Jokes That Stuck; "...and knitting...and knitting"

I guess there were a few reasons this joke stuck with me; his expression, the laugh in his voice when he says the line. I always took to 'slightly deranged' Pee-Wee' as much as 'chuckles-and-giggles' Pee-Wee. 

(who am I kiddin'? ALL that Pee-Wee stuff is deranged.)

I remember going to see this in the theatre during a summer in Gary. Glen Reese and I said the 'cable-knit sweater' line for the rest of my time there. There was a time when you literally could not go anywhere without hearing someone quote from 'Pee-Wee's Big Adventure'. 

I break this line out whenever I am truly stuck trying to do something, say put together a table or desk chair, or at some point in a video game where I keep getting 'killed'. It's a beauty to break the tension when you're really frustrated.

'The John Zeps Show' is coming....Part 2

I really have no idea as to what the hell this 'show' is gonna be about. Is it gonna be like 'Seinfeld', a show about nothing? Is it gonna be like 'Jackass'? (which could happen knowing Zippy and his predilection for recklessness). Might it be in the vein of 'Intervention'? (What is 'ZEPS LIGHT'?) So far, we've been in the car with John twice and we haven't learned a lot. I guess they're gonna break us in slow. 

I'm hooked...What is Johnny doing?

I have a feeling this is gonna be infinitely watchable...something is bound to happen

THE LEGENDS MIXES - 'HISTORY 101, LESSON 2' - (FREE DOWNLOAD)

Ay yo, my name is Rusty Redenbacher and I'm about to drop some links to this funky mix that I made up, you know what I'm sayin'? Yeah...and ya don't quit, yo...

RUSTY REDENBACHER - 'History 101, Lesson 2'


Playlist

1) King Of Rock The Bells (Rusty's Live Mash-up) - LL Cool J/Run-DMC

2) Do The James - Super Lover Cee and Casanova Rud

3) They Want EFX - Das EFX

4) Dwyck - Gang Starr/Nice & Smooth

5) Hip-Hop Junkies - Nice & Smooth

6) Punks Jump Up To Get Beat Down (Orig. Mix) - Brand Nubian

7) Call Me D-Nice - D-Nice

8) Rebirth Of Slick (Cool Like Dat) - Digable Planets

9) Chief Rocka - Lords Of The Underground

10) Slam - Onyx

11) That's When Ya Lost - Souls Of Mischief

12) All For One - Brand Nubian

13) Sally Got A One-Track Mind - Diamond D

14) Sucker MC's - Run-DMC

15) The Humpty Dance - Digital Underground

16) Paper Thin - MC Lyte

17) Mona Lisa - Slick Rick

18) Ya Bad Chubbs - Chubb Rock

 

"I meant to do that"...Get busy,  y'all!

FRIDAY, JUNE 13 - TWO SHOWS for the 'KID!

Hey,

FRIDAY, JUNE 13

*insert 'Jason Voorhees' joke here*

LAZARUS will be making our appearance at the legendary MELODY INN. The MEL is a phenomenal place to see a show. Everyone who complains that live music is disappearing needs to take a trip to the Melody Inn. I can't speak for everyone, but I can speak for LAZARUS when I say, "We are gonna tear a new hole in that place."

At some point in the evening after that, I'll make my way to the TIP-TOP TAVERN to perform a solo-set. I'l be focusing on material from my solo release, also called 'Lazarus'. Here's the flyer for that show...



See ya then...here's a taste of my solo material...

RUSTY REDENBACHER - 'Lazarus, The Rising (Part 2)'

THE LEGENDS MIXES - 'HISTORY 101, LESSON 1' - (FREE DOWNLOAD)

Y'all didn't think I forgot what's REEEEEALLLLLY good, didja?



*does 'The Mayor' dance from 'Rap City'*

I actually put the 'History' mixes together months ago. Some of my friends have actually bumped this for a minute. I did say however, that I was gonna open the floodgates. I see no point in holding back when it comes to anything anymore. Everyone and their Mama that sees me, knows me, or has encounterd me knows this off-top; I LOVE HIP-HOP. I don't hide it in the least; in fact, it's the reason I am able to express myself so freely. It's the reason I sit here and upload ALL these mixes, even though some of the stuff you'd hear in some of the other mixes wouldn't exactly scream 'hip-hop' to you. I'm from the era where everything was a potential sample, an idea, a hook, a bar. I am always thinking about hip-hop. I hear hip-hop in everything, mainly because I listen for hip-hop in everything and it is now officially everywhere. I'm also quick to recall how extremely threatening hip-hop was to mainstream America (and in some corners, it still is.)

