From Elvis In Memphis

I got the CD recently out, "Elvis In Memphis."

These are songs I already have, on the '60s box set as well as on the original records. They also put the "Back In Memphis" album together with it, since they're all the recordings Elvis made at American Recordings in Memphis in 1969.

The "Back In Memphis" album was originally together with a live record of Elvis at the International Hotel in Las Vegas.

At the time when these came out, I wasn't buying that many Elvis records, although I've had them now for decades. I was definitely noticing them somehow. I must've seen them in record stores. I was actually confused by it all. "Back in Memphis," "In Memphis," "From Vegas to Memphis," "From Memphis to Vegas," etc. I don't know if there were any other variations.

I couldn't really see the difference it made as to where he was and why they were making such a big deal about it. Just so they don't lose him. Since I never personally ran into him, whether he was in Memphis, Vegas, or Nashville didn't make any difference.

I can see the point now, that he was in a rut, then went back to his hometown to this legendary studio (at the time very successful) and put down some great tracks. Even so, I wasn't tuned in, so I didn't really realize how great the tracks were till a few years ago when I got the '60s box set. Now I love the songs.

And I'm very happy that Elvis had this high point -- some stuff to be really proud of.

This set is nice. The songs are in the order they were released on the LPs, plus there's bonus tracks, to give at least one take of each of the songs he recorded. It seems, though, that something's missing. Like the stereo versions of some of the songs, like "Suspicious Minds," "Kentucky Rain," etc. These are represented only by the mono versions. I'm no expert in these things, but I believe the versions on the '60s box set would be stereo. And I'm also thinking the versions on the "Elvis #1 Singles" box set are also the stereo versions. Don't hold me to that.

The pictures are nice in the "Memphis" CD set (2 CDs), the booklet has some good notes, there's a nice plastic slip case to put the cardboard set in. I like it. It was $13.88 at Walmart.

Got To Get You Into My Life

One of the differences in the mono version of this song -- by The Beatles on the Revolver album -- is it's longer.

It's a little jarring, in that the place where we're used to hearing it fade out, it continues on and sounds like it skips. I'm hoping that's the way it's supposed to be.

Maybe that's why it was faded out earlier on the more common stereo version. There's around 10 seconds difference between stereo and mono.

The Beatles' Set Not Numbered

Back in July when I ordered the Beatles' mono CD set, they said at Amazon it'd be a limited edition of 10,000 and numbered. I wrote about it at the time, wondering what number I'd get.

So yesterday when I got my set in the delivery, the first thing I did was to get the mono box out and see what number I had. Hmm, no number on the outside, must be inside. How tricky, I assumed, because no one can keep their copy sealed because they'll never know what number they got.

But inside ... no number either. So I figured I personally got screwed. Which didn't make any sense. But who knows? I'd heard later there was 13,000 copies for the U.S. market, which would mean 3,000 on top of the 10,000 numbered copies.

Checking around, though, I now read there's no numbered sets! They decided it wasn't "feasible." OK, jokers, you make a decision like that before you advertise they're going to be numbered. Or is marketing just not your thing? This was a major disappointment. But at least we're all in the same boat. And it takes away the conundrum of what I would've done if I had a real low number, etc.

Still, I think we deserve something for the letdown, getting screwed over like this.

I think I deserve an all-expenses paid trip to England, to hang out with Paul and Ringo for a week. We'll rent a bus, fill it with eccentric people, and travel around England, filming our adventures. Only then will I be happy. And maybe a few concert tickets, with backstage passes. And some holographic visits with John and George from wherever they are.

Don't let me down! Don't - let - me - down!

Herman's Hermits - 1

This will give me something to do. I haven't got much time tonight. I need to mow the yard and do some other unpleasant chores.

But I have a few minutes.

I got this Herman's Hermits CD set, 4 CDs spanning their career from 1964-1972. It's subtitled "The Mickie Most Years." It comes from Europe, so the albums referenced in the (scanty) notes are their UK releases. The American versions are mentioned a few times.

In the U.S. we know their records from the MGM label. But it's been difficult, without going out of your way, let's say, to find their LPs. It really doesn't look like there were very many. I know the MGM albums, about every other one is a greatest hits package, I, II, III. Like that.

Anyway, I always thought I'd like to have everything by Herman's Hermits and not just the hits that I've heard a million times. Some of these other tracks I've heard once or twice and most not at all. I listened to the B side of most of my 45s, of which I only have about 10-12 by Herman's Hermits. Some of them are surprisingly good and some are so-so.

