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Showing posts from 2012

Lost Book Gem: "The Pickwick Papers" - Charles Dickens (1836)

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"I gotta take me on a permanent vacation." --> Aerosmith <-- Take a two week trip and you feel like you've done something.   Samuel Pickwick and his wealthy cronies decide to skedaddle outta the city for a two year romp exploring the English countryside. Now that's what you call a vacaysh ! Charles Dickens ' first novel finds him weaving a humorous tale of misunderstandings and happenstances that follow likable Pickwick and his goodnik buddies wherever they travel.  In the process, Dickens brings to the forefront many social issues that would be more famously explored in his later novels. At over 800 pgs, "The Pickwick Papers" (1836) is not for the faint of heart.   Dickens occasionally stretches sentences like he's pulling apart a Slinky.  And the slangular dialect of the period can take a bit of warming up to. But once you catch on to the rhythm of the word-flow... (and you will) ...it's a pretty dang entertaining r

Lost Gem: "Circle Of Steel" - Gordon Lightfoot (1974)

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" Sights and sounds of the people goin' 'round Everybody's in step with the season." --> Gordon Lightfoot <-- When it comes to Gordon Lightfoot albums...I mostly cherry-pick the branches rather than take the whole tree. But what I've grabbed from this Canadian troubadour's catalog are absolutely killer and not to be missed. Lightfoot has always reminded me of Jimmy Buffet...(without the tray of empty margarita glasses piling up around his table, of course.) That's not meant to be a bad thing...just that Gordie generally keeps it a wee-bit more serious. His folk rock presence was most heavily felt in the 70's ...thanks to his first and only #1 album in the States... "Sundown" (1974) . Songs like "Carefree Highway" and the title track are daily radio staples and have remained timeless. Lost Gem:--> "Circle Of Steel" ......is a haunting portrait of a Xmas season for families of the welfare variety.

The Horse Head Five...with Romie Lee

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" ...comics are just about the only real performance artists left on this planet. " --> Romie Lee <-- HORSE HEAD MEETS ROMIE LEE Chef Extraordinaire Cabbie To The Stars Stand-Up Comedian @sexyfatfunny ( "Twitter is my metaphorical stage. Facebook is for the gays and low cholesterol is for pussies." - Romie Lee ) HORSE HEAD: Tell me about an older album/CD you think has been forgotten or underrated. A song. ROMIE LEE: Before I answer your question, I'd like to get something off my chest. I have a real disdain for the people who go ape shit supporting local cover bands...but won't give the time of day supporting the local comedians working some original stuff. It's frustrating. Comedians can't hit the stage performing the best of Kinison or covering Carlin's greatest hits. You either bring your own stuff on stage...or you don't get a stage. I don't mean to soapbox...but comics are just ab

Horse Head Favorite Song Lyrics -- Bob Seger

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Favorite Song Lyrics: The ones that linger around your head...(for whatever reason) long after the song' s been put away. FAVORITE BOB SEGER LYRICS - Pt 1 "I used her, she used me but neither one cared We were getting our share." - ("Night Moves") "He's always willing to be second-best A perfect lodger, a perfect guest." - ("Beautiful Loser") "Jody girl, Jody girl Spend your time today Watchin' clocks spin the hours away." - ("Jody Girl" ) " I could go east, I could go west It was all up to me to decide." - ("Roll Me Away") "I remember standing on the corner at midnight trying to get my courage up." - ("Main Street") "Most times you can't hear 'em talk, other times you can." - ("Turn The Page") "Sometimes at night I see their faces I feel the traces they've left

Lost Gem: "The Black Parade" - Willie Nile (2004)

