Random Tune for Tuesday 12/27/11

Admittedly, it's a bit anti-climactic.

When I started this every-other-week selection of a random tune that would follow alphabetically through the nearly 600 cassettes I accumulated in the 90's (a vast majority courtesy of multiple bites of the 12-cassettes-for-1-cent apples offered by the evil Columbia House queen), I just assumed that I would have a tape for every letter. But, as it turns out -- and as this all comes to a close this final Tuesday of 2011 -- I never had an X, Y or Z in my eccentric and eclectic bunch.

But that doesn't mean I can't randomly select a tune from a group that should be in my collection .. and that I can't find one that somehow ties directly into my hometown of the last decade plus ... and that it can't be a tribute to the blues ...

Z is for ZZTOP:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV5ioewi4pk&feature=related

Random Tune for Tuesday 12/13/11

So ... I don't have any performers who start with the letter Y in my eccentric and eclectic cassette collection either (I didn't have anyone with an X two weeks ago ... and newsflash a fortnight early ... I don't have anyone with a Z either).

No Yes or Yaz or Yardbirds or Young, Neil made it to my stash back in the day (although Mr. Young does appear on a Pearl Jam mixtape of "Rockin in the Free World" ...)

Which leaves me torn. I could play someone's version of "I Told You So" in honor of the fact the clinic called today to say I do have strep throat after all (they denied it on Sunday) ... but, instead, I'll turn to a holiday tune.

And in the most random of finds, here's a spoof of Young MC's classic "Bust-a-Move" -- done up as a rap battle between Santa and Jack Frost and Frosty. And done up by someone who should never be allowed to parody any rap song ever again as a matter of public policy.

Happy Holidays!

Y is for YOUNG MC (whose song is parodied in this oh-so-bad-it's-good holiday rap battle):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr4k_LE1xek

Random Tune for Tuesday 11/29/11

2011 is rapidly drawing to a close, which brings me to the letter X in my year long series -- except that it turns out I don't have any artists with the letter X in my cassette collection (sorry Kandi Burress -- I just wasn't aware of your former group in the 80's and 90's when I was enrolled with multiple accounts at Columbia House). So now what?

With the holiday season upon us (the tree will be bought in 72 hours!), I'll turn to a 1999 tune that I probably would have added to my cassettes had it been an option back then -- sung by someone who has occasionally modified her first name to start with an X. (And, it's a tune that I once sang when I was a young-un on a cassette tape with my voice cracking at the high notes -- something I can still remember getting teased about so so many years later ...)

Speaking of holidays -- I abbreviate Christmas as Cmas instead of Xmas ... but I also say Happy Holidays all month long without any pangs of guilt ... To that point, and because I found this recent post of a Facebook connection of mine (credit assigned to Timothy Frantz as the author) to be pithy as it relates to the Christmas/Holidays viral debate ... I wanted to reproduce the majority of it here:

"I see a lot of this Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays stuff [...].

Jesus does not care if you say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. And neither should any of you. Christ is simply not that petty.

What's more important is that you remember that we live in a country with 4 million homeless, 47 million without health insurance and [millions of] Americans who suffer with HIV/AIDS and that 22% of all American children live in poverty [...]

You can say "Merry Christmas" all day long, but what matters is not the word Christmas. It's your actions and words that show what you stand for. Commit yourself to serving others and making a difference in the lives of those who may not be as fortunate as you. I think that is what Christ wants for all of us. That should be the Christmas/Holiday spirit.

Please don't be a petty paper Christian who gets offended when someone says 'Happy Holidays'. Say thank you -- and then serve others in the name of Christ and do good work."

X is indirectly for (with a bit of a stretch) XTINA (AGUILERA):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-n3ckur73I&feature=related

Random Tune for Tuesday 11/15/11

Sometimes the snow comes down in June. Sometimes the sun goes round the moon.

Sometimes you are Miss America and make some bad decisions and take some interesting photos and lose your crown and end up with a music career to show off your amazing voice.

And then sometimes you show up in my eccentric and eclectic cassette collection and sometimes you're chosen to represent the letter 'w' in that ongoing series.

