April 03, 2006
Tale of the Bidet Thief
My Way News - Late Grateful Dead Leader's Toilet Stolen
Four toilets and a bidet were stolen, but only one of the toilet once belonged to a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. All of the bathroom fixtures were left in the driveway. Who leaves a toilet out on the driveway? And people say southerners are weird for having cars in the yard.
But I bet that was one of those old high-capacity toilets. You can't buy them anymore. They're worth their weight in gold nowadays. Well, their weight in something.
(Thanks to Meryl.)
Posted by Mac Thomason at 01:11 PM | Comments (0)
March 24, 2006
Donald Fagen lied
Entertainment Weekly's EW.com | Feature: The origins of Steely Dan
He went back to his old school after all. What a letdown.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 09:47 AM | Comments (1)
February 03, 2006
Speaking of...
ABC News: Rolling Stones Guarantee Satisfaction at Super Bowl
Okay, what will the Stones play Sunday? I predicted, I think, four of five of McCartney's set last year (I didn't see "Drive My Car" coming) but I'm more familiar with his shows than with the Stones'.
I think we can, indeed, guarantee that they'll play "Satisfaction", and also "Start Me Up". Assuming five songs, that leaves three left. I'm going to predict that the three songs will be:
"It's Only Rock & Roll"
"Jumping Jack Flash"
"You Can't Always Get What You Want"
Posted by Mac Thomason at 02:50 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
January 19, 2006
Watch out, Heaven
CNN.com - Wilson Pickett dies of heart attack at 64 - Jan 19, 2006
Something Wicked that way comes.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 09:10 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
January 06, 2006
Timing
CNN.com - Lou Rawls dead at 70 - Jan 6, 2006
The dreadful thing is that the annual UNCF fundraiser Rawls hosted will air this weekend. It was taped four months ago, and Rawls performed; he apparently got sick very quickly.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 10:17 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
December 20, 2005
The horror
Lutes + Synthesizers + Rock Beats = America's Most Popular Christmas Music? - New York Times
There's no law against being Mannheim Steamroller, but you don't have to brag about it.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 03:32 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
November 29, 2005
About damned time
Rock Hall of Fame Announces Inductees - Yahoo! News
The only reason it took so long for Lynyrd Skynyrd to be inducted is anti-Southern bias.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 09:20 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
October 22, 2005
No, not really
Grand jury indicts former 'American Idol' contestant
At last, Clay Aiken's reign of terror is ended.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 03:58 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
October 20, 2005
Look at it this way
Report: Van Halen to replace INXS if 'Rock Star' returns to CBS next summer
A reality TV show never would have picked Gary Cherone.
UPDATE: Thank God, it seems to be false. MTV, wrong? Never.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 08:38 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
September 12, 2005
I hated high school
Top 100 Hits of 1989 / Top 100 Songs of 1989
The top 100 songs of the year I graduated. Of the top twenty, there are maybe three songs I don't utterly hate. Of the top 28, four are "by" Milli Vanilli, and two of the top six are by Paula Abdul. Even Prince's entry ("Batdance", no. 44) sucks. Just in case you were wondering why grunge hit so big a couple years later. Via Big Media Matt.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 10:22 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
September 03, 2005
Oh, no!
AP Wire | 09/03/2005 | Kanye West rips Bush during NBC concert
A rapper said something bad about the President! How awful! We obviously must talk about nothing else for the next six weeks, and anybody who doesn't condemn West is a race-baiting liberal commie!
Posted by Mac Thomason at 12:07 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
August 13, 2005
Words fail me
The Poor Man Cafe - Son of Love them that they are wingnuts
The Poor Man Cafe - Complete the agony
Still, it is very shrill.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 06:58 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 30, 2005
They should have known
BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Arts | Lennon musical postpones opening
This was a disaster waiting to happen. Not only is the idea as described stupid, not only is John Lennon rolling over in his grave at the idea of being a subject for a musical (Paul, sure, that I could see), but it is, or was, (some say he's been replaced) directed by Don Scardino. Star of Squirm.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 03:50 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
July 09, 2005
Watching the Live 8 rebroadcast...
1. What do you call Townshend and Daltrey when they perform together? They're not really the Who, are they? Half the Who?
