Dolphmusic

In '97, I was getting acclimated to a new city (Atlanta) and my first grown-up job (reference librarian, Oglethorpe University). Aiding me were the following quaint 20th-century phenomena:
1) college radio during hour-long commutes (especially WRAS-FM at Georgia State)
2) used CD stores aplenty
3) Usenet (rec.music.reviews)

This is also the year I wrote most of the songs that became NEW BIRD RISE the following year.

Favorites at the time: Built To Spill, Containe, Dambuilders, Danielle Howle, Danielson Famile, Elliott Smith, GBV, High Llamas, Ivy, James, Linoleum, Miss Red Flowers, Mogwai, Patty Griffin, Radiohead, Stereolab, that dog, Verbow

Favorites I discovered later: Björk, Blonde Redheads, Caulfields, Flaming Lips (ZAIREEKA maaaaaan!), Jonatha Brooke, Michelle Malone, Richard Buckner
( and what's in my library now? )

The year of THRILLER, the first album I bought with my own money... and what else in my collection? ( Go see! )

Over the weekend, I realized that I had about 10GB of music files saved as AAC instead of MP3, so my player of choice wasn't recognizing them. Having now liberated them from iTunes tyranny, the following are now shuffling through my ears -- several longtime favorites among them.

ABBA (GOLD)
Aimee Mann (first 3 albums)
Al Green (THE VERY BEST OF AL GREEN)
Alanis Morrissette (SUPPOSED FORMER INFATUATION JUNKIE)
Aretha Franklin (THE VERY BEST OF ARETHA FRANKLIN: THE 60S)
Autechre (UNTILTED)
Björk (all post-Sugarcubes studio albums + several b-sides)
Blevin Blectum (MAGIC MAPLE)
Blondie (BEST OF BLONDIE and PLASTIC LETTERS)
Bob Dylan (LOVE AND THEFT)
Bonnie "Prince" Billy (I SEE A DARKNESS)
Bonnie Raitt (COLLECTION and NICK OF TIME)
Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band (DOC AT THE RADAR STATION)
Cornershop (WOMAN'S GOTTA HAVE IT and WHEN I WAS BORN FOR THE 7TH TIME)
Damien Rice (O)
D'Angelo (VOODOO)
Elliott Smith (first 5 albums)
Eurythmics (first 3 albums)
Fleetwood Mac (FLEETWOOD MAC and TUSK)
Galaxie 500 (ON FIRE)
Harry Nilsson (EVERYBODY'S TALKIN': THE BEST OF HARRY NILSSON)
Hem (RABBIT SONGS)
James (THE BEST OF JAMES)
John Cale (THE ISLAND YEARS and FRAGMENTS OF A RAINY SEASON)
John Wesley Harding (3 albums)
Johnny Cash (AT FOLSOM PRISON)
Jonatha Brooke (first 4 albums)
Josh Ritter (GOLDEN AGE OF RADIO and HELLO STARLING)
Journey (TIME3 box set CD2 and CD3)
k.d. lang (INGÉNUE and ALL YOU CAN EAT)
Kate Bush (all studio albums + some rarities)
Keren Ann (NOT GOING ANYWHERE and NOLITA)
Kim Taylor (I FEEL LIKE A FADING LIGHT)
Lisa Germano (LULLABY FOR LIQUID PIG)
Liz Phair (EXILE IN GUYVILLE)
Lucinda Williams (5 albums)
Marianne Faithfull (BEFORE THE POISON)
Mark Eitzel (60 WATT SILVER LINING)
Marvin Gaye (TROUBLE MAN)
Merzbow (MERZBEAT)
Mindy Smith (ONE MOMENT MORE)
My Bloody Valentine (LOVELESS and LOST IN TRANSLATION soundtrack)
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds (LET LOVE IN)
Nick Drake (FRUIT TREE box)
Ornette Coleman (THE COMPLETE SCIENCE FICTION SESSIONS)
Otis Redding (THE VERY BEST OF OTIS REDDING)
The RZA (GHOST DOG: THE WAY OF THE SAMURAI soundtrack)

Amon Düül II, WOLF CITY
Ash Ra Tempel, SCHWINGUNGEN
Big Star, #1 RECORD
Bill Withers, "Lean On Me"
Black Sabbath, VOL. 4
The Bonzo Dog Band, LET'S MAKE UP AND BE FRIENDLY
Caetano Veloso, ARAÇÁ AZUL
Caetano Veloso, TRANSA
Can, EGE BAMYASI
Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band, CLEAR SPOT
Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band, THE SPOTLIGHT KID
Cat Stevens, "Can't Keep It In"
Cluster, CLUSTER II
Daryl Hall & John Oates, "Fall In Philadelphia"
David Bowie, THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST AND THE SPIDERS FROM MARS
The Doobie Brothers, TOULOUSE STREET
Elton John, HONKY CHÂTEAU
Emerson, Lake & Palmer, TRILOGY
Faust, SO FAR
Frank Zappa, THE GRAND WAZOO
Funkadelic, AMERICA EATS ITS YOUNG
Genesis, FOXTROT
Gentle Giant, OCTOPUS
Harry Nilsson, SON OF SCHMILSSON
James Brown, "Get On The Good Foot"
Jethro Tull, THICK AS A BRICK
Joe Tex, "I Gotcha"
John Cale, THE ACADEMY IN PERIL
John Lennon & Yoko Ono, SOMETIME IN NEW YORK CITY
Joni Mitchell, FOR THE ROSES
Loretta Lynn, "One's On The Way"
Lou Reed, LOU REED
Lou Reed, TRANSFORMER
Loudon Wainwright III, ALBUM III
Luther Ingram, "If Loving You Is Wrong (I Don't Wanna Be Right)"
Matching Mole, MATCHING MOLE
Matching Mole, LITTLE RED RECORD
The Modern Lovers, THE MODERN LOVERS
Neil Young, HARVEST
Neu!, NEU!
Nino Rota, "Love Theme from THE GODFATHER"
Novos Baianos, ACABOU CHORARE
The O'Jays, "Love Train"
The Osmonds, "Hold Her Tight"
Paul McCartney & Wings, "C Moon"
Paul Simon, PAUL SIMON
PFM, STORIA DI UN MINUTO
Pink Floyd, OBSCURED BY CLOUDS
Porter Wagoner, "The Rubber Room"
Randy Newman, SAIL AWAY
The Raspberries, "Let's Pretend"
The Residents, SANTA DOG
Richard Thompson, HENRY THE HUMAN FLY
Roxy Music, ROXY MUSIC
Sandy Denny & the Bunch, "When Will I Be Loved?"
Slade, "Mama Weer All Crazee Now"
The Spinners, "I'll Be Around"
The Staple Singers, "Respect Yourself"
Stevie Wonder, "Love Having You Around"
Stevie Wonder, TALKING BOOK
Sun Ra, "Outer Spaceways Incorporated"
T. Rex, THE SLIDER
Todd Rundgren, SOMETHING/ANYTHING?
Townes Van Zandt, HIGH, LOW AND IN BETWEEN
Van Morrison, SAINT DOMINIC'S PREVIEW
The Who, "Long Live Rock"
Yes, FRAGILE
Yes, CLOSE TO THE EDGE

