Friday and the Random 10 (Almost Forgot Edition)

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This Day in Music History: Lynyrd Skynyrd and Van Halen (03/24)

A double dose of classic albums today:

Lynyrd Skynyrd/Nuthin' Fancy (1975) - This was their third studio album, and their first to reach the Top 10, peaking at #9 on the US albums chart. It was certified Platinum on 7/21/1987 by the RIAA. This is the first record with new drummer Artimus Pyle and the last with guitarist Ed King until the reformation of the band in the early 90's.

"Saturday Night Special" was the only single released and reached #27 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

Van Halen/5150 (1986) - This is the 7th studio album by the band and was the first of four albums to be recorded with new lead singer Sammy Hagar, who replaced David Lee Roth. It was named after Eddie Van Halen's home studio, 5150, itself named after a California law enforcement term for a mentally disturbed person (a reference to Section 5150 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code). The album hit #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, surpassing the band's previous album, 1984.

The album was notable for a number of love songs and ballads, which were not a feature of the straightforward rock stylings of the Roth-fronted era of the band. Many who had heard the previous incarnation of Van Halen called the new iteration "Van Hagar" either derisively or affectionately, a nickname widespread enough that, as Hagar points out in his book, Warner Bros. asked them to consider renaming the band as such.

The singles released were: "Why Can't This Be Love"(#3), "Summer Nights"(#33), "Best of Both Worlds" (#12), "Love Walks In"(#4) and "Dreams" (#3).

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Friday and the Random 10 (Royalty Edition)

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Friday and the Random 10 (Condition Critical Edition)

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Friday and the Random 10 (Waterloo Edition)

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Friday and the Random 10 (Forever Afternoon Edition)

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This Day in Music History (10/20): Southern Rock Tragedy

On this day in 1977, just three days after the release of Street Survivors, a Convair CV-240 chartered by the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd ran out of fuel and crashed in Gillsburg, Mississippi, near the end of its flight from Greenville, South Carolina, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist/vocalist Steve Gaines, backing vocalist Cassie Gaines (Steve's older sister), assistant road manager Dean Kilpatrick, pilot Walter McCreary and co-pilot William Gray all died as a result of the crash. Twenty others survived.

This Day in Music History (10/17): Lynyrd Skynyrd/Street Survivors

Street Survivors is the fifth studio album by Southern rock band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, released on this day in 1977. It is the last Skynyrd album recorded by original members Ronnie Van Zant and Allen Collins, and is the sole Skynyrd studio recording by guitarist Steve Gaines. Three days after the album's release, the band's chartered airplane crashed en route to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, killing the pilot, co-pilot, the group's assistant road-manager and three band members (Van Zant, Gaines, and Gaines' older sister, backup singer Cassie Gaines), and severely injuring most who survived the crash.

Friday and the Random 10 (Apartment Finale Edition)

Yeah, I know it has been awhile but I have been dealing with the culmination of the whole bad apartment management scenario. Basically, I wouldn't put up with their condescending (and anti-white person) attitude and just moved out. Me and a good friend were wanting to be in a house again, found one we liked, and moved in over the last two weeks. Sawyer Estates can suck it!

So now I am trying to get back into the normal routine around here, and that starts with music! 

Friday and the Random 10 (Fill in the Blank Edition)

Sometimes I have a preconceived idea for the Random 10, and other times I hope the music itself will reveal a theme. Today I'm just blah so I will let the music speak to you and you can leave comments on what it should be named. Yay for reader participation! #FutureInternetSensation #ShareThe Love

Now onto some music:

Friday and the Random 10 (Good Friday Edition)

Happy Good Friday everyone! Or is it just Good Friday to you all? I don't know the best way to say it and surely don't want Catholics mad at me. Either way, you know what day it is. 

Quick Von, distract them with music. Hey look down there:

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This Day in Music History: Lynyrd Skynyrd/Gimme Back My Bullets (02/02)

Gimme Back My Bullets is Lynyrd Skynyrd's fourth studio album. It was released on this day in 1976. The album was originally titled Ain't No Dowd About It, in tribute to the producer Tom Dowd, whom the band idolized.

It remains the only studio album by the precrash lineup to have not yet reached platinum or higher in the United States. However, it did include the hits "Gimme Back My Bullets", "Searching", "Double Trouble", and "Cry for the Bad Man" It reached # 20 on the U.S. albums chart and was certified Gold on 1/20/1981 by the RIAA.

