jess the pest

Mix

2007-05-30T20:52:05Z

Sometimes when I make mix CDs, I have a clear theme. Other times, the theme is hazy, even to me- songs that give me a certain feeling, etc.
This is one of those mixes. The best way that I can describe it is to say that these songs remind me of the way that I used to think about New York City- back when I was a child and my only image of the city came from '70s episodes of Sesame Street. It's THAT kind of feel. If I had the Sesame Street theme I would have made it the lead off track.

1. "Song the City Sings"- The Staccatos
2. "Seven Days a Week"- Scooby Doo
3. "All Sing Together"- Peter Noone
4. "I Found Love"- The Free Design
5. "I'm Not Ready for Love"- Promise
6. "Breakfast at Tiffany's theme"- Henry Mancini
7. "59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)"- Harper's Bizarre
8. "Tears and Joys"- The Groop
9. "Lazy Day"- Spanky and Our Gang
10. "After Hours"- The Velvet Underground
11. "Back on The Street Again"- Sunshine Company
12. "Watermelon Man"- Mongo Santamaria
13. "Walk Away Renee"- The Left Banke
14. "Halfway Down The Stairs"- The Muppets
15. "The Good Humor Man, He Sees Everything Like This"- Love
16. "The Proper Ornaments"- The Free Design
17. "Easy Reader"- The Electric Company (as sung by Morgan Freeman)
18. "Windy"- The Association
19. "At The Zoo"- Simon and Garfunkel
20. "An Invitation to Cry"- The Magicians
21. "Inside, Outside, Upside Down"- Josie and the Pussycats
22. "Express Yourself"- Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd St. Rhythm Band
23. "Go Away"- 1910 Fruitgum Co.
24. "Subway Joe"- Joe Bataan
25. "Chewy Chewy"- Ohio Express
26. "Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard"- Paul Simon
27. "Daydream"- The Lovin' Spoonful
28. "2 4 6 8" - The Jackson Five
29. "Wait Till Tomorrow"- The Banana Splits
30. "Summer Days"- The Ascots
31. "Mahna Mahna"- The Muppets

Love this.

2007-05-13T18:19:00Z

This is the best album ever. I especially love "Goin' Back". That last line: "So catch me if you can, I'm goin' back..." "Wasn't Born To Follow" is also a favorite of mine.

I got several great records yesterday (the above record I've had for some time, I just wanted to talk about it...)
The new ones:

I've got some listening to do.

Let's try this again.

2007-05-09T17:17:28Z

I am now a college graduate. I also have a digital camera. Due to these two factors, expect actual posts from me in the very very near future.

Angel From Montgomery

2006-08-16T21:52:06Z

I am an old woman named after my mother
My old man is another child thats grown old
If dreams were lightning thunder was desire
This old house would have burnt down a long time ago

Make me an angel that flies from montgomry
Make me a poster of an old rodeo
Just give me one thing that I can hold on to
To believe in this living is just a hard way to go

When I was a young girl well, I had me a cowboy
He werent much to look at, just free rambling man
But that was a long time and no matter how I try
The years just flow by like a broken down dam.

Make me an angel that flies from montgomry
Make me a poster of an old rodeo
Just give me one thing that I can hold on to
To believe in this living is just a hard way to go

Theres flies in the kitchen I can hear em there buzzing
And I aint done nothing since I woke up today.
How the hell can a person go to work in the morning
And come home in the evening and have nothing to say.

-- John Prine

I just got tired of seeing the same entry at the top of the page. See you in your journals.

Going to Carolina in my mind...

2006-01-02T05:09:24Z

I'm bad, I know. I've only written once or twice the whole semester, but believe me, I have been reading all of your posts on a daily basis. The past semester was the most hectic and stressful of my entire life, but now that is OVER (three A's and three B's, thankyouverymuch) and I can get back to normal.

