TomFest

7/30/18
This weeks LP is by The Who and titled "Live At Leeds", enjoy!
 

8/24/18
Jimi Hendrix
 

8/25/18
The Who
 

I love this raw version.  It was very sweet and pure and it touches my heart.   It's what it's all about for me.   If anyone wants to listen to the premier, I recorded it. 
 
You can find it here. ->  You And Me Premier
 

Look - the Super Deluxe package carries a steep price - I get that.  Still - any complaint about price is not valid, in my opinion.  There is a much less expensive package that includes ALL of the same music.  That is 4 CD's for about $25.  Show me another artist that does that.
  
There is truly something for everyone here and my point was - it's not a fair criticism to insult the band or their fans just because someone can't or won't afford the more expensive offering.

Why does California hate me?  I was down there on business in February and broke my wrist.  Never broken a bone in my life before that.  Then I'm back down there on business again last week and broke my ankle.  WTF California?

Saw that Bennmont had posted some kind words about Aretha Franklin and thought I'd share them incase someone missed them. 
She was an amazing musician and talent and I really enjoyed her music pretty much my whole life.
 
A Tribute To Aretha From Benmont AUG 17, 2018  
 
When the truly great ones pass — and Aretha was the best singer there was — the loss is more than just of that voice, that light, that vision, that sound. It is also of a way of thinking, of approaching both art and life. There are so many lessons to be learned from Aretha: in rhythm, in control, in how and when to embellish the melody, and even more important, when not to. And in life: she stood up. Here’s Aretha on her offer to put up bail for Angela Davis: 
“My daddy (Detroit’s Rev. C.L.Franklin) says I don’t know what I’m doing. Well, I respect him, of course, but I’m going to stick by my beliefs. Angela Davis must go free. Black people will be free. I’ve been locked up (for disturbing the peace in Detroit) and I know you got to disturb the peace when you can’t get no peace. Jail is hell to be in. I’m going to see her free if there is any justice in our courts, not because I believe in communism, but because she’s a Black woman and she wants freedom for Black people. I have the money; I got it from Black people—they’ve made me financially able to have it—and I want to use it in ways that will help our people.”
Aretha influenced EVERYBODY. Rock & roll, soul, jazz... hell, she even stepped in for Pavarotti and sang some Puccini on the Grammies in ‘98, and you know if Pavarotti wasn’t listening to Aretha already he never would have allowed it! And as far as her piano-playing, she was a total badass, she made every record she played on — and that’s her you hear on the grand on the classic Atlantic sides, and so much more — swing deeper, speak truer, get to that heart of hearts — than it ever could’ve with another pianist.  I’ve always heard that Keith insisted that she play the piano herself when she covered Jumpin Jack Flash. And Keith knows his piano players! She was the deal, simply the deal, and to say “was” in the same sentence as “Aretha” just tears the heart out of me.
Keep listening to Aretha’s records, watching film of her performances, dancing, singing, playing along. And please: learn the lessons, and keep learning, and pass them on. 
Rest In Peace in the arms of God, Aretha. And thank you.
 

So basically, what you're saying is that.. California's been treating you mean, you hope it will fall into the sea...?
Either way, sorry to hear about your injury!

Why does California hate me?  I was down there on business in February and broke my wrist.  Never broken a bone in my life before that.  Then I'm back down there on business again last week and broke my ankle.  WTF California?

Ann Wilson, Paul Rogers and Mr. Jeff Beck played last night at the PNC Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey. Ann can still sing those songs but I was there for one person. Jeff! It is possible? He just gets better every time I see him. Little Stevie was backstage, too....he loves Jeff! A night to remember for sure!

^ That's funny about the cereal. I did the same thing when I was a kid. They used to have 3D baseball cards in cereal, and I'd beg Mom to buy those.  Also, for a while you could get a record from the cereal box itself, I think. Seems like you cut them out of the box?  Anyway, it would actually play on my crappy little lunchbox record player.  For some reason, I'm thinking there were some of The Monkees?  Now I have to go down that rabbit hole and look for those....

Tomfest, no pain no gain 🎶
just DO IT...
just teasing you.. of course....

It would definitely be in 1973, the summer I turned 15, and Mom took my younger brother and I on our first ever real vacation - a flight to San Francisco (my first time on a plane), a game at Candlestick Park (against my favorite team the Big Red Machine, but sadly Willie Mays was no longer a Giant by that time), all of the tourist things in SF (Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf, Golden Gate Bridge, cable car ride, Lombard Street), then another flight to L.A. and my first time at Disneyland. 
Our "rich" Uncle (Mom's brother) lived in San Francisco, and I suspect he helped pay for everything, otherwise I have no idea how Mom pulled this off. I had worked a part-time job that summer and had some cash.  There is a picture of me holding a fistful of 20's just prior to this trip. $300 in my pocket, as I recall. Best vacation ever.

Led Zeppelin's BBC album, for the ??th time this week...

8/2/18
CSN&Y
 

8/9/18
John Fogerty
 

I also had a NGD for my recent birthday.  I picked up an "Inspired by John Lennon" Epiphone Casino.  These are an upgrade over the regular issue Casino.  It has Gibson USA P-90 pickups, and a couple of other different cosmetic touches including the black ring around the pickup selector switch.  I'm really enjoying it so far. 
I was trying to think if Mike or Tom ever used a Casino on stage, and I don't think I've ever seen them do that.  Tom used a Casino in a couple of videos - I think the "Walls" video, and maybe the Mary Jane's Last Dance video from the living room?  I'd have to double check.  If anyone has a picture of Tom using one on-stage, I'd love to see it.

Shelter - did you just quote yourself?  Party foul.   Anyway, I always liked "Car Phone".  I'll pause right now to listen ........Yeah! fun song.  I like the 12-string riffs teasing some old Byrds tunes.  The voice at the end that you refer to?  Sorry, I never watched Twin Peaks but I doubt I would have made that connection anyway.

Just picked up "Bear's Sonic Journals - The Allman Brothers Band Fillmore East February, 1970".  Any chance to hear new Duane Allman recordings......I'm in.  This is an early one - over a year before the legendary Fillmore East live album was recorded. 

After seeing the live show from '82 that recently surfaced in pretty high quality, I have upgraded my respect for that era.  Those were great versions of the songs, and Tom's voice was absolutely top notch.

7/25/18
The Dave Clark Five
 

7/24/18
The Beatles
 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevebaltin/2018/07/25/the-byrds-chris-hillman-on-the-birth-of-country-rock-tom-petty-and-the-death-of-the-60s/