This is floating around facebook, and it dates me a little, like I need help in that department. Well, dear reader, there used to be a thing called record stores, not just the music department at Target, sometimes two to three per mall. You could really lose yourself in the realm of album covers and what not. I still pile up lots of tunes, I or otherwise, but it isn't the same. This little exercise came through a friend of mine from our mutual days in college radio. He has a couple of years on me, but it is funny about shared experiences. There were certain albums that everybody had. The Cd era eroded this a little.
Think of 25 albums that had such a profound effect on you they changed your life or the way you looked at it. They sucked you in and took you over for days, weeks, months, years. These are the albums that you can use to identify time, places, people, emotions. These are the albums that no matter what they were thought of musically shaped your world. It's funny because these are a few that transcend the medium, meaning I'm a sap and bought em on cd.
1) Rumours - Everybody we knew had it. It was like it got slipped through everybody's mail slot, standard suburban issue
2) Tattoo You- another one that everybody had. It was the last Stones album to matter, despite the fact they keep churning them out.
3) Tommy (first the movie, then the original album) - Elton John's version of Pinball led me to the Who, and my life-long mania began.
4) Who's Next - the album that started me working backwards through the Who's career.
5) Quadrophenia - I promise I'll stop at three Who albums. This one took me the longest to get into, but it became the deepest listen.
6) Born to Run - the title song defines that period of my life, giving rise to life-long Bruce fanaticism. Yeah, I got a ticket for his show in Toronto
7) The Wild the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle - again, I came to this one late but it became the deepest Boss listen.
8) Sgt. Pepper's - probably the first album I listened to end-to-end, when I was a child, reading along with the lyrics on the back. Come back to it periodically ever since.
9) Abbey Road - I remember tracking this in its entirety on a WSBU overnight shift.
10) Dark Side of the Moon - Almost an afterthought now, but another one everybody had and it is just great enough that periodic revisits can be a revelation.
11) All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes - makes me wish Pete Townshend would record more.
12) My Ever Changing Moods - The Style Council: defines a college period for me. Under-rated, and made me a big fan of everything Paul Weller (the Jam) attempts.
13) The Joshua Tree - my first great album on CD.
14) Achtung Baby - The follow-up is probably the last album I absorbed from beginning to end.
15) Avalon - Roxy Music made the most evocative rock ever. Honorable mention to "The Atlantic Years" compilation.
16) Hotel California: Title song made me want to learn how to play guitar
17) Moondance: Van Morrison, I'm not a fan of the title song, but the record as a whole grabs your soul like everything matters. It helps that Van gives a damn through the whole thing.
18) The Last Waltz: The Band did more than just back up Bob Dylan, they could play a little bit of anything from Blues to Country to Rock and do it with enough panache that you had to be impressed..
19) Tusk: much weirder and ultimately more satisfying than any of Fleetwood Mac's more famous, more commercial releases.
20) Kiss Alive I: as Dave Marsh once said, "It's great, f**k you!"
21) Physical Graffiti - nothing like listening to Led Zep on a cheap hi-fi at age 14.
22) Led Zeppelin IV - Still don't know what a "bushel in the hedgerow" means, still don't care. It's a great record.
23) Tug of War - McCartney's work after John died had a poignancy that matched his best Beatles stuff.
24) Scenes from the Southside - hard to choose one Hornsby album, there are three or four I love.
25) Live at Leeds - OK, I lied.
No clash or ramones, because I'd find out about those later. Looking at the list, I guess I'm an audio dork, but there was something liberating about putting the big old KOSS headphones and dreaming.
Old fart rant over.
Mrmike's Journal
My Podcast Link
03/19/2009 16:55 #48125
It's a song by song world now.Category: music
03/14/2009 15:01 #48051
It's sometimes good to be the clientCategory: work
A large part of my job is taking meetings, more often or not, you take them for the sake of taking them, little consequence during the meeting. It's having the meeting that is actually worthwhile, largely because it can facilitate actual more notable get togethers.
