Sunday 31 December 2017

KSHE Klassics Show, New Year's Eve, 2017

Quotation du jour: P.J. O'Rourke: The proper behavior all through the holiday season is to be drunk.This drunkenness culminates on New Year's Eve, when you get so drunk you kiss the person you're married to.

Well, wouldn't you know it: my computer hasn't suffered the BSOD in a while; five minutes into this morning's program, CRASH! I didn't miss much, though -- i was able to listen on my iPad until i could restart. After that it was smooth sailing all the way.

It was odd that John Ulett ("Uman") wasn't hosting today; in fact there was no host -- the first time i recall that happening in all the years i've been listening. I suppose everyone deserves a break, and the show was as good as ever(maybe he programmed it himself, just wasn't in the chair). Quite a few songs i truly love, nothing i hated -- although the Santana was pretty boring, but not so bad that i wanted to take an axe to the computer speakers.

My favourite song this morning? (I know you want to know.) "Rose Of Cimarron."

Here's the playlist -- and it's a long list -- they were mostly relatively short songs today:





 Quicksilver Messenger Service just there to my left.














The Quicksilver Messenger Service -- Fresh Air
The Doobie Brothers -- Jesus Is Just Alright
Les Dudek -- Old Judge Jones
Bob Dylan -- Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
Santana -- Samba Pa Ti
Blue Oyster Cult -- Hot Rails To Hell
Molly Hatchet -- Gator Country
The Jimi Hendrix Experience -- Stone Free
The Grateful Dead -- Truckin'
Sherbs -- No Turning Back
Rod Stewart -- Hot Legs
Poco -- Rose Of Cimarron
The Steve Miller Band -- The Stake
Paul McCartney -- Smile Away
The Sutherland Brothers & Quiver -- The Arms Of Mary
Trapeze -- Midnight Flyer
Todd Rundgren -- Love Of The Common Man
Slade -- Gudbuy T'Jane
Bachman-Turner Overdrive -- Gimme Your Money Please
Triumvirat -- March To The Eternal City
Traffic -- Rock & Roll Stew
Henry Gross -- One More Tomorrow
Little Feat -- Fat Man In The Bathtub
Steely Dan -- My Old School
Bob Seger -- Heavy Music
Lake -- On The Run
Emerson, Lake & Palmer -- Knife-Edge
Pure Prairie League -- Two Lane Highway
UFO -- Doctor Doctor
Dave Mason -- Headkeeper
Planet P -- Why Me?
The Dwight Twilley Band -- Twilley Don't Mind
Journey -- Kohoutek
Foghat -- Rock And Roll Outlaw
Pink Floyd -- Free Four
Lynyrd Skynyrd -- I Know A Little
Bob Welch -- Ebony Eyes
Grand Funk Railroad -- Footstompin' Music
Trevor Rabin -- Finding Me A Way Back Home

OK, Christmas is over and i'm back to listening to the usual crap. Here's my personal playlist for the week:

Kathy Mattea – Good News
Chantal Krevaziuk – Colour Moving And Still
John Lennon – Acoustic
The Philadelphia Orchestra – The Nutcracker (Tchaikovsky)
Sequentia – Ancient Music For A Modern Age
The Beatles – Abbey Road
Garmarna – Hildegard Von Bingen
Mary-Chapin Carpenter – Time*Sex*Love*
Genesis – Selling England By The Pound
Dan Ar Bras – Douar Nevez
Dan Fogelberg – Souvenirs
Caro Emerald – The Shocking Miss Emerald
Keane – Under The Iron Sea
Peter Gabriel – So
Son Volt – Notes Of Blue
Big Wreck – In Loving Memory Of....
Matchbox Twenty – More Than You Think You Are
Rory Gallagher – Wheels Within Wheels
Capercaillie – Delerium
Kate Bush – Rubberband Girl
Amy Grant – Behind The Eyes
Fleetwood Mac – Rumors
Baka Beyond – Spirit Of The Forest
Runrig – Play Gaelic
Rocket 88 – Rocket 88
Bonnie Raitt – Home Plate
John Renbourn – The Hermit
The Albion Band – Rise Up Like The Sun
Jeff Beck – You Had It Coming
Max Webster – Mutiny Up My Sleeve
T. Rex – The Slider
Sheryl Crow – Be Myself
Talk Talk – Spirit Of Eden








Saturday 30 December 2017

My Year In Books, 2017

As i say every year around this time, i am a list freak. I keep lists. Every book i read, every CD i listen to, every CD / DVD i buy, every film i watch.

Herewith, for your dining & dancing pleasure, is the list of every book i read this year, in chronological order. Some were re-acquaintances. Those that were new to me are marked with an asterisk.

Note: before i bought my first PC (it ran Windows 95) i would read one or two books a week; now i read one or two a month, but as someone once said, the Internet is television for people who read.

*Bruce Sterling – The Hacker Crackdown: Law And Disorder On The Electronic Frontier
*Ian Rankin – Rather Be The Devil
Tom Sharpe – Blott On The Landscape
*Robert Ludlum – The Bourne Supremacy
*Gerry McAvoy w. Peter Chrisp – Riding Shotgun: 35 Years On The Road With Rory Gallagher        And Nine Below Zero
Tom Sharpe – The Throwback
*David Herbert Donald – Lincoln
Tom Sharpe – Vintage Stuff
*John Le CarrÄ— – The Pigeon Tunnel: Stories From My Life
Lawrence Ferlinghetti – Starting From San Francisco
*Andy Rathbone – Windows 10 For Dummies
John Le CarrÄ— – A Murder Of Quality
*Robert Ludlum – The Bourne Ultimatum
Tom Sharpe -- Porterhouse Blue
*Allen Drury – Advise And Consent
*Lee Sandlin – Wicked River: The Mississippi When It Last Ran Wild
Arthur C. Clarke – Tales From The White Hart
*Christopher Hitchens – Thomas Jefferson: Author Of America
Tom Sharpe – The Wilt Alternative
*Fawn M. Brodie – Thomas Jefferson: An Intimate Portrait
*Donald Fagen – Eminent Hipsters
*Loung Ung – First They Killed My Father: A Daughter Of Cambodia Remembers
*Paul Watson – Ice Ghosts: The Epic Hunt For The Lost Franklin Expedition
Tom Sharpe – Wilt On High
*David Yaffe – Reckless Daughter: A Portrait Of Joni Mitchell
*David Lagercrantz – The Girl Who Takes An Eye For An Eye

And what (i hear you ask) were my favourites? In fiction, there's no question: Allen Drury's "Advise and Consent," published in 1959 (it won the 1960 Pulitzer Prize for fiction). (I'd never heard of it until a friend told me about it this summer.) It's a novel of political intrigue. Normally, politics interests me about as much as the secret lives of earthworms, and, indeed, this novel started very slowly, but it picked up and picked up and became unstoppable. Brilliant, although the devastating and tragic ending is something that couldn't happen in 2017.



In non-fiction, it's tied: Joni Mitchell's biography, and Thomas Jefferson's "Intimate Portrait." Wait! (i hear you cry). I thought you said you weren't interested in politics? Right, i'm not, particularly, although the current American political scene has a certain morbid appeal. But Brodie's book was less about Jefferson's politics and more about the man – and a fascinating man he was.

I'll end with a few words about Volume 5 in the Millennium trilogy. The first three volumes in the saga were written by the late Steig Larsson. (He wrote a fourth, but it has never been published – his family has refused permission.) It was the story of Lisbeth Salander ("The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo"), one of the most compelling characters in all literature – a strong, powerful, take-no-bullshit woman with a brilliant mind. David Lagercrantz picked up the ball and ran with it and, while his two additions to the series are worthwhile reads, i have one major problem with them: Salander herself isn't in them very much. There's a lot about her, her background and history and so on, but she herself is rarely "on stage."

Tuesday 26 December 2017

I Have A Borderline Personality Disorder? Who Hasn't!

I once had a doctor suggest to me, that i might, just might, suffer from a mild form of autism called Asperger's Syndrome, because, let's face it, i can be socially awkward and am very introverted. But i pointed out to him that i don't exactly "suffer." I'm 100 % fine with it and thoroughly enjoy being on my own. Sure, i have friends whose company i enjoy -- although i don't actively seek it out. On the rare occasions we arrange to meet, i dread it, but when i get there it's fine.

But there's another aspect to this -- a BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder). It manifests itself as a hyper-sensitivity to music. Whether i'm drunk or sober, a sad song can make me cry. A beautiful song can make me weep with joy. And Muzak drives me nucking futs! I was at the dentist's last week and they had country music on and it was almost as painful as the procedure. I've completely stopped going into Kelsey's pub -- the drinking establishment that's closest to where i live -- because the music is so horrible: all this pop music and hip-hop garbage. Another nearby watering hole, Crabby Joe's, a sports bar so not really my type of place to begin with, can be all right -- sometimes they play classic rock and i love that schtuff. But sometimes they play pop and hip-hop. I do go in there maybe once a week, but it's always risky. I like what they play at Bentley's Bar & Inn, but it's a twenty minute walk away and when it's -14 and snowing, i don't make the trek that often....

I'm not saying that it sucks to be me, but it would be nice to be able to listen to music without the waterworks starting and my faves will often do that.

Monday 25 December 2017

KSHE Klassics Show, Christmas Eve, 2017

Quotation du jour -- George Carlin: The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live.

It was a special all-request edition of the show today. Last Sunday, the host, John Ulett a.k.a. Uman, invited listeners to tweet their requests to him @stluman and the show was a special gift to us, his devoted listeners.

I confess i had serious misgivings about this! I was worried that it would result in a load of rubbish being played. St Louisans can have somewhat disturbing tastes: they love REO Speedwagon, for example, a group i can't abide. On the other hand, they once voted Mama's Pride's song "Blue Mist" (played today) as the greatest classic rock song of all time, ever. I wouldn't go that far, personally, but it's certainly damned good.