AC/DC, "Who Made Who"
American Music Club, THE RESTLESS STRANGER
Big Black, ATOMIZER
Billy Bragg, TALKING WITH THE TAXMAN ABOUT POETRY
The Chills, KALEIDOSCOPE WORLD
Cocteau Twins, "Love's Easy Tears"
The Cramps, "What's Inside A Girl"
Crowded House, CROWDED HOUSE
Cyndi Lauper, "Boy Blue"
Daniel Amos, FEARFUL SYMMETRY
Daryl Hall, "Dreamtime"
David Sylvian + Holger Czukay, PLIGHT & PREMONITION
Depeche Mode, "But Not Tonight"
Elvis Costello (The Costello Show), KING OF AMERICA
Elvis Costello and the Attractions, BLOOD & CHOCOLATE
Europe, "The Final Countdown"
Eurythmics, "Thorn In My Side"
The Firm, "All The King's Horses"
The Flaming Lips, HEAR IT IS
Frank Zappa, DOES HUMOR BELONG IN MUSIC?
Frank Zappa, JAZZ FROM HELL
Genesis, "Tonight, Tonight, Tonight"
Georgia Satellites, GEORGIA SATELLITES
Giuffria, "I Must Be Dreaming"
Grace Jones, "I'm Not Perfect (But I'm Perfect For You)"
GTR, "The Hunter"
Heaven 17, "Temptation"
Holger Czukay, "Blessed Easter"
The Housemartins, LONDON 0 HULL 4
Howard Jones, "No One Is To Blame"
Hüsker Dü, CANDY APPLE GREY
Iron Maiden, "Wasted Years"
James, STUTTER
The Jazz Butcher, BLOODY NONSENSE
The Jazz Butcher Conspiracy, DISTRESSED GENTLEFOLK
The Jazz Butcher vs. Max Eider, "Peter Lorre"
Jesse Johnson w/ Sly Stone, "Crazay"
Journey, RAISED ON RADIO
Julian Cope, SAINT JULIAN
Kate Bush, "Experiment IV"
Kool & the Gang, "Holiday"
Kool Moe Dee, "Go See The Doctor"
Lone Justice, "Shelter"
Lou Reed, MISTRIAL
Loudon Wainwright III, MORE LOVE SONGS
Marti Jones, MATCH GAME
The Mekons, THE EDGE OF THE WORLD
Metallica, MASTER OF PUPPETS
Michael McDonald, "Sweet Freedom"
My Bloody Valentine, "Moonlight"
Neil Diamond, "Headed For The Future"
New Order, "Bizarre Love Triangle"
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, KICKING AGAINST THE PRICKS
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, YOUR FUNERAL... MY TRIAL
NME C86 compilation
Ornette Coleman, PRIME DESIGN / TIME DESIGN
Paul McCartney, "Press"
Pete Townshend, DEEP END LIVE!
Peter Gabriel, SO
Peter Hammill, AS CLOSE AS THIS
Pixies, PIXIES (the purple tape)
Prince & the Revolution, PARADE
Queen, "A Kind Of Magic"
R.E.M., LIFES RICH PAGEANT
The Residents, STARS & HANK FOREVER
Robert Palmer, "I Didn't Mean To Turn You On"
Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians, ELEMENT OF LIGHT
Run-DMC, "Miss Elaine"
Salt 'N Pepa, "Push It"
Samantha Fox, "Touch Me (I Want Your Body)"
Siouxsie & the Banshees, "Cities In Dust"
SIXTEEN CANDLES soundtrack
Slayer, REIGN IN BLOOD
The Smithereens, ESPECIALLY FOR YOU
The Smiths, THE QUEEN IS DEAD
Sonic Youth, EVOL
Squirrel Bait, SKAG HEAVEN
Stryper, TO HELL WITH THE DEVIL
Swans, HOLY MONEY
Talk Talk, THE COLOUR OF SPRING
Tall Dwarfs, THROW A SICKIE
They Might Be Giants, THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS
Throwing Muses, THROWING MUSES
U.T.F.O., "Pick Up The Pace"
The Verlaines, HALLELUJAH ALL THE WAY HOME
Wire, SNAKEDRILL
XTC, SKYLARKING

