Sir Paul is pissed! He is a known vegetarian and is mad at McDonalds because they put up pictures of the Beatles to attract customers.

Sir Paul’s spokesman Geoff Baker fumed: “What sort of morons do McDonald’s think Beatles fans are?

“It’s ridiculous and insulting to use images to peddle hamburgers. Fans should boycott McDonald’s — and not just in Liverpool.”

A PETA spokeswoman said: “He became a vegetarian after watching lambs play in a field outside his home and surely would not want anyone to use his likeness to help promote meat.

“We hope anyone who sees his picture on the wall will be reminded that he’s a vegetarian and skip the Big Mac for a veggie burger.”

A McDonald’s spokeswoman insisted the pictures were to “acknowledge the outstanding contribution the Beatles made to both local and global culture”.

Source

my top 5 radiohead albums:

1. kid a

2. the bends

3. ok computer

4. amnesiac

5. in rainbows

top 5 radiohead singles

1. "idioteque"

2. "street spirit (fade out)"

3. "lucky"

4. "i might be wrong"

5. "creep"  (great song, not so great album)

top 5 radiohead b-sides

1. "true love waits"

2. "talk show host"

3. "polyethylene"

4. "killer cars"

5. "palo alto"

they are simply the best band in the world.  they are our beatles.  i might like wilco and u2 more, but these 5 guys are geniuses beyond comparison.  thank God we have them to bless us with their incredible talents.

Birth

1943. Dino Valenti (Quicksilver Messenger Service) born in New York.

On Tour

1969. 2,000 East German Rolling Stones fans clash with police near the Berlin Wall. The fans gathered expecting to see The Stones play a concert on top of a building at the western-most section of the Wall but there was no performance. 200 police chase the fans into the centre of the city where they clash with some of the 250,000 members of the Free German Youth organisation who had gathered to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the communist state. More than 50 of the fans are detained in custody by police.

In Court

1975. The U.S. Court Of Appeals overturns the Immigration Departments deportation order on John Lennon. This opens the way for him to apply for resident status.

In Hospital

1995. Simon Gilbert (Suede) is knocked unconscious when he and a friend are attacked by 12 queer-bashers after leaving a pub in Stratford-Upon-Avon. Both men are taken to Warwick Hospital where they are treated before being discharged. The un-named friend has six stiches for a head wound and later returns to the hospital suffering from concussion.

On Television

1970. The Johnny Cash Show (ABC, U.S.A.) Johnny with George Lindsey & June Carter, The Statler Brothers, The Carter Family. Here are Johnny and Joni Mitchell dueting on "Girl From The North County".

Death

1966. Overton Amos Lemons, better known as R+B singer Smiley Lewis, dies of cancer in New Orleans.

Babble

Well, here I am once again in the north. I was told yesterday that the memorabilia exhibition couldn't go ahead and yet everyone seems to want it to be staged. Just how and when are the two big questions. I'm going to give it until tomorrow and then I'll have to make the decision to consign it to the fantasy world within the wardrobe and just imagine I've staged the show or get it sorted once and for all.

I was offered a date in November but that's meant to tie in with a book launch that should have been held on June 21st. The book, on growing up in Liverpool in the sixties, was seemingly available back in May so I'm not sure why a launch is being held six months on. My biggest worry is that the launch is meant to be run by Waterstone's local branch but the company's web site has no information regarding ANY events in Elgin or Inverness in either October or November. I have found one book that fits the description but it was launched at the Liverpool's Everyman Theatre back in April. Its author, Nicholas Murray is giving a poetry reading on October 13th in Venice. Maybe it's just me but I can't then see what he'd be doing in Elgin. Obviously it may not be him and as there's nothing on the Elgin venue's website mentioning anything that fits the bill.

I hope from this you'll get some sense of my frustration. I know I'm dealing with a theatre but it surely doesn't need to involve suspending all disbelief. I found a fascinating description of the concept here. The world of Narnia really has been moved to Moray. I just hope that I can find my way back out of the wardrobe. Despite the frustration, I'm going to give it one last shot. If I can't get an agreement to use the venue we'd agreed on (which I've decided not to name because it will just give them free publicity) from Thursday to Saturday or another space to stage it, then I give up. 

Strangely, the link to my Two Red Shoes Ballroom blog from the Northern Scot is proving nowhere near as successful as flyers were in Nairn back in August. 1,400 flyers and a dozen A4 posters pulled in 180 people a day and all this one's getting is 55! Before I leave here, I think I'll get flyers into the local library and other places. Then I'll just forget these eerily unreal place.

