"Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez!"

King Cake photo from Gumbo Pages. Now that's my idea of a King Cake!

It's here! It's Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday! I can remember one song, an oldie, called Go to the Mardi Gras. Professor Longhair did it. If you've been to Mardi Gras, you've heard this song. Trust me, have it's the one with all the whistling. I though we'd take a look and see if any of our classic rock friends have done Mardi Gras songs and this is what I found.

The first that came to mind was actually a CD by Creedence Clearwater Revival, appropriately named "Mardi Gras", released in 2004. I love CCR. Some of my best teen memories have CCR doing the soundtrack. Rolling Stone called this album "Fogarties Revenge." If you remember there was a time when John Fogarty was accused of trying to hog the whole shebang himself and that the others were mere back ups. Listen to this album, and you'll hear some great stuff and some really horrid stuff. Turns out Fogarty really is the main talent. Uh, it's not really a great album, but it doesn't totally suck either. (Although I dare you not to laugh during "Hello Mary Lou". )

Actually, aside from the title, it has nothing to do with Mardi Gras. And in searching around, Jon Landau (Rolling Stone music critic) says "It's the worst album I have ever heard from a major rock band. " I hate to admit, but he's right.

Ok, let's see if I can find some real music for you...um...you know there's not a lot of classic rock bands that have ever done Mardi Gras songs. Their loss! So here's some Mardi Gras treats from different genres for you to find and check out. (And if you know of any classic rock bands who have done Mardi Gras, songs, please! Let me know!) Mardi Gras music is in a class of it's own, and it's one you can have a lot of fun getting to know.

Of course, practically any Neville Brothers CD or album is a good starting place!

Fats Domino, who's a longtime favorite of mine, is another artist to check out. Remember Walking to New Orleans?

Now here's one of my favorite female blues singers, Marva Wright, there is Marva Right, Blues Queen. Don't think you are going to sit down and listen to this. No way Jose! I guarantee you are going to get up and dance. Her voice reaches down to your gut and just pulls you out of your seat. It may be physically impossible to just sit still during this CD. I've tried, and failed. You can get her CD at the Mardi Gras Outlet. They also have so much more there, from costumes to throws, and they have some St. Patrick's Day stuff as well. And if you like throw beads, they have some really cool ones here. (And no, they didn't pay me for the ad -- I'm a frequent visitor to there site for my music needs.)

Keep an eye out for The Wild Magnolias. Their 1970 song New Suit is a Mardi Gras classic. It's also opened a whole new genre to folk music: Mardi Gras/New Orleans. If you want to hear "New Suit" go here.

The String Cheese Incident (a jam movement bands) did two day concert at Boise Idaho's Rose Tree Ballroom in 2004 with some great Mardi Gras type songs in the second half (Right Place, Wrong Time and Shakin' the Trees). Here's one link where you can download it - the Live Music Archives. (Which is site worth checking out. There are some gems there, and not just music ones.)

Also, Joan Baez recorded Manha de Carnaval on her CD Joan Baez in Concert. It is a must listen! OK, I'm terribly biased here, Baez could sing Itsy Bitsy Spider and I'd love it. But seriously, Manha de Carnaval is worth adding to your Marde Gras playlist.

Another of my musical passions is the group Beausoleil. La Chanson de Mardi , which can be found on Live from the Left Coast, is tres jolie, ma bebe! My favorite summer Sunday mornings are spent going to church at 8:00, coming home to my husband's garbage scramble (eggs, hash browns, peppers, onions, and whatever leftover vegies or meat we have all dumped in the wok and scrambled and served with copious amounts of the hot sauce du jour, and served with a tall glass of sweet Long Island ice tea) and listing to Beasoleil and Frank Sinatra. Not for everybody, but it's my idea of heaven.

Joe Turner also has song on his Tell Me Pretty Baby CD called Mardi Gras. It'll make you a Joe Turner convert!

So much for the music. It's time to talk about Mardi Gras food. There's so much, but I'm going to concentrate the one food that you can't have a Mardi Gras without: the King Cake, which is really more of a frosted brioche. You can find many recipes out on the web, but I thought I'd share my grandmother's recipe. She didn't make it very often, but when she was the chef at a south Florida hotel she made it every year. Oh, it's so yummy! It's also not quite traditional.

I've added additional instructions in because all have is the ingredient list. It worked the one time I made it, and I hope if you try it it'll work for you!

Esther's King Cake:

1/2 cup lukewarm water, 110 to 115 degrees
2 packages dry yeast
Proof the yeast in a bowl. (pour the yeast over the warm water with a pinch of sugar. Yeast who are ready to party. Actually you should check the manufactures directions since some don't use sugar.)


4 1/2 to 5 1/2 cups sifted flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg (I like fresh grated, but she used commercial)
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1/2 teason grated lime rind
1/2 cup lukewarm milk
3 eggs
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons butter, softened, no margarine, creamed
1 egg, lightly beaten with 1 tablespoon milk
1 bean or small plastic baby doll.

Put the yeast in the warm water and let it develop.

Sift flour, sugar, nutmeg and salt in mixing bowl. Stir in lemon and lime peel.

Punch a hole down in the center and then pour in the yeast mixture and milk.

All all your eggs and slowly, stirring with a large wooden spoon until the ingredients are mixed together well. Then add the butter put everything in a heavy duty KitchenAid mixer, or similar. By this point the mix is too difficult to mix by hand and you really need help. Trust me.

Once the mixture forms a ball, put it on a floured board and knead it like you are making bread. You might have to add a bit more flour, but only do it a little bit at a time.

When the ball becomes smooth and elastic, put it in a large buttered bowl. Roll the ball around so it gets entirely covered with butter. Cover bowl and set aside until it is doubled in bulk. (It takes about 1 to 1 1/2 hours more or less depending on the humidity and temperature.