So anyway, here's the Christmas haul:

CDs:
"Any Way That You Want Me" by Evie Sands
"Greatest Hits" by Nancy Sinatra
"Retrospective" by The Animals
"Original Masters" by Jackie DeShannon
"Best of" by Dion
"One Fine Day" by The Chiffons
"Children of Nuggets"
"Down Every Road" by Merle Haggard

Books
Andy Warhol: 365 Takes
All Wrapped Up (A History of Wrapping Paper from the 60's)
Happy Kitty Bunny Pony
Thrift Store (photo essay)

Misc
2 necklaces
bracelets
purse
jacket
Beatles sweatshirt
random gift cards
To Kill a Mockingbird DVD

Everything is wonderful, of course.

Grr.

2005-11-17T01:36:53Z

You know what I hate? When you damage one of your CDs somehow, and the only song that skips or doesn't play right is your favorite song on the disc. That just happened to me. The Temptations are always great, but my favorite song of theirs is "Since I Lost My Baby", and now I can't listen to it because I didn't even have it in my computer yet. If anyone could send me an MP3 of the song I would love you forever and probably post a song of your request too.
While I'm asking for MP3s, I might as well request these too-- I have never been able to find "I Can Hear Music" by The Ronettes or "When You Walk In The Room" by Jackie DeShannon in any form. I've never even heard them! If anyone would be willing to email either one to me or post it in the comments I would also love YOU forever and etc. etc.

Had to do this.

2005-09-22T22:38:00Z

LJ Interests meme results

blondie:
I love me some Blondie. I think it's the girl group influence; I mean, for cryin' out loud, one of the first things they recorded was a cover of the Shangri-Las' "Out In The Streets". I'm also a sucker for the the pop art/pop culture angle too.
dennis wilson:
One of the many loves of my life. When I was 16, he was my man. I feel really strongly that he was a genius and I think it's a shame that not many people have heard "Pacific Ocean Blue".
girl groups:
Well, duh. I'm listening to "One Fine Day" by The Chiffons right now. I've loved the girl group sound for as long as I can remember. It's just fun and also really touching at times.
jon stewart:
What can I say? We all must bow before the Man.
marlon brando:
Stating the obvious again, but of course the man was brilliant. And, in the early days, really fucking hot.
patti scialfa:
Again with the girl group influence. She's also a fantastic songwriter. If you've never heard her, start with either "Spanish Dancer" or "Rumble Doll".
stevie wonder:
Another person I have known since birth. I can't remember a time when I DIDN'T love Stevie.
the flamin groovies:
Of course. Very very cool and underappreciated. I wear my Groovies button with pride.
the sixties:
I meant this to mean the decade, not the crappy miniseries (which I have nevertheless seen about ten times, but shhhh, don't tell).
the zombies:
Sigh. They're just dreamy.

Enter your LJ user name, and 10 interests will be selected from your interest list.

Finally!

2005-09-13T18:56:53Z

Well, my darlings, I am back. It's been a long month without you all, but hopefully I will be able to keep fitting LJ into my busy schedule.
My apartment is settled and I think it looks terrific. I have black and white pictures of movie stars in frames lining the walls: Paul Newman, Marlon Brando, Fred Astaire, James Dean, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, The Marx Brothers, Bogey & Bacall, Katharine Hepburn, Lugosi & Karloff, James Cagney, Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, Clark Gable and Errol Flynn. I have a giant poster of Kerouac on another wall. The kitchen and bathroom are both tiki/hula/flamingo. It really feels like home.
Also, I am super excited about the Rhino Girl Groups box set coming out next month. I just saw the tracklist recently, and it's fantastic. Also, it comes packaged in a hat box! I love Rhino.

Goodbye for now?

2005-08-12T03:40:35Z

First of all, I want to say thank you to bluesstew for sending me a copy of Pacific Ocean Blue. I can't tell you how great it is to hear those songs again!

This weekend I'll be moving into my own apartment near campus, and I won't be getting my cable hookup until the middle of September. So this means that I won't be around for the next month. This is really killing me. I know I'm going to miss a lot of stuff in that time, and I hope it's not going to be anything too important either. So I'll see you all in about a month.

Here's a parting gift:

Fraternity Blues by Townes Van Zandt

Take care of yourselves!

Best picture ever?

