Don’t worry, I’m still going to finish. I just believe I need to step it up.
My Vinyl Countdown, or myvinylcountdown.com, is still rolling, but needs some maintenance as I’ve piled on about 500 posts in less than three years.
Read About Me for a detailed explanation but in general, I’m counting down the 678 vinyl records I have collected over the years. Of my 500-plus posts, a little more than 400 are record reviews. I have about 230 of those reviews to go which will be another 18 months at the pace I’m going now. So, I need to accelerate.
Obviously this is not all about music; I’ve written quite a few post, essays, even poetry about the disease, some are here. Check the ‘categories ‘ and ‘archives’ buttons for more.
An associated fund-raising group called MikeMadness has staged a basketball tournament for three straight years resulting in about $40,000 combined toward awareness and research. Our fourth annual even was scheduled for July 25, 2020. We are watching the issues surrounding the coronavirus closely to see if and how we may have to make new arrangements. Stay tuned in to this blog, or AL.com, or MikeMadness.
My impetus to accelerate is not that I’ll be dying any minute from this incurable degenerative brain disease. But I will be dying any year. I’d like to accomplish this task with some cushion, big cushion.
In the mad swirl of advocating for Lewy body dementia, I’ve met Suzanne WIlliams Wright, Robin WIliams’ widow, And I was interviewed for podcast by Kerri Kasem the daughter of Casey Kasem, who also like WIlliams died of Lewy body dementia.
Alphabetically I just finished the ‘P’s’ and into the ‘Q’s’ with Queen. I’ve bought and received a good deal of albums during this time, but I’ve also sold about 40 or 50. One of my tune-ups is to correct my countdown numbers which appear in bold on the title headline of each bog post. Those countdown numbers are supposed to tell you and me where I am with these. I have found that in several places I’ve skipped adding the number. For example, I have on Van Morrison listed only one album when in reality I have about five. The error came in listing only one album for the countdown. So this is exciting in that it might move me up (down?) in the countdown. In other words, I’m farther along than I thought.
If I was really ambitious and forward thinking and savvy I would have all of these in a spreadsheet and keep track by updating every time I gain one or lose one.
Now readers, friends and family have worried that the end of the countdown somehow means the end of me. Not what I’m planning. I started this to raise money for Lewy body dementia research and awareness. When I get to 678 I am anticipating I’ll have overage which could be dealt with by simply adding an addendum to this blog, which has also been a regular feature at AL.com.
I’ll leave you now with reviews from the blog archives:
JANIS JOPLIN
Album: Greatest Hits (1973); Pearl (1969)
MVC Rating: Greatist: 4.0/$$$; Pearl 4.5/$$$$
NOTE: I added Pearl rather recently, not being able to resist its thrift store price and good conditionl. Half the tracks overlap with Greatest Hits. Pearl is a great classic album. I’m pretty sure I have pretty much all the Joplin I need as I also have a CD with something like 20 song.
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Talk about pain — as we have been with the country songs of George Jones and Tammy Wynette — Janis Joplin was one hurting puppy.
Her voice was like no other when that inner turmoil came out.
That’s why the video in my last post of Janis and Tom Jones is something of a revelation. Tom Jones (coming to Birmingham soon) is a made for-Vegas, pop singer with a ladies’ following, some nifty dance moves copped from Elvis, and a strong strong voice in his own right. On this duet, Tom and Janis seem to be having much fun as they see who can out belt each other while shimmying around the dance floor to a small but raucous crowd of musicians and dancers.
ROY CLARK
ALBUM: Guitar Spectacular! (1965)
MVC Rating: 4.0/$$
This one slipped between the cracks earlier, having now passed my “C” section. But upon hearing of his death today it feels appropriate to put it up.
He was 85.
AL GREEN
]ALBUMS: Greatest Hits (Reissue: 1982 of 1975 release); Truth In Time (1978); Soul Survivor (1987)
MVC Rating: Greatest 5/$$$$; Truth 4.0/$$$; Soul Survivor/$$$
One of my favorite artists — all time.
I have three albums that capture the essence and soul of a man with essence and soul. He was the best at covering other’s work and elevating. But he wrote his own as well.
His earlier stuff collected on the hits album is classic R&B, soul. Some of the best made.
The Al Green-penned ‘Let’s Stay Together,’ ‘Let’s Get Married,’ ‘Call Me,’ and ‘I’m Still in Love With You’ all smolder with love and hotter love. Green’s falsetto is the best. That’s not up for debate with me. It is the best.
His song, “Tired of Being Alone” is a timeless classic.
But it’s his cover of the Bee Gee’s ‘How Can You Mend a Broken Heart’ that takes the prize for top, not to be too hyperbolic, perhaps Top 3, covers of all time. That is an emotional workout listening to Green sing that.
The only song not on the Greatest Hits that should have been is ‘Take Me to the River,’ a Green song covered quite successfully later by the Talking Heads.
Green in 1974, after some traumatic life events and hospitalizations, became a pastor. He leads a big church in Memphis near Elvis’ Graceland. Over the years he has wavered between recording pure gospel music and a hybrid of popular, with God infused throughout.
Some of his ’80s’ work is as powerful as anything he’s ever done. I got religion about three times listening to Soul Survivor and his sung version of the 23rd Psalm with a full gospel choir. In my copy of ‘Soul Survivor’ I was happy to find a 5X7 photo and a bio sheet.
I’ve been thinking about Malcolm Young lately, I understand he was a heavy drinker. I work as a nurse in Aged Care and some of the younger residents have Alcohol Induced Dementia. It’s a shame but his dementia may have been self inflicted. I’m sad you have Lewy Bodies so young. Best wishes with your vinylcountdown, I love the name.
Yes drinking can lead to dementia, but alcohol is not, as far as any research, a factor in Lewy body dementia.
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