Day 10 of 10 Album Challenge

Day 10 of 10 Album Challenge: Hai Ku by Kennedy Rose.

Hai Ku was released in 1989 by the duo Kennedy Rose -- two of the most awesome songwriters and musicians - Mary Ann Kennedy and Pam Rose.

Chances are, you’ve never heard of this album nor the artists/writers, but you've probably heard a lot of the songs they've written. As songwriters, they’ve written big hits for big country stars like Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, Lee Greenwood, Crystal Gayle, and Restless Heart to name a few. Not only did they write every song on this album, they also played the majority of the instruments. If that’s not impressive, I don’t know what is.

I’ve had the pleasure of getting to meet Mary Ann Kennedy and Pam Rose a few times. Way back in the day before they released Hai Ku. I was a big fan of some of the songs that they had written, and did some pre-internet research and found the address of the song publisher, and wrote them a letter telling them how much their songs meant to me. They each wrote me back handwritten notes, and they invited me to meet them in a few months when they would be in Louisville with Emmylou Harris. I honestly don’t know what was more awesome – getting to meet them or getting to meet Emmylou Harris. I got to meet them again in Nashville a year later at the Summer Lights Festival.

My favorite song on this album, and perhaps my favorite song ever is the first vocal track on Hai Ku, “Love Like This.”
I first heard it in 1986 when they appeared on an episode of “Austin City Limits” with Emmylou Harris, Roseanne Cash and other songwriters. They did a stripped down acoustic version of “Love Like This” and it blew me away. I recorded that show on my trusty BetaMax VCR and I almost wore out the tape watching it over and over. When I got the CD, I played it on my way to and from work every day for months. And no, I didn't tired of it. And today when I play it, it still seems brand new.

Day 9 of 10 Album Challenge

Day 9 of 10 Album Challenge: Heart Like A Wheel by Linda Ronstadt

Out of the 35 albums that Linda Ronstadt has released, Heart Like A Wheel is my favorite. The album was released in 1974, and it spent an impressive 51 weeks on the Billboard album charts.

Heart Like A Wheel is my favorite Linda Ronstadt album and one of my top ten favorite albums for quite a few reasons. For starters, it has "You're No Good" as the opening track on side one, which happens to be my all time favorite Linda Ronstadt song. The first time I saw her in concert with some friends, we all four jumped out of our seats along with the other thousands of people at the concert to give Linda a standing ovation at the end of the song. Another reason this album is my favorite is because the second track on side one, "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" was one the first song that Diva Stacy and I sang together as I played the guitar. Another big reason I love this album so much is because back in the day, WLRS would always play "When Will I Be Loved" (the first track on side two) and "Willin" (the second track on side two) back to back.

Heart Like A Wheel was nominated for four Grammy Awards, winning Ronstadt Best Female Country Vocal Performance for her remake of "I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You." She sure made ole Hank proud.

Day 8 of 10 Album Challenge

Day 8 of 10 Album Challenge: I Believe In Music by Various Artists

The fine folks at K-Tel put together this awesome 22 track album and released it in the fall of 1972. I remember getting my copy at Murphy's dime store at Dixie Manor Shopping Center.

The album was a combination of one hit wonders and big hits.
My favorite songs on the album were the #1 tracks on both sides - side A, "Brandy" by Looking Glass and side B, "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves" by Cher. After those two songs would play, I would carefully lift the needle and skip to another song. On side A, I would always skip a few songs down to "Long Cool Woman" by the Hollies. On side B, I would skip down to "Hold Your Head Up" by Argent (one of the previously mentioned one hit wonders).

For back in the day, this album stood out because it had a total of 22 tracks on one album; that was unheard of.