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Friday and the Random 10 (National Championship Afterglow Edition)

Well things are starting to slow down around here...slightly. It has been a busy time with Christmas and then New Years. Throw in the fact that I am still on cloud nine after Bama won it's 16th championship on Monday, followed two days later by my birthday it is a wonder I even have time to work on my blog. Some changes are in store for sure, and I have already "tested" a few of them. More on that later. For now, on to the music:

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Friday and the Random 10 (Rock & Roll HOF Edition)

So, the new nominees are out for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and most of it just leaves me scratching my head. Rock & Roll?!? You keep using that phrase but I don't think it means what you think it means. Chic? Janet Jackson? Chaka Khan? Let me say that again. Umm, Chaka Kahn? I feel for you honey. I do, but no.

This isn't a music HOF, it's rock & roll! I voted for The Cars, Chicago (yeah I know I give them a hard time but the 70's stuff is legendary), Deep Purple, and of course, the most deserving in the universe and basically how the frack are they not in there already, YES.

P.S. Who the Hell are The J.B.'s? And N.W.A.??? Not on my planet. My world is more like this:

Friday and the Random Ten (9/11 Edition)

I don't even know what I can do here to dignify this day to the amount of respect it deserves. The world changed this day 14 years ago. Everyone who is old enough remembers where they were. I was teaching at Russell County High School in Alabama when my second class of the day came in saying that something was going on so we flipped on the tv. We sat and watched as the second tower was hit, and the first one fell. The rest of the day everyone was just...numb. I remember the drive home just being eerily quiet.

Like I wrote earlier, there's just no way I can show enough respect for all the fireman, policeman and everyone else who did all they could that day. Some came home. Some didn't. For some reason I have a sorrowful guitar from one song in my head this morning and that's what I will leave you with today. I guess as a Southern man, it's the most respectful song I can play.

In the end, we will rise to glory. Commemorate in your own way, and God bless America.

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Friday and the Random 10 (Warehouse of Suck Edition)

I was hit with an interesting idea this week of actually making the Random 10 a weekly video, possibly on YouTube. I am currently entertaining that idea. I mean I could see where the video could be at the top of the post with the normal write up underneath. The whole thing has some merit and it's got me thinking...a lot...

But until then, it's back to the normal format. Looking back at last week I see that Frank Zappa is banned, but no worries because I went ahead and deleted all of his stuff anyway. Just not my thing. And it's still September so all RW will be ignored as well.

As usual the rules and whatnot are up there ↑ at the top.

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On with da show!

1) Steve Howe/More About You - This was one of his Homebrew demos that became part of ABWH's "Quartet".

2) Chicago/Song for You - Weak love song from them right between the good years and the "warehouse of suck"© that was coming in the future. Ugh.

3) Yes/Astral Traveller - I have never really been crazy over this song. As with most older Yes, I covered this song here.

4) No Doubt/Hey You - Who me? I do like their sound.

5) Extreme/Peacemaker Die - This is probably the greatest album no one has heard. If you do not have a copy of Extreme/III Sides to Every Story get it yesterday.

6) Chicago/Elegy:When All the Laughter Dies in Sorrow - They used to care and actually had a message. Banned, but a great spoken piece off Chicago III:

When all the laughter dies in sorrow

And the tears have risen to a flood

When all the wars have found a cause

In human wisdom and in blood

Do you think they'll cry in sadness

Do you think the eye will blink

Do you think they'll curse the madness

Do you even think they'll think

When all the great galactic systems

Sigh to a frozen halt in space

Do you think there will be some remnant

Of beauty of the human race

Do you think there will be a vestige

Or a sniffle or a cosmic tear

Do you think a greater thinking thing

Will give a damn that man was here

7) Red Hot Chili Peppers/Road Trippin' - These guys do some great sounding stuff sometimes. Never heard this song before but I like it.

8) Cherry Poppin' Daddies/Ding Dong Daddy of the D-Car Line - I also can't say no to a good caboose!

9) The Mahavishnu Orchestra/Awakening - If you're going to be jazzy, this is how you bring it. Man, I can hear some Yes/Relayer in this song. No wonder JA said he was influenced by them.