One of the periodicals that I buy advertising from has a suite down at the Arena and invited me down for Thursday night's Sabres game. Of course, I said yes. A chance to eat, drink, watch the game from privileged areas, what's not to love? It is a whole nother world from the regular stands. If you get the chance, even if you aren't a sport fan, I recommend it. At the arena, you transverse some secluded stairs to a private elevator to the suite floor, where it's carpeted and smells like somebody cares about it not being gross.
My domicle for the night had it's own coat check, opposite its own "Private" bathroom. As you walked in to the living room, the taco bar and adjoining wing/finger/popper chafing dish was full to the brim. It was basically thanksgiving with pub food. Across the room on the opposite counter were the pizza, cookies, and nacho chips with appropriate fixings (I mean who doesn't love fixins') I should point out that all these are done infinitesimally better than the overpriced slop at the concession stands. The hostess took great pains to point out that the fridge was stocked already and I should feel free to help myself. I gazed upon all the Molson Canadian, lined up like lil' volunteers, and felt that freedom.
I have seen sporting events poor, wealthy, and from across the hall, and Thursday night's wealthy was best. Between periods, a very serious looking intern brought us stats from what we just witnessed. I could step out on the veranda and gaze upon the great unwashed at the concession stands below. That is the beautiful thing. You don't need to be hockey fan at that level. It is a festival of people watching. I helped myself to one of the leather backed seats and enjoyed the view.
Nice view, huh? Sometimes it is good to be the client. A few moments of business that mercifully stopped once the game got rolling.
Nice way to segue into a long weekend. The halfway point of which finds me not doing a whole lot. Number one son turned 11 yesterday so all extraneous stuff is centered around him, as it should be. Let there be cake.
One of the periodicals that I buy advertising from has a suite down at the Arena and invited me down for Thursday night's Sabres game. Of course, I said yes. A chance to eat, drink, watch the game from privileged areas, what's not to love? It is a whole nother world from the regular stands. If you get the chance, even if you aren't a sport fan, I recommend it. At the arena, you transverse some secluded stairs to a private elevator to the suite floor, where it's carpeted and smells like somebody cares about it not being gross.
My domicle for the night had it's own coat check, opposite its own "Private" bathroom. As you walked in to the living room, the taco bar and adjoining wing/finger/popper chafing dish was full to the brim. It was basically thanksgiving with pub food. Across the room on the opposite counter were the pizza, cookies, and nacho chips with appropriate fixings (I mean who doesn't love fixins') I should point out that all these are done infinitesimally better than the overpriced slop at the concession stands. The hostess took great pains to point out that the fridge was stocked already and I should feel free to help myself. I gazed upon all the Molson Canadian, lined up like lil' volunteers, and felt that freedom.
I have seen sporting events poor, wealthy, and from across the hall, and Thursday night's wealthy was best. Between periods, a very serious looking intern brought us stats from what we just witnessed. I could step out on the veranda and gaze upon the great unwashed at the concession stands below. That is the beautiful thing. You don't need to be hockey fan at that level. It is a festival of people watching. I helped myself to one of the leather backed seats and enjoyed the view.
Nice view, huh? Sometimes it is good to be the client. A few moments of business that mercifully stopped once the game got rolling.
Nice way to segue into a long weekend. The halfway point of which finds me not doing a whole lot. Number one son turned 11 yesterday so all extraneous stuff is centered around him, as it should be. Let there be cake.
metalpeter - 03/15/09 09:56
That is to bad about Roswell going that way. It seems a lot of industry or places now are going that way. The thing is that a gift or a perk can cause someone to make a decision a certain way or can influence it, but most of the time it doesn't. The reason I say that is in places that accept them they get them from more then one side or one view point. Say for example Roswell was going to re do all their computers well The Dell People would talk business and give you stuff, but so would the MAC's and IBM well you get my point, then you would have to go with what kind of software and then more people would step up. I understand the fact that the state doesn't want it to be a "hey we give you this so we give you that, that is illegal and is called a bribe I think". That is what happens in congress and politics so I get why the state doesn't want that. ON a side note hope everyone has a great weekend.
