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Desperate Lovers

This is the second vinyl in the mini Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Live 1975-85 box set.

The piano and the sound of the crowd begin side three. 'Backstreets' is the opening song coming from the July 7th, 1978 at the Roxy Theatre in California show; Actually, this whole side is solely from that show. I love this song and Bruce and the band delivers nearly eight minutes of perfection.

Laying here in the dark, you're like an angel on my chest Just another tramp of hearts crying tears of faithlessness Remember all the movies, Terry, we'd go see Trying to learn to walk like the heroes we thought we had to be And after all this time, to find we're just like all the rest Stranded in the park and forced to confess To hiding on the backstreets Hiding on the backstreets Where we swore forever friends On the backstreets until the end Hiding on the backstreets

'Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)' is next and this is one takes a turn to the far left. It's faster with a much more happier tempo. This song makes me want to dance with good people and just enjoy this amazing song and with ten minutes of pure talent, I know you'll be tapping your foot too. The musicianship on this song is mind-blowing. The love they have for these songs really shine through when songs like this are played.

Rosalita, jump a little higher Senorita, come sit by my fire I just want to be your lover, ain't no liar Rosalita, you're my stone desire

Last on this side is 'Raise Your Hand', a cover song done a la Springsteen. Originally written by Steve Cropper, Eddie Floyd, and Alvertis Isbell it was a song done regularly by the famous Janis Joplin. Bruce and the band take the song to a different level and play it so good. His interaction with the crowd and how he finishes the song is timeless.  

Side four begins with the roaring voice of the crowd singing "Everybody's got a hungry heart" and it definitely resonates with you. Bruce steps in after the crowd has opened it up for him. The song is filled with just the right amount of catchy-ness and the right amount of New Jersey grit that I love from him. It's funny, at least for me, how certain songs play at particular moments in my life and this is one of them. These lyrics seem to speak to me specifically. The saxophone played by the late Clarence Clemons ends the song wonderfully. This song was performed at the Nassau Coliseum in New York On December 28, 1980.

Everybody needs a place to rest Everybody wants to have a home Don't make no difference what nobody says Ain't nobody like to be alone

The next two songs come from the July 6th and 8th 1981 performed at the Meadowlands Arena in New Jersey. First is 'Two Hearts' (July 8th) if the title doesn't give it away, it's a love song and well, I'm a huge fan of love songs sung by him.

She knows (she knows) There'll always be a special place in my heart for her She knows, she knows, she knows Yeah, she knows (she knows) No matter how far apart we are She knows, I'm always right there beside her We're two hearts, believing in just one mind Beating together till the end of time You know we're two hearts believing in just one mind Together forever till the end of time

As soon as the music for 'Cadillac Ranch' (July 6th) begins to play, the crowd lets out a big roar and it sends chills through the air. A classic in his plethora of arsenal. You can't go wrong with a song like this; it hs just the right amount of blues and rock n roll influences to make this song what it is. Now add to it the pure genius of Clarence Clemons and you've got yourself a kick-ass song.

'You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch)' is from the December 29, 1980 show at the Nassau Coliseum in New York. It's a fast and very cheeky song about not letting your desires get the best of you.

'Independence Day' comes once more from the recordings done on July 6th in New Jersey. Bruce lets it all come down with his way of writing lyrics. now mix his imagery with the solo of Clarence Clemons and this song is probably one of my favorite in the whole box set. The piano and organ work on this song mix perfectly well to bring you a hell of a song.  Take a listen to this song and really allow yourself to listen to his words, they are too beautiful to not give it a chance.

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Settle for Rock and Roll

There is no one like him and his catalog of music spreads over the decades. The Boss or Bruce Springsteen is the legend. I'm lucky enough to have a few of his albums in my collection, and when trying to decide which one to pick out for this post I couldn't resist in picking up this mini set.

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band Live 1975-85 is what I picked out. This mini box set, if you will, holds five vinyl. Each one containing recordings from his live shows. I'm not going to unload all five vinyl all at once. Instead, I'm going to do one at a time.

The first vinyl begins with one of his most iconic songs, at least in my opinion, 'Thunder Road'. As soon as it begins there is no doubt in my mind or really anyone's I think, that this is indeed a Bruce Springsteen album. 'Thunder Road' comes from the show done at the Roxy on October 18, 1975. The piano and the harmonica are simply divine. There is no introduction that can prepare you for this first disc, but this song simply opens the gates to what's to come.

