1. What was the first song you remember hearing and enjoying on the radio?
“Tie A Yellow Ribbon ‘Round The Old Oak Tree.” I was 10 and this song for some unfathomable reason, captivated me.
2. If you could only listen to five CDs for a year, which five would they be? (Boxed sets can count as one CD. Sigh.)
Bruce Springsteen, “Live 1975 – 1985”; Springsteen’s “The Rising; John Prine, “Good Days”; Miles Davis, “Almost Blue”; Van Morrison, “Greatest Hits.”
3. What was your favorite year, music-wise?
1989 – 1990. I was out of the Army, back in college, working at a college radio station and really started to pay attention to music during that period.
4. If you could witness one historical music event through all time, what would you pick, and why?
The Beatles playing at Shea Stadium.
5. Do you have a song that never fails to cheer you up? What is it and why does it do that for you?
No one song specifically. However Randy Newman can usually make me happy as can Bob Dylan. If I had to name one song it would be “All I Really Want To Do” from the album “Another Side Of Bob Dylan” a very happy and generally upbeat album.
1. I was three or four years old, and Tom Jones, “Young New Mexican Puppeteer” caught my fancy. Probably because we spent our summers near the Colorado/New Mexico border.
2. This question requires too much thinking. Instead I’ll provide the recipe for a “Comfortable Julep”:
Fill Collins or Zombie glass with crushed ice and set aside
In a mixing glass, no ice, combine:
8 large fresh mint leaves
1 oz. Southern Comfort
1 oz. bourbon
Muddle
1/2 oz. club soda
Strain into chilled glass over crushed ice. Add more crushed ice to fill Add straw & stir. Garnish with Mint sprig
3. I have a few.
3.1 In about 1981-82, I rediscovered popular music after a few years of middle school nerd-dom. At night, we could get the “latest hits” beamed in from KFI Los Angeles. Then in 1982, a very hip cable channel called MTV changed the face of music, bringing fairly cutting-edge (for it’s time) artists into living rooms throughout this great land.
3.2 In 1984-85, my freshman year in college, I was exposed to a vast array of new musical genres, from reggae, to Gregorian Chant, to euro-disco-gaybar. It was definitely the year my musical tastes took a turn for the eclectic.
3.3 In 1996, I rediscovered both kinds of music—Country as well as Western. I finally embraced a much-reviled portion of my past–my youth misspent in hick towns—and began a scholarly exploration of the genre, which continues to this day.
4. I’d have wanted to be there for the first performance Shostakovich’s Fourth, which didn’t take place until 25 years after he’d written it due to the political climate in the USSR. (Also, it might have been fun to see the first performance of Handel’s “Surprise” Symphony, just to watch all of the fuss. “OH MAH GAWD. WAS THAT A TRIANGLE? I’M SOOOOO SURPISED!!!!)
5. Oddly, the Old 97’s standard, “Wish the Worst,” which is a bitter stalker song, always makes me smile. I guess the prospect of someone being *that* at the end of their rope makes me giggle. (http://www.hitbyatrain.com/discography/lyrics/songsO-Z.htm#wishtheworst)
!) I think it was a tie between Madness’ “Our House” & Joan Jett & The Blackhearts’ “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll.”
@)
1. Concrete Blonde – Recollection
2. Cyndi Lauper – Hat Full of Stars
3. Annie Lennox – Bare
4. The Cure – Wish
5. Siouxsie & The Banshees – Peepshow
#) 1986: New Cyn, New Madge, New Eurythmics, New Siouxsie, New dM, etc…
$) Wowzers, that’s loaded! Let’s see… I think I’ll say: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival 2004 or maybe 2005. It’s a tough call.
%) For some reason I derive great joy & happiness from Skinny Puppy, however, my “happy” song for now is: Siouxsie & The Banshees’ “Are You Still Dying, Darling?” The music is loopy & cowboyed while the lyrics are a bit morbid. It’s a fun dichotomy.
Though your memories and dreams are your own, you are wrong about the Beatles at Shea Stadium. That was the performance where they decided to quit playing live. The kids screamed so loud at those shows that no one could hear the music… not even the band, you jerk.
No friday fives, but my essay is done and in the hands of r-dub. The title is
Coughphee – The Hip Hop side of Java.
Fucking Blogger. I was on number 5 and it froze……….FUCK FUCK FUCK
OK all better now. CLick and read…..
Lemme tell you something ‘Tony Mo’ – you are going down! I got shit on coffee that will explode your world perception.
walk away, kid… walk away.
Good luck “Lono”.
PS..your fives of music read like every other music critics lists. Dig deeper man.
1. Heart of Glass, Blondie. I loved it so that I got the 45 as my veryfirstrecord. Fortunately Mom didn’t pick up on the “pain in the ass” lyric or else my music-buying days would have been even shorter than they were.
2. The Patsy Cline Collection. The Autoclub Box Set (clearly, I would *have* to make one). Depeche Mode Singles Box 1-6 (I’m greedy). The Complete Ella Fitzgerald Song Books. The Social D Box Set (again, clearly, I would *have* to make one). The Cure Disintegration. Neener, I picked 6.
3. Like Eddie, I have favorite eras. My first true awakening took place in August of 1981 when I saw music put to mini-movies on MTV. OH DELIGHT. Thus began my love affair with New Wave that endures to this day. I became acquainted with Goth and Punk in high school in the late 80’s – it was powerful & perfect timing for the angst-ridden teen in me – then and now. Comes along college and in 1991 I meet Social D, Cocteau Twins, Guided By Voices, The Cramps and the like. Thank the gods. My most recent musical era, however, can be traced to one night at the Bluebird Theater with Eddie and Roy in tow.. January 1997, I believe.. The Era of Slim. He reminded me of my roots, that skinny country bastard. And here I am. *bow*
4. 6/5/1954 in Sun Records Studio with Elvis and Scotty Moore when rockabilly was born.
5. Most Erasure songs fit the bill. Even when the lyrics are melancholy, the synth pop gets under your skin and you can NOT maintain gloom.