That is to bad about Roswell going that way. It seems a lot of industry or places now are going that way. The thing is that a gift or a perk can cause someone to make a decision a certain way or can influence it, but most of the time it doesn't. The reason I say that is in places that accept them they get them from more then one side or one view point. Say for example Roswell was going to re do all their computers well The Dell People would talk business and give you stuff, but so would the MAC's and IBM well you get my point, then you would have to go with what kind of software and then more people would step up. I understand the fact that the state doesn't want it to be a "hey we give you this so we give you that, that is illegal and is called a bribe I think". That is what happens in congress and politics so I get why the state doesn't want that. ON a side note hope everyone has a great weekend.
paul - 03/14/09 19:23
We are are not allowed to accept perks as state employees at Roswell anymore. One time someone took us out to sushi before the ruling. I wish it could still be like that but I understand how it could influence people's decisions unfairly.
We are are not allowed to accept perks as state employees at Roswell anymore. One time someone took us out to sushi before the ruling. I wish it could still be like that but I understand how it could influence people's decisions unfairly.
metalpeter - 03/14/09 16:31
Sounds like a great time, I hope you ate and drank as much as you could with out exploding and that (don't remember score wise what happened) it was a fun game to watch. I was in a suite once but it wasn't for a sabres game, and yours sound like it was much more stacked then the one I went in.
Sounds like a great time, I hope you ate and drank as much as you could with out exploding and that (don't remember score wise what happened) it was a fun game to watch. I was in a suite once but it wasn't for a sabres game, and yours sound like it was much more stacked then the one I went in.
03/10/2009 17:00 #48008
Insurance griefCategory: health
I'm beginning to think that Human Resources people and Insurance customer service people are in cahoots, to make actual healthcare providers look bad and drive policy holders out of their gourds with unnecessary angst.
Witness this little incident: The former spouse ("Splif" if you will) took our youngins to the dentist only to be told that GHI won't pay their part because I still have Met Life for a provider as well. I haven't had Met Life for anything since October of 200andfreaking7"!!!! I, incorrectly think, that it would make sense to go to source, Met Life and advise them of their error. Their pointless customer service line (that name must be a joke) kicks me to the agent on duty. I tell Jimmy Olsen my story and that thanks to privacy laws I need one company to tell the other that the first company no longer has an affliation with me. He supposedly goes to work on this, but I think he resumes working on his xbox. A series of phone calls and voice mail messages and a week go by. I call his scrawny little self (you tell from the voice) and he admits that he cannot get further access, because of the policy group. The policy group can't find me. (You think it's because I left a year and half ago?!??!?!?). I hang up (impolite I know) and call GHI, verify all my information, the splif's information, etc.
You would think that would be enough to get the Met Life crap off the files so we can get the dental costs taken care of once more. Oh, gentle reader, you'd be sadly mistaken. I have to fill out one more form and get it into the mail to finally get this shit over with. Said form is already in transit attesting to my lack of insurance in the mail.
The hoops you have to fucking leap through. If the president wants to bring down health cares costs, I know where he can start. Leave the medical pros alone and attach where it is really running amuck like bloating H.R. departments in cable companies that will not be named and semi-informed customer care people who aren't attuned to what is happening off the web page they are staring at while they should be working.
Had I known the cable pig screwed up my insurance, my Bell's Palsy battle might have been a little cheaper. Watch them all, because the billing people need to know they are being watched
Witness this little incident: The former spouse ("Splif" if you will) took our youngins to the dentist only to be told that GHI won't pay their part because I still have Met Life for a provider as well. I haven't had Met Life for anything since October of 200andfreaking7"!!!! I, incorrectly think, that it would make sense to go to source, Met Life and advise them of their error. Their pointless customer service line (that name must be a joke) kicks me to the agent on duty. I tell Jimmy Olsen my story and that thanks to privacy laws I need one company to tell the other that the first company no longer has an affliation with me. He supposedly goes to work on this, but I think he resumes working on his xbox. A series of phone calls and voice mail messages and a week go by. I call his scrawny little self (you tell from the voice) and he admits that he cannot get further access, because of the policy group. The policy group can't find me. (You think it's because I left a year and half ago?!??!?!?). I hang up (impolite I know) and call GHI, verify all my information, the splif's information, etc.