2005-08-09T18:20:22Z

Ouch

2005-08-01T19:46:24Z

I had my wisdom teeth cut out on Wednesday, and today is the first day that I've felt like a human being again. The swelling is almost gone (at least I look like myself again now) and there's only a bit of soreness, but for the first couple of days it was miserable.
It started in the doctor's office, when they gave me nitrous oxide and an IV. "Don't Give Up On Us Baby" was floating around in my head. It didn't stop playing for FOUR DAYS. In my vicodin-fueled haze, I kept hearing it over and over. Who knows where these things come from? All I can say is that I'm glad wisdom teeth don't grow back.

Yes!

2005-07-22T17:20:22Z

A couple of days ago, I received a package in the mail- four CDs from the lovely and talented so_respectable. Thank you so much, Miss Mandy. The CDs are fantastic, and I keep listening to them over and over because there are SO many new songs to learn! So far I love all of them, and I had to laugh at the London Bridge song because I've been there! You have the best taste. I mailed your CDs on Tuesday so you should be getting those soon, I would think. Hope you enjoy them as much as I've been enjoying these.

Do you want to know a secret?

2005-07-14T16:37:37Z

Things no one knows about me:

When I was seventeen, I skipped school and went to the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame with my cousin.

As a freshman in college, I sold my astronomy book in the middle of the semester, and used the money to buy "Beggar's Banquet" and "Sticky Fingers". I skipped class to go and buy them, of course.

List of things I wanted to grow up to be as a child: a pirate, a chimney sweep (Mary Poppins' influence, of course), a professional basketball player (before there was a women's league- I was so progressive at five), a painter, an acrobat, and a member of the A Team.

For a good five years of my life, I took all my attitude cues from Fonzie.

Two things that absolutely terrify me: frogs and any type of lizard.

In high school, I had a crush on my friend's boyfriend. I never said anything or acted on it, but I hated having to sit with both of them at lunch.

My friends are always saying things to me like, "If I didn't know you better, I'd think you were on drugs". This seems to be the popular opinion. Actually, I have never tried any drugs, not even pot, and I've only been drunk a few times. I guess I always figured that if people already thought I was a pothead, I didn't really need to smoke any.

Also, the really drugged-out movies always seem to make perfect sense to me. Hmm.

I have a major crush on Robert De Niro.

I have a Welcome Back Kotter thermos. I think that says all you need to know.

Final

2005-07-13T16:56:23Z

Well, here it is. The third and most recent Summer Songs CD.

Summer 2005

"I See Only Sunshine"- The Box Tops
"Road Runner"- Jr. Walker and the All Stars
"Brief Candles"- The Zombies
"Blue May"- The Sunshine Company
"This Old Heart of Mine"- The Isley Brothers
"Journey"- Duncan Browne
"Feeling Easy"- Billy Nicholls
"Jenny Take A Ride"- Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels
"On A Saturday"- Keith West
"If I Stay Too Long"- The Creation
"Hold Me Now"- The Rumors
"Jennifer Juniper"- Donovan
"Heaven"- The Rascals
"I Hear A Symphony"- The Supremes
"You Were On My Mind"- We Five
"Little Girl"- Syndicate of Sound
"Orange Skies"- Love
"I Think We're Alone Now"- Tommy James and The Shondells
"The Children of St. Monica"- Don Grady and the Windupwatchband
"Rain On The Roof"- The Lovin' Spoonful
"Never Had a Dream Come True"- Stevie Wonder
"This Magic Moment"- The Drifters
"Love Is All Around"- The Troggs
"The Door Into Summer"- The Monkees
"Cyprus Avenue"- Van Morrison
"Willow Weep For Me"- Chad and Jeremy

Summer 04

2005-07-12T16:00:57Z

And here is the tracklist for the next Summer mix.