The Amboy Dukes, "Journey To The Center Of Your Mind"
Aretha Franklin, "Chain Of Fools"
Astrud Gilberto, "On My Mind"
The Band, MUSIC FROM BIG PINK
The Beach Boys, "Friends"
The Beatles, "Lady Madonna" / "The Inner Light"
The Beatles, "Hey Jude" / "Revolution"
The Beatles, THE BEATLES
The Bee Gees, "I Started A Joke"
Big Brother & the Holding Company, CHEAP THRILLS
Bob Dylan, "If Not For You"
The Bonzo Dog Band, THE DOUGHNUT IN GRANNY'S GREENHOUSE
Can, DELAY 1968
Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band, THE MIRROR MAN SESSIONS
The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, "Fire"
Cream, WHEELS OF FIRE
Fairport Convention, FAIRPORT CONVENTION
Jeff Beck, TRUTH
Jethro Tull, "Song For Jeffrey"
The Jimi Hendrix Experience, ELECTRIC LADYLAND
Joni Mitchell, "Cactus Tree"
The Kinks, THE KINKS ARE THE VILLAGE GREEN PRESERVATION SOCIETY
Loretta Lynn, "Fist City"
Merle Haggard, "Mama Tried"
The Monkees, THE BIRDS THE BEES AND THE MONKEES
The Monkees, HEAD
The Mothers Of Invention, WE'RE ONLY IN IT FOR THE MONEY
The Mothers Of Invention, CRUISING WITH RUBEN & THE JETS
The Move, "Wave Your Flag and Stop The Train"
The Nazz, THE NAZZ
The Ohio Players, "Here Today and Gone Tomorrow"
Os Mutantes, OS MUTANTES
Otis Redding, "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay"
The Pink Floyd, "Vegetable Man" / "Scream Thy Last Scream"
Pink Floyd, A SAUCERFUL OF SECRETS
The Pretty Things, S.F. SORROW
Procol Harum, "Wish Me Well"
Scott Walker, SCOTT 2
The Silver Apples, THE SILVER APPLES
The Small Faces, OGDEN'S NUT GONE FLAKE
The Soft Machine, VOLUME ONE
Status Quo, "Pictures Of Matchstick Men"
Tim Buckley, DREAM LETTER: LIVE IN LONDON 1968
Tom Jones, "Without Love"
Tommy James & the Shondells, "Crimson And Clover"
Tyrannosaurus Rex, MY PEOPLE WERE FAIR AND HAD SKY IN THEIR HAIR BUT NOW THEY'RE CONTENT TO WEAR STARS ON THEIR BROWS
Tyrannosaurus Rex, PROPHETS SEERS & SAGES, THE ANGELS OF THE AGES
Van Morrison, ASTRAL WEEKS
The Velvet Underground, WHITE LIGHT / WHITE HEAT
The Who, "Magic Bus"
Wild Man Fischer, AN EVENING WITH WILD MAN FISCHER
The Zombies, ODESSEY AND ORACLE

Favorites at the time -- Chris Whitley, Clearlake, Distillers, Long Winters, Mates Of State, Matmos, Mink Lungs, Over The Rhine, Wire, and the soundtrack for A MIGHTY WIND.

Amy Winehouse, FRANK
Azure Ray, HOLD ON LOVE
The Be Good Tanyas, CHINATOWN
Bill Mallonee, PERFUMED LETTER
Bird York, "In The Deep"
Black Box Recorder, "Andrew Ridgley"
The Black Keys, THICKFREAKNESS
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, TAKE THEM ON, ON YOUR OWN
Bonnie "Prince" Billy, "The Way"
The Books, THE LEMON OF PINK
Brian Reitzell / Roger J. Manning / Kevin Shields, LOST IN TRANSLATION soundtrack
British Sea Power, THE DECLINE OF BRITISH SEA POWER
Chris Whitley, HOTEL VAST HORIZON
Clearlake, CEDARS
The Dandy Warhols, "We Used To Be Friends"
Daryl Hall & John Oates, "Do It For Love"
David Sylvian, BLEMISH
The Distillers, CORAL FANG
Ed Harcourt, FROM EVERY SPHERE
Eels, SHOOTENANNY!
Elbow, CAST OF THOUSANDS
Elvis Costello, NORTH
Emmylou Harris, STUMBLE INTO GRACE
Enon, "Come Into"
Explosions In The Sky, THE EARTH IS NOT A COLD DEAD PLACE
The Fiery Furnaces, GALLOWSBIRD'S BARK
Fiona Apple, EXTRAORDINARY MACHINE
The Fire Theft, THE FIRE THEFT
The Flaming Lips, OKIE NOODLING soundtrack
Fleetwood Mac, "Peacekeeper"
Gillian Welch, SOUL JOURNEY
I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness, "Your Worst Is The Best"
The Innocence Mission, "Beautiful Change"
Jack White, COLD MOUNTAIN soundtrack
John Fahey, RED CROSS
Johnny Cash, UNEARTHED
Jolie Holland, CATALPA
Jonathan Coulton, "Ikea"
Josh Groban, "You Raise Me Up"
Kate Rusby, UNDERNEATH THE STARS
Keren Ann, "Not Going Anywhere"
King Crimson, THE POWER TO BELIEVE
Kristin Hersh, THE GROTTO
LCD Soundsystem, "Yeah"
The Long Winters, WHEN I PRETEND TO FALL
The Lost Dogs, NAZARENE CRYING TOWEL
Lucinda Williams, WORLD WITHOUT TEARS
Lyle Lovett, MY BABY DON'T TOLERATE
Makeshift Letterbox, THE VAPORBOMBED LOVE AFFAIR
Manitoba, UP IN FLAMES
Mark Eitzel, WEST
Marmoset, "Black Cab"
Mates Of State, TEAM BOO
Matmos, THE CIVIL WAR
Metric, OLD WORLD UNDERGROUND, WHERE ARE YOU NOW
Michael Bublé, michael bublé
Mink Lungs, I'LL TAKE IT
Mogwai, HAPPY MUSIC FOR HAPPY PEOPLE
Muse, "Butterflies And Hurricanes"
The New Pornographers, ELECTRIC VERSION
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, NOCTURAMA
OutKast, SPEAKERBOXXX / THE LOVE BELOW
Over The Rhine, OHIO
Placebo, "Running Up That Hill"
Pretty Girls Make Graves, "All Medicated Geniuses"
Rachel's, SYSTEMS/LAYERS
Radiohead, HAIL TO THE THIEF
Regina Spektor, SOVIET KITSCH
Richard Thompson, 1000 YEARS OF POPULAR MUSIC
Robyn Hitchcock, LUXOR
Rufus Wainwright, WANT ONE
Shelby Lynne, IDENTITY CRISIS
The Shins, CHUTES TOO NARROW
soundtrack, A MIGHTY WIND
Stars, SET YOURSELF ON FIRE
Steve Burns, SONGS FOR DUSTMITES
Sufjan Stevens, GREETINGS FROM MICHIGAN THE GREAT LAKE STATE
Tall Dwarfs, THE SKY ABOVE THE MUD BELOW
The Thermals, "No Culture Icons"
Trey Gunn, UNTUNE THE SKY
Ulrich Schnauss, A STRANGELY ISOLATED PLACE
William Basinski, THE DISINTEGRATION LOOPS 4
Wire, SEND
The Wrens, THE MEADOWLANDS
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, FEVER TO TELL

