Today on Tim’s Vinyl Confessions, we deep dive into the new (final?) Mr. Big album called Ten. Shockingly, it’s their tenth studio album. I know, right? It’s also a few firsts: the first album with no songwriting from bassist Billy Sheehan, and debut Mr. Big album for new drummer Nick D’Virgilio. It has been eight long years since their last album, Defying Gravity, which wasn’t bad at all. Did they top it? Did they go out on a good note?
My written review will go up tomorrow.
One of my favourite bands, going back 34 years this summer, is Faith No More. The San Fransisco band hit it back in the summer of 1990 with “Epic”, but they had been plying the rock waters for years before, including a brief stint with Courtney Love on lead vocals. It was the acquisition in 1988 of Mr. Bungle singer Mike Patton (replacing Chuck Mosely) that was the final ingredient needed to push them over the top. Even though they are undoubtedly one of the weirdest rock bands to hit the Top Ten, they pre-dated the grunge era with their funky bass, rapped lyrics, and soaring choruses.
Grant Arthur and I covered the whole shebang, including a triumphant return with the reunion album Sol Invictus. What is it? It’s a damn great episode of Grant’s Rock Warehaus. Give it a watch below!
Thank you to John Clauser of My Music Corner for joining me for an impromptu Friday afternoon! I wanted to finish showing off my birthday hauls, because there was some cool stuff still to be seen. Possibly the coolest of them was a Star Trek: Strange New Worlds plaque made by the propmaster on that show and purchased directly from him. I also received a replica lamp from the Star Wars series Andor, and a Tchaikovsky CD. This led to an informative back-and-forth about classical music in the comments, led by Pete Jones.
John Clauser brought with him some personal stories and rare copies of his own music. One is an album that he played some guitar on, one is an album of his own making, and another is a live DVD recorded at a coffee house! He also has a demo tape of his early W.A.S.P.-influenced solo music.
Quiet Riot was an artist that John spotlighted, with a bonus Randy Rhoads bootleg. He also brought a double live Accept — a prelude to his next big deep dive series on My Music Corner!
The final thing I had to show off was my Lego Jazz quartet, which ironically, Aaron received for his birthday a few days ago.
Thanks to everyone for the lively comments. This is why I love going live. See you next time!
GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man
Episode 66: Surprise Friday Stream with John Clauser
SURPRISE! John Clauser from My Music Corner and I will be live at 3:00 PM this afternoon. That’s just three hours from this posting!
John & felt like being social this Friday, so come one and all and join the conversation. I have some new things to show off, including birthday gifts and cottage treasures. John will have some cool stuff to show as well. Perhaps we’ll even discuss his Twisted Sister series and what is to come next at My Music Corner.
Join us today at 3:00 for a classic cottage afternoon show. These are always a blast. Welcome to the cottage John!
Friday July 26 at 3:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 4:00 P.M. Atlantic. Enjoy on YouTube or on Facebook!
A few weeks ago, Tim & I tackled a classic Helix album on Tim’s Vinyl Confessions. Check out this 4:07 mini album review, in which we discuss the album and the rare Canadian glow in the dark cassette.
The album should have been bigger than it was, so hopefully we spread some appreciation in the video below.
The birthdays keep coming, relentlessly as the tides, but Jex Russell ensured that this one was special and different indeed.
This birthday, I was joined by Jex, John Clauser and Tim Durling for a fun Friday afternoon that turned quite epic by the end. Before that surprise unfolded, we took a look at my new shelving and a large chunk at my CD collection. We discussed favourite birthday memories and a movie in its 40th anniversary this year: The Last Starfighter. (This led into a side discussion on Howard the Duck.)
Jen joined us for gifts at the halfway point of the show. She gifted me with two new releases and one deluxe live album. You’ll have to watch the show and see! (Clue: royal rodents and the Phoenix lights.)
As a finale, Jex unveiled his surprise. With the assistance of Tim Durling, it was like an episode of “This Is Your Life”, or a Cameo with all my favourite people. Jex’s presentation included friends both famous and infamous. There was even an acoustic version of the Grab A Stack of Rock theme song performed by Johnny Metal himself. Thank you, John!
Here is Jex’s presentation:
By the end of it, I was flattered and honoured, and maybe my eyes were a little wet. I’m not crying, you’re crying. All my reactions to the kind words and surprise guests are live and unfiltered.
I’m the guy who usually has all the words. I don’t have any this time. If a picture is worth 1000 words, just watch my face.
Thank you everyone for everything. Here’s to another year.
GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man
Episode 65: Celebrate Mike’s Birthday on Grab A Stack of Rock – Live!!
(There will NOT be cake)
I was going to take the day off, and just chill on my birthday. No Friday show. “I deserve a break,” I reasoned. We had the Great CD Avalanche of 2024, a physically & emotionally & financially taxing event in recent weeks, and it will be many weeks more before all the CDs are alphabetized again. So, my birthday was going to be spent going out to a quiet lunch with Jen, and then watching Doctor Who and the Acolyte at home.
Then I started to think, that sounded a little too lonely. I wanted to celebrate with my friend Jex. So, I asked.
“Brother, whatever you want to do on your birthday, show or no show, I support you man!” came his response.
I thought about it for two days. I decided that I wanted to celebrate my birthday with Oojaboojagan.
Today’s show is a no-list, no-pressure, just chill-and-join-us event! I’ll be stuffed full of food by that time, and I may even have a birthday drink, so you never know what you will get! There is no theme, but I promise you this much:
Join us this afternoon at 3:30 PM E.S.T. for “Operation: Oojaboojagan”! Seriously, I have no idea what Jex has planned.
