The College Crowd Digs Me

  "Fleetwood Mac" - Fleetwood Mac (1975)       "You can play this record anytime you like.  There's a turntable in my basement if you think you might."   I didn't really need another copy of Fleetwood Mac's  second eponymous album, aka "The White Album," but I just couldn't let the early hype sticker go by.  This was the first of a few hypers to show up on this, the band's tenth studio album.  Little did Reprise know that this new incarnation of Fleetwood Mac  was about to blow up the radio.  And this very simple sticker used to help promote the album shows the label's hedge.   The album had a $10 tag stating, "plays fine, but side one scuffed."  And it definitely had an ugly scuff.  I couldn't feel anything, but the scuff looked nasty.  Bad enough...I took the record up to the counter and asked about it.  The fella holding down the fort asked if I wanted to play it...or told me I could bring it back i...

"Elephant" - The White Stripes (2003) This was on my want list for a very long time.  I wanted an OG copy and the last time I ever saw one, the album corner was banged up pretty badly.  I'll let things like that go sometimes, but I wanted the cover to be as nice as the vinyl so I passed.  That was at least two years ago.  People are just holding on to their copies.  Anyway, I found one on eBay.  I put it on my watchlist and received a discount offer about a week later.  The price was fair and shipping was only $4.00.  I don't play the shipping-gouge game.  I'm a cheapskate when it comes to shipping and will not dance. "Elephant" was The White Stripes'  fourth studio album and is a great spin front to back as everyone knows.  I never tire.  And, of course, it has the awesome riff-worm "Seven Nation Army" that still gives me a smile when I hear Wichita.  This album also has Meg's first lead vocals ( "In The Cold, Cold Nig...

"A Mexican wind blows in  breaking  the hold Angelinos  have on their halos."  ~ Geoffrey Cushing-Murray ~      Every person has that one song that rings all the bells for them.  Has all the right vibes.  Checks all the boxes.  And you can't explain it.  It just does.  And for me, that song is "Hot Night In A Cold Town."   And what a surprise, while listening to a KSHE playlist one night, I heard "Hot Night In A Cold Town" ...not just John Cougar's familiar version which is the one that hooked me in the first place.  But a Steppenwolf version that John Kay laid down.  And also a version from Uriah Heep.  All three artists recorded that song for their own albums.  All within the span of a year and a half.  And I enjoyed each one.  It was written by Geoffrey Cushing-Murray , along with his partner Richard Littlefield.  He's written other songs too, of course.  Most notab...

"Every book is a new book if you haven't read it!"   And so, let us begin. Holly by Stephen King (2023) Hardcover, 449 pages If you are familiar with Stephen King's "Bill Hodges Trilogy" beginning with Mr. Mercedes then you have already met Holly.  In this one, Holly is hired to find a mother's missing college-age daughter.  The missing person case leads to a creepy stomach-churning thriller.  King proves once again that creepy weird supernatural ideas are often no match for the creepy horrible stuff inflicted via human discourse.  Holly is filled with page-turning uncertainties with Holly's detective skills weaved in a believable investigative manner, with King playing fair with all the clues. Holly is a stand-alone hardback novel, but that's no reason to skip the trilogy. (full review) The Feud: The Hatfields & McCoys by Dean King (2013) Holy Schnikes!  The conflict between the West Virginia Hatfields and the Kentucky McCoys  was a comp...

Holly by Stephen King (2023) Hardcover, 449 pages NO SPOILERS: If you are familiar with Stephen King's "Bill Hodges Trilogy" beginning with Mr. Mercedes then you have already met Holly.  In this novel, our protagonist has been enjoying the detective business and now runs a small office that tackles smaller cases like missing pets, runaways, etc. during the masking days of Covid.  She is a sharp-cookie, but a socially self-conscious woman with OCD and a tiny circle of friends.  Holly is a neat character and easy to root for. In this Stephen King thriller, Holly is hired to discover what happened to a mother's college-age daughter.  The missing person case leads to a creepy stomach-churning thriller that travels easily on both sides of the Stephen King fence.  The author drives Holly's detective skills in a believable investigative manner, playing fair with all the clues.  Thankfully, no bogus magic bullet solutions show up here.   King proves ...

"I'm The Man" - Joe Jackson (1979 ) "You look so sick when you're pushing me around."   "I'm The Man" was the follow-up to "Look Sharp" and makes for a great one-two punch.  The "Instant Mash" punkwave pop attitude from his debut album carries nicely into his sophomore effort.  Jackson's lyrics are dusted in barbed cynicism, causing his catchy songs to have a wonderful edgy vibe.  The same bandmates , especially  Graham Maby with his   bossy bass, move things viciously along . The square is loaded with songs that get better with each listen.  There were two sides to Joe Jackson's career.  The sarcastic barde who cast agitated shadows everywhere and the more jazz-waved maestro that showed up on later albums.  I like both versions of the guy.   Joe Jackson's albums can be found cheap.  Most are under $5.  Look over there. Where? There ...in the bargain bin.  And all offer good and safe bang. "I'm The...