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Showing posts from September, 2008

Track 4:-->"Gotta Keep A Running" - The Godz - (1978)

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" I'm gonna burn right up... like a two dollar pistol. Like a rocket shot to the sun ." The Godz The Godz were a hardworking late 70's rock band from Ohio who toured with groups like Kiss and Cheap Trick ...but could never reach that level of success themselves. In fact, The Godz ...initially became a verbal punching bag for many music critics. Spinning the disc today...I find their criticsm unfair and totally missing the point. The Godz played with a ballsy hell-raising...fun-lovin' attitude. Blending a touch of southern tang...reminiscent of vintage Black Oak Arkansas mixed with Grand Funk ... The Godz created solid guitar churning rock. Their self-titled debut is filled with 7 tracks ...many begging to be rediscovered. The biggest surprise is the tasty cover of Golden Earring's ... "Candy's Going Bad" . I never cared that much for Earring's version...but The Godz own it. "Go Away" and "Guaranteed" are strong

Track 4:-->"Laughter Lou" - Steve Forbert - (Little Stevie Orbit) - (1980)

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"You criticize most everyone... Yeah...but what have you got to show? At least the ones you're putting down... got up to have a go." Steve Forbert Steve Forbert is one of those rare singer-songwriters. The kind that can literally break your heart one minute...and put it all back together the next. One of my favorite artists... Forbert has been "howling out words and banging out chords" for over 30 years. Forbert delivers his songs with a unique and wonderful stutter-step style ...allowing his thoughtful words to carry the weight they deserve. Nice. From start to finish... "Little Stevie Orbit" (1980) jumps out of the speakers with a rousing confidence. Each song is filled with uncanny observations and worldly wisdom that will have listeners nodding their heads with understanding. Track 4 :-->"Laughter Lou" is a great song about critics who constantly wallow in the negative. You know the ones. Always pointing out the flaws. No

Book Buzz:-->"The View From Nashville" - by Ralph Emery (1998)

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"The constant sound of aching sorrow. But there's always tomorrow. There's always a freeze That'll bring you to your knees." Kirk Rundstrom NO SPOILERS: Country music ambassador Ralph Emery has been associated with this genre ever since he was an all-night DJ at WSM AM radio in Nashville during the late 1950s. I first became a fan of Ralph Emery when he was hosting the country television talk show... "Nashville Now" (1983-1993). Admittedly...it was Ralph's sidekick... 'Shotgun Red' ...that first caught my attention. But Ralph's relaxing...down-to-earth...style won me over. Ralph & Shotgun Red For over fifty years... Ralph Emery ...has rubbed shoulders and befriended hundreds of country music stars. Many just trying to get their cowboy boots in the door...only later to become country legends themselves. Ralph & Shotgun on Nashville Now - Last Show! "The View From Nashville" (1998) is filled with funny stories ..

Track 4:-->"EZ Action" - Derringer - (If I Weren't So Romantic, I'd Shoot You) - (1978)

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"Does your momma know you're wild? A delinquent juvenile. I bet she'll disapprove... of the way that you move. Does your momma know you're wild?" Rick Derringer Derringer is...of course... Rick Derringer. And having one of the coolest names in rock n roll...I was hoping for Derringer to cut loose. Burn some rocks. A little guitar brashness ...ala "...Hoochie-Coo" , perhaps. However... RD caught me a little off-guard by deciding to park in the Power Pop garage with "If I Weren't So Romantic..." . But once I discovered where his keys were hanging. ..this LP became much more approachable. The title track is a slow acoustical number with some odd lyrics...but RD sells the song like a silver-tongued aluminum hack. "Sleepless" ...(a Patti Smith cover) is very good. And "Lawyers, Guns and Money" (a Warren Zevon cover) stays faithful...but left me wanting to shuffle through my 'Pod to hear the original. "