Jim's Rock Wall of Obscurity

My Jim was an excellent, entertaining writer. I was often after him to write something he could sell, but his energy was always focused on his own obscure interests.

Take for example, his "My Rock Wall of Obscurity," posted on his Wazopia blog in January 2004. It briefly comments on rock and roll. Enjoy the article here, but sadly the picture is missing. If I ever stumble across it, I'll add it to this post.  But for now, just enjoy the words.

By J. D. Fisher

"Last summer (2003) I got tired of looking at a blank wall at my office. Not that I'm akin to staring at blank walls all the time but the prints by Zelda and Kadinsky weren't making it for me anymore.

"In my basement I have about 2,000 records that I collected during the 1970's. They include many progressive, electronic, new wave, jazz and blues artists. Commercial "corporate" radio has long forgotten these bands. But, thanks to Napster and the Internet, many of these artists are being re-discovered and making a comeback.

"Still, there are many artists who remain in obscurity but who made substantial contributions to the evolution of music. So with the help and encouragement of my wife, one weekend we decided to build our rock wall of fame from the albums in the basement.

"I love the comments people give when they see the wall. Most never heard of the bands but there are actually a few who knew practically every one. My favorite was a young woman from a local ad agency who recognized nearly all of them. She couldn't be older than 25.

"How many do you recognize? I'll give you one. Jimi Hendrix's "Are You Experienced?" is the album behind the flash blast on the far right.

"Homer Simpson once said, "It's a known fact that rock 'n' roll was perfected in 1972." So true. The technology finally caught up with the creativity. Instead of two-track recordings you had 16-track with lots of overdubbing capability. Artists could achieve the sounds they dreamed about in the past. Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" is probably the pinnacle example of rock music production of this period. Produced by Alan Parsons, it literally "eclipsed" everything else. Soon, every new or emerging artist of the early 70's, like Queen, David Bowie, Steely Dan, were producing albums using these new multi-track recording techniques.

"Coinciding with the revolution in recording technology was a vast improvement in the audio components industry. Low-priced but high performance receivers and speakers were available. Pioneer, Sherwood, Harmon-Kardon were affordable high fidelity amps and receivers. EPI, Advent, JBL, and Infinity speakers ruled in homes and college dorms everywhere. Car audio finally caught up in the early 1970's by adding an FM Stereo option. If you were stuck with an AM only radio, Audiovox made an under-dash FM Converter for $19.95.

"The next wave came with the emergence of FM radio which has vastly greater sound quality than AM radio. New FM stations, like WNCR and WMMS, fed the growing demand for high quality sound by playing music from the new, emerging artists who created multi-track recordings.

And that's how rock 'n' roll was perfected."

Well, I can't show you the picture of the Rock Wall, but thanks to YouTube, you can listen to Jimi Hendrex's  Are You Experienced? Enjoy!

Galloway Mist: The Stewartry Area Wind Band and The Galloway Pipers

I found this in among James' CDs.  It's obviously not part of his original collection from the 1980s and 1990s. It was released in 2004 by the Stewartry Area Wind Band.  Obviously a loving gift from the Scottish side of the family.

Any way, it was a delightful mix of high school and seasoned band and bagpipe music. I'm sure it made Jim think of happy days visiting Scotland. Here are a couple pictures from trips there.

Nate was brave enough to try the Irish Sea.  It lasted about two very cold minutes.

We loved the British cabs - so cozy and plenty of room.

The long list of toe-tapping music includes:

• Royal Salute
• The Rose of Kelvingrove
• O Waly, Waly
• My Home Set
• Will Ye Go, Lassie, Go
• Gaelic Song
• Lain a luaid nach pos thu
• The Bloody Fields of Flanders
• The Bonny Black Isle
• In The Mood
• Galloway Mist
• Amazing Grace
• Flett from Flotta
• Ye Banks and Bracs
• Moonliner Rockmatch
• Jig
• An Irish Party in Third Class
• Highland Cathedral
• Scotland the Brave -Highland Laddie

I wasn't able to find anything online about Galloway Mist.  So I thought you'd like to listen to some
Scottish Night 20th July 2017 The Galloway Pipers and Stewartry Wind Band.  I love the announcer's accent..

Missing Links - Groovin'

Well this was enjoyable! Not really sure what I was listening too.  There wasn't much information out there about the ensemble Missing Links and their Groovin' album.

If I'm not mistaken,  under the direction of Howie Morrel, seasoned jazz players including George Jinda, Najee, Omar Hakim, John Scofield, Bill Evans, Nile Rodgers, Bernard Wright and others, got together in 1987 to produce funky, soulful renditions of earlier, popular tunes.

The very pleasing results were releases in 1988 by MCA Records, Inc. It made great background music for whatever Jim was working on any particular day.