When it has risen, put some flour down on the counter, transfer the dough to the counter and punch it down again. Knead and roll out into a log about 14 inches long. Place it on a greased backing sheet and form a ring. Take the bean or the doll and press it into the dough from underneath so they are well hidden. I prefer the doll because there is less chance someone will swallow it.

Bake in middle of preheated oven at 375 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer cake to wire rack to completely cool.

The icing (my favorite part)

Make sure you have the colored sugars - green, purple and yellow. If you have a cup of each you can't go wrong. It stores well if you don't use it all.

For the icing, mix the confectioners sugar, lemon juice and 3 tablespoons of water in a deep bowl and stir until all the ingredients are smooth. It may get stiff, but you can add in 1 teaspoon of water (sometimes my grandmother used mint or peach schnapps or for this) at a time, until desired you have a consistency that will spread well and just drip down the sides.

With a French spatula, spread the icing over the top of the cake. Let it run down the sides; if it doesn't your icing is still too thick. Then, sprinkle the sugars on in rows, alternating purple-yellow-green. If make each row about two inches wide you should end up with a continuous circle of colors.

Now this is where my grandmother's recipe differs. Most call for two candied cherries at either end, pressed into the dough. She hated candied cherries, so she would put chocolate covered cherries or cordials on the green sugared areas.

When you serve the cake, whoever gets the doll gets to make the King Cake next year. I think this was rigged around our house. Nany always got doll. Which considering the cooking skills of some of her friends was a good thing!

Pam's Sweet Long Island Iced Tea

Ingredients:
1/2 oz Vodka
1/2 oz Tequila
1/2 oz Spiced rum
1/2 oz Gin
1 dash simple syrup
1 dash your favorite Cola
Twist of lime

Mixing instructions:
Mix all contents in a highball glass and stir gently. Add dash of cola to
color it and garnish with lemon or lime twist. Some like lemon, I like lime.


How to make simple syrup. This is easy to do, and it keeps for a very long time.
Mix two parts water to one part sugar and boil until the sugar dissolves. You don't need to do any stirring. This is great for bevvies. And you can add extracts to flavor or use juices to make a flavored simple syrup. Have fun experimenting.

"Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez!"

You can't keep a good city down: Mardi Gras Festivities

There's still time to go to New Orleans for Mardi Gras on February 28th. The economy there can sure use the infusion of tourist money considering the devastion. If you go, have fun and consider taking one of the devastation tours, taking tons of pix and be a pest reminding people that the area is still decimated and thousands and thousands are homeless and jobless. Katrina charities still need your help.

Here's some links you might find useful if you are considering going:

Nola.com Mardi Gras parade schedule (lot of other info too)
Mardi Gras Links, with stuff for kids
Mardi Gras Krewe links
New Orleans Travel and Convention Bureau
Cafe Dumond, the historic place for beignets and coffee with chicory. The Decatur Street shop is open.
Cafe Beignet, from what I'm told is the best place for beignets and coffee and chicory, daquiris and fried catfish po'boys. They also have vegetarian offerings and music.

Maude Maggart - Cabaret Singer

Yes, you read right...cabaret singer. I love classic rock and blues and folk, but I also love Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, and God, how I love, Cole Porter! Anyway, on NPR's Morning Edition this very minute, they are doing a spot on Maude Maggart, who I have not heard of until today. She has found her voice, and it lives in the past. She looks for lyrics the original songsters had maybe not included, songs that they had never published. Click here to learn more about her, as well as listen to a duet with her sister, Fiona Apple. Maude is currently appearing at the Algonquin Hotel's Oak Room.

Listening to Maude is like stepping into the past. Her voice is just heavenly!

It's things like this that are the reason I support (and, yes, join!) my local public radio stations.

Pink Floyd

I had to let you know I am listening to Pink Floyd's Echoes. Right now The Fletcher Memorial Home is playing.

Everyone needs a comfort album and this is mine. I'm not sure the earphone on full blast are a good idea but sometimes you need to be jolted to the soul by PF. Also, Robert Johnson is another good one.

Happy Valentine's Day! (a day late and a chocolate short)

The Grammys v.2.0

Let's see, we left off at 31 so on with the show!

Category 32 - Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group: Don't Phunk With My Heart, The Black Eyed Peas (Yes, I'm almost 50 and I like the Black Eyed Peas. So there)

Category 33 - Best Rap/Sung Collaboration; Numb/Encore, Jay-Z Featuring Linkin Park (I was torn between this and They Say, so I'm glad someone made my mind up for me.)

Category 34 - Best Rap Song; Diamonds From Sierra Leone, D. Harris & Kanye West (There's Kanye again!)

Category 35 - Best Rap Album: Late Registration, Kanye West (And again!) Now we get into country - not my favorite area, but there are some singers I love.

Category 36 - Best Female Country Vocal Performance; The Connection, Emmylou Harris (and Emmylou Harris is at the top of that list!)

Category 37 - Best Male Country Vocal Performance: You'll Think Of Me, Keith Urban (He is such a cutie, but I was rooting for George Jones)

Category 38 - Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal: Restless, Alison Krauss And Union Station (Allison Krauss also ranks high on my list.)

Category 39 - Best Country Collaboration With Vocals: Like We Never Loved At All, Faith Hill & Tim McGraw (oh well..it should have been Dreams Come True, Willie Nelson & Norah Jones - I hope the work together again.)

Category 40 - Best Country Instrumental Performance: Unionhouse Branch, Alison Krauss And Union Station (Hooray!)

Category 41 - Best Country Song: Bless The Broken Road, Bobby Boyd, Jeff Hanna & Marcus Hummon, songwriters (Rascal Flatts) (Love it!)

Category 42 - Best Country Album: Lonely Runs Both Ways. Alison Krauss And Union Station(Good choice!)