10cc, "Dreadlock Holiday"
AC/DC, POWERAGE
Ace Frehley, "New York Groove"
The Adverts, CROSSING THE RED SEA WITH THE ADVERTS
The Alan Parsons Project, "Shadow Of A Lonely Man"
Allen Toussaint, "Night People"
Be Bop Deluxe, DRASTIC PLASTIC
Blondie, PARALLEL LINES
The Blues Brothers, "Rubber Biscuits"
Bruford, FEELS GOOD TO ME
Brian Eno, AMBIENT 1: MUSIC FOR AIRPORTS
Buzzcocks, ANOTHER MUSIC IN A DIFFERENT KITCHEN
Cabaret Voltaire, "Nag Nag Nag"
Can, OUT OF REACH
Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band, SHINY BEAST (BAT CHAIN PULLER)
The Cars, THE CARS
Cat Stevens, "Just Another Night"
Cecil Taylor, THE CECIL TAYLOR UNIT
Chic, "Le Freak"
The Clash, GIVE 'EM ENOUGH ROPE
The Commodores, "Three Times A Lady"
Devo, Q: ARE WE NOT MEN? A: WE ARE DEVO!
Dolly Parton, "Heartbreaker"
The Doobie Brothers, MINUTE BY MINUTE
Earth, Wind & Fire, "September"
Elton Motello, "Jet Boy Jet Girl"
Elvis Costello, THIS YEAR'S MODEL
Emmylou Harris & The Band, "Evangeline"
Essential Logic, "Aerosol Burns"
The Fall, LIVE AT THE WITCH TRIALS (DISC 2)
Frank Zappa, ZAPPA IN NEW YORK
Funkadelic, ONE NATION UNDER A GROOVE
Genesis, ...AND THEN THERE WERE THREE
Gerry Rafferty, CITY TO CITY
GREASE soundtrack
The Jacksons, DESTINY
The Jam, ALL MOD CONS
The Jam, SETTING SONS
Jandek (The Units), "Naked In The Afternoon"
Japan, ADOLESCENT SEX
Japan, OBSCURE ALTERNATIVES
Joy Division, AN IDEAL FOR LIVING
Kiss, "Strutter '78"
Kraftwerk, DIE MENSCH-MASCHINE
Led Zeppelin, IN THROUGH THE OUT DOOR
Loretta Lynn, "Out Of My Head And Back In My Bed"
Lou Reed, STREET HASSLE
Magazine, REAL LIFE
Marvin Gaye, HERE, MY DEAR
The Mekons, "Never Been In A Riot"
Michael Giles, PROGRESS
The Misfits, "Last Caress"
The Muppets, THE MUPPET SHOW ALBUM
Neil Diamond, "Forever In Blue Jeans"
Nick Lowe, JESUS OF COOL
The Normal, "Warm Leatherette"
Parliament, "(You're A Fish And I'm A) Water Sign"
The Passage, "Love Song"
Patti Smith Group, EASTER
Paul McCartney & Wings, "With A Little Luck"
Penetration, "Life's A Gamble"
Pere Ubu, DUB HOUSING
Pere Ubu, THE MODERN DANCE
Peter Allen, "I Go To Rio"
Peter Gabriel, PETER GABRIEL (2)
The Police, OUTLANDOS D'AMOUR
Public Image Ltd., FIRST ISSUE
The Punishment Of Luxury, "Puppet Life"
Ramones, ROAD TO RUIN
Rick James, "Mary Jane"
Rush, HEMISPHERES
The Rutles, THE RUTLES
The Walker Brothers, NITE FLIGHTS
Sex Pistols, WINTERLAND 1978
Siouxsie & the Banshees, "Hong Kong Garden"
The Soft Boys, "(I Want To Be An) Anglepoise Lamp"
Steel Leg vs. The Electric Band, "Haile Unlikely"
The Stranglers, BLACK AND WHITE
Styx, "Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)"
Swell Maps, "Read About Seymour"
Talking Heads, MORE SONGS ABOUT BUILDINGS AND FOOD
Television, "Glory"
Television Personalities, "Part-Time Punks"
Throbbing Gristle, "United"
Townes Van Zandt, FLYIN' SHOES
Tubeway Army, "Bombers"
U.K., U.K.
Van Halen, VAN HALEN
Vic Godard & Subway Sect, "Ambition"
Village People, "In The Navy"
The Who, WHO ARE YOU
Wire, CHAIRS MISSING
XTC, GO 2 & GO +
XTC, WHITE MUSIC

It's a cliche to say "man, I DREAM of playing in that band." I actually have a recurring theme in my dreams where I suddenly am playing with some of my favorite musicians. In general, I feel like I'm inadequate and straining to keep up, but the feeling I get in the dream is that I'm doing OK and the other party is happy with what I do. The dreams are good ones.

King Crimson
- multiple occasions: Generally, I dream that I'm sitting in with Fripp, Belew, Levin, and Mastellotto, and absolutely straining to contribute anything because of their superiority as musicians. But generally they just want me to do what I do as part of what they do.

