Saturday, September 26, 2015

Playlist for 9/26

Luke Bryan - Kill The Lights
England Dan & John Ford Coley - Nights Are Forever
Joss Stone - Water For Your Soul
Andrew Combs - All These Dreams
Mac Demarco - Another One

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Magazine Update (Fall 2015)

Magazines Update (Summer 2015)

Time for an update on magazines (print!!) I read.

Rolling Stone
Down Beat
JazzTimes
Mojo  (UK)
Uncut  (UK)

Goldmine
Billboard 

Big Takeover
Relix
Magnet
Ugly Things
Shindig (UK)
Beatlefan
Flashback (UK)
American Songwriter
Blues Revue
Living Blues
Under the Radar

Wax Poetics
Echoes of the Past
Oxford American  


Guitar Player
Guitar World
Vintage Guitar
Country Music People
Elvis The Man and His Music  (UK)
Endless Summer Quarterly
Hittin' The Note
Now Dig This  (UK)
Blue Suede News

Record Collector

Time
New Yorker
New York Magazine
Wired
Vanity Fair

Tape Op

Prog (UK)
Blues Magazine  (UK)
Vintage Rock (UK)

Vive Le Rock  (UK)

Classic Rock  (UK)
Classic Pop  (UK)
Songlines (UK)
Q  (UK)
Bob Dylan Fanzine Isis  (UK)

Bass Player
Entertainment Weekly
Wire  (UK)
Empire Magazine  (UK)
Sports Illustrated

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Playlist for 9/20

Buddy Guy - Born To Play Guitar
B.B. King - My Kind of Blues
Ornette Coleman - Change of the Century/Science Fiction
Will Hoge - Small Town Dreams
Drew Holcomb - Medicine

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Playlist for 9/15

Benjamin Clementine  - At Least For Now
Miles Davis - On The Corner/Nefertiti
Weeknd - Beauty Behind The Madness
Quicksilver Messenger Service - s/t
Iris DeMent - Trackless Woods
Larry Coryell -  Spaces
Gato Barbieri - Chapter One:Latin America

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Top 50 Albums of All Time

Last month I posted my Top 20 albums of all time.  This month I'm posting #21-50.

1. Elvis Presley - Sun Sessions 76
2. Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band 67
3. Beach Boys - Pet Sounds 66
4. Clash - London Calling 80
5. Rod Stewart - Every Picture Tells A Story 71
6. Derek and the Dominos - Layla 70
7. Rolling Stones - Let It Bleed 69
8. Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited 65
9. Michael Jackson - Thriller 82
10. Joni Mithcell - Blue 71
11. Prince - Purple Rain 84
12. Bruce Springsteen - Born In The USA 84
13. Saturday Night Fever - Soundtrack 77
14. Fleetwood Mac - Rumours
15. Van Morrison - Moondance - 70
16. Beatles - Rubber Soul 65
17. Led Zeppelin - IV  71
18. Elton John - Honky Chateau 72
19. James Brown - Live at the Apollo 62
20. Miles Davis - Kind of Blue   59
21. Marvin Gaye - What's Going On 71
22. Stevie Wonder - Songs In The Key of Life 76
23. Willie Nelson - Stardust 78
24. James Taylor - Sweet Baby James  71
25. Who - Sell Out   67
26. Steely Dan - Pretzel Logic  74
27. Jimi Hendrix - Are You Experienced 67
28. Lynyrd Skynyrd - Pronounced...  73
29. Byrds - Sweetheart of the Rodeo 68
30. Joni Mitchell - Court and Spark 74
31. Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks 75
32. Gram Parsons - Grievous Angel  74
33. Aretha Franklin - Lady Soul 68
34. Steve Earle - Guitar Town 86
35. Nirvana - Nevermind 91
36. Randy Newman - 12 Songs 70
37. Michael Jackson - Off The Wall 79
38. Keith Whitley - I Wonder Do You Think Of Me 89
39. Elvis Presley - From Elvis In Memphis 69
40. Prince - Sign O' The Times 87
41. B.B. King - Live at the Regal   65
42. Carole King - Tapestry 71
43. Moby Grape - s/t 67
44. Warren Zevon - Excitable Boy 79
45. Elvis Costello - Armed Forces 79
46. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Willy and the Poorboys 69
47. Raspberries - Starting Over 74
48. Mott The Hoople - Mott 73
49. Richard & Linda Thompson - Shoot Out The Lights 82
50. Spinners - s/t 73

email:  tmlane12@gmail.com

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Playlist for 9/10

Craig Fuller/Eric Kaz - s/t
Andrew Gold - s/t
Wilco - Star Wars
Jill Scott - Woman
Kasey Chambers - Bittersweet
Maddie & Tae - Start Here
Ian & Sylvia - Nashville

Monday, September 07, 2015

2016 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Predictions

The great NomCom purge this past summer has many wondering how it will affect the final ballot.  Sixteen of 42 members were dumped.( Billboard article dismissals )Questions still remain months later.  Were new NomCom members added?  We know a few of the names dropped, but not all.  Just who did get kicked out?  Will this latest NomCom mean a whole batch of new names will appear on the ballot?

Maybe the purge won't matter in the end.  But I can see why many are worried that older artists will be passed over for more 80's/90's ones.  My own 2016 predictions take a cautious approach.  I've got many returning artists showing up.

Jann Wenner and Jon Landau are in a tricky situation.  They most likely want more 80's/90's acts nominated.  But there is still a large contingent of voters and Hall watchers that don't want them to bypass the early pioneers.

The 2016 ballot might tell us how future ballots look.  Will there be a more populist approach to the nominees?  And will Baby Boomer acts get pushed aside for Generation X ones?

I'm going with 15 names.  My own predictions list many alternate choices that could get picked.  And I also throw in many names while explaining my pick.  I figure the NomCom does the same.  Although I'm one of those whose followed the Rock Hall since its inception, I have no special insider information on what the NomCom will do.

As is always the case with NomCom, there will be a surprise or two.  And that's why we follow the Rock Hall.  We want to be surprised, shocked and perplexed when that final Nominee ballot is revealed.  And the Hall loves a bit of controversy too.

Suggestions, complaints, etc.  tmlane12@gmail.com

Bon Jovi -  More populist acts?  The Hall would love big names, and Bon Jovi is certainly one of them.  Among the fan faves but not major critical fave acts that get mentioned like Chicago, Doobie Brothers, Journey and the Monkees, Jon Bon is the only who has been nominated ( 2011).  And he just signed Irving Azoff as his new manager.  So, he'll definitely be back on the ballot one of these years.

Chic -  I still think something has to give with Chic.  Give them a Musical Excellence Award?   Sounds good to me. How many current Hall members has Nile Rodgers worked with, let alone crossed paths with over the years?  Guess it depends how many of those return ballots. Seems like everyone likes Nile Rodgers but won't vote for him.

Joe Cocker -  I know most people are predicting Ben E. King for the posthumous pick, but I'm going with this Woodstock legend.  No real reason or breakdown.  And I'd have no problem if both of them are nominated.

Deep Purple - Often cited as the biggest snub from the Classic Rock era. Not on the ballot last year. Nominated in 2013, 2014.  I also considered  Bad Company for this one.

Electric Light Orchestra  -  Jeff Lynne would be a popular choice with a good portion of current inductees.  ELO have always been a perplexing snub.  Kind of like Roxy Music.  ELO had more hits, but Roxy Music had wider acclaim.  The Steve Miller Band could also fit in under the "long time classic rockers snub" slot. And if it's studio geniuses you love (i.e. Jeff Lynne), then Todd Rundgren would fit here.

J. Geils Band - Trying to figure out who Little Steven will push on to the ballot is always a fun guessing game.  Among his gets:  Donovan, Hollies, Darlene Love, Small Faces, Dave Clark Five. All 60's acts.  So, what about this year?   My first inclination is to go with Van Zandt's #1 snub (to him) Procol Harum.  But he's also mentioned this King Wenner approved band as one of his pet projects.  Nominated 3 times, last in 2011,

Janet Jackson - She's getting ready to drop a new album and selling out her tour.  In other words, she's back in the public eye.  And yet, the NomCom might reach back and nominate Chaka Khan here instead.  She was on the ballot with Rufus in 2012. I'd love to see both nominated.  But Janet is an icon that the Hall and HBO would love to have on their stage next April.

Marvelettes - On the ballot in 2013 & '15, here's your early 60's act (first release 1961).  It would be a shock if someone from this era isn't nominated.  Unless they move up the Early Influence timeline.

Nine Inch Nails - Seems like they were close last year on their first try.

N.W.A. -  Would be an all-time NomCom stunner if they aren't nominated.  But will they be the only Hip Hop act on the ballot?

Sonic Youth - Kim Gordon put out a well-received memoir this year,  so their name was back in the music press.   They were always a critical favorite, but didn't sell a bunch of records.  Not sure how the new NomCom will treat acts like this.  This alt-rock slot could go to the Smiths or the Cure.

