Music on the Blog

Just wanted everyone's opinion regarding the blog music. Right now, I have to manually add the songs which entails uploading them to my web server and then pointing that little flash player to the actual mp3. Not an easy process, but hey...it works. I try to change it out every now and then with a different 80's tune. My question is this:

Do you like the autoplay feature? Or would you rather it NOT play automatically and if you want to hear the song or not, you can just click on the play button?

I started thinking about it, and if we continue to post movie and video clips from YouTube, then you have to go up there and try to pause the player which for some reason usually takes two clicks.

I can set it so that it's a manual process...you just click if you want to hear it.

Let me know by clicking on "Comment" below and posting your opinion. Thanks!

Mazarati

I've been itching to post this story, but I had to wait until Bobby got his surprise first. Surprise, you ask? Let me explain...

Back in 1986, Prince had a record label called Paisley Park. One of his signature bands on that label was called Mazarati. They released a self-titled album that year, and Bobby (as usual) was the first one to get it, and the minute I heard it, I had to go out and buy it:


I wore that damn tape out! I can remember riding around town and obviously up and down the strip with my windows down, just blasting that tape. I literally wore it down to the point that it wouldn't play any longer. Unfortunately, Mazarati didn't exactly do very well after that album, so the album never made to CD format. And the tapes became extinct, too.

For years I tried to find the tape and/or cd by combing through imports catalogs in record shops. You could find stuff in Japan that was never released in the US...but I never had luck.

21 years later (about 3 weeks ago, in fact), I found myself on eBay and thought I'd search for Mazarati. Next thing you know, I see someone in Germany selling the Special Edition Digitally Remastered Mazarati album. I got into a bidding war for it, and after paying a hefty price for it (don't tell my wife), I won it. It arrived last week, and I made a copy of it and sent it to Bobby. Needless to say, the first thing I did was rip it and store it on my computer to transfer it to my iPod. Then I took it back down to my car where I've been listening to it nonstop ever since.

SO....today the cd finally arrived at Bobby's house, and he called me the minute he got it. He knew he had a surprise coming, but he didn't know what it was. You should have heard him...he called me and was playing the cd in the background. You'd have thought he'd won the lottery or something. We both loved this album so much, and now WE HAVE IT!!

Perhaps most of you could give a damn, but I thought I'd post this for the hell of it. We all know how music takes us back in time. I listen to this album, and I'm back in 1986 wearing JAMS and sporting a good ol' mullet while riding around in my truck with the windows down. It didn't get any better than that!!

Of course, I got on YouTube and found an old Mazarati video, so I thought I'd post it. Perhaps most of you didn't even know they existed in the first place, and if that's the case, then you probably won't appreciate the video. I think Brett and Heath will remember Mazarati, though. Regardless, take a look at this video. And then tell me that the ol' Prince days of wearing those weird clothes and sporting that "androgynous" look wasn't hilarious. The video isn't the best quality, and it's a pretty "bad" video in the first place, but it gives you a great idea of that era. Awesome, if you ask me!!


Bobby, enjoy that cd!!!

Talking 'bout videos

If you want to get on the subject of videos or songs that spark memories, these two take me way back the minute I hear them. Take this one, for example:


When I see or hear this, it reminds me of walking around town with Weston and his boombox. We'd walk around and he'd have his boombox on one shoulder and he'd be carrying some cardboard in the other hand...or I'd be carrying it. "Rock It" would be playing on the box, and we'd stop whenever Weston got the urge, and he'd lay the cardboard down and breakdance. I can't imagine what people driving by (usually on Shiloh Road near the bridge) were thinking. Two idiots with bandanas tied around their legs with Members Only jackets and sunglasses on, trying to breakdance on the street corner. Absolutely hilarious when I think back on it....

And this little beauty:


Hearing this song takes me back to the 7th grade. Man, I can remember playing this in my room and loving it! This was another one I remember listening to while working on my science project...

And last but not least, this one is a classic:


This one is literally burned into my brain. Why, you might ask? Probably because Brett used to love to sing this song, only he changed the lyrics to "Owner of a Smelly Fart." Ok, ok...yes...that's crass....but it was the 7th grade and we're talking about Brett. Give me a break.....

Jack and Diane (25 years later) :)

Okay, this one is showing our age...This one's for you, Bobby!!!!!

Physical

This one is for you Angel......

The Time

If this doesn't work maybe Jake will fix it.

QUIRKY GIFT IDEA FOR LITTLE BOYS

I have my son, Jay (7), this weekend, and he just got a new toothbrush. He goes to brush his teeth this morning, and I hear KISS's "Rock and Roll All Night" coming from the bathroom. Yes, his Mom bought him a KISS Toothbrush that has a picture of the band on the handle and plays the 70's classic every time you press it against your teeth. The line of brushes is called "Tooth Tunes" and includes various artists from the 70's, 80's, and today! :-)

Bobby, I think they have one that plays "True" by Spandau Ballet if you want to check it out...

