Friday, August 29, 2014

First CD Player

Someone on Facebook asked an interesting question.  When did you buy your first CD player.  I didn't think much of the question until I realized it was a 25 year anniversary that passed me buy.
The first CD player I bought was in the Summer of 1988.  It was a Sony and I got it at Macy's (yes, they once sold electronics).  My recollection on whether it was a single-disc or multi-disc player is kind of murky.  I don't have the player anymore, having sold it long time ago.  I'm guessing it was a single-disc.  One thing I do know is that the last player I owned was a multi-one.

Anyway, when it came to moving up from records to CD's, I held out as long as I could.  Eventually, stores were slowly moving out vinyl and moving in discs.  It was all about supply and demand.
There was also the promise of what the CD could offer.  I had gotten tired of buying records that were scratched, skipped or were warped.  And a CD corrected all of that.

What I do remember is that none of this were cheap.  Like buying your first laptop computer, CD players weren't that cheap at the start.  At least Sony's weren't.  And I was always a Sony fan.
Once I got the player, I had to buy some CD's.  Near Macy's was a Wherehouse (you remember those?).  Even in 1988 prices for discs were high.  Over $12 for a catalog title.  The first CD's I bought were an Elton John Greatest Hits title first released in 1974 and a Bobby McFerrin title.  McFerrin had the #1 song at that time, and his CD was always getting good notices on how it sounded on CD players.

As the years went on I filled the coffers of the music industry pretty well.  I basically re-bought my whole LP collection on CD.  The first few years were tough to do because some vinyl titles took forever to get on CD.
There's going to come a time when we will feel nostalgia for our old CD's and units.  Just like people do about vinyl.  With streaming and digital about to eliminate CD's there will also be a market for them.  I ended up getting rid of my vinyl collection due to space limitations.  But my CD collection will go with me to my grave.

Well, maybe just a few Elvis Presley titles.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Playlist for 8/26

Beck Song Reader - Various
Now 51
Raveonettes - Pe'Ahi
Country Funk Vol. 1 & 2
Billy Joe Shaver - Long In The Tooth

Sunday, August 24, 2014

My Old Ipod

The other day I listened to my 20GB Ipod for the first time in ages.  There's 5000 songs on there and no more room to put anything else on there.  I think the last song I got uploaded was "Rehab" by Amy Winehouse.  The whole purpose of this Ipod was to put only my favorite songs on there.  But when I ran out of room, I lost interest in taking songs off and adding them over the years.

But listening again, I can see how Ipod's changed our listening habits.  I always had mine on shuffle play, and never had a playlist on it.  It was refreshing but puzzling how these Ipod's think.  I heard 2 Madonna songs in a half hour, mixed in with some XTC, Crowded House and others.  There are more Elvis Presley songs on there than any artist and I didn't hear any in over an hour.

Getting back to my point.  The Ipod did change the music biz.  Now it's streaming that doing the same thing.  My 20GB appears to be frozen in time, unless I ever add/remove songs.  There really isn't enough time to get things done nowadays.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Playlist for 8/20

Spoon - They Want My Soul
Jenny Lewis - Voyager
Tom Petty - Hypnotic Eye
Eric Clapton & Friends - The Breeze
Old Crow Medicine Show -Remedy
First Aid Kit - Stay Gold

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Elvis-37 Years Later

I love to tell this story.  Where did I hear about Elvis' death?  I was coming back from seeing Star Wars for the 2nd time.  My Mom worked near the theater, so after she picked me up after the movie.  I get in the car turn on the radio and my local Top 40 station is playing an Elvis song.  Turned to the other Top 40 station and the same thing.  This seemed unusual because Elvis never got played on those stations.  After one of his songs finished the DJ got on and said Elvis had died.  I remember my Mom letting out a "What?" and my heart sinking a bit.  When we got home I turned on the TV and it was on the news.

Such a surreal day.  I went through my Dad's record collection and saw what he had on Elvis.  He had some early 70's LP's and 8-tracks.  The next day I took the bus downtown and went to an independent record shop and bought Elvis' latest album Moody Blue (with blue-colored vinyl).  Didn't have the money to buy anything else, but as the months went on I did buy other albums.