Bluegrass, now. And it's another passion of mine.

Category 43 - Best Bluegrass Album: The Company We Keep, The Del McCoury Band (Yes, yes, yes!)

Yes, I listen to New Age. Because having a martini at 11 am is a little too Dorothy Parkerish.

Category 44 - Best New Age Album: Silver Solstice, Paul Winter Consort
My husband is the Jazz person in the family, I just breath in secondhand cool.

And now for something completely different - Jazz.

Category 45 - Best Contemporary Jazz Album: The Way Up. Pat Metheny Group (I was hoping Soulgrass would get it.)

Category 46 - Best Jazz Vocal Album: Good Night, And Good Luck. Dianne Reeves (And if you haven't seen the movie - go see it.)

Category 47 - Best Jazz Instrumental Solo: Why Was I Born?, Sonny Rollins, soloist (This was from the 9/11 concert - I'm really happy with this one.)

Category 48 - Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group: Beyond The Sound BarrierWayne Shorter Quartet (I didn't hear any of these.)

Category 49 - Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album: Overtimem Dave Holland Big Band (Didn't hear these either)

Category 50 - Best Latin Jazz Albumz; Listen Here! Eddie Palmieri (Latin jazz is another favorite as is Palmieri)

Gospel Brunch Time!

Category 51 - Best Gospel Performance: Pray, CeCe Winans (Amen, Sister!)

Category 52 - Best Gospel Song: Be Blessed, Yolanda Adams, James Harris III, Terry Lewis & James Q. Wright, songwriters (I didn't hear any of these.)

Category 53 - Best Rock Gospel Album: Until My Heart Caves I, Audio Adrenaline (This is the only song in this category I've actually heard)

Category 54 - Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: Lifesong. Casting Crowns(Heard none of these)

Category 55 - Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album: Rock Of Ages...Hymns & Faith, Amy Grant (I really wanted Southern Meets Soul to win)

Category 56 - Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album: Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual SongsDonnie McClurkin (Didn't hear any of these either)

Category 57 - Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album: Purified, CeCe Winans

Category 58 - Best Gospel Choir Or Chorus Album: One Voice, Gladys Knight, choir director; Saints Unified Voices (It's Gladys Knight - of course she won! Nobody else even came close!)

And now we're in one of my favorite areas Latin Pop!

Category 59 - Best Latin Pop Album: Escucha, Laura Pausini (My choice!)

Category 60 - Best Latin Rock/Alternative Album: Fijación Oral Vol. 1, Shakira My choice again!)

Category 61 - Best Traditional Tropical Latin Album: Bebo De Cuba, Bebo Valdés (Man, I should have placed some bets in the Latin category!)

Category 62 - Best Salsa/Merengue Album: Son Del Alma, Willy Chirino (Well, I would have lost on this one, my choice was Arroz Con Mango,Tiempo Libre

Category 63 - Best Mexican/Mexican-American Album" México En La Piel, Luis Miguel (It was between this and Las 3 Divas)

Category 64 - Best Tejano Albums: Chicanisimo. Little Joe Y La Familia (I only heard a couple tracks, but yo lo mucho)

And now Blues, the second great musical love of my life next to classic rock!

Category 65 - Best Traditional Blues Album: 80. B.B. King & Friends(My choice, although About Them Shoes was a close second)

Category 66 - Best Contemporary Blues Album: Cost Of Living, Delbert McClinton (My choice)

And now Folk

Category 67 - Best Traditional Folk Album: Fiddler's Green, Tim O'Brien (I know a lot of Chieftain fans are disappointed, but this deserves it!)

Category 68 - Best Contemporary Folk Album: Fair & Square, John Prine (My choice)

Category 69 - Best Native American Music Album: Sacred Ground - A Tribute To Mother Earth, Various Artists (You should listen to this album. It's good)

I like Hawaiian Music. Really! Especially on a Saturday morning while my Kona is brewing.

Category 70 - Best Hawaiian Music Album, Masters Of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar - Vol. 1, Various Artists (If you aren't familiar with Hawaiianiin music, I'd recommend this as an introduction. The Go on to Sonny Lin, Raiatea Helm, Ho'okena, Eddie Kamae & Sons of Hawai'i and especially the Ka'ala Boys. Mountain Apple Company has the best selection Hawaiian music around.

And now to Reggae. Believe it or not it was my grandmother who turned me on to reggae back in the sixties. She loved the rhythm.

Category 71 - Best Reggae Album, Welcome To Jamrock. Damian Marley (No surprise there!)

There's only two more categories I'm going to cover - if you want to know about polka, children's, classical, opera and spoken word, you'll have to go to the Grammy.com site. I'm just getting bored. Enuf is enuf!

Category 72 - Best Traditional World Music Album: In The Heart Of The Moon: Ali Farka Touré & Toumani Diabaté (very good!)

Category 73 - Best Contemporary World Music Album: Eletracústico, Gilberto Gil (This one I really disagree with. I think the Grammy should have gone to No Boundaries, Ladysmith Black Mambazo & The Strings Of The English Chamber Orchestra. It's avery creative melding of cultures.)

Oh, what the hell - Let's Polka! Category 74 - Best Polka Album: Shake, Rattle And Polka!, Jimmy Sturr And His Orchestra

I wasn't going to do this either, but it is my pleasure ladies, gents, and gumbys everywhere to announce the Best Musical Show Album: Monty Python's Spamalot. (Huzzah!)

The Grammys!

Two things I realized when I was watching the Grammy's: one: 92 Catagories? that's a lot of music; and two, why is it award shows go on forever when all I really wanted to see was Paul McCartney. Oh well.

Here's the winners, so far and any snarky comments I may have.

Catagory 1 - Record of the Year: Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Green Day (I thought it would be a toss up between Green Day and Kanye West, with coin slightly rolling in favor of Green Day. Kanye's Day will come.

