Jackie Blue--better with my eyes closed

In 1975 when Jackie Blue came out, I was 10 years old. It seemed like a mystical and magical song that was somehow beyond my comprehension; there had to be some hidden, fantastic, meaning that I'd soon figure out. That year, Jackie Blue was everywhere--playing 2 times an hour on the radio and in constant rotation at the roller rink.

Every time that I hear the song, it sends me back to that time when all music seemed to be filled with mystery and wonder. I always knew that the band's name was the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, but I didn't know enough about the Ozarks, mountains, or daredevils to imagine what they looked like. I always pictured a pre-disco, really hot woman singing the song in a super cool 70s haze. In yet another way that the internet has taken the mystery out of everything, I discovered how far from reality my fantasy existed.

These are they guys driving my daydreams that year. Not sung by the woman of a 10 year old boy's dreams, but a classic song just the same.

Two bonuses today: a cover by AM & Shawn Lee followed by another cover by The Smashing Pumpkins.

The Shins at SXSW 2012

"Simple Song" remains my song of the year for 2012. I only have about 2 months to wait and $150 to save before we see The Shins at Red Rocks! Here is a performance at SXSW.

updated original post from March 11, 2012 to fix video issues.

I was took in Texas--Thin Lizzy rocks

Hearing Thin Lizzy on the radio convinced me to ride my bike down to the record store and  buy "The Boys are Back in Town." It turned out to be one of the best possible uses for a 10 year old boy's allowance in 1976. The single convinced me to upgrade and buy the whole album, Jailbreak. As epic as The Boys are Back was, "Cowboy Song" became my favorite song from the lp. I had no idea what any of the lyrics meant, but I did know that the band's twin guitar attack defined how I thought that rock music should sound.

There isn't much in the way of high quality video of the band from back in the day, but the first clip of "The Boys are Back in Town" from 1978 isn't bad. I couldn't sacrifice the sound of "Cowboy Song" for a bad video, so I included a recording from the BBC.

The Boys are Back in Town

Cowboy Song

Lonely Boy--toddler pick of the week

Lonely Boy by The Black Keys is Christopher and Alexa's video pick of the week. They rated it high on easy to sing lyrics (oh, oh, oh) and high jumpability.

repost from April 14, 2012 to fix video issues

You're gonna go far, kid!

There are certain songs that just somehow magically appear when the time is right. All day, I've had the Offspring screaming 'You're Gonna Go Far Kid' in my head. It's enjoyable, for sure, but that only happens when I'm on the verge of burning a bridge. Burning bridges is something that I do pretty well. Everyone always says not to burn your bridges, but I contend that there are many bridges that need to be burned. I'm not sure that I'm prepared at the moment for all that burning bridges entails, but you can't fight the universe, I guess.

So, for no other reason than to share the voices in my head, here is 'You're Gonnna Go Far Kid' in all of its video glory. If you're in the right mood, this will fuel you to rip up the world. Turn it up really loud, if you're able!

Show me how to lie

You’re getting better all the time

And turning all against the one

Is an art that’s hard to teach

Another clever word

Sets off an unsuspecting herd

And as you step back into line

A mob jumps to their feet

Now dance, fucker, dance

Man, he never had a chance

And no one even knew

It was really only you

And now you steal away

Take him out today

Nice work you did

You’re gonna go far, kid

Puddle of Mudd--Blurry

Another transfer from Ed.ucate.Me

Lately I've been feeling pretty nostalgic for the music from the beginning of the 00s. It seems that i think endlessly about how strangely and how fast time moves. About ten years has gone by since Puddle of Mudd released Blurry. It seems a lot closer to yesterday than ten years.

Overall, the end of the 90s-beginning of the 00s was a great time for music. To put that in perspective for me, it would be like if my junior high teachers talked endlessly about the music from the mid-60s. We would have thought that they were dinosaurs. Well, i guess that i can accept being a dinosaur!

originally posted on Ed.ucate.Me on November 23, 2011. Reposted to fix video issues.

Burn a Miracle--Say Anything

I've been trying in vain for weeks to find a way to get "Burn a Miracle" by Say Anything embedded here so that I could share it. Finally, I found a way that isn't perfect, but you'll get the idea. If you can figure a way around the ad, more power to ya.

I wasn't a big fan of Say Anything, but i'm loving Anarchy, My Dear, the new album that came out in March. It's going to take weeks to get the intro out of my head.

One, Two, Three, Four, and Five

Blood ran cold, but i'm comin' alive! 

Originally posted 6/1/2012, updated to fix video issues.