Day 7 of 10 Album Challenge

Day 7 of 10 Album Challenge: Souvenirs by Dan Fogleberg

Souvenirs was released in the ancient of days back in 1974, and I thank my youth minister at church, Tom Scott, for turning me onto the album. He played "Part of the Plan" on his guitar at some of the youth group Sunday night fellowships. After hearing him play and sing that song, I had to get the album and learn to play it myself. And with as much as I listened to the radio way back in the day, I honestly don't think I ever heard "Part of the Plan" on any of the Louisville radio stations. It's a shame, because it's a great song. My second favorite song on the album is the last cut, "A Place In the World For A Gambler" - another song on the album that I really got into playing along with on my guitar.

Unless you read the liner notes for Souvenirs, you probably didn't know that the majority of the group the Eagles played and sang backup vocals on the album.

Day 6 of 10 Album Challenge

Day 6 of 10 Album Challenge: Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette

Jagged Little Pill is one of the top "angry young woman" albums, and it's one of my top ten favorites. Not that I was ever an angry young woman, mind you, but I just love the album.

"You Oughta Know" is the quentissential angry young woman anthem. You might not know this, but Dave Navarro played guitar on this cut, and Flea played bass, and it is one badass song. But I have to go on record (no pun intended) and say that the live version of "You Oughta Know" that Alanis performed on the 1996 Grammy awards was one of the most awesome live performances on an awards show that I've ever seen. She had a string quintest with her on stage, and until then, I had never thought about this song being performed acoustically, but it made the song even more powerful.

The album was nominated for an impressive 9 Grammy Awards, and went on to win 5. As of 2017, Jagged Little Pill has sold over 16 million copies.

Public Service Announcement

We interrupt the Top Ten Album Challenge to bring you a Public Service Announcement.

From now until April 29, please do yourself a big favor and go to a Krispy Kreme shop and get some of their limited-time-only lemon glazed donuts.  You will be glad you did.  

The 'Rents and I stopped at our local Krispy Kreme yesterday afternoon on the way home from a meeting at church and got a dozen.  They rocked.  They weren't too lemony, if that makes any sense.  

Like I said, they are available for a limited time only.  So go and get a dozen this week. 

Day 5 of 10 Album Challenge

Anyone that knows me, knows that I love disco music, so it's only fitting that the Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack is one of my top ten favorite albums. I wish I had been born a few years earlier so I could have been an "adult" during the disco era so I could have gone to the discos. But I digress. Watching it in movies and on TV was good enough for this teenager during the disco era.

Even if you can't dance, I still think you would bust a move whenever you played this double set of albums. I know I couldn't dance but that didn't stop me from thinking I could dance in the privacy of my bedroom whenever I played these two albums on my stereo.

You can't think of disco without thinking of the Bee Gees, the stars of this double album set. My favorite song by the Bee Gees (and probably in my top three disco songs) is on here, "You Should Be Dancing." Another one of my top three disco songs is also on here, "If I Can't Have You". by Yvonne Elliman. She also had another awesome song on an earlier movie soundtrack "I Don't Know How To Love Him" from Jesus Christ Superstart. 

Oddly, there are no songs on this soundtrack by the Queen of Disco, Donna Summer; that's because she had two songs on another disco-themed movie's soundtrack, "Thank God It's Friday." But once again, I digress.

The Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack won two Grammy Awards - for Album of the Year and for for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. And rightly so.

Day 4 of 10 Album Challenge

Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison was recorded live before the inmates at the prison in January of 1968.  I’m not able to document this, but I’m pretty sure that At Folsom Prison was one of the fastest albums to be mixed, edited, and released in just four months; a record by today’s recording standards.  But I digress. At Folsom Prison has the distinction of being the first cassette tape that I ever got.  Santa left it in my stocking at Christmas of 1968.  Some might think it was odd that a five year old wanted that for Christmas. 