Catagory 2 - Album of the Year: How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. (Well, come on, you really didn't think the others had a chance did you?)

Catagory 3 - Song of the Year: Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own (from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb) I love U2....

Catagory 4 - Best New Artist: John Legend (Pretend to be surprised at least! We all new he'd win. but thanking DEVO?)

Catagory 5 - Best Female Pop Vocal Performance: Since U Been Gone, Kelly Clarkson. (NOOOOOOO! Bonnie Raitt was robbed!)

Catagory 6 - Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: From the Bottom of My Heart, Stevie Wonder (The man still rules!)

Catagory 7 - Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal: This Love, Maroon Five. (Hmmm. I'd have gone with Don't Lie, The Black Eyed Peas)

Category 8 - Best Pop Collaborations with Vocals: Feel Good Inc., Gorillaz Featuring De Le Soul. (Ah, come on...A Time to Love, Stevie Wonder Featuring India.Arie should have won.

Category 9 - Best Pop Instrumental Performance: Caravan, Les Paul (Alright! Les Paul is still a treasure)

Category 10 - Best Pop Instrumental Album: At this Time, Burt Bacharach. (The influence this man has on music is astounding, and he deserves this!)

Catagory 11 - - Best Pop Vocal Album: Breakaway, Kelly Clarkson (Gimme Sheryl Crow or Fiona Appple any day.)

Category 12 - Best Dance Recording: Galvanize, The Chemical Brothers Featuring Q-TipThe Chemical Brothers, producers; The Chemical Brothers & Steve Dub, mixers (I'm not a club person, so I'll take their word for it.)

Category 13 - Best Electronic/Dance Album Push The ButtonThe Chemical Brothers (Ditto)

Category 14 - Best Tradition Pop Vocal Album: The Art of Romance, Tony Bennett. (I love all the albums nominated but I have a fondness for Tony Bennett - and it really is a great album)

Category 14 - Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance: Devils & Dust, Bruce Springsteen (I will grudingly grant him this one - I was hoping for Neil Young myself)

Category 16 - Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal: Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, U2 (Drinks all around, our lads are rockin!)

Category 17 - Best Hard Rock Performance: B.Y.O.B., System Of A Down (You've got to kidding! It should have gone to The Hand That Feeds, Nine Inch Nails)

Category 18 - Best Metal Performance: Before I Forget, Slipknot (I didn't follow this category closelly, so you tell me - good choice?)

Category 19 - Best Rock Instrumental Performance: 69 Freedom Special, Les Paul & Friends (Whoo hoo!)

Category 20 - Best Rock Song: City Of Blinding Lights. U2, songwriters (U2) (It's Happy Dance Time!)

Category 21 - Best Rock Album: How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, U2 (I'm still dancing, but I really thought the Stones would pull it off.)


Category 22 - Best Alternative Music Album" Get Behind Me Satan The White Stripes (I love
the White Stripes - they are so not like everybody else!)

Category 23 - Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. We Belong Together, Mariah Carey(As much I like Alicia Keyes, I think Mariah deserves this!)

Category 24 - Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: Ordinary People, John Legend (As far as I
was concerned there was no competition.)

Category 25 - Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals: So Amazing, Beyoncé &
Stevie Wonder (Can't argue with this one!)

Category 26 - Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: A House Is Not A Home, Aretha
Franklin (All is right with the world)

Category 27 - Best Urban/Alternative Performance: Welcome To Jamrock. Damian Marley

Category 28 - Best R&B Song; We Belong Together. J. Austin, M. Carey, J. Dupri & M. Seal, songwriters; (D. Bristol, K. Edmonds, S. Johnson, P. Moten, S. Sully & B. Womack, songwriters) (Mariah Carey)Track from: The Emancipation Of Mimi (Go, Mimi, Go!)

Category 29 - Best R&B Album: Get Lifted. John Legend (Yes, he is going to be a force.)

Category 30 - Best Contemporary R&B Album: The Emancipation Of Mimi. Mariah Carey (I
think this was really the only serious contender.

Now we get into the Rap area, and sometimes Rap appeals to me, sometimes it doesn't.

Category 31 - Best Rap Solo Performance: Gold Digger. Kanye West (and this really appeals to
me. Kanye West is going to be another big force in the business)

Category 32 - Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group: Don't Phunk With My Heart, The
Black Eyed Peas (Yes, I'm almost 50 and I like the Black Eyed Peas.

Well folks, it's late and I have a ton of stuff to mail tomorrow (eBay was good this week) so I'll post the rest tomorrow, as well as clean up this entry; I haven't even spell checked it.

Sweet Dreams!

Celtic Rock

Tohickon Creek, Bucks County PA © 2006 Pamela Heath
Feel free to use the image as long as you properly credit it!

Lately I've been listening to a lot of Celtic rock. A favorite is Brother; I think they may have been influenced a little by Pink Floyd but I don't know much about them. If you listen to How Do You Feel, on their Urban Cave album you'll see what I mean.
If you say "Celtic Rock" to people they'll say U2, Sinead O'Connor, Enya and maybe Black 47. Enya? Oh, well. She's Irish, she sings...but Celtic rock has got a tremendous amount of variety and influencs and it's much more than U2. Check out Celtic Grove and some of the other Celtic rock sites, and learn some more about this genre.

Some of my favorite artists are U2 (of course), Elvis Costello, Big Black Cadillac and Brother. The Mahones and the Saw Doctors are also good.

So go on, check out some rock from the Emerald Isle and expand your horizons.

In keeping with today's Celtic theme, your drink of the day is the Tipperary:

1 oz. Irish whiskey (I prefer Tullamore Dew aka Tully)
1 oz. green Chartreuse (a French liqueur)
1 oz. sweet vermouth (don't buy the cheapie stuff - get the good stuff)
Fill mixing glass with crushed ice.
Add whiskey, Chartreuse and sweet vermouth. Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Slainte!