I've had some of the albums before. I know I have a copy of the "Blaze" LP around here somewhere, and in top condition, but searching for it has yielded nothing. I used to have the "Two Sides of Herman's Hermits" LP. And I know we used to have, ages ago, the first greatest hits album, that had such great hits on it as "Mother-in-Law" and "Sea Cruise." You don't remember those as big hits? I don't either, but I always liked the "Mother-in-Law" song, a version of Ernie K. Doe's big hit.

In this series, which may or may not ever actually be accomplished, I'm going to listen to these CDs (on my iPod) track by track and say whatever about them.

OK ... CD 1, Track 1 (one small step for a Herman's Hermits fan, one giant leap for all mankind.)

1) Heartbeat - The Buddy Holly song. Peter Noone, sometimes to be referred to as Herman or abbreviated as P.N., has a good voice for doing Buddy Holly. This seems slightly slower than Buddy's version, just going by memory. It says in the notes that H.H. were a Buddy Holly tribute band (sort of) before becoming H.H. Straightforward version of the song, same guitar bits. Nothing really varied about it. The charming voice of P.N. Kind of a boring track since it's just a one to one cover.

2) Travelin' Light - This is one of the B sides I have on my MGM 45s, which one I don't remember. Slow loping song. Like a country song. When I was listening to the 45 the other day I thought this was a boring song. I like it tonight. He's going to see his baby. He's a hoop and a holler from paradise, traveling light, I guess so he can get to his baby more efficiently. Nice country sound.

3) I'll Never Dance Again - Slow song and mournful guitar. Someone else is holding her, so he will never dance again. Very sad. The song mentions "the dance hall," as she's dancing with some other guy. The feel of this song reminds me of "The End of the World," especially the mournful guitar bits. There's a talking break. P.N. does a good job of it, although I don't like talking bits, except for one song, "That's When Your Heartaches Begin" by Elvis. This H.H. song is too sad.

4) Walkin' With My Angel - I've heard this one before. But maybe not by H.H. (I looked it up. Bobby Vee did it.) The track has a flaw or maybe it's just my iPod. The sound goes from one side to the other in the space of about 2 seconds and sounds bad. Like someone hit the balance button. I like the song except for that flawed bit. That will bug me everytime I hear it. What's the problem?

[Here is the 2 or 3 second piece from the right channel only. See if this sounds normal to you.]

Walkin With My Angel - Hermans Hermits

5) Dream On - This is another of the B sides from my 45s. Such a beautiful song. I love this one. (On the 45 it has the title "I Gotta Dream On.") Very sweet sound. I don't know if this was a hit. It should've been. It sounds like a great '60s A side to me.

6) I Wonder - I'm having a hard time with this song. It sound generic. He was left blue and his heart is filled with pain, counting the lonely hours passing slowly by. This one I don't like so far.

OK, that's it. I have to go mow the yard. Hate to leave with a song I didn't care for. But maybe it will grow on me.

The Spirit of '67

I got this CD in the mail today, Paul Revere & the Raiders, The Spirit of '67.

I've had the record for a long time, but the copy I have is in rough condition. Still I've been able once in a while to put the needle on and hear some of it.

But it's nice to have it in a cleaner form!

I haven't actually listened to the CD in the CD player, which will sound better, just the MP3s on my tiny computer speakers. So I haven't got to the good stuff yet.

It's always been a fine, fine record. I love all the group songs, the album tracks, as well as the big hits on it. "Louise" has always been my favorite track, but the others are great too.

I checked out Mark Lindsay's website today, which is marklindsay.com I believe. There's not much there but he has links to his Facebook, Twitter, My Space, and something else page. Also I saw the note there that Drake Levin, a Raider from some point, not on this particular record, died on July 4 of this year. Also that at some time, unspecified, Smitty, the guy on the right end in the picture, also died.

There were a LOT of Raiders, though, so eventually they'll have an entire cemetery just of their ex-members. I hope it takes a long time though! (My point being there were a LOT of Raiders. I wonder if it's as many as I imagine.) I wish they could've kept the lineup on this LP. They look like the actual Paul Revere & the Raiders as far as I'm concerned!

This is my only Raiders CD except for the double CD set, "Legend of Paul Revere."

"The Spirit of '67." I recommend it to everyone.

The Beatles - Take 2, OK...

I re-ripped all my Beatles CDs at 256 kbps. Now that the new boxed sets are about to come out, I'm thinking about putting any ripped CDs (not just Beatles ones) in boxes and stacking them in the closet or somewhere.

They take up a lot of shelf space if I already have them on my hard drives, but I of course want to hang on to them until they eventually cart me off to the nursing home.

