I recently read the very awesome Love is a Mix Tape by Rolling Stone's ( among many others...) Rob Sheffield. If you are in your thirties, or even late twenties or early forties....take a gander at this gem. Please. This music loving, reformed wild child Momma former Librarian begs you.....
It is a memoir of his time spent with his late wife. Yes, it has some very hairy parts that are tough on your heart. But, it a wonderfully crafted homage to music and love. Especially the music of the nineties. After I read this book I wrote the blog " Waitress in the Sky".
It may just stir up a little something in you. Or at the very least, remind you of that person you swore you would be, back when it mattered so very much.
So here's the question I pose of you, inspired by this wonderful book as well as the killer blog clever girl goes blog.blogspot.com.
What would you put on your ultimate mix tape?
Here's mine:
Born to Run-Springsteen - Its been my favorite song as long back as I can remember. This love of all things Bruce was passed to me from my Mom and Aunt Jo ( my namesake) as was her original Lp on vinyl. This may be where the "proud working class American how dare you question my patriotism" thing comes from.
Evangeline-The Band -I like the version from the Last Waltz with Emmylou Harris. I love this song, it stays with you for a bit after it ends.
Jackson-Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash -Shining example of why I don't have to defend loving country music as much as every other genre I love.
Ready or Not-Jackson Browne- I was once young, single and pregnant. I swear to god Jackson Browne helped get me through it. This song used to make me HAPPY, so happy I would dance around my room singing this to the little baby boy in my belly, named Jackson.
Paradise by The Dashboard Light-Meatloaf - Cheesy you say, Ha! If you are alone in your car, and you are not cranking this at full volume and singing your heart out, you missed out. I used to do a killer Kareoke version of this with my friend Scott, back when I was a drinker.
Franklins Tower- The Grateful Dead -It makes me want to dance, and Roll Away.
Last Day of Our Aquaintance-Sinead O'Connor -If you've ever been there, you know. You just know by the pain in her voice.
Barracuda-Heart -I love the Wilson girls. And thanks to Guitar Hero, I love it more.
My Sister-Julianna Hatfield -Long Story, very cool and influential chick in my life. And great story involving my sister and the ride to see JH just trying to get her to "her first all ages show"
Frankie and Johnnie-Sam Cooke - I'm a jealous woman on occasion. And I really dig Sam Cooke.
Fascinating Rythm-Ella Fitzgerald -I love Ella. And I can really show off my stuff on this tune.
Harvest Moon-Neil Young - Reminds me of me and Tommy. And makes me teary eyed everytime I hear it. How odd is it that a song Ive been hearing my whole life suddenly takes on new meaning and has that effect?
Sugar in My Bowl-Nina Simone - Horniest song ever written, sung as only Ms Simone can do.
Tenth Avenue Freeze oUt- Springsteen - Listen to it without moving. I dare you.
I shall Be Released-Bob Dylan -Not much for spirituals or hymns. For me, that is what this song totally is. At this moment in time, in 2008 in America, I find this song very comforting and somehow uplifting.
Levon-Elton John -Just love it. Always have. Its really kind of a weird song.
Going to California-Led Zeppelin- My favorite Zeppelin song. It reminds me of Tom. Thats reason enough to love it.
Write one. It does your soul good. And listen to it darn it.
I chose mine this way:
I HAVE to listen to these song blasting. I just can't do them at normal volume.
Enjoy. Have a nice day. Be good to one another!
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Waitress in the Sky
I write alot about Atlanta here on my blog. And I guess not enough about the nineties. Conservative people usually loathe the nineties, but for me, they rocked. I use the word rocked in the literal sense. I left Long Island three days after graduation. We loaded up the Mustang and headed for Dixie. My parents were already there. I had no idea what to expect, I was broken hearted to leave my first love behind, but excited because secretly I had always wanted to live in the South. Why? Novels. I am now,at thirty three and was, at eighteen, a bookworm. Most of my favorite novels happen down South. So I was curious.