P.S. On Thursday, we visit Scandinavia.

Record Store Wanderings

Aside from classic rock, I love blues, so when I noticed Dion's Bronx in Blue CD I couldn't help but take a peek at the track list. Number one was Walkin' Blues, originally done by Robert Johnson, who is my favorite all-time blues artist. He also is being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I've always thought someone should do a movie about Robert Johnson; he may have been on earth just a short time, but he made an impression that will last forever.

Bronx in Blue has several Robert Johnson songs, plus Jimmie Rogers, Hattie Hart, Bo Diddley, Lightnin' Hopkins, Howlin' Wolf, Hank Williams, Jimmie Reed and Blind Willie McTell. If you don't know who those people are, you owe it to yourself to check them out. Oh, and Dion. Dion DiMucci. Yes, that's the same Dion from Dion and the Belmonts who sang Runaround Sue and The Wanderer. If you aren't familiar with him, and some of you younger folk might not be, his influence of the music you and I listen to today is enormous. Click here to go to his website.

Crosby, Stills & Nash have two expanded CD's out. Crosby Stills & Nash and Daylight Again have been remastered and reissued. I don't have CSN yet, but Daylight Again is fantastic! Daylight Again has Southern Cross on it, so that tipped the scales of my wallet. It was kind of hard to choose between the two, but in the end, Southern Cross won out over Marrakesh Express. It's the song I listen to when I need to really chill out.

Los Lobos has a new DVD out that's on my list of gotta haves. It's Los Lobos - Live at the Fillmore. Plus there's a new CD, Wolf Tracks: The Best of Los Lobos that is coming out on Valentine's Day, so that's going to be my present to myself!

Also coming out on that day are three (count'em 3) Talking Head classics: Speaking in Tongues, Little Creatures and True Stories. All dual disk! I can hardly wait to hear them; I think my cassettes are about shot by now!

I have to admit I'm was a little late to hop on the technology train. Mostly because other things kept coming up, like work, and I really didn't have the time to sit back and relax and enjoy the music. One day I decided "what's up with that?" and went out and got a CD player. Now I can't live without it. If I remember right, the first CDs I bought were Meat Loaf's Bat out of Hell and Midnight at the Lost and Found, Queen's Live at Wembley Stadium and Greatest Hits (1 & 2), and one by Frank Sinatra CD; I don't remember which one.

Journey's "Generations"

This is much better than their last effort, Arrival, which, although I do like ballads, seemed to OD on them. The new CD is much more to my liking. More rock, less ballads.

Everybody gets a chance at lead vocals on this which is really nice - especially Steve Augeri. Probably my favorite track is "Out of Harm's Way", with Neal Schon's vocals. The song should resonate with certain Americans who (like me) who aren't too fond of the Iraqi situation. Schon is downright impressive.

If you like your rock blue tinged like me, you'll like "Gone Crazy". A bit of a caveat here: Ross Valory's voice is a bit quirky. I've always been a fan of quirky voices, so I like it, and the guitar playing by Schon is fantastic.

Definitely worth picking up!

I working on a rating system, just because people seem to like that sort of thing. I'm sure it'll be kind of quirky.

Yesh: that is my word of the day: quirky.

JOURNEY Generations is released by Frontiers/Sanctuary Records Group

Why I wish I could go to England in March

Two words; no make that three: Jethro Tull's AQUALUNG LIVE TOUR! Wait, that's five. OK, I need more coffee. And maybe some bangers and mash. Yum.

My Ten Favorite Christmas Songs

I've told you my least favorite Christmas songs, so here are my favorites.

10: Go Tell it on the Mountain, Mahalia Jackson
9: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Frank Sinatra
8: Baby, It's Cold Outside, Ray Charles
7: Cherry Tree, Emmylou Harris
6: Go Tell it on the Mountain, Blind Boys of Alabama
5: Greensleves, Deborah Conant
4: Twelve Days of Christmas, the Muppets (Miss Piggy rocks!)
3: Blue Christmas, Chris Isaak
2: White Christmas, Bing Crosby

and my number one favorite of all time:

1: When was Jesus Born, Blind Boys of Alabama

Merry Christmas everybody!

Holy Vinyl Batman, It's Almost Christmas!

I haven't been posting, because I'm under the weather, but I couldn't let this festive season go by without posting what I consider to be the TEN MOST ANNOYING CHRISTMAS SONGS EVER!!!!!!!!!!!

10: Jingle Bell Boogie, by the Jingle Dogs. (Arrrghfbarf)

9: The entire Christmas with the Brady Bunch album. (So bad, it's hard to pick the worst song.)

8: The entire Meowy Christmas album. (See comment for number 9)

7: Oh Holy Night, by Cartman (South Park) Now if Chef would have sung it, it'd have been good.

6: Oh Holy Night, Celine Dion (Some people love this - I don't. I like Celine, believe it or not.)

5: Jingle Bells, by Barbra Streisand (I like Barbra, too, just not doing Jingle Bells)

4: The entire Star Wars Christmas Album. (What the hell were they on when they made this?)

3: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, by Kathy Lee Gifford (You need a reason?)

2: The burped version of Silent Night. I don't know who did it, maybe Dr. Demento does.

and finally, the WORST EVER CHRISTMAS SONG:

1: The Christmas Shoes, by New Song. If you've never heard a Christmas song that will make you want to toss yourself under Santa's sleigh and have all his reindeer trample you to death, you haven't heard this one. What were they thinking????? Scary, scary, scary. And from a Christian band no less.

Imagine

I cannot believe it's been 25 years since John Lennon was died. (For whatever reason, on the first draft I said shot. I guess I still have to come to terms that he is indeed dead, because he still feels so alive to me.) That realization got me thinking of how little I have progressed in my own life. I won't bore you with details because the last thing you need to read are the rantings of a bipolar middle-aged woman.

