Final Entry

This is the last of the red hot postings. All new posts will be on my all-new blog. Just follow the link on the side of the page. T.T.F.N.

The Monkees "Extended Versions"?

In collecting Monkees CD's, I've stumbled across a "live" compilation of their hits. It's a weird genre of compilation, as it strays from the original studio recordings.

So, here is my take on the whole thing.

A comparison:

1. Last Train To Clarksville
Time on Extended Versions is 3:07
Time on original LP "The Monkees" is 2:40

2. Daydream Believer
Time on Extended Versions is 3:21
Time on original LP "The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees" is 2:58

3. I'm A Believer
Time on Extended Versions is 3:05
Time on original LP "More Of The Monkees" is 2:41

4. Mary, Mary
Time on Extended Versions is 3:02
Time on original LP "More Of The Monkees" is 2:12

5. (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone
Time on Extended Versions is 2:52
Time on original LP "More Of The Monkees" is 2:25

6. Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)
Time on Extended Versions is 1:59
Time on original LP "More Of The Monkees" is 2:10

7. Can You Dig It
Time on Extended Versions is 2:15
Time on original LP "Head" is 3:19

8. Goin' Down
Time on Extended Versions is 2:58
Time on original Colgems single is 3:57

9. It's Nice To Be With You
Time on Extended Versions is 3:29
Time on original Colgems single is 2:51

10. No Time
Time on Extended Versions is 2:07
Time on original LP "Headquarters" is 2:09

But wait...track 10 was titled incorrectly. The correct title is "Long Title: Do I Have
To Do This all Over Again" which was on the LP "Head". So,

10. Long Title: Do I Have To Do This All Over Again
Time on Extended Versions is 2:07
Time on original LP "Head" is 2:37

Extended Versions? Hardly the case here. Only six of these are actually longer than the original versions. So it should be titled "60% Extended Versions - 40% Short Versions."

Don't buy this disc, unless you're a completist, like me.

Why can't they get this stuff right?

P.S. If you want a good Monkees Live CD, I suggest tracking down a copy of "The Complete U.S. Live Recordings." It's out of print, however I found a copy of it on ebay. It's awesome.

Sunburst Is Gone!!!

I can't believe it. Yes, I've got the blues (hence, the font color). I can't believe that one of the absolute best sources of LP's, Tapes, CD's (all new and used) is now gone. I went to Huntsville yesterday, specifically to go there. And it wasn't there. It was just an empty building. There was no "moved to Church Street" or anything like that. It was just gone. I was upset, since I knew they had certain things I wanted. I almost always knew what type of stuff they kept in stock. It was one of my all time favorite record stores.

It was one that me and my dad used to frequent often. That was years ago, while he was still alive. I think you can understand why I'm upset. When my brother comes to town, we would always go there. Now, we can't.

I guess this is a sign of the times. The changing times, that is. Almost all of the used lp/tape/cd market has gone *online*. It's all on either ebay (for used stuff) or amazon (for new stuff).

The next time I feel like record shopping, I'm going to go and sit in front of my computer. So much for social commerce. :-(

My Favorite Show?

I guess if I had to choose a favorite TV show it would have to be The Dukes Of Hazzard. I have all seven seasons on dvd. The show is great. Typical '80s action adventure, tinged with southern redneck and race car mentality. However, shows have their good and bad moments. The best episodes of Dukes are really good. The worst episodes can be very bad.

In season five, John Schnieder and Tom Wopat left the show over a contract dispute. They were replaced by Byron Cherry and Christopher Mayer. Schnieder and Wopat returned 18 episodes later. I had always thought that these (the Coy and Vance episodes) were not the best episodes. A couple of them were good, but they were sort of inferior. I figured that those were the worst episodes. Boy, was I wrong!!!

I got season seven of the show recently. Season seven has Bo and Luke and all the original characters. There are some of the best episodes in there. Like when Waylon Jennings comes to Hazzard. That was great. But the third to the last episode of the series is "A Strange Visitor To Hazzard." This is, hands down, the worst episode of the series. It's based on the premise that you can't have rednecks without having UFO sightings. I kinda feel sorry for guest star Felix Silla having to play an alien. He was definitely better playing Cousin Itt on the Addams Family. This episode is worse than any Coy and Vance episode. There's no question about that.

I guess when you have a big show, there's always gonna be a couple of "clunker" episodes. A two hundred dollar script will creep up in the best of shows. Just look out. Even some of your favorite shows will sometimes leave you with a "what were they thinking" motif.

I guess it's hard to write for television on a regular basis.

Thanks to the cast of The Dukes Of Hazzard for surviving this episode.

A Rogue's Gallery Of Fifth Beatles

The following is a list of everyone who could be considered "The Fifth Beatle." Everyone agrees that Beatles numbers one through four are John, Paul, George and Ringo. Here is a list of the fifth Beatles.

STUART SUTCLIFFE - Stuart joined the group in early 1960 and left the group in early 1962. He died a few months later. His legacy as the original Beatles bassist definitely qualifies him. So does the fact that he was the first Beatle to get the famous Beatles' haircut.

PETE BEST - Pete joined the group shortly after Stuart did. He was fired from the band in late 1962, due to reasons unknown. To this day Pete still says that there was no specific reason given for his dismissal.

TONY SHERIDAN - Tony made recordings with the Beatles in 1961. The record was released as Tony Sheridan & The Beat Brothers. They were later released as The Beatles With Tony Sheridan. A definite double-billing. Apparently, Stuart did not perform at this session. So, technically, Tony was the fifth Beatle, following John, Paul, George and Pete.

BRIAN EPSTEIN - Brian was the guy who discovered and then went on to manage the Beatles. He helped them get a recording contract and helped clean up their "savage" image. He worked with the Beatles for years until his death in 1967.