The tunes are either very relaxing, or downright uplifting. The track list includes:

Groovin'
Saxophone – Najee
Synthesizer – Donald Blackman
Vocals – Al Chestnut, Tyrone Chestnut
Written-By – Edward Brigati, Jr., Felix Cavaliere

I'll Be There
Piano, Synthesizer – Donald Blackman
Saxophone – Najee
Synthesizer – Bernard Wright
Written-By – Berry Gordy, Bob West, Hal Davis, Willie Hutch

Walk On By
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Donald Blackman
Saxophone – Najee
Vocals – Al Chestnut, Tyrone Chestnut
Written-By – Burt Bacharach - Hal David

(Sittin' On) Dock Of The Bay
Guitar – John Scofield
Synthesizer – Bernard Wright
Written-By – Otis Redding, Steve Cropper

Shotgun
Guitar – John Scofield
Synthesizer – Bernard Wright
Written-By – Autry DeWalt

Everday People / Thank You (Fa Lettin' Me Be Mice Elf Agin)
Guitar – Nile Rodgers
Keyboards – Bernard Wright
Tenor Saxophone – Lenny Pickett
Vocals – Al Chestnut, Tyrone Chestnut
Written-By – Sylvester Stewart

Stand By Me
Keyboards – Michael Beardon
Piano – Donald Blackman
Soprano Saxophone – Bill Evans
Written-By – Ben E. King, Mike Leiber - Mike Stoller

Don't Hold Back
Alto Saxophone – Lenny Pickett
Synthesizer – Donald Blackman
Written-By – Howard Morrel

Dancing In The Street
Synthesizer – Bernard Wright, Donald Blackman
Tenor Saxophone – Lenny Pickett
Written-By – Marvin Gaye, Willam Stevenson - Ivy Hunter

Take a few moments to listen to the title track Groovin' below. And oh. I love the picture of the lady swinging.  It makes me smile.

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U2 - The Joshua Tree

I have the house to myself this evening.  So I close  my eyes, and pick a CD from Jim's collection. And out comes U2 - The Joshua Tree. It's not long before I have the music blaring as loud as I dare - the way Jim always preferred it. And the tunes are oh so familiar.  Jim obviously  played this one often. The list of songs include:

• Where the Streets Have No Name
• I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
• With Or Without You
• Bullet The Blue Sky
• Running To Stand Still
• Red Hill Mining Town
• In God's Country
• Trip Through Your Wires
• One Tree Hill
• Exit
• Mothers Of The Disappeared

Most were familiar, and even those that weren't were enjoyable. Bullet The Blue Sky and Mothers Of The Disappeared I could do without, however.

The CD was released in 1987 on Island Records by U2, consisting of  lead singer Bono, Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr. , and The Edge. It was the band's fifth studio album.

Formed in 1976, the Irish rock band continues to perform and produce.  They are currently wrapping up The Joshua Tree Tour 2017, highlighting 30 years since The Joshua Tree was first released. And, the band released a remix of the The Joshua Tree to mark the event.

Ever wonder how Joshua Trees were named?  Look here.

Learn more about the CD in detail from Wikipedia here.

And you can always visit the U2 site here.

Or, listen to With Or Without You from the CD. Enjoy!

PRETENDERS ( the singles)

Happy tunes.  Happy times. I remember way, way back - I think it was 1979 - when I was just getting to know Jim.  He somehow managed to get tickets to hear the rising Pretenders play at Blossom Music Center. They were good pavilion seats.  No lawn-lounging for his "hot date."  It was a good evening, marked by the awesome guitar rock of the Pretenders. It struck me as  some 'kinda punk rock mixed with ear candy, if that is possible.

Formed in the late 1970s, lead singer-songwriter Chrissy Hynde has taken the Pretenders on a prolific, popular ride with a variety of background players. The band is still touring and producing, with the album Alone recently released.  Listen to Holy Commotion from the new album. It will get your toes tapping.

The Singles is a collection of Pretenders tunes from 1979 through 1986, released in 1987 for Columbia House. Included are:

• Stop Your Sobbing -1979
• Kid - 1979
• Brass In Pocket -1979
• Talk of the Town - 1980
• I Go to Sleep -1981
• Day After Day - 1981
• Message of Love - 1981
• Back on the Chain Gang - 1982
• Middle of the Road - 1983
• 2000 Miles -1984
• Show Me - 1984
• Thin Line Between Love and Hate - 1984
• Don't Get Me Wrong -1986
• Hymn to Her - 1986
• My Baby - 1986
• I Got You Babe - 1985 - by UB40

Unlike most of Jim's music collection,  I remember the Pretenders without any prompting.  It's nice to have their songs going through my mind again. Listen to the collection below.