As it turned out, the show was as good as ever -- the only difference i could discern was that there seemed to be a lot more long songs (+8 minutes) than usual, but as they were great songs, that was hardly a problem.

Yes, i tweeted Uman and requested Dan Fogelberg's "Same Old Lang Syne" which is, after all, a seasonal song, but although he liked my tweet, he didn't play the song. Maybe just a little too soft-rock. I should have asked for "Part Of The Plan," maybe....

He played Catieboo's request, though, so for her,














Here's the playlist:

The Marshall Tucker Band -- Twenty Four Hours At A Time
Morning Star -- Sad Lady
Little Feat -- All That You Dream
Mountain -- Nantucket Sleighride
Mama's Pride -- Blue Mist
Tommy Bolin -- Post Toastee
Steve Walsh -- Every Step Of The Way
Trapeze -- Black Clouds
Flash & The Pan -- Hey, St Peter
The Allman Brothers Band -- Whipping Post
The Animals -- The House Of The Rising Sun
Yes -- Heart Of The Sunrise
Rory Gallagher -- Brute Force And Ignorance
Sherbs -- No Turning Back
Crosby, Stills & Nash -- Suite: Judy Blue Eyes
Chuck Francour -- Under The Boulevard Lights
Boz Scaggs -- Loan Me A Dime
The Kings -- This Beat Goes On / Switchin'
Starcastle -- Lady Of The Lake
Little Feat -- Fat Man In The Bathtub
Iron Butterfly -- Scorching Beauty
Brownsville Station -- The Martian Boogie
Gypsy -- Dead And Gone
Yes -- America

I've been driving Scrooge McDuck – my neighbour upstairs – crazy this week. I don't listen to Christmas music until the week before, but during that week I listen to a lot of it. Here's what i've been annoying him with:

Jethro Tull – Catfish Rising
James Taylor – October Road
Joan Osborne – Christmas Means Love
Kathy Mattea – A Collection Of Hits
Dan Fogelberg – Nether Lands
Jethro Tull – A
Enya – And Winter Came
Loreena McKennitt – A Winter Garden
Various Artists – A Christmas Celebration
Amy Grant – A Christmas Album
Steeleye Span – Winter
The Beatles – Past Masters, Volume One
Dan Fogelberg – The First Christmas Morning
Various Artists – Merry Axemas: A Guitar Christmas
Jethro Tull – The Jethro Tull Christmas Album
The Baltimore Consort – Bright Day Star
Brand X – Unorthodox Behaviour
Tracy Chapman – Tracy Chapman
I Musici – Christmas Concerti
John Kirkpatrick, Rosie Cross, et al. – Wassail! : A Traditional Celebration Of An English Midwinter
The Albion Christmas Band – An Albion Christmas
The Albion Christmas Band – Snow On Snow
Enya – The Christmas EP
Amy Grant – Home For Christmas
Loreena McKennitt – The Visit
Colin James And The Little Big Band – Christmas
Kate Rusby – Little Lights
Waterson : Carthy – Holy Heathens And The Old Green Man

Monday 18 December 2017

The KSHE Klassics Show, Dec.17th, 2017

Quotation du jour -- Confucius: Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.

I was definitely listening from NYC this week, as the first ad was for an establishment in Times Square, the second for a clinic in New Jersey, the third also aimed at New Yorkers. Great, i love New York and am delighted to be there again -- especially as the weather's nicer there than here atm.

It was a seamless listening experience, too -- no connection drop-outs, no computer crashes -- but it wasn't a classic Klassics show -- lots that i liked, of course, but not much i can say i truly love, one song i actively dislike (REO Speedwagon) and "Taxi" by Harry Chapin, a song that annoys me on many levels.




Oh, but i love St Lou, too!

Here's the playlist:

Off Broadway -- Stay In Time
Procol Harum -- Simple Sister
Ray Gomez -- Make Your Move
Rush -- Bastille Day
Gamma -- I'm Alive
The Allman Brothers Band -- Melissa
Jackson Browne -- In The Shape Of A Heart
Bob Dylan -- Knockin' On Heaven's Door
Pete Townshend -- Rough Boys
Cream -- Strange Brew
David Bowie -- The Jean Genie
Harry Chapin -- Taxi
Foghat -- Drivin' Wheel
.38 Special -- Chain Lightnin'
Free -- Wishing Well
Billy Joel -- Root Beer Rag
Slade -- Get Down And Get With It
Bruce Springsteen -- Badlands
The Babys -- Every Time I Think Of You
Bad Company -- Crazy Circles
Genesis -- Visions Of Angels
Angel -- Rock And Rollers
Grinderswitch -- Higher Ground
Loggins & Messina -- Nobody But You
Trapeze -- Black Cloud
Jefferson Starship -- Girl With The Hungry Eyes
Touch -- Black Star
Fleetwood Mac -- Heroes Are Hard To Find
Ian Gomm -- Hold On
The Michael Stanley Band -- He Can't Love You
Jimmy Barnes -- Working Class Man
Russ Ballard -- Rene Didn't Do It
Kenny Loggins -- Easy Driver
Santana -- Dance Sister Dance
Eagles -- On The Border
Roxy Music -- Love Is The Drug
Todd Rundgren -- I Saw The Light
UFO -- Only You Can Rock Me
REO Speedwagon -- Music Man (live)

And here's what we've been playing on wax cylinders chez nous this week:

John Renbourn – The Lady And The Unicorn
June Tabor – Against The Streams
Various Artists – Passion Sources
Joni Mitchell – Court And Spark
Joni Mitchell – Don Juan's Reckless Daughter
Various Artists – A Tribute To Dan Fogelberg
Alan Stivell – The Best Of Alan Stivell
Max Webster – Mutiny Up My Sleeve
This Mortal Coil – It'll End In Tears
Happy Rhodes – Rearmament
The Doobie Brothers – The Captain And Me
Joni Mitchell – Mingus
Paul Simon – Stranger To Stranger
Dan Fogelberg – High Country Snows
The Beatles – Rubber Soul
Kirsty MacColl – Titanic Days
Joan Osborne – Relish
Talking Heads – Remain In Light
The Moody Blues – To Our Children's Children's Children
Dan Fogelberg – Love In Time
Oyster Band – Deserters
Maria Muldaur – Meet Me At Midnite
The Albion Christmas Band – Winter Songs
Kate Rusby – Little Lights
Maddy Prior – Flesh & Blood
Nick Drake – Way To Blue
Highly Strung – When The Winds Begin To Sing
Clannad – Pastpresent
Mary-Chapin Carpenter – Come On Come On
Howard Skempton – Lento

Monday 11 December 2017

The KSHE Klassics Show, Dec.10th, 2017

Quotation du jour -- Neil Young: All that stuff about heavy metal and hard rock, I don't subscribe to any of that. It's all just music. I mean, the heavy metal from the '70s sounds nothing like the stuff from the '80s, and that sounds nothing like the stuff from the '90s. Who's to say what is and isn't a certain type of music?

I'm not really sure where i was listening from this morning, as the targeted ads didn't seem to be aimed at a specific geographic location: they were mostly more like national public service announcements. There weren't very many of them, anyway.

It wouldn't be me if i didn't have a couple of problems along the way: the Internet connection died for a coupla minutes and i missed the Peter Gabriel, which was a shame as it's a favourite, and my laptop crashed once -- fortunately at the beginning of a commercial break, so i didn't miss any music there.

What a great show, though! The first song alone -- well, i first heard it here a couple of years ago and bought the Elvin Bishop CD immediately, such a joyful noise. (That's not Elvin in the pic, obviously!)




















Elvin Bishop -- Travelin' Shoes
Budgie -- I Ain't No Mountain
Canned Heat -- On The Road Again
Dave Mason -- Let It Go, Let It Flow
Manfred Mann's Earth Band -- For You
Santana -- Everything's Coming Our Way
Fleetwood Mac -- Hypnotized
Michael Stanley -- Last Night
The Band -- Up On Cripple Creek
Kansas -- Portrait (He Knew)
Gypsy -- Tomorrow Is The Last To Be Heard
Van Morrison -- Wild Night
J. Geils Band -- Whammer Jammer
April Wine -- Say Hello
The Marshall Tucker Band -- Take The Highway
Jay Ferguson -- Shakedown Cruise
Eric Clapton -- Let It Rain
Crosby, Stills & Nash -- Dark Star
Sugarloaf -- Don't Call Us, We'll Call You
Jackson Browne -- That Girl Could Sing
Cream -- Tales Of Brave Ulysses
New Riders Of The Purple Sage -- Panama Red
The Police -- Canary In A Coalmine
Triumvirat -- Spartacus
Dan Fogelberg -- As The Raven Flies
The Little River Band -- Help Is On Its Way
The Grateful Dead -- Sugar Magnolia
J. Geils -- Looking For A Love
Charlie Daniels -- Trudy
Peter Gabriel -- Solsbury Hill
Chilliwack -- Something Better
Mama's Pride -- In The Morning
The Clash -- Train In Vain
Pete Townshend -- Pure And Easy
Stanley Clarke -- School Days
Prism -- Hello
Bob Welch -- Sentimental Lady
Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen -- Hot Rod Lincoln


And here's what we've been tormenting the neighbours with this week:

Strawbs –  A Choice Collection Of Strawbs
Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
Mike Oldfield – QE 2
Peter Hammill – The Silent Corner And The Empty Stage
Joni Mitchell – Turbulent Indigo*
Five Hand Reel – Earl O' Moray
Chris Leslie – Dancing Days
Keith Emerson – Emerson Plays Emerson
King Crimson – Red
Marillion – Script For A Jester's Tears
Nazareth – Greatest Hits
Kate Bush – Hounds Of Love
Melissa Etheridge – Never Enough
Joni Mitchell – Court And Spark*
Caro Emerald – Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor
Dan Fogelberg – Nether Lands
Steve Earle – Jerusalem
The Beatles – Please Please Me
Joni Mitchell – Taming The Tiger*
Peter Gabriel – So
Afrocelts – Seed
ABBA – The Visitors
Robin Trower – B.L.T.
Herbie Hancock – Gershwin's World
Pentangle – Cruel Sister
Todd Rundgren – The Best Of Todd Rundgren
Steely Dan – Aja
The Tragically Hip – Up To Here
The Sugarcubes – Stick Around For Joy
Richard Thompson – Mock Tudor
Procol Harum – Broken Barricades
Deirdre – Deirdre
Tim Renwick – Privateer

* this Joni Mitchell mini-binge was inspired by my recent reading of David Yaffe's excellent new biography, “Reckless Daughter.” Although I never stopped listening to her music, some of this schtuff I hadn't played in years and i'd almost forgotten how brilliant she can be.