Midnight Star

I hope this works, here is a video to a great song of our era. It reminds me of Skateland. See what you think!

The Police

In 1981, right before school started that year, my mom was still teaching 7th grade math. I went with her to school one day, basically to screw around while she worked on getting her room ready for the first day of school. I remember roaming the halls, completely unfamiliar with South Corinth and all of its buildings. I somehow found myself in the teachers lounge, and there was a magazine on a table in there. I can't for the life of me remember what magazine it was, but I do remember that The Police were on the cover. At that time, I had no idea who they were, that they were a band, or anything. But over the next few years, that would obviously change.

Fast forward to 1983. Their album Synchronicity is released:


Despite having never really been a fan of theirs (up to this point) they had a few good songs on the radio and videos on MTV, and I really started to like them. I got Synchronicity for Christmas that year, and I can remember playing it over and over again in my room. It's funny at how music or specific songs can trigger specific memories. I remember right after Christmas, a bunch of us got together over at Ashley Atkins' house, out in her little dance studio. There was a stereo out there, and I brought Synchronicity and we all hung out and listened to it out there. When I hear the song "Wrapped Around Your Finger," I immediately think of sitting in my room at home and working on my science project.

Anyway, you are all probably wondering where in the hell all of this is coming from. If you watched the Grammy's this year, you'll know that The Police played together for the first time in a really long time. And they've now gone public with their plans to launch a US tour beginning in May or June. My good friend Jay Hale, who lives here in Atlanta and is actually Ginger Horton's step-brother, called me today to tell me about the tour announcement. We've committed to going to wherever we need to go to see one of their shows, so I can't wait. I was in my car out and about in Atlanta, and he and I talked for almost 45 minutes about The Police, their old videos and songs, and stuff like that. Not that any of you really and truly care (I don't blame you), but I thought I'd share. Synchronicity completely takes me back to our 7th grade year at South. In my opinion, that was probably one of my favorite years in terms of our grade school days.

For my birthday that year, my dad gave me a camera. My first one. I'm not sure if any of you remember or not, but for several years, I took that camera everywhere and took random pictures of friends and stuff at school. Obviously, this was back before the days of digital cameras that will fit in your shirt pocket. This was a huge camera, but I lugged it around anyway. I'm so glad, too, because I have some hilarious pictures from back in the day. Here are a few from our 7th grade year:

This one was taken towards the end of our 7th grade year, on "Field Day." Remember? We all got to wear shorts, and we played different kinds of games and contests all day long. In this picture, you can see Heath, Weston, and Bobby walking away from the camera. I remember Bobby was humming or singing some song, and they were doing some kind of "cool" walk. Seems like it was some kind of wrestling walk. If you look closely, you can see that Weston had not only a bandana around his neck, but also some white pieces of hair tied into his hair....the beginning stages of his punk rock phase. Beyond them, you can see Ashley Atkins, Stacey Carson, and Kristye Sweat being harrassed by Terry Harmon. I think that's Bill Payne in the group under the soccer goal, and Todd Rob on the far left in the red shirt.


This one was taken in our Art Class that year, just before we got out for Christmas holidays. This was the second of two photos taken, and everyone obviously did their best to be funny in this one. In this picture, from the bottom left, you'll see Stephen Brooks, Jana Jones, Ashley Atkins, Beth Coleman, Merrell McQueen, Mrs. Guin's little girl (that Brett grabbed and scared the hell out of), Brett Butler, Angel Castille, (now back to the left) Stephanie Knight, Alesha Hussey, John Grayson, Sarah Lyle, Valerie Sargent, Judy Whitehurst, Jennifer Pace, David Stuart, Tess Gurley, and Chris McLaurin. Then you obviously have Mr. Davis and Mrs. Guin in the back.


This was a picture taken in Mrs. Landsdale's homeroom class. From the left, you have Rhonda Sheffield, Jeanne Caffereta, Whitney Wortman, Jeffrey Droke, Kathy Hale, Jeremy ?, Billy Moore, Lane Dunn, Joe Gilmore, Jeff McGee, Starr Weeks, Scott Caldwell, Dennis Riddles, Renardi Boyd, Kristina ? (am I wrong???), Michael Thomas aka "Sack," Brett, Jake, Tony Skinner, Ashley Atkins, (who is behind Ashley?), Ginger Horton, Merrell McQueen. This was obviously taken in April of 1984 because the bulletin board has "April Showers" on it...


This one was taken out in front of the 7th grade building before school started one morning. I had totally forgotten about Weston's "Nuke Culture Club" stage. He HATED Boy George, so he had a couple t-shirts made to display his opinions of Boy George. Hilarious. In this picture, you have from left: Jay McKinney, Weston, Shawn Glidewell, Ashley, Heath, Kristye, Stephanie Norris, Angel Wilburn, Christy Lancaster, and Kathy Hale. Man, talk about a blast from the past...


That's it for now. I gotta hit the sack. More to follow....ISN'T THIS FUN????