Go to Rockmine's main site here.

© Copyright 1995 - 2008 Rockmine Archives. Use of this content is prohibited unless licensed by Rockmine Archives.

Recorded in Memphis in 1968, the imaginatively titled From Elvis in Memphis captures the Marquis doing what he did best - interpreting the music of the southern states of his birth – soul and country. A distant cousin of white soul albums like Dusty in Memphis and Bobbie Gentry’s Touch ‘em with Love, both of which incidentally were recorded in... well you know, Elvis’s album gets some lip service from the fans as it includes his biggest later day hit - the glorious In the Ghetto.

Yet energised by his recent TV special and backed by a crack team of musicians he delivers twelve songs that rank amongst the best of his rather chequered career. The opener Wearing That Loved On Look sets the template – funky backing, brilliant vocals, groovy girl backing singers. From here on in its gems all the way. He never sounded quite as mournful as Long Black Limousine or as potent as on the lock-up-your-daughters groin thrust of Power of My Love. At the other end of the spectrum there's Gentle on my Mind, a souped version of the song made famous by Glen Campbell, that could well be the definitive take.

Fork out for the extra tracks boxed set and you also get Suspicious minds and Kentucky Women, two more of his finest singles. Buy this, the Sun Sessions and, for sheer entertainment value, the soundtrack to the movie he made with Nancy Sinatra - Speedway. You’ll then have pretty much all Elvis's essential moments. Is that a great return for twenty years in the biz?

Elvis Presley - From Elvis in Memphis 1969 (RCA)

My aunt Ava, who is 7 months older than me, always had a knack for finding great bands just before the rest of the world caught on.  One day in late'79, she brought home an album called Reggatta De Blanc by some new English band called the Police.  I was in the family room watching a new episode of The Muppet Show, when I heard music playing at TOP volume in her room.  I turned down the television a listened to her singing along with a song that turned out to be "Message In a Bottle."

It had a great riff, killer vocals, and a sound that I'd never heard before.  It sounded new, fresh, and exciting.  I forgot about turning up the volume of the television, and just sat there listening to her new album.  As each track played, I found myself more and more attracted to this strange, new sound.  I couldn't stand it anymore.

I went to her room and pounded on the door as hard as I could.  When the door opened, I asked her what she was listening to.  She said, "The Police.  They're a new band from England.  They're great."  She then showed me the blue and silver album cover, as well as pictures and articles she'd been collecting from magazines about the band.  Sting was her latest infatuation.  He looked like a young, handsome, surly rock star.  She went on to tell me that she was in love with him.

After a month, the record found itself in my clutches and on my stereo for a long time.  There were moody, inventive rock pieces ("Walking On The Moon," "The Bed's Too Big Without You"), intense rock work-outs ("Deathwish," "Reggatta De Blanc") and quirky pop songs ("It's Alright For You,""On Any Other Day," "Does Everyone Stare").  The album appealed to my maturing musical tastes and kicked ass.

Into the next decade, I would start collecting Police records.  The albums usually had more great songs than not, and the 45 RPM singles had B-sides unavailable anywhere else.  It was the power of Sting's writing, vocals, and bass chops that kept me in "Police mode" for a few years.  And as predicted, the "rest of the world" finally caught up with Ava's taste.

When he went solo in '85 with Dream of The Blue Turtles, I kinda gave up on him.  I was already into R.E.M., U2, and music from the 60s.  Sting's "new" music didn't really catch my ear.  It wasn't until I saw him on Saturday Night Live promoting his '87 album ...Nothing Like The Sun that Sting recaptured my attention.  He sang a new tune called "We'll Be Together Tonight" and a wonderful rendition of Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing" (which dovetailed into a cool version of the Beatles' "From Me To You").  I bought the album the very next day (it was my first purchase of a new fangled thing called a compact disc).  There was so much beautiful music on that disc, including "Englishman in New York" and "The Secret Wedding Vow," which still brings a tear to my eye.

Sting's taste for jazz, flamenco, and other types of music started leading me into previously unchartered musical territory.  Through him I started revisiting my uncle Kenny's records by Miles Davis and John Coltrane, which used to be background music in my youth.  I started adding Segovia to my guitar lessons.  I started expanding as a young musician because of Sting's music.  To this day, I still listen to his music for inspiration and music lessons.

Sting's birthday lands on October 2.  With that I say Happy birthday, Sting.  You've been a real source of inspiration for almost 30 years of my musical life.  I've learned so much from listening and watching you that I cannot even begin to tell you.  You are an inspiration to me, and hopefully one day we can sit down and talk music.  I think I just might be a tad intimidated about getting you to play on a Poppermost song.  You rock.