However, John still gives me hope. And I still miss him.

I remember exactly where I was, what I was doing when I heard the news that he had died. I was sitting on the edge of my bed, having just got home from my night course at college. I had heard John had been shot while on was on the bus. When I got home, I turned on the radio and the DJ said John had been shot in front of the Dakota, and they the station would keep updating us as then news came on. Then they started playing "When I'm 64". Midway through the song, there was dead air for about 10 seconds and "Imagine" started playing. The DJ didn't have to say that John had died.

The next day at school someone had organized a memorial at the flag pole. At noon we all gathered. Nobody really knew what to do or who was in charge. Then someone started to sing "Imagine". Soon everyone was singing, and when "Imagine" ended, someone else started singing "I want to hold your hand". So around the flagpole were about 75 people, all crying and singing off tune.

And then life went on.

John lived his life as he wanted to, and that is what we should all so, if only we had the courage.

Bagism lives on.

I'm not posting as much as usual

because the lupus has flared up. My doctors are of the belief that I'd do much better in a warm dry climate. So, my husband, the resident computer geek, project manager, etc will be starting his job search blog. We are going to concentrate on Arizona, New Mexico, West Texas, Southern California (San Diego area) and Nevada. I'll post the link when it's up. If you know of anything for Hank (or me, an administrative assistant with a degree in Geography and an interest in hazards) let me know.

In the meantime I've done my share listing to music. I got online this morning to listen to the John DeBella and then and Debbi Calton(hey, Debbi - thanks for playing Lawyers, Guns & Money for me on WMGK!). As long as I'm giving them a long distance plug, the 6th Annual 102.9 WMGK Classic Rock Art Show will be held at Liberty Place, 16th and Chestnut. Tom Petty is this year's Honorary Chairperson. There's no admission fee and all the works of arts by rockers and more can be purchased or bid by silent Auction. Proceeds from the Rock Art Show benefit the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

Then I played the Beatles Anthology. I've listened to it, well, I don't know how many times. Each time I hear something new, especially in the first volume. If you don't have the set, you should.

There's also a new Beatles biography entitles "The Beatles" by Bob Spitz. It's going on my December reading list and I'll let you know what you think.

Now I'm back at the Rock with Joe Elvis playing Gimme Shelter.

Life is (mostly) good. Now it's time to make up some grub.

Rock on y'all.

Jeff Seeman: OH 16th District Congressional Candidate

Check this out. Jeff Seemann is a candidate for Congress in Ohio's 16th District. He is currently spending 100 hours as a homeless person. I couldn't do what he's doing. Physically, I couldn't. But I admire him for, as my grandmother would put it "walking in someone else's moccasins".

November 21, 2005
Day 2

Hello. I am writing this diary on behalf of Jeff Seemann. As many of you know, Jeff is running for Congress in Ohio's 16th District, and he's trying a different strategy. He believes that you cannot represent people until you truly understand their lives. Currently, he is spending 100 hours homeless, in an attempt to better understand what life is like for people who have lost everything. We all witnessed the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, but Katrina only magnified a problem that exists in every town on every day of every week. I just spoke with Jeff, and he has asked me to relay the story of his first 20 hours to you and several other blogs. The following is Jeff's entry;

Hello everyone. After my first day out here, if I can give you any amount of wisdom, it will be this; don't take anything for granted. You can always end up worse off than you are right now. It hasn't been easy here. The experiences and lessons I've learned already range from harsh to easy, but it's certainly been an eye-opener.

Last night, I tried to find a place to sleep. It was dark by the time I got downtown, and being a Sunday, everything was closed. I went into this experience blind, so I had no idea where any homeless shelters may be located, and I therefore decided to try a few churches. No luck there, all the doors were locked at the 4 area chuches I could find. I ended up by myself for the entire night, and found a bit of warmth behind the Palace Theater sometime around 10pm. I had hoped to find somebody to help me locate a place to sleep, but again, no luck. It was an awful night of sleep, if you can call it that at all. The temperature was probably in the 30s or low 40s. By midnight, I had a splitting headache. It's amazing how many things we take for granted in our everyday lives...like aspirin. I'm pretty sure I fell asleep a couple of times, but it was never anything that one could reasonably call sleep. By about 7 or 8 am, I was chased out of my space by a police officer. I've heard the words "move along" more times than I thought I would today. This morning, I found myself a few agencies that can help the homeless, but they are few and far between. So far, they've been helpful, but the people I've spoken to who benefit from these agencies tell me that the help doesn't last very long.

At one agency, I was told that I "picked a bad time to end up homeless" (as if there's a good time). This is the end of the year, and the grant money has dried up. Agencies don't have any money left to set anybody up with accomodations, and until January 1st, you're at the mercy of the streets. Churches do step in from time to time, but that's usually for one night only. I didn't know that a "homeless hotline" existed, but was advised to call them. One of the agencies allowed me use of their phone, and the hotline referred me to Open Door, a shelter at the Turnaround Community Outreach. I'm to report there tonight between 930 and 10pm, and I have to leave by 6am tomorrow morning. It's an African-American church, and I've already been by there for a meal at 2pm today. Very nice people, very comforting. Tomorrow, they're also having a free meal at 2pm at Open Door, but in order to eat you have to attend a church service first. I'm not willing to question this policy, but I wonder if they would still offer to feed the hungry if they were Buddhist, Jewish or even Muslim? At today's meal, there were 28 people in attendance. Almost all were homeless, but a few had homes but were well below the poverty line. The ages ranged from 18 months old to 70+ years. The 18 month old was a sweetheart. Her mother lives near the church and has no money, so she does what she can to keep her baby fed. The church gave her a few extra biscuits, and she slipped them in her baby's diaper bag (which was not really clean enough to handle food).