Anyone that has listened to this album will most likely agree with me that “Folsom Prison Blues” is their favorite cut, if not their favorite Johnny Cash song.  I loved playing along with the Tennessee Three, and felt pretty proud when I was able to play the guitar solo in the song.  Something you might not know about the song – it almost wasn’t a hit.  In June of 1968 when Sirhan Sirhan assassinated Bobby Kennedy, radio stations stopped playing the song due to the line “I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die.” Despite protests from Johnny, the single was edited and re-released, and it went to number one on the country charts, and also made it to number thirteen on the pop charts.   The album was re-released in October of 1999, and a couple of years later was certified triple platinum (for selling over 3 million).  Time magazine listed it among the 100 greatest albums of all time.  And I have to agree. 

Day 3 of 10 Album Challenge

Day 3 of 10 Album Challenge -- Bebe le Strange by Heart

It’s only fitting that I have an album by my all-time favorite group Heart in the Top 10 Album Challenge.  It was released on Valentine’s Day in 1980, and I remember going to Phoenix Records that afternoon to buy it.  Bebe le Strange was the fifth album released by Heart, and although it was commercial success, it didn’t sell as well as their previous albums.  But it is still my favorite album by my favorite group, mainly because it has one of Heart’s most bad ass songs on it, “Rockin’ Heaven Down.”  When I started taking rock guitar lessons in the mid 80’s, this was the first song that I asked my teacher to teach me.  Thank you for that, Larry Ferguson.  “We’re a band of wild angels rockin’ heaven down.”

The most popular song from the album is “Even It Up”, which has the distinction of being the first video that Heart had made.  I remember the first time I saw the video while watching the awesome show “The Midnight Special.”  I remember Nancy wearing a sailor shirt, which sent me out the next day looking for one.  Yep, I found one.  Sorry, but there’s no pictures of me wearing it to prove it.  But Stacy Simpson Gordon can vouch for it.

A copy of Bebe le Strange, autographed by both Ann and Nancy Wilson, hangs proudly on a wall in the Music Room at The Compound.  In fact, it’s one of the first things you see when you walk into the room

Day 2 of 10 Album Challenge: Trio by Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton.

I'm on my third copy of this CD because I've played it so much. This album has the distinction of being my favorite solo road trip album. I play it when I'm travelling, and I get a little OCD about it; I play it through three times from start to finish - each time, singing along with one of the three different vocal parts. I've sang each song so many times, I'm pretty sure I could have filled in for one of the three if they were in concert. But I digress.

Individually, these three icons in music represent a good percentage of the albums in my collection. I have every album that Linda Ronstadt ever recorded, and also have most of Emmylou's and a lot of Dolly's. Their voices are so strong and recognizable, and they blend together better than just about any other trio I've heard. Years before they released Trio, I wished that they would collaborate and release an album together, because they often sang together on their solo albums. Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt recorded two songs that are some of the saddest songs ever recorded - "My Blue Tears" and "I Never Will Marry." But once again, I digress.

My two favorite songs on Trio are without a doubt "Those Memories of You" and "My Dear Companion (written by the awesome Kentucky native Jean Ritchie).

Trio won two Grammy Awards, and several Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music Awards. And it also won a spot in my top ten albums of all time.

Day 1 of 10 Album Challenge

My good ole friend and former band mate Darby has passed the baton to me and challenged me to post 10 albums that are my favorites. I gladly accept the challenge. The albums will be posted in no particular order.

Day 1 Rumors - Fleetwood Mac

Rumors has the distinction of being the only album that I own in every format -- vinyl album, 8 track, cassette, CD, and MP3. When the album was released in 1977, I had been playing the guitar for only a little over six months, but that didn't stop me. Night after night I would sit in the floor by the stereo with my guitar and try (key word) to play along. Then for Christmas that year, Mom and Dad got me the music book for the album and then it was game on. When I got a bass guitar in the late 80's, the album was brought out again and I played along with John McVie's parts.

I love every song on this album, and it's hard to narrow it down to just one favorite track, but "The Chain" and "Gold Dust Woman" are tied for favorites.

I'm sorry that the band fired Lindsay Buckingham last week; I would have liked to have seen the original five members perform together just one more time.