2. Apparently, their act consists of playing their songs that are now used as CSI theme songs.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 12:54 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
June 29, 2005
Hello, sailor
So I am in the record store, as I am from time to time, and I see this:
Yes, it's a "Greatest Hits" collection for eighties one hit wonder band Ready For The World. So, that's "Oh Sheila" and... Well, I'm coming up blank.
Yes, I still call the place where you buy CDs a "record store". I'm basically 85 years old.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 09:11 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
May 29, 2005
Of the musical variety
Alzheimer Victim Sold 11 Organs
A con by a music store manager. But the first reaction, of course, is "Well, heart, liver, two kidneys, two lungs... Which other ones?"
(Thanks to Meryl.)
Posted by Mac Thomason at 05:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 11, 2005
Pure Something
al.com: NewsFlash - Oak Hill to start Hank Williams museum at former Pure Oil station
So, the gas station where a chauffeur discovered that his famous passenger had died somewhere along the road from Montgomery to Ohio is to be turned into a museum. Because when I think "Hank Williams", I think "West Virginia".
Posted by Mac Thomason at 10:53 AM | Comments (0)
March 31, 2005
I'm ashamed to say how many of these I own
Happy Furry Puppy Story Time with Norbizness: Legacy of Mediocrity
I did give away my copy of Billy Joel's Greatest Hits, though.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 02:42 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 27, 2005
Love the music, hate the lifestyle
CNN.com - Ex-Crowded House drummer's suicide - Mar 27, 2005
46 years old, kills himself in a park. What is it with musicians? Neil Finn says he's devastated, hardly surprisingly.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 11:38 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 07, 2005
Sessions presents!
I swear, Alabama Public Television is showing an infomercial for some collection of sixties rock songs. My tax dollars at work.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 09:46 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 14, 2005
Nobody said this last night but I swear I heard it
"And the Grammy goes to... Prince!"
"Prince is not here tonight, because he's freaking Prince, and way too cool for the Grammys, so I will accept this on his behalf."
Posted by Mac Thomason at 11:46 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
February 13, 2005
I was just watching the Grammys...
When did Stevie Wonder turn into Bleeding Gums Murphy?
Posted by Mac Thomason at 09:43 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
February 07, 2005
A comment and a prediction
1. Paul McCartney is still pretty good as long as he doesn't try to play anything he's written since 1975.
2. Next year's Super Bowl halftime performer: Elton John. Backup plans: Stevie Wonder or (if he hasn't had any more accidents) Billy Joel. Whoever it is will be someone who will keep their clothes on and play safe, familiar material.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 01:40 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 27, 2005
Ringoman?
Stan Lee makes Ringo a reluctant superhero
I... I... I really can't find anything to say. Sorry.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 04:01 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 16, 2004
Tin Roof Melted
Say what? Fire destroys B-52's 'Love Shack' | ajc.com
Actually, the roof is still there, but most of the rest is gone. Authorities suspect arson.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 02:29 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 22, 2004
The Safe One
New York Daily News - Daily Dish & Gossip - NFL books Sir Paul for Super act
Paul McCartney? Wow, the NFL is being really cautious this time. Who was their second option, Paul Simon?
Posted by Mac Thomason at 02:10 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
November 11, 2004
Back to Bach
More cataloging of vinyl records that nobody will ever listen to. Anyway, how did J.S. Bach find the time to write all this music and have twenty kids? It's just not plausible.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 09:34 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
October 31, 2004
Dammit, it's Halloween
That doesn't stop a Birmingham radio station from moving, as it always does at this time of year, to an all-Christmas music format. Agony. This would never happen if the Army controlled our radio stations.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 09:21 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
September 29, 2004
He certainly is
Yes, this is the right category. (Warning: sound.)
Posted by Mac Thomason at 07:47 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 23, 2004
It's for the public good
ABCNEWS.com : U.S. Urges Changes in Watch List Rules
The Bush Administration says that if the Department of Homeland Security was allowed to manage the watch list, Cat Stevens would never have almost made it to New York. There is no time to spare. Who will be on the next flight? Graham Nash? The Incredible String Band? Our musical security is threatened.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 09:00 AM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
September 22, 2004
It's a Wild World, after all
Crooked Timber: Cat Stevens banned from the US
Why was Yusuf Islam banned from the US? My initial reaction was that it was the Salman Rushdie situation that put him on a watch list.
