a guy who I have admired for many years. Andy Fraser was the bass player for Free and his basic, big badass bass was perfect for what they did. The back beat on "Mr. Big" was worth the price of admission alone. He co wrote and produced "All Right Now' which I have played a couple of thousand times on the radio and never tired of it. After leaving Free, Andy formed Sharks and again, I really liked his work. The crux of the biscuit however is that Andy wrote "Every Kinda People" for Robert Palmer. "Every Kinda People" rates as one of my top five all time recordings and sums up how I feel and has since the first time I heard in the summer of 1978.
"There is no profit in deceit, an honest man knows that revenge does not taste sweet"
Man, that's it, right there. Powerful lyrics that have enriched my life and moved my soul. THAT'S what music is all about.

Here is Andy's latest project:
Thanks Randy ~
Check out my latest project. I’ve contributed the song ~ This Is The Big One ~ as a worldwide copyright free download. I’m asking fellow activists to upload videos or pictures to the song, post on YouTube.com to win prizes.

Come on and Make A Difference ~ Andy


And now, here is some of that filthy bass I told you about...


And now, Mr. Palmer

Randy's Top 100

Hi, I'm back and let's continue the countdown...checking in somewhere in the 20-25 on the top 100 would be this treat from the summer of 1975.

Here is one that changed the way I looked at music. I first heard "Becuase We've Ended As Lovers" during a visit to a head shop in the spring. It was love at first sight. The crying guitar provided by Jeff was just stunning. It was one of the most powerful instrumentals ever. It still is.



The young woman (Tal Wikenfield) kicks my ass...

That song alone would put this in the top 100, but there was so much more great music on the record and not ONE vocal. Songs from Lennon-McCartney ("She's A Woman"), Stevie Wonder ("Cause We've Ended As Lovers", "Thelonius") and Bernie Holland (the incredible "Diamond Dust") and Beck's own stuff ("Scatterbrain, "You Know What I Mean"). The record reminds me of living in a little bitty house along the Mississippi during a summer when I didn't have air conditioning, driving my little Honda 350 motorcycle and trying to get through a very unhappy marriage. This is one release that helped me survive. It's stayed close to my playlist for the next 34 years. Something to be said for great music.

Scatterbrain



Freeway Jam

It Is What It Is..Unless It Isn't

While having dinner on Wednesday night with a friend of mine, we got into a discussion about how we "made it". We have somehow crossed an imaginary demarcation line when it comes to the length of our age. I have blogged about this before, in a seemingly deja vuish conversation I had with someone else about three yeras ago. I must admit, I feel more like I've "made it" than I did three years ago. I am in a pretty good place right now. I have a job I find challenging and stimulating. I drive an hour each way (against the traffic) and find that hour a buffer between work and home. Ramping up on the way and decompressing on the way home. My health is good and I feel better than I have for a long time. The weight loss is slow and painful but I knew it would be. It seems as I get older, it becomes more of a burden to take it off. I can still run as fast as I can for as long as I can and that beats a majority of people my age. My kids, seemingingly, are in a good place. They all seem to be if not happy, then at least content. I have many things to be thankful for but, in the back of my mind, I find it hard to let go of the fact that it will all go incredibly wrong very soon. I keep looking over my shoulder for the grim reaper. I keep walking careful footsteps at work to make sure I am giving them the best I have. But, it's still not enough to get rid of this burnt patch in my head. Why? Could it be radio paranoia? That can be described as the feeling that no matter what you do, or how well you do your job, you're just a number and can be jettisoned at any time. It's happened so many times to me in the recent past. My boss likes and respects me, asks for my opinion and (gasp)actually uses it. Or, could it be something deeper? I am the adult child of an alcoholic. We're not supposed to be happy and we will sabatage any attempt to try. It's a struggle that has cost me many important people in my life. Just as things go well, we think of little nuclear devises to throw under our own wheels. We can't identify happiness and when we do, we run. We've never been truly happy so how do we know how to act? Countless therapy sessions have given me the opportunity to recognize and hopefully prepare. No matter how vigilant, now matter how ready, the feeling of inadequency will never cease to be a part of my psyche. Wish me luck. This time, it will be different. I seem to be approaching the autumn of my life with great strength, sound mind and finally grasping the concept of being content. What a great word. Contentment. I'm closer than I have been in a while. Wish me luck. Again.

