Robin laid an egg?

Jingle Bells, Batman smells.

I don't get it?

Like Pinocchio?

All of the other Reindeer used to laugh and call him names

like, Bill Murry!

Champs like us!

 "Champs like us, baby we were born to Mamdani!"

by Bruce Stringbean and the Lords of Flatbush

Deconstructing Classic Rock, again.

Is it true, what Jim Croce says about the South side of Chicago?

More Deconstructed Classic Rock

I wanna love you 'til the heavens start to rain. And I wanna love you 'til the stars fall on Alabama. 

Touch Me

by Phantom Jim & the Doors of Preception 

Don't Stop Believing

 "Just a small town girl

living in a lonely world.

She took the midnight train to Freebird."

A return to social criticism.

I've concluded, I missed my calling. 

I should be reviewing coffee and deconstructing classic rock songs.

"If there's a bustle in your hedgerow

don't be alarmed son,

your stairway lies in another brick in the wall."

Coffee reviews to follow.

I love you, I love you America.

 Well, well, well children, I'm poking around the ol' Blogger account and this occurred to me. 

This coming Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, all this nonsense should be over. I have a good, positive attitude about the presidential election. It has all just been so tiring and divisive. And honestly, it has really broken my faith in American culture. 

But, hopefully, this coming Wednesday morning it will all be over. At least the mathematical determination of the of the outcome of the election should be over.

I do have some personal philosophical investment in the outcome of the election, as  we all should. I'm afraid that the word philosophical is never considered by many folks participating in this election. But, regardless of how you cast your vote, regardless of where you are in America, regardless of where you are in the world, I love you and wish the best for you and yours. 

@ccreel67

Yeah, I have a Twitter account, @ccreel67. I have had it about two years and usually comment about society, entertainment and beer. Usually, society and beer. 'Cause, Life is Beer and Beer is Life. Look me up on the Twitter if your interested in more of my wise-cracks.

Happy 2017, and all!

Here we are at the beginning of a new year. I feel I can say that, unlike years past, we are on the verge of something new. I will just add that I hope that civilization is not about to repeat the Fall of the Roman Empire. That's my take on our current sociopolitical climate, now on to less meaningful pursuits.

First, I must submit a retraction for my post of May 4, 2016. I mentioned that The Clash had recorded the tune Police and Thieves for their Black Market Clash album. This is incorrect, Police and Thieves appeared on the recording titled The Clash. Good tunes none-the-less.

2nd: I wanna round out this evil list of cover tunes with an even number, like ten. I believe we're up to number eight . . .

1. Richard Thompson covers Britney Spears
2. B-Hole Surfers cover Donovan
3. Camper Van Beethoven cover Black Flag
4. David Bowie covers The Velvet Underground
5. The Clash covers Roots Reggae
6. Sister Double Happiness covers 13th Floor Elevator
7.  Plain Wrap covers Buffalo Springfield

How about another punk rock version for the new year? How about These Boots are Made for Walkin' by Seven Seconds?

Happy New Year to you all and I hope to be typing to you again soon.

D J Danger Chris spins the Non-Hits

Now class, let's review. Why my obsession with Johnson City, Tn? I currently live 56 miles from Johnson City. When I lived in Strawberry Pains, Tn. I was 80 miles from J.C. It is a quaint little place but, as I hope I have mentioned, Jonesborough, Tn. is more quaint. (Home of the International Story Telling Fest. ya know?)

Second: This 25 tunes project was originally conceived as a 100 song list. I opted to try twenty-five tunes and see how it progressed. So far, so good. There will probably be a "25 tunes you haven't heard because you're a Millennial" list. It should contain plenty of music that is older than I am. There may be a personal favorites list and, maybe, a list of tunes from the Grand Theft Auto gaming franchise. 'Cause they license the music for the game soundtracks. The music in the games runs the gambit from great tunes to bizarro to disposable Pop.

Let's finish the first 25 tunes and then I will let you all know what's up next from the Danger D.J.

Twenty-five tunes you've never heard because you were not listening.: #16 The Dream Syndicate -- Tell Me When It's Over

I really could have picked any song by The Dream Syndicate, ever heard of them? If you have, I know who you are. "Tell Me When It's Over" has a great "hook" and lyrics that I find poetic. I almost chose the song "When You Smile," or "Halloween." Just listen to this recording, Live at Raji's, it's one of Dream Syndicate's best. 

Dream Syndicate is the band that introduced me to Jam Bands. This is making an assumption that all Jam Bands are influenced by Neil Young, and I believe they all are. They (Dream Syndicate) predated the term Jam Band. I guess Garage Band or Post Punk would be the best descriptor for Dream Syndicate, they predated Alternative too. The Velvet Underground is always mentioned in articles about Dream Syndicate but how often is Television included in these conversations? 

I did a brief search too see if there's been a Dream Syndicate tribute recording and found this cover of Halloween by some guys called Polar. It's appropriate, the V.U. influence is apparent.  Also looks like Yo La Tengo has covered this one too.