10) Michael Jackson/Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' - C'mon it's like the greatest selling album of all time. No shame here. Go get'm Captain EO!

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And there we go for another week. Chicago gets banned again, but at least RW didn't try to show up. I did delete some of his inventory as well. I go back and forth with him but it is just so much material.

The STCS this week is Lynyrd Skynyrd/Sweet Home Alabama. Gulp.

I just had a Vongasm.

Hold on...let me recover...

As always stay cool and dry wherever you are, and Roll Tide!

Do I even need to say it?

Friday and the Random 10 (06/14/13)

Not a lot of time this week so this one is going to be quick. As usual the rules and whatnot are over there → to the right. Looking back at last week, Styx and Jimmy Buffett are banned, and ABWH is still serving their month in the slammer.

Let's roll the dice!

1) Velvet Revolver/Fall to Pieces - I need to listen to them more. Good song.

2) Trans-Siberian Orchestra/Anno Domine - I guess I should separate my Christmas and other seasonal music to other folders.

3) Camel/Curiosity - More smooth sounds. Good nighttime sleeping music too.

4) Bob Seger/Night Moves - He still gets me.

5) The Beatles/You've Got to Hide Your Love Away - Good advice.

6) Glass Hammer/Watching the Sky - I can't tell if this band wants to be like Yes, ELP, or Jethro Tull.

7) Van Halen/Sinner's Swing - Great stuff from the DLR years.

8) Lynyrd Skynyrd/Swamp Music - Yes. Just yes.

9) Journey/In My Lonely Feeling/Conversations - Some of my favorite music is very early Journey before Steve Perry. Listen to Neal Schon on the guitar at the 2:15 mark. Magic.

10) Emerson Lake and Palmer (ELP)/Karn Evil 9 - Completely epic. No one makes music like this anymore, or even tries. Or is even talented enough to try.

Not bad. Actually one of the better ones lately, except for the Christmas tune. The STCS for this week is Bob Seger/Against the Wind. Mind-blowingly awesome. And he gets to play us out:

Friday and the Random 10 (05/24/13)

Ugh! Finally a off day after going back to work and all that blah blah blah. Great to see all my old coworkers though! And my off day falls on a Friday? How convenient! As usual the rules are over there to the right → so let's dig into my somewhat eclectic music collection and see what the gods of randomness reveals. Looking back at last week I see that Jimmy Buffet is ineligible. Maybe I should keep a running count? I dunno. I keep tweaking my own rules. Anyway, on with the show!
 
1) Van Halen/You're No Good - From the good ole David Lee Roth days
 
2) Jon Anderson/Far Away in Baagad - You know, sometimes I have no idea what the hell JA is singing about. This is one of them.
 
3) Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe/Fist of Fire (alternate version) - Ok, yeah this is from my #1 desert island CD. Yes, the one from this pathetic relationship story. Imagine my surprise years later when I find out there were alternate versions of some of the songs and even songs left off the album entirely (good ones too). I think the most telling thing about the whole situation was that there was going to be an ABWH II album that never materialized. It makes me feel like there was potential there for that relationship to continue, but forces stopped it from happening. Yeah, I read a lot into things...

4) The Little Mermaid/Fathoms Below - Er, ummm, yeah this was downloaded for my girls. Yeah, that's the ticket. Look away now. Nothing to see here.
 
5) The Beatles/While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Classic. Nuff said.
 
6) Joan Jett & the Blackhearts/Fake Friends - Never heard this song before, but I like it. You got nothing to lose, you don't lose when you lose fake friends. Nice. New one for this list too.

7) Korn/Killing - Blame Tabitha for this one.

8) Korn/Y'all Want a Single - And for this one too. At least the are banned from next week now.
 
9) The Mahavishnu Orchestra/Jazz - This is some of that late 60's, early 70's fusion stuff I was looking into. I tried them out because I noticed Jon Anderson always mentioned them as in influence in interviews. I would have sworn they have made the list before but I guess not.

10) Styx/The Grand Illusion - Just not that version. This is the re-recording from their Regeneration CD. So no DDY, just Lawrence Gowan singing his parts. Me no likey. Don't mess with the originals.
 
So a little bit of everything this week. A few newcomers, Korn gets banned, and you learn a little more about my obsession with ABWH. The STCS for this week is Lynyrd Skynyrd/What's Your Name. Not bad. No doubt who's playing us out this week: