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Exclusive interview with my brain

Mike Oliver, who writes frequently about his battle with a fatal brain disease,Lewy body dementia, finally gets some one-on-one time for this exclusive interview with his brain.

ME: Hey brain I need a report, what’s going on up there. I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for days.

BRAIN: Well you should know, it’s your brain up here.

ME: Don’t get smart, brain. Remember you sent me some wrong information yesterday. I thought I saw a herd of cats in our yard having a tea party. I knew instantly it was a hallucination of course.

BRAIN: Yeah that was my bad, these little alpha synuclein proteins are tough little critters; they put the alpha in alpha. They took a couple million of my neurons yesterday and slimed them.

ME: Oh that must have been why I got up at 3:30 a.m. and went downstairs for no reason. I woke up staring at a wall.

BRAIN: I tell you, while I, er, we, have billions of neurons, I can’t keep taking these kind of hits and do my job.

ME: Well listen to me, Brain, I appointed you head of this organization for a reason. I have to say you were the leading candidate by a wide margin over the heart. Don’t get me wrong, I like the heart, but I can’t always trust it.

BRAIN: Yeah I hear you. Too sentimental.

ME: I just need you to play smarter here. This is a serious thing, an inflow of unwanted alpha snoopy proteins.

BRAIN: That’s alpha synuclein … you are confusing words Snoopy is a cartoon dog and you heard alpha and went with the dog thing.

ME: Me?

BRAIN: Well, right, US I guess. The latest research is that the bad proteins may be coming from the gut and climbing up to the brain where they wreak havoc, especially on memory.

ME: Really? Who did that research?

BRAIN: Well you read the same article, right?

ME: Oh, I guess I did. Which brings up another thing my memory sucks, what’s going on with our memory banks?

BRAIN: Well the Tactical Team is holed up in a previous unexplored storage space for the memory. I think they are trapped there like Davy Crockett at the Alamo.

ME: Well, keep up the fight. We may not have the strength to beat them head-on, but we can surely out-think them.

BRAIN: Well that’s a good thought.

ME: Thank you.

BRAIN: Thank you? I thought of it.

ME: No you didn’t. You just processed it for me to know. Look we don’t need to waste time arguing, let’s go get ‘em.

BRAIN: Yes I agree, but I feel a nap coming on.

ME: Funny, me too.

Please help us with your donation or participation in MikeMadness, a basketball tournament (and much more) to raise money for research and awareness of Lewy body dementia and other dementias. Go to www.mikemadness.org to see how how you can help.
Story originally appeared AL.com

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Daily journal: 6-29-2019 Brummies REO Speedwagon edition

From Left David Oliver, Mike Oliver, Susan Schneider Williams and Catherine Oliver.

Been a wild week, much of it spent in Las Vegas. More on that in this column at AL.com: Susan Schneider Williams.

Just got through playing one of my favorite albums of the past year or so: The Brummies’ “Eternal Reach.” You know why I am listening to it? Because I saw one of the best concerts I’ve seen in recent memory last night. The Brummies at the Saturn. Even ate one of those gigantic hamburgers from the man outside. The Brummies deny classification except I guess I’d put them under Beatlesqe. I’ve said it here before, they are a band to watch (and listen to). Dang that was tight last night.

So two days earlier I was at the Lewy body dementia international conference in Las Vegas (see Susan Williams story above).. After one long day, they had a pool party and they had listed (Live Music) in the schedule. We had no idea the live music was going to be REO Speedwagon as represented by lead singer and songwriter Kevin Cronin. Now this midwestern band had a huge career in the 70s, 80s and 90s. They were from Illinois but they were huge in my 1970 Junior High School named Klondike in West Lafayette, Ind. We took a picture and as we parted ways,he told me to ‘Roll with the Changes,’ and I told him to ‘Keep on Pushing.’ Seriously that’s true. So cool.

They became this big Top-40 band with the release of High Infidelity but they had been cranking out hard rock singles since 1972, Kevin came to the event because his mother had Lewy body dementia. His voice after 40 years of rock n roll singing, is not as strong but he entertained with another REO member dipping into the group’s deep bag of hits.