The next two songs were from the same show at the Roxy on July 7, 1978. 'Adam Raised A Cain' is up first and this one has a bit more of a heavier rock and roll feel. 'Spirit In The Night' follows and this song is a favorite of mine. I love the mix of blues and jazz influence on this song combined with his amazing lyrics. The sound of the crowd only adds to the song and his ability to really put on a show.

Well now, Wild Billy was a crazy cat And he shook some dust out of his coonskin cap He said, "Trust some of this, it'll show you where you're at Or at least it'll help you really feel it" By the time we made it up to Greasy Lake I had my head out the window and Janey's fingers were in the cake I think I really dug her 'cause I was too loose to fake I said, "I'm hurt." She said, "Honey, let me heal it" And we danced all night to a soul fairy band And she kissed me just right, like only a lonely angel can She felt so nice Just as soft as a spirit in the night (all night), in the night (all night) Janey don't know what she do to you Spirit in the night (all night), in the night (all night) Stand right up and let her shoot through me

The last song is '4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)' which comes from the show played at the Nassau Coliseum on December 31, 1980. At just over six minutes, it's a nice song to end side one. Once more, Bruce works his magic with painting images with his lyrics.

Side two begins with 'Paradise By The "C"' which comes once more from the show on July 7, 1978, at the Roxy. This song showcases why they are the amazing band that they are. It's almost a four-minute song of pure brilliance jamming, take a listen I promise you won't be sorry you did.

'Fire'. I love this song, and the tempo done on this particular version is just mellow enough with the just the right about of rock and roll.  It's a love song and I'm a sucker for love songs so it a win every time in my book. This is from the recording done at the famous Winterland in San Fransico on December 16, 1978.

You had a hold on me Right from the start A grip so tight I couldn't tear it apart My nerves all jumpin' Actin' like a fool Well your kisses they burn But your heart stays cool

Romeo and Juliet Samson and Delilah Baby you can bet Their love they didn't deny Your words say split But your words they lie 'Cause when we kiss Mmmmmm, Fire Fire

Burnin in my soul It's outta control

The last two songs were also from their Roxy show on July 7, 1978. 'Growing Up' is first. I love this song because, well it's a good song; no but really he has some interaction with the crowd in which he mentions his talk of his family who were in attendance at this particular show. I love when little interactions like this are left in, especially in live albums. It makes it much more personable in my opinion. This song is the longest at nearly eight minutes long. If you're going to pick any song on this vinyl to listen to, please chose this one. It's simply beautiful and you get a little view into Bruce, as more than just a star, but Bruce as the person. Lastly is 'It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City' and what a way to end this vinyl. Bruce and the whole band have a way of bringing songs to life. From his iconic New Jersey voice to the heaviness of the guitars to the softness and speedy play of the piano. I would have loved to be alive and present at this particular show because, from the songs that are on here, it sounds like an unforgettable night.

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Eat A Peach For Peace

I was looking through my collection while trying to pick an album to write about. I picked it up and set it aside and even though I kept digging through my collection; I kept coming back to it.  Eat A Peach by The Allman Brothers, is that album.

It marked the third studio album for the band and was released February 12, 1972. The makeup of this album is quite the somber one. It would be the last album that founding member Duane Allman would work on. He was killed in a motorcycle accident, just a day before his 25th birthday in 1971.  The band finished the album and Eat A Peach was the result.

When I first got the album, I didn't know the story of its creation. So as I played it initially, I thought it was just a really well-done album. However, once I learned about Duane's passing, the album held a new meaning in my ears. The album is a mixture of previously recorded material as well as new songs. It also featured recordings from their live performance at the Filmore East.

The album begins with 'Ain't Wastin' Time No More' which starts off with some piano and then that rock blues guitar hits. It's a good start to the album. Gregg Allman who wrote this song sets the lyrics perfectly and serves as a reminder of just to enjoy life. It's even more touching considering the passing of his brother Duane.

Last Sunday morning, the sunshine felt like rain The week before, they all seemed the same With the help of God and true friends, I've come to realize I still have two strong legs, and even wings to fly So I, ain't a-wastin time no more 'Cause time goes by like hurricanes, and faster things

The second song, 'Les Brers in A Minor' which is just over nine minutes begins with a bit of a psychedelic feel to it; a-la Jimmy Hendrix in my opinion. This song was written by guitarist Dickey Betts and it's purely instrumental. The song was written after the death of Duane and Dickey said the name was a nod to the French meaning 'less brothers'. It's a fantastic song to listen to.

