Things are crazy around my house because; my wife is a lawyer heavily involved in New York’s health care system (a mess, with hospitals filing for bankruptcy left and right), my boy is turning six (not for a month, but his birthday list is growing exponentially by the second), and my job is kaput (my company sold its independent music division, and my music weasel days are numbered). So in an attempt to address these issues, I went to the record store (Cody B therapy) the other day and traded in some dead wood for some new wood. The musical free ride may be coming to an end soon so I needed something to chomp on while I recalculate my future. No gloom and doom, though, I’m definitely past that stage, besides there is a lot of good stuff going on. New discoveries, new seasons, and new careers are waiting to be enjoyed and explored. For the first time in my life I have the feeling that happiness might actually be around the bend. My purging of old-to-me music on a large scale netted me about $400 worth of credit to spend at The Princeton Record Exchange (Exit 9-New Jersey). Here’s what I picked up: The new Feist, Wilco,Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Bebel Gilberto (Thanks MOG). Box sets from Lester Young, Los Lobos,Sly & The Family Stone, and Elvis Presley. Individual Jazz titles from Sonny Rollins, RR Kirk, Bobby Hutcherson, Bobby Timmons, Wes Montgomery, Coleman Hawkins,Wayne Shorter, Art Blakey, Hank Mobley, and Don Cherry. Dollar bin items from Dionne Farris and Wyclef. Funk/Soul re-issues from Amnesty, Act I, Millie Jackson, and a cool comp from VampiSoul called Crash of Thunder (more later). Aaaah, I’m feeling better already. Believe me, if I’m turned loose in a record store with $400, I have no problem spending it. It took about 20 minutes to do this shopping, a hell of a lot less time than it will take to digitize it, but strangely enough (not!), that’s what I started doing the minute I got home. Early on in the process I noticed I was approaching a milestone in total itunes tracks, and made sure to keep a close eye, for posterity, on the total. My 50,000th track was Elvis Presley-Run On (from his first Grammy winning LP How Great Thou Art). Possibly embarrassing, but now is not the time to lie or shape the truth (Bushspeak slays me). It is a new day. Time to grow and learn.
I have often chronicled my son’s music likes in this space. First it was the Ramones , then it was Lil’ Ed and The Blues Imperials , then came the reign of Tom and Jerry (The Grateful Dead), and now, to my great shock, amusement, and pride, its Elvis Costello. We were doing some family gardening/BBQ’ing in our backyard and I was playing My Aim is True on the boom box and the kid was digging it. The next day he requested, “his own CD of Elvis,” and I was more than happy to oblige. I don’t know if he likes Elvis as much as Spiderman, but at least this week , Elvis has the edge. He even wants a pair of glasses (not shades) and a guitar so he can look the part. I never really thought of Mr.Costello as kid friendly, but clearly I still have a lot to learn. Don’t tell my son, but he will be getting an electric guitar and some horn rimmed glasses for his birthday.
Who knows what’s really around the bend? At times it can be very worrisome, but, jobless in 8 days, I don’t feel the same kind of dread I’ve felt in situations like this before. Perhaps it is my family set up, which is so full of joy, discovery, and love. Perhaps it is the calm of having been there and done that. Perhaps it is realizing that a job doesn’t define me as a person. Whatever the reason and whatever the outcome, I’m looking forward, and things look good.
Another tune in Comments
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Another track from Crash of Thunder
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Cody, I don't know if you've been keeping up with the posts around here lately, but...I wouldn't go talking about "trading wood". It could turn into something ugly. :)
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Ahhh,Summer. And the mind turns to thoughts of woodtrading, bushy tailed animals, and 12 inchers. I'm no stranger to these feelings my good fellow.
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Great tunes and hang in there bro!
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Treasure these years when your son's musical tastes overlap with yours. Too soon he'll have to shun all the great music you like, which will allow him to like only the bad music.
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I know the feeling of how music can make everything seem ok. I have found salvation on a site called lala.com. I forget the mogger who mentioned it, but it has been music bliss for me. You post the cd's you want to trade, and make a list of cd's you want. For every cd you trade away, you get one off your list in return. I have been weeding out my collection with music I wish I had not bought, and in turn been getting all the cd's I have wanted to get, but couldnt because of the no teaching thing, over the past few months. The catch, well for every cd you get you are charged 1 dollar. Thats it, one buck and you have new music. You should check it out
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@Rawk-I may have to..thanks for the tip.