Sunday 3 December 2017

The KSHE Klassics Show, Dec. 3rd, 2017

Quotation du jour: Nick Hornby  ¬ I love the relationship that anyone has with music ... because there's something in us that is beyond the reach of words, something that eludes and defies our best attempts to spit it out. ... It's the best part of us probably ...

You may recall that, last week, although i started  listening to the show from California, for the rest of the morning i was actually listening from St Louis, and it was great: my interest in all things St Lou includes their radio ads. It didn't happen again, though. I was listening from New York City -- Verizon ads targeted at residents of The Big Apple, etc. Oh, well.

The show started badly: for some reason, it took a long time for me to connect to the audio stream and i missed the Strawbs song, a bummer as it's a favourite. (I have it on CD, though, so i'll listen later.) Otherwise i had no computer or connection problems, which made a nice change and it was a mostly excellent edition; quite a few songs i love dearly, and really only one that i hate: the REO Speedwagon, i can't stand those guys and it baffles me why KSHE loves them so much. Ugh.

Anyway, to celebrate my missing of the first song, here's the album cover.







Strawbs -- Lay Down
The Who -- Magic Bus
Nazareth -- Razamanaz
Eric Clapton -- I've Got A Rock 'N' Roll Heart
Loverboy -- Hot Girls In Love
Rainbow -- Street Of Dreams
Steve Winwood -- Time Is Running Out
Steely Dan -- Pretzel Logic
Heart -- Dreamboat Annie
April Wine -- Sign Of The Gypsy Queen
The Michael Schenker Group -- Cry For The Nations
Real Life -- Send Me An Angel
Chicago -- 25 Or 6 To 4 (live)
The Tarney / Spencer Band -- No Time To Lose
Foreigner -- Rev On The Red Line
Kansas -- What's On My Mind
REO Speedwagon -- Only The Strong Survive
Genesis -- The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway
Charlie Daniels -- Uneasy Rider
The Doors -- Back Door Man
Dave Mason -- So High (Rock Me Baby And Roll Me Away)
Flash & The Pan -- Hey, St Peter
Robin Trower -- Too Rolling Stoned
Leon Russell -- Stranger In A Strange Land
Spirit -- Nature's Way
The Spencer Davis Group -- I'm A Man
Foghat -- Dreamer
Trooper -- Round Round We Go
Nazz -- Open My Eyes
Shooting Star -- Tonight
J. Geils Band -- Musta Got Lost
Alice Cooper -- Hello Hurray
Humble Pie -- 30 Days In The Hole
The Animals -- It's My Life
Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush -- A New Rock And Roll
Cheryl Dilcher -- Together
Traffic -- Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys
Electric Light Orchestra -- Ma-Ma-Ma Belle
Rory Gallagher -- Country Mile
The Allman Brothers Band -- One Way Out
George Harrison -- All Things Must Pass

Here's what we've been annoying the neighbours with this week:

James Taylor – Covers
Jethro Tull –  A
The Beatles – Eight Days A Week: The Touring Years (DVD)
Falco – The Ultimate Collection
Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Works, Vol. 2
Steeleye Span – Wintersmith
Mike Oldfield – Tubular Bells II
Johnny Hodges – Jazz Masters 35
Kathryn Stott – A Debussy Collection
Terje Rypdal – Odyssey
Robin Trower – B.L.T.
Robin Trower – Truce
John McLaughlin – The Promise
Kate Bush – Never For Ever
Van der Graaf Generator – Do Not Disturb
Elvis Presley – The Number One Hits
Coldplay – Parachutes
Dire Straits – Brothers In Arms
Fairport Convention – Farewell, Farewell
Son Volt – Notes Of Blue
Various Artists – A Little On The CD Side, Vol. 19
Joni Mitchell – Hejira
Kensington Market – Avenue Road
Rory Gallagher – Live! In Europe
Roger McGuinn – Back From Rio
Alphaville – Forever Young
Dan Fogelberg – Windows And Walls








Monday 27 November 2017

The KSHE Klassics Show, Nov. 26th, 2017

Quotation du jour: Hans Christian Anderson ~ Where words fail, music speaks

It seems i was listening from somewhere in California on Sunday. I hope the weather was nice for me, it was dull and dreary and -1 degree (Celsius) at home. At least, that i was thinking as the audio stream began and i was told that "together we can make California better."

Then something that i really loved, happened. A couple of weeks ago i mentioned that listenlive.co, the outfit that streams KSHE's audio, would, during commercial breaks, replace the local St Louis ads with (a) a sometimes wildly inappropriate song of their own, and/or (b) ads aimed at me based on my geographical location, i.e., wherever my VPN told them i was listening from. That didn't happen this Sunday. There were no extraneous songs and i heard mostly local ads, which was great. I love St Louis so much, i even like their radio ads! http://www.moinsurance.org/ http://www.suntrupnissan.com/ https://www.ackermantoyota.com/ http://www.goodfeet.com/st-louis/ I shoulda been born there.... (I wonder if those people will give me a commission...?)

And what a playlist. I know i'm onto a good thing when, in a four hour show, there was only one song that made me want to toss the laptop out of the window, the REO Speedwagon horror. (OMG, i hate that piece of alleged music.) I needed this, too: i had a miserable, stress-filled week at work. You might be surprised to hear that i have another job! Yes, i've been blogging for ten years now and i've earned around $13, so it's not like i need one, but i like to do something that keeps me busy for more than four hours a week.... Last week was too OTT, though. Keep clicking on them ads, folks!

Survivor -- Poor Man's Son
Eric Clapton -- Mainline Florida
Flame -- Beg Me
Bob Dylan -- Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again
Dave Mason -- We Just Disagree
Prism -- Julie
Good Rats -- Injun Joe
Jeff Beck -- Freeway Jam
Finnigan & Wood -- Highway
John Mellencamp -- Ain't Even Done With The Night
Paul McCartney & Wings -- Venus And Mars / Rock Show
April Wine -- Just Between You And Me
The Who -- Athena
Shooting Star -- Breakout
The Little River Band -- It's A Long Way There
Atlanta Rhythm Section -- I'm Not Gonna Let It Bother Me Tonight
Captain Beyond -- Sufficiently Breathless
Charlie -- L.A. Dreamer
Crosby, Stills & Nash -- Marrakesh Express
Paice Ashton Lord -- Remember The Good Times
Uriah Heep -- The Wizard
Steely Dan -- Black Friday
Charlie Daniels -- Reflections
Rare Bird -- Beautiful Scarlet
Bruce Springsteen -- The Promised Land
Jim Capaldi -- Living On The Edge
Couchois -- Do It In Darkness
Symphonic Slam -- Modane Train
Budgie -- Sky High Percentage
Z.Z. Top -- A Fool For Your Stockings
Nils Lofgren -- No Mercy
The Jimi Hendrix Experience -- Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
REO Speedwagon -- 157 Riverside Avenue
Styx -- Snowblind
Rainbow -- Man On The Silver Mountain

This is what's been under the laser at World HQ this week:

Sharon Shannon – Out The Gap
James Taylor – James Taylor
Terje Rypdal – Chaser
Yes – The Ladder
Trigger Hippy – Trigger Hippy
The Mothers Of Invention – Freak Out!
Eagles – On The Border
Marc Bonilla – American Matador
John Hiatt – Walk On
Caro Emerald – The Shocking Miss Emerald
Highly Strung – Bagatelles And Belgian Lace
Judy Collins – Wildflowers
Crash Parallel – World We Know
Paul McCartney & Wings – Band On The Run
Strawbs – A Choice Selection Of Strawbs
Richard Thompson – Rumor And Sigh
Procol Harum – Broken Barricades
Andy M. Stewart – Man In The Moon
Various Artists – American Rock 'n' Roll Classics, Vol. 6
Various Artists – Angel Heart
Kate Bush – The Kick Inside
Five For Fighting – The Battle For Everything
John Lennon – Rock 'N' Roll
Joni Mitchell – Hits
Mark Knopfler – Golden Heart
Runrig – The Cutter And The Clan
Rival Sons – Head Down
Howard Jones – In The Running
Colin James – Bad Habits
Blues Traveler – Four
Siouxsie And The Banshees – The Rapture

























Monday 20 November 2017

The KSHE Klassics Show, Nov. 19th, 2017

Quotation du jour ¬ Joni Mitchell: I see music as fluid architecture.

On Sunday morning, i had a seamless listening experience -- no connection problems at all, and no computer woes. Unlike most of the week. I won't bore you with the details; suffice to say that i needed my modem replaced and had to uninstall and re-install my browser and to be honest, until just a couple of hours prior to the start of the show, i wasn't certain i'd be able to listen at all, except on my iPad with a $45 Bluetooth speaker, which sounds okay but can't compare to the Altec-Lansings i have on the computer. I sorted everything out, though. I'm not just another pretty face.

