Posted on

The life and death of a little bird

My wife was in the backyard gardening when she heard a plop. A bird had fallen from the sky.

It landed just outside of our fence in the paved alley way and lay there, twitching now and again. Let’s just say, it didn’t stick the landing.

Catherine heard the thud, and went to take a look at the little brown bird, still flapping her little wings, trying to right herself.

She told me later she thought the the bird was ‘stunned’ unintentionally using a line from the hilarious ‘Dead Parrot’ sketch by Monty Python. (‘That bird’s not dead, it’s pining for the fjords.’)

Catherine’s bird really wasn’t dead. Catherine put on gloves, picked the bird up and brought it into our backyard. She stroked it and talked to it for a minute and then opened her hands and it took to flight.

It flew up into the thick branches of the many trees in the backyards along the alley. Catherine’s heart was filled with joy as she imagined the bird soaring into the blue sky.

But alas, the next day she came to find the little bird in our backyard. It was once again on it’s back flapping it’s wings. Catherine ran inside to grab some gloves. When she came back and picked up her little bird, she saw that it had died. Catherine was near tears telling me the story.

“It must have been her time,” was all I could think of saying. I wondered to myself if this was how birds die. Do they just fall out of the sky when their time is up? Why don’t we see dead birds more often? Like a scene from Hitchcock, there seems to be hundreds of birds in our yard every day.

I proceeded on to some self-absorbed pondering. I’ve been in sort of a slow motion free fall since November of 2016 when I was diagnosed with Lewy Body dementia, a Parkinson’s-like disease that is caused by naturally occurring proteins clumping together and killing brain cells. Read more about my case here.

There is no cure. The average lifespan is 4 to 8 years after diagnosis. Atlanta columnist Lewis Grizzard entitled one of his books in the 1970s ‘Elvis is Dead’ and I’m Not Feeling So Good Myself.’

Well, I was all ready, I joked, to name my unwritten book (haven’t actually started one): ‘Charlie Watts is Dead and I’m Not Feeling So Good Myself.’ .

But then the bird fell out of the sky.

The bird is dead. …. and I’m not feeling so good myself.

Now, I wasn’t there but it did affect me through my wife’s words. Catherine had also told the story to our daughter Claire, and this morning Catherine told Claire she had some sad news.

“Your little bird died?” Claire asked.

As I write this, I am nearing the end of counting down and writing this blog with reviews,– the 678 vinyl records I have collected over the years.

I was 56 when diagnosed. Hummingbirds that flitter around our garden can have a 5- year lifespan. I’m on my 5th year of the disease and am not nearly as frenetic as those wing-beaters.I write in the blog: “Counting down my 678 vinyl records before I die of a brain disease.’

I feel gentle hands and at least one more flight, soaring high into the blue. And I know that Catherine will be there when it is my time, too.

Posted on

Tom Verlaine — 50

ALBUM: Tom Verlaine (1981)

MVC Rating: 4.0/$$$$

Though it sounds very much like a Television album, that’s good. The Television singer and guitar player makes good music with the basics, mostly riding along on the guitar like it was a new electric Tesla. The notes finding him — not the other way around.

Every song has tasty guitar and the songs hold together as well. Key songs include Always, Mary Marie, Mr. Blur and There’s a Reason. No big hits here, just solid post-punk rock and roll.

As you can see by the number in the title, I am rolling up on half a hundred left to do. I will write more about that in a separate post.

Posted on

Violent Femmes — 51

ALBUM: Violent Femmes (1983)

MVC Rating 4.0/$$$$

The story goes, according to Wikipedia, the band was busking on a street corner out in front of a theater in the band’s hometown of Milwaukee where the Pretenders would be playing that night.

The trio caught the ear of Pretender guitarist James Honeyman Scott. Lead Pretender Chryssie Hynde let them play a song or two after the opening act ended. It was the beginning of a decades long career.

The band is not for everyone. Gordon Gano who writes the songs and sings lead embodies alternative at its most alternative.