For the benefit of those of you concerned with whether or not I may be taking food or a bed from somebody who needs it more, I will gladly report that I waited until everyone had their plates of food before I approached the line (and was told that there was plenty if anybody needed more), and the cot I will sleep on tonight is not the last one. They can fit many more than will attend tonight, so everyone who has requested a place to sleep will get it. Also, no I have no money to make my situation any more comfortable than it is. I have no ATM card, no pocket change, no photo ID, nothing. If I was going to deprive anybody of anything during my experience, I will gladly give it up and go elsewhere. It's only been a short period of time, and I'm only 25% of the way through this, but I can tell you that I've learned a lot.

For starters, there's a whole system you have to know and those who can work it best survive with the least amount of trouble. There are a few phone numbers to call and get assistance, but most places can only offer you referrals to other agencies. It's a messed up web that you have to maneuver through in order to get anywhere. And I'm told that the funds are being slashed for 2006.

That half-eaten corn dog I saw on theground last night....I was too proud to pick it up, a move I could later regret. That bag of Fritos I saw in a trash can while walking down 12th Street...it might have had food inside. Earlier today, maybe some of you stopped by Burger King or Wendy's. Did you finish your french fries? If not, I know of a few people who would love to have what you just threwaway. Man, just that small handfull of leftover fries or the pickles you took off your burger would be a wonderful gift to some people. No, I'm notasking you to take some cold leftover food to people right now....but I am asking you to never again take for granted what you have. Tomorrow, you may not have it anymore.

Jeff Seemann

I'll be posting this diary in a few locations that Jeff has directed me to. I'll try to answer any questions you have if I have the time. In the meantime, you can help out Jeff's campaign - he's promised to deliver 10% of all funds raised to homeless shelters in the area. Visit Jeff's ActBlue page or his blog.

And trust me, as his friend, I heard it in his voice that he's not having an easy time with this. He's surviving just fine, but the people he is meeting are really eating away at his soul. He's going to walk away from this a very different person, even more sympathetic than he is now.

Peace be with you all, Michelle

I have no idea how people suffering from chronic illness survive on the streets. Or what it must be like to be a child on the streets. I do know I'm grateful for what I do have, and try to what I can to help. One person at a time can make difference, some people, like Jeff, may make a bigger difference.

Will Golden Earring ever tour the US?

My chances of ever getting to anywhere near Europe are slim unless my husband and I actually score real jobs again. But eventually, seeing Golden Earring in concert is on my 100 things to do before I die list. (At the rate I'm going I think I'm up to number 12.)

I'm a sucker for Radar Love, Candy's Going Bad, Lost and Found and Twilight Zone. OK, every song they do.

Lately The Continuing Story of Radar Love is on heavy rotation, along with, Sinatra: the Capitol Years, Meatloaf's Bat out of Hell, Jimmy Reed's Cry Before I Die, and Aretha Franklin's Under Her Spell.

Concert for Bangladesh 2005

I was so happy to see that the Concert for Bangladesh was being released as a DVD. I had seen the film when it came out in 1971 and loved it. If you weren’t alive back then, or you were and the Sixties and Seventies are now showing the effects of (our) misspent youth, here’s a brief refresher course on why there was a concert for Bangladesh in the first place.

In 1947 there was West Pakistan and East Pakistan, which were separated by about a thousand miles of India smack dab in the middle. West Pakistan and East Pakistan were a single Muslim country, and aside from the fact they both had Pakistan in their countries names, they had basically nothing else in common. For real. The regions themselves were physically different, the cultures, languages and races were all different. Most of the wealth and power was in Bengali-speaking West Pakistan, but the majority of population was in the Urdu-speaking East Pakistan, which was much poorer. So how did this odd situation come about? Check out this link , because I’d rather get on with the review.

Anyway when the first free elections were held in 1969, despite the fact the East Pakistanis won the majority of power, the West Pakistanis refused to transfer power and began cracking down on the opposition. Three million people were killed in the conflict and East Pakistanis trying to flee to India were hit by destructive floods, starvation and disease. Foreign aid couldn’t handle the sheer magnitude of the crisis.

Then came Ravi Shankar, who approached George Harrison to help him organize the first ever benefit concert. The Concert for Bangladesh is the granddaddy of Live Aid, Farm Aid, and all the other benefit concerts musicians now do for those in need.

And now for the review (boy, aren’t you glad – you didn’t think you’d have to sit through a history lesson did you?)

An impressive array of stars came to help:

George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Jim Keltner, Billy Preston, Leon Russell, Klaus Voorman, Jesse Ed Davis, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Badfinger - Pet Ham, Tom Evans, Joey Molland, Mike Gibbons, Hollywood Horn Players, led by Jim Horn, Ravi Shankar, Allan Beutler, Chuck Findley, Marlin Greene, Jeanie Greene, Jo Green, Jim Horn, Delores Hall, Kamala Chakravarty, Jackie Kelso, Usted Aliakbar Khan, Claudia Lennearm, Lou McCreary, Ollie Mitchell, Don Nix, Don Preston, Carl Radle Alla Rakah.

The film is a treasure to watch. It hasn’t been remastered, so it looks like it did in the theater, which gives it a certain authenticity to me because it really looks like I remember it looking the first time I saw it. It starts off with Indian music by Ravi Shankar (sitar), Kamala Chakravarty (tamboura; and take a look at her bracelets!), Usted Alla Rakah (tabla) and Ustad Ali Akbar Khan (sarod). It’s real Indian music so be prepared. I happen to love Indian music, but I know some people just don’t…it’s OK.

Of the 18 songs, the ones that really shine are My Sweet Lord, It Don’t Come Easy, Beware of Darkness, Leon Russell’s version of Jumpin’ Jack Flash, Bangladesh and every song Bob Dylan is on. He is at his peak here, no doubt at all! Leon Redbone and Billy Preston really stand out.

