This, I think, would have to qualify as one of those elusive “perfect records,” at least insomuch as many have tried to make it better and I don’t think anyone has. I first heard this song on the jukebox at Loree’s Restaurant, which used to be on the corner of Foster and Sawyer in Chicago, …
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Let’s talk about Dada. Best known for “Dizz Knee Land,” their album Puzzle is really quite good. The song “Dim” is first rate (reminds me a bit of Flake – whatever happened to them?) and I go back to “Moon” from time to time as the perfect song for certain moods… – Ron Swanson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aJgdok_iRc
How amazing is this? This is Ian Hunter and his Rant Band live at Rockefeller Park, NYC, 6/24/09 joined by Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott. – Ron Swanson
I can not, at this point, claim to know what pop culture ever is or was. I do tend to scroll the Chive each day at work, but I have to admit that their hatred for the one called Bieber passes me by. I am a 47 year old male and I have never in …
I went to see Walter Trout at House of Blues in Chicago on Friday, Sept. 2. And I must say, Trout is one excellent performer to see live. Be sure to go out and see him when he comes to your town. I’m not a big guitar hero guy, but when you can play a …
Brian Lee does a wonderful job of covering Bob Dylan’s “I Want You“. I think we’ve finally reached the point where those gifted enough can do justice to Dylan’s songs without sounding half apologetic (Hi Byrds) all the way through. That is to say, the myth of Dylan is receeding enough where just the songs …
I’ve long held to the concept of “the perfect song”, by which I mean a song where the writer/performer has gotten something so right that it cannot be improved upon. This includes music and lyrics. Here are my two favorite examples. It is perhaps wrong to use live versions, as the studio is what I …
Country is EPB’s kind of thing and this song has stuck with me for 20 years. I still hold with the thought that Steve Goodman’s “You Never Even Called me by my Name” is the best country song ever, but this combination of New Orleans (search Jimmy C. Newman) and Nashville is a good one. …
“What I find striking about this song is that it wasn’t written as a performance piece. Towser was famously challenged by his producer/manager Kit Lambert to fill up a blank 10 minutes of vinyl on their in-progress LP. He responded with this mini opera. I have vexed and divided feelings about the operas — mini, …
Underrated is a common enough term for artists we like that don’t end up selling millions of records and becoming household names. I think it is safe to call John Hiatt underrated, however. This is a guy who started out writing songs done by everyone from Three Dog Night (and Hard Labor was a big …
[Ed. Note: The sun may be at its lowest point of the year on the Winter Solstice, but Ron hopes to be in the middle of a comeback by then. Updated Tuesday: Ron goes 10-6 this week.] Thursday Night: Yes – SAN DIEGO 9 San Francisco Which Chargers team shows up? I expect that San …
. [Ed. Note – Santa Lucia Day, December 13, is celebrated around the world in honor of an Italian saint said to bring both light and luck on her special day. Ron needs her to bring him some luck right about now, NFL Week 14. Updated Tuesday Afternoon: Santa Lucia spills Ron’s coffee and burns …
. Yet another attempt at a bounce back week: [Ed. Note – Updated Wednesday, Ron went 7-9 this week.] Thursday Night: No – PHILADELPHIA 8 Houston The Texans probably have enough offense to keep this one close. Sunday: Yes – MINNESOTA 6 Buffalo The Bills keep on playing close games, but they have to be …
. [Updated Tuesday Morning – This week Ron has gone 8 -11. – Ed.] [Friday afternoon] – Still no line on the Miami – Oakland game. I’m assuming the fact that both Henne and Marshall are game time decisions is keeping that one off. I’ve included what I can for that one. Have a great …
Nils Lofgren is probably best known for his work with Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band. There is no doubt he excelled in both roles, but he also has a fine legacy as a solo performer. Lofgren is widely regarded as one of the best rhythm guitarists in the history of …