Summer 2004

"She May Call You Up Tonight"- The Left Banke
"Turn Down Day"- The Cyrkle
"No Milk Today"- Herman's Hermits
"Care of Cell 44"- The Zombies
"I Saw Her Again"- The Mamas and The Papas
"Daydream"- The Lovin' Spoonful
"Angie Girl"- Stevie Wonder
"Shake"- Otis Redding
"Let's Dance On"- The Monkees
"Soul Deep"- The Box Tops
"Can't You See That She's Mine"- Dave Clark Five
"Sugar Love"- Les Fleur de Lys
"Summer Is Here"- The Outsiders
"Bad To Me"- Billy J Kramer and The Dakotas
"Early In The Morning"- The Merry Go Round
"Sunshine Games"- The Music Explosion
"96 Tears"- ? and The Mysterians
"There Is A Mountain"- Donovan
"Sunny Afternoon"- The Kinks
"Here Comes The Night"- Them
"From The Morning"- Nick Drake
"Caroline Goodbye"- Colin Blunstone
"I'm Your Puppet"- James and Bobby Purify
"Boom Boom"- The Animals
"One By One"- The Blues Magoos
"I Go To Pieces"- Peter and Gordon
"Everyone's Gone To The Moon"- Chad and Jeremy

Tomorrow I'll post the one I made for this summer.

Mix.

2005-07-11T16:10:07Z

Every summer I make a CD of songs that fit the season. I started doing this two years ago, and I'll probably keep up this tradition for as long as possible, because summer is my favorite season. Over the next few days I'm going to post the tracklist for these CDs. Today I'll share the first one I ever made.

Summer 2003

"Feelin' Groovy"- Harper's Bizarre
"The Good Humor Man, He Sees Everything Like This"- Love
"Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day"- The Monkees
"Hully Gully"- The Olympics
"Tell Her No"- The Zombies
"You'll Lose A Good Thing"- Barbara Lynn
"What Is The Reason"- The Rascals
"How Can I Be Down"- Yellow Balloon
"Never My Love"- The Association
"Here Comes My Baby"- The Tremeloes
"Jackie Wilson Said"- Van Morrison
"Another Saturday Night"- Sam Cooke
"Lazy Day"- Spanky and Our Gang
"The Monkey Time"- Major Lance
"As Tears Go By"- Marianne Faithfull
"Mercy, Mercy, Mercy"- The Buckinghams
"Little Latin Lupe Lu"- Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels
"It's All Right"- The Impressions
"With A Girl Like You"- The Troggs
"Little Bit O' Soul"- The Music Explosion
"Back On The Street Again"- The Sunshine Company
"It's All Right"- The Sonics
"California Sun"- The Rivieras
"A Summer Song"- Chad and Jeremy

I'm back.

2005-07-06T23:47:53Z

I have returned from Florida, my dears.
As God is my witness, I will never go on vacation with my parents again. Remind me of this promise if the need arises. I don't know why I let my mother talk me into it this time. But I'm home now, and all is well.
I realize that I haven't really written anything of interest lately, so here are some recommendations.

MUSIC

My current playlist is
"How We Were Before"- The Zombies
"Shake a Tail Feather"- Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels
"Dimples"- John Lee Hooker
"I Walked All Night"- The Embers
"Forgetting You"- James Carr
"Pretty Flamingo"- Manfred Mann
"The Weight"- The Band
"Looking Up In Heaven"- Paul Westerberg
"I'm Not There"- Bob Dylan
"Dark End of The Street"- The Flying Burrito Brothers

BOOKS

The Rum Diary by Hunter S Thompson
Take a Walk On The Dark Side: Rock and Roll Myths, Legends and Curses by R. Gary Patterson
Be My Baby by Ronnie Spector (as always)

MOVIES

Easy Rider
The Deer Hunter
Mean Streets
Dog Day Afternoon
(obviously I've been going through some sort of late 60s/70s phase)

OBSESSION OBJECT

Bye.

2005-06-23T17:47:04Z

Leaving for Florida in a couple of hours, be back on/after the 4th.

Oh yeah.

2005-06-16T22:52:35Z

This picture cannot be posted enough.

People take pictures of each other just to prove that they really existed.

2005-06-08T18:27:25Z

Well, I finally have a couple of pictures of myself to post here. As you probably know, I don't have a digital camera or a scanner, so I haven't been able to do this before, but my cousin recently emailed me some pictures from the family reunion a couple of weeks ago. They look odd because I had to crop my cousins out of the picture, so that's why my arm is cut off and there's another person's leg in the pictures.