The Beatles circa 3000

Makes me wonder how correct we are with the things we discover about the past. The Shroud of Turin comes to mind. I wonder if someone is looking down and saying ..."you ignorant fools" or if it is indeed, the shroud of Christ. Anyway, thanks to my freind Guido Toledo for putting this on his facebook site.

the music must change, i guess

I have brought up this point and have had many conversations with friends and colleagues about what happened to rock music. It died a slow death but die it did and that's too bad. Here's one theory I have entertained about what happened. Many years ago, a number of different parts of the country provided their own culture and take on what was defined as "rock and roll" music. Let's start on the east coast with Billy Joel, Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Steely Dan, Leonard Cohen, Aerosmith and the like. Heading down I95, we go to Florida and Georgia, home of Skynyrd, Tom Petty, Marshall Tucker and of course, the Allman Brothers. West to Texas and ZZ Top, Jerry Jeff, Stevie Ray along with many others. LA gave us Poco, CSNY, Eagles and all the laid back, country rock feel. San Francisco needs no introduction, the list of bands from there is as long as your arm. Let's not forget the midwest, home of Bob Seger, John Mellencamp, Cheap Trick, Prince, and on. Now, it seems all of the good songwriters are located in one city....Nashville. Pop has gone country and country has gone pop. Taylor Swift is Marie Osmond, Lady Antebellum is Fleetwood Mac, Tim McGraw is Bob Seger, Keith Urban is Bryan Adams(but a better guitar player)and on it goes. I'm just waiting for someone to channel Jim Morrison. That should be fun. It's coming, you know it is.

lady antebellum

one of the nice things about working bloomington was hearing different music. while running the country station there, lady antebellum caught my ear. this song confirms something i thought a year and a half ago...these guys are the country equivalent to fleetwood mac, only in reverse. mac had stevie, lindsay and christine, and these guys have two guys and a woman. listen to this and tell me you don't hear fleetwood mac. love this tune and if you are going to sound like someone, you couldn't have picked a better band. speaking of fleetwood mac...now that i don't play their music every hour of every day, i have become a huge fan of the self titled lp with "landslide" and "over my head" and all the rest. i don't think they were better than this, although "rumours" proves me wrong...

Leonard Cohen and All Things Musical

What an incredible piece of acoustic archetecture we have in St. Louis. It's called the Fox Theatre. Closed for many years, re opened in 1982 and the grand jewel of concert venues in my life. (Red Rocks ranks a close second). To see an artist like Leonard Cohen, at a place like that, to thouroughly get in the mood, you must be a bit imbibed. Whatever poison you choose is up to you. On Saturday night, since I wasn't driving, I chose top shelf margaritas from a very non descript restaurant that has food and drinks that are good and cheap. One of my best music buds, Corky, a gentlemen I have known since 1980, is a guy that will drive to Salina Kansas and back overnight to see Dylan. "I have an extra Leonard Cohen ticket" was all it took. Arriving at the Fox just as the music started, the next three hours was quite a treat. Now, I am not that familar with his music, but getting to see a living legend before he dies was just too much temptation. So, during my commute from work and back, I prepped with two Leonard CDs and I was ready. Wow. The band was clean and tight. The kind of guys that are first class, first rate players. The mood I arrived in was perfect, the seats were great and the music was played with style and class. Sweet. While getting my tickets for Leonard, I purchased 6th row seats for Mark Knopfler. I have never seen him play live. It's in April, I just wanted to make sure I'm ready
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Righteously bummed about someone using Roxy Music's "More Than This" in a commercial. Talk about playing your craft with style and grace. Why should I be surprised that one of the greatest albums to make love to would produce a commercial for a credit card in my lifetime. I stopped being irate years ago. But, that is another band I'd pay dearly to see one last time.
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So, Steven Tyler quit Aerosmith, not telling anyone and not returning eamils and phone calls? Yeah, I'd be done too if I knew the best music I ever made was done stinking fucked up? Ever since this band got straight, they should have made two records and called it a day. They have been phoning it in for awhile now, and until "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" I had a tad bit of respect for them because, at one time, they may have been the best band in America. Not for the last 35 years. After "Rocks" it was done. Doesn't need the money, every night on the road for probably 40 years...yep, I'd be out too. And you'd never hear from me again. Unless "The Muppet Show" called, they would be the only people. Thanks Steven, for the first four records, they were fun and I'll put them up against any band's best four. Meh.