Hip-Hop gave me a means to freely speak and you could listen or not. You might not understand how much power is in that microphone, but I do. You can make someone feel like a total fool or a king something as simple as a shout-out or a harangue. I'd rather that I left people feeling good, yuh know? I've always chosen my words carefully. I've always been mindful of what I listen to and how much of it I absorb. I always remember that hip-hop taught me to listen as much as it freed up my tongue to speak.

Hip-Hop allowed me to get comfortable in my skin. When I started rapping, it was only natural to talk about, well, your damn self. To do that, you better be pretty damn comfortable with who you are. I learned to laugh at myself through battling. I learned to boost myself through battling. I have been knocked down a peg or four by some of the best and corniest cats you could ever wish to hear and it made me wanna get right back in that rhyme-book and right back in front of that mirror, so it wouldn't happen again. Hip-hop was the first thing that made me wanna get 'better', not necessarily 'better than you', but 'better than I was last week'. Hip-hop allowed me to say, 'Yup, I can do that shit, too'...hence the tape that 'The Mayor' is holding in the above picture and the group you will see pictured below...



COALITION, y'all! That's my man, Ted Miller a.k.a. TD Cheeba rapping with me. First group I was ever in, first cat to let me know, 'Russ, you REALLY can do that shit.' Yes, you see us rocking with the live band in '89. We were ahead of the game like a mug. Ted was a visionary; he thought it would be dope to have a band play with us; that band included Mark Cutsinger and David 'Tufty' Clough of the Zero Boys and Fefo Forconi from the Birdmen Of Alcatraz. (It was during this time that I was actually asked to try out for the Birdmen, quite an important time in my development as a writer/frontman.) The three of them had played together in Toxic Reasons, as well. We were so ahead of the curve, man...ahhh, but alas...there was beer to be brewed and a beautiful wife and family to have and hold for Ted. I wouldn't have it any other way. Eat at Brugge and have a beer for me.


I started out in hip-hop as a kid who wanted to match wits with the Run-DMC cassette my buddy Shay brought over for me to dub. I ended up finagling some kinda career outta it. It's in everything I do, from hosting the 'Rock Block' on TV to writing this blog. I very simply am a child of the Hip-Hop Culture who grew into a man of the Hip-Hop Culture. Wow, man...I have been in love with this shit for a minute...



I wanted to share these mixes with y'all because they represent some of the best times of my life and the Culture.

Aight, enough talking...lemme get this mix to y'all...

RUSTY REDENBACHER - 'HISTORY 101, LESSON 1' < click that, baby...and you ain't even gotta give it up to them 'graffiti guys' to get what you need. But, I would paint three of them murals for some of that action

Playlist

1) Ain't No Half-Steppin' - Big Daddy Kane
2) Serious - Steady B.
3) How I Could Just Kill A Man - Cypress Hill
4) So Wat Cha Sayin' - EPMD
5) Bassline - Mantronix
6) Get Stupid-Fresh, Part 2 (Listen To The Bass) - Mantronix
7) It's A Demo - Kool G. Rap & DJ Polo
8) Faking The Funk - Main Source
9) I AIn't No Joke - Eric B. & Rakim
10) Looking At The Front Door - Main Source
11) I Know You Got Soul - Eric B. & Rakim
12) I'm Housin' - EPMD
13) The 900 Number - DJ Mark, The 45 King
14) Ladies First - Queen Latifah/Monie Love
15) Hobo Scratch - Malcolm McClaren
16) Super Casanova - Super Lover Cee & Casanova Rud
17) Funky - Ultramagnetic MC's
18) Jingling Baby - LL Cool J
19) Looking For The Perfect Beat - Afrika Bambaataa and Soulsonic Force
20) Planet Rock - Afrika Bambaataa and Soulsonic Force
21) Push It - Salt N' Pepa
22) It's Like That - Run-DMC

...and that's the way it is...HUH!

Jokes That Stuck; 'Fats, Lemme Tell You My Story, Man...'

I still quote from this scene on regular basis. There are so many lines in here worth keeping.




It's a very thin line that Anthony Michael hall is walking, but he is walking that joint POIFECT!

Crazy? Insane? Me stopping to watch this movie anytime I find it on TV, STILL? Insane? Crazy?

POIFECT. "Gimme the keys! Gimme the keys, I'll drive!"