You would think that would be enough to get the Met Life crap off the files so we can get the dental costs taken care of once more. Oh, gentle reader, you'd be sadly mistaken. I have to fill out one more form and get it into the mail to finally get this shit over with. Said form is already in transit attesting to my lack of insurance in the mail.
The hoops you have to fucking leap through. If the president wants to bring down health cares costs, I know where he can start. Leave the medical pros alone and attach where it is really running amuck like bloating H.R. departments in cable companies that will not be named and semi-informed customer care people who aren't attuned to what is happening off the web page they are staring at while they should be working.
Had I known the cable pig screwed up my insurance, my Bell's Palsy battle might have been a little cheaper. Watch them all, because the billing people need to know they are being watched
tinypliny - 03/15/09 19:51
This sounds like a lot of unwanted inefficiency. :/
This sounds like a lot of unwanted inefficiency. :/
lauren - 03/11/09 15:00
I'm with ya! I am still in the works of trying to get $90 paid by my insurance because some kind of "data entry error."
I'm with ya! I am still in the works of trying to get $90 paid by my insurance because some kind of "data entry error."
paul - 03/10/09 22:20
I hate GHI, they are such a scam. (e:matthew) is on my insurance and needed a multitude of thing done including tooth fillings that were pretty major. We went to Aspen Dental after we found them on the GHI site. They are an in network dentist. (e:matthew) has like $2000 worth of dental worth. Each of us is covered up to $2500 per year but GHI refused to pay because they only pay for metal fillings for back teeth and Aspen dental only does the white one. What the fuck, they are in network. Seems like a scam to me. We ended up paying over $500 cash and my "Stipend" just went unused. I hate them.
I hate GHI, they are such a scam. (e:matthew) is on my insurance and needed a multitude of thing done including tooth fillings that were pretty major. We went to Aspen Dental after we found them on the GHI site. They are an in network dentist. (e:matthew) has like $2000 worth of dental worth. Each of us is covered up to $2500 per year but GHI refused to pay because they only pay for metal fillings for back teeth and Aspen dental only does the white one. What the fuck, they are in network. Seems like a scam to me. We ended up paying over $500 cash and my "Stipend" just went unused. I hate them.
james - 03/10/09 21:13
Ugh... UGH! What a pain in the ass.
Ugh... UGH! What a pain in the ass.
libertad - 03/10/09 20:33
Nice rant!
Nice rant!
dcoffee - 03/10/09 20:28
oh mike, you just don't understand the beauty of our system. You see, treatment is expensive, insurance companies don't make money by paying for treatment! heavens no. Instead we pay people to sit on the phone and invent scavenger hunts for you until you give up and pay the bill yourself. Sure the bill was only $200 anyway, you know you probably pay that much for the insurance in a month (sucker).
Sorry, I'm not sure how well sarcasm works with just text. Our system is infuriating.
At least corporate America is starting to realize that they are also getting screwed by these companies. :::link::: You'll see General Mills and WalMart both dig a national system.
Really, I pay my FICA taxes for Medicaid and Medicare, I'll bet if I add 1%-2% more in taxes we could all have healthcare. I don't understand the opposition to a national health system, you know? Yea, it'll be SOOOOO much worse than this... /sarcasm.
oh mike, you just don't understand the beauty of our system. You see, treatment is expensive, insurance companies don't make money by paying for treatment! heavens no. Instead we pay people to sit on the phone and invent scavenger hunts for you until you give up and pay the bill yourself. Sure the bill was only $200 anyway, you know you probably pay that much for the insurance in a month (sucker).
Sorry, I'm not sure how well sarcasm works with just text. Our system is infuriating.
