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Little Richard — 361


ALBUMS: Precious Lord (1985)

This is an interesting record from one of the founders of rock ‘n roll.

MVC Rating: 3.5/$$$$

Son of a church deacon, who severely punished Little Richard after catching his son wearing women’s clothes , Little Richard aka Richard Wayne Penniman clearly had some personal issues in his life — sexuality conflicts and substance abuse.

According to various sources including an autobiography, Little Richard’s father’s church duties in Macon, Ga., were augmented by a moonshine and nightclub business. So somewhere therein lies a reason or two why Little Richard bounced back and forth between being ‘born again,’ singing gospel and secular music that pushed the bounds that society had laid down for sexually explicit content at the time.

Long Tall Sally, Tutti Frutti, and Good Golly Miss Molly are three of his bigger hits whose vocal stylings influenced everyone from Paul McCartney to Wilson Picket.

The record company had to hire someone to clean up the lyrics forTutti Frutti, for example. This 1985 gospel record is not listed on Wikipedia’s discography although you can buy it on vinyl on Amazon for about $17. I bought this new back in 1985 after wandering into a store in one of Birmingham’s mostly black neighborhoods. That’s where I also found a Birmingham Community Choir record, which I feature earlier in my countdown.

This album is not well recorded and that’s why I give it a 3.5, rather than a 4 or better. It sounds like it was recorded in a cavernous empty church with one microphone dangling from the ceiling. An echo-ey and distant feel.

That said, the singer shows off an amazing voice and range. Glad I got it

ALABAMA NOTE: In one of his bounce backs to religion in the late 60s, he attended Oakwood College (now University) in Huntsville. It is a historically Black Seventh-day Adventist institution,

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BREAKING: Third annual Mike Madness charity tournament set for July 20

See AL.com version for updated version.

I just got word that we have agreed on a date with UAB which is donating the use of the UAB Recreation Center for 3-on-3 basketball games (and other hijinx) for charity.

We are raising money to fight this brain disorder that I have, along with more than 1 million other people.

It has no cure, no known cause and is fatal. It is the second leading cause of dementia behind Alzheimer’s disease. But few people are aware of Lewy, which physiologically is a cousin to Parkinson’s disease with symptoms similar to both PD and AD.

Trent Richardson drives like the football player he is at Mike Madness charity basketball tournament last year. The tournament is back again for its third year on July 20. More details to come. Photo — Trish Crain

In two years we have raised a total of more than $25,000 for research and awareness of Lewy body dementia. We started humbly with a $5,000 goal the first year and took in about $13,000. Last year we raised $12,000. (These numbers are coming from my math memory department in my brain which is currently under siege from rogue proteins, but I think they are about right.) I would love to raise $25,000 this year to push our total to $50,000.

I think we can do it. I think this will be the most successful one yet.

Details of the tournament will be coming but mark the date: July 20, UAB Recreation Center. We have the gym all day and will start pretty early in the morning. Again stay tuned.

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Last year we had surprise visitors. Former NBA and UA basketball star Buck Johnson and former UA running back Trent Richardson joined us and even participated in a game or two

So stay tuned. Many more details to come.

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Little Feat — 363, 362


ALBUMS: Sailin’ Shoes (1972); Hoy Hoy (1986)

MVC Rating: Sailin’: 4.0/$$$; Hoy: 4.0/$$$

Little Feat and its leader Lowell George started with a foundation of Southern blues rock a la the Brothers Allman, added a touch of the Brothers Neville and topped it off with some funky Brothers Isley.

When I think of Little Feat I think of their song Dixie Chicken and the great swinging opening:

I’ve seen the bright lights of Memphis
And the Commodore Hotel
And underneath a street lamp I met a Southern belle
Well she took me to the river, where she cast her spell
And in that Southern moonlight, she sang a song so well

And the refrain that sticks in your brain like gum on a shoe on a hot day.

If you’ll be my dixie chicken, I’ll be your Tennessee lamb
And we can walk together down in dixieland
Down in dixieland .

Lowell George formed Little Feat after leaving Frank Zappa’s Brothers, er, Mothers of Invention. George said he was encouraged to leave Zappa because Frank, who eschewed drugs, didn’t like the drug references in the George song “Willin’. This is seemingly ironic given that the Mothers had released the psychedelic album of the ages in ‘Freak Out’ — but, oh yeah, with Zappa he wasn’t laughing with them, he was laughing at them. (Tripping hippies, I’m talking about).

‘Sailin’ Shoes’ was the second in a handful of consistently good albums. As the band started to fall apart in the 80’s, Lowell George went on tour behind a very good solo album, ‘Thanks I’ll Eat Here.” See MVC review,

He died in a motel room in Virginia, the victim of his appetites for drugs, alcohol and food, especially food. He reportedly weighed more than 300 pounds at death.