To clarify this: Islam did, in no uncertain terms, say that the fatwa against Rushdie was justified. I know that he's denied it since, and "clarified" his remarks. He said that Rushdie was guilty of blasphemy and that the punishment for blasphemy was death. Personally I don't see this as any different from the right-wing "Christians" who go around saying that gays should die, but it's still an endorsement.
There are two other possible reasons why Islam is banned. (Islam the person, that is. Couldn't he have chosen another name?) The first is his vocal opposition to the war in Iraq. If this is the case -- if the TSA is going around banning every prominent Muslim in the world who has spoken against the war -- then the Administration has gone so far around the bend that it rises to the level of yet another reason -- if we needed any -- to oppose Bush's reelection.
The second is that Islam fits a profile. Not simply "Muslim", of course. But that he is (a) of European ancestry, (b) a convert to Islam, and (c) changed his name. (Actually, he has changed it twice.) I know that this is a type of person that Homeland Security is on the watch for. If he wasn't Cat Stevens the ex-pop singer, but plain old Yusuf Islam who used to be named Stephen Georgiou, they would have been all over him anyway.
Now, you're running into the whole racial profiling thing again. (You ban the European-descended Muslims because they're not "Arabs" and you can't tell at a glance that they're The Other.) On the other hand, converts do tend to be especially fervent, and there have been a number of converts involved in suspected terrorist attempts. It's a complicated situation, to say the least.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 04:09 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
September 21, 2004
Peace Plane
CNN.com - Flight diverted after Cat Stevens found on watch list - Sep 21, 2004
Gosh, how could Cat Stevens have ever wound up on a terrorist watch list? Maybe it had something to do with that whole "Salman Rushdie should be killed" thing.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 10:14 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
September 20, 2004
Brenda Lee is in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?
Norbizness picks 22 (!) members of the R&RHOF to eject. I can't agree with all of them, but some...
A. James Taylor/Jackson Browne: The Weenies. Look, I actually like a couple of Taylor's songs. Hey, I even like "The Pretender". But this is because I am basically a weenie. Whatever it is that these guys do, it is not Rock & Roll.
B. The Doors. The most overrated band of all time.
C. The Bee Gees. Are the Bee Gees.
He's absolutely totally wrong about Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers; I think he may have gone insane there. He's also completely wrong in his earlier post saying that Lynyrd Skynyrd shouldn't be inducted; in fact, the refusal to induct Skynyrd is the clearest example of elitist coastal liberal media bias you will ever see.
Queen, The Police, The Mamas and the Papas... Obvious, obvious HOF selections. To make the baseball analogy, they're not Willie Mays, but they're Frank Robinson, or at least Willie McCovey.
Aerosmith should probably be in for their work in the seventies, and should be blacklisted like Pete Rose until they apologize for what they did in the nineties.
George Harrison... Sigh. The problem with inducting John, Paul, & George is that sooner or later you're going to have to induct Ringo, too. For that matter, I could make an argument that Ringo should have been inducted before George. Paul should definitely be in for his earlier solo work, but should, like Aerosmith, have to apologize for his later material. (By the way, what about Brian Epstein as a nonperformer?)
The Harrison induction, and those of lesser lights like Browne, or Bob Seger, shows the real problem with the Rock & Roll Hall. They have to induct someone, and they're running out of real candidates. U2 will get in this year, REM when they're eligible, then they're pretty much out of front-line acts. Everyone after that will be a borderline call, or a critical fave without mainstream appeal, or someone who's already in as part of a group. The last will be the headliners. We get to look forward to the inductions as solo performers of Jagger, Richards, Townshend, Page, Plant, Henley... You begin to see the problem.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 05:39 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
August 26, 2004
They're not Lynyrd Skynyrd!
Talking Points Memo: by Joshua Micah Marshall: August 22, 2004 - August 28, 2004 Archives
They may call themselves Lynyrd Skynyrd, but they're not Lynyrd Skynyrd. Not unless cloning technology has come a lot farther than I thought, in which case they wouldn't be supporting the Republicans.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 10:12 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 24, 2004
It is time for them to go
Happy Furry Puppy Story Time with Norbizness: Ahhhhh-ha-ha-ha-ha!