'Melissa' finishes this side. This song was written by Gregg and he actually played the song at his brother's funeral. Gregg mentioned that this song was Duane's favorite. After knowning this bit of information, I loved the song even more. It's beautiful and a bit more mellow with a touch of romance.

Next is 19.32 minutes of jam band awesomeness. It's so great that the whole second side is dedicated to this song of pure instrumentals. The song is actually a live recording played at the Fillmore East in 1971. The band had previously played with the Grateful Dead, (at the Fillmore East) another influential jam band and songs like this show the threads that connect bands like these together. I know long jam band songs are not everyone's favorite, but for me they are. I love to put on a song like this and just let it play. I love letting the music take over, and I love that I don't necessarily have to be paying attention to it, I can just have it playing and let it infuse my time.

Side three begins with another live song also recorded at the Filmore East show. 'One Way Out' is actually a cover song done originally by Sonny Boy Williamson II and Elmore James. It definitely has a more blues rock and roll feel to it, but it's done so well. The guitars on this are beyond words and trust me when I tell you to take a listen, you will fall in love with it.

'Trouble No More' follows and once again it was originally recorded live at the Fillmore East.  This song is also a cover song, done originally by Muddy Waters in the mid-1950s. However, the band takes it upon themselves to make it their own. Another song that will not disappoint. I love how they make blues song sound.

'Stand Back' is next and it as it's own unique sound to it. I love this music to this song. 'Blue Sky' follows which was written by Dicky who wrote it about his girlfriend. This side ends with 'Little Martha' which is the only song on this album written entirely by Duane. It begins with a sweet melody.  The song features only Duane and Dicky playing the guitars. To me, this ties everything together.

Side four and the last one to end the album is none other than the second part of the live song 'Mountian Jam'. I love listening to songs like this on vinyl because it makes me think of a time when bands like them were much more common. I love thinking about them actually playing this song live and jamming out for a combined time of just over 30 minutes.

If you get a chance and come across this album, take a listen. Duane's passing is a loss, but his music lives beyond gracing the ears of many.

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For the Losers

My first Sundays of the month have been pretty consistent for the past eight months or so. By that, I mean that I visit the Pasadena City College swap meet. I actually wrote a post about it and you can check it out here. So this past week, my Sunday was no different. My visit last month was a bit disappointing, the weather was not cooperating and in turn, the turnout of vendors was quite low. This weekend was scheduled to have some rain and when I woke up in the morning and realized it wasn't raining I was optimistic that it would stay that way.

When I got there I was happy to see nearly double the turnout from last month. I was especially happy to see my favorite vendor back. The past couple of times he hadn't been there and it was unfortunate for me because I loved digging through the boxes that he brought. He always brings about  30 or so boxes and yes, I go through every single one of them. What's even better is that they are all priced at $2. I always leave with more than a handful of vinyl form him and he's always very nice. I knew that was going to be first stop and I immediately began to dig. I was just about eight boxes in when I found it!! Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers Damned the Torpedoes. For about two months now, I've been trying to find  (a reasonably priced)  album of his to bring home and here it was.

Now, I'm definitely one who believes in things "were meant to happen" and this was one of those moments for me. I quickly picked the album up and took the vinyl out to make sure the condition was playable. It was, no starches or warping. A score for me! The cover and sleeve were in rough condition but other than that it was perfect. I quickly added it to my stack and kept digging.

I left that day with some pretty great find, but Damn the Torpedos was by far the best. It was released on October 20, 1979, and would mark the third album for Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers.

Side one begins with the infamous 'Refugee'. It would strike me a bit odd if you haven't heard this song before, only because it's been playing on the radio since it's release. One of his most famous song and I can't really say one bad thing about it. A must listen, even if his music is not your favorite, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers are true legends and you'd be doing yourself a disservice.

'Here Comes My Girl' is next and this is in my top five Tom Petty songs. I love every single word he sings in it. This song gives me hope in that someday I can find someone that will feel about me the way he sings about the girl in this song. I'm a hopeless romantic and this song only adds to that.