Kevin Cronin, lead singer of REO Speedwagon with Mike Oliver of myvinylcountdown.com

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Marvelettes — 333

ALBUM: Anthology (`1975)

MVT Rating: .4.0/$$$

The Marvelettes were the first all female group at Motown to obtain a No. 1 record.

‘You gotta waitaminute waytaminute Wait Mr. Postmasman.”

They were pioneering but now seemingly lost in history.

I am going to do something, however small, to correct that. First off publishing this blog post.

And in this blog I’m going to name the names of the Marvelettes. Least I can do for such an amazing talent.

Here they are from: Wikipedia: They consisted of schoolmates Gladys Horton, Katherine Anderson (now Schaffner), Georgeanna Tillman (later Gordon), Juanita Cowart (now Cowart Motley), and Georgia Dobbins, who was replaced by Wanda Young (now Rogers) prior to the group signing their first deal. They were the first major successful act of Motown Records after the Miracles and its first significantly successful girl group after the release of the 1961 number-one single, “Please Mr. Postman“, one of the first number-one singles recorded by an all-female vocal group and the first by a Motown recording act .

These early ‘girl-group’ and boy groups were super smooth at Motown.

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Paul McCartney (solo career and Wings) — 334

For this McCartney review I am going to rank the records I own (4) and comment on them. First off, John Lennon’s work after the Beatles was socially conscious, powerful and heartbreaking, critics said. While mostly true, it set up a false dichotomy with McCartney losing in the side-by-side comparison.

Paul’s stuff was good, excellent and silly silly. But his records contain enough good songs out there to show that he’s better than most on the radio — or at least then during the 70s.

With no further ado, the rankings in ascending order.

4. Red Rose Speedway (1973) — This has the best cover and goodies of the four McCartney albums.. A multi page booklet connected to gatefold. But album has much fewer great moments. I do like ‘When the Night.’ ‘My Love’ is big hit here, yawn. MVC Rating: 3.5/$$$

3. Venus and Mars (1975) …are more than all right tonight. Almost edged out Ram. MVC Rating: 4.0/$$

2. Ram – (1971) and overly criticized as Beatle break-up anger is still in the air. Critics chose Lennon as the genius at the expense of clear headed reviews of McCartney’s music. Paul’s stuff was easier to make fun of. Silly Songs, et.al. On this record Uncle Albert seemed like more silly fluff but I really grew to love that Abbey Road kind of song switch-up (kinda like Queen in Bohemian Rhapsody.) ‘Too Many People’ is a fan favorite. Me being the fan. MVC Rating: 4/0/$$$

1. Band on the Run: (1973) This is best. Best writing. Best song for song. Best thinly disguised metaphor for a put upon Paul. Just what do you do when laden with mountains of expectations. RUN!

Even a characteristically silly song, such as Mrs. Vanderbilt, is good. MVC Rating: 4.5/$$$

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Curtis Mayfield — 336

ALBUM: Superfly Original Soundtrack (1972)

MVC Rating: 4.5/$$$$

I feel like I’ve been remiss in not touting Curtis Mayfield enough. My early exposure to soul when I was around 9 or 10 was mainly from Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding and Aretha. Oh yes, Al Green a little later.

But I recollect I loved the song ‘People Get Ready,’ an overt religious gospel piece that Rolling Stone ranks as the 24th of the 500 best songs that shaped rock music.

And Superfly is one jammin’ soundtrack, with a message for the ‘man.’

And at about the same time Marvin Gaye (another favorite) started becoming socially conscious in songs such as ‘What Going On?.’

Superfly, the soundtrack from the movie was in that vein. Mayfield with his ever-present falsetto sang about the junkies, the pimps, the violence, injustice from the street level.

Song was punctuated with: Trying to get over — Superfly.

Besides being a great songwriter and singer, Curtis could play some guitar.

The album is funky fun from 1 to 9 cuts with standouts such as the title song, Pusherman, Freddie’s Dead and Little Child Runnin’ Wild.