If we actually needed any more reason to get rid of George Bush and his cronies, take a gander at the RNC entertainment roster. It's not just loaded with country music performers, they're bad country music performers. No scene of the Archfiend himself, Toby Keith, but I wouldn't be surprised if he put in an appearance. (I don't care about Keith's political opinions. I just hate his music.) I grew up listening to country music; these are the people who drove me away from it.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 03:42 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 06, 2004
He's dead, bitch!
CNN.com - 'Super Freak' Rick James dead - Aug 6, 2004
Sorry, had to.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 02:40 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
July 22, 2004
No, just "Who's Next"
All the CSI shows (eventually, there will be one a night, is my guess) have Who songs as theme music. The new one is going to use "Baba O'Reilly". I'd have gone with "The Seeker" myself.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 12:24 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
What does she have to regret?
Herald.com | 07/22/2004 | Ronstadt: No regrets
Linda Ronstadt has been a has-been for at least twenty years; I literally can't remember a time when she wasn't a has-been. There have been entire generations of musicians who have grown up, had careers, and become has-beens themselves during her career's long senescence.
Now she's a free speech martyr, all because one guy at a casino -- a guy who's apparently on his way out, because the casino's been sold -- decided to make an issue of her encore. It's the best thing that's happened to her since she stopped dating Jerry Brown.
Alex claims that something similar happened in the DC area when she sang there, but nothing came of it. Apparently, she's been dedicating "Desperado" to Moore for her entire tour. I wouldn't exactly be surprised if she was hoping for something similar the whole time.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 08:51 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
July 21, 2004
Musicians Lining Up to Bash Bush
"Oh No, not Bonnie Raitt too!" said Bush, laughing hysterically with Cheney.
Yes, Bonnie Raitt has joined a list of oh so classy celebrities further bashing the 43rd President of the United States. let's add her to a distinguished list of High School & College dropouts that proudly includes Linda Ronstandt, Whoopi Goldberg, John Leguizamo, Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Julia Roberts, Rob Reiner, and many other of our NON elected officials.
Here's what you people out there do not understand. I am a moderate and an un-decided voter. When psycho leftist celebrities like Bonnie Raitt or Whoopi Goldberg start acting bizarre and screaming and railing against Bush, it only makes me want to vote for Bush MORE--why don't people GET this concept? John Kerry, Whoopi Goldberg and Sean Penn do not represent Middle America so stop showing up at their outrageous fundraisers!
Posted by Mac Thomason at 03:49 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
"Hi, my Name is Linda Ronstadt and I just can't shut up already"
I have a problem. My name is Linda Ronstadt and I am an overrated hack who's only way to get my name in the papers is to talk about my unrequited love for that big, loveable lug, Michael Moore.
And to all you who don't love big, fat Michael, shame on you! I am Linda FREAKING Ronstadt and I COMMAND you to obey my music and follow Michael Moore. Yes, follow him. Follow, damnit!
That's right, people...wake up! Stop mindlessly being open minded and moderate and making up your minds based on factual information--pish posh I say! I am Linda Ronstadt and I say, follow Michael Moore. He's fat, he's kind of jolly, and he sure makes a whole lotta sense to me!
And I am DAMN smart, people.
Thank you. I, Linda FREAKING Ronstadt am done preaching for now but wait until my next concert at the Ocala Town Hall in Florida. Boy, will I create a Michael Moore "big lug" love fest. I love you, you big lug!!!!
(the views expressed by Linda Freaking Ronstadt do not reflect the views of rational, sane people like myself; Linda Freaking Ronstadt can kiss my a--).
[Edited because it's spelled "Ronstadt", Alex. -- MT]
Posted by Mac Thomason at 03:24 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
July 20, 2004
Oh, God, no
Yahoo! News - Report: Michael Jackson to Be Father of Quadruplets
I wonder if he'll name these after bedding as well. "Pillowcase, behave! I don't care if Duvet started it!"
Posted by Mac Thomason at 03:00 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Casino Boots Ronstadt for Praising Moore
Remind me to stay at the Aladdin the next time I am in Vegas. I will post-pone that Mandalay Bay stay for now.
Linda Ronstadt is a chirpy, annoying past-her-prime overrated hack who should get up there, sing, and be happy she even still has a GIG.
What a dope she is.