This should work now, Geocities was being stupid.

jessthepest @ 2005-06-01T19:55:00

2005-06-02T00:00:09Z

From so_respectable
List your current six favorite songs, then pick six other people that have to do the same.
1. "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak For You)" The Isley Brothers
2. "Up The Ladder To The Roof" The Supremes
3. "Blue May" The Sunshine Company
4. "If I Stay Too Long" The Creation
5. "Ooo Chang a Lang" The Orchids
6. "She Comes Running" Lee Hazlewood

Can't name six people, they've already been named!

Sunshine, blue skies, please go away.

2005-04-18T20:21:05Z

I'm sitting here listening to this huge playlist I made at random, and "I Wish It Would Rain" by The Temptations comes on, and now I'm just crying. I'm not sad, I've had a good day; but sometimes I just tear up when a song is unbelievably good. This is one of those.

Sunshine, blue skies, please go away,
My girl has found another, and gone away
With her went my future, my life is filled with gloom,
So day after day, I stay locked up in my room

I know to you it might sound strange,
But I wish it would rain

Cause so badly
I wanna go outside (such a lovely day)
Everyone knows that a man ain't supposed to cry
But listen, I got to cry, cuz crying
Eases the pain, oh yeah

Yeah you know people, this hurt I feel inside,
Words, they, could never explain,
I wish it would rain
Oh let it rain, rain, rain, rain
Ooooooh baby

Let it rain
Oh yeah, let it rain

Day in day out, my tear stained face
Pressed against my window pane
My eyes search the skies, well, desperately for rain
Cause rain drops will hide my teardrops and no one will ever know
That I'm crying
When I go outside

To the world outside my tears I refuse to explain,
I wish it would rain
Rain, rain, rain
ooooh baby

Let it rain
I need rain to disguise the tears in my eyes
Yeah, You know I'm a man, I ain't got no pride,
Til it rains, I'm gonna stay inside,
Let it rain, Let it rain
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah...
Oh how I wish that it would rain...

Game time.

2005-03-25T00:28:09Z

The game: put MP3 player on shuffle, and write about the first twenty songs that play. Here goes.

1. "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" by The Ramones. I know that there are a lot of people who don't like The Ramones, but I can't help but love them. Especially on songs like this, where you can tell how much they were influenced by the girl groups of the sixties. Joey's voice is incredible on this. I also have a cover version by Ronnie Spector that is good, but not good enough to top the minimalist approach here. This is one of their most effective songs in my book.

2. "This Diamond Ring" by Gary Lewis and the Playboys. My first experience with this song comes through Alvin and the Chipmunks, via their 1965 cover version that I literally wore out. It's just a nice little pop song, nothing ground-breaking, but fun. To be perfectly honest, I still prefer Alvin's version. Just as I prefer his version of "What's New Pussycat?".

3. "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" by Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers. I can't even remember the first time I heard this, it's just one of those songs that has always been a part of my life. When I was a little kid, I would spend the entire duration of the song trying to determine if it was a boy or a girl singing it. I think I changed my mind on the issue every time I heard it. Anyway, it's really a quality song, and I wish there were still records today that made me feel the way this one does.

4. "I'm Not Talking" by The Yardbirds. One of my favorite songs ever. I don't use the expression much, but I think the only way to describe it is "kick ass". Honestly, have you ever heard guitar work like this before? Jeff Beck is a god. And damn sexy. Just listen to those solos. The Yardbirds are so underrated; they should be right up there with The Stones as far as I'm concerned. They were the tightest band around.

5. "Love Minus Zero/No Limit" by Bob Dylan. This is definitely in my Top Five Dylan songs. You don't get too many straightforward love songs from Bobby, but this is a great one. It's very effective and pretty accessible, but it's still very Dylan- "She knows there's no success like failure, and failure's no success at all". I am so envious of his abilities. These things just seem to fall out of him effortlessly.

