Filed under: 1, America, Disney, Music, soundtrack | Tags: Alvin, Disney, Music, Rare, soundtracks
Merry Christmas everyone! Here is some winter fun!
I got tired of the typical “hey.. lets put on the Peanuts Christmas Soundtrack and be like Wes Anderson” type posts. So instead, here are 3 songs from the classic Disney short, Once Upon A Wintertime. As an added bonus I am also putting up Christmas with the Chipmunks. I know it’s not Disney, but hey.. I am in the giving mood :)
Once Upon A Wintertime Download Here
Christmas With The Chipmunks Download Here
Once Upon A Wintertime
The Chipmunk Song
Every now and then, I sometimes forget what RocknRoll is really all about. When those days happen, I quickly run to my computer and turn on the TOY DOLLS. Suddenly, like a bolt of lightning, I remember what the missing ingredient is…. FUN!
The TOY DOLLS represent everything a true punk band should aspire to be. Many “pure” punk rockers discard this band as simply a novelty act.. but I guarantee that you will be hard pressed to find any successful punk band not list them as an influence.
I have a great story about my 7th grade science teacher (who was 23 and smoking hot) all impressed that I listened to the Toy Dolls. I thought I was the shiznit until she said she couldn’t wait to go home and tell her BOYFRIEND! (noooo!!) At the time, she was like 6 feet tall and I was like barely 4’11”, so I don’t think our love was destined to happen.
Here are my favorites from their first 3 albums:
Dig that Groove Baby
Bless You My Son
Dougy Giro
Yes.. I am an Eagle Scout. Get your laughs out now, cus when the bomb drops, ya’ll be coming to my wigwam and eating the food that I learned how to prepare in my wilderness survival class!
Apart from being a Scout, I also worked professionally for the BSA in the Sierra Mountains. Living without parents every summer for 6 years can open a young boys eyes to many worldly vices (you’d be surprised how many scouts and counselors get drunk and smoke out on the weekends).
One of my greatest experiences from scouting was the introduction to new music I had never heard of before. Bands like CSNY, Pink Floyd, Bob Marley, Phish, Bare Naked Ladies, the Cure… etc. When my days off would arrive, I usually wound up spending all the money I earned on music.
Anyhoo,
The one CD I constantly played out was Cat Steven’s Greatest Hits. His songs just seemed to fit with the environment that I awoke to every day. This was music you could hike with, camp with, work, swim, eat, and dream to. My very first performance ever (I was only 13) was in front of 500 scouts by a bonfire where I sang “Moonshadow”. The standing ovation I received afterwards definitely cemented the music bug forever in me.
When I listen to his songs now I always feel young. Here are some from the greatest hits and Harold and Maude (one of the best movies evah):
Moonshadow
Hard Headed Woman
The Wind
Don’t Be Shy
Prior to the internet era, The Apples (In Stereo) seemed like mythic pop Gods to many aspiring musicians. What you knew about the band was completely built around Fanzine articles and college radio play. I used to lay awake in my dorm room dreaming about riding a bus out to Colorado to join the Elephant Six and have Rob of the apples produce my albums. This was the first band that made me realize what record production was all about.
Their first album Fun Trick Noisemaker was a startling debut of Velvet Underground heroin guitars mixed with Beach Boys melodies and themes. What was really amazing was that this band recorded it all on a four track. Now a days, do-it-yourself albums are the norm with computers making everyone think they are the next Rick Rubin.. but back in the early 90’s, no band I ever heard of was doing this. They owned their own studio, produced all their own records, ran their own label, and played on their friends albums. The best part was.. they actually sold lots of albums!
As the nineties were coming to a close, and the new millenium began, the Apples topped the college charts with every album that they released. They still have some of their early dirty psych sound, but they have become more polished, using advanced recording gear, and writing songs that are more sophisticated and precise.
Here in order of the first four albums they put out, are my favorite tunes:
Green Machine Haley (b-side demo)About Your Fame The Bird That You Can’t See
Filed under: 1, 70's, America, Emitt, Mccartney, Music, Paul, Rhodes, rocknroll
There isn’t much I can add to how great Emitt Rhodes is. I discovered him while in the middle of recording my album “Let’s Be Poor Together” and it couldn’t have happened at a more appropriate time. His production sense greatly influenced the sound of my album and helped me define what I was looking for in myself as a musician.
Anyhoo,Click Here Now and get the amazing, yet sad story of this man.
Live Till You Die You Should Be AshamedEver Find Yourself Running
The Song In My Head 