What's happening?! (with a pinch of "Tonight's Slab" and a dash of "Lovely Ladies of the '70s")

I apologize for the scarcity of posts lately, I've found that as the days grow longer the list of things that compete for my spare time increases. I recently bought a new TV and blu-ray player (with wireless internet capabilities), and have had fun playing with those new toys. Don't worry fellow old-schoolers, I still have love for VHS, and my basement man-cave will always exclusively feature video tapes viewed on an old tube tv/vcr combo (over the weekend I watched "The Legend of Boggy Creek," "Dazed and Confused," and a bootleg copy of the Beatles "Let It Be"). I do have to admit though, this new technology is pretty fun (it's cool being able to watch Youtube clips of my favorite old bands on a 47" screen)!

Speaking of old bands, the Beach Boys first new album of original material in 20 years was released today, and is called That's Why God Made the Radio. I went to the record store to pick up a copy but discovered only the cd version is available and the vinyl version (which I wanted) should be out within the next week or two. The trip wasn't a total loss though, as I picked up a copy of The Beach Boys Today! on vinyl in very decent shape for only $5. Released in 1965, the production and lyrics (particularly on side 2) hinted at what Brian and the Boys would be doing the following year on their landmark Pet Sounds album.

Here's a pic of the album and a clip of my favorite tune from it...it's funny, this song has been stuck in my head for the past day or so, and then I came across a copy of the record it appeared on!

And tonight begins...Lovely Ladies of the '70s
Lastly, while watching reruns of "Dallas" lately, I have developed yet another celebrity crush. The crushee is actress Victoria Principal, who portrayed Pamela Ewing on that show. I think she is simply GORGEOUS. Tonight's post will debut a new semi-regular feature for famous pretty ladies of the '70s that will be slightly different than my "Is This Your Mom" feature. Whereas the pics I post under that heading feature nude, anonymous models, this new feature will showcase celebs (A-list and under) from back then. I decided to start off with a series of pics I found of Victoria, and I will feature a different one each night this week. Enjoy!

Now this is what dreams are made of. Where's my time machine?

Guilty Pleasures - Bread and Judy Blue Eyes

Gulity Pleasure #1 - Bread
Ever since I was in 12th grade I have been a fan of Bread, a soft rock/folk rock band known for their syrupy sweet ballads and other pop confections. Formed in 1969 by a quartet of former session musicians, their reign as masters of the make-out song only lasted 4 years as the band broke up in 1973. Two reunions followed in the late '70s and late '90s, and their total catalog consists of 6 albums (5 of which were released every year from 1969-1972). 

Here's a ballad that was in my head today...beautiful stuff. Sweet guitar playing too. Whenever I hear it I'm reminded of the grocery store I worked at in high school. This was classic "music for old ladies to shop to:"

Bread could also rock though. Their lead singer/songwriter/guitarist David Gates was know for the light stuff, while co-singer/guitarist Jimmy Griffin was know for the rockers. Here's an example:

I first heard Bread on one of those commercials from the early '90s that advertised soft rock compilations.  The song was called "If," and it featured a cool tremolo/wah-wah effect on the guitar part in the intro. I also remember the character Wayne from the tv show "The Wonder Years" singing it to his girlfriend (fast forward to the 3:50 mark of the video):

I remember my chemistry teacher in 12th grade playing "The Anthology of Bread" album in class one day. That album was their 20 (!) song best-of compilation, and I got to hear for the first time all of their hits on one disc together. I also was able to experience the variety of different songs they played. I remember hearing this next one and thinking that it sounded like it could have been sung by Greg Brady:

Guilty Pleasure #2 - Judy Collins
While not familiar with most of her catalog, pop/folk singer Judy Collins has one song that I just love. I first heard  it (surprise surprise) on an episode of "The Wonder Years." The song is called "Both Sides Now," and the lyrics, combined with her lovely voice, just KILL me. Not a good song to play if I'm hammered...I may start blubbering like a newborn.

Another song of hers I dig  is a cover of the Beatles song "In My Life." Guess where I first heard it? Yes, once again it was on "The Wonder Years." Most of the time I don't care for covers of Beatles songs. It's hard to top perfection right? There have been a few exceptions to this over the years, like Joe Cocker's covers of "She Came In Through the Bathroom Window" and "With a Little Help From My Friends" (which was the theme song to...never mind). Her version of "In My Life" comes darn close to topping the original version. My thanks go out to my doll, the Canadian Belle, for finding this clip the other day and reminding me of how good it is:

Judy is a pretty amazing gal. I guess she would have to be to inspire Stephen Stills to write this amazing song, about their break-up:

Next on Guilty Pleasures: The Carpenters. For real.

Valley of the Strange - Easter "Shagg"-day!

Happy Easter gang! Last night I finished a book, "Vinyl Junkies" by Bret Milano, which came  highly recommended to me by a fellow vinyl-zombie, Ben E. (looking forward to that Beach Boys concert with you, John, and Matthew in June!). It was a very good read, and it talked about the many different aspects of collecting vinyl, what motivates someone to collect, the types of records people look for, etc. Some of the guys described in the book have collections numbering in the tens of THOUSANDS!

My favorite chapter was titled "Valley of the Strange," and it discussed all of the quirky records that people like to collect for their novelty or kitsch value.  Some collectors enjoy finding the numerous records put out as promos by corporations touting a product (there's mention of a double album devoted to the Brother sewing machine, which the author described as "the commercial equivalent of Tales from Topographic Oceans by Yes"). Others go for the VERY strange, like novelty records featuring Christian ventriloquist's dummies or albums devoted children's education. But the strangest album I read about (and then further researched) was called Philosophy of the World by a band called the Shaggs.

This band consisted of three sisters put together by their father to become a garage rock band in New Hampshire during the 1960s. What they lack in talent they make up for in heart, and none other than the legendary Frank Zappa labeled them as the #3 best band in the world. I think I may have a #3 favorite band now myself...