Saturday, November 29, 2008

#81 Bon Jovi

Bon Jovi


It’s the 1980s and Hard Rock is king. Enter Bon Jovi. The band was more talented than most of the eras hair metal bands and was originally a loud band chicks could love. They pumped out hit after hit and had two mammoth albums. Burn out followed. Then came Nirvana. As 80s metal disappeared in the wake of grunge, Bon Jovi survived. They continued to chart in the mid-90s, and in the 00s, they peaked again. Why did they survive? They cropped the hair extensions and reworked their image. Their music did not change all that much, but they did expand. Recently, they did a country album.


Rock n Roll Moment: At the 1989 VMA's, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora did an acoustic version of "Wanted Dead or Alive." The performance spawned MTV Unplugged.


Essential Bon Jovi: Slippery When Wet (1986), New Jersey (1988), Keep The Faith (1992), Crush (2000), Have A Nice Day (2005)

Bon Jovi’s Top 10:
Living on a Prayer
Keep the Faith
It’s My Life
You Give Love a Bad Name
Blaze of Glory
Wanted Dead or Alive
Runaway
Always
I’ll Be There For You
Who Says You Can’t Go Home

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Past Men of the Year

I forgot to list past winners of my prestigious "Man of the Year." No women winners yet, but this is just 3 years old.

2008: Barack Obama
2007: Al Gore
2006: Rahme Emmanuel

2008: Man of the Year

Here are the candidates for man (or person) of the year: They are listed alphabetically.

Chinese Companies: They are not on the list for the good they do. Rather for their incompetence. For awhile, it seemed we had a different Chinese product being recalled for being laced with some poison. In the US, when companies screw up, they get a bailout. In China, the CEO's are shot.

The Dalai Lama: His followers are under Chinese occupation. He still remains a major force.

Mitch Daniels: Barack Obama won his state, but Indiana Republican Governor Daniels was re-elected with 57% of the vote. Watch for him in the future.

Robert Downey Jr.: From addict to Oscar. He was impressive in both Iron Man and Tropic Thunder.

Heath Ledger: He should win an Oscar for The Dark Knight. Too bad he died when we discovered he was really a good actor.

John McCain: 2008 was the last hurrah for the Vietnam generation. McCain put on a spirited campaign despite long odds and bad luck.

The Media: There has never been a campaign in recent history as bad as this one. This is not a criticism of Obama or McCain. The Media's behavior was reprehensible. Pew Research reported that only Fox News was even handed this time around.

Barack Obama: Obama overcame long odds to win the Democratic nomination and then the presidency. He is the first African-American President. Electorally, he is the first Democrat to win the White House with over 50% of the vote since 1964 and he won several states that should never have gone Democratic. He is a great speaker that can inspire. The big question now is can he govern or are we stuck with another Jimmy Carter?

Sarah Palin: She became a superstar to some and a Palin in the neck to others. She drew large crowds that rivalled Obama's. Polls showed that she appealed to many middle class soccer moms. Whether she is a long term player or a flash in the pan is yet to be determined.

The Philadelphia Phillies: They won their first championship since 1980 and second title overall.

and the winner is....

Barack Obama

#82 Carlos Santana

82. Carlos Santana

Santana blends Rock with Blues, Jazz, Salsa and Latin beats to create a completely unique sound. Santana offers something for every listener. Carlos Santana and Band broke onto the scene in the late 1960s with “Black Magic Woman” and performed at Woodstock. During the 1970s, he embarked on a spiritual journey and remained popular. By the 80s, he was more radio friendly with songs such as “Winning.” In the late 90s, he reemerged with “Smooth.” Santana is a major influence on artists ranging from Prince to Metallica.

Rock n Roll Moment: Santana performed a 7 song set at Woodstock.

Essential Santana: Santana (1969), Abraxas (1970), Supernatural (1999)

Santana’s Top 10:
Black Magic Woman
Smooth (with Rob Thomas)
Evil Ways
Hold On
Jingo
Soul Sacrifice
Mirage
Europa (Earth’s Cry Heaven’s Smile)
Winning
Guajira

Saturday, November 22, 2008

#83 ZZ Top

83. ZZ Top


ZZ Top has been together 40 years without a personnel change. Their sound is based on the blues with a Texas twist. If there is a “roots” rock band, it is ZZ Top. Lyrically, their songs are a fusion of humor and sex. They peaked in the mid-80s with the “Eliminator” album. The “Eliminator” videos featured hot women and an even hotter red 1933 Ford. ZZ Top is in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame and are currently working on a new album with Johnny Cash producer Rick Rubin.

Rock n Roll Moment: The song “La Grange” is about the same whorehouse depicted in “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.”

Essential ZZ Top: Tres Hombres (1973), Eliminator (1983), Greatest Hits (1992)

ZZ Top’s top 10:
Legs
Gimme All Your Lovin’
La Grange
Pearl Necklace
Sharp Dressed Man
Sleeping Bag
Velcro Fly
Tush
Cheap Sunglasses
TV Dinners

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Quotes of the Year

Here are the best quotes for 2008....not in any order...