Friday July 19 at 3:30 P.M. E.S.T. / 4:30 P.M. Atlantic. Enjoy on YouTube or on Facebook!
Even since the LeBrain Train days, I loved a good intro video to a live show. Not too many YouTube shows do intro videos these days, but it has always been something I liked. Even back in the Train days, I wanted an intro video with every guest we ever had appearing in it. That carries over to Grab A Stack of Rock. The only problem is, the intro video was 1:14 minutes long, and it was getting harder and harder to cram everyone in. I had to sacrifice a lot of Harrison’s Lego art in order to fit everyone.
The other problem with the intro video were the lyrics. There was one line that was relevant when the show started, but not anymore. I figured the only thing I would be able to do was hire a band (I had one in mind) to re-record the entire song from scratch.
Fortunately, audio wizard and author Tim Durling had a quicker, easier, and cheaper solution. He made some minor edits to the original track and voila!
This new version of the song is extended by nine seconds, an absolute eternity in some ways, and enough to pack in a lot more Lego art and show cameos. The new version includes the latest guest to appear on our show, Mr. Matt Phillips.
With this new show intro, we’ll be able to keep adding guests for the next year. Thank you so much Tim for doing this. As Johnny Walters used to say, “the cheque is in the mail!”
Please enjoy and let me know your feedback!
Huge thank you to Jex Russell and Tim Durling for spending Friday afternoon with us chatting about Kansas! Tim’s third book, Let It Be Your Guide: The Kansas Album Review, is out now Like his previous two books, you can get this one now on your local Amazon.
Kansas are progressive rock legends, but did they ever get the respect they deserved? They are still making music today, and good music too. This book, and this interview, reflect a love of Kansas that perhaps isn’t seen enough in media (mainstream and social) these days. Tim hopes to change that. His appreciation for the music is sincere. As for Jex and I, we could only sit back and learn.
We had one surprise lined up for Tim, a Grab A Stack of Rock first. In a surprise appearance, TVC bandmate and book cover artist Matt Phillips explains what went into the artwork, and other important details about publishing a book like this. Indeed, there are photos of articles from Tim’s personal collection inside, all laid out beautifully with great care. Thank you Matt for sending in this great video. If you want to know about some of the Easter eggs on the book art, watch this video.
Congratulations Tim on this third book, and please support him by picking up a copy on Amazon. Jex and I will be back from the cottage soon for another Grab A Stack of Rock. Thanks everybody for your viewer questions and comments!
SHOW NOTES
“A FAN’S EAR-VIEW OF WHAT MAKES KANSAS’ MUSIC SO SPECIAL” – Jeff Wagner
Tim, what took you so long to write a third book? Y&T was 7 months ago.
Tell us your point of entry into Kansas. (I do not remember ever seeing Kansas on MuchMusic)
One might argue that you were born to write this book, given your channel “Tim’s Vinyl Confessions”.
During a debate of greatest “Song 1 Side 1” in history among the lead characters in the movie High Fidelity, Jack Black’s character criticizes one of John Cusack’s character’s proposals as “too obvious, like ‘Point of Know Return'”.
Let’s assume you’re talking to Kansas megafans watching this show, who have every album already. Why should they buy this book?
The band is known for clever wordplay in titles, such as “Point of Know Return” and “Leftoverture”. Did you sneak any clever wordplay into this book that you can tell us about?
GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man
Episode 64: Let It Be Your Guide: The Kansas Album Review with Tim Durling
Masquerading as a man without a reason, Tim Durling is a wayward son no more! Now with his third book on the shelves, it’s time to talk to Tim about his latest tome: Let It Be Your Guide: The Kansas Album Review. Like his previous two books, you can get this one now on your local Amazon.
Cohost Jex Russell and I will be chatting with Tim this afternoon about all the usual stuff: the genesis of the idea, recruiting the coterie of “Wheatheads” (including Jex and I, among other members of the community) and the brilliant cover artwork by Matt Phillips. We also have a very special surprise for Tim, plus lots of physical product to show. This time, I’ve got an 8-track!
Today’s show will be a free-flowing chat, and it will be live, so you too will be able to ask Tim your Kansas questions! Let Tim be your guide.
From Amazon:
THE MUSIC IS ALL FOR YOU.
LET IT BE YOUR GUIDE: The Kansas Album Review is an in-depth look at America’s premier progressive rock band, and celebrates 50 YEARS OF KANSAS!
Led by the songwriting and multi-instrumental genius of Kerry Livgren, the pristine pipes of Steve Walsh, and the cutting violin of Robby Steinhardt, Kansas emerged from their Topeka home base with their 1974 debut album, to take on the world… and win! Initially met with confusion from music buyers, Kansas eventually captured the hearts of listeners far and wide. Kansas has proven that a band writing—and playing—music their way can succeed, and flourish:
After 50 years, Kansas continues to produce vital, new music, and brings their songs to audiences night after night.
Let It Be Your Guide gathers together a coterie of “Wheatheads” to wax thoughtfully on the deepcatalogue this band possesses. Each of the band’s 15 studio albums are explored thoroughly, with space also given to their many live albums, and compilations.
BOOK FEATURES:
Join us for the talk, and support Tim by buying the book at the Amazon link above!
Friday July 5 at 4:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 5:00 P.M. Atlantic. Enjoy on YouTube or on Facebook!
BONUS: Tim’s Guide to the Kansas Compilations!
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