One of the Best Editing Jobs Ever, You've Been Rick Rolled

How to Be A Server

Waiting tables is tough work, no question. It can be a drag or it can be great. I have waited a few tables in my day and I got this from the New York Times Small Business section (what the heck am I doing reading the Times?)
Here are fifty things you can do to be a better server and I tip accordingly.

1. Do not let anyone enter the restaurant without a warm greeting.
2. Do not make a singleton feel bad. Do not say, “Are you waiting for someone?” Ask for a reservation. Ask if he or she would like to sit at the bar.
3. Never refuse to seat three guests because a fourth has not yet arrived.
4. If a table is not ready within a reasonable length of time, offer a free drink and/or amuse-bouche. The guests may be tired and hungry and thirsty, and they did everything right.
5. Tables should be level without anyone asking. Fix it before guests are seated.
6. Do not lead the witness with, “Bottled water or just tap?” Both are fine. Remain neutral.
7. Do not announce your name. No jokes, no flirting, no cuteness.
8. Do not interrupt a conversation. For any reason. Especially not to recite specials. Wait for the right moment.
9. Do not recite the specials too fast or robotically or dramatically. It is not a soliloquy. This is not an audition.
10. Do not inject your personal favorites when explaining the specials.
11. Do not hustle the lobsters. That is, do not say, “We only have two lobsters left.” Even if there are only two lobsters left.
12. Do not touch the rim of a water glass. Or any other glass.
13. Handle wine glasses by their stems and silverware by the handles.
14. When you ask, “How’s everything?” or “How was the meal?” listen to the answer and fix whatever is not right.
15. Never say “I don’t know” to any question without following with, “I’ll find out.”
16. If someone requests more sauce or gravy or cheese, bring a side dish of same. No pouring. Let them help themselves.
17. Do not take an empty plate from one guest while others are still eating the same course. Wait, wait, wait.
18. Know before approaching a table who has ordered what. Do not ask, “Who’s having the shrimp?”
19. Offer guests butter and/or olive oil with their bread.
20. Never refuse to substitute one vegetable for another.
21. Never serve anything that looks creepy or runny or wrong.
22. If someone is unsure about a wine choice, help him. That might mean sending someone else to the table or offering a taste or two.
23. If someone likes a wine, steam the label off the bottle and give it to the guest with the bill. It has the year, the vintner, the importer, etc.
24. Never use the same glass for a second drink.
25. Make sure the glasses are clean. Inspect them before placing them on the table.
26. Never assume people want their white wine in an ice bucket. Inquire.
27. For red wine, ask if the guests want to pour their own or prefer the waiter to pour.
28. Do not put your hands all over the spout of a wine bottle while removing the cork.
29. Do not pop a champagne cork. Remove it quietly, gracefully. The less noise the better.
30. Never let the wine bottle touch the glass into which you are pouring. No one wants to drink the dust or dirt from the bottle.
31. Never remove a plate full of food without asking what went wrong. Obviously, something went wrong.
32. Never touch a customer. No excuses. Do not do it. Do not brush them, move them, wipe them or dust them.
33. Do not bang into chairs or tables when passing by.
34. Do not have a personal conversation with another server within earshot of customers.
35. Do not eat or drink in plain view of guests.
36. Never reek from perfume or cigarettes. People want to smell the food and beverage.
37. Do not drink alcohol on the job, even if invited by the guests. “Not when I’m on duty” will suffice.
38.Do not call a guy a “dude.”
39. Do not call a woman “lady.”
40. Never say, “Good choice,” implying that other choices are bad.
41. Saying, “No problem” is a problem. It has a tone of insincerity or sarcasm. “My pleasure” or “You’re welcome” will do.
42. Do not compliment a guest’s attire or hairdo or makeup. You are insulting someone else.
43. Never mention what your favorite dessert is. It’s irrelevant.
44. Do not discuss your own eating habits, be you vegan or lactose intolerant or diabetic.
45. Do not curse, no matter how young or hip the guests.
46. Never acknowledge any one guest over and above any other. All guests are equal.
47. Do not gossip about co-workers or guests within earshot of guests.
48. Do not ask what someone is eating or drinking when they ask for more; remember or consult the order.
49. Never mention the tip, unless asked.
50. Do not turn on the charm when it’s tip time. Be consistent throughout.

