Tim Durling

Rock Daydream Nation: Deep Purple/Rainbow : Slaves and Masters vs Bent out of Shape

On Friday night, immediately after Grab A Stack of Rock, I had the honour of joining Peter Kerr, Reed Little, John Clauser and Tim “Unspooled” Durling for another amazing episode of Rock Daydream Nation!  The subject this time was a comparison of Rainbow’s Bent Out of Shape, and Deep Purple’s Slaves and Masters.  They have a lot in common, and a few differences as well.  In common:  a few blokes named Ritchie Blackmore, Joe Lynn Turner, and Roger Glover.

From five perspectives, we went around discussing our first impressions of these albums, tunes that we would spotlight, and then the big question:  Is Slaves and Masters the followup to Bent Out of Shape?

Find out on Rock Daydream Nation.

 

Landing(s) Some Trillion Dollar Treats with Jex, Grace Scheele and Mr. Chipmunk: No More Heels Tour 2023

A wise man once said, “Life is like a box of chocolates.  You never know what you’re gonna get.”  @MarriedandHeels declined to participate for her scheduled time slot.  I booked this afternoon off for her.  I won’t mislead you, or her fans, about what happened.  We had a disagreement last week regarding her “new direction” (topless Fridays) and my willingness to watch.  If you ask her, she’ll tell you the same story.  The disagreement was so severe that I had to cancel my Metallica episode that I planned for that night.  As for the following week, I had already booked May 12 off for her to do Grab A Stack of Rock.  It gets better….

@MarriedandHeels was still welcome to appear on this episode that was meant to be hers, and she declined to show up.  Why?  Because she scheduled her own stripshow at the same time on OnlyFans.  However, the gods disapproved, and she failed due to technical issues!  She could have joined me, but karma and the universe worked together to spite her.   Oh well!  Hope she enjoyed her day at home alone, not making any money or having any fun with us.  Yes, I’m a little bitter that this happened.  We are still friends, but this has undoubtedly changed our relationship, permanently.

So, this week’s box of chocolates includes some sweet surprise guests!  Jex Russell co-hosted, and harpist Grace Scheele dropped by for a bit to talk about her cassette tape Landings.  The end result is one of my favourite shows!  Top ten?

Max the Axe’s garage sale scores were the main focus of the show, with a second on cottage stories and musical memories.  We told the previously unrevealed tale of Max’s carbon monoxide detector collection.  We tributed the man himself with song after song, going over two hours!

Best of all:  a first.  A chipmunk visiting the show, captured on camera, live.  Twice.  And animal lover @MarriedandHeels could have been there for it.

Life is like a box of chocolates indeed!  I say, eat on.  The No More Heels tour of 2023 begins!  

Back to Basics Friday on Grab A Stack of Rock

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK…

Episode 19: Back to Basics Friday

I must apologize for the suddenly cancelled show last week.  A lot of stuff went down about 30 minutes before showtime, and I was occupied with another priority.

It can now we said:  This episode was supposed to be for MarriedandHeels.  I booked the afternoon off FOR HER.  And now we have to go on without her.  Thanks a lot.

Today I need to take it easy, so we’re going back to basics.  My first solo show in years.  I want to do it in the afternoon, not evening, so it’ll be 3:00 PM E.S.T.

I’ll be reading from Tim Durling’s book Unspooled.  I have my treasures from Max the Axe’s garage sale to show.  We have a demo of the Kenwood tape deck featuring the music of Grace Scheele.  I’ll be unboxing new discs, and otherwise just winging it!   Hope to see some of you then.  I know it’s not an ideal time, but I don’t want to be broadcasting live during sunset!  So afternoon it is.

Friday May 12 at 3:00 P.M. E.S.T.  Enjoy on YouTube or on Facebook!

REVIEW: Night Ranger – Big Life (1987)

NIGHT RANGER – Big Life (1987 MCA)

This CD was a gift from Tim Durling, and this review is simply a conversation with Tim Durling!

Tim:  Big Life might sound dated to you, it is very 1987 and possibly one of their mellowest albums. Of course I have a soft spot for it, but then I like the band.

Me:  That’s the one I’m popping in now actually.

Tim:  Your Big Life is a fancy 2009 remaster that I’d never seen before. The original was my very first CD back in 1990.

Me:  Oh jeez, it’s the album with “Secret Of My Success!”  Now I have two copies of that song…The booklet is nice, full lyrics.