And it was a great show yet again -- only one song i really can't stand (The Marshall Tucker Band) and several that i truly love (Yes, Rockpile, the Rod Stewart -- i know, kids, it may be hard to believe now, but Rod Stewart created some brilliant music back in the seventies).

And this photograph of Joni Mitchell has absolutely no relevance to the show -- i doubt if KSHE has ever played Joni -- but i'm reading David Yaffe's biography of her atm, and it's excellent, so she's been on my mind.



Grand Funk Railroad -- Closer To Home / I'm Your Captain
The Allman Brothers Band -- Revival
Mason Proffit -- Two Hangmen
Bob Dylan -- Highway 61 Revisited
Neil Young -- Like A Hurricane
Strawbs -- Heartbreaker
Eric Clapton -- Let It Grow
Automatic Man -- My Pearl
Little Feat -- Oh, Atlanta
Yes -- And You And I
John Mayall -- Room To Move
The Electric Light Orchestra -- Sweet Talkin' Woman
Vinegar Joe -- Never Met A Dog
Loverboy -- Lucky Ones
Utopia -- Love In Action
Bruce Cockburn -- If I Had A Rocket Launcher
Prism -- Spaceship Superstar
Chilliwack -- Roll On
The Jimi Hendrix Experience -- The Wind Cries Mary
Brownsville Station -- Lady (Put The Light On Me)
The Marshall Tucker Band -- Can't You See
The Grateful Dead -- Playing In The Band
Rockpile -- Teacher Teacher
Rod Stewart -- Handbags And Gladrags
Kansas -- It Takes A Woman's Love (To Make A Man)
Status Quo -- Is There A Better Way
The Blend -- The Prize
.38 Special -- Wild-Eyed Southern Boys
Pink Floyd -- San Tropez
Blue Oyster Cult -- Godzilla
Tucky Buzzard -- Gold Medallions
City Boy -- Cigarettes
The Byrds -- Eight Miles High
Jackson Browne -- Rock Me On The Water
Peter Frampton -- Lines On My Face


Here's what my cat has been dancing to / yowling at this week:

Anderson Ponty Band – Better Late Than Never
Saga – Full Circle
Jonathan Edwards – Jonathan Edwards
Rory Gallagher – Against The Grain
Kate & Anna McGarrigle – La Vache Qui Pleure
B.B. King – Blues Summit
Joan Osborne – Pretty Little Stranger
Randy Newman – Little Criminals
Marillion – Holidays In Eden
Steely Dan – Pretzel Logic
Fairport Convention – Rosie
David Crosby – If I Could Only Remember My Name
Seether – Poison The Parish
Nic Jones – In Search Of Nic Jones
Caro Emerald – Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor (DVD)
Richie Havens – The Best Of Richie Havens
Martin Carthy – Crown Of Horn
Linda Ronstadt – Greatest Hits, Volume 2
Highly Strung – When The Winds Begin To Sing
The Beatles – Beatles For Sale
Steeleye Span – Parcel Of Rogues
Jennifer Warnes – Famous Blue Raincoat
Switchfoot – The Beautiful Letdown
Jeff Beck – Flash
Bluehorses – Ten Leagues Beyond The Wild World's End
Dan Fogelberg – Phoenix
Jethro Tull – Thick As A Brick
Waterson:Carthy – Broken Ground
3: … To The Power Of Three
Richard Thompson – Sweet Talker
Joni Mitchell – The Hissing Of Summer Lawns
Various  Artists – New Wave Hits Of The 80's, Vol. 6
Joe Cocker – With A Little Help From My Friends
Keane – Under The Iron Sea
Eagles – On The Border
Fleetwood Mac – Tribute To The Blues
Martyn Bennett – Bothy Culture























































Sunday 12 November 2017

The KSHE Klassics Show, Nov. 12th, 2017

Quotation du jour -- John Cleese: You realize as you grow older that almost nobody knows what they are talking about.

Well, another four hours just whizzed by.... (I was whizzing all over the USA, too, according to the ads inserted by listenlive.co: i was in NYC, i was in the San Francisco area, i was even in St Louis!) (Of all places....)

The highlight of this morning's program was definitely the song by City Boy, one of my all-time favourites, but really, there was so much wonderful music today. It was a seamless listening experience, too -- for a change: no BSODs, no connection drop-outs at all.

Here are The Allman Brothers. Scruffy looking bunch, weren't they. But that's an essential album.



The Allman Brothers Band -- Whipping Post
Dave Mason -- Feelin' Alright
Michael Stanley -- Nothing's Gonna Change My Mind
Bruce Springsteen -- Cadillac Ranch
Tony Carey -- I Won't Be Home Tonight
Supertramp -- Poor Boy
George Harrison -- So Sad
Strawbs -- Keep On Trying
Pousette-Dart Band -- Amnesia
Jethro Tull -- Cross-Eyed Mary
Charlie Daniels -- Saddle Tramp
April Wine -- All Over Town
Jay Ferguson -- Thunder Island
Steely Dan -- The Royal Scam
Novo Combo -- Tattoo
Nazareth -- This Flight Tonight
Blue Oyster Cult -- I Love The Night
Gerry Rafferty -- Baker Street
Pink Floyd -- Pigs (Three Different Ones)
Electric Light Orchestra -- Turn To Stone
Firefall -- Livin' Ain't Livin'
Joe Cocker -- She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
Martin Briley -- Salt In My Tears
The Steve Miller Band -- Space Cowboy
The Firm -- Radioactive
Joe Walsh -- Turn To Stone
The Fixx -- Red Skies
Journey -- The Girl Can't Help It
The Atlanta Rhythm Section -- Another Man's Woman
The Police -- Driven To Tears
Santana -- All I Ever Wanted
Robin Trower -- Caledonia
The Grateful Dead -- Uncle John's Band
Cream -- Badge
City Boy -- 5.7.0.5.
Sammy Hagar -- The Ice Man
The Alan Parsons Project -- I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You

Here's what we've been oppressing the neighbours with this week. It isn't a long list – i've been busy elsewhere!

Rory Gallagher – Deuce
Paula Cole – Ballads
Billy Joel – The Essential Billy Joel
Highly Strung – When The Winds Begin To Sing
Highly Strung – Bagatelles And Belgian Lace
Heart – Heart
Fish – Vigil In A Wilderness Of Mirrors
Van der Graaf Generator – Do Not Disturb
Dan Fogelberg – Captured Angel
Gowan – Strange Animal
Murray McLauchlan – Greatest Hits
Five Hand Reel – For A' That
Caro Emerald – Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor (Platinum Edition)
Roy Wood – Exotic Mixture
Peter Hammill – pH7
Crowded House – Recurring Dream
Fairport Convention – Angel Delight
The Beatles – Help!
Yes – Yesshows
Camel – I Can See Your House From Here
Bill Bruford's Earthworks – All Heaven Broke Loose
Peter Gabriel – Passion
Emmylou Harris – Profile II – The Best Of Emmylou Harris
Steve Earle – El Corazón
Genesis – Abacab
































Sunday 5 November 2017

The KSHE Klassics Show, Nov. 5th, 2017

Quotation du jour: Ludwig Van Beethoven ¬ Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy. Music is the electrical soil in which the spirit lives, thinks and invents.

Thanks to my VPN, i was listening to the program from New York City this week -- at least, according to the ads that listenlive.co was inserting, but that's okay with me: i used to feel that NYC was my spiritual home. Until, that is, i went to St Louis and discovered the Delmar Loop area....

Anyway, to the music. I was thinking, when Uman (the show's host) played the track by The Kings -- the second song by a Canadian group in less than an hour -- that KSHE plays a disproportionate amount of music from The Great White North, and out of curiosity i looked at the website of another American station i have bookmarked. Their playlist indicated that they had played just one Canadian performer since midnight, and that was Jeff Healey (who i happen to think was over-rated). (And before any of my anonymous commentards decide to flame me, that is my OPINION. I happen to like ABBA. So what?)

After the Kings' song finished, as yet another example of GMTA, Uman himself remarked on this phenomenon, saying, with a chuckle, that "the amount of Canadian music we play on the Klassics Show is ridiculous, when you think about it." Of course, there was only one more Canuck track for the rest of the show.

Anyway, it was a great show: i'd be delighted to hear Rory Gallagher every week, that Kings' song is a classic for sure (and, indeed a klassic), plus Genesis, The Allman Brothers, Mama's Pride, Robin Trower, Steely Dan, Wishbone Ash, Billy Joel, Yes, ELO -- all performers whose music i love.

Normally, i try to head the playlist with a photo that's relevant to the first song, but i really couldn't think of one for The Beat's song, so here's a pic of Rory Gallagher, the best blues-rock guitarist of all time, ever.



The Beat -- Don't Wait Up For Me Tonight
April Wine -- Oowatanite
Toto -- I'll Supply The Love
Journey -- Spaceman
Icehouse -- Electric Blue
Joe Walsh -- At The Station
The Kings -- This Beat Goes On / Switchin' To Glide
Roger Daltrey -- One Man Band
The Allman Brothers Band -- Blue Sky
Rory Gallagher -- Brute Force And Ignorance
Supertramp -- Hide In Your Shell
Bruce Springsteen -- 10th Avenue Freeze-Out
Mama's Pride -- Can I Call You A Cab
Genesis -- I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)
Bob Dylan -- Lay, Lady, Lay
Little Feat -- All That You Dream
Michael Stanley -- In The Heartland
Robin Trower -- Bridge Of Sighs
Runner -- Run For Your Life
Steely Dan -- Any Major Dude Will Tell You
Mountain -- Nantucket Sleighride
B.B King -- The Thrill Is Gone
Wishbone Ash -- Blowin' Free
The Marshall Tucker Band -- Searchin' For A Rainbow
Montrose -- Rock The Nation
Shooting Star -- Hang On For Your Life
New England -- Don't Ever Want To Lose Ya
Elton John -- All The Girls Love Alice
Nazareth -- Holiday
Todd Rundgren -- Just One Victory
Billy Joel -- The Ballad Of Billy The Kid
Michael Martin Murphey -- Wildfire
Moon Martin -- Rolene
Yes -- Wonderous Stories
Danny Spanos -- Hot Cherie
Foreigner -- Starrider
The Electric Light Orchestra -- Roll Over Beethoven
Bachman-Turner Overdrive -- Hey You

It really is the highlight of my week, you know...

