The College Crowd Digs Me

"Well here's to your good looks baby... now here's to my health. Here's to the loaded places that we take ourselves. When it comes to luck we make our own. Tonight I got dirt on my hands... but I'm building me a new home." The Boss NO SPOILERS: Historical novels ...when told well...can make for some of the best reading known to mankind. And John Jakes is just one of a small group of writers...I've come to rely on when needing a time-machine fix. "Charleston" (2002) is another thumbs-up (sorry Roger) novel...written for those who enjoy curling up in their favorite chair...and drowning themselves in a tasty historical saga. In this instance, John Jakes recounts a sweeping tale about the fictitious Bell family...that is carried over three generations. Beginning from the Revolutionary War...until just after the Civil War ...we see... through the eyes of those living in Charleston, South Carolina. John Jakes has made a fine living of mixing inte...

"Mama Nature said..."It's murder what you've done. I sent you forth my brightest world... Now it's nearly gone". Mama Nature said..."You're guilty of this crime. Now it's not just a matter of fact... But a matter of time." Thin Lizzy One of my favorite classic rock songs ...just happens to be about a controversial subject of late. Our environment...and the possible damage caused by our neglect or selfishness. Surprisingly ...it was written by Phil Lynott and recorded by his band... Thin Lizzy ...way back in 1973 . It is the forgotten gem... "Mama Nature Said" ( Vagabonds Of The Western World ). This tasty jam churns like all great "Lizzy" ones do. However...there does appear to be more than just a pinch of urgency heard in the vocals. And the guitar/bass work going on throughout the song... flies out of the speakers with an immediacy that befits the message. I'm not here to debate the findings of... Global Warm...

"And you ladies...you're watchin' me sing and play. With my belly kinda flabby...and my hair kinda gray. But I see you lookin' that old time way at me." Old Dogs TRACK 4: This super group of "Old Dogs" is a blend of four country legends. Waylon Jennings ... Mel Tillis ... Jerry Reed & Bobby Bare . Good ol' boys who have long been members of the almost forgotten... "True Country" club. This CD (Old Dogs) is filled with eleven good songs ....(all written by Shel Silverstein )...about getting older and the unstoppable grains of sand dropping from the hourglass of time. Yet the joy and fun these four singers are having ...is quickly captured on this disc. And easily makes the subject matter go down as smooth as front porch cider. Granted...this isn't Sgt. Pepper. But it never started out to be. This CD simply sounds like four best friends...getting together...taking turns singing a verse...and trying to make the world a bet...

"Today I do what must be done. I give my time to total strangers." Billy Joel NO SPOILERS: In May 1959 , director Billy Wilder 's infamous comedy, "Some Like It Hot" , was heating up theatres and audiences all across the country. However, the movie was putting the cool-freeze on our "hip" State of Kansas , where the film's (ah-hem) sexual innuendos and (gasp!) cross-dressing notoriety rendered it banned and canned. The plot revolves around two struggling musicians...Joe (Tony Curtis) and Jerry (Jack Lemon) ...who unfortunately witness a Chicago mob hit and must go on the lam to avoid being murdered themselves. In order to elude the gangsters...the duo must hitch a slow ride on a southbound train to Florida posing as members of a traveling all-girl jazz band. Joe becomes Josephine , and Jerry... Daphne . They're "walking on the wild side" ...and Lou would have been proud. It is while traveling that they first encounter the soft...

"And here I sit so patiently... waiting to find out what price you have to pay to get out of... going through all these things twice." Moon Martin/courtesy B. Dylan The highly respected music mag... "Paste" ...is trying something different for the next couple of weeks. They are offering a full year subcription for the price of... "whatever you are willing to pay.” Very nice. Following in the steps of...Radiohead... "Paste" is casting their line out to music fans...and seeing what they catch. Each issue also includes a tasty CD filled with a variety of tunes. Let your conscious be your guide, folks...and sign up. AND ANOTHER THING: Comic Corner: Another vintage comic book find...courtesy of Prairie Dog Comics . The Avengers #14 March 1965 (Marvel) The ever-changing lineup for "Earth’s Mightiest Heroes" known as The Avengers ...consists this time of Captain America , Thor , Iron Man , Wasp, and Giant Man. Wasp (has the ability t...

"His comrades fought beside him... Van Owen and the rest. But of all the Thompson gunners... Roland was the best." Warren Zevon DVR MUST RECORD Recently I discovered a couple of TV shows that I've had to add to my DVR for those times when I need a boob-tube fix. If you haven't watched these yet...put them on your must record list. Mission Impossible - American Life ( ALN ) has begun running season one of this thoroughly cool b/w show. But don't expect to see Mr. Phelps choosing his team. He doesn't exist yet. Instead...the leader of the IM Force is... Mr Briggs. That makes little difference. It's Rollin Hand (Martin Landau ) who steals every scene and real-life wife Barbara Bain as Cinnamon isn't bad either. Martin Landau & Barbara Bain The premise :-->Our government (I think) assigns a very likely...impossible mission...to a trained covert team known as the IM Force . Their job usually involves other countries and politicians. And ...

"Did you think I'd take it sitting down and let you walk all over me... Thought you knew me much better than that... I keep much better company." Rod Stewart I suppose this album has become known as the one where Rod Stewart ... "Jumps The Shark" . Turning off most rockers and lovers of FM music with equal aplomb. Considered a huge sell-out by many fans... Stewart's infamous fey disco track... "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy" ...went to number one anyway. This song has made the top-ten list for worst song...and for best disco song. So apparently what fans he lost in the rocking community...he equally gained from the dancing crowd. Sadly... Rod Stewart lost mucho respect and would never be completely forgiven by his FM compatriots...and unfairly...so it goes. However...if one cares to skip the opening disco track from "Blondes Have More Fun" ...you have a rock solid album full of tasty venom and horn dog hunting. Throw in a couple of trad...