Please note: The original release date of this album was October 5th, 1979.

Currently listening : Reggatta De Blanc [Vinyl LP] [Stereo] By The Police

I think that everyone goes through an experience in his / her life that changes the way they view the world.  They go through life as they are until something pivotal hits them when least expected.  This happened for me during the summer of 1976.

While my mom was at work, I had access to her prized quadraphonic stereo system.  The unit's four speakers were truly a sight to behold, especially considering that my system was a small child's phonograph with a huge tone arm and a dinky speaker that played back everything in mono.  One day I fired up mom's stereo.  Up til then I listened to AM radio, which was mostly Top 40, oldies, talk radio, and classical music.  While fiddling with the knobs, I accidentally switched over from AM radio to FM.

Within seconds, my life would go from black and white to brilliant color.

I tuned the giant knobs on the receiver, and heard static.  My eyes were glued to the red indicator light, then suddenly, I heard a voice I had never heard before.  It said, "This is the L.A. Cowboy Jim Ladd, and I'm gonna play one of my favorite cuts from the new album by the Steve Miller Band.  This is "Rock N' Me," and you are listening to  94.7, KMET.  Enjoy."

Then it happened.  The double trouble combination of guitar and drums spanked that song into high gear.  I remember a sharp tingle shooting up my spine as I listened.  My heart started beating faster and faster as the song's intro played on.  My mouth hung there wide open, and I found it hard to breathe.  It was the most fascinating sound I'd heard in a long time.  It was like nothing that I'd been privy to on AM radio.  No one was home, so I turned the music up; four speakers blaring a hypnotic, propulsive groove.  Then came the vocals:

Well, I've been working real hard
And I'm tryin' to find a job
But it just keeps gettin' tougher everyday . . .

Save for the Beatles, I don't recall ever being stopped in my tracks by such powerful music.  By the end of the year, "Rock N' Me" would be a number one single and would be played on AM radio.  When I first heard it, it was just another great track from Miller's Fly Like An Eagle album.  The album would also yield hits with "Take The Money and Run," and the title track.  Unbeknownst to me, I had previously heard a Steve Miller track a few years before called "The Joker," which was usually sung (very off-key) by my uncle Will around the house and in his beloved candy apple red '73 Toyota Corolla.

Over the years, Miller's music would mark more pivotal moments in my life.  One of the first albums my mentor Harriet loaned me was Miller's Sailor, which to this day is one of my favorite albums of all time.  "Swingtown" from Miller's album Book Of Dreams was played at the beginning of every televised game played by the L.A. Dodgers.  I used to go with my Uncles Kenny and Ronald every once in a while to watch the Dodgers play baseball.  My first game was a total disappointment.  The Dodgers did win, but not once did I hear "Swingtown" played over the speaker system.  After the third time and no Miller, I stopped going.

Back in college, I had a radio show called "Lex's Violent Playground," where I would spin the music I liked as a young freshman.  Steve Miller's music was featured on damn near every show: "Kow Kow," "Seasons," and "Space Cowboy" from Brave New World; "Something To Believe In" from The Joker; "Motherless Children," and "Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around" from Your Saving Grace.

After "Rock N' Me" finished, there were other FM wonders to be discovered, like Steely Dan, the Eagles, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, and others; they would also become part of my musical vocabulary.  But there is something to be said about your "first" experience.  In the wondrous medium that was 70s FM radio, I felt like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz when her Auntie Em's house landed in a new world.  AM radio was the witch underneath the house, FM radio was the new land.  Steve Miller?  Well, Miller was the rock and roll tornado that started it all.

On this October 5, I'd like to say happy birthday to Steve Miller.  Thanks for making me aware of a wonderful new land of music.  Thanks also for still being around when so many others from that magical, musical land have fallen by the wayside.  You are a true inspiration in every sense of the word.  Let's jam sometime . . . I want you to show me how to really play that groovy like that opens "Kow Kow."

Please note: This album was originally released in May 1976.

Currently listening : Fly Like an Eagle By Steve Miller Band

Send us YOUR best cover of Lennon, and we'll put some extra cash in your pocket. Check out some of the videos we've already received here and here. So what are you waiting for? Pick up an instrument or sing A capella, just send us your best work.

 

Good news for Dave Clark Five fans who haven’t got into downloading music yet. The compilation album The Dave Clark Five - The Hits – which has been available as a download on iTunes since March - is finally about to be released on CD.