I am sure the majority of you folks LOVE Michael Moore, but I can't defend someone who only represents one side to an issue and is lauded for it. Furthermore, he made dispicable, evil statements in his book, "Dude Where's My Country?" regarding his HOPES that the Israeli's and Palestinians aim missiles at eachother and blow eachother up. Me, who is no fan of the PLO, wouldn't wish that on innocent Palestinians--you are condemning two culturues of people to death and are supposed to be the 'man of the people?'
More Distortions From Michael Moore
http://www.moorelies.com/book/
I just think people need to do more homework on Michael Moore before getting up on stage and preaching his patriotism. I also think when you have an audience there just to enjoy the music, there's no need to play politics.
Apparently, Linda pulled the same BS routine in Northern Virginia a few weeks back at the beautiful venue, Wolftrap...half the audience booed (right on) and half the audience cheered. Fights broke out. This was after one, united audience had been sitting together enjoying a peaceful, politics free night just listening to music. It's a disgusting and selfish act on her part. It's filthy self promotion--the same brand of self promotion that Michael Moore, the fat pig does. Here's a millionaire living in wealth in NY City still claiming to be a blue collar Michigan guy. He and Linda Ronstadt are frauds...and if John Kerry has ANY common sense, he will distance himself from fanatics like Moore and run on his own platform.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 08:09 AM | Comments (11)
June 25, 2004
More dissing the dead
Boston.com / News / Boston Globe / Living / Arts / Reality rivalries face the music
On the heels of INXS teaming up with Mark Burnett to pick a reality show contestant as Michael Hutchence's replacement comes this. TLC will have its own reality show on Fox (the INXS thing will be on CBS) to pick a replacement for Lisa Lopes, who like Hutchence is dead.
It appears to be a total ripoff of the other show, but Fox swears it was already talking about this before Burnett starting pitching his show. They also say that they were negotiating with Queen to make the show about finding a replacement for Freddie Mercury. Dear God.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 11:22 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
June 15, 2004
No, no, no, no, no!
CNN.com - Duran Duran reuniting for a new album - Jun 15, 2004
It was bad enough when the Reagan Administration re-united as the George W. Bush Administration. But a Duran Duran comeback?
Posted by Mac Thomason at 03:29 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack
June 14, 2004
What You Need
The Australian: Reality blights INXS's credibility [June 14, 2004]
Wait a minute... I heard about Mark Burnett's "Rock Star" TV series. But he got INXS to participate? They're going to pick a new lead singer in a reality show?
UPDATE: I mean, that's really awful. What, is the first contest on this show going to be "Who can take the biggest dump on Michael Hutchence's grave?"
Posted by Mac Thomason at 11:08 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
June 11, 2004
My thoughts exactly
TV Barn | Move over Gipper, Brother Ray's coming through
I know, Reagan meant a lot to some people. But this is Ray Charles here. Here's the end of the piece, but Read The Whole Thing:
Ray Charles deserves the same kind of media attention that should have been accorded Sinatra and Reagan, in a less exploitative media world. This is to say a lot, but not to the point of self-satire and faux reverence.He was that important a man and artist. That he won’t receive a tenth of it, doesn’t diminish his life, career and spirit one iota.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 01:41 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Oddity
CMT'S list of the 100 greatest love songs - Wednesday, 06/09/04
Since I am completely out of touch with the contemporary country music scene (and have been since roughly the emergence of Garth Brooks) it is no surprise that I highly disagree with this list. (There are 23 country love songs better than "Ring of Fire"? And 51 better than "El Paso"?) But the real oddity is that the #1 song on the list, ''I Will Always Love You'' (you have got to be kidding me) is best known as a cover by Whitney Houston. And the #2 song, ''You Were Always On My Mind'' (much better) is a cover, of Elvis. Willie's is better, though.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 10:34 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
June 10, 2004
This one hurts
CNN.com - Ray Charles dies at 73 - Jun 10, 2004
That's just me, but losing Ray Charles hits a lot harder than losing Reagan ever could.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 04:23 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
May 24, 2004
The rules don't apply
CNN.com - Prosecutor suggests Jackson might flee if bail reduced - May 24, 2004
Really, that's what the DDA prosecuting Michael Jackson says -- that because Jackson is rich, the bail limit of $435K for child molestation doesn't apply, and that if it doesn't stay at $3 million Jackson will run off and live with Roman Polanski in France.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 10:33 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 30, 2004
He's amazing
Honestly, how is it that every picture of Michael Jackson is scarier than the last? I thought he'd never top his mug shot, but now he looks like the Joker again. But he's wearing glasses, so he's smart.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 12:49 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
April 26, 2004
How is Billy Joel's driving like his career?