With a tip of the hat to Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground, the Violent Femmes wrote songs from the street touching on drugs, lost love and loneliness. On the second album (Hallowed Ground) Ganos’ Christianity created some dissension at first. That was worked out, and the band member who complained said years later that those songs were among the band’s best.

The Phoenix New Times in a 2014 interview with Gano wrote:

lt was the strength of Gano’s fiery gospel punk songs, the devotional “Jesus Walking on the Water,” “Hallowed Ground,” which reads like it was ripped from book of Psalms, and his gleeful ode to God’s righteous wrath, “It’s Gonna Rain,” that caused Brian Ritchie to relent.

Posted on

The Ventures — 52

ALBUM: The Colorful Ventures (1961)

MVC Rating: 4.0/$$$$

I would venture to say that this band was instrumental.

No vocals — but they were instrumental in another way as well.

The band was instrumental in defining early guitar music. They were influential in rock and roll and pioneered a sound called ‘surf music.’ Nokie Edwards was the lead guitarist.

‘Walk Don’t Run’ may have been their best known album. I find the Ventures and their pop and surf co-horts, Dick Dale, Duane Eddy, Chet Atkins, the Chantays, the Surfaris and others to be quite easy to listen to as it can fade into the background. But a listener paying close attention can hear the precise guitar runs and fabulous picking.

If this is your thing, it might be best to get one of several greatest hits albums. This wasn’t really an album band so the greatest hits work well both as individual slices and an overall vibe. That may run you up to 20 bucks so perusing the bargain bins, like I did, might produce a good find like my album -original press in mono – for under $5.

Posted on

Pete Townshend — 53

ALBUM: Scoop (1983)

MVC Rating: 2.5/$$$$$

Scoop is a two-record grab bag from Who guitarist Pete Townshend.

It’s not good. There’s no there there.

I’ve just listened to two records (four album sides) of demos, outtakes, studio tomfoolery, and alternate versions.

It’s one of those recordings meant for the trash heap, or at least kept private, but instead ends up in a store somewhere with a price sticker on it.

These albums are built on the belief that the public is riveted to every bent G note from the master musician. It’s esoterica for true diehards who are fascinated by the way their guitar hero noodles around in the studio with his mechanical devices. There’s a song ‘Initial Machine Experiments,’ and another ‘Unused Piano – Quadrophenia. (I do like ‘Piano Tipperary, however (all 1 minute of it.)

So, I think we have established that I don’t like ‘outtake’ albums. But for pure confounding full disclosure, one of the best records in this category is ‘Odds and Sods’ by you guessed it: The Who. And I like it. At least I did once. But maybe it was because I was older then, but am younger than that now. I will be reviewing that one when we get to the ‘W’s’.

Maybe you have to read the extensive liner notes to understand the significance of this mess. Pete, himself, offers a clue in the liner notes on the cover (to distinguish between those written reveries for every single one of the 25 songs and snippets.)

No, ha ha, you say. This scathing critique is coming from a man who is chronicling and reviewing all 678 records in my collection, even the Partridge Family and Bobby Sherman????

Well, yes, but I’m not charging for my mess.

Townshend in his liner notes seems to want to offer an explanation.

“These enthusiasts of Who music and the part I played in it will probably welcome this record to add to their stockpile of obsessive memorabilia.”

No.

I mean, yes, there will be some that love to obtain the strummed acoustic versions of songs that sound great only when played loud.

Townshend explains in the liner notes, how he just bought a new TEAC portable studio which has led to 40 songs without words as he is touring with the band. Uh oh.

Now, I like Townshend and admire his songwriting and guitar playing. His voice strains to be strong never quite making it — that’s why they have Roger Daltrey. I really enjoyed Townshend in an English folky record with Ronnie Lane called Rough Mix. I thought his solo album ‘Empty Glass’ was solid.

Now somebody must like this. I Googled e-Bay and Amazon and see copies of my album going used for more than $30. Wait what’s this? Also for sale: Scoop 2 and Scoop 3?

AAAARGH.