Peter Gabriel
- multiple occasions: The first time I remember this, the dream is set on a college campus. I'm eating at a campus restaurant and hear that Peter's playing campus that day. As I'm leaving the restaurant, I hear someone say that one of Gabriel's band members got sick. I run backstage while he's up there and offer my services, and they are accepted. There's a specific visual I have in the dream where he and I are at the stage front and the sun is setting in front of us.

The Lost Dogs
- twice: Just sitting around with them writing and playing old songs. In this case, I've actually met the band, so the dream feels more vivid and personal.

Frank Zappa
- 2004: At a college art workshop, suddenly I see this guy.

He's funny but soft-spoken, and a group of 5 of us work on some sculptures and paintings. As we leave, I finally put it together that it's Frank. I should point out that he's wearing neon striped socks with that dress in the dream -- it really makes it.


The Flaming Lips
- 2006: This dream was blurrier (appropriately given the band in question), but I just remember moving around in a circle amidst the band members while they played, with Wayne so close in my face that I could've braided his nosehairs.

Andy Partridge & Bob Dylan
- 14th May 2009: I went to NYC to hang out with Andy Partridge of XTC and write songs. And then he said he had a surprise one day, and Bob Dylan was there. And we all 3 started writing together. While we were there, news broadcasts were showing that naked people were breaking into Buckingham Palace and just hanging out, with Prince Philip was doing whatever he could do to usher them out politely without the Queen knowing.

Weezer
- 22nd May 2009: I met Rivers Cuomo & Brian Bell while shopping for vintage keyboards. There's a particular Casio that we all agree is fantastic. They came over to the house and jammed, and we agreed I was in Weezer. They started trying to work out what my image was going to be, and I told them I basically always dress like they did on the cover of the Blue Album, so it shouldn't be an issue. Rivers then looks askance at me -- with his bright green & purple mohawk and his extra-cowboy-styled jeans. Hipsters...

Music to accompany having a tree root removed from one's sewer pipes, installing a cleanout station, and rodding the line.

The Jazz Butcher, IN BATH OF BACON
Boredoms, SUPER ROOTS
Califone, ROOTS AND CROWNS
Green Day, DOOKIE
The Who, "The Dirty Jobs"
The Stranglers, "Down In The Sewer"
Alice In Chains, "Down In A Hole"
Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band, "81 Poop Hatch"
The Mothers Of Invention, "Hot Poop"
Ween, "Poop Ship Destroyer"
Dave Chappelle, "(I Wanna) Pee On You"
Frank Zappa, "Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?"
Baby Bird, "Razor Blade Shower"
Superchunk, "June Showers"
OutKast, "Toilet Tisha"
The Soft Boys, "Rock & Roll Toilet"
The Beatles, "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window"
Eels, "Elizabeth On The Bathroom Floor"
The English Beat, "Mirror In The Bathroom"
Hatfield & The North, "Fitter Stoke Has A Bath"
Smog, "Bathroom Floor"
Little Feat, "Fat Man In The Bathtub"
Sonic Youth, "Moon In The Bathroom"
The Residents, "Suburban Bathers"
Tindersticks, "Bathtime"
Spectrum, "Sweet Running Water"
Vigilantes Of Love, "Taking On Water"
The Chantays, "Pipeline"
Sonic Youth, "Pipeline / Kill Time"
Beastie Boys, "Root Down"
Talking Heads, "Pull Up The Roots"
Faust, "Don't Take Roots"
Bob Marley & the Wailers, "Roots, Rock, Reggae"
Frank Zappa / Ensemble Modern, "Food Gathering In Post-Industrial America, 1992" -- contains reference to "tritium-enriched sewage"