Elvis died young.  Only 42.  He never got old, but he was already an old soul by the time he passed.  He's the greatest Rock and Roll star ever.  The one true King of Rock and Roll.

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Playlist for 8/12

John Hiatt - Terms of My Surrender
Puss N Boots - No Fools No Fun
Morrissey - World Peace
Charlie Worsham - Rubberband
Jason Derulo - Talk Dirty

Monday, August 11, 2014

Robin Williams

When George Carlin died, I wrote how the 70's were the last Golden Age of Comedy records charting high and going Platinum.  Steve Martin, Richard Pryor, Cheech & Chong were Rock stars of the Comedy world.
Robin Williams didn't make as many albums as some of those names, but his first album, Reality What A Concept, came out just as Mork & Mindy was peaking.   Like a lot of Comedy albums I bought back then, I memorized everything on it.

Williams never gave up touring, but his film career eventually became what a new generation of fans remembered him for.  His films could be filled with highs and some were just plain puzzling bad. No different than Steve Martin's films, and always the curse of actor's who work too much.

He had problems, demons, that were hidden behind his manic stand-up.  It's the early days that well always resonate with me. And a few films. And that first album. His genius never dimmed.

Wednesday, August 06, 2014

More Top Yacht Rock Songs

Updated April 2024

This is an expanded post of my Top 50 Yacht Rock Songs of All Time:

Yacht Rock Top 50

By sticking to a one title per artist criteria, I had to cut quite a few songs. This list gives me a chance to add more songs by artists that are in my Top 50.

So here's a ranking of 51-??? of the other songs, with no restrictions.  Check back as this list expands thanks to suggestions and new discoveries.