CNN.com - Billy Joel crashes car into house - Apr 26, 2004
Of late, it's mostly car wrecks. This is the third in the last two years. Joel, driving what looks like a "new" VW Beetle, crashed into a house a block from the beach. The police say he isn't suspected of any crime. This despite his substance abuse history and the fact that he hit a fricking house. And what kind of pop star drives a Volkswagen?
Posted by Mac Thomason at 09:58 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
April 14, 2004
Kill the Wabbit...
CNN.com - Wagner in your car? Don't try it - Apr 14, 2004
A British survey claims that loud music causes accidents and that the most dangerous song is "Ride of the Valkyries".
Posted by Mac Thomason at 09:55 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 30, 2004
What a strange article
Simply Simpson - Why pop songwriting's not what it used to be. By Kevin Canfield
While I agree that Jessica Simpson probably isn't much of a songwriter (if she actually wrote anything to speak of) Canfield is far too dismissive of the tradition of pop performer as songwriter. (A trend he, bizarrely, attributes to Madonna, which is like saying that the electric guitar was invented in 1982 by Andy Taylor.) While I don't see any factual errors, the whole tone of the article is bizarre, a pop-cultural history written by someone who apparently has little knowledge of the popular culture he's supposedly talking about.
Buddy Holly -- who is not mentioned in the article -- co-wrote most of his hits in the late fifties. It certainly isn't true that the "biggest hits of the '50s and '60s were written by songwriters like Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller..." I have a lot of respect for those songwriters, but that's not true -- the biggest hits of the Fifties may have been written by non-performing songwriters. (And among them, Canfield never mentions Goffin and King, or the Motown writers.)
The biggest hits of the Sixties were mostly -- except for Motown -- written by performers like the Beatles and Stones. (Both groups are mentioned only in passing, and strangely placed -- seemingly chronologically -- after Simon & Garfunkel, James Taylor, and Joni Mitchell.) Lennon & McCartney -- with the proverbial help from their friends -- created, or promoted, a tradition that has faded but never quite died. Elton John, the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, the Police, U2, Springsteen, Prince, REM... These were all hugely successful acts that wrote all, or nearly all, of their own material.
Madonna, indeed.
UPDATE: As Haggai points out in comments, Chuck Berry -- who more or less invented rock & roll -- wrote his own material. Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis were songwriters as well. I should also point out that some of the Motown performers, too -- notably Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, and especially Stevie Wonder -- wrote, or write, their own material.
I could probably trace this back even further, to the beginnings of recorded music. I today cataloged an album based upon a player-piano roll made by George Gershwin. (And beyond "pop" music, the great classical composers were also performers and/or conductors. I read just the other day that J.S. Bach, in his own time, was mostly celebrated as a keyboardist.) It's simply a dumb claim as stated so broadly. In a narrow sense -- that poppy, non-instrument-playing, usually female singers of the Jessica Simpson "type" didn't used to pretend to write their own material -- it may have some merit.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 04:28 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
March 29, 2004
Gilbert or Sullivan
Oxford University Gilbert & Sullivan Society
I am slogging through a bunch of LPs, cataloging them just in case there's a vinyl shortage or something. (Actually, for music department accreditation.) Anyway, there's a few Gilbert & Sullivan operas (the D'Oyly Carte recordings) in the mix.
Now, when I put call numbers on the records I usually do it by author. It would look something like
LP
MOZART
01
But for G&S, do I use GILBERT or SULLIVAN? (No, they won't both fit.) The Library of Congress considers Sullivan the primary author, and he did compose the music. But Gilbert usually comes first. I was convinced to go with Gilbert because people would look there first. I don't know.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 03:03 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack
March 22, 2004
Well, this is neat
2003 National Recording Registry - National Recording Preservation Board (Library of Congress)
The second year of the National Recording Registry has 50 new recordings. Of course, some of these aren't really in any danger. For instance, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Some others you've probably heard of: Chuck Berry, "Roll Over Beethoven", Patsy Cline, "Crazy", Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison, Marvin Gaye, What's Goin' On, Carole King, Tapestry, Bruce Springsteen, Born to Run.