 

Also, "I'm just tryin' to remember, the days of wine and roses."

One through sixteen:

1. The Damned -- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1.5. The Damned -- White Rabbit
2. Junior Kimbrough -- Gotta Try You Girl
3. Paul Simon -- Stranded in a Limousine
4. Booker T & the M.G.s -- Green Onions
5. Lee Scratch Perry -- I am Happiness
6. The Jam -- In the City
7. Brute -- Nine High a Pallet
8. The Doors -- Peace Frog
9. Scientist -- Dance of the Vampires
10. Patti Smith -- Dancing Barefoot
11. Tribe Called Quest -- Left My Wallet in El Segundo
12. Ray Wylie Hubbard -- Snake Farm
13. James McMurtry -- Too Long in the Wasteland
14. The Everybodyfields -- The Only King
15. Old Crow Medicine Show -- Wagon Wheel
16. The Dream Syndicate -- Tell Me When It's Over

Twenty-five tunes you've never heard because you were not listening.: #15 Old Crow Medicine Show -- Wagon Wheel

 Yeah, yeah, yeah, everyone has heard this song. It certainly fits my East Tennessee, Johnson City theme. I actually didn't know the name of the tune, I just remembered a song that mentioned Johnson City. I also didn't know this tune had been recorded my Darius Rucker. I found this article with all the, seeming, relevant information from the Nashville Scene. The comments below the article are entertaining. Anyone who doesn't understand how a wagon wheel will rock you has no concept of per-industrial transportation. 

 

The geography is all messed up in this song. I don't know why you'd go through the Cumberland Gap too get to Raleigh? But, I have never hitchhiked from the East Coast and I'm not a song writer. Regardless, like The Only King, this song's nut just about the Deep South, it's about all of us.

One through Fifteen:

1. The Damned -- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1.5. The Damned -- White Rabbit
2. Junior Kimbrough -- Gotta Try You Girl
3. Paul Simon -- Stranded in a Limousine
4. Booker T & the M.G.s -- Green Onions
5. Lee Scratch Perry -- I am Happiness
6. The Jam -- In the City
7. Brute -- Nine High a Pallet
8. The Doors -- Peace Frog
9. Scientist -- Dance of the Vampires
10. Patti Smith -- Dancing Barefoot
11. Tribe Called Quest -- Left My Wallet in El Segundo
12. Ray Wylie Hubbard -- Snake Farm
13. James McMurtry -- Too Long in the Wasteland
14. The Everybodyfields -- The Only King
15. Old Crow Medicine Show -- Wagon Wheel 

Twenty-five tunes you've never heard because you were not listening.: #14 The Everybodyfields -- The Only King

This one is by a little band from Johnson City, Tn. They grew up and moved to Knoxville, and broke the band up. They have their respective music projects over in Knox County now, as far as I know. As I've said, again and again, doesn't get much more Americana than this.

Yeah, it's a song about Elvis, which, I believe, makes it a song about Tennessee. The combo of the steel guitar and Jill Andrews voice really invoke the High Lonesome Sound for me.

The top 14!

1. The Damned -- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1.5. The Damned -- White Rabbit
2. Junior Kimbrough -- Gotta Try You Girl
3. Paul Simon -- Stranded in a Limousine
4. Booker T & the M.G.s -- Green Onions
5. Lee Scratch Perry -- I am Happiness
6. The Jam -- In the City
7. Brute -- Nine High a Pallet
8. The Doors -- Peace Frog
9. Scientist -- Dance of the Vampires
10. Patti Smith -- Dancing Barefoot
11. Tribe Called Quest -- Left My Wallet in El Segundo
12. Ray Wylie Hubbard -- Snake Farm
13. James McMurtry -- Too Long in the Wasteland
14. The Everybodyfields -- The Only King

Twenty-five tunes you've never heard because you were not listening.: #13 James McMurtry -- Too Long in the Wasteland

Too long in the wasteland, that's what ya get after snakes and frogs. As you can see, this video is six, or seven, years old. I wonder if he still plays at the Continental Club in Austin? I'd love too see that.

Hopefully I can sustain Americana Week on the ol' list.

The top 13!

1. The Damned -- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1.5. The Damned -- White Rabbit
2. Junior Kimbrough -- Gotta Try You Girl
3. Paul Simon -- Stranded in a Limousine
4. Booker T & the M.G.s -- Green Onions
5. Lee Scratch Perry -- I am Happiness
6. The Jam -- In the City
7. Brute -- Nine High a Pallet
8. The Doors -- Peace Frog
9. Scientist -- Dance of the Vampires
10. Patti Smith -- Dancing Barefoot
11. Tribe Called Quest -- Left My Wallet in El Segundo
12. Ray Wylie Hubbard -- Snake Farm
13. James McMurtry -- Too Long in the Wasteland

Twenty-five tunes you've never heard because you were not listening.: #12 Ray Wylie Hubbard -- Snake Farm

As a certain set of English blokes have been known to say, "now for something completely different!" Actually, it's not completely different, I noticed that the guitar style for Snake Farm is very similar to Junior Kimbrough.  I would hear this tune on WDVX when I lived in Knoxville, Tn. I imagine that WNCW here in Western North Carolina has played it a few times as well. It's a big ol' Americana reptile party up in here. (Peace Frog, Snake Farm) What could be next?

