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)
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 I was searching through my old email address, looking for unpublished Record Store Tales that I could use for something.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”
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
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.
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.
Didn’t even last one day at the beach. 0/5 stars
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:
Thanks for watching everyone!
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 —
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!
RECORD STORE TALES #1058: I Love It Loud
Lately, after Grab A Stack of Rock on Friday nights, my wife and I have enjoyed watching old 80s music videos. I’m not sure the program she watches – I’m not a TV guy – but they always have a lot of old videos that I remember from childhood, along with a bunch that I don’t. Conversation ensues for a few solid hours, and it’s often the highlight of my week.
“Tears Are Falling” by Kiss is one video that runs semi-regularly. I explained to my wife that I was 13 years old when that video came out, just discovering girls, and hot for the one in the Kiss video. Then on will come an old Scorpions video, or Motley, or Priest, or Ozzy. I’d laugh at all these images I used to take so seriously, and think were so cool! But the songs…they still rock!
Skid Row, Whitesnake, Bon Jovi…all these definitive bands for my teen years.
On comes “I Can’t Drive 55” by Sammy Hagar and I’m splitting my sides, laughing in memories. There is one specific shot. The courtroom scene. The judge is stamping “REVOKED” on Sammy’s driver’s license, in a big close up shot. All you can see is two fingers on the stamp, it’s so close up. My friend Allen Runstetler thought the two fingers looked like a bum.
“Is he stamping his license with his ass?”
Gotta laugh. Wouldn’t put it past an 80s music video to do that, but it was just a hand!
They play a lot of Kix videos on Friday nights. I was never a big Kix fan. They actually play a lot of bands that I never got into, especially from 1990-91-92. I was getting tired of hard rock and seeking heavier sounds like Testament. Danger Danger and the like? Just couldn’t get into ’em. I wanted bands with stellar musicianship and less-silly lyrics by then. A lot of the music I listened to wasn’t exactly respected in musicians’ circles, but could still play circles around the competition. Winger had Reb Beach and Rod Morgenstein. Mr. Big had Paul Gilbert and Common Knowledge. Even Poison joined the upper echelon in 1993 with a stellar album featuring Richie Kotzen on guitar. I wanted music that at least had a little bit of integrity. I wasn’t hearing that so much in Danger Danger.
As the music videos come and go, I feel like I’m in highschool again. Especially when they play “Sleeping My Day Away” by D-A-D!
“Oh my God Jen! I was sitting in Bob Schipper’s basement when this video played on the Power Hour for the first time!” I marveled. “Bob was obsessed with the two-string bass that they had!” And together we’d rock out. In 1989 with Bob, and in 2023 with Jen. Fists still pumping.
When Jen and I first met, she didn’t know any of these songs. She didn’t think she’d even like many of these songs. Now she knows most of ’em by heart. I’d like to consider that a job well done. I’ll talk, and talk, and tell my stories, and for some reason, she loves it! I’ll take that as a life win.
mikeladano.com