Posted on

UB40 — 55, 54

ALBUMS: Labour of Love (1983): Little Baggariddim (1986)

MVC Ratings: Labour 4.5/$$$$; Little 3.5/$$$

Named after a British unemployment form (Unemployment Benefit Form 40), this band, once it got going, certainly didn’t have to stand in any lines for filling out forms during a long career that included 70 million records sold.

‘Labour of Love’ is a fantastic album of reggae covers originally done by obscure artists (at least to most American ears).

One of their biggest hits “Red Red Wine” was originally written and recorded by Neil Diamond and not in a reggae way. ‘Many Rivers to Cross’ by Jimmy Cliff was another big one off of this album.

The album provided worldwide exposure for such Jamaican groups as the Grand Melodars, Winston Groovey, Eric Donaldson, and the Slickers. If you want original reggae hits, try Cliff’s excellent movie soundtrack ‘The Harder they Come.”

‘Little Baggeriddm’ is an EP (extended play), which means more than a .45 but not quite a full album. A cover of ‘I Got You Babe,’ popularized by Sonny and Cher, went high on the charts in the UK. Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders played Cher.

If you spot a good copy of Labour of Love and don’t have it, I would jump on it. In a way it is like Dr. John’s ‘Gumbo,’ taking fun, bouncy songs from an overlooked or niche genre and spreading them around the world.

Red Red Wine

Posted on

U2 –57, 56

ALBUMS: October (1981); Under a Blood Red Sky (1983)

MVC Ratings: October 4.0/$$$$; Under a Blood Red Sky 4.5/$$$$

I only have these two early U2 albums on vinyl. I have several others on homemade cassette tapes and CDs.

The groundbreaking Irish band was a ubiquitous soundtrack to life in the 1980s and 90s. Bono’s larger than life persona and the Edge’s cutting guitar were and are instantly recognizable. They have sold 150 million records.

But I’m not here to review all of U2 here. The two LPs I have will allow a peek into what some critics and die hard fans say is the the best band of its era.

‘October’ in 1981 is a ‘pre-fame’ record. The band had picked up critical kudos for its first album, ‘Boy.’. And while October one had all the hallmarks of the band, it didn’t exactly skyrocket in sales, partially I think due to some weaker cuts on the album and the fact that people were not accustomed to the sound which was really like no other in the heart of the New Wave synth laden songs. I guess you could say they were like the Clash with more love and a little less anger.

‘Under a Blood Red Sky’ is a live mini album which actually has nearly the length of a regular LP. Recorded at the gorgeous venue Red Rocks in Colorado, it shows U2 becoming U2: anthemic protest songs with a simple but effective musical format of guitar, bass, drums and vocal.

“How long,? How long must we sing this song,” Bono asks in ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday.’

“I Will Follow’ and ‘New Year’s Day’ remain rock classics.

The Edge’s chiming guitar is a perfect fit for Bono’s big vocals as was the name the Edge for the style of guitar he plays. The guitar would shimmer, sting and wail and walk up to the edge of power chord metal but never took the step.

Posted on

Uriah Heep — 58

ALBUM: Uriah Heep

MVC Rating (3.0/$$$$)

Named after the despicable Dicken’s character, Uriah Heep can be viewed in two ways. The worst way is that they are clunky slog rockers that sound no better than the worst songs by Jethro Tull (minus flute) and Deep Purple.

Another, more upbeat way would be to describe them as progressive rock practitioners with a loyal fan base and many years of output.

I am handicapped in that I only have one album, their first, released in 1970. And based on this album, I lean towards the former description rather than the latter.

The band features wah-wah guitar, heavy organ elements, and generic rock singing. This is in the era when I was listening to the previously reviewed UFO. After several decades, I remembered most all of the songs on my UFO albums. I didn’t remember any of these except the lead-off on side 2 called ‘Dreamare’ (yes that’s the title!) It has a La La La chorus and that’s what I remember.

Nevertheless, they made 24 albums together and sold 45 million records. So there you go.

They did have a song or two on other albums I enjoyed. One was a song many may remember called ‘Easy Living.’