6. "Ruby Tuesday" by The Rolling Stones. Confession: when I was really little, I didn't dig the Stones too much. I only knew two or three of their songs, and I thought they were okay, but I didn't love them the way I loved, say, The Beatles or Chuck Berry. But when I was about thirteen I heard this song for the first time, and I stood in the middle of my living room completely still until it was over. It just kind of floored me. I was really into the baroque pop stuff at the time, and I just thought this song was perfect. It converted me; after that I had to check out the Stones some more and now I'm right glad that I did. But it wouldn't have happened if not for this song. And it's all Keef, naturally.

7. "The Great Imposter" by The Fleetwoods. I really adore this song, because The Fleetwoods had such an unusual sound. They were stripped down before there was a label for that. They were a group of white kids who charted high on the R and B charts. They had a great blend and even better songs. I actually like "Come Softly To Me" even more than this, but that doesn't mean this song isn't fantastic.

8. "Sweet Thing" by Van Morrison. Astral Weeks is just one of those albums that I think I would die without. I have never in my life heard music PRETTIER than the songs on that album, and this is one of the prettiest. Okay, so it's not very rock and roll instrumentally speaking, but when something is this stunning, does it really matter? Van is, for my money, the greatest rock singer in history; he can sing a line that I normally wouldn't pay attention to and make me not only notice, but want to cry thinking about it. And the lyrics to this song are gorgeous. "You shall take me strongly in your arms again, and I will not remember that I ever felt the pain. We will walk and talk in gardens all misty wet with rain, and I will never never never grow so old again".

9. "She May Call You Up Tonight" by The Left Banke. I love the Left Banke so much, it frustrates me that they only had one good album. I want more, damnit! This is the perfect pop song. The melody is very hooky and interesting, and the lyrics will break your heart. I personally couldn't ask for more, could you? These guys were ridiculously talented, and it makes me so sad that they couldn't stick around longer.

10. "Sixteen Blue" by The Replacements. This is a song that makes me think immediately of autumn. All Replacements songs do, for some reason. Let It Be is one of my favorite albums, and this is one of the best songs off of it. Paul Westerberg must have been a teenage girl in a previous life, because he always mangages to capture the feelings so perfectly. Actually, that makes sense, because if you were ever a teenage girl you definitely deserve to be promoted in your next life, and it doesn't get any better than coming back as a rock star. Fingers crossed, eh?

11. "Sweet Cream Ladies, Forward March" by The Box Tops. Ah yes. You have to love a good song about prostitutes, yes? I love how Alex Chilton is so devoted to the cause of defending hookers. It makes you wonder how they ever thought this could be a hit single, but bless their hearts, they tried. And you know what? It's actually a good song, compositionally speaking. Hell, I like it. But when do I not like Alex Chilton?

12. "You Don't Miss Your Water" by Otis Redding. I will admit that I like anything that Otis ever sang, but this song just might be the saddest thing he ever recorded (except maybe for his version of "A Change is Gonna Come", which makes me cry also). Therefore, it might be my favorite Otis song. Of course, I say that about whichever Otis song is on, but you know. The best part is the end, where he does he most soulful singing: "And I'm a little thirsty now..."

13. "Fly" by Nick Drake. I must be going through some sort of hormonal thing, because everything that I'm writing about makes me want to mention broken hearts. But in this case, it's safe to say that Nick Drake always breaks my heart, like Gram Parsons does. This is definitely my favorite Nick song. The harpsichord is perfection, and I just love the lyrics. "So come ride in my streetcar by the bay, for now I must know how fine you are in your way, and the sea she will sigh, but she won't need to cry, for it's really to hard for to fly..."

14. "Come To Me" by Marv Johnson". An early hit for Motown (I was wondering when I was going to get some Motown up in here! Geez.) This a fab song. I wish more people knew it. I love the way he sings "I miss you baby". Nothing tops Motown. Except, you know, everything else I listen to. Because every song I hear is my favorite, apparently. I'm so indecisive.

