December 31, 2006
December 25, 2006
James Brown - RIP
The Godfather of Soul died today. He was 73. James Brown was one of the most influential figures in American pop culture history. Link to Wikipedia bio, and here's coverage in the NYT. Here are some links to vintage video of him in performance: Eyesight, Super Bad, I Feel Good, It's A Man's World, Please Please, Sex Machine, at the Olympia, Soul Power, Ed Sullivan, and an unusual TV interview (shorter clip here) Mr. Brown did when he was in a chemically altered state of consciousness after having been released from jail.
(taken from Boing Boing)
December 24, 2006
The 80's Nut Newsletter
I am going to start a few new things this year. I know most of you stay up to date on all this related to music, but one source of info I ALWAYS find something "new" on is Martin's "The 80's Nut Newsletter". Of course you can subcribe to it yourself and get all the scoop, but I will put some highlights that interest me here each week starting right NOW:
Queen guitarist Brian May recently confirmed on his Web site that a
film about Freddie Mercury is in the early stages. Rumors claim that
Johnny Depp is in the running for the part. Depp was supposedly in
Daryl Hall and John Oates' rendition of "It Came Upon A Midnight
Clear" has taken the #1 spot on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.
(personal note about me and Daryl - did you know he used to be my boyfriend back in the 80's???? No? Well, you're not alone, he never knew either but I sure did love him :)
David Bowie recently told New York magazine, "I'm fed up with the
industry and I've been fed up for quite some time. I'm taking a year
off -- no touring, no albums."
Aretha Franklin has been recording a new studio album with many
featured guests. Aretha: A Woman Falling Out Of Love will be released
in the first quarter of 2007 via her Aretha's Records label. Franklin
co-produced and co-wrote many of the tracks.
Bono will be given an honorary knighthood early next year the British
ambassador to Ireland, David Reddaway. Because he is an Irish citizen
and not British, he will not be entitled to use the title "Sir." The
singer was given a similar honor in France in 2003, Legion D'Honneur.
The Flaming Lips will be performing live on the Oklahoma Centennial
Birthday Float at this year's Rose Parade on Jan. 1st.
Queen guitarist Brian May recently confirmed on his Web site that afilm about Freddie Mercury is in the early stages. Rumors claim that
Johnny Depp is in the running for the part. Depp was supposedly in
"in the running" to play the lead in an upcoming Ozzy Osbourne biopic.
Daryl Hall and John Oates' rendition of "It Came Upon A Midnight
Clear" has taken the #1 spot on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.
(personal note about me and Daryl - did you know he used to be my boyfriend back in the 80's???? No? Well, you're not alone, he never knew either but I sure did love him :)
David Bowie recently told New York magazine, "I'm fed up with the
industry and I've been fed up for quite some time. I'm taking a year
off -- no touring, no albums."
Aretha Franklin has been recording a new studio album with many
featured guests. Aretha: A Woman Falling Out Of Love will be released
in the first quarter of 2007 via her Aretha's Records label. Franklin
co-produced and co-wrote many of the tracks.
Bono will be given an honorary knighthood early next year the British
ambassador to Ireland, David Reddaway. Because he is an Irish citizen
and not British, he will not be entitled to use the title "Sir." The
singer was given a similar honor in France in 2003, Legion D'Honneur.
The Flaming Lips will be performing live on the Oklahoma Centennial
Birthday Float at this year's Rose Parade on Jan. 1st.
December 21, 2006
John Lennon FBI File Revealed
I have to interrupt my "vacation" from this blog to say:
HA!
I knew the FBI h ad nothing on John! I hope they feel stupid and ashamed for trying to make him look bad!
HA!
I knew the FBI h ad nothing on John! I hope they feel stupid and ashamed for trying to make him look bad!
December 16, 2006
See You In 2007 - or ON my other blog...
Hi Guys and Gal,
God bless each and every one of you! Have a wonderful holiday with your families and friends!
Hugs and kisses to all you guys,
Layla
Barbara is still blogging you can visit her at "Writing from the Inside Out"
December 10, 2006
Ticket Scalping
I am in a grouchy mood so I am going to write about something that really ticks me off. Ticket scalping. It's been going on for years, but it seems like these days its almost IMPOSSIBLE to get a ticket for face value. Most of us are forced to go through a "ticket agency" or bid for tickets on-line (I just saw Clapton tickets on eBay for $250 each - face value, $85).
A friend of mine started a "ticket agency" back in the 80's so I know the inside scoop. He will pay loads of people (usually high school kids or people desperate for cash) to stand in line and buy the maximum number of tickets allowed. So, he will pay some kid to stand in line for five hours, lets say he gives the kid $50. To the kid, $10 an hour for standing around in a party like atmosphere is great money. So for every one fan you see standing in line (or these days calling or going on-line) there are hundreds of paid people buying tickets for various ticket brokers across the country.