THE LEGENDS MIXES - 'OVERLOOKED 80'S' - (FREE DOWNLOAD)

Maybe some stuff should be left in the crate...or just simply gotten rid of.

(I feel another 'Why Do I Have This CD?' coming on...I can explain that one.)

I'll let you guys be the final judge of that. Personally, I dig every song on this mix and there are PLENTY of other ditties from back then that I just ain't got to yet. Y'all let me know, aight?

What I do know for certain is that people are so quick to put the same dang songs on their '80's mixes and playlists. 

"I do not know how to 'Safety Dance' nor will I be able to 'Wang Chung tonight'. You can dance if YOU want to, I'm gonna see what he plays next. Why it is a 'Cruel Summer' now that you mention it. I'm going home."

I just felt like hearing some of these other joints that simply don't get enough burn. Let a man come in and do the Popcorn.

(and I start pretty much every 80's mix I do with 'Let's Dance' - it cuts both ways.)

RUSTY REDENBACHER - 'OVERLOOKED 80'S'

Playlist

1) Let's Dance - David Bowie

2) Saved By Zero - The Fixx

3) Whisper To A Scream (Birds Fly) - Icicle Works

4) Don't You Forget About Me - Simple Minds

5) Too Shy - Kajagoogoo

6) Promises Promises - Naked Eyes

7) How Long Can A Bad Thing Last? - Blow Monkeys 

8) Misfit - Curiosity Killed The Cat

9) Everything She Wants - Wham!

10) Is There Something I Should Know? - Duran Duran

11) New Religion - Duran Duran

12) Some Like It Hot - The Power Station

13) My Ever-Changing Moods - The Style Council

14) Mary's Prayer - Danny Wilson

Enjoy.

THE LEGENDS MIXES - 'Dance Club'ed' (FREE DOWNLOAD)

I decided to do a mix today of the stuff I actually cut my teeth on.

I was also wondering why I still had this CD...



The first time I actually DJed ever ever for any kinda extended period of time was in the booth at the Patio, which is now SPIN Nightclub. The Wednesday night DJ slot, which had been held by the magnificent DJ JD, Jack Dempsey for years, was opening up. At the time, I was fronting the Birdmen Of Alcatraz and I was asked to give it a shot.

"Shit, yeah...I can do that. If that means I'll be getting in here free ALL the time? Yeah, I'm your guy." That was really as far ahead as I thought at the time. The Patio was my favorite spot and crazy nationals were coming through. I figured it would be good for my band, good for me, and a good thing in general. I didn't realize I was getting into something that would be a part of my life for the rest of my life.

I had never manned the decks in my life, but I felt like I knew Music well enough. I had been around enough DJ's to figure out what they were doing. I knew that you "listen in one ear and mix with the other and when you think you got it right, you push this thing here (the fader) into the middle." I was also willing to bring the decks out from the back storage room. The decks were in a huge coffin; the mixer was as long as my coffee table. I had to learn how to plug the mixer and stuff into the board. I learned a lotta the basics on Wednesday Nights, on the job. Thank God, the Patio had their own records. I would come in early on Tuesdays, before the 'Blues Jam' with Gene Deer, set my jambox up as a monitor AND a taping device (it had an external input), play a set, tape it and learn as much as I could while I was learning the Music as well as how to DJ. I continue this practice to this very day; I tape everything when I can and listen to those tape studiously.

I held down Wednesday Night's 'Dance Club'ed' party for about 6 years, every Wednesday...To think about it now, it seems crazy to think I worked there for that long and it was that reliable. Please remember, I was the secondDJ; Jack held it down for years before I got on. Man...we went through a lotta different styles in that joint...I remember playing Public Enemy's 'She Watch Channel Zero' outta KMFDM's 'Godlike' (or vice-versa) and people would go NUTS! I think this mix is a good representation of some of the bigger joints during my time as resident DJ. Obviously, there is no way to sum up 6 years of great dance music in 37 minutes, but you'll feel the vibe, I hope.

In time, I made a great deal of friends there, friends that I have to this very day. I ran into a lotta these friends who initially welcomed me into their world on Wednesday Nights at the Patio. The same friends that trusted me enough to keep coming and would keep dancing when I dropped a stinker. The people who stayed through all the trends and helped shape the way I mix now...and them 50-cent beers didn't hurt the cause, I suppose.

I made this mix of some surefire stuff, some cuts that always seemed to get it going. Yeah, clear the stage...it's Wednesday Night and EVERYbody is a STAR.