Adam Again, Perfecta, 10 Every Mother's Way
American Music Club, Engine, 08 Mom's TV
Amon Düül - Psychedelic Underground - 03 - Mama Duul und ihre Sauerkrautband spielt auf
Arnold, Hillside Album, 12 Mickey's Mother
Azeda Booth, Tubtrek, 08 Big Fists (secret mommy mix)
The Band - The Band (Remasters), 02. Rag Mama Rag
The Be Good Tanyas, Blue Horse, 8 - Momsong
The Beatles, The Beatles (White Album) (Disc 2), 3 - Mother Nature's Son
The Beatles, Magical Mystery Tour, 23 - Your Mother Should Know
Betty Davis, Betty Davis - They Say I´m Different (Remastered) (1974), Your Mama Wants Ya Back
Blonde Redhead, Blonde Redhead, 06 Mama Cita
Blonde Redhead - Melody of Certain Damaged Lemons, 10 Mother
Bobby Taylor, Hitsville U.S.A., The Motown Singles Collection 1959-1971 (Disc 3), 14 - Does Your Mama Know About Me
Brian Eno, Taking Tiger Mountain By Strategy, 04 Mother Whale Eyeless
CAN, Soundtracks, 06 Mother Sky
CAN, Unlimited Edition, 12 Mother Upduff
Captain Beefheart - Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller), 07-When I See Mommy I Feel like a Mummy
Chris Harford, Comet, 04 Far Off Mother Earth
Clifton Chenier, Best of Clifton Chenier, 2 - I'm Coming Home (To See My Mother)
Clifton Chenier, Best of Clifton Chenier, 10 - Ma Mama Ma Dit (My Mama Told Me)
Cream, Disraeli Gears, 1-24 Mother's Lament
Cream, Those Were The Days [Disc 2], 2-15 Lawdy Mama [Version 2]
David Sylvian, Dead Bees On A Cake, 11 All Of My Mother's Names
David Sylvian, Secrets of the Beehive, 12 Mother and Child
Devo - Q - Are We Not Men . A - We are Devo, 08 Gut Feeling - Slap Your Mammy
Eels, Blinking Lights And Other Revelations (Disc 1), 12 - Mother Mary
Eric Clapton, Crossroads (Disc 3), 08. Motherless Children
The Fall - 1979 - Live At The Witch Trials (2CD), Disc 1, 05 - Mother-Sister!
The Flaming Lips, In A Priest Driven Ambulance, 05 Five Stop Mother Superior Rain
Frank Zappa - Sheik Yerbouti, 18 Yo` Mama
The Free Association, Code 46, 06 Mother
Funkadelic - Standing On The Verge Of Getting It On, 01 - Red Hot Mama
Genesis - [1978] - (And Then There Were Three), 06 - Deep In The Motherlode
Genesis - Mama
George Harrison - Beware of ABKCO demos, 13 Mother Divine
Gillian Welch, Soul Journey, 4 - I Had A Real Good Mother And Father
Gong - You (Radio Gnome Invisible, Vol. 3), 03 - Magick Mother Invocation
Guided By Voices, Propeller, 23 Metal Mothers
Guns N' Roses, G N' R Lies, 04 - Mama Kin
Jack Bruce, Songs For A Tailor, 01 Never Tell Your Mother She's Out Of Tune
The Jackson 5 - Mama's Pearl
James, James, 10 Gold Mother
James, Seven, 05 Mother
James Brown, 20 All Time Greatest Hits!, 04 Mother Popcorn
Jeff Buckley, Grace [Legacy Edition Bonus Disc], 2-05 Mama, You Been On My Mind
Jethro Tull, Stand Up, 10 For A Thousand Mothers
Joan Armatrading - Love And Affection cd1, 20 - Mama Mercy (Live)
John Fahey, Red Cross, 05 Motherless Child
John Lennon, Plastic Ono Band, Mother
John McLaughlin, My Goal's Beyond, 09 Song for My Mother
John Prine, A John Prine Christmas, 06 I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Julian Cope, 20 Mothers, 05 Queen/Mother
The Kinks, Arthur Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire, 03 Some Mother's Son
The Kinks, Arthur Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire, 16 Mindless Child Of Motherhood
Little Richard, The Essential Little Richard, 15 - True Fine Mama
LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out
Loudon Wainwright III, Loudon Wainwright III, 10 Movies Are A Mother To Me
Loudon Wainwright III, More Love Songs, 03 Your Mother And I
Martha Wainwright - Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole
Merle Haggard - Mama Tried
Minutemen - Post-Mersh, Vol. 2, 11. Hey Lawdy Mama
Mother Mother, O My Heart
Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention, Freak Out!, 05 Motherly Love
Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention, We're Only In It For The Money, 04 Mom & Dad
Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention, We're Only In It For The Money, 18 Mother People
Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention, Weasels Ripped My Flesh, 08 My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama
Neil Young - 1975 - Tonight's the night, 1975 - Tonight's the night, 09 - New Mama
Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Ragged Glory - 10 - Mother Earth (Natural Anthem)
Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Rust Never Sleeps, 07 Welfare Mothers
Outkast- Aquemini, Mamacita
Parliament, Mothership Connection [Bonus Track], 02 Mothership Connection (Star Child)
Patty Griffin, Impossible Dream, 10 - Mother Of God
Paul McCartney - McCartney, 09 - Momma Miss America
Paul McCartney - Band On The Run, 06 Mamunia
Paul Simon, Graceland, 10 - That Was Your Mother
Paul Simon - (1972) - Paul Simon [Bonus Tracks], 01. Mother And Child Reunion
Peter Gabriel, Peter Gabriel (2), 03 Mother Of Violence
Pink Floyd, Is There Anybody Out There The Wall Live, 1-07 Mother
The Pink Floyd, The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn, 03 Matilda Mother
PJ Harvey - To Bring You My Love (1995), 08 - I Think I'm A Mother
Quasi, R&B Transmogrification, 11 Mama, Papa, Baby
Randy Newman, 12 Songs, 03 Mama Told Me Not To Come
The Residents, Animal Lover, 10 - The Residents - Mother No More
Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians, Fegmania!, 07 Insect Mother
The Rutles, The Rutles, 01 Goose-Step Mama
Shudder To Think - Mom's Mercedes
Sinéad O'Connor, Universal Mother, 04 My Darling Child
Sinéad O'Connor, Universal Mother, 10 All Babies
Slade - Mamma Weer All Crazee Now
Stevie Wonder, Songs In The Key Of Life, CD2, 09-Easy Goin' Evening (My Mama's Call)
Sugarcubes, Life's Too Good, 05 Mama
The Swirling Eddies, Zoom Daddy, 06 Sweet Mother of God
Tears For Fears, Songs From the Big Chair, 04 Mothers Talk
Terry Scott Taylor, Little, Big, 06 maMa's In tHe DesErT, DAddy'S In The Sky
Tori Amos, Little Earthquakes, 9 - Mother
Tyler Hilton, Walk The Line, 9 - That's All Right Mama
Tyrannosaurous Rex - My People Were Fair, 01 - Hot Rod Mama
U2 - The Joshua Tree, 11 Mothers Of The Disappeared
The Veils - Nux Vomica, Advice For Young Mothers To Be
Voxtrot - Mothers, Sisters, Daughters and Wives
The Walker Brothers, Nite Flights, 05 Fat Mama Kick
Warren Zevon, Warren Zevon, 02 Mama Couldn't Be Persuaded
The Wedding Present, 1985 Tommy The Wedding Present 1987, 11 Every Mother's Son
ZZ Top (1979) - Deguello, 08 - Hi Fi Mama

One thing I was struck by in this list is how many artists in my library put out two good albums in 1970. Zappa had 4 -- two from the Mothers and two under his own name!