And here's what Cate and i forced the neighbours to listen to this week:

The Chieftains – The Chieftains 4
Jack Bruce – A Question Of Time
Tim Renwick – Privateer
James Taylor – Sweet Baby James
Wishbone Ash – There's The Rub
Thunder – Back Street Symphony
Tori Amos – From The Choirgirl Hotel
Stan Rogers – The Very Best Of Stan Rogers
John Kirkpatrick – Coat-Tails Flying
Roger Waters – Amused To Death
Peter Hammill – From The Trees
Trevor Jones et al  – Angel Heart
The Albion Band – Before Us Stands Yesterday
Stephen Stills – Stephen Stills 2
The Beatles – Magical Mystery Tour
Bonnie Raitt – Silver Lining
Genesis – Nursery Cryme
Return To Forever – Romantic Warrior
Peter Hammill – And Close As This
Runrig – Transmitting Live
Rockpile – Seconds Of Pleasure
Steely Dan – Katy Lied
This Mortal Coil – Filigree And Shadow
Five Hand Reel – For A' That
Dan Fogelberg – High Country Snows
Jon Anderson – Change We Must
Joan Osborne – Love And Hate
The Kinks – The Collection
Colin James – Twentyfive Live
Enya – A Day Without Rain (Ed note – a day without rain? In Stratford? Unbelieveable!)

Monday 30 October 2017

KSHE Klassics, Oct. 29, 2017

Quotation du jour ~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Forgive me, Majesty. I am a vulgar man! But I assure you, my music is not.

It was a hassle-free listening experience this week, folks, with very few brief connection drop-outs and, better yet, no BSODs (Blue Screens Of Death). I had a couple during the week, but none on Sunday, so i was able to listen to all of this excellent edition of The Klassics Show virtually uninterrupted.

I want to blether a bit about the outfit that streams KSHE's audio, listenlive [dot] co. When i first started listening to KSHE, all those years ago, it was a different company that handled the stream (i forget its name), and one of the things that piqued my interest in St Louis was listening to the local ads. I'll never forget listening to Arnold, owner of the Goodfeet Store (which also has a branch in Shiloh, Illinois, you know) -- he's quite a character! -- although it struck me as very odd hearing ads for hospitals....

But about three years ago, listenlive [dot] co. took over and decided to block the audio stream to my country. I now need to listen using a VPN.* But worse than that, listen deletes the local advertising and replaces it with ads aimed at my geographical area which, thanks to the VPN, is usually New York City (although i've been hearing an ad for a restaurant in Santa Clara, California, recently).

It gets worser: listenlive also inserts songs of their own choosing that are generally wildly inappropriate, often poorly recorded, and sometimes utterly abysmal. Every week, for instance, i have to suffer two songs i hate but two bands i can't stand, KISS and Aerosmith. The things i have to endure to listen to the best radio program that i know of -- and to bring you this playlist each week....

Oh, look, there's Dickie Betts:



Dickie Betts -- Hand Picked
Dave Mason -- Mystic Traveler
Off Broadway -- Full Moon Turn Your Head Around
Santana -- She's Not There
Brave Belt -- Another Way Out
Joe Walsh -- Meadows
Ronnie Montrose -- Town Without Pity
Traffic -- Empty Pages
Strawbs -- Autumn
Robin Trower -- My Love (Burning Love)
Bob Dylan -- Blowin' In The Wind
Arthur Brown -- Fire
The Who -- Slip Kid
Chicago -- Make Me Smile
.38 Special -- Rock And Roll Strategy
Steve Walsh -- Every Step Of The Way
Cat Stevens -- Bitterblue
Leon Russell -- Tightrope
Creedence Clearwater Revival -- Midnight Special
Loggins & Messina -- Angry Eyes
Rick Derringer -- Don't Ever Say Goodbye
Foreigner -- Women
April Wine -- Roller
Frankie And The Knockouts -- Running Into The Night
The Boomtown Rats -- I Don't Like Mondays
Jethro Tull -- Living In The Past
Wet Willie -- Everything That You Do (Will Come Back To You)
John Mellencamp -- Small Paradise
Patti Smith -- Because The Night
Ted Nugent & The Amboy Dukes -- Call Of The Wild
Lou Reed -- Sweet Jane
Electric Light Orchestra -- Poker
Styx -- Lady
The Rolling Stones -- Wild Horses
REO Speedwagon -- Son Of A Poor Man

Here's what we've been “grooving” to (as we hipsters say) at home this week:

Bruce Cockburn – In The Falling Dark
Thin Lizzy – Live And Dangerous
Dan Fogelberg & Tim Weisberg – No Resemblance Whatsoever
Various Artists – Passion Sources
Pink Floyd – Ummagumma
Dan Fogelberg – Full Circle
Jeff Beck – You Had It Coming
The Fray – How To Save A Life
Mr Fox – Join Us In Our Game
Dan Fogelberg – Nether Lands
Fairport Convention – The Five Seasons
Electric Light Orchestra – Early Years
Peter Hammill – Fireships
Jefferson Airplane – Bless Its Pointed Little Head
Joni Mitchell – Night Ride Home
Matchbox 20 – Yourself Or Someone Like You
Bob Dylan – Highway 61 Revisited
Dead Can Dance – Spiritchaser
Various Artists – Boogie Nights 2
Shirley & Dolly Collins – Anthems In Eden
Jennifer Warnes – Famous Blue Raincoat
Supertramp – Crisis? What Crisis?
Jeff Beck – Live At The Hollywood Bowl
Joan Osborne – Songs Of Bob Dylan
Five Hand Reel – Earl O' Moray
The Tragically Hip – Up To Here
Stan Rogers – Fogarty's Cove
Santana – Milagro
Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
The Byrds – Free Flyte

*My VPN is Tunnel Bear and i'd recommend them highly. https://www.tunnelbear.com/ They have a free version that gives you 500 MB of data a month, but i pay $9.99 (USD) a month for unlimited and it's worth every cent.

Monday 23 October 2017

The KSHE Klassics Program, Oct. 22, 2017

Quotation du jour ~ Gord Downie: We want to bring good music to the people. That’s what it’s all about.

My regular reader will recall that, earlier this year, i had a lot of problems listening to this program: something called netio.sys kept crashing my system. But then it stopped, and streaming the audio was -- with one or two notable exceptions -- pretty painless for quite a while. I thought i'd solved the problem by running a few maintenance tasks.

I may have to run those maintenance tasks again, though: netio.sys (it's a system service exception error)  has reared its ugly head again this weekend and crashed my system right in the middle of Chilliwack's "Baby Blue." I missed very little of the program though, but i had to listen on my iPad for maybe five minutes. Not quite the same as my computer speakers are very good ones and the iPad sound leaves a lot to be desired (and of course i have no idea where the earbuds are).

Overall, a darned good show today.

I need to say a few words about Gord Downie of The Tragically Hip, who died last Tuesday. He really deserves a post of his own, but i don't think i'm articulate (or sober) enough to write a substantial and worthy one.

KSHE has never played The Tragically Hip (which is odd, as they play a goodly amount of Canadian schtuff), but my friend Tommy, who is the overnight deejay there during the week, knows their music and played it at a station he used to work for. He sends his condolences. Sadly, the band is virtually unknown in the States. Perhaps their music dealt too much with Canadian themes: who else would write a song called "Bobcaygeon"? Who in the USA would know what the heck it meant? But then there was "New Orleans Is Sinking" -- maybe it just touched too many nerves after Hurricane Katrina, although it was written long before....

But to Canadians, he was a hero: not just as a musician but as a writer and as an activist for native rights. Our Prime Minister spoke to the press about him and had tears rolling down his cheeks. (A lot of people in Canada were familiar with tears rolling down their cheeks this week.) As Justin Trudeau said, this country is less of a place with him gone.

Anyway, or, as Canadians say, anyways, here's the playlist:






R.I.P., Gord






Stephen Stills -- Love The One You're With
Supertramp -- Even In The Quietest Moments
Nantucket -- Quite Like You
Charlie Daniels -- Caballo Diablo
Andy Pratt -- Avenging Annie
Thin Lizzy -- Romeo And The Lonely Girl
Rare Earth -- Get Ready
UFO -- Lights Out
The Grateful Dead -- Friend Of The Devil
Bruce Springsteen -- Prove It All Night
Brewer & Shipley -- One Toke Over The Line
Yes -- Siberian Khatru
Rocky Burnette -- Tired Of Toein' The Line
Wet Willie -- Baby Fat
Outlaws -- Green Grass And High Tides
Shooting Star -- Bring It On
Emerson, Lake & Palmer -- Still ... You Turn Me On
Gary Wright -- Love Is Alive
King Crimson -- 21st Century Schizoid Man
The Little River Band -- It's Not A Wonder
Blackfoot -- Train, Train
Journey -- Topaz
Robin Trower -- Little Bit Of Sympathy
Ambrosia -- Holdin' On To Yesterday
Sniff 'N' The Tears -- Driver's Seat
Chilliwack -- Baby Blue
The Moody Blues -- Ride My See-Saw
April Wine -- Wings Of Love
The Marshall Tucker Band -- Blue Ridge Mountain Sky
Charlie -- She Loves To Be In Love
Foghat -- Stone Blue
Jethro Tull -- Too Old To Rock'N'Roll, Too Young To Die
Stillwater -- Women (Beautiful Women)
Saga -- On The Loose
Crawler -- Sail On
Blue Cheer -- Summertime Blues

And this is what my cat has been dancing to at home this week:

Maddy Prior & June Tabor – No More To The Dance
Jane Siberry – When I Was A Boy
Bj̦rk РHomogenic
Planxty – The Well Below The Valley
Peter Hammill – Everyone You Hold
Caro Emerald – The Shocking Miss Emerald (Deluxe Edition)
Talk Talk – Spirit Of Eden
The Boswell Sisters – Shout, Sister, Shout!
Rory Gallagher – Deuce
The Tragically Hip – In Violet Light
Bruce Springsteen – High Hopes
The Allman Brothers Band – At Fillmore East
P.J. Harvey – White Chalk
Florence + The Machine – Lungs
Nanci Griffith – The MCA Years: A Retrospective
Yes – The Yes Album
Monty Python – Monty Python Sings.
John Kirkpatrick – Coat-Tails Flying
Kathy Mattea – Walking Away A Winner
Blowzabella – Vanilla
Alan Stivell – Live In Dublin
Paul Simon – Graceland
Van der Graaf Generator – A Grounding In Numbers
Jennifer Warnes – Famous Blue Raincoat
Steeleye Span – Bedlam Born
The Beatles – Please Please Me

Saturday 21 October 2017

Just My Imagination (Runnin' Away With Me)

Someone said to me recently that i had a "very unique" imagination and it was the semantic howler as much as anything else that started me thinking about the subject. ("Unique" is an absolute and doesn't take kindly to qualifiers.)

