My Desert Island Playlist

I did it everyone! I truly picked my desert island songs. I spent days with this. I disciplined myself to only pick 10 songs. I kinda want everyone to listen to these songs in this exact order. Makes me cry actually. It’s the end of the world. I’ve escaped to an island and could only download 10 songs into my brain. These are the songs:

1. Dark Star by The Grateful Dead (From the Live/Dead album)
2. Seasons by Chris Cornell (From the Singles soundtrack)
3. Shine On You Crazy Diamond by Pink Floyd (From Wish You Were Here album)
4. Right Turn by Alice In Chains (from SAP ep)
5. A Day In The Life by The Beatles (From Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album)
6. Starla by The Smashing Pumpkins (From Pisces Iscariot B-Sides album)
7. Pneuma by Tool (From Fear Inoculum album)
8. Coney Island Baby by Lou Reed (Title Track)
9. Into Dust by Mazzy Star (From So Tonight That I Might See album)
10. Release by Pearl Jam (From Ten album)

These tracks all have special meanings for me. Bands I love and songs I obsess over.

Now I invite you to list your 10 desert island songs below in the comments.

A Poem Followed by a “CD/TAPE” Choice

THE DAY AFTER THE DEAD SHOW

madness, i was submerged in it
buses, vans
dancing girls in long brown dresses
starry eyed folks selling shirts
books, shrooms
“fungus?” they’d say
“want some brownies?” he yelled
“Got any blow?” she wandered

Volkswagen vans
tents and balloons
music won’t start for awhile
“the stage collapsed, there was a storm!”
i guess, they said Jerry’s spirit was truly alive!
venue after venue
grill to grill
in the open field

port-a-johns and water bottles
i found the experience
seeing the magic in everyone’s eyes
lots of walking and talking
you’re cool on top of the hill
listening to Robert Hunter off in the distance
reading his poetic words
talking to strangers

it’s the world’s biggest tailgate party
before the show even starts
Dylan packs a punch…he delivers
his raw but honest voice
roaring    piano    guitars
“Hard Rain Gonna Fall”
“Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright”
twisted a bit and thrown out with an edge

powerful sound    truly great

break

time for lemonade and pretzels
mustard and a t shirt purchase

they come out
crowd roars afoot
jamming right into it
as if 30 years never went by
“Let The Good Times Roll”
it begins
jams galore!
“St Stephen…Dark Star…Not Fade Away
The Other Ones”

new and old
two sets
thousands of balloons
crazy drums
“Sugaree” (a big hit)

i left early to beat the crowds
bought a copy of the show later on my computer
it was a soundboard recording of The Dead

then I listened to it
…one more time

 

LIVE “CD/TAPE” CHOICE

I own several of the Grateful Dead Dick’s Picks series, and I must say with most certainty that Volume 8 is my favorite. It was recorded at a little known college in New York in 1970, when they had their best lineup, IMHO. Pigpen was still there in his prime. He was one of their best keyboardists.

This gig opens up with an awesome acoustic set featuring exquisite versions of some Dead classics that you don’t hear much. (“Don’t Ease Me In”, “I Know You Rider”, “Dire Wolf”, “Black Peter”, and “Deep Elem Blues” are some real treasures here.

For the folks only familiar with popular Dead songs, cool versions of “Friend of the Devil” and “Uncle John’s Band” are included in this fine show. This first set is almost flawless – rarely will you hear the Dead this on-target and synchronized.

There is some tuning issues and bantering but i like it raw. But that’s not all, they come back on the second disc with almost 40 minutes of Cryptical Envelopment which starts off with St. Stephen, some Drums and of course, The Other One and finally concludes with Cosmic Charlie.

They follow that little marathon with the most supreme version of Casey Jones that I have ever heard before. On the third and best disc, Pigpen steals the show with his nice blues-version of a James Brown hit, “It’s A Man’s World.” It goes on for almost ten minutes. A really groovy version of “Morning Dew” follows (but I don’t think I have ever heard a bad version of this song)

The spotlight of this disc and the whole show is the glistening “Viola Lee Blues” that rises to not one, not two, but three peaks in an acid rush sense. Then eases down with a rather lengthy version of “We Bid You Goodnight” – most likely because the crowd just won’t let them leave. But after hearing this show, you’ll understand why.

If you even kinda like the Dead, then I totally suggest you hear this live show. I own lots of Dead, but this one gets played more than any of them. It shows them at their absolute most versatile. This is some of the best music you’ll ever dig. But of course it’s only my opinion.

Where Have I Been?

Not at rock concerts, for one thing.

I haven’t been making playlists either.

No worries….I have certainly been playing a lot of music (yesterday and today’s hits)

Been riding my bike more and recently moved about 30 miles away from where we used to live.

Lots of stress went into the move

Much blood, sweat and tears

There was good, bad and ugly

(yes I am using cliches here)

But since the month of May I have been filling my brain with a lot of musical stuff

Listening to podcasts, checking out other people’s musical interests and watching festivals through streaming methods like Apple TV, Youtube and other streaming networks.

I was going to attend Pitchfork Music Festival last month but we moved that exact weekend so I had to give my tickets away to someone else who was fortunate enough to go.

But I did get to watch a decent amount of live performance from that very show which included Chvrches, Wilco and Sleater-Kinney. It was fun to still get to watch it at our new home on the couch only hours after unloading a full 26 foot moving truck on a hot, rainy and humid summer afternoon.

Then a few weeks later we got to stream some of the Lollapalooza shows as well. Metallica, Paul McCartney, Alabama Shakes and TV on the Radio were some highlights.

Oh and did I fail to mention that I watched the last live Grateful Dead Show from Soldier Field on July 5th at our old place in our living room? A room surrounded by moving boxes with a flashing disco ball propped in the corner. With some brewskies, scooby snacks and a couple of friends (including my wife who was a real trooper) It was the “couch tour” kind of summer.

But at least I didnt have to drive anywhere and deal with the construction and traffic jams. The beer was cheap and I can just fall asleep at home.

So anyway, I just wanted to say….hey

Don’t worry. I’ll be back with some killer posts soon. Just gotta take care of some business.

Peace out

C-Note

I’m still here

I’ve been listening to a lot of the Grateful Dead lately.

It’s no surprise since it is their 50th anniversary as a band.

Jerry Garcia left us 20 years ago but the music has carried on.

No I won’t be going to see their “Fare Thee Well Tour” at Soldier Field 4th of July Weekend.

I will attempt to stream one of the shows through pay per view

and have some friends over while knocking back some brewskies.

I’ll write more later because I’m still looking for my “miracle” muse…….

RSD 2015

we did it again standing in line outside in front of the record store waiting to get a ticket to get inside to get a good spot to search through treasures while spinning wax in our brains! Lots of cool stuff, there were too many choices but I chose a few worth talking about. I am posting pictures here and I will say something about them.

  

The above is quite a rare Grateful Dead tribute treasure for all of us kids to jam out to in our playpens!

  

Awesome “side by side” 45 series featuring R.E.M. and Syd Barrett! Purple record containing 2 versions of Dark Globe. 

St Paul & The Broken Bones doing some funky work on Stone’s “Sing a Simple Song” and a stellar version of “Moonage Daydream” by Bowie!!! The record is in the shape of Alabama!!! Unbelievable 12 inch record !! 

  

Lots of fun goodies and overall an exciting time hanging out at my local record store and celebrating the joy of vinyl!!!!