"I'm warning you with peace and love, I have too much to do. So no more fan mail." -Ringo Starr

"I go three, maybe four times a year to get tested for sexually transmitted infections and most of the time I don't even need to." -- Kelly Osborne.

“If they knew the plane was faulty, why did they let it fly?" -- A relative of one of the 153 passengers killed in the Spanair crash at Madrid airport.

"I read the script and it's not bad. The message is I'm a dangerous lunatic, and that I'm possessed by monkeys." -- Singer Iggy Pop on a movie based on his life.

"What is the difference between God and Bono? God doesn't wander down Grafton Street thinking he's Bono." -- Louis Walsh.


"If the human race is to continue for another million years, we will have to boldly go where no on has gone before." -- Stephen Hawking


"I saw this crocodile and thought I'd tease it a bit with a small bit of bait, just to get it in quite close to me for the picture. I was playing around, pointing at it, laughing - when it suddenly jumped at me. I didn't realize crocs were so aggressive" -a tourist in Australia that pissed off a croc

"It's not allowed for a woman to sit with a strange man and talk and drink coffee together." -- Saudi Arabia


"Sorry for being topless." -- Carla Bruni of France greeting a British journalist


"Wall Street got drunk." -President Bush

#84: The Mamas and The Papas

84. The Mamas and The Papas

John Phillips and Denny Doherty formed a folk rock group with John’s runaway wife, Michelle. Mama Cass Elliot joined them a little later afterwards. The band had run out of money, but Michelle managed to gamble enough to get them to New York. In New York, they became The Mamas and The Papas. In late 1965, they hit the big time with “California Dreamin’.” The song is still very popular to this day. The band began to fade in 1967, but experienced their crowning achievement when they organized the Monterey Pop Music Festival. By the time they took the stage at Monterey, they were already passed their prime.

Rock n Roll Moment: They organized the first major rock festival. The Monterey International Pop Music Festival ran for three days in June of 1967 and helped break Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Otis Redding, and The Who. It also influenced a young Sammy Hagar to go into rock n roll.

Essential Mamas and Papas: If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears (1966)

The Mamas and the Papas Top 10:

California Dreamin’
Monday Monday
Dedicated to the One I Love
Creeque Alley
Dream a Little Dream of Me
Twelve Thirty
I Saw Her Again
Words of Love
Glad to Be Unhappy
Go Where You Wanna Go

Friday, November 14, 2008

Best Quotes from Election 2008

“We have to do something about his skinny legs. He has to do squats." -- California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Barack Obama's wimpiness.

"I ain't got time to die." -- Ann Nixon Cooper, 106, of Atlanta, Georgia, on living through the white supremacist south and now witnessing Obama's run.

"You can put lipstick on a pig. It's still a pig." -- Barack Obama in what sounded like an attack on Republican vice-president nominee Sarah Palin.

"What's the difference between a hockey mom and a pitbull? Lipstick." -- Sarah Palin at Republican convention.

"Barack, he's talking down to black people. I want to cut his nuts off." -- Jesse Jackson

"This may be the last day I'm ever involved in a campaign of this kind." -- Bill Clinton

-- the fundamentals of our economy are strong." --John McCain (McCain's "There is no Soviet Domination of Eastern Europe" moment)

“It’s not surprising, then, they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations. - Obama on people not like him

"Stand up Chuck, let ‘em see ya!" -Joe Biden to wheelchair bound Chuck Graham

"We are the president." - Hillary sounding very much like The Borg

#85 Lynryd Skynyrd

Lynryd Skynyrd

FREE BIRD! Play some Skynyrd! These are classic cries to cover bands across the country thirty years after Skynyrd’s peak. To this day, Lynryd Skynyrd is the symbol of southern rock music. Even when they are not on the charts, they chart! On more than one occasion, Kid Rock has mentioned them or sampled them in his work. Metallica covered “Tuesday’s Gone” in the late 90s. Sweet Home Alabama became a Reese Witherspoon movie. They are also known for a fictional feud with Neil Young (Southern Man vs. Sweet Home Alabama) and a tragic plane crash that cost the lives of several members. The Free Bird still flies in the south.

Rock n Roll Moment: They are the symbol for southern rock.

Essential Skynyrd: (pronounced leh-nerd skin-nerd) (1973), Second Helping (1974), Street Survivors (1977)

Lynryd Skynyrd Top 10:
Free Bird
Sweet Home Alabama
That Smell
Saturday Night Special
Gimme Three Steps
What’s Your Name
Gimme Back My Bullets
Simple Man
Tuesday’s Gone
You Got That Right

Monday, November 10, 2008

#86: The Allman Brothers Band

86. The Allman Brothers Band

The Allman Brothers Band is one of the creators of Southern Rock. Duane and Greg Allman formed the band in 1969 and for a seven year period, they dominated. In 1971, Rolling Stone called them the best rock band around and in 2004, the same magazine placed them at #52 on their all time list (ok I only differ with them by 34 spots). The Allman Brothers Band went from a southern garage band to platinum superstars and then Duane Allman died in a motorcycle accident. The band carried on to even greater success. After a defunct period, the band reunited and still puts out material today. They have eleven gold records and 5 platinum to their credit.