The Allman Brothers Band, "Leave My Blues At Home"
Amon Düül, COLLAPSING
Amon Düül, PARA DIESWÄRTS DÜÜL
Badfinger, MAGIC CHRISTIAN MUSIC
Badfinger, NO DICE
The Band, STAGE FRIGHT
The Beatles, LET IT BE
Bee Gees, "Lonely Days"
Black Sabbath, BLACK SABBATH
Caetano Veloso, CAETANO VELOSO ("London, London")
Can, SOUNDTRACKS
Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band, LICK MY DECALS OFF, BABY
Cat Stevens, MONA BONE JAKON
Cat Stevens, TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN
David Bowie, THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD
Derek & the Dominos, LAYLA AND OTHER ASSORTED LOVE SONGS
The Doors, "Roadhouse Blues"
Elton John, ELTON JOHN
Embryo, OPAL
Emerson, Lake & Palmer, EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER
Emitt Rhodes, EMITT RHODES
Eric Clapton, ERIC CLAPTON
Fairport Convention, FULL HOUSE
Fela Ransome Kuti & Africa 70, EXPENSIVE SHIT
The Five Stairsteps, "O-o-h Child"
Frank Zappa, CHUNGA'S REVENGE
Frank Zappa, HOT RATS
Fotheringay, FOTHERINGAY
Free, "Fire and Water"
Genesis, TRESPASS
George Harrison, ALL THINGS MUST PASS
Glass Harp, GLASS HARP
The Grateful Dead, AMERICAN BEAUTY
The Grateful Dead, "Uncle John's Band"
Guru Guru, UFO
Jack Bruce, HARMONY ROW
Jack Bruce, THINGS WE LIKE
The Jackson 5, ABC
The Jackson 5, THIRD ALBUM
James Brown, "Get Up (Sex Machine)"
James Brown, "Super Bad"
Jethro Tull, BENEFIT
John Cale, VINTAGE VIOLENCE
John Lennon, JOHN LENNON/PLASTIC ONO BAND
John McLaughlin, MY GOAL'S BEYOND
Joni Mitchell, "Morning Morgantown"
King Crimson, IN THE WAKE OF POSEIDON
King Crimson, LIZARD
The Kinks, LOLA VERSUS POWERMAN AND THE MONEYGOROUND
Kluster, KLOPFZEICHEN
Led Zeppelin, LED ZEPPELIN III
Lee "Scratch" Perry, "Ashes And Dust"
Loretta Lynn, "Coal Miner's Daughter"
Loudon Wainwright III, LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III
Miles Davis, A TRIBUTE TO JACK JOHNSON
The Mothers Of Invention, BURNT WEENY SANDWICH
The Mothers Of Invention, WEASELS RIPPED MY FLESH
Nico, DESERTSHORE
Organisation, TONE FLOAT
Os Mutantes, A DIVINA COMÉDIA OU ANDO MEIO DESLIGADO
Parliament, OSMIUM
Paul McCartney, MCCARTNEY
Pink Floyd, ATOM HEART MOTHER
Pink Floyd, "Heart Beat, Pig Meat"
Randy Newman, 12 SONGS
Rodriguez, "Sugar Man"
The Shocking Blue, "Send Me A Postcard"
Soft Machine, THIRD
Stevie Wonder, "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)"
The Stooges, FUN HOUSE
Syd Barrett, BARRETT
Syd Barrett, THE MADCAP LAUGHS
T. Rex, T. REX
Tim Buckley, STARSAILOR
Todd Rundgren, RUNT
Tyrannosaurus Rex, A BEARD OF STARS
Van Der Graaf Generator, H TO HE WHO AM THE ONLY ONE
Van Morrison, HIS BAND AND THE STREET CHOIR
Vashti Bunyan, JUST ANOTHER DIAMOND DAY
The Velvet Underground, LOADED
The Who, LIVE AT LEEDS
Yoko Ono, YOKO ONO/PLASTIC ONO BAND

AC/DC, BACK IN BLACK
Adam and the Ants, "Antmusic"
The Alan Parsons Project, "Games People Play"
Barbra Streisand w/ Barry Gibb, "Guilty"
Bauhaus, "Terror Couple Kill Colonel"
Benny Mardones, "Into The Night"
Bruford, GRADUALLY GOING TORNADO
The Birthday Party, "Mr. Clarinet"
Black Sabbath, HEAVEN AND HELL
Blotto, "I Wanna Be A Lifeguard"
Bob Marley & the Wailers, "Jamming"
Cabaret Voltaire, THE VOICE OF AMERICA
Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band, DOC AT THE RADAR STATION
The Cars, "Touch And Go"
A Certain Ratio, "Shack Up"
Christopher Cross, "Arthur's Theme"
The Clash, SANDINISTA!
The Comsat Angels, "Independence Day"
Crispy Ambulance, "From The Cradle To The Grave"
The Cure, SEVENTEEN SECONDS
Daryl Hall & John Oates, VOICES
David Bowie, SCARY MONSTERS
Delbert McClinton, "Giving It Up For Your Love"
Delta 5, "Colour"
Dexy's Midnight Runners, SEARCHING FOR THE YOUNG SOUL REBELS
Dolly Parton, "9 To 5"
Dome, DOME
The Durutti Column, "Lips That Would Kiss (Form Prayers To Broken Stone)"
Echo & the Bunnymen, CROCODILES
The Elevators, "Your I's Are Too Close Together"
Elvis Costello & the Attractions, GET HAPPY!!
The English Beat, "Mirror In The Bathroom"
The Feelies, CRAZY RHYTHMS
The Fools, "It's A Night For Beautiful Girls"
The Frantic Elevators, "Hunchback Of Notre Dame"
Gang Of Four, "Outside The Trains Don't Run On Time (single version)"
Gary Numan, "Cars"
Genesis, DUKE
George Jones, I AM WHAT I AM
Half Japanese, 1/2 GENTLEMEN/NOT BEASTS
Harold Budd & Brian Eno, AMBIENT 2: THE PLATEAUX OF MIRRORS
Harry Nilsson, "Bright Side Of Life"
Hazel O'Connor, "Will You"
Heart, "Even It Up"
The Human League, TRAVELOGUE
Humble Pie, "Fool For A Pretty Face"
The Invisible Man's Band, "All Night Thing"
Iron Maiden, "Iron Maiden"
The Jam, SOUND AFFECTS
Japan, GENTLEMEN TAKE POLAROIDS
John Lennon & Yoko Ono, DOUBLE FANTASY
Journey, DEPARTURE
Joy Division, CLOSER
Kirsty MacColl, "There's A Guy Works Down The Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis"
Lipps, Inc., "Funkytown"
Magazine, THE CORRECT USE OF SOAP
Merle Haggard, "Misery and Gin"
Minutemen, PARANOID TIME
Mission Of Burma, "Academy Fight Song"
Mr. Partridge, TAKE AWAY (THE LURE OF SALVAGE)
Neil Diamond, THE JAZZ SINGER
The Nips, ONLY THE END OF THE BEGINNING
Olivia Newton-John & the Electric Light Orchestra, XANADU
Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, "Enola Gay"
Pat Metheny, 80/81
Paul McCartney, MCCARTNEY II
Paul Simon, ONE-TRICK PONY
Pauline Murray & the Invisible Girls, "Dream Sequence I"
Peter Gabriel, PETER GABRIEL (3)
Pink Floyd, IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE? THE WALL LIVE 1980-81
The Police, ZENYATTA MONDATTA
The Pop Group, FOR HOW MUCH LONGER DO WE TOLERATE MASS MURDER?
The Pretenders, THE PRETENDERS
The Psychedelic Furs, "Sister Europe"
The Raincoats, THE RAINCOATS
Ramones, END OF THE CENTURY
The Residents, COMMERCIAL ALBUM
The Residents, DISKOMO / GOOSEBUMP
Robert Palmer, "Looking For Clues"
Robyn Hitchcock, "Give Me A Spanner, Ralph"
Rupert Holmes, "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)"
Rush, PERMANENT WAVES
Section 25, "Knew Noise"
Sheena Easton, "9 To 5 (Morning Train)"
Siouxsie & the Banshees, "Christine"
The Soft Boys, UNDERWATER MOONLIGHT
The Sound, "Jeopardy"
The Specials, "Ghost Town"
Squeeze, ARGYBARGY
Suzanne Fellini, "Love On The Phone"
Swell Maps, "Let's Build A Car"
Talking Heads, REMAIN IN LIGHT
The Teardrop Explodes, KILIMANJARO
Teen Idles, "Sneakers"
This Heat, "Health And Efficiency"
Tom Waits, HEARTATTACK AND VINE
U2, BOY
Van Halen, WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST
The Vapors, "Turning Japanese"
Wah! Heat, "Better Scream"
The Who, "You Better You Bet"
Willie Nelson & David Allan Coe, "Outlaws"
Wire, DOCUMENT AND EYEWITNESS
X, LOS ANGELES
XTC, BLACK SEA
Yes, DRAMA
Young Marble Giants, COLOSSAL YOUTH