Do i have a unique imagination? Well, of course i do -- anyone with an imagination has one that is unique to themself. But i find that very few people these days seem to have any imagination at all and i started wondering why.



Donald Fagen, in his memoirs -- the excellent "Eminent Hipsters" -- called them TV Babies: people born since 1960 who grew up being babysat by mindless programming on television. They never developed an imagination because they didn't have to, they had everything handed to them. I didn't: i watched television, sure, but i preferred reading books. I don't even now own a working TV -- i did, but as i rarely watched anything, why bother to replace it?

Someone, and i wish i could remember who, once said that they "prefer the radio to television because the pictures are better." Absolutely!

(Full disclosure: i do have a few television series on DVD, and i watch those occasionally, but they are mostly series that are pretty insane, like "The Big Bang Theory" and "Father Ted.")

It's not going to get any better. Kids nowadays rarely seem to get their faces out of their phones; well, not just kids!

Monday 16 October 2017

The KSHE Klassics Program, Oct. 15, 2017

Quotation du jour ~ Rod Stewart: Instead of getting married again, I'm going to find a woman I don't like and just give her a house.

After last week's program, which was so overwhelmingly good, this week's was a bit of a let-down. Last week's show would have been difficult to top and it's still the best four hours of radio that i know of, and although there were many performers this morning that i love, there were few songs that made me want to say, "OMG! I haven't heard that since...."

I need to say a few words about Rod Stewart. Although nowadays he's irrelevant, early in his career -- both solo and with The Jeff Beck Group, he released some amazing music. Then he became rich and materialistic. He could still release some thrilling music, but each subsequent album contained less and less of interest until, in 2002, he released the first volume in what became a 5-CD set, "The Great American Songbook," in which he managed to render some of the greatest pop music standards of the thirties, forties and fifties, utterly boring. Mind you, they were some of the best-selling albums of his career, so what the hell do i know? (He also released, a few years later, possibly the worst Christmas album i have ever heard this side of Alvin And The Chipmunks'.)

I read his autobiography a year or so ago. As with his musical career, it started out well -- some of it was laugh-out-loud funny -- but then he became rich and famous and he started writing about nothing but his latest possessions, his new mansions, his latest conquests of the female persuasion, pffft.





Relevant Rod, there.






Rod Stewart -- Every Picture Tells A Story
The Michael Stanley Band -- One Good Reason
Robin Trower -- Sweet Wine Of Love
Angel -- The Tower
Santana -- Winning
Dave Mason -- Only You Know And I Know
Emerson, Lake & Palmer -- From The Beginning
The Grateful Dead -- A Touch Of Grey
Eric Clapton -- Motherless Children
Shooting Star -- Last Chance
Billy Joel -- The Entertainer
Utopia -- Love Is The Answer
Climax Blues Band -- Using The Power
Steely Dan -- Aja
The Sutherland Brothers & Quiver -- Slipstream
Dr John -- Right Place, Wrong Time
Big Country -- In A Big Country
John Waite -- Change
Denim -- Throw Away
Atlanta Rhythm Section -- Angel (What In The World's Come Over Us)
Blind Faith -- Sea Of Joy
Steve Winwood -- Arc Of A Diver
Dire Straits -- Skateaway
The Babys -- Looking For Love
Les Dudek -- City Magic
Yes -- Time And A Word
Charlie -- Killer Cut
The Byrds -- Turn! Turn! Turn!
Jefferson Airplane -- Volunteers
Kenny Loggins -- Celebrate Me Home
Ambrosia -- Nice, Nice, Very Nice
The Moody Blues -- The Story In Your Eyes
Elton John -- Where To Now St Peter
Rainbow -- Long Live Rock And Roll
Horslips -- Sure The Boy Was Green

And here's what i've been torturing the neighbours with this week:

Dan Fogelberg – The Wild Places
Eagles – One Of These Nights
Television – Marquee Moon
Marillion – Be My Prog Friends Barcelona 2
Mama's Pride – Mama's Pride
Brand X – Unorthodox Behaviour
Kate Bush – Director's Cut
P.J. Harvey – Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea
The White Stripes – Under Great White Northern Lights
June Tabor – Angel Tiger
Peter Hammill – Sitting Targets
The Soundtrack Of Our Lives – Behind The Music
Ivie Anderson – I Got It Good And That Ain't Bad
The Beatles – Revolver
Ray Davies – Thanksgiving Day
David Bowie – The Best Of David Bowie 1974/1979
Sheryl Crow – Tuesday Night Music Club
Rory Gallagher – Rory Gallagher
Home – Pause For A Hoarse Horse
Procol Harum – A Salty Dog
Steeleye Span – Hark! The Village Wait
The Allman Brothers Band – Brothers And Sisters
Paul Simon – The Rhythm Of The Saints
The Bothy Band – Old Hag You Have Killed Me
Dead Can Dance – Toward The Within
Talk Talk – Spirit Of Eden























Monday 9 October 2017

The KSHE Klassics Program, Oct. 8, 2017

Quotation du jour ~ Tom Petty: If no one ever wrote another song, we’d be fine. There’s plenty of songs. But I still do it. I love it, it’s a gift.

Sadly, Tom Petty no longer does it...

Personally, i'm not crazy about this week's show's opener, The Charlie Daniels Band: oh, they're listenable enough, but i wouldn't necessarily choose to listen to them. Things picked up immediately, however, with Rush, a band who has created some much-loved music. I wouldn't include "Jacob's Ladder" in a list of my all-time favourite songs, though (good as it is), but i would include The Hooters' song, the Dan Fogelberg, and the Mott The Hoople, plus there many of my favourite groups this morning -- Steely Dan, The Doobies, Yes, The Sutherland Brothers, etc. etc. In fact there was only one song this morning that i actively disliked -- the one by Aphrodite's Child (although the Ted Nugent was kind of moronic, but then so is Ted Nugent).

It was a virtually seamless listening experience as far as the audio stream was concerned (unlike the horrorshow of a fortnight ago). Sure, there were a few drop-outs, but as they lasted for little more than a second each time, i was happy.

John Ulett (the program's host) mentioned that there will be a Dan Fogelberg tribute album released on Nov. 17 https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Long-Awaited-Dan-Fogelberg-Tribute-Album-Out-1117-20170929 I'll be very interested in that: so much of his music means so much to me and i don't think i've ever heard any cover versions of his songs....

Anyway, i know, just shut up and give us the playlist (i hear you say), so here 'tis.




















The Charlie Daniels Band -- The Devil Went Down To Georgia
Rush -- Jacob's Ladder
Tycoon -- Such A Woman
Steely Dan -- Black Cow
Bruce Springsteen -- Jungleland
The Fixx -- Stand Or Fall
Badfinger -- Perfection
The Hooters -- All You Zombies
Dan Fogelberg -- Illinois
Alvin Lee w. Mylon LeFevre -- So Sad (No Love Of His Own)
Joe Satriani -- Always With Me, Always With You
The Doobie Brothers -- Natural Thing
Yes -- America
Steve Winwood -- While You See A Chance
Elton John -- Harmony
Michael Murphey -- Geronimo's Cadillac
Aphrodite's Child -- Loud Loud Loud/4 Horsemen
Steve Miller -- The Stake
Derek & The Dominos -- Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad
The Sutherland Brothers & Quiver -- Arms Of Mary
Mott The Hoople -- All The Way From Memphis
Emerson, Lake & Palmer -- Tank
Procol Harum -- A Whiter Shade Of Pale
The Marshall Tucker Band -- 24 Hours At A Time
King Crimson -- The Court Of The Crimson King
Heart -- Kick It Out
Ted Nugent -- Hey Baby
The Babys -- California
Supertramp -- Sister Moonshine
Fleetwood Mac -- She's Changing Me
The Doors -- The Wasp
The Byrds -- So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star
Todd Rundgren -- Hello It's Me

And here's what's been under the laser here at World HQ this week:

Dan Fogelberg – River Of Souls
The Albion Band – Albion Heart
Broadway Revival Cast 1992 – Guys And Dolls
Peter Hammill – pH7
Eagles – One Of These Nights
Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
Madonna – American Life*
Carole King – Tapestry
James Taylor – Before This World
Jeff Beck – Jeff
Steve Earle – Essential Steve Earle
Neverending White Lights – Goodbye Friends Of The Heavenly Bodies
Rory Gallagher – Defender
Joan Osborne – Righteous Love
Simon Nicol – Before Your Time
Roger McGuinn – Live From Mars
Sandy Denny – Rendezvous
Genesis – Foxtrot
Radiohead – In Rainbows
The Pretty Reckless – Going To Hell
Focus – Hamburger Concerto
Mike Oldfield – Return To Ommadawn
Five Hand Reel – Five Hand Reel
Talk Talk – Spirit Of Eden
Runrig – The Cutter And The Clan
Marillion – F.E.A.R.
Joni Mitchell – Turbulent Indigo
Caro Emerald – Emerald Island
Various Artists – The Mother Of All Morris
Chris Leslie – Origins
Kronos Quartet w. Bob Ostertag – All The Rage

*No, really. It's the only album of hers i've ever bought. It was also her worst-selling album ever and was absolutely slammed by the critics. I like it, what can I tell ya.





