Monday, December 6, 2010: Bad Manners - Lip Up Fatty

The conventional wisdom is that most people gain 5-10 pounds during the holiday season.

A lot of people get frustrated and depressed with this. For the new year they will resolve to lose all that increased poundage, thus catapulting themselves into some nonsensical diet where they only eat wheatgrass or one doughnut a day or some such nonsense, and will briefly reduce their weight only to regain it in true yo-yo style in a short period of time.

I say, forget the guilt, and embrace this holiday season. So what if you gain a few pounds, Enjoy it!

I say, treat yourself to some new, oversized clothes.

I say, listen to the music, shuffle up your feet! That'll surly give you some exercise.

I say, Lip Up Fatty!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

No blogging on a Sunday.

See you Monday!

Saturday, December 4, 2010: The Wailin' Jennys - Beautiful Dawn

It's been a weird week.

When this fabulous group, The Wailin' Jennys sing,

"Take me to the place where I don't feel so small

Take me where I don't need to stand so tall"

I know exactly what they mean.

So, here's to all the Beautiful Dawns, and learning how to see when we close our eyes.

Enjoy

CSOTD Bonus Edition: DeBarge - Rhythm Of The Night

Let's keep this old school '80s Friday Night going

Let's listen to the Rhythm Of The Night

Enjoy

Friday, December 3, 2010: Whodini - Freaks Come Out At Night

Freaks come in all shapes, sizes and colors
But what I like about 'em most is that they're real good lovers
They do it in the park, they do it in the dark
But most freaks are known for breakin' hearts
You could never tell what a freak was thinkin' of
And you may never catch a freak without at least one glove
And they don't walk, when they step, they strut
And nine times out of ten they drive you nuts
But take my advice, you don't stand a chance
Freaks are so bad they got their own dance
So if you wanna live a nice quiet life
Do yourself a favor, don't come out at night, 'cause

Freaks Come Out At Night

Thursday, December 2, 2010: George Harrison - Wah Wah

In 2008, Rolling Stone Magazine listed the 100 Greatest Guitarists.

The list had Johnny Ramone at #16, Eddie Van Halen at #70, and didn't even include Steve Vai or Django Reinhardt, so you can tell what a total crock of shite this was.

George Harrison was at #21. He should have been higher.

He was called The Quiet Beatle.  He should have been called The Great Guitarist.  Listen to all the musical landscapes The Beatles crossed, from skiffle to rock and roll, through experimentation and eastern influence, with some country and pure pop thrown in for good measure, whatever Paul or John threw at George, he rose to the challenge and always managed to shine just as bright with his own work.  And he always made it look easy to boot.

Paul was awkward, John was fussy, Ringo was a laugh, but George..............George was cool.

Never flashy or temperamental, George Harrison later considered himself more of a gardener than a guitarist. Which, obviously, raises him even higher in my esteem.

God loves gardeners.

From the historic Concert For Bangladesh, here is George and friends grooving it down like very, very few people could ever do.

So here's to you, George, probably one of the coolest people ever to tend a garden. Or pick up a guitar.

You are missed.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010: KISS - Shout It Out Loud

Happy Chanukah!

Beginning at sundown, of course.

Chanukah, more commonly known as Hanukkah, or the Festival Of Lights, is an important Jewish holiday, 8 days commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE.  It also celebrates the miracle of the Menorah which burned bright over 8 days with only one day's worth of oil

So, for all our Jewish followers, for this time of celebration, I thought CSOTD would blog one of the most Jewish rock bands ever: KISS.

Bassist Gene Simmons - Born Chaim Witz in Tirat Carmel, Haifa, Israel.
Guitarist Paul Stanly - Born Stanley Harvey Eisen in Manhattan, NY.
Current drummer Eric Singer - Born Eric Doyle Mensinger
Guitarist (1984-1996) Bruce Kulick - Born Bruce Howard Kulick

Obviously, not all members of KISS were Jewish:

Ace Frehley (Paul Frehley) is German-American, Peter Criss (Criscuola), Vinnie Vincent (Cusano), and the late Eric Carr (Carravello) were Italian-Americans.

But, hey, nobody's perfect.

L'CHAIM!