This is my first Year Of The Day post to cover a year in which I was actively buying current music, so this is a pretty long list.

Favorites at the time: Guided By Voices, Jeff Buckley, King Crimson, Kristin Hersh, Shudder To Think, Sugar, Ween
Favorites that I didn't hear until later: Bark Psychosis, Blur, Low, Manic Street Preachers, Pulp, Morrissey, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Superchunk

( list behind the cut )

Yesterday, I was working on rewiring my home entertainment system, and I stumbled on a way to improve the audio quality. I started celebrating my unbelievably staggering achievement.

Ten seconds later, I bent down to pick something up and split my pants through the crotch.

So, on this Easter weekend, thanks to God for perspective.

Patti Smith Group, EASTER
Sugar, BEASTER
The 13th Floor Elevators, EASTER EVERYWHERE
XTC, "Easter Theatre"
Daniel Amos, "Stone Away"
Frank Zappa, "Watermelon In Easter Hay"
Holger Czukay, "Blessed Easter"
Michael O'Shea, "Easter Island"
The Residents, "Easter Woman"
Joy Division, "Passover"
Iron & Wine, "Resurrection Fern"
The Stone Roses, "I Am The Resurrection"
The 77s, "Rise"
American Music Club, "Rise"
Pantera, "Rise"
The Moon Seven Times, "Rise"
Black Flag, "Rise Above"

May all your snakes be driven out. Sláinte mhath!

St. Patrick's Day from VERY JUST FINE: AMPLITUDE THREE.

My playlist:

The Bee Gees	"In The Morning"
Astrud Gilberto	THE DIVA SERIES
The Beatles	REVOLVER
The Beatles	"Paperback Writer" / "Rain" single
Serge Gainsbourg	COMIC STRIP
The Small Faces	FROM THE BEGINNING
Gram Parsons' International Submarine Band	SAFE AT HOME
The Beach Boys	PET SOUNDS
The Mothers Of Invention	FREAK OUT!
? and the Mysterians	"96 Tears"
The 13th Floor Elevators	THE PSYCHEDELIC SOUNDS OF THE 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS
Cream	FRESH CREAM
Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band	THE LEGENDARY A&M SESSIONS
Cicciolini	SATIE: OUVRES POUR PIANO
Bob Dylan	BLONDE ON BLONDE
The Byrds	"8 Miles High"
The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band	"My Brother Makes The Noises For The Talkies"
The Count Five	"Psychotic Reaction"
The Kinks	FACE TO FACE
Love	"7 & 7 Is"
Herbie Hancock	BLOW-UP (soundtrack)
Loretta Lynn	"You Ain't Woman Enough To Take My Man"
The Monkees	"(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone"
The Monks	"Monk Time"
Nancy Sinatra	"These Boots Are Made For Walking"
Ornette Coleman	THE EMPTY FOXHOLE
Otis Redding	"Try A Little Tenderness"
The Outsiders	"Time Won't Let Me"
Sam & Dave	"Hold On, I'm Comin'"
The Spencer Davis Group	"Gimme Some Lovin'"
Tim Buckley	TIM BUCKLEY
Van Morrison	THE COMPLETE BANG SESSIONS
The Who	A QUICK ONE (HAPPY JACK)
The Who	"Call Me Lightning"
The Zombies	BEGIN HERE
The Velvet Underground	April 1966 sessions (1st album outtakes)

During lunch, I flipped channels past "30-Minute Meals" just long enough for Rachael Ray to look up from her cheese grater and say, "I've been grating a lot lately!"

Yes. Yes, you have.