But when she puts her arms around me I can somehow rise above it Yeah, man when I got that little girl standin' right by my side You know, I can tell the whole wide world to, shove it, hey Here comes my girl Here comes my girl Yeah, and she looks so right She is all I need tonight

Song number three, 'Even the Losers' is a classic Petty song. His lyrics on this song have the ability to speak to anyone, in my opinion. I love the beat of this song, it just the right amount of catchy without losing the ability to connect with it.

Baby, time meant nothing, anything seemed real Yeah, you could kiss like fire and you made me feel Like every word you said was meant to be No, it couldn't have been that easy to forget about me Baby, even the losers Get lucky sometimes Even the losers Keep a little bit of pride They get lucky sometimes

'Shadow of a Doubt (A Complex Kid)' follows and it's one of my favorite on the entire album. He paints a beautiful picture of that girl leaving him wanting more of what she's got.  This side ends with 'Century City' in which he pays a nod to the legal woes with the record company whilst the recording of this album was going on. 

'Don't Do Me Like That' starts side two and what a song.  The beginning lyrics couldn't have been more of what I had been through and for that, I love this song even more.

I was talking with a friend of mine Said a woman had hurt his pride Told him that she loved him so And turned around and let him go Then he said, you better watch your step Or your gonna get hurt yourself Someone's gonna tell you lies Cut you down to size

'You Tell Me' is next and this one's tempo is a bit more mellow than the first. I love the way the guitars on this song sound along with the piano it is a perfectly done song.

"What Are you Doin' in My Life?' is faster and has more piano which I enjoy. The album ends with 'Louisiana Rain' and coming in at nearly six minutes, it's the longest song on the album. It's a wonderful song to end on with some amazing harmonica sounds that pull the bring everything together. I’m beyond happy to finally have a piece of his music added to my collection and I couldn’t have picked a better album or a better way of how I got it. I also read a fantastic article that I feel sums up wonderfully the entirety of this album and I encourage you to check it out here if you’d like.

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A Bright Eyedea

I recently dug up this beauty from my collection. This one goes back to a few years during my teenage years. It can't remember exactly when I bought it, but I do remember they were one of the hip hop groups that had inspired me to try my hand at becoming a DJ. Needless to say, that dream was short-lived, but their music was not.

Eyedea and Abilities are a hip hop group from Minnesota and they quickly became widely known in the underground hip hop scene. I remember when I first listened to them, they were unlike anything I had heard before.

Blindly Firing was released in 2001. It contains three songs off of their album First Born. I love this vinyl because it has the instrumental versions of two of the songs. I love listening to instrumentals sometimes and back when I was in my DJ phase, it was a special kind of high to get the instrumentals on songs I liked.

The first side has the song 'Blindly Firing' and it holds it in three different versions. The first is the clean version, then the dirty version and finally the instrumental version. The lyric ability of Eyedea (Micheal Larsen) is beyond like anything I've ever come across. I love the way he writes and his rap style just seems to tie it all beautifully together. On this song, DJ Abilities (Gregory Keltgen) shows off his scratching style, and that had definitely sparked my love for DJs. Being able to listen to the scratching on vinyl is beyond amazing and it gave me chills when I played the song.

I weave and sew my way through this imaginary land of fairies and trolls Tryin' to bury the scroll I carry a load that weighs way more than my area code Vocabulary unfolds so that you cherish the very story of merit you're told Your character's bold, but build a barrier Spare your words before you perish Don't be careless, apparently to share a paragraph tears your nerves Heard you grew some nuts Now you think your crew don't suck? Stupid fucks In a battle you'll still lose to us

The second side has two songs. The first is called 'Before And After' which features rapper Blueprint. It has both the clean version and the dirty version. This song is very much a song that showcases their talents and the lyrics also poke fun at other rappers. The last song is 'Birth of a Fish' which also features the instrumental version of the song. This song once again puts the talents of Eyedea on the forefront. Do yourself a favor a and listen to this song, it's full of immense talent.

In 2010 Eyedea passed away, but his music lives on. It’s always a good idea to add their music to your collection, I promise you won’t be disappointed. 

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So good!!

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The Hook: Hooked (1968)

‘60s also-rans The Hook were both a product and a casualty of the Age of Aquarius: launched on the back of infinite psychedelic possibilities, and just as quickly sunk by the Summer of Love’s sudden shift into the Autumn of Rock’s Discontent. (™) 

Hooked was the group’s second long-player of 1968, and also their final stand – generally overshadowed, in the estimation of most experts, by its predecessor, Will Grab You, though not by much, if you ask me.