Rock n Roll Moment: They are the achetype for the VH-1 Behind the Music.

Essential Allman Brothers: At Fillmore East (1971), Brothers and Sisters (1973), Seven Turns (1990)

Allman Brothers Top 10:
Whipping Post
Midnight Rider
Ramblin’ Man
Midnight Rider
Melissa
Jessica
Little Martha
Blue Sky
One Way Out
Ain’t Wastin’ No More Time

Friday, November 7, 2008

#87 Dire Straits

87. Dire Straits

Here is some trivia: Dire Straits had the first CD Single when they released “Money for Nothing.” That song, the cutting edge (for 1985) video, and the whole “Brothers in Arms” album was about as big as it gets. Dire Straits took their name from their financial state at their formation in 1977. By 1985, they were one of the biggest acts around. Dire Straits began as a classic rock act. Their stripped down sound was fresh for the late 70s and early 80s. By the mid-80s, they were a stadium rock act which is ironic since they began as the antithesis of arena rock. After “Brothers in Arms,” the group continued on into the 90s producing hits such as “Calling Elvis” (a classic) and “Heavy Fuel.” As of today, the band is no longer together, but with acts of this nature, never count out a reunion.

Rock n Roll Moment: Their name is derived from their financial state on the eve of their first album.

Essential Dire Straits: Making Movies (1980), Brothers in Arms (1985)

Dire Straits Top 10:
Sultans of Swing
Money for Nothing
Walk of Life
Brothers in Arms
So Far Away
Calling Elvis
Romeo and Juliet
Heavy Fuel
Tunnel of Love
Private Investigations

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

#88: Judas Priest

88. Judas Priest

Judas Priest is one of the “Big Five” metal acts (Priest, Maiden, Metallica, AC/DC, and Sabbath) and the first on the countdown. Priest displayed attitude and style that influenced a generation of metal heads. What distinguishes Priest from every other band in the world is Rob Halford. Halford’s voice is unique in all of music and would be just as suitable to opera as rock. Classic Priest is rebellious and in your face. If you don’t like it, then you got another thing coming.
Rock n Roll Moment: In 1990, they defended musicians everywhere by standing trial. In 1985, two American teens attempted suicide after listening to Priest. The prosecutor argued the band place a subliminal message ordering listeners to commit suicide. They were acquitted. Later, Rob Halford commented that placing messages in the music encouraging fans to commit suicide would not be wise. Having fans die would be career suicide.

Essential Priest: British Steel (1980), Screaming for Vengeance (1982), Painkiller (1990)

Judas Priest Top 10:

Breaking the Law
Living After Midnight
You’ve Got Another Thing Coming
Painkiller
Electric Eye
Turbo Lover
Hell Bent for Leather
Screaming for Vengeance
A Touch of Evil
Freewheel Burning

Why Obama won...or why McCain lost...

There are four main reasons Obama is now the president-elect. Of these reasons, John McCain could only control one of them.

1. Bush fatigue. People are mad at George W. Bush. They wanted change. Obama did a good job tying Bush to McCain (even though McCain was almost the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2004). For his part, Bush did nothing to work on his image. Bill Clinton survived impeachment because he spent 6 years working on being liked. If Bush worked half as hard as Clinton at being liked, he'd be in the mid-40s and a non-factor in the election.

2. Obama ran center-right. Obama did a great job running away from his leftist record. He stood for tax cuts, gun rights, and other center-right positions. Which Obama will show up on January 20? Will it be the hard left partisan senator or the center right candidate?

3. McCain was too nice. McCain ran the cleanest, nicest campaign by any presidential contender in a generation. He should have hammered Obama with taxes and Reverend Wright every night throughout the summer. He didn't.

4. The economic meltdown. Before the meltdown, McCain was winning and beginning to pull away. Then came the meltdown. Obama went into witness protection while McCain pushed the rescue package. Ironically, Obama opposed fixing the very thing that caused the meltdown back in 2005 and benefited from the meltdown he helped cause.

If the meltdown does not happen, McCain wins even with the other deficiencies. However, the market crashed and McCain's chances crashed with them. He was like Charlie Brown running to kick the football. The market was Lucy pulling the football away at the last minute...

Sunday, November 2, 2008

#89: Coldplay

Coldplay is the most popular band in the world. Their albums are extremely successful in an age where albums are not successful. They have a unique sound that harkens back to “soft” rock, but also incorporate influences such as U2, Kraftwerk, and Pink Floyd. When they hit the scene, they made such an impression they were asked to open for U2. They declined and it has not hurt. In 2008, they scored their biggest hit to date when fewer and fewer people are listening to rock n roll.

Rock n Roll Moment: They turned down an offer to open for U2 believing they were good enough to make it without the exposure a monster tour would bring.

Essential Coldplay: A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002), Viva La Vida (2008)

Coldplay’s Top 10:
Yellow
The Scientist
Speed of Sound
Clocks
Vida la Vida
Violet Hill
Talk
In My Place
Trouble
Lost