Monday 2 October 2017

USPS Revisited

I posted a few weeks ago (https://spriggsblog.blogspot.ca/2017/09/usps.html) about the United States Postal Service and their lousy performance record in shipping to Canada -- it really is beyond my comprehension why it should take a package coming from Illinois or Missouri eight weeks to arrive (which is the norm) when packages coming from Holland arrive in less than a fortnight.

I may have to reconsider. A couple of weeks ago, i ordered a 2018 St Louis calendar from a place in Georgia and i was expecting it at the end of October, yet it arrived on Friday.

I still can't forgive them for delivering the Christmas Cards i ordered last year, at the end of October, at the end of December, i.e., after Christmas.

I know, First World problems....

Sunday 1 October 2017

The KSHE Klassics Show, October 1st, 2017

Quotation du jour: Albert Einstein ~ If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.

Now, that's more like it! After last Sunday's horrendous listening experience, a nightmare of both laptop (hardware) and connection problems, today's experience was as smooth as a baby's bum. I called my man Bryan at tech support on Monday and he suggested i do something and it made my connection rock solid. Give the man a medal -- i've been having connection problems off and on for years, and no one had ever mentioned his solution before. I wonder why?

And it was an excellent program today -- guess life is worth living after all.

One of my favourite album covers of all time:




















Badfinger -- Day After Day
Kansas -- Miracles Out Of Nowhere
Alice Cooper Billion Dollar Babies
Steely Dan -- Deacon Blues
Supertramp -- Bloody Well Right
April Wine -- Like A Lover, Like A Song
Tony Carey -- A Fine, Fine Day
The James Gang -- Midnight Man
Spooky Tooth -- Cotton Growin' Man
Poco -- You Better Think Twice
Tom Petty -- Listen To Her Heart
Lake -- Between The Lines
Ten Years After -- I'd Love To Change The World
John Mellencamp -- Hot Night In A Cold Town
Brownsville Station -- (The) Martian Boogie
Bob Dylan -- Positively 4th Street
Lighthouse -- One Fine Morning
Journey -- On A Saturday Night
Bruce Springsteen -- Kitty's Back
Creedence Clearwater Revival -- Green River
Bob Seger -- Turn The Page
Starcastle -- Lady Of The Lake
Black Oak Arkansas -- Jim Dandy
Stingray -- The Man In My Shoes
Rare Earth -- I Just Want To Celebrate
Little Feat -- Time Loves A Hero
Yes -- Yours Is No Disgrace
Emerson, Lake & Palmer -- Hoedown
The Ozark Mountain Daredevils -- Chicken Train
The Rolling Stones -- When The Whip Comes Down
Ian MacLagan -- Little Troublemaker
Stillwater -- I Reserve The Right
String Driven Thing -- Circus
Traffic -- Rock & Roll Stew
Wet Willie -- Keep On Smilin'

Here's what I persecuted the neighbours with this week:

Idjah Hadidjah – Tonggeret
Ashley Hutchings – By Gloucester Docks I Sat Down And Wept
Waterson:Carthy – Holy Heathens And The Old Green Man
Planxty – Old Hag You Have Killed Me
Van der Graaf Generator – Do Not Disturb
Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Trilogy
Tori Amos – Little Earthquakes
George Harrison – Best Of Dark Horse 1976 – 1989
Kathleen Edwards – Back To Me
Talk Talk – Spirit Of Eden
Survivor – Vital Signs
Yes – Going For The One
Jethro Tull – A Passion Play
Buddy Guy – Bring 'Em In
Dan Fogelberg – The Wild Places
Rockpile – Seconds Of Pleasure
ABBA – The Visitors
Ian Anderson – Thick As A Brick 2
The Beatles – Let It Be
Paula Cole – This Bright Red Feeling
Seether – Poison The Parish
Steeleye Span – Dodgy Bastards
Don Henley – The End Of The Innocence

Monday 25 September 2017

KSHE Klassics, September 24, 2017

Quotation du jour: Thomas Jefferson ~ He who knows best knows how little he knows.

I have a love / hate relationship with computers, laptops, smartphones and iPads.

An excellent program this morning but a miserable listening experience, thanks to both connection and computer problems. Connection dropouts (lasting a few seconds) were frequent, and twice, when the stream quit altogether, i had to reload the page; i missed most of the Mistress and Graham Parker songs.

Worse was to come. Just as the Pat Travers number began, the system crashed (a Win32kfull.sys error): a blue screen of death, possibly caused by the new browser i installed, Torch. Normally Windows analyses the problem and restarts; this time it didn't. (I spent a good twenty minutes listening on the iPad.) When i've had similar problems with previous laptops, i've simply removed and then re-inserted the battery, but with this laptop, which i've only had since December, i couldn't see how to remove it. So, i used my phone to go to the company's website and learned that, on the bottom of the machine, there's a pinhole (i'd never noticed it before). Insert a paperclip, hold for four or five seconds, and the battery will reset. So i did and it did, and after that all was well. Oh, and i uninstalled Torch.



Rush -- Roll The Bones
Trapeze -- Medusa
Couchois -- Roll The Dice
Strawbs -- Little Sleepy
The Sutherland Brothers & Quiver -- (I Don't Want To Love You But) You Got Me Anyway
Dave Mason -- World In Changes
Poco -- Good Feelin' To Know
The Marshall Tucker Band -- Fire On The Mountain
David Bowie -- Rebel Rebel
The Grateful Dead -- I Need A Miracle
Rare Bird -- Peace Of Mind
The Electric Light Orchestra -- So Fine
Badfinger -- No Matter What
Yes -- Close To The Edge
The Allman Brothers -- Statesboro Blues
Billy Joel -- Say Goodbye To Hollywood
Mistress -- China Lake
Graham Parker -- White Honey
The Who -- I Can't Explain
Pat Travers -- Boom Boom Out Go The Lights
Uriah Heep -- Salisbury
Chris deBurgh -- Don't Pay The Ferryman
Ted Nugent And The Amboy Dukes -- Migration
Stabilizers -- One Simple Thing
It's A Beautiful Day -- A Hot Summer Day
Journey -- Of A Lifetime
Elton John -- Burn Down The Mission
Bob Seger -- Ramblin' Gamblin' Man
Supertramp -- Another Man's Woman
The James Gang -- Alexis
Procol Harum -- Conquistador

And here's what i've been scaring the cat with this week:

America – History: America's Greatest Hits
Rod Stewart – Out Of Order
Marillion – Holidays In Eden
Idjah Hadidjah – Tonggeret
Renaissance – Scheherazade And Other Stories
Mama's Pride – Guard Your Heart
Stan Rogers – Fogarty's Cove
Terje Rypdal & The Chasers – Blue
Five Hand Reel – Five Hand Reel
Jann Akkerman – Tabernakel
Steely Dan – Pretzel Logic
Jethro Tull – This Was
Jeff Beck – Official Bootleg U.S.A. '06
Bonnie Raitt – Give It Up
Ten Years After – Live At Reading
Tim Renwick – Privateer
Maddy Prior & The Girls – Bib & Tuck
The Chieftains – The Chieftains 4
Tim Hart & Maddy Prior – Summer Solstice
Crowded House – Recurring Dream
FM – Black Noise
Terje Rypdal – Waves
Kathleen Edwards – Back To Me
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band – The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Cocteau Twins – Heaven Or Las Vegas
Caro Emerald – Emerald Island
Billy Joel – Turnstiles
Mark Knopfler – Sailing To Philadelphia
Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball
Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Trilogy
Planxty – Cold Blow And The Rainy Night





Monday 18 September 2017

KSHE Klassics, Sept. 17, 2017

Quotation du jour ~ Dan Fogelberg: MTV didn't call. I guess i wasn't hip and groovy enough.

Well, didn't this week's show just zoom by. I was at the laptop, just buggering around on the Internet (as i am wont to do) thinking there was lots more great classic rock was to come, and it was over! Mind you, it was the best Klassics Show in a couple of weeks -- when it kicks off with Dan Fogelberg, i know i'm in for a treat!