No Worries Wednesday

Today is Wednesday, and North America's largest fireworks display and the kick off to the 2018 Kentucky Derby Festival is just a few days away.  Yep, Thunder Over Louisville is this Saturday.  And once again, I am not worried about going to Thunder like I was in years past.  That's because once again, I'm not going.  

I'll go to watch my beloved Bats play baseball Friday night, and then on Saturday, I will watch the fireworks from my comfortable couch.  In years past, I would be as nerved up as could be over going down to Thunder, worrying if it would rain, and worrying even more about the horrific traffic trying (keyword) to get home after the fireworks were over.  Not anymore, because I don't go.  

My friends and I had thought about going downtown just for the Bats ball game on Saturday afternoon and then going home after the game was over, but it wouldn't be worth the $$$ expense of paying for a parking spot, if we could even find one within walking distance.  So we sold our tickets and there won't be any worries at all come Saturday. 

Trivia Update

I am very happy to report that Team Divas won first place last night at the local trivia contest.  Unfortunately, Monday Night Trivia hadn't worked well with our schedules, but we were able to make it last night.  And we're glad we did.  

Public Service Announcement

TWIT would like to announce that Hardee's is giving away free sausage biscuits tomorrow morning.  Just visit any Hardee's and say "Made From Scratch" and they will give you one free sausage biscuit.  Stop in on your way to work and get yours.  I will go on record and say that I believe Hardee's has the best fast-food restaurant biscuits.  Just saying. 

Another Ohio Valley Weather Update

Thursday and Friday it was 80 degrees and most of us had the air conditioner on.  It rained all day yesterday and so far, most of today, and the high is going to be 54.  And there is some snow in the forecast for tomorrow.  Which means we'll be back in the 80's after that.  

Security Tip Saturday

With the current outbreak of Hepatitis A here in the 'Ville, I encourage everyone to get the Hep A vaccine.  You can get it at any of the local drugstores - Rite-Aid, CVS, Wal-Mart, Meijers, etc.  I apologize because I haven't done research to see if medical insurance would cover it, but if it doesn't, it would be well worth the money paid for the shot.  The 'Rents and I will be going to our local Rite-Aid on Monday afternoon and getting our vaccines.

Flashback Friday

When I was in elementary school and the beginning of middle school, I was obsessed with reading anything by the awesome author Beverly Clearly.  My favorite books were any about Beezus and Ramona, and Henry Huggins.  I'm pretty sure I read everything that she wrote. 

Today, Beverly Cleary turns 102.  Yep, 102 years old.  And today, she is still contributing to millions of kids' readings.  Almost 100 million copies of her books have been published.  And I'm sure they will still continue to be published. 

One of my favorite Beezus and Ramona books involved the young Ramona getting in trouble for eating apples.  Her family had stored baskets of apples in their basement, only to have Ramona eat one bite out of every apple.  When asked why she did that, she told them that her teacher had said that first bite out of an apple was the best.  But I digress.  Her family did what every other family would do - they made lots and lots and lots of applesauce. 

Ohio Valley Weather Update

I am very happy to report that we made it through another day without any rain.  The high today was 80, it was sunny, but it was unusually windy.  There is a wind advisory out for the rest of the day, so that means I will postpone my landscaping around the Girls' pen until tomorrow.  When it's windy like it is right now, it wreaks havoc on my contact lens.  

Happy Birthday To My Girls

TWIT and I would like to wish a very happy first birthday to my Girls.  It's hard to believe that you've been with us a year.  

You always entertain us, and most of all, you give us eggs every day.  

We hope to have you here at The Compound for many years to come.  We love you. 

Trouble In The Hood

Details are still very sketchy, but someone was shot and killed at a convenient store in our hood this morning at about 4:30.  The store is about two miles from The Compound, and this murder was a little too close for comfort.  There was never any more mention of it on the local news tonight, either.  I guess it's because it's become too commonplace. 