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"Y ou'll wipe off that graveyard grin, cause your time is gonna come." --> Willie Nile <-- When Willie Nile hit the music scene, critics were penciling in his name atop the short, but seemingly endless, "The Next Dylan" list ad nauseum. An Excalibur no one really wants and no one's ever owned. Neverthless, Willie Nile has been court and sparks with most critics since releasing his self-titled debut in 1980. He brings songs that play straight and unforced. Rocking with rumble one minute; Cool-burning the next. Like city bruises and small victories...Nile owns the words he sings. We feel it and own them as well. Lost Gem:--> "The Black Parade" ...is a deliciously spiteful reminder to whom it may concern..."What goes around, comes around." Have you heard this gem? Hand me down my walking cane. Tune up my New Orleans drum. They're gonna call my name when the morning comes. I wanna lead. Please let me lead

The Horse Head Five..."Quantum Leap" Comics

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In grade school... Horse Head wanted to be an astronaut. He wanted the mad-skills of eating an entire slice of pizza in a single chomp ala Ninja Donatello. And he also wanted to randomly "bounce through time...putting things right that once went wrong" ...like Sam Beckett (and his friend, Al) in the early '90s sci-fi TV series, Quantum Leap . So when Horse Head discovered Innovation Comics published a Quantum Leap series (1991 -1993) ... he nearly "leaped" his pants. Each comic was a complete story and almost like watching an episode...minus the commercials. The run was short...(13 issues + 1 special edition)...but they're pretty good, lightweight fare and still a fairly easy series to complete. The Horse Head Five ... Issue #1 Sam leaps into a female high school English teacher. Issue #2 Sam leaps into a prison inmate on death row. Issue #5 Sam leaps into a reporter during a UFO scare. Issue #6 Sam becomes a teenage

Lost Gem: "Indiscipline" - King Crimson (1981)

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" I repeat myself when under stress. I repeat myself when under stress. I repeat myself when under stress." --> King Crimson <-- Seven years had passed since the legendary prog-floggers... King Crimson released a studio album. It was 1981. A different climate. And most thought the band was long-gone, boned, and buried. However...nobody informed guitar genius, Robert Fripp , Bill Bruford (drums) Adrian Belew (guitar/vocals) or Tony Levin (bass). "Discipiline" (1981) is a stunning must-own album filled with thrilling maneuvers...both powerful and innovative. And it still sounds amazingly fresh. Robert Fripp, Tony Levin, Bill Bruford, Adrian Belew Fripp spins one guitar web after another...but loosens the reins enough for the others to take their trip. And Belew , Bruford , and Levin sound inspired and dangerous. Lots of noise. No notes wasted. L ost Gem:--> " Indiscipline" ...has all the unnerving ramblings of a psychotic lone

Lost Stream Gem: "Shadows and Fog" (1991)

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"Shadows run in full flight, to run, seek and hide." --> Rory Gallagher <-- Woody Allen (the actor) is the quirky conundrum wandering through much of his films as the self-doubting timid-timmy. Never sure what his next move should be or when it should be made. Woody Allen (the director) doesn't have that problem. "Shadows and Fog" is first and foremost a loving homage to the great b/w directors of lore. Fritz Lang quickly comes to mind...as does Bergman . Hints of Hitchcock and Fellini and others I'm sure I've forgotten. And it looks fantastic! Woody Allen & Mia Farrow Woody skillfully uses darkness and light to present a beautiful and amusing story involving sheepish Kleinman ( Woody Allen ) being roused from sleep by vigilantes demanding help catching a serial killer. There's also a subplot about circus performers and brothel activities that loosely connect like old Legos. Initially panned, there was argy-bargy about the all

Lost Gem: "Waltz #2 (XO)" - Elliott Smith (1998)

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"I'm never gonna know you now but I'm gonna love you anyhow." --> Elliott Smith <-- This under-appreciated Midwest Magi was wickedly skilled in the fine art of song construction. Elliot Smith had a Brian Wilson ear for arrangements and a fearless John Lennon heart for exposing his wounds. With a gentle voice, Smith delivered lyrics that were both precise and personal ...and yet floated over melodies that were disarmingly catchy and achingly beautiful. And we trust taking the journey into the darker places...because Elliott used words like... R ushlight candles. Elliott Smith was a tortured soul with a complex box of musical bandages...who tried, but just couldn't stop the bleeding.  L ost Gem:--> "Waltz #2 (XO)" ...starts with a lone "boom-chick-chick-boom" drum beat that is quickly joined by a cheerless acoustic guitar. And as ear-worm beautiful, the melody... it is a heartbreaking song. Not about his favorite girl