What’s certain is that Hooked added little to what had come before, other than a new band member, organist Dennis Provisor (that’s him beefing up the groove on “You’re Lookin’ Fine”), who I’m pretty sure was NOT a character in the third Austin Powers movie, despite his improbable name.

But The Hook was still dominated by vocalist/guitarist Bobby Arlin, who really let rip the fuzz on “You Need People,” “All Around the World” (a very tame Jimi Hendrix Experience) and the comparatively epic “Son of Fantasy II” – a sequel to the first LP, complete with furious drum solo, and serious shredding!

And, while they usually rocked harder than other flower power love children, The Hook could also play the blues (“Go,” “Hook Can Cook”), Motown (“A Beautiful Tomorrow,” “You Don’t Have To Stay”), bubblegum (“Love Theme in E Major”), and even rip off The Lovin’ Spoonful’s joyful innocence (“There’s Magic in the Air”).

In other words, this band was eclectic to a fault, but ultimately hitless, and there’s no drug that’ll cure that ailment in the music industry, my friends.

After The Hook’s break up, bassist Buddy Sklar worked with several groups and briefly reunited with garage rockers The Leaves, but his fellow Leaves survivor, Arlin, decided that enough was enough and moved behind the scenes to work as a booking agent in Orange County. 

More from The Hook: Will Grab You.

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I’m Alive

So I’ve taken a short break, but I finally feel ready to come back on a somewhat “regular” schedule. For this post, I’m going to be talking about Atmosphere’s latest album titled Mi Vida Local. Atmosphere consists of rapper Slug (Sean Daley) and DJ Ant (Anthony Davis). I previously did a post about them click here to check it out. This album marked their ninth studio album and was released on October 5th, 2018. This post is going to be a little bit different, in that I am also going to mention their live show that I attended in the beautiful city of Ventura California on February 12th, 2019.  This post is also different because I go into some detail about my personal life. I usually try to stick to just the music, but sometimes music is so powerful that it can take over and bring forth all the emotions. Considering the start of this year, yeah it was easy for me to connect with nearly every song on this album. Thanks for joining me on this musical journey. I hope you enjoy the read.

Now, this album was released in 2018, but my personal relationship was in a much happier place. So while I did listen to the album when it came out; the meaning to me had not hit me quite yet. As soon as the tour info was released I bought my ticket and had planned to make it a couples trip. Fast forward to the New Year, finding myself newly single and feeling heartbroken. My birthday came and my son surprised me with the vinyl, which I was beyond excited for. I opened it and quickly played it and that's when I realized it was all meant to be. The songs, the whole album really meant so much more to me.

My relationship ended in a way that I wasn't necessarily ready for. I know, how is one ever really ready for a relationship to end right? Sometimes both parties can feel each other out and you kind of know that the relationship has run its course. I was not on that page and to put it plainly I was deeply hurt. I put on this front that everything was fine because that's just the kind of person I am. I held it together until I heard the album again on vinyl.

The day before the show, I still wasn't sure on whether I was going to be making the trip on my own or if I was still going to try to find someone to come along with me. That night as I was playing the album, I came to the conclusion of taking my son with me. Now, a quick little note about my kiddo; he's been to (after this show) eight shows (not counting the ones he attended while I was pregnant with him and the ones before he was one year old). His dad has been the one to take him to all the shows he's been to and so I knew this was going to be extra special considering it would be a first for us as a mother and son.

I'm going to quickly summarize the show and say that it was more than I expected. It had been 13 years since I've seen Atmosphere live and to say, that I needed this show, is a complete understatement. I stood there taking in his words, hearing songs that I've heard when I was a teenager going through a very difficult time in my life. Not only that but looking down and seeing my nine-year-old son getting into the music as well, it was easy to say that I was a wave of emotions. I was able to be completely free and for the first time, in all honesty, I was ready to move forward. I love music, and this is one of the reasons why; being able to share this experience with my son and having him listen to music that I love is something I will never forget.

So now I'm here writing this post while the record is playing and the music is being permanently embedded into my brain. I want to thank my son (and his dad and his girlfriend because I know they were behind getting me the vinyl) in gifting me this album on vinyl. The album's first song is titled none other than 'Jerome' (that happens to be my son's name. I don't believe in coincidences so it was in the cards that I take my son to this show). It's a song that begins with some guitar work and it's a perfect introduction to the album. 'Stopwatch' is the next song and it's probably my second favorite song. This song was played live and it was just as good. It features DJ scratching which I absolutely love; it's done so well and in a way that it doesn't overpower the song but it’s still noticeable. The first side ends with 'Virgo'. The melody is much more mellow compared to 'Stopwatch' but it doesn't take away from how touching the song is. It really allows for Slug's lyrics to speak clearly.