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Here's to 'new discoveries..and happiness around the bend'!
You picked up really great music on recent buying trip - love the jazz artists as well the Crash of Thunder tunes you posted.
This Mogster predicts wondrous events for your new future - keep the spirit up.
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That's an epic haul, Cody. You're gonna have a lotta reviewin' to do around these parts in short order. PRE is no Amoeba, but it may be as close as those of us in the tri-state area will ever get - good on ya for going to an independent! One thing, though, it's closer if you get off at 8A instead of 9.....
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It is good to know an alternate route, Ivy. I was actually going there from Brigewater on 216 after one of my last appointments..One of the guys working there mentioned that huge jazz fans had been delling off their entire CD collections in droves. It was a boon for me. I've never seen so many Blue Note and Prestige Cd's for 7.99. I will return to the PRE for another spree when I can amass enough to trade again. It's a buyers market for CD's right now..yee ha. I have been waiting for this.
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Next time you're going, let me know and I'll send you directions. Maybe we could even meet up there - not so far from the Ivylander Ranch....
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Cody - there is no betta shop than PREx, the bargain bins in the back - I could & have gotten lost in there for days at a time ... then someone who works there tells me to stop freeloading & kicks me to the curb.
Best of leg-breaking to you (theatre major - can't say the old stand-by).
Man all this talk of 8A, 9, PRE & Bridgewater - you kids are making me totally nostalgic for my university days ...
I think there are few things cooler than a beloved little person rocking out to music you love & artists you respect & admire ... my nephews both have exceptional taste. It's funny - the 4 month old - he's loved it since he was 5 months in utero. The first really fussy night I spent hanging with Deb, I was upstairs with him trying to calm him down - only thing that worked was my voice ... I started singing ANYTHING that came to mind - suddenly I'm singin Falling in Love With You - he's quieted down & I'm crying. Go figure. I never really dug that Elivs (Costello so much more my speed) - but that will always be my song with the little man - so for that I am eternally grateful - thankye vurymuch.
That your spidey wants Elvis C glasses & a guitar - makes me feel a whole lot more hopeful for future generations of music lovers ... you'll have to post pictures of him all decked out :)
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Sweet story Lizzie! Yeah, there are those moments when a kid is just being a kid and learning and growing and discovering, and as an adult I'm choking back tears. Sometimes, the critters are just way too cool. I'm glad I got me one.
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Lil' Elvis, very cool! I've been having many wonderful music experiences with Cassie too, so heart-melting!
Fantastic to hear of so many moggers making big changes and looking forward to them. Good on ya.
And today I finally got down to the business of whipping up my mixes, so one will be coming your way soon, sir.
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@kristiana -Damn Woman, that means I need to get you what I need to get you,too.
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haha, yep, there are a lot of us in that boat...
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wait - Cody - are you getting her a kid or a mix ;) Sorry couldn't resist ... if it is a kid though - I want one too !!! ;)
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Cody, I think your new career is staring you right in the face,,,,
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heheh ... it's *way too early for me to be up on a VACATION day ... I guess I need a cuppaMOG & I should be good to go right ??? I really hope so !!!
It is "O" 700 hours - what does the "O" stand for - O MY GOD IT'S EARLY ;)
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Tony the Tiga GREAAAAAAT tunes and nice post...Good luck in future, sure u don't need it and you have a beautiful presh son XXX Peace
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good luck in your new musical adventure, man. its cool youre bigging up the vampisoul label, they seem to be making good money judging for the number of new releases they put out recently. there is a feature on spanish jazz made for detective movies in the late 50s & early 60s. that is a must.
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@lizzie- You are ON FIRE
@ivy-They've been telling me to sell something you can't send over the internet. Kids do fit that bill.
@rocket-Whatever I can do to help out my Spanish peeps.
@changling- You are a smile bringer, aren't you? thanks for that..Tony the Tiger Great...brilliant.
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As the man sings, "Everyt'ing's gonna work out fine."
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Very thoughtful post. Great to hear that your mind is in the right place. It sounds like you're enjoying your child and your music. It sounds like your home life is already happy and I think you're right that your work life is going to move in a happier direction.
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That's quite a haul.