The 27-track retrospective – which includes the previously unreleased track ‘Universal Love’ and the often overlooked ‘Til The Right One Comes Along’ – will be released as a CD in the UK on October 13, 2008.

The album comes complete with a booklet containing many previously unseen photos of the band.

In 1964, the Dave Clark Five were regarded as the biggest challengers to The Beatles when their single ‘Glad All Over’ knocked the Fab Four’s ‘I Want to Hold Your Hand’ off the top of the UK charts after a six-week stay at Number One.

The Tottenham quintet were also the first ‘British Invasion’ band after The Beatles to achieve huge success in the United States – including a record 18 appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show and six sold-out US tours.

Between 1963 and 1967, The Dave Clark Five had 22 hits in the UK and 24 in America - with memorable singles like ‘Glad All Over’, ‘Bits and Pieces’, ‘Because’, ‘Can't You See That She's Mine’ and a remake of Bobby Day’s ‘Over and Over’ – all of which are included on The Dave Clark Five - The Hits.

Full track listing:

1. Do You Love Me

2. Glad All Over

3. Bits And Pieces

4. Can't You See That's She's Mine

5. Everybody Knows (I Still Love You)

6. Don't Let Me Down

7. Any Way You Want It

8. Wild Weekend

9. Catch Us If You Can

10. Because

11. I Like It Like That

12. Reelin' And Rockin'

13. Over And Over

14. Come Home

15. You Got What It Takes

16. Try Too Hard

17. Everybody Knows

18. I'll Be Yours My Love

19. Nineteen Days

20. Look Before You Leap

21. Til The Right One Comes Along

22. All Night Long

23. Good Old Rock 'n' Roll Medley

24. Sha Na Na Hey Kiss Him Goodbye

25. Here Comes Summer

26. Put A Little Love In Your Heart

27. Universal Love

Yo creo que la Historia de la música tiene un antes y un despues de Los Beatles, y no creo demasiado en las mejores canciones de la Historia, sino en las que conforman las canciones de tu vida, las que te gustan, las que por un motivo se hacen especiales para uno y acaban siendo las canciones que componen parte de Tus Historias.

The Beatles - Help

... y esta es una de las mias.

Style

So In honor of this auspicious occasion, today's song is Love Me Do.

Enjoy!

Would you say if The Beatles will be out on iTunes be a good or bad thing?
Would it revolutionize the downloading in today's music? 
I read that true Beatles fans are complaining that ever since the age of CDs.
That the CD version of the album aren't excellent in the sound quality.

So what do you thing?

The next few years would see the Two Red Shoes become one of the best known venues in Scotland playing host to some of the most famous names in British pop and rock but by the end of 1966 the magic started to disappear. 1967 saw only a few big names but it did include one of the biggest in the history of rock music - Pink Floyd. It doesn't detract from what took place in this small dance hall and the music that was played here.

So, take some time to browse the years, watch the clips and hopefully relive some happy memories. If you want, share them with everyone. 

January 01 - Special late night New Year's Day Carnival Ball

January 03 - The Elgin Folk Music Club presents the "Love Me Do" boys The Beatles plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet

January 10 - Findhorn Water Ski Club present the easy beat vocal trio The Dale Sisters plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet

January 17 - The Scottish Promotion Association present a double starred attraction with the boy of "Steel Men" fame Roy Whitaker plus The Cresters featuring Mike Sagar

January 25 - Anita Harris

January 31 - Elgin Jazz Club present Mike Berry

February 21 - The Elgin Ladies' Hockey Club dance featuring Jeannie Lambe plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet

February 28 - The Elgin Folk Music Club present The Baron Knights (sic) plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet

March 01 - Anita Harris

March 14 - The Scottish Promotion Agency presents The Federals plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet

March 21 - Lossiemouth Racing Pigeon Club Dance with Lorne Gibson Trio plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet

March 28 - Findhorn Water Ski Club present Craig Douglas plus The Ed Corrie London Jazzband

March 29 - Charities Ball

April 04 - The Moray Dance Club presents The Original Checkmates plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet

April 11 - The Malcolm Nixon Agency presents The Grampian Teenbeat Showband featuring Andrew Tully, Sheila Mitchell, Johnny Hudson, Tony Sinclair

April 18 - The Moray Rugby Club presents The Alan Elsdon Jazzband with Mick Emery

April 24 - Over 25s Night Dancing to The Alex. Sutherland Sextet Waitress service from the cafe will be available during these Wednesday dances. Coffees, teas, snacks, meals, etc. will be served

