Rain, Snow and Foolery

April showers bring May flowers... or so they say.  This far north, we'll probably get an April snow or two. 

Tomorrow is also April Fool's Day.  With that in mind, I'm gonna kick things off with Klaus. 

Take a Chance

Tonight's theme is Gambling.

I'm bettin' a certain orange bastard and his family end up in prison. But then again, I've never won the lottery.

The World Is A Ghetto

Described as a "pancultural jam band", War was performing as a backup band for Deacon Jones when Eric Burdon, the former singer for The Animals, expressed an interest in working with them.  He brought in harmonica player, Lee Oskar, and took the band into the studio to record the album, 'Eric Burdon Declares War'.

Burdon left the band after their second album was recorded, but Lee Oskar stayed.  Released in 1972, 'The World Is A Ghetto' is their fifth album.

File this one under "The Crazy Things That People Do"

While trying to come up with a theme for today's post, I was browsing a few music sites and came across this bit (pun intended) of Rock 'N Roll history.

On this day in 1973, Lou Reed was playing a show in Buffalo, New York when a man jumped up on the stage and bit ol' Lou in the butt.

Yeah... I know.  Kinda lame but it gives me an excuse to play this song...

Crime Definitely Pays.

It ain't supposed to, be we all know it does.

This Is The Sea

With a sound that blends Scottish, Irish and English Folk with Rock 'N Roll, The Waterboys consist of Mike Scott, and whoever happens to be playing with him at a given time.  Recorded in 1985, 'This Is The Sea' was The Waterboys third album.

Bring On The Leprechauns...

... and the Rock 'N Roll Paddys.

All Ears

Somebody give me a topic, and I promise I'll use it and give you credit. Otherwise, you're on your own.

Sweetheart Of The Rodeo

Gram Parsons was a Rock 'n Roll boy until he heard Merle Haggard sing.  Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman invited Parsons to join The Byrds after David Crosby left the band.  At the time, McGuinn wanted to do an album that would provide an overview of American popular music, mixing Bluegrass, Country, Jazz, Blues and Rock with The Byrds' usual blend of Psychedelic Folk.

Parsons had other ideas.  He wanted to do a straight up Country album with the grit and energy of Rock 'n Roll.  McGuinn and Hillman decided to follow his lead, so the band headed to a Nashville recording studio along with a few guest musicians, such as Clarence White, country guitarist extraordinaire, and John Hartford on fiddle, banjo and mandolin. 

The result was 'Sweetheart Of The Rodeo'.

At the time, no one much liked it.  The Rock crowd thought Country was too cornball, and the Country crowd thought The Byrds were a bunch of dirty hippies.  Today, it is considered a masterpiece, one that pioneered the Country Rock sound and later provided inspiration for what would be called Americana.

As for Gram Parsons, he left The Byrds after 'Sweetheart' was recorded.  A few months later, he and Chris Hillman founded The Flying Burrito Brothers.

Spring Forward

Time to change the clocks for those who live in the USA.  Be sure to curse politicians when you do.  And try not to become a statistic.  The number of accidents and heart attacks always go up when the clocks are changed. 

One Shot - One Kill

Let's give some props to the One-Hit Wonders.

Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison

As a rule, I've never been crazy about live albums.  This is one of the exceptions to that rule. 

Carnival!

Think I'll make a big pot of filé gumbo. 

Nobody Ever Listens to Me

Finally! This is the thread where I get to post music that only I can listen to. Nobody but me can hear it.