MP3:
RUSTY REDENBACHER - Dance Club'ed (The Patio)' < Click here for downloading, once you finish those four beers...are they making these things smaller?

Playlist

1) Connected - Stereo MC's
2) Down In It - Nine inch Nails
3) Never Let Me Down Again (Aggro Mix) - Depeche Mode
4) Halloween - Ministry
5) Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order
6) Strangelove - Depeche Mode
7) Join In The Chant - Nitzer Ebb
8) Headhunter V.1 - Front 242
9) Din Daa Daa (12" Mix) - George Kranz
10) Cubik (Kings' County Perspective) - 808 State
11) It's Time For The Perculator - Cajmere
12) The Bomb (Armand Van Helden Mix) - The Bucketheads
13) Get Get Down - Paul Johnson

Enjoy.

'The John Zeps Show' is coming....

I don't know what this show is gonna be about. I don't know who's idea this was. I dunno why this took so long to happen, but it is looooong overdue, cuz my man Zeps is a character.

John Zeps is one of my good buddies and a fixture upon the Indianapolis Music Scene. He owns two record stores, (Vibes Music) plays in about thirty bands, including Action Strasse with another one of my friends and heroes, Vess Von Ruhtenberg.

Certified cool dude. Once you really get to know him, he is one of the most endearing dudes on the planet. He's also quite silly.



Zippy is custom-made for his own show. We'll watch and see where this is going...stay tuned.

THE LEGENDS MIXES - 'RAP, GODFATHER - PART 1' (FREE DOWNLOAD)

I'm keeping this one short. The Music should say plenty.





James Brown is the greatest. After mixing up the palest of pale Music last night, I had to give you the antidote...'HEY! I'm a Libra!'



Rusty Redenbacher is proud to present...

MP3;
JAMES BROWN - 'RAP, GODFATHER, PART 1' < Click here for SUPER DYNAMITE SOUL!

Playlist

1) There It Is, Pt. 1
2) Soul Power
3) Funky President
4) Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved
5) The Grunt (The JB's)
6) Get Up (I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine)
7) The Payback
8) The Boss
9) Blind Man Can See It
10) Stone To The Bone
11) Fight Against Drug Abuse (PSA)

Dig this clip...that's Bootsy Collins on bass when he was still a teen-ager. Sick



I'll speak more on Mr. Brown soon enough. Just know that I believe he is a large part of why ANYONE is funky to this day. He is Truth, Soul, and Grit. He IS The Godfather Of Soul. He IS Mr. Dynamite. He IS Soul Brother Number One. There will never be another talent this awesome, influential, and important in our lifetime. He's touched my life in so many ways, it's as if he was a part of my Family.

I'd write more about Mr. Brown, but I honestly don't know where to start. Let's just listen to the Music. Let's do the Boogaloo, like we used to do. Let's do the Popcorn, The Bus Stop, The Funky Robot...let's jump back and kiss ourselves. Let's say it loud and be proud of who we are, regardless of what anyone else tries to make you believe. Let's get off into this brand-new bag, let the world know we gotta a good thing and ain't gonna give it up. Can't we all just get on the good foot?

Damn, I miss this dude, but I feel good. I knew that I would.

THE LEGENDS MIXES - 'YACHT ROCKIN' BEATS' (FREE DOWNLOAD)

Is my 'soft-pop' showing? Yeesh, is it that obvious? I'm good, I'm good; I guess this weather has me in a 'sunshine Music' kinda mood...which leads to the point of this post.

When I heard about the internet series, 'Yacht Rock', I already knew what kind of music they were talking about. There was a whole wave of this stuff coming out when I was a kid. The soft lilting sounds of California-Sunset 'Rock' were all over the airwaves. Even the hard-rock station was sneaking these cats in the mix, right next to Zeppelin and Floyd...c'mon, man.




It don't look right and it sure as hell didn't sound right, but eventually, I found myself saiiiiiling, take me away merderp mrrrwworr doo doop dooo....(What DOES he say?)

"C'MON, maaaaaaan...y'all played 'Communication Breakdown', 'Money' (without the word 'bullshit' censored...THE Q ROCKS...and then you played that dad-blame 'Ride Like The Wind'...I mean, it kindarocks, but can you NOT play that kinda stuff ever again? Do I have a request? Ummmmmmmm.....I dunno, play something that ROCKS. Can you play some more Led Zeppelin?