You lookin' for a bag of tricks But my love is like a stack of bricks Cobblestones and untreated lumber I'm a father of fists, strength, in numbers And when they come for my box of dreams I'm a finally depart from this toxic scene

Side two begins with 'Delicate' and once more the song provides some beautiful imagery. The beat on this song is so soothing. The song for me teaches me that letting go is part of living.

And as the seasons go by, more friends say, "Bye" Less luggage makes it easier to fly

This next song spoke volumes to me. 'Drown' which features Cashinova, The Lioness, and Dem Atlas along with the ever-talented Slug join together to provide one of my favorite songs of 2019. Yes, I know the year has just started but I'm confident enough to say that about this song. The whole song is on its own level, but this verse done by The Lioness really hit me hard and it's the most beautiful thing I've heard in a long time.

You can't just take, reciprocate, make an exchange I'm lighting sage to cleanse a space Getting that bad energy up off of me Replaced with inner peace Fools call you so expose enemies with false identities You're no friend to me so don't pretend to be

Their different tones work perfectly with the structure of the song. Not only is the song done exceptionally well, but let me elaborate a little bit as to why this song means so much to me.

The last song on this side is 'Anymore' and this is the deepest for me. Once more it's like Slug knew exactly what to say while the words flowed out of my speakers.

I'm not trying to put my energy inside the worst I fight the urge, to submit to your hurtful shit I ain't got the wish to waste on a perfect bitch

I probably listened to this side a minimum of five times. If you take a chance please do yourself a favor and listen to these three songs. I mean the whole album is gold, but at the very least give these three songs a chance.

'Earring' begins side three, which features artist Musab. Following it is 'Trim' which is a little more light-hearted. 'Trim' mentions the sexual life of a couple; in terms of trying to make time for each other while raising their children. The side ends with 'Specificity' which follows 'Trim' perfectly in my opinion.

Lastly, there is side four and it begins with a song called 'Mijo' which translates to son in Spanish. This song is touching as it reflects on parenthood and being a parent myself; yeah it hit close to home.

I don't know how much time we have left But I promise you that when I breathe my last breath I'ma exhale and remember your birth It's never too late to get some heaven on earth

'Randy Mosh' is next and it features collaboration with The Dynospectrum, which is another great song full of some amazing lyrics. The album ends with 'Graffiti'. I love this song and for, me, it ties it all together. It tied my whole relationship perfectly. It's funny really how music heals and allows for closure; at least that's what it did for me. His whole lyrics are a beauty but this particular part is in my top ten.

I'm examining the clouds like I'm looking for a sign I hope you're having a good time If you wasn't afraid would you lie so much You got your tail between your legs chasing fire trucks You can tell I'm not the best at expressing how I felt That's why I hide it inside the words I spell I mix the medication, it fixes whatever ails them And now she treats me like a snake oil salesman, huh Well, thank you for your vote of confidence I don't give a shit about how it figures into all your politics Still believe you gotta make your art, play your part The world waits for you to break my patient heart

After going to the show and listening to the album I realized just how much I needed this. I needed to experience live music, his live music. Not only was it the experience worth it but also the way I came out feeling was beyond healing for me. Music has powers for sure that can take you back to memories that you thought you forgot, it can help you move on from difficult situations, it can provide that outlet that is so desperately needed; in short, it can work wonders. For me, this has to be one of their best albums, top three for me.

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Working on a little something...

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😈😈

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See you on the other side

So I've decided to take a bit of a hiatus this month on my blog posts. I'll still be active on all platforms (Twitter/Tumblr/IG) but I won't be posting regularly as before. Its my birthday month and I think I just need to take some time with my family and to myself. Also I've just realized this is my first selfie on this page so it's nice to meet ya! Feel free to interact... I don't bite! Lol. Thanks for the follow✌☺