Dan Fogelberg -- Part Of The Plan
Kansas -- Two Cents' Worth
Graham Parker -- Don't Ask Me Questions
Prism -- Hello
Jo Jo Gunne -- Run Run Run
Van Morrison -- Wavelength
John Kay -- Easy Evil
Billy Joel -- Prelude / Angry Young Man
Toby Beau -- Westbound Train
Santana -- Everything's Coming Our Way
Uriah Heep -- Sweet Lorraine
Cheryl Dilcher -- High
Electric Light Orchestra -- Tightrope
April Wine -- I Like To Rock
Bob Dylan -- Knockin' On Heaven's Door
Krokus -- Screaming In The Night
Dave Mason -- Headkeeper
Steely Dan -- Bodhisattva
Jackson Browne -- Here Come Those Tears Again
John Stewart -- Gold
The Amboy Dukes -- Journey To The Center Of The Mind
Michael Stanley -- All I Ever Wanted
Stingray -- Lovesaver
String Driven Thing -- Starving In The Tropics
Morning Star -- Sad Lady
Head East -- Since You've Been Gone
Queen -- Liar
Traffic -- Freedom Rider
Point Blank -- Nicole
Rod Stewart -- Blondes (Have More Fun)
Eric Clapton -- Blues Power
The Doobie Brothers -- Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me)
Neil Young -- Cinnamon Girl
Foghat -- My Babe
The Moody Blues -- Question
Kenny Loggins -- Keep The Fire
Marillion -- Kayleigh
Black Sabbath -- Black Sabbath
Heartsfield -- House Of Living

Here's what i've been oppressing the neighbours with this week:

Five Hand Reel – For A' That
Planxty – The Well Below The Valley
The Bothy Band – Old Hag You Have Killed Me
Runrig – The Cutter And The Clan
Colin James – Fuse
Kate Bush – The Dreaming
Robin Trower – Day Of The Eagle
Katrina And The Waves – Walking On Sunshine: The Greatest Hits Of Katrina And The Waves
Mike Oldfield – Ommadawn
Caro Emerald – Acoustic Sessions
Steeleye Span – Ten Man Mop, Or, Mr Reservoir Butler Rides Again
Jimi Hendrix – South Saturn Delta
Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Black Moon
The Beatles – Rubber Soul
Jeff Beck – Live +
Jethro Tull – Minstrel In The Gallery
Saga – Silent Knight
Radiohead – Hail To The Thief
Bob Dylan – Modern Times
Eliza Carthy – Rough Music
Terje Rypdal – Descendre
Paul Simon – The Essential Paul Simon
John Hiatt – Anthology
James – The Best Of James
Peter Hammill – In A Foreign Town
Fairport Convention – Who Knows Where The Time Goes?
Annie Haslam –Annie Haslam
Chicago – Chicago VII
Various Artists – Compil Folk 23
David Gilmour – Rattle That Lock
Steely Dan – Pretzel Logic
Donovan – Sunshine Superman
P.J. Harvey – White Chalk
Yes – The Yes Album
Arkells – Michigan Left



Monday 11 September 2017

KSHE Klassics, Sept. 10th, 2017

Quotation du jour ~ Walter Becker: Cynicism, I contend, is the wailing of someone who believes that things are, or should be, or could be, much, much better than they are.

If i ever win a lottery -- which is pretty unlikely, as i never buy tickets -- i intend to move to St Louis. A condo downtown with a view of the river would be my idea of heaven, plus i wouldn't have to listen to this program online every week. Of course, i'd have to buy a stereo system too -- right now i only ever listen to music on the laptop, and i have a very nice pair of Altec-Lansing speakers for it -- but as i'd won the lottery i'd have oodles of boodle, so no worries there.













Status Quo -- Down Down
The Electric Light Orchestra -- In The Hall Of The Mountain King
Mama's Pride -- In The Morning
Pure Prairie League -- Two Lane Highway
Sad Café -- Black Rose
Bob Dylan -- Tangled Up In Blue
Judas Priest -- The Ripper
The Jeff Beck Group -- I Ain't Superstitious
Nantucket -- Heartbreaker
Planet P -- Why Me?
The Grateful Dead -- Not Fade Away
The Moody Blues -- Just A Singer (In A Rock And Roll Band)
Shooting Star -- Tonight
Billy Joel -- Captain Jack
Little Feat -- Feets Don't Fail Me Now
Aldo Nova -- Fantasy
The Spencer Davis Group -- I'm A Man
April Wine -- Shotdown
Robert Palmer -- You're Gonna Get What's Comin'
Jesse Colin Young -- Ridgetop
Gulliver -- Ridin' The Wind
Rare Bird -- As Your Mind Flies
Bob Welch -- Ebony Eyes
Jefferson Starship -- Can't Find Love
Snail -- The Joker
Trevor Rabin -- Finding Me A Way Back Home
Joe Walsh -- County Fair
The Tubes -- Talk To Ya Later
.38 Special -- Chain Lightnin'
The Who -- Dr Jimmy
Kansas -- Can I Tell You
Moxy -- Sail On Sail Away
Steely Dan -- The Fez

And here's what's been driving my neighbours to distraction this week:

Dave Swarbrick – English Fiddler
Idjah Hadidjah – Tonggeret
John Kirkpatrick – Going Spare
Five Hand Reel – Five Hand Reel
Runrig – The Cutter And The Clan
Lucinda Williams – World Without Tears
Van der Graaf Generator – Trisector
Memphis Minnie – The Essential Recordings
The Bothy Band – Old Hag You Have Killed Me
Joan Osborne – Songs Of Bob Dylan
Richard Thompson – Acoustic Classics II
Planxty – The Well Below The Valley
Planxty – Cold Blow And The Rainy Night
Caro Emerald – Emerald Island Tour
Marillion – F.E.A.R.
Paula Cole – Ballads
Neil Young – Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Steeleye Span – Bloody Men
Linda Thompson – Dreams Fly Away
Various Artists – Passion Sources
Paul Simon – You're The One
The Walker Brothers – Portrait
Warren Zevon – Excitable Boy
Jon & Vangelis – Page Of Life
Peter Hammill & Guy Evans – Spur Of The Moment
Rory Gallagher – Against The Grain
Fairport Convention – Over The Next Hill
Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Trilogy
Dan Fogelberg – Live At Carnegie Hall

Wednesday 6 September 2017

USPS

I have to say that i despair of the United States Postal Service.



Before go any further, i must add that, on the whole, i love the U.S.A. And have done ever since i was little. I memorised the Pledge of Allegiance when i was thirteen or fourteen and can still recite it. The Americans, in general, are the most generous, friendliest people on Earth. I love the countryside there, and the cities are so much more dynamic than anywhere else. I am very proud to be an honorary St Louisan and i believe that the Delmar Loop area of St Louis is my spritual home.

I don't like their political situation at the moment, but that's irrelevant to this post.

So much for the preamble.

I don't order schtuff online very often – i prefer to spend my money at local independent shops. But sometimes i want something that is simply unavailable locally.

I recently ordered a biography of Thomas Jefferson from amazon dot ca – it arrived two days later. I recently ordered a Caro Emerald CD from her website in Holland and it landed in my mailbox a week later.

I ordered a John Hiatt CD from a place in Connecticut and it arrived in five weeks. And that's typical – four to eight weeks is the norm with anything from The States.

Maybe, just maybe, Canada Customs holds American packages for longer, but i can't imagine why they would, so the problem must lie with the U.S.P.S.

It baffles me.



Monday 4 September 2017

KSHE Klassics, September 6, 2017

Quotation du jour: Robert A. Heinlein ~ Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.

It was a strangely unsatisfying Klassics Show this week. Oh, the four hours just zoomed by as usual, and almost all of the music was fine, and it's still the best radio program i know of, but there was very little that i can actually say i loved, and regulars like Steely Dan (R.I.P. Walter Becker), Billy Joel and Jackson Browne were missing. Oh, well, it was still the highlight of my week.






Bonus points if you understand this.













The Moody Blues – Legend Of A Mind
Rainbow – Street Of Dreams
Crawler – Stone Cold Sober
Dr Hook – Cover Of The Rolling Stone
Wet Willie – No, No, No
REO Speedwagon – Only The Strong Survive
Bob Seger – Get Out Of Denver
Little Feat – Rocket In My Pocket
The Edgar Winter Group – Round And Round
Touch – Don't You Know What Love Is
Michael Bolton – Fool's Game
Prism – Julie
Hydra – Feel Like Running
Supertramp – Crime Of The Century
Triumvirat – March To The Eternal City
Dwight Twilley Band – Twilley Don't Mind
Headstone – Turn Your Head
Jefferson Starship – Play On Love
Ozark Mountain Daredevils – Spaceship Orion
Shooting Star – Breakout
Derek & The Dominos – Bell Bottom Blues
Journey – Kohoutek
Fleetwood Mac – Danny's Chant
Axe – Rock 'N' Roll Party In The Street
Couchois – Do It In Darkness
Mott The Hoople – All The Young Dudes
Yes – Going For The One
Quicksilver Messenger Service – Fresh Air
George Harrison – This Song
Loggins & Messina – Vahevala
Sherbs – No Turning Back
Genesis – Your Own Special Way
Paul McCartney – Smile Away
Ambrosia – Time Waits For No One
Janis Joplin – Move Over
Lake – Key To The Rhyme
Slade – Gudbuy T' Jane
Jethro Tull – Teacher
Roger Daltrey – Say It Ain't So Joe

Here's what i've been annoying the neighbours with at home this week:

Robin Trower – Live
The Sutherland Brothers & Quiver – Beat Of The Street
Lisa Gerrard & Patrick Cassidy – Immortal Memory
Alan Stivell – Raok Dilestra
Jack Lancaster et al – Peter And The Wolf
Idjah Hadidjah – Tonggeret
Goldfrapp – Seventh Tree
Robin Trower – Living Out Of Time
Peter Hammill – The Future Now
Procol Harum – Shine On Brightly
The Kinks – Arthur, Or, The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire
Saga – Silent Knight
Steeleye Span – Please To See The King
The Kinks – Come Dancing With The Kinks
Talking Heads – The Best Of Talking Heads
Lucinda Williams – Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
The Bothy Band – Old Hag You Have Killed Me
Steve Earle –  Jerusalem
Various Artists – Passion Sources
Five Hand Reel – For A' That
Andy Irvine & Paul Brady – Andy Irvine & Paul Brady
Jefferson Airplane – Volunteers
Saga – Images At Twilight
Van der Graaf Generator – Pawn Hearts
Caro Emerald – Emerald Skies
The Hooters – One Way Home
Genesis – Selling England By The Pound
Franz Ferdinand – Franz Ferdinand
Jane Siberry – Angels Bend Closer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer – Trilogy
Talk Talk – Spirit Of Eden
Jan Akkerman – Tabernakel