Yeah, so it is easy to see how a dude might find himself turning the dial a bit to the right, on the sly, hoping to catch a bit of the Little River Band and a hint of Nicolette Larsen. It's so damn smoooooooth....


The point of all this is I just knew what 'Yacht Rock' was as soon as I saw the name. I cracked up when I watched the series on Youtube (I haven't watched all of them yet, don't tell me...don't tell me.). I thought I would honor the smooth polished sounds of the late 70's with a mix chock full of 'YACHT ROCKIN' BEATS'. Might be good for a cooldown or a barbecue or something...I guarantee you have an Auntie that is gonna feel some of this stuff.

MP3;
RUSTY REDENBACHER - 'Yacht Rockin' Beats' < style="font-style:italic;">Playlist

1. Intro
2. 'Sailing' - Christopher Cross
3. 'Biggest Part Of Me' - Ambrosia
4. 'Baby Come Back' - Player
5. 'Help Me' - Joni Mitchell
6. 'Minute By Minute' - The Doobie Brothers
7. 'I Keep Forgetting' - Michael McDonald
8. 'Heart Hotels' - Dan Fogelberg
9. 'Witchy Woman' - The Eagles
10. 'On And On' - Stephen Bishop
11. 'This Is It' - Kenny Loggins
12. 'You Belong To Me' - Carly Simon
13. 'I Can't Go For That' - Hall & Oates
14. 'Lotta Love' - Nicolette Larsen
15. 'Baker Street' - Gerry Rafferty
16. 'Peg' - Steely Dan
17. 'What A Fool Believes' - The Doobie Brothers

Sail on, y'all.

RIP; Bo Diddley (1928-2008)

I just came into Northside News and I was informed that Bo Diddley has left this mortal coil.

When I was in Washington DC, I came across a tape of Bo Diddley's Greatest Hits. What a revelation. I was 18 or so and was just learning about a lotta things. I discovered so much Music in that year. In fact, I discovered that I wanted to be a Musician while I was there.

Bo DIddley always reminded me of my Grandpa Doats; a big ol' no-nonsense dude. He just looks like he would tell you "I am coming in here with this rectangular guitar, this echo effects unit, and I need my bread before I play." He wore thick glasses and a bad-ass hat. I always thought that 'I'm A Man' was unbelievable; pretty much anyone can do that riff and it should sound decent...I bought the tape mainly because it was in the cut-outs, which put it in my budget, and I wanted to hear dude say...

'Mmmmm.
Aaaaa, child.
NNnnnnnn....
MAN'.

However, the lead track was 'Who Do You Love' and I would soon be a slave to the 'Bo Diddley' beat.



That is the 'Bo Diddley' beat...the maracas, the reverb, the tempo...it just stays with you long after you've heard it. And Bo knew he was onto something good, because dang-near every one of his records sounds like that. He was an innovator, incorporating his name into the hits, so as to make sure we all knew who was responsible for that sound. 'Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger', 'Bo Diddley's Dog', 'Bo's Waltz', 'Diddley Daddy', 'Hey! Bo Diddley', and of course, 'Bo Diddley'. That's BRANDING, folks.


Oddly enough, my infatuation with the Smiths already had me familiar with the 'Bo Diddley' beat; I just didn't know it yet. I listened to that tape non-stop, upgraded when I got my CD player. Sure, there isn't a lotta variation in his work; Bo himself would tell you he wasn't the greatest guitar-player in the world, but he did HIS thang and anyone else who did HIS thang just 'sounded like Bo Diddley'.



Peace to an innovator, a legend, and a full-grown man. M-A-N.

John Lee Hooker - 'I'm Bad Like Jesse James'

This is OG shit, to say the least...



I first heard this song on a John Lee Hooker anthology. The version I am familiar with is performed by John Lee with a full band. It's just as sinister as the solo performance. I was struck by how authentic it sounded. It is truly threatening and officially wicked. I like to refer this song as 'the start of that gangsta shit'. John Lee is pulling no punches. He's been screwed over and he ain't happy about it.

"I got three boys
Do my dirty work.
Now you don't see me
I'm the big boss
I do the payoff
After they take care of you
In they own way
They may shoot you,
They may cut you,
They may drown you,
I just don't know
I don't care
As long as they take care of you
In they own way
I'm so mad."

Shit, yeah. If you don't feel somethin', you ain't feeling nothin'. Here's the version that had me buying John Lee Hooker records, trying to catch up with this baaaaaad man. Click the title and get maaaaaaaaad.