At least corporate America is starting to realize that they are also getting screwed by these companies. :::link::: You'll see General Mills and WalMart both dig a national system.
Really, I pay my FICA taxes for Medicaid and Medicare, I'll bet if I add 1%-2% more in taxes we could all have healthcare. I don't understand the opposition to a national health system, you know? Yea, it'll be SOOOOO much worse than this... /sarcasm.
03/08/2009 12:52 #47984
Grin and "Bearing" ItCategory: work
Sunday, sunday, in the office -- Yee ha!
We've got a big cat themed day going on here at the house of fun so I had to be here to oversee some grad students who working on that but also I project I gave them to help marketing to older potential customers.
The newest attraction isn't officially out yet. I think he will make his media debut tomorrow, so you get a sneak peek. He is a big boy and the resident bear is practically throwing herself at him. Like a typical guy, it is taking him some time to get the hint. About an hour before these pictures were taken, I think he is getting the idea. I can only imagine what parents might have had to say to young inquiring minds had the place been opened.
Check out the post-coital bliss.
The things you see on the way to getting a Friday off.
We've got a big cat themed day going on here at the house of fun so I had to be here to oversee some grad students who working on that but also I project I gave them to help marketing to older potential customers.
The newest attraction isn't officially out yet. I think he will make his media debut tomorrow, so you get a sneak peek. He is a big boy and the resident bear is practically throwing herself at him. Like a typical guy, it is taking him some time to get the hint. About an hour before these pictures were taken, I think he is getting the idea. I can only imagine what parents might have had to say to young inquiring minds had the place been opened.
Check out the post-coital bliss.
The things you see on the way to getting a Friday off.
tinypliny - 03/15/09 19:52
Very cool pics! We have the insider scoop on the ZOO! :D
Very cool pics! We have the insider scoop on the ZOO! :D
paul - 03/08/09 20:03
They are so cute. Somehow, this made me wonder if you could still buy polar bear rugs and sadly, you can :::link::: just not in the USA.
They are so cute. Somehow, this made me wonder if you could still buy polar bear rugs and sadly, you can :::link::: just not in the USA.
03/04/2009 13:31 #47944
BreatheCategory: random
It's been one of those discombobulated weeks.
I've actually escaped all the winter colds and maladies, despite the shrinkage inducing weather of late until last week. until last week. Work has been busy so I came home sort of wiped out and wimped out on class. The next day, it hit and that sucked.
Staggered through work and basically was a hermit over the weekend. I finally got rid of it with an old family recipe. When I was 17, and down with a bad case of brochitis, my dad got exasperated and regular meds and gave me a bourbon and seven up high ball, but filled in a root beer mug. Slept for 13 hours after that. Recreated that over the weekend and it worked like a charm. Only down side was that it made for a 9 day gap in yoga classes. So, I was dreading going back last night. You could feel regression coming, but I'm apparently tougher than I look. Only had to pause twice which was better than I anticipated.
So, there might hope yet.
Been listening to the new U2 album and am letting it grow on me. They've been a favorite for a long time and it was a kick watching them laugh a little to start their week long residency on Letterman
After shoveling the Manhattan snow, they did get down to work a little later.
Fun to see and all, but my mental jury is still out on the album. Should be fun live if they come this way.
Just got back from lunch after hiding from the many conservative republicans here. In their eyes, the economy didn't go into the dumper until January 20th, we didn't have a deficit until then, and the acceptable war bill suddenly became a bad stimulus bill we couldn't afford. Hindsight is not only 20/20, but apparently prone to myopia as well.
Hey, this is my 500th journal. This is my longest continuing dialogue with anything that I didn't have to give an allowance to. Hopefully there has been something worth reading along the way. Just noticed that.
Gonna go apologize to Rush Limbaugh because that seems to be the thing to do these days.
Happy hump day, peeps
I've actually escaped all the winter colds and maladies, despite the shrinkage inducing weather of late until last week. until last week. Work has been busy so I came home sort of wiped out and wimped out on class. The next day, it hit and that sucked.