April 25 - Dance featuring The Alex. Sutherland Sextet after the Karl Denver show in Town Hall

May 02 - The Elgin Jazz Club presents The Alex Welsh Jazz Band seen above with "Beale Street Blues"

May 09 - The Elgin Ladies' Hockey Club presents Malcolm Clarke And The Cresters

May 16 - The Elgin Dance Club presents The Big Three

May 23 - Lossiemouth Racing Pigeon Club presents Danny Williams plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet. It wasn't uncommon for Albert Bonici to place two adverts in the papers for the same event. The two above come from the Elgin Courant. What surprises me is that no-one bothered to check and see that on one it's the Racing Pigeon Club while the other has it listed as association. What on earth was going on?

May 30 - The Elgin Ladies' Hockey Club presents Brad Newman plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet

June 06 - Findhorn Water Ski Club presents Mike Berry And The Innocents plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet

June 13 - The Moray Rugby Club presents a 3-Band Show. Johnny and Mike plus The Shades plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet

June 20 - The Elgin Folk Music Club present Eden Kane's younger brother Wes Sands plus The Le Roys plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet. Wes Sands was in reality Clive Sarstedt, who was managed by the legendary Joe Meek. Despite being in the business at this time, it would take him another 13 years to get into the charts as a one-hit wonder. In 1976, using his middle name of Robin he eventually made it with a cover of the old Hoagy Carmichael hit, "My Resistance Is Low".

June 27 - The Moray Dance Club presents two Star Attraction - Don Charles - The Irish International Monarchs Showband plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet

July 04 - The Scottish Jazz Promoters Association presents Don Spencer plus Fireball XL5 plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet. While the advert clearly states Fireball XL5, I doubt there was such a band. Don Spencer hit the U.K. charts in March with a song called "Fireball" which was used as the theme for Gerry Anderson's hit TV series, "Fireball XL5". Here it is in all it's glory. Spencer would later make his name as Australia's favourite children's TV entertainer and found the Australian Children's Music Foundation. He also happen's to be Russell Crowe's father-in-law!

July 11 - Findhorn Water Ski Club present The Clearways plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet

July 18 - The Malcolm Nixon Agency presents Soul Byron and The Impacts plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet

Tuesdays 7.30 - 11.30 p.m. Record Roundabout. Your disc jockey - Alex McArthur

July 25 - The Elgin Jazz Club presents Rockin' Henry and The Hayseeds plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet

August 01 - The Moray Dance Club presents Neil Landon and The Burnettes (featuring Noel Redding on guitar)

August 08 - The Elgin Ladies' Hockey Club presents Jill Graham plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet

August 15 - The Moray Rugby Club presents Elgin Holiday Dance with 2 top London groups. Originator of the "Sidewalk" Tony Holland and the famous Packabeats plus Malcolm Clarke And The Cresters

August 20 - Record Roundabout. Guest band The New Sabres

August 21 - Over-25s Night. Miss Anita Harris

August 22 - The Elgin Folk Music Club presents the young American singer Ronnie Hall plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet

August 29 - The Moray Dance Club presents the young Decca recording artist Dev Douglas plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet (Hear 'Dev' on Saturday Club this Saturday)

September 12 - The Elgin Ladies' Hockey Club presents The Original Checkmates plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet

September 19 - Lossiemouth Racing Pigeon Club presents Jimmy Justice and The Excheckers plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet

September 26 - The Elgin Jazz Club presents The Barron Knights with Duke D'Mond plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet

October 10 - The Moray Dance Club presents The Caravelles (pictured above) plus Ben Richmond

October 14 - The Scottish Promters Association presents Elgin Holiday Dance with Eddie Le Pard And His Leopards. As from Tuesday, 15th October, the newly formned Eddie And His Leopards will be playing as guest stars each Tuesday night.

October 12 - Teen Beat dance recommences today with Eddie And His Leopards

October 31 - The Elgin Folk Music Club presents The Alex Harvey Big Soul Band plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet. The album above was recorded around this time but released in 1964. It's the only record of Alex and his band from this time. I've found a free download of the whole album that you'll get by clicking this link.