I've always noticed this particular problem with CDs, but it was really pronounced on one of my Beatles CDs. They have those little slots at the top where the dust can get in. There was quite a bit of dust in one, and some in all. They get messy just setting on the shelf. So they'd be better off in boxes.

I didn't actually have every CD ripped already, like EPs and incidental stuff and a few of the other albums, but now I do. It took a while. The computer works slowly. Plus everything has to be labeled, tagged in particular ways. You get the labeling information from freedb and it's extremely helpful, but there's no standard way of doing it. So you have to edit practically everything for your own preferences. Then find album art ... and it's a hassle.

Will You Count Me In?

Good things come to those who wait. I got Colbie Caillat's CD "Coco" at a thrift store tonight for cheap.

There seems to be a rash of new and fairly new CDs showing up in the thrift store these days. I don't know what's behind it, but I could guess people are ripping their CDs to their iPod and figuring they'll never need the CD anymore.

Whatever the reason, it helps me in my never ending quest to ... I'm not too sure what. I have wide tastes and not really that much time to just sit and listen to music. Except on my iPod, more or less on the run. And even then I like to have the original CD if I can manage it. And for a dollar pop, that's cheap enough.

Bang Bang Bang

I've got one of Lady Gaga's songs in my mind as a mind worm. I took a nap and woke up with this tune and words being repeated. "Beautiful, Dirty, Rich."

I'm thinking, "Bang, bang, bang, we're beautiful and dirty rich." The chorus goes on like that for a ways. Then there's a talking part. I can't think of the words but know the tune.

You know you're a CD that's been in mind when people wake up to you. And you're not even playing.

Lady Gaga's CD

I love Lady Gaga's CD, "The Fame." I've had it for around three weeks. At first I was just listening to bits of it on my Ipod at the exercise place. My headphones are not the greatest. It's hard to hear things beyond a tinny and superficial way. So I wasn't getting into the CD.

But the last couple days, I put the actual CD on, and while I've been working on other projects, I just let it play. I've listened to it six or seven times and love it. I'm definitely getting familiar with the songs beyond just the two (so far) hits.

The two big hits (so far) are "Just Dance" and "Poker Face." For these two, I have heard them on the radio. But I don't listen to the radio so much that I get sick of things. They are both excellent.

The other songs (there are 12 others) are great too. Among my favorites are "Beautiful, Dirty, Rich," "Boys Boys Boys," "Brown Eyes," and "I Like It Rough." But I actually like all the songs. The CD speeds by and it all hangs together in a nice way.

"Brown Eyes" is the softest song and a pretty one. "Boys Boys Boys" is the funnest song, just for the sake of fun. "Beautiful, Dirty, Rich" starts off three songs about money and fame, including also "The Fame" and "Money Honey." Lady Gaga even says she's into "material," so she might be called the New Material Girl. But I hope not.

Treasures Tonight

I went to one of the local thrift stores and got my treasures. I'm always interested in picking up decent CDs and records.

I got one tonight, a CD, that I didn't know existed. I've never seen it around, but of course looking it up on the internet I notice there's numerous copies.

That's one by Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins, from 1986, called "Class of '55." The reviewers at Amazon don't seem overly excited about it but I'm guessing it's a good enough relic. Of course, no doubt, they've all done better work. That was one of the remarks made. But that really would likely go without saying. This is a reunion of sorts, and I suppose there was some casualness about it. I haven't heard it, but it's not hard to guess what it's going to sound like.

My copy is a bit scuffed up. I was surprised about that, because you figure the guy who had this CD would have been a guy who would normally keep his CDs in nice condition. Because he would likely be a collector sort of guy. Just reading his fortune without actually knowing him.

My other treasure -- if that's what you would call it -- was a cassette single by The Cranberries of "Linger." I don't buy many cassettes, virtually none, but I like some of these by people who were once my favorites. It's like buying a 45 with picture sleeve, which I obviously would do, but it's a cassette. I have a few things like this on my shelf, a few by Roxette are the ones I had up there, and now this one by Cranberries.

Here's a site with a great scan of the box.

One Night In 1955

I was at a thrift store in a different town today. And it's kind of fun to go to these because the stuff hasn't already been picked over -- by me. The thrift stores in my own town, I'm a regular, so if they haven't got anything new, I'm the first to notice.

I like to pick up CDs, because you can get them fairly cheap. One I got by Bjork, called "Homogenic." I'm not big into listening to her albums, but I have listened to them. But I always think it's worthwhile to pick up whatever there is. I have a couple of others, now this one. I'm happy to get it because I see at All Music Guide that this is rated at 5 stars. Pretty good, huh? I listened to the first few songs ... just my first dabbling ... and I liked it. But that's not a review.