MP3;
JOHN LEE HOOKER - 'I'm Bad Like Jesse James'

'Why Do I Still Have This CD?' - Morrissey -'Southpaw Grammar' (1995)

My man, The Mozzer.

I came across this CD as I was perusing a used section somewhere. I wasn't even aware that it had come out when it was released. My loyalty to Morrissey had waned; I had moved onto new sounds, I was creating new sounds and I guess at the time of this CD's release, I just didn't have space for Poor Stephen.

I was a big Smiths fan. I could sing all of 'Meat Is Murder', front-to-back. 'The Queen Is Dead' still ranks amongst my favorite albums and I stayed onboard through the beginning of Morrissey's solo-career. Behold one of the most wicked riffs of the 80's, kiddies. 'How Soon Is Now?' changed a lotta what Rusty thought about Music...



...of course, in the wrong hands, anything can be turned to total crap...





'Southpaw Grammar' opens with the most remarkable orchestral sound, a sample looped driving the record. A Morrissey record opening with a sample? A SAMPLE? Yep, and used to remarkable effect to my ears. Many did not agree. I'm also certain that the length of the opening and closing tracks, both clocking in at over ten minutes might have been a bit off-putting to a lotta people who had still holding their gladioli aloft for their hero. The fourth track 'The Operation' opens with a TWO-MINUTE DRUM-SOLO, for God's sake. It seemed as if Morrissey had found 'self-indulgence' while I was away. It is universally acknowledged as Morrissey making an album he wanted to make, if simply for himself. I have never heard any of the hardcore Smiths/Morrissey fans I know speak of it. It's as if it just appeared and disappeared.

I can't tell you a whole lot more about this album, but this opening track still gives me goosebumps. Check it out for yourself.

MORRISSEY - 'The Teachers Are Afraid Of The Pupils'

'Why Do I Still Have This CD?' - Al B. Sure! - In Effect Mode (1988)

Oh, did I catch hell for this. I'll tell ya what though; you can say all you want about the acid wash jeans, the 'doo-doo faces', the monobrow (with parts cut into the center. ugh), and the uncomfortably lush falsetto coming from a man of Mr. Sure's stature...but when I first heard this song, I knew that is was the JAM.



Man, there was no way you couldn't tell me that Al B. Sure! wasn't the FUTURE. Okay? 'Nite And Day' was a MONSTER hit. I remember going to the mall to buy Mr. Sure's album and being bummed that there was no full release. There was however, a maxi-single featuring the extended mix of 'Nite And Day' as well as the French and Spanish versions ('Nuit Y Jour' and 'Noche Y Diaz'. Oui, Oui! Si, SI!). I copped that and waited for the future of R&B to come with the full album. The cassingle made me aware that Mr. Sure was not only a 'SONY Innovator', but he was also co-signed by none other than Quincy Jones himself.

A few weeks later, I popped into the mall again and right there, in the window was the display for Al B. Sure's debut release, 'In Effect Mode'. You had a cassette that was broken into two sides; the 'Nite' side and the 'Day' side (wow, we are really riding this thing, eh?). The smash hit starts the album, rightfully. Then it's off into the ballads...'Oooh, This Love Is So', a cover of 'Killing Me Softly' (way before L-Boogie laced it and made it hers) and the classic booty-rubber, slow-grinder, 'Naturally Mine', which always reminded me of an Isley Brothers song.



ahhhh, yeeeeeah.....

The second half of the album focused more on the dancefloor, kicking off with 'Rescue Me' and bouncing into the second single, 'Off On Your Own (Girl)'. 'Off...' is still one of my favorite pieces of 80's R&B, combining bubbly synths, orchestra hits, and even a faux 'Slick Rick' style rap from Al himself. The album winds up with 'If I'm Not Your Lover', where Al let go of the falsetto for the lead vocal (with mixed results) and 'Just A Taste Of Lovin' which is as much a showcase for the banging production of Kyle West.

As stated before in my posting about 'Big Thing', I stay with you. I know for a fact that everybody from the hardest of hard-rocks to baby-mama's and babysitters was FEELING 'Nite And Day'. Trust me on this one...love it, mayne. It is a certified classic joint. As for the rest of the album, I can't say that it has held up quite as well. The follow-up to this album, 'Private Times And The Whole Nine' was massively forgettable, totally fell off the radar and Mr. Sure was soon to follow suit. Al B. has popped up again recently, supporting his son on a crappy talent show on MTV.