51.  Sailing - Christopher Cross
52.  I Keep Forgettin' - Michael McDonald
53.  You're The Only Woman - Ambrosia
54.  Get Closer - Seals & Crofts
55.  What You Don't For Love - Bobby Caldwell
56.  Magic - Olivia Newton-John
57.  Just Remember I Love You - Firefall
58.  Heart to Heart - Kenny Loggins
59.  What Can I Say - Boz Scaggs
60.  Reminiscing - Little River Band
61.  Love Is The Answer - England Dan & John Ford Coley
62.  Let Your Love Flow - Bellamy Brothers
63.  Gold - John Stewart
64.  Sail On - Commodores
65.  Rosanna- Toto
66.  How Long - Ace
67.  Minute by Minute - Doobie Brothers
68.  Yah Mo B There - James Ingram & Michael McDonald
69.  Sister Golden Hair - America
70.  Whatcha Gonna Do? - Pablo Cruise
71.  Jackie Blue - Ozark Mountain Daredevils 
72.  You Belong To Me - Carly Simon
73.  Eye In The Sky - Alan Parsons Project
74.  Vahevala - Loggins & Messina
75.  My Girl - Chilliwack
76.  Let Me Love You Tonight - Pure Prairie League
77.  Hard To Say I'm Sorry - Chicago
78.  Love Takes Time - Orleans
79.  Every Kinda People - Robert Palmer
80.  An American Dream - Dirt Band
81.  Popsicle Toes - Michael Franks
82.  Him - Rupert Holmes
83.  Save It For A Rainy Day - Stephen Bishop
84.  I Can’t Go For That - Daryl Hall & John Oates
85.  Get It Up For Love - Ned Doheny
86.  So In To You - Atlanta Rhythm Section
87.  Sweet Life - Paul Davis
88.  Love Will Keep Us Together - Captain & Tennille
89.  Shake It - Ian Matthews
90.  We're In This Love Together - Al Jarreau
91.  Shannon - Henry Gross
92.  Real Love - Doobie Brothers
93.  Can We Still Be Friends - Todd Rundgren
94.  Fooled Around And Fell In Love  - Elvin Bishop
95.  Southern Cross - Crosby, Stills & Nash
96.  Sexy Eyes - Dr. Hook
97.  All Night Long - Lionel Richie
98.  Personally - Karla Bonoff
99.  Things We Do For Love - 10CC
100.  Get Used To It - Roger Voudouris
101.  Morning Dance - Spyro Gyra
102.  Back In The High Life Again - Steve Winwood
103.  With Your Love - Jefferson Starship
104.  Somebody's Baby - Jackson Browne
105.  Guilty - Barbra Streisand & Barry Gibb
106.  Rock The Boat - Hues Corporation
107.  Dancing In The Moonlight - King Harvest
108.  Ride Captain Ride - Blues Image
109.  Just A Song Before I Go - Crosby, Stills & Nash
110.  Diamond Girl - Seals & Crofts
111.  You're Only Lonely - J.D. Souther
112.  Suspicions - Eddie Rabbitt
113.  Here You Come Again - Dolly Parton
114.  Never Be The Same - Christopher Cross
115.  Dreadlock Holiday - 10CC
116.  Even The Nights Are Better - Air Supply
117.  If You Should Sail - Nielson & Pearson
118.  Whenever I Call You Friend - Kenny Loggins & Stevie Nicks
119.  No Tell Lover - Chicago
120.  Georgy Porgy - Toto
121.  Hurts So Bad - Linda Ronstadt
122.  How 'Bout Us - Champaign
123.  Cry Like A Rainstorm - Craig Fuller & Eric Kaz
124.  Imaginary Lover - Atlanta Rhythm Section
125.  Bluer Than Blue - Michael Johnson
126.  Handy Man - James Taylor
127.  Ebony Eyes - Bob Welch
128.  You Belong To Me - Doobie Brothers
129.  Brandy - Looking Glass
130.  Power of Gold - Dan Fogelberg/Tim Weisberg
131.  Danny's Song - Loggins & Messina
132.  Wildfire - Michael Martin Murphey
133.  Please Don't Leave - Lauren Wood
134.  Took The Last Train - David Gates
135.  Lookin’ For Love - Johnny Lee 
136.  Hearts - Marty Balin
137.  Kiss On My List - Daryl Hall & John Oates
138.  You're My Jamaica - Charley Pride
139.  WKRP In Cincinnati - Steve Carlisle 
140.  How Do I Survive - Amy Holland
141.  Slow Hand - Pointer Sisters
142.  Time Out Of Mind - Steely Dan
143.  Route 101 - Herb Alpert
144.  Nights Are Forever - England Dan & John Ford Coley
145.  Guitar Man- Bread
146.  Tell Me What You Dream - Timothy B. Schmit
147.  Show You The Way - Thundercat/Michael McDonald/Kenny Loggins
148.  Breakin' Away - Al Jarreau
149.  No Time To Lose - Tarney-Spencer Band
150.  Can't Hide Love - Earth, Wind & Fire
151.  Say You Love Me - Fleetwood Mac
152.  Run Home Girl - Sad Cafe
153.  Your Smiling Face - James Taylor
154.  Turn Your Love Around - George Benson
155.  99 - Toto
156.  Spirits Having Flown - Bee Gees
157.  Betcha Wouldn't Hurt Me - Quincy Jones w/Patti Austin
158.  With A Little Luck - Paul McCartney & Wings
159.  Make A Move On Me - Olivia Newton-John
160.  Lazy Nina - Greg Phillinganes
161.  Blow Away - George Harrison  
162.  So Good, So Right - Brenda Russell
163. Take It Easy - Archie James Cavanaugh 
164. Waffle House - Jonas Brothers 


Also check out my Top Yacht Rock Albums:  Greatest Yacht Rock Albums

Suggestions, complaints, etc.
tmlane12@gmail.com

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Friday, August 01, 2014

Playlist for 8/1

Weird Al Yankovic - Mandatory Fun
Rezillos - Can't Stand The Rezillos
Moody Blues - Question of Balance
Mac DeMarco - Salad Days
Cecile McLoren Salvant - WomanChild
Johnny Winter - Roots
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