Topless Tribute to @MarriedandHeels from Mike and Jex!

On April 28 2023, our co-host MarriedAndHeels went topless for the first time on her OnlyFans live stream. Jex and I decided to poke a little fun at her, all in good humour. I have a feeling we’re going to see a lot of topless jokes this summer.

On This Day in Music History: the 1st Annual Grammy Awards

May 4, 1959 – the 1st Annual Grammy Awards

 

Record of the Year:  “Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu (Volare)” – Domenico Modugno

Album of the Year:  The Music from Peter Gunn – Henry Mancini

Song of the Year:  “Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu (Volare)” – Franco Migliacci and Domenico Modugno, songwriters (Domenico Modugno)

 

#1059: Dear D

RECORD STORE TALES #1059: Dear D

 

Nine years ago, after the explosive finale of Record Store Tales where I revealed why I quit for the very first time, the fallout was pretty epic.  I had to end two friendships over it.  One of them sent me an email about it all, that I never read until today.  I was searching through my old email address, looking for unpublished Record Store Tales that I could use for something.  Boy did I find one.

The sender said that I wasn’t allowed to use his email for story content, so I’ll paraphrase.

This former Record Store employee seemed to be primarily upset about the fact that I wasn’t cool with the Record Store demanding that I keep my personal cell phone on 24/7.  I spoke to a lawyer; they can’t do that.  It’s funny how upset these guys were about that.  “Oh, your boss that you hated always kept her cell phone on 24/7.”  Yeah.  Because it was her work phone.  She didn’t pay for it.  She had to keep it on.  It was for work.  My phone was for getting lost on road trips into the GTA.  Came in handy a lot for that.

This sender also engaged in some one-upmanship.  “Oh if you think you had it bad, you should see what I see in my current field of work.”

Never was a competition, dude.  Although he seemed to like to make it one in a lot of his past comments.

“Oh wow, you had an alarm company call you at night?  I had one call me three times in one night.”

That kind of thing.  Competitive.

He loses all credibility by referring to Spoogecakes’ legendary hateful comment as as “constructive feedback”.  You be the judge.  Seriously?  Biased much?  No grip on reality?  If I had been the one to send that “feedback”, you’d be singing a different tune, Bub.

My nine-year belated response:

 

Hi D!  Long time no chat.  It appears that nine years ago, you sent me this email that I never read.  I stumbled upon it just now.

I can’t help but notice that both you and your buddy ignored the fact that my cell phone was my own personal phone, nothing to do with the Store, paid for by me, for my own personal use.  As you know, an employer can’t suddenly demand that you keep a personal cell phone on 24/7.  If I did not tell anyone that I had a cell phone, nobody could have called it, and nothing could have been done about it.  It would have been my personal secret.  The manager of our biggest store, Joe, did not have a cell phone at all, as you well know.  Why was that OK for him, but I had to leave my personal phone on 24/7?

You know all this because you’re an expert on such matters.  You didn’t have to consult a lawyer on such things, like I did.

It’s funny that both of you ignored that unethical behaviour from our old boss.  Wouldn’t have anything to do with her being your friend, would it?  She was at your wedding, as I recall.  Both you and your buddy’s weddings, in fact.  You wouldn’t have a bias here, would you?

Hope you’re well,

Mike

“Write a letter, you’ll feel better”

REVIEW: Gordon Lightfoot – Summertime Dream (1976)

GORDON LIGHTFOOT – Summertime Dream (1976 Reprise)

Immediately after Gord’s Gold provided Lightfoot fans with a collection of old and re-recorded hits, Gord made another one:  “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald“.  This mighty song dominated the radiowaves for years over all over the Great White North, arguably granting Lightfoot his most memorable song in his history.  His earlier material from Gord’s Gold and before might be considered the pinnacle of his album-making career, but Summertime Dream isn’t too shabby.

Opening with the musically upbeat “Race Among the Ruins”, but lyrically there is warning here.  “If you plan to face tomorrow, do it soon.”  Don’t let time pass you by.

The nautical disaster song “Edmund Fitzgerald” is second, a mostly historically accurate accounting (within reason) of a great lakes shipwreck.  The great lakes shipwreck.  The stinging guitar lick repeats while the harrowing lyrics induce chills.  Guitarist Terry Clements performed that unmistakable, haunting guitar part, the one that little Canadian kids were dying to learn how to play in their youths.  Did they have any idea they were recording such a timeless song when they were laying down the tracks?  Every feeling, every emotion, every creak of steel and wood can be absorbed through the grooves.  The way Lightfoot paints a picture with words, you feel as if were there. Gene Martynec, who played synth on Lou Reed’s Berlin album, provided light keyboard accents here. You’d miss them if they were gone.