My family had already been there for a year before I arrived. My bedroom was all set up and lovely. Our house was the centerpiece of the neighborhood. I had never seen a real home so fine. I've been in mansions. This was our house. I knew why my mother loved it immediately, and I did too. I kind of knew that day that the Princess was home. Good Bye, Suffolk Co , L.I. Hello, Fayette, Co, Ga. I was unconciously bidding farewell to Billy Joel and saying hello to Miss Patsy Cline. Well, not forever or anything, just for the summer.
I started at Georgia State University in August of 1993. It was a lackluster career. I went to college expecting to be the next Murphy Brown. What I got was a culture shock. I loved the Urban campus, but I was, and still am a loner. I was never going to be a "joiner". Besides, there was sooooo much going on downtown. During the breaks between classes, I would guide my trusted steed along the streets of Atlanta exploring. The nineties were a different time. I didnt feel afraid of anything.
In Atlanta, I was just another face. In Fayetteville, I was a "Yankee". I had the greatest chinese food in a restaurant where you ate in the basement. I did think I might be murdered till I saw it was packed and air conditioned down there. I dont know the name of the place, I couldnt read the sign, but the girl in my Hawaiian Algebra Class told me about it. She was right,it was worth it. I visited every Fellini's Pizza and got wasted on beer in them with Penelope. I don't even drink beer. We loved the pizza and there was the greatest vibe happening then. The music was always good, and the beer just went down. Every once in a while we'd get a wild hair and dress up to go have desert at Cafe Intermezzo on Peachtree in Buckhead. We'd sit in a table tucked away, picking at some ridiculously priced extravagant desert and watch all the yuppies. We would smile and say thanks when they would send over drinks. We used fake names. She used, Joannah, and I used, Penelope. And guys used to say, "C'mon, those are fake names!" We'd just laugh. We spent A LOT of time in Little Five Points people watching. Or Shopping, playing pool at Good Ol Days, and on occasion getting tattooed at Sacred Heart. Sorry Mom. Its a generational thing. Be glad I never opted for a tongue ring.
Sometimes, we'd hit Spondivets near the Airport. We were underage, and racked up huge bar tabs. But the wait staff loved us. We were good to them, very patient and fun. The music playing was top notch. We brought in crowds. We were big tippers. They took American Express. On occasion we even ate. MMMmmm seafood. Beats Joe's Crab shack everytime. On one particular night, we were pretty wasted, and quietly discussing life in our own little corner when some recent flight attendant graduates rolled in from the Hilton Gardens down the road. They were loaded too. We minded our business. But apparently our laughter was loud, and they thought it was intended for them. So one of these future Stepford wives made a snarky comment about the gorgeous red hue of my hair. Do you remember Manic Panic hair color? Not very waspy I guess. I let it go, but Penelope; never known to be one to " let it go". And I love her for it.
We didnt fight, although we would have won. We didnt cause any trouble for our beloved wait staff. We simply began to sing. We sang a snappy little ditty by a kick ass group, The Replacements called, " Waitress in the sky." Because bitches, " Struttin up the aisle, big deal you get to fly, you aint nothin but a waitress in the sky..." Please keep in mind, I too was a waitress. I must say, Carrie and the rest of the girls loved us for it. Those flight attendants had been coming in for a while, and didn't tip as well as us...but were alot more demanding! In a truly ironic twist of fate, my beloved Penelope makes her living flying the friendly skies, at your service on American Airlines. She's simply the best damn waitress in the sky there is. She is much better in the sky than she was on land. Ask her, she'll agree.
I sure do miss the Replacements. Try finding one of their songs on the radio these days. Well, maybe if you live in a college town and there's an old ass DJ ( like in their thirties, or GASP forties!) who knows who they are. In Altlanta in the nineties there was 99x, chock full of Alternative guitar driven music, and the stellar, student run WRAS, Album 88 of Georgia State. Its still on, take a listen if you drive thru. They don't do internet streaming, or I'd be listening right now. Music was different then. The world was alot different then. Music was alot different for chicks then too. It was the era of Bikini Kill, Babes in Toyland, Hole, L7.... Melissa Etheridge, Tori Amos,Allison Krauss... you name it. Grungy, girly, it didn't matter. Everyone had a fanzine, even people who "hated Brenda". Now, in the days of corporate facism, we have Clear Channel. If you don't fit, you dont get played. God Bless college radio.