[Ed. Note: Ron gives you a bonus over-under pick in the Chargers-Broncos game.] [Updated late Monday evening, 11/22/2010: Ron has gone 11 – 3 – 1.] Yes – MIAMI 1 1/2 Chicago The Dolphins are down to their 3rd string QB and Jake Long is playing (if he plays) with one arm. The Bears should …
. OK; write an intro for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s live version of “Prove it All Night,” Phoenix, 1978 (above). Shoot, just listen to it and you can hear that Bruce plays a better intro than I could ever write. Not to mention that the man has done some really great inteviews …
OK, interesting week upcoming. Lots of NFL divisional games. But first, the college action you’ve been cravin’ like Gator steaks at a Seminole tailgate party: [Editor’s note: Ron went an incredible 13-3 last week.] [Updated 11/15/10 – Ron went 6-10 this week, NFL Week 10.] Let’s try: No – Oregon 19 1/2 California Cal has …
. . The 1978 concert movie “The Last Waltz” was unusual for a couple of reasons. One, it was directed by Martin Scorsese and two, it was a farewell show for an enormously popular group that had all it’s original members living, no real drop in popularity, and no band members with outstanding warrants (no …
In 1977, the Jersey sound was getting hot. Some guy named Bruce Springsteen had put out a record called Born to Run in ’75 and while everyone waited for the next album (and then waited some more), the word was there were more bands out there in the “flats of Jersey”. The Sugar Miami Steve …
OK, given my record to date this year, I’m not at all sure that “bonus” is a term that can be accurately applied to any picks given, but here are a few college games this week anyway: [Editor’s note: Updated 11/9/10 to include week 9 and college scores: Ron goes an incredible 13-3] Yes – …
. . Not sure if this has been done elsewhere, or if there would be any interest, but I’ve always had a soft spot for great lyrical couplets. Elvis Costello is pretty much the master (and Dylan, of course) but it might be interesting to see a link where posters could put up their own …
. If at first you don’t… Well, if at 5th, you don’t… Pittsburgh 3 MIAMI The Steelers are looking good with their full team in place. Miami doesn’t quite have the weapons here. ATLANTA 3 1/2 Cincinnati Atlanta to cover at home. KANSAS CITY NL Jacksonville KC should win by at least a FG at …
BALTIMORE 7 Denver The Ravens are coming off a very physical game. Denver should be able to keep it close. BUFFALO pick Jacksonville The Jags have to have a lot of confidence after beating Indy. The Bills, not so much. INDIANAPOLIS 8 Kansas City With two weeks to prepare the improving Chiefs should keep it …
Well, I was a rather poor 6-10 vs. the spread last week. We’ll see if I can do any better this time around. Lines are from Danny Sheridan’s USA link and are accurate as of Wed. PM. Home teams are in caps. TENNESSEE 6 1/2 Denver The Titans pass D is playing well and the …
[Thurs 9/23/2010, 8am Pacific Time.] This is the current line from Danny Sheridan, USA Today. Home teams in caps. The following information is provided for entertainment only. Don’t blame Ron for overleveraged bets you can’t cover. Gambler’s Anonymous may be reached via their home page: http://www.gamblersanonymous.org Chicago’s newest handicapper, Ron Swanson, will provide his weekly …
. I just had the thought, now that I’ve had some time to digest Ian Hunter’s release from last year, that Ian Hunter is probably my favorite for best rocker of the 21st Century. Who’d’ve thunk it? All three of his releases this decade have been way above average and OK, if I want to …
Ed. Note – This is just in from Ron Swanson. As it is extremely rare to hear from Ron during football season via any communicational modality, we can assume the subject here is of extreme importance and the quality of the recording, insurmountably good, since Ron chose to put down the remote and educate us …
After much negotiation, Ron Swanson submitted the following Top 25 list: I am not married to the list per se, but here’s the thought process, such as it is: put this out on the blog (more or less as is) and then add a link asking readers to vote for their fav songs to replace …