*Click the title of the post to see the future of B. Sure's to come*

Some might knock him as a one-hit wonder with a silly name, but for one summer, you can be sure that Al B. Sure was on a lotta peoples' mind. If you were to ask me, I'd say it's easily the best 'new jack swing' album that wasn't produced by Teddy Riley (though he did lend his golden touch to 'If I'm Not Your Lover'. Yep yep.)

Stay 'In Effect Mode', y'all...on the STRENGTH!

Jokes That Stuck; The Artist Who Formerly Had A Slight Sense Of Humor

Where wood ya go ta buy a Sam Cooke A'bum?

You just hafta know where ta look...



..and you hafta know how ta ask.

That ain't even that funny...but I think of that clip every time I walk into these joints.

Great Bastards In Film; 'Drexl' in 'True Romance'

Awwww, man...I love this movie. It is one of maybe three instances in which I don't spontaneously hurl upon sight of Christian Slater. Patricia Arquette is adorable and fierce. There are many supporting characters in this movie that warrant mention. There's an exchange between Christopher Walken and Dennis Hopper that is so tense, so worth-watching; it's two great actors going toe-to-toe. Brad Pitt has mad quotables in his half cameo appearance as 'Floyd'. Michael Rappaport is great. However there is one charcter that introduces himself early in the precedings that takes the cakes. A total bastard.

DREXL - "They got everything from a diddled-eye joe to a damned if I know!"



Gary Oldman plays 'Drexl', a dreadlocked thug with a scar running the length of his face. He's Alabama's pimp and he wants restitution for her absence or his girl back. He is ruthless and violent. He has no problem betraying anyone to get what he wants...and his voice is CLASSIC especially coming from Gary Oldman. Gary Oldman can play the shit outta a creep. See 'The Professional' if you don't believe me. Watch this clip if you doubt me...yeah, yeah.

(DEFINITELY DEFINITELY DEFINITELY NSFW)



I don't wanna talk too much about how he gets his come-uppance (boy, it makes me hurt just to think of it). Oldman's appearance in this film is woefully short, but his two-three scenes and the exchange between Walken and Hopper can get me to stop on this flick any time. It's that good ol' Tarantino shit (he wrote this joint) all around and Oldman gets a lotta killer lines. He's a total bastard, but you wish he was in the flick a little more.

'Drexl' - a Great Bastard In Film.

'Rubber Johnny' by Chris Cunningham

Ummmm...yeah. This is one of those things that Youtube was just MAAAAAADE for...

Friends, if you haven't seen this, prepare to have your senses assaulted as never before. 'Rubber Johnny' is, in my opinion, Chriss Cunningham's masterwork. Click the link in the title of the post to learn more about the concept and creation of this amazing piece of work.

RUBBER JOHNNY - direceted by CHRIS CUNNINGHAM, Music by APHEX TWIN

'Why Do I Still Have This CD?' - Duran Duran - 'Big Thing' (1988)

You see it; thats right...the 'Duranduran' album, in a special 'gold' case, even...the one where they wanted to be taken seriously. And I went for it. I still believe in it.

I always liked Duran Duran; I was with them as soon as I heard 'Hungry Like The Wolf'. I was caught in the initial wave of MTV and I always made sure to watch for the Durannies. They were all over MTV in the early days, kiddies. The 'Rio' album is still one of my favorites from that era. The videos were iconic; the cats just looked cool as hell and they actually could play. (John Taylor is a silly bass player, y'all...and no one on Earth has a tone like Simon LeBon.) I was turned onto to the actual first release by an awesome show that used to be on the USA Network called 'Night Flight'. They showed the 'uncensored' videos laaaate at night. I caught 'Girls On Film' and it was a WRAP...!

*click the link in the title of this post for my redemption*

... and I stay with my bands for a while, man. Once a band puts out something that REALLY connects with me, I'll buy everything they put out until I think they just don't care anymore (or they have just lost it).

I stayed with the Durannies. I bought that crappy 'Seven And The Ragged Tiger' album (and I didn't dig too much on that alubm) I bought the albums by the side projects (The Power Station & Arcadia) when there was too much ego going on within the group for them to function as a whole, I stayed with them through the departure of two members, 'Notorious' was aight...a lotta cats had given up on them and then they dropped this joint...

The big 'hit' on this album is 'I Don't Want Your Love'.



As far as I can tell, 'Big Thing' was not in fact a 'big thing'. I still bust this one out, kids. There are no less than four songs other than the single that showed my loyalty to the Durnannies was warranted. They had kinda fallen out of the spotlight by this time, I was a whole new person by the time this came out, having gone through a lotta awkward 'first' experiences of all kinds, but they were 'growing' and so was I.