R I P Norton Buffalo

21:11 PST PARADISE (BUTTE COUNTY) -- Norton Buffalo, harmonica virtuoso, one-of-a-kind performer and consummate accompanist to the stars,died Friday night from cancer in Feather River Hospital, near his home in Paradise (Butte County). He was 58. Mr. Buffalo, who appeared on more than 180 albums and spent 33 years as a member of the Steve Miller Band, was diagnosed with cancer in September. His life will be celebrated Jan. 23 at the Fox Theater in Oakland in a benefit concert starring the Steve Miller Band and the Doobie Brothers,with special guests Huey Lewis, George Thorogood, Charlie Musselwhite and Bonnie Raitt. "He was the antithesis of East Coast cynical," said Raitt, who spent Sunday morning watching Buffalo videos on YouTube. "He was always in funny mode without being too gooey about it. He's been that guy all this time. In one guy, you got all the hope and optimism of the '70s." Mr. Buffalo played on the Grammy-winning Doobie Brothers album "Minute byMinute," and the recent children's music CD by Kenny Loggins. With Bette Midler, he played in the band and acted in the film "The Rose." He collaborated on tours and a series of recordings for more than 20 yearswith blues guitarist Roy Rogers. One of their songs, "Ain't No Bread inthe Breadbox," was a cornerstone in the '90s live repertoire of the JerryGarcia Band. "Norton Buffalo was a character and a half," Rogers said. "He had a sense of humor. He liked to have a good time, and the joy of his playing came out." Miller said: "He was a complete original. He worked with all kinds of people. He did tons and tons of projects. Everybody who worked with himl oved him, really enjoyed working with him." Mr. Buffalo joined the Steve Miller Band in 1976 at the beginning of the"Fly Like an Eagle" tour and has remained a constant presence in Miller's music ever since. Miller invariably introduced Mr. Buffalo to concert audiences as "my partner in harmony." "He had way more music in him than I could use," Miller said. "I just had more work for him than everybody else." Mr. Buffalo's own recordings include his 1977 Capitol Records release,"Lovin' in the Valley of the Moon," an album that maintains a strong cult following, and a 2000 blues-based release, "King of the Highway." Herecently released a joint CD with Hawaiian slack key guitarist George Kahumoku Jr. He was a virtuosic and technically accomplished chromatic harmonica player who could play anything - blues, rock, pop, country,folk, show tunes. Born in Oakland and raised in Richmond, Mr. Buffalo was raised in a musical family. His father played harmonica, and his mother sang in '40s San Francisco night clubs. His great-uncle, Herbert Stothart, was a Hollywood soundtrack composer who won an Academy Award for his work on"The Wizard of Oz." "His harp could become the valley of the moon, Krakatoa, a storm out at sea, then the sweetest sound this side of heaven," said Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart, who played with Mr. Buffalo in a project called High Noon in the '70s and '80s. Mr. Buffalo joined one of the final editions of Commander Cody and his Lost Planet Airmen on a 1976 European tour, before returning to the Bay Area and forming the Norton Buffalo Stampede, a band that headlined Bay Area clubs for several years. In between tours with Miller and Rogers, Mr.Buffalo had been appearing recently with the Norton Buffalo Trio with his third wife, Lisa Flores. He is survived by his wife; children, Aisah of Lake Tahoe and Elias of Sonoma; stepchildren, Sierra Ruelas of Sonoma and Bo Winterburn of San Diego; father, Ken Jackson of Paradise; and five brothers and sisters. Roy Rogers and the Delta Rhythm Kings, Tom Rigney and Flambeau and theCarlos Reyes Band will appear Nov. 22 in a benefit and memorial at theParadise Performing Arts Center in Paradise. Funeral and other memorial plans are pending.