Tim:  You can file that under guilty pleasure for me, I know it’s cheesy but “worlds collide, and hearts will be broken” damn it’s so catchy.

Me:  Wow, Blades’ name is on every single songwriting credit.

Tim:  Fun fact: there are two different covers, and I didn’t know that till I had Josh from Fans in Motion on my show.  Same band shot, but some copies have less stuff in the background. I love learning stuff like that.

Me:  Interesting. So somebody said “We need to add a spotlight and a wall” to some versions.

Me:  Wow this opening track is very…Umm…Faux-macho.  Sorry, not liking “Big Life” the track.  It’s like when Warrant tried to act tough on “We Will Rock You”.

Tim:  Doesn’t bode well, but I did say it will sound dated to you.  If you’re looking for a more typical catchy Night Ranger tune, I’d recommend “Carry On”, maybe my favourite on this album.

Me:  I’m gonna give it a fair shake.  This guitar solo is great. Gillis?

Tim:  Not always sure who does which solos, all I know is that if you hear crazy whammy bar, that’s Brad.

Me:  “Color of Your Smile” is better.  I like this one.  Very youthful lyric.

Tim:  Wow, I figured you’d hate it.

Me:  No,  there’s something here that reminds me of youthful summers.  Fuck, this is good. Didn’t see this dual solo coming.  OK, so we have a winner here on track 2, good tune.  If I had this as a kid, it would have been the song I played for girls to get them to like me.

Me:  “Love Is Standing Near” – starting well.

Tim:  That’s encouraging.

Me:  It’s the guitar that sets this band apart for me. Puts them a level up.

Tim:  Definitely one of their calling cards.

Me:  Now I’m on the David Foster produced song (“Secret Of My Success”) that we already know my opinion of.  I really hate it.

Tim:  I will accept that, frowning.  But I get it if you didn’t grow up with it.

Me:  It’s like they’re using the ZZ Top Afterburner book of samples

Tim:  With you there, way overboard on the bells and whistles.

Me:  “Carry On” is a little corny, but might grow on me.  Actually…love it…Very Bon Jovi to my ears, but better vocally.

Tim:  Probably why I like it, never made that connection.

Me:  “Better Let It Go” – I like the acoustic, don’t like the drum loops.

Tim:  “Better Let it Go” is a great faux-ballad, sabotaged by Fitz’s unfortunate decision to use the “French horn” patch similar to Don Henley’s “Sunset Grill”.

Me:  It was a thing. I never liked that kind of thing, but it was a thing.

Tim:  Get ready for the French horn patch.

Me:  Oh it’s like House of Lords French horn.  “Under Blue Skies”.   Yup, I hear it.

Tim:  Down at the sunset grill.

Me:  Marillion have some like this too.

Tim:  I have to say I was most apprehensive about your thoughts on this album, so not bad.

Me:  Well, I mean context is important, 1987 was peak synth.

Tim:  Yes.

Me:  Things got toned down in ’88, ’89, ’90 and then of course ’91 killed synth!  …This guitar solo is great.  Why are Gillis and Watson named more frequently on lists individually, rather than as a duo?  Just strikes me, these guys are absolutely up there with the great duos.

Me:  “I Know Tonight” is a little overwrought.

Tim:  Man, I can’t predict shit.

Me:  OK, now it’s kicking in.

Tim:  I thought you’d dig it.

Me:  Now it’s like “Turn On the Night” by Kiss.

Tim:  It is! Good comparison.

Me:  Yeah see this would have been kicking it in my stereo in 1987-88, IF ONLY MUCHMUSIC PLAYED THESE GUYS ON THE POWER HOUR. I never heard this music

Me:  Please tell me they’re not ending this album on a ballad.

Tim:  They’re ending this album on a ballad.

Me:  Ah damn.

3.5/5 stars

VIDEO: Tim’s Vinyl Confessions – Ep. 409: Triumph discussion with Mike Lebrain

Thanks Tim for having me on the show again.  Join Tim and I as we go through all of Triumph history from the first album(s) to the last.

Jex & the Gang Unbox Stuff, Talk About Stuff, and Rock About Stuff!

Sorry about the technical difficulties, and thanks to Harrison, John, Tim & Jex for holding down the fort!

Tonight we talked about Alice Cooper (a lot), made some jokes about Journey, held some Spoons while we Needed To Breathe, and plugged a PDF!  It was a great, casual and fun night full of music and stories.  It was a pleasure finally talking to Jex Russell face to face for the first time.  This was his first ever live show, and I messed up the start with technical issues!  Thanks for putting up with me Jex.