15. "When A Man Loves A Woman" by Percy Sledge. A song that I never get tired of hearing. Last Saturday night I watched Percy Sledge being inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame, and I cried the whole way through. His speech was probably the simplest and the most touching I've ever heard, and then he got on stage and sang the hell out of "When A Man Loves a Woman". I read something recently about this song, that the horns at the end are flat, and the record company wanted them rerecorded so they did and then they sent the original with the flat horns to be pressed by mistake. I can't imagine it without the horns sounding exactly like they are. Perfect slow-building soul song.

16. "I'll Cry Alone" by The Flamin' Groovies. The Groovies are just so cool. I love the guitar sound on this record, and even though it doesn't really have a chorus I still manage to sing every word whenever it comes on. I know some people are real snobs and only like the first one or two Groovies albums, but I like the stuff they did in England better than that. Give me "Slow Death" or "Please Please Girl" over those any day. Or "Yes It's True". Now there's a real song.

17. "Bobby's Girl" by Marcie Blane. Obviously not a feminist anthem, but I've always wanted to hear, say, Joan Jett do a cover of this. I think that would rock. Actually, whenever I hear this I think about that episode of The Wonder Years where Kevin is waiting for his friends alone in his car, and this song comes on the radio so he starts singing along in a very animated fashion, and then his friends come outside and see him and start laughing at him. Ha.

18. "Uranium Rock" by Warren Smith. One of the first sounds I was familiar with in rock and roll was rockabilly, and Warren Smith is about the most underrated rockabilly performer you'd be able to find. This song is what rock and roll is all about. "Money money honey, the kind you fold, money money honey, rock and roll. Rake it in, bale it up like hay, have a rockin' good time and throw it all away"

19. "Trouble" by Ray LaMontagne. This guy is new, but I adore him. His voice is so unique, at least to me, and I think he has some really good songs. Not all of the songs on his album are great, but I think he'll be a force to be reckoned with in the future. This song is one of the great ones. When he hits that chorus: "I've been saaaaved by a woman"... Man. You don't get songs like this anymore. And at the end: "I said I looove her, yes I looove her".... Chills down my spine. Marry me, Ray.

20. "Heart Song" by Ronnie Spector. Okay, so it's really overproduced and it's from the eighties. It's still Ronnie, still that voice, she manages to save any song. This one is actually pretty catchy. I could listen to her sing anything though, even a techno version of Elvis' "Burning Love" (oh, trust me, I have it. And it's not too bad).

Where I was.

2005-03-23T19:50:29Z

Where have I been for the last couple of weeks? In bed, sick. In fact, I almost had to go to the hospital at one point. But now I'm feeling better, though still very tired, and trying to catch up on all my school work. Blah. So I'm sorry for not commenting lately, I hope I didn't miss anything important.

My Current Playlist:

"I Want To Be With You"- The Raspberries
"Thirteen"- Big Star
"Kiss Me On The Bus"- The Replacements
"Shake a Tailfeather"- Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels
"September Gurls"- Big Star
"Up On The Roof"- The Drifters
"Since I Lost My Baby"- The Temptations
"Spanish Harlem"- Ben E King
"I Hear A Symphony"- The Supremes
"I Saw The Light"- The Raspberries

Blah.

2005-03-05T00:57:27Z

I know it's been a long time since I've been on. It's been pretty crazy around here this week.
My dad has had the same best friend for the last forty years. My dad grew up in some pretty bad inner city neighborhoods, and when his family moved to this small town when he was eleven, he didn't know anyone here and no one wanted to have anything to do with the new "hoods" in town. But my dad managed to make friends with someone who stuck by him from fifth grade on. A few days ago this friend found out that he has cancer. It's pretty serious, because it's in his bones and in his blood, which causes him terrible pain. Something in my gut tells me that he's not going to have too much time left. He's fifty years old. Now, I've known this guy my whole life, and his family. He's married and has three kids, two in high school and one in junior high. I can't imagine what things will be like for them if the doctors can't do anything for him. And then there's my dad to think about too. Because this man is like his brother. How could you possibly say goodbye to someone who's been your best friend for forty years? It's too terrible to think about. If any of you pray, please keep this man and his family in your prayers.