It's like my Sweet Mother says - "It's like the wild west out there."  I have to agree with her.  She also frequently says "It's a crazy old world."  And I couldn't agree with her more. 

Where's The Service In Customer Service Update

Although yesterday's customer service experience was less than stellar, today's made up for it. 

I called a company with a couple of questions about an item I wanted to buy from Amazon, and the customer service rep that I spoke to was awesome.  He was patient, and answered my questions.  And I will most definitely order from this company again.  

Where's The Service In Customer Service

On the way home from visiting with Diva Stacy, I went to our 'hood Sonic to get the 'Rents an ice cream sundae.  I waited in line for 20 minutes, and the woman in the car ahead of me hadn't even been waited on.  I got out of the line and headed back up the road to our local McD's, where I had to wait 10 minutes at the counter for someone to put a bag of hot fudge in the machine.  But at the end of the day, I got the ice cream sundaes for the 'Rents and they were happy, so that's all that matters.  

Ohio Valley Weather Update

As I type this, it's snowing and it's 30 degrees.  I'd estimate we have about a half inch so far.  And it's windy.  And did I mention it's cold?

This morning as I was walking out to the chicken coop to let the Girls out, I made my decision to stay home tonight where it's nice and warm instead of sitting out in windy Slugger Field where it will be cold.  If that makes me a fair weather fan, then so be it.  I've been called worse. 

Happy National Caramel Day

TWIT and I would like to wish everyone a very Happy National Caramel Day.  

Americans began making sugary syrups in the 1600s, but the delicious chewy caramel that we know and love today emerged during the 18th century and quickly became one of the most popular sweets on the market.  In fact, our beloved Milton Hershey's first business was the Lancaster Caramel Company.  

Caramel is simply made with butter, brown and white sugar, milk or cream, and vanilla. 

Visit your work place vending machine and see if there are any Milky Ways or Rollos in there and get a pack.  And stop on your way home from work today and buy a jar of caramel topping for some ice cream after your supper. 

Sorry, Bats

TWIT and I are very sorry to report that my beloved Bats lost their season opener tonight 6-4 against the Toledo Mud Hens.  

I'm not ashamed to say it was damned cold tonight at Slugger Field.  I was glad I had my winter coat and gloves.  I just wished I had brought one of my cool winter hats.  But I digress.

The Bats are starting out like their parent team the Reds.  

But it's just opening week.  We have a ways to go to improve. 

Public Service Annoucement

TWIT and I would like to give you a Public Service Announcement.  

Please do not put Hershey Kisses in your pants pocket and walk around all day at work.  Nuff said. 

Another Ohio Valley Weather Update

The Weatherazzi has us all worked up and are forecasting the Storm of the Century tonight.  Our area is in the "enhanced and enlighted" area for tornadoes.  Great.  

The first half of the storm just moved through with just some wind and a lot of rain.  The second half of the storm, with the most severe, is expected to come through in a couple of hours.  As I type this it's 77 degrees.  By tomorrow morning it's supposed to be down to 33.  Not in the mood. 

Ohio Valley Weather Update

It's going to be a crazy weather week here in the Ohio Valley.   Later tonight, we're expecting storms.  And they are calling for severe weather tomorrow.  A big front is moving through, and even though today's high was mid fifties, tomorrow's high is expected to get to 80.  That's not what we need when a front is moving through.  The weatherazzi is already calling for large hail, high straight line winds, and possible super cells forming tomorrow evening.  

I hope the Girls will be cooperative tomorrow evening when I try (key word) to put them in before the storm hits. 

It's this day of the year that we always get nervous here in the 'Ville --- thinking back to the April 3rd tornado outbreak. 

Happy Easter

TWIT and I would like to wish every a very happy Easter.  I hope the Easter Bunny left you lots of Reese Eggs and Laffy Taffy Jelly Beans.  If he didn't then, leave for work a little earlier tomorrow morning and stop by the 24 hour drug store or grocery store and buy your favorite Easter candy at half off.