I’m not sure why they called movies like Superfly blaxploitation films. Shaft was another favorite of mine by Isaac Hayes. Do they call ‘Rambo’ a whitesploitation film?

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Bob Marley — 339

ALBUM: Legend (1984)

MVC Rating: 5.0/$$$

The five key shapers of my love of music are all men. I say that only because I just noticed it as I began writing this. The father of three daughters I don’t feel sexist in this regard, but maybe I am.

My five key shapers are The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Wilson Picket/Otis Redding, Prince and Bob Marley.

Hank Williams Sr. barely missed the cut.

I cheated I know with Redding Pickett, but they were big soul belters that startled this skinny kid in Georgia when I first heard them and fell in love with their songs. (Don’t Let the Green Grass Fool You by Pickett hooked me from the radio.)

Prince was my James Brown, Little Richard altogether as those guys were before my time. And Prince channeled these guys (Sly Stone and MJ as well) into some of the most dynamic music of the 80s and 90s.)

British invaders, The Rolling Stones, some might say is too much like the Beatles but that’s not true. They are very different. At first it was the Beatles creating everything a rock band would be, good vocals, good songwriting, good musicians, genius production and engineering. The Stones came along and deconstructed all of that. Raw, simpler, looser. Black music for white kids who wanted the guitars turned up on blues-based rock. A lot of my friends were one or another: Beatles or Stones.

Then came Marley. Jammin’ with an aromatic cloud overhead. I didn’t expect to like him, but grew to love his music which could be rebellious, politically aware and sweet and kind.

Songs like ‘No Woman No Cry’ and ‘Redemption Song’ and ‘Is This Love’ and ‘Stir It Up.’ If you haven’t tried Marley start with this one, a compilation of ‘hits’ called ‘Legend.’ Another favorite I used to have on vinyl but is MIA was ‘Natty Dread.’

‘Babylon by Bus’ is a good two-record live album.

From Natty Dread’s No Woman no Cry

No, woman no cry
No, woman no cry
No, woman no cry
Said, said, said I remember when we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown
Ob-observing the hypocrites
As they would mingle with the good people we meet (meet)
Good friends we have, oh, good friends we’ve lost
Along the way (way)
In this great future, you can’t forget your past
So dry your tears, I say

And no, woman, no cry.

Speaking of women. I swear I have lots of women, on record that is. My beloved Catherine introduced to me to Carole King and Carly Simon.

I have Heart, Janis Joplin, the Bangles, Diana Ross, the Marvelettes, Emmylou Harris, Joni Mitchell, Madonna, Stevie Nicks, an all-female hard rock group called Fanny, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynettte, Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt, Nancy Griffith, Indigo Girls, the Shirelles, Melanie, Joan Baez, and many other ‘mixed’ groups like B-52’s, the Crams, Mamas and Papas, Sly and Family Stone, the Staple Singers, a Group called Smith, Eurythmics and so on.

While I enjoy much of those none were pivotal to me in transforming or greatly expanding my musical tastes. Janis and Aretha were close. But by then I was softened up to listen to them. Mavis Staples of the Staple Singers BTW has one of my favorite soulful voices.

NOTE: After I published this I realized I did not mention Dolly Parton. I watched her show with Porter Wagoner on black and white TV, probably in the late 1960s, early 70s. Sunday mornings. Been a fan ever since.

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Music heals the brains of premature babies and me (Blog version)

 

Mike Oliver is an opinion columnist who is using music and his writings to raise awareness to Lewy body dementia on his blog myvinylcountdown.com and AL.com.

As you all may have figured out, I enjoy music. (Understatement).

Not only do I enjoy music, I believe it is therapeutic, as I have pointed out before.

I believe it is therapeutic for anyone, not just those like myself who have a degenerative brain disease.

Now, news out of Switzerland on the effects of music on premature babies adds more substance to my, admittedly anecdotal reports of music’s healing properties

“Among very premature babies, some of whom were almost born four months ahead of schedule, those who were given daily doses of music written just for them had brain functions that appeared to be developing better than those who weren’t exposed to the music, ” according to ScienceAlert.com., citing several studies.