And I cried when George did While My Guitar Gently Weeps. I always have. I never met him, and I miss him on this earth, but I know his spirit lives on. I don’t know, maybe I cry whenever I hear this song because I feel his spirit. Sounds crazy I know.

Best of all? The bonus CD. A documentary with interviews and footage not in the original film, plus lsound checks and rehearsals. (More Dylan! More Leon Russell!) The mini-features are treasures worth exploring, especially Recollections and Original Artwork.

This two CD set comes in a fantastic looking box, and has a full color brochure loaded with pictures. It has a forward by Ravi Shankar, and a better history than mine of the Bangladesh crisis. 100% of all artists royalties benefit UNICEF.

OK, folks, this is where you start thinking "Wow, what a gift this would make for my friends! It's a great video and and it'll help children!" Go ahead, you know you want to. You should.

After watching, please, please, please, go to http://www.georgeharrisonfundforunicef.org/. In the words of the insert:

The George Harrison Fund for UNICEF is a joint undertaking between the Harrison family and the U.S Fund for UNICEF. Fund for UNICEF that aims to support UNICEF program, providing lifesaving assistance to children caught in humanitarian emergencies.

George may have left us, but his work goes on, All Glories to Sri Krsna.

Oh happy day!

Today I recieved a copy of the Concert for Bangladesh. I have watched most of the first CD (which is the original movie) and tomorrow I will watching the bonus disk. I will review it and let you know'll what I think.

I've already decided a couple of sibs are getting this for a Christmas present. It's got a beautifully illustrated book, and made for gift giving! Well, that's what I think. You'll see after the review, plus I'll post pix so you can get a really good idea of what you'll be paying for.

Man, it brings back memories. I hadn't though about my inflatable throw pillows or my blacklight cosmic star map in ages. I actually have some of my love beads left...

I'll do a little intro so that those of you who weren't born yet when this was originally released will understand why it was such an important event.

Until tomorrow, my friends, be cool, and peace be on you and all you love.

My additions to Dave White's 25 Classic Rock Solo Artists

Dave White (the About Guide to Classic Rock) listed tho to 25 classic rock solo artists , and I can't disagree on his choices, but felt he left out few so I've added five of my own.

26. Warren Zevon
Essential Album: Excitable Boy

Warren Zevon had a unique, offbeat, satirical and often warped view of life that made his music addicting. Unfortunately people hear his name and think Werewolves of London is the only thing he ever did -- not true! Listen to Excitable Boy, and you'll see just how many great songs he did, like Lawyers, Guns and Money, and Roland, the Headless Thompson Gunner. Diagnosed with lung cancer in 2002, in typical Zevon style, he said he said he'd be happy just to hang around long enough to see the next James Bond flick. The Rock Gods granted his wish and he died a couple months after seeing Die Another Day, which was released June 3rd, 2003.

27. Ringo Starr
Essential Album/s: Ringorama, The Anthology So Far (I couldn't make up my mind so Ringo gets a double shot)

I don't think Ringo gets the recognition he deserves. When he tours with the All-Starr Band, you can tell he is still at the top of his game and he always lets other musicians shine as well. He is definitely a gentleman! The 1999 tour of the All-Starr Band was probably the best All-Starr Band yet. Click here to see more about the show at the Sunrise Musical Theater in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

Face it, you put Ringo Starr, Gary Brooker (Procol Harum) on keyboards , Jack Bruce (Cream) on bass, Simon Kirke (Free and Bad Company) on drums, Timmy Cappello (from the "Todd Rundgren School of One Man Band Musicians") and Todd Rundgren on the same stage and you know you are in heaven.

28. Edgar Winter
Essential Album: They Only Come At Night

If you didn't already know, Edgar is Johnny Winter's younger brother. His music fuses blues, rock and jazz. If you haven't listened to him, you definitely should because he is good. Real good.

29. Joan Jett
Essential Album: Bad Reputation

A Philly girl, which automatically endears her to me. Success in the US was latecoming; she was more popular overseas (Japan and Europe mostly) than she was here, which confounds me. Most people of have heard of the Blackhearts, but there's also the Runaways, her first band. She's finally getting the recognition here that she deserves, but she deserves more, I say, more!

30. Tracy Chapman
Essential Album: Tracy Chapman

A great rock/folk/blues mix and voice that could hypnotize a rampaging wildebeest into submission. God, how I love her voice. Especially on Give Me One Reason and Fast Car.

Rolling Stones "Rarities" out November 22nd

It will be released at Starbucks and other tradional retail outlets. This is a must have for me! It has remixes, b-sides, and live recordings from Stones' archives. I know what else I'll be getting with my tall, double shot caramel machiatto with whip cream on top! (Seriously, do the whipped cream instead of foam, the taste difference is worth it!)

This is the track listing:

Track Listing for Rolling Stones Rarities: 1971 - 2003
1. "Fancy Man Blues" (B-side to the "Mixed Emotions" single)
2. "Tumbling Dice" (live)
3. "Wild Horses" (live)
4. "Beast of Burden" (live)
5. "Anyway You Look At It" (B-side to "Saint of Me" single)
6. "If I Was A Dancer" (Dance Pt 2.)
7. "Miss You" (dance version)
8. "Wish I'd Never Met You" (B-side to "Terrifying" single)
9. "I Just Wanna Make Love To You" (live)
10. "Mixed Emotions IV" (12" version)
11. "Through The Lonely Nights" (B-side to "It's Only Rock 'n' Roll" single)
12. "Live With Me" (live)
13. "Let It Rock" (B-side to "Brown Sugar" single)
14. "Harlem Shuffle" (New York Mix)
15. "Mannish Boy" (live)
16. "Thru and Thru" (live)