The top 12!

1. The Damned -- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1.5. The Damned -- White Rabbit
2. Junior Kimbrough -- Gotta Try You Girl
3. Paul Simon -- Stranded in a Limousine
4. Booker T & the M.G.s -- Green Onions
5. Lee Scratch Perry -- I am Happiness
6. The Jam -- In the City
7. Brute -- Nine High a Pallet
8. The Doors -- Peace Frog
9. Scientist -- Dance of the Vampires
10. Patti Smith -- Dancing Barefoot
11. Tribe Called Quest -- Left My Wallet in El Segundo
12. Ray Wylie Hubbard -- Snake Farm

Twenty-five tunes you've never heard because you were not listening.: #11 A Tribe Called Quest --

Here is something a bit different from the Wayback Machine. A Tribe Called Quest with a little tune that should have been in the Grand Theft Auto San Andreas soundtrack. I'm pretty sure the car in this video was featured in GTA S.A. as the Clover.

Yeah, Hip Hop, I don't know much about it. This is just a happy little tune to help put some peep in our step for the day. I'll plan to feature some Americana next week.

The list so far:

1. The Damned -- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1.5. The Damned -- White Rabbit
2. Junior Kimbrough -- Gotta Try You Girl
3. Paul Simon -- Stranded in a Limousine
4. Booker T & the M.G.s -- Green Onions
5. Lee Scratch Perry -- I am Happiness
6. The Jam -- In the City
7. Brute -- Nine High a Pallet
8. The Doors -- Peace Frog
9. Scientist -- Dance of the Vampires
10. Patti Smith -- Dancing Barefoot
11. Tribe Called Quest -- Left My Wallet in El Segundo

Twenty-five tunes you've never heard because you were not listening.: #10 Patti Smith -- Dancing Barefoot

I bet ya haven't heard this one! Well, I bet a certain percent of you all haven't heard it. Did ya think that "Because the Night" was the only song Patti Smith ever wrote? Or, did ya think Natalie Merchant wrote "Because the Night?"

A couple of things occur based on this video. First, Patti Smith was much bigger in Europe than she ever was in the U.S. Second, I'm pretty sure that the Dream Syndicate borrowed this bass guitar line for John Coltrane Stereo Blues. Now I gotta post some Dream Syndicate, but that was inevitable.

The top 10, more or less:

1. The Damned -- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1.5. The Damned -- White Rabbit
2. Junior Kimbrough -- Gotta Try You Girl
3. Paul Simon -- Stranded in a Limousine
4. Booker T & the M.G.s -- Green Onions
5. Lee Scratch Perry -- I am Happiness
6. The Jam -- In the City
7. Brute -- Nine High a Pallet
8. The Doors -- Peace Frog
9. Scientist -- Dance of the Vampires
10. Patti Smith -- Dancing Barefoot

Twenty-five tunes you've never heard because you were not listening.: #9 Scientist -- Dance of the Vampires

Some of you have heard this one. Honestly, I'd be very happy if you have all heard it or heard of Scientist. I love Dub, as this and forthcoming lists will illustrate, and Scientist, like Lee Scratch Perry, is a must have addition to the Dub universe.

Hum, hum, hum, What to list for number ten?

The list so far:

1. The Damned -- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1.5. The Damned -- White Rabbit
2. Junior Kimbrough -- Gotta Try You Girl
3. Paul Simon -- Stranded in a Limousine
4. Booker T & the M.G.s -- Green Onions
5. Lee Scratch Perry -- I am Happiness
6. The Jam -- In the City
7. Brute -- Nine High a Pallet
8. The Doors -- Peace Frog
9. Scientist -- Dance of the Vampires

Twenty-five tunes you've never heard because you were not listening.: #8 The Doors -- Peace Frog

Back into more familiar territory, again, this is a personal favorite and certainly not one of the more popular Doors' tunes. Peace Frog captures all the chaos of the "Summer of Love," Kent State, Altamont, the Kennedy and King assassinations and, ultimately, the disappearance of Jim Morrison. So, Peace Frog to ya all.

The list so far:

1. The Damned -- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
1.5. The Damned -- White Rabbit
2. Junior Kimbrough -- Gotta Try You Girl
3. Paul Simon -- Stranded in a Limousine
4. Booker T & the M.G.s -- Green Onions
5. Lee Scratch Perry -- I am Happiness
6. The Jam -- In the City
7. Brute -- Nine High a Pallet
8.  The Doors -- Peace Frog