There was music everywhere. We went to the Masquerade weekly, sometimes just to dance. I wish I couls recall all of the shows we saw there. From Julianna Hatfield to the Dead Milkmen, we saw alot and had a blast doing it. Pre Show was just as fun, orchestrating the outfits ( oh, the outfits!) and dying the hair, getting a good buzz on. For us, it was like tailgating for football. An all day affair. Except when the Dead was in town. That could end up lasting all summer if the conditions were right.
{I worked at Turtles Music back then, and I met Penelope when she came in for an interview. I took her application and immediately liked her. I brought her application back and told my manager that we HAD to give her an interview because her name was Penelope for Christ sakes!
Well, they did. That was in 1993. We've been friends ever since. }
*Before long, I was a part of the management team at that record store. I was nineteen, and a girl. It really pissed off a male co worker who had only been there about a month or so, that I had that I got the job. He then applied at the place where I worked my second job as a waitress, and I wish I could explain to you the pain in his face when he got to train with me. Needless to say, on his first day on the floor on his own during his first little "rush" he quit. I swooped in, picked up his tables and walked out about a hundred bucks richer that day. Sorry bout your luck Steve. I hope you like women a bit better these days.
My family had already been there for a year before I arrived. My bedroom was all set up and lovely. Our house was the centerpiece of the neighborhood. I had never seen a real home so fine. I've been in mansions. This was our house. I knew why my mother loved it immediately, and I did too. I kind of knew that day that the Princess was home. Good Bye, Suffolk Co , L.I. Hello, Fayette, Co, Ga. I was unconciously bidding farewell to Billy Joel and saying hello to Miss Patsy Cline. Well, not forever or anything, just for the summer.
I started at Georgia State University in August of 1993. It was a lackluster career. I went to college expecting to be the next Murphy Brown. What I got was a culture shock. I loved the Urban campus, but I was, and still am a loner. I was never going to be a "joiner". Besides, there was sooooo much going on downtown. During the breaks between classes, I would guide my trusted steed along the streets of Atlanta exploring. The nineties were a different time. I didnt feel afraid of anything.
In Atlanta, I was just another face. In Fayetteville, I was a "Yankee". I had the greatest chinese food in a restaurant where you ate in the basement. I did think I might be murdered till I saw it was packed and air conditioned down there. I dont know the name of the place, I couldnt read the sign, but the girl in my Hawaiian Algebra Class told me about it. She was right,it was worth it. I visited every Fellini's Pizza and got wasted on beer in them with Penelope. I don't even drink beer. We loved the pizza and there was the greatest vibe happening then. The music was always good, and the beer just went down. Every once in a while we'd get a wild hair and dress up to go have desert at Cafe Intermezzo on Peachtree in Buckhead. We'd sit in a table tucked away, picking at some ridiculously priced extravagant desert and watch all the yuppies. We would smile and say thanks when they would send over drinks. We used fake names. She used, Joannah, and I used, Penelope. And guys used to say, "C'mon, those are fake names!" We'd just laugh. We spent A LOT of time in Little Five Points people watching. Or Shopping, playing pool at Good Ol Days, and on occasion getting tattooed at Sacred Heart. Sorry Mom. Its a generational thing. Be glad I never opted for a tongue ring.
Sometimes, we'd hit Spondivets near the Airport. We were underage, and racked up huge bar tabs. But the wait staff loved us. We were good to them, very patient and fun. The music playing was top notch. We brought in crowds. We were big tippers. They took American Express. On occasion we even ate. MMMmmm seafood. Beats Joe's Crab shack everytime. On one particular night, we were pretty wasted, and quietly discussing life in our own little corner when some recent flight attendant graduates rolled in from the Hilton Gardens down the road. They were loaded too. We minded our business. But apparently our laughter was loud, and they thought it was intended for them. So one of these future Stepford wives made a snarky comment about the gorgeous red hue of my hair. Do you remember Manic Panic hair color? Not very waspy I guess. I let it go, but Penelope; never known to be one to " let it go". And I love her for it.
