Who doesn’t love musical mail? Check out some thoughtful gifts from Tim Durling and Marco D’Auria, plus a really cool surprise from Amazon.
Marco and Tim were apparently on the same wavelength when these two parcels are sent.
Sometimes Amazon’s listings are not accurate, and you have to take a chance. Fortunately their return policy makes things easy if you ordered the wrong thing. In this case, I ordered a CD that I need for an upcoming show. I found a Japanese import reasonably priced, but there was also a deluxe edition that I was told was really good. Check out what happens next. You won’t believe it!
RECORD STORE TALES #1139: Bonfire at Lake Water Stones
More people, less wildlife. That’s a rule-of-thumb at Lake Water Stones.
Why “Lake Water Stones“? That was a childhood nickname that I had for Lorne Beach, on Lake Huron. Now in my 52nd summer at the lake, I realize more than ever why it had that name. As before, I took the drone up to the cottage and filmed lots of video. I also took the drone far lower over the water, and through the crystal clear ripples, you can see countless stones…rocks upon rocks upon rocks…as far as the eye can see. There are very few sandy patches at Lake Water Stones this year. It changes from year to year. The winter always brings in a new landscape, and seascape.
Back to the wildlife. On our last trip to the lake, we witnessed our friend the fox, four wild turkeys, and a skunk. There was hardly anybody there that weekend, and it was very quiet. This time, there were many neighbours. The animals made themselves scarce. There was no danger of tripping over a skunk this time. Even our friend the chipmunk was barely to be seen.
On the flipside of this, we had the chance to meet the folks next door, a newlywed couple we’d never run into before. Having a drone is a good conversation starter! Neighbour Danny was treated to the best air show I could offer. I swooped it down closer to the surface, and buzzed him from a safe distance as he swam. Later on, I pulled the same stunt while Jen was swimming, and I came within an inch of crashing into a rock. It was a close, close call and I will not be flying that fast, that close to the water again! It’s all on video.
Danny invited Jen and I to a big bonfire that night with his wife. I’m not usually the social type, and as of my friends who have not even seen me yet this year can testify to. In the interest of doing new things and trying to be social, I decided to go. Of course, I brought my drone to film it from the air. It was an impressive fire. And truthfully, it was nice to be social for a change instead of a hermit.
That was the one new thing we did this weekend, in a summer of trying new things.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about the music we played in the car, and on the porch. On the way to the lake, I wanted to try one of the new albums I bought when Aaron and I went to Toronto. I chose Don Dokken’s Solitary, which as I surprised, was an acoustic album. I enjoyed it, but Jen did not like his cover of Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” one bit. I’m undecided. I don’t have to decide until I review it. After that, we needed a palette cleanser so I put on Back for the Attack by Dokken. Not one bad song.
On the porch, I asked Jen to pick bands, and then I would pick a song. She started throwing me curveballs by naming bands like Judas Priest. I would then shake it up by playing an atypical song. In Priest’s case, it was “Before the Dawn”. When she picked Guns N’ Roses, I went for “Better”. This fun game kept us entertained for an hour or so.
Saturday morning was spent listening to the best of Kansas, in preparation for the afternoon interview with Tim Durling. Jex Russell and I had the time of our lives talking to Tim about all things Kansas, and he should know! A great show, though Amazon failed to deliver my copy of Point of Know Return as planned. It just flat-out never showed up and they refunded my money. All I had to show off for the interview with Tim was my copy on 8-track, that he gifted me last summer!
Another triumphant weekend at Lake Water Stones. It’s wonderful to be able to keep these memories on video. I hope you enjoy it.
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:
7 Billboard Top 40 singles
7 Billboard Hot 100 hits
5 Gold albums
A 4X Platinum album
A 4,000,000-selling album
A 3,000,000-selling greatest hits
A Platinum live album
After 50 years, Kansas continues to produce vital, new music, and brings their songs to audiences night after night.
Let It Be Your Guidegathers 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:
An interview with Kansas cover artist Denise De la Cerda, who painted the artwork for The Prelude Implicit (2016), The Absence of Presence (2020) and the Kansas’ 50th Anniversary Poster!
Foreword by Jeff Wagner, who was the Product Manager at InsideOut music when they signed Kansas in 2014!
Insightful contributions from no less than 30 Kansas Super Fans!
Over 250 pages and many B&W photos from Tim Durling’s personal collection, including 8-tracks, records, cassettes, CDs, tickets and more!
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 onYouTube or on Facebook!
Special Edition Episode: Tim Durling’s Guide to Kansas Compilations
Folks, we have a great live episode of Grab A Stack of Rock coming up this Friday. Yes, today’s mini-episode is essentially a teaser to another episode, but it’s is also a great standalone in its own right. Thank you Tim Durling for sharing some of your collection with us today.
For this instalment, Tim Durling, author of the new book Let It Be Your Guide – The Kansas Album Review (buy in the link), guides us through the essential Kansas compilations if you are new to the band. Starting with the original 1984 best-of and its variants, we go through the decades to the present day. Compilations vary in size and scope. From single discs, to doubles and even a triple, Tim has a Kansas recommendation for every appetite. Perhaps you’re just looking for the classic era up to 1984. Or, maybe you need representation for the Steve Morse years of the late 1980s for your Kansas listening. If you’re really going for it, you may as well pick one that covers the whole career.
Check out what Tim has on offer to get your Kansas collection started. And, of course, check out Friday’s show when we go into the book in detail!
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