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Leaving Trains–364

ALBUM: Kill Tunes

MVC Rating: 4.0/$$$

This was not one of my usual purchases. Meaning back in 1986, I was not a big punk fan. But I learned to love the Clash and later in the 1990s I really enjoyed Rancid after discovering their music while living in the SF Bay Area.

But SST-labeled Leaving Trains leaned more to Black Flag and the Dead Kennedy’s, which usually for me fell on deaf, and I mean deaf, ears. So even though Leaving Trains was perhaps closer to Black Flag than the Clash, they lightened it up a bit and played power chords with a Power Pop sensibility — like the Beat or the Nerves.

Led by semi-maniac Falling James Moreland, their album ‘Kill Tunes’ is considered — from what I’ve read to be their best. I remember having to order this, Chuck @Wuxtry Birmigham set me up,

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David Lasley — 365

ALBUM: Raindance (1984)

MVC Rating: 4.0/$

David’s 1984 solo album, Raindance, is a tantalizing mix of soul, doo wop, hip hop and balladry. 

And as vinyl on the used market it’s about $3 — a big bargain. <NOTE: This has probably gone up since writing this several years ago.>

His cranky rap song “Don’t Smile at Me” (warning language)* still makes me smile all these years later. I’m pretty sure I bought this after seeing James Taylor at Auburn University in like 1983 but the album says 1984 – and I was gone from AU by then.

He tackles all styles here, maybe too many, as if he finally gets to be a frontman and decides to show everything he has got. And he’s gotta a lot, this blue-eyed falsetto soul singer. Note: Don’t really know if he has blue eyes — that’s just the industry’s way of saying they are white singing soul. Like Hall and Oates.

Besides Taylor, Lasley has been back-up singer for a whole host of artists, including Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor, Aretha Franklin and Luthor Vandross.

He is listed in the credits of this blog’s countdown artist Garlland Jeffries.

*Now guaranteed higher clicks.

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Ronnie Lane–366

ALBUM: Slim Chance

MVC Rating: 4.5/$$$$

On any given day, this album may be my favorite and this underrated British musician may be my favorite rock ‘n roll character.

Check out a documentary on this lovable guy on YouTube and learn about how he bought a rundown farm and began traveling to gigs in a dilapidated travel camper only to miss said gigs because it broke down. Took him days to travel to venues.

Lane died too early of multiple sclerosis on 1997 at age 51.

He was born in 1946 on April Fool’s day.

He wrote a song about being an April Fool.

I have Ronnie Lane all over the place, my Small Faces and Faces records, a collaboration with Pete Townshend (see Annie) that’s excellent and collaboration on a movie soundtrack with Ron Wood. Love all the above. Except for Faces, the other albums have not yet been reviewed in my alphabetical countdown. (I’ve just started the L’s).

Lane first gained attention in Small Faces and Faces where they came up with ”Ooh La La’ and ‘Itchykoo Park.’

Lot of videos in this post but they work better than my words in explaining this whimsical Leprechaun. RIP Ronnie.

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Lake–368, 367

ALBUMS:: Lake (1977); Paradise Island (1979)

MVC Rating: Lake 4.0/$$$; Paradise Island 3.5/$$$

This is a German band (sang in English) that had some minor success on the radio with a couple of songs, including ‘Time Bomb.’ My knee-jerk reaction would be to say they are Yes-lite. But the better description would be Styx’s German cousin.

So what’s the difference between Lake and Styx, Asia, or Toto? Record sales is about all I can see. Lake has the same skill-set: highly professional musicians who can put a polished sheen on a radio-friendly sounding tune.

They definitely were aiming for the radio, unafraid to lop a healthy dose of syrupy strings over there rock balladry — see ‘Do I Love You.’ Or is that keyboards?

My wife enjoyed this band, more than me. And that’s how I came to have these.

The band did receive an honor from MyVinylCountdown by being named by me as a band that should have had a bigger hit in the song ‘Jesus Came Down.’ It’s about Jesus coming back and being disappointed in what we’ve been doing. Now who might be behind this little outcome? I don’t know, who could it be? Ummm, SATAN. (Thanks for pointing that out church lady.

Both the albums I have, their debut and the second one, are almost interchangeable. They are both good solid examples, of the polished guitar and keyboard rock that came out of car radio speakers in the late 1970s and 1980s.

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Peter Himmelman sends My Vinyl Countdown excellent, hard-to-find vinyl

Peter Himmelman, a Minnesota-born, California-based, singer-songwriter, rock star of cult-level status and observant Orthodox Jew, sent me three vinyl records recently in support of my effort to get the word out about a prevalent but little-known brain disease.

Woo hoo! I was so excited to rip open that box and play some new Himmelman music, which I find to be of the highest order.

Himmelman like a few of my favorite artists had not, heretofore, to my knowledge, put out LPs. Now that I have this vinyl, I can add him to the countdown. (In another post I will review his three albums.)