Ask Harrison returned this week after a long hiatus, with a question from Tee Bone and one from my parents.  Meanwhile,@marriedandheels had her picture taken with Eddie Van Halen’s Frankentrat!  We took a close look.  How cool is that?

 

Thanks for watching, see you next week!

 

Grab A Stack of Rock is Back with Jex Russell!

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK…with Mike and the Mad Metal Man
Episode 15:  Welcome Jex Russell!

There has been a heck of a lot going on here lately.  We need reset the show back to basics, back to the original intent.  That always was just hanging out with no plan!  So that’s what we’re doing.  Showing off whatever music they have lying around will be Harrison, Tim Durling, John Snow, and new arrival Jex Russell!  You might be familiar with the Friendly Frenchman from his stints on Scotch on the Rocks and Tim’s Vinyl Confessions.  Tonight he’ll grab a stack of rack with us and have a good time doing it!

Friday February 24 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T.  Enjoy on YouTube or on Facebook.

 

NEXT WEEK:  March 3, 3:00 PM E.S.T. / Noon Pacific

Rocking Reissues on Grab A Stack with Mike, Tim, Rob and the Mad Metal Man

Rock Candy, Rhino, Sony Legacy, La-La-Land, Wounded Bird, BGO…all respected reissue labels that collectors seek and value.  We looked at a decent cross section from these labels and more on this episode of Grab A Stack of Rock.

Harrison the Mad Metal Man educated us on Oingo Boingo.  Rob Daniels highlighted a Loreena McKennit super deluxe that sounds out of this world.  Mr. Durling presented a variety of rock reissues including our only vinyl of the evening.  I had some cool Johnny Cash on Sony Legacy, and a bunch of Budgie.  This is just a slice of what we showed.

Apologies for the audio glitches at the start!  We got it figured out and rolled on.

“Ask Harrison” came from a new contributor tonight:  Superhero Tee Bone Man himself!  California Girl asked some questions about Heart and Pat Benatar, sparking a lively discussion.

Thanks for watching, and if you missed it, you can check it out below!

 

 

 

Grab A Stack of Reissues with Mike, Tim, Rob and the Mad Metal Man

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK…with Mike and the Mad Metal Man
Episode 13:  Reissue Record Labels with Tim Durling and Rob Daniels

The original crew of the USS Stackterprise is reunited this week!  Ensign Tim Durling, the aficionado of every edition of everything, wanted to discuss record labels that specialize in reissues.  Labels like Rock Candy, Sony Legacy, Noteworthy Productions, and many more.  Lt. Rob Daniels will be on hand to show off some La-La-Land reissue soundtracks.  Commander Kopp and I will also be prepared with some tasty discs of rock. With Durling and Daniels, two radio legends in their own rights, I’ll be able to just kick back, listen and learn.

Additionally:  Ask Harrison is back with a new question, and MarriedandHeels has another question for the group.

Join us live!

Friday January 27 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T. Enjoy on YouTube or on Facebook.

 

 

Ensign Durling, Captain Kevin, Lt. Cmdr Daniels and Mr. Kopp beam up their Trek collectibles

This time, the Red Shirt didn’t die!  Spoiler alert:  Ensign Durling survived all 1 hour 50 minutes of this show.  It was a marathon but for good reason.  Star Trek is a big part of our lives, and features some pretty incredible music.  Mr. Durling and Lt. Commander Rob Daniels brought a variety of classic soundtracks on vinyl, CD, and cassette.  He also had an original DS9 shooting script!  Interesting items here.  Meanwhile, Captain Kevin brought some books, DVDs and a Hallmark communicator.  Commander Kopp had a cool MAD Magazine compilation of Trek sketches from the classic comedy book.  Most of my hardcore Trek stuff is packaged away in storage, but I had some cool comics, DVDs, and handmade items that are very special to me.

Bonus:  Tim and I dressed in uniform.

Also:  Find out which DVD to watch if you wish to hear Shatner or Nimoy (we don’t know specifically whom) let out a fart.

We had an “Ask Harrison” from the Canadian Snow Turtle, and Tee Bone answered a question from MarriedandHeels regarding the Northern Lights.  Tee Bone’s eloquent answer could even bring a tear to your eye.  You don’t want to miss that.

See you next week for the Karate Kid and Cobra Kai with Dr. Kathryn and Rob Daniels!