We didnt fight, although we would have won. We didnt cause any trouble for our beloved wait staff. We simply began to sing. We sang a snappy little ditty by a kick ass group, The Replacements called, " Waitress in the sky." Because bitches, " Struttin up the aisle, big deal you get to fly, you aint nothin but a waitress in the sky..." Please keep in mind, I too was a waitress. I must say, Carrie and the rest of the girls loved us for it. Those flight attendants had been coming in for a while, and didn't tip as well as us...but were alot more demanding! In a truly ironic twist of fate, my beloved Penelope makes her living flying the friendly skies, at your service on American Airlines. She's simply the best damn waitress in the sky there is. She is much better in the sky than she was on land. Ask her, she'll agree.
I sure do miss the Replacements. Try finding one of their songs on the radio these days. Well, maybe if you live in a college town and there's an old ass DJ ( like in their thirties, or GASP forties!) who knows who they are. In Altlanta in the nineties there was 99x, chock full of Alternative guitar driven music, and the stellar, student run WRAS, Album 88 of Georgia State. Its still on, take a listen if you drive thru. They don't do internet streaming, or I'd be listening right now. Music was different then. The world was alot different then. Music was alot different for chicks then too. It was the era of Bikini Kill, Babes in Toyland, Hole, L7.... Melissa Etheridge, Tori Amos,Allison Krauss... you name it. Grungy, girly, it didn't matter. Everyone had a fanzine, even people who "hated Brenda". Now, in the days of corporate facism, we have Clear Channel. If you don't fit, you dont get played. God Bless college radio.
There was music everywhere. We went to the Masquerade weekly, sometimes just to dance. I wish I couls recall all of the shows we saw there. From Julianna Hatfield to the Dead Milkmen, we saw alot and had a blast doing it. Pre Show was just as fun, orchestrating the outfits ( oh, the outfits!) and dying the hair, getting a good buzz on. For us, it was like tailgating for football. An all day affair. Except when the Dead was in town. That could end up lasting all summer if the conditions were right.
{I worked at Turtles Music back then, and I met Penelope when she came in for an interview. I took her application and immediately liked her. I brought her application back and told my manager that we HAD to give her an interview because her name was Penelope for Christ sakes!
Well, they did. That was in 1993. We've been friends ever since. }
*Before long, I was a part of the management team at that record store. I was nineteen, and a girl. It really pissed off a male co worker who had only been there about a month or so, that I had that I got the job. He then applied at the place where I worked my second job as a waitress, and I wish I could explain to you the pain in his face when he got to train with me. Needless to say, on his first day on the floor on his own during his first little "rush" he quit. I swooped in, picked up his tables and walked out about a hundred bucks richer that day. Sorry bout your luck Steve. I hope you like women a bit better these days.
I miss that time. Of course it may have something to do with the freedom of being young, twentysomething and childless then. You didnt need credit to put gas in your car to get to the Northside for the night. WHen I lived there, gas was under a dollar a gallon. Man, how the times have changed. Still no woman president. Republicans imposing their values on us at every turn. The media has disapointed and pulled more than a few "quick ones" on us. Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers rule the charts while The Hold Steady and Kings of Leon get no play. But as Bob Dylan once sang, and is often quoted, " The times, they are a changin..."
And I for one, thing maybe a good shot of the sixties, mixed with a healthy dose of the nineties would suit us pretty well right about now. Im done, I have purged enough memories from the rapidly declining mind for this afternoon. It was a bumpy ride, but I enjoyed it. Hope yall did too.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
The Hold Steady's "Stay Positive" streamed on myspace. F'in awesome.
Maybe you like The Hold Steady. I do. Never heard of them? Like Springsteen? Give them a listen....I doubt you'll be disapointed. They kick serious ass. Like if Bruce was born is say....74 or something. I dunno. I love it. Anyway. You can listen to the new album in its entirety on their myspace page. They're in my top friends.
I hate most new stuff, but I love the Hold Steady and Kings of Leon. ( I like Jack Johnson too, but I think its a Mom crush) Good Stuff, for lack of a better description. Listen and tell me what you think. I think they nail what its like to be young and discontent in America.
I hate most new stuff, but I love the Hold Steady and Kings of Leon. ( I like Jack Johnson too, but I think its a Mom crush) Good Stuff, for lack of a better description. Listen and tell me what you think. I think they nail what its like to be young and discontent in America.
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