Hated the title track. Horrible opening track. There's the single, okay...'All...She...Wants...Is...'....NOPE....I started to think that Duran Duran had been listening to too much industrial music. It was the new burgeoning sound, but I sure as hell didn't want that from the Durannies. Gimme some hooks, some melodies, synth sweeps, guitars, wicked hit-hat work and funky basslines.."doop doop doo doop, doop doo doo, doop doo doo doop, doop dooooooo"....I am with you on the growth thing but gimme something, man. I already like Nitzer Ebb (we'll get to that), I don't need that from you doop doop dooooooo

...and then this sweet little piano line and this funky little drum machine. Almost too smooth, reminiscent of the cool-down stuff on 'Rio' ('Lonely In Your Nightmare', 'Save A Prayer'). I was caught by it, off-top...'Too Late Marlene'. Keeper.



Another dancefloor burner called 'Drug (It's A State Of Mind;)'. And then you flip the tape...and find the reason I bothered to upgrade to a CD on this one when it was time to do so...

The second side of this album was as 'serious' as Duranduran (their spelling for this album, another way for them to say, 'This is different...') They had a tribute song for Andy Warhol followed by what it still, to this day, one of my favorite album sequences ever. 'Palomino', which one of my favorite melodies and an awesome little atmospheric interlude...although it's one of those songs that a lotta people may classify under 'filler'. I think it is proof that my boys were reaching for something else.



...followed by a nice ethereal piece called 'Land', that may or may not be about mermaids or something...pieced together with a coupla interludes and wrapped up with an instrumental.

'Big Thing' caught up with me at a time when I wanted to be taken seriously too. I was growing up and so was Duranduran. I remember very vividly listening to it over and over on the way back to Gary, IN from Washington, DC to see my Grandma Mary for the last time. It was the first and last time I rode a train for an extended period also. Life was changing. I was changing. People that were here all the time were gone. We all hafta soldier on though. We all hafta know that there are people out there pulling for us.

"Aight, I'll spell it as one word, Yeah, Roger and Andy are gone, but I am with the team. And y'all call me 'Rock J' from now on."

'Why Do I Still Have This CD?' - Carly Simon, 'No Secrets' (1972)

'Yeah, Russ; that is NOT 'hood', bruh. Bumpin' Carly Simon is NOT 'hood'."

Oh, I know.

She just has one of THOSE voices. She writes GREAT songs. This 'No Secrets' is one of those sentimental CD's. I remember seeing this album in my Mom's stack of LP's.

The cover image has always stuck in my mind. Now that I am older, I recognize there was a lot more going on in that picture than a child could pick up.

It is decidedly unposed, Carly is happily letting the girls fly AND smuggling raisins, and what is with the bag? That bag is huge...like you could carry a change-of-clothes in it. Ladies and gentlemen, you are seeing a woman on-the-go, but where is she going...and where is she coming from? The look on her face is priceless, too; as if to say. 'You got me...'. (I wonder if she knows she is throwing the universal set-up for a 'punch for lookin' right below the typography for the title...)

Here's the opening track and the cover image...check it out, it's the 'Right Thing To Do'.




This of course, the album with 'You're So Vain' on it, as well. My Mama noted in my 'Baby Book' that is one of the first songs I sang along to. I'll bet I thought that song was about me. I'll still jump in and sing along with that tune whenever I hear it. There's a coupla lines in that tune that automatically set off visual images in my young mind...

'You walked into the party
Like you were walking onto a yacht.'



The realest person on there was Lawanda 'Aunt Esther' Page.



Watch it, sucka. I'm having dreams, there were clouds in my coffee...

'No Secrets' is my favorite Carly Simon album mainly because it was the only one I really needed for a long time. Whenever it was time to go back to comfort, I had my Carly. 'The Right Thing To Do', 'The Carter Family', 'We Have No Secrets'; this was all I needed for a while. There was actually a Summer Sojourn to Gary, IN where I fell in love with a copy of 'Boys In The Trees'. My Aunt jessie actually heard me singing 'Tranquillo' VERY LOUDLY in the shower. Very unhip... 'You Belong To Me' is also on that album, featuring the velveteen backing vocals of Michael McDonald. Badass tune...

I guess I always hear something that reminds me of 'Home' in this album. Click the title of the post to see what muh girl is up to.