Norton's "Loving in the Valley of the Moon" was one of my faves. the song "Another Day from that LP is still in my top ten of all time. here is that video (quality notwithstanding). such a sweet song....

Of Football and Baseball...Basketball and music

As someone said..."it was as if your ex girlfriend showed up at the 25th year reunion with George Clooney." Brett Favre may be the greatest football player I have ever seen in person. That goes for Montana, Marcus Allen, John Elway, etc, all of whom I have seen live. I saw Brett play the Chiefs in the mid nineties and while the Chiefs beat them, Green Bay was never out of the game. He decides he doesn't want to play there anymore, spurns them and then puts the dagger in the heart of all Packer fans everywhere. While I thought Green Bay would show all why they are special fans, they dragged themselves down with the unbelievably hostile greeting. Stay classy Green Bay and while you do have a pretty decent guy as quarterback, no one will ever replacate the swagger and gunslinger attitude that Favre did in your city for so many years. The NFC title will go through New Orleans this year, but a Minnesaot with Favre and New Orleans with Brees championship game would be ideal. Might even make me a fan again. I won't ever jump off the Chiefs bandwagon, but it's "Tough Times in the Land of Plenty" as Larry Johnson continues to make an asss of himself. He needs Priest Holmes or Christian Okoye to punch him in the mouth.

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Throw the slider, Brad...I kept repeating this mantra all ninth inning while Lidge kept throwing fastball after fastball. I have NO dog in this hunt, but I would hate to see a cheater like ARoid win his first series. I can not stand the Yankees and I am rooting for the Phillies to make a come back of epic proportions. By the body language of the Phils and their continued boneheaded plays that anit gonna happen. "Who's on third, no he's on first, I don't know is on third." Jimmy Rollins is the infield captain and no one thought it might have been at least a good idea to slow down, have a meeting on the mound and make sure this was covered. What to do if this happens? How about this? Gah. That was a tught way to lose a game. And the series. Not being prepared and not enough communication. That will derail most plans. Is it college basketball weather yet?





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So Mizzou is picked to finish seventh in the Big 12? People must know more than I do, because I still think they have a decent team, even with everyone graduating. I am too much of a homer. KU is picked to win the whole thing come March. I love this time of year. I will actually make an attempt to go see SLU more, maybe they will be a sleeper, because the Rick Majerus era has yet to live up to expectations. The Hawkeyes? Who knows?





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Leonard Cohen comes to the Fox on saturday night. Since my finances are in a bit better shape, I'm going. I know very little about his music (thanks, Brad for the best of CDs) but recognize "Suzanne" and "Hallelujah". He is in the rock and roll hall of fame and I have a buddy coming in from KC who loves him. He's in his 70s now and probably won't be doing this much longer, so I will go. So far, his music sounds like a New York version of the singer/songwriter type. I get a number of influences from his music and enjoy it very much. Apparently, his manager stole millions from him and this is the only way he can recover some of that money is by going out on tour. In my seventies, I hopw I'm yelling at the kids to get out of my yard. At the Fox, this show should be very sweet.
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Basketball and weigh in tonight at the Y. Can I lose 15 pounds before January 1? We'll find out.