And speaking of sun going round the moon, sometimes (like today, 11/15) it's exactly 400 days until the end of the Mayan calendar, so sometimes you might need encouragement to go find the "best" that was being saved for "the last" just in case our collective times are running out! (Isn't this world a crazy place?)

And this "Save the Best for Last" is not the Adele version (she wasn't even born twenty years ago when I was collecting cassettes, was she?) ... but the one from Vanessa.

W is for WILLIAMS, VANESSA L.:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EdmHSTwmWY&ob=av3e

Random Tune for Tuesday 11/1/11

There's just one cassette filed under the letter V in my eccentric and eclectic collection (I'm almost done with this alphabet task for 2011) -- and it's not Van Halen, or VanWinkle, Matthew or his alter ego Vanilla Ice. It is, however, an a cappella group from Mt. Holyoke in Massachusetts known as the V-8s (which featured my surrogate sister Wendy Woodward back in the day). I couldn't find the exact line-up that appears on my tape, but I do see that they are still going strong and showing up on the youtube (and I kind of wished I'd had seen them competing on The Sing-Off in one of its three seasons). I decided to choose a current hit instead of a 90's classic ... so enjoy ...

V is for V-8s:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1rRD_y6y08

Random Tune for Tuesday 10/18/11

I looked under the letter U in my extensive, eclectic and eccentric cassette collection and found just one item. I did have 16 songs from which I could choose once I took a closer peek at it, and I decided to go with the first song on the Unplugged Collection (vol. 1) -- Stevie Ray Vaughn's Pride and Joy.

If nothing else, this should take you back to when MTV aired actual videos -- and occasionally interrupted them with purely musical performances. Before Real World and the Jersey Shore --before music on the channel was just what played underneath kids fighting and loving and being all kinds of ridiculous -- before videos were 10 second clips you might see accompanying the end credits -- you turned on MTV to listen (or, more accurately, to watch) music.

U is for UNPLUGGED COLLECTION, VOL. 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZkLVinwR4E

Random Tune for Tuesday 10/4/11

So I'm a little indecisive today.

Not necessarily about the group to feature in my ongoing series of AtoZ Musical Eccentricities (the cassette years) now that I'm up to the letter 'T' -- especially since one look at the space where the Turner, Tina & Taylor, James & Take 6 & 10,000 Maniacs are housed is overwhelmingly filled with releases from the folks I just saw this summer reunited and replaying the soundtrack of my college years.

My indecisiveness came in trying to find just one tune. So, luckily my youtube skills are now advanced so that I can post the link to a playlist with 69 selections that some other superfan has collected and provided. (Although not every video will play due to copyright issues, but it still provides an effective overview while it hammers home a lesson on intellectual property.)

T is for TOAD THE WET SPROCKET:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q7covfDJus&feature=mr_meh&list=AVGxdCwVVULXdDP_Ylz-gl7GukjME4w7bL&lf=list_related&playnext=0

Random Tune for Tuesday 9/20/11

The letter S (in my ongoing series) ...

... as in "smile" (which is what I did when I looked at the cassette tapes I had in my collection under this letter from which I would pick tonight's tune);

... as in "slop, sloppy joe ... sloppy, sloppy joe, yeah";

... as in sophomoric yet somehow sweet silliness that just makes me say ...

S is for SANDLER, ADAM:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_-KbstEG4E

Random Tune for Tuesday 9/6/11

I'm up to the letter R in my ongoing series of random tunes pulled from my cassette tape collection -- and I choose, over Red Hot Chili Peppers at that, the soulful stylings of a Raitt named Bonnie. The most worn out cassette I have of hers is not from her Grammy-favorite "comeback" at the turn of the decade in the nineties -- but it is her Sweet Forgiveness "album" (kids -- you can look that up on the Wiki if you're unfamiliar with that music delivery method).

And tonight's tune is one of my favorite songs of hers, hidden midway through the album (kids -- once upon a time, one listened to an artist's overall vision by hearing songs other than just singles released to ITunes), a sad farewell to "Louise" (... some cried when she died this afternoon ...)!