Staggered through work and basically was a hermit over the weekend. I finally got rid of it with an old family recipe. When I was 17, and down with a bad case of brochitis, my dad got exasperated and regular meds and gave me a bourbon and seven up high ball, but filled in a root beer mug. Slept for 13 hours after that. Recreated that over the weekend and it worked like a charm. Only down side was that it made for a 9 day gap in yoga classes. So, I was dreading going back last night. You could feel regression coming, but I'm apparently tougher than I look. Only had to pause twice which was better than I anticipated.
So, there might hope yet.
Been listening to the new U2 album and am letting it grow on me. They've been a favorite for a long time and it was a kick watching them laugh a little to start their week long residency on Letterman
After shoveling the Manhattan snow, they did get down to work a little later.
Fun to see and all, but my mental jury is still out on the album. Should be fun live if they come this way.
Just got back from lunch after hiding from the many conservative republicans here. In their eyes, the economy didn't go into the dumper until January 20th, we didn't have a deficit until then, and the acceptable war bill suddenly became a bad stimulus bill we couldn't afford. Hindsight is not only 20/20, but apparently prone to myopia as well.
Hey, this is my 500th journal. This is my longest continuing dialogue with anything that I didn't have to give an allowance to. Hopefully there has been something worth reading along the way. Just noticed that.
Gonna go apologize to Rush Limbaugh because that seems to be the thing to do these days.
Happy hump day, peeps
jenks - 03/04/09 21:26
whenever we're sick, my mom preaches "tea with honey and lemon". Then as soon as she's out of earshot, dad sneaks over and says "screw honey and lemon" and puts a nip of whiskey in our tea. I swear it works.
whenever we're sick, my mom preaches "tea with honey and lemon". Then as soon as she's out of earshot, dad sneaks over and says "screw honey and lemon" and puts a nip of whiskey in our tea. I swear it works.
metalpeter - 03/04/09 18:22
I just wanted to say good videos. The last time U2 came to Buffalo I thought about going. The problem was the tickets where more then how much I would pay to see them. Don't get me wrong I like all their radio stuff. Yes there is a band I would have paid that much to see but I'm not into them enough for the high price of tickets. That being said in this video "The Edge" kinda plays like this band from Buffalo/Boston who are no longer together "The Sheila Divine". I think U2 is an awesome band. If when they tour they don't come to Buffalo I'm guessing they will come some place travable like Toronto or Cleveland or someplace not to far.
Happy 500!!!!!!!!!!
I just wanted to say good videos. The last time U2 came to Buffalo I thought about going. The problem was the tickets where more then how much I would pay to see them. Don't get me wrong I like all their radio stuff. Yes there is a band I would have paid that much to see but I'm not into them enough for the high price of tickets. That being said in this video "The Edge" kinda plays like this band from Buffalo/Boston who are no longer together "The Sheila Divine". I think U2 is an awesome band. If when they tour they don't come to Buffalo I'm guessing they will come some place travable like Toronto or Cleveland or someplace not to far.
Happy 500!!!!!!!!!!
theecarey - 03/04/09 16:39
Happy 500! Cheers for many many more. :)
Happy 500! Cheers for many many more. :)
I have a few records. By the way I'm telling they are going to make a Fucking come back, now if we can only keep open the places that sell them. The thing about records is that they where known for their cover art. I have some tapes of some of the music you mention (U2 as a gift, and IV still an amazing album as Tapes). The reason that a lot of those albums where so good is because on tape they had to be. What I mean is if you had a great song unless it was first or last people wouldn't listen to it if the rest of tape wasn't good. For example if the first song was good on side A you would listen to it and then let it play a bit, flip the Tape and listen to the last song of side B. Yes you can FF but on a tape it wasn't fun. I think that forced better music. You buy a CD you can program it to play the two songs you like for 3 hours. Also with records if you didn't like a song you could skip it with ease. When I was listing there wasn't that much with it, but the concept of B sides on Singles was pretty cool and some records.