Yes! I knew I was on to something. Tiny babies rocking out, shaking their booties, doing the funky chicken are helping their brains.

Well not so fast.

Turns out they weren’t exactly rocking out.

The music (which the babies had no say in choosing) is basically elevator music.

The preemies received “eight minutes of soothing background musi c (Click to hear it), bells, harp, and the Indian snake charmer’s flute five times a week.

Incidentally, the snake charmer’s flute was the most soothing sound to newborns,” ScienceAlert.com reported.

Bells, flute, snake charmer’s flute? Are they trying to teach them to slither out of the crib?

I have a friend, Jill in California, who suffers great physical and mental pain upon hearing the harp.

Did the researchers consider any Iron Maiden or old school Black Sabbath. I find a little ‘Crazy Train’ gets my blood pumping in the morning. That’s the goal here, right? Get the healing power of blood circulation in the brain.

If the experts believe that hard rock may be too much at this age, or encourage head-banging, maybe they can start them off with a power ballad by the Scorpions. Or going to another genre, how about the soothing tones of Barry White? Or Smokey  Robinson and the Miracles? Or the Rev. Al Green?

I listened to some of the music they  used on these little ones and, frankly, it sounds like what we called New Age music. You know , Kitaro. There were no lyrics. I say get them started on words. Old school hip hop like Run DMC or Kurtis Blow.

May want to avoid the Police doing (De do do do de da da da). That, and Janis Joplin singing ‘Cry Baby.’

I think the babies would enjoy the whole catalog of the ‘The Mamas and Papas.’

While this is fun, I’d like to take serious note that the best way to solve this problem is to reduce the number of premature babies. Unfortunately many women lack access to good neonatal health care, and sex education. AL.com’s Anna Claire Vollers is spending the year investigating these and other serious issues facing moms in Alabama .

Follow Anna Claire Vollers excellent reporting on Motherhood in Alabama.

Sciencealert.com says the music was aimed at different  parts of the babies’ day, such as feeding time or waking: “Headphones were placed on all babies during the trial when they were waking or noticed to be awake.”

I can see it, Lil’ Man, Lil’ Woman with the head phones on, maybe some shades, chillin’ to Bob Marley.

“We jammin’ we jammin,’ babies nodding their heads in unison, “we hope you like jammin’ too.”

 

https://youtu.be/H7knTgdgaSU

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Wynton Marsalis, Teo Macero — 342, 341

ALBUMS: Black Codes from the Underground; Acoustical Supension (1985)

\MVC Rating: Black 4.0 $$$; Acoustical 4.0/$$$$.

I’ve never been a major jazz fan. I give it about 5 to 10 percent of my listening time. Total listening time for the week is between four and seven hours. An hour is about three album sides. So  I still get a fair amount of jazz in

This is about all that, and jazz too. I’m combining these two respected artists because they are close in alphabetical distance and both are playing some late model jazz (1980s).

There is some jazz I really like and listen to, mostly from the old days. John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Dixieland Louis Armstrong, Joe Henderson, Cannonball Adderly, Bud Powell, and Sonny Rollins to name most of my repertoire. Oh, and Chet Baker (hipster dude).

So a jazz collecting friend asked why I don’t have any modern jazz, at least someone like Herbie Hancock (who isn’’t all that modern these days.) I dunno, I said. Seems like it takes me too long to warm up to. I do like some fusion as done by the Dixie Dregs and Sea Level, but that’s my Southern roots kicking in

So I asked him who’s the best jazz person right now in the world. He said the best trumpet player is/was (this was 1980s) Wynton Marsalis. So I bought a Marsalis record Black Codes from the Underground. He’s extremely good – won two Grammy’s for this album.  I like it, but am not passionate about it. It’s busy with trumpet runs (as you’d expect) throughout. Makes a good party record that can rise above the background music tag when you want some jazz but not something that rattles the martini olives.