R is for RAITT, BONNIE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib0pNp8M0xc

Random Tune for Tuesday 8/23/11

At first glance, I was stymied (yeah, I just said 'stymied') by the letter Q in my year-long series of random tunes I can find on my extensive and eclectic cassette collection -- and then I found what I was looking for on the first of two mix-tapes made during my college years. Thanks to LVC roomie Jon McCracken for the wistful and memory-filled "Apropos Music of FE 213 (Volumes I and II)", on which I found this tune that fits my concept ... (and I did said wistful, so don't go expecting no rhapsodies or champion-themed-arena-anthems ... and, yes, I just said 'expecting no' instead of 'expecting any' -- I'm trying to balance the 'stymied' reference)!

Q is for QUEEN (even if just on a mix tape):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fjiapiq-hqY

Random Tune for Tuesday 8/9/11

With just 500 days remaining until the end of the Mayan calendar (if anyone is hedging their bets, that gives you 500 days to do something extra special with your life), I had to turn to something lighthearted tonight when it comes to choosing a random tune from my eccentric cassette collection to represent the letter 'p'.

And, I'm skirting on the edge of violating the rules I've created for this occasional series, as I have this Pearl Jam gem on a cassette tape a friend made of a CD (a two decade old thanks to you Erik S!). I'm not THE number one fan (another guy we all ran around with back in the day claimed that title), but there's nothing like a little "not crazy, per se, just a little strange when he gets hungry" to put a smile on my face!

P IS FOR PEARL JAM:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO6i26urmSo&feature=related

Random Tune for Tuesday 7/26/11

Oh my ... I'm up to the letter 'O' in my occasional series where I dig out my old cassette tapes and find some randomness mixed in with all the dust. (Oh -- and I take back any and all 8 track jokes I once made to those older than I.) And tonight -- it's from the lady who was a little bit country before she was all Vegas, from a time before she fainted while dancing and way before the creepy dolls were part of her marketing strategy. Now I'm sure I bought this cassette after her duet of "Meet Me in Montana" was released (see the post almost exactly one year ago on 7.27.10 about a jealous step-mother's reaction to that), but the title track of it only made it to #70 on the charts, so tonight it's like a new song to me!

O is for OSMOND, MARIE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMgYFjJ5AV0

Random Tune for Tuesday 7/12/11

I'm up to the letter 'N' in my occasional series of musical eccentricities pulled from my 500+ cassette collection (again, thank you very much, Columbia House) ... and, unlike the last entry for 'M' (which was an embarrassment of riches, focus on the word embarrassment for some of those from which I could choose), my 'N's are a smaller bunch. I guess I'll pull one of the prettiest songs about adulterating-in-your-heart that I know (and the youtube video is supposedly from an overseas telly performance in 1974 -- when I was two years old!) ...

N IS FOR ... NEWTON-JOHN, OLIVIA:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3TgdZM_FKY

Random Tune for Tuesday 6/28/11

I learned something today when I pulled out my cassette tapes to find the song to represent the letter "M" in my occasional series, "AtoZ Musical Eccentricities: the Cassette Years". I could do a whole year of posts on just this letter alone! And, perhaps more than any other letter, it illustrates the randomness and eccentricity in my collection*.

[*Here's the list ... MTV Party to Go, Mack the Knife sndt, Madonna, Man of La Mancha, Manhattan Transfer, Marcovicci (Andrea), Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, Martika, Matthews (Dave), McEntire (Reba), Meatloaf, Mellencamp (John and just John Cougar filed under M to keep him all in one place), Metallica, Miami Sound Machine, Michael (George), Midler (Bette), Minelli (Liza), Morisette (Alanis), Mr. Mister, Murphy (Eddie -- not a typo), Music Man, Myles (Alanah).]

But one must be chosen. So I'll go with this Kids Incorporated alum's tune (and since these are cassettes, it's the original and not the one sampled by Eminem years later) ...

M is for ... MARTIKA:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvdLovAaYzM

Random Tune for Tuesday 6/14/11

Where has this year gone?

