Worst Season Of American Idol

Who do I blame for the worst season of American Idol? Oh, the judges are always easy targets. And we can blame the Producers for hiring the bland Keith Urban, bringing back the awful Randy Jackson, spending tons on the snoozy Mariah Carey, and while Nicki Minaj had opinions, her lack of chemistry  with the panel proved to be an annoyance by season's end.

Or maybe I blame past his American Idol prime Exec Producer Nigel Lythgoe, who I believe has a larger say in who advances than most viewer's know. Do you really know think the judges are wholly  responsible for letting the disastrous Lazaro onto the show?

But in the end the show got what it wanted. A female winner, for the first time in 5 years.   Certainly Candice  Glover is a fine singer, but can she sell records? im not yet convinced. Here's what we should and could get  for 2014: all new judges and more gimmicks to appeal to younger viewers who are ditching the show for NBC's the Voice.

Hopefully the rumors are true, that the show will not be spending millions on divas who can't judge.  But as far as not hiring star power judges, I remain skeptical that they will bring in 4 judges and not one will be a big star.

This show still gets ratings, so Fox can keep it around for years, but its a far cry from its glory Simon Cowell-led years. Oh, and I didn't even mention Ryan Seacrest. Don't get me started.

Missing R&B Acts From Rock Hall (Updated 2013)

So, there's a mysterious R&B Hall of Fame opening this Summer in . I wish this Hall luck, but that first class of inductees has some dubious names.  And I've yet to hear how the first class of inductees was chosen.

Anyway, back to the Rock Hall and its growing list of missing R&B names.  I first published a list back in March 2010, and since then only Donna Summer has been inducted.

The fate of the artists below remains a big question.  Hopefully, new NomCom members will get some of these names nominated.  But I remain skeptical about that.  Most of my picks will remain in limbo forever.
Yet, a strong case can be made for each of them.

Below is an updated list for 2013. Of these Chuck Willis, Chantels, Mary Wells, Chic, Chaka Khan, War, "5" Royales, Meters, Joe Tex, Marvelettes and Billy Ward & the Dominoes have been nominated.

Spinners

Barry White

Chic

War

Kool & The Gang

"5" Royales

Dionne Warwick

Commodores/Lionel Richie

Meters/Neville Brothers

Teddy Pendergrass/Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes

Clovers

Spaniels

Luther Vandross
Rick James

Joe Tex
Lou Rawls

Stylistics

Whitney Houston

Ohio Players

Gap Band
Patti LaBelle

Janet Jackson

Marvelettes
Mary Wells
Jr. Walker & The All Stars

Billy Ward & the Dominoes

Chuck Willis

Chantels

Wynonie Harris

Chaka Khan

Why I Love My Mom

One day when I was a teenager, I had the radio on in my room and my Mom walked in and said she always liked the song that was playing.  Now my Mom's taste in music was  Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck,Neil Diamond and Elvis Presley.

But the song playing on the radio that day was Procol Harum's "Whiter Shade of Pale".  When I was even younger I can remember sitting in the car waiting on my Dad and that song coming on the car radio and she telling me she liked it.

I've never talked to her about this.  Doubt she would remember it.  But it's a musical memory of my Mom that I will always cherish.

Playlist for 5/10

Knife - Shaking the Habitual
Steve Forbert - Alive on Arrival/Jackrabbit Slim
Bombino - Nomad
Steve Martin/Edie Brickell -Love Has Come For You
Yeah Yeah Yeahs -Mosquito
Swamp Dogg - Total Destruction to Your Mind/Rat On

Music Hoarding

Music Hoarding: NPR

Well, I can tell you that even with a huge selection of Vinyl I never considered myself over-indulgent when it came to buying records.

The same goes for CD's.
But thanks to the magical world of streaming, I've been able to hear before I buy, which is helping my pocketbook from taking chances on CD's I would have no use for.

Like this article says, there are records buried in my collection that I haven't looked at in years.  Some are just there to round out artist catalogs, some are from one-hit wonders whose albums are good (why get rid of 'em) and some are nostalgia pieces, because that's what music does best: bring back memories.

I've only had to move once with my collection and yes, it was a pain.
I pity those who live in apartments and move a lot.
Digital is saving those folks.  But I still like music to be physical, which is why I rarely purchase anything other than lone tracks from Itunes.

49 and Holding

Jerry Lee Lewis had a Country hit with a song called "39 and Holding" about a guy, well, holding on to his youth as he gets older.

Here I am turning 49 and on the cusp of the half-century mark, and while I'm not trying to hang to my life in the 20's, I know the feeling of getting older.

Little things start to pop-up health wise that were never there when you're younger.   Physically I feel good, and mentally as well.

But the days get faster as you get up there, that's for sure.
I'm looking forward to rounding the bases and sliding in at #50 next year.  Boy, are these years going by fast.

Playlist for 5/4

Jake Bugg - s/t
Band Perry - Pioneer
James Blake -Overgrown
Masked Marauders - s/t
Willie Nelson - Let's Face The Music
Rilo Kiley - Rkives
LeRoy Bell - Rock 'N Soul