So how did this come about that a semi-famous rock star, Bob Dylan’s son-in-law, send me three excellent out-of- print vinyl records? Therein lies the story, a story about this singer, this journalist and my wife, Catherine, a Presbyterian minister.

FOR THE FULL STORY, PLEASE CLICK THIS

Himmelman’s ‘The Boat that Carries Us’ album cover.
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Thoughts on how to beat a fatal disease (blog version)

This is an opinion column from Mike Oliver, who was diagnosed  with the fatal  Lewy body dementia more than two years ago.

Acceptance of a fatal disease diagnosis is the first step.

Listen up brain. I’m talking to you.

That doesn’t mean you are not angry about it. That doesn’t mean you are not sad about it. And that doesn’t mean accepting everything the doctor says. Do research.. Ask questions. I’m not saying give up hope – for a cure, for a milder case, for, yes, even a miracle.

But be realistic.

 To avoid despair – and that’s a weighty word for giving up – you need to come clean with yourself primarily, and, then, others as you begin to become comfortable talking about  it.

I knew a person with a fatal cancer diagnosis who refused to talk about her cancer. Her friends and children eventually knew she was sick but had little to no time to prepare for her death. When she died her school-age children did not know death was even a possibility. Her death was a hard blow to handle without preparation, a sucker punch with long lasting effects.

Talking about my fatal disease, even joking about it has been my way of making this horrible thing bearable. I also talk to my brain.

Now this might sound silly but try it: Stand in front of a  mirror and say “I know I have Lewy body dementia (or Alzheimer’s, or Parkinson’s, or cancer, or whatever it is).

“I know you may kill me before I want to die,” I say to my reflection, talking to my brain. “But I will fight you. I will not go gently — until I can do that on my terms.”

Still standing before the mirror I say: “Lewy, I will resist your memory damaging brain attack. I hereby give you, my brain, permission to summon whatever resources you have to fight back to slow the proteins down.

“Step up brain. You are me. I am you. Together we can beat this.”

 I received an email from a reader that illustrates some of what I am talking. I am printing the email here in whole.

Anne Pinkston in Nashville brought a tear to my eyes with this email.

    —–Original Message—–

    From: Anne Pinkston

    Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2019 10:32 PM

    To: Mike Oliver <MOliver@al.com>

    Subject: Thanks for your articles

    Dear Mike,

    I am guessing you receive more emails than you can read, but still I felt compelled to write.

    I am Anne Pinkston in Nashville.

    My husband Ken, age 76, too has been diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia with Parkinsonism.    Several months ago, a friend in Birmingham told me about your articles, through which you are chronicling your journey.   That night, I sat up for hours because I could not stop reading your articles.  

    At that time, Ken knew very little about his “diagnosis” and had not been ready to embrace the diagnosis.    I began to read your articles to him at breakfast.  That is how I have exposed him to everything “Lewy”.   Now, he can sometimes even make jokes.  

    Your articles have been a great inspiration for me.   I love your sense of humor and your determination to not be defeated.  I relate to your wife, Catherine.  

    Tonight, I read your article about driving.   My husband had to give up driving in September, and should have sooner.  He has not adjusted yet.  I will read your article to him in the morning, with the hope that it will help him and will make him smile.   

    I believe you and my hubby will both “beat the odds” and live longer and better than expectancy for Lewy Body, so don’t give up.  

    Thank you so much for your articles, your humor and your amazing outlook on life.  You, Catherine, and your girls are to be admired.   I am guessing you have inspired many, many people, as you have inspired me.

    So your friends pledge $$$’s if you dunk.  Well, I pledge $500 to your July Mike Madness B-ball Tournament, whether you dunk or not.  But, I think you and  Dr. J’ Erving could both do it!  Is there a link for 2019 Mike Madness pledges.

    I have been including you and your family in my prayers.

    Keep that “vinyl countdown” going!

    Anne Pinkston

Thanks Anne for making my day! –  Mike

Post Script: Keep your eye on myvinylcountdown.com for information about the charity basketball tournament. We are in early planning stages right now. But I have a feeling this year’s Mike’s Madness is going to be a doozy.

AL.com version with reader comments.

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Kerri Kasem says Lewy body dementia needs more attention

Kerri Kasem and I talked recently about the disease that contributed to the death of her father, world-famous Top 40 disc jockey, Casey Kasem. He died in 2014 of complications of Lewy body disease.

Like myself (and countless others) the elder Kasem was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s. That’s one reason we need much greater awareness of this disease, which affects more than 1.2 million people nationwide, according to the Lewy Body Dementia Association.

Given that we had a similar mission — raising awareness of a little known and little understood brain disease — Kerri, co-host Ashley Marriott, and I talked for a podcast found on her KPOD her podcast website.

That podcast is now live at:

http://thekpod.com/the-kpod-living-with-lewy-body-dementia/

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