Odds and Ends 008
Rock After 55: Wise Maybe, Weary Definitely
Lee Scratch Perry: Rise Again (MOD Technologies)
Surrounded by such coequals as Tunde Adebimpe, Sly Dunbar, and Hamid Drake, he‑-uh-oh‑-behaves himself ("Orthodox," "House of God") ***
Wanda Jackson: The Party Ain't Over (Nonesuch/Third Man)
Jack White hits the geriatric Christian hottie with songs and horns that remind us what a weirdo she must be ("Thunder on the Mountain," "Shakin' All Over") **
John Hiatt: Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns (New West)
Decades past his last outright keeper and 60 this year, he continues to roll out listenable collections like he'll never stop ("Don't Wanna Leave You Now," "Damn This Town," "Detroit Town") **
Bonnie Raitt: Slipstream (Redwing)
Bartholin's glands don't fail me now ("Used to Rule the World," "Million Miles") **
Dr. John: Locked Down (Nonesuch)
"For my next trick I will shuck my jive and generalize indignantly over a declarative rock beat" ("Big Shot," "Locked Down") **
Rick Berlin: Paper Airplane (Hi-N-Dry)
"And Sean looked grim and said, `Suicide'" ("Sean Penn on Charlie Rose," "If I Wasn't Such a Bum") **
Steve Earle: I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive (New West)
There'll never be too many songs about death or George W. Bush ("Little Emperor," "Waitin' on the Sky") *
Marshall Chapman: Big Lonesome (Tall Girl)
Breakup album about a musician who up and died on her ("Big Lonesome," "I Love Everybody") *
Happy b-day!
Some lesser items of note on your b-day (according to the internet)--
Gene Autrey records "Back in the Saddle Again" (1939)
Earthquake in San Fran (1906)
First baseball game played at Yankee Stadium (1923)
Albert Einstein dies (1956)
Wayne Gretzky played his last game (1999)
League of Nations abolished (1946)
L'Humanite begins publishing (1904)
Sandy Koufax is the first to strike out the side on nine pitches (1964)
John Lennon releases "Stand by Me" (1975)
In his first at bat since marriage, Babe Ruth homers; he tips his hat to his new bride while rounding second (1929)
Yankees play first opening day game at night in Yankee Stadium (1972)
And, finally, the following people are born: Conan O'Brien, Alexander 'Skip' Spence, Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown, Leopold Stokowski, Clarence Darrow, Miguel Cabrera, Gratian and James Wood.
So far we've had a fine time here. Trying to go upscale a little, my great and modestly priced motel cut out the free breakfast and invited us to buy breakfast in their restaurant. Instead Carola and I went to the supermarket and bought fixings, including half a pound of butter, an excellent roll and a less excellent croissant, and some good jam. Usually I am a Smart Balance guy, and like it fine--it's a good product that has reduced my just marginally high cholesterol. But man, did that butter taste good. Next week I'll behave myself.
Which reminds me--given what he's revealed of his dietary practices, what does Cardiologist Cam believe about cholesterol?
about the blogger
Starting in 1967, Robert Christgau has covered popular music for The Village Voice, Esquire, Blender, Playboy, Rolling Stone, and many other publications. He teaches in New York University's Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music, maintains a comprehensive website at robertchristgau.com, and has published five books based on his journalism. He has written for MSN Music since 2006.
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