Spinners -  Maybe Dave Marsh gets his 4X nominee Joe Tex back on the ballot.  If not the Spinners, I would love to see a Commodores, Kool & The Gang, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes get some long overdue recognition.  At this stage I'd love to see more than one of those on the ballot. Or any 70's R&B artist.

Sting - Does he count as a singer-songwriter?  He was a surprise snub from last year's ballot.  The Hall loves this scenario:  Get Sting inducted and we can have a huge name like Springsteen induct him.  Makes for good TV, which pleases HBO.  Having said all that, I'd prefer  Zevon, Nilsson, Croce, Lightfoot, Carole King, Carly Simon or anyone else for this pick.

War - Nominated 3X, including last year. Not sure why they don't connect with voters.  They had hits and were pretty popular in the 70's.   Thought of giving this slot to another NomCom fave, the Meters (also 3X nominated, last in 2014).

Yes -  Many were surprised that after getting nominated in 2014 they were off the ballot last year. Chris Squire's death certainly has brought their Hall snub back into view. The Moody Blues could also, finally, get in this Prog Rock slot.


Side notes:   IWent back and forth on Willie Nelson. No Country act has been inducted since 2003 (Floyd Cramer, sidemen. And I'm not counting Wanda Jackson as Country). Lots of good candidates:  Glen Campbell,  Patsy Cline come to mind.   Nelson seems to be a perfect Musical Excellence candidate.  But I'd love to see a Country act on the ballot.   I've got no Blues acts, even though one always goes through.  Otis Rush?  Johnny Winter?   More women?  My own list has 4 acts with female musicians.   I hope they nominate more, Carole King would sail right in as a performer  But I had to take the conservative route.  Also missing? A 50's act.  Little Steven has said that many doo-wop acts are still missing. Link Wray could be back to represent that decade.  The newer names the Hall apparently wants?  Smashing Pumpkins have the best chance.  Soundgarden could be in the mix, too. And one final thing about populist acts.  We keep hearing that Chicago is close, but something (someone?)  is keeping them out.  Wonder who?


Others I considered:
Roxy Music
Harry Nilsson
Warren Zevon
Meters
Kraftwerk
Steve Miller Band
Cyndi Lauper
Kate Bush
Ben E. King
Johnny Winter
Otis Rush
Smashing Pumpkins
Patsy Cline
Cure
Cars
Dick Dale
Eurythmics
Chaka Khan
Cheap Trick
Chicago
Gram Parsons
Procol Harum
Link Wray
Joan Baez
Todd Rundgren
Ashford & Simpson

Thursday, September 03, 2015

Playlist for 9/3

Charley Pride - Country/Pride of/Country Way/Songs of Pride/Make Mine Country/Sensational/Just Plain Charley

Jimmy LaFave - Night Tribe
Anderson East - Delilah
Bobby Bare - Cowboys and Daddys
Bob Seger - Seven/Mongrel
Percy Sledge - I'll Be Your Everything
Fred Neil - s/t
Laura Nyro - New York Tendaberry
Tame Impala - Currents

Tuesday, September 01, 2015

TV Update (Fall 2015)

Updated for Fall 2015.  Shows I watch. 

Listed in random order:

Walking Dead
Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown
Portlandia
Louie
Little Couple
Game of Thrones
Shameless
Episodes
Saturday Night Live
Homeland
Sherlock 
Downton Abbey
Lilyhammer
Orange Is The New Black
House of Cards
House of Lies
CatastropheVeep
Girls
Broad City
New Girl
American Idol
The Voice
So You Think You Can Dance
American Pickers
Silicon Valley
Whitechapel
Strike Back
Americans
Hell on Wheels
Real Time with Bill Maher
Rectify
Moone Boy
Wrong Mans
Lilyhammer
Ray Donovan
Masters of Sex
30 for 30
Key & Peele
Inside Amy Shumer
Silicon Valley
Sleepy Hollow
Grace and Frankie
Ballers
Humans
Deutschland 83
POV
Frontline
Nova
Independent Lens
Dan Rather Reports
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel
Banshee
Ripper Street
Vikings
Orphan Black
Mindy Project
Da Vinci's Demons
Red Sails
Veep
Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Conan
60 Minutes Sports on Showtime
Maron
Broadchurch
Longmire
Vice
Knick
Affair
Flash
Outlander
The Fall  (UK)
Togetherness
Happyish
Please Like Me
Transparent
Alpha House
Mozart In The Jungle
Black Mirror
Marco Polo
Ubreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Bloodline
Daredevil
Deadbeat
Strain
Last Ship
Later with Jools Holland
Live from Daryl's House
Bridge  (Sweden)
Hinterland  (UK)

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