ANDY WHITE - Andy White played drums on the first Beatles recording of "Love Me Do." He was hired by George Martin to take Pete's place in the studio. But the Beatles had hired Ringo by this time and brought him to the session to play. George Martin wouldn't allow it. He handed Ringo a tambourine and let Andy play the drums. Talk about being upstaged!

GEORGE MARTIN - George Martin and the four Beatles are responsible for making some of the greatest rock and roll records of all time. The Beatles worked with George in the studio on all of their albums. No one other than George Martin spent so much time with the Beatles and was not a member of the group.

JIMMY NICOL - Jimmy was called in to play drums for several concert dates while Ringo was sick. He may be the only non-Beatle to know what it's like to be on stage in front of the Beatlemania crowd in 1964. Just think of the stories he'll be able to tell his grandchildren.

FRANK IFIELD - In 1964, the Beatles released a record entitled "Jolly What! The Beatles With Frank Ifield On Stage." He may be the real true "secret" fifth Beatle. And really, who in the world is Frank Ifield, anyway?

NEIL ASPINALL - In 1995, when I watched the Beatles Anthology special, they kept having interviews with this guy I didn't know. It was Neil Aspinall, their road manager. You know, one of the fifth Beatles.

MAL EVANS - Mal was one of the Beatles' roadies and played the hammer on "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" in the movie "Let It Be." He died in an accidental shooting in 1976.

ALF BICKNELL - Another Beatles roadie and he was also their driver. Imagine the very interesting conversations he must have had with the Beatles: "Hey Alf," said John, "I think McDonald's is on the left up here, can we stop and get some burgers?" "Sure," said Alf. What can I say? It was Beatlemania.

KLAUS VOORMAN - Klaus was friends with the Beatles since their early days in Hamburg, Germany. He also designed the cover to the album "Revolver." I guess it wasn't good enough, so someone else designed their next album "Sgt. Pepper."

ERIC CLAPTON - Eric played guitar on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" on the "White Album." Another double-billing, but he wasn't credited on the album. It must have been an oversight of George Harrison, who wrote the tune, to not credit Eric on the album. It must have also been an oversight of George's to end up divorcing his wife, since she started having an affair with Eric. Go figure.

YOKO ONO - Yoko started showing up at the Beatles' recording sessions with John, who was too hen-pecked to tell her to stay home and cook, clean, etc. The other Beatles didn't like this arrangement. Is it any coincidence that during the time that she was around in the studio that Ringo quit once, but came back. Followed by George quitting, also. He came back, but for a time, John wanted to hire Eric Clapton.

BILLY PRESTON - Billy played keyboards on the "Get Back" sessions, which ultimately became "Let It Be." The single "Get Back" was credited to The Beatles With Billy Preston. That's another equal billing. He was definitely a fifth Beatle.

Well, I guess that's all I can think of. If you know of any more "Fifth Beatles" please post them. I would like to know for sure how many Beatles there are. I may be one myself. Who knows?

The Ultimate Cure For Depression

As life keeps getting more difficult, we all get depressed about something at least occaisionally. I know I do. Whether it's about lost love, revenge, or having to work everyday. Well, while this is not a solution to any of those problems (or any problem, for that matter), maybe it'll help you feel better. Don't dipute me, because this does work.

All you need are the following things: a box of chocolate candy, a copy of the Bible, a cd player, and a cd by Elvis Presley.

Step #1: Put on some comfortable clothes that you can lounge or relax in.

Step #2: Open the chocolate. You may also need Coca-Cola or milk. I wouldn't recommend alcohol in this case, since it destroys the effect of the other things.

Step #3: Open the Bible to Proverbs Chapter 1.

Step #4: Start the Elvis cd. You may also use a cassette, LP or 8-track; whatever technology you have available. Although I wouldn't recommend 45's, because you have to keep changing the records and this is supposed to be a relaxing experience. If you have a jukebox full of Elvis 45's, or a record changer and a stack of at least 10 Elvis singles, that would be fine.

Step #5: Start reading Proverbs while listening to Elvis and munching on the chocolate. The occaisional sip of Coke or Milk will help along the way.

Step #6: You should start feeling better.

Step #7: You can stop reading if you run out of chocolate or if the music is over. Or, better yet, if you fall asleep. If you fall asleep, you may wake up refreshed and definitely not depressed.

Step #8: Repeat steps 1-7 as necessary.

If people around you think you are crazy for doing this, then you can tell them: "at least I'm not depressed about it."

Then, tell them to try it, because even if you're not depressed, you'll still feel better.

The Three Main Tools In Life

It seems that if I don't have three certain tools, I can't do anything. But I can do almost anything with Channel-Lock Pliers, a Cresent Wrench and a Screwdriver. I think I'll take one of each with me in my coffin when I die. (Then, if I'm buried alive, I'll have a way of escape.)

Channel-Lock Pliers: There is a make called Channel-Lock. But I also have a pair made by Sears Craftsman.

Cresent Wrench: Also known as an adjustable wrench, this tool can be almost any size wrench. And, while there is a make called Cresent, I also have this tool made by Sears Craftsman.

Screwdriver: There are many variations on this. The one I carry most of the time is a Stanley that is interchangeable (i.e. it has flat-head, phillips head, 5/16" hex and 1/4" hex). But, generally, a flat-head screwdriver is much more common than a phillips, although the phillips is a much better and sturdier screw.

Then, there is the small chisel argument. A good flat-head screwdriver, and a good pair of channel-lock pliers can be quickly transformed into a hammer and a chisel. Knowing these combinations can increase your territorial imperative. But, I digress.