All Around Al's World of Sound: Snow 09
Back in third grade, my friend Al liked music and baseball. Al is still my friend, and he still likes music and baseball. He was a breakdancer in high school. I explored the idea, but I was an awfully awkward and lanky breaker. But in 1985 we could all agree on R.E.M. and The Smiths. High school. Unbelievable.
Over The Hill
February 6th, 2009 A belated Happy Birthday wish to my friends Mr. Weber and Mr. Koppa, both of whom recently celebrated their 40th. Here are a handful of videos from back in the day. Enjoy:
Mike Buff & RL Osborn 1984 Old School BMX Video
Could that MC/Hypeman be anymore annoying? Highly unlikely. Some of those tricks look so remedial now. Nice perm on Buff.
R.E.M. - Harbour Coat
Those first four albums (Murmur, Reckoning, Fables, and Pageant) plus the Chronic Town EP remain unassailable. It's unbelievable how much footage there is of R.E.M. from their early years ('82-'86) out on youtube. Awesome reminders of why this band was so great during that time.
Violent Femmes - Kiss Off
I have this vague recollection of delivering Farwell Foods flyers with Mr. Koppa to the residents of the east side of Milwaukee in the very early 80's, and giggling at the Violent Femmes flyers because "Violent Femmes" just sounded... funny. In retrospect, we were a precursor to Beavis and Butthead long before that show ever existed. The millions we could've and should've made...
Yes - Roundabout
What's up with dudes wearing capes? That is some serious high fashion they've got going on.
Peter Gabriel - Solsbury Hill
Unfortunately no video, but it is a nice live version of a classic song.
Journey - Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'
I remember trying to count how many "nah-nah's" Steve Perry sung at the end of this song. Perhaps the only thing more ridiculous than counting nah-nah's is the outfit Perry's wearing. Was this intentional androgyny? I don't think so. I'm thinking that he thinks he looks like the money. The dude's wearing spandex up to his ribcage and has his shirt tied in a knot. Crazy.
Kansas - Carry On Wayward Son
Mr. Weber was a big fan of lead singer/keyboardist Steve Walsh way back when. I'm banking that his love of Mr. Walsh and Kansas has faded since then. While watching this video, I was trying to figure out what role that big hairy guy with the beard plays in the band. He can't be just "the tambourine guy." Then I remembered that Kansas employed a full-time violinist (see: Dust in the Wind). So I can only think that on the occasions when Kansas decided to rock out sans violin, the only thing left for him to do was to pick up a tambourine. Could this video have been an inspiration for the infamous Will Ferrell/Christopher Walken Blue Oyster Cult Cowbell SNL skit? If not, then someone at SNL may want to check this video out and pay that violin guy/Kansas some residuals.
Rush - Limelight
When I moved down to Madison from Oshkosh a few years ago, a friend of mine named Andy, who had a pickup truck and a trailer, graciously offered to help me with the move. The only tape that he had in his truck was Rush's Moving Pictures. That was the first time I had listened to that album from front-to-back since I was in junior high, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I could care less if Rush is "uncool." This album is straight up great.
1982 Milwaukee Brewers Starting Lineup
Not the greatest video, but it made me laugh to see the picture of Gorman Thomas. That guy totally looks like Weber's next door neighbor!
The Toxic Avenger
Okay, I would totally understand if Mr. Koppa disabled this link, but I don't think there is a movie I've seen more times than Toxic Avenger, courtesy of Mr. MacVane and Mr. Weber, so it deserves a shout-out.
Have a good evening.
WOLF MOON 2009 Music in 2008
BEAVER MOON 2008 FUNKY 4+1
HUNTER MOON 2008 Salami
HARVEST MOON 2008 Stuffed Up
STURGEON MOON 2008 Eraser
STRAWBERRY MOON 2008 PB & J
FLOWER MOON 2008 The Helicopter
PINK MOON 2008 Hooks
WORM MOON 2008 iPod and I
SNOW MOON 2008 All Around Al's World of Sound 101
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