Tuesdays and Saturdays - Eddie Le Pard And His Leopards

November 07 - Moray Dance Club presents the new Merseyside group Ricky Bowden and The Unit '4' plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet

November 09 - (afternoon) Eddie Le Pard And His Leopards

November 09 - (evening) The Alex. Sutherland Sextet

November 14 - The Elgin Jazz Club presents the new Merseyside sound The Druids plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet

November 21 - The Moray Dance Club presents Johnny And The Copycats plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet

November 23 - (evening) The Alex. Sutherland Sextet

November 28 - The Scottish Promoters Association presents Mike Cadillac And The Playboys plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet

December 05 - Findhorn Water Ski Club presents Neil Landon and The Burnettes plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet

December 12 - The Moray Dance Club presents Shane Fenton And The Fentones plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet

December 18 - Over-25s Night

December 19 - The Scottish Promoters Association presents Malcolm Clarke And The Cresters plus The Alex. Sutherland Sextet

December 20 - Late Night

December 21 - Palais Nite

December 23 - Xmas Roundabout with Eddie Le Pard

December 24 - Moray Rugby Club's Xmas Eve Carnival Dance

December 25 - Aberdeen University Students' Campaign Beatnik Ball

December 26 - The Moray Dance Club presents the ex-Big Three group The Seniors

December 27 - Big Beat Echoes

December 28 - Palais Nite

December 30 - New Year Roundabout with Eddie Le Pard

December 31 - Hogmanay Dance

© Copyright 2008 Roy Deane, Rockmine Archives. All rights reserved. No part of this web site may be copied, redistributed, broadcast or published in any form without approval.

Now, you say... "So Adam Clodfelter... if that is your name.... why make a top 5 list? What are these gonna be about?". Well I'm glad you asked you skeptical blog reader you. I will be top 5 lists of various things, like songs, movies, sports teams, and other stuff, so that you better get to know me, and my thoughts on life. Gotta be better than the whining I do on here half the time. And everyone loves lists...

Oh, and I even linked it for you, just so you can experience the magic.

SO, my top 5 favorite songs. I have been thinking about this for a little bit, and I decided to choose not the top 5 of like right now, though it is hard not to be a little biased, but these are in order. I want to do it from 5 to 1. These are songs that I can ALWAYS listen to. No matter what. I just love them. It's really difficult to say for sure a straight up top 5 because, your tastes change, sometimes you want to hear a specific song, yada yada.. so, this is a kinda a ballpark top 5, but I feel good about.

Another rule I am going by... 1 song per artist. I noticed I could've had a top 5 with just weezer or just beatles or just Red hot chili peppers. So yea..

SO let's begin!

5. "Soul to squeeze" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers

I love this song. RHCP has alot of good stuff, but when it comes down to it this is my favorite song of their's. I think I like it cause I discovered them in high school, which was a time in my life where I REALLY had no idea where I was going. A great song, so slow, so chill... I love it. I can listen to it and just immediatly calm down. The video is really weird, but whatever, focus on the song.

4. "American Pie" by Don McLean

AMAZING SONG. First off, it's about, among other things, Buddy Holly, whom is one of my favorite artists EVER. Now I don't have to tell you much about the song since... the video I linked does it for me. But as a song it's just great. Very reflective. It's such a deep song. It's like, I'm not even sure if the video is right about alot of the things. This song also inspired me to do this list. I think that as a song, it's very complete, very catchy, very soulful, and just fun to listen to!

3. "Mr. Jones" by Counting Crows

One of my favorite songs. I can listen to it over and over and over. It's so catchy and I love the way the lead singer of counting crows performs vocally. It's like he's almost talking to you instead of singing a song. Another song thats deep as well. Here lately I've been jamming to it alot, so that is why its so high on the list I guess. The video is kinda weird, homeboy dances weird. But great song.

2. "We Fall Down" by Chris Tomlin

Quite possibly one of my favorite hymns. Heck the video I found doesn't do it justice. This comes from singing it at church and at Cru meetings and the like alot, and it is ALWAYS just amazing. It's juse one of those songs that clicks. Worship of God involves alot more than just singing songs, but man... whenever I hear this song, I really do just give it all up, and I get lost in the moment. I can go on and on about it. Just know that it is amazing. I felt bad picking a secular song over this ha ha. But whatever, its my list.

1. " Say It Ain't So" by Weezer

Here it is. I love this song. My favorite song by my favorite band. It works on alot of levels for me. It's just, whenever I'm down, this is the song I go to, or one of them. It's great. So emotional, which is what Weezer does so well. I have listened to this song so much, I can quote it. Plus it's on Guitar Hero. That makes it even more awesome. Now, I'll still fight that Weezer's second album ( Pinkerton) is better then the Blue Album ( the album this song is on ). I just wanted to clarify. But This is the best of Weezer right here. ANd my favorite song! Word!