A tender ballad, “I’m Not Supposed to Care”, gently caresses the soul with its light backdrop of pedal steel guitar.  Then, edgier electric guitars back up “I’d Do It Again”, a laid back groove with a country foundation and a rock veneer.  “Never Too Close” also shines with shimmery guitar melodies and a stunning chorus.  Then the somber “Protocol” is a war ballad ranging from days past to the Vietnam War.  “The House You Live In” showcases more pedal steel tones with a warm tune and laid back tempo.  The single “Summertime Dream” is upbeat and bright, recalling hot happy youthful days.  “Spanish Moss” is another lovely song, painting pictures of landscapes we’d like to see. Finally, “Too Many Clues In This Room” closes the album on a dark note, with lyrics aluding to both space and sea exploration.

Not Gordon’s most captivating album, but one without any skips, and one absolute monster of a song.

3.5/5 stars

Rest In Peace, Gordon Lightfoot (1939-2023)

When I saw Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr. live for the first and only time about 15 years ago, I thought he was a goner!  He looked so thin and frail, and when he tripped over a cord onstage I feared, “Well, that’s it.”  The air went completely out of the room.  Fortunately and obviously it wasn’t the end, but it was also obvious that Lightfoot had been battling health issues.  His voice was thin and whispery; very different from those booming old 1960s folk records.

Gordon Lightfoot and I bonded over “Edmund Fitzgerald” like many others did.  The nautical theme struck a chord, and of course that guitar riff was unforgettable.

Even more than that unmistakable voice, Lightfoot might be better recognized for his songwriting.  “Early Morning Rain”, “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” and “If You Could Read My Mind” are prime examples of perfect songwriting.  Elvis, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, and Bob Dylan all knew it.  That’s why they covered his songs.

Gordon Lightfoot will forever remain not just one of my favourite Canadian artists, but one of my favourite singers, period.  His lyrics will forever remain poems with dusty, buried layers of story that some of us will never even notice.  He educated me. Without Lightfoot I would have been ignorant of the name gichi-gumi, and possibly much of Canada’s history.  His records will be played infinitely.  He will live forever.

Rest in peace, Gordon Lightfoot.

Youtubin’: Davey 504 CRUSHES Watch Mojo’s “Top Ten Hardest Bass Riffs”

Weaksauce, Watch Mojo!  Weaksauce!  Never trust non-music people to come up with decent music lists.  Is that gatekeeping?  Damn right – and Davey 504 is the gatekeeper.  There were a couple songs that he considered worthy of the list…and many he just made mincemeat of.

Watch and learn.

 

Cottage Weekend! April 28-30 2023 at Lorne Beach

Not a lot to tell this weekend.  No speeding tickets (four cop cars though!) and no glasses burned in fires.  It was a quiet, simple weekend and the video tells the whole story.  Enjoy this rainy weekend at the lake.

Surprise! RSD and Japanese Import Magic with Harrison, Kevin, Rob Daniels, John T. Snow & Jen!

First cottage show is done for the record books!

Two surprise guests made this nice extra special:  John T. Snow of 2Loud2OldMusic, and my wife Jen!  Together with Harrison, Kevin and Rob, we looked at:

  • THE WEIRDEST CD WE HAVE EVER SEEN
  • Very rare Eric Carr and Van Halen RSD discs
  • Tons of blues!
  • Japanese imports!
  • Rare soundtracks!
  • Grab A Stack of Rock merch!
  • Van Halen bootlegs!
  • And as usual, we had “Ask Harrison” with Tee Bone Erickson and @marriedandheels.

Thanks for watching everyone!

It’s Friday Night, and Grab A Stack of Rock is Back with Harrison, Kevin, and Rob Daniels!

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK…with Mike and the Mad Metal Man
Episode 18:  New Arrivals (and some books)

It’s finally that time.  First cottage show of the year!  We have been looking forward to this since November.

This week, we plan on looking at some new musical arrivals with Harrison, Rob Daniels and Kevin “Canadian Grooves” Simister.  I’ll have some books to go over, and of course, we have “Ask Harrison” with a question from the California Girl.

Notes:  This being the first cottage show of the season, please allow for —

  • Wifi/power issues
  • Weather/potential indoor show
  • Murphy’s Law

But the show must go on, and we hope it will!  Please allow for any difficulties that a cottage show in April may cause, especially the first one.  Who knows if the internet will work in the weather we are expecting.  If all goes well, see you then!

Friday Apr 28 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T.  Enjoy on YouTube or on Facebook!