Lost RADIO Gem: "Hard Work" - John Handy (1976)

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"Hard work. Hard work." --> John Handy <-- (Lost "Radio" Gem :... a single that may have charted, but deserved better. ) Smokin' jazz great... John Handy ......and his bumblebee alto sax has been melting wax as leader or sideman for nearly 50 years. And will forever be recognized for giving us one of the great jazz albums ... "Live at the Monterey Jazz Festival" (1965). This was an incredible must-own burner with a quintet led by Handy and made up of brilliant, hungry newcomers..including Wichita's very own guitarist... Jerry Hahn . John Handy Handy took the reins again on "Hard Work" (1976) ...a tasty offering of jazz with a surprising R&B flavor . And though the album was a little hit-or-miss for jazz purists...trust your own ears. There's good stuff to be found. Lost Radio Gem: "Hard Work" (#43 BB Charts)...a smoldering jazz-funker. John Handy's sax-blow is epic sick ...burning with blue

Lost Gem: "Electric Phase" - UFO (1977)

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"This ele ctric phase... ain't no teenage craze." --> UFO <-- Another great Classic Rock album from UFO ...and one that never received much radio justice. Plenty of good stuff on... "Lights Out" ...to rattle your ceiling fans and poltergeist your curtains. These guys are terribly underrated and almost faceless in the States.  But just put your ears on...and then try to explain how they don't make the 'A' list. This is UFO Lost Gem:--> "Electric Phase" ...is a great song buried deep on side two. Classic Michael Schenker stokes the blazing rock-oven with churning guitar riffs.   And under-appreciated singer Phil Mogg carries the news that your daughters are gonna reach out and touch someone.  A nice bit of slide and bass underneath, as well. Have you heard this gem? On the wires I can hear you comin' With a rush and a strummin' This electric phase ain't no teenage craze In your house a phone

Lost Gem: "Roll Over Lay Down" - Status Quo (1973)

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"Roll over lay down and let me in." --> Status Quo <-- Boogie rock-n-roll at its finest. Status Quo absolutely sets fire to your feet with their crankin' fun-time rollers. These guys wail and jam with abandon and must have been something to behold "live". (Anyone care to share!?) The album cover of this 1973 release... "Hello"... might have unintentionally been partial inspiration for another rather "infamous" Spinal Tap album (many albums issued were unreadable)...but no matter. The music is catchy, loose and fun as hell. These guys can play. In fact, guitarist Francis Rossi , is one of the lost diamonds in the kingdom of guitar-spankage . Lost Gem:--> "Roll Over Lay Down" ...an awesome rocker that burns and churns with a great middle. One of the greatest boogie rock songs ever. Have you heard this gem? When I got home that night early one morning Seeing the note written in ink pinned to th

Gems In My Mailbox!

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Time For Mailbox Gems! The Lawsuits "Hot Love" (2012) I've had The Lawsuits playing steadily through my car speakers all day. With a refreshing Americana synergy, solid vocals propound lyrics about missed chances and close calls...almosts and do-overs. This five-member band outta PA play good time loose but never sloppy. They're having fun but they intend on keeping all the marbles. "Hot Girls Make Porn" - The Lawsuits Houka Monks "Houka Monks" (2012) The passive/aggressive rock funkines s from Houka Monks is both radio-fresh and pleasingly strange. Like a mysterious Ray Bradbury traveling carnival show that sets up in the middle of the night - You might have trepidations about going...but you're absolutely going just the same. "Halleluja" - Houka Monks Dastardly "Bury Me In The Country" (2012) This alt-blue-country band still shows veneration to the traditional mountain spices...but