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Day 6 - Feb Vinyl Challenge - Side 2 did it better . I expect a lot of Abbey Roads here, or LedZep, so I’m picking one that might see less attention. The Police - Synchronicity . Everyone should hear the vinyl goodness that is the start of Walking in Your Footsteps, my system demo disc for years, and the two Synchronicity movements are wonderful, but side two is pure 80s gold! Every Breath You Take into King of Pain followed by Wrapped Around Your Finger and ending with the underrated Tea in the Sahara. (Murder by Numbers if you got the tape, but this is the vinyl challenge!) . This album has 36 variations on the cover. I’ve often fantasized about collecting all of them! But that would be ridiculous…right? I mean… could I…? No. Hmm…… 😎 . . #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylcollector #vinyligclub #vinylcommunity #vinylcommunitypost #vinylrecords #vinyljunkie #vinyladdict #vinylporn #vinylgram #vinyllover #vinyllove #vinyloftheday #vinylcollectionpost #33rpm #33rpmclub #nowspinning #nowplaying #cratedigging #records #recordcollection #instahifi #febvinylchallenge #1983 #thepolice #police #80smusic https://www.instagram.com/p/Bti_333A2OQ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1hbygyc0o7c82

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[musicallysublime-blog]

Heartbreakers

So this post was meant to go up Friday but to be quite honest, this week; actually more like the whole month of January has really put a lot of things into perspective and it’s been hard to handle it all. So let me preface the rest of this post by saying this will be one of my more personal ones and well, if you’re not really into reading personal stuff, then this post is not for you. There still is mention of vinyl, and thank the stars for that because without the help of music I have no idea how I’d survive the day let alone a month like January. No hard feelings if you chose to skip this post but hopefully you’ll come back for the next one.

Originally I had picked out a few albums to write about, but as Friday came, I tried to sit and write; I just couldn’t. I decided to write the post once Sunday came around because I would have made the trip to the Pasadena Swapmeet. Naturally, I figured I’d pick up some new vinyl and it would provide me with more content to write about. So here we are, Sunday and the trip to the swap meet has been done.

The atmosphere of the day had been a bit of a drag. It was raining and very cold but optimistic I went out anyway. I felt a bit off immediately. You see I have for the past six months gone to this swapmeet with someone that I was very close to. As our relationship fizzled out, going to something that once held a special place in my heart took on a new meaning. I made my way toward the vinyl and once I got there I noticed the lack of vendors. I completely understand the weather probably played a big part in the number of people there.

Yet I was determined. Determined to take something home with me. I found a table and began to dig. I spent just a little over an hour there and I had made up my mind on the vinyl that I was going to take home. I ended up buying two Stevie Nicks albums Bella Donna and The Wild Heart, Bob Dylan’s album New Morning and Bruce Springsteen’s single Dancing In The Dark. I was actually really happy because of the caliber of musicianship within these three artists. The vibe of this trip had a little bit of a weird feeling. This was actually the first trip in which I’ve only bought four vinyl, usually, I come home with a minimum of 10-15 so this was a bit different.

Now I was actually really glad about adding Stevie Nicks to my collection because I’ve been eyeing her stuff for a while now. Even though the albums are the remastered ones, they are still a gem! Also adding another Bob Dylan album never hurts and of course if you’ve been following me for some time now, you must be aware of my endless love for Bruce Springsteen (if you’re new to my posts I love Bruce Springsteen, click here to read what I wrote about him).

When I got home I put on Stevie’s Bella Donna and as I was enjoying the album, a song came on that I had forgotten was on there. ‘Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around’ came on and my skin was covered with goosebumps almost immediately and then came the tears. So a little about me, I can be very emotional sometimes. I am usually very good at keeping them in check when I am in public but when this song came out I couldn’t hold in the emotions. To say I shed a few tears is an understatement. I’ve heard that song so many times, it’s not like it was anything new, but hearing Stevie’s voice with the sweet sound of Tom Petty was too much for such a day. I love this song not only for its beautiful lyrics but as soon as you hear the music you automatically know this is a song from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

I played the rest of the albums, but I ended up coming back to ‘Stop Dragging My Heart Around’. That’s why music is so universal, under any circumstance, a song can sum up your feelings all at once. Now, as I mentioned in the beginning, this was a bit more of a personal post, but that’s why I love music. It comes at unexpected times to be able to help you, or in this case, help me transition into a new stage in my life. On the backside of the cover is an interesting little note that says, "Come in out of the darkness", which I thought how fitting for me at the moment.

Baby, you could never look me in the eye Yeah, you buckle with the weight of the words Stop draggin' my, stop draggin' my Stop draggin' my heart around