I actually just cataloged one of the selections, Glenn Gould's original recording of The Goldberg Variations. I have come to hate Glenn Gould, by the way, just by looking at his album covers. He has, or had (if he's dead), that kind of face. I am done with Bach for now and have moved on to Beethoven. (Next, I assume, Brahms.) You know what's fun? Cataloging Beethoven to the music of Jimi Hendrix.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 12:21 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 15, 2004
Really, Jackson Browne?
Prince, Seger, Harrison Set for Rock Hall
I mean, it is the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, right? I don't have anything against Browne as such, but he ain't rock & roll.
OutKast will induct Prince. Now, that should be fun.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 04:49 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
February 17, 2004
Damn you, Andre 3000!
CNN.com - Polaroid warns buyers not to 'Shake It' - Feb. 17, 2004
Polaroid says you're not supposed to shake your Polaroid picture. The surprising thing is that anyone's still taking Polaroid pictures. This Outkast thing is probably the best marketing the company's had in a couple of decades.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 12:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 11, 2004
Okay, you can stop now
Dismissed - The general meets his Little Big Horn. By Chris Suellentrop
And the song they play at the end is the one that Clark lobbied to have as his campaign song, one that's disliked by his staff: Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'."
I remain convinced that the moment when Clark's campaign was doomed to failure was when the story broke that "Journey's Greatest Hits" was his favorite album. It's been all downhill from there.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 04:16 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
January 27, 2004
CDs to avoid
"Let go, it's over, nobody listens to techno"
-- Eminem
Posted by Mac Thomason at 10:29 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
January 21, 2004
Clark is toast
Las Vegas SUN: Notes and Quotes From Campaign 2004
His favorite album is Journey's "Greatest Hits?!?!?!? I'm sorry, that's simply unacceptable. (Though it does argue that he's telling the truth. Who'd lie and say that they like Journey?) Edwards and Kerry pass; actually, Kerry and I agree. Lieberman is lame but acceptable. Dean is probably lying. Dennis who?
Posted by Mac Thomason at 02:35 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
January 18, 2004
Well, I'm convinced
Psychic: Jackson Denied Abusing Children
Uri Geller says that he hypnotized Michael Jackson three years ago and Jackson then claimed he had never sexually abused children. And if you can't believe a guy who says he can bend spoons with his mind, whom can you believe?
Posted by Mac Thomason at 06:40 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 13, 2004
My alma mater, ladies and gentlemen
www.cw.ua.edu - Professor blends cartoons, music into curriculum
A University of Alabama music professor admits that his "pursuit of music" was influenced mostly by cartoons. Well, it's better than the people in the history department who are mostly influenced by the voices in their heads.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 10:38 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
January 04, 2004
Costanza!
ajc.com | News | Nuptials for Britney Spears?
I just want to point out that her supposed husband is named "Jason Alexander". Okay, it's a different one, but still...
Posted by Mac Thomason at 10:52 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
November 21, 2003
It's about time
ajc.com | News | Phil Spector charged with murder
I've been listening to the Beatles' Let It Be... Naked, and he just butchered the original release of those songs.
Oh, right, he (allegedly) actually killed someone. My bad.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 11:10 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 20, 2003
Jackson Browne?
CNN.com - New Rock Hall inductees announced - Nov. 20, 2003
Seriously, Jackson Browne?
Posted by Mac Thomason at 12:52 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
November 19, 2003
Broken man
ABCNEWS.com : Warrant Issued for Michael Jackson
Obviously -- whether the current round of allegations is true or no -- this man is seriously messed up. He was messed up before his family and Motown made him a superstar, and tried to make him into sex symbol, before he hit puberty. In a way, the very rich and the very poor have similar circumstances when it comes to mental health. The poor don't get treatment until it's too late because they can't afford it. The rich don't because they can afford not to. A middle class person who acted like Michael Jackson would have been confined and medicated long ago.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 01:35 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
November 18, 2003
What did he do now?
nbc13.com - Entertainment - Authorities Search Michael Jackson's Ranch
They aren't saying why, but I figure it's for the publicity. He's got a greatest hits CD out today.
Posted by Mac Thomason at 03:31 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack