Even though hearing it makes me want to hog holler and change the horn on my Toyota hybrid to one that plays Dixie, there’s something about Sweet Home Alabama that makes me want to “turn it up” every time I hear it. Released in 1974 as the lead cut on Lynyrd Skynyrd’s second album, conveniently [...]
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Rock n’ Roll Hit n’ Lit, Section 001: Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Sweet Home Alabama
Records at Random (11.18.08)
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Track:Who Was I Kidding
I like random. Fusion 45, when it first launched, was all about random. Close your eyes, pick some records. Open your eyes, roll the dice, play some songs. I've heard it said the algorithms governing your iPod are not true random but that the numbers you can get from random.org are. I don't know but I believe. [...]
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Glen Sings Travis (And Sky Sings Corner of The Sky)
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The picture above is of my 8-year old son, Skyler, appearing in his first feature role as Theo in the local high school production of Pippin. My wife is the theater teacher at the school so it makes perfect sense that Sky is her go-to guy whenever there is a role for a kid. I'll dispense [...]
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Music and Records From Classic Recording Studios: Beltone
Beltone Recording, New York City Opened in the 1940's as a commercial and jingle house, Beltone Recording became a hotspot for King Records artists like James Brown, who were passing through town starting in the early 1950's. Later, it became a division of Beltone Records, which was in turn distributed by King out of Cincinnati. Figuring it [...]
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Music And Records From Classic Recording Studios: Bell Sound
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Album:Hang On Sloopy!: The Best Of The McCoys
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Here's the second part of last week's post on New York's Bell Sound: The McCoys - Hang On Sloopy Little Anthony - Tears On My Pillow The McCoys - Fever Leslie Gore - Judy's Turn To Cry Leslie Gore - It's My Party Johnny Thunder - Loop De Loop Jay And The Techniques - Apple, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie Jay And The Americans - [...]
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America And A Dog Named Boots
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Track:Up, Up And Away
Michael's comment yesterday about traveling between Los Angeles and San Francisco in the back of a station wagon, singing Down In The Boondocks with his sister Patty, got me to thinking the same sort of scenario from my childhood. For me, it was the 183 mile trip between my hometown, Elmira, NY, and Fredonia, NY, the [...]
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Billy Joe Royal And Joe South
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Michael's comment the other day about Down In The Boondocks got me thinking about the guy who made it famous, Billy Joe Royal. Royal, who was born in Marietta, GA in 1942, was a local sensation at a very young age, known throughout Georgia well before Joe South convinced him to record Down In The Boondocks, [...]
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Music And Records From Classic Recording Studios: Bell Sound
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Bell Sound Recording, New York Not to be confused with Bell Sound in L.A., Bell Sound Recording in New York was operated on West 54th Street from the late 1950's until 1976. Max Crook, who participated in the recording of Del Shannon's Runaway tells his story on the Del Shannon website plus there was a story [...]
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Once Every 20 Years, Just For Good Measure
I haven't written more than a few sentences about politics since the second Reagan administration. Those who remember those ugly, embarrassing years will understand how that could drive someone to simply not want to talk about it anymore. After all, you can only write about shame and insult so long before becoming ashamed and insulted [...]
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Music And Records from Classic Recording Studios: Ardent Recording, Part Two
Ardent Recording, Memphis, TennesseeI’m at the coffee shop this morning. Michael Bolton is screeching When A Man Loves A Woman in the background. Another reason why one should never be without his iPod.Here’s Part Two of our music from Ardent:North Mississippi All-Stars - Mean Ol’ Wind Died DownBig Star - I’m In Love With A [...]
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Music And Records From Classic Recording Studios: Ardent Recording, Part One
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Album:Blues Walkin’ Like A Man
Ardent Recording, Memphis, Tennessee The new issue of Blues Revue magazine is on the stands and my review of Rory Block's new album, Blues Walkin' Like A Man is the lead article in their review section. That's pretty cool… In the next issue, which I believe comes out in December, they'll be running reviews I've written on [...]
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Music And Records From Classic Recording Studios: Atlantic Recording Studios
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Atlantic Recording Studios, New York City The breadth of influence Atlantic Studios has had during the years since it was founded in the late 1940's carries enough weight to warrant an entire book. Originally located at 234 West 56th, above Patsy's Restaurant, it was the place where Ray Charles cut What'd I Say and Big Joe [...]
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Marian, Librarian
Remember that one from Music Man (one of my favorite Broadway shows)? My wife is the theater director at the local high school; she’s considering doing Music Man next fall so she can cast our 8-year old, Skyler, as Winthrip. (Eat his dust, Ronnie Howard.) They’re doing Pippin in a few weeks in which Sky [...]
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Music and Records from Classic Recoding Studios: Associated Recording Studios
Associated Recording Studios, New YorkAccording to legend, it was two in the morning at Associated on New York’s Seventh Avenue when engineer Jerry Samuels closed the door to the studio, turned on the Scully four-track at the back of the room and, along with a siren, a clapper, a drummer and a $30 budget, cut [...]
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Yes, But Who Produced The First Dido Album?
Michael? Diana? Michael Diana?I really hate it when my wife knows a pop music trivia answer that skips past me. Yeah, she’s smarter than me in most areas but, by her own admission, pop music is my deal.We’ve been listening to the soundtrack to Pippin in the car ‘cuz she’s directing it at the local [...]
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James Jackson Toth
James Jackson TothI like artists who sound a little like a lot of people but always like themselves.James Jackson Toth fits that category: he sounds at once like himself but at times like Tanya Tucker, Jim Ford, Tommy Bolin, Keef Hartley Band, Peter Ivers Band, Throbbing Gristle, Rusty & Doug Kershaw, Vietnam Veterans, Conway Twitty, [...]
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Gratuitous Cross Promotion
Greetings Friends of Fusion 45:Please take a minute to visit my other joint, Sal’s Boutique.New on the rack this week: Prelude by Eumir Deodato
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You’re Making Me Seasick
So, we had another band practice last night and, boy, do we suck.The bass player actually showed up (albeit stoned on painkillers, methinks), the guitarist claimed he was having trouble singing because of a cold (that ain’t it, baby) and I couldn’t stay in tempo on anything over 120 BPM (and even that was a [...]
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Music And Records from My eMusic File
RodriquezThe most I can tell you about Rodriguez is what I can quote from the eMusic page where I found the re-release of his 1970 album, Cold Fact, which I needle dropped and dowloaded immediately.History is a funny thing. While for us in the States the pinnacle of ’60s music remains Bob Dylan, the Beatles [...]
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Music And Records: A Song About Sex And Gasoline
Photograph Your Own ConclusionSo much beauty abs & tushSwoop down on you like a burnin bushPop religion bullwhip thinSays you aint nothing but the shape youre inCome on now girl genuflect nude magazineThis mean old world runs on sex and gasoline19 candles adorn your cakeLifes simple pleasures is a chance you takeSo here’s the skinny [...]
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