But hold on.... I have more for you. This was intense, And I had like 20 songs I wanted to include. So I'm gonna link some, with no rhyme or reason, just know they were contenders...

• "The House of the Rising Sun" - The Animals
• "Creep" - Radiohead
• "Everything" - Lifehouse
• "Chop Suey" - System of a Down                               <- Lego Video!!!! the real one is weird.
• "Killing Me Softly With His Song" - Roberta Flack      <- Amazing Song, I just discovered it!
• "And Your Bird Can Sing" - The Beatles
• "Psalm 145" - Shane & Shane                                     <- Hard to find a good video
• "Wedding Dress" - Derek Webb

Man, this is intensity, a 900 word post. I'm proud of myself. Hope you enjoy!

2> the bravery>> an honest mistake
     "people: they don't mean a thing to you.
      they move right through you,
      just like your breath"

3> the beatles>> any time at all
     "if you need a shoulder to cry on,
      i hope it will be mine.
      call me tonight, and i'll come to you"

4> bloc party>> she's hearing voices
     "in the dead of the night
      she is leaving my room,
      She is crying on her side."

5> red jumpsuit apparatus>> cat and mouse
     "Softly we tremble tonight.
      picture perfect fading smiles
      are all that's left in sight."

6> gavin degraw>> im in love with a girl
     "...wants to make love when i wanna fight.
      now someone understands me."

7> jason mraz>> i'm yours
     "well open up your mind and see like me.
      open up your plans and damn you're free."

8> john mayer>> dreaming with a broken heart
     "when you're dreaming with a broken heart,
      the waking up is the hardest part."

9> kanye west>> homecoming
     "do you think about me now and then?
      cause I'm coming home again"

10> ok go>> a million ways
     "oh such grace, oh such beauty
      and lipstick and callous
      and fishnets and malice, oh darlin'"

It always happens: The Cubs always lose their last game of the postseason because, as we all know, the Cubs never win the World Series (100 years and counting, now) ... and only the team that manages to do that ever wins its last game. When it comes to the postseason, anyway.

Bah, humbug!

And the day started out so promisingly (is that even a word?) ...

Tennis at 10 a.m., and though I didn't play particularly well -- I had getting-it-over-the-net and keeping-it-on-the-court issues, combined with my usual not-moving-my-feet issues (my serve was coming in pretty good, though!) -- playing tennis with this particular foursome (Diane, Amy, Sarah and me) is always fun. And the weather was PERFECT: I told myself (and maybe the others? I cannot recall) that it was the kind of day that made you feel like you wanted to go outside and do everything.

(Looks like today might be another one of those days. Durn those Cubs for keeping me up so late and leaving me bleary-eyed this a.m.!)

After tennis, a swing by the ATM and Taco Hell for some crunchy tacos and a Pepsi, then home to get cleaned up. I had a couple of hours before Diane, Cindy and I would be heading out for dinner and a movie (not necessarily in that order), so I thought, how about a drive to the lake to check out the fall colors? (They're not quite there just yet, but in a few days, they just might be spectacular!)

We went to see Beverly Hills Chihuahua, which I must give an enthusiastic two thumbs -- er, perhaps two paws! -- up.

I knew I'd get roped into seeing this movie as soon as I saw the first preview, in no small part because of the fact that the dearly departed Chico was, indeed, a Chihuahua. I had about the same level of excitement regarding this movie as I'd had about Live Free or Die Hard, whenever that was (last summer? this summer? I'm having total brain fog at the moment; I think it was last summer), and, wouldn't you know it, once again I was very pleasantly surprised. And entertained: No deep thinking involved, just a simple plot, cute doggies and lots of laughs -- and I'll even admit, I got a little teary-eyed in a couple of places.

Dinner at 17th Street Bar & Grill was not the greatest, primarily because I deviated from my usual pork BBQ sandwich and opted for the pulled chicken. BIG mistake: The chicken was dry, and not even extra sauce or spice rub could render it edible. Fortunately, the baked beans (almost every kind of bean you can think of, with a sweet, sassy sauce!) and the potato salad (I swear there's some form of ranch dressing in there!) were tasty, as usual, so I managed to fill up on those.

Back in town, I went out to the high school to see the Best of the Beatles: The Pete Best Band performing. Starring -- you know -- Pete Best: The Beatles' original drummer. The guy who got fired and was replaced by Ringo Starr. The guy House mentioned on last week's episode of House, M.D. when he and his assistants were doing differential diagnonsense (that's a Girl, Interrupted reference for those of you who aren't paying close attention!).