I'm up to the letter L in my every other week series wandering alphabetically through my musical eccentricities -- and I have too many of this group's cassettes to not feature something from the same guy who played Reba's husband in the "Is There Life Out There" vid-e-o (that's three syllables, the way Reba would say it) and whom I last saw on "Hot in Cleveland" (plus the newsmen that surrounded him back then). I could pick any number of favorites, but I always liked this hopeful message ...

L IS FOR LEWIS, HUEY and the NEWS!:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIkOVe0MF1k&feature=related

Random Tune for Tuesday 5/31/11

Whew ... that was a long drive home! So the first thing I did (in order to get back on my regular posting schedule -- and after I unpacked the car full of Tastikakes, Gazebo Room dressing, Yeungling Lager and Utz and Bickels potato chips) was to check my cassette collection for items filed under K -- and I only found two from which I could choose: the Kiss Me Kate soundtrack (LVC theatre did a performance of that when I was away doing an internship) and the Kiss My Ass tribute soundtrack (which I purchased primarily for the song below, as I sure loved me some Toad in college!)

K is for KISS MY ASS tribute item (with a classic as reinterpreted by Toad the Wet Sprocket):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jqzs_8lRW0M

Random Tune for Tuesday 5/17/11

It's that biweekly return to my occasional series: AtoZ Musical Eccentricities (the cassette years), with a tune (or two) to file under the letter J. And, a few weeks back, someone called out this performer when I was posting for the letter E. However, my mild OCD/anal retentiveness means that this one's stored under J for John instead of E for Elton ... and I couldn't decide whether to go all Cold-War-Berlin-Wall pensive or all V-shaped-snout-in-the-saltwater party. But hey, I make the rules here -- so why not list links to both?

J is for JOHN, ELTON (pensive):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QThN-_-t7K8

J is for JOHN, ELTON (party):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqyDn-uqHlA

Random Tune for Tuesday 5/3/11

So maybe the choices from which I could pick for tonight's post really define this occasional series concept the best. To find a tune from the eccentric collection of cassettes I have filed under the letter 'I', I reviewed ... I Claim the Cross (an Easter musical service from Hebron church that I narrated), the soundtracks to Indiana Jones and the Lost Crusade and the Bernadette Peters edition of Into the Woods, and 90's selections from Enrique Iglesias, the Indigo Girls and the one that I actually chose from (now, upon reflection, I just hope that's it's not an ode to auto-erotic asphyxiation)*...

I IS FOR INXS:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGUt3u4n9Hk

Random Tune for Tuesday 4/19/11

[Sometimes I practically write myself into a corner ... here's a second entry in my new theme of Holy Hell Week that also advances to the next letter of my ongoing series AtoZ Musical Eccentricities: The Cassette Years. Let's see how I get out of this one!]

HOLY (-ier post)

Let's take it to church (and "Happy Passover!" -- or does one say "Congratulations on getting Passed Over!" -- to those celebrating?) -- with a little something from a soundtrack (I filed that cassette under H years ago since either her or her mom sang all the songs on it) that is in my collection. 'Tis the season ...

H IS FOR HOUSTON, WHITNEY and CISSY:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ev5_qIoeDrw&feature=related

*************************************************************************************

HELL (-ish post)

Good old Don Henley can channel his bitter observations about the world around him like no one else. So why not highlight this song featuring the "devil [getting] downhearted ... 'cause there's nothing left for him to claim" in our modern world. Although -- note the video on youtube is not the one with Don (he can also channel his legal rights like few others, so those have been yanked) but instead a performance from the Quaker version of the Glee kids performing at music camp. [And the fact that the Quakers are rocking out to this tune just makes it all the more random.]

UNLESS THAT H IS FOR HENLEY, DON:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73Pjm1Eb3uQ

Random Tune for Tuesday 4/5/11

Looking through the cassettes for today's post, I decided to settle on an album from Phil and Mike (and the other Mechanics?) from 1991 for the next in my alphabetical series of AtoZ Musical Eccentricities (the cassette years). In particular, the first song on that album's playlist always hit home for me, as it is about a boy who leaves his childhood behind a little early when he runs away. That being said, don't read too much into my connection to it though, as the scenario in the lyrics doesn't quite fit my past -- except for the first two stanzas which are spot on!

G IS FOR GENESIS ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSwpW_QKz_I