One I got that I regret, a Camden CD (budget in the first place) called "The Original Recordings of Glenn Miller." I was already on to this one, since I've looked at albums for many years. It's not only short but it still has the old cover and they retained the line about stereo effect from monophonic. Just listening to the first couple songs, it didn't sound like it to me, which is an improvement. But the songs seem to have some distortion around the edges, listening on earbuds. And that's no good. Being a budget album, it is very short ... and not good.

The other four I got were jazz CDs, which I like sometimes. Put them on and jazz out. Not always but once in a while. They're cool looking and if I had more time to listen to music, I'd step right through them, yessir. One I did listen to all the way through, while doing other things. That's Duke Ellington's "Piano Reflections," recorded in 1953. The sound is excellent and it's quite a nice listening experience. I got "The Best of Art Tatum" on Pablo. Haven't listened to it or to the Ray Brown Trio's "Don't Get Sassy," but both look like super CDs. The fourth jazz one is "The Oscar Peterson Trio at Zardi's," recorded one night in 1955. I read the brief All Music Guide review of this one and it sounds pretty good. I listened to the first track only and it's clear as a bell. You can hear some of the ambience of the place. The applause sounds like there's about 20 people there. Nice CDs, that one being a two CD set.

I like the sense of that for some weird reason, a trio is recorded one night in 1955, it's basically forgotten, then put out in the '90s, and it's all right there for us to listen to, note by note.

Now That's What I Call Music

I'm on a never ending, slow motion quest to get all the "Now That's What I Call Music" CDs at Goodwill.

My insistence on CD condition changes day by day. Today I was very lenient and picked up a beat copy of 20 and a beat copy of 21. The other day I wasn't so lenient and missed getting one, I can't think of its number. It was beat. But you know, if you smear toothpaste on them you can get them to rip. I did it with a couple other CDs.

I just checked my shelf and it looks like I only have three others so far, but I thought I had more. 11, 13, 16. The big problem is I never remember which ones I have, and it seems like I had two copies of one once. Who knows?

I was a little more lenient with 20 and 21 because I was keeping track of current music when these songs were popular. I drift in and out, and right now I'm out of it, not interested in what's going on. So, the way it works is most of the others, 1 to probably 18, I wasn't tuned in. A very narrow window.

It's funny that these CDs tend to be beat up. You figure the main audience is under 17, they must use them to ice skate on. The weird thing is they manage to get them in the right CD case before they dump them off at Goodwill.

Mamma Mia Soundtrack

I got the Mamma Mia! soundtrack CD today. I don't usually buy soundtracks, maybe especially, not that there are so many cases of this, where the movie stars sing the songs.

But this time I really loved the film and thought the songs were great. Still, I'm thinking, it's almost 15 bucks. But I took the plunge anyway. I'm glad I did.

The songs not only recall the film, and that's happy, but they're really good, nice sounding. They sound better on the CD, maybe because there isn't all the other sound effects and things from the movie. The vocals are nice and punchy, very well done. And the instruments of course are crystal clear and lively, great.

My only complaint is that in "Honey, Honey" they have Amanda Seyfried laughing some of the lyrics, as in the film. I would have preferred to have a straight version without those laughs. One other note, which isn't really a complaint, is that they left off "Waterloo," but it was a kind of bonus in the film and wasn't part of the film proper.

Roxette - Look Sharp

I need to say something about this CD, since I almost have it played out.

First, it's a great one. I'm about 20 years behind everyone else, I know. But I am not always paying attention to what's going on musically.

So it is with this one. In 1988 I was busy with something else, getting CDs, but missing plenty of others. And I definitely wasn't listening to the radio very much.

I got this one used a couple weeks ago. Adding it to the pile of other CDs I get used. This was one I decided to give a chance. And I'm glad I did.

This is one fantastic CD! It has 13 songs and I love every song. Some of the songs were already 'familiar,' in that sense of 'you heard them at the grocery store at some point over the last 20 years.' Such as "Dangerous." And "Listen To Your Heart" was remade a couple years ago and was on the radio. "Dressed For Success" is another that had that grocery store familiarity. But for the most part, these are songs that were new to me. They're great.

"The Look" gets it started off. This is an exciting song, followed by 12 other very good tracks. Some of the ones that didn't sink in at first -- like always -- turn out to be good favorites, like "Paint" and "Cry."

I've listened to the whole thing maybe 25 times, and I think I've about heard it all. It's probably about time to put it away, or listen less frequently. But if you don't have it, let me recommend you get a copy. It's definitely a lovable album!