Can you imagine being young and in a band with all your "mates" (isn't that what they're called in England?) and being told you're not good enough -- and then having the band become the phenomenon known as the Beatles? Arguably the best, most popular band ever? (I'm torn on whether they were or not; perhaps this will stir some lively debate for the "Comments" section of my bloggie?)

Anyhoo, apparently, Pete Best is actually the second Beatle ever to visit Benton. George Harrison visited his sister, Louise, who resided here, during the 1960s. Unbelievable!

To be quite honest, the show was pretty good. The Pete Best Band did a nice job with its own music and, of course, some Beatles tunes, including my favorite, "P.S. I Love You" -- which surprised me so much that they were halfway through it before I realized, hey, they're playing my favorite Beatles song, and started singing along:

As I write this letter (o-oh)
Send my love to you (you know I want you to)
Remember that I always (yeah-ah)
Be in love with you ...

I didn't stay for the whole show, so I'm not sure if they got around to playing my close-second-favorite Beatles song, "Here Comes the Sun" ... but I did get to hear a guy playing that song on an acoustic guitar a couple of weeks ago when a busload of senior citizens came to town for the day, so I'm actually quite good on live Beatles covers, thank you.

I left the concert just in time to hit the couch early in the Cubs-Dodgers game.

Sadly, I probably shouldn't have bothered because, much like their first two games against LA, the Cubs just didn't have it. In no small part because the Dodgers played so well, but mostly because the Cubs really weren't in the game.

Heck, let's be honest: They really weren't in the entire series.

Still, they had a great "regular" season, winning 97 games, including both the games I got to see in person. A bitter ending, true, as their postseason losing streak reached nine games (counting last season's sweep by Arizona and dating back to the NLCS debacle in 2003 ... but even that postseason wasn't a total loss because I got to watch two of those National League Championship Series games on a big-screen TV alongside some of my favorite pals from college in the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas), but I still say having a competitive team to watch throughout the summer is worth going through the inevitable heartache when the Cubs actually do make it into the playoffs.

On that note, how about a couple of photos from the concert?

Not sure who that guy in the dark suit is, but he caught my eye from across the gymnasium because he was doing this sort of slide-step dance to every song performed by the Pete Best Band.

1829	Chester A. Arthur, the 21st president of the United States, was born in Fairfield, Vt.
1921	The World Series was broadcast on radio for the first time.
1937	President Franklin D. Roosevelt called for a "quarantine" of aggressor nations.
1941	Former Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis, the first Jewish member of the nation's highest court, died at age 84.
1953	Earl Warren was sworn in as the 14th chief justice of the United States, succeeding Fred M. Vinson.
1962	The Beatles' first hit, "Love Me Do," was released in the United Kingdom.
1969	"Monty Python's Flying Circus" made its debut on BBC Television.
1983	Solidarity founder Lech Walesa was named winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.
1986	American Eugene Hasenfus was captured by Sandinista soldiers after the Contra supply plane he was riding in was shot down over southern Nicaragua.
1988	Democrat Lloyd Bentsen lambasted Republican Dan Quayle during their vice-presidential debate, telling Quayle, "Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."
1989	A jury in Charlotte, N.C., convicted former PTL evangelist Jim Bakker of using his TV show to defraud followers.
1990	A jury in Cincinnati acquitted an art gallery and its director of obscenity charges stemming from an exhibit of sexually graphic photographs by Robert Mapplethorpe.
2001	Former Senate majority leader and ambassador Mike Mansfield died at age 98.
2001	A man died of inhaled anthrax in Boca Raton, Fla.
2001	Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants set a new mark for home runs in a season, hitting his 71st and 72nd in a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers to break Mark McGwire's record of 70 set in 1998. (Bonds finished the season with 73 homers.)
2003	Israel bombed an Islamic Jihad base in Syria.
2005	Defying the White House, the Senate voted 90-9 to approve an amendment that would prohibit the use of "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" against anyone in U.S. government custody.

Of course, for me, the two most important of these are the wonderful contributions made by our brothers and sisters across the pond in the UK.....Enjoy!

 Let's discuss history.  This is an open thread.

Aquí les dejo una serie de videos que reflejan la presentación en Nueva York, el 15 de agosto de 1965 y que marcó su consagración definitiva.

Se puede ver la preparación del estadio, todo lo que sucedió previamente al show, palabras de los propios Beatles, los cantantes y grupos "teloneros"  y luego, la presentación propiamente dicha. Imperdible...

Twist And Shout

I Feel Fine

Ticket To Ride

Act Naturally

Can't Buy Me Love

A Hard Day's Night

Help!

I'm Down