Posted on

UFO — 60, 59

ALBUMS: No Heavy Petting (1978); Phenomenon (1974)

MVC Ratings: Heavy4.0/$$$$; Phenomenon 4.0/$$$$$

These albums bring me back to Indiana, where I went to Klondike Junior High School.

Our nickname was the Nuggets and there was a little prospector dude with a pick-ax as our mascot. You can’t make this stuff up people.

Why we in the country and cornfields outside of West Lafayette, Indiana, had a gold mining theme, I don’t know. Indiana was flat as a pancake and if you looked to the west you could see Illinois.

UFO was a hard rock band, so much so that if not for the slower numbers would be considered Heavy Metal. But this was mid-1970s and the term heavy metal as a genre was in its infancy with bands like Black Sabbath leading the way.

Despite its hard rock reputation, UFO was a tuneful band, with technically proficient guitar playing mainly from Michael Schenker. He had previously worked in the German band the Scorpions, a band similar in aptitude and fluid guitar (by his brother Rudolph Schenker). The lyrics were banal, but that’s OK. They knew how to tap into the teen angst like all the hard rock bands were doing at this time. I just found that UFO sounded better than most of this ilk.

The summer after we had moved to Georgia, I was 15 and took a Greyhound to see my friends. (My poignant historical detail: We moved a lot. And these were some of the closest friends I had made heretofore in my young life.).

On the bus ride down I sat next to a Vietnam Vet drinking tall cans of beer (‘tall boys’).

“Where you headed man?’ the vet asked.

‘Indiana I said,’ I replied.

Oh shit,’ he said. “Indiana is the armpit of the nation.’

I still remember looking through the bus window as he said it and saw the rows of corn; it was probably mid-to-late summer, and time for the hard work of de-tasseling the corn. Occasionally, the landscape would be broken by a stand of trees or a little town that time forgot. The half-drunk vet wasn’t far off in his assessment, but as you’ll see later in the story, Indiana wanted me.

I got up there and the older brother of a friend let me stay in his trailer, at least part of the time. Good times, as we listened to UFO, REO Speedwagon (which was decidedly more hard rock than they became later in life.) And we listened to Led Zeppelin, lots of Zeppelin — in a hot sticky trailer baking in the Indiana summer heat.

There’s something about that time and place I’ll never forget; years later I related to the songs of Indiana singers like John Mellencamp and John Hiatt chronicling the nowhere feeling I got. It was a sad feeling of loss; Its origin I could not pinpoint.

One night near the end of my stay, we all piled into a big American-made car, about five of us. A friend said his family was going out of town and we could come over and play pool in the basement and maybe swim in a pool. Heck yeah, we were down for that. The house was like a mansion to us. Time passes and I guess we started getting louder as the caretaker of the property confronted us. A small hermit-like man, who lived on property, said he had called the police. Our pleas that we were invited did not persuade the caretaker, now yelling at us. So, we hopped in our car as Led Zeppelin wailed ‘keep me from the gallow’s pole.’

The police eventually caught up with one of our group at his home after running the car tag. My friends got into various degrees of trouble for that night’s escapade.

Me? I was on a Greyhound bus running southbound to my new home in Georgia.

Posted on

Television — 61

ALBUM: Adventure (1978)

MVC Rating: 4.5/$$$$

Tom Verlaine is not a name that surfaces much these days. But in the 70s with the band, Television, Verlaine and his co-horts, including Richard Lloyd, created quite a stir with the ringing guitar sound of its debut album Marquee Moon.

‘Adventure,’ their sophomore offering is just as good, I think. Released in 1978, Adventure continued the guitar sound heralding punk’s transformation into more melodic music. New Wave was upon us.

Verlaine and Richard Lloyd were the guitarists, alternating lead and rhythm. Some of the longer guitar parts sound like a smoother Neil Young epic (think ‘Cowgirl in the Sand’ or ‘Like a Hurricane.’)

I remember getting this in Athens, Ga. at WUXTRY, it came out my senior year in high school.