Lets say the tickets are for Eric Clapton and sell for $55 - 85 per seat. If a broker paid fifty people to buy six tickets each, he now has 350 tickets which he can turn around and sell for double or triple face value. So it cost him $500 but he just made a profit of $3000.00.
But who PAYS for this? WE DO. It cracks me up to hear someone say "buy from a reputable ticket broker..." That's an oxy-moron!
One year I decided to use my friend's "agency" for tickets to Bruce because typically his tickets sell out so fast that I am forced to go through an agency to buy them. So when I showed up, hoping to get a decent ticket from this guy, he he took full advantage of the fact that he knows how much I love Bruce and tried to gouge me for even MORE than he would a "regular" customer. I had known this dude for years and even dated him for awhile! Greed does ugly things to people.
Long story short - I did not buy the tickets from him I saw through his scheme and never did business with him again. Sure, I still had to pay way over face value for good seats, but at least I knew I wasn't being played for a fool and taken advantage of.
I miss the days when I would spend 8 hours in line to get the best ticket possible. It was fair game - if you wanted them bad enough you got your ass to the Ticketron or Ticketmaster at 2 am and sat there until 10 am the next morning when they opened.
It's not right. Its so unfair. I went into debt to see U2 last year (I paid $400 per ticket for 2 seats - $800!! I had NO CHOICE, they were sold out and that was the best deal I could get with a decent seat).
I appreciate performers like Tom Petty who are actively fighting ticket scalping to insure that their fans can see a concert at a fair price.
Ok, I am done bitching. I feel better now.
A friend of mine started a "ticket agency" back in the 80's so I know the inside scoop. He will pay loads of people (usually high school kids or people desperate for cash) to stand in line and buy the maximum number of tickets allowed. So, he will pay some kid to stand in line for five hours, lets say he gives the kid $50. To the kid, $10 an hour for standing around in a party like atmosphere is great money. So for every one fan you see standing in line (or these days calling or going on-line) there are hundreds of paid people buying tickets for various ticket brokers across the country.
Lets say the tickets are for Eric Clapton and sell for $55 - 85 per seat. If a broker paid fifty people to buy six tickets each, he now has 350 tickets which he can turn around and sell for double or triple face value. So it cost him $500 but he just made a profit of $3000.00.
But who PAYS for this? WE DO. It cracks me up to hear someone say "buy from a reputable ticket broker..." That's an oxy-moron!
One year I decided to use my friend's "agency" for tickets to Bruce because typically his tickets sell out so fast that I am forced to go through an agency to buy them. So when I showed up, hoping to get a decent ticket from this guy, he he took full advantage of the fact that he knows how much I love Bruce and tried to gouge me for even MORE than he would a "regular" customer. I had known this dude for years and even dated him for awhile! Greed does ugly things to people.
Long story short - I did not buy the tickets from him I saw through his scheme and never did business with him again. Sure, I still had to pay way over face value for good seats, but at least I knew I wasn't being played for a fool and taken advantage of.
I miss the days when I would spend 8 hours in line to get the best ticket possible. It was fair game - if you wanted them bad enough you got your ass to the Ticketron or Ticketmaster at 2 am and sat there until 10 am the next morning when they opened.
It's not right. Its so unfair. I went into debt to see U2 last year (I paid $400 per ticket for 2 seats - $800!! I had NO CHOICE, they were sold out and that was the best deal I could get with a decent seat).
I appreciate performers like Tom Petty who are actively fighting ticket scalping to insure that their fans can see a concert at a fair price.
Ok, I am done bitching. I feel better now.
December 8, 2006
John
26 years ago today...
I usually write about it but have been in a weird place in my own mind so I will skip it this year and just say:
"I miss you, John"
I usually write about it but have been in a weird place in my own mind so I will skip it this year and just say:
"I miss you, John"
December 4, 2006
My Girl Is Coming to Town!
But dang it, not MY town! I have a buddy who is going to see them FRONT ROW this week. He lives in Minnesota and I am so envious I could scream.
Oh yeah, they're opening for The Who. I guess they would be kinda cool to see front row too.
I went back to Ohio
But my city was gone
There was no train station
There was no downtown.....
Oh yeah, they're opening for The Who. I guess they would be kinda cool to see front row too.
I went back to Ohio
But my city was gone
There was no train station
There was no downtown.....
December 2, 2006
First Lines
What do these four "first lines" of songs have in common?
There are those who think that life
Has nothing left to chance
With a host of holy horrors
To direct our aimless dance
If I leave here tomorrow, will you still remember me?
The mountain is high
The valley is low
and you're confused on which way to go
There are those who think that life
Has nothing left to chance
With a host of holy horrors
To direct our aimless dance
If I leave here tomorrow, will you still remember me?
The mountain is high
The valley is low
and you're confused on which way to go
She’s a good girl,loves her mamma,
loves je -sus,
and america
too.
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