Next up was an album I almost forgot about Teo Macero – and this album would be a notch higher on the in-your-face jazz – in other words with its funky beats, bleating sax and switcheroo time signatures, with splatters of electric guitar, it would not work as well in a background setting demanding low volume. In some ways Marsalis might be pushing it as a dinner time suggestion because of its swings and complexity. Playing Wynton’s album for the first time in years made me realize this album deserves some listening concentration.

Both these guys have great folks working with them and resumes that are about as good as you can get.

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Mr. Big, Mouth and MacNeal, Men without Hats (1-hit wonders in the ‘M’s)-345, 344, 343

Oh this is going to be fun. I have three records here all coming up on the basically alphabetic format I have pioneered (which means they are in alphabetical order except when I decide they are not.)

They are essentially one-hit wonders, this trio of bands I’m lumping together. And their names start with’M.’ And they are sometimes good, sometimes bad and sometimes silly as heck. Bargain bin material for sure.

Men Without Hats –343

ALBUM: Rhythm of Youth (1982)

MVC Rating: 2.0/$

Canadian group hit it big with the Safety Dance featuring a bubbly 1980’s synth dance beat:

‘We can dance if we want to, we can leave your friends behind, because your friends don’t dance, and if they don’t dance, they ain’t no friends of mine.”

Probably everybody in the world has danced to this song. And probably everybody in the world has this record which sits and never gets played unless you put it on a 1980’s synth-dance music playlist. The only other song that captured my attention was
‘I Got the Message.‘

Mr Big — 344

ALBUM: Photographic Smile (1976)

MVC Rating: 2.5/$$

This is a strange group and album. Not to be confused with the LA-based Mr. Big which was even bigger. This UK-based Big’s only significant hit was ‘Romeo although ‘Feel Like Calling Home sounds like a single for the radio. The singer sounds and looks like the bad gang member leader who set the Warriors up in the Walter Hill movie The Warriors. ‘Warriors come out and Plaa-ay, clink clink go the bottles on his fingertips. i checked the liner to see if this cat “Dicken” was listed as playing bottles. Nope. Dicken (just DIcken) is the vocalists name and he seems to be a known entity in some corners of the UK music scene or at least was at one time.

The album ‘Photographic Smile’ is all over the place from hard heavy rock with Brian May-like guitar solos to lilting folk ballads to songs with a sprinkling of Chinese pentatonic  musical touches. The title song sounds like 10cc.

There’s talent with songwriting musical hooks and musicianship, but it’s somewhat negated by the wild swing in the music and mediocre to poor lyrics. Still, some of these songs have hooks that catch and stick.

Mouth and MacNeal — 345

ALBUM: How Do You Do

MVC Rating: 2.5/$

Well ‘How Do You Do’. Talking about hooks that catch and stick. The one hit from this group is one of those earworms. Now we had a little fun with Mouth and MacNeal earlier in this blog, naming the song ‘How Do you Do’ the Best Worst song of All Time.” I have to say we were heavily influenced by an old black and white video that was so amateurish, it was hilarious.

On record M&M sound OK. The Mouth, a big bear of a man, has a voice that could make beams fall at a construction site. They put their spin on “Heard it Through the Grapevine,” which is inferior to CCR’s or Marvin Gaye’s version — but not altogether bad.

Try this Mouth and MacNeal for something different::

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Daily Journal, May 28, 29, 2019,

Tuesday/Wednesday post-holiday edition. We had good fun over the Memorial Day weekend at my parents’ in Athens, Ga. I bought a short stack of bargain bin records at a cool little thrift store . We ate hot dogs walked quite a bit and some of us swam.

ICYMI

Over the weekend I this posted on AL.com:

https://www.al.com/opinion/2019/05/the-top-15-my-vinyl-countdown-posts-at-the-half-way-mark.html

And Tuesday this posted.

https://www.al.com/life/2019/05/thank-you-judy-buckner-for-telling-us-how-bill-died.html

I used to think that when people use the term World War III, they are being hyperbolic. Not so sure now.

Reading this worries me:

https://www.al.com/opinion/2019/05/give-peace-a-chance-stay-out-of-middle-east.html