Sunday and a rather blasé Sunday at that. Watched SNL last night and it was ok. TV Funhouse was pretty funny though. Bill was watching Law and Order on his laptop and I surfed and read and watched TV. Watched ‘V for Vendetta’ and ‘Frida’ yesterday. V for Vendetta was ok. Nothing to write home about. ‘Frida’ was ok as well. I tried watching ‘Frida’ once before but never got into and returned the dvd after giving up on it. Last night it was watchable but nothing that really grabbed my attention though Salma Hayek was really good. Quite a few cameos in it.

I looked around at a few things online last night and wound up looking at amazon.com. They still haven’t closed my account yet and I still haven’t ordered anything through them since that amazon prime nonsense a month or so ago. Surprisingly enough I was looking at Elvis Presley, recordings from when he was at Sun studios. That was before he signed to RCA. The recordings are minimal, just Elvis, Guitar, bass and drum and reverb. I heard a few samples and decided to buy it through iTunes for 9.99 rather than 14.99 then shipping and handling through amazon. Plus I still had that gift card Annemarie, Rex and Earl sent last year for my birthday.

I’ve always liked ‘That’s All Right’ and ‘Mystery Train’. It’s easy to see how Elvis set all those British youth on fire and inspired them to start bands. It all seems rather easy to duplicate. Funnily enough I can easily hear John Lennon or Paul McCartney singing these songs. How did someone just a few years older than Lennon and McCartney record something from several thousand miles away and plant a seed which later bloomed into the Beatles and all that followed them?

I never liked Elvis though. Didn’t do a thing for me. Too much of an older generation thing. I guess you had to be there.

I forgot to mention that I also watched a movie called ‘Stoned’. A drama about the last days of Brian Jones from the Rolling Stones. Brian was the cutest one back then and the most talented but lost the plot. Too many drugs and no one to say ‘that’s enough’ put him on the course. Rehab and interventions just weren’t done then. The movie portrays Brian Jones as cleaning his act up after leaving/getting kicked out of the Stones. It claims that he was killed by a builder living on the grounds of his house. Brian tried to fire him but he wouldn’t go and in the movie he accidentally kills Brian in the swimming pool, leaving Brian to drown. The guy playing Brian Jones had the hair, but that was about it. Didn’t look much like him in the face.

Now I’m watching ‘Shortbus’ by John Cameron Mitchell who made ‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’. SO far it’s a charming little film, but really graphic and unashamed. All the sex you see on screen is not simulated. It’s not exploitive in any way either. A touching little film with something to say and with a lot to show. I recommend it.

Oh today is Elton John’s birthday. He is 60 years old and playing Madison Square Garden for the sixtieth time. Kudos to him.

Shuffle-A-Rama

Natty Dread- Bob Marley and the Wailers
Really a great Bob song. I used to listen to reggae almost exclusively. Now when I listen to it, it brings back some good memories, which is also the name of a reggae mix tape that I made in the nineties. Precognition perhaps?

In the Flesh- Blondie
My sister got Debbie Harry’s autograph at an anti-NYU demonstration a few years ago. I wonder if she still has it? I enjoyed Blondie’s hits, but couldn’t say I was a big fan. Never took them seriously enough but I did appreciate their pop appeal.

He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother- Rufus Wainwright
From the Zoolander soundtrack. Decent soulful cover but not one of Rufus’ best and not one of my best copies since this one skips.

Everything She Does is Magic- The Police
Another band who’s hits I’ve enjoyed but never went to see them live though I had a few opportunities. Not a big fan. And they’re going to make money hand over fist on this tour but not from me! Ha!

5:45- Gang of Four
How I sit and eat my tea, with all that blood flowing from the television? A prescient comment on media from the late seventies. I really loved Gang of Four and saw them a year or so ago on their reunion tour. It was 2005 and every concert was what seemed to be an oldies tour.

Here My Dear- Marvin Gaye
The album Marvin was ordered by the court to make and all profits were to go at his ex-wife Anna. It wasn’t well received when it originally came out, but was reappraised with favor when it was reissued on cd a few years ago. It’s definitely interesting and worth a listen.

You Inspire Me- Nick Lowe
Actually hearing this for the first time. Very much a smoky jazz type ballad from Basher. I can easily hear a few different singers do this song. I’m impressed and disappointed that I never found this sooner. I merely borrowed Chaz’ box set of Nick Lowe and uploaded it, never giving it a thorough listening. It reminds me of Moody’s Mood for Love.

Dead Finks Don’t Talk- Brian Eno
Oh Cheeky Cheeky oh naughty sneaky/You’re so perceptive and yet I wonder how you knew. From Eno’s first solo album. Really a lot of fun, clever wordplay and twisted arrangements. Still makes me smile when I hear it. Must give Here Come the Warm Jets another listen to soon. Can’t forget about the noise fest at the end.

Life Begins At 40- John Lennon
From the four disk Anthology that Harpy burned for me years ago. Just uploaded this a few weeks ago. This twangy demo sounds like it was recorded at the Dakota with a click track for accompaniment. In light of what happened later that year to John it’s even more tragic.

Confusion- New Order
This is the dub from the second disc called Substance. This is an Arthur Baker production. I saw them do this originally at the Paradise Garage. I remember the next day, going to Bleecker Bob’s and talking to my brother’s friend Frank Ballesteri about the show the night before. He had an advance copy and played it in the store. It was cool then I think.

Salt of the Earth- Rolling Stones
Last song on Beggar’s Banquet and also the song that Mick and Keith sang at the 9/11 Benefit Concert at the Garden which was the first time I ever heard it.

Dance With Me- The Drifters
From the great Atlantic Rhythm And Blues 1947-1974 boxed set. Somehow I bought this 75.00 collection for 20.00 through the BMG record club. I tried getting it through Arif Mardin’s office when I worked there, but I couldn’t.

Cry A While- Bob Dylan
From Love and Theft. I like this record best out of his last three. It’s the edgiest I think. Also when he started dressing like a riverboat gambler wearing John Water’s mustache.